It's December 12, 2012. 12-12-12. There's never been a better day than today to present Graduate Career Services' "The 12 Days of Break Challenge." Take the challenge and maximize your winter break!
Watch 12 episodes of your favorite TV show.
- After your first semester as an MBA, take some time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate
- Schedule specific times to do career work during your break; don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today!
Connect with 11 new people.
- This is a season of giving. So, connect with people based on what you can give.
- Connections are made in many ways: events, volunteer activities, LinkedIn, alumni events, friends and family. Go in to each looking for common ground upon which to build.
Identify 10 companies that don’t come to campus.
- Many great firms come to Kelley, but opportunities shouldn’t end there.
- Conduct research to identify 10 companies that don’t recruit at Kelley. Ensure your understanding of the industry/function by identifying competitors, growth opportunities, and risks.
Attend 9 holiday events.
- Holidays are a time for family get‐togethers, alumni events, and parties. Each offers you an opportunity to connect or reconnect with people you may be able to help or vice versa.
- Having too much or too little focus on the job may cause you to miss opportunities right in front of you. Read these tips on connecting at social events.
Learn the 8 secrets of success.
- In just 3 minutes, learn the 8 secrets of success from Richard St. John.
Spend $7 on coffee with a contact.
- Invite someone to join you for coffee. Perhaps a second-year MBA, alum, or mentor with whom you have already met, just to say thank you. Or, you might invite a Kelley prospective who reached out this semester.
- Focusing on what you can do for them, not what they can do for you, is a great way to build a relationship.
Spend 6 minutes on Wordle.
- What does your written communication say about you? Have fun, copy and paste a writing sample into Wordle to see what words stand out.
Answer 5 questions on InterviewStream.
- A video is worth a 1000 words. Use InterviewStream to examine your interviewing presence. (Once logged in, click “Select Interview” then “choose this interview” below “General Interview.”)
- Refine your non‐verbal presence, then focus on tailoring your responses to the company and culture.
Take 4 minutes to Elf Yourself.
- If you don’t crack a smile with this one, you’re definitely not in the holiday spirit!
Connect with 3 former colleagues.
- Don’t forget to look back, while you’re moving forward! The many people who have helped you get where you are today want to know how you’re doing. It is your responsibility to keep them up to date.
- Read this article which highlights the value of staying in touch.
Take 2 minutes to watch this video.
- How do you follow‐up with new contacts?
- Take 2 minutes to find out the value of following‐up and how to be memorable.
Create 1 marketing plan.
- Just as you would create a marketing plan for a new idea, you should create your own personal marketing plan.
- Putting your “Points of Parity” and “Points of Difference” on paper helps you articulate your story. Use your own format or ask your GCS coach for a template.