Chat with Katharine Brooks, Author of You Majored in What!

Chat with Katharine Brooks, Author of You Majored in What! Today I had the chance to chat with the author of one of my favorite career books for college students and graduating seniors. Katharine Brooks is the author of “You Majored in What?!” and the Director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, please do. Whether you are struggling to find a job, are unsure of what you want to “do” after college or have a case of the post-college blues this book is relevant. Katharine’s views mirror mine in many ways. Please meet, Katharine Brooks! What inspired you to write, You Majored in What? As a liberal arts major myself I loved my education but was never quite sure how it fit in the workplace. Later on when I started working with liberal arts students at a college back East (Dickinson College) I realized that they had the same questions and challenges I did. So I set out on a mission to find a career system that would work for them since the traditional linear (major in accounting and become an accountant) approach wasnt helpful. It took a lot of trial and error with exercises, assessments, etc., but I finally figured out what seemed to work for many students. I started teaching my system in classes but couldnt find a textbook that covered the material, so I wrote the book! Give us a brief explanation of chaos theory. Chaos theory grew out of an effort to improve our ability to predict the weather. Ultimately, though, the scientists and mathematicians learned that weather is too complex a system to be able to predict with any reliability. There are too many intervening variables and things emerge. Same thing with careers they, too, can be influenced by unexpected intervening variables (a bad economy for instance) that can throw off any predicted plans. In a tough economy, how should students change their job search strategy? I think you have to be more vigilant. You need to have the best possible marketing tools a targeted resume (not a generic one you send to everyone); a well-written cover letter that specifically relates your skills and knowledge to the job; and great responses to interview questions. You need to have an open mind and be willing to take a less-than-perfect job, knowing that you will learn and you will parlay that opportunity into a better one. How do you recommend students handle the common and irritating question, What are you going to do with THAT major?! I tell them to read my book. (Just kidding!) I tell them that they need to be the ambassador for their degree they need to think about why they chose it, why they like it, and (this is important) consider how what they have learned has changed the way they view things. I use the example of the movie Good Will Hunting depending on your major, you might view the film from different angles. A psychology major might focus on the interactions with the therapist, an economics majors might notice the different social classes in Boston, an anthropology major might analyze the cultures in the film, etc. Your major can change the way you view political, personal, and other situations. Know that and be prepared to tell an employer why that perspective will benefit the organization. What was your college major? And how did you end up in the role you are into today? I started college as a music major but then I discovered there were people with talent in that field. ?? Actually, I liked music theory, harmony and counterpoint, but I realized early that I didnt have the passion needed to succeed in that field. I played around with majors in English, psychology, and art history, but ultimately settled on sociology which was great because it applies to everything. Heres the quick version of my career path after college: Human resources specialist in retail merchandising to social worker in an agency for the blind to grad student in rehabilitation counseling to school psychologist running a clinic at West Virginia University while getting a doctorate in Educational Psychology to counselor to college students to career services director and disability services coordinator at Dickinson College (also an Assoc Professor teaching film studies) to Director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin. Give us one tip for life after college. Dont worry if you dont know what youre going to do either with your major or with your career. If you can plan your career in advance, thats great, but otherwise, just follow what looks interesting, and when something else sounds more interesting move to that. When you dont like your job, learn what you can from it, and move on as soon as possible. Follow your interests and keep learning.

This is What You Need to Do to Succeed CareerMetis.com

This is What You Need to Do to Succeed â€" CareerMetis.com Everyone is looking for THE thing that will vault them, or their business, to success and riches.What is the nugget â€" the one thing that if you knock yourself out on â€" that will truly make a difference to your career?It drives me crazyevalevalThe experts and pundits promulgate their version of success and their approach typically is to shrink their advice down into one or two points they believe are the essence of winning.After all, if you can boil success down close to a single factor, people will more easily understand the advice Successful people understand that it is rarely the Hail Mary pass that sets them apart from others in the crowd, rather it’s the string of little achievements consistently delivered that separates them from their peers.2. Incremental gainsSuccessful careers are based on “baby steps”; small incremental gains â€" nano-inches â€" that purposely and relentlessly move toward the end goal in mind. The ability to distill the end game into a number of sm aller objectives is critical and the patience to achieve each one of them is essential.Short cuts are few and far between in today’s world full of complexities and uncertainty; doggedly pursuing small forward looking goals that serve the greater purpose is the most practical way to get things done and to be recognized as an achiever.3. MistakesI know of no successful individual who has made zero mistakes; quite the opposite. They all share three attributes: one, they have all made their fair share of mistakes; two, they learned from each mistake to minimize the chances of making the same mistake in the future and three, they tweaked their plan to reflect what they have learned from making the mistake.evalSuccess eventually is a function of the tries someone makes, and you can’t try a lot without stumbling along the way. Accept and welcome the fact you will make mistakes, just be sure they serve your personal development process and that you act quickly to remedy them.eval4. Pain toleranceWe live, work and play in an extremely complex environment. Organizations have their own political landscape, bureaucratic rules processes as well as personal bias that makes it exceedingly difficult to get anything done. What works on paper rarely works in the face of these forces; intellectual energy alone is woefully inadequate to accomplish anything.Progress depends on how much emotional energy someone is prepared to put into a task to see it through; no emotion = little or no progress.And it also depends on how much disappointment can be absorbed in the face of roadblocks and setbacks, while still looking for ways to continue moving forward. When obstacles are constantly encountered, one needs a high tolerance for “pain”; if not, defeat is inevitable.5. PassionEver see a successful person who is “sorta” interested in what they’re doing? I haven’t.In fact the profile of a winner contains these descriptors:passionatemindlessly drivenall intotally possessedd angerously committedThese traits are demonstrated by someone who is guided by right brain energy rather than left brain logic. Someone who understands that it is not theory and text book principles that drive results; rather the relentless energy applied in the face of perpetual roadblocks encountered along the way.6. ImperfectionSuccessful people don’t seek the perfect solution to anything because they know that perfection is a trap that robs them of valuable time and energy necessary to execute their solution and move forward.I have known people who were prepared to spend copious amounts of time to try and make their chosen path 20% “more perfect” that the approach they have in hand. It’s a travesty, really, because the best method to deliver a winning solution is to get busy implementing an imperfect solution and improve it on the run.evalPerfectionists don’t want to do anything. They are mesmerized by possibilities and are risk averse â€" traits of mediocrity not great ness.The intellectual master plan rarely yields a star.It’s more of the practical human traits that separates special successful people from the herd.The bottom lineWinning is all about baby steps and nano-inches. Pain tolerance and screw-ups. Trying and imperfection.Pay attention to these subjects if a successful career is your end game.

I Need to Find a Contact at...

I Need to Find a Contact at... Often times I have seen LinkedIn group members pose the request I need to find a contact at ABC company, know anyone? My first reaction is, great!   They are asking for help.   But then as I think about it I wonder if that is the best way to get the information they are looking for. If this is a last ditch effort to find a contact, then I am more supportive of the tactic.   By last ditch, I mean have they contacted EVERY person within their network, preferably by phone.   Also, have they   checked the company profile on their own to seek any level of connection with employees?   Have they gone to professional association meetings regularly to meet company insiders? Have they Googled the company and done preliminary research? Putting out this plea for help is noble.   But it makes me wonder if they are just looking for a   fast answer. No one wants to drag this out, I get that.   But there has to be some level of effort, right? If they have in fact done the leg work and dug deep within their network, I would be more inclined to help.   What I would like to see in their request for a contact name is: what theyve already done to find a contact who they might like to talk to what they hope to learn from the conversation. I dont know if this is realistic.   But, I do know that personally, I would be more inclined to help find a contact for them if I knew this. Is it my lack of trust?   My scepticism? Have you posted such a request on a LinkedIn group?   Did you get a response?   Who responded?

Learn How to Build a Resume Writing Business - Tips to Succeed

Learn How to Build a Resume Writing Business - Tips to SucceedMost of the time, a person is struggling to find out how to build a resume writing business and yet it is usually a very tedious job. It will be very difficult for you to learn the techniques and work on your own. This is why it is better to hire the services of a professional. You can learn more about it in this article.In the beginning, you should know that such things are very essential to know. The first thing you need to do is to list the fields that you need to include in your resume. The easier it is for you to write, the better.You can get lists from your previous employers or from friends who have worked with you. List them down and use these fields as bases for building your resume. The list is important for you to decide on the things that you will put on your resume.There are many different things that you can write in your resume. You can write the details about your experience in the field of study that you a re applying for. This will help the employer to get information about your career and how you perform as a professional.Another section which you can add on your resume is your achievements. These achievements will give information about your professional growth. It will be an added advantage for you to have this section included on your resume.In your resume, make sure that you tell the employer about the specific career path that you are pursuing. It is important for you to include in your resume the details of what you have achieved in your career. Your life story will reflect in your resume.Researching is another important part of having a career. It will help the employer to know about your academic qualification. This will allow you to know about the expertise that you have acquired in your field of study.Make sure that your resume is filled with the detail of your education and experience. Also, include the details of your previous employment. This will allow the employer to know your skill set. In the end, you will be glad that you have included all the details that you need to include in your resume.

Tips For Writing a Resume - How to State You Have Some Spanish Skills

Tips For Writing a Resume - How to State You Have Some Spanish SkillsWhen writing a resume, you will need to include the necessary information about yourself. It's very important to make this section come across as professional and convincing. A resume should focus on your strengths, work experience, and educational background. You will also want to state whether you speak Spanish or not.Writing a resume can be done in a number of ways. Writing with a large font is easier and it requires less typing. It may be done in any style that is more or less flattering to the writer.The first thing you want to do is list your name and date of birth. Make sure you put your full first and last name as well. Your job title is next, followed by an employment history which should start from high school through college. Whether you studied abroad or not is usually listed here.In this section you will have to list your educational history. Do not simply say 'bachelor's degree' unless it is appropriat e. It is very important to list all of your schooling and to do so properly. You will also have to list what type of education you received, if any. Make sure that you clearly state where you went to school and whether or not you graduated or received a certificate.If you are trying to get a job or if you are writing a resume for a job interview, you will need to mention if you speak Spanish. This is a good idea if you plan on applying to be a translator. In this case, you will want to choose a language that you would be comfortable in.When writing a resume it is always a good idea to include in the resume anything that you may feel is relevant to the job being applied for. If you write in this way you will not only show your ability to read the English language but will also provide a professional impression to the employer.A good resume is very important when applying for a job. A good resume should include your name, contact information, education and the details of your employme nt and education. Even if you don't have any knowledge of Spanish, you can still create a great resume that is professionally produced.

A Startling Fact about Workforce Development Center Resume Writing San Diego Uncovered

A Startling Fact about Workforce Development Center Resume Writing San Diego Uncovered The Appeal of Workforce Development Center Resume Writing San Diego Resumes are essentially vital parts in regards to landing work. They are fairly predictable in features and information, but some choices have to be made. Workforce Development Center Resume Writing San Diego - the Conspiracy Professional References When you're applying for any position, employer might ask you for expert reference. General recruiters will request that you go back further and add a lot more detail. If you're sending out 5 resumes to 5 distinct employers, ensure each resume is specific to every provider. Bluntly speaking, yes, an employment may be a big issue for a number of employers. Though it is probable your possible employer is going to have already printed a copy of your resume from your on-line application in preparation for the interview it's a very good rule of practice to bring a clean expert cop y alongside you. Bear in mind, resumes are formal documents that need a formal manner of writing. Alternatively, you can visit the interview prepared to tackle any questions associated with the gap in a confident way. Educational Qualifications There are some suggestions for resume writing. Workforce Development Center Resume Writing San Diego Secrets That No One Else Knows About A strategic job search plan Make a terrific first impression with our customized cover letter services. Make certain it conveys what you intend to bring to the company, in place of the other way around. When you're armed with a lot of information regarding the business and the job which you're targeting, you can start to formulate some essential phrases you will use in your resume, while it's in a qualification or an accomplishment. There is no explanation as to why your resume must appear amateurish. The Fundamentals of Workforce Development Center Resume Writing San Diego Revealed The majority of the moment, candidates just supply the list of the skills that they're well versed in. One of the absolute most productive approaches to update and increase your resume is to ensure your resume is aligned with each specific job post you respond to. Concentrate on talking about your skills to demonstrate you could indeed do that form of work. If you're targeting work beyond the defense arena, you'll need to civilianize'' your military language to demonstrate your abilities and experience match the employer's needs. Based on the next employer's requirement, you can center on job skills which you are supposed to utilize in your next job. Even if it is a somewhat related skill for this job include it in the resume.

3-Step Big-Fish Approach Practically Guarantees Career Success - Work It Daily

3-Step Big-Fish Approach Practically Guarantees Career Success - Work It Daily This Doesn’t Have To Be You Imagine getting your post-secondary degree and being presented with a multitude of job offers… within the next week! Related: 4 C’s To Career Success You’re overwhelmed and excited at the same time; the world is your oyster! There’s no trace of fear, no worrying about paying your loans or making your way in the world. You have guaranteed your success in life, and you’re going to be great. Doesn’t that sound nice? Well, years ago when people with college degrees were the BIG fish in a small pond, that may have been a graduating student’s reality. But for those of us in the first stage of our career TODAY, we know this is just a dream. Because today, having a college degree is the norm. It’s the new standard for entry-level jobs, and (if you’re lucky) you’ll be able to pay all your bills each month with your first job out of college. Nowadays, things are different. There’s more competition than ever, and the best companies out there can take their pick from an ocean full of qualified, normal sized fish. This Doesn’t Have To Be You I want to give you something. See, there’s a simple, proven way to create your own pond - where you’re the big fish once again - and then attract the dream employers you want to catch you. No need to compete. No need to worry about getting a job or paying the bills. 3 Steps To Being A “Big Fish” And Getting Your Dream Job And that’s what I’m going to give you in this article - a way to do things different, so you stand out in a unique way that attracts the people and opportunities you want, and practically guarantees your success. (There’s also a great free resource at the bottom that’ll help you take the next step.) 1. Take Charge Of Your Education One of the most important moments in my life was when I was sitting at a conference listening to a millionaire on stage talking about his keys to success... And I’ll never forget what he said: He spent more than $10k/yr on his education… outside of post-secondary school! He had his bachelor’s degree and was probably in his 40’s - and he was still spending a HUGE amount on growing and developing himself. He spent more than $10k a year on coaching, seminars, conferences, books, and courses created by people he looked up to who were getting and doing what he wanted to get and do. It was that simple, he said. I’ve taken this to heart, and you should too. If you want to practically guarantee your success, get your dream job, and create the life of your dreams - never stop investing in yourself. 2. Get A Mentor A few years ago I was fortunate to build relationships with a few key people who would become my mentors… And I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without them. They helped me launch my career, and opened doors that I didn’t know where even there. They gave me the confidence to chase my dreams… And the tools to get there. So if you have big dreams, but you’re not sure how to get there - then find someone who has done what you want to do, and find a way to get them to mentor you. Most people are more than willing to help the next generation succeed - because they had mentors along the way as well. 3. Follow The Great Ones Here’s a small tidbit of wisdom that could change your life: You don’t have to figure everything out yourself. Many have come before you, and many more will come afterwards... all you have to do is follow the path laid before you by the Great Ones, the leaders in your field - those who have done what you want to do. If you’re a bit stubborn, like I once was, then you’ll find this truth to be relieving. Like a weight lifted from your shoulders. I accepted it years ago by finding a mentor and following his formula, and it led to me getting my dream job - and now, a few years later… I’m helping others follow his formula to get their dream jobs as well. So, wherever you are in life and whatever your dreams are - take charge of your education, find a mentor, and follow the Great Ones, and you’ll practically guarantee your success. And if you need a little help getting started, you can check out the free video I put together along with my mentor. In it, I share three practical tips you can apply today to find and get your dream job. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!