Comments on: New Year, New Guest Post: New Job, New You http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you Next Generation Career & Workplace Expert Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:42:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lindsey Pollak http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10789 Lindsey Pollak Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:07:49 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10789 @Marian - Thanks for elaborating. I agree with a lot of your points and think you'll find a lot of that advice on my blog and the blog of Alexandra Levit, who wrote this guest post (www.alexandralevit.com). Keep up the great feedback! Lindsey @Marian – Thanks for elaborating. I agree with a lot of your points and think you’ll find a lot of that advice on my blog and the blog of Alexandra Levit, who wrote this guest post (www.alexandralevit.com). Keep up the great feedback!

Lindsey

]]> By: Marian Schembari http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10788 Marian Schembari Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:38:17 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10788 There are a few things college grads are "expected" to do after graduation (and many times while still in school) -- take an unpaid internship (aka be somebody's bitch), take an entry level job at a fancy company getting someone's coffee... and that's it really. But what about freelancing? Or aiming a little higher? This post talks a lot about being "realistic" but that just sounds to me like "don't push yourself". Just because we're young doesn't mean we're not qualified to take jobs with real responsibilities. And the concept of internships is basically slave labor -- I realize that sounds incredibly melodramatic, but the concept of working for free really bugs me. It's really important to meet as many people as you can (people hire people, not resumes) by joining professional groups, using social media within an inch of its life, making friends with EVERYONE. Freelance. Temp. Take a part-time job while you work hard to find that "perfect job". And I do think they exist. I also think that not enough emphasis is put on working for yourself. College career centers put all the emphasis on interview techniques, and perfecting your resume, but nothing on how to make real connections or actually getting your resume SEEN. You can't send out a hundred resumes and expect for people to call you back. Find a way to meet someone at the company so it at least gets handed to HR. This is why I love social media so much. Even if you have no connections you can make them via LinkedIn and reading industry blogs and making twitter friends. Freelance work is by far the best way to get your foot in the door (from my experience at least, which should probably be taken with a grain of salt). It puts the "big fancy" companies on your resume and gives you experience outside of admin work. This is turning out way longer than intended, but I hope this puts my point across a little clearer! There's just so much generic career advice out there but kids my age need to be kicked in the ass because that advice is slowly becoming obsolete... There are a few things college grads are “expected” to do after graduation (and many times while still in school) — take an unpaid internship (aka be somebody’s bitch), take an entry level job at a fancy company getting someone’s coffee… and that’s it really. But what about freelancing? Or aiming a little higher? This post talks a lot about being “realistic” but that just sounds to me like “don’t push yourself”. Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we’re not qualified to take jobs with real responsibilities. And the concept of internships is basically slave labor — I realize that sounds incredibly melodramatic, but the concept of working for free really bugs me. It’s really important to meet as many people as you can (people hire people, not resumes) by joining professional groups, using social media within an inch of its life, making friends with EVERYONE. Freelance. Temp. Take a part-time job while you work hard to find that “perfect job”. And I do think they exist. I also think that not enough emphasis is put on working for yourself. College career centers put all the emphasis on interview techniques, and perfecting your resume, but nothing on how to make real connections or actually getting your resume SEEN. You can’t send out a hundred resumes and expect for people to call you back. Find a way to meet someone at the company so it at least gets handed to HR. This is why I love social media so much. Even if you have no connections you can make them via LinkedIn and reading industry blogs and making twitter friends.

Freelance work is by far the best way to get your foot in the door (from my experience at least, which should probably be taken with a grain of salt). It puts the “big fancy” companies on your resume and gives you experience outside of admin work.

This is turning out way longer than intended, but I hope this puts my point across a little clearer! There’s just so much generic career advice out there but kids my age need to be kicked in the ass because that advice is slowly becoming obsolete…

]]> By: Lindsey Pollak http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10787 Lindsey Pollak Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:10:48 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10787 @Marian - Thanks for your feedback. Do you have any suggestions or recommended resources for "pushing the limits" as you mentioned? Would love to hear more. Lindsey @Marian – Thanks for your feedback. Do you have any suggestions or recommended resources for “pushing the limits” as you mentioned? Would love to hear more.

Lindsey

]]> By: Marian Schembari http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10786 Marian Schembari Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:44:30 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10786 I don't feel like any of this is particularly new information - it also sounds a lot like "play it safe" and that rarely gets anyone anywhere. College grads need tangible, actionable advice, and not tips that tell them to take it easy, pay their dues and sit tight. Life after college is about taking risks and really pushing the limits. We're young enough and sans-responsibilities enough that we don't have to take the traditional route and I don't feel like this post does young people any favors. I don’t feel like any of this is particularly new information – it also sounds a lot like “play it safe” and that rarely gets anyone anywhere. College grads need tangible, actionable advice, and not tips that tell them to take it easy, pay their dues and sit tight. Life after college is about taking risks and really pushing the limits. We’re young enough and sans-responsibilities enough that we don’t have to take the traditional route and I don’t feel like this post does young people any favors.

]]> By: Dr. G http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10757 Dr. G Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:17:11 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10757 This all sounds a little new year's resolution(ary)! Having said that, if you don't have much experience, at least be clear on the skills that you have gained from your experience. That's the minimum. Visit our blog at http://www.mytalentplace.co.uk/blog for more career advice This all sounds a little new year’s resolution(ary)! Having said that, if you don’t have much experience, at least be clear on the skills that you have gained from your experience. That’s the minimum. Visit our blog at http://www.mytalentplace.co.uk/blog for more career advice

]]> By: Alexandra Levit http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10751 Alexandra Levit Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:33:39 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10751 Thanks for the comments, guys! TF - Are you sure you’re too old for positions targeted to new college graduates? It strikes me that someone who is two years out of college without specific experience in a given area would still be a candidate for the entry level. Positions beyond the entry level usually ask for a minimum of 2-5 years of industry-specific experience. Despite recent events, entry level positions in finance and accounting still tend to pay better than others, so you might make more at the entry level than you would at the mid level in some other professions. Thanks for the comments, guys! TF – Are you sure you’re too old for positions targeted to new college graduates? It strikes me that someone who is two years out of college without specific experience in a given area would still be a candidate for the entry level. Positions beyond the entry level usually ask for a minimum of 2-5 years of industry-specific experience. Despite recent events, entry level positions in finance and accounting still tend to pay better than others, so you might make more at the entry level than you would at the mid level in some other professions.

]]> By: DC Jobs http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10746 DC Jobs Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:36:20 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10746 I especially like tip #4. It's so easy to get overwhelmed by change. The idea of breaking it down into bite-sized tasks is a great idea! I especially like tip #4. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by change. The idea of breaking it down into bite-sized tasks is a great idea!

]]> By: TF http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/new-year-new-guest-post-new-job-new-you#comment-10745 TF Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:46:54 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1068#comment-10745 I actually disagree that younger professionals have more flexibility. I have found that it is a lot more difficult to "test-drive" careers, especially as a recent college grad. I've been looking to change industries for about 6 months now but being 2 years out of college, I'm too old for entry-level positions and too young for experienced hire positions so I feel stuck. I'm not even looking to make a major industry jump, just applying to positions more closely-related to my undergraduate major (Finance). However, virtually all positions I find are looking for people with work-experience in Finance/Accounting so it's been impossible to change industries. It seems that whatever field/industry you enter post-graduation, you're obligated to it for at least 3-5 years (unless you go back to school). Any thoughts? What do you recommend for younger professionals in a similar situation looking to change their career paths? I actually disagree that younger professionals have more flexibility. I have found that it is a lot more difficult to “test-drive” careers, especially as a recent college grad. I’ve been looking to change industries for about 6 months now but being 2 years out of college, I’m too old for entry-level positions and too young for experienced hire positions so I feel stuck. I’m not even looking to make a major industry jump, just applying to positions more closely-related to my undergraduate major (Finance). However, virtually all positions I find are looking for people with work-experience in Finance/Accounting so it’s been impossible to change industries. It seems that whatever field/industry you enter post-graduation, you’re obligated to it for at least 3-5 years (unless you go back to school). Any thoughts? What do you recommend for younger professionals in a similar situation looking to change their career paths?

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