CollegeSurfing Insider

The writer’s strike has really put a damper on television as of late. Luckily for me, I have a ton of DVDs to keep me busy in between work projects and until my shows return.

One of my all-time favorite shows is Friends. As I watched season nine last week, I came across an interesting episode. Chandler had been unemployed for a while and finally needed to get moving on some sort of job. He had been unhappy in his previous career (for which most of his friends did not even know what his actual job was). Finally, he secured a job at a marketing firm… as an intern. **Cue dramatic music… Of course, Chandler goes through some funny bouts, especially when on his first day an intern offers to get him coffee and calls him “sir”. He replies to this saying that he’s an intern too and that there’s no need for the formalities. The intern looks at him, laughs at him, and accuses him of being too old for an internship.

Now why would you need to be a certain age to complete an internship? Isn’t the actual definition of an intern, someone who is starting out and learning at a company? Oftentimes, career switching is thought of as not the best of ideas because it is a major life change. In fact, many people decide not to switch their career because it’s too much of a hassle and they have already settled nicely within another career. But why not take the plunge? There are many resources to help you through this venture.

You’re never too old. In fact, my mom was just telling me about a segment she had recently seen on the Oprah show. One woman never did anything in her life and just muddled through a mediocre existence. One day (in her fifties) she decided to start writing and turned into an instant success. She now owns her very own publishing company! Now, while this type of success may not be available to everyone, it doesn’t hurt just to try. What do you have to lose?

I always say that if you don’t have experience, interning is certainly the way to go. And while that may not pay that much or at all, it will give you the knowledge you need to go forward. Make something of your new passion or old interests. And no, interning does not necessarily need to include fetching coffee. So get out there, laugh with them, and make a better life for yourself!

-Amanda Fornecker

This is certainly the month for counting calories, comparing gym membership costs, and turning down a square of co-worker birthday brownies (all of which I spied during lunch today, as I ate my Lean Cuisine pizza and carrot sticks).

While well-intentioned when motivation is new and fresh, all of that pressure eventually comes to a head… usually right around the time you’re surrounded by buffalo wings, cheezy (yes, the “z” is on purpose) nachos, and deep-fried pot stickers on Superbowl Sunday. And soon after that, you’re drowning in the chocolately goodness of Valentine’s day candy. And who can resist those post-Valentine’s bargains at Duane Reed, when you can get a chocolate covered peanut-butter heart for 18 cents? You get the point, right? (I hope so, because this analogy is making me hungry, and I need to stop!)

Just like dieting, when it comes to the workplace, it’s easy to forget that eager, gung-ho spirit you once exhibited as a new employee, and fall into an unhealthy binge-fest of deadline procrastination, negativity, and doing just enough to get by. And before you know it, those corporate dress down jeans are squeezing you tighter and tighter each month as you grow to loathe the daily grind.

But guess what? Sometimes all it takes is what the WeightWatcher folks like to call a “jumpstart” to get you back on track. A “cleansing,” if you will, like the South Beachers do to eliminate carb cravings from their system. In other words, there’s nothing like a new challenge or a new role to get you excited about working again. And it doesn’t only have to happen in January! Here are some ways to get that going:

- Throw your name in the hat the next time a new project comes in. Showing initiative is a good move for you (others will notice!), and it will give you a shot at the groundfloor of something new that can become huge. Plus, it’ll break up the boredom. What would you rather do, take a hip-hop workout class or pedal for a half hour on a stationary bike?

- Give your brain a workout, too, by learning a new skill — and maybe your company will even pay for your career training! If you do your job the same way everyday, you’ll most likely be doing that same job next year. But bring it to the next level — like adding a podcast to your blog (one of my ‘08 goals, coming soon) — and who knows where it can take you?!

- Find strength in numbers. My collection of exercise DVDs are collecting dust. Why? Because I have to count on myself to pop one in and do it. But if I had a gym buddy or a regular class to attend (like my boss Gina’s kickboxing one — soon, G, I swear!), that healthy peer pressure might be just what I need to make it part of my routine. Likewise, professional affiliations will keep you abreast of networking events, and you can stay in the know by checking in on industry message boards and blogs.

If all else fails, you can always try something completely unconventional until you find your fit. Not everyone can give up carbs, right?

Feeling the burn yet? I hope so. Take care of yourself… I’m off to refill my giant water bottle and (hopefully) resist the brownies.

We’re a couple weeks into 2008, and I’m making a different kind of resolution this year: to embrace the unexpected. Because life never goes quite the way we plan, does it?

Take your career path, for instance. A path is just that–one of many roads you might take. There’s no telling whether you’ll backtrack or walk the straightaway for miles. Because, unlike my street and countless others in NYC, a career path is not a one-way trajectory. You can go back and forth and in circles, too. It’s messy, just like the rest of life. Even if you have an idea what you want, it can still end up looking a lot different than the way you initially pictured it.

I was an interpersonal communications major in college because I like people and I like words. Did I know where that would take me? Not at all. But it’s been an interesting journey.

My first job out of college was waitressing; I needed a way to pay the bills while I figured out where I was headed next. Turns out I was headed to a microenterprise development organization, then a ministry to mothers of preschoolers, then an alumni office of a college I didn’t attend, then a law office, then a business forms company, and then I was out of work for a little while. Call it a breathing period.

In the midst of all this I applied to a graduate program in counseling, thinking therapy was where I was headed (as the practitioner–not the patient!). I wasn’t accepted into the program, which was a bummer at the time. I didn’t know which direction to go next.

But that closed path opened up a handful of new opportunities. I began writing for a small magazine, then editing, and it wasn’t long before I knew that I had found my niche. I didn’t wake up with the dread I had felt going to other jobs, and I was learning so many new skills.

I’m still writing and editing today, six years later. Maybe I could have known where I was headed years ago, but it’s OK that I didn’t know. I’ve had fun along the way. Like the Dixie Chicks, I’ve been taking the long way.

I don’t know what 2008 will hold for my career and my life, but I do know that the journey will be full of surprises.

Which path will you take in 2008?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Let’s be honest — “thankfulness” is probably not the first word that springs to mind when you consider your career. Maybe what rises up feels more like responsibility, necessity, or even drudgery.

But more likely than not, you were lucky enough to choose your career. It wasn’t dictated to you by society, or thrust upon you by your parents. And that’s what I’m thinking of as I prepare to eat this year’s bird and sustain a major tryptophan overdose: choices.

I’m thankful that today’s technology is such that I can do freelance work online, on my computer, in my home … and I can spend the rest of my time being a stay-at-home mom. This is ideal for me. I consider it the best of both worlds.

Maybe you’re thankful you don’t live in the 1950s and you have the option to be a full-time working mom, or just a working woman, period. Perhaps you’re a man who derives more satisfaction from working at home, or from being a stay-at-home dad. (BTW, the number of stay-at-home dads climbs higher every year: The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are 159,000 dads that made the choice to stay at home in 2006, compared to 143,000 in 2005.)

Isn’t it great that we have the opportunity to try out different roles, or create new ones altogether? Dads can stay home, moms can work, women can be CEOs, men can be nurses … or anything and everything in between.

Choices. Maybe you’re thankful you decided to leave your version of “The Office” to pursue your dream. Maybe you’re like me and you’re thankful for the Digital Age, which ushered in the work-from-home phenomenon.

Or maybe you’re not happy with the choices you’ve made so far. You got yourself into this job, but now you’re dying to get out. Why not consider making some different choices? It really is never too late to change careers, and of course, CollegeSurfing has a ton of career education resources to see you through the process.

This Thanksgiving, I’ll remember this: Whatever I’ve chosen and will choose for myself, I’m grateful to live in a generation where I have career choices at all.

Enjoy your turkey!

-Robyn Tellefsen

When I was in college nearly 10 years ago, it was perfectly normal to not have a clue as to what you wanted to major in, let alone which career you would eventually pursue. The idea was to spend the first couple of years in higher education taking core classes, testing the waters, and for the super ambitious ones, exploring various fields via internships (today, internships are a given). And truth be told, I think those I’ve kept in touch with from my graduating class have done alright navigating the career waters, even if they didn’t jump in right away.

In fact, more than ever, people are launching new careers later in life for a variety of reasons and flourishing. So what’s with the unnecessary pressure on the younger crowd to think grown up thoughts? Granted, unless you’re hovering at genius level, companies won’t come to you offering a six figure salary (a myth that perpetuated in my day… and, of course, I’m still waiting!), so you should do all you can to “sell” yourself. And if you happen to be one of the lucky few who always knew they wanted to be a teacher, or police officer, or nurse, then great for you — go for it! Otherwise, it may take some trial and error to find your niche. As long as you pick up universal skills along the way that you can apply to any future job, such as communicating with others, multitasking, and working in teams, taking your time is OK. Isn’t it?

Tell that to some parents. No, these aren’t the SAT-crazy parents from my era that forced flashcards and prep courses on their teens. I’m talking about the next generation of uber-parents in which it’s considered vital to put 18 month old babies on waiting lists for the most prestigious toddler programs. And get this — there are even career-focused pre-schools if you do your homework! So if you think your little tyke has an aptitude for criminal justice, it would be a shame not to get him enrolled at the local 3-year-old law program, right?! The sad part is, I’m not even kidding or exaggerating to make for an interesting read.

See the madness for yourself — then be glad your parents gave you some space to choose a career that’s right for you.

Are you ready for the fall TV season? Despite my deep disappointment in the cancellation of “Veronica Mars” (VM fans, I know you feel my pain), the fall TV lineup doesn’t look completely bleak for me … Kristen Bell (Veronica herself) is going to be on “Heroes”! When I heard she signed on for a 13-episode arc, I was hooked. The only problem: I didn’t watch “Heroes” last season.

So I did what any other die-hard fan would do — I rented all seven “Heroes: Season One” discs, and had a nail-biting, edge-of-my-seat, 23-episode marathon this past week. I’m watching the last two episodes tonight, and I can’t wait to find out what happens. Will the bomb blow up NYC? Which exploding man will need to be stopped: Peter? Ted? Sylar? Who will finally kill Sylar?

To the rest of the world that has known the fate of the heroes for months, my questions might sound lame. But I’d like to point out a parallel between my “Heroes”-latecomer status and the plight of a career changer. Humor me.

If you’re a career changer, you might feel like a latecomer in the game of life. Maybe all your friends have secure and satisfying careers, but you still haven’t found your niche. You went into business, but you really wanted to teach. You became a nurse, but you’ve been developing an interest in yoga. You work with computers, but you’ve always wanted to try your hand at the culinary arts.

I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late, and you’re not alone. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, by 2010, 16 million people in the country will be enrolled in colleges and universities. More than half of these students are baby boomers. With this education investment, adult career changers are poised to penetrate the workforce en masse. When you consider previous experience and workplace skills, these adults may even be a hotter commodity than the young, newly minted grads making that first foray into the world of work.

Back to TV: You could say that I missed out by not watching “Heroes” last season. But in actuality, I saved myself from some late nights and was able to experience the whole season at once, without waiting a week to soak up the next installment. (A bonus for me, who hates when those three little words appear at the end of a TV show: “To be continued.”) Instead of watching in drips and drabs last season, I didn’t start until I was committed to the show.

That’s not to say that those who have already happily found their career (or those who watched “Heroes” last season) got the short end of the stick. In fact, there is no short end of the stick. It doesn’t matter when you make a career commitment, whether you’re 20, 30, 40, 50 or older–it only matters that you make the commitment at all.

The fact is, it’s never too late for you to find the career of your dreams. And it’s never too late for me to catch up on an amazing show. The experience is still fresh, new, and exciting for us, and that’s all that matters.

Just don’t let anyone give away the ending!

Photo: NBC/John Russo

-Robyn Tellefsen

You might know how to put Flash animation into your MySpace profile, link up a podcast to your homepage, or have the most Facebook friends, but will all that tech knowledge help you in the workplace?

According to the second-annual IT Proficiency survey from Cengage Learning — formerly Thompson Learning, which provides learning solutions for educators and organizations — students seem to lack knowledge of professional applications, like word processing and spreadsheets. That’s a whopping 46 percent of them who had limited or non-existent experience with spreadsheets, and 68 percent with minimal knowledge of database applications.

The bad news: Unless you’re a bloggin’ fool like me, most of your work day will revolve around said spreadsheets and databases. Actually, when I’m not writing or editing, so does mine. In other words, don’t rely on your YouTube or WordPress prowess to understand your company’s weekly ROI report, or help you to manage your client database. No matter which career route you choose, work in some training time on computer applications that you can actually list on your resume.

I’d venture to say that along with communications skills, good manners, and a strong work ethic, such technical expertise will make you an asset at your next job. You don’t want to be that annoying co-worker asking how to sort columns in Excel or merge files in Word. And a snazzy Powerpoint can go a long way if you’re trying to impress a client or your manager with a presentation.

Of course, in today’s world, as long as you protect your online persona, having a great looking MySpace doesn’t hurt either.

When I was asked to write a guest blog for the CollegeSurfing Insider, I started thinking about the stigma that often surrounds career education. Admit it — no matter how enlightened you might be, you still have an idea floating around somewhere in the back of your head that career school is somehow not a “real” school. It’s a safety school, a fall-back option, a choice for kids who only excelled in shop.

OK, I’m guilty. I recently heard that a girl I know, a bright high school grad, is going to beauty school in the fall. And my first thought was that she could do better.

Or could she?

Maybe I shouldn’t turn up my nose at career education just yet. Consider this: Another friend of mine went to a large state university a few years back, but was unable to land a job after graduation. This smart, motivated guy with a bachelor’s degree in engineering found himself knocking on the door of a local career training school, taking classes to gain practical experience in computer programming. He earned his diploma in computer networking and security in less than a year, got a job shortly thereafter, and today is a supervisor at a leading investment banking firm, supporting his wife, two kids, and a baby on the way.

So back to my friend who’s fresh out of high school. Beauty school might just make perfect sense after all. She’s 18, she’s on her own, and she’s pretty much broke. She knows she needs more than a high school education in order to get anywhere in life. She saw the opportunity to apply for beauty school as well as a generous financial aid package, and she took it. Plus, she’ll be earning money along the way in the clinical portion of the 18-month program. So she’s found a way to get educated, certified, and professionally licensed, and she’ll be able to support herself through it all. Underachiever with a low IQ? I think not.

The point? Career education isn’t for burnouts, underachievers, or kids who haven’t lived up to their potential. It’s for honors students, engineers, self-starters, and anyone else who is driven to succeed. It may even be for me.

-Robyn Tellefsen

At a 4th of July BBQ yesterday, I caught up with an old friend. Actually, he was a co-worker from my video store clerk days, and we got to talking about the successes of some of the other kids we worked with at the time. Our little clique, we learned, has come a long way since arguing over late fees and applying “be kind, rewind” stickers (yes, this was the pre-DVD era).

There’s been a law school grad, a college professor, an all-out computer genius, a cell phone tech guru, and — um, well — us. He’s in radio, I’m in Internet media, as you know.

Like me, he loves his job, but he can’t help but wonder what his life would have been like had he majored in finance, law, or computer science like many of his friends. For one thing, it would make house-hunting easier to bare (I found out both he and I are looking for homes in the same neighborhood — small world, right?). But my response to him is that despite higher salaries, we’d be miserable and bored out of our heads!

In other words, there’s nothing to gain from sulking over career regrets. Just because you’re not a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or teacher doesn’t mean you’re destined for failure. I like to think that it makes more sense to choose your career destiny based on your unique interests and talents.

Just take a look at what these folks are doing if you don’t believe me:

Pretty cool stuff, no? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — when you do what you love, the rewards will follow. And, I’d venture to guess that there are even those out there who’d say working at a radio station, or getting paid to blog is pretty sweet! See, Chris? We’ve come a long way since the video store, too.

Ever ask yourself that question? Of course, you have! And while sites like CollegeSurfing.com aim to help you discover that all-important answer, this week’s guest blogger, Brett Farmiloe, reminds us that it’s OK if you’re still not exactly sure.

Half of the American work force is satisfied with their job, while the other half dreads reporting to a job they hate, working for a boss they can’t stand. As a senior at the University of Arizona, I was determined to join the group passionate about their work. But the biggest obstacle that stood in my way was that I did not know how to get to where I wanted to be, or for that matter, what I should do with my life.

“What should I do with my life?” is a question on the minds of many students and young professionals — and it’s a damn good question! You just spent four, five, six years in school and now you’re expected to answer it. You have parents pressuring you, friends and colleagues off to undoubtedly successful starts to long careers, and then you have your situation. I’m here to tell you not to worry. Not everyone has their life figured out at our age. In fact, no one really has it figured out.

Last summer, I ventured on a cross country roadtrip to interview successful people who LOVE their careers. I wanted to talk with these extraordinary individuals about the path that they pursued so I could develop an idea of which path I should pursue. The single most important thing that I took away from 75 interviews and three months of grassroots roadtrip travel was that at 22 years old, I didn’t have to figure it out.

One of my interviews was with University of Arizona head basketball coach Lute Olson. At 21, he was pumping gas and cleaning grease bays on the graveyard shift so he could pursue his love for education. Another was with Barry Moltz, who a week before college graduation did not have a job, accepted a position with IBM because he didn’t have anything to do the following Monday. Nine years later he transitioned out of the corporate world to enjoy a successful career in entrepreneurship. There were also 73 other people I talked with that all shared the common characteristic of not having life completely solved at our age.

I had reached a comforting conclusion.

Life takes too many twists and turns to decide right now what you want to do forever. It’s just not possible. The only thing we can do is have a determination to one day join the “better” half of the workforce by progressively working our way towards figuring out who we are and what thrills us.

Brett Farmiloe is the Founder of Pursue the Passion, where students and recent grads interview passionate professionals on cross country roadtrips about their career paths. Read interviews and about the 2007 tour at www.pursuethepassion.com.