Archive by Author

Taking Initiative

8 Jul

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It’s strange that at 24 years old, I finally found the genius behind Nike’s slogan, ” Just do it.” It never seemed much more to me than a slogan that got a few snickers on the elementary school playground and was just plain obvious.  Recently, however, this slogan has taken on a whole other meaning to me- one of taking initiative and making decisions yourself.

At my job, I assist the Founder of my company who is understandably very busy. When I first started my job a couple months ago I would ask permission for everything. “Would you like me to send this email?” Where should I make reservations?” I didn’t want to go ahead and do something and get in trouble if I made a mistake. That’s when I realized- it’s better to go ahead and do it instead of asking permission and waiting around for his answer. After all, if he had time to answer all of my questions- would he really need an assistant in the first place?

Being young in a big company is hard. We are hired with the expectation that we have a lot to learn and will be asking lots of questions- which don’t get my wrong is good to an extent! But to prove our maturity and ambition, we need to learn when to ask questions and when to go ahead and take initiative for ourselves.

I heard a quote recently by Grace Hopper that said, “Its easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission.” If I heard this quote 3 months ago, I’d probably disagree- but now, I could not agree more. There’s going to be times when you go ahead and do something, and end up making a mistake and getting in trouble.  However, a mistake here or there, from someone who takes initiative and makes decisions for themselves, is going to be forgiven a lot faster, than someone sitting around and waiting for someone to make decisions for them.

So next time you’re in a situation where you aren’t sure if you should take a risk and go with your gut, go ahead and “Just do it!”

Live By Example…

12 Mar

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“In bathrooms, boardrooms, buses, bagel shops, and everywhere else, we all need to imagine a little girl following us around, repeating everything we say and everything we do. Think about all of the things you want for yourself and your daughters, granddaughters, and girls everywhere- and teach them by living it yourself.”- Nell Merlino, In Stepping Out of the Line: Lessons for Women who Want it their way in life, love and work.

Interview with a Network Analytics Manager

9 Jan

 

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We interviewed our good friend Scott, who works for Glam, a woman-focused media network. Here’s what he had to say: 
Madgrad: What is your current position at Glam?
Scott: Network Analytics Manager
Madgrad: How did you get it? 
Scott: I worked with Glam at my previous position.  Rather than working with Glam and several other clients at a very shallow level, I thought it would be more exciting to get into the nitty gritty, day to day work and focus on Glam exclusively.  As cliche as it sounds, networking really is the best tool for getting a job.  But that’s after you’ve worked for a while and already have a network to utilize.  When you’re first out of school and just starting to make those connections, 

Madgrad: Did you always know you wanted to be in advertising?
Scott: Yes.  have you ever seen Mad Men?  it’s like that, but people don’t dress as cool or smoke as much.  I guess my first agency job was wild and crazy and a lot of fun.  But when you’re in school, you never think about how much work it is – it’s a lot.  

Madgrad: What do you feel help prepared you for this? 
Scott: I’ve had a lot of jobs and like to think that a little bit of each of them had something to do with my current success.  One year, I worked at cinnabon.  I was a damn good Cinnabon maker.  Other than that, I think it’s important to be interested in what you’re doing.  That doesn’t mean that you have to love what you’re doing every minute of the day.  But even when I’m not at work, I’m surfing the web and watching TV – generally consuming media.  Because that’s what I’m interested in, it makes work that much more enjoyable.

Madgrad: What advice do you have for recent graduates and others looking to get into this field?
Scott: See above.  Not the Cinnabon part.  Oh and be flexible.  Nothing is going to go as you planned, so just look for the silver lining in your situation.  
 

Madgrad: What is your biggest career achievement?
Scott: In this marketplace, it’s nice to still have a job and not have to worry about it.  

 


Madgrad: Future goals?
Scott: Winning Mega Millions



Finding Hope In A Failed Economy

31 Oct

With the upcoming elections and the recent fall of the stockmarket, there has been a lot of talk about the state of the economy lately. Yes, the economy is really bad and a good portion of Americans are struggling just to put dinner on the table, and send their children to school. A large percentage of hard-working Americans have been laid off, and companies have put hiring on hold until the economy improves and clients invest in them again. However, as my Mother always said, “If you can’t change something, change your attitude towards it.” So I started thinking about the positive (yes I know) that may come out of this. 

For one, the economy can only get better (unless of course we make the wrong decision for the next president and have four more years of the same government negligence). In this sense, we at least have something to look forward to and know the situation is temporary. Secondly, the dismal job market, may force us to take longer to think about what we really want to do in our next position. I know personally, I’ve started putting my energy into applying for graduate schools, and performing well at my current one, instead of hastily finding a new position. Also, the uncertainty of the job market has forced me to be more careful with my investments, and start saving money to prepare for a worst- case scenario. I’ve avoided using my credit card, and if I need to use it, I pay it off immediately to avoid interest and additional charges. If I need to put the shirt on my credit card, I shouldn’t be buying it in the first place. This is something I will take with me no matter what state the economy is in. 

Sometimes we can get so used to a routine- wake up, go to work, go to the gym, go to sleep etc, that we don’t question our lifestyle and happiness. We don’t realize how fortunate we are to have a job in the first place, or how much the family and friends around us really care.  A friend of mine, who recently lost her job, said that maybe it was a good thing that they let her go, because it has forced her to find an even better job that she will be really happy with, and advance in her career. The outpouring of support from friends and coworkers has also allowed her to see how much people care and respect her work. 

It’s always at the lowest points, where we come together and realize what we have taken for granted, and who is really there for us. Maybe instead of using the economy as an excuse for why things are bad, we can use it as an excuse for why things will get better. Think of it like a 4am wake up call- you don’t like it, it ruins your rest, and makes you really grumpy. But in the end, it gives you more time and makes you more productive.

Don’t forget to Watch the Debates Tonight! 9pm EST

15 Oct

Don’t Vote

2 Oct

Remember when your parents told you not to do something like, ” Don’t tease your sister!” and this made you want to tease her even more? Well this is the exact mentality the celebrities are adopting, using reverse psychology to encourage us to vote in their video message on delcareyourself.com. This was a pretty long video, but I somehow found myself mesmerized through the whole 5 minutes. Why? Because it make some pretty great points. Their basic message is: “Don’t vote! Unless you care about rising gas prices, welfare, education, gay rights, minimum wage, the economy..” All points which we hopefully care about, if not one or two that are very important to us as individuals. 

I explored the site DeclareYourself.org and along with this message, they have deadlines by state, info on candidates, issues, political parties, and a link to register to vote. Their goal is to encourage every eligible 18 year old in America to register and vote in the 2008 presidential election. What I love best about this site is how simply they present the info. The wealth of information on the different props, candidates and parties can be overwhelming, but this site makes it easy. 

If we want our bosses, parents, family members, and elders, to take us seriously as young people, we need to show them we care about our future enough to vote. Or should I say.. Don’t vote.. I mean it’s not like some of the biggest election issues such as young soldiers fighting in Iraq, education funding, reproductive issues, and environmental concerns affect us anyway right?

Q &A: Finding a Green Job

29 Sep

There’s not better way to find information than to talk with real people who have been there, done that. We sat down with our friend Emma, who graduated two years ago from UCSB and is currently working as an Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of an envornmental non-profit. She shared some great advice for recent grads looking for an environmental job:

 

MadGrad:  How did you find your current job?
Emma: On a site called idealist.org. It’s a great way to find volunteer opportunites and jobs with non-profits.
MadGrad: There seems to be quite a lot of recent grads looking for jobs in the environmental sector. Was it hard to find a job after graduation?
Emma:  It was difficult for me to get a job.  I was looking for about 5 months.  I applied to over 30 jobs I think.  The field is very trendy right now, which is great because people are becoming more aware of our impact on the environment and the negative repercussions it could cause.
MadGrad:  What major were you? Do you feel it helped prepare you for your current position?
Emma:  I was a political science and anthropology double major.  Within those majors I took classes specifically relating to environmental issues.  Definitely the political science major has been most helpful because we are involved a lot in lobbying Congress and other levels of government.  It would be a whole other story if I was an Environmental Studies major though, I would probably have a  better grasp of the intricacies of the issues we are involved in.

MadGrad:  Did you do any internships/ side work in college or after?

Emma:  Yes.  I worked in the University’s development department for my last year of college.  This has actually helped a lot in my current position.  I also did two internships after I graduated for the Environmental Departments of the City of San Francisco and the City of Berkeley.
MadGrad: How did you know you wanted to work in the envornment? Was there ever a time you envisioned yourself doing something else?
Emma:  Yes.  For probably 4 years in high school I wanted to be an interior designer.  And what actually changed my mind was going to a designer’s showcase and looking at the gluttonous, unnecessary wealth that made me want to do something with my life that would actually make a difference and change something.  I went into college undeclared, and although I was always interested in environmental issues, it didn’t turn into a career interest until mid-college.
MadGrad:  Are you happy with your current job? What do you like best and least about it?
Emma:  I love my current job because I work for a great boss and with great people.  I like my position because I know everything that is going on within the organization, from top to bottom.  I guess what I like least about my job is my actual position.  I’m not doing any work towards improving the environment, just assisting those who work to improve the environment.  But this is just the first stepping stone in my career.
MadGrad:  What is the biggest tip you would give to recent grads looking for a job in your field?
Emma:  I guess I would say to be open to possiblities.  I wasn’t sure where in the environmental field I wanted to go, so I applied to lots of different jobs in the field.  Also, be dedicated.  I got my internships last summer by contacting the places I was interested in and and just letting them know I was willing to take an unpaid internship.  It shows that you are committed to the cause and want to learn.

Quote of the Day

3 Sep

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”- Dr. Seuss

When Choosing a job… Follow your Instincts!

7 Jul

How many of you have heard something like this before:

“You’re so good with children, you should be a teacher!”

“I can really see you going into sales, you are just so outgoing!”

The truth? Just because you love children, doesn’t mean you want to pursue a career as a teacher, and there’s more to sales than having an outgoing personality. As we graduate and face so much uncertainty and opportunity we are told to take advice from as many people as possible. We are like two year olds again.. sponges absorbing information from people eager to impart their wisdom and life experiences on us (guilty) However, when is it okay to throw the bottle.. get up and walk on our own??

Advice is great to an extent- it is always helpful to hear from friends, family members and others who have been where we have and know what it’s like to struggle with finances, jobs and housing. However, when it comes to your career- only YOU know what is best for you. If friends and family see you in a career that is making you outwardly stressed, sick and a mess then it is okay for them to step in and suggest a career change. In the end, you are the one that will be on the computer all day, in front of the classroom, speaking to clients, traveling to meetings, or writing your column. So when it comes down to deciding what you want to do, sit down by yourself and instead of thinking what others want you to do or what looks good on paper, think what you would absolutely LOVE to do at work everyday. 

As Dr Seuss put it… “YOU have brains in your head. YOU have feet in your shoes. YOU can steer yourself in any direction YOU choose!”

Fun and Inspirational Wallpaper for your Desktop

27 Jun

As hard as it is to admit, I spend about 75 percent of my time at work staring at my computer screen. (okay fine 85 percent) This is why I’m always on the hunt for fun and interesting wallpaper to spice of my computer a little bit. However when I find a photo or artwork that I want to use, it generally isn’t the right size or looks funny on my computer screen. I find the sites just for free wallpaper remind me too much of the babushka dolls I used to play with as a child. By the time I click through the layers of pop-ups I forget what I was looking for in the first place. Thankfully, Jen (fellow Mad Grad author) told me about realsimple.com‘s inspirational wallpapers. They’re cute, visually appealing, professional and have wonderful quotes on them to inspire you as you work. AND they have different sizes so it won’t look stretched out and weird on your computer. Click here to get one for yourself!

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