I’ll never forget what my driving instructor said to my mom while we were waiting in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles the morning of my driver’s license test.

“She has the ability to pass. It’s going to come down to whether she thinks she can pass.”

I failed.

My driving instructor was exactly right. I had practiced enough and had the skills and knowledge to get my license. What I was missing was the confidence to actually do it.

I see this same situation all the time with college students and recent grads in the job market. They have the talent, skills and ability to get a job, but they lack the self-confidence it takes to land a position, especially in the ultra-competitive market we’re experiencing right now.

If you’re struggling with self-confidence, here are some tips:

1. Ask for feedback. Recruit a trusted relative, career services staff member, professor or friend to assess you honestly. Often we don’t even realize our strongest assets because they come naturally to us. Ask the person to list your best qualities and most impressive accomplishments. On the flip side, ask for constructive feedback on your weaknesses. Find out if the things you’re most concerned about — lack of experience, a less-than-desirable GPA, shyness, etc. — are legitimate concerns or if you’re obsessing over nothing. If your fears are unfounded, let them go once and for all!

2. Take action on any gaps. If you do determine some important weaknesses, develop a game plan for improving the key skills, knowledge or qualities you’ll need to land the job you want. Take action! Sign up for a coaching session at your career services office, register for an e-course, read a few instructional books or hire a career coach or tutor. Besides gaining the skills you need, you’ll have a great answer to the interview question, “What is your biggest weakness?” You’ll be able to say, “I identified a key weakness and here are the steps I took to overcome it.”

3. Overprepare. Think about your confidence level when you walk into a test for which you’ve studied really thoroughly versus how you feel walking into a test for which you’ve skimmed your notes for ten minutes the night before. Most people don’t realize that a job hunt is something you can study for. Before attending a job fair, spend an hour or two on the websites of companies that will have booths. Before a job interview, spend an hour reading the organization’s website (especially the mission statement, recruiting pages and recent press releases) and study the LinkedIn profiles of the people who will be interviewing you. Read e-newsletters and blogs from your industry to keep up with current events that might be discussed at a networking event. The more preparation you do, the more confident you’ll feel when you interact with recruiters and other professionals you’ll encounter during your job search.

4. Seek out recommendations. One of my favorite features of LinkedIn is the opportunity to have people write recommendations that will appear on your profile. This not only strengthens your profile’s value but also reminds you of your best qualities. Ask for recommendations from former bosses, internship coordinators, professors, volunteer coordinators, students you’ve worked with on activities or other people you’ve known professionally or academically. Whenever you need a boost of confidence, go into your profile and read the good things other people have said about you.

Note: This post originally appeared on Lindsey’s “College to Career Blog” on MyPath.com.

TAGS: career advice, Job Search

What are the major hiring trends on campus this year? What are the best strategies for finding an entry-level job? What are the biggest mistakes students make in the job search process?

To answer these questions and more, I spoke with with Trudy Steinfeld, Executive Director of the Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University, and Manny Contomanolis, Associate Vice President and Director of Co-op and Career Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear top tips from two of the best career services professionals in the country!

Listen to the podcast interview now.

Note: This post originally appeared on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com.

TAGS: career advice, Job Search

How long do you sit and wait for an interviewer who is late? Last week, I friend of mine went for an interview. He was politely greeted and escorted into a conference room, isolated from the main work area and unable to see what was going on outside. After fifteen minutes, the interviewer’s admin popped her head in to say that the boss had been delayed but would be right in. After another ten minutes (my friend had decided to leave on the thirty minute mark), the interviewer arrived, apologizing profusely and explaining that a client emergency had tied him up. My friend said he seemed sincere and the interview went well.

I’m sure we’re all struggled with the question of how long to wait for someone who’s late – a client, a colleague, friend. It’s a particular hot button for me since I made a point to arrive on time for appointments. I always factor in time to deal with the unexpected traffic or other things that can cause derailments (I even take the flight earlier than the one that should me there in plenty of time!). Of course, there is no right answer, it all depends on the situation. Yet, the “rule” that sticks with me is the one left over from college – that students only had to wait fifteen minutes for the tardy professor before the class was considered canceled. I think that the question of how long to wait for an interviewer can be handled the same way you’d handle anyone who keeps you waiting.

Some guidelines that may be helpful:

• Is nature throwing curve-balls? While people can (and should) mange bad weather, they often don’t. I tend to cut them some slack when the weather is inclement.
• Did she get you a message? It’s smart to include your cell phone/blackberry/voicemail contact information when you are confirming the meeting so that the other person is able to get you a message advising you of the delay. If you’ve done that and she hasn’t communicated with you, it might be that the delay is a test of your patience or a power tactic.
• How long is the delay? Each of us has to decide how long is long enough. I tend tie my decision to the purpose of the meeting and my schedule for the rest of the day.
• When he gets there, does he apologize? The apology is obligatory, if he doesn’t offer one, it is a red flag – here’s someone who doesn’t value your time.
• How sincere is the apology? The other red flag is a poor apology; it speaks to the person’s character.

Readers, what would you add?

TAGS: Interview skills, Job hunting, Job Search, LinkedIn

I recently came across a study by the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute predicting that about one-third of new jobs created over the next eight years will be at small businesses owned by women.

As a woman small business owner myself, I was really intrigued by this news. It also reminded me that many job seekers miss out on great opportunities because they overlook the potential to get a job at a (man- or woman-owned) small business.

In my podcast this week, I share my thoughts on the opportunities available in small businesses, how to find these opportunities and the pros and cons of working for a smaller organization.

As always, I look forward to your feedback and comments!

Listen to the podcast now.

Note: This post originally appeared on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com.

TAGS: Job Search, women entrepreneurs

While the year is still young, there’s one more thing you might consider tackling ─ your resume.

Whether you’re in the job market or not, I believe that everyone should have an updated resume ready at a moment’s notice. You never know when an opportunity will come along; you might be considered for a new role inside your company, a recruiter might call or you might want to join a board. In any of those situations, you don’t want to have to scramble to revise your resume. Time pressed, mistakes creep in, either egregious one such as typos or less obvious ones such as neglecting to add your most recent accomplishments. Have a friend (or two, even better if he/she is in your industry and familiar with the job competencies for the role you have or the one you want) review your revised resume, ask them to go beyond proofing to offer feedback regarding layout and content too. Is it easy to read? Is it clearly written? Does represent you well?

If you’ve been in the job market for a while and have posted your resume online, repost your revised resume, even if nothing has changed except the dates. Prospective employers won’t be impressed with an out-dated resume.

And, on a going forward basis, take time at the end of each month to write down your accomplishments ─ if you wait too long, it’s likely you’ll forget some of the wonderful things you’ve done! Not only will the list you create make your next resume revision easier, it will help support your performance evaluation.

Updating your resume is one relatively easy thing you can do to proactively manage your career. Think of how happy you’ll be when you’ve finished it!

TAGS: Job hunting, Job Search, LinkedIn, Resume writing

I’ve always loved new beginnings — the first day of a new month, the turning of a new season, even the sunrise of a new day (on the rare occasion I’m up early enough to see it). Of course there is no bigger new beginning than the turning of the calendar to January 1.

This year in particular, the New Year feels like a crucial fresh start. 2009 will go down in the books as one of the hardest years ever for job seekers, especially those looking for entry-level work. If you’ve had a tough time in 2009, or even if it’s been a great year for you, here are some tips for starting 2010 on a successful note.

1. Out With the Old. To make room for new things in your life (a great job, fresh ideas, more money, a strong network, etc.) you need to get rid of any clutter that is weighing you down. This might include critical people, a job that drains your energy, college junk piled in your closet or self-defeating thoughts like “I’ll never get a job in this economy.” For inspiration, check out two of my favorite resources on the topic of simplifying and decluttering: the Zen Habits Blog and Julie Morgenstern’s book, Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life.

2. Set Quality (not Quantity) Goals. We all know that New Year’s resolutions are generally forgotten by February. So, instead of making a long list of “rules” for my year, I prefer to declare three to five big goals or priorities. I keep them in a little note file on my computer and on a little card pasted on the inside cover of the notebook I use every day. I peek at my list constantly to remind myself what my priorities are, how I want to spend my time and what opportunities I should not pursue. If you need help clarifying your goals, check out Your Best Year Yet! Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever.

Read the rest of this blog post on my “College to Career” blog on MyPath.com — a great new career resource for college students and recent grads…

TAGS: career advice, Job Search

At Thanksgiving dinner this week, parents and other relatives are bound to ask their Gen Y children, “How’s that job search coming along?”

While some people fear this question, I encourage job seekers to embrace it. Why not use your family’s interest as an opportunity? If you’re comfortable asking your loved ones for help, there are several ways you can enlist their support — appropriately — in your job search efforts.

Listen to some tips on this topic in my new podcast.

TAGS: Generation Y, Job Search

I’m excited to announce a brand new podcast series I’m creating for MyPath.com, a new online career management website guided by Manpower, one of the global leaders in employment services.

MyPath provides you with a variety of tools and services to help you plot and plan your career journey. As MyPath’s “College to Career” blogger, I’ll be recording a weekly podcast on a timely job search or career management topic for entry-level job seekers.

Click here to listen to my first MyPath podcast, “How to Get a Job Now.”

Have a topic you’d like me to discuss on a future MyPath podcast? Please share in the comments!

TAGS: Generation Y, Job Search

Today I’m pleased to share my third and final post on all the types of experience you have that you might not be giving yourself credit for. I hope you find this valuable, and please share any additional suggestions in the Comments!

Part III: Personal Interests and Experiences

1. Investing. Have you put away money since your tenth birthday and watched your savings grow significantly? Are you active in trading and investing through your E*TRADE account? Do you currently manage your finances beyond balancing your checkbook? Since many high school and college students don’t manage their own money, your experience and knowledge could stand out.

2. Family business. If you’ve been part of your parents’ business development process or worked in a family-owned restaurant or store, your dinner table conversations may have involved hiring practices and workplace challenges. Even if you didn’t start the company, your experience is a source of knowledge and brings value to your job search.

3. Travel. Any trip that has broadened your perspective of the United States or the world adds value to your relevant work experience. Did you hike the Grand Canyon or backpack through Europe? Did you visit a country where you couldn’t even read the street signs? Be sure to tell potential employers how you overcame these challenges and broadened your life experience.

4. Passions or hobbies. What do you care about and what do you do in your free time? Whether it’s running marathons, building model airplanes or teaching yourself to cook, anything that demonstrates your dedication and drive has value in the workplace. If you’ve committed yourself to a goal and achieved it (or are working on achieving it), you’ve spent a lot of time and energy in this area of interest. Be sure to mention these experiences in an interview or professional networking situation.

5. Social media. Have you made a (positive) name for yourself in the social media word? If you’ve become highly involved in an online community like Twitter, YouTube, Ning or LinkedIn, be sure to mention this experience in a job interview. Many companies are focused on enhancing their presence online and may appreciate your experience and knowledge in this still-new arena. If your talent includes more than Facebook-stalking your peers, and you’re proud of what you’ve done, don’t hesitate to share.

6. Technology. If you have computer knowledge beyond Microsoft Word, take it into consideration as a marketable skills. If you have significant experience with Quickbooks, Photoshop or are really advanced with Excel or PowerPoint, definitely play up these skills. If you can write HTML code (even basic), that can be very valuable too.

7. Moving. Did you attend more than one high school because your parents decided to move? Did you transfer colleges after your freshman year? If you successfully made friends and acclimated to a new environment, you might mention this experience in an interview. If you didn’t love your first pick of colleges, your desire to change and improve your situation shows strength and courage. Play up your ability to make the most of change when speaking to potential employers.

8. Overcoming a life challenge. Were you injured and completed physical therapy? Have you dealt with a learning disability or taken care of a sick parent? Though these are very personal experiences, you might mention these personal trials in an essay, cover letter or interview. Some of life’s greatest challenges have nothing to do with work or professional experiences. Give yourself credit and consider talking about these difficult life experiences from an attitude of strength. They’re part of who you are today and potential employers will appreciate your honesty and courage.

In addition to brainstorming all of the above types of experience, I poked around the Web to find even more. Freelance work, certification that requires training or courses, awards of all kinds and any involvement with a nonprofit are also worthy of mention. If I’ve left anything off this list, please share additional types of experience in the comments below.

As your post-summer assignment, go back through this list and put together a master list of your own. If you’re stuck, talk to five people who know you best. Ask your parents, siblings, mentors, best friends and favorite professors to help you come up with a list of valuable experiences you’ve had and specific qualities you bring to the table.

When it comes to selling ourselves, we often don’t see what’s right in front of us. Yes, it’s important to be humble, but in a competitive job market it’s also necessary to articulate exactly what knowledge, skills and experiences you bring to the marketplace. Happy listing!

This post originally appeared on the Lindsey Pollak Career Blog.

TAGS: Generation Y, Job hunting, Job Search

Now that the economy is starting to pick up, it may be time to get into the job market again. While networking is far and away the most productive way to find a new job, according to career expert Barbara Safani anywhere from 10% to 20% of job seekers find their jobs through a recruiter.

If you are considering working with a recruiter, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Find out how the recruiter will be paid.
  Some are retained (paid a fee by the employer to find the right candidate for the position) while others are paid on a contingency basis (paid only if they find the candidate who is ultimately hired).  As Penelope Trunk pointed out, if you are an executive or have a specialized skill set, you may be able to work with the former.  I’d add that certain professions  then to use retained recruiters, for example, law.   In either case, however, be clear that the recruiter’s first allegiance is likely to be to the hiring company, not to you. That means that you have to do lots of due diligence before and during the interview process.

• Try to get an introduction rather than simply “cold calling”.
  Referrals matter, particularly in a tough job market. If you have been recommended by someone whom they’ve placed, or, even better, by someone who’s hired them to perform a search, you have a much better chance to get their attention. If you can’t get a personal introduction, use social networking to search recruiters who seem like a good fit, for example, those who specialize in your industry or functional role.

• Recruiters are busy.
  They are not in the business of executive coaching, resume writing or image consulting ─ if you expect they will provide that kind of assistance, chances are you’ll be disappointed. I heard one recruiter say she spends an average of seven seconds looking at a resume, all the time deciding whether or not to read further. The truth can be brutal but better to know than not to know….

• Walk the talk.
  Treat recruiters as though they were interviewers at the hiring company ─ after all, they stand between you and the company. Prepare for the conversation, put your best foot forward and be sure to ask when and how (email, phone) to follow up. You want to stay in touch without becoming high maintenance.

• Recruiters may be friendly but they’re not your friends.
  Learn as much as you can from them but be sure to check the information they provide directly with the prospective employer.

TAGS: Job hunting, Job Search, LinkedIn, recruiters