One Trophy Program Prepares Teens For Real World
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- In the age of texting, Facebook, and Twitter a new generation of job seekers is emerging.
Generation text has grown up communicating in acronyms and with expectations of success.
"They communicate in social media, e-communications, which perpetuates it's all about me," says Marta Rhyner.
Rhyner and business partner Mary Milla are the creators of a new program called One Trophy.
"One trophy is our little wink into the culture these kids were raised where everybody got a trophy for showing up to practice, win or lose, everybody's a winner," Milla said. "What we saw is this perfect storm, a clash between culture and communications and careers."
Both women have 20 years experience each in public relations. They designed a training program for young people who are graduating from college and trying to make it in today's job market.
"We've heard from clients about parents showing up in the lobby at interviews, showing up expecting to participate in the interview, candidates texting their parents during the interview," Milla said. "We've had parents tell stories about when they're hiring somebody the other parent is calling and negotiating salary, frankly horrifying things because these kids aren't expected to succeed on their own."
The One Trophy program takes young job seekers step by step through the interview process, from the questions and answers, to what employers are looking for and what could be a deal breaker.
Milla and Rhyner record the interview, and play it back for the trainee so they can see first hand what they're doing right and what they're doing wrong.
The women also surveyed professionals to identify the top five deal breakers for killing your changes at getting a job. Milla says the employers who responded to their survey say poor writing, not doing your homework, lack of credibility, bad manners and what's in it for me -- a candidate who focuses more on what's in it for them than what they have to offer.
Paige Vigil is a soon to be college graduate from the University of Minnesota. She recently went through the One Trophy program.
"It was great to be able to give my answers and then watch myself," she said. "I can visually see what I was doing wrong."
The goal is to get students like Page ready to not only compete in the job market, but to stand out.
"In the real world of work only one person gets the job, only one person gets the trophy," says Milla.
For more information about One Trophy, click here.
