Please Welcome Our New SPEED Class!

On Monday, we welcomed the Spring SPEED training class to our Corporate Headquarters in San Diego, California! For the next six weeks, training participants will experience a competitive learning environment that combines lecture-style sessions with hands-on field experience in recruiter and sales training. At the end of these six weeks, only those who remain will be offered lucrative, full-time positions.

The Spring SPEED class is made up of recent graduates from universities and colleges across the country, including Purdue University, University of Texas at Arlington, San Diego State University, West Virginia University and more!

Here’s your first look at the participants and what they had to say about the first day of training.

Each week, our SPEED participants will document their experiences via video testimonials and blog entries.

To read all about our new students, visit our Spring 2011 page.

Stay tuned!

Spring 2011 SPEED Class Bios

  

  

  

Name

Chris Witry

Where you were born

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

University Attended

Purdue University

Major

Communications

Activities during school

Alpha Kappa Lambda (Social Chair)

Your favorite food

Ribs

Your favorite sport

Baseball

Something nobody in this room knows about you

My band played in front of 1000 people

What’s the number one thing you want to get out of this program?

Knowledge of Industry

If you could be on any reality show (for ex. Jersey Shore, Survivor, The Apprentice, Real World, etc) which would you pick and why?

Amazing Race

If I gave you $100 right now, what would you do with it?

I would play Roulette

 

 

 

  

  

Name

Sean Kirkpatrick

Where you were born

Baltimore, Maryland

University Attended

West Virginia University

Major

Communication Studies

Activities during school

Greek, IM sports, worked 3 jobs

Your favorite food

Steak

Your favorite sport

Eagles Football

Something nobody in this room knows about you

I Love karaoke, but can’t sing

What’s the number one thing you want to get out of this program?

Firm grasp on everything (ins and outs) while helping people and being productive

If you could be on any reality show (for ex. Jersey Shore, Survivor, The Apprentice, Real World, etc) which would you pick and why?

The Bachelor

If I gave you $100 right now, what would you do with it?

I would go skydiving

 

 

 

 

 

Name

Tharun Reddy

Where you were born

India

University Attended

University of Texas at Arlington

Major

Marketing

Activities during school

Greek, Student Government, Campus recreation advisory board, IPC

Your favorite food

Pizza

Your favorite sport

Eagles Football

Something nobody in this room knows about you

I’m from Canada and I can’t skate

What’s the number one thing you want to get out of this program?

Know IT industry better and to better my skills for the future

If you could be on any reality show (for ex. Jersey Shore, Survivor, The Apprentice, Real World, etc) which would you pick and why?

Survivor

If I gave you $100 right now, what would you do with it?

I would have my car detailed and washed, then save the rest



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download our New Career Guide for Upcoming & Recent College Grads!

At the current moment, nearly 2 million college graduates are still unemployed. It’s obvious that college graduates are entering a tough job market, but there are several steps they can take to increase the chances of jump starting their careers. This resource will give grads a much-needed competitive edge and help them stand out from the increasing number of job seekers in the market.

Are you an upcoming or recent college grad? Do you know someone who is? Check out our latest online resource – a comprehensive guide on how to find and keep a job after college. The resource goes in depth on job searching techniques, interviewing tips and career strategies for college graduates!

For your free online copy of this guide, click here.

Happy Holidays from SkillStorm!

On Behalf of All SkillStorm Employees, We Wish You Happy Holidays and a Safe and Prosperous New Year!

Step Up, Work Hard and Earn Big Rewards with SPEED

As any recent college graduate will tell you, it’s not exactly a buyer’s market when it comes to employment these days.  Genuine opportunities are fewer and farther between than ever before and calling your school’s career center and searching job boards day after day can be a disheartening experience. I came across a SPEED posting on my university’s job board and decided to give it a shot.  The interview process was my first indication that SkillStorm was different from other companies; I was on a first name basis with the SkillStorm college recruiters. They were always available, right down to answering any questions I had on the same day I asked them.

It’s true that it takes a certain kind of person to pack up and go to San Diego for a six-week “intensive training program” with no 100% guarantee of a job offer.  However, from day one, it was clear that it was all worth the risk.  The company’s investment in the SPEED program extends far beyond the purely financial – SPEED graduates are the company’s future and everybody knows it. The evolution of the SPEED training class – from day one’s lecture hall to week three’s pure field work – had us doing the recruiting job before we even realized we were really doing it. Of the nine of us who showed up on day one, looking sharp and not knowing quite what to expect, four graduated and have been met with immediate success in the field – be it in San Diego, Jacksonville, Dallas or Ft. Lauderdale.

Let me be very clear: SPEED is not for everyone – on more than one occasion it was referred to as a “Recruiter’s Boot Camp.”  The successful candidate will bring a tremendous amount of drive, will to succeed and spirit to the table.  The ones who were still standing at the end were the ones who, before walking in the door on day one, already knew they were going to succeed. This is a program for people who want to step up and work hard to earn their way to leadership and big rewards. SPEED is about building you up to be a leader for both business and people.

SPEED and NOW

Hi guys and girls,

I am going to lay everything out there for you. As a SPEED 2 grad I can attest to the wear and tear of the program. This is absolutely the best kind of training a recent grad of young professional can get to start off on a new career path. I learned more in 6 weeks of intense training than I did in nearly 4 years of college. If you want real world experience, hands on, resume building experience then SPEED is where you start. The program is brutal, intense, difficult both mentally and emotionally. Is it worth it? Absolutely!!! If you can survive this class, and I do mean survive in the true sense of the word, you have instilled in you that you are unstoppable and can do anything.  Life doesn’t get easier, things don’t magically fall in place but the tools and the strength that you pull out of the experience will last a life time whether you stay in recruiting forever or move on to other things.

Hundreds and thousands of candidates are combed over and the best are selected. Everyone gets there and doesn’t quite know what they just got themselves into. The first week ends and no one thinks anyone is going home… and BAMM!!! Two people are gone just like that. This is the real deal, the major leagues and you need to have the will, courage and strength to survive. I wish all the future SPEED students the best. Push hard daily and go over the top and after 6 weeks you will have your prize: unlimited room for growth both financially and mentally.

I hope this helps any one who is thinking about going through it!

About Jacob: Jacob R. an FSU alumni and SPEED Summer 2010 Graduate who is working out of our Tampa, Florida office.

SPEED is Over!

Well friends,

SPEED is over and we just started in the office today! Things are going good, and I really feel like SPEED training was worth it! The transition into the office has been a pretty seamless one. If all goes well, should hear back and get three starts this week, so I am definitely putting to use what I learned in class! I would encourage anyone wanting to find a company to grow and build with to strongly look into SkillStorm SPEED training!

- Kris (in the Dallas, TX office)

About Kris: Kris E. is a West Texas A&M alumni and SPEED Summer 2010 Graduate who is working out of our Dallas, Texas office.

SPEED – Behind the Scenes

Graduating from college is a big step in anyone’s life but to graduate and be given the chance to participate in SPEED is something unique in it self. I graduated from Florida State University May 1, 2010. My entire world was about to change. No more lounging at the pool after or before class,  going to Happy Hours at 3 on a Friday, tailgating before football games and many more of those fun activities that college students do. This was all about to change.

Walking in to SkillStorm the first day of SPEED, I was not sure what to expect. They had music playing, everyone was introducing themselves all while handing out SPEED shirts that said our names on the back. It was overwhelming yet exciting to see what the next six weeks has in store for us. The first Friday of our training program arrived and two of the ten candidates selected were sent home. This was shocking to all of us but we knew that this was no game and we had to pull our own weight if we wanted to make it through. Each week, more information was given to us and more was expected from us as well. If you wanted to make it, you had to prove it. Coming into week five, we were down to the final five. From 1000 applicants to 10 candidates to only five college grads hired.

Five of us still standing, all sent to Dallas, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. I don’t want to give out the secrets to this program but what I do want to share is the passion that this company has for the SPEED training class. They want you to succeed, trust me they do, but you also have to want to succeed for yourself. The program is designed to make sure the weak are let go and the strong stand through. Some of you out there may look at it differently, but for the right person, this is it. You are given the tools you need to succeed and it is in your best interest to run with it. I learned a lot about myself and how far I can be pushed. I understand that you are risking a lot by giving up your current life and moving out to San Diego for six weeks (although having all expenses paid is certainly a bonus) but has it not been said the best things in life aren’t easy?

This program is one of a kind. They care about their employees and believe me when I say they live up to every one of their core values. If you respect them and the program, they will respect you.

If there’s one thing I could tell the upcoming SPEED classes it would be this: you have to have DRIVE. If you do not have drive, then this is not something for you. Trust me when I say, you will be pushed to your limit, but that makes you a stronger person at the end of the day.

Looking back, I would have done it again. Just look at the time and money invested in this program and you’ll know that  they want to make sure they have the best and they want you to succeed. This company wants you to grow with them, to be moved up as fast as you want by proving that you have what it takes. I don’t know the ways of a lot of companies but I do know that coming out of college (or even if you have been out for a few years), most companies will not move you up in the company as fast as SkillStorm does, if you have it in you and you prove yourself.

To everyone entering SPEED, it is worth the risk! Work hard, show you have what it takes and live by the core values. In the end, I promise it will be worth it.

About Ashley: Ashley R. is a FSU alumni and SPEED Summer 2010 Graduate who is working out of our Ft. Lauderdale, Florida office.

We Answer your Questions about SPEED

With the recent onset of our SPEED Summer Showdown on Facebook, we’ve received some feedback from our followers and we would like to address your concerns here.

At SkillStorm, our success and growth are due to our ability to attract and motivate highly competitive individuals. One way we attract these individuals comes through our college recruiting efforts. The SkillStorm Program for Extreme Educational Development (SPEED) is a highly competitive, intense sales training program where we select the top candidates who have recently graduated from colleges across the country to compete for a Technical Recruiter role within one of our branches nationwide.

The candidates who are selected for the six-week training program will experience a competitive learning environment that combines lecture-style sessions with rigorous, hands-on field experience in recruiter and sales training. This summer, we accepted 10 candidates into the SPEED training class. Each week, these candidates will be put to the test through hands on training and assessments to determine their fit in the job they’re training for. Depending on performance and evaluation, some candidates may be cut from the SPEED class. At the end of training, only the best of the class who remain will be offered lucrative, full-time positions.

Our Summer Showdown Contest gives our followers a chance to vote on their favorite SPEED candidate, but does not guarantee that they will hold on to their spot during the training class. Last week, we let go of two candidates and we wish them the best of luck in their future professional endeavors.

Overall, we want to make the best match on both sides of the training process – for our organization as well as for our candidates – because we want to ensure that we’ve hired the right person for the right job.

If you would like to learn more, you can visit the official SPEED website at http://www.skillstorm.com/SPEED.

7 Android Applications a College Student Should Have

If you’re heading to college this upcoming fall, I’m already sure that you’re going to be technological savvy.  I don’t really know of any college student that hasn’t heard of Facebook, as well as popular phones such as the Android and iPhone.  There’s probably a good chance that you have an iPhone or Android based phone that is capable of downloading applications.

Today, I wanted to show you 7 Android applications that can not only help you with your college work, they can also help you in everyday situations.  You’re going to find that many are for the Android-based phones, but you may be able to find the same for the iPhone as well.

#1 Google Voice: Sure, you may have an Android phone that is going to set you back $100 a month, but did you know that you can download apps such as the Google voice app and save on your minutes?  You can get your own phone number and more.  It’s a great free way to call your friends and family if you’re worried about going over your minutes.

#2 ShopSavvy: Again, you may find yourself purchasing some money and since you’re going to want to save as much as money as possible, you’re going to want to compare prices.  This is exactly what ShopSavvy will allow you to do.  It will help you compare prices both with online retailers, as well as stores near you.

#3 Share Your Board: This is a really cool application that you should take full advantage of.  When you’re in the classroom, you may become a little lazy with your note taking.  What this app is going to do is simply allow you to take a picture of the white board.  It will then analyze it for you by transforming it and more!

#4 Documents to Go: Yes, this application is going to set you back about $30 but it really is amazing.  You’re going to be able to edit any type of Office file right on your phone.  From a Word document, to an Excel spreadsheet, it’s a great way to edit on your phone.

#5 Slacker Radio: We all loved listening to the radio during study time and down time during college.   Slacker is a lot like Pandora in many ways.  I find it to be the best since it gives me more of a selection in terms of music.

#6 ColorDict: How many times have you had to reference the dictionary or thesaurus?  Well, without having to grab a book, you will be able to access all the information that you need with this great app.

#7 StudyDroid: The last one on my list is the StudyDroid, which allows you to create flashcards and then go back to study with them.  It’s a great way to prepare for a test.  It’s also very easy to use, as well as free to download!

With these apps, you’ll find that there’s more to the Android than just talking.  With hundreds of apps hitting the market monthly, you should be able to find many that will suit your needs.

About the author: This guest post was written by Liz Cutten, from FindCollegeCards.