Are you a Die Hard Aggie Fan?

Calling all Aggies! 

Take this short quiz to see if you're a Die Hard Aggie Fan. Then share it with your friends and see how you compare.

We want to know who loves their Aggies. Good luck!

DIE HARD AGGIE QUIZ

1.  Do you wake up to the Utah State Fight Song every game day?

2.  Do you have this year’s game day shirt ready to wear at all times?

3.  Do you roll up to Romney Stadium in your Aggie License Plates hours before the game to get your tailgate on?

4.  Do you have the football roster memorized a month before the season starts?

5.  Do you commentate the game in your head, as it plays out on the field? 

6.  Can you unleash a flurry of team and player stats on queue?

7.  Is your voice gone at the end of every game because you've shouted the Scotsman and the Fight song at the top of your lungs a few to many times?

8.  Do you look to the “A” on Old Main Hill every time we win, to make sure it's blue?

9.  Is your lifelong dream to be a part of Aggie Athletics?

10.  When saying goodbye, do you always end with…”Go Aggies!” 

How did you do? 

Count the number of times you answered "Yes" to all 10 questions and following the ranking system below to see how you did. 

1 - 4 = Amazing Aggie Fan  

5 - 9 = Enthusiastic Big Blue Fan 

10 =    Ultimate Die Hard Aggie Fan!!! 


Post your score on our Facebook page and see how you match up against other Aggie fans.

5 Ways Showing You Care Will Help You Land a New Job

Article Originally Published on Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

Any time you interview for a job, you know companies scrutinize your education, work history, manners, social media presence, wardrobe and more. (Hint: Don’t forget breath mints.) But did you know they’re likely screening for engagement, too?

Disengaged employees are a pox on all they touch — they kill sales, bum out customers and sap the morale of high performers. As employers become aware of this, it’s more vital than ever to display the characteristics of an engaged employee. Here’s how to do it:

1. Understand the concept

Employee engagement is more than good morale and camaraderie. (Click here to tweet this thought.) It’s about giving 100 percent at work. We’re talking time spent, ideas shared, knowledge gained and persistence displayed. It’s about finding meaning and feeling stimulated in your job, mastering a skill set, playing an important role in the company’s culture and taking pride in your work.

2. Share tales of engagement from your last gig

Research shows that only 30 percent of the workforce is truly engaged at work. Employees have checked out due to lack of interest or motivation. Does that include you? Differentiate yourself from other job candidates by offering specific examples of how you’ve engaged in the jobs you’ve had so far.

Did you take on an assignment to expand your abilities? Did you volunteer for the tough job no one else wanted, just to see if you could? Did you start a network for workers in similar roles to share ideas and best practices? Did you recruit a superstar to your team? If you answered “yes” to any of these, say it loud, with spirit, in your interview.

3. Display your commitment to commitment

Engagement at work rests on a sense of commitment — not only to your job, but also to the bigger mission. If you find yourself saying “That’s not my job” or “I don’t know how to do that” more than “I think I can help” or “I’d like to try,” there may be an engagement gap.
Dive in and take on new projects. You’ll learn and be ready to speak about how you do this in a sustainable way. It’s OK to share when taking on too much is a problem, too. Burnout is the biggest risk for hyper-engaged people.

4. Showcase how you’ve become stronger by overcoming challenges

Everyone has challenges in the workplace. Unfair workloads, bad attitudes, challenging market conditions. Truly engaged employees are quick to take ownership for both successes and failures and point to the lessons they learned. Be prepared to talk an interviewer through your trials-by-fire, your resilience and your ultimate success in the face of adversities great and small.

5. Show that you’re an intrapreneur

Intrapreneurs are engaged employees with an entrepreneurial mindset. They act like owners, developing innovative solutions to problems and adding value beyond their job description. Give examples of how you proposed a product or service idea that helped those outside your team, how you identified a specific problem and implemented a solution. Then get ready for that “welcome aboard” handshake.

Engage at work, volunteer, hustle, show intrapreneurship and land your new job. And who knows, if and when you go all in, you might create your own position within the company.
Or create your own company.

Article Originally Published on Levo League

How to Ace Your Next Phone Interview

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

 

As a stellar would-be employee, you want to sail through the interview process. But before you think that all you need is a knockout résumé and a killer outfit, think again. Nowadays, there’s a step before the in-person interview: the phone interview.


“The global economy means more and more cross-border hiring, where an initial phone interview becomes even more important,” says Sanjeev Agrawal, founder of Collegefeed, a career marketplace for college students.


Employers are increasingly opting for phone interviews to screen potential new hires. By doing so, companies can sort through candidates without committing to the expense and time required for on-site meet-ups.

A survey conducted by OfficeTeam, a staffing agency based in Menlo Park, Calif., polled 515 human resources managers, the majority (57%) of whom reported that phone interviews happen “very often.”


Furthermore, Paul Bailo, author of “The Essential Phone Interview Handbook,” says, “All jobs start with a phone call.” Meaning: Even if you aren’t scheduled for a formal phone interview, any conversation with a potential employer, however brief it might be, makes an impression.

Not being face-to-face with someone doesn’t mean that you don’t still need to bring your A-game. You might have the best intentions, but what you say and how you say it (tone, pace, inflection, etc.) can easily be misinterpreted. Here is some step-by-step advice to help you give good voice.


Step 1: Prepare, prepare, prepare

Step 2: Take care of the basics

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

Step 3: Put on your game face

Step 4: Take advantage of the invisibility factor

Step 5: Remember the 3 C’s–concision, concentration and courtesy

Step 6: Follow up

“It takes days to get ready for a phone interview,” explains Bailo. On day one, he advises, do all your research. Take to Google to find out everything you need to know—and more—about the company. Then, on day two, write out a list of questions, like, “What specific qualities and skills are you looking for in a job candidate?” or “I read that the company ____ (insert recent company success here). How do you see this position contributing to the continued success of the organization?” This will demonstrate your interest in the company, and the job, and show that you’re a highly qualified applicant. Agrawal points out, “Phone interviews are a great opportunity to find out more details about the job, the company, the work environment and the team, as job descriptions are notoriously vague.”

Another tip: Find an online photograph of the person who is interviewing you. Search on LinkedIn or on the company’s website. It’s much easier to talk with someone when you know what he/she looks like.

Nix any noisy interruptions such as barking dogs, crying children or blaring car horns. Get everyone out of the house, or make sure to have an isolated room where you can lock the door.
If possible, use a landline—a cell phone connection is less reliable, and the call could always get dropped. No landline? Then make sure that your cell phone is fully charged and that you take the call in a place where your reception is at its best. And remember to get the interviewer’s phone number in case you get disconnected

Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview; you’re more likely to feel and sound professional if you look the part.

Remember to smile: You can’t sound bored or uninterested if you have a smile on your face. Put a mirror on your desk to see your facial expressions when you talk. You have no body language with which to reinforce your personality; it’s all about the voice. To keep yours sounding tip-top, swallow a teaspoon of honey or suck on a lozenge one hour before the phone interview to reduce dry throat, and have a glass of water nearby during the actual interview.

Phone interviews are a lot like open-book tests: You can have all the information you need to know (about the company and the person conducting the interview right in front of you). Also, to cut down on the papers-rustling-in-background noise, tape a copy of your résumé and job description to the wall, at eye level, for easy reference.


Concision: Phone interviews are shorter than in-person interviews, which means you have less time to make a good impression. So avoid long-winded answers that could make you lose your audience. Keep your responses to no more than three sentences. The day before the interview, practice asking your questions aloud and, while you’re at it, rehearse your answers to some potential questions that the interviewer might ask you. (Think old standbys like, “What are your strengths?” and even the open-ended “Tell me about yourself….”)

Concentration: Stay focused and take notes during the call. It’s not the time to organize your mail or reply to emails. “If you feel you are easily distracted and drawn to multitasking, remove or turn off anything you might be tempted to use,” says Bailo. “You must listen carefully so that your responses are on point.”

Courtesy: Be professional and be polite. “At the end of the call, ask, ‘Do my qualifications meet the company’s needs?’ Then ask when you can meet with them in person,” suggests Bailo. And, Agrawal adds, “however the interview goes, end with ‘thank you.’ The last few words of a conversation are often the most remembered.”


Twenty-four to 48 hours after the interview ends, send an email thanking the interviewer for the opportunity and summarizing what you spoke about during the phone interview. The subject line should be: “Your name and the position you applied for.”

If you want this job, now is the time to restate your interest. And, if you really want to appear smarter than most, include a link to an interesting news article about the company that you already found during your preparation research.

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Essential Etiquette for Your First Job

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Photo courtesy of Buy Olympia.

Starting your first ‘real’ job out of college? Below are bSmart’s 3 essential guidelines for office etiquette as an employee:

1. Use “bottom line” communication
Urgent items should be addressed in the morning. Non-Urgent items addressed in the afternoon. Bosses have too much on their minds to be bothered with your extraneous and non-urgent thoughts. Many items probably pop into your mind all day long. This doesn’t mean you should bombard your boss with them – gather your reminders and communicate them deliberately, quickly, and all at one time.

2. Talk less and say more
An employee should listen more than he/she speaks. Listen to what your boss has to say and provide one-sentence bottom lines and questions. Women probably say 3,000 more words in a day than we need to when communicating with our bosses. Keep your words to a minimum so they have a more meaningful impact.

3. Know everything you can possibly know
Be organized and have a system for every open or pending item. This might require electronic reminders or a 30-minute review at the beginning or end of your workday. When your boss asks you a question, your response should be one of the following:

• A one-sentence, bottom-line answer.
• “I will look into that / research that and get back to you.”
• Be aware of what your boss needs to do to be successful and to avoid embarrassment.
• Open projects
• Unreturned emails
• Calls he/she needs to return
• If you don’t know the answer and don’t know where to find the answer, tell your boss and ask where you he/she would find the answer.

Congratulations on landing your first job!

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Everything You Need to Know About Making Friends in the Office

Article Originally Featured on Levo League

Whether you’re at your first job, fresh out of college, or on your fifth career change, everyone worries about how well they will get along with co-workers. Sometimes you really hit it off and stay friends forever, even well after you've left the job. Other times you dread going into the office each day because you don’t feel like you connect with a single soul. Both are reasonable and very real scenarios. And there are ways to manage both so they don't take away from what you show up at the office to do every day: your job.


Levo spoke to Shasta Nelson, life coach, CEO of GirlfriendCircles.com, and author of the book Friendships Don’t Just Happen, and asked her about everything you need to know about making friends in the office, including who you should pursue and who you should stay away from.

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

If you really feel a connection with a co-worker, is it a good idea to try and deepen that relationship? Or should “office life” and “real life” be kept separate?
No! I don’t think they should be separate at all! In fact, that really is one of the last places to make friends where we have one of the biggest friendship challenges taken care of for us — consistency. That’s why it felt easy in school – we saw each other every day. In “real life” it’s actually much more difficult to see each other regularly enough to build up that familiarity and comfortableness. The office is perfect, since you both have to spend so much time there. I’d definitely try to deepen that relationship, so much so that I’d encourage you to practice being friends outside of work, too, so that when one of you leaves the job you already have other structures in place for your friendship to continue.

How concerned should you be about making friends in the office, even at the basic level of casual friendship?People who have friends at work are way more inclined to report job satisfaction and companies recognize that that’s one of the best ways to retain employees. We will put up with a lot of stress and non-ideal job descriptions if we like the people we work with, so I’d say it’s worth being a pretty high priority at work. Plus, this is where you spend most of your time, so it make sense that at minimum you want to be surrounded by people you’re friendly with, even if they don’t all turn into consequential friendships.

Are there any “rules” to making friends in the office?I’d say two good principles are to, one, take it slow, and two, don’t let your friendship ever make others feel excluded in the office. The first one is super-important: don’t over-share with someone. Vulnerability — sharing more about yourself with less of a filter — is one of the actions that develops a friendship, but I encourage everyone to engage it step by step so that really you’re never taking a big risk, as much as you are many, many small ones. But that’s even more important at work, where you don’t want to share too much with someone before you’ve co-created a trusting relationship with each other. 

And the second rule speaks more to making sure your friendship is adding to the office dynamics, not excluding others or making people feel wary, left out or suspicious. While at work, invite more people to join in your friendly relationship—invite others to sit with you at lunch — and try to do more of your eventual secret-sharing outside of the office.

What are some good ways to explore deepening a relationship with a co-worker?Probably start with friendliness and chit-chat, talking about the weekend, and what TV shows you’re watching. Then the next goal is to find a way to spend more substantial time together, so usually an invitation to grab lunch together, attend an event together, or meet for drinks after work will help make that happen. And this is where it may stay for a while—friendliness in the office, friendship for an hour here and there outside the office.  In fact, if this is as far as it goes — it’s an incredibly valuable relationship that will increase your happiness at work. In some cases, you may want to grow it to the next step and that means eventually starting to get together when it’s completely unattached to work, such as brunch on the weekend, a double-date with the boyfriends on a Friday night, or getting together to watch your favorite TV shows one night.

Can you — or should you — ever be friends with your manager? Or, if you are a manager, friends with your subordinate?This one can be tricky because there is not a “one size fits all” answer. Our personalities, company culture, and individual job descriptions will inform the decision. But in theory, I’d say yes. We can be friends with people even if we have different roles at work. Obviously it requires both people respecting the other so much that neither one shares confidential information or asks for favors at work. And the two rules I mentioned earlier–taking it slow and not letting your friendship make others uncomfortable–are even more important. But the first two steps of friendship—being friendly and starting to spend more considerable time together—is more than appropriate, in my opinion.

Fights among friends are inevitable, and can become even more hot-button if that friend is also a co-worker. What is your advice for dealing with conflicts with friends in the office?This goes back to the second rule—don’t let your friendship make others uncomfortable in the office. That means they shouldn’t know you’re fighting. You don’t gossip about her, talk about her, or take it out on each other. Maturity means trusting each other so that even when we’re mad or disappointed,  we can still trust each other to have our backs. It also speaks to the “taking it slow” part—you should never have shared more than you felt the relationship was ready to support. By the time you fight, you should have some considerable history between the two of you where you can trust you’ll both make up and be closer than ever.

What should you do if you don’t feel a connection with co-workers, on even the most basic level? (Assuming that you enjoy your job.)Bonds can always, always be developed, in some form or another. The best place to start is with having enough conversations that you can start seeing where you both have similarities or where you “get” each other. We all have more things in common than we realize — even if we have a 40-year age gap, opposite political views and are in completely different life stages. I believe that those who seek, find; which means that if we say to ourselves, “I am choosing to like you, now I’m going to keep looking for the reasons,” we will always find them!


What has worked for you when it comes to making friends in the office? Tell us in the comments below.

Article Originally Featured on Levo League

Lighten Up! How Being Witty Online Can Help Your Career

Article Originally Featured on Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

For some time now, individuals, products and companies have been realising the benefits of using social media to catapult themselves into the limelight. For most modern consumers, their phone, tablet or laptop is never more than a few feet away – so what better way to engage a reader or customer than by infiltrating their social media feed?

On a personal level, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that being popular is nice. And if you say you don’t strive to be well liked, that’s fine, but we know you’re fibbing! So using a little joke here, a sarcastic comment there, will often be the main trigger for the likes and re-tweets to come flooding in. On a business level, however, being witty online is an invaluable marketing strategy.
So, whether you’re an earnest writer, peddling your wares; a purveyor of PR or the CEO of a global company, how (and why) can you use your sparkling wit to get ahead of the game in your career? Although in no way a definitive break down of how to become a stand-up comic, follow these tips next time you take to the keyboard and you’ll be laughing!

THE WHY:

Engaging with your audience will give them a reason to keep coming back.
You could have the greatest story or product in the world to share, but if you’re not engaging your reader, no-one will ever discover it. The truth is that funny sticks: a person is far more likely to remember something which made them laugh than something which made them feel mildly interested or even indifferent.

Funny spreads, too. 
It’s important to remember that funny spreads, too. Laughter lines online, such as YouTube videos, go viral for a reason – because people want to share them with their friends. This works in a similar way when it comes to social media. How many times have you asked a friend “have you seen that..? It’s so funny!” Your goal should be to become that person or brand people talk about over drinks.

Being funny will allow you to break down the barrier. 
Funny things are often humorous because people can relate to them. The more you can directly engage with your target audience, the more interest they will take in what you are trying to share. By sharing your witty nature with your readers, it’s far easier to break down the barrier between you or your brand and your consumer. The ultimate goal is to be more of a friend than a business.

Humour will raise your visibility and make you stand out. 
As always, you should be standing out from your competitors. Using a clever pun or witty line will set you poles apart from those who use standard industry jargon. The key, as always, is to avoid being boring!

THE HOW:

Be engaging and ask questions. 
Make your status updates and tweets engaging. Asking a question often encourages interaction from followers, and draws consumers in. So, instead of “our new product is out now.” Why not try “have you seen our new product yet?” A simple change of phrase creates a whole new tone for you.

Create an online environment your audience can relate to.
Try to make the things you post relevant to everyone. The most shared posts are those which your followers know their friends will relate to. So, even if it’s not directly linked to your product or page, just making your reader feel as though you’re on the same team can work wonders for future relationships. For example “don’t you just hate it when you dare to debut your new jelly shoes but it’s hailing by 12pm?” will cause your reader to empathise and react to you.

Be cheeky without crossing the line. 
Don’t be afraid to be naughty. As long as you don’t cross a line, using naughty puns or cheeky anecdotes can also engage your readers. Anything from a mildly endearing “Hi good lookin. How are we all doing today???’” to something a little more daring will catch your audience’s attention in the sea of tweets and updates they scroll through every day.

Understand that healthy competition can be useful. 
Everyone likes a little healthy competition, so why not engage in some light hearted banter with your competitors? Perhaps a humorous response to their latest campaign or a satirical take on their own tweets will draw the attention of both yours and their followers. After all, it’s all about proving to your reader that there’s a human behind your online persona.

Learn from the best. 
Adding a little lightness and wit to your social media interactions will guarantee a rise in interactions and reach. As the power of social media reaches its peak, it’s definitely time for you to muscle in on this handy and fun little technique. If you need inspiration, there are a plethora of companies out there who have it just right. So, inject a little comedy into your every day posts – they do say laughter’s the best medicine!

Article Originally Featured on Levo League

Want to Quit Your Job and Work for Yourself? Follow These 3 Steps First

Photo Via Levo League

How do you confidently make the leap from corporate employee to entrepreneur or consultant?

If you want to make it on your own, there are three important steps many successful entrepreneurs take before they head out. 

Reduce your costs

Live minimally. Gain freedom from your job by not needing the paycheck. 

The more expensive your lifestyle, the riskier it is to jump to something new and uncertain that could have a potentially low income at start. 

Build a nest egg

Tuck away a little bit of money each paycheck to save for your future expenses. A great rule of thumb is to save enough to cover six months of expenses.

Hustle on the side

It’s called moonlighting, and it’s a great way to test whether something you want to do is feasible. The best time to try out your new project or company is when you have the structure of your current job to help support you.

For the full article click here.

Article originally posted on Levo League by Brazen Life. 

3 Tips to Prepare for the End…of Your Academic Career

In the next few months a new generation of college graduates will be heading out into the "real world". Some of you may have a great job lined up while others are still on the hunt. And a few of you may be heading back to your parents’ house to regroup and come up with a new life plan. Regardless of which route you're taking, here are three things you should keep in mind when preparing for the end… of your academic career.


1. Don't burn your bridges

After years of paying tuition and writing papers you may want to set fire to your text books and hit the road, never to look back. But part of the college experience is making relationships. Take advantage of these last few months to reconnect with professors, RA's, and TA's. While you may not be best friends, these people may be able to help you when searching for your dream job. Never underestimate the power of networking. 

• Ask a favorite professor to be a job reference
• Connect with your TA's on Linked in
• Ask your RA for their email address so you can keep in touch
• Obtain letters of recommendation for Grad School

2. Use You Student Status to Cash in on Free Things

As part of your tuition and fees, each student gains access to a variety of University good and services. Get your money's worth by using up all of the things you have already paid for. Did you know that every semester USU students get $10 of free rentals at the ORP?

• Use up your free prints on your student card
• Use your $10 in ORP cash
• Take advantage of the library, rent free movies and check out books
• Get your bike tuned up (for free) at Aggie Blue Bikes
• Attend all of the free end of year events like concerts or dances
• Attend Spring sporting events
• Expand your resume by learning to use the Adobe Suite software at the USU computer labs

3. Take Advantage of Your Universities Resources

Along with free prints and free entrance to events, your tuition pays for a myriad of resources. The Career Center is one of the most valuable assets to soon-to-be grads.

• Take your resume to the Career Center for a last look 
• Have the career center help you with a Career Assessment Profile
• Set up a mock interview to practice your skills