Seguin and Culver Reading Review of Chapters 5 & 6
Seguin and culver begin their discussion in Chapter 5 by
explaining how landing an internship or your first job is just the beginning of
your career, referring to it as a “stepping stone towards your dream job” (p.
66). As this new and exciting part of my
life transpires I need to play an active role in furthering myself down the
path of success. Seguin and culver recommend reading what professionals in the
field are saying about upcoming events and developments to stay fresh and
current. Reading and researching company
advertisements, blogs, and online newspaper articles, along with
general-interest magazines will help keep me informed as well as help me
“cultivate my own interests” (p. 73).
Two important concepts also presented in Chapter 5 are
mentor development and professional networking. Having a mentor or multiple mentors will
allow me to easily engage in a new and unknown culture, thus allowing
networking to become a very accomplishable task . Seguin and Culver further mention that
having a mentor can be invaluable for those who want to progress steadily up
the ladder to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay” (p. 85). That would be my main career objective- climb
the ladder and gain responsibility. It
is in this way that when I begin my internship with the Computer Science
Department of West Chester University next Spring, I will inquire about
receiving an appointed mentor or advisor to help me along the way and pass
along their additional knowledge of the field.
Chapter 6 of Seguin and Culver’s book talks about “seizing
your entrepreneurial spirit” by use of the web and it’s various applications
and venues. I was particularly excited
to read about Seguin and Culver’s recommendation of using the web to
experiment, creating my own professional or personal website with an appropriate
domain name to accompany it! I have
already done this and I am well versed in the importance of purchasing a domain
name. However, Seguin and Culver mention
using this “experimental/professional website” as a way to “introduce a
completely new business idea” (p. 89), which is something I would have never
thought to do! Since I will be working
with the Computer Science Internship Department and under one of the Deans of
the College of Arts and Sciences, this would be a great way to propose new
ideas, as I know professionals within the department will be frequenting my
pages.
Playing an active role in the business or corporate world,
continuing to network with professionals, and maintaining my online resources
are a number of ways to ensure I am as successful as I can be in any given
position I chose to accept. By following
this strategy I believe I will allow myself the opportunity to climb the metaphorical
business ladder as far up as I can, burst through the glass ceiling that may be
waiting for me, and pursue the career that makes me happy and offers a
rewarding experience.
Seguin, J. &
Culver, S. H. (2008). Media career guide: Preparing for jobs in the 21st
century.
(8th Edition). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
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