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.
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.
This Mother Daughter Business Bridges Gen Y Gap
What do health, wellness, philanthropy and professional and personal development have in common? They are all the foundation of Elevate Gen Y, a company that offers live events and programming to millennials. Elevate Gen Y is run by mother/daughter duo Sharon Ufberg and Alexis Sclamberg.
After graduating from college, Sclamberg (like many young women) was clueless about what she wanted and went to law school by default. She earned her law degree and found herself in the same unsure situation -- now with a ton of debt.
After reading self-help books, listening to personal development webinars and finding nothing relating to her quarter-life crisis, she talked to her mom about the generational issue of finding life direction at a particular phase of life.
"It was immediately obvious that this was our chance to work with one another to put our hearts and passions together to create something amazing," Sclamberg says. Her mom spent over 30 years as a health care practitioner guiding people to live more empowered and healthier lives.
"I wanted to learn how to make wise decisions (not just practical ones)," Sclamberg adds. "My generation needs community, inspiration, empowerment. We need to feel like we're not alone in this crazy time that is your 20's and 30's."
So Elevate Gen Y was born.
The company creates live events and online programming for women in their 20s and 30s to inspire and empower them to live happy, healthy, meaningful lives and back to their community and the world. They, in term, are inspired by the email they receive from women about connections they've made and how the program has changed their lives.
The mother and daughter seem to enjoy their work together and are ready to embark on "The Borrowed Wisdom World Summit, a 12-week interview series featuring self-help experts, world-renowned doctors, celebrities and more. "We've spent years searching and have found the very best experts to help listeners get a life they love," says Sclamberg
What's the biggest piece of wisdom they've borrowed so far?
"People are very generous and willing to help you if you are brave enough to ask for what you need," says her mom.
Generational Differences
A Generation Y employee was reprimanded by her boomer-era boss because of the casual way she talked to the president of their firm. You see, this employee spoke to the president the same way she spoke to the receptionist, and believed that treating all of the office staff the same way was a sign of respect; however, her more seasoned boss was horrified by her lack of etiquette and justly let her know.
This scenario points to the difficulty of navigating generational differences in the office, and also to the importance of learning to work effectively with co-workers of all ages. “Generational differences have been named as a major concern in office settings,” says career expert and cofounder of SixFigureStart Caroline Ceniza-Levine. “This is the first time we have four generations in the workplace. Each generation has different defining events, attitudes toward work, communication styles, and other differences that naturally pose challenges in close settings like the office.”
The good news is that young women can bridge the generation gap. Here’s how.
Know what’s in it for you. Overcoming difficult tasks is easiest when you understand the benefits. Fortunately, there’s a long list of motivators for improving multigenerational office relationships. “A successful career is relationship-driven. You need mentors to guide you, a network of colleagues at all levels to tap into the hidden job market of internal and external opportunities, and peers to support you,” says Ceniza-Levine. What’s more, younger staffers can use these relationships to learn more about their company, while more established women gain insight into current trends and technological advancements.
Find common ground. Multigenerational relationships improve dramatically when you find a way to connect with an older or younger crowd. “Topics such as diet, clothing, cooking, men, movies, TV, and hair never grow old,” says Katherine Crowley, coauthor of Working With You Is Killing Me. Better acquaint yourself with co-workers by discussing these everyday topics over lunch or a coffee break. And if the conversation transitions to work, act curious—not threatened—by your colleague’s background and experience. “Your interest will quell their anxiety,” says Crowley.
Think like them. Different generations communicate in specific ways, so learning to adapt to an older or younger colleague’s style plays a key role in improving your relationship. Start by asking co-workers how they prefer to be contacted: Do they like calls, e-mails, or face-to-face chats? Do they like to get regular updates on projects or do they want you to touch base only after you’ve completed them?
Next, start studying your co-worker’s values and work ethics closely—they’re more similar to yours than you think. “All generations share similar values—they just express them differently, and that’s what causes issues,” says career coach Elene Cafasso. “For instance, older generations honor their family values by working long hours, being a good provider, keeping a job, and funding a college plan. Younger folks honor their family values by working more flexible or less hours, and spending more time with the family. They place the emphasis on being there for them versus doing for them. It’s the same value, just a different expression.”
Don’t count them out. To improve office relations, younger women must value the experience of their elders in the office. This is especially important for women who are managing an older staffer. “When managing an older person, be sure to solicit their opinion. Give them recognition for their unique contributions. Bounce things off of them,” says Cafasso. “It’s very easy to show a person you value them without taking a lot of extra time or effort, or feeling like you’re kissing up to them. And you might learn something in the process.”