14 Pieces of Timeless Career Advice

14 Pieces of Timeless Career Advice 14 Pieces of Timeless Career Advice 5Have you ever shared your job search plans with others to find that you are suddenly full of unsolicited, and most times outdated, job search and career advice from friends, relatives, and coworkers?   Here at, we have asked our experienced team members for their two cents  on tackling a job search. No matter where you are in your career, these 14 pieces of  timeless career advice are worth remembering.   Here are 14  pieces of timeless career advice: 1. Find a mentor. “Looking for a job can feel like a full-time job. Its important to find a mentor, someone you can turn to when things get tough or just to listen to your ideas. A good mentor wont tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear.” -James, Director of Content Strategy 2. Smile when you talk on the phone to prospective employers. Even though the hiring manager cant see you smiling, the tone of your voice changes into a more positive one, and they will hear that positivity through the phone. Smiling also helps reduce your anxiety so you sound less nervous and more confident. -Brie, Senior Career Specialist 3. Take every opportunity to learn something new. Whether a big skill or a small one, learning something new gives you the opportunity to grow as a professional, to add something to your resume, and to be of even greater value to potential employers. If youve got the time, always say yes to learning something new. -Kristin,  Director of Employer Engagement 4. Fake it till you make it. -Kristin,  Director of Employer Engagement 5.  â€œYour network is one of the most important parts of your career. Who you know will likely get you your next gig. Don’t burn any bridges, and make an effort to stay in touch with people.  LinkedIn! Also, don’t be afraid to take some risks- there really isn’t a better time in your life to do so. Go for it.” â€" Kristin, Director of Employer Engagement 6. Follow directions. If the employer says in their job description to answer three specific questions, then answer the questions, and do so very clearly. Theres a reason they are asking for that information up front and if you dont answer, you might unknowingly eliminate yourself from consideration. -Christy, People and Culture Coordinator 7. Your resume is your calling card. We have all read the blog posts about what to include and not include on your resume, but these three  tips bear repeating: As a recruiter, when Im reviewing hundreds of resumes at a time, it becomes more important than you think to have a resume that is pleasing to the eye. Update your format with one of the thousands of free templates available online, so you look like you are job hunting in 2016. Keep your resume to one to two pages. There are very few people who need a resume longer than two  pages. Make it easy to read. A surprising number of resumes are simply hard to read, including sentences that dont make any sense. There are many low-cost resume services available, but at the very least, have a friend or family member read it and  provide feedback. -Christy, People and Culture Coordinator 8. Apply for the job that youre not 100  percent qualified for. Aside from my next tip on resumes, this is the advice I offer the most to people looking for jobs. If there are 10 requirements in the employers job description, and you have most of them, apply! You have no idea if there will be applicants that have all 10 requirements, so throw your hat in the ring and let the employer be the one to possibly rule you out, instead of the other way around. They might even decide to interview you, and perhaps consider you a better fit for their culture than the other applicant who has all 10 of the requirements, but isnt a great cultural fit. -Christy, People and Culture Coordinator 9. “Don’t stick to just one specific specialty- broaden your skill set I think too many people graduate college with one specific major or field of interest, and when years pass, they feel stuck in that field because that is all they know or feel comfortable with.” â€" Christina, Online Job Researcher 10.  â€œDon’t play it safe, kiddo. Now’s the time for risk and discovery, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!” â€" Adrianne, Writer 11.  â€œRemember that the world is not as big as you might think. Never burn a bridge as you move through your career. You never know when someone will have the opportunity to help you, or not.” â€" Carol, Director of People and Culture 12.  â€œNever be afraid of rejection. Know that  your path  is unique from anyone else’s, and for that reason, many people (especially those closest to you) might not understand why you would want to pursue certain interests. And if you have a desire to do something professionally, you absolutely MUST go for it. If not, you’ll be unhappy in any other career, and ultimately at some point later on in life decide to pursue it and then kick yourself for not having done it earlier.” â€" Jennifer, Career Writer 13.  â€œStop worrying what people think. I was once told that what people thought of me was none of my business- and it was eye-opening. Not everyone will like you, and I feel like I spent too much time trying to be the “nice” girl that got along with everyone, while compromising myself. It’s always important to be polite and compassionate, but it doesn’t have to mean worrying about what someone’s opinion of you is.” â€" Jess,  Manager  of Client Services 14.  â€œTry new things. Don’t be afraid to venture out into new fields. I think it’s so important to keep an open mind. Also, don’t over-pluck your eyebrows. That’s not career advice, but still important.” â€" Karen, Online Job Researcher Find a Flexible Job Readers, what  pieces of  timeless career advice do you have for our members? Please share in the comments below! Jennifer Parris contributed to this post.