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Overcoming "Grad-Versity" |
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Are you a New Grad looking for work? It might be worth reading 3 False Beliefs College Grads Have over at New Grad Life.
I won’t spoil all of the details, but it’s a great reality check for anyone who is looking for their first “real” job. Check it out!
Every week I scan Twitter for job hunting Tweets. Each time I do, I find people jeopardizing both their current job and their job hunt with their social posts.
Let this be a lesson to you. If I can find your musings online, a recruiter can too. I hope you can learn what not to do from some of these examples.
As always, in order to provide (at least a little) anonymity, I have declined from posting the users name or linking to their Twitter account. No sense compounding the problems for these job hunters!
Beware! There is some off-color language in some of these tweets. Consider yourself warned!
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“A” for effort!
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But how are you going to pay for the apartment?
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Ed McMahon would be proud…
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Only if you are a surfer.
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Golden shoelaces are a great compliment to any outfit.
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*Facepalm* indeed…
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Yes.
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So much to say, so little space….
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Its amazing how interviews can get in the way of your “Dream Job” hunt.
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Well said…
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Don’t let this happen to you! Beware of what you post on Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking site. It may come back to haunt you!
I was surfing around Vimeo recently and came across an exceptionally cool video cover letter. Shea Richardson, an animator, was looking for work after graduation and put together this slick looking cover letter/demo reel to show off his skills.
In my opinion, this really shows how you can use different media to stand out from the crowd.
Animated Cover Letter! from Shea Richardson on Vimeo.
I have a huge soft spot for animation. I love it. The best part was the “help from experienced animators” bit. It really shows a willingness to learn and develop, a trait that is invaluable to employers.
What do you think?
Some great interview advice from Vault.
Enjoy!
It is a tough job market out there today and many companies are making big changes to internship programs. If they are not cutting back on their programs, they are only offering unpaid opportunities. Helping out at the Career Center here at Loyola, I have run into a ton of students who are not applying for internships simply because they are unpaid. I’ve heard answers such as:
I don’t want to waste my time
If it’s unpaid, it isn’t worth it
I’ll just go back to my old job until I can find a paid internship
While they are all valid statements, there are some crucial benefits that internships (even the unpaid ones) can offer. I recently facilitated an Alumni panel discussion at the Career Center entitled “Making the Most of Your Internship.” The Alums had several good reasons to take an unpaid internship.
Let’s take a look at a few:
Internships are building blocks or stepping stones, helping you move along. Whether they are paid or unpaid, the benefits are invaluable. Remember, there are a lot of people out there who would take the position if offered, so take advantage of the opportunity and make the most of it! It will go along way down the road!
This makes me sad. Termination should only ever be done face-to-face out of respect for the person being fired.
Best line came from the author:
Might she have left a voice mail?
Humanity is too much for me to take sometimes…
After reading the article How to Work a Room by Donna Messer, I was reminded of how effective having a job search business card can be. One of Messer’s tips was to have a method for giving and receiving business cards while at a networking event. Her solution is perfectly simple:
[Having a] jacket with two pockets is crucial, the right one for [your] business cards the left for those [you] collect.
But that’s great for the seasoned professional, but what about new grads who may not have business cards to exchange? Here’s how you can get around that problem:
If you are not familiar with the mini-resume, it is essentially a list of key achievements and skills in bullet form. Here is an example:
Remember to always proofread your card content several times before you go ahead with printing. Save the final version to hard drive and copy it to a flash drive for safe keeping.
So try it out. It may help you get noticed.
Every week I scan Twitter for job hunting Tweets. Each time I do, I find people jeopardizing both their current job and their job hunt with their social posts.
Let this be a lesson to you. If I can find your musings online, a recruiter can too. I hope you can learn what not to do from some of these examples.
As always, in order to provide (at least a little) anonymity, I have declined from posting the users name or linking to their Twitter account. No sense compounding the problems for these job hunters!
Beware! There is some off-color language in some of these tweets. Consider yourself warned!
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Go ahead…try it!
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Nothing says crazy like 20 cats…
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Both.
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I hate it when one person hogs all the interviews…
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Impressed that you want to be the night manager?
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It’s the natural order of things.
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What happens if you get the job but forget about it?
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Anger issues?
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Such is life. Suck it up.
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Yoga pants are better than no pants.
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Don’t let this happen to you! Beware of what you post on Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking site. It may come back to haunt you!
Congratulations to Libby from Chicago, IL. Libby won a copy of The Intelligent Networking Guide by TAG in the latest Gradversity contest!
Want to know more about TAG? Here’s a short video to bring you up to speed.
Congratulations again Libby!
Met a potential job lead at a networking event? Met with an employer but haven’t heard back from him or her?
Should I sit and wait to hear back? Or should I be proactive?
The answer is simple…follow up! It is a delicate art that seems to be forgotten by job seekers in today’s market, but following up (in particular sending a thank you card) can go along way!
Let’s say you go to a business event and had the opportunity to chat with a few employers. Hopefully, you exchange business cards (these are a must have!), but now what do you do?
Well, there are two options:
Sending an email is quick and easy, but you run the risk of being lost in the enormous pool of emails in the recipient’s inbox. A better route, especially if you want to stand out, is to send a hand written thank you note. Pick up a pack of small thank you cards and have them on hand at all times. After the event or meeting, write a small thank you (a few sentences) to the contact, reiterating again that is was a pleasure to meet him or her and you appreciated them taking time to talk with you.
A small hand written thank you can go a long way and will really help you to stand out. Also, be sure to include your business card in the thank you note. You may have exchanged business cards already, but it never hurts to send it again. A hand written note shows that you care and truly appreciated them taking time out of their schedule to meet with you.
The key take away: be proactive, be different, and follow up with a hand written thank you! It goes along way and only takes a few minutes!
I wanted to wish a warm welcome to Dan Nieves who has joined Gradversity as a regular contributor. Dan comes to us from Loyola University Maryland where he is currently working towards a degree in Business Administration.
Over the coming months, Dan is going to be sharing his unique perspective on the job hunt and I am certain you will find his insights helpful.
Dan’s first post (on following up) will be published tomorrow. You can check out his full bio here.
Welcome Dan!
Remember, today is your last chance to enter to win a copy of The Intelligent Networking Guide by The Ascendance Group. The contest closes tonight at midnight!
About The Ascendance Group
Want to enter the contest? All you have to do is join our mailing list! Use the form below and you will be automatically entered.
Already a subscriber? Not to worry. If you have already joined the Gradversity Mailing List, you are automatically entered to win!
So hurry, the contest closes on Tuesday March 16th at midnight. One name will be randomly selected from all of the entries on March 17th! The winner will be notified via email and will then have 48 hours to claim their prize. In the event that the winner doesn’t come forward within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
Good Luck!!!
Every week I scan Twitter for job hunting Tweets. Each time I do, I find people jeopardizing both their current job and their job hunt with their social posts.
Let this be a lesson to you. If I can find your musings online, a recruiter can too. I hope you can learn what not to do from some of these examples.
As always, in order to provide (at least a little) anonymity, I have declined from posting the users name or linking to their Twitter account. No sense compounding the problems for these job hunters!
Beware! There is some off-color language in some of these tweets. Consider yourself warned!
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Well, you’d certainly make an impression…
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Employers love well groomed candidates!
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A great lesson on the proper use of hashtags in a job hunt.
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So tell me, why do you want this job?
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Brutal combination…
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I did that once… I feel your pain.
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Wait. Shouldn’t you get another job before you quit?
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When in doubt, be ambiguous.
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I really hope you’re kidding…
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Don’t let this happen to you! Beware of what you post on Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking site. It may come back to haunt you!
Job preparation isn’t just about cover letters, resumes, and interviews. The modern job hunter has to contend with Google as well. I was reading How To Manage (and Protect) Your Online Reputation on Forbes the other day and it has some great information about how to ensure your online persona doesn’t interfere with your job hunt.
What really struck me was the story about Megan Maloney and how she made sure to clean up her online presence before applying:
When Megan Maloney lost her job at a Detroit auto supplier last April, she made sure her online reputation was as strong as the image she would present in person to prospective employers. She Googled herself to check for unflattering links. Then she changed her Facebook privacy setting so no one could see beyond her profile picture. She updated her profile on LinkedIn.
And good thing she did:
Maloney’s instinct was right: When she landed a job in September, her new bosses admitted they had researched her online. They told me that they had checked Facebook,” says Maloney, 32, now a business development manager in Milwaukee. “I had posted a photo of me wearing a T-shirt that said ‘Unemployed,’ and they thought that I showed the right kind of personality for a sales job. They liked that I was on LinkedIn, because it’s helpful for leads and networking.”
These days, it’s all too easy for employers to find information about you online. You have to do everything in your power to protect yourself online to guarantee the best possible outcome your job search.
Want to get a job in a certain field? Make yourself an expert. Try starting a blog related in some way to the industry or job you want. Over time, this will add credibility to your resume and provide a platform for future job growth. It takes a lot of work and dedication, but can pay off handsomely in the long run.
…can be found here. It’s an article called Katheryn Rivas “100 Inspiring & Informative Blog Posts for Young Job Seekers”. Worth a look.
There are a ton of great links. If you have some time, I recommend checking some of them out.
It’s time for another Gradversity contest!
This time around, Jonathan Hilley of The Ascendance Group has been kind enough to provide a copy of his eBook The Intelligent Networking Guide for us to give away.
This is one of the best resources I have read and it lays out everything you need to know about building and maintaining your professional network.
About The Ascendance Group
Want to enter the contest? All you have to do is join our mailing list! Use the form below and you will be automatically entered.
Already a subscriber? Not to worry. If you have already joined the Gradversity Mailing List, you are automatically entered to win!
So hurry, the contest closes on Tuesday March 16th at midnight. One name will be randomly selected from all of the entries on March 17th! The winner will be notified via email and will then have 48 hours to claim their prize. In the event that the winner doesn’t come forward within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
Good Luck!!!
Every week I scan Twitter for job hunting Tweets. Each time I do, I find people jeopardizing both their current job and their job hunt with their social posts.
Let this be a lesson to you. If I can find your musings online, a recruiter can too. I hope you can learn what not to do from some of these examples.
As always, in order to provide (at least a little) anonymity, I have declined from posting the users name or linking to their Twitter account. No sense compounding the problems for these job hunters!
Beware! There is some off-color language in some of these tweets. Consider yourself warned!
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And your unemployment apparently.
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Good luck with that.
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Nothing says “Hire Me” like procrastination…
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…or a hangover.
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Have you tried Mensa?
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I guess you can take “Attention to Detail” off your resume.
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Just what every employer wants to see…reduced profit margins!
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Irony: Great for a laugh, bad for your job hunt.
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Not cool…
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What kind of beer?
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Don’t let this happen to you! Beware of what you post on Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking site. It may come back to haunt you!
I was recently reading a fantastic article from Louise Fletcher called You’re Not Applying for a Job. You’re Running a Campaign. The article points out that you have to treat your job search like you are campaigning for political office.
The thing I like most about this piece is that it helps to shift your frame of mind away from the standard job application. You can move away from the perception of “applying” and on to “convincing”. Instead of sending out quiet applications, broadcast yourself, along with your skills and abilities for employers to hear. This will help you break through the “noise” found during the standard job hunt and get through to employers more easily.
There are a million different things that I like about this, but it’s probably just best that you read it yourself and draw your own conclusions about how to put it into action.
I just wanted to take a minute to draw your attention to an article written by Alison Doyle over at About.com. She has a post up called LinkedIn for College Students and Grads which provides detailed information and resources you will need to get set up on LinkedIn.
I would seriously recommend checking it out if you have some time. LinkedIn is an extremely important part of the modern job hunt. It provides an excellent avenue to connect with people who may have previously been out of reach.
Check out the full article here. You won’t regret it.
Aside from the basic rules of engagement LinkedIn has established, here are a few other courtesies to remember while making the most of your LinkedIn experience. Follow these points and you’ll be sure to get the most out of LinkedIn—and you’ll avoid aggravating other users in the process. Here are four mistakes to avoid while using LinkedIn:
BLINDLY REQUESTING CONNECTIONS WITH NO MUTUAL BENEFIT
On Facebook you can request new friendships with anybody at all. It’s a social network of friends, and if you want to be friends you simply make a request. With LinkedIn you’re making a ‘connection’ that will hopefully create a mutually beneficial networking opportunity later on down the line. Be strategic when deciding with whom you will connect, and explain to the person why you want to connect; what’s in it for them—and what’s it in for you? Don’t request to connect with just anyone at all; understandably, people will want to know why you are requesting the opportunity to connect. So provide a brief sentence or two explaining what you think a mutual connection can bring to both parties.
NOT BEING TRUTHFUL ABOUT WHY YOU WANT TO CONNECT
If it’s being brought up, it’s because people have done it. Others have complained about it. It’s hard sometimes to establish a connection with someone when LinkedIn only allows you certain ways to request connections. That being said, you should still be truthful in why you want to connect. If the purpose of networking is to create mutual connections that may help either party in the future, do you really want to start that connection with mistrust or deceit? The most frequent use of this is presenting yourself as a ‘friend’ of someone or ‘colleague at XYZ organization’ when you really are not. It’s not going to get you the connection, and in the end you’re going to be perceived as being dishonest—and who wants to connect or potentially help someone who isn’t honest?
PROFILE CONTENT IS NOT A REPRODUCTION OF YOUR RESUME
This mistake is so well ingrained in users that you’re now probably experiencing some disbelief. Don’t just copy and paste your resume into your LinkedIn profile. Here’s why: When you network with someone in person do you give them a word-for-word rundown from your resume of what you’ve done? No, you personalize the conversation and speak in the first person. It is a more casual conversation—not as formal as your resume. Your profile should be keyword-rich so that recruiters can find you if they’re performing a search, but it should also be authentic and sincere, as though you’re talking to the person about what you’ve accomplished.
KEYWORDS ARE NOT JUST FOR RESUMES
Recruiters and hiring managers are performing searches on LinkedIn for qualified candidates, and you want to be found. Why else would you be there? Seriously, make sure your LinkedIn profile is peppered with industry-specific keywords relevant to the target position you want. It should be called LISO (LinkedIn Search Optimization)—like SEO—but for LinkedIn. Keywords = Being Discovered = Interview = New Job. Get keywords now.
To recap: Be sure you are honest, strategic, and explanatory in your LinkedIn connection requests; your profile isn’t just a copy of your resume; and that your profile is keyword-rich so people can find you! These four key tips will make the most of your LinkedIn experience and keep you ahead of the game.
Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
Every week I scan Twitter for job hunting Tweets. Each time I do, I find people jeopardizing both their current job and their job hunt with their social posts.
Let this be a lesson to you. If I can find your musings online, a recruiter can too. I hope you can learn what not to do from some of these examples.
As always, in order to provide (at least a little) anonymity, I have declined from posting the users name or linking to their Twitter account. No sense compounding the problems for these job hunters!
Beware! There is some off-color language in some of these tweets. Consider yourself warned!
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I’d send your application just in case…
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Wait, I thought you were supposed to party AFTER the you got the job?
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Companies love candidates who are organized…
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No.
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So does unemployment.
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Sounds like she really wants the job…
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Hmmm…I’m sensing a trend….
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Yet, you had time to Tweet…
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One doesn’t.
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That just sucks…
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REALLY?????
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Don’t let this happen to you! Beware of what you post on Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking site. It may come back to haunt you!
Happy March Everyone!
It’s time for the monthly roundup where I provide a look back at some of the best posts that February 2010 had to offer:
Ashlee Chisholm Wins The #ENTRYLEVELtweet Contest!
Win A Copy Of “#ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle!”
The David Kiely Saga: How Lack Of Awareness Can Destroy Your Reputation
A Few Pointers To Improve Cover Letter Success
How To Seal The Deal In An Interview
How A Major Facebook Ruling Will Impact Your Job Search
How Matthew Clark Handled Multiple Layoffs Professionally
Entry Level Job Hunting Blunders
Gradversity Quick Tip #35: Keep Your Resume Updated
Gradversity Quick Tip #34: PDF Your Resume
Gradversity Quick Tip #33: Listen
Sun CEO Announces Resignation Via Twitter
Worst Job Hunting Tweets (Feb 15-22, 2010)
Enjoy!