College grads
14 posts
Lindsey Pollak
Best-selling author, millennial career expert, and spokesperson for The Hartfordâs My Tomorrow campaign.
POST: Graduates: Plan Ahead To Protect Your Potential
Ryan Kahn
Founder of The Hired Group, star of Hired on MTV, and author of Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad.
POST: 5 Secrets To Landing A Job After Graduation
Lauren Berger
CEO & founder of InternQueen.com.
POST: Recent Grads: Put On Your Boxing Gloves
Alexandra Levit
Co-founder and board member of DeVry Universityâs Career Advisory Board. Author of They Donât Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Somethingâs Guide to the Business World.
POST: The Secret To Success In The âReal Worldâ
Gala Jackson
Millennial expert, resume writer, career consultant, and owner of InterviewSnob.
POST: How To Activate Your Network As A Recent Grad
Kate White
Former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine and NYT best-selling author/career expert/keynote speaker.
POST: Smart Job Interview Advice No One Ever Tells You
Victoria LoCascio
Certified resume writer and president of The Aces Company.
POST: How Recent Grads Can Leverage LinkedIn To Get A Job
Crystal Washington
Social media marketing strategist, international speaker, and the author of The Social Media WHY.
POST: A Gradâs Most Valuable ResourceâA Viable Network
Christie Mims
CEO of Revolutionary Club.
POST: This Trick Will Make New Grads Lots Of Money
Marianne Grady
Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and president of Rise Above Resources.
POST: 3 Things All Recent Grads Need To Do When Job Searching
Dani Monroe
Internationally known thought leader, speaker, and author of Untapped Talent: Unleashing the Power of the Hidden Workforce.
POST: 3 Ways To 'Use Your Time Wisely' After College
Amanda Haddaway
Author of Destination Real World: Success after Graduation and Interviewer Success.
POST: New Grads: Be The Employee You Would Hire
Rochelle Moulton
Chief branding officer at Be Unforgettable Media, Inc.
POST: Why Grads Should Continue Learning After College
Pamela Paterson
College instructor, consultant, and author of the Amazon bestseller Get the Job: Optimize Your Resume for the Online Job Search.
POST: Why Personal Branding Is Essential For Getting A Job
Krystal Hicks
Associate director of employer outreach and career support at the University of New Hampshire.
POST: How Recent Grads Can Become Seasoned Competitors
Ryan Niessen
Co-creator of The Gateway Method.
POST: How An Obvious Idea Guaranteed A Studentâs Success
Erica Tew
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) for the state of CT and administrator of the blog CT Career Guidance.
POST: How To Effectively Expand Your Network For Job Search Success
Jenny Yerrick Martin
Entertainment career expert, veteran hiring executive, and founder of YourIndustryInsider.com.
POST: The Secret To Being The 'Right Fit' For A Job
Teddy Burriss
Social networking coach, author, public speaker, and Certified Career Transition Coach (CCTC).
POST: Why 'Never Talk To Strangers' Is Bad Advice For Grads
Crista Tharp
Award-winning event planner, author, and speaker.POST: Graduates: DARE To Live An Extraordinary Life
Fred Cook
CEO of the award-winning public relations firm GolinHarris.
POST: Why Happy Grads Need To Be Brave Grads
Angela Jones
TORI award-winning resume writer.
POST: 6 Skills That Help Recent Grads Win Over Hiring Managers
Steven Steinfeld
Career and job search coach to students, recent grads, and professionals. Author of 3 Steps to Your Best Job Ever! and 3 Steps to Your Job in the USA.
POST: Why The Job Search Process Is Similar To Dating
Dorothy Tannahill Moran
Leadership & management career coach.
POST: Donât Leave School Without THIS
Deborah Shane
Award-winning Top 100 Small Business Champion, Top 100 Small Business Podcast, and Top Small Business Book by SmallBizTrends.com.
POST: How To Build An Effective 'Marketing Yourself Plan'
Elisa Sheftic
President & managing partner at Right Executive Search LLC.
POST: How A 'One-Upper Mindset' Can Help Recent Grads Stand Out
Sandy Demarest
Certified Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC).
POST: #1 Job Search Strategy All Recent Grads Should Use
Sheila Curran
CEO of Curran Consulting Group, and a career consultant and author.POST: For Career Success In 2014, Think Like An Employer
Damien Butler
Leadership coach & mentor.
POST: Why Itâs Important For Grads To Have Core Values
Lisa Adams
Career coach, management trainer, workshop speaker.
POST: How Mentors Can Help Grads Get Their Dream Job
Mary Sherwood Sevinsky
Career expert & author.
POST: What My First Client Taught Me About Career Happiness
New grads with limited work experience are some of my favorite people to coach. And here's why...
You have no bad habits yet. You have no preconceived notions. You don't have a long list of demands that you want from a job. If anything, you're just trying to figure out what kind of work would work for you.
Does that sound familiar?
This is why I love working with new grads. And if you're a new grad looking for your first job out of college, these are the best job search tips I give all my clients who are in the same boat as you...
The Best Job Search Tips For Recent College Grads
@j.t.odonnell Replying to @swoopchirp New Grads Job Search Tips! ððâ¤ï¸ if you are a new grad then you have a competitive advantage in that you have no bad habits. however at the same time you haven't been taught how to position yourself with employers. you need to leverage your intrinsic motivation. that is what will get you up every day to go do the job. the best thing to do is to identify companies where you feel a deep connection to the work that they do and then you want to leverage your unique skill sets to match them to jobs there. companies love hiring people that they can mold into high performing employees. that's one of the advantages of hiring a new grad. so you want to make the most of that by being able to Showcase how your personality and your workplace personas will be a great fit for their organization. the first place to start is to take the two free quizzes linked in my bio and then if you want help decoding the results I've got an awesome new tiktok series here that you can purchase where you can listen to me explain the results. but most importantly if you'd like to get some career coaching to help you with all of this I hope you'll head over to workitdaily.com where we help new grads all the time just like you. we've got a great 7 Day free trial! #newgrad #collegegrad #collegegraduate #newgradjobs #howto #jobsearch #howtofindajob #findmeajob #jobsearchtips #jobsearch #jobsearching #jobsearchhelp #careeradvice #careercoach #careercoachontiktok #careerhelp #careerquiz #careerdecoder #workplacepersonas #personalityquiz #communicationstyles ⬠original sound - J.T. O'Donnell
1. Understand Your Unique Combination of Professional Strengths (Communication Style & Workplace Persona)
My first piece of advice for you is to understand two major components of your professional strengths. The first is your communication style (how you interact with others in the workplace). This plays a huge role in the type of jobs you'd be a good fit for. For example, if you're a contemplator, you're more introverted. You're not going to want a job that requires you to be really extroverted with a lot of people. Whereas if you were an energizer, you would actually feed off the energy of others.
The second thing you need to learn about yourself is your workplace personas. This is how you create value on the job. Companies pay you to create value, right? You need to save or make them enough money to justify the cost of hiring you. This is something they never teach us in school. So, there are eight workplace personas, and you should find out what your top three workplace personas are. Are you a builder, mentor, super connector, educator, visionary, optimizer, or researcher?
Take my free quizzes below to discover your unique combination of professional strengths:
- Communication Style Quiz (ISAT)
- Workplace Personas Quiz (Career Decoder)
2. Use The Information In Step 1 to Create an Interview Bucket List
Once you know your communication style and top workplace personas, you can weed out a whole bunch of jobs that aren't a fit for you and dial in on the kinds of roles that would be a fit for you. Then, we can teach you how to take that information and use it to reach out to employers and introduce yourself to them. This is a technique called an interview bucket list where you come up with a list of companies that you feel connected to. It's called intrinsic motivation. That's the fancy term. And when you are a recent grad, that's all you got, my friend.
As a new grad, you don't have a lot of experience to share. But companies love recent grads who have an intrinsic motivation to work for them and who understand their personality (their communication style and workplace personas) and how they'll create value for them. That shows a self-aware recent grad, and that's the kind they love to hire and mold, which will help catapult your career.
It's a really great time for you to be looking for work if you understand your unique combination of professional strengths and how to create an interview bucket list.
If you would like us to coach you on all of the things I've discussed, sign up for Work It DAILY's seven-day free trial of our career coaching platform that is literally going to teach you everything you need to know to land your first dream job.
Good luck, and go get 'em!
I've heard many of my Gen Z members and followers talk about how difficult it is to apply for jobs when every company seems to require two or more years of experience for entry-level positions, the types of jobs Gen Z, the youngest demographic in the workforce, shouldn't have any problems getting.
The idea that you can't apply for a job that requires "years of experience" because you're a new grad is a myth, and I'm going to tell you exactly what to do instead.
You Don't Necessarily Need Years Of Experience, But You Do Need A Connection Story.Â
@j.t.odonnell Replying to @millers0620 Gen Z Job Search Episode 1: The Years Of Experience MYTH #genzjobsearch ##genzjobs #genz #jobsearchtips #jobs #job #jobsearch ⬠original sound - J.T. O'Donnell
First, I want you to understand the reason they say a job requires "two years of experience" is that they want to make sure you've worked at some point in your life. Hopefully, you've had an internship, maybe in college or while you were in grad school, but you do have some sort of work experience.
The second thing you need to know is that you have a secret weapon, and it's called your connection story. What you lack in experience you can make up for with enthusiasm and by sharing how you feel motivated to work for a company.
So, how do you write a connection story?
Step 1: Ask yourself, "Why do I respect and admire this company?" and "What taught me that they were worthy of this respect and admiration?"
Step 2: Think about your own life. What's making you feel connected to them as an employer?
Step 3: Put your connection story together in a disruptive cover letter. Unlike a traditional cover letter, a disruptive cover letter is a storytelling cover letter.
Step 4: Once you've written your disruptive cover letter, reach out to the recruiter, hiring manager, and/or people who work at the company and say...
"Hey, enclosed is the story of why I feel so connected to your company. I'd love to learn what it might take to earn the opportunity to interview or be considered for the XYZ position."
When you say there's a story, that piques their interest. And when you say you want to earn the opportunity, you don't have to point out that you don't have the exact experience. What you're trying to do is to get them to see that you have the intrinsic motivation to do the job.
They can teach you the experience. What they need is somebody who understands why they want to work there. That's what they're looking for, and that's what you need to share with them.
I see this every single day. In fact, I'll tell you a story.
I worked with a young man named Seth. He was a senior in college. He wanted to get a job in recruiting. It required five years of experience. But with this technique, he shared his connection story with the recruiters that were recruiting for the position. And he got the job. He beat out people who had 10 years of experience. And the reason he won the job is because of that connection story. They clearly understood that he wanted to be a recruiter and he was able to say, "Look, I have no bad habits. You can mold me, you can train me, and I'm passionate about this."
You can do the same thing. But it starts with understanding what your connection story is and then sharing it with those employers.
If you want more information or if you want to be coached on this, we can help you.
Check out our free daily newsletter or become a member and get access to affordable, on-demand career coaching.
Good luck, and go get 'em.
In today's competitive job market, you may be wondering how to use career coaching to your advantage, or if you need a career coach at all. Here's the truth: the key to getting ahead in your career is career coaching, and it's easier than you think to get the help you deserve.
Society raised us to think that if you need a career coach, there's something wrong with you. There must be a problem. You're not hireable. So now everyone thinks that they need to do this all by themselves. But dentists, doctors, lawyers, accountants, personal trainersâall these specialists out thereâthey help us get results, more results than we could get on our own.
Career coaches are no different.
You Need Career Coaching That's Affordable, Easily Accessible, & Available On Demand
@j.t.odonnell How to use a career coach. â¥ï¸ For only $9/month! #careercoach #careercoachontiktok #careercoachtok #careeradvice #careerhelp #careermode #career ⬠original sound - J.T. O'Donnell
But here's the thing: career coaching needs to be affordable. After we pay all our bills at the end of the month, there's not a lot of money left over, if any. And the last thing we want to do is spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, on career coaches.
Traditional career coaches charge so much because they use the theory that says customers who spend more money are more likely to be satisfied because they don't want to look stupid and say that they overpaid for a product or a service. There's a whole marketing ploy about this pricing strategy. So most career coaches price themselves really, really high. But the right career coaching for you is affordable and effectiveâand it does exist.
Not only does career coaching have to be affordable in 2023, but it also has to be easily accessible and available on demand. When you work with a traditional career coach, they sit down with you for an hour. And maybe they get you all hyped up for an hour, but then you're all alone again.
What you really need is a career coach every single day. But who can afford hundreds of dollars every single day? This is why only executives and wealthy people ever use career coaches.
Until now.
At Work It DAILY, we have been building something special for the last two years. What we realized was you don't need an hour of our time. You need a few minutes of our time every day, and you need a place to go that's private and secure, where you can log in, talk with like-minded people, vent your frustrations, and access materials from trained career experts. You need a place where you can do the things you need to do to figure out and solve your career problems and move ahead, whether that's choosing a career path, getting a new job, getting a promotion, dealing with your manager, dealing with co-workers, or changing careers.
So, we built our premium membership that combines coaching, courses, and community. It's private, affordable, and ad-free, and every resource (including career coaching) is easily accessible and available on demand.
We created the Work It DAILY premium membership to help you get the career results you deserve. We are disrupting the industry to prove that good career coaching does not need to be expensive.
So if you need career coaching, come join me inside Work It DAILY. Getting the career help you need has never been easier.
I love working with recent grads in their job search. After 12 years in school, they are experts at learningâwhich makes teaching them easier. They're like sponges. They learn and do. They have no bad job search habits, so teaching them is fun because I get to see their reaction when they get positive results for the first time.
The difficult part? Job search for college grads stinks right now.
I already knew things were bad. I deal with it on a regular basis when helping new grads find jobs. In fact, I can read their minds. That's because, after graduation, there are four things that make graduates really, really mad. My job is to help them get past the anger and get hired.
If you know a recent college grad, please pass these 11 job search commandments on to them. If you are a recent college grad, take notes. These commandments are laws to live by in the next six months as you embark on your next big challenge: landing a job.
1. I Will Not Compare Myself To My Friends
No two graduates are the same. Each has different skills, abilities, needs, and wants. Just because your friend gets a new job doesn't mean he or she is better than you. Keep the blinders on and focus on your job search, not theirs.
Jealousy is a useless emotion that derails a job search. Besides, your friend might be able to help you get a job. It's in your best interest to be genuinely happy for them!
2. I Will Not Take The Summer Off
Don't delay your job search. Employers see it as acting entitled and lazy. Get in gearâright now! Trust me, you aren't going to find a job in the next two weeks. And job search isn't a full-time gig.
Carve out time every day to work on your job search and you'll still have plenty of time to enjoy the summer. Before the temperature cools down, turn your job search success up! It's about working smarter, not harder.
3. I Will Not Spend Weeks Designing My Resume
Your resume isn't going to get you the job. Networking is.
Don't waste time trying to make your resume perfect. At this stage in your career, there just isn't that much you can put on it to impress employers. The "wow" factor will come from you being smart, articulate, and engagingâwhich doesn't come through on paper. You have to meet people to make that happen.
4. I Will Learn To Network...Fast!
Networking is the most powerful way to get hired. Yet most recent grads assume because they've never worked they have no one to network with. Wrong!
People love helping recent grads. Learn to "informational interview" and set up as many as you can. The sooner you learn to network, the sooner you get hired.
5. I Will Not Expect Too Much Of My First Job
Most recent college grads feel they're overqualified for many of the entry-level jobs posted. However, most employers feel you're not, and may even have unrealistic expectations for an entry-level position.
The hard reality is you don't have the work experience for anything but entry-level jobs. The sooner you take an entry-level job and work at it for six months, the sooner you can start applying to the more exciting jobs that are currently out of your reach.
6. I Will Remember That EVERY Job Is Temporary
While the entry-level job you take will not be your dream job, that's okay because you won't be there very long. You'll either excel in the job and get promoted or get experience and be able to apply for a better job.
"Every job is temporary," is one of our mantras at Work It DAILY, which is why you always have to improve and work on your career every day. Whether you're looking for your first job or a new one, you need to keep that mindset. It will pay off, we promise.
7. I Will Study Up On Workplace Professionalism As Much As I Can
The number one complaint corporate America has about recent grads is their perceived lack of professionalism. Read up on attire, attitude, verbal communication style, and so on. The more prepared you are, the better the first impression you'll make.
8. I Will Be Very Careful In My Written Communication Style
The number two complaint corporate America has about recent grads is their poor written communication skills. Spelling, grammar, and so on.
Be very careful when writing cover letters, emails, and any other written communication related to your job search. One typo can get you disqualified!
9. I Will Expect Rejection (A Lot Of It)
You'll apply to dozens of jobs and have as many as 10 interviews before getting an offer. There is a learning curve to getting hired, and it happens with practice.
Expect to get passed over for jobs and learn to cope with the rejection. The sooner you can pick yourself up and get back to the job search, the sooner you'll get another interview and eventually an offer.
10. I Will Become A âProfessional" User Of Social Media
For the last four years, social media has been used for your enjoyment. Now, it's time to use it for the job search.
Clean up the Facebook page and Instagram account, get yourself set up on LinkedIn, and study how people are using Twitter and TikTok to meet hiring managers. Use social media to build an online presence that when searched by a recruiter (and trust us, they will look you up online), what they'll find is a recent grad who's clearly ready to enter the workforce.
A strong social media presence can literally land you a job interview. Engage in best practices for social media to advance your career.
11. I Will Not Brag About My New Job When I Finally Get It
Getting your first job will be thrilling. I mean over-the-top incredible. That being said, refrain from posting the good news all over the internet and making it your first topic of conversation with friends. Why? Go back to commandment number one.
Remember: you'll be surrounded by people who haven't gotten their first job and will be jealous. Be the bigger person and keep a low profile on the new gig. Of course, if asked, you can share the good news, but do your best to redirect the conversation after that.
Show how humble you are. You just never know at some future date that person could remember your gracious attitude and be willing to help you get your next job because of it. The friends you make now will be the colleagues you network with in the future. Treat them kindly and it will pay off in the long run.
Follow the commandments above and your job search will be less painful and more effective. And keep this list handy as a reminder you will make it through. You can do this!
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
As a career success coach, I'm always looking for new and different ways to get across my common sense ideas on life and career success. I found some great career advice in a Denver elementary school a couple of months ago.
I was invited to see the Go For It! Institute's program in action at a school in Denver. The institute teaches kids the value of things like a positive attitude, believing in themselves, positive habits, goal setting, and persistence. Their work is based on ideas created by Judy Zerafa.
Success Tweet: Vision without action is a daydream. No matter how big your plans and dreams, they'll never become reality until you act on them.
Zerafa has created Seven Keys to Success for young students. Check them out below!
1. Have A Positive Attitude
Learn what attitude is, what aspects of your life are controlled or directed by your attitude, how to determine your attitude at any given moment, and what specific strategies make a positive attitude a permanent habit in your life.
2. Believe In Yourself
Understand the nature of human potential through a simple process of identifying your personal talents and abilities. Develop academic strengths and personal interests to create personal fulfillment and economic opportunities for your future.
3. Build Positive Habits
Understand the process of how habits are created. Learn to identify and remove self-defeating habits and create habits that will make all aspects of your life easier and more successful.
4. Make Wise Choices
Learn the dramatic relationship between any current circumstances in your life and the choices that created these circumstances. Develop a personal proactive plan for desired outcomes through conscious, wise choices.
5. Set & Achieve Goals
Recognize the difference between a wish and a goal. Make a commitment, plan, take action, and recognize completion.
6. Use Your Creative Imagination
Extend your physical ability to accelerate problem-solving and goal achievement in all areas of your life.
7. Be Persistent
Track progress, develop the focus and determination required to succeed, create an attitude of gratitude as the access to fulfilling your dreams, and link the Seven Keys to Success together in everyday life.
Whatever you do, persist. Keep working toward your goals and dreams, and you will find career success. It's only common sense.
The Go For It! Institute is in business to bring these keys to young people and their parents. But as a career success coach, I think they are important ideas for anyone interested in achieving career success.
The Seven Keys to Success bear a remarkable similarity to the ideas behind one of my four keys for career success: commitment to taking personal responsibility for your life and career success. Since we're at Tweet 40 (of my book, Success Tweets), it makes sense to do a quick overview of my four keys to life and career success.
The "4Cs:" Clarity, Commitment, Confidence, and Competence.
Here they are in a little more detail...
- Clarity of purpose and direction
- A sincere commitment to taking personal responsibility for your life and career
- Unshakable self-confidence
- Competence in four key areas:
- Creating positive personal impact
- Outstanding performance
- Dynamic communication
- Relationship building
Zerafa developed the Seven Keys to Success on which the Go For It! Institute's program is based after interviewing 35 Horatio Alger Award winners. I think this is a brilliantly simple success formula. She is taking her positive message to kids and parents in an attempt at starting the success cycle early in life.
Successful people are self-confident and are committed to taking personal responsibility for their lives and careers. The Go For It! Institute's Seven Keys to Success is all about taking personal responsibility for acting on your plans and dreams.
You will succeed if you have a positive attitude, believe in yourself, build positive habits, make wise choices, set and achieve goals, use your imagination, and persist.
I'm glad I was introduced to the Go For It! Institute and the great work they are doing with kids. I think their message applies to all of us. If you incorporate these seven keys into your life, you'll be well on your way to creating the life and career success you want and deserve.
Need more help with your career?
Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
When times are tough, mass layoffs happen in almost every industry. But what do you do if you're a recent college graduate looking for your first job? How can you find a job when those around you are getting laid off?
Your first job search after college is hard enough without dealing with bad economic conditions. You need to prove your value to an employer with limited to no experience under your belt. Even before that, though, it can be incredibly challenging trying to get your resume past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.
If you recently graduated from college and don't know where or how to start your job search in these trying times, we have some simple but effective tips guaranteed to help you land your first job.
Here are three things recent college graduates should do to find a job despite mass layoffs:
1. Be Intentional With Your Networking
At Work It DAILY, we firmly believe your network is your net worth. Approximately 30-50% of all jobs today are gotten via referral. Utilize the connections you've made in college or in past summer internships to get your foot in the door somewhere. It's always easier to get a job when you've been referred internally by someone who already works at the company.
It's not enough to simply ask your connections about any employment opportunities they know about, though. You need to be intentional with your networking, or your job search will feel aimless.
Build a list of companies you'd like to work for so you can focus your efforts in those areas. This is your interview bucket listâall the companies you would love to work for that hire for your skill sets.
Creating this list is going to help focus your job search in terms of who you need to network with, reach out to, and start to connect with in order to find the job opportunities you want.
Remember: You're not asking them for a jobâyou're asking them for information that could help you land an interview.
2. Write A Disruptive Cover Letter
The cover letter is the "voice" to your resume. If you want to land yourself an interview while layoffs are happening left and right, the key is to write a disruptive cover letter.
If you're not writing disruptive cover letters in your job search, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to stand out to employers. The ultimate goal of a disruptive cover letter is to tell a story so compelling about why you feel connected to the company that they'll want to pick up the phone and get to know you a bit more.
What you lack in experience you can make up for with enthusiasm and a great connection story.
3. Consider An Unpaid Internship
Even when there aren't mass layoffs going on, getting an internship after you graduate from college can be a very strategic move for your career.
If you're struggling to find a job right out of college, consider applying for an internship position. Preferably, you'd want a paid internship, but if a lot of companies are laying off employees, ask if they have an unpaid opportunity available. You won't get paid, but you will gain a lot of experience. And if the internship goes well, they may offer you a full-time position after a few months of hard work and proving yourself as a valuable employee.
At the end of the day, experience is what will set you apart in the current job market, because it gives you the ability to develop your skills and show how you made or saved a company moneyâsomething every employer will want to hear when you interview with them.
School teaches you everything except how to get a job. No matter how competitive or disrupted the job market may be, recent college grads can stand out to employers with these three tips, and find a good job soon after graduation.
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
For college students, internships are the gateway to an amazing career. Internships are the perfect opportunities for young professionals to acquire and develop skills, network, and prove themselves as hard workers.
Want to stand out at your internship and be known as the best intern in the entire company? Follow these steps to becoming an unforgettable intern:
1. Earn Respect
When walking into your internship, it is important to remember that you are there to pay your dues, just like everyone else in the company. Know your worth to the company, but do not overstep boundaries! Your main goal is to assist and learn from your superiors.
Some may find it unbearable to go into a company knowing that they are at the bottom of the totem pole, but it is important that you swallow your pride. Dedicate yourself to becoming the best worker possible and your superiors will notice!
Do not be entitled. Respect is not handed out; it is earned. Remember that.
As we mentioned above, you are there to pay your dues and learn. Go into the office and work to your best potential every day, and respect will come.
2. Walk In Like You Have Something To Lose
Now, we're not saying you need to act like you are walking on eggshells, but you must be calm and collected in the workplace. You should come to work every day with a positive attitude, ready to work smart!
There's a big difference between working hard and working smart. Working hard means having no problem working over eight hours a day. Working smart is fitting a 10-hour workday into an eight-hour shift.
Productivity is extremely important, and if you are losing an hour or two a day because you are surfing the web or looking at your phone, you can expect that your manager will lose their patience and drop you.
3. Realize No Project Is Too Big
Imagine a co-worker was going on vacation for the week and left you a huge checklist of things to do while he's gone. At the bottom of the list, he left a note saying, "If you can get at least one-third of this list done before the end of the week, that would be amazing."
Now, instead of working at a slow pace, imagine you get the entire list done by Wednesday, and ask your boss for another project. That's the kind of work ethic that makes you a stand-out intern, and a great candidate for a future entry-level position.
As an intern, don't be afraid to take on a big project! It's a chance to show them what you're made of.
4. Never Complain (Everything Is A Learning Experience)
Understand that not every task you need to complete is going to be glamorous. There will be tasks you will be given that may be a drag, but do notâwe repeat DO NOTâcomplain about doing this work. You never want to be seen as ungrateful in the office.
It is important that you see everything in a positive light. Even if the task you are working on is small, see it as something that your superior is trusting you and only you with. Everything can have a positive twist.
5. Network With Your Colleagues
All good and unforgettable interns successfully network with their colleagues. An office is filled with professionals who have years of experience. Every day, you should make a conscious effort to try and pick the brain of another professional. An easy way to do this is by taking them out for coffee during the day. Coffee is inexpensive and quick. Make sure you treat them, and let them know that you are appreciative of their time.
If you do this a few times a week throughout your internship, you will have numerous connections and unmeasurable knowledge about the industry.
Now that you have this guideline to becoming an unforgettable intern, apply the knowledge you learned and prove to your employer why you are the very best.
Outshine the competition and get that full-time position!
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Are you a student nearing graduation, or someone looking to gain valuable experience? An internship can be an invaluable experience that helps you gain much-needed skill sets and grow professionally. The only problem is you may not be exactly sure of what you want to do for a career.
So, how do you choose the right internship?
Displaying relevant work experience should be your primary goal. Those with internships on their resume can sometimes land jobs quicker and earn higher salaries. This is because an internship can be a gateway to gaining skills, marketing those skills, and leveraging those skills to find the right career.
Here are some things to consider when chasing the right internship...
Don't Base The Decision On Money
An unpaid internship can lead to a great return down the road, not to mention a lucrative job offer. Focus your internship selection on companies that are looking to grow and expand, and possibly bring you in after graduation to advance their company to the next level.
Be A Self-Starter
Finding the right internship is very much like a traditional job search. It's important to have an idea about some of the jobs you may want to pursue, then make a bucket list of companies that you are interested in interning at.
Perhaps the company you want to intern for does not generally accept interns or advertise internship opportunities. Sending a cover letter that expresses your keen interest in interning for the company or offering to volunteer 10-20 hours a week can go a long way. Show initiative, passion, dedication, and pursuit of success to the prospective company.
This is also a great networking strategy because even if you don't get an immediate opportunity, you begin to start to a conversation with people at these companies, and they may keep you in mind whenever an opportunity comes up.
Select An Internship That Will Allow You To Build Essential Skills
There are certain essential skills that matter in the workforce when looking to grow your career. Leadership, collaboration, project management, and relationship building are among some of those intricate skills. When looking into internships, research the types of skills that you will obtain during that internship.
Having a list of skills that you want to build upon will allow you to find out during the application and interview process whether those skills can be accentuated while serving as an intern. During the interview, ask about the mentoring program for interns, training and support, projects and assignments, and the performance criteria for feedback. Strong internship programs will provide all of these objectives.
Attend Networking Events To Meet Executives And Business Leaders
Meeting local business leaders and executives at virtual and in-person networking events can allow you to leverage your impact and can also provide you with great insight into the companies they work for. Don't forget to connect with these important persons on LinkedIn, and always follow up with a personalized email or phone call to reaffirm your gratitude for meeting them.
Overall, choosing the right internship for you can bring forth a future working opportunity that leads to full-time commitment and advancement with introductory training and experience.
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Whether you've just graduated from college, you're in the middle of your career, or you're in your 60s, competition for jobs is fierce. So, how can you stay relevant in today's job market?
Here are six ways to stay on top of your game...
1. Brand Up
If you want to market yourself effectively, you need to clearly understand how and where you add value. What skill sets and strengths do you have? What's the problem you solve? How do you solve it? Get very clear on what you have to offer and then start building your brand.
Once you understand how and where you add value, you need to build your brandâa marketing strategy for your business-of-one. Start building up your online presence, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and get your name out there. If people can't find you easily, it will be hard to stand out in a sea of talent.
2. Learn New Technology
This is one of the most important things you can do to stay relevant in today's job market. We live in a very tech-savvy world, and if you can't keep up, you risk falling behind the competition. Think about what technologies are used in your industry and take steps to familiarize yourself with them and learn how they work.
3. Look At Industry Trends
What's happening in your industry? What needs aren't being fulfilled? Look at industry news and developments so you can get a clear idea of what areas will need talent. Then, set yourself up to fill those needs using your skill sets.
4. Grow Your Network
If you don't get yourself out there, no one will be able to recognize your value. Join professional groups, attend industry-related events, meet people working in your dream companies, find a mentor, and so on. Grow your network early and establish those relationships. They will help you if you need to find something new down the road.
5. Take Classes, Courses, And Workshops
The secret to staying relevant? Upskilling. You must constantly gain new, relevant skills in order to stay ahead of the curve. Look for weak areas in your skill sets and find ways to get educated or experienced. You can take classes online or on campus, attend workshops, volunteer, or even take on part-time jobs.
6. Think About Your Next Step
Even if you're in a job you absolutely love right now and have been there for years, you always want to be prepared. Things can change with the flip of the switch and you might be out of a job tomorrow. So, think about your next step. Even if you don't plan on leaving your current job right now, the earlier you get started, the easier it will be to get your foot in the door at another company if/when it comes time.
The key to staying relevant in an ever-changing job market (and in a recession!) is to always look for ways to improve your skills. Learn to embrace new experiences as opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally. By doing the above six things, you'll stay relevant in any industry, no matter how competitive.
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Finding a job after college can be tough! There's stiff competition, and sometimes students are at the mercy of the economy that they graduate into. Many college grads often take minimum wage jobs or jobs that they're overqualified for in order to make ends meet.
The key to landing a job out of college is preparing for the job search process while still in school. Unfortunately, they don't always teach you about the job search process in school, so it's up to students to take responsibility for their future careers.
Here are some tips to put yourself in a position to land a job after college.
Be Thoughtful About Your Career Path
Do you know what the career options are for your degree? How competitive the industry is? What the average salary is for the type of role you're pursuing?
These are not questions you should be seeking to answer after graduation. These are all questions that should've been asked prior to declaring a major.
Research...research...research!
Knowing what you might be in for after graduation can help you with planning. You could meet with your advisor well in advance of graduation and look at potential internships and identify potential companies to work for, giving you a head start on your networking efforts.
If you failed to prepare like this prior to graduation, you did put yourself at an initial disadvantage, but you're certainly not doomed!
What If You're Unsure About Your Career Path?
Even after college, some people are unsure about what they want to do for a career. If you find yourself in this situation, don't panic. You need to do an honest assessment of yourself and determine the valuable skills that you possess. Most importantly, ask yourself, "What are some of the things I love doing?"
Work It Daily also has resources that can assist you in your search. Our FREE Career Decoder Quiz will help you determine your professional persona. Knowing your professional persona will help you understand the skills you have that bring value to the job and what you find professionally and personally fulfilling.
In addition, whether you're a graduate or still a student, don't limit your opportunities to learn new skills.
Chances are you have interests outside of your course of study. You should be open to pursuing those interests. It could be that you're a health/science major with an interest in computers. Why not take some computer courses?
Interested in learning a trade? Electricians, plumbers, contractors, and auto mechanics are all in demand.
If you're still in school, you have an opportunity to take additional courses or decide on a double major or minor.
Options may be a bit more limited for recent grads, but there are always online courses, certification programs, or specialty course programs available. As long as you have a hunger for more knowledge, you should never stop wanting to learn. The more skills you have, the more career options are available to you. Options are important during the job search for recent grads.
Educate Yourself About The Job Search Process
College can't prepare you for everything, and most of the lessons people learn from the job search process come from real-world experience. However, there are some things you can do to prepare.
First, research as many potential jobs as you can before graduation and identify some potential companies that you would like to work for (this is called your interview bucket list). Second, prepare multiple resumes tailored for the specific positions for which you're applying.
A recruiter needs to see the skills you have that apply to the position within the first six seconds of reading your resume. You should also prepare a disruptive cover letter where you really bring attention to yourself by telling a story about how you connect with the company.
The last thing you need to do is reach out and network. It's not enough to just send in a resume and cover letter and hope that you'll be contacted. Reach out to people who work at the company through LinkedIn and introduce yourself. Use the fact that you're a graduating student seeking knowledge to your advantage. There are professionals who enjoy the opportunity to mentor.
Even if these new connections don't translate into an immediate job, you've made your first professional contacts which could come in handy at some other point in time. Knowing how to conduct a proactive job search will serve you well throughout your professional life.
Remember, There's Nothing Wrong With Changing Career Paths
Sometimes you find happiness and success in a career field that you didn't go to school for. That's okay (and normal). Life happens!
For new grads, the goal is usually to find work in your field of study and it's great when things work out that way. But as the job search process goes on you may fall into a job that you weren't planning to and end up liking it. If the job makes you happy and there's room for growth, there's nothing wrong with keeping it. It's a personal decision.
This will be true throughout your professional life. You may end up working in your field, but, as time goes on, priorities and life circumstances change. You may develop new skills that draw you into a new career direction. The goal is to always put yourself in a position to succeed and sometimes that means making a change.
Preparation and keeping an open mind are the two common themes when it comes to the job search for recent grads. There are no guarantees for new graduates, so you have to be ready for anything. Hopefully, by knowing what to expect, you'll know how to land a job after college and can land a job that matches your talents.
Here at Work It Daily, we understand how difficult it is to find a job and grow your career as a recent college grad. If you're struggling to find a job that's right for you, we can help.
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