Category Archives: Economy
Five Tips for Standing Out in Your First Job
Adapted from Monster, Alexandra Levit hits some key points. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Hopefully, this isn’t news to recent college graduates, but the workplace is more competitive than ever. If you have a job already, congratulations — you’ve made it over the first hurdle. Now it’s time to make sure you can stay put through this economic crisis and beyond.
Here are five essential tips gleaned from working with HR staff, managers and twenty-something employees in hundreds of organizations.
1. Be the One Everyone Wants to Work With
Members of Generation Y, or those born roughly between 1978 and 1993, unfortunately, have a reputation of showing up to work with a sense of entitlement. Combat this perception by showing that you’re willing to pay your dues and learn from any assignment, owning your career progression and being a “can-do” person. If you encounter roadblocks, marshal your resources to get around them rather than letting a project languish.
2. Surpass Your Boss’s Expectations
Find out what the boss wants from you first, and then brainstorm ways to go above and beyond the call of duty. You can also establish a good rapport by making your new boss feel needed. Show that you are ready and willing to be guided, and bond over the fact that he has some years on you. Understand the value of self-sufficiency, and approach your boss with a problem or complaint only if you’ve explored all options for resolving it yourself.
3. Carve a Niche for Yourself Through Innovation
Ask yourself what your company or department needs, and think about how you can use your unique set of skills and talents to provide it. So what if you’re hardly a Renaissance man or woman? You’re still new blood. Can you offer a fresh perspective on a vexing problem that has been plaguing your managers for months? Can you find a way to do something faster and more efficiently?
4. Take the Extra Step to Help Someone
Beach-ball management, or bouncing a request over to a colleague because it’s not your responsibility to handle it, is all too common in the professional world. If someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, make it your business to find it. By doing whatever you can to ensure your department or organization is perceived in a positive light, you will add value and stand out as a team player.
5. Subtly Promote Your Achievements
If you want people to take notice of you, you must make your accomplishments visible. How do you share your contributions without being perceived as arrogant or boastful? The key is enthusiasm. If you emphasize your passion when describing an achievement, people will think you’re just excited about it. An excited person appears earnest, and it’s hard to be critical of someone who’s earnest.
Of course, these suggestions aren’t limited to new college grads. If you’ve been out of school two years or 20, the tips might well be worthwhile in hanging onto your job through the downturn.
{Alexandra Levit, a nationally recognized business and workplace expert, is the author of the They Don’t Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something’s Guide to the Business World.}
Job Search Blues? Keep Those Spirits Up
If you’re having a difficult time finding a job, and it seems like it’s taking forever, don’t despair. We’ve all been there. The uncertainty of what lies ahead. The fear of never finding a job or plopping into the wrong one. The anxiety and stress from interviews-gone-wrong. Take a breath. Relax. You have something the rest of us don’t – spare time. So smile!
Here are some suggestions for keeping your spirit positive.
Think Up
The mind is a powerful vessel. How we think and what we think can control our spirits. We literally can think ourselves up or down. To keep out the negative thoughts and self-doubt:
- Wake up thinking or saying positive statements.
- Avoid negative media, news, emails, and downer movies and television.
- End the day thinking or saying positive statements.
- Think about the positives a new job brings: new skills, new relationships, and a new chance to show your skills and talents.
Positive Reminders
Surround yourself with quotes or statements of hope and encouragement. Write your favorites on sticky notes on the refrigerator or computer — somewhere you can easily see them. Two favorites from Winston Churchill:
- “The pessimist sees problems in every opportunity…whereas the optimist sees opportunity in every problem.”
- “Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up…”
Take Steps
Literally. Move. Being a couch potato shows. Leave the house at least once a day. Exercise, jogging or walking will:
- Re-energize you.
- Help to clear the mental cobwebs.
- Prepare you to look your best for interviews.
Pamper Yourself with Kind Acts
How you treat yourself can impact your spirit.
- Play your favorite music softly in the background while you “work.”
- Eat healthy without hugging the refrigerator. Now is not the time to bulk up.
- Sing — regardless of quality. Singing happy songs will actually will help to stretch and relax your vocal chords while refreshing your spirit.
- Avoid being sloppy. Dress and groom yourself with respect — for you.
- Treat yourself with affordable goodies such as a favorite food or beverage, an afternoon movie with popcorn, doing something touristy, or a mindless novel.
See Spirited People
Make sure you spend some time, preferably in person, with positive and supportive people every day.
- Surround yourself with yea-sayers and avoid the naysayers.
- Work your network.
- Call people rather than email or texting them — it’s more personal and supportive.
- If you’re single and live alone, go to the library or a coffee shop to be around others.
- Help others in need. Get out of yourself from time to time.
- Spend quality time with your family and friends.
Keep at the Top of Your Game
Keeping your spirit up has a lot to do with how you feel about yourself. Don’t let your skill set and knowledge slide.
- Keep up on industry news.
- Read trade journals and business magazines and newspapers.
- If possible, practice to improve your career skill set.
Now’s the Time
Enjoy the positives of your job search, like having spare time. Remember all those times you said, “If I only had time, I’d…”
- Read those books.
- Clean that closet.
- Take that class.
- Get in better shape.
Do Your Best Work to Find Work
Knowing you’re taking all the right steps to find a job will help improve your spirits.
- Write a perfect resume and cover letter for each job.
- Send X amount of resumes out each workday without fail.
- Keep up-to-date records of results.
- Keep accurate contact information on companies, executives and hiring agents.
- Have your interview clothes clean and ready to wear.
- Work at finding work every day.
Article by Pat Mayfield via Monster
Dangerous Topic: Politics
Like the majority of folks in the U.S., I tuned into the first presidential debate last night. Needless to say, I’m more confused now than I was before. I truly think I’m smack dab in the middle, and maybe you are too. I will say that I was surprised at how civil the two candidates were during the debate. It actually wasn’t horrible to watch.
My sister introduced me to ISideWith, a website where you can answer questions in multiple categories, including social, environmental, economic, domestic policy, healthcare, foreign policy, immigration, and science. It goes beyond just answering “Yes & No”. You can choose a different stance, as well as rate the issues in terms of how important they are to you. At the end, you’ll receive percentages regarding who you side with and in what categories. You can also see which side each state is swaying towards.
For those who are undecided like me, this is a great tool to get you started. If you missed the debate, you can watch it here. Make sure to tune into CNN for The Vice Presidential Debate on October 11th from 9:00-10:30PM Eastern Time, as well as The Second Presidential Debate on October 16th from 9:00-10:30PM Eastern Time . More importantly, make sure you are registered to vote and have requested your early voting ballot by mail. Otherwise, we’ll see you at the polls on November 6th!
Happy Voting!
{Photos via ISideWith and ABC News}
The Big Question: Your Future
While I post about many other topics, I still haven’t forgotten the purpose of this blog. The purpose of this blog is to give advice in regards to career paths, the economy, and proposed steps forward. I realize that I have been a working professional for only two years. But in those two years, I’ve worked for two very diverse, large-scale companies and have held a total of four positions. Some may think I’m “not qualified” to give advice, or maybe that this blog shouldn’t exist at all. Maybe they’re right. But I feel that I’ve made tremendous strides as a young working professional, and my hope is that I can share my experiences and what I’ve learned thus far so you can avoid making those mistakes. That is why I’m here.
Let’s start from the beginning. Let’s say you’re approaching college graduation. By this time, most people would recommend that you should have “at least two internships under your belt” and that you “should have been applying for jobs all year long as a senior”. Yes, this is sound advice. Is it absolutely necessary? No. At least in my opinion it’s not.
To be perfectly honest with you, I wasn’t thinking about my future that much when I was in college. Sure, I was working towards a degree and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, just like everyone else. But I realized early on that I wanted to truly enjoy college. I did not have any internships. I did not have a part-time job. I spent one summer with friends and my new boyfriend, the second summer at weddings, the third summer in Europe on a study abroad trip, which leaves us with the fourth summer- the summer after graduation. THAT’S when I started applying for jobs. Personally, this was the best decision I’ve ever made. I knew that I would be working for the rest of my life, so why bog down the happiest time of my life with internships and part-time jobs that would turn out to be “less important” in the long run? I chose to live my life in the moment, and I haven’t regretted it since.
Right after I graduated, my roommates and I moved out of the townhouse we’d lived in for two years. I moved back in with my mom and worked a part-time job as a server at a restaurant to make some extra cash. You better believe when I wasn’t working, I was on my computer 24/7 applying for jobs. I would wake up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee from the kitchen, walk upstairs, and start scouring the internet for job listings in my pajamas. I remember my mom saying, “Shouldn’t you be getting dressed and dropping your resume off at places?” This brings me to my next point. There are so many tools available to us now that didn’t even exist five years ago. Yahoo Jobs, CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed, Simply Hired, LinkedIn- the world we live in now is a job seeker’s dream world! You can immediately apply for jobs across the world with the click of button. No more snail mail. No more dropping your resume off in person. Live in a small town and want to get out? Always dreamed of living in a different country? You can! The internet is your oyster.
I mainly used Indeed when applying for jobs. This is because Indeed takes all of the job listings out there, from CareerBuilder, Monster, Yahoo, Simply Hired etc, and compiles them all into one website. Indeed and LinkedIn are the two I would recommend most. My dad has always said to me, “Getting the interview is the hardest part.” Boy, was he right. So before shooting off your resume into cyberspace, make sure it’s up-to-date and that you have an outstanding cover letter (more advice on that here). The downfall of applying for jobs on the internet is that after awhile, all of these resumes and cover letters begin to look the same to employers. Make yours stand out in a unique way without going over the top. It should look professional, neat, organized, and should be no longer than a page if you’re just starting out.
I submitted about 10-15 resumes online per day. If I was feeling really ambitious, sometimes I’d get to 20-25. I didn’t stick to just one industry-I applied to multiple ones. All I wanted was to get my foot in the door; I didn’t really care what industry the job was posted in. I knew I just needed to get some experience under my belt. My dream industry will find its way to me… eventually.
I applied for jobs, in all different industries, all sorts of positions, 10-15 per day, for a month and a half. I only got called for 3 or 4 interviews. One of those interviews turned out to be my lucky charm.
Don’t give up. Be persistent. If there’s a job out there that you really want and is realistically attainable, use LinkedIn to network. Communicate with others. Build your network. Ask for help. But most importantly, know in your heart that things will work out for you. Everyone’s timeframe is different, so don’t get discouraged. And by all means, if you want advice or need help, email me.
Seriously. You can pick my brain.
New Job, New Apartment, New Me
Well, the cat’s outta the bag.
It’s no secret that I’ve had more than a few changes as of late. Let’s see, where to begin…
I came into contact with another company in The Woodlands (north of Houston) in mid-July. After one phone interview and two face-to-face interviews (and a lot of anxious waiting), I was offered a position as a Supply Chain Project Manager. The benefits, salary bump, and responsibilities were too great to pass up, so of course I jumped at the opportunity. I left the company I had been with for two years on August 31st to start anew.
Timing was perfect because I was able to have one week off before starting my new job. I visited my boyfriend in California over Labor Day weekend – we toured Universal Studios, went shopping, and watched a lot of movies. It’s nice having someone to help clear your head and enjoy the little things. I’m very blessed to have him in my life.
When I returned to Houston, my father flew in to help me move to my new apartment. Like father like daughter, we were insanely productive. As busy as we were, we did get to enjoy some nice dinners and scenery once the move was over. I’m so lucky to have a father who is so supportive of my career choices and the moves I make. Thanks, Dad!
Yesterday was my first day at my new job. Everything was so organized when I walked in, I didn’t feel lost at all. My new, still-in-the-box laptop and desktop were delivered to my office promptly at 10AM (oh yeah, I have an office!), and my company cell phone is on its way. My boss took me to lunch at a little Italian restaurant on The Waterway, and afterwards we went shopping for office supplies. I’ve already met many people in the office that I truly connect with. This company is a great fit which is what this is all about. Making a career choice that fits you, and only you.
Here are some snapshots from the past few weeks:
- Ombre hair (Aug)
- Boyfriend & Me
- Dad & Me
- Views of The Waterway
- Cupcakes at Frost (featured on Cupcake Wars)
- View from my balcony at my new apartment
- My office building
Now if only I could figure out the timing of my MBA…
Until next time,
–
Use your head, in all aspects
Here is one of the many reasons why using your head is most important. Unless you want to be in debt forever and never expand your earning potential, I advise you think before you leap into one of these career fields.
No degree guarantees that a college graduate will earn more over a lifetime than a high school student. Worse still, there are many degrees where the average high school graduate will likely out-earn a college graduate.
If you’ve ever wanted to know the two main reasons why Americans decide not to go to college, the St. Louis Fed presented two convincing explanations. The more frightening of the two scenarios showed that, for students paying their own tuition, most will need a starting salary of $40,000 or better to overcome lifetime earnings of high school graduates.
How can it be that someone with a $40,000 starting salary can’t out-earn the average high school graduate? The reason is two-fold. Most college students forgo income while attending college. Also, given the average annual tuition of $25,000, a student paying his own way is facing a $100,000 college bill. Add the loss of income and the six-digit education tab, and graduates start their professional lives in a large financial hole.
If a starting salary of $40,000 is what it takes to overcome the high costs of going to college, you will want to know what degrees aren’t averaging the benchmark income. Georgetown pulled together statistics on average starting salary for many popular degrees. Below are five degrees with average starting salaries that may not be worth paying the costs for college.
Social Work
It’s great that you want to go to work every day and help others, but keep in mind that the average high school graduate will likely earn more money in his lifetime. Social work has an average starting salary of $30,000. Even those with experience can expect to find jobs at only $40,000.
Elementary Teachers
Recent college graduates have an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. However, paying back your college loans might be a serious challenge. The average starting salary is only $33,000, and it’s not much better when you get experience. The average salary of an experienced teacher is $40,000.
Drama and Theater Arts
The riches and glamour of movie stars is not the reality of most college graduates with a drama and theater arts degree. Recent graduates can expect and average salary of $26,000 and an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent. With experience, however, majors can boost their salary to $45,000.
Family and Consumer Studies
Remember taking home economics in grade school? Family and consumer studies is a broad degree that explores how families interact in society, and home economics is one of the areas of study. While the degree might be practical, it only pays $30,000 per year for a college graduate and $43,000 for those with experience.
Anthropology and Archaeology
According to Georgetown’s statistics, it doesn’t pay well starting out as Indiana Jones. New graduates from degrees in anthropology and archaeology start earning at around $28,000. While starting salary is low, after a few years of experience, graduates in this field can earn up to $47,000. Unemployment for recent grads is very high at 10.5 percent.
So, should you avoid these degrees? Before you go changing your major, you need to understand that the starting salaries are based on averages. I’ve already discussed how misleading statistical decision-making can be. What this list should get you thinking about is this: Are you weighing the costs and the benefits before selecting a college? And are you looking at tuition and income specifically?
The main culprit driving the Fed research was paying a $100,000 tuition bill. That means that if you explore ways to lower college costs, any college degree could be a good investment. Perhaps it’s going to mean AP classes, a state school, or working hard to obtain scholarships. The point is that no college degree guarantees greater wealth and some degrees are riskier than others. If you want to increase your chances of your college degree increasing your earning potential, you need to think about the costs that go into obtaining a diploma and how you can minimize them.
Source: Yahoo News
Top Five Areas of Study for Bachelor’s Degrees
I was perusing some Yahoo articles and came across one I wanted to share. We all know a college education can dry up your bank account. It’s important to make sure your educational investment has the
potential to pay you back. So really, what is your education’s potential value?
“The rule of thumb is that someone with a bachelor’s degree makes about a million dollars more over their career than someone who doesn’t,” says Cheri Butler, associate director of the career center at the University of Texas at Arlington.
In fact, according to a 2011 Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report titled “The College Payoff: Education, Occupations, and Lifetime Earnings,” a worker with a bachelor’s degree generally earns an average of $2.3 million over a lifetime – a significant amount more when compared to someone with only a high school diploma, who generally earns an average of $1.3 million over a lifetime.
Since the possibility of earning an extra million bucks sounds pretty nice, the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) April 2012 “Salary Survey” report to pinpoint five bachelor’s degree level areas of study that are among the highest paying for college graduates.
In no particular order, here are the top 5 areas of study to consider for those pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees.
Area of Study #1 – Business
Overall Median Starting Salary: $47,748*
From selling newly developed products to marketing time-tested products in new ways, business people are always looking for a competitive edge when it comes to winning over consumers. So, if you have a competitive spirit, earning a bachelor’s degree in the business field could offer a potential return on investment.
For one thing, the numbers appear to be adding up just right for graduates with a bachelor’s in economics. With the median starting salary for 2012 economics grads at $54,800 (up 5.6 percent from 2011), it’s one of the top-paying majors in the business sector, according to NACE’s “Salary Survey.”
Starting Salaries for various Business Majors include:
- Finance: $49,700
- Accounting: $47,800
- International Business: $31,200
Potential Value: “In business, you have to take in a lot of information, digest it, and make sound decisions,” says Butler, who adds that business majors get value from being taught how to identify “the next big thing.”
“But it’s not just in business; it’s in economics and finance, too. A finance program shows you how to make predictions and forecasts and how to make sense out of them.”
Area of Study # 2: Communications
Overall Median Starting Salary: $40,022*
Whether you aspire to write a popular blog or head up the corporate communications division at a Fortune 500 company, being able to successfully deliver ideas to an audience is crucial.
During a bachelor’s in communications program, you might learn how to communicate in various mediums, which is likely a valuable skill in today’s high-tech, information-driven world, says Paul Timmins, career services director in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota.
How valuable? The $40,022 overall median starting salary for 2012 communications grads represented a 3.8 percent increase from 2011, according to the “Salary Survey.”
Starting Salaries for various Communications Majors include:
- Advertising: $44,700
- Communications: $39,400
- Journalism: $37,500
Potential Value: “Communications is one of the top skills that we hear employers want,” says Timmins. “They might need you to communicate in a variety of ways, in a small group, one-on-one, large-group setting, or in writing. It’s a skill that can be applied in a lot of different places, such as sales, customer service, top management, writing, journalism, public relations, or advertising fields.”
Area of Study #3: Computer Science
Overall Median Starting Salary: $56,383*
Home computers have been on the market for a number of years, and new gadgets like smartphones and tablets continue to introduce new technologies. That begs the question, who’s behind all these technological advances? Tech-savvy people, that’s who.
Perhaps that’s the reason the NACE survey found starting salaries for graduates in the computer science field increased by 2.4 percent in the past year. That translates to a median starting salary increasing from $55,087 for 2011 graduates to $56,383 for 2012 graduates.
The “Salary Survey” also reports that employers in the information sector – the collection of businesses that produce and distribute information and develop the products that transmit and process data, such as software publishers – had the highest number of new graduate applicants, with starting salary offers of $64,400.
Starting Salaries for various Computer Science Majors include:
- Computer Science: $58,300
- Information Sciences and Systems: $52,000
Potential Value: “Do you know an organization that doesn’t have a computer system? I don’t,” Butler says. “They are a fact of life, and we need people who can keep them running and make the most of those important tools. Your company is dead in the water if it doesn’t use computer technology.”
Area of Study #4: Health Sciences
Overall Median Starting Salary: $43,477*
Ever been interested in working in a hospital setting as a nurse? Want to learn what it takes to keep a body going strong into its twilight years? If so, a bachelor’s degree in one of the health sciences could be the vehicle that helps drive you to your destination of helping others.
And check this out: the median starting salary for all health sciences graduates was almost unchanged, with a noteworthy salary of $43,477 in 2012 – less than a one percent change from the previous year, which was at $43,802, according to the “Salary Survey.”
Starting Salaries for various Health Science Majors include:
- Nursing: $48,400
- Health and Related Sciences: $36,400
Potential Value: Butler says health sciences majors could see added value in their degrees because health care workers are in great demand as the baby boom population ages.
“We are healthier and living longer, so we need assistance in maintaining a livable lifestyle,” Butler says. “The 79 million boomers need a lot of infrastructure to take care of them, so there are jobs in the health care field. It’s supply and demand in my opinion.”
Area of Study #5: Engingeering
Overall Median Starting Salary: $58,581*
Do you have natural problem-solving skills that you’d like to use on a professional level? By earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering, you might be able to hone those skills, and even get some potential value from your education.
How so? Consider this: The “Salary Survey” found that engineering grads hold the bragging rights for being the highest paid of all disciplines that NACE evaluated. Engineering grads who majored in computer engineering, for example, had a median starting salary of $67,800 in 2012.
Starting Salaries for various Engineering Majors include:
- Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering: $64,200
- Civil Engineering: $55,300
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering: $41,800
Potential Value: Butler credits the creative aspects of the engineering field for providing value to this degree. “Engineers are the ones who create new things,” Butler says. “Next year, we will be using technology that hasn’t been invented yet, and engineering is at the core of that.”
*Overall median starting salary figures for 2012 are taken from the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ April 2012 “Salary Survey: Starting Salaries for New College Graduates.” NACE Salary Survey data is produced through data taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, and a master data set developed by Job Search Intelligence.
Full article at Yahoo Education
The Long-Term Unemployed
I know this blog is usually one full of happy thoughts, words of wisdom, and ways to make things better. Unfortunately though, it’s crucial to take a step back and examine what’s really going on, whether it’s positive or negative. That being said, I think it’s important to understand that the economy really hasn’t improved all that much. I’m sure recent graduates, as well as more experienced candidates, are still feeling the pressures of finding and maintaining a job.
I found an article through NPR that was just written yesterday, December 12th. I think it has a lot of valuable information we all should be aware of. It’ll be easier for me to summarize the key points:
- The federal government currently counts 5.7 million Americans as long-term unemployed, which it defines as people out of work for 27 weeks or more.
- Only 13 percent of them said they are currently collecting unemployment benefits. The poll also interviewed people working part-time who want full-time work.
- Of these long-term unemployed and underemployed, 51 percent said they’ve borrowed money from friends or family to get by. Close to half say they’ve had trouble paying for housing and food, and one-third say they’ve changed their living situation to save money, including moving in with relatives and friends. Additionally, 9 percent say they’ve lost their home to foreclosure.
- One goal of the poll was to focus on personal and emotional health effects. About one-third said their mental and physical health is worse.
- About half of the long-term unemployed and underemployed said they currently have no health insurance, and 56 percent said they’ve put off getting health care that they needed.
- Not surprisingly, nearly a quarter said that lack of work has been hard on their marriages. But interestingly, almost as many said it had a positive effect on their relationships with their children.
- A majority of those polled say they don’t have much confidence they’ll get a job with sufficient pay and benefits. Nearly 70 percent would like the government to offer more job training opportunities and placement services, but only about 1 in 10 believe that government efforts to deal with the poor economy have helped them.
You can read the full article here.
This isn’t meant to be depressing, but it serves as a great reminder to those of us who are healthy, employed, and mentally & emotionally happy that we really ought to be grateful. There are 5.7 million Americans who are worse off than you. Your situation doesn’t seem that bad, now does it?
Small talk
After being in the corporate world for a year, it’s not surprising when I say I’ve met many different kinds of people. I’ve met shy people, lazy people, domineering people, out-of-the ordinary people, intelligent-as-can-be people, and so on. No matter what type of “person” you are (D Personality; Gold, Blue, Personality), I’ve noticed almost everyone seems to screech to a halt when it comes to one thing: small talk.
I have had the pleasure of meeting some truly outgoing people, yet I’ve still noticed that small talk tends to be an issue. Heck, sometimes I even have trouble talking to people I don’t really know. Especially when you get that “awkward vibe”. I hate that.
While small talk may seem trivial, it’d be pretty embarrassing to ride the elevator with your CEO in the morning in complete and utter silence… not that that’s ever happened. Luckily, I always have something to say. Thanks to these tips, you can too.
- Listen more than you talk.
- Start a conversation with confidence. Walk up to the other person, smile, and confidently introduce yourself. You might try saying something like, “John Smith? Jane Doe. Good to see you again.”
- Make eye contact. It can seem disturbing while speaking to someone who’s looking around the room for someone more important to speak to.
- Think of possible topics of conversation before going to a function. Try to focus on generic, inoffensive topics, such as the weather, the food being served, etc.
- Encourage the other person to talk by asking leading questions. Remember, people love to talk about themselves. (This one is unbelievably spot on.)
- Keep the conversation short, unless the other person wants to continue talking.
- Take business cards that others offer you. Read the cards carefully, and then put them away in your wallet, handbag or pocket. This will show that you value the card, and by extension the person who gave it.
- Listen and watch before joining a conversation. You don’t want to ruin the dynamics with an inappropriate comment.
- Be sure you have something interesting to contribute to the conversation. Keeping up with current events and popular culture will help give you something to talk about.
- Change the subject if it seems like your conversation partner is ill at ease with something that’s been said.
Happy Day
Happy, happy day. I absolutely love when the work days fly by. I literally caught myself saying “It’s already 11?… It’s already 1?… It’s 4?!” multiple times today. Even though it seems like I’m more rushed to get things done, it’s nice to not even think to look at the time. With so many projects and new processes at work, I’ve been nothing but busy. That’s why it’s important to get yourself involved with a company that is constantly growing, improving, and striving to do more.
It seems that I’ve finally picked myself back up and fallen into my trusty routine. It sure is nice when things finally fall together. Maybe it’s the weather and the fact that I was able to wear tights to work today (yipee!). Or maybe it’s because I finally found that contentedness I’ve been searching for. Whatever the case, I hope it’s here to stay.
Happy happy clam I am.
Enough about me. What would this blog be if I didn’t have some pearl of wisdom to share?
Check out Investopedia‘s 7 Job-Hunting Tips for 2011. I like these because I feel as though they relate better to recent graduates:
- Keep your social networking alive, well, and professional.
If you’ve been neglecting your LinkedIn account and playing Farmville instead, it’s time to switch gears and look at social networking as one more step in the successful job hunt. It’s fine to have accounts for personal social networking, but spend less time on those and lot more time on the profiles you have that relate to your past, current and future career. Get involved in local groups on LinkedIn, update your professional blog daily and follow professionals in your field on your Twitter account. A neglected or unprofessional social profile can hurt your job hunt, but a regularly updated and professionally focused social presence can open many doors. - Find a job with Twitter.
Twitter is useful for far more than to-the-minute updates on the personal lives of your favorite friends and/or celebrities. Twitter can help land you a new job. First, follow influential folks in your field. Keep up with what’s going on. Participate. Be part of the profession even if you’re still looking for a job. Second, use a Twitter search tool to look for jobs, conferences and networking opportunities with people in your field. Twitter can be just a time-waster, sure; but it can also be a way to connect with people in your profession, build relationships – and maybe even end up with the job you want. - Polish up your resume.
Social networking is a powerful way to get the contacts you need, but most often you’ll still have to send in a resume for those job applications. Don’t send an outdated resume in after you’ve updated your online presence. Make sure that both your resume and your online profiles are current and the best representation of your work experience and education. - Get active even (especially) if you’re unemployed.
Local connections are one of the most powerful ways to find a job; plus you’ll only get depressed if you sit at home in your sweats all day. Join local organizations, volunteer and get involved in your community. Use your expertise to help other people out. Offer free seminars in your church or community organization, write articles for the paper or mentor someone who’s new to the field. Staying up to date in your field and active in your community gives you something to say when those potential employers ask, “So what have you been doing in the last six months?” - Look for ways to be an expert.
If you’re a recent graduate looking for your first job, then that whole “work experience” section of the resume is often a painful subject. You may not be able to fill it up with years on the job, but do what you can to establish some expertise in your area. Attend conferences and seminars, take classes and get certifications. Write articles or author a blog. Interview professionals in your field; visit places that are relevant to your field; contribute to journals, blogs, papers, online groups and professional organizations.
- Check out your freelancing options.
Downsizing isn’t a word most of us like, but it does have one potential benefit. More downsizing means more outsourcing, which means that many companies are looking to hire freelancers on a contractual basis to do all those jobs that still have to be done. Search local classifieds and job boards for listing for freelance, temporary or contract jobs, which are predicted to keep growing in number in 2011. Sure, it may not be how you want to work long-term, but it can help you stay afloat financially, keep getting that work experience and establish more connections in your network. When those companies do start hiring, you’ll already be a name they know.
- Tap into your social network.
Don’t be reticent when it comes to letting people know that you’re looking for work. No, you don’t want to attack your friends and family members with a day-to-day account of your job hunting exploits, but simply mentioning that you’re looking for work in XYZ field can be helpful. Chat up strangers and you never know what kind of connections you’ll make. There’s a reason it’s called social networking. (The CFA Institute provides members with a variety of ongoing career and networking benefits.
The Bottom Line
Finding a great job is about more than practicing interview techniques, crossing your fingers, and hoping that your persistence really will pay off. It’s about using the resources at your fingertips, in your community, and in your network. Get smart with your job hunt in 2011, and you could be the one handing out tips for 2012.
