5 Alleged Positive Qualities That Are Actually Working Against You (Sorry!) – Kat Boogaard

Oct 242016
 

5-alleged-positiveWhat’s that old saying? Everything in moderation?

Yes, I know, typically people share that adage when talking about a healthy diet. You can have a donut once in a while—just not every morning (unless you’re totally OK with your waistband getting tighter with each passing day).

But, while this age-old sentiment undoubtedly applies to the food pyramid, I think it rings true somewhere else as well: With your behaviors.

Think about it: There are tons of different traits and qualities that are—for the most part—extremely positive. But, take them a little too far? Well, suddenly you’ve crossed over into completely obnoxious (or perhaps even counterproductive) territory. Apparently there really is such thing as too much of a good thing.

“Wait, what sorts of characteristics are you talking about?” you’re likely thinking to yourself now. I’ve got you covered! Here are five different qualities that are great to have—as long as you don’t subscribe to the “donut per day” philosophy. Remember, moderation is key.

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  •  October 24, 2016
  •  Posted by at 1:59 pm
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  •   Career Success, Social Skills

Why Every New College Student Should Find a Mentor – Jonathan Gibralter

Oct 172016
 

mentorEach year as thousands of new college students head to campus, everyone — myself included — is eager to share tips and insider knowledge with the latest cohort. And while the advice to get involved and make good choices is, in fact, excellent advice, all of these well-intentioned tips probably get a bit repetitive.

And yet, here I am, about to offer another tip to all of you new students: Find a mentor.

In some ways, finding a mentor reminds me of the Pokémon Go craze happening right now. Possible mentors are everywhere, but it’s up to you to seek them out. Practically anywhere on campus you can find a resource who aligns well with your goals and interests and whom you can call upon for advice and problem solving help. You just have to be willing to take a risk, open up and catch one.

Related: From professor to lifelong mentor: How to establish the connection

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  •  October 17, 2016
  •  Posted by at 10:03 am
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  •   Career Success, Social Skills

How to Know If You Talk Too Much – Mark Goulston

Oct 102016
 

It’s advice you’ve likely heard on numerous occasions: you need to be able to network, make connections, and build relationships in order to land a job offer. But how does one make a good impression? How can we all navigate small talk and other networking conversations successfully?

There are lots of things that you can do – and a few things that you should definitely avoid. You’ve heard that communication skills are crucial to finding a job and being successful in the workplace. There is a lot of advice out there on how to be an effective. And a large part of communicating well is knowing when to talk and when to listen.

One of the biggest mistakes a person can make in an interview or networking setting is to talk too much. If the first impression you make seems to indicate that you’re the sort of person who talks incessantly, no one is going to like the idea of sitting in meetings with you on a regular basis making them far less likely to hire you.

Your ability to talk enough, but not too much, in these initial conversations (including interviews) can make or break your chances of establishing a positive connection.

The following article discusses the importance of communicating well and how to know when you’re starting to become a little too chatty:

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6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Internship – John Coleman

Sep 192016
 

6-waysAround 75% of college students, at some point, work in an internship. These experiences can be tremendously valuable, providing young workers the opportunity to build skills for their resumes and meet people who are working in their preferred industry. Increasingly, they are the likeliest route to full-time employment and are even offered year-round rather than only during summer months. But they can also be difficult adjustments for young people who have little to no experience in professional offices. It can be hard for someone to stand out and make the right impression during a three-month stint spent adapting to such a new environment.

How can interns learn what they need to know, impress those they work for, and secure a job recommendation or full-time offer in such a brief period of time? I consulted 20 professionals who have worked with or supervised interns in higher education, business, law, and nonprofits, and compiled the most valuable advice for interns from their stories, my own observations, and management literature. This advice won’t cover everything, but it does offer a starting point for interns.

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Ten Books That Can Help Your Career – Diane Stafford

Sep 122016
 
ten-booksOld standards and newer books provide timeless career advice.

Summertime “best book” lists usually focus on easy, beachy reads — thrillers and bodice rippers that temporarily engage you but are easily forgotten. Here’s a list of career-minded books that should stay with you.

First a caveat: No book offers a sure menu for success. What you take away from reading is only as good as what you practice once you get out of the deck chair.

That said, here’s a totally arguable selection of career advice books that might be of use. First on the list, two old but gold standard recommendations:

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie: This is all about being nice to people, but not so nice that you’re a doormat. It prescribes a non-Machiavellian — or at least subtle — way to get along and yet get results you want without making people hate you.

“Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey: Business students the world over can recite the habits. If you don’t know “sharpen the saw,” it might be time to open the Covey toolbox.

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Tech Pros Share Advice For New Computer Science Graduates – Ann Bednarz

Sep 062016
 

Tech Pros ShareComputer science graduates are in demand. Last year, 76% of computer science graduates were working full time within six months of finishing school — the highest full-time employment rate among new college graduates and well above the 58% average across all majors, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). But as veterans in the tech world know, earning a degree is just the beginning of a new professional’s education. To help this year’s newcomers navigate the transition from academic life to the professional world, we asked tech pros to share their best advice for computer science graduates entering the workforce. Here’s what they had to say.

Have fun and ask questions

“Find a career you enjoy. There is nothing better than getting up each morning looking forward to your day at work. Once you’re on the job, never be afraid to ask questions. Too many times I see people just starting out who are afraid to admit they don’t know something. I’ve been in technology for 18 years and I’m still learning and asking questions.” – Jacob Ackerman, CTO of SkyLink Data Centers

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5 Skills You Need to Work on to Get Ahead – No Matter What Industry You’re In – Antonio Neves

Aug 222016
 

5 SkillsWhen it comes to succeeding in the workplace, a college degree isn’t necessarily enough. Nor is years of experience on the job.

That’s because the most in-demand skills that employers crave are the elusive “soft skills”—the intangible but important qualities that enable you to work and interact with the people around you effectively.

These traits include leadership, self-awareness, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. In fact, an important criteria during the hiring process at Google is screening for “learning ability.”

Having great soft skills can be a huge game-changer as you go through your career. It can be the difference between getting people to believe in you or being forgotten, the difference between advancing a project or having it rejected, the difference between getting a promotion or finding yourself in yet another disappointing lateral move. These skills teach you not just to be a better employee but a stellar human being as well.

So, check out the five soft skills below that are essential for success—all of which you can teach yourself to practice in your daily interactions:

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  •  August 22, 2016
  •  Posted by at 10:05 am
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  •   Career Success, Social Skills

The One Question You Should Ask at the End of Every Job Interview – Peter Economy

Aug 162016
 

The one questionWhile we all know that resumes and applications–and anything else we submit on paper–take priority for getting our foot in the door with a new employer, there’s one thing that ultimately determines whether or not we get the job: The interview. How do we nail it? Read on to find the one question you should definitely be asking–and why it works so well.

Interviews are crucial for employers to put a face to a name, as well as to see whether or not they think the person would be a good fit for the company. That being said, it’s of utmost importance not only to put your best foot forward, but also to show that you can add something to their team. When interviews do fail, they leave so many applicants wondering just what they did wrong. The trick to circumventing this problem, however, is actually easier than it seems.

Sometimes, the solution is simply to ask.

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13 Social Media Power Tips for Getting the Job You Want – Matt Sweetwood

Aug 092016
 

13 Social MediaI believe that social media is the most effective tool for building your brand and business. That is true whether the brand is for business or is personal. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Linkedin have become commonplace in our culture and maybe the most popular forms of interaction today. In fact, Facebook has 1.5 billion monthly users. That’s one in five people on earth.

Job seeking has changed a lot over the past few years. Gone are the days of waiting for the Sunday newspaper to scour the job section for new opportunities. We have Monster, Ladders, Recruiter, ZipRecruiter and other dot coms which provide job listings and automatically deliver your resume electronically. So, do you need to use social media to find a new job? Does having a powerful personal brand give you an edge in the job market?

Related: The Easy Way to Get a Social Influencer Advocating Your Brand Is to Hire One

Let’s look at some statistics, courtesy of the September 2015 study done by the Society for Human Resource Management: 57 percent of companies hired from LinkedIn, 19 percent hired from Facebook and 65 percent of companies used some form of social media to hire.

Related: Build a Social Media Hiring Strategy

From the same study: Hiring managers thought it important for job seekers to have the following social media accounts: LinkedIn — 87 percent, Facebook 63 percent, Twitter 56 percent, and a blog 55 percent. The statistics tell us that if you are not using social media to help you find a job you are putting yourself at a huge disadvantage.

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11 Sloppy LinkedIn Mistakes That You’re Too Qualified to Make – The Young Entrepreneur Council

Aug 012016
 

11 SloppyA LinkedIn profile’s an awesome opportunity to shine beyond the traditional resume. Between your job history, publications, endorsements, and connections, potential employers scan your information to see what you can bring to the team that no one else can. But if your profile is riddled with typos or you don’t have an adequate picture, an employer isn’t going to see you as a viable candidate.

We asked 11 entrepreneurs and members of YEC to share the mistakes they see most often and how they hurt your professional image in an employer’s eyes. Here’s what you should avoid:

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