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?