stop telling me that you work well independently and in groups by Alison Green on June 4, 2012 If you’re a recent grad, there’s a 50% chance that your cover letter includes a mention that you “work well both independently and in groups.” Announcing this is like announcing that you show up for work on time. It’s expected that you’ll do it; it’s not a bragging point. I don’t know where this trend […] Read the full article →
tips for new grads entering the workforce by Alison Green on January 11, 2012 Soon to start your first post-college job? Here are some tips to quickly build a strong reputation and ensure your first job is a success. 1. Listen more than you talk. Soak up information about how the organization works, and the reasons why, before you offer “helpful” alternatives. 2. Don’t segregate yourself with other people your […] Read the full article →
thinking about grad school? think again. by Alison Green on December 21, 2011 I talk to way too many 20somethings who are planning to go to grad school but can’t explain what they plan to do with the degree once they get it. Instead, they have a have a vague idea that having a graduate degree will somehow make their career path easier for them … when the […] Read the full article →
how college doesn’t prepare students for the work world by Alison Green on November 21, 2011 For all the talk about how college is essential to landing a good job after graduation, higher education often fails to prepare students for the workforce in several key ways. Even with a degree from a competitive school and a high GPA, many students graduate without ever having been taught these 10 essentials for the […] Read the full article →
the most important interviewing advice you’ll ever hear by Alison Green on October 19, 2011 If you’re like a lot of job seekers, when you get called for an interview, you swing into preparation mode. You research the company, you try to predict what questions you’ll be asked, and you practice your answers until they’re flawless. But in the midst of all this effort to make a great impression, don’t […] Read the full article →
a recent grad success story by Alison Green on June 12, 2010 This is long but well worth the read, especially if you’re feeling discouraged about your job search. A reader writes: I am a loyal reader and have been since I stumbled across your blog in despair while job hunting for ANYTHING after I graduated in June of ’09. I wanted to tell you an uplifting […] Read the full article →
grad school is not your escape by Alison Green on May 26, 2010 From a Monday New York Times article on the job market for new grads: Liam O’Reilly, who just graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in history, said he had applied to 50 employers — to be a paralegal, a researcher for a policy organization, an administrative assistant — but he had […] Read the full article →
recent grad in despair over job market by Alison Green on December 4, 2009 A reader writes: I’m a recent college graduate. I apply to countless job postings per day. Most of these are through online job boards (monster and craigslist). In recent months I have gotten crafty and researched (via google and linked in) those in the department I would like to work for and emailed them directly […] Read the full article →
an alternative for bored students/grads who can’t find jobs by Alison Green on July 6, 2009 The New York Times had an article on Thursday about college students and recent grads who are finding that the work world is looking a bit different than they’d planned: The well-paying summer jobs that in previous years seemed like a birthright have grown scarce, and pre-professional internships are disappearing as companies cut back across […] Read the full article →
graduated a year ago, still can’t get hired by Alison Green on June 3, 2009 A reader writes: I graduated from college last spring in June of 2008 and have been searching for employment since then but unfortunately I haven’t been able to find a job. I have even looked at minimum wage jobs outside of my field as a dishwasher, custodian, painter etc. I was in competition for those […] Read the full article →