Remember that saying, “no matter how good you are, there will always be someone out there better than you are?” This phrase is a bit of a downer, but it’s also a harsh reality Millennials may face in their hunt for internships and post-grad work. Competition is tough, and standing out from the pack is a real challenge.

If the first step is acknowledgement, the second step is action. How can Millennials undermine this reality? There’s no set formula for achieving success right out of college. What Millennials can do is put themselves out there and take strides outside of their comfort zones to stand out in the job market.

Nishant Bhajaria, a career coach and product manager at Nike, landed his first internship at a career fair in his junior year of college. He knew he wasn’t the most qualified for the position, but unlike his peers, he made the effort to talk to the recruiters. He ended up with the internship because he was the best fit for the position.

What can we learn from Bhajaria’s experiences? He stresses several strategies applicants can use to get hired.

Never lose hope.

If finding a job were easier right out of college, the statistics for collegiate debt in this country would be much less depressing. Unfortunately, Millennials often face rejection when applying for their first jobs after graduation. The first few applications create a sense of excitement for applicants–who wouldn’t look forward to finally starting their career? Don’t lose this enthusiasm, even if you’re rejected. Instead, use it to continue motivating you through your application process. Give each application and interview your all–prepared applicants are more successful. The right position for you may be in a place you least expect it to be.

Know how to read job titles and descriptions.

Job titles and descriptions can often be misleading. Bhajaria changed the title for the first position he received and encourages applicants to look past the labels of job descriptions. While job titles may be inaccurate, applicants must also know how to read job descriptions. Follow a sort of inverted pyramid analysis when reading job descriptions–the most pertinent skills for the position will be listed near the top. Know that not every skill listed is required for the position, but applicants should have a thirst for expanding their knowledge in the areas listed toward the bottom.

“You don’t always have to be the best to win.”

As Bharajia stresses, the underdog can come out on top. Applicants do not know who their competition is, so they should not hesitate to apply. Do you want to be an associate account manager at a large firm? APPLY! Who’s to say you won’t end up being the most qualified applicant, or have a particular skill that the job requires? Rejection may be embarrassing and a bit painful, but Millennials should not let it discourage them from applying for interesting positions.

Always continue learning.

Employees who are eager to learn more in their fields are more likely to be successful. Each organization, each cause, each project you work with will allow you to expand your skills and knowledge. The more diversity your experience and skill-base extend, the more valuable you are as an applicant. Millennials just entering the workforce should make conscious efforts to market their willingness and potential to expand and pick up skills in different areas.

Use your network.

Every person you meet in your quest for employment has the potential to resurface in your life. Treat each moment as an opportunity to network and treat all individuals in professional settings with respect. Use these tips on professional etiquette to further your career aspirations. Reach out to the connections you’ve made, no matter how weak they may seem to you. If you make a conscious effort to stay in touch, you will be more likely to succeed. Bharajia says successful networkers are active listeners, show genuine concern for their connections’ welfare and build relationships with their audiences before asking for their help.

Next time you’re applying for a job or internship, but you don’t think you’ll meet the qualifications, just give it a shot. As you don’t know who your competition is, you’ll never know unless you try. The only way to succeed in today’s job industry is to put yourself out there.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post How to Stand Out in Your Job Search appeared first on Law Street.

Richie Frieman had some truly terrible experiences with his first boss out of undergrad. Lucky for you readers, he’s turned that professional trauma into actionable advice for the rest of us.

Frieman, the “Modern Manners Guy” and a University of Maryland alum, talked to his alma mater yesterday about business etiquette for young professionals. He paid particular attention to the terrifying metamorphosis from college student to working professional that all undergraduates fear. Aside from imparting practical tips about how to act and what to say at networking events, Frieman imparted some really important lessons for Millennials, and I want to share the best ones with you.

1. “How you treat people will get you farther than money, looks, or connections.” Every individual you meet will remember you for how you treated him or her. Frieman stressed the importance of being mannerly for the sake of leaving a good impression. Let’s say you meet someone at a professional function and only spend a few minutes — seconds even — conversing with them. What are the chances you’ll meet this person again? It’s impossible to say. But a few months later, you run into this person again. You could end up making a deal with him. That’s when you’ll be happy you were polite at that first encounter. “How you treat people will get you farther than money, looks, or connections,” Frieman said.
2. Maturity helps individuals stand out from the rest of the crowd. All young professionals are encouraged to attend as many networking events, career and internship fairs, and alumni gatherings as are available to them. Everyone attends these events for the same reason: to meet people. Depending on which stage you’re at in life, people will expect certain things from you. If you’re in college, they may have set expectations for you. Frieman said one way to impress these individuals is by talking the talk and walking the walk. If you’re at a networking event, don’t be shy. Introduce yourself, shake hands, talk to people, and connect. If you come across like you’re actually “part of the game” you will be recognized.
3. Observe each of these easy-to-follow tips when you’re actually at these events.

• Hold your food or drink in your left hand so you can shake with a dry right hand. No one wants a sloppy handshake. If you have sweaty hands, hold a napkin with your drink so you can quickly wipe your hand before the handshake. For guys, try to sneak your hand into your pants pocket and get a quick dry inside.
• Ditch your phone. If you sit in the corner Instagramming your latest selfie, you will appear to others as if you are not interested in the event. You will receive no benefits from staying on your phone and you won’t meet anyone that way.
• Be conversational! I’ve already given you some tips on small talk, and Frieman also stressed the importance. Prepare some talking points before the event, learn about companies, learn who works where and target them at events.
• Excessive eating and drinking is strictly prohibited. Light refreshments are served as snacks. Drinks are served for appearance. Nothing is a greater turnoff in a professional setting than the guy who got tipsy.
• If someone asks you if you know about his company and you don’t, be honest and be inquisitive People love talking about their businesses and this could fuel a great conversation.
• When you are handed a business card, use it as an invitation for a followup. If you do not follow up after being handed a business card, it gives the impression that you merely threw it in the trash. Make connections, you never know when they might help!

While implementing each of these tips, there is one overarching aspect every young professional should remember: “You have every right in the world to be in that room with every other single person, regardless of your age,” Frieman said. Do not become discouraged by your age or your experience. At networking events and professional conventions, everyone is there for a purpose. They want to meet new people, make connections, create new business ventures. Whatever your purpose is, know that you are not alone. At the end of the day this is your experience, do your best and make it whatever you want it to be.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post This Will Get You Further Professionally Than Money, Looks, or Connections appeared first on Law Street.

Networking is a powerful tool for millennials. For example, the other day I left class and I was heading to my next activity. I usually ignore the people who stand by the door trying to sell stuff, but this week they had freebies. Obviously I couldn’t pass the opportunity for some free goodies, so I started talking to the people at the table. Next thing I know, I’m planning to attend an information session for a possible internship next summer.

Had I not stopped at this table and began talking to the recruiters, I never would have found out about the internship possibility. Making small talk with the recruiters was easy–they had their purpose and I had mine. Sometimes, small talk is not that easy. You may feel awkward and pressured to say something intelligent, which might make you clam up.

There’s no need to fear small talk. Networking is a part of every millennial’s professional development and with these tips, you’ll be sure to succeed.

Firstly, shake off the layer of anxiety you carry with you. In a professional environment, there is no need to stress about small talk. Before you attend the conference or meeting in which you will have to chat to succeed, mentally prepare yourself. If breathing exercises calm you down, breathe deep my friends. Prepare some solid talking points that you are willing to discuss–what have you read lately, where have you traveled, and what plans do you have for the next weekend or holiday?

You can practice small talking with your classmates, professors and even distant friends. The more you create casual (and appropriate) conversation, the more you will hone your ability to make natural small talk.

When you’re chatting with a prospective employer at a networking event, you should prepare a few topics beforehand. Whether this be a topic that is specific to your field of work or a general trend in the news, this will make you less nervous when the time comes to small talk. It’s always better to come prepared than freeze up on the spot.

A good way to start off a chat is to start off with a declaration. This helps to avoid an awkward situation if you are unprepared for an unsatisfactory answer. If you start off with a declaration, it stimulates conversation and can help connect you with the person you are speaking with. You can declare something as simple as, “the National Gallery of Art opened up a new exhibit today. I’ve heard it’s supposed to be amazing.” As long as the topic you choose is relatable to the people you will be conversing with, this declaration will function as a conversation stimulant.

Asking conversational questions can help lead you to others for networking purposes. The Week suggests asking the three golden questions at the end of any professional meeting or encounter:

1. How can I help you?
2. What ideas do you have for me?
3. Who else do you know that I should talk to?

Showing your audience you are an active listener is important. If you are talking to a possible future employer, you should show them you are listening and thinking about what they have to say. This will show that you value what he or she has to say and can be a powerful characteristic to showcase.

Next time you’re at a work convention, professional conference, or networking event, use some of these tips to prepare yourself better for small talk. Making small talk efficient and creating a connection with your audience is at the core of networking. These days, networking is the lifeblood of many professionals’ careers, and a valuable skill for any millennial.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Small Talk Doesn’t Have to Be Scary appeared first on Law Street.

Millennial women have made a name for themselves in this century. We are strong-willed, motivated, and persistent. We are self-sufficient and independent. We have access to tools and knowledge our predecessors did not. Yet some Millennials are not taking advantage of these tools because they are simply unaware of their existence.

Let’s take the internet for example. We have access to the World Wide Web and all it has to offer through countless devices — computers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. Plenty of websites cater to Millennial women for professional networking tips. These sites are essential for motivated young women who are entering the workforce. At any moment, I can ask Siri what to wear to my interview tomorrow, visit countless websites for coding tips, or search for internship opportunities. Each of these options is literally at the tips of my fingers. Here are some great websites for Millennial women to check out:

Let’s Learn

Girls Who Code’s mission is to provide one million young women with exposure to computer science education. According to FORBES, Girls Who Code hosts events, clubs, and other activities for girls, sometimes even for those still in high school.

Lynda.com provides online video tutorials to help learn “software, creative, and business skills.” Joining is free and provides members with unlimited access to nearly three thousand courses and mobile access.

General Assembly offers courses in a variety of areas from web development to digital marketing. Members are able to attend events with the GA community or simply live-stream from home. GA helps Millennials across the world improve their businesses through various workshops, classes, and events.

Professional Development and Networking

ED2010 helps aspiring editors reach their desired status faster. The site functions as a networking hub, educational resource, and advice column for all aspiring publications professionals.

Intern Sushi is designed for college students to find internships that would be most valuable to them. Intern Sushi is focused on more creative professions, thus encouraging its users to ditch the traditional resume application and replace it with more creative styles like video and graphic visualizations.

Her Agenda is a goldmine for young professional women seeking advancement on their career paths. The site provides information and encouragement through posting events, scholarships, conferences, and internship and job opportunities.

Generation Meh targets young professionals who dislike the idea of a conventional 9 to 5. The site publishes personal and professional tips, tricks, and life hacks. This site is manned by Forbes Woman contributor J. Maureen Henderson.

Advice Columns and Discussion Boards

20-Nothings has collected “anecdotes, advice, and musings on everything from dating to body image.” The site functions as a motivational entertainment source for young women in their 20s and 30s.

HerCampus is most useful for female college students. The site features sections such as style, beauty, campus, career, health, and more. HerCampus has representatives on more than 200 campuses across the country.

The Everygirl is perfect for Millennial women looking for advice on their next vacation destination, beauty tips, and career. This site also takes on a serious tone discussing culture, politics, and finance. It’s basically a powerhouse of knowledge for all young women.

Fashionista Fun

Rookie Mag supplies fashion tips on the go. This site was started by a 17-year-old fashion blogger in 2011. Celebrities make contributions to the publication focused on modern teenage life.

The Classy Cubicle provides all professional fashionistas with the latest trends. Not sure what to wear to an interview at a creative office? They’ve got your back. The Classy Cubicle covers different “categories” of office types and suggests appropriate attire for each one.

Despite the abundance of negative comments and startling information the internet supplies, there is a huge community of support, especially for young women. Aspiring young professionals have countless resources to further their educations, careers, and personal development on the internet. These websites not only share useful professional advice but also support and humor for women of all ages. I encourage all young professionals, working women, and Capitalistas to check out some of these sites, they could change your career path.

Make sure to follow The Capitalista on Twitter at @CapitalistaBlog and on Tumblr at thecapitalista.tumblr.com for more tips, tricks, and suggestions to find your dream internships and jobs!

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Most Useful Career Sites for Millennial Women appeared first on Law Street.

No one likes a liar. So why do people put their careers and professional reputations in jeopardy just to enhance their resumes? According to Forbes, about 60 percent of hiring managers catch lies on resumes, and the number of applicants who lie on their applications increased since the recession. But why do applicants still lie if they get caught? Aside from looking bad, his or her reputation is tarnished and any future work opportunities with the company are shot.

Moral of the story is don’t do it, but we can take a look at some of the most ridiculous resume lies.

1. Do your research. According to Forbes, one guy wrote on his resume that he was the assistant to the prime minister. The catch? The country he claimed to work for doesn’t even have one. Oops.
   What we learned: When you are truthfully associating yourself with any organization or group, you should do your background research on it. Know who you want to work for. This way you know who and what you represent and ensure you hold the same ideals.
2. Don’t act a fool. One 32-year-old applicant claimed to have 25 years of work experience. She must have matured rapidly as a  seven year old.
   What we learned: Putting ridiculous claims on your resume doesn’t fool anyone, it actually makes you look like a fool. Be as truthful as possible and learn the difference between embellishing your resume to make it shine and lying to get ahead.
3. Be truthful about your history. When applying to the same position at a company on two separate occasions, one applicant provided different work history for each application. That did wonders for the applicant’s reputation.
   What we learned: Employers can and will find out about your history, so be honest. It’s better to be up front than have to confess to a lie you previously told in an interview.
4. List references who will benefit your reputation. An applicant who listed three jobs in several years was definitely disappointed when he didn’t receive a call back. When the interviewer contacted the employers, she found out the applicant held one job for two days, another job for one day, and never worked at the third job. Yikes.
   What we learned: Use references to your advantage. They should make you look and sound great and vouch for your professional skills. Also, listing references who will uncover lies you told on a resume or application will definitely make you look bad.
5. Don’t burn bridges. After an applicant was fired from a company, he promptly applied to a different position at the same company. The company was listed under previous employment on his resume, but according to the applicant, he quit his previous job. The company’s records revealed the truth.
   What we learned: In every industry, people have connections all over the country, even the world. With our highly interconnected society, word of mouth spreads like wildfire. It would be wise to make graceful exits and maintain positive relationships in your professional career.

Though these are just a few examples of ridiculous lies applicants have told, many more have been caught. Embellishing resumes is a common problem – applicants who exaggerate their capabilities with coding and design skills, for example, are often embarrassed when tasked with those duties but they’re unable to perform.

Resume fluff just isn’t worth it. Be truthful, be honest and use colorful verbs to enhance your actual experience.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Resume Lies Really Are the Worst Decision Ever appeared first on Law Street.

It’s no secret that I’m mildly obsessed with LinkedIn. Anyone who knows me even remotely will knows this. But much to my dismay, many of my colleagues and peers disregard this social network, disparaging it as the Facebook for old people and arguing that it serves no purpose, it’s lame, etc. I disagree.

LinkedIn has so many features that most people are unaware of that they are truly missing out. Are you in college? Grad school? Law or med school? Or maybe you just graduated and you’ve joined the rat race that we call job hunting. I won’t say LinkedIn can solve your problems just like that — by no means are you guaranteed a position by way of LinkedIn. But I bet if you use the site the way you should and get the most out of LinkedIn, you can highly increase your chances of landing a decent job or connecting with someone who could change your life.

Here’s a list of five useful LinkedIn features that fly under most users’ radars:

1. Update your professional gallery. LinkedIn is the ultimate e-portfolio. It’s like a resume without a one-page limit. You can digitally share all kinds of projects you’ve worked on — articles, designs, videos, pictures, etc. This is probably the best way to showcase the experience you’ve gained at each internship or job.
2. Join and participate in relevant groups and discussions. One of the best ways to get noticed on LinkedIn is to join groups and discussions that interest you. For example, if you are in the finance industry or seeking fluency in a language, they have groups for that! Once you join groups and discussions, you not only have access to loads of useful advice, but you are connected to people you may have never encountered before.
3. Share updates, including useful articles you’ve read or wrote yourself. Get out there. This is where people confuse Facebook and LinkedIn. Yes, you can share updates, but no one cares that you just brushed your teeth and walked your dog. Share a new piece you just finished or an interesting article you read. This will call attention to your profile and the more viewers, the better for you!
4. Utilize your alumni network. Newsflash, alumni love their alma maters. Their pride is often accompanied with a sense of nostalgia in the vein of, “I remember when I was your age, getting ready for life in the real world.” This is usually followed up with some type of advice and swapping of contact information. Take advantage of this opportunity to build your network! LinkedIn has a variety of features specially designed for alumni to connect with each other. Almost every college and university has an alumni network; if you’re connected instantly, why not reach out?
5. Request introductions to people of interest through your network. This is probably based on the Six Degrees of Separation theory. Basically, any person on this planet is only six introductions away from any other person. So, I’m only like six introductions away from Angelina Jolie. Sweet. You can use this tool to make connections with the judge at the court where you want to clerk or meet an partner at your dream firm.

Just like every other form of social networking, LinkedIn is constantly adding features to allow users to show their personalities by adding experience outside of work. Employers like well-rounded employees with varying interests. Some career influencers tell us to let our personalities shine through our brands, it’s the name of the game. LinkedIn now allows you to showcase your volunteer experience, certifications, even patents. So take the extra few minutes to surf the site that could change your professional career profoundly.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno) 

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Get the Most Out of LinkedIn With These 5 Useful Features 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.

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.