Darnell McElveen (M.B.A., Ed.S.)’s Post

Prepping for a grad school interview? Here are 3 must-know questions you need to nail to make a strong impression. 📝 👇 1) Why are you interested in our program? This is your chance to stand out - Show you've done your homework by highlighting faculty research or courses that match your goals. Mention any connections with professors or unique resources. Show genuine enthusiasm for the program. 2) How will you contribute to our program? Time to spotlight your standout skills and achievements. Share how your unique background will add a fresh spark to the team. Illustrate how you'll bring innovative ideas and help push their initiatives forward. 3) What is your post-grad or career goal? Dive into what fuels your passion. Outline your ambitions and show how your past experiences have prepared you for this journey. Giving examples is key—highlight your passion for making a meaningful impact in your field. Contact us today at jmkempco@gmail.com or click the link in our bio for a free 15 min consultation!

I attended my first job fair today, located at my alma mater, where I did my Master's. The employers in attendance were, unfortunately, not in the industries related to my credentials. I asked around for roles related to writing & communication and only found one good match for this. So, what did I do? I left and ended up booking another career counselling appointment to see, once again, if there was anything wrong with my resume. Appointment is on the 21st, so time will tell. The more time passes, the more I'm beginning to realize that my candidacy for professional industries simply isn't there. My interests align more with academic pursuits; my research interests are in the digital humanities, specifically as they relate to game studies and their rhetorical meanings. Unless there is an industry that publishes in this area, then I'll have to secure employment, somehow, someway, at my alma mater. If anyone is working at TMU's Centre for Digital Humanities, I did my practicum there, and I am interested in becoming an affiliate member. How can I do so? Furthermore, what roles can I fulfill in a paid capacity now that I have graduated?

Not sure what’s next after graduation? No worries! CSN’s Life After CSN event is here to help you figure it out. On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Career Services and Diversity & Cultural Affairs are hosting a day filled with tips, advice, and hands-on practice to get you ready for the job market. We’ve got two awesome sessions lined up. Start your day with TypeFocus from 10 - 11 a.m., where you’ll explore career options and build up your confidence. Then, from 1 - 2 p.m., join What Can I Do With This Major? to find out how your degree can open doors to exciting career paths. There’s also mock interviews, Handshake profile help, and tons of advice to help you stand out and land that dream job. Sound good? Just scan the QR code to RSVP. Got questions? Shoot an email to Gerard at gerard.aguilar@csn.edu.

My birthday tradition: A list of the best Chaim Shapiro original thoughts for my year! 1) Do you think that the person who introduced the term “ad lib,” came prepared, OR just ad-libbed it? 2) Job Fairs are NOT a buffet. 3) Just because you have to swallow your pride DOESN'T mean you can't chew on it first. 4) I NEVER stop to smell the roses...I have REALLY bad allergies 5) I try to keep "tasks at hand" at least an arms-length away 6) Can you get frequent flyer miles from being continually thrown to the wolves? 7) Is there a special MetroCard for those of us who keep getting thrown under the bus? 8) If you are GOING to be thrown to the wolves, you might as well give them a feast! 9) Can an artist claim to be "collage-educated"? 10) When it comes to constructive feedback the "sandwich method" is bologna 11) I slept through my rude awakenings. 12) Theories are great...in theory. 13) I am the Court-Jester to the "King of Wishful Thinking" 14) "nomenclature" isn't normally part of my nomenclature... 15) No matter, how much you accomplish, the chip on your shoulder does not get any smaller. 16) Resumes NEED to be 1 page is from the old "poems need to rhyme" playbook. 17) I tend to be the "even man out" 18) Fearing the future will NOT protect you from it.

If you haven't already signed up for tomorrow's webinar on routes to leadership within scholarly publishing, there is still time! See below for more details and see you there! https://lnkd.in/eQVZa_YS

Good analysis of an elevator pitch.

🧾Interview, a word that increases our heartbeat, not because of fear, but because of the anticipation of opportunity and the potential to showcase our abilities. Recently, mock interviews for upcoming placement drives were conducted in our college and the experience was worth attending it. Some of my learnings from the experience are: 1) *Know yourself:* Till we don't understand our capabilities, goals, passion and the reason to aquire the position we can't prove to be a worth candidate. 2) *Confidence:* Its present in everybody but it depends on how we build it by accepting challenges. 3) *Knowledge:* The difference between information and knowledge justifies your preference over other candidates. The information you have is of no use until you convert it into knowledge and convince to add value to the work. 4) *Teamwork:* We definitely learn a lot and faster in a team than doing anything individually. The values we gain develop ourself as a good personality. 5) *Extracurricular:* It is equally important as curricular and the best thing is that, they are not taught but necessary to learn to engage with the society. Overall it was an amazing experience✨.

If school were not a scam... The average person thinks that: "I'll go to school, earn a degree, and my degree will earn me a job". Because of this thought process or idea, many have experienced disappointments, when the so-called school did not give them a 'job'; and because of that say- "school is a scam" If school were not a scam, why is school not handing out jobs to people? Remember back in the days, when people from their penultimate year would have job appointments waiting for them? Why is it not so anymore? The keynote speech delivered by Barrister Abimbola Ojenike at the career fair addressed this issue keenly. Think about it this way: You go to school and you learn new concepts about how the world works- whether in your biology class, or in your accounting class. You understand how things 'are'. But you're not supposed to remain at that point. Imagine if the Wright brothers only went to school to understand how things are? Imagine if their minds did not conceive "other possibilities"? Imagine if their hands did not explore those possibilities? How would you fly from point A to B, in just a few hours? Hence, education isn't just to "hand you a job". Instead, education gives you an awareness of what is happening in society. Through education, you understand how society functions, as well as your role in it. Education is a journey of self-discovery. Are you being educated? How much of yourself have you discovered?

A few clients, unhappy in their SE job, told me they were planning to tell their manager - to be fair. Hmmm. There are some times when that’s a good idea. Most of the time you’re telling your manager you’re not committed to your job. You’re not engaged. And he can’t count on you. AND - what’s the chance your manager will tell you he’s thinking of letting you go? Examine why you would give this heads up. If it’s really in the hope of getting something from your manager, do it better! Ask for what you want. If you give fair notice and do your job well while you look around, that’s the kind of fair that will benefit both you and your manager.

Happy Friday! It has been a very busy week (and actually a month), a whirlwind of activity! 🌪️ First off, I wrapped up a vocational identification course on navigating career crises and transitioning to new professions with Career Management School. Stay alert on the open lecture in April. 📚 Completed projects with two clients and finalized resume audits, gearing up for a focus group of 6 people starting Monday to guide on compiling and fine-tuning resumes for upcoming job opportunities, as we target to complete those before Jobspin’s jobs fair in April. 💼 I feel grateful and excited to share insights on the “method of impossible goals” method at the mentors week hosted by Femme Palette this week. The interest in this approach is growing, and I’ll be hosting open classes soon. 🌟 Also, honored to have confirmed speaking engagements at three events, two in April (on-line and offline) and another later in the year. 🎤 And the last cherry 🍒 on the cake - 3 participants of February job search funnel lecture got jobs. 75% conversion on result after applying the guidance and tips. And of course staying motivated. It’s been a fulfilling week, and I’m optimistic about the rewards this year will bring. Wishing everyone a fantastic Friday and weekend ahead! 🌟 #CareerSuccess #MentorsWeek #sustAInablecareer #professionaldevelopment #digitalhuman