How I Found a Job I Love

We live in a limitless connection economy. This means there is boundless opportunity, but it takes tenacity and a solid personal brand to turn that opportunity into reality. A well-utilized personal brand breaks through the networking noise. Whether it’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, email, or YouTube, digital channels provide an avenue for crafting your image. In this podcast episode, The Niche Movement Founder Kevin O’Connell sat down with 40 George Washington University undergraduates to hold a workshop. Together, they untangled the foundations of what makes a good personal brand.

According to U.S. News & World Report, 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by the second week of February. (We know, not exactly what you wanted to hear). In this podcast episode, we confronted the 80% statistic head-on and broke down what successful goal setting looks like. The Niche Movement Social Media Intern Jaylene Perez and The Niche Movement Founder Kevin O’Connell got together to talk through their fumbles and triumphs when it came to personal goals, career goals, and even mental health.

The Niche Movement founder Kevin O'Connell and Forbes contributor Jessica Lutz discuss the issue of underemployment. Jessica’s main advice for young people trying to get a job is to keep at it. It can take a long time, but if you keep pursuing your goals, a door will be opened for you.

The Niche Movement Founder Kevin O’Connell returns to podcasting with Dustin Ramsdell to discuss working for yourself, building personal brands, and establishing careers in higher education.Dustin started his digital reputation with Higher Ed Geek Blog before getting involved with higher education as a career path. After graduate school and working for a few years, Dustin was hired at 2U where he worked until August of 2018. Described as a “software as a service” company that helps colleges integrate their online graduate degree programs, 2U brought Dustin down to the Mid-Atlantic region from his upbringings in Maine: “Once I started talking to someone, it was quick, it was efficient, it was casual, it worked.”Also explored in this episode is a conversation about marketing transferable skills for employers and creating a unique resume. Kevin and Dustin discuss major life transitions, being flexible, crafting digital brands, podcasting before it was cool, networking via podcasting, Baltimore craft beer, and creating the life you want to live.Dustin’s current podcast is the Higher Ed Geek.

College and those first few years post-graduation may not have been spent doing the things he loves, says founder Kevin O'Connell in the latest podcast episode, but they enabled him to find the path he is on today. If Kevin were to give his younger self advice, he would tell him to worry less. 

Our founder, Kevin O’Connell was interviewed by a George Washington University first year student in March of 2017. In this interview podcast, Kevin offers advice to college students about choosing careers and how your involvement on campus may align more to your career choice than your major.They also discuss how Kevin started working for himself, and how he found his passion.

On February 21st 2018, our founder Kevin O’ Connell delivered a keynote for Rhode Island College as part of their inaugural Majors Week programming on how students can take control of their story and not be defined solely by their major. In this 35-minute keynote, Kevin shares a personal story he has never shared in public. In May 2006, Kevin graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he majored in marketing. After college, he enrolled graduate school but quickly dropped out. Later on, Kevin worked at Centenary College where he worked full-time in their student affairs division, and a year later finally decided to start a masters degree in Leadership. Kevin’s main message in this keynote is that you are not defined by your major. You will find your niche and the career you love. In this podcast, Kevin mentions people like Eppa Rixey and Megan Gebhart who have pursued careers that differed from their college majors and are thriving. If you realize that your major is not something you want to pursue a career, then take risks, and do things that will redefine what exactly you want to do. To redefine what you want to do, know your strengths, know who you are, and know what motivates you.

For the last several years, millennials are frequently at the top of the list as it relates to the future of work and education. However, the generation often not discussed is Generation Z, who is on the horizon. As some of the Gen Z population (born 1996 or later) is approaching workforce age, it is important to gain perspective on what they want, and where they predict shifts in the upcoming years. In order to understand the future of higher education, it is crucial to begin dialogue both about and with the Gen Z group. This panel you are about to listen to was put on by George Washington University's Student Affairs department facilitated by Robert Schneider. This was part of a monthly student affairs professional development series at the university where they brought together young professionals and higher-ed experts to each share their unique perspectives and ideals, as well as begin this important communication. Our founder, Kevin O'Connell was invited as one of 5 professionals to sit on the panel and offer his perspective of how Gen Z communicates, how they learn, and how we can create environments for them to succeed after graduation. Panelists: Kendra Scott - Coordinator, New Student & Hallmark ProgramsMurphy Miller - Assistant Director Admissions & ToursRenee Kashawlic - Assistant Director, First Year ExperienceMichael Mckenzie- Director, Career ServicesKevin O'Connell- Founder, The Niche Movement and FYN CreativeModerated by Robert Synder - Executive Director Planning & Outreach Student Affairs

What is it like to transition from the military and into a career? Four veterans from the Army, Air Force, and Marines share their journey, their struggles, accomplishments and their advice to find a job they love. This is part of The Niche Movement fireside chat tour where we sat down and interviewed for veterans who found their niche. The Niche Movement Fireside Chat Tour brings together a diverse population of career-ready millennials, from college students to more experienced professionals for monthly events and on-going digital discussions about finding your niche--and a company where you can grow--in the new job market. The events will cover topics such as finding your niche, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, and personal branding. Fireside chat guests include thriving young professionals from companies like HBO and General Assembly who have a compelling story, unique career journey, and have found their niche, loving what they do. All interviews will take place in front of a live audience as part of a series of 3-hour events organized across the country, starting with D.C., Philly, NYC, and Boston.

On September 27, 2017 our founder Kevin O'Connell sat down and interviewed Mary Johnson, Associate Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at HBO (#HBOinspires) to find out how she landed a job she loves, how comedy writing is her true passion, and her obsession for buffalo chicken everything.Mary has been with HBO since 2012 after graduating from Rutgers University. We interviewed Mary to hear about the inspiring work she has done with HBO including working with Chris Gethard around mental health awareness, supporting the American Black Film festival, and other philanthropic initiatives tied to HBO programming.

We talked about the importance of social media as a branding tool for business, past job experiences, maintaining connections, networking and much more. In this chat, Kevin interviews Amanda on her journey from a stable day job running copyright law at Associate Press to the responsibilities of being her own boss managing Don't Sit Home.  Amanda was able to take this leap of faith in her professional career because of the passion she has for what she does. The road to thriving in her business was paved with lots of adversity, but she held her professional knowledge dear and was able to establish a solid foundation to her business today. Don't Sit Home® is a social media management and event planning service that embodies the mission of a total experience. Amanda has been driving this side hustle for a number of years and decided to make it her full time job in May 2014. Her ultimate goal is to inspire anyone and everyone to go out and live their passions in a unique way. This is a much watch (or listen) to anyone in eventing planning, travel, social media, or trying to take a side hustle to full-time.

On Tuesday June 6th, 2017, we sat down with Stacy Campesi a good friend of TNM and founder of SLC Coaching.  We talked about how to get out of "career rock bottom?"  Better yet, how do you make time for yourself once you are thriving. In this fireside chat, Kevin interviews Stacy on her own professional journey and career transition all the way to what red flags to look for while interviewing.

Recorded on April 18th, 2017 at WeWork White House, our third Niche Con Fireside Chat guest was Trevor Lynn, a 26-year-old CMO of Social Tables. If you’re like Trevor Lynn, CMO of Social Tables, you’ve got a real hunger for the work and dedication it takes for a startup to live or die. As one of the first 10 employees for this web-based software in the hospitality and events industry, Trevor’s been on the serious roller coaster that can be working at a startup - your coworkers are your family, you’re failing together, hitting brick walls together but then finding new paths together with no process, no guidance, and hardly any resources.

Our 2nd NicheCon Fireside Chat tour stop we had an intimate discussion with Bryan Campbell, Lead Writer at Gear Patrol at WeWork Bryant Park on Tuesday March 28th, 2017 New York City. Bryan shares the moment he realized he loved cars, what happened after he came back from attending Automotive Journalism school in London, and the coolest trip Gear Patrol has sent him on.

We sit down with Noelle London, Campus Manager of 1776 for our first NicheCon Fireside Chat event at WeWork White House. Noelle talks about how she knew she wanted to join the Peace Corp upon graduation and the up's and down's of volunteering abroad and how she harnessed that to find her professional love of social entrepreneurship.

On Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 Kevin moderated a panel discussion with four other young professionals as part of the George Washington Women's in Business event: Live Your Lifestyle as a prelude to their upcoming annual Women's in Business conference. 

In this episode, Kevin, Dan, and Hannah wrap up TNM's latest season from the last 9 episodes on what they've learned from their guests, the start-up life, as well as what it's like doing the work we do at 3 different ages and stages in life. 

This is part two of our interview with the young and talented Emily Massel of Gallup. In this episode, Emily talks more about her life post-Lemonade Day and her current job at Gallup. She tells us about her atypical college experience and how it has helped her evolve and develop new skills which she has taken with her into her position at Gallup.

In this episode, Kevin speaks with Emily Massel, the mighty force behind the original Lemonade Day DC. Emily spent much of her undergrad years at GWU working on Lemonade Day. After graduating last May, she accepted a job Gallup where she currently works. She may be young but she is full of entrepreneurial energy and she tells the story of her success modestly and candidly in this, part 1, of our 2-part interview with her.

In this episode, we meet our WeWork neighbor, Andrew Gassen from Pivotal Labs. Andrew shares what led him to DC, Pivotal Labs, and to our podcast hotseat. His stories and advice will resonate with anyone who yearns to balance the 9-5 job and personal lifestyle goals. Andrew's blog, Potential Things discusses the potential things that Andrew hopes to turn into real things in his off-time from Pivotal and his drive to constantly do more and discover new things inspires us here at the Niche Movement.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Vincent Velasquez, owner of Hurricane Productions based out of New Jersey. Vincent shares his personal stories of what brought him to where he is now and what motivates him on a daily basis. Tune in for inspirational stories and career advice from both Vincent and our host, Kevin O'Connell.

This episode features our first in-person guest, Rutgers alum and entrepreneur, Vincent Velasquez! He and Kevin talk shop about the ups and downs of deciding to quit their "day jobs" and start their own businesses. Vincent heads Hurricane Productions, based in New Jersey, and tells us about what brought him to this point in his career. For those who can relate to his stories, tune in to Part 1 of this two-part interview with Vin! He provides insight, inspiration, and advice for anyone who isn't sure they are on the right path.

In this episode, Kevin and Hannah talk about being interview-ready in your daily life. The episode surrounds the idea that every interaction can be seen as an interview because you never know who you are going to meet and what opportunities they may present. Serendipity is a recurring theme and we suggest a few ways to be ready for that serendipitous moment.

This week, Kevin and Hannah talk about putting yourself out there. As Kevin says, it only takes one--one client, one project, etc. to get things rolling. The time it takes to open yourself up to opportunity is truly is worth it. Personal stories and insights supplement this episode's 5 suggested ways to get out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there!

This week, Hannah and Kevin talk about different ways they have used to get their voice out there and gain a following.

In this episode of the Niche Movement Podcast, hosts Hannah and Kevin talk all about motivation; where to get it, what to do when it's lacking, etc. "You need to get scrappy sometimes--you gotta make things work" Kevin says earnestly--motivation is bred from necessity.

"The unknown: it's something that happens to everybody, you have to learn to be ok with it." In this episode, Hannah interviews Kevin on why he left his full time job to take the leap of faith and what it takes to work for yourself."

In this episode, Stacy continues to break down what's on my plate and helping me realize I am my best marketing tool. This may be the most transparent set of episodes I will share in the beginning of this podcast series. Through the launch of my new book, I had a lot of stress, a lot of win's and a lot on my plate. I knew I needed some clarity and to re-focus before I hit a wall so I set up a call with my good friend and life coach, Stacy Campesi. Entrepreneurship is trying to learn not to get to high and not to low and that's exactly what Stacy helps me with. This is part 2 and the final installment will be released next Wednesday. In case you missed part 1 here it is.

In this episode, I get real. This may be the most transparent set of episodes I will share in the beginning of this podcast series. Through the launch of my new book, I had a lot of stress, a lot of win's and a lot on my plate. I knew I needed some clarity and to re-focus before I hit a wall so I set up a call with my good friend and life coach, Stacy Campesi. Entrepreneurship is trying to learn not to get to high and not to low and that's exactly what Stacy helps me with. This is part 1 but tune into the next 2 episodes to see how Stacy helps me get clarity and reduces my stress all under an hour.

Kevin shares the up's and down's of 8 months since launching his business full time and how rewarding but difficult it is when you control your own destiny.

What does it take to build a tribe or break through the noise? It's easy: effort and consistency. By showing up everyday and actually putting in the work to engage with your audience will win time and time again. Kevin shares the best example of this through Casey Neistat's recent 100+ days of vloging all while building a tech startup.

Kevin explores the difference between having a plan A and plan B and how to get the most out of the 24 hours we have each day to help you find your niche.

Writing my first book was one of the hardest projects I have ever worked on, but having it shipped and out in the world has been just as rewarding. In episode 2, I talk about the lessons learned from writing and self-publishing my first book. From setting the right goals, marketing, and all the way to using Amazon Create Space I lay it all out on the table for anyone looking to create a book.

Here it is - I'm joining the podcast world. Not because it's the new fad but because it's all about working hard and working faster. Plus I just spent almost a year writing a 150 page book :) For me, Mondays are the new Fridays. Being an entrepreneur has proved that prioritizing your week and hitting your "productivity" stride is key. This intro podcast, I challenge you to start something.