How interesting are you to prospective employers?

During an interview, you will likely be asked why you are interested in _____ field, why you are interested in pursuing ____ career, why you're interested in working for _____ organization.  There is a positive correlation between the quality of your responses and the interviewer's interest in you - the more sincere, detailed, and thoughtful your responses, the more interesting you will be to the interviewer.
So, how interested are you in your field?

• Are you staying current with trends, technologies, and news that impact your field?
  
• Are you reading relevant journals and trade magazines?
  
• Are you networking with professionals either via professional associations, online communities, or both?
  
• Are you actively contributing to the field, even in basic ways, like participating in conferences, writing blog posts, commenting on articles, attending lectures, taking classes, volunteering?
  
• Are you looking for ways to advance the field by pursuing new or innovative approaches to current practices?
  

How interested are you in your career?

• Are you keeping your occupation-specific skills current? 
  
• Have you identified role models or mentors whom you might shadow or, at the very least, emulate?
  
• Are you working to enhance your skills either in formal settings (i.e. taking classes) or informal ones (i.e. volunteering)?
  
• Are you developing a network of professional colleagues both locally and nationally (or even internationally)?
  

How interested are you in working for this organization?

• Have you read the organization's mission statement?
  
• Have you become intimately familiar with the products/services provided by the organization?
  
• Have you read at least 3 articles about the organization written by a third party?
  
• Are you conducting informational interviews with employees or supervisors at the organization?
  
• If the organization is in a different geographic location, have you researched the city where the organization is located?
  
• Are you aware of the organization's impact on its local and professional communities?
  

If you think that accomplishing even a few of the above tasks seems cumbersome, think for a moment about subjects in which you really are interested.  I, for example, love cosmetics!  I'll be perfectly honest - I can spend hours watching YouTube tutorials on different techniques for applying eyeshadow.  I practice putting on makeup, even when I don't have to go out.  I subscribe to a magazine dedicated to cosmetics.  I read makeup blogs and have my feed reader automatically update me whenever new articles are posted.  I participate in online makeup forums, read reviews of different products, and am familiar with a wide variety of cosmetic brands.  I join groups associated with cosmetics on social networking sites, and talk about makeup with my friends.  Why??  Because I'm interested in makeup, and yet, cosmetics isn't my field.  I won't even begin to list all the things I do related to career development.  My point is that when you are truly interested in a subject, you pursue activities related to that subject.  You find ways to connect with others who are equally interested in the subject, and they seek you out because they find you interesting.  Likewise, if you are truly interested in your field, your career or a particular organization, there should be evidence of that interest.  If there isn't any evidence, you'll leave interviewers wondering, "Why are you pursuing this?"  Frankly, you should be asking yourself the same question.

(A revised version of this article appears on the LUCareerCenter to Go site.)

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Guest Author: Job Search Tip: Complete the Entire Job Application

By: The Medical Sales Recruiter

Latest story: A hiring manager I am working with in medical sales asked for a completed job application, rather than just a resume. The job is a 65 -75k base, with another 45k up for grabs in commissions. Nothing to sneeze at, surely. When the manager reviewed the application, he discovered that the candidate didn’t fill out the references area or any of the money questions. (You do leave this stuff off a resume, but not off an application when they are specifically asked for.) The manager that that was weird, so the candidate was out. If it had been just one or the other, he probably would have just asked for the info. But both seemed fishy to him, and not worth the risk.

Moral of the story: Complete the entire application. Otherwise, it looks like you a) have something to hide, or b) can’t follow directions. Neither makes a candidate very attractive in any area of medical sales, healthcare sales, clinical diagnostics sales, imaging sales, pharmaceutical sales, DNA products sales, medical supplies sales, hospital equipment sales, medical device sales, pathology sales, laboratory sales, or biotech sales.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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Enhancing college career development offices

I couldn't agree more with Dr. Nathan Hatch's (president of Wake Forest University) article, "Students need our help looking beyond paycheck." Among other things, President Hatch argues that "universities should enhance career development programs to go beyond mere job placement" (Amen to that!). As a career development professional, I whole-heartedly agree. At the same time, however, I am faced with the reality that for some of our institutions, career development offices are simply not staffed or equipped to assist all of the students in desperate need of our help.  Moreover, some of our career development offices are not supported on a fundamental level by faculty, academic advisors and senior administrators. Allow me to explain using the faculty as an example. It is not uncommon to hear career counselors murmur and complain that faculty are unwilling to collaborate, to refer students to career centers, or to promote career services in tangible ways. Further, some faculty take it upon themselves to attempt their own versions of career counseling, on campus recruiting and career "placement."

Does the "blame" lie solely at the feet of the faculty? No, of course not. The road goes both ways. Career offices need to do a better job of reaching out to faculty, especially newer ones, to let them know about the ways career services can assist students. Unfortunately, like many organizations, plenty of career development offices (mine included) must function with small operating budgets and vacant staff positions left un-filled, not to mention lay-offs. As much as we would like to implement faculty outreach, direct service to students and employers will often consume most of our resources, preventing us from making these much needed overtures in a way that would allow for consistent, productive relationships.

Career development offices have the knowledge, expertise and, perhaps more importantly, the desire to support students in "discovering what motivates and challenges them." But students need first to know that our offices exist.  In general, career offices do a good job of allocating resources in order to market services to students, but with even the best marketing strategies in place, we cannot reach all students without assistance.   In fact, there is no stronger marketing tool on a college campus than encouragement from a faculty member, a parent or a friend to use our services.  

So where do we go from here? 

• Career development offices must continue to do the best we can with the staffing, budgets, technology and equipment that is available to us.  We need to become even more creative about marketing our services to students, utilizing free technologies whenever possible. We must find ways to reach out to faculty and begin to eliminate the "us/them" mentality that often permeates the thinking of career development professionals - after all, we are all here to educate, challenge and support our students.
• We need more university presidents like President Hatch, who recognize (tangibly) the important work that is being done in the career development office and encourage collaboration between faculty and career counselors.  Monetary assistance will only go so far to "enhance career development programs."  What will go farther, however, is the support of faculty in encouraging student usage of career services.  
  
• Parents need to encourage their students to begin visiting career development offices as first-year students, perhaps going so far as to incorporate an assessment of career services when choosing a college.  Further, parents need to encourage usage of a wide array of career services (i.e. choosing a major, self assessment, career planning, occupational assessment, internships, etc.) not just job placement.
• Alumni need to look for ways to support (not just monetarily) career development offices: share internship opportunities, conduct mock interviews, host informational interviews, participate in alumni career events.
  

It would be too simplistic to think that the list above could remove all the challenges faced by career development offices. However, when President Hatch argues that "universities should enhance career development programs," I believe this list offers a starting point, a place where universities can begin to "do more to capture students’ youthful excitement and help them turn it into a lifelong quest for discovering what motivates and challenges them - what gives them meaning and deeper purpose."

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Body mod & employment - will ever the twain meet?

Many would argue that body modification (tattoos, piercings and the like), has become part of mainstream western society. But how acceptable is body modification within the world of work?

In 2004, Costco Wholesalers fired an employee for refusing to remove her eyebrow piercing. Costco maintains through their dress policy, "our goal is to be dressed professionally at all times...No visible facial or tongue jewelry (earrings permitted)." Upon dismissal, the employee, a member of the Church of Body Modification, sued Costco for religious discrimination. Later that year, the 1st Circuit upheld Costco's dress policy and found that Costco had made reasonable accommodation by allowing the employee to cover her piercing with a band aid or wear a clear plastic retainer, (which Cloutier refused). See: Cloutier v. Costco.

On the flip side, a recent entry to CollegeRecruiter.com's Blog referenced a presentation by Camille Sautner of Universum Communications that showed how many Millenial students and entry level job seekers consider themselves to be diverse, (and therefore more desireable), candidates because of their body modification.

My advice? Generally, I encourage students to cover up tattoos and remove piercings for interviews. Often, body modifications are not, in and of themselves, the problem. In fact, anything that might detract from your qualifications should be avoided - including perfume or cologne, wrinkled or stained clothing, or even over-zealous gesturing. You want to be noticed and recognized for your abilities and strengths, therefore anything that might distract an employer from these should be set aside. If you feel strongly about displaying your tattoos or piercings, be aware that you may be overlooked for positions. As you research potential employers, it may be useful to ask questions about the organization's dress code, and specifically their views on tattoos or piercings; answers to these questions may also help you make some decisions about whether or not you want to work for the organization.

Some industries, such as banking and finance, may be more strict about hiding visible body modifications. However, professional positions in which you would have little to no external client interaction may be more flexible. For example, dress policies may be more relaxed for some IT positions.

You can still be true to yourself by letting your hard-earned qualifications, skills and experiences do most of the talking.

(Re-posted from LUCareerCenter to Go - this article continues to be of great interest to many.)

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Five slightly unconventional New Year's resolutions

We all make them - those New Year's resolutions that are bound to be forgotten before Valentine's Day. Well, here are a few more resolutions to add to your list. They are slightly less conventional, but even if you resolve to do each one just once in 2009, you'll have done yourself, and a few others, a lot of good.

Resolve to:

1. be extra kind to that the not-so-kind person(s) in your life
2. graciously accept all the advice everyone wants to offer you; then apply only the ones that make the most sense for you
3. spend five fewer minutes a day worrying about your burdens
4. spend five more minutes a day with someone you love
5. get to know, and hopefully appreciate, that person in your res. hall, class, office, gym, (where ever!) about whom you've secretly been thinking, "I'm sure glad I'm NOT that guy!"

What other resolutions would you add to the list?

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This may seem obvious, but...

...do not take calls, make calls or text while at career fairs, during recruiter information sessions, or during your job interview.

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Quick Tips: Letters of Recommendation for Graduate/Professional School

When applying to graduate school, your GPA, exam scores and personal statement carry a lot of weight. For many graduate admissions committees, however, your letters of recommendation carry as much, if not more, weight than any of the other criteria. Here are a few quick tips for requesting letters of recommendation for graduate school:

• Many graduate programs will ask for three letters of recommendation. Therefore, you should request letters from at least four individuals, preferably faculty, who have closely observed/supervised your academic work and can speak strongly about your qualifications.
• If you have been out of school for several years, consider asking professionals from your desired field of study who know your professional work or can speak to your qualifications for pursuing graduate work in the field.
• When asking someone for a letter, ask if they are able and willing to write a strong letter of recommendation for you to get into ___ program. Give that person every opportunity to decline gracefully from writing a letter for you. If, for whatever reason, the person is unable or unwilling to write a strong letter on your behalf, thank them for their time, then move on to the next person - the last thing you want is a wishy-washy, lukewarm letter.
• Give your recommenders plenty of notice. Do not expect anyone to be able to write you a strong letter of recommendation if you have given them less than two weeks notice.
• Create a packet of information for each recommender, including a copy of your transcript, a draft of your resume, your personal statement (or at least a draft of one), and a brief description of the program(s) to which you are applying. Also include addressed envelops or specific instructions for how to submit electronic letters.
• Follow up with your recommenders periodically. Don't nag, but gently "nudge" them - ask if there is any additional information they might need from you to assist them in writing the letter; give them finalized or updated versions of your personal statement and/or resume.
• Finally, remember to send a thank you card or a small token of your appreciation to each of your recommenders shortly after they submit the letter and keep them updated on your application status.

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Happy holidays!

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Guest Author: 4 More Habits of Highly Ineffective Job Seekers

By: Kevin Donlin

[Recently], I [wrote] about three habits of highly ineffective job seekers.

[Now] here's the final installment: four more bad habits that can wreck your career.

Have a look below to see if you're practicing any.

If so, drop these habits now, and you may start getting more calls from employers tomorrow ...

Habit 1) Say "But" instead of "How" When highly unsuccessful job seekers are presented with a new idea, the first word out of their mouths is usually: "But ...." As in: "Hey, Joe, here's a phone script you can use to call people and generate job leads. You ought to try it!"

Joe, the highly unsuccessful job seeker, replies: "But, I've already called everyone in my network."

Successful job seekers, on the other hand, greet new ideas with this question: "How could I adapt that to my job search?" Then they get busy.

Listen to your self-talk today. Are you saying, "But" a lot more than "How"?

If so, the scientific term for your condition is but-head (sic). Sorry, couldn't resist.

To stop being a "but-head," start saying, "How can I make that work for me?" more often in your job search (and in your life).

Habit 2) Fail to tell everyone about their searches Unsuccessful job seekers often equate employment status with self-worth, and are too embarrassed to tell friends and family about their job searches.

But ... you won't get paid more for finding a job entirely on your own.

In fact, you may not get a paycheck for many moons unless you enlist the aid of as many people as possible, starting in your own home and on the block where you live.

Today, before your next bathroom break (yes, I want to give you a sense of urgency) make a list of the 20 most-successful, most-connected people you know.

How many of them know about your job search?

When I say, "know," I mean the following:

* Do they know the title of the job you seek?
* The city where you want to work?
* The type of employer you want to work for (right down to 10-20 company names)?

If not, you won't find work as fast as you could.

To get hired quickly, tell everyone. Not 10 people. Or 23.

Everyone -- every person you meet, every day.

Habit 3) Set no specific goals I'm firmly convinced that muddled thinking causes more prolonged unemployment than any other factor -- economic, political, or otherwise.

Here's a how to spot the unclear thinking of an unsuccessful job seeker ...

When you ask how many networking calls they've made this week, they reply: "I'm moving forward on that." When you ask for names of companies they want to work for, they reply: "I can't answer that, because I need to keep my options open." (Sounds like a senator, doesn't it?)

But, without specific goals -- milestones on your journey to employment -- how can you measure your progress and improve your efforts? You can't.

Note: Specific goals require numbers and dates.

Example: "I will make phone calls until I set up 5 networking meetings by Friday, January 9."

It's tempting to set a goal that's process-oriented, like this: "I will make 20 networking calls by Friday."

But your ideal result is meetings with employers, not phone calls. So make your goals outcome-oriented. In this case, the outcome you want is 5 meetings.

Habit 4) Wait until circumstances are perfect Some people always seem to be waiting for something to happen first before they can really get busy looking for a job.

Here typical excuses for inaction from unsuccessful job seekers:

* I can't go to any networking events until my resume is done.* I can't contact any employers until I hear back from the recruiter I called yesterday.
* I can't apply to that company -- they haven't advertised any openings.

But there must be at least one thing you can do today to get in front of a hiring authority. What is it?

Never put off taking action until circumstances are perfect -- they never will be.

Meanwhile, somebody else just got hired after attending a networking event without a resume, or calling an employer who "wasn't hiring."

Now, go out and make your own luck!


Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio and others. His latest product, The Simple Job Search System, is available at http://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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Tips for returning to the job market after an absence

If you are planning to re-enter the job market after any significant absence, the task may feel rather daunting. The following are some suggestions to help make your return to the job market a bit smoother.

Keep your skills current:
If you plan on returning to the same field from which you had taken your leave, do your best to keep your industry specific skills (or "knowledge skills") intact. Depending on your industry, this is not always the easiest thing to do, but think of creative ways to exercise your industry-specific muscles. If you were a sales person, for example, try to stay current on the latest innovations to the products or services you sold by researching the products on the web, or requesting merchandise catalogs from vendors. If your profession requires specialized equipment or tools to which you do not have access while you are on leave, perhaps you can request spec sheets or instruction manuals that will help you stay on top of any changes that may have impacted these specialized tools. Faculty at local technical colleges or universities may also be willing to give you a brief tutorial or refresher on using certain pieces of equipment or specialized software, especially if you are an alum or former student of the institution.

Whether you plan to return to your previous field or to change fields, make sure your transferable skills are strong. Transferable skills would include problem solving, critical thinking, organizing, planning, communicating - the skills you develop or hone in one setting but can transfer to another setting. Different than your knowledge skills, which are typically industry specific (even job specific), transferable skills can benefit you in any and all work (and non-work) environments. An excellent feature of transferable skills is that you don't necessarily have to be working to keep these skills strong. Here are a few examples:

• If you are a parent of a school age child, volunteering to coordinate parent involvement at your child's school will give you the chance to maintain your organizing, planning, and communication skills.
• Want to use your problem solving and critical thinking skills? Consider getting involved in a leadership position within your community.
• If you have special interests, such as music, fitness, environmental issues, or animal rights, look for ways to improve your skills while pursuing your interests.
• If possible, try to come up with creative ways to bolster your skill set while also supporting your local or professional communities - begin writing a blog about the field, become a member of a committee at your church, coach a local sports team, update a small business' website. If it is an organization or project for which you are passionate, you'll likely enjoy the experience much more, and as a result, the service you provide will be of a higher quality. (I don't recommend volunteering or performing service projects just for the sake of padding your resume.)

Make time for networking:
Networking is important in every type of job market, but it is especially vital in the current one. If you are re-entering your previous industry, do your best to start reconnecting with your industry contacts several months before you begin your job search. Alumni groups coordinated by your school can be useful resources. If you're involved in any social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, be sure to "connect" or "friend" your network. Join groups related to your field on these sites and then become an active contributor to the groups by leaving comments, asking questions, and letting people know what type of employment you will be looking for. While you may be looking to re-enter the job market, don't forget that you also have knowledge, experience and skills that may be useful to fellow job seekers/changers. Be open to helping others by sharing your contacts, giving informational interviews, or offering advise about the field. 

If you will be changing career fields, aside from the suggestions above, look into memberships in professional associations (try International Directory for Professional Associations or Weddles Association Directory) for your new field. Contact the president of your local chapter for an information interview. Individuals who hold officer positions in professional associations are typically very enthusiastic about the field and are often interested in helping new professionals establish their careers. Conduct additional information interviews with several industry professionals, remembering to ask for 1-2 more contacts in the process.

Again, remember that networking is a two-way street. Think of ways you can give back to your professional community and always be prepared to lend a hand to others seeking entry into the field.

Stay organized:
Keep a notebook where you write down all of your skills and accomplishments. Keep information such as the name of the project or the title of your position, and name of organization. Also note specific tasks you completed, quantifying or qualifying your statements whenever possible. List the results of your efforts. Here are a couple of examples:

Volunteer Coordinator - Main St. Elementary (2008): coordinated 32 parent volunteers for 5 field trips and 1 bake sale. Prepared sign-up sheets for parents. Wrote email reminders for each event. Coordinated with teachers. Helped raise over $300 from bake sale to purchase new gym equipment.

President of Finance Council - Trinity Church (2006-2008): lead 6-member council for two years. Identified church's financial needs, examined spending practices, allocated funds, reviewed vendors, participated in voting on large-expenditure decisions. During my tenure as president, church came in under budget for the first time in 17 years.

If you think the above examples seem reminiscent of resume statements, you're right. Your notebook will act as a storehouse of information that may eventually make its way into your resume. At the very least, the contents of your notebook will help you remember the activities in which you were involved and the skills you developed so that you can better articulate these in future interviews.

Keep your contacts organized. Whether you store your contacts on your phone, PDA or online, or you collect business cards and write your contacts down in a book, make sure you are tracking and dating the interactions you make. Include a summary of the interaction and any actions that need to be taken. For example, if Anne Williams suggests that you send her a resume, record it down as an action item. Also note the date when you've completed the action. Make sure you follow up with your contacts with a thank you note if they have provided you with some information, their time, new contacts or job leads. Remember to note down if you've given a resume or any other materials to a contact. If you update your resume in the future, it will be helpful for you to know to whom specific documents have been sent.

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Questions Answered: Should I take a "practice" GRE?

"I am horribel when it comes to testing. I can do practice exams and score well, (like on the ACT, I scored really high on the practice test but bombed the real test), but always do terrible under real testing settings. I want to take the GRE in a real test setting as a practice. Then take it again. What do you think?"


Generally speaking, I would not advise you to take the GRE more than once in a five year period. ETS sends all of the test scores you have received in the past five years to each institution you have indicated. Unless you are certain that your scores will be significantly different the second time you take the GRE, then it is best to only take the GRE once.

Since the practice tests that GRE offers through its PowerPrep software emulate the real exam, you may want to "re-create" testing conditions by having a friend or family member "proctor" your exam - making sure you are being timed and that the conditions closely resemble a real testing environment.

It sounds like you have significant test anxiety. If you haven't done so already, you might consider checking with your school's academic advising (or similar) office. Many schools have professional staff that can assist with a variety of study and test preparation needs.

Best of luck! I hope this helps.

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Practice interviewing before you apply for the job!

Don't wait until you've been offered an interview to start practicing for the interview! It is not uncommon for an interview to be scheduled in short notice, giving you very little time to prepare beforehand. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the interview before it's even been offered:

• Before you apply for a position, begin thinking about how you would market yourself in an interview for that position. What unique qualities can you offer the employer? What specific skills or experiences make you the best candidate for the job?


• As you research the company, ask yourself, and begin articulating, how you fit the position, the department within which you would be working, and the organization as a whole. How would you add value to the company's customers? How might you help reduce their bottom line? How might you help the company accomplish its goals?


• While writing your resume, practice talking about some of the accomplishments and details you will be including in the document. Why did you choose to attend your college? What did you learn from your internship? What was your greatest contribution to your previous (or current) employer?


• Of course, set up time to practice with a career counselor, industry contacts, friends, family, and faculty.

An extra benefit of using the above mentioned tips is that, in the process of practicing for an anticipated interview, you become very clear about how you would be an asset to the organization to which you are applying. Therefore, your resume and cover letter will likely be much stronger because you will know exactly what skills and experiences to highlight. You will also tend to be much more articulate and confident when following up with the employer after submitting your application materials. The end result? It's more likely that you'll be offered an interview - an interview for which you will be very well prepared.

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Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students

Here are some tips for keeping your job search and career planning alive over the holidays.

• After a long semester, it's sometimes hard to get motivated to do your job search or to think about career development. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done over the fall, and take time to reflect on everything you've accomplished over the past semester. You've worked hard and learned a lot. Get excited about what you have to offer the world!
• Keep your networks working for you! The Holiday Season is a great time to get in touch with the contacts you made over the past year. Write your contacts a card or a brief note to keep them up to date about your latest accomplishments, to let them know about upcoming events or activities, or just to say hello.
• Holiday get-togethers offer excellent opportunities for you to find out more about the jobs or careers of people you know, or to make new contacts with interesting people from different fields. Don't worry, you don't need to spend the entire party talking about work, but you can ask a few questions, like: "So what do you do for a living?" "How do you enjoy that field?" "How did you decide on the work you do?"
• Take an inventory of the skills you used or gained over the past semester. (This is good practice at any time of year!) Plan to spend some time, either on your own, with family, or with some friends, discussing the kinds of skills you've been using in your classes, at work, volunteering, etc. List all of these skills down and date them. Next time you go to write your resume, you'll have an up-to-date inventory of the most recent skills you've been using.
• Finally, make time to browse your career center's website for resources, tips, and advice.  And if you haven't done so already, make one of your New Year's resolutions be to visit your career center after you return to campus in January.  

Best of luck with your work search and career development. Have a great holiday season!

(A revised version of this article appears on the LU Career Center to Go site.)

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The Real Way to Get a Job Using Social Media Revealed (summary)

In this article, Dan Schawbel shares his secrets to using social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to network and find jobs. Read the full article. Here's a quick summary:

1. Conduct a people search
   "The first thing you need to know is that you get jobs through people and not random submissions or "hail marry's." The second thing you need to know is that most companies have people who can be contacted online."


2. Put up your billboard advertisements
   "I would recommend stationing your personal brand on the leading social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook), joining social networks that are related to your field, establishing a blog, website..."


3. Sleeping is not an option
   "Sleep is unnecessary if you're in a job search because every hour you don't have a job, that's money you can't use to support your life."


4. Find "head hunters" the web 2.0 way
   "There are a lot of headhunters around and they are easier to find than ever."

Schawbel offers some practical, realistic steps to use social media/networking sites to advance your job search, but you have to be willing to make the effort. If it sounds like job searching is a full time job in and of itself, you're right. And given the current job market, it's like adding a few extra hours of overtime, too! Try not to lose heart, though. Using these, and similar strategies, combined with your hard work and determination, (not to mention the experience and knowledge you'll need to do the job), will eventually pay off.
(This article is co-posted on the LU Career Center to Go site.)

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Quick Tips: Organizing your job search activities

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Gift ideas for job seekers (and other career-minded folks)

Do you have any job seekers, prospective interns or new professionals on your holiday shopping list? Here are some fun gift ideas for those career-minded folks for whom you may be shopping. I've tried to suggest gifts with varying price ranges and also offer ideas appropriate for close family and friends, and for colleagues with whom you may be less familiar.

Clothing
I've encountered many students whose idea of dressing up for an interview is wearing jeans with no holes in them (understandably a step up if their daily attire consists of pajamas, sweatshirts and flip flops). As we all know, looking the part in a professional setting is important, but can be quite expensive. A few key wardrobe items will help get your job seeker, intern or new professional started in the right direction. 

If purchasing clothing items as gifts, stick with conservative colors, such as black, charcoal, navy, brown and gray, however it's alright for dress shirts or blouses to be a bit more colorful.
For men, consider:

• a suit $150 - $400+ at Men's Wearhouse
• ties $15 - $80+ at Overstock.com
• a sport coat $80 - $275+ at Men's Wearhouse
• dress shirts $35 - $100+ at Nordstrom
• slacks or khakis $40 - $100+ at Macy's
• dress socks $5 - $40+ at Nordstrom
• dress shoes $45 - $200+ at Zappos.com
  

For women, consider:

• suit jacket $60 - $200+ at Nordstrom
• suit pants/trousers $40 - $200+ at Nordstrom
• suit skirt $35 - $200+ at Nordstrom
• blouses $30 - $300+ at Nordstrom
• dress socks $6 - $40+ at Nordstrom
  
• dress shoes $30 - $200+ at Zappos.com
  

Accessories

When it comes to accessories, again, stick with conservative styles. For example, choose a leather-looking laptop bag as opposed to a canvas one. Even with high-end items, select those with no or only conservative print. For example, most Coach monogram bags are fairly neutral, but a Juicy Couture bag may be a bit more edgy. With time and more experience, the gift recipient will eventually develop their own professional style, but for now, conservative items will act as foundational pieces upon which the rest of their wardrobe can be built.

Some items to consider:

• leather, or faux leather padfolio $10 - $50+ at Office Depot
• briefcase or laptop bag $25 - $200+ at eBags
• handbag $30 - $500+ at Zappos
• personalized business card case $6 - $40+ at Red Envelope
  
• watch $40 - $150+ at Nordstrom
  

Gifts to stay organized

Staying organized is key to successfully navigating job search waters and is equally important when starting out in a new job.

Items to consider:

• USB memory card (to save all those resumes and cover letters) $8 - $100+ at Walmart
  
• A calendar or organizer to keep track of when application materials have been sent and when follow-up should occur $12 - $26+ at Office Depot
  
• Rolodex $2 - $50+ at Office Depot or business card case $8 - $30+ at Office Depot
  

Memberships and subscriptions

Many college students, recent grads and young professionals would greatly benefit from membership in a professional association and from staying current with trends within their industry.

Gifts to consider:

• One year subscription to a trade magazine (fees vary)
  
• Subscription to BusinessWeek $46 or The Wall Street Journal $119,
• One year membership to a professional association - remember that student memberships can often be more affordable than full membership (fees vary)

Books
There are tons of helpful and interesting books out there for job seekers, new professionals, interns, and even for younger college students who are in the midst of choosing their major. Keep in mind that many college career centers also carry these or similar titles, but if your gift recipient loves books, they may want to have their own copy for their collection.

Titles to consider:

• Specialized career books, such as "Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors," "Careers in Focus: Computers," "Career Opportunities in Marketing," "Opportunities for Extroverts and Others Gregarious Types." Most of these books can be purchased for less than $25 from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
  
• Internship directories, such as "Peterson's Interships" or "Vault Guide to Top Internships 2008."
• Books for new professionals, like, "They Don't Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World," or "10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College."
• Choosing a major books, such as, "The College Majors Handbook" or "Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads: Finding a Path to Your Perfect Career."

Occupation-specific tools

Keep in mind, your gift recipient may already own some of the tools for his or her trade, but may be longing for better quality versions. Hold off on buying these speciality items unless you know the exact tools and brands most sought after.

Here are some items to serve as examples:

• art supplies for artists (prices vary)
• gift certificate for professional headshots for performers (prices vary)
• a cosmetic brush set for makeup artists $20 - $100+ at Crown Brushes

Miscellaneous

• A box or boxes of blank thank you cards - keep them plain, nothing too flowery, cute or quirky. $5 - $25+ at Target
  
• office supplies, like desk caddies, pens, and note pads $3 - $50+ at Office Depot

FREE Gifts

• the names and contact information of some key industry professionals
• set up an information interview with a professional in his/her field
• your support and encouragement!

(Prices and merchant links are provided as a convenience and do not necessarily indicate an endorsement of specific merchants or their products.)

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Resume Phrases - English Majors

It can sometimes be challenging to come up with ways to describe your accomplishments, especially those from academic settings. Here are a handful of resume phrases that English majors may find useful:

• Compared and contrasted _________ with _________ resulting in 8-page paper and 10 minute class presentation
  
• Conducted extensive literature review of academic essays about William Blake
  
• Utilized Lexis-Nexus, EBSCO Host, Jstor and other electronic databases
  
• Wrote extensively on topic of female concepts of power in 18th century France
  
• Conducted close readings of texts
  
• Examined “war writings” of 19th century Russia
  
• Explored impact of poverty on expressions of faith in poetry of 17th century Europe; contrasted findings with translations of 17th century Chinese poetry
  
• Lead class discussion on the use of irony in Kurt Vonnegut’s Galapagos
  
• Organized meeting times among 4 fellow students for group project
  

Keep in mind that the phrases above are just examples and provided to remind you of the your many accomplishments as a student. Revise, edit and tailor the phrases as your needs require.

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Does God Care About Your Career?

(The following articles deals explicitly with applying Biblical truths to career decision-making. If you are uninterested in this subject, please click to another article.)

The following is an excerpt from a longer piece that appears on my personal website.

How can we discern God’s will for our lives? Before we can even think about that question, we probably should ask ourselves, “Does God only care about the big picture, or is He also concerned with our personal paths?”

The Lord is concerned with our daily activities.

• You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? (Psalm 56:8)
• O Lord You have searched me and known me, You know my sitting down and my rising up… (Psalm 139:1-2)

The Lord is not interested in ritual or religion (Hsa 6:6). Instead, He seeks a personal relationship with each one of us. In any living relationship there is no single formula for discerning each other's desires on a moment-by-moment basis. For example, speaking with a spouse once-a-week would make it very difficult to discern each others desires, goals or plans. Even speaking to a spouse once-a-day would likely be inadequate communication to foster a healthy marriage relationship. Likewise, a strong, intimate relationship with the Lord requires constant communication - even more communication than a marriage would require.

How does the Lord communicate with us?

Through His Word, the Bible.

• Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105)
  

Through the Holy Spirit

• Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. Deliver me, oh Lord, from mine enemies; in You I take shelter. Teach me to do your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. (Ps. 143:8-10)
  

Through prayer

• ...and Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord…Then Isaiah the son of Amos sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, I have heard. (2 Kings 19:14-20)
  

Through people: parents, partners, family, friends, pastors and elders, sometimes even non-believers (we must test the source)

• Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. (Prov. 15:22)
  

Inner peace, or lack of peace

• For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom. 8:6)
  

Circumstance (we must be careful not to read too much into these. Remember that the Lord is unchanging and never contradicts Himself. Examine circumstances through the light of His Word.)

• Paul recognizes that in God's sovereignty, He opens or closes doors of opportunity. "For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentacost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." (1 Cor. 16:7-8)
  
• David's men misunderstand the following circumstance, believing that the Lord intended David to take Saul's life: Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, “Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. (1 Sam. 24:4-5)

Signs and Wonders (Again, we must be very careful not to read too much into these)

• Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” (Num. 22:28)
  

How do we make this practical? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path." (Prov. 3:5-6)

Through prayer, be in dialogue with the Lord about ALL things. Pray throughout the day.

• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)
  

Acknowledge God’s ultimate sovereignty.

• Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. (Prov. 16:3)
  

Pray for wisdom and discernment from the Lord.

• If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (Jam. 1:5)
  
• Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. (Ps. 119:33-34)
  

Be in motion. Be knowledgeable and planful – plans are necessary to reach goals. Prayerfully establish reasonable, attainable goals. Write down your goals.

• The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. (Prov. 21:5)
  

Gather and research information about various fields and occupations. Set up appointments to speak with people in a field that interests you. Develop a list of organizations for whom you would be interested in working; lay all of your findings out before the Lord. Consider a job shadow, or an internship.

• It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (Prov. 19:2)
• For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it… or what king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (Luke 14:28, 31)

If you are applying for some specific positions, prepare a tailored résumé for each position. The résumé consists of numerous statements describing your accomplishments in various settings. Avoid glorying in these accomplishments; rather, give glory to the Lord for all He has allowed you to accomplish. The contents of the résumé provide you with an excellent opportunity to reflect on the many blessings and gifts the Lord has showered upon you.

• Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17)

Ask others to pray with you before making a decision. Continue to pray after making a decision.

• "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" (Esther 4:16)

Have an attitude of gratitude.

• In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 5:18)

Recognize that the Lord sometimes places us in situations that make no sense to us. Continue to trust in Him, and understand that sometimes the situation may have very little to do with us.

• On more than one occasion, Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, found himself in situations that probably did not make much sense. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, and later sent to prison for a crime that he did not commit. Joseph recognizes that these situations, though difficult, were not really about him. "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Gen 50:20)
• And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. (Rom 8:28)

Be sensitive to God’s timing; His timing is always perfect.

• "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Is 55:8-9)

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Career Lessons From a Snow Day

Winter has arrived!! Earlier this week, my area received our first real accumulation of snow. As I looked out the window wondering when I'd have the time to shovel the driveway, I saw three middle school children walking in front of my house. "Be careful. Be careful!" I kept chanting in my head as I watched the three cautiously make their way over the icy sidewalk. That's when it dawned on me that job searching right now is not too unlike walking on a cold, snowy day.

It was rather blustery out; the children's heads were bowed and arms crossed, bracing themselves against the cold wind. All the while, the children kept their eyes fixed on the sidewalk, attempting to determine their next steps. Likewise, when the job market is cold, sometimes you just have to keep your head down - not in defeat, but in a posture of determination - forging ahead regardless of the cold slaps of rejection you know will come. Furthermore, you have to watch your step; be planful and thoughtful about the moves you make, and always be ready to alter your course when the need arises.

Back to the children walking in the snow. Two of them were wearing boots, while the third was wearing regular shoes (maybe sneakers). When it comes to job search, foot apparel is the equivalent of your skills, experiences and abilities. During any given time of year, having some sort of foot covering is important, but what you wear on your feet in the wintertime is particularly essential. Boots will keep you warm and will give you more stability and confidence as you trek through the snow. Likewise, your skills, experiences and abilities are always important aspects of the job search, but much more important during economic "coldspells." Solid experience and proven skills and abilities are like wearing a good pair of boots - they give you security, confidence and stability when the path you're walking is uncertain.

The little girl wearing sneakers was able to move along on the icy sidewalk, but she was much more tentative, periodically reaching out to balance herself on her friend's arm. Likewise, if you're heading into your job search with limited related work experience, (i.e. you're wearing sneakers on the snow rather than snow boots), navigating the job market will be especially challenging - but still possible. And, you'll likely benefit immensely from reaching out to your network of professional colleagues, (which is a good idea for any job seeker, but especially useful to those with limited experience).

After walking by my house, I notice the three young friends cross the street and head for the snow-covered baseball field opposite my home. Despite the cold, a lively snowball fight soon followed. This brings me to my last point. Though the job market is undoubtedly difficult, you can't allow the current economic climate to steal all of your joy. Find ways to make the most of the situation - perhaps by developing or honing skills, perhaps by re-connecting with colleagues, or perhaps by testing new career avenues previously unexplored. For all the challenges that winter can present, it also brings with it the joys of the holiday season, which in turn usher in the spring!

(For some practical tips on how NOT to let the recession become an excuse for not finding a job, read, "10 Ways YOU Stop Yourself From Getting a Job.")

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Guest Author - Is a Truck Driving Job Right for You?

By: Randall Olson

If you're looking for a high demand career field, like to travel, and find the idea of driving for a living appealing, a truck driving job might be the perfect career choice for you. There are many job opportunities in the truck driving field, particularly for individuals interested over the road driving opportunities.
Job prospects are also good for those interested in local haul driving opportunities.

Over the Road Truck Driving Jobs
When most people think of professional truck driving, this is the type of position that comes to mind. Over the road truck drivers are on the road for weeks at a time, hauling cargo across state lines. In the United States, many long haul drivers cover coast to coast routes across the country, while others drive shorter interstate routes. Some over the road drivers deliver to and haul from locations within Canada and Mexico as well.

Local Haul Truck Driving Jobs
Individuals who have local haul truck driving jobs transport goods within their local area and are not required to be away from home for extended periods of time. Some work for companies who have multiple locations within a particular geographic area, or handle deliveries from a central warehouse location to multiple retail outlets.

Becoming a Truck Driver
In order to be qualified for employment as a truck driver, one must earn a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Individuals 21 and older are eligible to apply for CDL certification. Individuals who want to seek employment in this field must first pass a written examination, and then demonstrate proficiency operating the right type of vehicle.

In addition to demonstrating an appropriate knowledge base and driving proficiency, individuals seeking CDL certification must meet driving history and health requirements to become licensed to drive a truck. To be considered for a CDL, an individual must have a good driving record. It's also necessary to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination, drug test, and criminal background check.

Most individuals choose to attend a truck driving school prior to sitting for their CDL exam. It's difficult, if not impossible, for most people to meet the stringent CDL knowledge and driving requirements without completing a formal truck driving training program. There are a number of independent truck driving schools and programs that offer excellent training opportunities. Many trucking companies offer their own driver training programs, in the hopes of being able to hire the most proficient students to meet their own staffing needs.

Interested in Pursuing a Truck Driving Career?
If the idea of a truck driving career appeals to you, it's a good idea to start investigating training programs. The sooner you start training to work as a professional truck driver, the faster you'll be able to earn your CDL and begin your lucrative and rewarding career in the transportation industry.

About the Author
Randall Olson is the Director of Information Technology for Mobile Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions (http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com). He oversees the firm's high stakes certification testing center, conducts computer application training, and manages MTI's online learning programs. MTI is a full service training and consulting firm, providing open enrollment and on-site employee development training, database development, and website solutions. For free career and business development tips and advice, see http://www.DailyCareerConnection.com and http://www.DailyBizSolutions.com.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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Questions Answered - How it works

I realized that I haven't explicitly stated how to post your questions. For the most part, submitting your career-related questions via my
is a good bet. However, I also respond to questions posted through comments directly on the blog and on my YouTube videos (there's only a handful of those, but there will be more to come). If I'm your friend on Facebook or a connection on LinkedIn, you can also post questions to me via those sites.

Also, if you have a special request for a review of a job board or career site, let me know. I'm trying to build up a list of sites to review.

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Questions Answered - Following up with an Employer

"I recently applied for a job as a marketing assistant for a local company. There wasn't really a deadline on the posting and I haven't heard back from them yet, but it's driving me crazy wondering if I might get interviewed or not. Should I call the employer or would that seem pushy?"


Yes, I think it's a good idea to follow up with the employer. First, you want to make sure your application materials were actually received. Second, it's nice to know who all the "players" will be in your job search. If you've applied to multiple positions, you'll eventually have to decide with which organizations you will want to interview and, when the time comes, which offers you'll want to seriously consider. Knowing each employer's hiring time frame will be useful in your decision-making. For more information about following up with an employer, check out my article, "Follow up - an important next step."

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Questions Answered - Letters of Recommendation

I was recently asked whether it was better to have a strong letter of recommendation for graduate school from a professor in a different major (who has observed and supervised your academic work), or a positive but not strong letter from a faculty person in your major.

Personally, I would go with the stronger letter, even though the faculty person is from a different discipline. Letters of recommendation carry a lot of weight when it comes to applying to graduate programs. Ideally, you will have 3-4 letters written by faculty in your major. However, if a professor from a different discipline has observed your academic work, (perhaps you switched majors, completed a minor, or conducted research in a different field), then their letter would be preferable to a lukewarm or "wishy-washy" letter from a professor in your major.

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