Tag Archives: advice

January 28, 2012

The Internship Hunt

Filed under: Post Grad and Career - BookRenter Team
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By guest blogger Tiana Bouma
Tiana is a senior at University of Oregon double majoring in Political Science and Journalism with a focus in magazine. Her hometown is now Bend, OR but she graduated from high school in Danville, CA. After graduating from UO, she plans on traveling and working for National Geographic. During her spare time, she enjoys music, reading, sports and movies.

Searching for internships has been the one of the most stressful parts of my college career. There are thousands I could apply for and only a few that would lead me to my dream job at National Geographic. So after dozens of advising meetings and searching hundreds of internship websites, I have amassed helpful tips for how to find the internship that suits your unique future goals. Getting the internship, however, is all on you.

Tip 1: Search online internship websites.

This may seem silly, and probably overdone, but I have stumbled on some interesting internships opportunities on websites. I have even found international internships in countries I’ve always wanted to visit that offer college credits.

Here are a few of my faves:

Internships.com: Offers general and regional internships, guides, and articles.
Usajobs.gov: An official U.S. government website with jobs for college students;
ie3global.ous.edu: Offers an array of global internships

Tip 2: Use your campus resources

Networking is a great way to find internships. Photo by hackNY

Career centers are there for a reason: to help you get jobs and internships. In addition, most colleges will have an internship page on their website.  Check on a regular basis because the site is always being updated with new opportunities. Certain majors may even have their own internship sites. Talk to professors. Don’t be afraid to ask; I have uncovered some hidden internship gems that way.

Tip 3: Talk to the company you want to work for

Let your dream company know you want to work for them! If it’s possible, visit the companies you are interested in and talk to different employees in the company. Find out what they like about the company and if they have ever had a need for an intern. If the idea of getting work for free makes them nervous, most colleges will provide internship credits. If it’s impossible to visit companies, then send them emails or take a few minutes to call and ask about internships and the necessary qualifications for an internship there.

Informational interviews another are a great way to introduce yourself to someone in the company. Find the position in the company that you aspire to have and call up that person. Tell them you would love to talk about how they got to where they are today because you hope to do the same. Who doesn’t love talking about themselves?!  (Remember: it’s not an interview of you, you are doing the interviewing. Come prepared with questions!)

Tip 4: Treating getting an internship like a job

This is the best advice I’ve gotten. You have to show companies that they are making a beneficial decision to their company. Display your talents and be a little pushy to convince potential employers that you are worth the time and manpower. Each internship can be a potential future job. When I interact with a company I am interested in, I write the date, company name, the name of the person I talked to, and what we talked about in a notebook. I also constantly add potential employers to a list. I usually follow-up with a company after my first call, even if they originally say no (you never know…things can change on a day -to-day basis!)

I hope some of these tips help. As daunting as the task may be, once you land the internship, you will realize that the hard word was worth it.

And hey, it’s not too early to start looking for the summer! Happy Hunting!

Twitt
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November 30, 2011

Can You Find True Love in College?

Filed under: Social Life/Relationships - BookRenter Team
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By guest blogger Serena Piper
Journalism major at the University of Oregon. Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus Oregon. Magazine, freelance blogger, future world traveler. In her spare time, she likes to read as many books as she can, go for long drives, and peruse news websites. Hopes to one day write for National Geographic.

I didn’t realize I had so much experience dating until recently, when I was talking to my grandmother about the boys in my life. She married when she was 21 and had kids right after so she was never really able to “date around,” as is the norm today. She helped me realize an important life lesson in the aftermath of a series of unfortunate flings with boys: I don’t have to be in a relationship just because everyone else is.

Whoever said school is a place for learning wasn’t entirely wrong, but they neglected to mention that when you have some eye candy in that chemistry class, you’re much more motivated to show up every day. Should college be your go-to locale for flirting or could it really be the place to find your love?

David Coleman says college is just a “four-year experiment.” Coleman is a real life Hitch (think Will Smith movie) and has made it his career to travel to hundreds of universities giving dating advice to students. He says college is “too artificial a situation to have a relationship.” Could he be right?

David Coleman, a real-life "Hitch" -- by Oregon Commentator

“You’re going to throw a bunch of 18- to 22-year-olds into a place where they can hang 24-7, 365, with no parents around, have all that freedom, all that alcohol, and access to each others’ heart, mind, body and soul … when really they’re going to graduate, they have no idea what they’re going to do, or even where they’re going to move or go to school,” Coleman says.

Coleman makes a good point. It’s no wonder there are so many negative dating experiences in college. The bottom line is there is so much pressure from society to have a relationship that when it’s over, it feels like the end of the world. A lot of my friends (and I know I’ve done this too) have put so much of themselves into a relationship thinking that their boyfriend or girlfriend is “the one,” only to have it not work out. They’re left alone and feeling hopeless. With this kind of pattern, college students are especially vulnerable to setting themselves up for disappointment.

It’s hard for me to remember that there’s nothing wrong with me if I’m not in a relationship or constantly looking for one. It is incredibly fun flirting and having the possibility of a relationship present itself, but it’s also refreshing not having the distraction.

If you’re in the midst of pursuing a relationship, try not to take it too seriously at first. Ease into it and embrace the simplicity of not rushing. The best “dates” I’ve been on with a guy were ones where we did a lot of talking. Who says that you have to do dinner and a movie the first time you two hang out? Try going for a walk in the park at midnight; you’ll have the swings all to yourselves. Go for a drink and play some pool. Let him teach you how to sink your ball into that corner pocket (even if you already know how).

Remember that it’s not the end of the world if you’re not in a relationship when it seems like all of your friends are. There’s no rule that says you must find a boyfriend or girlfriend as soon as you begin college so do your own thing on your own terms.

We value the diverse voices and fresh ideas that our guest bloggers bring to BookRenter. However, the ideas and opinions expressed in guest posts are strictly those of the post’s author and don’t necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of BookRenter. The information in guest posts is often drawn from a variety of sources, and we count on our guest authors to verify and fact-check the content they post. BookRenter  makes no claims, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of guest post content or the suitability of the content for a specific purpose.

Twitt
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November 8, 2011

5 Tips for a Budding Entrepreneur

Filed under: Notes from an Entrepreneur - BookRenter Team
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By VP of Business Development and Founder Colin Barceloux
Colin has a BS in Management Information Systems and a Minor in Information Technology from Santa Clara University where he graduated with Honors in 2003. Colin resides in San Francisco and is an avid snowboarder, basketball enthusiast, mountain biker, and golfer.

Silicon Valley is a hotbed for startups. Our own founder, Colin Barceloux, was a college student when he came up with the idea for BookRenter. More and more venture capital is becoming available to small, scrappy startups that have nothing more than a couple of engineers and an idea. But whether you have the next big idea or are learning the ropes at an established business, here are some really helpful tools straight from Colin on how to get ahead.  Just for the record, Colin has number 4 nailed.

Hi BookRenters,

I used these to help found and grow BookRenter.com and if applied correctly you can use them as well to scale your business today and tomorrow…

1. Stay Focused

Remember Occam’s razor?  It’s a philosophy that says “the simplest answer is most likely the correct one.”  When looking at your business, apply Occam’s razor to decisions.  If something is truly tactical, delegate it. If it’s not a differentiator, outsource or partner to get it. At BookRenter, we outsourced all of our fulfillment, warehousing and book logistics.  There are companies with a tremendous amount of experience there. We aren’t going to win on logistics, but outsourcing it allows us to focus more intently on what is going to make us win.

2. Stop Thinking and Start Doing

Don’t get caught up in writing the perfect business plan.  It is impossible to plan every scenario you will face and it is more important to start executing and learning as you scale.  Most startups these days are launched on a PowerPoint Deck with high-level strategies and plans.  For more on writing these modern day plans read this.

One of the biggest advantage startups have are their ability to disrupt markets and shift as market conditions change or new business opportunities arise.  Often new markets change rapidly and you want to be positioned to take advantage of the change. Staying nimble will be one of your greatest advantages.

BookRenter.com founder, Colin Barceloux (Left) with engineers, Chris Williams (Center) and Philippe Huibonhoa

3. Make Sure To Balance

Take time off from work; yes, don’t be afraid to vacation.  It helps you think and stay creative.  Think about ways you can work smarter and not simply harder or longer hours.  Just because you are working doesn’t mean you’re winning. Step back and constantly evaluate if you are executing on the right things for your business.  Stop and think, “Does this really matter to my company winning?”

As you scale up, make sure to stay engaged with your business from a day-to-day perspective, but also find time for yourself to unwind.  Pick an activity, hobby, or passion that lets you have time for yourself.  It will improve your attitude and energy.  The founder of Kinkos Paul Orfalea has a saying that goes, “Stay on top of your business, not in it!”  This means you need to make sure you are not so caught up in the details of your day-to-day operations. If this happens, you lose track of strategic opportunities and overall market conditions that will have large impacts on your company.  For more you can read this book.

4. Be Irrationally Optimistic

Every successful startup needs one person that believes in the company no matter what happens and that person is usually the founder.  Founders always drive the business and are its soul.  Other team members will look at the founder and founding team when times get tough or the company is faced with adversity.

Also, make sure to invest some of your own money in your business.  It will show confidence to other investors in later rounds.  It will also help you make smarter decisions since your own money is at play.

As you scale up your business always choose success over control.  Starting a company is all about your business and NOT you.  Ego will kill your company and is one of the fastest causes for a business to struggle.  As you frame decisions, always ask the question, “What’s the best outcome for my company’s success?”

5. Don’t Forget The Passion

Have fun with your coworkers.  Remember you’re not working for “The Man” for a reason.  Have frequent company outings and get togethers.  Set milestones for your company and recognize your wins and successes with team celebrations.  Everyone works to make money but just as important, employees want to feel appreciated.

From the very beginning, get close to your customer and make sure to use your service or product frequently.  It will help improve your process and identify problems early on.  Don’t forget to continually do this as you grow.  And always take pride in your company and tell everyone you can, after all, you never know whom you will sit next to on a plane!

Twitt
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August 23, 2011

The Top 5 Things Every College Freshman Should Know

Filed under: College Life - BookRenter Team
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Like, don’t take “no” for an answer, don’t change yourself just to fit in, and – oh, yeah – call your parents.

by Guest Blogger Serena Piper / check out her last post on the coolest backpacks ever

We all know the traditional advice often doled out to those who are college-bound: take a tour of campus before school starts so you know where your classes will be; allow plenty of studying time so you aren’t pulling all-nighters before a big deadline; join a club or two; make new friends – the list goes on.

But when it comes to my own experience, this list leaves something to be desired. Here are the top five things I wish someone had told me before I started my freshman year.

1. Start off slowly. Some students think they absolutely have to start out their first year taking 16 credits or they’ll fall behind and not graduate on time. This is a myth. It’s perfectly okay to take fewer credits your first term. It gives you time to adjust to your new routine, get a feel for how things are done at the college level, and make some new friends. I suggest taking at least two classes just so you can see how you’ll manage your time, especially if you know you’ll have a part-time job or other commitments during the school year. But definitely don’t overwhelm yourself your first term.

by University of Innsbruck

2. Don’t take no for an answer. For example, if you don’t get into a class you want right away, talk to the professor, get on the waitlist, and find out when it will be offered again. Just because a class is full when you go to register for it doesn’t mean that’s the final word. Show that you’re interested because the more effort you put in, the more you’ll get back.

3. Rent your textbooks instead of buying them. Students generally buy their textbooks from the campus bookstore, but it’s often easier and definitely cheaper to rent your books (hello, BookRenter!). Paying big bucks for a book that I couldn’t sell back at the end of the term? Been there, done that, too many times – and I have a pile of textbooks I’ll never need again to show for it.

by Thai Nguyen

4. When it’s party time, keep your head on straight (and don’t let a future employer catch you out on Facebook). It may be a stereotype, but students like to party, and there can be a lot of pressure to drink in college. If you know drinking’s not for you, don’t waste your time trying to change yourself so that you fit in. There are plenty of other things to do on the weekends, like playing ultimate frisbee in the dark, taking a day trip to a nearby city, or doing an art project with your roommates. If you do like to drink when you go out, be safe. For example, many colleges offer a late-night campus shuttle service so that no one has to drive home drunk. Whether you drink when you go out or not, though, keep your head on straight. You don’t want a potential employer or grad school admissions officer to stumble on any crazy Facebook photos three or four years from now.

5. Call your parents. Yes, even if you aren’t homesick. Parents can give you a different perspective on things and remind you of where your focus should be. They know you in a way that no one else ever will, and when you’re away at school, this can be very comforting. Not only did I call my mom when I was homesick, but I also called her when I was feeling ill and needed some OJ, or when I wanted to know how long I should broil the acorn squash I was fixing for dinner. Just don’t let all their advice get to you. There are still times when I feel like I have to do what my mom or dad suggests, but later, when I do things my way, everything turns out just fine.

It’s normal to feel a little anxious about starting college. Take things one day at a time and give yourself time to adjust. Besides, whatever you don’t figure out beforehand, you’ll learn on your own, and someday it will make for a great story!

We value the diverse voices and fresh ideas that our guest bloggers bring to BookRenter.com. However, the ideas and opinions expressed in guest posts are strictly those of the post’s author and don’t necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of BookRenter.Com. The information in guest posts is often drawn from a variety of sources, and we count on our guest authors to verify and fact-check the content they post. BookRenter.Com makes no claims, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of guest post content or the suitability of the content for a specific purpose.

Twitt
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