Faking it. We’ve all been there.

No, not there. Come on, guys. Mind out of the gutter, back on the sidewalk ok?

We’ve all seen a job posting that is SO perfect. You’re scrolling down the page getting more and more excited. You practically have your interview outfit picked out.

And then…

Ugh. “Must be BLANK.” “Applicants with BLANK experience strongly preferred.”

Ugh ugh ugh. You’re pissed. You would have been perfect. It would have been perfect. Life would have been perfect.

But wait…should you give up on your career dreams because of one lousy prerequisite? Should you still apply?

Short answer: yes. Unless you’re WAY off (like it says “requires a medical degree” or “prior brain surgeon experience a plus”) it doesn’t hurt to still throw the application their way. You could also always take some time to actually learn that particular skill so you can say that you’re making the effort when and if you’re called in to interview. Chances are, if one job is hoping for applicants to have, say, Photoshop experience, then another one will as well.

Don’t shy away just because you might not fit 100 percent. There’s still time to brush up on your skills before you start.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Faking It appeared first on Law Street.

As you’ve come to know, this blog is pretty millennial-focused. It has to be. We’re experiencing drastic changes in a market to which we’re newcomers. We’re learning the rules as they continually change.

Dan Schawbel, contributor at Forbes, jumped on the millennial bandwagon by publishing a piece dedicated to our generation. In “My 10 Best Pieces Of Career Advice For Millennials,” Schawbel discusses his top tips for a millennial in today’s economy.

Below I’ve listed a few of my favorites.

Take risks early and often in your career. One of the important lessons this economy has taught us is that not taking risks is risky. There is so much out of our control and if we just keep doing what we did yesterday, we can’t get ahead. By taking a risk, you are putting yourself in a position to learn, whether you succeed or fail. You’re also showing to your management that you’re willing to put your reputation on the line to make things happen. As we become an ever more entrepreneurial society, those that take risks, both inside and outside of the corporate walls, will become more successful.

Focus on making a big impact immediately. The quicker you make an impact in a company the more attention and support you will get. Millennials understand this well because they won’t want to wait five years to get on a project where they can make this type of impact. Starting on day one, you have to learn as much as possible and start mastering your job so you can latch on to the bigger projects faster and prove yourself. By doing this, you will explode your career and become more valuable in your company, which will increase your pay, title and you’ll get to work on better projects.

Sacrifice today to position yourself for tomorrow. You can’t have everything you want today so you need to work hard to put yourself in a better position in the future. From 2007 to 2009, I put in over one hundred hours a week working on something I loved. As a result, now I have the freedom to do what I want, when I want. While others would have used that same time to go out every night and party, I realized the bigger picture and you can too. The more you do early in your career, the more it will pay off later in life and you will be thankful just like I am.

Be sure to check out the full article at Forbes.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Job Hunting as a Millennial appeared first on Law Street.

A friend and I were talking recently and decided that there are three major, tumultuous situations that plague the twenty-something. They are (in no particular order): the job hunt, dating life, and the apartment scramble. I, personally, have always found the job hunt to be the worst of all. If you don’t have a job, you can’t afford an apartment, and no one dates homeless people…so you’re pretty much screwed.

When faced with an insanely stressful situation (such as any of the aforementioned) the urge is to get yourself out of it as quickly as humanly possible. That could result in settling for that apartment in Bushwick with cockroaches and five roommates. Or dating that toothless guy you met on Ok C for way too long. Or, maybe even worse, taking the first job you can find without even really wanting it. Of course, it’s always better to be employed than not, but you don’t want to do this hunt again in a few months do you? OF COURSE NOT.

Here are a few tips for the application process that will help you avoid a potential career mistake.

1. Apply within a wide range. Basically, don’t limit yourself. So what if you majored in journalism? Jobs in that field aren’t exactly easy to find. Really dig into your resume and your pool of experience when applying. If you did some design work for an internship that could open up a whole new career path for you.

2. But definitely have a range. Of course, you should still cap off your search at some point. If you’re just widely applying to jobs that you have no interest in actually doing then you’re wasting your time and theirs.

3. Consider your future self. It sounds cliche, but where do you see yourself in five years? Ten? Think of each job opportunity as an investment toward the future you want. Think of that position on your resume down the line. Will it help you get where you want? If not then maybe pass on that one.

4. Use your network. Not just on LinkedIn. Reach out to mentors, past coworkers, people you’ve met along the way. A foot in the door helps immensely and you never know what opportunities are out there until you ask.

Sure, at some point it is a numbers game. Diligence is important when you’re on the hunt, but applying to jobs that are a dead end for your future won’t be beneficial. Be honest with yourself.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Surviving the Job Hunt: Apply Yourself appeared first on Law Street.

There’s always been pretty standard, basic protocol when deciding to branch out on your own and start a new business. First, you put up the money upfront (either from your own pocket or a loan) for start-up costs. Then you work like hell to make your vision into a workable, functional, profitable reality. Next, you seek investors to alleviate the burden and to turn more profit rather than just treading water.

Things have changed. With the inception of the JOBS Act and Kickstarter campaigns taking over the startup landscape, the SEC decided to offer a way for new businesses to gain quicker access to funds starting this year. This is important because it shows that the SEC is willing to take the changing startup scene into consideration. Now that crowdfunding is so prevalent, the need for investors is diminishing and the SEC wants to make sure that the middle man isn’t completely shut out. Though there are still legalities to be considered before pitching to investors, the SEC making it an easier, more accessible process.

Forbes has a few tips on how newbies can market to this investor pool:

Leverage the power of social networks. LinkedIn is a great place to start looking for potential investors. Try posting enticing information or even direct messaging some of your connections.

Look into crowdfunding websites. Crowdfunding websites curate and position business concepts to a community of potential investors. If an investor is interested, his contact information is passed on to the startup. Research the crowdfunding sites that fit your industry best.

Utilize community events. Community and public events are excellent ways to solicit interest in an exciting business opportunity. By getting exposure at contests, trade events, and other public displays, you can generate investor curiosity.

Read the full Forbes article to see more tips for pitching to investors.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post The SEC is Making it Easier for Startups to Get Funding appeared first on Law Street.

The job market it rough. If you’re looking then you’ve likely come across plenty of listings for internships, and you’ve probably thought about applying but you were quickly turned off by the lack of payment. I don’t blame you; however, in some cases these opportunities might be worth your consideration. Here are five questions to ask yourself before shying away completely from an unpaid internship.

1. Can you afford it? If you’ve graduated from college and the price of the real world has started to sink in, anything unpaid sounds a bit ridiculous. But maybe the pros would outweigh the cons if you’re looking for an investment into your future. Which leads us to the next question…

2. What are the hours? If you’re taking anything unpaid, chances are you can’t afford to do it for 40 hours a week. You will either have another job or school. Consider how it could fit into the other parts of your life. If you can do it remotely for some of the time, or it requires little face time in the actual office, then it might not be a bad fit with your other paying jobs.

3. Will it allow you to continue your search? If you do take an internship, you’ll probably still want to job hunt. Keep on keeping on, but make sure you are dedicated to your internship and do your tasks on time and well. Internships are a great opportunity for future references.

4. Is it for a company that offers interns future jobs? A lot of companies consider internships to be training grounds for future employees. If the internship in question is for such a company, it might be worth taking it for the potential alone.

5. Is it in a field of your interest and will it provide tangible experience? Some companies use their interns as coffee mules. It’s sad but true. Internships that provide actual experience are becoming more common, though. Companies are getting busier as the economy improves, but might not want to jump to hiring a full-time employee. These opportunities allow for tons of growth and education in the field of your choice.

So, the net-net? Do your research and make sure the opportunity is worth the expense and time. If it is, do your absolute best. Every experience for your resume will only make the job search easier in the future.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Taking an Unpaid Internship appeared first on Law Street.

As any recent job hunter knows, you usually have to go through several rounds and jump through even more hoops before you even get the interview. This is the screening process. Logically, it’s a great idea. It wastes less time on both sides of the interview. Employers don’t have to bring waste time on unqualified applicants, and stressed out job hunters don’t have to go through a series of dead-end interviews.

Businesses might have a recruiter or a company representative call an applicant prior to offering an interview just to get a few initial questions out of the way. Lucky for all of us, Monster recently released recruiters’ most popular phone screening questions. Below are a few sample questions and the best responses. Spoiler: honesty is still the best policy.

Are you currently working? One of the most uncomfortable situations is job hunting when you’re currently unemployed. What do you say? It’s so much harder to find a job if you don’t already have one to use as a stepping stone. If you’re not working at the moment, be honest about it and highlight the things that you’re working on instead. Let the recruiter know how you’re capitalizing on this time by taking a class or doing freelance or contract work.

Why are you leaving/did you leave your job? This is always awkward. While honesty is the best policy with this kind of call, it’s still important not to throw your current employer under the bus. Try to spin the reason for your search into a positive attribute. You’re hoping for a place with more growth potential, you’re looking to take the next step in your career, etc.

What hours do you expect to keep? Some positions require late nights while others need early mornings. When you first apply for the job it’s good to have some sense of the required schedule if it’s not your typical 9-5 situation. Let the recruiter know your expectations before you take a job that will occupy your life and put you right back where you started when the hours become too much.

Are you willing to relocate? We’ve all been there. It’s the heat of the moment and you really want this job. You might be tempted to speak before you think and say anything that will get your foot in the door. But guess what? If you’re not actually willing to relocate, they’re going to find out when you don’t get on the plane. Better to speak up now. They might even have some local options for you, so it won’t necessarily hurt.

What is your salary range? When switching jobs, most people hope for a salary bump. This might be another one of those times when you’re feeling a bit like groveling…don’t. If you say a number a lot lower that your actual salary range, you’ll be more stressed out than if you’re honest about it. You’ve done the research for what that position should make, you know your worth and skill set, and you know your budget. This is a good time to let the company know your needs.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Passing the “Big Screen” and Landing the Interview appeared first on Law Street.

When you decide to start a business, you need to get all of your ducks in a row. Financially. Mentally. And legally.

The JOBs Act has helped a lot of new businesses sprout up over the last year, and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter have proven to be the catalyst that a lot of budding entrepreneurs needed. Crowdfunding and earlier access to funding is making it easier for people (especially young people) to start their dream of being self-employed sooner than ever before.

While all of this new business development is lubricating our economy, creating opportunities for employment, and adding to the overall landscape of innovation and creativity, it is also raising legal questions.  As I’ve touched on previously, the SEC has gone through many adjustments and set in place regulations to protect both the entrepreneur and the investor.

Here’s a list of the most recent crowdfunding regulations (thanks, Forbes!).

• The amount an issuer can raise is capped at $1 million in any 12-month period.
• The amount a person can invest in all crowdfundings over a 12-month period is capped at 10 percent of annual income or net worth (incomes of $100,000 or more) or the greater of $2,000 or five percent of annual income or net worth (incomes of less than $100,000).
• Crowdfunding must be done through a registered broker-dealer or registered “funding portal.” Broker-dealers and funding portals may not solicit investments, offer investment advice or compensate employees based on sales. Traditional investment banks have shown little interest in crowdfunding, leading to speculation that crowdfunding will be facilitated by lesser-known financial institutions with little or no retail investment track record.
• Crowdfunding requires a disclosure document to be filed with the SEC at least 21 days prior to first sale, and requires scaled financial disclosure, including audited financial statements for raises of more than $500,000.
• Unlike Regulation D Rule 506 private placements to accredited investors following the JOBS Act, crowdfunding does not allow advertising except solely to direct investors to the appropriate broker/funding portal.
• Annual reports must be filed with the SEC by a company which completes a crowdfunding round.

Law firms specializing in business law need to accommodate the new influx of startups and stay up to date on the ever-changing and developing market, and I can’t stress enough the importance of speaking to someone who knows the exact you need to take. Startups have high risk potential, so it’s important that when presenting your idea to investors or to future clients you have everything organized appropriately. Many law firms, such as Manhattan’s Cohen Schneider & O’Neill, are taking note of the new potential market opportunities. One of this firm’s main areas of focus is on entrepreneurship and startups, for which they offer a comprehensive package for those ready to venture out on their own. For example, they can help the budding entrepreneur with particulars such as: required document preparation in the appropriate jurisdiction; compliance requirements and training, drafting and executing bylaws, resolutions, and stock issuance; tax ID registration; as well as brainstorming and consultations with a legal startup team.

So, basically, although things are getting easier in the market for new businesses, you still need to lawyer up, because it’s never easy when things aren’t done by the books. Save yourself some time and lots of money and take care of the legalities before you finish designing your logo.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Have a Great Startup Idea? Find a Good Legal Team First appeared first on Law Street.

If you’re in school and preparing to enter the job market, pounding the pavement in search of your big break, or working your way up the corporate ladder — so, basically anyone other than ladies who lunch — you’re probably swimming in unsolicited advice. Unfortunately, some of the classic job hunting tips are out of date. While some of the oldies are still goodies (a firm handshake, being on time, etc) many need a face lift. Here are some examples of classic career advice that you don’t have to take. In fact, you really should just leave these tips behind altogether:

Outdated Tip #1: Keep your resume to one page. I have to admit, I didn’t realize that this was no longer a rule until recently. I was having trouble keeping my resume to one page and then, upon some research, saw that more than one is no longer a faux pas. It makes sense that this rule has evolved. In today’s job market college graduates are taking more internships than ever before, and that bulks up a resume. It’s important to try to keep it concise and to use a bulleted, easy-to-read format rather than dense paragraphs.

Outdated Tip #2: Include an objective at the top of your resume. This is such good news! Personally, I find few things more stressful than writing an objective and catering it to each job. The objective is outdated. The company knows your objective is to get the job. They want to see why you’re a good fit. Skip right to the point — and save yourself that precious resume real estate.

Outdated Tip #3: Invest in good paper. Well, I never really knew that this was a rule to begin with…so I’m glad it’s not anymore. When was the last time you submitted a hard copy, anyway?

Outdated Tip #4: Use formal language. Your resume should obviously be professional, but it shouldn’t sound like you used a thesaurus. It’s your story. It should sound like you wrote it. A professional version of you, at least.

Outdated Tip #5: Include every job/internship. You’ve probably had a job that is completely irrelevant to your current career goals. Why clutter your resume with it? Include the jobs and internships that best highlight who you are as a candidate and why you would be perfect for the role. This is key to tailoring your resume to the job at hand.

Outdated Tip #6: Follow up with a phone call. I’ve written about a successful follow-up to an interview before. It’s totally OK (and recommended) that you check in. It shows interest and commitment. However, it’s old advice that a phone call is the way to do it. We’re in the age of email. Uninvited phone calls seem pushy and aggressive. Whoever you’re waiting to hear from would appreciate an email over a call that interrupts their day. So, put the phone down.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Six Outdated Job Hunting Tips to Ignore appeared first on Law Street.

No matter how you plan on funding your start up, you’re going to need to know how to pitch to your investors and/or crowdfunding supporters. Forbes recently highlighted some tips on how to best organize your pitch that I wanted to share with all of my fellow entrepreneurs out there.

Clearly show the potential for return. Investors are interested in how an investment can mature, earn a profit, and get them a nice multiple on exit. Explain how scalable the opportunity is, the size of your market, and how disruptive the product or service will be to this market. Most importantly, clearly explain how you plan to earn revenue.

Don’t get caught up in “how it works.” Many entrepreneurs get caught up in the technical details when pitching their business ideas, but investors don’t care nearly as much about how something works as they do about the potential impact it will have on the market.

Ensure you’re pitching the right investor. The wrong partners can be toxic. As you discuss your business idea with investors, consider whether or not they’re a good fit for your startup. Just because they have money doesn’t mean they’ll make good partners. (This goes beyond ensuring investors meet the criteria in the regulations.)

Click here to read all these tips from Forbes and get your startup into the best funding position possible.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Pitch Perfect appeared first on Law Street.

Last week we examined whether or not your undergraduate major is a big deal in the scope of your professional life. The conclusion: what you study may not matter so much. But what about where you study?

In the not-so-distant past, a fancy name under the “Education” portion of your resume was a sure fire way to the land of gainful employment. Now, not so much. As I always say, competition is fierce and the economy is not great.

So, is that pricey university worth it now? Does the name matter? Or is it a waste of money? The big-name universities generally cost more. A lot more. A study of the real cost of higher education puts the average tuition at a four-year private university at $129,700 as of 2013 compared to $38,300 at a public institution. And this is only tuition. These numbers don’t factor in room and board. So, is it worth it? It certainly was once, but maybe not anymore.

A few weeks back The Atlantic published an article stating that businesses generally are more concerned with experience and what you know than the name of the school on your diploma. According to the article’s survey, only nine percent of business leaders consider where a job candidate went to school as “very important.”

That number is surely down compared to years ago. Private institutions will have to eventually come to terms with these changes and the shift in priorities. Until then, where does that leave someone considering his or her options for college? It’s daunting, to say the least, to consider that a decision you’re making at such a young age will have a direct impact on your life, career, and financial success or failure in the future.

What is means is: don’t worry about where you go, or what your major of choice is. Do worry about building your portfolio of skills. Your future boss will want to see work ethic, and a diverse set of abilities. Take extra classes. Most private schools even offer affiliate programs you can take at a lower cost at night. That way, you can still get the big-name credibility without shelling out the big-name cash. Focus on constantly learning new and relevant skills to bulk up your resume. Do internships. Get into real-life work environments as soon as possible.

I think this changing of tides is actually really beneficial to coming generations. Employers are starting to consider applicants as whole people, rather than a set of criteria on a piece of paper. Take care to always try to grow in the direction of your career goals, regardless of where you graduated.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post How Important is an Ivy League Degree, Anyway? appeared first on Law Street.

LinkedIn is basically a prerequisite when job hunting now. Countless companies require that you apply with your profile and the site has one of the biggest job boards out there. Despite its prevalence, many job seekers still are not entirely sure how to navigate the social media platform. We (OK, most of us — not this compassionate professional, of course) know it’s important for networking and career hunting, but how do we use it to our greatest advantage?

Forbes recently posted “22 LinkedIn Secrets LinkedIn Won’t Tell You” and I found it extremely helpful. Here are my top five tips from the list:

Be opportunistic. Join groups that will let you connect with people who are in your target audience but are not contacts. Being part of the group gives you permission to reach out to them and invite them to join your network. You don’t need to upgrade to Premium to do so.

Be redundant. Know the top five strengths for which you want to be recognized and use them in your profile – repeatedly. If your top skill is project management, describe your project management proficiency in your summary as well as in multiple experience descriptions. This will help the right audience find you.

Be ungrateful. Ask your contacts to endorse you for only your top skills. Having the highest number of endorsements for your signature strengths will influence those who are looking at your profile. Have the courage to delete or reject the endorsements that aren’t central to how you want to be known.

Be promiscuous. Ignore LinkedIn’s advice to only accept connection requests from people you know. That helps sell Premium, but it doesn’t help you get found. LinkedIn’s search algorithm favors those who are in your network. That means when people are looking for what you have to offer, the results of their searches are displayed with 1st level connections first, then 2nd level connections and so on.

Be personal.  Your profile is not a resume or CV. Write as if you are having a conversation with someone. Inject your personality. Let people know your values and passions. In your summary, discuss what you do outside of work. You want people to want to know you.

Great tips! Thanks, Forbes!

PS – Thanks for the post idea, Ashley Powell!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post How to Link In appeared first on Law Street.

“Your invite to connect is inappropriate, beneficial only to you, and tacky. Wow, I cannot wait to let every 26-year-old jobseeker mine my top-tier marketing connections to help them land a job. I love the sense of entitlement in your generation. You’re welcome for your humility lesson for the year. Don’t ever reach out to senior practitioners again and assume their carefully curated list of connections is available to you, just because you want to build your network.”

Yikes. Are you blushing with empathetic embarrassment after reading that? Because I am. Twenty-six-year-old Diana Mekota sent the LinkedIn request heard ’round the world to Kelly Blazek, Cleveland’s “Communicator of the Year.” Blazek responded to the request by berating Mekota with the above along with the fact that she felt  Mekota’s request for connection was self-serving and only for networking. But guess what? That is what LinkedIn is for. What makes it even worse is that Blazek actually prides herself on being a source for young job seekers. This is exactly how young people network.

Blazek was on the receiving end of terrible public backlash when the message went viral and she has since apologized. But what do we learn from this? Besides the fact that some people are bullies. Our generations need to find some commonality, some mutual understanding of our differences.

Entitlement of millennials — business people in older generations actually conduct conferences on how to deal with it (us). Millennials are cutthroat, fiercely motivated, tech savvy, and kind of annoying. We are entrepreneurial and start up new ventures much more frequently than those before us. We don’t have the same boundaries as the generations before us because we were born into the social media world of instant communication and technological gratification. We email instead of call, and text instead of email. Some of us don’t know how to say “thank you” or how to follow up on a job interview appropriately. We were raised to think that the world can be ours, that it is owned instead of earned, and that it should be easily achieved.

The thing is though, the economy hasn’t done so well for us. The job search is harder than ever. Technology has its downsides — it takes forever for an automated system to sift through resumes. Competition is tougher than ever because we’re all fighting against other millennials who have similar qualifications. It’s rough out there.

But is it all our fault? Are we the only ones who need to adjust and accommodate? Yes, millennials are entitled, but we’re also the future. We also have the drive, gumption, and creativity to drive business and to really be an asset to a company if given the chance. The net-net is: don’t judge on either side. We can learn from each other. Because, if businesses are going to succeed, we’re going to have to.

If you’re thinking about starting a business or launching into any entrepreneurial venture, it is of utmost importance that you bridge the gap. If you’re older and starting a business, you’ll most likely hire a millennial at some point. If you’re younger, you’ll probably have someone as a client who would prefer an email to a text. Try to see from the other side, use your instincts, and avoid judging someone who might not have come of age in the same professional climate that you did.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Entitled Millennials or Entrepreneurial Generation Set on Success? appeared first on Law Street.

If you are/were an English major, you’re going to completely understand this post. And so is most everyone else — at least, that’s how it feels when you opted for an unspecific, general course of study in college. It can feel like you’ve signed up to be unsure about your future, like your education was a waste.

Have no fear: majors don’t always matter. Of course, you couldn’t go into a medical field without the proper training (I mean, I wouldn’t want an English major slicing and dicing my body during surgery…noooo thank you), but vague majors (English, Communications, Liberal Arts — you know who you are) might have hidden benefits. They don’t pigeonhole you. If you major in something incredibly specific, it’s sometimes harder to break out into something different — especially for your first job out of college. If you major in something more open ended you can more easily alter your resume to fit a variety of positions.

So, don’t worry — what you decide to study at 18 won’t cement you into a lifetime of potential dissatisfaction. I remember that notion always scared me as a senior in high school. I was so worried that when I started as a freshman at college, my whole life would be decided. OK, so I was a tad dramatic, but still…that shit is scary. And it’s drilled into the heads of high school and college kids everywhere.

Very few careers require that you had a specific major. Employers just want to know that you have the skills the job requires, regardless of what it says on paper. If you’re still not convinced, pick a more specific minor such as marketing or business. There are some skills that are always applicable to any position and are consistently appealing as most careers develop in accordance to our world being more technologically savvy.

Side bar, it’s never too late to change directions (well, it probably is at some point but let’s be positive). My boyfriend majored in percussion and is now working as a website developer. Sometimes all it takes is one or two extra credits or professional development courses to set your career down a whole new path.

Thanks to our Content Development Specialist, @TaylorGarre013, for the idea for this post!

Happy hunting/studying!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Is Your Major, Major? appeared first on Law Street.

As we all navigate tax season, money is on the mind. When you’re job searching, your finances are a major motivator. Given the time of year, I thought that it would be good to discuss navigating the financial landscape when job hunting. And how better to get into the the right frame of mind than this iconic scene from Jerry McGuire?

It’s pretty unlikely that you’ll be able to replicate Rod Tidwell’s tactics in your own job hunt and salary negotiations, so here are five things to keep in mind when you’re looking for a new job and considering your bottom line.

1. Know your worth. Research the position you’re applying for. Know the average salary and starting salary for the position. There are websites you can turn to for salary research specific to the city the position is in. It’s good to go into the interview knowing this information, even if it won’t be discussed right away.

2. Think about when and if you’d be willing to compromise. Salary is one of the most important things in the job hunting process, but it is not everything. If there is a position that doesn’t quite meet your requirement range, but it offers amazing benefits and potential for growth those are worth considering. It’s not always about the actual dollars. Factor in the total cost of working at that location by calculating things like benefits and commute.

3. Think about when and if you won’t be willing to compromise. If you’re offered a sum that is way beneath your ask as well as what your research deems appropriate, that might be the time to draw a line in the sand. If you don’t feel excited by any part of the offer, you probably won’t be excited about the position, which will just land you right back where you started.

4. Research the company. While you’re researching the salary of the position, also research the norms for the company. Not all companies fall in line with industry trends, so it’s important to know that before you get in too deep.

5. Think about how to get to where you want to be. Invest in yourself and others will believe in your. Think about your resume and portfolio as a savings account — you want to continually make deposits into it for your future. Will learning a new technology or skill push you to the next level? Absolutely.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Show Me the Money! appeared first on Law Street.

There are a few ways you can screw up an interview before it even starts. Here are some common (and not so common…hopefully) mistakes that can ruin your chances.

1. Canceling/Rescheduling/Showing up late. Shit happens. Life gets in the way. It happens once in a while to everyone. But short of an emergency, there is no excuse for a last-minute interview bailout. If you do have to change things around, give as much notice as possible. If you’re a no-show or cancel at the last minute, then you need to make that choice with the understanding that you are probably not going to be in the running for the position. 

2. Not bringing your resume. This one won’t necessarily put a nail in your coffin, but it won’t show that you’re prepared. Even if they don’t need it, bringing a copy of your resume shows that you took the extra time, thought ahead, and are serious about the position.

3. Not being prepared. You will be asked what you know about the company. Prepare for that. You’ll hurt yourself right out of the gate if you don’t.

4. Talking about money too soon. I know that everyone has a bottom line and a salary requirement. Making sure you know your worth is an important part of selecting a career, but don’t bring this up until you’re far along in the process. Make sure to keep the interview about how you’ll benefit the position and the company. A salary offer isn’t usually presented until the position is offered, or close to that point, so don’t jump the gun on this.

5. Not looking appropriate. Business casual, people. Just be safe.

6. Having no questions or comments to offer. There’s a part of every interview when you’ll be asked if you have any questions. Make sure you have them — at least one. It further drives home the point that you’ve done your homework.

7. Offering unsolicited advice on how the company could do better. If you see a flaw on the company’s website or in their social media presence, keep it to yourself. Unless expressly asked, your criticism, no matter how well-meaning, won’t leave a good impression.

8. Being hungover. I saved the best for last. When I did some research, this was actually common advice. This is surprising because it wouldn’t seem like this would be necessary given how incredibly stupid you would have to be to do this. But yes, don’t show up hungover. Or worse, still drunk.

Happy hunting.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Top 8 Interview Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on Law Street.

Job hunting is hard. The resume that you spend so much time and energy perfecting will likely go largely unnoticed among the hundreds that employers receive for each position. Your cover letter might be scanned, at best. It’s essential to separate yourself from the crowd and an online portfolio is one major way to do just that. Below are the top seven reasons why having one is a crucial addition to your career search.

1. Increase your online presence: When an employer googles you, your online portfolio — complete with all of your professional achievements and work samples — will appear instantly, making you a more attractive candidate.

2. Display your versatile skill set: Set yourself apart from the masses by demonstrating your work and experience in a modern, relevant way.

3. Earn your interview: Applicants who go the extra mile to stand out are more likely to hear from employers in a competitive market. It’s nearly impossible to convey your personality in a standard resume, but an online portfolio brings you to life for hiring managers.

4. Show all of your work in a concise and organized fashion: Most companies require some demonstrated sample of your work prior to even inviting you in for an interview. You paste links or attach samples to your application, which inevitably get overlooked or lost in the shuffle. Job hunting is tough from the employer’s end as well. An online space where your work samples, resume, and contact information are organized, clear, and really pop will help keep you in the forefront of the employer’s mind, and help you brand yourself.

5. Demonstrate eagerness: Everyone has a resume. Everyone has probably polished it. Not everyone has taken the extra step of adding another level of professional depth to their pitch. It shows that you are eager to work, motivated to get the job, and would be someone who puts in the extra effort.

6. Showcase your talents on a platform that you create yourself: The portfolio is all about your ability to set yourself apart and get noticed by employers. There’s no better way to prove your skill set and tenacious work ethic than to provide it on a platform that you were creative enough to produce yourself — especially you aren’t even a graphic design mastermind.

7. Enhance your job search regardless of career path: You might think that having a portfolio would only really benefit someone hoping for a graphic design career but that’s not true. You can have this tool customized and tailored to your specific career goals, including writing samples, professional references, web development or design samples. The list is endless.

Convinced? Want one? Yeah? Yeah! We can help. There’s still time to participate in the Capitalista Contest. Click here for details!

Happy hunting!

xo

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Top 7 Reasons You Need an Online Portfolio appeared first on Law Street.

A few months ago, I wrote a post entitled Is LinkedIn the New Myspace? It seems that social media is making yet another transformation as far as job hunting goes as Facebook is becoming the dark horse of the job hunting competition. Forbes recently examined a Jobvite survey on the subject and the results were surprising — to me, at least. I consider Facebook’s appeal to be limited to seeing a whole bunch of baby/puppy/apartment/party pictures posted by people I went to high school with. Oh, and to remind me of birthdays. I really hadn’t considered it to be a spot for the job seeker.

Times are changing. According to the survey, more people actually use Facebook for their job-seeking needs than they do LinkedIn. Why? Because it is all about networking. LinkedIn is great for that as well, but it’s not really as easy. On LinkedIn, you can’t just connect with anyone. Some profiles require that you have a premium account to send a message, follow up, make an inquiry, etc. Facebook was built on networking — you can easily search for the people behind the institution and see if you have any mutual acquaintances. There might be something to it.

Here are a few of the suggestions that Forbes gives to better use the original social network to take the next step in your career:

1. Fill out your career history section. Not a lot of people do this on Facebook — at least not beyond their current job. But taking the time to add where you’ve been can lead to the next place you’ll end up.

2. Categorize your contacts. You know that section of Facebook where you can add how you know each friend? College, an old company, an internship? You should do that. It helps group your network and would make it easier to target your connections and your work updates.

3. Pay attention to professional updates. Believe it or not, amidst all of the pictures of pets and families and vacations, people actually post valuable career tips on Facebook. Pay attention to those posts, comment on them, share them.

The takeaway? Your online presence matters, and as social media increasingly becomes the standard for networking interaction it becomes more and more important to keep that in mind. You don’t want your online identity to hinder your hunt. Especially when the competition is using theirs to get ahead.

Happy hunting!

xo

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Is Facebook the New LinkedIn? appeared first on Law Street.

Let me guess. You’re just too good, right? Too passionate. Too focused. Too hard of a worker. Right. This is not what interviewers want to hear. Why? Because it’s bullshit. You know it. And they know it. How do they know? Because they probably answered the same way once upon a time. And they probably hated that question as much as you do.

Polishing a negative until it looks like a positive is widespread advice, but not really the best. It comes off as fake as it feels. When an interviewer hears, “My greatest weakness is being too dedicated to my job,” it immediately translates to, “I’m lying and just saying the easiest thing. It’s not honest. I’m not original.” Yikes. So what should you stay instead?

I’m not by any means advocating that you fill in a potential employer on your penchant for getting a little saucy at happy hour, or that you are a perpetual procrastinator. You know where the line is for what is appropriate to share. But you can and should be honest. There must be something you’re not that great at. If there isn’t, then you’d probably already be gainfully employed. Maybe you’re stuck on certain technology or have trouble with public speaking. An employer would much rather hear that you’re facing a real challenge. And then they want to hear what you’re doing to overcome it. Maybe you’re spending extra time studying that new software package, or you’re taking a class in public speaking. This is the time to share that. It’s ok not to be perfect, just be trying.

Anyway, you know what will impress in an interview? A customized online portfolio! It shows that you’re tech savvy, current, creative, and willing to go the extra mile. And guess what? We’ll make one for you — check out The Capitalista Contest if you haven’t already.

Happy hunting!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post What’s Your Biggest Flaw? appeared first on Law Street.

Law Street launched a new feature today — get excited, everyone! We’ve added #300Voices to the site, which is a curated hub of the top voices in law and policy. This Tweet Central brings together the best and brightest in the legal industry from the media, law schools and firms, and independent bloggers.

We did something very unique: Instead of focusing on institutions, businesses, and media outlets, we turned our attention to the people whose voices make up the dynamic legal industry. You can enjoy scrolling through up-to-the minute tweets about the most important legal news of the day from your favorite contributors.

#300Voices is as ever evolving as the topics we cover and we’re offering a unique chance for our readers and followers to contribute to this list. We want you to nominate your favorite media contributors, professors, and bloggers on Twitter — all the legal voices that are essential to your daily life. Tweet us your nominations @LawStreetMedia using the hashtag #300Voices and we will choose new contributors as their influence and relevance grow. Click here to view full nomination details and instructions.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Introducing #300Voices, the Top Voices in Law and Policy appeared first on Law Street.

Heading out to a job interview? First, congrats! Secondly, please rethink the crop top. You might have your own style and swagger, but the interviewer might disagree and *gasp* judge you. It happens. So, let’s keep it classy.

I know that the standards for interview attire aren’t as conventional as they used to be. However, there is nothing wrong with going for business casual. Better safe than unemployed amiright?

So let’s go over the don’ts first.

1. Don’t wear tight clothes. You want to give your prospective employer a good impression, but your interviewer doesn’t need to see everything about you.

2. Don’t have any visible undergarments. Come on, people. Do I even need to elaborate? Good.

3. Don’t wear jeans, shorts, or god forbid — jorts.

4. Don’t wear anything too risqué. This includes low-cut tops, super short skirts, and anything generally inappropriate for a professional environment.

Now, a few dos.

1. Do know where you’re applying. In general, business or business casual will almost always be the best option, but there are exceptions. If you’re in the fashion or art industries there is a little more wiggle room; however, the rules above about appropriate attire still apply.

2. Do make sure you iron! Looking like you put some time into what you’re presenting is important. You don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed — even if you just rolled out of bed. Wrinkles aren’t cute.

3. Do wear something you’re comfortable in. You’ll feel more confident if you feel as though you look your best and you’re not preoccupied with your outfit. It will show!

Happy hunting

xo The Capitalista

PS – If you did just get a job interview, you know what will really impress them? A customized online portfolio to showcase your work and talents. We’ll make you one! Read about The Capitalista Contest to learn how to enter!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post What Not to Wear to an Interview appeared first on Law Street.

Want to set yourself apart from the competition? We can help! Law Street is launching its first #CapitalistaContest today! You can WIN a custom-designed online portfolio to assist with your job search. Want to enter? Of course you do!

To Enter:

1. Like us on Facebook
2. Share the contest post on your wall
3. Write a comment explaining why you deserve the portfolio and we’ll select a winner!

Contestants can increase their chances of winning by having others LIKE Law Street Media on Facebook and tagging your name on our wall.

Benefits of an Online Portfolio:

*Increase your online presence: When an employer googles you, your online portfolio — complete with all of your professional achievements and work samples — will appear instantly, making you a more attractive candidate.

*Display your versatile skill set: Set yourself apart from the masses by demonstrating your work and experience in a modern, relevant way.

*Earn your interview: Applicants who go the extra mile to stand out are more likely to hear from employers in a competitive market. It’s nearly impossible to convey your personality in a standard resume, but an online portfolio brings you to life for hiring managers.

In today’s competitive market, the little things you do can really make a difference. This is your chance to stand apart from the crowd! The contest deadline is February 24 — enter before it’s too late!

Happy hunting, and good luck!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post WIN a Custom-Designed Online Portfolio appeared first on Law Street.

This edition of Capitalista Careers is a shout out to one of our newest bloggers, Imran Ahmed. Imran killed his interview! Basically, he was the perfect interviewee. Imran successfully did all the things that I incessantly rant about doing, and avoided all the common mistakes.

Let’s take a lesson from him, shall we? Let’s talk about the things that he did right.

1. He dressed to impress. Stay tuned for a post on what appropriate (and inappropriate) interview attire is, but until then here’s your teaser: Imran showed up in a suit. Mandatory? No, probably not. His resume was great and his personality was a good fit for our vibe. But it was a breath of fresh air to see someone who cared enough to put his best foot forward. How you’re dressed says a lot about you. It’s a first impression. It never hurts to always go for business/business casual attire.

2. He showed up early. You know my policy that 15 minutes early is on time. Imran showed up on time in my book.

3. He was prepared. He came with copies of his resume and was prepared to walk us through his accomplishment. Remember the Interview Tips post from a few months back? I talked to recruiter Jack Farrell on his top interview advice — he stressed that your resume should read like a script and that you should be prepared to highlight the important parts when asked.

4. He was well researched. Imran was able to pinpoint specific things he liked on our website. I’ve written about it to tedium before, but far too often applicants don’t take the time to google the company they’re interviewing with. It. Is. So. Simple. It will show if you haven’t looked at the site. There is no way to bullshit that. Anyway, Imran obviously went to the site, did his homework, and came prepared to discuss what he liked about it, and where he saw himself fitting in.

5. He followed up. Following up isn’t just to inquire about the status of the position. He sent thank you emails to everyone he interviewed with. This level of attention to detail just reaffirmed that he will be a great addition to our team and an enjoyable person to work with.

Keep your eyes peeled for Imran’s new blog! He’ll be featured on our site writing about the legal implications of social media.

I’m sure that the rest of the new bloggers interviewed just as well. We’re very fortunate to have such a great group. Stay tuned for more new blogs soon!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Our Newest Blogger Nailed His Interview appeared first on Law Street.

Last year, when actor Zach Braff  launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for his movie, Wish I Was Here, it made the headlines. Some people couldn’t wrap their heads around giving funds to a guy who is already better off than the majority of us, but Braff quickly responded that that isn’t the point behind a crowdfunding effort.

Now Braff’s campaign is in the news again. The movie premiered at Sundance over the weekend to an enthusiastic audience. Fans cheered when the credits rolled and the 46,520 Kickstarter backers were listed. Within 24 hours of the film’s debut, Focus Features acquired it for about $2.75 million. In the indie movie arena, that fee would usually be used to repay the financial backers of the project; however, that is not the case for Braff’s Kickstarter campaign.

Producer Stacey Sher assured backers that they will be getting everything that they were promised upfront, though not reimbursed for the donations they made. The backers allegedly seem fine with this arrangement. The production team is keeping the promised schedule of meet and greets, showings, and paraphernalia. Before anything else, Sher says that they are committed to print t-shirts for and schedule visits with the film’s supporters.

So, is this fair? Yes. They are keeping their commitments and being consistent with their word. Though not traditional, this might be the new normal. This situation is another example of how crowdfunding and new ways of garnering investments are navigated. The Security and Exchange Commission is still orchestrating the logistics and legalities of exactly where The JOBS Act, micro-financing, and crowdfunding leaves investors. What does this mean in the long run? It means that rules are changing. Traditions are evolving. It means, though, that when you venture down this slightly less traveled terrain, you have to be all that more careful about specifying your promises and making sure to proceed with honesty to completion. Sher stated that a crowdfunding effort like Braff’s “is not to be entered into without a very serious commitment to your backers, and an understanding that these people are your champions, your cheerleaders, and your market.”

Courtesy of Mathieu Marquer via Flickr.

Don’t worry, Zach! We still heart you. Thanks for the t-shirts!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post I Helped Kickstart Zach Braff’s Movie and All I Got Is a Lousy T-Shirt appeared first on Law Street.

My boyfriend and I have been binging on The Food Network lately. The show Restaurant: Impossible, to be exact. It’s amazing. The perfect combination of food and drama. Maybe it’s the fact that we’re both trying to be better about food (resolutions blah blah blah) or maybe we just get some ridiculous satisfaction out of watching a guy with a faux pretentious accent yell at people about garnishes. Whatev. It’s our thang. Don’t judge.

But in all seriousness, the show did get me thinking. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s a synopsis: Robert Irvine is the host and an executive chef who roams around the country saving restaurants that are about to shut down. It’s great. There are tears at the end. But anyway, I was really shocked at how some of these businesses were being run, and the reasons that the owners were finding themselves in this impossible (pun intended) situation. There was literally an Italian restaurant that ran out of pasta. There was another place that only served canned food. All of the owners were disgruntled and close to personal and financial ruin.

The restaurant biz aside, there are lessons to be learned here. I write about startups and going out on your own. I write about how many great kickstarter and crowdfunding opportunities there are now. But today we’re concentrating on the basics. You might have a great idea for a business, but there are things that you need to do before you turn this idea into a very expensive reality.

1. Mind your own business. You have to know your business before you start it. Not just your store, your website, your personal effort, but the ins and outs of the industry as a whole. How would you start a knitting store without knowing how other knitting stores function? Is there a place for you in the market? Is the market doing well for your industry? Are you taking a brave and awesome step, or setting yourself up to fail? Know these things.

2. Do you know what you’re doing? Beyond knowing about how other businesses with models like yours are doing, you have to know how to do the every day functions your company would require from you.

3. Your costs. One thing all the people on the show have in common is that no one has a handle on their finances. They all think that starting their business would help them save money…which is almost never the case, especially within the first few years. It’s true that it takes money to make money. Are you hiring employees? Do you need office supplies? Computers? Produce? Electricity? Whatever your business is, you’re going to need things. And these things cost money. Know your startup costs, how you’re covering them, and how you’re moving forward.

4. Your environment/clientele. Are you selling fishing gear in the middle of the desert? Think about your location, and whether or not your idea will fit. If it will be a struggle from the get-go, rethink. There are enough hardships within the first year that you don’t want to add more to your plate. Next, think of the best way to reach your clients. Who are they? What kind of promotional efforts will they respond to? You have to know who you’re marketing toward.

And if you do open a restaurant, make sure to do a good job because you don’t want this guy yelling at you, do you?

Robert Irvine, Restaurant Impossible host and bicep extraordinaire, courtesy of Loren Javier via Flickr.

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Business: Impossible appeared first on Law Street.

So, you’ve applied to a job. Actually, you’ve applied to everything slightly relevant that LinkedIn has to offer. You’ve taken the big leap. You’ve perfected your resume, reworked your cover letter…now what? Now, my friend, is the hell that is the waiting game.

Job hunting has become a lot like online dating. There’s no personal contact to it. You send off your resume into the great unknown. Don’t get me wrong, online jobs boards are great. They provide an ease to the search and a way to quickly scan your choices and filter your options.

But doesn’t it kinda feel like you were stood up for a date and you’re just waiting by the phone now?

You’re annoyed. You start to wonder if these people actually want to hire anyone. They seem to be taking their sweet time with responding. As soon as you click “submit” the process is out of your hands. Or is it?

Following up is a much debated topic among job seekers. Of course, we all know it’s polite to follow up with a ‘thank you’ after being invited in to interview. But what if you just submitted a resume? Is there a proper way to check in?

Apparently, there is. Here are a few tips on how to successfully navigate the follow up:

1. Don’t do it right away. I know that you probably feel anxious immediately after sending your resume, but wait it out a few weeks. Let’s say, at least two. Applying for a job is time consuming, but so is selecting a candidate. The person you applied to might have more on his/her plate than just looking through applications. You don’t want to come off like you’re rushing the person. No one wants to work with an annoying eager beaver.

2. Don’t call unless the number is given. Worse than looking like an eager beaver is looking like an eager beaver who is a bit creepy. No one will hire a stalker. Don’t seek out a number unless it is expressly given. Calling comes across as invasive. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

3. Inquire as to the status with a short email. There are many employers and recruiters who recommend a follow up as a way to stand out among the competition. It’s a good opportunity to reintroduce yourself apart from just your application. Keep it short and to the point.

4. Try to set up an interview or further communication. In your email, you can ask if there is a time that you could sit down to discuss the position in person, or if it would be OK to reach out to them again.

5. Don’t overkill. If they say no to any of the above, or if they don’t reply to your follow up, don’t keep at it. There is a time and a place to throw in the towel and this is it. But don’t worry. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post The Follow Up appeared first on Law Street.

Last year proved to be a solid year for startups as the kinks continued to be worked out with the JOBS act. There were 237 IPO debuts in 2013 — a 62 percent increase over 2012.

What does this mean for you in 2014, though? You’re (sort of) young. You’re (relatively) new to the work force. You are (in all likelihood) certainly no where near an IPO. So, why is this important? It’s important because things like this help to close the gap between where you are today and becoming what you’ve always dreamed. In many cases this means starting out on your own. Creating a company is one of the most fun, exciting, exhausting, and exhilarating things you can do, and we’re in a time of such overwhelming creativity that there is no limit to what you can achieve.

What makes a business owner is changing. It used to mean being someone who graduated with a business degree, took out a loan, and followed certain steps. Now, with the rise in crowd-funding that we saw in 2013, the path is a lot less stringent.

That, however, doesn’t mean that you can skip those fundamental steps. Just because it’s easier than ever now — with technology and resources at our fingertips — doesn’t mean that this is a career path for the lazy. It still takes hard work. Most small companies fail within the first year and more drop off within the second. Even after that you’re never really safe. The only way to keep your company afloat is to keep swimming hard — sometimes upstream.

One of my favorite books on the topic is The E-Myth: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber. I strongly suggest it to anyone going down the self-employment path. Anyway, one piece of his advice is to always work in the business as much as on  the business. This means, instead of just doing day-to-day work, you also have to work on the greater picture of what you want it to become. Do the networking, marketing, and social work as well. If more people did this, so many more businesses would stay, well, in business.

It’s definitely not for everyone. But I have a feeling that this year more people will discover the entrepreneur in themselves. If 2013 was any indication, 2014 should see a lot more entrepreneurs discovering their calling. Now is the time.

Maybe you’ll be next!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalistaand Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post The Year of the Entrepreneur appeared first on Law Street.

Hello again! I’m sorry for everyone who had to wait a full day to see what the universe has in store for his or her career this year. But the Capitalista only has so much time in a day! So here are the rest of the career horoscope predictions. If you missed your sign check out yesterday’s post.

*Once again, I am not an astrologer. I don’t even read my horoscope on a weekly basis…so don’t go out and quit your jobs based on anything in this post. Thanks!

Libra

Yahoo’s Advice: Ride the wave of fabulousness, dear. You so deserve it! Some may have accused you of being lazy in the past, but your own sweet rhythm gets the job done in your own time. Others are finally starting to see that you work quietly behind the scenes in your own relaxed but productive fashion. You just don’t appear as stressed out as others.

The Takeaway: Well. You seem to have achieved the unattainable. Everyone desires to be recognized without having to fight too hard, ruffle feathers, or stress out too much. Congratulations! What you’ve got going seems to be working for you. Just a piece of advice in case the road becomes bumpier — you usually have to ask for what you want. If you are working your ass off and want to further your career, most of the time you have to be your own biggest supporter. Sometimes you need a little courage to fight for what you want because people might not always hand it over.

Scorpio

Yahoo’s Advice: You are a fortress of money-generating power. Plus you’re more determined to stay on top of your debt than ever before — even if that means working yourself to the bone. You have the gift of maximizing your resources and connections with powerful people and marveling at how quickly your good fortune expands.

The Takeaway: Sounds like you’re working hard. Good for you! It’s always a good idea to put the extra hours in when you can. Remember that you don’t need to get through it alone. Reach out to your network.

Sagittarius

Yahoo’s Advice: 2014 is all about who you know, Sag, and luckily you’ll be bombarded by the enthusiasm and support of friends and colleagues all year long. The biggest theme is on social networking, so don’t underestimate the power of connecting. Always carry your business cards with you, and rarely turn down a party invite this year. Doors are pretty much guaranteed to fly open via friends.

The Takeaway: It’s amazing how far networking can get you these days. Keep those business cards handy. Utilize social media. Go to Meet Up groups. It never hurts to put your feelers out there for opportunities.

Capricorn

Yahoo’s Advice: You’ve been working your tail off the past few years with Pluto and Saturn pushing you past any remaining comfort zones — and the rewards are just beginning to peak. Plus, with Mars pushing you hard for the entire first half of 2014, there’ll be no rest for the weary. But not to worry because you’re at your best — and often happiest — whilst being an industrious little goat.

The Takeaway: You’re lucky. You do well when busy — which is a sign of most successful people. Even if you’re out of your comfort zone — which the Yahoo astrologer thinks you will be — you can work with that. Jumping in the deep end is scary at first, but even if you’re on a new playing field, working with new technology or in a new environment, you will learn to swim eventually. That will only help you in the future.

Aquarius

Yahoo’s Advice: You’ve got loads of planetary support to keep you thriving in whatever new projects you decide to take on. It’s easy to overdo it with your scheduling during the first half of the year, so be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. The steady stream of work will continue, so don’t be afraid to turn down a few projects if only to save your health and sanity.

The Takeaway: Sometimes less is more. It’s easy to get wrapped up in how many opportunities are presented — especially if you’re good at your job. Good for you for putting yourself out there and continuing to work hard, but if you take on too much there is no way for each project to reach its maximum potential. Stay busy but stay sane!

Pisces

Yahoo’s Advice: The stars are demanding that you find your passion and get practical about it, Pisces. You’re a gypsy and a total free spirit by nature, but this year you’re being asked to concentrate your energies and really focus on your passion. Yes, this means coming down from dreamland and getting serious about your career goals, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use those amazing visions you have while sleeping or daydreaming.

The Takeaway: You might be torn between your creativity and your desire for stability. There are so many opportunities today for people in the job force to combine passion with career. You can start a blog. Start a business on the side. Keep that creativity flowing. You can have your head in the air while keeping your feet on the ground.

Happy hunting, and Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a successful 2014!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Your 2014 Career Horoscopes – Part Two appeared first on Law Street.

Well, it seems like I’m just riding this New Year train for inspiration, huh? Last one, I promise! Just kidding…this is a two-parter. Tomorrow will be the last one…that I actually promise. One of the most trending stories on Yahoo! over the past week is the 2014 Horoscope. Below is the career advice Yahoo! gives for each sign and our take* on how you can translate that to your work life.

*I am not an astrologer. I don’t even read my horoscope on a weekly basis…so don’t go out and quit your jobs based on anything in this post. Thanks!

Aries

Yahoo’s Advice: If you’ve wanted to rework your image, mission statement or just reintroduce more creativity into your career, this is the year to do it, Aries! It’s time to bring more sweetness and beauty to your brand.

The Takeaway: Time for revamping yourself! Rework that resume. Update your LinkedIn. Build an online portfolio (better yet – participate in the Capitalista Contest and have us build one for you). Whether you’re switching careers or happy as a clam where you are, it’s never a bad idea to polish your image.

Taurus 

Yahoo’s Advice: 2014 starts off with Mars — the planet of drive and ambition — amping up your work zone. In fact, this aggressive planet will be running an unusually long stint in this part of your horoscope (six months to be exact). This gives you the entire first half of the year to apply your energies wholeheartedly to your work.

The Takeaway: Sounds like you have a busy six months ahead of you! Time to channel your inner Britney and work, bitch. I’m glad I’m an Aries and all I have to do is dust off the old resume. Hey, if you’re feeling extra ambitious use it while you have it. Apply for that out-of-reach job. Take a class or two. Learn a new skill. You know, work, bitch.

Gemini

Yahoo’s Advice: All work and no play was turning Gemini into one cranky camper last year. But not to worry, that level of burnout is so 2013. This doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly turn into a hedonistic slacker, but you will remember why you’ve been working so hard in the first place.

The Takeaway: Maybe it’s time to take a breather from the computer screen. A stressed employee is not always a good employee. If you feel close to burning out, that will only lead to frustration. And a frustrated employee is definitely not a good one. Enjoy something in your social life. Work on a project that’s not career related for a while.

Cancer

Yahoo’s Advice: Your worldly life and professional dreams should still feel incredibly blessed in 2014. Having the support of Jupiter in your stars backing your biggest hopes and dreams isn’t shabby. You’ll be working that influence most strongly during the first half of the year right up to your birthday until the big guy moves on to your money zone in July.

The Takeaway: Way to make us all jealous, Cancer. Don’t relax just yet, though! Just because everything is smelling like roses right now doesn’t mean that is always will be. Keep up the hard work! And when the money does come in – save, save, save.

Leo

Yahoo’s Advice: You’re the golden child in 2014, Leo! This is your year to make your next big mark on the world and take your rightful spot in the spotlight. Everything you’ve been working on for the past 12 years is ready for the pay-off zone!

The Takeaway: Like your Cancer friends, life is looking good. You also need to fight the urge for complacency though! Keep your eyes on the next prize. Now might be a good time to expand your work horizons. Look into opportunities to do more at your current company if you’re happy, look to make a move if you’re not.

Virgo

Yahoo’s Advice: This is the year for really honing in on the powers of visualization and your imagination, Virgo. Work smarter not harder in 2014, especially after July. In fact, this summer you may be ready for a serious retreat, so you may want to get as much off your plate as possible during the first half of the year. Reward yourself in the summer with a blissful escape into nature.

The Takeaway: You can pull serious hours at the office and not be content with where you are. For Virgos this is the year to plan ahead. Think as hard as you work. Make strategic moves to get ahead at work, or look into what your resume might be lacking and get yourself there. Knock off that to do list. And also, apparently, take a walk outside. But wear layers if you choose today to do it. It’s freezing.

…to be continued!

Happy Hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalistaand Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Your 2014 Career Horoscope appeared first on Law Street.

Happy New Year, everyone! We’re a week in…so how are those resolutions coming? One of the most popular proclamations around this time of year (behind getting to the gym more/at all, of course) is the goal of furthering your career. Below are a few examples of career oriented resolutions that will help anyone – for the hunting and for the settled.

1. Grin but don’t bear it. It’s a new year. I’m just as guilty of breaking resolutions by February 1st, but there is one that I think we all need to try our best to keep all year: positivity. A little of it never hurt anyone. Sometimes we have jobs that suck. Sometimes our boss isn’t the best. Making yourself a Debbie Downer won’t help, but job hunting might. So slap a smile on your face and do it up.

No one wants to share a cube with this chick.

2. Plan ahead. You know that rushed feeling you get close to deadlines? That panic? The sweaty palms? The overwhelming desire to hide under your desk when you don’t feel prepared? Well, guess what! You don’t have to feel that way! You’re in control of 90 percent (rough estimate) of your procrastination anxiety. Yes, there are some stressors and deadlines that you can’t help. But chances are, if you do little things (like – gasp – managing your time) most of this can be alleviated. You might even get to snooze a little the morning of that big meeting.

3. Be a good coworker. That person at work who is a constant annoyance? Try not to care so much. Bitching about him/her doesn’t help and just adds to the stress of your day. Let’s all take a collective deep breath and try to make 2014 as enjoyable as we can.

Ready! Set! Go!

Happy Hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalistaand Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post New Career Resolutions appeared first on Law Street.

Happy holidays, everyone! This is the last post of Capitalista Careers until the new year, so I thought a recap of the most important job tips and cautionary tales from 2013 is appropriate. Let’s kick off 2014!

The Hunt

1. Don’t talk too much. I’m all for a good vent sesh, and it really does help, but just don’t become that scary-unemployed-person-who-isn’t-fun-anymore-because-she-can’t-stop-bitching-about-the-last-interview. That doesn’t help. Seriously, you can ask my boyfriend.

2. Think about the next five, ten, fifteen years. Think about further than that. What do you want it to say on your business card when you retire? What skills will help you with that? Even if you take a job that isn’t 100 percent what you want, consider whether it might provide you with the tools for later.

3. What are the most important things? This answer isn’t the same for everyone. For some people it’s the salary, for some the commute matters  most, the hours, the work environment, etc. Give some thought to which one or two aspects are your top priorities. Even if you don’t get everything, it will make the search easier if you know what your priorities are.

The Interview

Congratulations! You got a job interview! After days/weeks/months of hunting, searching, and groveling you landed yourself thirty minutes of face time. Go, you. Give yourself a pat on the back. Have a cookie. Hell, have a drink.

4. Google the company. This seems so obvious to me but it is amazing how often this step gets overlooked. Look through the company’s website, go on LinkedIn, google the CEO. Search the person conducting the interview. I am giving you permission to stalk unabashedly.

Things Your Interviewer Does Not Need to Know

5. That you’re occasionally/perpetually/sometimes late. Don’t be late to the interview. I’m a big proponent of the early is on time, on time is late, and late is not hired philosophy. If they ask what your biggest flaw is, being late should not be the answer. Even if it is, maybe consider this a new opportunity to say goodbye to your tardy ways.

Things Your Interviewer Should Know

6. That you’re a team player. Employers have no interest in bringing someone on board who isn’t willing to work with the other staff. Talk about how you appreciate sharing ideas and thoughts.

7. Thank you. This is such an important last step. Even if the interview had flaws, even if you were five minutes late (but try not to be), people remember those who take the time to drop a quick message thanking them for their time. It only takes a few minutes, and it will separate you from the crowd because it is amazing how many people don’t do this. Don’t be lazy.

What You Should Ask in an Interview

8. What responsibilities does the position entail? What does a day or week typically look like? Even if the job description is detailed, it is good to know the day to day. If you apply for an associate editor position it might be a surprise if they have you filing or answering phone calls. This way you can cross check and minimize the risk of disappointment.

What You Shouldn’t Ask in an Interview

9. How much will I make? I can’t even. I am always so surprised when people think this is an acceptable question during an interview. Especially an initial one. It’s presumptuous. It’s tacky. It’s going to hurt your chances of getting hired. Of course, this is a factor that you might weigh while making a decision about your career, but save that chatter for when you’re officially offered the position. Employers want you to be more “You better work, bitch” and less “If it don’t make dollars, it don’t make sense.”

Bad Coworkers

They’re your worst enemy by day, your favorite topic at happy hour by night. They’re bad coworkers. And they come in all shapes and sizes.

10. Don’t be the Over-Sharer: This person might come across super friendly. Right away. Maybe too soon. At first it might seem like harmless banter…but then you are suddenly privy to all of the intimate details of his or her life. If you know a coworker’s bikini wax schedule, you probably know too much. Catch Phrase: “This might be TMI but…” How to Deal: Politely change the subject. This is a helpful life lesson in general. Try to keep things professional with this person. Having friends within the workplace makes things fun and more comfortable, but if someone doesn’t know where the line is, it can make for awkward days. How to avoid being this person? Simple. If you have to ask if something is TMI, it probably is.

Good Coworkers!

11. Practice common sense and common courtesy. Treat the office environment like your home. A happy relationship with your coworkers is the foundation for a happy work environment overall. Keep common areas neat, don’t leave your stuff in the fridge forever, don’t steal office supplies that aren’t yours. You know, just be a normal, polite, functioning adult. And if all else fails…bring bagels. Coworkers love bagels.

Unemployed?

12. Become the person you want to be…or the person your resume says you are. Want to learn Photoshop? Do it! You have the time. Want to learn French? Oui? Go for it. There are so many online classes and downloadable podcasts. You could develop or craft an entire new set of skills. You can actually come out of this period of your life for the better. Not as a chubbier, more sarcastic and bitter version of your former self who is on a first-name-basis with the Chinese delivery guy.

And one for luck…

13. Be positive! If you’re hunting, keep your eyes on the prize. 2014 will be a fresh start for everyone. Let’s make it successful!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post The Twelve Days of Job Hunting appeared first on Law Street.

Ok, so, let’s talk about social media use while job hunting. Social media isn’t going anywhere, and neither is your need for employment. So, let’s find a way to make them fit together, shall we?

1. Don’t be creepy on LinkedIn. Having a current LinkedIn profile is almost a given in the job market. Everyone has one. And most employers check it. Let’s get one thing straight: LinkedIn is not for making friends, it’s for finding a job, researching a company, and reading articles about those two things. It is for networking. Think someone is cute? Check to see if they have a MySpace (and if they do and it’s active, reconsider). Leave LinkedIn to the searcher and the employer. Take the social out of this network. Keep your photo and content strictly professional.

2. Keep it clean, folks. Guess what? Future employers probably google you. Do you want them to see that photo of you on the mechanical bull circa spring break ’09? No, you don’t. We’ve had Facebook long enough to know this, people.

3. Keep your current work experiences to yourself. Did you fake sick? Keep it off your page. Do you hate your boss? You don’t want your new boss thinking you’re a boss-basher. Just keep that stuff to yourself. You also might want to keep your job hunting on the DL if your employer is still in the dark. You’re always just one mutual friend away from an awkward situation.

4. Make your wall private. “You are what you post” is the new “you are what you eat.” Keep your posts, shares, and friends’ comments private.  Do you want to look like a hot mess? Of course not. At least not in front of your prospective employers.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Is LinkedIn the New MySpace? appeared first on Law Street.

Law Street is gearing up for several promotions over the next few months, and one of them is to spotlight blogger talent. To kick us off I decided to interview one of of our favorites. We’ll also be highlighting legal blogging industry front-runners and guest bloggers. Law Street is always looking to feature fresh talent! If you’d like to guest blog for us, visit the connect page and check it out! Ok. That’s my plug. On to the interview.

I had the privilege of speaking with Eric Mayer this week. Mayer pens the legal blog, “The Unwashed Advocate.”  If you haven’t read it yet, check it out. It’s honest, tongue-in-cheek, snarky, hilarious, and, well, unwashed. If you don’t believe me, just read this excerpt from the home page.

Do you have legal problems? Reading this blog will not help. In fact, it will probably make them worse, and it will definitely make you feel worse. You don’t want that. If you think you may need legal representation, find yourself a good lawyer–preferably one who is recommended by other lawyers.

Mayer isn’t a full-time blogger — he has his own practice, The Mayer Group, which provides civilian counsel for military legal issues. The Unwashed Advocate didn’t start in the conventional way. In fact, Mayer was sort of anti-blog prior to starting his own, finding that blogs have a tendency to facilitate “crappy information and writing” and were using the platform merely to increase SEO and their appearance on Google. He did, however, have things to say, and after spending six years in the Army, Mayer realized he craved a voice.

“In the army, you aren’t as free to speak your mind and my family has had a history of big mouths. I started the blog slowly then finally loosened the ropes on it,” Mayer said. His blog doesn’t preach for his practice. “I don’t over advertise, I don’t interweave the blog with my practice.”

Why is The Unwashed Advocate a blog we should watch? Not only is the writing fantastic, but Mayer has a keen opinion on blogging in the current legal market that shines through. As the legal industry changes, he has managed to create a space for himself outside of his nine-to-five career. His advice on this? Not everyone should do it in the same way. “If you don’t like writing, don’t blog.”

His mantra speaks to a common struggle for young professionals: we have a lot of available technology at our fingertips, and endless opportunities to increase our visibility in search engines, to clients, and to future employers. While self promotion is extremely important, and might help propel your career, take a page from the Unwashed Advocate’s book and make sure you’re in touch with where your talents lie and not just jumping on a bandwagon. The goal, first and foremost, should be to ensure we’re presenting ourselves in the best way possible.

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post The Unwashed Advocate appeared first on Law Street.

Guess what! We’re doing a very exciting promotion for all of you job hunters out there! Law Street is offering the chance to win a custom designed online portfolio for your job applications along with the opportunity to be featured in an interview in this very blog! Do you want to be featured in Capitalista Careers? YES! Do you want a custom designed online portfolio? OF COURSE YOU DO!

How do you enter, you ask? It. Is. So. Easy! All you have to do is go to our Facebook page, “like” us, then direct message us your wildest job hunting story.

As you can tell, we’re really excited about this. So go ahead and like away! Send us your juiciest stuff!

Happy Hunting! (It will be happier once you have this portfolio! Trust me.)

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post #CapitalistaContest appeared first on Law Street.

Job hunting today comes down to a lot of factors. Sometimes it’s who you know. Sometimes it’s mostly luck. With so many applicants, automated responses, and email applications, it’s hard to know how often your resume gets the attention that it deserves.

A big part of job hunting, however, is technical. Your resume is a deal breaker: it can bring you in for an interview, or immediately send you to the “no” pile. Why not put in the time on it? I get it — writing, editing, fixing, analyzing, over analyzing your resume is tedious and feels like a waste of time.

Tedious, yes. A waste of time, no. Here are a few tips to ensure your resume is working for you, not against you.

1. Make sure it tells a story. A few weeks ago, I interviewed Jack Farrell about his tips from a recruitment perspective. He could not stress enough the importance of using your resume to tell the story of your employment history. Prioritize your content. Make sure the best points are properly highlighted.

2. Do your research. Choose the best format and stick to it. There are so many options for how to format your resume in the best way. Make sure you keep it consistent. Brand yourself.

3. Don’t forget the important information. While you’re perfecting the details, don’t forget to include the simple, obvious part: your contact information. Your resume could be perfect, but it won’t do you any good if no one knows how to reach you.

4. Be honest. It’s amazing how many people lie, ahem, stretch the truth in a document that they KNOW they will end up being asked about, and, if hired, having to back up. If you don’t know how to use Photoshop, it’s going to be really awkward answering questions about it in your interview. Just take the time to learn the skills you want to include.

5. Customize. Now, this part absolutely sucks. I know it’s adding additional steps to an already annoying process. It is amazing how much more successful you’ll be if you don’t have a blanket resume for each position. If you specify your resume to the job you’re applying to, you’ll have an edge on your competition. Whether you’re applying for a nonprofit position or moving up the corporate ladder, highlight your experiences and skills relevant to the exact job you want.

Now, how much better do you feel? Confident? Go conquer the job market!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Apply Yourself appeared first on Law Street.

It’s that time of year again. Everyone agonizes over resolutions, mistakes, new beginnings. For the next few weeks, we get to make vows of change and actually believe ourselves.

So, while we can still be optimistic, let’s try one of mine together, shall we? And it might even be more manageable than losing those 20 pounds or writing that novel. Let’s stop apologizing.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s a time and a place for an apology. If you accidentally run over someone’s pet, apologize. Profusely. If you forget a major meeting, apologize — and pray that you’re not jobless. (But if you are, use our job board.) But I’m thinking that we all might do it a little too much — I know I do.

People (especially women, but I think we can safely say that everyone has this issue) tend to resort to “I’m sorry” too quickly. And this kills you at work. When I was in my last year of college, I started a business that I continued for the next four years. Being a young person in New York City (where naïveté is eaten for breakfast) who started a business requires a certain amount of balls. And I didn’t have them. At first.

When I first moved here to grow my business, I didn’t realize that I would have to grow myself first. I quickly learned that people will question you, push you down, and try to make you doubt yourself and your vision. Don’t apologize for who you are, what you’re trying, and what you’ve planned. If you’ve properly executed a business plan, don’t apologize for it — out loud or within. You won’t make it if you do.

In this blog as well as Capitalista Careers, I write about entrepreneurship, kickstart campaigns, and new career ventures. But the very first step is self confidence, and that is diminished if you are an over-apologizer. We should try, when possible and appropriate, to wipe the word from our professional vocab.

For instance, when you mishear someone, instead of “I’m sorry?” replace it with “Can you please repeat that?” If you do something incorrectly, instead of “I’m sorry,” try “I’ll make sure to do that better in the future.” The slight adjustments will do wonders for your confidence, and the way others perceive you. You want to be strong, and you can do that while still being polite.

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Sorry, Not Sorry appeared first on Law Street.

Yesterday I wrote about the worst coworkers you encounter in the workplace. Today, let’s take a look at a few tips on how to be a great coworker.

Be friendly. You have to be with these people a lot. Perhaps even more than you’re with your loved ones and friends outside of work. Having good, positive relationships with your coworkers will benefit the work environment. This will increase productivity since you’ll be more likely to enjoy what you’re doing. And no one likes office drama.

But know where the line is. As I said yesterday, there is a line with what is appropriate to share at work. Don’t cross it. You want to be known for the good work that you do, not for the train wreck that is your existence is outside of the office walls.

Do your work. There is nothing that will cause bad blood with a coworker like not carrying your weight. If someone feels like he or she is doing the brunt of the work, there will be resentment.

Have solid communication skills. Respond to emails in a timely manner. Answer questions quickly when they are asked of you.

Practice common sense and common courtesy. Treat the office environment like your home. A happy relationship with your coworkers is the foundation for a happy work environment overall. Keep common areas neat, don’t leave your stuff in the fridge forever, don’t steal office supplies that aren’t yours. You know, just be a normal, polite, functioning adult.

And if all else fails…bring bagels.

Coworkers love bagels.

 xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post You’ve Got a Friend in Me appeared first on Law Street.

They’re your worst enemy by day, your favorite topic at happy hour by night. They’re bad coworkers. And they come in all shapes and sizes.

How do you deal with them, you ask? A bad coworker is one of the worst things because, in general, young professionals spend more time in the office than anywhere else. You’re with these people a lot. In a cramped, confined space where you’re forced to not only be cordial towards one another, but actually communicate constantly. There is no room for negativity.

Can’t we all just get along? Below are a few examples of how to spot them, how to deal with them, and how not to be one of them.

The “Missed-the-Bus Guy”

Characteristics: Panting. Sweating. Perpetually late for meetings (or pretty much everything). He/she always comes with a “valid” excuse — and your life and work are somehow always screwed up by his/her tardiness.

Catch Phrase: “I can’t believe the bus missed my stop/the train was late/my alarm didn’t work/the dog ate my powerpoint.”

How to deal: It sucks, but make sure you’re the one on top of time-sensitive tasks. If you know that you’re working with someone who isn’t going to get the work in on time, make certain that major projects don’t lie around waiting for him. Your boss will notice who is doing the brunt of the work. And don’t be this guy — it makes people cranky. Show up on time. Set your alarm earlier if you have to. Hit your deadlines.

The ‘Don’t Look At Me’ Girl

Characteristics: You know that person hiding under the desk when assignments and deadlines are doled out? Yep. That’s this person.

Catch Phrase: “I’m not responsible for that/That’s not my job.”

How to Deal: They always find a way to wiggle out of assignments and you’re left with double the workload. This is tricky, but you could try itemizing and dividing tasks. If there is someone higher up involved in the project, CC her on the planning emails. This way, there is a written trail of who is responsible for what. If that person still slacks, at least you’re covered.

The Over-Sharer

Characteristics: This person might come across super friendly. Right away. Maybe too soon. At first it might seem like harmless banter…but then you are suddenly privy to all of the intimate details of his or her life. If you know a coworker’s bikini wax schedule, you probably know too much.

Catch Phrase: “This might be TMI but…”

How to Deal: Politely change the subject. This is a helpful life lesson in general. Try to keep things professional with this person. Having friends within the workplace makes things fun and more comfortable, but if someone doesn’t know where the line is, it can make for awkward days. How to avoid being this person? Simple. If you have to ask if something is TMI, it probably is.

Co-Worker Mommy Dearest

Characteristics: This person is at the same level as you professionally, yet she always seems to know best. Whether it is critiquing the status or quality of your work, or giving “helpful” guidance…it is annoying. You feel like you’re being watched by a parent. Welcome to the professional version of high school.

Catch Phrase: “Make sure you do it this way/Have you thought about trying this/I wouldn’t have done that.”

How to Deal: The best way to combat someone like this is to kill them with kindness and confidence. You want to remain open to suggestions, but be confident in your ideas when you’re presenting them. This type of person can only really control what you allow them to.

The Take Away: There are some people with whom you just won’t get along. If it’s just an issue of clicking with someone, these tips will come in handy. However, if there is a behavior or communication issue that is preventing you from doing your job to the best of your ability, you might need to bite the bullet and have a conversation. Make sure you thoroughly understand your points, and have a polite dialogue prepared. It might help more than you know. Communication is still key.

Disclaimer: I actually really like all of my coworkers. They’re great.

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post The Definitive Ranking of the Worst Coworkers and How to Deal appeared first on Law Street.

Yesterday I brought you the first part of my talk with recruiter Jack Farrell in which we discussed his most valuable interview tips for today’s job market. Today we’re talking about the worst things you can do in an interview. Read on for Farrell’s tips for avoiding rejection due to careless mistakes. 

1. No whining. Nobody wants to hire a whiner. Be careful about how you relay the information from your resume and be sure to spin it positively. Never run down someone you used to work for. Even if it is factual or deserved, the only takeaway for your interviewer is that you might be a problem waiting to happen.

2. Don’t ignore the competition. You need to remember that you’re competing against other qualified candidates. Make a case for yourself. You can’t be complacent. Even if you think the interview will be easy, you have a connection at the company, or feel like the position is yours for the taking, you still need to show enthusiasm and ambition. Don’t be passive.

3. Don’t be shy. Share your work. You might be sending around a resume that you think is wonderful. You might have spent hours or even days perfecting it. But another set of eyes could be the difference. Have a friend or colleague you trust edit for you. Remember that less is always more. Use bullet points and keep it to the point and conversational.

Many thanks to Jack Farrell for his advice this week! Jack Farrell & Associates is a recruitment firm that offers career coaching, resume repair, and interview assistance.

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Alex France via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Interview Tips – Part Two appeared first on Law Street.

I had the opportunity to discuss the topic of job searching with someone who knows it best. Jack Farrell, recruiter-extraordinaire answered my questions from his insider perspective and I’m sharing his wisdom with you in this two part edition of Capitalista Careers.

We’re starting with his advice for the five best tips to keep in mind when you’re interviewing. Here they are! Straight from the horse’s mouth. Recruiters see the good, the bad, and the ugly.

1. THE STORY. Go into the interview prepared with the story of how you ended up there today. How is this job, and this interview, a culmination of all the other things you’ve done, places you’ve worked, and spots on your resume?

2. SUCCESS STORIES. Use success stories from different parts of your career to demonstrate your resume. Use examples. Practice these. It’s important to rehearse a few of these highlights before the interview so you don’t forget and leave them out when the time comes.

3. WHY YOU? Remember that people are selfish creatures and at the end of the day, employers are no exception. They want to hire someone who will make them look good. Don’t be afraid to express how you’ll be an asset to the company.

4. THE SCRIPT. Think of the resume as a script and memorize your lines. Internalize not only the points on your resume, but how to make them work for you. Why did you leave that job? Why are you transitioning? Tie it into the story in a positive way. You want the resume to be conversational and fluent. Do mock interviews. Rehearse in front of the mirror. Put in whatever preparation time needed to make yourself stand apart from the competition.

5. BODY LANGUAGE. Keep this in mind. How you present yourself is very important for making a good first impression. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Smile and maintain eye contact. Keep your phone off and away.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Capitalista Careers when Jack tells us the biggest mistakes you could make in an interview.

Jack Farrell & Associates is a recruitment firm that offers career coaching, resume repair, and interview assistance.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Alex France via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Interview Tips – Part One appeared first on Law Street.

We’ve all been there. Many of us stay there — in a job that just doesn’t feel like our career. What do you do about this? Lose your will to live? No. But some people do fall down the slippery slope of losing their will to work. Or at least, to work hard.

It’s tough to stay motivated in a job that isn’t motivating. This wasn’t your goal. Wasn’t your dream. Maybe it wasn’t even your second or third or tenth choice. It is how you pay your rent.

In my previous post, we looked at the internal struggle people face who are looking for more from a work situation than just a paycheck. This generation of people entering the work force crave more than clocking in and clocking out. But sometimes it’s just all about the bills. It has to be.

That doesn’t mean that your dreams need to take the back seat. Today’s society is a breeding ground for a whole new model of entrepreneur. And guess what? It could be you. That entrepreneur is more creative than lucky. The great thing about the surge in technology, and other social advances, is that you can have so many things going on on the side. You want to start a business? There has never been a better time. With crowdfunding possibilities it might even be simpler to fund than ever before. You want to be a writer? You can start a blog. Self-publish a novel. The list is endless.

Maybe there is a way to have it all. At least as far as work goes. Maybe slinging cappuccinos isn’t your forever-and-always career. Maybe your administrative position really is just a way to make ends meet. You can still develop yourself and hone your skills. It takes time and dedication. It will feel like you’re working two full-time jobs. But maybe this will lead to the full-time day job that you’ve always wanted. So, develop a plan. Look into your funding options. Think about your goals. Put in the work after work. You never know where it might lead.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post What’s Love Got to Do With It? appeared first on Law Street.

So, you’re between jobs? It happens to the best of us. Hopefully infrequently, but it happens. It is a trying experience. Emotionally, physically, financially. I have a few tips below for how you can make the best of a bad situation and make it to the other side.

Disclaimer: Read these with an open mind. I know that sometimes overcoming the unemployment blues is easier said than done. It is easier to roll into your little cocoon of no-job-depression. But hear me out.

I know most of the time unemployment is bound to be spent trolling the web for opportunities (such as the Law Street Media job board!) but you need to come up for air from the screen every now and then.

See it as the gift of time. When you’re employed, more often than not your job takes up a good portion of your time. Your free time. Your friend time. Your me time. All of your time. You now not only have your weekends, but your weeks. You’re free as a bird.

Sleep. Think about all those mornings you had to drag your tired bones to work. You don’t have to do that right now! Hit snooze! Enjoy!

I think it’s helpful to still maintain some sense of order. You can let yourself go rogue for a few days, sure. But waking up, getting dressed, and filling your days will combat depression and anxiety.

Become the person you want to be…or the person your resume says you are. Want to learn Photoshop? Do it! You have the time. Want to learn French? Oui? Go for it. There are so many online classes and downloadable podcasts. You could develop or craft an entire new set of skills. You can actually come out of this period of your life for the better. Not as a chubbier, more sarcastic and bitter version of your former self who is on a first-name-basis with the Chinese delivery guy.

Work out. You have time. Go to the gym! Go to yoga! Go for a run! Just go! You’ll feel more confident in interviews if you’re feeling active. There are a lot of free classes and promotions offered, so don’t try to play the money card. Now you’re just being lazy. I’m on to you.

Reconnect. As I said, jobs do have a way of taking over your personal time. Call up your friends. Have them over for game nights, wine nights, movie nights. Whatever floats your boat. You don’t need to hibernate by yourself. Plus, you never know what opportunities your network might know about that you’ll never hear about holed up in your apartment.

Do you even want a job now? Yes? Yeah, I figured. I would too.

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Stuck In the Middle With You appeared first on Law Street.

Anyone who’s nerdy enough about legal issues to read this blog has probably heard of a paper published last summer entitled “The Economic Value of a Law Degree.” It revealed the conclusions of a study by Seton Hall University law professor Michael Simkovic and Rutgers Business School economics professor Frank McIntyre. It’s the paper that caused quite a stir by purporting to burst the bubble of the haters who’ve been heaping scorn on law as a worthwhile course of study for today’s college graduates. In a nutshell, the authors examined official statistics about the earnings of law graduates and found that, hey, maybe law school is a good deal after all. Apparently—among other findings—the average JD can expect to earn about one million dollars more than he or she would have earned without having gone to law school.

Of course, the talking heads who’ve been making the biggest stink about the pitfalls of legal education for the past several years wasted no time putting the Simkovic and McIntyre study in their crosshairs. Above the Law’s Elie Mystal was particularly harsh, dismissing the report as an “advertising piece for law schools still hoping that they can trick prospective law students into making bad choices.”

Frankly, I share at least some of the misgivings about the validity of the study. Like Mystal, for instance, I think it makes no sense to compare law school grads’ earnings to those of college graduates who never pursued any postgraduate study. I think your average college student today is painfully aware that a bachelor’s degree by itself won’t give him or her enough coinage in the job market. I imagine that most of them probably contemplate law school as one of at least several other postgraduate study options, among them being journalism, business, accounting, economics, and any number of scientific and humanistic disciplines. So it doesn’t strike me as very meaningful to point out that today’s average college grad can expect to make a lot more money by going to law school than by simply diving headlong into the workforce and never leaving. It would be much more helpful to compare law school graduates’ earnings with those of people who’ve gone to business school, medical school and what have you.

Even so, I’ve always been a lot more sanguine about the study’s findings. While I habitually caution young people I know against charging headlong into law school, I’ve never done so for mercenary reasons. It would think that it would go without saying by now that earnings potential isn’t the only factor worth considering when choosing a career path. It’s critical to take other issues into account, such as job satisfaction, work-life balance and overall sanity. By those metrics, it seems, legal practice scores rather poorly. A 2007 survey by the American Bar Association found that almost half of the respondent lawyers were dissatisfied with their careers. They complained about long hours and dwindling civility among lawyers, as well as increasingly cutthroat competition and the poor work-life balance that comes with it. In the end, only 4 out of every 10 of them were willing to recommend a legal career to young people. (Remember what I wrote last month about none of the lawyers I’ve known ever encouraging me to study law?)

Keep one thing in mind: these results were gleaned in the late 2000s, before the so-called “Great Recession” and the squeezing of the legal industry (along with so many other professions, Lord knows) that it’s engendered.

So anyone tempted to dismiss warnings about lawyering based on the McIntyre and Simkovic study should take heed. As its title makes clear, the professors were only considering the monetary value of a law degree; the question of whether legal practice is worth its non-financial costs was beyond their ken. A college graduate who takes my advice, gets to observe lawyers’ daily toil and doesn’t develop any kind of passion (or at least a high tolerance) for it would be ill-advised to study law anyway simply because of the pay.

What’s more—as I learned the hard way—it’s damned hard to do well in law school if you have a hard time focusing on the turgid, deadening prose that you’ll find in most casebooks. Actually, I should have included this insight in my first article about advice for prospective law school applicants. When I was in high school, people who encouraged me to go into law—again, always non-lawyers—typically cited two facts: that I was a pathological bookworm and that law school involves a lot of reading. Dear God, if only it were that simple! You should never, ever listen that advice from a non-lawyer…at least not without asking, “But what kind of reading would I be doing?” When your advisor stares at you blankly (or has the decency to admit that he or she doesn’t know), that should tell you all you need to know about how valuable his or her advice really is. As for the actual substantive answer to the question, let me put it this way: Rare is the judge who knows how—or is inclined—to write an opinion in a way that won’t make you feel like your brain is melting and spilling out of your ears.

Even if Simkovic and McIntyre are right, and any college student not sure what to do after graduating would be several kinds of stupid not at least to consider going to law school, the inquiry doesn’t end there. It would be even stupider to dive into law school, chasing the almighty dollar, only to belly-flop into frigid, unforgiving waters. You’ve got to learn more about the profession than just the pay before deciding to pursue it. I think renowned actor Tom Hanks put it best during an appearance on Inside the Actor’s Studio, when asked what profession he wouldn’t like to try. His answer: “A lawyer. That’s doing homework for a living.” Heed well his wise words!

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Featured image courtesy of [Andy via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post So What if Law School is a Good Financial Deal After All? appeared first on Law Street.

An interview is often thought of as a one-sided question and answer routine. A nerve-wracking one at that. Remember, though, that an interview is supposed to be a dialogue. Your interviewer wants not only to hear your responses, but to hear what you’re curious about. Asking appropriate questions will also minimize the risk of confusion or surprise if you’re offered the position. Unawareness won’t help either side. This is your chance to see if this is the right fit for both of you. So, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask. Just don’t interrupt.

Below are a couple examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to interview questions. I’ll post about this often, so keep checking back!

What are the responsibilities the position entails? What does a day or week typically look like? Even if the job description is detailed, it is good to know the day to day. If you apply for an associate editor position it might be a surprise if they have you filing or answering phone calls. This way you can cross check and minimize the risk of disappointment.

How long have you worked here? What do you like about the position? Talking to an employee about the company is a good way to judge the work environment. If they have only been there a short time, and mention that everyone is new (and it’s not a start up) this might raise a red flag about turn over rates. If no one wants to stay, it’s likely that there’s a reason.

There is, however, a line. And too many people cross it. Below are the things you just don’t ask yet.

How much will I make? I can’t even. I am always so surprised when people think this is an acceptable question during an interview. Especially an initial one. It’s presumptuous. It’s tacky. It’s going to hurt your chances of getting hired. Of course, this is a factor that you might weigh while making a decision about your career, but save that chatter for when you’re officially offered the position. Employers want you to be more “You better work, bitch” and less “If it don’t make dollars, it don’t make sense.”

How much vacation time do I get? Really? You’re asking about time off before your first day? Don’t be lazy. Or, don’t appear lazy at the very least.

Stay tuned for more interview advice here every week!

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Q&A appeared first on Law Street.

In my last post, we talked about what you shouldn’t share with a potential new boss on an interview. Today we’re looking at what you should say. What you should shout from the rooftops, what could be the difference between yourself and another candidate.  Below are some thoughts on what you should definitely make known during your time in the interview chair. Again, these really should be obvious. But you know how it gets in an interview. The lights get bright, your palms get sweaty, shit gets real. A refresher never hurt anyone.

That you did your homework. Show the employer that you took the time to look into the company and the position. Quote the website! Quote LinkedIn! Don’t quote their personal Facebook…too far, too far.

If you did something really amazing at your old job. Did you implement a new system? Did you select the company’s logo that everyone loves? Did you help strategize a marketing plan? Were you always on time? Whatever you did, shout it loud, shout it proud. Now is not the time to be bashful. They want to know they’re making a solid decision hiring you. That you have something to contribute. So, voice your accomplishments. You can be confident without being cocky.

That you are eager to learn. If something comes up in the interview that you don’t know anything about, let them know that you’re a fast learner. Give an example of a time that you overcame a challenge in order to contribute to the team.

That you’re a team player. Employers have no interest in bringing someone on board who isn’t willing to work with the other staff. Talk about how you appreciate sharing ideas and thoughts.

Thank you. This is such an important last step. Even if the interview had flaws, even if you were five minutes late (but try not to be), people remember those who take the time to drop a quick message thanking them for their time. It only takes a few minutes, and it will separate you from the crowd because it is amazing how many people don’t do this. Don’t be lazy.

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [miuenski miuenski via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Shout It Loud, Shout It Proud. What Your Interviewer Should Know appeared first on Law Street.

The truth might set you free, but it also might ruin your chances at landing the job. I’m not condoning lying per se, but there are just some topics that are best left avoided when in a professional interview. This is one of those situations in which a first impression is everything, so you have to make it count. Think of it like a first date. Would you tell the new guy from Ok C how your last boyfriend left you because of your tendency to pick meaningless fights and be cranky every morning? No. Would you say something equally as ridiculous to a future employer? Hopefully not after reading this. Read the following to get an idea of some ways to dodge potential bullets. 

Things Your Interviewer Does Not Need to Know

1. That you’re occasionally/perpetually/sometimes late. Don’t be late to the interview. I’m a big proponent of the early is on time, on time is late, and late is not hired philosophy. If they ask what your biggest flaw is, being late should not be the answer. Even if it is, maybe consider this a new opportunity to say goodbye to your tardy ways.

2. Anything negative about your previous employer(s). This should go without saying, but you never know. I’ve been there. You’re in an interview and then you’re asked why you’re making a transition, or why you decided to leave a past position. Maybe your past employer was a maniac. Maybe she was a serial killer. Maybe he was just the worst person in the world. Regardless. Bite your tongue. Trashing anyone from a past work experience will just leave your interviewer with a bad taste and the fear that someday he or she will be on the other side of your wrath.

3. Anything about your personal life. Hey, it’s great to have friends at work. I love having coworkers I can chat with and feel comfortable around. But let’s get you hired before you start dishing out details about yourself that aren’t directly related to the position. Keep it strictly to work and the weather.

Happy Hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [val.pearl via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Shh! What Your Interviewer Knows Can Hurt You appeared first on Law Street.

Congratulations! You got a job interview! After days/weeks/months of hunting, searching, and groveling you landed yourself thirty minutes of face time. Go, you. Give yourself a pat on the back. Have a cookie. Hell, have a drink.

Ok. Now, back to work. Who knew unemployment would be such a full time gig, huh? After getting the news that you have an interview, it is so important to take some time to prepare. It’s really tempting to trust that you know enough about the position, I mean, you got the interview! That must mean something, right? Wrong.

Taking a few hours to do a little digging and research (how did people live without Google?) can greatly improve your chances of kicking ass once you get in the door.

1. Google the company. This seems so obvious to me but it is amazing how often this step gets overlooked. Look through the company’s website, go on LinkedIn, google the CEO. Search the person conducting the interview. I am giving you permission to stalk unabashedly.

2. Figure our how you fit into that information. You’ve done some research. Now, use it. Really understand the position you’re interviewing for. Read and re-read the details of the job description. Why does this company need your qualifications? How will your experiences fit into the bigger picture?

3. Prepare for the interview. There will be more on this in another post, but make sure you’ve done your homework and thought of potential questions, your answers, your questions. Don’t go in blind. Even if you aren’t expecting some of the questions, having solid answers in your back pocket for others will show that you took the time to get ready.

Good luck on your interview! Happy hunting.

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [David Hilgart via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post You Got a Job Interview! appeared first on Law Street.

Are you a GYPSY? Am I? According to a recent article by The Huffington Post, if you’re a twenty-something professional either working or job hunting, you probably are. Apparently, I am. The article examines a growing subculture developing among today’s young professionals: the Gen Y Protagonists and Special Yuppies, or GYPSYs. This sect has developed over the past few years. They’re millennials. They’re products of technology and social media. And, according to the Huff Post, they’re unhappy.

The theory is that people in their mid-twenties who are entering the job market for the first time are experiencing a sort of depression unknown to previous generations. This is, allegedly, due to the fact that they – actually, I should include myself in this – due to the fact that we were raised by people whose realities exceeded their expectations, and who embedded this self-confidence in their children. They sought stable careers at a time when the economy boomed, so many of them were pleasantly surprised when those careers brought more than just stability. They told their children the familiar mantra of you can do whatever you put your mind to.  We were told we were special as individuals. That if we played the game correctly, our lives would be whatever we dreamed. And we did dream. We imagined having it all figured out by our mid-twenties, and being gainfully and happily employed thereafter. This is a nice concept, but it might not adequately prepare us for the trials, tribulations, and heartache in the current job market. It’s the modern day romantic comedy…never as easy as it seems like it should be with a happily ever after becoming increasingly unattainable.

Twenty-somethings are finding themselves torn. Jobs are more difficult to come by than they were for their parents. Competition is fierce. You need to jump through hoops before the actual interview. You need to show humor, education, cooperation, and intelligence…all in a cover letter. And all that for an average, not-so-special position. If you do get a decent paying gig, it doesn’t measure up to The Great Story that you had written in pen. Our parents desired stability. We desire stability plus some. So, when we end up with less than that, disappointment sets in. The excitement is lost.

Let’s examine this. Is this innate discomfort that comes with doing something mundane and passion-less really a negative? I mean, it doesn’t facilitate security by the same age that our parents found it, but there might be a silver lining. It is this type of person, this eager beaver who craves more, this professional looking for the next best thing, who ends up doing more that clocking in and clocking out. They create. They build. They are the reason things like crowdfunding and The JOBs Act exist. Without this anxiety, some of the greatest companies wouldn’t have been turned into the empires that are household names today. Without delving into the legalities that are still being hemmed and hawed over, it’s great that there are options out there for those who want to explore and create other options for themselves.

So, the conclusion here is that there is nothing wrong with the ambition for personal and professional greatness, but write The Great Story in pencil. However, while keeping their eyes towards the horizons, it would do “GYPSYs” well to keep their feet on the ground, and to see every job – even if it’s not THE job – as a learning experience and opportunity.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Garry Knight via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Why So Serious, Gen Y? appeared first on Law Street.

Once you’ve made the decision to look for a new career, you’re halfway there. Well, not really…but it is a pretty big step. Once you’ve made the decision what do you do? Immediately start applying? Probably not. Take some time and follow a few steps before you dive into the deep end.

1.     Think about why you’re looking for a new job. Unless you’re straight out of the dorm rooms, you’re probably making the switch because you aren’t fully satisfied at your current position. Think about the things that aren’t fitting, how you can improve, and what you need from an employer in order to do so.

2.     What came first? Is it the company you’re working for or the industry that you’re in that’s the problem? A lot of people get so stuck on the hamster wheel of doing whatever is closest to their college degree or in the same field as their first job. Maybe it’s time to shake it up.

3.     Think about the next five, ten, fifteen years. Think about further than that. What do you want it to say on your business card when you retire? What skills will help you with that? Even if you take a job that isn’t 100% what you want, consider whether it might provide you with the tools for later.

4.     What are the most important things? This isn’t the same for everyone. For some people it’s the salary, for some the commute matters the most, the hours, the work environment, etc. Give some thought to which one or two aspects are your top priorities. Even if you don’t get everything, it will make the search easier if you know where your priorities are.

5.     Take breaks. Searching the countless job sites is exhausting and frustrating. Don’t just sit at your computer hitting the refresh key after you’ve applied for hours. Dedicate time to this, but take some time away and take a step back.

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [kate hiscock via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Beginning the Search appeared first on Law Street.

You’re looking for a job. Maybe you’re deep into your hunt. Maybe your hunt just started. Perhaps you’re a recent grad and this is your first time in the trenches. Regardless, one thing is certain: job-hunting isn’t easy.

Even if you were expecting the transition, there are so many tough things about the uncertainty. Well, kids, have no fear. This blog, Capitalista Careers, will be here to provide a little humor, helpful tips, and solid information in even the darkest hour.

Below are my tips for how to get through the experience alive, and without stressing out yourself and your loved ones.

1.     Breathe. This might sound obvious, but really try it. Before you open up your computer and dive into the land of the unemployed and seeking, take a moment and take a few deep breaths. Remember that it will be ok, and you will find a job.

2.     Remind yourself that there is no timeline. The last time I was job-hunting, I found myself incredibly disappointed that I was not gainfully employed to my liking within two weeks. The time before that had been a very quick transition, and I had high expectations. This made the process much more stressful than it probably might have been.

3.     Talk to people. Rely on the people in your life for comfort. Talking about the stress of your situation will help. And things don’t seem as scary when they’re verbalized.

4.     Don’t talk too much. I’m all for a good vent sesh, and it really does help, but just don’t become that scary-unemployed-person-who-isn’t-fun-anymore-because-she-can’t-stop-bitching-about-the-last-interview. That doesn’t help. Seriously, you can ask my boyfriend.

5.     Don’t forget that you can be a little picky, just not too picky. You want to have high enough standards to ensure that this is a move you’ll be content with long enough to stay put for a bit.

6.     See this as an exciting new opportunity. Try to alleviate some of the tough moments by remembering that this is exciting. You’re about to start a new chapter. It can look however you want it to. Clean slate. New chance. Yada yada yada.

7.     But not necessarily the career move of your life. Unless of course it is, in which case, good for you!

So, welcome! I hope you have the best of luck in your search, and that you enjoy reading our tips.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [LaurMG via Wikipedia]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Job Hunting Survival Guide appeared first on Law Street.

In 2011, a couple of friends concocted a plan. What if they could buy a beer company? Why not?

After (we assume) throwing a few back, the pair decided it would be a great idea to take to social media to figure out if they could raise the $300 million it would take to buy Pabst Blue Ribbon. They managed to raise $200 million with the promise of free beer and stock options. Inventive? Yes. Illegal? Incredibly. At a recent Bloomberg Law event on the JOBS Act, Karl Kilb said that the point of the changes to the rules regarding funding is to find investors who not only understand but can withstand the risks involved.

It’s been a year since Obama signed the JOBS Act, and things are still being ironed out. How will the act, which provides start-ups and other businesses more options to access capital and an ease of communication with investors, fit in with laws regarding investor protection and compliance? A panel of lawyers discussed this at at Bloomberg Law’s event.

And Twitter. I was surprised that among the suits, name tags, and legal jargon, there was a heavy flow of communication around social media. The takeaway? Not only is it here to stay, but it’s a game changer.

The JOBS Act takes into consideration the fact that people have communication literally at their fingertips by considering how social media affects IPOs. Will tweeting to investors still be classified as confidential? There are so many questions that the abundance of new communication tools create.

As an entrepreneur myself, I know the thing that all people starting a business venture come to know: It is always more expensive than you hoped. Not sometimes. Always. The act initiates a way for start-ups to take their big ideas and cast a wide net over a large pool of investors. Great in theory. This coincides with the popping up of countless crowdfunding sources. These new methods to gain capital just might add fuel to the fire of countless ideas and create jobs. However, we have to figure out how to navigate the potential legal mine fields because they muddy the waters that the SEC is working to preemptively clean up.

This is a discussion that is fueled with opinions and flooded with debate. One thing is certain, though. The name of the new game is #balance.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Talk Radio News Service via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post #TheJOBSAct appeared first on Law Street.