Spring Break
Pollack advises students to take action in career search
Loren McFalls
Issue date: 5/29/09 Section: News
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Pollak was invited to speak at Drexel by Kaitlyn Ambrosiani, marketing manager for Drexel's Retail Services, to discuss her book and provide the audience with the five most important tips of the 90.
"I wanted to write the book I wish I had [owned]," Pollack said.
Her first piece of advice was to, "Avoid the biggest mistake in job-hunting and career prep."
Pollak said the worst thing a person can do is to do nothing. She said to not be afraid and to take risks because there is nothing to lose when a person is first starting out in the working world.
"My best advice is to take action every single day on behalf of your career. Small steps really add up over time and the worst mistake you can make is to become paralyzed by fear or indecision," Pollak said.
Second, it is important to "get all your ducks in a row."
Typos, incomplete applications and not following up are three major problems when trying to get a job, she said.
Pollack told the audience to start a career notebook to keep everything organized, to get business cards and to make an appointment with Career Services. Career Services can look at résumés and do mock interviews to help students prepare for job interviews.
The third piece of advice was to "become an expert researcher." Pollak said students need to become knowledgeable about careers that interest them and suggested that students subscribe to "must-read" publications in their field of interest, set up Google alerts and be up to date on their intended profession.
The fourth piece of advice was to "shine online." Because recruiters look at Facebook, students should get rid of red flags on the site such as drunken photos and other inappropriate items. Pollak also mentioned LinkedIn.com, a more professional networking Web site for students to use.
The fifth piece of advice was to "network with your neighbors."
"It doesn't have to be this big scary capital 'N' networking thing," Pollak said.
She said students should start with the people around them: relatives, neighbors, friends and professors. Her three most important questions while networking are: "What's one specific thing I can do, is there anyone else you can introduce me to and is there anything I can do for you?"
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