Recent college graduates

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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

Man talking to his coworker about achieving career success

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

Professional woman at work builds positive habits for career success

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

Professional man receives advice about career success from an older coworker

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

Woman at work finds career success after achieving her goals

Recognize the difference between a wish and a goal. Make a commitment, plan, take action, and recognize completion.

6. Use Your Creative Imagination

Man uses his creative imagination at work to achieve career success

Extend your physical ability to accelerate problem-solving and goal achievement in all areas of your life.

7. Be Persistent

Happy professional woman at work achieves career success after being 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:
1. Creating positive personal impact
2. Outstanding performance
3. Dynamic communication
4. 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?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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The 7 Keys To Career Success

Are you ready to take the first step toward unlocking your true professional potential?

If so, we're inviting you to take this incredibly accurate career assessment quiz.

The Career Decoder Quiz will help you determine what your workplace persona are. That means you'll get a sense of who you are as a working professional and what makes you thrive at work. You'll find out how you like to create value and what your professional strengths are, which will help you find the right career for YOU.

Here are a few examples of what your persona could be:

Visionary

Visionaries are big-picture thinkers and conceptualize ideas to motivate others to action.

Are you: Capable of shaping a vision for those who can't see the possibilities?

Can you: See the end before the beginning? Are you able to assess from a bird's-eye view?

Do you: Have a long-term mindset and plot your course accordingly?

Optimizer

Optimizers assess, analyze, and map out improvements that directly save or make money.

Are you: Someone people rely on to make sound financial decisions?

Can you: Assess a business or project and immediately see ways to save or make money?

Do you: Gain satisfaction from knowing your work makes the business more profitable?

Builder

Builders execute a plan, managing all aspects, keeping it on time and under budget.

Are you: A specialist in your field with lots of hands-on experience?

Can you: Execute a plan and work through roadblocks to completion?

Do you: Like to focus on ways to do things better, faster, cheaper, etc.?

Educator

Educators close gaps in knowledge and ensure staff is clear on their roles and goals.

Are you: Good at organizing thoughts into oral and written communications to motivate and train others?

Can you: Take control of an idea and choose the right method for communicating it?

Do you: Excel at wordplay and use communication skills to guide conversations?

So, What's Next?

Man on computer takes Work It Daily's Career Decoder Quiz

There are eight workplace personas in total. Which one are you?

If you want to learn what your top workplace persona is, and how it impacts your ability to find career success and satisfaction, check out this free career assessment quiz.

Seriously, knowing who you are as a working professional and what makes you happy on the job will help you be successful in your career or job search.

Don't waste another day not knowing your professional strengths. Take the Career Decoder Quiz to unlock your potential today!

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Unlock Your Potential With The FREE Career …

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

Happy recent college graduate on laptop networks his way into a job

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

Recent college grad on laptop writes 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

Recent college graduate works at his internship / talks during a meeting

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.

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How Recent College Grads Can Find A …

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

Young manager talks to a group of interns

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)

Manager shows an intern how to do something on her laptop

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!

Need more help with your career?

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

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5 Steps To Becoming An Unforgettable Intern

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

Professional man/intern counts his 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

A self-starting intern looks at her watch at work

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

A young professional/intern takes an online course to develop her skill sets

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

A group of professionals/interns take part in an online networking event

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.

Need more help finding the right internship for you?

Join our community to learn how to find an internship and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Choose The Right Internship

Why Contact Centers Are A Good Way To Start Your Career

âDo you really want to work in a contact center?â

Letâs be honest: five-year-olds donât dream about working in a contact center when they grow up. Proud parents never boast about their children working in contact centers. Teachers at private schools never recommend students to work in contact centers.

People see contact centers as cubicle farms with hundreds of people on the phones selling non-existent products and services.

Iâm going to tell you something different.

Contact centers are a great way for a person to start their career.

The Size Of The Industry

About 2.79 million Americans and U.S. residents, slightly more than 2% of the working population, work in contact centers.

The real figure may be higher. Many companies may call their contact centers âservice centers,â âcustomer service centers," or âhelp desks.â

A contact center agentâs average tenure is three years. All 2.79 million agents change their jobs every three years. The industry will have 930,000 vacancies every year, which equates to approximately 77,000 vacancies a month.

If youâre leaving university with a student loan to pay off, thereâs no shortage of vacancies.

Getting In On The Ground Floor

âItâs tough for newcomers to the workforce. Everyone wants previous experience. Contact centers are less likely to demand that. Joining a contact center attached to a specific industry can get you a grounding in that industry.

The companies serving consumers run contact centers. They include banks, debt collection agencies, the government (both local and national), insurance, healthcare, information technology, telecommunications, travel and tourism, and utilities. If you want to get experience in one of these industries, thereâs a contact center for you to get your foot in the door.

As well as industry experience, you will also develop your people skills. Thatâs more than youâll get from an MBA course. As a contact center agent, youâll deal with up to 100 people per day. Youâll learn how to build rapport with complete strangers, explain things to emotional people, and stay calm under pressure or in the face of insults. Some people call these âsoft skills.â These âsoft skillsâ make people want to do business with you, hire you, or maybe even marry you!

Contact centers are a tech-heavy environment. You will learn to work with various programs and applications from day one. This will improve your technical skills and, more importantly, develop your ability to learn how to use technology. Technology changes all the time, but it will always be with us.

Contact centers give you the opportunity to work on yourself. Contact center work can be monotonous and repetitive. So is unemployment. This is your opportunity to develop your resilience and determination. Most contact centers provide you with regular coaching to improve your performance. Responding positively to coaching is a key element of being employable in todayâs workforce. Contact center agents learn how to work in teams where success is not one person getting good exam results, but a customer having their requests fulfilled as quickly and effectively as possible.

You can learn all this in your first job!

Going Up!

What can contact centers offer people who stay longer than three years?

In the U.S., the average contact center employs 54 agents. That means one manager for every 54 agents, and on average, there is one supervisor for every 8.6 agents.

The contact centers industry is unusually âdemocratic.â Over the past 12 years, I have worked with more than 200 contact centers on three continents. In most cases, the managers started their careers as agents.

The industry also needs data analysts, IT specialists, developers, trainers, and coaches. Many of them started their careers as agents.

A Growth Industry

âTwo factors have had a major impact:

The pandemic forced many companies to abandon face-to-face operations, relying on their contact centers to communicate with customers. Customers got used to doing business online. Now, many customers donât want to go back to physically visiting a branch. Companies also welcome the change. Offices and shops are expensive to run in relation to the number of customers they serve. Companies are looking to expand their contact center operations as part of their strategy to go digital.

Legislation in many Western countries makes changing bank accounts, insurance, telecommunications, or utilities providers easier. Customer service is now the competitive battleground of the 21st century. Contact centers are expected to hold that ground and win.

A Changing World

Call center employees help customers over the phone

The shift to cloud technology is revolutionizing the industry, making access to transformational technologies less expensive and more available.

Companies are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots to handle simple interactions. This increases capacity without increasing headcount and frees up humans to handle more challenging interactions.

As automated systems handle simple tasks, human agents will handle more complex requests or help out customers who having trouble dealing with the bots. Human agents will need to be better trained both in terms of product and service knowledge and also in terms of emotional intelligence and communication skills.

Supervisors are likely to become more human-centered as automation will handle the numerical tasks. Supervisors will concentrate on coaching and motivating human agents or assisting in solving the most complicated customer issues and requests.

The wrap-up

The contact center industry has much to offer anyone looking for a job, regardless of experience. If youâd like to talk to an industry veteran, please reach out to me on LinkedIn.

Further reading...

Here are some more articles about the contact center industry:

Creating Quality Standards For Contact Centers

Using Quality Management To Improve KPIs

How To Reduce Average Handling Time (AHT) In Contact Centers

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Why Contact Centers Are A Good Way …

When in college, youâre used to competition. From scholarships to internships, you compete at every step with other students. Although you may think applying for internships and scholarships is just a lesser version of a job hunt, the world of employment is a much more competitive landscape.

Cleaning out your dorm, ridding school supplies with a textbook buy and sell back service, shopping for business attire, and getting student loan bills should be the signs that the party is over and it's time to pay the tab. One thing that might not dawn on you is thousands of other kids your age are in the same boat and there are a lot fewer dream jobs than dream seekers.

Landing an interview is never enough. You need to go beyond the usual to impress your potential employer and get the job. Here are a few job interview tips to help you improve your chances of success as a recent college graduate looking for your first real job out of school:

Prepare To The Core

We all know preparation is the key to succeeding in an interview. But most recent college graduates donât prepare enough, which is why they fail. If you want to get the job, then you need to prove that youâve done your homework. Preparation doesnât simply mean skimming through the companyâs Wikipedia page and website. You need to go out of your way to find out as much as you can about the companyâabout its culture, the industry trends, and so on. That's how you demonstrate your worth to the interviewer.

Draft Stories

Recent college grad attends a job interview

Your interviewer wants to see how your current skills complement the requirements of the job. The best way to prove them is to draft stories about your previous achievements. Why? Because stories are more convincing than factual data (in the job interview, not on your resume). Make sure your stories are interesting and to the point. Have a good opening line and see to it that youâve learned them by heart. Be clear and avoid sounding like a robot. To keep your stories concise, use the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model to answer behavioral interview questions.

Avoid Overselling Yourself

Recent college grad listens to an interview question

You know how they say that you should âbe yourselfâ to make the best impression? Itâs advice that you should stay away from when being interviewed. While itâs good to be enthusiastic, energetic, and positive during your interview, donât oversell yourself. The simple reason for this is that employers know that thereâs a lot of talent in the market. And candidates can go to any extent to get the jobâeven exaggerate their skills and experience. So if youâre going to say something, you better back it with solid proof (aka quantify your accomplishments).

Focus On Your Potential

Recent college grad shakes hands with the hiring manager after a job interview

Like any other candidate, you too are not perfect, which is why you shouldnât give the interviewer a chance to talk about where you lack. Instead, lay more emphasis on your potential, which clearly shows that you have what it takes to succeed at the job. If you donât have real-world experience to boast of or if your past achievements arenât relevant to the job, then you should talk about your quick learning and adapting abilities. If they ask about your weaknesses, mention them, and then talk about what you're doing to improve. It helps you win the confidence of your interviewer to a great extent.

Remember, as a recent college graduate, you might not have highly specialized skills and years of experience under your belt, but you do have something unique to offer. Thatâs the uniqueness that you need to use to make an impact on your interviewer.

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.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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Job Interview Tips For Fresh Graduates

4 Ways College Grads Can Get A Jump On The Job Search

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?

Two students look over each others' career materials.

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

A college student goes over her job search checklist.

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.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship

4 Ways College Grads Can Get A …

12 Best Tips For Entry-Level Job Seekers

As a recent college graduate, it is always intimidating looking for your first job. At this point, you are more interested in getting into the corporate world rather than getting that dream job.

Have you ever thought about what leads you to that “dream job”? Precision, positivity, and a good attitude are the keys to not only getting an entry-level job but succeeding in it. And when you start your career on the right foot in an entry-level job, you'll quickly position yourself for a raise and/or promotion, and you'll be well on your way to getting that dream job.

Here are a few tips for entry-level job seekers looking to land their first job out of college:

12 Tips For Entry-Level Job Seekers

1. Get Noticed with Your Cover Letter

For a job opening, it's common for the hiring manager to get a thousand applications. What's so great about you? Why should you get an interview? Give it your best shot by providing a precise, interesting, and effective cover letter. The right disruptive cover letter encourages the recruiter to go through your resume.

2. Refrain from Long Stories

First off, your cover letter should only be about a page long. Similarly, your resume should only include quantifiable work experience—no long-winded descriptions of duties and tasks you were responsible for at a previous employer.

3. Don't Get Overly Formal

Be simple yet effective. On your resume and cover letter, do not use bold phrases, clichés, or idioms to create an impression.

4. Have Faith in Yourself

Confidence is essential to your career. There is no place for “good” in the corporate world. Competition is fierce and companies want someone who believes in themselves and knows their value. If you don't know your value as a business-of-one, how can you expect to prove your value to employers?

5. Know About the Organization

It's important to research the company before going in for a job interview. Make sure you know each bit of the organization you are applying to—the latest happenings, the past issues, the website, and the company culture. You should aim to know at least 80% of what a current employee knows.

6. Sell Yourself Logically

One of the most important questions to answer is, “How beneficial can you be for the organization?” Employers want to know if you can solve whatever problem they're facing because they're not hiring someone just for the heck of it. Talk in terms of what you can do to make the organization better. If you have sales experience, you can say something like, “With my knowledge and experience in sales, I can make sure I sell at least XYZ amount of products each month by working on XYZ aspects.” Use the STAR method or "Experience + Learn = Grow" method to ace those tricky behavioral interview questions.

7. Act Mature

Be polite and take your job interviews seriously. Talk in terms of how your abilities can help in the betterment of the organization. No one wants to know what you learned from your childhood.

8. Relate Your Abilities to the Job

Focus on talking about those trainings, subjects, certifications, and specializations that have something to do with the job you're applying for. What makes you qualified for the position?

9. Never Boast About Your GPA

You might be a brilliant student, but if you fail to impress the interviewer, your GPA will not save you. Do not rely on your GPA to make a good impression and prove you're smart and hardworking. Focus on your experience and accomplishments instead.

10. Don't Exaggerate

Don't lie or exaggerate on your resume or in a job interview. Even a single white lie can outshine your abilities and competencies.

11. Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare

Always prepare before walk into an interview well-prepared. This includes everything from your appearance to knowledge about the organization. get information about the interviewer, too.

12. Leave like a Lady/Gentleman

Always leave by paying good regards to the interviewer and showing your interest in working in the organization. And don't forget to send a thank-you note!

As an entry-level job seeker, remember these 12 tips as you look for your first job out of college. You'll be sure to stand out from the competition!

If you're struggling to find a job as a recent college grad, we can help.

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12 Best Tips For Entry-Level Job Seekers

8 Things Graduates Should Know Before Joining The Workforce

The following career advice is what I believe to be the top eight things recent college graduates should know before joining the workforce. I am sure there are additional tips you can bring into the workforce but these are a great start to ensure you begin on the right foot.

1. Get Better At Time Management

Time is finite. Once it is gone you cannot get it back. Once a deadline is missed there is no turning back. If you missed an assignment, you risk a lower grade. But in the working world, it can mean losing a job project and the company having to incur financial losses. Learn time management skills and you end up being more productive, effective, and efficient.

2. Do More, Talk Less

Recent college grad talks during a work meeting

It’s far too easy to be convinced by those who say you can talk to impress people. And I do not deny that, but eventually, your work has to be the proof that you are a good worker and you are dependable. You need to decide if you will do more and talk less or do less and talk more.

3. Be Present

Recent college graduate meets a coworker

Being present means two things to me. Firstly, it means to be on time every time. This ranges from a small internal meeting to meeting your deadlines. It means being there when you are needed. Golden opportunities present themselves when you are present. Secondly, being present means focusing on the work that needs to be completed. It also means being mindful and fully aware of your surroundings.

4. Give Your Work A Routine

Develop some form of routine and be disciplined to stick to that routine. This is related to time management but goes beyond the time management that you do in the office. Have a routine for your life. Give yourself time. Block off time for yourself to read or even do the chores like laundry, etc. Start to be more organized than you were in college. Stick to this career advice even though it does not relate to career building. You will soon see the wisdom of it.

5. Be Nice

Learn to be authentic and avoid politics. Of course, sometimes it is tough not to get involved at all. But you can learn to avoid it and be real and authentic. Stay true to your values. These are the anchors that hold you when people change and agendas change. Be nice to people regardless of rank and designation. Smile often. Say “please” and “thank you.”

6. Compete With Yourself

Compete with no one else. Of course, no matter what is said and done, you will always be peeping at the next guy to see how he is doing in his career. Sure, peep. But don’t be overly affected by competition that you forget to look at yourself. Be the best you can be in this long cross-country marathon; it is filled with detours and stops. When you focus too much on your competitors you may get lost. It’s one of those career tips for recent college graduates you need to experience to know what it truly means.

7. Create, Don't Just Discover

Life is as much about creating as it is discovering. I hear far too often recent college graduates saying, “I need to discover myself.” But is life all about discovering yourself? It is and it is also not. Life is as much as creating the "you" you want to be as it is in discovering the "you" that you are. The truth is somewhere in between. So, when you get a job that is less than satisfactory for you, use it as a pedagogue to discover yourself. More importantly, use it to give you hints at creating the self you want to be.

8. Realize There Is Fun In Learning

Recent college grad shakes hands with the hiring manager

There is a lot of fun in learning. If you understand being present in my earlier advice, then you will know work-life presents so much you can learn and be paid for it. Learn to love what you do and learn to love learning. Because the chance to do what you love may be far and in between. When you find fun in learning then you will be constantly improving yourself. Learn to love books and all sorts of books. There is no need to stick to books in your own industry.

These are the eight things I consider solid career advice for any recent college graduate. A new phase of life has just begun. It’s a long road of work from now on. There is no need to rush your career progression. Take time and enjoy life while honing your skills as you move along.

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.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

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8 Things Graduates Should Know Before Joining …

How Recent Grads Can Quantify Their Accomplishments

Quantifying your accomplishments on a resume is very important since employers do not make important hiring decisions based on qualifications only. Recent college graduates often struggle with how to quantify their accomplishments. However, accomplishments aren't only about big numbers—anything that contributes to the company's goals is an achievement.

How To Quantify Your Accomplishments As A Recent College Grad

Even as an intern or recent college graduate, changing a process to improve the ease or speed of a task is an accomplishment. You should be able to find some achievements from your course or work experience. It is easy to impress the interviewer with examples of increasing profits, decreasing costs, or streamlining processes.

When asked about accomplishments, don't say clichés answers like: I got 2:1 or I got a driver's license. Having a degree is hardly going to make you stand out from the crowd. Ideally, you would want to mention something tangible that you can measure (e.g. if you raised money for charity, how much did you raise in the end?).

As with competency-based interviews that usually focus on behavioral questions, you should aim to use the STAR technique when quantifying your accomplishments.

Situation: Give the interviewer some context. Describe the situation and why the accomplishment was significant. Why was it difficult to achieve?
Task: What specifically did you aim to achieve?
Action: Explain what your specific actions were to achieve that goal.
Result: Make sure it is specific. If you've saved time or money or received great feedback, say it.

If you're still struggling to come up with something, think about whether you've done any of these:

Trained for and finally completed a marathon or other sporting achievement
Set up a new student society or turned a struggling one into something more successful
Overcome a fear by completing something you were frightened of
Given a presentation at an event and got over public speaking worries
Raised a certain amount of money for charity
Helped others to succeed, for example, by teaching them a new skill

Here are some examples of quantified accomplishments for recent college grads:

Worked as a part of a team of students who created a multi-media campaign that increased student enrollment by 45%
Named class representative of 5,000 students during final year at college, owing to consistently acquiring "A" grades and exceptional personal conduct
Streamlined 3 university admissions office procedures by introducing centralized online enrollment procedures
Received 8 awards for drama and music during the 4 years spent at college
Attained the Dean's Award for Excellence following distinctions in 5 languages and 3 sports

You can choose a professional accomplishment that's related to the role, such as exceeding sales targets in your part-time job, but you don't have to—it's more important that it's an achievement you're genuinely proud of.

Good luck quantifying your accomplishments on your resume! We're here for you if you need any more help navigating the post-grad job search.

In fact, we'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How Recent Grads Can Quantify Their Accomplishments

How To Stand Out In An Entry-Level Job As A Recent College Grad

For recent college grads, it's incredibly difficult in today's labor market to land a job interview for an entry-level job, and it's even more challenging to move on in the process and get a job offer. But let's say you did finally get an interview—and the job offer—after a long and tedious job search. And you accept, excited to start your first real job out of college. Although you're relieved that you found employment, there's one question that keeps popping up in your head: Now what?

You've been so focused on finding a job that you haven't thought about what you'll do once get one. Naturally, you know you'll do your job to the best of your ability. You'll work hard and complete your tasks and assignments in a timely manner. You want to make a good first impression, after all. But this is an entry-level job; you won't work, and certainly don't want to work, this job forever. So how can you ensure you'll be successful in your new job so you get promoted? How can you stand out and impress your manager? How do you prove your value as a young employee?

Here are some tips all recent college grads should follow if they want to stand out in an entry-level job:

Prioritize Skill Development

When you're fresh out of college, you have limited work experience. You probably have a handful of skills you've developed from part-time jobs, internships, and volunteer work. Whatever the case, you were valuable enough to hire. The company thought you had the potential to make or save them money. It's your job to prove them right. But it's not just enough to do your job and do it well. In order to stand out and grow your career and get that promotion, you need to continue to prove your value. You need to focus on developing your skills.

One of the best things you can do as a recent college grad in an entry-level job is prioritize skill development. Take online courses, volunteer to help on projects, and look for ways to challenge yourself. Be proactive and take initiative. Try to get as much experience as you can on the job. Developing your skills and proving how valuable you are to your employer will help you stand out and get promoted over your peers, even if you're the newest member on the team.

Under Promise & Over Deliver

Recent college grad works an entry-level job

As a recent college grad looking to stand out in an entry-level job, sometimes it takes a little finessing to get the results you want. Our second tip is to find ways to under promise and over deliver on every assignment that's given to you. It's actually the best advice J.T. O'Donnell, Work It Daily's founder and CEO, was given when she was a recent college grad. "When I regularly exceeded expectations it helped me to stand out and get promoted faster," she says.

Whatever you do, don't be too eager in your new job when it comes to promising a certain level of productivity. You don't want to over promise and under deliver. You want to manage your boss's expectations, and then exceed them whenever you can.

Keep Track Of Your Accomplishments

Recent college grad talks to his boss at an entry-level job

When it comes time for your performance review, or when you decide to ask your boss for a raise or promotion, you'll want to have hard evidence of your value as an employee. This is why you should keep track of your accomplishments.

Keeping track of your accomplishments will help you stand out because you'll be able to prove to your manager just how valuable you really are as an employee. And the best way to document your value as a business-of-one is to quantify your work experience and accomplishments, specifically on your resume and LinkedIn profile. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile every month with quantified bullet points so you don't forget any important information. This way, when it comes time for your performance review, you'll be able to show your boss how you made or saved the company money and, therefore, justify a raise or promotion.

As a recent college grad looking for a job, what you lack in experience, you can make up for with enthusiasm. But once you land your first job out of school, that won't be enough to stand out at work. If you want to stand out in an entry-level job as a recent college grad, follow these three tips.

Good luck! We're here for you if you need any more help navigating the post-grad work life.

In fact, we'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship