What I Learned About Career From My Stay-at-Home Mom

My mother didn't work when I was growing up. Watching her sit at home every day highly influenced my want and need to work and create.

My mom formerly worked as a lab technician when she moved to the United States from Israel. Why did she pick this field? According to her, she didn't have much of a choice. Israeli high schools in the 60's were similar to tech schools in the U.S. You were placed in classes based on your aptitude. You learned your trade while working in the Israeli army after graduation.

My grandparents told her to become a lab tech since it was a skilled position and she'd always have work in a hospital or doctor's office. In the 60's in Israel, you worked to provide and chose professions based on need versus passion.

My mother worked for 10 years in hospitals around the United States and became a working mom when she had my older sister – six years prior to me. It was a struggle for her to be a single mom.

Juggling hospital hours and daycare was not an easy task. Fast forward six years, remarried and in a much more comfortable financial situation – she stopped working and (from my perspective) never looked back. Our world shattered four years later when my dad passed away. I was only 4 and can't remember much but I never saw my mom struggle or ask for help. She dealt with lawsuits, finances, estates on top of raising two girls under 10. We were earning dividends from my dad's business and financially we'd be OK as long as she was fiscally responsible.

Courtesy Jill Jacinto

Growing up I never thought it was weird my mom didn't go to an office since my elementary school class was primarily filled with kids whose moms did not work (but their dads did). As I went to high school, I saw that moms started to take jobs at Bloomingdalesor get their real estate licenses. My mom never did. When I got to college, I encountered students whose mothers always worked. My mind was blown.

As I've gotten older, I always asked my mom why she never returned to the workforce and her answer was always the same, "It's too late. The skills changed. I was raising daughters. I was busy. I had carpool." I think the real reason was that she was scared. She let herself stay away from it too long and became far too comfortable at home

I entered the career world without witnessing what it was like for either parent to commute to the office or talk about their work or their career aspirations. Sure, I had cousins, uncles and aunts who would give me a window into the working world but not having an example in my own home was glaring. The example I did have was my mom running countless errands and sitting at the computer. While I can attest she was involved with the stock market -- and had the smarts to invest in Viagra from day one -- the majority of her day was spent doing "nothing."

As I got older, I began to see the world through her eyes and have appreciated the fact that she was a stay at home mom. I saw that I ended up learning a whole lot about work from her. Maybe my mom didn't work in an office but she did run her household like a business.

While people lost their savings in the recession, her business skills and market foreshadowing helped her sell our home at the top of the housing bubble. While many families are still struggling, her 'business' is still in the black. She passed on this business acumen to me in the form of budgets, finance, street smarts and sheer confidence.

Courtesy Jill Jacinto

Let's talk money - Even without a clear steady income my mom never took a handout and imparted this importance on my sister and me. While other students were asking for financial aid (as their parents racked in $500K) she paid for our schools outright from a college fund. She didn't want to "ask" if other people truly needed it. I saw her scrimp and save and followed suit. She was a "recessionista" before the term was coined and passed on the knowledge to my sister and me.

If there was penny – she knew how to pinch it. She'd compare prices and bargain shop til we were blue in the face. She always, always asked for a deal or a second opinion. She'd spend hours researching products before making a purchase. Test shoes, coats, cars – you name it before dropping a dime. Many of my peers and friends needed to live at home after college, drowning in debt, or simply couldn't make it own their own. I didn't. I was thankful for those penny pinching lessons.

I always knew from the get-go to live well below my means. I rode the bus, had a library card (probably only person in NYC who still does, besides my mom of course) and knew how to make a meal for under $2. I never needed a handout. I knew better than to charge an item if I didn't have the cash up front. I'd never think to live paycheck to paycheck or live beyond my means.

You're an all-star – Unlike her parents, my mother saw the merit in working for a job you are passionate about. Originally I wanted to be an actress. I was signed up for every acting and singing class possible. The problem was that I was shy. My mother helped raise my confidence to audition and try. Although, she also told me that I could never major in acting but could always do it on the side. She read my high school and college essays and would rave to her friends about my writing.

When I wanted to work in TV news she was my PR person. If we passed a local news van on the street she'd walk right up and start telling the producer or anchor about me and help me make connections. While I recall being mortified at her overt perseverance, it inspired me to have the confidence to do the same. While I'll never have the amount of chutzpah she has, it certainly empowered me. While I might not be an all-star, having that confidence is key. I believed I deserved a shot at working in media thanks to my mom. I never thought I wasn't good enough or didn't earn it.

Create a living – Watching my mom spend two + decades not working prompted me to never want to be in that situation. I might never know how she spent those working hours but I do know I never want to find out for myself. Someday, I want to be a mom – but a working one. Easier said than done. But seeing her live for just me and my sister was not something I wanted for myself. And I know that is something she doesn't want for us either. Professionals spend over 70 percent of our lives at work. Besides gaining a paycheck – the office provides us a place to socialize, mate and best of all showcase our talents.

Nothing gold can stay - You never know what the future holds and you'd better be prepared. My mother was extremely lucky that we had a strong financial cushion in place. However, she became the go-to sherpa of recent divorcés and widows in my neighborhood. They'd talk to her for hours and ask for her advice. She doled out references for trustworthy lawyers, accountants, banker, brokers – even mechanics. She let me know that even the best marriages fail or the healthiest spouses perish or get ill. The future isn't certain and you need to know you can rely on yourself. Have a say in your household and be educated about where your finances are going. You're smart and you can change the world. You don't need a man to make a living for you to survive. One day – you'll regret it.

What We Can Learn From Glee's Naya Rivera's Firing Rumors

Repeat after me – never fight with the top CEO. Earlier this week reports came out that actress Naya Rivera was allegedly dismissed from the popular FOX hit series, Glee. Rivera was said to have major jealousy issues with the show's lead female star, Lea Michele. Insiders from the set say that the two had "major altercations." According to gossip site PopWrapped, Rivera has been "written out" of the season 5 finale, and will not return for the next season. Naya is reportedly "jealous that Lea is the show's main star," one Glee series insider told Us magazine. Another source added that the rivals "talk behind each other's backs- a lot."

This afternoon The Huffington Post did report that, "Glee's producers declined to comment on Rivera's future with the show." According to The Hollywood Reporter a representative from River'a team stated, "Any reports or rumors circulating that Naya Rivera was let go or fired from Glee are absolutely untrue. End of story."

Don't cause a scene – You won't like everyone – especially at the office. It's good to be competitive at work but not combative. If you have a problem with someone at the office, try venting your frustrations to friends as opposed to colleagues. They can lend a friendly ear without spreading gossip around the workplace and potentially fanning flames. Never openly fight with a coworker or lose your cool. Before you respond, count to five before blurting out something you might regret. And absolutely never put potentially threatening language in an email. You never know who is monitoring it. IT departments have the radar and control to detect this type of correspondence.

Kill them with kindness – Whether personal or professional the best way to 'win' over someone is not to react to their outbursts. Instead, be your cheerful self and produce your best work with a smile. Just like Lea and Naya – the top brass always has leverage. If you publicly spar with a higher up or vice versa – the top executive has the ability to say, "it's her or me (and my clients)."

Plan a lunch – Working with someone you don't like and whose feelings are mutually chilly is never easy. For your own best interests its best to squash it before the situation accelerates. Ask them out to lunch or coffee – far away from the prying ears and eyes of the office. It's time to address the issue while also building and repairing the relationship. Let them know that you respect them as a business person and value the work they do for the company. Calmly ask them how you can both work better together. Devise a solution to make your relationship work.

If it's really bad – It might be time to go to HR if this top executive is zeroing in and bullying you. Save any emails, documents you can to show as proof of a hostile work environment. The more evidence you have of this person's vicious behavior the better. Let HR know that you've tried to make it work, talked with that person and need them to intervene. Be careful with the language you use to describe that person as it will be recorded for review. Note that if this person is truly a powerful part of your company's bottom line – she most likely won't be the one that gets pushed out. Of course,  if the behavior was truly defamatory, hostile and racially charged a la NBA owner Donald Sterling – you have a much stronger argument.

Time to leave – If you work in a hostile environment and it's not getting better...it's time to think about a plan B. Start looking elsewhere. Revisit HR and see if you can transfer to a new department.
 

What Are You Doing After Graduation?

This is one of the most terrifying questions you can ask a graduating senior. The day after commencement, you've officially joined the ranks of the unemployed. Welcome to the real world. The job hunt after college is tough. However, if you know the common do's and don'ts before you apply for a job, step into an interview or negotiate a job offer – you'll be employed in no time.

 

It's all about who you know: Why? Because people tend to hire people they know and trust. You're more apt to try a new hairdresser if your friend with great hair recommends theirs. Same goes for the career world. I know what you're thinking, "But I don't know anyone." Wrong! As a college student you are the most connected. You can reach your to your professors, friends, family, former employers as well as alumni. Start mapping out your network and thinking critically about how you know already and who you'd like to know. Use tools like LinkedIn to research people in your desired field and pick their brain. Ask to set up a phone call to learn about the industry. A compliment never hurts either so be prepared to discuss your respect for their career. Come prepared with questions.

Do the extra credit: Step 1. You look on a company's website or a job search site and find a job you love. Step 2. You apply directly from that site. Step 3. Avoid step two at all costs. If you apply in this manner your application will get lost in the "black hole" of job applications. You'll be applying against thousands of other job searchers. Instead, do a little extra work for a bigger pay off. Scour the internet and LinkedIn for the hiring manager's name and address. Not only will a real live human be on the other end of that email, but they'll be about to see you have great perseverance and investigative skills.

Interview Intervention: If you've been interviewing a ton but not getting the job offer it might be wise to rethink your strategy. Always do your homework on the company and who'll be interviewing you. What does this mean? Read everything you can on the company. If they're in retail – buy their product and see it through the eyes of a consumer. When I applied to work for a person who was an author – I bought all 3 of her books and read them before the interview. I was able to use to show I cared about the position and respected her so highly that I invested 5 hours of my life reading her expertise. She was impressed and I was hired. The more work you do beforehand, the more it will help you during the interview. You'll be able to analytically talk about the company and be an active participant. Make a point to ask about upcoming products and goals. Never talk about salary, hours or vacation time during the initial interview.

Choose your outfit wisely: What we wear subconsciously tells people about our personality. Depending on what industry you are applying – your clothing should follow suit. If it's corporate stick to a suit but wear a colorful tie or blouse to enhance your creativity. If you're working in a creative environment then you can play around with your "power interview outfit." What you don't want to do is show up to a casual start up where everyone is in shorts and flip flops and you're in a boxy suit. The hiring manager there might think you're conservative and might not want to work in such a relaxed atmosphere. Make them think you already belong by mirroring how they dress. That doesn't mean you should show up in shorts but a dark blazer and jeans would do the trick.

To accept or not to accept: You got your first offer! But do you really want it? What if something better comes along; what if it doesn't? Don't play the "what if" game. Follow your heart and brains. Did you get a good feeling when you interviewed, do you respect the company and want to learn more about the industry? Do you see yourself there? Accept. If you are miserable you can always look for another position down the road.

Don't accept the first offer: Don't accept the first salary offer without trying to negotiate. When you're a recent graduate and you go from making zero to making thousands of dollars, you're apt to say OK! But don't! You'll be selling yourself short. Research what people generally make starting out in your industry so you know what you'll be expected to make. The worst thing you can do is to ask for 50K when you know the base is generally 35K. Ask for 40K and see if they can meet you in the middle. If they can't, see if you can honestly live on the salary and are passionate about the job.

What Commencement Speeches Aren't Saying

A few weeks ago I was asked to be on a panel at Fairfield University to discuss my experiences in the media business. My fellow panelists held a variety of careers within the media world. They included an accomplished journalist formerly from ABC News now working as the managing editor for TheShriverReport.org, a newspaper reporter with 30 years' experience, a book publishing editor, a video producer and a video designer.

Before the discussion began the event organizer and fellow panelist, Audra Martin (video producer for Group SJR), informed us to be as honest as possible and not sugarcoat the reality of the job market or our collective foray into the media business. Audra also pointed out that over half these students will graduate from college without ever having an internship. The panel was insightful and the students asked incredible questions. I've highlighted the three main takeaways.

Don't dismiss internships

Internships have been getting a bad rap the last few years due to some companies being sued and some deleting their programs all together – like the media magnate Hearst. You can take a class, read countless books, ace every exam on a topic but that doesn't at all compare to experiencing it firsthand. Internships are very valuable, every student no matter if you're hoping to work in sales, finance, tech or media should have at least one under their belt. It's a daunting process to narrow down an internship opportunity – especially if your college career department doesn't have the right contacts. 

Don't be afraid to look up opportunities on your own by tapping into your network. Reach out to former professors, family and friends and previous employers. You never know whose cousin's college roommate might be able to score you a great experience. A great untapped asset is connecting with former alumni forinformational interviews. You can get a list of contacts from your career department or by doing a search on LinkedIn. If you also decide to apply for internships directly on an employer's website make sure you reach out directly with the hiring manager as well. Don't trust that sending your resumes to internships@thebestcompanyever.com will get you noticed. Instead, utilize your research skills and find out who the hiring manager and follow up with them directly.

Be persistent with a purpose

"How many emails and calls is too many," asked several student who were eager to get noticed but didn't want to become an annoyance to a potential employer. The panel was in agreement that in order to get noticed you need to be a squeaky wheel. On an average day we collectively agreed that we receive 100-200 emails. It's very easy for something to get lost which is why it's essential to follow up. When you are following up always respond with something that , "I read this article on TechCrunch and thought you would find it interesting" or "I attended this marketing lecture and it made me think about what we discussed in our meeting."

The other point to consider is that when you are reaching out to someone in hopes of a meeting, job, or information you need to have done your homework and create an "in". Study the person you are contacting. Read their LinkedIn Profile, study their company and career history. Use this information to your advantage over email, "I read your article on PR trends and learned a ton" or "I see you work on the Today Show – I'm such a huge fan. I especially love the Orange Room." This is your in. Chances are the people you are emailing know why you are contacting them but going the extra mile and doing your homework turns your "ask" into a relationship.

No one has their dream career at 21

When you graduate it's very easy to 'assume' that you'll be starting at the top (or close to it) – especially when you look at successful millennials like Mark Zuckerberg, Lena Dunham and Instagram founder Kevin Systrom. Except that is very rarely the case. Most people start at entry-level positions -– and that's OK. Learning the ropes, watching from the sidelines and getting in tune with office dynamics will help shape your professional persona. Chances are you'll be interviewing and submitting dozens of resumes after graduation. The job market is constantly growing, changing and adapting.

There are so many different types of jobs out there. I've seen countless people pass up great opportunities because it wasn't their 'dream job.' That dream gig might never find you. If you get a job offer that sounds great and interests you – take it. The time to experiment is in your 20s. Take risks, learn new things and be open to new experiences. You don't have a family to support or mortgage payments to worry about. Take that hourly-wage earning, 3-month production assistant job on the latest Scorsese film.

9 Best Gifts for Graduates

According to The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 1,606,000 students will earn their bachelor's degree in 2014. Chances are you might know someone who recently received their diploma. If you're unsure of what to give a recent college graduate, I've put together nine gift ideas every graduate could appreciate.

Show me the money. Nothing says "Congrats" like cold hard cash. Seriously though, you can never go wrong with money. Recent graduates are commonly low on savings and would rather have money than another tech gadget.

Noise canceling headphones. Whether they're commuting to the office, running to job interviews or tuning out a loud co-worker, noise canceling headphones are essential to staying focused. Your first few months on the job can be tough. It's hard to get used to working on your own while blocking out another person's conference call, a metro announcement or a meeting in another cube.

Wardrobe styling session. Having a stylist might sound like a luxury but it isn't. It's an investment. Plenty of traditional stores like Ann Taylor, Bloomingdale's or evenJ. Crew have an in-store stylist for no extra cost. Most graduates have no idea what a work wardrobe should look like or how career outfits should fit their bodies. Having a stylist's experience and expertise will help make sure they pick a chic professional wardrobe that will help them blend into the working world.

Luggage. When you start your first job, you never know when you'll get called on a business trip. A hiking backpack and a polka dot print roller will not do. A classic black four-wheel, durable carry-on roller is something every professional needs. A briefcase and a classic handbag also enhance a new graduate's style as they take on the job market.

Personalized stationery. In a world of ever-changing technology, there's nothing more traditional and personal than receiving a handwritten note. Stationery is essential for graduation gift thank you notes but also for job interview follow-up letters. Minted has great template options to choose from.

Business cards. New graduates will be tossed into the job market meeting new people, leveraging connections and entering conferences and job fairs. While they might not be employed yet – creating a professional business card with their contact information will help express their professionalism in the space. VistaPrintand TinyPrints are all great options. A business card holder is also helpful for those cards to stay clean and crisp while you're passing them out.

Watch. If you want to spend a bit extra on your graduate – get them a classic timepiece. Not only will it be their go-to accessory when applying for jobs – they'll keep it for years. Watches are timeless. They symbolize hard work and growth.

Inspirational book. Send your graduate a copy of your favorite book that helped (or still helps) motivate you. There are many popular career related books likeLean In for Graduates, The Confidence Code, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleor I Just Graduated...Now What. Another classic is Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go.

Gift cards. Maybe the thought of giving just money is too impersonal. Instead, choose a generic American Express gift card for your graduate to spend on items he or she needs. You'll be covering your bases getting them something they can actually use on items you might not even know they need.

Top Tips from 2014 Commencement Speeches

College and high school graduations are in full swing. Alongside the pomp and circumstance come the highly celebrated commencement speeches from politicians, business executives and celebrities. Here's a sweep of celebrity career tips from 2014 commencement exercises.

Charlie Day: 

"It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' actor Charlie Day spoke to the graduates of his alma mater, Merrimack College.

 

"Create a job instead of waiting for it to happen. Don't wait for your break, make your break. Make it happen for yourself."

"I don't think you should do what makes you happy. I think you should do what makes you great. What's uncomfortable and scary, what pays off in the long run. Be willing to fail. Let yourself fail. Without this struggle – what is success anyway?"

"You are going to change the world in big ways and in small."

And adding a bit of humor, "I sound like a 10-year-old smoker."

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Katie Couric

The talk show host addressed the class of 2014 at American University.

"You are entering the professional world at a time of breathtaking change and uncertainty. But I am very excited about the future. And I think you should be too."

"A solid work ethic, a lot of initiative, a positive attitude will serve you well."

"I have faced setbacks and disappointments and sorry to say so will all of you. You may take some wrong turns and lose your way but you'll get back on track."

"Do what's best and what works for you. Only you know when to lean in, lean out or lie down."

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Elin Nordegren


Elin Nordegren (Tiger Woods' ex-wife), was chosen as the Outstanding Senior of Rollins College earning a 3.96 GPA.

"When I entered my student adviser office in the fall of 2005 I was 25 years old and had just recently moved to America. I was married without children. Today, nine years later, I'm a proud American and I have two beautiful children...but I'm no longer married."

"Education is the one thing that no one can take away from you."

"Every single day we each have an opportunity to keep on learning and to infuse the learning with meaning. I believe we each have the responsibility to pass on the importance of education to our children and future generations."

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Sean Combs

Sean Combs formally known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and Diddy addressed the students of Howard University. He dropped out of Howard to pursue his music career.

"I can't wait to live in the world you are about to create...I can't wait to watch you change the world."

" I want you to remember three things, Number one, I want you to never be afraid to make a decision. Be decisive. Don't be afraid to fail. Be fearless. Number 2, I want you to remember the power of you. You are the most powerful generation this world has ever seen. Number three, Can't stop, won't stop."

"I don't want you to dream. I want you to do. Close your eyes and dream. Then open your eyes and see."

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Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock spoke at Warren Easton Charter High School in New Orleans. Bullock donated to the school after it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

"Stop worrying so much. Stop being afraid of the unknown."

"Raise the bar higher."

"Nothing is a failure; it's just not supposed to work out that way. Something better is supposed to come along."

AP

Janet Yellin, Chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, spoke at NYU's 2014 commencement.

"Listening to others, especially those with whom we disagree, tests our own ideas and beliefs. It forces us to recognize, with humility, that we don't have a monopoly on the truth."

"There is an unfortunate myth that success is mainly determined by something called "ability." But research indicates that our best measures of these qualities are unreliable predictors of performance in academics or employment. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth says that what really matters is a quality she calls "grit"--an abiding commitment to work hard toward long-range goals and to persevere through the setbacks that come along the way."

"Serious decisions about life surely lie ahead, but take the time to savor the joys, large and small that come along the way. Share those joys with others, and share a laugh when you can."

> Watch this awesome Navy SEAL Commander address the University of Texas, Austin

Admit It, You Sent A Work Email From The Bathroom

Admit it, you sent a work email from the bathroom this morning.

If you did you, aren't alone. About one in five professionals admit to doing work in the restroom. This newly released "Life at Home" report comes to us by Swedish furniture maker Ikea. The report says that between 16 and 17 percent of the 1,000 people surveyed in New York City admitted to working in the bathroom. Ikea surveyed roughly 8,000 people in eight cities globally on diverse morning habits including getting ready, time spent working, cuddling and reflecting.

The Today Show covered the study and several of the anchors admitted to sending emails from the loo. Natalie Morales and Carson Daly readily admitted to doing work from the toilet, and Matt Lauer confessed to possibly sending an email from the washroom. Daly also filled the audience in on his bathroom conference call tips.

Going to the work bathroom can be challenging enough. The next time you get an email from a client or your boss, you've got to wonder if that was typed out in the bathroom. You might also give people a second glance if they head to the restroom with smartphone in hand.

At least Manhattanites aren't the only professionals bringing their work to the loo. In Stockholm, 17 percent of those surveyed also admitted to working in the bathroom. In London, Moscow, Mumbai, Berlin and Shanghai, 10 percent did.

Ikea's report findings also included:

• New Yorkers spend 16 minutes per day grooming. That's nearly 2 additional minutes more compared to other cities surveyed. No one said being beautiful was an easy task.
• About 56 percent of people from NYC do not consider themselves "morning people." This explains the need for the venti-size coffee in the morning.
• 57 percent of New Yorker's think self-reflection is important. Remember that the next time someone steals your cab or steps on your toe on the subway.

Other interesting gems include the fact that people in the Big Apple tend not to eat breakfast at home, compared to the other cities surveyed. Yet when they do sit down to a meal, they are more likely to use their PDA than any other city (aside from Moscow).

Before you type out your morning agenda from your work stall, make sure to Purell before and after you hit send.

What Do Millennials Want In The Work Place?

The other week I sat in on a Dell Think Tank moderated by Lauren Berger, the CEO of the InternQueen.com who recently released her second book, Welcome to the Real World. The purpose of the Think Tank is to connect students, employers, educators, recruiters and Gen Y job seekers. The mission was to create a dialogue around a broken system.

The Art of Email: If you're a fellow member of Gen Y, you grew up on the computer and used email, AOL Instant Messenger, and text as a way of correspondence to friends and family. The workplace also caught on to this technology and implemented it at great lengths. Except, transitioning to using email from personal to professional should really require a handbook. Learning to craft a perfect professional email is an art. Unfortunately too many graduates enter the working world not realizing how to write an effective formal email.

The Dell panel agreed that universities should create programs that help their graduates navigate communicating with their co-workers and clients via a computer. Rakia Reynolds from Skai Blue Media said a new hire sent her a message reading, "Hey, dude, it's finished!" This casual tone was not how Reynolds wanted her employee to interact with her. There are also times when we're too connected to emails. In such a socially connected world we're oddly isolated. Natalie Zfat the co-founder of Social Co., mentioned, "Technology can make us anti-social. Show that you have communication skills."

To Text or Not to Text: Do not text your boss if he or she has never reached out to you via that medium. However, what do you do if your boss texts you? Text them back but keep it formal. Your boss isn't "Your girl" as panelist Rakia Reynolds explained how she received a text like this from an employee. Mirror your boss's language and texting skills. If they are using a relaxed vocab – you can too, but don't over do it. Always proofread and avoid texting slang like, "OMG", "TTYL", and "IRT." Stay away from emoticons – especially if you are new on the job. These designs unfortunately only remind your boss that you are new to the workforce and might not be as professional as they would like.

The Busy Chronicles: One topic that Lauren Berger brought up was the, "I'm so busy" tagline used by professionals industry-wide. My fellow panelists agreed that we all need to stop one upping one another on our "busy" professional lifestyle. We don't need to compete with each other. We actually all need to relax. John Gottfried of Major League Hacking explained the discussion might be less about finding a work/life balance and more about finding a place where that blurred line doesn't matter. Although, how do you create a work/life balance when we live in a digital 24/7 world? There's no easy answer to this question, which is why it's been debated for years.

As a new hire, especially when you're holding your first job – you need to put in face time. Be the first one there and last one to leave for the first several months. Understand what is expected of you and learn what your hours are. Do you work with clients on the west coast and need to rake in three additional hours to coordinate schedules? Or worse, do you have clients in Asia and need to be on call when the rest of your office is in bed? The last thing any good boss wants is a burned out employee. No boss should expect you to burn the midnight oil, night after night after night. They'd end up with a sleep-deprived employee that could be a risk to their business.

If you are feeling over-extended, approach your boss. Ask for a work smartphone and laptop to answer emails, take calls or complete assignments at home. Most importantly, learn what their priorities are and what can truly wait until tomorrow. Ask to alter your hours several days a week if you need to work odd hours to meet deadlines, work late night events, or conference with clients overseas.

Fix the System: The Dell panel was in full agreement that the university system needs to make changes when it comes to preparing graduates for the real world. Opal Vadham, one of the student panelists, said "Universities need to have a strong social media presence so students can see how social media can be utilized professionally." If a university isn't readily using LinkedIn, Twitter or other platforms to their advantage, how would a student know they could use social media to enhance their job search?

People learn best through leading by example. Universities need to create classes, panels, events that arm students with the tools they need in the real world. While taking History of Central Europe is fascinating it might be equally advantageous to learn how to create a business plan, pitch a client, cold call, devise an elevator speech, lead a meeting or conduct a conference call.

Tackling an Internship: You need an internship to get a job but you need a job to afford your internship – what gives? How does a financially strapped student survive on an internships stipend of lunch and metro fare? Student panelist, Eva Shang from Harvard shared how she had to work a second job while she had an internship. As a student who can't rely on the bank of mom and dad – how do you make it work?

As the InternQueen, Lauren Berger can attest, there's no better place to learn hand on job experience than being in an office environment. Which is why internships are so valuable. Christina Onori from Dell explained that interns (and employees) at the Dell campus participate in several career development workshops throughout their internship, including one about, "Primping their LinkedIn Profile." Many internships can be offered for part time which can offer the student time to find a job and complete course work. In fact, there's a limit to how many hours an employer can have an intern work. If your boss asks you to work longer hours, have your college counselor step in and talk to your supervisor.

To listen to the entire Think Tank Livestream, click here.

How to Land The Ultimate Summer Job If Your Name's Not Obama

While most American teens spend their summers working at summer camps or at McDonald's, Malia Obama went to Hollywood. According to TheWrap, Obama scored a summer gig working on Steven Spielberg's new TV series called Extant starring Halle Berry.

Malia, an aspiring filmmaker, loved her time on the set according to a source at the taping. The source also quoted Obama, 15, as commenting on the experience, "My first time. This is a big deal!"

Malia spent a day working as a production assistant on the summer sci-fi series premiering on CBS. Malia helped out with computer shop alignments and even slated a take for a scene. There's no word yet if the First Daughter will spend more time on the Los Angeles set the rest of the summer. The White House declined to comment on Malia's summer job in Hollywood.

So you (or your child) want to follow in the First Daughter's footsteps and apply for a gig as a PA? Here's what they really have in store:

Upside- You learn to be a Jack of all trades on a Movie/TV set by helping support the film crew. Chances are you'll be assisting sound, lighting, camera, director, actors, writers, producers or even craft services. Other pluses include getting two free meals a day, wearing what you want and seeing an all-star celebrity in action. More importantly, you figure out what department you want to specialize in. You also have the opportunity to make connections with film crew members in those areas.

Downside – Unfortunately the hours are long, don't expect health insurance and there's little job security since when the 3-month shoot is over you need to look for the next gig. You can also expect low wages, lots of travel and plan to work in all types of inclement weather. The show must go on.
What are some skills PA's need to succeed?– Flexible, punctual (time is money), adaptable, resourceful, professional (no selling actors' gossip or photos to TMZ).

Extant premiere's on CBS on July 9.

Here's Why You Should Never Say 'I'm Sorry' Again

Be honest: if you are female and in the career world, you've uttered the phrase "I'm sorry" more times than you care to recall. You preface statements with "I'm sorry," utter the phrase after someone steps on your shoe or closes the elevator door on your foot, or say it to grab someone's attention.

Bearing that in mind, Pantene has just released a new ShineStrong ad campaign, I'm Sorry, that showcases how women belittle themselves by mentioning the phrase everywhere, from the boardroom to the bedroom. The next phase of the commercial showcases what happens when these women remove "sorry" from their vocabulary.

This advertisement is the second wave of Pantene's women empowerment ads. Last year's commercial (Labels Against Women) highlighted workplace labels; "I'm Sorry" is just the latest in a series of thought-provoking ad campaigns geared toward professional women.

You're not really sorry. What you are really trying to do is tell the other person that they must be busier or more important than you--which is why you're "sorry" to disturb them. Except this is almost never the case, especially when you are at the office. You are there to work, and oftentimes that means offering up your ideas. That's what your boss and coworkers are looking for. Saying you're sorry is holding you back.

Sorry is a five letter word. You need to banish the word "sorry" from your workplace vocabulary. Don't use it as a crutch. Don't hide behind its emptiness. Stand up for what you believe in. Do you want someone's attention? Ask for it. Don't apologize for it. Colleen Jay, president of P&G Global Hair Care and Color says, "We believe the message of the 'Not Sorry' video will resonate with women, encouraging them to be more aware of this diminishing behavior and, in turn, prevent any bias they may be unconsciously creating."

Bring Back Confidence. You are where you are professionally because you earned it. You didn't just get lucky. Your talents and skills were recognized, and that's what earned you the job and got you the position you deserve. You have nothing to feel sorry about. So if you feel an "I'm sorry" coming on, bite your tongue, pause, watch this ad and rephrase your next statement. "I think," maybe?

Barbie's Adding Entrepreneur To Her Resume

Barbie's been a fashion designer, scientist, doctor, U.S. President, pilot, and lawyer and now she can add entrepreneur to her running list of professions. In her 55-year history, Barbie has held more than 55 careers. Can we say Renaissance woman?

Mattel will launch Entrepreneur Barbie this summer. The doll comes with a smartphone, tablet computer and will even have her own LinkedIn Profile to help her stay connected to her business colleagues...Skipper and Ken. It's clear that Barbie has taken Sheryl Sandberg's advice and is leaning in to her career a bit more in 2014.

Why did Mattel launch this career over another?

Barbie always looks for a sign of the times to release a new doll as a role model for young girls. They tracked the increase of female-owned businesses, which have far outpaced the growth of men's businesses. One in three businesses is owned by women. According to Entrepreneur.com, 41% of women are the breadwinners for their family.

Yet, the conversation doesn't stop at Barbie's new resume.

Mattel is continuing the conversation by adding an online component that features real-life female entrepreneurs who are champions of their industry. The brand collaborates with "Chief Inspiration Officers" from the founders of Rent the Runway, One Kings Lane, Sugarfina, Girls Who Code, Genuine Insights, Girl Scout Cadette, Plum Ally and the TomKat Studio.

These real-life sources of female entrepreneurial success will offer their personalized career tips and tricks along with blog posts and activities and career-themed games.

"If girls are taught at a young age that entrepreneurship is a plausible and satisfying career path, perhaps that will encourage more female-owned businesses in the future," said Jenny Fliess, Rent The Runway co-founder.

The brand will also include a social media component which includes the hashtag #unapologetic. This is on par with Pantene's recent ad, 'Not sorry.' It's a growing trend that tells women to stop apologizing for their success and place in the workforce.

Mattel is doing their part to change the narrative of the women in the workplace conversation.

Barbie has gone a long way from her California blonde roots. Creating a toy girls can play with and in virtue "practice" future careers is something that can help transforms little girls' mindsets for the rest of their lives.

Are You Bored at Work?

I recently had an all-too-familiar conversation with a woman, Brooke, who was unsure about her career. She loved the comfortable atmosphere, the boss who telecommutes from home daily, and, of course, the fact that her work load was slim to none.

Brooke was able to catch up on her shows, industry news and fashion blogs. She said she always asks her main boss how she can help or if there is anything she can take off her plate. Her boss's go-to sweet response is always, "I've got it covered. You do not want this work in front of you. Thanks so much for offering. Let me shield you from this type of work." She said it felt great that her boss was protecting her from the nitty-gritty work of the firm and loved the freedom she had. Except, from an outside observer's perspective, she was very much caged.

She was stuck in a box and unable to grow.

After she learned I was in the career space, Brooke 'fessed up that she was insanely bored and wanted more. She asked for my opinion on the matter. She wanted to know how she can approach her boss and start doing more real work. She said she often asked for reviews but her boss was always "busy."

From the sounds of it, her career development was not on her boss's agenda. Which is the case for some firms. If her boss truly wanted her to become an all-star at the firm, she would pass along more tasks her way and help her hone her skills. Yet, her boss was protecting the work she was doing incredibly close. Perhaps all she was looking for was an assistant, and if that's the case, then you can say sayonara to any real education and movement within.

Brooke took this all in and admitted she wasn't even so keen on learning the ins and outs of the linen industry.

Her real dream was to open an online accessories store a la #GirlBoss Sophia Amoruso. She enlightened me that her Brooklyn neighborhood had everything – minus a place to buy higher-end accessories. The idea was to set up shop online and then grow into a smaller storefront. She knew she could get the web traffic and the foot traffic. She went on for 15 minutes or so. Her face lit up as she talked about each plan, each step and every designer she wanted to include.

I told her it was time to start turning her dream into a reality.

Her current job was not challenging her and she was barely interested in the field. The two plusses were the salary and the low stress. She easily could work on her business after work and on weekends. All she needed to do to get started was create a website with an e-commerce component and start making relationships with designers.

"But what if I fail?" Brooke honestly asked. I told her, "Then you fail knowing you tried and aren't stuck working at the linen firm wondering what if."

The only thing that gets in the way of our dreams is ourselves and fear plays a huge part in stopping us from following our dreams. Starting your own business is extremely challenging. I also told Brooke that she should reach out to people in her industry and see if she might be able to add some part time work to 'test out' her passion. She might discover she would rather work for an e-commerce store than run all of it. Without doing a test drive -- you'll never know what you really want to do.

The worst thing any of us can do is stay at a job where we are bored. 

Everyone has something to offer. Don't let yourself stay 'stuck' in a situation. Take charge, be innovative, look for a new project or partnership you can development. If you are truly at a dead end, spruce up your resume and take the bold risk to leave a comfortable situation.

You'll be happy that you did.

Tick, Tock: Company Times Bathroom Breaks

Can you possibly imagine your supervisor timing your bathroom breaks at work? It's bad enough to use the restroom at the office, but a Big Brother-type system for people using the bathroom is something companies did at the turn of the 19thcentury...not something businesses should push in 2014.

Employees at WaterSaver, a faucet company, have only six minutes per day to use the washroom. Earlier this week, they stood up for their personal care rights and protested the policy of timing workers while they use the restroom. The Teamsters union has filed an "unfair labor practices complaint" with the National Labor Relations Board after 19 employees were charged with "excessive use" of the bathroom. They also feel the system is an invasion of privacy.

WaterSaver's HR department described "excessive use of the bathroom as... 60 minutes or more over the last 10 working days," according to the affidavit. Which calculates to six minutes a day.

Over the winter, WaterSaver began monitoring workers' bathroom breaks by installing a swipe card system for employees to use each time they need to use the restroom. The company's CEO, Steve Kersten, says he implemented the policy to avoid workers from slacking off or using their mobile phones. Which, according to a study last month by Ikea, is quite common.

Kersten claims that WaterSaver lost about 120 hours of productivity last May due to workers taking bathroom breaks during non-sanctioned break times. WaterSaver's employee policy gives workers daily breaks that equal one hour a day. Kersten advises employees to use the restroom during these allotted times.

Nick Kreitman, the union representative at WaterSavers said, "The company has spreadsheets on every union employee on how long they were in the bathroom. There have been meetings with workers and human resources where the workers had to explain what they were doing in the bathroom." This type of policy is embarrassing and infringes on workers right. Especially if they might have a disease like Crohn's, IBS or Colitis.

CNN interviewed Kersten and asked if he also had to swipe to use the restroom and he simply replied, 'No.'

The union and the company will meet tomorrow to discuss several issues including fair bathroom breaks.

Don't Be a Summer Slacker

How can you promote yourself at the office while your coworkers are at the beach? Everyone gets a bit more laidback when the weather is warmer and summer has arrived. Don't fall into this trap. Use the summer as a time to shine and develop new projects while your co-workers take summer Fridays and long lunches.

Expand your network. Work on updating your LinkedIn contacts and re-connecting with people you might have been out of touch with. Make a point to target and attend a networking event at least once a week.

Take on more projects. If your co-worker is getting married or a supervisor is going on a two-week vacation, offer to take on their projects. They'll be happy that you are willingly pitching in and you'll be able to learn more skills.

Don't work from the beach. Why is it undesirable to feed into the lazy days of summer? When November rolls around and you're looking to ask for a raise, you won't be able to showcase your efforts as effectively if the months of May through August were relatively silent. Chances are you won't be the only employee asking for a bump in salary. If your work is able to outshine the competition's by highlighting your summer projects, it's a major win.

Lead by example: If you're a supervisor or a manager and you're skipping off to the beach on Friday mornings, chances are your team is mirroring your behavior. If you're worried about summertime productivity, you need to show that you value face time at the office by being there yourself. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't leave early sometimes – but keep it limited.

Time for a treat: If you want to re-energize your team after a long week, instate ice cream happy hours, green juice breaks or pizza Friday. Encourage your team to stay and mingle and let them know that they are doing a great job. If your budget allows, plan for an outdoors outing so they can enjoy the warm weather during work hours.

Banana Republic Dresses the Start-Up Guy

What should a man wear to his start up job? Apparently, a lot of guys have been scratching their heads on what "business casual meets professional meets start-up culture" even means. Banana Republic has decided to fix this problem and take the guesswork out of the question for men in these lax office environments.

In August the preppy clothing brand will debut an online boutique where, Banana Republic spokesperson Liz Nunan states, "Our stylists will style head-to-toe outfits best suited for different professions. We want our men shoppers to look at us as a resource for easy styling so they can get back to work--all while looking great."If you can't wait until August to see what Banana Republic has in store for you, perhaps it's time to point out what not to wear. Clearly, the Silicon Valley set needs help. If Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg's iconic fashion style of a hoodie sweatshirt and sneakers tells you anything, it's that these guys need fashion direction. Speaking from experience, I've witnessed shirts with stains, holes, bleach spots and obscene phrases. Admittedly, some of that was just one guy.

Don't wear a suit. They say dress for the job you want, but if you wear a suit and your CEO is in flip flops and shorts, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Start-ups have casual work environments so that people can feel more relaxed and approachable. If you put up a wall and wear conservative attire, it will translate to people that you are above the company and possibly your fellow colleagues.

There's no word yet on if Banana Republic will launch a female version, "The Start Up Girl," any time soon. But from my own start-up experience:

Don't overdo it: I recall falling into the start-up fashion trap several months into my start-up job. A few months in I wore light jeans, a baseball-style shirt and light blue sneakers. Needless to say, I did not look professional, and I knew I had a problem. My attire fit into the culture, but it was far too relaxed. 

You can play it too casual at start-up environments. You want to wear something that shows off your personality but also displays a sense of authority and professionalism. If I could do it all over again I would have planned out my outfits as much as I do for my current job. I'd switch out my pencil skirts for dark jeans and high heels for solid flats, yet still have a pulled-together look. A look that says, "You can trust me, I know what I'm talking about." As opposed to, "I just graduated--and no my name is not Jilly."

How Skype in the Classroom Is Helping Teachers

It's hard to believe, but school is almost back in session. Teachers around the country are getting back into the grind and looking for new methods to engage their students. One virtual learning tool that is transforming schools across the nation is Skype in the classroom.

I had the opportunity to sit in on a live demo a few months back and was blown away. It was amazing to see how technology is changing the way children think. Skype in the classroom (the capitalization is theirs) includes 400,000 educators and reaches 3-5 million people worldwide. I interviewed Wendy Norman, Head of Skype Social Good at Microsoft, on how Skype in the classroom is improving how teachers engage with their students.

What is Skype in the classroom? "Skype in the classroom is a free worldwide network connecting teachers and their classrooms with other classrooms around the globe and hundreds of guest speakers and field trips from every continent via Skype. And it's quick and easy to search for the perfect 'virtual resource' for a lesson," says Wendy.

"The network launched in 2011 after the Skype for Good team heard stories of teachers using Skype in their classrooms to travel thousands of virtual miles to meet a group of African penguins, see the view from the top of Mt. Everest, learn how math is taught in rural India vs. upstate New York, and foster year-long Skype Pals to facilitate project based learning initiatives with schools in other countries. We originally created it with a group of teachers and to this day all development and innovation are co-designed with educators around the globe," says Wendy.

How can teachers use this tool in their own classrooms? According to Wendy, teachers only need an internet connection, a webcam and a computer/smart board. "We find that even in the most rural or economically challenged communities, with just these three things, teachers have endless opportunity. For example, from just a single PC in the rural town of Mondamin, Iowa, which is an hour away from the nearest grocery store, teacher Gina Felton's class completed 100 Skype calls with other classrooms in North America to play a game called Mystery Skype and guess the location of their classrooms. Her students became global travelers, expert researchers, and inquirers, and never left their classroom. Mystery Skype links two geographically distant classrooms. Each must guess the other's location by asking questions about culture, climate, and customs," says Wendy.

Ready to take a virtual field trip? Budget cuts are a constant struggle for teachers, according to Wendy. "Virtual field trips are now viewed as the most efficient and impactful way to complement units about places and things that still exist or can be experienced in real time. Students can experience a guided tour over Skype of a museum, a national park or monument, a famous landmark, a concert or live performance," says Wendy. Wendy shares examples of how two teachers in remote school districts use the tool to connect their students with issues from around the world.

Gina Felton, a teacher based in Mondamin, IA, is the only fifth grade teacher at West Harrison Community School, a school that covers a landmass of 247 square miles with 329 students ranging from pre-K-12th grade. Before using Skype, Gina's students' only opportunity to get out of the classroom for a field trip was a nature hike at a local reserve. To date, her class has played Mystery Skype with over 100 classrooms in North America, connected with published authors living in NYC, and learned about the Holocaust from the creators of the Paper Clip Project.

Dyane Smokorowski, a teacher based in Andover Kansas, plans a virtual class visit to a high school in Tasmania, Australia to learn about their culture and collaborate on lessons covering geography, economics, and mathematics this upcoming school year. After reading Treasure Island Dyane's students developed an interest in piracy, so she used Skype to develop a 10-week program highlighting intellectual property and piracy. Her students then had the opportunity to engage with guest speakers like the CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America to enhance the lesson.

How will Skype in the classroom enable teachers to do their job better and also have an impact on students? "Teachers can build whole units around Skype conversations with other classrooms or experts, designing projects they can collaborate on together for weeks at a time. Allowing for this kind of real-time, global expertise to come into the classroom, helps build more sensitive and aware global citizens. They are learning in the way they are living. A 24/7, real-time, constantly updated environment of social media and access to almost any piece of information in real time," says Wendy.

Wendy gives us an example of Boston-based social studies and global history teacher Kader Adjout.

"[Adjout] emphasizes the importance of exploring history from multiple perspectives by using Skype with people from areas around the globe including Afghanistan, Germany, Israel, Egypt and more. His students learned about the Egyptian electoral system during that country's election, while a class of Egyptian students learned about the American system, and then they discussed the best electoral system. His students even debated with a classroom in Pakistan after the assassination of Osama bin Laden and discussed the right a country has to national sovereignty, and learned the perspectives that the Pakistani students had about the U.S. government." You certainly can't get that out of a classic textbook.

How is technology changing teaching careers? Teacher Mike Soskil, a Newfoundland, PA teacher who won the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, says, "Using Skype in the classroom to forge global connections does more than just engage and motivate students who are growing up in this digital age. It inspires and reinvigorates teachers by reminding them of the very reasons they entered the profession - to make positive changes in the world and impact future generations. The power to easily connect students, teachers, experts, and amazing people from around the globe has revolutionized what a classroom can be in today's world."

What is the number one challenge teacher's face? Educator Dyane Smokorowski, 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year and Instructional Technology Coach in Andover, KS says, "By using the Skype in the classroom community, I can now connect my students to expert scientists, authors, students in other countries, social activists, national park rangers, and more at absolutely no cost to me, and I can schedule those experiences to work just within the time frame of my class. Now students' questions are answered by experts in real time while building excitement and passion for the curriculum content. My students are becoming more curious, asking more challenging questions, and showing a love of learning that is contagious."

Skype helps working parents. "Teachers like Amy Rosenstein in Ardsley, NY use Skype for guest speakers, Mystery Skype and virtual field trips, but also use the platform to keep working and busy parents engaged in the classroom. Often times, only one parent can make it to parent-teacher conference night because the other is stuck at work. Some of her parents have opted to join 'in person' over Skype. She also encourages parents to visit the classroom over Skype as a modern take on Bring Your Parent to Work Day," says Wendy.

Nine West Misses the Mark with Regressive Ad Campaign

Starter Husband Hunter, Walk of Shame and First Day of Kindergarten are momentous shoe-purchasing occasions that should be celebrated...according to Nine West. The shoe brand clearly didn't take a page out of Pantene,Always and Barbie's recent ad campaigns, which have championed women to empower themselves rather than sexualize and minimize their accomplishments. Straight from their Twitter feed:
 

It's hunting season. If you're looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now, we have a shoe for that:http://t.co/C61UmgJ83Tpic.twitter.com/9eOzwZtGPG

- Nine West (@NineWest) August 1, 2014

Don't women have more important life occasions than snagging a husband--oops, 'starter' husband--and sending their tot off to school? Nine West states this type of message is all in good fun, and that consumers should not take the advertisement too seriously. Yet consumers on Twitter have expressed discomfort with the campaign's portrayal of women. Mary Lynne Alexion tweeted:

@NineWest Shoes are cute, but 'really' sending women back to the 50's. Sell me shoes with a message to empower #women. Creativity? NOT !

- Mary Lynne Alexion (@MLAlexion) August 5, 2014

Nine West's senior vice president of marketing, Erika Szychowski, told the New York Times that the campaign is meant to modernize the brand to women who think about "occasions" differently than they might have in years past. A night-on-the-town shoe, for example, would now be considered an on-the-prowl shoe. The company also plans to advertise shoes for an "anticipatory walk of shame."

Wouldn't a shoe collection including First Day on the Job, Boardroom Booties, Job Hunting,
Power Pump or Start-Up Sandal be more appropriate and inspiring? After all, Nine West is a shoe brand that plenty of women look to for career-appropriate footwear.

Long gone are the days when women do little else besides stay at home with the kids. Women make up almost 70 million members of the US workforce, and are graduating at higher rates than men. Let's hope another designer understands what women really want, and creates a show collection and ad campaign that celebrates their achievements and gives them career confidence.

Tim Tebow Trades Touchdowns for Television

Tim Tebow's gone from America's favorite college athlete to NFL Player to... TV host? Seems like a bit of a job-hopping stretch, but Tim's right in line with the millions of American millennials who are transitioning from one career to the next in a short span of time. Ninety-one percent of millennials expect to stay in a job for less than three years, according to the Future Workplace "Multiple Generations @ Work" survey.

Tebow is not ready to say goodbye to playing in the NFL after playing only three seasons. The 27-year-old quarterback is not going to let a great opportunity pass him by. He was tapped by ESPN's new SEC network to be a football analyst. Transitioning from player to analyst is pretty common in the NFL. With the success of ex-NFL star Michael Strahan on ABC's morning show Kelly & Michael, it makes sense that Tebow is setting his sights higher to transition onto something bigger and better. "I love doing this," an enthusiastic Tebow told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"I want to do this for a long time. I love talking football and I love being around it."

The only thing he doesn't like is "having to wear this" suit, Tebow said. "I'd rather be in shorts."

Justin Connolly, ESPN's senior vice president in charge of programming for college networks, is eager to get Tebow on board after viewing how well he did as an analyst for the national championship game. It also doesn't hurt that he has over 2.5 million Twitter followers. Tebow will be a football analyst for "SEC Nation." He'll be on the road every week traveling to an SEC game where he'll add his commentary and insight to the pre-game show.

With most NFL training camps two weeks into the start of training season, it isn't looking like Tebow will be making it onto a team in 2014.

"The thing is, I would do this anyway at home because I love it," Tebow said. "I would be watching every football game anyways and talking to the TV set. It's my nature. It's what my family and I have done since I was six years old."

Which Interns are Most Likely to Get Fired?

Accounting interns have a much better chance of scoring a full-time gig than interns in any other industry. So if you're looking for stability and security, an accounting major (and internship) may be the way to go.

That's according to a study from LinkedIn, which analyzed its 300 million+ member profile and discovered interns in the accounting space had the highest retention rate (or chance of scoring a full-time gig) at 59 percent.

Accounting firms treat their interns well, too. For instance, Big Four firm KPMG LLP hosts a workshop for its 1,200 summer interns presenting the Dos and Don'ts of office wear. They then give each summer intern $200 gift cards from Men's Warehouse, and Banana Republic. They also toss in a tie for men and jewelry for women,

"Today's interns are likely to become tomorrow's full-time staffers. More than 90 percent of U.S. interns receive full-time offers, and more than 90 percent of them accept the bids," says Kathy Schaum, a national campus recruiting director and a former KPMG LLP intern told the Wall Street Journal.

Of the 65 industries in LinkedIn's study, other industries with high retention rates for interns include computer networking at 47 percent and semiconductors at 40 percent.

Industries with the lowest intern retention rate are non-profit management and travel and leisure both clocking in at 19 percent.

What do these numbers really mean?

For starters, internships are two-fold. Sure the idea is that you work 40 hour weeks (or longer) for several months of your summer in hopes that come graduation time you'll hear, "You're Hired!" from that company you toiled away at the summer before.

However, internships are also a learning experience. What if you took an internship gig at a law office, production company or publishing house and hated it? Chances are you won't want to return there after graduation. Also, what if you interned near home or school but are planning to move to a bigger city when you get handed your degree.

Wherever you intern – you need to learn how to strategize and network starting from your first day on the job. Showcasing your work ethic, personality and willingness to learn and communicate are all traits that interns in every industry need to have.

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Is College Worth it?

Meet Nancy. She's a 28-year-old tour guide. She leads city tours in Florida. She went to a great college and majored in photography. She tried to make it in her profession, but taking a crying baby's photos or shooting a wedding wasn't her ideal career after all. She now works at a job that is seasonal, has no real growth or benefits and didn't necessarily require her diploma.

Meet Danielle. She's a 29-year-old manager of a popular seasonal bar in New York. She graduated from a prestigious fashion school and scored a job designing showrooms for stores. She hated it. She started bartending and saw she was able to triple her former salary. She only works four months out of the year and is able to travel for eight months. To her, college was pointless and not at all necessary. If she could do it again, she would have saved her tuition money and started bartending four years earlier.

Meet Dan. He's a 30-year-old bartender at a popular bar in Washington, D.C. Dan graduated from a local college there but wasn't interested in finding a job in his chosen career path of art history. He bartended through college and kept going after graduation. He isn't thinking about applying to a regular nine-to-five.

Meet Andy. He's a 25-year-old waiter, a former pre-med graduate. After attending classes, he saw that becoming a doctor was not the path for him. He's still thinking about what his next steps are, but at the moment he is very happy and comfortable with where he is financially. He's taking food and wine courses to help him move up in the industry.

All of these people are extremely intelligent and educated. They all expressed how much interpretation and analysis goes into each of their lines of work -- something the customer rarely thinks about.

The college system is broken. More and more graduates are entering industries that not only have nothing to do with their field of interest but might not even require a degree. Colleges need to provide real life, on-the-job training. Students should have a chance to fully test out what that job should be. They should understand the roles, responsibilities, salary and demand of that position.

With the exorbitant cost of college, it really might not be the best option for some people. Plenty of industries do not require a four-year degree and won't leave students in a job they don't like with high amounts of student debt. Those jobs include electrician, cosmetologist, hygienist, customer service representative, or paralegal.

Professors Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa from New York University andThe University of Virginia released a study and wrote a book, Aspiring Adults Adrift, on the demise of prepared college graduates. They told the Wall Street Journal, 

"Colleges focus too much on students' social lives at the expense of a strong academic and career road map. Schools have given their charges an unrealistic sense of what it takes to achieve their life aims, resulting in overwhelming -- and possibly unrealistic --optimism among young people about their prospects."

Everyone's vision of success is different. The ROI of attending collegesattending colleges have faltered the millennial set. Schools need to take action now and reform their education process.