One of the most basic interview questions can often be one of the most difficult to answer: “Tell me about yourself.” Where do you begin and where do you end? According to career expert, Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, people offer rambling, incoherent answers to this question all the time.  What’s the trick?  You must prepare and practice for this question in advance; you need to have a 15 to 30-second “elevator pitch” that you can pull it out at a moment’s notice.  Thanasoulis-Cerrachio recommends starting the creation process by writing down a full page of things you would want to say to an interviewer.  Then, cut down those notes by 50 percent, keeping only the most important points.  Then keep cutting until you are down to a quarter of a page.  From those points, pull out three bullets that offer a solid summary of your career.  

After that, it’s time to practice!  Experts suggest practicing in front of a mirror or a friend.  Make sure your presentation sounds enthusiastic, even if you’re bored from practicing it so much.  Delivery can be just as important as content.  Once you’ve mastered your pitch, you can use it in networking situations in addition to your interview…You never know when it may come in handy!

In a fluctuating economy where a person might considering taking any job that he or she can get, it makes you wonder…are people actually happy with their jobs?  According to CareerBliss, an online job site that recently conducted a survey evaluating career happiness, the answer is yes.  It was found that those people who are happiest with their jobs, often have the same type of jobs.  CareerBliss surveyed over 100,400 employees with varying careers (excluding executive level jobs) from February 2011 to January 2012.  Employees were questioned about factors such as their satisfaction with employee-boss-coworker relations, company culture, growth potential, wages, responsibilities, and control of their job tasks.  From this, the Happiest Jobs in the US were determined:

1.    Software Quality Assurance Engineer
A Software Quality Assurance Engineer evaluates and reviews a product prior to the final product being released.  They are often involved in software development from beginning to end.

2.    Executive Chef & Project Manager (Tie)
An Executive Chef performs tasks such as cooking, creating the menu, and training staff.  A Project Manager coordinates buying, selling, and the entire transaction involved in real estate.

3.    Bank Teller & Warehouse Manager (Tie)
A Bank Teller works with customers and handles the cash.  A warehouse manager coordinates supplies, distribution, and the overall supervision of a warehouse.

Although the top 5 jobs may seem surprising, many people cite their happiness as being a result of the people that they work with. Other jobs that made the happiest jobs list such as Accountant, Human Resource Manager, and Customer Services Representative can also be attributed to the people factor.  This finding is further emphasized upon discovering that people who hold jobs with regular people interaction, tend to be happier employees.  People spend the majority of their time at work so whether you are currently employed or looking for a new opportunity, this is definitely an important finding to consider.

With Spring Break just around the corner, many job seekers find themselves torn between a leisurely beachside vacation and a dedicated, focused job search week.  But is it possible to find a compromise?  Here are four relaxing ways to advance your job search while on vacation:

1.    Put business cards and a couple resumes in your suitcase.  You never know who you could run into on vacation, and you need to be prepared!  Powerful executives take vacations too, and they may be open to a friendly conversation.  It might be worth practicing your elevator pitch on your way to your destination as well.

2.    Build out your online profiles.  Grow your connections on LinkedIn, and complete online profiles to help you connect with relevant employers.

3.    Schedule some informational interviews.  Know anyone who works at a company you’re interested in?  Ask them to join you for coffee!  If you schedule it in advance, they’re more likely to oblige.

4.    Take some time to yourself.  Sometimes, a little relaxation can go a long way.  You may leave your vacation feeling clearheaded and ready to tackle your job search head on!

Wondering why the jobs numbers have been looking so good lately?   A lot of it can be attributed to the technology industry!  Job postings on technology job board Dice.com have risen by 12 percent in the past year, and general online job postings for computer and mathematics positions increased by 2.1 percent in the past month!  Some of the most highly desired workers right now are those who have experience with mobile applications—positions needing these skill sets have increased by more than 100 percent in the past year.  While large technology companies haven’t all been successful—IBM recently let go of 1000 employees—many smaller tech companies are looking to expand.  With over 500,000 software programs for the iPhone alone, there are clearly a number of opportunities in technology.

In 2012, the economy is fluctuating, unemployment is high, and you have to compete against all of your peers for a limited amount of job openings.  Despite these hurdles, you have landed your first job as a recent college graduate!  Now what?  Alison Green at US News & World Report suggests that in order to create a solid foundation on which to build your career, you must be aware of your actions.  Below find a few tips to make sure you’re on the path to success.

1.    Listen
As a novice at your company, make sure to listen closely to the advice and knowledge that circulates around you.  You will not only be able to learn about how things work within the company, but you will also have the opportunity to pick up on new skill sets.

2.    Diversify Your Contacts
Although it may be tempting to only socialize with colleagues of similar age, it is important to expand your group to more experienced professionals.  With their multiple years of experience, you have the opportunity to gain insight on your current job and your future career path.

3.    Don’t Be Exclusive
Avoid forming cliques at work and be open to meeting different kinds of people.  Working with different types of people gives you the opportunity to expand your worldview and experiences.  Also, try to avoid cattiness and gossip which often can be harmful to your career.

4.    Take Responsibility
Be accountable for your mistakes and do not shy away from the responsibility.  By owning up to the mistake as well as seeing it through to a resolution, you not only learn from your mistakes but also convey a responsible and can-do attitude to your coworkers.

5.    Always Have Pen And Paper
Always have pen and paper easily accessible to you.  Whether your boss is giving you instructions or you have the opportunity to sit in on a meeting, you don’t want to miss out on important knowledge.  Often the most important or helpful details do not get repeated.

6.    Limit Your Personal Use of Social Media
Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, etc., you should try to avoid and in the very least limit your use of these social media platforms at work.  Overuse of these platforms can give the impression of being unprofessional.

7.    Create And Maintain a Timeline
Create a rough timeline of when you are going to complete your tasks.  Remain diligent and complete tasks when you say you will in order to build your credibility at the company.

8.    Be Aware of Company Culture
Take the time to observe and understand company culture.  You will become privy to important information such as dress code, if occasional chit chat is accepted, and if it customary to leave the office for lunch.  If your behavior goes against company culture, coworkers may become wary of you.

9.    Be Open-Minded
Your time at school gives you a solid foundation on which to begin your career.  However, once you enter the real world, your education does not end.  Remain open to learning new things and to considering varying viewpoints.

10.   Thank Others
If your boss or colleague helps you, always remember to thank them, whether verbally or a quick e-mail.  When people feel appreciated, they are more likely to help out again in the future.

According to a recent survey by Global Strategy Group, the majority of senior managers are underwhelmed by the recent college graduates applying for entry-level positions.  The study found that 65% of senior managers and C-level executives believe that entry-level candidates are only “somewhat” prepared for business success, while 40% of C-suite executives claim that these candidates are “not prepared at all.”  Almost half of these executives think that fewer than 25% of recent graduates have acquired the skills they need to advance past entry-level positions—skills such as problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, clear communication, and persuasive writing.  These results suggest that companies are increasingly looking for candidates who are ready to hit the ground running, as opposed to their expectations in past days when recent graduates were not pressured to learn these skills until they entered the workforce. Career experts argue that this change in expectations is primarily due to the increasing competition for entry-level jobs.  Competition for great entry-level positions is fierce, so employers can demand more from their candidates!

In recent years, it has become apparent that your online presence plays a fundamental role in your job search.  Even after creating a resume, this document can then be parsed into your online profile.  As this trend continues, it appears that job seekers and recruiters alike are moving away from the traditional resume.  Below find the leading reasons why the displacement of the traditional resume will occur.

1.    Social Networking Use is Increasing at an Accelerated Rate
According to Comscore, a leader in digital business analytics, each month 90% of U.S. Internet users visit a social networking Web site.  Surprisingly, this trend is led by adults aged 35 and older.  Recruiters frequently visit these social networking sites to assess your personality, to evaluate how you are portrayed online, and to see how you will align with their company’s corporate culture.

2.    Majority of Job Seekers find their Jobs Online
In the past, the favored form of job searching was through newspaper clippings.  Today, the job search is based on your online presence.  Use your online profile as a networking opportunity.  Constantly update your profile and connect with people in your field.  Moreover, if you have a well-built and likeable profile, recruiters will begin to seek you out. 

3.    An Online Resume is Searchable
The resume you created in Word can now be parsed into your online profile and vice versa.  It’s easier than ever for recruiters to run a quick search on your profile to see if you fit the qualities they are looking for in a new hire.  For this reason, make sure your profile remains visible and up-to-date.

4.    Your Online Presence Can Convey Your Personality
With the current fluctuating state of the economy, there are an abundance of job seekers out there.  The quality that will begin to divide you from the pack is your personality.  Recruiters review online profiles in search of people who are passionate about their careers and who will be a positive addition to their company’s corporate environment.  Avoid creating a mundane profile and make sure your profile conveys your passion and personality.

Office Team, a staffing firm, reports that greater than one-third of companies predict that social networks will eventually displace the need for resumes.  To be ahead of the trend, create your own Web site domain or adapt your current Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts.  By establishing an online presence, you can manage recruiters’ perceptions of you online.  Best wishes in your job search!

Ever wonder how much your major can impact your job status?  According to a recent study, a fair amount.  The Georgetown center found that recent graduates with the highest unemployment rate majored in architecture—nearly a full 14 percent.  Unemployment rates were also higher among non-technical majors, such as the arts (11.1 percent), liberal arts and humanities (9.4 percent), social sciences (8.9 percent), and law and public policy (8.1 percent).  While unemployment rates were low for education, psychology, and social work majors, salaries were also consistently low for these majors.  In addition, the average annual salary for engineering majors is considerably higher than that of the arts, ranging between as much as $55,000 and $30,000.  While it’s important to pursue what you’re interested in, it’s certainly worth considering the practical side of your major as well! 

While May graduates might have a bigger, more official celebration for receiving their diplomas, December graduates are actually the ones who have an advantage in the job market!   According to career experts, there is far less competition for job opportunities in December and January than in May and June—especially for entry-level positions.  In addition, December graduates have the added advantage of significant flexibility in their schedules; they can start immediately, as opposed to traditional graduates who aren’t able to start working until after May.   

Employers are also often more inclined to hire at the beginning of the New Year, when many have renewed budgets—companies may become more frugal with their hiring budgets as the year goes on.  Finally, December grads who don’t land a job immediately can fill their time with internships and volunteer work, putting them in a stronger position to land a job by the time spring hiring comes around.   So if you felt your December graduation was a bit anticlimactic, don’t worry!  You are positioned for a great start to the New Year.

Note to college students deciding on a major and experienced professionals looking to make a career change, Engineering is the new hot job for 2012!  This was recently determined after Identified, an online recruiting startup, conducted a study comparing Engineers with non-Engineers. 

The study considered information such as a person’s education, work experience, and social network as well as the frequency in which companies search for, view, and hire candidates with similar profiles.  The result: when comparing people with similar experience, a person with an Engineering degree is significantly more sought after than someone with a degree in Liberal Arts.  According to the Identified score determined by the above information, it is a difference of 1.2.  The demand for Engineers only seems to increase as they gain more experience.   

Google, Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, Oracle, Amazon.com, Facebook, and Cisco are top on the list in their search for qualified engineers.  But, Technical and non-Technical companies alike seek Engineers for their skill in constructing, maintaining, and developing intricate systems, such as software. 

Despite the high demand, the number of people graduating with an Engineering degree in the U.S. is not keeping up.  With the shortage of Engineers in the U.S., many big-name companies look to bring people from abroad to fill the gap. 

As we move into 2012, a job opportunity has arisen.  For those of you who have an interest in technology; choose Engineering, fill the gap, and find success in an up-and-coming field.  Good luck!