Career Preparation

It's very important to find out just who knows who in the business world. In that way the skids can be greased, and you'll have a much better chance of landing a particular job.

Present yourself as a prospective employee w/resume in hand. You're there to be helped, and by all means take their advice! This is your first time at it, but they've been helping students most likely for years.

Here's a short list: A burning desire to succeed Always being on time and following all the rules Honesty, a willingness to help others Not watching the clock & willing to go that extra mile Always willing to work overtime or willing to cut a lunch short Someone who knows what they want and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it Creativity, willing to relocate And much more...

Here are a few: 1. Be early - do a dry run the day before so you'll avoid parking problems, etc. 2. Bring your resume & any LOR's 3. Dress properly, but don't overdue it 4. Impress upon the interviewer that you're the perfect candidate & that you want the job in no uncertain terms & that you'll be an asset to their organization 5. Answer yes/no questions accordingly - if more info is requested comply 6. Be polite & don't interrupt or contradict

Here are a few: 1. Have a 1 page resume & possibly 1 or 2 LOR's (Letters of Recommendation) 2. Dress properly 3. Be polite, don't interrupt 4. A yes/no answer requires no explanation; no need to elaborate, unless they ask 5. Make it clear that not only are you qualified, want the job, & that you will be an asset to their co. 6. Applying early gives you a leg up 7. These tips also to job interview after college

Use proper punctuation, grammar & spell check. Pretend you're actually writing someone a letter, like we used to do in the old days. Make sure the subject line refers to the body of the em. Use italics to emphasize a point & vary font size as well. If it's really personal, don't use Bcc.

Try these: 1. Don't limit it to 1 page & make sure your name is in a large font 2. HS students who haven't accomplished much should consider including Middle School 3. Write in sound bites; no sentences & abbreviate as much as possible 4. Include the basics such as: a. interests b. clubs, organizations c. community service hrs rec'd & where d. summer activities e. travel f. academic awards g. athletic participation & awards h. your numbers i. special skills - bi-lingual, etc. j. misc. - come up w/something clever

Tutoring, chauffeuring, being an RA, any gainful employment you enjoy that doesn't conflict w/your studies. Since there are 168 hrs in a week, it should be a real snap to budget you time. If you have special skills, use them on or off campus to reap financial rewards. Tutoring local high school kids is another way to make big bucks.

The same ones they've always faced, only it's less obvious. Don't count out women as a minority in the job market, even if their numbers don't show it!

That it's dog eat dog world, and who you know counts far more than what you know! Be prepared to swallow your pride when offered a low-paying entry level position, and consider sales as a way to supplement your income. If necessary, take some night classes to enhance your resume, and don't bitch about the fact that some kid w/a high school diploma is making more than you. In the real world it's experience that counts more than anything. When I first got into financial services in 1977, I looked so young (I was 32), that I grew a goatee to add age to my appearance. Now it's 2012, and I look a lot older, but still less than my soon to be 67 years belies.