New Grad Life

3 Things Employers Look for on Your Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Bauer) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

Write a resume that gets an employer's attention

Ever submit a resume and wondered why you didn’t even get a call, when you felt that you were ideal for the job? Ever felt that your resume was buried in a database and not even getting seen?

Chances are your resume didn’t demonstrate the 3 things an employer looks for on a resume. Even in the prescreening process (databases, recruiters and HR staff) are instructed to search for these 3 things, by the keywords they search for.

If you can clearly present these three things in your resume, you give yourself a much greater chance of scoring an interview. But what are they?

#1: Can the candidate solve the specific top problems I have today? An employer is searching for evidence that you can solve their unique top problems. The best way you can demonstrate that you can solve their top problems is by clearly demonstrating that you’ve already solved those exact problems. Most resumes do a poor job answering this question, as most candidates create resumes that demonstrate general problem solving skills rather than solving the unique top problems a specific employer has today.

• Do your research to find out the specific problems, challenges, and goals a company has today
• Do more research to determine how those corporate challenges, problems, and goals affect the department and hiring manager
• Don’t just list broad industry skills, hoping it meets your target’s needs
• Don’t just say that you can learn – Beyond entry level jobs, few companies will pay you for training or ramp-up time when they can find plenty of candidates who won’t need training

#2: Can the candidate build shareholder value?
Outside of the non-profit world, a company is willing to pay an employee because they believe you will make them more money than they pay - You are an investment. The best way you can demonstrate that you’re a profitable investment on your resume is to demonstrate how you’ve already built shareholder value for past employers and clients. Most candidates forget this notion, writing a resume that focuses on what they themselves want or a resume that describes how they spend their day.

• Do your research to find out the type of value likely to be important to this specific company, department and manager
• Demonstrate your value in numerical results or percentages
• Translate your accomplishments to shareholder value

• Claim responsibility
• Don’t emphasize responsibilities
• Don’t emphasize your past companies accomplishments over your specific achievements

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Don't Graduate Without Good Credit

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Astley) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:01:00 PST

Credit building tips for new grads

This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, where you can find the original source article "For Recent Grads, Good Credit is Gold" by Lisa Thompson, Licensed Investment Consultant.

Graduating from college is a huge moment in a young adult's life. It often represents that final leap from semi-independence to being a real-life grown up. That said, the responsibilities associated with adulthood are probably furthest from most new or soon-to-be graduates' minds.

It may not be the most exhilarating topic, but your post-graduation finances need to be addressed sooner rather than later. Most importantly, you need to start building credit if you have none or improve upon what you already have. Don't expect to move in to your dream apartment or get a credit card of your own without a high score.

Since most new grads are unfamiliar with building credit, here are a few tips to help you:

Build a budget. Begin by recording all expenses for a couple of months so you have an accurate idea of your spending habits. Budget for all of your monthly expenses, including rent, student loans etc. along with an estimate of variable expenses such as food and entertainment. Stick to your plan to avoid over-spending and incurring debt.

Get one credit card. You may be tempted to send out applications for plastic left and right, but this can get you into trouble fast. Show creditors you are responsible by picking just one low-interest credit card and making small purchases with it. Always pay off the monthly balance in full to avoid paying interest. If you must carry a balance, however, try to keep less than 30 percent of your limit.

Say no to retailers. It's tempting to save that extra 10 percent at the register by applying for the store's credit card. Don't! Most retailer cards come with high interest rates and annual fees.

Pay bills on time. This may seem obvious, but late payments can have a serious detriment to your credit. This is one of the easiest ways to maintain good credit.

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8 Signs That Your Job Search Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Astley) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:18:00 PST

Job search advice you need to hear

This post was written by Phil Rosenberg and reprinted with permission from http://reCareered.com.

It’s frustrating to realize you suck at something … but most of you suck at job search. It’s especially frustrating when you’re really good at your job, but because you suck at job search, you’re having trouble finding a new job.

Then again, how can you be very good at something you do only a few times in your career, the rules have changed, the way you’re evaluated has changed, and the very purpose of what you’ve been taught has changed?

At least you’re not alone … most readers of this article suck at searching for a job, whether they realize it or not.

And it’s not your fault that you suck at job search. You were taught job search techniques that had a very different purpose than today. In addition, it’s the most competitive job market of our lifetimes, the first time in our careers where there have an extended period of job shortages.

So you don’t believe that you suck at searching for a job?

Here are 8 Signs That You Suck At Job Search:

1. Your resume response rate is less than 10%: Your resume response rate (Total resumes sent divided by actual face to face job interviews … excluding phone interviews, HR interviews, recruiter interviews and informational interviews) is the best indicator of how well your job search is going. The average resume response rate is a horrible 1.5% – 2%, about the same rate as junk mail – if you’re anywhere near these numbers, you suck at job search.

2. You aren’t getting many interviews: If your resume response rate is poor, then you aren’t getting many interviews. CareerBuilder projects it will take an average 17 interviews to get your next job. Remember that nurses, social media experts, renewable energy experts, and Silicon Valley software developers bring that average down. On the other hand, those in career transition, having sizable career gaps, over 40, executives/managers, those in industries that are downtrodden, geographic movers, and career changers all should expect a much higher number of interviews until their next job.

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Top 5 Unique Job Interview Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Bauer) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:10:00 PST

Interesting Pointers For Your Next Job Interview

This article was reprinted with permission from http://www.careerealism.com

It can be overwhelming to think about how much work it actually entails to find a job in today’s web 2.0 world. If you are very serious about it, you have likely educated yourself in all the various facets of a job search and become well-equipped to go out and tackle the task. But, so have many others. Once a company narrows down the candidate pool to a group of people they want to meet, and you are one of them, it’s time to start thinking about your next steps. Only one person can be chosen in the end. When all things are equal, what makes you stand out?

Finding strategic and creative ways to land job interviews is half the battle. Once you are chosen for an interview, it’s not always going to be enough to arrive early, smile at the right times, answer the questions properly, ask the right questions, and then conduct all the proper follow-up tasks. Chances are you are going up against other candidates who will also be doing those same things. Now is the time to go that extra mile.

The best proactive strategies are somewhat subtle in nature and just flow with the rest of the process. The following are the top five strategies 80% of candidates do not utilize:

1. Confirm your interview.

If you have at least a few days between when you set up your interview and when it actually takes place, use the extra time to your advantage. Call or e-mail to confirm the interview, and let them know you are really looking forward to it. Not very many candidates do this, yet it’s these little acts of professionalism that matter.

2. Develop a rapport with the people who interview you.

Typically interviews (including phone interviews), start out with some small talk. Don’t just answer questions asked of you, ask them questions too and get a lighthearted conversation going! Ask them how they are doing and maybe share a lighthearted story. Try to help take the rigid formality of a job interview down a notch so that the conversation can flow easier. If any of the interviewers share something of some level of significance, be creative and use that information in further communications. Your thank you letter to that person could briefly mention something that had come up. For example, if an interviewer mentioned that his or her child was sick, why not briefly mention in your thank you letter that you hope his or her child is feeling better? Who wouldn’t appreciate that?

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Ten Mistakes that Can Sabotage Your Job Search

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Montez) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

How to be more efficient in your job search

By Jay Edward Miller of alabamajobwatch.com

Your resume is the number one most power job search tool in your arsenal. It has the power to make you successful beyond your wildest dreams. But if you screw it up, it also has the power to stop you dead in your tracks.

1) Overuse of "blasting" to distribute your resume. Mailing or emailing hundreds or even thousands of resumes to employers and recruiters can be counter-productive. For one thing, you are limited to a weakened, general, all-purpose version of your resume. Your cover letter if you have one, addressed to "Whom It May Concern" will be meaningless. Your submission will be lumped with the spam and junk email. You will have no opportunity to move the process forward by following up with a meaningful phone call, letter, or email.

And if that isn't bad enough, if a recruiter or employer reads your resume, they are smart enough to know that everyone else has a copy of it. If you are a recruiter and you know a thousand other recruiters have the same resume, you would know the tough time you would have earning a commission on the placement. Plus, you might figure that all the local employers have the resume and could cut you out of the loop. If employers know that all the other employers have your resume they may not be interested in competing with them.

Indiscriminate blasting reduces your market value. Don't expect quality interviews; expect interviews for hard-to-fill or high-turnover positions. Some commission hungry agents will be forgiving and may take a chance on you, higher class agents and employers will not.

2) Applying for jobs you are not qualified for. What is the harm? The job looks interesting, the "apply" link is right there, what is the worse that could happen? All they can do is say, "no".

If you are unqualified and waste a recruiter's or employer's time, they will ignore you in the future. And when their time is wasted, they suddenly have a memory like an elephant. That is not the way you want to be remembered in a job search. Plus, how smart does it make you look?

3) Not customizing your resume and cover letter for each employer. The Internet makes it so much easier to investigate companies. Corporate websites will tell you exactly what they are looking for in employees. Leverage these resources. The resume and cover letter are the most powerful marketing tools in your arsenal. And with today's technology, sending a generic resume and cover letter is inexcusable.

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6 Job Networking Tips for New Grads

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

How job seekers can start networking for their careers

Job networking events are often intimidating for college students and graduates. These events are often places where they feel out of place - but that shouldn’t be the case. Networking events are places were job hunters can make contact with prospective employers and show them just how strong they are as job candidates.

More often than not, the issue with networking for a college grad is not about whether or not they know how to tie a Windsor knot or how to pick out the right business card, but what to say to company representatives and how to say it. Below are 6 tips we hope will help recent grads out with networking.

1. Show passion for the industry and company

New grads normally do not have much relevant work experience, but can impress potential employers with passion about the company and the industry. The following are crucial pieces of information college grads should research to impress employers.

a) The top 3 competitors in this industry
b) The company’s strengths/weaknesses
c) The company’s vision and values
d) Industry trends (social, economic, etc.)

2. Show interest in the person you are talking to

Company representatives respect sincerity and will open up as job seekers ask questions. Most people are happy to talk about themselves (what they do for a living, how they got involved with the company, etc.) so college grads should show some genuine interest in the person they are speaking with.

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How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt After Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Cormac) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:03:00 PST

Advice from a fellow college graduate

This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, bringing you informative personal finance content and helpful tools, as well as the best interest rates on financial services nationwide. Follow them on Twitter at @GoBankingRates and on Facebook at /GoBRates

Did you know that the average college graduate is about $20,000 in debt at graduation while the average salary for a new grad is only $30,000? Unless you plan to somehow live off of ten grand for a year, you're going to need a solid debt-repayment plan.

It's not just the student loans that rack up debt either. According to StateUniversity.com, college students spend $11 billion a year on snacks and beverages, $474 million on music sales, $658 million on theater tickets, $341 million on games and $50 per month on beer every year. If you can relate, you are likely graduating with substantial credit card debt in addition to bills that are specifically school-related.

Which Debts to Pay First

After graduation, you are in a very fortunate financial situation compared with the older population. First, you may have bills to pay, but they certainly aren't going toward a mortgage or braces for your kids. Your life comes with few strings attached, which gives you the opportunity to pay off your debts fairly quickly and start the next phase of your life with a clean slate.

That said, there is a right way and a wrong way to pay off post-college debt. Most importantly, DO NOT pay only the minimum required on your credit card.

Here's why: Your total debt probably includes student loans, which usually have the lowest interest rates. They also tend to allow you a grace period after graduation during which you don't have to start making payments yet. Plus, student loan interest can be written off for up to $2,500 per year.

Other debts, like car payments, financed furniture, etc. will be more expensive when you carry a balance or miss payments, and credit card interest rates are the highest of all (U.S. average of 16.85% APR). If you make minimum payments on your credit card(s) while trying to tackle several other debts at once, you will end up paying thousands more in interest payments.

So what's the right way? It's best if you can tackle those expensive credit card bills first and get them out of the way. Then, move on to smaller amounts you owe.

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Seven Strategies That'll Make Your Resume Stand Out Online

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Astley) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:05:00 PST

Write a resume that sticks out

Sourcing is a term used for recruiters to find and uncover candidates and recruiters are getting more and more creative with their sourcing techniques. One creative sourcing technique being used today is going to Google or other search engines and putting in search strings filled with keywords and terms to generate resumes from all over the internet.

Since recruiters are getting creative with their sourcing techniques, job seekers should start getting creative with online exposure techniques.

1. Create a career blog

Start a blog that focuses on your career industry and include tips, articles, news, and industry related topics. You don’t have to be a writer to create a blog. You can link to other articles and news about that industry topic and add comments showing your industry knowledge. Also, set up a page on the blog for your resume, where you are highlighting your industry knowledge, experience, and expertise. You can easily set up a blog for free using programs such as blogger.com or wordpress.com

2. Use free document sharing websites

There are a number of free file sharing websites that can help you gain more resume exposure online. Save your document in different forms such as DOC and PDF so your resume shows up under those search terms. Yes, recruiters will search for resumes using words such as pdf, rtf, doc, and cv. You can even save your resume as a powerpoint presentation! Here are few free sites to check out: keepandshare.com, slideshare.net, Google docs

3. Set up a resume web page

A one page website for your resume is great exposure and a great way to link others to your resume. You can add your website url to your resume, to other online profiles, and at the end of your signature in emails and posts. You can find free resume website builders such as: Emurse.com and VisualCV.com.

4. Social and professional networking websites

It’s no secret that social and professional networking websites are becoming hubs for job seekers and recruiters. I use LinkedIn all the time when I’m recruiting and I’m searching keywords to pull up profiles of potential candidates. If you aren’t on these networking websites, you are missing out on a ton of exposure. You can utilize these websites by putting in your professional profile or resume and links to your resume websites or blog posts. There are so many of these sites out there, but the majority of recruiters utilize LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace.

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6 Things Not To Say During A Job Interview (And The Right Answers)

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Cormac) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

A job interview going boom or bust

Reprinted with permission from FabJob.com .

1. Why are you looking for a new job?

Bad Answer: My boss is a jerk and the customers are hard to deal with.

Tip: Keep the answer positive, in terms of where you want to go, not what you want to get away from.

Better Answer: I have been promoted as far as I can go with my current employer. I'm looking for a new challenge that will give me the opportunity to use my skills to help my employer's business grow.

2. Why do you want to work for us?

Bad Answer: I'm desperate and no one else will hire me.

Tip: Before the interview, visit the employer's website to learn as much as you can about the company. When answering this question, focus on one or two flattering items to explain why you want to join this particular company.

Better Answer: When I read the mission statement on your website about giving back to the community, I felt really inspired. I was also impressed with the facts about your growth in the past three years three new locations, and a 40% sales increase. That's really something to be proud of. I think it would be rewarding to be a part of a company that is such a leader in their industry and in the community.

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How To Get The Best Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:03:00 PST

A job seeker's secret weapon

This post was written by Susanna Cha, a Content Writer and MSc. International Marketing Graduate, currently writing about graduate jobs on behalf of Guardian Jobs.

So your university years are behind you and you've finally got that degree that you've worked so hard for. Now you find yourself in a competitive graduate jobs market. It's not impossible to get a job in the current tough climate, but it is tougher than usual. That doesn't mean you should give up, it just means that you need to be savvy about how you can give yourself competitive edge and know how to get the best recommendations.

1. Have you got some work experience?

Having a degree is great. But do you have any work experience? Hopefully you've been working during your university time and you can put that work experience to good use in looking for a graduate job. Think laterally, your part-time job might have been burger flipping or warehouse unloading. But think carefully about the practical skills you've demonstrated during your time there. For example, you've shown that you can work as part of a team. You've worked under pressure to meet tight deadlines. You have a good understanding of customer service. Analyse everything you've done and distil the skills from it. If you haven't had any work experience, don't despair, it's not too late. While you're job hunting, there's time to cram in some experience.

2. Have you considered volunteering or an intern opportunity?

If you're short on work experience (and even if you're not), then it might be worthwhile doing some volunteering. This will not only give you valuable experience, it will impress future employers. There's a possible added bonus that you might find yourself an opportunity in the field that you want to work in.

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10 Uncommon Job Hunt Tactics that Work

noreply@blogger.com (Terrance Williams) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

Getting a job through unconventional means

Before you can get a job, you need to know which job search strategies work and which do not. Take a look at these tips to find out how to make your job hunt more effective.

1. Hire a cold caller.

Cold calling to get a job really works–if you're good at it. Your ability to sell yourself on the phone shows exceptional sales skills, self-confidence, drive, and commitment. But most cold calls are executed poorly for the job hunt.

Debra Feldman is a professional cold caller at Job Whiz; you hire her to get you a job, and she can do it. By cold calling CEOs. What's the catch? She costs thousands of dollars. So consider teaching yourself the skill well enough to talk your way into a job where you can afford Feldman. You can definitely learn how to get a job from this as confidence on the phone will often help you with your career development.

2. Use proactive recommendations.

Instead of waiting for a hiring manager to ask for job references, have your job reference call immediately. This works well if you have a heavy-weight reference, like a well-known CEO or someone who knows the hiring manager. But it also works well if you have little career experience. In fact, if you are just starting out with your job search it's a great tool.

"The good employers have relationships with professors and they forward students who seem exceptional," says Joel Spolsky, chief executive of Fog Creek Software and author of the blog Joel on Software.

Also tap your job coaches. They tend to know students well after meeting daily for practice over the course of a few years. "A coach has extended knowledge of the students' personalities," says Tom Carmean, head lacrosse coach at Amherst University, who has given many references to employers. To start your job hunt off on a good start, this is one tip to consider for sure.

3. Stay organized with job hunt software.

How many times have you put the wrong name on a cover letter? Forgotten where you applied? Forgotten what the job was? You need to be organized right off the bat – maintain an Excel spreadsheet with all your contacts. This essential for the job hunt.

For a serious job hunter who recognizes that a hunt never ends, you could try JibberJobber, which not only helps you organize your information, but can bug you about the things you should be doing but might not be, such as following-up with a phone call. So to be successful in your job search, consider this technique.

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20 Common LinkedIn Mistakes Online Job Seekers Make

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Cormac) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

Online job hunting made simple

You probably know by now that LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool for personal branding and job search. In fact for job seekers it's one of the best online tools to land a job right now.

In case you don’t know about LinkedIn, get busy immediately building your branded profile, connecting with people, expressing your executive brand, and leveraging LinkedIn to full advantage.

But don’t make these 20 mistakes:

BUILDING YOUR PROFILE

1. Not personalizing your LinkedIn public profile URL.

Many people leave the default mess of letters and numbers at the end of the URL. Change that to “yourname” or as close to it as you can come, as I did with mine – http://www.linkedin.com/in/megguiseppi

2. Not including a photo.

Branding and career marketing are about creating emotional connections. People believe content more when it’s accompanied by the author’s photo. An online profile with no photo is a missed opportunity to reinforce your brand and engage people.

3. Not adding links to websites or web pages.

Include links to your website, blog, VisualCV, Twitter or other online profiles, so people can get more on-brand information about you and see what else you’re up to.

4. Not having a searchable professional headline that brands your unique promise of value and resonates with your target audience.

Make sure your relevant key word phrases show up in your headline so that recruiters and hiring decision makers sourcing top candidates by searching LinkedIn will find you.

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Is My Job Search Doomed if I Don’t Have a Network?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Montez) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

Job search fact or fiction?

Your job search is not doomed, but without networking you are doomed to suffer a longer more difficult one.

Although networking is important, it is only one piece in a multiple-channel job search marketing strategy. You help yourself best by working all your channels. Some other channels are:

- Online networking portholes such as LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace

- Recruiters and Search Firms

- Job sites such as Indeed, LocalJobNetwork, Ladders and CareerBuilder

- Targeted mailing and Informational Interviewing

- Career Fairs, Trade Associations, and Community Organizations

Nevertheless, many jobs are found by being at the right place at the right time and that means a lot of deliberate networking. Some may say, “Being at the right place at the right time is all luck.” I don’t. I say it is resultant of “preparation” meeting “opportunity.” If you are not prepared, you may have opportunities looking you in the face and never know it; or you may recognize an opportunity and not be prepared to take advantage. It is only when preparation and opportunity meet you are likely to win a job.

The caveat: Opportunity is actually a compound-variable in the equation. The other piece to “opportunity” is “time.” In other words, you can be in a lot of right places (potential opportunities) and be prepared for each, but without a crystal ball you will not know it’s the right time until you get there. So, you must be in a lot of right places at ONE time. Implementing a strategy using multiple channels simultaneously will virtually have you in many places at one time. Equation solved! Of course everyone will say, “You were lucky.” I’ll say, “You were prepared.”

As for the networking piece of the simultaneous multiple-channel marketing strategy…

I will tell you what I tell those who have substantial networks and still suffer hard times: Make it easy for others to help you and they will. Whether you are looking to build a network or jump-starting a stalled (existing) network, here are several tips that can help:

1. Start building permanent relationships while you are still employed.

2. Become known in professional associations.

3. Reacquaint yourself with peers in other companies.

4. Push out emails to update friends and acquaintance.

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10 Signs Your Resume Needs Updating

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Aldridge) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

A resume tune-up

Reprinted with permission from http://theundercoverrecruiter.com

The dynamic job market of today keeps changing and what was required on a resume a few years ago could be the show stopper today. To roll with the punches the clever job seeker has to be flexible and prepared to adapt, this goes especially for your resume. Resumes are living documents and will change over time, just like you should. The devil is most often in the detail and are you confident that your resume will do you justice?

Signs that tell you it’s time for a little resume makeover:

1. The title is... Resume

Even if you use the fancy spelling and call it résumé, it's not going to do you any favors as recruiters and HR people look at 100s of resumes per day and yours won't stand out. In fact, in can be rather annoying for them as they have to change the titles themselves sometimes. Make the title your name and make sure the file name is your name as well.

2. It's one page only

Not sure who came up with this recommendation in the first place, I have friends who had a one page document for years. Your resume should obviously be concise and to the point but one page does make it look like there is a page missing and probably left in the printer. The rule of thumb is, the longer the career, the longer the resume so go ahead and fill out what you have done and if it lands at 2 full pages that is fine (as long as it’s relevant information).

3. You have included age, height, weight, and marital status

These personal details have no place in your resume, if it’s on your profile you might be accused of ageism and other unpleasant things. Make sure to remove.

4. You have a photo

A photo on a resume is a bit weird somehow, it comes across as the person is using their looks to secure a job. And most often the photo will not be great and therefore do more harm than good to an applicant. There are of course exceptions to this rule, in case you are in TV, modeling, entertainment etc you can get away with it. You will be told when a photo is required on a resume and by default it is not.

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Hey Grads! No Experience? No Problem! (Sort of)

noreply@blogger.com (Terrance Williams) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:03:00 PST

Advice from a fellow college graduate

This post was written by Brianna Raymond, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com. It originally appeared on The Pongo Blog on May 12, 2010.

I graduated from college two years ago (four now!) with the notion that having a college degree would serve in place of experience and pretty much guarantee a decent starting salary in a first job. And finding that first job was going to be a piece of cake with a degree to boast. Knowing what I know now, I couldn't have been more foolish.

What I Learned about Experience, from Experience

1. You have it, but it's not the right kind.

The "Experience" section of my pre-graduation resume looked a little something like this: Pizza Place, 3 years; Some Pharmacy, 2 years; This Gym, 5 months. In my mind, this kind of work record showed a prospective employer that I'm a good, loyal worker. But if the jobs and skills are irrelevant to the field of work you're looking to enter, your resume will appear weak and incomplete. And that's where point #2 comes in ...

2. Your free time in college counts for more than you think.

College meant the freedom to schedule my own day. To be done with classes by noon or to not even start until 4 p.m. Oh, and the parties? Yeah, those were really something. But what about student activities and clubs? Or the internships advertised around campus? Not only did my contributions to the campus newspaper and my summer internship at a publishing house give me valuable experience for the workforce, they also gave me a stronger resume that secured interview after interview.

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KA-BOOM! A Dozen Dynamite Online Job Hunting Tips!

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

From the job hunt to the resume, here's some tips to keep in mind

Twenty years ago, if you wanted a job you spent days perfecting and typing your resume on heavy-weight business paper. You either mailed a cover letter and resume to employers or dressed your best and walked right in their front door. If it worked and the employer was interested, you’d get a call for an interview. And the interview was everything. In fact, two or three interviews wasn’t unheard of. Your interview was what got you the job.

Today, while interviews are an important part of the hiring process, it’s the portion of the job hunt before the interview that has completely evolved: the introduction. Walking in the front door with a resume in your hand is actually one of the biggest no-no’s in present day job hunting. Today’s game begins right where you are now: online.

Searching for jobs online is a time-consuming, tedious, and often discouraging process. There are thousands of job listings – everything from the typical newspaper site listings to “Employment” or “Careers” links on the employers’ own Web sites. There are massive, all-industry search engines and career-specific sites. Where to begin? My advice is to decide what you’re looking for, very specifically, before you even turn on the computer. The more narrow your search, the easier it will be to pinpoint where to look. I was a “professional” internet job searcher for three years after college – I was continually employed, but constantly looking online for something better. Here’s what I found:

Tips for Online Job Hunting

1. Begin by searching your chosen location for employment. Use Google to find the Web sites of the local newspapers, which almost always have an employment section that you can search by category. Next, search for regional or state-specific search engines – most cities and states have a Web site dedicated to local job listings.

2. Organize your findings. As you discover Web sites that you would like to continue checking, make a folder in your browser’s Bookmarks, so that you can easily get back to any site.

3. Search by your career field. Next, you’ll want to look for Web sites that are specific to your chosen career. Again, use Google to search: “jobs in information technology” or “IT job listings” for example. Vary your keyword searches to find a variety of different sites. Browse through them, and bookmark the ones that seem the most relevant or populated.

4. Watch out for the top placements in Google. I’ve found that often the worst job search engines come up first in Google, surprisingly. Usually, the larger the site, the less useful its content. Many times gigantic search engines become bloated with get-rich-quick or pyramid schemes, military listings, or national listings, where competition is obscene. While I still chose to bookmark and check major search engines, I often found jobs to apply for on smaller, more specific job search Web sites.

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5 Hard Job Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

The job interview questions you need to pay attention to

This post was written by Brianna Raymond, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com.

Job interviews are tough, and so are the questions. Learn how to answer five of the toughest interview questions here:

1. "Tell me about yourself."

This is not the time to share your life story. What they're looking for is a brief overview of the aspects of your experience and background that relate to the position. Talk about some accomplishments or strengths you felt really good about, and how you think they prepared you for the position you're interviewing for.

Example: "I have six years of advertising experience, and spent the past three years as the Assistant Production Manager at This Company, overseeing production schedules, hiring, and deadlines. In that time, I streamlined the workflow so that we were able to meet the deadline for every monthly print project, and in many cases we went to print well before the actual deadlines. I saved the company two weeks worth of staff overtime and expenses. Time management is one of my greatest skills, and I'm sure it would easily transfer to the Production Manager position you're offering here."

2. "What do you think is your greatest weakness?"

The best way to answer this question is honestly—mention a real weakness that won't affect your ability to do the job, or address a skill you're just learning and want to develop. Avoid calling attention to any weakness that's one of the critical qualities the hiring manager is looking for. And don't try the old "I'm a workaholic," or "I'm a perfectionist" approach.

Example: "I'm not as strong as I'd like to be on social media, so I'm spending about three hours a week blogging on topics I'm interested in, and reading some perspectives on the business-to-business value of social media. I'm already learning some things I can bring here, and hope to find more ideas on how to use social media as a customer relationship tool."

3. "What did you like least about your last (or current) job?"

Don't vent or focus on the negative with brutally honest answers such as "My boss was a jerk," or "They just weren't giving me the opportunity to take my career to the next level." Instead, keep the emphasis on the positive, even though there are sure to be things you weren't happy about.

Example: "That's a tough question to answer. I've had lots of opportunity at This Company, and I work with some outstanding people. I guess if I had to pick one thing, it would be the occasional meeting that goes an hour longer than scheduled. I like to tackle a certain number of tasks each day and that extra hour could have let me to get back to a client more quickly."

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Obama Says College Costs Must Be Cut

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:04:00 PST

College debt is getting unreal

This article was reprinted with permission from thesouthend.wayne.edu.

In just over half an hour, President Barack Obama laid out aspects of his plan to make higher education more affordable while speaking to 3,000 students at the University of Michigan Jan. 27.

For those perseverant enough to get tickets, the wait was worth it.

“I didn’t think I’d get a chance to do this again,” said U-M mechanical engineering student Kyle Taylor, who stood 10 hours in line overnight outside the Student Union for tickets to see the president speak.

Deleise Cole Wilson, a recent college graduate, had the same mindset.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime for me,” she said.

She said she wanted to hear Obama’s plan for dealing with student debt, but just to get the chance to see the president, whom she voted for in the 2008 election and plans to do so again in the upcoming election, was enough.

“He could sing, he could talk, he could do whatever,” she said. “He has a free pass with me.”

Before the speech, Sen.Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, stressed the importance of higher education and the need for a federal plan to address its rising costs.

“We can’t have students coming out of college owing more on their tuition debt than if they bought a house,” she said. “We’ve got to continue to focus on bringing down the cost of college.”

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College Seniors Speak Out - are schools helpful for job hunting?

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:03:00 PST

New grads weight in on how much Universities have helped

New Grad Life recently traveled to a few Universities in San Diego. We picked the most interesting responses and want to share them with you. Due to the nature of the questions most students asked to for us to leave their last names out and schools they were affiliated with. Read on to see what College seniors are thinking!

NGL: “Let’s talk about the various services your University offers. What do you think about the career fairs?”

Ashley: “Useless….I mean it’s usually a bunch of companies that have all these entry-level sales positions. Then there’s like, agencies; the police, highway patrol, sometimes I really don’t get what they’re doing here. I think it’s even worse for our University – it makes our school look bad, you know?”
Omar: “A lot of the job fairs I’ve been to on campus are great. I’m not saying I got a job offer or anything on the spot, of course not, but I did get a few contacts and leads. You just need to weed out those ones that are not useful to you.”
Sonia: “I think it depends on what school you go to, because better schools have better companies who visit. I’ve been to a few other career fairs, and some were worse, some were better.”

NGL: “What about career centers? Are they a helpful resource for students you think?”

Ashley: “I think the career advisors are helpful, but as far as the resources go, they just tell you what to do and not how to do it. You go in, and it's like you have hundreds of binders with articles, books, job listings around you. There's no direction - and besides I can get all this info on the Internet so I don't get the big deal.”
Omar: “They definitely need more hands-on tools like workshops. Their web sites have hundreds of links to great career resources but they are more often than not generic in their advice. Maybe they should better pick such links and make sure they are referencing to the best career articles they possibly can.”
Sonia: “Career centers don’t have a good rep usually, you know. Students don’t believe they can really help – but people don’t get they’re not there to place you in a job, that’s what a staffing agency is for. They are there to help guide you through possible careers and improve your skills."

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6 Tips to Shorten a Job Search

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Montez) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

Is your job search efficient?

By Megan Marie Sullivan

The economic outlook has been looking very grim, and can be disheartening to those of us who are trying to enter the job force for the first time. However, a savvy seeker can get into the game quickly if he or she keeps a few simple rules and tips in mind:

1. Your full-time job is to find a full-time job:

Every workplace has its standards, and so should your job search. In a competitive market, a job seeker should apply for 10-15 positions a day, and plan to follow-up with a phone call after a week. Keep an organized list of companies, positions, and contact names, as well as a calendar of appointments and interviews. Remember that time is still money (now it’s just money you are not making) so use it wisely.

2. Friends and family want to help

Often this is the key source of job leads. Human resource personnel often look for potential job candidates through their current employees, as it saves them the time of scouting and money incurred in posting job ads. One important thing to remember, however, is that they do not always do a perfect job. Sometimes family members will recommend you for a position without a clear understanding of your skills, or friends will ask you to contact a company that you do not think is a good fit. It is important to consider all leads that arrive through your primary resources, as they might stop being your job advocate if you turn down what they think is a good offer!

3. Use the Internet wisely

Specifically, take your search beyond Craigslist.org! Indeed.com and linkedin.com are great sources for job leads. Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com now allow you to create profiles so that you can apply without re-uploading your resume. Npo.net and idealist.org feature non-for-profit postings. For highly-focused searches, do a search on Google Maps for the type of company you want to work for within your desired geographic zone. From here you can find a list of websites for companies that you want to work for, and can check their career pages for job openings, or send your resume for consideration.

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5 Reasons Employers Are Reluctant to Hire You

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Cormac) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:05:00 PST

Was it my resume? Maybe the interview?

Job search can be frustrating, no doubt about that. Often times we hear job seekers talking how they never hear back from the employer after a job interview. We agree that employers should contact each job applicant even if they are not hired, but when you have thousands of job applicants for two openings, it might be a little too hard for the company too.

There are many reasons why an employer may reject a job candidate. We explore five reasons below which shows why the employers aren’t too keen on hiring you.

1. Your Resume Sucks

Online job search is highly effective and using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. can help you land a job. However, a resume will always be required. Online resume or offline, without a resume that can highlight your experience and one that is effective, landing a job is next to impossible. Having a resume alone isn’t enough. It needs to be effective. Too often we see people using their LinkedIn profile as an online resume but everything on it seems unprofessional. If your profile image on LinkedIn shows you holding a beer can, good luck getting prospective employers interested in you. The first and foremost thing that you need to make sure is the fact that your resume doesn’t suck.

We’ve covered resume tips in the past. Below are some links that will help you guide in the right path when it comes to making sure your resume doesn’t suck :

1. If you are looking for jobs in a industry that demands you be creative, these creative resumes might be something you could draw inspiration from.
2. Writing an effective resume requires use of effective words..

3. If your resume looks like the resume of the future that we created a while back, it’s obvious you won’t get called for a job interview.
4. Ever think of lying in your resume? If you have, these are the resume lies employers usually don’t catch on to.
5. Before you throw away the junk mails, make sure you learn how to create outstanding resume using tactics used in junk mails.
6. And finally, here are a few tips on how you can write a killer resume by making the best out of your biggest screwups.

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7 Resume Writing Mistakes to Avoid

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda Mitchell) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:05:00 PST

Resume blunders that cost job seekers dearly

Most people view resumes as a necessary evil and I can completely understand why. A good resume takes thought, some creativity, an ability to “sell yourself” and some basic marketing principles. Yet, the resume is so vitally important. As I have said before, the resume must evoke an emotion in the eyes of the reader and compel them to pick up the phone an give you a call. Your resume really is a marketing piece at a very basic level.

I want to share with you what I believe are the top 7 resume blunders. Trust me, I have seen them all over the last eight years as an Executive Recruiter. In fact, I have a “running” Word document that I add to on a weekly basis anytime I come across a funny, unusual, or bizarre item on a resume. One day I will share it with the world and you will not believe what I have seen on resumes.

Anyways, back to the purpose of the blog post. If I were to take all of the blunders I have seen I could place them into 7 basic categories. I would encourage you to take time to measure your resume up against these blunders and be sure that these are not true about your resume.

TOP 7 RESUME BLUNDERS

1. Lack of Focus – If anything bugs me more it is seeing a resume that has no focus. I have seen great candidates with bad resumes and a lack of focus on their resume is what is keeping them from getting in the door for an interview.

SOLUTION: Have a solid summary statement at the beginning of the resume. Personally, I am not a big fan of “Objective Statements.” I just don’t think they are very useful. However, a nice summary statement or qualifications summary at the beginning can work well. The idea is to have a paragraph at the beginning of the resume that “sells you” into the position.

Now, you may need to tailor this to specific positions before you submit it but the idea is to have compelling statements that are clear as to what you are trying to accomplish and what you are all about.

2. Too Wordy – There are some people who want to put “everything” on their resume. Their philosophy is that if it isn’t on the resume then they will think I don’t have the experience. The problem is that your “presentation” on a resume is just as important. The reader is judging your overall presentation based on how the resume looks and if you are able to say things concisely.

SOLUTION: If you are under 5 years of experience try to stick with a one page resume. If you are a 5-15 year person then you have earned a two-page resume. If you have more than 15 years of experience then you can go to a three-page resume. However, I would normally recommend that you stay to two pages if at all possible.

Another tip that is becoming common practice is to list at the bottom of the resume “Additional Professional Experience Available Upon Request.” This can help those who have a 20+ year career and are struggling with keeping their resume short. It can also help you if you feel like your age is becoming a factor in your job search (although, it is not supossed to!).

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You Can Build Credit on an Entry-Level Income

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda Mitchell) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:01:00 PST

Credit-building tips for new graduates

This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, bringing you informative personal finance content and helpful tools, as well as the best interest rates on financial services nationwide.

If you are a recent college grad, you're probably sick of hearing about how important it is to start building good credit. You know you need a decent credit history so you can one day buy a house, get a new car and obtain the lowest credit card rates. Unfortunately, you don't know how to get that good credit in the first place.

After all, you're just starting out in the job market. Even if you were lucky enough to graduate without much student loan debt, you're probably not earning the most impressive salary (yet). How are you supposed to establish your credit when you certainly aren't ready to take out a mortgage loan and you are perfectly happy with the used car you're driving around now?

Don't worry! Building credit doesn't require you to pull in a substantial income to fund giant loan payments. There are a couple of easy and budget-friendly ways to get your credit going and prepare your finances for the future without taking on much debt.

Option #1: Become an Authorized User

A lot of people are told to go out and get a credit card when they need to build credit. Just charge a small amount every month and then pay it back on time. Simple, right?

Well, it would be if anyone would actually issue you a card to begin with. This frustrating vicious circle of needing a credit card to get credit, but needing credit to get a card is often overlooked as the first hurdle young adults face when attempting to establish a credit history.

That's why you should be added as an authorized user on another person's credit card if you can. Authorized users don't actually have to use the card at all, though they can, but automatically share the credit rating of the cardholder. If the cardholder has great credit, congratulations. You do, too.

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Tricky interview questions to prepare for

A job interview is no easy task. In fact many job seekers have trouble with the same set of questions. To ease the process of interviewing, we've listed the Top 10 Hardest Job Interview Questions. Focus on these job interview questions, study them, learn them, research them, and ace your next job interview!

1. Why did you get fired/ terminated? - This question is tricky yet needs to be answered with full honesty. The interviewer would want to hear your honesty and your side of the story. Support your answer with a very good explanation. In case you get fired due to legal issues, explain that you were currently working on it and that it does not have anything to do with your performance. Your explanation in your answer is very important; it should be direct and should not contain intersections.

2. Tell me about problems you encountered with Supervisors- Another tricky question that will test how you worked with your superiors. I suggest not to be too honest in answering this question. For example, common observations such as being bossy, opinionated, authoritarian, or being a keen observer are the common traits of a Supervisor that are incorrectly used. Instead, cite a personal experience that you had encounter with a supervisor so that the interviewer would understand why it became your problem.

3. What Qualities do you look for in a boss? - Do not answer with the most common traits that a boss should possess like "being nice to employees" or a good leader. You should relate your answer with your work. For example “My ideal boss is someone who can make time to hear employees' opinions or ideas, and a boss who cares to listen and give fair his/her opinion with my work.”

4. As a professional, do you have any disappointments? - Cite the experience that really disappoints you, as you relay the story behind it make sure that you state something that you have learned after.

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Weekly Poll: How long does your online job search take in a given day?

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:02:00 PST

How long does your online job search take in a given day?

Sometimes it's good to just sit back and reflect upon your job search - what is your routine? How long does it take? What's working? What isn't working? Comment below and discuss the steps you take on a given day!

New Grad Life

3 Things Employers Look for on Your Resume

Write a resume that gets an employer's attention

Don't Graduate Without Good Credit

Credit building tips for new grads

8 Signs That Your Job Search Sucks

Job search advice you need to hear

Top 5 Unique Job Interview Strategies

Interesting Pointers For Your Next Job Interview

Ten Mistakes that Can Sabotage Your Job Search

How to be more efficient in your job search

6 Job Networking Tips for New Grads

How job seekers can start networking for their careers

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt After Graduation

Advice from a fellow college graduate

Which Debts to Pay First

Seven Strategies That'll Make Your Resume Stand Out Online

Write a resume that sticks out

6 Things Not To Say During A Job Interview (And The Right Answers)

A job interview going boom or bust

How To Get The Best Recommendations

A job seeker's secret weapon

10 Uncommon Job Hunt Tactics that Work

Getting a job through unconventional means

20 Common LinkedIn Mistakes Online Job Seekers Make

Online job hunting made simple

Is My Job Search Doomed if I Don’t Have a Network?

Job search fact or fiction?

10 Signs Your Resume Needs Updating

A resume tune-up

Hey Grads! No Experience? No Problem! (Sort of)

Advice from a fellow college graduate

KA-BOOM! A Dozen Dynamite Online Job Hunting Tips!

From the job hunt to the resume, here's some tips to keep in mind

5 Hard Job Interview Questions

The job interview questions you need to pay attention to

Obama Says College Costs Must Be Cut

College debt is getting unreal

College Seniors Speak Out - are schools helpful for job hunting?

New grads weight in on how much Universities have helped

6 Tips to Shorten a Job Search

Is your job search efficient?

5 Reasons Employers Are Reluctant to Hire You

Was it my resume? Maybe the interview?

7 Resume Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Resume blunders that cost job seekers dearly

TOP 7 RESUME BLUNDERS

You Can Build Credit on an Entry-Level Income

Credit-building tips for new graduates

Option #1: Become an Authorized User

Top 10 Hardest Interview Questions

Tricky interview questions to prepare for

Weekly Poll: How long does your online job search take in a given day?