Disqus - Latest Comments for JNeal

Re: 15 Reasons Professionals (Ages 18-25) MUST Invest in Their Careers NOW

Josh Neal — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:01:20 -0000

90%+. The number of young people today who plan to go to college because they feel they have to in order to get a job. Most DON’T know why they should go or what they should study!

That’s what I did! I felt I HAD to go to college to get a decent paying job and not work manual labor for minimum wage! So I went and walked through the motions of college hoping a class would interest me leaning me towards a major. I didn’t declare a major until my junior year and by this time I was running out of time and money. So I picked a major that was interesting to me, but not necessarily the right fit for me. I learned many useful life tools in my major and found most of the classes very interesting, but still something was missing!

$100K+. The minimum you can plan to spend on a college education from top private or state university.

So now I’m around $140,000 in college loan debt. I’m taking classes to be a personal trainer at The American Academy of Personal Training in Boston, working a front desk job at a gym for $8.00 an hour, and living in Boston having the time of my life! So was college worth it?

Less than 20%. That’s how many 2009 college grads had jobs when they graduated last year.

I graduated in May 2009 and didn’t have a job! I went back to my summer job where I had been working since I was 15, moved back in with my parents, and started the job search, which did NOT go well! So I decided to pack up my belongings, move to Boston with two of my college buddies, follow my passion for health and fitness, and become a personal trainer. So still I ask, was college even worth it?

Re: A Tweet Job: Summer ‘Twinternship’ With CAREEREALISM.com

Josh Neal — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:24:57 -0000

I learned more from this internship about careers, who I am, and what I want and need to get out of my job, than I could have ever learned from college. I’m not just saying this because I’m JT’s intern but she’s right, “College teaches you everything, except how to get the job!” And for any of you who do the Twinternship this summer you will find out exactly what I am talking about. You should definitely not miss out on this great opportunity.

If you want more info you can reach me on Twitter @JoshNeal

Re: NEW SERIES: A College Degree…Now What?

Josh Neal — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:17:02 -0000

Great article Tom.

After I graduate, what’s next? That’s a huge question these days. After graduation friends, family, relatives, etc., just expect us to get a job. But when there are no jobs out there for recent grads to get we panic (like most of my friends are doing right now). After college we are expected to start our career, and use the degree we received upon graduation, or go to grad school. I never really hear anyone talk about alternative paths to take after graduation.

I like how in your article you question our taken-for-granted assumptions on what to do after graduation. In addition, I like how you give graduates some alternatives to going straight from college to the job market or heading right to grad school (after they’ve already been in college for 4 or 5 years trying to get their degree).

I wish I didn’t have any student loans because I would love to take a year off and travel, see the world, and really figure out what I love to do, and then make the transition into the ‘real world.’ But all I can think about is graduating, finding a job, and starting to pay off my outrageous student loans. I wish I could live in the present and enjoy the remaining 6 weeks of college and not worry about what comes next. Doesn’t that sound great?

If there is anyone out there who would like to pay off my student loans let me know! I wish it were that easy!

Re: The Sledgehammer Effect – Words to Live By…Or Not

Josh Neal — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:45:52 -0000

I also hate the quote, “You can be anything you want to be.” I think it’s vague and pointless to tell someone that. I am already overwhelmed with trying to narrow down my career search and when someone tells me “I can be anything I want to be” I get annoyed.

But I do like this quote…

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

I like this quote because it gives me hope. Hope that one day I will find something I love to do and going to work everyday won’t feel like torture. I've heard from many people they hate their jobs but they can’t quit because they feel as if there is nothing else out there, especially some of my friends who graduated last year. I hope this doesn’t happen to me. I don’t want to feel like I need to take the first job I’m offered just because I’m over my head in debt from college loans. But if it comes down to it, and I need to for financial reasons, I hope that one day I will eventually be doing something I love to do.

On the other hand, do you think if you do something you love to do, it will never feel like work?

Re: Provide Inspiration to Job Seekers!

Josh Neal — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:26:44 -0000

“You scratch my back ill scratch yours.”

I think this is a great way for people to help each other out and gain exposure to their sites/blogs. I think people are going to jump on this train really quick! Why wouldn’t they want to?

J.T. I love the quote! I’m glad I still have K. Bradshaw permission to still have fun!!

Re: 6 Rules for Social Media Use

Josh Neal — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:42:19 -0000

Thanks for the advice J.T.

I’ll try to get going on a rough draft of my elevator speech.

Re: 6 Rules for Social Media Use

Josh Neal — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:50:49 -0000

What do you suggest we put in our elevator speech?

Two or three sentence seems very limited for trying to sell myself.

Re: Are Dirt-Church Jobs Worth Taking Anymore?

Josh Neal — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:42:47 -0000

Take the dirt-church job because it could be great to put on your resume. Then when potential employees see where you have worked you might stand out from the crowd. If you’re just taking the job to brag about where you work but you’re going to be miserable then I don’t think you should take the dirt-church job.

Bottom line if you’re taking the dirt-church job to build your resume then do it, but if you’re just taking it so people will envy you, your life, your job, then I would start to rethink your thoughts and motives. Be miserable or be happy? Your choice!

At the end of the day I’m not going to stay with a job or take a job where there is no room for advancement. I feel like it would be a step backwards.

Re: 6 Things I Learned to Do Before Graduating

Josh Neal — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:41:28 -0000

These are really solid tips to learn before graduation.

Getting involved on campus helps you stay motivated, helps with time management, and lets you get to know a diverse number of people you wouldn’t have normally met. Join a sports team or a Fraternity or a Sorority, do anything to get involved.
It will help you meet people and help you start building your network, which in return will help you out when it come time to start applying for jobs.

Go see what your Career Center has to offer, but don’t limit your search to just there. Visit alternative websites for career advise, such as this site you’re at now.

Definitely clean up your online image, but also start improving it by bloging and branding yourself to build your online identity. HR people are going to be looking you up on the web, so make sure you have a clean Internet track record and you’re selling yourself to potential employers.

I definitely agree with # 6. You have to have fun in college. My high school football coach always told me “leave it out on the field, have no regrets.” I have carried this mentality with me all the way into my second semester of my senior year of college, but with the “field” being my college experience. Don’t have ANY regrets, live it up in college, “work hard,” but play HARDER. Everyone needs to let loose on the weekends and forget about school for the time being. Come graduation day don’t be asking yourself “WHAT IF?” Do everything you want to do in college so you can make a smooth transition into the “real world.” Take in every moment you can, cherish your college experience. After all, it’s the only one you are going to get.

I like the way you ended the article because it’s true you have to be patient and persistence when searching for a job. But don’t just take any job or even the first job that comes your way if you’re going to be miserable. You will hate your job and it will carry over into your outside work relationship, which could potentially hurt those as well. Number one rule be happy and everything else will come after that.

Re: Recent Grad Gets Dream Job in 2 Months…Here’s How

Josh Neal — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:58:14 -0000

I think Careerealism University is a great idea.
Having a career coach can put you way ahead of the crowd when applying for a job, this article is a perfect example.

All through college I had an advisor I would go talk to if I had any questions about classes and he kept me on track to graduate. Careerealism University is the same kind of idea as having an advisor throughout college, but now you can have a career advisor you can ask any questions to that come to mind and have them answered.

Everyone can use a little extra help getting started on the right path and I think Careerealism University is the tool you need to excel in this tough job economy. Having personal support and someone to hold your hand through the tedious process of finding a career that is perfect for you is amazing. I definitely think every/anyone can benefit from such a great offer.

It doesn’t only seem extremely helpful but it’s cheap too, which is great for a poor college student like myself.

Re: Are You a Dishonest Employee? For Young Guys, Survey Says It’s More than a Little Likely

Josh Neal — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:16:45 -0000

I think people say and do dishonest things, not just at work, all the time to get ahead in life. But on the other hand, if you do rat someone out your boss might fire you for not being a team player and/or a tattletale. I think it’s a lose lose situation: a) you rat someone out and they lose their job or b) you rat someone out and you lose your job for being a snitch.

Bottom line, don’t do dishonest things “desperate times call for desperate measure,” yes, but at least be honest with yourself, show some dignity, and don’t throw your values and morals out the door just to keep your job. At the end of the day be pleased with yourself and your actions.

Re: A.B.L. (Always Be Looking) – Unspoken Truth of Successful Careerists

Josh Neal — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:14:29 -0000

I think building a “cheer team” is a great idea. By doing this coworkers will remember you and give your name when a promotion occurs. Also, you will have people behind you who will speak in favor of you when it comes time to getting the promotion. It’s always good to “increase your exposure to the hiring managers.”

By volunteering your services all the time, could this be looked at as “sucking up” to your hiring managers and in return effect your “cheer team?”

Re: This 4-Letter Word Is Your Career’s Worst Enemy

Josh Neal — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:19:26 -0000

I agree getting career advice from a career coach is the way to go. I mean if you have already spent a boatload of money getting a college degree (and now you have no idea what to do with it), what’s an extra couple hundred dollars to get the advice you need to actually put your college degree to work? I think it’s a small price to pay to receive real career advice, learn how to interview properly, get a job, and start paying off your student loans.

I realize people are ‘paralyzed with fear’ about losing their job, but for me I’m afraid of getting rejected when looking for a job?

“No” is a very powerful word when asking a girl out, asking for a raise, selling a product, or when asking for a job. Many people don’t know how to handle rejection, me being one of them. If I knew how to handle rejection then I wouldn’t feel self-conscious or embarrassed after getting rejected. Job interviews are not a problem if you know how to handle them. The problem begins when I start thinking about the chance of getting rejected or humiliated, making me rethink the situation. Hence (“The most concrete thing that neurosciences tell us is that when the fear system of the brain is active, exploratory activity and risk-taking are turned off) being ‘paralyzed with fear.’

It’s crazy how two letters (N, O) limits me from even going out and looking for a new job. I must learn how to take rejection and some how get excited about it. I know that sounds strange, but if I changed getting rejected into something positive my life could be different. Say I looked at rejection as another chance to practice striking-up a conversation or another practice interview, maybe then being rejected wouldn’t be so bad. Rather than me feeling depressed about getting rejected I could learn from my mistakes. Practice makes prefect so the more interviews I go on the more practice I will get.

Rejection hasn’t been a big part of my life, but lately the “fear” of being rejected is haunting me. Almost to the point where I don’t even put myself in a potential situation to get rejected, example: Going out and looking for a Job.

Do you have any suggestions on how to turn rejection into a positive thing?

What’s the best way to control my fear in a ‘fearful’ situation?

Re: Career In Progress: I Won’t Give Up My Dream!

Josh Neal — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:38:08 -0000

I can definitely empathize with you Amanda!

It’s good that you’re not giving up and you have a positive attitude. Most people would be bitter at the fact that they are unemployed, but you are being optimistic in these hard times for many people.

I have just started to use social media tools to try and get my name out on the web and brand myself. It’s going kind of slow, but I’m learning how to use LinkedIn and Twitter. These two tools will hopefully be very helpful after I graduate when I’m looking for a job.

Keep your head up and keep networking. Don’t worry everything will work out for you and you will find your dream job.

Re: Flirting in the Workplace: It’s All Fun & Games Until Someone Loses Their Job (Unless You’re Tom Brady!)

Josh Neal — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:15:53 -0000

The first thing I thought of before reading the end of the post was exactly what you wrote, “Don’t ____ where you eat.” I have worked at a seafood restaurant since I was 15, now I’m 23, and there is always a ton of flirting going on between the staff. I definitely know where to draw the line at work because I don’t want to get fired over a sexual harassment suit. It’s just not worth it. Save the flirting for after work. Just don’t let the flirting go too far outside of the workplace because I have witnessed some bad and sometimes really awkward next days at work between people.

I personally don’t think you should be dating anyone at work, especially if you are a manager and you're dating one of your employees. My boss was dating a girl that worked at the restaurant and he treated her very different than the other girls. I felt like he favored her and gave her special treatment, which I don’t think was fair to the other waitresses.

Re: SNL Skit Offers Good Career Advice

Josh Neal — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:52:44 -0000

This is funny but true! Sometimes it’s hard to choose your words when trying to voice your opinion without showing emotion. She did a great job with the first couple of takes trying to say she wasn’t comfortable with the video in a civil manner. Sometimes it’s hard to get your point across when your boss doesn’t seem to understand why things don’t feel right.

Try to stand your ground but at the same time let the other person happen to you. By this I mean voice your opinion, but work with your boss to try and fix the problem in a way that both of you are happy with, without offending each other. Problems are best solved if people take each other’s views into consideration before making a final decision.

So if you’re unhappy or uncomfortable “…speak up. Be careful in how you say it, but say it!”

Re: Are You a Marble or a Sponge?

Josh Neal — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:45:33 -0000

I’m definitely a sponge! College is just like the workplace. I could have simply rolled along in college and only did what was necessary to get by (like a marble). Some people I know in college just go through the motions of school: They learn what they need to do to be a good student: read, write, take test, and repeat the steps. But that isn’t me. I always take the extra step. I try and make a connection with everyone I meet. I build relationships with teachers, my peers, and my friends. I think it is valuable to build a strong network in college because one day they might turn into a professional network.
Just by getting to know people and making an impression on them is huge. Through college I acquired and maintained plenty of connections with people, which will help me in the future.

“If you aren’t making the effort to connect, you could be hurting your career.”

Good Point JT. This is very true. As you said 80% of jobs are landed by referrals. In today’s economy passing up an opportunity to meet somebody could be passing up the possibility of getting your dream job. For all you know they could own the company where you dream of working one day.

Re: Wanna Climb the Ladder? You’ve Got to Do This…

Josh Neal — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:53:42 -0000

Interesting article! I’ll check back tomorrow to read the three rules to managing up.

Re: Survey Says Men Bigger !@#$-Kissers to Bosses then Women

Josh Neal — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:47:12 -0000

Currently, at my internship I have a female boss and a female manager. I don’t find myself changing my personality, but I definitely put on the brakes (censor myself) when it comes to socializing within the team of interns.

I find myself censoring what comes out of my mouth because I am used to working around all guys in a kitchen during the summer. Lets just say some topics are best left unsaid in a professional setting.

When is it ok to show your “real self” at work? Is it ever ok? Do you try and act one way while at work and leave who you really are for your free time?

Is it ever ok to show your “real self” to your coworker outside of work? If so do you think by showing them your “real self” outside of work it will jeopardize the way they look at you in a professional setting?

Re: What’s An Interview Bucket List?

Josh Neal — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:10:04 -0000

For a short 4-minute video it has a ton of great information I have never even thought about. Who would of thought to make an interview bucket list? I sure wouldn’t have.

By asking yourself “what impresses you about the company,” and “what about their business practice is vital to success,” are two great questions. I think these questions will make you really sit down and think about the company you want to apply at and if you could see yourself doing the job or not. As you mentioned, I think the interview bucket list is a great way to have people start networking for you. In addition, it never hurts to do some research on the companies you are applying at so you can compare and contrast them and see where your ideal job could potentially be.

Re: Why HR’s Just Not That Into You

Josh Neal — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:57:52 -0000

“The single fastest way to get your resume to the top of the pile for consideration is a
personal recommendation from a credible source.”

In your opinion who qualifies as a credible source? Someone from within the company you are applying at? Or, Someone who worked at that company, but recently left on good terms?

If Neither, then who?

Re: Seriously…How’d You Score that Gig?

Josh Neal — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:57:06 -0000

I’m not proud to say it, but I think it’s good I’m admitting I’m one of those college students who has done nothing to figure out their career path. I’m totally overwhelmed and I don’t know where to start. I get severe anxiety when I start thinking about life after college and the realization that I’m graduating in May. I have no clue what I want to do, why do I feel like I’m on the road to nowhere?

I have been told before to, “think about what I would like to do even if I wasn’t getting paid to do it,” but to me that’s in the same boat as, “I can be anything I want to be,” both statements are vague and endless. On the other hand I have been told not to do something I’m passionate about because I would eventually not like to do it in my free time. For example: being a personal trainer and working out.

As you can see I have never received any valuable career coaching. I’m lost when it comes to even knowing where to begin to search for the answers to my many questions.

Any suggestions?

Re: Beating the Career Fair Game

Josh Neal — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:23:16 -0000

Danielle has some really good advise about career fairs in this article. I have yet to make it to a career fair at my school because I feel like it’s a waste of my time and the recruiters. In addition to that the crowds are overwhelming and I don’t know how to sell myself in such a short amount of time.

I’m going to use the advise she gives in this article and attend the next career fair with an open mind and try to make some connections with the recruiters and see if any opportunities open up for me.

Re: NFL Wants to Offer You a Job - How’s $100K/Year Sound?

Josh Neal — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:18:32 -0000

Wow! Talk about a dream job! If only every NFL fan in America weren’t going to apply for this job I might have a chance to get it.

Re: Career Do-Over: Interview with Serial Entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki

Josh Neal — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:42:15 -0000

“At the end of the day, you really should do what you love to do not what makes the most money.”

Guy is right! At the end of the day, if I was asked how much money I make? I would like to be able to tell someone that I make a difference in peoples’ lives rather than a ton of money. Making a difference in someone’s life is much more important than money. Take one of my professors for example, with the way the economy is right now he has lost a third of what he had saved for retirement, but he is able to say that he makes a difference in his student’s lives everyday. To me, that is more valuable than money.

Today, in our culture people judge other people on their professions and how much money they make. Does anyone see this as a growing problem?