5 Ways to Prepare for Your Career While in College

It's never too early to begin to think about your future career while in college and there are steps you can take to put yourself in a good position once you complete school and start the job search.

Here are five steps to take while in college to get a head start on the job hunt:

1. Work and work hard. While in college you want to be sure to work a part-time job, do excellent work, and learn as much as you can. This will provide you with a positive reference and recommendation when applying for jobs after graduation.

2. Become fluent in a second language. The world is getting small and more and more companies are going global. Being fluent in a second language provides you with an advantage over other candidates who only speak English.

3. Volunteer. Get out there and support a cause by volunteering your time. You will demonstrate initiative, learn new skills, widen your network, and add another reference for when the job search happens.

4. Travel widely. Take advantage of study-abroad opportunities whenever possible. Studying in another country provides you with experiences you'll never forget, friends you'll take with through life, and also helps you get immersed in another language.

5. Be friendly and get social. The friends you make in college often become your best friends throughout your life. Be kind, make friends, and you'll end up with a large and supportive network.

5 Things to Do When You're the New Person at the Office

Starting a new job can produce feelings of fear, excitement, anxiety, and a combination of other emotions. You want to start out well and make a good impression, right? Well how do you go about this?

Here are a few tips:

1. Accept your emotions. No matter how you're feeling understand that it is fine to experience some fear or anxiety when starting a new job. If you don't accept these emotions you can end up being too harsh on yourself, further increasing your anxieties or fears and causing you to struggle longer in the job.

2. Seek out a mentor. This doesn't have to be your direct supervisor, but find someone who can mentor you through your initial period of adjustment. Maybe it's someone who's been at the company a long time and can help you understand the company culture and power dynamics specific to the company or your particular area or division.

3. Get to know a wide variety of people. Don't eat lunch alone. Take the initiative to invite others for a coffee or out to lunch, and get to know people from all areas of the company, and people with differing areas of expertise and levels of seniority. This will help you better understand the job and your place in the company, increasing your comfort level.

4. Be humble and ask questions. This is often the easiest time in your career to ask questions and learn. There are no expectations that you know everything about the job so do what you can to learn as much as you can about the work you're doing. Don't be afraid of looking like you don't have all the answers; you don't and you just started. And that is fine.

5. Volunteer to help out. Offering to help others provides a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues and increases your understanding of your work.

4 Practices to Implement When Starting a New Job

Starting a new job is an exciting and anxious time, and it provides a great opportunity...

The opportunity to start over and to start fresh.

These new starts in our lives allow us to makes changes to our routines, habits, and attitudes, and to move past any failures or struggles in our previous job.

So, when starting a new position consider implementing the following four practices in order to get your new job off to a great start.

1. Start with gratitude. When you get up every morning and when you arrive at work express gratitude for the job and for the opportunities and benefits it provides for you. This will help you approach your work with a positive and optimistic attitude and help you avoid cynicism and dissatisfaction with your job. You don't have to say anything profound. You can just start your day with a simple statement: I'm grateful for another day and I'm grateful for this job and I look forward to doing my best today.

2. Be social. Meet people throughout the company, don't eat lunch alone, and take a few minutes for a brief conversation around the coffee machine. You'll feel more comfortable in the job and enjoy work more when you come to enjoy those you work with and develop a team of support around you. But be sure to stick with colleagues who are positive and enthusiastic about the work.

3. Learn everything. No one expects you to know everything so be humble and ask a lot of questions. You want to learn as much as you can when you first arrive at a company (and continue that curious desire to learn throughout your career) and no one looks down on you for not knowing something. After all, you are the "new guy". In addition, like the point above, the quicker you learn about the job and the company, the more comfortable you'll feel in your work.

4. Volunteer and be helpful. A great way to meet new people and to learn as much as you can is to volunteer for anything and everything, from special committees and task forces to new projects. Others will view you positively and you'll gain knowledge and confidence in your work.  

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 6 Happiness Tips to Boost Your Health and Performance

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 6 Happiness Tips to Boost Your Health and Performance: "A key habit we developed in daily meetings was to have each team member say what someone else had done to help them that day. Expressing gratitude helped to bring the team together and make everyone happier and healthier."
• 17 Simple Habits That Make You Look More Professional: "Taking risks, and going against the grain is part of growing. Being willing to challenge yourself shows others that you are serious about growth."
• 17 Ways to Get Along, Especially When Negotiating: "Look to their positive intent, especially when they appear to have none, and you are more likely to eventually bring out their more positive side."
• How to Stand Up For Yourself: "Learning to assert yourself starts by understanding that you are not trying to control what other people do, but rather you’re controlling your own actions."
• 5 Smart Things to Do When You're Unemployed: "Volunteering for a charity or local community organization can be a great way to keep your skills up to date or help you learn new ones, expose you to new fields and give you something to put on your resume for this time period."

5 Ways to Advance Your Career

At times our career or job feels stagnant and we find ourselves lacking enthusiasm for our work. It is during these times that we think about a job change or fantasize about being our own boss.

However, there are usually some things we can do to advance our career even when we're feeling bored or unchallenged.

1. Volunteer. When your boss or supervisor presents an opportunity to take on a new task or coordinate a new project be the first to volunteer to take it on. Often this change can provide the spark you need. It also demonstrates leadership and can provide an opportunity to learn something new.

2. Shadow. Spend a day job-shadowing someone else in your company to get a better sense of the business, learn a new skill, or to expand your network.

3. Train someone. If you have interns in your company or someone new has recently joined your team taking the time to train them in some aspect of your job can provide a new appreciation for your work, stimulate some new ideas to do your job better, and expand your skills.

4. Seek out training. If your workplace offers training classes take advantage of them to recharge your batteries and gain new knowledge and skills.

5. Interview. Don't hesitate to apply for other jobs in your company. It provides good interviewing practice and enables you to meet other hiring managers and learn about other areas in the company.

What other things do you do to work at advancing in your career?

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Leadership, Mentors, and How to Send a Networking Email

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 10 Leadership Lessons I Wish I Learned In My 20's: "Always have someone as your coach, your confidant, and your advisor.  This can be formal or informal, but you need a 'go-to' person at every stage of your life.  This person may change and you may add mentors over time."

• How to Send a Networking Email That Won't Be Ignored: "Busy people don't have time to read lengthy emails, and sending five paragraphs when you could have sent two doesn't show you respect their time. Keep it brief."


• Tough Love Tips for College Seniors Entering the Job Market: "You share something in common with thousands of others who have graduated from your college. Sharing the same school name can be a powerful connection and one that can open doors."


• Why You Should Always Do a Little Work For Free: "
  You get to be scared. It’s easy to forget how fortunate you are. Help a person whose business is on the brink of failing and you’ll remember the true meaning of 'urgent.'
  "


• Three Job Truths Parents Can Give Their College Grad: "Should the most qualified candidate always get the job? Absolutely. Does it always happen? Um, not really. Sometimes the candidate who lands the job is actually the savvier marketer, the stronger self-promoter and better networker." 

Turn Your Passion into a Career

Have you ever had a job where time literally flew by, where you loved going to work every day, where you felt happy and fulfilled at the end of most days? Often times, this situation occurs when we are doing something that we are passionate about. I always tell people that we spend too much of our lives working to be unhappy with what we do.

Have you ever considered following your passion in life and turning it into a career? Let's explore some methods you can use to do just that.

Tap into Your Volunteer Work
When people are passionate about something, they often find a way to be in the environment - even if it means they don't get paid. If you have been volunteering in the career field you want to move toward, highlight this experience and insider knowledge on your resume and tap into networking connections you have developed.

I met a man who was in the Air Force. At every base, he found a way to volunteer for the Forestry Department. When he transitioned out of the USAF, he wanted to be a forest ranger. He had already done the job, he just had not been paid for it. His resume started with and focused on his volunteer experience;  his work experience was simply icing on the cake.

Turn Your Part-time Hobbies into Full-time Work
Your passion may be something you do in your free time, outside of work hours. When people are truly passionate about something, they learn as much as they can about the subject matter. You may not have been paid for your knowledge before, but you still may be a subject matter expert.

I know someone who brewed his own beer as a hobby. He was very knowledgeable about the methods, ingredients, and different procedures because of the trial and error brewing he did at home. When someone asked him if he ever thought of pursuing this as a career, he said it had honestly never occurred to him. Within a week, he had found an opening at a small craft brewery in his hometown and applied for the job.

Explore Your Options
Everyone has an affinity or natural talent for something, they simply need to discover it. I like to ask people this question, "If you knew you could not fail, had the resources you needed, and were supported by family, friends, and community, what would you do?" Open your mind to the multitude of possibilities and dream big. However, it is also important to be realistic. Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Will following my passion require me to start a business? Do I have the right personality, resources, and knowledge to be a business owner?
• Will I still enjoy my passion if I have to focus on it 24/7?
• Is my passion something that people are willing to pay for?
• Is there a demand for what I do in the market?

Job Search Pointers You’re Not Sure Are Worthwhile

Have you occasionally found yourself wondering whether certain job-search pointers are worth your effort and time? Read on. Many hiring managers, recruiters, career coaches, and others agree that the following pointers may indeed get you noticed and make the difference in how you are perceived as a job candidate.

Ask a Professional to Proofread Your Resume: Anyone will tell you one of the worst mistakes you can make is to submit a resume containing a spelling error. Yet, it is a common mistake. Do yourself a huge favor and ask a professional proofreader or editor to look over your resume. Rates vary depending on geography and the experience of the editor, but a good median range is $30 to $40 per hour. Save money by reviewing your resume closely before handing it off for proofreading or editing.

Write Targeted Cover Letters: Many job seekers question whether they should bother submitting a cover letter with each resume. The answer is “yes,” and make sure the letter is targeted to the position you are pursuing.

Don’t Overlook the Value of Volunteer Work: Volunteering is a great way to use existing skills and talents, acquire new ones, and meet new people. Volunteer when you have the opportunity, and then include on your resume those skills that will translate well in the job market.

Follow Up After An Interview: Have you ever attended an interview and then not heard anything back? Hiring can be an incredibly slow process, involving several steps and people. Always challenge yourself to follow up about the job status after the interview. This gives you an opportunity to enthusiastically reiterate your interest in the job and the company.

Send a Thank You: Many job seekers neglect to send a thank you after interviewing or after receiving help with a job search. Don’t underestimate the importance in sending a thank you. When possible, send a handwritten note. This gesture is often noticed and appreciated.

Community Service Opportunities through Your Employer

More companies are getting involved in community service, and the results are not only rewarding for the organizations but for their employees as well. Many businesses recognize the importance of being socially responsible corporate citizens and the benefits that result when the community is strengthened. In addition, community service often results in positive public relations, which helps to attract loyal clients and employees.

Large organizations typically have community relations teams managing the company’s community service efforts. In these cases, the budget for community service is often generous and its reach may extend globally. Employees are likely to find a multitude of volunteer opportunities at large organizations. Smaller companies typically appoint someone in human resources to oversee their community service efforts, which are typically on a smaller scale. Even so, smaller organizations can accomplish big results by organizing local community service efforts company-wide. Large or small, some companies even capitalize on the benefits of community service activities by structuring them as team-building opportunities.

Like their companies, employees who get involved in community service reap many rewards. For starters, most people find serving in their community to be fulfilling, and they gain a sense of accomplishment knowing they are making a difference. Volunteering at work can be more convenient since the employer handles the facilitating. It can also build camaraderie among coworkers as they collaborate to accomplish a common goal. New skills may be gained while existing skills are fine tuned.

So, the next time your company presents a community service opportunity—get involved; not only will others stand to benefit but you will too.

Overlooking Skills Gained Outside of Work

During a job search, it may be easy to identify and communicate skills you have gained in the workplace, but what about skills you’ve gained outside of work. Many people overlook everyday-life skills they’ve developed at home or through participation in hobbies, clubs and organizations, or volunteer work.

Whether you’re currently employed, looking to change jobs, or re-entering the workforce, it is a good idea to broaden your scope when creating your skills inventory. This inventory should be something you can easily reference when needed, for example, when updating your resume or interviewing for a job.

Below are a few common scenarios and highlighted skills that may apply to the workplace.

Stay-at-home Parenting

If you’ve been a stay-at-home parent and never given a second thought to the skills you’re gaining, think again. Raising children translates to caregiver. Managing your family’s budget develops general accounting and budget management skills. Handling several tasks successfully on any given day, and often simultaneously, demonstrates time management and multitasking abilities.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is a great way to use existing skills and learn new ones. For example, if you volunteer your time tutoring children, you are developing teaching skills. By working with a non-profit organization to build homes, you cultivate construction skills. Raising money for your local church or school provides fundraising experience.

Hobbies or Interests

Writing your own blog posts hones communication skills. Similarly, if you find yourself answering technology questions and fixing computers for friends and family, you may have a technical aptitude that is highly sought in the workplace.

These ideas provide a starting point. Now make time to think about and professionally position the invaluable skills you have gained outside the workplace.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

1. 7 Ways to Conduct a Job Search Like a Professional Athlete
"Ready for the big game? An athlete prepares for months, even years, with a rigorous training schedule, healthy eating, keeping focused on the end result – the win. Before you hit the streets looking for your next big career move, consider what  you need to do to prepare."

2. Volunteering = Career Development
"There is also another great reward that results from volunteering: career development. And I don’t just mean the typical resume booster of listing charities and charitable events under your community involvement section."

3. The 5 Secrets to Staying Employed
"It's easy to say you have "great communication skills" or that you're a leader in your field; it's another thing to demonstrate it on a regular basis."

4. Best Practices for Emailing Hiring Managers 
"Keep these tips in mind to ensure that your emails will catch the eye of those hiring managers and recruiters and you will land that first interview."

5. 12 Tips for a Smooth Transition to Your New Job
"Whether it took you two weeks, two months or two years to land this position, your first few days on the job will be the most memorable, so it’s essential you make a good impression."

Stay Productive While Unemployed

Employers recognize that the weakened economy over the past few years has resulted in layoffs for many skilled workers. As such, an employment gap on a job candidate’s resume is no longer unusual or an immediate red flag to prospective employers. However, you need to be prepared to explain any gap(s) and give examples of how you continued to develop professionally while unemployed.

Employers like to hear that you have taken a course or finished a certification program to enhance your professional skill set. Volunteer work is another great way to strengthen your skills and gain relevant experience. If the only examples you can give are creating cover letters, fine tuning your resume, and sorting through job postings, you may be surprised to find that the red flag raised may very well be for lack of commitment and initiative—not the job gap itself.

Obviously, when you’re in between jobs, job searching is expected to consume much of your time, but not so much that you can’t identify and act on opportunities to improve professionally. Be mindful that life is full of distractions, so it may take some purposeful planning to make professional development a priority.

As an added incentive, consider the personal upside to keeping yourself sharp professionally while you’re unemployed. Not only does it look good to prospective employers, it can also help you maintain a positive attitude and a sense of fulfillment during a difficult time.

Stay Productive While Unemployed

Employers recognize that the weakened economy over the past few years has resulted in layoffs for many skilled workers. As such, an employment gap on a job candidate’s resume is no longer unusual or an immediate red flag to prospective employers. However, you need to be prepared to explain any gap(s) and give examples of how you continued to develop professionally while unemployed.

Employers like to hear that you have taken a course or finished a certification program to enhance your professional skill set. Volunteer work is another great way to strengthen your skills and gain relevant experience. If the only examples you can give are creating cover letters, fine tuning your resume, and sorting through job postings, you may be surprised to find that the red flag raised may very well be for lack of commitment and initiative—not the job gap itself.

Obviously, when you’re in between jobs, job searching is expected to consume much of your time, but not so much that you can’t identify and act on opportunities to improve professionally. Be mindful that life is full of distractions, so it may take some purposeful planning to make professional development a priority.

As an added incentive, consider the personal upside to keeping yourself sharp professionally while you’re unemployed. Not only does it look good to prospective employers, it can also help you maintain a positive attitude and a sense of fulfillment during a difficult time.

Do a Good Deed. Volunteer your Time and you May Just Get a Job in Return.

Volunteering your time comes with many benefits. For the job seeker, volunteering can provide you with skills, knowledge, and experience you can add to your resume and use to transition into a permanent position. Additionally, volunteering is a way to demonstrate your commitment to serving your community. Volunteering highlights your ability to work as part of a team and shows your dedication to a new industry or career direction.

If you are having trouble landing a position in an industry or company, one of the best ways to get your foot in the door is through volunteer work. Would you rather spend four hours at home feeling depressed because your phone isn’t ringing, or would you rather spend that time building skills, making connections, and adding key experience to your resume by volunteering your time? Here are some tips for making a successful transition from volunteer work to a permanent position.

• The first step to making volunteering work for your career is locating opportunities. Students can check with their school’s career services centers and professors for leads.

• As a professional, especially one in a career transition, research organizations that specialize in your intended career field. Identify those companies that have the greatest need where you can also learn important skills. Websites such as www.volunteermatch.org are a good source to locate opportunities.

• Few companies – either non-profit or for-profit companies – are going to turn down an offer of free labor if it is well-presented. When seeking opportunities, prepare your “sales pitch” in terms of how you can benefit the organization. Dress and behave professionally as though you are going on a job interview.

• Volunteer wisely and go in with the right attitude. Approach this opportunity as a win-win situation, not just a way to build your resume. Personal gain should never be the only reason you participate in volunteering. People are more likely to help you if you are sincerely interested in helping them and if you take your volunteer position seriously.

• Once you begin the volunteer position, take an active role in learning as much as you can about the organization. Ask questions, take initiative, offer your assistance, be dependable, and keep yourself busy at all times to demonstrate your dedication and work ethic.

• Stay positive, realize no task is beneath you, and enjoy the opportunity to give back while learning new skills.

• Use your volunteer experience as a networking opportunity. Take the initiative to get to know as many people as possible in the organization. Ensure they all know your career goals. Build rapport and establish relationships that will lead to future opportunities.