101 Career Tips You Can Learn in 3 Seconds
We know — you want great career advice, but sometimes, you just don’t have time to read lengthy articles or books.
Well, today, you’re in luck: We’ve distilled some of the best-ever advice on The Daily Muse into bite-sized chunks that you can scan in a matter of seconds.
Or, better yet—that you can share with your entourage! Each tip is 140 characters or fewer, so you can easily copy and paste your favorites to share with your followers all over the web.
General Career Advice
1. A first impression is made in less than 30 seconds.
2. Want to boost your charisma? Focus on energy and optimism.
3. “You’re always an employee, you’re always representing your company, and you’re always representing yourself.”
4. Rule #1 for dealing with bad bosses: It’s okay to question authority.
5. No matter where your stress is coming from, it’s not doing you any good—until you learn how to address it.
6. Some of the world’s most successful leaders regularly express all manner of emotions, including anger.
7. Work isn’t always about the larger picture; sometimes, it’s about the brown M&Ms.
8. Want to get ahead at work? The first step is gaining a loyal following.
9. If you look really closely, most overnight successes took a long time.
10. A job, even a great job or a fantastic career, doesn’t give your life meaning, at least not by itself.
Work Relationships
11. “I’ve been reminded time and again just how far being a little nicer can go in business—and in life.”
12. To really influence others, listen more than you talk.
13. Every person you meet is a potential door to a new opportunity—personally or professionally.
14. Someone in a support role—an assistant, an intern—could be the best networking contact ever.
15. Only woman on the team? Get used to establishing dominance over and over again.
16. When pitching to your boss, look at the cost-benefit analysis from his or her perspective.
17. Your soft skills—like getting along with team members and being generally pleasant—aren’t an optional add-on.
18. Wise words from a boss: “You’ve got to stop apologizing.”
19. To be seen as a leader, you must know how to manage changing environments.
20. Don’t do every single thing your mentor advises: Sheryl Sandberg didn’t, and it paid off.
Finding a Job
21. People who master the job hunt build up the psychological know-how to get through a sometimes soul-crushing process.
22. When it comes to searching for open positions online, big job boards aren’t the answer anymore. http://bit.ly/1iZ4BZ4
23. The first step after getting laid off: Mourn the loss and move on.
24. Love the job you have? Good—keep looking at other jobs anyway. http://bit.ly/1s2f5hI
25. Fun fact: Hiring managers couldn’t care less where you went to college. http://bit.ly/1jqvbyN
26. A tip for getting a job before graduation: Have a resume or cover letter party with your friends. http://bit.ly/1kHB6lK
27. Mistaking a recruiter as your career confidante can mean the difference between getting a position and hitting a dead end.
28. To see which startups have recently raised money (and, um, will be hiring ASAP), follow @vcdeals. http://bit.ly/1s2g4hT
29. To avoid bias in your job hunt, hold off on reading company reviews until you snag an interview. http://bit.ly/1kIKlxv
30. Sending in your resume on Monday can up your chances of landing the job. http://bit.ly/1jqvGJg
Resumes
31. Dear job seekers: Don’t write about your quirky hobbies on your resume.
32. Your resume should get very specific when giving your accomplishments. Talk facts, figures, and numbers.
33. Want a better resume? Create a “brag” folder in your inbox. http://bit.ly/1nloUVi
34. If you want to tell someone—or the world—who you really are, your resume will never be enough. http://bit.ly/1rZfeAl
35. When first reading your resume, ignore typos and think about the overall message your resume is sending. http://bit.ly/1kFkrwj
36. “Led,” “handled,” “managed.” Just a few words not to use on your resume.
37. With so little space and so much awesome to share, it’s critical to get picky with the words you use on your resume.
38. The story your resume tells about why you’re perfect for a position is more important than your resume’s length. http://bit.ly/Rf0ZMi
39. 95% of large companies use resume tracking systems—and knowing how to beat them makes a difference.
40. Using an interactive and creative resume can be a great move for certain job positions. http://bit.ly/1moGhUq
Cover Letters
41. In your cover letter, employers don’t only want to hear about you. They want to hear about themselves, too. http://bit.ly/1ig9WL4
42. The secret to writing a great cover letter: Pretend that the person you’re writing to already loves and respects you. http://bit.ly/1hmTp93
43. Think of getting to know a company like getting to know a person. What is he or she like? Quirky? Serious? Snarky?
44. To help with your cover letter jitters, just imagine you’re writing an email to the hiring manager. http://bit.ly/RaWuCI
45. Your cover letter is meant to complement your resume—not reiterate it. http://bit.ly/1moGsiw
46. Creepy pick-up lines don’t work in bars. They also don’t work in cover letters. http://bit.ly/1fYqdVl
47. Leave that phrase “To Whom it May Concern” out of your cover letter. Now. http://bit.ly/1i58Nun
48. A salesy tone in a cover letter can overshadow your solid qualifications and make you seem pompous and aggressive. http://bit.ly/1q0Snc5
49. “I won’t pretend your company’s mission is my passion…” started the worst cover letter ever.
50. Not quite qualified for the job? Don’t apologize for it in your cover letter. http://bit.ly/1iahXRY
Interviewing
51. The first thing to research about a company pre-interview: what makes it special compared to competitors. http://bit.ly/1hYrSKs
52. What to bring to an interview: Three copies of your resume, a few of your best work samples, and a notepad and pen.
53. Read the fine print of a job description. It’ll prevent huge complications later on. http://bit.ly/Q18BRS
54. Saying perfectionism is your greatest weakness can seem like a cliché. Get more creative and authentic. http://bit.ly/1rBfk18
55. During your next phone interview, do some power poses, stand, and smile—even if no one can see you. http://bit.ly/1lIjHGS
56. In your Skype interview, pick colors that make you pop specifically on video. http://bit.ly/1iaTQCF
57. Look interested: 67% of hiring managers said they rejected a candidate based on a lack of eye contact. http://bit.ly/R92H2o
58. Just because you stumbled across your future boss’ vacation photos online, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to mention them. http://bit.ly/Q19aLi
59. Write a thank-you email and a handwritten card. Hey, it can’t hurt! http://bit.ly/1n7lfuE
60. If you’re following up post-interview, be polite and humble (and avoid sounding passive-aggressive). http://bit.ly/1i1NMk9
Management
61. Companies that have thought about their culture have 17% higher profit growth than those who didn’t.
62. Billions of dollars are wasted every year from pointless meetings. http://bit.ly/1q1feUY
63. 47% of new employees want big projects right away. How are you treating new hires? http://bit.ly/1odv75Z
64. Great advice when interviewing a potential new hire: After a candidate has answered a question, pause. http://bit.ly/1iaUkc0
65. Before you decide whom to delegate a task to, make sure you know what you’re delegating.
66. Want to be a more effective manager? Make sure you’re not making promises you can’t keep. http://bit.ly/1lLGxOB
67. With younger employees, make sure you do non-work check-ins every once in a while. http://bit.ly/1kvV8d4
68. The first step to a successful virtual employee operation is making sure everyone has the same technology.
69. Unsure how to handle employee feedback? Take a breath, swallow your pride, and listen. http://bit.ly/1iL6nCR
70. Want to be like Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh? Be open, honest, and fair with your employees. http://bit.ly/1q1fLpY
Productivity
71. The most productive people in the world manage their energy, not just their time. http://bit.ly/1ntWF6S
72. Either you run the day, or the day runs you.
73. Have a minute to spare and want to be productive? Spend it deleting an app that distracts you. http://bit.ly/1rsNeVL
74. Studies show that self-imposed deadlines are least effective when trying to get things done.
75. Learning how to sync all of the to-do lists from your electronic devices can make you way more productive. http://bit.ly/1kONcd0
76. Changing a couple of the websites you use in the office can make a huge difference in your work life.
77. Fact: Having white space in the office can boost team productivity. http://bit.ly/1iwVuit
78. You can slash the amount of time you spend answering emails by using auto-texts on your phone. http://bit.ly/1kzpj4p
79. Hitting the snooze button in the morning can actually help you wake up faster. http://bit.ly/RbsCGw
80. A poorly designed office could be crushing your creativity and productivity. http://bit.ly/Q1aDRZ
Communication
81. Acing your next presentation could be as simple as a strategically placed pause. http://bit.ly/1n95WUJ
82. Don’t reinvent the wheel: Many emails you need to send have been written already by people in similar situations. http://bit.ly/1fwUkbX
83. Synergy? Disruption? Corporate culture? Your favorite business buzzwords could say a lot about you and how you work. http://bit.ly/1n967zy
84. Dealing with an angry customer? Simply saying the caller’s name can make a huge difference in attitude. http://bit.ly/1s2Wthz
85. Interacting with someone you admire on Twitter starts with finding common ground. http://bit.ly/1n96kmb
86. Want to stop choking under pressure? It all has to do with training the prefrontal cortex properly.
87. The average office worker receives 110 emails per day and spends 13 hours per week writing and responding to them. http://bit.ly/1fYIjXq
88. Rule #1 of conference calls: Make sure you figure out beforehand who is calling whom. http://bit.ly/1nenEDV
89. Ceasing to fear public speaking takes time, practice, and coming up with a plan. http://bit.ly/1kzqxg5
90. Sharing when you don’t know something could actually help you take a huge leap forward in your career. http://bit.ly/1mprooY
Social Media and Blogging
91. No matter what field you’re in, Instagram is a great way to find creativity and inspiration. http://bit.ly/1jqP1Ki
92. Want to get noticed by recruiters? Build a personal website. http://bit.ly/1jMELto
93. Your LinkedIn summary should be around 3-5 short paragraphs, with a bulleted section in the middle. http://bit.ly/1gynguI
94. LinkedIn’s 120-character headline limit is a prime piece of marketing real estate (marketing for yourself, that is). http://bit.ly/1fqTXtX
95. Don’t be afraid to ask your LinkedIn recommenders to focus on a certain aspect of your character. http://bit.ly/1rPGBNk
96. Writing “Following Up from Today’s Event” instead of “Following Up” in a LinkedIn message title may get a response. http://bit.ly/1lLKsLn
97. Even if you’re not job-hunting, post one article on your LinkedIn feed each week. http://bit.ly/1rPGBNk
98. Follow company Twitter accounts to get an early heads up on job openings. http://bit.ly/1od08XP
99. Want to stand out to hiring managers? Create a 140-character resume. http://bit.ly/SxKwEr
100. The easiest way to stalk your contacts and see what they’re up to online? Newsle. http://bit.ly/1ja6APg
Bonus
101. The best place to get career and job search advice every day? @dailymuse. http://bit.ly/1fU5lyt
Source: themuse.com