Allison Cheston, Career Connector

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Career Connector Blog

Your Post-College Job Search May Take Longer Than You Think
Your Post-College Job Search May Take Longer Than You Think

Last winter I had five college senior clients all seeking their first job, some with great trepidation. Of the five, I was least concerned about an outgoing, socially adept and directed Trinity College psych major who knew for sure she wanted to go into advertising. Sadie Cooper had been very strategic throughout her college summers and had several internships under her belt, including one in advertising. She and I both assumed she would graduate with a good job. Here is the story of Sadie’s career twists and turns and, ultimately, happy ending.

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Starting Out, Telling Your StoryAllison ChestonJob Search, College to Career, Interviewing, NetworkingComment
Tell Me About Yourself: Talk Your Skills Up in an Interview
Tell Me About Yourself: Talk Your Skills Up in an Interview

Most interviews are in a behavioral format, meaning the interviewer not only wants you to share that you have a particular skill, they want to hear about how you used that skill in past jobs. Practicing your skill story ahead of time will allow you to share it strategically, building it seamlessly into The Story of YOU.

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Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your StoryAllison ChestonCareer Change, job hunt, Job Search, Behavioral Interviewing, Career, Career Planning, Career Relaunch, Career PreparationComment
Tell Me About Yourself: Examples of Narratives That Work
Tell Me About Yourself: Examples of Narratives That Work

Telling the Story of YOU should be a great experience. It should make you feel like you’ve just had a 5-mile run or a great cup of coffee, or both. Instead, if it feels tortured, nervous-making or rambling, just imagine how the listener feels.

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Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your Story, TopAllison ChestonCareer Happiness, Communication best practices, Behavioral Interviewing, Career Choice, Career Planning, Career Preparation, Coaching, Top3Comment
The Story of YOU Part 2: Tutorial on Narratives that Work
The Story of YOU Part 2: Tutorial on Narratives that Work

Last time we discussed the basic principles behind engaging listeners with your story. Today we are going to get downright specific – I’m going to share specific instructions for creating narratives that work well to open doors for all types of job seekers. First, some general principles for developing your narrative.

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Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your Story, TopAllison ChestonCareer Happiness, job hunt, jobs with meaning, Job Search, Communication best practices, Behavioral Interviewing, Career Choice, Career Planning, Career Preparation, College Grads, Top1Comment
The Story of YOU: The Most Fascinating Story Ever Told
The Story of YOU: The Most Fascinating Story Ever Told

When you talk about yourself, do people listen? Do their eyes glaze over in boredom? Something in between? Knowing what to say, how to say it and, even more importantly, what NOT to say about yourself, is an art, and an important one. Telling your story in a compelling way is one of the most important things you can get right – not only in the job search process and on the job but also in, well, life.

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Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your Story, TopAllison ChestonCommunication best practices, Career Happiness, Career Change, jobs with meaning, Job Search, Behavioral Interviewing, Career, Career Choice, Career Planning, Career Preparation, Top2Comment
5 Things College Seniors Can Do to Secure That Post-Grad Job
5 Things College Seniors Can Do to Secure That Post-Grad Job

Today my clients include five college seniors I’m helping to secure a post-graduate job. While they have been doing all the right things since January, it is taking time to get responses. For all you college seniors out there, here’s the advice I’m sharing with my clients in real time:

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Starting Out, TopAllison Chestonjob hunt, Job Search, Networking, first job, Interviewing, Communication best practices, Communication skills, Career PlanningComment
What Can Informational Interviews Do For Me?
What Can Informational Interviews Do For Me?

Over the years there’s been loads written about the value of “informational interviews,” the meetings you, the job-seeker, procure to find out more about an organization you’re interested in, while sort of pretending you’re not actually interested in a job there. These “interviews,” constitute a tricky dance between candidates and prospective employers, prompting many candidates to just throw in the towel and avoid them altogether. But that’s a mistake.

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Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your StoryAllison Chestoninformational interviews, Communication skills, job hunt, Behavioral Interviewing, Career, Career Planning, Career StrategyComment
Low Response Rate from Online Job Applications? Try This!
Low Response Rate from Online Job Applications? Try This!

A reader emailed me recently with a question about the low response rate to his online applications – a universal problem! For some people, online applications are the bane of their existence, yet others have success. Here is how I look at the virtual application market based on your level, and type of, experience:

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Changing Course, Moving Up, Starting Out, Telling Your StoryAllison ChestonNetworking, online job search, Career Management, cover letters, Resumes, Career StrategyComment
Want a Summer Internship? Here are the 6 Things You Need to Know
Want a Summer Internship? Here are the 6 Things You Need to Know

So you’re a college student and while you really want a summer internship, you either haven’t gotten around to working on it or have made some inroads but given up. The good news is there are still plenty of internships available if you’re willing to apply yourself to the task.

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Starting OutAllison ChestonInternships, Summer jobs, Networking, job market, informational interviews, unpaid internships, Career Planning, College InternshipsComment
How a College Senior Can Build A Network in 3 Easy Steps
How a College Senior Can Build A Network in 3 Easy Steps

A panicked college senior at University of Michigan, my alma mater, contacted me recently.

Dear Ms. Cheston,

I’m graduating in May and have been applying for jobs with nothing to show for it. I’ve completed over 100 online applications and haven’t received one call back.

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Starting OutAllison Chestonfirst job, informational interviews, fraternity, sorority, Alumni Network, Career Preparation, College SeniorsComment