For February's Brother Spotlight, we would like to introduce Jacob Princinsky! He is a Junior from Brighton, Michigan studying Finance and Management. This summer, Jake will be working for Merrill Lynch as a Wealth Management Intern. For his future career, he would love to work for an organization that is growth-driven and can allow him to expand his knowledge of Financial Advising and Management. His favorite parts about being in Delta Sigma Pi include developing connections with incredible individuals, as well as allowing him to grow professionally and network with individuals that will benefit his career moving forward. In his leisure time, Jake enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, working out, and listening to a wide variety of music. When asked about what he believes contributes to who he is today, Jake said, "I believe in taking each day as a new opportunity to grow, and treating everyone with respect is what makes me who I am.” Jake has been an amazing asset to his fellow brothers, and we look forward to what his future holds!

Our first brother spotlight of 2023 is Natalie Bauman! She is a Junior from Grand Rapids majoring in Marketing and Management with a minor in Spanish.  Some things she enjoys include being outside, going on long walks, traveling to new places, and listening to her favorite music and podcasts. Last summer, Natalie had an internship at a local construction company doing creative marketing, but she is hoping to get an internship in a more analytical marketing role this coming summer for a larger West Michigan company.  Her favorite thing about DSP is the sense of community it brings. "Everyone in DSP is so welcoming and wants to help others and see their brothers succeed. I enjoy being surrounded by like-minded people and being able to learn from them." When asked what something is that makes her who she is Natalie said, "I think that the experiences I have had traveling and interacting with other cultures whether through study abroad or going on mission trips out of the country has shaped a big part of my personality and the person I am today who values open-mindedness, understanding, and helping others." We are thankful for the impact she's had on the fraternity and the value she continues to bring every day. 

We continue the brother spotlights with last year’s VP of Finance and this years VP of Alumni relations Sammy Migaldi  . Originally from Dewitt Michigan, he joined DSP in the fall of 2019 and has been an active brother since. He is a senior majoring in Finance and Accounting . He spent the past summer as Finance intern at Dematic and this summer has a consulting internship with Plante Moran in Denver .  He is graduating this semester and will pursue a Master of Accounting at Michigan state university. He will be missed very much and dsp has been a one-of-a-kind experience for him and he has enjoyed his time in it. He will be missed by all his fellow brothers.

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We close out the semester of the brother spotlights with our current president Greta Robbins. Originally from Chelsea, Michigan, she joined us in the fall of 2019 and has been an active brother ever since. She is a senior majoring in Finance and marketing. She is currently a Trust Advisor intern at plante moran where she plans to stay on full time after graduation. Last year she served as Vp of pledge education of the Chapter before moving up to the top job this year. Her favorite part about DSP is the multi-layered benefits it has provided her with! “It has given me a social and professional network, provided me with valuable leadership and given me some of my best friends. ” Her secret talent is a passion for the classic board game Monopoly. The Chapter has benefited from Greta’s presence and leadership, and we all know that will continue in the 2nd semester of this year.

​We continue the brother spotlights with one of our recent additions to the fraternity Kyler Koch. Originally from Bath Michigan, he joined us this semester which is his first in college. He joined Dsp to further is professional skills as he starts his path toward a degree in finance. His work experience so far includes starting his own car detailing business which he has done the past 18 months. His claim to fame is that he is good at the whip cream flip challenge. We are excited that he has decided to make Dsp a focus for his college career here at Grand Valley.

​We continue the brother spotlights with last year’s Vp of scholarships and awards Emma Fowler. Originally from Greenville Michigan, she joined DSP in the fall of 2018 and has been an active brother since. She is majoring in Marketing with a minor with Advertising and public relations. She sent the past summer as marketing intern at Beverlin manufacturing and currently works as a covid associate for Amway.  Her secret talent is her ability to make friends. She is graduating this semester and she has enjoyed DSP very much and has been a one-of-a-kind experience for her and she have enjoyed my time in it. She will be missed by all her fellow brothers. 

Hello again brothers, this week we will be discussing some of the differences between business professional and business casual.

Knowing when and how to dress professionally is one of the key aspects to landing the job you’ve always dreamed of.

The long-time phrase “clothes make the man” still carries plenty of weight, even with the liberation of dress code becoming more common in the workplace.

Being able to walk the line of business professional versus business casual is tricky- but with these tips and tricks, you will be able to win over your employers, turn the heads of coworkers, and be confident in yourself and your style!

Gentlemen, formal dress code is typically going to involve a dark suit. This can be black, grey, or navy blue. That being said, try to make sure that your pants and your jacket match. Your shirt should compliment your suit, but not match it.

You can never go wrong with a white shirt, but don’t be afraid to go outside of the comfort zone either. Pink shirts particularly stand out with a navy jacket and pants!

Wearing a tie is also crucial for a professional fit. That being said, it should not be overstated. Try to select a conservative tie that matches your shirt and compliments your suit. Solids and stripes are your best bet here. The tie is usually the most noticeable part of your outfit, so you should do your best to make sure the tone matches as well.

Your belt and shoes should also match but remember- never mix brown and black in the same outfit.

Ladies, formal dress can pose a few options. It can include dark pantsuits, a suit dress, or skirt suit. Colors can vary here but they should complement each other shouldn’t be too vivid. More special occasions like dinners and dances may also include a long evening dress, though this is not the best choice for an interview.

Skirts should lie at or just above the knee but remember to keep it appropriate length that is not too revealing. You can also choose between heels, flats, loafers, or Oxfords for shoes. Some minimalist jewelry can also serve as a nice compliment to your ensemble.

It is difficult to be definitive about outfit choice when there are so many options but always use your best judgement and wear what makes you feel confident when you are interacting with others.

After all, in order to look your best, you also have to feel your best!

Casual dress can get a bit more complicated. For men, business casual can include chinos and slacks, and dark socks. Shirts can include a nice button down, collared shirts, short sleeve button downs, and even sweaters.

However, it is important to note a distinction between business casual in the workplace versus an interview. In general, you should never wear jeans or a polo to an interview, even if the workplace deems this acceptable as everyday office wear.

Women can dress business casual in a multitude of different ways as well. Slacks, skirts, jackets, blouses, sweaters, and hosiery are all acceptable. Turtlenecks, dressy tops, sleeveless shirts, and casual dresses are all perfectly fine to wear as tops, while pencil-cut skirts and dress pants are great examples of bottoms. Shoes can include pumps, flats, stilettos, and open-toed heels.

Similar to men, a good mantra to live by is always dressing better for an interview, even if you do not have to dress that nice once you begin working.

So how can you best approach whether or not to dress business professional or business casual?

In general, your employer will likely have a policy already in place regarding dress in the workplace. Make sure to ask them about it during your interview if you are unsure! That being said, you should always assume to dress business professional to your interview, unless your potential employer says otherwise beforehand (including over Zoom)! After all, it is usually always better to overdress than to underdress.

While business professional may be more restrictive and less expressive than business casual, it is always better to dress professionally not only for interviews, but networking events. These are places where you are making first impressions, and you always want to bring your best self to the table.

A final note is to always be sure you are well groomed- especially when dressing business professional. Your hair is an extension of your outfit, and not properly maintaining it can detract from your professionalism, even if everything else is flawless.

Hopefully these attire tips will help you on your professional journey, brothers. Best of luck!

More likely than not, in recent years you’ve likely heard of the concept of minimalism.

For those unaware, minimalism is not - contrary to popular belief - the idea of having as few material possessions as possible. Rather, it is the idea of living with intention. The idea that each item you own has a purpose and brings genuine value or utility into your life.

I can already hear you objecting – what does minimalism have to do with professional development? If I wanted to hear about this, I would just go to one of the many other places on the internet to go learn more, right?

To answer the latter question, I would highly encourage you to do so! And I’ll be linking a few good places to begin at the end of this post. As for the former, minimalism can translate spectacularly to the world of professional development, and in more ways than you would think.

Let’s take a look at that definition again. “Living with intention”. Why should this apply to only the items we own? Let’s apply this mindset to our careers as well.

Certainly, I cannot be the only one who has at some point questioned why I am pursuing the major I am.

Is it because I desire the work? Do I desire the money? Does the work that comes with that field of study align with my personal values? What are my personal values?



Wait, slow down!



Before we fall too deep down the rabbit hole of existentialism, I simply want to point out the nature of these questions. We tend to ignore them in our daily lives because they are difficult ones to answer. It is easy to dismiss them in favor of living in the moment, in the pursuit of something greater down the line.

As 2021 continues, I encourage our brothers to consider what our values are. When we become more intentional in the path we are taking, we can more easily identify opportunities that are best for us and seize them. When we apply the ideas of minimalism to our studies and our careers, we can be satisfied with our actions and confident in the direction we are going.

At its core, minimalism is about finding value in each possession. So, what about professional minimalism? I encourage you to work toward these principles:
​

• Find value in the actions you take.
• Find value in the connections you make.
• Find value in the things you learn.
• Give value to your community and your workplace.

​I never said doing any these was easy, but by living out your professional lives with intention, you will find purpose and meaning in the things you do and be much more satisfied doing them.

If you cannot find value in something you are doing, it might mean that thing requires closer examination. If there truly is no value in something, asking yourself why you do it. If you removed it from your life, would you be better or worse off from it?

Above all, avoid simply going through the motions of life. Action creates action. The first step is always the hardest, so start small.

I will leave you with one parting question. Look at your schedule and ask:

Congrats, you've been invited for an interview! You've made it this far, but what do you do now? Here's what you need to know:

Before you leave to go to the interview, you should do a few things that pertain to the company itself.

Do your research! Interviewers may ask what drew you to the company, or what aspects of the website, social media, etc. you liked, what you thought of them, etc.

Print extra copies of your resume. If they ask you to bring X number of copies, bring 2 or 3 extra. If they don't ask for any, bring about 5, so that you are prepared. If you don't end up using them, then they are ready for your next interview!

Arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time. If you're on time, you're late.

Ask when you will hear an answer by, in order to get a timeline.

Write down what you liked, what you did not like, how you felt, etc. about the interview. This will help you as you go on in your job search. If you have a gut feeling during the interview, write that down.

Write thank you notes. Hand-written, signed, stamped, mailed thank you notes. Thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity. Personalize the note to the interview, not just a standard template. Thank them for teaching them about some aspect of the company, and that you're excited to hear more.

EMails are also acceptable, but they are much less personal. If you write a thank you note, then the interviewer is more likely to remember your name.

Add team/department members on LinkedIn. Write a tailored connection request note, don't just add them. Write that you are interested in learning more about the company from an insider's perspective, most about your individual department, etc. 

If you don't get the job, still write a note or send an email, and add some people. Thank them for their time and that you hope their search goes well. Be courteous in accepting the decline.

Second and third interviews are often more professional than the first round of interviews. In second and third rounds, you'll be learning more about the specific role you will be filling, and the first steps you will take as you begin the role.

A second, or even third, interview does not mean that you have been given the position. Remember that, and don't act like you have it.

You also are probably not going to be talking with the original interviewer, but you can elaborate on examples you've already used, since they will share notes between interviewers.

Practice your body language. If you slouch, and the first interviewer didn't notice, the second one may. So practice sitting properly, and not touching your face.

Ask more detailed questions about the role. Refer back to the notes you took in your first interview, and elaborate upon those.

Send more thank you notes, especially if you interviewed with different people. Every round of interviews is different, and you should make it known that you are appreciative of everyone taking the time out of their workday to talk to you.