Michelle A. Riklan
Certified Resume Writer, Certified Job Search Strategist, Career Coach, LinkedIn Profile Writer, Trainer, Facilitator, Author, Columnist, Speaker
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Career Newsletter
Volume III, Issue 11                                                        November 2014
Riklan Resources, LLC
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Welcome to November's career newsletter! 

 

Thanksgiving and the Networking Opportunities it Presents to Graduating Students

 

thanksgiving day clip Thanksgiving, a time to feast, give thanks and in some cases, endure awkward questions with your family. That's it, right?

 

Well, not just that. Thanksgiving is also a good time to build your network.

 

With all the parties and dinners to attend, I am sure your professional life isn't your top priority right now. Thanksgiving and your career aren't mutually exclusive, this holiday is actually a good excuse to touch base with your contacts and meet new people.

 

"But I'm in college! I deserve to take a break..."

 

I hear you. But those days are over - unless you want to get stuck without a job after graduation.  It's not totally over - I am not stopping you from spending Thanksgiving with your folks, but at least think of productive ways to spend it.

 

Instead of partying to get drunk, party to meet new people. Instead of calling old friends to gossip about high school, talk about your internship plans. Swap contacts and interview notes.

 

Building your network, even before you graduate, is good preparation for when you actually need a full time job.

 

It isn't too late to make the most of this holiday.

 

How to Network without Sapping the Fun Out of Thanksgiving

  • Make a Realistic List - List all the dinners and parties you can realistically attend given your limited schedule. Resist the urge to squeeze too many events into one night. That's not just realistic and it makes you look like a rude guest! Enjoy your dinner and the people around you.
  • Prioritize events where hot prospects - former professors, classmates, former bosses, and mentors - are in attendance. Aim to talk to them at least once during the event. Sometimes, it's enough just to say "Hi" and ask what they've been up to.
  • Bring a buddy - A wingman isn't just for dates. Bring someone with you so you can meet more people, talk up each other, and rendezvous with each other if you need a break. But don't be tempted to sit in the corner and ignore everyone else. Your wingman is there for support - to introduce you and help you break into formed groups - not to keep you company.
  • For mentors or old professors, thank them for a particular piece of advice or lesson they taught you. For colleagues and bosses, thank them for their specific contributions in your professional life. No need to write a teary novel, two to three sentences will do.

     

With all this, you can still enjoy Thanksgiving while meeting new people. A word of advice: know when you've had enough to drink. Yes, people are drinking and having fun but that doesn't excuse inappropriate behavior. 

 

Kind regards,   

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Our list is growing! If you would like to advertise in future issues, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

 

 

Stock Up on these Career Essentials on Black Friday

by Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC, CJSS 

 

What are you going to buy this Black Friday? A new flat screen? A new Xbox? New shoes?

You can buy those to impress your friends and neighbors - or you can update your professional wardrobe and impress people at your office.

 

Take advantage of Black Friday sales by investing in your professional look. You'll be glad you did when you need to dress to impress during a client presentation - or a job interview.

Business clients, your boss and colleagues notice what you wear. In fact, they judge you based on it. It's not their fault; it's just a natural human reaction.

 

Avoid that by investing in a wardrobe that shows your best side. This is one of the best ways to prevent people from labeling you before seeing what you're capable of doing.

 

Check out these suggestions to build a wardrobe that will propel your career:

 

For the ladies:

  • Purse or briefcase - A good bag is a great compliment to any outfit. But since you'll be using this for work, we're more after functionality than design. Choose a bag with wide comfy straps, so you don't hurt your hands or shoulders carrying it. Get one with enough pockets, and a space for a laptop or tablet if you bring one to work. Lastly, get a bag in a neutral color so you can mix and match it with other clothes.
  • Shoes - No matter how good it looks, open-toed heels are not appropriate for the office. Reserve these shoes for date nights or social gatherings. Choose shoes with a wide heel, as thin heels and high arches are impossible to wear for more than 3 hours straight. Limit shoe colors to black, grey, or nude-no pinks, blues or and neon colors please.
  • Moleskin organizer or a big notebook - Taking notes, even the mere act of carrying a notebook, during meetings gives you the impression of a responsible employee. Plus, it really helps to keep you organized.

 

For the gents:

  • Navy suit - A navy colored suit exudes an aura of professionalism and sharpness. It shows that you mean business.
  • Plain white polo - A crisp, white shirt free of logos and fancy stitch patterns is a must for every man's wardrobe. It goes well with everything and it never goes out of fashion. 
  • A new set of ties - Wearing the same ties week in, week out is tiring. You might think people won't notice, but they actually do.
  • Wrinkle-Free shirt and polo - Because who has time to iron? Whether you drive or commute doesn't matter, your shirt is going to be wrinkly by the time you get to work. To save time and give you the appearance of a forever immaculate professional, invest in tops with a "wrinkle-free" or "no-iron" tag.

One more thing, this isn't a clothing item but I want to mention it because it's very important and lots of people complain about this: overpowering cologne. If your scent announces your presence before you do, it ruins your chances of creating a good impression.

 

You'll see this from your colleague and boss when they wrinkle their nose, cough or open the window. Worse, if you're talking to someone with asthma or allergies, a strong scent can totally ruin your chances of getting heard,because they'll have to get out of the room just to breathe!

 

To do today:

 

Check your closet and see how many office clothes you have. Reply to this message and tell me how many of them you actually wear. How many of them are outdated or out of style? 

 

 

Want to Stop Hating Mondays? Find a Job that Excites You

(Excerpts from an interview with  J.T. O' Donnell during the National Career Summit)

 

I know way too many people who hate Sundays.

 

Why?

 

Because in a few hours, they have to march back to their office, working on things they don't like.

 

I wrote this piece to help you avoid those Sunday nights.

 

If you're still studying, this is for you too. After reading this, I hope you'll learn a thing or two about picking a rewarding career.

 

Last year, I interviewed JT O'Donnell, CEO of Careerealism Media and career expert. We lamented about the discontent and frustrations of the working population and examined how a few people found meaningful and rewarding work.


 

The Ultimate Guide to Finding Work You Love

 

1.      What do you often read about? What kind of books do you usually read? What kind of articles do you enjoy? What magazines and blogs are you reading? List all of them and try to look for common topics or genres. The things you read are not just hobbies... In many cases, it says a lot about your personality and preferred line of work.

 

2.      What excites you? "All day long, we come into contact with different things. Some things we don't have an opinion (or any reaction) of, some things we have a negative reaction to, while some make us happy and excited in some way," says O'Donnell.

 

The possibilities are endless so don't dismiss anything just because it's too weird. Write it all down on a notebook. You don't have to explain why something excites you. For now, just try to record as many 'excitement triggers' as you can. Continue writing until you have 3 days worth of notes.

 

3.      What do you secretly fantasize about? We're still talking careers and life ambitions here. You might want to travel to some exotic destination, feed Pandas or be a mystery novelist. I know there are so many reasons for you not to pursue these dreams. Maybe your parents held you back or maybe you're afraid of not having a stable salary. Add these fantasies to the list. It doesn't matter if it's realistic or not.

 

4.      Compile everything you listed from steps 1-3. Is there anything that comes up often? Highlight the 3 items that stand out. Trace these interests back into an industry, service, job, or company. "Don't worry about their location, you're not looking for an employer yet," says O'Donnell.  Right now we're just trying to see if your passion leads to a profitable job or business.

 

5.      Try the job for yourself. This part will take the longest to complete, but it's also the easiest way to find your dream job, so don't skip it.  After tracing your top 3 interests back to a company or a specific job, see if you can visit their location and observe people at work.

 

You don't need to intern or work there a week to see if you'll like the work. Just a few hours to observe is enough. Pay attention to the day-to-day work of the employees. Would you enjoy doing what they do? Ask the office manager if they can let you help, even for a few hours. In many cases, I'm sure the manager will be happy to get an extra helping hand.

 

So there you go, that's the 5-step process of finding your dream job. As you can see, it's not some airy fairy theoretical advice, because you'll need to test your findings at the end.

 

Granted, step 5 could take a few weeks. But it's a minor inconvenience compared to working in a job you hate for 20 years.

 

Listen to the interview in its entirety and 31 other world-renowned career experts. The Gold package has been discounted for the holiday season.

 

http://riklanresources.com/products/national-career-summit/

 

 

  
Suggested Reading: Now What? The Young Person's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career
By Nicholas Lore

Now What?: The Young Person's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career
by Nicholas Lore 

Paperback ~ Release Date: 2008-05-06
List Price: $16.99
Our Price: $3.22

Buy Now



About the Author:

Nicholas Lore is the originator of the field of career coaching and founder of Rockport Institute, an organization that has guided thousands of professionals, executives, high-tech people, artists, support staff, and government officials through career change, and helped numerous young people design their work. He has been commended for excellence by two U.S. presidents. He lives in Rockville, Maryland.

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If you have a favorite career book to suggest or an article that you'd like to submit for our upcoming issues, please send your information to [email protected].

 

 

What's Happening at Riklan Resources

Had a wonderful time speaking at CMAA Metropolitan Chapter's Mid-Manager Conference where I presented on Dressing for Success and Resumes that Land on the Top of the Pile!

 

Stay tuned for information about The National Career Summit 2015.

 

 

In This Issue
Thanksgiving and the Networking Opportunities it Presents
Stock Up on these Career Essentials on Black Friday
Suggested Reading: Now What? The Young Person's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career
What's Happening at Riklan Resources
Quick Links


In the Media

The Dress for Success organization is doing powerful things and touching the lives of so many.  Check them out!

 

The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. 

Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success is a global not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help our clients find jobs and remain employed. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for a second suit or separates when she finds work. 

Since 1997, Dress for Success has served more than 750,000 women around the world. Each year we reach nearly 70,000 women in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, France, Luxembourg and the West Indies. All Dress for Success organizations are not-for-profit entities, with Dress for Success Worldwide and its U.S. affiliates having 501(c)(3) charitable status and those outside the U.S. operating as registered charities. Clothing donations and financial contributions made to Dress for Success affiliates within the U.S. are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.



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