How to Stand Out on the Busiest Mailing Day of the Year
According to the U.S. Postal Service, today is the busiest mailing day of the year. Almost one billion pieces of mail will pass through post offices today. How can you make sure your holiday greetings stand out? It’s simple: DON’T mail your cards today! That’s my strategy. This year I’m sending Happy New Year cards […]
When to Write a Professional Thank You Note
I’m often disappointed when I answer an email question sent from an eager student, and I never receive a thank-you message. Not even a quick “thanks.” It makes me feel like I’ve been used. On the other hand, when I help a student and he or she sends a thoughtful, genuine thank-you note or email, […]
Get Career Help From Your Parents this Thanksgiving
Whether your parents are very involved in your life or tend to be more hands-off, moms and dads (and stepmoms and stepdads) can play an important and useful role in your job search and career planning. If you’re comfortable asking your parents for help with your career, there is a lot they can do to […]
Career Lessons From Hollywood: From Denzel Washington and…Me (!)
Check out this article in amNewYork‘s “Career Lessons from Hollywood” column, where writer Nicole Zerillo finds a way to link DenzelWashington to my advice about working a job fair… Knowing when to cut out the middle man and apply targeted networking strategies is the key to becoming a successful executive. It is also the key […]
Career Q&A: I’m a Literature Major…Help!
Q: My first year of college, I focused solely on literature (and loved it!). However, I was led to believe that I might be really stuck after college, not having a degree in something more specific, so I chose the teaching option (double-majoring in secondary education), thinking it was the only one I had. However, […]
Career Q&A: Is it Lame to Put High School Achievements on my Resume?
Q: As I start applying for internships and jobs, I’m wondering how much high school experience matters to potential employers. Considering that I’m a college sophomore now, how long is too long to keep listing my 10+ high school activities, honor societies and leadership positions on my resume? Does it look juvenile if I talk […]
Career Q&A: How to Recommend a Friend for a Job
Q: I am a former intern/current senior volunteer at a large nonprofit. Because I have been involved with the group for a long time, I’ve established various contacts in numerous departments, including senior staff. One of my friends wants to land an internship with the group. Because I believe he would be an excellent intern, […]
Job Interview Advice: Practice Makes Perfect
Every time I give a workshop or speak on a panel about job hunting I receive countless questions about how to succeed in interviews, and I always give the same advice: Practice, practice, practice. You can anticipate the majority of questions you’ll be asked on a job interview, so the more experience you have answering […]
Why College Students and Early Career Job Seekers Need Business Cards
Whenever I recommend business cards to a student or job seeker, I always get the same worried response: “But I don’t work anywhere yet. What will be on my card?” The answer is that you don’t need a title, or a company, or a fax number, or even a street address to have a business […]
Top 13 Resume Tips for College Students and Young Professionals
Thank you to Brad Karsh of JobBound for alerting me to the fact that September is International Make Over Your Resume Month (seriously!). In honor of this occasion, here are my top 13 resume tips for college students and young professionals, adapted from my book, Getting from College to Career: 1. Be careful with contact […]