More likely than not, in recent years you’ve likely heard of the concept of minimalism.

For those unaware, minimalism is not - contrary to popular belief - the idea of having as few material possessions as possible. Rather, it is the idea of living with intention. The idea that each item you own has a purpose and brings genuine value or utility into your life.

I can already hear you objecting – what does minimalism have to do with professional development? If I wanted to hear about this, I would just go to one of the many other places on the internet to go learn more, right?

To answer the latter question, I would highly encourage you to do so! And I’ll be linking a few good places to begin at the end of this post. As for the former, minimalism can translate spectacularly to the world of professional development, and in more ways than you would think.

Let’s take a look at that definition again. “Living with intention”. Why should this apply to only the items we own? Let’s apply this mindset to our careers as well.

Certainly, I cannot be the only one who has at some point questioned why I am pursuing the major I am.

Is it because I desire the work? Do I desire the money? Does the work that comes with that field of study align with my personal values? What are my personal values?



Wait, slow down!



Before we fall too deep down the rabbit hole of existentialism, I simply want to point out the nature of these questions. We tend to ignore them in our daily lives because they are difficult ones to answer. It is easy to dismiss them in favor of living in the moment, in the pursuit of something greater down the line.

As 2021 continues, I encourage our brothers to consider what our values are. When we become more intentional in the path we are taking, we can more easily identify opportunities that are best for us and seize them. When we apply the ideas of minimalism to our studies and our careers, we can be satisfied with our actions and confident in the direction we are going.

At its core, minimalism is about finding value in each possession. So, what about professional minimalism? I encourage you to work toward these principles:
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• Find value in the actions you take.
• Find value in the connections you make.
• Find value in the things you learn.
• Give value to your community and your workplace.

​I never said doing any these was easy, but by living out your professional lives with intention, you will find purpose and meaning in the things you do and be much more satisfied doing them.

If you cannot find value in something you are doing, it might mean that thing requires closer examination. If there truly is no value in something, asking yourself why you do it. If you removed it from your life, would you be better or worse off from it?

Above all, avoid simply going through the motions of life. Action creates action. The first step is always the hardest, so start small.

I will leave you with one parting question. Look at your schedule and ask:

• Ask for help when you need it -  I know sometimes as a chapter leader it may feel as if you need to figure everything out by yourself, and be the one to come up with creative solutions and ideas. Speaking from experience, this is not the route to take. I have never met a more caring and supportive group of people, and I can promise that they will be more than willing to help you. In addition, it is important that you share vulnerability with your team, to let them know that you are human too. 
• Cherish every moment - There will be times where you are stressed, and feel as if you have too much on your plate. These instances are inevitable, but do not let them captivate the big picture. Your time will fly, and it’s pivotal you embrace the craziness, but never lose the appreciation of your time and family in Delta Sigma Pi. 
• Steer the ship - Finally, you are the captains of the ship now, so steer it in the direction you want to travel! Define your vision early, set your strategic goals, and then chase after them with a full head of steam. Leave this fraternity in a better state than what you found it in. 

With that being said, I cannot express just how much of a remarkable time it has been being president, as it has been a year full of accomplishment, growth, trial and error, and enjoyment. As we have seen numerous great new brothers be initiated, we also say our farewells to our tremendous seniors. Thank you to all the seniors for their guidance and expertise throughout this year, as your mark on the Lambda Xi chapter will not be forgotten. Next, thank you to the rockstar executive committee team of Kira, Sabrina, Elizabeth, Cassidy, Sarah, Brooke, Ryan, Jaclyn, Bridget, Ahren, Lauren, Peri, and Emma, for executing our chapters goals, believing in a vision, and placing us in a position of success. If any future employers are reading this, hire them. After that, thank you to Delta Sigma Pi’s national leadership team for allowing chances like this to be possible. And as a closing remark, thank you to the entire Lambda Xi chapter for making this the most fulfilling year of college for me. While I will miss reading ritual before the opening and closing of each meeting, this position has allowed me to solemnly swear that I know the difference between A.M. and P.M., and in addition to being able to know how to dress correctly for a professional event. 

You didn't receive anything monetary, or any sort of gift, and you didn't have a large event to warrant a Thank You note, so why would you send one out? Well, someone gave you your time, and you should let them know that you appreciate them taking the time to speak to you, but when do you write one? How do you write a professional one? Would an email suffice? Here are all of your answers...

While it really is up to you whether you think it would be appropriate to send a thank you email or note, here are some instances where you may want to write one:

• After speaking to someone at a career fair
• After an interview (any round)
• After a job shadow
• After receiving a letter of recommendation

​Overall, whether you write a thank you note or not is somewhat dependant on the relationship you want to maintain with the other party. They keep your name in the other person's head, and they are more likely to remember who you are if you should get in contact with them again.

You've now decided that it is worth it to send a thank you to someone who took the time to do something for you, whether it be a task or taking the time to meet with you. However, what is better: an email, or a hand-written note?

Congrats, you've been invited for an interview! You've made it this far, but what do you do now? Here's what you need to know:

Before you leave to go to the interview, you should do a few things that pertain to the company itself.

Do your research! Interviewers may ask what drew you to the company, or what aspects of the website, social media, etc. you liked, what you thought of them, etc.

Print extra copies of your resume. If they ask you to bring X number of copies, bring 2 or 3 extra. If they don't ask for any, bring about 5, so that you are prepared. If you don't end up using them, then they are ready for your next interview!

Arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time. If you're on time, you're late.

Ask when you will hear an answer by, in order to get a timeline.

Write down what you liked, what you did not like, how you felt, etc. about the interview. This will help you as you go on in your job search. If you have a gut feeling during the interview, write that down.

Write thank you notes. Hand-written, signed, stamped, mailed thank you notes. Thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity. Personalize the note to the interview, not just a standard template. Thank them for teaching them about some aspect of the company, and that you're excited to hear more.

EMails are also acceptable, but they are much less personal. If you write a thank you note, then the interviewer is more likely to remember your name.

Add team/department members on LinkedIn. Write a tailored connection request note, don't just add them. Write that you are interested in learning more about the company from an insider's perspective, most about your individual department, etc. 

If you don't get the job, still write a note or send an email, and add some people. Thank them for their time and that you hope their search goes well. Be courteous in accepting the decline.

Second and third interviews are often more professional than the first round of interviews. In second and third rounds, you'll be learning more about the specific role you will be filling, and the first steps you will take as you begin the role.

A second, or even third, interview does not mean that you have been given the position. Remember that, and don't act like you have it.

You also are probably not going to be talking with the original interviewer, but you can elaborate on examples you've already used, since they will share notes between interviewers.

Practice your body language. If you slouch, and the first interviewer didn't notice, the second one may. So practice sitting properly, and not touching your face.

Ask more detailed questions about the role. Refer back to the notes you took in your first interview, and elaborate upon those.

Send more thank you notes, especially if you interviewed with different people. Every round of interviews is different, and you should make it known that you are appreciative of everyone taking the time out of their workday to talk to you.

When most young professionals think about having a portfolio, they typically think of photographers or artists. However, having a portfolio website is a great way to show off your skills, and what makes you stand out from other job candidates. This is especially true if you are looking for a career in marketing, as several companies ask for examples of work to provide, depending on the position you apply for. They also can make you stand out when at a career fair or networking event, so that your name is remembered by potential employers!

"A portfolio website is something that acts almost as a living resume. It shows your most relevant skills, and what you can do, or at least what you have learned to do on your own; it shows that you have more marketable skills that can help a company soar, rather than just what the requirements are for a position."
​Emma Potter, Acting Web-Master W 2019 - W 2020

Essentially, it is a way to show any company what you've got, and what they're working with. It can show what you've learned to do, as well as what the ground floor is for what you could do for an organization. In the beginning of this article, there are four great reasons for why you should start your own website. If you don't want to click on the link and read them, they are:

1. A website isn't static; it's dynamic. It moves with you and throughout your professional life.
2. You are more findable. People can find you and reach out to you if they think you'd be a good fit for an opening. (Take this one with a grain of salt, though.) And you can establish a personal brand, and show that yours works with the company's brand.
3. Not many people have one; you already put yourself outside of the crowd.
4. You gain skills while doing so!

Depending on what discipline you are studying, a portfolio website can be the best way to show off what you've done in the past. For example, you could upload a copywriting example, or some marketing campaigns you've done for internships. On the Finance/Accounting side, you could upload some A+ assignments you've turned in, to show you really know what you're doing. Anything visual is great.

There are plenty of resources! We recommend using Weebly, as that is what our chapter uses to build our website! There is a free option, which provides plenty of building options for working on your site, and also has several templates to work with, so that it is as easy as possible to build something spectacular!

Other options include Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix. Links to all of these options will be linked below!

In order to rock that career fair you're getting ready for, or someone asks why you're looking for a job in a specific industry, or you're looking for a way to face that dreaded "So tell us about yourself" part of an interview, you need a good elevator pitch. Here are some tips to help you rock one out!

According to Indeed:

It is a great way to give a 30-second introduction of yourself, like a spoken cover letter. It should essentially be a summary of who you are. Indeed has several examples of what should be said, and different ways you can emphasize what you want; the article for them will be linked down below.

Obviously, you can use them at career fairs, and when directly asked about employment somewhere. However, you can also use them when crafting an idea and pitching it to your boss/another coworker. If you've got an idea and happen to be with them for a few minutes, just go for it! The worst they can do is say no. (Just make sure you can get all of the relevant information to them before you walk away.)

The other article has a great layout of a step-by-step guide for how to create one, and what the final product should look like. Feel free to take a look!

Have any other tips? Leave a comment down below!

LinkedIn is quickly becoming a widely used media service in business and recruitment as businesses become more digital and their web presence becomes more impactful. Most individuals either currently use or intend to use the social media platform for the purpose of appealing to recruiters and businesses in their field. LinkedIn isn’t necessarily unique in the purpose of users “selling” themselves to others, but it is a more professional and deliberate way of doing so. Here are some tips to better sell yourself on LinkedIn.

1. Define Your Goals

What are you looking for in your career? How do you think LinkedIn will better help you get there? These should be the first questions you consider when customizing your LinkedIn profile. What you put on your profile should tailor to your goals and help you reach them. These goals should be a clear statement; what do I want and how will I get there? More importantly, they should be realizable. The people you will network and connect with want to see that you have aspirations and the dedication to reach those aspirations. Once this is defined, you can begin laying the groundwork for your profile.
 
2. Improve Your Visibility to Others

In order to start the path to achieving your career goals on LinkedIn, you need to be visible, frequent, and reachable. First and foremost, optimize your introduction card. This is the first part of your page that anyone will notice and where you will make the biggest impact. The introduction card has three parts: the profile picture, the cover picture, and the headline. Your profile picture should be a clear, professional, and mild. Based off this picture is how people will recognize and assess you. You want to appeal to others as easy-going but not unreliable, professional but not unapproachable. Your cover image should be a compliment to your page, not a centerpiece. Make it something more neutral but personalized to your life or work. The headline is where you can clearly state who you are and what you do.

The key is to make it short but make it meaningful with 120 characters. Make a statement about your job or field and how it pertains to you. Use words that you want to be recognized as. If your field is marketing, then you’ll want to include keywords that can be connected to the word “marketing”.
 
3. Post Quality and Consistent Content

The content you post will define yourself to those who view your page. Much like any other social media network, people want to see interesting things about yourself. The difference with LinkedIn is that you’ll want it to be professional as well. This doesn’t mean you should only post pictures of yourself shaking hands with a Fortune 500 CEO or how you accepted a new position at a company. Perhaps you attended a leadership seminar or committed your time to volunteer or even a discussion post. Vacation beach pictures in Cabo? Probably not. You will want the people who view your content to be interested and engaged.

However, along with being professional, coming off as approachable and human is important as well. Someone is more likely to want to meet and talk with you if they think they’ll get along with you. You’ll also want your content to reach out to a “target market”. This target market can be the demographic of recruiters in your field, clients, peers, or potential employees of your company. If your content can further your personal brand, then it is worth posting.
 
4. Connect, Connect, Connect

At this point, you have the infrastructure of your profile built. Now all that is left is connecting with peers. Connecting on LinkedIn is how you expand your network. The more connections you have, the more likely you are to encounter people who may have something to offer you. Are the people in your network successful? Notable? Experienced? People will often view the people in your network as a reflection of your own traits and personality, like other social media platforms.

However, just because you have a strong network does not mean you have a strong platform. Joining groups is also a great way to connect with new people and show that you are active in a diverse area of interest. When connecting with someone, it is often best to offer a reason to connect, not just for the sake of doing so. For example, perhaps you are both alumnus from the same school or had the same previous employer. This allows for something to talk over and lead into different areas of conversation. At this point you have everything in place to start the actual networking aspect of LinkedIn. 

For anyone reading this who isn't in the Lambda Xi chapter, or is still relatively freshly initiated from last semester, have you ever wondered just who makes up the full eboard? For some general information about our eboard and the individual bio pages, you can click here. However, we thought it might be nice for some of our board members to re-introduce ourselves to the new brothers of our chapter, as well as individuals who may not know us at all. So, here is your Winter 2020 eCommittee:

"This role has helped me develop leadership roles, and also has given me the freedom to learn more on my own about web development, as well as visual appeal and writing. I've genuinely learned a lot through the other board members, past Web-Masters, and my chapter in general. I am forever grateful for the editors that help me write the blog posts and everyone who gives me feedback on the website, in general.

"While being in this position, I intend to create something of intangible value to the chapter, and create that foundation for the next Web-Masters. This has been my goal with everything I've put into the Fraternity, but especially with the website."