No one will ever care about your career as much as you do. But if there were ever a group of people to come close, it would be alumni from your college or university. These former students have likely been in your shoes themselves, and are generally among the most willing to help your career development if you ask. Why are ...

Just graduated college and can’t find a job? You’re not alone. You’ve probably heard about all the money President Obama has dumped into the economy, but chances are you haven’t seen it first hand. So, where are all the jobs? President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the Stimulus Plan) is expected to save or create 3.5 million jobs over ...

It's a catch-22: You want a job to gain experience, but you can't find a job because previous experience is required. Don't be discouraged. You can still put your best foot forward and have a shot at the job. Follow these steps to create a winning resume: Select the Right Format The two most effective resume formats for entry-level workers are ...

If you're just graduating from college and would like to postpone your all-out job search until later this summer, more power to you. But how can you balance a well-deserved break with the solid job-search preparation you'll need to do? Think R and R: rest and research. In other words, do some digging, but keep it low-key. Here are four ways ...

A professional wrestler runs for governor of Minnesota and wins. The owner and pastry chef of my neighborhood bakery is a former investment banker. A friend from college who was a computer scientist for seven years now makes her living as a sailboat captain in Seattle. How did these people get where they are today? Through a combination of luck, confidence ...

After much thought and consideration, you've finally selected a specific occupation as a career goal. Congratulations! If you're like most people, you didn't determine a career direction overnight. You probably made your decision only after a great deal of careful thinking and (hopefully) research into occupations that best match your personality. But despite all your efforts, you're probably still asking yourself, ...

Let's pretend you're a senior biology major, but the only reason you chose biology in the first place is because you liked going to zoos and didn't really know what else to major in. Now as graduation approaches, you wish you could go back and major in communications and become a writer instead. Changing your major now isn't a realistic option. ...

An accounting graduate gets a job as a passport specialist with the federal government. A music major and an art history major both find their niche in public relations. A sociology grad ends up working for a major nonprofit organization as a speakers' bureau coordinator. They're all true stories and proof positive that you can land a job in a field ...

You might think that if you have a good resume, you don't need a cover letter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your cover letter supplements your resume. It focuses attention on your achievements and gets a prospective employer interested in you. Cover letters are especially important to new graduates. Through the cover letter, you can persuade an employer ...

Even if you're working for free, your internship can be worth a fortune — in job experience and valuable career connections. But it's up to you to see that your efforts pay off. Make the right moves to make the most of your internship. Be Professional To impress, take your responsibilities seriously. Treat your internship like a full-time job by always ...

It's tough enough landing an entry-level job when you're competing against your peers, but what do you do when more-experienced workers are after the same job you are? This predicament is a common one for new grads and workers these days, due in great part to a lagging economy that has led to significant layoffs. In one MonsterTRAK poll, 90 percent ...

There's no such thing as the perfect internship. But you can figure out which one aligns best with your career goals, and then tap your own initiative to turn that internship into an experience that will grab the attention of future employers. Take It or Leave It? How do you judge the potential value of a particular internship, especially when you're ...

Meeting with people who work in a career or company that interests you is a great way to get a jump-start on your dream job. They'll not only let you know about opportunities in the field, but they can also give you some great advice based on their experience. However, in order to get the information you need, you have ...

You're there on time, the job description is a perfect match and one look at the office tells you this is the job for you. So what could go wrong?Plenty. Everyone makes mistakes. But according to those who do the interviewing, job seekers for tech positions are prone to a number of common interview blunders. To avoid them, you've got to ...

An interview is an interview, right? Actually, depending on the size of the company, you could go through many interviews before the decision is made. Ace each one by knowing what to expect. Screening Interview Usually a member of the personnel department or an outside recruiter conducts this interview, which is meant to weed out unqualified candidates. This interview is ...

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ. Practice Good Nonverbal Communication It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a ...

A good resume is vital. It's your calling card to a prospective employer - one that lays out your qualifications and hopefully gets you a job interview. Remember, most employers will spend less than five minutes reviewing your resume. Follow these guidelines to make sure your resume gets you noticed. Be sure to include these basics: Contact information: Full name, phone ...

If you were an employer looking at a resume, which of the following entries would impress you more? Wrote news releases. Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines. Clearly the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to quantify the writer's accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of ...

The stakes are high during job interviews, especially when you're a college student who is about to compete for your first job — the one that could launch your career. It's no wonder you'll be nervous. But you can minimize your anxiety and put yourself in a position to win the job by preparing for your interviews thoroughly. Here's how: Research ...

I’m a good person. I’m nice to children and old ladies; I don’t kick dogs or cats. I try to eat right and exercise. I always use the correct amount of postage. I don’t pay taxes, but if I did, I’d pay them on time. No, ahead of time! All of this serves to highlight the absurd fact of the ...