How to List Unfinished College on a Resume with Examples

How to List Unfinished College on a Resume with Examples But what are they going to think?Thats probably what runs through your mind when you think of putting your unfinished college on your resume.Lucky for you, this is totally a case where you can control what others think.Phrase and include your incomplete degree correctly and professionally and the only thing recruiters will think about will be when you can schedule an interview.This guide will show you how to do exactly that.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowHere are some other education specific articles that you might be interested in:Make Your Resume Edu cation Section Stand Out20+ Student Resume ExamplesHigh School Student Resume TemplateShould I Put My GPA on a Resume?How to List a Minor and Major on a ResumeExpected Graduation Date on a ResumeHow to Put Some College on a ResumeThere can be a variety of reasons why you have an incomplete degree.And heres a little secret it doesnt really matter what those reasons are.Instead of focusing on how much of your degree is or isnt done, focus instead on these questions:Does your degree align with your career goals or the specific role youre applying for?Would removing your education completely cause a large employment gap in your resume?Were there any courses you took that could be applicable to the job youre applying for?These questions will help you focus on the value that even your incomplete education can bring to your resume.Now, youll generally find yourself in one of two situations. Depending on which one they fall into, you can approach listing your education in your resume differ ently.So here are the two different scenarios:Your degree is in progress and you expect to graduateThis is much simpler to list on your resume than it may seem.Its enough to list the degree program(s) youre taking part in, the name of the school and its location, and your expected graduation date.Remember that your anticipated graduation date isnt set in stone so if you end up graduating earlier or later, employers generally wont hold it against you.That said, dont make up a random graduation date. Its a little hard to explain why you graduated 3 years later than planned and just makes you look sketchy.Your unfinished college on your resume should look something like this:Currently Pursuing Degree on a ResumeExamplerightB.Sc. ArchitectureUniversity of Colorado, Denver, COExpected graduation date 2020If youd like some more insight into adding your ongoing education to your resume, this guide should be right up your alley: How to Include Your Continuing Education on a ResumeEasy peasy . Lets move on to the second scenario.Your education is unfinished and you dont plan to finish itThis is a little more complicated.You dont really want to include your college degree program and then write incomplete at the end. That doesnt exactly look wonderful.You can get around that in several ways:Simply note down the school you attended.You can name the school and add the dates you attended along with the amount of credit hours you finished. If you dont have a sick GPA, then leave it out.You can do the same thing as option #2 above, except focus on the courses that are relevant to the role you are applying for. This option brings the recruiters focus to what you already know instead of the fact that you didnt finish college.When youre done, these options should look similar to this:Unfinished Degree on a ResumeExamplerightOption #1University of ColoradoDenver, COOption #2University of Colorado (2016-2018)Denver, COCompleted 25 credits towards a BA in BusinessOption #3Universit y of Colorado (2016-2018)Denver, COCompleted courses: Architectural History and Urbanism, Construction Practices, Building Systems, Theory of Structures.Now that looks pretty good! With your unfinished college listed like this in your resume, dont be surprised if you actually get interview invitations instead of rejection messages!Pro Tip: Dont try to be cute and include phrases such as Major: Finance and then claim that you never really explicitly said that you graduated. If that comes up at an interview, recruiters are likely to get annoyed.Want to learn more about adding relevant coursework to your resume? This guide will show you the way: How to List Relevant Coursework on a ResumeHave you managed to complete a lower level degree while pursuing a higher one? This guide will show you how to include it in your resume: How to List a Degree on a ResumeStill in college but want to apply to be in a sorority? This guide will get you there:Sorority Resume Sample and GuideKey TakeawayWhe ther your college is finished or not takes a back seat to the value that it can potentially add to your resume.When listing your unfinished college on a resume, remember:Mention your degree program, school name, and expected graduation date if youre continuing your educationIf youre not going to finish your education, find an option that puts your incomplete education in the best possible light.Thats all there is to it!Any questions, comments, or concerns? Drop it down in the comments below!

Graphic Design Resume Samples

Graphic Design Resume SamplesGraphic design resume samples are used by many companies and it is to your advantage to have one. An effective graphic design resume can make a difference in your career development. It's a good idea to choose samples that fit with the description of what you hope to achieve.There are many courses and qualifications that are necessary for a person who is pursuing a career in graphic design. Some people even hold a college degree in this field. If you don't have any background in this type of art, it's always a good idea to at least get a degree in illustration. It will give you the skills you need to succeed in this type of work.It's quite understandable that someone seeking a career in graphic design would want to get references and see what other applicants have written about their applications. To get this information, you can look into resume samples. It is often a good idea to use a sample that is designed for professionals, as most professionals wil l be looking for such samples to showcase their skills.It's not uncommon for people to fill out resumes and be confused with the different sections. Many websites have sample resumes that you can look at before filling out yours. If you are just beginning to learn how to do a resume, you may find this helpful.When you begin to write a graphic design resume, you may find that the job descriptions and specifications are similar. If so, you might just want to go along with what the samples say. You should learn how to be unique when applying for a position because there will be many jobs available.Your resume will not only give your prospective employer information on your experience, but it will show them your skills as well. It is quite common for graphic design resume samples to also include samples of portfolios as well.A portfolio is the most important component of any successful graphic design resume.When you begin to develop a graphic design resume, remember that it will contain the same information that will be on a standard resume. It is still a very important component of the application. Also remember that a resume can have spelling errors and grammar mistakes. An experienced designer can clean these up for you but sometimes it is not possible.Graphic design resume samples can be a good way to get you started on a new career. There are many online sites that will offer you free information and samples. As with anything, it is a good idea to take the time to learn everything you can about this area. Graphic design is becoming more popular all the time, and it is good to know that you can easily advance your career through an internship.

How to Welcome an Introvert On-Board

How to Welcome an Introvert On-Board It takes all types of people to create, sustain and drive forward a flourishing business, and diversity is a key ingredient of innovation and strength. If your recruitment policies are adaptable and forward thinking, you’ll probably be accustomed to taking on all sorts of people and not getting too hung up on the first impressions you get at interview stage. Certainly, there is no real reason to believe that somebody who is great at being interviewed is necessarily great at the job for which they’ve applied â€" nor, more to the point, that they are the ideal fit for the team that you are building. There are lots of great reasons to work with introverted people, not least the fact that they are likely to be flat-out just as good at their job as anyone else. Indeed, it seems strange to talk of introverts as a separate group at all â€" they make up, on some estimates, at least 50% of the population â€" but it is worth paying them special attention as by nature they and their talents might otherwise seem to fade into the background. Introverts have what might be described as a different social metabolism to the ‘regular’ idea of how people should function within a professional team. For example, rather than answering questions immediately or speaking up in meetings, they might be more likely to take more time to think things over before giving a measured response. They tend to operate more confidently and openly in one-on-one situations than in a group scenario, and may be mistaken for being shy or anti-social. In fact, often it is the extrovert who is shy, and who makes more ‘noise’ as a means of over-compensating for their fears. There is no right or wrong, but it can be more challenging to learn to work with an introverted person because, by the nature of their quietness, they take a bit longer to get to know. You can help an introverted recruit to settle into their role by understanding a little more about this metabolism and how you can put them at ease. While an extrovert might be likely to approach their new job with all guns blazing, an introvert will want to feel the situation out properly before they feel comfortable. Put aside some one-on-one time to talk them through the details of their role and explain any areas of which they are unsure. Try to avoid subjecting your new recruit to too many heavy social interactions in those first days. A big welcome lunch may be overwhelming at this stage, and while you’ll probably want to introduce them in a group meeting, it might be better to let them meet their colleagues one at a time, or to make just a brief collective announcement without leaving them in the glare of the limelight for too long. Introverts are not hot on small talk, so it might be better to pair them up to others with specific tasks to complete, so they can get to know each other through solving problems together rather than discussing the weather or sharing family photos. Think also about the environment in which they will be working. If your business is office-based, try to find a relatively quiet area for their desk, away from noisy meeting areas or mainline traffic. Let them know if there are designated quiet spots where they can go if the hectic nature of the office is interfering with their train of thought. Well, introverts are just people too, and they don’t expect special treatment. But you can ensure you get the most out of your diverse team if you listen to their needs and create the best conditions for individuals and for the unit. This new infographic by  OnStride  points out some of the things introverts might be worrying about as they approach their first day in a new job â€" check it out, and think about what you can do to make the integration process as smooth and friendly as possible. About the author:  Marilyn Vinch  is a freelance writer and a digital nomad currently based in London, England. Her background is in human resources but over the years she’s grown to enjoy reading (and writing!) about topics connected to leadership, personal development, productivity and work/life balance.

How To Prepare For A Phone Interview So You Move Onto The Next Round - Algrim.co

How To Prepare For A Phone Interview So You Move Onto The Next Round - Algrim.co Preparing for a phone interview isn’t as easy as they all make it sound. It’s not just about preparing yourself with the potential questions that you might be asked. In 2019, the competition is steeper. You need to prepare yourself in brand new ways. In this guide, we’re going to cover what those methods are, how to put them into action, and how to get you to even closer to being hired. Generally speaking, there are still some helpful and simple guidelines for preparing yourself. Those would consist of the following: Ensure you are in a quiet spot. Ensure your phone is charged. Ensure you have headphones with high audio quality. Ensure you have the correct date and time. Ensure you have anticipated the potential questions you could be asked and how you’ll answer them. Ensure you have your resume on hand so that you can speak to questions that might be related to it. Ensure you are prepared to with questions that you might have for them so that you seem engaged. Those are the area’s which most articles will tell you, regarding how to prepare. And for the most part, they are true. But they are also somewhat obvious and don’t necessarily mean that you’ll be moved onto the next round. Especially as more people have knowledge that this is how you should act during the interview session. So what really makes candidates move onto the next round in 2019 and beyond? Knowledge and passion for the business. Keep in mind that as of today, there are more candidates out in the job market than ever before. More people are being born and more people are staying in employment longer. Retirement is somewhat unachievable for most of America. So that means they are going to stay working, longer in life. Meaning, fewer jobs. Fewer jobs mean more competition for those jobs. At the end of it, that leaves you, having to be more creative about how you are going to secure your future employment. Here are the new methods you should be embracing to make yourself stand out and increase your chances of moving onto your second round interview. Scour Company Press Releases If the company is publicly traded, they will have quarterly investor reports. Take some time to figure out what part of the business is working well and what part of the business is not working so well. In a way, the transcripts of the investor reports need to address these. Find ways to softly bring up your knowledge of these subject matters. It will make you appear as though you’ve already been hired within the business. If the company is not public, try to research recent press that they may have had and what factors they brought up to the press. Was it recent growth in accounts? What is a decline in the business model? Good or bad, find what they’re working on and integrate that into your discussion and preparation. Research The Vision Of The Company Before you get onto the phone call, take at least 30 minutes to perform a significant amount of research regarding the companies future. This should be the company you are about to interview with. Be sure you are watching YouTube video’s with the CEO or reading the mission statement on the Website. Or even reading through the recent press releases. Your goal should be to understand what the mission of the business is, going forward. This will help you to be able to comprehend parts of the interview session which may relate directly to the business goals and make yourself seem more aware of who the company is. Without this knowledge, you will be interpreted as uninterested in the company and uninterested in the position. Research The History Of The Company Similar to researching the vision of the company, which is a forward outlook, you should be reading about the companies history. This will help you to be able to answer questions like, “Why do you want to work here?” Because this will give you an opportunity to explain that you know the history and foundation to the roots of the business. And that will make you stand out significantly. It will be perceived as though you have a strong passion for the business. Research The Hiring Manager Before you jump on the phone, you need to know who you are speaking with. If you can start the conversation with a friendly opening note, you’ll have more chemistry in the discussion. Research their LinkedIn or their personal Web site. Is there a funny cat picture as their profile image on LinkedIn? If so, bring that up. Are there colleagues that you have in common which you can use to start the conversation? If so, bring that up. Find a common thread between you and the interviewer so that you can feel more human and connect on a slightly deeper level. Be Concise, Manage Their Time There’s nothing worse than having someone speak for 10 minutes about themselves. Especially as a hiring manager. Think about it from their perspective, they will be interviewing anywhere from 10 - 20 people in a week. They may simply ignore long stories due to the volume of interviews they are performing. Be impactful, be short, manage their time for them. If you are approaching the 10-minute mark in the conversation, be sure to bring that up. You’ll show leadership by doing this. Ask How You Can Move Forward It’s a pretty simple technique but it shows confidence and proactive interest in having the opportunity move forward. Before the conversation ends, simply ask, “What can I do to move forward on this? I’d love the opportunity to secure this role.” Be as direct as possible. You’d be surprised at how effective it can be to be blunt about your interest in the job function. Ask Who Your Direct Report Will Be And Who They Are Another way to show great levels of interest in the position is to ask who your direct report will be. This is a simple way to communicate to the hiring manager that you are eager to begin. Ask who they are, what they’re working on. By asking more questions than answering them, you somewhat flip the script in a way. You change up the conversation and make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd who are simply answering the questions. Putting It All Together, Being Prepared When you’ve taken the time to put all of these methods into a document you can reference during the phone session, you’ll have the best available knowledge to speak to the hiring manager. Remember that the hiring managers have a pretty strong understanding of the business, they are often being spoken to directly from the leadership level. And because of this, if you don’t seem as though you are knowledgeable about the business, you will be passed off. Write down notes which you feel are stronger than the rest, keep them concise so that you can reference them while having the phone conversation. In total, you should be spending at least 2-3 hours preparing for the phone interview, using these methods above. Your cheat sheet should be less than 1 page. Try to make it handwritten so that you can place it into memory versus having it on a computer screen. Remember to be concise, be proactive, speak as though you are already hired and you’ll get hired! If you are curious about what you should do after the phone session, read our resource on sending a thank you note after your interview. You'll want to send a thank you to note to the hiring manager after your phone interview is concluded. And send more thank you notes as you speak with more employee's part of the hiring process as a whole. Expect that you could speak with up to four employees and potentially one person part of the leadership team before you are given an offer of employment.

Owl Writing RSum Module Quiz - Make It Yours

Owl Writing RSum Module Quiz - Make It YoursThe Owl writing Rsum module is something that I need for my computer. As an amateur IT guy, I am always searching for ways to get things done faster. In this case, Owl writing Rsum is a way for me to get all my work done faster, especially when I write reports.The module quiz is something that I do in order to gain more knowledge about the program. After reading and reviewing the tutorial, I want to know more about the program and how it works. The Owl writing Rsum quiz will allow me to learn more about the program. It also allows me to gain more knowledge in order to better myself as a computer user.The main purpose of this quiz is to make sure that I am familiar with the modules that I am going to use to write reports. As a computer user, I am going to use all the programs and functions that the program provides me. For this reason, I need to know how to properly use the program. The use of the Owl writing Rsum module is similar to using Word 2020. The difference is that I am not writing a word document; I am writing a report.This type of learning program has many functions. I need to know how to modify the files that I need to work with. I need to know how to format the documents. I need to know how to create different graphics in order to put my ideas on paper. I also need to know how to make lists of my ideas.A good idea for me is to create a form for making a list of my ideas. The form that I am going to create will be easy to read and easy to manipulate. This means that it will be easier for me to copy my ideas.Writing my own words is going to be easy when I have a form that I can use to do it. I need to take the time to learn how to format my words and create lists. The best part is that I can learn how to build the forms in just a few minutes. Also, it will allow me to save my written ideas as an image.Once I take the time to take the Owl writing Rsum quiz, I am going to be able to understand the concepts tha t I need to understand. I will also be able to add my ideas into the form and be able to share them with other people. Therefore, I am going to be able to give my ideas to people who are willing to use them.The Owl writing Rsum module is something that I really need. It will allow me to gain more knowledge and put my ideas in front of others. It is going to be a benefit to me in many ways. If you are a computer user, it will allow you to be productive when you write reports.

Power Your Executive Job Search with Google Alerts - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Power Your Executive Job Search with Google Alerts Do you realize that when job-hunting you’re in a sales and marketing campaign for your company of one â€" BRAND YOU INC.? Your mission is to pitch your value proposition to prospective employers and get them to choose you over your competition. But how can you know what messaging (through your resume, profile and other career marketing communications) you’ll need to create to resonate with employers if you don’t know exactly which employers you’re targeting? Step 1 in your job search is getting clear about what kind of job you want and targeting the companies and organizations that will provide that opportunity. Step 2 â€" research and identify 15-20 companies/organizations that will fulfill your needs, along with key decision makers within each one, which you’ll work on connecting with. Step 3 â€" set up an account at Google Alerts with Alerts for the following: Your name Your blog and website names Names of your target companies and/or those you want to be informed about Names of key decision makers in your target companies Job title(s) youre seeking, i.e.,  COO Manufacturing Operations Key word phrases relevant to your niche Names of your target companies’ relevant products or services Names of subject matter experts in your niche Names of any people whose radar you want to get on. What makes Google Alerts so valuable? Almost as it happens, you’ll receive an email with links to the highest-ranked latest news and information published on the Web relevant to your chosen Alerts. Although some of the Alerts you receive will not be helpful, many will. Some of them will lead you to information and resources you never would have found otherwise. And Google Alerts will lead you to places where you can position your value proposition â€" or personal brand â€" and generate interest in you and evangelism for your brand. Some of the ways Alerts are helpful: To keep an eye on market trends and opportunities. To provide targeted industry and company research for due diligence, market intelligence, and to position yourself as an informed, engaged candidate in interviews. To help you track where your target key decision makers are hanging out, what they’re talking about, and what they’re working on. To uncover challenges facing your target companies, aiding you in communicating your value proposition to help them overcome those issues. Tips for using Alerts for better blogging and tweeting: Act quickly on an Alert for a relevant blog post and try to be the first one who comments on it. First-responders’ comments stay at the top of the queue, and the link you provide is much more likely to be clicked on, leading people to whatever information you need them to know about you. If it’s a blog with good link weight, your comment will land high in search results when people Google your name, positioning yourself as social media-savvy and a subject matter expert (if you’ve written a compelling comment). Alerts generate ideas for your own blog posts and tweets. Alerts send you relevant tweets which you can re-tweet and help build brand evangelism. If you receive an Alert connected to a blog post you’ve written within an hour or two of publishing it, you’ll know Google considers it highly relevant and will be sending other searchers to the post when they Google matching keywords. Identify relevant sites where you may be able to publish an article or guest blog, building online brand visibility.  Your takeaway: Google Alerts is an essential resource to add to your personal brand toolkit. They keep you apprised of what people are saying about you online, what others in your company and industry are up to, and the latest trends within your niche and areas of interest. Bottom Line Through the information Google Alerts provides, you’ll connect with new information, thereby expanding your knowledge base, and penetrate new communities of forward-thinking subject matter experts to extend your network. Originally posted at Job-Hunt.org Related posts: 10 Steps to an Authentic, Magnetic Personal Brand: The Executive Personal Brand Worksheet How To Land an Executive Job in 2011 Executive Brand Online Reputation Management: Relevance, Quality, Diversity, Volume, Consistency 00 0

Book review Mans search for meaning - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Book review Mans search for meaning - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog This is a very unusual book, spanning topics rarely encountered in one and the same volume. The author, Viktor E. Frankl, was a pshychologist and he spent most of world war 2 in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. And these two backgrounds have gone into this book which is both an account of his experiences in the concentration camps, a psychological analysis of how people react under such extreme conditions and a short introduction to his psychological school called Logotherapy. The basic underlying theme here is meaning (logos in greek). Frankl argues, that what made some people endure the trials of the concentration camps, while many others gave up, was their ability to see meaning in their suffering. And in general, Frankl sees the drive to discover meaning as our most basic need, and he believes that many psychological problems (from neuroses to alcoholism) stem from a lack of meaning in peoples lives. And I would have to agree. There is no more powerful force in our lives, than to know that we are working for some purpose, which gives everything that happens meaning. The account of his time in the camps is chilling, to say the least, but the most fantastic thing about it is the clarity with which Frankl describes it, totally untainted by any condemnation of other brutal prisoners or the SS soldiers. It is not that he condones their actions, or believes that they can be excused because people have no choice in such circumstances. He writes: It is not for me to pass judgment on those prisoners who put their own people above everyone else. Who can throw a stone at a man who favors his friends under circumstances when, sooner or later, it is a question of life or death? No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same. Frankl describes three roads to finding meaning, of which the third is the most important: By creating a work or doing a deed. By experiencing something or encountering someone. By facing unavoidable suffering bravely If you can put a meaning even on unavoidable suffering, and thus face it bravely, you will have achieved a deep and untouchable freedom. It was this freedom that enabled some prisoners to find beauty even in the concentration camps, as witnessed by this quote: In camp too, a man might draw the attention of a comrade working next to him to a nice view of the setting sun shining through the tall trees of the Bavarian woods (as in the famous water color by D?rer), the same woods in which we had built an enormous, hidden munitions plant. One evening, when we were already resting on the floor of our hut, dead tired, soup bowls in hand, a fellow prisoner rushed in and asked us to run out to the assembly grounds and see the wonderful sunset. Standing outside we saw sinister clouds glowing in the west and the whole sky alive with clouds of ever-changing shapes and colors, from steel blue to blood red. The desolate grey mud huts provided a sharp contrast, while the puddles on the muddy ground reflected the glowing sky. Then, after minutes of moving silence, one prisoner said to another, How beautiful the world could be!' It is interesting to note how many psychological schools have come out of Vienna, starting with Freud and Adler and in this case Frankl and Logotherapy. Another example of Viennese therapy is the one described by Paul Watzlawick in Change, and there are certainly similarities between the methods use by Frankl and Watzlawick. As an example they both use paradox as a tool to effect change in a very short time. And indeed they both believe, that large scale and lasting psychological change can be brought about very quickly. The attitude is very different in traditional psycho analysis, where everybody knows that it can take years of therapy to achieve any improvements. I recommend this book highly, for many reasons: As an account of life in a concentration camp As an introduction to logotherapy As an hommage to a Frankl, who stands out as intelligent and compassionate As a celebration of the power of meaning in our lives Read it! This page contains a list of quotes by Viktor Frankl. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year -

Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year - Today’s post is one of many responses to the question, “How can   job seekers make the most of the holiday season?” from members of the Career Collective community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter. I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which are linked at the end of my post! Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective. If you have been keeping up with my series about how and why to use the holidays to advance your job hunt, you know there are many reasons and many ways to make the best of the holiday season. Click HERE for a launching page that links to all of the advice from my expert panel of colleagues and friends. With so much great advice about how to use the holidays to network, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit an important, but overlooked topic to help job seekers stand a head above the rest at this busy and fun time of the year. Networking is great. Meeting a lot of new people is terrific. However, knowing what to do once youve made a contact is just as important as finding the contact. How can you hook your contacts? Here are my tips for being remembered: 1. Send a nice note. In the mail. If you met someone at a party or gathering and you want to keep in touch, send a nice note. I like typed notes, some people prefer a hand-written message. At this time of year, a card with a nice hand written note is fine. Be sure to include enough information to help the person remember when and where you met and what you discussed. Dont forget that not everyone observes the same holidays, so avoid specific references to a particular holiday unless you know for sure. Greetings for the new year are usually appropriate and cannot steer you too wrong! Of course, sending a note relies on you having the correct contact information, so dont forget to exchange business cards. 2. Cover your social networking bases. When you meet someone and you think there is a professional connection, ask if they are on LinkedIn and if it would be okay to connect. Then, be sure to follow up right away (after you get home not from your iPhone!) with a request to connect. Again, even if it is shortly after the party, remind the contact where you met and what you discussed. Dont assume he or she will remember everything you talked about! Connecting on LinkedIn provides many advantages. Of course, growing your network is always important, but also remember that your new friends will now have a chance to see your updates (and you theirs). In general, keeping tabs on someone is easy on LinkedIn and a very low impact way to stay in touch. Also be sure to ask if the person uses Twitter. Im a big fan, and I hope more people will begin to use if for professional purposes. Do NOT ask to connect via Facebook unless you are invited after an incidental meeting. Typically, this is not considered proper etiquette. 3. Set a Google alert for the name of the person you met and/or the name of their company. No, I am not suggesting that you stalk the new contact! However, if Google can help you easily find out news or information about someone with whom you are trying to build rapport, all the better! When you learn that XYZ company   has won an innovation award or that Julia Smith has been named a top ten PR rep, you will be able to be among the first to send a follow-up note. This helps keep you top of mind. It sets you apart from every other random contact, which is important in this competitive market. 4. Make a strong personal connection. In the midst of your initial conversation, hopefully you learned something personal about your new contact. For example he is a Bulls fanatic or she went to UGA. Shes a photography buff and loves to garden. He is a world traveler, but hasnt made it to Asia. You get what I mean make a point to learn something interesting about people you meet. This gives you several benefits: You will earn bonus points for being a good listener, for asking questions and for being attentive to your new friends interests. We all enjoy talking about ourselves. When you engage around a topic that tweaks someones passions, you are more likely to be remembered later. You now have a new hook to use for follow up! Assuming you keep your eyes on the newspapers and Internet, you are bound to come across a post or article of interest to your contact. Send it along via email with a personal note. Again the point   here is to maintain a top of mind status. You sent an article on tips for travel in China and your friend thinks about you in a day when you would not otherwise cross his mind. You can do everything right, (know what you have to offer, have a great twitpitch, know where to look, have great materialsThe list goes on and on. However, if you dont follow up with your networking contacts, all of that work could easily go down the drain. Dont let that happen to you! Other responses to the question from Career Collective members: @MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, “Season’s Greetings and your Job Search” @GayleHoward, The Executive Brand, “It’s Christmas: And a ho-ho-ho-hum?” @KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs” @resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog,“Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob” @heathermundell, life@work, “Have a Holly Jolly Job Search” @sweetcareers, Sweet Careers, “Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009†³ @careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers” @careerealism, CAREEREALISM.com, “Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism” @heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, “4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting” @LaurieBerenson, Sterling Career Concepts, “Three Resolutions to Take It Up a Notch” @KatCareerGal, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, “Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search” @WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithillness.com, “Avoid this Minefield: No Holiday Here!” @DawnBugni, “The Write Solution Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays?” @andyinnaples, “Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time” @erinkennedycprw, Professional Resume Services,  â€œHow to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays” @keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, “Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year” @ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, “Navigating the Mistle Toe of Job Search” @GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, “Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?” @BarbaraSafani, Career Solvers, “Holiday Networking Can Facilitate New Year Opportunities” @expatcoachmegan, Career By Choice Blog, “Expat Networking: Holidays Are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow Your Network” @chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, “Footprints Associations: Job Search Tips for the Holidays” @JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, (Holiday) Party Your Way to a New Job @MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, “Season’s Greetings and your Job Search” @GayleHoward, The Executive Brand, “It’s Christmas: And a ho-ho-ho-hum?” @KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs” @resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog,“Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob” @heathermundell, life@work, “Have a Holly Jolly Job Search” @sweetcareers,Sweet Careers, “Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009†³ @careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers” @careerealism, CAREEREALISM.com, “Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism” @heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, “4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting” @LaurieBerenson, Sterling Career Concepts, “Three Resolutions to Take It Up a Notch” @KatCareerGal, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, “Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search” @WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithillness.com, “Avoid this Minefield: No Holiday Here!” @DawnBugni, “The Write Solution Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays?” @andyinnaples, “Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time” @erinkennedycprw, Professional Resume Services, “How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays” @keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, “Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year” @ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, “Navigating the Mistle Toe of Job Search” @GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, “Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?” @BarbaraSafani, Career Solvers, “Holiday Networking Can Facilitate New Year Opportunities” @expatcoachmegan, Career By Choice Blog, “Expat Networking: Holidays Are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow Your Network” @chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, “Footprints Associations: Job Search Tips for the Holidays” I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?   If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers. photo by Robert in Toronto