14 Pieces of Timeless Career Advice

14 Pieces of Timeless Career Advice14 Pieces of Timeless Career Advice5Have you ever shared your job search plans with others to find that you are suddenly full of unsolicited, and fruchtwein times outdated, job search and career advice from friends, relatives, and coworkers?Here at, we have asked our experienced team members for their two centson tackling a job search. No matter where you are in your career, these 14 pieces oftimeless career advice are worth remembering.Here are 14pieces of timeless career advice1. 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 Strategy2. 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 mora 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 Engagement4. Fake it till you make it.-Kristin,Director of Employer Engagement5.Your network is one of the most important parts of your career.Who you know will likely get you your next gig. Dont burn any bridges, and make an effort to stay in touch with people.LinkedIn Also, dont be afraid to take some risks- there really isnt a better time in your life to do so. Go for it. Kristin, Director of Employer Engagement6. Follow directions.If the employer says in their job description to answer three s pecific 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 Coordinator7. 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 threetips bear repeatingAs 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 twopages.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 andprovide feedback.-Christy, People and Culture Coordinator8. Apply for the job that youre not 100percent 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 Coordinator9. Dont stick to just one specific specialty- broaden your skill setI 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 a ll they know or feel comfortable with. Christina, erreichbar Job Researcher10.Dont play it safe, kiddo.Nows the time for risk and discovery, so dont be afraid to put yourself out there Adrianne, Writer11.Remember 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. Carol, Director of People and Culture12.Never be afraid of rejection.Know thatyour pathis unique from anyone elses, 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, youll 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. Jennifer, Career Writer13.Stop 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. Its always important to be polite and compassionate, but it doesnt have to mean worrying about what someones opinion of you is. Jess,Managerof Client Services14.Try new things.Dont be afraid to venture out into new fields. I think its so important to keep an open mind. Also, dont over-pluck your eyebrows. Thats not career advice, but still important. Karen, Online Job ResearcherFind a Flexible JobReaders, whatpieces oftimeless career advice do you have for our members? Please share in the comments belowJennifer Parris contributed to this post.