Finding a “real job” is hard work, and a lot of what goes into it are things I never learned in college.  This is my first attempt on this path, and it has definitely been an adventure and a learning experience.  One of the most important things I’ve learned so far is how important research is – not only researching what the company does but also who runs it.  In this tough job market, you have to attack from as many sides as possible, and you probably need to have a connection of some kind just to get an interview.  If you don’t think you know someone who “knows someone,” fear not!  You might just not be using all of the resources available to you.  One of the most important, and one which you might be overlooking, is your alma mater’s alumni network.  While applying to a job at a nonprofit, I stumbled upon part-time work here at Dear Bev.  I was doing some simple internet research on the board of said institution, and I discovered that Ms. Weinstein went to NYU, from which I recently graduated, and worked in the cable industry for many years, like my mother.  I decided to contact her through NYU’s alumni network, playing up our connections and offering to take her out for coffee.  At first, I felt hesitant.  Does this qualify as stalking? I wondered.  Earlier in my job-hunting process, I probably would have been too timid to ask for help from someone I had never even met before. However, a few months into this journey, I feel that I am starting to get the hang of networking, and after asking some trusted mentors for advice, I had the confidence that it was worth a try and an appropriate move.  In this case, Bev was impressed by my initiative and research skills and very kindly decided to put in a good word for me and forward my resume to my potential employers.  She also saw that I am doing social media work at my current internship and decided to give me some part-time work here at Dear Bev.  A happy ending!

Remember, making connections is half the battle and you should never be afraid to reach out, even if it seems like a long shot.  As long as you are polite, sincere and well-informed, the worst that could happen is that the person just won’t get back to you.  At best, your potential contact can help you get an interview, a job or a new opportunity that you never anticipated.

By Cat Tassini

If you’ve talked for 55 minutes of an hour interview, trust me, it didn’t go well.

“No I haven’t had time yet” is never the right answer to “have you looked at the Web site?” As matter of fact, it’s the wrong answer to any interview question.

Fashion counts or so says my “post grad in the office” blogging assistant. Latest commentary (under her breath of course): “Honey, your bag is not fierce. Your bag is the love child of Pepto Bismol and a drugstore.”

If you’ve been working for five years, no one really cares about your sophomore year summer internship. Lose it on the resume.

Unless a man is here for something other than job advice, leave the cologne at home.

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/139486/dear-bevs-career-bytes.html#ixzz1fxkvgb7x

Whether you’re on the road pitching A&E’s newest programs or selling NBC’s sports sponsorships, a good read and an iPad appear to be a few must-haves for frequent flyers, according to a random sample of sales leaders.

The range in reading preferences was as varied as the network executives surveyed. While it’s not clear that anyone will glean clues into upfront strategies from the list of top reading picks, the following recommendations should be useful for upcoming flights or even late nights in the office waiting to finish upfront negotiations.

iPads and Kindles Rule

Reading books the old-fashioned way seems to be a thing of the past. The iPad was the front-runner as a reading device followed by the Kindle.  No one mentioned using a magazine app, but plenty of execs acknowledged reading magazines. While Apple may be the dominant reader of choice, the Blackberry still rules as the most used smartphone.

Top Reading Picks

Mel Berning, executive vice president at AETN Networks, is reading no fewer than three books on his iPad: The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton Christen, The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris and The Big Short by Michael Lewis.

Call it coincidence but Amy Baker, senior vice president, sales at Lifetime, and Barbara Bekkedahl, vice president, sales at Bravo, are both reading Laura Hillenebrand’s Unbroken, on an iPad and Kindle, respectively.

It may seem backwards, but Seth Winter, senior vice president, NBC Sports, is lugging around the 500-page Keith Richard’s autobiography Life, while Patty Gilchrist, senior vice president of E! is reading about sports great Andre Agassi in his new book Open on her iPad.

Susan Malfa, senior vice presiden, Bravo, Oxygen and NBC Women’s Group, is reading Water For Elephants.  If you’re in need of a good laugh, Karen Grinthal, senior vice president, The Food Network recommends Tina Fey’s new book Bossypants.

John Barry, senior vice president, Discovery, and Jim Agius, senior vice president, A&E  favor business reads. Jim is reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell on his iPad, while John is toting around the Checklist Manifesto as he waits for his backordered iPad.

Biographies, Booze and Religion

Bruce Lefkowitz, executive vice president, Fox Cable Networks, is “rocking the Kindle” with Titanic Thompson The Man Who Bet on Everything and Steinbrenner The Last Lion of Baseball.

Bill Rosolie, executive vice president, Rainbow, is prepping for his summer trip to France with Bordeaux Burgundy — a Vintage Rivalry by Jean-Robert Pitte. Peter Olson, senior vice president, The History Channel is reading the scholarly The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

Print Still Flies

Magazines circulation may be hurting but not from our group of travelers. Some favorites included: Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated, all the weekly entertainment magazines, Golf Digest, The New Yorker and Newsweek. Most of the execs pick up at least two and often four newspapers before boarding. Of course, the media industry trades are favorites online or in print.

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/150364/dear-bev-as-a-frequent-flyer-im-curious-if-the.html#ixzz1fxiRB5Ti

Turns out a lot of the advice I give isn’t really age-specific. It applies equally to the recent grad or anyone in a job search.

Over the past few months. good friends, clients and relatives have asked me to interview freshly minted college grads. Job search basics are pretty universal.  Following is a snapshot of some of the advice I’ve doled out recently. The stories that follow illustrate why.

1. Appearance counts — not only your personal appearance, but also how the material you present looks.
2. Listen to what you’re saying. Really listen or have someone else listen carefully. It’s easy to unintentionally raise a red flag.
3. Follow-up makes a difference.
4. Flattery will work every time.

The Almost Perfect Ivy Leaguer
He graduated from an Ivy League school with a 3.7 GPA, played varsity football and called me Mam. Pretty great start, except for the Mam part. He was well-dressed, no suit but a nice sport shirt and slacks, had perfect posture and the confidence a background like his suggests.

I asked if he had a copy of his resume with him. That’s when the image dimmed just a bit. Content was fine. Appearance wasn’t.

The resume looked like he had been carrying around in his gym bag too long, corners slightly dog-eared and there was even a smudge. Rookie mistake.

Criticism gratefully accepted, and we were back on track.  I made a few phone calls and netted him two interviews. He’s been following up with me on his progress via emails. Now he calls me Ms. Weinstein. No doubt he’ll get an offer from my effort or his own determination.

Follow-up + Flattery Earns Big Points
He just graduated from the alma mater of a former client, and the client had been his senior-year mentor. He had been interviewing but not connecting.

It took less than 15 minutes to identify one of his issues. When I asked “What’s one of the things you want to change about yourself or that’s a fault?” His answer: “I’m slightly OCD.” Alarm bells went off, and yes, he had answered the question the same way in interviews. When I asked what he meant, he explained he was a perfectionist. Better description, I said. Lose the OCD.

Next, I looked at his resume for format and content. Both needed work. I asked him about accomplishments in college. He has some good ones, which he added. Format wasn’t bad, but there are better ones. I sent him to some online sites with samples. He did the hard work of revision. It paid off.

Although he sent me a thank you e-mail, I got a call from him about a month later. He wanted to thank me again. He said he was getting more interviews with his new resume and had just accepted an offer. Almost no kids I see ever follow up after the first thank-you email. I was flattered he was that thoughtful and appreciative. I’ll be watching out for him and told him to call me anytime he needed advice.

No Follow-Up – No Points
He had just finished his MBA from an OK school and had an undergrad degree from one of the best creative arts programs. Interesting mix, but he had no idea what he wanted to do. My brother sent this young candidate so I made some real effort.

How about a business development job in media connected to programming? I asked. He didn’t know what business development was — what’s wrong with grad schools! No worries. I knew some great execs in biz development. I set up some information interviews. He sent an email thanking me, but I never heard from him again.

He didn’t follow up with the people I sent him to either, after his initial e-mail.  I don’t know if he has a job and honestly don’t care. My brother now owes me, and you know what they say about payback!

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/161090/dear-bev-what-career-advice-do-you-give-recent-gr.html#ixzz1fxg6vaiJ