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In the Driver's Seat

Tag Archives: Networking

The Story of YOU: The Most Fascinating Story Ever Told

April 2, 2018
  When you talk about yourself, do people listen? Do their eyes glaze over in boredom? Something in between? Knowing what to say, how to say it and, even more importantly, what NOT to say about yourself, is an art, and an important one. Telling your story in a compelling way is one of the most important things you can get right – not only in the job search process and on the job but also in, well, life.…

5 Things College Seniors Can Do Now to Secure That Post-Grad Job

March 16, 2018
  Today my clients include five college seniors I’m helping to secure a post-graduate job. While they have been doing all the right things since January, it is taking time to get responses. For all you college seniors out there, here’s the advice I’m sharing with my clients in real time: Know that mid-March marks the time when companies you’ve been contacting start to respond to your internship and entry-level job applications.  …

What Can Informational Interviews Do For Me?

February 25, 2018
  Over the years there’s been loads written about the value of “informational interviews,” the meetings you, the job-seeker, procure to find out more about an organization you’re interested in, while sort of pretending you’re not actually interested in a job there. These “interviews,” constitute a tricky dance between candidates and prospective employers, prompting many candidates to just throw in the towel and avoid them altogether. But that’s a mistake.…

Low Response Rate from Online Job Applications? Try This

February 11, 2018
A reader emailed me recently with a question about the low response rate to his online applications – a universal problem! For some people, online applications are the bane of their existence, yet others have success. Here is how I look at the virtual application market based on your level, and type of, experience: If you are just starting your career, it’s fine to apply online, as long as you take the steps I detail below.…

The Messy Middle of Your Job Search

January 28, 2018
In my practice working with executives at all levels and millennials starting their careers I’ve noticed that everyone, regardless of experience, finds the middle of their search stressful and difficult. Over time I’ve learned to warn clients about this. Once the exhilarating beginning of the career development or change process is over and we’ve identified an end goal, and the branding and marketing and outreach plan is ready to go, it’s time to wait to hear back from the market.…

Want a Summer Internship? Here are the 6 Things You Need to Know

March 23, 2017
So you’re a college student and while you really want a summer internship, you either haven’t gotten around to working on it or have made some inroads but given up. The good news is there are still plenty of internships available if you’re willing to apply yourself to the task. You should know that the most competitive, structured and paid internships are mostly gone by now. And because of the regulations around paying interns, some big companies have abandoned their internship programs, so there may be fewer paid internships available.…

How a College Senior Can Build A Network in 3 Easy Steps

January 23, 2017
A panicked college senior at University of Michigan, my alma mater, contacted me recently. Dear Ms. Cheston, I’m graduating in May and have been applying for jobs with nothing to show for it. I’ve completed over 100 online applications and haven’t received one call back. I don’t have connections and neither does anybody in my family. I will have student loans to pay and can’t afford to be without a job after graduation.…

How a 2016 College Grad with No Experience or Connections Got His Dream Job in 6 Months

January 6, 2017
Happy 2017! I don’t know about you, but I find the onslaught of tips for committing to New Year’s resolutions anxiety-producing. Personally I prefer – and find more effective –making incremental and realistic changes as I feel inspired – by a book, a talk, a client…or a thought in the shower. Then I’m able to plan for that change in a specific and habit-forming way, propelled by positive energy. But everyone’s different.…

Want More Interviews? Build Your Career Brand in 4 Steps

November 7, 2016
So you want a job that pays you to do your best work. You want to be appreciated for your experience, your special abilities and your creativity. You want to work for an organization that aligns with your personal values, a place you can feel proud to call home. Sounds reasonable, right? It is — but you have to do a bit of work. You have to articulate your career brand.…

Get the Feedback You Need to Get Better at Your Job

October 10, 2016
  I have a 23-year old client who is doing a one year, post-graduate fellowship. During our call this morning he told me that while he enjoys his work it can be slow and that his bosses don’t give him as much work as he’d like. In fact, they expect him to take initiative and suggest work he thinks needs to be done. While he has some ideas for new projects he struggles with how to initiate conversations with his boss who seems so busy with more important work.…