I recently attended a job fair in Washington, DC where I had a chance to talk to quite a few of the 20 recruiters representing job categories ranging from the military to high-tech to higher education to auto dealerships looking for salespeople. Just as a side-note, I was surprised at the number and variety of positions available with national and regional whole foods markets. Everything from meat cutters ($20/hr) up through all levels of management. I wasn't there to get one of these jobs - I was there asking questions. Why? Because you've been  job-hunting for the past eight months to no avail. You've been told to join the networking groups – and you have. You were told to do an internship – and you did. You were told to go to the job fairs – and you did. As a matter of fact … [Read more...]

Whether this is your first resume or the first one you'll get right, there are a few things that SHOULD NOT go on your resume. These items may seem obvious to some, but I've seen the mistakes made too many times to discount anything. From college students as well as professionals, I've seen too many resume's that resemble some Facebook pages... they are sharing waaaay too much personal information! I guess on a Facebook page it's a matter of opinion but on a resume personal information is a no-no. If you want your resume to be cutting-edge in today's cut-throat job market - you might strive to make it personal, but not to share personal information. Never include details such as your birth date, social security number, driver's license number, etc. Some of this information may be needed … [Read more...]

Does your e-mail make a difference to an employer? You bet your *&#*! It does! I read an article by one of my colleagues, Rick Sherréll and it got my attention right away. His article entitled: “Your e-mail address is INCREDIBLE . . . and that’s not a compliment” focuses on the impact of your e-mail address. No, I do not intend to recap the entire article, but it got me to thinkin’. Most people have more than one address, right? If you only have one, you should probably create another. Why you ask? Professional address vs. personal address. (Simple enough) Your e-mail address can KILL your credibility. Using your name is easiest for someone to remember. Consider that the resume begins with your name and address. Next is the e-mail address. You are advertising yourself as a … [Read more...]

Professional Ethics that can Make or Break your Career. You’ve heard of Bernie Madoff, right? How about Michael Vick, Governor Rod Blagojevich or Arnold Schwarzenegger? What do they ALL have in common?... Living through professional politics. It’s tough enough having your coworkers know about what’s going on, but image the world being in on it! No matter what your job is, office politics (school politics as well) is what drives your daily interactions with your staff, managers, clients, personnel, classmates, professors and so on. So how does that affect you? Politics determines who gets the job, the salary and the job title and the promotion opportunities. At some point in your career, you will HAVE to address an issue that can make or break you. People don’t tell you if … [Read more...]

I’m sure that by now you’ve been counting your salary potential from the moment you registered for your first class. Just to be clear, college doesn’t necessarily mean big money. Your salary potential depends on one major factor . . . NEGOTIATION SKILLS! Unless you’re the only one who has seen the ad, everyone out there is applying for the same position. This is where your communication skills and your negotiation skills are what sets you apart. Let’s also go with the fact that in this economy you never want to overbid your talents or you won’t get the opportunity to show them -- your talents that is. But if you underbid, it can mean some time before you get paid what you ARE worth. First, it’s important to understand your market, your specialty, your location, years of … [Read more...]

Flowers are beautiful, aren’t they? Well, they don’t get that way the moment they are planted. They grow into their beauty. Starting in the form of a seed, with the right amount of water, sun, food and nourishment they become incredible to behold. The same applies to your career. People don’t start a job at the top – even Mark Zuckerberg and the gang started Facebook in a dorm room! So you begin as an intern, that’s the seed. As you grow to know and understand the industry, that’s the cultivation period and once you become full-time, that’s where the growth REALLY begins. The longer you hold the position – even on a half-time basis, that’s where connections, experience and mastery move in. All of that takes time. Don't worry about the promotion when you get into the … [Read more...]

How many of you have friends that you love their company, but they seem to say the wrong thing at the wrong time? I’m not saying people don’t slip from time to time, but somehow it leaves an embarrassing feeling (if not for them; for you!). I’m sure you get my drift. For some people it doesn’t bother them because it’s a part of their communication style. Unfortunately, employers don’t care about your style of communication, and the impression it leaves when you walk out of the door. Just so you know, your interviewer does weigh everything you say. While there’s no such thing as the perfect answer, I promise you that how you answer a question will determine the results. If your response comes off as arrogant, negative or over-blown that’s what people will remember – … [Read more...]

Did you know that there are currently 28,000 different occupations in the world! I know, I didn’t believe it either. Maybe you can’t see it if you’re unemployed or only working part-time, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics our unemployment rate has gone down from 9.7 in October 2010 to a low of 8.8 in March 2011. Although it's edged back up to 9.1 in July 2011, I believe that means the job market IS actually growing. I know what you’re thinking – then where are they? In a previous article I wrote: “Where are the Jobs Hiding,” I gave you a listing of employers who were looking that week. Well, did you jump on it? Why not? All I can say is TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. Okay, here it is again, but this time with another list of the Top 10 Companies Hiring This … [Read more...]

Have you heard of this guy Ted Williams -- The Man with the Golden Voice? Homeless and on the street the one talent he had is his silky smooth voice. The purpose of college is to find a job, right? Well, wanting to do a job and having the talents to do that job are two different things. You can be trained to do anything, but with natural talent, not only will you be happy doing it, you’ll be SUCCESSFUL at it as well. Does that make sense? Everybody has at least one gift or talent that stands out naturally for them. I’m sure people have told you, “you are so good at what?” Well . . . what is it? Helping people, building things, sports, numbers, decorating, whatever it may be, anything you are great at doing is a potential career. If fixing things has always come easy for you, … [Read more...]

So, you say you have an interview scheduled next week. THAT’S GREAT! The question is what kind? The purpose of the interview is not just to see if you should get the job, it’s also an opportunity for the employer to dissect each applicant to ensure they are the right person for the job. Well, depending on the type of position you are applying for, there are a number of styles of interviewing. It may be the tradition face-to-face or the panel. Some require testing, another an actual audition. Today employers have even stretched to doing over-the-web interviews. More importantly, the type of interview you are preparing for can determine your style of presentation. Now that you’ve gotten the call, let’s get ready to WOW them. Remember first – keep the interview as a conversation … [Read more...]

We all know over the past few years that the economy has been tough. Considering so many industries took a vital hit, it meant that hiring was at an all time low. Not to mention your competition has increased to not only include your fellow classmates, but thousands of folks with more experience. An Easter egg hunt is about looking in the right place at the right time. Networking is all about finding the right people at the right time. Well, here it is folks, the combo pack -- connecting with the companies that are looking right now and connecting with the people who NEED NEW TALENT! TOP 10 COMPANIES HIRING THIS WEEK! This is a critical article in that not only does it give the names, but it basically lays out exactly what the industry requires, the number of positions available, in what … [Read more...]

Hey, it’s your final year in college. Graduation is right around the corner. Let the celebration begin! Late night parties, tailgates, hangin' out at the bar, dorm keggers . . . . . . . .whoooaaa, not so fast my friend. Always remember in our digital age, the way you conduct yourself CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU in the employment arena. Does it mean that I can’t have a beer or hang out with my friends? No, but what you do with your friends can work it’s way into your professional file somehow. Think about how many cyber-social networking sites exist today. All of them somehow tap into one another and can easily be accessed by potential employers when you apply for a position. We all know that when you apply for a job a background check is eminent. That means ALL of your … [Read more...]

The Association of American Colleges and Universities recently asked employers who hire at least 25 percent of their workforce from two- or four-year colleges what they want institutions to teach. The answers did not suggest a narrow focus on just one type of job. Instead, 89 percent said they wanted more emphasis on “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing,” 81 percent asked for better “critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills” and 70 percent were looking for “the ability to innovate and be creative.” That means every course you take will give you the “edge” employers are looking for. Courses related to improving your communication skills increases your employment opportunities. There are some skills that will take you anywhere. A course in … [Read more...]

What does Atlanta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New York and Los Angeles all have in common? Give up?? These are THE TOP 10 CITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES FOR 2010 TO LOOK FOR JOBS. If you live in one of these cities, that’s great. But what if you have lived in South Carolina all of your life. The idea of moving to the ‘big city’ can be overwhelming. Just like a business, location is the most crucial decision to determine success. If someone were to tell you there was an INCREDIBLE opportunity in Dallas, TX would you be willing to leave your loved ones and move? Okay, I didn’t say “flee” your loved ones. You’d be surprised some people may not. In some cases finding work around the corner from where you live may not be feasible. In … [Read more...]

HE DID WHAT??? Are you ever in shock over the things your dorm mates or work buddies do? (Leave their shoes everywhere, never put anything back, etc.) You’d think they’d know better than that. Well, always remember “Common sense isn’t always common.” Think about it. We live in such a diverse culture today that everybody has totally different expectations based on their own experiences. That’s why people can do what they do without embarrassment. That was the subject of an article I recently read on AOL - "How Toxic Behavior Leads to Sinful Behavior at Work." The article did an excellent job of relating unseemly behavior in the workplace to the Seven Deadly Sins.. you know - envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth and wrath. A great list and here's seven more deadly … [Read more...]

Employers receive approximately 100 resumes per week! That includes resumes submitted online as well as mailed. Out of that number, they keep approximately one-third to read and evaluate. And to make matters worse, only a total of 10 applicants will probably be interviewed. So, what does it take to make sure people don't shuffle your resume (application) to the bottom of the pile? Your information has to be MEMORABLE. What does that mean? From the format to the font style to the envelope it's sent in, all of these items will determine which one will pull interest and actually be read. If you notice a newspaper headline, how it's formatted will determine which articles pull your attention first. However, if submitted via e-mail, your subject line is crucial because most people … [Read more...]