Oftentimes, students will come to us with interesting things they have found others do in a job search, discovered an interesting networking style or something else that sets their career development apart from the status quo. Ameya Deshmukh, a current MBA student who will be interning at Morgan Stanley in summer 2015, recently shared an article regarding an innovative approach Nina Mufleh took to promote herself to a specific company (Airbnb) and for a specific position to land herself an internship. Ameya thought this was an important read for all students and professionals because of the individual’s successful efforts. Before sharing the details, here are his thoughts: “I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories of how people have landed opportunities to interview and eventually work at their dream company, but this by far has to be the most creative. A lot of us get demoralized and lose hope after receiving no response when applying online to a firm or not hearing back from a rec...

By Annie Himmelsbach I have to admit that I am continually flabbergasted by students who don’t take notes when meeting with me, especially during a mock interview! If you aren’t taking notes, I am assuming one of three things: You have a photographic memory You believe that what I am saying is not useful or has no value   You are lazy or not in the habit of taking notes If the reason is number one, congratulations! That is most enviable. If the reason is number two, let me know that what I am saying is not useful, and we will refocus our efforts so that what we are talking about actually is noteworthy (literally!). Unfortunately, unless you explicitly explain your situation with number one or two, I am assuming the reason is number three. (I do realize that in some cultures, taking notes may appear rude as you are taking your eyes off or turning your attention away from the person who is speaking. In the US, taking notes is almost always acceptable an...

by Tanuja Ramchal Confidence comes from an appreciation of your own abilities, skills, and talents. You express confidence in how you speak, by what you say, and through your body language. If you’re not confident, it shows, and this can get in the way of your success. Luckily, it’s a quality you can develop. Below are three steps to raise your confidence. 1-Create awareness Start noticing how you show up and how you feel in different situations. When do you feel most confident? How about least confident? What causes you to feel that way?  With introspection, you can start to see the thinking behind your actions and question it. A lack of confidence is often based on the fear of how you’re perceived by others. Rather than automatically shrinking to accommodate the fear, a better response is to step back and assess the situation objectively. What’s the worst thing that could happen if your fears came true? What’s the chance of that actually happening? How c...

by Tanuja Ramchal Your resume is the first evidence of your work potential employers see, and they evaluate you accordingly. If poorly presented, your resume will disqualify you as a candidate for the jobs you want. Below are 4 common mistakes I often see in resumes and the fixes which will help you build a stronger brand. Mistake #1: Overlooking details Attention to details matter. Why? It shows that you are diligent and care about meeting or exceeding standards. Can you spot the issue below? Two common details which get overlooked in resumes I review are: Bad grammar - grammar and spelling indicate your ability to communicate. Activities which took place in the past must be in past tense. A spell-checker would not catch this type of error. Have several people, including a career advisor, proofread your resume. Mismatched formatting and uneven spacing - you must pay attention to formatting, ensuring the same case is used for headings and that font type is con...