Diplomat in Residence- Stewart Devine

Stewart Devine is the United States Department of State Diplomat-In-Residence for the Rocky Mountains region. His office is based in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies here at the University of Denver. He is available as a resource, not only to all DU students and Denver community members, but also to the entire Rocky Mountains region regarding careers with the Department of State.

His weekly office hours change, but he can be contacted through the information below:

Stewart Devine, Diplomat-In-Residence, Rocky Mountain Region

SIE 2136, DIRRockyMountains@state.gov

Tips for Talking to Scientists (and Other People)

Are you registered for Networking @ Nite? Wondering what to expect? What to say? How to follow up?

Networking events can be a little awkward, but this event is designed to be low stress. Networking @ Nite may not be as formal as a career fair or a conference, but it is still useful to reflect on your goals and a potential action plan for the evening.

Networking @ Nite, like most other networking mixers, will consist of many small groups of folks, chatting about themselves and their experiences. For this particular event, NSM alumni will be stationed at tables set up around the 5th floor of ECS and you will have 3-5 minutes to chat with each alum. You’ll approach one of the alumni, take a seat, chat, and repeat.

Some tips to help you prepare for any networking event:

Know your energy and how you approach others best. I believe this is the most important factor when attending these types of events. Ask yourself:

Do I feel more confident approaching large groups, smaller groups, or individuals?
Would I prefer to tag along with a friend to help ease the start-of-event jitters?
Is hanging out at the snack table my initial plan of attack? (Yes, it is OK to start here! But, you eventually want to move away from the table.)
What does success look like for me at this event? How many alumni should I chat with? (ex. “My goal is to talk to at least 3 people at this event and get their business cards. If I meet more than 3, great. If not, I met my goal.”)

When entering the conversation, you might say:

“Hi! May I join in on your conversation?”
“I overheard XYZ, do you mind if I join you?”
“Hello! I’ve been meaning to introduce myself to you. I saw that your research interests are ABC/you are doing XYZ conservation work. I’d love to hear more about it!”
“Hi! I am a Research Assistant/XYZ major and am looking to connect with scientists in XYZ. Tell me a little bit about the work you are doing!”

Having a strong personal introduction can also be useful. Be sure to check out these two blog posts to help you get started!

Gracefully exiting conversations can be challenging. Some guidance:

Be courteous and professional, but don’t be afraid to end the conversation. These events are designed to help you meet quite a few people in a short period of time, and the other attendees tend to be aware of this as well.
“Thank you so much for your time! I’m excited to continue the conversation. Would you be open to sharing your contact/LinkedIn information with me?”
“Thank you for chatting with me! I see a researcher I’ve been meaning to introduce myself to, but I’ve really enjoyed our conversation and hope we can connect again soon.”

I hope this helps you begin thinking about what to expect at a networking event, and ideas on what you might want to say. We are so excited to see you on the 28th!

Great Jobs to Consider If You Have Good Communication Skills

Do you have a knack for talking? Are you able to get your points across in an effective and comprehensive manner that allows you to effortlessly describe concepts and ideas, regardless of who’s on the receiving end? If so, then you might be perfectly suited for jobs which require a high-level of communication.

Not sure where to begin or what’s on offer? Here are some of the best jobs you can have as an individual with excellent communication skills.

A Lawyer

Being able to describe concepts and ideas is perhaps the most important aspect of becoming a lawyer and one of the most important careers in this day and age. There are hundreds of cases held in a court of law around the world every single day, each requiring a lawyer to stand up on their behalf. Great communication skills are essential here.

Pay Range – $100K or above a year (depending on experience)

Get Started: The Lawyer, Career.du.edu, Reed,

Content Writing

Content writing is one of the fastest and most profitable industries in the world right now and having excellent communication is a key to your success. Whether you’re writing blogs or articles, you need a firm grasp on the English language and being able to explain a collection of ideas and concepts to readers from around the world.

Pay Range – $5 – $50 per hour

Get Started: State of Writing, Via Writing

Radio Jockey

Have you ever thought about how clear and defined your voice is? Are you able to maintain composure while under pressure and feel confident talking in front of potentially thousands of people? If so, a job as a radio jockey/DJ could be ideal for you. If you’re fun to listen to and can engage your readers, this can be perfect.

Pay Range – $20K and above

Get Started: Naukri, LinkedIn

Social Media Manager

Social media is such an important part of our everyday lives and, as a business, representing yourself in the best way possible in the eyes of your customers is essential. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that so many companies are turning to independent people who can manage their social media presence for them. If you’ve got intensive experience on social media, and know how to communicate a message effectively, this could be the ideal job for you.

Pay Range – Averages $51K per year

Get Started: Upwork, People per Hour

Online Tutoring

If you specialise in a certain subject, have teaching experience or simply extremely knowledgeable about a certain subject, why not impart your wisdom to people who want to learn about it? Online tutoring is a huge business right now since you can connect with students around the world using free platforms and then get paid by the hour.

Pay Range – $10 – $60 per hour (depending on experience)

Get Started: Tutor.com, Academadvisor

Writing Consultation

If you’ve got a knack for writing, but writing blogs and articles don’t appeal to you, why not use your skills to share your knowledge with other people around the world. Whether you’re teaching other bloggers, students, or people who simply want to improve their writing styles, you can analysis somebody’s work and give them tips to improve.

Pay Range – $10 – $40 per hour

Get Started: Academized, Indeed

Conclusion

As you can see, there is such a diverse number of different job types you can apply for if you have great communication skills. Since there is such diversity, be sure to research each role to ensure that it’s suited to you and you’ll be sure to find your dream job in no time at all.

B.Ed. I Sem – Special English – NPE 1986

National Policy on Education (1986)

Development of languages:
Regional Languages: The energetic development of Indian Languages and literature is a sine qua non for educational and cultural development. Unless this is done, the creative energies of the people will not be released, standards of education will not improve, knowledge will not spread to the people and the gulf between the intelligentsia and masses will remain if not widen further. The regional languages are already in use as media of education at the primary and secondary stages. Urgent steps should now be taken to adopt them as media of education at the university stage.

Three-Language Formula:
At the secondary stage, the State Governments should adopt, and vigorously implement, the three-language formula which includes the study of a modern Indian language, preferably one of the southern languages, apart from Hindi and English in the Hindi-speaking States, and of Hindi along with the regional
language and English in the Non-Hindi-speaking States. Suitable courses in Hindi and/or English should also be available in universities and colleges with a view to improving the proficiency of students in these languages up to the prescribed university standards.

Hindi
Every effort should be made to promote the development of Hindi. In developing Hindi as the link language, due care should be taken to ensure that it will serve, as provided for in Article 351 of the Constitution, as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India. The establishment, in non-Hindi States, of colleges and other institutions of higher education which use Hindi, as the medium of education should be encouraged.

Sanskrit
Considering the special importance of Sanskrit to the growth and development of Indian languages and its unique contribution to the cultural unity of the country, facilities for its teaching at the school and university stages should be offered on a more liberal scale. Development of new methods of teaching the language should be encouraged, and the possibility explored of including the study of Sanskrit in those courses (such as modern Indian languages, ancient Indian history, Indology and Indian philosophy) at the first and second degree stages, where such knowledge is useful.

International Languages:
Special emphasis needs to be laid on the study of English and other international languages. World knowledge is growing at a tremendous pace, especially in science and technology. India must not only keep up this growth but should also make her own significant contribution to it. For this purpose, study of English
deserves to be specially strengthened

Good to Know: Work-Life Balance “Tests” Are a Thing Now in Interviews

Good to Know: Work-Life Balance “Tests” Are a Thing Now in Interviews was originally published on The Muse, a great place to research companies and careers. Click here to search for great jobs and companies near you.

As someone who’s conducted hundreds of interviews, I can assure you: There’s a reason behind every question an interviewer asks. Our goal is to gain insight into who you are and how you work so we can find the person who’ll be the very best fit for the open role.

In other words, if we need a problem-solver, we’ll ask about times you had to think creatively. If we need a team player, we’ll ask about shared successes and failures (to see how you frame your work with others). If we need someone who excels at working independently, we’ll ask about self-driven projects.

And so, as an applicant, you come prepared with the stories and examples you’ll share to prove you’re the best person for the job.

But, as you may’ve experienced, interviews don’t always go as planned. I’m not talking about being asked a crazy-hard brain teaser (P.S: Here’s a foolproof strategy to crack one, should it come up). I’m referring to the times when you realize this role might not be the right fit on your end.

For example, I recently read two stories about CEOs testing a job applicant’s work-life balance (or lack thereof). According to The Cut, Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini admitted in a recent New York Times interview that she reaches out to candidates on Sundays, “…to see how fast [they’ll] respond.” That same week Business Insider reported that Vena Solutions CEO Don Mal asks candidates if they’d “…leave [their] family at Disneyland to do something that was really important for the company?”

The similarilty is striking: Both these CEOs want to know that a new hire won’t just put work first when they’re in the office, but anytime it would benefit the company—even on your day off.

Make it easier on yourself by working with an interview expert

Meet our interview coaches here

First things first, it’s important to note that—for some people—this isn’t a bad thing. You could be in a stage in your life and career, where (especially for a certain role), you expect to be available 24/7 and you’re OK with it.

If that’s the case, distinguish yourself in the interview by making it clear. Say something like: “I recognize what a unique opportunity this is, and at this point in my career, I’m comfortable putting the job first. I’ve already thought through what that would mean. For example, I’d make sure I have internet access, and—if needed—a way to be in the office, 365 days a year, regardless of if I was off or traveling.”

And if you’re not willing to make those sacrifices, that’s important information as well. Side-stepping this question—while it may get you to the next round—would also set you up to work at a company with values you don’t agree with.

In which case, pick the option below that is truest to your actual work style and preferences:

To Answer the Disneyland Question

“Before I left for Disneyland, I would bring all projects to completion. As for ongoing work, I would fill in my colleagues in advance of leaving and make sure there was a clear point of contact. If for some reason that wasn’t enough, I’d find a way to hop on a quick call or communicate over email to troubleshoot whatever was necessary.”
“I pride myself on giving 100% of my attention to the task at hand. So, I’m not the kind of person who’ll be checking Facebook or taking personal calls from my desk. But I apply that same thinking to my time at home or on vacation—giving my [family/hobbies, etc.] my full focus. I’ve found that allows me to recharge so I can give my all during the workweek without burning out.”

To Answer the Sunday Text

“My initial thought is [one line]. I’ll have more time tomorrow morning to review and send on additional ideas.”
“I’ll review this first thing tomorrow morning and send on my thoughts by [time on Monday].”

Then, when you do share more on Monday, you can intro your work with a line that says, “I’m always happy to answer as quickly as I can during the workweek, however I reserve weekends for [time with family/recharging/etc.] With that said…”

The most important thing to keep in mind is that the interview process is an audition—for you and the company. So while telling them what they want to hear might get you to the next round, it’s not worth it if you prize the ability to leave work at work.

Be honest about who you are and what you’re hoping for in a future role. While it might take you a bit longer to land a job, you know you won’t be kicking yourself every time your boss texts you.

Sam Phillips Takes Pride In Her Internship

Sam Phillips, Senior and Mechanical Engineering major finds great satisfaction knowing that she can use her field to impact real lives rather than merely contributing to our consumerist society, a task she was able to accomplish during her internship with Arrow Electronics.

Her job during her internship included working with a team of 15 other mechanical engineers to complete a special project. Their project, nicknamed Project Mono, was to design and build a robotic arm that would allow a former race car driver who had been paralyzed to drive a car. Over the summer, they worked with each other, corporate officials, and other teams of interns to build a prototype. Although they were responsible for the engineering behind the project, other interns from fields such as marketing and business worked on the project as well.

“I’m very proud of this internship” Sam stated and for a good reason. Not only were they responsible for creating the product, they also presented it to an audience of corporate officials. All of the teams came together at the end of the internship to present their robotic arm and convince the company to expand the project. Sam described her internship as “challenging but rewarding”, a phrase she also applied to the internship application process.

Although she felt equipped to handle the work her internship required because of her engineering classes, she described how instrumental the Career Center was to her successfully obtaining the internship as she explains “my classes at DU taught me engineering, the Career Center taught me how to get the job.”

She met with many mentors, including career counselor Rebecca Damas before her application was due and it paid off. She got the internship at Arrow Electronics and had a blast working on a project that could potentially help someone in need.

Sam’s advice for anyone finding the interview process overwhelming included getting yourself out there and making as many connections as humanly possible, as scary as that may be to the introverts out there. Making connections can happen in a variety of way and some of them can be unexpected as in Sam’s experience. The hiring manger at Arrow Electronics approached her through contacts with one of her professors and the career center.

There are many ways that a student can find an internship, and the Career Center offers many resources to aid in this process. The University Career Center provides an array of services and workshops from identifying career interests, helping students to select majors, how to search for internships and jobs and preparing for interviews. Career Advisors are always willing to help students with whatever they may need. Call 303-871-2150 to set up an appointment with your Career Advisor.

Moving from Insanity to Strategy on the Job Search—Leveraging Social Media to Land a Job

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Apparently, Einstein knew a thing, or two, about patterns of behavior that don’t serve us well; learning how to break those patterns is another thing.

The typical job seeker goes hunting for employment on a host of websites that aggregate job postings from a myriad of employers hoping that someone, somewhere will want them. Quite often, these individuals report back that for every fifty applications they’ve submitted, they maybe received one interview. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, it is not the most effective way to land an interview, let alone a job. If anything, searching the likes of careerbuilder.com, or idealist.org, ought to be only one part of a multi-pronged job search.

From there, incorporating a method of identifying targeted employers becomes critical to narrowing your focus on opportunities that truly align with your career goals. When you are more clear on where you’d like to call ‘home,’ professionally, you’re more likely to develop a resume and cover letter that effectively articulate your interest and fit; and, you’re likely to deliver a far more compelling and relevant interview.

Finally, it helps to have some clarity around the types of roles, or positions you’re pursuing to hone in on specific job postings. Without a direction, or target you’re moving towards, it will be especially difficult to weed out the right opportunities and to convince employers on why you’re the best candidate for the job. Being open to anything and everything can be overwhelming, time-consuming and paralyzing to the process. As such, think about what topic, or issue resonates with you, or for which you desire to have an impact.

For example, if what fires you up is the topic of sustainability, then consider how it is you want to plug into this issue; are you the person analyzing data to help inform an organization’s decisions, are you leveraging your talent in project and program management to design and roll out initiatives that will support food justice, or might you be the one whose talent in social media helps you develop a strategic communications plan to raise the community’s awareness around recycling and mobilizes them to action? Whatever it is, let the answer to this question guide you in seeking roles that align with your strengths, interests, and values.

In the meantime, use the resources below to help you develop a targeted job search using LinkedIn and other tools. And, attend the upcoming workshop: The Power of Networks: Leveraging Social Media for the Job Search

The goal of the strategy below is twofold———————————————————————————————————————–

One part is to help you in getting really clear about the employers you want to work for while at DU, and post-graduation.

- And, then, through informational interviews, to build relationships to folks in those companies who ultimately become your champion for opportunities, while also expanding your scope of what is possible for types of jobs and companies that would fit who you are.

Additionally, the other part of this exercise is to search websites targeted by industry to identify job postings that resonate with you and begin applying.

Steps to Building a Targeted Job Search———————————————————————————————————————–

Research people (and/or organizations) on LinkedIn and Guidestar who are at the intersection of your interests, motivations and professional ambitions.

Use a keyword search and narrow down by city/state
Take note of the organizations and companies these individuals work for, including their current and past job titles that might align with future roles that could fit for you.

Create a list of 20-30 of those organizations you’re interested in (create an excel spreadsheet to track your findings)

Find at least one DU alumni, or other professional, working in that company with whom you could contact for an informational interview
Use the LinkedIn alumni page and Pioneer Connect to identify fellow Pioneers

From your list Send an email to one individual in your Top 5 Companies (or, career fields) requesting an ‘informational interview’

Keep the focus of your outreach on your desire to learn more about the company, the nature of the position and cultural fit; rather than on your pursuit
Repeat Step #3 every two weeks until you’ve reached out to all your contacts

Informational Interview Resources——————————————————————————————————————————

5 Ways to Break Into the Hidden Job Market

What’s the first thing you do when you’re looking for a new job? Your instincts tell you to start exploring job boards. Of course, you should go through different job boards to find openings suitable for your skills and interests. However, when you exclusively base your quest on these platforms, you might end up frustrated. You’ll be sending countless applications and getting only a few calls.

Have you started exploring the “hidden” job market? We’re talking about opportunities that are not being advertised on job boards. Many organizations rely on recruiters and specialized sites to identify and attract qualified candidates.

You might be wondering why they are doing that. If these organizations advertise their job openings online, they will get tons of applications, and not all of those candidates will have the needed skills and education. Thus, they created a system that allows them to identify the best matches from a pool of viable candidates.

The main question is: how exactly do you find a job opening that’s hidden? You need to present yourself as a highly qualified candidate for a particular type of job so the recruiters will find you. We’ll tell you how to do that.

1. Focus on Networking

You need to establish a professional network of people, who will recommend you to potential employers. You already know this: LinkedIn is an irreplaceable tool for networking. Are you using it well? Your profile should be attractive and creative. Although the format is rigid, it still gives you space for creative presentation.

John Groove from Resumes Planet gives us a good tip: “LinkedIn networking isn’t something you should be doing only when you need a job. Turn it into a habit! When you keep connecting with people from the relevant industry every single day, you increase your chances of getting calls from recruiters. You don’t find the hidden job market. It finds you when you make yourself noticed.”

2. Start Posting Articles

There is one principle in networking you should always keep in mind: give, so you’ll get something in return. What exactly can you give, so you’ll attract more connections on LinkedIn and other social networks? The answer is content.

Start your own blog and write content related to the niche you aim for. You can also post on LinkedIn’s blogging platform. That’s a great way to get noticed by the right people. With the unique content of high quality, you’re building the status of an expert in the industry.

Don’t forget to forward useful content on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other channels. You need to make your profiles useful to follow.

3. Reach Out to Employers

You really want to work in a particular company? Why don’t you reach out? Instead of waiting for them to post an ad on job boards, you should make the first step. First, connect with people from that organization on LinkedIn.

Then, you’ll need to send a compelling request for an interview with the recruiter or hiring manager. It takes a lot of effort and skill to write such a request, but you can do it. Just introduce yourself and tell them why you want to work in that organization and how you can contribute to its growth. At the end of the request, nicely ask them to contact you in case they have an open position suitable to your skills. You can send this kind of request via email, but you can also call the hiring manager. That’s bold, but it works.

4. Work on Your Growth

Your degree is not enough. Recruiters want to see you’re doing everything you can to improve your knowledge and gain more skills. Attend as many courses and seminars as you can. Professional growth requires effort and finances, but you’ll see great benefits in return.

First of all, seminars, courses and conferences give you a chance to meet people from your industry. You can get noticed by the instructors so they will give you a recommendation. Most important of all, you’ll gain new skills that open up opportunities for better jobs.

5. Volunteer!

Working without getting paid? Who does that nowadays? – Smart people who know that’s a great way to impress employers. Volunteering positions are rarely advertised. If you really want to work for a certain company, contact the hiring manager and offer your services without compensation. You’ll get to do what you love, and you’ll leave a positive impression to the right people.

Volunteering can lead you to a job offer. Once you get into that organization, it’s up to you: will you prove yourself to be a valuable addition to the team? Even if you don’t get an offer for a full-time job, you’ll at least make great connections and you’ll get recommendations that lead you to other hidden opportunities on the job market.

It all comes down to your persistence, diligence, and ability to make connections. When you need a new job, you need to start knocking on as many doors as possible. Hiring managers expect that approach from talented candidates.

B.Ed. I Sem – Special English – NPE 1986

National Policy on Education (1986)

Want To Reduce Stress And Perform Better At Your Workplace? Pursue a Hobby.

It is commonly believed that leisure time activities are for retired persons. But experts have something else to say! According to a research conducted by San Francisco State University in 2014, creative activities like cooking, knitting, photography, painting or gardening can increase one’s workplace productivity by reducing the stress level. “We found that in general, the more you engage in creative activities, the better you’ll do at your workplace,” said Kelvin Eschleman, the study’s lead.

Eschleman is right in his assessment. Highly successful personalities do take out time to indulge in hobbies.

Bill Gates plays bridge
Meryl Streep knits
George W. Bush paints
Jack Dorsey hikes
Richard Branson plays chess
Marissa Mayer bakes
Angelina Jolie collects weapons.

So, let us find out how pursuing a hobby can increase your work productivity and keep your stress levels down by improving every facet of your life.

How hobbies boost job performance?

First, let us look at the results of the research carried out by San Francisco State University (as mentioned earlier).

The study was conducted on two groups of professionals. They were asked to describe their hobbies/creative activities outside work, and also how creative they were at work. The first group consisted of 341 employees whereas the second comprised of 92 US Air Force captains.

The people from the first group self-rated their workplace performance while persons who were in the second group were evaluated by their subordinates and co-workers.

The study revealed that in both the groups, those who had a hobby were more relaxed outside work. At workstation too, people with a hobby were better performers. They were more likely to help others.

Now let us look at all the related benefits of having a hobby that can make you a star performer at your workplace.

Hobbies help in keeping the stress level down

Spending time in leisure activities is the best way to take a break from your daily hectic schedule. Hobbies offer diversion from all stressors. They can keep you from getting burned out. We have very limited space in our mind. If we fill it with fun, then there will be no room left for pesky thoughts. We can have fun only by doing what we love. Hobbies are considered similar to meditation at times. It has been proven that people who are less stressed are more creative and proficient in their job performance.

Health benefits of pursuing a hobby

Everything is interconnected. If you are not happy and physically fit, then you cannot give your 100 percent to your work. Hobbies can refresh your body and mind. They help in staying active, happy and healthy. It has already been proven that doing what you like in your spare time delays the signs of aging. The pleasure you get by indulging in leisure activities can imbibe positivity which can help you fight against illness. Take a look at the health benefits that you can get by pursuing a hobby.

a) Lower risk of metabolic disease

According to a study (conducted in 2009) published in Psychosomatic Medicine, people who take out time to indulge in their hobbies have lower blood pressure, lower BMI (body mass index) and lower levels of stress hormone. It lowers the risk of metabolic diseases.

b) Improved immune system

If your hobby includes an athletic pursuit, then you will get better benefits. A South Korean study which was published in International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being discovered that a pastime of a fitness routine or sport improved physical health. Staying active helps enhance one’s immune system. “Physical activity can help prevent or maintain control in some chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes arthritis and even some types of cancer” (stated in a report from Aging Home Health Care).

c) Sharp memory

A research, which was published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, discovered that people who spent more hours in pastime activities scored better in cognitive skill test irrespective of their education, social class and sex. Hobbies like solving crossword puzzles, searching new words, playing card games or brain games help sharpen problem-solving skills by challenging the mental abilities.

d) Quality sleep

Getting 7-8 hours sleep can help you stay healthy. It helps your brain work properly. It protects your physical health, mental health, safety and quality of life. Pursuing a hobby that involves physical exercise can help you get better quality sleep.

Hobbies improve creativity

When your mind is focused on something it likes (intrinsically motivated), it tends to think more creatively. Apart from that, engaging yourself in your favorite pastime activity can uplift your spirit and make you feel motivated. So, if you take out time to do what you love regularly, you can see betterment in your workplace productivity.

Take a look at this list if you want inspiration. Try any of these out and you can see the results for yourself in a short span of time.

10 productive hobbies that can help you release stress and increase your workplace productivity

Check the list of top 10 hobbies that can work as stress-busters and make you more productive.

Gardening

According to a study which was published in the Journal of Health Psychology, gardening improves positive mood by lowering the stress hormone cortisol. “Gardening is grounding, brings you closer to the earth, and allows you to heal yourself by tending to other living things”, says Michelle Polk, herbalist and acupuncturist.

Reading

According to a research conducted by the University of Sussex, reading can help reduce heart rate and ease tension. A couple of minutes of reading is sufficient to release stress. It can help you take a break from daily humdrum.

Journaling

Journaling is a great way to release your stress. Writing down all your emotions and thoughts is healthy. It reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Listening to music

“Music has a calming effect and can be used as stress-relieving therapy,” says Rebecca Lee, founder of RemedistForMe.com. Whenever you feel low, just listen to your favorite track. It will surely soothe your mind. According to Harvard Health, listening to music everyday can decrease anxiety and stress, slow down your heart rate, and lower your blood pressure.

Dancing

Dancing is a good stress buster. It can help you release your stress by uplifting your spirit.

Baking

Baking is meditative. It can help you alleviate all your stress. According to a survey conducted by Great Comic Relief Bake Off, many people start baking whenever they feel depressed.

Coloring

According to Medical Daily, Art therapy reduces stress and the symptoms of depression. Coloring helps in eliciting a relaxing mindset. It makes you forget all the tensions.

Hiking

Whenever you feel stressed out, you can take a hike. Hiking helps in reducing rumination, according to a study conducted by Stanford University. Walking outside also decreases anxiety and improves mood.

Crafting a gift

Crafting a gift can help you reduce your stress. It will make you forget about everything else. It is a great stress buster.

Having a pet

Spend time with your pet. It will surely make you feel happy. It will improve your mood and reduce tension.

It’s okay to skip a night of Game of Thrones or wake up a little early on Sunday morning for taking out time to do what you love (or to explore a new hobby). It will definitely make a huge difference to your work life.

Darby Pappas and the Nerdy Side of Marketing

Darby Pappas, a junior at the University of Denver (DU), has never been afraid to go after what she wants and getting a marketing internship for the summer was no different.

As one of the nine 2016 recipients of the Career Services Summer Internship Award, Darby had the opportunity to work her dream internship with Lost Girls Tribe, a small company in Denver, Colorado.

The company encourages girls to be active and engaged with sports and empowering women through that. Their motto is “a media collective promoting women in action sports”.

In her position, she was responsible for the digital marketing and photo campaigns for the company.

“I was the Digital marketing intern. I did a lot of the nerdy side of marketing….the behind the scenes of everything.” She handled the more technical side of the marketing role.

One unique aspect of the internship was the freelance shape that the role took on over the summer.

“I reached out to the owner of the company and asked if she would be interested in having a marketing intern and she said sure”

Darby worked a lot from home and this made the internship a unique experience compared to other internships.

The internship award is available by application for DU students who plan to do unpaid internships. 8-9 deserving students receive a $2,500 award to offset the costs of working in an unpaid position.

Darby said the award made the internship opportunity that much more valuable. “I knew it was going to be unpaid and I would have done it even if I hadn’t won the award because I loved the company.”

If you have an awesome unpaid internship lined up for the summer, apply for this year’s internship award here! The deadline is April 3, 2017.

Broaden Your Network with Pioneer Connect

You’ve likely heard how important it is to network. Professors, family, career advisers—everyone insists that a strong network is just as important to achieving your professional goals as a resume or cover letter. That’s all well and good—but how do you build up such a network? LinkedIn is a good place to start, but many feel that it can be overwhelming and impersonal.

Enter Pioneer Connect. Like LinkedIn, it is an online platform where you can find professionals from a variety of backgrounds and industries. Unlike LinkedIn, however, Pioneer Connect is exclusive to the University of Denver community and you don’t have to be connected to someone to reach out. What truly makes Pioneer Connect special though, is that this community is made up entirely of Pioneers that have expressly volunteered to support other Pioneers. No need for nerves – Pioneer Connect members are waiting to help!

If you aren’t yet a member of Pioneer Connect, join today! We recommend signing in with your LinkedIn credentials—doing so will automatically update your Pioneer Connect profile to match your LinkedIn page every time you sign in online. After you’ve completed your profile, you can begin to search for students, alumni, parents and faculty within the community. (Check out this short tutorial on how to find Pioneers in the system.) Once you’ve found someone you’re interested in connecting with, Pioneer Connect will provide an email template to help. The system will remind users to respond to your request, but don’t be shy to follow up yourself!

Be sure to review some of Career & Professional Development’s informational interviewing resources, to help you prepare for the conversations you’ll be initiating. If you need additional help with Pioneer Connect, be sure to reach out to your career advisor.

I sem – Special English – Language Families

What is a language family?
Most languages belong to language families. A language family is a group of related languages that developed from a common historic ancestor, referred to as protolanguage (proto– means ‘early’ in Greek). The ancestral language is usually not known directly, but it is possible to discover many of its features by applying the comparative method that can demonstrate the family status of many languages. Sometimes a protolanguage can be identified with a historically known language. Thus, provincial dialects of Vulgar Latin are known to have given rise to the modern Romance languages, so the *Proto-Romance language is more or less identical to Latin. Similarly, Old Norse was the ancestor of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Icelandic. Sanskrit was the protolanguage of many of the languages of the Indian subcontinent, such as Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu. Further back in time, all these ancestral languages descended, in turn, from one common ancestor. We call this ancestor *Proto-Indo-European (PIE). Language families can be subdivided into smaller units called branches. For instance, the Indo-European family has several branches, among them, Germanic, Romance, and Slavic.

How many language families are there?
According to Ethnologue (16th edition), there are 147 language families in the world. This figure may not be precise because of our limited knowledge about many of the languages spoken in the most linguistically diverse areas of the world such as Africa. The actual number of families, once these languages are studied and relationships among them are established, will undoubtedly keep changing.

World’s largest language families

The largest language families (those with over 25 languages) are listed below (Ethnologue). There are 6,523 languages in this group, and together they account for close to 95 percent of all world languages (assuming that there are some 6,900 languages in the world). The remaining families account for only 5 percent of the world languages. In addition, there are 53 languages considered unclassified.

Indo-European	439 languages	Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, USA, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Venezuela

Indo-European is a family of languages that first spread throughout Europe and many parts of South Asia, and later to every corner of the globe as a result of colonization. The term Indo-European is essentially geographical since it refers to the easternmost extension of the family from the Indian subcontinent to its westernmost reach in Europe. The family includes most of the languages of Europe, as well as many languages of Southwest, Central and South Asia. With over 2.6 billion speakers (or 45% of the world’s population), the Indo-European language family has the largest number of speakers of all language families as well as the widest dispersion around the world.

English language, West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family that is closely related to Frisian, German, and Dutch (in Belgium called Flemish) languages. English originated in England and is the dominant language of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various island nations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is also an official language of India, the Philippines, Singapore, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. English is the first choice of foreign language in most other countries of the world, and it is that status that has given it the position of a global lingua franca. It is estimated that about a third of the world’s population, some two billion persons, now use English.

English languageMap showing the use of the English language as a national, primary, or widely spoken language in countries around the world.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Creating Innovative Career Programming with STEM Faculty – Steve Iona

When Physics Professor Steve Iona met with the Career & Professional Development team last fall, he asked if other DU students were struggling

with connecting their classroom experience to the world of work? Steve noticed that STEM students are sometimes at a bit of a disadvantage when seeking internships and full time employment as many of the open positions do not have a job title that the STEM majors can relate too. Many STEM related job titles and descriptions often do not clearly state the work they would be performing so students do not think there are many opportunities specifically for them. These majors also tend to be a bit more introverted. Steve realized, there needed to be a bridge along the way for students to develop basic networking skills as it can be a big and scary leap to attend a career fair before learning how to network with future employers.

As our conversation progressed, we began collaborating together to see what type of workshop/program we could create for STEM majors that could help them learn to ask the right questions and promote the skills that they are learning in the classroom that would impress employers. STEM students do learn very valuable workplace skills through coursework such as analytical, oral and written communication, research, and critical thinking skills. So how do we help students articulate these skills in a fun, non-threatening approach that will help them be more confident and prepared when attending career fairs and in the interview process? We immediately thought that the DU alumni working in the STEM industry could be a very easy solution to this career development challenge. What better way for students to learn more about careers in STEM then from a seasoned Pioneer!

In partnership with the DU Alumni Relations team, we invited 12 alumni who worked in the STEM industry in a variety of roles for an evening of networking and fun with a speed networking format. The event attracted enough students that each alumnus was partnered with two to three students. Students met each alumnus for five minutes and practiced introducing themselves in a professional manner, asked questions regarding career paths, and learned that networking is not so scary after all! The students and alumni were also surprised by a visit from Dean Andrei Kutateladze.

If you are a DU faculty member and would like to partner with Career & Professional Development on career development programming, please reach out to us at career@du.edu.

How to Get a Mentor at Work

Whether you’re working at a summer internship or embarking on your first full-time job, getting a mentor at work is one of the best things you can do for your career. A long-established practice, mentorship helps you develop your professional skills while also giving you a better sense of how to navigate challenges (and successes) in the workplace.

Here are the steps you should take when seeking out a mentor at work.

1. Outline your professional goals

Before you can establish a relationship with a mentor, you need to know what you want to get out of it. Are you interested in developing your managerial skills or more focused on identifying a career path you can follow for the next three to five years? Your answer will determine what type of mentorship you need and help you get a sense of the kind of person who can help you achieve those goals.

Pro Tip: If you’re not sure of your exact goals, make a list of the things that you’re most interested in achieving professionally. This can include projects you want to work on, positions you want to hold and the type of environment you want to work in. Once you have your list, structure your goals according to priority and create an actionable plan based on your highest priority goals.

2. Identify the type of mentor who can help you achieve them

Now that you have a good grasp on your goals, identify one or two people at your company who can help you achieve them. For example, if you’re working as an account executive on a sales team and your goal is to become a relationship manager, a current relationship manager or account director could be a great mentor.

Pro Tip: Your mentor doesn’t necessarily have to be someone in a more senior role. Depending on your goals, you might decide to pick a peer instead. This can be especially helpful if you’re trying to learn skills that will help you succeed in your current role and another team member has already successfully developed those skills.

3. Establish a connection with your potential mentor

If your company has a mentorship program, this is a great place to start since mentors in these programs are already willing and able to take on mentees. If not, the best way to develop a relationship with a potential mentor is by asking them to grab coffee and chat about work. If you’re on the same team, you can use your current projects as a starting point. If you’re on different teams, you can explain why you think their expertise is valuable and what you’d like to learn from them.

Pro Tip: Although asking someone to be your mentor might seem a little awkward, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, most people are flattered by the prospect of being asked to mentor others. By establishing a good rapport beforehand, you’re more likely to get a positive answer and to start things off on the right foot.

4. Develop a mutually beneficial relationship

Once you’ve gotten a sense of whether or not the person is interested in becoming your mentor, the next step is to outline your goals and explain how they can help you achieve them. Since your mentor is likely to be a busy professional with a lot on their plate, coming to the mentorship with a clear sense of what you’re hoping to get out of it will ensure that you maximize the time you have with them while also being mindful of their busy schedule.

Pro Tip: A good mentor-mentee relationship goes both ways and it’s important to keep this in mind when you’re establishing a relationship with your mentor. The best way to ensure that you’re adding value to the relationship is by asking your mentor if there is any way that you can help them in return. For example, if your mentor is working on a project that you’d like to learn more about, offer to pitch in and help even if it’s not part of your current responsibilities.

Having a mentor at work can be a wonderful way to advance your career while learning new skills and refining your professional goals. If you’re interested in finding a mentor, having a strong sense of what you want to get out of the relationship (and what you can give back) will go a long way toward helping you establish a great mentor-mentee relationship.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as Common First Job Mistakes and How to Avoid Them and find answers to common interview questions such as What Motivates You?

Author: Eduindex News

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B.Ed. I Sem – Special English – NPE 1986

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