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CAREER GUIDE March 29, 2012
By narine adamova & raChel miller Dear friends, we are excited to introduce the Career Guide, a new product from Pepperdine Graphic Media. The publication is aimed to help current and graduating students explore their opportunities as they prepare to face real-world issues. This guide will provide you with all the necessary information on how to deal with loans, job-search anxiety and frustration with an unstable world market. It contains crucial tips regarding how to present yourself to a future employer, and make a desirable impression. You will learn about the importance of networking and online branding. In addition, for those who are exploring internship positions, the article on Washington, D.C. may be of particular interest to you. Not ready to jump into a typical career and take part in the monotonous rat race of life? One article may open your eyes to the many alternative careers available today. Don’t be scared! There are many hidden doors that may lead to a fulfilling career path. If you are looking for inspiration, recent Pepperdine graduate Skylar Peak, who is now running for Malibu City Council, reflects on the idea of success. Disregarding statistics like major and class year, this mixture of inspirational stories and useful tips can benefit each person’s unique path. Just beginning to develop your career plans? This is good place to start. We hope that the Career Guide will take your brand to the next level. And remember, your ability to succeed is in your hands, and partially in this Career Guide. Best of luck with all your endeavors!
Making the right connections By ZaCK JenKinS
Incessant resume formatting and listing skillsets will do little to grab the attention of a Human Resources manager when your resume/ CV is one of hundreds sitting in an email inbox. When it comes to grabbing their attention and actually landing that job/internship, having a sleek resume alone won’t cut it unless it comes with a rockstar recommendation. How can you get one? Network your butt off, and go above the inbox. Go to their boss’ desk. Getting a senior manager’s endorsement when applying to a position can make a huge difference. I’ve seen it first hand, from both the applicant and the management sides, in my three years working in Human Resources as a Branch Manager for a marketing company and a Recruiting Director for a Digital Marketing Firm, in my own post-graduation job hunt that started back in August and also from the war stories of friends from all areas of study. To give you a real example of a person who found his ideal out-of-college job by circumventing the typical catch-all-recruiting emails, take Tom, (whose name isn’t really Tom but we’ll call him that for the sake of privacy and professionalism). Tom was finishing his B.A. in International Business and wanted to work in international finance and trade. With some good extracurriculars, a couple of OK internships on his resume, and an average GPA, Tom wasn’t exactly the
emily branch / Art eDItor
perfect Pepperdine student, but he was a good one — punctual, hardworking and ambitious. He wasn’t very wellconnected in Los Angeles, since he was from Maryland originally, but he did connect with everyone he met at his internships on LinkedIn, a professional social network (in case you hadn’t heard of it before). When he was looking up different international trade groups in Los Angeles and international investment, he found a few where he had some relatively close connections (a couple from random people he met interning and some through volunteer and social connections). After sending out a few emails asking for introductions, and a few dozen inquiring about the nature of the work environment, he managed to schedule three different lunches with CEOs or other top managers that led directly to securing a position with one firm. He didn’t take a resume with him to the lunch, but by the end
of the lunch he had impressed the CEO with his charm and ambition. The CEO asked him to email his resume directly to him. He passed it down to his recruiting staff, and Tom was brought in the next week for an interview and hired a week later. When it comes to finding those influential people, there are a million and one ways to go about it. The three most effective ways to connect with the right people who can get you the position you want are: 1. Meet people through groups: Social or volunteer — the more people you know the more you can become connected. Begin by taking a collection of business cards with you wherever you go. Then, stockpile genuine relationships through service, education and personal development. This will help build stronger relationships that will become recommendations further down the road if/ when you need them. 2. Use social media any/ every way possible: Beyond
Facebook and LinkedIn, Twitter, EventBrite and scouring your friends’ connections can be a great way to branch in new directions. Finding events or getting in touch with upper-management directly is so much easier than it used to be. Use the web and any/all profiles you/they may have to establish a [mutual] connection. 3. Play the numbers: If you send out 15 emails expect to get one (maybe two) in return. If you ask for 10 introductions or recommendations, expect to get one (maybe two) follow ups. Don’t take anything personally — some people just aren’t in a position to follow through on a recommendation or endorsement. That’s why sending out more emails will yield more responses. Speaking with the decision maker or the boss is the key to corporate sales. Getting the job isn’t that much different when you think about it. Lower level and mid-level managers are looking to hire the best people who will bring results for their managers above them. If that higher manager has directly recommended an applicant (or sometimes directly told the lower manager to bring them in for an interview) then the odds of getting a response are much higher. Don’t get caught alongside the mass of people emailing their resumes to a million and one job search results. Instead, send it to the people that matter most and have them pass it down. g
zachary.jenkins@pepperdine.edu
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Post Graduate internship?
Searching for jobs can be disconcerting, especially when “entrylevel” jobs ask for a minimum of 3 to 5 years experience. But, for better or for worse, post-graduate internships are becoming more and more common for recent grads to use as a gap-filler between
loyment. gular emp rnships re d n a l schoo ate inte ost-gradu t the ideal Though p no term and r are short- cash, they do offe penrn a m e o c way to rm of fo e m so ds f earning recent gra s in lieu o erience rk e p r o n exp satio . Gaining it d tive re c e g a produc colle e b y a m cts nths and conta t few mo rs fi e th d en way to sp uation. d after gra
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r e t f a e f i L
COLLEGE By Heather Manes
the reality not just another season of it’s d An . rld Wo al Re the es: r ID Ready or not, here it com ilet-paper reality where you hard, pay-for-your-own-to d, col Gradu. is s ays thi esd , Tu No on w. sho om television an your bathro cle to es com e on no and Caf st-graduation card stops working at the out how to tackle some po ing pp ma so e, som for n ms tio ion stress disorder) sympto ating can be a rough transi of the PGSD (post-graduat e som te via alle p hel can obstacles ked away. the cap and gown are tuc you may experience after
s: Student Loan
t ecially when you realize tha t is never too thrilling, esp ran tau res ent a Par at , l bil ord ff the Sta h d, Getting stuck wit t subsidized, unsubsidize 0,000. That’s right, all tha was the average debt for Pep the bill you’re footing is $3 29 over four years, which 1,4 $3 ts to den up stu ed e add din bo per PLUS mumbo jum last year, 58 percent of Pep s last year. However, as of for your local support perdine graduating senior ne. (Look in the classifieds alo t no ’re you so ns, loa were dependent on group.) important for students to can be daunting, but it is s llar do of ve ati neg of e pil . Depending on the type Staring at a huge n the rest of their finances pla ter bet pay to (re ns d tio ase op e-b nt om such as inc understand payme are available to graduates ns pla and ent all sm aym rt rep sta nt ls ere bil student loan, diff or graduated (repayment centage of your income) to map out what er vid pro n loa t ments are subject to a per den contact your stu ds, nee r you t fi t bes To . ple hundred each month. gradually increase) t, but expect to pay a cou bes rk wo l wil ns tio op type of repayment l ch interest your loans wil erest payments and how mu int of unt are bu aw l, oo be to sch nt in is rta It is also impo while the student st ere int rue acc t no do , ed loans t than expected. (In 2008 and have accrued. Subsidiz student in much more deb the 0 ve ,00 lea $5 can a le, ich mp wh , exa do t, so, for subsidized loans Stafford loans was 6 percen d ize sid sub rs.) un yea l r era fou fed r ove for the interest rate rued $1200 in interest t that year could have acc unsubsidized loan taken ou ut ing ahead and learning abo will not be easy, but plann ril Ap in ker l bil stic 00 the 0,0 of $3 bit Footing the ieve at least a little tions available may help rel the different payment op shock.
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To move back hom e:
PEPPE
To move back home or to not move back home?
R DI N
To Not Move Bac k Home: Again, you are not alone. Nearly 85 perFriends, after all, can be on cent of college graduates e of the move back home, highlights of college, so livi according to a 2011 poll ng with them conducted by afterwards can be a fun wa Twentysomething Inc. Th y to ease into an is, firstly, will help independent adult life. save the money needed to start repaying Also, living away from ho student loans and secondly me opens up , food is usually many more job possibilit included in the deal. ies outside of your hometown. This is your cha Moving home could be a nce to live great opportualmost anywhere (so long nity to take some time to as you can find think about the the means to pay for it) so future and set a few goals. it may be a great Very few grads time to explore. Whether are set up for the take final it’s tackling the s, graduate, start Big Apple or signing up wit at the office on Monday rou h a non-profit te and though abroad, this is the opportu the certainty is nice, it’s im nit y to live outportant to keep side of your comfort zone. in mind that you’re just sta rting out. Taking In addition, while living a breather may be a great at home it is way to spend a easier to fall prey to what’s few weeks, if the parents comfortable and will allow it. Plan putting off striking out on out dream jobs, great ent your own until ry-level jobs, future the next month, or the nex financial responsibilities (th t. Now is as at iPhone’s looking more and more expens goo d a tim e as eve r to ive on an indiforge your own path. vidual plan), where you’d like to live, and set a date by which you’d lik e to be moved out. Also, if you can’t find tha t perfect job right away, moving home will allow you the financia l wiggle room to accept a Finding a part time job while you’re job: resume and still searching (or perhaps /or portfolio The econom . There’s no y may not b in emailing moonlighting as an aspirharm e at its best, a few people employers ar b e you follow o u t looking to h Twitter to as ing musician, actor, or n ire 19.3 per more recent k to m eet for coffee cent college grad Secondly, le , either. [no judgment] superheuates than la Starting sala ar n job-searchin st year. ries, too, hav Before you g etiquette. ro). Use your spare time e slightly in graduate, m as the 2011 cr ake sure to p ea g se ra your resume d duates earn to develop your skills, ass on average $41,701 a ye and cover le tter through ar, which is th e ca thicken your portfolio, re er 2.3 percent center to m than the 20 ake su more 10 graduates professional build a website, or start according to , clean and w re they are study condu a ct hat employed er s would like by the Nat a blog. tion of Coll to see on th eges and Em ional Associaeir desk. Als w rite thank-y ployers o, ou letters to So, now that contacts wh have met up employers ar . o recent grads with you. B e looking to efore a sched mo hire interview, co uled finally use so re than before, it’s time nfirm the dat to cial network e, location, ti me with you ing for its in an purpose: net d r in te rviewer and ten working. (B few minutes arrive a efore anythin ded sure to clean ea rl y. M ake sure to b g, be out the red tra copies of ring exSolo cups fr your profile your resume, om pictures.) Fac references, an p o rt fo li o , b eb ut avoid dri LinkedIn ca d nking coffee n all be used ook, Twitter and ing gum and , chewto contact p resources in ch ec k in g your cell p ossible the industry Lastly, be cr hone. you would li to work for, eative in you ke so don’t be af r search. Th p er fe ct jo b ra e may not com network. Ask id to actually e in the perfe your friends package, so ct to keep an ey don’t be afra out for jobs, id to search e and provide side of the b outthem links to ox and look your for ways to your talents u se in different industries.
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Conquering the capital, the DC experience By Charmaine Cleveland Every year, thousands of high school and college students make the trek to Washington, D.C., for summerlong, or even semester-long internship programs. These young entrepreneurs have but one goal in mind: to make themselves marketable for a job after graduation. With career and internship opportunities around every corner, it’s a surprise that so many people think twice before applying to work on the East Coast. While places like Los Angeles and New York City are filled with exciting occupations, many students are often discouraged by the competitiveness found in entry-level positions. With a population of nearly 38,000,000, jobs after graduation are often hard to come by in states like California, or in large cities. Washington, D.C., on the other hand, remains an ever-evolving machine, one which constantly craves new hands to feed it. And you don’t just have to be an aspiring politician to get in on the action. Virtually every academic major is represented in the 61 square miles that make up the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Government agencies look for bright, young students seeking to make the most out of their experience in Washington, D.C., Many managers understand that students are coming in with little-to-no experience, and are often very open to teaching them new skills. It’s the perfect place to begin building your resume for the future, and acquiring references for potential employers to call. The networking opportunities that students have while living in Washington, D.C., are endless as well. Finding someone who could help you in your career later in life is not uncommon when working in close quarters with your constituents. Chances are that your boss, or one of your co-workers may have a connection to an agency that you’re interested in working for, another internship, or even a graduate school that you’re hoping courtesy of charmaine cleveland to get into. Taking the Leap: Students immerse themselves in real-world politics while interning in Washington, D.C. These connections are everywhere, and networking Your time as a student is limited. As a competitive tends to be a daily routine while working in Washington, thrown at him or her during their short stay in Washington, D.C. intern, you should know what goals or achievements D.C., Your job doesn’t stop when you leave your internThe largest piece of advice I have to give to someone you wish to accomplish with your time here. Remember, ship site. Much of the greatest work goes on after hours considering the program: Come with a strategy. the internship director is just as interested in what the when you can meet with your fellow interns, or superviApply at a less competitive date to be considered for company can teach you as in what you could bring to sors, at sponsored events. During these times, scholars, a top-notch internship without all the added applicathem. A successful internship should always be mutually political figures, or even occasionally important world tions. Summer tends to be the most popular time for beneficial to both parties. leaders tend to be present. This is the perfect time for an Whether you’re looking to enter into politics or simintern to practice their networking skills and secure a few internships and, therefore, tends to be one of the most competitive seasons of the year. ply a college student looking for a job post-graduation, contacts for future job opportunities. Find a unique aspect about yourself that makes you Washington, D.C., should be at the top of your list. In a Finally, Washington, D.C., is truly what a person competitive. Do you speak a different language? Do you city that never truly sleeps, the possibilities are endless for makes of it. Working in the city is time-consuming, have experience working or traveling abroad? Internadriven college students who seek to stay competitive in and often a very grueling task for a student taking a tional organizations frequently seek candidates with these the business world. No matter what you may have heard full course-load, and working 9 to 5. Responsible time types of experiences. If you haven’t had the chance to about the late nights staying at the office or the challengmanagement and study habits are a must for those who do so, submit a relevant writing sample that shows your ing work interns are expected to put in every day — it all wish to succeed at their internship site, and their classes. interest in international affairs. becomes worth it in the long run. You’re experience in Washington, D.C., should prepare Finally, as the business world puts it: Time is money, You can’t say Washington, D.C., without saying “opyou for the real world as much as possible. As such, it is and impressions are everything. portunity.” important that someone take every opportunity that is charmaine.cleveland@pepperdine.edu g
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D.C. interns dish highlights Shiloh Rainwater Senior Political science
Emily Chu Junior International business
hite House Office of e Associate at the W nc de , on sp rre Co a that deals with mail I worked as which is the office e, nc d de an g on in sp rre iew Co rev included Presidential esident. My duties Pr l . na .S U rso e pe th s hi to r lls fo gifts and ca the President to ed ard rw fo be s to t line — whereby I recommending letter hite House commen W e th g tin t agencies era op d review, an nts with governmen ue tit ns co g tin ec nn co is was my was instrumental in me foreclosures. Th ho as ch su s ip sh rd ha individuals to assist them with opportunity to assist an e m ve ga it as b jo ner workings favorite part of the ly did I learn the in on ot N . ed ne us do tive on Ameriwho were in tremen ed a unique perspec in ga o als I t bu se, This aligns with of the White Hou eds of constituents. ne e th to g in nd po like to hold an can politics by res e I would someday us ca be ns tio ira asp perience at the my future career d, because of my ex an t en m rn ve go in genuine dialogue elected position d the importance of an rst de un ll wi I White House, with constituents.
Michelle Barnum Senior ation, Business Administr ics Minor ned for the Applied Mathemat ,. experience I inter
gton, D.C During my Washin tices, Healthcare care Financial Prac lth ea H of nt de esi Vice Pr A). My position as Association (HFM t en em ag an M ial Financ are for my career st helped me to prep aly an rch ea res t an assist y research on Hose world. Through m nc na fi ate or rp co e in th eet with top bankers ers, I was able to m riv D ty ili tab ofi Pr pital d New York City ashington, D.C., an W in , rs sto ve in d an time in Washington a few months. My of d ous rio igi pe est a pr in e th th wi ptance into ce ac y m r fo e m d D.C. also prepare P) after I graduate ent Program (GE FM e WashFinancial Managem you participate in th at th d en m om rec I igious job next month. wish to land a prest u yo if m ra og pr ., ington, D.C ccessful career. will jump-start a su out of college that
for Latin American United Nations- Economic Commission reports and papers that ing and the Caribbean: I helped with writ e. Also, I translated ther time were published by the end of my iefings, and s/br ence nfer documents, attended meetings/co s). The best kind all of ects worked on research (various proj ably keep in prob will I who tors things were the brilliant men learned the most about touch with forever. Honestly I’d say I that life is about getting myself during this experience. I realized es. As far as my career asall kinds of experiences in different plac ip made me less certain of pirations, I actually think my internsh thing. It made me think: what I’m going to do and this is a good zed there are actually a Why did I block myself in when I reali that I never knew existed? million brilliant new things going on going on in the world, and There are some great innovative ideas by pre-dooming myself now I’m not going to hold myself back feels great. This is a great to a surefire job I just have to have. It se yourself to a culture opportunity for self-discovery and to expo . stop non s where people breathe and breed idea
Lauren M. Batte rham Senior Philosophy and Political Science My Washington,
D.C., experience was helpful and worked in the H enlightening. I ouse of Represe ntatives with R the Illinois 13th ep. Judy Biggert district. I had w of orked for her th in her district offi e previous sum ce, but the inte mer nsity of the Was was about tenfol hington, D.C. d. I really loved office that there was al do in the office w ays something to , that would be helpful, even if or if it was som it were just scan ething more ha ning, nds on like wri gave me a taste ting a form lett of what office pr er . It otocol was like. ence in interact I gained great ex ing with all diff perierent types of pe statuses. Right ople from differ now, I am appl en t yi ng to jobs in th and stay in touc e federal govern h with my office m en t on a regular basis D.C. is so muc . Washington, h different than Los Angeles an city in the coun d every other m try. It’s like a cl ajor eaner New York driven and dete City. I would ad rmined individu vise al s to go, and to ta them. Washing ke a lot of grit w ton, D.C., really ith ta ug defend what I be ht me to speak up for myself an lieved (and prov d ide evidence fo taught me how r those beliefs). to be savvy in th It also e way that I spea and I believe th k and hold mys at it gave me gr elf, avitas with my return. It also im superiors upon proved my writin my g skills quite a bi t.
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Volunteering inspires leadership By edGar hernandeZ Jumpstart is a non-profit organization that receives funding from AmeriCorps. According to the organization’s mission statement, Jumpstart “Works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.” Here at Pepperdine, Jumpstart boasts an impressive corps as well as a significant impact on the community. My history with Jumpstart began my freshman year in the fall semester of 2008. I was looking for a job to cover my Work Study requirement. Paying $10 an hour, Jumpstart was, and still is, one of the highest paying jobs on campus. What started as a way to make money has become a very real possibility for a future career. The organization takes a different approach to the difficulties some groups face in the current education system. By acknowledging the socio-economic gap and its effect on the education of children, Jumpstart attempts to work with children very early on to lessen that gap. This is accomplished through the use of a core curriculum that is created by experts in early childhood development work with Jumpstart. The organization takes college students and trains them on how to implement the core curriculum and how to engage with both the children and the children’s families in low-income areas. Standing behind the notion that the parents of a child are the life-long teachers of the child, at different levels, Jumpstart also tries to engage with the parents. Since my freshman year, Jumpstart has undergone some internal changes in terms of the curriculum that is implemented and how it is implemented. However, the basic structure of the organization has remained.
At Pepperdine there are two site directors, 13 team leaders and 95 corps members. Aside from that there are other positions that work toward helping the corps members and the families that Jumpstart serves. Each one of the team leaders is assigned a classroom, and the team leader has to lead a team of corps members in implementing the curriculum in that classroom
edGar hernandeZ
Learning is fun: A Jumpstart team leader works with the kids in a fun activity after the learning session.
for the academic year. The teams go into the classroom twice a week and spend between three to four hours in each session. Aside from that time, corps members and team leaders spend time outside of the classroom planning and going over session plans for the next session. In total, corps members are expected to fulfill 300 hours
of service. As a bonus, students that do complete that goal are eligible to receive an educational award from AmeriCorps. The actual experience I had in the classroom was a fascinating one. I spent the first couple of months adapting to regularly interacting with children. They are all at different levels with regards to language, reading, writing and social skills. This makes your experience with each kid different. Due to the number of hours that Jumpstart requires, in combination with classes, I dealt with a pretty fast paced life. However, there was always something refreshing about working with children so that, even after pulling all-nighters before work, I found the energy to do my best in the classroom. By the end of an academic year the children’s improvement can be seen. A very rewarding aspect of Jumpstart is the excitement you feel when you know that you successfully taught a child something that they can now do on their own. There is a sense of pride that comes with knowing that you positively helped a child in his or her development. Besides corps members and team leaders, Jumpstart also offers a few other jobs that give insight as to what it means to work with a non-profit organization. This year I am the Community Involvement Ambassador. This took me out of one single classroom and required a level of involvement with all the classrooms. Besides that, I had to lead training regarding to family involvement. For more information about Jumpstart at Pepperdine visit: http://www.pepperdine.edu/volunteercenter/ or visit the Pepperdine Volunteer Center.
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Mastering digital branding In a world of constant online connectivity developing a strong, professional presence on the Internet is crucial to the emerging professional. You, the job seeker, must consider yourself as a brand, and market yourself accordingly. Fortunately, everything from presenting a resume to networking with possible employers can be accomplished with the click of a mouse. Having a professional website or blog is a great way to showcase your skills. Check out these helpful tips on how to get started! 1. Build a professional social network. Most of us use our Facebook or Twitter accounts to stay connected with friends and family, but a savvy professional uses social networking sites as a way to connect with employers and colleagues in their given field. Keeping both a “personal” and “professional” account is the safest way to go — always remember to draw a clear
line between your personal and professional life and network accordingly. LinkedIn is a popular professional networking site that assists users in seeking jobs and finding business partners and investors. Sign up for a free account to build your resume and start connecting with people. 2. Start a blog, online portfolio or professional website. If you cannot afford to pay for domain costs, starting a free blog with publishing platforms like Blogger or WordPress is a cost-effective way to build your online presence. Design your content, determine your target audience, and commit to posting at least once a week. People pay attention to producers of relevant, interesting content — which gives you the opportunity to build an audience for your work. 3. Tie everything together. Make sure to keep all of your online “assets” interconnected. This seems like an
edgar.hernandez@pepperdine.edu
By Sienna JaCKSon
obvious tip, but if you don’t keep it in mind during your planning stage, you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget. If you have a website, create an “about” page with a quick bio about you, your contact information, and links to your professional networking profiles. You want to create a virtual web of everything you do professionally, so that every element leads to another element, smoothly. 4. Remember: You are a brand, promote according to your skills and strengths. Before you go about creating a Facebook page for your startup or building your own website, take a moment to think about you. What skills do you have to offer in your job market? How do you showcase your best attributes? What is it about you that sets you apart? Keep these questions in mind as you build your brand and reach out for potential employment opportunities. g
sienna.jackson@pepperdine.edu
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Think outside the professional box By Genevieve Smith Ever feel like there’s some dream job out there waiting for you, but you simply have never heard of it (yet)? With a little creative thinking and a healthy handful of research, following your passions will lead you to unearth what you’re looking for. To whittle down which talent of yours to sharpen, let’s heed the idea that your passion is that thing that prevails over the toughness of hard work, always calling you back. The list of things you could do will shrink into the list of things you should do by further honing in on your set of values. Here, I will cover some lesser-known jobs, which address our Pepperdine community as one geared to give back. While I could whip up a list of unconventional ways to make money with my eyes closed (exotic cat breeding, anyone?), I plan to point you in the direction of serving a cause, whether it is one of community, one of country or one which is planetary. Photographers and filmmakers: So here we are, in the mecca of commercial beauty — Los Angeles, California. Oh, to be in a land of hopes and dreams. You have that creative eye to capture things in a way, which is both clear and appealing. But maybe there’s something missing from the pursuit of beautiful things, something lacking that little extra shine. That “something missing” may be the act of giving back through your talents. Two styles through which a creative individual can serve up striking stories to the public are documentary and photojournalism. With the powerful force of images, you are able to mobilize people to action. Finding a subject that strikes a chord on your heartstrings will allow you to follow the music. From local news to world news to an endeavor on your own in North Korea, South America or New Mexico, there are millions of stories waiting to be unfolded. Whether employed by a news agency or independently contracted, such work can help fund your hopes to follow dreams like documenting Indian brides or deforestation. Photographers can jump off the diving board into a pool of freelance work, thrashing their way to big breaks and local news or swimming
upstream to find subjects of their own off the beaten track. With the images you capture, you can start off a decent living selling hot-item photos or video clips to various news forums, like the Associated Press (AP) or the Huffington Post, The New York Times or Channel 5 News. Freelance work takes a gambling spirit, a takecharge attitude, and a thirst for adventure. It also takes deep pockets, as camera equipment and travel expenses don’t come cheap. But those aiming to inspire change are often not far off from interested investors. Get creative with fundraising and your bags could be packed in (relatively) no time! If you aspire to be a visual storyteller of any kind, take a moment to research where your camera deserves to be pointed. Writers: For those of you better at painting pictures with words, there’s seemingly-infinite fields of subjects deserving your writerly attention. Sure there’s the obvious ones like PR, poetry and screenEmily branch plays — but what about the jobs less advertised? Regardless of your styleof-choice, researching a subject which interests you can reveal a community to write for, rather than simply about. For example, maybe you’re into agricultural revolutions and have a knack for poetry. You write political activist poems, but that’s not gonna cover the groceries, let alone the rent. Yet low and behold, the World Health Organization (WHO) needs agricultural journalists. Your poetic spirit will come in handy thanks to your keen observations, and you’ll directly serve the cause you’re interested in. Scientists: To some, what comes easy is astronomy, biomimicry, or pharmaceutical chemistry. The imaginative possibilities for work in the sciences are infinite (though some physicists could argue otherwise). Those with a natural knack for math who’ve gravitated towards sci-fi may want to pack up the virtual Volkswagen and go planet hunting. This dream job is waiting for you at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, where engineers and astronomers are joining forces to aid the Emily branch HARPS-N Project. The international collaboration is working to build the High-Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher. Follow your fantasies and help confirm Kepler’s planetary candidates. And for the nutri-
tion junkies craving to aid NASA, there is a demand for your expertise out there as well. “Futurama” makes it seem easy peasy to upkeep a crew on prolonged space travel, but it ain’t so simple in the real universe. Nutritional values shift in the human body and food sources when they’re suspended in a no-gravity atmosphere for too long. Working in the Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory for NASA, you’ll test the nutritional needs of astronauts and modify foods to live up to the standards of the human body. The field is ripe with possibility. Marketing mavens, statistics buffs, and the generally info-hungry: Would you like to get paid to read the newspaper? How about to read several newspapers, magazines and online media sources daily, with a little radio listening and TV watching tossed into the mix? Get hired by a media monitoring service and collect info to your heart’s desire. The clients of media monitoring range from city, state and federal agencies to writers, celebrities and corporations. They seek clipping services to track the results of their PR successes and mishaps. Use the opportunity to learn marketing campaign techniques used by others to rock it in the PR world. Whether you want a great prep for a career in PR, are fascinated by an array of subjects, or would like to use a sociologist’s perspective to aggregate data on marketing trends, lend an eye or two to a clipping agency will serve the marketable skills of your fellow man. What you learn at this job could help you sharpen your eyesight on the streets. Being constructively critical to the image feed we chow down on daily is an important skill in an information-dense world. Emily branch So whether you’re a global connector or an infoanalyst, follow what you love, and remind yourself of the succulence of the fruits creative thinking. There are tons of ways to make it to the top of the economic food chain. But when you change your motivations to making it to the top of a fulfilling life, you will find your balance with ease. It’s simpler than it seems to remind society of the roles, which are decidedly most important. Knock down the doors of mailrooms with job applications for the positions that matter. By educating yourself on the complexity of this world we have created, you can ensure you play a decisive role in social responsibility. In an embrace with life, realize your creativity and lend that helping hand. I guarantee it will be filled in return. g
genevieve.smith@pepperdine.edu
CAREER GUIDE
March 29, 2012
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Rising to the Peak With the quality education and hands-on experience that Pepperdine provides for its students, it is no wonder the university also boasts an impressive list of alumni who have continued on to lead lives powered by purpose, service and leadership.
By Caneel Anthony Seaver College alumnus Skylar Peak is a Commissioner for the City of Malibu Parks and Recreation Commission, on the City of Malibu Wastewater Advisory Committee, and is on the board of the Malibu Boys & Girls Club. He may also be able to add another title to his resume soon — that of Malibu City Council member. Peak’s run for office was inspired by his love for the Malibu community and his desire to give back. Born and raised in Malibu, which he describes as “one of the most beautiful places in the world,” Peak graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in Business Administration. Originally an electrical engineering student at UC Irvine, he transferred to Seaver College, because it was “a better fit for my aspirations in life,” he said. Being from Malibu, “I had reservations about going to Pepperdine at first, [but] I couldn’t have asked for a better education and a better experience.”
Skylar also returned to Malibu to help his father, Dusty Peak, run his business “Peak Power Electric” when he fell ill. Dusty Peak died in 2009, which was a great loss to their family and the community. Skylar Peak now owns and operates the electrical company. Nonetheless, he believes he has been able to turn the tragedy into something positive with his work for the Malibu community. “If you can make a positive difference in one person, or a hundred people, or a thousand people’s lives everyday, then you’re making a positive impact on the world. That’s something my parents taught me. I had great parents,” Peak said. Greater community input on local issues is central to his decision to run for Malibu City Council. “I think it’s very important for there to be fresh ideas in our community, and some projects did not receive enough community input,” he said. “We also need to identify the source of watershed pollution, and people need to take responsibility for what they’re polluting. We are a world-class beautiful community, and we need to show that and communicate that to our residents and the rest of the world.” Skylar Peak also believes that his success and his motivation to serve his community is thanks to the quality education he received while in school. “Classes like Service Leadership taught me in the formal sense what it means to give back to your community and to be a civic participant,” he said. “You have to get out there and get involved. That’s what it takes.” The former business administration student still has a profound appreciation for the professors he encountered during his time at Pepperdine, such as Dr. Jere Yates and Dr. Venkatachalam Seshan. “If you listen to those kinds of people, you can take it or leave it, but you’ll also develop a very good grasp
on what critical thinking is and the vast amounts of information that are available,” Peak said. “They challenge you in a constructive way — you want to improve.” Peak said he believes that it is key for students to take advantage of the opportunities and the resources that the university has to offer. He urges students to “hold the relationships you make in school, and be open-minded. You are getting a word-class education in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and it’s important to participate.” Long-term, Peak would like to stay in his hometown and raise a family. “I have always been very involved in my community. I love Malibu so much I would like to spend the rest of my life here,” he said. “I want to be a voice for our community.” With Election Day looming on April 10, Peak has already raised more money than all of the other candidates, according to the Malibu Patch. With a campaign contribution limit of $250 per person, Peak raised almost $16,000 during the Jan. 1 through Feb. 25 statement period. The donors have included university President Andrew K. Benton and a few Pepperdine students have even been helping out with the campaign. “Having been able to work with students has been awesome. They are very intelligent. I am definitely open to working with more,” he said. Peak said he believes it is important to have goals, however he stresses that it is important to be open to the opportunities and experiences that life brings. “I believe in taking life one day at a time. You can’t always dwell on the past; you have to look forward to the future. The beautiful thing about life is that you can either be a spectator or a participant. The best thing about it is that you can make the choice.” g
caneel.anthony@pepperdine.edu
courtesy of Skylar Peak