By Michelle Rappaport
Take every chance that is given, no matter how hard the task, to embark on a road to success, an expert in strategic corporate communication told students at Towson University last week.
Tracy Imm, the director of internal communications at Erikson Living, also shared personal stories to show students that they should not only have a career that they want but one that they enjoy.
“As you go through your career and you have different opportunities that are presented to you, believe in yourself and push yourself so you can do things,” Imm said during a March 24 seminar about the transition from college to the real world. “You’ll be surprised to where that will lead.”
Quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, Imm added: “You must do the things you think you cannot do.”
Imm said that everyone is here for a reason and has his or her own special gifts. She told students to create their own road map in life after college.
“You’ve been put here for a reason,” Imm said. “How are you going to create the path that’s right for you?”
As a student prepares for the transition from college to a career, Imm said they should establish their priorities and prepare to make sacrifices.
“You need to decide what you want,” Imm said. “Are you willing to move to a different city? Are you willing to take a job for less pay but get the experience?”
Imm encouraged students to find a good balance between a career and their personal life.
“More importantly then having an amazing career is having an amazing life,” Imm said. “It is important that you don’t think job, job, job, job, job, because what you don’t think is that your job could be gone tomorrow.”
It is OK for a person to leave a job if it makes them unhappy, Imm said.
“I’ve worked in companies that everyone is nice and I’ve worked in companies that are very confrontational,” Imm said.
Imm said there are several steps students can take to set themselves apart from other job candidates. Students should demonstrate enthusiasm, be innovative and immerse themselves in the study of leadership, she said.
“Before you go to bed, ask yourself these questions,” Imm said. “What did I learn today? Should I have done this? What will I do differently? And how did I grow today?”
Creating a personal brand was another of Imm’s suggestions for preparing for an interview. She said students need to know who they are as a person and what they can bring to a business.
“Companies are trying to figure out if you fit in,” Imm said. “Never underestimate the connections you can make.”
Practicing patience is important, according to Imm.
“I always wanted things to happen fast,” Imm said. “If you appreciate what you have now, other things will come. A lot of times we are looking behind us…, we are not looking at what’s coming.”
Imm said things can be overwhelming but to not only think short term but long term as well.
“Be the CEO of your life,” Imm said. “While you may have different companies on your resume, it’s about the legacy that you leave.”