Career Q&A: Should I Stay in Grad School?
Q: I went to college and earned my bachelor’s degree, and then I went right into graduate school. Now I am one year into grad school, and I am unsure this is the right path for me. Should I continue on this path and see where it takes me, or do I stop and look […]
Writing Tips for Entry-level Job Seekers
In a recent survey, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas asked executives, “What skill do entry-level job seekers lack the most?” Nearly half of respondents (45%) said that entry-level job seekers need to be better writers. According to an article about the survey in this weekend’s New York Times: It seems that some young employees […]
Career Q&A: How Can I Make a Living As a Writer?
Q: I majored in finance and am completing my last semester in college. I’ve decided, however, that writing is my passion and I want to make a career out of it. There are two main problems. One is that I need money right away. I need to support my parents and my future wife and […]
How Guy Kawasaki Hired from Craigslist
Thanks to my friend Emily McKhann of TheMotherhood.com for pointing out an interesting post by Guy Kawasaki on his “How to Change the World” blog. In the post, Kawasaki (an early Apple Macintosh evangelist, entrepreneur, speaker and author of The Art of the Start), shares his experience hiring employees from Craigslist.org. He offers some tips […]
A Warning Post to Job Seekers About Facebook
One of the most frequent questions I get from students and recent grads is whether recruiters check out job candidates on the web–and on Facebook in particular. My answer is yes. Definitely. Absolutely. No doubt about it. Recruiters, hiring managers, scholarship committees and internship coordinators love to tell me how they check out candidates on […]
Career Q&A: When Is Too Late to Follow Up?
Q: I attended a corporate presentation about two weeks ago, where I spoke with someone for a while about a position that really appeals to me. At the end of the conversation, he gave me his business card and told me to send him my resume. At the time my resume wasn’t “ready,” and I […]
Career Q&A: Who Pays the Check for a Networking Lunch?
Q: I recently asked a partner to have lunch to discuss my internship and the firm in general. When I ask a partner or another co-worker to have lunch, what is the correct thing to do when the check comes? Do I offer to pay or is it expected that he or she will charge […]
Little Mistakes Can Cost You Big
I have the honor this year of serving on the selection committee for an international scholarship program. I’ve been reading applications from some pretty outstanding college students and young professionals. Among their resume accomplishments: straight As, Phi Beta Kappa, recommendation letters from prominent politicians and more. They’re applying to receive very generous scholarship packages to […]
MFA (My Favorite Acronyms)
So, I got some flack in a recent Time.com review for mentioning in my book that I didn’t know that “LOL” meant “laugh out loud.” I thought it meant “lots of love”—guess I’m just a helpless romantic. This got me interested in making sure I’m up-to-speed on my acronyms/IM/text message-speak. Is this important knowledge for […]
Networking Not-So-Nicely
This post shares my August column for DowntownWomensClub.com‘s monthly “Dish” newsletter: It’s no secret that I love networking and encourage it to all. I think building and maintaining relationships is one of the most important keys to success in our careers and our lives. Hurrah, networking! However… There is a dark side to networking, and […]