As we grow older and begin applying to graduate programs and jobs, we begin to realize that getting what you want is never a guarantee. Though it may sound bleak, learning to deal with rejection is a major part of becoming an adult, and moreover, a career-minded individual.

This week, we’ll be shedding some light on these seemingly depressing scenarios, like not getting the job you wanted or being denied from the law school of your dreams. No matter the circumstance, it’s sometimes necessary to deal with rejection before you catch a break in the career world. Perseverance is a must for all young professionals, and we know that with some effort and a positive attitude, everyone can reach their ambitions.

We’d love to hear what you think about this touchy subject. Can you think of a time you’ve been rejected by a college, employer, or other institution? How did you cope?

From a young age, everyone has some idea of what they want to be when they grow up. As we grow older, those initial dreams start to grow into career aspirations that shape your education, internship experience, and eventual life path. Taking an entry-level position is the best way to get your foot in the door, and once you’ve solidified your place in a company, you may start wondering when you’ll move upward.

Getting promoted is one of the biggest honors a company can give an employee, and it’s that sense of value that helps people form fulfilling, lasting careers overall. But while it’s ultimately up to the employer to promote the employee, there’s plenty you can do to boost your chances of moving up. Let’s go through a few tips that’ll help you get promoted:

1.Be visible: When trying to fill an open position, chances are your superior will think of the most visible employees first. It’s always important to make yourself useful at work, and always having a project to do, an e-mail to answer, or a meeting to attend will make you seem accessible.

2.Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions: Whether you’re in a big meeting or a minor brainstorming session, it’s always key to share your ideas. Even if you’re a hard worker, you still won’t make a strong impression unless you share what’s on your mind. Knowing when to speak up is also crucial – never talk just to hear your own voice, and always make sure you have a clear and articulate idea of what you want to say before you open your mouth. You’ll not only seem more prepared, you’ll gain respect as well.

3.Know your place: In any situation, it’s important to respect those around you. But when you’re trying to get promoted, it’s especially important to know where you stand as a member of the company. Respecting your superiors, as well as knowing your boundaries with your peers, can make or break your chances of getting promoted. Always defer to those in higher positions by using their proper names, and keep the office gossip to a minimum. Additionally, it’s important to know when to step aside and let someone else take the lead on a given project. While it may seem impressive to lead every meeting or project, it’s never good to be too domineering.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of getting hired, networking, and quitting a job you no longer want, it’s time to take a step back and examine one of the most significant parts of the job world – getting promoted. Hinting that you’re ready for a promotion can be tricky, especially when you don’t want your superior to think you’re pushy or demanding. Thankfully, there are some key boundaries that designate assertiveness from disrespect in situations like this.

This week, we’re going to investigate the most effective ways to get promoted at work. Whether you’re looking to advance from an entry level job, or you’re vying for an executive position, we’re here to make things a little more simple.

What do you think are the best ways to advance your position at work? Have you ever experienced something like this yourself?

Figuring out how to quit a job tactfully and effectively is one of the most difficult aspects of career management. However, it’s also the most important thing you can do to achieve your professional goals. Today, we’re focusing on the ins-and-outs of saying goodbye, and how to leave a company while still ensuring a good reference for future employers.

For young professionals, most first jobs are stepping stones to higher aspirations, and while few people accept an entry-level position with the intention of quitting, it’s only realistic to remind yourself that other opportunities await. With that in mind, let’s explore a few key tips for making your quitting endeavor a bit less nerve-racking:

1. Trust Yourself: When you make the decision to quit, it’s only natural to doubt yourself at some point afterwards. Even though you might feel nervous to utter the words “I quit,” it’s ridiculously important to remind yourself of why you’re leaving your job and what you’re ultimately trying to achieve. The moral? Trust your instincts – you have them for a reason, and you’ll be glad you stuck to your convictions in the end.
2. Be prepared: Before you actually quit, make sure you’ve reviewed the terms of your employment. Certain jobs include clauses specifying severance, vacation time, and other factors you may want to consider when deciding how to leave a company. If you’re quitting your job with the guarantee of a new position elsewhere, you may also want to have your offer in writing before you resign.
3. Be clear: When confronting a nerve-racking situation, it’s often difficult to stay composed. Before quitting, be sure to make an appointment with your superiors and insinuate the seriousness of the conversation so they know what to expect. You should also make sure to formulate your resignation in a way your boss can clearly follow, making sure not to stumble on your words, ramble, or leave out any important details (i.e. two weeks notice). If your thoughts seem rational, your boss is much more likely to respect your departure and maintain a positive opinion of your character overall.

What other aspects of quitting do you think are important? Have you ever had experience leaving a

This week, we’re discussing the importance of charisma in the workplace. While it may seem superficial to some, being generally well liked is a key component to advancing your career and maintaining office relations. Combined with a solid work ethic and valuable contributions, a keen sense of networking can be the key to fulfilling your career aspirations.

Though it may seem simple, the art of schmoozing far exceeds traditional brown-nosing, elbow-rubbing, or any other euphemism you’d prefer. We’re here to give you the inside scoop on charisma, how to get in good with your coworkers and superiors, and most importantly, how to feel natural doing it. Here’s the run down on some networking basics:

1. Confidence: When you’re sure of yourself, your peers will begin to notice and feel more comfortable around you as a result. A strong sense of purpose behind your words and actions will persuade others into the mindset that you’re a competent leader, which will help you gain both trust and respect. When you’re having a conversation with a coworker, it’s important
2. Humility: Maintaining a balance between confidence and deference is the most difficult part of networking, but you can easily achieve it by reminding yourself of your inter-office status. AS far as most hierarchies go, twenty somethings are near the bottom of the workplace totem pole, with upper-level professionals usually in their 30s and 40s. Respecting your authority figures will get you a long way, and reminding yourself of your place in the office will keep your ego under control. Confident deference is the key: know your place, and know it well.
3. Don’t take yourself too seriously: Knowing when to poke fun at yourself is a key aspect of the schmoozing game. While you should normally maintain a strong sense of self, you should also be aware that you’re still human. Say you make 50 copies of the wrong memo for a meeting that’s scheduled later that day. You’ll look much better taking the mistake in stride and casually laughing about it than a) beating yourself up, b) pretending you did nothing wrong, or c) overcompensating with excessive apologizing.

What other aspects of schmoozing do you think are integral to career advancement? Do you think networking is a useful tool in giving yourself a competitive edge?

With internship opportunities increasing the need for a competitive edge, recent grads are quickly learning how to set themselves apart. Our current job market, while definitely improving, has set the tone for young professionals to take interviews, job opportunities, and office relations more seriously. While it may seem daunting at first glance, this new workplace climate has set the stage for an age-old business tactic that’s sure to succeed: charisma.

Whether you call it schmoozing or networking, the art of charisma is one thing for certain: fool-proof. For twenty-somethings, learning to network like a pro can be the deciding factor between the job you have and the career you’ve always dreamed about. So this week, we’ll be discussing some key aspects of the schmoozing game, how to master the basics, and when to pull out the stops. With any hope, we’ll use a bit of charisma ourselves to show you it’s not so difficult to invoke some personal appeal into the workplace.

What tips do you have about charisma in the office? Do you think networking is an effective way to advance your career?

Most iPhone, BlackBerry or Droid owners would be the first to tell you about the endless advantages their smart phones provide. From e-mail access and internet capabilities, to intriguing niche applications like the HTC Incredible’s “constellation tracker,” which geographically maps and names constellations when owners hold their phone up to a starry night sky. Regardless of these programs and their relative usefulness, it’s undeniable that smart phones are shifting the way our society communicates.

One of the most significant changes smart phones have encouraged can be seen in the workplace. In fields such as business, communications, law and medicine, more young professionals are using their smart phones as a workplace tool every day, and while more experienced employees are certainly picking up the trend as well, recent grads have definitely boosted smart phones to prominence in job-based environments.

While staying connected to your job through quick-fire e-mailing will certainly give you a leg up, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the drawbacks of owning a smart phone. On one hand, it’s great to know what’s going on at your office 24/7, but an added degree of pressure must also be expected. Owning a smart phone welcomes your coworkers and superiors to message you at any point during the day, expecting an immediate response. Failing to meet these expectations can result in a loss of respect at work, and keep you from being promoted or generally well regarded.

However, the setbacks of owning a smart phone generally don’t outweigh the positives. More importantly, the need to adapt in modern-day society is growing at a rapid pace, and while our parents’ generation may be quicker to join Facebook than us twenty-somethings, we definitely owe it to ourselves to get in the game, fear aside, and open our lives to constant connectivity.

After discussing the growing trend of Skype interviews, we figured it was due time for another series of technology-driven posts. This week, we’ll be exploring the importance of owning a smart phone in the business world. With new models of BlackBerry, iPhone and new forerunners like the Droid being released multiple times each year, it’s become almost a requirement for young professionals to own one of these multi-faceted devices.

This week, we’ll be looking into the pros and cons of the smart phone revolution, from the University of Missouri’s requirement that all incoming students own an iPhone or iTouch to the overall cultural integration of feeling constantly connected. We’re intrigued by the heightened pressure owning a smart phone places on young professionals, who are now expected to respond to e-mails within a matter of minutes.

Now it’s time for your opinion. Do you think smart phones are a necessary part of modern-day society?

With the popularity of video chatting software on the rise, many employers are turning to the convenience of Skype interviewing to achieve their hiring goals. On the flip-side of this technological transition are us, the prospective hirees. As young professionals, it’s our job to adapt to this new form of interviewing and hopefully make the best of its advantages and low-points alike.

Skype interviews have become most popular in situations that previously would’ve required the candidate to travel a lengthy distance. In most cases, this isn’t the first step in the interview process, and employers generally invite their most desired candidates to meet them via Skype. While the process may seem simple on the outside, there’s much more to acing a Skype interview than you might think. We’re going to cover the most basic tips right now, and hopefully you’ll learn a few things about this exciting process:

1. Location, location, location: When you arrive at a face-to-face interview, you probably don’t have control over your surroundings. However, when you’re interviewing over Skype, it’s important to choose a backdrop that fits the job you’re vying for. Always make sure you’re in a professional, office-like setting that’s free from any alcoholic drinks, vulgar or immature posters and anything else that runs the risk of seeming unprofessional.
2. Pay attention to the mechanics: Before your interview begins, make sure you’re on a computer that has full battery life and clear internet access. It’ll seem unprepared and un-savvy if your connection fails during the middle of an interview question, regardless of whether it’s your fault or the computer’s. If there’s any doubt about your connection or battery, simply choose a different computer or have the interview somewhere more secure.
3. Listen to your mom’s advice: It may sound cheesy, but seriously, just be yourself. With only two of the five senses active during a Skype interview, investing yourself in a genuine conversation can get difficult. If you’re feeling nervous, practice possible interview topics, questions, and answers with a friend or family member, and above all else, relax.

What are your thoughts about Skype interviewing?

As technology continues to advance at a wildly rapid speed, it seems only natural for commonplace events to adapt to the changes as well. Over the past year, an increasing number of face-to-face interviews have been replaced with video-conferencing programs like Skype. While this new form of interviewing is certainly convenient, it presents an entirely new set of rules for the hiring process.

This week, we’ll be breaking down the do’s and dont’s of Skype interviewing with a few key tips on how to dress, speak, and communicate your career interests using this unfamiliar interface. Aside from etiquette, we’ll also be describing Skype’s benefits and drawbacks as an interviewing medium.

So, if you’re feeling nervous about an upcoming interview via Skype, just relax. Sure, you won’t be sitting in the same room as your potential employer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make a great first impression!

Now that we’ve introduced the concept of Skype interviewing, it’s time to find out your opinion. Do you think video conferencing is an effective way to hold an interview?