How to Dress for Success

01/06/2010

Often the most stressful part of preparation for your job interview is determining what to wear. Your interviewer will likely base their first impression of you by what you are wearing and how you carry yourself. So remember, you are marketing a product – yourself – to a potential employer. Looking your best is the key to success.

When in doubt, dress conservatively. However, you should try to do a bit of investigating into your prospective employers’ dress code, so that what you wear to the interview will make you appear like you fit into the organization. (The best way to determine the employer’s dress code is by giving their Human Resources department a call and asking what they suggest.)

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A Guide to Creative Résumés

02/02/2010

In the current employment environment candidates are always looking for new and unique ways to stand out amongst the competition. Remember Elle Woods and her pink scented résumé in Legally Blonde? Printing on colored paper may not be the exact approach to take, but if you have talents in web or graphic design or another artistic field, a résumé that employs a creative use of multimedia design could certainly help. Employers in the industries of advertising, web design, or graphic design often seek candidates that have superior design skills and the ability to think outside the box.

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How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

02/16/2010

Using a cover letter is important when applying for a job. A lot of young applicants believe that cover letters are only for those applying to high level positions, but they are also important when applying for a first job. Cover letters go beyond what your resume conveys, by providing prospective employers with a greater knowledge of who you are and why you will fit well within their organization. Writing a cover letter may seem like a burdensome extra step, but if you follow this simple template it should actually be fairly easy to write. After all, you’re already an expert on yourself!

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Don’t Let Your Social Networking Bring You Down

03/29/2010

We’ve covered how to use social networking sites to obtain your first job. However, you should be aware of the negative impact careless social networking habits can have on your employment prospects.

Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are all great ways to update your friends on your current mood or your recent trip to San Diego. But what would a prospective employer think if she saw your pictures from that “crazy Friday night?” Employers have the same access to social networking sites that you do, and in the technological age, it’s routine for them to screen the profiles of candidates who have applied for positions.

Your potential employers aren’t trying to be overly critical of you. But they are trying to select the best possible candidate to join their team. Don’t give them a reason to doubt your judgment or your maturity.

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10 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Your Job Search: High School Edition

06/09/2010

Before you even consider starting your job search, you should ask yourself the follow questions:

1. How much do I want to work? Think about how long and how many hours you want to work. Three months during the summer? Or do you want to continue working during the school year?

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