Monday, November 29, 2010

October Program of the Month: Ask-A-Shrink


On Wednesday, October 6th, 13th Street RAs Zach Fried and Malia Okusi hosted their "Ask-a-Shrink" program in the 13th Street Lounge. In an effort to raise awareness around National Mental Illness Week, Dr. Jerry Finkelstein, Director of Counseling Services at The New School, came to the residence hall to answer questions and discuss issues pertaining to mental health, depression, and the college transition. More than a dozen residents had the opportunity to discuss these issues, as well as ask specific questions anonymously, with Dr. Finkelstein. Residents also learned about different methods of measuring depression and self evaluation methods, and everyone enjoyed the dark chocolate that was on hand to help stimulate serotonin levels.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Transferable skills.... Grads - listen up!

You probably have heard the term “transferable skills” many times throughout your college and/or professional career. But do you know what that term really means, and more importantly, what your own transferable skills are? Transferable skills are those skills you have honed in one experience that can be adapted to a different experience. Leadership experiences are full of opportunities for transferable skill development. And, in today’s job market, identifying your transferable skills can be very valuable.

As you prepare to apply for fall leadership positions, internships, summer jobs or your first "real" job...don't dismiss your transferable skills! So, how do you go about determining what your current transferable skills are? Consider these steps:

1. Dissect past experiences: Review past job descriptions and responsibilities. And, don’t forget any hobbies, service or involvement opportunities you have had.

2. Take notes: Identify and write down key skills that you gained from past experiences. Create an extensive list, don’t keep it small.

3. Identify desired positions/experiences: Whether you are looking for a job or seeking a new leadership position on campus, you need to determine what your ultimate goals are, and how and where you want to contribute your skills and time.

4. Change language: Once you have identified your skills and your desired “next step” you can create your list of transferable skills that successfully market you for the role you are seeking (i.e. fundraising experience = sales experience OR hall programming = event planning).

5. Visit your Career Services Office: You have a valuable resource on campus that can assist you in translating your transferable skills on to a resume, cover letter and an interview. In addition, many Career Services Offices can help you match your transferable skills with potential career options. Take advantage of these services!


When was the last time you reviewed and revised your resume? Reflect on your past experiences and see if you can come up with some new ways to showcase your transferable skills. And, while you are at it, keep these “basics” in mind…

Avoid slang – don’t make potential employers guess what you are talking about.

Consolidate your experiences - you aren’t writing a memoir, you are compiling a resume. Try to limit your resume to one to two pages with the highlights of your experiences.

Go beyond the paid positions - include any volunteer experiences or hobbies that provided you with specific marketable skills.

Second set of eyes - ask a mentor, supervisor or friend to review your resume for clarification, typos and to ensure you didn’t forget to include anything.


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

20th Street Coastal CleanUp

On September 19th, Hall Council members at the 20th Street Residence organized a Coastal Cleanup along the Hudson River. Coastal Cleanup is a grassroots program organized by the Ocean Conservancy and supported by hundreds of thousands of people in over 100 countries. Over the past twenty years, millions of pounds of garbage have been removed from beaches all over the world, and, thanks to the efforts of the 20th Street Hall Council, RAs, and residents, Hudson River Park is now 260 pounds lighter!

Among countless other items, including toys, plastic bags and cups, and food wrappers, the Cleanup team also discovered furniture, a bicycle, and even a surge protector. By far the most common item found along the shore were small (less than 2-liter) plastic bottles – the volunteers found over 300 of these alone!

Our oceans are becoming increasingly polluted each year, and, while Cleanup efforts are invaluable to reversing the problem, they are unfortunately not enough. Prevention is key! Always make sure that your garbage ends up in a trash can (or, even better, a recycling bin!), and if you see your friends littering, encourage them to consider the immense environmental impact that one small action can make. We all love our city, so let’s do our part to keep its beaches clean!

For more information on Coastal Cleanup, or to get involved, contact the Ocean Conservancy at:

Ocean Conservancy 1300 19th Street, NW 8th Floor Washington, DC 200361300 19th St., NW

Toll-free: 800-519-1541
Main: 202-429-5609

Or visit them online at:

www.oceanconservancy.org.


Written by:

Spike Schwab

Literature Studies

Eugene Lang College