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Guest Post: How to Get the Most Out of a College Career Center

By Movin On' Up on Friday, October 5, 2012

Whether you’re a current college student or recent grad, you might be struggling to find a job. Recent labor statistics suggest that almost half of recent college graduates have difficulty finding work and those who haven’t obtained their degrees yet often have even more difficulty. College career centers can be a huge help as you search for jobs. The career experts employed by your campus career center will be able to help you network with professionals, find job leads, and maybe even get a job. Of course, whether or not you have a good experience at a college career center will largely depend on the amount of effort you’re willing to put in. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your college campus center experience:

Bring your resume
Your resume is your most important job search tool. Unfortunately, many inexperienced jobseekers don’t spend enough time creating exceptional resumes. The college career counselor you meet with will be able to help you edit and format your resume to make it more impressive to potential employers. Your career counselor will also be able to give you some tips and tricks for tailoring your resume to specific job openings that are of interest to you.

Explore all the resources available
The career center at your current or former school may be able to offer you career tests, interview lessons, and access to the school-run job bank. Take advantage of all of these resources and whichever other resources the career center offers. A career test may help you focus your job search, especially if your academic background is in the liberal arts and you aren’t quite sure what you want to do professionally. Interview lessons will help you feel more at ease when you eventually land interviews. And you may be able to find a number of promising job leads on the school-run job bank.

Don’t expect a job to fall in your lap
The career counselor you meet with will have connections in the professional world and may be able to get you a few interviews. One of those interviews may turn into a job, but there are no guarantees. You’ll need to spend a lot of time on your own applying to jobs in addition to the steps you take with your college career counselor. In this economy, finding a job requires a lot of hard work on your part. Until you land a full-time gig, your full-time job should be applying to jobs. This means you should spend the bulk of your time during the day reaching out to potential employers, filling out applications, and searching for jobs.

If you have access to a college career center, you should absolutely set up an appointment to visit it. You’ll receive valuable advice and guidance from career counselors. Just remember that it’s ultimately up to you to put in the hard work that finding a job requires.

Kate Willson is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about higher education, job searching, and technology for collegecrunch.org and other education-related sites. Kate appreciates your feedback. Please leave your comments and questions below!

At Work New Job Tips

Tips on Managing Your Emotions at Work

By Movin On' Up on Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Have you ever been upset with a co-worker or boss? Have your emotions caused you to do or say something you regret? Everyone experiences emotions like frustration, anger, and worry in the workplace at times. Whether problems at home carry over to the office, tools aren’t working properly, deadlines are near, or a co-worker presses your buttons, it’s important to control your emotions and keep your reactions professional at work. Here are a few ideas on how to cope when feelings start to get out of hand.

Recognize your hot buttons.
If you’re frequently upset at work, you probably already know what emotions you need to control. Something that draws out a strong emotional response is called a hot button. Take time to understand what your hot buttons are, so you can be prepared ahead of time with how to handle situations that arise. Though you may not be able to change your internal feelings, you can control your reactions.

Create a strategy.
After you’ve identified your hot buttons, think about ways you can deal with your feelings. Create a plan of action to decide how you’re going to react when certain situations present themselves, especially if the same thing keeps bothering you. For example, you may need to take a walk, count to ten, or start on projects earlier if you stress about meeting deadlines. This strategy may include talking to your supervisor to help you create a plan or smooth out interpersonal frustrations.

Write down your feelings.
Some people find journaling their thoughts in a notebook offers a way to deal with intense emotions. Try jotting down how you’re feeling and why you feel that way. By writing out your thoughts, you can release some of your pent up emotions, and also deal with the issue personally without escalating it to others. Be sure to store your journal in a secure area or at home.

Listen to music.
If you feel like you’re constantly being bugged, slip on some headphones and listen to music or audio recordings. Ask others around you to not disturb you when you have them on, but be sure to have the volume turned low in case others need to speak with you. Simply listening to music can be a soothing way to calm your overwhelming emotions. But, be sure to avoid creating frustrations for others who may see your actions as a way of isolating yourself. Limit the time you put on your headphones, and always be available to a co-worker or manager when they need to talk.

Take a look at yourself.
When you still find yourself losing control of your emotions, you should always take personal responsibility to change yourself first, even after trying other ways to cope. If you think about why you’re upset and you can’t seem to change it, try considering a new perspective on it. You can change yourself for the better, and in the end you can change your emotional reaction.

Dealing with emotions in the workplace can be tricky, but many people face these challenges. Making the effort to control your own emotions before they get out of hand will not only enhance your ability to work, it will demonstrate your professionalism. Controlling your emotions might be difficult at first, but with a few tricks, you can recognize your triggers and move past them quicker.

The Job Search

Take Back Your Job Search by Being Proactive

By Jared Cole on Friday, August 31, 2012

There are 24 million people in the U.S. looking for work. The job market is tight, and the job seekers who find the jobs are the ones who hustle. If you want to make it to the head of the pack, you can’t sit around and wait for opportunity to come to you.

The job will go to those hitting the pavement running. It’s a matter of being proactive and taking the initiative. Here are some tips on how to get in the driver’s seat when you’re looking for a job.

Apply for Unlisted Jobs
Believe it or not, many of the really good jobs aren’t posted in classified ads or job boards and company websites. Employers don’t advertise these positions, but offer positions to connections and contacts who have had experience working with decision makers in that company. You’ll never find these jobs if you don’t take initiative by asking for them. Do your research to find a hiring manager or decision maker, then express your interest in working for them.

Apply in Person
Thanks to the wonders of the internet and social medi a it’s incredibly easy to fill out an online application, attach a resume, and wait around until you get an email. Unfortunately, with the increasing number of automated resume readers, your application can get placed in a void never to be seen again. Even if your resume is seen by a hiring manager, it’s extremely difficult for one resume to differentiate itself from the hundreds of others being reviewed. Your chances greatly increase if you print your resume and cover letter, or application, and physically hand it to a hiring manager, potential supervisor, or department head.

Apply the Follow-Up
Whether you apply online or hand in a resume in person, you shouldn’t stop there. Those hiring have a busy schedule and sometimes filling a job isn’t the only thing on a department head or HR manager’s agenda. That’s why you should follow-up after applying to demonstrate your interest in the job.

If the job opening had an application deadline, wait a few days after, then confirm that the potential employer received your resume. Use this as another opportunity to remind them of your interest in the position. If no deadline was given, wait a week to 12 days after submitting your application to follow-up. Remember not to pester or annoy the company when following up. Keep it to two attempts. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, send an email a week later. If you don’t hear anything after that, move on.

Being proactive in your job search isn’t a guarantee for instantly landing the perfect job, but you will get hired faster when you take initiative instead of passively waiting for an offer. What are some ways you’ve taken the bull by the horns during your job search?

At Work Leadership

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out What it Means at Work

By Jared Cole on Monday, August 27, 2012

Earning respect at work is a lofty goal when starting a new job. We know we should all strive to earn it, but what does it mean in the context of the workplace? Earning respect shouldn’t focus solely on your clients, co-workers, and management.

In order to earn respect, you have to give it. Here are three aspects of your career that you should strive to not only gain respect, but also advance your career.

Respect Yourself
Many of us seek respect from others, yet we don’t even respect ourselves. Have you ever beaten yourself up over a mistake? Many times when we make big enough mistakes, we treat ourselves poorly by not getting enough sleep, proper diet, or exercise. When we don’t take care of ourselves, it certainly affects the quality of our work. No one can hope to gain respect from others if they don’t respect themselves. Start by loving who we are, and the admiration from others will come subsequently.

Respect Criticism
Despite what you may think, being respected doesn’t mean you won’t receive criticism. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The more well-known you are in your work, the more censure you’ll receive.

During my first job at a grocery store, my boss became increasingly critical of my work. I was the only one he would personally follow behind to review the tables I rotated and filled. It got to the point that I felt like he was nit-picking me for no reason. Instead of getting angry, I asked him about it and learned that he was holding me to a higher standard than the others. I had potential and he wanted me to be ready for management.

It’s not about rejecting criticism, but rather, being able to handle it gracefully. People respect those who are able to handle constructive feedback and turn it into something positive.

Respect Your Work
No matter what line of work, the most highly regarded people are those who are the best at what they do. Everyone loves competent people, especially those who present their best work all the time. If you’re new to the job market, learning your role and excelling put you on the fast track for respect. It’s about starting small and building from there.

By gaining experience and improving your skills you’ll establish yourself as the best and earn the admiration from others. It’s not instantaneous, but the respect people have of you will grow over time.

Being respectful isn’t just about other people. It starts within and works its way out to other people. When you respect yourself and what you do, it’s contagious and others will give that respect back to you. How about you? What are some ways you’ve earned respect in the workplace?

Career Options The Job Search

Career Possibilities Without College Degrees

By Jared Cole on Friday, August 3, 2012

There’s this little technology company, you’ve probably heard of it, called Microsoft. It only has 90,000 employees and a revenue of more than $70 billion in 2011. This wildly successful company was founded by Bill Gates, who was the richest man in the world during the early 2000s. There’s actually something very interesting about Bill Gates that many people don’t know.

He never graduated from college.

While he is an extreme example of success without a college degree, there are things you can do to achieve your career goals without attending a university. Here are some hints to help guide you when looking for a job without a degree.

Start at the Bottom and Give it Time
Sometimes slow and steady wins the race, especially if you’re just starting out and have very little experience. Consider industries that let you work into management positions without a college degree like real estate, aviation, sales, construction, or transportation.

The entry-level jobs in these industries may not be the highest paying jobs compared to jobs requiring a college degree, but if you demonstrate hard work ethics and grow in experience, you could move into higher paying jobs. It won’t be overnight, but it’s obtainable.

It’s All Who You Know
Employers are much more likely to promote hire someone they know and are familiar with compared to a stranger. That’s why it’s important to connect with people inside and outside your desired industry. If employers are familiar with your accomplishments and abilities, when possible, they will be willing to look past college degree requirements.

Make sure your resume and cover letter are in top shape. Include a phrase like,“did not obtain a bachelor’s degree” or something to that extent on your resume so it will get picked up by applicant tracking systems’ keyword searches. That way, you’ll have a better chance of talking to a decision maker.

To help get your foot in the door, call employers and ask to schedule an informative interviews to find out what skills and abilities are most needed in your desired industry. You will improve your interviewing skills, make strong connections, and develop a stronger career plan.

Expand Your Skills
To help develop your skills and experience, consider taking an apprenticeship, freelancing, volunteering, or working through a staffing agency. These are excellent ways to learn real skills and experience from highly skilled mentors to position you to move up in your career without a college degree.

Do some research to see if you need any specialized certification or skills to be qualified to work in your desired field. Those are great questions to ask during an informational interview or when being trained by someone. Some certifications might not be necessary to work, but can help you develop and grow your skills so you can market yourself better.

There are several different paths you can take to achieve your career goals. You just have to find the one that works best for you. Hopefully, you can use one of these suggestions above and find real success in your job search. If you want to learn about some great jobs that don’t require a college education, check out this list to help you get started. What are some of your success stories of finding a job without a degree?

At Work The Daily Grind

C’mon, Get Active! How to Stay Productive After a Long Day at Work

By Jared Cole on Monday, July 23, 2012

After working a full shift of physical toil, mental stress, or both, nothing sounds better than plopping your exhausted bones into the sweet embrace of your couch, chair, or bed. The problem is that when we are safely embracing the soft cushions and relaxing, we tend to stay there. Time flies as we watch TV, surf the internet, or chat on the phone. Before we know it, the sun is down and it’s time for us to sleep before we start the routine over again.

Sometimes things don’t get done after work and we wonder what happened to our day. It’s hard to force ourselves to work on other projects after a day’s work, but we’re missing out on a great opportunity to follow our passions and grow our skills. Here are ways to be productive, stay active, and have fun after working all day.

Plan Your Passion
It’s easy to get distracted without planning your after-work events. Write down which activities you will want to do and how much time you should devote to them. This may vary since some people don’t want to think about lists and schedules after work, but for the most part, you will be more inclined to do those activities when it’s printed somewhere and you are visually reminded that are goals to meet.

You can also improve your chances of being more productive by working on the things that matter the most to you. Choose activities that you’re most passionate about and naturally drawn to. Sign up for the hobbies, classes, or activities that you love. You’ll be more motivated to spend those precious after work hours on them.

Be Like a Shark
Some species of sharks can’t pump water through their gills and must swim without rest. If they stop, they could suffocate. While you don’t need to be constantly moving without sleep, many people who come home from work sit down, but never get back up. To improve your chances, start on projects as soon as you get home, or participate in activities as soon as work is over to avoid never getting back up. If you must rest, give yourself 10 minutes, depending on your self-control, and then get going again.

Make it a Date
One of the best ways to stay active is to have someone join you. You can keep each other accountable, and you’ll have more fun with a friend tagging along. Having an “accountabilibuddy” is a proven method to help people commit to something and stay committed for a longer period of time.

Make Your Mornings Count
If you really, really have no desire to be active after work, consider doing a few extra things when you wake up and before going to work. Rest, relax, and recharge your batteries after work so you can go to bed early. This way you can wake up earlier to read a book, exercise, or work on a pet project. Also, studies have shown that people who wake up early are more productive and are better positioned for career success.

Generally, your first instinct after work is to lie down and never get up, but with these helpful hints, you can enjoy an active lifestyle that can improve your quality of life, help you become a better leader, and position you better for promotion. What are some of your after-hours activity guidelines? How do you stay motivated? Let me hear your story in the comments below.

Career Options The Job Search

Get a Job, Charlie Brown

By Jared Cole on Friday, June 29, 2012

Charles Schulz’s famous comic series, “Peanuts,” was about fusing adult ideas on art, psychology, and current events with the world of children. The comic has delighted, thought-provoked, and entertained children and adults for more than 50 years. The cast of characters in Peanuts typically cover a wide variety of issues about daily life, but with tough economic times, even the most prepared job seeker can feel like saying, “good grief.”

The truth is, there are several things to take away from Charlie Brown that can affect your job search. Here are three lessons you can learn to improve your job search from Charlie Brown.

The Great Career Pumpkin
In the 1966 TV special, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the character Linus waits in a pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin, who rises out of the pumpkin patch on Halloween night and flies through the air delivering toys to all the good little children in the world. Despite Linus’ faith and commitment, the Great Pumpkin never shows.

Sometimes we treat our job search like we’re waiting for the Great Pumpkin. We have that dream job in mind and no other opportunity will do. The hard truth is that sometimes that dream job may just be out of reach. Those just graduating from school or training might need more job experience before getting the dream job. Look at your industry and see if you need to follow another opportunity and build your skills and experience before jumping at job openings you aren’t qualified for yet. You’ll be better prepared and more skilled to do it if you work your way there.

Book Reports and Resumes go Hand in Hand
In the musical and TV special, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” the Peanut gang has trouble writing a book report on “Peter Rabbit.” Lucy focuses solely on the word count, Linus gets lost in his own vocabulary, Schroeder ends up writing more about “Robin Hood,” and Charlie Brown gets so nervous, he never writes anything at all.

We can have the same mishaps when writing resumes. Like Lucy, we can meet the minimum requirements on a résumé, but we can forget to market and sell ourselves as the best candidate for the job. We may be the most qualified person, but can end up like Linus and fill our resume with jargon and technical words recruiters might not understand. It’s easy to ramble like Schroeder about what you’ve done for previous employers, but stick to the experience that’s relevant to the position you’re applying for. If you see a job opening for a position you want, customize your resume before applying to present your abilities in the best light for the position. Don’t wait and get panicked like Charlie Brown.

It’s a Group Affair
In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie Brown finds a small, almost broken Christmas tree to use in his nativity play. Depressed by the commercialization of the holiday, he gives up on the holiday until his friends show up to decorate the small tree together, which revitalizes Charlie’s Christmas spirit.

Just like Charlie needed his friends to decorate the tree to revive his passion, we should be open and welcoming of others to help us with our job search. Have old contacts or mentors review your updated résumé, practice interviewing, and talk about any job leads. There are several people in your life who want to help, you just have to ask.

It’s amazing how Charlie Brown can give us insights as kids and adults. What are some lessons you’ve learned from Charlie Brown and the Peanut gallery?