Description
This clear and concrete guide to What Works to Launch a Gen-Z Career is a new volume in best-selling “Modernize Your Career” series. It lays out in crisp language exactly what college students need to do to land their first professional job: from developing a super resume and LinkedIn profile to conducting a networking-based job search and acing their interviews.
Starting with a guide to writing a powerful and effective resume, the book goes on to explain and illustrate the many different career communications today’s jobseekers need: LinkedIn profiles, e-note cover letters, networking communications, and thank-you notes.
A full chapter discusses the best job-search methods, guiding readers to go beyond the easy (but often ineffective) method of zapping resumes in response to job postings. Rather, the authors guide emerging professionals in the art and science of networking–a skill that will be invaluable throughout their careers. They remove the mystery and provide clear recommendations, timelines, lead follow-up strategies, guidelines for LinkedIn outreach and communications, and other techniques to transform networking into an enjoyable and highly effective process.
Next comes interviewing. The book provides a game plan for interview preparation so that jobseekers can convey their skills and their value–whether asked to “tell me about yourself” or faced with behavior-based interviewing questions. Issues around compensation, offer negotiation, and follow-up are also addressed.
A valuable final section of the book is a portfolio of resume samples for new college graduates, providing fresh ideas for resume design and content to help readers create their own “masterpiece” that authentically captures and represents their skill, personality, and value in the workplace.
Endorsements
“This book is just what our students need—and just what we need to give them the best and most current advice to launch their careers. Jam-packed with advice, examples, and guidelines, it’s everything Gen-Z students need to create the documents (resume, letters, LinkedIn) they need to land an internship or their first professional job.” — Carla Coury, MA, SPHR, CMCS • Interim Executive Director, Career Management Center, A.B. Freeman School of Business • Tulane University
“Graduating students launching their first professional job search could not find a better guide. In an easy-to-follow format, the authors offer sage advice and inspiring samples for every step of what can be a challenging journey. College and university student success advisers and career coaches will keep this close. It’s an invaluable resource!” — Cheryl Minnick, EdD, NCRW, MRW, CCMC • Career Success Director, College of Humanities & Sciences • University of Montana
About the Authors
Jan Melnik is an original board member serving with Career Thought Leaders since 2009 and has written or contributed to more than 25 books in the career management field. She earned her master’s degree from Wesleyan University and holds two undergraduate degrees in business. She teaches communications at the University of South Florida and business at Bay Path University. She works with clients through her private practice, Absolute Advantage, in Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL, and Portland, CT.
Louise Kursmark is the author of more than 30 books on resume writing and career management, including two additional titles in the “Modernize Your Career” series. She co-founded Resume Writing Academy, the industry’s premier training organization, and Career Thought Leaders, a think tank for the now, the new, and the next in careers. Currently she serves clients through her private practice, Best Impression Career Services in Plymouth, MA.
Jan Melnik and Louise Kursmark are recognized leaders in the field of career management. Both are Master Resume Writers and have worked with new-graduate job seekers for more than two decades. Together and separately they have authored dozens of books and delivered countless presentations related to resumes and job search. In addition, Melnik is a faculty member at University of South Florida and Bay Path University, teaching English and business communications. Kursmark is a regular presenter and trainer to college and university career centers nationwide. Friends since high school, the two have collaborated on numerous writing and training projects as they have pursued parallel careers.
