can I compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter? by Alison Green on February 20, 2023 Since it’s a holiday, here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2016. A reader writes: I have recently graduated from college. I currently have no job prospects, but I am applying to jobs on a daily basis. I feel that if I can write a really good cover letter it […] Read the full article →
our new-grad employees see less glamorous work as beneath them by Alison Green on January 19, 2022 A reader writes: I am 26 years old. I have been in the working world for several years. Our office just hired a couple of new grads. I find some of the ways they talk about work tasks to be naïve to the point of being demeaning. One coworker, John, often talks about his internship […] Read the full article →
what do you wish new grads learned in college? by Alison Green on November 14, 2019 A reader writes: This might be an “ask the readers” question — what do managers (and coworkers!) wish new graduates would have learned in college? I teach a lot of first- and second-year college students, and I try to incorporate professional norms into my classes and course design. I begin each class period with a […] Read the full article →
I’m terrified of graduating and am panicking about finding a job by Alison Green on July 5, 2017 A reader writes: I am a year out from graduating college (that is, in the summer between my junior and senior year.) I’m working at a fairly prestigious internship (in academia) but I think I’m figuring out that it’s not really what I want to do and I have no idea what I DO want […] Read the full article →
does your college major really matter when you’re looking for a job? by Alison Green on June 5, 2017 A reader writes: I’m a few years out of college, but I’m still looking for that full-time “career” job. One career path that I have a tiny bit of experience in, and am interested in pursuing, is working in social media. One thing I noticed when looking at the job postings is that they all […] Read the full article →
6 lies your career center told you by Alison Green on May 22, 2017 With a new class of graduates about to enter the full-time job market, a lot of them are seeking job search advice from their college career centers. Unfortunately, the advice that a lot of colleges are doling out is often outdated and frequently downright bad. In fact, as a workplace advice columnist, when I ask […] Read the full article →
is my first job supposed to be crappy? by Alison Green on December 13, 2016 A reader writes: I have a question about job searching as a new grad. I’m currently in the interview process for a job I’m really not so sure about. I haven’t received an offer or anything, but I wanted to ask a question about the standards I should have for my first job out of […] Read the full article →
where’s the line between pretty clothes and professional clothes? by Alison Green on June 7, 2016 A reader writes: What is the line (if there even is one) between pretty and professional? I’m not quite a grad, but I’m trying to get part-time or temp work, and that’s included a few interviews. While I’ve felt professional enough, I’ve always wondered if it came off that way to others. For example, I […] Read the full article →
if you’re a new grad, here are some things for you by Alison Green on May 30, 2016 If you’re a new grad, or you’re about to be a new grad, here’s a round-up of a bunch of posts targeting you. (This round-up is also an essential part of my Being Lazy on Memorial Day plan.) do hiring managers really care about your GPA? It depends on what it is and what field you’re […] Read the full article →
how bad is it to misrepresent your major and your GPA? by Alison Green on May 24, 2016 A reader writes: I’m a long-time reader and have learned so much from your site! However, I am now dealing with a situation for which I’m not sure where the ethical lines lie. I recently noticed that a friend of mine has been misrepresenting the major with which she graduated on her LinkedIn profile and […] Read the full article →