A Reality Check for Soon-to-be Grads: Making the Transition from Transcript to Paycheck

• Have briefcase? Check.
• Have new interview suit? Check.
• Have nice-looking resume? Check.
• Have a clue about what employers expect from you? Uh-oh.

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Don't let your "pups" be chewed to bits by the big dogs. If you're in a position of helping students prepare for careers, take this step to make sure they have every possible advantage in the highly competitive job market.

As a student about to embark on a career, your focus is about to undergo a monumental shift. To date, your focus has been on learning and earning credentials that will make your skills attractive to employers. Your focus soon will be on presenting yourself as a must-have job candidate. School may have made you knowledgeable about many things, but it hasn't prepared you for the work world. And your future employer expects you to come to the table having that knowledge.

The "permanent record" of the rest of your life begins with your first "real job." Learn how to:

• Set realistic expectations
• Make a great first impression
• Dress appropriately for work, regardless of the organization's atmosphere
• Ace an interview
• Get through a business dinner without being shuttled to the children's table
• Improve your communication skills
• Keep your chin up when you’re feeling down
• Get ahead by fulfilling and exceeding employer and customer expectations

Nuts & Bolts for Newbie's

You're new to the work-a-day world. Fresh faced. Champing at the bit. Eager to dig in and make a difference. The enthusiasm and energy younger professionals bring to the table can be refreshing. But mentors are in short supply today, so figuring out how to be a true "professional" can be elusive. Consider this presentation your personal guide to finding your way through the twists and turns of the 9-to-5 maze. Your employer will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that it's safe to unleash you on customers and the outside world.

You will learn:

• What your employer expects from you … and assumes you know
• What your employer fears most about you
• How to convey "experienced" … even when you're not (or how to avoid the deer in the headlights look at your first big client meeting)
• How to give a winning handshake – one pump or two?
• How to start networking and make valuable personal and professional connections
• How to get noticed for raises and promotions – and stay under the radar to avoid the ax
• How to master the art of small talk – easy "starter" topics for the conversationally challenged; topics to steer clear of
• The 411 on office romance, alcohol consumption at company functions, dining etiquette (can you eat that triple-decker club gracefully without drawing negative attention your way?)
• Workplace do's and don'ts on topics ranging from calling in sick to gender differences and leaving a job gracefully

Do You Hear What You Are NOT Saying?

More than 93 percent of what others believe about you is nonverbal. Words alone convey only a fraction of your overall message. It's what you communicate without a saying a word – your body language and tone of voice – that communicate your true feelings and reactions to others. Are you aware of the way you present yourself? Take a close look at all aspects of your communication:

Learn how to:

• Stand, move and speak with authority and grace
• Establish boundaries
• Read and respond to others
• Communicate with greater impact
• Respond sensitively to others
• Project confidence and poise
• Negotiate with power

Dodge the Booby-trap! The Rules about Taboo Topics that No One Will Tell You

There are unspoken expectations in every workplace, and every office has its own sense of protocol, both explicit and implied. The written protocol is easy enough to access and comprehend. The implied protocol is a potential booby-trap for many people. "How can I know these things if no one will tell me?" In this presentation, you'll learn what your employer wants you to know – may assume you know already – but is too uncomfortable to say outright. Successful professionals know these things and so should you. This is your chance to be "in the know."

Topics include:

• Inappropriate workplace attire
• Gender differences and realities
• Office romance
• Mixing work and play
• Dealing with difficult people
• Adapting to change, even when it is affecting you
• The office "family"
• Gossip