Real-Time Interaction
Discord provides a platform for immediate communication with fellow Golden Key members around the world. This real-time interaction facility allows for sharing academic insights, career advice, and even casual conversations through text, voice, and video chats, making it easier than ever to connect.

Engage in Leadership and Service
The server isn’t just about communication—it’s a place to actively engage in leadership and service. Here, you can lead or participate in digital international service events, or even take up roles such as server moderators or event organizers, helping you build your leadership portfolio.

Tailored Resources and Live Updates
Gain access to exclusive resources like webinars and workshops that are specially curated for Golden Key members. The Discord server serves as a central point for the latest announcements and updates on events and initiatives, ensuring you stay informed and involved.

A Community of Support
More than just a networking platform, our Discord community is a supportive ecosystem where you can receive mentorship and guidance from peers and alumni. It’s a place to celebrate your achievements and navigate challenges with support from others who understand your journey.

Easy Access
Joining the Golden Key Discord server is straightforward. As a member, you’ll receive an invite with simple instructions to follow. Just a few clicks and you’re part of a vibrant online community.

Integrating into the Golden Key Discord community means more than just enhancing your membership; it means maximizing the potential benefits Golden Key has to offer. It’s a space where achievers meet to foster opportunities, share successes, and inspire one another. Don’t miss the chance to expand your horizons and accelerate your growth. Join our Discord server today and tap into the collective potential of Golden Key’s global network.

Discover more about how you can engage, learn, and lead with us. For additional details, check out this link. Join the conversation with #yesGK and step into a global community dedicated to excellence.

The Essence of Membership

Membership in Golden Key is an honor bestowed upon students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements. However, society extends its value far beyond academic recognition. It serves as a personal and professional development platform, offering members access to many opportunities designed to support their educational and career journeys. From scholarships and grants to leadership development programs and service projects, Golden Key empowers its members to realize their potential and strive for even greater heights.

A Global Community of Leaders

Golden Key’s global presence, with chapters in over 400 colleges and universities across eight countries, creates a vast network of high-caliber students, graduates, and alums. This network provides a unique opportunity for members to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds, share experiences, and learn from each other. Such interactions enrich the members’ personal growth and enhance their understanding of global issues, fostering a sense of global citizenship and mutual respect.

Service at Its Core

Service is a cornerstone of the Golden Key philosophy. The society encourages its members to give back to their communities through various service projects, embodying the principle that true success comes from personal achievement and contributing to the greater good. Whether through local chapter initiatives or the society’s global service initiative, SPARK a Change, Golden Key members are at the forefront of efforts to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, especially those at risk.

Unlocking Opportunities

The benefits of Golden Key membership are vast and varied. Members have exclusive access to the Golden Key Academy. This online learning platform offers resources and webinars on career development, workplace skills, and personal growth. Additionally, the society awards numerous scholarships and grants exclusively to its members, providing financial support for their studies and research projects. Networking events, both in-person and digital, open doors to professional opportunities, while leadership roles within the society help members develop essential skills highly valued in the workplace.

Recognition and Pride

Membership in Golden Key is a prestigious accolade that members can proudly display. The society offers graduation regalia, such as honor cords and medallions, allowing members to celebrate their achievements and Golden Key affiliation during commencement ceremonies. This visible recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and excellence that Golden Key members embody.

A Lifelong Journey

Golden Key’s commitment to its members continues after graduation. Alum members continue to enjoy benefits, including scholarship opportunities for graduate studies and access to career resources. The society remains a lifelong partner in its members’ personal and professional development journeys, offering continued support and opportunities for engagement.

Joining Golden Key

Becoming a member of Golden Key is a significant milestone in a student’s academic journey. It signifies not only their academic prowess but also their potential for leadership and commitment to service. By joining Golden Key, students step into a world of opportunity where they can connect with a global community of achievers, access resources to fuel their ambitions, and contribute to making a positive impact.

In essence, being a Golden Key International Honour Society member means being part of an esteemed community that values excellence, leadership, and service. It’s about embracing opportunities, making a difference, and striving for a brighter future for oneself and the global community. #yesGK is more than a hashtag; it’s a call to action for students worldwide to unlock their potential and open the door to a world of opportunities.

• Network

The GKA website offers a networking section where you personalize your profile, interact on a message board, find GK Thought Leaders, fellow members and join groups. In addition, the networking section allows you to connect with peers and see what your fellow members are up to. 

• Become a Thought Leader

GK is always looking to feature the work of our members and provide opportunities to showcase their talents. We like to call our contributors Thought Leaders, as we value their opinion and see them as experts in their area of study. Becoming a Thought Leader is as easy as filling out a form and sharing your expert knowledge with others.

• Write an article
  

On GKA, we feature three articles per week written by our Thought Leaders, who are often GK members. If you would like to write an article for GKA, click here to submit your interest. For inspiration, check out our previous articles on GKA.

• Host a webinar

Additionally, on GKA, we regularly present live webinars via Zoom, which run for approximately an hour, including a short Q&A segment at the end. Click here if you are interested in hosting a webinar for GKA. Previous webinars can be viewed on GKA.

• Write an e-book

Do you have an area of expertise that must be shared with the world? Then writing an e-book for GKA may be the perfect chance for you to do that. Our e-books range from finance to college tips. If you have something to share, we have someone to listen. 

To learn more, contact thoughtleaders@goldenkey.org.

• Host a course

If you’ve ever wanted to teach but haven’t gotten around to it, hosting a course on GKA is a great way to dip your toes in the water. On the GKA site, we offer self-paced courses guided by our Thought Leaders, designed to give members the skills necessary for life and earn certificates.

For more information, contact thoughtleaders@goldenkey.org.

Sell your book

GK is happy to announce the development of our GKA library to promote books authored by our Thought Leaders. If you’re a GK member and have written a book, we want to feature it! You can submit your book, including your Amazon affiliate page, to be included in our bookshop here. 

• Interact with GK on Social Media

One of the simplest ways to get involved with GK is to join us on social media. We are very active on social media, and we love when our members are involved. Feel free to leave us a comment, like or share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. In addition, we’re always sharing links to webinars and articles, featuring members and hosting chapter takeovers. 

We’d love to feature you on our Instagram and Facebook pages! If you’re interested, DM us with your name, university, major, graduation year and one thing that inspired you this past year.

We’re always happy to hear from alumni, and our undergraduate members love to hear from you too! So feel free to reach out to Golden Key and become more involved in the GK community. 

• Join a chapter

One way to quickly become involved with GK is to join a chapter. When you join a GK chapter, you expand your network with like-minded peers, enjoy chapter events, have the opportunity to participate in charity and cause events and connect with GK alumni at your university.

You can find your chapter by going to the chapter section on the GK site and using the search bar. If your university doesn’t have a chapter, check out our tips on starting your own, https://www.goldenkey.org/how-to-start-a-chapter/. 

• Network on the GKA site

The GKA website offers a networking section where you personalize your profile, interact on a message board, find GK Thought Leaders, fellow members and join groups. The networking section allows you to connect with peers and see what your fellow members are up to. 

• Train and assess your skills 

GKA offers many self-paced courses for you to build your foundation for professional development (FPD). Once you complete a course, you can take an assessment to determine how much information you retained and how to further improve your skills.

• Attend webinars and read GKA articles & e-books

The GKA website offers a wide array of webinars, articles and e-books on a plethora of topics for you to enjoy at your leisure. You can sign up to attend webinars on the GKA site, but if you miss a webinar, don’t sweat it; simply head over to the video section and never miss a thing. You can read articles and e-books to build your knowledge and leave comments for your peers.

We’re always looking for new Thought Leaders to provide webinars, articles and e-books to share with members worldwide. Feel free to fill out the Thought Leader submission form with any of your ideas.

• Interact with GK on social media

One of the simplest ways to get involved with GK is to join us on social media. We are very active on social media, and we love when our members are involved too. Feel free to leave us a comment, like or share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. We’re always sharing links to webinars and articles, featuring members and hosting chapter takeovers. 

If you’re interested in being featured on our Instagram and Facebook pages, send us a dm with your name, university, major and one thing that inspired you this past year.

As with any opportunity, you get out of it, what you put into it, so feel free to reach out to Golden Key and become more involved in the GK community. 

Practically speaking, there is nothing called a guaranteed formula that will get you the job. But there are some tricks and things to do which ease up the interview process for you and increase your chances of success. 

So, without wasting time and words, let’s have a look at those things:

a) Do proper research

You should learn as much as possible about a company’s services, products, customers, and the competition before going for a job interview there. You may search about them in places such as LinkedIn, Facebook, company websites, and public review websites. 

When the interviewers notice that you have a decent knowledge about their company, it will help you to make an impression in their minds. It will also help you to apply for the perfect job.

b) Prepare interview answers

Interviewers may ask you different generic questions such as ‘Tell me about yourself.’ or ‘How did you find out about us?’. Answer them with confidence and highlight your skills. Give a clear explanation of why you are the most suitable person to get the job.

Some common interview questions are given below:

• Tell us about yourself
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are your greatest weaknesses?
• How did you know about our company?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• Why should we hire you?
• How much work experience do you have?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Can you lead a team? How will you do that?

c) Dress accordingly

If you want to make an impression during a job interview, you must dress professionally. You should wear business attire, if the role is an office job. Suits, shirts, trousers, proper boots for men and a nice dress or a pantsuit for women is a must. Do not wear casual dresses or clothes with vibrant colors. 

You must also maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness during a job interview. Hair and nails should be properly maintained. Men must be clean shaved and women must be made up properly – although, of course, loud makeup should be avoided.

d) Treat the interviewer respectfully

It is one of the most important things that you should maintain during a job interview. Give the proper respect to the interviewers who are conducting your interview. The interview will notice your behavior and ask you interview questions accordingly. So, it is wise to treat them respectfully and build a positive impression.

e) Don’t show up empty-handed

It’s a good idea to carry the following items with you to job interviews:

• Pen and notepad
• Photo ID, etc.
• Several copies of your resume
• Portfolio/work samples
• References 
• Certificates achieved from your previous jobs

f) Don’t be late

Arrive early to the interview place at least 15 minutes before the set start time. Being late can make a bad impression on the interviewer’s mind and negatively affect your chances. Use those extra minutes to brush up your answers, and prepare yourself for the interview.

g) Listen first, then answer

Don’t interrupt when the interviewer is speaking. Always let them speak first, and then you can answer. And when you do, you should answer while maintaining good eye contact, and with a clear voice.

h) Keep your cell phone silent

You should keep your phone on a silent mode, and do not attend any calls or messages during the interview. If you do that, the interviewer might get irritated and insulted.

i) Speak positively about your former employers

Do not express any negativity or anger about your old employer during the interview. You might have left your old job due to some mismanagement in your previous company. But it is unwise to express such bitter feelings and aggression in your current job interview. It may create a negative impression about you which might be bad for your future job.

j) End on the right note

It is important to give interview answers with confidence and truthfulness. Latest but not least, always thank your interviewer after the interview is done. If you end on a positive note, it might increase your chances against the other candidates.

Author’s Bio:
Patricia Sanders is a professional content developer and a regular contributor to debtconsolidationcare. She specializes in the financial niche and is well known for her unique and effective financial tips. To get in touch with her and to get your queries answered, feel free to email at sanderspatricia29@gmail.com.

An internship is an excellent opportunity to develop and hone your own leadership skills. While it may be a challenge, getting outside of your comfort zone allows you to grow. As an intern abroad you’ll become familiar with different leadership styles within your career field. Developing your own style and focusing on good leadership skills early in your career will put you in a position to maximize your success in the future.

Here are 6 important leadership skills for young professionals:

1. Communication

Good communication skills are essential for those in leadership roles. When you’re in charge of a project or team, you need to be able to convey your ideas and instructions clearly. From written instructions to public speaking, you’ll need to have strong all-around communication skills to be a good leader.

2. Cultural sensitivity

For anyone hoping to have an international career or work abroad, cultural sensitivity is essential. Whether you’re traveling, meeting with clients or even other members of your team, you need to know how to give respect and communicate effectively with them. This becomes even more important when you step into a leadership role. Business norms and cultures vary greatly from country to country, so understanding the differences within your organization is key.

3. Critical listening

In order to understand your team and guide them effectively, you need to listen to what they say to you. However, critical listening goes beyond just hearing what your colleagues are saying. Good leaders also analyze what they hear, and consider it in the context of both the individual and wider team. Good listeners will build stronger relationships with their direct reports, and have better success as a leader because of it.

4. Feedback-orientated

This is one of the most important good leadership skills. Many people don’t realize that a leader’s role is just as much about taking feedback as it is providing it. When you’re leading a team, you represent them to the organization. It’s important to take their ideas and input into consideration. Good leaders are open to constructive criticism about their leadership styles, ideas and all aspects of their work. Make yourself open to feedback and your team will benefit greatly.

5. Positivity

No matter your position, taking on new challenges with a positive attitude will make your role easier and more enjoyable. More importantly, those that you are leading will feel more positive about their own roles. This makes for a happier, more effective team. Now, that’s not to say that you won’t also need to focus on problems and constructive criticism. However, good leaders make sure to highlight the successes and solutions the team comes up with.

6. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is one of the most important good leadership skills, yet the hardest to master. It requires you to be in control of and recognize your own emotions. However, you also need to be mindful of the emotions of those around you. The ability to recognize emotions within your team will help you understand what they need, even if they don’t tell you.

This article was originally published by Golden Key partner The Intern Group.

Bigger picture: We spend over 13 years  of our lives at work, and more than 80% of U.S. workers say they’re unhappy with their jobs. When you put it that way, choosing a career takes on a lot more meaning than just the place where you get a paycheck—it’s an integral part of your entire life.

Why is planning your career important? If you’re the type of person who likes to take control of your situation, then you can view this as a way to take the reins and be more likely to get what you want. If your dream job exists, chances are it won’t just fall into your lap—you’ll have to make it happen.

First Steps

So how do you get started? First, you could set a course for the direction you want to go in. Earlier in your career, this might be something like expanding your skills or going for that promotion. You might be ready to take on a leadership role.

Or maybe you’re exhausted and on the verge of burning out and you need to make more space for yourself. Wherever you are, it can help to have at least one friend or colleague to bounce ideas around with. You might see if you can find someone who’s on a similar path and join forces.

The first thing you might want to figure out is what your current status is: Broadly, what do you want to achieve? For example, if you want to beat burnout, your goal could be to feel less stressed and more balanced.

Choosing a Plan

Next, you could spend some time on the details. Decide on up to three things you want to work on, prioritize them in order of importance to you, and decide what time frame you are working toward. Is this an immediate need that you want to address in the next few weeks? Something for this quarter? This year?

Deciding on a time horizon might help you set your expectations. Going with our burnout example, your goals might be to stop working late nights and weekends, spend less time on social media, and take a vacation in the next three months.

You might ask yourself why your goal matters. Understanding why you’re doing something can be a powerful way to make sure you stick with it even when things get challenging. How and when will you measure progress toward your goal. With a goal like beating burnout, you might have to get creative with this part.

You could check in with yourself on Friday afternoons to reflect on the week and ask yourself the same question each week. On a scale of one to five, with one being not at all stressful and five being extremely stressful, how was your week? You could set a goal of each month averaging a three or lower, so it’s clear whether you’re meeting your goal.

Putting the Plan Into Action

Now it’s time to help yourself make it happen. You might want to anticipate what obstacles or excuses could come up—“Everyone is expecting me to finish this spreadsheet by Monday morning!” “But I’m bored during my commute so I like to scroll through my social feeds!”—and make a plan for how you’ll overcome these issues.

In this example, you could try blocking off time on your calendar now to get your spreadsheet done before the weekend, or getting a physical book to read instead of defaulting to playing with your phone.

Finally, you could create an accountability plan for yourself. There are lots of ways to do this, and you can try as many methods as you think it will take to help yourself follow through.

One easy thing you could do is write down your goals—with a pen, on a piece of paper—and put them somewhere you’ll see them all the time. This way, they’ll stay top of mind and you won’t be tempted to “forget” that you’re working on something.

You can also try sharing your goals with someone you trust and wouldn’t want to disappoint. You could ask them to check in with you so you’ll be motivated to have good news to share. Or you might give yourself an incentive if you reach your goal.

For example, if you don’t work weekends for a month, you’ll treat yourself to a fun dinner out with a friend or loved one.

Taking Time to Enjoy It

Once you achieve your goal, be sure to celebrate your success and appreciate the hard work you put in to make it happen. But don’t stop there—life is long and careers change over time.

You could make a habit of checking in with yourself once every few months to reassess how you’re doing and what you might like to change or improve. You can always start the process again with a new goal when things change in your work or life.

If you’re ready to get ahead or figure out what’s next in your career path, consider SoFi career coaching. It’s free for SoFi members, and you can get guidance on your LinkedIn profile, resume suggestions, and a customized plan to suit your needs.

This article was originally published by Golden Key partners SoFi. 

SoFi helps people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. Their products for borrowing, saving, spending, investing, and protecting give our more than half a million members fast access to tools to get their money right. SoFi membership comes with the key essentials for getting ahead, including career advisors and connection to a thriving community of like-minded, ambitious people. Whether they’re looking to buy a home, save money on student loans, grow in their careers, or invest in the future, the SoFi community works to empower its members to accomplish the goals they set and achieve financial independence as a result.

Be Organized

It is important that you are organized in your schoolwork and in your traveling plans. Studying abroad can be pretty hectic at times so it can be helpful to have a planner for you to write down when any assignments, quizzes, papers, etc. are due. As well as keeping track of any trips you plan with the right flight information, hotel reservations, additional transportation, etc. Being organized can help you a lot abroad, especially when you need to be on time when catching a bus, flight or train. Also, planning your trips beforehand can save you a lot of money on transportation and stay. If you know of a city or country where you really want to go, book it as soon as you can. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Early Check in

It is easier and cheaper for you to check in online and print your boarding passes before you arrive at the airport. It can be more expensive for you to check in additional luggage at the airport instead of checking in and paying for the luggage online. If you are worried about not having a printer, you can still check in on your phone and have your boarding pass that can be scanned when going through security or boarding the plane.

Pack Small     

Packing light is also easier and cheaper because you can bring a small carry on that can fit on airlines such as RyanAir and Vueling with no extra cost. Air compression bags can be a lifesaver when traveling. You can fit a lot of clothes in these bags and then press the air out of them to save more space in your carry on. Remember, it’s okay to wash and re-wear outfits!

Be Confident

Don’t be afraid to talk to locals and practice new languages. It’s the easiest way to learn a new language and learn about cultures and the people living in that country you are visiting. If you want to meet people, it is important to be confident and initiate conversations with new people. You could end up creating long lasting friendships and possibly visiting them later in life.

Be Patient

Traveling can be very tiring and stressful at times. Being patient can help you and the people you are traveling with. When you are living and traveling to different countries, it can be scary adjusting to such a new and different environment. There is such a different lifestyle abroad that it can be hard for people to get used to. Language barriers can make people impatient and cause confusion between two people from different places or cultures. As long as you are patient, you can adjust easily to the language barriers and different cultures.

This article was originally published by Golden Key partners The Intern Group.

1. Get enough sleep

Although it might seem impossible to get enough rest as a student, your sleep schedule is extremely important to your productivity levels. When you’re tired, it’s harder to stay focused on your tasks. Of course, you’ll also feel more energized, be in a better mood and sharpen your memory with enough sleep.

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2. Make your bed in the morning

While this might sound like a nagging reminder from a parent, making your bed first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Many professionals, from Navy SEALs to CEOs recommend this simple step. Not only will you feel accomplished, but your room will also be neat and ready for you to start the day. This is one of the easiest ways to be more productive. Making your bed in the morning starts a chain reaction of other productive habits.

3. Turn your phone to black and white

The average young professional looks at their phone nearly 75 times a day. Think of all the productivity lost during that time! Experts suggest combating this by making the display gray scale. Without the bright lights and colors of your normal screen, you’ll feel less compelled to pick it up and spend ten minutes scrolling through Instagram.

4. Make lists

You don’t have to be an obsessive list maker to use them to your advantage. Lists are an excellent way to keep track of a busy schedule or intensive project. Consider making a weekly list to keep yourself on top of to-dos, and check the list when you’re wondering what to do. Writing down your tasks is also a good way to organize your thoughts and set a clear path forward.

5. Declutter

Organization is the key to success. You’ve undoubtedly heard this before from parents, professors or mentors. Psychological studies have shown that piles of clutter accumulating in your room or office can cause you to feel overwhelmed and stressed. When it comes to your productive space, stick to the essentials and keep it to a minimum.

6. Exercise

It’s no secret that exercise boosts productivity. Making it a part of your regular routine will help increase energy levels and focus during your day. This isn’t just something your gym teacher dreamed up, it’s science. Exercise produces endorphins in your brain, helping you to feel better throughout the day. If you don’t have time for a full cardio session, consider taking a walk during your lunch break, or opting to take the stairs instead of the elevator.

7. Turn off notifications

Notifications are a major distraction from productivity. Whether it’s a Facebook notification, a pop-up on your computer from Gmail or a message from your bank, it pulls your attention away from the tasks at hand. Turning off these non-essential notifications is quite simple, and will make a drastic difference in the amount of time you spend on social media and other platforms.

This article was originally published by Golden Key partners The Intern Group. You can read the full article here: https://www.theinterngroup.com/our-blog/7-ways-to-be-more-productive/

The Intern Group is an award-winning, social enterprise that takes top applicants and significantly improves their skills and employability via their international internship programs. Their global team understands deeply how important international professional experience is in today’s job market. They are a global leader in the international internship area, one of the fastest growing segments of the international education industry.

The Intern Group is a proud partner of Golden Key, and it inspires and encourages people to believe in and challenge themselves, discover their passion and realize their potential. They are the leading provider of international internship programs across the globe.

Watch the video of this Golden Key Talks session now:

Golden Key Talks is a series of ongoing interviews with heavy hitters from every industry to help Golden Key members continue to excel and achieve at high levels. Golden Key Talks covers topics for your career, personal, and professional development. Join us, and be part of the conversation.