| Being a college student, I have been told time and time | | | | going to college, my major, contact information, and my |
| again by my professors that the professional life starts | | | | website. On the back, I have listed my Facebook and |
| now. So I have compiled a handful of tips that should | | | | Twitter URLs. Although these social networking sites |
| help everyone get on their feet and into the | | | | are often considered to be all fun and games, they |
| professional world. | | | | can really be great places for networking as a |
| #1- Make a Resume... A Good One | | | | professional person. Just be careful with what you put |
| I have several resumes that each highlight different | | | | up there! |
| things. Make sure you have at least one good resume | | | | #4- Make a Website |
| (I call it my "General Resume"). It is a nice thing to have | | | | Making a website is not as hard as it used to be. |
| on hand and something you can whip out at a | | | | There are plenty of legitimate, free website building |
| moment's notice. Also, make sure you are updating | | | | sites out there that will walk you through the process. |
| your resume as you go along. Nothing is worse than | | | | Not versed in HTML? No worries. Many website |
| forgetting some really important detail in your working | | | | builders are very user-friendly and have a |
| and volunteering life. | | | | point-and-click system where you literally do just that... |
| #2- Have a Cover Letter Template | | | | point-and-click to add material! Your website can be |
| I have this certain format for my resume and I have a | | | | about anything. My professional website has |
| cover letter ready to go that compliments my resume | | | | information about me, my resumes, projects I am |
| format nicely. I prefer to tailor the content of my cover | | | | working on, and a blog where I can stay in contact |
| letter depending on whom I am sending it to, but there | | | | with my viewers. Your website can be a place where |
| are some things that will almost always be the same | | | | you can post things that you are proud of. |
| (your name, your contact information, the format of | | | | Accomplishments, pictures, anything you want. Again, |
| the actual letter). Just be careful and read over the | | | | just be careful with what you put on your website. It is |
| letter many, many times before sending it out to | | | | a direct reflection of who you are as a person and it |
| someone. There is nothing more embarrassing than | | | | will come back to haunt you! |
| sending it out to someone and accidentally addressing | | | | #5- Dress the Part |
| it to the last person you sent it to. | | | | Depending on your field, this could mean a variety of |
| #3- Get Business Cards... No Matter Who You Are | | | | things. For many, business casual is enough. For some, |
| I was told my freshman year in college to get business | | | | highly formal is necessary. Air on the conservative side |
| cards. "For what?" I pondered. I had always thought | | | | of dressing if you are not sure unless called for |
| that business cards were something exclusively for | | | | otherwise. Groom as needed and be yourself. |
| someone with a business (I mean, it is in the name | | | | There are so many more things that are important |
| after all!). However, I could not have been more wrong! | | | | when stepping into the professional world. The ones |
| Business cards are a great networking device. On my | | | | listed above, I believe, are essential in this day and age. |
| business card I simply have my name, where I am | | | | |