Leadership Training Begins in College

Dan is a third-year student and entrepreneur at Ohio State University. He is a marketing major and co-founder of an online food ordering business that serves his fellow students. He wrote a great piece on leadership and the real value of a college education. Oh yeah, he happens to be my little brother. Enjoy.

I never thought that I would question the value of a college education. I'm in a great business school at one of the largest universities in the nation, I came from out of state, not knowing anyone and I could not have been more excited to begin the next chapter in my life. However, in my third year of school, I cannot figure out what it is that some people do here.

During my freshman year, I realized that I was not doing much outside of school besides playing video games and attending the occasional party. I decided to get involved. It was the year of the presidential election, and I joined a group called the Vote Mob. This was an exciting experience and an exciting time, but it was short-lived. Once again, I found myself with little to do. I set out on a search for more. First, I joined a fraternity, but I still wanted more. By the end of my first year, I started my own business. I identified a problem and created a solution.

There was no comprehensive online food and entertainment guide on campus, so I went and found another motivated student to partner with and we capitalized. Together we bought software and developed a website aimed directly at our conveniently clustered target demographic – college students.

I now feel completely confident in my ability to run a business when I graduate or succeed in the corporate world if I so choose (though I doubt I will take that path). I wonder how prepared for the "real world?? I would be if I had not started my business…

In reality, I would probably not be prepared at all. I am shocked at the amount of people that do little or no extracurricular activities, and for one reason or another, stay in college for five years or more. I balance an executive board position in a fraternity, a marketing major and a life-consuming business. Yet I still make time to enjoy myself, and have a great social life.

My question is – which part of college actually prepares you for the real world? The classroom learning? Or the life skills gained from living by yourself and following your own path? And when managers today are hiring, do they put enough emphasis on the LEGITIMATE extracurricular achievements that a student experienced during his/her time in school?

Though many individuals are to blame, I feel the majority of the responsibility is in the hands of the university and the lack of effort in the system they provide. Don't get me wrong, an attempt is made in some sense. The school provides money to student organizations for recruiting purposes and there is an involvement fair every year for incoming freshman. This is just not enough. Colleges must go further. Every time a student goes in to meet with his/her advisor, they should be asked one question before discussing what classes should be taken next semester:

"What extracurricular activities will you be involved in this coming year"

The business school should require students to participate in at least two organizations and students should be encouraged to hold one board position in an organization before graduating. If something is not done, there is little hope for successful managers in the near future. Instead, colleges will produce large numbers of order-taking employees, leaving only a select few to make decisions…but then again, maybe this is exactly what the corporate world wants.

I would like to finish on this note. To all of the older generations, parents, teachers, advisors and managers: Push your students, your children and your employees to get involved, make a difference in the community and learn to be leaders. Without this, the future of America will be filled with mechanical followers instead of the passionate leaders we need to succeed in this fast-paced, global society. Phone cards.

Fortune's Top 20 and the Recent College Grad

It's hunting season for the Class of 2007 – job-hunting season. If you've already been recruited this spring, relax. Have a beer on us and enjoy your last few moments of freedom. If not, check out Fortune's "20 Great Employers for New Grads."

Fortune was smart enough to realize we're a little more particular when it comes to finding a career. We're not just looking for a paycheck. We want to join a "deep-pocketed company, where we can work for a hip boss in an office that has free food, flexible hours and video game consoles." I can't vouch for the rest of my generation, but I don't think this is exactly what we're after. But at least they're trying, right?

One thing I really liked about the list is the value it puts on mentoring. Whether or not it's something we all want in an entry-level, it's certainly something we need. You will notice that most, if not all of the companies mentioned, offer some sort of mentor program for new workers.

Fortune also makes an effort to cover multiple industries. From education nonprofit Teach for America to defense contractor, from traditional Big Four firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers to small health-care consultant Stockamp & Associates, this list doesn't exclude.

My question is – did they get it right? Do these companies really offer the kind of perks millennials are after? To determine the "Top 20," employers were asked about salary, training programs, promotion opportunities, mentoring, competitiveness, vacation time, work-life balance, diversity and other matters deemed significant to our generation. I know they're missing something…

Employee Evolution wants to take this opportunity to find out exactly what YOU want as an entry-level. Check out Fortune's "Top 20," then share some feedback with us. If anything, it will give out HR readers a chance to hear what we're really thinking.

Best Buy gets it. And stop watching the clock

By Ryan Healy

College taught me the true meaning of independence. I attended classes when I chose, I studied at my convenience, I partied at my leisure and I relaxed when I needed to relax. You would assume that since I am now an "adult," I would at least have this same sense of independence in the corporate world. But working in this antiquated "count-the-hours" corporate structure, I am controlled and monitored more than I was by my parents in high school.

"I'm going to leave at 3:00 pm today, my wife is out of town and I need to pick my kid up at school or he will miss baseball practice." This is just one example of the countless excuses to leave early that I have heard from my superiors.

Why do my managers and superiors feel a need to explain their need to leave early to me? I don't care! Leave early if you have to. You have a life! I have a life! Work is just a part of life! I don't need to know if your kid is sick or if you have a doctors appointment. We are all grown ups here…I trust you.

I can't blame my coworkers for this. I find myself coming up with ridiculous reasons for leaving a little early as well. We work in a corporate culture that believes more time equals more productivity and the people who work the most hours are the ones "going the extra mile."

Read the rest at the Brazen Careerist…

Learning to Run a Business: Get a Blog, Not a Job

During the second semester of my sophomore year at Penn State, I realized exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I marched down to the School of Liberal Arts and figured out how to create my very own major; entrepreneurship. I typed up a proposal, choosing courses in marketing, accounting, communications and public speaking among others. Since there was no actual entrepreneurship major, I figured getting the most well-rounded, balanced education would be great preparation for my future career as a business owner. I would learn the basics of many different areas, but specialize in none. My theory was: who needs to specialize when you can hire specialists to work for you?

Two years later, I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. Somewhere along the way, I bought into what everyone else thought a career should be. I had no great ideas to start a business, no potential partners and graduating with a liberal arts degree in a major I created would probably not look good to potential employers. Plus, everyone from friends, to professors, to my parents told me that some real-world experience could only help my quest to start a business. I decided a degree in accounting would provide me with the best all around business background.

I do not regret the decision to major in accounting. What I do regret is listening to everyone who told me that a real job would help me prepare for my future life as an entrepreneur. The fact is, working in an entry-level position for any type of large organization is completely irrelevant for an aspiring business owner. Actually, I would go so far as to say joining the corporate world is probably the worst thing an aspiring entrepreneur can do.

Most entry-level workers I know are pretty comparable to puppy dogs waiting around for our masters to throw us a bone. There is no creativity involved, work is simply distributed to us and the most important decision we make on any given day is what to eat for lunch. Sure it's nice to make a decent salary and try to put some cash away for that future business idea, but unless you are living with your parents and not paying rent, saving any decent amount of money in your first few years out of school is next to impossible.

I cannot speak for young workers at small startup companies, because I am not in that position. I would imagine working for a startup that allows you to see every part of a business and experience the inevitable ups and downs of the entire process, would be very beneficial. The problem is, those jobs are few and far between and usually require a good deal of programming or web design knowledge.

When I finally decide to take my big leap of faith and start a company, I will look back on my first few years after college and realize that starting this blog actually benefited me a heck of a lot more than my corporate job. Granted, Ryan and I don't have a balance sheet or income statement, we don't have employees and we don't generate any revenue. But I still deal with a partner on a daily basis. We work with each other to determine what our customers or readers want to see, and we argue about the best way to approach situations. We work with a designer to keep up and add to the site. We network with anyone and everyone who reaches out to us, and often we reach out to other bloggers for tips and advice. These types of skills can and will be applied to my future career as an entrepreneur. Taking orders, counting hours and doing busy work will not.

The Traditional Workplace: A Survival Guide for Millennials

by Jacqui Buschor

Jacqui is a frequent visitor at Employee Evolution and always dishes out some great dialogue. We don't always see eye-to-eye on every issue, but I think that's why we like her so much. Check out her guide to surviving the traditional work environment…

Although many companies are putting forth a valiant effort to adjust to the needs of the new millennial workforce, most of us are still stuck in our typical entry-level jobs in a traditional work environment. I am, more or less, a member of the latter, but I'm not the type of person who can stomach prolonged boredom, so I've developed a short list of ways to survive the traditional workplace.

Volunteer for a new project

In every office I've ever worked in, there has always been a list of great ideas that no one has had the time implement. Oftentimes, these projects require creative capital to get them off the ground that will take more time that people further up the chain can spare.

While working at a small-business trade association, I heard people talking about wanting to get our members more involved in meeting directly with their legislators. They had the basics of the idea figured out, but no one had the time to sit down, hammer out the details, and make it happen. So I volunteered. The project gave me something of my own that I could be passionate about, increased lobbying credibility of the organization, and added a nice line to my resume.

Chances are your company has similar projects you could tackle. Keep your ears open for something that interests you and speak up. Not only will the higher-ups be impressed with your initiative, you could end up with a nice resume builder, and possibly even a little extra leverage the next time you negotiate salary.

Lend a hand outside your department

For many of us in entry-level positions, we're required to put in 40 hours, even though the job only takes about 25. The next time you can't stand another moment of mind-numbing web surfing, take a walk around the office and offer your assistance to another department.

I know it sounds simple, but there are several reasons why it's worth your time. First, it gives you a chance to make a new friend, and having friends at work is a vital part of feeling satisfied with your job. Second, you can explore a new area of your field you may not have otherwise considered, opening up new career possibilities. And, most selfishly, it never hurts to have someone you can ask for a favor later.

Find a mentor

This is, by far, the most difficult of my suggestions, but also the most rewarding. There are very few people who truly grasp the fine art of mentoring, and those who do are in high demand, so they likely won't fall into your lap. You'll have to prove that you're worth their time investment, so go in ready to explain your goals and how your new mentor could help you reach them.

Mentors can help build your career on many levels. The most important is that a good mentor will be anxious to get you to the right events and introduce you to the right people. They'll be proud of your work and willing to tell the big players all about it, and you'll inherit part of the network it may have otherwise taken you years to build.