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Get the advice you need to successfully start your career.

This blog presents guidance on topics such as making the most of 1stGig, writing appropriate cover letters and resumes, developing solid interview strategies, negotiating a starting salary, deciding about graduate school, and much, much more. It is interactive as well as informative: If you have questions or comments about what you read here, or if you have ideas for topics you’d like to see covered, just let us know.

Keyword: job search strategies
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Do I have to write a cover letter?

By Susan M. Katz
March 28, 2017
Learn when you should write a cover letter for the job you’re applying for. (Read more)
Keywords:
cover letters | job search strategies |

Why can’t I find a job?

By Susan M. Katz
February 21, 2017
Your major doesn't have to determine your career. Learn how you can expand your job search beyond your degree. (Read more)
Keywords:
career centers | career resources | job search strategies | majors |

Resolve to start an organized job search!

By Susan M. Katz
January 2, 2017
If you hope to graduate this spring—or if you’ve already graduated and are looking for your first job—one of your most important tasks is to get organized! In this post, I'll walk you through a number of key factors that you need to include in your planning. (Read more)
Keywords:
career | job search strategies |

What is an elevator speech?

By Susan M. Katz
December 13, 2016
It might sound complicated, but just follow these simple steps to craft a usable elevator speech of your own. (Read more)
Keywords:
elevator speech | interviewing strategies | job search strategies | networking |

What does it mean to network?

By Susan M. Katz
November 29, 2016
While "networking" might sound intimidating, you've actually been doing it your entire life. (Read more)
Keywords:
job search strategies | meet-ups | networking |

Advice for young job seekers

By Susan M. Katz
November 22, 2016
Discover the common pitfalls twenty-somethings face when searching for a job, and learn how to avoid them in your own search. (Read more)
Keywords:
job search strategies |

What are some of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make?

By Susan M. Katz
June 13, 2016
If you ask ten Human Resources professionals what they think is the biggest mistake that job seekers make, you’re likely to get ten different answers. But if you ask them to list the top five, you’re going to see some mistakes show up over and over. Avoiding the seven mistakes listed below can put you ahead of many other applicants and will demonstrate that you should be viewed as a serious candidate. (Read more)
Keywords:
application materials | internships | interviewing strategies | job research | job search strategies | linkedin | social media | thank you notes |

Congratulations on your graduation! What’s next?

By Susan M. Katz
June 6, 2016
If you recently graduated from college (or are about to graduate from college) and you’re not quite sure what happens next, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of college graduates do not have a job lined up prior to graduation. What that means is that the weeks following graduation can be a really frightening time, especially if you, like most college students today, have student loans that will soon come due. The best thing you can do at this point is keep calm, don’t panic, and make some plans. (Read more)
Keywords:
benefits | career planning | cost of living | finances | information interviews | job search strategies | linkedin |

How do I deal with the stress of searching for a job while I’m still under stress from finishing college?

By Susan M. Katz
March 29, 2016
For most students, each semester has a unique flow based on their class schedule and assignment due dates. Often, those due dates tend to cluster, so some weeks are busier than others. While there are many things you have learned to do to handle the stress of your education, adding a job search to the mix may seem overwhelming. Time management and planning are going to be your best friends in this situation. (Read more)
Keywords:
job search strategies | stress and the job search |
Susan M. Katz
Student Career Placement Consultant

Susan M. Katz, PhD, is 1stGig’s Student Career Placement Consultant and the author of Start Your Career: 5 Steps to Finding the Right Job after College.  She is also Associate Professor of English and Internship Coordinator at North Carolina State University, where she developed internship courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her courses help students prepare for the job search process, identify their strengths, and consider a variety of potential career paths. Her first book, The Dynamics of Writing Review: Opportunities for Growth and Change in the Workplace, describes some of the processes that newcomers must go through as they enter the workplace and adapt to organizational conventions.

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