Reflection

During this mentorship course blog we all have been participating in reflection. It involves the critical thinking of one's past experiences. Description is generally the list of details of a person, place, or a thing. Reflection involves the conscious thinking of one's experience with a person, place, or a thing. It can be described as the difference between a resume and the answers given in an interview. Reflection should be a daily activity. Proper reflection will enhance a person's confidence and will help lead to learning life lessons more impactfully.

In order to have an impactful e-Portfolio it is best to reflect back on past job and educational experiences. You will need to know what the most effective evidence will be. Thinking about the projects experiences that had the biggest impact on you. In order to know that you will need to think back on those experiences, coupled with reflecting on which direction you want to head into for the future. What are the requirements of this goal? What qualities should be exhibited? What experience do others have who are in the position I seek? Everything must have a purpose and relevance. The audience of your e-Portfolio is generally going to be prospective employers. They most likely do not have much time. So you must be focused and have a purpose.

This blog has forced us to look back on our academic and professional histories. What tools do you use to help you reflect on your personal and/or professional life? If you do not currently use any tools (although this blog should count as one) what could you begin doing and using?

P.S.

Hopefully at this point you have an idea of where you want to go with your IDS degree and you all seem very motivated. We have no doubt you guys will do great for yourselves! Since this is our last blog posting we would like to wish you all good luck and lots of success!! :)

Interviewing Part II

Recently, I have been on countless interviews and have heard a lot of different questions. I actually think that my inability to actually get a job has given me some much needed practice in the interview process. Although I am not interviewing for a career job at the moment I have still gotten some knowledge on how to "win" a position. That's what it is after all, a competition. I have been interviewing for jobs in hospitality but as you can imagine there are a lot of people going for the same job especially since I was going after serving jobs posted to craigslist. I have gotten the "Tell me about yourself...", "What can you bring to this restaurant if hired?", "What would your previous manager say about you?", "What is a piece of criticism you have received from a previous employer?"....the list goes on and on. Like I said I've been on a lot of interviews. With fine dining they take this stuff seriously. Ultimately, I learned what they wanted to hear and finally got a job.

So, basically here's what I have learned in a nut shell. Modesty needs to go out the window! The fact is that even if you have trouble talking about how awesome you are or even feel like talking yourself up is lying, I promise you there are other people that have no problem doing it. Those people will take the position from you if you let them. The on the spot questions about previous experiences (i.e. Tell me about a time when you had to think on your feet?) are the ones you should anticipate before hand and have an answer ready. The truth is there is no way for the employers to weed out the ones who are lying about their capabilities but they will choose who gets the chance to prove them self. So, bottom line? BE CONFIDENT. Believe you're awesome and the best person for the job. Worry about proving yourself later because you'll have nothing to prove is you can't wow them in the interview.

Other situations you may come across are phone interviews and panel interviews. These are probably likely for those of you wanting to teach abroad. I have personally not experienced either one but I assume the same applies. Speak clearly and articulately. Confidence can be heard as well as seen. Finally,there is the issue of salary. I have never been asked about salary in an initial job interview. However, from the experience of others, I can say that this is not something to be discussed until you are offered a position. With most entry level positions I assume negotiating may not be in your best interest. However, with some experience under your belt, you may be confronted with the question of salary negotiation. The general rule though? Wait for them to make you an offer before you spring the salary conversation.

So, to continue the interview topic...have any of you ever had to answer a tough interview question? How did it go? OR have you ever had a bad interview? Bad interviews can be great leaning experiences.

Perfect Interview

Interviewing is so important. You can't show someone how good you are at a job without first convinving an employer that you deserve the opportunity.

The perfect interview website is so helpful. In my experience with real interviews as well as from my cornerstone and capstone classes, I have learned that it is important to have certain responses ready in advance. I have been in interviews where I am asked to talk about my personal flaws and had no idea how to respond without making myself look bad. In the sample interviews that I took, the coach says to mention something that is harmless to your working abilities. While that seems obvious, it may be hard to think of an appropriate example on the spot. So, questions like that would be easier if you already have an idea about what you would say. I used to think that interviews were simple and you didn't have to prepare. Now more than ever it is important to prepare the way you would for a presentation or speech. You want to look your best and make the best impression possible because you are competing with dozens of other applicants.

Here are the links to our sample interviews, but I encourage you to practice a few times on your own too. Also, press the coach button...it helped me a lot.

Let us know how it goes. Also, do any of you have any advice or things that you've learned from your past interviewing experiences? We would love the insight!


http://www.perfectinterview.com/online/review_gateway.asp?id=3020934&type=standard

http://www.perfectinterview.com/online/review_gateway.asp?id=3020933&type=standard

Personal Philosophy & Career Goals.....

Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life
How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?
How have your career goals altered?

Dani Dennison

For me my professional career is important. However, I only work so that I may live comfortably. What matters to me more is family, travel, and time to enjoy the simple things. Therefore, it is my goal to enjoy my job rather than have a goal of a certain salary or prestige. I do enjoy leading and motivating others. However, I enjoy developing, training, and helping others become better professionals. In some ways I have actually had two dream jobs and I currently have two jobs that I really enjoy. My philosophy is pretty interdisciplinary. The more that I think about it, the more it seems it really is interdisciplinary. To review, my minor is Hospitality Management, English, and Education. The core of Hospitality is service. The core of education is patience and customizing how you teach. As a leader and trainer in the Hospitality field, I feel that in order to teach you best I must serve you best. I feel teaching in itself, if done properly follows a lot of the service guidelines taught in most Hospitality Management courses. As I have gotten older and matured, I am no longer focused on becoming a leader at Disney only. I have opened myself to many other possibilities. Of course if becoming a manager at Disney did come about in the future I would not be mad at all. Finally, I feel that I become more of an interdisciplinary person after completing Cornerstone. So I would love to hear how you all feel so far in the program....

Natyeli Callum

When it came to my professional life I never really put much thought into what I wanted to do. I was in one of the hardest honors programs in high school and was always told that I needed to be successful in some high paying job. So I graduated with honors came to UCF and had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. I did know that if I could not even sit through the classes I was taking there was no way I was going to make a career out of it. It took a lot to silence the voices in my head telling me what I was supposed to want. Ultimately, I chose teaching which as some may imagine is not on the list of careers my family had so graciously laid out for me. I love being in the classroom and the idea of being such an important part of a child's development is the most rewarding thing I can do with my time. So, in a nut shell that is how I reached my current professional philosophy: do what makes you happy. Obviously, it is not as simple as it sounds since salary and living expenses are factors in everyday life, but I no longer see the huge house with the big pool on the beach as my perfect picture. Honestly, how did I assume I would get all of that?? I don't think I would have time to enjoy it with the demanding career it would take to have it.

I do think that this philosophy is interdisciplinary because I formed my degree based on the classes I did enjoy and the the ones that were the most important to me. I love elementary education and psychology has always interested me. Spanish is my culture and I was determined to embrace it. So in the end I found teaching second language learners in the U.S. and abroad to be a perfect interdisciplinary career for me.

I think it is obvious how my career goals have altered in my time at UCF. It took a while to realize the difference between what I wanted and what everybody had been telling me I wanted. I guess you could say my career goals are more realistic now than in high school. Additionally, my goals are entirely mine and what I have found to be best suited towards my personality and interests. I went to high school with the people who are only successful if they are working constantly and earning a lot of money. I think that is amazing and admirable, I just know now that it is not me.

Ok, enough about us, we want to hear about you....have any of you changed your professional philosophy over the years? How does your IDS major express your professional philosophy?

Cover Letters & Resume

First of all from experience, a good piece of advice is to remember that whenever you apply for a job, online is not the best way to go. It is pretty much guaranteed that no human will ever look at your resume. The best way to ensure that you get your foot in the door when applying on-line is to include key words and phrases in your resume that are in the desired qualifications of the job posting. You will need multiple copies of your resume. This is especially true when looking at multiple industries i.e. health vs. education. It may be a good idea to provide a fairly detailed description of the IDS degree. What is it? What makes it special? Why did you choose the different areas?

Cover letters are crucial. This again goes back to the importance of adjusting your resume to match the desired qualifications. Your cover letter needs to be specific to the position. It is also wise to research the organization and included some of what you have learned about the organization in the cover letter. Whenever you have the opportunity to apply in person then definitely do so. Generally speaking your cover letter should never be longer than a page. The same goes for your resume. Therefore, your cover letter needs to let the employer know about things your resume does not. The intro to the letter is generally a little about you and what you want. Then you should include why you would be an asset to the company. In the body you should inform them of any experiences you have that would be valuable as well as the best times to contact you. In addition, the cover letter is also a reflection of your writing abilities and professionalism.
Being in the hospitality industry, cover letters have not been so important thus far. However, when looking for your first entry level position you will need to be able to present yourself professionally through your resume and cover letter.

We can't personally give you our examples because like I said hospitality up to this point has not required one. We looked up some good examples for you guys to take a look at. I know when it comes to cover letters I am not so sure what to include. You don't want to ramble on but you should include information that makes you stand out among all the other pieces of paper in the pile.

The following links are simple but good resources to get you started on writing cover letters...

http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_samples.html

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/coverletters/ht/coverletter.htm.

We tend to focus on the interview but remember, in order to actually get an interview you must first have a personalized, impressive resume and cover letter.

Professional Opportunities & Job Skills

So this week we have more of a personal experiences topic. That's why we have decided that we are going to write our blogs separate. The things we've gone through professionally and what we have gained after having "survived" some of these experiences.

Natyeli:

When I try to think about how I have used my interdisciplinary skills in my professional life, I realize how important incorporating multiple skills and knowledge really is. Professional I can worked in hospitality for years to get through school. However, in terms of my career I have worked in schools and non profit organizations. In every case I have had to juggle multiple disciplines. Working in bars and restaurants for years has developed great communication skills which are vital when entering the workforce. In this industry you work with people, you have the good days and the horrible days when you just can't catch a break. It is because you are working with so many different people on a regular basis that a single day can be an emotion roller coaster. When all is said and done you go home with some money in your pocket and lot of experience with people. I have learned how to keep people happy and how to put on a happy face when they are not. I can honestly say that everyone can benefit from working in the service industry. When working in elementary schools, I have used psychology and obviously teaching skills to determine the best way to help a certain student. In addition, the communication skills I've developed through serving has helped me become more comfortable with job interviews and new situations. People skills are extremely valuable and I would say have to be developed not taught.

I would say that my strongest job skill would be enthusiasm for what I am doing. If you enjoy what you do then you will do it well. From what I've learned it really is that simple. However, enthusiasm or better yet the lack of enthusiasm has also been my weak point. After working in the service industry for almost seven years (hosting was my first job at 16) the enthusiasm tends to fade. With me personally I have realized that once this happens, it is almost impossible to strive for success. I become careless and worse at my job and as a result I am unhappy with myself. We all need jobs and for that reason are forced to stay in spite of the bad stuff. Luckily, I do not plan to be a server for the rest of my life but I know now that it would be impossible for me to be good at a job or career that I did not genuinely enjoy. Anyway, it is for this reason that you guys constantly hear me talk about loving what you do and being passionate about what you are choosing to invest your time.

For me, it is important to be involved in clubs and organizations that involve helping or mentoring children. I would ultimately like to teach elementary ESOL classes. Children make me happy and being around kids is something that I have never stopped enjoying. Therefore, organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement or any mentorship program at a school would be helpful for my career path. As far as internships go, they are the best way to gain hands on experience. I have already shared with you guys about how a previous internship experience helped me decide what I did not want to do as a career. In contrast, a good internship experience can be very informative and enjoyable. The most fun I had was with my Junior Achievement experience in an ESOL class. Half the class spoke little to no English and I was so scared before my first lesson. In the end, that experience is what helped me pin point exactly what position I wanted to work toward. The students were fun and happy. They were forgiving and helpful when I made mistakes with my Spanish. I loved it.

Dani:

I am in a unique position. I have been in school for a long time. I took two and a half years off from school because of a job and upon returning to school have had to attend part time because of work. In my field, hospitality, experience is vital. There is only so much good classroom learning can do when you are in the hospitality field. Most of my experience is with the Disney company. I started with them back in 2002 as a part time manager of The Disney Store. My store fell victim to the huge store closings that occured back then. It was around this time that I changed my major to Hospitality Management and went to Walt Disney World since retail is not considered part of the hospitality industry. I have done many things at WDW. I started in merchandise, was promoted to research, left the company for a management internship with Universal, returned to Disney in Sales (where I spent those two and a half yars around from school and traveling the California and on the cruise ships instead). It was a big decision to leave my well paying sales role and return to school. I very well may never earn that amount of money again.

In the end, because of changing to Interdisciplinary studies, I will be doing more of what I love. I love teaching and serving people. And that is why my IDS degree is Hospitality Management, English, and Education. I currently work two jobs, one of which is a new job starting this week, but it is a job I have already done. My favorite job of the two is at the Rosen College. I am one of two supervisors of a research and sales project. I work with 20 students, have one boss to report to, and we partner with the Orando Convention and Visitors Bureau. My greatest strength in this role, is that I listen and care about my team. I develop practices and tasks based on the team's feedback. My greatest weakness is probably remaining happy in a job.

After returning to school I left the sales role and moved into an office, a call center to be exact with Disney. I thought I was going to love it. Instead after 7 months I wanted out. An opportunity for a dream job came about: the Dream Squad. It was a temporary role, and this was the last time they were going to hire for this role. I took it. It was indeed everything I wanted, except a team to lead, but that was ok. I was doing some amazing things for our guests. As the time came for the role to end I had no other job in the company to go to. I had hoped to make connections and become a manager at Disney, but alas the major budget cuts, and the system the company has in place to become a manager were against me. I was desperate. Low and behold, The American Idol Experience was going to open and I got an interview to be on the opening team. I did NOT want to go to Attraction Operations, but it was the only option. I was offered the role of opening team trainer and although I was offered more money per hour than any other trainer, it was still the lowest wage I had earned in years. That's what prompted me to look for another part time role and how I found the supervisor opportunity. Things have started to move in Disney again and so I was able to move back to the research department this week. It feels odd going back to a position I held five years ago. I am still not earning a whole lot and I often question my success for having to return to an old position, but it is still better than being in operations.

There are a ton of hospitality organizations. But I am most interested in joining Toastmasters because I love to speak. I want to learn more about training and be able to write training programs and maybe become a consulted for the hospitality industry in regards to training.

So enough about us, tell us about your experience so far and types of positions and opportunities that are of interest to you. How have you used interdisciplinary skills in your professional life?

Think about it....

Quite frankly I am not sure if our education system focuses enough on critical thinking. This skill involves detailed thought that examiness a specific claim, observation, or situation. You may think of it as questioning skills. Critical thinking enables you to analyze a situation and determine what to do or make a judgement on the situation. This skills transcends the world of academics. For example, think about a time when you missed class. You get in contact with someone you know who is also in the class. You ask them, "so what did I miss?" Their response is "oh nothing we did not talk about much." Now this situation, as simple as it may be, requires you to think critically. Let's say the teacher always has the class complete a quiz, everyday. Let's also consider that you know a project is coming up soon and the professor may have talked about the requirements. So, when taking this into consideration as well as other past experiences in class and what you know about this particular classmate, should you be satisfied with his / her response?

What critical thinking enables you to do is gather up information from a multitude of sources, analyze the different information pertaining to the specific situation, and then make some sort of conclusion about the situation. Another way that critical thinking can be used in college is when scheduling your courses. What are the advantages and disadvantages of on-line courses? What about mixed mode? Are you a morning person or not so much? Are there certain teaching styles you prefer? What would be the best way to schedule your courses in order for you to perform to your very best?

Finally, critical thinking is crucial with Interdisciplinary studies. Why did you choose your different areas? How will they work best with each other? The idea behind critical thinking is to think outside the box and take a look at a situation from multiple perspectives. Combining your interests to form a new idea that can incorporate all of them definitely takes some critical thinking. Ultimately, thinking critically will allow to to see some options or ideas that may not have been so obvious at first.

Integration??

When you bake something (i.e. cakes, cookies, cupcakes....) you need to integrate multiple ingredients: eggs, flour, sugar, salt, water, baking soda...individually these things are very different from each other but somehow come together to make something delicious. The important aspect of interdisciplinary studies is not just being aware of your different backgrounds and view points, but to integrate the different perspectives and practices together to create a new unique approach. The reason this is important is because the main benefit of an interdisciplinary approach is the unique viewpoint it creates. For example, if someone's major is Hospitality Management and one area is Education then a way to integrate those areas is when it comes to training in the Hospitality field. Effective training involves using teaching techiniques. And to teach someone how to be a professional in the Hospitality field they need to understand the importance of service. So, when training one needs to teach well.

From a professional aspect, integrating multiple studies can be very valuable. Being well educated in more than one area gives you a unique approach to any job or even a single decision. Having studied psychology, for example, can help you in any position that involves dealing with a lot of different people on a regular basis. Realistically, what job wouldn't be easier if you had a little knowledge about how and why people act the way they do. In addition, knowing and understanding people gives you a leg up on the best way to communicate with them and get what you want. Therefore, integrating psychology into education is logical. We are not going to retell you why we think our areas of study play off each other well only because we did that in a previous post and would like to spare you having to read it again. However, it is something for you to think about in your current position. Consider how you can incorporate all of your skills and knowledge to make you better at a specific career. Maybe more than one career.

Think about a time when you may have integrated two viewpoints to make a decision. Was there ever a time when you maybe thought about advice from your mother and advice from your friends to make a decision? How can your areas of study be best integrated?

You have to stand out from the crowd.... (e-portfolio)

Hopefully, the ultimate goal of earning this degree is to establish a great career. We each have our own definition of what makes a good career. For many, a great career is one that involves growth and promotion, while earning a living comfortable enough for a house, a car, and maybe to support a family. Others want to wake up loving what they do in spite of income. No matter where you stand, there are others out there wanting the same thing. Believe that.

One major thing to bare in mind is that the working world is truly a marketplace. Potential employers set up their "booth" showing off what their company is about, what they provide, and what type of people they need. However, this marketplace so to speak, is bustling with potential employees, with less employer booths to visit. Even setting aside the economic problems we've faced recently, finding the job is extremely competitive.

You have to stand out from the crowd.

Fortunately, being forced to take cornerstone and capstone will, with a little effort, give you a head start of your competition. A lot people have a standard resume, and maybe a cover letter. That's all the promotional tools they use. Generally, we would opt to not be just another standard resume. Half the battle of getting a job, is getting an interview. Therefore, using the e-portfolio to show your accomplishments, your skills, and your personality may be the difference between getting your foot in the door or getting your resume into a "no need to contact" file. Building your e-portfolio will give you insight into where you are academically and where you want to go in the future. If you take your assignments seriously, or at least put some genuine thought into them, you should end up with a portfolio of your academic accomplishments, a head start on a resume, as well as a good grasp on what career you will aim for once you've got your degree in hand. If it is not done well it could work against you or not give any insight at all. That is why it is something that is started in Cornerstone, and then hopefully perfected in Capstone. Ultimately, your e-portfolio should express the hard work and effort you put into this degree and show off what you can bring to the table in any future endeavors. Whether it's for graduate school or to get the interview, make yourself look good.

Make it work for you....

The IDS degree can be explained as the next evolution from Liberal Studies. Generally, people think of Liberal Studies as a catch all type degree, or the degree you go to when you have no idea what your Major should be. While this may be true for a lot of college IDS majors, the degree is the idea taking different areas and putting them together. It is examining the different areas, discovering a relationship between them, and then approaching your life and career with a perspective that is unique to that particular set of combine areas. Ultimately, an IDS degree is as valuable as you make it. If you are taking your classes, going though the motions to get out of college as soon as possible, your IDS degree will look just like that. So, some advise looking back as we near our finish line?? Look at how your areas of study can work together, be passionate about the areas you're studying and get involved in as many "experience driven" opportunities as possible. "Experience driven" meaning that non paying gigs can be pretty valuable and far easier to come by. From here on out you can build your resume and use the IDS degree you made for yourself to your advantage.

In other words, approach your minor from the mindset of your other two areas, or look at one of your areas with the perspective of your Minor and other area. For example, if your minor is Hospitality Management and the two areas being English and Education, look at Education with a perspective of serving those you educate. Use your experieces in communication to help you relate to your students.

Another combination is having Spanish as a minor with elementary education and psychology being two areas of study. From experiences as well as some education classes, an ESOL teacher is a perfect way to combine every aspect of this degree. Second language learners have an entirely different mindset than average English speaking students and it will greatly benefit a teacher to know about the psychology of young children and second language learners.

These are the examples that we can offer based on our personal degrees. However, as previously mentioned, have enthusiasm toward your degree and get out there, develop, and explore your career options. If you like hospitality, get into the hotels, restaurants, etc. Marketing and advertising minors can always find experience with non profit organizations and voluteering. Teachers need to get into the classroom whether by substituing or volunteering.

The advantage of an IDS degree is that you expand your horizons. You are not limited or "pidgeon holed". Your degree and thought process is unique, slightly un-manufactured. However, it can be difficult for future employers to understand the value of your degree. They may be unfamiliar and may generalize, thinking an IDS degree is just a fancy term for Liberal Arts. Be confident, and show them how valuable you and your interdiscipinary education can be.

Meet Dani & Natyeli...

My name is Natyeli. Although I was born in Acapulco, Mexico, I grew up in St. Petersburg, FL. English was still my first language and I have stuggled to reestablish my Mexican roots. Aside from the outward appearance...I'm an American girl for sure. I chose UCF because I wanted to explore a new city and had no idea what I was interested in as a career. After changing my major a couple times I found I had the most passion for teaching and being in the classroom. In particular, I became very interested in teaching ESOL elementary classes. After exploring other majors, taking a few classes in which I had little to no interest at all, I landed on Interdisciplinary Studies. The major incorporated everything I enjoyed and kept a lot of the credit hours I had already completed. My focus is on Elementary Education and Psychology with a minor in Spanish.

Now more than ever, I can finally see what I want for the future. Teaching elementary school students is the goal but I want to travel as much as possible. My immediate plan is to teach English abroad for at least a year. Then I will ultimately want to be certified to teach ESOL classes in the U.S. preferably somewhere new. Teaching on military bases around the world and doing some volunteer work also sounds appealing but I'm taking it one day at a time for now.

Dani Dennison:

I am born and raised in Central Florida. My mother attended UCF before it was even called such (Florida Tech University - I believe it was). Also, in high school I attended a camp for Color Guard / Dance held at UCF and felt a connection because of it.
I became an IDS Major because I wanted to add more to my degree than just Hospitality Management. I have a strong interest in learning, training, and development. Therefore, through IDS I was able to combine Education, English, and Hospitality Management.

Upon graduation I would like to earn either another Management / Supervisor role in the Hospitality industry, much like the one I am enjoying now. It would be great to get a position in the CVB.