Here are some tips to help you:   

1) Plan in advance- You might think this goes without saying, but, you’d be surprised.  Make sure you have the dates in place and you give your company proper notice. Typically, if you are taking extended time off (3 days or more) you will want to ask 3-4 weeks in advance. This will allow your employer to plan accordingly.  If you are taking a day or two, usually a couple weeks notice is sufficient.   

2) Be Sensitive to Your Company’s Schedule- When planning out your time off, be aware of any deadlines or busy periods your company may be going into. If possible, try to find out when your co-workers have their time off scheduled.  Companies do not like having to deny time off, but there may be certain scenarios where it is difficult to grant extended time off to an employee. Careful planning should help alleviate this issue.   

3) Spread out your days off- If you are fortunate to have enough time off to take a couple extended vacations, spread them out throughout the year.  It is not in your best interest to ask for extended time off soon after you just had a vacation.  If it is too soon after, it may not be possible for your employer to grant the time off and more than that, they might start to wonder if you are planning to leave the company and want to use all your days before your departure.    

4) Be Professional- Always “ask” for permission for time off, rather than going in and telling your supervisor that you “need” the time off.  Companies can be sensitive to an employee’s personal life and schedules, but going in with the attitude that “I’m taking the time off whether you grant it or not” is not a good approach. 

 Follow steps one and two the best you can.  Even when unexpected events happen in your life that don’t allow much preparation for the time off, go about asking for it the right way, and more often than not, your employer will do what they can to approve your time off. 

I have a very strong recollection of a candidate I was interviewing back in 1988. I recall it was a very, very hot summer. The company I was working for was near O’Hare airport and the traffic was horrible. I was always dealing with people for in-person interviews. Wilma, our Receptionist, called me and said one interviewee was 45 minutes early and one was 15 minutes late. I opted for the early candidate.   

Her name was Rose, and she was a single mother from the south side of Chicago. She had no car, and took two forms of public transportation to get to the interview. And, she was 45 minutes early. She had a shopping bag that she kept by her feet during the whole interview.  She had a beautiful phone voice (the position was for Customer Service). She did well in the interview and sold me on why she would be perfect for this job. Rose was someone who was so committed to getting to an interview early with many obstacles and she was more than qualified for the job.  She was hired, did extremely well, and was there every day.   

I found out later that the shopping bag held a change of clothing. She asked the Receptionist if she could use the restroom once she got there so she could be fresh for our interview.  After all, she did travel for several hours. I have remembered Rose for all these years.  

Tell us about your strongest workplace memory….

Set CLEAR Goals.– If you are unsure of what tasks need to be completed, you will never be able to accomplish them. Prioritize, set a timeline, and go for it!  If you need to readjust the timeline later, at least you have started somewhere! 

Push your LIMITS. – Do not let yourself get comfortable. That is when things will become easy and boring, and you will lack the motivation to do anything else. Always push yourself to learn more, and continuously improve upon the skills you have! 

Take PRIDE in your work. – It always helps to know that you are making a difference! Believing that what you are doing is being appreciated and recognized will provide the motivation needed to give you the drive to accomplish your goals! 

Productivity. – Being productive means finding ways to make work easier, simpler, rewarding, and fun!   

Add some SPICE to your Work LIFE.– Try inner office competitions to keep things fun. Have a Bagel Day, decorate the office with seasonal and holiday decor, and use your imagination!

In addition, open your search outside of the obvious box. Connect with a good Recruiter. You never know how they can help with your search or who they may know in order to assist you in your search.   

Do you have any tips for the fresh talent in the job market?

Well, there are a lot of jobs out there- you just have to keep trying.  

Target companies that you are interested in-keep a watchful eye on their Web site in your last year of school. If they post all of their positions online, check for ones that your skills and degree match up with. Only apply if you meet at the very least 3 out of 5 requirements and explain why you should be considered in a cover letter.  

Do not send resumes blindly to e-mail addresses just to get noticed. You will get noticed all right and you will annoy the person reviewing resumes. They will feel that you are not respectful of their process for applications.  Make sure you follow directions on job applications and Web sites!  If you cannot confirm to them that you are following directions at the time of application-how can prove that you would be a good employee? 

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when developing a resume: 

Poor Organization – When there is no clear focus or the resume in not organized properly, it will be difficult for a company to analyze the qualifications you have for the potential position. 

Lack of Relevancy – List responsibilities and duties that best represent why you would be a great fit for the company.  If your experience is not relevant to the position, you most likely would not be considered for the position. 

Weak Presentation – If your resume does not have a “good appearance,” it could be passed over. Make sure to check for grammatical errors, misspellings, and typos. Make sure that the overall flow of the resume is presented in a professional manner.  Remember, FIRST IMPRESSIONS are the key. 

Exaggerating – BE HONEST!  You will only get into trouble if you say you are qualified for something and you are not. Simply state the qualities you have that would make you the best person for the position. 

Not Including the “Extracurricular Activities” – Involvement in extracurricular activities can tell a company a lot about a person, so don’t be afraid to include these on your resume.

“I had a tooth ache, and the antibiotic makes me nauseous.” 

“I had a flat tire on my bike.” 

“I am cooking, and I can’t make it to work.” 

“I can’t go to work, I have a party to go to.” 

“My air conditioning is not working.” 

“Someone stole my lunch.”

Here are some of the strangest excuses I’ve heard for not going to work:   

1) “I ended up getting tickets to a Cubs game and am too hung over to go in.”

2) “Somebody stole my identity.”

3) “My girlfriend slashed all of my tires.”

4) “I got pulled over on my way to work and I got arrested.”

5) “I really don’t feel like going in today.”

Never think that a job is beneath you.  Summer employment is just that-summer employment. Working is a good experience no matter what the job is-try to be open minded.  Look at exploring an opportunity that will provide some lasting relationships and possible repeat employment offers.  Maybe you will not get a great full-time job out of it, but keep in mind that employers remember a good summer employee or intern for their future positions. I fondly recall an intern that was a great asset to a project I was working on and hope to be able to assist her some day in securing a job. 

If you are open to the various options that are out there, you will be successful. Maybe a filing, receptionist, or errand position will not help you with your Economics degree, but having some employment and future connections to call on when you finish your degree might be worth.

The reality is that yes, you will want to find a position that pays competitively. That being said, salary is only a part of the compensation package.  You need to look at a company’s benefit program, health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunity for growth.  Don’t get so focused on demanding a high salary that you forget to look at the big picture on what the company offers.  Remember, you still need to prove yourself.  At this point, you’re just a kid with a degree.  With hard work, loyalty, and experience gained, the money will work itself out.   

4) Professionalism:  Now is the time to begin showing companies that you are a professional.  Following an interview, always send out a thank you card.  This serves multiple purposes.  If the company is having a hard time selecting between candidates, it could be the one thing that helps put you over the top.  If they go another direction, it can help keep you in good standing with the company for future opportunities. 

If you receive a job offer that you are not interested in accepting, the worst thing you can do is ignore the company.  They took the time to review your resume, interview you, and put together an offer for you to join their company.  You owe them the courtesy of a phone call thanking them for their interest, but politely decline.  While they may be disappointed, they will respect you.  It is never good to burn any bridges.   

5) Have fun!:  This is your chance to jump into the real world.  Do your homework, identify jobs or companies that interest you, and tailor your search accordingly.  If a job isn’t for you, politely decline it.  If you start a job and it is not a good long-term fit for you, position yourself to make a move.  Sometimes you don’t know until you start working.  You are young enough, and early enough into your work experience where you can still find your way. 

But, be careful of becoming a job hopper, as that will not do you any favors in the long run.  And, lastly, if you are in a position to do this, take some time off.  Enjoy a couple weeks in the summer for yourself.  You’ve earned it!  

Good Luck!