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.

Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your StoryAllison ChestonJanuary 28, 2018Job Search, Networking, informational interviews, Interviewing, Internships, professional associationsComment

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

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.

Starting OutAllison ChestonMarch 23, 2017Internships, Summer jobs, Networking, job market, informational interviews, unpaid internships, Career Planning, College InternshipsComment

Summer Internship Not Working Out? Here’s What to Do

It’s mid-summer and you’re in the midst of a coveted internship, following an intense and competitive interviewing period. When you were hired, you and your parents were thrilled.

Starting OutAllison ChestonJuly 25, 2016Career Development, College to Career, Internships, Job Search, millennial careers, Recruitment, staffing, temp jobs, Career Planning, College InternshipsComment

5 Ways to Develop Yourself as a Leader Early in Your Career

Leadership is one of those terms that is so ubiquitous it’s hard to define. Everyone aspires to be a leader, feels pressure to be a leader, is building their leadership capabilities. Every company is looking for leaders. Sure there are natural leaders, those with charisma to burn whose disciples will follow them anywhere. But leadership is not just the purview of those with rare talents; most people can become leaders if they take an interest and a methodical approach.

Colleges Make It Pay for Students to Take Unpaid Internships

Did you know that your school may offer grants for those students taking unpaid internships this summer?

Starting OutAllison ChestonFebruary 18, 2015Career Development, College to Career, Internships, millennial careers, unpaid internships, Career Planning, College Funded InternshipsComment

How College Students Can Make the Most of Winter Break

Winter break is a great time for college students to explore their interests and do some advance career planning. While it’s a busy time socially, many schools offer an extended break that gives students a month or so of real vacation time. Consider spending part of the month doing something with long-term benefits and make some inroads into your career planning. Here are some ideas for making the holiday break count.

Starting OutAllison ChestonDecember 5, 2014Career Development, Career Management, College to Career, Internships, Job Search, millennial careers, Networking, Career Planning, Career Preparation, College Internships, College StudentsComment

6 Ways to Be a Standout Summer Intern

Now that you’ve landed a great summer internship, how are you going to make it really worthwhile for both your employer and you? A bit of planning coupled with the ability to remain flexible as circumstance dictates, will help you learn a lot while enjoying the new experience and the opportunity to build your skills and credentials. Here’s how:

Starting OutAllison ChestonJune 19, 2014Career Development, College to Career, Internships, millennial careers, Summer jobs, Teen summer internships, Career Planning, College StudentsComment

Looking for a Job With Meaning? Here Are Four Ways to Find It

Are you a 20-something seeking work with meaning? Are you willing to trade great mentoring and a dynamic work environment for a lower salary? If that’s the case, you are trending with your generation. And while making less money is not to be treated lightly, research shows that people who feel personally fulfilled at work are happier than those who work exclusively for the money.

Get That Summer Internship (Or Job) Now!

You know how important it is to have internshi ps during your college years. And if you haven’t already lined something up, there is still a bit of time—provided you’re not completely consumed with studying for finals at the expense of conducting a search!

Starting OutAllison ChestonApril 30, 2014Career Development, Career Management, College to Career, Internships, Interviewing, Job Search, LinkedIn, millennial careers, Networking, Resumes, Social Media Management, Career PlanningComment

Finding Your Career Should Be Messy

I’m helping my son, a college sophomore, find a summer internship. I’ve mentioned before in these pages that I find college sophomores to be ideal clients. For one thing, they’re over the shock of the newness of college. With established friendships and some newfound maturity, life at school is a bit more predictable. They’ve had the benefit of a year’s worth of classes that hopefully provided a window into some new subject areas. And at most schools, by the end of sophomore year students must declare a major.

Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your StoryAllison ChestonApril 1, 2014Career Development, College to Career, Internships, Job Search, LinkedIn, LinkedIn profile, millennial careers, Networking, Resumes, Social Media Management., Career PlanningComment

But Should It Go on Your Resume?

You’ve heard it before: Ask 10 people to look at your resume and you’ll get 10 different opinions. So what’s a self-respecting job seeker in the throes of unemployment angst supposed to do?

Changing Course, Starting Out, Telling Your Story, Moving UpAllison ChestonJanuary 21, 2014Back to Work, Career Change, Career Development, Career Management, College to Career, Executive Careers, Internships, Interviewing, Job Search, millennial careers, Networking, Resumes, Career PlanningComment

Make the Holiday Break Count: College to Career Checklist

Whether you’re a college freshman or a junior, the holiday break is an important time to start planning for your summer internship. Banks and consulting firms do their internship hiring in January and February, but even if you’re interested in non-profit, government, start-ups or something non-traditional, now’s the time to get started. Here’s how:

Starting OutAllison ChestonDecember 17, 2013Career Development, Career Management, College to Career, holiday break, Internships, Job Search, LinkedIn, millennial careers, Networking, Resumes, Social Media Management., Career PlanningComment

Five Things to Do in College to Set You Up for a Great Career

There is an argument raging in this country right now about whether it is the duty of colleges and universities to make young people job-ready. Traditionalists argue that colleges should teach students how to think and help them develop a strong knowledge base, and that career preparation is the purview of career centers and employers. Many others, including President Obama, feel that colleges should take more responsibility for their graduates’ ability to get jobs. They argue that an ivory tower attitude doesn’t work anymore, given the cost of a college education today.