Career Treking » Articles

8 Ways to Establish Networking Contacts

career.treking — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:11:37 +0000

Networking is the single most effective way to find a job in any economic climate and never moreso than in a bleak job market. Many college graduates don’t realize just how many contacts they already have. Check out this list to see if you can identify more contacts.

Your boss. The biggest thing employers are looking for in a college grad is a work ethic. Who better to ask for job search help than a current or former boss?
Your parents. You would be surprised how many people your parents know. And, they have a vested interest is seeing you happily employed. Ask them to make an introduction to some of their contacts and then you can follow up.
Your friends’ parents. Again, they will know many people who can offer some help.
Your relatives. Almost everyone has an aunt, uncle or cousin whose career interests them.
Your professors. 40% of hiring employers go directly to the faculty of a college when they are looking for help.
Your coaches. Team work is critical in the workplace, now more than ever.
Your alumni connections. Alums love to help their fellow alums. Ask Career Services for names of people you can contact for help.
Local networking groups. Formal networking events can be intimidating for many college grads. Instead, go online and try to find groups you would be comfortable joining. Groups such as the Boston Young Professionals Association (10,000 member strong) or the Boston Post Mortem group (video gaming networking group) can be helpful and fun.

Not Getting Hired?? 5 Reasons Why

career.treking — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:47:34 +0000

It’s a tough job market… we all know that. But applicants frequently (and inadvertently) hurt their own chances in the job market by committing one of these errors. Make sure you’re not one of them.

Not having a clearly defined job search plan. Knowing what you want to do, what companies you will target and how (specifically) you will approach those companies will yield more successful results.

Typos on resumes and cover letters will get your information moved to the infamous circular file. You can never proof-read a document too much!

Lack of preparation for the interview. Preparing for an interview includes knowing the location (you should consider driving there a day ahead of time), who you will interview with (Linked In works well), carefully selected professional attire as well as research on the company and its products and services ahead of time.

Unprofessional attitude. Recruiters everywhere are looking for candidates who demonstrate enthusiasm and likability. It’s perfectly acceptable to be nervous on an interview. Being cocky or disrespectful is a deal killer.

Digital dirt. Employers are checking your online identity and 70% have reported that they will turn away a job applicant if they don’t like what they see.

5 Must-haves for Business Cards

career.treking — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:46:26 +0000

This may sound elementary but I have been asked this question so often, I thought I would reiterate it. The 5 must-haves on your business cards are:

Your professional name
Your cell phone number (no cutsey voice mail messages, please!)
Your email address: a gmail address with your full name is preferable. You want to make it easy for people to contact you!
Your Linked In account profile link: people will not carry your resume but they will carry a business card. With your profile link on the card, they can easily access your background.
Your tag line which identifies your career goals is 2-3 words. A tagline such as “sales professional” or “video game designer” reminds people of what you are looking for.

Be sure to have professional cards printed. www.Vistaprint.com offers cards and other supplies at reasonable prices.

3 Job Search Tips for Every College Graduate

career.treking — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:29:45 +0000

The job market is dismal for any job seeker but for those starting out, there are a few things you can do to make the job search more successful.

First, create a structured job search plan that includes target employers and specific activities to approach those employers. Your plan should include activities such as networking, temp work and searching company websites for jobs. A daily schedule helps as well to keep yourself on track. Keep in mind the “10/10″ rule: no more than 10% of your time should be spent online and you should be making a minimum of 10 contacts per week.
Next, be sure your goals are flexible and that you cast a wide net. If you have your heart set on working at in marketing for Under Armor, for example, you may want to expand your goals to include Reebok, Saucony and New Balance.
Finally, get work experience. Employers want to know if you can work. A part-time retail job or a job waiting tables, starting your own babysitting business or temporary work will demonstrate a work ethic and responsibility.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Networkers

career.treking — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:10:26 +0000

We all know that networking is the single most effective job search strategy. But some people seem to have mastered this skill so that it becomes part of their professional lives and not only used as a job search tool. Here are some of the habits of successful networkers. Check to see how you compare…

Successful networkers are…

Prepared. They realize that networking can and does happen all the time. They have their commercials prepared, they are clear on what they want and always have their business cards handy.
Professional. Successful networkers ask for ideas and information, only. They do not ask for specific job leads until a firm relationship has been established. They show up on time for a meeting and are sure to send sincere thank you notes.
Patient. Networking is about building long term professional relationships. The best relationships take time to develop.
Resourceful. The old expression “givers gain” is a credo of successful networkers. Networking is about building relationships and the more you give to others, the more successful you will be. Passing information on to other people, be it industry information or job leads will reap benefits in the future.
Consistent. Successful networkers consistently follow up on the ideas and leads given to them. If they are not interested in a particular suggestion, they simply say “thank you but I think my job search is taking some what of a different direction”.
Clean. They make sure their social networking sites are clean and up to inspection.
Smart. Successful networkers keep their contacts in the loop with the progress they are making. They always have a reason to stay in front of people so that when the job lead does appear, they are the first one that comes to mind.

5 Questions to Finding the Right Industry for You

career.treking — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:58:19 +0000

As job candidates get their job search plans in place for the upcoming fall hiring season, finding the industry that’s right for you is a critical in setting realistic career goals.
So, how can you tell if the industry is right for you? Ask yourself the following questions:

What product or service does this industry offer? Are the products and services dynamic or static? Are they needed in a recessionary time?
What determines success in this industry? Many industries are dependent on external factors, such as the stock market and as such, it can be difficult for individual employees to make their mark.
Is the industry hiring? This may seem obvious but the current economic climate has changed many industries. Job seekers should research the industry to determine trends. www.Wetfeet.com can help.
What type of talent does this industry need? Are employees college educated? Does that matter to you?
Does the subject matter of the industry relate to my interests or favorite subjects in school? If someone is interested in sociology, for example, the alternative energy industry might not be of interest, in spite of the projected positive hiring trends.

The ONLY 3 Reasons to go to Grad School

career.treking — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:58:36 +0000

September is upon us and many college graduates who have not been able to find meaningful jobs ask themselves: is this the right time to go to grad school? But, instead of asking if it’s the right time, the question is: do I have the right reason for going to grad school?

There are only three reasons for pursuing a graduate degree.

The first reason is to enter a profession. To become a doctor or a lawyer, for example, will require multiple years of dedicated education, as well as practical training, to enter the profession. Likewise, a psychologist will have to complete an extensive Ph.D. program before having significant patient contact.
The second reason is to advance a career. Although many careers can be successful with only an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree can open up new career options, and consequent salary opportunities. For example, a bachelor’s degree can help someone obtain an elementary or high school teaching position. However, to increase their salaries, many teachers pursue a graduate degree in education.
Finally, someone who chooses to change careers may well need additional education. The english teacher who wants to be a nutritionist will most likely need to take additional college courses as well as pursue a Master’s Degree. Likewise, the actuary who chooses to teach college level math would need a Ph.D.

So, instead of asking yourself IF you want to go to grad school, try asking yourself WHY you want to go to grad school.

3 Things Employers Look for in a College Graduate

career.treking — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:50:37 +0000

Job seekers often ask what employers are looking for in entry level professionals on a job interview. After all, there is not typically a long list of related work experience nor a strong track record of marketable skills.

So, what can a college graduate expect on the interview?

First, CAN you do the job? Do you skills, experience and learning potential demonstrate that you can do the job? Be sure to know what skills they are looking for and be able to articulate how you have acquired those skills in the past. It can be from a part time job, an internship, a student activity or even a volunteer experience.

Next, WILL you do the job? Do you have a proven work ethic? You should be able to demonstrate your interest in the job and your energy level.

Finally, do you FIT? This is a tricky one to demonstrate. Recruiters want to know if you will fit into their culture and grow. One good first step is to demonstrate your likability. Be friendly, smile, look people in the eye and thank everyone you meet.

Taking Control of Your Privacy Settings

katie.farrell — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:00:50 +0000

We all know that Facebook can cost you a job. You probably know that employer you applied with will look for you on Facebook to see if you have a status that says something inappropriate or photos that are less-than-flattering. So why do some people continue to leave their privacy settings open for anyone to see these things?

There are so many ways you can set your privacy settings so things like the above don’t happen. Facebook recently made this more convenient, showing specifically who can see what.

Check your settings. To start, head to your account tab (upper right-hand corner of your Facebook page). Drop down to “Privacy Settings” and see what yours are set at. If your settings are set to everyone — and you don’t exactly have a professional profile — you’re in trouble. You want to reign in your settings so that potential employers can only see what you want them to see.

Create different pages. Some people suggest to create a professional and personal page. Or, you can create your “professional” image as a fan page. It’s up to you. You can also just change your settings.

Create lists of contacts. One easy way to control different friends and what they view is to create lists. For example, you can have “family”, “friends”, and “professional” lists. This way, your friends are still able to see all of your pictures and status updates, whereas your professional contacts may only be able to see your information and profile picture.

Change those settings. In your privacy settings, you can go to “Custom Settings” and click “Customize Settings.” Here, you’ll see drop down menus for who can see what. If you want a different setting than the defaults, go down to “Customize”. Here you can “hide” this particular part of your profile from certain names or lists. Just start typing it in and choose it.

Be aware that the image you convey on Facebook can be pretty influential when it comes to landing a job (or keeping a job). You may think that it’s no big deal, but if your employer somehow catches wind that you’re complaining on Facebook about your position instead of doing your work, it can cost you.

What else would you suggest for job seekers and professional’s Facebook profiles?

Engaging in Conversation on Twitter

katie.farrell — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:00:54 +0000

Sure, you’ve heard you need to have a Twitter account. But did you know that, on average, about 80% of users sign up and then tweet less than 10 times? What good is this resource to you if you don’t engage in conversation and grow your network?

So you may want to know — how do I do these things? Here are a few ways to get started:

Write interesting things. If you’re an expert, tweet out interesting facts or advice about your field. Even if you aren’t an expert, find facts, statistics, quotes, articles, etc. that you can share with your followers. Think about what you would want to read about — probably not someone promoting themselves all the time, right? You’d want something that could be of value to you as well.

Include links when possible. Are you on a trip to a new city? A conference? Tweet about where you’ve been and include pictures! People love to click a link to an article, picture, infographic, etc. to better understand the concept.

Pose questions or ask for advice. Your followers most likely know you or would love to help you in some way. Ask for input on a topic. Request quotes from experts for an article you’re writing. You’ll get more replies than you think.

Mention others blogs or services when applicable. Write about a good experience you had or @ mention someone’s blog in your tweet. They’ll appreciate it and, likely, return the favor.

Participate in hashtags, chats and things like #ff (Follow Friday). If you’re really looking to get the most out of Twitter, hashtags are essential to understanding the community. With a hashtag, you can basically link your thought or article to a whole network of other people searching in the same subject. For example, if you’re tweeting out a job opportunity, find a hashtag such as #HAPPO (Help a PR Pro Out) to link to it, so people other than just your followers will see it.

All of the above should get you started on engaging in conversation on Twitter. Once you’re comfortable, let the conversation flow naturally. Reply to people when they mention you, thank them for re-tweeting a post, etc. As long as you keep it friendly and professional, Twitter can be a great tool in your job search and professional life.

Do you have any other suggestions for making the most out of Twitter?