Do's and Don'ts of Freelancing

Millennials have seen a major shift toward the "slash workforce generation" (professionals who hold several jobs in varying fields). Earlier this year, The New York Times documented the lives of professionals who juggle careers. In today's marketplace, many professionals are either unemployed or underemployed. They are looking for new opportunities in their field by working part-time while supplementing their income with service jobs like nannying or waiting tables. Professionals are also able to pursue their passion by working side projects on weekends or after work.

But another great way to make more money is to go freelance. As an added benefit, it's also a beneficial way to practice your passion. Here are some tips for making it happen.

Do your research. You might have shared one of your recent projects online and received a query asking for your freelance services. Before dipping your toe into the freelance pond, do your homework. Seek out the industry rates for your skillset, level, geographic area and field. Ask members how are part of industry-related groups what the rates are, or connect with fellow freelancers and see if they would be open to sharing their rates with you. Freelance sites like Elance orTaskRabbit will also grant you with access to the going rate. They'll also be a great place to look for work once you're ready.

Know your worth. Now that you know what the going rates are, you need to decide how to price accordingly and see if you can afford to freelance full-time. If you're thinking of making the jump to full-time freelance, understand what the variance would be from your current full-time job. Full-time freelancers should also use an equation to figure out what to charge their clients per hour.

What is your yearly salary? This is the salary you receive before taxes. You should also know the full-time rates of freelancers in your industry.

• Annual billable hours: Do you know the hours you spend working per year? Start with 365 days, remove any vacation/sick days, weekends, and the time that you'd spend doing administrative tasks (filing, billing, etc). Multiply that by the number of hours you would work per day.
• Yearly profits: This should be 10 to 15 percent of your annual salary.
• Yearly expenses: Items that you no longer get if you are a freelancer. This includes an office, health insurance, 401(k)/401(k) match, paid vacation, etc.

Grab a calculator and input the following freelancer equation: your annual salary + your annual expenses + annual profits / by annual billable work hours = your hourly rate

Be business savvy. Do you go hourly or charge by the project? Many freelancers debate this question before accepting a new gig. The best way to decide this is to have a chat with your client regarding expectations and make sure you set clear ones. 

You also need to privately determine how long it will take you to complete this project. Is it 15 hours? Is it 20? Every project and every client vary. I once worked in-house with a woman who spent five hours on a 200-word article. When the boss found out, she was livid. She wanted her to spit out one article in an hour or less. What does that tell you? She wasn't looking for unique detail, extensive interviews or flowery language--she is looking for interesting, clean content. 

On the other hand, I was working with a graphic designer who was so speedy that she would complete her work in less than half the time of other freelancers. In that instance, she was selling herself short and should have charged by the project. Just because she is a faster worker doesn't mean she should make less. Hourly seems to be the better angle, except if you cannot finish on time or if the client suddenly gets sticker shock. If you are charging per project, then you need to be realistic about how long and how much effort you'll be putting into that project.

Don't short-change yourself. Freelancers need to price according to whether this is their main career. You need to be able to live off your wages. As you start out, your fees will fluctuate. An infographic you design for a Fortune 500 company differs in cost for the one you create for a startup. Remember not to price yourself so low that you would be losing money on the deal. You are a brand and a business and need to act accordingly. Always negotiate and realize the impact your work has on other people, businesses, or corporations.

3 Tips to Create a Millennial Retirement Guide

Anytime I talk to millennials, the farthest thing from their minds financially is saving for retirement. Most of them are calculating how to pay down debt while also still being able to afford their monthly Uber, Amazon or Netflix charges. The logic of putting money into a retirement account that you can't touch for 50 years versus paying off current living expenses is a tough notion to get your head around, especially if you are earning an entry-level salary.

For starters, don't set yourself up to live from paycheck to paycheck. Get a job before an apartment and make sure the rent and utilities don't exceed 30 percent of your after tax income. If not, you'll keep digging yourself into a financial hole. Paying for more than you can truly afford will have you feeling anxious, guilty and overworked. Of course, it's a dream to be living in a spacious one-bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village. Except that apartment will come with a $2,500 price tag and be located on the top floor of a five-floor walk-up. Living on your own in New York City after four years dealing with roommates sounds like heaven. Except unless you're in investment banking or a tech developer it'll be nearly impossible to make that happen. Unless you have no other expenses and are happy only eating 99 cent pizza and cup of soup for meals. Get a roommate and live in a less expensive area of your city. Isn't it better to have roommates now while you are just starting out rather than in your 40s and 50s?

Don't Ignore Retirement: Most millennials tend to look the other way when it comes to retirement. As a generation, they've succeeded in pushing the clock back ... temporarily. They are making high-level purchases later on like buying cars and homes. They are also getting married at older ages and having kids much later in life than former generations. The biggest life milestone millennials are pushing back is setting up a retirement nest egg. Millennials are spending beyond their means and are living paycheck to paycheck more frequently than any other generation. According to the Bank of America/USA Today Better Money Habits Report, more than half of them live paycheck to paycheck.

Make a Plan and be Accountable: There is no denying that millennials are in a worse financial state than their parents. A shaky economy, diminishing Social Security rates, lack of job security and decreasing 401K match programs all negatively affect a millennial's retirement platform. Long gone are the days when loyal employees spent forty years at a single company and received a pension as a reward for good behavior. The pension is no longer a viable option for retirement unless you work for the city government. Professionals are jumping from company to company, gaining new skills, responsibilities and often a higher salary.

Understand the ABC's of 401(k)s. The first thing you need to ask, "Does my company have a 401(k) program and do they match it?" If it does, lucky you! You better sign up quick for both -- especially if they match. You'll be throwing away free money if you don't. That's like winning the lottery but never collecting your check. Of those surveyed, 43% have contributed to a 401(k) program, according to the Better Money Habits Report. If your company doesn't have a retirement plan in place, sign up for an IRA or Roth IRA. How do they differ? With an IRA, you will be taxed once you withdraw the funds when you retire. A Roth IRA will be taxed as soon as you open an account (and each time you contribute). The highest amount you can put in annually is $5,500. Go to your local bank and set up an account this week. Don't let it slide. Jump start 2015 by opening an account up today. Even if you think you can only put in a few hundred dollars yearly -- it'll still be more than zero. It'll also help you set up a pattern to save and hopefully budget out more cash for next year's contribution.

You might be thinking that this all sounds great, but you just don't have the extra dollars to make saving for retirement a current reality. Don't make excuses -- you are only sabotaging yourself. Think of your weekly guilty pleasures: the Venti Latte or the second glass of wine with dinner. There are items you can weed out or thin down. Downsize your Starbucks coffee order to a $1.75 tall brew coffee from a $3.45 latte and you'll save $621.25 a year. If you removed your daily coffee habit altogether you could save $1,239.25. Instead of spending your salary on designer shoes, pricey restaurants or high rent -- invest in yourself and put money towards your financial future. Stop living with financial regret.

Why It's Great To Get A Bad Review

You might be wondering how, in fact, a bad review could be a blessing. Well, hear me out. Let's face it: absolutely no one looks forward to performance reviews, which typically occur right before the new year. It's even more frightening to hear your boss mid-year say, "We need you to improve your performance," regardless of the industry. So why is this a good thing?

 

Invested in you. If your boss really didn't care about your value, they would say nothing and start looking for your replacement. Plenty of superiors will keep quiet and let your poor work slide, either saying they are too busy to train you or praying someone else will. An employer's constructive critique of your performance indicates that they are invested in you. If they didn't think you have a future at the firm or actually have the potential to improve, they would keep their mouths shut.

Fear silence. If you can hear a pin drop every time your boss is around you, that's when you should be scared. If your boss is silent towards you but complimentary (or course-correcting) toward the rest of the team, you have a big problem. If your boss is quiet towards everyone, though, then that's okay – if it's her personality. Perk up your ears to hear what she is telling everyone else and how often – daily, weekly, monthly. For the most part, you want to hear praise from your boss every few months. She'll do this to reinforce your behavior. If your performance is slipping, and she sees potential in you, she'll speak up. If your performance is taking a tumble and she's quiet – be worried.

Drowning in work. You might immediately think that you are in the dog house if your boss is dumping on the work all of sudden. It just depends on the type of work. Is it mainly clerical, last-minute and ultimately not desirable? These are all negative signs. If it's working on an important presentation (because someone else was under performing) it can be a good sign. If you seem to always be getting the grunt work while the rest of the team is off to a happy hour around 4:00, you are no longer in your boss's good graces. It would be a good idea to reevaluate your position. Are you happy? Are you doing the best you can do? If you want to stay, seek your boss and ask for constructive criticism. If she's still quiet and your situation hasn't improved, it's time to look for work elsewhere.

4 Reasons Your Coworkers Might Hate You

Every office has that annoying coworker, but what if that annoying coworker is actually you?

Have you ever stopped and thought about how your actions and more likely reactions could be frustrating your officemates? It's easy to complain and pass on the blame.

Instead of pointing the finger elsewhere, think about what you could do to clean up your act (and your desk while you're at it).

You're loud.

You might not notice this, but you could very well be the loudest person at the office. Do you take personal calls at your desk? Who doesn't? If so, lower your voice and keep it under five minutes.

When we chat with people we're comfortable with — like friends and family — we tend to raise our voices, which also irritates the rest of the open office. Plus, no one wants to hear about your dermatologist appointment, latest Match.com date or messages from your building's super. While we're on the subject, turn your personal phones to silent, keep speakerphone use to a minimum, lower your headphones and be respectful of your shared environment.

You smell.

Sure, the Chicken Masala is calling your name, but the smell of that lunch lingers for days. If you happen to have a craving for lox and bagels, tuna fish, or any other overly pungent food — go out and get it. Eat your mid-day meal in a park or at the restaurant. Your colleagues will thank you.

If you absolutely have to order a particularly overpowering food at least toss your trash in the kitchen garbage and not at your desk. Nothing is worse than smelling day-old curry.

You text at meetings.

Using your phone during a meeting is one of the top-10 rudest things you can do at the office. Your behavior tells the room that you do not respect them, which is why you are diverting your attention to your smartphone.

Even if you are answering work emails, they most always can wait until the end of a meeting. If they absolutely cannot, let your coworkers know you are expecting an email or call prior to the start of the meeting to excuse any distracted behavior.

You can't call in.

Dialing into a conference call can be one of the most frustrating office tasks. Half the time you either receive an error message, echo, or a series of loud beeps. Here's a tip, regardless of if you planned the call or not — call into it 15 minutes beforehand to test it out. Let the organizer know if you are having any trouble.

Over half the invites I am emailed end up being faulty. You lose valuable time when this happens — especially if you are chatting with people on tight schedules. If you're still not convinced, tune into this hilarious parody on conference call etiquette that hit the internet waves last month.

The Worst Way To Start Your Job Search

 

 Every so often I receive a message from a recent graduate or underclassman looking for an informational interview. I'm always happy to make time in my schedule to chat. In fact, I often look forward to it since I recall how important those conversations were for me at the start of my career.

Two weeks ago I received such a query. Except, it was so lacking in structure, format, professionalism, grammar, punctuation and general coherence that I needed to share it below as a cautionary example of what NOT to send. If you are graduating or if your kids are looking for opportunities – you must read this (and the rest of her correspondence) as a warning sign.

3/31, 7:16pm
Hi Jill!!

I don't know if you remember me, but my name's Elizabeth (clearly)! We met a few years ago when we were helping Michelle wrap things and get everything ready for Jessica's Bat Mitzvah! I hope you are doing well and everything is good with you!! My Mom had recently reminded me to get in touch with you after a recent run in and told me to message you, so I hope that that is okay! Michelle had also told me a few times to contact you and see if I could ask you some questions about what you do and just kind of get another perspective on different jobs that people have! I've been meaning to message you for a few weeks now and was hoping that maybe I could ask you some questions and get to really learn about what it is that you do!

A lot has changed since I met you! I'm now at Albany studying English! The school doesn't have Public Relations or Communications, so I'm taking the English track, and so far I really do like it. I'm taking two English courses right now that are really fun and interesting and I think that English was a good idea for me! I'm not entirely sure what I want to do with my English major, maybe something in PR, maybe something with blogging, or recently I've been thinking about being a company's social media person/twitter person since that is something I am very interested in. I'm a little bit all over the place hahaha so I guess not has much has changed over the last few years!

I remember you telling me that you work for Nicole Williams and I think I remember you mentioning blogging and writing some of the articles and posts for her website and company, which I think is so awesome and is kind of on the same path that I think I am interested in! Michelle has filled me in from time to time on what you do or what kinds of projects you have recently done at your job, but I'm not 100% on what you do. I'd really love to hear about exactly what it is that you do and all the different things that you have done! I'm sure as we get to talking I'm going to have a hundred different questions for you and how you got here and what you found helpful along the way to get to where you are today and things like that! I feel like the work that you are doing with Nicole and writing for a strong and interesting woman like Nicole could be something that I would be interested in and have a lot of fun with!

I do apologize for this crazy message and being all over the place! Hopefully you were able to follow what I was saying and see that I am very interested in getting to know what you do and how you enjoy the work that you are dealing with if you ever have the time to respond! I'm sure that you are super busy with work, so no need to rush to get back to me I just wanted to make sure that I sent this out to you!!!

Just wanted to say thanks so much and I hope me Facebook messaging you was okay! I figured it was the easiest and quickest way I could contact you!

Thanks so much for reading this Jill! Looking forward to hearing back from you, again no rush!

- Elizabeth

*Names have been changed.

I was shocked after reading this letter but I graciously set up a meeting with Elizabeth even though her email, as she admitted was "crazy and all over the place." I saw her as a women who really needed a career wakeup call and I wanted to help her. Her misuse of exclamation points and general lack of professionalism made me want to send her to career and grammar boot camp.

We set up a call for 10am the following week. To my dismay, I never heard from her - even after I emailed her at 10:05am to see if she was still calling. Four hours later, I receive the following email:

From: Elizabeth E. Smith
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2016 02:47 PM
To: Jill Jacinto
Subject: Re: Concerning Elizabeth E. Smithe

So so sorry about the phone call today, it completely slipped my mind today! Can I call you now or within the next few hours? Let me know!

Again so sorry I missed it Jill!!!

- Elizabeth

Sent from my iPhone

Clearly, this wasn't an important potentially life changing call for Elizabeth. And since she is a friend of a friend I was willing to give her another shot. Her response:

From: Elizabeth E. Smith
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2016 12:20 PM
To: Jill Jacinto
Subject: Re: Concerning Elizabeth Smithe

Hi Jill,

Just woke up a little while ago. Maybe tomorrow 10am?

-Elizabeth

When I received this email – I lost my sympathy. Why is she admitting to me that she is waking up after noon? I know college life can drain you but admitting sleeping the day away to a person you're asking for career help is a major no-no. Her tone had also become extremely loose and casual – as if I was her sorority sister asking to go shopping.

After all the emails, oversleeping and missed calls, I finally was able to get Elizabeth on the phone. Once we were chatting it was clear that she wasn't prepared and did very little research about me or the industry she was looking to become a part of. I did my best and offered her career advice. I told her to treat EVERY single informational interview as if it were a job interview. Every correspondence should be proofread out loud. I also advised her to reread her initial note to me and see how she might have written it better.

I advised her that journalism was extremely competitive and told her to join her school's paper and without question apply for internships. She let me know as a college student she needed money so is working at a day camp. I again urged her to try and see if she could get an internship in the writing field at least half the summer. Or see if the camp needs anyone to write up their memos or handle their social media account.

I'm worried about millennials like Elizabeth. I'm hopeful that I changed her mind and educated her about the career world. The job market is rough. One misuse of an exclamation point and her cover letter gets tossed aside. We all need to make these career mistakes and I'm sure my initial letters were not as eloquent as I would have liked. Graduates need a wake up call and I'm hopeful that after reading this they'll get one.

How to Make and Keep Resolutions

How to Make and Keep Resolutions

Don't let another year go by without accomplishing at least one of your New Year's resolutions. Happify created a fun scientific Infographic to help you navigate the best ways to stick to your goals. Here are my top five ways career resolutions you can make (and keep) this year.

Set a physical goal. And then tie it to a career goal. I know this sounds weird in the context of your career, but one the best ways of accomplishing career success is to attach it to the confidence and endorphins that come with your first 5K. Match your first public speech with the completion of three CrossFit classes.

Learn a completely new skill. The complaint I hear all the time regarding career isn't you're underpaid, overworked, unappreciated...it's that you're bored. Take on more projects, take risks and challenge yourself. If you've been phoning it in for years, your resolution should be to find ways to make your job more challenging, not less.

Restart a conversation. Of course, you want to make new contacts, but one of the most overlooked ways of reviving your career is reconnecting with the people you know, but on a closer level. We tend not to take full advantage of the connections we have. Use LinkedIn to dig a little deeper and get to know your professional peers a little better.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Your online professional photo is one of the best ways to capture your identity within your professional setting. A few rules, though: No dogs unless you're a vet, no wedding dress except if you're a designer, no kids unless you are a pediatrician... The goal is to have your contacts see you in the context of your professional identify. And remember: Your LinkedIn profile is 14 times more likely to be viewed if you include a photo.

Time for a makeover. It takes a few seconds to make a first impression. Don't let your attire distract from your great work. Step one: Weed through your closet. You know those scuffed pumps, boxy blazers and the sweater that sheds to no end? Time to toss. Enlist a savvy and stylish friend to take you shopping. Don't end the day before buying at least five pieces that will help you stand out at the office. Think of this new wardrobe as an investment in your professional brand.

Can You Spot A Fake Resume?

 

You scour through resume after resume when you finally land a gem within the pile of candidates. It hits every point of your job description even the 10 skills you listed. It almost sounds too good to be true...is it? Last week ABC News' 20/20 set up a segment to expose just that. The business behind fake resumes.

ABC interviewed the founder of fake resume resource site CareerExcuse.com, William Schmidt. He'll create fake positions but also take it a step further by creating fake degrees, companies (including phone numbers, addresses even websites). Schmidt says he has rarely been caught because few companies thoroughly check resumes and job references.

Schmidt thinks he is doing a public service by helping those job seekers who lost their jobs during the recession. He doesn't think he's selling a lie. He compares his business to that of a poker player's bluff...all about the illusion. He claims that half of the people who use his service are employed within 30 days.

But what's an employer to do if they think they found a great applicant but something isn't adding up? Marissa Klein, SVP of Choice Fashion & Media, weighs in with her expert advice.

Eyeing a Phony Applicant: How hard is it to find false information buried within a document that might have legitimate experience as well. Klein, says, "We specialize in an area that is very close knit. It is quite easy to catch a discrepancy due to our relationships and our own experience within the niche world of fashion and media. However, I have certainly discovered incorrect dates and falsified job description bullet points. Especially since the economic downturn in 2008 and 2009."

Catch a Fake: You've spotted a potential fake. What's the next step? Do you speak with the client, try and take another route or toss their resume in the trash? Klein, "We normally will outright challenge the candidate. Our "fakes" tend to be in the details – such as resumes not matching LinkedIn profiles. I tend to try to give people the benefit of the doubt. After the economy took a turn, many were forced to enhance or exaggerate their skill set in order to remain competitive, or valuable."

Go With Your Gut: What are a firm's options if think they found the perfect applicant but something within their work history isn't adding up. Klein says, "Certain things will always slip through the cracks. My advice to my clients is always the same. We can do all of the leg work to check, and double and triple check... but gut instinct, whether professional or personal, is usually infallible. If something doesn't feel right, it likely is not."

The Safety Net: How important is a background check? Klein says, "We do qualify candidates and I would say that most employers do too. However, specific background checks are costly (criminal, credit, etc) and we can provide these to our clients at a pass through cost. Most of our clients run these types of checks after an offer has been extended and accepted. Background checks in general fall into a truly gray area... traditionally, companies are not really supposed to disclose true editorial on a candidate, merely confirm a date started and a date ended. Ironically, as the liaison we are sometimes caught in the middle and must find a balance between what the client would like for us to "check" and what is legally permitted. Perhaps that is a whole other conversation!"

6 Ways to Boost Your Confidence at Work

 

All these career “asks” take some amount of nerve mixed with confidence. Not only do you need to believe you're worthy of the “ask” in question, you need to muster up the courage to make that initial request as well. Visualizing asking your boss for a bump in your salary of five percent seems a lot easier than when you are standing in front of her sweating, perplexed, playing with your watchband and feeling like a deer in headlights.Here are six things you should do before any big ask:

1. Practice, practice practice. While it's true some people are born naturally confident, for the rest of us it takes practice. The more you work on your tennis game, yoga moves or Photoshop talents — the better you become at it. Think of confidence as another skill you need to practice, learn, perfect and earn.

2. Get a power outfit. In medieval times, knights had armor to protect them in battle. In 2014, people need to be dressed with a modern suit of armor. Get a go-to power outfit. It could be a dress, suit or even a blazer and dark jeans. Whatever you choose needs to make you look great while also feeling confident and influential. When we look our best we're often more up for a work challenge.

3. Pinpoint your fear. We often lose our confidence when we aren't prepared. Confidence is learned through experience. Do your homework before your next meeting. Do the research and know the tough numbers and facts off the top of your head as opposed to checking notes during a meeting or presentation. Don't give yourself the opportunity to fail. Focus on using your knowledge and expertise to win over your boss, co-worker or client.

4. Videotape yourself in advance. It's very tough to picture ourselves in high-stress situations when we aren't at the office. Videotape yourself the night before a presentation, business trip or sales meeting. You'll see points where you stumble or use filler words (like, um, ya know). Why are you stumbling in these sections? You aren't as prepared as you should be. If you haven't convinced yourself of your words then you won't be able to convince anyone else.You'll also be aware of your body language. Do you flip your hair, tug your shirt, adjust your glasses, lean, tap a foot or play with a pen while speaking? These are all dead giveaways to a listener that you are not confident.

 5. Speak up. With confidence comes respect, so learn how to insert your expert opinion into the workplace conversation. Before your next staff meeting, put on your go-to power outfit and plan to add your two cents on the meeting's agenda.This is the time to change your company's perspective of you. Become a voice your boss and co-workers search for in a crowded room. Don't bite your tongue if you've got a great idea — announce it.

6. Don't stress over stress. Everyone gets stressed out from time to time. Instead of thinking of that stress as a confidence buster — use it to your advantage. We often get stressed out when we're working on a challenging task. Stress occurs in the anticipation of working on an assignment outside of our comfort zone. Seek out these types of opportunities. If you are getting complacent or bored at the office, that's when laziness and sloppy work ethic come into play.

Reality Check for Graduates

 

Last night, I was asked to take part in a career panel at Fairfield University. As a primer for the event, the founding organizer and Video Producer for Group SJR, Audra Martin, let us know that over half of these students will graduate from college without ever having had an internship. She also instructed us to not sugar coat anything and be as honest as possible about our after college experiences. It was a great event with a ton of amazing panelists who were real and truthful about their career paths.

Internships are important: The best way to learn about an industry is to roll up your sleeves and do it. Of course you can sit in your classes and learn from a book, but there is no substitute for being in the working world. If your school has a less than stellar career department (and most do due to budget cuts), you need to do the work on your own, which is actually better. No one is going to hold your hand through your job search so why not go full speed into searching for an internship? The first stop is to reach out to your network. Ask your professors if they have any contacts in the industry, contact former alumni for informational interviews, reach out to family and friends that might be able to point you in the right direction. LinkedIn is a great networking tool. Use it to your advantage by researching openings and connecting with hiring managers directly as opposed to blindly applying to internship@amazingjob.com. You’ll find out that you’ll get many more responses when dealing with a real person.

Be persistent without being annoying: One student asked how to get noticed without feeling like a pest. The trick is that in order to get noticed you need to be a squeaky wheel – especially in the media field. My inbox is filled to the brim with “Asks” and I do my best to get back to people but sometimes an email can get lost. This is why it’s important to keep checking in. The other point to consider is that when you are reaching out to someone in hopes of a meeting, job, or information you need to have done your homework and create an “in”. Study the person you are contacting. Read their LinkedIn Profile, member posts, blog anything on the web is fair game. Learn about their experience and the company they currently work for and previous ones too. Use this information to your advantage over email, “I read your article on PR trends and learned a ton” or “I see you work on the Today Show – I’m such a huge fan. I especially love the weekly segment about women ‘Having it All.'” This is your in. Chances are the people you are emailing know why you are contacting them but going the extra mile and doing your homework turns your “ask” into a relationship.

Don’t expect a dream job at 21: Congrats on graduating, entering the workforce and officially becoming an adult. Chances are you’ll be interviewing and submitting dozens of resumes after commencement. Chances are you’ll apply for jobs that aren’t exactly your dream job and that’s OK. We can’t all be Lena Denham and produce, star, and write major TV shows. You need to start at the bottom to get ready for your move to the top. When you are just starting out you have no idea how many different types of jobs are truly out there. Don’t sit on your thumbs waiting for the exact one to come along – because it might never come along. If you get an interesting offer – take it. Your 20s are the time to experiment, learn new things and more importantly – take risks. You don’t have a family to support so if you want to take a freelance TV production gig that has awful hours, low pay and no benefits – do it now!

When to Quit Your Job

 

What happens when your career path turns into a dead end? You’ve done everything possible to win that promotion, but it’s still out of reach. Or, maybe you love your job, but you’re struggling to survive on a paycheck that barely covers the rent. It’s scary, but change can be good, and it’s especially important when it comes to your professional life. Hanging on to a dead-end job is a miserable experience, no matter what your reasons are, but there is a way to escape and move on to find a winning career.

There’s a difference between having a few bad days and feeling truly trapped at work. Doing something rash—like storming out with an “I quit!”—will only haunt you in the future. And it won’t solve the problem. Instead, devote some time to re-look and re-evaluate. Try making a pros and cons list, and be as honest as possible. Is the problem really that your boss is a control freak—or, could you be guilty of playing passive aggressive and not standing up for yourself? You can also ask your boss for an informal sit-down to discuss your progress. Be very direct about what you want, and then listen closely to her feedback. If you still feel frustrated, it might be time to move on.

If your job is terrific but your salary leaves you cold (literally, because you can’t afford to pay for utilities), you’re not alone. Many people want to work in publishing or nonprofits, because they want a meaningful job, and that’s wonderful—but you need to be able to take care of yourself, first. Wanting to make money doesn’t make you a sell-out, and there are lots of ways to volunteer or give back without sacrificing your financial self-worth. (However, if the only thing you want is that assistantship at Vogue, go for it—just be prepared to do a bit of bartending on the side.)

Once you’ve determined it’s time to go, you’ll need a solid exit strategy. Revamp that resume and make sure you have a great interview suit or outfit. And while you can search online or engage a headhunter, don’t be shy about asking your colleagues for help. Seek advice from those you trust or look up to in your industry, and ask thoughtful questions about different positions that you’re interested in. As they say, “it’s who you know…” and you don’t need to feel bad about using your connections. Lots of higher-ups enjoy helping fledgling professionals, so take advantage of their generosity. Just be sure to send those thank-you notes. You never know who might become your future boss!

Outrageous Boss Requests: Where Do You Draw The Line

 

File papers: check. Create work flow chart: check. Develop a marketing plan: check. Pick up dog from groomers, get baby from doctor and drop off prescription medication at pharmacy...check? Everyone needs additional help from time to time, including your boss. But how much is too much when it comes to asking a favor from an employee?

"Everyone's bound to get an unusual work request now and then. In general, it's best to try to be helpful rather than saying something's not in your job description. However, you should avoid doing something if it's clearly illegal or unethical," says Robert Hosking, Executive Director of OfficeTeam.

But what if your boss doesn't stop asking you for tasks outside of your workflow? "If you find that you continually receive wacky requests that are outside of your job description, it may be worth discussing it with your boss," says Hosking. "It's important to be clear about expectations and priorities. You might consider revisiting your job description with your manager to ensure your responsibilities are up-to-date and you'll be evaluated fairly against that description when it's review time."

When in doubt, connect with HR. They'll act as a mediator and help to resolve any issue--like these particularly unusual ones.

Breaking a Sweat: "I had a boss who made me play racquetball with him. I didn't mind the exercise, but he would make me go towards the end of the day. I would still have a bunch of work to do, he would go home and I would have to go back to the office. So on those days, instead of leaving at 7:30, I would leave it 9:30, because the two-hour break to play caused me to fall behind on work that needed to be finished," says Aron Susman, Co-Founder of TheSquareFoot.

Hustling for Beiber: "I was interning for Island Def Jam during college, in the International Marketing department. Justin Beiber was in the office, and my boss asked me to go to Pinkberry to pick up a frozen yogurt in December," says Alex Marshall of TheSquareFoot.

Facing the music: "About a year ago, our former VP found out that I play in a band and she asked if she could sing for us. I realized she was serious when she sent an email to my personal account, asking when we could 'jam.' I avoided her email for several days and when she finally confronted me about it in person, I said that it must have gone to my junk folder. Luckily, she left the company before I ever had to give her a solid answer," says Brandon Seymour of Beymour Consulting.

All the right moves: "I worked for a very large multinational company and we were at a trade show and had a hospitality suite. This was when the Wii game system was just coming out and my job was to teach all of these company [employees](mostly men) we were trying to schmooze how to play the Wii games like baseball and tennis. I had to demonstrate but not only did I have to demonstrate I had to basically play cheerleader for these guys and clap and cheer for them (also requested) to make them feel good. It was quite a scene. I didn't even get to eat. I have an MBA and was a marketing person so this to me was over the top (not to mention pretty sexist)," says Margo Schlossberg.

Do you want fries with that?: "Each year we had a press preview event, at which I played a critical role in organizing handling the media invites, setting up the event and more. The night of the event the director of this event came up to me and told me to go to the food concession and to work there - cooking chicken fingers. That was 15 years ago - I will NEVER forget the feeling of doing all the work and then being hidden away cooking food all night for the media I'd invited at the event I'd organized, but I sucked it up. Needless to say, it was a long summer and when it was done I was more than happy to take on a corporate job where there wouldn't be any need to cook 1000s of chicken fingers," says Maggie Patterson, Communications Strategist for MaggiePatterson.com.

Do you hear spirits?: About 7 years ago I was working in a small Criminal Law Office in Queens, NY. My boss was a partner and I was a junior associate. On the day we were going to court to file our motion my boss insisted we drive to Jamaica, Queens, to see a Haitian voodoo priest perform a ritual and bless our case. I totally refused to go but he insisted. When we arrived I waited in the car while he actually went in. I do not know, nor do I ever want to know, what happened inside that day but the ruling that came down was in our favor. So glad I never went in as I believe in Karma and do not like meddling with the forces of nature," Matthew Reischer, CEO of LawyerReviews.com.

Orange is the new black: As part of a pitch for winning the advertising budget of a new client, a holiday travel brand, our boss made us put on lots and lots of fake tan, and believe me, we all looked horrible! But, we won the client in the end as they loved our crazy dedication," says Nathalie Gaveau CEO of Shopcade.

Lastly, here are some pointers from Roy Cohen, esteemed career coach and author of The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide:

"When you refuse to go above and beyond or outside to get the job done, someone else most likely will. Although it is impossible to always be available, when you never demonstrate your flexibility and availability you become less relevant regardless as to how outlandish the request may be. A word to the inflexible: Being on the job doesn't necessarily mean being at work. A lot can be accomplished from home and before and after hours."

Don't just say no: According to Roy, "If you really cannot honor a request, there are many less adversarial responses than just saying no outright. But at the end of the day, if you are feeling constantly put upon, maybe this is a sign that you are on the wrong career path. Here are two responses, both of which demonstrate a willingness to compromise and should be conveyed with good humor:

• "I am just now finishing up a project on deadline. If this request is urgent, I can set the project aside. I am happy to do so. Please advise."
• "I need to leave the office by 6 today due to a previous commitment. If I could get out of this commitment, you have my word that I would do so in a heart beat. Is it possible to come in early tomorrow morning? I am happy to come in as early as you need me."

Always set up boundaries: "Boundaries are critical to ensure that you don't establish a reputation for being indiscriminate in where and how you invest your time, energy, and support," says Roy. "When you say yes to every request, you potentially end up getting dumped on--and not for the right reasons. Your boss and your colleagues will see you as a patsy, not having enough backbone to say no when appropriate."

 

No One Is Hiring. Now What?

 

Know what you want—and what you don’t. If you’re a number cruncher with dreams of a future in finance, should you bag it all to become a pharmacist? Yes, if you want a job that involves math and working with people. No, if you have no interest in counting pills. Before straying from the field you had your heart set on, it’s important to consider what your interests and passions are. Will moving to a field that is a more reliable match well with your personality? Sure, there are sectors that are consistently stable (education, nursing), but if you hate children and faint at the sight of blood, are these really good options? You should also consider your long-term goals. If you’ve dreamed of working for a nonprofit, will you really be content with a career in the insurance biz? Before making a quick switch, it’s important to do some serious soul-searching. After all, a sunken economy is ultimately fleeting, whereas your career is every day for the rest of your life.

Be willing to work for it. It’s true—there are jobs out there, but the competition is fierce. Now is the time to up your game and work as hard as you can for every single lead. Network, practice interviewing and make sure your résumé is flawless. Apply for every job you can find in the field or related to the field. Remember, there is no perfect job, but every job will teach you something. If you find yourself with a job offer that is below what you’d hoped or involves a ton of grunt work, try to look at the advantages of cutting your teeth in the industry as a hardworking employee with a positive attitude even when the job sucks.

Set up an informational interview. Request a chat session with someone you respect with a job you admire. Ask them for advice: Have they lived through a recession? How did changes in the field influence their career path? Do they think the industry is going to turn around soon, or is it going to be a long road to recovery? Listen carefully to what they say—no matter how brief, the advice could be valuable. Before you walk out the door, make sure they have your contact information, just in case.

Learn all you can. Scour the Internet for professional journals, associations, or clubs. Read everything you can get your hands on about the inner workings of the industry. Pay special attention to articles about things that are new or cutting-edge. A job in a random, up-and-coming sector could be the key to getting your foot in the door and eventually landing your dream job. Plus, reading the info that’s written for the professional provides a helpful perspective. If you find yourself with a consistently wandering mind, maybe this field isn’t actually for you. This is good to know before you invest too much in a job search.

Specialize in something challenging or obscure. Think about honing skills that will make you a more valuable employee: Learn software programs, improve your technical skills, or take continuing-ed classes at night. Not only will it keep you energized and help with networking, but furthering your education is a good way to guarantee that someday soon you will get a job in your field of dreams.

Follow your heart. Andrea decided that she really, really wanted to be a graphic designer, so she found a job doing design work for a real estate agency. It isn’t the cool job she imagined, but she’s getting lots of valuable experience. Maybe a job in fashion will be her next step. But most of all, after some serious research and soul-searching, she knows the hard work of breaking into the field is worth it.

Managers Spill Their Hiring Secrets

 

I asked six people who hire people what wins them over. Lots to learn here.

 Erik Bowitz, Senior Resume Expert at Resumé Genius

“We ask most applicants if they've checked out our core business site, and about 60 percent reply they have. However, our most recent hire really wowed us by not only claiming to have reviewed our homepage but also our [70+] resource pages and entire blog. We quizzed him on some old posts and sure enough, he recalled what they were about and who wrote them.”

Carol Cochran, Director of HR for FlexJobs

“It's passion and a sincere understanding of our mission that really gets me. When someone interviews and they really speak our language, I know I've found the right person. Since our team is 100 percent virtual, we don't have the traditional geographic boundaries in our recruiting. We see a lot of fantastic talent and skill in our applicants, which makes the right cultural fit a big deciding factor.”

Danielle Kunkle, VP, BoomerBenefits

“We recently hired a woman who won us over with her understanding of the importance of social media and web presence. Prior to her interview, she read through our website and sent comments to me about my blog, showing us that she was researching us before she got here. During the interview, she had pointed questions that demonstrated how much she had educated herself about the nature of our agency. After the interview, she began following our Facebook page, and more importantly, she commented on our posts and also shared them several times with her own friends, which, if you know anything about Facebook, helps them stay visible longer to other people. We were impressed, and she got the job.”

Lynda Zugec, Managing Director The Workforce Consultants

“One job applicant had researched the organization, was aware of what was happening within the business and knew exactly what was required. The applicant prepared a report listing the actions that could be taken to increase efficiencies and competitiveness in the marketplace. We thought this demonstrated strong leadership skills and a real drive to succeed.”

Grace Lanuza, Founder and CEO of Grace Lanuza Consulting

“One applicant came prepared with very detailed research about the company, not just the clients but also the culture, which was very important in that particular role we were hiring for. Another applicant saw on Twitter that I was attending a career fair after we had a preliminary phone interview and he made a point to come to our booth and meet me personally. This really put a personal touch in an otherwise remote interview process. One applicant quoted a blog post that I had published and it was relevant to the interview.”

Jeff Shaffer, Principal, McKinley Partners LLC

“I can tell you the number one thing a job interviewer has done — and they have all won jobs with me. MAKE ME AN OFFER. I have had multiple people take the initiative and offer me a deal — something like, ”How about I come in on Monday and work for a day to show you what I can do — and then we see if you want me to take the job?“ It has taken multiple forms over the years, from guys offering to work on a construction site, to people offering to intern, to financial analysts offering to work for a week for free to demonstrate their ability, to salespeople offering to come in and train one day and do sales activities the next to prove they can sell. Every person that has asserted themselves and shown the willingness to prove themselves has gotten hired by me. Ironically, all of the people were paid for their 'volunteer to prove it' days. It is the willingness to try and confidence to make the offer that wins them the job.”

Read This Before You Cut and Paste a Cover Letter

 

When it comes to applying for a job, your cover letter is the gateway in terms of getting a hiring manager intrigued enough to click on your resumé. However, that gateway is often filled with a ton of roadblocks — caused by you.  Here are six ways to make sure your cover letter gets the attention it deserves:

1. Get the Name Right
You know how much you hate it when Starbucks baristas misspell your name? Not surprisingly, the people reading your cover letters hate it when you get their names wrong, too.

Take the time to make sure that the HR contact's name is spelled McCarthy — not MacCarthy. Is it Mr. Alex Meyer or Ms. Alex Meyer? (If you don't know, find out.) Type the person's name into LinkedIn and make sure to get it right. I've been called Mr. Jacinto or addressed as simply “Dear Jacinto” more times than I care to remember.

Also, if it's a job@company.com email address, go the extra step to determine who the actual hiring manager is and address the cover letter to him or her. Never write “To whom it may concern.” It concerns Mary Adler, Hiring Manager at Accosta Accounting. She'll appreciate the research.

2. Keep It Personal
Stop copy-and-pasting your form cover letter. Hiring managers see right through this lazy attempt at career searching. Your defense that the companies are all alike? Well, that might be the case, but your job as an applicant is to highlight why each and every company you apply to is “the one.” That means making the cover letter as personalized as possible.

3. Research Who You're Emailing
Study the person's career and mention it in the cover letter, if applicable. For instance, “I read your recent article… admire your career… loved the product launch you worked on…” Everyone likes hearing a little bit of praise. Whatever you do, avoid this major mistake made by a candidate who had no idea what I did for a living.

 4. Connect the Dots
Your cover letter is the key to getting into the front door of an employer. This is your opportunity to tell your story and help HR understand your career. Do you want to make the move from PR professional to journalist? This is the place to explain that. No need to rehash your resumé. Instead, focus on a strategic career story that will align you with the job in question.

 5. Fight the Urge to Ramble
It starts out as an extra sentence or two, but when you're done, you've created a short story instead of a cover letter. Save some mystery for the interview. The person reading your cover letter is busy — and chances are, so are you. Don't waste anyone's time with a rambling cover letter.

6. Keep It Short
Three paragraphs is a good length. I've seen cover letters that are a bit longer and a tad shorter, but it all comes back to the quality of the words. No need to start off with, “My name is ______.” Chances are they'll be able to tell that from your email address and signature. And if you aren't a recent graduate, there's no need to highlight the school you attended, either.

How to Read Between the Lines of Job Descriptions

How to Read Between the Lines of Job Descriptions

 

When you are applying for a job, keep in mind that you aren't the only one who is sprucing up your resumé and cover letter lingo to help sell yourself. Job descriptions are written with the same type of intent. You never know what kind of environment you'll be stepping into, but carefully decoding job descriptions can help pull back the uncertain layers. Here are five terms you may run into and what they mean:

1. “Self-Motivated Team Player”

You need to expect that this work environment will not give you a lot of direction, hence the “self-starter” request. Creating work for yourself without an agenda from a supervisor is expected. When you do “play with the team,” you'll be expected to contribute ideas and work with different types of personalities. It also means that you'll do as the boss says and work on projects across the company as needed.

2. “Excellent Salary”

This is an advertising tactic to get potential hires to apply. “Excellent salary” means different things to different people. Some people think 70K is excellent, while others believe 150K is excellent. Traditionally, salary is discussed after an offer is made. The employer believes they've sold you on a great job, even if the true salary might come up short on your end.

3. “Good sense of humor required” 

This office resembles a fraternity which includes an environment where foul language, eating contests and practical jokes are welcome. It is also code that they don't take the work that they're doing too seriously, which might mean that they won't take you seriously. You need to be comfortable working in a very relaxed environment where people might be playing flip cup while you're working on a deadline. In order to be accepted, you'll need to be a team player and participate in a pizza-eating contest or two.

4. “Must have a 'no job is too small' attitude” 

In my first job, this meant that I spent Saturday nights lugging heavy metal objects to company events. Other times, this will mean you'll be expected to pull an all-nighter to finish a PowerPoint deck, or maybe come in a half-hour early a few times a month to prep for a meeting. It also means that you can virtually never utter the phrase “that's not my job,” because it's been spelled out in the job description that you are up for every task (unless it is illegal or immoral, of course). Otherwise, this boss will expect you to shut your mouth and do the job.

5. “Extremely organized” 

Almost every job description includes “organized” as a requirement, but when they add an “extremely” you might have a problem. This boss will be a control freak with a major case of OCD. He or she will expect you to have an immaculate filing system, an alphabetized book collection, and for your workspace and desktop to be as neat and organized as their own. If you thrive in a messy space, this isn't for you.

Love What You Do

 

It happens to the best of relationships. The fire is alive and burning in the beginning, and then several months down the road the passion is gone and we find ourselves wondering what turned us on in the first place. Using the same practices for spicing up your love life, you can rekindle the fire for your work and actually start enjoying your job again.

Go Back to the Way Things Were
Remember how it was when you started? Work was fun and you were motivated to look and do your best. Now the project that was once new and exciting has started to gray. Go back to how it was: you had a clean desk, a clear vision, and an optimistic, take-charge attitude. Make a list of what you like doing best and dedicate more time to those items. Set deadlines for finishing any other tasks so they’ll be out of the way. Get in the habit of politely rejecting volunteer projects or menial tasks that can be delegated.

Make Time for Each Other
When was the last time you zoned out the rest of the world and really spent some intimate time with your favorite parts of the job? Steal moments of quiet time with the door closed or a set of headphones on so you can really focus. Forget multi-tasking, concentrate on crossing off one item from your To-Do list at a time, and give it your full attention so you can crank out your best work.

Take a Reality Check
At some point we all catch ourselves fantasizing about the cute cop or the mailman in uniform. It’s a natural tendency to wonder if we’d be happier in a different situation—whether it’s in work or in romance. What you wouldn’t give for a more flexible schedule, better benefits, an office with a no-jerk policy… But the reality is that no one is 100 percent happy with their jobs. So talk with others in your industry at different companies, and you’ll probably discover the grass isn’t necessarily greener. Take comfort in their anguish (secretly, of course) and be grateful for the positive aspects of your position.

Get Yours
When you’re constantly giving and don’t pause to think about what you’re getting in return, burn out comes on full speed. Take stock of what you’re getting out of the hours you’re slogging. Are you learning a ton? Are your skills are improving? Have you made a nice network of people you can call upon for advice? If you’re still feeling cheated, make sure your boss is aware of how you prefer to be rewarded and acknowledged for your hard work. Do you want recognition in meetings? To be included in higher-level discussions? A bonus? You name it. The worst they can say is ‘no,’ which every smart person knows just means ‘not now.’

Online Etiquette 101

 

Imagine a time before desktop computers, when instead of sending a quick question via instant messenger, co-workers actually walked to each other’s offices to talk. Or, instead of shooting off a quick e-mail, they had to pick up the telephone to communicate with a client. Gasp! Yes, technology streamlines our communication. But as the Web speeds up our interactions, we lose the formality and professionalism that used to impress clients, bosses, and employees. These easy tips can help you channel your inner Emily Post—without sacrificing the ease of the Internet.

E-mail with care. Consider your audience before pressing “send.” If it’s a professional e-mail, remove all instant messaging lingo or abbreviations. If you used an emoticon to convey your message, revise the text until you can get the meaning across without a smiley. Run a quick spell-and-grammar check. Also, be conscious of who you copy and reply to with e-mails. Be especially wary of the “reply to all” option, which is overused and clogs in-boxes.

Be polite. Like everyone else in America, you want to see the latest YouTube video everyone’s forwarding. But be courteous with any Web-based media. Watching videos, sending or downloading large files, and streaming music quickly slow down the Internet for your entire office. If you must catch up on your laughing babies or sports tournaments, time it during slower Internet traffic periods, like before nine or between noon and one. And always wear headphones.

Network nicely. Your online image is squeaky-clean, right? No spring break pictures on your Facebook page, and only business-related details on your LinkedIn profile? But what about the comments you post on others’ blogs or profiles? Posts often connect back to your page or e-mail account, so any inappropriate comment will link back to you. But beyond that, if you comment on a friend’s Facebook page about her table-dancing skills, you’ve sullied the online image she’s probably worked hard to maintain. Unless you would want the same comment to appear on your own profile, don’t post it on someone else’s.

Add a personal touch. With the speed and convenience of e-mail and messengers, it’s easy to forget the basic cornerstone of etiquette: personal contact. Instead of writing a one-line “thanks” e-mail, try jotting off a quick note and dropping it in the mail. If a client places a big order or a consultant delivers a stellar project, pick up the phone and let them know that you appreciate working with them. Both the handwritten note and the personal call make a greater impact than a standard e-mail.

Learn to Sell Yourself to a Future Employer

 

 

You can give anyone a run down on the latest season ofHomeland, Net Neutrality or the Amazon vs. Hachette showdown, but yourself… that’s a much different story.

What’s Your Brand? Ten years ago you’d never compare yourself to a brand but in 2015, you need to do just that. You are your best (and only) salesperson. As a new jobseeker, you must learn how to sell – regardless of whether you’re looking to go into sales at all. Learn about your field, research the power players, study the startups and the Fortune 500 companies. Learn their language. Understand how your internship, school courses, life experiences and skills can help shape this industry. Once you can see how you belong in this job sector you’ll be much more able to ‘sell’ yourself.

Own Your Story: As a recent graduate you might feel insecure about your lack of professional work experience and get a bit stumped when it comes to talking about yourself. You need to develop your professional elevator speech and learn to articulate your accomplishments and professional goals. There’s no doubt that during every interview you’ll be asked two classic job interview questions: “Tell me about yourself,” and “Why do you want this job?” Master your answers for these questions. Instead of winging it, write a script. It could even been a few bullet points identifying volunteer experiences, coursework, presentations, leadership roles or even conferences you attended.

Get it on Camera: Have a trusted (but honest) friend set up a mock interview and record your responses. Ask for their constructive feedback and play back the tape. Pinpoint where you stumble as well as the sections where you flourish. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll be in the interview. As for the other question, “Tell me why you want this job” is actually a trick question. The interviewer is really asking, “Why should I hire you?” For each job you apply for you’re going to have to re-write your script and identify what the company’s needs and wants are. You’ll also need to showcase your skills and most importantly let your passion shine through. Showing energy, and knowledge about the company are two traits that will set you apart from the rest of the applicants.

Is your Profile Buzzworthy?

 

Are you an expertly organizational, innovative driven Professional? Do you just so happen to be strategic, innovative and possess creatively effective and patient qualities? Join the team. If your LinkedIn profile includes those words you aren’t alone. LinkedIn recently pulled data from over 259 million profiles and filled us in which words made their annual Buzzword list. Rounding out the Top 10 include;Responsible, Strategic, Creative, Effective, Patient, Expert, Organizational, Driven, Innovative and Analytical.

How can you stand out from the sea of driven, innovative, patient professionals?

Show and Tell

The trick to beating the buzzword game is to actually convey what makes you buzzworthy. We’re all “responsible” but what have you done that really sets you apart? Did you work after hours to ensure an event would be produced expertly? Or schedule a last minute meeting to solidify a potentially lost business deal saving your revenue?

Buzz-wordy Before Resume

-Analytically research marketing trends
-Strategically measure website traffic
-Creatively collaborate on advertising techniques
-Effectively problem solve during high-pressure situations
-Patiently work with high profile clients
-Expertly exhibit innovative knowledge about the marketing industry
-Organize internal data and share with team at bi-weekly meetings
-Research trends in a highly driven manner

Buzz-worthy After Resume

Analytically: Ability to study trending topics enhanced company to be part of the national conversation. Ex. Was able to have our CEO weigh in on the Amazon Drone program via a quote in the Wall Street Journal which garnered 15K page views

Strategically: Improve website performance by increasing traffic 10% in the last quarter

Creative: Enhance companies profile and profit with consumer marketing events. I.E. Created a pop-up shop in Grand Central Station that attracted over 1500 signups and generated 18K in gross revenue

Patient: Expertly exhibit calming attitude to problem solve in demanding situations. I.E Producing an event for 500 people a week’s timeframe

Expert: Featured panelist and keynote for marketing industry events like Marketers of NYC, Summit 2013, NYU Marketers of the Future

Innovative/Driven: Propelled companies insight by creating webinar series given by Executive Board

What are you waiting for…ramp up your Profile today!

Interview Beauty Tips

In terms of interview-appropriate makeup, what you don’t wear is often just as important as what you do. The key to interview makeup is to keep it simple. This isn’t the time to experiment with your style. If you normally wear a red lip – wear it. However, if you are a newbie, skip it. You don’t want to risk it wearing off or rubbing onto your teeth or coffee mug. Also, stick to warm colors and tone down the glam eye shadow.

How to Wear Your Hair: Personally, I am a huge fan of getting a blowout. It gives me that extra boost of confidence before I hit a big meeting. Everyone gains their confidence in different ways. If you can work a great bun – wrap it up. Whatever hair style you choose make sure you look polished and put together. People might not notice when you are put together but they 100% notice when you aren’t.

What to do if you’ve got the jitters? First of all, many people are unaware of their nervous habits. I’d recommend doing a mock interview with a friend and filming your responses and studying your body language. If you do play with your hair – maybe you should put your hair up in a bun to resist the temptation. Picking cuticles is a pretty common nervous habit. Try holding a pen or portfolio during the interview to keep your hands busy. Get a great manicure – to resist the urge to peel off your polished nails.

One beauty habit we always forget: Many people are so focused on their outfit they don’t realize their shoes and/or bag is scuffed. These little details are important to take care off. Also, if you are wearing a peep toe shoe or sandal – get a pedicure.

Don’t over spritz: Don’t be heavy handed when you apply your fragrance and make sure it is a subtle selection.

Have nothing to wear: If you aren’t sure how to style yourself for the interview you should research the company. Look up company employees on LinkedIn. Study their profiles photos. How are they wearing their hair, what type of makeup are they wearing? You can learn a lot about presentation from these profiles.