April, 2021
Founder’s Message:

Thanks to the creative talents of Boston University junior and FirstGen Ahead student, Selina Li, we have a new logo! It’s displayed on our newsletter banner. This new logo is one of three Selina designed, and it's the preferred choice of 19/30 coaches, students, partners, and supporters polled. In addition to being attractive, its symbolism includes:

  • The orange and blue hues. These are complementary colors and are increasingly used to represent diversity.
  • The ferns. The fern is a resilient plant and a symbol of growth. Resilience and the drive toward continual personal improvement are characteristics of our students. The two ferns represent the students growing together with their coaches.
  • The placement of Ahead (moving forward). Our work emphasized what is further forward in time—empowering our students now for their careers after college.

Selina is also working on designing our website, which has an anticipated launch date for the end of May. By contracting with one of our students to do this work, Selina is gaining hands-on experience and enhancing her portfolio while we, at FirstGen Ahead, are remaining true to our mission by presenting students with targeted professional development opportunities.
                                   Susan Gershenfeld, PhD
“Not everything that is faced can be changed,
but nothing can be changed until it is faced." -- James Baldwin

Taking Personal Responsibility
Instead of Complaining

What do you do if someone complains? Generally, people complain when there’s a gap between their expectations and reality. Perhaps it’s a classmate you’re working with on a team project, your roommate, or a family member who is complaining. If it’s not just venting or looking for validation for their beliefs, do you work to fix the problem or do you coach the person complaining to take personal responsibility? It’s coaching that builds capability, which is the focus here. 

Steps in coaching someone to take personal responsibility include:

  • Listen. Create the space so the person complaining can finish without interruptions.
  • Acknowledge. This does not mean agreement. You can say, “I hear you. It sounds like you’re very frustrated.”
  • Ask “what” and “why” questions to get at the root of the problem. For example, what do you want? What’s the end result you’re seeking? Why do you want that result? 
  • Generate choices. Often the person complaining needs help in realizing they have choices for getting to the end result.
  • Identify roadblocks to these choices. Identifying potential barriers to the choices can help determine a strategy going forward.
  • Reach agreement. Have the person commit to the actions discussed and follow up to learn how the person felt about the outcome. 

These steps can help the person stop complaining, build capability, and feel empowered. You can even ask yourself these questions – to move beyond complaining and toward doing something about the inevitable challenges you will face in your life.

Image Source: https://www.thecynergisticlife.com/complaining-stage/
Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
By Latchman Ramlochan, Junior, UMass Amherst
 
Imagine you’re on an elevator and on your way home when someone gets in the elevator with you. You realize she has a pin on her jacket of the company where you have been wanting to work. You ask her if she works there; it turns out she’s one of the company’s hiring managers. Where do you go from there? This is where the elevator pitch comes in. An elevator pitch communicates and markets the important characteristics of yourself and your work.
 
At FirstGen Ahead, we’ve been practicing our elevator pitches with other students and coaches. So, what goes into an elevator pitch? Although an elevator pitch only lasts as long as an elevator ride, what you say needs to be authentic so you connect with the other person. First, introduce yourself. If you’re a student, say what school you go to and what your majors/minors are. From there, tell them what you’re passionate about and why, and what you hope to do after graduating. Include the skills you are acquiring that position you for your future role. Sharing information about why you value the company and what you hope to contribute shows you’ve done your homework. End the elevator pitch with a question to show your interest in the other person. Delivery matters, too. Be clear with what you are saying and not speed past everything.
 
These are some of the many things I took away from the feedback our group received from our coaches when we practiced our elevator pitches. Personally, I have benefited greatly from practicing and honing my elevator pitch through the feedback given by our FirstGen Ahead coaches. I have added more characteristics as to how I will help a company in the position for which I am applying. I have developed a pitch that allows me to focus on the points I am trying to get across and speak with more positive emotion and passion rather than sounding monotone. The more I practice and slow up the pace of my delivery, making sure my message is easy to understand and I convey my genuine interest in speaking with the person, the more likely it will be that they will want to know more about me and how my skillsets and work/life experience might be of interest to them.
 
Overall, your elevator pitch should leave a mark and a strong impression on the hiring manager. The more positive emotion and passion you display, the more interest the person you are speaking with will have in your pitch. Be yourself and always remember, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! It may not be on an elevator ride, but you will have to introduce yourself in less than a minute many times, so this is an essential skill.
Tips on Securing a “Good” Position
By Mariane St. Juste, Senior, Williams College
 
For many college students, applying to “good” jobs, that is, jobs that require a college degree can be extremely stressful, especially amidst a global pandemic. This process can take months and for some even years. Adding on the uncertainties due to the pandemic only heightens our anxieties.

What helped me most during this time was to write down my goals, rely on my network (including my coach and mentors from FGA), and remain organized every step of the way. In addition, three qualities - flexibility, communication skills, and resilience - all helped get me through this tough time. In this article, I’ll expand on the biggest takeaways I learned from this process in hopes that the tips can help students trying to secure a good job or skill-building internship during this time.

My first takeaway is the importance of leaning on your network for support. It was very important that I maintained clear and constant communication with my mentors during this process. I reached out to them with questions as small as asking whether an email was okay to send to guiding me when deciding which offer to accept. During this process, it is important not to be afraid to ask questions. I recommend identifying the people in your network and maintaining communication with them along the way as well as thanking them for their support!

My second takeaway from this process is to start early and remain organized. Beginning in September of my senior year, I started narrowing down my interests and scheduling informational interviews with individuals who are working in the field in which I am interested. During that time, I drafted cover letters, polished my resume, narrowed down what cities or states I would like to work in, and started a budgeting plan to identify my ideal salary. I created a folder on Google Drive where I kept track of my progress. In this folder, I included documents and charts that I shared with my coach. I used these to record where I applied and heard back from, the salary that they offered, the city that the position was in, and other factors that I found important when making my final decision. I also made sure to keep track of the individuals whom I met as a part of informational interviews and hiring interview processes in order to send follow-up emails and keep records of the contacts that I made along the way. I also relied heavily on my designated professional journal. In this journal, I wrote down questions for the interviewers, a bit of background on myself, lists of a few reasons why I am interested in a position, and included the notes that I took during the interviews. I also kept lists of tasks and goals for the week.

The third takeaway is to write down and remain focused on your goals. This became extremely helpful during the interview process and when deciding which position to accept. This helped me when determining what questions to ask my interviewers. For example, I often asked questions geared towards understanding the culture and values of the work environments I was interested in. I made sure to ask questions beyond what I could look up on the Internet. I also began to visualize myself in the space and get a sense of whether my values aligned with that environment.

After my interviews were over, I thought the hardest part of the process was behind me, but I soon realized that was not the case. Fortunately, I received several offers and although I was elated, I also felt overwhelmed. I only had a week to make the decision and felt that I needed more time. I met with my network to help me decide the next steps. Together we worked on emails asking the employers for more time and details regarding the terms of the offer. To narrow down my decision, I relied on the goals I came up with at the beginning of the application process. I made my decision by determining which position would best help me to achieve these goals. There were a few qualities that I was looking for in a position. For example, I wanted to work at a place where I felt I could use the skills that I gained from previous experiences while also having opportunities to develop new skills. Furthermore, I wanted to work in an environment where I could feel comfortable and excited to work and where the mission and culture aligned with my own.

Applying for a first job position is difficult, but I believe that there are ways to lessen the difficulty and even enjoy this process. During the past six months, I learned a lot about myself and became more confident in my ability to navigate interviews and the job process. Looking ahead, I am excited to enter the workplace and feel well equipped with the tools I need to succeed.  
Did You Know?

The American writer Dale Carnegie once said, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
Thus, it is no surprise that:

  • Networking alone is responsible for filling as many as 85% of all jobs. (Source: Hubspot)
  • At least 70% of people got their current job through networking. (Source: PayScale)

What is not so obvious is that networking success is based more on what you can do for someone else, rather than what they can do for you. Try using this approach:

Create your BRAND:
Be Interested (What can you learn about the people you meet?)
Resourceful (Who is in your network? Who should be? What can you do for someone else?)
Authentic (What do you have to offer? How can you meaningfully contribute?)
Notoriously grateful (Update and thank your supporters regularly!)
Diligent with follow-through [Meet(exceed)/manage expectations by responding to their emails within 24 hours or less whenever possible.]
 
By SHOWing UP:
Speak up (Talk to lots of people; you never know who might have a connection for you.)
Have your elevator pitch ready (It’s your best conversation starter!)
Open the right doors (Meet people through informational interviews, volunteering, etc.)
Wow your contacts (Be personable, engaging, and genuinely nice.)
 
Understand what you hear (What feedback are you getting? What are the next steps you should take in response to that feedback?)
Persevere (People will notice your efforts and try to help!)
 
Click here for more information. 

Image Source: https://www.civhc.org/partner-with-us/question-mark/
How Would You Answer This Question?

You are interviewing for a job or an internship and during the interview, you are asked the following question: How would other people describe you? What words would you pick to describe yourself that will lead to more discussion about your qualifications for the position? 
Meet Coach Jonathan!

Jonathan Blazek is an astrophysicist, an Assistant Professor at Northeastern University, and a FirstGen Ahead coach for a college junior who has similar interests in physics and astronomy.

Jonathan was interested in physics at an early age. He was heavily influenced by his father (a researcher in medical physics and an avid amateur astronomer) and his maternal grandfather, who was also a physicist.  

As a child, he was captivated by the stars and space, and his early interests were reinforced by books like “Planetron“ – a series about a boy and his small “toy” spaceship that expanded into a real ship and took him around the galaxy. By the time he went to college, Jonathan knew he wanted to study physics and explore astrophysics. Participating in research during his second and third years of college confirmed that he was hooked on the field. He applied to graduate school to continue his research and earn a doctorate degree.

As a graduate student and then a postdoctoral researcher, Jonathan had a number of important mentors. His doctoral advisor was central in teaching him how to approach problems. He was also fortunate to work with a number of young researchers, where he received peer-to-peer mentoring. After receiving his PhD, he had a couple of very involved and dedicated postdoctoral mentors.
It is because of his experiences – being blessed early on and continuing up to this day with people who have set examples and given him advice – that he is coaching a first-generation college student. Jonathan knows it can be tough for his student to bridge from current interests to enter the world of becoming an astrophysicist. He’s coaching to help be that bridge.

Jonathan’s also motivated to coach to improve representation and inclusion in science/ technology/engineering, and math (STEM) occupations. There’s a “leaky pipeline” in STEM, which means talented students are lost at all stages of education and career development which decreases the likelihood that they with gain employment in these types of jobs. Jonathan says, “Focusing energy on helping younger students is a necessary component to making progress.”

Jonathan’s approach to coaching is to provide practical advice and to demystify the world of physics, higher education, and research. “My goal is to help my student identify a range of opportunities and to help him present himself as strongly as possible,” says Jonathan. He continues, “There is no one ‘right’ path, but it is important to think about your particular path. I hope not to push, just to be a steady hand.”

For first-generation college students considering graduate school, Jonathan advises, “It’s important to think about your desired career and life trajectory and to consider your educational plan in that context. A degree in STEM will open a range of career options.” He continues, “Postgraduate degrees can be valuable, but they aren't always necessary, and in cases when they are, a master’s degree will sometimes be enough. If you do want to go the academic path, know that even after you get your doctorate, you usually have several years of postdoctoral positions before you will be a competitive candidate for faculty positions, and you don't always have a lot of control over where you will end up.” Several of Jonathan’s colleagues have had different paths, often with unexpected turns. But, Jonathan says, “Everyone is happy with where their path has taken them, whether in academia, industry or elsewhere.” 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Sunday, April 25, 7-8pm. Student Session with guest speaker Cecilia Macias discussing imposter syndrome. Dr. Susan Gershenfeld, facilitator, will send a Zoom link to students in advance of this session.

Sunday, May 9, 4-5pm. Coach Session. Dr. Lois Benishek, facilitator. 

Contact Susan Gershenfeld, susan@firstgenahead.org with any questions.
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