Classroom to Career

Sep 26
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College Students: How to Live in Today and Plan for Tomorrow

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From the moment incoming college freshman step onto campus, they enter a world where the expectations are higher. The social scene and comfort zone of high school life are long forgotten, and they must now soak in more information than ever before while laying the groundwork for a successful career post-college.

A U.S. Census report determined that 71 percent of the  19.7 million college undergraduates in the U.S. were working in 2011 and of that number, one in five undergrads were working at least 35 hours a week year-round. Combined with the pressure to have a once-in-a-lifetime college experience, students must quickly learn how to balance it all.

“When you know what you want, you realize that all there is left then is time management. You’ll manage your time to achieve your goals because you clearly know what you’re trying to achieve in your life.”
– Patch Adams

Here are five ways college students can strike a healthy balance between studying, friends and career planning:

  1. Prioritize: You will quickly learn that you can’t do it all, so list in order of importance the items that you need to complete on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Tackle the most important items first to ensure you produce your best quality work.
  2. Manage your calendar: If you didn’t learn this skill in high school, now is the time. Whether it’s a smartphone or a paper calendar, tracking your group meetings, sports practices and internship hours is crucial to staying organized now and in your future career.
  3. Take care of yourself: You’ll likely need to pull an all-nighter at least once, but overall, ensure you’re getting a full night of sleep and eating more than just take-out. When you feel your best, you’ll do your best at work and at school.
  4. Set goals: See your college experience as an opportunity to prepare for the real world in a controlled setting. Set specific and measurable short- and long-term goals, like completing Dardis’ professional training program.
  5. Indulge (within reason): All work and no play will lead to regrets after graduation. Take breaks from studying to cheer at the football game and get a few hours of extra sleep on the weekends, but always keep your focus on your goals for college and beyond.

Living in the present while planning for the future can be a daunting task for any student, but by balancing each aspect of the college experience, young business professionals will enter the real world with the tools they need to succeed.

Photo credit: CollegeDegrees360 via Flickr. 

Aug 29
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Interns Reflect on Summer Success

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The 2014 Dardis Classroom to Career summer internship program came to a close earlier this month, but the impact of this real-world business experience will carry our interns through their entire careers. Many participants completed sales early on in the process and stretched that momentum through the summer. For others, they faced and overcame challenges to learn lessons they can apply in their first job and beyond.

Kendall Hendrix, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, attributes her offer for a full-time position with a financial services company after graduation to the Dardis Academy.

“Dardis was the sole reason this door was opened to me and is the reason I was able to further refine my interests and ambitions as a professional and narrow down what I want to do in my career,” she said.

She attributes her success to understanding that she’s not only selling clothing – ultimately, she was selling herself as an accomplished professional.  Kendall encourages other college students to seriously consider the Classroom to Career internship program regardless of their college major.

 “Aim high and don’t underestimate the doors this internship will open for you,” she said. “If you are putting your 100 percent best effort in every single day, you will see the results without fail.”

University of Northern Iowa junior Morgan Maiers considers her most successful sales experience with Dardis on a day that she actually made zero sales. While she had meetings set up, none ended in a sale, leaving her initially discouraged before she decided to search for other prospects on foot.

“I label this as a success because I could have easily given up at that point, but instead I pressed on and gained future prospects that I made sales to in the future,” Morgan said.

Brian Thompson, a senior at the University of Chicago, began his Dardis internship worried that he wouldn’t make any corporate or personal sales. But only a few weeks later, Brian was able to secure a meeting with a high-level executive at a software company. He had low expectations on his potential return, but to Brian’s surprise, the orders kept coming in, reaching 50 items for a total corporate sale worth $5,000.

“Sales is hard work, and I heard “no” a lot through the summer,” Brian said. “But I learned that every now and then, I will hear a “yes,” and that makes it all worthwhile.  Dardis helped teach me that I should never quit before the miracle.”

Congratulations to all of our 2014 Classroom to Career interns!
We are proud to have you a part of the Dardis family.

We would like to especially congratulation our top three overall sellers based on total sales. Together, they sold more than $35,000!

Cameron James, University of Iowa, Sophomore, Team Iowa: $15,655
Fran Campbell, University of Kansas, Graduate Student, Team Kansas: $10,940
Trevor Morlock, College of St. Scholastica, Junior, Team Minnesota: $8,603

2014 Top Sellers

Aug 15
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Dardis Interns Make Connections To Succeed

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“The more people I know and have a relationship with, the more opportunities I have.”

Cameron James, a University of Iowa junior, has already learned the key to success through the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program and his future career. As a member of Team Iowa, Cam continues to use this summer experience and the skills he learned in the Dardis Academy to form new connections and make the most of current relationships.

As a former intern for a local financial services company, he knew that many of his colleagues would benefit from the quality Dardis professional clothing, so he made a visit to his old office.

“I’ve been able to be successful selling a lot of clothing solely because of the relationships I’ve built with the people there,” he said.

For Harmony Kapp, a Missouri State University sophomore, perseverance and organization is crucial to building quality business relationships.

“Successful territory management is being on top of things and sticking to a specific schedule,” she said, especially with many busy professionals not responding to emails or voicemails.

Western Illinois University senior Giuliano Rizzi follows that same mentality when approaching his territory of Illinois.

“During the internship, the one thing I learned about managing your territory is that you have to put yourself out there and talk with as many people as possible,” he said. “The more people and companies you talk to, the more you are going to succeed.”

Giuliano has had to address his fear of public speaking, and through the internship, he has been able to overcome this challenge to be successful now and later in the business world.

“With the confidence that I gained, I was able to meet and talk to people that I never would have talked to if it wasn’t for the internship,” he said.

Our Dardis interns are working hard this summer to connect with new professionals and make sales while kick-starting their careers. Stay tuned for a blog post highlighting our overall 2014 sales leaders!
Jul 25
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Dardis Interns Learn to Manage Their Territory

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Knowing your market, identifying the key players and finding the right opportunities to explore represent key factors for any successful business professional, and our Dardis interns are learning firsthand how to effectively manage their territories.

Angelique Punt, a soon-to-be senior at Augustana College, oversees the Quad Cities area and through the Classroom to Career internship program, she has expanded her territory into spaces she never thought imaginable. She recently met with an executive at a local advertising firm that she was introduced to through a friend.

“Knowing your clients and what they do in their day-to-day life will help make a successful sale,” she said.

When learning how to manage their territories, interns have to keep an open mind about the key players in the territory, just like in the business world. Logan Masenthin, a University of Kansas senior, said that she had to stop putting her work in a box and branch out. She recently had an experience where she unexpectedly made a sale in her territory.

“I made a sale to a neighbor and local businessman on the same day that I made a sale to an important lawyer in downtown Kansas City,” Masenthin said. “I learned that different sorts of people in the city can be interested in what I am doing.”

St. Scholastica senior Trevor Morlock has already learned that a little creativity can lead to making the most out of his territory.  He recently visited his local Chamber of Commerce and used their directory to set up appointments with individuals he may not have met otherwise. Territory management still comes with its challenges like rejection, but with the skills learned in the Dardis Academy, Morlock and other interns are prepared to persevere.

“You have to overcome those challenges, ignore them and keep moving on because sooner than later, if you keep pushing forward, the challenge will turn into a triumph,” he said.

Stay tuned to our blog for more success stories from our interns who continue to effectively management their territories!

July Weekly Sales Leaders
Congratulations to our July weekly sales leaders with an additional congrats to Fran Campbell of Team Kansas. She earned more than $6,000 in week nine!

Dardis_July

Week 6:  Kaelee Wittrock, $2,070
University of Iowa, Senior/Graduate, Team Iowa

Week 7:  Dylan Vidinich, $1,105
Illinois State University, Junior, Team Illinois

Week 8:  Cameron James, $2,830
University of Iowa, Sophomore, Team Iowa

Week 9:  Fran Campbell, $6,313
University of Kansas, Graduate Student, Team Kansas

Photo credit: 23am.com via Flickr

Jun 27
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Dardis Academy Interns Find Their Way

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Only a few weeks ago, our Classroom to Career interns were hitting the books in preparation for finals on their college campuses, but now, they’re managing their own schedules and making sales full time. This transition can be daunting for any student, but with the skills-based training through Dardis Academy, interns already have the tools they need to succeed.

“The Dardis Academy prepared me for this entrepreneurial experience by giving me the tools and communication practices that are used by the best salespeople in the world,” recent grad Haley Fischer said. “It gave me confidence in the method we use to reach our potential customers and allowed me to narrow my focus.”

While connecting with new people to make sales in her territory of Northern Illinois has been the biggest challenge for Fischer, she’s thankful for the support of the Recruitment Managers to guide each intern along the way.

For future Grand View University sophomore Luke Schroeder, the key to effectively managing the transition starts with his routine.

“I treat this internship as I would any other full-time job including getting up early every day, not being able to hang out with friends all day, and keeping an actual schedule so I can manage my time precisely,” he said.

Schroeder, whose territory encompasses the Dubuque area, continues to learn how to be patient through the ups and downs of the sales world.  Thankfully for him, he’s already formed a solid network that he can lean on this summer and beyond.

“I could have never imagined how many new connections I would have three weeks into this internship,” he said.

June Weekly Sales Leaders
One month into the 2014 Dardis Classroom to Career internship program, our interns have already logged an impressive amount of sales. Congratulations to our June weekly sales leaders:

Dardis June Sales Leaders

Week 1:  Dylan Vidinich, $2,730 weekly sales
Illinois State University, Junior, Team Illinois

Week 2:  Cameron James, $5,755 weekly sales
University of Iowa, Sophomore, Team Iowa

Week 3:  Ryan Gardner, $5,715 weekly sales
Creighton University, Sophomore, Team Nebraska

Week 4:  Trevor Morlock, $2182 weekly sales
College of St. Scholastica, Junior, Team Minnesota

Week 5:  Ty Flood, $1,855 weekly sales
University of Northern Iowa, Junior, Team Iowa

Photo credit: Terrapin Flyer via Flickr

May 30
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Dardis Academy: The Solid Foundation for Career Success

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As many college students turned in their final projects and exams to mark the end of the semester, another set of students hit the classroom once again even after their exams were complete. Nearly 175 students participated in the two Dardis Academy training sessions in May held in Chicago and Des Moines. Designed as an application-based, skills-drive training, this one-week intensive course prepares students for the upcoming Dardis Classroom to Career internship program and beyond.

Dardis1While thousands of young people enter the workforce every year, research shows that most college grads do not possess the skills that companies look for in candidates. A National Association of Colleges and Employers survey of more than 200 employers shows that the vast majority of employers look for candidates who are team players, problem solvers and can plan, organize and prioritize their work.  It’s the soft skills – not the textbook knowledge – that really sets candidates apart, which is what we focus on in the Academy.

We tailor the Academy based on these effective adult learning methods:

  • Interactive coaching from professional instructors
  • Strong role modeling
  • Individual practice against real-world challenges

“During the Academy, we had extensive training on presentation skills and selling techniques. I learned a lot about how I present myself, and this has already helped me outside of the internship when I’m making presentations for class, as well as talking to people in a business setting.”
– Jon S., 2012 Dardis Academy Graduate, University of Iowa

Students receive more than $6,000 worth of executive training from seasoned business professional focused on crucial topics such as:Dardis3

  • Presentation skills
  • Professional image skills
  • Selling techniques
  • Closing and negotiation skills
  • Business etiquette
  • Telephone/voicemail/email etiquette
  • Overcoming objections and handling questions
  • Product features and benefits
  • Time and territory management

Armed with these practical skills, students are prepared to succeed in our summer internship program and, most importantly, in their careers as they use their business and sales skills to first get the job and then excel in their future positions.

Apr 25
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Find Your Leaders of Tomorrow with the Dardis Career Partner Program

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Thousands of college seniors toss their graduation caps each spring ready to hit the job market, forcing employers to sift through a saturated pool of prospective entry-level employees without knowing if the recent grads have the real-life skills to back up their degrees.

Successful companies invest in the next generation of professionals, and through the Dardis Career Partner Program, we can connect you with young employees in our Classroom to Career internship program that are poised to advance your organization into the future.

Students in the Classroom to Career internship program complete formal, skills-based training through the Dardis Academy where they learn important presentation skills, professional image skills, business etiquette, selling techniques and more. Once complete, they spend a summer putting their skills into action selling quality, professional clothing in their communities. The program serves as a crucial opportunity for students to gain real-life, professional experience that will bridge the gap from the college classroom to the business world.

“A partnership with Dardis is an innovative way to reach some of the most driven, achievement oriented and brightest students in the country.”
– Greg Dardis, CEO & President

As a participant in the Dardis Career Partner Program, companies can send a representative to attend the full Dardis Academy training session, allowing them to interact with the students, track their progress throughout the summer and reconnect with them to offer a future position at their company.

Career Partners have full access to Classroom to Career program graduates through an alumni database of resumes, and Dardis also maintains a job posting section on our website exclusively for Career Partners. We communicate with Career Partners throughout the year to connect you with quality candidates that we believe would be a good match for your organization.

Other benefits include:

  • Marketing of your brand
  • Access to student assessments
  • Log-in to our alumni database
  • Invitation to networking events
  • Weekly newsletter
  • Placement assistance and recommendations

Career Partners have unprecedented access to proven, motivated young professionals that represent the best of the best. Dardis’ first partners include Cottingham & Butler and GreatAmerica Financial Services. We continue to seek new partners ready to work with the business leaders of tomorrow at the upcoming Dardis Academy that begins May 13 in Chicago.

To learn more about the Dardis Career Partner program and to register, visit www.dardisacademy.com/career-partner-program.

Photo credit: Maryland GovPics via Flickr

Mar 28
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Millennials: The Leaders of Tomorrow

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For years, the Dardis family of companies has been educating future leaders and giving both young adults and experienced professionals the tools to rise above the competition. In the Classroom to Career internship program, we focus our efforts on honing the skills and experience level of college students – young professionals and members of the millennial generation.

This unique and much-analyzed generation bring unique qualities into the business world, and in a recent Huffington Post article, Dr. Tim Elmore, president of the organization Growing Leaders, provides recommendations for these young professionals on how to be successful in the job market:

Balance confidence with teachability.
Research from a variety of employment sources reveal that 76 percent of young employees believe “my boss can learn a lot from me.” That may be true, but any hint of arrogance in the interview may repel a Baby Boomer host. In the interview, know your value and strengths, but communicate a teachable spirit that you want to learn a lot from your potential employer.

Balance creativity with cooperation.
Today, 83 percent of new graduates are looking for a place where “my creativity is valued.” A full two out of three want to “invent their own position at work.” While that is understandable, your new boss may value your helping the company with their current ideas first. Let them know you’ve got ideas, but you’re hungry to help with theirs as well.

Balance listening with initiative.
Spend plenty of time on the organization’s website and learn all you can. Find out who the key leaders are, and greet them by name when you see them. In the job interview, answer questions clearly and candidly, but then, inquire if it is okay to ask the interviewer a few questions, as well. This usually is impressive. Pose questions that show you’ve gotten acquainted with their mission. Ask about the future. Embody the values of the organization if possible, demonstrating you’ll fit right in.

With real world experience from Dardis, millennials have the opportunity to strike the right balance in their careers and evolve into strong leaders that mentor the generations to come.

To read more of Elmore’s recommendations, click here.

Photo credit: itupictures via Flickr

Mar 21
0

5 Ways to Make Your Spring Break Count

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It’s the middle of the semester. You’re cramming for mid-terms, while balancing an on-campus job and extracurricular activities. Spring break is just around the corner, and you’re ready to unwind on a sandy beach or at home with a Netflix marathon.

It may be tempting to use that welcomed break from the daily grind to completely step away from your long-term goals, but with a few extra days, you can take deliberate steps to furthering your future career and even have time to spare.

Here are five ways you can make this spring break count:

Apply for the Classroom to Career summer internship
If you haven’t already, visit the Dardis Academy website and learn all about our summer 2014 internship program, which combines executive-level training with real world experience to give you a competitive edge in the job market. Check out the first-hand testimonials and be sure to contact any of our Recruitment Managers with questions. Ensure you apply by our priority deadline of May 1!

Revamp your resume
The rest of your semester is sure to keep you busy, so spend your down time fine-tuning your resume. Add in your latest work and volunteer experience and review each section carefully, ensuring the formatting best displays your information and no typos distract from your accomplishments.

Volunteer your time
In addition to the inherent importance of donating your time to a worthwhile non-profit organization, many employers like to see that you’re actually using your skills and committing to something bigger than yourself. Good with numbers? Tutor at a local elementary school. Handy with tools? Spend a day with Habitat for Humanity. You won’t regret it.

Look ahead to the future
Take this opportunity to sit back and evaluate your short- and long-term goals and identify companies that interest you. Write down a list of key words such as skills and job titles to use when starting your job search, and complete a self-assessment like StrengthsFinder to get in-tune with your individual strengths.

Expand your network
Reach out to family friends, relatives or even professors to schedule lunches or coffee breaks to express your career goals and make valuable connections that will surely benefit you in the years to come. Think outside the box and research business leaders that may be looking for an opportunity to volunteer their time with an aspiring employee – you!

 Photo credit: Tulane Public Relations via Flickr

Mar 14
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Dardis Classroom to Career: Just the Beginning

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As we look forward to the May 1 application deadline for our 2014 summer internship program, our Recruitment Managers are sprinting to the finish line, spreading the Dardis mission across the Midwest and beyond to prospective interns.  At career fairs, information sessions and individual meetings, they speak about our executive-level training program, the value of business experience and even the opportunity for interns to win a trip to Mexico.

Each of these pieces adds value to our Classroom to Career program, which continues to educate and propel college students into successful careers. But our internship is just the beginning for Classroom to Career alums. The tools and skills that students gain through our program impacts not only their job search post-college, but also the opportunities they have after they’ve landed their first job.

Dardis alums can rely on the professional skills and practical experiences they gain through Dardis as they advance into management roles and take on new responsibilities. The values of hard work and a commitment to excellence will make them strong and fair leaders. Our internship program is more than just selling clothes – it’s molding a business professional that can succeed and make a difference in any field, both today and years down the road.

The connections that Dardis interns make during their summer experience help them build a network quicker than their peers, which can open doors for them at any point in the future. A thorough, well-executed presentation as a Dardis intern can lead to a job opportunity or even a recommendation in a later season of life.

The Dardis experience serves as a gateway to limitless opportunities and success for young adults in a crowded job market – something that our former interns don’t take for granted.

“Learning the skills in the Academy and then seeing success as a result is huge,” said Ben B., a 2012 Dardis Academy graduate. “Not only for a confidence booster, but also for paving the way for the rest of my career. This is the real thing. Real life. Real world. Real business experience.”

Photo credit: by tableatny via Flickr

Contact Dardis today to learn more. Contact Us