Essential Tips For Job Success

1. Many graduate employers start the recruiting process in the first semester. Visit your universitys careers service, get registered on the jobs database and learn how to participate in graduate recruitment programs. Check the university careers website and any jobs bulletins often to keep up to date on the latest employer information sessions, careers fairs and job search workshops. .....

Identify career paths

2. Find out where graduates in your major subject area have become employed. Visit the careers service to look at graduate destination reports or access them online via Grad Jobs and Dollars. .....

Identify your skills values and interests

3. If you havent done so already, ask if any selfassessment tools are available to help you learn more about yourself for example, GCAs Your Career and You publication, CareerQuest, Future Selves, Card Sorts and the MyersBriggs Type Indicator. .....

Explore all career options

4. Browse through your the careers service resource library at your college to research companies, check out scholarships opportunities, consider postgraduate study or work overseas. Visit the Graduate Opportunities website. .....

Get work experience

5. If you havent had the chance to gain much work experience, consider doing so now. Look at working part time or volunteering to get the experience you need. Talk over any skills gaps with a careers advisor and make a plan to develop the required skills. .....

Balance your life

6. Employers look for allrounders with interpersonal and social skills as well as technical and or academic skills. Get involved in activities other than study join a club, take up a sport or hobby, work in the community, tutor college students, volunteer around campus, become involved in student radio or the student newspaper. Find something youre interested in and do it .....

Prepare for job applications and interviews

7. Dont wait until you find the perfect job. Start preparing a basic resume and learning interview skills now. Look for career workshops, pick up handouts, look at resource books and watch videos. Get a careers advisor to check your resume and roleplay an interview. .....

Meet the players

8. Attend careers fairs and employer information sessions. Some are held on campus, others are off campus. Times vary from lunchtime to evening presentations. Find out what employers are looking for and identify the ones you are most interested in.Exploring career opportunities can be fun and exciting if you dont leave everything to the last minute. Avoid stress by taking the advice above and starting your preparation now. .....

Online Networking

9. Use resources like Facebook and LinkedIn to connect with people in your field. Just be sure to keep the unprofessional aspects of your personal life out of your profile. And remember that social networking is like a cocktail party If you talk only about yourself and your accomplishments, youll bore people. Start a dialogue. .....

Networking in Person

10. Shy Dont be defeated by networking. Set goals for yourself at networking events, and your skills will improve with time. Fortunately for you, being a good listener is an asset in networking, so make your introverted personality your advantage. .....

Stand out

11. An important question to keep in mind as you write your resume is What did I accomplish in this job that someone else wouldnt have Thinking about the answer to that will give you some great talking points for your interview, as well. .....

Be Discreet

12. If youre looking for a job while youre already working, let recruiters know that discretion is key. You can use an offer to negotiate within your own company, but be prepared Some employers do not take kindly to your interviewing with another company, and you could lose your current job. .....

Beware of Blunders

13. The most common pitfalls in resumewriting not being specific about accomplishments, being too wordy, including a generic objective statement, and keeping college accomplishments on your resume for too long. And watch the small stuff, like typos in your correspondence with the hiring manager. Tiny mistakes can mean the difference between an interview and a rejection. .....

Phone Prep

14. If your interview will be conducted over the phone, keep your resume and a list of talking points in front of you and a pen and paper handy to take notes. To make your voice clear and strong, stand up and smile while you speak. Some people find it helps to look at themselves in the mirror while they speak, but practice with a friend first to see what is best for you. .....

Interview Info

15. Do your research on the company beforehand, and come prepped with a few questions. Ask for the name of your interviewer, and research his or her background online. Then, when the interview is over, send a thankyou note immediately. .....

Straight Talk

16. When asked about your weaknesses, dont pretend you have none or that your biggest weakness is perfectionism. Its a good way to get an eye roll from your interviewer. Think about your weaknesses before the interview, and how you are able to overcome them, so youre prepared for this common interview question. .....

Keep Anxiety at Bay

17. The wait to find out if you got the job can be interminable, and its tempting to call and Email the hiring manager to check in. But a single thankyou note, and patience, are recommended instead. .....

Accept the Job with Class

18. If you get the job, its tempting to celebrate your new move, but now is not the time to burn your bridges. Leave your current job with grace, and youll be able to keep your old coworkers in your network. Give notice according to your company policy, and volunteer to help find and train your replacement. Finish your projects, and organize all of your loose ends so your coworkers can take over with ease. Work up until your last day. .....

Negotiate Your Benefits and Pay

19. Not sure what youre worth? Check websites like Glassdoor, PayScale, and Salary Scout to find out the salaries of comparable jobs, and use that information to negotiate your starting salary. .....

Get Off To a Good Start

20. For your first week of work, be sure to ask questions and pay careful attention to the company culture. Get an outline of your bosss expectations for your first month in the job. And remember these four tips to make you an invaluable asset to your company Be .....

Post Prudently

21. If you have a personal blog, tread carefully. First rule Never write about work. You also shouldnt use work time to blog. Consider passwordprotecting your blog so that only your selected audience can see it. .....

Play Nice

22. When you get frustrated with your boss or coworkers, look inward. Changing your own behavior can stop a boss from micromanaging, and showing more appreciation can soften a difficult coworker. Share credit when a project goes well, but dont avoid the blame when a project ends poorly. .....

Climb the Ladder

23. Before you ask for a raise, ask for more workeven the work no one else wants to do. It shows your employer that you can handle greater responsibility. Then, overperform. .....

Update your resume

24. Important things to think about are clean formatting and highlighting tangible results. Dont use comic sans font, include your date of birth, photos or interests, and stay tuned for more resume tips in my next article. .....

Explore your new environment

25. Youre entering a brand new world filled with dorms, lecture halls, student centers and a range of research and support resources. One of the first things you should do is find your comfort zones. You know, those places where you can eat, study, meet friends, exercise and have moments of general solitude. Its time to explore Look for places where you can unwind. Learn where to go in a health emergency. Find the bike or running path th at suits y .....

Have the roommate talk

26. Some people would rather have an emergency appendectomy than discuss hard issues. Lucky for you, the roommate talk isnt a confrontation its a convers ation. Whats more, its a great way to get to know your new roommate and learn what makes hi m or her tick. Discuss your preferences regarding sleeping, studying, visitors, eating and cleaning. How do you handle clutter? Will you share a re frigerator? What will you do if conflicts arise? Make rule .....

Balance your load

27. Life is all about balance pa rticularly in college. You may think you have the perfect course schedule until the day when suddenly, out of nowhere, youre bombarded by multiple projects, papers and exams. Fortunately, some of the surprise can be avoided early on. Choose your course load wisely by seeking help from your faculty advisor, a professor, a dean or th e advising office. The n, after the first week of classes, reevaluate your load. Did .....

Discover your best practices for learning

28. Everyone is different, right? So it only makes sense that everyone learns differentl y. The demands of college will be great, so to meet those demands, you will be required to work efficiently. To understand how you learn, take a learning style inventory (there are many free ones on the web), learn your strengths and use them. Wh ere problems emerge, you can turn to resources like the campus writing center, pe er tutors, faculty review sessions .....

Find and prepare your study space

29. Some people do their best work in coffee shops. Some demand 100% peace and quiet and find libraries and out of the way nooks in buildings on campus. Some need the comfort of their rooms. Wherever you choose to study, its important you find a space thats right for you. .....

Find your niche

30. It is not a secret that this is your time Sure, you have goals and you take your responsib ilities seriously, but the undergraduate year s are perfect times for you to explore different opportunities a nd try new things. Ne ver tried crew but always thought it looked like fu n Want to act in a play Why not direct one How about ballroom dancing? And then there s fencing, music, dance, writing for the school paper or literary magazine, tu toring, .....

Talk to your professors

31. Youre not in high school anymore. Teachers have office hours for a reason. Truth is, your college facu lty, lecturers and TAs are all there to help you. Take advantage of office hours and get to know your professors. By meeting you in their offices, professors will get to know you and recognize your motivation. This type of connection can lead to good rapport, better understanding of the material and other opportunities. .....

Build friendships

32. At the risk of sounding like a mushy greeting card, college friendships can last a lifetime. After all, friendships are built from sharing experiences, helping one another thro ugh tough times and by making memories together. Since college is your new hom e away from home, the people you meet will become your family away from family. Dont be discouraged if you do not find those lifelong friends immediately; they are there. In time, you will meet .....

Maintain healthy habits

33. Right now youre thinking healthy?? Whatever. Pass the pizza College is stressful at times so, whil e it is important to have fun, it is also important to be kind to your body, which m eans regular diet, exercise and sleep. Sleep deprivation leads to inefficient work, fatigue and, over long periods, can translate into unstable moods. And because memories are consolidated during sleep, allnighters are not effective ways to pr epare for exams. A .....

Smile

34. Youve done all your homework. You know about that company and you know what you can bring to the position. Now its time to take a deep breath and relax. Go in there with a smile, exuding an aura of selfconfidence and selfassurance (even if you dont really feel that way). Smiles are contagious. The person sitting in front of you will smile back. Youre already setting the tone for a pleasant conversation. .....

A Job Interview Success

35. Congratulations All that networking, cover letter writing, resume proofing, and volunteering have finally paid off and youve got yourself an interview. Now you need to be prepared to make the most of this opportunity you worked so hard to create and thats probably not going to happen by walking in there stiff and uneasy with a bunch of possible answers memorized or written out long hand on your hand. But dont worry, weve got some helpful tips .....