Walking Rolodex-Career Development

The University of South Carolina's Career Center in my personal opinion is one of the best career centers I have seen offered by a university. From job placement assistance for current students and graduates, to a top notch resume builder called Optimal Resume, portfolio management, interview assistance and numerous career fairs often specific to areas of interest like Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Careerfest, and assistance with individual college fairs. The Career Center is a bevy of resources for all students, faculty and staff to better themselves professionally.

I met with Viki Fecas, Jan. 26 and will be meeting with Vicky Hamby in the coming weeks. This wasn't the first time I met Viki but this was the first "official" meeting. I sat in on her presentation on the millennial generation entering the workplace during the Students in Transition Conference last semester. Then there was that time in Which Wich, and again when I was in the Career Center for some bulletin board information...or was it when I was getting my resume chopped and screwed. Speaking of resumes...The career center is divided up into two very distinct components Employer Relations and Career Development. Viki was my career development person. She is like a walking USC Rolodex. She has been at USC about as long as I have been in existence. She has done her undergrad, grad and doctoral studies at USC.

The conversation was very informative, first a overview of the career development services the career center offers to her professional advice for me as a future higher ed/ student affairs person. Reaching walking Rolodex status is not achieved by simply waking up and deciding to meet lots of people, but taking the time to establish those connections and relationships and following up with them. Viki shared with me that many of the opportunities that have become available to her were not only because she was qualified, but because someone knew who she was, her capabilities and their was a working relationship there. Being in the right place at the right time doesn't hurt either.

From my chat with Viki I learned that great networks don't just happen. They take work, follow through and asking is there ever something, someone needs help with. By asking to help it not only makes you look like a go-getter but it establishes you as a reliable person. I have worked hard to meet a new person every single day since coming to USC. Initially it was because I didn't know anyone, but at the close of my four year career at USC I can honestly say that everything Viki said about making yourself available to help others puts you in a position to meet others and have influence.

Next note is my reflection on my USC experience...stay tuned.

Thanks Viki... I will be "networking" with you on furthering the millennial research.

NUFP Midpoint

A highlight of my experience thus far has been my attendance to the 15th Annual National Conference on Students in Transition hosted by the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and Students in Transition. The conference was held early November and highlighted several presenters from around the country. This was an eventful experience because this was my first time being in the presence of student affairs practitioners from institutions other than my own.

The focus of my mentoring experiences has been directed towards issues relative to my institution, the conference helped me hear that no matter the size of the campus, the population of students or geographic location the issues in some way are the same and student affairs professionals are needed to develop innovative and challenging means of servicing the whole student and ensuring their academic, social and mental growth with limited resources. From the conference I further explored my interest in the growing need to address the millennial generation as they embark on the workplace. We are at a place in time where several generations are mixing in the workplace.

For the upcoming semester I expect to further explore offices that I initially did not express interest in like development, the career center, admissions and judicial. This semester I will talk to more of USC’s own upper administrators and gain an understanding of the history of student affairs and the direction they see it moving towards. These conversations will help me understand my further role in higher education and student affairs..

To ensure that I have an opportunity to explore as many aspects of student affairs I will continue to have one-on-one interviews with staff and graduate students in the various offices. Speaking with the grad students is less formal than the staff members because I just want to learn how they came to higher education and essentially, they have helped with my application process. I will gain skills in cultural competency by attending in the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SLDC), I am also presenting on diversity during the New Member Institute sponsored by the Office of Greek Life. My mentor and I actively examine my personal goals, both academic and professional. I plan to keep up better with my blog regarding my NUFP experience, I will be attending the annual conference over Spring Break and continue to read and reflect on articles relative to current events relative to student affairs.

My mentor, Anna Edwards and I will continue to meet each week. Meeting each week, even if not for the whole hour just to touch base on articles assigned to read or comments heard on the news relative to higher education helped build and strengthen our relationship. I really appreciate the flexibility of our schedule. Almost every learning objective as defined for fellows has been met or my mentor and I have identified ways to meet the objectives.