After looking back at a number of my blogs, I realized that I frequently mention the idea of going out and networking but I never really followed through with the "how-to." I get that networking can be intimidating and a little nerve wracking, but in a world where there are far too many people looking for jobs and perhaps only a handful of jobs open that you want to take, every little bit counts. The article, How to Network Without Being Phony, Lame or Desperate gives some great tips on how to network correctly. Here is a quick run through of the main points you need to remember while networking:

• Remember there's nothing phony, lame or desperate about being out of a job.
• Change your mind about what you're networking for.
• Remember that it's not all about you.
• Be yourself.
• Tell your story without the usual job-search downers.
• Have a full calendar. Have an agenda.
• Thank your networking partner immediately afterward and confirm you'll stay in touch.
• Pay it back.

For further details on these points, read the article!

"jus'a web....with a bit of dew here and there!!" courtesy Jus'fi via Flickr Creative Commons

Hey ThinkTalkers, my name is Molly and I am a senior English Major at CUA. As part of my internship for ThinkTalk, I will be blogging my epic search for a job in the D.C. area, giving you all my take on what has worked, what has failed miserably, and hopefully giving a splinter of insight to those of you who haven’t quite reached job hunting maturation yet in your young adult life.

Hello ThinkTalkers! When reading blog after blog about the job application process, you build immunity to their advice. You begin to think suggestions like joining LinkedIn, attending networking events, and sell-sell-selling yourself are unoriginal and implicit pieces of advice. I’m afraid I have to join their ranks by further encouraging you May grads to keep up the good work and continue to build a professional on-and-offline presence. I too experience moments of disillusionment in the job hunt, but last week’s Business Networking Event at my university gave me a dose of much needed inspiration.

I had very little expectations for the event’s turn out. After all, who would want to be pestered with questions and insignificant “elevator talk” after an eight hour day? I certainly wouldn’t be interested, even with the free t-shirt. I figured, even if there were four or five professional attendees, realistically, what could I take away from this “networking opportunity” other than a soda and a plateful of appetizers? I tugged awkwardly at my pants suit and complained about how useless and unnecessary this exercise would be while walking to the event.

Hopefully my enlightening experience at this Networking event will inspire you to get more involved in your University or community’s networking opportunities because it certainly taught me that you never know when you’ll meet that invaluable contact. A week before the Business Networking Event, I received an email from career services about a recently opened position. The job description read like hundreds of others. The responsibilities listed were vague and unexciting, but I figured I’d give it a try. The night of the event, I met the lovely woman who is leaving that position, and speaking with her changed my attitude towards the job completely. The job is fast-paced, deals with high profile political figures, and is staffed with other young professionals. A dream right? I never would have know, had a skipped the event, and took that nap instead. Our polite conversation turned into a mini interview, and then into a consultation on how to apply. This contact became an irreplaceable advocate.

The lesson here, ThinkTalkers is simple. The career search is in fact, like a box of chocolates- you never know what you’re going to get. And what happened next? I sent her a follow-up email the next day with my cover letter and resume attached for review. I thanked her for the illuminating information and advice and left the window of communication open. Every contact counts. Now iron that dress shirt and practice your handshake because you’re going to need it.

"Handshake" courtesy AndyRob via Flickr Creative Commons

Guest Blogger Jane Lovas' weekly series called “What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Life and Career” runs each Thursday

It’s that time of year – the beginning of job hunting season! If you’re graduating this year then I’m sure you’re looking for more than a "Summer Job" - you want to find a career or at least find the first step on the ladder to success.

Great! So a career… do you know what you want and how you’re going to get it? Do you know what you need to do to be successful?

You are probably going to be told by all sorts of people that you just need to get a job, any job – especially right now with the employment situation looking the way it is. I’m here to tell you that if you play your cards right and do the work, you can have your Blue Sky Job.

The first question is; did you do some informational interviews? (See my ThinkTalk Blog article Interviewing Before You Need to Interview) By talking to people at different companies that interest you, you’ll have a better idea of what your Blue Sky Job is.

Once you’ve done that, spend some time describing your Blue Sky Job. Write down what you’ll be doing, the types of people you’re working with and all the details you can think of. Make sure you are as clear as possible about what you want to do. Realize that as you get more information and experience this is going to change. That’s ok; in fact, more than likely it’s going to be changing for the rest of your life.

Now here is the tricky part: you know what Blue Sky Job you want, so what are you going to provide for your Blue Sky company? Do you know what problem they need solved and how you’ll be able to help solve it? A job is not a just a job – it’s really a problem to be solved.

This is where the contacts you made during your informational interviews and while creating your success team (see Who’s Got Your Back) can be helpful. Ask them if they can share a problem they have and how you might be able to help them with it. Remember, make it clear you’re not asking for a job, only information. Of course it’s always appropriate to let them know you are looking for a job and if they know anyone in need of someone with your qualifications then you would appreciate a referral.

Finally, while you’re attending all the job fairs you can and posting your resume be aware that the best jobs are typically found via personal or professional contacts. Make sure to let everyone know that you’re looking for a job and what type of job you’re looking for. Most importantly, ask if they know anyone that might be hiring and if they can introduce you.

So really the secret to getting your Blue Sky Job isn’t a secret at all. You just need information, perseverance and personal introductions.

Have a great week!

"Blue sky thinking" courtesy kevindooley via Flickr Creative Commons

Jane Lovas is a career specialist who is the creator of the life changing 12 week tele-seminar “Creating the Life of Your Dreams”. She is also our guest blogger, whose column will run every Thursday. If you would like to contact Jane, you can reach her here, here or here.

Hey ThinkTalkers, my name is Molly and I am a senior English Major at CUA. As part of my internship for ThinkTalk, I will be blogging my epic search for a job in the D.C. area, giving you all my take on what has worked, what has failed miserably, and hopefully giving a splinter of insight to those of you who haven’t quite reached job hunting maturation yet in your young adult life.

Greetings ThinkTalkers, I know it’s been a week since I’ve written due to the “Snow-mageddon” here in the Northeast. If you’ve felt the inches, I hope you’ve been more productive with your job hunt than I was. Unfortunately I got around to completing only one job application. I’ve told myself that it’s my lack of organization that kept me from using those snow-days as application days. So, I made a list of things I can do to make my application process easier and more efficient.

First, I printed out all the job descriptions and made a folder for them. So I have a physical copy as well as an electronic copy. That way you can bring the folder to a boring class or your work-study job to make notes on. I keep an electronic copy on my USB key with my house keys so I can take advantage of any free moment at work.

Then, I made a calendar of when each application was due. On the date it was due I even wrote down what time the job description specified. Pay special attention to that because I almost missed a great opportunity for the Federal Government because I thought it was due before midnight when really the application window closed at 12:30 pm. That is a careless error that could have lost me a potential job. I suggest you email your applications a day early and assume that it should be in before 5 p.m. because that is when many businesses conclude their workday. Also, have someone read your cover letter, resume, and other application documents over for mistakes- everyone makes little ones all the time that are easy to overlook.

Next, create a spreadsheet containing your application progress information. Make a column for where you applied, the application due date, the documents you sent (cover letter, resume, writing sample, transcript, recommendation letter, etc.) if you contacted them for a follow-up, and when. This will ensure that you don’t forget to contact a recruiter or contact he or she twice by mistake.

Most importantly, make sure you read the job description or application instructions at least twice! I almost missed the recruiter's request for a transcript. Again it's a careless mistake I would have been kicking myself about for months for losing such a great opportunity. This brings me to my next tip; keep a spare transcript around just in case, especially if your school gives it to you for free! It usually takes at least one business week to receive one, so just in case you miss a request for a transcript or get contacted by an interested recruiter for one, have an unopened transcript in stock.

Finally, no matter how proactive you think you've been with the job hunt, there is always room to do more- much to my dismay. It's frustrating because it all seems endless, but I can't afford to be lazy. That's why I signed up for my university's Etiquette Dinner. Attending these events is crucial right now, because in the current job market it’s more likely that grads get hired through a contact rather than a faceless application. Still I find myself making excuses not to go because I would rather spend a free evening watching re-runs of Beverly Hills 90210 (don't hate, relate) than go smooze with alumni and professors. However, as Mary Katherine Ham the wise once said, "No one is above networking". So join me in the potentially lame "mock-tail" hours hosted by universities and snag those contacts. You never know what great people you could meet.

Next week, check out my report on CUA's Etiquette Dinner- how to dine with the finest!

"messy desk" courtesey yatoobin via Flickr Creative Commons

Hey ThinkTalkers, my name is Molly and I am a senior English Major at CUA. As part of my internship for ThinkTalk, I will be blogging my epic search for a job in the D.C. area, giving you all my take on what has worked, what has failed miserably, and hopefully giving a splinter of insight to those of you who haven’t quite reached job hunting maturation yet in your young adult life.

Hello again ThinkTalkers. I hope you’re finding time in your busy schedule to repel the overwhelming sense of senioritis and hit those job sites and your local career centers. I know the job hunt is a daunting task but in a suffering job market such as this, we grads can’t afford procrastination. If you’re following my lead and have created Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, you might be wondering what now? I’ve come across just that very problem. Here is what I’ve found from reading a couple career blogs.

First, spend just as much time on creating your LinkedIn profile as you would your facebook. And you should probably spend more time than that because employers will not be impresses with interests such a “pong” or “watching Jersey Shore.” Do not choose a picture where half of someone’s head is cut out, or your out-of-focus formal pics. Then join some groups that speak to your business interests. Don’t be afraid to join or start a conversation amongst these people. Be a pioneer and ask questions, don’t be afraid to sound under educated- just be professional.

You should make this a daily thing actually, especially if you have an internship. Ask your supervisors and co-workers about the kind of work they do and why they chose it. You want to have these conversations because it shows interest and ambition to learn. Then you’ll have a foundation for a practical business relationship. Add your co-workers to your LinkedIn network. If you get a business card from professors at school, internship or work clients, add that person to your LinkedIn network in a timely fashion. This is how you build your network of contacts.

Twitter has been quite an adjustment for me. I believed in the stigma that it was only for people who felt the world needed a play-by-play in their daily life. However, after glancing at different organizations, individual bloggers, and friends, I’m beginning to see the potential uses. But before you start tweeting about how The Shins “get you”, think about what kind of audience you would like to attract. Ideally, who are your readers? If you need help deciding what kind of followers you want, work on who you want to follow.

Search through different interest groups and keep tabs on what they’re tweeting about. It might inspire you to retweet their comments and develop into the Tweeter you’re aspiring to be. Don’t forget to join some groups that are for personal interests as well. It’s important to not only engage with the technological opportunities but to also enjoy them. Tweeting or blog posting about a great book you just read, or a fun concert you attended gives your page personality. It is what sets you apart from the millions of other tweeting, blogging, and linking graduates so don’t be shy.

Unfortunately, non-repetitive tips strictly for new or upcoming graduates are hard to find. They usually cover what I’ve mentioned in the past two posts. However, I did find one interesting tip that I will try over the next few weeks.

Paul Carpino, an Internship Coordinator from the University of Nevada Las Vegas suggested that students should be flexible. Meaning, investigate jobs that pertain to, but are not exactly your ideal career. Contact establishments such as, “Theme Parks, Office Building Concierge or Fast Service Food. Finance / Accounting / Management goes to Federal Government or Non-Profits” for open positions in your related field of interest. You never know what you could find and you’ve got nothing to lose but priceless experience.

"Twitter" courtesy respres via Flickr Creative Commons

Hey ThinkTalkers, my name is Molly and I am a senior English Major at CUA. As part of my internship for ThinkTalk, I will be blogging my epic search for a job in the D.C. area, giving you all my take on what has worked, what has failed miserably, and hopefully giving a splinter of insight to those of you who haven’t quite reached job hunting maturation yet in your young adult life.

In my first semester interning for ThinkTalk, I discovered the Personal Branding Blog, which was intimidating at first due to all the business jargon and entrepreneurial ambition, but the tips on how to improve your resume and interviewing skills kept me reading.

Now that I’ve entered my final semester, reading the Personal Branding Blog felt daunting, because now I actually need those tips, especially with inflated unemployment rates. Who would pick me when there are thousands of experienced professionals ready to pounce on the next job opening? This is where developing my own personal brand comes in, or so says Dan Schawbel. Easy enough right? First hurtle, there is no concrete definition of what personal branding is! According to the American Marketing Association, personal branding shares the same definition as branding, which “can be defined as a person, name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of these, intended to identify the goods or services of one seller, or group of sellers, and to differentiate them from those of competitors” (American Marketing Association 2007).

Simply put, I’ve got to figure out a way to cohesively package my name, my skill set or services in a way that appeals to employers and separates me from my job-hunting competitors. New media technology in the form of social networking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are great places to start.

Admittedly, I’ve been against the blogging and Twitter movement because I had a hard time believing anyone needed to know exactly how I thought or felt at any given moment. LinkedIn just seemed too grown-up for me. Why can’t I just fly under the radar? No more, advises Dan Schawbel, not in this job market! In his blog post, 10 Reasons Why You Have to Manage Your Personal Brand, Dan paints an apocryphal picture of what your future could be like should you choose not to participate in these social mediums.

His argument for social networking site participation states that like it or not, you already have a personal brand and you need to mold it your own way before you are poorly perceived. In other words, clean up those Facebook pictures and wall posts. Increase your web visibility. If you have Facebook or Twitter you might as well go all the way and create a more professional presence on a LinkedIn account. Once you’ve updated yourself, don’t stop there. These avenues of communication are changing everyday so its best to continue your interactions with contacts on these sites so you don’t miss out on the next big thing. For example, Coming soon! “MyMilkyWay” where communities share pics and youtube videos with Lunar Colony settlers!

We as young professional have new opportunities to make contacts with people we never would have made had ten years ago. I say, take advantage of these social mediums so you’re never left out of the conversation about twitter or blog posts. Proudly suggest to contacts, “look me up on LinkedIn”. Stand up, virtually speaking, and be recognized. “Participate or be extinct” as Dan says, and join me as I create a Twitter and LinkedIn account. I’ll keep you posted.

Last night I came across a blog on YouTube of an unemployed man named Matt. He was laid off a couple months ago and everyday, every unemployed day, he would blog/vlog his journey. I do send my best wishes to him and his family. Matt's blog, Mattonfire, moved me to find more blogs like his and I found plenty.

Do you like the subtlety of the post title? Like a nunchuck to the groin. Just as painful may be today's report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which says that only 19% of 2009 graduates who have applied for a job have secured one. This marks a disturbing trend as the number of students with jobs at graduation has declined from 51% in 2007, to 26% in 2008 and now just 19%.  The NACE survey found some other interesting info:

Interestingly, fewer 2009 graduates sought out jobs than their predecessors. Approximately 64 percent of the Class of 2007 and two-thirds of the Class of 2008 had started looking for a job by this time.

In comparison, “just 59 percent of this year’s class has started the job search,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.

This may be due, in part, to considerable attention to the increase in nationwide unemployment, the global financial crisis of recent months, and the impact of these developments on the recruitment and hiring of new graduates by specific industries.

So what is it '09ers? Have you been dismayed by the unemployment news and numbers - like that above? Or is it simply apathy and laziness (no way)? Is it something entirely different? I would feel comfortable siding with NACE on this one ... the media has been overtly negative on the job market and I can certainly see how that would affect graduates' motivation. At ThinkTalk we have generally tried to stay positive, but it does get difficult when faced with overwhelmingly negative news (like today's title for example). I think it is important to keep a positive attitude, work your butt off and hope for the market to right itself. Good Luck!

We always try to stay positive with The Links ...

Cheezhead Digs Up: The top cities for new grads to find a job. See, this is the type of positivity I'm talking about. Indy, Philly and Baltimore (oh, that's got to be a typo) make up the top 3. Check out the list for more ... and the average rent for an apartment in that city.

The Wall Street Journal Tackles: Negotiating pay for freelance jobs. I've talked about the benefits of a freelance job in this market as companies may be more open to hiring short term freelancers than adding full-time staff. This article will teach you how to get a price that you can live off of.

Personal branding Blog Thinks: Sometimes losing out on a job application isn't so bad. Jon Loayza thinks it might even be a good things sometime. The lesson he learned from losing out on a competitive job was that feeling sorry for yourself won't help. Also, sometimes failure is a part of success. I think that's some good advice.

The Wall Street Journal Elaborates: On dealing with rejection. Hey, you are not always going to get the job you want, get into the grad school you want or get everything you want. You have to be prepared to be rejected. The important take away is that this is a part of life and does not devalue you or the work that you have done. Deal with it and move on to Plan B.

"Pumpkin with a Positive Attitude" courtesy of Keven Krejci via Flickr Creative Commons

OK gang, it's time for a little segment we like to call "Good News Bad News." There have been some developments on the college and intern hiring front and it's a bit of a mixed bad. I'm the type who likes to get the bad news out of the way first, only to feast on the good news later, like a cherry that sunk to the bottom of the delicious sundae that is your career, bathed in the sweet juices of all that has gone before it.

Umm. Moving On.

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

Let's talk about distraction verse enhancement in the classroom. Yesterday's New York Times reports on the cell phone Industry's pitch to put smart phones in High School classrooms.

At a conference this week in Washington called Mobile Learning 09, CTIA, a wireless industry trade group, plans to start making its case for the educational value of cellphones. It will present research — paid for by Qualcomm, a maker of chips for cellphones — that shows so-called smartphones can make students smarter.

This sounds like a noble cause. The industry argues that these phones can enhance and improve the experience of students in a number of tasks, including

recording themselves solving problems and posting the videos to a private social networking site, where classmates could watch. The study found that students with the phones performed 25 percent better on the end-of-the-year algebra exam than did students without the devices in similar classes.

Critics note that this is simply a self-serving, profit-motivated push by the industry to break into the lucrative High School market. Teenagers are particularly susceptible to brand influence and can develop long-time loyalty if reached at this impressionable stage. Another argument by critics is that these phones will serve as a distraction in and out of the classroom. Students in a classroom are a captive audience. Once you begin to add the outside influence and connectivity of the internet distraction becomes much more accessible.

This point of distraction is further highlighted by a recent piece in George Washington University's student newspaper The GW Hatchet. This piece, by staff writer Eric Thibault reports on the growing trend of professors limiting laptop use in class (hat tip to DCist for the story). The piece explains that this isn't a ban, it is simply a measure to control the interests of the students without the added distraction of Facebook, video-chatting, and email checking.

"Students pay a lot of money to attend this institution, but I'm sure it's no one's intent that people should be throwing that money way," Wirtz said. "If lectures are being compromised, it's not in anyone's best interest to use them."

What struck me most about the hatchet's piece is the tidbit from a survey by a Georgetown Law professor.

Georgetown Law professor David Cole said 80 percent of his students who were anonymously surveyed reported that they are more engaged in class discussion when they are laptop-free, 70 percent said that they liked the no-laptop policy, and 95 percent admitted that they use their laptops in class for "purposes other than taking notes."

It seems that in this instance, the students are on the side of the professors. The laptop is an added distraction and students completely understand if professors issue a limited use rule. I'd love to hear thoughts. How do you use a laptop in class? Do you feel that the use of a smart phone or computer aid adds to your educational experience or detracts from it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.