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College Graduates

Finding a Mentor in the Workplace

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This guest post is by Ellie Gerst, Crew212 member. Thank you for your great insight, Ellie!

You’re swimming. Cruising through fluorescent-dappled water, exploring corporate castles and finding your place amongst the glittery pebbles and fake seaweed. Consulting can feel like you’re in a fish tank. You’re a piece of the office – a part of the team, but an invisible barrier separates you from the rest. A mentor can be the hammer that breaks the glass.

Why You Should Find a Mentor

A mentor is a living, breathing textbook for your workplace. A resource to get ahead, both in networking and in learning about your business. Maybe they have the same position as you, but have been with the company longer. Maybe they have the position you see yourself in down the line. Maybe their job is completely unrelated to you, but their network could offer you opportunities. Whatever the case, they have connections and insight about your company that could make a huge difference in understanding your role and building relationships within your workplace.

How to Find a Good Mentor

So how do you find a mentor? There are many ways! This can range from asking a fellow co-worker or cube mate to grab coffee once a month, to being formally paired by your manager or a digital pairing tool on your company’s internal website. Here are some other tips to get you started:

  • Ask your leadership what capacity you have for mentorship and what resources are available to you.
  • Get to know the people who sit with you, even if you don’t work together directly.
  • Participate in, or even plan yourself, team engagement activities.

The initiative to seek out a mentor exhibits both interest in your company and a commitment to growth within your role. 

How to Effectively Utilize a Mentor

After finding a mentor, the question becomes, what to do? Ask questions. A lot of them. Bring an agenda of sorts to your meetings. Don’t force conversations — but do facilitate. Make it easy for them and let them know that you appreciate the time they are giving you. That being said, don’t feel discouraged if your first mentor relationship isn’t what you expected.  You may not land with a perfect match, especially if you are paired randomly, but you are guaranteed to learn something.

Building a network in the workplace is so important in feeling like you’ve broken the fish tank barrier of being new or contracted. If mentorship is an option for you, it could make a huge difference in your consulting experience.

10 Productive Ways for a Graduate to Spend Free Time

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*This guest post is by Jennifer Oppor, Crew212 member – class of June 2018. Thank you for your insight, Jennifer!*

Congratulations! You’ve just graduated from four years of binge-watching Netflix, microwaving Ramen dinners, and staying up past midnight to study for tricky exams. Now that you landed a job and are “adulting” by shopping for food outside of the frozen and boxed aisles, you are in total control of your choices. Once you arrive home from work, I bet you have hours of free time on your hands no longer being consumed by collegiate sports, on-campus organizations, part-time jobs, or three-hour night classes. You might be wondering how you should transition from a student schedule packed with homework and extracurriculars to the corporate world. This list shares ten ways to be productive with your free time to successfully kick off your first few months of full-time employment.

1. Reconnect with Loved Ones
Do you have an aunt in Colorado, an aging grandma, or a friend from sophomore chemistry lab you haven’t spoken to in a while? Give them a call, see how they are, and show you care by reaching out to rekindle these relationships. Though texting or emailing is easy, a phone call is more genuine. Try calling at least three people each week for 30 minutes or more to have a meaningful conversation.

2. Treat Yourself
Grad, after working hard and chasing your dreams, you’ve made it! Celebrate the little things in life by trying dinner at a new restaurant, buying tickets to a concert, shopping for a trendy business outfit, selecting a classy bottle of wine, or staying in to watch a favorite movie. Do whatever makes you happy! Budget a small amount of money into your monthly savings to have the freedom to splurge without going overboard.

3. Expand Professional Skills
Though the Scantron tests are over, learning and personal growth continue long after walking across the stage. Dare to be intellectually curious by seeking online courses in areas of interest, listening to audiobooks by influential thinkers, or finding an inspirational mentor. Whether it be learning Japanese or practicing VLOOKUPS in Excel, push yourself to try something out of the ordinary.

4. Find a Page-Turner
Though you might be happy to never touch a book again, there are countless classics frequently quoted in the business world. Trust me, many of them aren’t dull. Not only will you benefit from hearing the advice of savvy businesspeople, you will also impress your colleagues by demonstrating a willingness to learn. If you need a place to start, try 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey or How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

5. Volunteer Your Time
Become an integral member of your community by exercising your ability to give back. With student loans to pay, don’t worry about needing to donate cash to make a difference. Just show up! Consider spending a few hours each month at a food pantry, animal shelter, or local library. You might be surprised how much individuals appreciate an extra set of willing hands.

6. Network with Everyone
Is there someone sitting on the other side of your cubicle wall who you haven’t met? Make sure to take initiative, introduce yourself, and find out how their role might impact your own. We all know LinkedIn is a phenomenal tool for connecting with contacts around the globe, but don’t forget to mingle with the people in your own office. Ask for an opportunity to job shadow a leader or grab a coffee with a teammate and actively listen to what they share with you.

7. Unplug and Unwind
I bet you have a cellphone, laptop, or both within your reach right now. When is the last time you were more than a few feet away from either? In a world full of information and a whirlwind of technological advancements, it can be hard to walk away from a meme compilation to give your brain a break. Set aside at least ten minutes each day to get away from all devices, breathe, reflect, and prepare for the next day.

8. Explore the City
One of the best phrases to hear from a professor on a beautiful day was, “want to have class outside?” While most full-time employees no longer have the option of working outside, we should still prioritize spending time outdoors whenever possible. Enjoy walking around boutique shops downtown, kayaking on a nearby lake, or going for a run in a regional park to soak up the rays during your hours off the clock.

9. Locate a Financial Advisor
Hoping to retire before 60? If you want to have sufficient funds to live comfortably, consider setting up an appointment with an advisor who can help you save for the future. They will have the industry knowledge necessary to provide advice about where to invest your money, so your money works for you! Make sure to shop around before selecting an advisor because some consultations are offered at reduced rates or free of charge.

10. Plan a Weekend Trip
An institution-wide spring break is a fond memory from the past, but PTO provides full-time employees the freedom they need to travel domestically and abroad. Instead of taking five consecutive days off then not having more than a couple vacations each year, try spreading your days out by using one day at a time to create three-day weekends. This allows plenty of time for a quick road trip to explore the state, a weekend getaway to Rome, or a much-deserved stay-cation in the comforts of your own home.

Investing in My Future

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As I was looking for career opportunities during my final years of college, I wanted to find a company that had the same values that I fell in love with at UNI. Finding a small town, small company feel with access to the big city, big campus resources.

What drew me toward Keyot and the Crew 212 program was the fact that I wouldn’t just be “another employee.” By joining Keyot and Crew212, I would have a team and a support system that would help propel me into a professional direction crucial to my success and the ability to reach my goals in a relatively short amount of time.

As a student at UNI, professors wanted me to succeed. The same can easily be said of Keyot and Crew212 consultants. They equipped me with the tools necessary to become the business professional that will define my future. I truly believe they tailor the program to meet the needs and wants of the individual rather than just creating a uniform experience for all.

Keyot and the Crew212 program work diligently to help college graduates find their true passion and explore where they want to take that passion. Something you wouldn’t necessarily get at a big consulting firm or corporation.

Courtney, UNI Graduate

10 Tips/Things Every Crew212 Member Should Know

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10 Tips/Things Every Crew212 Member Should Know About Their First 6 Months at the Client
David Wells

We all know it can be nerve racking walking into your first day at the client as a Crew212 consultant. Regardless the role you are entering into, there are many things to be aware of when preparing for your first engagement. Below I have outlined a list of things I learned from my first experience as a Project Coordinator/Jr. Project Manager. Although they are in no particular order, these are things I felt necessary to be aware of in order to make a good first impression within your first 6 months. If these don’t help, then let’s face it, you are hopeless. Enjoy!

1. Utilize your Keyot mentor(s) as much as you can.

There have been many times I was in need of advice from someone outside of the client. Someone I could ask tough questions to prior to making a decision, or, in need of advice on how to approach an issue with a team member/manager. Having a Keyot Delivery Manager a phone call away gives you a third party outside of your client to approach in stressful situations, so use them. That is what they are there for. If you are not in need of immediate advice but still have questions, not to worry, the bi-weekly one on ones are great opportunity to have a chat.

2. Make as many mistakes as possible.

Within the first 6 months, the reality is, you are going to make many mistakes. As a Crew212 consultant, your client understands that this may be your first rodeo. I was surprised to find that my manager wanted me to make as many mistakes as I possibly could, but not intentionally of course. Your client wants you to learn their process/processes as fast as you can, that being said, mistakes are encouraged. This gives you an opportunity to showcase your ability to learn and adapt. Ultimately, what they don’t want is for you to make the same mistakes over and over again.

3. Approach your team members at their desk, they won’t bite!

One thing I learned very quickly as a Project Coordinator, in terms of communication, is that my emails did not get me very far. This is because I hadn’t built a relationship with my team members yet. Once they received an email from me they probably thought, “Who is this David Wells, Project Coordinator guy asking me to attend this meeting?” When you find out who your team members/resources are, I highly suggest walking to their desk and introducing yourself. This puts a face to a name and ultimately builds a relationship that could become very valuable, even after the project or task at hand is complete.

4. Don’t wait to be told what to do.

Taking initiative is huge. As a millennial, we are already given the perception that we are lazy, prove them wrong! If you find yourself having a slow day and your manager is busy, find a team member to help out. The unspoken saying, “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” definitely applies. You will come to find that if you are willing to sacrifice even just ten minutes, this goes a LONG way. Become that person that is always to willing help and you will always have support from your team. If you are having trouble understanding what next steps are don’t be afraid to simply ask, “What are the next steps?” That forwarding thinking mentality doesn’t go unnoticed either.

5. Make friends with other Crew212/Keyot consultants.

Chances are you are not the only Keyot member at your place of work. Keyot does a great job of saturating their consultants in many different areas of their clients, and for good reason. Many times in Project Management, you will be working cross-functionally. As a Project Coordinator I was operating under the Project Management Office (PMO) but working on an initiative with the Security team. As luck would have it, I was already familiar with a few of my team members because of previous relationships I had made with Keyot members prior to the project starting. Having a couple familiar faces on the team made it much easier to approach roadblocks.

6. Be sure to ask plenty of questions.

As the infamous Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” The same rule applies at your client in regards to questions. You won’t get the answers to questions you have if you don’t ask. Sure, making mistakes are encouraged, but if you can avoid them by thoroughly understanding what is expected of you and your team by asking a lot of questions up front, do it! Try to ask questions your future self might have. Don’t be afraid, chances are your team/manager wants you to be just as successful as you want to be.

7. Become proficient with the tools your client uses, they will be impressed.

No matter the client, there is always an application or tool used for managing the work you are doing. In some cases you may have never heard of or used some of the tools in practice. For me, I had never used Microsoft Project before or understood its true capabilities. In all honesty, an exercise I did was put together a project plan on how to pump gas. Sounds kind of ridiculous, right? But it worked in teaching me how to organize tasks and baseline dates without affecting any “real” deliverables. Or, if you are an expert user, say, in Excel, showcase your abilities by adding a little flavor to your spreadsheets and deliverables. You may become that individual people go to for questions or be presented with an opportunity where you can show your manager a thing or two.

8. Make time for the Stay the Course

A big reason why companies are attracted to Keyot is because of the continuous training their consultants are subject to. These trainings are generally offered once a month at the Keyot office and are, trust me, worth your time. I have attended trainings on topics such as problem solving, how to influence others, Agile Scrum Certification, and my favorite Emotional Intelligence among many others. These trainings are catered to all Keyot consultants, not just Crew212 members. The more things you can add to you LinkedIn profile or resume the better!

9. Build your network.

“Your network,” is an accumulation of valuable contacts you have made in your career. This is where the saying it’s not what you know, but who you know becomes important. Chances are you won’t be spending the rest of your career at your first client. That being said, who you meet and who you build a strong relationship with at work could land you a solid reference or influence where you go next in life. Networking doesn’t always have to take place at work but at opportunities like the Stay the Course trainings. Keyot does a great job of presenting different opportunities to you to help build a strong list of contacts so take advantage of them.

10. Look sharp every day.

Believe it or not, perception means a lot. People naturally perceive a well-dressed individual as being good at their job. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to most of us, but it’s true! Regardless of dress code, try to dress as a little nicer than what is required. It is the small things that go a long way. Let’s face it, it’s is time to throw out that one dress shirt you have to interview in and build yourself a solid wardrobe to choose from.

Now that you have learned everything you need to know when entering into your first client, get plenty of sleep and stay opened minded. We all know those hours spent on Glassdoor reading posts of disgruntled ex-employees have you worried.  Stay optimistic because having a certain level of expectations may hinder what the client is really like. Good luck!

David Wells
Email: David_Wells_5@msn.com

Take a Closer Look at Cindy Rockwell

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Originally printed in the Des Moines Business Record
BY MEGAN VERHELST, Lift IOWA Contributing Editor
Monday, August 22nd, 2016

 

Cindy Rockwell
Chief information officer and managing partner, Keyot LLC, West Des Moines
Current city: Carlisle
Hometown: Albia

 

Talk a little about Keyot.
Keyot is a certified women’s business enterprise consulting company founded in 2008 and based in St. Paul, Minn. We currently have three locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Des Moines and Dallas/Fort Worth, and we are launching a fourth office in Charlotte/Raleigh, N.C. We work to identify and secure business and information technology professionals to work with our clients to support their business goals, with a key focus on the insurance and financial services industries.
Keyot’s founders, Laura Kelly-Gorman and Anjie Cayot, are sisters. Both have been in the consulting business for many years. I met the women through their father, Bill Kelly, retired chief information officer and vice president with Principal Financial Group Inc., who was my first mentor and employer after college. We have known each other for over 25 years and consider ourselves “sisters from a different mother.”

How big is the business’s footprint?  
Keyot operates as a boutique firm in each market with a goal of 50-75 consultants. Our ability to maintain the “high-touch” model with our consultants — especially those we are mentoring — is key to our success, so we are careful not to grow too big in any one market. Keyot revenue will top $21,000,000 in 2016.

If you were to explain what Keyot does to someone not familiar with your industry or business model, how would you describe it? What sets it apart from other women-owned businesses?  
Keyot is like a dating service except instead of romance, we’re focused on professional excellence. We help make “great matches” for professionals and companies. Our hope is that the result is a “good relationship” or perhaps a “great marriage.” Keyot operates in a very male-dominated industry of technical staffing. The community of female technology professionals is growing, but slowly. We pride ourselves in highlighting the fantastic careers that are available in technology and the incredible mentors that helped shape our careers.

Tell us about the new training center in West Des Moines.
The Keyot training center is a 1,200-square-foot addition we felt was key to our ongoing passion around training for all of our consultants. The space is used for our Crew212 Boot Camp held in Des Moines (with our recent college hires) at least twice per year. It’s also used for monthly lunch and learns, discussing current trends in the industry, sharpening skills, hosting industry speakers and more.

Why did you go into a STEM field?
My high school math teacher started a BASIC programming class for advanced students, and I loved it. I applied to attend Indian Hills in Ottumwa and was on a waiting list for their IT Development track. Meanwhile, I headed to Northwest Missouri State University (now Truman) for an accounting degree, but three days before leaving for Missouri, I received a call from Indian Hills that I was moved up from their wait list. I started the following week at Indian Hills instead of Missouri.

Why does Iowa have such a shortage of women in STEM fields?
We do not promote STEM hard enough in our educational system, and specifically speaking to technology. We need to embrace the fact that Iowa has a really good public educational system and bring technology to the junior high and high school levels as required curriculum under math credits in today’s technology age.

What challenges did the company’s leaders encounter as women trying to start a STEM-based business? 
The biggest challenge was arranging financing. When sisters Anjie and Laura originally went to the bank to arrange for financing to start the business, the banker asked if their dad would co-sign the loan. They were dumbfounded. Needless to say, they walked out of that bank and worked with a bank that was eager to work with three successful technology professionals regardless of our gender. As Keyot moves forward, our biggest challenge is getting more young people interested in a career in technology. We work hard to model to all of our young people, especially young women, what a fantastic career we have had.

What advice do you have for other female business owners or entrepreneurs?  
Be persistent and confident in your ability to deliver on your business vision. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Surround yourself with an informal group of advisers, including business, legal, financial and sales. The ability to talk through your idea with trusted advisers is key. And find a banker who believes in you.

Do you have any advice on handling growth or overcoming challenges?
It’s an ongoing challenge to manage our growth and success, along with our personal values, but having great partners and a highly effective team makes our success work! Growth takes cash flow, so plan carefully and accordingly. If you don’t have a good accountant who can project your cash flow forward, get one. Decide the 8-10 metrics you are going to measure and have your accountant send those to you regularly. Remember, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. There is always a solution to every challenge. This is when having your informal board of advisers is so important.

How else do you spend your time?
I am part of the executive leadership team for Go Red for Women, Technology Association of Iowa, Million Women Mentors-Iowa, Make-a-Wish of Iowa, and the St. Elizabeth Seton Capital Campaign.