There is a long-standing misconception among job seekers about recruiters – how they can help, how to engage them and, most often, why they’re not returning your calls.

Did you know that your school may offer grants for those students taking unpaid internships this summer?

Winter break is a great time for college students to explore their interests and do some advance career planning. While it’s a busy time socially, many schools offer an extended break that gives students a month or so of real vacation time. Consider spending part of the month doing something with long-term benefits and make some inroads into your career planning. Here are some ideas for making the holiday break count.

Being a leader means knowing who you are and what you stand for—You’ve decided upon your mission and you have a vision for how to get there. It’s informed by your value system—what you care most about and what you feel is right.

We all have subjects that particularly interest us, that capture our attention. It could be a skill, a hobby or just a topic you follow very closely. Try taking note of the articles that attract you online or in the newspaper and you’ll have your answer. Have you incorporated that interest into the job you have today?

A question I frequently hear from job-seekers at all stages is, “Why do I need to be on Twitter?” Twitter is a platform for interests of all kinds, and many users abuse its power by over-tweeting—so its value is sometimes misunderstood. But Twitter is an amazing career and job search tool, and can be used to help you pinpoint what you’re interested in and who can help you find the right job. Here’s how.

Now that you’ve landed a great summer internship, how are you going to make it really worthwhile for both your employer and you? A bit of planning coupled with the ability to remain flexible as circumstance dictates, will help you learn a lot while enjoying the new experience and the opportunity to build your skills and credentials. Here’s how:

Are you a 20-something seeking work with meaning? Are you willing to trade great mentoring and a dynamic work environment for a lower salary? If that’s the case, you are trending with your generation. And while making less money is not to be treated lightly, research shows that people who feel personally fulfilled at work are happier than those who work exclusively for the money.