-
How to Stand Out as a Winter Graduate
Tweet Share on Facebook January 20, 2012 CommentAttention winter graduates: It might still be cold outside, but it's time to heat up your job search. Take charge and make your degree work for you by following these six tips to help you stand out:
[See our list of the 50 Best Careers.]
1. Start with a plan. The real world might seem intimidating, and that's normal—but don't just throw yourself out into the job market. Come up with a plan (or two or three) for your job search. Your plan should include the direction you want to go, possible ways to head in that direction, and a tentative timeline to keep you on track.
-
3 Common Start-up Mistakes to Avoid
Tweet Share on Facebook January 19, 2012 Comment (3)The opposing forces of the economy tanking and technological innovations rising have created a prime environment for first-time entrepreneurs. That said, "entrepreneur" has become a buzz word, associated with start-up founders that we've watched become millionaires, and even billionaires, overnight. As the media catapults successful entrepreneurs to celebrity status, the separation between "us" aspiring entrepreneurs from "them"—the Mark Zuckerbergs of the world—grows. This growing separation can cloud the entrepreneurial pathway with unnecessary mystery.
[See The 50 Best Careers.]
-
Polishing Your Elevator Speech
Tweet Share on Facebook January 19, 2012 Comment (2)What if you were stuck in an elevator with someone and they asked you what you do for a living? In today's world of job seekers, it's necessary to have a 30-second speech that succinctly describes what you do and what you're looking to do in the future. Here's your chance to improve on what you'd say during your "elevator speech."
Should You Polish?
Perfecting your elevator speech will allow you to explain concisely what you are looking for in a career opportunity. Even if you've previously worked on this, it never hurts to polish it a little more. You'll want to explain who you are and what you're looking for in a very concise way. Perhaps you're tired of rattling off the same speech you've been using for years, or your goals may have changed, which would necessitate an updated speech.
[See The 50 Best Careers.]
-
How to Answer an Awkward Interview Question
Tweet Share on Facebook January 18, 2012 Comment (16)If you're like a lot of job seekers, having to explain to an interviewer why you left your last job—or why you are seeking to leave your current job—might make you nervous. How candid should you be? Will your answer reflect poorly on you? Will you sound negative?
Ideally, you'd respond with the truth: You were looking for more responsibility, or wanted a job closer to home, or you were laid off, or whatever the real reason happens to be.
[See our list of the 50 Best Careers.]
-
Ways to Stay Organized on the Job Hunt
Tweet Share on Facebook January 17, 2012 Comment (3)Keeping organized during your job search is essential. You should keep track of every job for which you've applied or interviewed. Proper organization will help to manage the appropriate steps for a follow-up and will come in handy in the future. You should also track possible opportunities and companies that interest you, even if there isn't a posted job requisition. This will help you stay on top of your job hunt and avoid applying for the same job more than once.
Organization can also help if you work with a third-party recruiter. When she presents you with an opportunity that sounds familiar, you can quickly give her the details of when you applied and the position for which you applied. Depending on those details, she can decide if she's able to represent you to the company and if so, you can work together to improve your application this time around.
[See The 50 Best Careers.]
-
How to Spot Bad Company Culture
Tweet Share on Facebook January 17, 2012 Comment (13)There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to take a new job: salary, benefits, title, length of the commute. Those things are all important, but there is something else to think about before you accept an offer: Will you be happy at the company?
Bad company culture—often characterized by fear, intimidation, animosity, and laziness—is one of the biggest killers of job happiness. And being unhappy in your job can stunt your career in the long term, making you depressed and causing you to disengage.
[See our list of the 50 Best Careers.]
-
How to Land a Job in San Francisco in 2012
Tweet Share on Facebook January 13, 2012 Comment (2)Affectionately called the "Golden Gate City” or the “City by the Bay,” San Francisco provides more than a bay view for job seekers. It also has a strong job market compared with other U.S. cities, and is a particularly good area for those looking to work in technology.
Here are some tips to snag a job in San Francisco:
-
From Side Gig to Full-Time Entrepreneur in 10 Steps
Tweet Share on Facebook January 12, 2012 CommentYour career should be your main meal, but who is to say that having a little dessert—like some extra cash every month—is indulgent? It's important to live the good life, even if that means putting in a few strategic hours after wrapping up your day at the office.
For many people, it's not feasible to quit their job and just follow their passion. In fact, it makes sense to keep their job and start dabbling in the creation of a side business that can increase their income and save enough money so they can eventually take it on full time.
-
The Ins and Outs of Providing References
Tweet Share on Facebook January 12, 2012 Comment (1)You've likely been asked for references in an interview or during the application process. Rather than scrambling to pull a few together, you should have these all prepared well in advance and keep the reference information in one place.
Step 1: Create a Separate Document
You shouldn't include references in your resume. You don't want to risk a recruiter or hiring manager reaching out to your references prematurely or without permission. Instead, guard your references' time and contact information as if it were your own. Fielding too many calls could make them think twice about offering their experiences working with you. To avoid this, keep your references noted on a separate document and send them along only when asked.
[See our list of the 50 Best Careers.]
-
7 Ways to Control Your Career in 2012
Tweet Share on Facebook January 11, 2012 Comment (1)If you're looking for a job, then the new year requires a fresh focus. You want to keep ahead of the game to make sure you manage your own career. Cal Brown, author of When Life Strikes: Weathering Financial Storms, offers the following suggestions to help you maintain control and succeed with your career goals in 2012.
[See our list of the 50 Best Careers.]
