As you can probably tell from reading my blog, I love lists. Top 10 These. Absolute 5 Thats. Well, I recently came across a fantastic list of 10 Everyday Super Foods, described by WebMD as “multitaskers,” such as nuts, blueberries and salmon, that are packed with multiple nutrients to help you stay healthy, promote wellness and weight control and taste good, too.

This got me thinking: What are the “Everyday Super Foods” for career success? What people, practices, tools and habits give you the biggest bang for your buck? Here is my list, and I hope you’ll share more “Career Super Foods” in the Comments.

1. Daily Goals. We often talk about annual goals or life goals, but successful people set — and achieve — small goals all the time (we sometimes call them priorities or to-do lists). Especially when you have a big goal — such as getting a new job, writing a book or launching a business — set small, daily goals that will keep you moving forward. Big goals are important, but small goals get the job done.

2. News. One of the most popular tips in my book, Getting from College to Career, is to read a newspaper every single day. Whether you read the headlines on your laptop, your phone, in an e-newsletter or a printed copy of the paper, it’s crucial that you keep up with world news, national news and the news of the particular industry you want to join. We live in the Information Age, so the most informed people are the ones who are most likely to succeed.

Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

TAGS: career advice, Job hunting, Job Search, Networking

A few days ago I received an email from a colleague who serves with me on a nonprofit board.

“Does anyone know where I can get Mets/Yankees tickets?”

I knew (Stubhub.com!), so I responded right away.

Later that day I was desperately trying to remember the name of a website I’d recently heard about where you can find out which social media sites have your username available. After racking my brain, I decided to tweet the question. Within three minutes, I had the answer (www.namechk.com).

On another occasion recently, I was trying to make a decision about hiring a branding expert. After researching all over the web and feeling more confused and frustrated than ever, I decided to reach out to three business owners I trusted and ask for their opinions and referrals. Their advice was invaluable and I was finally able to make my decision.

All of these situations reminded me of the most important career growth tip you can learn:

Ask for help when you need it.

Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

TAGS: asking for help, career advice, Networking

I recently attended the annual conference of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the largest organization for university career services professionals and entry-level recruiters. As someone who frequently talks about the powers of social media for connecting, this conference was a reminder that LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are only half the networking story.

At the NACE conference, I had the pleasure of meeting people in person whom I had previously only communicated with online or by phone. While I had good relationships with many of the people I knew virtually, something changes when you connect in person, waiting in an interminable Starbucks line together or sitting side-by-side on a bus to an offsite conference event. More trust is shared, relationships become a little deeper and stronger bonds are forged.

The secret to successful networking in the 21st Century is what my friend Diane Danielson, with whom I co-wrote The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking, calls a “clicks and mix” approach: equal parts online and in-person networking.

Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

TAGS: career advice, Networking, Social Media

I’ve had a couple experiences recently that reminded me just how wrong networking can go.  The situations below are related to business development but the same principles apply to networking for jobs or career advice or  for any other purpose.

Situation #1: A woman to whom I was introduced at an event a few weeks ago by a mutual acquaintance followed up with an email suggesting a follow-up meeting. Her client base overlaps with mine so it seemed as though we might be able to help one another. So far, so good. We agreed to a date, place and time and she promised to confirm the day before. She didn’t, so I did. I arrived at the meeting place on time. She emailed three minutes before we were scheduled to meet that she was delayed ─ she finally arrived twenty minutes later. It was clear from the questions she asked that she had done no homework to understand what it is that I do. The last straw was when she asked me if I had ever met the woman who had introduced us at the event! The chances that I would even consider referring my clients to her evaporated – what would make me think she would treat them any differently than she treated me?

Situation #2: Another woman I met briefly at a different event (let’s call her Laura) is a money manager. She told me she often hires speakers for events she holds for her clients. Laura followed up by asking a colleague of hers (let’s call her Gail) to schedule a lunch meeting for the three of us to discuss a possible speaking engagement. Gail and I agreed to a date but then she called to reschedule it because Laura wasn’t available ─ twice! The long postponed meeting day finally arrived; Gail called that morning to explain that while Laura would not be able to join us, another person in the group was available and that I would enjoy meeting her. While the food and ambiance at lunch was lovely, the conversation was strained. Why? It became clear early on that the purpose of the lunch was for them to solicit my business. I abhor a “bait and switch” maneuver. On top of that, the newcomer had no social skills whatsoever!

As the cliché goes, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” Some suggestions to make your networking successful:

• Plan carefully
  Set the meeting for a day and time you will be able to show up unless a true emergency unfolds. Don’t try to fit a meeting into a week that’s already filled with important deadlines. And get there on time ─ not doing so sends a message about how you prioritize the relationship.

• Be prepared
  Learn as much as you can about the person with whom you are meeting. Figure out how you might be able to help him or her. Also think about ways he/she may be able to help you.

• Be honest
  All the way along. About everything.

As for me, I have decided to just say “no” to follow up meetings!

TAGS: follow-up, LinkedIn, Networking

Last week I gave a talk about strategic networking and why it is important for women to engage in it. I made the point that a strategic network should include of people in a number of different categories including friends and family. There were a number of questions about whether (or even if) it’s okay to mix business with social. For example, one women felt very strongly that on the little league field, her role was that of a mom and that it would be untoward to try to blend that with the role of businesswoman. She said that she would be very uncomfortable “crossing the line” between business and personal even though she knows that other parents on her son’s team are in a position to refer business to her. She followed up by saying she doubted they even knew what she did for a living ─ and that she was fine with that. Interesting though, she knows what they do. I wonder if they are men?

How many opportunities are lost this way? Some ideas:

• You got to take a swing to make contact.
  While you may strike out, unless you try, you’ll never know. Think about it ─ if you aren’t letting people know about what you do and asking about what they do, you are short-changing yourself and them. The trick is to do it in a way that is comfortable for you.

• Take it out of the park.
  Understandably, people watching their kids play sports or a friend of a friend you meet at a spa weekend who is trying to relax may not appreciate being approached at that particular moment. So wait for the right time. For example, you can invite another parent to coffee ─ “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you through the kids; I think we have common business interests as well and would love to grab a cup of coffee to explore that.  How about next week?”

• Be clear about your sweet spot.
  Many people make the mistake of describing what they do so or what they need so vaguely that nobody could help them even if they wanted to. For example, instead of,  “I’m in graphics design.” try,  “I’m a graphic designer; I work with clients to design a brand image that they can use in print and on the web. My ideal client is a small business who needs a great brand look but doesn’t have an unlimited budget or a lot of time.”

Have you mixed business with social? If so, what has been your experience? If not, why not?

TAGS: developing business, LinkedIn, social relationships, strategic networking

I’m often disappointed when I answer an email question sent from an eager student or aspiring author, and I never receive a thank-you message. Not even a quick “thanks.” It makes me feel like I’ve been used. On the other hand, when I help someone and she sends a thoughtful, genuine thank-you note or email, I feel really good about helping that person and would eagerly help again in the future.

Expressing gratitude when appropriate is one of the most important elements of professional etiquette. You should never let a good, helpful deed go un-thanked. This is particularly important for young professionals, who are usually on the receiving end of advice.

There are times when thank you notes are absolutely essential, and there are many, many, many other times when sending a thank you note is an excellent form of networking and will guarantee that you stand out from your peers.

Thank you notes are absolutely essential in these situations:

- Immediately following a job interview or informational interview
- When someone refers you to another person for networking or a job lead
- When someone provides a professional reference for you

Sending a thank you within 24 hours is the best practice in these situations. I’d actually recommend expressing your gratitude the same day — that really shows you’re appreciative. Email is acceptable in most cases, but a real, live, snail mail letter has the strongest impact (except in formal job interviews, when time is of the essence and email is your best option. Feel free to follow up that email with a handwritten note if you’re really excited about the position).

Thank you notes are smart networking when sent to:

- A mentor or other person who offers particularly good advice
- The host of an event you found particularly valuable (note that this category moves up to “essential thank you” status if someone lets you into an event for free or gives you a discount)
- The author of a book or article you enjoyed
- Anyone else who assists you in any way in your career or job search, in any way, for the rest of your life

To extend your self-branding efforts to your thank you notes, think about what kind of notes to use. This small choice can be an extra way to make a memorable impression and keep you top-of-mind with the people in your growing network.

For instance, you may choose to send thank you notes to any alumni of your school using stationery with the school’s logo or mascot. If you’re a woman sending a thank you to a woman mentor, you may choose notecards with famous paintings of women. If you are networking with people in the finance industry, you may choose stationery with pictures of historic banks. When I thank colleagues in the publishing industry, I like to send thank you notes that have a picture of a typewriter on the front. All of these choices show that you have an attention to detail and you are willing to go the extra mile to make a positive impression.

The thing about thank yous of any kind is that they make recipients feel good—and make them want to help you again in the future.

This post originally appeared on the Lindsey Pollak Career Blog.

TAGS: career advice, E-mail etiquette, Generation Y

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, we heard from many women who responded to The Thin Pink Line Survey that their biggest challenge is trying to balance work and family, particularly children. Regardless of the complexity of the issues and the deeply personal choices we have to make when children are involved, it is clear that the employers aren’t all that concerned about helping us to make it work.

While we can certainly debate the extent of systemic change that should take place in the workplace to support parents of both sexes, in the meantime, things are what they are. A 2007  study reported that women identified as mothers were 50% less likely to be hired than women who were not “outed” as moms. And moms are offered, on average, starting salaries $11,000 less than childless women. Mothers are seen as less competent, less committed and less promotable.

What’s more, there’s a thinpinkline component ─ fathers suffered no such “daddy penalty”. In fact, they were seen as more committed to work and offered higher salaries than those offered to childless men.

Pretty shocking, isn’t it – especially since even recruiters have moms? Yet, there’s another side to the story. Consider the following survey comment we received:

“I am about to be passed over for a trial at my law firm. The reason I was given was ‘I’m not sure that a trial is a good idea for someone in your condition.’ I am 7 months pregnant, have not missed any work except for occasional doctor’s appointment. I have not missed or delayed a single assignment and people have even remarked that I haven’t missed a beat energy wise. I am a model pregnant employee! I have no medical reason not to participate in this trial and I am furious that they may take another associate on a case that I worked up from the beginning.”

What’s she thinking?

• I deserve this opportunity. I worked on the case from the beginning.

• I need trial work to get the experience I need to move up.

• This opportunity will give me an opportunity to demonstrate my expertise.

• I’m being penalized because I’m pregnant.

• If they treat me this way before I even have the baby, what will it be like after he’s born?

But here’s the other side:

• She’s 7 months pregnant.

• She’s taken time off to visit the doctor before and now the visits will probably increase in frequency. We don’t have time for that with a trial coming up.

• She’s been very energetic but that was before. What if she isn’t able to keep up with the hours needed?

• What is she goes into premature labor? How will we get someone else up to speed?

• We have to do the right thing for the client.

What might she have done differently to put herself in a better position to get the assignment?

1. Acknowledged that getting this trial assigned was not going to be a slam dunk – that she’d have to proactively negotiate to get it.
2. Thought about the concerns the partner making the decision might have and come up with solutions. For example, she might have arranged for a qualified colleague who wants more experience in her practice area shadow her so that there will be coverage in the unlikely event of a premature birth. (Undoubtedly, that would necessitate another negotiation about how they will share the billing credit but that’s for another day.) She might have asked her doctor to write a note describing how healthy she is.
3. Created an opportunity to broach the topic with the partner, making it clear that she wants the trial assignment, has considered the concerns she and the client may have and come up with suggested solutions.

She still may not get the trial but she surely would have done as much as possible.

What else can we learn from her situation? Whether you are still thinking about having a child, pregnant or already a mom, consider that:

• The less said about your private life, the better. Try to make your doctor’s appointments after hours or on weekends so you don’t have to leave the office. On the hopefully rare occasions when that is not possible, respect the office culture. It may be that you can simply state that you have an appointment without going into detail that it is with the gynecologist. Give advance notice whenever possible. Resist sharing that you are anxiously awaiting the test results. And keep the sonogram pictures for your family and friends.

• Your childless colleagues are not willing to work longer or harder because you need to attend soccer matches, PTA meetings or any other child related event.

• You need a Plan A, a Plan B and a Plan C for childcare. This is not your employer’s problem.

There is no doubt that combining motherhood and work is both daunting and exhausting.   It requires lots of negotiation, every day in fact.  But the bottom line is that your boss has legitimate concerns about how and when the work will get done.  You’re paid to do your job, not to be a mom.

TAGS: work life balance, Workplace pregnancy

It’s no secret that I love networking and encourage it. I think building and maintaining relationships is one of the most important keys to success in our careers and our lives.

However…

There is a dark side to networking, such as people who want to take rather than share or those who are just plain unpleasant. Here are a few of the irritating types I’ve come across in my career travels. I’m curious to know if you’ve met some of these, and how you’ve handled them…

The Copycat. This type is usually well-meaning and friendly, but asks for the keys to your career castle. In my case, as a writer and speaker, the Copycat is a stranger who emails me out of the blue asking for my advice on getting writing gigs for the magazines I write for and speaking gigs at the places where I speak. I wholeheartedly believe in abundance-that there is enough work and success to go around-but am I going to give you my business plan and Rolodex so you can directly compete with me? Um…no.

The Overasker. There are many connections I’m happy to share freely, such as a trustworthy real estate lawyer or a hairstylist who understands curls. And then there are connections that are unique and uniquely important to me, which I only share with my most trusted inner circle.  In my case, this includes someone like my literary agent. For other people, it may mean a CEO mentor or a celebrity they know from high school. The Overasker doesn’t appreciate the special nature of such VIP relationships and asks for a connection to anyone and everyone. “I heard you went to college with Rupert Murdoch’s son and once sat on a dais next to Hillary Clinton. Can you give me their numbers?” is asking too much. The Overasker needs to learn that some networking relationships must be earned.

The Dr. Jekyll. This type is rare, but pretty shocking if you come across her (or him). She is someone who has complained about your company or an event that you hosted in the past, and is now asking for a favor. In my case, the Dr. Jekyll came in the form of a woman who wrote a review of my book that included a lot of criticisms. The same day (!) she emailed to ask me for help with a personal project she was working on. Although I was kind of impressed by her chutzpah, I certainly didn’t have any desire to network with her. It’s a well-known maxim that people want to do business with people they like, and the same definitely goes for networking.

So, watch out for those Copycats, Overaskers and Dr. Jekyll as you go about your networking. And thank you for letting me get those grievances off my chest!

This post originally appeared on The Women’s DISH.

TAGS: Networking

It’s no secret that I love to network. But, after a fabulous event or conference, even I have faced that pit-of-the-stomach feeling when I look at the business cards I’ve collected. I wonder, “How am I going to follow up with these people? Will I be bothering them if I call? Will email seem too impersonal? Is it presumptuous to friend them on Facebook?” So stressful!

Perhaps you’ve had the same concerns.

Over the years I’ve developed a plan to take the guess work out of follow-up. It’s super simple and works every time. When I meet someone I’d like to connect with again, I simply say, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you, and I’d like to keep in touch. What’s the best method to reach you?”

This gives your networking contact the options to:

a) Politely blow you off by saying something like, “That’s really nice, but I’m quite  busy right now. I enjoyed meeting you too and hopefully we’ll run into each other again.” (Translation: I’m just not that into you.)

b) Tell you his or her preferred contact method.

If the answer is b (and it usually is if you’ve read the situation correctly), once you know where you stand and how to communicate, the rest is easy. Follow up exactly as instructed, and your fabulous contact will be eagerly expecting your communication.

TAGS: Networking