10 Things Job-Seekers Must Do to Get a Better Job

... rather than complaining, take some advice from Jim Rohn: “Things will get better for you, when you get better.”

I’ve just agreed with OpenSesame.com (a video-based training company) to prepare a short podcast series for job-seekers based on my book, The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired. The company wants 10, 4-5 minute mobile-ready videos highlighting everything a person needs to do to get a job. This is no easy task. So rather than attempt the feat alone, I thought I’d summarize the topics below, and host a webcast for job-seekers (here’s the link to sign-up for the Oct 10 event) to get their input. Of course, if you’re a job-seeker feel free to add you viewpoints, questions, frustrations and ideas to the comments below.

As you’re aware, the latest hiring report wasn’t too upbeat, and on Tuesday (September 10, 2013), the Department of Labor reported that the total number of open jobs available hasn’t increased in the past six months. So expect more of the same on the hiring front for the foreseeable future.

Given this state of the economy, the best thing any job-seeker can do to get a better job is to be more thorough, more savvy and more aggressive. The following are some basic guidelines for the thorough and savvy parts. These are not optional. Neither is the aggressive part, but I’ll leave that up to you.

Some Big Ideas Job-seekers Must Follow if They Want to Get a Meaningful Job

1. Applying directly to job postings should represent no more than 20% of what you do. Getting referred to a job is 5-10X more effective than applying directly. If you’re going to apply, only apply to jobs when you’re a perfect fit for the skills and experience listed on the job description.
2. Leverage your understanding of the recruiter’s role. Many recruiters are gatekeepers who don’t know the job and will just box-check your skills and experiences. Others are extremely talented, who want to work with the best people to craft great career moves. You must avoid the former and seek out the latter.
3. Implement a 20/20/60 job-hunting plan. A job hunting plan requires a performance-based resume, an understanding of how recruiters find candidates, and applying through the backdoor. Networking is the key to the backdoor. It must represent 60% of what you need to do.
4. Focus on the job, not the money. It’s better to be underpaid than overpaid. Getting promoted or obtaining a big compensation increase will only occur after you’ve demonstrated great performance. You need to put yourself into these situations. Ignore anyone who says otherwise.
5. Present your strengths and weaknesses via short stories. No one believes general statements. You must validate each of your strengths with a specific example of how it was used in a real job situation. In addition, you need to demonstrate how you’ve turned your weaknesses into strengths. Never say you don’t have any weaknesses! It means you’ve stopped growing.
6. Divide and conquer by asking the universal question. Very early in the interview, or phone screen, you must ask the interviewer to describe the focus of the job, some of the big challenges, and how the new person’s performance will be measured. Pick at least two from this list. Then prove each is a core strength using the SAFW response below.
7. Practice the universal answer to any question. You need to be able to prove every strength with a specific example. Form your answer using the SAFW two-minute response: Say A Few Words – Statement – Amplify – few Examples – Wrap-up.
8. Weave the 10 Best Predictors of Job Success into Your SAFW Response. I just wrote a post for interviewers on how to evaluate your answers. Make sure you have an example proving you possess at least three or four of these strengths. Then during the interview ask if these traits are important for on-the-job success. Of course they will be. Then give your example. Note: this is a slam dunk!
9. Use the phone screen to minimize the impact of a weak first impression. Even if you make a good first impression, it’s important to ask the universal question (see above) early in the phone screen. Answering it correctly will increase the likelihood you’ll be invited to an onsite interview. This will help focus the actual interview on your past performance, instead of box-checking your skills and experience, or judging you on first impressions.
10. Uncover any concerns before the end of the interview. To determine where you stand, ask the interviewer about next steps. If they’re not specific, you probably won’t be called back. In this case, ask the interviewer what’s the biggest concern he/she has about your background. Then ask how the skill, trait or factor mentioned is used on the job. To overcome the concern, you’ll need to use the SAFW two-minute response to prove you can handle the requirement.

Getting a job is no fun. It’s hard work. But working hard on the wrong things is a waste of time. So rather than complaining, take some advice from Jim Rohn: “Things will get better for you, when you get better.” Learning the ten techniques above is a great way to start.

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Lou Adler (@LouA) is the CEO of The Adler Group, a full-service talent acquisition consulting firm. His latest book, The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired (Workbench, 2013), covers the Performance-based Hiring process described in this article in more depth. For instant hiring advice join Lou's LinkedIn group and follow his Wisdom About Work series on Facebook.

Job Seeking Zombies - Christopher De Mers Chimes In

Job Seeking Zombies by newresource

Are you a Zombie?

The undead are pretty popular these days. We’re surrounded by tales of the non-living in sultry television shows, movies and webcasts.

Few know however that the Zombie genesis is found in recruiting where countless thousands of erstwhile candidates mindlessly submit resumes and applications without the prerequisite thinking and due diligence.

If you’ve ever violated any of the following you may be a Zombie too.

• Meet Minimum Qualifications

Every position has a set of minimum criteria. Do you meet them? If not, why are you applying? Chances are the ATS alone will reject your application if you don’t meet the minimums, but if a real person (no Zombie) actually does see your paper you’ll be gone in seven seconds. And they’re gonna be annoyed you wasted their time. Think seven seconds isn’t much? Multiply it by hundreds of Zombies.

• Follow the Instructions

A simple test for human behavior as opposed to the mindlessness of the undead is whether or not you can follow instructions. Posted jobs frequently ask for collateral information: resume, cover letter and salary history are among the most common. Pay attention though: sometimes employers specifically ask not for resumes or other items. Sometimes a keyword in the subject line. Did you use the requested format for submitting? Did you follow directions? If not, don’t be surprised if you aren’t called. 

• Check Culture

Research the company culture: it may not be for you. I have a friend in the death industry (pardon the pun): she’s good at what she does. Its not for me though. Are you applying for jobs that you’re a fit for? Know something about the culture, the environment and the work lives of employees. It’s easier than ever to research and understand a little more about what it takes to be successful in a particular firm.  Share that logic in your interview: if things progress and you ultimately join the firm that isn’t the time to realize it’s not the right place for you. 

• Know the Business

Zombies, if I had a nickel for every time a candidate interviewed with me without displaying the basic knowledge about my firm I could retire and buy a castle in Transylvania. You have to know annual revenue, key products and overall business strategy – most of this information is easily found with a few clicks of the mouse. How can you possibly demonstrate desire and initiative if you don’t at least get the basics? Know your own game for sure – but be prepared with a little knowledge about mine as well. If you want to get in business you have to act in a business-like way.

Zombies aren’t successful in job searches because mindless rote activity is not how jobs are found or won.

If you want to rise above those clamoring in vain for opportunity, act like a real human being. Zombies need not apply.

*This is a fantastic guest post from Christopher De Mers aka @ChristopherInHR on Twitter and from the websiteChristopherInHR.*

Why Your LinkedIn Headline Is So Important

by: Amanda Haddaway http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-headline-important/

If you’re looking for a new job, you probably already know the importance of having an updated LinkedIn profile, but you may not realize how important the LinkedIn headline section can be to your job search.

Why You Should Update Your LinkedIn Headline

By default, LinkedIn populates your headline with your current job title and employer, but this field is fully customizable. Most career experts agree that this is one of the most powerful fields in your profile and you should take full advantage of the ability to show your awesomeness in 120 characters or less.

When recruiters use LinkedIn to identify candidates for their open positions, the first piece of data that comes up is your name and your headline. There needs to be some call to action for the recruiter to click through to your full profile.

Think Like A Salesperson

Rather than just listing your job title, think like a salesperson. What is your greatest asset for a prospective employer? What’s in it for the employer if they hire you? Why should this employer hire you or even make an initial contact with you? Since you’ll need to edit this down to a quick sound bite, make a list of all of your assets and then rank them in order of importance. Take the top two or three and work them into a headline of appropriate length.

If you’re struggling with this, ask people who know you to help. Sometimes, it’s hard for us to be our own agent, but other people see us favorably. Ask former co-workers, friends and family to tell you what they admire most about you and take those items and work them into a headline.

Be Specific To Your Field

Your headline should also be specific to your career field. Use keywords that may be used in a recruiter’s search for your specialty. Some creativity is good to set you apart from the competition, but it’s unlikely that a recruiter will be searching for a “healthcare ninja,” so don’t go overboard with originality and imagination.

Tell Your Story As Succinctly As Possible

Since a mere 120 characters goes quickly, so you can’t write a novel, but you do have room to make one solid statement about who you are. Think about how you got to this point in your career and what problems you want to solve for an employer going forward.

When you’re ready to make a change to your headline, log in to LinkedIn and select the menu for Profile, Edit Profile. Click Edit by your name. On the next screen, you’ll see a subheading for Headline. It’s easier to craft the headline in Word (or a similar word processing program) so you can see how many characters you’re using and then cut and paste it into the LinkedIn field. Click Save Changes and you’re finished!

Why Being Too Eager Might Work Against You (and How to Fix the Problem)

This article really hit home for me, but in the recruitment process. I've had countless candidates move from my "yes" list to my "maybe" list to my "no" list for being TOO eager. There is a fine line you don't want to cross with a recruiter. It is sort of like dating. You don't want to date the guy who is obsessed with you. You want to date the guy who is too busy to respond immediately to you. Too many phone calls and emails will turn a company off. Let's see what Rita has to say. 

by Rita King, EVP Science House

When the time came for questions, a young woman stood up to say that every time she seeks an opportunity she is told at work that she’s “too eager.” What can she do to fix the problem?

This happened last weekend at SHE Summit, where PopTech director of strategic partnerships Jennifer Lopez and I gave a talk about inspiring the next generation of girls to adopt curiosity as a way of connecting to each other. We were there to represent theTomorrow Lab project, created by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Our job that day was to encourage women in the room to become scientists no matter what they do for a living by adopting the scientific method of knowledge acquisition through curiosity, experimentation and imagination.

The young woman asked her question of a very experienced group of women including Anita Sands, Chief Operating Officer, UBS Wealth Management Americas; Charlotte Relyea, Partner, McKinsey & Company; Gloria Feldt, women’s leadership speaker and advocate and Joi Gordon, the CEO of Dress for Success (who started off by calling to donate a suit and ended up becoming the CEO). The advice the young woman got may not have been what she was hoping for, but it was the best advice she could have possibly received.

The panel advised her to watch her attitude and to offer ways to help someone else instead of asking for opportunities. At first glance, this might seem like the worst possible advice for a young woman who wants a chance to show what she can do. Part of the problem is that women often feel they are held back for “acting like men,” in other words, for aggressively pursuing opportunity. But it’s important to focus on how opportunity is pursued, which is the most important aspect of the chase. The woman’s question implies that someone else has to give you permission to pursue an opportunity.

This is why I cringe at the use of the word “empowerment,” as much as I support the spirit behind it. Empowerment implies a transfer of power or energy. Yes, society absolutely needs to change if we are to solve some of the massive challenges facing us. Organizations need to transform. A huge part of this change includes the evolution of our collective agreement that men and male characteristics should lead the organizations that set the tone for how the world operates. As we work toward the ideal egalitarian meritocracy, however, we have to contend with current reality. There’s something to be said for trusting yourself and moving forward without the explicit permission of others. In fact, change would never happen if people waited for power to be transferred to them instead of taking it and letting the chips fall.

Of course all professionals need employers and clients for whom to perform. But once you have a job or project, it’s less necessary to get someone else’s permission to excel as long as you’re delivering on your core responsibilities at the same time.

The idea that a woman should offer to help someone else instead of asking for opportunity can also be misinterpreted. Women taking a supporting role in exchange for opportunity? Isn’t that what we’re trying to escape? I think the advice is brilliant for everyone, male and female. The difference is that previously, women were conditioned to believe that we were only supposed to play a supporting role in exchange for some degree of security and stability, under the best circumstances. Of course this didn’t always pan out as imagined and sometimes ended up being a totally raw deal (or much worse, to the detriment not only of individual women but the world as a whole). But that’s what society shaped us to expect for most women: a life behind closed doors hidden from public view with limited impact in the public sphere. People have a tendency to follow along the well-worn groove of path dependencies. So we need to develop new habits to get hooked on.

There’s a big shift underway between the balance of the individual and the group. A person of either gender who thinks first of themselves isn’t well equipped to be a leader. A true leader is capable of inspiring the people who follow her with the belief that they are just as important when it comes to achieving a shared mission, be it on behalf of a business, an organization, a school, a community or the world. Shared goals require a constant give and take, and the improvisational ability to read the energy of the people around you and respond flexibly.

During our talk at SHE Summit, Jennifer and I asked for volunteers to join us to record videos to inspire girls around the world to adopt the scientific method of curiosity, experimentation and imagination. We expected one or two, but hands shot up all over the room. We met with the women who volunteered while they waited for a turn in front of the camera. Girls will see their messages. Maybe not all of them will become scientists, dedicated to the benefit of humanity so the rest of us can receive medical care, technological advances, a cleaner environment and more meaningful education and systems.

But you know what? Some of the girls who see these messages just might be inspired to realize they are capable of transforming the world and that they don’t need anyone’s permission to start trying. This is true whether a girl decides to become a scientist or wants to apply the scientific method to whatever path she chooses to pursue. In some places, girls have no access to education at all. In other places, education is limited by the current thinking of society. The key is for us to be there to help girls along the path as global culture shifts, so that instead of asking for opportunity, girls can just keep training to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world and do their part, with everyone else who chooses to join in, to build the future they can imagine.

@RitaJKing, Science House

Five Writing Tips To Help You Get What You Want

It is impossible to overstate how much we rely on written words to get what we want. Are you making your writing as powerful as possible?

By improving your writing, you will change the arc of your career. You can literally double or triple your salary, because effective leaders get paid much more than "muddled thinkers."

Your first reaction may be to doubt my salary claim, but let's start with your resume. A well-written one can be the difference between a big job and a dead-end one. Now consider what you do for a living... effective writing can make a huge difference. For example, a researcher who can write effectively might get five or even ten times as many grants over the course of her career.

If you are an up-and-coming leader, the ability to use words to motivate others can easily double your rate of advancement. We all know people who are obviously intelligent, but just can't seem to consistently offer a series of actionable recommendations. Such people aren't worth nearly as much as their colleagues who communicate with clarity.

Print out this "business writing cheat sheet" and use it whenever you have to create a powerful document... even if it is just a short email:

1.) Have a repeatable message. Most of the stuff you read has no clear message, which makes it nearly impossible to repeat. In our digital age, being easily repeated is the difference between fame and forgotten.

To give you one example, search engines put clear and focused pieces much higher than random and rambling ones; this fact impacts all business writing, even pieces that will never be posted online.

Creating repeatable messages is one thing it takes to deliver on the premise of my headline. In most companies, it takes more than one person's agreement to double your salary. The people who control your fate must be able to easily grasp both your messages as well as the value you add.

Ask yourself: why am I writing this piece? What do I want the reader to learn? Even more importantly, what do I want the reader to do after reading what I wrote?

2.) Know your audience. If you write everything in the same style, you are - sorry - an ineffective writer. You must adapt your style and approach to match the needs of the people you wish to influence.

The odds are that your boss doesn't think like your subordinates, or your friends. The people in Accounting don't think like the people in Marketing.

Some of us like facts and figures, others crave stories.To get a message into someone's brain, you have to package it in a form they can process. For some people, that means using 100 words or less; for others, it means including three pages of support materials.

Ask yourself: who is going to read this, and how do they think? To get a clue, re-read anything they have sent to you.

3.) Be powerful, not passive. Powerful professionals DO things; they don't sit passively while others take action. But huge numbers of professionals write in the passive tense, like this:

After careful consideration, our department's new operating policy was approved this morning by the management team.

What a lousy way to try to get others excited. Far better to write:

We just created five simple principles to make daily life in our department easier and simpler.

Whenever you write, show people how and why to take action. Demonstrate that you are doing the same. Empower others. Get them moving ahead.

4.) Use examples. Without examples, your words are little more than abstract thoughts, and most people ignore abstract thoughts. There are good reasons for this; we all have daily pressures, and if you don't know how to implement an idea, it isn't useful to you.

Examples show readers how to implement your ideas.

If you are suggesting that your boss approve a new expense, tell him or her why the expense is such a good investment and give examples of how it will support your group's goals.

Every year in my town, the Board of Education fights for more money from the Board of Finance. And every year, concerned parents stand up and give heartfelt examples of how children will be hurt if the school budget is cut. Such stories don't always work, but without them our school budget would be much smaller than it is today.

5.) Use more pictures and fewer words. There's a reason why nearly every LinkedIn article starts with an image; more people read articles with images.

The same is true for nearly every document. Some people think in pictures, others in words. If you fail to include pictures, you will fail to reach some people. Plus, you can use images to draw attention to your key points.

Just as importantly, don't waste words. In fact, you might want to write "don't waste words" right above the screen on all your digital devices. I'm serious. Only use as many words as is necessary to get your point across clearly, and no more.

Bonus tip... write at least three drafts! People hate this tip, but the hard reality is that you need to rewrite your first draft, and to keep rewriting until you've accomplished all five of these tips.

I write at least three drafts of everything, even emails. When I violate this principle, I regret it. By regret, I mean: years ago, not rewriting cost me a raise, it cost me more than one client, and it cost me some friends.

Rewriting doesn't require hours of time. You can rewrite a short email in two minutes. Don't skip this step! The more you polish your words, the higher your career will soar.

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More from Bruce Kasanoff: Bruce has three free ebooks available for download atKasanoff.com. He is the author with Michael Hinshaw of Smart Customers, Stupid Companies; you can read the Introduction and first chapter for free.

To see more of Bruce's articles on LinkedIn, click the "follow" button below, or follow @NowPossible on Twitter.

Image credit: Flickr member Pierre Metivier. "Rewrite" image by Flickr member mrsdkrebs.

Find a Job via Twitter

8 Tips to Help You Find a Job on Twitter

When many people think of Twitter, they think of people “tweeting” about their lunch, pictures of cats, or meaningless minutiae from their day.
In reality, however, many industry professionals use Twitter not only as an informational resource, but as a recruiting resource. As one of the most prominent and widely-used social media platforms on the Internet, Twitter has the potential to be a powerful tool in your next job search.
So how can you find a job on Twitter? Does job hunting on Twitter really work? Here are a few tips that could put you on the path to finding your dream job through the power of social media.

Be Professional

When putting together your Twitter profile, put your best foot forward and conduct yourself like a professional as this will help you find a job through Twitter. Don’t put rude or controversial statements in your profile bio, and be mindful of what you share, say, and retweet.
Many employers are out there looking for the right talent and culture for their company so keep this in mind when summing up your words on Twitter.

Be Yourself

While you should conduct yourself in a professional manner, it’s also important to come across as genuine. Use your own photo in your Twitter profile, not a picture of a celebrity or a cartoon. Tweet what interests you, and don’t try to present yourself as someone (or something) you’re not. Let potential employers see who you really are.

Become an Expert

Twitter is a great opportunity to share your expertise with others. If you have a blog, post links to your most recent entries (without excessively “spamming”). Answer questions and use what you know to help others. It might just get you some attention from people who are looking to work with someone just like you.
If you have a variety of skills, promote these through hash tags; spread the word of your great abilities and this may lead you to your next career path or internship.

Be an Original

When trying to establish a presence on Twitter to gain a job, don’t be afraid to re-share the work of others — but be sure to create and share content of your own. Putting together an insightful blog post, a useful infographic, or even an informative or useful photo or illustration can go a long way toward establishing you as someone interesting who others want to follow and hire. Every piece of original content is another brick in the road toward landing a job through Twitter.

Be Patient

Getting attention takes time. Build your audience slowly. It may take months or longer for you to get any kind of significant following on Twitter. Don’t be resentful of the success of others, and above all, don’t spam or fall prey to “purchasing” followers through services that offer thousands of followers for a price. A massive number of false followers are easily identifiable, and the repercussions can last much longer than the followers themselves (as Twitter regularly sweeps out false accounts).

Use the Tools

The sheer amount of information Twitter has on hand can be staggering. In fact, presenting lots of information in a short time is what Twitter does best — so learn how to manage it.
Software applications like Tweetdeck allow users to monitor search results on Twitter, filter feeds by lists or subjects, and otherwise tweak their Twitter experience for maximum effectiveness. Watch the search filters for possible job openings in your field, or openings to create opportunity for yourself.

Follow the Right People

If you’re serious about finding work on Twitter, then you’ll want to follow professionals in your industry. Don’t bog down your feed with too many celebrities, joke accounts, and other personalities you’ll never engage with.

Engage

Once you’ve gotten a foothold on social media, it’s time to take some chances. Engage with people in the industry you want to connect with — even if you feel you have no business doing so. Don’t just hit them with an empty “hello”. Ask a question. Start a discussion. Get a dialogue going. Don’t take it personally if you don’t get a reply — information moves fast on Twitter, and is easily missed. Keep trying, and be persistent without being obnoxious.
These tips are sure to help your job search… and land a job on Twitter. Start today!

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Jenny Ann Beswick

Welcome Recent Graduates

-by Mike Montario

It is with great pride that I welcome you to the workforce. I realize many of you are still preparing for finals. Getting your portfolios together. Preparing oral defenses. That sort of thing. But I’m guessing that right below the surface of those immediate and real concerns, the anxiety of what comes next may have started to take hold.

It’s cool. I am here to help you. I am a job creator. And contrary to what you may have been told in school, you are about to enter a market awash in opportunity. Especially if you’re entering the technology and interactive design market. Which doesn’t mean that you’re not gonna have to go out there and nail an interview—because you will. So if you’ll give me a few minutes of your precious time I have a few tips that may help you land the job of your dreams.

1. Get your house in order

Don’t even think about looking for a job without an online presence. If you’re a designer you better have an online portfolio. If you’re a developer, show me some code samples. And don’t just show me your work is pretty, describe what problems you were solving.

And as much as I hate to say this, get a LinkedIn profile. Otherwise, prospective employers are gonna look at your Facebook page, which should be cleaned up but not to the point where it’s obvious you’ve cleaned it up. Leave a beer bong shot or two.

Buy a decent outfit to interview in. Tights aren’t pants and flip flops aren’t shoes.

2. Where are these jobs at, fool?

Good question. There are a few excellent job boards you should get familiar with. Start with Authentic Jobs and 37 Signals Job Board. Stay away from Craigslist and stuff like that, they’re shit shows for stuff like this.

3. Get names

When you finally find a job you want to apply for do some research. Find out the name of the person who’ll be receiving your email. Hint: They’re not called Hiring Manager. (Also, if you assume the hiring manager is a man, you suck.) If it’s a small shop, just address it to the principal by name. Don’t address your letter to the dog, even if the company is stupid enough to list a dog on their website with the rest of the staff.

4. Even better, network

“Networking” is kind of a gross word. It’s true. But, nepotism is real and making those connections will serve you throughout the duration of your career. Hiring can feel like an exhausting crapshoot. People hire their friends and their friends’ friends before they start picking random strangers from the jobs@company.com inbox. Tell everyone you know what sort of job you are looking for and ask for introductions to anyone they know who works in your desired field. Then, when one of these people is asked “Hey, do you know anyone looking for a job?” your name will come up.

You can go to a “networking mixer” if you like drinking with sad people in uncomfortable clothes, but it won’t be nearly as effective as working your existing friends and relatives. Even your professors. They had dreams once.

5. No one wants to read your cover letter

Write a good email. The goal of the email is to get an in-person interview. Explain why you’re qualified. Explain what you’d bring to the job. Sound genuinely excited about this new field you’re entering! Do not apologize for your lack of experience. It’ll be obvious when you tell me you’ve just graduated from college. Don’t be overly familiar, no matter how “wacky” you’ve heard the workplace is. You’re not applying to be anyone’s friend. The fact that you can write a solid, straight-forward email that gets right to the point and maybe shows just a glimmer of personality goes a long way.

Put the email in the body of the email. Plain text formatting. Do not attach your letter to the email. I’m not going to open any of those attachments anyway, and I’m certainly not going to open them when I’ve asked you not to attach anything. I may click the link to your website. If your email was well-written.

Also, I’ve never read a resumé in my life. But if you insist on giving me one, don’t lead with “Photoshop” as a skill. Tell me you know how to combine typefaces and have a solid understanding of color theory. That’s a skill.

6. Prepare for the interview

You got an interview? Fantastic. Time to prepare. Find out as much about the company you’re applying at as possible. Google them. Read their site. Get familiar with the type of work they do and who they do it for.

Prepare questions for them. At some point during the interview you’ll be asked “Do you have any questions for us?” You should have some.

“What’s it like to work here?” is a dumb question. “I notice a lot of your work is in editorial; do you worry about the economics of that market?” gets you a second interview.

7. Dress the part, be the part

There is a school of thought that says your brilliance will shine through even if you’re wearing a ratty hoodie and a stained t-shirt. It’s stupid. You’re gonna get some graduation money. Spend it on some decent clothes to wear to your interview. Your Flickr-stalking/research should tell you whether a suit will impress or terrify your prospective employers.

Don’t hug any of your interviewers. Before or after.

8. Not to be a self-serving douchebag, but…

Read my book. I wrote it just for you. It’s got a ton of good lessons that will guide you through your career. Trust me on this. It’s $18.00.

9. Don’t apply to Facebook

Seriously, do you think so little of the sacrifice your parents made sending you to college that you’re willing to just throw your life away?