According to a recent article, Why Certain Cities Attract Gen Ys, Gen Y members have unique reasons for deciding where to make their big move after earning a degree. Because 20-29-year-olds are amid a period of significant life transitions, this move is in pursuit of both finding a job and building a life. Even though Gen Ys ranked the availability of jobs as an important factor, the number one feature they look for in a potential city is the social scene, or the ease of meeting people and making friends. Of course, many people hope to find their life partner at this stage in their life as well.

Interestingly though, the social connections Generation Y is seeking are linked to their career search. Networking has become increasingly essential for getting a foot in the door and moving forward on a career path. This may give cause to why recent Gallup polls show Generation Y moving to larger metropolitan areas. Larger cities often offer broader opportunities and provide a greater ease for building connections. Considering that today, “those under the age of 30 change jobs once a year,” 20-29-year-olds are seeking cities where the opportunities will continue to unfold. The current career climate has undoubtedly contributed to this trend, but the culture and attraction of metropolitan areas also provides a unique appeal for this age group.

To see the top ranked cities for Gen Ys, check out this slideshow:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/06/0609_top_gen_y_cities/index.htm

Follow this commandment and you’re one step closer to getting your foot in the door.

Whenever you have the opportunity to make an impression on a potential employer, whether on paper or in person, be sure to convey a little of your personality along with your passion for their work. Though recruiters want to figure out if you are suitable for a certain position, they also want to sense if you personally are a good fit for their company culture and would get along with the other talent they employ.

Similarly, you, the talent, want to find a work environment you feel comfortable in, but different positions and companies provide different atmospheres. A little introspection can ensure you end up in a positive environment for your personal work style and personality. For instance, know where you lie on the introversion/extraversion scale. Do you need a certain amount of alone time during the day to feel satisfied? Or do you get anxious when you have no one to talk to for a while? Are you fairly easy going and laid back or do you like doing things in a precise fashion and being in control? These qualities directly relate to the type of work environment you will thrive in. According to many psychological theorists, there are five main personality dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism (OCEAN). To learn more about when you fall on each spectrum, check out The Big Five Personality Test at http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/.

Knowing your personality a little will also help you with some of the standard interview questions like, identify your strengths and weaknesses and describe your work style.

Do they call for desperate measures?

With the state of today’s economy, people assume the  ”take what I can get”  tactic when it comes to any opportunity offered to them. For some, this may be the only option if they face serious financial stress, but for others it just seems brutal and frustrating.

It really is important to pay careful attention to what you value in an opportunity and what you’d be willing to sacrifice. Yes, entry-level careers are crucial in gaining experience that can propel you in the direction you’d truly like to head, but creating a fit that works for you should be forefront in the search as well. There are definitely things to consider when deciding whether or not to pursue an offered job. Obviously you may want to identify items you are willing to sacrifice, e.g., in-office espresso machine, bring your pet to work day, half-day Fridays, Google-esque benefit packages,etc., but you shouldn’t have to give up your right to a bit of sanity if you’d planned on keeping it.

When starting a first career, Gen Y-ers have so much to consider. Unlike other generations, Generation Y is concerned with more than just a job title. The cultural fit, work/life balance, and emphasis on a position in a field of interest make finding a career that parallels these items complicated. In the event a lucky Gen Y-er finds the job they are looking for, there are a number of factors to keep in mind when on the job. Other generations may not follow the same protocol as would be ideal for a Gen Y-er.

Gen Y-ers have to keep in mind “chain of command, group situations, and relationships with leaders” in order to get on the right foot and avoid some common problems Gen Y-ers face on the job. Chances are you’ve lost sight of the fact you would actually be performing tasks on the job. It’s hard to keep in mind that the application process could potentially translate into a career. So now you’re sitting at your desk with a mountain of work, feeling like a fish out of water. Should I know how to do this? Why are people telling me what to do? Do I have to deal with these incompetent people? Do I really have to “report” to anybody? Help…don’t ignore…don’t hand hold…

The solution: help yourself! First of all, it’s time to listen. Whether you are asking specific questions or simply busy at your workstation, be observant of the office dynamics, how others act, the overall environment, who to go to for help, and what you’re being told. Armed with this information, you should be cognizant of the chain of command and who the leaders are. Listening will also help you with group situations because if you’ve been observant of how people act, you will adapt your actions/reactions accordingly when in a group. And if you are listening well, your relationships with leaders may improve as you have a better understanding of the situations you encounter and what is expected of you.

“People will try to tell you that all the great opportunities have been snapped up. In reality, the world changes every second, blowing new opportunities in all directions, including yours.” -Ken Hakuta, American inventor and television personality.

In the midst of a career search, it is easy to feel as though you are being overlooked or rejected from your ideal positions. Keep in mind that new technologies, resources, and opportunities will surface, especially now that our Chairmen of the Federal Reserve has stated the recession may be ending soon. How’s that for optimism.

Author Pamela Slim of “Escape from Cubicle Nation” has developed a list of 10 items for recent grads to consider. This list, which includes items ranging from following your passions to listening to your body, has some great simple hints. The tenth item on the list I found to be particularly important, as so many grads feel as though they can conquer the job search without utilizing their resources.

“Don’t try to do things on your own. Rugged individualism is highly overrated. By trying to do everything yourself, you will take longer, produce worse results, feel isolated and have fewer exciting experiences. Instead, build on your current network. Stay in touch with classmates, professors and old bosses. Fill your life with all kinds of smart, interesting and compassionate people. Aim to have peers and mentors of all ages, professions and backgrounds. The more diverse your network, the more opportunities will come your way. Us old folks think that you are the social networking generation, so leverage Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to maximum advantage. Ask for help and help others, and watch your career thrive.”

I know many friends and family who have failed to seek the help of their personal networks, later realizing that they passed up on significant opportunities. Using the sites mentioned above, along with others such as Brazen Careerist (which specializes in Gen Y professionals) grants you access to incredible resources. Additionally, you’ll never know that your former classmate or distant cousin so-and-so may have a brilliant idea for a project for you to piggyback on if you aren’t in contact with them.

The interview is a chance to sell yourself for an opportunity. Knowing your resume is one thing, but how do you prepare for the “tell me about yourself” request? This may seem basic, but the open-ended style often proves to be quite challenging. It is tempting to turn this into a sales pitch for why you’re right, or simply an autobiographical rambling, but this is really your chance to tie together the many aspects of your character that you’d like the interviewer to focus on. The wetfeet.com guide to this challenge provides a brief summary of some key points that should be kept in mind: passion, value, personality, brevity, and openness.

Passion- showing strong interest and commitment

Value- your skills and achievements are worthwhile and relevant

Personality- you’re personable and bring your attributes off the page in an interesting way

Brevity- keep it under a minute

Openness- end by providing an opportunity for the interviewer to follow-up

Here are some key thoughts to keep in mind when you are looking for answers on why you aren’t landing the job you interviewed for. Knowing the content on your own resume may seem like an obvious necessity and a no-brainer; however, it is surprising how difficult it can be to “talk through” the resume for an interviewer if you haven’t prepared adequately. An interview is your opportunity to sell yourself by expanding on your credentials, experience, and skills. It’s not easy to earn an interview in this market, so why let the ball drop? With preparation, an interviewee should be able to answer questions about themselves with ease enough to sound sincere and excited.

Additionally, being prepared can help calm nerves, which will help the interviewer be comfortable enough to concentrate on the content you are providing, not on how badly you are shaking which will surely distract them and deter them from thinking highly of you.

Remember that the interviewer is a human, too. They will appreciate a smile and a positive attitude.

Why You