Getting Paid for What You Do

By Chemeketa SBDC

It doesn’t matter what type of business you operate, making sure you get paid on time and as seamlessly as possible is critical to your success and survival.

Tough economic times often lead to slower customer payments. Businesses allow customers to buy on credit so they can make more sales. Unfortunately, granting credit to customers has costs and risks. If collecting customer debts is becoming an issue for your cash flow, it’s time to take a hard look at credit policies and establish collection procedures that encourage prompt payment.

Reviewing your accounts receivable is the first step. Accounts receivable is a term used to describe the quantity of cash owed to a business by its clients and customers. From there, you need to contact the customers and ask for payment. This is not easy for most business owners.

You need to consider the relationship and desire for future business with the customer. You need to examine your client list on a case-by-case basis. It is important for small-business owners to keep in mind that most customers are not delinquent on purpose. Some customers run into financial issues, like a job layoff or major medical illness. In some instances, the customer may simply have an inattentive accounts payable department that needs repeated prodding to make its payment obligations. A personal phone call with the customer is often the best first step in collecting a past due account. Sometimes this call will identify the problem and a reasonable payment solution can be outlined.

Small business owners essentially have two options to tackle collection issues — going after customers who owe you money on your own or hiring a collection agency. For those business owners looking to keep the process in-house, you will save money, but remember, more of your time will be delegated to going after those individuals who have not yet paid. You need to determine if you have the manpower and the time required to be efficient in these processes.

On the other hand, you can hire a collection agency, which is trained for just such matters. You need to determine if the fee you will pay for this professional service is worth the time it will free up; allowing you to focus on the business at hand. So, which option is better?

In looking for a collection agency, keep these items in mind:

• Search for a collection agency that is familiar with your line of work and knowledgeable in working with a business your size.

• Get references from other small businesses you are familiar with on the debt collection agencies you are considering.

• Make sure the agency you end up hiring abides by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

• Make sure the collection agency you choose has errors and omissions insurance, which protects both you and the collection agency should the debtor want to sue for unwarranted efforts to collect.

• Check on the collection agency’s past success ratio.

In the event you decide to keep the collection process in-house, there are some guidelines you should consider following, including:

• Remember that the individual or business you are attempting to collect from is still considered a customer, so treat them with the respect normally given to your customers.

• Train those employees who will be doing debt collection on how to treat customers.

• Make sure you have a solid collection policy in place.

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.

Get Your Business Online

By Chemeketa SBDC

Can your business be found online? Are you struggling to choose and use social media? Does your website reflect who you are and what you offer?

This workshop is an overview on crafting an effective website, choosing and using the right social media for your business and setting up your business with Google.

3 dates, 3 locations
9 am to 11 am
$59 each session

DallasMonday, July 10
Chemeketa Polk Center, 1340 Holman Avenue (Room 108)
Register for this event online or call 503.399.5088

WoodburnTuesday, July 11
Chemeketa Woodburn Center, 120 E Lincoln Street (Room 207)
Register for this event online or call 503.399.5088

McMinnville
Wednesday, July 12
Chemeketa Yamhill Valley Center, 288 NE Norton Lane (Room 105)
Register for this event online or call 503.399.5088

What we’ll cover:
1. Your Website | Information and Engagement
You own your content, have control. Google likes fresh content, must update regularly
> Defining your goals
> Optimize for search
> Essential elements
> Basics for build/hosting

Summary of Tips for an Effective Website
> Content/copy
> Images
> Calls to action
> Checklist

2. Social Media | The Top 6
How do you choose what’s right for you? Know what your audiences are using. You may have to “pay to play”
> Facebook
> LinkedIn
> Twitter
> Pinterest
> Instagram
> Google+

Recommendations
> Pros and cons for each
> Images and elements
> Frequency of posting
> Boosted posts vs. ads

Google your business | Overview
> Reference and how to
> Set up your business to be found

Wrap Up and Questions
Handouts of reference guides/links and checklists to use

You’ll walk away with plenty of ideas and tips you can use right away, as well as reference guides and how to’s to build your online presence.

Speaker bio

Jennifer Larsen Morrow, president of Creative Company, an award-winning marketing and branding firm in McMinnville, has helped hundreds of organizations boost marketing results for more than 35 years. In presentations and workshops she motivates and delights local, regional and national audiences with her energetic style, fresh ideas, case studies and proven tactics. She’s been called “a brand guru extraordinaire,” “brilliant,” “strategic” and “engaging.” Morrow digs into the challenges and benefits of being online, building an effective website, and using social media as part of today’s marketing program.

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

Delineation of Region

Delineation of regions involves the grouping together of local units which have similar characteristics according to certain clearly defined criteria and which differ significantly from the units outside the region on the basis of certain chosen criteria. The criteria can be unemployment rates, activity rate, migration trends, per capita income etc. The characteristics should differ significantly from units outside the region. The methods of regional delineation involve

1) Fixed Index Method

Under the fixed index method, a number of characteristics common to regions are chosen (Eg. population, density, per capita income, unemployment, rate of industrialization). An arbitrary weight is given to each index and a single weighted mean is obtained for each region, then contiguous regions with similar indices are grouped together in order to minimize the variance within the group.

2) Variable Index Method

Under the variable index method, variable weights are assigned to highlight the different regions. The weight given to each activity, in each region is different, in accordance with the value or the volume regionally produced. For e.g., if region A is the wheat region and the region B is the coal region, the weight of the wheat index will be the largest in the former, and the weight of the coal index will be the largest in the latter. This method is good when those criteria can be compared with each other. However in those cases where compatibility is not possible (E.g., in case where one feature is literacy and the other is steel production) it becomes necessary to employ the cluster method

3) Cluster Method

Cluster means grouping together. This concept is used in the planning as a strategy to strengthen lateral links and to dissipate growing vertical links in the settlement system. Such a cluster while providing greater viability and threshold for development efforts will also create for themselves a greater bargaining power in bringing about reciprocity in exchange of goods and services. Both at the macro and micro level clustering can be done by superimposing of maps and by developing a composite index of development. This concept is used to implement IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme).

Methods for Delineation of Formal Regions

1) Weighted Index Number Method

In this method, some indices (parameters) are chosen and given weights, total weights for each part is separately calculated and areas with similar weights are carved out. This area is termed as ‘region’.

Example: To carve out a region of economic backwardness the parameters chosen were percentage of unemployment and per capita income. Then accordingly the weights were set up. It was decided that for every 1% of unemployment 2 weights shall be assigned and setting 1000 as the base for every 50 points below 1000, 1 weight shall be assigned. Hence more is the total weight more is the backwardness.

Weighted index number method

Suppose we consider a hypothetical area divided into 9 blocks having the given unemployment percentages and per capita income. If we then apply weights to each block as stated in the previous paragraph we will find that we can hatch an area with relatively more economic backwardness.

There are certain demerits of this method. To apply this method, the region must have proper delineated parts. This method can only be applied where quantifiable data is available and this method is not useful for delineating regions having natural/physiographic features.Similarly, you can use this method for employment and income level delineation.

The study area is divided into several localities varying according to unemployment rates and per capita income levels.
The aim is to isolate the main problem region; i.e. the area of economic malaise.
Weights are assigned to each criteria and when taken together and weighted, one of the region can be isolated.

2) The Factor Analysis method

In this method, each parameter is mapped out separately and then all the maps are kept one over the other. The common region that will be carved out after this exercise will form a region.

Used for delineating economic health regions.

• Used for delineating economic health regions.

• Many of these criteria are interdependent. The factor analysis method can be used to isolate these factors and to group areas on the basis of factor loadings.

• ‘Industrial change’ and ‘industrial structure’ are major industrial factors and ‘population change’ and ‘social structure’ as major socio-economic factors.

• These factors help in delineating economic health regions.

Example: To carve out South eastern mineral region. The parameters considered were geology, minerals (coal, iron ore, bauxite and silica), availability of rail, soil, vegetation, climate and population. Each line depicts an aspect and is called girdle.

Example for factor analysis method

The area which satisfied 6 girdles was carved out and was called the South East mineral region. Sometimes some parts of the delineated area have administrative conflicts at those moments, adjustment is done on the basis of smallest unit of delineation method.

Methods for Delineation of Functional Regions

1) Flow Analysis Method

Flow analysis builds up functional regions on the basis of the direction and intensity of flows between the dominant centre and surrounding satellites. Each flow will show decreasing intensity as it becomes more distant from the main centre and increasing intensity as it approaches another centre. The boundary of the sphere of influence of the dominant centre will be where the flow intensity at a minimum. When the flow significantly drops that means interaction/origin’s influence drops. In terms of distance, in a particular direction, there is the influence of the node and there onwards it drops. This gives cut off points.

Features of Flow Analysis Method

Builds up flows on the basis of the direction and intensity flows between the dominant center and surrounding satellites.
Flows may be of several types: economic (road, rail, shopping or commuting); social (such as flow of students or patients); political (flow of govt. expenditure); information (newspapers, telephone calls), etc.
Graph theory: measures the relationship (economic, social, etc) between selected group of centers on the basis of flows between the centers. The no. of telephone calls is the usual flow criteria.
The flows are plotted in matrix form, from which primary and secondary flows into and out of each center can be identified.

Illustrative Example Using Flow Analysis Method

Example using flow analysis method

The no. of telephone calls is taken as the flow criteria. The flows are plotted in matrix form, from which the primary and secondary flows into and out of each centre can be identified. The resulting hierarchy of nodes can plotted as a simple network, providing an insight into the form and extent of functional relationships within an area. Here D is the major centre, with B,E and G subsidiary centres.

2) Gravitational Analysis Method

It is concerned with the theoretical forces of attraction between centres rather than actual flows. The gravity model assumes that the interaction between two centres is directly proportional to the ‘mass’ of the centres and inversely proportional to ‘distance’ between the centres.

· ‘Mass’ can be population, employment, income, expenditure and retail turnover.

· Distance can be in physical terms (km), time, price, and intervening opportunities.

· In mathematical notation

f = k (m1 ✕ m2)/d

Where f is the force of attraction between two settlements, m1 and m2 are masses of the two settlements and d is the distance between them. K is a constant.

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.

The Best Way to Figure Out if a Company’s Truly Committed to Diversity and Inclusion

The Best Way to Figure Out if a Company’s Truly Committed to Diversity and Inclusion 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.

You want to work at a company that genuinely values diversity and inclusion, but it can be hard to separate reality from myth. How do you know if your prospective employer authentically believes in these values, or is just saying so to score PR points?

There are things you can look for as a job applicant. I know this for a fact, because it’s literally my job to give diversity in the workplace a lot of thought.

I’m the Head of People Development and Inclusion at Lever: We’re a tech company with a roughly 50:50 ratio of women and men, a management team that’s 53% female; a board that’s 40 % female; a technical team that’s almost half female, and company that’s 40% non-white. I don’t just share these numbers to brag (though, yes, they make me proud!), but to make the point that none of this happened by accident.

We weren’t always as diverse or as inclusive as we are today, we had to take specific steps to build our team. Meaning, when you’re looking for a new job, you can look at what organizations are (or aren’t) doing, and gauge how committed they are to diversity and inclusion (D&I).

Here’s how:

1. Before the Interview Process

I always recommend people scrutinize job descriptions—not just the one you’re applying for, but at least a few others. This will help you get a feel for the company culture, tone, and how they think about the value that their employees can bring.

Research shows that some companies subconsciously default to language that appeals to one gender over another—and so, reading about multiple roles can help you looks for patterns.

Go beyond the jobs page as well, and assess the company’s website, employee, and social media profiles. Are there any signs that speak to their commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workplace? How involved do they seem in the broader community? Don’t rely on images alone, although those do send a message about the company’s sensitivity to featuring underrepresented minorities.

You can also take the pulse via sites like Glassdoor, (before you do that though, here’s some advice on interpreting online reviews).

Remember, they’re often written by people who either have an overwhelmingly positive experience, or an absolutely terrible one. For women, there’s a review portal called InHerSight that assesses companies as places to work for female employees, based on 14 different criteria.

Next, look at the company’s leadership team (and, if applicable, the board of directors). You can do that through their own website, or by checking out other sites like

Crunchbase, or even searching news articles (for instance, Starbucks’ recent board additions were covered in the press).

Finally, find out if the company’s disclosed any demographic information. Larger organizations may periodically publish statistics, but even smaller companies are beginning to be more open about their workforce composition.

All of this information can help inform your decision whether or not to apply, as well as the questions you’ll ask if things move forward.

2. During the Interview Process

So, you did all of your research, and you’re feeling pretty good about the company—or maybe you’re still not entirely sure how they live up to their values. You can learn a lot as you move ahead in the process.

Start by considering your interview panel and the range of people with whom you interact during the process. While it’s tough for any company to evenly support diversity within every function, if every single interviewer looks, thinks, and talks the same, it doesn’t bode well for the organization’s self-awareness around diversity and inclusion.

Next, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Probe to identify success stories of employees from underrepresented groups who have risen in the ranks during their career at the company. The more examples you can find of diverse individuals succeeding and being publicly rewarded or acknowledged for that success, the more encouraged you should feel.

A question on that topic looks like this: “What type of people at your company get promoted and how are they celebrated?”

Flat out ask at least one of your interviewers what the company does to help people from different backgrounds and underrepresented minorities feel welcome and empowered. Pay attention not only to their answer, but how readily they discuss the topic.

If it’s a stretch for them even to address the question, that’s a sign the issue isn’t yet top-of-mind. If the company’s made a meaningful commitment to D&I, then every employee should have the visibility to answer your question with confidence.

Inquire about the role of employee resource groups (ERGs) at the organization today: which ones are in place already, how active they are, and what the policy is for starting a new one if you were interested in doing so?

And remember, company benefits speak to inclusion as well: For example, a company without paid parental leave is making a statement about how accommodating it can be to new parents.

Your best bet is to discuss specific questions around flexibility and benefits with someone from HR once you have an offer. This gives you both the opportunity to find the answers you’re seeking—and some leverage to negotiate.

Ultimately, the best diversity and inclusion initiatives are a mix of top-down and bottom-up. Sure, company leaders are on the hook for creating the conditions that allow all employees to thrive, but recruiters and recruiting leaders are on the hook for creating an interview experience that reflects their company’s culture and passion for diversity and inclusion.

If you see a red flag at a potential employer, commit to being part of the solution by asking the tough questions. Given public awareness of the importance of D&I, there’s never been a better time to get it right.

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?

#1Day4DU: Support DU Career Services

Career development is of growing importance to DU students and university students nationwide. We know that DU grads who participate in at least one internship earn $10,000 more in their first jobs, but some students can’t afford to take an unpaid internship. Every year Career Services and DU award $20,000 to students to participate in valuable, unpaid internships. As part of DU’s One Day For DU, donate to the Internship, Career & Professional Success fund to support more students, launching them into successful careers.

One Day For DU is Wednesday, May 18, all day long. Make a donation and plan a pin wheel on Carnegie Green.

Graduate Research: Committing to a Thesis or Dissertation

There are a lot of reasons to do a thesis or dissertation, and probably just as many not to. In my graduate program, International and Intercultural Communication, students have the option to complete a thesis or an internship. Here are a few reasons you might consider writing a thesis.

You plan to do a doctorate or another master’s degree and original research will improve your application.
You’d like to work as a researcher or writer in public policy, grants administration, tech or many other industries.
You already work part- to full-time and squeezing in an internship just isn’t feasible.
You are passionate or at least very, very interested in some question, problem or issue and you can see yourself committing a lot of time to studying it.
You are organized, self-motivated and can create structure for yourself.

When I selected to do a thesis, numbers one and three were the driving factors. Over time I realized that I could also work as an editor, writer or researcher in other industries. It’s good to be realistic about how you can use graduate research, particularly a Ph.D. since traditional tenure-track jobs are very competitive. Versatile Ph.D. is a great resource to use if you are exploring careers outside of academia. Through the thesis process, I also developed the ability to structure my time toward a single goal which, at the outset, may seem gargantuan. As for passion and interest, these are essential to both getting started and finishing the thesis.

Once you’re committed, you will be looking at this material from hundreds of angles for at least one to two years – even longer if you continue onto a Ph.D. So, make sure you really care about this topic, that you get excited discussing it and it gives you that “spark”. If you ever find yourself rambling a bit and noticing that others aren’t’ nearly as excited or interested in the topic as you are then 1) you are pretty into it – that’s a good sign and 2) work on your research elevator pitch and be able to explain your project in 30 seconds or less (don’t want to hog that elevator conversation time).

By Chemeketa SBDC

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1. Focus on Networking

2. Start Posting Articles

3. Reach Out to Employers

4. Work on Your Growth

5. Volunteer!

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By Chemeketa SBDC

3 dates, 3 locations9 am to 11 am$59 each session

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Methods for Delineation of Functional Regions

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1. Before the Interview Process

2. During the Interview Process

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1. Outline your professional goals

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

3. Establish a connection with your potential mentor

4. Develop a mutually beneficial relationship

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3 dates, 3 locations
9 am to 11 am
$59 each session