12 Most Excellent Slide Design Tips for Non Designers

Good news! These 12 tips are well within your reach as a non-designer.

1. Who’s your audience?

Ask yourself this essential question before you even start thinking about visuals. Are they existing customers, prospects, colleagues, or students? Why are they coming to your presentation? What do they want to get out of it? Make this slide deck all about them. Not you. Them.

2. Ditch the template

Don’t you dare use a template that came with your software! Don’t be tempted to purchase one of those fancy stock templates either. They’re too restricting and won’t reflect your personality. Trust me, you can do this.

3. Get yourself organized

Sketch out exactly what you want to say before you create your first slide. Use paper, sticky notes, outlining software, or a word processor — the choice is yours. Uncover three main points and three supporting points for each one. You don’t have to go crazy, just find a crystal clear direction.

4. Stories, humor, stats, and quotes

Your audience doesn’t want a report. Their time is precious, so don’t waste it. Go beyond a transmission of information. Think through how you can share personal stories, funny anecdotes, interesting statistics, and provocative or inspiring quotes to support the three main points you’ve just outlined.

5. Know your C.R.A.P.

Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity. Add contrast to your slides through font choices (see #9). Repeat colors, shapes, and fonts to create visual unity throughout your deck. Always align slide elements with one another, being conscious of where you place them. Group related information through proximity to reduce clutter and provide structure

6. Keep it dead simple

Your goal here isn’t to win any design awards. The end result should be a clean, clear, and attractive looking deck. Resist the compulsion to put 10 pounds of stuff into a 5 pound bag. Simple designs always look the best. The next few steps will help you get there.

7. Bullets versus headlines

We all grasp the concept of “death by bullet point,” yet so many of us still crank out slides with bullet, bullet, bullet. Stop! Have one message per slide. Use headlines so people get your point in 3 seconds or less (think billboards).

8. Try basic shapes

Using circles, squares, rectangles and triangles might sound scary — but they’re simple visuals that can call attention to important content. Have a numbered list? Try placing a square behind each number.

9. Use two cool fonts

You know the fonts that came with your computer are boring! Spice it up with two unique, but very different fonts that contrast. For example, one that looks like handwriting combined with one that’s easy to read. Just be warned, if you send your deck to someone who doesn’t have those fonts installed, things will look disastrous.

10. Find incredible images

The perfect image will make a point stick in your audience’s memory. Spend time searching for free photos, a tool that combs through Flickr images. Just remember to make your images fullscreen, high-quality (no pixelation), and don’t ever use clip-art.

11. All you need is three colors

Three colors might sound like a lot, especially if you don’t know a darn thing about picking ones that work together. No sweat! Use black, white, and one favorite color. That’s it.

12. Go easy on the animation killer!

Really think hard about how and why you want to use an animation. The two best places to do this are when transitioning between slides or when you want to build in a couple of items to slowly reveal information. We don’t need to see every letter twinkle or image fall into place every time a slide advances.

12 Most Brainiac Benefits from Getting a Degree, Mid-Career

Weeks away from graduating with a Masters degree — and needing a suitable excuse to turn away, briefly, from my thesis project — I decided to share the dozen of reasons I went back to college in my 40s. No sugar coating things: it was draining at times. And not just on me. This degree put my husband to the test, too.

Three years of graduate school imposed restrictions on our household budget as well as our schedules and reserves of patience and cooperation. But, it was worth it. Really, really worth it.

Here are just 12 of my reasons.

1. Earn more money

Workers with a Master’s degree earn more, regardless of their field, according to research from the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. “Median earnings of those with a graduate degree in the field, irrespective of tenure, are an average of 38.3 percent higher than those who only possess a bachelor’s degree in the same field,” says this story in U.S. News and World Report.

2. Get promoted

No, a degree won’t guarantee a bigger title. But, data show that those with additional professional qualifications and certifications are more often viewed as being capable of greater responsibilities and management roles.

3. Transition to a whole new career

This was one of my main motivators. As a long-time journalist, I was very concerned about the future direction of the industry and the rapid cost cutting that was eroding the resources needed to produce quality journalism. Getting my Masters of Public Administration was one route to help me switch careers.

4. It’s not too late

Many good things come to those who wait to go back to school. The number of people age 40 and older heading off to grad school has more than doubled since 1987, according to the Council of Graduate Schools. As a group, seasoned students account for one in every four of those seeking a master’s or a Ph.D.

5. Inspire your children

One of my mantras to my elementary school aged boys is, “Never give up.” It means more when we actually do what we say.

6. Inspire yourself

It was no fun relearning geometry, calculus and quadratic equations 20 years after taking those classes the first time. Really. No. Fun. Yet, I had to do that in order to take the GRE and get accepted to my graduate program.

So, I did it. I got in. And, I even got an A in my graduate statistics program, which was the first class I took. I almost couldn’t believe it. That inspired me to believe I really did belong there.

7. Be healthier, more positive

People who have degrees are less likely to smoke or to be obese. They’re less prone to depression. And they’re more likely to exercise, according to this research, which discusses the non-financial benefits of a degree.

8. Maturity is an asset

You’ll likely do better than the younger students, according to several studies that looked at academic outcomes of “nontraditional” students — adult learners over age 25. What’s more, several professors of mine confessed they liked teaching us “old timers” more too, because of the life experience we add to class discussions.

9. Pride and self-respect

Completing a degree while attending to so many significant, simultaneous demands is a big deal. It just doesn’t happen without a ton of hard work and sacrifice. I love the way that Virginia Sullivan puts it in her blog post on this issue: “Know what you’re made of: Regardless of how organized you are, there will be days when you get by on pure grit. There will be days when you’re overwhelmed, but you must persevere. This will be your opportunity to show the world what you’re made of. Don’t give up.”

10. You’ll be truly interested in, and dedicated to, learning

People don’t go back to school when they are mid-career unless they know what they want and are willing to work for it. (Plus, the quest to balance crazy party weekends with term-paper deadlines ended years and years ago.)

11. Society gains, too

Adults with a college degree are more active citizens. They also vote more often, stay more aware of current events and report higher levels of volunteering in the community.

12. Gratitude for what happens as a result

When we mid-career learners finally finish our degrees — and climb out of the vat of overwhelming stress we voluntarily threw ourselves and our loved ones into some years earlier — most of us are really grateful we did it. Almost 90 in 100 of those with bachelor’s degrees agree the education had a positive impact in their lives, according to the research cited in #7. For those who got Master’s degrees, it was closer to 95 in 100!

12 Most Common Ways To Bomb Your Job Interview

We’ve all gone on job interviews, feeling we nailed it. Yet we don’t get the job. Sometimes, we never hear from the recruiter again.
Take a look at the ways your peers and competitors bomb their interviews… and see if maybe you’ve made some of these mistakes. Yes, these may seem like common sense (which is why we left off overly simple advice such as “don’t be late”). Yet, job seekers make these missteps – every single day.

1. Go Too Casual

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” – Mark Twain

I’m not suggesting you show up to your interview naked. Ask the recruiter ahead of time, on the phone or email, about the company’s dress code. If asking is uncomfortable, play it safe with dress pants or slacks and a nice shirt and tie; or skirt and blouse. Even a “laid back” start-up would be impressed with your professionalism. Better to be over dressed than…well, naked.

2. Arrive Unprepared

You emailed your resume – certainly the hiring manager had time to memorize it, or at least to print it and bring copies with him. Right?
Bring copies of your resume to the interview. The more you know about the company and industry before the interview, the better. Research the company’s history, major competitors, market niche, products, etc. And having a quality notebook or leather-bound portfolio in which to take interview notes will add to a professional tone.

3. The Weak Handshake

A time-honored killer of good first impressions. The interviewer enters the room. They greet you warmly, smiling, and extend their hand to grasp yours… an awkward moment if you over-think it. Will your hands meet correctly? Will they land slightly askew, resulting in that quasi-handshake, squishy, “I wanna’ do-over!” event?

Display confidence and social skills: use a firm (dry) handshake to convey confidence and strength of character.

4. Your Cell Phone DOES Have Ringer Control

So the cell phone ringing at awkward times happens, right? And the recruiter probably didn’t even notice your phone rings to the tune of Rihanna’s “S&M”… right?

This is an easy one to forget since most of us are completely tied to our digital second brain. Turn your phone off (completely off!) before the interview. If you forget and your phone rings, do NOT answer!

5. The Distraction Diva

Almost as rude as answering your phone is the person who allows everything to become a distraction.

It could be the gum they fail to discard, constantly clicking their pen, or the change and keys jingling in their pocket. Nervous ticks fall into this category: constantly clearing your throat, “ums” and “ya’ knows”, tapping your fingers on the conference room table. Simple advice: remove anything that may distract you during your interview – and identify any nervous habits you may have before the interview.

6. Body Language

Your body language communicates for you – loud and clear.

Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Sitting up and forward shows active interest with your full body. Nod your head at appropriate times and ask questions throughout the interview. An interview should be a two-way conversation – including your body language!

7. Secure Your Opinions in a Safe Place

And by opinions, we mean those NOT related to the job. Political and religious statements are obvious no-nos. But unsolicited small-talk can be equally damaging…
Statements as innocent as “I saw Will Ferrell’s movie last night… SO effing funny!” and “I hate small dogs” (yes, these really happened) can catch the recruiter off-guard – and may even offend.

8. Play the Victim

Want to turn off a recruiter in one brief lapse of common sense? Play the role of a victim.

Tell the recruiter you’ve submitted dozens, perhaps hundreds, of online applications and have been on several interviews. But, you add, that effort hasn’t resulted in a single job offer. You’ve done everything right, you say, but you just haven’t had any luck. Oh… and without fail, you pile on by saying “I just need a chance…”
Immediate fail. Interview over.

9. Premature Negotiation

Please… do your homework – and understand the salary range to the best of your ability before accepting the interview.

If discovering the salary in advance is impossible … only ask after you’ve discussed: a) your ability to the fill the position, and; b) your potential to be a good fit to the company culture. Only then is it okay to bring up compensation – otherwise, in the eyes of many recruiters you’re planting a big red flag in the ground.

10. Insist on Being Elitist or Un-Friendly

With the exception of very technical positions, employers interview for skills, but they hire for personality and whether you can do the job. When done correctly, the interview reveals both. Be perceived as an elitist and the interviewer may pigeon hole you as “over-qualified”. Be the slightest bit unapproachable, and you’ll most likely be labeled high-maintenance.

Use your manners, smile and engage in an articulate manner. Have a sincere conversation with the interviewer. Otherwise, you may just come across as though you really don’t want to be there – now, or as an employee.

11. The Failed Follow-up

Most interviewees send resumes and wait… then interview and hope – with no proactive effort to communicate after the interview.

Don’t fall into the forgotten pile – send a follow up letter after the interview; at the very least a thank you email. Add a few memorable points from your discussion (maybe even a question or two you thought of after the interview). Better yet, send an old-school hand-written thank you letter (yes, snail mail!). The recruiter may now see you as a sincere applicant worthy of consideration – and perhaps even a second look.

12. The Stalker

The opposite of the failed follow-up is “the Stalker” – one who is so eager (read: “desperate”) that all common sense is left behind.

After the interview… the Stalker calls, emails and tweets so often she either scares, or annoys the hell out of, the recruiter. Through her actions, and perhaps despite the perfect resume and work experience, she comes across more like Glenn Close in ‘Fatal Attraction’ than she does the perfect team member. The Stalker rarely gets a first chance, and never gets a second. After all, “No One Wants to Hire a Stalker“.

Avoid these 12 Most common, yet often overlooked, job interview mistakes – and nail your next interview! 

12 Most Effective Time Management Principles

It doesn’t matter what type of business you’re in or what position you have, there are only 24 hours in a day for each of us. Mastering time management and maximizing efficiency can help you to feel like you have more time since you’ll be able to get more accomplished.

Sounds good, right? Well, improving your time management is possible with the help of some solid principles that you can apply in your daily routines. If you’re looking to be more effective with your time, here are 12 of the most critical time management principles.

1. Determine what is urgent and important

We’re all faced with a lot of different tasks that fight for our attention and time each day. How do you decide what is most worthy of your time? The best approach is to prioritize those tasks that are both urgent and important.

A task that is highly time sensitive is urgent. Important tasks may not be time sensitive, but they are valuable and influential in the long run.

Stephen Covey’s time management grid can be extremely helpful for seeing what tasks should be prioritized. A common mistake is to get bogged down with things that are urgent, but not necessarily important. By using the grid you can be sure that you’re focusing on things that will have a real impact.

2. Don’t over commit

If you’re someone that tends to say “yes” to every request for your time, you may find that all of these commitments prevent you from making effective use of your time. Make an effort to only commit to things that you can realistically accomplish with the time that you have available. You’ll also want to be sure that committing to something won’t prevent you from being able to do other things that are important to you.

3. Have a plan for your time

Each of us is different and not everyone works in the same way. I prefer to have a detailed to-do list that keeps me on task for each day and each week. Someone else may feel overwhelmed by a list of things to check off each day. Regardless of your approach or preferences, you need to have some method of planning your time. Not having a plan leads to a less efficient use of your time as you’ll wind up getting off task or working on things that really aren’t important. Find a system of planning that works for you and use it in your daily routine.

4. Allow time for the unexpected

It never fails that something unexpected will come up and demand your time and attention. No matter how well you plan your time, things are bound to come up — so make sure that you leave some time in your daily schedule. When I’m creating my to-do list for any given day, I tend to assign myself tasks that I anticipate will take about 75% of my time for the day. That leaves another 25% for tasks that take longer than anticipated or for unexpected things or emergencies that need to be addressed. Avoid the temptation to plan your time so full that you won’t be able to deal with important issues that arise.

5. Handle things once

Rather than dealing with something several different times before completing a task, make an effort to handle it only once. Email is a great example here. If you read through an email, make an effort to respond and take care of the issue at one time. I’ve found myself at times reading through emails and then deciding I’ll get back to it later. When I do get back to it, I have to read the email again and it winds up taking more time. Multiply that by several times throughout the day and it adds up. Whenever possible, handle it once and be done.

6. Create realistic deadlines

You may have deadlines for your work that are set by a boss or a client, but it’s also important to set deadlines of your own. If you do have deadlines from bosses or clients, it can be helpful to break up the project into smaller chunks and set deadlines to keep yourself on track. If you don’t have anyone giving you deadlines for your work, try setting your own deadlines.

In addition to simply having deadlines, it’s also important that these deadlines are realistic and will give you enough time to do your best work. If your boss or client is pushing for a deadline that isn’t realistic, explain why you need more time and the possible consequences of the project being rushed, and suggest a more realistic deadline.

7. Set goals for yourself and your time

Setting goals is an important part of achieving maximum efficiency. Your goals can include things that you want to accomplish in a particular day, week, month, or year. Goals can be used with major accomplishments or smaller tasks that are important to you. Whenever you’re setting goals, it’s best to set a date or deadline for achieving the goal.

8. Develop routines

Habits and routines can be quite powerful. When used effectively, routines can help you to get more done and to make better use of your time.

I use routines to take care of several small tasks that I need to do each day. First thing in the morning, I go through a routine that includes checking email and responding to messages received overnight, a few minutes of networking via social media, moderating comments on my blogs, publishing new content that has already been written and prepped, and a few other small tasks. The result of my routine is that I can get a lot of small tasks off my daily to-do list in a small amount of time right at the beginning of the day. After that, I can have the most productive part of my day for essential tasks that require more of my time and concentration.

9. Focus on one thing at a time

Multitasking is overrated. Sure, in theory it would be awesome to be able to do several different things at once, but the problem is that you won’t be able to do your best work when multitasking. If you focus on one thing at a time you can move through tasks quicker and the quality of your work will be better. Multitasking can lead to a lot of mistakes that you have to go back and correct later, which is wasted time.

10. Eliminate or minimize distractions

Distractions are all around us. If you’re working at home you may have distractions like kids, other family members, house guests, television, phone calls, and all kinds of personal responsibilities and tasks. If you work in an office you’ll probably have plenty of distractions from co-workers.

While it’s impossible to totally eliminate distractions, you can improve your situation by minimizing them or avoiding them whenever possible. For those who work at home, you can set up a dedicated office space with a door that you can close. In an office, you may want to go in to work early to get some distraction-free time before co-workers arrive, or maybe shift your lunch time so that you can get some peaceful time while most of your co-workers are away at lunch.

The key is to recognize the most significant distractions that are hurting your productivity, and then you can work towards solutions that will minimize their impact.

11. Outsource tasks or delegate when possible

Part of being efficient with your time involves deciding what tasks require your own attention. There may be things that could be done by someone else. Outsourcing work is a great option for freelancers and small business owners. Delegating responsibilities may be an option if you’re in management or if you’re part of a team.

Resources like Elance and oDesk are great for finding freelancers when you need to outsource some of your work. You can typically find qualified workers with very affordable rates, which allows you to dedicate your own time to tasks that may be more important to you.

12. Leave time for fun and play

While the purpose of time management is to use your time wisely and to improve efficiency, it’s also important that you don’t burn yourself out by working too much or too hard. Be sure to leave some time in your schedule to do things with friends and family, or even on your own. Getting time away from work is essential for dealing with stress, for refreshing your energy, and for living a balanced life.

Making efficient use of your time is important regardless of what type of job or career you have. If you can make even small improvements in your own time management, you’ll see noticeable results in terms of how much you can get done, the quality of your work, and your stress levels.

What approach do you take in your in time management? Are there things that work really well for you, or things that don’t work for you? Feel free to share from your experience in the comments.

12 Most Ineffective Job Interview Answers (and What to Say Instead)

You believe you nailed the job interview. Your answers were just as you rehearsed: honest and concise. You went home feeling pretty good about this one.

But something goes wrong. You don’t get a call back. There is no offer.

Here, just from the past two weeks, are answers I’ve heard from candidates and mentees to direct questions that – much to the demise of their job search – could not have been more wrong. We also present how those answers could be delivered just a bit better – creating a much different first reaction from recruiters and mentors, and perhaps setting you apart by turning your answers into really good questions and proactive statements…

1. The Victim, part one

BEFORE: “I just need someone to give me a chance.”

AFTER: “I am eager to start this assignment; how do I stack up to other candidates you’ve interviewed?”

2. The Victim, part two

BEFORE: “I’m tired of working where my boss is a jerk.”

AFTER: “I’m focusing on opportunities where I can build a mutually beneficial mentor-based relationship.”

3. The Boomer Blamer

BEFORE: “The Boomer boss didn’t get me, I’m looking to work where my skills will be appreciated.”

AFTER: “I enjoy cross-generational work teams; how does (insert company name here) encourage diversity and collaboration?”

4. The Stepping Stone, part one

BEFORE: “I’m really just looking for a way to pay the bills until I find my passion.”

AFTER: “There are many aspects of this position that match my passions and career goals.”

5. The Stepping Stone, part two

BEFORE: This position is a good place to get a foot in the door. My goal is to move into Marketing as soon as possible.

AFTER: I’m eager to learn from the ground up, contributing and applying my skills wherever I’m needed.

6. The Stepping Stone, part three

BEFORE: This company has a great reputation. Having this on my resume will be a huge career boost.

AFTER: This company has a great reputation for hiring the best and brightest. I’m eager to join them, so I can both contribute to, and learn from, the best.

7. The Late Bloomer

BEFORE: “All my friends already have good jobs, it’s time for me to get going.”

AFTER: “This opportunity is well aligned with my current career goals. I’m anxious to get started!”

8. The Judge

BEFORE: “They weren’t organized at all and I wasn’t getting paid enough; I just put in my time and went home.”

AFTER: “I love the rush of the last-minute, ‘all-hands-on-deck’ projects… I also look for an opportunity to help build a culture where we’re organized and prepared for the unexpected.”

9. The Culture King

BEFORE: “I didn’t get along with any of the people there… just a bad fit.”

AFTER: “I’ve learned from experience the importance of the right company culture. Can you describe the culture here?”

10. The Closed Mind

BEFORE: “I just wanted to do my job… they wanted me to learn things like Social Media.”

AFTER: “I’m a team-player. I also believe in mastering core responsibilities, and then I’m more than eager to contribute however I’m needed.”

11. The Fall Back

BEFORE: “My solo entrepreneurship project didn’t work out, so I need to get back into the real world.”

AFTER: “I had the opportunity to work on some freelance projects and learned a great deal that will help me excel in this position. Let me give you some examples…”

12. The Voice

BEFORE: “They wanted to be surrounded by “Yes Men”… that isn’t me, ya’ know?”

AFTER: “I welcome an environment where open dialogue is encouraged and the end result is a better product, and even more loyal customers. How does (company name) approach direct input from team members?”

Job or internships seekers: what answers have you given that allowed the recruiter to perceive you as a less-than-perfect candidate? How will you answer the questions differently next time?

Recruiters and employers: what are some of the worst answers you’ve ever received, and what would you suggest as a much better answer?

How to: Write a CV

A good CV is essential when looking for work, especially when there are high volumes of candidates applying for the same job, but what should it contain?

There is no model template, and each sector may require greater emphasis on certain sections of your CV, such as qualifications or work experience, but in general, your CV should be neat and clear enough for a recruiter to scan and understand it quickly. Additionally, it should be easy to appraise your key skills and work experience to determine whether you're appropriate for the role.

Not sure where to start? Here are some basic rules you should follow when writing a CV.

What information should I include on my CV?

Personal Details: It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to include their name, email, contact phone number and address. Make sure these are clearly marked at the top of your CV.

Personal Statement: Although optional, many job seekers choose to include a personal statement in their CV as it’s a good opportunity to tell an employer about your suitability for the job. Keep it short and sweet and be sure to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment to the role and the company.

Work Experience: This section includes any work experience that you have in the field you are applying for. When listing these work experiences include your job title, time in the post, responsibilities and the name of your organisation. Remember to list your most recent role first.

Achievements: List relevant skills and achievementsfrom previous jobs, giving clear examples of how you would apply these to the new role.

Education: List formal qualifications and any training and development undertaken, either independently or during previous periods of employment.

Hobbies and Interests: Only include if the skills or teamwork concerned are relevant for the job. There is no point listing that you’re sociable or that you enjoy going to the cinema for the sake of it.

Any extra information, such as reasons for a career change or reasons for gaps in career history should be added as required.

How to present your CV

Remember, your CV is a reflection of yourself, so it's important that it's well laid out and looks professional.

• Keep it short enough to read quickly and ideally no more than two sides of A4
• Choose a clear, professional font to ensure that your CV can be easily read
• Be clearly laid out in a logical order, with sufficient spacing and clear section headings (work experience, education)
• Avoid typing mistakes at all costs. A simple spell check is not enough: ask someone else to proof read your finished CV
• Order your experience and education into reverse chronological order to highlight your most recent experience and achievements
  

Once you’re happy with how your CV looks, make sure you’re happy with the content. And highlight that you're the right match for the job by outlining:

• Specific skills you have to offer the employer
• Experience you have in the specific field
• Appropriate personal qualities for the role
• An understanding of the job requirements

12 Most Dynamite Tips for Job Seekers

Employ these powerful pointers and ignite the fuse on your own job search. Or, pass them to a friend, colleague or contact and help them spark promising prospects.

1. Tend

Tend, as in: to look after, watch over and care for. Also as in: to tend a career. It requires redefining the very concept of “job search.” It’s no longer a task with a start and a stop. Because jobs are predominately now discovered through networks, stay alert to possibilities that can pop up, unexpectedly. If you look for professional opportunities only when you’re out of work, you’re going to have the same kind of challenge that a gardener does when he waters or weeds only when it’s time to harvest.

2. Cooperate

When you come across a fabulous opportunity that you’re not suited for, do you just delete the email? Or click on a different link? Next time, if it sounds like a role someone in your network is seeking, consider passing it on to the likely prospect. Such a gesture shouldn’t be offered with conditions or demands of reciprocity. Not necessary. Leads will come back to you, anyway. Promise.

3. Tell

Don’t be shy about telling your friends, professional contacts or others in your network that you are looking…

4. Discern

…but don’t broadcast it in a way that looks desperate. Discriminate how, where and when to let people know you are on the market for a job. This is what I mean: Don’t email your whole contact list with a generic note that you are looking for a new position. Instead, go through your contacts and send a more customized note, targeted to each person, that relays more insight into your search. That is far more likely to spark a response. Plus it’s more professional. When I see a LinkedIn profile headline that says: “Job searching” or “Looking for opportunities,” it seems like a digital version of standing at an intersection with a sign that says: “Hire me.”

5. Present

Treat interviews as if they are presentations. Leave the audience (your interviewer) with three key messages about the presentation topic: you. Make your case through the interview about the three messages. It will distinguish you and give the interviewer strong impressions about your skills.

6. Fulfill

When you get introduced at a conference or professional event to someone you think you want to follow up with, do so! This is particularly crucial if you tell the person you will call or send an email. Plus, this technique can be very effective. You never know from where the next prospect might come.

7. Impress

No, this tip doesn’t refer to your interaction with the hiring manager and the human resources person (although it’s important to impress them, of course.) This tip is a reminder to be considerate as well to anyone whose path you cross before, during or after an interview. It’s a seemingly small gesture that people notice and that speaks very well of your approach to people.

8. Supplement

If you’ve identified a weakness that might be holding you back from some of the jobs you didn’t get a call back on, help strengthen those areas or skills through volunteering. It is suitable to reflect on a resume and helps show your skills — even if you didn’t hone them during the hours of 9 to 5 on weekdays.

9. Mentor

This shows leadership and can lead to job tips or referrals. Plus, mentoring is a great example of putting #8 into practice.

10. Blog

Blogging lets you show your expertise and skills to an incredibly broad audience. Depending on how good and regular you are, your posts can lead directly to new clients, new business or other opportunities.

11. Study

Don’t just research the company and know about the industry by the time you head into an interview. Read up on the background of the interviewer on LinkedIn. You’ll very likely find an opportunity to include a comment or reference in the interview to something that had been included or mentioned on the profile, and it is impressive when candidates show that much initiative. Just don’t overdo it. More than one or two references back to something you gleaned about the interviewer’s professional background is not researching, it’s stalking.

12. Close

Ask for the job! Landing a job is like making a sale. You’re selling yourself. So make sure you close the deal.

12 Most Inspiring Rules for Career Success… from Steve Jobs

1. Trust yourself… always

“We think the Mac will sell zillions, but we didn’t build the Mac for anybody else. We built it for ourselves. We were the group of people who were going to judge whether it was great or not.”

Almost anywhere you’ll run into those who will tell you what you’re doing isn’t the right way – because it isn’t the way they would do things. Regarding your career, listen to, acknowledge and consider the advice. In the end, however, make your own decisions. You are the judge of whether what you’re doing is right.

2. A great career is about commitment

“It takes a passionate commitment to really thoroughly understand something, chew it up, not just quickly swallow it. Most people don’t take the time to do that.”

Learn as much about your industry as you can. Go beyond your duties to learn how your job fits within your department… and how your department impacts the company. Take that knowledge and expand it into how your company competes in its industry, and then the future of the industry. A truly committed person can see how they fit in – and can impact – the bigger picture.

3. Don’t follow the status quo

“Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

Every company you work for will have its own culture… its own processes that have been settled upon. It’s rare that people, especially those who have worked at the company for an extended period of time, will think to make sweeping changes… or improvements. They just follow “the way it’s always been.”

Always avoid the “the way it’s always been” mentality! You’ll most often meet with resistance because people generally hate change. When you succeed, however, you’ll have established credibility as a leader – and have developed automatic supporters for your next innovations.

4. Interviews aren’t about you

“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

In any job interview, realize the interview isn’t about you – it’s not about what you want, and what you hope to get out of the job.

Instead… write yourself into the role of the job. Show the person on the other side of the table, or looking at you via Skype, that you have the skills that will fulfill their needs. You’ve done your homework on their company and matched your abilities to what they’ve described in the online posting. Now… tell the recruiter the story of that job – with you in a key role – and make them see how they need to hire you rather than your job seeking competitors.

5. You’re a future leader – act like one

“I want to put a ding in the universe.”

Decide right now that you can be much more than what you are… right now. Sure, you’re the new kid on the block, and you don’t have as much experience as the executives around you. But you were hired above all the other applicants. You’re not a “rookie” or a coffee “go-fer”… so don’t think or act like one. You’re a future leader… a visionary! Start now.

6. Perfect your message

“The manual for… the most popular word-processing program is 400 pages thick. They’re not going to learn [from that] any more than they’re going to learn Morse code. That is what Macintosh is all about.”

Before you apply to your first, or another, job… perfect your message. Make it simple and effective. Craft, refine and practice presenting your “elevator pitch” until can deliver the message perfectly, every time. Ask your mentor, perhaps a college professor you trust, or even a resume professional to help make sure your resume is perfec. They will find something wrong… even after you think you’re done.

Then… practice, practice, practice.

7. Work to live – not the other way around

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

Many people start their career with an instant transition from “starving student” to where their paychecks make them feel like they’ve won the lottery every two weeks. But after a while it’s not enough. They want a newer car and a larger apartment. Then it’s a house… and a fancier vacation. So they keep working harder and longer to get the bigger paychecks. Most people, however, end up never satisfied because that financially secure horizon is always just that… on the horizon.

Which brings us to No. 8…

8. Pursue the right career for you

“People with passion can change the world for the better.”

To some, passion is easily identified. Others struggle to find their passions and then turn them into a career direction. Experiment… walk new paths… challenge yourself! That’s why most people have more than one career path in their life … to gain exposure to different environments and a variety of positions – to learn where your passions may take you. The key is… never settle. Keep experimenting until you find what truly gets you fired up to accomplish greatness.

9. “No” is your friend

“(Innovation) comes from saying no to 1,000 things… We’re always thinking about new markets we could enter, but it’s only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.”

It’s so easy to reach too far… to feel like you have to say “Yes” and then get stretched too thin. Learn to say no to projects that may cause you to under-perform. Also learn to say no to friends who may need your “help” – over and over again. Say no to drama queens (and kings). And, when you know there is work or networking to do – just say no to Halo 18 and Angry Birds.

Stay focused on what will drive you, your career and your passions. Everything else gets a “No, thank you.”

10. Customers should be the focus of everything you do

“This is what customers pay us for–to sweat all these details so it’s easy and pleasant for them to use our computers.”

Develop a customer-focused, user-experience mindset. This important skill will carry over into every position – every passion – throughout your career. Not just the “real” customers who buy product; but also your “internal” customers – supervisors, mentors and colleagues are counting on your contribution. Say it out loud to yourself if it helps: “Your job is to create solutions to problems – for both internal and external customers”.

11. Always over deliver

“We made the buttons on the screen look so good you’ll want to lick them.”

Sometimes as you work on a project or a report, because you are so close to the data, some of the details are easy to over look. The recipients of your work – your boss, executives, partners or customers – will most definitely recognize the level of effort you (high or low) put into your work – and they will react accordingly. Take extra time to make sure that even the smallest details are as perfect as you can make them.

12. No matter your title, be humble

“You’re missing it. This is not a one-man show.”

That was the beginning of Jobs’s answer to a question in an interview with Businessweek when he returned to Apple in the late ‘90s: “There’s a lot of symbolism to your return. Is that going to be enough to reinvigorate the company with a sense of magic?”

In any position, in any size company, your work depends on others. This becomes ever truer the more established your career. A real leader always remembers that she is supported by others.

At the end of Gallo’s article that inspired this post, he closed with an anecdote. He said that Jobs was once approached by a Disney executive for advice on how to re-make the Disney store chain. Jobs’ answer is something I think he’d tell any young careerist who asked for advice on how to succeed in their career:

He said: “Dream bigger”.