I grew up in a small town in coastal South Carolina – I mean really small. If I needed to go anywhere, all I had to do was hop on my bicycle and I’d be there in 15 minutes, no sweat. And as with all small Southern towns, we locals spoke with a lilt and a drawl that immediately differentiated us from the errant tourist or transplant. Yet within this social microcosm, there were still further divisions along geographic, economic, racial, or social lines that emerged in how we spoke. In fact, whichever “side of the tracks” you were from seemed evident in your word choice, inflection, and accent – and assumptions were made accordingly.

When I was in high school, I found that this principle of social categorization applied more broadly. I traveled for the first time to the Northeast and found that many people encountering a Southerner felt they had to speak slowly, loudly, and in monosyllabic words, as if somehow my warmer home climate had so thoroughly cooked my brain as to impair my cognitive abilities.

Once I was out of college and looking for a job, I began to pay even more attention to this issue and realized that language has implications for how well we’re able to connect with others, whether we’re heard, understood, or ignored, and whether we’re accepted or perceived as an outsider – or even a threat. Whether it’s conscious or reflexive, right or wrong, people make assumptions about who you are based on how you speak. On a very basic level, language has an impact on our quality of interaction and the opportunities available to us.

What this means in the workplace is that if you can identify the language norms of that environment and adjust accordingly, you’ll enhance your chances of better communicating, connecting, and collaborating with the people around you. In short, if you’re not bothering to do this kind of cultural assessment and adjustment, you’re going to limit your ability to be successful.

Think about this scenario, two eager, qualified, young candidates for an entry level sales position arrive to interview for the same job. One says to the interviewer, “I’m really pleased to have the chance to discuss how I can put my skills to work for this company,” while the other says, “Dude, I’m like totally stoked about this job.”

Which do you think is the more attractive candidate?

This is an extreme example, but I’ve got to tell you, it’s not far off from some interviews I’ve conducted. I’ve had candidates use the word “like” as an adjective, adverb, and verb in the same sentence. I’ve had “ain’t,” “not no,” and various other unintelligible regionalisms tossed around. I’ve also heard fairly consistent misuse of “I” and “me” when candidates have described their experience. And all the while, I sat there thinking to myself, “Did she really just say that?”

So as you’re prepping for an interview, meeting, or your first week at a new job, think about the culture you’ll be entering and the communication norms you’ll likely find there. Will it be a formal or informal setting, progressive or conservative, highly-technical or free-form creative? If you’re not sure, approach your first interaction as if you’re a cultural anthropologist or linguist. Consider it an opportunity to listen, identify, and integrate the elements of the local language that signal you’re ready to be a part of a new team.

You don’t have to change who you are. Just think of it as developing skills that enable you to travel with ease across the border of a new country. Okay, dude?

Brought to you by http://informedgrad.com/.

1) Communications Skills (listening, verbal, written):

By far, the one skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing.

2) Analytical/Research Skills:

Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and streamlining complex work processes.

3) Computer/Technical Literacy:

Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets, and email.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering wide variety of applications.

4) Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities:

Deals with your ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects.

5) Interpersonal Abilities:

The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Proven relationship-builder with unsurpassed interpersonal skills.

6) Leadership/Management Skills:

While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches employees to meet high performance standards.

7) Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness:

There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and job-seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people and cultures.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Personable professional whose strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings.

8) Planning/Organizing:

Deals with your ability to design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe. Also involves goal-setting.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Results-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation.

9) Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity:

Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve complaints.

10) Teamwork:

Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Resourceful team player who excels at building trusting relationships with customers and colleagues.

11) Personal Values Employers Seek in Employees:

Of equal importance to skills are the values, personality traits, and personal characteristics that employers seek. Look for ways to weave examples of these characteristics into your resume, cover letters, and answers to interview questions.

Here is our list of the 10 most important categories of values.

12) Honesty/Integrity/Morality:

Employers probably respect personal integrity more than any other value, especially in light of the many recent corporate scandals.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Seasoned professional whose honesty and integrity provide for effective leadership and optimal business relationships.

13) Adaptability/Flexibility:

Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Highly adaptable, mobile, positive, resilient, patient risk-taker who is open to new ideas.

14) Dedication/Hard-Working/Work Ethic/Tenacity:

Employers seek job-seekers who love what they do and will keep at it until they solve the problem and get the job done.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Productive worker with solid work ethic who exerts optimal effort in successfully completing tasks.

15) Dependability/Reliability/Responsibility:

There’s no question that all employers desire employees who will arrive to work every day — on time — and ready to work, and who will take responsibility for their actions.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Dependable, responsible contributor committed to excellence and success.

16) Loyalty:

Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company — even at times when the company is not necessarily loyal to its employees.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record.

17) Positive Attitude/Motivation/Energy/Passion:

The job-seekers who get hired and the employees who get promoted are the ones with drive and passion — and who demonstrate this enthusiasm through their words and actions.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Energetic performer consistently cited for unbridled passion for work, sunny disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude.

18) Professionalism:

Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner in all your personal and work activities, which is seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence; avoid being petty.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism.

19) Self-Confidence:

Look at it this way: if you don’t believe in yourself, in your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities, why should a prospective employer? Be confident in yourself and what you can offer employers.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to achieving excellence.

20) Self-Motivated/Ability to Work With Little or No Supervision:

While teamwork is always mentioned as an important skill, so is the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with minimal supervision.

21) Willingness to Learn:

No matter what your age, no matter how much experience you have, you should always be willing to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are constantly changing and evolving, and you must show an openness to grow and learn with that change.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

• Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet challenges and quickly assimilate new concepts.

Final Thoughts:

Employability skills and personal values are the critical tools and traits you need to succeed in the workplace — and they are all elements that you can learn, cultivate, develop, and maintain over your lifetime. Once you have identified the sought-after skills and values and assessed the degree to which you possess, them remember to document them and market them (in your resume, cover letter, and interview answers) for job-search success.

I see too many job applicants who approach the interview as if their only goal is to win a job offer, losing sight of the fact that this can land them in the wrong job. Think of it like dating. This means being honest about your strengths and weaknesses and giving the hiring manager a glimpse of the real you, so he or she can make an informed decision about how well you’d do in the job.

2) We pay attention to the small stuff.

Frequently, I see candidates act as if only “official” contacts—like interviews and formal writing samples—count during the hiring process. They’ll send flawless cover letters and then check up on their applications with sloppily written E-mails with spelling errors. Or they’ll be charming and polite to me but rude to an assistant. I pay attention to how quickly a candidate responds to requests for writing samples and references, and even how fast he or she returns phone calls.

3) We want you to ask questions.

I encounter many candidates who don’t have many—or even any—questions when I ask what I can answer for them. Your interviewer wants to know that you’re interested in the details of the job, the department, your prospective supervisor’s management style, and the culture of the organization. Otherwise, you risk signaling that you’re either not that interested or just haven’t thought very much about it.

4) We’d like a thank-you note right away.

E-mail is fine for this and has the advantage of arriving faster, but handwritten notes are still appreciated (and are increasingly unusual so will stand out). And if there are multiple interviews, send a thank-you note each time.

5) We’re hoping for some enthusiasm.

Commonly, job seekers are too worried about looking desperate. It doesn’t look desperate to express your interest in the job or check in to ask about the hiring timeline. However, enthusiasm does cross the line if you are calling more than once a week, calling earlier than the date they said they’d get back to you, sounding like you’re eager to take any job as opposed to this one in particular, or appearing as if this is the only option you have.

6) We need to know your real weaknesses.

Claiming that your biggest weakness is perfectionism and you work too hard is disingenuous. It looks like you’re avoiding the question. Candidates who can’t or won’t come up with a realistic assessment of areas where they could improve make me think they’re lacking in insight and self-awareness—or, at a minimum, just making it impossible to have a real discussion of their potential fitness for the job. I want to know about your weaknesses not because I’m trying to trip you up, but because I genuinely care about making sure you’re a good fit for the job.

7) You should address being overqualified in your cover letter.

If you don’t acknowledge it, we’re afraid that you’ll be bored, that you don’t understand the position, that the salary will be too low for you. We need to hear things like: “At this stage in my career, having a job I enjoy is more important to me than salary. I have no problem earning less than I have in the past.” Or, “I want to move into this field, and I know that I need to start at a lower level in order to do that.” Or, “I wouldn’t take a job I’m not excited about.”

8) Your resume objective usually hurts you.

Your resume gets tossed when it lists an objective totally unrelated to the position I have open. Really, just get rid of the objective altogether. It rarely helps, often hurts, and always takes up valuable real estate that could be better used to showcase your accomplishments. If you want to talk about your career objective and how this position fits it, use the cover letter for that.

9) The phone interview is not a casual chat.

While the interviewer wants to get a sense of your personality, a phone interview is still an interview, not an informal phone call with a friend. Don’t sound stiff, but don’t use the same tone you’d use to talk about your date last night. I’ve phone-interviewed candidates who I’m pretty sure were lounging on the couch, watching the game with the sound down, and snacking while we talked.

10) You shouldn’t count on our job offer.

Whatever you do, don’t let up on your job search, no matter how confident you are that an offer is coming. Things change; other candidates come along; plans for the position evolve or even get canceled. Until you have a firm offer in hand, you have to proceed as if you don’t, since ultimately you can control only your side of the process—so keep setting up those other interviews.

11) We may check references beyond your list.

Simply not listing that person as a reference isn’t enough; Reference-checkers can call anyone you’ve worked for or who might know you, even if they aren’t on the list you provide. In fact, smart reference-checkers will make a point of calling people not on your list, because presumably you’ve only listed the people most likely to present you in the best light.

12) We don’t like being stalked.

When you’re searching for a job, enthusiasm is a good thing. But some job applicants cross the line from enthusiastic and proactive to obnoxiously aggressive—and, in doing so, kill their chances at a job offer. You have crossed the line if you are doing any of the following: Checking on the status of your application daily; calling and hanging up when you get voice mail, over and over; cold-calling numerous employees in the same company.

13) Some of us actually care about candidates.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from job seekers who write to me at Ask a Manager is about companies that don’t respond to job applicants: no rejection, nothing. Personally, I think it’s inexcusable—throughout the hiring process, but particularly after a company has engaged with an applicant in some way, like a phone interview or an in-person interview. It’s callous and dismissive and lacks any appreciation for the fact that the candidate is anxiously waiting to hear an answer—any answer—and keeps waiting and waiting, long after a decision has been made.

14) You can gain an edge with your cover letter.

Individualize. Yes, it takes a lot longer than sending out the same form letter over and over, but a well-written cover letter that’s obviously individualized to a specific opening is going to open doors when your resume alone might not have. These account for such a tiny fraction of applications that you’ll stand out and immediately go to the top of my pile. And I’ll give you an extra look, even if your resume isn’t stellar.

15) You can be too early to the interview.

Many interviewers are annoyed when candidates show up more than five or ten minutes early, since they may feel obligated to interrupt what they’re doing and go out to greet the person, and some (like me) feel vaguely guilty leaving someone sitting in their reception area that long. Aim to walk in five minutes early, but no more than that.

16) You can leave the subjective descriptions off the resume.

Your resume is for experience and accomplishments only. It’s not the place for subjective traits, like “great leadership skills” or “creative innovator.” I ignore anything subjective that an applicant writes about herself, because so many people’s self-assessments are wildly inaccurate and I don’t yet know enough about the candidate to have any idea if hers is reliable or not.

17) Your resume should answer one key question.

The vast majority of resumes I see read like a series of job descriptions, listing duties and responsibilities at each position the job applicant has held. But resumes that stand out do something very different. For each position, they answer the question: What did you accomplish in this job that someone else wouldn’t have?

18) New grads need work experience.

I receive all too many resumes from recent grads who have literally no work experience: nothing, not internships, not temp jobs, nothing at all. Find a way to get actual work experience before you leave school. Do internships every semester you are able, so that you have experience on your resume. Paid, unpaid, whatever it takes. If a part-time job of a few hours a week is all you have time for outside of your classes, that’s fine. Do that. No one will hire you? Find work experience as a volunteer—that counts too.

19) We think a lot about your personality.

You might not get hired because your working style would clash with the people you’d be working with. Often, one personality type will simply fit better into a department than another will, and that’s the kind of thing that’s very difficult (if not impossible) for a candidate to know. Remember, it’s not just a question of whether you have the skills to do the job, it’s also a question of fit for this particular position, with this particular boss, in this particular culture, in this particular company.

20) We want you to talk in interviews, but be concise.

There’s always at least one otherwise-qualified candidate in any hiring round who kills their chances by being too long-winded. You might think, “Well, some people are long-winded, but it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do a good job.” The problem is that, at a minimum, it signals that you’re not good at picking up on conversational cues, and raises doubts about your ability to organize your thoughts and convey needed information quickly.
21) Be honest in interviews, but don’t spill about a bad boss.

You’re far better off explaining that you’re looking for new challenges, excited about this particular opportunity, taking the time to find something right, and so forth. I’m not crazy about advising someone to be anything less than forthright, and I don’t normally recommend it, but in this area, the potential for giving an employer an bad impression is just too great to do it safely.

Winterships can maximize a limited time period, whether it’s for three weeks or more. Without a class schedule, students can work fulltime shadowing a professional in their field of interest and networking for future internships.  Even though a Wintership might be a condensed experience, it could lead to an invitation to return in the summer for a longer internship or for a job, according to a report on Goldman Sachs.  Also, because fewer students choose a Wintership, there’s less competition for a spot in a desirable company.

The approach to Winterships differs around the country. At Vassar, 12 students are selected and are paid a stipend for a shadowing/internship opportunity with alumna/us for one week during the winter break. Christie’s offers fulltime, six-week Winterships that provide an introduction to the inner workings of an art auction house.  These unpaid internships are available at New York and regional offices. Some universities, such as Johns Hopkins University, call the winter break Intersession and offer a variety of experiences from volunteer work to shadowing. Encourage your students to take an active role in creating their own Winterships or experiences at companies that appeal to them to give them the added edge come summer internship season!

For more advice on getting an internship go to: http://interncoach.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/723/

If you’re job-hunting, this improvment in the market may signal a shift in mentality: that it’s time to set your sights a little higher, from “any job” to “a job I actually want to do.”

Though time will only tell whether the drop in claims will affect the national unemployment figures, overall numbers (such as the lowest four-week average in claims, 379,000, since 2008) point to an improving economy.

If you’ve been exclusively shopping for “safe” jobs without regards to happiness until now, think of it this way: by being a little discerning, you may save yourself the trouble of re-entering the job market in a few months when everyone’s looking for an upgrade. Yikes. Be brave now!

1. Re-examine “Responsibility”

Many people think work shouldn’t be fun. That’s nothing new. But since the recession, that mentality has only gotten worse. It’s not just considered frivolous to shrink away from the “money” careers, but downright irresponsible. Parents aren’t just smiling and shrugging at their art-loving high-school grads—they’re begging them to ignore their instincts and do something, anything, else.

The trouble with “money” careers is this: not only do they make no promises of job satisfaction, they only even bring real money for those who are good at what they do.

My parents asked me to considering pharmaceuticals unless I got into the right school for a writing degree, which yes, can be very lucrative—if you make it past your first year (as I can’t imagine having done). Luckily, I got my way and went to writing school. But I can’t help wondering how different my life might look if I were doing something I hated as much as counting pills.

Money comes and goes, and when you’re in the right field, you can always build on your experience, branch out from it, and find the money. But if you’re completely misplaced, best case scenario is you’re rich and miserable. Worst case? Broke and miserable.

2. Take an Inventory of Your Strengths

It’s possible that you have a skill or talent that you take for granted, that others might consider very valuable.

You may consider art or music, or obsessive organizational habits just parts of your personality, but framed the right way—or applied in a great-fitting position—they can catapult you to the forefront of a great career.

Think back on what you’ve been praised or received awards for, even as far back as elementary school—responding well in an emergency situation? Saving the day with an outside-the-box idea? Rallying a group of people for a cause? (Girl Scouts activities count!)

Everybody has special proclivities and gifts. Don’t assume that everyone loves chatting up strangers, or mapping out plans or to-do lists, or planning parties. Believe me, these things are all marketable talents.

Combine what you enjoy doing (and rule at, naturally) and use it as a starting point to explore fields you find interesting. Event planning for a social butterfly? Management consulting for an organization freak? Do your research, and try some creative combinations. You never know when a musical theater company is looking for a financial consultant!

3. Explore your curiosities

It’s great to read trade journals in your spare time, if you love your job. If you don’t, it’s time to expand your repertoire.

Three huge words of advice: Follow your interests. All the time, whenever possible, and for your entire life. This is not something to try until you find a job; it’s a lifestyle.

The effort is worth it: actively exploring things you’re curious about or enjoy can lead you to amazing and completely unforeseen places.

A foray into community theater might lead you to discover a talent for motivating and managing groups of people—or it might help you stumble upon a career you never knew existed or you might like to do, like working in lighting and sound.

Even if you think you’re already in the right job, but hate your working environment, it’s worth exploring your curiosities. You might find a whole other field of work to apply your work to, where you can immerse yourself in other things you find enjoyable.

At very least, you’ll be stretching your creative muscles, expanding and diversifying your contacts, and making yourself a more well-rounded and interesting person—all huge boosters to any job search.

4. Enlist help

Did we mention “expanding and diversifying your contacts”? It may just be the missing link between your current job and the job of your dreams.

The more you circulate outside of your usual circle, the more people you’ll meet from all walks of life. These people can not only help you expand your ideas about you might like to do, but give you concrete job leads, too.

The first step (after actually getting out of your office once in a while, of course) is being curious about others. Even if you don’t think their line of work is relevant to your career, ask people what they enjoy about their jobs. How they got started. What drew them to the field. It can help the wheels start turning for you, as you draw connections between your path and others’, and shed some light on ways to apply your own talents.

And don’t forget to share a little about yourself too: the more your contacts know about who you are and what you’d like to be doing, the more likely they’ll be to share contacts or ins, or put in a word for you with their network.

Stumble upon a perfect contact? Have a quick sentence at the ready: “Actually, I’m really interested in doing X… I’ve been trying to break into X, so if you know anyone I should speak to, please let me know!”

Don’t be afraid to put your feelers out. As long as you’re respectful and genuine, it may surprise you how much people will be willing to help.

5. Take baby steps

There’s so much you can and should be doing to find the career you love, that it’s overwhelming. Don’t try to do everything, but be diligent about doing something. A few items a week will do. Make a coffee date with an interesting new contact. Schedule an informational interview with your dream company. Pencil in time to volunteer, or take a class.

Learning to Samba or having a latte with the CFO of Netflix won’t necessarily get you a job, but you’re guaranteed to have a least a little new perspective. Just getting yourself out and mixing up your routine can refresh your brain and get your gears turning in a new way, which is job-search gold. And who knows—you might end up cha-chaing with a future boss or coworker. If not, you’ve escaped your miserable job for a few hours and reminded yourself that there are things in the world you can still find enjoyable.

That can be tough to remember that when your job sucks, but stay strong. There’s a career out there you can be happy doing. Make it your job now to figure out what that is.

–Cathy Vandewater, Vault.com

For more information or blog posts go to: http://blogs.vault.com/blog/job-search/5-tips-for-finding-a-job-youll-love/