Congratulations new graduate: Karen Herrera-González!

Karen's determination carried her through her college years despite having the added responsibility of being a mom.  She completed a five-year program and graduated with a dual degree!

Graduation date: June 3, 2011
School:  University of Massachusetts Boston  Degree:  Bachelor of Arts and  Masters of Arts 

Major:  Social Psychology;  Applied Psychology.

Career aspirations: I would like to find a job where I can help the youth develop who they are academically, socially, and personally.  Many students that I've worked with in the past have no idea why they want to do after high school or or why they should go to college.  I would like to be an adviser or a mentor to high schools students or college students.  In the future, I would like to establish my own program that focuses on teen mothers and helping them succeed in college.

Current job: I am the financial manager for the Institute for Learning and Teaching (ILT) at University of Massachusetts Boston. My main responsibility is to communicate with all the programs that work with middle and high school Latino student under the ILT regarding their grants and administration of the programs.

Tips to get an internship or job:  Network! Network! Network! In order to land your dream job/internship, you have to get out of your comfort zone and sell yourself.  No one is going to notice you unless you put yourself out there.  Let your voice, talent, and abilities be heard!

Anything else you would like to share: Never give up! Many times life will throw obstacles in our path to test our abilities...what we're capable of.  Giving up is very easy but it is not rewarding in the end.  Instead, fight those obstacles because in the end it will feel great when you can finally say "Lo hice! I did it!"

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A slow job market: glass half full or half empty?

Recent reports have confirmed what has been obvious to every internship and job seeker for a while:  The job market has, once again, slowed down.  Potential employers are being incredibly cautious about hiring which creates a feeling of despair and frustration among those looking for work.  

Although you might not like the sobering news, it is important to take a proactive approach and to stay focused on job hunting.    Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Do a thorough reality check.  Take a hard look at the key resources you have on hand:  money, contacts and opportunities.  Job hunting is an enterprise in itself.  It requires resources and a nimble strategy in order to work.  Do you have any source of immediate income?  If so, how are you spending it?  How long can you go on?  Do you have a budget?  If not, put one together.  It will help you keep track of where your money is going.  Also, take the time to review your list of friends, acquaintances and other sources of job referrals.  Select 12 people from that group whom you think could become your eyes and ears and help you find job leads.

2. Seek temporary employment of any form.  This is an option that many try to avoid waiting for the "real" job to come to the rescue.  By considering temporary work as an option, you accomplish two things:  1) you force yourself to stay motivated and engaged in the process; and 2) you create opportunities to explore roles that you might not have considered otherwise.  Another perk is that you will have a steady flow of cash and possibly gain new skills.

3. Manage negativity in a constructive way.  It would be very easy to mope and complain about the bad economy.  If you choose to do so, my question to you is:  how is that helping you find a job?  If you need to vent your frustration, do so in private and for a limited time. You can have scheduled whining sessions, if you like.  Letting the anxiety out is important and will help you regain focus.  Once you are done venting, get back on the job hunting saddle and keep moving forward.

Even in the most challenging times, one can rise above it all and manage uncertainty in a positive way.  By staying focused and engaged in your job search, you will remain psychologically strong and radiate confidence.   A confident, optimist candidate will certainly stand out from all others.  That could be you!

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Congratulations new graduate: Sandro Giraldo!

It is with overwhelming excitement that I share the news about my baby brother's graduation!

Graduation date: May 18, 2011
School:  Mercy College, New York, NY
Degree: Bachelor of Science  Major: Business
Job prospects: Currently works as an Administrative Assistant for Consolidated Edison in New York.  Attended school while working full time.
Main job responsibility: Administrative services to the department of Electrical Engineering.
Tips to get an internship or job:  Read as much as possible about the company before going to the job interview.  Showing interest in what the company does can make you stand out from the competition.  Also this can help you understand better your future role within the company.
Anything else you would like to share:  I used to believe that getting a degree will help me get ahead in life.  Now that I have this degree, I realize that I have gained so much more.  I have learned from teachers and students alike, from their backgrounds, their aspirations, their fears.  I have happy memories which will stay with me and shape me until my last breath.  I have gained long lasting relationships; it’s a journey…..

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Congratulations new graduate: Jesica Orozco!

A big shout out to Jesica who will be starting her new job on Monday May 23 with Catholic Family & Child Services in Yakima, WA as the ILS (Independent Living Skills) Trainer.  Best of luck!

Graduation date:  May 8, 2011
School:  Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
Degree:  Bachelor of Science, Major:  Psychology
Main job responsibility:  Helping foster teens transition smoothly out of the foster program into independent life.
Tips to get an internship or a job:  Prior to receiving an opportunity for employment or an internship make sure to follow these tips:
1.Networking is essential. Introduce yourself to people who are in positions that you are interested in. You never know who may be the one to aid in the process of securing a placement.
2. Community Service is a great way to gain experience without having employment.
3. Utilize your career center. They have many programs you may not be aware of.
In an interview:
1. Be prepared! Makes sure to review the job or internship duties and think of instances in which you have performed those duties.
2. Dress in proper attire. First impressions are key. Smile and have a firm hand shake when introducing yourself.
3. Emphasize your skills and encorporate any accomplishments that are relevant to the job duties.
4. Be yourself. Be confident, you have many amazing skills to offer.
5. DO NOT lie. If you you come across a question you do not understand, ask the interviewer to clarify or simply state you are not experienced in that area, but would love the opportunity to learn.
5. Thank the interviewer when leaving and ask for a time frame in which you will hear a response. Follow up with a thank you note and reaffirm your interest in the agency.
Anything you want to share:
Never allow anyone to discourage you from your dreams. Nothing is easy, but with hard work and dedication you can achieve greatness. Be strong, stick through the tough times, but know when to ask for help. There are many people in the world who would love to help you succeed.  Always remember:  "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm Possible!" -Audrey Hepburn

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Letters of recommendation 201

In my previous post I explained how to go about choosing someone to write you a letter of recommendation.  But what about if the person you want to ask is not in your immediate network?  Don't panic.  Let this be a lesson about networking, which is an art you must develop in order to be a successful professional. Back to the topic. How do you convince someone who does not know you well to say to others that you will be a great employee?

If your target is one of your professors, then you have won have the battle. You are on his radar because of taking his class or working on a project but perhaps he doesn't know you well enough.  At this point, ask yourself why do you want this person to write you a recommendation. Is it because you are certain you will get an A in his course? Is it because he is influential in the industry of your interest? It will be crucial to have this clear when you approach him.

Then, find out from his assistants (yes, plural) about his schedule and workload.  This information will tell you how busy he is and when there might be a window for you to ask him.  If you need a letter of recommendation from any of your professors within the next couple of weeks, timing is not on your side.  Between finals and grading, this is the worst time to ask any professor to help you out.  So, be ready to expect a flat, "sorry, I can't."

However, your chances could greatly improve if you come prepared with a script and offer some options.  For example, you could start the conversation by saying:

"Hi professor X, I am Y from your Z class.  I was wondering since (here goes the reason why you want his recommendation) 'I enjoyed your class so much and did really well' or 'my main interest after college is physics and your last article in ABC blew my away,' if you could consider writing a letter of recommendation for me." 

You can add that you are applying for a position in a particular function and company. You must do your homework and make sure that there is a direct relation between the job you are applying and the person who is recommending.  For instance, if you are asking your accounting professor to vouch for you, the job you are interested in better be in accounting and not marketing!  This connection needs to be obvious to the professor, so he will be more inclined to make time for you.

If he says no out flat, ask him if timing is the issue.  If he says yes and that he is too busy right now, do not back away.  Ask when it would be a better time and offer some dates.  And make sure to make an appointment to see him when he says he will be available.

Lastly, always have a back up plan particularly if you are in the last stages of interviewing.  If your professors are all busy right now, touch base with counselors or previous supervisors.  Or find someone who is close to the professor who said no and ask them to help expedite your request.  When there is a will, there is a way, right?

Best of luck!

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Letters of recommendation 101

You are in the middle of finals but there is one other project that needs to be handled at this time:  Securing letters of recommendation.  Asking someone to vouch for you could feel more stressful than writing a 20 page paper, but it is as important as getting an A. Here's a way to jump start your efforts to get the most effective letters of recommendation.

What are the three words you want your potential employer to remember you by?  Do you want them to be convinced of your leadership skills, community involvement or academic achievements? Or your internship experience? Your work ethic? Once you decide what those words are, ask yourself this question:  Who is the person who can best convince potential employers I truly have these qualifications?

The answer to these questions will determine who is the best person to write a recommendation for you.   Professors or former internship supervisors are prime candidates.  Also consider anyone who supervised you during a volunteer project or even a high school contact.   If you stayed in touch with them throughout college, and they have witnessed your development as a young professional, they can be a very credible reference.

Be picky about whom you ask.  Don't settle for the person that you are friendly with unless you are convinced this person is the best advocate you could have.  Letters of recommendation are the last step towards a job offer.  Make sure you give potential employers no doubt you are the right person for the job!

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Phone Interviewing Tips

This post was inspired by several comments triggered by a thread in the Latinos in College Facebook page.  The big take away:  phone interviewing requires a different set of skills than in person interviewing.  So, let's cut to the chase, shall we?

Getting ready for a phone interview follows the same process as an in-person interview:  Your goal is to come across as being the best candidate for the job and to be invited for a second interview.  The main difference between a phone and an in-person interview is how the applicant and the interviewer engage in the process.  In a phone interview, your voice is the way the interviewer will get to know you and decide if you should move to the next level.

Source:  Google.com

Most of us are very conscious of how we sound.  We think we sound too childish or husky or our accent is too strong.  One way to get ready for a phone interview is by practicing on the phone.  You could leave a voice message for yourself or someone else and replay to hear how it sounds.  If you are not happy with what you hear, do not despair.  Spend time listening to the news on TV or radio and imitate the pace and pronunciation of the reporters.  Focus on channels related to your area of interest (business, health, education), so you can practice the words used in your industry.  Another way is to warm up your vocals chords by humming.  Yes, humming is the secret weapon of professional speakers.  It is easy to do and it's free! If you practice these two techniques often, you will gain confidence in how you sound and present yourself on the phone.

Another factor to keep in mind when interviewing on the phone is the length of your responses.  Pause yourself when answering questions.  Do not ramble on.  Give the interviewer a chance to ask a follow up question. If you talk non stop, you will sound nervous and will appear that you are trying to make up for what you do not know.  Answer questions in two to three sentences. If you have more to say, you could ask,"would you like me to elaborate?" and wait for the interviewer's answer.

And lastly...remember to smile while you are on the phone (as several Facebook friends mentioned).  Believe or not it will make a difference!

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