Road Trip

Why Hit The Road? To expand your horizons for a career Allow you to see options for the jobs that will facilitate your passion Networking possibilities

Who do I decide to interview? Interview the people who have jobs that are of your interest areas Use google. Use the Phone Book Cold Call Ask people if they know someone who works in the area of your interest

How do I prepare for the interview? Contact sources…cold call, phone book? Paper? Friends? Parents? Teachers? Use the resources you have. Write the questions Practice asking the questions Call or contact your source make an appointment. Be 5 minutes early for the interview, Dress appropriately, bring questions, paper and pencil with you to take notes.

What should I do after the interview? Write a thank you note Write down 3 things that “stuck out” with you while interviewing.

Sample Questions….

Where were you when you were our age and how did you get from there to where you are today?

When you were growing up, did you have any interests that led you into this type of work?

How did you acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for this job?

Describe a typical day in the life of your job.

What has been the key to achieving the level of excellence that you’ve reached in your life?

If someone wanted to be you, do you suggest that they follow your footsteps?

If you had one piece of advice to young people getting ready to jump into the real world what would it be?

When did the light bulb go on? When did you realize this is what you wanted to do?

Assignment….. Find someone who is in the business field that you admire Interview them Take some pictures of them Write up a “road trip” adventure of your experience include your pictures Submit for a grade Write a thank you note to your interviewee.

Fact sheet Christina Riojas Marketing Director Lake Elsinore Outlets Lake Elsinore, California Quote: Keep your options open…it may open doors you never thought existed. Title: Shopping anyone? Christina Riojas road map Market a car for a high school project College Retail work K-frog Outlet mall marketing director

On May 25, 2010 I took 3 of my students, Rebecca Richardson, Amanda Salazar and Danielle Herset to visit Christina Riojas who is the marketing director at the Lake Elsinore Outlet mall. The outlet mall is located just across the freeway from our school. We started the interview by asking Ms. Riojas what her journey was from high school to becoming a marketing director today. She told us that she has always been a high achiever. Her job in high school was her grades. She was always top in her class. She told us about an intern project for consumer education. The project was to show how much advertising influences the consumer and how much goes into advertising. Christina’s job was to market a new car. She had to go down to the dealer and test drive a brand new red mustang. That’s it! That’s what hooked her into being a marketing director. A teenager test driving a brand new car! All in the name of research. This hooked her into looking into the business field and into marketing. She was fasinated with the different areas and arenas for advertising. After high school she went right into college. She graduated from the University of La Verne with a business major degree. After graduating, she worked at a retail store in the dessert for a few years. She gained experience in all the mechanics of running a store. She was buying, hiring firing, conducting human resources, and working all the finances out. The clothes and shopping interested her, after all, what girl doesn’t like shopping! and yet, she liked the marketing part of the job the best. So she interviewed at K frog selling and writing commercials for the station. This job created a lot of exposure for her and allowed her to create business relationships. She said that these business relationships are crucial to one being successful. These relationships can either make or break you. If the relationships are good, you may count on them in the future. Treat others like you would want to be treated, and always leave a job on a good note. Christina’s job at K-frog led her to the job she currently has now which is the marketing director for the Lake Elsinore outlet mall. Her duties include scheduling events for the outlet like beauty pageants, fashion shows and holiday events. She manages the leases with businesses that come into the mall, advertises, and works closely with the media to draw in business. Christina advised my students that the best way to get into the business part of the fashion industry is job shadow or to interview for an internship. Be ready to do anything. If the boss asks for a cup of coffee do it quickly, efficiently and with a smile on your face. The internship is for me to learn what jobs are available, what are the duties of the job, what I do and don’t like about each job and to see if I truly have a passion for this business. The internship also gives exposure on my working skills and abilities which will allow future employers to see and hire me for a job. She told us that paid and non-paid internships are available at the outlet. She recommended to always keep options open we never know where they will lead. While we were visiting she offered a partnership with my class for the upcoming year. New Project goals included for this year: Working on fashion shows at the center Window styling working with the managers of the stores to create window displays to draw customers into the business Students forming an advisory board to brainstorm the target market of the Lake Elsinore high school student and discuss the latest trends with the businesses and marketing director to draw more people into the mall Possible Internships for high school students Working on special projects during the year. Researching friends for possible trends Creating a back to school advertising campaign

The finished assignment: