IBM executive Naguib Attia was facing a difficult task. It was January 2014 and in his role as Chief Technology Officer, Naguib was involved in a project in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). There was a lack of talent in the region to deliver on a particular project’s objectives. To address this challenge, he considered the following question: how can I take an individual and after just …
Career Pivots and Communications: An Interview with Deirdre Breakenridge
Is there a deep question you’ve encountered that can’t be answered through a Google search alone? Do you believe the insights from speaking to others about this question would benefit not only you, but others? Could you imagine that the experience of exploring this question could lead to a career pivot or, in the case of a student, exploring a different professional route that you previously …
Students: Craft Your Unique Story to Be More Marketable
Everybody, regardless of your background, has a unique story to communicate to future employers. Career development professionals needs to help students craft this story, according to Jonathan Stoll, Director of Career Education at Oregon State University. "It is very spiritual - it is reflection, awareness, having faith in yourself and recognizing your values,” Jonathan said on episode 12 …
How to Gain Clarity around Career Goals – An Interview with Beka Layton of UNC
How do we gain clarity about our career direction and life decisions? Dr. Beka Layton, Director of Professional Development Programs at the University of North Carolina, encourages the individuals she works with to approach career decisions by visualizing a triangle consisting of three related points: career, personal, and professional. She delved into this triangle and shared practical …
How Academic Centers Are Innovating to Help Students Do the Same
Academic centers focused on supporting students' career growth are not only helping students innovate; they also need to do the same, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. “We’ve really had to innovate how we think about our offerings,” said Dr. Caitlin Ting, Director of Penn State’s newly-branded Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring. “We’ve had to innovate also …
An Interview with Tricia Zelaya-Leon on How Students Can Network Virtually
In the midst of a global pandemic, students need to enhance their ability to network virtually. On episode 9 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Tricia Zelaya-Leon, previously the Director of Career Development at Rollins College and now Director for the Center for Career & Professional Development at Kalamazoo College, discussed how students can approach this. She also discussed …
Brandon Wright of UAB: Use Student Activism to Support Career Growth
“We have to be so cognizant of what we are putting online,” said Brandon Wright, Director of the University Alabama at Birmingham Career Center. “Impact and intent are two different things. Our students have to consider the impact of their decisions. That is what people see; people won’t see your intent. Students have to control their narrative and not allow mass media to tell the story for you as …
Duke University’s Melissa Bostrom: Career Development and Innovation Are Intertwined
Graduate school can bring pressures to follow specific career paths. It doesn’t have to be this way. Melissa Bostrom, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development at Duke University, discussed this topic on episode 7 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast. Melissa and co-host Heidi Scott Giusto discussed: The role of building a digital footprint to generate …
Mark Colvenbach of the University of Tampa on How to Demystify Networking for Students
Students often perceive networking in a negative way. Mark Colvenbach, Director of Career Services at the University of Tampa, works to demystify the networking process for students. On episode 6 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, he spoke about how and he and his colleagues do this. He also shared thoughts on: The importance of building a strong digital footprint. Student success …
Rob Pearson of Emory University on How to Navigate Your Career
How do you align you career to your values, interests and skills? Rob Pearson is here to help answer this question. As Assistant Dean of Professional Development and Career Planning at Emory University in the Laney Graduate School, Rob specializes in helping students answer the hard questions. He knows that career planning can be daunting, but that it doesn’t have to be! Episode #5 of the …
Is the Importance of Networking to Find a Job Exaggerated?
On episode 4 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Heidi Scott Giusto and Kevin Anselmo share reactions and thoughts to three different articles related to networking and creativity: Article 1: How To Get A Job Often Comes Down To One Elite Personal Asset, and Many People Still Don’t Realize It by Julia Freeland Fisher Article 2: 5 Employment Myths Busted by Don Alexander and Ted …
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
Did you know that some 40% of hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing a resume? Don’t let this intimidate you. Learn ways to enhance your resume to secure your next job opportunity. On episode #3 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Kevin Anselmo and Heidi Scott Giusto discuss some key points to consider in writing effective resumes, as well as some pitfalls to avoid. Some of …
Optimize Your Resume for Career Success
"The résumé has probably gone from about 40% to 35% of the hiring process to less than 10%," said Macy Andrews, senior director of human resources at tech giant Cisco in an article for CNN.com. Are resumes “dead”? On episode 2 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Heidi Scott Giusto and Kevin Anselmo discuss why the resume is still important and tips on how to ensure that yours stands out …
A LinkedIn Coaching Experience
Using LinkedIn strategically can drive career growth and spark innovation. Some 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly. There are a number of ways ones can use LinkedIn to connect with new people, learn new skills and spark creative ideas that drive positive change. On episode #1 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, hosts Kevin Anselmo and Heidi Scott Giusto conduct a LinkedIn coaching …