As you know, there are a lot of changes when you go from high school to college, and especially when it's in a whole other state. It was hard to adjust at first, I had to balance classes, schoolwork, and friends, which I learned very quickly didn't always work out. I started to learn during my Sophomore year exactly how important my schooling and future was to me. A lot of my friends at the time didn't share the same passion I did for my future. I mean I would far rather sacrifice being the beer pong queen for being one of the tops of my class. I started dating my very best friend who has the same view as I do on school and cherishes what we have coming for us in the future.
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The best thing I have ever done for myself was to get involved in college! Becoming involved can help you in so many different ways- it has helped me receive scholarships almost every semester, be able to travel, and connect me to jobs that I might not have found otherwise. With that being said, here's how I was able to get involved!
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This is the first part to my Secrets to Success series that I would like to include on this blog. I have learned so many great pieces of advice from advisors, mentors, and recruiters and I would love to be able to share it with others!
Resumes
The greatest resume advice I have ever received came from a Boeing representative at a career fair- she said that I should keep a word document of my accomplishments and jobs so I could customize a resume for a job interview or career fair. Sometimes it's hard to think on the spot of what you learned at an internship 2 years ago or the stats you helped your last company grow. This saves time and effort and might even help you nail that next job interview! Another great piece of advice I have for people is to include some personal information on there, especially something you love! The interviewer might resort to asking these questions to lighten up the interview. A few things I have included in my resume was how I converted my car from automatic to manual transmission (actually landed me my past internship), that I have traveled to 3 countries enriching myself in different cultures, museums, and foreign car manufacturers.
If you choose these extra personal pieces of information carefully it could trigger great questions relating to major parts of the job. As I briefly mentioned, the experience of converting my car from automatic to manual transmission landed me my internship at Solar Turbines. My boss later informed me of this and explained that this key piece of information showed that I am mechanically inclined and basically how I can apply the knowledge that I have taken information away from my classes.
Elevator speech
Ahh the elevator speech. The first time I attended a Society of Women in engineering (SWE) conference, we were joking around on an elevator about an elevator speech, but there happened to be a recruiter from a company in there with us. From this experience I learned how important it was because it is your first impression with a recruiter from a company. A catchy elevator speech could be the difference between you getting an interview or being declined.
This shows how well you can present and briefly explain yourself as quickly as possible, so you better choose carefully! Interviews
Dress Comfortably! My go to interview look is either one of my favorite skirts from Ann Taylor ( Linked) or a comfy pair of slacks with a nice shirt. I have made the mistake so many times of trying to look cuter while sacrificing comfort and I have regretted it every time. Wearing scratchy or too tight clothing can make you fidget, which people really pick up on! When you wear something professional, yet comfortable your confidence really radiates and can help you nail some tricky questions!
Another great piece of advice is to find a cute pair of flats especially if you are going for an interview out in an industrial environment. The interviewer might take you on a facility tour however there might be clothing restrictions. The other reason for this is unless you are a model/ God / or just a pro at walking in heels it can be tough and uncomfortable to walk and could have a damper on your confidence level.
Other Interview Tips-
I really enjoy having a nice looking portfolio to take in to the interview. It keeps your resumes looking nice and you can store documents such as letters of recommendation, extra paper, or a list of questions you have for the employer. I have one that has my school's logo on it and absolutely love it!
Resumes
The greatest resume advice I have ever received came from a Boeing representative at a career fair- she said that I should keep a word document of my accomplishments and jobs so I could customize a resume for a job interview or career fair. Sometimes it's hard to think on the spot of what you learned at an internship 2 years ago or the stats you helped your last company grow. This saves time and effort and might even help you nail that next job interview! Another great piece of advice I have for people is to include some personal information on there, especially something you love! The interviewer might resort to asking these questions to lighten up the interview. A few things I have included in my resume was how I converted my car from automatic to manual transmission (actually landed me my past internship), that I have traveled to 3 countries enriching myself in different cultures, museums, and foreign car manufacturers.
If you choose these extra personal pieces of information carefully it could trigger great questions relating to major parts of the job. As I briefly mentioned, the experience of converting my car from automatic to manual transmission landed me my internship at Solar Turbines. My boss later informed me of this and explained that this key piece of information showed that I am mechanically inclined and basically how I can apply the knowledge that I have taken information away from my classes.
Elevator speech
Ahh the elevator speech. The first time I attended a Society of Women in engineering (SWE) conference, we were joking around on an elevator about an elevator speech, but there happened to be a recruiter from a company in there with us. From this experience I learned how important it was because it is your first impression with a recruiter from a company. A catchy elevator speech could be the difference between you getting an interview or being declined.
This shows how well you can present and briefly explain yourself as quickly as possible, so you better choose carefully! Interviews
Dress Comfortably! My go to interview look is either one of my favorite skirts from Ann Taylor ( Linked) or a comfy pair of slacks with a nice shirt. I have made the mistake so many times of trying to look cuter while sacrificing comfort and I have regretted it every time. Wearing scratchy or too tight clothing can make you fidget, which people really pick up on! When you wear something professional, yet comfortable your confidence really radiates and can help you nail some tricky questions!
Another great piece of advice is to find a cute pair of flats especially if you are going for an interview out in an industrial environment. The interviewer might take you on a facility tour however there might be clothing restrictions. The other reason for this is unless you are a model/ God / or just a pro at walking in heels it can be tough and uncomfortable to walk and could have a damper on your confidence level.
Other Interview Tips-
I really enjoy having a nice looking portfolio to take in to the interview. It keeps your resumes looking nice and you can store documents such as letters of recommendation, extra paper, or a list of questions you have for the employer. I have one that has my school's logo on it and absolutely love it!
Author
My name is Elaine Cope, I am studying Manufacturing Engineering. I decided to make this blog with hopes to inspire other young female engineers to pursue their dreams.
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