Networking is more important than ever when it comes to landing a job. You may think that networking is for corporate types, not for college students. But you're wrong. According to one Wall Street Journal survey, 94 percent of respondents said networking was their primary job-search method. As the saying goes, "either network or not work." So where do you start ...

If you're a non-traditional student, the time off you've taken in your formal education can be an asset to prospective employers. Your life experience gives you several advantages – maturity, professional skills, ambition – that traditional students might lack. The key to getting the job you want is to make sure that your prospective employer gets the best impression of you. ...

You’ve discovered an exciting internship or entry-level job and would like to apply. But should you bother, even if you don’t have exactly what the ad outlines? With few exceptions, send your resume anyway. Here’s why: A Listing Describes the Perfect Candidate When employers write job ads, they list the qualifications of the ideal person for the job. They know -- ...

I love the term “common courtesy,” particularly because we use the phrase when we want to note there’s been a lack of it. Nobody mentions common courtesy when it’s there; they lament its absence and from the number of times we use the phrase, it seems courtesy is actually rather elusive. Rules of etiquette can be daunting, particularly for those unaccustomed ...

In a rarely quoted yet invaluable line from Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Marlow says, “One ship is very much like another and the sea is always the same.” I’m graduating this year (the Lord and the registrar willing). Aside from the usual pressing questions of what to do with my life after that May day, I’m concerned about how to ...

The interview's set. Now you want to know if the potential employer does more than talk about diversity. Follow these tips to find out if the company has a proven commitment to hiring a wide range of people. Making the Grade Many business and special-interest publications compile regular lists of employers that back up their diversity efforts with proven results. Forbes ...

President-elect Barack Obama has consistently been quoted as saying "the economy will get worse before it gets better." Unfortunately, we don't know when things will get better--weeks, months, years. While the recession affects students in terms of student loans, they also stand at a pivotal point as they begin to think about job searching amidst a recession. A grim job outlook ...

For many, an internship is the first real job experience--don't screw it up. Avoid making these mistakes as you apply and interview for internship opportunities. Not caring. You live in the here and now. It's hard enough to think ahead four months to final exams let alone to a future career. Internships should be regarded as the cornerstone to the job ...

I've always wanted to work for CNN. So when I got the opportunity for an internship at their headquarters in Atlanta last summer, it was a dream come true. As a CNN intern, I had to have initiative and drive to compete with older interns who had more training and experience than I did. Read on to find how you ...

If you've ever considered a career in engineering, you probably thrive on problem solving. That's good, because one of the first problems you'll need to tackle as you explore this broad field is figuring out what type of engineer you'd like to be. You may be aware of the most common engineering subspecialties, like civil engineering (the design of roads, bridges, ...

Graduating from college is a major milestone. Once you have finished celebrating your student’s success, it’s time to help your student determine their next steps. Your student’s college degree is a stepping stone to other future life achievements. So what's next for your student after college? For some students, the career they want to pursue requires a graduate degree; others may ...

Peter Vogt, MonsterTrak's Career Coach, answers questions about searching for jobs, networking, career fairs, and more. College is rapidly drawing to a close, and all the online job searches I've done haven't gone so well. I'm getting my degree in English, but I want to write. Unfortunately, the only real jobs I've had have been in office administration, and I'm ...

The resume and cover letter were perfect. You look great on paper and you might just be perfect for the job. Time for the next step: The interview. While the job interview can be nerve-wracking, there's a lot you can do to prepare. Knowing what to expect and planning your answers can help you make a winning impression. Start by ...

JASPER, Monster’s Job Assets & Strengths Profiler self-assessment tool isn’t a machine that will spit out the name of the perfect postcollege career for you. Be thankful for that for two reasons: • Do you really want to give any tool that much power over your professional life? • JASPER’s results are much richer, and therefore much more useful, than a ...

Graduation is just ahead and you're getting ready to put your education to work. It may be time to get in the market for a mentor. What is a mentor? A mentor is a professional who acts as an adviser and role model to a new member of their profession. Part coach, part motivator, the mentor works as a guide ...

Defying the early spring snow storms, a plethora of robins have settled in my neighborhood. Perched on housetops, their prominent red paunches herald spring’s arrival just as predictably as the blooming of daffodils. While other birds fight over feeders on gray overcast days, robins are out pounding the pavement in spite of the heavy wet snowflakes covering recently emerging lawns. The ...

Before you apply for your dream job, check out these tips that will make your cover letter stand out. Tip #1: Keep it brief. Your letter should not go over one page. Use short paragraphs and bullet points whenever possible. Avoid flowery or excessive words when fewer words will get your point across equally well. Tip #2: Be assertive and proactive. ...

Want to land an extraordinary summer job? College career counselors have some blunt advice for you: Get going. Now. "I emphasize with job searchers that it takes three to five months to find a summer job," says Andrea Dine, associate director of the Career Development Center at Macalester College. Becky Hall, central career development coordinator at the University of Minnesota ...

If your school's career center has a well-established on-campus recruiting program, consider yourself lucky. It's the first and maybe last time prospective employers will seek you out. That's why it's so critical to understand how on-campus recruiting works -- and doesn't. Let's set the record straight on some prevalent myths. Myth: Only business and technology majors benefit from on-campus recruiting. Reality: ...

Internships and mentor programs are some of the best ways to get hands-on work experience while you are still in college. They provide valuable opportunities to build up your resume and gain marketable skills while networking with professionals in your field. Below are just some of the many programs geared to minority students: Hispanic Association of College and Universities (HACU) ...