The Orr Fellowship: A Networking Opportunity in Indianapolis

Thursday, February 4, 2010 by Blaine Cooper-Surma
As a young professional in the real world, there are two things that every mentor says will inevitably determine how successful you will be in the long run - "what you know" and "who you know."  The Governor Bob Orr Fellowship thrives off of this mentality.

By taking entry-level jobs in entrepreneurial companies, Orr Fellows learn early-on the importance of hard work and quickly come to appreciate grassroots beginnings.  Although these recent graduates oftentimes begin their careers doing not-so-glamorous work, one thing that allows them to quickly grow their careers is the exposure they get to some of Indiana's finest business leaders.  Orr Fellows, because of the range of responsibilities that they acquire during the beginning of their careers, quickly learn everything there is to know about running small, entrepreneurial companies.  This experience speaks to the first aspect that I spoke about - "what you know."

During the first two years of being in the Orr Fellowship, Orr Fellows spend a good of time in environments that force them to become comfortable interacting with a range of business and political leaders throughout Indiana.  Because of these experiences, Orr Fellows typically develop meaningful relationships with many of these well-known professionals.  Each month, Orr Fellows come together for a Business Leader Meeting where one or two of these leaders speaks to the group about their professional experiences that have helped them to get where they are today.  These meetings are discussion-based, meaning that fellows are able to ask questions at any time during the meeting.  Orr Fellows enjoy partaking in these events because what's more valuable that receiving advice from those that have succeeded in their profession?  Typically, after the speaker is finished, there is plenty of time for networking.  For this reason, the Orr Fellowship is the best networking opportunity in Indianapolis.

Today the Orr Fellowship will be meeting with Lorraine Ball, founder of RoundpegRoundpeg is a small marketing firm based in Indianapolis, Indiana that helps small business become big businesses with the help of effective marketing.  To learn more about Lorraine, check out her website.  You can also hear her speak about her passion for local businesses and the impact we make every day with our purchase decisions by clicking here.


Friday Dinner Rush People

Monday, December 21, 2009 by Nate Bullock
In celebration of the holiday season, @allythill scheduled lunch for the Fellows at a restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. @hunckler and I showed up late, but we probably both wish we hadn't shown up at all. It was a bad dining experience.

12 minutes to get a drink
30 minutes before the food order was taken
50 minutes before the food was served
75 minutes before bills were delivered

On the bright side, I had some time to chat with @YawA about @PocketTales launching their new web app and how he's making the jump from his distinguished post-grad job to an entrepreneurship career. Takes a lot of moxy.

My mind already operates at warp speed. Things jump in my head before I finish a thought. Mitchell Davis and I would be too much to handle. On this particular day of bad service at a restaurant which also had bad food, my mind was racing to find a connection between high growth start-ups (like @PocketTales) and this waiter who seemed to be wasting everyone's time.

Aha moment!

Restaurants give the slow shift to the slow wait staff. Monday is typically the slowest day of the week and lunch is the slowest serving of the day. Since we went on the slowest day during the slowest meal, the odds were against the @orrfellowship having a good service experience. More to the point, while good work is rewarded with accolade, bad work is rewarded with defrocking.

High-growth Indianapolis companies do not like having to defrock their employees due to poor performance. Some of the best places to work in Indiana see applicants present a positive version of themselves during the interview process, but entrepreneurship careers quickly peel away any misperceptions that may have existed after that good interview took place.

The bad news for some on the job market is that many of these startups cannot afford to pay for the 'Monday lunch shift' person. @orrfellowship host companies need good work from talented people NOW; they need the 'Friday dinner shift' person, because every day is like the Friday dinner rush for companies hiring new grads.

Be the 'Friday dinner rush' person today.

The In's and Out's of an Orr Fellowship Host Company

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by Blaine Cooper-Surma

We've all talked about our host companies and what makes ours better than the rest, but how are these companies chosen, and why would someone want to work for an entrepreneurial company in Indianapolis?  In order to shed some light on the Orr Fellowship host companies, I have given the information in a question/answer format.

Q: What is a host company's role in the Orr Fellowship?
A:
Orr Fellowship host companies have the responsibility of providing their Fellow(s) with a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else.  We want these companies to give their Fellows important projects that help them learn and grow as a working professional.  In addition, we require these companies to provide their Fellows with ample exposure to executive-level management so that they can become more comfortable in that type of an environment (this is exactly what we're talking about when we say that the Orr Fellowship is one of the best networking opportunities in Indianapolis).

Q: How are host companies selected to be involved in the Orr Fellowship?
A: Although this process may seem unscientific at times, that's probably because it is.  However, host companies are invited to join the Orr Fellowship if they've successfully demonstrated their ability to move at a fast rate of growth, created an environment that is conducive for great learning experiences, and have emerged with a product/service that has the ability to thrive in a changing society for years to come.  Overall, we seek out companies that we're confident will provide our Fellows with a wonderful two years of experiences coupled with strong promise of job security with that particular company.

Q: How long are host companies allowed to be involved in the Orr Fellowship?
A: There really isn't a straight-forward answer to this question.  There have been companies like ExactTarget and Angie's List that have been a part of the Fellowship essentially since the beginning.  However, some companies participate for a year or two while others take Orr Fellows for four, five, and even six years.  We typically allow host companies to be in the Orr Fellowship until they've grown out of the stage of being a small, entrepreneurial start-up or until they've shown that they no longer are a suitable company for an Orr Fellow to work in.

 This year the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship has agreed to allow twenty host companies to participate in our program.  Over the years we've made a conscious effort to grow the organization - and this year we've finally made the decision to double the size of next year's class.  So why have we decided to take so many more Fellows?  With an increase in name recognition in Indiana, and the development of a strong reputation among business leaders, we've experienced a tremendous growth in the amount of applications that we've received.  It's because of this recognition that the Orr Fellowship has proven itself to be one of the best places to work in Indiana.  With that, I want to go ahead and congratulate those candidates that have moved on to the final round of recruitment.  You've managed to set yourselves apart from the rest of the competition and have proven yourselves over and over again.  Good luck to you all on Friday and I look forward to meeting the Orr Fellowship Class of 2010!
 


Group Service Date Set for Fellows

Monday, November 30, 2009 by Katie Lindahl
The date has been set for the Orr Fellowship's Holiday Group Service Project! On December 20, we will head up to the Amazon.com fulfillment center in Whitestown, IN for Gift Wrap With a Smile, an opportunity for local Indianapolis non profits to earn extra money by having its volunteers gift-wrap products for Amazon's customers. For every gift wrapped, 75 cents is donated to the non profit.


                                         
This year Orr Fellows will be wrapping gifts to raise money for the Shepherd Community Center. Shepherd's mission is to break the cycle of poverty on the near east side of Indianapolis. Shepherd offers programs for children, teens, adults, and families, helping to meet their physical, emotional, academic and spritual needs.

 
The Service Initiative is yet another aspect of the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship that makes the Fellowship one of Indiana's best jobs. In addition to the Personal Service Initiative, which Natalie referred to in her previous blog, the Fellowship Group Service (FGS) is designed to bring Fellows together for a day of service where we can give back as one. One unified group, one cause. When you work at jobs in fast paced companies like we do, it's hugely beneficial to slow down and take a minute to appreciate all of the opportunities afforded to us.
 
Not bad for your first full time job, hm?


 

Finalist Day is Just Around the Corner!

Monday, November 30, 2009 by Teresa Becker
Can you believe it? It's that time of year already. It doesn't seem like it was a year ago that I was making the many trips to Indy for Orr Fellowship interviews, ROTC, and Finalist Day.

This Friday, the finalists for the class of 2010 will be interviewing with entrepreneurial companies from around Indiana for a chance to be one of 20 selected to represent the Orr Fellowship. For current Fellows, we've had the opportunity to get to know many of you on a personal level and we couldn't be happier for the quality of candidates represented.

From companies like ExactTarget to Compendium Blogware, BlueLock to Angie's List, there are terrific opportunities among some of the best places to work in Indiana. No matter where the new class of Fellows land, there will be many ways for them to make a difference in their jobs, but also in their communities.

Good luck from the Current Fellows!





Who is the Orr Fellowship For?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Bryan Povlinski
As we near Finalist Day when the class of 2010 Orr Fellows will make their decisions on whether to accept an offer to join the Fellowship, I think it's worth looking at who the Orr Fellowship is for.  Working with high growth start-ups takes a certain kind of person, and it's certainly not for everyone.  Here are a few characteristics that you might want to keep in mind.

The Orr Fellowship might be a good fit if you…

- Are graduating from an Indiana college or you’re originally from Indiana, and you have a strong GPA (preferably 3.5 and above)

- Enjoy working with smaller companies where everything is usually fast paced and everyone has to be willing to help out on various projects and different functional areas like marketing, finance, etc.

- Are someone that is eager to take initiative and make things happen rather than waiting to be told what job you need to do everyday

- Are interested in working in a variety of different roles.  Many Orr Fellows rotate through different departments or work for a company that’s small enough to require every employee to be multi-dimensional.

- Would like to have a network of like-minded peers that you can work on potential business ideas with and get together socially

- Want to work for a fast growing Indianapolis company, and have the ability to get to know executives from other high growth start-ups

- Want to define your own career path by taking on big responsibilities in a small company rather than being a number in an entry level program at a large corporation

The Orr Fellowship might NOT be the right program if you…

- Are hoping to travel and have opportunities to work abroad right away.  Although many Orr Fellows will have the opportunity to take smaller trips through the course of their job, the program is not designed to be travel intensive

- Need a boss to tell you exactly what to do every day.  The most successful Orr Fellows are the ones who take initiative and execute beyond what they’re expected to do

- Expect to be in charge of the most important projects from Day 1.  As an Orr Fellow you will likely have some less than glamorous projects at some point.  However, they’re only opportunities to over deliver and build your reputation so that you can lead major projects in the future

- Base your job search on finding the highest possible starting salary.  If you make it through the Orr Fellowship recruiting process you can find a better paying entry level job in Indiana or elsewhere.  The Orr Fellowship is not for people who are looking for the money now, but for students that are more interested in learning, establishing a network, and getting a great experience so they can advance their careers more quickly in the long term.

This is not a comprehensive list of characteristics that define the Orr Fellowship.  Hopefully it does give you at least a slightly better idea about whether or not the program is right for you.   Among business jobs in Indianapolis, the Orr Fellowship may be one of the best opportunities for college graduates.


Orr Fellowship Recruiting Secrets Unveiled

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 by Blaine Cooper-Surma
So you've heard about the Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship, but one thought that may have crossed your mind is, "how do I get noticed by the Orr Fellowship, and what types of attributes/experiences are they looking for in their candidates?"  For the next couple of minutes I'm going to share with you some of our recruiting secrets that will undoubtedly make you a more attractive candidate for this prestigious Fellowship opportunity in Indianapolis. 

First and foremost, we firmly believe that the most valuable experience that one can attain while in college is leadership experience.  Now that I've said this, let's take a minute to try and better understand what I'm talking about.  When we're going through Orr Fellow candidate applications, having a candidate that was a "member" of twelve different clubs on campus in no way compares to a candidate that was president of two or three reputable clubs on their campus.  To take this one step further, having a title means nothing if you didn't have any notable achievements while holding that particular position.  We want to see that you were elected by your peers for a leadership position, but it is much more important that you made a positive impact to your organization during your tenure as officer.  Leadership experience can be gained in many different ways, so there's no excuse for a lack of leadership on your resume. 

The next piece of information from your resume that we find extremely important is your GPA.  This may come as no surprise, but the easiest way to demonstrate your intelligence is by getting good grades.  Being that you're looking for Indiana jobs out of college, much like thousands of other students in their senior year of studies, this is one of the only standardized means of measurement that we can use to juxtapose you with the rest of the candidate base.  So what if your GPA isn't as good as you'd like it to be?  If this is the case for you, it in no way means that your chances of getting into the Orr Fellowship are gone.  What you do have to figure out at this point, however, is how you're able to justify your lower GPA, in addition to being able to describe what qualities/experiences you have that make you a perfect fit for this distinguished entrepreneurial fellowship.

Another attribute that we look for in our candidates is their ability to demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit in their lives.  One of the inherent qualities that all Orr Fellowship host companies possess is a strong sense of entrepreneurship.  In fact, it is critical that our Fellows hold that same entrepreneurial attitude so that they can seamlessly integrate themselves into these high-growth Indianapolis companies.  As history has shown, joining the Fellowship often leads to entrepreurial opportunities after the two-year committment of being in the Orr Fellowship has been completed.  Since this is the case, candidates that demonstrate this entrepreneurial attitude in their own lives prior to joining the Orr Fellowship typically find themselves fitting in well within the Fellowship and their respective host companies.

So what are the most important attributes/experiences that the Orr Fellowship looks for when evaluating their candidates each and every year?  We are looking for hard-workers, well-rounded students (being a college athlete is a nice bonus), and intelligent people.  More specifically, though, we are seeking people that have great life stories and are passionate about our organization.  We truly believe that what you've done in your life defines who you are today.  In addition, being passionate about the Fellowship and what it stands for is something that is necessary for all Orr Fellows - choosing to join the Orr Fellowship is making an investment in the future of your career, and it takes a certain kind of person to be willing to take the "leap of faith" and join the Orr Fellowship.

Now that you know what kind of people the Orr Fellowship is looking for, do you think you have what it takes?  Do you fit any or all of these criterion?  If so, and you're looking to secure one of the most distinguished post-grad jobs in Indianapolis in 2011, apply today on the Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship Homepage.

How will they choose just 20?

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Ally Hill
Wow. ROTC (Reception on the Circle) last night was unbelievable. All of the current Fellows had a great time getting to know the candidates. I left thinking - how will the board of directors narrow the 60 candidates from last night down to only 20 in the end? I wish all of the candidates the best of luck putting together a personal summary and essay to submit on Monday, and can't wait to see who attends Finalist Day.  

With that being said, what I really want to do is address a few of the FAQs I got from candidates last night...

Q: How is the Orr Fellowship different from other Indianapolis job opportunities?
A: No other Indianapolis job opportunity compares to what the Orr Fellowship has to offer. You can go to work at a Fortune 500 company etc., but it will not give you the following:
  • Instant access to Host Company executives and Indiana business leaders
  • A social network of the other Fellows and alumni 
  • Monthly business leader meetings and professional development opportunities
  • A chance to reassess at the end of the 2 year Fellowship - go to grad school, change companies, start your own, or stay with your Host Company 
  • and of course there are MORE reasons...
Q: How are Fellows compensated? 
A: I was asked this question more times than expected, but I suppose it's one that should be answered since as a Fellow you'd have an entry-level job in a startup (which is probably much different from anything else you're considering).

I will say that although the salary isn't glamorous, it's 'average' and most definitely an amount you can live on. You are paid by your Host Company, but all Fellows are paid the same amount. Benefits will vary depending on the Host Company you are placed in. Other business jobs in Indiana or entry level technology jobs may pay better, but if you look at the answer to the question above - you'll see what you're not getting with those opportunities. 

Q: Have you enjoyed your experience in the Orr Fellowship so far? 
A: YES! I've been given a lot of responsibility in a short amount of time. I work with executives on a daily basis. I have a group of friends I wouldn't have had without the Fellowship... I can't believe it's already been a year and a half. I'm going to be bummed when my Fellowship is over. 

TGIF! Have a great weekend everyone.