Uncategorized Archives

October 7, 2021

The Elevator Pitch in 3 Steps

Think about your last elevator ride. Now imagine you had the duration of the ride to tell someone all about yourself. Could you do it? You could if you had an elevator pitch ready to go. An elevator pitch is a short but meaningful summary of your academic and professional background. The goal? To be memorable! As a high school or college student, your work experience may be limited, so do you need an elevator pitch? Yes! You can use an elevator pitch at a school career fair, networking events, and your professional online profiles (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or your blog) that might be seen by employers. Since an elevator pitch should be around 30 seconds, it’s important that you include the most important and relevant information. Be sure to include these elements as you craft your pitch. Introduction. If you’re meeting somebody new, state your name and your purpose for the interaction. Do you want an internship? A […]

December 9, 2021

What Does Your Online Presence Say About You?

With summer internships just around the corner, now is the time to evaluate your social media presence. In a digital culture that emphasizes posting your highlight reel on Instagram, it’s a good idea to rethink not only how you want to portray yourself on social media, but also how you want potential colleges and employers to perceive you and your brand. In the current job-search climate, scouring a candidate’s social media pages is considered fair game. In fact, in 2o19, 36% of admissions officers (Kaplan, 2020) and 70% of employers reported visiting potential candidates’ social media pages. In 2020, that 70% jumped to 98% of employers (The Manifest, 2020). So, what can you do to ensure that you’re putting your best digital foot forward? For starters, take inventory of your personal online presence. What social media or discussion platforms do you use? Instagram? Twitter? Facebook? Reddit? Are there any accounts you used years ago that may still be active? Decide […]

January 6, 2022

Thinking about a Summer Internship? Now is the Time to Plan!

With the second half of the school year getting underway and colder temperatures in many parts of the world, it’s hard to imagine planning for summer. Between attending school, studying, participating in extracurricular activities, and fitting in a personal life, thinking about what to do over the summer shouldn’t even be on the radar. Or should it? According to U.S. News & World Report (Sorensen, 2022), “Because competition for summer jobs and internships can be stiff, you should start seeking out such opportunities months in advance.” So now is the perfect time to start thinking about and planning a summer internship. Why An Internship? Getting hands-on experience in a career field is a valuable way to spend time in the summer. For high school and college students, internships are primarily experience-focused, which means they are designed to introduce students to an industry or career area. For some, it confirms a chosen career area; for others it may create an interest […]

June 8, 2022

Words and Phrases to Avoid on Your Resume

As a recent high-school or college graduate, you may have little or no experience. This is why it’s critical that the experience you do have is presented on your resume in a way that makes an impact. Most prospective employers won’t consider moving forward with an applicant whose resume appears sparse, weak, or not compelling. What can you do? Avoid overused or weak language and instead, convey your experience in a way that shows off the work you’ve done. Use these quick fixes to transform your resume from dull to polished. Examples of words and phrases that don’t belong on your resume and what to use instead. 1st Person/Personal Pronouns: The first-person pronoun “I” Is implied and does not belong on a resume. Using it is repetitive and takes up space. Instead, start statements with an action verb. Use: Researched data about city demographics. NOT I researched data about city demographics. Responsible for/Duties included: These phrases are passive and overused. […]