• Save tens of thousands of dollars by identifying the financial fingerprint of colleges
• Discover 60 colleges that offer the best financial aid packages
• Attend out-of-state public universities for in-state prices
• Discover why expensive schools can be cheaper than your home state universities
• Tap into the biggest source of scholarship cash.

For more from Lynn O’Shaughnessy, listen to the entire show on Monday, August 30, at 12pm EST/9am PST, or visit thecollegesolutionblog.com.

• Be more efficient and effective after a restructuring or layoff
• Embrace and add value to your situation
• Adapt to change in order to grow professionally
• Develop an entrepreneurial perspective and/or become independent contractor
• Be a “one-percenter” and build a cycle of success.

Thousands have successfully used our proven techniques to make their dream jobs or careers realities. If you’re looking for a better job, with better pay so you can enjoy a better life, go to www.betterjobbetterlife.com, and receive 7 free videos that will jumpstart your future starting today!

For more, check out Job Search: The Total System or visit www.totalcareersuccess.com.

• Vision
• Thought
• Influence
• Reciprocity

Learn strategies that successful people have employed for thousands of years. Whether just entering the workforce, establishing personal career plans, or already working and want a more meaningful career, you will gain insight into how to exceed your dreams and have an extraordinary career.

For more from Dr. Zeiss, listen to the entire show or visit: www.cpcc.edu/president.

To jumpstart your job search and career advancement today, visit www.betterjobbetterlife.com for 7 FREE videos that will transform your career.

If you’ve had a series of frustrating interviews, spend a little time thinking back on them, and assess what may be undermining your success. Are you prepared? Confident and positive? Professional? (For a list of common interview faux pas see chapter eight of Job Search: The Total System). When you identify your Achilles’ heel, develop a plan to overcome your weaknesses and integrate it into your interviewing strategy. If you know where you stumble you can easily avoid interview calamities and increase your confidence.

Tips for the New Grad

Many new grads often hear, “You’re too inexperienced” from hiring managers, especially when the unemployment rate is high and many more experienced candidates are competing with new graduates for the same positions. If you find yourself in this situation, keep a few things in mind. As a new grad, realize that you have a lot to learn and gain from some work experience. At the same time do not be overly timid: you have every right to be confident and proud of your accomplishments! In an interview it’s critical that you play up the skills you developed in school, and expertly demonstrate to your interviewer how they match the position and why you are the most qualified applicant, even if you do not have extensive work experience. Also highlight your education and your potential, and discuss how you mastered the ability to learn quickly and effectively when you were a student. Emphasize your ability and eagerness to learn and apply your skills in a job setting. Explain with confidence that you can begin making contributions right away.

Acing the Interview

Think of yourself as a performer when you interview, and remember that a winning performance requires practice and planning. Preparation increases your confidence and concentration, which are also critical for powerful performances. Do your research and rehearse before your interviews, planning every word you will say throughout the interview. This way you will effectively communicate your skills and qualifications to the prospective employer. Review The Total System’s “100 Tough Questions” prior to your interview so you’re prepared for any possible curveballs. Extensive planning will put you in control of the interview. When you direct the course of the interview, you can easily maintain unwavering confidence and ensure that the interviewer perceives you in the most favorable way. Also remember that the interview is where linkage of all job search steps becomes crucial to success, so confidently dovetail your interview responses into the accomplishment statements in your resume, especially when you need backup or find yourself getting into trouble in the interview.  At those stress moments in the interview, your resume will be a life line.

Remember that the interview is your opportunity to sell yourself and show why you are the best candidate for a position. You are a star, so confidently perform and let yourself shine, and soon you’ll be trying to decide which job offer you’re going to accept!

To jumpstart your job search and career advancement today, visit www.betterjobbetterlife.com for 7 FREE videos that will transform your career.

On February 22, 2010, Dr. Bill Pepicello joined the “Total Career Success” radio show to discuss:

• Next generation learners and how to educate them, including how only 27% of undergraduates fit the traditional mould of a college student, creating the need for new directions in higher education.
• Current legislation on higher education, and how it could affect for-profit institutions.
• How the University of Phoenix’s centralized curriculum model facilitates consistency in learning in the classroom and online.
• The University of Phoenix’s goal of offering a relevant education to students, alumni and the organizations for which they work, is one of the top goals of the UOP.
• The University’s new partnership with Total Career Success, Inc. for job search and career development, which will allow University of Phoenix students and alumni to access to proven resources that will teach them to excel in self-marketing.

For more insights from Dr. Bill Pepicello, click here to listen to the entire show.

Click here for 7 FREE videos that will show you how to find a better job for better pay fast!

One of the significant issues discussed with Manny Contomanolis was the increasing “globalization” of job searches and job markets. So as college graduates dive into the professional world for the first time, they are really plunging into a diverse and geographically expanding market of opportunity that promises to continue to broaden in international scope. Before the job search anxiety begins to rise as a result of this revelation, consider what this burgeoning international scene means for the world outside of a job search. Vast amounts of knowledge and culture are being exchanged and there are now so many incredible opportunities for new cultural and professional experiences! Hopefully that realization transforms anxiety to excitement and enthusiasm for first-time job seekers.

Manny Contomanolis confirmed that employers and professionals across the world see talent as a global resource, which means that college students and recent graduates are not only themselves part of this global pool of talent, but that they have opportunities – more than any other generation – to increase their knowledge and learn from their peers across the globe. Throughout the program Dr. Contomanolis continued to emphasize that it is becoming vitally important for students and recent graduates to recognize the international scope of the job market as a way of increasing their knowledge and setting themselves apart from the growing pools of applicants to any given position. Ken Dawson also pointed out during the program that Total Career Success has been designed specifically with the international market in mind. The tools and strategies put forth in TCS – from resume preparation to networking to interviewing – will ensure career success in a global professional environment.

Technology:

Another significant topic of the program addressed the role of technology in job search. Technology and the “globalization” of the job market and professional world go hand-in-hand. As technology has facilitated information exchange, it has dramatically shrunk the world! And in many ways it has “flattened” the playing field allowing everyone to get in the international game. For first-time job seekers who want to tap the international job market, technology and the Internet are essential for exchanging and acquiring information quickly. On the Internet, job seekers have access to numerous databases and websites that provide essential job search resources. Many companies have websites that contain information about their services and missions, as well as job descriptions and what they look for in potential employees. In addition, technology can be used as a valuable networking tool. Some organizations provide contact information for employees, some universities have alumni databases, and social networking in addition to direct e-mail is often a good way to keep in touch with contacts and expand your list of potential employers.

Finding the Right Fit and Your Personal Touch:

As Dr. Contomanolis stated, and employers affirm almost universally, employers look for candidates with strong communication skills, the ability to work in team settings, analytical/problem-solving skills, and the ability to learn and adapt. First-time job seekers can cite experiences they have had to highlight these and other core skills. Also, since students and recent graduates may have limited previous professional experiences, it is important for them to emphasize to prospective employers their ability and eagerness to learn and gain understanding and experience.

Beyond these universal core skills, it is good for first-time job seekers to do thorough self-assessments to decipher and better understand their skills, the broad ranges of their abilities, and their individual personalities in order to find the best organization and position for them. By articulating their passions and knowing their skills, individuals entering the job market for the first time can target their job search to fit their preferences, narrowing the focus of their search. The result is more quickly and easily finding the best position to fit their desires and needs.

Dr. Contomanolis also cautioned that while technology serves as an important and essential job search tool, one should never underestimate the power of making a personal connection through face-to-face contacts. When individuals know themselves and their passions and then pick up the phone or meet a contact or prospective employer in person, their knowledge and personality come through in the conversation. He declared that the most important thing in landing your perfect job is the personal connection with the employer and organization so that both the candidate and the employer know that it is the right fit.

Sheryl Dawson, co-host of the show mentioned that TCS provides the foundational tools for a fruitful job search, which individuals customize to meet their needs. They ultimately make their “personal connections” through the way they uniquely incorporate preparation, perseverance, and a positive attitude into their searches. The program touched on the challenges job seekers face amid an economic recession and the global financial crisis, emphasizing that now more than ever it is essential to prepare, persevere, and stay positive. Sheryl said, “Remaining committed to the job search by researching, networking, and preparing for interviews, coupled with an eagerness to land the right job and begin a successful career immediately, will set you apart and enable you to find a “perfect fit” job!”

As the sixth president of the University of Phoenix, Dr. Bill Pepicello is responsible for the leadership of the largest private university in the United States. He has extensive experience in higher education, having served as Provost for the University, Dean of the School of Advanced Studies, as well as in executive, administrative, and faculty positions with a number of prestigious institutions. He holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in Linguistics from Brown University. Dr. Pepicello serves on a number of national, state, and local Boards and is recognized as a leader in the changing landscape of American higher education.

Dr. Pepicello spoke about his perceptions on how education positions one for success in their field of choice, how the current economic conditions will challenge various career aspirations, how global competition impacts career choices and addressed questions from the audience.

For more from Dr. Pepicello, listen to the entire show!

Looking For A Better Job With Better Pay?  Click here for 7 FREE Videos that will show you how.

The new college graduate is eager to get that first professional job! Degree in hand and four or more years of hard work to get an education in their chosen field, they are anxious to put it all to good use. As they face a dampened 2009 job market as predicted by the latest National Association of Colleges and Employers’ survey, they need to be armed for competition.

Colleges and universities offer career services and bring employers on campus for job fairs and interviews, but students are often preoccupied with their course requirements or do not fit the needs of the employers on campus. So when graduation nears, and even upon receiving their diplomas, they often find themselves jobless and unprepared for their final assignment – get a job!

Donna returned home after graduating and having lived on campus during college. She felt a sense of failure when she communicated with her classmates who had successfully placed. She kept in touch with her former classmates, but felt disconnected from them and the daunting new job world she desperately wanted to enter. She was at a loss on how to “network,” as everyone suggested without providing any specific approach or help. Donna was out of her comfort zone and in fact, felt defeated in the job search battle.

If that sounds a little like how you feel, then you are not alone! Going from college to a job search campaign can seem like going to war! If you feel shell shocked in your job search, do not despair — following are 5 essential weapons that college grads need to get the position for which they prepared in college. The first weapon is a realistic assessment of your passion and capabilities. Second is a realistic assessment of the job market – where your passion and capabilities are needed. Third is an effective strategy to get a job. Fourth is a positive and aggressive plan of action. And last but most important, is the determination and will to succeed! Let’s take a look at each offensive weapon in your job search arsenal for successful placement.

Weapon 1: Self Assessment

It may seem incredible, but vast numbers of college students go through college clueless about careers and even less aware of their own career fit. They may have wandered into a major or double major based on an interest in the subjects they were taking and clearly that is a good thing. Having an interest in the body of knowledge required for a degree program is one good indication that they are headed towards the right career path. But many degree programs have multiple career paths. Some do not have clear destinations at all and some do not fit the real world of opportunity. Students would do well to consider their future career fit long before selecting their degree programs. However, degree in hand, the graduate must proceed with what he or she has chosen.

A career assessment can be very helpful to validate the directions you are considering. Your college career center may offer these to help consider your behavioral preferences and interests. Job Search: The Total System™ has a self assessment in chapter 1 and TCS University offers a career assessment. Hone in on where your passion lies – what excites you! Enthusiasm is the most important motivator in any career choice. If you can’t be enthusiastic about going to work, then it is not the career for you.

What are your capabilities? Besides the degree, what do you offer? Knowledge is but one element of competency. What are your skills? What are your strengths? Are you a leader? Do you have a knack for customer service? Do you have a way with numbers? Are you a “born” sales person? Do you love deal making and negotiating? In your pre-graduation jobs, internships and extracurricular activities, where and how did you excel? What do people say about your strengths? What do people approach you about when they need help?

Before you start targeting jobs, consider what industries and careers match your degree. Explore associations for those industries and careers. What appeals to you and why? Check out the job boards for those industries – what kinds of jobs are available? The Occupational Handbook can be a great resource to learn about a wide range of careers and jobs.

Weapon 2: Job Market Assessment

Once you have an idea of what kinds of jobs you fit, you must assess the market. Are those industries and careers in demand? Your exploration in the professional association for that industry can be very helpful in pinpointing the opportunities and geographical areas that you will need to target. If you are limited to a specific geographical area, then connect with the local association for specific information in that area. Once you focus in on a specific city, you can check out the chambers of commerce for that region to learn more about that market. What are the companies in the area? Are not-for-profits or government agencies a possibility? What size company interests you? How do the various opportunities compare in compensation? How do these match with your compensation needs and goals? What is the potential for growth both in compensation and in learning and skills development? What are the cultures of these various opportunities and how do they fit your preferences?

Weapon 3: Effective Job Search Strategy

Before you launch a job search, you need a job strategy. Remember when you selected a college or university? What did you consider? What was important to you? Maybe you always wanted to go to a certain college, or maybe it was just a matter of convenience. Perhaps it offered the degree program you sought or the prestige you valued. Maybe it was a tradition in your family or where your friends were going. They may not have been the best reasons for selection, but they were part of your strategy for getting an education. When it comes to job search, you also need a strategy. You don’t want just any job, so the strategy must be effective to get the RIGHT job for you! What are your goals? If you completed your self assessment and job market assessment, you now should have your goals spelled out in specific terms.

Once you have established your goals you need the right approach to achieve them. This weapon requires an entire tool kit to be effective. Start with an A+ resume. Regardless of your grade point average in college, nothing less than an A+ resume will do. Everyone can have an A+ resume. It is a matter of presenting all your skills, competencies, accomplishments, credentials and background in the best light. Job Search: The Total System™ explains the process and TCS University has sample resumes to fit every background. Then you must have references – former employers are best, but if you lack them, references from advisors who know you well can also work in your favor. People who can validate your skills and work ethic are the key. Your transcript and certificates will also be important in your tool kit.

No job search strategy is complete without networking and interviewing skills. Students are masters of networking with one another. This takes networking to a whole new level. Now you must network and communicate with potential employers and association members and others who can lead you to the right job opportunities. The analogy we like to use is that of the iceberg – 80% of the networking opportunities are under water! If you focus on search agencies and online listings you are just chipping away at the tip of the iceberg.

Preparing for interviews is strategically essential. You may have gotten away with passing tests in college without preparation, but when it comes to interviewing, the stakes are too high to risk failing. You may only have one shot at getting the offer! And don’t forget, you will have competition. And in this test, only ONE person passes – all others fail. Job Search: The Total System presents two chapters on networking and lead generation to find the jobs you want and another chapter on interviewing with 100 tough questions to prepare you for getting offers.

Your job search battle strategy is not complete without negotiating. This weapon is one of boldness and stealth! It must be a win-win for you and the employer. Remember, it is not the potential employer who you must beat, but your competition. Entry job or not, there is usually room for negotiation even in a tight job market – once they want you, the tables are turned and you are in a command position. Do your homework and research the compensation levels for the job offer you are considering. Study the negotiating chapter in Job Search: The Total System&trade for many more techniques to gain the best pay.

The integrating element of your strategy is what we call “linkage”. Each step of your strategy must be linked together to optimize your effectiveness. So your resume is linked to your assessment, your references to your resume by validating your accomplishments, your networking to your research, your resume and assessment and references to your interviewing, and so on. Link every step to excel and watch your competition fall as you over take them in the job search battle!

Weapon 4: Plan of Action

View the job search as your job, realizing that like any job or project, it takes a plan and hard work to complete! Developing your unique plan to implement your strategy is essential. Identify your daily goals and actions, track all your contacts as well as follow up letters and email. It must be a concerted, ongoing process until you land the right job for you. Lying around the house, running errands, and text messaging your friends do not count as job search actions. During the day you should be networking with all the contacts you can and in the evening you can research new contacts and leads and draft your follow up letters to networking contacts and interviews. Job Search: The Total System™ and TCS University have a comprehensive organizer with forms to help you implement your plan.

Networking and lead generation build your momentum as you expand your job search. Your interviewing skills improve as you prepare your responses to the 100 tough questions and have the opportunity to interview. Having someone you trust help you practice and improve your interview skills is an important tactic as well.

Your plan of action is your tactical weapon of implementation. It is as important as your broader strategy and requires determination and a positive attitude to be effective. Job Search: The Total System™ and TCS University includes an audio version that is motivational as well as a great reinforcement of the techniques in The Total System book.

Weapon 5: Determination and Will to Succeed

No strategy or plan is effective without total commitment. You must be positive about yourself, about your abilities, skills and accomplishments, and about your future. You must be positive about your career opportunities, your potential employers, and your chosen industry and field. You must be determined to achieve your goals and passionate about your future work. A positive attitude breeds success. Employers value a positive attitude above all else. And if you can not be positive about yourself, how can you expect an employer to be positive about hiring you? Your determination and will to succeed is your greatest offensive weapon in finding the job you seek and ultimately achieving your career aspirations. It is the explosive of your job search arsenal.

If these 5 weapons seem like overkill, think again. Each is essential and requires you to learn a new set of skills to wield effectively. Are they worth the effort? Thousands of Total System users who have achieved better jobs for better pay have proven their effectiveness and value in job search and career success. Develop your arsenal now for your first professional job placement and a life time of career success and prosperity.

References: Job Search: The Total System, 3rd Edition and TCS University
By Sheryl Dawson

• The wholeness of integrity was foremost and first on the list. Saying what you mean and doing what you say is the behavioral demonstration of integrity. In other words behaving consistently with your values and having values that are consistent with the next two factors are essential to professionalism. So if you have integrity but are inconsistent with the second factor essential to professionalism, you will not be perceived as professional, nor will you likely be successful in any role you perform at work.
• The next most prominent “I” factor was attitude. Everyone agreed that a positive outlook is essential to professionalism. There may be personal or business issues that undermine one’s positive attitude, however, putting these in perspective and remaining optimistic and positive in one’s approach to solving them is foundational to a professional.
• Another “I” factor was accountability; recognizing that you must take responsibility for your own actions, as well as being aware of how the actions of others impact the team, department and organization, customers and other stakeholders, is also a part of professionalism. A simple way to think about accountability is “The OZ Principle” which states rather than engaging in the “blame” game, which is “below the line,” you rise “Above the Line” by seeing it, owning it, solving it and doing it.
• Finally, competency is a hallmark of a true professional. This “I” factor requires you to develop the skills and competencies to perform effectively and efficiently in your role and your work team while ensuring that your goals and results are consistent with the organization’s expectations.

2. The “Other” factor — As the class considered the qualities that seemed different from the “I” factor, it was apparent that “relationships” were linked to all other qualities of professionalism. In fact, how to relate to others is the ultimate test of professionalism.

• Even if you have all the “I” qualities, as mentioned above, if you lack the ability to relate effectively to others, you will not be viewed as a professional. So unless you work in total isolation, which not too many workers do, you must learn to relate to others. That of course is saying a mouthful and we could not cover all the interpersonal skills and competencies this might entail, but we did discuss a few common examples.
• One individual mentioned the differences in the workplace that we often hear about in terms of “diversity”. Certainly respecting varying cultural, racial, religious and generational differences is essential to professionalism. Being sensitive to differences in the sexes related to viewpoints, needs, and values is important.
• We discussed the importance of leading by example not only for managers and supervisors, but for individual contributors. One example would be to meet or exceed expectations even when a co-worker may be shirking. Another suggested that when we notice others abusing workplace practices, it may be appropriate to confront them privately about the issue. Certainly talking behind their back was mentioned as counter-productive.
• We discussed a range of behaviors common to the workplace and how they may distract from performance and productivity such as taking personal calls, dealing with personal business in the open, text messaging and using lap tops in meetings, listening to iPods at work. Other traditional issues such as tardiness, unexplained absences, not providing sufficient notice for vacation or personal time off were mentioned as unprofessional. Abusing lunch time or not coordinating lunch times with others in the department to ensure coverage were also considered unprofessional.

These two critical factors to professionalism, the “I” factor and the “others” factor are both tied to one’s values. Have you considered what you value in the workplace? What is important to you to achieve? Is it success at any cost? How do ethics factor in your value system? Where do others stand? Do you practice the “golden” rule of doing onto others as you would have them do unto you? Do you recognize the importance of the “platinum” rule which states that respect for the values and style of others is vital to effective interaction? Finally, do you have a commitment to learning and development? Are you open to continuous improvement? Do you receive criticism constructively and seek to understand the other person’s perspective and opinion? Are you motivated to change and adapt for the good of the team and organization and your career?

These are important questions to ask yourself as you seek to develop your professionalism and advance your career. In Job Search: The Total System™, we list reasons “why people are rejected” and find that they essentially relate to the “I” and “Other” factors of professionalism. Not only are these factors what companies seek in new hires, but they are instrumental to retention. Research has shown that candidates are hired primarily for their competencies, but fired for their lack of interpersonal skills and professional behaviors. Do a self-review of your professionalism, make the changes to measure up in all factors and watch your career take off!

By Sheryl Dawson

I went to the NACE conference this year, not as an exhibitor, but sort of as a researcher – an information seeker. Although I have many years experience in corporate outplacement and career transition, I didn’t claim to be an expert on what college career centers needed specifically. I wanted to find out first hand, so, I headed to New Orleans!

The keynote speaker was Daniel Pink, author of the bestselling Free Agent Nation. His address was titled “What Talent Wants: Inside the Hearts and Minds of the Free Agent Work Force.” That topic really was a great opening to an ongoing theme that permeated the entire conference. The question that I kept hearing over and over again was… “How do we best reach the millennial generation?”

That theme was repeated in every session I attended and by every person I spoke with. I learned so much about what college career centers are doing and what they wish they were doing. Darryl Stevens and Karen McComb from University of California Riverside gave an excellent presentation that addressed some of the technical aspects of this issue. That university has seen tremendous growth over the past several years and it was great to see how the career center worked to keep up with that pace.

Holly Holman and Nancy Bernard of Auburn University presented on the topic “Linking Leadership and Self.” At Auburn University the career center has started a program to get students engaged not only in the career center itself, but also in seeing themselves as everyday leaders. This was just one of the many ideas I heard at the conference about how to get students interested in using the career center’s services.

I had the opportunity to participate in a round table specifically focused on community colleges. Their needs are so specific to their group and listening to these folks was a real eye opener.

It was right around this time that my mind really started spinning it’s wheels. I was thinking “Job Search: The Total System™ is such a great system, one that works for any person, regardless of age, industry, function or level of experience. How can we implement this system in such a way that will meet the individual needs of the career centers???” Sheryl Dawson, who co-authored the system, and I spent a lot of time brainstorming this very question on the drive back from New Orleans and I’ll talk a little more about some of those ideas later.

Sheryl attended a session called “Gone and Sometimes Forgotten: Addressing the Career Management Needs of the Mature Alumni Population,” presented by Sue Hansen, Tim Johnston, Kathy Clayton and Larry Smith from The North 40 Network. When she was talking to me about this session I could tell that she was really excited. Her vision of helping people all over the world find careers that they love was like a bright light beaming from her eyes. She learned in this session that career assistance for alumni is really limited because of funding. Career centers would like to provide more help, but don’t have the means to do so. We had the beginnings of a plan…

Thursday evening people talked as they indulged in rich chocolate-dipped goodies and danced to music by “The Topcats” late into the night. Friday we listened to the closing keynote address by Nancy Giles. She spoke about her career development experiences and as a successful black actress, she discussed the impact of racial issues on the college and career worlds in a new and brave sort of way. Her presentation was hilarious and it was a great way to end the conference.

So, what did I learn at the conference? I learned that most career centers are experiencing very similar issues and challenges. Some of the them discussed were:

• Reaching the “millennial generation”
• Providing adequate coaching with limited resource and limited face time with the students
• Technology…how to best use it, what systems work best.
• Assessments – most people were using 2-5 different assessments with each student yet still lacked the right information for effective counseling.
• Alumni – how to meet the needs of this demographic on a limited budget.
• Streamlining processes
• Creating a standard for the individuals within the career center so one counselor isn’t correcting the work of another using different techniques.
• Funding
• Recognition, respect

I also learned that the people who work in this field do so for the same reasons I work in this field and for the same reasons that Ken & Sheryl Dawson started their company 30 years ago: to help people get a career that they love.

As I mentioned earlier, Sheryl and I discussed the various issues on the drive back from New Orleans. We are making changes to the TCS site daily and the launch date for our membership portal is targeted for August 1, 2008. The portal will be fully updated and will have 2 designs: a “low-tech” version that will be appropriate for those who prefer a traditional format with text, and “high-tech” version that will cater to those who prefer less text and more video/graphics. I am so happy to be working for a company that cares about these issues and can meet the needs of so many through their proven system.

I’ll be posting tips and updates to my blog — you can subscribe at the top right hand corner of the page. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about how Total Career Success can enhance the resources of your Career Service Center and enable you to achieve more within your budget.