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Inspiring & informing millennials to #LandtheJob of their dreams to kick start their careers.

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Ace the Interview: Study Your Company

By Gala Jackson, M.Ed. CLC, www.InterviewSnob.com

The graduation is just around the corner.

Are you ready?

The job market is competitive, but you CAN stand out and land the job! In addition to well-written career documents and a polished digital footprint, you need to deliver an engaging presentation - YOU.

One of the most strategic moves you can make to stand out among the competition and impress your desired employer is to share your knowledge of the company. Prospective employers will be impressed by your ability to articulate the company's mission, values, vision and, most importantly, ideal customer.

Many companies today hire candidates not solely for their skills and qualifications, but also because they are a "cultural fit." Cultural fit is the ability to adapt and demonstrate the cultural objectives and values of the organization. The first step to being a culturally fit employee is to do your research. Here are four quick and easy things you can do to learn more about your desired employer:

Visit the Company Website The "Company History" page as well as the "About" page are online gold mines for candidates. These pages often provide information about the vision, mission, values, strategic plan, and public financials of the company, and much more. Additionally, information about the company service model and ideal customer can be found on the web. Doing a "Google" or "Bing" search will help you to find most of the information you need to know. So, get searching and do your due diligence.

Follow on Social Media Channels Most companies have developed a social media presence across multiple channels. The most popular channels are LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Start following your prospective employer on all of their social communications to learn "insider" information and maybe even job announcements not available on the website. While you are on LinkedIn, consider directly connecting with or following company recruiters to establish a professional relationship, share your interests, and target a position within the company.  

Connect with Alumni LinkedIn offers users a cool research tool that allows them to see and connect with alumni. Let's say you are a graduate of the Land the Job University and you are interested in working for a company such as Southworth by Neenah. You can do a search using the "Alumni Connections" under the "Connections" tab. First, select the option to identify all Land the Job University alumni, then search by employer. You can even take it a step further and search by position or geographic location. Utilizing your new list of targeted connections, send creative invitations to connect by highlighting your shared love for your alma mater. Connecting with individuals who have a shared point of reference are more likely to help a fellow alum.

Leverage your network Technology has made us the most interconnected generation in the history of the planet. Use that gift to your advantage. Share your career goals with your family, friends, professors, mentors, and acquaintances. Network your way into your next job. Asking simple questions can lead you down the right path to a resource, such as a company employee who can give you the inside scoop or maybe even the hiring manager.

Gala Jackson, M.Ed. is a Millennial Career Expert, Resume Genius, and Certified Life Coach. She is the CEO of InterviewSnob, a career consulting boutique for millennials. Connect with Gala @interviewsnob and check out her website at www.interviewsnob.com

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Before You Hit Send

By Gala Jackson, M.Ed. CLC, www.InterviewSnob.com

As an aspiring or new professional, you’ll want to avoid firing off an e-mail full of text-message jargon, words that convey the wrong tone, or a gross misuse of grammar, all of which can completely change your intended message.

As the most technologically advanced generation, we have become accustomed to texting and tweeting, skillfully mastering the challenge of using 120 characters or less in the most creative ways imaginable. We make up new words and acronyms and use a vast array of emoji and GIFs. We do this so often that our relaxed, informal writing style sometimes finds itself in places it doesn’t belong: business e-mails.

Effective communication is both an art and a science. Not understanding professional workplace standards for e-mail communication can stand between you and your dream job or next promotion. Here are my quick tips for effective e-mail communication.

Always include salutations. First things first, always acknowledge and address your reader and remember to close your e-mail with a signature.

Keep your e-mails short and sweet. E-mails are designed to be informative and succinct; remember, they’re not essays. It’s safe to say that if you are unable to get your point across in a maximum of two or three solid paragraphs (roughly 200 to 300 words), it’s time for a phone call or a meeting.

Focus your writing on providing critical details such as who, what, when, where, why, and how. Highlight the most important information in the first paragraph, as most readers often do not read e-mails in their entirety. Also consider the use of bullet points to break down content into a reader-friendly format, especially for recipients checking their e-mail on smart phones.

Read the original e-mail and the thread in its entirety. Be a knowledgeable writer. Take the time to read through the original e-mail and any subsequent responses before you reply. Crafting a thought-out, informed response makes you look polished and professional.

Think about the “To,” “CC,” and “BCC” fields. Who needs to be included in the e-mail thread? E-mails are best sent to individuals on a one-on-one basis unless there is a very specific reason for multiple receivers. Even if the original e-mail has multiple recipients, consider all parties before hitting “reply all.”

Additionally, if a mass e-mail needs to be sent, be sure to send a blind carbon copy, or BCC, to all recipients as a courtesy to individuals who do not wish to have their private information shared with all other recipients.

Examine the e-mail—read, read it again, and read it once more. It is so easy to make grammatical mistakes and use text message jargon in standard e-mails. Most mistakes come from typing a rushed response on a smart phone and failing to re-read the finished message before hitting “send.” Take the time to review your composed message at least twice: once from the beginning of the message to the end, and again from the end to the beginning. Our brains are trained to fill in the gaps, causing us to miss common mistakes. Reading backwards helps you focus on the actual words in the document.

Pick-up the phone—it’s not as scary as you think. E-mail has become one of the primary methods for workplace communication, but it will never replace the value of connecting by phone or in person. When first corresponding with a new colleague, it is best to pick up the phone or schedule a meeting; that way, it’s possible to pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues, which will help facilitate any future electronic correspondence.

Likewise, it is best to pick up the phone and call the sender—rather than send a reply e-mail—if you are unable to assess the tone of an e-mail or if the tone of the e-mail is negative. Replying with an inappropriate tone can start a fire, and it is best to avoid those when possible. Another reason to pick up the phone? Back-and-forth e-mail exchanges. It is easier to prevent conflict than it is to solve it.

Gala Jackson, M.Ed. is a Millennial Career Expert, Resume Genius, and Certified Life Coach. She is the CEO of InterviewSnob, a career consulting boutique for millennials. Connect with Gala @interviewsnob and check out her website at www.interviewsnob.com

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Don’t be just one-sided.. become 3D by crafting your personal brand through documents, your digital footprint and your delivery. http://bit.ly/1OdxswG

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Intern Like a Rockstar

Gala Jackson, M.Ed., www.InterviewSnob.com

Internship and co-op programs are tried and true ways to help you transition from the classroom to the boardroom. Taking advantage of one or more of these opportunities will help you understand how to apply what you are learning in the classroom to practical matters in the workplace.

If you’re looking for an internship or co-op experience (and you definitely should be if you’re a sophomore, junior, or senior in college) start with your career services center on campus. This office works directly with employers to identify collaborative partnerships.

Once you secure an internship or co-op placement, here are seven quick tips for becoming a rockstar intern.

1. Do your homework Stellar interns are knowledgeable and resourceful. Learn as much as you can about the company and your responsibilities as an intern. Research any new words, terms, or business strategies you hear for the first time. Doing your homework will help you make valuable contributions to projects and to your team, making you the real MVP.

2. Take responsibility for your actions Millennials get a bad rap for not taking responsibility. Make sure you don’t fit the stereotype. Arrive on time or early each day, be willing to take on new tasks or more work, admit when you don’t know something, own up to your mistakes, and ask for help. Remember, you’re working for a real company or organization, so take your role seriously and do your best.

3. Pay attention Be an active listener. When you attend meetings or participate in conference calls, listen carefully, and take notes. When you’re working on a project around the office, be observant, and learn the company culture. When you meet someone for the first time, be sure to give a firm, professional handshake, make natural eye contact, and take note of who the person is within the larger organization.  

4. Speak up You were selected for a reason. The employer sees your potential and wants to give you an opportunity to grow. Remember to listen first, do your homework, and then make contributions to meetings or projects. Share your perspective and ideas. Be creative and innovative. Who knows, you just might be named “employee of the month”!

5. Ask for feedback One of the worst things you can do is to try to complete a project or assignment without understanding what you are supposed to do. Ask questions! When you’re given a task or a project, make sure the expectations are clear, that you deliver results, and, when possible, complete the project ahead of schedule. Also, ask for feedback on how you can improve as an intern. Such information is gold. Being adaptable and willing to improve are hallmarks of a future business leader.

6. Grow your professional network Meet as many of your colleagues as possible. Arrive to meetings early to meet each participant. Share your name, where you attend school, tell them you’re a new intern, and tell them about the project(s) or task(s) to which you contribute. If you want to establish more meaningful connections (and you should), never eat lunch alone. Ask to join your supervisor, teammates, or other interns. Be observant, contribute to the conversation, and listen carefully—you’ll learn a lot!

7. Mind your manners “Please” and “thank you” still go a long way in the workplace. Be sure to treat every person with the same level of respect, from the CEO to the custodian. You never know who is watching and who can help you out in a time of need.

Gala Jackson, M.Ed. is a Millennial Career Expert, Resume Genius, and Certified Life Coach. She is the CEO of InterviewSnob, a career consulting boutique for millennials. Connect with Gala @interviewsnob and check out her website at www.interviewsnob.com

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As a millennial, don't lose your race to a good paying range.http://for.tn/1JbET2m

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You're at a job interview and you've dreaded this moment. They're asking you about why you left you're leaving your current job. Here's how to answer: http://bit.ly/1cOOT7x

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Natalie Portman, Meredith Vieira and Robert De Niro share some words of wisdom with the Class of 2015.

See their Commencement Addresses here

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The interview might be over, but there are five tips to remember to do afterwards! http://bit.ly/1efS74S

For more indepth information, come visit our LandtheJob.com!http://bit.ly/1F7NOUL

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Need something to listen? Subscribe to our podcasts now on iTunes! http://apple.co/1AIJc6b #LandtheJob

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Happy Thursday!

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Finding the right career path after graduation can be a maze within itself. Annie Fischer writes back to a lost grad: http://for.tn/1FmcM1H‪ #‎LandtheJob‬

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Time to freshen up those skills!

What is seemingly basic isn’t. Technical skills are of wide variety depending on the job and/or field you are looking into.

Technical skills could be proficiency in Microsoft Office, or they could mean much more complex skills like coding.

For a list of the best tech skills in 2015, click: http://bit.ly/1ggkui8

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Didn't get the salary that you wanted after that job offer? Learn some tips from our latest Slideshare: http://bit.ly/1Hq3QHJ ‪#‎LandtheJob‬

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Leadership skills can be honed with the right options.http://onforb.es/1I7euT6 ‪#‎LandtheJob‬

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Don't let your tweets get the best of you; make your Twitter into a social business card instead. http://bit.ly/1K4jR9K

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This month’s book recommendation comes from our own Millennial Career Expert, Gala Jackson:

“I recommend Do Over by Jon Acuff for recent grads and millennials to because it’s important to start building a career and not just apply for a job. In his book Jon helps readers identify their skills and career goals. The book addresses the concept of a career savings account to prepare for the ups and downs of the workforce from promotions to lay-offs. The book also identifies the four major stages of every career and how to navigate each stage with effective strategies. Jon’s humor and writing style make for an easy read and lots of laughs! You’ll be glad you read this book. It’ll help you build and maintain a successful career.”

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Call me, maybe? What you do after the dreaded interview. Check out this useful slideshare to review the 3 possible scenarios! ‪#‎LandTheJob‬