30 Things to Do for Your Career by 30

By LearnVest, June 11, 2014

 

For many people, their 20s can be a rich time for personal self-discovery—a period when you’re more willing to take risks and maybe even make mistakes along the way.

But they can also be some of the most formative years for another important facet of life: your career.

When you graduate, you may have an idea of what you want to be when you “grow up,” but you may not have an idea of just how to get there. And while hindsight is 20/20, you don’t want to leave everything to chance—especially if it affects your future earning power.

Top Networking Moves for 20-Somethings

1. Attend as Many Events as Possible

“There’s an unstated expectation that you come to networking events to support people. As a result, there are many people who are more than willing to help perfect strangers find a job, exchange contacts, or give meaningful advice,” says Michael Price, author of What Next? The Millennial’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Real World. “But the key is to meet those people face-to-face.” In other words, get off social media and start making real, human connections because no one can tell how charming you are over email.

 

2. Set Networking Goals

“Before attending any event, you should have a clear purpose of why you’re going,” says Ricardo Trigueiro, director of international marketing for image and brand development firm CHUVA group. “Is it to meet as many people as possible to build your contact list? Or is it to meet a particular person?” Then make sure to accomplish your goal before the event is over.

 

3. Order Business Cards

It may seem old school, but it’s still simpler to hand people a card as opposed to hovering over them as they input your info into a cell phone. Plus, you can’t hand your resume to everyone you meet, but you can leave a card behind without seeming overbearing, adds Kathy Condon, author of Face-to-Face Networking: It’s All About Communication. Exchanging cards with an important contact will then allow you to follow up with a resume later.

If you don’t have an existing business card, you can create a simple one for yourself that includes your name, address, phone number, and email, along with links to any relevant business sites, like a LinkedIn account or a personal website that displays your work or portfolio. A stack of cards won’t cost much, either. Online print shops, like Vistaprint and Moo, offer options in the $10 to $25 range.

 

4. Use a Contacts Manager App

The new people you meet can easily get lost amid the hundreds of contacts you log into your email address book and various social networking accounts. But using apps like Rapportive or Connect6º PeopleDiscovery can help you note identifying details—e.g., the CEO who loves Coldplay—to jog your memory, and give you something to chat about the next time you meet.

 

5. Craft the Perfect Reply to “What Do You Do?”

It may sound like a no-brainer, but you want to tell someone about your job in a way that encourages conversation as opposed to shutting it down, says Trigueiro. If you’re Trigueiro, the obvious answer for what he does is: “I am an image consultant.” But he prefers something more like: “I help professionals enhance their visibility, image, and performance in the workplace.” The latter is a better way to pique curiosity and open a dialogue.

 

6. Follow Up—and Mean It

“When you meet people, let them know how you plan to follow up, either by connecting on LinkedIn, emailing, or calling about scheduling a lunch,” says Trigueiro, adding that you should then do what you promise in a timely manner. “Lack of follow-up is not good business.”

 

Top Job-Hunting Moves for 20-Somethings

7. Delete Eyebrow-Raising Online Pics

Employers are likely to check out social media when researching prospective candidates, so your online presence on every account—whether that’s Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook—should be professional, says Parker Geiger, CEO of the CHUVA group. “That means no photos showing you drinking with friends on the beach or couple shots.”

If you can’t quite bring yourself to delete those old spring break albums, at least make sure your privacy settings are at their tightest. That said, once something is on the internet, there are no guarantees that those “It’s all in good fun” photos won’t surface somehow.

 

8. Create Resume “Extensions”

“If you want to stand out from the competition, listing your extracurricular activities on a piece of paper is no longer enough,” Geiger says. For example, adding your Habitat for Humanity volunteer work to your resume doesn’t bring the experience to life. Instead, post pictures of yourself working on the house on LinkedIn or brief videos of you working with other volunteers on YouTube. You can also add these as links within your resume in Word, PDF format, or on a personal career website.

 

9. Play the Job Field

While it’s tempting to focus on one cool company you’re dying to get into, “be strategic and interview with numerous companies at the same time,” says Matt Mickiewicz, CEO and co-founder of job-placement startup Hired.

This also means not accepting the first offer that comes along. In fact, juggling numerous opportunities is the best way to make yourself more appealing to hiring managers. “Then you can be upfront about the fact that you have choices,” Mickiewicz says, “because once a company has made you an offer, the last thing it wants is to see you walk out the door.”

 

Top Interviewing Moves for 20-Somethings

10. Kill the Receptionist With Kindness

“That person probably has more pull in the office than you think,” says Rosalinda Randall, author of Don’t Burp in the Boardroom: Your Guide to Handling Uncommonly Common Workplace Dilemmas. Being rude to your future bosses’ gatekeepers might burn bridges—and your chances at getting the gig.

 

11. Come Armed With Questions

“The key to interviewing and landing a job is to interview the interviewer,” says Price. After all, you’re on as much of a fact-finding mission as they are, so gather as many clues about the company’s culture and job expectations as possible. “Strong questions also let the interviewer know how you think and how intellectual you are,” Price says. “Think of it as a game of mental chess. They may not admit it, but they secretly want you to stump them.”

 

12. Master the Handshake

Here’s a hint: It shouldn’t be weak and clammy. “Do not underestimate the importance of a firm, dry, eyeball-to-eyeball handshake,” says Karen Elizaga, an executive coach and author of Find Your Sweet Spot: A Guide to Personal and Professional Excellence. “I hear from so many top executives that a less-than-stellar handshake makes them nuts.”

 

Top Skill-Building Moves for 20-Somethings

13. Sell Something

Even if you never go into selling full-time, holding a sales position at some point in your career can teach you valuable life lessons. Kate McKeon, CEO of Prepwise, a test-prep and career-coaching firm, even suggests trying out a commission-only job to get the full experience. “It’s brutal to get rejected over and over, but you’ll learn to persevere—and you’ll figure out how to be successful,” McKeon says.

Besides, whether or not you realize it, you’re actually selling all the time. “You have to sell yourself to companies to get jobs—and peers and bosses to earn their respect and promotions,” she says. “Selling is all around us.”

 

14. Take an Improv Class

“It can develop your ability to listen more carefully, build on the ideas of others, solve problems creatively, and get comfortable with risk—and even failure,” says Milo Shapiro, author of Public Speaking: Get A’s, Not Zzzzzz’s!. “My improv years did as much to help me with my corporate job as my college training,” Shapiro says.

 

15. Mind Your (Table) Manners

“Many meetings take place over fine lunches and dinners, so it’s important to know the basics,” Elizaga says. Learn how to order graciously, which fork and knife to use, and bread plate etiquette. “Your comfort with the basics will ease nerves, as well as make you look polished,” she says. “If you don’t have these skills, it will stick out—and possibly be a negative in terms of interfacing with clients or employers.”

 

16. Learn Basic HTML

Millennials get a lot of credit for being “digital natives,” but knowing merely how to browse the web, send email, use Twitter, and upload videos doesn’t really mean much these days, says Aaron Black, assistant professor of management and business administration at Missouri Baptist University. “You don’t have to know how to write software or create a website from HTML, but you need to know enough to understand how programming works so you’re ahead of the curve.”

 

17. Get Out of the Country

Spending time abroad—even if it’s just personal travels—is good experience to have in an increasingly global economy. “When I speak to my 30-something friends, nearly all of them say they wish they had traveled before launching their professional careers,” says Chaz Pitts-Kyser, author of Careeranista: The Woman’s Guide to Success After College. “Through travel, you can gain an amazingly broad view of the world—and maybe even find new career opportunities.”

 

18. Adopt a Cause You Believe In

“[Volunteering] can help show trust and value to potential employers,” says Geiger, adding that it illustrates you care about something deeper than the daily grind. But don’t just team up with a nonprofit to meet people or because it looks good on your resume. “Join one to help others first,” he says, “and make connections second.”

 

19. Be Willing to Invest in Yourself

Your career is your biggest asset, so it will require some financial investment, says Eddy Ricci Jr., author of The Growth Game: A Millennial’s Guide to Professional Development. “Don’t be afraid to invest in a library of self-help career books, lunches and dinners with influential people, and ongoing courses to build a career bedrock.”

 

Top On-the-Job Moves for 20-Somethings

20. Steer Clear of Office Gossip

This is especially sage advice during the first six months at a new job, says Louise Jackson, a career coach in Ann Arbor, MI. “Be quick to work hard, but slow to form alliances with co-workers,” she says. “Watch and listen for how stakes fall politically—the last thing you need is to be aligned with someone who is on their way out.”

 

21. Laugh at the Boss’ Jokes

Along those same political lines, you’re not going to love everyone you work with—and you’ll just have to deal. Of course, you don’t want to be the office kiss-up, “but bosses like to have their egos stroked,” says Dr. Lorenzo G. Flores, author of Executive Career Advancement: How to Understand the Politics of Promotion. “Plus, laughing at jokes is great for bonding and relationship-building.”

 

22. Make Friends in High Places

Sure, senior executives can seem intimidating if you’re just starting out, but they’re the ones you can learn the most from, says Fred Cook, author of Improvise: Unconventional Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO. “Stalk them in the hallways—without being creepy—seek them out at events, ask them smart questions, and never be afraid to ask for their help.” You never know when that high-powered exec might be willing to act as a mentor or sponsor.

 

23. Know When to Keep Quiet

We hate to break it to you, but you don’t know everything—and you shouldn’t be quick to yammer away at the wrong time. If you’re in a meeting, take notes for questions you can raise later. If you’re in a conversation, listen for the meaning between the words, and don’t be too quick to interrupt.

“There are times to assert your opinions, and times when it’s better to shut up,” Cook says. “People who are just starting their careers need to learn everything they can about their business, their clients, and their co-workers. And when you’re talking, you don’t learn anything.”

 

24. Test Your Comfort Zone

“Volunteer for the project that you don’t think you can do,” says Stacia Pierce, a life coach and the CEO of Ultimate Lifestyle Enterprises. “With your back against the wall, you’ll discover creative ways of accomplishing your goals and force yourself to learn a lot with limited time.” Plus, succeeding against the odds will make others take note of your tenacity, ingenuity, and drive—and that may earn you a much-deserved promotion.

 

25. Go Ahead—Break Bad News to Your Boss

It may be tempting to hide in your cubicle to avoid the aftermath of a mistake in the workplace, but it rarely works out in your favor. Proactiveness and communication are key for career success, says Elene Cafasso, executive coach for Enerpace, Inc. Bottom line: Knowing how to deal with the good and the bad is a sign of maturity.

 

26. Keep an Outside-Work-Hours Side Job

Not everyone can land their dream position at 22, so it’s great to keep your passions alive through side gigs—whether they’re hobbies that could eventually make money or income-generating businesses right off the bat. “Considering young professionals can likely count on having periods of unemployment throughout their careers, having a part-time gig to fall back on is crucial,” says Pitts-Kyser. Bonus: You might even learn a skill or two that you can translate into your 9-to-5 job.

 

Top Salary-Boosting Moves for 20-Somethings

27. Research Your Income Bracket

“Before you ever provide your salary expectations or accept a job offer, do your homework to make sure you’re not asking for too much or too little,” Price says, adding that you can do this by checking out sites like Salary.com or Payscale.com. “These are the same services that employers use to determine your salary.”

 

28. Speak Up

The most important thing you can do as you’re climbing the career ladder is to learn how to advocate for yourself, says Elizaga, whether you want to ask for a raise or a promotion, or join a team on an important project. “The more you practice or actually do these asks early on, the more comfortable you’ll get—and the more you’ll be able to earn for yourself over time,” she says. “You’ll [advocate for yourself] numerous times in your career, so it’s best to get accustomed to it now.”

 

29. Tout Your Accomplishments

“If you want a raise or promotion, you need to show your boss why you deserve it,” says Barry Maher, author of Filling the Glass: The Skeptic’s Guide to Positive Thinking in Business. “If you can assign a dollar value for how much the accomplishments on that list have earned or saved the company—even better.” Numbers don’t lie.

 

30. Write Yourself a “Future” Acceptance Letter and Salary Offer

“Focusing on [that dream offer] daily will help you attract what you want,” says Pierce. Hey, if visualizing your goals worked for Hollywood funny man Jim Carrey, why can’t it work for you?

Why Leadership Is About Dignity

“A bold new way of tackling poverty that’s about dignity, not dependence and choice, not charity.” When I first read that on Acumen.org, I thought beyond poverty. I asked myself, “If dignity is about being worthy of honor and respect, what role does dignity play in leadership?”

To find the answer, I went to three Acumen Global Fellows from the class of 2013 – three women in their 20’s who are the next generation of social impact leaders, a new kind of leader who sees the world as it is and knows she can be a part of the solution that creates lasting impact on the ground. A one-year fellowship, 10-12 individuals from all over the world spend two months in New York undergoing intensive leadership training, followed by nine months working with one of Acumen’s portfolio companies in India, Pakistan, East Africa or West Africa. It’s not about sitting around and talking about the problems, it’s about taking action. It’s about leading.

 

These three Fellows will share their stories with us over the next few weeks. They are from three different countries: United States, Japan and China. They had three distinct experiences. And they all had major learnings about leadership and dignity:

1) Recognize human dignity. Each one of these women started with a goal to recognize and support human dignity. None of them wanted to help people that they felt sorry for, but rather, be part of a solution that recognizes the dignity in all people. That’s empowerment.

2) Do what’s right, not what’s easy. All of them learned by doing, combining their hard skills with new lessons about how to build trust and support teams to have an impact on the ground. It wasn’t easy and sometimes they couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but they kept moving forward with great integrity and intent.

3) Share the shining star. Each of them saw as their greatest lesson the need to collaborate with the people closest to the ground doing the unglamorous work of execution, day after day. It was not about being a shining star, proving what they could achieve, demonstrating their abilities. It always boiled down to their ability to listen to and learn from the teams they worked with and help them be shining stars.

4) Leadership is a muscle. Leadership is a muscle that needs to be trained and exercised in real life. The lessons they learned, how they overcame challenges, admitted to and fixed their mistakes – those learnings far outweighed the leadership lessons they learned from books.

This is Natalie Grillon’s dignity story. Natalie is 28 years old, from the US and has worked with the Peace Corps in Northern Mali as a Natural Resource Management Specialist. She also worked in environmental and sustainability planning for a Massachusetts town government and in sustainability strategy and marketing at SC Johnson. Natalie holds a B.S. in International Politics from Georgetown University, and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

This is Natalie’s story about dignity, fixes and best mistakes:

What do you think is one of the most important things in the world that needs to be fixed?

Everyone should be able to live a dignified life with the opportunities of health and happiness.

What will it look like when it’s fixed?

There’s a base standard that everyone gets to be at irrespective of race, tribe, country, ability or disability — it’s not equality on everything but a standard of dignity and a chance that everyone should get. A base line of affordable and quality healthcare, clean water, safe and nutritious food, good education built upon mutual respect and knowledge, smart and flexible systems and the best ideas that skip over some of the mistakes of what the “developed” countries have learned so that we’re all emerging markets.

What are you doing to help fix it?

Currently I work as an operations manager for GADC, Gulu Agricultural Development Company in Gulu, Northern Uganda, as an Acumen Global Fellow. Gulu is now on the promising side of 20 years of civil war and GADC is a driver of the economic recovery. GADC trains and buys goods from smallholder farmers from across the northern region, then sells their organic and conventional produce on to international markets like the US and the EU. The boost in income they receive from the market and the premium price that organics pays, allows them to start to rebuild their lives, buying essential goods like iron sheets for a permanent house, clothes for their children and productive assets to invest in their small farm businesses.

What can others do to help fix it?   

Ask more questions, listen and learn.  I’m always trying to get better at listening to learn before I act so that my actions can lead to productive results based on consensus and conversations rather than assumptions. Don’t believe that you know the full story. The farmers for whom I work know their crop, know their land and know what they want. The more I listen to them the more I know the best path forward for them, our employees, the company.

What’s the best mistake you made?

The best mistake I made was also the greatest lesson during my time in Gulu: I think of it as my “gchat” mistake, not seizing every moment as a teaching moment.  For someone working to build these types of businesses in any developing region, it’s most important to build capacity by helping colleagues in whatever way possible learn new skills that they can continue.

When I started out, it was easy to dive into the work and help out with a variety of different projects. With an operational role, I had a lot to learn, a lot of responsibility and a talented team to lead. As the busy season for the company arrived, the pressure was on to move as quickly as possible and loving my role, I became one of the team with my own responsibilities; it was easy to keep moving, driving towards our goals and feeling a sense of accomplishment.

However with time, it became clear that putting my head down and driving forward was not going to get it done. While we had achieved our goals, we weren’t actually making progress. There were growth opportunities for all of the team to work smarter, take on more responsibility and improve beyond the status quo. By doing my job to the best of my ability, I had actually made a big mistake: I could offer more in working alongside my colleagues to learn how to do new things together, like using a new database or thinking about ways to motivate teams. We started to go over quick tricks in organizing emails when we had a few moments and even teaching some basics I took for granted growing up in the US: Excel, Skype, Google docs or even G-chat. I could feel the sense of empowerment and excitement that could come from learning even a simple new thing and which only required a few minutes of our time. The increased empowerment to try out new techniques and methods and the feeling of accomplishment in turn led to staff feeling more comfortable with more responsibility and suggesting new ideas. We have recently introduced a new farmer registration database in Microsoft Access that the women on staff helped to design and now have successfully used to register 25,000 farmers this year, double from the year before and a big step up from the paper based files+ excel file we had been using. They’re experts now at the system, showing me how to pull farmer lists.

It’s easy to feel the pressure of day-to-day business and want to push items through on your own to get them done, meet deadlines and deliver. However, no final product is complete unless someone can keep doing that job after you leave. Obviously this is sometimes much easier said than done, but the most important achievements I felt from my time in Gulu are the strides my colleagues were able to make.

3 Little Details Interviewers Always Notice

By Ryan Kahn, December 17, 2013

 

Your resume is stellar, and you’ve written what has to be the best cover letter ever. You’re ecstatic—but not surprised—when the phone rings and you’re asked to come in for an interview.

And while this step of the process is no cake walk, you’ve practiced your elevator pitch, gone through the hard questions, and checked off your interview prep checklist, and you think you’re ready.

But not so fast. After checking all of those big things off your list, it’s important to think about the little ones. Truth is, interviewers pay attention to everything from the words you say to the shoes on your feet, and the tiniest of details could take you out of the running, without you even realizing it.

Obviously, you can never know exactly what little things your interviewer will notice or care about, but there are a few “big” little things that you can easily address to help your interviewer focus more on you and your capabilities (and less on nitpicking details).

Here are a few things you shouldn’t overlook—because your interviewer won’t!

1. Appearance—Head to Toe

You already know to dress sharp for the interview, but don’t stop there: Looking the part isn’t just about a great suit and killer shoes.

When you’re preparing for an interview, make sure you give yourself an extra-close look while you’re getting ready. If you look like you might need a shave in a day, do it now. If your manicure is even a tiny bit chipped, get it fixed. Every hair out of place, scuff on your shoe, or stain on your tie are details that can distract your interviewer from what’s really important—not to mention make you look unprofessional.

Take a look in the mirror, head to toe, as you’re getting ready and before you head out the door. If anything looks out of place or makes you do a double take, address it before you leave.

 

2. Um’s the Word—To Avoid

We all say it. So much so, in fact, that most of us probably don’t even realize how much we do it in typical conversation. But constantly saying “um” can make you look nervous or unprepared—and buy your resume an express ticket to the circular file.

The first step to avoiding using this non-word is understanding why it’s on the tip of your tongue in the first place. Before your interview, start paying attention to how often you use the word and what’s happening when you do. Oftentimes, people insert “um” into a conversation to fill what they perceive as an awkward silence, usually while they’re searching for the right word or trying to finish a thought.

Here’s a pro tip: Silence can be golden, so don’t be afraid to use it. If you’re unsure of how to answer a question, or searching for the right word, it’s OK to pause for a bit before speaking. “Let me think,” or “That’s a great question” are also great phrases that can buy you time.

3. The Write Stuff

Taking notes in an interview is a great way to show you’re interested in a position (not to mention give yourself talking points for your thank-you notes!). 

That said, showing up with a beat-up notebook and a pen you swiped from the dentist’s office isn’t going to cut it (and yes, I’ve seen it). Just like your attire, how you take notes should be presented in a professional manner.

You don’t need the latest Moleskine notebook and a Montblanc pen, but a nice padfolio (to hold your resumes) with a pad of paper or a notebook that’s in good shape will do the trick. And a pen without a random corporate logo would be best. Also, don’t forget to bring a spare. Nothing says you’re not prepared like asking to borrow a pen in the middle of your interview.

(Oh, and it should go without saying, but whatever you do write, make sure it’s relevant to your discussion. Your interviewer doesn’t need Superman vision to see you’re doodling in your notebook while she’s talking.)

I know these things may sound insignificant compared to how you’ll need to perform in the interview itself, but trust me when I tell you that hiring managers notice these kinds of details. Make sure you’ve got these “little” things covered, and all your interviewer will have left to focus on is your resume and stellar personality.

1. Demonstrate What You’ve Done

Thinking about getting my feelers out again…but once I get into a groove at a job, it’s really hard to uproot and wrap my head around moving somewhere different.

This article about tips to nail your next interview got me thinking, so I thought I’d share with you.

13 Startup Founders Share: How to Nail Your Next Interview

By Young Entrepreneur Council, April 25, 2014

Interviewing is tough. When there are many qualified candidates, standing out in an interview becomes about more than just presenting your accomplishments—it’s also about showcasing yourself and your skills in a compelling, memorable way.

So, how can you make sure you nail this final step in the hiring process? We asked a panel of 13 startup founders from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) what a potential hire can do to stand out from the crowd, make the best impression, and land the job.

 

Results stand out, and potential hires can really stand out by highlighting what they’ve done and the results. It’s so important to hire talent who can execute, and my focus as an employer is to determine if hires can theorize, strategize, and execute their plan. There are plenty of thinkers and not enough doers. Separate yourself from the masses, and demonstrate what you have done.

 

—Andrew Thomas, SkyBell Technologies, Inc.

 

2. Ask Me a Smart Question

I am often the last stop on the interview schedule. I always ask candidates if they have questions, and I often hear, ‘All my questions have already been answered.’ It’s tough to hire someone who doesn’t want to ask the founder even one question. Good candidates come prepared with a lot of tailored questions.

 

—Beth Monaghan, InkHouse

 

3. Know About the Company

I am constantly surprised by how many people I interview who don’t know anything about my company. Not doing research before the interview demonstrates that the candidate didn’t come prepared. On the flip side, a candidate who can anticipate the challenges and opportunities for the business is the type of person I want to hire.

 

—Gerard Murphy, Mosaic Storage Systems, Inc.

 

4. Use Our Product

I love it when I interview people who have taken the time to sign up and poke around on our website. It’s easy to register, but most candidates who make it to our interview don’t sign up beforehand. When someone does, it makes for a better interview, and it is a great signal that the candidate is serious.

 

—Ryan Buckley, Scripted, Inc.

 

5. Know the Interviewers

Do your research about the people who will be interviewing you. Know their professional background, interests, and experiences, and ask them relevant questions that show you did your homework. Ask the interviewer why he or she chose the company you’re interviewing at, what attracted him or her to the opportunity, and what the future looks like for the business.

 

—Matt Mickiewicz, Hired

 

6. Have Solutions to Company Problems in Mind

The best thing a potential hire can do is come to the interview with an understanding of the company’s problems and potential solutions. Companies need employees who can help increase revenues, save time, or reduce costs. The best employees are great problem solvers. You rarely have an interviewee show up with a plan to solve one or many of the company’s problems.

 

—Mark Cenicola, BannerView.com

 

7. Research the Company’s Competitors

Knowing about my company is expected, but I will be impressed if a candidate has gone the extra mile and looked into our competitors as well.

 

—Josh Weiss, Bluegala

 

8. Admit What You Don’t Know

Stop posturing, and tell us what skills you hope to refine and why. Possessing a willingness to learn and a strategy for developing those skills will benefit our organization. Humility, personal initiative, and a clear understanding of what’s valued goes a long way.

 

—Emily Eldridge Holdman, PeopleKit

 

9. Reference Someone You Already Know

Business is all about relationships and trust. In an interview, the best thing you can do is show that you are already in the interviewer’s ‘circle.’ Prior to your interview, you should research the interviewer and the company. You should try to mention at least one or two people the interviewer knows and trusts. This will develop rapport and camaraderie.

 

—Gideon Kimbrell, InList Inc

 

10. Act Like You’re Already In

Go out of your way to do a competitor analysis, and send through proposals for competitive strategies going forward. You have to be proactive and show you care so much about the company that you are willing to be responsible for its growth even before you are offered a job. This is especially true in a startup environment where the founders need to know you care deeply.

 

—Divya Dhar, Seratis

 

11. Inquire About Weaknesses

To stand out during an interview, ask the interviewer detailed questions not only about the company’s vision and successes, but also about where its weaknesses lie. This allows you to insert yourself into the future picture by relating that weakness to areas where you’ve succeeded in the past. If they think you can help make them look good, you’re halfway in the door.

 

—Parker Powers, Millionaire Network

 

12. Over-Deliver

We give our potential hires ‘homework,’ and they typically ask when we’d like to see it. Our response is ‘whenever,’ but we really mean as soon as possible. We want to see world-class work that is delivered in a timely manner. World-class is easy to spot—it stands out from the rest.

 

—Eric Siu, Single Grain

 

13. Adopt the Mindset of an Internal Consultant

I assume any potential candidate I interview has done his or her homework and is daring enough to ask the hard questions. To stand out, a potential hire should take on the mindset of an internal consultant who solves problems well. Present some actionable insights around business problems the company faces. It’s a presumptive tactic, but if the homework was done well, it’s likely a winning one.

 

—Mary Ray, MyHealthTeams

 

Allison Hatfield

 

11 Things I Wish I’d Known About Work in My 20s

I’ve learned a lot since I failed to negotiate that first salary.

1. Money matters. When my college internship was ending and I was interviewing for an assistant position at the same publishing company, the editor-in-chief asked me if I had any “salary demands.” I laughed and told him that legally he couldn’t pay me less than minimum wage. He didn’t. He also didn’t pay me more. That set the bar low, not just for that job, but for the next job and the next. Before applying to any job, try to find out a salary range for the position and your experience level. Google salary surveys, and ask friends who work in your industry what’s fair. It can be tough to get a big salary bump once you’re already in place, and you can play catch-up for years.

2. Imposter Syndrome is a real thing. Everybody has it, including guys, which is something I discovered when I asked one of the male editors where I worked if he ever felt like he was “about to be discovered — and not in the good way.” Your crisis of confidence is not unique — and it’s not based in reality. You are smarter than you think you are. Whenever you start to doubt that, call one of your college professors, your mentor, or a boss you loved, and ask that person to tell you what you have to offer not only your employer but also the world. That way you can be reminded that, no, you are not a fraud, and, no, you are not about to get fired.

3. But nobody really has any idea what they’re doing. This is the biggest secret in the work world, and I am telling it to you now. As a junior staffer, at times I looked up to more senior team members and marveled at how grown-up and knowledgeable they were. One day that would be me! When I was no longer an underling — even as a senior team leader — I still never felt that grown-up, and I realized that much of the time I still felt clueless. When I asked a high-level executive once if she was ever just making things up as she went along, she said, “Yes, every day. All the time.” 

4. Your ideas and opinions are gold. You might think you are too young or too new, or maybe you’re suffering from Imposter Syndrome, but there are no bad ideas (and if you work at a place where people make you feel like there are, see No. 10 on this list). I can’t tell you how many times in my early career that I second-guessed an idea out of existence only to hear it proposed by a colleague or see it implemented by a competing company. Your youthful perspective is valuable, so share it. Just don’t be a know-it-all, don’t assume that your way is the only way, and don’t boss the boss.

5. There are no dream jobs, but there are good jobs. Don’t let your idea of the former keep you from recognizing the latter. Not every job I’ve had was awesome, but some of them were. However, even my favorites were less than perfect. As my dad used to tell me, “It’s called work for a reason,” and even the best job at the best company will have annoying aspects — some uninspiring task, some grating guy one cube over, some HR policy that doesn’t compute. So if you find yourself challenged by your position, fairly compensated financially, appreciated by your boss, and friendly with your co-workers, consider yourself lucky. Not everyone can say that.

6. Nobody is going to look out for you but you. Sure, you’re a star. It’s important to get to work on time, take direction, have a good attitude, share your ideas, be a team player, and kick ass on the daily, but the sad truth is that’s not going to be enough to get you ahead. You can’t just sit at your desk and shine, with a wish in your heart that someone takes notice and cares enough to give you a raise or a promotion. In business, it’s often every woman for herself, and those people who can help you move up the ladder are busy chasing their next rung. Learn to sing your own praises early and often — and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.

7. It could all go up in smoke tomorrow. It probably won’t, but you should be prepared. Twice in my career, the company I worked for closed without warning. Most recently, my job at DailyCandy ended after nine years. Our GM called a meeting about a month ago to say the following Monday was the last workday. Eighteen years earlier, I walked into my office one Friday morning only to be greeted by my last paycheck and directions to the unemployment office. Having a backup plan isn’t pessimistic, it’s smart. Always have an idea of what your next move might be, always have a little money in the bank, and make friends wherever you go.

8. You never know, so network. I have gotten good jobs by answering blind ads, but the best jobs I’ve had resulted from whom, not what, I knew. That first time my company closed without warning, my next job found me through a woman I met at a press conference. Make business associates at your company but also outside your company, inside your industry and beyond. Don’t just hand out business cards at happy hour — that’s not networking (and neither is scanning LinkedIn). Attend events for young professionals and break out of your clique. If you’re at a conference, strike up conversations. If you know someone who knows someone who works somewhere you’d like to work someday, ask for an introduction. The friend you make today could be your boss or co-worker tomorrow.

9. There is value in longevity. In my 20s, I was a serious flight risk. I would up and leave anything — an apartment, a relationship, a job — at the slightest whim. I could not, would not stay put, and that meant filling out a new W-4 every year or two. The pursuit of next meant I was never anywhere long enough to get a good raise or promotion, and though I’d get more money or a better title at my next job, I was always the new girl, never commanding the authority that history can provide. Though climbing a career ladder or finding the right fit can mean occasionally jumping ship, there’s a lot to be said for really learning a role and earning things like more vacation time, an end-of-year bonus, or the respect of your peers.

10. But don’t be afraid to leave. I never really had this problem (see No. 9), but I’ve seen plenty of friends paralyzed by their fear of the unknown, stuck in jobs they hate, with bosses who suck or commutes that cost them their sanity. And though there is value in longevity, life is too short to be unhappy. So while you’re free of the ties that can bind you to a questionable situation — mortgage, kids, mountains of debt — leap when you need to leap. Reach out to that network you’ve built, and trust there is something so much better out there for you.

11. It’s going to be easier than you think. Despite the depressed job market for new college grads in recent years, the fact remains that people who dream big and prove themselves to be indispensable assets to their employers get ahead. Yes, you might spend the first year of your career passing out mail, calling in photographs, or answering phones, but that’s OK. You won’t be doing that forever. Letting things unfold naturally is more fun than complaining to your roommate every night about how underutilized and underappreciated you are. Lots of people feel that way early in their careers. Focus on being the best you can be right where you are, and you’ll get your turn to be the boss. You’ll be surprised how quickly that time comes.

Beyond the Pencil (Skirt): Meet Sarah Hall, CEO of Harley & Co.

by Pinsi Lei

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From debating on the floor of the United Nations to evaluating hospitals in rural West Africa to serving daiquiris on the beach, Sarah Hall, the CEO of Harley & Co. has done it all. And it’s a background that’s come in handy as she leads  a company that works with everyone from start-ups and government bodies to brands and individuals to provide management consulting and creative services. We traveled downtown to chat with Sarah about her career — and tested her advice on living boldly with a special rooftop photo shoot!

Current Location:

New York City

Originally from:

Hebron, CT

Education (College / Major):

Marymount Manhattan – B.A. in Political Science/International Studies

NYU – MA in Public Policy and Administration

Job Title:

CEO, Harley & Co.

Brief description of Harley & Company:

We are a hybrid firm that combines management consulting with stunning creative services. Our clients cut across sectors and include start-ups, governments, brands and individuals. The projects range from creating beautiful publishing apps that open up new revenue sources to designing immersive dinner parties to help hire more effectively. Our passion is working at the intersection of technology, ideas and design to help entities grow, evolve and solve complex problems.

Where were you before Harley & Co.?

Everywhere. I’ve argued resolutions on the floor of the UN, served daiquiris on the beach in South Carolina, assessed hospitals in rural West Africa, designed multi-million dollar performance managed systems for NYC and launched global underwear campaigns in China.

How did you become interested in branding and strategic marketing?

I think language and images are completely captivating because they’re our only mechanisms for knowing each other’s internal landscapes and for finding human commonalities at scale. For me, to read a story or see one through images that reflects your personal experience or inspires you/captivates you is one of the most amazing experiences. I like marketing + branding because at it’s best, you are able to find and then tell these stories. You get to use art, technology and human interaction to create beautiful worlds for people that ideally have a double bottom line. They create a moment of delight or real value for someone while contributing to a company’s revenues.

Your personal style in a few words:

Lots of great jeans, beautiful dresses, classic high heels and no sleeves.

Style icon:

I love men’s fashion.  There is something about the confidence, effortlessness and attention to detail when done right that I find so completely captivating.  So I’d have to say Steve McQueen, Sir Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier.

Office dress code:

Whatever makes you your smartest, most productive bad ass self

Go-to work outfit:

It totally varies depending on the occasion.  I definitely value comfort and being able to transition from night to day because I rarely am able to go home and change.  If I feel like I want to be tough one day, I’ll wear my favorite Rag and Bone jeans with motorcycle boots and a leather jacket.  Then the next day I might feel really girly, so I will wear a dress that would be perfect if I was staring in a romantic comedy set in 1950’s Paris. Then of course there are those days that call for the perfect power suit….

On the go kit:

Great headphones, fun Benefit lip gloss, roll on perfume, Jose M cheek brightener, Moleskin notebook for ideas, something to read (currently reading Far from the Tree) and a KIND bar (so I don’t get too hungry)

Makeup routine:

Natural moisturizer like Ren, a good base, some Jose M to brighten the cheeks, a great mascara topped off with a little lip gloss.

Spring item you plan to splurge on:

A plane ticket somewhere completely impractical

Office culture in a few words:

Family: Literally, if you count my sister and I (plus her baby which is due in May!!).

Diverse: Most of us have multiple passports and speak a couple languages.

Creative High Performers: It’s when you combine athletes and artists in one body.

A day at work looks like:

A lot of meetings. Then quite a bit of creating whether that’s dreaming up a concept for a new pitch, writing for clients, or working with the design team to put together some beautiful new website, event plan or social media activation.

Favorite part of your job:

Amazing people and beautiful ideas. They are the two loves of my life.

What has been the biggest challenge?

Breaking into the “boys club” that is brand marketing.

Apps (or other pieces of tech) you can’t live without:

My airline app for quick check ins. Zeel for my newfound addiction to massage on demand. Waze so I get to where I am supposed to go. Spotify because I almost always have music on. Keynote because it’s the way I organize all my presentations.

Morning routine:

Being chronically late. It makes my sister crazy, but it’s usually only by about 10-20 minutes. The reason I’m late is because I get so into what I’m doing in the moment that I sort of forget there is something to do next. I think this kind of investment is important. Somebody said “wherever you are, be all there” and I really believe that. So my morning routine is running out the door trying to make up for time I lost reading something or looking for a book or talking to someone I met on the street.

Favorite spot for a ten-minute break?

My head. Thinking is completely under-rated. We seem to live in a time that is completely measured and driven by action. Sometimes the most powerful and effective thing you can do is just sit somewhere and think. Think about a problem, an idea, the way the light looks… just let your mind examine something for no reason other than it wants to explore it. Letting your mind have time to play is crucial to creativity.

On A Saturday you can be found:

At the Brooklyn Flea.  I’m obsessed.

Go-to brunch in NYC:

I don’t usually do brunch.  I’m more of a European lunch kind of girl.  Aka that lunch you take in the middle of a workday for no reason that lasts two hours, includes a glass of wine and some great conversation.

Hobbies:

Reading, anything active, eating, talking, driving, figuring something new out.

When you have a day off, how do you spend it?

Reading, catching up on movies, cooking, working out, seeing friends and adventuring. Sometimes because I have so many demands and interactions at work I like to go out alone at night as my alter ego.  It’s an amazing way to experience the city where you can be completely immersed but still totally anonymous.

At age 10 what did you envision yourself growing up to become?

I think I was too much of a space cadet to even process that there was life after age 11.

Inspiration:

Ideas, books, art, people’s stories, travel, adventure, struggle, love.

Best piece of advice ever received:

There have been so many I can’t pick one and the past two years have been such an accelerated learning curve. Starting a company has been a crash course in learning so many things from taking responsibility for other people to being in the present. I am completely challenged and learn something new almost every day.

My mentor:

There have been too many amazing people to name just one.

In 10 years… :

I want to be happy and desperately in love.

Career wisdom for young professional women:

Be patient: Take a lesson from chess. Sometimes when you are young everything seems so immediate and emergent. It’s usually not. It’s one thing to see a move you want to take. It’s another to be able to wait until the right time to take it.

Don’t compromise: People will try to tell you what to be, what to expect and how to achieve things because it’s what makes them feel comfortable. Never settle because someone else did. Never allow someone else’s narrative to become yours. Don’t allow anyone to make you or what you want for yourself small.

Live boldly: Life is infinite in its variations and peopled by the most extraordinary individuals, ideas and experiences. Be voracious in what you consume. Fill yourself up with fascinating conversations, heart wrenching books, daring adventures and epic love affairs. You are what you have lived. You think about what you have discovered. You love to the limits of where you have pushed your heart and your imagination.

So this morning I got up bright and early (5 AM…that’s obscenely early for this sleep baby, let me tell you…) and drove to Brookfield for an HR seminar. This is the first of several seminars I’m scheduled to attend this year. The audience was composed of both men and women, which was a bit surprising to me because you really don’t come across men in HR that often. It’s known to be one of the “softer” and more “personable” departments, which is why everyone expects women to be the frontrunners.

Anyways, before I get on that tangent too far, I just wanted to note a couple of the takeaways from the session:

1. People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. (Hmm, this sounds familiar. Almost identical wording from the book I mentioned a few posts back, First, Break All the Rules)

2. We talked ALOT about the ACA (Affordable Care Act) and how that’s impacting HR professionals and their employees. The seminar speaker emphasized how important it is to have a solid relationship with your insurance broker because 2014-2015 will be big years of change in the health care industry and your company needs a reliable and knowledgeable support system. I had to laugh and shake my head when she said that, because it’s a running joke in our department how crappy our broker is. When we had open enrollment in 2012 and 2013, it was a complete disaster. We ended up doing the majority of the work, when the broker is supposed to be the one doing it (that’s what we pay them for!). The only problem with our situation is that our broker has a personal relationship with the company CEO, so I don’t think we’ll be parting ways with them any time soon. Unfortunately.

There were many other great topics we went over throughout the session, much of what I already knew. But it was really beneficial to hear those things from an objective point of view because most of what I know in HR I’ve learned on the job, and with that comes the influence and expertise (or lack of) from the people I work with. I absolutely love my bosses, but sometimes it’s good to learn things and pick up those concepts from an outside source–it’s unbiased, and it also helps reaffirm what I was already learning and doing at my job.

All in all, it was a good day. I’m looking forward to more of these seminars. Not only does it help me invest in my own career and skill set, but hey–it gets me out of the office for awhile 🙂

Oh, and p.s. I’m almost done with the newsletter article, so I’ll be posting that soon. I’ve got some good material in it, so I’m pretty excited about that.