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What Advice Would You Give a New College Grad if You Could?

Here's your chance to sound off - what advice would you give a new college grad entering the workforce if you could?  Related post to follow...

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  1. 1- When praised by anyone at work, nicely ask your supervisor and clients the magic words, "Wow, thanks! If you have a second, would you mind sending me that in an email and cc'ing my supervisor?". And print it out, and START A FILE! Not everyone will take the time, of course, but enough folks will to give you a great portfolio of written evidence of strong performance.
    2- Keep a calendar of the birthdays of past supervisors you have worked for, and drop them a birthday card or email each year. Job markets change fast these days, and you will need references more than you expect. And if you keep that little pleasant contact once a year, it won't seem weird when you drop them a line asking for a letter of reference.
    3- Write snail mail thank you notes. Just do it. Emails are "okay"- but that little envelope in the mail that shows you took an extra 5 minutes says more than you know.
    4- Make it a point to openly power-down your phone when sitting down to lunch, dinner, or a meeting. It shows the person your with that they are important, and you are giving them your undivided attention. They may not do so- but they will ALWAYS remember that YOU did!

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