Reflections and Expectations: The Little Things

People often say the little things in life are what keeps people going each and every day.

For the month of May, no major events or developments occurred that remarkably defined how the month went. However, it is those aforementioned little things that made May a relatively peaceful but a good month.

That being said, how did May play out and what can I expect for June?

May

Informational Interview #2 – I had my second informational interview on May 13, this one with a contact who works at Parsons Brinckerhoff and someone I’ve known for a few years. Much like the first informational interview I had with DelDOT back in February, there was much to learn from that session and much to look forward to in the future as my current job search progresses.

Job Hunt – It was a pretty sleepy month. Other than applying for additional jobs, not a single job interview has been scheduled yet. I have a more proactive strategy this time around compared to last year. The key is to not panic.

Passport - After much thought, I decided to apply for a U.S. Passport. I previously had one as a baby when I moved to the United States from South Korea — where I was born — but that’s been long gone. I submitted my application at a U.S. Post Office location in Philadelphia last week. This all comes as I’m tinkering with the possibility of traveling to South Korea within the next few years.

House of Cards – I started watching this show on Netflix in late April while I was at home, recovering from a migrane headache. I finished watching the first season a few weeks ago. As a political junkie, I enjoyed this show for its fine storytelling and gripping storyline. Also, the fact that this show takes place in Washington, D.C. further makes me want to move to the city later this year.

Arrested Development - I started watching this on Netflix as well due to the hype surrounding the revival of the series. Why didn’t I get around to watching this show sooner?

Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti speaking to Prof. Raphael Sonenshein’s (rear, in green shirt) class during the Oct. 26, 2010 field trip to City Hall.

Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti- Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti was elected mayor of Los Angeles on May 21. He beat out Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel 54 to 46 percent.

As an L.A. native now living in Philadelphia, I paid close attention to the mayoral race to see how it played out and because I personally supported Garcetti in his bid to become the city’s new chief executive.

It was during a field trip to Los Angeles City Hall in October 2010 that I personally met Garcetti, who hosted the tour thanks to my then-professor Raphael Sonenshein’s previous ties with the late Tom Bradley mayoral administration and his ongoing involvement with city politics.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with students from Prof. Sonenshein’s political science class at Cal State Fullerton. You know where you can find me.

During that tour, I also met the current Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. I had a great deal of interaction with both men at the time about issues concerning the city. I have the distinction of having met the current mayor-elect, current mayor and his direct predecessor, James Hahn, over the last several years.

I wish I still lived in Los Angeles so I could have voted for Garcetti but I know he will serve the city well for the next four years. Best wishes to him.

June

• Informational interview #3 – My third informational interview is coming up in mid-June, this one with a contact at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Job hunt – Need I say more? I sure hope this ends soon.
• Penultimate month of AmeriCorps – June will be the month when things begin to wind down for the 2012-2013 service year ending Aug. 1.
• Community Manager Meetup in New York City – Postponed for a later date, probably sometime in June. Still looking forward to it, if it is still happening.

This is the song I’ve designated as the celebratory song when the job hunt is finally over. It’s the equivalent of popping off a champagne bottle since I don’t like champagne.

Latest Beehooved Post: Informational Interviews

Courtesy: Beehooved

In my third writing piece for Beehooved, a site in which I serve as one of the contributors, I wrote a post about the value of informational interviews and how it can be helpful in advancing your career. Read it for yourself and feel free to share your thoughts.

Reflections and Expectations: April and May 2013

April marked the start of a long, dull slog toward August, when my service term with AmeriCorps ends.

With only three months left, the job search continues as I seek to re-enter the arena of public relations, what I studied in school and previously had internship experience for. I’m also learning to take things one day at a time, learning to live a little as time marches on.

So, what happened in April that was noteworthy and what can I expect for the current month?

April

Birthday – I celebrated my 24th birthday on April 4th. Much like most recent birthdays, it was largely uneventful and was a relatively normal day much like any other day. That’s how I generally prefer it, shunning any formal occasions to celebrate such a day save for a simple lunch or dinner somewhere with a friend or coworker, if offered an invitation for one.

Job Hunt – The job search is slowly beginning to show signs of progress. Without mentioning any names for the time being, I have applied to positions at some well-known organizations in the realm of public relations. I even had a brief phone interview of sorts regarding one of those positions. I plan to pursue this further as well as other opportunities out there.

Writing – The second writing piece I contributed for a Philadelphia nonprofit organization, Global Philadelphia Association (GPA), was published on April 26. This one was a book review for a book about the history of Latino-Americans in the greater Philadelphia region over the last 200 years. I’ve been working with GPA as a freelance contributor since November and we are in talks for more assignments over the coming months.

Making Inroads – I’m also pursuing career opportunities that utilize some of my best skills: social media and writing. I met up with a friend in New York City late last month to learn more about how to break into that particular niche industry. I feel I’m a good fit for a community manager or a digital copywriter, which I’ll also continue to look into.

May

• Attend a community manager meetup in New York City sometime later in the month, better immersing myself into that career field.
• Focus on more cities throughout the United States for my ongoing job search.
• Write more for GPA and others.
• Continually remind myself not to panic about having only a few months left to find my next job by taking things one day at a time. I’ve been doing good so far.

While I continue looking, if you have any contacts or available career opportunities that you believe may be suitable for me, feel free to email me at simonoh804 [at] gmail.com.

Here’s a song that sums up how I should go about dealing with these next few months.

Finishing What I Started, Slowly But Surely

It’s early April and I’m already starting to slug through what will be a largely uneventful next few months.

With no major travel plans or events in sight through July (though things can change as time marches on), I’m focusing the next few months on finishing what I started. I am focusing on serving out the remainder of my service term with AmeriCorps, which ends Aug. 1, as well as rededicating my efforts to pursue a career in public relations, hoping to land a job by the end of summer.

It’s been an eventful year overall — since August 2012, that is — but now, this is a crucial period where I am diligently working on laying the groundwork for the next chapter of my life. At the same time, I’ll continue to live a little at every turn I get without constantly worrying about how the rest of this year may play out.

The following should sum up my mindset for the foreseeable future.

February signals in first signs of personal progress in 2013

After experiencing a quiet and lackluster start to the new year in January, the month of February ushered in some developments that may have greater implications as the year progresses.

I’m still diligently preparing for my next career move — also panicking at times about it as well — while serving out my term with AmeriCorps, which ends on Aug. 1.

Before February ended, there were a couple of things that I accomplished that will hopefully make a greater impact later in the year.

Informational Interviews

On Feb. 19, I went in for my first-ever informational interview, this one with a professional who works for the public affairs department at Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) DMV division in Dover, Del.

We decided to meet after I reached out to another public relations professional I know regarding getting contacts on the East Coast to schedule informational interviews. He worked for DelDOT in the past and decided to refer me to someone he worked with who is still there now.

From this informational interview, I learned a great deal from my contact about what it takes to work in a public affairs role in the transportation industry — where I worked in the past and still hope to jump back into in the future. I also sought advice on how to effectively transition back into the industry and what resources I should turn to in order to make my next move.

I consider that session to be a sheer success that exceeded my expectations. I hope to find more contacts I can reach out to for additional informational interviews over the next few months. Now, time to gear up for my second informational interview in Los Angeles later this month with the aforementioned former DelDOT official who now works in the private sector.

Chicago

Courtesy: Daniel Schwen (via Wikimedia Commons)

As the header and photo suggest, I’m going to Chicago in early August for what will be my first major trip of the year to a brand new destination. I booked this trip in late February after weeks of hammering out plans and researching potential costs for such an excursion.

I have never been to Chicago, let alone any part of Middle America, which makes it the perfect place for a vacation this time around. After first-time trips to New York City and Washington, D.C. in the last few years alone, Chicago and Boston remain as the last two major holdouts in terms of major U.S. cities I should visit. A trip to Boston has yet to happen and is still in the works.

As the trip via Amtrak long-distance trains begins Aug. 2, a day after my term with AmeriCorps ends, I hope this will be a celebratory trip to celebrate my next new job around that time. While I can’t wait to embark on this trip, there’s still much work to be done on the job search front.

Progress never looked so good.

Your Career and You: “In PR, Common Courtesies Should Come Naturally”

Reblogged from A Professor's Thoughts:

I’m writing this in my “den”…also known as the “Red Line”…part of Boston’s subway system. The “T,” as the system is informally called, is my laboratory for the study of human…and not-so-human…behavior.

I am continually fascinated/repulsed by the actions of my fellow inmates. Some of them seem to have learned basic social skills somewhere in their past. Others…not so much.

Read more… 475 more words

Kirk Hazlett (APR, Fellow PRSA) shares why courteousness is important as a human being as well as in your professional life.

An Expectedly Sleepy Start to 2013

I typically don’t expect much to come out of the month of January. Historically, January is a relatively quiet month — with the exception of 2011 — with no major events and standout moments. January 2013 is no different.

I’m halfway through my term with AmeriCorps, which ends on July 31. I still plan on pursuing a career in public relations after my term ends this summer. My goal of working in transportation PR remains unchanged although I have kept an open mind at a potential career in social media. I think it would be a fun and worthwhile job to manage brand accounts and help foster an online community. I have the basic know-how for it so I believe I have what it takes.

In the meantime, I do have some informational interviews to look forward to within the coming months. My hope is that I can learn as much as I possibly can out of these interviews and establish some connections here on the East Coast.

I know you’re bored — and so am I — so I’ll leave you with a cat video.