http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1800901
I came across this link today that I couldn’t resist sharing. Now let’s just hope this link somehow lands on the desk of college administrators and inspires them to have courses that are applicable to the real world. (Although memorizing 200 notecards while munching on Cheetos, downing a coke and dreaming about the weekend DID teach me how to multi-task)
[Come across Links you think our readers would enjoy? Send them over to themadgrad@gmail.com]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged career, college, life, work post-grad | Leave a Comment »
On January 12, 2010 a massive catastrophe hit the poverty-stricken country of Haiti. Over the past two weeks there has been an enormous amount of people around the world rallying together to get behind the cause by donating money and time. Different from any other disaster of our time this one has benefited most from modern technology and specifically social media.
Moments after the earthquake people were tweeting about their missing loved ones, facebooking the masses and creating websites where individuals all over the world could post alerts for missing and found people. Due to the lack of cell service communicating online was crucial. Also, because of technology people instantly sent money faster than ever before.
Some of the most successful instruments for doing this were through text messages and through itunes accounts where your money was automatically added to your existing bills. One particularly heartwarming story was from the UK where a little 7 year old boy was so moved by the images on the news that he pledged to bike around a local park and asked people to donate via an online fundraising page and has already raised $240,000 from people who got word of his efforts.
Thanks to real-time communication platforms online hundreds of people were found and thousands of people were able to receive up to the minute updates. Through this process we witnessed the true power of social media via technology to not only allow people across the world to come together, but to actually save lives when sudden devastation strikes.
Through this heartbreaking tragedy a beautiful thing happened- the world came together instantaneously to give whatever they could and technology helped facilitate this process. This was a great lesson of the profound strength of both technology and social media being used for good. Since Generation Y is the most active and familiar with technology of this sort I think it is our responsibility to use this as an example and create new ways to use these tools for social good. Instead of waiting for another natural disaster to occur let us join forces and brainstorm new ways to cause positive change via technology and through the onslaught of available communication platforms online.
As for Haiti it is going to take a lot of time and money to rebuild their country so please continue to do what you can to help.
Posted in Daily Inspiration | Tagged earthquake, fundraising, generation y, haiti, help, power, social media, technology | Leave a Comment »
While you’re busy dreaming about the amazingness of your day off yesterday, you might want to check out these links:
1. Untemplater- Incredibly talented bloggers who give you the tools to breakout of your template lifestyle, and live the life you’ve always imagined. (Be sure to download their manifesto).
2. Nicole is better- I discovered this blog 2 nights ago and like a good book, I can’t put it down. She’s open, honest, funny, witty and you’re guaranteed to find an experience you connect with. *Major* blog crush.
3. Comedian Nick Swardson- I saw his special last night on comedy central, and I haven’t laughed that hard in awhile. Check out one of my favorite clips here.
4. Waterproof Notepad: If you’re like me, and your best thinking is done in the shower- here is your godsend.
5. Neighborhood guides from Daily Candy- discover restaurants and shops in your very own backyard that you didn’t even know about.
6. Avatar: Call me a nerd, but this is one of the coolest movies I’ve ever seen. The special effects were incredible- and don’t even think about not seeing it in imax. Check out the Trailer here.
7. Help Haitian Earthquake Victims: One of the easiest ways to help is by Texting “HAITI” to “90999″ to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
8. Courtesy of glassdoor.com check out “Top Oddball Interview Questions” from last year. I have to admit, I can’t stop thinking about “what my best McGuyver moment was.”
9. Oprah’s No Phone Zone Pledge: Each year, nearly 500,000 people are injured and 6,000 are killed because drivers are talking, texting and e-mailing behind the wheel. Sign the pledge now to make a difference.
10. Great article from CareerAlley on “Job Search Ideas to Fast Track Your Job Search“
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged avatar, blog, career, daily candy, funny, gen y, glassdoor, haiti, interview, links, neighborhood guide, nick swardson, notepad, oprah, text, untemplater | 1 Comment »
Jenny and I were lucky enough to go to Vegas last week for the introduction of “SWAGG” a cool new mobile solution that promises to change the way you interact and transact. What an incredible time we had! I was hoping to get a sneak peak of the application, but because this product is so huge, it’s going to take awhile longer to develop before they can unveil it to the public. *sigh* The CEO and American idol judge (and incredible songwriter), Kara DioGuardi, spoke about the product and got me super excited about its release. Let’s just say he had me at “have you ever received a gift card you wished you could trade in? Well, this app allows you to do that.” It promises to help manage your life on the go (accessing your favorite stores loyalty account info), manage redeem and swap gift cards, and access the latest and greatest offers. Can’t wait til it comes out!
In addition to learning about this awesome product, we met lots of incredible people from Firethorn Holdings, Edelman PR, and ran into one of our favorite entrepreneur/blogger friends Jun, who made a video of the event here.
Here are some pictures from the event!
To learn more about SWAGG be sure to check out their website, and follow them on Twitter.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged gift card, giving, iphone, mobile, product, shopping, swagg | 1 Comment »
We asked our good friend Julie for her thoughts on the New Year, and here’s what she had to say:
The New: If you haven’t figured it out, the New Year is upon us. New people, new opportunities, new experiences, new expectations, a new outlook…but let’s be serious, how much reeeeeally changed from 12/31/2009 to 1/1/2010? I still have the same job, same friends, same debt, and am in the same quarter life I was in at the end of last year. Ok, so maybe I brought in the new year with a new hangover and a few new “friends” from the night before (names I will leave anonymous or maybe just can’t remember); but the fact still remains…every NEW year is just a reiterated realization of how OLD I am getting.
The Old: Have you ever spoken to an old friend only to realize that term in itself deems that you are getting old-er? Just yesterday, a good friend from college who I hadn’t spoken to in years chatted me up (probably some “get back in touch” new years resolution of his) to see how things were. Reminiscing about our friendship starting over 6 years ago started to spur an internal “has it been that long?!” freak-out. When I first started college (over 7 years ago) and imagined where I would be at age 25, I figured myself to be rich, happily married, and successful. The New Year self re-evaluation has proven me not to be who I (at age 18) had intended; but surprisingly I came to the realization that I am still just as fabulous as ever.
The Fabulous: Rich? I might be in debt but that’s only because I live in one of the most amazing cities in the world, have had eye-opening unforgettable vacations, and walk away each night with priceless friends, stories, and experiences. Married? Thank god no! I now more than ever believe my mom’s advice that I have my whole life to be married but only a few years to be single. Sure I have had some awful dating experiences (who hasn’t?), but at least I am learning more and more about who I truly am and what I really want out of life. Successful? Ok….let’s just say I haven’t hit two of my marks to date. So I myself resolve to look onto the New Year with the expectation that I will live life with no expectations, take life as it comes at me and to be just as fabulous as ever.
Words of Wisdom “WoW”: Live like a racehorse…where life is always on track
Thanks Julie for the great post! Can’t wait to hear more from her in the future 
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As we say farewell to two thousand nine we approach a new year, a year of limitless possibilities and the chance to make this year the most successful one yet.
Pondering the last year and how quickly it went by, I have been mentally preparing for the new year for quite some time. Everyone has that unspoken list of new year resolutions — but for me this year it is a little different, my list is about what I want to accomplish before I turn 25 (in September) so I am trying to pack my list in a couple months before 2011.
When thinking about things I would like to accomplish in the new year I have found it is best to separate personal and professional goals in order to create a balance of both and ensure that I have attainable goals for each area of my life.
At the end of the year is a good time to sit with yourself and ponder the happenings of the last year. I find that with the business and routine of life I often don’t take time to sit back and have this important internal conversation enough. Ask yourself some valuable questions like; What did I accomplish this year? Am I where I want to be in my career? Am I happy with my current lifestyle? What have I done that has made a positive impact in my own life and for others around me?
As I get older each year I feel more responsibility and more pressure to really analyze my successes and failures. My priorities expectedly always change with each year and of course rounding my quarter life mark really makes me contemplate the past and prepare for the future.
A couple of my personal goals for the next year include:
What are you goals for the new year? How do you hope that 2010 is different from 2009? What has helped you follow through with your resolutions?
Thank you so much for taking time and reading The Mad Grad we really hope to write more and more in the new year.
Have a happy and safe New Years Eve!
Posted in Daily Inspiration | 3 Comments »
Congratulations to Megan, winner of the recent contest we held for an HP ProBook. Here’s what she had to say:
I’m a 25 year old tech support person living in Berkeley, CA. I love vegan cooking and baking, biking, running, and fibercrafts. I’m planning on using my new computer to (a) find a better job, (b) start writing a cook/craft zine, and (c) helping me figure out some goals now that I’ve graduated! I’m looking forward to have a LIGHT computer so I can actually take it places, like coffee shops and libraries, so I can get out of the house every once in a while.
Thanks so much to everyone that entered the contest- it was wonderful to read everyone’s comments. Stay tuned for more contests coming soon! And be sure to become a fan of www.facebook.com/hphome and www.facebook.com/hpstudent on Facebook.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged computer, contest, free, gadgets, hp, laptop, probook | Leave a Comment »
I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about what I’ve learned since Graduating in 2007. As I’m turning 25 next week (eek!) and in a new job, I’ve realized how much I’ve learned about myself and my career in just a few years. I’ve been a Case Assistant at a law Firm, a project manager at an online design company, an executive Assistant for a Virtual world company, and am now doing Recruiting for a large search engine company. I know what you’re thinking- this girl has Major job ADD. But honestly, I wouldn’t trade any of these jobs for the world (as miserable as some of them were). I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the mistakes, successes and lessons I’ve learned along the way.
If a new graduate asked me what I know now that I didn’t then, here’s what I’d tell them:
You will never be good at a job you hate. Maybe it pays well, you get overtime, a new car and a bonus but if you don’t like it, you aren’t going to do well. Of course, you should always give your all to any job you have, but you aren’t going to perform as well as someone who really loves it. If the passion and drive isn’t there, it will show in your work no matter how much you try to hide it.
It’s okay to leave if you aren’t happy. My first job after college, I worked in a supply closet with files literally barricading my desk, and attorneys screaming in my face if something wasn’t done in 15 seconds. After 6 months of being there, I knew I wanted to leave, but was torn because everyone told me to stay at a job at least a year. If you give yourself adequate time to make sure it isn’t for you, can explain to future employers the reason behind you leaving, and make sure to leave on good terms with your boss no matter what, there’s no reason to stay at a job you are miserable with. It’s better to get back on track to a field you are interested in, and leave while you are on good terms before your unhappiness interferes with your work performance.
Don’t be taken advantage of. Even if you have the same position as another coworker, if you don’t set your boundaries immediately, your best friend will be the copy machine and your work will falter as you struggle to manage your work and that of others. You want to be there for coworkers when they need help, because that’s what makes great companies, and there’s a 150 percent chance you’ll need their help in the future. But be sure to be on the lookout for people taking advantage of your lack of experience, and don’t be afraid to say no. This also applies to situations where your boss is taking advantage of you. Are you working incredibly long hours, and running errands not in your job description, when you are getting paid way under market? If so, be honest with them and stick up for yourself or this pattern will repeat itself for your entire time there.
Don’t make money your only incentive. At the job I have now, I took a huge pay cut. The reason? I knew that while I’m making a lot less at this job, it will lead to more money in the long-run as it’s the field I want to be in, an incredible company and I’m learning a lot. The high pay was the biggest incentive for me to take the assistant job, but this was not worth it as I wasn’t happy or had passion for what I was doing. Don’t get me wrong, you should not settle for lower pay than you deserve, but money should not be the primary factor in taking a job. In fact, I’ve spoken with a lot of people who have taken a job strictly for pay and regretted it, but haven’t talked to anyone who took lower pay for a job they really loved and regretted it.
First impressions matter: At my last job, one of the recent grads who started would always respond to the exec’s requests within 2 seconds to beat everyone, and stay 5 hours longer to ensure she scheduled more meetings than her coworkers. She ended up making mistakes because she took on more than she could handle, and although these mistakes were small it was hard to gain the respect back from the execs and coworkers. You want to show up to work on time, push yourself and give the job your all, without being the annoying eager beaver and biting off more than you can chew. It’s better to do less work with no mistakes while you learn the ropes, then to take on too much and mess up.
Don’t act your age. I know I know, you are 21, your favorite night to go out is Thursdays, and you can’t sleep before 4am. But chances are your older coworkers will not be sympathetic to the one too many beers you had. Also remember that it’s always important to ask questions if you do not know what you are doing, but make sure to phrase it in the best way possible. Instead of saying ” hey how the heck do I use the fax machine? The person at the school library did it for me.” Say “I haven’t used this particular fax machine before, would you mind showing me how when you have the chance today so I will know in the future?” Even if you work in a relaxed environment, it never hurts to dress up in a way that makes you look mature and put together.
Always leave on good terms: No matter how much you dislike your boss, your coworkers or company, make sure to leave on good terms. Always check in every now and then with them- send an email, a text a Christmas card just make sure to keep in touch. Even if you live in China and they live in the US, employers do rigorous background checks these days and it’s very important to be on good terms with everyone you encounter. Think you are off the hook despite treating your lab partner poorly Freshman year? Lots of companies check with other coworkers that attended the same school as you for their opinion before hiring, so be careful not to burn your bridges.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged career, college, gen y, graduate, inspiration, millennial, work, young | 1 Comment »
At my last job one of the first things the CEO said was that in order to work there I needed to immediately read The Google Story, of course two years later I finally read it, and I am sure glad I did.
The journey of how these Stanford graduates created an empire is both captivating and motivating. This is a great example of a simple idea that flourished into the most successful company of the decade. Throughout the book you learn secrets from behind the scenes of the whole process of how Google came to be. The chapters take you alongside Larry and Sergey’s travels around the world as they expose their product to different countries. And seeing the impact of how their free and thorough search capability has really changed the world as we know it.
I found it particularly interesting that while on their way to the top the founders were able to maintain their core values and their motto of “Don’t be evil”. This manifests in the fact that they do not want to make money or run ads that have to do with things that they don’t believe in, such as; drugs, sex trafficking etc.
While unleashing some of the mystery behind the inner workings of Google I was shocked to find out that they have a huge secret network of servers on the back end hosting all this information. Throughout the book there was a constant theme that they always needed to “order more servers” because the amount of information they were gaining access to was growing at the same speed as the company itself.
Reading a first hand account of this internet revolution was very insightful and a great read for anyone who has an idea and needs a little jump start. The internet is an amazing place and thanks to Google it is getting more profound every day. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone especially those in the online and tech fields.
Happy Reading!
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So it is officially Christmas time, a time when we are running around buying gifts for everyone else, but how about something for yourself? Well lucky for you that you read The Mad Grad because we have a special giveaway opportunity just for our readers and the chance to win a brand new HP laptop!
HP thought that The Mad Grad readers would be a perfect audience to benefit from a new laptop, it is the best job searching tool there is out there, not to mention this laptop weighs less than 5 pounds so you can take it everywhere you go!
Here is some info about the computer:
Who wouldn’t want a free laptop with all these great features? The giveaway will end December 23rd at 5pm PST. For a chance to win, leave a comment sharing which of the HP dm3’s features would help you the most in getting your dream job and using Random.org we will pick a winner and ship the prize to you! Good luck!
This contest has now ended, thanks for participating and check back for more giveaways in the future.
Thanks to HP for sponsoring this post and giveaway.
Posted in Uncategorized | 52 Comments »
