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College to Career: Your Guide to Starting Out

11 Posts tagged with the social_networking tag

Earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking at the Mediabistro Career Circus in New York City. As I was preparing for my presentation on social media for job seekers, I kept thinking about something my grandfather used to say:

 

Lindsey, there’s a reason you have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk.

 

Needless to say, my grandpa was a man of few words (and I am definitely not!), so his advice had a real impact on me. And in the age of social media -- a time when everyone has a personal mouthpiece -- I believe that listening has become more important than ever. 

 

Here are some examples, from social media and beyond, of how to benefit from talking less and listening more:

 

Twitter. For me, Twitter is all about listening. It provides you with the opportunity to be a fly on the wall and “eavesdrop” on recruiters from companies where you’d like to work, brands you admire, breaking news in your industry and anyone else whose thoughts, ideas and movements you want to know about. When it comes to actually tweeting, I try to stick to my grandfather’s ratio. About 2/3 of my tweets are sharing other people’s information -- retweets, congratulations notes, articles I think other people would enjoy -- and 1/3 are promoting my own blog, opinions or news.

 

LinkedIn. Before reaching out to request a connection with people on LinkedIn, “listen” to them first by carefully reviewing their profiles, recommendations, discussion comments and status updates. Then, when you write your connection request you can mention something you have in common or something you know is important to that person. When people see that you’ve taken the time to learn something about them, they are likely to respond more positively to your networking outreach.

 

Job interviews. One of the reasons that recruiters say it’s so important to prepare questions to ask your interviewer is because they want to observe your listening skills. In fact, I’ve heard that the more the interviewer talks during a job interview, the more likely the interviewee is to get the job! Why? The more you listen to what a prospective employer wants, the more you can cater your answers to fit those needs.

 

Salary negotiation. I used to be a terrible negotiator, so I’ve taken lots of courses and read a lot on this topic. It turns out the biggest mistake I was making in my negotiations was talking too much. In any negotiation, salary or otherwise, the advantage goes to the person who is able to gather the most information -- a.k.a. the better listener. The more you ask probing, open-ended questions and listen to the other person’s answers, the more likely you are to come to a mutually beneficial solution. Bite your tongue if necessary!

 

Do you agree with my grandfather’s advice to listen twice as much as you talk? What tips do you have about listening? Please share in the Comments!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: social_media, advice, job_search, social_networking, etiquette, twitter, career, generation_y, linkedin

This week I'm sharing five more tips for winning at social media while still having time for a life...

 

6. COPE - Create Once, Publish Everywhere. Another best practice in sharing content is to get the most out of everything you create. If you write a blog post, get interviewed on a podcast or create any other content, share it on appropriate social media sites. Similarly, if you work for an organization that produces content (such as white papers, cool ads or events), share that information with your networks to support the brand of your company. Learn more about the COPE concept here.

 

7. Pay attention to privacy. Be aware that on most social media sites, the default setting is for all of your information to be public. If you want to keep anything private (meaning only visible to the people you are directly connected to) -- such as your list of connections on LinkedIn, your photos on Facebook, your tweets on Twitter -- you have to go into the account settings on each social media profile and manually change them. It’s worth the time to read through each setting carefully and make decisions that feel comfortable to you. My rule of thumb about privacy is: when in doubt, keep it private.

 

8. Create serendipity. Location-based social media sites like FourSquare, where you “check in” at restaurants, airports, movie theaters, etc. are becoming very popular. FourSquare isn’t comfortable for everyone, but it can be valuable to update your status on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter to show people where you are traveling, what events you are attending and, when appropriate, whom you are meeting. This shows that you are active and it creates opportunities for meetings, discussions and perhaps job leads you may not have found otherwise.

 

9. Ask for help. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in working with various corporations on their social media strategies is the importance of getting feedback. If you’re not sure whether your LinkedIn profile is well-written or your tweets are on-point, ask some people you trust to give you their opinions. Just as you would have an expert look at your resume, ask for help with your social media profiles, too.

 

10. Put social media on your schedule. Consistency is crucial when it comes to social media -- don’t leave it for “when you have a spare minute.” Schedule social media time in your calendar -- maybe start with 15 minutes a day while you’re having your morning coffee -- to read through your Twitter feed, update your LinkedIn status and review what your friends are doing on Facebook. Keep up with your network just as you keep up with the news.

 

Good luck and see you online!



0 Comments Permalink Tags: linkedin, social_networking, career, facebook, twitter, advice, social_media

Every day it seems that social media is growing and changing -- there are new sites to join, new privacy settings to deal with, new features to add and customize. It can all be pretty overwhelming. If you want to be active on social media but still have a life, here are some simple tips to follow. I’ll be sharing five tips this week and five tips next week.

 

1. Own your online brand. One of the main reasons social media is important is because people are Googling you. By having a few great social media profiles, you’ll have some control over your online image and what people can discover about you. Google yourself regularly to check on your progress.

 

2. Make sure people find you. Most people will look you up on Google because they’ve had some contact with you, so make sure to drive them to the best online information about you. Link to your professional LinkedIn profile in places like your email signature line, your business card and any place else you provide your contact information. 

 

3. Choose your platforms wisely. If you don’t live and breathe social media, you probably don’t want to follow every new trend and join every new site that pops up. My recommendation for professionals is to focus your social media efforts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. LinkedIn is the essential professional directory -- it’s like a business needing to be in the yellow pages. Facebook is the essential personal directory -- the place to keep in touch with friends and family who can support your career efforts. And Twitter is essential for research.

 

4. Use Twitter for research. On Twitter, you can create your own personal news stream of what it’s important for you to know about on a daily basis. I recommend that you follow the companies where you’d like to work, other professionals in your field, career advice experts, professional associations and anyone else whose thoughts, ideas, event announcements, opinions and insights you’d like to know about.

 

5. Develop a “Share mentality.” Whenever you see an interesting article, register to attend an event, read a great book, travel to a new place, come across a meaningful quote, learn something cool, you should develop the instinct to share it with your social networks. In turn, your network will share information, ideas and opportunities with you.

 

Tune in next week for five more tips!



0 Comments Permalink Tags: social_networking, facebook, advice, twitter, google, career, social_media, linkedin

For many people, the July 4th weekend marks the beginning of Slacker Season at work: the time to enjoy long lunches outside and cut out early on Fridays. I love the mellowness of summer and encourage you to enjoy the season to its fullest. I also know that you need to keep your job search or career development on track, even when it's 100 degrees in the shade. Here are some suggestions:

 

Revisit Your New Year’s Resolutions.

Remember that sense of optimism and new beginnings you felt as you turned your calendar to January? Pretend you’re a company with a July 1st start to your fiscal year and reboot your resolutions right now. If you never set any goals for this year, lie on a beach towel staring at the sky and daydream about what you want to accomplish by the end of 2010. Then, commit to taking some small steps this summer (such as registering for an online course to improve your negotiation skills, going outlet shopping to perk up your professional wardrobe, revising your job description with your boss to prepare for a promotion) to move yourself forward.

 

Redefine “Beach Reading.”

Instead of reading the latest romance novel, gossip magazine or legal thriller by the pool, pack your tote bag with a book that will advance your career knowledge. Check out the biography of a successful business owner, a productivity guide or a job hunting manual. If you’d rather keep your eyes shut and avoid weird sunglasses tan lines, load some books onto your iPod and listen instead. Consider these 10 great career books for young professionals.

 

Warm Up Your Relationships.

People often have less on their plates in the summer months and are therefore more willing to take time for a networking. (And, frankly, people are just in a better mood when it’s nice outside!) If you’ve recently started a job after graduating, summer is an especially good time to build relationships with your new manager and colleagues. Be the initiator and invite people to grab an iced coffee or a mid-afternoon frozen yogurt.

 

The same advice goes for job seekers: set up lots of meetings and informational interviews this summer. You may find that contacts who were too busy a few months ago now have some availability for an informational interview or casual chat.

 

Tweet from the Beach.

Social media doesn’t go on summer hiatus. If you haven’t already, set up a Twitter profile and start following people you admire -- leaders in your industry, career experts, news sites and recruiters from the companies you want to work for (Check out  these additional suggestions for people to follow). Think of Twitter as your personal, 24/7 newsfeed of information, ideas, opinions, event listings, job announcements and other fuel for your career advancement. The Twitter universe doesn’t care if you are tweeting from a cubicle or a cabana; all that matters is that you are part of the conversation.

 

Summer tends to fly by too fast, so don’t wait another minute to take full advantage of all the fun—and professional opportunities—of the hottest time of year. Please share your additional suggestions in the Comments!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: generation_y, career, networking, job_search, social_networking, advice, job_search

Last week I attended the annual conference of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the largest organization for university career services professionals and entry-level recruiters. As someone who frequently talks about the powers of social media for connecting, this conference was a reminder that LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are only half the networking story.

 

At the NACE conference, I had the pleasure of meeting people in person whom I had previously only communicated with online or by phone. While I had good relationships with many of the people I knew virtually, something changes when you connect in person, waiting in an interminable Starbucks line together or sitting side-by-side on a bus to an offsite conference event. More trust is shared, relationships become a little deeper and stronger bonds are forged.

 

The secret to successful networking in the 21st Century is what my friend Diane Danielson, with whom I co-wrote The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking, calls a “clicks and mix” approach: equal parts online and in-person networking.

 

This is not necessarily easy, as online networking and in-person networking require some different skill sets. Tech-averse people love chatting face-to-face, but find it awkward to communicate online. Tech savvy people and shy people often wish they never had to emerge from behind their computer screens to shake hands and make eye contact with real live humans.

 

If you face any of these discomforts, you must work to overcome them, because the most successful networkers are competent in both realms:

 

They belong to professional association groups online and attend the networking events of those organizations as well. This exposes them to all members of an organization and all benefits of membership.

 

They send emails or LinkedIn connection requests to stay in touch with people they meet at conferences (hint: I do this on the plane ride home following an event).

 

They determine how to communicate with a networking contact based on the other person’s “clicks and mix” preferences. Upon meeting someone, they will ask, “I’d really like to keep in touch with you. What is the best way to reach out -- do you generally prefer email, phone or another method?”

 

And, most importantly, they behave the same way -- professionally, politely and generously -- in person and online. It’s terribly disappointing to find out that someone you liked in person is rude or inappropriate online. And -- as I learned at the NACE conference -- nothing is better than discovering that a person you liked over email or twitter is just as fabulous when chatting over a frothy Frappuccino.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: social_networking, career, work, networking, advice, future_of_work

Last Friday I spoke at an event for graduate students considering careers outside of academia. I loved the energy in the room -- there was a palpable feeling of excitement and potential. Of course, there was also a fair amount of fear.

 

The overarching advice I shared for anyone switching directions or making a career change is to position yourself as an insider in the industry you want to join. While it’s always scary to try something new, the more homework you do and the more action you take in the direction of your goal, the likelier you are to succeed.

 

Even if you are not currently a career changer, you will likely make multiple career transitions in your lifetime, so this is a valuable skill to learn and practice.

Let’s look at the actions you can take to successfully change career direction:

 

1. Start to build new experiences. As soon as you have the idea of switching career paths, dive right in and start to build your experience in that area, even if you start with only an hour a week. You’ll need something on your resume -- volunteer work, an internship, blog posts, class work, etc. -- that shows you are really serious about breaking into a new profession. Otherwise, people will suspect that you’re all talk.

 

2. Read everything you can about the industry you want to enter. Start to read trade publications, blogs, e-newsletters, LinkedIn group discussions and the Twitter feeds of anyone and everyone you can follow in the industry you want to join. Know which companies are in the news, which executives are succeeding or flailing, what the hot products or services are, where people go for lunch, when and where upcoming conference are taking place. As you become more comfortable with the news and issues, start to comment on blog posts and Tweets so you can become part of the conversation and get noticed by people who are hiring.

 

3. Set up Google Alerts. Once you zero in on specific organizations you’d like to work for, set up Google alerts for the names of any companies you want to join. This will give you a deeper sense of the major news and issues facing those particular organizations. Alerts will also ensure that you have specific, intelligent questions to ask and conversation topics to bring up when you attend networking events or land a job interview at one of those companies.

 

4. Talk to anyone you can who works or has worked in the industry you want to join. While Internet research is essential, nothing beats talking to a real person who has firsthand experience in the profession that interests you. Research people in your dream industry on LinkedIn and reach out for informational interviews. Talk to your friends, family and career services office to see if they can introduce you to anyone they know in your desired field. Ask these industry mentors to recommend insider tips, must-read publications and advice on what jobs in their field are most realistic for outsiders to transition into.

2 Comments Permalink Tags: linkedin, advice, networking, career, job_search, jobs, social_networking

I’m having trouble writing this blog post, because all I want to do is go outside and enjoy the warm spring air.

 

Alas, I am inside at my computer, occasionally staring out my window at the bright blue sky. And, after I finish writing, there is more inside work to be done today. I’ve just received a delivery of three brown boxes filled with file folders, storage bins, crates and plastic hangers. I have a stack of garbage bags at the ready. There are fresh batteries in my label maker.

 

That’s right; it’s spring cleaning time.

 

The truth is that I absolutely love organizing, filing, folding, purging and alphabetizing (my accountant told me I am her only client who color-codes my tax documents). Yes, I am a Virgo.

 

But I know that spring cleaning (or any-time-of-year cleaning) is not easy for everyone. It can be hard to let go of the old and make room for the new. But it must be done, and spring is a great time to refresh and renew every nook and cranny of your home, office, garage or any other space that needs sprucing up. It’s also a great time to spring clean your career. Here are three important ways to do that:

 

Clean your career (literally). When was the last time your organized all of your career documents, both on paper and on your computer? Take time now to toss or delete outdated versions of your resume, file past cover letters, put company information you’ve gathered into marked folders and organize that rubber-banded stack of business cards you’ve collected over the past several months. (Hint: if there’s a card whose owner you can’t remember, Google that person or check out his or her LinkedIn profile to see if you can jog your memory. If not, toss the card.)

 

Clean up your online image. According to a recently released Microsoft survey, 85 percent of HR professionals responding said that positive online reputation influences their hiring decisions, and 70 percent said they have rejected candidates based on information they found online. Make no mistake about it: your online image will affect your job search and your career. If you haven’t already, set up strict privacy settings on all social networks (often, including on Facebook and the new Google Buzz, the default setting is for all of your information to be public, so check every setting!), take down any inappropriate pictures or content, set up a 100 percent professional profile on LinkedIn and Google, and think twice before posting any new content on Facebook, Twitter or a blog. In many recruiters’ minds, you are what you post.

 

Clean out your to-do list. One of the biggest concerns I hear from students and young professionals is about how outrageously busy they are. Between studying, working, volunteering, socializing, texting and occasionally eating and sleeping, it’s amazing you have any time to think! Take time this spring to sit down and analyze your time commitments. What’s really enjoyable to you? What work is most fulfilling? What activities do you dread attending? I challenge you to delete anything from your calendar that is not either totally necessary or totally enjoyable. Spring is such a glorious season -- don’t miss it because you are too busy running yourself ragged.

 

What other tips do you have for spring cleaning your career? Please share!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: work, advice, job_search, productivity, career, social_networking

Come listen in on my conversation with Pete Kistler, the founder of Brand-Yourself.com, who was named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 5 College Entrepreneur of 2009. He joins me to talk about personal branding as it relates to college students and young professionals.

 

In this podcast, we define personal branding, talk about Pete’s own personal branding process and explain why students and young professionals need to think about your personal brand -- especially the image you’re projecting online.

 

For more on this topic, here are two great new resources that can help you create and enhance all aspects of your personal brand:

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Personal Brand Week - a terrific collection of downloadable worksheets to help you create an elevator pitch, express your passion, build a network, promote yourself online and more. PwC is also collecting free personal branding advice on Twitter with the hashtag #pwcpbw.

 

Student Branding Blog - a new resource expressly designed to help college students with personal branding. This site was created by Dan Schawbel, who also launched the Personal Branding Blog.

 

Click here to listen to this week's podcast.

 

How have you approached personal branding as a student or young professional? As always, I welcome your comments below!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: career, jobs, social_networking, work, college, personal_brand, advice

On Tuesday evening I gave a talk for students visiting New York City from American University. Besides the fact that I got to speak at a very cool venue – the stage of Caroline’s Comedy Club in Times Square – something else cool happened. When I asked how many students were on Twitter, almost half of the audience raised their hands.

 

Granted, it was a room of students seeking communications careers, who are more likely to enjoy the hyper-communication of Twitter. But, it was the first time I’ve seen so many college students involved in the three-year-old micro-blogging site.

 

If you haven’t yet checked out Twitter, you should. If you’re not familiar with Twitter, it’s a free social networking site that allows only 140 characters per announcement or “tweet.” Get rid of any preconceived notions you might have that Twitter is a waste of time where people post silly messages about their cats and what they had for breakfast. While some people do tweet about nonsense, there are many, many other people whose tweets can be incredibly valuable to your career.

 

My philosophy is that I follow people on Twitter for three reasons:

- I follow people I admire or whom I want to work with someday, so I can learn what those people are thinking or talking about.

- I follow people who tweet out great career advice and help me learn something new.

- I follow people who share interesting news, articles and announcements that help me stay up-to-date in my industry or the world in general.

 

You can follow this same strategy by following professionals you admire, companies you’d like to work for someday, career advisors who provide free advice and news outlets that will keep you up-to-date on current events. While there are hundreds of people I could recommend, part of the fun of Twitter is making your own unique list of people to follow. To help get you started I’ve put together a list of 10 of my favorite college-to-career tweeters:

 

www.twitter.com/lindseypollak - that’s me!

 

http://twitter.com/MyPath_Manpower - Tweets, news and updates from all of my fellow bloggers here at MyPath.

 

http://twitter.com/alevit - Alexandra Levit is the author of “They Don’t Teach Corporate in College” and many other career advice books for young professionals.

 

http://twitter.com/CAREEREALISM - Careerealism offers loads of advice from a variety of career experts, all in one Twitter feed.

 

http://twitter.com/DanSchawbel - Dan Schawbel is founder of the Student Branding Blog and tweets about personal branding for college students and recent grads.

 

http://twitter.com/InternQueen - InternQueen is a great resource for – you guessed it – internships.

 

http://twitter.com/SalaryExpert - SalaryExpert’s tweets help you answer that dreaded question, “What are your salary requirements?”

 

http://twitter.com/Under30CEO - Under 30 CEO offers inspiring tweets that motivate you to go for your biggest career goals.

 

http://twitter.com/willyf - Willy Franzen is the founder of One Day, One Job and One Day, One Internship – sites that share information about one potential employer every day.

 

http://twitter.com/WSJcareers - Wise advice from contributors to the Wall Street Journal Career Journal.

 

Who else do you recommend for career-minded college students to follow on Twitter? Please share in the comments section below!

2 Comments Permalink Tags: college, job_search, career, social_networking, generation_y, job_search

I’ve always loved new beginnings -- the first day of a new month, the turning of a new season, even the sunrise of a new day (on the rare occasion I’m up early enough to see it). Of course there is no bigger new beginning than the turning of the calendar to January 1.

 

This year in particular, the New Year feels like a crucial fresh start. 2009 will go down in the books as one of the hardest years ever for job seekers, especially those looking for entry-level work. If you’ve had a tough time in 2009, or even if it’s been a great year for you, here are some tips for starting 2010 on a successful note.

 

Out With the Old. To make room for new things in your life (a great job, fresh ideas, more money, a strong network, etc.) you need to get rid of any clutter that is weighing you down. This might include critical people, a job that drains your energy, college junk piled in your closet or self-defeating thoughts like “I’ll never get a job in this economy.” For inspiration, check out two of my favorite resources on the topic of simplifying and decluttering: the Zen Habits Blog and Julie Morgenstern’s book, Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life.

 

Set Quality (not Quantity) Goals. We all know that New Year’s resolutions are generally forgotten by February. So, instead of making a long list of “rules” for my year, I prefer to declare three to five big goals or priorities. I keep them in a little note file on my computer and on a little card pasted on the inside cover of the notebook I use every day. I peek at my list constantly to remind myself what my priorities are, how I want to spend my time and what opportunities I should not pursue. If you need help clarifying your goals, check out Your Best Year Yet! Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever.

 

Do One Career-Related Thing Every Day. This is a piece of advice I share in every workshop I lead and with every student who asks for my most important career tip: take daily action. Just like being healthy or learning an instrument or excelling at a sport, being successful in your career requires daily commitment and daily action. Here are some to consider:
•    reading a career advice article on MyPath
•    attending a local networking event
•    tweeting out a career-related question to your Twitter followers
•    posting a comment to a professional discussion group on LinkedIn
•    reaching out to an alum of your school for an informational interview
•    reading one chapter of a career advice book
•    setting up an appointment with your college career center

•    applying for a job

•    anything else you can think of!

 

Finally, please don’t hesitate to send me your career questions (and yes, sending me a question counts as a daily action!). I will be answering reader questions in upcoming “College to Career” blog posts and podcasts here in MyPath in 2010.

 

Happy New Year!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: career, job_search, networking, social_networking, job, linkedin, productivity, generation_y, jobs, advice

I spent this morning facilitating a focus group with a dynamic group of college students and recent grads. Not only was it fun to sit in a room with a two-sided mirror (I felt like I was in a Law and Order interrogation room!), but it was also incredibly enlightening about the opinions of experiences of career-minded young professionals.

 

One of the topics we discussed was LinkedIn.com, the professional social network (full disclosure: I am a campus spokesperson for LinkedIn). I was really surprised to hear that some of the students in the focus group described LinkedIn as "only for highly experienced professionals."

 

This couldn't be farther from the truth. LinkedIn is a fantastic tool if you are just starting out in your career. In this week's podcast I share five tips that will help you make the most of this popular and powerful professional online network.

 

Click here to listen to the podcast now. Please share your comments, and any LinkedIn questions or additional tips, below!

4 Comments Permalink Tags: networking, college, linkedin, career, job_search, social_networking, generation_y

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