A Must Read for New Grads – Grads talk about Transition from College to Work World

July 1, 2014

What will the job be like? What should I be looking for in an interview? Will I like my job? Simply Hired talks to their own newly hired college graduates about their first year in the real world and this is what they have to say, including some advice to those still looking. Real World Advice from Real Grads

What is Your Body Language Saying?

June 11, 2014

Does body language talk? You bet it does. What do you want to say?

Confidence Looks Like:

Eye contact: The confident person looks you in the eye when addressing or meeting you. Their eyes are wide, bright and happy. The eyebrows match this by being raised and open.

Posture: The confident person knows to point their belly button towards you when they’re addressing you. This shows you are the center of their attention! Even in group scenarios, confident body language includes relaxed but squared-off shoulders, arms at your side (except when illustrating a point and gesturing appropriately), and the stance is solid and stable, instead of overly wide (as an aggressive posture would be).

Handshake: A confident handshake is solid and firm but doesn’t leave you feeling crushed. The handshake is matched by maybe one or two “pumps” to indicate pleasure in meeting you, and then the grips are released. A confident handshake is consistently matched with the other body language to reveal the person as in control of their feelings and able to communicate with directness and authenticity.

Read Lida Citroen’s article in the Career Advice section of Career Attraction’s article to find out more about what your body language is saying about you.  http://www.careerattraction.com/body-language-giving-people-wrong-impression/

6 Job Search Tips to Land Your First Real Job

May 21, 2014

Our career center director, Denny Ciganovic, shares some sound advice in an article for The Collge Today, published by the College of Charleston.6 Job Search Tips to Land Your First Real Job

Help Your References Help You

April 8, 2014

You had a great resume. You got the interview. Now you furnish your references. Will you get the job? Employers DO contact references and YOUR reference can make the difference between you and another candidate getting the job offer. Help your references help you:
1. Talk with potential references before the job search. The better you know your reference and he/she knows your goals and achievements, the better reference they can be for you. You want references who will enthusiastically endorse you for the job.
2. Use recent references who know your work experience and your work ethic. Ensure they’ve known you for a minimum of one year, and preferably longer. Employers are most likely to call more recent references. Using one or two former/present employer references and one or two academic references works well for recent graduates. Refrain from using family members, even if you have worked for them. They are automatically discounted as being subjective.
3. Use references that can articulate your transferrable skills. You may not have done the job you’re applying for, but a good communicator who knows you can demonstrate your strengths in a meaningful way to a potential employer.
4. Furnish your references with a recent resume. They may not recall how long you worked for them or what your background or other experiences are or even your major or degree. Whether or not they are writing a letter of recommendation, an updated resume will be helpful for them and beneficial for you.
5. Finally, remember that employers WILL contact references. Reference information needs to be updated. Check in with your references every time you have an interview set up to let them know they may be contacted. Ensure their contact information, title, company, etc. is correctly submitted to the employer, and that they have access to phone/and or email (travel, particularly international travel could affect their availability). When a candidate is a top contender following an interview and your references are not available by phone or email for several days, employers can and will move on to the next candidate.

Holidays provide a great time to connect

December 17, 2013

Add three to five people to your connections over the holidays. Take advantage of the holiday family and social gatherings to learn what others are doing and tell them about your career interests. Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert, gives some great tips in her article Networking Tips for the Holidays.Networking Tips for Holidays

Cover Letter Checklist

November 27, 2013

Employers read cover letters. Many pay more attention to the content and flavor of the letter than they do the resume, since so many resumes look similar. Do include a cover letter. When writing your cover letter, be sure to review Martin Yates’ simple check list, all the while keeping it to one page.Simple Checklist For Writing Effective Cover Letters

Young and just starting in your career? Some insightful advice from your peers.

May 31, 2013

Career Advice for Young Professionals from Successful Go-Getters article by The Brazen Team found in Brazen Life
Career Advice for Young Professionals from Successful Go-Getters

Job Seekers – You need to read this!

May 31, 2013

If you are sending out resumes and not hearing back, Dr. John Sullivan’s May 20th article on ERE.net is a MUST READ in its entirety. Why You Can’t Get a Job … Recruiting Explained by the Numbers

Getting your foot in the door

March 19, 2013

TheCampusCareerCoach.com asks recruiters what advice they have for job seekers. In Getting Your Foot in the Door, Macy’s and other companies answer questions posed by TheCampusCareerCoach.com on what recruiters look for at career fairs and when meeting applicants, as published in the CSO eNews.

Getting Your Foot in the Door

Unconventional Ways to Boost your Job Search Efforts

January 3, 2013

Ashleigh Trahan writes this article for TalentEgg: 4 Novel Ways to Tackle Your Job Search In 2013.  (January 2, 2013)

Disclosure:  These creative approaches are not for everyone.

It’s a tough job market out there, which means you’re going to have to step up your game if you want to land your first (or next) gig.

In this spirit, some bold individuals are finding extreme ways to proactively market themselves to potential employers.

While these unique (and sometimes wacky) … more…

4 Novel Ways to Tackle Your Job Search In 2013

My Takeaway: Traditional resumes still work, but novel approaches to marketing yourself will get more attention. cw

 

 

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