can I compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter? by Alison Green on May 16, 2016 A reader writes: I have recently graduated from college. I currently have no job prospects, but I am applying to jobs on a daily basis. I feel that if I can write a really good cover letter it will give me that extra boost, as I did not work very much during college due to […] Read the full article →
will taking occasional time off make me look unreliable? by Alison Green on April 11, 2016 How do you take time off for appointments without raising red flags for your boss? Read the full article →
cold-emailing strangers to ask for career advice by Alison Green on February 1, 2016 A reader writes: I’m a recent college graduate currently trying to explore my options on what career I want to pursue. I’d love to talk to people who are actually working in those areas and get a real perspective about what it’s like—and what it would take to get there. Many of the ideas I’m […] Read the full article →
do job-seekers really need an elevator pitch? by Alison Green on October 14, 2015 A reader writes: I recently visited my grad school on behalf of my employer as part of their college recruiting team. My objective was to collect resumes and speak with students regarding our summer internship program. I’ve worked the career fairs before but have not done so in a couple of years, and at this […] Read the full article →
if you’re graduating soon, here’s how to kick off your job search by Alison Green on May 11, 2015 If you’re graduating soon, you’re probably feeling the pressure and stress of knowing that now you need to take that degree and figure out what kind of job you can get with it. Don’t panic! Millions of new grads before you have successfully navigated this transition and found meaningful and even interesting work. But if […] Read the full article →
starting your first job? here are 10 things you need to know by Alison Green on April 2, 2014 As another generation of college seniors prepares to finish their final semester of school, they might be focused on finals and job interviews, but they should also be thinking about what awaits them once they get those jobs. There’s plenty that will be new to them about the work world, some of it pleasant (paid […] Read the full article →
your parents don’t belong in your workplace by Alison Green on November 13, 2013 If you hoped that the helicopter parenting trend was on the wane, you won’t be happy to learn that last week LinkedIn launched “Bring Your Parent to Work Day,” an initiative to encourage workers to bring their parents to the office to give them “a glimpse into where their kids work.” LinkedIn says they created […] Read the full article →
resume advice, career fairs, friendships, and other advice for new grads trying to find a job by Alison Green on November 7, 2013 In response to Monday’s post about how to get hired when you’re just starting your career, commenter Chris left a response that I thought was so helpful and insightful that I wanted to share it here. Here are the parts I liked best, but you can read the full comment here. Recent grad here. And […] Read the full article →
how to get hired when you’re just starting your career by Alison Green on November 4, 2013 Job searches are tough enough when you have experience, but when you’re just starting out, it’s especially hard to know where to start. How can you position yourself to get hired when you’re brand new to the workforce? 1. If your resume is sparse, think creatively about what experience you can include. While work experience is […] Read the full article →
if you’re a recent grad, you’re probably making these mistakes in your job search by Alison Green on May 15, 2013 It can be intimidating to be a new grad just entering the post-college job market for the first time. While most grads mastered the world of classes quite well after 16+ years of them, the norms and conventions of the work world – and of job-searching, in particular – are often foreign. Here are eight […] Read the full article →