Blog | Fireside Insights

Nov 13, 2017
2 min

The Unengaged Millennial: How Companies Are Failing to Meet Employees’ Expectations

Countless employers have labeled millennial workers as unengaged and unmotivated. The broad perception of the youngest members of the work force is that they don’t know what they want and expect something for nothing. While it’s true that millenials are indeed demanding, it’s not the case that they are not willing to work for what they want. The issue that many millenials face is the feeling that they are investing a significant deal of their time and energy into their work a

Nov 9, 2017
2 min

How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Unlock Your Potential

What we speak, think and do all have the power to manifest. Hence, make an effort to always speak positively in all areas of your life. As young professionals, many of us struggle with self-doubt and that can hinder us from achieving the goals that we’ve set for ourselves. Self-doubt can cost us relationships, careers and cause fear and anxiety. It can stop us from progressing and tapping into our potential. Thus, in this article, we would like to share ways to eliminate sel

Oct 23, 2017
2 min

How to Stand Out in the Workplace: Tips from Senior Leaders

While getting your work done in a timely manner may make you a reliable employee, it won’t make you stand out with senior leadership. Employees that stand out are those that take the extra initiative to excel, even when their work is challenging. I recently had a fruitful conversation with C-Suite executives, and here is that they identified as key attributes of successful employees. Effective communication Being a good communicator is an important skill that comes as a bit o

Oct 19, 2017
5 min

Career Perspectives: The Life of a Programmer

At Fireside Insights, we believe the best way to learn about potential career opportunities is through exposure. In this Career Perspectives article, we took a deep dive into the technical world with Ryan Bacastow, who told his story of what life is like as a Full-Stack Programmer. Bacastow graduated with a BA in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and has an MS in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University. His current role is that

Oct 16, 2017
2 min

Why You Should Wait to Go to Graduate School

The road leading away from college is different for everyone, but many choose the path to graduate school. While higher education nurtures those interested in academia, the education received from real-world experiences and entry-level jobs can be just as valuable and formative. Here are five reasons to consider waiting to go to graduate school. You need time to think about what you really want to do. Taking time off after college will give you the time to regroup and think a

Sep 18, 2017
2 min

5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Day at a New Job

Starting a new job is exciting. Many times, it’s a milestone marking the next stage of professional and financial success. In order to make the best impression when you begin, it’s imperative that you mentally prepare yourself for what is to come. While you will definitely undergo some degree of onboarding when you start, knowing as much as possible before your first day will put you ahead of the game. Here’s how you can prepare: Read company press releases. Reading company n

Sep 5, 2017
2 min

Six Signs It May Be Time for You to Leave Your Job

As you navigate through your career, it can be tough to break away from the routine of your work life and evaluate your career’s future. This can sometimes lead to stagnation, as many people stay in roles that aren’t a good fit or do not advance them towards their career goals. It may be difficult to discern whether or not this applies to you, so we have compiled six clear-cut signs that it may be time for you to leave your job. You constantly feel disconnected from your work

Aug 21, 2017
2 min

The STAR Approach: How to Answer Interview Questions Effectively

When you are interviewing for any role, regardless of the position, you can expect to be asked behavioral or situational interview questions. These questions give the employer a lens as to how you would handle different situations that may arise in the workplace. Some examples of these types of questions include: “Give me an example of an analytical challenge you have had to overcome.” “Describe a time you had to juggle competing priorities.” “Talk about a time you had to per

Aug 7, 2017
2 min

Job Offers: What to Negotiate Before Signing

The phone rings. You receive a call notifying you that you landed the job of your dreams. While your first instinct may be to scream an immediate “yes”, there are several factors to consider and possibly negotiate to ensure that you will be happy in your new role. • Salary. This one is pretty obvious. Be certain that you are being paid commensurate with your knowledge and experience. Also calculate any living expenses you may have prior to accepting an offer. • Signing bonus

Jul 31, 2017
2 min

Why You Should Ask Why

As a young professional, you are fairly new to the workplace and are eager to learn the tricks of the trade in your industry. Take this time in your career to act as a sponge, soaking up all of the knowledge you can and exploring your interests. During this time, your mind is malleable and lots of more seasoned professionals will be around to offer you words of wisdom. Listening is only half the battle, however. In order gain the most out of any interaction, whether it be a s

Jul 18, 2017
2 min

Career Perspectives: The Life of a Registered Nurse

At Fireside Insights, we believe the best way to learn about potential career opportunities is through exposure. In this new recurring series, Career Perspectives, we share our peers’ accounts of their jobs to give you a glimpse into different professions. Our feature this week is Rebecca Klug who received her Master of Public Health from Boston University and B.S. in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. As a registered nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, Rebecca gives

Jul 5, 2017
2 min

Get Back into the Work Mindset: 10 Tips to Help You Refocus after a Vacation

Returning to work after a vacation can be mentally challenging. You’ve just spent a tremendous amount of time relaxing and now it’s time to get back into the swing of things. While some people are able to make this transition easily, others of us may find this more difficult to do. In order to help you make it through the week, we’ve compiled a list of 10 tips to help you get back on track at work. Start slowly. Don’t overwhelm your brain by jumping into things too quickly. R

Jun 26, 2017
5 min

Yoga, Entrepreneurship, and Finding Your Niche: a Fireside Chat with Lauren Spearman, Founder of R&a

Lauren Spearman has been practicing yoga since the age of 14. As she explored different interests in college, she realized that her passion was yoga. After receiving her certification at a young age, Lauren began teaching yoga throughout the city of Chicago and eventually made a business out of it- R&B Yoga. In this Fireside Chat, we spoke with Lauren about how she turned her passion into a career, tripled the size of her classes in just months, and how maintains a large enou

Jun 19, 2017
3 min

10 Missed Opportunities College Graduates Regret

Many people describe college as the best time of their lives, but the case still remains that four years is a very short period of time to figure your life out. Although it may be the time that many people explore their passions, there is still a lot that can be done to actualize those passions. That being said, many college students miss out on very easy opportunities to create value and incite meaning in their lives and careers. Below is a list of 10 things recent graduates

Jun 7, 2017
2 min

Plan-Do-Study-Act: 4 Steps to Accomplishing Your Personal and Career Goals

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is a tool commonly used to implement and measure changes made within healthcare organizations. Developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the cycle enables practitioners to set actionable goals, evaluate their success, and change their approach as needed through multiple rounds of the PDSA cycle. The tool has been applied successfully to generate change in many healthcare systems, however, it can also be applied to your life and

May 31, 2017
2 min

Stepping Outside the Box: Effective Job Searching Techniques

Everyday, sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter are flooded with hundreds of applicants pursuing the same job. With such stiff competition, it can be hard to make your resume and credentials stand out from the crowd. While submitting an official application through a job board is a formal requirement for most jobs, relying solely on your online application is not a very effective means of searching for and landing the perfect career opportunity. Making the most of

May 25, 2017
2 min

Being Productive on Your Day Off

It’s understandable that you want for your vacation days to be spent, well…vacationing. However, there are a lot of ways to be productive during your time off work that aren’t mentally taxing. To help you along, we have compiled a list of five ways you can use your time away from the office to your benefit. Go for coffee. Use the time to grab coffee with a someone in your network- even a former colleague. This will allow you to make and strengthen relationships in a valuable

May 22, 2017
6 min

Negotiate Your Salary the Right Way: a Fireside Chat with Lisa Toby

After making it through a strenuous interview process, the greatest gratification is receiving a call stating that you have been selected for the position of your choice. However, while you may be excited about beginning a new career, you may be a little less enthusiastic about the salary and benefits the company is offering you. In this Fireside Chat, we sat down with Lisa Metropolis-Toby, the Assistant Dean of Career Services at the Boston University School of Public Health

May 8, 2017
2 min

How to Lose a Job in 10 Days

Getting a job isn’t easy, but losing a job certainly can be. Avoid these ten mistakes in the workplace. Tardiness. Repeat tardiness is a red flag and may send off the signal that your job is not a top priority. Slacking. Not keeping up with your work is a dangerous predicament, and can call your motivation into question. If you are feeling too bogged down to keep up, make sure to speak up to your manager; that’s a far better alternative than falling behind. Improper use of te

May 4, 2017
2 min

Doing Your Homework: What to Research Before an Interview

So you’ve practiced how you will answer all of the behavioral questions that come your way, but it’s also equally imperative to convey that you understand both the company itself and the role you are applying for. In order to properly prepare for an interview, it is important to conduct background research to guide your discussion. Here are a few topics to help kick-start your search: Current events. Current events are important in general, but you especially want to look on