10 important tips for young job-seekers

I recently wrote a guest blog post for one of our clients, Get Schooled, offering up my top tips for young job-seekers. I’ve discovered that I really enjoy sharing what I’ve learned from my experiences thus far and helping other young people break into new careers.

Check out my tips and share yours in the comments.

Data visualization of my LinkedIn connections

1. Maintain connections

Keep in touch with your favorite teachers from high school and college, particularly the ones who wrote your letters of recommendations or served as references, as well as any past bosses. I kept in touch with my favorite college professors and my mentors from internships by sending them occasional email updates on my career and accomplishments. When I decided to go to grad school years later, they were happy to write letters of recommendation.

2. Network

Likewise, it’s just as important to network with your peers and stay involved in your alumni network. You never know who you’re going to work with later. I’ve helped connect several former classmates with jobs. We weren’t BFFs, but we had maintained a good relationship and I respected their work.

3. Get a grown-up email address

If, for some reason, you still have an email address like PartyGirl69@gmail.com, don’t use it when applying for jobs. Secure a professional email address that you can use forever (or at least for a very long time). Having a consistent email address also makes it easy for those connections from the past to get in touch.

4. Craft your online persona

Create a detailed profile on LinkedIn complete with all your skills (recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates with the right skill set). Make sure your other social media profiles – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. – are sending the right message to employers. (Hint: Beer bong photos are not sending the right message.) Create a professional blog or portfolio site to showcase your work in classes and internships or express views about your field.

5. Manage your online reputation

You may have moved on from that bad night in college, but Google is forever preserving your crime blotter entry. If a past misdeed is topping search results for your name, that’s going to be a problem for employers. Improve your online reputation by joining LinkedIn and other professional online communities and creating a blog or portfolio site. These sites should rise to the top and push down negative results.

6. Get experience & learn about your field

While you’re in school, get as much experience as you can from student organizations and volunteer work. Do internships whenever possible. Unpaid internships are difficult financially, but it’s becoming more common to do part-time or telecommute internships, which may be more feasible. Volunteer at organizations in your field to make connections and get more experience. Ask people in your field if you can shadow them or meet for a quick chat to find out what their job is like. Ask them what kind of experience and steps it took to get to their position.

7. Don’t be a whiner

Times are tough for a lot of people, but no one wants to help the guy who is ranting daily on Facebook about how much unemployed life sucks. Instead, stay positive and reach out to your networks in a smart way. Talk about your experience, your skills, your strengths and what kind of job you’re looking for. Politely ask if they have any suggestions for your job search or insight they can share.

8. Always be prepared

Keep your resume and general cover letter up to date. Even after you get a job, you should always be honing your professional image and building connections for the future.

9. Say please & thank you!

Seriously. This is a basic rule of life. Anytime someone helps you — even if it’s just sending you a link to a job post — say “thank you.” Send “thank you” e-mails after helpful meetings or job interviews. If you fail to thank someone, you’re hurting that relationship for the future – and possibly making the person regret the time they spent helping you.

10. Breathe

It’s all going to work out in the end.

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