As we discussed on Monday, the Spring job recruitment season has sprung upon us. So, after you’ve engaged in a few networking calls, conducted your research and application homework, you may find yourself at the first round interview stage of the application process! Congrats, you made it! If you’re scrambling about where to go from here and how to prepare and nail your interview, this article is for you. Keep reading to find out our best advice for how to outperform your candidate competitors…

Virtual First-Round Interview Tips…

1. Environment! The environment you are in will be important for the interview. Make sure you’re in a quiet place so there are no interruptions. Good lighting and a clean space are a must-have as well to ensure you have a neutral environment for your interview.
2. Technology test! Test your technology prior to your interview. Make sure your webcam and microphone are working properly. Double-check your wifi connection as well! Completing these tasks before your interview is necessary so you don’t have any technology mishaps right before or during the interview.
3. Prepare! Prepare for interview questions normally, as you would for any other interview. Practice interviewing and answering questions in front of the camera before your virtual interview.
4. Dress for success! Even though only your top half will be showing for the interview, dress up fully! Dressing up will help you feel confident in yourself and show the interviewer that you are taking it seriously. Your body language will still be an indicator of whether or not you are confident – even in a virtual interview. Sit properly and maintain good posture!
5. Be yourself! Just like an in-person interview, try to open up by letting your personality shine through – you are giving them a glimpse of who you truly are. Be authentic and don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer questions to open up the conversation!
6. Follow up! After a virtual interview, you still need to follow up with the company and interviewer. Reach out by phone or email, and thank them for their time! Reiterate relevant information from the interview to show them you are serious about this role!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Prepare for tricky interview questions by checking our article here!

Since the start of the “OG” quarantine, podcasts have seen an enormous rise in popularity, use, utility, and convenience. Today, I’m here to share with you a few of my favorite podcasts to listen to as a college student. However, whether you’re passing time in high school, college, grad school, or sitting in your office at your current job, podcasts are a fantastic medium of entertainment and education. Here are a few that I look forward to listening to each week…

My Favorite Podcasts

• The Morning Toast: If you’re looking for a pop-culture, comedy-based podcast hosted by two sisters, then this is the place for you! I love listening to their daily show (Monday-Friday) on my way to class, on a walk, while exercising, or as “background noise” as I get ready for the day or bedtime. Their news could be considered mindless, but absolutely fulfills my celebrity, reality-tv, business, and other desire to obtain news in the morning. Highly recommend!
• The Skinny Confidential: “TSC” is another podcast that I listen to religiously on a weekly basis. Lauryn and her husband Michael host a variety of endless interviews spanning across just about any industry you could imagine. If you’re interested in learning about the lives of individuals from all walks of life, experience, perspective, identity, and background, then this is the community for you! I’ve never been so encompassed by an interviewing approach, but Lauryn does it all. She digs deep, asks the hard-hitting questions we are all asking ourselves, and ultimately creates an amazing product in the form of a podcast.
• How I Built This with Guy Raz: Similiar to that of TSC, Guy Raz hosts “How I Built This,” where he interviews founders of all types of companies, services, products, and innovative endeavors. If you’re thinking of a brand, chances are he has a podcast on the exact topic you’re seeking. So, saddle up, and “listen” to an interview that resembles what you would think of as a Shark Tank success story.
• Other Honorable Mentions: I Love You So Much With Kenzie Elizabeth, The Lady Gang, What We Said, MOOD with Lauren Elizabeth, Chicks in the Office, The Real Reel, Just B with Bethenny Frankel, Life with Marianna (Hewitt), Girls Gotta Eat.

Links to the Podcasts:

1. The Morning Toast
2. TSC
3. How I Built This

Feel free to submit your favorite podcast to [email protected]! Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

When we’re at school, it is all too easy to forget to take a moment to step back and engage in a little self-care therapy. Whether we’re tied between our coursework, extracurriculars, or balancing a family, friend, and social life, we often forget the importance of segregating a few moments a day entirely for our own pleasure, decompressing, and relaxation. If you’re in the market for a bit of self-care, this article is for you! Find out our favorite ways to reward ourselves here…

Let’s Self-Care!

Meditation: The task sounds more intimidating than the actual practice itself.. most people envision meditation, gratitude, and mindfulness practices as an hour-long activity requiring you to sit on a yoga mat and breathe. Well, we’re here to debunk this myth! Gratitude and meditation practices make take just a few short minutes, may include a thought or two, a journaling exercise, or some breathing, but do not need to be considered a huge activity. We encourage you to do so when you wake up or before bed, and especially by putting your phone down and “unplugging” to do so.

Say No: Learning how to say no is so beneficial for your self-care! We often feel pressured by “FOMO” to attend any and all events while in high school and throughout college. However, if you’re reaching burnout or a point where the stress of balancing all activities is beginning to outweigh the social benefit, it’s important to set boundaries with yourself. Remember, saying no does not need to be viewed as a negative but instead as a beneficial moment to allow yourself to recharge and attain an independent moment to relax.

Engage in and Allow Yourself Breaks: Using breaks to actually break from schoolwork, social events, or activities is the best way to recharge your body and brain for a great rest of the day. Breaks lead to better productivity, so they should be viewed as equally important to the moments and hours spent being productive.

• Extra Tip: While taking a break, we encourage you to go for a walk, exercise, stretch, practice yoga, grab a snack, make a smoothie, walk to a cafe for a cup of coffee or tea, call a friend, take a bath, paint your nails, do a face mask or skincare routine, light a candle, listen to music, listen to a podcast, or engage in a small activity solely for the joy of it! Above all, make sure that your “break” isn’t a secret disguise while you’re still glued to a screen. Put that phone down!

Input “Self-Care” Into Your Schedule: By actually documenting moments of self-care as events on your schedule, you will be more likely to “complete” it. Visually and physically blocking out time for self-care will help you practice it every day! Start by identifying the points in the day where you could best utilize a break and then block it in: we recommend in the morning before you start your day, in the middle, late afternoon prior to dinner, or before bed! Any of those will help break up your day and add in a little “treat.”

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Looking to relieve stress and how to do it? Find out how here!

On Monday, we provided you with a few tips and tricks to help stimulate connections with professors in a time where it may prove additionally challenging to do so. Today, we’re shifting gears and focusing on the other component of an online classroom… your peers!

Have you been struggling to connect with other students? Seeking a few study buddies to tackle assignments and exams? Find out how to do so here!

Let’s Connect…

Reaching Out:

The first step, which we are sure you could guess, is becoming vulnerable and reaching out to others! Whether this means tracking down a cell number, emailing a student email, chatting students from an online platform, whatever form you can connect… use it! Odds are, if you’re struggling to connect with others, so are they, and we know that tackling courses with buddies is better than navigating everything alone. So, remind yourself that even though you might feel a bit nervous or uncomfortable, the benefit of putting yourself out there will far outweigh that “cost.” When reaching out, make sure to portray an excited tone, openness to studying or otherwise connecting over course material, and a bit of an introduction about yourself to pass the stranger barrier (name, hometown, year, major, etc.)!

Discussion Participation:

Another great way to seamlessly connect with others without the formality of an email or letter is through online discussion platforms. This may look like a zoom breakout room during a live lecture or a discussion page within the course with required posts on a consistent basis. Whatever it is, remember that you’re not really spending time doing much else during class, so you’ll leave yourself in a much better position academically and personally if you just speak up and get involved in the discussion. Not only does doing so ease others and increase their engagement, but it is the first step to meeting students and building friendships.

Utilize Student Org. Involvement:

Finally, utilize your already initiated involvement! Are you a participant in greek life, business fraternities, volunteer organizations, student organizations, student council, religious groups, or any other type of club on campus? If so, reach out to your fellow members to get an idea if any group participants are course peers as well! As you already share a piece of identity through involvement, creating these connections will prove easier than any other. In today’s age, most student orgs. even have online profiles on groups like Facebook or Canvas, so we encourage you to start a master post and make some connections today.

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Woohoo! We’ve almost made it to yet another weekend. However, before we do so, we want to check back in with those of you who decided to embark on New Year’s resolutions. How have you been keeping up with your goals? How should you improve upon them so that they are as attainable, achievable, and realistic as possible? Keep reading to find out…

Resolution Upkeep

• Beneficial Goals are SMART: Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound are those that will help you gain the greatest improvements and yield the largest success!
• Set a Time-Frame: Creating a scheduled time frame in which you allow yourself to reach your goal, or portions of your goal along the way (i.e.: one additional mile walked per week), is a great way to help yourself stay on track and be held responsible for your personal progress!
• Take it Step by Step: If you are someone who has set out an entire list of goals for the upcoming year, we congratulate you! We also encourage you to remember that it is important to choose one goal at a time and potentially begin with prioritizing those that are most important to your growth. Remembering that there are 12 months in the year, and breaking goals up between months, seasons, quarters of the year, etc. is a great way to decrease the overwhelming draw to attaining too many accomplishments.
• Prepare for Challenge: As glamorous as it sounds to set a new goal each year, whether this relates to professional development, fitness, family and friends, or something personal, each goal is nearly guaranteed to be accompanied by a challenge! Your dedication will definitely be tested, so remember, failure is a vital component of success! And always make sure to be patient and kind to yourself as you work to push yourself out of your comfort zone to reach new personal heights.
• Value Your Support System: You are not in this alone! Millions of individuals develop a set of goals each time we ring in the new year…  likely, some of these people will include family, friends, coworkers, or even mentors! Use teamwork to grow with others as a team, as support may very well be the fuel that allows you to achieve your resolutions.
• Keep a Running List of Accomplishments: Without a doubt, it is easier to be held down by struggles than it is to feel uplifted by incremental successes. In order to combat this, we encourage you to keep a running note, list, or post-it of each small goal or step of progress you’ve made. Looking back on each step you’ve taken will help you to keep moving up! Even if this means simply going to the gym and getting out of the house, a goal is a goal nonetheless.

We hope that these strategies and steps will help you all to achieve and stick to your own resolutions! Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Hello friends! If you felt inspired by Monday’s blog, and you suddenly feel the urge to get into fitness (or if your New Year’s Resolution is still going strong) then this blog is for you! Today we’ll introduce you to a few different methods through which you can begin exercising your body with no hassle, no intimidation, and no pressure. At the end of the day, working out will only benefit your physical health and mind so it should be an activity that brings you joy. Click here to decipher through some of our favorite options…

Getting into Fitness!

Self-Guided

Above all, getting to the gym and rotating around a few different machines is a traditional, basic, and effective way to get your body moving. Whether this means the elliptical, treadmill, weight machines, stair climber, bench, or any other material you have as a resource, get on there and get going! The hardest part about working out is getting to the gym, and remembering that every other person is there for the same reason that you are is a great way to decrease the nerves and start increasing your confidence.

Online Classes and Videos

Since the start of the “OG” quarantine around March 2020, we’re sure just about every single one of you has heard of a friend, family member, or have even found yourself engaging with online fitness content. YouTube, IGTV, live videos, and almost every social platform have taken to fitness classes taught through the screen. If you’re a homebody, enjoy working out without the presence of others, or are in the market for trying something new, this is a great alternative to incorporate into your routine! Even more, many fitness classes require no added equipment or materials to participate… so all you need is you. 

Extra Tip: Looking to upgrade your experience? Many fitness instructors offer ongoing, continual, and membership programs that you can join to feel a part of a community and gain access to a plethora of all types of workout videos and structures.

Meditation

Just as we encourage you to get your body moving in order to reap the benefits of physical activity, we are also huge advocates of “working out the mind!” What does this mean? Well, setting aside just a few minutes each day to practice meditation, mindfulness, or gratitude exercises is a great way to bring yourself back to center, clear your mind, and rejuvenate after or before a long day of productivity. Finding inner peace and fulfillment through these activities is a wonderful form of exercise that doesn’t require anything more than your own body as well.

Happy Thursday everyone! With the second semester of high school, college, and post-grad work beginning in the past few weeks for all of us, I thought there was no better time to offer study tips and strategies to get ahead and on top of coursework in 2021! If you are intimidated by a class, feeling like you have a heavy workload, struggling to connect with professors, or otherwise feeling the challenges of “virtual learning,” this article is for you. Keep reading to find out how to get back on track here…

Achieving Excellence in School…

• Connect with Students: First and foremost, maintaining connections inside and outside of the classroom is the key to balancing social “work” and school work. Don’t be nervous to reach out to classmates, let your voice be heard in course chat rooms and discussion boards, and connect with others! Doing so will not only help you replicate the feeling of a normal year but will afford you with resources and study buddies when exams and final times begin.
• Get Involved! At almost all Universities, student organizations and involvement opportunities have found ways to transition their normal activities to the virtual format. Look into campus resources or ask other classmates and teachers about ways to get involved outside of coursework. Having a “purpose” on campus is a built-in accountability tool that will help you reach daily and weekly goals, build friendships, and cultivate new skillsets. If you are a college student, make sure to attend campus-wide and school organization fairs to learn about all available opportunities and types of clubs. No matter what you’re looking for (academic, physical, sport, volunteer, or other orientations) I can guarantee there is some variation of an organization that will meet your desire!
• Activate Vulnerability: Although it may make us feel uncomfortable, being vulnerable and asking for help (to students or professors) is an important component of being a student. Especially from our rooms and homes, we feel farther from other students and professors than ever before. But trust me, the way your feeling is almost always the same as another student! So, I encourage you to reach out to the professor solely to chat and get to know one another or take advantage of the course list to reach out to a few students.
• Use Resources and Tools: Ultimately, in order to excel, utilize all resources and tools given to you! This may be an open library, study spot in your apartment or dorm, professor “hours,” software programs, online databases and libraries, student organizations, syllabi, canvas calendars or Outlook communications, and many more. Finding your comfort level with technology, creating some type of “to-do” or scheduling log to keep track of all assignments, and connecting with others is the best way to stay on top of obligations and set yourself up for success.

Searching for a new role? Check out our open jobs list!

Happy Friday everyone! We hope that you’ve enjoyed the shortened week and our 5 part series on the in’s and out’s of building a personal brand. So far we’ve covered how to set SMART goals, the importance of consistency, and understanding your follower demographic – so, what’s left? Today we’re here to explain what an “aesthetic” feed or brand look like and what that means for you.

What is an Aesthetic?

The definition of an aesthetic, according to Google, is both “concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty” and “a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.” However, if you’ve heard someone mention #aestheticgoals or a #aestheticfeed on Instagram or another social media platform, then it is likely referring to a profile page with a clear theme that is pleasing to the eye. However, what does that mean? It may include brand photos of your product or service in a consistent matter, adherence to pictures with certain coloring or themes (rainbow, neon, neutral, muted, darker), or nothing at all, and that’s great! By understanding your demographic and who your followers and consumers are, you will be best suited to cater content that will deliver on their perceived preferences. Try looking through some of your follower’s profiles or your analytic data depicting where they are from, what they do, their age, marital status, etc.,… are there similarities?

What is YOUR Aesthetic?

So, now that you understand the definition of an aesthetic, how can you apply it to your personal or professional brand, your products, your service, your mission, goals, or vision?! Well, that’s the best part! Because no aesthetic between to social profiles can be the same, and the unique qualities that set your brand aside from others are your ultimate key to success. What beauty or artistry looks like to you will not be the same as someone else, but it will please the consumers seeking to purchase your products and build brand loyalty! We encourage you to follow the tips below as you begin to envision how to create an aesthetic on your profile:

• What color is your product’s packaging? Do these color(s) guide the brand message? Carry meaning or symbolism?
• What do your followers do in their free time? Can you incorporate their hobbies into your content? Place your products in convenient places to provide ideas for use?
• Do you LIKE the look of an aesthetic? Does it come off as genuine or not for your specific product or service? Do you prefer a more “organic” looking feed? Do you prefer to plan out posts far in advance?

Learn how to grow your following here!

Series 3 is ready for you! If you’ve been reading, and you’ve set your SMART goals for 2021 and considered the correct strategies through which to grow a professional or personal following, then today we’re here to guide you through our golden rule: social media consistency. Why does consistency contribute to your following, reach, and growth? Keep reading to find out…

The Ultimate Key: Consistency

• Reliability: The first component of consistency and its correlated benefit is that you are created a sense of reliability among your followers. Whether you post motivational content, resources, brand affiliate links, or otherwise provide some semblance of value to your following, they come to rely on you for continuously new and profound information! So, if you go “off the web” without any prior indication and after posting for a consistent time period, you’re sure to confuse your following and message. So, set a frequency for your posts that you can adhere to (weekly, daily, biweekly, etc.), and follow that rhythm until you can either increase or shift entirely!
• Brand Message Solidification: Another benefit of posting content consistently to platforms of your choosing is in solidifying the goals, visions, values, and overall messaging from your brand and its product. Take this example, if you visited a company profile on Instagram and could only see 2 in-feed posts would you understand their brand? Now, what if the brand was built with highlights, reels, IGTV content, in addition to 100+ in-feed and permanent posts… now we’re talking! Of course, we understand that building to this point takes time, but the benefit, in the long run, will match your personal effort to help make the brand the best it can be.
• Personal Accountability: Ultimately, let’s think about why consistency matters, not only for your followers and external branding but for you! As we enter the new year, it is more crucial than ever to meeting goals that you set small performance indicators and measures of accountability. Adhering to goals for consistency is a great way to create a sense of pride on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis as you work to the huge long-term goal of building an influential following!

Learn how to grow your following here!