Career Services #2-Career Services Job Search Strategies Webinar

Since I will soon be ending my internship with the close of the semester, I thought that watching a webinar about job searching strategies would be beneficial. I was eager to see what the career services folks had to say. 

I hate to say it, but I was pretty disappointed. I went into it thinking it would give me all kinds of new tips and ideas in regards to looking for a new job. Maybe it's because I was a young professional before returning to school that was the reason I already knew so much of what they had to say, but I definitely didn't learn a lot of new material. 

They mentioned the Sun Devil CareerLink which is useful, but also geared toward students who are finishing school whereas I am only a junior. 

They talked a lot about networking, which I agree is extremely useful, but something I know well and have excelled at. 

They talked about being persistent and on the ball. That tip isn't new to anyone, but I did actually find that to be a kind, gentle reminder that I do indeed need to be that. 

One of the more useful strategies they talked about was creating a 30 second elevator pitch about yourself. That is something I hadn't thought about and will be working on. 

They reminded us to google ourselves and make sure there isn't anything we regret out there we don't want to be. Once again, everyone knows this, but it is a good reminder. I haven't done that in a while and probably should. 

The best advice they offered was that they a) gave several helpful websites that Inlook forward to checking out and b) mentioned that one can call career services to set up a mock interview to practice. I may do that, but even if I don't immediately, I like knowing that option is there. 

Overall, I probably would have chosen a different career services option if I had known the outcome, but it certainly wasn't a complete bust. A webinar is easy enough and I did receive some great reminders and helpful resources. 

On Being a Stepmom

I'm getting ready to move in with my boyfriend and his 4 yr old son, Judah. I love Judah dearly. We've spent time alone together when, for example, his dad goes to the store or needs to run an errand, but never for an extended period of time. I think about how excited I am to be spending more time with him all of the time, but it wasn't until today that I thought much about the stepmom element. I've thought about how I'm going to let José do the parenting when we're both home, but not about how I'll have to do the parenting when he's not. I suppose that will be a conversation we'll have soon. 

With all of that said, I don't have any issues with becoming a parent. I quit smoking and drinking for both my boyfriend and his son (and me, but those incentives were pretty major in the decision and ability). I love Judah and think he's the best thing ever. If José and I ever split up, I would still make sure Judah was part of my life. Judah has a mom so I'm not trying to replace her, but I would like to be his bonus mom. I'm doing well in school and I think about how I'll probably be the one, between José and I, that helps him with his homework. And I really enjoy dreaming about it. 

I'm not sure whether I want to have children or not and have always leaned toward not so I never thought I would be a mom! To be honest, I never really wanted to be, but now I'm stoked that I'll play that role in my life. Funny how life works. I lucked out that I got to miss the sleepless nights and diaper-changing stages. I'm also lucky in that Judah really is a terrific kid. I may be slightly biased, but I think if he wasn't, I could be honest with myself and just wouldn't say anything one way or the other. 

One of the things I love about my boyfriend is how much he loves his son and what a great dad he is-something I didn't have. He has done a great job of finding the perfect balance of being Judah's pal and being the parental figure he needs. And I look forward to doing the same. 

Most Important Things Learned

I learned so many things this semester. Some of those were from school, and some of those, arguably more things, I learned from my internship at Arizona AFL-CIO. 

I looked back at my first post and what I had hoped to accomplish. I wanted to learn more about the legislative process-I certainly did. I wanted to learn more about unions and how they functioned. I certainly did that, too. I also hoped to network and connect, which I did. Though not to the extent I would have liked to. And unfortunately, I plan on moving to Kansas eventually, and there just aren't many connections to Kansas out there. I know that if I was staying, my internship would have definitely benefitted me in that way. 

I learned more about working with an even more diverse crowd (I don't mean race-wise, I've got that down, I mean different kinds of people). I learned about disappointment when the bills we wanted to pass failed in the legislature. This also taught me patience. I learned about being flexible-my boss was very flexible with me and I would hope to treat a fellow employee or more importantly a sub-ordinate the same. I learned more about lifting others up. My boss made it a point to always introduce me and put me in positions of power in front of others. And lastly, I learned to be more confident. Sometimes I didn't have the confidence my boss had in me and I always got the project finished and finished well. 

I really enjoyed my time with Arizona AFL-CIO and hope to have a relationship with my boss, co-worker, and the labor movement for a long time to come. 

Time is Intangible

In a previous free write blog entry, I chose to write about time management. In this blog, I wanted to take the opportunity to relect on how truly intangible time is. I took a look at all of the final due dates in my class and I can barely believe there are just over 5 weeks left in the semester. I have big plans as soon as the semester ends that I've been looking forward to that has seemed so far away for so long and I can't believe it's just around the corner. It's both exciting and nerve-wracking. 

In terms of the semester, I feel pretty good about my grades and such. I'm getting all As right now so I just have to keep it up for a few more weeks-I can do that. I just need to make sure not to get complacent or too secure! 

The semester always seems like it will be so much longer than it ever is. I've been working at my internships the entire semester and I'm sad to have them end so soon. I'm tearing up as I write this! My co-workers and bosses have been so good to me. 

I graduate in December of 2016. It seems so far away, but simultaneously not at all when I think about how short this semester has been. Maybe it's because I appreciate and enjoy school so much more than I did when I was younger that the semester seems so much shorter because...time is intangible. 

Interview/Profile of Tory Anderson

Lobbyist/Advocate Tory Anderson

Tory with Congresswoman Sinema and Ms. Sinema's District Director, Michelle Davidson

Tory at the Capitol

Tory leading the charge at the Capitol 

 

The person I chose to profile was one of my two supervisors-Tory Anderson, an advocate at the Arizona Legislature. 

Tory actually received her undergrad degree in Family Studies. She originally wanted to be a therapist. Her first job out of school was as a social worker for the state. It was there she learned how hard it was to help those she worked with because of the state policies. She had tried to make change from the bottom up, but decided she wanted to do it from the top down. That is why she went to get her Master's degree in Public Administration. 

While earning her Master's degree, she had a great professor who told her she should start in the budget office of the Governor (then Governor Napalitano) because it would give her the opportunity to see how state government works, the legislative process, and how money is distributed and allocated to the various state agencies. So she did indeed start working there upon completion of her degree. 

It was there that she was introduced to lobbying and advocacy-what she does now. She really does love the legislative process and her chosen career. 

One thing she learned in the field that she never learned in school is that nothing works the way it is supposed to. The legislature plays by its own rules rather than the procedures it is supposed to. That's also, in addition to the money in politics, what she likes least about her job. 

The thing she loves most about her job is that she feels like she's really making a difference. 

Her advice to me and any other policy student would be to start in the budget office-one learns so much. 

Arizona AFL-CIO's Day of Action at the Capitol

Materials to prep before Arizona AFL-CIO's Day of Action

  At the Capitol, before the action began

  A picture of the historic Senate building

    My name tag. It's affixed to my legislative guide so no one would take mine!

My supervisor and executive director of Arizona AFL-CIO, Rebekah Friend

Today, we held the annual "Arizona AFL-CIO's Day of Action at the Capitol." Boy, was it a lot of work. There were 330 RSVP's and we had approximately 250 people attend. We prepared for a few weeks, but the majority of our clerical work was last Saturday when we stayed at the office until after 9pm. 

Registration began at 9:30am and the events of the day ended at approximately 1:30pm. There were two separate workshops being taught about lobbying and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that interested parties could attend. We gave each attendee a folder that included several materials that were related to labor in Arizona. We had everyone sign a petition against the budget bills recently passed. I mention that specifically because I created it. I had never created a petition before! We also created materials for everyone to deliver letters to each of their legislators vocalizing the bills in the Arizona legislature that labor opposes. There was an hour for a lunch where there was a lot of mingling and networking. After lunch, the events of the day were over. 

We were a bit disappointed with the turnout, but I think everyone had fun and there were  no crises, so I feel like, overall, it was a successful day. I've been events where we had a huge turnout, but things went disastrously! 

The next day there was quite a bit of work to do in terms of cleanup and getting everything back in order, but nothing like the prep work. I really enjoy and am proud of being a part of Arizona AFL-CIO. I believe that we are an organization that other unions respect and are glad to be affiliated with. 

Leadership in Advocacy

Is leadership important in advocacy/lobbying/unions? ABSOLUTELY. In the work that I'm doing with AZ AFL-CIO, without a clear leader, much of what we do would fall apart without a clear leader. The leader for AZ AFL-CIO happens to be my supervisor, Executive Director Rebekah Friend. Practically anyone and everyone that is a union member knows Rebekah. She is definitely some of the glue that holds the group together. We work with several unions and there are two things that hold everyone together. 1. We're all Union and 2. Rebekah ultimately is who they look to for leadership. Numbers are power, in this case, union members, but there has to be someone in charge. I would argue that is why we have a President of the United States, the ultimate leader. 

In terms of leadership in my internship, 

It is also absolutely necessary. For instance, when I play the role of Rebekah's assistant, I am representing a leader and must present myself as such. When I'm speaking with legislators, once again, I am representing Rebekah and the AFL-CIO as a state and our many members. Often times, Rebekah will give me guidance on a project, but it is up to me which direction I'll go in and to be self-sufficient and not have her hold my hand the whole way. And these are just a few examples of leadership in my role, there are many more. 

Time Management!!!

Man, oh, man, I have been failing at time management. I don't think it's because I'm terribly awful at it, but rather that I visited Kansas for nearly a week and did practically nothing I should have while there! 

I completely regret it and knew I would, but simultaneously feel like you only live once so whatever. Catching up these next couple of days will be hell, but in two days my spring break starts and I'll be able to breathe again. In relation to my internship, I know that time-management is key in being a strong professional. 

I'll be very busy at work over Spring Break and I don't know which is more stressful-work stress or school stress, but I'm glad things will slow down at school for a minute at least!!   

And seeing the little boy up top will have made it all worth it!