Steps to Success

fitbitSeveral weeks ago a good friend of mine introduced me to the Fitbit One, a high-tech pedometer that tracks daily steps, calories, distance, flights of stairs, activity and even sleep. It wirelessly syncs with my phone and computer, logging my daily progress to the Fitbit website. To top it off, the Fitbit incorporates social networking, allowing me to follow and compete with my friends who also use the device.

Using this “smart” pedometer has been fun and worth it – because it works! At the end of the day if I haven’t hit my goal, I will bundle up and brave the cold to walk outside until I do. By having concrete proof of my progress, I continually feel motivated to work hard, therefore shooting for bigger goals with each passing day.

It’s amazing the things we can accomplish when we hold ourselves accountable. Part of finding your ideal career comes from learning to be an adult, and part of being an adult means having ownership of and responsibility for your daily personal progress. Here in Career Services we do our best to give you the support you need during this exciting and important time of your life, but it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to reach your own goals. As recruiting season is in full swing and you are in search of that ideal summer internship or job, it’s important to stay on top of your game. If you haven’t yet, work on perfecting your resume or email it to get it critiqued by a counselor (be sure to leave ample time for review before your application deadline – usually 3-5 business days is fine). Practice writing cover letters for different types of jobs and solicit feedback from your peers or Career Services professionals. Meet with a counselor in our office for a prescheduled appointment or during walk-ins. Practice interviewing with Interview Stream so that you can record your own mock interview and send it to family or friends for critiques. Attend a workshop or other career event to learn valuable insights into the world of work. Utilize our online resources in our Career Library. Explore opportunities on PennLink or iNet. Learn all about (or simply review!) OCR and how it works (don’t forget to scroll down to the OCR Quickfind to find answers by topic or question). Lastly, peruse our robust Career Exploration page for helpful tips and valuable resources that will help you with your search.

Remember, reaching a milestone rarely happens by accident. It takes organization, a proactive game plan and going the extra mile (sometimes quite literally!) to achieve true success. Good luck with your journey!

Author: Anne Marie

Anne Marie Gercke is the Associate Director for the College of Arts & Sciences team in Career Services.