Selasa, 31 Agustus 2010

Get Ahead by Greening Your Company

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Green is not only mainstream, it's now considered a good business strategy, as companies large and small are pursuing sustainability and eco-friendly policies in a big way.

Whether or not "green" is among your job duties, you can boost your own career prospects by making the company look environmentally friendly and lightening its environmental footprint.

Ways to Effect Change

Experts point out four ways you can affect change on the job:

1. Take your green habits to work. At home, you may turn off lights when you leave a room, recycle religiously, and eschew Styrofoam, but does your behavior change in the office?

"Setting a good example is a first step toward encouraging eco-friendly policies at work," said Linda Sorrento of the U.S. Green Building Council.

2. Do the homework. Companies may want to do the right thing, but they're daunted by the amount of effort they think is required.

"If you can do the legwork for them -- and present a compelling case -- they're more likely to adopt changes," said Jennifer Hattam, green living editor for Sierra Magazine.

3. Quantify the benefits. "Because many of green policies have a direct cost benefit, share your ideas the person who's responsible for cutting costs," said Monique Tilford of the Center for the New American Dream.

4. Turn your job green. If you're in IT, you might be able to buy more efficient computers.

"If you're in purchasing, ask suppliers about the environmental impact of their products," said Gwen Ruta, director of corporate partnerships at Environmental Defense. "Just asking the questions makes a big difference."

Build Consensus at Work

Unless you're a department head or CEO, you probably can't affect big changes without getting buy-in, so the types of policies you want to implement will determine your approach:

  • Talk to the office manager about changing printer paper to a brand with more recycled content and replacing printers with duplexers.
  • See if your facilities manager will switch to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) or put lights on a timer.
  • Convince your IT department to set computers to go to sleep mode automatically.
  • Notify HR about bike parking, carpooling, or telecommuting.
  • Tell your department head about posting materials online (where they're easier to update as well) versus print copies.
  • Ask the meeting planner whether they could buy reusable dishes and silverware.
  • If your suggestions are implemented, tell the company's press or PR department; they'll be glad to position the company as eco-friendly.

If your ideas get a lukewarm reception, see if it's OK to circulate environmental tips to coworkers, or start an informal employee group. "Working with employees to brainstorm changes is an effective way to promote sustainability and also to find solutions for 'sick office syndrome,'" said Sorrento.

Experts agree that saving your company money and greening its reputation will put you in a good light. It can also build your initiative, creativity, and negotiation experience, among other skills.

Hattam adds that, since green business is a growth industry, "having some eco-action on your resume will make you a more attractive job candidate in the future."


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AARP Names Best Employers for Workers Over 50

by Tom Musbach, Yahoo! HotJobs


A leading advocacy group for older Americans has placed packaged goods company SC Johnson at the top of its 2007 list of 50 best employers for people over 50.

The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) began the annual list seven years ago in recognition that more people than ever before are working into their 60s and beyond. The group honors companies that support an aging workforce by providing flexible work schedules, health insurance options, and other benefits to retain and attract baby-boomer candidates.

"It is important that more employers -- both large and small -- recognize what tremendous assets 50 and over employees represent because of their experience and motivation," said AARP CEO Bill Novelli in announcing this year's winners.

The Honor Roll

The employers honored by the AARP in 2007 include Mercy Health System of Janesville, Wis.; Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa; West Virginia University Hospitals; Volkswagen of America Inc. in Auburn Hills, Mich.; John Deere of Moline, Ill.; and George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. (The complete list is available at AARP.org.)

SC Johnson, based in Racine, Wis. and known for brands like Shout and Windex, topped the list for its onsite medical center and wellness, fitness, and education programs. The AARP also saluted the company's comprehensive financial benefits and retirement planning tools for employees.

Health care and education were the most visible industries on the AARP list in 2007, which was similar to 2006. More than 110 companies participated in a comprehensive application process to be considered for the honor.

No Short Cuts

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, principal with Human Resource Solutions based in Massachusetts, cautioned that lists like the AARP's are only one type of resource that job-seekers over 50 should consult.

"Job seekers should keep in mind that many organizations have large public-relations departments that help their companies make it onto these lists," she said. "There are many great companies that never even apply."

She added that baby-boomer candidates should do their own research on companies and consult with friends and others in their network to get a sense if an employer is supportive of mature workers.

What Boomers Want

"Many workers over 50 have expressed interest in jobs to help improve the quality of life in their communities, jobs that connect them to their passion in life, a purpose bigger than themselves, and other people," said Stefanie Weiss, spokeswoman for Civic Ventures, a think tank devoted to boomers and their contributions to work and society.

Monique A. Dearth, president of Incite Strategies, an Atlanta-based human resources consulting firm, agrees that many employees over 50 have different priorities on the job.

"They are experienced employees who generally aren't looking to develop a high profile career," she said, "but rather want to leverage their past experience, feel valued in the organization, and contribute at a meaningful level."


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Is Your Job Putting on the Pounds?

by Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo HotJobs!


While your job can't be blamed directly for your putting on the pounds, the potent combination of too much work stress, too little sleep, and not enough physical activity can lead to weight gain.

The best offense against work-related flab, experts say, is the often-repeated mantra of exercising regularly and eating right. Start by understanding why you're at risk of gaining weight on the job, so you can take steps to avoid it.

The Stress Connection

Too much stress causes your body to produce more of a hormone called cortisol, which not only triggers your appetite but cues your body to store fat cells and produce less testosterone, which results in less muscle mass, according to Shawn M. Talbott, a nutritional biochemist, author and consultant.

"It's just as important to get the stress under control as the exercise and diet," says Talbott, author of "The Cortisol Connection -- Why Stress Makes You Fat and Ruins Your Health." He adds, "If people do each of those three, they get a lot better results than if they have one of the three."

A Practical Diet

The size of your hand can serve as a practical guide to how much you should eat, according to Talbott.

For each 500-calorie meal, your fist represents the desired amount of carbs and your palm is the amount of protein, while your hand opened up is the portion of fruits and veggies and the circle you make with the OK sign between thumb and forefinger is how much added fat you should take in.

"It's a way to count calories without counting calories," Talbott says.

Smart Snacks

Stay away from the vending machines by bringing to work your own healthy snacks, such as nuts, popcorn, or granola bars, in pre-portioned packages, according to Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

"The key is not to bring the entire box or package," Moore says. "If you bring the entire box, you're tempted to eat more than one."

Maximum Exercise, Minimum Time

For his busy corporate clients who find it hard to squeeze in a workout, Talbott recommends a three-times-a-week program of 28 minutes of interval training, combining intensive activities with cool-down periods.

"If time is the big issue, [this is] the shortest amount of time we can have someone exercise and see results," he says.

Healthy Riding

If you have a long commute, you can avoid having the car become a filling station by having breakfast before you leave for work, and a light snack prior to returning home.

"Everything looks good when you're hungry," Moore says. "You don't want to stop by a fast-food restaurant on the way to work or home, because you'll fill up with 1,200 calories before you know it."

Employer Assistance

Several companies, including General Mills, Florida Power and Light, and Pitney Bowes, are helping employees stay fit, says LuAnn Heinen, director of the Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity at the National Business Group on Health. Efforts include encouraging employee fitness, including adding walking paths to corporate campuses, making sure lunch meetings include salads and low-fat items, and giving discounts on salads and healthy items at the company cafeteria.

"These are employers who are consciously improving the environment to make it a downhill slide to stay healthy," Heinen says. "It's really about supporting the people who already have tried to be healthier."


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Stop the Gossip, Save Your Career

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Getting ahead at work may hinge on resisting the urge to spread the latest news about your coworkers.

"You may think gossip is harmless, but you might just be shooting yourself in the foot as far as your credibility goes," said Rachel Weingarten, author of "Career and Corporate Cool: How to Look, Dress and Act the Part at Every Stage of Your Career." She continues, "Let your work speak for itself. You don't need to be the one making yourself look better by talking down someone else."

Consider the Damage

Sure, gossip can be almost too enticing to keep to ignore -- but consider these consequences:
You lose your reputation. "My reputation is my business," said Weingarten. "If someone says something bad about me, or I become known as a gossip, that could affect my entire career."
Coworkers avoid you. "If people view you as a gossip, they may stop sharing information with you," said April Callis, president of Gossip Stoppers, a program designed to create positive workplaces. "Then instead of being the one with all the power and information, you're out of the loop because no one trusts you."
Your work suffers. The negativity spread by gossip makes people hate their jobs. "They miss work, they get less done while they're there, and they feel unappreciated," says Callis. Suddenly, you're not giving your best, and your boss may notice.

There's a better way to deal with water cooler talk. First, and perhaps most obvious: Keep the information to yourself.

It's one thing to learn the office scoop -- it's another to share it. Even asking someone else at work to verify what you've just heard counts as gossip, said Callis. If it's something criminal, tell your boss. If not, let it drop.

Resist the Urge

Next, teach your coworkers not to gossip with you. Use these techniques:
  • Replace gossip. Sometimes gossip is the only thing you have in common with coworkers, said Weingarten. So find something to replace it. Do you both knit? Are you both sports fans? If you must gossip, do it about movie stars or soap operas, she said. Just leave the office out of it.
  • Set a timer. If a coworker or employee comes to you determined to gossip, set a timer for five minutes, and let the person spew. When the time's up, so is the gossip. You don't have to respond, said Callis. You can just listen.
  • Write it down. When a coworker runs to your desk with the latest juicy gossip, get out a pad and pen. Writing down the facts serves two purposes: It shows the gossip that everything she says is being documented. And it helps you focus on facts instead of feelings.

What you may find is that you and those around you feel happier as they gossip less, says Callis.

"When I walk into a positive workplace, people are engaged and they feel valued," she says. "They stay."



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Tip to Pursue a Video Game Tester Career

If you love playing video games, you can earn money while doing so if you become a video game tester. The video game industry is growing, and experts say it will continue to do so for years to come. That means there will be many jobs available. However, you will need to make yourself stand out among your peers. Listed below are some tips for becoming a video game tester.

You may likely think that the only skill you need to be a tester is good hand/eye coordination. This is not the case, however. You will also need to have good writing and oral communications. As a tester, you will not only be testing the game, but you will also be reporting on errors and system crashes as well. The developers will need to be able to read and understand your comments fully.

These jobs are not typically posted in your local want ads or newspapers. A good rule of thumb is to check out the gaming company's website. Here they will list those jobs available in house and those that are telecommute. If you are an avid gamer, you are likely involved in many game networking sites. These will often list testing jobs as well.

It is important to keep in mind that these jobs are widely competed and will go fast. If you see one that you are interested in, apply for it immediately. Once you are in the industry, you will find that there are many growth opportunities available.

 
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Four Tips to Succeed With an Online Business

Starting up a home-based online business is one of the quickest and easiest ways to become an entrepreneur. Unfortunately most people think that getting a domain name and a website built is all that's required for a successful internet business. They couldn't be more wrong, as it requires much more than that.

A successful internet business doesn't differ much from an offline brick-and-mortar business.

In the first place, it requires self-discipline. Starting an online business with the idea that you no longer need to get up and work, or that you will earn a living sitting in front of a computer 2-3 hours a day or that you will only work when you feel like it, it's the fastest, surefire way to complete failure. An internet business, as with any other business, requires a large investment of time and hard work to become successful. Having the willingness to work as hard and as long as necessary to achieve the goals is vital for long term success of any online or offline business.

Second, it requires research, knowledge and planning. Many would-be entrepreneurs simply quit their jobs and plunge into an online business with no research, no knowledge, no preparation, no planning, no education. Although it is a lot simpler to set up an online business, this doesn't mean that one can bypass the basic business startup process. Market research, a brief study of the competition, an evaluation of the financial and technical resources required, a business plan, are simple but necessary steps to get started the right way.

Third, it requires having enough money available to not only start the business but also to maintain it until it becomes self- sustaining. Even though the costs of setting up an internet business are way lower than those of an offline enterprise this important step cannot be overlooked. Besides the initial capital to cover business expenses, a wise entrepreneur should set aside enough funds to provide his own personal needs for an extended period of time.

Last but not least, it requires continuous updating. The Internet is fast moving, fast changing. Not updating oneself means being left behind. Successful entrepreneurs will keep an eye on the latest trends, learn about new processes, invest in software to automate their business. One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by participating in online communities like boards, forums or discussion groups where one can interact with other business owners and share experiences. Many of these groups constitute a good source of information and free business advice.

Entrepreneurial success doesn't happen by accident. It is a consequence of basic business knowledge applied through consistent and planned hard work.



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Playing Against Type

Myers-Briggs Profiles Help You Assess Your Boss
by Deborah Geering, Porfolio.com


Recognizing the Myers-Briggs personality types of your boss or business partners can help you get what you want in your career.

Leaders are easy to recognize: They're TJs.

"The T is their preference for thinking that leads them to look at the logical consequences of all the alternatives that they face. The J, the judging, comes in and helps them get that organization to fulfill that decision -- to operationalize it and to implement it," says Allen Hammer, a consultant at Manfredo Curtis Associates, which advises companies on how to get the most out of their employees. For Hammer, helping others spot and work effectively with a TJ can mean the difference between an initiative's succeeding or failing.

Welcome to the coded world of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the system of identifying personality characteristics along four dimensions that can predict the choices people make and how they will interact with others. The types, scored with a letter and used in combinations of four, indicate various qualities, such as judging (J) and thinking (T). Knowing the personality type of a supervisor or a business partner can aid in securing a promotion, closing a deal, or inspiring the next great idea.

"It gives you a sort of advantage over others because you are able to flex your own style to interact with the other person," says executive coach Linda Burrs.

If you're faced with a fact-oriented, so-called sensing type (S), for example, your best move in selling an idea might be to create an impressive PowerPoint presentation. "Sensing types like to see all the facts and details concisely presented," says Betsy Styron, president and C.E.O. of the Center for Applications of Psychological Type in Gainesville, Florida. But the same presentation might fall flat with an intuitive type (N), who prefers to make decisions based on gut feelings.

Although there's no way to really know another person's MB type short of making them take the 93-question diagnostic test themselves, most successful executives tend to cluster around a few major personality types. And you can identify their weaknesses as well as their strengths. While TJs excel at important leadership tasks such as risk taking and goal setting, they're typically not as good at building consensus. "They sometimes come across as too cold, too logical, and too objective," says Hammer.

Fortunately, the business world tends to center on four of the 16 possible MB types. Here are the ones to know and how best to handle them.

ENTJ -- Donald Trump

Donald Trump is a classic example of an ENTJ (Extroverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging), which describes a leader who cuts a commanding profile. "Big picture" people, they have a vision that is results-oriented, and hold themselves and others to high standards. They are unforgiving about deadlines, make firm decisions, and see themselves as confident, innovative organizers. They are also prone to discuss ideas extensively or just think out loud -- but such statements shouldn't be mistaken for firm directives.

INTJ -- Bill Gates

Bill Gates is likely an INTJ (Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging), according to Ross Reinhold, a consultant who operates Personalitypathways.com. Innovative and independent, Gates and his ilk value competence and self-sufficiency. They have a knack for reducing complexities to their most basic, and for finding efficient ways to improve processes. Unlike ENTJs, INTJs come across as restrained, an image that often reflects their skepticism and lack of emotion in decisionmaking. Although open-minded, they quickly discard unworkable solutions -- sometimes with sarcasm.

ESTJ -- Martha Stewart

Analytical and systematic thinkers, ESTJs (Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) value order -- sometimes to the extreme. Martha Stewart, a natural ESTJ, has made a career of it. Like ENTJs, people of this type are also confident decision-makers, but unlike ENTJs, INTJs are more focused on process than vision. How you do something may matter more than what it's about.

ISTJ -- Warren Buffett

ISTJs (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) are excellent managers of facts and details. They thrive in hierarchical structures and value consistency and common sense. Although they appreciate hard workers, they can be impatient for results, and they tend to not value innovation as much as execution. Many consider Warren Buffett to be an archetypal ISTJ because of his conservative approach to investing. Thoroughly researched, written plans in which risks are identified and assessed are likely to be well-received by these managers.

Portfolio.com. Copyright 2007 Conde Nast Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.


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Senin, 30 Agustus 2010

Gift-Giving Guidelines for Colleagues, Clients

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs


The holidays can be the most wonderful -- or perilous -- time of year when you factor in giving gifts in and around the office. How much should you spend? What's in? What's out?

You can take the guesswork out of buying presents with a little bit of thought and a lot of expert advice.

Personalized, But Not Too Personal

Personalizing presents is de rigueur this year. Ella Goldin, the owner of Chic Inspiration, a Manhattan-based personal shopping consulting firm, advises her corporate clients, "It really is the thought that counts, so be sure to put thought into it." Goldin urges gift givers to think carefully about the recipient and what he or she enjoys.

Gifts need not be extravagant. In fact, Goldin says, spending too much, especially on a gift for your boss, may be inappropriate. "You don't want to look like you're trying to curry favor rather than spread good cheer. Set a budget and stick to it."

Food gifts and alcohol are popular gift categories. Items such as monogrammed golf balls for an avid golfer or even a hard-to-get reservation at a hot restaurant are thoughtful yet affordable options.

While personalizing gifts is important, make certain you avoid getting too personal. "You don't want to offend anyone so use caution when giving a 'funny' present," she says. Your associates might not share your sense of humor.

Leave out the Logos

"Gifts are a great opportunity to show your clients that you know them," Goldin suggests, "and that you appreciate and understand them." Giving a thoughtful present also gives you something to talk about with clients that's not necessarily business-related. She says, "A fabulous present is a conversation starter."

Remember that while you're showing appreciation you should avoid showing off your brand -- so don't brand your gifts. Goldin, who's been a professional personal shopper for more than seven years, says, "When somebody gives you a great gift, you always remember whom it's from. You don't need to put a logo on it." Goldin adds, "Presents with logos on them can seem tacky and impersonal."

Save promotional materials and presents for another time of year, such as your company's anniversary.

Presenting Your Present

Goldin also coaches clients on presenting their gifts. "I've heard so many people downplay a present before the recipient has even opened it. They'll say, 'Oh, it's just a small gift.'" Big mistake, especially when you've put effort into it. Instead, suggests the present expert, "Present your gift with confidence and poise. Say, 'I bought you this gift and I hope you enjoy it.'"

Saying Thanks

And if you receive a gift, "Always write a heartfelt, handwritten thank you note any time someone gives you a present," she says. Goldin also recommends thank-you notes over last-minute reciprocal gifts. "It can be awkward and obvious if you give someone a random gift. A letter expressing your gratitude is much more appropriate."


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How to Move Ahead in Your Career - 7 Tips For the Woman in Leadership

Today more than ever, a woman leader needs to stick out from the crowd in her own business, on the job or in the nonprofit world. Being a leader means being at the top of your game at all times. These 7 tips provide some contemporary ideas for moving ahead as a leader in your career.

1. Be the Best. Are you working to win ever time you face a new task? If not, start considering how you could go the extra mile to do what you need to do. You want to be accountable, not just to those who watch you work; you want to be accountable to you. That means doing at least one thing each day that goes over and above the basics for you.

2. Be Your Own Backup. This means being able to justify and back up your professional actions. When you take an action, be sure you are transparent and accountable in what you do. Keep a record of what you do and the results. This gives you a record of your steps each day that you can review and creates a record of your actions over the days, weeks and years so you can track your progress.

3. Correct Your Own Mistakes. What if you make some mistakes along the way? Everyone makes a mistake once in a while. In fact, if you're not making a mistake sometimes, it means you're probably playing things too safe. Mistakes let you learn. Think of it this way; after you've made a mistake, you were probably better to self-correct in future situations, right? If you do make a mistake, face up to it, admit it and do what's necessary to make up for the mistake. Then move on.

4. Be Positive. No one likes a negative person so be a woman that has a positive word to speak. That doesn't mean you don't make good decisions or stand up for what's right. It means you can see what has to be done and you do it with good spirits. Your language should be peppered with good wisdom. There will be times when you have to give bad news; that's just a part of being in leadership. But with that, know how to pad that bad news with a word of hope. When you have to say "no" have other options to consider too.

5. Show off. One thing most women leaders need to do better is learn how to speak up for their work. Be ready to say "I did this" and be proud of it. Men don't have a problem most of the time saying this type of thing. They take credit where credit's due. Not doing this becomes a downfall for many strong women who then fail to reach higher goals or miss out on opportunities for lack of evidence of getting something done. Know how to promote yourself to move forward. Learn how to let others see your good work and have the confidence that you can reach the goals you set.

6. Have Superior Business Ethics. There's nothing like stepping above the crowd through the ability to know how to approach others with impeccable American business etiquette skills. Business etiquette is different from social etiquette. This is where you know how to hold meetings, set agendas that work, and great people in the correct manner. You even know whom to seat where and how to shake hands correctly. Take time to study the skills of American business etiquette and it will leave a positive impression in the minds of others.

7. Be a Life-Long Learner. Are you updated on the latest technologies? If you were asked to do a podcast on your business would you know what to do? Do you have a blog and a social networking site? Leaders are learners. With all of the opportunities to take workshops, go to conferences and continue your education at your local university or online there's no excuse to not be up to date on important aspects of your business and work. Learn new things and present these to people you work with and for. Introduce new skills to the people you serve through your leadership to bring them up to date too. Stay cutting edge to be a magnificent woman leader.

Standing out as a woman leader means taking the initiative to be your best and leave a positive memorable impression on others. You have to be sure the right people know what you do and how good you are at it. Make sure you are a valuable asset no matter where you choose to use your leadership. You will succeed in your career and succeed as a women leader when you adhere to the type of leadership tips you find here.

Consuelo Meux, Ph.D.


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Networking for the Shy

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! HotJobs


If you're shy, it can be easy to think that you can bypass having to meet new people -- that is, networking -- by doing outstanding work. Not so, says Meghan Wier, author of "Confessions of an Introvert: The Shy Girl's Guide to Career, Networking and Getting the Most Out of Life."

"If you're not looking to move up or learn anything new, then by all means avoid networking," she said. "But if you want to bring more to your job and expand your career in any way, then it helps an awful lot to know the right people."

The good news is that networking doesn't mean glad-handing 100 strangers at a mixer.

Get Practice

Online networking sites like LinkedIn are a great way to stick a toe in the networking water, said Wier. But don't stop there.

Inch into it: Identify a few people you'd like to meet professionally. Email them an introduction. Next, move up to calling them. Then, arrange an in-person meeting, says Wier. By the time you meet, you'll be prepared to talk to them.

Go One-on-One

If big groups terrify you, arrange individual meetings. Grab your professional organization's member directory and set up coffee appointments with members, asking for guidance.

At these meetings, you can practice your quick self-promotional message -- what you do, why you love it, and where you want to go next -- and practice asking questions about the other person's business. After a while, answering and asking questions will seem normal.

And remember: You many not be the only shy person in the room. Your business date may welcome a chance for low-pressure networking.

Then, when you see your business date at a networking event, he won't be a stranger.

Get a Job

"One of the biggest negatives for shy people (at networking events) is they can be perceived as unfriendly or aloof," says Diane Darling, president of Boston-based Effective Networking.

Send a different message. Volunteer for a job at the event: Hand out nametags, offer to help people find things, or put away people's coats.

Be the Hook-Up

"As a shy person, I don't like it to be about me," says Wier. "So I like to consider myself a goodwill ambassador. If I meet someone who needs an electrician, I can say, 'I know someone who's an electrician. Have you talked to that person?' Then it becomes less about me and more about connecting people."

Once you impress others as helpful, they're more inclined to help you.

"It's good networking karma," she said. "The person you meet may not be the one who gets you a new job, but maybe the people she knows will."

Cut Your Losses

Finally, once you've hit your limit, there's no shame in making a graceful exit.

"As an introverted person, after a while you'll get exhausted and forcing it is just going to make you miserable," Wier says. "Go home and conquer another day."


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Job Search Tips - 4 Ways to Transition Into Medical Sales, Even If You Have No Experience

Many people find that there are roadblocks they can't get past when trying to break into medical sales, medical devices, laboratory sales, or other health care sales-but it can be done. The biggest one is the lack of a medical background. But here are 4 ways you can overcome that:

1. You can get experience through job shadowing-doctors, nurses, or medical sales reps. Job shadowing gives you an understanding of what a typical day is like (which gives you greater credibility in your interviews), and more importantly, it gives you keywords for your resume. When you put this experience on your resume, it will naturally have the words in it that computerized HR systems are looking for when screening for candidates.

2. Related to that, you can volunteer at medical companies, medical clinics, and hospitals. This works the same way. You get experience, knowledge, and keywords-only over a longer period of time. Volunteer experiences say a lot about the commitment level of candidates.

3. Internships are great, too, for the same reasons. Don't be shy about this if you've been in the workforce for a while. It's always a positive to do something that furthers your goals.

4. You can even spend time with those who have experience in the field...take them to lunch, and conduct informational interviews so that you become more fluent in the language and the vernacular of the field. Informational interviews are fantastic vehicles for getting the "inside scoop" on the industry, as well as individual companies. Most people don't mind being asked, as long as you don't try to turn it into a job interview.

Here's one thing to remember: At some point, no one has experience. We've all got to get our foot in the door somehow, and any of these options are great ways to do that.

Peggy McKee is known nationally for placing top sales talent at companies that are Fortune 5, 100, and 500 organizations as the owner and chief recruiter for PHC Consulting. Her firm works with sales, sales management, marketing and technical support candidates in the medical products/laboratory products/healthcare products arena. See her website at http://www.phcconsulting.com/

Learn more about how to break into medical sales by signing up for Peggy's FREE hour-long webinar: How to Get Into Medical Sales. She will tell you the essential steps you need to take to transition and show you how to get the job.



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Resume Writing Tip Without Which You Will Fail

The terrible truth is that loads of resumes quickly end up in the waste paper basket shortly after they arrive and the tip you are about to read will help you avoid the trash can from the moment you start writing your resume.

Many people will pay a lot of attention to format and presentation but both are not as important and crucial as this one resume writing tip that you are about to discover. What you must do is to develop the sort of resume that will get them to sit up and take notice of you. There are many things you will need to do to accomplish this, but one of the most important is to quantify your achievements and accomplishments of the past. If you helped improve sales or productivity then put a dollar value to it. Or number of units produced. Or amount of time saved in the process you helped improve.

The most common mistake made when writing accomplishments in resumes is to make sweeping statements that hardly ring true; you can tip the scales dramatically in your favor by ensuring from this day on that you always quantify. The result is that not only will your achievements ring true when you do this, but you will also grab the interest of executives as they compare your figures with their own if not start visualizing what you can accomplish for them on the job. Talk about having a head start on the competition before you have even arrived for the job interview.


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Executive Resume Insider Secrets - 7 Resume Tips For Executive Eyes Only

Rules for executive resume writing are different than those followed by candidates targeting an entry- or mid-level position.

Unfortunately, most high-level executives produce resumes that are no better than the rest.

These tips will show you how to make your executive resume stand out from the crowd.

Prove Your Worth

With any resume, it is important to highlight your accomplishments, but it is even more important for an executive resume to demonstrate results. By the time you have climbed the ranks of the corporate ladder, you are expected to have won a lot of battles -- you should literally have dozens of success stories.

So, when you list job descriptions, don't just plop down a bunch of bullet points detailing your job responsibilities. Provide detailed examples of the situations you were in, the solutions you developed, and the success that resulted from the solutions you put in place.

Remember that you are asking hiring managers to give you a larger salary than 95% of the rest of the company -- and almost certainly more than the HR people that are reviewing your resume -- so you must show them you are worth it.

Demonstrate Leadership

An executive resume should ooze leadership. Brag about the teams you built and the successes those teams achieved.

Speak graciously about your subordinates -- a gracious executive is a welcomed asset to any organization.

Flaunt Your Network

If you have built a strong professional network, you should mention it. In fact, if your LinkedIn profile is strong, consider including a link to it on your resume.

If not, build out your LinkedIn profile and then include it near your email address and phone number at the top.

Use More than One Page

Executive resumes should almost never be limited to a single page. Two or three pages are usually best.

Lie About Your Age

Age discrimination is a real thing in the United States. More often than not, it is unintentional, but it occurs regularly.

The prevailing attitude among hiring managers and recruiters is that executives should not be fresh out of college and they should not be too old either (it sounds so bad when you say it out loud, but it is true).

Your executive resume should focus on your experience without an unnecessary emphasis on items that reveal your age.

Consider grouping the early portions of your career chronology into an "early career" section where you summarize what happened long ago without listing dates. Also, eliminate dates from other sections that might reveal your age.

Bury Education

News Flash: By this point in your career, you need to have much more impressive things on your resume than where you went to school.

Yes, you spent a lot of money earning those credentials, but they go at the bottom of your resume now.

Simply list the college you attended, the degree you earned, and your area of study.

There is no need to list your graduation date -- it will show them how old you are (or how young as the case may be).

Get Professional Help

More than ever, you need to have a professional look at your resume. Errors that would have been forgiven earlier in your career will make you look sloppy and amateurish now.

A professional editor will be able to tell you what mistakes have made on your executive resume and how to fix them.

To learn how to strengthen your resume and fix your mistakes, get a free 51-point critique here: Executive Resume.

Jeremiah Allen


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Resumes For Recent Graduates - 5 Great Tips to Organize Your "Education" Section

If you are a recent college or even grad school, law school or medical school graduate, your education section is probably the first on your resume (after your header and possibly a summary/branding statement). Why? Because school what you've done most recently, and it is most relevant to your potential employer. (There may be exceptions to this rule if you have an extensive and relevant work history. If you think you are one of those people, ask an expert for advice.)

The following are five useful tricks for organizing your Education section. Follow these suggestions to pack in lots of information without taking up half the space on your resume:

1. What should the basic format be?

a. List your educational institutions in reverse chronological order, just as you do with your employment history.

b. The most important part of each school section is the name of the school you attended. Put it in bold and/or Small Caps, followed by the city and state. Use the same format you use for your employers.

c. Next put the degree you received. If you are anticipating a degree, write "Candidate for B.A," "B.S. expected," or "M.A. anticipated." Fill in the appropriate degree of course.

2. Do I need a separate line for my GPA and for each of my honors?

To save space, you can combine your GPA and honors onto one line, and even put them on the same line as your major. How much you combine things will depend on how much room you have on other lines. Here are some possibilities:

a. BA in Political Science, cum laude, 2006 (GPA: 3.41)

b. Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, concentration in Psychology, May 2005

Major GPA: 3.73; Cumulative GPA: 3.68

3. How should I list Honors and Activities?

You do not need a separate section for either Honors or Activities. Only create these separate sections if you need to fill space! Instead, put them under the appropriate school entry.

Do you have a lot of honors and/or activities? If you need space, you can group them together. For instance, you can have a bullet that says "Honors:" and follow that title with your honors, separated by semicolons. Then have a bullet that says "Activities:" and list your activities, separated by semicolons. You can put any relevant dates in parentheses after the honor or activity, and before the semicolon.

Examples:

a. Honors: Undergraduate Honors Thesis Research Grant (Honors Program award); Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; Golden Key International Honour Society

b. Honors: Dean's List (2006-2009); Baylor University Alumni Scholarship (2005-2009); Greek Women's Leadership Award (2009); Midwest Conference Academic All Conference Team (2008 and 2009)

c. Activities: Latino/a Student Association, Secretary (2006-2007), Delegate/Community Service Committee (2005-2007); Mexican Student Organization, Social Chair (2005-2006); South American Student Association, Member (2004-2007)

d. Activities: Varsity Women's Basketball Team, Four Year Letter Winner; Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, Board Director (2006-2007) and Member (2004-2007); University Chapel Choir, Member (2004-2007)

4. Do I need a separate section for Study Abroad?

No! Study abroad is part of your undergraduate education. It can be a bullet, or if you want to emphasize it because of your international interest or language ability, you can bold it. Do not put a space between your undergraduate degree section and the study abroad section, unless you need to fill space.

Example of bullet format:

[end of undergraduate section here]
• Junior-year semester at University of East Anglia, Norwich, England (1993)

Example of bolded section under undergraduate section:

[end of undergraduate section here]
Reid Hall, Columbia University, Paris, France

Summer 2003 Study Abroad (Coursework: 19th Century French Painting, French Language)

5. How long should the Education section be?

Unless you've already earned five different degrees from five different schools, your education section generally should take up a maximum of a third of a page. This means it's important to get Experience to put on your resume and not rely on your Education to get you a job!

Implementing these five suggestions will give you a great start on your Education section, making it both efficient and effective.


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Tips For New College Graduates

A detailed resume is inappropriate for a new college graduate. Rather than unneeded details, incorporate the following tips and you are sure to make a good impression on a potential employer.

For the college student, since they lack experience, the objective section is very important. It shares what you want in a job and what your goals are surrounding that job. Entry level resumes are expected to have this section. Remember you are competing against others of your same experience level so this is where you can stand out.

Make sure the objective section is related to the job you are applying for. Share how you can contribute to the organization and that you understand what the job entails.

Someone who has been out of college awhile will list their experience at the top of the resume. They have a work history. A recent college graduate is not going to have this work history.

Your resume should list academic information first. Make sure you list any honors. This is also where you can put things you did along side your academics like volunteering, extra curricular, and leadership experience. Be detailed in explaining the strong points in your academic repertoire.

A long winded resume is not going to get you as far as a concise and well thought out shorter one. Potential employers do not want to spend a lot of time reading them. They should be one page in length and hit the highlights of your experience, honors and special talents.

The importance of proofreading can not be over emphasized. Check your resume several times then check it again. One mistake can leave a bad impression as to your attention to detail and grammar skills.

If you have mistakes, a prospective employer is likely to toss your resume in the trash. A resume free of mistakes is a sign of professionalism.


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Teen Job Search Tip - Get a Professional Resume Prepared

This is your time to shine. Your resume is a personal marketing tool that if done right, will snag you the interview. It is important to build a resume that is polished and effective. A resume that presents a concise and authentic picture of your skills is worth its weight in gold during the job search because it tells the employer very effectively why they should choose you.

Keep Their Interest!
In this competitive job market, employers receive hundreds and thousands of resumes every day. A busy employer going through a stack of resumes will look at your resume for less than a minute. In order to keep their interest, your resume needs to be concise and have a professional, current look.

What a Professional Resume Looks Like
A professional resume will have the following sections: Objective or Professional Summary, Skill Summary, Employment History, Education Section, Honors /Awards Section, and a Professional Membership Section. It will be printed on beige or white resume quality paper stock that can be purchased in the office section of your local department store.

How to Build A Resume
It is a good idea to check out some online resources for assistance when building your first resume. There are free templates that you can download to assist you. Also, if you need some individual help you can contact your local school guidance counselor, local Workforce Development Office or local Department of Labor Office and speak with a career counselor for free.

No matter how you decide to put your resume together, work on it until it absolutely sings, "Choose me!". Make sure you spell check it and then ask someone you trust to read it for spelling errors and clarity. Take your time! Preparing a great resume will give you confidence; it will help you discover your strengths and demonstrate them effectively to an employer.

Happy Job Seeking!

Marcy Travis 


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Teen Job Search Tip - Try Harder Than Your Competition!

If you are a newbie to the job search ranks, finding a job during an economic downturn can be a challenge. With little or no job search experience, how do you compete? To achieve success, try harder than your competition! Many times it is sheer effort that will set a successful teen job seeker apart from the crowd. Think about it: how many of your friends go that extra measure to the jobs that are out there? Here are some tips that will help you succeed:

Record a Professional Cell Phone Message

Your cell phone voice mail message should be clear, short, and professional. When you record your message, there should be no background noise. Make sure you speak your first and last name slowly and clearly. Always remove the call waiting music off your cell phone while you are looking for work; an employer will probably not appreciate your taste in music!

Clean Up Your Online Presence

Google your name and find out what employers can find out about you before you apply for the job. Clean up your online profiles and pics. What is posted about you online should demonstrate to an employer that you are trustworthy, honest, and responsible. If your postings do not show that, you need to take them off the internet.

Be an Early Bird

Go early in the morning to put in applications and follow up with employers. When you report before 9:00 Am, you are sending a message to the employer that you are out of bed early and ready to work. Most of your competition will roll out of bed around noon and put in their applications after lunch - by then you will have already filled out an application, left a resume, and contacted the manager about the position.

Trying harder than your competition works! There are always job opportunities for those individuals who have a good work ethic and make an extra effort in their job search.

Marcy Travis


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8 Ways a Job Applicant Can Screw-up Communication with a Prospective Employer

Many employment consultants write articles that give job applicants high-level resume advice that will, if followed, increase your chances of getting positive notice by a recruiter / employer.

This isn't one of those articles.

I am the first point of contact for all the resumes / candidate messages that come through the S.R. Clarke website and the advice I have to offer you is far more rudimentary and fundamental in nature. Every communication you have with a prospective employer is important and you don't need to give off many negative signals before your application gets tossed aside.

Here are eight ways you could possibly give an employer / recruiter negative "vibes" about your candidacy that might not be obvious to you:

1) Your email address. I do recommend that you create a new email address specifically for your job search and make it map to your desired job position (e.g. "superstar-estimator@"). Most people use their personal email address for their job search, which is fine. But, please don't use racy email addresses. I've seen things like "iluvtofish@" and "vikingsfan@" which is OK. However, nobody is going to hire somebody who has a "drunk-as-a-skunk@" no matter their qualifications (and I've come across more than a few candidates who have used "adult behavior" terms in their email address).

2) Your resume format. Word or Adobe PDF are the only formats you should use for a resume. HTML works if there is a reason to use it (I can't think of one). Rich text format works, but I'm not sure why anyone would use it instead of Word. I would never send a resume in Word Perfect or Microsoft Works...few employers will be able to open your documents. I've seen people send resumes in .txt format and I seriously question their professional judgment. If you can't send your resume in Word or PDF format, either fax it to the employer or copy and paste the contents of the resume into the body of the email.

3) Your resume file title. A small but important point...many job-hunters use a date as part of their resume document title. If that date isn't that recent or the last saved date of your resume isn't recent, you are broadcasting to employers / recruiters that your resume is "old". Savvy people will pick this up. Even if your resume hasn't changed since you started your job search, open and re-save your resume every week.

4) Your spelling. Most people remember to spell-check their resume. However, most email clients have a setting which allows you to spell-check your emails...and I strongly recommend that you do so before emailing your resume. Employers will generally overlook a couple spelling mistakes in an email or a resume, but anything more than this would threaten your candidacy.

5) Your email etiquette. Outlook has a feature that allows you to automatically add each new person you've emailed to your address book. Make sure this is turned off, because if you are sending personal messages to all address book contacts as many people do, your prospective employers are getting your personal messages if you've inadvertently added them. Misguided job applicants have sent me the following via email:

a. Invitations to Poker Night

b. Elks Lodge Meeting Information

c. R-rated Female-Themed Humor (that I still get regularly)

6) Don't use white-list spam control when job-hunting. Spam sucks and we all want to control it in any way possible. However, you don't want to make it hard for prospective employers to contact you via email. If a recruiter emails you about your resume and you force him / her to be pre-approved before receiving their communications, you will likely (and deservedly) be disqualified from consideration.

7) Follow-up with the correct person. The person who answers the email correspondence regarding resumes isn't generally the decision-maker for the position and won't be able to help you. Email follow-up is generally worthless anyway...I would recommend telephone follow-up unless you have already established a relationship with the decision-maker.

8) The dumbest thing you can do. During the course of your job search, you've likely accumulated many employer email addresses. It is tactically smart to resend your resume to employers...especially if you've updated it. People want to save time and send the updated information to everyone at once, which I understand. To do this, put all the email addresses in the BCC field of the email, separated by either semi-colons or commas (depending on your email client). Put your own email address in the To field. Unfortunately, I've seen a few people put all the email addresses in the CC field instead of the BCC field which means everyone on the list knows that that the applicant is resending his/her resume to everyone else. Every CC'ed employer will chuckle at the foolishness of what you've done and make a note to disqualify your application.

9) The dumbest response to the dumbest thing you can do. So, I received one of these "Mass CC'ed" candidate mistake emails the other day. Not 20 minutes later, a recruiter who was included on the CC list spammed the entire list advertising his services, thoroughly embarrassing himself in front of a group of peers...which proves that employment industry professionals aren't immune from making the same mistakes that candidates make.

In closing, there are some good high-level resume advice articles online that I encourage you to read and follow. However, make sure that you've mastered the nitty-gritty aspects of job-hunter communication as well.

Todd Mintz
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Young Professionals - Can You Handle the Truth? 10 Tips About Careers (That Nobody Ever Tells You)

Yikes! Hey college students and young professionals, the job outlook this year for entry-level positions isn't looking so good.

So, the following tips are for students and recent grads (all 2.5+M of you) who aren't afraid to hear the hard truth about the American workplace. You may not like what you read, but if you really want to get ahead and find work that makes you happy, then you must face reality head on. Think of it as a paper cut - you can either apply the right care to it now, or you can ignore it, only to wake up and find it infected. Which will you do? I work with hundreds of professionals who always tell me the same thing, "I wish I had known these tips when I was starting out." So please, don't ignore the facts. A jump start to a better future is available to those who heed these tips - guaranteed.

TIP #1: You are the most educated generation to enter the workforce, but you are also viewed as the least prepared. Don't be blind-sided by your generation's professional reality.

Your generation, Generation NEXT (also known as Gen Y & Millenials) is the largest and most educated generation to enter the workforce in US history (over 70% plan to get undergraduate degrees and another 40% plan to get advanced degrees). Unfortunately, you are also seen as professionally immature and a huge challenge in the workplace. How did this happen? A little historical perspective helps to explain...

Years ago, getting a degree was a privilege and done with intent. If you were lucky enough to go to college, you knew what you were studying and what your career would be before you even began. You could expect a nice starting salary and a bright financial future. You also could count on a lifetime of employment and lots of career development from a single firm. A gold watch and a retirement package were often your reward for loyal years of service.

Fast forward to today: there are thousands of colleges and anyone who wants to go can get in somewhere. Thus, a college degree doesn't get you a 'leg up,' it just allows you to 'step up' to the career starting line. Inflation has outpaced starting salaries, and the average student graduates $17+K debt but without the professional experience and focus of those who graduated years ago. As many as 4 out of 5 college students have to move home after school because they can't afford to live on their own. In short, a college degree today is more expensive - but the return on the investment is down significantly.

TIP #2: The other generations in the workforce don't have much compassion for your situation. You are being incorrectly perceived as lazy, entitled and arrogant. Don't validate these beliefs by ignoring their concerns, instead, work to overcome them.

The other generations in the workforce think you deserve some 'tough love.' They are frustrated by your attitude in the workplace. The generations before you worked hard, paid their dues in jobs they didn't enjoy, and now want respect for their professional battle scars. Many of them had to pay for school themselves and didn't have the option or time to identify a career they could get excited about. The pressure to pay the bills and be out on their own forced them to put their professional satisfaction on the back burner. So, they don't appreciate you criticizing or challenging the workplace they created. These actions go against how they were raised on-the-job. And while no one expects you to follow in their footsteps, you do need to recognize that work experience is critical to developing your own knowledge and skills. We don't run until we learn to walk, right? So, it's time to consider that you your views and opinions on-the-job may not be fully grown yet. Before you offer advice on how a situation should be improved in the workplace, take the time to seek out the varying generational perspectives of those that have been there before you and make an effort to understand their point of view. The best employees know how to 'manage up.' That means, coaching those above you in order to get the results you desire. The first and most important rule in coaching is , "Ask, don't tell." If you want to change a person's point of view, you need to broaden their perspective by asking questions that will provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of their position.

Here's something to consider: Generation NEXT is known as compassionate and socially responsible. You are worried about the world and care about those around you. So why not include the generations above you in your efforts to create a better world? Share with them your ideas and enthusiasm, but respect their knowledge and time spent in the trenches. Assess your thoughts and think carefully about how you convey yourself on-the-job. Your opinions do matter, but will only be heard if you can articulate them in a way that connects you to those you wish to influence. Learn to speak their language, and all ears will be on you.

TIP #3: DON'T road trip, backpack or 'take a year off' without thinking about your career first. Those who delay to play, often pay!

As graduation approaches, many students feel the pressure of career and think, "I've done what's expected of me and now I deserve to do something for myself." However, rewarding yourself without at least organizing your plans for career before you go can make embarking on a job search when you return more difficult. Here are some stats to consider: Landing an entry-level job after school (from start to finish) averages at least two months. The process of finding the job opportunity, going on the interviews, receiving and accepting the job offer, and then starting the job, all take time. It is easier to manage this process when you are close to resources (i.e. campus career center) and a network of peers who are in the midst of finding work too. All too often, college grads put off their career homework until after they're done having fun. They return home and suddenly find themselves alone and without the support of their friends and school to help them. Add in the potential pressure of parents over your shoulder, inquiring about your progress, and looking for a job can become very overwhelming. I once had an angry father call me to inquire about my services for his son because, in his own words, "My son just got back from a 7-month road trip of fun only for me to find out he has no idea of what he wants to do or how to find a job. What did I spent $80K on a college education for?!?!" This father-son relationship was quite strained, and much of my time coaching this new college grad was spent trying to get him to stop beating himself up for not taking responsibility for his future. Don't get stuck in this position. You must consider the consequences of your actions.

But, if this isn't enough reason to focus on your career goals before you go, consider this: opting to play as opposed to looking for a job sends a clear message to employers regarding your professional priorities. Here's a true story, I was speaking to a manager of a successful consulting practice in March of last year who was looking for an intern. She had just interviewed a young woman who had graduated the previous May and had opted to grab a job as a bartender because in her own words, "I didn't know what I wanted to do and wasn't ready for a real job." The young woman had impressed the manager with her energy and appearance but was concerned with the young woman's inability to convey clearly how and why she now was ready to commit to a full-time, professional position. The client opted not to hire this graduate and said to me, "I think I'd rather wait two more months and get an intern from the upcoming graduating class. That way, I'll know the person I hire has a sense of urgency to work and be successful."

Actions speak louder than words, so choose wisely what you do after graduation. The best way to enjoy taking time off after college is to make sure your professional game plan is in order BEFORE you go. And when you return and start looking for a job, don't forget to incorporate what you've learned about yourself while on your post-college adventure and how you plan to use that knowledge in your career.

TIP #4: More degrees don't mean more money! If you aren't sure what to do next, the LAST thing you should do is stay in school.

Several years ago, I was in a meeting with a group of college seniors. I went around the room and asked each attendee what they were thinking of doing after graduation. As I arrived at a young man who appeared confident to the point of cocky, his response was, "I'm planning to go to law school, get my MBA, or get a Masters in Education." Given that it was April and graduation season was a month away, I was very surprised. So I asked him, "Why law school?" His response was a flustered 'um, um' followed by a defensively toned, 'Because I think I might like it." Needless to say, six months later, he was seeking career coaching. He had graduated, had no idea of what he really wanted to do, nor how to find the answer. I think many college grads are like this young man. They believe that education is a safe bet. His multi-faceted answer months earlier had been his way to make sure everyone was impressed, while he secretly was confused about what to do next. I'm just glad he didn't force himself to go to school to save face! Going back to school without determining a financially sound reason to go is a risky investment. Advance degrees only provide career advancement when they offer the opportunity to build a specific skill set for a particular job/career. Don't go back to school unless you are 100% certain you'll use what you learn to get ahead. Better still, work for a company who will pay for it. Don't believe me? Then consider these facts: some studies suggest as many as ½ of the people who get advanced degrees never see the financial return on their educational investment, while another study shows roughly 40% of all advance degree recipients end up taking jobs that they could have gotten without their additional degree.

TIP #5: Don't succumb to Cinderella Syndrome. The sooner you break your addiction to acceptance, praise, grades, rewards and other bribes, the sooner you'll find personally satisfying work that is professionally rewarding.

Many Americans, especially young ones, are victims of Cinderella Syndrome. The idea that one day, a surprising event will come along and fix their situation. For example, those that are severely in debt dream of winning the lottery, getting an inheritance, or even marrying a rich person. Others who dream of professional success imagine the 'perfect' opportunity will eventually fall in their path and be theirs for the taking. The number of people between the ages of 14 and 28 who believe they will eventually be famous and successful is staggering. And why shouldn't they? Reality TV and a sensorial assault of marketing imagery tell them that they can have it all and that they are destined for greatness.

Yet, here's the real problem: Generation NEXT has been raised on the use of external incentives as a way to get them to do things. Focused on a prize for everything you do, many Gen NEXTers are now addicted to rewards that include praise and acceptance from others. But we both know, an incentive is a nice word for 'bribe.' And when humans are forced to meet the expectations of others using bribes, they retaliate by putting in the least amount of effort to achieve the goal. Don't believe me? Then check out Alfie Kohn's book, "Punished by Rewards: The Problems with Gold Stars, A's, Praise and Other Bribes," and you will quickly understand why so little effort is put into identifying a career path while in school today. The average college student's only goal is to get the piece of paper required to keep others satisfied. In fact, students are encouraged to keep their options open and to address their career interests after graduation. Unfortunately, this is having dismal results. Some say today's college grad will have as many as 10 jobs in the first ten years of their life - you are becoming perpetual job seekers who don't receive the benefits of mentoring or professional development due to job hopping. And, as a career coach who's college grad clientele has tripled in the last year alone, I can tell your confidence will be weakened as bounce around, desperately trying to find career satisfaction, but feeling like a personal failure instead. Yet worst of all, your income potential suffers too. Being a specialist is what gives you greater earning potential. The better you are at a particular skill set, the more sought after you'll be. However, years of career exploration without any calculated thoughts towards developing critical skill sets that can eventually be leveraged as professionals strengths results in the 'jack of all trades, master of none' persona. History is starting to repeat itself, the very generation that wants to stop career crisis and find work-balance is ending up confused and lacking the experience necessary to take control. On-set Career Crisis (the same anger, depression and anxiety felt by Mid-career Crisis individuals but at the first stage of the career path) is rising amongst Generation NEXT.

So, why don't more college students just pick a career and get going? Well, given the number of career choices today and the lack of guidance given to help them leverage their strengths and narrow down their interests, Generation NEXT is finding themselves ill-equipped to identify and embark on a satisfying career. Imagine being brought into a supermarket and told, "Stand here and without reading the labels, pick one food. But pick wisely, because you are going to have to eat it every day for the next three years," and now you will get a sense of what it's like to be a college grad looking for their first job today. And let's not forget that reality TV and being submersed in the On-demand, Instant Gratification Era has your generation feeling the greatest amount of pressure to succeed at a young age in history. It's no wonder why, no matter how you spell it, 'career' is a four-letter word to Gen NEXT.

So, what's the solution? Go out and find what you are looking for, then build the plan to make it happen for yourself. I guarantee you'll get their faster (and have more fun doing it) then your peers who choose to wait for Prince Charming. Generation NEXT can begin by leveraging their experiences as professional students. It's time to approach your career like you would a term paper. Seek out resources and do your homework. Set up informational interviews and talk to people whom you respect professionally. Get the facts so you can focus on a two-year professional development plan that involves enhancing a skill set in a particular industry that excites you. You are not making a life-or-death decision or a long-term commitment, but you do need to identify a smart, short-term professional goal and go after it. A career path is full of twists and turns, but opting to hit the road without at least some destination in mind can get you lost, not to mention, waste valuable time and resources.

TIP #6: Got a Career Story? If not, then plan on a longer, more stressful job search.

Want to impress hiring managers? Then you MUST be able to articulate your professional strengths and short-term career goals in 30 seconds or less. This is called a 'Career Story' and the more compelling it is, the better the odds you'll get hired. Like it or not, you are 'selling' your services when you look for a job. So you need to reflect on your situation, assess yourself, and then put together a brief summary of what kind of employee you are and what you want to accomplish professionally in the near future. The key to a great Career Story is simple: be honest, be authentic, but most of all, be worth hiring! I have my clients write out their Career Story and share it with several professionals they respect. They then take the feedback and incorporate it in so they can rehearse the story and commit it to memory. I'm not suggesting it be rattled off like a line from a play, but rather, learned to the point that it is easy to articulate and converse about. A strong Career Story speaks volumes about your knowledge of yourself and your desire to be professionally successful. Hiring managers hire people who know how they'll add value to their organization from day one. Share with them how you'll be a valued asset and the job will be yours.

TIP #7: Spray-and-pray job searches are for people who are willing to settle for what's available. Get active, create a network, and you'll get access to the hot jobs nobody else knows about.

The average job seeker has to send out over 100 resumes to get even one response. The automation of the job search process has inundated hiring managers with so much paper, they are forced to be aggressive in their 'weeding out' methods. A simple typo or an odd formatting of your resume can land you in the 'no' pile in a second. Frustrating, but true. And, if your resume does make it into the 'for consideration' pile, know this: Managers hire personalities, yet, an applicant's personality is severely diminished, and often misinterpreted when limited to conveying it via a single piece of paper. FACT: 93% of communication is non-verbal. That means, your resume, by itself, has a limited capacity to present you effectively. If you want to find a great job, you need to connect 'live' with people who can assess your potential and direct you towards the right opportunities.

How can you make this happen? Set up informational interviews with people at companies and in positions that interest you. You are not asking for a job, but rather gathering data on how to land a job like theirs. This is the single best way to build your first professional network. Some stats say as many as 80% of jobs are filled via referral. Who's going to refer you? If you are shy or feel like you would be imposing on these people, let me change your perspective: What person doesn't want to take a few minutes out of their day to discuss how they became successful? Moreover, seasoned professionals know the value of making connections. Who knows? Referring you to a job may help them in their own career some day. So, get your Career Story in great shape and start sharing it with the world. Get busy setting up opportunities to meet with people who can share their expertise and knowledge with you too. And soon, you'll master the right way to get the inside track on those jobs that never get posted, a.k.a. the good ones!

TIP #8: A great mentor is worth a lot more than a good job.

The excitement for any new job wears off over time, but the relationship with the right manager can keep you engaged, challenged, and on the fast-track to success. When looking for a job, consider the manager. Can you see yourself learning a lot from her/him? What's their Career Story? How did they get in their position and what could you gain by being under their tutelage? Most importantly, can you see yourself being comfortable enough to take critical feedback from them and to share your professional concerns with them? Here's another reason to choose a job based on the manager. People often refer to 'office politics' in the workplace. They are everywhere. It's only natural for an environment of various personalities to have conflicts and differences of opinion. So, office politics will always exist. A large part of success on-the-job boils down to who you know and how you work with these politics. Finding a manager you respect and are willing to take guidance from will help you navigate these politics and rise up in an organization.

TIP #9: Want to quantum leap your career? Then learn to deal with the three C's ...now!

Your generation has been protected and encouraged with positive reinforcement throughout your entire lives by well-intentioned parents who wanted to minimize your exposure to pain, failure, disagreements, and other negative experiences. The "everyone gets a trophy" and "you're all special" mantras you listened to were meant to build confidence, but this parenting approach had the drawback of not letting you 'skin your knees' and build your ability to cope with the emotional impact of the three C's: Conflict, Criticism and Causing Disappointment. Here's what you need to know from this point forward: to succeed in your career, and more importantly, in life, you will HAVE TO A) work through intensely conflicted situations, B) receive and internalize criticism, and C) accept that you will cause disappointment, because you just can't please everyone, all the time.

How do you prepare yourself to deal with these successfully. Begin by focusing in on who you are and how you want others to perceive you. Define your personal and professional goals on your own terms, not someone else's, and then go after what YOU want, know the reward for addressing the C's that encounter along the way will only serve to make you stronger. It's time to develop your critical skills in these areas. Ask any successful professional how they got where they are today and they'll confirm that building up your resiliency against the 3C's is the key.

TIP #10: Embrace the equation used by the most professionally satisfied people in the world.

I've worked with hundreds of people who were professionally successful, but personally miserable. In fact, I was once one myself. So, I ask anyone who knows someone like this to consider the following: "Can you really call it career 'success' if it costs you a happy life?" I realized quickly that there is something flawed in our current professional logic. So I researched the situation and learned that no other culture in the world puts as much emphasis on career as the defining element of their personal worth than America. We base many major life decisions on our ability to answer the question, "What do you do?" For better or worse, we are a society that sizes individuals up and determines how much respect we will bestow on a person, based on what they do for work. Yet, I challenge you to ask yourself the next time you meet someone who appears professionally successful, "But, are they successful in life?"

So, how do you find career satisfaction AND a successful life? You embrace and pursue your career using the following equation as the foundation of what you do: EXPERIENCE = LEARN = GROW. Satisfaction comes through growth. Growth occurs when we learn. Learning comes from experiences. Find things that let you get 'lost in the moment' of the experience, and you will find work that doesn't feel like work. People who love what they do will tell you they wake up every day and look forward to 'experiencing' what their career has to offer them. Proactively seek out opportunities to learn on-the-job and you'll grow to new levels of success and satisfaction. Be grateful for the opportunity to work, get creative in your ways to engage in it, and most of all, get excited about your capacity to expand your knowledge through experience, and a career that satisfies will be yours.

J.T. O'Donnell


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