internship

Mar 30
1

Four Years: How to Make it Count

By | Career Advice | No Comments

From the first day of freshman year, eager college students choose their classes, major and more in anticipation of their final goal – graduation. But many students don’t look past the commencement ceremony to see the real world, which is not defined by term papers and final exams.

To make their college experience count, students need to focus not only on earning their diploma, but also setting the stage for a career when they transition from student to alumni. Here are five ways to make the most of this unique time:

Think long-term
College may be your main focus now, but there is life (and lots of it) post-college to plan for. Enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime college experience but make sure you devote time and energy into professional organizations and activities that will serve you long after your days on campus.

Build your resume
Just because you’re bogged down with a full course load doesn’t mean that you can’t start investing time into opportunities that will build out your resume. Internships are a must for any student, but you can also use volunteer work to gain invaluable experience that will set you apart in the job market.

Set goals now
It’s never too early to set short- and long-term career goals. Make sure they’re SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) and posted somewhere that you see every day. By understanding where you want to go in the next year, five years and ten years, you can make choices that best position you to reach your goals.

Make connections
Professional networking begins on the first day of class as you interact with other aspiring young professionals and faculty. Strike up thoughtful conversation where you share your career goals, and seek out professors with a business background that matches your interests. Build your network early, so you can also reap the benefits early.

Be resourceful
Colleges recognize the need to prepare students for a career after college, so most schools provide valuable support services to set you up for success. Take advantage of these free opportunities – such as resume reviews, etiquette dinners and interview coaching – to bolster your real-world skills prior to graduation.

By setting your eyes on your future career while simultaneously working toward your degree, your college experience will lead to more than just a paper diploma. Use these four years to learn and grow in these key areas, and you will build a solid foundation for a successful professional life.

Jun 27
0

Dardis Academy Interns Find Their Way

By | Classroom to Career | No Comments

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

Jan 24
0

Recruitment Manager Spotlight: Lisa DeMar

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

Recruitment Manager Lisa DeMar spreads the message about Dardis Academy in the state of Michigan, showing students that the Classroom to Career internship program provides the tools, training and real world experience to succeed in all areas of life. In our latest Recruitment Manager Spotlight, she explains why Dardis Academy is on the cutting edge:

Why should students spend time now focusing on their future careers?
It is so important for students to take full advantage of every opportunity they can during their college career to better themselves for their first steps into the real world. If they don’t take advantage of it, the student next to them will!

What is the greatest benefit of the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program?
The competitive advantage the student gains in multiple facets of life. They will walk away with excellent communication and presentation tools that will benefit them in many areas of their life, as well as the confidence of knowing that they have taken that extra step toward a successful future.

In one word, what’s Dardis all about?
Cutting edge. (Well, I guess that’s two!)

What is one piece of career advice you give to college students?
As you enter the workforce, know that there are hundreds of other equally qualified graduates vying for that same entry level job with the same tenacity. Knowing you have taken those extra steps to better yourself and your resume will give you the confidence in the interview process to stand out. The applicant who cannot articulate why they are the better candidate in the interview will not be getting the job offer!

What can interns expect to learn in the Dardis Academy?
In the Dardis Academy, the student will gain essential communication skills to succeed in life. Whether the student has modest or extravagant future goals, having the necessary skills in communication, presentation and professional image will give that student the confidence to succeed!

Why are you passionate about the Dardis mission?
Dardis has given students, at such a critical time in their lives, the opportunity to develop and attain high level communication skills and self-management tools. Obtaining these skills and having the ability to apply them in a real-world setting is crucial for overall success in life.

How can students contact you for more information?
Students in in the great state of Michigan can learn more about this exceptional opportunity by contacting me at Lisa@dardisinc.com or calling 269-330-3271.

Sep 27
0

Find Your Inspiration At Work

By | Leadership | No Comments

Successful business leaders need a strong financial background, leadership skills, the courage to take risks and a strong moral compass, but the truly successful leaders boast one additional quality – inspiration.

Inspiration looks different for each individual, but all inspired leaders are intrinsically motivated by something greater than him or herself.  Gender and age play an important role, as well, based on a recent survey of LinkedIn members.  The survey showed that women younger than 29 tend to feel less inspired in general than their male peers, but women older than 65 feeling considerably more inspired than men.

LinkedIn went one step further too add context to these results, asking 60 LinkedIn members the simple question, “What inspires you?” The answers may be inspiring in themselves:

  • Richard Branson, Founder at Virgin Group
    “My professional inspiration has no separation from my personal inspiration:  it is people who will stop at nothing to make a positive difference to other people’s lives.”
  • Naomi Simson, Founder, RedBalloon
    “Tell me I ‘cannot’ do, be or have something – and that is the surest way to inspire me into action.”
  • Jim Whitehurst, CEO at Red Hat
    “Most of us are inspired by our family, friends, and colleagues–as I am–but the thing that most inspires me is problem solving.”
  • Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Twitter, Inc.
    “Reading has been my favorite pastime since my earliest memory, and in my adult years books have become some of my greatest inspirations.  I read more than 200 books a year, and most of these books are non-fiction.”
  • Steven J. Thompson, CEO at Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Senior Vice President Johns Hopkins Medicine
    “You need to do more than plod along that safe and known track.  You need to be ready to switch tracks, and to inspire people to follow you when you do.”

At Dardis, we encourage our clients and our students to find their inspiration in their current jobs, as well as their future careers.  We are in the business of training current and future leaders, and our most successful candidates are inspired by what they do and see every day.  Our training through Dardis Communications and hands-on sales experience through the Dardis Academy provides a solid base for clients and students, but motivation and the drive to succeed stems from inspiration.

Spend a few minutes today thinking about what inspires you.  What cause are you strongly connected to?  Which leaders, family members or friends have left an impression on you?  What gets you excited at work?

By identifying these motivating factors, you will be on your way to an inspired (and successful) career.

Photo credit: Nimish Gogri

Contact Dardis today to learn more. Contact Us