[SixFigureStart] June 23, 2008 Newsletter/ TIP OF THE WEEK: HOW TO MARKET A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION http://ezezine.com Founded by two professionals with over 40 years of combined HR and business experience, SixFigureStart provides the support and the structure to enable you to get the most from your career and your life: Identify what you want – passion, balance, legacy Build a strong brand – resume and cover letter, presentation skills, online presence Communicate effectively – networking, interviewing, negotiating Navigate for the long-term – promotions, lateral moves, mentorship If you have friends who may want to join the distribution list, please have them visit http://home.ezezine.com/2034_2/ to sign up. You can also see previous newsletters at that link. TIP OF THE WEEK: HOW TO MARKET A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION By Connie Thanasoulis I graduated from New York University with three things: 1 - a BA degree in English Literature, 2 - no clue of what career I wanted, and 3 - no plan to get started searching for a career. Nonetheless, ten years after I graduated I loved my work and was earning over $100,000 (remember this was the early 1990s) and six years later I was making over $200,000 and a couple of years after that, just under $300,000. If you have a Liberal Arts education, it's my goal to slice years off of your quest to have both a rewarding career and to earn the income you want. In fact my partner and I started SixFigureStart to do exactly that -- give you the information and the power to springboard into a career that excites both you and your bank account. Here are five tips: Tip #1: A liberal arts education teaches a student how to learn by thinking through issues. And what firm wouldn't need someone to do this, on a daily basis?! So when you interview, ensure that you give specific examples of how innovative you can be, even if it's in a non-business environment (e.g., raising money for a charitable event). Tip #2: A liberal arts education has variety so you can go anywhere and do anything. The benefit to a company here is that you are not limited by a specialization. In my first position at Citigroup, I was in a marketing group and was expected to think up new and better ways of marketing our product. I cringed when I was asked to create revenue analysis from our eight retail centers. But I dove into this, checked the information two and three times, asked others to proof it, and by the time it went to my boss, it was in great shape. I even suggested a more effective format which was adopted. It was a huge confidence booster, and I now felt just as comfortable with numbers as I did with creative marketing ideas. Tip #3: Show your passion for the major you chose. I LOVED English Literature, especially 18th Century English Literature, but how could I possibly sell that to Citigroup? When I interviewed with them, I described why I specifically liked Beowulf and compared one of the characters to Ripley in the movie Aliens, because both where driven and defined by their maternal instinct. I made a connection that surprised the interviewer -- one that was passionate, genuine, colorful and different. Tip #4: Know and embrace your skills as a Liberal Arts major. Liberal Arts majors know how to communicate, both verbally and in writing. This is critical to any business. I can't tell you how many business majors lack the common writing skills necessary to produce an effective email. During the interview, talk enthusiastically about a project you worked on that showcases your communication skills. Perhaps, you wrote the final project report, compiled feedback from other team members, or presented the final version to the class. Effective communication is the backbone of any business and any firm that cannot do this will fail. Tip #5: Your resume should proudly state your Liberal Arts skills: problem-solving, creative thinking and communication skills, teamwork and leadership, the ability to conduct research and organize it effectively, evaluative and critical thinking skills, and the ability to meet goals and deadlines, while managing time effectively. Remember to connect these skills to specific achievements. All businesses consider these skills critical to their success and would embrace any candidate that can demonstrate them effectively. Connie Thanasoulis, co-founder of SixFigureStart, was former head of campus recruiting for Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and Pfizer. Schedule a complimentary consultation with a SixFigureStart coach at 212-501-2234 or email info@sixfigurestart.com. UPCOMING EVENT: FREE* TELECLASS ON Tuesday, July 1, 6p EST How to Find A Job In A Difficult Market Should your job search strategy be different in a tough economy? Is a career change unthinkable right now? Should you focus on hanging on at your current company or start looking just in case? Join this free* 45-minute teleclass to explore your job search options in a difficult market. Hear from Caroline Ceniza-Levine, co-founder of SixFigureStart and former executive search and corporate recruiter. Learn how the hiring process really works. Space is limited. Email info@sixfigurestart.com to register and get the call-in details. *For free teleclasses there is no charge for the class, but you are responsible for any long-distance phone charges incurred to access the conference phone line. If you have friends who may want to get the SixFigureStart newsletter, please have them visit http://home.ezezine.com/2034_2/ to sign up. You can also see previous newsletters at that link. All information is copyright © SixFigureStart 2008