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Leadership Skills that Help You Land a Job After College

Leadership Skills that Help You Land a Job After College

College is a great place to learn the ins and outs of your chosen major, but it empowers students to build more than technical skills. You can also use your time in college to develop valuable soft skills that are easily transferable between careers — including those required of strong leaders.

When you’re getting ready to graduate and start finding a job, many of your potential employers will evaluate your potential as a leader. Students who learn, practice, and excel in their leadership skills are viewed by managers as highly capable of taking on diverse positions, contributing more to their companies, and taking on higher-level roles over time.

However, the ability to lead isn’t something you can simply put on your resume. You’ll need to be able to demonstrate the right skills during your interviews to impress the companies you’re applying to. Here are the leadership skills recruiters and hiring managers value most, as well as how you can develop them while getting your degree.

Modern communication skills

Leadership has changed a lot in recent years, but communication remains one of the most sought-after skills across industries. Applicants with strong resumes can lose out to less qualified job candidates if they have poor communication skills. On the flip side, great communicators can win significantly more job offers than their competitors.

Modern communication skills must be comprehensive. In addition to being great at written and verbal communication, today’s leaders need to be technologically literate. Video meetings and other remote communication channels (like Slack and email) are now the norm. Consider joining a public speaking course, speech and debate group, or career prep program in college to practice your ability to choose words and gestures carefully.

Being culturally sensitive in your communications is also becoming incredibly important, especially as businesses implement more diversity and inclusion initiatives. College is the perfect time to interact with people from different backgrounds and listen to their feedback.

Organizational skills

While technical skills allow employees to successfully complete tasks, organizational skills make you capable of taking an entire project from ideation to execution. Businesses are looking for organized leaders who can carefully identify goals and keep track of their progress to ensure their projects can end successfully. Leaders should be able to delegate tasks, follow up, and avoid stalled projects with ease.

In college, practicing organizational skills is simple. Challenge yourself to stay on top of your assignments while taking part in extracurriculars. If possible, take on leadership roles within those extracurriculars and work toward ambitious (but feasible) goals each semester.

Adaptability

The business world is shifting faster than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic — which forced many workplaces to quickly go virtual and develop creative strategies to stay afloat — proved the importance of adaptability as a leadership skill. Job candidates who are able to smoothly adapt to new tasks, software, teams, and work cultures (rather than resist change) are highly desirable in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers.

A large part of being adaptable is the ability to stay calm and work through stressful situations. Since shifts in your work environment can throw you into unfamiliar situations, employers want job candidates who can keep a level head and excel in the face of change.

One way you can develop your adaptability is by finding healthy outlets for stress. For instance, you can implement meditation into your daily or weekly routine to practice healthily dealing with stressful situations after college. Start meditating during your midterms or finals and see if it’s the right outlet for you.

Empathy

Empathy is another leadership skill that’s increasingly prized in the workspace. As more companies become employee-focused, recruiters and hiring managers are seeking leaders who can contribute to a positive work environment — particularly as the current worker shortage continues to impact their ability to find qualified employees. Great leaders must be exceptional at listening and collaborating with diverse peers and managers.

Volunteering can be a great way to practice your empathy skills in college. Challenge yourself to work alongside and serve populations that you don’t normally interact with and step into their shoes. Practice entering conversations without any expectations and be curious about the people you speak with.

Land your dream job

Landing a job right after college is no longer a simple matter of demonstrating the industry skills you’ve developed. It also requires you to show off your soft skills — the ones that allow you to act as an exceptional leader in any role. Soft skills give you room to grow within a company over time.

Start by developing your communication skills, making sure to practice increasingly prized skills like video calling and empathetic listening. Plus, learn how to be organized in your work and adaptable to new (and potentially stressful) situations to increase your value in the eyes of recruiters and hiring teams.

SEE ALSO: 5 DOs and DON’Ts for Landing Your First Job After College

Getting Ready for Your First Virtual Interview: Tips and Tricks

Getting Ready for Your First Virtual Interview: Tips and Tricks

The rise of the virtual interview has been a game-changer for college students looking for an internship or newly graduates seeking their first job. In the past, job seekers had to travel to the company’s office for an in-person interview, incurring significant expenses in the process. This often meant spending money on travel and lodging, which was a barrier for many students.

With the rise of virtual interviews, applicants can connect with companies from anywhere in the world. This has opened up opportunities for students who might not have been able to afford to travel for an in-person interview. In addition, virtual interviews provide applicants with a greater degree of flexibility, allowing them to schedule an interview around their other commitments.

While virtual interviews have some advantages over in-person meetings, there are also important things to keep in mind if you’re invited to participate in one. Landing a virtual interview in your dream company is a great accomplishment, but it’s important to be prepared to make the most of the opportunity. Here are some tips and tricks to help you prepare for your first virtual interview:

1. Do your research

Just as you would for an in-person interview, take the time to do your research on the company, the role you’re interviewing for, and the person who will be interviewing you. This will help boost your confidence and avoid getting tongue-tied during the interview.

Some common questions you can expect to be asked during a virtual interview include:

  • What do you know about our company?
  • Why are you interested in this role?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • How would you describe yourself?
  • What are your career aspirations?
  • What is your greatest accomplishment?

While you can’t anticipate every question that will be asked, preparing ahead of time will help you feel more confident and less likely to be caught off guard during the interview. 

2. Practice answering common interview questions

In addition to doing your research, it’s also a good idea to practice answering common interview questions. This will help you get into the right mindset and ensure that you’re prepared to answer any question that comes your way.

The best way to practice answering common interview questions is to have a friend or family member ask you the questions out loud. This will help you get used to hearing the questions and practicing thinking on your feet.

It is also helpful to practice in front of a mirror to see your body language and make sure that you are coming across as confident and professional. Additionally, it can be helpful to record yourself on the video to review your answers afterward and identify any areas that need improvement.

3. Test your technology

Before your virtual interview, it’s important to test your technology to ensure that everything is working properly. Start by opening the video-conferencing software you’ll be using for the interview and ensuring it’s working on your device. You can also test your webcam online to check the quality of your video.

You should also make certain that your internet connection is strong enough to support a video call. If possible, connect to the internet using an Ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi to avoid any potential connection issues.

Lastly, have a backup plan if something goes wrong with your technology on the day of the interview. Have a friend or family member on standby in case you need to switch to a different video-conferencing platform or use their device for the call. 

4. Dress professionally

Just because you’re not meeting face-to-face doesn’t mean you can show up in your pajamas. First impressions are still key, so you’ll want to dress professionally from head to toe. That means no sweats, no T-shirts, and holes in your clothes. You should also avoid anything too revealing or too casual.

It’s also important that your hair is well-groomed and you have minimal jewelry. You want the interviewer to be focused on your qualifications, not wondering if you took the time to get dressed for the occasion. Depending on the company culture, you may even want to err on the side of more formal attire.

5. Clean your space

Now that you’ve taken care of yourself, it’s time to take care of your surroundings. Be certain your space is clean and tidy before the interview starts. This will help you feel more confident and focused, and it will ensure that the interviewer can see you clearly on camera.

If possible, find a quiet spot away from distractions like pets, children, or noisy roommates. You’ll also want to make certain that there’s nothing in the background that could be construed as offensive or unprofessional. 

 

Submitting online applications is easy enough, but the real challenge comes when it’s time to interview. But there’s no need to worry, even if this is your first time. With a little preparation, you can ace your virtual interview and land the job of your dreams.

You can ensure that you’re fully prepared for your next virtual interview by following the tips above. From there, simply put your best foot forward and impress the interviewer with your credentials. Go forth and conquer those interviews – you’ve got this!

SEE ALSO: Deep Insights into Internship Opportunities

EDEN Finds His Footing with New Album “no future”

It seems more accurate to say that fame found Jonathon Ng, rather than the other way around.

The 24-year-old Irish artist, who goes by EDEN and whose latest album comes out today, is “one of Europe’s fastest rising stars,” according to The Times. His music has caught the attention of Lorde, who said to him: “Please keep making lovely things. I’ll listen”

He now can boast of over one billion streams, a critically acclaimed debut album, a successful world tour with another one just around the corner.

But Ng comes at his success with a quietness one doesn’t often associate with pop stars. Until quite recently, he produced all of his music himself in his bedroom. He would also post promotional photos with his face blurred.

“I wanted to not be known, like, personally at all,” he said.

But as his music exploded in popularity online, it became harder and harder to keep his identity obscured. He eventually signed with a manager—the same one behind Ariana Grande, Kanye West and Justin Bieber, which led to a record deal with Astralwerks. He went on a 50-date US tour in 2016. He’d reached a point where he could no longer keep it quiet.

Today, his latest album, comes out. Walking the line between earnest emotion and ingenuity, “no future” is another masterful work by the young artist who—although we now know who he is—we expect has only just begun to show us what he’s capable of.

College News reached out to EDEN to talk influences, inspiration and what will come next.

You’ve been producing your own music since you were a teen, putting out albums as The Eden Project and later EDEN. Going back before that, what are your earliest memories of making music?

I started writing music at around seven or eight. I was obsessed with Eminem at the time and would take his songs and essentially just replace all the lyrics with my own. That developed into writing terrible pop songs on piano, which I did for fun in a notebook my mom had got me. That kind of subsided for a few years, until I picked up the guitar at 12 and then I was completely hooked.

How has your background as a classical violinist informed your music today?

I think it really helped me grow a deep understanding for composition. The ways and structures through which music can breathe, develop and move you. So in changing something about a chord, you can change the way a whole section is felt. Its powerful stuff.

When you switched from The Eden Project to EDEN, what changed beside your name?

It was really a change in priorities. Before I had been quite focused on electronic production—the vocals fitting an overall goal rather than informing it. And then it evolved to a point where it felt like everything had joined together. The song-writing I was doing that was separate to the things I was making on my computer started to coalesce. I was transitioning away from the music and ideas that I had originally explored and was really excited about where I was going. it just felt right to have that separation.

Tell us about your new album, “no future”. What’s evolved between your last album, “vertigo” (2018), and this one?

I think both albums have been massively important to me personally. Moving through and out of a really strange and confusing part of my life. Musically I feel like I’m a lot closer to something that feels completely my own. The disorientation that bred “vertigo” is definitely not as apparent on “no future”. “no future” feels like a platform to me. I’m glad to be releasing it, but more excited still for what’s next, to be completely honest. And that’s a feeling that was missing from my life for a long time.

The new singles are great. I especially liked “isohel.” Tell us a bit about it and how it relates to the album as a whole.

“isohel” is actually quite reflective of that transition I was just talking about. That the pieces you had to leave behind in order to move on or grow can still be a source of good feeling, but are best left where they are. Yeah, things could have happened differently, but you are where you are and I definitely wouldn’t risk losing it.

You do most of your recording and producing in your home studio—and of course, you started making music in your bedroom. How do you think keeping this process in your own setting has influenced your music?

On one hand I think that collaboration is a great thing, and if I had not been a solo artist that my journey so far would have been a lot smoother in certain aspects. But I love creating things, and I find the best way for me to get these ideas out of myself is to just do them myself. Which on one hand has led me down certain holes and into dead ends via tunnel vision etc., but on the other I think has allowed me to really just be myself. There are no compromises or outside ideas, so it can be quite unfiltered.

I know it’s become a bit of a trend for artists to put out their album and song names without any capitalization. You’ve been doing it for a while—could you tell us about your thought process for releasing the names of your work all lowercase?

At first, I didn’t really know why I preferred it that way. But it became clear that it was a balance thing. Capitalisation feels like it unbalances words to me. And only recently I was in a museum at a Bauhaus exhibit and realised that it was a movement long before I was born—which at least made me feel less irrational.

Is there anything you were reading a lot or listening to over the course of writing this album?

Solar Bones by Mike McCormack, tonnes of museum visits, your mom’s Facebook friends’ angry comments.

Tell us about your influences, both musical and non. What are the bands and artists that you draw inspiration from? Are there non-musical creators and art that inspire your work as well?

I think my biggest source of inspiration outside of music is film and contemporary art. I have been so lucky to work with astounding directors Zhang + Knight on all my video projects over the last few years, and I even scored their debut short film. It’s such an eye-opening experience working with artists like them.

You’ve spent a lot of time on the road in the past few years and are gearing up for another tour soon. What are you looking forward to with your “no future” 2020 tour?

We have completely rebuilt the show from the ground up. This definitely is the best I’ve ever felt before hitting the road. The show is something I’m so proud to call mine and I can’t wait to share it with people.

What can we expect next from EDEN?

I am already working, and whatever it is will come as soon as humanly possible.

[Answers were edited for clarity/grammar.]

See also: Andrea Gibson is Still Screaming, This Time About Love
The Lumineers: New Album Explores Addiction
Framing Hanley Are Back: On Writing Together Again With Kenneth Nixon

Framing Hanley Are Back: On Writing Together Again With Kenneth Nixon

From a basement in Nashville to a breakout Lil’ Wayne cover, three studio albums, tours of the world and a final show in 2015, Framing Hanley are back on the rock scene and sounding better than ever. Calling it a career after ten successful years, the band have since found their voice again, almost by accident—or fate. Lead singer and songwriter Kenneth Nixon spoke to us about FH’s journey and upcoming album, his struggle with depression and how rock n’ roll is still a huge part of his life.

COLLEGE NEWS: After the announcement that the band would split in 2015, Framing Hanley have made a remarkable and unprecedented comeback in 2018. Could you tell us a bit about how you came to the decision to reunite and what kind of year it’s been as a result?

KENNETH NIXON: After about six months or so of being disbanded, Ryan and I started writing together again for what was originally going to be a new project entirely. That’s where our upcoming album title Sumner Roots came from; it was the name of our new project. I had gravitated toward more roots country/Americana/singer-songwriter stuff. However, as time went on, so did the gain knob on the amplifiers. We realized after a short time that we were writing Framing Hanley songs again—which didn’t come as a surprise, being the two main songwriters through the history of FH. We thought it would be silly to brand it as anything other than what it was: more Framing Hanley.

CN: You have also just released the second single, Baggage Claim, from the much-anticipated new album. How has the response been so far? 

KN: I think people are digging it. It’s a little different from what people have come to expect from Framing Hanley, I know that much. It’s one of my absolute favorite songs we’ve ever released. It’s funny because, while it’s a “relationship” song on the outside, it’s actually about our relationship with the music industry. Trying to walk away but there’s that allure—that stranglehold even—that always draws ya back.

CN: How would you say your sound has evolved and changed over the years?

KN: I always said I wanted our albums to sound like our band continued to evolve with every album we released. So, while the change is there, it’s been natural, and I think has a lot to do with always taking inspiration from what we like listening to. We’ve never been a “well we have to do this because everyone else is” band.

CN: You have spoken openly in the past about your struggle with depression. Could you tell us a bit more about that? Do you have any advice for readers going through something similar?

KN: When your identity as you know it is gone after a decade, it takes a toll on you, that’s for sure. I think there’s a dark place the majority of us get to in our lives, for different reasons. Fortunately, some never have to deal with that. Music was always what helped me write out what I was going through as a form of therapy. When that was gone, it was all bottled up and I didn’t know how to rid myself of it. I went to my doctor; they put me on pills, and holy hell that got scary. To know that there was a medicine that I was depending on to make myself feel happy again…I hated that feeling. I wanted to know that I had that control over myself, so I tossed the meds and started working on me. I picked up a guitar again…picked up a pen again. I spent time with my family more. Instead of just being in the room, I was actually “present.” Let me tell you something, witnessing the innocent laughter of adolescents will do wonders for your own happiness. My kids are all I needed to bring light to that dark place in my life. Before, I was a prisoner in my mind and had blinders on to what was going on around me. For me personally, it simply took embracing the blessings in my life to get out of that. Unfortunately, depression isn’t a one-stop shop. There are people who have it much worse than I did. Ultimately, I just didn’t want to depend on pills to make me smile. Because that’s a very scary line, I think. I’ve talked about that in more detail so I’ll get off my soapbox now—that’s what the song Puzzle Pieces is about.

CN: What do you and the rest of the band like to do in your down time to relax in preparation for a big show or tour?

KN: Well—outside of spending time with my family and watching my three boys grow—when it’s football season, you’ll find me glued in front of a television watching football all day. It’s been a rough six months for ya boy though, as a Jacksonville Jaguars fan. We’re all pretty avid video gamers. Me, not as much as I used to be because my six year old is always on my PS4, but FIFA, NHL…we’ve been known to rock some tournaments on the road to kill time.

CN: And finally, if you could collaborate with any artist (alive or dead), who would it be and why?

KN: This is a tough one. I’d say a collaboration with Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro, Jason Isbell, and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic would make one hell of a song. I love all three of those artists (I’ll go to my grave saying that Jason Isbell is the greatest songwriter of my lifetime). So yeah, that would be a dope collab.

See also: The Lumineers: New Album Explores Addiction
Cocoon Central Dance Team is Pushing Frontiers of Dance and Comedy
Teen Actress Thalia Tran on Preparing for “Little”

The Lumineers: New Album Explores Addiction

“It’s like someone gently waking you up out of a deep sleep,” says Wesley Schultz, guitarist and singer of The Lumineers. He’s talking about “Donna,” the first track on their new album, III.

What Schultz means is that the piano part—written by Jeremiah Fraites, his bandmate of over a decade—is haunting and beautiful, an eerie sign of the heartbreak that lies ahead on III.

This latest work by the stripped-down folk band dives into deeper and darker waters than their previous albums. III tells a poignant and troubling story about the effects of addiction on a family. The album is divided into three chapters, with each chapter focusing on a different generation of the family, starting with the grandmother Gloria Sparks, followed by the son Jimmy Sparks and the grandson Junior Sparks.

“[The album] just shows a really kind of heart-breaking look at trying to love addicts, trying to love somebody that really can’t help themselves,” says Fraites.

III was largely inspired by a family member of Schultz’s who was dealing with addiction, although Fraites’ family has also been touched by addiction—his brother passed away of a drug overdose 18 years ago. For both of them, working on the album became a deeply cathartic process.

“You know how people sing about heartbreak?” Schultz askes me. “Singing about stuff that’s very real or true but hurts, it tends to bring out something in people. I think going there and saying your darkest thoughts or confessing or saying something that you’re going through that a lot of people aren’t talking about, I think it’s something about art and music that’s very healing, it’s very cathartic.”

III will be released on September 13.

On the inspiration for III

As I listen to the first few tracks of III, I understand what Schultz meant about waking from a deep sleep—the melody is beautiful, but the story grips my attention. In true Lumineers style, the music is stripped down and uncomplicated, letting the mastery of their talent shine through; while the lyrics are a complex story that call for many more listens.

I ask Schultz what it was like to bring such a personal story to a large audience, especially one as heart-rending as this.

“I think if you keep too much of a distance in how you’re talking about something—in other words if you’re not vulnerable or putting yourself out there, you’re not really telling the story, you’re not really painting the accurate picture,” he says. “I think initially I was trying to keep a distance between me and that person in the story, but as time wore on it became obvious that it would be a wasted opportunity to actually draw attention to something important. And if I don’t acknowledge that it’s part of my life, how do I expect people to acknowledge that either?”

“It’s kind of like if there’s something in your family, and then you are ashamed by it and you feel like it reflects on you and you don’t want to talk about it, then it becomes this problem that’s also like a secret, and it’s a heavier and heavier burden,” he adds. “I’m happy I did it because I’ve seen afterwards that a lot of people have said a lot of things in a short period of time of how they’ve witnessed this.”

When I ask Fraites, he says: “These lyrics, these videos, us talking about [addiction] in any way shape or form, sort of sheds some light on it or maybe gets people to talk about it and say, ‘oh maybe I do have a problem, maybe I can look for the signs, and help other people.’

“You know we never want to be preachy, and we’re not perfect people.

“But it was something that was real in both of our lives and it feels really sincere and genuine to be talking about it through the medium of this album as a whole.”

On those incredible videos

Adding another layer to the story, the band will release a music video for each song, directed by Kevin Phillips. Several have already come out, depicting the story from the first chapter of the album, and the visuals are stunning.

Schultz and Fraites discovered Phillips’ work on the film Super Dark and knew immediately that he could capture the tone of their new album.

“We knew that we has this album that was a lot darker than previous Lumineers albums, we knew that the subject matter was darker than previous Lumineers lyrics, and I think we wanted to make sure that the videos didn’t look too clean or glossed over with perfect looking model actors and actresses. We really wanted to make it feel authentic and sincere,” said Fraites.

Releasing a series of narrative music videos for every song on an album isn’t a traditional way of doing things, and the band initially had trouble getting the label on board with their plan. “We got a lot of pushback at first,” said Schultz. “And we decided to do it ourselves, and then they eventually got on board and really supported it…

“But I think if you really pour yourself and your resources into something like this it’s always worth doing you never look back and regret it.”

The response has already been overwhelming for the band, with fans reaching out with stories of their own.

On not being pigeonholed

The songs on III seem far away from “Ho Hey,” the sunny hit that launched the band into the mainstream several years ago, or their other upbeat songs, but it’s not, Schultz says.

“I think if you actually go back and go listen to the first album or the second, I can give you many, many examples of what we were singing about and why that was actually pretty dark,” he clarifies for me, when I ask. “I just think this is the first time we’ve maybe made that in music…it just sounds darker.”

The Lumineers are commonly compared to other folk bands, like Mumford & Sons, but Schultz is on record saying that comparison isn’t fair. He elaborates about why he thinks putting artists into categories doesn’t help anyone.

“If someone said to you, you’re this type of writer, I think your initial reaction would be to say don’t pigeon-hole me into this—I’m more dynamic than what you’re saying I am.”

On playing together for over a decade

Fraites and Schultz have been playing together since 2005, when they got their start in Ramsey, New Jersey. They now live in Denver—both are married now and both welcomed baby boys a year ago.

I’m curious about what it’s like to have such a long-standing and close working relationship, especially through all the change, from days of working tirelessly to make rent in NYC to being successful enough to play at the Obama White House twice.

“I feel like more the key ingredient to our relationship is that we’ve been able to not change the writing process,” reflected Fraites.

“When we first started out, we just wanted to write music together, we just needed a piano, some drums, a guitar… I think with album two we did a really good job of still figuring out a way to write music the way we’ve always done, and with this album it was the same thing. It’s a really kind of boring process.” (The band got together at a cabin in the Catskills to write III.)

“Ironically success was one of the most traumatic and difficult things to deal with,” Fraites tells me.

Schultz echoes this sentiment: “Sometimes the success of something actually throws people into a strange or destructive state of mind. And when you’re busy trying and failing, or trying but not having a ton of success, it tends to bring people together.”

“We want to write songs in a certain way,” Schultz adds. “We try to collaborate in this very honest way—like we cut a part or we cut a song—both of us know it’s because we think it’s the best thing for the song, and not for one of our egos.”

The process is clearly working for them.

III comes out on September 13 and is available for pre-order now.

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Teen Actress Thalia Tran on Preparing for “Little”

We love a talented, yet sensible teen actress, and when we talked to Thalia Tran, who appeared in the comedy Little that came out earlier this year, it’s clear that she is just that.

Tran is 13 and lives in California. She’s pursuing a burgeoning acting career, but also singing, piano, guitar and Kung Fu. Read our interview with her to hear Tran talk about how she found her way into acting, preparing for her first big film role in Little and what else she’s interested in.

College News: First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thalia Tran: Hi! My name is Thalia Tran. I’m thirteen years old, and I live in California with my two amazing parents and the best little sister in the world. I’ve always been interested in the arts. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I’ve played the piano since I was six years old, and I also play guitar. When I have some free time, I would love to start learning the drums and devote more time to music composition which is something else that I enjoy. As for my interests that are not related to music or acting, I’ve recently started learning martial arts. It’s definitely been difficult for me, but being the type of person who loves a good challenge, I decided that Kung Fu was perfect for me. My enrollment has been interrupted several times by my filming schedule, but as with anything, you just have to keep pushing forward. As my instructor always reminds me, Kung Fu is not only about training the body but also about training the mind. Through Kung Fu, I have learned a lot about hard work, dedication and perseverance.

CN: What inspired you to get into acting?

TT: Something that not everyone may know about me is that I actually did not start out in acting. My first love was music. My parents always tell me stories about how I used to hum myself to sleep as a baby. From there, my love for music only grew. I sang anywhere and everywhere, and to this day, I still do the same. I had been taking vocal lessons for a while when my vocal coach recommended that I take acting lessons. He said that it would be a great way to improve my performance skills. I signed up for a lesson just to try it out, and I simply fell in love with acting. If it hadn’t been for that one vocal lesson, I would probably not be involved in acting today.

“My first love was music. My parents always tell me stories about how I used to hum myself to sleep as a baby.”

Thalia Tran; Image courtesy of Alex Stone.

CN: Have you done any theater acting? How is that different from your experience acting on film sets?

TT: I have been involved in some wonderful theater projects with some wonderful people, and although I don’t see theater work as my ultimate goal, the experiences were incredible and extremely valuable. There are multiple differences between theater and on-camera acting. While you have the freedom to redo scenes and edit out mistakes in film and tv, on the stage, you only have one chance to take your audience on a journey. Something else about theater acting is that your movements and expressions must be seen by everyone, including those in the back row. When you are on camera, your actions and expressions can be more subtle, and you can speak at a normal volume. However, despite these differences, theater acting has taught me several lessons which are helpful in on-camera acting as well.

CN: Is Little your first big film?

TT: Little is my first big film, and it truly was everything I dreamed of and more. Everyone was so welcoming and kind, and they all inspired me with their incredible dedication. I am so grateful to be a part of a project that not only entertains the audience but also promotes positive messages to the world.

“I am so grateful to be a part of a project that not only entertains the audience but also promotes positive messages to the world.”

CN: How did you prepare for your role in Little?

TT: In preparing for my scenes, I had to put myself in Raina’s shoes and consider her circumstances. Every person has a different point of view, and it was fascinating to explore what it’s like to see the world through Raina’s eyes. What was so amazing about working with such talented people was that their commitment to their characters made it so much easier to be present in the scene and have genuine reactions.

CN: As someone so young who’s still figuring out who she is, what is it like to immerse yourself in being someone else?

TT: Being in the industry at a young age, it is especially important to surround yourself with people who ground you because it’s easy to get caught up in all the craziness of Hollywood. I am so grateful to have such an incredible support network of friends and family who have encouraged me endlessly and stood by me through every single challenge. Acting has definitely had a huge impact on my outlook on life as well as my personality. I learn something from every character that I play. By getting into the mindsets of these different characters and learning where they are coming from, I feel that it helps me to become a more sympathetic person. Realizing people’s motives behind their decisions allows me to better understand them.

Thalia Tran; Image courtesy of Alex Stone.

CN: What other types of roles would you like to play one day?

TT: One of my goals is to play a superhero someday. I’ve always loved fantasy and magic, so I would love to play a character who lives in a world where anything is possible. Long before I started acting I always loved to imagine what it would be like to have superpowers. Also, the superheroes portrayed in the movies often become the role models of children. It would be amazing not only to bring the superhero of my childhood dreams to life but also to inspire so many young children.

“One of my goals is to play a superhero someday. I’ve always loved fantasy and magic, so I would love to play a character who lives in a world where anything is possible.”

CN: Are you working on anything else at the moment?

TT: I recently finished filming Council of Dads, an NBC drama pilot based on Bruce Feiler’s bestselling novel. It’s about a father, Scott Perry, who is diagnosed with cancer, so he gathers his close friends to become a father figure for his children in case he doesn’t survive. I play Charlotte Perry, his adopted daughter who is struggling to figure out who she is. It tells the story of how all of us cope with the devastating news of the cancer diagnosis while simultaneously struggling with the other challenges of our lives, challenges that are magnified by the prospect of losing Scott. The script is so beautiful and powerful, and I truly believe that this is the show that the world needs right now.

CN: What else do you like to do with your free time?

In the little free time that I have, I love to spend time with my friends and family. It’s really important to take time to just be a regular teenager. Whether it be watching a movie or just playing card games at someone’s house, as long as we are together, it’s always fun.

See also: Mads Mikkelsen Open Up About Polar, Gymnastics and Playing the Bad Guy
Rampage Jackson in Conversation: Wrestling, Acting and Family
The Resistance Will Be Cross Stitched: Interview with Shannon Downey

Need Motivation? Meet Astronaut Abby

Need Motivation? Meet Astronaut Abby

Abigail Harrison—known online as Astronaut Abby—is a 20-year-old aspiring astronaut, college student, influencer and creator of the non-profit, The Mars Generation.

The Mars Generation has more than 1,800 students worldwide participating in an innovative Student Space Ambassador Leadership program and has sent over 36 youths to space camp.

We spoke with Abby about her inspiring plans to be the first astronaut to walk on Mars, as well as how she is exciting others about pursuing a career in STEM and how she manages to balance college, work and her personal life.

College News: How did you know you wanted to be an astronaut? 

Abigail Harrison: I’ve wanted to be an astronaut for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are of looking up at the night sky and knowing that I wanted to explore the unknown.

 CN: Who were your role models growing up?

AH: Growing up I looked up to many astronauts—especially the women! Especially prominent to me was Astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger. Not only was she an astronaut, but also an educator. It was her great passion for sharing space exploration that made me look up to her. Three years ago this came full circle when she agreed to join The Mars Generation board of advisors.

 CN: What’s so special about Mars?

 AH: Landing humans on Mars is the next stepping stone for humanity in space exploration. It’s just hard enough to make it nearly impossible, but still doable. It will push our boundaries, challenge the very things we believed to be true about our universe, and allow us to make life here on Earth better. It’s also a great opportunity to search for extra-terrestrial life.

CN: What does your future look like in regards to reaching Mars? 

AH: After graduating from Wellesley this upcoming spring with a BS/BA in Biology and Russian Area Studies, I’m planning to go to grad school for a PhD in astrobiology or planetary sciences/geophysics. Following that, I will work for a few years doing scientific research to gain experience and then I will start applying to the NASA astronaut corp. Throughout this time span, I’ll also be pursuing other skills and qualifications which will hopefully aid in becoming an astronaut and eventually getting to Mars. These skills include obtaining my pilots license (this winter break), continuing to obtain advanced certifications in SCUBA diving, studying Russian and Mandarin Chinese, skydiving licenses and anything else that can strengthen by application to the NASA astronaut corps.

CN: Can you tell us a bit about your non-profit?

AH: The Mars Generation is a 501(c)(3) focusing on educating the public about the importance of space exploration and science literacy, inspiring young people about STEM, and supporting them to pursue careers in STEM fields. We run several core programs including our Future of Space Outreach Program, Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program and our Space Camp Scholarship program that provides full paid (transportation included) scholarships to students experiencing poverty.

CN: What inspired you to start The Mars Generation?

AH: When I was 15 years old I worked with Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as his Earth Liaison, sharing his experiences living and working in space with my social media audience. After working with Luca during his six months in space, I realized how important it is to provide inspiration and educational resources for today’s youth. If we want to see humans walk on Mars—to truly become The Mars Generation—we need to be creating a culture today that will result in a highly skilled and passionate work force in the future. Other than space exploration, educational advocacy is my greatest passion in life. 

CN: Why do you think girls are still underrepresented in STEM occupations?

AH: There’s a long standing stereotype that girls aren’t good at STEM—a stereotype which causes bias in the way girls view themselves and their performance and in the way that everyone else see’s and treats them. We often consider this kind of bias to be a thing of the past, but it’s really not. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it still exists and is hugely problematic.

CN: How can we combat this? 

AH: An incredibly important way to combat the underrepresentation of girls in STEM is to showcase women who are already doing great things in STEM fields. By having highly visible female role models we can teach today’s girls to be able to see themselves pursuing STEM fields, and today’s boys to not be surprised when they see girls excelling in STEM careers. It’s especially important that these role models are visible in pop culture and media—where they’ll have the greatest impact. 

CN: What advice would you give to young girls who are apprehensive about pursuing a career in STEM?

AH: I would tell them that it’s okay to mess up! It’s okay to try something and then decide to go a different path! I think that as girls and women we feel that we need to be better—perfect, even—at things we’re told by society that we can’t do. This is exactly the opposite attitude needed for a career in STEM! A huge part of STEM is messing up—it’s failing 99 times and then succeeding on the 100th. That’s because it’s hard, and it’s not something natural—you have to learn it. It can be really easy to be discouraged early from STEM after failing a few times if you don’t realize how normal and vital to the learning process this is. 

CN: How do you balance college, work and life obligations? 

AH: It’s hard. Balancing my personal life, my work with The Mars Generation, college, and everything else is a constant struggle. I’m constantly double tasking and trying to squeeze every last second out of my days. For example, when traveling to speak at conferences or represent The Mars Generation as an influencer at events, I frequently find myself doing homework in cars, trains, buses, airports, planes—really wherever I can. Sometimes this means getting creative with how I study or what materials I have available. Even so, there are plenty of times where I really have to ask myself: “What’s important to me? What do I want to put my time and energy into?” And that means sometimes having to sacrifice something in order to do something else well.

CN: What would be your number one piece of advice for anyone starting out at college?

AH: Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. College is such an incredible opportunity to learn—both from your classes and from your classmates. But in order to do so you have to recognize that everyone has different talents. So not being the best at something isn’t a reason to not do it, it’s a reason to ask “how can I learn?” and “who can I learn from?”

CN: What is it really like to be an influencer?

AH: Honestly it oscillates between being incredibly tiring and out of this world rewarding. Being able to share my journey towards the red planet with millions of people here on Earth has been an incredible honor.

Common Interview Questions

Common Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

Getting the invitation to attend an interview after countless job applications can be both exciting and daunting. For recent graduates or those still in college, this interview may even be your first in the professional world, so it stands to reason that you might be getting a case of the jitters. While there is no exact science to making a success of an interview, there are various ways would-be candidates can prepare, so that the meeting goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some of the most common interview questions and how to answer them.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

This is largely intended to be an ice-breaker—what it is not, however, is an opportunity to reel off your life story, so try to avoid mentioning where you grew up and what your favorite hobbies are. Hiring managers expect candidates to discuss relevant skills, academic qualifications and work history leading up to this point. To prepare, write down key experiences you have that relate closely to the job you are interviewing for. For example, if you are interviewing for a sales position, your skills and academic qualifications may include:

  • A business or retail degree
  • Previous work in shops/telemarketing, which developed negotiation skills
  • Strong communication and public speaking skills
  • Good at building relationships
  • An interest in the industry.

Why this position?

“I just need a job” is not the correct answer to this one, sorry. When hiring managers ask this common interview question, they want to know the depth of your knowledge about the company and what makes you the right candidate for the role. Thoroughly research the company prior to your interview: Find out their philosophy, achievements, what it is they do and their primary service or product. Then consider how your skills and experiences align with the company as a whole.

What can you bring to the role?

Bragging is a massive faux pas when it comes to interviews, so try to avoid the hard sell when asked this common interview question. Use this time to highlight your skills and how they can increase the company’s overall success for the future. If you are interviewing for a marketing assistant role, you might want to emphasise how your excellent writing and analysis skills gained throughout college can be put to good use. Offer an example of a successful social media campaign you ran that reached a high volume of people, and how that resulted in active sales or drove more traffic to a website.

If you are applying for a sales position, you may want to emphasize your strong negotiation skills. Give a sound example of when you successfully negotiated at work or university and the immediate result. Carefully planning your answer in this way shows hiring managers the effort you have put in to how hiring you would be good for the company.

Further reading: Free Courses to Boost Your Resume

What are your strengths?

Focusing on the strengths that closely relate to the job you’re interviewing for is the best way to navigate this awkward question. Hiring managers ask this question to gauge whether your skills and abilities align with the needs of the company, and whether you would be able to hit the ground running with your new role. Your strengths might include leadership skills, the ability to work both autonomously and within a team, ability to work to tight deadlines efficiently and accurately, or that you are calm under pressure.

What are your weaknesses?

Yes, career coaches tend to advise answering this common interview question with a positive spin. But if there’s anything you take from this article today, it’s that you should avoid “I’m a perfectionist.” This answer is extremely common. Hiring managers hear this very often and it won’t make you stand out from other prospective candidates. Instead, think of an occasion where you effectively turned a previous weakness into a positive. Examples of this might be:

  • You once found it difficult to delegate tasks to others, but now are able to do it with ease.
  • You once tended to overcomplicate your work, but now you look at them logically and create to-do lists to manage your time more effectively.
  • You once found it difficult to speak in public, but after pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and practising throughout college, you can now do this with confidence.

Answering these common interview questions doesn’t require rocket science, just simple, old-fashioned research and practice. The more interviews you have, the more at ease you will become.

Further reading: Avoid These Interview Mistakes

Join the Fight Against Sexual Assault

Join the Fight Against Sexual Assault

Bill Cosby, previously dubbed “America’s Dad”, has recently been sentenced for three to 10 years and “total confinement”. The 81-year-old comedian was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia home in 2004.

The fall of such a powerful media figure began when prosecutors re-opened Constand’s case, after more than 60 other women came forward against Cosby. Her allegation against the man whom she thought was her “mentor and friend” was the only case that occurred within the statute of limitations.

“Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it. He robbed me of my health and vitality, my open nature and my trust in myself and others,” she wrote in her statement.

Cosby may have declined the opportunity to speak before his sentencing, but the voices of many brave women haunt the aftermaths of the trial.

Actress, Lili Bernard said: “On the one hand I feel absolutely elated that justice was served. On the other hand, I also feel disappointed, because clearly the three-year minimum sentence does not adequately reflect the havoc this man, this rapist, has inflicted on so many women, including myself.”

“It does indicate there is now a shift in the legal system that is now going to reflect modern culture, and that now women’s voices are being believed and women’s lives are being valued,” she continued.

Janice Baker-Kinney, who also testified against Cosby, thanked him directly in a statement: “Your arrogance sparked a movement that has grown to thousands of women taking back their self-esteem and proudly standing up for what is morally right.”

Such an inspiring outlook on equality has been helped by Cosby being the first celebrity of the #MeToo movement to be sent to prison. Following the sexual misconduct allegations made against Harvey Weinstein, men and women everywhere are encouraging each other to speak out against sexual assault and domineering ideologies with the hash tag, #MeToo.

“The #MeToo movement has shown that we are at a turning point on certain issues. While many of our elected officials are yet to catch up, the public has become more comfortable with talking accurately about sexual harassment,” says Camonghne Felix, Senior Communications Manager at the Ms. Foundation for Women.

“However, not all women have benefitted from the #MeToo movement equally. The initial survivors who shared stories about their experiences were wealthier, white women, while women of color, LGBTQ and transwomen, undocumented women, and women in lower income work still face exceptional risks to their personal safety every day.

“They are the least likely to be protected and believed in the case of sexual harassment and we need to continue to fight until all women, everywhere, are respected.”

Cosby’s case comes at a time when Brett Kavanaugh is also facing accusations of sexual misconduct.

President Trump has publicly challenged the assertions against his Supreme Court nominee, questioning why they weren’t “immediately filed”.

In the era of #MeToo, thousands of social media users have responded with passionate fury to the president’s comments, recounting why it took them time to open up about their attacks.

College News asked Felix for her thoughts on the link between shame and trauma—an emotion that Andrea Constand openly described as “overwhelming”:

“We need to change the way that our country talks about sexual assault, and we need to change the messages that we send to girls and women about their value and their worth.

“Our country was founded on patriarchy, misogyny, and white supremacy, and cultural acceptance of these societal systems needs to change. For it is these issues that send a clear message to women and girls that they are to blame for what happens to them, and that men do not care about their pain, humiliation, and self-worth,” Felix said.

“We live in a highly patriarchal and misogynistic society—it’s what this country was founded in. Boys and men are applauded for their sexual activity, while girls and women are degraded for it. If a woman is sexually assaulted, often the first instinct is to ask what she was wearing, whether she had been drinking, or how she had been behaving.

“But it does not matter what she was wearing, or if she was drinking, or if she was flirting prior to a sexual assault. Period.

“Because of these expectations and these types of questions, it is difficult for women in our society not to internalize the events that may have happened to them and to blame themselves.

“Overcoming this way of thinking depends on listening to women and believing their experiences so that they are not inclined to blame themselves and feel shame for the abuses perpetrated against them.”

“It does not matter what she was wearing, or if she was drinking, or if she was flirting prior to a sexual assault. Period.“

And how can we continue to bring attention and justice to sex offenders? We asked.

“It is critical that we continue to listen to and believe women and their stories. Whether allegations of misconduct took place three days ago or three decades ago, whether it took place in a social setting or a place of work, it is important that we continue to listen to the stories of women and learn from their experiences.

“But we cannot count on women alone, and women shouldn’t have to share stories about their deep personal traumas in order for change to happen.

“We have to have honest conversations with boys and men about what it means to respect the girls and women around them. Men need to step up and do the hard work of teaching men around them to do, and act, better. Movements can’t grow without allies, and we need to ensure that men are just as active a part of the #MeToo movement as the brave women who have stepped up have been.”

Camonghne is a member of the nation’s oldest women’s foundation, that works to build women’s collective power in the US and advance equity and justice.

“We provide financial and capacity-building investments to grassroots, women-led organizations, that are making meaningful social, cultural, and economic change in the lives of women.

“Only 2 percent of fundraising money goes to women and girls of color, and we believe that, by targeting these underserved groups, we can create better outcomes for all women.”

Felix’s passionate intellect made us eager to get involved.

“Visit our website, join our mailing list and learn more about our current grantee-partners in your community to get involved in issues that matter to women at the grassroots level.

“Keep an eye out for the next Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC), which is currently planning upcoming events in which there will be plenty of opportunities to participate in and advocate for women!”

Bill Cosby may be in prison, but it’s clear that the fight isn’t over.

Find the Ms. Foundation for Women at forwomen.org

Further reading: Amy Schumer and Emily Ratajkowski Arrested During Kavanaugh Protest

Lifetime Income Effected Lack of Mental Health Treatment

Dr. Sherry Benton on Mental Health Support at College

If you’re a college student and you’re struggling with mental health, you’re definitely not alone. College News got advice from an expert.

With a recent research study showing that one in five university students are affected by anxiety or depression, the pressure on campus facilities is high. College News discussed the problem with Dr. Sherry Benton.

Dr. Benton is a psychologist and mental health care administrator with over 22 years of experience. She is also the founder of TAO Connect—a digital platform that functions to make mental health recovery treatments easily accessible.

College News: How can college students reach out about mental health struggles?

Dr. Benton: Most campuses have a counseling center, counseling service or psychological services. Find your campuses service and learn about their programs and services. Typically, they offer a range of options.

CN: What kinds of mental health support facilities should students be looking out for when applying for colleges?

DB: Ideally, campuses should take a campus wide, comprehensive approach—including prevention, resilience training, counseling, groups, bystander education programs and other services. The Jed foundation, “Jed Campus” program works with a campus over a four-year period to insure the campus approach to mental health, substance abuse and suicide, are comprehensive and well-coordinated. Jed Campus designation is an excellent way to insure a campus has taken these issues seriously and thought out the best approaches for them.

CN: What are the most common and the most effective ways to deliver mental health therapy?

DB: Different people have different needs and respond to different approaches. Traditional face-to-face individual psychotherapy is the most common and best known. However, research has shown it is not more effective than group therapy or internet based cognitive behavioral therapy for many common problems. Many people also find self-help or apps effective for them.

CN: Do you think that students do not receive enough mental health help at college?

DB: I think most universities work very hard to meet the need, yet providing psychotherapy is really expensive and often difficult to access everywhere not just in universities. Using effective models such as stepped-care can help campuses to stretch limited resources to provide more help to more students. In stepped-care, students are quickly assessed and then begin with a level of help likely to be helpful. Progress is monitored regularly and students can be moved to more intensive or less intensive levels of help depending on their responses.

CN: How can campuses raise awareness and take a proactive approach to mental health?

DB: Campuses can raise awareness through the following: educational campaigns, resilience training in freshman orientation classes, bystander education programs like Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) or Kognito, education programs through Greek houses, residence halls, athletic departments, clubs and organizations.

CN: Are there exercises that students can practice on their own to help improve their mental state?

DB: Mindfulness meditation is something everyone should do. The many health benefits and mental health benefits would suggest that daily meditation should be as consistent as brushing your teeth. Another option is TAO Connect, which provides students access to its self-help courses whenever they want, without having to make an appointment to see a therapist.

CN: What is TAO Connect?

DB: We are a suite of online tools for mental health screening, assessment, patient education, skill development and progress monitoring. TAO can be used as self-help or with a therapist or case manager. TAO’s materials are interesting and engaging with actors in scenes, animations, interactive exercises and journaling.

CN: How can students take advantage of TAO Connect?

DB: There are 120 colleges in the US and Canada offering TAO’s programs to students either as self-help or through their counseling center. Contact your counseling center to find out if your school subscribes to TAO.

Further reading:

You’re Not Alone: Facing Loneliness In College

How To Conquer Exam Anxiety?