Archive for Category: Volunteering
You Have More Experience Than You Think (Part II)
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Volunteering on October 1, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Continuing on my last post, here are eight more examples of experience that “counts” in your job search. Stay tuned for my final list, covering personal interests and experiences, on Monday.
Part II: Work and Extracurricular Experience
1. Sports. Even if you aren’t a star athlete, your participation in an organized sport (varsity, JV, club level or just for fun) is valuable. An employee who is a “team player” and works well with others can move mountains in the workplace. Athletic experience builds your competitive nature, increases your level of confidence and gives you strong leadership skills. Remember to consider these lessons and experiences when discussing your skills and abilities in a job interview.
2. Clubs and organizations. From French club to student government, be sure to note your involvement in organized group activities. Make special note of any leadership roles that involved coordinating events, budgeting or acting as liaison among group members, faculty and staff. Also take some time to think about club projects you managed from beginning to end — employers will correlate these to workplace project management skills.
3. Greek life. Aside from the toga parties (which employers definitely don’t want to know about), Greek organizations provide some valuable experience for the working world. Many Greek organizations place significant value on networking events, fundraisers and recruitment. If you held a direct leadership role, planned events or coordinated publicity for your fraternity or sorority, you should share these achievements with potential employers. Keep in mind that there are some lingering stereotypes from Animal House and the like, so proceed with caution.
4. The arts. Whether you’re involved in art, music, dance or theater, your performance skills and the self-confidence it takes to share your talents in front of an audience are very attractive to an employer. Don’t be shy about touting your creative accomplishments, even in a serious corporate setting. (more…)
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…)
Guest Post: Gen Y, Body-Build Your Resumes!
Posted in First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Recommended Resources Volunteering on June 16, 2009 at 11:33 am
Today I’m pleased to share a guest post from Chris Perry, a Gen Y Brand and Marketing Generator, a Career Search and Personal Branding Expert and the Founder of Career Rocketeer, the Career Search and Personal Branding Blog.
Whether you know it or not, we Gen Yers have a competitive edge over older job seekers in the career search. We are less expensive to hire, we are more impressionable (not having already settled into one company culture or way of doing things), and we have grown up with ever-changing technology, having become fast learners as a result.
However, the major obstacle that we encounter in our career search keeping us from getting the job is our lack of previous “real-world” work experience. Especially considering the current economic situation, this is not the issue you want to run into when you graduate and suddenly realize that it’s too late to go back in time and fill in your resume.
Whether or not you know what you want to do in your full-time career, I can’t begin to impress upon you the importance of gaining as much experience as possible during your high school, college and grad school careers. Experience is experience, even if it is not directly related to the job you are applying for.
Start now and “body-build” your resume while you have the time and the opportunity to set yourself up for the career of your dreams. I also recommend that you sign up with LinkedIn so you can show off your “heavyweight” resume online!
“How can I body-build my resume?” you might ask. Here are six ways all Gen Yers can gain more valuable leadership and professional experiences and skills: (more…)
Tags: Career Rocketeer, Chris Perry
Video on PwC.tv: How to recession-proof your job search
Posted in Career Advice Economic Crisis First Job Out of College Generation Y Internships Job Hunting Networking Recommended Resources Volunteering on January 14, 2009 at 9:07 am
The bad news: 2008 was the worst year for jobs since 1945.
The good news: It’s a new year, and with that new year comes new advice, new tips and new resources for job hunters.
Recently, PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the best places for young professionals to launch a career, invited me to provide tips to help students and recent graduates find jobs and internships right now.
Click here to watch the 5-minute video and to download a list of 10 ways to recession-proof your job search.
If you have additional questions, feel free to submit them here.
On ABC News on Campus: 10 ways to job hunt during winter break
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Internships Job Hunting Networking Recommended Resources Volunteering on December 15, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I’m excited to announce that I’ve just been named the Career Contributor to ABC News on Campus, the national college network of ABC News. I’ll be writing weekly career advice columns, answering reader questions (submit your question here) and providing video advice segments. I hope you’ll visit and bookmark ABC News on Campus, which features news, opinions and advice from campuses across the country.
My first article is “10 ways to job hunt during winter break,” a guide to using your holiday vacation to help your job hunt. Here is an excerpt:
Welcome to late December. ‘Tis the season for celebrating the end of finals, catching up with hometown friends and family, exchanging gifts and good cheer and — gulp — dreading the question: “So, have you found a job yet?”
Whether you’re looking for an internship or a full-time first job, the holiday break marks the unofficial start of job hunting season. (Or, if you’re graduating in December, it’s absolutely official.)
Of course, the bad news this season is that you’re facing the toughest job market in recent history. The good news is that there are always opportunities, especially for entry-level positions. But you have to act fast, and you have to act smart. Here are some tips for what to do over the next few crucial weeks to land a great job or internship.
Click here to read the rest of this article on ABC News on Campus…
How to get a job: 11 new tips
Posted in Career Advice Economic Crisis First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Networking Social Media Volunteering on November 30, 2008 at 3:53 pm
When people ask me how to get a job in a bad economy, my answer isn’t particularly earth shattering: Do everything you did in a good economy — have a terrific resume, cast a wide net in your search, network effectively — just do it all smarter, faster, better and more often
In addition to working harder on the basics, today’s job seekers should also try a few new and different techniques to stand out. To help, I’ve compiled a list of not-the-usual job hunting suggestions. You may like some of these and hate some of these, and that’s the point. My goal here is to provide out-of-the-box actions and tactics that most job seekers may not have tried. Here goes… (more…)
Companies where you can do well AND do good
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Recommended Resources Volunteering on August 17, 2008 at 12:04 pm
More and more young professionals are seeking employers that offer community service opportunities
Check out this article from CNNMoney, “How to lure Gen Y workers? Do good.” According to the article:
Four in five Millennials say they want to work for a company that cares about how it affects or contributes to society, according to a 2006 Cone survey. Some 68% said they would refuse to work for an employer that is not socially responsible.
The article specifically mentions IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Merrill Lynch as companies promoting their community and philanthropic efforts to recruit young professionals. If you’re interested in researching other employers with a strong reputation in community service, environmental responsibility and/or sustainability practices, check out the following resources: (more…)
Meet an Amazing Recent Grad: Marissa Davis, founder of NOLArize!
Posted in Generation Y Volunteering on June 30, 2008 at 8:26 pm
A few months ago I gave a talk at the Smith College Social Entrepreneurship Conference. Among the other speakers was Marissa Davis (pictured in this photo, to the right of the yellow t-shirt), an impressive senior from Swarthmore College. Marissa gave an inspiring talk about the organization she founded as an undergraduate, NOLArize!
NOLArize! is an organization of college students across America who are partnering with their local communities to help rebuild New Orleans, “one community at a time.” Marissa, who was born and raised in Jamaica, graduated from Swarthmore in May and continues to run the organization while she works full-time.
Why did a busy student at one of America’s most competitive colleges decide to launch a nonprofit? (more…)
"I want my community service!" – Think.MTV.com launches today
Posted in Volunteering on September 20, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Today marks the launch of Think.MTV.com, which is “a new online community designed to help users get involved and recognize those who take action,” according to an article in today’s TV Week.
The announcement goes on to say:
MTV sees the site as a way to be relevant online with the youth audience. The network did a study last year that found 80 percent of young people want to help their community and take action to support causes, but only 19 percent describe themselves as “very involved.”
The site will give young people a place to go to find information about getting involved and the tools to find and mobilize other people with similar interests, said Ian Rowe, VP of public affairs and strategic partnerships for MTV.
Celebrity participants include Bono, Jay Z, Brad Pitt, Petra Nemcova, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Rock, John Mayer, Shakira, Ryan Seacrest, John Legend, Jeff Sachs, Rosario Dawson, and Nick Cannon.
Young people who use the site to do good will be rewarded with prizes such as hanging out with the aforementioned stars, access to exclusive MTV events, exposure on MTV and other national media outlets, plus grants, scholarships and more.
Check out Think.MTV.com here.
Kudos to the YURPs in New Orleans
Posted in Volunteering on August 21, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I just came across an inspiring article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune about young professionals moving to New Orleans after college graduation to help with the city’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Although the city is still plagued with horrible problems–including the fact that many people who want to return to the city can’t do so–these young professionals, some who grew up in New Orleans and many who did not, are helping to make a difference. They are working in urban planning, community development, health, education and many other realms. They’ve even earned their own nickname: YURPs — Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals.
The article says:
Although the influx is by no means massive, it is substantial enough that experts cite plenty of anecdotal evidence that New Orleans, cast nationally as a place where many residents have not returned and others are still mulling whether to leave, is quietly attracting young people drawn by a sense of purpose.
Wanting purpose in one’s work is a hallmark of Generation Y, and a characteristic that always impresses me when I meet college students and recent grads. Congratulations to the YURPs in New Orleans, and I hope they inspire more people–young and old–to give back and make a difference.
