If you would’ve asked me 2 years ago if I ever thought about going back to school, I would’ve said, “with my work schedule? That’s impossible.” At the time, that was the correct answer. I work as a musician and the rest of 2020 was already mapped out, so there was no way to attend school. Home for a few months here and there, on the road the rest of the time. And then, well you know what happened. After the first couple months of uncertainty and indulging on too much red wine, I think I fell into the same boat that many other people found themselves in, asking the same questions. “If this goes on for awhile, I’m going to need to find something to do, but wait, what do I like to do? What am I interested in?” It was around summertime when the possibility to go back to school was realized. Nothing was opening back up like they thought it might and everyone was buckling up for the long haul, including VC. I signed up for the fall 2020 semester with a major in music. I mean music, right? After not being in school for a couple decades, that seemed like the obvious, logical choice. I soon realized that I wasn’t interested in taking any music classes (though I did take a really cool music history class). My interest were in marketing, business and film. Which is how I find myself writing this blog now. I think a lot of people have similar stories right now. School registration had to have been at an all time high, right? Now that things are slowly opening back up, people are incorporating what they do now with what they did before, so scrapped what they did before all together. For me as an example, at present moment, I’m on the final week of a 5 week tour across America while being a full time student. Before the shutdown, after a show I would’ve ask someone to point me to the nearest watering hole. Now after a show, I ask for the WiFi password cause I have an assignment due.
How to snag your dream job after graduating from college.
Unemployed young university woman looking for work or job after graduation at the post board
Congratulations! You have officially completed your journey as a college student. So, what now? Unless you plan on taking a gap year to “find yourself”, à la Eat Pray Love, then it’s likely you have started the process of hunting for your dream job. Whether you are a recent college grad or a seasoned professional in the workforce, the fundamentals of recruitment have remained the same. Want to snag your dream job? Try these 10 tips when you are ready for your next professional opportunity:
The Pre-Interview
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.“
Seneca
Do Your Homework: Before you think about applying to that job, you need to do your own research on the company you are interested in.
Familiarize yourself with the company, its values, and employee culture.
Use employment websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Linked-In to read company reviews and learn about the challenges of the role you’re applying to.
2. Revise Your Resume: A no-brainer when job hunting is to update your resume with current and relevant experience.
Limit resume to one page-only include experience that relates to the job position you are applying to.
Proofread your documents to catch any typos or grammar mistakes.
Keep multiple copies on hand for in-person interviews and store them inside of a folder or binder.
3. Practice Makes Perfect: Practice your interview presentation in preparation for your official interview.
Practice speaking in front of a mirror to improve your communication skills.
Review commonly asked interview questions such as: “tell us about yourself” or “why should we hire you”.
Now that you’re refreshed on the pre-interview ritual, let’s jump straight to business: how to prepare for the big meeting.
The Interview Process
“Dress how you want to be addressed.“
Bianca Frazier
4. First Impressions: Professionalism never goes out of style, so dress accordingly and keep a polished appearance when meeting with a potential employer for the first time.
Check your interview outfit for stains, loose threads, or any imperfections; keep a lint roller handy if needed.
Steam or iron your garments: wrinkles look cute on French Bulldogs, noton your button-down shirt.
Maintain proper grooming standards to look bright eyed and bushy tailed in person or on camera.
5. Be On Time: Whether it’s virtual or in-person, don’t be late for your interview!
Allocate time for traffic and other factors out of your control.
Ask for directions so you are familiar with the building number or office space.
Show up 10 minutes early to your in-person interview; for virtual meetings, arrive at the waiting room before your interviewer.
6. Mind Your Manners: Be aware of your non-verbal and verbal communication when interacting with recruiters.
Positive body language: firm handshake, make direct eye contact, sit up straight, and smile.
Be confident and speak clearly when answering questions.
Avoid using excessive filler words (“uhm”, “uh”, “like”) when you get a nervous tick; use pauses instead.
7. Do Not Disturb Mode: Only bring necessary materials that you will need for your interview process.
Silence all devices to avoid disruptions during conversations.
Un-sync smart devices that are programmed to ring at the same time; this is crucial for virtual meetings/Zoom calls.
8. Humble Brag: Showcase your personality and accomplishments to make a lasting impression.
No self deprecating talk; this makes it seem that you are lacking in confidence.
Speak positively about your accomplishments; mention any proud moments that occurred in school, clubs, sports, or other extra curricular activities.
Be honest about your current skill level and don’t lie to impress a potential employer; you may be asked to follow up on your words.
Great job! You survived the interview process. Now it’s time to finish off strong and close the deal.
The Post-Interview
“You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.“
Rosalynn Carter
9. Q&A: Be inquisitive and ask questions at the end of your interview to stand out from other candidates.
Use your research from Tip #1 to base your questions; include questions that reflect your interest in the position.
Ask for clarification from the interviewer if you are confused about what is being asked.
Listen carefully before answering and think about what you are going to say next.
10. Send a “Thank You” Note: Follow up with your interviewer and send them a “thank you” note for taking the time to meet with you.
Keep important contact info if you are interested in the job to make follow ups easy.
Reference what was said during the interview in your note.
Enhance your chances of getting hired by expressing your appreciation.
Now that you’ve made it to the end of this list, it’s time to show the world what you’re capable of! Remember that preparation is the key to your success. Make a memorable first impression by minding your manners and remaining professional. Set yourself apart from the competition by practicing the 10 Interview Etiquette tips listed above and pretty soon you’ll be celebrating your new hire status. Good luck!
Need more information about your career needs? Visit Ventura College’s Career Center for access to seminars, help with resume writing, job postings, career planning, and much more!
I have never heard anyone seriously say, “I’m off to college to accomplish nothing”. We push for a higher education so that in the end of it all, we will achieve a better occupational lifestyle. A very grand salary. Top Tier benefits. Yes, life enhancements. The game is all about gaining accredited skillsets to showcase one’s value per the individuals chosen career path.
What can we do about getting life enhancing skills that we can carry forward in life from here on? A small example would be taking a cooking class. Now you will have a higher percentage of making tastier meals than before. F.Y.I. NYPOST states, “New research reveals 86 percent of Americans find cooking to be a total turn-on“. Total heart throb after one semester.
The point is, don’t just take classes to fulfill a degree alone. Take classes that will enhance your present life, not just the lifestyle you are scaping for tomorrow. Take a first aid class. If my cousin didn’t know CPR then he would have never been able to save his father’s life. It would be smart to take advantage of a finance class. Many will say, “A class on money is just so boring”. But isn’t this why you are choosing your career field? To do something you love and make great money doing it? I am more than positive I don’t have to pull up statistics on how having great finances is considered a total turn-on by millions of Americans, far and wide.
Did you know you already are off to a great start? Those who become college graduates are 2.5 times more likely to be healthy in the long run versus someone with only a high school education. Education is linked with health regardless of racial or ethical group. The things you learn in Men’s Health & Wellness HED.V04. College can be the best of times or the worst of times. With the proper skills and right information you will be in control of your destiny.
For shy people, there is nothing worse than having to talk to someone they’ve never met. Typically, shy people are also faced with the fear of saying the wrong thing and facing embarrassment. For introverted people, there is nothing more troublesome than having to talk to someone at all and getting past the small talk and exhaustion of leaving their home.The problem is, college requires interaction with others, especially when it comes to resolving a technical problem, talking to a counselor, asking the professor for help, and having to schedule peer groups for classes with complete strangers.
Unfortunately, these fears and obstacles can get in the way of our success and close the doors to new opportunities. What can be done to overcome the obstacles and have a successful college experience? Here are my top 5 tips for both introverts and shy students on how to overcome shyness and introversion in college, let’s get started!
Use Technology to Your Advantage
The pandemic has changed the way we communicate with people. Things that used to be done strictly in-person can now be done remotely. You can schedule remote appointments for counseling and join office hours with your professors on Zoom. You can also schedule group meetings for your classes via Zoom and join from the comfort of your home.
Another advantage we have now is sending emails. Staff and faculty on campus are very good about answering quick questions if you send them an email. You can find their emails on the Ventura College website under their respective departments.
Research and Write it Down
Sometimes what holds us back is not knowing what to say once we talk to certain individuals. Something I like to do is get organized, do my research, and write it down. What do I mean by that? For example, if you are talking to a counselor or a professor, you can research more about the topic you are going to talk to them about at home. Next, you write down a list of topics or questions and have them ready with you.
For shy people, this will help get your ideas and questions organized and make it easier to express yourself without getting tongue tied or forgetting what you were going to say. For introverts, this will allow you to get straight to the point of your appointments, which will result in less socializing and ending your meetings faster.
Avoid Imagining Negative Scenarios
Our imaginations can take a very negative route when we visualize having to interact with certain people, especially strangers. Our mind is so powerful it can allow us to think that people are horrible, that people don’t want to help us and that we will make a fool of ourselves.
However, in that same way, the mind can be so powerful that we can flip the scenario around. If we imagine positive outcomes from our interactions, we can enter the situations with confidence and with optimism. For shy people, that means not walking into a room with fear of judgement and fear of embarrassment, rather imagining that everything will go well and be successful. For introverted people, that means walking into a room not envisioning how exhausting and draining the situation will be for them, rather imagining that the experience will help them grow, resolve their problems and that after the interaction is over, it will allow them to focus their energy back on the things that matter.
Step out of Your Comfort Zone
We all love staying in our comfort zone because it’s a place where we feel safe and unbothered. However, many times the comfort zone doesn’t allow us to get the best experience we can have in college. Meeting strangers can be exhausting and daunting, but it can also be rewarding and beneficial to us. As easy as it is to send that email to your professor, you can have even more meaningful conversations in person with them or on zoom. As easy as it is to avoid all counselors, staff, and other students at the college, if you step out of your comfort zone, you can end up making great connections that can help you all throughout your college experience and even after college. Stepping out of your comfort zone even if occasionally, is worth a shot!
Remember We Are All Human
We can sometimes get into the bad habit of thinking that we are the only ones who are shy and introverted. However, we are all human. Every person with more authority you’ve spoken to, has felt lost or confused and has had to ask for help before. There are also people who have jobs that require speaking to people daily and yet they are introverted in nature. If we remember that we are all human, we can overcome many obstacles and face our fears knowing we aren’t the only ones who have felt that way.
If you remember to use technology to your advantage, to make a list of your questions, practice optimism and push aside negative thoughts you can successfully navigate through college with a breeze. I hope these tips can help you all have a more positive outlook when it comes to social interactions in college. If you guys have any more good tips please leave them in the comments, we would love to hear them!
Remember to follow our blog VCSocial and follow our Instagram @VCSocialBrand for more entertaining, helpful, and inspiring content!
Many of you know that VC Social is the class brand for Digital Content Marketing (BUS V52) at Ventura College, and that I spent many hours getting this course approved by curriculum, not to mention the time it took to build the website on WordPress. This wouldn’t be possible without the amazing folks who work at Ventura College, and in particular, I’d like to thank my fellow Business Department faculty and my Division’s Dean.
As the first semester of this class comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on what we accomplished and where our opportunities lie in the future.
To begin with, I couldn’t be more proud of the first ever cohort of students that went through this course together. Each week, they brought enthusiasm and creativity to the classroom. Whether it was a group or individual project, students were truly contributors and I’m excited with the direction that this brand is headed.
Did everything run perfectly? Is the website completely done? Are our social media profiles complete? Probably not. But then, I was never in a rush, so these questions are moot.
Was there collaboration amongst students? Did quality content get created? Was a standard set for future iterations of this course? Yes. Without a doubt. I even got a chance to do a food review of my own!
I will continue spending time on this project over the holiday season, in anticipation of the Spring 2022 section of Digital Content Marketing (BUS V52). To make sure that my time goes towards relevant actions, I’d like to pose the following questions to the current students:
Was this class organized in an efficient way, or could it have been setup differently to optimize our efforts?
What assignments had the most impact on learning? What assignments could have been improved?
What are your educational/professional plans for after this class/program ends, and what have you learned in this class that you can take with you into the real world?
Were there roles or activities that you were hoping to practice that you didn’t get a chance at? If so, what?
Were there skills or lessons that you were hoping to learn about that didn’t get covered? If so, what?
Finally, do you have any advice for future students that go through not only this course, but the Social Media Marketing program at Ventura College in general?
On November 23rd Jace McDonald and Alexander Shaw will be participating in the “One Team Scavenger Hunt,” created by Puzzling Adventures (TM). This is a cross between a scavenger hunt, adventure race, and self-guided tour around Ventura, a new and exciting way to learn more about the city, and all you need is a mobile device and an internet connection. Feel free to join us on the VC Social Instagram profile at 2pm November 23rd!
Go face-to-face with Ira the male African Lion, as the Exotic Animal & Training Management (EATM) students show how they feed, train and care for Ira!
Ira waiting for dinner
Then get a glimpse into how they feed and care for some of the other large carnivore animals at the America’s Teaching Zoo!
Bottle feeding a young tiger
America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College was established in 1974, and is currently a five acre “classroom” for the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. You can follow all your favorite animals on Instagram @americasteachingzoo.
Every season has different products, and different products means different booth options for the owners of the booths.
Why it Matters?
Besides the importance of pumpkins in the American tradition of Fall season, why does it matter what products are popular at the moment? It matters a lot to the set up of the market because whatever is popular in the season not only determines what products will be displayed in each booth, but also if the booth owner will earn enough for the season and if the season will be worth it or not.
So What are this Year’s Fall Favorites?
Stay tuned for November 21st when Amy Garcia and I will do a live coverage of the Channel Islands Harbor Farmer’s Market. Amy and I will host this Live Coverage straight from the Market and find out some of the in’s and out’s. During this Live Coverage, we will find out what were this year’s Fall Favorites and reveal to you guys a sneak peek of the Winter Season.
End of the Season
As I mentioned earlier, we are now approaching the end of the Fall season. And though the Fall Season is in full effect, Winter is right around the corner. We will find out how the booth owners as well as the Channel Islands Harbor Farmer’s Market are preparing for the end of the season and what’s to come for the “Holiday” season as the Winter Season is sometimes called.
Join Ximena and Jason on Instagram Live and help them spend $50 on things they don’t need but can’t live without
This Thursday you can go thrifting virtually while staying in bed, or going to the beach, or getting your work done. Ximena and Jason, two of our VC Social contributors, are going treasure hunting in Downtown Ventura’s thrift stores and they’re inviting you to join them on Instagram Live.
What can they get with a $50 budget? Make your suggestions right now by posting replies here on this blog or on the Thrift Store Live Event Instagram post. You can also interact with them live on the day as they search for the gold.
Could it be a unicorn night lamp? A matching cat sweater outfit? A complete collection of Harry Potter books first edition? There are no rules to this game except one–have fun and keep it under $50.
Image of the Educational Assistance Center building
You may have heard of the DSP&S/EAC on Ventura College’s campus but not be familiar with what it is or what they do. I know I wasn’t familiar with this acronym. So, I did a little digging and found a wonderful program that is here to serve the students at Ventura College.
The official name is Disabled Students Programs & Services / Educational Assistance Center (DSP&S/EAC). For short, known as the EAC. The EAC promotes the educational and vocational potential of students with disabilities by supporting each student’s integration into the mainstream of college life.
Recently, I spoke with Patty Wendt, the EAC coordinator, who has been with EAC for 26 years, and has a wealth of information on what the EAC offers Ventura college students.
Goals in serving the student
The EAC serves on average, over 1,200 Ventura College students each year. Their primary goals are:
To provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in the educational activities at Ventura College.
To provide qualified students with disabilities the required services and accommodations to meet their educational needs.
To provide qualified students with disabilities the special classes needed to prepare them for success in the general college classes.
EAC provides services to students with:
Physical disabilities
Deaf and hard of hearing
Blind or have low vision
Learning disabilities
Acquired brain injuries
ADHD
Intellectual disability
Autism Spectrum
Mental health disability
So, what services do they offer?
Priority Registration to students who qualify for services through EAC. This ensures students get access to the classes they need; with the accommodations they need.
Classroom accommodations, such as sitting at the front of the class.
Note taking assistance, if a student doesn’t have the ability to take notes during a class lecture, due to their disability.
Extended test time if a student’s disability may prohibit them from completing a test during the allowed class time.
1:1 tutoring is available if needed, beyond general tutoring assistance
Alternate media formats are available to students, if they need instructional materials in Braille, large print, or auditory formats.
Learning Abilities Program, offering classes such as LS V02 (Reading Comprehension and Problem Solving), LS V07 (Techniques of Problem Solving – Math), and LS V25 (Improving Grammar and Writing Skills), allowing students to gain skills that they can apply in their approach to other college classes.
Assistive Computer Technology (ACT) provides alternatives to interacting with computers. Students who are blind or have low vision can use software tools which verbalize the text content of the screen. There are software tools which magnify the content of the screen. Students also have access to Braille printers with optical character recognition and speech synthesizers.
Innovation Cognitive Achievement network (ICAN)/Journey Overcoming Barriers (JOB) helps studentsbuild essential employment skills, including the “soft skills” that employers desire and value most. It’s not a specific career pathway, but students learn appropriate social skills and optimal workplace behavior, appropriate communication skills for the workplace, as well as computer, personal finance, and technological skills to succeed in the workplace.
Learning Disability (LD) assessments can be arranged to support students who may have an undiagnosed Learning Disability. Current Ventura students with no other qualifying disability can meet with the Learning Disability Specialist for a thorough Intake screening to decide if assessment is appropriate. This will allow you to discover your cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses while also determining eligibility for services. You’ll receive an individual recommendation on how to improve learning, study strategies, and utilize accommodations.
How to apply for Services
You must complete an application to qualify for requested services. In addition to the application, you must also complete the disability verification form. Then you can make an appointment with an EAC counselor either in-person or online. The counselor will complete the Academic Accommodation plan with you which will authorize learning accommodations based on the educational limitations caused by your disability. There is no fee for the services received through EAC. If you don’t have documentation for the disability through a doctor, EAC can provide you with an assessment to see if you qualify for assistance.
There’s a team working with you
The EAC has two counselors, one person managing alternate media formats, one person managing disability testing, and two instructional teachers for EAC Learning Skills courses. You will get the support you need, based on your individual circumstances.
The team is on campus:
M/W/TH from 8am – 5pm
T from 8am – 7pm
F from 8am – 3pm
The EAC office is in the Administration Building (ADM).
If you feel you may benefit from Educational Assistance, you should reach out to the EAC office to see if you qualify for assistance. There is no cost for these services, but you must currently be enrolled and taking classes at Ventura College. You can reach them at 805-289-6300 or email at vecac@vcccd.edu.
VC Social 