How to make the most of your senior year of college!

10/17/19

Ann Vu

If you’ve invested in your education by going to college, I bet you’re feeling some pressure by your senior year to have the career-defining results you hoped for. As a senior, it’s likely that you are anxious to graduate and you’re questioning whether or not you’ve done everything you could to be ready for what comes next. Did you choose the right major? Is this the right career path? So many questions only you have the answers to! College is truly what you make of it. Sure you studied, but what you do with that knowledge? We all know experience is what carves your path and makes you different from everyone else. This is true especially during senior year when you start to feel the slide. You know what I’m talking about, the feeling when you are so close that you feel SO DONE. Here are a few things you can focus your energy on to keep that momentum, make the most of your senior year and close out your days as a student, strong! I urge you to take matters into your own hands and stay motivated instead of hoping that motivation comes to you! Intern Have you ever gotten caught up in that chicken versus egg conundrum? You know the one where you need some experience to get a job, but you need a job to gain experience? Internships are the GAME CHANGER. This experience counts! Internships offer the win-win of trying out a job for a few months or a year to see if it is a fit with you and they allow you to learn something along the way. Whether that be an understanding of the field, confirmation that you do or don’t want to pursue the career, or improved results in your work, and a better understanding of what professionalism is. Take advantage of leadership opportunities If you have joined student groups that align with your interest throughout college, take opportunities to lead others in that group! More responsibilities and chances for you to problem solve, work on a team and manage only grow you in ways your older self will thank you for. Network with people in your prospective field Admit it, sometimes our understanding of jobs comes from what we’ve seen on TV, or what your parents/family members do for work. Has anyone else become curious about surgeons because of Grey’s Anatomy? Me too. The best way to gauge what a day in the life is actually like is to talk to someone who does the work. I suggest, making it a habit to reach out to people in your sphere of influence or using LinkedIn. The pro here is that you can learn more about yourself and the work you’re pursuing. Build or update your LinkedIn profile If you haven’t used this platform a lot in your college career, my suggestion is to start now. LinkedIn is a way for you to show your experience and interest in your field. It allows you to create a network of people you strive to be like. As a daughter of a machinist and a homemaker, LinkedIn was where I created a network I wouldn’t have otherwise had. During your senior year it’s important to start shaking hands with people. As the saying goes, “it’s more about who you know than what you know. This day and age, you CAN reach out to know as many people as you can. Utilize your school’s Career Services Every college campus has a career development office. If you’re feeling lost, and you might be, career concepts aren’t always a part of courses in all majors. There is no shame in leveraging the expertise of the career services team to coach and support you through this otherwise really stressful and foreign arena! Remember: You do not have to do it alone! Above all, give yourself permission to stumble Face it, you’ve been in school for about 17 years, you’re not going to be great at the job search and career part of your journey just yet. We all like to do things and do them well. Chances are that you’ve mastered a rhythm that allows you to approach school, assignments, and schedules with excellence. It will take some time to find your career groove as well, and the sooner you embrace that, the less painful this change will be. Hire a career or life coach You are new to this arena and feeling lost is more so the standard than the rule. It can be stressful and you don’t have to do it alone. All great athletes have coaches, and you’ll want one for career and life as well! Coaches are in your corner to support, challenge you while helping you focus on what it is that makes your life fulfilling and successful. Lastly, just remember. This path is yours and success is relative. Imagine the life you want to live and let that guide your actions, not a commercial or an Instagram account. YEP. I SAID IT. While I’m sure we all hope that our senior year will be convenient or a straight shot, please know it rarely happens this way. It’s pretty messy and never free of curveballs. Take all of them in stride. Remember, this is the youngest you’ll ever be, note the mistakes you make and let the things you go through lay the foundation on which your success story will stand. There really isn’t only one right way to navigate all of this. I’m giving you some steps to start with, but most of all, add your flair, and have as much fun as you can!

How To Make The Most Of Your Senior Year At College

08/21/19

Ann Vu

If you’ve invested in your education by going to college, I bet you’re feeling some pressure to have the career-defining results you hoped for. After all, you’re probably wondering how to make the most of your senior year at college? As a senior, it’s likely that you are anxious to graduate. You are probably also questioning whether or not you’ve done everything you could to be ready for what comes next. Did you choose the right major? Is this the right career path? So many questions only you have answers to! College is truly what you make of it. Sure you studied, but what you do with that knowledge and experience is what carves your path different from everyone else. This is true especially during senior year when you start to feel the slide. You know what I’m talking about, the feeling when you are so close that you feel SO DONE. Here are a few things you can focus your energy on to keep that momentum. It’s important to make the most of this final year and close out your days as a student, strong! Take matters into your own hands and stay motivated instead of hoping that motivation comes to you! Intern Ever get caught up in that chicken versus egg conundrum where you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to gain experience? Internships are the GAME CHANGER. This experience counts! Internships offer the win-win of trying out a job for a few months or a year to see if it is a fit with you and always learning something along the way. Whether that be an understanding of the field, confirmation that you do or don’t want to pursue the career, or results in your work and what professionalism is expected in the work world. If you’re looking for some information on what to look for in an internship? Read this blog post! Take advantage of leadership opportunities If you have joined student groups that align with your interest throughout college, take opportunities to lead others in that group! More responsibilities and chances for you to problem solve, work on a team and manage only grows you in ways your older self will thank you for. Network with people in your prospective field Admit it, sometimes our understanding of jobs comes from what we’ve seen on TV or what mom and dad do for work. Anyone become curious about surgeons because of Grey’s Anatomy? Me too. The best way to gauge what a day in the life is actually like is to talk to someone who does the work. Make it a habit to reach out to people in your sphere of influence or using (LinkedIn, see article?) so you can learn more about yourself and the work you’re pursuing. Build or update your LinkedIn profile If you haven’t used this a lot in your college career, start now. LinkedIn is a way for you to show your experience and interest in your field. LinkedIn also allows you to create a network of people you strive to be like. As a daughter of a machinist and a homemaker, LinkedIn was where I was able to draw a network I wouldn’t otherwise have. Start shaking hands with people because as the saying goes ‘ it’s more about who you know than what you know’. This day and age, you CAN reach out to know as many people as you can. Looking for some ideas to help you use LinkedIn to get a job? Utilize your school’s Career Services Every college campus has a career development office. If you’re feeling lost, and you might be, career concepts aren’t always a part of courses in all majors. Maximize on their expertise to coach and support you through this otherwise really stressful and foreign arena! Remember: You do not have to do it alone! Give yourself permission to stumble Face it, you’ve been in school for about 17 years, you’re not going to be great at the job search and career part of your journey just yet. We all like to do things, and it well. Chances are that you’ve mastered a rhythm to how you approach school, assignments, and schedules. It will take some time to find your career groove as well, and the sooner you embrace that, the less painful this change will be. Hire a career or life coach ( up to you guys!) You’re new to this arena and feeling lost is more so the standard than the rule. It can be stressful and you don’t have to do it alone. All great athletes have coaches, and you’ll want one for career and life as well! Coaches are in your corner to support you, challenge you, and help you focus on what it is that makes your life fulfilling and successful. Lastly, just remember. This path is yours and success is relative. Imagine the life you want to live and let that guide your actions, not a commercial or an Instagram account. YEP. I SAID IT. And as convenient and straight shot we would like life to work, it rarely happens this way. It’s pretty messy and never free of curveballs. Take all of them in stride. Don’t forget: this is the youngest you’ll ever be, note the mistakes you make and let the things you go through lay the foundation on which your success story will stand. There really isn’t only one right way to navigate all of this. I’m giving you some steps to start with, but most of all, add your flair, and have as much fun in all of this as you can!

How To Get Unstuck In Your Career

Achieving Goals

04/15/19

Ann Vu

Stuck. By definition means, unable to move, or set in a particular position, place, or way of thinking. We all know that feeling. That unmotivated, toxic, negative space where we feel drained as we figuratively run in place. We are innately built to grow and evolve, as a result, feeling STUCK serves as a sign that it’s time for a change. Through the course of your career, you’ll probably feel stuck about a dozen times. Each time, your work and career path will evolve in some way, shape, or form. Stuck is a tricky feeling because the less you act on it, the more intense it grows to be. So you’re probably wondering what to do about it. I bet the question rushing through your mind is, how do you get unstuck in your career? Figure out why you feel stuck Ask yourself these questions and then think about it, even more, the object of this exercise is to get to the root of it. Are you an internal processor? Write this out. External/verbal processor? Talk this out with a trusted friend or mentor. A lot of times stuck happens in one area of life and then bleeds into all the other categories. Lean into what you’re feeling with direct questions so you can identify and solve the root issue. For instance, if you’re actually dreaming about a move to another state but choose to change your job because it feels like less of a risk, you’re missing the point, and STUCK will follow you!Now bring that altogether by asking: What am I missing from my current work situation? Frame Your Mind Now, this is pretty obvious, unstuck would be to move. Are you swinging back and forth between leaving and staying? Waiting for the perfect opportunity before you decide to move? Are you in your own way? Are you held by back fear? Empower yourself to see that there is something you can do. It might not be perfect or your mind’s ideal situation, but there comes a point where you have to decide if the risk is worth staying or leaving, and what that could do to your current work situation or relationships. I didn’t realize this until I met with many more clients, but the solution to stuck isn’t always to leave your current job. Sometimes, it can be a conversation with your boss about increasing your responsibilities or wages. Sometimes, it’s a matter of re-igniting your excitement for your work by networking with someone who is more advanced in your career path. These things can really help you feel unstuck in your career. Map Your Moves Now that you have dissected why you’re feeling stuck, solutions to this should come a little more organically. You might find that you’ll fall under two different categories. 1. Stay and move to make it better2. Leave and move to find better. Let’s break this down. Stay, Make It Better If you’re realizing that this company has more to offer and you’re energized about staying, change what is in your control. Re-inspire yourself by attending a conference. Conferences are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals who are likely to be energized by the same work you are. This is a great opportunity to learn more about advances in your career field and generate ideas with others in different organizations. Connect with and become friends with people who don’t work directly with you. Sometimes it is nice to talk to others about things other than work, and easier to feel a part of the bigger company when you have a circle broader than your direct team members. Talk to your boss. Sometimes our needs aren’t met at work, but they really could be if we vocalized them. It’s not always the case, but we recommend giving leadership a chance to show up for you. If you’re looking for more challenging work or wanting more leadership responsibilities? See how much of that you can have already. Wanting to work remotely? Ask. If there is nothing your boss can do, revisit those questions above and see if that reinforces your stuck. Pursue a side hustle. It might be unrealistic, the expectations we have for just one job to have all the elements we want. Instead of trying to change your current job to fit what you’re missing, create a passion project or side hustle that encompasses that. For instance, I’ve had a job that didn’t draw out the level of creativity and ingenuity that I would appreciate. I found the perfect side hustle that allowed space for that. Revamp your space. Space is so much more important than we realize when it comes to our mental states. Has your office looked the same in the last 5 years? Change it up. Re-imagine new configurations and try them out. Creating a new space might be the catalyst for even more new ideas or re-charge you to find new ways to achieve even better work results. Leave, Find Better Sometimes, stuck is a signal for “let’s go”. You’ve been in the same work for a while and stifled for far too long. It’s time to get unstuck in your career and GO. Here are some steps to follow to unstuck out of this! List the things you like about your current job. Chances are, there are things about your job you probably still like, we want to make sure your new opportunity also has these elements. Think about what you would grieve when you leave your current job. Think of what you’re missing. The whole point is to be in a better place than you were before. So, note the reason why you’re feeling stuck, is there a lack of growth? Is it not what you want to do? Write what kind of work you are looking for, write out what this new job will have that your current doesn’t. Network. Start connecting with people. Connection is key and job searches thrive

Balancing Chasing Your Dreams and Celebrating The Present

02/25/19

Ann Vu

Chase your dreams. All around us we see inspiration and advice to shoot for the moon and not hold back. So we go for it. But our dreams are difficult to achieve and they sometimes feel so far away. Enjoy the journey. If chasing our dreams wasn’t enough, now they tell us to enjoy the journey too! Do they know how difficult that is? Do they know how it feels to dream of building a successful blog while struggling to get traffic to their site? Have they dreamed of making partner but exhaust themselves working 80 hour weeks? Have they tried launching a business while having everyone around them tell them they are nuts? You have probably realized that following your dreams looks a little less like floating in a starlit sky toward neverland and more like an obstacle course that goes on for miles and miles. This is completely okay because you have already realized that you’d choose that obstacle course without hesitation because dreaming without doing only gets you so far. However, only doing isn’t the most productive way to go about it. The balance of dreaming and doing is crucial, we need both, and as the saying goes, “where there is no vision people perish.” Now, before you fall into the 24/7 hustle and grind lifestyle that is often celebrated by society today, and easily pursued when what you are doing is your passion; read through this list to note how you can chase your dream, AND celebrate every curveball or bump life wants to present on the way. HOLD THE VISION, TRUST THE PROCESS In order to chase the dream, help yourself out by knowing your vision. You’ll miss all the shots you don’t take, but taking shots with little aim will bring you the same results. Many of my clients focus so much on what they don’t want, they are moving through life dodging those things as opposed to being driven toward goals. If you don’t know where you want to land, how do you know if you’re there? Name what you want, work with what you know, then get to work. See it in your mind, and then WRITE IT OUT Dreams and thoughts can take outrageous forms while floating in the abyss of your mind. Bring it to earth, write it down. Name your dream, detail what it is, articulate what it would feel like to have accomplished it. It’s hard to aim without targets, we’re making targets! Create a vision board Light a candle, take your written dreams, and start building the vision! A vision board serves as a physical representation through pictures, pins, or motivational words that represent your dreams. Everything should “spark joy” or energize when you to look at it. These images will bring your dreams into your reality and your day to day so place it somewhere you’ll see it without thinking too hard! Curious about how to start? One of my favorite YouTubers, Lavendaire explains this a little bit more. RELISH THE JOURNEY Dreams don’t happen overnight, as a result, the grind will burn you out before you even realize it. Start these practices to celebrate where you are as you’re working towards where you want to be. Break it down into smaller wins, goals Now that you have your big dream, you’ll want to break it down with mile markers, so you’re celebrating every step of the way! One of the main reasons resolutions aren’t kept is that people aren’t looking at the daily efforts needed to accomplish their grand visions. In a marathon, 26 miles feels daunting, but as you reach each mile marker you know how much closer you’re getting to that gratifying finish line. Write your breakdown of mini goals that lead to your big dream. Each time you reach a goal, decide how you will celebrate that! Share it with friends? Treat yourself with something that will motivate you towards the next, RIDE THE MOMENTUM! Daily Gratitude Start the practice of being thankful for every bump and break in the road! There is no success without learning and failing, this is where growth gets to happen. Be thankful throughout all of it, or you’ll trade the journey for a discouraged less inspired and more comfortable path. Fostering a positive outlook on stressful situations can be hard, start by listing 3 things you are grateful for each day, maybe in a planner or on your phone, it’ll keep you motivated. Yes’s and No’s You can do all things, just not all at once. It’s tempting to overcommit to all engagements with enthusiasm, only to find that you’re strained in all directions. Busy has become a celebrated symbol of success in our society. Be so intentional about marching against that beat. Burning out for the sake of your dream is also something that will delay your success and maybe, leave you with a less energized version of yourself when you get there. Create realistic boundaries around how many commitments you can make and do WELL in for that month or week. Honor that deal and say no to the rest. Overcommitment is a quick way to derail you of the health and quality of work it takes to reach your potential. Praise reports In my planner, there is a page at the end of each month dedicating praise. I welcome the first of each month with the acknowledgment of all the brave and proud things I did in the month before. This mindset helps me greet the new month with the same intentions and so forth. We receive praise from others when we do well, it’s even more important to remind ourselves and offer praise when we do well! Recruit your squad Any endeavor and dream chasing needs a cheer squad. It’s a tough journey, who are the people who will help you keep growing when you’re wanting to quit? An important piece of advice from Steve Harvey is “Don’t share your

7 Foolproof Ways to Prepare for an Interview

Get That Job

01/21/19

Ann Vu

Ever get excited about an interview and then slip into a wave of nervousness about how you will do? You are not the only one. There is a lot of pressure knowing that you are a few interviews away from the job that you’re after. Here are 6 foolproof ways to prepare for an interview. Follow these steps to prepare and you will notice an increase in your confidence and improvement in execution! You will surely stand out, and for the right reasons. Location Location Location Expect the unexpected! You’ve done a major amount of prep, practiced your handshake, picked out your confident outfit, etc. Do NOT let being late create a bad impression first thing at your interview. This is the easiest thing you can do to have a foolproof interview. Know exactly how long it takes to get to your interview site and ADD 15 minutes to the commute to make time to park your car and walk to the correct part of the building without needing a sweat towel when you get there! Research the Company and Position In a sea of many companies, why did you choose them? They might be curious to know your why for pursuing this job with this company. Pour into the company website and read into more than just their mission and values. How are they involved with the community, what are they proud of? Are you new to the industry? Be able to study and grasp as much as you can to show your commitment to the new industry. Were you given the name of your interviewer? Search them on Linkedin, learn of their background and note if you have anything in common with your interviewer. Be ready with questions either about their background or role in the company. Create a connection with the person who’s getting to know you! Show your investment into getting this position by knowing the position, learning the ins and outs of what the company is about and looking for so you’re able to emphasize the value you add. Know Yourself It’s easy to take for granted that you’ll need to study YOU before answering interview questions. I mean, how hard could it be? It’s you, you must know all the answers! Well, in an interview dynamic, the pressure to speak well, and nervousness could have you tripping over the simplest things, like what you’re good at and areas you are working to grow. Reflect on why you want this job, what you’ll be able to bring to the position and what experiences ensure that you’ll be able to meet the responsibilities best. Write out which strengths and weaknesses you want to talk about if that question comes up in an interview. Write out an answer to “tell me about yourself” so you can see if you’ve included all the relevant* information you want in that introduction. Prep Your Stories Ahead of Time Behavior-based interview questions are always a part of the process. You know them, it starts with “Tell me about a time when _____.” These questions challenge you to share an experience you had to help them understand how you think and might behave in a situation you’d face in your position. For instance, “Tell me about a time when you failed to make a deadline, what did you do?” These are the hardest questions to be able to answer on the fly. Avoid having to rack your brain of a good story from 3 years ago that exemplifies leadership, in real time, with pressure and nerves of saying it all right. You have a lot of experiences to sort through and in a rush to answer timely, you might start telling a story that wasn’t the best one to talk about. Think of various memories: a time when you went the extra mile, resolved a conflict, were under a lot of pressure, had to prioritize, worked on a team, lead a project just to name a few. You don’t necessarily know which ones will be asked, but thinking about them ahead of time will have it in the forefront of your brain, ready to be pulled in case a question creates the opportunity. Check out this blog that digs into how to hit curveball questions! Practice! Now that you’ve thought of what you want to say, try it out! Written answers don’t tend to sound natural when you say them, practice with a friend, career counselor, or the mirror. Get through the story you want to tell sans Umms, Ahhs, and stutters. It might take a few tries, but doing this ensures a smoother answer during showtime and will allow you to have a foolproof interview! Come Ready With Questions Your turn to flip the interview! What makes you curious about the company or position says a lot about what is important to you as you decide whether or not to accept an offer. Take this opportunity to get the information you can’t find online. If you’re looking for some good questions, here are some of my favorite: Job description not totally clear about their expectations? Not asking questions shows a lack of curiosity and might imply that you feel like you know all there is to know about the job or company. Now, Go Get’em! More preparation is bound to increase your confidence in how you will do in your interview. Still overcome with nerves? Change your state. Life coach Tony Robbins, says the key to overcoming stress is to move your body to shift your state from stress/nervousness to one of confidence. Stop, and breathe deeply. Think of how you stand when you’re confident. Are your hands on your hips? Shoulders back? Are you looking up? Figure out what makes you the most confident and do it right before the interview. This will help your nerves will shift and help you have a foolproof interview! Following all of these tips ensure that you’ll have a foolproof interview and can