I am always weary of articles that are clearly trying to make the argument that today is different than 5, 10 or even 20 years ago with regards to almost anything except technology. Until I started writing this post I hadn’t realized how many times I have written/bitched about the topic:
- The Past wasn’t as good as you remember it so get over it
- There were never good ole days when it comes to personal finance
- There are No New Retirement Rules
There are No New Job Hunting Rules
Just like there are no new retirement rules there are no new job hunting rules. There is just the reminder that the rules that existed should not be forgotten. The following list is from Forbes and it is titled, 20 Job Rules for Millennials:
- Keep Working – at something
- Don’t hide in graduate school
- Make Your Cover Letter Sparkle
- Network, Network, Network
- Do what you love
- Go back to College for employment help
- Use the Social Network
- Suit Up
- Volunteer
- Don’t discount the informational interview
- Always follow up
- Apply early and often, but not everywhere
- Use Craigslist
- Never stop learning
- Use the military option
- Pay your bills
- Get a roommate
- Don’t give up
- See a professional
- Save for your retirement
I feel like the list was made after they found 20 pictures they wanted to use. I mean what does getting a roommate have to do with finding a job? or saving for retirement? Isn’t 4 and 7 the exact same? Numbers 6 and 19 also seem very close. I guess 16 rules doesn’t have the same ring.
It isn’t that the list is that terrible it is that these “rules” should be known! Actually, I’d be scared for someone if they didn’t know networking was important (4 and 7).
Evan
Latest posts by Evan (see all)
- Quality vs Quantity over Time? Which Do You Choose - May 20, 2013
- Caring Less about the Financial Stupidty of Others - May 16, 2013
- Empty Pockets? What Are Your Options? - May 14, 2013
I agree! There were good books written a long time ago that are still effective to help you. For example, “Dress for Success” written by John T. Malloy is still good today. It has been updated, but the concept has not changed.
Never read an employment book since I have always hopped job to job, but I agree with you that the basics couldn’t have changed all that much.
Agree here evan – there’s not really much that’s changed wholesale like they want people to believe. I still think that finding a job takes work and some things have made it easier for certain fields (like linked in) but job rules still havent changed.
That is actually why I am so shocked there is backlash about the movement away from telecommuting. Yeah it may be easier but there is something to be said about being in one place with others that have the same goal as you.
Outside of the advent of social networking websites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc), I’m not really sure what’s changed for millennials.
Even the need to feel like you are different than the generation before you is there lol
The Social Networking thing could be an entire article that’s actually useful. Use LinkedIn.com isn’t good enough for a tip. A guide to use it appropriately would be a heck of a lot better. And not the brain dead DUH kind of guide with useful tips for people who have no brain cells like…
“Make connections with people you actually know”
“Put your past work experiences on there”
“Get recommendations from people you worked with in the past and present”
WOW! PURE GENIUS!