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?

For more fascinating info about unpaid internships, don’t miss these articles:

Tweets give a glimpse of the life of a summer intern

In need of experience, students turn to unpaid internships

How important are internships?

Whether you’re still in college or recently graduated, landing an internship can be a necessary step for jump-starting your career. While professional experience is a requirement in most industries, the “unpaid” label that frequents many of these temporary positions can present a major setback. This week, we’re examining the value of unpaid internships, weighed against the inevitable financial woes they entail.

Five years ago, most young professionals believed the word internship to be synonymous with coffee-fetching, menial assistant work, and while some positions still entail some amount of busy work, the term has gained undoubtable legitimacy in light of the recent economic downturn. Now, many college students, graduates, and even professionals in their late 20s, are accepting internships to gain invaluable experience with hopes of getting hired. There’s no doubt internships open the door to unmatched career opportunities – it’s the balancing part that’s tricky.

In an age where twenty-somethings are battling it out for unpaid, temporary jobs, financial management can be difficult. But in reality, taking an internship is anything but a death sentence. It’s important to remind yourself that while you could have easily accepted a paying job, working as a full-time barista will do virtually nothing to advance a career in communications, business, or any other professional field aside from, well, the overpriced beverage industry. To cut back, many unpaid interns live at home and commute downtown, take a part-time job with flexible hours and decent pay, and make attempts at being frugal in other ways.

Overall, it’s pretty clear the long-term benefits of an unpaid internship outweigh the temporary financial setbacks. How do you feel about balancing an internship with another job, living at home, or cutting back in other ways?

With summer upon us, many college students and recent grads are turning to unpaid internships to gain valuable work experience. While the idea of not earning a paycheck can be a daunting one, internships can be the deciding factor for young professionals looking to get their foot in the door of cut-throat industries like business and communications.

This week, we’re taking a closer look at the benefits and setbacks of unpaid internships, as well as the different types of work available for twenty-somethings looking to break into the professional world. From art history to wealth management, the job possibilities for young adults are truly endless.

Though internships are necessary for many recent grads in getting a full-time job, not getting paid often presents a major setback. While individuals have the option to get another paying job simultaneously, the time commitment can prove unrealistic. In Wednesday’s post, we’ll be offering a few key tactics to help you secure an unpaid internship while still budgeting your time and funds.

What concerns do you have about unpaid internships?

Were you intrigued by this week’s series on Facebook etiquette? Don’t miss these fascinating links!

6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes

On Facebook, Discovery and Guidelines

Are Facebook’s Views on Privacy ‘Naive and Utopian’?

Citibank Fired Debralee Lorenzana: Check Facebook Account, Pics

Now that we’ve covered the basics of maintaining a professional Facebook profile, it’s time to delve into some tips for ensuring your page always meets industry standards. While I’m guessing most of you  know the general do’s and don’ts, we’ve thought of a few areas that are often overlooked by the Facebook community, and we’re here to make sure you’re up to speed.

1. Become a privacy-settings expert: This is arguably the best way to separate your professional and personal lives on Facebook without having to compromise either one. Any Facebook user can change their privacy settings to control who sees their wall, photos and applications, and when browsing the site, you’ll see individuals with completely open profiles as well as those whose pages aren’t even accessible to non-friends. The catch? Privacy controls can be difficult for some users to navigate, so make sure you save yours each time you alter them, and double check often to ensure they’re still in tact.

2. Pictures, pictures, pictures: Even though you can use Tip #1 to partially or completely block your photos, it’s important to decide what you’re comfortable with other people seeing. You can create different photo settings for friends and non-friends, and you can also subdivide your co-workers and bosses based on what you want each group to see. It’s important to ensure inappropriate pictures don’t fall into the wrong hands, and updating your photo settings consistently will help you stay on track.

3. Guilty by association: Even when you take steps to maintain an appropriate Facebook page, you can’t always account for your friends’ activity. If someone writes a work-bashing comment on your wall, tags an inappropriate photo of you, or posts a risque link to your page, you’re still responsible for it. Monitoring not only your person activity, but that of your friends as well, will help you stay aware of your career in all situations.

If you’re still curious about staying professional on Facebook, stay tuned for this Friday’s Weekly Roundup! We’ll be featuring some helpful stories and news related to this web-savvy issue.