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

While it’s incredibly important to do the right things in a job search, you also need to make sure you avoid doing the wrong things.

One of my favorite questions to ask recruiters is, “What are your biggest pet peeves about entry-level job candidates?” Below are some of the answers I’ve received. Hopefully this list will save you from committing any major faux pas!

1. “Creative” resumes. I know you want to stand out from the crowd, but a perfumed, purple or paper airplane-shaped resume is not the way to do it.

2. Not doing your homework. We live in the Information Age, so there is no excuse for not learning as much information about a company as possible before meeting a representative of that company at a job fair, information session or other recruiting event. You should already know the organization’s lines of business, competitors, current news and other facts you can easily discover from a website or a quick Google search. Asking a recruiter to tell you about his organization or asking what the company does is a quick way to strike out.

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

TAGS: career advice, Generation Y, Job Search, mistakes to avoid, Recruiting

Although word has it that the economy is recovering, it is still an employer’s market ─ that means the employee has to do the heavy lifting. Some ideas:

• Watch your words.
  Avoid “resume speak” and clearly state whatever it is you want to communicate. For example, way too many resumes contain meaningless phrases like “to utilize my skills in a meaningful way to…”. What exactly does that mean? And, as a side note, if you dislike the word “utilize” as much as I do, read this.
• Quantify your contribution.
  For example, it’s just not enough to note you’ve “managed a team”; be sure to describe the team you led. How many people were on the team? What did they do? Did you recruit them? Train them? Coach them? What specific goals did they (or you, if you were in an individual performer role) accomplish? How did these goals contribute to the company’s success?
• Connect the dots.
  Make it easy for people to see how your education and prior jobs apply to the role you want. This week, a woman who wants to change careers asked me to review her resume. She has wonderful credentials and a good deal of transferable experience but her resume made no links regarding how she would apply them to her dream job, a leadership role at a not-for-profit. For example, she had initiated many new client relationships in her role as a practicing attorney ─ she needed to show how this skill could translate into creating new donors at the not-for-profit.

Of course, watch your grammar and punctuation too. Have several people whom you trust (even better if they work in the field you are in or want to get into) read your resume and give you feedback.

Recruiters and line managers are busy and you can expect lots of competition for the job you want. Your resume is the way you can differentiate yourself and stand out in the crowd. Best of luck!

TAGS: changing careers, changing jobs, Job Search, LinkedIn, Resume writing

I received a letter from a woman a few years out of college asking for recommendations related to how someone who is in career transition – particularly when she is early in her career and not yet an expert in a field – can go about finding a job. I thought you might be interested in what I told her:

• Focus on your key strengths. Regardless of how young you are, you have strengths that differentiate you from others. Clearly identify 3 – 5 of these and allow them to drive your search. Talk about them at every opportunity. Seek positions that complement them.

• Remember that transitions are a numbers game. The more contacts you make, the faster you’ll find a job. In a good market there’s something we called the “Rule of 21” – for every 21 contacts you’ll get one positive response. Now that’s closer to 50. Don’t get discouraged by rejection – it’s inevitable. If possible find out what caused you to be eliminated from consideration for a position for which you thought you were well-qualified.

• Use your alumni association and other professional associations to find the hidden job market. The vast majority of jobs are never advertised, but rather filled through someone who knows someone or job postings at college career centers. Become active in professional associations so people get to know you, like you, and feel comfortable referring you to hiring sources.

• Don’t underestimate the value you bring to an organization. You may be early in your career, but turn that into a positive – you’re open-minded, don’t have prescribed ways of doing things, are in touch with the younger market and their needs, etc. Confidently brand and market yourself as one who adds value in a variety of unique ways.

• Develop your pyramid of contacts. It’s much easier to do these days with Facebook and LinkedIn than in the old days. Essentially you want to take the people you know and ask them for introductions to people they know, then ask those people for introduction to people they know. Eventually you have a wide network of contacts to whom you can market yourself, your resume, or get the word out about your needs.

I guess if I were to sum it up I’d say be bold, be confident, and be courageous. That alone will distinguish you from the rest of the field.

TAGS: Career transition, Job Search

Last week I hosted an etiquette dinner at a college in New York City.  Students came in their best business casual attire, networked during a “mocktail” hour and then sat down to a formal business dinner. Believe it or not, we had a lot of fun talking about which fork to use when and how to properly butter your bread.

It’s likely that you’ll be asked to have a meal during the job interview process, so be sure to brush up on your etiquette skills as these students did. Below are my top 10 etiquette rules for job interview-related meals. Some of these are common sense and some are a little more complicated, so review them carefully. When in doubt, take a peek around the table and watch what your hosts are doing for clues.

1.     Always use basic good manners. Say please and thank you, don’t reach (ask for items to be passed to you), keep your elbows off the table and don’t speak with your mouth full. A good tip is to take small bites so you’ll never have a big chunk of food in your mouth when an interviewer or client asks you a question!

2.     Do not start to eat until every at the table has been served.

3.     Use silverware from the outside in. The spoon and fork at the top of your plate are for coffee and dessert.

4.     Be sure to sip from the correct glass and eat the right roll. Your place setting is arranged with your bread plate to the left of your plate and your beverage to the right. I like to remember this by thinking “BMW,” like the car: Bread, Meal, Water.

5.     Bread should be buttered by breaking off one piece at a time and buttering that piece. Do not cut your bread into lots of pieces or butter the whole slice or roll at once.

6.     It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol during the job interview process. Water, iced tea and soda are all appropriate. If you’re over 21 and you find yourself in a situation where a drink seems acceptable, be very careful about how much you consume. One glass of wine is a safe bet.

7.     Be polite and kind to servers. (Many interviewers watch your interactions with waiters and waitresses as an indication of your personality and manners.) Say please and thank you, and if you need to get a server’s attention, make eye contact and politely say, “excuse me.” Never wave your arm or shout out.

8.     When you’re finished with your meal, place your utensils together, diagonally across your plate. Place your napkin to the left of your plate, not directly on your plate. If you need to get up at any point during the dinner, the correct place to put your napkin is on the seat of your chair.

9.     Turn off and store all cell phones, iPhones, BlackBerries, etc. in your jacket or bag. It is never okay to text, email or answer a call during a business meal, especially if you are on a job interview (and even if your host is checking his or her own device!).

10. If anything goes wrong — you drop your fork on the floor, you spill your water, etc., remember that good etiquette is about being discreet and making other people comfortable. In other words, don’t make a scene! If you drop a utensil on the floor, politely get a server’s attention and ask for a new utensil. If you have a pit or bone in your mouth, discreetly remove it with your fork or napkin (no toothpicks at the table!). If you spill a beverage, apologize to the table and get a server’s attention for help. The more comfortably you handle any snafu, the more quickly your tablemates will forget it ever happened.

Do you have any other favorite etiquette tips? Please share!

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

TAGS: etiquette, Job Search

Have you ever wanted to know what goes on inside the mind of a campus recruiter? Here’s your chance!

Listen in on my conversation with Joy Schwartz, a former campus recruiter who is now a university career counselor. She’ll share the inside scoop from the other side of the job fair booth, answering such questions as:

• What are some of the biggest mistakes students make in the campus recruiting process?
• What can students do to stand out in the recruiting process?
• What is the most important question in a job interview?
• What is the best way for candidates to follow up with recruiters?

Click here to listen to the interview on my MyPath.com “College to Career” podcast, and please share your thoughts in the Comments section below. You can also check out Joy’s blog at JoySchwartz.com.

TAGS: Generation Y, Job Search

I’m having trouble writing this blog post, because all I want to do is go outside and enjoy the warm spring air.

Alas, I am inside at my computer, occasionally staring out my window at the bright blue sky. And, after I finish writing, there is more inside work to be done today. I’ve just received a delivery of three brown boxes filled with file folders, storage bins, crates and plastic hangers. I have a stack of garbage bags at the ready. There are fresh batteries in my label maker.

That’s right; it’s spring cleaning time.

The truth is that I absolutely love organizing, filing, folding, purging and alphabetizing (my accountant told me I am her only client who color-codes my tax documents). Yes, I am a Virgo.

But I know that spring cleaning (or any-time-of-year cleaning) is not easy for everyone. It can be hard to let go of the old and make room for the new. But it must be done, and spring is a great time to refresh and renew every nook and cranny of your home, office, garage or any other space that needs sprucing up. It’s also a great time to spring clean your career. Here are three important ways to do that:

Clean your career (literally). When was the last time your organized all of your career documents, both on paper and on your computer? Take time now to toss or delete outdated versions of your resume, file past cover letters, put company information you’ve gathered into marked folders and organize that rubber-banded stack of business cards you’ve collected over the past several months. (Hint: if there’s a card whose owner you can’t remember, Google that person or check out his or her LinkedIn profile to see if you can jog your memory. If not, toss the card.)

Clean up your online image. According to a recently released Microsoft survey, 85 percent of HR professionals responding said that positive online reputation influences their hiring decisions, and 70 percent said they have rejected candidates based on information they found online. Make no mistake about it: your online image will affect your job search and your career. If you haven’t already, set up strict privacy settings on all social networks (often, including on Facebook and the new Google Buzz, the default setting is for all of your information to be public, so check every setting), take down any inappropriate pictures or content, set up a 100 percent professional profile on LinkedIn and Google, and think twice before posting any new content on Facebook, Twitter or a blog. In many recruiters’ minds, you are what you post.

Clean out your to-do list. One of the biggest concerns I hear from students and young professionals is about how outrageously busy they are. Between studying, working, volunteering, socializing, texting and occasionally eating and sleeping, it’s amazing you have any time to think. Take time this spring to sit down and analyze your time commitments. What’s really enjoyable to you? What work is most fulfilling? What activities do you dread attending? I challenge you to delete anything from your calendar that is not either totally necessary or totally enjoyable. Spring is such a glorious season — don’t miss it because you are too busy running yourself ragged.

What other tips do you have for spring cleaning your career? Please share!

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

TAGS: career advice, Job Search

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