Your summer internship is likely nearing its end in the next few weeks. If you’ve already graduated from college, the question likely on your mind is whether or not the internship will become full-time employment.

In a recent interview with Dr. Joanne Sujanksy and Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed, authors of “Keeping the Millennials: Why Companies are Losing Billions in Turnover to This Generation, and What to Do About It” they provided advice for individuals in this exact situation:

1. Find opportunities to expand your experience when interning. In addition to completing your assigned tasks and projects, offer to help in other areas when you find ways that you can add value. Is someone researching something for which you have a resource? Do you have connections to professionals who may be of assistance to your firm specific to a project or problem?

2. Make contributions to the organization beyond your job. Tactfully make recommendations or give suggestions when you see an opportunity to improve or enhance something. Are you able to show a colleague how to get something done faster or with better accuracy? Are you volunteering to take on extra tasks that contribute to the organization while adding accomplishments to your résumé?

3. Keep track of your accomplishments. And speaking of adding to your résumé, keep a daily journal to of your activities and accomplishments for each day. It’s often difficult to remember the number of projects and activities that you supported throughout your internship. Review your weekly journals and pick out key areas to add accomplishment statements to your résumé.

4. Get balanced feedback from others. Ask for feedback on your work periodically throughout your internship. Be careful not to bombard your boss daily or weekly. Instead, schedule a mid-term review half-way through your internship and final review as you finish your internship. Remember to ask for feedback on what you can enhance in addition to what you have done well. And don’t forget to ask for suggestions on things that you still may need to learn or specific job skills you may need to attain.

5. Know your company inside and out. Before and during your internship, continually research the company. Find out how the company makes money, and indicate how you may be able to make a further contribution during your feedback and review discussions.

6. Look for mentors. In addition to your manager, find someone who you respect in the organization. Observe how he or she does business, and ask for advice or feedback from that person on what you can do to make a stronger impact. As you build your own relationships in the company, you are able to find more opportunities and more people who can advocate for you for future opportunities within the company—or outside of it.

7. Network. Ask your manager and colleagues for others in the organization who may want to meet you and know about your skills. Your company contacts may also know of others in the industry or community who may be interested in providing you with career advice or job opportunities.

Final note…it’s all about relationships. In addition to updating your résumé throughout your internship, don’t forget to request permission for references and secure referral letters from those who have admired your work or provided you support. Your ability to build and maintain relationships during your internship is the key to securing the future position that you covet.

This article was originally posted on Examiner.com.

I’d call myself a healthy risk-taker. I will drive the extra mile to the independent coffeehouse instead of the convenient Starbucks. I will order the hard-to-pronounce fish entree over a safe chicken standby.

But where do risks enter in the job search? What is a good risk, and what is a bad risk?

Just a week ago, I decided to take a big one: I bought a plane ticket to Washington, D.C. for spring break. The plan is to meet with potential employers.

Will I get a job out of the visit? Possibly not. Will it open the door for new ideas or opportunities? Perhaps. Can I still be optimistic? Absolutely.

Mark Batterson writes a lot about risk-taking. In one of his books Wild Goose Chase, he quotes David Whythe: “The price of our vitality is the sum of all our fears.” Vitality in this sense is defined as our power to serve to our full potential – it’s that one desire to do work that brings personal meaning and fulfillment to us. Am I really willing to give up my passion to wallow in my fears?

After reading Batterson’s inspiring book, I drew some inspiration of my own — tailored to the job seekers out there. Here are a few tips and ideas to start thinking about healthy career risks:

• Think back to the last really interesting conversation you had. Why did you speak up? What topics made you passionate?
• What “baby” risks can you take now to help you prepare for a really big risk in the future? (i.e. Moving to a new town, learning a new skill)
• What fears might be holding you back from making a big transition? Talk with a career mentor or trusted friend to gain some perspective.
• When was the last you messed up? What did you learn from it?

In less than two weeks, I am boarding a plane to a city that feels like home. I’m unsure of what will come of it, but I’m going to do one thing I’m good at: putting my best foot forward.

Happy risking!

What risks do you face now? What are some career risks you took, and what came of it?

(Photo via BetterThanBacon/Flickr)

This post was written by Meghan Biallas and was originally published on The Classroom to Cubicle Project.

Preparing for interviews to the best of your ability is time consuming but extremely important. You must know and understand the interviewer(s), organization, clients/products/services and the industry itself—plus how you fit into that big picture.

So, what exactly is the hiring manager looking for? No matter what field you are in or what position you’re applying for, there are some similarities across the board that all hiring managers seek in ideal candidates.

1. Likeability. Do you get along with the hiring manager? Does the hiring manager feel you will get along with his or her team? This is a big factor. I know when I see myself in candidates, I find myself leaning toward them more than individuals who remind me nothing of me. (That sounds self-centered, but hiring managers want a cohesive team!)

2. Strategic thinking. Are you thinking ahead about the future of the organization? Do you have a suggestion already in mind you’d like to brainstorm with the hiring manager? In this economy—or any, for that matter—organizations want (and need) results. If you can show you’re a results person—or at a minimum thinking about results—you will prove a strong candidate.

3. Clear communication. Is your tone and word choice professional? Do you get your message across effectively the first time? Chances are, you’re going to have to communicate with others in some fashion in order to do your job. Throwing in any type of slang word, giggling or other methods of unprofessional communication will make the hiring manager forget what you’re actually trying to say.

Also, be aware of any strong accent you might have. For example, if you’re from Boston or New York and you’re speaking to someone from Chicago, your accent might be a little off putting. If you think it might be costing you jobs, there are professional speech therapists who can help you lose the accent.

4. Professional appearance. If you’re interviewing at an organization where you know the hiring manager will be wearing ripped jeans and a T-shirt, you can probably get away with far less than a suit and tie. However, at most organizations, you want to not only dress the part for which you are interviewing, but one step above. Again, it’s these little things that stack up in a hiring manager’s mind about whether or not to hire you.

5. Enthusiasm. Be happy you are there! And not just because this is the first interview you’ve had in weeks (or months), but because you are genuinely looking forward to the possibility of working at the organization.

6. Good eye contact and “engaged behavior.” Don’t stare and not blink throughout the whole interview, but make sure you have decent eye contact. Also, lean forward slightly when the hiring manager is speaking—this is what I call “engaged behavior.” Both tactics show the hiring manager you are listening and interested in what he or she has to say.

This article was originally posted on Examiner.com.

This past Friday, I attended the Real World PR conference in Atlanta. The Georgia chapter of PRSA put on the conference for students or graduates interested in public relations. This conference included various seminars, a luncheon with a keynote speaker, a resume critique, and career fair. This was a great opportunity for attendees to continue to learn more about the industry and how they can improve various aspects of themselves to try to obtain a job in the public relations profession.

I was able to attend a seminar on the corporate versus agency aspect of the industry. The speakers were successful PR professionals from the Atlanta area who helped explain the differences between the two types of public relations careers you can pursue. I also attended a seminar on how to “Seal the Deal” in interviews. Two women from human resources at successful public relations firms in Atlanta give tips and hints on what they are looking for in resumes, interviews, and follow-ups. Other seminars included were tips for social media, making yourself marketable, and tips on how to make an impressive portfolio.

The most helpful aspect of the conference was the resume critique. I was able to meet one-on-one with a human resources professional who told me specific aspects of my resume that needed to be changed. I came home and completely redid my resume! I feel much more confident in my job search after this conference because it gave me a new resume and new knowledge to use to hopefully successfully find a job!

What I’m really trying to convey in this post is how important it is to always be ready and willing to learn more about any industry that you’re interested in working in. This conference gave me helpful and relevant advice and information that will possibly put me ahead of other applicants during my job search. If you’re given the opportunity to go to conferences, informational sessions, seminars, etc., you need to try to attend as many as you can! You will never know everything about your industry and even once you find a job you will realize how much more you can learn. The more you learn, the more you have to offer a future or current employer.

This post was written by Casey Bolt and was originally published on The Classroom to Cubicle Project.

I know what you’re thinking. Why do I need a business card? Just because you’re a student and don’t have a professional job doesn’t mean you don’t need a business card.

You’re a busy college student; you meet lots of people and participate in numerous actives. College is a perfect time to start using a business card. As you start networking, you will find yourself exchanging information with your peers, and it would be so much easier to hand them a card with all your info right there. This helps you network effectively and make successful connections. Business cards are also a way to establish your personal brand.

Here are some reasons to have a business card as a student:

• Share your contact information: This is the most common reason to have a business card. Otherwise, you find yourself jotting down your info on a napkin, scrap piece of paper or anything else that is handy. It is more likely to get thrown away this way.
• Networking: After I meet someone new at a society conference or a meeting, the first thing I offer up is my business card. Especially when I meet a lot of people, at a national event for example, it’s hard to remember what school they went to. If you have their business card, then it’s easy to glance at it and remember.
• Personal branding: As a soon-to-be professional, you will need to brand yourself. It could be centered around an area of interest, an industry, or others. If you are going into a creative field, make your business card stand out. Make it artsy. There are many Web sites like 123print.com that offer tons of templates for business cards at very “student affordable” prices.

What to include on your business card:

• Full name
• E-mail address
• Cell phone and mailing address (if you feel comfortable enough saying where you live)
• Your university (be careful when using university logos — a lot of the time they are protected by copyright/trademark and you need permission to use them)
• Your blog link (if you have one)
• LinkedIn and Twitter account links (and any other social media sites, if they are appropriate for employers’ eyes)
• Any memberships you have, such as a sorority, fraternity or professional organization

Whether you choose an inexpressive card stock and print your own or buy better quality business cards online, it is important for students to have business cards. The style and font is up to you. Have fun with it, be creative and don’t be afraid to give them out to people you meet; you never know what it may lead to.

This post was written by Lindsay Elias, Come Recommended’s public & media relations assistant.

My latest job search strategy involves building my portfolio Web site.

Why build a portfolio site? It’s a great way to get your name out there. It’s also another way for employers to get a better sense of you are – apart from the rigid constructs of a site like LinkedIn or Facebook. Most sites (Wordpress, Blogger, Weebly) offer a variety of options, but if you know HTML, CSS, and Flash you have even more freedom to design away.

About a month ago, I had a fellow NPR intern help me register a domain site. But since then, I’ve been at a loss on how to get started. This week I decided on a host (Weebly) and have had a lot of fun playing around with my site.

For less than a dollar a month, my domain name is all mine. I’m using a free Web site builder that’s easy to use — you can basically ‘plug-n-play’ by dragging an icon for “new page” and you can change the theme whenever you want. (Think of it as the Mac version for Web site creation.)

If you’re looking at doing something similar, here are few tips:

• Purchase your domain name and hosting site. Ideally, it should be your own name, but it can also be a clever name or a phrase that helps with your personal branding (see the branding success story later in this article) Some examples include GoDaddy, NameCheap, 1and1.
• Design it! Some strong options include Wordpress, Weebly or Sandvox.
• Research your options. Don’t just take my word on all of this! It’s not hard to discover how many sites offer tips and suggestions on how to get started. With just a few clicks, I found a great article from Smashing Magazine.
• Play to your strengths. So what if sparkly design isn’t your thing? Create a site that lists your accomplishments in a simpler way. Or just fill it with photos (if you’re a photographer, that is).ReadWriteWeb wrote a piece on how to design “cool, no-tech sites.”

I’ve run across several great starter portfolio sites from recent college graduates. These individuals demonstrate how to build a site that plays to strengths.

http://lizgoerlitz.com/ Liz graduated with a degree is multimedia arts, so her site has an especially animation-focused look.

http://rgvisuals.com/ Ryan is a recent photojournalism graduate, so his site is smooth, with a touch of Flash design, and filled with photos.

http://bradjward.com/ Brad is a recent MBA grad, and a pioneering social media guru in the higher education industry. His site points to his most recent recommendations via LinkedIn, but also provides entry points to many of his social networks.

http://www.maggiemertens.com/ Maggie’s site inspired me to check out Weebly. Hers is a well-rounded porfolio, and she makes sure to offer PDF files of her writing samples.

A branding success story. Mark Grossnickel, reported that his friend Eric Romer “…decided to break the mold. Hell, Eric shattered the mold.” How’d he do that, you ask? Instead of simply applying for a position with HeadBlade, he purchased the URL: hiremeheadblade.com (now called headbladehiredme.com), created a Facebook fan page, and even a Twitter account. Needless to say, he got hired. That’s going above and beyond.

Grossnickel commented on Romer’s strategy, saying “If you were on the hiring end, would you go for the guy who is crossing his fingers, or would you go with the guy who bought “hiremeheadblade.com?”

I’m no expert! Do you have any portfolio tips to add to this? In your opinion, what makes a good porfolio?

This post was written by Meghan Biallas and was originally published on The Classroom to Cubicle Project.

I’m often asked this question, and my answer is always chronological. It allows me to see how you’ve grown as a young professional throughout your internships, school and other activities. However, what do other hiring managers have to say?

According to a recent survey by Accountemps, 75 percent of employers prefer a “top-down” chronological résumé, whereas only 17 percent would rather receive a functional résumé organized by skills. Interestingly, this data has changed very little throughout the past 10 years.

“Chronological résumés allow job seekers to present their career progression to prospective employers in a straightforward, easy-to-follow way,” said Max Messmer, author of “Job Hunting For Dummies, 2nd Edition” and chairman of Accountemps. “Functional résumés, which emphasize skill sets rather than jobs held, are popular among professionals in career transition or who have had lengthy gaps in employment, but they are not a favorite of employers. It is often better to address a career challenge directly than try to write around it.”

Messmer added, “Whichever format a job hopeful chooses, information contained in the résumé needs to be clear and provide a compelling story about his or her work experience and abilities.”

Still not convinced a chronological résumé is the way to go? Messmer offers advice for avoiding the following common résumé hurdles:

• Employment gaps. Offer a brief explanation of employment gaps in your cover letter. In this economic environment, hiring managers understand people could be out of work through no fault of their own.
• Limited work history. Bolster your work experience through internships, part-time work or temporary assignments obtained through a reputable staffing firm. Don’t forget to include relevant volunteer activities in the work experience section of your résumé.
• Appearing overqualified. Provide a summary of pertinent skills and strengths at the top of your résumé, in addition to a chronological listing of your work experience. Emphasize and quantify how you’ve contributed to bottom-line success in previous positions and how that experience would apply to a prospective employer’s needs.
• Desire for a career change. Highlight your accomplishments and skills that would best transfer to the new industry. Make sure to enlist the help of your network of friends, former colleagues and mentors who can recommend you for job openings in the field.

This article was originally posted on Examiner.com.