Posts Tagged: Lindsey Pollak
Interview with “eager first time author” Julie Kraut, co-author of Hot Mess: Summer in the City
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials on July 2, 2008 at 2:00 pm
One of the best perks of my job as a writer is that I get a lot of free books to read and review. Normally I don’t write about fiction, but today I’m writing about fiction. Why? Because young novelist Julie Kraut hugely impressed me by following one of my golden rules of networking.
Julie, a self-described “eager first time author,” reached out by email and offered to send a copy of her new novel, Hot Mess: Summer in the City. I said sure. The book arrived with a press release, plus something I’d never received with a book: a little pink envelope with “Lindsey” handwritten on it (points for spelling my name correctly). Inside the envelope was a lovely note on pretty stationery, thanking me for giving Hot Mess a read.
Julie, you had me at the thank you note. (And I’m going to swipe your awesome strategy and send thank you notes along with review copies of my book too!)
She also followed up with me a few weeks later and agreed to do an interview for my blog. Here is the interview, along with Julie’s generous request to help any young novelists seeking advice: (more…)
Meet an Amazing Recent Grad: Marissa Davis, founder of NOLArize!
Posted in Gen Y Entrepreneurship Generation Y/Millennials 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…)
Read this before you delete your social networking profile
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Social Media on June 25, 2008 at 6:00 am
The news is full of stories about the dangers of having an inappropriate presence on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and other social networks (read my favorite horror story at Gradspot.com). If you’re looking for a job or trying to get promoted, should you just delete your online profiles altogether?
To find out my answer, check out 20-Something Manifesto author Christine Hassler’s recent column for the Huffington Post, where she interviews me and shares her advice on net etiquette…
Career Q&A: What career should I choose?
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Education Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career on June 24, 2008 at 6:00 am
Q: I graduated college a few weeks ago, have agreed to take a job for the summer and in the fall will embark on a Master’s degree (entailing a couple of night classes a week). I am not sure if I’ll want to pursue a Ph.D. in the future, but for now, I’d like to explore a different career path. I was an English major, have interests in communications, literature, and non-profit work, but I’m having trouble deciding what area to go into. What should I be doing in the next two months (while at my current job) to research/determine what area I should go into?
A: It sounds like you are very eager to determine your career path before you start your master’s work. I completely understand that desire, and I also know from experience that choosing a career is not something that can be rushed. You may not decide what you want to do until you actually meet someone who does it (that’s what happened to me). So, let’s talk about some ways to maximize the number and variety of careers you are exposed to over the next two months and into the future: (more…)
Why you should use LinkedIn (if you aren’t already)
Posted in LinkedIn Networking Advice Networking and Personal Branding Personal Branding Recommended Career Resources Social Media on June 18, 2008 at 9:31 am
Today’s New York Times article about LinkedIn.com is yet another indication that membership in this professional networking site (note: basic membership is free) is now essential for any career-minded professional. The article announces that LinkedIn just raised $53 million in capital, ensuring that it will grow even larger and more robust.
Wanting to know more about LinkedIn’s features and benefits, I recently took a tour of the site with Krista Canfield, PR manager at LinkedIn. Here are the top activities she recommends for young professionals to get the maximum benefit from membership in the site: (more…)
On MSN Careers: 12 things to ponder before taking your first job
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career Job Search Tips on June 16, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Thanks to Rachel Zupek for including my comments in her article on MSN Careers today, “12 Things to Ponder before Taking Your First Job.” The article also features tips from career experts who have been featured on this blog–Kristen Fischer and Shawn Graham.
Here is an excerpt from MSN Careers:
Finding your first job is easy. You send in your résumé for a position to which no one else is applying. You get a call back right away, have a successful interview (during which you are promptly offered the job) and of course you’re offered the salary to last a lifetime. Nothin’ to it.
Dream on…
Read the rest of “12 Things to Ponder Before Taking Your First Job.”
Guest Post: Tips on public speaking from the shy girl from high school (Oh, yeah…she’s a public speaking professor now)
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Communication Skills Generation Y/Millennials on June 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm
By Laura O’Connell, Marketing Manager & Communication Arts Professor
I often encounter students who claim that they can’t possibly get in front of a classroom and speak because they are shy. I then tell them about myself, a “former shy girl in recovery,” in hopes that they will see a light at the end of the tunnel (the tunnel that they fear because if they speak in it, somebody might hear their echo and that would be public speaking!).
When training to be a college orientation leader several years ago, I found myself in a room of 10 people. The leader asked us each to give a short talk. When my turn came, I felt all eyes focused on me. I opened my mouth… and nothing came out. I started to shake, my heart pounded and I said quietly, “I can’t do this.”
The next day arrived and again we were asked again to give short speeches. As my turn approached, I felt the same physiological effects coming on-fear, nausea, pounding heart. I opened my mouth, and words came pouring out. And they made sense!
How did I overcome my fear in less than 24 hours? (more…)
Book Review: “How’d You Score That Gig?”
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Job Search Tips on May 21, 2008 at 6:01 am
If you’re graduating this May and not yet sure where you’ll be working, or you’re just looking for a cooler job than the one you have now, check out How’d You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Jobs and How to Get Them by my 30/20 Vision podcast co-host Alexandra Levit.
The book begins with a helpful self-assessment that feels different from the usual tests that don’t tell you much (“Do you prefer chatting with 100 colleagues at the water cooler or working alone in a dungeon?”). This self-assessment will help you categorize yourself as an Adventurer, Creator, Data Head, Entrepreneur, Investigator, Networker, Nurturer or some combination of these. From there, you’ll read in-depth descriptions of some “cool gigs” in each category.
The range of “cool jobs” is wide, including some you’ve heard of (actor, financial adviser, event planner, physical therapist) and some that may be new to you (doula, computational linguist, forensic scientist). I found all of the jobs really interesting, and I enjoyed reading the stories of young people who’ve entered each field. Alexandra is a very good writer and fills the book with the real voices and stories of people who’ve scored great gigs. If you find some jobs you’d like to try, Alexandra shares her own expert job hunting tips as well as specific advice of gurus in each profession.
I recommend How’d You Score That Gig for recent college grads, young professionals and career changers looking for something new and different.
Have you read this book? Share your thoughts below!
Guest Post: The pros and cons of starting your career on Wall Street
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career Job Search Tips on May 13, 2008 at 4:38 pm
By Miriam Salpeter
Miriam Salpeter is a career coach and resume writer with Keppie Careers. www.keppiecareers.wordpress.com; www.keppiecareers.com. Definitely check out her great blog!
It would be nice if new college graduates did not experience tough life lessons right out of school. Wouldn’t it be great if there were an official “honeymoon” phase of life when things would go smoothly and plans would go, well, according to plan?
We all know that the transition from college to career can be a rocky one, especially for those unfortunate enough to have landed their dream job (the envy of all of their friends), only to see the offer rescinded in a cruel twist of fate. Lindsey generously offered free assistance to the 250 new college grads with rescinded offers from Bear Stearns. Since I worked on Wall Street right out of college, I wanted to help as well.
I consulted a former colleague who is still in the business and compiled some pros and cons to consider if you are dreaming of a career on Wall Street:
Pros:
- Lucrative salary.
- Glamour. High rollers abound, a lot of money trades hands and, when times are good, big bonuses and perks are rewards for a lot of hard work.
- Thrill factor. It can be exciting to be part of a last minute, high-tension deal closing.
- Foxhole friends. You will spend a lot of time with your co-workers. Camaraderie and strong, long-lasting friendships may result. (This was certainly my experience. Twelve years after I shared a “foxhole,” I wouldn’t hesitate to contact my Wall Street friends for any reason. When we get together, it’s as if no time has passed.)
Cons:
- Zero work/life balance. Your work will be extremely demanding. You’ll be expected to put in long hours, cancel personal plans and generally put your life on hold.
- Volatility. The adage is that Wall Street is quick to hire and quick to fire employees. Job security is not a reason people choose this profession. “Rainy day” funds are imperative in this field.
Tense work environment. The high-pressure, fast-paced job doesn’t lend itself to the most warm and supportive work environment. When bosses get tense or stressed, young employees (or anyone around) tend to bear the brunt.
Despite these cons, I would not trade my Wall Street experience. I made lifelong friends and learned important skills and coping mechanisms. However, it’s important to know what to expect so you can make an informed choice about your future.
For college grads with rescinded Bear Stearns offers, I’m happy to speak with you about my experiences and supplement Lindsey’s offer of free coaching. If you are interested in a 30-minute free coaching session with me between now and September 1, 2008, please send an email with “Bear Stearns Coaching” in the subject to results@keppiecareers.com. We’ll set it up!
