Today is my birthday. I’ve never made a big deal out of it in the past, and don’t plan to do so today. I’m having a party, but it’s not really for me — it’s for you.
Tonight is the official launch party of GoodieRecruit, a next-generation recruiting service for the next generation — and there are still tickets available. (So, if you’re in the Washington, DC area, please join us!) GoodieRecruit will be a new service of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. You can find out a whole lot more about what GoodieRecruit means for Generation Y candidates and those who employ them here.
But it’s not just GoodieRecruit we’re celebrating tonight. If you haven’t already heard, my first published book, #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle, is now available. The first 50 candidates in attendance tonight (we’re a little overbooked) will receive a free copy. (Can’t attend? Purchase a copy for a chance to win free stuff.)
But wait, it gets better. My friend and colleague Lisa Orrell, The Generation Relations Guru, flew into town for the occasion and is giving away her new book, Millennials into Leadership: The Ultimate Guide for Gen Y’s Aspiring to Be Effective, Respected, Young Leaders at Work, for free to the first 50 candidates, as well!
Don’t worry employers, I haven’t forgotten about you! Last but certainly not least, another friend and colleague, Alexandra Levit, shipped copies of her fabulous new must-read, #MILLENNIALtweet: 140 Bite-Sized Ideas for Managing the Millennials, which will be raffled off throughout the event. She will also be speaking live from Chicago via Skype about why she wrote the book, why you need a copy and a few tips from it. I can’t wait!
Some tips for candidates in attendance:
- Bring business cards. In a review of my book, Joshua Waldman provides some tips about what to include on them. Even though it’s last-minute, you can purchase a business card kit at your local Staples, Office Depot, Office Max or similar store. (For networking events in the future, I highly recommend VistaPrint.)
- Prepare your elevator pitch. There will be employers in the room, so know what you want to say! An elevator pitch is essentially 60 seconds or less about what you’re looking for and what makes you “unique.”
- Leave your resume at home. Resumes are extremely bulky for networking events, so don’t bring yours!
For more networking tips, be sure to read my previous Examiner.com columns on the topic.
Hope to see you — both candidates and employers — tonight!
