By Danielle Manning, CES Career AdvisorPlants

As a career advisor, I cannot help but think about how everything in this world connects to careers, including my 6′ novice garden.

I started a garden this summer that I am most proud of—complete with tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, cilantro, kale, and green lettuce. After throwing in compost, some Grizz Groundz (thank you Diversions Café), seeds, and a little patience, the garden is actually growing! Against all odds, with a former track record of killing multiple household plants…the neighbor’s dog burrowing itself into the middle of the garden bed…and a streak of no rain in Tacoma (which I would have never planned on in the PNW), my garden continues to thrive.

Many times I’ve looked at my little garden, thinking it was doomed to wilt and shrivel into brown crunchiness. It also doesn’t help that I have a master gardener for a neighbor whose garden puts mine to shame. Yet I realize that my garden has to start somewhere—if I manage to harvest a few zucchini, a head of lettuce, and a tomato or two, that will be awesome success for this beginner.

Similar to a garden, you are cultivating your future beyond Puget Sound. Success will depend on you tending to it regularly…and not waiting until the final semester of your senior year. The more time and thought you put into your career, the more it will thrive and the happier you will be with the results.

This fall semester I encourage you to look at your current career garden and think about some ways to help it grow the way you want it. Here are my top 5 tips for cultivating your career this semester:

  1. Dig into the 2014 Fall Diggin’ Challenge. Complete all 6 activities to be entered to win a $25 gift card!
  2. Sprout some new skills by taking on a part-time job. Start your search with LoggerJobs.
  3. Speak with a “master gardener.” Meet Puget Sound alumni at Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Night, Oct. 9, 2014 from 7-8:30 p.m.
  4. Prune your resume. Schedule a resume review or use our Drop-in Advising hours (M, W, F 10 a.m. – Noon or T, Th 1-3 p.m.) in Howarth 101.
  5. Strategically weed out options. Take an assessment to see what career fields might best fit you.

Plant a seed. Visit CES, and get to know our team! We’re here for you throughout your career gardening adventures.

Danielle Headshot

Danielle Manning, CES Career Advisor: “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld when I grew up. While I might not be a dolphin trainer, elements of amazement, discovery, and coaching are a part of my job every day as a career advisor!”

 

 

 

© 2014 Career and Employment Services, University of Puget Sound
Photo: Danielle Manning