There’s a great simple luxury that so many universities hold, and that is the power of networking. While any one person can go out and find contacts, possibly exploiting them for their value, organized events are by far the work-horse of networking power. Later this week Appalachian State University is hosting its Business Career Symposium.

Open to Juniors, Seniors and MBA Graduate Students, this is a gold-mine of opportunity. With companies like BB&T, Wells Fargo, Ally Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, events like the BCS are just one of many chances students get to network. But this one event is like a small gem because only 200 students can register. Beyond this one event, the chances for any student anywhere to get their resume updated and use their university for contacts and new connections.

Don’t be afraid to communicate

In any event where you meet someone, you’re there to keep in touch in the long-run and hopefully take advantage (in a good way) of the connection that you’ve made. When you’re there, don’t be the one person handing out resumes saying, “Hey, this is why you should hire me.” In my opinion that’s just a hot route to being annoying.

You’re looking for a solid communication with the representatives that show at these events. Find a conversation where you see eye-to-eye with the person and engage them. Engage in a relevant conversation to what you want in your job hunt, what you expect from potential employers. Do more than just be a wallflower at the event, be the person who has something interesting to say.

Keep in Touch

The communication after an event is by far just as important as a Thank You note after an interview or maintaining contact with an old friend. It IS the true networking part of these opportunities. When you do receive contact information use it. This valuable information is given to you for a reason.

If you get an email address – check it on LinkedIn

Twitter Handle? – Shoot them a DM or an @ Reply, let them know your appreciation.

Mobile Number – Give them a call, let them know your your interest, even chat them up some more if they have the time. If no leave a message, express yourself.

Whatever the chances you get, don’t be afraid to Network the chances you do get.

After reading a post in the NY Times, it’s about time I told you about my job hunt this past summer, and why it’s not that 20-somethings don’t want to grow up, but why it’s damn-near impossible for us to do so.

I spent the entire 2010 summer passing out resumes, interviewing with companies large and small, and working my butt of to try to find just an internship. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like for people with entire careers under their belts trying to find new jobs.

A while back I came across this video by Max Radi at Ignite Portland 8.

The sticking point for this video is at the 4:25 mark. Max explains that our generation is in a bind because we’re looking for Jobs to give us experience, but we are often denied jobs because of a lack of experience. We’re caught in a place where expectations by companies are set in a way that college students seeking internships sometimes what we want to do isn’t necessarily our field of study.

I love social media, I’d love to work in marketing. My problem, I’m an International Business Major…It’s possible I might come out with a minor in marketing, but most people looking for social media people are looking for communications, or PR…That’s not me. But as Max mentions, why not hire someone and mold them, train them to be the person that you need them to be and from then on you have someone exactly qualified and right where you want them.

In today’s economy chances can’t be taken in hiring the wrong person, and that’s understandable. What we study in college doesn’t guarantee we’ll know what you want us to know when you hire us. The training you give us has little bearing on our past experience, or what you expect us to know.

Remember, we need the experience too. If you’re hiring someone for an internship, why not hire the person with the least experience, and give the person with more experience the opportunity for an entry-level position. This will let you mold the intern to the way you want them.

What do you think? How is your company hiring interns?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by eCampus, I have received compensation for this post. That will be all, continue to read. -Greg

At Appalachian State, we have a great resource that not many other campuses have. Most universities require a student to buy their textbooks, whether from Amazon, second hand, or any cheap way they can get their hands on. We all know that us a students are probably the most thrifty when it comes to money. We sacrifice good beer with cheap beer, good soup with Ramen noodles, the list is endless really.

While options exist, like Craigslist or re-selling on Amazon or eBay to make your money back for the hundreds you dump on textbooks every semester, eCampus offers a unique solution. Textbook rentals from online. As one of the only services that does this you’re saving money at the beginning of the semester which gives you a better deal at the end of the semester when you’re really strapped for cash.

Lets thing about this logically, over at Amazon, the textbook Sociology in Our Times is on sale (New) at $95.97, the used book price is around $70-$75. The same textbook over at eCampus is, $62.10 for the full semester (130 days), Free Shipping and Free Return. So, even if you buy from Amazon and re-sell at the average used book price, you’re saving around $10/per book, that’s a couple runs to CookOut after a night out (If you’re from NC, or any place with a CookOut you know what I’m talkin’ about).

How it Works

eCampus revolves around their plan of the 4 R’s.

• Rent
• Receive
• Read
• Return

Simple plan, simple solution is the way I see it. You find the book(s) that you need, you order them, pay, use them, when your rental time is up, you log in to their book return, and print out your return ticket for UPS (you’re up to package it though. I feel like I should add more to this process, but that’s it…really.

Besides just renting textbooks eCampus offers the opportunity to buy textbooks as well as college apparel or DVDs & Blu-ray.

Have you used eCampus? What was your take? Would you use this? Leave a comment, let me know!

Image by Anonymous9000

My friend asked me once a while back, how did I manage my SEO strategy in order to rank high, and basically dominate the first page of Google results for “Greg de Lima”?

Quite simply, it all boils down to patience.

I have never really managed my self in a way of SEO to intentionally try to become the lead results of my own search results. When I began my blog in Early 2008, I couldn’t have told you what Search Engine Optimization was. But now, with a little bit of understanding and a couple of WordPress plugins achieving and maintaining the results is just a matter or patience.

Here are my tips:

• Keep consistent – The name you use in one place should be the name you use everywhere else. I branded myself since the beginning as Greg de Lima (@gregdelima, Facebook.com/gregdelima, gregdelima.posterous.com, gregdelima.tumblr.com etc.) If you change it, make sure you change them all, unless you want a different association with each.
• Post Often – If you are not keeping updated or posting something at least once every two weeks (I have found) can lead to lower results, or less accurate results. Keeping fresh news coming from your consistent names gives search engines something to keep posted.
• All-in-One SEO Pack – Get it. Use it, considering you’re running on WordPress. Download here.
• Link Out/Link In – If you mention external sources, link to it. Whether these posts are within your own blog, someone else’s, a news article, etc. Hit up a small link, and make sure the link title reflects what it is. Ex; Greg de Lima on Twitter (@gregdelima) the html should look something like this:<a title=”Twitter – Greg de Lima” href=”http//twitter.com/gregdelima>@gregdelima</a>
• Be Patient – Rome wasn’t built in a day.

From a students point of view, especially for young entrepreneurs, this will definitely help with new and upcoming personal brands. Getting yourself known and building up your network never hurt anyone!

Downside – don’t do anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see. You get one bad rep on your name, and it will definitely hurt your reputation.

Disagree? Extra tips? Leave a comment!

After a lovely break to Florida (Miami, Orlando and Cocoa Beach) I’m back in the land of the Pines. I always ask myself how I can come back here after being back in the amazing warmth of the Caribbean air, even just in Florida.

Now though, it’s back to the college grind. So far my class schdule looks like it will be a good time. A lot of Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes. Running up on th 18 hour credit mark. This semesters courses are: Accounting 2, Statistics 2, Astronomy 2, Macroeconomics, Scuba Diving, ASU Men’s Glee Club, and Intro to Finance. So it should be tough enough to give me another run for my money.

My plans to study abroad are still moving forward. I have 2 aspects left of my aplication to complete then it’s off for review.

If you’d like to help me study abroad just check out the widget below.

If you have any tips for the classes I have this semester, leave them in the comments! For you other college kids, enjoy your spring semester!

I’ve been back in Boone for about three weeks now, it’s great! I love being back and the weather is amazing. But now that I’m back it’s a new routine. So because of my time being back here’s a great way to allocate time and find ways to study between your breaks and scarce time off.

Between Classes

While you’re between classes if you have longer breaks around and hour long, take that time and hit the library, review, and type up your notes in a way that makes them easy to read and study. This helps you a lot. Being able to go back through your notes enables them to be committed to memory, and locks them in. The fact you’re saving them in a study guide style (however that may be for you) makes them better for reviewing for exams.

In Class

Do you use a laptop, or iPhone or iPod Touch? Consider Evernote. A note taking tool that syncs with your iPhone, Desktop, and Online. This is great because it lets you access your notes wherever. Though the free version has limited space if you use many photos, it is great for text documents and the like. Otherwise, make sure your notes are clear and you understand them. If you can’t follow your train of thought in your notes, how do you expect to be able to get back to them and recall what you learned?

Organize Yourself

Stand back and take a look at everything that’s on your plate. Sort it out and find a way to make it all fit together. I for example have one 5 subject notebook, it holds all I need. I also tote my laptop on Mon, Wed, Fri, that way if I need it I have it with me. Be sure your home is organized also. Make sure your papers are in order, your desk is neat all that fun jazz your mom always told you to do. Keep all your play and work separate, if you get these mixed up, you’ll end up foolin around instead of getting your work done.

Hoard Your Dough

Save Save Save. If you don’t need to spend it don’t! If you have a meal plan use it. I know the on campus food might be about the worst thing you’ve ever had, but hey, it’s on your meal plan. If your off campus, use the grocery store’s discount program. It Helps! Get the generics, and the staples, you only need these once. Use menus and opensourcefood for some ideas on recipes. This lets you get good food ideas while saving the money from going out.

I love college, but sometimes getting all the paying work and all the schooling work done can be a bit of a damper on time. So to ease the time and leave room for the college life, here are a few tips on establishing better sleep, work, and college life habits.

Quick Tasks

This goes for both Work, and School. If you have small tasks that can be done in under 5 minutes, do those first. It not only gets them out of the way, but mentally it gets more done in the beginning which leads to a psychological funk that makes you think you’re actually doing more.

Set Aside Time

Set aside at least 3 hours a day so you can get all your school work done, prioritize your quick tasks, common homework and then your projects and presentations taking up the most time. Make sure you set aside time to study and make sure that all of your work gets done properly and to the best of your ability.

Late Night Productivity

Many times working later can help you get more done, there are less distractions and the atmosphere tends to be much quieter. So if you’re a college night owl (like most tend to be) then try doing your heavier work load later.

Balance

Don’t ever overload yourself. You know what you have to get done. If it is a long term project, work on it a few hours a day, and get it done early and well. Always balance your school and your work, and your partying.

Where’s the Fun?

For heaven’s sake, you’re in college. With all the balancing, and setting apart time,  make sure you party it up a little bit, and get out there. There are connections to be made, people to meet, and ladies to flirt with. It’s a fun time, best 4 (or so) years of your life.

In a time of saving money and proper budgeting, I am so tired of hearing all my friends say, "Dude, I am so broke." So here are tips for keeping the money in your pocket while still keeping a solid lifestyle and reputation for the college kid.

Walk

If you can walk from off campus, do so. Not only is this "Greener" but it spares having to pay for on campus parking, fuel, car maintenance and other expenses. If you don’t like walking try biking, or rollerblading, these are all simple economic options to driving. If you’re too far for any self powered options, Public Transportation is very often provided by the university or town/city.

Budget it out

I use Excel spreadsheets a lot because they help me lay things out quickly with the use of formulas and their quick copying. So break it down, look at how much money you have, what will you make (working somewhere) and allot it out. Set caps on Gas, Groceries, Beer etc. The more you prep for what you need, the more you can have for partying.

Cook at Home

Stop going to Cookout, or whatever your late night quick meal is (Unless you budgeted that one in there) and start cooking at home. Yes, groceries are becoming more expensive but take a look at the How To Wiki for Shopping and Cooking at home Frugally and get some helpful tips. Also Opensourcefood.com is a gathering of recipes from people who post them, kind of like a wiki for recipes. If you don’t know how to cook much try that.