10 in 5: Federal Job Search Series

Hello, my name is Chris Ramos and I am currently a junior management major here at Virginia Tech.  This past year I have been working alongside Career Services in trying to inform and encourage Virginia Tech students in pursuing jobs and internships with the Federal Government. My story starts with humble beginnings, but by the end of it you will see the strides that Virginia Tech has made in helping its students pursue careers in Public Service.

Last summer, I was appointed as a Federal Service Student Ambassador by the Partnership for Public Service (aka The Partnership).  The Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated towards increasing the interest of college students (and other young people) to work for our government. They fund the Federal Service Student Ambassadorship and offer ambassadors any support they might need in the efforts of helping their peers to find government jobs (I would be remiss if I did not take this moment to thank my wonderful Partnership coach Ms. Jennifer Close). After receiving training by the Partnership, I went back to school with the mindset of helping my fellow Hokies work for our country.              

During one humid day in August, I walked over to Career Services to explain my ambassadorship and how I am there to help. It turns out that going to Career Services was one of the best decisions I made. I met with a wonderful lady named Mrs. Claire Childress. She immediately understood the potential opportunities that were possible for not only Career Services and I, but for the University as well. We agreed to conduct meetings weekly and to start planning efforts that would help Virginia Tech students find public service employment opportunities. So Claire and I met weekly and she asked another wonderful young lady, Ms. Kristin Eicholtz to join in on our meetings. The three of us continued to meet weekly and we now had something going. The biggest goal that I wanted to accomplish for fall semester was to get President Steger to sign Virginia Tech on to become a Call to Serve University. By being a call to serve university, Virginia Tech is making the affirmation that it is committed to helping educate and encourage its students to go for public service employment opportunities. Claire, Kristin, and I worked very hard for the entire semester on petitioning Dr. Steger. Another wonderful lady in Mrs. Donna Ratcliffe, the Director of Career Services, joined our efforts as well. Little did we all know that our teamwork was helping to establish a foundation of something potentially great.                                                

Although it took all of fall semester and a part of spring, we were able to successfully get President Steger’s signature which made Virginia Tech a Call to Serve institution. It was largely through the efforts of Mrs. Donna Ratcliffe that we were able to accomplish this. I cannot thank her enough. Next, came the planning of setting up the education of students about federal jobs. It was while I was working on this that I had the pleasure of meeting two truly great individuals, Mrs. Mary Ann Cole and Mr. Jim Gresham. Mary Ann helped to market the federal seminar series that I was hosting with Career Services to hundreds of students within our campus. Jim offered me great advice for how I should present and offered particular points of interests that students might ask. The seminar series that was held on every Wednesday from March 24^th until April 21^st was a success. Over 60 students expressed interest in Public Service and the room was close to full for most of the presentations. We also got positive feedback from many of the attendees. If it wasn’t for the efforts of the people aforementioned, none of this would have happened.         

As you can see, Career Services and I have started something new and exciting. We have established a foundation and plan to only move forward. I am truly grateful for Donna, Claire, Kristin, Mary Ann, and Jim. Their collaboration with me was fantastic and they were truly a pleasure to work with. We are a team and I hope that we can continue our success together. I am positive that each and every one of us is committed to helping our fellow Hokies achieve our motto of “Ut Prosim” (That I may serve) by helping them to find and achieve opportunities to work for our great country. May we continue to always serve together.

Chris Ramos, Jr. Managment, Pamplin College of Business

My name is Chris Ramos and I am currently a junior here at Virginia Tech. This past summer I had an internship with the National nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Awesome name for a government agency right? Think of the look on my friends’ faces when I told them that I worked with radioactive material and dismantling nuclear weapons. This was a joke of course (Did I have you going too?).

In actuality, I worked in the Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO), in other words, there IT department (when you work for the federal government, you learn acronyms pretty quickly). I’m writing this essay to tell you about my experience of working for the federal government. I hope that by telling you my experience, it will lead you to pursue a job or internship in public service. Well let’s get to it then shall we! My time at NNSA was absolutely fantastic. The memories from working there are ones that I will never forget. Each day something new and exciting was going on. From attending hearings on Capitol Hill regarding the NNSA to winning an office (go big or go home!) Hawaiian t-shirt contest, there was always something to look forward to.

Now, I wasn’t a big fan of waking up at 5:30am (ouch!) to be at work by 7:30am every day. However, because of the work given to me, I felt excited to get up and go to work, because I felt I was doing something meaningful. Probably the most important thing that I received from my internship was great mentorship and the establishment of my network. I had two of the most incredible bosses anyone could have. I felt excited to work and learn from them each and every day. Also, because of them, new doors of opportunity are opening up for me now.

It’s funny how such a wonderful job was obtained by just taking the time to apply for it.

A government job can provide an opportunity and experience like mine. Plus while you’re working, you’ll have the honor of knowing that you are serving your country though public service. If you would like to have an opportunity like the one that I had, please come out to the seminar series that I’m hosting “10 in 5: Steps to a Federal Job”, and I will do my best to help you obtain that opportunity to work for our country.

I’ll leave you with one last question. Your fellow Hokie, What better way is there to adhere to our motto of “Ut Prosim” then by serving your country through public service?

Chris Ramos

Ut Prosim

For me, an internship was essential to getting my job.  My junior year, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to work after graduation, but I knew I wanted to find a company that would take care of me and had opportunities that would challenge me in my career field.  Therefore, I decided not to get just “any internship”, but instead find an opportunity that would be most beneficial to my future career and give me direct experience with a company I would want to work for.  How did I do it?  Well, 1) with a lot of research online reviewing various companies and management-related jobs, 2) assessing my career goals and interests, and 3) leveraging my network and contacts, I was able to land a great internship at a management consulting firm.  To me, it was a dream internship that aligned well with my background and experience and would give me a good idea of what management consulting was all about.  It also helped that it was with a great company acclaimed for being one of the best places to launch a career as well as one of the best places to work.  These attributes were important to me because I knew as an employee this company would be investing into me as much as I would be with them; so there was some long-term viability with this opportunity. 

Fortunately, the internship turned out to be as beneficial and successful as I had hoped and it allowed me to land a job with this company post graduation.  Not only was I able to test out and get actual career experience, but I was able to turn the internship into a career opportunity and reduce my senior year “job-hunting” stress.  Even though I knew I could return to the company I interned for post-graduation, I didn’t take myself out of the job search and interviewing process—I wanted to be sure I knew all the other opportunities out there and make sure I was making the best career decision for me.  So, just like when I was trying to find my internship I followed the same rigorous and serious process to job-searching.  Again, I researched companies coming to campus, went to career fairs, signed-up and executed interviews, and even made company visits to learn more about other opportunities.  The entire experience helped me choose the right path for me, but it was because of the planning prior to senior year that aligned myself with the career path I wanted.  It is never too late to start planning and especially now it is important to start yourself down the right path want to do something you love. Some other ways to get experience or begin your grad-school prep would be to volunteer at an organization within your field, talk to your friend’s parents, advisors, professors, and other industry professionals about experience, and do your research now. 

The post-graduation search for a “career” continues! So far, I am trying to enjoy this period of time; while I am at a crossroad in my life–caught between college and the real world.  The conundrum lies with what I should be feeling and doing right now as I make it through this process.  Should I be feeling—anxious, overwhelmed, overjoyed, stressed, happy, excited? Well, for me, I could say all of the above. 

I just got back from my very first “On-site” interview; a.k.a. second-round interviews. This turned out to be a huge learning experience for me.  I left Thursday after my 11 a.m. class, having to skip my two afternoon classes in order to drive-up to Washington, D.C.  The difficult part for me is the fact that I don’t like to miss class—I know, weird! But, I knew it would be important for me to really try to find the right company, job, or place after graduation and going on an on-site visit is the best way to get a true feel for a company.  So, I had to make it to D.C. by 7 p.m. Thursday for a pre-interview dinner reception the company was holding for the new recruits.  Turns out, what I thought was going to be enough time to drive from Tech to Fairfax to catch the metro and then metro into the city, was a very narrow time frame given all the delays and traffic.  Fortunately however, I made it to my hotel in downtown D.C. by 6 p.m.—just enough time to freshen up before walking to the dinner reception. 

At the dinner, I met a young employee at the company who happened to have graduated from VA Tech in May—she was going to be my buddy from the next day of interviews; making sure I get to the different locations and on time.  The dinner was unexpectedly classy—it was at a very nice (expensive!) Italian restaurant a block from my hotel and they served us dishes from a pre-selected menu.  As a newbie to this recruiting process, I was not expecting a full meal, but instead a variety of finger-foods and drinks, so it was a very delicious surprise! The dinner lasted for about 3 hours—but it was relaxed and a lot of fun.  I returned to my hotel exhausted, but had to read a lot of interview packets/information the company gave me in a padfolio to prepare for the next day.  I finally went to bed around midnight, only to get up early for another big day!

My next day of interviews started at 9 a.m. with breakfast and a company presentation.  I met another girl interviewing with the company in the hotel lobby as we both check-out of the hotel that morning.  We walked across the street to the building and managed to make it half-way to the opening presentation—I say half-way because we literally got stuck in the stairwell on route to breakfast.  What happened was the building was under construction and the elevators were really slow, so we decided to take the stairs to save time and ensure we would make it to the presentation on-time. But, if it weren’t for the silly security locking mechanisms on all the doors per each floor—we would have made it on time! It was so embarrassing, the girl and I called our buddies and every number we had to try to get them to open one of the doors—but no one picked-up!?  Luckily, another man was stuck in the same situation so he banged on one of the doors and a receptionist heard him and freed us from the stairwell! Everyone of course laughed and thought it was the funniest thing—so it kind of broke the ice for the day and was something funny to laugh about. 

Following the morning presentation and breakfast, I went through a series of one-on-one interviews.  I met with three different people from different levels in the company and talked about their expertise area as well as mine and my resume.  Then, lunch was at another very nice restaurant in the city with my buddy and another VT alum.  Then, I was whisked back to the office for a closing interview (way more intense than the morning interviews!) and I was done!

The day literally went as fast as I described it, from one thing to another, but it was a very positive experience.  The on-site interview allowed me to soak up many cultural aspects and company characteristics I wouldn’t have been able to from their website or other interactions.  I was able to get a feel for the people in the office, the office itself, the atmosphere within the city, the daily interactions amongst co-workers, as well as meet many diverse employees, which helped put the company in perspective for me as to where I would fit.  However, it also lead me to feel more pressure with the impending decision making I will have make soon and the dose of reality I received furthers my stress and excitement daily!

Therefore, I would highly recommend every senior make the effort to have an on-site visit with each company they are pursuing in order to better judge its merit for your future. 

Senior year began like every other year.  I attended my classes, got organized, bought my textbooks, and even started my readings.  Everything about college was going off without a hitch and I finally felt like I mastered the “back-to-school” routine. However, what I was not prepared for was Business Horizons.  What I was not prepared for was thinking beyond college and considering a career.

The career fair snuck up on me this year.  I was caught off guard by the early date and resume drop deadlines on Hokies4Hire.  Suddenly, I was being forced to really think beyond my coursework school assignments and instead how my coursework applies directly to the “real world.” I began to ask myself, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Because asking this question allowed me to narrow down the companies to visit at Business Horizons and also gave me a better idea of what lies ahead post-graduation.  I had to begin to consider my future options, the important stakeholders of my decisions, possible opportunities, as well as my own needs/desires following graduation.  None of these factors are easy to identify and match-up with one decision!

Even though, I am a highly planned and future-oriented person, I am still reeling with considering life after college.  I have been doing a slew of interviews (5 in one week!) and have been fortunate to receive call backs and invitations to company on-site visits and interviews.  However, I am still feeling uncertain of my own path, what I really want to be “doing” with my life.  Originally, I planned to take a year off after college to teach English in Japan, but the way the economy has tanked recently has made me truly consider putting off such plans.  I’ve seemed to have traded-in my dreams of fun and travel for that of a dark suit and office space, literally overnight. 

But, it all depends on your outlook.  Getting a job after graduation is not a bad decision, many of my colleagues are doing just that and are eager to do so.  I was too until my internship this summer gave me a heaping dose and glimpse of the next 40-50 years of my life working!  Now, I’m struggling to decide what is best for me.  I would recommend to anyone else grappling with the same situation to do your homework.  I am still pursuing both avenues post-graduation: teaching English in Japan or working full-time.  I am researching top-ranked companies that fit my requirements and desires as well as attending company info sessions and interviews.  I am keeping my options open and not narrowing down my path just yet.  I’m hoping one day soon, the right company or decision will become apparent with how the future unfolds, but only time will tell.

Melissa

Hello!  I’m Amanda Rogers from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  I am a junior at Virginia Tech and loving being a Hokie!  I’m a Statistics major, leadership minor and a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.  I’ve been a work study at Career Services since my freshman year and really enjoy helping out at the front desk.  I love art, traveling, reading and Hokie football!

Hi! I’m Melissa Brown, from Manassas, Virginia.  I am a senior at Virginia Tech and majoring in Management and Communication.  I look forward to graduating this May and will pursue a career in management consulting following a year spent teaching English in Japan.  Currently, I serve as the Director of Hospitality for the Pamplin Leadership Development Team as well as a CommLab coach.  I enjoy reading, traveling, running, and movies. 

We hope your semester is going well. We are branching out in new ways to try and reach students to promote events through Career Services.

We also are going to have weekly bloggers that will tell you about their job search process, grad school search, life at Virginia Tech as well as follow ups from students that have attended Career Services events on campus.

So be sure to check back often to hear about all the wonderful things those of us at Career Services can do for you during college.