Nobody looks forward to waking up to emails everyday, so why not make it easier to sift through them? These six tips will help you organize your email inbox in seconds, so you’ll never be that person who has 37,000 unread emails in your inbox.

1. Take Advantage of Folders

If you’re like me, you wake up to dozens of emails every morning. Some are important, and some aren’t, but it’s a hassle to go through them all. Those important emails should be separated from everything else. Use a folder like “Important” and filter your inbox to that folder. It makes it extremely easy to sift through messages that matter without having to take an hour to get through everything.

2. Unsubscribe to Websites/Newsletters You Don’t Use

It may seem that it’s impossible to stop these pesky emails, but scroll to the bottom and almost always they have an “unsubscribe” button. It may take awhile, but set a time to get through them and unsubscribe from things you don’t actually read.

If you don’t have the time, check out unroll.me, which gives a list of all of the websites and newsletters you are subscribed to. It gives you the option to “unroll” from all the sites you don’t want emails from.

3. Empty Your Inbox of Unwanted Emails

How many of you have hundreds of thousands of emails sitting your inbox right now, unread? You can become much more organized if you get that number as close to zero as possible, but it’s difficult to do by hand.

Check out Mailstrom, which organizes all of your emails and you can click on the emails from certain places and easily delete them. It also gives you the option to unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and websites.

4. Use Labels To Automate Emails To Certain Folders

If you want your unwanted emails to go to a folder automatically, label the email addresses to the folder you want them to go to. It’s tough to find, but click the triangle button in the search bar and you can enter the email address you want to move. You can also do this with email addresses you want to get, but just in a different folder, like “family”. I like to separate family from professional so I have relatives’ emails go to my “family” folder.

5. Quickly Delete Emails From a Sender

We all receive way too many emails from certain addresses, and even if they’re important, they stack up in your inbox. Search the email address and all the emails should pop up. And to get those deleted, click on the check mark at the top of the column and click the trash bin icon. I go through these at least once a month; there could be hundreds, whether it’s for school or a payment message, but they are gone in one click.

6. Delete Old Emails

Finally, while it may seem obvious, it bears repeating: Delete old emails! There are so many people who just leave all sorts of random messages cluttering their inboxes. Unless you have a specific reason for filing and labeling it, toss it. And no, deleting hundreds (or thousands) of old emails doesn’t have to take forever; in fact, it can take a matter of seconds.

On Gmail, for example, it’s easy to do this. Enter “older_than: 50d” and all of emails will show up, unread or not. To go back to tip no.5, use that tool to delete all of those emails. It’s an easy way to remove unneeded emails in one quick swipe.

I hope these tips make the task of going through emails easier, and you never have to worry about which newsletters or company offers you are subscribed to.

The post How to Successfully Clean and Organize Your Inbox Like a Boss Right Now appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

By now, most of us have probably caught onto the fact that one of the best ways to show a past, current or future employer that you care is by sending a follow-up note. Notes can be sent after an interview, following a work event or just to let somebody know that you’re thinking of them. A “thank you” is always appreciated, but there is one surefire way to have your words of thanks stand out from all the rest: Write the best thank you card ever!

Even though e-mails are a nice and easy follow up, sending a card shows your competency in writing and organizational skills that employers want to see still hold up in a digital age. Writing a card is not as hard to do as it might seem. Once you put a little effort into the letter writing process, you’ll find it to be fun! Here are five steps to sending out the best and most memorable thank you card.

1. Know How to Properly Format, Address and Send a Letter

You might not think about it often, but when was the last time you hand wrote and mailed a letter? You’d be surprised how many people have never mailed out a note before in their lives! Contents of the envelop aside, the first thing the recipient of your thank you card is going to see when it gets to their mailbox is the packaging it comes in. You can never make a second first impression, but sending a clean, neat envelop is as close as you can get to one! Make sure that you have your name and your address (a return address is always helpful and important) in the upper left-hand corner, and “Company Name, ATTN: Recipient’s Name, Recipient’s Official Title, Company Address” legibly written in the center of the envelop. A stamp in the upper right- hand corner is a must, but make sure the stamp isn’t crooked, ripped or out of season. A snowflake stamp just won’t cut it in the middle of May!

Besides adding your signature at the end, there are lots of great ways to make your thank you letter stand out even beyond contents and format. I highly recommend investing in some notecard stationery sets. Try to find a pattern or style of card that is professional, but also unique. It can either be something that screams you or reflects back to the recipient. Bonus points if you can find a card that relates back to your conversation with the person getting the card!

The ability to send a properly formatted letter once the envelope has been opened shows that you’ve got the whole package. You know what a letter should look like and what it should say. Paying attention to little details such as spacing, a smooth seal, no ink smudges and straight label placement implies that if you are just as meticulous with the “little things,” you can handle larger, pressing and more time sensitive topics when communicating as a trusted representative of your company.

2. Be Timely

What makes any thank you note a good one is being timely. I wouldn’t wait more than the next day to send out a follow-up. People are always busy and have a lot going on; the longer you wait to say thanks, the greater the chances are that they might not remember your name or confuse you with someone else.

Being punctual means that both on paper and in person, you are creating a lasting impression in the mind of a future or former boss by letting their most recent memory of you be a kind thank you. A surefire way to secure that good impression is also to follow up your more traditional note with a thank you email as well, so the recipient knows right away that you are thinking of them, instead of letting time pass by without contacting them as the letter goes through the mail.

3. Be Thoughtful

Inside of your letter, be thoughtful and genuinely express exactly what it is you would like to give thanks to. Instead of just saying something standard and unoriginal like ‘thank you for the great opportunity,” try to think back to the event or conversation you are writing in regards to and pinpoint one to three things that you enjoyed or were impressed by.

Did you learn something new? Mention that. Were you inspired by a speaker or presentation? Tell them why and how. Was there a piece of advice that resonated with you from that day? Quote it in your letter.

Those who go this extra mile in good faith are those more likely to be recognized for their passion and ability to acknowledge that they want to be part of a team effort or success. Gratitude is always greatly appreciated at any stage of the game, and the fact that you went through the trouble of doing things like taking notes, finding their address and official title and even just sending out a clean envelope means you are being thoughtful.

And if you need more help on content, we’ve got a step-by-step guide to being grateful in a thank-you note on our WayUp Guide.

4. Take Notes and Plan Topics Ahead of Time

One way to get around having writers block for thank you notes is to take notes as soon as an event or interview is over, whether it’s on your phone or in a notebook; jot down your overall impressions of the day and anything that really stood out to you. Try to paraphrase important ideas or note key concepts that were brought up in an interview or networking event. When it comes time to write your letter you can just pull out your notes for reference, write a small draft and then put it down in a card.

5. Have Good Penmanship

Your penmanship will also make you easily identifiable in another way other than your face or voice. Write neatly, without spelling errors, and write well, so that in the future, if your work ends up on someone’s desk, he or she already knows you who are by the handwriting and quality of your work.

6. Putting It All Together

When all has been said and done, you ideally want your handwritten thank you note to look something like this:

Hi [person’s name],

I just wanted to take a moment to send you a note to thank you for the positive experience I got to share with you at yesterday’s [insert activity here]. I spent the ride back home following our meeting reflecting on [what stood out to you most], and I think it’s really going to change [5-10 words on what you learned]! I really appreciate your guidance, and  I look forward to the next opportunity we might have to work together.

Thank you again for [what did you most get out of this interaction]. Looking forward to talking again soon!

With appreciation,

[Your name]

Where there are blanks, you will want to make sure you have referred to your note taking and chosen the best moments to showcase in your note. Don’t just choose random points just because they sound “good”- just like with any academic writing, you want to make sure the points relate and flow along in a logical progression.

It doesn’t have to be a long letter, but it does have to be one that shows you are thinking about how your interactions with the recipient will positively impact your career life. If this person seems like someone you would like to work with again and keep contact with, make sure that you allude to the possibility of future collaborations, so that the reader knows you are still interested in them.

Whether networking is done via WayUp and online or through a friend of a friend, separating yourself out from the rest as someone who gives that extra unprovoked effort is a great way to make a lasting impression that goes beyond your online networking accounts. If you wanna have the best reputation, one way to solidify it is by sending the best thank you letter!

The post How to Create the Best Handwritten Thank You Note Ever appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

In every aspect of life, whether it’s school or work, it’s important to be a viable communicator, and first emails can have a huge impact on the rest of your career. Follow these tips and you will stay on top of your game without ever worrying about if you made a good first impression after pressing “Send.”

1. Create a Good Subject Line

People easily ignore emails everyday because of the vague or lazy subject lines. Do not write “favor?” or “job application” as the introduction to your message. Make sure to be grammatically correct and then include your name and a to-the-point quick two words on what you want.

For instance, “Interview Request – Jacob Fagan” is direct and gives the reader all the information he or she needs, especially if that person doesn’t already know you (or is fielding lots of similar requests).

For more help crafting an effective subject line, check out this article on our blog.

2. Get Right to the Point

You don’t want to ramble on or make it hard for the recipient, especially because there’s nothing for them to lose when deciding to reply or throw it in the trash. Say who you are, your affiliate and what you want all in the same sentence. Keep any background information short and relevant to the conversation or request.

For more information on how to write a short email that gets results, check out this article on email mistakes and this one on beginner networking.

3. Leave More Than One Mode of Communication If Possible and Appropriate

Some people, like employers may want the opportunity to call you if need be, and including a social profile or two can also be helpful, depending on your field. This gives more options for them to contact you and could be the deciding factor on if they want to.

4. Include a Signature

This is important because it looks professional and has important information like your name, number, email, title, and website. Not only does it look formidable, but it’s also useful to the person you’re emailing. It allows people to learn more about you without googling, and if they want other ways to contact you, they can find it there.

Also, aside from basic contact information, avoid making your signature too long (it doesn’t need to be more than three or four lines) or showy. Steer away from huge fonts and any added flair.

5. Check Your Grammar

Employers and other professionals do not want to sift through grammatical errors, especially easy ones like “your” and “you’re.” Double check everything; run it through easy sites like this one and even have somebody look it over.

6. Pick One Format, Font, and Font Size

I’ve read countless emails that contained multiple font sizes and unnecessary formats. For me, I always stick to 12-size font, Times New Roman and default format without indents. Overall, it’s easy to read, and a change in font or font size can look unprofessional.

7. Use a Professional Email Address

Don’t use ponylover4345@hotmail.com for professional emails. Create a new one using your name only or just your school email. People won’t take you seriously with an immature email address.

Also, don’t be afraid to have a “work” email, but know that employers can still see your immature email on your Facebook or other social media sites, if you’re not careful.

8. Write at a Fifth Grade Level

Not everyone is like you; there are many people who speak and write differently, so make sure to keep your language simple. Whether you’re emailing your professor, a potential employer or another professional, stay away from “English essay” language. The most important aspect of the email is to make sure the other person knows what you’re saying. Keep it straightforward.

A first impression via email is never easy, because your tone and word usage can make or break a relationship. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll write amazing email every time.

The post Want to Make a Great First Impression? The 8 Important Things Every Professional Email Has appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Whether you’re a college student or recent grad, there are lots of opportunities on campus and in the real world to network. If you’ve never been in a situation where you’re networking with potential employers or impressive professionals before (or even if you have), you may know that it’s a rather intimidating event to just walk into.

Here are some of my tips on how to schmooze with any employers or network with other professionals and hopefully walk out with business cards that could turn into valuable connections.

1. Wear an Outfit You Feel Confident In

If you’re networking with anyone, it’s typically encouraged to dress business casual. For women, this generally means a skirt and top, a pair of slacks and a top or just a dress. Many women also choose to wear a blazer and heels instead of flats to feel a little more powerful. Men have to dress business casual as well, and this usually involves a pair of slacks, a nice button-up shirt and a blazer.

While this dress code is important to adhere to, make sure that you feel very confident in your outfit choice. If you think the hem of the skirt is too short or that your shirt may not look right with your slacks, take the extra couple minutes to change into an outfit that doesn’t make you self-conscious or wonder whether that will be what costs you a valuable opportunity.

2. Stand Tall, Sit Straight, and Smile

Body language is everything when it comes to meeting new people, especially potential employers. The goal is to make these people feel like you’re confident but not cocky and that you really do care about your future.

If you’re just standing and talking to them, make sure you’re standing tall, and try to refrain from fidgeting around. If you’re sitting, make sure you aren’t slouched so far into your chair that just your head is popping out. Try to smile as much as possible; employers and professionals (like anyone else) love a good sense of humor, and if you look happy to be there and can get a smile or two out of them, you’re golden.

3. Sell Yourself

This may sound like an obvious one, but often times, self-promotion is the most uncomfortable aspect of networking with recruiters, hiring managers, employers and other professionals. It’s always difficult to find the balance between boasting and just sharing your experience. I’ve found that the most effective way to show your skills is to actually put the spotlight on the employer by asking good questions.

For example, if you have been an editor for your newspaper and are speaking to the editor of a well-known publication, you may say something like, “I’ve been part of my school paper for three years, but I’m wondering: How’s the dynamic in your newsroom?” This allows the person to respond and say something like “Over the last X years, I’ve seen so many changes in my own newsroom, like…” This way, you’re showing that you have experience without making it sound robotic or forced.

4. Do Your Homework

This is another seemingly obvious one but definitely a mistake I made. If you’re heading to a networking event or another opportunity to mix and mingle, it’s super easy to get caught up in the big names and connections and consequently, neglect to actually research people and companies instead of just going off your preconceived notions.

If you can, figure out who’s going to be at an event in advance, pick a couple companies or people who interest you and learn everything you can about those organizations and professionals. This way, you’ll have the ability to go up to the people and ask them specific questions about what they’re doing instead of just general ones that you’re able to come up with on the spot.

5. Touch Base

This is a step that I think many forget, but it’s one of the most crucial ones. After you speak to an employer or any professional, make sure you take time to send him or her a brief email when you get home.

In this email, you should mention a part of the conversation you had with this person that really resonated with you, include a copy of your resume (if appropriate) and thank him or her for taking time to talk to you. The most important thing? Remain professional in the whole email; refrain from dropping an “lol” or smiley face. People will appreciate this extra step, and it gives them a way to find you again if they end up wanting to reach out.

And if you want more tips for writing a great networking email, check out our templates here.

I wish you all the best of luck during this busy career season. Sell yourself well, dress to slay and go kill it!

Cover image courtesy of Flickr.

The post 5 Ways to Make the Best First Impression Ever (That Are Totally in Your Control) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

The biggest challenge in any relationship is effective communication. The most common arguments that I get into with my boyfriend are due to the root cause of miscommunication and lack of follow through. Usually, it is when both of us drop the ball and focus more on letting our emotions rule our actions rather than strategically thinking, “How can I communicate clearly without emotional bias?” On the personal level, it can be very extreme in consequence. However, it can also happen in the workplace.

Follow through is especially important in the workplace. If you sent an email to Amanda asking if she has a specific piece of information, she replies with the information, and then you neglect to follow up with a closing email, she does not know you got the information and then has to spend valuable time sending another email to check you got the original email. This is not only an inefficient use of time, as it also gets in the way of productivity and disrespects the other person’s time. Communicating effectively is a must for any working organization to run smoothly, just like your car needs oil to run smoothly. Without the oil, people’s words cause enough friction to result in a roadblock in overall performance.

Here is a recent personal example: I was looking into how to change my name one Friday afternoon and found that in order to do so, I must put notice in a local publication for a fee. I had a question about the procedure, so I sent an email to the publication. The person on the other end of the email responded quite promptly. I saw the email, read it and did not reply. I did not think it was necessary in my quest for information about this topic. However, that next Monday, I got an email from a different person from the same publication. She wanted to know whether I had gotten the information I needed, as I hadn’t replied to the other person assuring I got the information. She also wanted to know whether or not I wanted to pursue the course of action for changing my name. I replied immediately and said I did get the information, thanked the lady and told her I would think about my next course of action. By not replying to the lady who first sent me the email with the information, her superior had to take time out of her work day to reply to my question that had already been answered. In doing so, I had disrupted their productivity and disrespected their time because of it.

In conclusion, not only is effective communication essential to a workplace running smoothly, it’s a matter of respect as well. So don’t forget to send a quick “Thanks!” to the person who just forwarded you that last email you needed!

The post Communication is the Oil appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

You can get a lot done simply by asking for help, and as a new professional, going out there and getting direct help in finding and landing your next internship or job can be the biggest difference in you starting your career off right, sitting at home on your couch.

But not all help is asked for equally, and the odds of your request being granted hinges on the quality of how you ask for it.

Here are 4 ways you can master the Art of Asking for a Favor:

Ask The Right People

While many people want to help, not all of them are equally qualified. Being able to accurately identify those select few is key to ensuring help comes your way. Approach people whom you have a genuine connection with and who are in some way invested in your success; asking for a favor from a casual connection may come across as entitled or rude and will definitely not be completed.

Ensure Your Favor is “Turn Key”

When you need something done and need something done fast, do as much of the work as possible, leaving very little for that other person to actually do. Unlike your parents or professors, these people willing to help you out are doing so out of choice, not obligation. Avoid putting all of the work on them in order to help you out.

The most egregious examples of this was an email I received a few months ago, which read simply: “I am looking for hardware internships over the summer. Startups are OK too.

Do you think you could help me out?”

The simple answer to this question is “Yes, I think I can help you out,” but the most important part of the request, the HOW part, is still a mystery, and without communicating clearly HOW someone can help you out, your favor may very well fall to the bottom of the priority pile or be ignored altogether.

So be very, VERY clear on the HOW of the favor you are asking. In marketing, they refer to this as the “Call to Action, ” and make sure you do exactly that; call the person you are asking to act.

Examples:

“I have attached my resume, could you send it over to your HR department for consideration for the Coordinator Position? It’s job #987235.”

“I saw you were connected to Bob Smith, VP of Development at the Acme Corp. Would you be able to introduce us over email? Looking to possibly apply to his company in an accounting position and wanted to know more about the job and the company itself.”

Being clear with your favor and doing a majority of the legwork doesn’t take much time or effort, but it will increase your chances of that action being taken.

(Overly) Express Gratitude

When people go out of their way to help you, make sure you express (heck, overly express) how much you appreciate it. At minimum, send a thank you email, but if you really want to go above and beyond, snail mail a handwritten card with a small gift inside. These small tokens of appreciation really go a long way, and when you need something again in the future, that person knows you will appreciative it and will most likely help you again.

Provide Updates

Make sure to keep that professional in the loop with any updates resulting in the favor they did for you. Keeping them updated makes them continue to be invested in your success, and again, they will be willing to do future favors for you.

About the Author:

Kolby Goodman is certified career coach and has run his company The Job Huntr for nearly 5 years. He specializes in helping new professionals create eye catching resumes, craft memorable interview answers, establish a professional LinkedIn profile, and explore new opportunities in their personal and professional networks.

The post The Art of Asking for a Favor appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Brand on brand on brand. It’s definitely THE buzzword used by companies, celebrities, athletes, and now it’s your turn. Below are 10 tips for you to leave an impactful digital footprint.

Put a Pin in it

Pinterest  – The Power of the Pin

Recipes, homemade craft ideas, and funny memes are just the tip of the Pinterest iceberg. The power behind this digital tool lies in its ability to connect users who share the same interests, and you can use this force to build your brand and make career connections.

Once you start following companies, professionals, and pinners who share your passions, there is a seamless transition into the world of creating your own boards and pinning products, ideas, and other industry-specific tips. You can create shared boards with colleagues or friends when working on projects or even create a personalized vision board to help you stay focused on your personal and professional goals.

Pinterest is a free resource for you to discover innovative concepts to stand out in any industry. If you are new to the job market or transitioning into a new career, following industry leaders helps you to stay current on trends and to find creative ideas so you can stand out from other candidates. You can easily share your accomplishments with others by uploading pictures that highlight your job performance, such as a photo from a program you organized with tips for others who want to mirror your results. With over 70 million users, you are sure to find helpful tips and popular pinners who can help you take your job search or career aspirations to the next level.

The Circle of Plus

Google+

At first glance, the Google+ interface looks like Facebook because you can share pictures, videos, updates and more. Google+ offers that plus the ability to create circles, which helps you categorize people in your life into groups (such as friends, co-workers, family, business contacts, etc…).

Whereas what you share on Facebook is shared with all of your friends, Google+ allows you to share strategically to certain groups. So, you can connect with industry leaders and engage in dialogue without cluttering the conversation with personal pics and posts (yours and theirs), and maintain a professional dialogue. Google+ also offers Google Groups, which are discussion groups focused on specific topics. Members find it is an an excellent way to connect with others in your industry and engage in thoughtful discussions. If you are already using Gmail, Google Calendar, or other Google apps, you can appreciate how seamlessly Google products work together.

Call Me Maybe

Alumni network

Your degree provides you with many career opportunities and professional connections via your alumni network. Your college career services office can provide you with information on local chapters, networking events, meet-ups, and even access to an alumni directory. Through the directory, you can search for alums who work for a specific company you are interested in or in the field you are seeking to enter.

While the alumni network is a great resource for every graduate, it can be especially helpful for those who don’t have many professional contacts. If your college doesn’t have a current directory yet, join the LinkedIn college group to search for alums. It’s much easier to open a conversation with a stranger when you already have something in common.

6 Seconds

YouTube /  Vine

You know you want to be the stand-out job candidate, but the application process is still pretty structured with traditional resume/cover letter applications. Since most companies are now using on-line applications, you can use hyperlinks to utilize the power of video to introduce yourself and your work.

Video clips of presentations, slideshows that highlight your portfolio, or a brief introductory clip can give employers a greater sense of who you are rather than simply scanning a resume. Some companies are now requiring video applications, and job seekers are getting creative — some using Vine videos (six-second looping videos), funny animated videos, or creating informative/how-to videos related to their field. Many job seekers search YouTube for information on companies they are interviewing with to find current news clips, promotional videos, or even interviews with people who currently work at the organization describing the interview process and company culture.

Follow the Oscar Selfie Road

Twitter

Twitter is one of the most powerful job search and professional networking sites. Many people like Twitter because they can follow trends in entertainment and their favorite celebrities, but you can harness the power of the hashtag to also find trends in your work industry.

Following companies, industry leaders, and commenting and tweeting about your field increases your digital presence and professional network. Tweet Chats are live Twitter events focused on a specific topic at a set time and filtered into a single conversation using a set hashtag. You can find and easily participate in Tweet Chats for any industry, and doing so often results in numerous professional connections. Many professionals maintain a current digital presence by retweeting articles related to their field, posting pictures of professional events, and endorsing companies on Twitter. A huge benefit of using Twitter is its transparency and ease of connecting with others in your industry. You can easily find, follow, and engage in professional dialogue on both a local and global level.

Thumbs Up

Facebook

Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past eight years or so, you’re familiar with the site that lets you post your thoughts, feelings, and pictures as fast as you can say “like.” However, you can also utilize Facebook to do much more. For starters, you can create events to organize meet-ups, hackathons, or any other gathering of your choice. Companies may invite you to events, such as tech talks and onsite visits. The best use case is for groups. For example, there may be a Facebook Group for 2015 summer interns in the Bay Area. This is a great forum to determine your roommate situation, weekend plans, etc.

6 Degrees to Luke Skywalker

LinkedIn

If you think LinkedIn is just for working professionals, then you’re missing out. As a student you can utilize LinkedIn to list all of your accomplishments. Even if you don’t have formal work experience, it’s great to include advanced classes in your field, associations you’ve joined, and any projects you’ve worked on. Endorsements and recommendations are huge too. Ask professors and fellow students to write about your learning, organizational, and teaching skills. These will be transferable to future internships. Finally, post meaningful articles so others can see what you’re interested in.

All in the Hashtag 

Instagram

Amaro or Perpetua? This can feel like one of the most crucial decisions in life, so once you’ve tackled that you will notice that Instagram is a huge opportunity for branding. Companies you’re interested in may also utilize it to showcase their company culture and events. If it’s a place you’d like to work, leverage that to search hashtags and include your own to get noticed. There are companies and events trending everyday that you can jump onboard with. Be creative by including videos as well, and make sure you connect your account to Twitter to gain maximum exposure. #getthejobdone

Show, Don’t Just Tell

Portfolio

You are smart and accomplished, which means you have tons of projects, code, and personal work that you’d like to show. Portfolios are a great way to condense and showcase this information. Link to it in your resume and profile on all the above social media avenues. A portfolio can be creative; if you’re a designer, show freelance work, drawings, and classwork that you’ve done (there are plenty of free sites and templates to get you started). If you’re a programmer, GitHub is the best way to show and not tell. For the latter, branching off the master or forking will make you stand out.

Frolick in the 1st Amendment

Blogs

Our government worked hard to get us free speech so use it to your advantage! Keep a blog to write about topics you are passionate about. This is a great way to build up a following of readers as well as a community to share ideas and actions. You can even have guest bloggers (consider reaching out to people you’d like to work for one day) — a fantastic way to network and add meaningful content to your blog.

This post is by: Angela Cleveland, Educational Counselor & Saqi Mehta, Career Counselor

Angela Cleveland is a school counselor in New Jersey. She is a Google Certified Educator who advocates for using technology to enhance students’ learning experiences, the teaching profession, and online professional collaboration opportunities. For more information, Angela Cleveland can be reached at angelacleveland27@gmail.com

Saqi Mehta is a trained Career Counselor who is passionate about all aspects of career development, and has worked with college students at MIT & Harvard Business School. She is currently the University Recruiting Lead @Square. For more information, Saqi can be reached at saqimehta@gmail.com.

The post May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor: Utilizing Social Media to Build Your Brand appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

I’ll admit that I am defiant of the social media craze. These thumbs don’t tweet or post or pin. I’ll Link In here and there, and every now and then I’ll leave a biased remark on the DC versus Marvel movie forums. It’s not that I hold myself captive to the Ron Swanson paranoia of big federal government monitoring and corporate data mining, but between communicating with my teams through email, phone, and text I don’t see what all the hoopla is with mood updates and stalking bathroom selfies.

However, among my five or so questions I ask my interviewees is if they connect and how often. Now, when I get a mature and seasoned candidate for service manager they usually reply with big bulgy eyes, “Huh?” They’re not used to it of course. Why should I expect them to vacuum Freon, pull pumps from a dishwasher, and be able to comment on Cousin Sue’s vacation in Cabo pictures? Soon afterwards I unfold why their ability to connect affects all positions from those with chairs and cushions to those with cracked and calloused hands.

Everything is online

We can’t escape the future. Everything is going digital and if you’d like proof, think about the last time you printed pictures from a disposable camera. Not only have we gone online, but now we’re mobile. At any moment we can connect and upload files, read Excel, and catch up on monthly reports, all from the comforts of the commode. I expect my service managers not only be to send me well-articulated email responses, but be able to adapt to any new method on the horizon. Tech is constantly evolving, which makes any employed role in this era revolutionary. Yesterday’s job market will be different tomorrow because the rate in which we expect positions to change. Soon even in our realm of service and maintenance (and all others), all tickets will be closed from the palm of their hand, which brings to mind the second reason why connecting is more and more a trade than a craft.

Connecting is Communicating

With all emoticons and acronyms aside, our online communications is significant to each and every role. If there’s something to harvest from our constant commenting, it is that trades like involving the ability to key sixty words per minute, a skill often taught in school or evening classes, is now self-acquired from use of social media. Probably one for the best responses I’ve gotten from an interviewee is that he responds to 800 emails a week and has over 200 connections on LinkedIn. That tells me he can craft a professional response and can network like a politician. Often I weigh this against a 50% technical ability in field as both are not overnight skills one suddenly wakes up with. Word of advice, get in the redundant good habit of spelling out every text so that you don’t have to rely on abbreviations to convey a message. The only message I’m getting is that you’re insecure with your spelling.

Of course, I’m not saying anything new or enlightening. By this point we’re all pretty confident with the ability to connect. However, I am reaffirming the notion that whether or not you’re clearing the property for litter or spearheading the next acquisition, each role is indebted to realm of the online frontier.

The post You Need Tech (Even if You Really Really Really Don’t Think So) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

With twitter, texts, IM, pings, chats and more, it’s easy not to have a face-to-face conversation anymore. But, there are some things that have to be said in person – even if it’s hard and uncomfortable.

If you have an issue with a co-worker or boss, the first step is to talk with them, in person, directly about the issue. Make sure the conversation is about work process, product, and how it affects your productivity—not a personal attack.

When someone takes the time and is concerned enough to have a conversation, especially one that is difficult, chances are the person on the other end will appreciate it. It is all too tempting to talk to other co-workers about your frustrations, but that doesn’t resolve the issue, and it creates a toxic environment.

Prepare yourself for the conversation by talking with someone you trust or a mentor about your concerns and how best to frame the conversation. Getting that unbiased perspective is important and will help you feel more confident and comfortable going into the conversation!

The post Can We Talk? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Our team at WayUp sees more resumes in a day than most people do in a lifetime. So, we compiled the 9 most common mistakes we see in students’ resumes.

Mistake #1: Saving your resume as a .doc & using a generic filename

Employers don’t like receiving .doc or .docx files for two reasons. One: those files are susceptible to viruses, and two: if they don’t have Microsoft on their computer (like us!), then your file may come out misformatted. As a side note, sending your resume as a .doc or .docx file allows recipients to make changes to your doc, and you definitely don’t want that.Always save and send your file as a .pdf. How do you do this? In Microsoft Word, go to File → Save As, and in the ‘file type’, select “PDF”. Also, while you’re saving your file, name it as “Firstname_Lastname.pdf”. Naming it as “resume.pdf” just isn’t helpful!

Mistake #2: Forgetting to include your personality

Employers want to know who you are and what you like to do outside of the office, as well as random skills you have that could come in handy at some point. At wayup.com, we have a field in students’ profiles where we ask you to tell us what your “fun fact” is. 9 times out of 10, we find on our site that employers look at the “fun fact” of each of their applicants before any other fields. Also, feel free to show a bit of your personality through your resume’s formatting, whether it’s adding a little bit of color (like a dark blue), or not using Times New Roman font.

Mistake #3: Using Multiple Pages

This one is simple: keep your resume to one page. No matter what. There is literally no exception (and art portfolios don’t count since that’s a portfolio and not just a resume).

Mistake #4: Being modest

Now just isn’t the time for a bite of the humble pie you probably deserve. Your resume is where you should boast the hell out of your accomplishments. Take credit for everything that you deserve to take credit for.

Mistake #5: Leaving out hard metrics

Did you increase revenue for a coffee shop? Maybe you grew a company’s Twitter follower count? Give details! Whenever possible, every experience should include metrics, such as “I grew X by 500%” or “I raised $15,000 to do Y.” In the real world of employment, people are often measured by metrics, so show through your resume that you can handle such an environment.

Mistake #6: Writing in paragraphs

Your resume is not the right place to prove that you’re a novelist. Below each job/experience heading, you should write short and concise descriptors in the form of bullet points. No need to use the word “I” at the beginning of each one, either.

Mistake #7: Being inconsistent with your formatting

A few quick rules: begin all bullet points (see #6) with a verb in the past or current tense (depending on whether the action was done or is still being done). If you’re going to end one bullet point with a period, then end all of them with a period. If you’re going to include the dates of an internship/job for one experience (which you should always do!), then do it for them all.

Mistake #8: Misspelling your name, among other things

Even if you think you’re the queen (spelling) bee, do us this favor: first, run a manual spell check via Google Docs or Microsoft Word (whatever software you use). Then, show your resume to at least one other person, asking them to specifically look for any spelling or grammar issues. If you’re still feeling uncomfortable, ask one more person. You’d be shocked by how many Ivy League students misspell their names on their resumes.

Mistake #9: Leaving out ALL of your contact information

Congrats! The employer loves you. But wait — how can he/she contact you, if you left out all of your contact information?! E-mail address, phone number (for you — not your parent’s home) and both your permanent (i.e. home) and school physical addresses will help solve this problem. And for your email address, you may want to stick with your .edu one, especially if your Gmail address has the word “soccer” or “gossip” in it…

The post 9 Resume Mistakes Students Make appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Here at WayUp, we conduct countless interviews. We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here are some fast tips to make sure you leave a great impression and score any job you want!

Tip 1: Do your research

Make sure you know what the company does and any recent news about it. It’s apparent within the first few minutes of an interview if you don’t fully understand the company. However, if you’ve done your research and there is still something you don’t understand, then feel free to ask your interviewer!

Tip 2: Get there on time

We’ve heard every excuse in the book here at HQ. Bottom line is to get there on-time. In fact, 5 minutes early if it’s an in-person meeting or video call. Whether it’s an in-person interview, phone, or video chat, keeping your interviewer waiting will never work in your favor.

Tip 3: Be clear and concise

Don’t ramble! Get your “about me” elevator pitch down to 2 minutes. This can cover past work and educational experiences and a peak into what you’re looking for next. Conversations are 2-sided, so make sure you give your interviewer a chance to talk!

Tip 4: Ask questions

On the note of 2-sided conversations, give your interviewer an opportunity to tell you about him/herself. Hear what he/she thinks will challenge you the most in this role, learn more about the company, and find out more about his/her background. The better questions you ask, the more likely you are to be remembered.

Tip 5: Follow up

Always make sure to grab a businesses card or get the contact info of your interviewer so you can circle back. Thank your interviewer for taking time out of their day to speak with you. Show them that the conversation you shared was meaningful by either reflecting on a point that was brought up, bringing something new to the table, or asking a question.
This blog post was written by Nikki, our Director of Growth, who has conducted over 300 interviews in the past 6 weeks.

The post 5 Tips for Nailing an Interview appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If the job you got on WayUp happens to be your first, and you know how critical relationships are to your career but just don’t know exactly how to relate to the others in your office, here is a six-step way to purposefully SPRING into an inspiring work environment.

Step 1: Smile. Many times we can become so busy that we don’t even lift our heads to look at, or engage with others. We walk by, we say hi, but we don’t really notice others. Ready for a change? Look up, make eye contact, smile, and say good morning.

Step 2: Personalize your conversations. Connect with others on what’s new in their life, what they’re working on, and what is important to them.  Asking questions about others is one of the best ways to naturally engage people.  My son, Nick, makes it a point to learn three things about everyone he meets which really helps build relationships in his new role as a tax analyst.

Step 3: Relate your commonalities. Share some of your experiences that resonate with what you have learned about them. Sometimes we hesitate to share our experiences because we don’t want conversations to be all about us. Yet sharing our own experiences creates shared memories, often adds humor, and builds deeper relationships. Relate what is going on currently in your life to what is going on in theirs.

Step 4: Inspire. Ken Blanchard’s research on motivation states that people are motivated by autonomy, relatedness, and competence. One of the ways to feel a renewed focus and delight in life is to learn something new, or to take on new behaviors. How are you keeping your brain flexible? As you feel inspired by what you are learning, inspire other people around you (and embed the new information in your brain so as to remember it) by sharing interesting models, facts, articles, and books.

Step 5: Notify. Share opportunities and possibilities for future experiences. People want to connect, but often find it easier to go home to their favorite place on the couch and watch TV. Notify co-workers of what is coming up that they could take advantage of to add energy to their lives.  These possibilities can include what is coming up in the organization, in the university community, workshops, or training opportunities.

Step 6: Gratitude. Share the gratitude that you have for your new relationship at work.  Say thank you for all they bring to your life and the work that you do together.

Too often people don’t recognize the impact they have on the people around them. While keeping their nose to the grindstone, they sometimes lose track of the need for connectedness.  SPRING ahead by taking the time to reestablish the human connection with your colleagues at work.

 Dr. Vicki Halsey is a senior consulting partner and Vice President of Applied Learning for The Ken Blanchard Companies.  She received her BA in American Studies and Physical Science from UC Davis, Masters in Administration SDSU, and Doctorate in Leadership from USD.  To learn more read the book Legendary Service

The post SPRING Ahead in Your Work Relationships and Career appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

One of my dad’s favorite catch phrases is: “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” Selling insurance (his job) is different than pitching products to the media (my job), but this advice certainly applies to both. I’ve had the most success in media relations when I’ve focused on the ways in which a product can improve a consumer’s life, rather than simply listing off the product’s capabilities.

I spend my days directly pitching to the media, and indirectly pitching to a wider consumer audience. This process is both successful and unsuccessful, depending on the client I represent. What I’ve heard from journalists is that there just isn’t enough time in the day to read every email that comes in. Most emails get deleted immediately if the journalist doesn’t know the publicist, or if the subject line doesn’t catch their eye. My best advice is to think about those emails that you delete right off the bat, without even opening them. Do your best to avoid the language used in those email subject lines. Know your audience. Know what they’re looking for – and craft a catchy line that corresponds.

Whether you’re writing ad copy to catch the eye of a commuting consumer or crafting an email to catch the eye of a juggling journalist, you need to do more than just present a product – you need to present a lifestyle.

“This is a phone charger. It charges your phone.”

That doesn’t work.

“Stay connected all day long with this phone charger. No missed calls, no mixed messages. Just a fully-charged battery that lasts.”

That works.

Get right to the point. Tell your audience how your product can improve their lives. Otherwise, you’re wasting their time.

Think about all of the billboards, magazine ads, radio jingles, TV commercials, and subway banners you see every day. It’s overwhelming. Give consumers something worth seeing. Pitch journalists something worth reading. Take the time to dive into the product, learn about it and believe in what you’re selling. The more time and effort you put into your pitch, the more responsive your audience will be. It will make everyone’s job easier.

When in doubt, always remember: Sell the sizzle, not the steak.

The post Get The Most Reach Out Of Your Media Outreach appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.