Rachel Canfield is a senior at James Madison University (JMU) and will graduate in May with a degree in public relations and print journalism. For the past two years, she has worked as an Editorial Assistant and Student Researcher for the Journal of Mine Action, an international publication about explosive remnants of war.
She also works as Managing Editor of The Bluestone, JMU's 400-page yearbook, and a student speech consultant at the university's Communication Resource Center.
Through her four years at school, she has volunteered for WXJM, JMU's student-run radio station, and the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference (MACRoCk).
During the summer of 2007, Rachel interned in Washington, D.C., with a global strategic communications consultancy and hopes to start a career in public relations after graduation.
Rachel Canfield's blog is Life Before Noon.
Sure, you get hired based partially off your personality and your interactions with interviewers, but, you are not hired to be someone’s best friend.
In the workplace, staying in your comfort zone isn’t good. I know what I should do, what I have to do, but I can’t actually bring myself to do it. Just ticking tasks off a list are not good enough, even if I tick them off efficiently and effectively.
Today, after going over a few cover letters, I made a decision. I’m writing my own rules for this decision-making process. I will not be a slave to the traditional resume necessities, but I will expect a high level of professionalism and experience.
It’s the eve of my first day of work. My outfit is laid out, including my summertime slingbacks. I’ve read the first of my orientation materials, rounded up the necessary documents and planned out my commute. And then I got on the wrong bus.
Do you know what it feels like to physically create something? To build something, or make something work with your own two hands (no computer involved)? I can’t remember the last time I put something together that didn’t come with Ikea instructions.
In the last week of being offer-less, selectivity was out the door and desperation sunk in. But in three business days, three offers were made and I found myself in an interesting situation. I had a decision to make, and a lot of things factored in […]
In three days I will graduate from college. It is the “end of the beginning,” or so they say. With me I will take a number of valuable lessons, which I will share with you through a variety of familiar adages […]
I headed into Washington, D.C. last week, relying on my GPS navigation system to carefully guide me. Apparently, Emily, my trusty navigator, didn’t account for the Pope’s parade route. Suit jacket in hand, I booked it an extra 12 blocks and made it to my appointment five minutes late. My technology woes were only intensified after […]
Prioritizing - the ability to understand and assess your tasks in a way that makes your life more productive and manageable - is one of those valuable skills everyone should want to possess College is a time in life when prioritizing isn’t just a skill, but a requirement. Along with a usual course load of 15 […]
I’m a Gmail-aholic. I can admit it, I’m not embarrassed. The decision to go Gmail came about after quickly realizing my school does not allot enough space to student e-mail inboxes. So, I started forwarding everything to Gmail. And now, my life is controlled by Google. Is that a good or bad thing? Regardless, I’d like […]
