INFORMATION INTERVIEW #2

DATE: 1/28/2010
COMPANY: Central Piedmont Community College
TYPE: Community College
LOCATION: Charlotte, NC
TITLE: Student Counselor
EDUCATION: M.A in Marriage & Family Counseling from Appalachian State University
INTREST: Shopping

WHAT DID I LEARN OVERALL FROM THIS INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW?
I was under the impression that all higher education schools are set-up the same. Boy was I wrong!! This school has so many tiers of counselor help that I was starting to get confused. Apparently, there are Advisors, Career Counselors, Student counselors, Educational Psychologist all in the same school. So I can spend a whole month just interviews the different counselors in the CPCC organization!!

WHAT WERE THE POSITIVE’S AND NEGATIVE’S OF EACH INTERVIEWEE’S JOB?
The positive aspect that this counselor told me was that she loved working with the people and that she never meets the same “type” of student. She meets people from age 17 trying to get credits before going to a big school to a 60 year old who just want to learn a new skill.
For this counselor, the “new student rush” is the most challenging time. Around the months of June – August, so many new students go through a lot of anxiety when starting a new school and they all rush in for counseling which may cause limited counseling time with each person.

COULD I HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THIS INTERVIEW?
I think this interview could not have been more perfect however, afterwards may not have left a good impression. Usually, I send a gift card to the interviewee and for this counselor snail mail took too long and sent the letter back to me. I was furious!! So much time had passed by then that sending anything would have been ineffective. Bummer!!

ASSUMING THAT I STILL WANT TO PURSUE MY ORIGINAL CAREER DIRECTION, WHAT IS MY STRATEGY FOR SEEKING A JOB IN THIS FIELD?
After this interview, I really would like to work for CPCC. The community college is the best in the south east area according to a couple of sources and the organization’s structure is so different then anything I have seen. I really want to work for this school. I am not really sure how I can get into this school but I will use my info interview contacts as well as try to do my internship at CPCC. I think that may make me get into the school faster.

INFORMATION INTERVIEW #1

DATE: 1/28/2010
COMPANY: York Technical College
TYPE: Community College
LOCATION: Rock Hill, SC
TITLE: TRIO Student Counselor
EDUCATION: MEd in School Counseling from Winthrop University
INTREST: Jazz Music, Band, Instruments

WHAT DID I LEARN OVERALL FROM THIS INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW?
The most poignant lesson I have learned from this interview is that one has to be ready for anything when doing these info interviews. I sent this person a letter and they called me out-of-the-blue and wanted to conduct the interview the same day. I had only a little bit of time in order to prepare. Thank goodness that I had his information with me so that I did not sound completely stupid about his background.

WHAT WERE THE POSITIVE’S AND NEGATIVE’S OF EACH INTERVIEWEE’S JOB?
His main focus is to provide the student with the tools s/he needs to achieve goals related to the school and their education. This goal, when it is achieved, is the most rewarding for this interviewee.
During the months of July & August, are a counselor's busiest time because of the admission process. Because of the fast pace, a counselor is unable to give the best care and attention to each client. This is the most negative period for a counselor.

COULD I HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THIS INTERVIEW?
An info interview is supposed to last 20 - 30 min and the interview I had with this counselor lasted for an hour. I was too scared to say anything because I thought that it would be rude. I need to figure out a way to gently remind the interviewee without making them feel bad.

ASSUMING THAT I STILL WANT TO PURSUE MY ORIGINAL CAREER DIRECTION, WHAT IS MY STRATEGY FOR SEEKING A JOB IN THIS FIELD?
After this interview, I knew that this field is right for me. I really feel that continuing to conduct these interviews and keeping in touch with the individuals that are working within the field will be my best job strategy. Since I am working on a graduate degree I know that I can build a relationship over a two year period and hopefully someone will inform me of a position.

I Have Been Soooooooo SICK!!!

Please forgive me for neglecting my blog...I have been sick with a sinus infection.  I am now back and ready to keep going towards my goals!!  So continue to check back.

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!!