021006CCLC

Beyond Graduation
2/13/06 at 8:14:55 AM

Alternatives, Networks, and Leaders

Peer Advisers Create Alternatives Project for Students
by Tim Schuster
CCLC Peer Adviser

The burdens of student life—and even the benefits—can sometimes be draining for students, and sometimes make it hard for them to remember what passions ignite their interests. As a way to keep students aware of all the options and opportunities that await them in the world outside college, the CCLC peer advisers have initiated the Alternatives Project, focused on post-graduation options beyond graduate school and entry-level jobs. These opportunities and adventures range from working your way around the world to becoming a white-water rafting guide, from longterm service-learning to applying for MTV's "The Real World," and lots more.

The Alternatives Project is not so much about information as it is about inspiration. It strives for a countercultural approach to building a bridge to the post-college world. It lets students know about options that incorporate experiential learning, adventure, transcendence, love, and the ability to dream big dreams. This project can equally help students who just want to refocus their plans, rejuvenate, and relight the passions that brought them to their studies to begin with.

Please contact CCLC Peer Advisers Tim Schuster or Aundrea Billings with any contributions or suggestions for this project. Reach them at 612-624-7577 or cclc@class.umn.edu. Hang on for the ride!

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Career Services: Serving and Leading
by Liz Hruska

The Career Development Network (CDN) is a group of U of M career staff from across campus. CDN members work in a variety of capacities—serving students directly, working with employers, organizing events, teaching, coaching, and so on. The goal of the group is to increase communication within a decentralized model of career services, build relationships among our peers, share resources and ideas, and work together to create the best possible career services at the University of Minnesota.

How do we do this? One way is CDN's focus on professional development at its monthly meetings. These monthly sessions inspire and educate CDN members, keeping them plugged into career services trends, as well as personal and professional development ideas. CDN also coordinates two yearly retreats.

This year's biannual retreat took place on January 12, with the CCLC career counseling and employer relations staff in attendance. Its topic, "Grown Up Leadership," was presented by Maureen Bailey of Bailey Consulting Group. She dissected how we can each develop into a "grown up leader" -- moving from the proverbial kids' table in the workplace to the adults' table of leadership. One of the pointers that resonated most to CDN members was this quote: "The main difference between effective and ineffective leaders at the top of organizations is the degree of interpersonal sensitivity displayed by the leader." (Morgan McCall, USC's Marshall School of Business). Accordingly, Bailey posited three basic tenets to successful leadership: maturity, versatility, and relationship-based leadership. By the end of the session, each person had identified his or her individual leadership style.

If you'd like to join or learn more about the Career Development Network, please contact Liz Hruska, CDN vice chair and CCLC career coordinator, at 612-625-9358 or lhruska@class.cla.umn.edu .

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