General Career Advice

Alumni Spotlight – Meet Melissa Trahyn!

Degree: Bachelor, Music Education
Graduation Year: 1998
Current Occupation: Educational Technology Specialist

 

  1. – What brought you to The Ohio State University?

I went to Ohio State to be in the Marching Band.  In my junior year of high school in Kentucky, we visited the Stadium Bandroom, spoke with then director, Dr. Woods, and saw a performance of the OSUMB.  I knew, from that point on, that I wanted to go to Ohio State to be in the Marching Band.

 

  1. – How did your experiences at Ohio State shape your career path?

I came into my current career after 20 years on another path.  While at Ohio State, I got the international bug and traveled outside of the US a lot through my involvement with Cru (then Campus Crusade for Christ).  That led to me spending a year after graduation teaching English in Central Asia.  Upon my return, I taught for 2 years in public and private schools in Indianapolis, but still wanted to be in more of an international environment.  In 2001 took a job at Butler University which started my 20-year stint in International Education at the university level.  I have held positions in English as a Second Language programs, International Student Services Offices and Study Abroad organizations.

During the pandemic of 2020, international education took a big hit and I found myself out of work for the first time in over 16 years.  I took a career pivot in July 2020 and accepted a position as an Educational Technology Specialist, something I had been learning, using, and informally training for in my previous position through experiences and opportunities that were afforded to me.  Now I work with faculty at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, to design online courses that are not only pedagogically sound, but engaging to the students through a virtual environment.

 

  1. – What advice do you have for OSU alumni and students interested in pursuing a career in your field?

Every job you take, every position you are in, you are learning.  Never stop learning as the path you think you want may not be the path you end up on 20 years later.  I’m an educator at heart and have found myself in a variety of fields in education, from teaching K-8 music, to teaching ESL, to working with international students and study abroad students, and now working with faculty.  Find what you love; find what brings you joy and pursue that.  My current field of EdTech is really taking off since the pandemic.  I find I’m energized by helping others find connections and engagement and have found that my current field of EdTech is a catalyst for engagement in the classroom.

 

  1. – What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

I think my greatest professional accomplishment is that I have never stopped learning.  I have recently been accepted into a doctoral program at Indiana University in Instructional Systems Technology which will commence in Fall 2021.  I never thought I’d get to this point of pursuing a doctoral degree and am very proud of where I am now.

 

  1. – What inspires you in your profession?

An idea or concept that “clicks” for someone is so inspiring.  I love that “lightbulb” moment where people finally get it!  I want to jump up and down when that happens.  Whether it’s a musical piece that finally came together, someone communicating for the first time in English, or a faculty member making a meaningful connection with a student virtually – those moments inspire me and keep me going.

 

  1. – In what ways have you stayed connected with OSU after your graduation?

It’s taken me some time to get to where I am today.  Upon graduation, I immediately moved overseas.  When I came home, my parents were living in a city and state I had never lived in, and I was without work.  After getting married and having kids, time just flew right by…but in the summer of 2020, I felt the urge to reconnect when I saw an announcement for a TBDBITL Alumni Club Board of Governors (BOG) At Large Position.  I reached out, put my name in the hat, and was voted in during the September 2020 BOG meeting!

Since then, I’ve been passionate about helping others who may not live in Columbus, reconnect.  I have done this by spearheading the social media for the TBDBITL Alumni Club.  I revived the Club’s Facebook page and created a LinkedIn page in December 2020.  Since then, our Facebook page has increased its followers by 20% and our LinkedIn page has gained 241 new followers since its inception.  Our 2021 goal for these two platforms is to see 1000 followers on Facebook and 500 on LinkedIn by year’s end.  Since March 2021, I have also revived the Instagram and Twitter feeds for the Club and have seen our interactions and followership grow with each post.  We currently have an alumni campaign highlighting “The Best Damn Alumni” each month.  This social media campaign runs on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram and has been a great collaboration between the Awards Committee and Communications of the TBDBITL Alumni Club.  I’m so excited to be serving in this way and it’s very rewarding to see the conversations going on between alumni on these platforms.

You can find us and help us meet our follower goals at:

Career Management Staff Receives Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Certification

Often in the Office of Alumni Career Management, we talk to clients about the importance of continuing professional development, and a commitment to consistent personal growth. We are also committed to doing this in our personal lives as well.

In that spirit, we are excited to amount that both Marilyn and Kioshana have recently completed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace certificate program offered through the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business! The seven-week program, created in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jabil, focused on ways for organizations to create diverse workplaces, address equity issues, and foster inclusivity.  In order to obtain this certificate, we completed seven two-hour modules related to important topics in the DE&I workplace, including emotional intelligence, stereotypes and biases, community outreach, and crafting a sustainable business model. We were also tested on each of the cornerstone topics and earned 1.4 continuing education credits as part of this program.

In this office, and at the university at large, we pride ourselves on our ongoing commitment toward making the workplace a more equitable and healthy place for professionals to thrive, and this training will help support that mission going forward.  For more information on this certification, visit the website here.

Alumni Perspective – “Find Your Marching Band”

The following is a contribution from alumnae Melissa D. Trahyn (Fordham), a 1998 graduate of the School of Music and current member of the TBDBITL Alumni Club’s Board of Governors. Read on to hear her advice on life, career, and remaining engaged with the alumni community – no matter where your journey takes you!

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I was a student at Ohio State in the mid-90s and a member of TBDBITL, playing trombone in Q-Row.  I went to OSU for the sole purpose of being in the OSUMB (and to study Music Education, of course) ….and I was cut my first year.  I worked my tail off and got in my sophomore year, spending the next three years in The Ohio State University Marching Band.  Three years that tested my perseverance, my endurance, my physical limits, and my mental capacity.  These three years thrilled me to no end and fed my love of performing.  I LOVED band and in particular, marching band.

Fast forward 23 years, 26 countries, one marriage, three kids, a master’s degree, and six jobs later…I’m now the voice and driver of the TBDBITL Alumni Club’s social media public pages.

Two years ago, I was attending a leadership course through Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, dissatisfied with my job (but not admitting it yet) when someone in the course, who had just met me asked me when the last time I was happy and involved in something that I enjoyed.  Without skipping a beat, I said “Ohio State’s Marching Band”.  He then proceeded to say something that has stuck with me to this day, “We need to find you your next Marching Band”.

Losing my job in April 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown and pandemic was a blessing in disguise.  I started seeking meaningful connections, but the TBDBITL Alumni Club’s presence on Facebook and LinkedIn, the two social media platforms I engaged with, were slim to none.  How can you be involved if you don’t know how?

In September 2020, I was elected as an At-Large Member to the TBDBITL Alumni Club’s Board of Governors, with a desire for engagement and helping others engage.  See, I don’t live in Columbus, or even Ohio, which makes it hard (or so it seemed) to be involved in TBDBITL activities.  I didn’t even know that these leadership positions in the Alumni Band existed or that I could apply until I saw Past President Derrick Mills’ post on Facebook – and of course I immediately reached out.

I wanted to be involved, to be connected, to be engaged, and found a way to do it from Indianapolis.  Through my discussions with President Zacke Naughton and Vice President, T.J. Hersch, I found my voice and excitement for engagement, creating meaningful connections, and for reaching those who may feel like I did – far away and removed from TBDBITL.  I have a passion for helping people feel connected and in using my passion, I became connected!

As the voice of the Club’s social media, I have learned so much about social media in general, and the different platforms in particular.  I have re-engaged our public Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages and created our public LinkedIn page.  Since the revival and renewal of our public voice on social media in December 2020, we now have a monthly social media plan with regular posting, in addition to ad-hoc, in-the-moment posts.  In conjunction with our Awards Committee, we have established a new monthly Alumni Spotlight series, the “Best Damn Alumni”, which premiered in April 2021.   Our long-term goal for 2021 is to see 500 followers on LinkedIn and 1,000 followers on Facebook, our two primary platforms.  At the time of this article, we are at 215 followers for LinkedIn and 708 for Facebook…well on our way to meeting our goal by the end of 2021.

If I can say one thing to anyone out there who’s feeling disconnected and unengaged – “Find your Marching Band”.  It will make all the difference!

Salary Negotiation – Your Questions Answered!

Here in the Office of Alumni Career Management, we often receive questions from alumni about salary negotiation.  In anticipation of next week’s Job Club meeting on salary negotiation, we thought we’d post a few answers to the most common questions we get here for your review.  Enjoy!

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Q. – Are you able to negotiate when the job is in the public sector? It seems like pay and benefits are pretty well set, at least at the state level.

A. – There are a few sectors that do not allow for salary negotiation unless you advance to another level. Some government agencies and K-12 Education have set pay scales. However, some public sectors get around this by hiring a candidate into a higher level than the posted job so that they can be sure to keep that valuable candidate.

Q. –  How should salary negotiations differ between internal and external positions?

A. – Internally, know the salary request schedule of your organization. Give your manager plenty of time to discuss with you and then enter into the request process for you. Be ready for that conversation with your manager. Show your accomplishments and progression in your role and market value data to support your negotiation. External negotiation is with a hiring manager that does not know you and has not seen your work. However, the process is the same with research, strategy, and negotiation. In both cases, be prepared and strategic.

Q. – Do you have advice for salary negotiating when making a career change or going into a new industry?

A. – When changing industries, you have to focus on the transferrable skills that you are offering to the employer. If you are at point of offer, then you did well in selling yourself. If you are referring to the research phase and setting your range, then you should still honor your years of work experience. Networking definitely helps in getting interviews when you are changing careers.

Q. – How do you inquire about merit increases? In my experience, I have been able to negotiate salary a little bit but was told they could not offer the top amount in the range because the person in the role before had not reached that amount when they left the position. I am wondering if the range listed accounted for merit increases and the potential of what you could get up to for salary after some years in the role.

A. – In the negotiation process, ask about opportunities for advancement. This will lead discussing merit increases. Ask the hiring manager to be specific about the salary range listed. Does this include a merit or bonus structure and what is the history of employees reaching that top dollar?

Q. – I’ve heard before that your first salary is the most important, or that it dictates what you’ll make later in life. What’s your take on this? How important is that first, out-of-school salary?

A. – Your entire future career does not rest on that first salary because you will not be sharing that figure in negotiation. You will focus on the market value of each job for which you apply. However, initial negotiation is important for each job because every year the typical 2-5% raise will be calculated from that initial offer. That is what we mean by do not leave money on the table.

Q. –  What happens if you give a range and the employer comes in at the top of that range with their offer? Have you just run out of room to negotiate?

A. – No, because you gave that range at the beginning of the process to determine if you were both in the ballpark. And in may cases, that initial person is not the decision maker. They are not determining your offer on that initial conversation. They are determining your offer on the market value for that position. So, do your research and know what the market is dictating for that role. At point of offer, you know much more than you did at the beginning and can base your negotiating on how your skills match up to their needs. In addition, you will have your data to support the market value range. Remember, their first offer is not usually as high as they can go. And if it is as high as they can go, they will tell you. However, you won’t know if you don’t try. And they will respect you as a savvy job seeker.

Q. – What else can you ask for to strengthen a job offer once salary is set or can’t be moved more?

A. – Please consider all the benefits that can possibly come with an offer. Prioritize what is most valuable to you at this point in your life. Is it flexibility, autonomy, working with a team, travel, a car, cell phone, vacation time, working remotely, a bonus structure each year?

Q. – Would it be best/more likely to get more with haggling with the paycheck or a bonus like 401K match, etc.?

A. – It is easier to negotiate the salary than a set 401K structure. However, you can ask for a sign on bonus.

Q. – What % of salary is standard for a sign-on bonus?

A. – It is more of a flat fee of 1K-5K.

Q. – Is asking for the offer in writing insulting? You mentioned reneging on an offer but can you speak to an agreed upon salary, yet the employer doesn’t hold to their offer?

A. – Absolutely ask for the first and final offer in writing. They can quickly send a letter via email and then typically HR will follow up with a benefits package.

Q. – Are there any unwritten rules about requesting stock in a salary negotiation? Ex: You should only negotiate after working with a company for 5+ years or holding a specific position within a company.

A. – There are benefits that may come after working for an organization for so many years, like education credit, some insurance benefits, and family leave, and yes, stock options. These are typically not negotiable.

Q. – I was given a raise at the beginning of this year and lost it due to Covid. When would be the right time for me to revisit this topic with my manager, if ever?

A. – I’m sorry about that. Yes, many organizations are freezing raises so that they can keep positions intact. I would check in at your official review period. In fact, they will probably bring it up first at that time.

Q. – Any strategies particularly important for women to keep in mind for negotiating (who may be offered lower amounts relative to worth)?

A. – Have your research and data ready! Fall back on the market value. Be confident and assertive.

Q. –  Any advice on approaching the topic of a raise if you feel like you deserve it, but want to stay with the same organization?

A. – Know the salary request schedule of your organization. Give your manager plenty of time to discuss with you and then enter into the request process for you. Be ready for that conversation with your manager. Show your accomplishments and progression in your role and tie them to the goals of the organization to support your ask.

Q. –  What would be the proper way, if at all, to negotiate more PTO/Vacation Days in a job offer?

A. – Once you have settled on salary, then launch into the other important factors that you want to negotiate to include PTO/vacation time. Research shows that vacation time is one of the easiest to negotiate.

Q. – Can you make up some numbers about what to ask for… Lets say walk away point is $40k, top of range is $60k, and initial job offer is $50k…What should I ask for? $51k? The full $60? or even higher to hope that you can ultimately settle at top market value.

A. – This would depend on your market value. Your years of experience will determine where you should fall on this range. If you have less experience (1-3 years), then you would be on the lower end. If you have more experience (6-10), you would be on the higher end. If 50K is about right, then try for an additional 1-2 K.

Q. – In negotiations, of a current job, is there an unspoken limit?

A. –  Typically, there is a set range for your position. Glassdoor.com is good for this research.

Q. – When the application requires you to enter your current salary and anticipated salary, how should you answer?

A. – Always try to leave current salary blank. If you cannot, then offer a range of your last position. For the anticipated, offer your anticipated range. If you are only allowed one number then put the middle of the range.

Q. – How do you negotiate a salary match of a current job?

A. –  Always negotiate from market value rather than with your current salary. However, if the offer is close to your current salary, but a bit lower, then use that as leverage. State that you need to at least match your current salary and would like to obtain an increase in this transition. Then suggest $2,000 or 5% over your current salary as long as it is still in the market value range for the job.

Why Network? – From the Director’s Desk

As career coaches, we often find that job seekers spend 100% of their time on job boards applying to as many jobs as they can. What they often don’t realize is that one thing has remained steadfast through ups and downs in the economy and job market. The fact is that 80% of how most people find their next role is through networking. And the 20% of job seekers who obtain a job through job boards also need to then network into an interview.

Why is that? Think about how many resumes HR professionals or hiring managers need to comb through to choose candidates to interview. Even if the organization uses AI technology to narrow down the candidates, there is still a human element in choosing the right hire. You can imagine that the hiring team welcomes a good reference or referral beyond the stack of resumes.

Building a network of trusted colleagues affords you two things. You may learn about job openings that are in the works and not yet posted. This gives you the opportunity to connect with people in the organization through your contacts. Or, if you have already applied for a particular job, your network can serve as a reference on your behalf. Either way, you get the scoop on the opportunity, the culture, goals, and mission of the organization.

Once you land your next role and join your new team, it is wise to continue to build your professional network. You can keep up on current industry trends, meet mentors and experts, or promote your business or product. Today, it is smart to take ownership of your career inside and outside of your specific job or organization. Increase your visibility, gain professional development, and advance within your industry.

On April 13, we will meet for our next session of Job Club. We’ll focus on the Art of Networking and the importance within your job search. We’ll discuss how to put together a strategy that is comfortable for you as you begin to network and build your board of directors. I hope that you join us.

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Marilyn Bury Rice, Director

Marilyn has 30 years of experience in the career management field within higher education, non-profit, and corporate settings. She has advised students and alumni at Purdue University, Hanover College, the University of Notre Dame, Ohio Wesleyan, and The Ohio State University. She had the privilege of assisting women in becoming financially self-sufficient as a career consultant for Center for New Directions (a United Way Agency). And Marilyn spent 15 years working with experienced professionals in career transition at Right Management, a global talent and career management firm.

Marilyn holds a BS in communication and psychology and an MS in counseling and higher education administration from Purdue University. She values assisting alumni
in their ongoing career development and connecting with fellow Buckeyes around the globe

Wow Them with Your Winning Elevator Pitch

One of the most important tools for a jobseeker to have in their job search toolkit is a strong 30-second commercial, also known as an “elevator pitch”.  This is a great way to introduce yourself to new contacts, and allows you to communicate professionally and appear polished when meeting new people.  There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your 30-second commercial makes the best first impression for you.  Read on below to find out how to create your own winning elevator pitch.

What should I keep in mind when developing my 30-second commercial?

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Your 30-second commercial should be conversational and natural. Although prepared in advance, it should never sound memorized. You want to appear confident, enthusiastic, poised and professional. Make it memorable but not outrageous. You are competing with many other qualified candidates. Your commercial should allow you to stand out a bit from the crowd. Whether it is the vocabulary you choose or a specific achievement you mention, you want to engage the listener and give them an opportunity to see your personality.

Questions to Think About in Developing Your 30-Second Commercial:

1. What is your career goal? (Frame it in the form of doing something for someone)

2. What skill, strength, or experience do you have that would help you realize that goal?

3. What accomplishment proves you have that skill, strength, or experience?

4. What are you searching for in a job?

5. How can you immediately benefit the organization?

How should I format my 30-second commercial?

First sentences: Include your name, where you are from, your alma mater and what you studied.

Middle sentences: Quickly summarize your relevant experience. Do not reiterate your resume. For example, mention your industry and your most recent roles, the key skills you use and developed as well as an accomplishment with results. Mention your future career goals. Try framing it as, “One accomplishment I am most proud of…” or “One key strength that I would bring to your organization is…”

Last sentences: Briefly relay how your background led you to your career exploration. If you are in an interview, explain why you are interested in the organization and this role.

Pro Tip:  Even though you may get the request, “Tell me about yourself”, this does not mean that you should share personal information about your family, marital status, health conditions, or negative stories about former employers. The employer or networking contact can get a sense of your personality by your responses and attitude regarding work. If you share personal information, it may be used against you in their decision to stay engaged with you as a candidate or networking contact.

We would love for you to join us at the April meeting of the Alumni Career Management Job Club, where we will be providing networking time for participants to practice their elevator pitches with one another live.  If you’d like to take part, register here.

Job Club FAQ – What You Need to Know About Our New Series

We in the Office of Alumni Career Management are so excited about the launch of our new series, the Alumni Career Management Job Club!  We know that the last year has been challenging for many, and in the constantly changing environment of the post-COVID world has many considering a career transition.  With that in mind, our office endeavors to assist job seekers through this transition.

Structured as a four-part series, the Job Club is an immersive and interactive career readiness program designed to give you the latest industry information and proven methodologies for landing your next role.  We will hold one session per month, with short presentations on a timely topic followed by Q&A and an interactive networking session. We will provide a certificate of participation for each session attendee, and those who attend all four sessions will receive a small gift from our office as a token of our congratulations.

Below are answers to your frequently asked questions:

1. – If I miss a session, will I be able to make it up?

Yes!  This is a series that we plan on making an ongoing effort.  We will be offering the four sessions this spring, and taking a break in July before starting again in the fall.  We will cover the same basic topics in each series, with some modifications based on industry trends at the time.

So, if you miss out on a session this time, don’t worry!  We will be offering it again in the fall!

2. –  Will we be doing anything outside of the monthly sessions?

Yes!  Although the sessions are monthly, our office will work to continue the conversation over the weeks between each meeting by engaging in discussion on AlumniFire.  AlumniFire is Ohio State’s exclusive professional networking platform – it is free to join and open to any member of the Ohio State community.  If you don’t already have an account, we encourage you to set one up here. If you are an alumni, staff, or student of Ohio State, please enter with that status. If you do not fall into those categories, please check Job Club member.

3. – Should I prepare anything for the networking session?

The networking sessions are designed to be a casual exercise in getting to know others in a virtual setting.  There will be facilitators in each breakout room assigned to help guide the discussion along, but the goal is for you all to get comfortable in conversation with strangers in a professional setting.

While you don’t have to prepare anything formal for this portion of the presentation, it might be helpful to practice how you would like to introduce yourself to others ahead of time.  Things to consider are:

  • Name
  • Educational and professional background
  • Industry or companies you are interested in

You might also want to have a notebook handy so that you can write down the names of people in your group that you want to connect with individually on either AlumniFire or LinkedIn.  This is a great way to open a conversation into a new connection that could very well turn into your next big opportunity!

4. – What are other ways that I can connect with the Office of Alumni Career Management for additional assistance?

Alumni Career Management has several resources available for you to utilize in addition to our Job Club.  The webinar archive holds dozens of presentations on various job search and professional development topics to support your career growth.  Career Corner, our official departmental blog has weekly updates with various timely topics, including alumni spotlights, a weekly hot jobs listing, podcast episodes, and more.

Finally, though we no longer offer individual coaching, we do have a dedicated email address where you can submit your questions.  We send weekly responses for alumni seeking guidance on a variety of job search topics. To submit an individual question to the Alumni Career Management team, email us at ADV-CareersOSUAA@osu.edu.

Introducing the Alumni Career Management Job Club!

Many in our alumni and friends community are currently in career transition, or are considering making a change in their career in the near future.  With that in mind, the Bill and Susan Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management is excited to announce our newest project for supporting you through your career development – the launch of the Alumni Career Management Job Club!

Structured as a four-part series, the Job Club is an immersive and interactive career readiness program designed to give you the latest information and proven methodologies for landing your next role.  Each monthly session will include a short presentation on a pre-determined topic, along with Q&A/discussion time, and a guided networking exercise. Those who attend each session will receive a certificate of participation from our office, and those participating in all four sessions will also receive a small gift as congratulations.

Although the sessions are monthly, our office will work to continue the conversation over the weeks in between each meeting through engaging discussion on AlumniFire, our Ohio State exclusive professional networking platform.  AlumniFire is free to join, and open to any member of the Ohio State community.  If you have not already made an account, we encourage you to do so here.

Dates and times for the spring Job Club series are as follows:

March 9, 2021 – 12 noon ET – Resume “Must Haves” in Today’s Job Market

April 13, 2021 – 12 noon ET – Networking in the New Normal:  Link In or be Left Out

May 11, 2021 – 12 noon ET – Interview to Win the Offer

June 8, 2021 – 12 noon ET – Salary Negotiation:  Don’t Leave Money on the Table 

Register for the Job Club meetings here, and stay tuned for more information about this exciting project. We are looking forward to connecting with you!