What Color Is Your Parachute? (45 page)

Do you supervise anyone?

I supervise three sales engineers and support technicians.

How long have you been at this job?

Two years.

How did you get into this work?

I started by taking classes in high school and developing an interest in how technology works and different ways to use it. The Internet and various Internet services were big at the time, and the way it all worked together was something that had me wanting to know more.

What do you like about your work?

Interacting with people and constantly adding to my knowledge base. There is always more to learn. I learn something new every day. I also love having the ability to be creative in finding solutions to problems.

What don’t you like about your job?

At times I see people at a hard point of their day. They might be experiencing some issues or outages that can cost a lot of money.

What are the main challenges in this industry?

The main challenges are being better than the next person and separating yourself from the pack. The industry is very competitive and you must work very hard and constantly be on top of your game.

What do you see happening in this field in the next 5 to 10 years?

The sky is the limit and it’s hard to predict exactly where it will go. That said, I could see it continuing toward completely integrated technology for our everyday personal and professional lives.

Have you used social networking in a job search?

No.

Did you have an internship in school? If yes, was it helpful to your employment?

I did an internship while I was in school at Empire, for Empire. I would stay after class and help professors with computer lab setups, lesson setup, and testing, or any other help the professors needed.

What is your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal is to manage a group of creative and innovative staff members who are extremely passionate about what they do.

What advice would you give a young adult who wants to work in your field?

Be passionate about what you do, work hard at it every day, and approach each day with purpose. If you want a job in information technology, do internships to get your foot in the door. Go the extra mile and do certifications for common programs. These are a big help in getting a job.

Outside your job, what are your other interests or hobbies?

Exercise, coaching youth sports, and auto racing.

Additional comments:

I love to learn. I’d be in school my whole life if it paid. Also, the impression that high schools give out—that you have to go to college to get a good job—is just wrong. If someone has an interest in a certain field, they should look into trade schools. I checked out community colleges, but I liked the schedule at my trade school better. Classes were every day, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., year-round. I thought this made better use of my time than a regular college schedule.

Want to hear more? Visit
www.igot2know.com/index.php?videoid=760&partnerid=34
for an interview with Nick. He can be reached at
[email protected]
.

ORGANIC FARM MANAGER

Name:
Molly Bloom        
Age:
28

Job Title:
CSA* manager

Field(s):
Organic, sustainable agriculture

Employer:
Eatwell Farm

Degree(s):
BA, international studies, Macalester College

Cost:
$100,000

Training:
Two years of experience as an apprentice on organic farms. Apprenticeship compensation always included room and produce from the farm, plus a stipend (ranging from $250/month to $900/month).

Salary:
Starting: $11/hour; three to six years’ experience: $13.50/hour

*Community Supported Agriculture, most commonly called “CSA,” is a growing, thirty-year-old movement in which organic farmers sell directly to consumers, forming a unique community and partnership with them. In a CSA, subscribers help support small, regional farms by paying in advance for fresh, organic produce delivered weekly (or, in our case, biweekly) throughout the season or year. Each farm organizes their CSA differently.

What do you do?

I serve as both an office manager for the farm and the go-to person for all CSA members. We have about 1,200 members, and I help them in any way I can, mostly by educating them about how to use the produce we send them and about general farming ideas. I also assist them with any issues that arise with their deliveries or subscription. I edit our weekly newsletter, adding recipes that utilize items we are sending our members on any given week and providing information about how to properly use and store their produce. I update our website and generally try to keep things running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

What are your most repetitive tasks?

I answer the phone and respond to email during most of my workweek, in order to answer customers’, or potential customers’, questions. I also frequently print newsletters and fliers.

Do you supervise anyone?

I directly supervise one employee and co-manage three others.

How long have you been at this job?

Three years.

How did you get into this work?

I spent a summer during college working as an intern on a collective of small, organic farms in Washington State. I immediately fell in love with the work, the people, and the lifestyle. I returned to college, finished, and wandered around for a while before realizing that I really just want to farm. Before this job, I had no business experience. I took this job to learn the office side of farming, and it worked! I have learned a lot.

What do you like about your work?

I love teaching people how to integrate a seasonal, local diet into their busy lives.

What don’t you like about your job?

It does get a bit repetitive, from week to week.

What are the main challenges in this industry?

Jobs are few and far between; most farmers work for themselves and have employees who stick around for years and years. Farming is a career in which it’s notoriously difficult to make a living (though you’ll likely not have to worry about food to feed your family!).

What do you see happening in this field in the next 5 to 10 years?

Sustainable/organic farming is definitely getting more popular. Consumers are learning more about organics and the benefits of buying from local growers, and I see this trend growing bigger and stronger over the next decade.

Have you used social networking in a job search?

Not yet!

What is your ultimate career goal?

One day, I want to own and run a small organic farm of my own.

What advice would you give a young adult who wants to work in your field?

I strongly recommend working as an intern or apprentice on an organic farm in your region of choice. Doing the work is the only way to learn whether or not it’s something you’ll enjoy. I suggest choosing a farm based on the structure of the internship/apprenticeship (what kind of compensation do you need, and is this farm going to accommodate your needs?), what the farm offers (are you interested in orchards? animal husbandry? vegetables? working at farmers’ markets?), and where you want to live. Don’t forget the importance of how you feel about the people who work there, too. Most farms ask interns and volunteers to work with them for a few days to make sure it’s a good personality match. This is important for both the farmers and you. Don’t take an internship that doesn’t fill most of your needs (and if there are some pieces missing, make sure you are comfortable finding those pieces elsewhere).

Outside your job, what are your other interests or hobbies?

I love to read, hike, run, cook, garden, and travel. I also like preserving foods!

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Name:
Dan Schawbel        
Age:
26

Job Title:
Social media specialist / personal branding expert, author of
Me 2.0
, speaker, blogger, syndicated columnist, and magazine publisher

Field(s):
Technology / personal branding

Employer:
EMC Corporation / self

Degree(s):
BS, Marketing, Bentley University

Salary:
At EMC Corporation: Starting: $46,000; three years’ experience: $60,000

What do you do?

For EMC Corporation, my role as a social media specialist is to develop a social media strategy for the company, including using blogs, social networks, new media press releases, and online brand monitoring, as well as training employees on how to use and engage in the social media world. I work across several departments: human resources, public relations, and marketing, and I also support RSA, a division of EMC. Outside of EMC, I’m the author of
Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success
(Kaplan), as well as the owner of two blogs,
PersonalBrandingBlog.com
and
StudentBranding.com
(a branding and career blog for students of all ages). I also publish
Personal Branding Magazine
, write columns for
BusinessWeek
and
Metro US
, speak at colleges and universities, and help individuals build their brands.