Speaking For Change

If you had a nickel for every time someone told you to set goals, you wouldn’t need goals. You’d be rich.

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Goals. Ambition. Drive. Shoot for the stars. Start a company. Get your MBA. Make dean’s list. Or … wake up before noon.

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We often set goals to keep us motivated, to gain a sense of accomplishment, and to make some type of difference. And if we want to advance in this competitive world, our goals need to be relatively impressive, right? They’ve gotta be better than the next guy’s (or gal’s).

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There is an important quality though about the type of goals you set. Most people would agree that impressive goals are good. They make you stand out. They afford you with bigger and better opportunity, and are like crack for your ego. So, the person who accomplishes the most impressive goals wins.

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But as you probably know, this isn’t completely true. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by: Jessica Swendiman

Disclaimer: Guys, read along if you want but this post is mostly for the women. Judging by the Costco-sized tubs of protein powder in your closets and the mismatched dumbbells you use as doorstops, you may be more interested in gaining the freshman 15 than losing it. However, if you are one of few fellows lucky enough to be waist deep in the battle of bulge, read on!

Ladies, if you’re like most other seventeen and eighteen-year-old women heading off to college, you are secretly terrified of gaining the freshman 15. And even more terrified of gaining the freshman 25, 30 or 40.

In the first few weeks of college you might have comforted yourself with the thought that you would only eat from the salad bar at your dining commons or even looked online for the healthiest menus. Or you and your roommate might have had a blissful first shopping trip together where you only bought “healthy” foods to cram in your little fridge and shoebox freezer. Read the rest of this entry »

Now that you wrote a killer cover letter and got the interview it’s time to win the job in the interview.
Here are a few MUSTS to shake those sweaty palms and have a great interview.

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Your cover letter has to get the employer interested in you. Here are 5 things your cover letter needs to capture in order to be effective.

As an employer reads through your cover letter they are only looking for a few things: Read the rest of this entry »

A hiring manager may go through 50 – 300 resumes for a job opening.  You have to make yours stand out. Here is a brief checklist to help you make your resume as effective as possible.

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One way to increase your chances in getting hired is to ask insightful and memorable questions at the interview. Here are several that will help your employer see you as confident, insightful, and valuable to their organization. Read the rest of this entry »

If getting a job is your final exam, informational interviews are your Cliff Notes and review sheets. Informational interviews can help you by providing connections, information, and leads to job openings that help you on your path to getting hired. An informational interview helps you discover what steps you need to take to get the job you want. It gives you the chance to ask a person with experience in your chosen field for advice and feedback.

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When people think of networking, they often think of going into a room with random strangers and being greeted by sweaty palms and cold stares. Ok, ok…most networking scenarios are better than this. But you can start working your network with people you already know to get advice, learn about job openings, meet valuable people, and simply connect. Read the rest of this entry »

Never have an awkward silence or boring conversations at networking events again. Here are 5  questions that will let good conversation flow and allow you to connect with and help more people at your next networking event.  Read the rest of this entry »