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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.