Their protest actions may make us feel uncomfortable, annoyed or worse.
But it is important that the general public understands the reasoning that
underpins civil disobedience and why this radical strategy is being deployed
this week.
Law-abiding citizens are right to be concerned about others deliberately
breaking the law to advance their social, political or environmental goals.
But many of the most significant social and political advances over the past
century owe much to that relied on this tactic. Think of Gandhi’s
independence movement against British rule in India, the suffragette fight
for the right of women to vote and the US civil rights movement.
These precedents raise the question: might future societal advances also
demand peaceful acts of civil disobedience?
Civil disobedience: the case for and against
the basic theory of democracy is that we vote on who represents us in
government. In this way, democratic societies are said to have created the
institutions and processes needed for their own peaceful improvement.
So critics of civil disobedience argue that people shouldn’t just break the
law because they disagree with it. They say if you do not like a policy or law,
you are free to campaign for change, say citizens do not always owe
political allegiance to laws and policies that are not produced through fair,
robust, and representative democratic processes.
t. This was the view advanced by American writer and philosopher Henry
David Thoreau in his 1849 essay which inspired both Gandhi and Martin
Luther King Jr.

When a law or policy is clearly unfair, a case can be made that there is a
place for civil disobedience. We must accept that even laws produced in a
democracy get it wrong sometimes.
Will Extinction Rebellion fall on the right side of history?
The Extinction Rebellion is promoting civil disobedience because it says
across the world, governments have failed to respond adequately to
the and the steep decline in . It argues that the political system
underpinning this failure must be resisted, even if this causes
inconvenience to the general public.
The movement’s supporters include 250 Australian academics who saying
they feel a “moral duty” to rebel and “defend life itself”.
It could be argued that the activists should wait until governments take
action. But judging by recent history – including a – an adequate, timely
global response to the climate crisis seems In this case, waiting for
government action means being complicit in an unjust system.
Some people will inevitably dismiss Extinction Rebellion protesters as
troublemakers and criminals. But their actions must be assessed against
them. The world’s best climate scientists believe that if global warming is
not kept below the 1.5°C limit, Earth’s natural and human systems will
suffer dire consequences. The legitimacy of Extinction Rebellion’s
disobedience must be weighed against the wrongs that triggered it.
As Extinction Rebellion causes chaos in our cities, we must avoid
superficial, knee jerk reactions. Whatever your views on civil disobedience,
the climate emergency would be far less serious if governments had taken
action decades ago. Further inaction will only lead to more numerous and
active drives driven by the same mixture of love and rage that provoked
Extinction Rebellion.

Geographic, cultural differences
Considering that populations may be widely dispersed among urban areas
and rural, remote and very remote areas, it’s reasonable to consider
whether these geographic and cultural differences impact how people view
the role of punishment in the criminal justice system.

To explore this, we examined data from 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2015, and
compared variations in answers from urban and rural respondents to a
number of questions dealing with attitudes towards crime and punishment.

The first question asked respondents: “What is the BEST way to deal with
young offenders who commit violent crime?” Those from rural
communities favoured punishing violent young offenders significantly more
than those from urban areas:
The second question asked respondents to indicate their agreement or
disagreement with the following statement: “We must crack down on crime,
even if that means that criminals lose their rights.”
While both rural and urban respondents favoured limiting the rights of
offenders in the name of being tougher on crime, support from rural
communities was significantly greater than those from urban areas:
The third question asked respondents: “Do you favour or oppose the death
penalty for people convicted of murder?” On this query, rural support of the
death penalty was significantly greater than it was in urban communities:
Rural communities ‘more punitive’
We then combined these questions and answers into an index in order to
have a more comprehensive measurement of punitive attitudes. This index
clearly showed that, when all measurements were taken together, rural
communities were significantly aligned with the “more punitive” category
and urban communities with the “less punitive.”
The next phase of this study, which is currently underway, will
consider why those who live in rural areas are so much more punitive than
city-dwellers.

Urban-rural divide in Canada
Our study also highlights that attitudes towards crime and how to control it
may be a central component of these political differences.
For example, we found that there is a significant trend towards a decrease
in punitive attitudes in Canada as a whole. But those from urban areas are
driving that reduction, and the gap between rural and urban communities
on questions of crime appears be growing:
This suggests that we should consider how political values inform attitudes
towards crime and punishment, and how these attitudes themselves

contribute to growing political divisions between rural and urban
communities.

The assassination of political figures in South Africa has a long and horrible
history. That the practice has continued since the country became a
democracy is deeply disturbing.
by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime between
2000 and 2017 ranked one province in South Africa – KwaZulu-Natal –
well ahead of the other eight provinces in killings of people in the political
sphere and the taxi industry.
I have conducted on political violence in the province since 1983. My work
has been of a qualitative nature, using information obtained from my own
research networks, interventionist work with the police, and media reports.
My work, among other things, confirms the close links between political
and taxi violence in the province, with taxi hitmen often deployed in
political attacks. It is a cause for great concern that despite the availability
of information about such activities, little progress has been made in
bringing perpetrators to justice.
According to my statistics, around 90 people with some official standing
have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal since 2015. They were either municipal
councillors, political party officials or, in a few cases, senior municipal
officials. Most of the deceased were affiliated to the African National
Congress (ANC), the party that governs both the province and the country.
No transparency
The inter-ministerial task team investigating the political killings started
work on over 100 dockets in mid-2018. Over a year later, the only known
high profile conviction for any of the 90 murders I documented was secured
by KwaZulu-Natal detectives in March 2019 for a 2016 murder.
There may well have been convictions for the murders of less well known
victims in regional courts which have not been reported. But none have
been reported for the many prominent victims during this period.
From my personal experience, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain
information from the South African Police Service about progress in
criminal investigations.
I have also experienced a lack of transparency relating to the structure of
the task team itself, including who commands it.

I have been able to establish that many people have been arrested. Some
have been released without being charged while others have had charges
withdrawn after appearing in court.
.
A number of examples of high profile cases – some of which were included
in the dockets taken by the task team – show how the justice system is
failing to conclude cases. These include:

Evaluating task team performance
These high profile arrests, followed by subsequent withdrawal of charges,
have led to charges by the provincial ANC and the South African
Communist Party of political partisanship In the absence of empirical
evidence to substantiate claims by the minister of police about convictions
secured by this team, the inevitable conclusion is that their deployment is a
waste of scarce criminal justice resources.

As students’ undergraduate careers come to an end, many are realizing that they will not meet
their goal of having a job lined up before graduation. For some, this may represent the very
first time they did not reach an important milestone they had set out to achieve. For those
who will be graduating this spring or summer, the media is brimming with stories about the
current climate for job seekers and many offer advice about driving an effective job search
campaign. Early careerists seeking a first job have a busy, stressful journey ahead.
Cultivating resilience is essential, as students and grads must prepare for both the positive
actions and negative outcomes that they will likely experience. Developing a framework for
resilience is as integral a part of the job-search process as establishing strategies for seeking
out appropriate roles and opportunities, and expanding their network.
Why is this so important? A career search process will inevitably consist of both positives
and negatives. Job-seekers will experience the triumph of identifying opportunities, creating
applications, and generating interest in their background. But they will also have to deal with
never hearing back about an application, being turned down, and not receiving constructive
feedback. And unfortunately, job-seekers should anticipate that this mix is 90/10, meaning
90% of the search will consist of non-productive, disappointing energy zappers.
Create a Personal Job Search Strategy
One must understand this reality while creating an individualized plan to counteract the low
points and build resilience. Here are some tips:
Mix it up
It is absolutely valuable to have a routine or daily discipline built into your job-search
process, as you need structure. But you should also mix it up, as if you are cross-training for a
sport. If yesterday was spent 100% on networking, make today’s focus industry and
company research. Or, if today you completed five job applications, use time tomorrow to
reach out to people on applications submitted a few weeks ago.

Micro-Actions Make Things Manageable
If any step of the job search seems overwhelming, be sure to break things into digestible steps
or micro-actions. Micro-actions build momentum and energy. Perhaps reviewing an entire
network of 500 contacts to pick people to reach out to seems like a daunting task – so cherry
pick five people that you find interesting and get underway. If filling in one more application
feels scream-worthy, start by only setting up a username and password. Take a walk, and then
come back to complete the rest. Just as a student creates a plan of small steps to prepare for
finals, creating outlines and developing study tools before writing an essay or preparing for a
test, job-seekers benefit from using micro-actions to create a more manageable process.
Build your new community
If you’ve returned home after graduation, approach it as if you just moved to a new city.
Create an infrastructure, as you are used to this from your college years, offering support,
discipline and motivation. Find issues that you care about and work to address them. Seek out
opportunities to volunteer, and work to be an active leader in these organizations. Your
involvement builds new skills and broadens your network with local leadership.
Enlist your troops
Actively enlist the support from family and friends as part of this strategy. Ask for help.
Share specific goals and request that family members check in with you regarding positive
tasks: “How many job applications did you complete today?” “Did you see any new
companies that you might be interested in applying to?”
While families can be sympathetic about the negative outcomes that impact a job seeker,
keep their energy focused on the controllable steps to maintain momentum.
The Gift of Support
If you are the family member of a disappointed job-seeker, recognize the reality of search
process dynamics and acknowledge that the 90% negative zone is hard work. The job search
is like training for a marathon – so rather than focusing on the award medal, ask “How many
miles did you log today?” Family members can certainly contribute to positive tasks as well,
such as building networks and assisting with searches for companies and roles.
Parents or grandparents should also consider the gift of professional guidance and support.
Arranging for career counseling or career assessment tools can be hugely beneficial if a loved
one is puzzled about mapping out meaningful career options; or needs help building a
comprehensive strategy, being accountable as well as executing the necessary tasks with
finesse and prowess.

We are now in July, peak internship season. If you are interning this summer, now is a great
time to review your performance and success thus far. If you approach this process the right
way, hopefully you can parlay this internship opportunity into an offer of full-time
employment after college graduation.
To position yourself as a strong, long-term employee and colleague, you should focus on
these four objectives:
Do Good Work
First and foremost, deliver exceptional quality work. Complete projects thoroughly,
accurately, and in a timely manner. Ask questions about the scope and depth of your
deliverables. If you have creative suggestions to improve your output, it is best to check in
with your manager to be sure there is time and interest in you doing that additional work.
After work each day, think about the skills you applied and additional challenges you are
seeking; ask for more work if you have completed your assignments and have time on your

hands. If you find yourself with unavoidable downtime, keep a positive attitude and use this
additional bandwidth to master aspects of software that you don’t get to explore day to day.
Ask if you can shadow someone else to observe and learn about other roles in the company.
Most importantly, ask for constructive feedback along the way; don’t wait until the end of
summer to get a formal review.
Connect with the Team to Build Your Network
It can be easy for an intern to focus solely on their manager’s interests. While your manager
gives the assignments and guides your work, it is important to connect with other colleagues
and peers, especially if there are other interns and/or new grads. Future employees are
evaluated based on their fit within the larger team and culture. Make yourself known to others
in the company by greeting people in the morning and saying goodnight as you leave. Go to
lunch with a variety of colleagues throughout the summer, using that time to meet individuals
in other departments and learn about the company and their specific functions. Have fun and
get to know people. Get involved if the company participates in volunteer work, or hosts a
softball game or other informal team activity. If there aren’t any activities planned, suggest
something; it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Attending a fitness class or going to a new-release
movie are easy after-hours events with little upfront commitment.
Act Like an Owner
While you are at the company, embrace the experience and demonstrate a “WE” attitude –
speak of the work and the company as if it is your family and you are fully invested in its
success. You may only be expected to work for a short period of time, but behave as if you
are in it for the long-term. Pay attention to what is happening in the news and the firm’s
market or industry. Your team should trust and rely on you. If you are fully engaged in what
is happening, you will be more likely to be given meaningful work projects. Simple ways of
doing this are by arriving early and staying late to ensure you are helping the team finish
time-sensitive tasks. Ask questions about the business, the projects underway and any
changes they are working on implementing. Change can be hard to implement; if your
assistance and fresh perspective can help realize an important change, you will be
remembered for your effort when colleagues are making a future hiring decision.

Pave the Way for Others
Write a job description of your internship, or suggest you update one that may exist. Note
daily and longer-term responsibilities. Add a summary of accomplishments; identify
objectives that were met, what outstanding projects are left to complete, what you learned and
what you feel can be improved upon. Not only will this allow projects to be more easily
continued, and make it easier for successors to pick up the work – this will also be a tangible
memory of your final and lasting impression at the internship, helping set you up for potential
future opportunities at the company. Additionally, colleagues who move onto other
opportunities will remember you and may consider reaching out to you regarding positions
that may be appropriate in the future.

Toward the end of the summer, actively express your interest in a full-time role with the
company; don’t assume that they know. You may be asked to complete a round of interviews;
use your detailed job description to summarize your deliverables, and share what you learned
from your colleagues to showcase your commitment to your team. Even if you realize during
your internship that you are not a fit for the company, remember that these colleagues are
now part of your active network. You might work with them in the future and they might
serve as references for you (or you for them), so try to connect with them on LinkedIn. Make
the most of this experience and enjoy it; you will reap the benefits of an internship for years
to come as it marks the beginning of your professional journey.

The start of any new school year is the perfect time to develop yourself in new ways that will
contribute to your future success in life. Preparing for college in a thoughtful way is far more
involved than stocking up on dorm room essentials. As you get ready for your move to
school, take time to create an action plan that will position you for success. By keeping your
academic and extracurricular involvements balanced, you will set the stage for your
professional career after college.
Whether you are a freshman at a new college, or a returning upperclassman, consider tackling
this in phases in order to strategically prepare yourself for the transition to a future
profession.:
Before You Go
First, focus on what you would like to do. Which activities do you want to continue in
college? Explore the listings of clubs and organizations – consider activities you’re familiar
with, and be willing to try new things. It is essential to do this before you go, since the
options can be so varied it can be overwhelming. Large universities, like Michigan or UPenn,
have 1300+ organizations for students; while smaller colleges, like Bowdoin or Bates, have
100+ to choose from. Once you have a sense of what you’d like to do, you must understand
what the process is to join. Is it as simple as signing up or is there a competitive application
process? You might need to submit a resume or complete an essay or application. Create a

list of possibilities to more deeply explore and start any preparation now, before you get busy
on campus.
Returning upperclassmen, should think seriously about pursuing leadership roles in the
organizations you are already committed to. Taking on roles and projects that will develop
both soft skills and hard skills you will need for future work experiences – experience in
web-design, social media, marketing & communications, and budgeting are all extremely
useful – will make you more attractive to employers.
Next, explore the profiles of your professors in your major. Find out where they came from
and learn about the nature of their research work. This will prepare you to recognize them
and have something to talk about besides their syllabus.

On Arrival
Meeting the people in your living group and other peers in your class is usually a fun
whirlwind of activity. Make time to just get to know people and form friendships. Ask people
to join you as you explore some of the organizations you’re interested in; and find out what
groups they are considering joining. Use orientation as an opportunity to get first-hand
exposure to clubs and other organizations, and to work side-by-side with existing members.
Some schools even host service-learning centers, where counselors will match students with
organizations based on talents and interests.
If you are considering joining a living group, such as a Fraternity or Sorority, learn about the
timetable for that selection process, the costs and the steps involved. This can be time
consuming, and may simultaneously impact your ability to participate in and grow into
leadership positions with other clubs.
If you belong to a religious community, explore the options to be engaged with peers at your
campus. Schools have groups like Hillel and the Newman Center, which have local campus
chapters and international membership. Locally hosted groups can be an opportunity to meet
professionals in your new community.
All of these groups offer further opportunity to develop and hone marketable skills.
Furthermore, by getting involved you will have a chance to meet more people who will in
turn form a foundation of the network that you will carry into your professional career.
Check Point – Are You Positioned for Success?
If you still need to choose or change your major, it is very important to make that a priority
once classes are underway. Many majors have prerequisites that need to be fulfilled to keep
you on track, both academically and professionally. Work with your academic advisor to
evaluate options and create an academic roadmap – planning ahead will give you the
flexibility when you’re an upperclassman to take more advanced courses or even study
abroad. Your residence hall advisor is another valuable resource to help you come up with a
plan that will work well for you.

Taking on a leadership role in an organization is another major predictor of success – but it
takes time to grow into these responsibilities. Get involved as a general member early in your
college career so you’re poised to take on leadership opportunities in the future.
Update your resume and LinkedIn Profile to showcase your new skills. Recruiters start their
internship and job recruiting early, and you never know who might be scanning your profile.

College to Career – Building the Bridge
These three phases help ensure that you make the most of school, academically, personally
and professionally. It’s vital to understand that the job marketplace is ever changing, and
students need to begin preparing for the workforce much earlier in their college careers
(especially compared to their parents). After settling in at school, ensure that you pursue
experiences that interest and develop you, and that will ultimately help differentiate you with
employers.
Learn where recent alumni in your program have focused their careers, and look to other
schools and outside resources for further advice – for example, Georgetown has a terrific site
that offers suggestions for “What Can I Do with a Major In…?” Consider the types of
internship experiences that will help you build a portfolio of experiences for the role you seek
longer term. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do after graduation, but
cultivate some options and focus on developing the types of skills that can make you a
desirable employment candidate.

Fall semester is the time to organize your thinking; not only about your academics, but also
your career plan. Whether you’re a Freshman with the opportunity to thoughtfully approach
college with a career in mind, a Senior who needs to get serious about the job search, or a
student somewhere in between – you can follow these steps to make the most of your college
experience so you can ultimately get hired and launch your career.
Each college year should build toward a successful launch into the work world. At Early
Stage Careers, we work with early careerists to methodically think through their college plan,
taking progressive steps each semester and summer, so they are attractive employment
candidates; ready to launch their careers by the time graduation arrives.
Freshman – Explore and Experience
For younger students, it’s important to start right away – Senior year may be too late to
initially start thinking about a job search. It’s very important to gain foundational experiences
early in college so you are prepared to build on these in tangible ways as you grow older. As
a Freshman, explore every aspect of the school. Examine courses you can take, facilities to
use and what fellow classmates and graduates do. Read the school career outcomes report to
learn where peers have found internships, permanent employment and how many are
pursuing graduate studies. Gather information about your professors – where did they go to
school, what research are they working on – then go talk to them outside of class. Developing
professor relationships now will pay off in the long-run in terms of academics and career
steps. If your school permits underclassmen to attend the Fall Career Fair, go and see who
recruits and for what majors. Attend lectures on a variety of topics, learn about all clubs and
sports, and then pick a few to get involved in.
Don’t wait to start planning for the summer. Consider taking academic or skill building
courses, especially those that offer credentials, and try finding summer employment. A job
does not have to be directly related to your academic field, but should allow you to

demonstrate your responsibility, commitment, and interest in adding value to a team.
Prioritize building skills that employers are seeking.
Sophomore – Differentiate Yourself
As a Sophomore, go beyond your routines and push yourself to do something new. Don’t
limit yourself to the campus activities – look to the surrounding community for volunteer
organizations or companies to intern with during the school year. At this point, you may
have declared a major. Start to plan how you will distinguish yourself in a way that
complements your field of study – this could mean obtaining a minor in another field or
developing hard skills you’ll need for your future job search.
The summer before Junior year you should focus on entering the industry you would ideally
like to join. For example, as a Chemistry major, consider seeking a summer role in a small
chemicals company or lab – you will gain valuable work experience while gauging if the
culture of the industry appeals to you. Additionally, work on cultivating a skill that you can’t
fit into the academic year – you can achieve fluency in a language, improve your presentation
skills, or learn to use a software you don’t have access to at school (or increase your
proficiency level if you have some experience). Consider studying a business concentration
such as project management, which is useful across industries. If you have work or internship
commitments in place, research online programs that can be completed in the evenings.
Junior – Launch Your Career Campaign
Junior year is typically very rigorous academically, as challenging courses in your major will
require disciplined focus. In your clubs and organizations, you should be pursuing leadership
roles or setting the stage to move into those as a Senior.
For your career search, simultaneously focus on seeking a significant summer internship,
while also studying the field of potential longer-term employers. If there are six major
employers you envision working for after graduation, set a goal of obtaining a summer
internship with one of them – this can be a potential bridge to permanent employment.
Research which companies come to campus to do recruiting by looking at the company
website and the schedule published by your school. For target firms not coming to campus,
you will need to do extensive outreach to receive consideration.
As a Junior, prepare deeply for the fall career fairs and information sessions. Research which
firms attend, which ones employ young alumni of your school, and which historically hire
interns in your major. Prioritize the firms you need to speak with. Get dressed to impress and
pace yourself as you visit with each company. Remember to collect business cards from
people you chat with, so that you can follow up shortly after the event by email or by
connecting on LinkedIn, with their permission. Keep track of these connections, as some may
be important people to reach out to in senior year.
Senior – Find Your Future
Entering senior year, plan to spend a portion of each day on your job search. Start now, do
not wait until January. Research and contact companies regarding their graduate openings.

Build a roadmap for your search, leveraging your school’s career outcomes report, your
professors, advisors, the alumni network database and your own personal network (including
your family).
If you learn that a firm traditionally opens its recruitment process at a certain time, track it on
your calendar. Research what types of candidates these employers are hiring for the positions
that interest you – what skills and experiences are they seeking? Be sure your resume and
LinkedIn profile are robust, and that your skills and experiences are aligned with the job
types you are targeting. Familiarize yourself with all types of interviews and practice.
At Early Stage Careers, families often seek job and career search help when senior year
arrives. The first critical questions are straightforward: what are your career goals and what
have you done so far to pursue those goals. If the goals are unclear, or you need direction
shaping them, we can help via our Career Assessment Program. Additionally, we work with
clients to prepare robust resumes and LinkedIn profiles, identify targeted job opportunities,
prepare for interviews, and ultimately help them land the job they want.
All the suggestions made here, year by year, warrant consideration at any time. College is an
investment of your time and resources, so take every advantage of each opportunity. Check in
with us if you could benefit from our support.

For students in the midst of Fall Semester, as well as graduates targeting employment
opportunities, it’s vital to consider the kinds of skills that will increase employability.
Students must think intentionally about how academic work needs to be coupled with
targeted skill-building outside the classroom to help them become job-search ready, and
graduates must develop these skills quickly to set themselves up for job-search success.
Employers who seek future employees will view applicants not only in terms of their degrees,
majors and minors but also, they will assess the specific skills needed in their respective
professional setting.
Job-seekers in today’s landscape must cultivate the traditional workplace skill-sets of their
parents and mentors, as well as develop critical 21st century skills that have emerged due to
rapid advances in technology. As a result, today’s aspiring professionals must do
exponentially more work, and undertake proactive planning, in order to master even basic
skills that will make them attractive employment candidates.
What are 21st Century Skills?
Technology’s impact on the workplace cannot be understated. There is a technology
upskilling occurring in almost every career path, and some skills that used to be job-specific
are now pervasive across industries. For example, the use of programming languages is no
longer the sole domain of computer science majors, and many early careerists find that
companies throughout the workforce are seeking these technical skills, even in entry-level
jobs. This is particularly true given how intertwined the different functions of a modern
company can be. Learning data science skills – such as the languages of Python, R or SQL –
might sound too technical for a person who does not aspire to become a data scientist;
however, some roles will call for collaboration with the data science team, and it pays to be
familiar with these areas of study in order to form effective partnerships.
Prospective job-seekers should also bolster their social media skills to be successful in the
workplace. While the students and grads may have a basic grasp on platforms like Instagram,
Facebook and Twitter, they are likely less familiar with tools such as Google Analytics and
Hootsuite, which respectively measure and analyze activity levels of these platforms and
allow users to manage multiple social media channels.
Additionally, customer relationship tools like Salesforce and Mailchimp, are used across
marketing, sales and corporate communications roles. Collaboration tools such as Slack and
GitHub are used by professionals who need to learn from each other within and outside of
organizations. Business Process Automation tools create robotics applications in corporate
departments of all types including accounting and human resources. Presentation and content
management tools such as Prezi, WordPress, and Zoom are valuable in a variety of
occupations.
It’s important to understand the kinds of skills that will be essential to your job-search
process. Map out a creative approach to developing these new skills. If you’re a student,
figure out how to foster these skills within, alongside, and outside of your college curriculum.
And if you’ve already graduated, make 21st century skill development a daily priority.

What is needed?
An insightful and productive method of identifying necessary skills is to explore job
descriptions for aspirational roles in your field. What skills do employers require and at what
level of proficiency? What skills does LinkedIn score for roles that you find interesting?
Talk to people in the field now and understand the kinds of skills that their company
prioritizes – one useful question is “What skill do you wish you had mastered before you
started your job?”
Start early in this exploration. It is better to be armed with a plethora of useful skills than to
rush to acquire them (or need to mask skill deficiencies) while you are in your active job
search.
Identify Complementary Skills
In order to be a well-rounded candidate, it’s important to augment your academic background
with additional, complementary skills. If you study or studied a technical field, such as
engineering or computer science, consider business skills that you might not cover in your
curriculum. If you are a business or marketing major, jobs you seek in the biotech or
pharmaceuticals sectors may expect some scientific or clinical training. If you are considering
working in a start-up environment, you may be expected to have knowledge of a variety of
social media tools, both on the front-end and the back-end, as well as additional technical
knowledge. Students across academic disciplines can benefit from developing an advanced
understanding of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, or project management software.
How and When to Learn
Armed with new skill specific goals, figure out what resources are available through your
school. Start small – consider obtaining a book or locating online tutorials on the subject you
want to learn. Once you’re comfortable with the basic material, research your range of
options to learn; consider group classes, private lessons, or identify a guide who can get you
started on the basics. If you have secured an internship, find out what training resources will
be available while you are working – large firms often have extensive resources for
employees to master software packages and learn about the complex features of application
service providers like Salesforce or Workday. Some companies like Salesforce and Tableau
will also allow students to learn the basics of their tools for free, to help them develop skills
they’ll need for entry-level positions.
New Skills in Action
Transform your new learning into mastery by finding an opportunity to apply these newly
developed skills. Offer to volunteer or assist in projects on campus, at local companies, at or
for profits to put your skills into practice. Alternatively, find problems and use your new
skills to solve them, creating interesting personal projects to spotlight on your resume.

Once you have firmly developed a skill, you will be able to note the skill on your resume;
stating what you learned, how you applied it, and any outcomes you achieved – this is
valuable information for an employer seeking a skilled resource.
At Early Stage Careers, we help Freshman students, college graduates, and everyone in
between to start building technical skill ideas and options; while also ensuring that clients
continue to cultivate traditional soft skill building in the areas of teamwork, creativity,
analytical skills, and adaptability.If you start early, you can add on to them as new
technologies are created, allowing you to transfer your skills to new opportunities. No matter
when you start building your roadmap, you will be demonstrating to potential employers that
you are committed to continuous self-improvement, and contributing more to meet company
needs; which goes beyond obtaining a degree.

Next week is Thanksgiving, which marks the beginning of holiday festivities that will carry
us through the New Year. The upcoming holidays, and the many gatherings that typically
occur, present a good opportunity to evaluate your networking approach and find ways to get
started or improve in this area. Developing a network is critical to career advancement –
networking connections can help your resume stand-out from the field, help you arrange an
interview with a company, or help you follow-up on an opportunity that seems to have
stalled. More importantly, networking yields benefits far beyond job search efforts – creating
and maintaining meaningful relationships will serve you personally and professionally
throughout your career. Your network should encompass people in your world from every
angle: Personal, Educational, Professional, Philanthropic, and Spiritual.
Bridging the Networking Gap
The concept of business and social networking has existed for ages – it costs nothing to
implement, and requires no special assistance. Yet, it is one of the most frustrating aspects of
career development for people of all industries and all ages, especially early careerists. This
natural resistance to networking is partially due to lack of familiarity – networking is
something that is not taught in school, is not part of any curriculum, and is rarely mandated
by employers. While job-seekers practice other skills like interviewing extensively, even
attending mock interviews, most do not spend any time practicing networking tactics. That
needs to change. At we encourage our clients to embrace networking, using tools like
LinkedIn or Facebook. We help early careerists to see the longer-term value of network
building. We work with our clients to examine who they are connected to, to design
approaches to identify new people, and to forge contacts with people from their past.
Three Steps to Networking Success

Use this three-part formula to overcome resistance and begin networking:
1) Fix Your Mindset: Many early careerists think the act of reaching out to people is
self-serving or needy. Frankly that is not the case. If you have accepted a request from
someone to connect, either via an online tool, or in person, you usually say yes; without
analyzing the request deeply simply because it feels nice to be asked and even nicer to
accept. Expanding a network is a mutually beneficial endeavor; networks create a resource
for mutual development and growth. It is not selfish; learn to be comfortable engaging with
others, even if it includes a little self-promotion.
2) Get Comfortable Taking Micro-Risks: While asking someone to connect via
LinkedIn might feel like taking a risk, there is no downside. Yes, you might not hear back,
but odds are you will. For many people, you are, in fact, already connected; you are simply
asking to memorialize your pre-existing relationship on LinkedIn. Be patient, and do NOT
expect an immediate response, as people pay episodic attention to most things.
3) Build Habits: Take small action steps. You will be networking for the rest of your
life, and building good networking habits is no different than building habits of proper
nutrition or physical activity. Take positive actions to build your network; invest in
convenient, small time increments to regularly focus on networking, such as Sunday evening
as you close out one week and plan for the next.
Habits to Practice
Practice makes perfect? No. Don’t aim for perfection. Simply engage in a set of exercises to
cultivate a growing network, in-person and virtually, using LinkedIn, Facebook, email, a
notebook, or these tools combined. Here are some fundamental steps you can take to
organically build your network:
· Connect Your Existing Tribe: One crucial part of networking is formalizing existing
relationships. Tell people how you are doing and ask to connect. Let them know you were
thinking of them. If you see an article that reminds you of them, reach out and share it.
· Ask About Their Journey: If someone is doing work that is unrelated to where they
started out, for example a lawyer who once played in a rock band, reach out to learn what led
to such an interesting transition.
· Say Thank You: Prioritize sending personalized thank you notes throughout your
job-search process; even for little things like quick phone calls. You can use LinkedIn to send
thank you notes while simultaneously ask to connect.
· Build Bridges Quickly: If you make a connection, don’t wait to follow-up – reach out
online within 24 hours while memories are still fresh in both of your minds.
· Hit the Books: Skim directories of alumni, yearbooks and conference programs to
recall names.

· Ask to Join forces: Networking doesn’t have to be exclusively with people of higher
status than you. Find people in a similar situation to you, such as other alumni in the job
market. Connect and help each other.
· Use Teachable Moments: Make sure to connect with those closest to you – parents,
siblings, cousins, etc. If they don’t use LinkedIn, offer to help them learn and be their first
connection.
· Little Things Matter: Send congratulations and birthday wishes along with a
thoughtful, personalized note. Don’t just reach out when you need something – remember,
the strongest networks are built on real relationships.
· They Are Not Strangers: Ask people to lunch or coffee – make an effort to reach out
to those you don’t interact with otherwise. Try asking the person who held your job before
you, or the manager in a different team that seems to be doing interesting work, or an alum
from your college who joined another department.
· No Walls Between Tools: Building a network encompasses all aspects of your life.
Don’t limit yourself to online connections. The people around you are precious, so plan ways
to connect with them during down time – suggest sharing a meal or take off your headphones
and chat during the commute home. Crosswalk your connections on other forms of social
media with those people nearby.
· Add Value: Networking should be a two-way street – you shouldn’t solely connect
with others looking for ways it will benefit you. When you’re building your network, look for
ways that you can help others and add value to the relationship. This will create a mutually
beneficial relationship, and will help ease some of the discomfort of appearing needy or
asking for help.

At Early Stage Careers, helping our clients overcome internal resistance to cultivating a
network has had benefits that will last them throughout their careers.Networking allows
young careerists to hone their communications skills with a variety of people, and gives them
interesting things to talk about both in interviews and socially. It equips young professionals
to become more effective collaborators, as they might offer leads from their network to others
who are trying to solve problems. Your network might lead you to an innovative inspiration
or new hobby.When you are ready, your social networking platform will provide a place to
create content and share it about matters that are important to you. Networking is a way to
extend and establish your professional foothold, so be sure you focus on developing this skill
as you move into and through your career.

The end of the calendar year usually means a little well-earned relaxation. Students wrap up
the fall semester – putting exams, papers, and projects behind them – and many young
professionals will have some time to recuperate as well. While it’s great to enjoy some time
relaxing with family and friends, and to catch up on much needed sleep, it’s important to use
this precious time to prepare to launch your career anew in 2020. Whether you are trying to
decide what career direction fits your interests, searching for an internship or first full-time
job, or seeking a career transition – these ten steps you can take over the holidays will set you
up for career launch success in 2020.
Job Search Readiness
First, attend to the basics that will make you job search “ready” – set aside time to complete
simple tasks that don’t need to take long, or that can be done in little chunks of time. By
tackling these completely, you will be ready to react when you see an opportunity or chance
to network over the break or as soon as you return to school.

1. Prepare to interview – take time to formulate answers to interview questions. At Early
   Stage Careers, we prepare clients by having them learn and develop robust answers to
   common questions. Small investments of time can help you master the art of conversation in
   both interviewing and networking situations.
2. Get ready for video interviewing – invite a friend to catch up over Skype or Zoom.
   Check if your settings, both on your computer and in your surroundings, work for a video
   interaction. Ensure and test that your microphone and speakers work adequately, and your
   chosen space is well-lit with nothing odd appearing in your background.
3. Plan for individual company research – establish a method you can quickly replicate to
   ensure you fully understand the company and its markets. Also, prepare substantive questions
   that you can ask about a specific company’s products, training and growth plans.
4. Get current on world events – spend a little time each day catching up, especially if your
   school and activities in the fall kept you from staying informed about the news. You need to
   be well versed in a variety of general topics during interviews.
5. Update your resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letter – ensure job search materials
   reflect your end of semester grades, activities, new skills and recent accomplishments. Make
   sure these incorporate keywords that employers use to describe candidates they are seeking
   for targeted opportunities that are right-fit for you. You will now be ready to act quickly
   when you see a great opportunity.

Planning
Next, do some deeper thinking about your motivations and goals; your job search is likely the
first of many throughout your career, so align your search with the parameters that matter
most.

6. Explore your options – think about your skills and what you love to do. What are the
   project and skill experiences that have allowed you to get lost in the moment? We think about
   skills in terms of the employers seeking in the field you are considering. Think back over the
   last several years to see if you can uncover where your passions lie and how they can align to
   business opportunities as you plan your job search.
7. Consider a Career and Skills Assessment – consider completing a career assessment with
   a trained professional if you are feeling unsure of what direction to pursue. Earlier in 2019,
   we explored in our newsletter; many clients find this to be the foundation they need to build
   a successful job-search strategy. This is also a good time to evaluate your proficiency and
   abilities in skills that employers are seeking in job candidates for specific roles.
   Reach Beyond Your Comfort Zone
   Completing your education and moving into your professional life involves learning to push
   yourself, broadening your perspective and engaging with your community. It takes a plan to
   meet these challenges without reservation.
8. Get comfortable being a little uncomfortable – start by networking. If you are not sure
   how to begin, read through our recent Armed with these tactics, actively try to help someone
   else accomplish something. Expect nothing in return, but don’t be surprised if, someday, they
   help you.
9. Prepare to endure – understand that job searching is fraught with ups and downs. While
   you are on break, treat yourself to rest and relaxation. Deadlines, pressure and rejection are
   natural parts of any job search, so focus on
10. Be open to taking positive risks – consider what it might be like to accept an opportunity
    in a new city. While it is intimidating to think about relocating for an internship or new/first
    job, it may be necessary. Consider what living elsewhere might entail. If you can spend a
    little time traveling or simply thinking through the essentials, such as housing and
    transportation options, you might be more open to accepting an interesting opportunity that
    you find, or to joining a company that rotates new hires across various locations.
    If ten steps seem to be more than one can tackle over the holidays or winter break, keep in
    mind that several of them take very little time to complete. Remember, tackling these steps
    while you have a break will be much easier than trying to balance job searching with your
    additional responsibilities when the holiday season ends. Preparing for a well-executed job
    search takes a plan, practice and engagement. Consider finding a partner who can help keep
    things on track and guide your progress. the year to help these early job seekers establish
    mastery of each of these components. Happy New Year and best wishes for successful job
    searches in 2020!

The New Year is filled with new opportunities, and many college students and graduates are
kicking off 2020 with new classes, capstone internships, and full-time jobs. These new
experiences are exciting, and each provides an opportunity for strategic students and
graduates to effectively maximize the outcomes in order to position themselves for career
success.
At Early Stage Careers, we not only help clients get the jobs or internships they want, we
guide them on how to lay the groundwork to maximize these opportunities. Whether one is
starting a new class, internship or job, these are a few areas to invest time in before getting
caught up in the hard work that lies ahead.
The Place
If you’re starting a new internship or job, set aside time to do fresh research about the
organization. Look at anything you can find about the company – try to understand how it is
organized, and what lingo is used to describe its divisions, products and clients. Discover
materials about its history, and make sure you’re familiar with the organization’s mission.
No, you don’t need to read the entire 850-page book about the founder before you start, but
having a grasp on the company’s roots, goals, and trajectory is going to be helpful as you
start to meet senior people on the job.
The People
An experience is oftentimes defined by the people – and it’s important to learn about the
backgrounds of the people you will work most closely with. If you’re beginning an internship

or job, you should be familiar with the backgrounds of your manager, and any senior people
in your area. Use tools such as LinkedIn, and for startups, try Crunchbase or find media
coverage of their founding. Glean what you can – see where they’ve worked before, or where
they attended school. You may discover you share common bonds – maybe you’re both
alumni of the same college – and at the very least you’ll be better prepared with questions for
them as you develop rapport. If your peers or others in your industry participate in
professional organizations, you may want to consider joining – keep in mind, many offer low
rates for early careerists or students.
If you’re starting a new class, learn about the professor’s background and if they specialize in
any areas. Discover the papers or books your professor published, and search for online
interviews. It’s also important to find out if your professor employs students to join them in
their research work, and how you might be able to apply. If your class will be taught by a TA
or adjunct professor, you should learn about them as well – they may have a job outside of
school and by getting to know them, this may lead to future opportunities.
Remember to approach things from a personal standpoint, not just a career-oriented one.
Your co-workers and professors may very well grow to be lifelong friends – by investing in
those around you, you will bolster your personal life in addition to furthering career
ambitions.
Move Beyond Your Job Search
If you’re starting a new position, it’s time to embrace the end of your job search. Turn off the
job alerts and any other notifications you no longer need. Clear the decks on your computer
and email to file away the cover letters, resume drafts and job descriptions you have
accumulated during your search. You can store the important materials – you may one day
reuse some of them or share some with friends looking for similar roles. By eliminating
distracting relics of the search process, you can allocate greater focus to the upcoming
experience you will be beginning.
Preparing For Your Opportunity
In the days leading up to a new experience, you can reduce stress by making sure you’re
prepared for all aspects of the opportunity. Practice the commute or route to your classes to
understand what the journey will be like. Is it really a 15-minute route during rush hour, on
city streets or across a bustling campus? Is the building easy to find, and do you need to
account for any additional time to get to the classroom or office? It’s good to be sure, as you
don’t want to arrive frazzled and tardy on your first day. You may even want to lay out your
clothes for the first day or two in advance, so you have one fewer thing to worry about in the
morning.
Adjusting to Company Culture
Once you are on the job, be sure to follow the culture of the environment, and when in doubt,
choose the conservative path. For example, don’t use your cell phone while at your desk, and
be sure it’s set to silent. If you experience downtime, ask your supervisor how to best
manage that, and find things to do that are company-focused. If you are having difficulty

with anything, don’t be afraid to seek guidance – you can ask questions of those within the
organization, and rely on an external mentor or career coach for feedback on how to approach
delicate workplace situations.
Spread The Word
For a new internship or first job, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to tell friends,
family, and your full network about your new role. Thank them for their support in helping
get you to this important milestone. Your exciting news will likely increase your contacts, as
you hear about other people who work there, used to work there or want to work there.
Overall, having time before you begin something new is a luxury that does not come along
very often in life. Most changes occur unexpectedly and immediately. Use this time to
discover what is most interesting to you about what lies ahead and plan to engage with the
place, the people and the experience fully.

A job search sometimes feels like a juggling act, and keeping the balls in the air – including
job-search tasks, as well as the continuing demands of school/work and day-to-day living –
can oftentimes feel like a struggle. For neurodiverse individuals, the thought of embarking
on a job search can be overwhelming, as it adds complexity and stress to established routines.

Many parents with neurodiverse twenty-somethings have invested countless years in helping
plan and implement experiences that support their child’s development, but may feel at a loss
for how to best assist in a job search. These job-seekers not only need guidance through the
basic steps of job-searching, they also benefit from having someone who can anticipate which
factors in a job-search can be more challenging for neurodiverse individuals and to help
scaffold this process.
For this reason, Early Stage Careers’ team includes professional, experienced counselors that
can share in this responsibility – Janine Rowe and Eric Homburger – whose experience
includes supporting job seekers across a range of needs including Autism Spectrum Disorder,
ADHD, Dyslexia, depression and anxiety. Eric and Janine partner with clients to create a
personalized job search strategy that leverages their strengths and minimizes challenges.
So, what are strategies and steps our Neurodiversity Specialists pursue in order to help
job-seekers who have specific challenges, and what steps can neurodiverse individuals take to

successfully navigate the job-search process? We outline below the steps our coaches take to
help set neurodiverse job-seekers up for success in the job-search process.
Transitioning and The Parent Partnership
Many parents of neurodiverse young people have been actively involved throughout their
children’s lives in providing the support they need to be successful. However, as children
grow older and enter adulthood, it’s important for these dynamics to change. As Eric
Homburger notes, “Young job-seekers are working through a transition from student to
professional; while at the same time, their families are working through their own
transformation from hands-on advocates for the child to behind the scenes coaches.”
Of course, it’s important for a parent to be involved in the process even if a coach is engaged.
Parents have personal insights as to which environments could be a good match for their
child. And when a new job is secured, parents are pivotal to helping their young adult
children work through the transitional challenges, including how health support plans can
work with a new and evolving work schedule. As Janine Rowe puts it, “The role of families
is crucial, particularly in situations where the parents work to address related issues such as
those involving a work-related relocation; housing, transportation and arranging for therapy
with new professionals.”
Career Planning – Before the Search
Before the search begins, we typically consult at length with the client, their parents as well
as therapists and other professionals working with the client, to ensure we are fully
understanding the range of needs. In the words of Early Stage Careers co-founder Jill
Tipograph, who handles this sensitive outreach, “It is crucially important to understand the
strengths and challenges of the job seeker, how their needs manifest, what their behavioral
triggers are, and to get an objective professional’s view on how we can best tailor our
approach as career coaches.”
One struggle some neurodiverse job-seekers have is determining what industries or roles will
set them up to be successful. A Career Assessment can be a valuable tool that helps
students/grads plan for the initial job search and/or determine alternate career goals. Our
career coaches regularly help students identify right-fit career options by helping job seekers
examine multiple factors relating to successful career choice, including prospects for the
career of choice, job outlook, and work environment.
When determining what direction to pursue, Eric Homburger suggests that early careerists
consciously shift their mindset from, “You can’t do this or that” to “What can you do and
where do you want to be doing that type of work?”
Setting a Sourcing and Networking Strategy
Once target roles have been determined, a sourcing strategy is established in partnership with
our coaches. These coaches investigate companies that have a track record of recruiting
neurodiverse talent and organizations that support people with specific challenges. These may
include companies that have programs that specifically provide onboarding and training

tailored to neurodiversity factors, or companies that simply have large numbers of roles that
play to various talents and strengths. Additionally, our coaches are familiar with a wide
variety of valuable resources —they guide job-seekers to use those that will be most
beneficial, narrowing their scope to make best use of valuable time.
While the coach can help in the sourcing of opportunities, they will also work to assist the
young person in ramping up their networking. Most early job seekers are a bit resistant to
spending time on networking at first –Janine points out that she commonly hears, “I need a
job, not a network!” – and so coaches work to help clients see the value in building a
network, not only for this one search, but to establish support throughout the career journey.
Coaches spend considerable time helping neurodiverse job-seekers master tasks of
networking, creating communications, getting comfortable with outreach, and identifying
people who can uncover hidden opportunities.
Interviewing: Put Your Best Foot Forward
Interview preparation is always tailored to the individual, but when neurodiversity challenges
are present, the strategy to build these skills requires expertise. Training the interviewee to
see beyond the literal question and deliver an answer that addresses the underlying “question
behind the question” – offering context and detail that highlight one’s strengths and abilities
to master complex subjects – takes practice.
Coaches also address non-verbal behaviors, including managing eye contact and being
prepared for what to expect at each step of the interview. Our coaches work through and
discuss every aspect of an interview, including what to do upon arrival at the building, how to
deliver a strong handshake, and how to close the meeting with a demonstration of interest in
the role and organization. Lesley Mitler, co-founder of Early Stage Careers, points out that
anyone with executive functioning challenges “benefits from a detailed walk-through of what
to anticipate with a focus on how to be prepared, from clothing choices to the use of the cell
phone.”
We help clients be prepared for the tough parts of the process, including the common lack of
response following rounds of applications, and how to handle feedback when given, so that
future interviews have better outcomes.
Supporting Success on the Job
While getting a job is a major part of the career launch process, successfully onboarding to a
new organization is just as vital and oftentimes requires as much focus. Our coaches work
with the newly employed to understand the importance of getting to know colleagues,
greeting people on arrival and investing time in learning about them one on one. We help
these new employees prepare for the social aspects of the workplace that likely include
interactions outside the company walls, such as after-hours gatherings, or volunteer work.
Planning strategies for how and when to participate in events, versus how to respectfully
decline, can be discussed and practiced with a coach or other mentor.
Perhaps the most important part of the job-support process involves helping a new employee
understand how to appropriately ask for help or raise a concern. It’s vital for young

employees to confront a challenge while they are facing it, and not after the fact. Our coaches
debrief with clients to explore how things are going in early days and weeks, and provide
support so that feedback from supervisors can be implemented immediately and accurately.
Coaches can also help new employees handle the complex decisions regarding disclosing a
disability, including requesting accommodations.
The Importance of Partnership
Partnership is essential during a job search: the job seeker, their family, the career coach and
other experts who help foster skills and abilities come together to help job-seekers find and
secure a right-fit role at a right-fit organization, and foster strong new employee behaviors.
By focusing on long-term skill building while looking for an initial role, our coaches set the
stage for a lifetime of success. We not only help candidates get hired, we help them master
the blend of business and social interactions that is oftentimes a particular challenge for
neurodiverse job-seekers. Early Stage Careers coaches can lend a hand when addressing
challenges initiating tasks, prioritizing how to spend time, organizing the work, along with
measuring and monitoring progress. Let us know how we can partner with you

Interviewing is a vital component of any job search process, and a successful interview is
oftentimes the final step needed to clinch employment. While there are certainly ways to
generally bolster interview skills – at Early Stage Careers we work with clients on of
interview preparation – it’s also vital to tailor your preparation to each specific interview and
company.
By taking the outlined steps below, you can confidently position yourself as an engaged,
prepared, and curious applicant who is excited about the upcoming opportunity.
Get Comfortable with the Context
What is the context for the job you are interviewing? Take some time to look at the industry,
the company, its competitors and the area of the company you will be joining. Look at
everything you can find; positive news, awards and recognition, negative news, and product
issues. Use your search engine and any specific resources that the company makes available
as well.
It’s important to begin with this macroscopic view, because you are not only going to fill a
position, but enter a professional field. It’s important to have a basic, objective grasp on the
industry you’ll be discussing, and the way the company fits into this landscape. What is the
history of this company? If it is the product of a merger or divestiture, or a start up, you need
to be versed in those facts. What are the prospects for this market? Is this industry expanding,
consolidating or contracting? Who are their customers: are they consumers, other businesses,
the government, or some combination of these? Is the company an innovator with very few

competitors close on its heels? Will you be joining a large division of experts, or, taking the
role of soloist in a small company?
Balance your research to understand what the company chooses to publish and highlight in
contrast to what the outside world observes. If you find differences in those perspectives,
these might be questions to raise during the interview.
Fit the Role
Next, focus on understanding the specifics of the role. Examine the tasks, tools and people
involved by creating your own personalized version of the role description. Focus on the core
components of the position – what will you do and who will you work with – and push
extraneous details and perks (like ping-pong tables or a pet-friendly office policy) to the
bottom.
Be prepared to explain how your past work at school, in projects, or at early work
experiences mirror what is described in the job description. Capture short bullets of those
examples you most want to recall. If you realize that you are missing one of the requirements
or preferred skills, be prepared to explain your level of competence and inquire as to how you
could ramp up in that area before you start in the role.
If the job-listing includes skills with specific technologies, you should be familiar with the
purpose of each even if you aren’t proficient. If you are unable to find examples of a listed
technology, it is likely proprietary to the specific firm, which is something you can inquire
about in the interview. To this point, it is important to note that job descriptions are often
written for both internal and external applicants – if you notice any puzzling acronyms be
sure to highlight them, so that you can ask for clarification about the meaning and their use.
If the role involves working with other teams, such as marketing, legal, or accounting, plan to
share any collaborations you have with those specialties. Also, ask if this is the description
for the person doing the job now, or if it is a newly designed role; this may reveal information
about changes going on within the company or team.
Last, if, by chance, you are a dog-loving, nationally ranked ping pong player, aligning with
the company culture, don’t forget to mention those details along the way.
Your Role in “Our” Future
It’s important to understand not only your ability to serve a specific role, but your holistic fit
within the company you are interviewing. Envision yourself working there over time, say 2-3
years – you are about to invest your most precious resource, your time, in the company’s
future, so it’s important to think with this outlook in mind. With this perspective, try to
generate forward-thinking questions that demonstrate your investment. Ask about the
business itself, growth in markets and products. Seek to understand how you might add value
immediately, and how your role might grow over time. Understand how people are evaluated
and trained. For smaller companies, ask about the relationships of more recent hires to the

founders or first round of talent they hired. For a large company, seek to understand if there
will be opportunities to move laterally into other areas, or to new locations.
Write out at least five questions to ask that demonstrate you care about the future of the
company, and your role in that. During the interview, you may develop better questions in the
moment, but these questions are your foundation and will demonstrate both your interest and
preparedness.
At Early Stage Careers, our coaches work with clients on every aspect of interview
preparation. We help ensure that these preparatory steps are managed throughout the job
search process for all types of roles, and help job-seekers implement this method for key
interviews. Remember, there is no such thing as being over prepared for an interview – if
your research does not yield dividends during an interview, perhaps this knowledge might
serve you well in a future interview round (or even during the job, if you’re hired).
Consider that you may be asked, “What did you do to get ready for our meeting today?”
Being able to honestly answer this question to convey the depth of your preparedness, your
familiarity with the company and the role, and the thought you’ve given to your fit with the
company is a major asset during an interview. That answer, coupled with your engagement
during the interview, will help the interviewer picture you as a valuable part of their team,
and may very well lead to a job offer.

What has been your experience with Early Stage Careers?
In a word, extraordinary. The week that jobless claims surged by 3.28
million, the largest weekly increase in history, it seemed like business as
usual for the Early Stage Careers team. Of course, you acknowledged that
COVID-19 would hold significant implications, but, your message was
delivered in the context of positive steps prospective employees should
take now.
I believe the forward momentum you created in my son’s search process,
throughout this economic downturn, has made a tremendous difference in
his outlook. Not simply in regard to his future employment prospects, but
also, and perhaps more importantly, in his day-to-day outlook.

What were some of the services Early Stage Careers delivered?
College teaches us how to learn and it allows us to identify areas of
interest. But, most kids don’t seem to graduate with a clear path forward.
Many young people don’t even know how to begin thinking about a career.
The question looms so large some of them feel overwhelmed.
Early Stage Careers began by interrupting my son’s inaction. It helped him
identify potential career directions based on his unique set of skills and
interests. After that essential first step, followed by resumé preparation and
interview coaching, you directed him to a series of highly useful continuous
education resources. Those classes, which are served up in digestible
modules, are viewed favorably by prospective employers. My son feels like
he’s acquiring skills he’ll be able to apply day one on the job. Each step in
the Early Stage Careers process has instilled in him confidence and a
sense of possibility.
What has the process of working remotely with Early Stage Careers
been like?
I have an interesting perspective on this because we began working with
your team before the pandemic and we continue to do so now that the
Country is largely shut down. New Yorkers do not shy away from major
challenges. Governor Cuomo is a daily example of the candor and
commitment it takes to move forward positively and effectively. I feel the
Early Stage Careers team exemplifies that same grit.
You initiated important conversations as the COVID crisis unfolded.
Embedded in those conversations were two important elements that have
gone a long way. You communicated with an authentic sense of possibility
and you assigned actions steps that focused my son’s attention, making
him accountable for his outcomes. Interview preparation, research into
companies and industries, and even some business writing were among
the steps you recommended. All of this was seamlessly executed on a
remote basis.
The Early Stage Careers team circled around my son when he needed it
most. You delivered tailored advice. Most importantly, your belief in my

son’s employment prospects never wavered despite deteriorating
conditions in New York during this health crisis.

What outcomes can you report?
Miraculously, my son has received responses to his online job applications
during the COVID crisis. Lesley, Jill and the Early Stage Careers team
circled the wagons to help him prepare for phone interviews. They helped
him discover the silver lining in himself and our collective ability to work
together in troubled times. I am grateful, and, frankly, deeply moved by
what I’ve witnessed.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, Early Stage Careers strongly encourages
clients to find ways to contribute time and talent to organizations that need
help. Volunteerism provides an avenue to make a real, positive impact in a
time of crisis. It’s also a way to be productive, expand your horizons and
network, and apply your skills to tangible projects. These developmental
experiences will help you as you pursue future opportunities in the work
world.
Framework for Identifying Opportunities

1. Search for Possibilities

Research what is available in your area or virtually, patterning after
the ideas offered below. To gather ideas, ask family members which
organizations or causes they volunteer with or donate to.

2. Evaluate Opportunities and Organizations
   Before reaching out, consider the reputation and scope of the
   organizations’ work. Does it fit with your values and interests? Will it
   be easy to work virtually? Can you contribute while still practicing
   social distancing? If their doors are closed now, do they need skill
   based, behind the scenes, help preparing for the restoration of their
   services?
3. Offer Your Time and Talent
   Create a short note introducing yourself, sharing a few of your
   relevant skills along with how many hours you have available. Reach
   out to targeted organizations first. Also, consider contacting local
   religious or neighborhood groups, your town council, and
   well-established groups such as the Lions Club, The Rotary,
   Community Foundations, or the director of your public library – many
   libraries are still operating virtually.

Skills to Offer an Organization or Individual
● Digitization Work: Help an organization digitize their training
materials, creating online content or videos
● Environmental Projects: Bird Counts, Beach Conservation, and
Litter Pick Up Projects are outdoor efforts you can undertake while
social distancing
● Fundraisers: Do project planning and design collateral materials for
future use
● Pen Pal Program: Write to members of the Armed Services, the
elderly, or the incarcerated
● Tutoring: Offer video support to parents who unexpectedly need to
homeschool their children
● Volunteer Later: Train now for future service by learning about the
mission of an organization.