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?

Get on Board with Informational Interviews!

By Adela Ghadimi, Assistant Director, Employer Development -Washington, D.C.

Informational Interviews: something that you hear mentioned more often these days, but do you really know what they are? How can you use them to benefit you in your own life, and what do you need to know?

I consider informational interviews to be one of the most valuable tools and by far one of the most underutilized opportunities available to you when evaluating a field you want to work or intern in, and in mapping out a course to get you to your desired career destination.

What is an informational Interview?

An informational interview is a meeting between you and a professional or hiring manager who works in a career field that you are interested in joining. It is a chance for you ask an industry insider about the journey that got them to their current position, specifics regarding the industry they work in and their particular office culture, and a chance to get advice from them about how to make yourself a competitive candidate for jobs in the future.

How to start and continue setting up informational interviews:

It might seem like a daunting task starting out, but setting up informational interviews will get easier the more practice you get. Start by searching your personal and professional networks now – have you connected with a professor that might be able to provide you some contacts or introductions? Do you have a previous boss or internship supervisor who you remain in touch with? Does a relative or family friend know people in your desired career field?

Be bold and approach people in your current network, and explain why you are interested in setting up informational interviews – ask for introductions to individuals you can approach for a 20-30 minute phone call or in-person meeting over coffee to have a career-based conversation.

As you begin to reach out to professionals, make sure you are formal and appreciative in all your correspondence with them – address them with formal salutations, sign off your emails with appreciation, and dress professionally for any in-person meetings.

Tips to make the most of your informational interviews:

1. Create a list of questions

Based on your interests and the research you have conducted into the career field you may want to enter, think about what types of questions you would most benefit from asking someone currently working in your desired field. Be specific, targeted, and make sure to individually tailor the types of questions you want to ask each person you meet with. For example, if you are broadly interested in broadcast journalism, broad questions about the industry can apply to anyone you meet with, but for more specialized questions you would ask a content developer something different from someone whose job is post production or on-air talent. Make sure you are asking the appropriate questions of the appropriate parties.

2. Do your research ahead of your meeting

The person you are meeting with is taking time from their day to speak with you and offer their insight on their experiences and the journey that got them to where they are today – make sure you are well researched before you meet or speak with them. Look into their specific company or organization. That research will make your list of questions begin to seem clearer. If they work at an organization you can see yourself employed with one day, learn what you can from their website and ask about new initiatives they may be working on, and don’t be afraid to ask how you can more specifically prepare yourself to be a competitive candidate within their organization down the road.

3. Be respectful of your contact’s time

Be mindful that the person you are meeting with is taking time to speak with you, so I suggest keeping your time frame to about 30 minutes for a coffee meeting or phone chat, unless they specify that they can be available for longer. If they suggest meeting for lunch or in-office meeting, you can typically plan to have the meeting last between 30 minutes and one hour.

4. Ask for additional introductions

As you end the meeting be polite and ask your contact if they have any additional individuals they can connect you with for new informational interviews. Also ask if you can “link in” with them on LinkedIn to keep in touch in the future. You want to use informational interviews as a way to grow your personal network in addition to gaining valuable information from industry insiders.  

5. Follow up with a thank you

In addition to the attitude of gratitude you will display during your meeting, make sure that after you follow up with an email or written note thanking your contact for their time and for sharing their valuable insight and expertise with you.

Hopefully after reading this, you will feel motivated to be proactive and begin to set up informational interviews today!

The Neglected Job Search Tool

By Marian Li, Toppel Peer Advisor

There are first interviews, second interviews, phone interviews, lunch interviews, and group interviews; you’d think employers covered all their bases since all of the above have purposes and best practices. And then there’s the forgotten interview of the job searching process: the informational one. Informational interviews are underutilized. People, especially college students, are unaware of the opportunities that are presented before them. The title of “student” shields one from the judging, probing stares of an employer when they search for an ulterior motive. As a student, employers gladly take one under their wing and treat the interview as a learning opportunity.

So first off, what is an information interview? An informational interview is a one-on-one conversation with someone who has a job you might like, who works within an industry you might want to enter, or who is employed by a specific company that you're interested in learning about. These interviews are excellent options for plotting a career path or focusing your aspirations. Because they're preliminary in nature, informational interviews are also useful for someone who knows what type of job they want but is still at the beginning of his or her search. It’s also a good way to practice your interview skills without conducting a formal job interview. And it's always good way to network into an organization.

   

Sounds helpful, right? Then how do you conduct an informational interview? For some people, the hurdle of an informational interview isn't understanding its purpose, but going about arranging one. After all, if you're at this early stage, you probably have limited means of approaching industry-specific contacts. Those in the know say the first and easiest solution to this problem is to speak with people within your inner circle. Friends, family members, and LinkedIn connections might know of appropriate sources. See if you can contact a suggested person through email, telephone, mail or otherwise to try to arrange a meeting. Veer away from contacting human resources employees, since their standard answer will be to send a resume, and keep in mind that a company executive might have limited time for face-to-face meetings. You're best option would be to find someone within the role you're hoping to fill, or one-step above that, who is close to a hiring manager.

Now what to do? It would be a shame to ace all the initial steps only to botch everything on interview day. To start on the right foot, Crawford recommends dressing the way you would for a formal job interview. This might mean a dark suit and tie for a corporate office, or some slacks and a button-down shirt for a more-casual workplace. She also advises you bring copies of your resume, a generic cover letter, any work portfolio you have, and some spare business cards. Be prepared to ask questions about a typical work day, the corporate culture, the management style, and industry trends. And cue up responses on your personal career plans, your experience, and your skills. Above all, keep in mind that your goal is to come away with more information—not a job offer.

What do you do after the interview? Take a breath and give yourself a pat on the back if you've made it all the way through successfully setting up and conducting an informational interview. But also know that how you follow up is just as important as how you behaved in the interview itself. And you should always follow up—even if you're disinterested in pursuing the lead any further. If an interviewer doesn't hear back from someone they gave an informational interview, they would feel used. If you're not interested in the company or the field, you should still send a quick thank you. An email will suffice, but if you are interested, then your tone and the frequency of your follow up will change.

The Secret Networking Weapon: Informational Interviews

By Amy L. Strachota, Toppel Practicum Student

Attending past networking events, you probably approached the process in a predominately low key manner; in other words, you spent your time introducing yourself, gathering business cards, and sending a follow-up email. Although such practices can be beneficial, proactive networking will put you in a better position to obtain your dream position. 

One way of being proactive in the networking is by conducting what’s most commonly known as an informational interview. An informational interview is a strategic way of gaining valuable information about a certain profession, while networking with employers. 

The first step is to make a hit list of potential companies you wish to work for and use your student status to your advantage when contacting these professionals. Practice your elevator pitch as you get a hold of a professional within the targeted organization. If you choose to send an email, you should include your name, educational background and reason for wishing to conduct an interview. For example: “Hi, my name is Amy Strachota; I am currently working on my Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management at the University of Miami. I’m very interested in gaining more information about the field. Would it be possible to sit down with you to discuss your role within the marketing company and trends in the field as a whole?” 

Before you arrive for the informational interview, fully research the company and its mission statement. Ask questions to give you a better idea of a typical work day in that field, as well as to gain valuable job search advice. This process will provide you an avenue to have a conversation with someone who can relate to your career journey. At the conclusion of the informational interview, express your appreciation for the time the professional took out of his or her busy day to meet with you. Then, ask if you may leave your professional documents, so that the employer many contact you if any type of opportunity were to become available. Even if a position isn’t open during the time of your interview or you’re not ready to begin your career, that may change someday. Leaving your resume, cover letter and/or contact information opens the door to future possibilities — especially since you’ve already networked with that company. 

An informational interview can help you to network with professionals. This can also help focus your internship or job search strategy and clarify your career goals. And, at the very least, it can give you a new LinkedIn connection to increase your professional network.

Exploring Zensah: My UShadow Experience

By: Daniel Englert

When I arrived at Zensah’s headquarters, I walked inside through the bay door and greeted two staff members who were packaging apparel, who then directed me up a stairway to the second floor of the warehouse to meet the founder and CEO of the company, Ze’ev Feig.

Ze’ev and I began talking about Zensah and the business of compression apparel. At a point Ze’ev asked me what my intentions were in shadowing at Zensah, and I told him about my plans to start a casual men’s clothing brand. This led into a discussion about the best current start-up clothing companies that were currently launching, including Gustin jeans beginning from a Kickstarter, and the rapid growth of Bonobo’s into Bloomingdale’s nationwide. He also shared advice on how to go about working with manufacturers with me, which he had picked up in the nine plus years Zensah had grown from a bootstrapped business into a more professional organization.

After my conversation with Ze’ev, I was taken to the designer of the company, who created both the patterns and the packaging for all the products they sell. I learned that the design process was especially unique at Zensah, since the seamless apparel which they sell requires a one-of-a-kind type of machine. This machine is able to sew a garment directly from computer software into a cylinder shape using multiple needles that can reach the fabric from all around. This, I learned, is different than traditional contract manufactures which are called cut-and-sew manufacturers (where rows of people sit behind tables with foot pedal powered sewing machines).

Following my time with the designer, I was given an entire overall tour of the building taking me through the one man HR department and back down to the first floor to see the inventory, packaging process, and finally the accounting office.  The entire team consisted of no more than ten people, an interesting fact I was unable to predict through my prior online investigation. As five o’clock approached, I bid my farewells to all the members I had met after the three hour all-around immersion experience in the warehouse and left having enjoyed an inspiring UShadow afternoon arranged by the generous people at Toppel.

A Day at Design Miami: My UShadow Experience

Written By: Kathryn Hornbeck

When I learned who my UShadow host was, I did what any curious mind would do and Googled the man, Brandon Grom, and the company, Design Miami. The former was easy to understand – he was a recent UMiami graduate with a business degree who worked a series of odd jobs before becoming an exhibit coordinator at Design Miami. The latter, however, flummoxed me. The website was incomprehensible, and for the life of me I could not figure out what it was they actually did.

Not wanting to sound silly for not understanding his company’s purpose, I readily admit that I went to the office, located in the beautiful Design District, during spring break, without a clue as to precisely what it was he did.

The office was no ordinary office; it was essentially a furniture art museum that was spacious and slightly surreal. Brandon cheerfully greeted me and we began to tour the space. Naturally, the first thing he asked me was if I had researched the company – I had, but I was still lost on what it was they did, and said as much.

I learned Design Miami coordinates two major interior design festivals a year, one in Miami and one in Basel, Switzerland. Galleries set up exhibits in the festivals to show off their couture furniture – it is, essentially, IKEA on steroids. Brandon works with each of these galleries to help them with logistics, dates, times, invitations, etc.

We moved on to the informational interview, which was a casual two-way conversation about each other and our respective academics, extra-curriculars, and goals for the future. Brandon was living proof that you never know where you are going to end up – he had never even taken an art course before working for Design Miami, yet there he was, working with some of the biggest names in the design business on a day-to-day basis.

Due to my interest in graphic design, I was able to sit in on a website design meeting between the company’s website programmers and content editors. Twenty minutes was enough for me to decide that it was not something I would consider doing for a living; if I hadn’t attended that meeting, I would not have realized it wasn’t the job for me, so I’m thankful I did!

I stayed at Design Miami until 3 p.m. and was able to speak with marketing coordinators and budget analysts, learn about some software specific to Brandon’s field of work, and take a tour of the Design District.

I am so grateful for the opportunity UShadow afforded – I would never have even thought about art and showcasing before that day, but it turns out to be something I will seriously look into in the future. I plan to stay in touch with Brandon, as he is happy to act as a resource for any future questions or concerns I might have. We are connected on LinkedIn and via e-mail.

Though I went in not sure what to expect from my UShadow experience, I highly recommend it, as you will without a doubt have the opportunity to discover more about your likes, dislikes, interests, and passions, which is all any confused college student can ask for!

Get Career Advice from Candid Career

Written By: Robert Vanisko
Part of the Career Toolbox Series

Don’t you wish sometimes that you could interview somebody in the field that you want to work in? Wouldn’t it be nice to know what your day-to-day life would be like as well as your responsibilities and required skill set? Now, there is an easy way to find out all of that information without leaving your computer.

Candid Career is a great service that posts video interviews from all different fields of employment.  These videos can answer many of your questions about the future jobs that you aspire for.  For example, if you wanted to go into Public Relations, like myself, you could link to Candid Career from HireACane and watch interviews from PR professionals talking about what their jobs are like and what you need to do to reach that position.  

Candid Career is also extremely easy to navigate. You can search by job title, major, industry, or just for general career advice.  The career advice section includes sections such as how to act at a career fair, how to catch the boss’s eye, and how to effectively write cover letters and résumés.

Overall, Candid Career can be a great tool to use if you need to find out information about a potential job in a short amount of time.  The interviews are detailed and come from professionals who have succeeded in their field.  You can access Candid Career through HireACane or by clicking here.

Don’t Buy Shoes or Pick your Career without Testing them Out

By Ali Rodriguez

If you want to buy a car, you typically do some research ahead of time. The same goes for renting an apartment, buying a new home, or taking that dream vacation. So why doesn’t everyone do a significant amount of research before committing to a career?

Research sounds boring, right? Think of it this way, research allows you to make informed decisions.  I can think of numerous occasions when alumni have come back to see me for career advising. They had this image of what a “real job” would look like after graduation. Oftentimes, the pretty picture they had painted was not realistic. They had seen their dream job on TV and pursued their college major based on a fantasy. My first piece of advice, do not decide to be an entrepreneur because “Two Broke Girls” are starting their own cupcake business and it looks cool!

When I think about research, my mind immediately jumps to networking.  We have all heard the term networking thrown around quite a bit. At times, this tends to elicit fear and intimidation. How do I get started? Who do I ask? What do I do once I get there? Pause, take a deep breath, and reboot! Networking is really about meeting new people and finding out more about their interests. And to be honest, most people love to talk about themselves, so it may be easier than you think. Networking is also a key part of your research when identifying people that you want to talk to about how your college career leads to the real world. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go at it alone. The Toppel Career Center is here to help you, and these tips will help you get the process started. My second piece of advice, visit the Toppel Career Center and utilize the fantastic advisors who are there.

When deciding on a major/career path, there are so many options, it may seem overwhelming. We all know there is great information online for researching potential careers, including the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O-Net. While this important, I believe that nothing can compare to actually talking to people who are happy and successful in their respective careers.  You can do this informally at networking events, but also during an informational interview. This gives you the opportunity to talk to a professional in a field of interest, and is a great way to find out more about what you may like in a job or career. It is also a good time to evaluate a specific company. Take a look at our handout for Informational Interviews. It includes questions how to prepare, questions you can ask, and how to follow up.

You are still struggling with whom to conduct an informational interview with, right? If you are shy, start with a family member or friend of the family to practice. Maybe it has been always been your dream to be an attorney. Set up an informational interview with someone you know, so you are not too anxious. Once you get one under your belt, you will be a pro! As I mentioned, Toppel staff can help you identify contacts, but you can also utilize an outstanding resource we have on HireACane.com called Career Shift. This search engine allows you to search for contacts based on industry, location, and company size. It also had a feature that allows you to search for UM alumni. I know that if I get a call from a student from my alma mater, the first thing I want to do is help them. I have never said to no to someone who wants to connect! You are students and we want to help mold you into wonderful professionals.

My third, and last piece of advice, is to take what you have gleaned from these professionals to learn more about yourself and the career you want to have. Informational interviews can help you when evaluating internship opportunities.  They may give you an idea of the type of work settings that are comfortable for you, especially if you visit the professional on-site. Do you like an office setting? Do you like to travel to visit clients? By learning more about others, you learn more about yourself and that is why informational interviews are your gateway to success. Happy interviewing!

A Photographer’s Perspective to a Successful Job Search

By Edward Cruz

Prior to looking through the viewfinder of a camera, a photographer needs to make a few decisions on what they are shooting. For instance, what is the purpose of the photograph? Is it to evoke an emotion, share a scene, or focus on a specific subject of interest? When preparing for an event shoot, other items that need to be considered include the client’s needs, the venue layout, and inventory of equipment needed to capture the event. As an aspiring photographer and a full-time career advisor, I have observed many similarities between shooting an event and gearing up for a job search. Let me explain.

One of the most common emotions many photographers face when starting out is their worth. Many times, the question that has run through my own mind is, Is my work up to par? or Is my equipment good enough to start out as a ‘professional photographer’? Well, in many cases we soon realize the equipment only enhances what we already have within. Having an eye for pictures is a tough skill to teach, many times a person either has it or they don’t. Learning the technical aspects of photography can assist someone in taking the camera off the auto mode. However, after that is accomplished, the creativity or skill required to take a great picture is not found in the equipment used. It is found within the person behind the lens. It comes from an interest, a passion, a curiosity to see the world differently and to express that view through the pictures taken.

As a job seeker, the common themes are similar. The questions that are raised include:

Is my resume good enough?

Are my skills top-notch?

Do I have enough experience to be marketable?

Before attending an event shoot, there are a few steps that photographers must take to ensure a quality product and experience for the client. In a similar fashion, a job seeker, recent graduate or not, should take similar steps to ensure a successful transition or career search. First, conduct an inventory of equipment; secondly, meet with the client; thirdly, conduct a walkthrough of the venue.

Inventory of Equipment

Prior to working an event, a photographer must conduct an inventory of their equipment and be aware of the type of event. One must understand the layout, the event schedule, the subject, and the purpose of the event to capture the best pictures possible. As such, a job seeker should take time out to conduct an inventory of their own equipment or skills that make them unique and standout from the crowd. Just as photographers need to analyze their own work, interests, and the passion that fuels their creativity, a job seeker must determine where their interests lie, what fuels their passion, and provides them with meaning. Unfortunately, there is not a standard response that encompasses every person. Therefore, one of the first things necessary for any job seeker is to understand who they are, what have they accomplished, and what they enjoy. I provided a few questions that can assist in this first step.

• What are my interests; what am I passionate about?

• What interests you most in life? 
•  Favorite hobbies
• A Particular subject matter 
•  Lights fire within 
•  Gives meaning/satisfaction 

•   What are my values?
•   Non-negotiable (regardless of pay, location, job title, etc.)
• Family traditions/background and upbringing

• What skills/strengths would I most like to use? 
•  Skills you find yourself using over and over again – they may reveal what you do well and enjoy doing 
• Recall an accomplishment and determine the skills used during the achievement 
• When possible, do not forget to quantify your results

 As mentioned previously, event photographers need to answer a few questions prior to an event. However, some of these questions cannot be answered on their own. Therefore the next step can be extremely important if a photographer is to be successful at their next event. Remember, there is not a cookie cutter way to conduct a job search and there is not a set way to shoot every event. This brings us to our next step, meet with the client. 

Meet with Client

It is extremely important for a photographer to conduct a meeting or multiple meetings, if necessary, with their client to fully understand what the client’s needs are, what they expect, and what they would like to be captured within the photos taken. For example, when shooting weddings, the details of the day are important like the decorations used, the bridal party’s dresses and tuxedos, the rings, and most importantly the bride’s dress. Other items to consider would be the family and friends in attendance. Knowing which people are important to the bride and groom to include in photos can ensure they receive a product they’ll be happy with. When a client is happy, through word of mouth, a photographer receives more business and clients, and the cycle continues. This step is a major piece that some individuals do not consider or tend to overlook. The importance of understanding what you are trying to accomplish at an event that is being photographed or conducting a job search is extremely important. Before we can get to the end result, we have to remember without a roadmap it could be difficult to go from point A to point B. It is vital to prepare and to network to ensure success.

Like a photographer, a job seeker should be using meetings, specifically informational interview meetings, to make a great first impression on a person who has the ability to hire them or refer them on to another client. When setting up an informational interview, be prepared to ask the right questions to get the information needed to be more prepared and to make a better decision in a future search. Please be patient with this process, in most cases, the results will not be instant.

Additionally, remember this is a networking opportunity. So the first impression is extremely important to continue the relationship past the initial meeting. The question most commonly asked during my advising meetings is, How should I prepare for an informational interview meeting or an upcoming interview? My response, besides becoming more self-aware (discussed in the previous section), is take the necessary time to research the company (discussed further in the next section Conduct a Walkthrough); understand its mission/vision and how it fits in with your own values or outlook on life. Next, learn as much as possible about the services/products provided or sold, the competitors, and the organization’s most recent accomplishments and/or shortcomings. As you determine who you should first reach out to, remember to first utilize your already established network or connect with fellow ‘Canes through resources such as LinkedIn. The goal of these meetings is to learn more about the unwritten stories or experiences of individuals that most likely will not be available through a company website or other promotional materials.  

Here are sample questions you can use on your next informational interview or in-person networking encounter:

• What are tasks/duties performed during a typical day/week/month?
• What type of degrees, courses, internships should be completed to be a competitive candidate upon graduation?
• What are the keywords or buzz terms I should include in my resume or cover letter when applying in this field?
• What skills/characteristics are important to have or acquire?
• Who else would you recommend I speak to?

Conduct a Walkthrough of the Venue 

Prior to any event or meeting, it is recommended for a photographer to conduct a walkthrough of the venue to be the most prepared to succeed. Once a walkthrough is completed the photographer and staff are more familiar with the lighting and layout prior to arrival on the event date. The walkthrough allows the photographer to anticipate any possible challenges ahead of time, resulting in less distractions and more freedom to be creative the day of the event.

It is the responsibility of the job seeker to conduct similar research, either in the field or online. Today, there are a variety of resources to assist candidates with their research on an organization, industry, or position. Students and recent graduates should take advantage of the Toppel Career Center’s HireACane website by logging into their account (scroll to the bottom of the page and click the green Go button). Once you login to HireACane, you will have access to a variety of online resources paid for by the Toppel Career Center. Take advantage of these resources to find job postings and to conduct company and industry research. By utilizing these resources you will be better prepared and have a sharper focus of what you would like to accomplish within your search. Also, do not forget to take advantage of a mock interview prior to experiencing the real thing. During this simulation interview, one of the Toppel advisors will ask you questions tailored to a specific organization, job or industry of your choice. To schedule a mock interview, you must first attend an interviewing skills workshop at the Center. 

Just like the advantage a photographer gains by preparing ahead of time for an event shoot or client meeting, a job seeker will gain a similar advantage through preparation. They will become more confident, relaxed, and better able to share their experience with another person during an interview or informational interview meeting. As a result, they will leave a lasting positive impression on people they meet.