Category: Old blog

Career counseling · Old blog

Career counseling #4: Lisa

Codrin PO

It`s 2015 and we`ve got a fresh start ahead.

For a first-in-the-year post, let`s take Lisa, Greg`s long lost love. I`m sure you all remember Greg.

Lisa majored in political science, with an emphasis on international relations. She hoped to get a job within the Parliament, a Ministry or something similar. She`s been unemployed since June 2013, when she graduated. In the past year and a half, she had some meaningless jobs, learned another language and thought about the future. She recently started a Masters` in political sciences abroad, with an emphasis on European affairs.

Lisa`s attitude, from my point of view, is one of denial. She thinks that, after her Master, she`ll get a job within a European institution and start of a fabulous career in politics. And here`s the punchline!

Not too personal · Old blog

How can I help you today?

Codrin PO18 Comments

Despite what everyone is saying, that I shouldn`t give free advice/help anymore and that I should try to sell myself better, I decided to offer my help to anyone in need for FREE.

My inspiration comes from reading (partially until now) the book of Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn co-founder) called “The Start-up of You“. By reading this, I came to the conclusion that what has defined me over the years wasn`t my knowledge of a field or another, wasn`t my degrees or different skills, but, in fact, it was my interaction with people. I have always loved to help everyone, never saying “no” to a friend needing help or asking a question. Continue reading “How can I help you today?” →

Not too personal · Old blog

#GettingPersonal If you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

Codrin PO

Shakespeare wrote magnificently in “The Merchant of Venice” these words:

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.

I believe that it sums up all that is good and bad in humanity.

I watched last night, for the 7th time, “the Pianist”, the story of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, character played by Adrien Brody (for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role).

I watch it every time I`m upset, depressed or need to relax before or after something stressful. It makes you understand how little your problems are compared to others. I know I shouldn’t compare myself to others as we all are unique in one way another. But, as any other person, I cannot help myself.

For me, there are three very emotional scenes/parts in the movie: READ MORE

Blog · Not too personal · Old blog

What I`ll do next!

Codrin PO

I have no idea what I`ll do next. All my life I`ve studied and worked in agriculture-related fields. I went to a high school we`re I specialized as an agricultural technician; I followed up on that with a B.Sc. in Agronomy that helped me become an agronomist. I also did a M.Sc. and a PhD, both in agronomy and agricultural management. None of these was something I loved to do. Once I started, inertia made me carry on.

I moved from private consulting to public advisory, from policy monitoring to research. I liked what I was doing, but it didn`t seem enough. I always did something on the side: a blog, being member of a NGO, evaluating projects or translating articles.
But wait, there’s more!

Career counseling · Old blog

Career counseling #3: the University

Codrin PO

The year has almost come to an end. 2015 is just a couple of days away and everybody is preparing their New Year`s resolutions (myself included).

I find it only fitting to write a post about how those college years should help you get the job of your dream after you graduate.

Everybody told me, after I graduated, that I should have done an internship, volunteered anywhere, with any organization just to get a head start. People also told me that I should have worked in college, if not for my financial independence, at least for a better looking resume. The advice is in the rest of the article