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Top 10 Cities for New Graduates

Ethan Oblonsky — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:00:25 +0000

This week, I was doing some research for a few students on the best cities for new graduates. Since this month starts a slew of colleges that have commencement, it couldn’t be better timing. The most useful article I came across was published by CareerBuilder and titled “Top 10 Cities for New Graduates.” In the article, CareerBuilder took the cities with the highest concentration of young adults ages 20-24, the inventory of jobs requiring less than one year of experience, and the average cost of a one bedroom apartment in that city. It’s a great list because it encompasses much more than just who is hiring. As you see on the list, it shows the most popular entry-level categories in those cities. I’m really excited that Cleveland, my home city, as well as the city I moved to after graduation, Phoenix, made the list.

1. Indianapolis
Average rent:* $625
Popular entry-level categories:** sales, customer service, health care

2. Philadelphia
Average rent: $1,034
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management

3. Baltimore
Average rent: $1,130
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

4. Cincinnati
Average rent: $691
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

5. Cleveland
Average rent: $686
Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service

6. New York
Average rent: $1,548
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, admin-clerical

7. Phoenix
Average rent: $747
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, marketing

8. Denver
Average rent: $877
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

9. Chicago
Average rent: $1,133
Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service

10. San Antonio
Average rent: $696
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management

If you’re graduating, where are you moving to?

How to Network on an Airplane, and Get an Interview

Ethan Oblonsky — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:57:05 +0000

Writer’s note: Apologies for being M.I.A. for so long but I’m back on a regular schedule now. If you don’t see regular postings from me (at least one post every other week), email me on here and be the first to catch me. I’ll do one free resume consultation.

I may be exaggerating when I say a plane is a networking Mecca but with my recent travels I had to communicate a great place to network, the airport. The first time I was flown to a company to interview I was in business casual attire and being the middle of the week I was surrounded by business men and women flying to meet clients, go to different branches or have lost track why they’re going to God knows where. The whole trip from Detroit to Charlotte, I spoke to a gentleman about business, his family, my goals, my hobbies; almost like an interview.

I asked for a business card when we began our descent and low and behold he was a Global Vice President for one of the largest companies in the world. I gave him my resume and he even emailed me to see how my interview went as well as telling me he told his wife if he had half the energy of me, they’d be millionaires. Two weeks later I received a call from his organization about an interview. I didn’t end up working for them but in two hours I networked with a V.P. who travels the world making decisions for a Fortune 10 company and got an interview. All because I looked like somewhat of a business traveler and had the nerve to strike up a conversation. On the way back from this interview, I sat next to a buyer of Italian goods and spoke to her the whole way back.

I hate to sit here and talk about myself and my experience the whole time but it’s the only way I learned in college, being shown examples and real-life situations. This happened and has continued to happen every time I fly. Even if traveling for vacation, I wear a button down shirt and dress pants just in case. According to www.flightaware.com in the past 24 hours there were 43,746 arrivals! And www.bts.gov has a 2003 report that Americans make more than 405 million long-distance business trips per year. So next time you’re in a plane ready to swallow Dramamine, remember it’s more important now than ever to differentiate yourself and network like crazy. Here’s the main points:
•    When you travel, at least wear business casual clothes
•    Keep a resume` or business cards with you, get their email. You don’t have to be employed to have cards
•    Guts. Have you ever traveled in the daytime where it was completely quiet on a plane? No, because every business person is talking business with the person next to them. So do the same. It’s not an interview, you have nothing to lose
•    Get their information. Ask about possible employment, and be casual when conversing
•    Talk to the whole row!

Deduct Your Job Search Expenses

Dave Rigotti — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:40:47 +0000

You can deduct certain expenses you have in looking for a new job in your present occupation, even if you do not get a new job. You cannot deduct these expenses if:

You are looking for a job in a new occupation,
There was a substantial break between the ending of your last job and your looking for a new one, or
You are looking for a job for the first time.

Employment and outplacement agency fees. You can deduct employment and outplacement agency fees you pay in looking for a new job in your present occupation.

Employer pays you back. If, in a later year, your employer pays you back for employment agency fees, you must include the amount you receive in your gross income up to the amount of your tax benefit in the earlier year. See Recoveries in Publication 525.

Employer pays the employment agency. If your employer pays the fees directly to the employment agency and you are not responsible for them, you do not include them in your gross income.

Résumé. You can deduct amounts you spend for preparing and mailing copies of a résumé to prospective employers if you are looking for a new job in your present occupation.

Travel and transportation expenses. If you travel to an area and, while there, you look for a new job in your present occupation, you may be able to deduct travel expenses to and from the area. You can deduct the travel expenses if the trip is primarily to look for a new job. The amount of time you spend on personal activity compared to the amount of time you spend in looking for work is important in determining whether the trip is primarily personal or is primarily to look for a new job. Even if you cannot deduct the travel expenses to and from an area, you can deduct the expenses of looking for a new job in your present occupation while in the area. You can choose to use the standard mileage rate to figure your car expenses. The 2008 rate for business use of a vehicle is 50½ cents per mile (58 ½ cents per mile after June 30, 2008). See Publication 463 for more information on travel and car expenses.

Recession-Proof Your Job

Guest Blogger — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:36:54 +0000

With the economy in its current state, and companies from around the world either closing their doors or laying off major sections of their workforce, you may find yourself looking for signs you’re about to be laid off and wondering whether you might be next. If that’s the case, your fears aren’t misplaced: After all, over 2.6 million U.S. workers lost their jobs last year. However, it’s important that you don’t panic or jump ship prematurely. Instead, follow these four tips on how to recession-proof your job and ensure your livelihood during these trying times.

Keep a positive attitude

The uncertainty that comes with a recession can make your professional life particularly stressful, but it’s crucial that you remain upbeat whenever you’re at the office. Employers often spare solution-minded staff members when culling their workforce, so gaining a reputation as a morale booster is a great way to recession-proof your job. Besides, if you keep whining about your occupation, your managers might get the impression they’d be doing you a favor by letting you go.

Because it’s always harder to lay off a friend, you should also make an effort to be personable, and use your networking skills to forge strong social bonds with the people around you. Keep in mind that personality is just as important as productivity when you’re trying to recession-proof your job. After all, with whom would you rather work: the consummate positive thinker or the guy who turns every mild inconvenience into a problem?

Be visible

It’s important that you distinguish yourself from your coworkers if you want to recession-proof your job. You need to ensure that your employer sees you as more than just a number, so try to stand out during meetings by taking an active interest in the issues and making constructive suggestions whenever possible. By the same token, you should never be shy about asking questions or giving praise. Your goal isn’t to present yourself as a blowhard, but rather as a valuable team player.

Also, keep in mind that this is the absolute worst time to take an extended vacation or leave of absence. In fact, you should make a point of coming in early every morning, when your manager is most likely to notice you, and of checking with your colleagues before leaving the office. Employers often make snap judgments under stress, so don’t let your record speak for itself when your presence could say so much more.

Take initiative

The most efficient way to recession-proof your job is to become the type of employee your company would need after downsizing its workforce. As such, you have to be at your absolute best during these trying times, demonstrating your expertise as well as your autonomy. Keep in mind that working long hours is not nearly as impressive as getting the job done quickly and efficiently. Show your employer that you can multitask and prioritize your duties.

By the same token, it’s crucial that you think beyond your individual responsibilities and look at the bigger picture if you want to recession-proof your job. Staff members who can be innovate and think on their feet are a surprisingly rare commodity, so try to find ways your department can reduce expenses, and make sure to volunteer for tasks outside your job description. Demonstrate your value: the more you do for your company, the more indispensable you become.

Seek feedback

Another good way to get noticed and recession-proof your job is to ask for feedback whenever possible. Not only does this put you on your employer’s radar, it also allows you to advertise the quality of your work without having to boast. More importantly, your tracking of your professional development demonstrates that you’re interested in a long-term progression within the company, making you more desirable as an employee than someone with unclear career ambitions.

When actively seeking criticism, you may discover some weaknesses in your job performance. It’s imperative that you improve on these points immediately in order to remain competitive and recession-proof your job. By the same token, you should update your skill sets as soon as possible. Though downsizing is rarely a measure of choice, employers sometimes use layoffs as an excuse to get rid of workers whose professional abilities are obsolete.

Weathering the recession

These four tips will help you recession-proof your job, but you need to consider the possibility that being the best at what you do may not be enough in these trying times. No occupation is ever truly safe during a recession, which is why you should prepare for any eventuality. As part of your plan B, make sure to pad your savings and contact those in your network most likely to find you a new position should the need arise. It may save your career.

This article was orgininally published at Askmen.com by Dimitri A.C. Ly and is being republished with permission.

Laid off or can’t find a job? Start a business in 2009

Dave Rigotti — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:01:27 +0000

There’s a fantastic article posted the other day titled “Laid Off in 2008? Start a Business in 2009.” Check it out. Related posts:PsPrint Offering Free Shipping On Business CardsVistaPrint Business Cards Review And Special OfferRecession: A Good Time To Trade Money For Power?Web 2.0 Tactics for Successful Job Searching Related posts:

Who Is Hiring?

Ethan Oblonsky — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:55:09 +0000

Tired of looking at monster, jobing and the sorts for the same low grade insurance companies and pyramid schemes? Thought so. Fortune came out with the list of who is hiring in relation to their “Best Companies to Work for.” They listed about 20 companies, big and small, from Microsoft to the Mayo clinic.

But the biggest thing I have to say here is a company doesn’t have to be actively hiring for you to start a career there. If you are good enough, a company will make room for you, like a baseball team signing a free agent at 1st base even though they have one. This is where the importance of a good resume` comes in and an even better cover letter telling them why they need to make room for you. A website of a company typically says whom to send a resume to but if it doesn’t, call them up and find out who takes care of it. If that information is not given, use sales tactics and look up profiles on LinkedIN or call back and just go straight to HR and ask someone else, or a salesperson, they’re usually helpful. In this time, it’s most important to be persistent because your future is worth fighting for, right?!

Go make a cover letter for companies you want to work for but don’t say they’re hiring your position. The goal: to have them make a job for you because you’re THAT talented.
Find the right people to send resume to.
Apply to all of the companies on this list from Fortune.
BE PERSISTENT!

100 Best Companies to Work for 2009

Dave Rigotti — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:09:27 +0000

Fortune just released the annual 100 Best Companies to Work for list and there are some noticable differences. Google is no longer #1.

When applying for jobs, I suggest you should apply to at least one company on the list.

I’ve had the please to work for a company in the top 10 and it was a great experience. You can view the full list here.

Seven Surprising Work From Home Salaries

Dave Rigotti — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:47:11 +0000

Yahoo! Education has an article today titled, “Seven Surprising Stay-Home Salaries,” which profiles 7 jobs that can be done at home. It’s worth a read.

The ability to work from home can be a great personal selling point when applying for a job, as companies are looking to decrease overhead to increase profitability.

HOW TO: Get A Job In A Recession

Dave Rigotti — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:16:46 +0000

PricewaterhouseCoopers has a great video featuring Lindsey Pollak covering “Recession proof your job search.” It’s well worth the watch and read. Related posts:Recession-Proof Your JobRecession: A Good Time To Trade Money For Power?Seven Surprising Work From Home SalariesYou’re Not Dreaming: How To Get The Job Of Your Dreams In One Of The Toughest Job Markets In [...] Related posts:

Tips For Internship Season

Guest Blogger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:22:36 +0000

If you are currently in school, don’t miss out on one of the biggest opportunities of the year: summer internship recruiting begins now!

Many corporate employers use internships as a primary method for identifying entry-level hires for full-time positions, and will continue to hire interns in a down economy so that they can develop a pipeline of potential full-time hires for the future. According to annual surveys conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the percentage of interns converted to full-time employees increased from 35% in 2001 to 50% in 2008, with almost 70% of interns receiving full-time offers in 2008.

For many years, I worked in campus Career Services offices connecting students and employers. In the process, I developed a few observations on how students can best prepare:

If you haven’t started already, this is a great week to begin. Many campuses don’t open for spring term until mid-to-late January, but a majority of staff at Career Offices will be back on the job before the term starts. If your school offers individual counseling appointments or resume critique services, now is a great time to beat the rush and prepare. If you’d like outside help, you may also want to consider hiring a resume writer or career coach—but keep in mind that you will need to follow resume guidelines set by your campus.

Research potential opportunities. Given the high conversion rate of interns to full-time employees, look at your internship as a test drive for work beyond graduation. As such, it is important to carefully evaluate opportunities. Read about career fields, position types, and determine the best work environment for you.

After you’ve determined areas of interest, research employers to create a short list of ideal organizations and apply for multiple opportunities. Don’t limit yourself to only those employers who are interviewing on-campus—consider other positions as well . (In addition to your campus internship database, check out company websites and aggregators including indeed.com.)

Discount the myth that no one reads cover letters. Competition can be stiff, and employers often use cover letters to assess your writing skills and your level of interest. When comparing applications from similarly qualified candidates, employers often pick the candidate with the strongest cover letter to advance to the next round.

Show that you understand the position and industry. Contrary to popular myth, employers don’t always use GPA and major as the first screening criteria when evaluating internship applications. A little research on current company initiatives, products, or work environment can go a long way. News aggregators (e.g. Google News Alerts, RSS Feeds) and research tools such as Hoovers, Lexis-Nexis, and Factiva can help you quickly find items worth mentioning. (You may also want to look for key indicators on company health and performance—factors that can help you assess your long-term employment prospects.)

Develop your application from the employer’s perspective. In most organizations, employers scan application materials quickly to seek answers to the following questions:

How did you learn of this position?
How do your skills and experience align with the job description?
Why are you interested in the position? How does it fit in with your long-term goals?
Why do you want to work for us? (What interests you about our company versus our competition?)

(Quick tip to ensure you’ve written from the employer’s perspective: Count the number of sentences in your cover letter, than the number that start with “I.” Aim for less than 50% of sentences to begin with you.)

These strategies will help you “stand out” in the applicant pool while also demonstrating how you “fit in” to the organization for whom you wish to work.

Have any additional tips for success or stories of strategies that worked? If yes, please share…

This article, by Chandlee Bryan, M.Ed., was origionally published on Career Hub. She is a certified professional resume writer and seasoned career counselor. Based in Manhattan, Chandlee provides services to job seekers throughout the U.S. She also serves as a consultant to employers and non-profits on best practices for working with emerging professionals.