Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes

Introducing the Infographic Resume

2012-01-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

As if creating a resume wasn't hard enough--now you have to include graphics?

That's what some people are doing in the latest resume craze: infographic resumes. Check out this post to learn more.

I think that's a lot to digest for recent college grads. I would definitely skip the whole professional timeline if you don't have enough to add. Otherwise, you're just at like, one bar. Just sayin'.

5 Reasons You Should Start Your 2012 Job Hunt Today

2011-12-28T11:35:00.001-08:00

Is your New Year's resolution to find a new job? Well, you may not want to wait until that ball drops!

Check out this article by Michelle Goodman--it's got some good reasons on why now is an opportune time to start searching and networking.

Are you looking for a new job in 2012?

Flying Freelance? Maybe Not Yet

2011-12-27T12:02:00.001-08:00

I was interviewing a woman today for an article I am working on about breaking into a specific field on a freelance basis. Instead of tips on how to get in once you have a degree, the article is geared towards people that have some professional experience and want to "go freelance."

I never wanted to be a freelancer when I graduated. To me, the priority was to get a full-time job. I think many grads today have the same aspiration--probably even more so due to the economy. With jobs so scarce, you are probably longing for a 40-hour-a-week gig. But there are some out there that are more business-minded than I was when I graduated and realize they can start their own business. Of course, there are pros and cons--the main issue going the entrepreneurial route is that you do not have any experience. That experience and just the industry know-how you gain on the job--at least for me--was priceless. I could never have been the writer I am today had I not worked as a reporter.

Do you have the freelance bug--or would you prefer to get a traditional job for a few years before you even think of starting your own business?

New Grads Changing Careers...Already?

2011-12-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Ms. Career Girl recently had a post about changing careers. It was interesting (she makes it all sound so easy!), and it got me to thinking about how many new grads are contemplating this.

I'm not talking about changing jobs, which can be just as risky. I'm talking about scrapping it all to take a different direction. And why not...it's your life, right?

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking about transitioning to a new career!

Determine why you don't like your current career. Is it just the job you are at? Many times you can switch roles and use other skills, maintaining your interest in the field.
Research the new career path. Why do you think this is the career you want to be in? What will it take to enter the field, and get to where you want to be? Do you want to be a hands-on worker or a manager? Will you need to relocate? What's the market like in this career field? Who can you talk to to get a feel for the career before taking a job in the field? Can you "try on" a job in the new field or take an internship?
Think about finances. Can you financially afford to scrap it all right now (assuming you have a decent job) and get a new job in the new career field? Would it serve you better to stick with your current job? What's your timeline like for progressing to the new field?
Revamp your resume. How can you play up your applicable skills and experience to create a winning resume targeting jobs in the new field?
Think about it. What ramifications will you encounter if you get a job in the new career field? What benefits will there be to switching careers?

Now's a great time in your life to explore new things. Just make sure you think things through completely. Often times, people don't like their current jobs and leave a field completely--you may just want to switch jobs, not careers.

But if you know you're in a field you don't like, and there's one more enticing, you've got plenty of options to make a smart career switcheroo.

Are Twentysomethings Expecting Too Much?

2011-10-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

By Hannah Seligson

Illustrations by Jesse Lenz

When my grandmother was 18, she dropped out of college to get married. A career wasn’t a priority for her; matrimony was. This fall I’ll tie the knot at age 29, slightly younger than average for a bride in Washington, where the median age for a woman’s first marriage is 30.

My grandmother, who lived in Connecticut, had her first child when she was 18 and another at 20. With childbearing out of the way and a full-time nanny, she went on to launch a career in politics and at age 28 became a state senator.

As a friend recently mused, “I wish I could have had my kids at 22 when I was nothing in my career. Of course, I wasn’t married or financially secure then.” Now she’s 31 and married, and she recently got a big promotion. “It’s just a really inconvenient time to have kids.”

There are obvious downsides to getting married and having children young—for many women, it short-circuits their careers entirely—and women have made huge gains in the workplace since my grandmother’s time. But the cruel joke of modern womanhood is that my career will probably peak just as it’s time to start a family. This raises more questions: How long should my fiancé, Andrew, and I wait? Should we risk running out my biological clock and needing fertility treatments? If we can afford them, that is.

Speaking of money, how would we afford children if we stay in DC, one of the most expensive cities in the country? Andrew and I have both chosen careers motivated more by our interests than by our paychecks—I’m a journalist, and he works on international climate-change policy at the State Department.

Even without student loans to pay off, we find it hard to save as much as financial planners say people our age should. I’m often reminded of the acronym DINK—dual income, no kids—which should probably be changed to DINA: dual income, need another. Sure, we could move to a less expensive area of Washington or take a job for the salary, but we’re young and not ready to settle. We want to see if we can make life work on our terms.

We’re like lots of others in our generation who—since their parents first turned the television to Sesame Street or sang along to “Free to Be . . . You and Me” in the car—have believed we can achieve anything we set our minds to.

Are we expecting too much?

Rutgers: Recent college grads large percentage of unemployed

2011-10-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

Rutgers: Recent college grads large percentage of unemployed

A recent study from Rutgers University says that recent college graduates make up a good portion of the country's unemployed. As of right now, the unemployment rate is hovering just over 9 percent.

Of those who are unemployed, 14 percent are looking for full time work. The director of the Rutgers Workforce Development Center says that college graduates are vulnerable when it comes to finding a job. Lack of experience and competition with older skilled workers add fuel to the fire.

The study also stated that three out of four people surveyed said they wished they had done things different in college, like taking advantage of more internships and to have started the job hunting process before they had graduated.

Follett's Marketing Genius Gives College Kids a Chance to Show Marketing Skills

2011-09-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hey marketing peeps--want to get some big-time exposure and a paid internship?

Follett Higher Education Group is already looking for next summer's interns who can develop the best $1 million marketing idea. Now in its second year, the Marketing Genius competition challenges college students to create a national marketing campaign with a budget of $1 million for more than 800 Follett bookstores.

The team named the winner of Marketing Genius will have the opportunity to put their campaign into action during a paid summer internship with the integrated marketing department at Follett's corporate headquarters.

And you thought you'd never like your college bookstore!

Cutting loose & taking risks: Why it matters for 20-somethings

2011-08-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

I talk a lot about being practical on this blog, but that has made me realize that I don't focus enough on the opposite topic--having fun, cutting loose, being free.

A friend of mine mentioned that she's nervous about turning 30, and I can remember the anticipation I had about entering my 30s. (After all, I am happy to say, it wasn't too long ago!) Most people think about their 20s, naturally, when they're moving into their 30s. They wish they did more. Or they recall being clueless. But just about every one of them says they learned a lot in their 20s.

Part of learning in your 20s is done by taking steps. Making mistakes. Making moves. Not playing it safe.

That doesn't give you an all-out invitation to be reckless, but it takes the pressure off. Think about it: If you're not sure about a decision, make the best one and let it be. If it doesn't pan out the way you wanted, you can chalk it up to a learning experience. That's what your 20s are for. (Newsflash, that's what the rest of your life is for--learning as you go--but the decisions you make in your 20s, I think, will prove integral in helping you make better choices throughout your life.)

The point is, now is your time to learn. Have fun. Cut loose. Because some of those decisions you make now and things you do now will help you to become a more-alive person. If you don't cut loose now, professionally or personally, you will close off that adventurous side of yourself that's harder to get back when your older (and is probably what results in so many mid-life crises!)

We tend to forget that. I say we, because it gets harder to do as you get older. By taking risks and having fun now, you live without regrets. Even if things don't go well, that's part of it. It's no reason to make completely stupid choices, but it does remind you that this is probably the only time in your life when you can get away with things that would otherwise seem outlandish. So take that trip. Make a career move. Write that book. Make that call.

Image courtesy of www.stratejoy.com

Survey says: Be nice on Facebook

2011-08-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Here's another reason to play nice on social media.

Kaplan recently conducted a phone survey of 123 of the top 200 graduate programs in education, engineering, psychology, and public administration (as reported by U.S. News & World Report).

Survey says that 29% of admissions officers that were allowed to visit applicants' social networking pages rejected the applicant based on the page's content.

Admissions officers were also asked if they through it was appropriate for students to use social networks such as Facebook to reach out to graduate schools, and 65% responded that doing so would be inappropriate. Well, no duh.

A new GRE debuts this week and the questions were part of a survey that evaluated the new format.

Keeping the Balance

2011-08-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

Mantoloking, NJ

Striking a balance between work and my personal life has always been a struggle. What I do for a living is very personal for me.

So I've been using the beach to take time off this summer. I work a lot, but when I can, I get in the sand. It's therapeutic.

Many of you are starting new jobs so the idea of a vacation may be out of the question right now. What are you doing to unwind and stay balanced?

"Help! I got a job and I hate it!"

2011-07-05T05:46:00.001-07:00

If you're lucky enough to have a job, don't be surprised if you hate it.

I know, I'm pretty blunt. I've just been reading several things about college grads--not just today's grads, either, this is an age-old issue that no one seems to be talking about--being shocked to find that they hate their first job. Many say they're below the bottom of the totem pole.

The thing is, a first job can feel a lot like an internship. You can be left with nothing to do, or you may be running errands and fetching coffee. The worst is when you're left alone in a cubicle with no guidance--all dressed up with nowhere to go. Awkward!

But this is the very nature of many first jobs. Sometimes the only positive is that they look decent on your resume, and you've just got to go with that. Hanging in is what gets you through. You have to find the positives--sometimes that's just finding a pal at work or remembering that your paycheck will solve some of your other issues. You may not love the work. You're likely not doing anything like what you want to be doing, and you may not even work with other people that are doing what you want.

Tell me about your first job--how's it going??

Making Friends During and After College

2011-06-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

I was recently featured in Student Health 101 by Haley Shapley, in her article about making new friends at college--good advice even if you already got your degree!

Check it out here: http://readsh101.com/unm.html?id=e051d37d (Starts on Page 10)

It's even harder to make friends after college--you lose that on-campus community. You almost have to go out of your way to make friends. I didn't do that so much after I graduated--I hung around with my college buddies. Now I find that as I grow, I am looking to expand my network, and boy, do I miss being able to do it on a campus. It takes work to make friends!

How are you making friends--whether you're in college or you've already graduated?

The 5 Things Every New Graduate Should Know

2011-06-28T10:50:00.001-07:00

A guest post by Dawn Papandrea, CollegeSurfing.com

When you graduate college, a lot of people will offer you cliché advice that sounds like a compilation of every commencement speech you’ve ever heard. But before you go out into the world to make your mark, fight what you believe in, remember the valuable lessons you learned, and embrace your future, try on some of these practical tips for grads that actually mean something beyond being quotable speech material…

Know how to use social media. I’ve been to three very different professional conferences this year, and I can say with certainty, the theme that came up again and again at all of them was that social media is here to stay. You must get familiar with social media if you’re not already, no matter what your industry, and you must use it responsibly (unlike a certain former congressman we’ve all heard about). Get the drinking montages off of your Facebook page. Create a smart-looking LinkedIn profile. Mind your tweets on Twitter. Learn how to leverage the “noise” instead of having it knock you down.

Figure out where the jobs are. Having a passion for a particular field is great, but it’s not enough for landing a job in said field. You need to do your career homework in order to understand what it takes to break into your industry of choice. Sometimes, it’s all about the college degree; other times you’ll need to have a portfolio of work examples; still others may require a move to a big city. Know what you’re getting into, and use that information to your advantage.

Realize you don’t know everything. If anyone told me 12 years ago that the day would come when I’d rarely pick up a pen or have a stack of paper on my desk, I’d have cracked up. I’m a journalist, after all. However, as I’ve seen firsthand in my industry, the digital age has transformed the way I do my work, and I had better be willing to adapt and learn if I want to survive. If you want to be successful, you should expect to think beyond your job title, take additional courses, get certified, or perform on-the-job training at some point in your career. Otherwise, you’ll be left behind.

Be prepared for career shake-ups. Along the lines of the above, things happen that can affect the way you do your job, and you need to go with the flow. The world of accounting changed forever, for example, with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which aimed to reform standards of corporate responsibility after the financial scandals of Enron and company. And, as I alluded above, technology has certainly changed the face of business (just ask your local video store owner… if you can find one).

Accept that what you learned in college actually does matter. Why in the world should an English major take an accounting class? If you plan to be a computer programmer, why is a speech class required? Having been out in the world for some time, trust me when I say a liberal arts core curriculum does matter. I’m so thankful for the business minor I forced my way through every time I have to analyze an Excel spreadsheet or understand things like copyright law and contracts. And you’d be shocked if you read some of the correspondence of high-level executives, wrought with misspellings and grammar errors. So yes, those term papers are necessary! Finally, getting a job and getting ahead is all about making connections with real people. And you never know how those connections will happen. Perhaps you were in the same fraternity, or you both minored in classical music. The point is, all of the learning you do can be useful in some way once you learn how to harness it.

Dawn Papandrea is the editor of The CollegeSurfing Insider blog.

5 Things to Do when Moving to a New City for a Job/Internship!

2011-06-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

I loved this post over at InternQueen about exploring a new city. It made me think about Staci, a recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate that I used to babysit for. We sort of "grew up" together, and despite a slight age difference, I consider her the closest thing to a little siser that I've ever had. She is off to Baltimore to be a teacher and I couldn't be prouder.

Wherever life takes you, take the time to plant seeds!

5 Things to Do when Moving to a New City for a Job/Internship

by Michelle Langer

Michelle is a campus ambassador for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a theatre and journalism double major. This summer she is interning at the Maryland State Arts Council and is profiling her experiences on madtownfoodie.wordpress.com.

Don’t be afraid to do things alone. When I moved to Maryland this summer for my internship I didn’t know anyone, and maybe more importantly, I didn’t know the city. This meant that I had to learn about the city and meet people by myself. It isn’t like college where you move into a dorm with people your age and they are all in the same situation as you, you’re completely on your own when you move for a job or internship. I had to accept that I may go out to dinner by myself or go to festivals alone for awhile until I met new people. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with being alone because it opens you up for new opportunities and for you to meet people!
Ask the locals. I’m a huge foodie, so I want to make sure to hit all of the best restaurants while I’m in Maryland for the summer. I also want to make sure to go to the good summer events and activities happening here, and also the cool hangout spots where they will be other young people. I found that the best way to find these places was to ask the people who know them, the locals. When I’m doing activities on my own I ask the bartenders, waiters, and cashiers at the locations I walk into where they suggest I go, and most of them have been SUPREMELY helpful. One bartender even made a list for me of all of the hotspots!
Live in an area with young people, i.e. a college campus. Since I was moving to an area for the summer that neither my parents nor I knew, I did some research online and found out where the college campuses were. I figured that by doing this I would reap two benefits: I would be living around people my age and a lot of people may be subletting for the summer so I may get a good deal on rent. I happened upon both of these in my apartment search. I also made sure to share an apartment so that hopefully I would have built-in friends in my roommates (which luckily I do) and if that didn’t happen at least they would be able to help find basic things in our area.
Sites like Yelp and Urbanspoon can really help you out. Before I moved away for the summer, before I could get the chance to meet anyone in the area, I used sites like Yelp and Urbanspoon as guides for the good places to go in my neighborhood. I would generically search restaurants, clubs, stores, or bars on these sites and it would come back with the reviews from locals, who know the good and bad places to go. Then, when I moved to Maryland, I had a better idea of what places I should hit up.
Take days to discover your city on foot. One of the first things that I did after unpacking was walk around my neighborhood without a map. I took the chance to see what the neighborhood was really like—what you can’t see online or even in a car. This is the best way to learn about where you live, and for the neighborhoods that may be farther away, drive to them and then park your car and walk around. Everyday since I’ve moved here I have taken the afternoon, after work, to walk around a different neighborhood and experience the sights, sounds, smells, and most importantly, the tastes of that neighborhood.

See the whole post here.

The Business of Freelancing: Onward Search Career Cast #22

2011-06-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

I recently joined Hillary O'Keefe for the Onward Search Career Cast. The podcast has some great information about careers--especially for those in the creative field. Check out my episode and listen to the others, too--lots of valuable information and the episodes are short!

The Business of Successful Freelance Careers

Onward Search Career Cast, Episode #22

This episode of Onward Search's Career Cast Podcast takes a look at the business side of a successful career in freelancing, whether it's freelance writing, designing, developing or marketing.

Career Cast guest Kristen Fischer, freelance copywriter, journalist, and author of the new book, "Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs", shares valuable insight about what it's like to transition into a freelance career and take on the new requirements that not all creative professionals are familiar with. Kristen discusses how important it is to treat a new freelance career as a business and how to handle the less appealing aspects of a freelance career, like taxes and legal preparations.

If you are considering becoming a freelance designer, writer, etc., this podcast will prepare you to better understand and approach the business side of self-employment.

Check out all their shows here!

Be Yourself, Learn Yourself

2011-06-06T03:11:00.000-07:00

Graduation season is wrapping up for college grads, and it always amazes me how wonderful and silly commencement speakers can be. Silly? Yes.

On one hand, they deliver amazing advice and great stories. But on the other, the "be this, be that" mentality is futile. Why? Because new grads have to figure it out themselves. They have to live and experience things for themselves--only then can they react.

In many ways, commencement speeches are nothing more (for the most part) than a speaker unloading his or her knowledge and lessons learned on the young. Which is great, but really, do grads need to be told what to be? No. They--you--have to experience things on your own. Then you gather your own lessons learned. But you have to learn them yourself. Someone can't tell you how to be, or how to react. You can try to use that advice to better navigate a situation, but in the end, you really have to take your own, authentic approach to a situation--you can't live off someone else's perspective or take their path, you can only keep it in mind and draw from it.

Sorry to knock graduation speakers--not my intent. I was just reading something and it really got me thinking. I always disliked being told "how to be." Why not share your experiences and invite me to make my own?

I hope you took something from your commencement speaker, something hopeful. But as far as how to be and how to experience things, just go for it. How you experience it is never wrong and you'll get to gather up lessons learned for yourself, by yourself.

Staying on your parents' health insurance--Yea or nay?

2011-05-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

When you're in your 20s (and likely in good health), health insurance doesn't seem to be that much of a priority. But it's important to have in order to avoid overwhelming debt that can arise from everyday accidents to life-threatening conditions.

I love what ehealthinsurance did to educate recent grads about health insurance. Check out their "Should I Stay or Should I Go" article. It discusses whether or not to stay on your parents' health insurance policy after college--or if you should go on your own. Whether your first job has health insurance benefits or not, be sure to read the article. It's easy to read so you "get" the concepts related to health insurance.

I know, health insurance is boring grown-up stuff--but it is important grown-up stuff, all the same!

Boomerangin' in 2011: Moving home after graduation day

2011-05-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

For many grads, moving home after school isn't the ideal situation. You want to transition right to your own apartment and cushy new job, right? But those times aren't as common. Most grads move home, at least for a little while--and now, sans jobs--with their parents.

Moving home after school is odd for many because you may not be able to come and go if you please (if you lived on campus during college). I thought that would be the only issue when I trucked all my stuff home, but it wasn't the case.

Something else was different.

It took a while to realize it. But instantly, I knew home wasn't where I was supposed to be, and not just because I really wanted to prove myself with my own apartment and a great job. See, I graduated in a different climate than most of my readers. Jobs weren't handed out, but they weren't as hard to find. (Although, a year later, after Sept. 11, 2001, just about everything changed, in another way.)

Anyway, when I was home, I felt out of place because I had outgrown it. I was the one who had changed.

If you're stuck packing your bags and moving back to mom and dad's, it's not the end of the world. (It's highly practical and common nowadays.) But you should be aware that it may not be like coming home for Winter Break. Things are different. You've changed. Your parents probably have different expectations. And you've grown up--believe it or not.

Some grads I interviewed for my book were eager to move home. Others detested the idea. Whatever boat you're in, take it all in. Recognize how things have changed. See your parents as fellow adults (maybe for the first time!) and realize that moving home may not be ideal, but it's good to be able to go back there--even if you wind up staying longer than you'd like.

Job Search & Career Advice Websites for New Grads

2011-05-05T08:03:00.001-07:00

In addition to those you should already be on, check out these job search websites for advice and leads.

http://timsstrategy.com/: Tim Tyrell-Smith shares tips on post-grad life and job searching. A great individual perspective on careers.

http://www.theundercoverrecruiter.com/: Get tips on using social media in your job search.

http://www.thejobcrowd.com/: A cool site that offers tips from professionals in the working world, started by two 20-something Brits.

http://smallbiztrends.com/: A great resource from anita Campbell if you're an entrepreneur or self-employed type.

http://www.indeed.com: I adore this website because is aggregates jobs from everywhere under the sun.

(Derived from http://www.kickstartcareers.co.uk)

Coming of Age in a Crap Economy

2011-05-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

Cool blog for 20-somethings--and a book is on the way, too! This girl knows all about what today's recent grads are dealing with. I stumbled upon her website and had to share!

http://www.comingofageinacrapeconomy.com/

Best Cedit Cards for College Grads

2011-04-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

The word "credit card" is an automatic cha-ching for college students, but when you're getting ready to graduate, you know a little bit more about the dangers of credit card use.

But there are good aspects to having a credit card. Namely, it helps you build credit. If you dream of owning a home, or even getting a car, a good credit score is a must-have. (My score wasn't always so hot, I'll admit.)

Check out this post, 5 Best Credit Cards for College Grads at CardRatings.com. It has some practical advice on how to use and benefit from credit cards.

Even if you leave college with a not-so-great score, getting one of these may help you improve your credit so you can leverage it for all you want in life.

5 Investment Ideas for Recent College Grads

2011-04-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know that many of you are not thinking about investing. Especially if you've got nothing to invest. But when you do, consider these ideas. I promise the financial advice in this article is practical and easy to understand.

5 Investment Ideas for Recent College Grads

By Chad Fisher

According to a survey conducted by Adecco Staffing US, college graduates lack confidence in their future retirements. The survey found that only 19 percent of participants believe Social Security will exist when they retire and only 46 percent had confidence that their personal savings plan will be able to fund their retirement lifestyle.

If you lack faith in your own personal savings plan, here are five ideas to help you get the right start after college.

[See the best personal finance stories from around the Web at the U.S. News My Money blog.]

1. Open a company-sponsored 401(k)

Perhaps the best investment option is your company’s 401(k). Many young professionals make the mistake of not contributing to the retirement plan offered through their job and they are missing out. Many companies offer “safe harbor” and matching programs. These programs are essentially like receiving free money. A safe harbor contribution means the funds paid by your company are automatically 100 percent vested at time of contribution; even if you choose to leave your company a month later, the funds stay with you. A match program is when the company matches the amount you contribute to your 401(k).

Many companies will do this for up to a specific percentage. If you are unsure about the details of your company’s retirement plan, take time to meet with your HR department to get the full details. The earlier you start participating, the better shape you will be at retirement.

If you are having a hard time finding from in your budget, consider this tip provided by the Securities Exchange Commission in their “Saving and Investing for Students” booklet: “If you buy a bottle of soda every day for $2.00, that adds up to $730.00 a year. If you saved that $730.00 for just one year, and put it into a savings account or investment that earns 5 percent a year, it would grow to $931.69 after 5 years, and grow to $3,155.02 after 30 years.”

2. If a 401(k) isn't available, open a Roth IRA

Some companies do not offer a 401K plan as an employee benefit. This shouldn’t be an excuse for you not to save for retirement. Open and contribute toward an IRA instead.

As reported by Liz Pulliam Weston on MSN.com, if you invest $3,000 in an IRA annually from age 22 to 32, and then stop saving altogether, your IRA could grow to more than $550,000 by the time you’re 65 (this is assuming an average 8 percent annual return). However, if you put off saving during those first 10 years out of college and start making $3,000 contributions annually from 32 to 65, your IRA would grow to only $437,000.

3. Consider a government consolidation loan

The College Board estimates in each school year from 2000 to 2007, 60 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients had to borrow funds to pay for their education; and the average debt per student increased nearly 17 percent, growing from $10,600 to $12,400 in the same time period. If you are one of the students who utilized student loans to help cover college costs, a government consolidation loan may be a smart financial move. With a consolidation loan, you are able to bundle all of your federal student loans into one monthly payment. Often, your rate will be lower than the average weighted rate of your existing loans. When you consolidate, your monthly payments may also decrease. By owing less interest and having a lower monthly payment, you are able to put more money away into savings. You can route these savings into an emergency account to help cover your monthly expenses should something happen to your job.

4. Minimize credit card debt

If you acquired a student credit card while in college, it’s time to graduate to a low-rate card. As reported by Liz Pulliam Weston in a recent MSN.com article, the average college student now graduates with more than $20,000 of debt, while the average starting salary is $30,000. Credit card debt is a large chunk of that owed by college grads, as found by Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae reports that undergraduates are now carrying a record amount in credit card balances—$3,173 on average.

“You’ll see huge savings by transferring your balance from a high-rate student credit card,” says Charles Tran, research director of the consumer credit card comparison site CreditDonkey. “For example, if you have a student credit card with a 23 percent APR and a $3,173 balance, you will pay $2,783 in interest and will take 13 years to pay off the balance when making the minimum payments.

By simply transferring that balance to a low rate card with an 11 percent APR, you will save $1,878 in interest and it will shave almost four years off your payment schedule,” explains Tran. You don’t have to stick with the minimum monthly payments when reducing your credit card debt. Even if it means decreasing the amount you are putting into savings—after all, what’s the point of stashing away an extra $100 into a savings account that gives your 2 percent interest or less when you’re paying much more on your debt?

5. Invest in yourself

Often, we focus on purely financial investments and forget to continue investing in ourselves when we earn our college degree. However, making a small investment in ourselves can lead to a large increase in future income potential. Take the time to find career development opportunities through the form of webinars, workshops, extension courses and certification programs. Also, don’t forget the value of trade organizations and a professional wardrobe.

By making the small time and financial investment in yourself, you will find yourself facing additional promotions and job opportunities that will lead to higher pay at a quicker rate than other professionals who only focus on their career while at work.

Chad Fisher spends his time building and promoting websites for people to learn more about affordable housing and has developed a free site for consumers to compare auto insurance quotes from providers in their state.

Good news for new grads!

2011-04-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

You know I'm a sucker for good news. After all, everywhere you look nowadays, all you hear is that it's impossible for new grads to get jobs. (Or that age-old rant about you being too "entitled.") But really, all the news isn't so bad.

In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers says companies and organizations plan to hire 19.3% more recent graduates this year. If that's not good news, I don't know what is.

So here's some more good news for soon-to-be / recent grads!

Uncertainty

2011-04-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about uncertainty a lot. Of course there is uncertainty out there but sometimes we think once we're past it, we'll never be "in it" again.

Today, I picked up my book. I am sending it to my new agent. Yes, friends, I finally got an agent for my third book. (And hopefully more after that.) She is very kind and very open, and I love that. She sees potential. I guess that's also her job. Anyway, I put my book in an envelope for her to send it off. And I opened it. The words looked so foreign. So far away. It was so long ago.

When I wrote Ramen Noodles, I was in a position of certainty. I had overcome my "after-college" period, whatever it was. I had overcome a quarterlife crisis, if that's what it was. I have grown. But things are still uncertain in other areas of my life. Things get more complicated. You just keep going through periods of uncertainty.

If you're feeling uncertain today, just remember that it will go. It will pass. It may come again, but if it does, you are better equipped to deal with it than you were in the past.

LinkedIn Jobs for Students/Recent Grads

2011-04-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

It’s the home stretch on college campuses across the country. Graduating students are looking for full-time jobs, while others are seeking summer internships. To help students during this intense time, LinkedIn has built a Job Portal for Students and Recent Graduates providing easy access to entry-level jobs and internships at some of the best companies worldwide.

A better job search experience for students and graduates

While anyone can search and view job listings on the public Student Job Portal, Linkedin members with a completed profile and connections have a much richer job search experience:

We recommend jobs: Based on your education and interests, we’ll recommend jobs specifically targeted to you – right on your home page or with optional email alerts.
Put your network to work: Each connection you make expands your network, adding people who can provide insights into opportunities, or who can even help you land a job. Connect to fellow students and see where they’ve found jobs, reach out to alumni whose companies are hiring, and leverage the networks of your parents, family friends or mentors.
You can research companies: LinkedIn’s Company Pages provide rich insights to help you explore where you want to work. Learn who companies hire, what products and services they sell, what professionals are saying about them, and who you know who works there.
Companies find you: At the end of the day, it’s also a great opportunity to be found by leading companies. Companies continually comb LinkedIn’s member profiles for the best candidates. The more complete your profile, the better your chances of being found.
Find opportunities worldwide: The Student Job Portal is available in all languages currently supported on the site – and you’ll find jobs from top employers in locations around the world.

Quick Tip! To expand your network, join your University Alumni Group. Connect to fellow students and see where they’ve found jobs, reach out to alumni whose companies are hiring, and leverage the networks of your parents, family friends or mentors.

Partnerships with top companies and public service organizations

To support students and recent graduates, LinkedIn is working closely with our customers to add high-quality entry-level jobs and internships to Linkedin that you will find through the Jobs Portal. And given the growing importance of public service jobs in today’s world, they are also reaching out to non-profit organizations and government agencies to include them in our program.

Now that the glow of Spring Break is starting to wear off, it’s time to get started. Visit http://www.linkedin.com/studentjobs today!

Looking for a job? Consider building your career foundation!

2011-04-04T06:49:00.001-07:00

It's graduation season--and I know for many grads that brings a lot of anxiety. New grads are facing a different job climate. Not necessarily the worst, but it's different...and there are some new rules to play by.

One of those rules is to consider a foundation job. I've been writing a lot about this lately, primarily because I feel it is so important. "Foundation jobs" are jobs that you may not consider. You may have your eyes on a swanky gig or even a practical entry-level job, but sometimes--especially in some industries--those jobs aren't possible, at least right now (due to the economy or other reasons). So you may find that you have to wait it out till the job climate improves. But that doesn't mean you should sacrifice your career.

In the meantime you can build important skill sets--something you should do with a first job anyway--to help you build for the future. Why? Well, right now, your next move is more about laying groundwork for the career you want and less about actually having it.

Foundation jobs are typically full-time, require a college degree, offer stable pay and benefits, and will enable you to build skills. You may think the degree is enough, but it doesn't give you professional experience or skills. You have to now leverage the degree to build those skills. The skills are the foundation!

Here's an example: If you’re an English major and you want to be a reporter, you may not be able to become a journalist right now--the media industry is hurting. A foundation job would be taking a job as a marketing assistant at a well-known company. You may work for a newspaper, which would be the ideal spot for a journalist...but you could also consider working for a private company or agency in its marketing department. You can still write there and build important skills. Jobs like this look great on your resume, and right now you're building that, too.

The point is, taking a foundation job is better than going back to your old high school job. With a foundation job, you cultivate your skills and make a decent amount of money so you can start paying off all those fun college loans, too. See what I mean? Foundation jobs are practical.

(And they don't necessarily pay horribly, either. In fact, that journalist will probably make more at a foundation job than an entry-level reporter.)

Think about your alternatives. Keep your eye on your dream but be practical. What skills do YOU need to get to where you want to go? Write them down and then look at some other jobs that will enable you to foster them.

Again, still apply for the job you really want if you know what that is. But don't discount a foundation job. After all, you worked really hard for your degree and you can still put it to work for you even if you're not doing what you love right now.

(And remember: Even grads in the best economies had to start from the ground up.)

I Don't Want to be Crazy

2011-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Looking for your next big 20-something read? Check out this book, I Don't Want to be Crazy by Samantha Schutz.

It's about a girl who struggles with anxiety during and after college. Even if you haven't had similar trials, you will likely enjoy this book.

Her writing is honest and raw and she touches on having "after-college" experiences including finding--and tolerating--her first job. Overall, I really enjoyed it and commend Samantha Schutz for being such an honest, prolific writer.

What's your favorite 20-something read?

Top 10 Companies Young People Want to Work For

2011-03-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

A new report recently came out about the places that soon-to-be grads want to work for. Are any of these on your list of employers to target?

10. Teach for America
This New York City-based non-profit hires mostly recent graduates and places them in low-income school districts for two or more years. Their annual revenue of $192 millions is made up mostly of grants and contributions.

9. NASA
Any government job is seen as a score, but space exploration? No-brainer. NASA has just under 19,000 employees.

8. CIA
Applying to the CIA is not quite as simple as filling out an application. Nonetheless, with somewhere around 20,000 employees this top secret agency comes in at eight.

7. MICROSOFT
In the 1990s, people would look at Bill Gates the way they now look at Steve Jobs. Though the 90s are well over, Microsoft still is a pretty safe place to work. Currently, the Washington state-based monolith employees close 89,000 around the globe and has an annual revenue of $66.69 billion

6. FBI
No, not Female Body Inspector, those surveyed went with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Bureau is home to 35,403 employees.

5. AMAZON
Remember when you had to run around to a bunch of stores to buy books, music and lawn equipment? Neither do I. This ever-growing company employees 33,700 and brings in an annual revenue of $34.20 billion.

4. U.S. Department of State
Have you had always wanted to work for Hillary Clinton? Hook up with the Department of State and you can! Its chief function being responsible international relations, the Department of State has 22,000 employees, including diplomats.

3. The Walt Disney Company
The largest media and entertainment company in the world, you too can work for the mouse. Disney employs 144,000 and in 2010 raked in $39.04 billion.

2. APPLE
In the 1990s, people would look at Steve Jobs the way they look at Bill Gates today. Now, with the iPhone, iPad and all things i, Apple is at the forefront of personal technology. In 2010 alone, the company earned $76.28 billion.

1. GOOGLE
Being the only company on the list that also serves as a verb, it should come as no surprise that Google is the top place young professionals want to work at. Worldwide, the search engine has 24,400 employees and in 2010 alone earned $29.32 billion in revenue.

Excerpted from a post by elearners.com

5 Things Nobody Tells You About Working

2011-03-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

Check out my article, "5 Things Nobody Tells You About the Working World" on Pongo Resume!

LinkedIn on Campus Training Webinar, etc.

2011-03-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

In this free training webinar designed exclusively for careers professionals, you will learn the strategies and best practices to leverage LinkedIn in your classroom or your career or alumni center. Lindsey Pollak, author of Getting from College to Career, will show you:

How students can develop their professional image and explore opportunities with LinkedIn
Approaches to engage alumni and students using LinkedIn Groups
Best practices to attract more alumni and companies to recruit at your school
Successful LinkedIn strategies used by career centers around the world
Expert answers to your questions about LinkedIn

Participants who complete this training will have access to an exclusive Career Services Professionals Group on LinkedIn!

Webinars Conducted In Collaboration with NACE

Tuesday, 1/18	4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT (1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT, 9:00pm – 10:00pm GMT)	Register
Tuesday, 2/15	4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT (1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT, 9:00pm – 10:00pm GMT)	Register
Tuesday, 3/15	4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT (1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT, 9:00pm – 10:00pm GMT)	Register
Tuesday, 4/12	4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT (1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT, 9:00pm – 10:00pm GMT)	Register
Tuesday, 5/17	4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT (1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT, 9:00pm – 10:00pm GMT)	Register
Tuesday, 6/14	4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT (1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT, 9:00pm – 10:00pm GMT)	Register

Another good find? This post on Eve Tahmincioglu's Career Diva blog on whether college grads should skip job-hunting in the dull economy and just go to grad school. (Hint: Head to grad school only if it's required to get into the career you want!)

Tips to Manage Your Time in a Distraction-Filled World

2011-02-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

I was approached by the folks at GreekforMe.com and asked if I would accept a guest post. I usually do depending on the author or the company writing it. At the same time, I have to tell you that the word Greek stood out to me. Why? I was never part of the Greek system in college, but I am fascinated with the TV show, Greek. Sadly, it will be ending next week. So with that in mind, let's gain a little knowledge from our Greek friends--it'll be useful whether you've been involved in a frat or sorority, or just live vicariously through your TV to get a feel for true Greek life!

After-college life is pretty busy, isn’t it? You’re driving to work while also putting blush on your cheeks, responding to personal emails while checking your office inbox, and planning out your day while also updating your Twitter and Facebook. You’re spending lunch not relaxing, but checking in with the non-profit you volunteer for and also buying outfits for your mini vacay weekend from your smartphone. Your attention is spread out across five different things at once, causing you to not really give you full attention to any of them. We’re busy bees here at GreekForMe.com, and although we just love being immersed in Greek Merchandise like AKA Paraphernalia, we too had to learn how to better manage our time and devote our full attention to tasks. Here’s out tips on finding time in your schedule to give attention to all the things that you need to do throughout your life, while also staying sane!

Are You A Victim Of Immediacy?

When an email comes to your inbox, do you click on it and open it immediately? If so, this is a major habit you need to break yourself of, as you’re constantly ripping your attention away from the tasks you were working on when the email came through. Make a point to check your office inbox in the morning when you get into work, and every two hours from there, aside from any special circumstances where you especially need to keep an eye on it. Check your personal inbox during lunch or on a break, and then when you get home. You’re in control of your inbox, so check it and respond in a timely manner – on your time.

Social Media Procrastination

Isn’t it so easy to find yourself on Facebook for way longer than you planned, or scrolling through new tweets on Twitter? Social media is wonderful for connecting us with people we may not get to know in our personal lives, as well as carving out our online reputation, but it’s also a major time suck, especially if you’re perusing social media sites during work hours. Instead, take a look in the morning, on lunch, and at night. You’ll still be clued in to social media goings-on, but no one will be left wondering how you can tweet all day and still keep your day job!

The Tasks Are Pilin’ Up

Many companies have a limited workforce these days, which means you’re probably feeling a bit overloaded with work. As long as you’re giving it your all during the work day, there’s only so much you can do before you’re stressed and unproductive. Use productivity tools, or a simple spreadsheet, to create a weekly to-do list. Then, simply slot work in where you feel you can best take care of it. Include the little things, too, like checking up on the status of a project. Having it jotted down helps you take the task off your mind and onto paper, and feel calmer knowing you have control over your to-do list.

We lead busy lives, and understanding how to better take control of a need for immediacy, continually updating social media profiles, and feeling overwhelmed with tasks can be a major help in ensuring you devote your full attention to what’s at hand. Plus, you can say goodbye to that constant “What did I forget?!”feeling! Share with us your tips for better time management and giving your full attention to the task in front of you.

My First Job: Networking Works to Break into Entertainment Arena

2011-02-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

Name: April Seelig
Age: Depends on who’s asking ;-)
Current Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Year Graduated: May 2010
Major: Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Entertainment Management
School: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
First Job: Digital Account Executive
Company/Type of Company: TV Station
Current Job Title: Digital Account Executive
How Long at Your First Job: Going on 6 months
Still there? Yes
Website: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=59315100&trk=tab_pro

How did you land your first job after college?

I went to as many professional networking events as I could, and told everyone I met that I was a recent graduate and looking for a job. By doing this I learned that professionals love to help young graduates that are trying to get into their industry.

Tell us about the process of getting your first job.

I sent my resume to the professionals I had met at the networking events and within the first few weeks I had companies calling me for interviews.

What was the most challenging aspect of securing your first job?

The most challenging aspect was deciding if it was the right decision to make career wise, and if I saw it helping achieve my long-term professional goals.

How important was your resume in helping get the job?

My resume got me the job interview, but my personality during the interview got me the job.

What was the biggest challenge once you were on the job? How did you overcome that?

I learned that having a “real world” job is much harder than being in college. You have to re-prioritize your life and act more responsible. The hardest part is having friends that are still in college who want to party on weeknights and you can’t because you have to work the next day. To overcome this, I joined a few professional groups and started making friends who know what it is like to work all day and are in the same situation as me.

What is the best thing about your first job?

The best thing about my first job is getting paid salary and having benefits, it makes you feel accomplished.

What didn't you expect about your first job?

I didn’t expect to be the youngest person on the team. It is hard when I go out to meet with clients and they think that I am still in high school or college. Having to gain that level of respect is a challenge when you aren’t as old as others in the same position.

What is your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal is to own a PR agency.

What are your next steps in attaining that goal?

To attain this goal I am currently gaining experience and meeting as many people as I can that can pass down knowledge and help accomplish this goal. I can’t stress the importance of networking enough, trust me and get out there and do it!

My First Job: Staying Competitive in the Marketing Arena

2011-02-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

The My First Job series continues and this time we hear from a girl who had a rough go upon graduation, but is now thriving in the marketing field.

Name: Grace Cheung
Age: 24
Current Location: Los Angeles
Year Graduated: 2008
Major: Mass Communications
School: University of California, Berkeley
First Job: Marketing Assistant at Monster Cable

Company/Type of Company: Consumer Electronics

Current Job Title: Digital Marketing Specialist at Spirent Communications
How Long at Your First Job: 9 months

Still there? No

Website: You can visit my blog at www.grace-cheung.com/blog, where I blog about nonprofit marketing and cause marketing.

How did you land your first job after college? I found this particular job through Craigslist.

Tell us about the process of getting your first job. I graduated in the spring of 2008 and started job hunting shortly after in the summer of 2008. It was a difficult time because the market had just crashed and companies were laying off workers left and right. I wanted to work in marketing or public relations, but many companies had slashed those types of jobs, so entry level marketing/PR jobs were scarce. I found leads through friends and applied to some positions on Craigslist as well as the university's job portal.

What was the most challenging aspect of securing your first job? Learning how to interview effectively. And applying to jobs that were a good fit. I didn't know how to position myself in such a competitive marketplace back then.

How important was your resume in helping get the job? Very important. Your resume helps you land the interview (having a connection at the company helps even more!) Make sure you tailor your resume to the job you're applying for, and that you mention any relevant accomplishments.

What was the biggest challenge once you were on the job? How did you overcome that? I have to be honest that entry level jobs aren't exactly the most intellectually challenging, but the work needs to be done one way or another. So I took it upon myself to learn new skills, read industry publications daily, ask for more challenging work and ask for more responsibilities. People will give you more work if you ask for it.

What did you wish you did differently when it came to finding, securing and performing on the job? I wish I had "networked" more. But not network in the traditional sense where you go out to meet people for the sole purpose of benefiting from the relationship later on. But I really wish I had spent more time meeting new people, learning about them, developing real relationships and perhaps finding a professional mentor. Also, as an entry-level employee, it's important to keep in mind that if you want to learn something, just go ahead and learn it on your own. Developing your career is your own responsibility - so go out there and make things happen.

What was the best thing about your first job? Free products, seeing celebrities around the office, and I really enjoyed working on the Beats by Dr. Dre marketing campaign. It's such a huge brand now. Also, I loved my colleagues. Most of them were nice, smart, and extremely hard-working people. We all got along really well.

What didn't you expect about your first job? I didn't expect that the company would go through 2-3 rounds of layoffs, so that was really hard, especially since I was new to the working world. I lost my manager in one of the rounds, so that was tough too. And after the layoffs, employee morale was really low.

If you're not there anymore, why did you leave--and after how long? I left for personal reasons. I moved back home to Los Angeles because I wanted to enroll in a marketing program at UCLA. I felt that, in the long run, it was a good move professionally and financially.

How long did you think you'd be at that first job? At least 2-3 years.

Do you wish you stayed longer? Why or why not? Yes, but it was actually a contract position and my compensation barely covered my rent each month, so it was impossible for me to stay. I saw it as an investment in my career, but when it got to the point where I would have had to incur debt to continue working for the company, I had no choice but to leave.

What was your next job--was it a good move for you, personally and career wise? Two months after I moved back to Los Angeles, I accepted a position as a marketing manager at a small web development and web marketing company located near Beverly Hills. It was a fantastic experience, because the environment was very much like a start-up, and I had the opportunity to learn anything I wanted to learn. I had a lot of freedom to be creative, as long as it helped achieve our clients' goals, and I was there for a little over a year.

I just started a new job as a digital marketing specialist for a telecommunications company 3 weeks ago (my current manager recruited me through LinkedIn) and it's been awesome so far, especially since I reduced my commute time from 2 hours per day to 30 minutes per day. The work is more challenging and in line with my career goals at this point in my life, so I'm a happy camper.

What is your ultimate career goal? I would like to drive marketing and branding initiatives for Fortune 500 companies one day, but I would also like to spend several years working for a start-up or a nonprofit. There's nothing more rewarding than building a brand from scratch. That is my dream.

What are your next steps in attaining that goal? Continue to build meaningful relationships and continue to build my skill set by taking classes, reading, and volunteering, so I'll stay competitive in the marketplace.

Is social media ruining your friendships?

2011-01-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

I was reading this post about social media ruining friendships, and it got me thinking. I know many recent grads rely on social media as a way to communicate--maybe more than others. I'm 10 years out of college, so I use social media, but I don't divulge every detail on my Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn statuses. Many people don't.

But I'm surprised how many people get upset when they don't know what's going on in someone's life. How can they get upset if a person chooses not to share everything on Facebook.

Especially when it comes to a close friend. Can they get mad when you don't share every detail? Well, they can. But is it justified?

Everyone has their own comfort level with what they post and how they react to a post, but when you start to rely on social media as your means of communication, you can lose connection to those closest in your life. A status message replaces a phone call or a cup of tea--but really, it doesn't.

Next time you need to connect with someone, pick up the phone or at least send an email. Or if you find out about major life news from someone you thought was close to you, try not to get mad. Instead, connect more--using everything other than social media. Maybe send a letter. Maybe call. Maybe set up time to spend time. Especially with those close to you.

It's easy to get wrapped up in social media, but sometimes, even a regular status message doesn't communicate well.

Never Get a "Real" Job Giveaway

2011-01-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

I've got another giveaway for a book I really think you'll like! This time it's for Never Get a Real Job by Scott Gerber. And if you are into freelancing or you dream of starting your own business, or you're on the way with another entrepreneurial venture, this is a great book to have.

About the author:

Scott Gerber is a serial entrepreneur, internationally syndicated columnist, angel investor and public speaker. In additoin to his website at www.nevergetarealjob.com, he also heads up the Young Entrepreneur Council, a group created to help 20-somethings and other young entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to life.

Check out this page--the collection of inspiring young business people is proof that you can do anything. And as Scott says, you don't ever have to get a "real" job to make it happen!

Wanna enter? Leave a comment here with your email address, full name and location. Winners will be chosen at random. Contest ends Friday, February 4, 2011.

(In giveaway news, the business card/resume critique winner was chosen--details coming soon!)

Hiring to Rise for Bachelor-level Jobs

2011-01-04T08:59:00.001-08:00

Good news for recent grads trying to find a job--things are looking up. According to a report from Recruiting Trends, overall hiring will rise by 3%, but hiring at the Bachelor's level is predicted to soar by 10%.

Check out the full article here from PBS' The Business Desk with Paul Solman.

Thoughts on an Old Year, Thoughts on a New Year

2010-12-31T08:27:00.001-08:00

I love New Year's. It is usually my favorite holiday other than Thanksgiving.

Just a note to all those recent grads out there that had a tough year--always remember there is a chance to start over. Not every New Year, but every day. Every year, every day, is what we make it.

All the best in 2011!

Fresh Links for New Grads

2010-12-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

Some recent Web resources for recent grads:

Job Hunting? Face-to-Face Trumps Online: An awesome article about why you shouldn't rely on social media to find a job.
College is Worth It, Right?: I still say going to college is better than not, but here's an interesting article by Rick Green of The Hartford Courant.
How to Tell if It's a Dead-End Job: Some good tips about how you can tell if your job is going nowhere.
Avoiding Office Politics Pitfalls: Great information about how to thrive at work--and avoid the drama.
10 Reasons Yoga Makes Your Life Better: Okay, okay. I'm a yogini. So I thought I'd share some perspective on the practice from a recent college grad, Doniree Walker.

Don’t Name Your Resume, “resume” & Nine Other Head-Smacking Tips for Job Seekers

2010-11-29T07:12:00.000-08:00

Today, it's a guest post from Don Fornes, the founder the CEO of Software advice. Enjoy!

At Software Advice, we’re hiring like mad, or at least trying to. You might think a growing company with interesting jobs, great pay, top-notch benefits and a cool office would find hiring to be a breeze in a recession like this. Nope.

We want A players on our team – we have 19 so far. However, we typically sort through about 150 candidates for each hire we make. Only about twelve of those 150 candidates get to a first-round phone interview.

Why so few?

It’s not worth our time to interview any more than that. The incremental effort of interviewing more than twelve out of 150 candidates produces a very low marginal yield of qualified hires. There may be a superstar hidden in the other 138, but it’s not worth our time to dig too deep to find her. Yes, we look at each application, but we do so with an eye for why we should reject the candidate, not why we should hire them. That quickly gets us to roughly a dozen interviewees, and then we switch our mindset to start thinking about who we want to hire.

With that as context, I want to share some of the screens I use to whittle down 150 applications to twelve interviews. I’m not talking about the usual hiring criteria; yes, we absolutely look at experience, achievements, academic credentials, etc. That’s all core and critical. Instead, I’m going to talk about the head-smacking, silly things people do that make me click “reject” in our applicant tracking system (ATS).

One more bit of context: our typical hiring profile is a recent college grad, zero to five years out, looking for a sales or marketing job. Keep that in mind. Here goes:

1. Don’t name your resume, “resume.” About a third of applicants name their resume document, “resume.doc.” “Resume” may make sense on your computer, where you know it’s your resume. However, on my computer, it’s one of many, many resumes with the same name. I used to rename them, but then I noticed the strong correlation between unqualified candidates and the “resume” file name. Now I reject them if I don’t see something really good within ten seconds. By using such a generic file name, the applicant misses a great opportunity to brand themselves (e.g. “John Doe – Quota Crusher”). If you’re qualified enough to sell or market for us, you won’t miss the opportunity to at least use your name in the file name.

2. don’t use all lowercase. i’m not sure where this trend originated. is it some text messaging thing? it’s so easy to capitalize properly on a keyboard. how much time is this really saving you? to me, it screams out, “hi. i’m lazy. my pinkies are really heavy and I’d rather not move them to shift. when i start working for you, i’ll look for other ways to be lazy. i’ll also rebel against authority figures like you, just like i’m rebelling against the english teachers that dedicated their lives to helping me become literate.” seriously though, this bad habit buys you next to nothing and is bound to offend countless detailed-oriented hiring managers.

3. Don’t write like a robot. I’ve noticed a funny phenomenon with many grads that are entering “the real world.” While their speech is still littered with “ums,” “likes” and “you knows,” their writing is exceedingly formal, long-winded and boring. The people that are reviewing your application were young once too. They may still be young. Most of them have a sense of humor. They get bored. Please, don’t make them parse dense cover letters and resumes that read like some robot ate a thesaurus and puked. Just use concise, well-written prose. Keep sentences short. Toss in a joke or two. Show us a little bit of your personality. We’re going to have to work with you more than we see our spouses, so show us that we’ll enjoy it. No robots.

4. Don’t spam hiring managers. It’s easy to tell when a candidate is just applying to any job out there to see if anyone will call for an interview. Unlikely. Hiring managers want to know that you are excited about the position. They know that passion for the role is critical to success. Take the time to understand the company and the open position. Write a cover letter or email that explains your interest in the role and your qualifications. Tweak your resume to match the hiring criteria. On our web application, we ask applicants to answer three questions. Why? Because spammer applicants will just enter simple answers of a few words; applicants that care enter well-written, thoughtful answers. We delete the former immediately. Remember, these jobs are competitive; the only way to compete is to stand out…in a good way. Spam won’t.

5. Don’t expose your licentious personal life. We’ve all read about social media missteps – those unfortunate photos of you passed out drunk, covered in flour (“antiqued” as my co-workers call it), profane words written on your face. Honestly, I understand. If Facebook and camera phones were around when I was in college, I’d still be blushing in embarrassment. Now that you want a career, put that stuff behind you. Start managing your reputation online and off. One of our three application questions asks for the applicant’s proudest achievements. Today some guy answered that he had produced and stared in his own music video. Kinda cool, I thought. That is, until I clicked the link and witnessed the puerile lifestyle of which he remains so proud. Reject. As a rule, I’m not going to pry too deep into your personal life, so don’t jinx yourself by showing us you at your worst.

6. Don’t talk badly about your former employer. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. This is especially relevant in the hiring process. When I read negative comments in an application or cover letter, I’m shocked. My problem with this is twofold. First, it typically takes two to tangle. I assume there is a high likelihood that this applicant finds trouble wherever they go. Moreover, talking badly betrays a lack of “political judgment” – a critical skill set for the workplace, whether you like it or not. When I hear a candidate say that their last employer was incompetent, a micro-manager, or unfair, I assume I’m next on their list. The candidate may be right; their former employer may be horrible. I’ll pass on the opportunity to find out.

Read the rest at: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/enterprise/head-smacking-tips-for-job-seekers-1112210/#ixzz16gV94ud9

Holiday Giveaway: Business Cards and a Resume Critique

2010-11-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

Well, you can scratch business cards off your holiday wish list--because NextDayFlyers is giving away 500 standard business cards printed in full color on the front, black on the back. They'll include next-day printing turnaround time and ground shipping to the Continental U.S.

NextDayFlyers specializes in providing brochures, business cards and much more. Check them out for all of your printing needs!

Sounds pretty sweet, eh? Well, I'd like to sweeten the deal and add a resume critique to the mix. (I just earned my Certified Professional Resume Writer [CPRW] credential, so you know you're getting great advice!) That's right, the winner also gets a resume consulting session from me, via email. Not a bad way to jump-start your 2011 job-hunting / networking activities, eh?

How to Enter: Leave a comment here with your full email address and tell me why you want new business cards and a resume critique. The winner, chosen at random by myself, will be sent details for their new business cards, and then they will be invited by me to submit their resume. I will provide a critique via email. You may enter only once--but tell your friends about the giveaway as much as possible. Open to residents in the U.S. only--and the business cards will only go to the 48 states (sorry, Alaskans and Hawaiians--you always get a bum deal...maybe next time).

Deadline is December 20, 2010 and the winner will be announced in January 2011.

So, what are you waiting for? Enter today.

My First Job: Nikki Takes the Stage

2010-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Name: Nikki Klecha
Age: 29
Current Location: Los Angeles, CA
Year Graduated: 2003
Major: Theatre performance
School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
First Job: Louise in "Private Lives"

Company/Type of Company: Thirteenth Street Ensemble (professional Equity -Actor's union- theatre company), Birmingham, AL

Current Job Title: Actor
How Long at Your First Job: One month (the run of the show)

Still there? No.

Website: www.gratefulsparrow.blogspot.com

How did you land your first job after college? Tell us about the process of getting your first job.

Thirteenth Street Ensemble is a professional theatre company in residence with the University of Alabama at Birmingham . They had a two-show summer season and recent graduates were encouraged to audition but not given preference. I knew there were only five female roles available and a lot of professional actors, including some of my professors, were auditioning. Even though I had graduated the school with high honors, I knew there was slim chance that I'd be cast, with such a high level of competition.

I researched both of the plays, not to decide which part I wanted, but to see what part I could go for and make myself really stand out. I noticed that in "Private Lives," there's a supporting character who speaks French. Even though I knew it would pretty much negate my chances of getting any of the other four parts, I decided to focus wholly on that character and prepared a monologue that was half English and half French. I had a friend help me with the pronunciation.

I got the part. I had correctly assumed that no one else would be focusing on this minor character, choosing instead to read for the main roles (which ended up being cast with professors and professional actors, not recent grads), and by going for this character to such a committed extent, I showed the director exactly what I'd be able to deliver in the show. He told me later that I had made his job easy.

Auditions are job interviews; make yourself stand out and do your research to know exactly what the job requires and be that, and you'll make the interviewer's job easy.

What was the most challenging aspect of securing your first job?

Learning French! And making that commitment to going whole-hog for that one role, knowing it would mean I had no chance at any of the other, bigger roles.

What was the biggest challenge once you were on the job? How did you overcome that?

Working with my professors. It was intimidating, as a recent graduate (as in, I'd graduated not even a month before), to act next to my professors and working, professional actors. However, I buoyed myself with the knowledge that this was no different than any other play I've done & that I know what I'm doing. After a few rehearsals, I felt confident & had totally proven myself to be on par with the professionals.

What did you wish you did differently when it came to finding, securing and performing on the job?

Honestly, nothing. It was a great experience.

What was the best thing about your first job?

The confidence that came with knowing I could hold my own next to the professionals. I could work alongside my mentors and not only do a great job, but create a performance that was memorable in it's own right.

What didn't you expect about your first job?
I was pleasantly surprised at the very positive feedback I received about my performance. In auditioning for and committing to a smaller part than I would've originally wanted, I got the opportunity to really make the most of it & shine, without the pressure a larger role would've put on me. I took a job that wasn't ideal and made it ideal and, in doing so, impressed my boss, the director.

If you're not there anymore, why did you leave--and after how long? How long did you think you'd be at that first job? Do you wish you stayed longer? What was your next job--was it a good move for you, personally and career wise?
When the show ended (after about a month/six weeks), the job was over, so there was no choice to stay longer or not. I did, however, at that point choose to leave Alabama and go to London, where I worked a day job in an office and did a non-professional theatre show. Personally, it was a fantastic move. Professionally, it was good in the sense that I experienced London theatre (which had always been a dream of mine), but not great in a financial sense. But that's the way it goes in this career.

What is your ultimate career goal? What are your next steps in attaining that goal?
I'm really trying to figure that out. Since living in LA for six years, I've done a lot of movies and am now in the professional film actor's union (SAG), which are both career goals I have reached. This career is much harder than most people realize, though, so I'm open to going in other directions and trying to determine my next steps. We'll see where it takes me...

Congratulations, Sharon!

2010-10-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

This is Sharon, one of my best friends. We met in college; she shared all those great experiences with me that made up my college life. If you read the book, you remember that I was devastated to leave college--leaving "Shu" behind (she graduated after me) was a huge reason why.

But it's funny that now we're in our 30s, still friends and still going strong. I miss seeing her everyday. I miss being single together in some respects. I miss living down the hall from her.

But this weekend, she married the love of her life and I could not be happier for her. Again, things have changed, but I'm most happy that we are able to remember good days in the past but grow together in the future. Our best days are still ahead of us:)

Much love, Shu!

My First Job: The Entrepreneurial Path, Marian's Way

2010-10-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Name: Marian Schembari
Age: 23
Current Location: London, England (by way of NYC)
Year Graduated: 2009
Major: Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies
School: Davidson College
First Job: Associate Book Publicist

Company/Type of Company: Boutique PR firm specializing in book publicity

Current Job Title: Social Media Advisor for Authors & Freelancers
How Long at Your First Job: 3 months

Still there? Nope

Website: http://marianlibrarian.com

How did you land your first job after college?
Facebook advertisements

Tell us about the process of getting your first job.
It was a gargantuan pain in the butt. Resume after resume, informational interview after informational interview. Basically, lots of responding to jobs on major sites like Monster and smaller, more niche sites like Bookjobs.com and Mediabistro. I'd also obsessively scan the job boards of the companies where I wanted to work most.

What was the most challenging aspect of securing your first job?
Getting my foot in the damn door. I had the experience, the drive, but even getting heard was a challenge. I didn't even know if they saw my resume, let alone considered that.

What was the biggest challenge once you were on the job? How did you overcome that?
Getting used to having a schedule! It was really hard for me to adapt to the 9 to 5 lifestyle with a set time for lunch and sitting in front of a computer all day. Going from the flexible lifestyle of the job seeker to gainfully employed was surprisingly difficult.

What did you wish you did differently when it came to finding, securing and performing on the job?
Honestly, I wished I hadn't wasted a second of time on job boards. In three months I didn't land ONE interview from a job board or company website. The three interviews I did snag (and the job I eventually got) resulted from a contact of a contact within the company or a contact I made myself through social media.

What was the best thing about your first job?
After years of part-time jobs and summer internships, a look inside "real" corporate culture was priceless. I learned that entry-level sucks, end of story. You're not given a lot of leeway or creative freedom. You need to be okay with that.

What didn't you expect about your first job?
I didn't expect everything to be so regulated! Email and browser history was monitored, lunch was timed, etc etc. Who knew some jobs treat employees like kindergartners?

If you're not there anymore, why did you leave--and after how long?
I left because the Facebook ads that helped me get a job brought in more freelancer work than I expected. I also didn't adapt too well to the 9 to 5 lifestyle and realized I could be my own boss, make more money and generally have more fun working for myself.

How long did you think you'd be at that first job?
At least a year.

Do you wish you stayed longer?
Not even a little bit. Am glad I had that experience, learned about Corporate America and had hands-on experience in the publishing industry, but 3 months was more than enough.

What was your next job--was it a good move for you, personally and career wise? My next job was selling tickets at a Manhattan museum, but that was only part-time and until I generated enough income freelancing to support myself. Thankfully, I only needed to do that for another 2 months before I went full time as a freelance consultant.

What is your ultimate career goal?
I don't have one! I'm a firm believer in our dreams and passions changing. Not to be corny, but I have no desire to set up my life for some Ultimate Career Goal. I love my job right now, I love working for myself and I think that's something I'll always want to do. Do I want to help people with social media for my entire life? Probably not. Someday I want to go to culinary school, open up a bakery, write a book, maybe study again... who knows?!

What are your next steps in attaining that goal?
Right now I love where I'm at, it's teaching me a lot about business and the world and technology and for the next few years this is exactly where I want to be. My goal for the next few years is to keep building my business, learning more and more about how the internet is changing business, how I can leverage that and just keep making as many friends and contacts as I can!! How awesome is my job? ;-)

And Who Am I? A College Kid That Never Goes to Class!

2010-10-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a huge fan of the CW show, Gossip Girl. Every Monday night, without fail, I am glued to my couch and TV to find out what happens in the "scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite."

(This previous Monday was a challenge--Monday Night Football with the Patriots giving the Dolphins a can of whoop-ass, or trying to figure out if Chuck Bass' new chick is for real? Conundrum! In the end, Gossip Girl won, but don't think I wasn't flicking back to ESPN during commercial breaks.)

Anyway, what puzzles me about this show is that the characters are all in college now, but not once this season have they shown them in class. There have been a few "on campus" shots of Blair and Serena trying to get into the elite social house, but that's it.

I realize that it's only TV, but it kind of makes you think (if you, too, are following this show), what the hell are these people doing? They're sophomores, they're not at all focused on their studies. I mean, they have to be involved in charity galas and pretentious rumors because, well, otherwise the show would never have lasted this long, or been this good. (I know, many of you will argue!)

But couldn't they at least show that these socialites actually care about their studies? Or don't they, figuring they'll have everything handed to them, anyway? How realistic is this depiction of college life?

This is probably why I needed my breaks of reality during the show, hence switching on Monday Night Football. On the field, things are real. You work hard. You get pounded. You excel. But sometimes it's good to indulge in positively horrible-yet-wonderful TV. Even if Serena, Blair, Nate, Dan, or Vanessa never actually see the inside of a classroom, or care at all about getting an internship. Hey, at least they look good. Who needs a resume, anyway?

Which Debt-Destroying Strategy Is Right for You?

2010-10-07T11:18:00.001-07:00

Chances are, you've got some debt hanging over your head. Whether it is from student loans or credit card spending, having the weight of "owing back" is never fun.

Check out this quiz, "Which Debt-Destroying Strategy Is Right for You?" Hopefully it will help you find a personalized plan to squish that debt!

It is interesting to know that some people do not pay off the debt with the highest interest rates. Instead, they work on small balances so they can eliminate those. Thinking about it, I've done that too. But I still vote for consolidating debt if it makes sense, and making at least the minimum payments.

LinkedIn Focuses on College Students and Recent College Grads with Career Explorer

2010-10-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 80 million members globally, today announced Career Explorer in collaboration with PwC US, one of the largest employers of college graduates in the United States. The new LinkedIn Career Explorer tool provides current college students with unique, data-driven insights to help them build their careers.

Career Explorer enables college students to chart potential career paths, build a professional network and gather valuable insights into the careers they are interested in pursuing. Career paths are easily mapped out for students, based on aggregate paths that LinkedIn’s 80 million members have taken before them. Additional resources for college students, such as relevant job opportunities, the type of education and experience required, and relevant salary information are also available via Career Explorer.

"PwC and LinkedIn share the goal of helping young professionals maximize career opportunities," said Bob Moritz, US chairman and senior partner, PwC. "Our collaboration has produced an innovative resource that engages people with PwC in a way that personalizes our brand while also helping them make more informed career decisions.

“LinkedIn is about connecting talent with opportunity at massive scale. Career Explorer is the latest example of how we make that possible by providing one of our fastest growing demographics, students and recent college graduates, unique and valuable insights enabling them to develop the optimal career path,” said Jeff Weiner, chief executive officer of LinkedIn. “We’re excited to be launching this product in partnership with PwC, one of the largest and most forward thinking recruiters of new graduates.”

Career Explorer is the first of many new products that leverage LinkedIn’s unique career data to provide useful insights for professionals.

Key functionality includes:

-Career Mapping: Explore the paths taken by professionals in various careers. Students can also save and create multiple career paths with Career Explorer.

-Connections: See who in your network can help advance your career within a certain field or company, and meet potential mentors.

-Statistics: Learn interesting facts and statistics about potential professions.

-Jobs: Career Explorer has a module that shows you not only relevant job openings, but also how you can use your network to secure or find more information about those positions.

-Follow Potential Employers: Career Explorer highlights the LinkedIn Company Profiles of potential employers. You can then “follow” those companies and receive updates about them in your news feed. The updates include job postings at the company as well as notifications when people get hired or leave the company.

Availability of Career Explorer:

Career Explorer is free and available immediately in a limited release beta for students at 60 universities across the United States that are sources of talent for PwC. Current students enrolled at those 60 schools will see a “Career Explorer” link under the “Jobs” menu at the top of the screen when they sign in to LinkedIn. The availability of Career Explorer will be expanded to a broader LinkedIn membership over time.

LinkedIn and PwC will be showcasing Career Explorer to students during on-campus events across the United States, starting today with a launch event at New York University's Wasserman Center for Career Development. Additional on-campus events will take place at Boston College, Brigham Young University, the Ohio State University, the Pennsylvania State University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, the University of Southern California and the University of Washington.

Best bogs for entry-level jobseekers

2010-09-28T06:39:00.001-07:00

Career guru Heather Huhman recently compiled this list of blogs for entry-level job seekers. Thought you may enjoy!

Average Starting Salaries Stabilizing

2010-09-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

It's about time that recent grads heard some good news, isn't it?

Well here it is: Starting salaries for recent grads seem to be stabilizing, according to a new study. The average starting salary for 2010 graduates with a bachelor's degree is $48,288, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. That's down 0.7% from $48,633 last year. It's still down, and was at 1.3% in July--but it's better than the 1.7% decrease in April.

"The good news is that the decreases in starting salaries appear to have leveled off," Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director, said in a statement. "In terms of starting salaries, this is the most encouraging news we've had since the market started tumbling in Fall 2008."

Of course your friends that majored in fields like engineering have more lucrative degrees just because of the nature of the work they will get into. Even if you have a liberal arts degree, it wasn't a waste of time and money. Liberal arts majors can expect to be offered a starting salary in the range of $35,508. That's down 3% from last year, but it's still a respectable starting wage. Offers to English majors dropped 1.8% to $35,946. Psychology majors, on the other hand, were the hardest hit--the average initial salaries plunged 6.7% to an average of $32,260.

When I saw this article, I thought it was the kind of thing that new grads need to hear. Keep in mind, these are the average salaries--it doesn't mean you get $48,000 a year just for going to college!

And all the same, if you have that liberal arts degree and now want to toss your diploma out of a fast-moving vehicle--don't. It's still useful and these are, again, just starting average salaries. Numbers are good to help you understand trends, but it's what you do with your education and your life that really makes a difference!

Ramen Rent and Resumes GIVEAWAY!!

2010-09-02T08:52:00.001-07:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes

by Kristen Fischer

Giveaway ends September 30, 2010.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

My First Job: Doniree's HR Experience

2010-08-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all enjoying the My First Job series. Today, we meet Doniree! If you know a 20-something that would be a good fit for this series, let me know (kristen AT kristenfischer.com)

Name: Doniree Walker
Age: 27
Current Location: Boulder, Colorado
Year Graduated: 2005
Major: Psychology
School: University of MN, Twin Cities
First Job: Target Corporation
Company/Type of Company: HR/Benefits Administration
Current Job Title: Freelance Blogger/Social Media Consultant
How Long at Your First Job: 1 year
Still there? No
Website: http://doniree.com

How did you land your first job after college?
I don't remember all of the details, but I know I scoured job sites like Monster and CareerBuilder.com to do so.

Tell us about the process of getting your first job.
It was totally different than my job-searching process is now. In 2005, when I was searching for my first job, connections and networks on Twitter didn't exist, and there wasn't LinkedIn yet. I sent in a resume to a job posting I'd found online, and went through the typical process of phone interviews, followed by in-person interviews.

What was the most challenging aspect of securing your first job?
Selling yourself as skilled and competent when I hadn't had much corporate or business experience prior to that. I'd worked as a retail manager through college, which gave me some great leadership and experience to draw on, but selling myself up to Target's corporate offices straight out of college was a big challenge.

What was the biggest challenge once you were on the job? How did you overcome that?
Knowing and understanding what everyone else's roles in the company were, and how my role fit that.

What did you wish you did differently when it came to finding, securing and performing on the job?
I think if I could go back and do things differently I'd have asked a LOT of more questions and spent more time understanding how everyone works together.

What was the best thing about your first job?
It was for a major corporation and gave me great experience and credit with regards to leadership and productivity.

What didn't you expect about your first job?
How quickly I'd burn out.

If you're not there anymore, why did you leave--and after how long? How long did you think you'd be at that first job? Do you wish you stayed longer? What was your next job--was it a good move for you, personally and career wise?
I left after about a year because I decided that the career path in that job (HR Benefits expert) wasn't where I ultimately wanted to be. I left to pursue a career in advertising and media buying that kept me for a couple of years and gave great background to what I do now. It was a great career move in that it helped me understand the media and advertising industry, and as online became more and more important, gave me a great place to learn how to be a digital professional.

What is your ultimate career goal? What are your next steps in attaining that goal?
To be completely self-employed as a writer and consultant. I'm on my way, but my next step is to make it official--decide on a business name, set up an LLC, and actually market myself as a professional.

My First Job: A Political Rant with Renee

2010-08-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Name: Renee
Age: 24
Current Location: Chicago suburbs
Year Graduated: 2008
Major: Communication Studies and Women's Studies
School: Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN
First Job: Regional Field Director

Company/Type of Company: Melissa Bean for Congress

Current Job Title: Graduate Student/Teaching Assistant
How Long at Your First Job: Three months (the job was over once the campaign was over)

How did you land your first job after college?

The supervisors of my political internships both contacted their colleagues in the area I wished to move. They passed along my resume and followed up on my behalf.

Tell us about the process of getting your first job.

I met with my future boss in May, right after I graduated. Unfortunately, the funding wasn't available at that time to bring me on but he said it should happen late July, early August. I spent a couple of weeks as a camp counselor and when I was finished, I interviewed for the position of Regional Field Director with the campaign.

What was the most challenging aspect of securing your first job?

Waiting. I waited forEVER to hear back from my contact. In politics, you run on borrowed time, never on the time line you want. I waited for weeks to hear back for my initial interview. I waited for MONTHS to hear about the actual position.

What was the biggest challenge once you were on the job? How did you overcome that?

Oh dear. I hated running phone banks and knocking on doors. I did not have thick enough skin to cold call people and ask about their politics. It was a rough time. Additionally, I was working seven days a week. The only day off I received was when I called in sick with a stress migraine.

What did you wish you did differently when it came to finding, securing and performing on the job?

I wish someone would have sat me down and told me exactly what's involved in campaigns. It sounded glamorous but that's because I didn't know about all the door knocking and cold calling. There is very little actual political organization done "out in the field" where I was.

What was the best thing about your first job?

The connections I made... it lead to an official staff position with another politician.

What didn't you expect about your first job?

The terrible hours and the amount of hours and the amount of driving.

If you're not there anymore, why did you leave--and after how long?

I continued in politics for six more months on the official side of business. I hated it. It was more of the same soul-crushing politics... only this time I wasn't cold calling. Constituents were calling me to tell me exactly how they felt about my boss and the President and the Administration. Ew.

What is your ultimate career goal? What are your next steps in attaining that goal?

I would like to be a college professor and scholarly author. I just started grad school for my MA in Communication Studies. Next fall, I will apply for Ph.D. programs. Luckily, I was offered a TA position and am teaching two sections of my own class this year which is so, so exciting and is GREAT experience. I loved college and I'm looking forward to making a career out of loving college. :-)

PrintRunner.com Giveaway WINNER!

2010-08-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Jenny Blake, who won free business cards from PrintRunner.com. I couldn't get contact information from other entrants, so there was just one winner.

What's better? PrintRunner.com only had a contest code for 1,000 cards, so Jenny is even luckier!

Congrats!!!

Resume critique--from a stranger?

2010-08-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

From MediaBistro.com:

How To Spice Up Your Resume, Socially

By Rachel Kaufman on Aug 18, 2010 11:39 AM

Via Mashable, here are two sites that claim to be able to help you pump up your resume through the power of the cloud, for free.

Razumé seems to be a little bigger than ResumeSocial for now, but they both work in the same basic way: upload your resume, then other members can comment and suggest ways to improve the oh-so-important document. Comments appear to range from everything from "single space your bullet points" to the ever-helpful "bad." In Razumé's system, users can even annotate comments directly on the resume, like so:

ResumeSocial, though, also lets users post cover letters and follow-up letters for feedback. It needs a few more people to join to reach critical mass, but both services so far seem to be lacking in large numbers of reviews. Is there a market for two competing sites in such a niche market? With so many people out of work, the market might not be so niche anymore.

A great day for resumes and football fans!

2010-08-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

So, good news. Aside from Brett Favre confirming he's returning for another NFL season (pray pray pray he makes it till Halloween; I have tix to see him play the Patriots in Foxboro!), my blog has been named one of 35 blogs for the Top Resume Blog Award at Online MBA.

You may notice that I write a lot about resumes. I am also a resume writer...so the whole thing ties in very well because even a 21-year-old with "no experience" needs a solid resume.

Some of the other winners include:

Resumark: http://www.resumark.com/blog/

Resume Candidate: http://www.resumecandidate.com/

Cover Letter Writing Tips: http://coverletter.5base.com/

Resumes and Cover Letters: http://resumesandcoverletters.com/tips_blog/

Best Sample Resumes: http://www.bestsampleresumes.org/

Career Resumes: http://www.career-resumes.com/blog/

Psychotic Resumes: http://www.psychoticresumes.com/

Resume Examples to Interview Guides:http://resumes-to-interviews.blogspot.com/

Resume Chicks: http://resumechicks.wordpress.com/

Resumes Guru: http://www.resumesguru.com/

Painless Resume Writing: http://www.painlessresumewriting.com/advice/

Thank you, OnlineMBA.com--you made my day.

(And Brett, you did too...stay healthy, diva!)

Fun Finds from the Net

2010-08-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

Some interesting links/news:

Top Cities for New College Grads: According to BusinessWeek, Houston tops the list.
How Do I Find a Job When Nobody is Hiring?: From CareerBuilder.com
Today's 20 Fastest-Growing Occupations: From CareerBuilder.com
Cool Tool: Monster's Salary Wizard
The Disappearing Job Offer: J.T. O'Donnell and Dale Dauten give advice for a grad who was promised a job while in college.
10 Tips to Improve the Quality of Your Networking: From Monster.com

The Soundtrack to Your Life

2010-08-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Monster had a great post about what songs people would choose on their job-hunt soundtrack. What about the soundtrack to your life, right now?

Is it a job-hunt soundtrack? A broken relationship collection? An "I hate my 20s" soundtrack? A "life is exciting" soundtrack?

What songs are included?

Moving 101: I Got the Job, Now How Do I Get My Stuff There?

2010-07-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tired of all the career talk? Me too! That's why I have a guest blogger today talking about moving. Cuz, yanno, eventually you will get a fab job and want to get out of the rents' house...

Although it’s a quote that has been credited to everyone from Buddha to Buckaroo Banzai, Confucius probably said it first: “No matter where you go, there you are.” He might have added: “And you need to bring your stuff with you.”

That’s a task faced by college students and post-grads alike. But during the college years, when you had to move back home at semester’s end, all of your stuff somehow seemed to fit nicely in the trunk of a car, with maybe a bit of back seat overflow. Now, as you move to a new job in a new city, the belongings you’ve accumulated have probably increased in both volume and value--and getting them where they need to go may require a little more planning on your part. Here are some thoughts on how to go about it, from truck rentals to furniture shipping and everything in between.

What do you take with you?

We hate to go all Buddha on you again, but this question is a bit of a koan. The answer is that you take everything and nothing. That is, you take everything that’s irreplaceable to your new life, and nothing that can be replaced for less than it costs to transport it.

For example, you will need at least some furniture. But just like “no matter where you go, there you are” it’s also true that wherever you go, there is bound to be an Ikea or a Sears or certainly a bunch of locals posting items on Craigslist. So your car’s trunk may still hold everything you need to take with you. If so, buy furniture and other large items when you get where you’re going. If not, you may be able to pack everything into boxes and ship it with a freight company, which is the cheapest way to ship boxes whose total weight exceeds 150 lbs. or so. Just make sure you pack the boxes, very, very well, because they will bounce around in the back of the truck like skittles in a clothes dryer.

Should I hire a mover?

If you have furniture or other large items, then yes, you probably need a mover (unless you rent a truck, but we’ll get to that in a moment). As to choosing which mover, understand that movers are kind of like Nickelback songs--even though they all seem the same, you can spot some differences if you look (or listen) closely enough. (We apologize for offending any movers who may be reading this.)

Some movers offer a variety of optional services and some don’t, so decide what you want and then find one who will give you a good price to do exactly what you want done. For example, some movers specialize in the full monty. They’ll pack, load, transport, unload and unpack. Don’t use them until you’re at least sixty and don’t have anything better to do with your considerable wealth than hand it over to a moving company. Right now you’re young and strong, so at the very least you should do the packing and unpacking yourself.

We recommend you do the loading and unloading as well, if you can round up friends or family to help on both ends. (Look into renting moving containers, or sealed-divider service on freight trucks for self-load moving.) If that kind of free labor is not available on either end, then let the mover do it. But make sure your mover is a small move specialist. A small move specialist will put your items on a truck with other loads, thereby saving you money versus a full-load mover.

Should I rent a truck and drive everything there myself?

On the surface, it usually looks cheaper to rent a truck. But beware of those dreaded hidden costs, including insurance, gas, tolls and time. They add up quickly if you’re moving just a few hundred miles, much less across the country.

First, there’s insurance. You’ll be tempted to opt out, but don’t. There are several good reasons why, not the least of which is that you’ll be driving an unfamiliar, somewhat hard-to-handle vehicle over unfamiliar roads during a stressful time--conditions which tend to diminish the skills you so confidently believe place you among the world’s elite drivers. You’ll probably be at your highest accident risk level since you were still on your learner’s permit. And here’s an even better reason for insuring: You can purchase breakdown coverage that obligates the truck rental company to provide a replacement if your rental dies on the way. This happens far more often than you might think.

Next, gas and tolls. The rental company will tell you how many MPG you can expect from the truck. (They’re surprisingly honest and accurate on this.) Check gas prices, do the math, and you’ll know your fuel cost. Tolls are harder to calculate but they’re more than you might think, especially in the toll road loving Northeastern states. You’ll probably incur other non-driving costs, too – meals, lodging and more. Take it all into account.

Finally, time. Think of it this way: Your time is worth whatever someone is willing to pay you for it, plus the value of whatever else you could be doing instead. If you’d rather let a mover haul your stuff while you either prepare for your new life, party away the end of your old life, or just kick back and relax, then by all means do it.

Kevin Hagan is the Marketing Manager of Transit Systems, Inc., a professional moving company and nationwide provider of moving, shipping, and freight services for consumers and small businesses. TSI specializes in furniture shipping, and can provide long distance as well as local moving assistance. If you’re in need of any of these services, visit TSI’s website for a free shipping quote.

Summertime Blues--and Reds

2010-07-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy: Elise Blaha

I'm here...I'm just enjoying summer.
And working my tail off.

Trying to make time to do all the things I say I want to do this summer.
Been hitting the beach.
And working.
Attending social events.
And working.
And enjoying every precious drop of rain that falls on our dry land.

And...working.