Archive for Category: Career Advice
Overcoming the “E” Word
Posted in Career Advice Generation Y Managing Generational Differences Millennial women on August 30, 2010 at 9:09 am
Lots of people are buzzing about the recent New York Times Magazine cover story, “What is it About 20-Somethings?” The article focuses on the fact that today’s 20-somethings are “delaying adulthood” by moving back in with their parents, marrying later and hopping from career to career.
The article speculates about whether these shifts are happening because of the current economy, a fundamental change in the definition of adulthood or — as many of the article’s more negative commenters believe — the “entitled” nature of the Generation Y.
Personally, I believe that 20-somethings are simply reflecting the reality of our current times. But I have seen evidence that many Millennials aren’t aware of the way they are perceived, particularly in the workplace. I frequently hear recruiters and employers complain that today’s young people have a sense of entitlement — a belief that they deserve jobs, high salaries and advanced responsibilities even when they don’t have much experience.
Whether you personally feel this way or not, it’s important to understand that this perception of 20-somethings is out there. In many companies, the older generations are still in charge, so when you’re looking for a job or wanting to advance in your career, you’ll have a better chance of success if you avoid the “entitled” label. Here are some tips for overcoming the “e” word…
Read these tips on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…
What I Wish I’d Known in College
Posted in Career Advice Generation Y Life Advice on August 23, 2010 at 9:00 am
Happy Monday, everyone! As you can imagine, I spent this weekend thinking a lot about the New York Times Magazine cover story, “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” I’ve submitted a Letter to the Editor and will post it here if the Times doesn’t publish it. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your comments here or on Twitter.
In the meantime, on to my newest post. Looking forward to your comments!
What I Wish I’d Known in College
As someone who spends my days interacting with college students and thinking about their career prospects, I often think back to my own days on campus. I’ll admit that I experience a mix of nostalgia, relief and regret. I enjoyed college, but I also struggled to find direction during those four years.
While I know I can’t change the past — and my struggles transitioning from college to career led me to the work that I do now — there are definitely some things I would have done differently. For what it’s worth, here are three things I wish I’d known in college that I know now, in my 30s:
1. Great teachers and mentors are rarer than you think. I wish I’d taken classes in college based solely on the amazingness of the professors, regardless of the subject of the classes they taught. If there is a “star” teacher at your school, take his or her class, even if you just audit it from the back row. No matter what that person teaches, his or her passion will inspire you and may open your eyes to something you never previously considered.
Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…
Guest Post: 3 Job Hunting Tips for College Athletes
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting on August 12, 2010 at 8:34 am
This is a guest post by Eileen Wisnewski.
Graduation often signals the end of competition for most college athletes. This can be an emotional realization, as many graduating athletes would love to play just one more season.
While competing, the level of time and commitment college athletes give to their sport sometimes prevents them from properly planning for the next step in life after college. This can result in recent graduates feeling underprepared to start their professional lives.
The good news is that across career industries, many employers truly value and seek out the skills and abilities athletes possess. Whether they realize this or not, athletes develop some very important and marketable skills while playing their sport.
Victory comes to those athletes who are able to 1) identify these skills, and 2) communicate them in a resume, cover letter or during an interview. Here are three examples:
1. Teamwork
Athletes begin developing teamwork skills as early as elementary school. They realize the importance of working with others for the desired positive outcome. Each player must contribute for this to be achieved. Employers want to hire candidates who aren’t going to be showboats and who recognize that everyone contributes to the success of the team.
How to express this:
“While playing college soccer, I developed strong teamwork skills and understand the importance of working together to achieve success. An example of this was when…” (more…)
Tags: Career Advice, college athletes, Job Hunting
Making the MBA Decision
Posted in Career Advice Career Change Graduate School on August 5, 2010 at 9:50 am
Dear Lindsey,
How important is getting your MBA from a top graduate school verses a middle of the road or maybe online school make? What difference does it make regarding future pay and opportunities?
Thanks,
Marie
Dear Marie,
Educational decisions are personal and the right answers are different for everyone. What I can do is provide you with the right questions to ask to make the right move for you.
Here are three questions to help you make the best decision for you:
1. Why are you getting an MBA?
Education is a wonderful, valuable endeavor and a worthy goal in itself, but in my opinion, you should always have an end goal in mind. That desired result can help you make the decision about the best school for you. For instance, if you are getting an MBA to help you make a career change, your top priority should be finding an institution that is known for guiding people into careers in the new field you want to join. If your goal is to increase your technical knowledge of accounting, financial management, etc. (for instance, to gain a higher position or salary bracket in your current organization), then the school name may not be as important as simply gaining the knowledge you need. If your number one goal is high-level networking, then a “brand name” school might be the choice for you. If post-grad school salary is the key factor for you, then ask schools for the average starting salaries of their graduates.
Read the rest of my response to Marie’s question on Excelle.com…
4 Tips on Transitioning into Management
Posted in Career Advice Career Q&A on August 2, 2010 at 9:33 am
Dear Lindsey,
I recently received two master’s degrees (MBA, 2008 and MSA, 2010) after many years of working in state government. Now, I am ready to explore more opportunities in the private and public sector.
If I’ve never functioned in a leadership capacity, will it be difficult to branch out in management?
Obtaining my master’s has helped me realize I have a lot to offer and I’m motivated to share the knowledge and years of experience if given the opportunity to do so.
Would you please provide some guidance on how to accomplish this goal?
Thank you,
Beverly
How to Manage the Technological Generation Gap
Posted in Career Advice Career Q&A Generation Y Managing Generational Differences on July 22, 2010 at 8:36 am
Dear Lindsey,
I’m an engineer at a leading tech company, and for the most part I love my job. At 29, I’m one of the younger people in the office. One of the most frustrating things for me is working with much older people who are a lot slower with new technologies — even my superiors who are in technical roles can’t work as quickly as the younger crew can.
And I don’t blame them — I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up in such a rapidly-changing field when I’m in my 60s. Still, it’s hard to watch (or wait for) them to figure something out that I could have done myself in half the time.
How do I show respect to my older, less tech-savvy coworkers without losing my mind?
Thanks,
Young and Speedy
Read my answer to this question on my new “Ask the Gen Y Expert” column at Excelle.com…
What I Learned About Success from Joan Rivers
Posted in Career Advice Recommended Resources Women on July 19, 2010 at 7:35 am
Love her or hate her, you can’t deny that Joan Rivers has shown amazing staying power in the fickle world of show business. I was never a fan or Rivers or her comedy, but the new documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work got such good reviews that I thought I’d check it out.
I’m glad I did. The film was fascinating, funny and offered major insight into what it takes to survive for 50-plus years in Hollywood — one of the toughest career paths there is. Here are some of my takeaways:
Persevere, persevere, persevere. From tremendous career highs (substituting regularly for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show) to devastating lows (being blackballed by Carson when she left to host her own show, which ultimately failed), Rivers never, ever, ever, ever, ever gives up. I’m not sure many of us could handle the many rejections, public humiliations and personal and professional traumas Rivers has endured, but every time she faces a challenge she dusts herself off and gets right back to work.
Do what you love. Perhaps perseverance is easier when you love what you do for a living. According to Rivers, she knew her entire life that she wanted to be in show business, even describing it as a “calling.” While Rivers’ passion borders on compulsion, I was still inspired by her absolute love of performing, the deep effort she puts into it day after day and the sheer joy she feels on stage.
Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…
Ask the Gen Y Expert: My New Column for Monster.com’s Excelle
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Millennial women Recommended Resources Writing on July 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I’m excited to announce my new career advice column on Monster.com’s website for women, Excelle.com. The column, “Ask the Gen Y Expert,” will feature my responses to reader questions. Please check out the first post and submit your own query anytime!
Here is this week’s topic and reader question:
How Can I Get Recognized for My Hard Work?
Dear Lindsey,
I’m a junior assistant at a PR firm, which basically means I’m pretty far down on the totem pole. However, I get the impression my manager sees promise because she invites me to all of the big meetings and keeps me in the loop on projects.
My work speaks for itself – the reports are chock full of my suggestions, recommendations, and feedback. Yet, I have never gotten an ounce of credit or even a bit of praise. She says I’m only there for “support” and only to “gain exposure” to high-profile campaigns. I’m all for paying my dues but a simple pat on the back would be a great morale booster. Instead, this constant take take take without mention is pushing me into a really negative place.
Should I be grateful for the opportunity to take part in these meetings? Am I asking too much to want a little bit of recognition?
Thanks,
Underappreciated PR Assistant
Click here to visit Excelle.com and read my answer to this question…
5 Career “Super Foods”
Posted in Career Advice Job Hunting Networking on July 9, 2010 at 11:37 am
As you can probably tell from reading my blog, I love lists. Top 10 These. Absolute 5 Thats. Well, I recently came across a fantastic list of 10 Everyday Super Foods, described by WebMD as “multitaskers,” such as nuts, blueberries and salmon, that are packed with multiple nutrients to help you stay healthy, promote wellness and weight control and taste good, too.
This got me thinking: What are the “Everyday Super Foods” for career success? What people, practices, tools and habits give you the biggest bang for your buck? Here is my list, and I hope you’ll share more “Career Super Foods” in the Comments.
1. Daily Goals. We often talk about annual goals or life goals, but successful people set — and achieve — small goals all the time (we sometimes call them priorities or to-do lists). Especially when you have a big goal — such as getting a new job, writing a book or launching a business — set small, daily goals that will keep you moving forward. Big goals are important, but small goals get the job done.
2. News. One of the most popular tips in my book, Getting from College to Career, is to read a newspaper every single day. Whether you read the headlines on your laptop, your phone, in an e-newsletter or a printed copy of the paper, it’s crucial that you keep up with world news, national news and the news of the particular industry you want to join. We live in the Information Age, so the most informed people are the ones who are most likely to succeed.
Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…
Tags: Career Advice, Job Hunting, job search, Networking
Secrets of Summer Career Success
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Networking on July 1, 2010 at 10:48 am
For many people, the July 4th weekend marks the beginning of Slacker Season at work: the time to enjoy long lunches outside and cut out early on Fridays. I love the mellowness of summer and encourage you to enjoy the season to its fullest. I also know that you need to keep your job search or career development on track, even when it’s 100 degrees in the shade. Here are some suggestions:
Revisit Your New Year’s Resolutions.
Remember that sense of optimism and new beginnings you felt as you turned your calendar to January? Pretend you’re a company with a July 1st start to your fiscal year and reboot your resolutions right now. If you never set any goals for this year, lie on a beach towel staring at the sky and daydream about what you want to accomplish by the end of 2010. Then, commit to taking some small steps this summer (such as registering for an online course to improve your negotiation skills, going outlet shopping to perk up your professional wardrobe, revising your job description with your boss to prepare for a promotion) to move yourself forward.
Redefine “Beach Reading.”
Instead of reading the latest romance novel, gossip magazine or legal thriller by the pool, pack your tote bag with a book that will advance your career knowledge. Check out the biography of a successful business owner, a productivity guide or a job hunting manual. If you’d rather keep your eyes shut and avoid weird sunglasses tan lines, load some books onto your iPod and listen instead. Consider these 10 great career books for young professionals.
Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…
Tags: Career Advice, summer career tips
