During your job search there are many things to remember; in the following article I give you 10 things to remember NOT to do...

2.      Not being on LinkedIn- www.linkedin.com is a powerful professional networking tool being utilized by approximately 40 million registered users (linkedin.com).  The site gives you the chance to upload a professional photo of yourself, provide information about your skills, past work history and education, allows for others to recommend your work.  The site also allows you to reach out to people in various industries by “connecting” to them or being “introduced” to them through another contact.  This is a great new way to begin networking and searching for your next career.  Once you set up your account be sure to use it.  Log in 2-3 times per week and get connected to as many people in your industry as possible.  Networking doesn’t work if you don’t use it.

3.      Not doing company research- “What do you know about our company?” <insert cricket noise here>.  Don’t let this question catch you off guard.  Take 10 minutes to get on the company website and find 3-5 easy to remember facts.  For example, I interviewed at ING in Iowa quite a few years ago.  When they asked me what I knew about the company I stated, “Well, as an avid runner I know that ING sponsors the New York Marathon”.  DING DING DING!  He said that is the first time anyone had said that!  Finding something that interests you about the company is a great way to ensure you will remember it in the interview.  Writing down 3-5 items and keeping them with you is also an option- read through them before the interview then keep it tucked away. 

4.      You go to the interview unprepared- You have no resume, you have no portfolio, you are underdressed and you ran out of time to brush your teeth.  Yikes.  This is not a good way to start an interview.  Yes, there may be times when you get a call at 2pm and the interviewer would like to see you at 3pm.  If this is the case, do the best you can to look the part and try to gather as much of your material as possible.  Being well dressed and looking great is the top priority.  Have your portfolio and resume ready to go at all times.  Company research in this case may be difficult to do, but do the best you can.  As you apply for jobs- take a moment to jot down 3-5 things about the company by searching their website.  Keep these notes in your portfolio to reference during an interview.  Worst case scenario- ask the interviewer for a 3:30 or 4pm interview or ask if there is another day you can meet.  This is really a last resort…but can be used if needed.

5.      You smell, good or bad- Smelling in an interview could go one of two ways…you did not have time to shower and you just got done at the gym; or you did have time to shower and put on too much perfume or cologne.  The best scent at an interview is really no scent at all.  Find a trusted friend or family member that will sniff you out to be sure your scent is not too overbearing before you enter an enclosed space with an interviewer.

6.      Failure to show enthusiasm or interest- It’s important to give the interviewer some sort of non-verbal feedback when they are talking- smile, nod, raise your eyebrows- it’s also important to sound excited when you talk.  Have some sort of energy behind your answers but don’t go over-the-top.  There is a difference when stating “I applied for this job ‘cause I’m interested in it and qualified” and saying “I applied for this position because it is just the opportunity I have been searching for.  I’m also excited because it’s right in line with my skills and experience”.  Which one sounds better to you??  Even if you discover you are not interested in the position, keep your energy level up and continue to impress the interviewer…you never know what other opportunities may become available to you.

7.      You tell too much during the interview- I like to describe an interview like a first date- you want to get to know the person across the table from you, but not too much.  You want to tell the person about you, but not your whole life story.  The same is true for an interview.  While it’s important to talk about yourself in an interview- it’s even more important to keep the information you share into 1 of 3 categories:  Education, Experience and Skills.  This will ensure you cover your college education, your work/volunteer/internship experience and your skills/qualifications.  It is not necessary to tell the employer anything personal about your life including but not limited to: children, marriage, friends, or other family members. 

8.      You don’t network- I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but a job is not going to fall from the sky and land in your lap; finding a job can often be a full time job.  If you are not using all of the resources available to you- you are really missing out.  Attend a Chamber of Commerce event, talk to your Career Services Advisor, attend conferences, presentations and seminars, tell everyone you know you are searching for a job (don’t discount the line “I have a sister whose husband is an Accountant.  He said his boss is looking for an Assistant.  You should call him”).  The ‘friend of a friend of a friend’ is often someone you need to know!  At one time I was told that upwards of 80% of jobs are never posted, they are advertised by word of mouth…if no one knows you’re looking how do they know to tell you about the next great opportunity?  Don’t be shy, get the word out!

9.      You don’t volunteer- Much like I’ve stated above, a big part of networking is volunteering.  Another main reason people volunteer is to help others.  Employers like people who help others; it shows compassion, work ethic, drive and dedication.  Let’s say you want to work at the County Courthouse.  Try to find a volunteer or internship opportunity within the courthouse.  Maybe it’s sweeping floors or filing paperwork, but it’s better than being on the outside looking in PLUS it gives you access to jobs as soon as they become vacant AND it gives you a chance to meet people who may be in charge of hiring!  Volunteering is also a great addition to any resume and could lead to great References.

10.  Ring backs & nasty voice mails- when an employer calls you to set up an interview the last thing they want to hear is “Baby Got Back”, trust me.  When you are applying for positions PLEASE take the ring back OFF your phone.  An employer would much rather here the old-fashioned ringing of a phone instead of the latest Top-40, Hip Hop, or R&B hit.  Also, be sure your voicemail is short, concise and professional.  Use this as a script: “Hello!  You have reached the voicemail of Jane Smith.  I am currently unavailable but please leave me a message and I will return your call as soon as I can.  Thank you and have a great day”.  Now doesn’t that sound better than “you know who you called so say what you called to say”??  I think so…

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  Do you ever feel like your dream job is playing an elusive game of Hide ‘n’ Seek with you?  Like when you were a kid, and you would run around in the dusk of a hot July evening chasing Lightning Bugs and trying to find your brother (or sister, or friend, or neighbor kid) who had very cleverly hidden ABOVE you in the tree.  You only found your friend (or foe at this point) when they jumped down and ran to the ‘safe zone’ and began yelling how they got you again!!  How frustrating!

It’s common to feel frustrated, defeated, and lost in the midst of your job search.  It’s tough, demanding and tedious work to search for a job.  (I should know, I do it each day for my graduates!!)  So when you feel yourself getting drained from long hours in front of the internet, it’s time to try a new approach to the search.  Here are some tips to get out of your job search rut, and try some ‘out- of -the -tree’ ideas to find a new job.

1.       Shut off your computer.  Log off.  Close your laptop- put it away.  Now, get out of the house, or the library, and head to the nearest café.  Order a coffee (or a milkshake), and nuzzle up to the closest newspaper you can find.  Read the whole thing.  Yes, I said the WHOLE thing.  Take in what is happening in your community- what business is opening, what business is closing, who needs money, who’s giving money, what events are happening?  This is a great way to find a ‘hidden’ job lead or volunteer opportunity.  It’s also a great way to find out what type of networking events are happening in your neighborhood.  Once you are all caught up on your current events, then you can open the JOBS section and read through ALL the postings, yes, all of them.  You may be surprised how many leads you find here that are not online!

2.       Head to your nearest Chamber of Commerce.  Walk in and introduce yourself.  Give them your resume.  Let them know you are a recent graduate looking for a job in Marketing, Sales, Business, Healthcare, or whatever it may be.  Ask them what events are coming up that community members can be involved in.  Ask if they allow members to join at a discounted rate.  This may feel odd, weird, strange and uncomfortable…but it could also lead to some wonderful, great, fantastic contacts who may be able to assist you in your job search.

3.       Head back home, or to your library, fire up your computer and print off 20 copies of your resume.  Use nice paper.  Distribute them around town.  Yes, like a newspaper delivery person.  Be sure to dress professionally and have a plan of attack for each business you head into.  Have a short speech prepared for each person you encounter.  For example: “Hello, my name is Sue.  I am a recent graduate of Rasmussen College searching for a position in your company.  I’d like to leave my resume for the Hiring Manager.  Is the Manager available, or should I leave it with you?”   At this point, politely hand your resume to the front desk person.  Smile, and wait for their response.  Guess what, they will rarely say ‘NO’.  If they do, politely say ‘Thank you for your time.’ Smile, and go on to the next company.  Remember to keep a list of where you go so you can do a follow up call within 3-4 days of the drop.

4.       Finally, TAKE A DAY OFF!  Even CEO’s get a day off- you should too!  Choose 1-2 days each week where you try not to think about your job search.  This will re-energize you, and give you brand new job postings to look at once you are back on the case.  On your days off do something fun and different like- taking a walk around a really nice neighborhood to look at all the great homes.  Head to the dog park and watch the dogs play.  Take a stroll through a flower garden.  Grab your camera and take some abstract, outdoor photos.  Write a blog!  Whatever you choose to do with your day off, remember that your hard work and dedication to your job search will pay off eventually.  But whatever you do- Pick Up That Phone; it could be your Career Calling!

There is a lot of talk these days about going ‘Green’.  Schools, businesses, and entire communities have adopted the phrase in order to make the Earth a better place to live.  This got me thinking about E-Resumes- no paper, no postage, no icky envelopes to lick.  Just a quick cut and paste and you are on your way to applying for a job online.  However, with E-Resumes there are some things to be aware of, as they do not always read the same to the recipient as they did to the sender.  With a lot of help from Career Builder, I will tackle the issue of E-Resumes in this entry.  To view the entire article click: 'Five Steps to an E-Friendly Resume'.

First, let’s discuss why you need an E-Resume.  It’s simple really- employers are going online, so you need to as well.  In some cases businesses are utilizing automated applicant-tracking systems to ‘pre-screen’ your resume.  These tracking systems do not like your fancy fonts and bullet points; they only want the nuts and bolts of your resume.  These systems essentially scan your resume for key words on your resume that an employer wants to read- sales representative, account coordinator or marketing director just to name a few.  This scanning will often confuse your fun fonts for designs or pictures and will make your resume virtually impossible to read.

So let’s get to the basics of taking your current (font filled) resume and changing it to a (plain text)
E-Resume suitable for applying to those online jobs.

1.       Remove all formatting from your original resume.  To do this, open your current document and choose the “SAVE AS” option under the “FILE” tab.  Save your document as Plain Text or Text Only.  You will then see another dialog box- choose the option to insert line breaks.

2.       Use Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText to reformat.  Close your original resume (with all the pretty fonts and bullet points) and reopen the text (plain) version using software such as Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText.  Your text version should be free of your pretty fonts, fun lines and bullet points.  Your text should also be lined up with the left side of the document.

3.       Keep it simple silly!  Use regular ‘ol fonts such as Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman.  The computerized tracking systems will be less likely to view a word as a design with these fonts as opposed to your fancy-pants fonts used before. 

A 12-point font is best, anything smaller could get missed.  Stay away from italics or underlining.  Rather using bold, try using CAPITAL LETTERS for your headings.

Instead of using bullet points, try regular key symbols like * asterisk, or – dash, or ~ squiggly line thingy.  Instead of using the TAB key, use the SPACE BAR to indent your lines.

Avoid abbreviations when possible- spell out Associates of Applied Science, instead of using AAS.

4.       Put it to the test.  After you have your plain, text only resume all set to go practice emailing it to a friend or to yourself.  Try emailing it to someone who uses a different email server than you (if you have Hotmail, send it to someone with AOL).  Have your friend keep track of any symbols or words that come across wrong or out of place and make adjustments when needed.  You can also try to cut and paste your resume into the body of an email for the test, instead of sending it as an attachment.   Do NOT cut/paste into email body when sending to an employer, always submit as an attachment.  For emailing as an attachment- you can use your regular, pretty resume.

Taaaa Daaaa!  You are now helping to save the Earth as well as apply to more jobs in the course of a day.  Be sure to KEEP A COPY OF YOUR PRETTY RESUME!  Print it out on resume paper and take it with you to an interview, or email it ahead of time, so an employer can see your computer skills.

Now, answer that phone- it could be your career calling!!!

On Wed, May 21st, the St. Cloud Campus held Rasmussen College Community Night at the Timberlodge Steakhouse. 

It was a GREAT event- with 49 people in attendance!!  This included 17 local employers, 2 Alumni and several current students (some with resumes and portfolios on hand!!!!).  We gave away some rockin’ door prizes and supplied everyone in attendance with a $10 Timberlodge gift card to spend on food & drink.

I wanted to share some photos with all of you.  Let me know if you would like to hear more about how we set up the event, or how we went about marketing it.

I found an article on MSN Careers today that highlighted ‘10 Evolving Jobs’ in the United States.  The article covers jobs that are evolving into different types of positions…with relatively the same skill sets. 

For example - Pharmacy Aide positions are evolving into Pharmacy Technician positions.  This got me thinking about transferable skills in the workplace.  Transferrable skills are essentially skills that can be used in any sort of position, or transferred from one job to another- paid or unpaid.  Listing out your transferrable skills is as easy as transferring funds between your online checking and savings accounts.  All you have to do is take some time to think about your past work and/or volunteer history.

You may be asking ‘why are transferrable skills so important…and what ones do I have?’  Let’s take a closer look.

Take for example someone who has stayed home to raise their children for the last 5 years and has had no paid work experience during that time.  How then, are they supposed to be able to write a resume?  Simple, it’s just a matter of finding what skills this new employer wants and drawing on what you already know and what you’ve already done!

Here is an exercise for you – Let’s say you are applying for a Medical Office position, but you have no recent experience in that field.   Take out a piece of paper and write down the last 3 jobs you have held (paid or unpaid).  Next, list 10 things you did on a daily or weekly basis in those different positions. 

Let’s continue with our Stay-At-Home-Parent example and I will assist you in this activity:

• Stay at Home Parent.  Duties:  cook, clean, answer phone, create activities, manage conflict, adhere to nap/food schedule, teach letters, numbers and words, handle minor First Aid, travel to practices and games.
• Office Assistant.  Duties: phones, email, fax, copy, greet customers, order lunches, schedule meetings, create memos and letters, prepare time sheets.
• Server.  Duties: customer service, multitasking, prepare drink orders, properly enter food orders, communicate with kitchen and service staff, manage conflict, maintain friendly demeanor, greet guests, seat guests in correct section, memorization.

Now that you have your list of jobs and the duties you accomplished at each, find the duties that match the items listed on the job description.  If there are no items listed in the job description, take some time to choose the ones that would most fit the position.  Out of the duties listed above, here is what I would choose for a Medical Office position: answer phone, manage conflict, handle minor First Aid (or sick children), fax, email, copy, greet customers, schedule meetings (or appointments), maintain friendly demeanor, memorization. 

All of those duties listed above would carry over into a Medical Office position, or any type of office position for that matter.  Transferrable skills are a GREAT asset to list on a resume.  It will help the employer to understand that even if you haven’t had any PAID work experience in the last few years, you have still been utilizing skills that would make you a valuable employee. 

So next time you get ready to revise your resume, remember to transfer those skills - and check your bank account while you’re at it!

Now pick up that phone- it could be your career calling!!

I’ve read a lot lately about the job market these days.  There is even an article in today’s St. Cloud Times discussing this issue from a college students’ prospective. 

I’m not totally convinced there are not many jobs to be found out there - and my bulging Job Board can back me on that.  I think that people are unaware of the endless opportunities out there, and do not know what to do when they find one.

I do know one thing for sure - I have heard from several Alumni lately that employers are receiving anywhere from 50-100 resumes for each job they post.  But I’m curious, are those people all unemployed or just searching for a new job?  But does that really even matter? 

There are thousands of people searching for their first, second, fifth or final job right now- but you have the power to make sure YOU are one of those interviews.  Besides making sure your resume is PERFECT and EYE CATCHING, here are 3 key things to keep in mind when you are searching for a job in this type of market.

1.  Follow up is essential.  Follow up 2-3 days after you drop off, email, or submit your resume.  Unless you hear otherwise- do not assume your resume made it to its final destination.  It’s possible it got lost in cyber-space or did not get passed on to the appropriate hiring manager.  Make sure you call so you know for sure.  It’s also important to follow up 1-2 days after the interview with a Thank You card, email or phone call.  This will not only showcase your ability to follow up, it will also reinforce your interest in the position.

2. Stand out during the interview.  Make sure you have your Employment Portfolio.  I have heard from a whole lot of graduates who say their Portfolio made the difference in the interview process.  This is your tool to SHOW the employer what you can do, instead of just TELLING them.  Be sure your Portfolio includes your resume, cover letter, references, achievements, letters of recommendation and work samples.  If you need assistance recreating your portfolio - contact your Career Services Advisor.  Standing out also means dressing for success - the general rule of thumb is to dress for a job that is ‘one-level higher’ than the one you are applying for.  Obviously, standing out in an interview also requires preparation, practice, poise and personality.  Sell your skills and let the employer know how you can help their business!

3. Apply, apply, apply.  When you think about your job search, it’s really just a numbers game.  The more resumes you submit, the better chance you have of obtaining an interview.  The better chance you have of an interview- the better chance you have to get a job.  If you decide that it’s all ‘just too much’ and you need to ‘take a break’ from job searching you could end up losing out on the perfect career.  Set time aside each and every day to send out resumes, I suggest sending no less than 3-5 a day.  The leads are out there - and so are the jobs - all you have to do is get your resume out there!

Keeping in mind these 3 things will certainly assist you in your quest for a new career.  A new job will not just fall in your lap (most likely).  An effective job search takes time, effort and determination.  And remember- a positive attitude will help pave the way for good things to come! 

Now pick up that phone- it could be your career calling!

Congratulations you graduate you!  You have crossed the stage, grabbed your diploma (cover), flipped your tassel, had your photo taken and did it all without tripping!  HOORAY!!  You have finished your last paper, submitted your last online assignment and burned (or sold) your last text book.  Then, it happens.  The dreaded question is asked… ‘What are you going to do now that you are done with school?’  You panic…you haven’t really thought about that yet.  You’ve only been thinking about the cake on the table in the back of the room, and how much this gown itches, and how silly you feel with this hat on! 

‘Oh no’, you think ‘what am I going to do now???!!!’  Well, the good news is this- you are NOT alone.  I am here to continue to guide you to career success; all I ask in return is that you keep us updated on your progress.  Just because you are a graduate, doesn’t mean your love affair with Rasmussen has to end.  Your Career Services Advisor is still available to assist you as you move forward with your bright future.  Today, I am here to give you some Pointers! on what you can do to help yourself along the way.

‘1! We are the Pointers, 2! A little bit louder, 3! We still can’t hear you- 4 more times and 1!....’ 
I graduated from Center Point-Urbana high school- home of the Stormin’ Pointers.  That was a piece of a cheer yelled at every sporting event- are you pumped up or what?!  SPIRIT FINGERS!!! YAY!!

Pointer 1!  Join an Association or Club.  This can be as easy or as difficult as you would like.  It can be as easy as joining a ‘Young Professionals’ group that meets once a week for dinner.  You could form your own club, become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, volunteer at the hospital, attend City Council meetings, run for School Board or join the PTA.  Do something that will get you in touch with others, primarily those who working in the field that YOU hope to one day be working in also.  Even if you don’t happen to be connected with someone who is looking for an Accountant, maybe someone knows someone that is.  These are also good people to have as a reference or ask for letters of recommendation from when the time comes.

Pointer 2!  NETWORK!!!  I can’t stress this enough- it is so important to make a list of all the people you know…and where they work…and who they know…and how they could help you.  I bet that if you sat down right now (well, after you finish reading this) and made a list of 10 people in your life you could find at least 1 connection to either a career, or someone who could get you where you want to be.  TRY IT!!!  Building your network can only help you- try out websites such as LinkedIn or Yahoo!'s new site- Kickstart (still in preview mode).  You may also want to try re-vamping your MySpace or Facebook page to showcase your education, skills, abilities, work history.  Heck, post your resume on these sites!!  I would suggest leaving all contact info out- choose to have people contact you through the site…my guess is you don’t want all 1 million users calling your cell phone.  Use these sites as a way to reach out to employers and professionals to find out what is NEW in the field, WHO is hiring, WHERE are the jobs and much more!!  Networking is a little like dating…put your best foot forward at all times- even if it is virtually.

Pointer 3!  Find a mentor.  Who do you view as successful?  Who do you think has a great job?  Who energizes you to work hard and reach your goals?  Connect with an instructor, a parent, a clergy member, a friend, a relative or whomever in your life that you want to model your career after.  This may be someone who is a stranger to you right now, perhaps you have only seen them give a speech at an event, or found their profile on LinkedIn.  These strangers can turn into mentors…all you have to do is GET CONNECTED!  Mentors can give you inside tips (Pointers!) into being successful in your field.  They can also get you in touch with others who can guide you to your dream job.  Try to find other Rasmussen College graduates who are successfully working in their field- ask them how they made it and follow in their footsteps!

Pointer 4!  Interview!  Ever heard the saying ‘the more the merrier’?  Well- get used to it.  The more interviews you can go on, the better you will become at interviewing, and the more chances you’ll have to be offered a position.  However, this starts with sending your resume- and sending it A LOT!  The more resumes you send, the better chance you have of getting an interview, and the more chances you have at an interview…well we’ve gone down that road before.  It’s also important to have realistic expectations for your first few interviews.  You may be going on interviews for positions that you feel ‘over-qualified’ for, but it’s still good experience.  Let’s face it, you may even have to take a JOB that you feel ‘over-qualified’ for…and experience is experience, it’s better than nothing…and will expand your network!

Pointer 5!  Set goals.  Searching for a job can often become a full time job.  It’s important that you map out your day and set goals for your journey to your new career.  Sending out at least 3 resumes a day is a great goal- be sure you keep track of what goals you get accomplished and what else you have to do.  Another key in this category is to STAY ORGANIZED!  Be sure you keep track of where all those resumes are going- you don’t want to sound too confused with Sally from Office Team calls asking you to come in for an interview.  Other goals to set are salary and ‘company’ goals also.  How much do you want to make? What kind of company do you want to work for?  Just be sure the goals are reasonable and reachable- that’s where you can count on your mentor for some guideance. 

I hope you find these pointers helpful as you begin to map out your journey now that you are out of college. Make no mistake- we are all still students, I learn something new every day.  For instance, today I learned that Clip Art does not have a photo of a Hot Wing.  Who would have guessed?!  The more you continue to learn the better off you will be.  Learn about yourself along the way, you’ll be surprised how fascinating you really are! 

'Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities' - Terry Josephson, 20th/21st-century motivational author.

This is a question I hear just about every week in my office, and it is a very valid question! 

I read a very interesting article today in a magazine called “The Greentree Gazette”, the article discussed an issue that comes up often in college - ‘to intern or not to intern’.  One of my very dear friends chose not to intern, and instead spent her final semester of college studying in Turin, Italy - the Host City for the XX Olympic Winter Games in 2006. 

Once she returned and began searching for jobs she had an employer tell her flat out “you made a mistake not doing an internship”.  Did she?  She believes, and I agree, she gained more practical business knowledge studying with an international company than she may have in the states.  However, there is something to be said for having an internship, or volunteer work, on your resume.

You may be asking ‘I thought we were talking about ME here?’ 

Well, yes, we are talking about you- in a roundabout way.  There are plenty of ways you, can gain experience in your field of study.  You can volunteer, you can job shadow, and you can intern.  I know, I know - you are way to busy to do any of those things!!!  I don’t doubt that you are busy, we are all busy, but even 2 hours a week can make a difference on your resume, and if it will help you get the type of job you want - isn’t it worth it??

Let me quickly discuss ‘working your way up the corporate ladder’.  Generally speaking, brand new graduates are not going to be hired on as ‘the boss’ making $70,000 a year.  You are going to have to take a job making less money and probably working more hours just to prove yourself.  This does not mean, however, that great jobs don’t come along for new grads - I see it every day…but those grads have prepared themselves for those positions by working part time in their field, volunteering, or interning (for free) while they were in school.

Think of it this way - if you volunteer for 2 hours a week for the next year that is 104 volunteer hours you can add to your resume.  And you are making valuable connections with the right people.  Those 100+ hours could mean the difference between you getting the job and another candidate with NO volunteer history. 

We have heard from many employers that they are willing to hire someone with an Associate’s Degree that has work or volunteer experience over someone with a Bachelors Degree and no experience!  There are plenty of area businesses/hospitals/agencies who would LOVE, and desperately need, to have someone volunteer a few hours of their time to assist them in tasks around the office.  And because you are so lovable and hard-working…they may even offer you a job!!! 

Now, wasn’t that easy?!?

I get it; you don’t have the time, or money, to volunteer.  Then - let’s talk part-time work.  What is your ultimate career goal?  What are you willing to do to reach it?  I saw in an article online the other day this statement - ‘TEMP is not a four-letter word’…well, it is…but you know what they mean.  If you are struggling to find full-time, permanent work in your field- give a staffing agency a call.  Let them know what you want to be doing, ask them if they have ANY sort of work that relates to your field.  Even if it’s only a 6-week assignment - it’s still experience, its still money, and you’re making great contacts!  It’s also important to keep your Career Services Advisor on your campus updated on your progress, or lack thereof.  We are your resource to area employers, networking events, job fairs and job leads but we can’t help you if we don’t know you need it!

In the end my friend did find a job - she moved to Seattle, WA and now has a very successful career as a designer working with a large company.  So, the moral of the story is two-fold…follow your dreams, but attempt to gain some experience in the process. 

Answer that phone - it could be your career calling!

This week, I take a deeper look at the Millennials, a name given to those people born anywhere between 1977 and 1998.  I fall into this category and I enjoyed doing a little research on myself for a change.  I hope you find this post entertaining and interesting - who knows, maybe you’ll even learn something too!!

As I read through Harvey Mackay’s Column this week, I couldn’t help but wonder - am I a ‘New Generation’ of worker that ‘doesn’t play by the old rules’?? Did my parents, family, teachers, coaches and yes, even Mister Rogers - tell me I’m special?  Special enough to ask for what I want, and expect that I get it?  Are my parents to blame for me being a determined, driven, ‘no- isn’t -an –answer’ woman?  Are these bad qualities to have?? 

Mackay dives into the world of “Millennials” who were born between 1980 and 1995 (or 1977-1998 depending on where you look) who are entering the workforce at a rapid pace.  He relates facts and stories from both 60 Minutes and the Wall Street Journal about this group who are ‘tech-savvy’, but not ‘necessarily prepared for a demanding workplace’.  I find myself asking - “Am I really tech-savvy?”  Sure, I guess.  “Am I ‘unprepared for a demanding job’ such as the one I have now?”  I don’t think so…so I do more research. 

I Goggled “Millennials” and found out we are 75 million strong.  This site also gave me a fascinating look into the ‘generational differences and similarities’ between Gen X and Millennials.  This is interesting to me, considering most of the people I interact with on a daily basis fall into the ‘Generation X’ category. 

The abanet.org article also stated “Perhaps it’s because of the showers of attention and high expectations from parents that they display a great deal of self-confidence to the point of appearing cocky.  As you might expect, this groups is technically literate like no one else.  Technology has always been a part of their lives, whether it’s computers and the Internet or cell phones and text pagers.”  So now I’m even MORE curious.  I have a 16-year-old brother is who far more advanced than me when it comes to the Internet, texting, i-pods, Wii, and anything else ‘technical’.  What does that make him?  Someday I’ll be their boss - will I think of them what some bosses think of people my age?  My brother is a hard worker, does well in school, plays basketball, stays out of trouble.  But I can’t picture him working.  Maybe that’s because I still view him as a 5-year-old that I had to take to Kindergarten everyday, but I think it has more to do with what I see on his Facebook page.  I see a group of kids who are fun, free, lively, happy - almost reverting back to the ‘Peace, Love, Freedom’ era of the 1960’s and ‘70’s.  

The article goes on to state that Millennials are ‘team-oriented’, ‘work well in groups’, and are ‘good multitaskers’.  It does bring up a great point that I have pondered now that I am far removed from High School.  I have ‘juggled sports, school, and social interests as children so expect them to work hard’.  It’s amazing how much I accomplished in High School- with seemingly LESS time in the day then I have now.  I have noticed my brother and his friends are no where NEAR as involved in school activities as I was at his age.  How did I do it then?  Does this innate drive to do more make me a better, harder, faster worker?  I do know this- I absolutely cannot stand being bored.  Unlike some people from my life, I cannot stand to sit on the computer and ‘surf the net’ for 8 hours a day.  I enjoy being productive, reaching goals, setting new standards, going home at the end of the day with a sense of accomplishment.  I could not, and would not, settle for a job that left me with mass amounts of time to ‘do whatever’. 

I do enjoy having a mentor - as the article goes on to explain.  I do want someone to guide me, provide me with challenges, let me have new information to work with.  I also enjoy the ‘personal attention’ discussed in the article.  I want someone to tell me I’m on the right track, or I need to move on, or try something new, or just take a break.  I actually keep a ‘Kudos’ folder in my email inbox which contains every ‘Great work’, ‘Nice presentation’, ‘You’re the Best’ email I’ve received while working here.  Not only is it good for my ego, it’s great to look at when I’m having a bad day.  I suggest you start one as well- it’s great to use in a portfolio also.

I clicked on the article titled “Managing Millennials: Eleven Tips for Managing Millennials” and literally LOL.  It seems to describe me perfectly!!  I have a ‘can-do attitude’, I ‘seek a challenge and do not want to experience boredom’, I need ‘flexibility in scheduling’ to balance my work and home life - in fact, I expect it!  I ‘need to see where their career is going and want to know exactly what I need to do to get there.’  These things make me smile and shake my head…it’s like they are describing me!  

And then it says something that makes me a bit sad "Computer experts, Millennials are connected all over the world by email, instant messages, text messages, and the Internet."  Sadly, it’s true.  What used to be hour long phone conversations with friends who have moved to Seattle, LA, Dallas, Chicago- has now turned into emails, Facebook Walls, MySpace comments and late night text messages.  I announced my engagement via text message to most, and displayed it on my MySpace for the rest.  Sure, I called a few people, but I figured it was easier and faster to virtually announce it.  Does this make me unconnected or more connected?  Does that fact that I only talk on the phone to friends and family a few times a month make me rude, or does the fact that I send daily or weekly emails to them make me loving?  I ONLY talk to my brother through text or email- does that hinder our relationship? 

This is all too much to ponder right now.  I think I will get back to the task at hand- placing students and Alumni in careers for which they went to school for.  This job is never boring, and provides me with lots of interaction with humans.  As we move forward with 2008, and a brand new Quarter here at Rasmussen, I think I will attempt to call home at least once a week, chat with my girlfriends on the phone and not online, and work on talking rather than typing.