Don't Waste Your Life

If you have diverse skills and an eclectic mix of interests, you may find it difficult to “choose” a career.  You may be hesitant to take that leap and commit to a certain type of position as you continue your job search.  

Bruce Kasanoff offers some great advice about testing your career goals here.

Meet Up!

Meet Up is a website that helps connect like-minded or like-interested people.  You can register for free for a Meet Up account, set up your preferences and peruse events in your area.  There are groups for professionals, networking, religious fellowship, fitness and so on and so on.  

Whatever your interest, there probably is a Meet Up group for you. And if there isn’t, you can easily start your own.  

The Brunswick Le Tip chapter I am a part of uses Meet Up every week to plan breakfast meetings, invite prospective members and rsvp guests.  It has been a great tool for networking.

Try making Meet Up a part of your networking plan!

Alumni, Alumnae, Alumna, Alumnus?

As summer comes to a close and those lucky college kids head back to campus, make sure you have updated your alma mater with your latest contact information.  Be certain that you have subscribed to their mailing lists so you don’t miss out on any networking opportunities geared specifically toward their alumni.  

For the record, the correct references are:

Alumna: female, singular  

Alumnus: male, singular

Alumnae: female, plural

Alumni: male, plural

Give your Alumni Association a call today!

Changing Course v. Off-Roading

In 2011, I left my first full-time attorney position after 9 months.  It was a very difficult decision that left me with a mixed feelings of relief, stress, fear, and uncertainty.  I knew I wasn’t cut out to be a divorce attorney.  It was time for me to change course.  The 9 months that followed gave me a chance to not just change course, but go off-roading as far as my career was concerned.

-I wrote The Graduate’s Guide to Networking

-I did a webinar for Lawline

-I managed and created education programs for attorneys

-I spoke at colleges, universities and law schools

-I taught 3rd graders

Nine months later, I found myself back practicing in an area of law I am truly passionate about, estate planning and elder law.  I have been with the firm for almost 2 years now and I couldn’t be happier.  Because I took the leap and changed course, I find myself infinitely more fulfilled and content.  

If you had nothing standing in your way, how would you change course?

Jobs4Grads Webinar: How to Network with Confidence and Success!

Join me this afternoon for a *FREE* webinar on How to Network With Confidence and Success!

Register Here!

Networking in Your Neighborhood

Perhaps you moved back home after graduation and you are living in your hometown.

Maybe you moved to new city and you are still getting settled.

Whatever your location, there are a wealth of opportunities in your neighborhood to expand your network.

-Volunteering with a local organization

-Sit on a fundraising committee

-Attending civic functions such as town council meetings or meet the mayor events

-Joining a local religious organization such a church or temple

-Attend networking happy hours at local bars or restaurants

Do your research and you will find you have a full social AND networking calendar!

KIT

It must be scrawled on every elementary school yearbook-KIT (Keep in Touch, for those of us who have forgotten).  Keeping in Touch is the single most important part of networking.  If you attend an event and meet 100 people and you don’t keep in touch with any of them, the event was probably a waste of your time.

Keeping in Touch is as simple as taking the time to write an email to someone that you’ve met.

It’s not too late to keep in touch, review your recent contacts and pick one person, just one person to follow up with this week.  

Keeping in touch is the very step in creating a lasting relationship.

Following Up Without Fear

Following up after an interview can be nerve wracking.  

You want to appear interested, but not desperate.

You want to be confident, but not cocky.

You want to be eager, but not obnoxious.

How do you strike a balance when following up?

Forbes offers four ways to follow up after an interview without being annoying here.

Smile!

As a student, you may have agonized over what should be your new profile picture.  That sweet mixer on Friday night?  You and your newest boyfriend or girlfriend? Or maybe a picture of you and your best friend chugging a drink or two.

Is that the first impression you would want to give a potential employer?  

Do yourself a favor, print your favorite pics and upload a professional profile photo.

Are you guilty of a profile photo faux pas? Check out this article to find out if your profile is a professional fail.

Refresh Your LinkedIn

If you’ve recently graduated and are actively looking for a job this summer, be certain that your LinkedIn is updated!

LinkedIn is my favorite professional networking website.  Apparently, recruiters love it too.

If you are looking for a new job, make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete, updated and free from typos.  Read articles in your field of interest and post interesting articles to share with your network. Connect with people you have worked for and worked with. Connect with your friends, your parent's friends, and your friend's parents. Reach out to everyone you know.  

The more you grow your network, the more you increase your chances of connecting with someone who can help you find a position.  

Read more here about how 93% of recruiters are using LinkedIn to fill open positions.

Jobs 4 Grads.  Isn’t that what we all want?

Jobs4Grads is a membership website that is geared toward helping students and recent graduates age 22-24 succeed and find their dream job.  It is a membership based website that provides tools and coaching in the framework of a proven system to get you the job you want.  Check out their website here and see if membership might be worth a try for you!

I will be presenting a webinar with Jobs4Grads on August 14th.  Register for FREE here:    

Congratulations to the Class of 2013!

Congratulations Class of 2013! I hope you are enjoying your summer and celebrating all that you have accomplished!

While college has come to an end, this is a time of new beginning for you.   Whether you have started your first career or still looking for that first position, with the right tools and the right attitude, you can commit yourself to being successful.  

Subscribe today for tips regarding networking, job search techniques and much more!

Welcome Back Making Networking Work!

After nearly a yearlong hiatus, two moves, two career changes and a wedding, I have decided it is time to overhaul and revitalize the Graduate’s Guide to Networking.  I hope to make this blog more user friendly for the casual reader and the active subscriber.  I am committing to posting bi-weekly, sharing interesting articles and reviewing job search products and services.  

For me, committing and making a plan and setting goals is essential to achieving my objectives.    

What do you hope to achieve?

How about a plan for your career?  

Follow me as we explore careers, network, and search for a job.