Navigating Your Career After College Melissa Adamo Agenda

Navigating your Career After College Melissa Adamo Agenda â— Quick Questions â— Personal Background/Suffolk Experience â— Career Journey â— Important Lessons â— Questions Who has ever felt unsure about their career path? What is the average tenure for salaried workers ages 25-34 in 2020? 2.8 Years -U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics Personal Background â— Originally from Long Island, New York â— Graduated Suffolk May 2019 â— ‹ Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Double minor in Professional Selling & Marketing â— Captain, Suffolk Women’s Soccer Team â— Juggled Several Part & Full-Time jobs and internships prior to graduating â— Current Role: Manager of Business Development Representatives at EverQuote Journey At Own Up â— Began as an Intern in November 2018 â— Seed Stage Startup with less than 15 people â— Hated Mortgages & Financial Service Industry Journey At Own Up â— Company grew from 15 people to 150+ â— $24 Million raised throughout Series A and B Funding â— Grew with the Company from Intern to Analyst, Sr. Advisor, Team Lead & Sales Manager What to be mindful of when beginning your job search â— Compensation and Benefits â— ‹ Pay structure/OTE, Healthcare, 401k, PTO, Education Stipends â— Company Attributes â— ‹ Diversity, Retention, Internal Mobility, Daily Responsibilities â— Employee Engagement â— ‹ Womens Forums, Culture Panels, LGBTQ+ groups, Professional Development Opportunities â— Growth â— ‹ Average time spent in role, typical career path at company Interview Process-Finding EverQuote â— Determine what is most important to you at a company â— ‹ Compensation & Benefits, Professional Development, Work Life Balance â— Apply Everywhere â— ‹ Never sell your experience short because of a job description â— ‹ Don’t set the expectation of finding the “dream job” limiting your opportunities â— Interview every Interviewer â— ‹ Ask every question you have, you never want to go into a job blind on expectations â— Use your network â— ‹ Every person you meet may have the ability to help you somewhere along the way. â— ‹ First impressions matter â— Question your decisions â— ‹ Ask yourself WHY you want to move forward with a job offer â— ‹ Is it the first one you’ve received, are you sick of interviewing or are you genuinely excited for the opportunity Interview tips â— Most interviews are done virtually now, show up early and be prepared â— ‹ Read the calendar invite, be in the virtual hangout early, no distractions, laptop/phone charged â— Use your space to your advantage â— ‹ Have notes written down, your resume printed out, questions on hand â— Be able to speak to every achievement on your resume â— ‹ Work experience, classes, extracurriculars â— Conduct background research on the company you’re applying for â— ‹ Go on the website, read through company resources and be able to speak to those â— Have questions prepared for the interviewer â— ‹ What does success look like, culture, growth, what the interviewer enjoys most â— Follow up and say thank you When receiving a job offer â— Say thank you â— Ask how much time you’re allotted before accepting/denying â— Read through and understand all the details of your job offer â— ‹ Know your benefits, perks, etc. â— Feel comfortable negotiating â— ‹ Only if you’re bringing value to the conversation â— Don’t over/under estimate your value Lessons learned along the way â— Failure is inevitable, embrace it â— Have your own personal board of directors â— Ask for feedback, early and often â— Don’t expect anything â— Set boundaries early â— Always ask the “why†◠Be your authentic self everyday Questions? When to consider leaving a job â— Personal Values no longer align with a company or role â— Compensation/Benefits â— Poor Leadership â— Work Life Balance â— Toxic Work Environment â— Limited room for personal/professional growth â— You’ve communicated your frustrations to your manager, with no resolution Framing processes and social movements: An overview and assessment Robert D Benford; David A Snow Annual Review of Sociology; 2000; 26, Research Library pg. 611 Civic Leadership Spring 2020 Reading Guide 4 Due 3/6/20 Reading Benford, R. D., & Snow, D. A. (2000). Framing processes and social movements. Annual Review of Sociology , 26 , 611–639. Questions 1. Define “framing.†2. “From this perspective, social movements are not viewed merely as carriers of extant ideas and meanings that grow automatically out of structural arrangements, unanticipated events, or existing ideologies. Rather, movement actors are viewed as signifying agents actively engaged in the production and maintenance of meaning for constituents, antagonists, and bystanders or observers.†(p. 613). Explain what this means and include an example from a recent social movement. 3. Describe the core and variable features of collective action frames. 4. Describe the process of frame diffusion. 6

Navigating Your Career After College Melissa Adamo Agenda â— Quick Questions

Analyze the key elements involved in career navigation post-graduation, emphasizing factors to consider when searching for a job, strategies for interviewing, negotiating offers, and knowing when to move on from a role. Discuss insights about personal background, career journey, lessons learned, and considerations for job changes, supported by real-world examples, specifically focusing on Melissa Adamo's experience and the context of career development for recent graduates.

Paper For Above instruction

Transitioning from college to professional career is a pivotal period filled with opportunities, challenges, and self-discovery. The journey requires careful navigation of numerous factors, including understanding personal priorities, strategic job searching, effective interviewing, and making informed decisions about employment opportunities. This paper explores these aspects through the lens of Melissa Adamo’s career progression, offering practical lessons and insights for recent graduates seeking to establish and advance their careers.

Understanding Personal and Professional Foundations

Melissa Adamo’s background exemplifies how personal experiences shape career trajectories. Originally from Long Island, she graduated from Suffolk Community College in 2019 with a Bachelor's in Business Management, complemented by minors in Professional Selling and Marketing. As captain of the women’s soccer team, she developed leadership and teamwork skills while balancing multiple roles through internships and part-time jobs. Her diverse experiences underscore the importance of leveraging extracurricular activities and work experiences to build a competitive profile (Lichtenstein & Lyons, 2010). Understanding one’s strengths, values, and interests is essential to aligning career choices with personal goals, especially in a competitive job market.

Strategic Job Search and Career Planning

When beginning a job search, it is vital to prioritize and clarify what aspects of a role matter most—such as compensation, benefits, company culture, diversity, internal mobility, and work-life balance (Kok & McCarthy, 2018). Melissa's approach highlights the importance of applying broadly, avoiding the trap of expecting a "dream job," and maintaining flexibility to explore various opportunities. Utilizing networks, conducting thorough research on prospective companies, and asking insightful questions during interviews help candidates assess fit and growth potential (Choi & Pak, 2006). The value of first impressions and effective communication cannot be overstated, especially in virtual settings, as most interviews are now conducted online (Levashina et al., 2014).

Effective Interview Strategies

Preparation is key to success in interviews. Melissa emphasizes arriving early, being organized with notes and questions, and understanding every aspect of one’s resume. Probing about company culture, success metrics, and growth opportunities ensures clarity about the role. Notably, asking questions about the company’s diversity initiatives or employee engagement opportunities demonstrates genuine interest and cultural fit (Levashina et al., 2014). Post-interview, always follow up with a thank-you note, reinforcing professionalism and interest.

Evaluating Job Offers and Negotiation

When a job offer arrives, it is critical to review all details thoroughly, including benefits, salary, and potential growth paths. Melissa advocates for negotiating when possible, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s value, especially when contributing skills or experience (Babcock & Laschever, 2003). Accepting an offer without full comprehension can lead to dissatisfaction; thus, comfort with the offer terms and confidence in one’s worth are fundamental. Timing and patience also matter—taking the necessary time before making a decision reflect professionalism.

Lessons Learned and Career Growth

Throughout her journey, Melissa highlights the inevitability of failure and the importance of resilience. Embracing setbacks as learning opportunities enables growth. Building a personal advisory board, seeking feedback regularly, and asking reflective questions such as “Why am I pursuing this role?” enhance self-awareness and strategic planning (Brown, 2010). Setting boundaries early, maintaining authenticity, and aligning roles with core values help sustain long-term career satisfaction.

Knowing When to Leave a Role

Recognizing when to move on is a nuanced decision involving personal values, growth opportunities, leadership quality, and work environment. Melissa notes that misalignment of values, poor leadership, toxic cultures, and lack of professional growth often prompt job changes. Engaging in honest conversations about career development with managers and continuously assessing the fit are recommended practices (George & Bock, 2011). A proactive approach ensures that transitions serve personal and professional well-being.

Conclusion

Navigating a career after college requires strategic planning, self-awareness, and resilience. Melissa Adamo’s experiences demonstrate that success arises from understanding oneself, leveraging networks, preparing thoroughly for opportunities, and being adaptable in the face of inevitable challenges. Employing these principles can help recent graduates optimize their career paths, achieve professional fulfillment, and adapt effectively to the evolving workplace landscape.

References

• Babcock, L., & Laschever, S. (2003). Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide. Princeton University Press.
• Brown, B. (2010). The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings on Authenticity, Connection, and Courage. Sounds True.
• Choi, B., & Pak, A. (2006). Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary. Review of Educational Research, 76(1), 209-234.
• George, B., & Bock, B. (2011). True North: Discover Your Genuine Leadership. Jossey-Bass.
• Kok, R., & McCarthy, J. (2018). The role of career adaptability during organizational change. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 107, 115-128.
• Levashina, J., Hart, T., Morgeson, F. P., & Campion, M. A. (2014). The structured interview: Narrative and quantitative review. Personnel Psychology, 67(2), 241-293.
• Lichtenstein, B. M., & Lyons, T. S. (2010). Career development and employability. Journal of Management Development, 29(1), 49-60.