Top 5 Podcasts for Career Development On-The-Go

If you’re anything like me, summer means fireworks, fresh cherries, and weekends by the pool, but it also means lots of time sitting in moving vehicles. Whether you’re on a train commuting to your summer internship or in the backseat of a car on a road-trip, listening to podcasts can be a great way to pass the time – and get a leg up on your career development journey. Here are my top five picks:

For the ‘Cane who’s on the hunt for the right career path:

Each episode of Half Hour Intern or Working gives you an engaging thirty(ish)-minute peak into the life of someone with a different career. Some of them are unusual, like “Pet Detective” or “Coffee Chemist,” while others highlight more familiar roles like “Retail Manager” or “Psychotherapist.”

If an episode piques your interest, take advantage of Toppel programs to explore further! Earn course credit for a Toppel Internship in the field, arrange an informational interview, or shadow a professional through the UShadow program.

For the ‘Cane seeking industry inspiration: 

So you’ve discovered an industry that sparks your interest – now what? Industry-specific podcasts like award-winning On The Media (about – you guessed it – the media industry) and The Business (all about the entertainment “biz”) give you a chance to delve deeper. If “traumedy” films and data journalism aren’t your thing, a quick Google search is all it take to find the top podcasts in your area of interest.

For the ‘Cane who’s landed the job (or internship):

Now that you have the position, are you prepared to rock it? Every week, The Accidental Creative brings you advice and inspiration for making the most out of your time on the job. Conversations with expert guests cover everything from game-changing morning rituals to dealing with criticism. Challenge yourself to implement one tip each week and discover what works for you!

5 Reasons You Should NOT Apply To Graduate School

By Esther Lamarre, Assistant Director, Graduate Student & Alumni Career Programs

The question of when is it time to consider graduate school is a popular topic for many graduating seniors and alumni. Often it is the result of a frustrating experience navigating a job search process that has yielded few leads and zero offers. Many alumni tend to question their bachelor’s level education and view an advanced degree as the only choice that will provide employment security.  
It’s not. 

Do NOT apply to graduate level programs if this is the reason you’re applying: 

1. I want a guaranteed job.
While this reasoning makes perfect sense in an ideal world, today’s job market is not an ideal world. Therefore, a master’s degree (or even a PhD) will not guarantee you a job.  In fact, there are many people who change career paths after securing an advanced degree because they are unable to land a job in their field of choice.  Job security is not based on whether or not you have another degree. Job security includes many different variables such as job demand, the economy, your background and experiences, where you live (or want to live), etc. Make sure you are exploring all factors before assuming a graduate degree will provide a blanket safety net for a future job.

2. I can easily finish a program in 1-2 years.
Timing certainly plays a critical role when it comes to deciding whether or not a graduate degree is the right choice. However, just because you can easily completely a short 1-2 year program doesn’t necessarily mean you should – especially if you’re paying for it. It is more important to know how this degree will complement or enhance your current experiences, education, or future goals.  For instance, if you have a bachelor’s degree in sociology and your goal is to manage a nonprofit organization, how will a one year chemistry master’s degree help you to achieve that goal?  You may have the time (and even resources) to quickly complete a program but if does not align with your future goals, you are wasting time, energy, and money.

3. I have no idea what I want to do next. 
If you have no idea where your career is headed, a graduate program isn’t going to help you figure that out any faster.  In fact, you will likely waste time, energy, and money pursuing a degree you later realize you never wanted and/or needed.  Instead, it would be a better of use of your time to spend some time identifying your interests and passions and related careers.

4. I will be more marketable with a graduate degree.
Marketability comes from how you talk about your experiences and education.  In some instances, a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree can be more marketable than a seasoned professional with an MBA because the recent graduate is better at showcasing related experiences and knows how to sell those experiences.  A graduate degree will not automatically make you marketable if you cannot articulate the connection for future employers. A graduate degree does not equal marketable.

5. I’m not ready to start paying back my student loans. 
Eventually everyone has to pay back student loans.  Piling on more debt simply because you want to hold on to that forbearance option is probably the worst financial decision ever. Just don’t do it. Being a lifelong student is great – when the financial responsibility will not eventually haunt you. 

Established Professionals: They Were Once in Our Shoes! (Part 2)

By Trish Vega, Toppel Peer Advisor

In my last post, I had the privilege of interviewing Mary Anne Viegelmann, the Global Employee Experience Manager at LinkedIn. She shared some of her experiences during college and offered some great advice.

Today, I’m excited to share some more thoughts from small business owner, Daniel Tomizaki. Daniel, referred to as “Sifu Tomizaki” by his students, who is the founder and owner of Tomizaki’s Champions Kung Fu Institute, a school established in 2007 that is dedicated to teaching martial arts and general well-being to children, teens, and adults. Read on for his take on what college students can do to pave the way for an awesome career journey!

What can college students do to prepare for their careers while they are in school?

1) Develop good study ethics; 2) Apply yourself 100% in all matters; 3) Volunteer work; 4) Paid work; 5) Network with peers

What qualities do you believe makes a career-ready individual?

1) Discipline; 2) Great disposition; 3) Initiative; 4) Eagerness to learn; 5) Great work ethics

Shift happens throughout careers and throughout life. How have you learned to deal with unanticipated changes in your career journey?

1) Stay focused on the destination. The journey may change though;

2) Be open minded, many times opportunities present themselves in strange ways;

3) Keep walking forward, despite the adversities;

4) Don't burn bridges;

5) Treat everyone with the utmost respect

Any other advice?

Ask when you don't know, hold on when you are falling,and always smile!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Sifu Daniel Tomizaki for his words on hard work, openness, and drive! Now what do you think? In your college career, what great work ethics have you developed or hope to develop?

Established Professionals: They Were Once in Our Shoes!

By Trish Vega, Toppel Peer Advisor

Have you ever come across a successful individual and thought to yourself, “Man, they work so hard and are doing so well! They must have superpowers or something.” Well, I’ve definitely been there. But even though someone’s current position may be awe-inspiring, it’s important to remember that they too were once in our shoes!

I had the chance to interview Mary Anne Viegelmann, the Global Employee Experience Manager within the Human Resources department at LinkedIn, and she shared with me her best career advice for college students like us.

Ready? Let’s go!

Mary Anne Viegelmann/via LinkedIn

What can college students do to prepare for their careers while they are in school?

"You don’t really know exactly what you’re gonna do in life, but you generally know the things you like doing. Be aware of those passions and skills that you have and try to find the intersection between those two." 

"Talk to as many people as possible no matter what they do! Learn about people from all different backgrounds, it doesn’t even have to be “formal networking”. You never know what those conversations might bring. Most people don’t have a figured out plan for their work but a lot of times it

starts with a simple conversation. People are so willing to talk to college students because they want to help you succeed. Take advantage of that now!"

What qualities do you believe makes a career-ready individual?

"Especially with college students, it’s so important that you are coming into the workplace with fresh new eyes. Your viewpoints and actions are not jaded, you’re not stuck in the mentality of 'that’s the way we’ve always done it'. You’re more open and willing to see things differently and you should use that to your advantage. Employers like people who are positive and willing to take on anything. Saying yes to almost anything and trying almost anything will get you pretty far. And when I mean 'saying yes' I mean being willing to take on projects you may not even know a lot about, because it is all a learning experience. Also, be willing to ask a lot of questions! All this helps build new skills too."

"This is huge especially in the tech world. In the four years that I’ve been in Silicon Valley, I’ve seen constant change. So adapting to that and figuring out how to change your programs quickly is so important."

Shift happens throughout careers and throughout life. How have you learned to deal with unanticipated changes in your career journey?

"When I deal with change, I try not to dwell on it too long. As long as the change does not interfere with my values, I think, 'Okay, there is probably a change for a reason.' Some change you obviously can’t control, like when a company is growing, but I try to look at the pros and cons of the change and work with it. If there’s a change that you think is bad, you should still question it and bring your opinion to the table but do it with an open mind. And I think that comes with a certain attitude of positivity and

openness. It’s better to do it with a positive attitude than with a negative attitude, because you have to do it anyway! So why be a grump about it?"

Any other advice?

"One of the biggest reasons of why I’ve been able to be successful in my work is because I’ve taken to heart one of our core values at LinkedIn, which is that relationships matter. And so the way I always approach every situation is to always think about the people first. It doesn’t matter what my motive is, they’re people first. Usually people are more willing to help you out if you have a strong relationship, so by focusing on the person, I almost won’t even have to ask if I need something because they already want to help you. That’s been hugely important for me, building on the relationships without any expectations, because it’s important to know the people you are affecting. And even if there’s nothing they can do for you, that’s okay. You’ve built a relationship and maybe you’ll get to work with them later on. If you can adopt that trait in college, your network will be huge."

"I think college is such a great time to explore and see what’s out there. I don’t think you have to have it figured out. I’ve been working for 15 years in different kinds of roles, and I’m still learning a bunch of different things. Always be learning, always find different opportunities to build your skills. Volunteering is such a huge part of that. You create such great relationships. And showing your skills in something other than schoolwork will help you too. Employers like to see that you are well-rounded, and they especially like to see volunteer experience, especially good employers. Those companies who care about people first will ask those types of questions and notice that type of thing on your resume or LinkedIn profile.

"Lastly, just have fun!"

~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Mary Anne! So what do you think? In what ways have you experienced that relationships matter?

Work on Vacation Not to Vacation

By Alysha Gomes, Toppel Peer Advisor

The time comes again when many other UM students and I are forced to pick classes to fulfill credits toward our majors. Around this time, I am reminded how stressful it is to pick a career path that I will be inevitably following for the rest of my life. Torn between what my parents wants, what society deems as respectable, what I believe will pay enough to support the life I hope to have, and what I enjoy, the decision is more complicated then most make it out to be. However, the best advice I have been given it to find a happy medium.

There are so many quizzes, questionnaires, and surveys that claim to tell you the best job fit, but the decision is ultimately left up to you. When picking a job there are three major factors (at least for me):

1. What am I good at?

People who stick to this and run often end up in jobs where they only go through the motions. Everyday, they get up, go to work, perform, and go home to the life that their work has made possible, but instead of ruling their own life, they fall victim to routine and hardly ever experience excitement.

2. What makes money?

This is the big debate question. Does my job fit my personality or do I do this because it makes me a ton of money which I can spend after I get off work? People who decide their job based on this question work to pay for the weekends in which they enjoy their life. It is lifestyle they let rule their life. 

3. What do I love doing?

This is the thing that everyone insists should be the deciding factor. We forever hear in our heads, “Do what you what to do, not what people think you should do!” However, this is not the only thing to consider. If you only think about what you love then you forget to consider what you want your life to be like. Yes, many people who give up everything and just roll with their talent do end up on the top of society’s ladder, look at Einstein, but that involves luck and, if you're like me, luck isn’t always on your side.

When picking a career, you should consider not one, but all three of these questions. What are you good at doing that makes enough money to support the life you want that you would love waking up to do? That question will lead you to live a very healthy life in which you do not have to wait till your next vacation to enjoy yourself.

It is estimated that 70% of employees are dissatisfied or disengaged in their careers. So please take some time to reflect on who you actually are. Forget what your parents want, what the top 10 most paying jobs are, and what your rich movie star idol does, and ask yourself what do you want. You don’t have to decide now, but remember that if you don’t pursue your own desires, then your just adding to the 70% who wish they did things different.

Goal : Best put by Dr. Seuss

UShadow at Zensah: The Employer’s Perspective

By: Ze'ev Feig CEO, Zensah Performance Apparel

As CEO of a fast growing sports apparel company, I need to be very efficient in how I manage my time. When I was contacted by the Toppel Career Center to participate in the UShadow program, I immediately accepted. There are a number of people who help mentor me, and I feel it is important to return the favor.

Daniel Englert came to visit my company, Zensah® Performance Apparel, and he showed a keen interest in everything related to apparel. His time at Zensah® was initially spent with me where he had the opportunity to ask questions on topics ranging from the founding of the company to our current day operations. He was able to gain valuable insights into what it takes to build an apparel company. The heartaches and the successes. I also had the opportunity to ask questions of Daniel, and learn from a young, inquisitive, and talented person. I definitely learned from Daniel.

After speaking with Daniel, I had him spend some time with our Director of Design, which is the area that most interested Daniel. He was able to learn how a product is created from concept to production.

Finally, after Daniel finished his time in the design department, I gave him a tour of our office and warehouse which gave him the opportunity to ask any more questions he might have had.

I believe the experience was mutually beneficial, and I hope to continue to participate in the UShadow program, as there are always opportunities to learn.