TIME FOR INFORMATION INTERVIEWS!!!!!

For 2010, I have a whole list of goals I want to achieve in order to get me to the career I want. One of my goals is to conduct Informational Interviews with individuals at and around Charlotte that has positions I would like to work upon graduation from grad school.

So you may ask......"Camille, what the hell is an Informational Interview?" Well it is exactly what it sounds like - an interview designed for obtaining personal occupational information. The interviewee can gain insightful and intimate inside view of a career field that many publications cannot produce. The informational interview gives one the first hand experiences and impressions of someone in the occupation, and is directed by one's questions.

This sort of networking makes a less stressful situation and you get to ask all of the questions. Also, for career changers, such as myself, it gives you the ability to find out what's involved in the career you are considering before entering it. I already know that on paper becoming a Career Counselor is what I want to do but I know that there maybe other jobs out there that will make me happy as well.

For the past 3 months, I have been gearing up for this "Informational Interview Campaign" by doing a couple of things I wanted to share:

• UPDATED RESUME - I have updated my resume to fit the job I hope to change into by researching the job I would like to have and pulling out skills that are most important to the profession. Do this step before the interview if possible. If your previous job skills are not transferrable to the new career....keep thinking....because every skill is transferrable!!

• NETWORKING BUSINESS CARDS - These are like a business card, but for people not currently employed. To take your networking card to the next level, you can have highlights from your resume printed on the back of it.

• CONTACT ORGANIZATION - I highly suggest that before you even attempt to conduct these interviews, you will need to have a system already in place for organizing all of your contacts. I produced a database on Access that has columns for each contact's name, address, phone numbers, fax, e-mail address, where you met the contact, the date you met them, your follow-up communication and how the contact helped you. If you would like a copy of this database you can e-mail me and I will send it to you!!

I have also gotten my questions ready for this interview. Most of my questions are about the day-to-day activities that one will have to do in the selected occupation. The specific questions I plan to ask is the following:

1. Could you describe one of your typical workdays for me?

2. What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?

3. Are too many or too few people entering into this field?

4. What qualifications do you seek in a new hire?

5. How do most people enter this profession?

6. What professional journals and organizations should I be aware of?

So there it is folks!! My first interview, of 30 candidates, is tomorrow at 9 am with a Student Counselor at Central Piedmont Community College - Central Campus. I look forward to this experience!!

WISH ME LUCK!!

Visit to North Carolina State University

On Wednesday, January 14th I took a road trip to North Carolina State University. I must say that the campus was similar to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The campus was HUGE with tons of construction surrounding it. I was annoyed with the construction because it was backing up traffic for miles but I made it through and the campus is impressive!!

I did an interview with one of the professors within the Masters of College Counseling program. I was impressed with the education building called Poe Hall as well as the floor where the offices were located. Now after the trip, I am excited more than ever to attend this university. I hope I get accepted into the program!!

Wish me luck!!

Time to Go to School.........

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."

- William Shakespeare

In order to embark on my journey to the field of higher education, I am going to have to go back to school. Yes, back to books, backpacks and cheap greasy food. I am actually looking forward to this part of my journey because I have always loved school. I remember being a freshman in college thinking how I could stay forever……..but then the money runs out, LOL!!

I am looking to obtain my Masters in College Counseling at either Winthrop University or North Carolina State University. However, Winthrop University only offers a Masters in Counseling (all bit more general).

I really don’t know which university I will go to if both accept me so stay tuned to find out which I pick.

My Networking Event

The networking event went well…….not. No one really showed up but I am not discouraged. I decided to throw another event at a better time to accommodate everyone’s schedule. I believe that one will turn out better and I will be discussing a new topic to.

I plan on getting more in-depth on the subject of Personal Branding. I really am fascinated with this subject. I believe that “Gen Y” is nothing like the baby boomers. We will not stay at a job forever and we will not take anything that we can get just because we want money. No…..we are empowering ourselves and carving our own niches. This is an amazing philosophy that not many African-Americans take charge of.

So, I hope to teach and inspire all of my friends to empower their careers and dreams. I feel now, more then ever, is the time to do it. So hopefully, the next meeting will rock!!

My First Career Counseling Event!!

The Labor Department reported today that the U.S economy shed another 85,000 jobs in December. I am sure Obama is shaking in his boots right now over this figure. I can almost bet my cat that three fourths of that number is minority workers. There are so many unemployed individuals now that almost every day I hear stories of someone who is unemployed. Majority of my NC friends are unemployed and the ones who are not feel as if they will be next to join the ranks.

When I meet unemployed folks, I seem to have the same conversations with them about resumes, websites and networking. I find that no matter what age, education or job experience…so many people are oblivious to how social media and networking work in the 21st century. So, I decided to gather all of these friends and teach them what to do en masse.

On Saturday, January 9th I am hosting a networking party. The following topics will be discussed:

1. How to set Goals for CLARITY.
2. NETWORKING 101.
3. Personal Branding 101
4. How to put your Plan into Action!!

I am doing this event for many reasons. One is to help my friends get a full understanding of what it takes to get a job in the 21st century but also to showcase my expertise on the topic of careers and career counseling. In fact, this very style of networking is mentioned in Dan Schawbel’s book called,” Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success.” He mentions that hosting an event is a great way to keep in touch with people and brand yourself in the process.

I promise to upload pictures of the event and perhaps some video tomorrow.

Wish me luck!!

My Career Plan

So now that I understand my ENFJ personality, I went on a “career quest” to find what career best suited me. From May 2009 – July 2009, I researched every career that looked like something I could do.

However, in order to understand where you are going you have to understand where you were. Before the lay-off, I worked mostly accounting and purchasing positions. What I liked about them was the technical part. I absolutely love computing and manipulating numbers along with the fact that I am a wiz at Excel and Access. So I know I possess that skill but the skill that was not utilized was my need to connect with people and help them. I found that to make up that skill I was involved in many “counseling-like” activities. This led me to naturally gravitate towards the jobs that have a focus on human development.

old me......

My quest is not completely over, in fact I plan on conducting 30 informational interviews with local counselors in and around the Charlotte area. Till then I am strongly gravitating towards becoming a College Career Counselor.

NEW AWESOME ME!!!

Stay tuned for more on this.

ENFJ Personalities ROCK!!

On my quest to find myself, I decided to do a lot of introspection. One of the things that I did was take the Myers Briggs Personality test and I found out that I was a [DRUM ROLL PLEASE]…….

 

 

I am quite surprised at how accurate and true the description is. It was like looking at myself in the mirror! Some of my awesome cool ENFJ traits are the following:

• On personality trait scales, scored as Active, Pleasant, Sociable, Demanding, Impatient, Appreciative, and Compromising. [OMG THAT IS TOTALLY ME!!]
• Most likely of all types to cope with stress by exercising. [ I LOVE YOGA!!]
• Most likely of all types to believe in a higher spiritual power. [TAOISM & CATHOLIC....HEY, I AM ALL ABOUT EQUAL OPPROTUNITY]
• Ranked by psychologists as among least likely to have trouble in school. [I STARTED THE TREND OF WEARING HALO'S]
• Personal values include Friendships, Education & Learning, Creativity, and Community Service. [DID THEM ALL!!]
• Among types highest in job satisfaction, but also among most likely to report plans to leave their jobs.[I PLAN TO LOVE MY JOB!]
• Commonly found in careers in religion, teaching, and the arts. [I HAVE DONE YOGA, TAUGHT CLASSES & DESIGN CLOTHES]

Here are some awesome people that have similar personality traits as me:

She is an Aquarius like ME!! Go Aquarius..it's ya Birthday!!

Ole Honest Abe!!

WHOA..tough person to follow!!

  

In short….ENFJ’S ROCK!!