Dear Class of 2016: Get Moving on Your Future

By: Emily Glazer, www.wsi.com


Welcome to the hallowed halls of academia. Now start planning for life in the real world.

It’s still a tough jobs market out there and likely will continue to be for some time. So it isn’t too early for freshly minted college students to start making themselves more marketable – from taking classes that polish essential skills to building a strong network.

“The size of your support network and mentoring group can often be as important as your degree,” say Rich Feller, president of the National Career Development Association, which provides programs and services for career development.

Here’s a timeline on the moves to make over the next four years:

Freshman Year
Classes: You’ll likely be required to take certain basic courses or prerequisites for your major. But this also is the time to sharpen basic – but essential – communication skills, says Mark Brostoff, associate dean and director of Weston Career Center at Olin Business School at Washington.

So sign up for writing and public-speaking classes. And you’ll be able to carry the skills over into your job search and professional life. Think cover letters, elevator pitches, product presentations and company reports. It’s also the time to start fostering relationships with professors or alumni who will later help with career advice and internship and job leads.

Activities: Most students don’t step foot in the career services office until senior year, but it’s a good resource for freshmen as well. Many career services offices offer personality tests to help students figure out their passions and interest, says Robin Ryan, a Seattle-based career counselor.

Summer: It is likely too early to land an internship, but you still can gain valuable skills from a summer job. Try to tailor the job to your field of study in some way. Also consider asking about volunteer opportunities at a company or organization in your field of interest, Ms. Ryan says.


Sophomore Year

Classes: Take a business-writing course that homes in on writing cover letter, executive summaries and proposals, Mr. Brostoff says. It’s also time to become proficient with math – the kind you’ll actually have to use in everyday life. That means taking both an accounting and personal-finance class.

Activities: Narrow down membership to a few clubs or teams where you can stand out, and take an active role by volunteering for projects and events.

Summer: This is the time to start working internships, says Mr. Brostoff. Visit your career services office for a list of available internships and cast a wide net. Also ask professors and acquaintances in your field of interest.


Junior Year

Classes: You’ll likely need to declare your major by this point, says Mr. Feller. Keep in regular contact with your academic advisor to make sure you’re on track to complete requirements.

Activities: Join a professional or community organization based on your interests and field of study. And keep networking with professors and alumni.

Summer: If you haven’t secured a summer internship by now, this is the time to land one. The career services office can help place you in an internship or fellowship. Most offer help with resume writing and mock job interviews


Senior Year
Classes: If you still have electives to take, choose classes that build on what you’ve learned during a summer job and internship. Engineering majors can take a website-coding class, a skill that’s in demand for digital or technical positions.

Activities: Try to get a leadership position on a least one club or organization and outline what you hope to do to make your mark. It’s also time to put networking into high speed.

Summer: It’s all about landing that full-time gig – and putting all the advice and steps that you’ve hopefully taken over the last four years into practice.

Lastly, join your school’s alumni association so you can continue to build your network.

For more information see: The Wall Street Journal (online), Family Finances, August 28, 2012

The Skills You Have and the Skills They Want

Article by Michelle Tullier, Monster Contributing Writer

Anyone who can write term papers, cram for exams, survive the roommate from hell, run a campus club, participate in sports or tackle other college challenges deserves a job and has demonstrated the ability to hold one.

Hot Skills Employers Want

Experts who study trends in hiring find that most companies, regardless of size or industry, look for the same basic skills when hiring. Believe it or not, you are most likely to develop these competencies during college. They include

• Critical Thinking: Seeing the big picture and being analytical; comprehending what you need.
• Communication: Getting your point across effectively when writing and speaking.
• Visionary Qualities: Brainstorming, looking to the future, setting goals.
• Self-Motivation: Showing a willingness to take the initiative.
• Proficiency with Information: Being inquisitive, curious and resourceful, knowing how to conduct research.
• Globally-Minded: Understanding and showing an interest in other cultures and getting along with diverse groups of people.
• Teamwork: Working well with others to achieve common goals.

Chances are, you possess a number of these key competencies. Once you realize you are very skilled, you'll be better able to sell yourself to employers as exactly the type of candidate they want.

For more information visit: http://career-advise.monster.com

7 Employer Danger Signs: When to Turn Down a Job Offer

Article by Charles Prudy, Monster Senior Editor

According to the US Department of Labor, the average employed adult spends 7.5 hours a day on the job. Over time, that adds up to a significant chunk of your life, so (as many people know from experience) an unhappy work situation can make the rest of your life pretty miserable as well.

For that reason, you'll want to avoid working for a miserable company.  But how can you spot a bad company to work for? By doing your research and looking for the following seven warning signs during the hiring process.

1. Communication with you is unprofessional or disrespectful. Your treatment during the hiring process is a clue as to how you'll be treated as an employee.
2. The recruiters and hiring managers actively distrust you. Just as you don't want to make a bad career move, employers don't want to make a bad hire--so expect a background check and reference check. These checks should all be carried out in a non-accusatory manner.
3. The workplace seems unhappy. You shouldn't take a job without paying a visit to where you'll be working. Note the attitudes and interactions of the workers there as well as the overall environment.
4. The company has a bad reputation. The Internet makes it easy to find out what former and current employees have to say about a company. Doing your research into this aspect of an employer should be part of how you prepare for a job interview.
5. You don't think you'll get along with your boss or colleagues. Be sure to discuss work styles and communication styles with the hiring manager to make sure they are at least compatible with yours.
6. The job's duties are unclear, or your interviewer can't define what success in the role will look like. After you have interviewed with one or two people, you should have a clear idea of how your job performance will be measured and what your key objectives will be in your first few months on the job.
7. They want to hire you right away, without any interviewing or reference checks. Desperation on the employer's part can be a danger sign. In the hiring process, recruiters and managers often rely (at least a little bit) on their "gut" when making decisions about candidates. Trust your gut, too. If it doesn't feel right, do a bit more research before accepting a job offer.

For more details visit http://career-advice.monster.com

Nonverbal Communications: Escape the Pitfalls

Article by Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

It begins even before you say your first word in an interview. As the interviewer walks towards you to shake hand, an opinion is already being formed. And you sit waiting to spew out your answers to questions you've prepared for, you are already being judged by your appearance, posture, smile or your nervous look.

Don't underestimate the value of a smile. In addition to the enthusiasm it expresses to the interviewer, smiling often makes you feel better about yourself.

Nonverbal Messages:

• The Handshake: It's your first encounter with the interviewer. She/He holds out her/his hand and receives a limp, damp hand in return-not a very good beginning. Your handshake should be firm--not bone-crushing--and your hand should be dry and warm.
• Your Posture: Stand and sit erect. We're not talking ramrod posture, but show some energy and enthusiasm. A slouching posture looks tired and uncaring.
• Eye Contact: Look the interviewer in the eye. You don't want to stare at her/him like you're trying to look into her/his soul, but be sure to make sure your eyes meet frequently.
• Your Hands: Gesturing or talking with your hands is very natural, but keep it in moderation.
• Don't Fidget:: There is nothing worse than people playing with their hair, clicking pen tops, tapping feet or unconsciously touching parts of the body.

Preparing what you have to say is important, but practicing how  you will say it is imperative. The nonverbal message can speak louder than the verbal message you're sending.

For more for detail visit: http://career-advice.monster.com/

6 Key Interview Answers Employers NEED to Hear

The reality is that employers have neither the time nor inclination to play games with you, especially when hiring. Your interviewer is not trying to outguess you--he/she is trying to assess your answers to six key questions:

1. Do you have the skills to do the job?  According to Brad Karsh, a former recruiting professional for advertising giant LEO Burnett and the current president of career consulting firm Job Bound, the employer must first determine whether you have the necessary hard skills for the position.  The interviewer is also looking for key soft skills you'll need to succeed in the job and organization.
2. Do you fit? "Every organization's first thought is about fit and potentially fit in a certain department," Corey Blanck says. That means the interviewer is trying to pinpoint not only whether you match up well with both the company's and department's activities but also whether you will complement the talents of your potential co-workers.
3. Do you understand the company and its purpose?  If the organization fits well with your career aspirations, you'll naturally be motivated to do good work there--and stay more than a month or two, Corey Blanck reasons.
4. How do you stack up against the competition?  You're being evaluated in relation to other candidates for the job.
5. Do you have the right mind-set for the job and company?  "I'm always looking for someone who has a can-do type of attitude," Corey Blanck explains. "I want someone who wants to be challenged and is internally motivated to do well."
6. Do you want the job?  Most employers know better than to believe everyone they interview actually wants the position being offered.  They understand some candidates are exploring their options, while others are using an interview with a company they don't care about to hone their interview skills.

For more information visit click here
Article by Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Politics and What College Graduates Shoud Care About

2008 proved a landmark election year for the 18 to 29 year-old demographic, with 51% of qualified Americans within this age range showing up at the polls.  Sixty-two percent of those with at least some college experience voiced their opinions on economic, social, and political issues, and four years later, it's looking like they may very well show up in the same (relative) droves. Because so many topics big and small directly dictate their lives, it behooves new and seasoned voters alike to familiarize themselves with today's most pressing debates. Start with the following and branch out from there for a broad view of everything currently at stake.

Jobs:
The New York Times refers to the current crop of college graduates as "The Limbo Generation" because they happen to enter into an economy pockmarked by high unemployment. Growing up, higher education was always touted as an essential gateway toward many (if not most) career paths, but reality proved otherwise when businesses just stopped hiring. A 2010 Center for Information & Research on Civil Learning & Engagement showed that voters between the ages of 18 and 29 considered improving the economy the most pressing political issue, with 59% reporting it as their primary concern.

Tuition and student loans:
College students continue demonstrating in the United States and Canada alike, angered largely over tuition hikes and favoring student loan reform. For obvious reason, of course! President Barack Obama, the Democratic incumbent in the 2012 election cycle, has already made some headway in making it easier for graduates to pay off the money they've taken out for their higher educations, but more legislation needs implementing to protect their interests. As it stands now, the laws restricting payments to paying out no more than 10% of disposable income will not go into effect until 2014.

For more detailed information visit ResumeBear

Lurk First (and 4 More Tips on Getting the Most our of LinkedIn Groups)

Interested in finding a new job, switching careers, attracting more clients or building a stronger professional network? LinkedIn Groups is the place to be.

Groups provides opportunities to meet and engage in discussions with members of your industry, your alumni community or other professional interest areas. Becoming active in LinkedIn Groups is like attending a professional conference every time you log on.

To join a group, start exploring the Group Search page, which has recently been updated to make it easier for you to find the most valuable places to network. Then click "Join" for any groups that sound appealing. Once you're accepted as a member, you'll be able to post and comment on discussions, review job postings, connect with your fellow members and more.

For more information see www.lindseypollak.com/blog

10 Secrets to Success

1. How You Think is Everything.  Always be positive. Think Success, not Failure.  Beware of a negative environment.
2. Decide upon Your True Dreams and Goals.  Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them.
3. Take Action. Goals are nothing without action.
4. Never Stop Learning. Go back to school or read books.  Get training and acquire skills
5. Be Persistent and Work Hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint.  Never give up.
6. Learn to Analyze Details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus Your Time and Money.  Don't let other people or things distract you.
8. Don't Be Afraid To Innovate.  Be different.  Followng hte herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Dean and Communicate with People Effectively.  No person is an island.  Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be Honest and Dependable.  Take responsibility, otherwise numbers 1-9 won't matter.

More information at Pick The Brain

11 Surprising Ways to Hurt Your Career

by Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer

While most career advice focuses on how to succeed, we can all learn valuable lessons by dissecting career failure as well. Workplace experts offer insights into some of the top ways workers undermine their own careers and jeopardize their career development.

1. Not Taking Your Education Seriously: If you party too much in college and end up with a run of the mill 2.5 GPA, you'll be passed over for the best entry-level jobs, says New York City based executive recruiter and coach Brian Drum of Drum Associates.



2. Not Having a Plan: In the current poor job market, you may have defaulted into a career you aren't crazy about. That is OK, as long as you develop career plans to get where you want to be.



3. Lying: You'll lose professional credibility in a hurry if you lie, from exaggerating on your resume to getting caught fibbing on Facebook.



4. Sullying Your Reputation on Facebook or Twitter: Social media can harm your reputation in other ways, too. Personal posts and tweets from work -- when you are supposed to be doing your job -- can tag you as a slacker.



5. Not Respecting Professional Boundaries: Sharing TMI about your personal life with colleagues is unprofessional.



6. Gossiping, Slandering, Excessively Criticizing: If you publicly bash fellow employees, the boss, the board of directors or even your competitors, you'll be perceived as negative at best and a troublemaker at worst.



7. Carrying on an Inappropriate Relationship with Your Boss: A romantic entanglement with a boss can do real damage to your ability to collaborate with peers.



8. Not Controlling Your Alcohol Intake or Libido: Getting drunk at the office party or on a business trip damages your credibility. Ditto a romantic, ahem, "indiscretion" that your colleagues know about.



9. Job-Hopping Just for the Money: Job-hopping -- in moderation -- may not automatically disqualify you from a position. "But it gets to the point -- like if you have seven or eight jobs by the time you are 35 -- that employers are not going to want to invest in you," Drum says.



10. Losing Touch with References: You'll kick yourself later if you leave a job without collecting personal contact information from colleagues who can serve as professional references for you in the future.



11. Leaving a Job on Bad Terms: Don't become a lame duck when you've got one foot out the door, Drum says. "The employer only remembers about the last five minutes you were there," he says.

For additional information click here

Combating Entry-Level Boredom

One of the most common complaints we hear from young professionals in entry-level positions is that they are bored out of their minds. They are generally assigned menial tasks which, thanks to the wonder of word processing, do not take up much time, and their supervisors are reluctant to assign any substantial work.

Compounding the problem of boredom is the ever popular "face time" requirement. Everyone feels pressured to hang around the office for eight hours or more, out-waiting the boss or each other, regardless of their workload. This essentially trains us to be less efficient, because we feel penalized for finishing our work too quickly.

Consequences of Boredom:
After leaving school filled with enthusiasm and ambition, the letdown of insignificant workloads can cause feelings of depression and worthlessness. And our twenties are a dangerous time to be bored at work because we are now forming on-the-job habits which, like smoking or biting our nails, will be hard to break.

Tips on Battling Boredom:

• Start out the day by writing down your "five before five" - a list of things you want to accomplish before the day is over -- and tape it to your monitor as a constant reminder.




• Be honest with your supervisor and ask for more work. Hopefully, he or she will appreciate your efficiency and ability to get the job done fast and reward you with a more challenging set of tasks. If your employer does not value efficiency, then perhaps it is time to look for a better fit.




• A mentor can help you think of ways to increase and diversify your tasks by explaining the various roles and skills required in your industry or organization. A mentor can be any person with a career track to which you aspire, whether that is a co-worker, friend of the family, or fellow alum.




• Try online courses to further your job skills and association Web sites for research and literature relevant to your field. Keep up with the news in your industry, and you'll be prepared with some impressive small talk next time you run into your boss' boss in the elevator.




• Set up a meeting with a co-worker or supervisor to discuss the status of a project. Let them know that you are interested in becoming more involved.

Information provided by CareerRookie Spring 2012

WATCH OUT!! 10 Interview Questions Designed to Trick You

For the long-term unemployed or those workers looking for a change, getting an interview in today's market may feel like a win in itself. But once you're in the door, interviewers often put you through an obstacle course of depceptive questions with double meanings or hidden agendas. Do you know how to read the subtext?

"On the other side of the desk, hiring managers spend countless long hours inteviewing candidate after candidate," says Joyce Lain Kennedy, a nationally syndicated careers columnist and author of Job Interviews for Dummies. " A tricky question may be used as a time management tool to quickly eliminate a less qualified candidate."

Kenney says that even if job hunters have rehearsed anticipated topics, an unexpected question may jar loose an authentic answer that exposes hidden problems. She outlines the top 10 most common questions designed to trick you.

1. Why have you been out of work so long, and how many others were laid off? This question may also be followed by the more direct, "Why were you laid off?" Kennedy says it is an attempt to figure out if there is something wrong with you that your former company or that other potential employers have already discovered.



2. If employed, how do you manage time for interviews? "The real question is whether you are lying to and short-changing your current employer while looking for other work," says Kennedy. The interviewer may wonder: If you 're cheating on your current boss, why wouldn't you later cheat on me?



3. How did you prepare for this interview? The intention of this question is to decipher how much you really care about the job or if you're simply going through the motions or winging it.



4. Do you know anyone who works for us? This one really is a tricky question, says Kennedy, because most interviewees expect that knowing someone on the inside is always a good thing. "Nothing beats having a friend deliver your resume to a hiring manager, but that transaction presumes the friend is well thought of in the company," she says. Because the interviewer will likely associate the friend's characteristics and reputation with your merits, she recommends only mentioning someone by name if you're certain of their positive standing in the organization.



5. Where would you really like to work? "The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren't applying to every job opening in sight," says Kennedy.



6. What bugs you about coworkers or bosses? Don't fall into this trap. Kennedy says you always want to present yourself as optimistic and action-oriented, and hiring managers may use this question to tease out whether you'll have trouble working with others or could drag down workplace morale and productivity.



7. Can you describe how you solved a work or school problem? Kennedy says that, really, no one should be too taken aback by this, as it's one of the most basic interview questions and should always be anticipated.



8. Can you describe a work or school instance in which you messed up? This one is a minefield. "One question within the question is whether you learn from your mistakes or keep repeating the same error," says Kennedy. Similarly, the interviewer may be trying to glean whether you're too self-important or not self-aware enough to take responsibility for your failings.



9. How does this position compare with others you're applying for? "The intent is to gather intel on the competitive job market or get a handle on what it will take to bring you on board," says Kennedy.



10. If you won the lottery, would you still work? It's another opportunity to underscore your motivation and work ethic. Kennedy advises acknowledging that you' d be thrilled to win the lottery but would still look for meaningful work because meeting challenges and achieving make you happy.

Information provided by Forbes.com and written by Jenna Goudrea. To see article in full.

TEAMBUILDING: The Most Rewarding Act of Leadership

The experience of great teamwork is one of life's greatest thrills. Unfortunately, it is also rare and fleeting. If you want to turn your own working group of individuals into a magnificent, all-conquering team, you need to guide them on a journey of 5 steps, from Unshared Certainty to Shared Certainty.

1. Unshared Certainty - At the first stage of teambuilding, the team are no more than a disparate group of individuals without any close links. Their main aim is to look after number one and they do this by seeking personal advantage in any situation. As a result, there is no risk and no teamwork.


2. Loose Links - At the second stage of team development, the group start to find reason for working together. They may do this initially because they see some personal advantage for themselves, for example, by working with others whom they like, or with others who have information they need, or who have skills that complement theirs.


3. Shared Certainity - A breakthrough in teambuilding is achieved when the group start to share a purpose, mission, or goal which can only be realized by working together. This is nearly always a big goal and one that excites and motivates at an emotional level.


4. Team First - At the fourth stage of teambuilding, the group now starts to put the team before themselves. This only happens when they see that they have far more to gain from working together than from working on their own.


5. Shared Uncertainity - Once a team sees themselves as a distince, cohesive unit with a huge pool of resources to call on and an exciting goal to strive for, they start to realize that they can achieve far more together than apart.

For additional information see the article in full in the EOE Journal Volume 22. Article is written by: Eric Garner

Insight into Diversity Makes for Bette Job Interviews:

An Informed Process for Job Seekers

What is diversity and why should it matter? It matters because the more you know about corporate diversity, the more successful you will be in your job search process and interview experiences.

• What components must be in place for a diversity program to succeed? Find out what it takes to run a successful diversity program, in essence, all of the components that must be in place and the infrastructure need for sustainability.


• What facts can you discover about the company? Next, collect background information on the company, namely, the nature and breadth of its ties to diversity. Once you have digested what has been collected so far, develop a list of conversation starters, interesting points, and questions that might help to fill in the blanks and clarify what seems curious or motivating.


• What is the company's reputation as an employer? Move on to third-party endorsements for firsthand experiences and hearsay renderings. These sources offer insight into the company's reputation.


• What role should advisors and recruiters play in the process? Engage school placement counselors (Career Services) and/or recruiters in meaningful diversity conversations using the information you've gleaned as a starting point. Ask for their thoughts and insights, use them as a sounding boards, and have them engage you in practice runs.

For further information see the article in full in EOE Journal, Vol. 22 - Num. 91 - March 2012 by Dr. Kathryn Alexander