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Your #Career : 7 Face-to-Face Networking Mistakes That Could Kill Your Professional Image…While Face-to-Face Networking can result in Prospects(Jobs) Gravitating to you, it also Holds the Potential to Drive Them in the Opposite Direction. Could your Networking Habits be Turning Off other Professionals & Causing you to Lose Out on Business(Job) Opportunities?

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Despite all the online ways to link up with potential clients, I still believe making in-person connections needs to be a part of every business person’s networking regimen. When you’re face-to-face with people, you can form bonds more easily because they get a more complete picture of who you are through your voice, body language, and appearance.

networking

That’s powerful and wonderful … unless you get careless.

While face-to-face networking can result in prospects gravitating to you, it also holds the potential to drive them in the opposite direction. Could your networking habits be turning off other professionals and causing you to lose out on business opportunities?

Avoid these networking no-nos:

1. Interrupting conversations. “How rude!” That’s what I think when someone walks up without apology and interrupts a conversation I’m having with another person.  Although discussions won’t typically be too in-depth at networking events, it’s still in bad taste to cut off conversations between others.

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2. Practicing the “hard sell.” Want a surefire way to make connections eager to avoid you? Then push your products and services right from the start when meeting them. Doing so makes you appear aggressive as well as desperate—definitely not the impression you want to make!

3. Complaining. Remember, you’re there to connect with other professionals. While commenting on the venue location, décor, hors d’oeuvres, or other amenities can help ease you into a dialogue with someone, it can have a negative impact if your words are uncomplimentary. Others might perceive you as snide and ungracious.

4. Being all “me, me, me” and not taking an interest in others. Sure, you’re doing great things and everyone should know more about that. But you’ll do yourself a greater service if you forgo making yourself the center of attention and instead listen to what others have to share about their businesses. By asking open-ended questions and turning a keen ear to their needs, you can assess whether or not they may be a viable prospect. And then later you can follow up to share more about what you can offer them.

5. Having a few too many cocktails. Woot! Yes, networking functions often come in the form of mixers with a bit of a party atmosphere. But I’ve seen otherwise polished professionals turn into hot messes because they didn’t control their alcohol consumption at events.

6. Speaking ill of someone else in the room or about your clients. No, no, no. Don’t EVER do this. You never know who knows whom. Need I say more?

Despite all the online ways to link up with potential clients, I still believe making in-person connections needs to be a part of every business owner’s networking regimen. When you’re face-to-face with people, you can form bonds more easily because they get a more complete picture of who you are through your voice, body language, and appearance.

That’s powerful and wonderful … unless you get careless.

7. Dressing like you don’t care. Although many networking events are relatively casual, take care not to go too far with the informality. If you’re not sure what the dress code is, I recommend erring on the side of slightly overdressed. Worst-case scenario will be that you look a tad more professional than everyone else. No one will think less of you for that.

Done with attention to making a first-rate first impression, face-to-face networking can open doors to lasting professional relationships. Put your best, most engaging you out there every time—and take care to avoid networking missteps that could turn off prospective customers.

While face-to-face networking can result in prospects gravitating to you, it also holds the potential to drive them in the opposite direction. Could your networking habits be turning off other professionals and causing you to lose out on business opportunities?

 

Forbes.com | July 5, 2016 | Nellie Akalp, Contributor

 

 

Your #Career : 25 Colleges with Alumni who will Jump-Start your Career…Networking can be Difficult & Time-Consuming, Especially Early in your Career. But Graduating from a School with a Solid Alumni Base means Diving Straight into a Built-in Network of Professionals. 

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The Princeton Review compiled a list of the 25 colleges with the best alumni networks in the country, featured in the book “Colleges That Pay You Back: 2016 Edition,” published in February, based on students’ ratings of how visible and active alumni are on their campuses.

Texas A&M former students

At Texas A&M University, you become an Aggie for life.

We’ve also gathered salary data from PayScale to show how much new graduates from these schools can expect to make. 

Read on to see schools with active alumni who help students get ahead.

25. Colgate University

25. Colgate University

Colgate University/Facebook

Location: Hamilton, New York

Median starting salary: $54,000

Colgate graduates find themselves among good company; the school counts NBCUniversal CEO and president Stephen Burke and Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Ben Cohen among its notable alumni. Many are willing to lend a hand to undergraduates as well — students reported to the Princeton Review that “alumni would jump over any hurdle for you.”

 

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24. Stanford University

24. Stanford University

Stanford Alumni/Facebook

Location: Stanford, California

Median starting salary: $62,900

Stanford alumni — a network more than 217,00o deep – provide extensive help to their alma mater through a CareerConnect, a job board that exclusively lists job openings from Stanford grads. Alums also volunteer with “career communities” of undergraduates in a specific field who aim to stay on the best path toward finding a job.

The school boasts no shortage of big namesamong its graduates, including Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, author John Steinbeck, and former US president Herbert Hoover.

 

23. New College of Florida

23. New College of Florida

New College of Florida

Location: Sarasota, Florida

Median starting salary: $39,800

Graduates of the New College of Florida stay involved with their alma mater long after graduation by mentoring current students, hosting alumni events, and working with students on independent study projects. The school’s Alumnae/i Fellows Program pairs current students with New College graduates who coach them through a semester-long course or workshop in a specific field.

 

22. Cornell University

22. Cornell University

Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University/Facebook

Location: Ithaca, New York

Median starting salary: $58,200

Cornell encourages its alumni to invest in the next generation however they can. The school continously looks for alumni volunteers to mentor current students, speak on panels, and host student shadows in their offices. Cornell’s thriving alumni associationalso hosts networking events, conferences, and other activities that keep connect graduates from every class.

21. University of Georgia

21. University of Georgia

UGA Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: Athens, Georgia

Median starting salary: $45,900

Every year, the University of Georgia hosts an alumni career fair where current and former students connect with potential employers from nearly 100 companies, including Dish Network, Morgan Stanley, and State Farm. Alumni also have access to monthly webinars, online job boards, and networking events in Atlanta.

20. Florida State University

20. Florida State University

FSU Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Median starting salary: $42,700

Florida State University‘s alumni network runs more than 80 local chapters across the US, keeping its nearly 300,000 alumniconnected long after they graduate. In addition to networking opportunities, these chapters offer members job search assistance, résumé referral services, help with career planning, and more.

 

19. DePauw University

19. DePauw University

DePauw University/Facebook

Location: Greencastle, Indiana

Median starting salary: $46,600

DePauw undergrads enjoy access to an alumni database where they can meet and contact fellow Tigers in their respective fields. Students can also take advantage ofTigerTracks, a job board exclusively available to DePauw students and alums.

DePauw graduates join the ranks of numerous notable alumni, including ESPN founders Bill and Scott Rasmussen, author Barbara Kingsolver (“The Poisonwood Bible”), and former vice president Dan Quayle.

18. Lehigh University

18. Lehigh University

Lehigh University Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Median starting salary: $60,400

Lehigh thinks of its alumni as a family and aims to maintain relationships with both people and companies. Every year the university holds events like the Conference of Accounting Professionalism, a weeklong program where students work directly with executives from major firms.

 

17. University of Florida

17. University of Florida

University of Florida Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: Gainesville, Florida

Median starting salary: $48,800

Across the globe, University of Floridaalumni can connect with one of almost 100 “Gator Clubs,” which organize cultural and academic activities, host speakers, provide networking opportunities, and keep Gator pride going strong.

UF’s alumni association also offers severalcareer resources to help graduates harness new skills, learn abut job openings, and network with fellow alums.

16. Union College

16. Union College

Union College Alumni/Facebook

Location: Schenectady, New York

Median starting salary: $50,800

Despite its small size — fewer than 2,500 students — Union College boasts an impressive alumni base, counting former Cosmopolitan editor Kate White and William Henry Seward, the secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln, among its distinguished alumni.

Current students can take advantage of the school’s Becker Career Center, which connects them with alumni in their field, helps them write polished résumés and cover letters, and teaches them valuable interviewing and job search skills.

 

15. Ohio State University at Columbus

15. Ohio State University at Columbus

The Ohio State University Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Median starting salary: $48,000

Ohio State’s Buckeye Careers Networkconnects students and alumni with job postings, internship opportunities, and co-op listings. Even after graduation, the alumni association offers career management services to help every Buckeye perfect their résumé, find a new job, or hire a fellow Ohio State alum.

14. Gettysburg College

14. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College/Facebook

Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Median starting salary: $47,600

Gettysburg College’s alumni relations office specializes in bringing current students and alumni together through regional events like happy hours, networking nights, performances, and sporting events.

Alumni can also sign up to speak with prospective students and their families, offer career advice to current students, and attend networking receptions, among other opportunities. “The support from the alumni helps with having lots of options for internships and jobs,” students told the Princeton Review.

 

13. Southern Methodist University

13. Southern Methodist University

SMU/Facevook

Location: Dallas, Texas

Median starting salary: $50,000

Every spring, Southern Methodist University hosts a career and internship fair open to both current students and alumni. The school maintains relationships with a number of renowned companies, including AT&T, EY, and Oracle, to help every Mustang find their dream job.

Graduates join a distinguished group of alumni that includes former-First Lady Laura Bush, Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates, and TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie.

12. Bucknell University

12. Bucknell University

BucknellU/Facebook

Location: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Median starting salary: $56,800

Even years after graduation, Bucknell alumni remain dedicated to the school — and current students take notice, according to thePrinceton Review. The university itselfstrengthens these ties through LinkedIn groups that help alumni make professional connections, career-related webinars, and opportunities for employers to recruit current students.

 

11. University of Virginia

11. University of Virginia

UVA Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Median starting salary: $54,100

While the University of Virginia seeks to engage all alumni, it pays special attention tohelping its young alumni succeed through programs like the Young Alumni Council, “city parties” that connect alums with others in their city, and school-sponsored reunions.

UVA counts actress and screenwriter Tina Fey, news anchor Katie Couric, and iconic author Edgar Allan Poe among its esteemed alumni.

10. Virginia Tech

10. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Alumni/Facebook

Location: Blacksburg, Virginia

Median starting salary: $53,800

Once a Hokie, always a Hokie. And throughVirginia Tech‘s “Hokies4Hire” program, students and alumni can apply for jobs, internships, and co-ops. Current students can even land on-campus interviews from the program.

Post-grad, VT’s alumni association continues to keep Hokies in the loop through LinkedIn groups, webinars with career experts, and networking opportunities with fellow alums.

 

9. Wellesley College

9. Wellesley College

Wellesley College/Facebook

Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts

Median starting salary: $45,900

“Wellesley’s alumnae network is one of the strongest I found in my college research, and Wellesley’s career placement services will assist alumnae no matter how much time has passed since they graduated,” one student told the Princeton Review.

The school’s powerful alumnae base includes: journalist Diane Sawyer, presidential candidate and former-Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Madeleine Albright, the first female secretary of state.

8. Hampden-Sydney College

8. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney Alumni Association

Location: Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

Median starting salary: $49,800

Hampden-Sydney College believes graduates can go on to any career they want, and the school supports them in making whatever that is a reality. Hampden-Sydney takes advantage of its alumni network to fulfill that vision, including programs like TigerConnections, an in-house job board where alumni frequently share job and internship openings.

 

7. Clemson University

7. Clemson University

Clemson University/Facebook

Location: Clemson, South Carolina

Median starting salary: $51,400

With more than 136,000 alumni,Clemson‘s reach in the professional world stretches far. The school’s alumni association provides graduates with a number of servicesto help advance their careers, including job postings from fellow alums, networking opportunities, and connections within recruiting agencies.

 

6. St. Lawrence University

6. St. Lawrence University

St. Lawrence University Alumni Association

Location: Canton, New York

Median starting salary: $44,700

St. Lawrence University has several programs in place that give current students the opportunity to be mentored by alumni in their desired field of study. For example, undergraduates can enroll in the “Shadow a Saint” program, which matches them with an alum to shadow for up to a week.

“Networking and alumni contact is HUGE!” a student told the Princeton Review. “Alumni are very helpful and are proud to lend a hand.”

 

5. Wabash College

5. Wabash College

Wabash.edu

Location: Crawfordsville, Indiana

Median starting salary: $44,700

Students at all-male Wabash College can “test drive” any career they’re interested in through the school’s externship program. Students spend up to a month intensively shadowing someone in their desired career — typically a Wabash alum — to see the ins and outs of the profession.

Students can take it a step further with the Peer Immersion Experience, where they test out a variety of positions through weeklong immersions that include networking opportunities, site visits, and hands-on experience.

4. Claremont McKenna College

4. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna College/Facebook

Location: Claremont, California

Median starting salary: $50,100

Before they even graduate, Claremont McKenna students are able to find mentors in their industry using the school’s Mentor Connect program. Based on their interests and experience, Mentor Connect matches current undergraduates with alumni who formally mentor the students over a 10-week period.

The school also touts an expansive internship database to help students bolster their résumés and gain real experience in their fields of study.

 

3. Texas A&M University at College Station

3. Texas A&M University at College Station

Aggie Network/Facebook

Location: College Station, Texas

Median starting salary: $54,300

Few graduates are as proud as those who callTexas A&M their alma mater. And that pride comes with more than just a profound sense of school spirit — it means joining a community more than 436,000 strong.

Through The Association of Former Students, Aggies can access tools to help them craft the perfect résumé, ace interviews, and learn effective networking techniques. They can also connect with fellow alumni through class reunions and game day meet ups.

2. Pennsylvania State University

2. Pennsylvania State University

Penn State Alumni Association/Facebook

Location: University Park, Pennsylvania

Median starting salary: $51,500

Penn State’s alumni base includes more than645,000 people — that’s more than half a million Nittany Lions worldwide. “One of the best things about Penn State overall is the fact that the alumni network is one of the largest in the United States,” a student told the Princeton Review. “Because of this, PSU alums seek out Penn State grads for jobs at their companies.”

Even after graduation, the university helps students further their careers. Members of thealumni association can take advantage of virtual networking events, career fairs, volunteer career coaches, and more.

1. Dartmouth College

1. Dartmouth College

Dartmouth Alumni/Facebook

Location: Hanover, New Hampshire

Median starting salary: $55,500

When it comes to networking and building professional connections, alumni are one of the most valuable resources Dartmouth offers its students. “They love to stay involved with the college and are often willing to talk to current students about careers — and many have been known to give internships and jobs to Dartmouth students,” a student told the Princeton Review.

Dartmouth’s distinguished alumni include actress and screenwriter Mindy Kaling, private equity billionaire Leon Black, and former US Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Timothy Geithner.

 

Businessinsider.com | February 26, 2016 | Emmie Martin

 

 

 

 

 

Your #Career : 3 Ways to Deal With Job Search Anxiety…This Anxiety can Spill Over into the Interview Process & Cause you to Come Across as a Nervous Wreck who Doesn’t have the Right Skills for the Job.

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Searching for a new job can be an anxiety-provoking activity. This is especially true if you were suddenly laid off or fired. You likely feel pressure to find a job quickly so you can pay your bills and sustain your current level of living.  However, this anxiety can spill over into the interview process and cause you to come across as a nervous wreck who doesn’t have the right skills for the job.

Free- Business Man in Beach Surf

If you want to make a good first impression, you’ll need to get a handle on your anxiety. Here’s how.

1. Understand what’s happening

Psychologist James Pann says when faced with a stressful situation, our body goes into overdrive. We immediately enter into “panic mode,” and our body prepares to fight or run away from a perceived threat. Consequently, we may start to sweat, get the shakes, and feel our heart pounding before and during a job interview. Pann said:

 When it is comes to networking, interviewing, and other stressful job search events, many of us experience at least some of these signs and symptoms. When faced with significant physical or psychological stress, your body reacts with what is termed the “fight or flight response.” The response prepares your body for physical action through sympathetic nervous system arousal and an increased release of corticoids, which are stress hormones. Virtually all the systems in your body are affected, including the circulatory, pulmonary, immune, and nervous systems. The physical symptoms associated with this state include quickened and shallow breathing, stomach disturbance, muscle tension and increased pulse rate.

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2. Visualize

Instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong during your interview, visualize a positive outcome. Imagine yourself making a great first impression and being offered the job. See yourself in a relaxed, happy state. If you can create a vision of yourself as confident and knowledgeable, you will appear more relaxed during your interview. It may also help to use a career vision board. One of the images could be a picture representing the job you want.

“By visualizing yourself as calm, using creative visualization techniques to relax, you can remove nagging anxiety, lower your blood pressure and overcome fears and phobias … If you’re lacking in self-belief and, for example, feel incapable of passing exams or overcoming obstacles in your life, you can call on creative visualization to strengthen your self-image and your belief in yourself. As you grow, you’ll naturally achieve the things you previously thought were impossible,” said author Robin Nixon.

3. Hire a career coach

A career coach can help you identify the right career track, polish interview skills, and offer resume advice. All you may need is a bit of coaching to push you in the right direction and ease your nerves.

“A coach gives you help tailored to you…and will help you develop new strategies and methods as you go along in the search…your coach is your personal sounding board and part of your unofficial board of directors,” said career development coach Joanne Meehl.

However, if you find that your anxiety is overwhelming and is starting to negatively affect other areas of your life, you may also want to talk to a mental health professional. Your difficulties could partly be due to an underlying anxiety disorder.

 

CheatSheet.com | Januray 26, 2016 | 

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Your #Career : New Year, New Strategy, New Job…So the Good News for Job Seekers is that Many People are Looking & Planning to Leave their Current Positions, which in Turn Creates Turnover

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Whether you are thinking about finding a new job or contemplating a career shift to another field, the start of a new year is actually a good time to embark upon your search. Making a career change ranks high on many people’s list of New Year’s resolutions. A large spike in people searching on-line job boards, reaching out to contacts on various social platforms, and applying for new positions has marked the first week in January during the last three years.

Free- Lock in Door

So the good news for job seekers is that many people are looking and planning to leave their current positions, which in turn creates turnover and an enormous number of openings. The number of people leaving their jobs voluntarily in the U.S. has been increasing steadily. Once the impact of these resignations is felt, many companies will be searching for new talent to fill these vacant slots and it is expected to create a very robust job market in a wide range of industries.

There is also a sense that this year, more young and mid-level professionals will be looking for the “next” job or making a change, faster than previous generations. As Millennials are now the largest generation represented in the work-place, there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that Gen Y professionals get “job restless” quickly, especially if they feel under-valued, perceive that they don’t have enough visibility, and don’t feel that they are challenged and are learning enough from their current employer. Quite frankly, even if they are happy and like the people they work with, Millennials are often seeking to make a change because they have FOMO (fear of missing out) more than any other generation in history.

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Whether you are part of this demographic or not, all of this means an extremely positive outlook for would-be job seekers. So now that the conditions are positive for your job search, how do you make it happen? What will it really take? Here are some tips that should help you land a great new job in the New Year: 

  1. First, even though there are positive conditions for job seekers, don’t be over confident and make the mistake of under preparing or under estimating the amount of time and energy a true job search takes.
  2. Do your research when you are applying for jobs and demonstrate a real interest and knowledge of the employer. Elevate this to an even higher level of preparation for an interview. Recruiters are completely turned off when you don’t even know what the company does.
  3. Make sure that you have “good job search habits”. What I mean by this is that you should view your search as a job that you literally get up for each day of the week, get dressed and get to work. You set goals for the day of applying for positions that aren’t random, but you are truly interested in and qualified for and you keep a record of these and dates to follow up. You reach out to a number of contacts in your network and set up as many calls and “coffees” as possible.
  4. If you haven’t already, establish an email account that is professional and can handle large files. If you have been using your nickname @ AOL AOL +%, it’s time to set up a Gmail or similar large email account with your real name.
  5. Make sure you name your resume with your actual name, not “my resume”. You would be shocked at how many job seekers don’t do this and then wonder why they never hear back on a job they seem qualified for. It’s often because recruiters can’t find them.
  6. Master social. Utilize social media in strategic ways. Find companies and organizations that you are interested in and follow them on Twitter TWTR +0.00% andLinkedIn LNKD +0.00% and comment appropriately. Look out for tweets or job announcements and follow up.
  7. Utilize your college/university connections. The career center, alumni relations, and LinkedIn university pages are fantastic ways to find alumni from your Alma Mater who may be working in companies or industries that you are interested in. They can often offer advice and support as well as help connect you to additional opportunities.
  8. Speaking of networking, do it in person as well as online. Getting in front of people and being able to articulate what you are interested in, and a little about your background in a short amount of time (60-90 seconds), is an important “pitch” strategy to develop.
  9. Always be ready. Whether it’s a phone call, text, or other communication. In other words don’t pick up the phone if you are half asleep or at some loud social gathering. Rather, let the call go to your professional voice mailbox and then call the recruiter back when you have had a cup a coffee and are in a quiet area with strong cell phone reception.
  10. Keep up your energy, determination, and positive attitude. Job searching can be a very humbling experience, but no one wants to hire someone who appears frustrated and desperate.  Demonstrating your genuine interest and enthusiasm are key. Exercise, get plenty of sleep and talk to friends and job search professionals to get encouragement, vent and keep up your spirits.Depending on what positions and organizations you are applying for, your geographic location, and your flexibility, job searches can take a while. The good news is that there is a great deal of movement and opportunity on the horizon, and if you follow these tips, you can land that great new job in 2016.

    Forbes.com | January 13, 2016 | Trudy Steinfeld @nyuwasserboss