Project Rookie

Hosted by Jett Smith, Alex Giblin

Business Careers

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Episodes

Latest episode

Apr 2025

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EN-US

About the show

Join us in conversations with the next generation of achievers. We talk school, jobs, career growth, and anything else a couple of recent grads find interesting about the world.

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25 recent

April 23, 2025Episode 21 hr 1 min

S2E2: Leveraging AI, future of work, and adapting to new technology

GUEST: Jack Barstad, Senior at University of Wisconsin, LacrosseTHE QUICK VERSION:AI is transforming the way we learn, work, and process information.A few interesting use cases mentioned are analyzing health and fitness tracking data from MyFitnessPal and WHOOP, gene sequencing, brainstorming, research and reading long documents.We stress the importance of being adaptable to AI and other new technologies in the workplace, because AI won't necessarily take your job, but someone using AI will.Employers are highly motivated to adopt AI and new technologies as it decreases their expenses (computers are cheaper than humans)It's beneficial to be constantly interacting with AI and testing new ways to use it in your life.It's critically important that you pay close attention to AI and how it's being utilized so that you can compete in the current job market. ⁠MORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HERE⁠⁠FOLLOW JETT ON TWITTER⁠⁠FOLLOW ALEX ON INSTAGRAM

April 18, 2025Episode 11 hr 0 min

S2E1: Graduating without a job, AI websites, electric cars, and a new brand

THE QUICK VERSION:Jett and Alex discuss the challenges of navigating the tightjob market post-graduation, share insights on an AI website generator, interesting developments in electric vehicles, and reflect on Alex’s journey to securing a job in the biomedical field. WHAT WE LEARNED:Stay positive and committed during job searches,don’t panic.Interview experiences can vary dramatically, avoidbeing discouraged by a few that didn’t go as well as you’d hoped.Be open to a variety of job opportunities, evenif they aren’t exactly what you were looking for.Your first job doesn’t define your entire careerpath.Look inside your network for job opportunities.Maintain close relationships with past employersas they can lead to future opportunities.You’ll often find the most unexpected opportunitiesfrom those in your network.Have a plan in case you don’t have a job linedup right after school.Developing an intimate understanding of yourexpenses ahead of time will help you get through a break with no income.Gamma is an AI driven text-to-website and text-to-presentationgenerator.The electric vehicle market is rapidly evolvingand an interesting industry to pay attention to. MORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HEREFOLLOW JETT ON TWITTERFOLLOW ALEX ON INSTAGRAM

December 16, 2024Episode 2458 min

S1E24: Nick Marcinkiewicz: What in the world is Corporate Comm?

WHY WE MADE THIS EPISODE:Nick was an aspiring sports journalist who pivoted to corporate communications when he realized sports journalism wasn't the right fit for him. A perfect example of willing to be agile and dive head first into something new when things don't go as planned. Plus, we get to hear how Nick approaches mistakes, how he values keeping an open mind, and how he uses AI to increase his effectiveness at work.OUR TAKEAWAYS: Nick initially pursued sports journalism, but as he learned more he realized it wasn’t exactly what he had envisioned, so he kept an open mind an eventually found corporate communications. Corporate communications involves strategic messaging for internal audiences across large organizations. Success in corporate communications requires adaptability and the willingness to take on all sorts of tasks that may or may not be in the job description. Although Nick pivoted to corporate communications, sports journalism remains a passionate hobby. Mistakes in life and at work are some of the BEST learning opportunities. AI tools have significantly improved productivity in his role. Nick emphasizes the importance of continuously trying to learn new things. Nick is currently focused on strengthening his knowledgearound investing and improving his financial literacy.Find Nick HEREMore of Project Rookie HERE

October 27, 2024Episode 231 hr 11 min

S1E23: YOUR INFORMATION DIET

WHY WE MADE THIS EPISODE:Every day, we are exposed to an overwhelming amount of data and information. One brain can’t possibly digest all this information. So, how do we design our information diet to prioritize the information we care about and minimize distractions? How do we design an information diet that gets us closer to achieving our goals? THE MAIN STUFF: 74 gigabytes of data enters the average brain everyday. Social Media is designed to get you addicted,and often triggers a dopamine release. Your information diet is the type and quality ofinformation you consume. We have a finite amount of attention, but seeminglyinfinite amounts of information. Being intentional with your information diet iscritically important. You can curate and influence your digitalenvironment to create better outcomes. Taking breaks from this overwhelming influx ofinformation is essential. It’s time to throw away the idea of ‘Keeping Up’—that’s impossible, don’t try. Reflect on your information diet periodically, makeadjustments if it’s not productive in helping you reach your goals.MORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HERE

October 5, 2024Episode 221 hr 1 min

S1E22: ROOKIE TALK: Alex's job search, personal branding, leveraging technology, jealousy, and the future of Project Rookie

Welcome to the FIRST episode of ROOKIE TALK! A relaxed conversation between Jett & Alex where they explore the most interesting things they’ve seen or heard recently. The world through the lens of two ROOKIES.IN THIS EPISODE: Insights from our experience as youngprofessionals Update on Alex’s job search and career fair The role of personal branding in your job search Jett’s project on Soft Skills The positive impacts of being genuine and likablein professional settings Understanding the role of ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) in the hiring process Leveraging technology in your job search Why you should love feedback The short and long-term impacts of jealousy The future of the Project Rookie PodcastMORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HERE

September 13, 2024Episode 211 hr 4 min

S1E21: ROOKIE RECAP EPISODES 12-20

WELCOME TO THE SEASON 2 ROOKIE RECAP! (Episodes 12-20)-----------------------------------------------------------EPISODES WE COVERED:[#12] Harnessing your Attention[#14] Jack Barstad: The College Wake-Up Call[#15] I’m Graduating and Don’t Have a Job[#16] Anwar Ahmed: The 13-Year-Old Entrepreneur[#17] THE INTERN PLAYBOOK[#18] Shane Skaar: Building a Business in College, Personal Brand, and STREIGNTH[#19] Alex went to an INDUSTRY EVENT![#20] ZACH GIBSON: The Door-to-Door Panel Slinger-----------------------------------------------------------CHAT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

August 16, 2024Episode 2055 min

S1E20: ZACH GIBSON: The Door-to-Door Panel Slinger

THE MAIN STUFF: Zach Gibson started his career as a financialanalyst but felt complacent and wanted a new challenge. He now works for Sunrun in the Fusiondepartment, which focuses on direct-to-home sales of solar panels. Zach emphasizes the importance of finding a jobthat excites and motivates you, even if it means leaving a stable and structured career path. Staying motivated and maintaining a positivemindset is critical, especially on tough days. Focus on principles and personal growth ratherthan a specific career path. Don’t forget to step back and take moments toenjoy the journey, although every day might not feel like it, the work you’re doing today will pay off in the long term. Challenge yourself to learn and improve, beinguncomfortable is a sign that you’re making progress.FIND ZACH HEREMORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HERE

July 21, 2024Episode 191 hr 4 min

S1E19: ALEX went to an INDUSTRY EVENT!

THE MAIN STUFF: Attending industry events when you're a student is a HUGE advantage Industry events provide access to TONS of professionals and the opportunity to LEARN about cutting-edge industry topics and technology. Being exposed to the latest trends and tech in the industry as a student can give you a competitive edge in the job market. Building relationships with PROS at these events WILL OPEN DOORS! PROS LOVE TALKING TO STUDENTS The BEST networking and conversation tends to happen outside conference sessions - THE COFFEE LINE and AFTER PARTIES. If you need help finding an industry event to attend, REACH OUT :)MORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HEREFIND ALEX HEREFIND JETT HERE

July 8, 2024Episode 181 hr 9 min

S1E18: Shane Skaar: Building a Business in College, Personal Brand, and STREIGNTH

Shane’s company, Streignth, is a fitness and lifestyle brandthat focuses on empowering individuals to take control of their mind, body, and spirit. As part of the Project Rookie Community, you can use code “projectrookie” for a discount on your order at ⁠https://streignth.com/⁠THE MAIN STUFF: Starting a business requires delayed gratification and the ability to overcome insecurities. Growing a business requires great discipline and alaser-focus on what you want to achieve. Having the right mentors and role models can greatly impact personal growth and success. Building a strong brand identity and creating a community of like-minded individuals have been instrumental in Streignth’s success. Managing your energy and not letting other people's opinions define you is crucial. Take ownership of your actions and focus on what you CAN control. Continuous improvement and learning from mistakes are essential for growth. Meditation can help clear the mind, improve focus, and set a positive tone for the day. Entertaining other people’s view of your insecurities is letting THEM WIN, don’t let them win. College provides you with the opportunity to re-invent yourself, take advantage of this!Follow STREIGNTH ⁠HERE⁠Try the STREIGNTH Challenge ⁠HERE⁠More of Shane Skaar ⁠HERE⁠More of Project Rookie ⁠HERE⁠

June 23, 2024Episode 171 hr 6 min

S1E17: THE INTERN PLAYBOOK

THE MAIN STUFF: The primary goal of an internship is to break into the professional world and get some basic experience that will help you become more attractive to employers. Taking notes is ESSENTIAL for retaining information, and it makes a VERY positive impression. Internships can be overwhelming with the amount of new information you’re exposed to, but don’t stress, you can manage this by taking notes, askingquestions, and recognizing that nobody is expecting you to know everything. Balancing effort and responsibility is crucial to avoid burnout and maintain a positive learning experience for yourself. Making a positive impression and building professional relationships can lead to future opportunities. Remember that your expectations may not line up with what you experience on day one and that’s okay. Build relationships with colleagues and take FULL advantage of networking opportunities. Go above and beyond your job description to stand out to company leaders and expand the amount of different things you learn. Ask thoughtful questions and seek out opportunities that aren’t specifically handed out to you. Make yourself memorable and leave a positive impression on everyone at the company. YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!!!MORE OF PROJECT ROOKIE HERE