Archive for Category: Entrepreneurship
Podcast: Why Two Jobs May Be Better Than One
Posted in Career Advice Career Change Entrepreneurship Future of Careers Generation Y on April 8, 2010 at 3:16 pm
“Modern moonlighting” has become an increasingly popular phenomenon among young professionals. It involves working a full-time job and pursuing other projects on the side.
Why are people doing this and how do you make it work? Listen in on my conversation with Jenny Blake, who works full-time at Google and runs a coaching and blogging business, LifeAfterCollege.org, on the side.
Listen to the podcast on my MyPath.com “College to Career” show now!
Tags: Career Advice, future of work, Generation Y, Jenny Blake, MyPath
3 Ways to Make the Most of a Jobless Summer
Posted in Career Advice Economic Crisis Entrepreneurship First Job Out of College Generation Y Recommended Resources Volunteering on July 5, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Another summer weekend, another article about the tough job market for recent college grads. This week’s installment appeared in The New York Times Style section in the form of “Say Hello to Underachieving” by Alex Williams.
I’m very glad this topic is still on the radar screens of major media reporters. I just wish the articles would include some helpful suggestions for young people who find themselves in the tough position of facing the longest recession period since the 1930s. The Comments section of the Times article certainly included a lot of — ahem — suggestions, but I’m not a big fan of snark. So, I thought I’d share my three cents on how college students and recent grads can still improve their resumes without a traditionally “good” summer job or internship. (more…)
Considering Entrepreneurship: First steps to starting your own business
Posted in Career Advice Economic Crisis Entrepreneurship Recommended Resources on March 15, 2009 at 8:14 pm
This Saturday’s New York Times featured a front-page story about how the recession is prompting some people to start their own businesses instead of looking for new jobs. It’s an encouraging story if you’ve ever considered the option of creating your own venture, large or small.
While some people decide to dive headfirst into entrepreneurship, others feel more comfortable dipping in a toe, then an ankle, then a knee before swimming solo. The choice is very personal and depends on your experience, finances and overall comfort with risk. But, if you’re thinking even just a little bit about starting your own business, it’s never too early to take actions that will set you up for taking the plunge when you’re ready. Here are some suggestions for first steps to take if you’re thinking about starting your own small business or becoming a full-time freelancer: (more…)
How to get a good job in a bad economy: 7 recession strategies
Posted in Career Advice Entrepreneurship First Job Out of College Job Hunting Networking on October 19, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Job hunting is tough right now, but absolutely not impossible. The key to finding and keeping work in tough times is the same as in good times: action. The more positive action you take, the better your chances of landing a great gig. Here are 7 tips, and I promise many more in the coming weeks and months.
1. Be smarter, faster and better. I wish I could offer you a magic piece of advice about job hunting and working in a bad economy, a piece of wisdom that I’ve been saving for this type of situation. However, my best advice is to use all of the same job hunting and career management tips I always advise, but do them smarter, faster and better (which, by the way, is the title of a book I co-wrote with the fabulous executive coach Karlin Sloan).
Being smarter, faster and better means:
- Updating your resume to include examples of how you thrive in challenging times, how you excel at stretching a budget, how you can bring in new clients and new revenue right away.
- Making 5 calls a day to networking contacts, rather than making 5 a week.
- Attending one networking event a week, rather than one a month.
- Following up immediately after you meet someone or learn of an opportunity. Return calls right away, send a thank you email the same day you have an interview, send in a resume as soon as you learn of an opportunity.
In any situation, ask yourself, “What would be the smartest, fastest and best way to handle this situation?” and do just that.
2. Try new strategies. We all get into ruts — going to the same networking events, talking to the same people at our association meetings, setting up the same keywords on the same employment websites, writing the same phrases in every cover letter.
STOP!
The same old stuff will no longer cut it. As Albert Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.To get a job in a bad economy, you have to cast a wider net and be more creative than ever. Try some new and different keyword searches as you look for jobs online. Challenge yourself to attend networking events in totally new industries, towns or social circles. Start looking in the newspaper if you’ve never done that before. Look for jobs at small companies if you’ve always worked for big corporations (and vice versa). (more…)
Highlights from my weekend reading stack: the economy, entrepreneurship and Facebook
Posted in Career Advice Entrepreneurship First Job Out of College Generation Y Recommended Resources Uncategorized on October 13, 2008 at 1:25 am
I spent Sunday afternoon diving into a tall stack of weekend newspapers and this month’s magazines, looking for articles relevant to young professionals.
Here are some interesting stories I recommend, with a little bit of personal commentary: (more…)
Podcast: Career advice for moms
Posted in Career Advice Entrepreneurship Life Advice Recommended Resources Social Media Women on September 19, 2008 at 12:30 am
I had the pleasure of doing a podcast interview this week with Sharon McMillan of NewUrbanMom.com.
I met Sharon totally virtually, by communicating with each other on Twitter.* Sharon introduced me to the concept of “new urbanism,” a term that refers to the development or re-development of communities that are more pedestrian friendly, eco-friendly and business friendly. Read more about the principles and benefits of new urbanism.
On the podcast, Sharon and I talk about my experience growing up with an entrepreneurial mom, tips for mothers who want to return to their careers and suggestions for anyone who wants to work for an environmentally friendly company. The interview is about 20 minutes long. Hope you’ll listen in!
*If you’d like to follow me on Twitter, I’m @lindseypollak.
Join me for a brand new event: Make Our Daughters a Million
Posted in Entrepreneurship Recommended Events Women on May 19, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I am so excited to announce that I will be leading a brand new program for Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources and business education for women entrepreneurs.
The program is called Make Our Daughters a Million (MODM). It’s a day-long program designed for high school and college-aged young women to receive fun, inspiring career and entrepreneurial training.
The event takes place Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, as part of the Make Mine a Million $ Business Tri-State regional event, featuring keynote speakers Nely Galan (from The Celebrity Apprentice) and Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark.
Registration for MODM is FREE. (Be sure to use the code MODMNJ when you register here.)
Why am I so excited? One of the most common refrains from women entrepreneurs is, “I wish I’d started my business sooner.” It’s time to give young women the tools and community they need to launch businesses whenever they’re ready.
Here is the official information about the event, including some background on why I am leading this program and feel so passionately about it (hint: check out my mom!):
Make Our Daughters a Million (MODM) is building upon the movement begun by Count Me In founder Nell Merlino, who created Take Our Daughters to Work Day in 1993, by providing skills, inspiration and support of the Make Mine a Million $ Business community that high-school and college-age women need to pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship.
MODM participants will attend a large portion of the regular programming of Make Mine a Million $ Business, including inspiring keynote speeches, panels and pitches by women business owners. In the afternoon, daughters will move to another room for the two-hour Make Our Daughters a Million program. Click here for a full schedule of the day’s events.
Make Our Daughters a Million will be led by Lindsey Pollak, who began her entrepreneurial career at age 12 by attending women’s business events with her mom, Jane Pollak. Lindsey is now a writer, speaker and blogger who is passionate about helping young women succeed.
Learn more and register now — use the code MODMNJ for free registration!
I hope to see you in Newark on June 3rd!
America’s best young entrepreneurs 2007
Posted in Career Advice Entrepreneurship Generation Y on November 19, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Looking for some inspiration to launch your own business? Check out BusinessWeek’s special report on America’s best entrepreneurs age 25 and under. There’s a nice slide show featuring the 25 finalists and their bright–and profitable–ideas.
Don’t miss the additional reports on young entrepreneurs in Asia and Europe. Really fascinating stuff.
No doubt these stories will inspire you to start working on your own venture. Check out the tipsheet of recommended resources for guidance.
Sharing a special offer: In Good Company WorkPlaces
Posted in Entrepreneurship on August 28, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Congratulations to Amy Abrams and Adelaide Fives on the launch of their new business, In Good Company, a shared workplace and consulting company for women entrepreneurs in New York City.
Here is the announcement of their launch and a discount offer, which Amy and Adelaide have generously invited me to share with my blog readers:
We are so thrilled to announce that In Good Company WorkPlaces is launching this September! The goal of our WorkPlace is to create opportunities for women business owners to WORK, MEET & LEARN. Our brand new shiny workplace is located at 16 W. 23rd Street, just off of 5th Avenue in New York City. The space is sunny with beautiful wood floors and exposed brick.
There are several ways that you can be part of our community. View membership options here.
***SPECIAL OFFER: A discounted price on our annual Community Membership of $200 (regular price $300). Just mention the Lindsey Pollak Blog.***
IGC will honor this discount until October 31st . To learn more and sign up, please fill out an application online(http://www.ingoodcmpny.com/) or email members@ingoodcmpny.com.
Best of luck to Amy and Adelaide on the new venture!
Entrepreneur.com review of "Getting from College to Career"
Posted in Entrepreneurship Reviews of "Getting from College to Career" on at 12:14 pm
A big thank you to my friend Diane K. Danielson, founder and CEO of the Downtown Women’s Club for including Getting from College to Career on her terrific new “Top Shelf Reading Picks” blog for Entrepreneur.com.
Diane writes:
Sometimes good entrepreneurial advice comes in unexpected places. Lindsey Pollak’s Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to do before you join the real world is a guide for new graduates. But, here are some topics she covered that I thought were great for entrepreneurs of all ages…
Read the rest of Diane’s post here, and be sure to check out Diane’s other book reviews!
