Spring Forward April 5, 2017

Olivia was our speaker for Spring Forward. She was a recent graduate of Appalachian State University, so it was cool to hear from someone who was in my shoes just a few years ago. The main points of her talk her about networking, and seeking out internships/jobs after college.

One main takeaway I got from her talk was the concept of networking. Olivia specifically emphasized that we connect with professional organizations related to our majors. She shared her personal story of living in Utah, and how it was a great experience, but she yearned for her home state of North Carolina. She went on to mention that the job she got today, a job she is quite content with, would not have been possible without the connections she made through her professional organization in Raleigh. Especially in the modern age, networking is now more accessible than ever, so it would be wise for potential job seekers to prepare for this accordingly.

Another thing Olivia spoke a lot about was being proactive in our searches for internships, or even our first jobs. She stated that she started looking for a job in October of her senior year, and since a lot of my class is graduating seniors, this seemed to open their eyes. She said that there is a difference between being annoying, and being persistent. As long as you are passionate and ambitious, and your potential employer sees that, there is a much better chance of you getting a job in a field you want.

On a side note, she also talked about how she integrates social media into her daily professional life. Her boss lives in Seattle, and she also works with a graphic designer in Ireland, so the Internet provides a fantastic bridge that connects these three at any given time. She is a public relations person, so she deals with people in an online environment all the time. I cannot see myself working without using social media and the Internet, and Olivia reinforced this feeling I have.