3 Things Every College Student Needs To Do To Nail A Top Internship

I will say this unequivocally: All college students need to have an internship. I promise many other job candidates will. Employers expect it. More than 90 percent of employers say that students should have at least one internship on their resume, one recent study found. And the summer internship search starts now -- in January.

Here are 3 things every college student needs to do to kick off the internship search:

1. Create a resume and cover letter template.
Deadlines are going to come and go quickly. The same "generic" materials shouldn't be sent out for every opportunity. But you can use a template and customize it for the internship. The trick is to read the job description and then revise your resume and letter so that you connect the dots for the employer. The letter and resume need to explain why you're the perfect candidate.

2. Stay organized.
When I was applying for internships, I made sure to keep one sheet of paper with all of the companies I was applying for (10 per semester), the contact information, company website, application dates, required materials, and the date I submitted my applications. This document was crucial during the internship search, as sometimes you start applying for things late at night and forget you applied in the first place. Keep this document handy, just in case an employer calls.


3. Visit the college career center.
So many students have not visited their college career center. Today, many high schools have someone on staff acting as a career counselor. Your child needs to go into the career center, a few times over the course of a semester, and create an internship strategy with the staff. The career centers work so hard to develop relationships with potential employers and internship coordinators for students. It's a missed opportunity if the student doesn't walk in the door. They should also be going to the career center to get a second opinion or help with their resumes and cover letters and to do a practice "mock" interview. Career centers are FREE for students, it's one of the most useful resources on a campus.

Look, the message here is to get involved in your highschool or college kid's internship search. Yes, your child might think you are "overbearing" but at the end of the day, this is their career. You already know how bad the economy is and what your young ones are getting themselves into once they graduate. Internships are a solution for helping your kids find and land jobs after college. Do everything in your power to get them interning and making the most of their experiences.

Source: AOL

An introduction to intros

There's a certain art to meeting and greeting people. For a select few, introductions are effortless. If, however, you're one of the many individuals for whom initiating conversation does not come naturally, the following greeting guidelines can help:

Master the handshake
Almost every professional interaction begins with a handshake, and a good one can help you make a positive first impression, whether you're meeting a potential employer or a new colleague.
Avoid vigorous arm rattling, a double-handed upper-arm grip or a wince-inducing squeeze, which will make for a bumpy beginning. Instead, aim for a firm handshake and pair it with a pleasant smile and good eye contact. You'll communicate both friendliness and self-confidence. A proper handshake lasts about three seconds -- two or three pumps -- starting and stopping crisply.

Embrace formality
To hug or not to hug is becoming a common question in the workplace, especially in offices that have a casual atmosphere. But it's still best to play it safe by favoring handshakes over hugs when in business settings.
Hugging is often considered an intimate gesture, and not everyone may welcome it. While a quick hug may be appropriate or instinctive in some situations -- when you run into a close business associate unexpectedly, for example, or after your best friend in the company receives a promotion -- it's generally best to err on the side of caution when you're not sure of an "open-armed" welcome.

Sidestep space invaders tactfully
Do you dread meeting with colleagues or clients who are "huggers"? One technique for protecting your personal space is to extend your hand early to indicate you'd prefer a handshake.
Of course, some hugs are impossible to dodge without embarrassing the other person. As manners guru Peggy Post notes: "Sometimes you can't avoid the contact, and it's best to grin and bear it; backing away a bit once the person has released you should signal your feelings."

Introduce in the right order
If you're meeting with a group, be courteous by introducing yourself to new contacts before exchanging pleasantries with those you already know. Also, always introduce junior-ranking employees to senior-level people, mentioning the person of higher rank first ("Director John Doe, I'd like you to meet our new intern Carl Coffeefetcher.").

Win the name game
Have you ever been introduced to someone at a busy networking event only to forget his name five seconds later? You're not alone. To commit the name to memory and guard against goofs, restate the person's name ("I'm so pleased to meet you, Charles.").
To help others remember your name, speak slowly and clearly. If you're at a conference where a name tag has been provided, stick it near your right shoulder; when you shake people's hands, their eyes will go directly to the tag.

Show you're interested
Knowing how to make a perfect introduction does little if you're not adept at the chitchat that typically follows. Have ready some standard topics that anyone can relate to -- weather, traffic and weekend plans are perennial winners.
Also pay sincere attention to what the other person is saying, and make sure your body language reflects your interest. You're not sending signs of engagement if you're compulsively checking your smartphone, looking at your watch or scanning the room for others to talk with.
Finally, be mindful that appropriate business greetings vary significantly from country to country. A series of cheek kisses is common in some nations, while bowing is customary in others. Nuances abound. In Japan, for instance, it's considered impolite to immediately put a person's business card in your pocket without first studying it.
Before heading into a meeting with international colleagues or embarking on a trip abroad, research the prevailing greeting culture so you don't inadvertently commit a faux pas.
The bottom line: Whether you're meeting business contacts from across town or the other side of the globe, use good judgment and do your best to make them feel respected and comfortable in your presence.

Source: careerbuilder

3 Great Reasons To Pursue Work Outside of Your Field

When we graduate college, we hope that the job fairy will give us a high-paying job at a great company-the day after we get our loan-financed diplomas, no less.

Unfortunately, what usually happens is that we find ourselves sitting in our parents' basements, lamenting the cruelty of fate and resigning ourselves to a part-time job as a barista while we hope for the economy to return to its fabled 1990s state. You know, that time when six-figure jobs fell into the laps of even the most liberal of liberal arts majors-right?

Actually, the world never worked that way, and the way to get ahead now, just like it's always been, is to claw your way forward.

One of the most widely ignored methods of developing yourself professionally is pursuing work in fields that need labor, regardless of whether your qualifications match.

Here are a few reasons why you might want to get one of those jobs, and a few reasons why it will benefit you in the long run:


1. You'll grow your confidence
You want your potential employer to think of you as a go-getter, meaning you should look like-and be!-that kind of person. An excellent way to project this kind of attitude is to bring your mismatched skills to your interview and to show how you would apply them to your target job.

Learning how to sell your skills not only allows you to get other jobs in the future; it will also help you actually feel confident about how marketable you are for an employer.

2. You'll develop your general career skills
An important part of working at a "real job" is that you get tangible experience that's important to potential future employers. An interviewer needs to believe that you weren't stuck in life's doldrums, hoping to get swept up by a lucky break. Any job will go a long way toward teaching you how to interact and deal with coworkers, bosses, meetings and bureaucratic power structures.

You'll learn a lot of useful things about the working world and, more importantly, about yourself. What type of company do you not want to work for? What makes a good boss or a bad boss? How do you negotiate a pay raise or a promotion? These are skills that are transferable to a variety of careers.


3. You'll gain unique qualifications
Consider this: receiving your degree and then getting experience in exactly that field doesn't distinguish you from everyone else who took those same two steps. Higher-level job listings can come with random caveats like "Design Coordinator: Need graphic designer with project management experience" or "Engineering Manager: Masters in Physics with at least two years of management experience."

Wherever you look, you'll find that employers want more skills from you than you could have gathered at school. Broadening your skill set by taking an atypical job will give you qualifications that will allow you to stand out as a candidate for your next job.

Source: AOL

Got A Last-Minute Phone Interview? How To Prep -- Fast

Have you ever had a hiring manager call you and ask if you're available for a phone interview right now? Sometimes interviews sneak up on you – literally.

Phone interviews are commonly used by hiring managers to contact job candidates who aren't local. But, it's not always about location. Employers frequently use the phone interview to conduct a pre-screening for the job, answer resume questions, and establish your basic qualifications and company fit.

Whether you're asked to interview on the spot or in less than 24 hours, don't panic! Before you stumble over your words or become flustered, there are a few tips that will prepare you for a last-minute phone interview:


1. Identify the best and the worst of your resume. The first thing you should do to prepare for a last-minute interview is collect your thoughts. This employer is obviously interested in you and possibly on a strict deadline, which is great news for you. However, you need to determine what job experiences and skills are most relevant to discuss with this employer.

So, take a look at your resume. If you're afforded enough time, jot down two or three experiences and skills you'd like to highlight during your interview. Also, highlight weaknesses in your resume (that you can hopefully turn into a strength). This will help you answer questions with more confidence and detail.

2. Perform a quick search online of the company. Hopefully you're already familiar with the company that just gave you a call. But, if you somehow haven't done your homework yet, do a quick search online. If possible, jot down the company's main purpose and values and at least one relevant case study or work example on their website. Also, perform a quick LinkedIn search of the company to see if you're connected with any insiders.


3. Clear your mind. The true ploy of a last-minute interview is to gauge your ability to think on your feet. So don't let your nerves or lack of preparation get the best of you. If you don't know everything about the company or don't have questions prepared for the interviewer, it's not the end of the world. Focus on first impressions and detailing why you're the best fit for the job.


If you're truly unprepared for an on-the-spot interview request, ask if you can schedule an interview for the next day. Hiring managers can't expect you to automatically be free for an interview without prior notice, so if you aren't available, just say so!

Have you ever been interviewed last minute? How did you prepare for the interview?

 

Source: AOL

What You Should Know About Working With A Recruiter

In today's competitive job market, many job seekers would welcome additional job-search assistance. While some job seekers know exactly what they want to do or where they want to work, others need some direction. Recruiters can be a great resource, yet some job seekers aren't aware of who they are, what recruiters do and how best to work with them.

The following Q&A with DeLynn Senna, executive director, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, provides insight into the advantages of working with a recruiter.


Q: What does a recruiter at a staffing agency do?
Senna: First and foremost, recruiters help people find jobs. Staffing professionals identify matches for candidates with client companies, looking for a fit from both a skills and a corporate culture perspective. Because they have a thorough understanding of what their clients look for in applicants, recruiters make the job search quicker and more efficient. Through their networks, recruiters also are able to target specific companies where candidates would like to work. The services recruiters provide don't end there, however. For instance, they help candidates hone their résumés, prepare for interviews and manage salary negotiations.


Q: Why would a job seeker use one?
Senna: Recruiters can be candidates' eyes, ears and advocates in the job market. They often know of opportunities yet to be advertised and help professionals throughout the job-search process as an adviser, coach and confidant.

Meeting with a potential employer can be a daunting prospect for many people, but recruiters can help job seekers quickly build rapport with hiring managers. Recruiting professionals provide advice on interviewing with each contact, including questions to ask and not ask. In addition, recruiters have insight into current salary trends, what a company is likely to pay and how to navigate compensation negotiations.

Q: Does this usually cost the job seeker anything?
Senna: A reputable staffing firm will never charge a job seeker a fee.


Q: How should a job seeker prepare before enlisting the help of a recruiter?
Senna: Once you're ready to work with a recruiter, make sure your résumé and online profiles are current and they project the image you want people to have of you. Hone your elevator pitch about the type of position you want and why you are a good fit for it, and line up your references.


Q: What does the process of using a recruiter generally look like? How do they work with each other throughout the process?
Senna: The job seeker-recruiter partnership can begin a couple ways. In some instances, a recruiter, through her network, may reach out to a professional to discuss career opportunities. Other times, job seekers will register with the staffing firm. In both scenarios, the next step is for the candidate to discuss his career objective, and the recruiting specialist will then review the person's résumé to see if there is a potential fit with an opportunity at a client company. If there is, the job seeker will be invited for an interview, at which point the recruiter also will conduct a skills assessment and ask for references.

Throughout the process, candidates should keep their recruiter apprised of their search. For example, if you think you'd like to work at a specific organization, tell your recruiter, who may have a contact there and be able to secure an interview for you. Also keep in mind that this is a partnership. Stay in touch, letting your recruiter know what's working and what's not, and be open to her doing the same.

Q: How does a job seeker find a recruiter?
Senna: To find the recruiter that is right for you, research the staffing firms in your area, just as you would any employer. Review local business publications and websites, and tap your network for their recommendations. When evaluating your options, look for a firm that specializes in your field and has a history of success.


Q: What myths would you like to dispel about recruiters?
Senna: A recruiter is your job-search partner. This is not a simple transactional business relationship. Recruiters want to help you find a great job and can be a valuable resource throughout your career.

 

Source: AOL

13 Ways To Kick Off Your 2013 Job Search

"I'll wait till after the holidays to start my job search." Well, the holidays are over; no more excuses. It's time to look for that job.

Here are the 13 job search strategies that work best.


1. Narrow your job search.

You can reduce the chances of feeling overwhelmed by targeting only your dream employer or your top two or three dream employers. Use Google, LinkedIn and human sources to educate yourself about the organization's priorities and where you might fit. Then answer ads, of course, but also pitch yourself to appropriate hiring managers that haven't placed an ad. If you're impressive, you'll become an inside candidate when a job gets posted. And the hirer might even create a job for you.


2. Reframe your pitch.

Instead of, 'I'm desperate to find something, anything," frame your search in positive terms. "Finally, I've decided to look for a job I'll really like rather than just take what falls in my lap. I'd like to find a job doing (insert your goal)." You'll feel better about your search -- and others will respect you for it.

3. Create a 5-to-10-second pitch.

A 30-second spiel risks your appearing self-absorbed or desperate. You can say plenty in just five seconds. For example, "I'm an accountant and always got good evaluations, but the company sent all our jobs to India." If a person wants to know more, s/he'll ask. The less you say upfront, the more room for questions. And with each question, s/he's more engaged and thus more invested in you.


4. Cast a wide net.

It's unlikely that your close friends and family will be able to help you land a job. So you need to expand your list to more distant ties: old friends and colleagues, your hair-cutter, cleric and neighbor down the block. Distant ties are surprisingly often willing to help, as long as you give that brief pitch that reassures that you'll be a good employee. And because you have many more distant ties than close ones, the odds are greater than one of them will give you a good lead.


5. Think coffee, not cloud.

Yeah, the Internet cloud is hot, but nothing replaces human connection. Make your goal to have two coffees, lunches, whatevers a week with people who could offer good career advice, hire you or know someone who could.

6. Love LinkedIn.

Your LinkedIn profile is the modern-day resume. Of course, complete it, including at least three strong recommendations. And don't forget the photo. People want to see a face connected to the resume. (Your photo should be a relatively recent headshot, so people don't feel misled when they meet you face-to-face.) Job listings on LinkedIn allow you to see how you're connected to them. And LinkedIn''s JobInsider toolbar, an add-in for Firefox and Internet Explorer, enables you to see your LinkedIn connections to jobs that are listed on Monster, Simply Hired and CareerBuilder. You can then request an introduction to the hiring manager.

LinkedIn's company profiles enable you to conveniently learn about a company -- for example, what other positions they're trying to fill -- that's helpful in crafting your cover letter and preparing for interviews.


7. In answering ads, use the point-by-point cover letter.

Make sure that your letter spells out exactly how you meet every requirement detailed in the ad. That makes clear that you're qualified for the job. If you're not, don't waste your time applying. If an employer goes through the trouble of placing an ad and wading through oodles of applicants, you won't be selected unless you meet at least most of the requirements. If the employer wanted to hire someone unqualified, s/he would have hired challenged cousin Gomer.


8. Practice, practice, practice.

Practice telling your story in 10-, 30- and 60-second versions. Also practice answers for the questions that you're most afraid of, like, "Why have you been out of the job market for so long?" When you're ready, phone a dozen people with the power to hire you for a job you'd crave. That tactic is low-risk and I've seen it pay off many times.


9. Storify.

Add success stories to your cover letter, interviews and resume -- yes resume. As I wrote in this AOL article, resumes filled with jobseeker-speak tend to make employers roll their eyes and turn your resume into a paper airplane. Adding two or three brief anecdotes describing a problem you faced, the impressive way you approached it, and the positive result, makes your resume more likely to sail to the top of the pile.

10. Offer to fill in on a Sunday, holiday or last-minute.

When employers are desperate, they're more willing to give you a shot. Give an employer a sample of you and s/he might want to buy the whole enchilada.


11. Think of a job interview as a first date.

You're both checking each other out. If you sprinkle a few questions throughout the interview and even offer to demonstrate something -- for example, if you're a salesperson or trainer, explain or sell something -- you'll appear confident, not desperate. Also, you may get information that can help you decide whether you want to work there. My favorite question: "What would you want to see me accomplish in the first 30 days that would make you say, "Wow, I'm glad I hired this person?"


12. Follow up.

After you've responded to an ad, asked a friend for a lead, or requested a meeting with a hirer who hasn't placed an ad, make a follow-up phone call. Keep it brief and positive and you'll more likely be perceived as pleasantly persistent than as a pest. Example: "Joe, I appreciate your having offered to keep your ears open for me. I can't expect you to keep me top-of-mind so I figured that now, after a month, I'd call to follow up. Have you heard of anything?"


13. Be more resilient.

Recognize that job seeking is that rare game in which, if you fail 99 of 100 times, you win -- but not if you quit early. Wallowing after some failures tends to lead to more wallowing. Keep at it and you'll likely land a job and thus not have to read any more of these job-search articles.

Source: AOL

6 Career Myths You Shouldn't Fall For

You've probably heard the same bits of career advice tossed around over and over from well-meaning friends, relatives, and even bosses. But plenty of the maxims that we hear repeated actually aren't true. Here are six of the most popular career myths that you shouldn't fall for.

1. A college degree will get you a job.
Generations of students have been told that if they get a college degree, they'll easily find a job afterward. Unfortunately, it's no longer so clear-cut. Degrees no longer open doors the way they used to, and too many new graduates are remaining unemployed or under-employed for months or even years, as employers opt for more experienced candidates. This is frustrating and confusing for graduates, who often feel that they did everything they were supposed to and they're not getting the pay-off they were promised would come.


2. Do what you're passionate about and the money will follow.
In reality, not all passions match up with the realities of the job market. If you're passionate about poetry or painting, you're going to find very limited job opportunities for those things. In fact, the people who get to do what they love for a job are the lucky ones; they're not the majority. A better goal is to find work that you can do reasonably happily; it doesn't need to be your passion.

3. If you can't find a job, just start your own business.
Starting your own business is hard, and it's not for everyone. It's not as easy as just having a skill and selling it. You have to have something that people want to buy from you more than they want to buy it from your competitors. You also have to be able to market yourself, deal with financial uncertainty, have some savings as a launch pad, and overcome plenty of other challenges. It's not a cure-all for anyone who can't find a job or is unhappy in their career.


4. Your major in college will lead to your career.
Students often come out of school thinking that their major will lead them to their life-long career path directly, but it's very often not the case-especially for majors in the liberal arts. You might have an English degree but end up in HR, or a sociology degree but end up selling ads, or a music degree but end up as a professional fundraiser. On the other hand, degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and math are more likely to end up pointing you toward a more defined career path.

5. If you're not sure what you want to do, go to grad school.
Grad school makes sense when you want to follow a career path that requires an advanced degree. But it's a bad use of time and money if you're hoping it will somehow point you down a career path, or if you're going because you're not sure what else to do. Many people who go to grad school for lack of a better option come out a few years later saddled with large student loans, and not any better positioned than they were before they enrolled. Which leads to...


6. Grad school will always make you more marketable.
Grad school generally will not make you more marketable unless you're going into a field that specifically requires a graduate degree. In fact, it can make you less competitive, by keeping you from getting work experience for that much longer and requiring you to find a higher-paying job than you might otherwise need because you need to pay back school loans-and even worse, if you apply for jobs that have nothing to do with your graduate degree, many employers will think you don't really want the job you're applying for, since it's not in "your field."

 

 

 

Source: AOL

Why You Aren't Getting Job Interviews

If you've sent out dozens or even hundreds of resumes and haven't heard anything back, you might be wondering what the problem is. Is it your resume? Is it just the job market? Could a former employer be blacklisting you in your industry?

If you're like most job seekers, the problem is one of these four reasons.

1. Your resume doesn't indicate that you'll excel at the job.

This is easily the No. 1 reason most job seekers aren't getting interviews. Most people's resumes simply list their job duties at each job they've held (like "processed bank transactions" or "filled customer requests"). That only tells the hiring manager what jobs you've held -- it doesn't reveal anything about how you performed at those jobs. The candidates who are getting the most interviews list what they achieved at each job (like "increased Web traffic by 20 percent over 12 months" or "regularly recognized for highest number of customer compliments").

Hiring managers don't care much that you held a string of jobs; they care what you accomplished there, and your resume needs to show them that. So if you're wondering why you're not getting calls for interviews and your resume doesn't list accomplishments, that's the first place to start.

2. Your cover letter is bland and uninspiring.

If your cover letter basically summarizes the information in your resume, it's not accomplishing anything for you -- you almost might as well not send one. A cover letter that helps your candidacy adds something new to your application about why you'd be great at the job; it doesn't just recite your employment history. Job seekers regularly report that when they start adding personality to their cover letters, they start getting phone calls for interviews.


3. You haven't asked for feedback from the right people.

I regularly hear job seekers with bad resumes say, "I've had my resume reviewed dozens of times, and everyone has told me it's fine." First, in a crowded job market, "fine" isn't enough; it needs to be great. But secondly, if the wrong people are reviewing your resume, their feedback doesn't matter. Friends, family, and even campus career counselors don't always know what they're doing; instead, you need people with significant hiring experience to give you feedback. After all, you wouldn't ask a friend with no auto-mechanic experience to tell you what was wrong with your car; you'd ask someone who knows cars. And with your resume, you need to go to someone who knows hiring.

(One good test: Give them a resume that's full of duties rather than achievements and see what they say. If they tell you it's a good resume, you'll know that their advice isn't useful on this topic.)

4. You're applying for jobs that aren't connected to your job history.

If you're applying for jobs that are very different from what you've done previously, you need to explicitly demonstrate for employers why you'd be a great match -- don't rely on them to figure it out on their own. Also, keep in mind that in a tight job market like this one, employers have plenty of well-trained candidates who meet all the job's qualifications and have already worked in the field. That means that even though you might feel that you could excel at the job if just given the chance, employers don't have much of an incentive to take a chance on you. As much as you might want to change fields, it's generally very hard to do right now.

Source: AOL

10 Questions to Dazzle Would-Be Employers

Your suit is crisp -- you look impressive. Your résumé is flawless -- you seem great on paper. Now, for the last piece of the successful job search puzzle -- "wowing" them at the interview.

How do you do it? Try asking questions. Besides showing your interest in the position and the company, asking questions gives you an active role in the interview and lets you steer the interview into areas where you shine.

To make sure your next interview is as smooth as your freshly pressed suit, try these 10 questions on for size:

1. "What type of growth and advancement opportunities does this position and the company offer?"
This tells the interviewer that you have a long-term vision for your professional future and that you're not just looking for a paycheck; you're looking to secure a career.

2. "How do you see me benefiting the company?"
Finding out why you were selected out of possibly hundreds of other candidates gives you a chance to expand on the qualities that caught their eye, further making the case for your hire.

3. "What would my first project be if I'm hired?"
This will give you a specific idea of what you can expect when you walk into the office that first day after being hired. It also can give you a heads up as to what will be expected of you, allowing you to build on those attributes during the interview.

4. "Are continuing education and professional training stressed?"
This shows your willingness to learn new skills and adapt to new challenges or initiatives. Adaptability is very important in today's fickle economy and could be key to retaining your job in a reorganization.

5. "Why did you choose this company?"
Hearing why a current employee opted to work at the firm can give you some insight into some of the strengths and opportunities within the organization.

6. "What is the company's culture?"
This will reveal those "intangibles" of a company that have nothing to do with professional experience or required education. If you need a traditional, office/cube environment to stay focused and get the job done, a more creativity-driven workplace which allows music streaming from computers, nerf hoop tournaments and ultraflexible schedules may not be conducive to your productivity.

7. "Who will evaluate me if I'm hired?"
Ask this question, and you'll discern the company and departmental structure under which you will be working. For instance, will you report directly to the vice president or will there be a succession of middle managers between you?

8. "What exactly are the job responsibilities?"
Job ads usually list the general areas of responsibility for a position. It's always good to confirm what the actual duties will be. You don't want to start your new job as an engineer and find out you're responsible for the weekly doughnut run.

9. "When will a decision be made on the successful candidate?"
Knowing this helps you determine the timing of your interview follow-up activities.

10. "May I contact you if I have other questions?"
It's always good to wrap up the interview with this question. It keeps the door open for further communication, giving you one last chance to make your case.






Source: careerbuilder

How non-networkers can work the room

Attending a professional networking event can be like going to a party at a stranger's house. You scan the crowd, searching for friendly faces, hoping you know at least one other person. When you realize you have to work the event solo, you suddenly feel shy and jittery, especially if working the room doesn't come naturally to you.

Take a deep breath and dry those sweaty palms. First, remember that other professionals at the event are feeling exactly the way you are. Then, develop a plan. Focusing on specific goals will help you to check your nervousness at the door.

Here are some strategies to help you navigate your next professional networking event successfully:

Make a plan
Before the event, make a list of targets - the people you know you want to meet. Most conferences and other meet-and-greet events use the Web or social media to publish a list of attendees, which can be helpful in your preparation. Many events also use hashtags on Twitter so attendees can connect before and during the event.

Organize some brief notes on what you know about a target contact that could be relevant to your discussion with that person. For example, perhaps you read a person's blog or viewed her webinar. This type of information gives you an advantage not only because you can break the ice with a new contact more easily but also because the person will realize you sincerely want to meet.

Turn your list of targets into an "event card" - a simple list in a notebook or on your smartphone - that you can use to make notes about the people you meet and what you discuss. Don't take notes during a conversation, though. The other person may feel uncomfortable if he feels like you're conducting an interview.

Help contacts connect with you
You need to show your targets why they should know you. This means you should rehearse your introductions and tailor them for each key person. For instance:

• Example 1: "Hi, I'm Ann. I'm an accountant with XYZ firm. Our firm does some work for your company. I've seen you copied on some of our correspondence, and I wanted to introduce myself since we've never actually met in person."
• Example 2: "Hi, I'm Ann. I'm an accountant at XYZ firm. I believe you know my manager, Sue Smith. I noticed you two are connected on LinkedIn. How do you know Sue?"
• Example 3: "Hi, I'm Ann. I'm an accountant at XYZ firm. I saw you speak at last year's annual conference. I really enjoyed your presentation. Will you be speaking at the next event?"

Remember that there's a fine line between coming across as "all business" and being seen as a real, approachable human being. While it's important to be prepared when you meet someone new who could be important to you professionally, don't rehearse too much. You want conversations to flow naturally after your introduction. Just smile, be casual and talk to that person as you would if you were building a relationship with a new friend.

Don't wait too long to follow up
A day or two after the networking event, review your event card and the business cards you collected, and begin your follow-up. A brief email to say hello and remind a new contact about the conversation you had or a request to connect via LinkedIn should suffice. Don't call a contact unless you were encouraged to do so, or you both hit it off so well you know a phone call would be welcome.

If you don't hear back from a contact after two attempts, more than likely that person is not interested in keeping in touch. Don't take it personally. Not every connection you make is going to lead to a meaningful business relationship.

Focus your energy instead on those relationships you sense are going to be the most fruitful. If you approached the event strategically, you'll no doubt have more than enough interesting new contacts to add to your professional network.

Source: careerbuilder

The New Approach To Job Searching

If you haven't searched for a job recently, you might be in for a rude shock the next time you do. The job search has changed dramatically, as the Internet and the economy have both altered how employers operate and what job seekers can expect.

Here are seven ways the job search is different today from just a decade ago.

1. Online applications now require information you could previously avoid giving out.
Back in the days when you were applying by mail, your job search included only the information you wanted to include in your resume and cover letter. But these days, online applications often won't let you apply if you don't divulge your salary history, references' contact info (before you've even had an interview), or even your Social Security number. This change is bad for job seekers, who must tolerate invasions of privacy to simply submit an application.
2. Competition for jobs is greater.
The reason for this is twofold: First, the economy means that there are more people searching for jobs than there are job openings. Second, the ease of applying for jobs online means that employers are flooded with hundreds of applications for every opening they post. For the job seeker, that means that where in the past you might have been up against a few dozen other candidates, today you're usually competing against several hundred.

3. Social networking has created new paths for finding connections to jobs.
The advent of sites like LinkedIn has made it easier to see in a matter of minutes who in your network is connected to a company that you might like to apply to. In past years, you might never have found out that your sister-in-law's neighbor used to work for your dream employer. Today, the Internet makes that easy.
4. Employers are a lot pickier about whom they hire.
Because employers have so many qualified candidates to choose from, simply meeting the job qualifications isn't nearly enough these days. That also means that it's much harder for less perfectly qualified candidates to stretch up to a job that in previous years they might have been able to get more easily. Similarly ...
5. It's harder to change fields.
No matter how transferable you believe your skills might be, the reality is that employers have plenty of well-trained candidates who meet all the job's qualifications and already have worked in the field. That means that even though you might feel that you could excel at the job if just given the chance, employers don't have much of an incentive to take a chance on you.
6. More candidates are taking internships even after they've graduated from college.
If you're used to thinking of internships as primarily for college students, think again. These days, more people are interning post-graduation, simply to get some work-paying or not. While many internships are only open to current students, increasingly companies are taking on post-grads as well.
7. Salaries are often lower.
If you understand the laws of supply and demand, it's no surprise that a flooded job market means that candidates command less money than they used to. Because employers have no shortage of applicants willing to work for less, the market value of many jobs has decreased. It's not unusual for job seekers today to find that their new jobs pay less than the ones they left behind.

 

 

 

 

Source: AOL

What to expect from the job market in 2013

Employers are heading into the new year with cautious optimism. The economy has been growing at a gradual but steady pace and is poised to stay on this path in 2013 barring any major disruptions. More employers are expecting to hire than in recent years, but the modest recovery, along with the weakened global market, means that companies will continue to play it safe.
This guarded approach to hiring was apparent in the results of CareerBuilder’s 2013 U.S. job forecast*, which polled more than 2,600 hiring managers and human-resources professionals and more than 3,900 workers across industries and company sizes. According to the report, more than 60 percent of employers say they are in a better financial position than last year. Twenty-six percent plan to add full-time, permanent employees, up three percentage points over 2012. However, due to mixed expectations for the coming year, the number of employers planning to reduce headcount is trending up as well. Nine percent of employers say they plan to decrease headcount, up from 7 percent last year. The fiscal cliff is likely on employers’ minds; whether or not the U.S. goes over it may impact actual hiring behavior.
Temporary and contract hiring on the rise
When companies are cautious about making major hiring commitments, they often turn to staffing and recruiting companies and temporary workers to help meet increased market demands. The study found that 40 percent of employers plan to hire temporary and contract workers in 2013, up from 36 percent last year. Among these employers, 42 percent plan to transition some temporary workers into full-time, permanent employees over the next 12 months, perhaps as they see how various economic factors play out over the course of the year.
Where the jobs will be
It may not be surprising that the top two positions companies plan to hire for in 2013 are sales (29 percent) and information technology (27 percent), two fields that have continued to experience healthy growth. Other roles employers will hire for include customer service (23 percent), engineering (22 percent) and production (22 percent).
Location-wise, the West and the South will again lead other regions in hiring plans as they have in past forecasts. Twenty-eight percent of employers in the West plan to add full-time, permanent workers in 2013, up from 24 percent in 2012; 9 percent plan to reduce headcount, the same as last year. In the South, 27 percent of hiring managers anticipate adding full-time, permanent employees in 2013, up from 23 percent in 2012. Nine percent will likely reduce headcount, up from 7 percent last year. Both the Midwest and the Northeast will hire more than last year, but headcount reduction will tick up as well.
Small businesses show confidence
Small business hiring will rise, but likely so will headcount reduction, as companies remain unsure about financial stability and market demand. Hiring plans increased at least three percentage points over the year across small business segments, while plans to downsize trended up the same amount. Nineteen percent of businesses with 50 or fewer employees plan to add full-time, permanent staff in 2013, up from 16 percent in 2012, while 6 percent plan to reduce headcount, up from 3 percent last year. Of the companies with 500 or fewer workers, 24 percent plan to add full-time, permanent headcount, up from 21 percent in 2012; 7 percent plan to make cuts, up from 4 percent last year.
Companies fight to close the skills gap
The demand for skilled positions has continued to grow at a much faster pace than the supply. However, companies are finding solutions to narrow the skills gap, which they’ll continue to implement in 2013. Workers looking to fill highly skilled roles should pay close attention to the following three trends in the new year:
1. Employers scouting workers from other companies: Employers will be more aggressive about approaching workers with the right skills, whether or not it’s solicited. Nineteen percent of workers say they’ve been asked to work for another company in the last year without applying for the position. Sales workers have been courted the most, at 33 percent, followed by professional and business services workers at 31 percent and IT workers at 26 percent.
2. Employers will pay more for qualified candidates: In an effort to keep and attract the best workers for skilled positions, employers expect to provide higher compensation for both current and potential employees. Seventy-two percent of employers plan to increase compensation for existing workers — up from 62 percent last year — while 47 percent will offer higher starting salaries for new employees — up significantly from 32 percent last year. Most increases will be 3 percent or less.
3. Companies will take matters into their own hands: Oftentimes workers possess a base level of skills that, with the right training, can be built upon to meet an employer’s needs. So instead of waiting for applicants with the right résumé to come to them, employers are taking the initiative to “re-skill” workers to fill positions. Thirty-nine percent of employers plan to train people who don’t have experience in their particular industry or field and hire them for positions within their organizations, up from 38 percent last year.


source: careerbuilder

5 Silliest Ideas To Solve The Jobs Crisis This Year

 

If this past year were to be summed up in a Sweet Sixteen birthday bash, then the theme would be jobs, and there would be a lot of tears and yelling. While the unemployment rate has been slowing slipping for three years, this country still has a jobs crisis, and lots of people have lots of ideas about how to solve it.

Some of those ideas have come from the government, a handful have come from the private sector and nonprofits, and others from really, really rich people. Some have been obvious, a handful have been inspired, and others have been really, really silly. In this latter bracket, here are the top five:

5. Replace Workers With Schoolchildren

During the Republican debates back in January, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich proposed a gem of an idea for reducing the dropout rate and promoting the work ethic of poor youth: fire absurdly overpaid New York City janitors, and let 30 kids do each of their jobs.


Researchers and journalists pounced quickly, pointing out that New York janitors aren't paid an "absurd amount of money" ($37,710-a-year after two years on the job), that there's no research to suggest that working keeps poor kids in school, and that if one maintenance job was divided by 30, those kids would be earning a little over $24 a week.

There's also the matter of those grown-up people who worked those jobs, who'd join the ranks of the jobless, and their families, who'd join the ranks of people asking why children are taking adults' jobs.

4. Get Rid of Taxes for Corporations

David Cote, CEO of the diversified manufacturer Honeywell International Inc., called for corporations to pay no taxes back in May, claiming it would boost job creation. There is some logic to this: If corporations didn't have to pay the 35 percent maximum corporate tax rate, they could use that money to hire more workers.

Unfortunately, Cote isn't the best man to make this argument. His company paid just two percent in taxes between 2008 and 2011, according to Citizens for Tax Justice, and in fact between 2008 and 2010 it received more in government subsidies than it paid out. And in the past two years, a Wall Street Journal analysis found that Honeywell -- despite increasing sales -- cut its U.S. workforce by 1,000 and added 11,000 jobs abroad.

3. Scrap Employment Laws

Last year, the British government asked venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft to write his recommendations for spurring job growth. The resulting report, published in May, was called a "bonfire of regulations" by the British press for its assault on labor protections. Beecroft's proposals included making it much easier for employers to fire workers, saying in a redacted portion that a few people getting fired just because their boss didn't like them was a "price worth paying" for economic growth.

Other controversial suggestions included allowing companies to hire staff from other countries without first advertising the opening in local job centers (as British law currently requires), making it easier for employers to hire children for certain jobs, and re-introducing the mandatory retirement age of 65.

2. Make The Unemployed Work For Free

The U.K. Department for Work and Pensions completed a pilot program earlier this year that forced jobseekers who have been receiving unemployment benefits for three years to work without pay for six months -- or have their benefits stripped. The government planned to roll-out the project nationwide, but it hit a tiny legal snag involving the European Convention on Human Rights.

One 41-year-old jobseeker and former mechanical engineer, Jamie Wilson, refused to wash and clean furniture for six months for no money, calling it "slave labor," and lost his benefits, forcing him to rely on the kindness of friends and family to survive. The British High Court ultimately found that his benefits couldn't be lawfully taken away, since he wasn't properly informed about the penalty. In a December hearing, the government tried to overturn the ruling, while Wilson's lawyers countered that the entire program violates a European law "prohibit[ing] forced labor."

1. Lottery Tickets

Spain is suffering one of the worst jobs crises in the world, with unemployment standing at 25 percent at last count, and over 50 percent for young people. Sixty-year-old driving instructor Bartolomé Florido decided he wanted to soothe some of that pain, so he visited welfare offices in five southern cities, and handed out lottery tickets to the unemployed people waiting in line.

Encouraging jobseekers to gamble is not the most practical or sustainable strategy for job growth (the lottery is often referred to as a "tax on the poor"), but Florido did at least offer people an ounce of hope. In response to his simple gesture of caring, many hugged him and wept, he said.

Source: AOL

How to connect with an employer via LinkedIn

Used right, LinkedIn can be a job seeker's golden ticket.

Savvy job hunters can use the site to gain all kinds of advantages: information on the types of people a company hires, the name of the hiring manager for a particular job (and if they're really lucky, an email address) and even the ultimate "in," a personal connection at a company of interest.
 But, for every job seeker that expertly navigates the online networking scene, there are plenty of others who fumble their way through it, often over- or underestimating the role the site should play in their searches.
"LinkedIn is a valuable tool, but sometimes when people search for a job they can confuse activity with productivity," says Tony Beshara, president of Dallas-based placement firm Babich and Associates, and author of the book "Unbeatable Résumés," for which he surveyed more than 2,000 people about their LinkedIn use. "No matter what activity you're doing, whether it's writing your résumé or browsing profiles on LinkedIn, if that activity isn't actually getting you an interview, it's not as productive as something that would get you an interview."
If your online networking has been less than productive (read: if it hasn't actually lead to a connection to or interview with an employer of interest), then you might need to revamp your LinkedIn strategy. These guidelines will help ensure the time you spend on the site is most effective.

When reaching out to your contacts:
· Don't be shy
The whole point on LinkedIn is to connect with people, so if you're hesitant to reach out to a former co-worker you haven't spoken to in a while, don't be. She's on the site for the same reason you are -- to network with people -- so she probably expects the occasional introduction request.
"Interestingly enough, everybody that's on LinkedIn expects the same thing out of everybody else," Beshara says. "[The thought is] 'What I do for you today, you'll do for me tomorrow.' People are a lot more open to responding to you because they know that somebody else is going to do the same thing for them, or that you're going to do the same thing for them the next time."

· Don't be needy
When you do find someone in your network who has a connection or works for a company you'd like an introduction to, your approach will play a big part in the person's response.
"Make it known early in the process that you're not expecting your networking connections to do the hard work for you," says Diane Crompton, author of the books "Seven Days to Online Networking" and "Find a Job through Social Networking." "In other words, if you want them to introduce you to a contact at their employer, say something like 'I'm not expecting you to endorse me for this position or intervene on my behalf.' This will take the emotional burden off of them should they feel too much ownership in your job search process."
If your networking contact is new, or someone you don't know very well, it's especially important to make it know that you'll be the most active part of the equation, Crompton says. For example, "Ask if you can use your contact's name as a door opener to get the conversation going with your desired end recipient. By doing this you've taken them off the hot seat in terms of their involvement," she says.

· Take it off line
InMail, LinkedIn's messaging function, is great for making initial contact with someone. But once that's done, move the conversation to email or a phone call. Not everyone checks their LinkedIn profile consistently, so communicating this way is often ineffective and slow.
If you're browsing your connections and find out that someone you know pretty well works at a company or has a connection of interest, you can even skip the InMail message altogether.
For example, says Beshara, "Once you find somebody you know at an organization, call them up and say 'Hey Mary, this is Tony, I understand you work with Leroy, and I'd like to get a hold of him. Can you tell me a little bit about him, or what's going on at your organization?' That sort of thing."

When making introduction requests:
· Let your contact know it's coming
If you plan on asking a contact for an introduction and have his email address, send him a "heads up" to let him know it's coming. Doing so will help you gauge his reception to your request, Crompton says. "[Plus], not everybody is active on LinkedIn everyday and this will ensure that your message doesn't sit in their LinkedIn Inbox for a long period of time," she says.

· Make a good first impression
Something that not all job seekers realize before they send introduction requests: "When using the 'Request an Introduction' function on LinkedIn, you'll need to create messages to your 'bridge' (middle) contact as well as to the end recipient," Crompton points out. "Keep in mind that both people receive both messages, so if you're on a casual name basis with the introducer you'll still need to keep the communication more formal and professional, knowing that your end recipient will also get the message you sent along to the middle connection."

When researching companies
· Find the hiring manager
If you're interested in a particular job, try finding the hiring manager for the position on LinkedIn. Job descriptions will often include the title of the person the job will report to.
If the position reports to the director of marketing, for example, pull up the company page, and see if you can find the person with this title. If you do find the hiring manager, "it's absolutely OK to reach out to him or her directly," Beshara says. If the person's email address isn't listed, you can often find the company's email format online (for example, FirstName.LastName@companyX.com), and you can plug his or her name into this format.

· Look at who they hire
Browsing company profiles and looking at the company's LinkedIn page will not only give you a better idea of whether or not you're the type of person the company usually hires, but will also clue you in about potential alumni connections you may have missed.
"You can look at employee profiles and find out what kinds of people the company has hired in the past, what companies employees come from, if you went to school with any of them , etc.," Beshara says.
If you find a common bond between you and someone you'd like to reach out to, "Use the transparency of LinkedIn to assess the best approach for communicating with your end recipient," Crompton suggests. "Customizing your message by using these commonalities will build rapport and make your initial approach that much more 'warm.'"




Source: careerbuilder

Career risks: Tips for deciding which are worth taking

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

The motto sounds simple enough -- until you try to apply it. From fears of making the wrong move to worries about looking foolish, taking a career risk is not an easy thing to do.

While there is no magic way to predict an outcome, some honest evaluation beforehand can make the decision to take a risk a little, well, less risky. Things to consider:

How big is the risk?

Giving up a steady paycheck to return to school full time or approaching a manager about an unorthodox idea to restructure customer service may seem like daunting tasks. But how scary would it be to take one night class a semester to test the waters or vow to speak up at the next meeting with one idea?

"In order to learn to take risks, it's important to practice," says Aricia E. LaFrance -- a therapist, career coach and author of "Unlocking the Secrets of the Successful Career Seeker." "Start small so you can test what works and doesn't work for you. Sometimes people will take a huge risk the first time out, see it end in disaster and then never take another risk -- staying stuck in a life they don't want."

What is the best-case scenario (and the worst)?

When considering a risk, it is easy to get wrapped up in either the grand outcome ("I'll be promoted on the spot!") or the horrible fallout ("My stupid idea will be the running joke of the office for months!"). Chances are neither is quite correct.

"When evaluating risks, the best strategy is to outline the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario first," states Melinda Stephenson, a career coach and co-founder of The Leadership Room, a unique development program for rising executives. "Ask a trusted colleague or two about these scenarios and get some different perspectives. Once you've covered the extremes, you have freed up your thinking so that now you can envision the most likely scenario. Then, really take a moment to imagine yourself in that situation."

Are you afraid to change and/or unmotivated to act?

Sometimes the scariest part of a risk is that it actually involves action.

"Many people enjoy the status quo and don't want to make a change. You may be unhappy and unsatisfied, but it is a familiar position and is comfortable. It's very easy to choose comfort over passion," says Joel Garfinkle, founder of dreamjobcoaching.com.

Similarly, successful risk-takers are ones who are ready to put in the effort to get what they want. Whether updating a résumé, learning a new skill or researching a business venture, they see the goal as worth the effort.

What is beyond the initial impact?

"The thing about career risk is that it is almost never black and white -- one decision leads to another which leads to another," says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, co-author of "How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times" and partner at the career-coaching firm SixFigureStart in New York City. "The direction you take initially impacts choices you will be offered down the road. A good evaluation is an honest reflection on all of the consequences and an assessment of what works best for you for now and in the long term."

Take the common, but tough, question of whether or not to take a lower-paying job. Beyond a skinnier wallet, the loss of cash may affect your lifestyle, your mood and how much you actually like the job. If your job goes away before you are able to get a promotion that makes up the difference, your new salary anchor is lower than before. But the immediate pay cut may be worth it in the long run -- finding a more fulfilling career path.

What does your gut say?

Finally, remember that you have a great advisor to help with decisions -- your gut.

"We often know immediately whether something is a good or bad idea -- and we're usually right," LaFrance says. "The first step to taking the right risk is to tune into your instincts and learn to trust them."

Yet even when you "know" what to do, the timing might not be right for a particular decision. "Balance your instincts with reality and common sense," LaFrance notes. "While it might be the best decision to go into debt to start your own business, if you're on the verge of losing your house, it may be best to shelf the business until things are more stable. This is the difference between leaping before you look and a calculated risk."

Source: careerbuilder

Reinvent Your Career During Christmas Vacation: 7 Tips

Finally, the holidays are here and you've had a chance to relax and reboot. But as you begin to unwind on Christmas vacation, and enjoy yourself, you may find yourself asking: Have I been happy at work this year? What other job could I be doing that would be more fulfilling -- monetarily and spiritually?

If you're like many people, you've probably lost track of what would make you happy at work -- but are deep in touch with what makes you miserable. You can't change your career or your life by snapping your fingers, but you can begin to think about what that true passion might be. Once you understand what you really want to be doing, you can start connecting the dots and figuring out how to get from here to there.

During the holidays, you can start the process of changing your career with these 7 tips.

1. Observe yourself.
During the holidays, many people tend to spend their time where they feel the most comfortable -- whether that's with family or friends. Pay close attention to the environment in which you place yourself over the holidays. How do you relax? What environment are you in? How can you connect that environment to the workplace?

2. Walk down memory lane.
Look through photo albums and your old boxes of stuff. Maybe you once wrote a diary with great business ideas. Or perhaps you'll see photos of yourself in sports gear and start to think about how to involve sports in your career. Take note of what you find, as the goal with work is to spend your time doing something you enjoy. It can also be argued that when you are passionate about what you do, you'll do a much better job.

3. Ask yourself: Who do I like to spend time with?
What kind of personalities do they have? It's good to know the kind of people you connect best with because that also may help in finding a workplace that matches your temperament.

4. Walk around a bookstore.
Which books are you checking out? Which magazines spark your interest? This will tell you a lot about the kinds of subjects and industries you should be focusing on.

5. Write down what you like about your current job.
Write down all of the tasks that you do enjoy and think about the other career paths that incorporate those tasks and skills.

6. Ask your friends and family what they think.
Sometimes the people who know you best and longest may have some insight that escapes you. Ask them, "If you had to guess what I would be doing as an adult, what job do you think I'd have?"

7. Note how you spend your free time.
How do you spend time when you don't have to be anywhere? When you aren't trying to meet a boss' deadline, what do you catch yourself doing? That may give you some vital clues.

Source: AOL

New college grads: 6 tips for success

College seniors and recent graduates are in a delicate, crucial and demanding time of their lives. They face an overwhelming number of decisions to make, paths to choose from and obstacles to overcome.

Have you ever heard someone say, "I wish I knew then what I know now?" It's time to walk away from the wishing well and check out six pieces of advice that will enlighten you and improve your experience as a college senior or recent college grad.

1. Cut the expense fat
Take an honest look at your expenses, and you are likely to find several areas where you can shave off a few dollars and still live to talk about it. A few unnecessary extras here and there can add up to a lot of cash, leaving you unable to accept lower-paying job opportunities with greater long-term potential over a less desirable position that pays more now.
Marc Hyman, partner at Pacific West Investor Services based in Santa Barbara, Calif., provides a list of nonessential expenses that could be hurting your ability to jump start a successful career.
Expense: Large car payments
Tip: Buy a Kia, Hyundai or other less expensive vehicle.
Expense: High rent
Tip: Rent or share a room first before you go out and get a large, expensive apartment.
Expense: Large cable bills
Tip: Drop premium cable channels and digital music subscriptions. Perhaps drop cable altogether and get Netflix and Hulu instead.
Expense: Gym membership
Tip: Join a Y instead. It's usually much more affordable.
Expense: $100 cell-phone plans
Tip: Get a $35-$50 cell-phone plan. Carriers such as Boost Mobile, Cricket and Virgin Mobile offer many reasonable plans that include texting and data.
Expense: Daily expensive coffee (example: large vanilla latte with soy)
Tip: Get a regular coffee instead.
"I have interviewed and hired a large number of recent graduates, and I am always shocked by the large amount of expenses, beyond school loans, these grads are carrying," Hyman says. "Many new grads can shave at least $500 off their monthly living expenses. This increases [their] flexibility when a lower-paying job with better prospects is available."                                                                                                           

2. Monitor your online personality
"Many students don't realize what's online about them, and some of this content may be questionable in an employer's eyes," says Amanda Haddaway, author of "Destination Real World: Success after Graduation."
To keep your social-media presence from hurting your chances at gainful employment, Haddaway suggests following four simple tips:

• Determine what's out there about you. Search your name and see what comes up, and review your profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social-media websites. Remove any inappropriate or workplace-unfriendly content.
• Be honest. If unflattering content about you has been posted online and you've tried to remove it without success, be upfront with recruiters or interviewers. Let them know the information is not a true reflection of who you are and how you would perform as an employee.
• Be careful about what you post in the future. Remember that anything posted in a public domain may remain public indefinitely and could be available to a prospective employer.
• Use free tools to monitor your online presence. If you set up a search-engine alert on your name, you will receive an email each time your name shows up in a search. This way you can do something about inappropriate content before it's too late.

3. Go beyond the textbooks
"If you're still in school, now is the time to gain experience," says Heather Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job-seeker and employer-focused organizations. "Pick up an internship, volunteer in your field and take on more leadership roles."
While an education is an invaluable asset, in order to succeed in today's market, you have to go beyond the textbooks whenever possible. "A degree isn't going to be your golden ticket to gainful employment; worthwhile experience is," Huhman says.

4. Be honest; have integrity
Brooke Allen, founder of Noshortageofwork.com, shares an interesting story:
"I was addressing a class of college seniors when someone asked, 'What do you look for in an employee?' I said, 'Integrity and the ability to do the work.' The class laughed and the student said, 'Do you mean to say that, in this day and age, anyone cares about integrity?'
"While it is relatively painless to find competent people who can do the work required for a position, it is much harder to find good people with integrity that you can count on. If you want to stand out among the others, practice being the best possible person you can be; don't lie, say what you will do, then do what you say."

5. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence -- the ability to manage emotions -- is the most important factor that will determine a student's success after graduation, says Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders, an international nonprofit organization focused on developing young leaders.
"As students transition from backpack to briefcase, intelligence plays a smaller role than you may think," Elmore says. "Success in school is made up of 75 percent intelligence (IQ) and 25 percent emotional intelligence (EQ). Success in the real world is just the opposite -- 25 percent IQ and 75 percent EQ."
Learning to reduce stress quickly is a valuable EQ skill, Elmore says. "It allows you to stay balanced, focused, in control and in the moment, even in the most challenging situations."

6. Help out wherever possible
Successful people are those who work hard and go above and beyond whenever possible. No one ever got promoted or built a successful career by doing the bare minimum.
Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of "The 11 Laws of Likability" and founder of Executive Essentials, a corporate training and coaching company based in New York, suggests that recent graduates build relationships at every level of the organization and always offer to help.
"Don't narrow your focus just to colleagues at your level," Tillis says. "Pursue the relationships that feel authentic to you to expand your resources, knowledge base and support network, and offer your help. If you don't have anything to do, find something. Build your brand as someone who pitches in."
Always maintain a positive attitude as well, Tillis suggests. While you can teach technical skills, you can't teach attitude. "Approach every situation openly with a willingness to learn, and don't act as if anything is below you."



Source: careerbuilder

8 certifications that can boost your career

In some fields -- medicine and teaching, for example -- certifications and accreditations are the "entrance ticket" to the profession. In others, certifications may not be mandatory but can significantly improve chances of landing a job, moving up, getting a raise or taking on new responsibilities.

The vast majority of professional certificate programs are for people who are already working in a particular field and are not for people with limited work experience or who are just out of high school.

Here are eight in-demand professional certificate programs. Some are industry-specific, while others can help ignite careers in a variety of fields:

1. Professional project management. Project managers can be found in just about any company or industry that has projects, from information technology to construction to government. While PMP certification, administered by the Project Management Institute, is now an expectation for project managers, it has become a bragging right for anyone who might have managerial duties.
2. Foreign language. In many occupations, especially customer service, knowing more than one language can provide a significant career boost. Proving you're proficient in those languages is easier with a certificate of foreign languages. There are many tests and certificates offered through community colleges or distance learning programs.
3. Corporate training. Corporate training is an in-demand business-management specialty that can be lucrative. If you're in management or human resources and want to specialize, move up the company ladder or just want to extend your knowledge and skills, the Certified Professional Trainer degree offered by the American Training and Seminar Association can give you a boost.
4. Desktop support administration. IT support specialists have a variety of certifications that can expand their portfolio of skills. The Windows operating system, however, is ubiquitous, and even if you're working in a general support position, having a Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise Desktop Support Administrator certification can be a big plus. The certification provides the knowledge to install, maintain and manage the Windows 7 desktop operating system.
5. Personal fitness training. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this booming career field is experiencing faster than average job growth. In theory, anyone who understands fitness could be a fitness trainer, but having a certificate -- or two or three -- will prove to employers and clients that you know what you're doing. Certification programs are offered by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, National Academy of Sports Medicine and American Fitness Professionals & Associates, among others.
6. Professional sales. You're unlikely to find a college degree in sales, but a variety of certificate programs can give you the skills and experience to prepare for a career selling goods and services. Many of these programs are industry-specific; there are nearly as many professional sales certificates as there are professions, but the National Association of Sales Professionals is a place for sales generalists to get started.
7. Web design and development. Nearly every business has an online presence. Professionals who design, develop and maintain company websites have many opportunities. For people who don't want to specialize as Web designers or developers, but may occasionally pitch in to help with Web-related tasks, there are many certificate programs. Some even qualify for government financial aid.
8. Certified clinical medical assistant. If you have general skills and experience but don't have the time or money to get a bachelor's or associate degree in a health-care field, there are certificate programs that can provide a boost to your career. A certified clinical medical assistant understands clinical and laboratory procedures, as well as many administrative roles. For those with an administrative background, CCMA programs can be door openers for working in doctor's offices, clinics and hospitals.




Source: careerbuilder