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Advice / Succeeding at Work / Getting Ahead

101 Career Tips You Can Learn in 3 Seconds

We know—you want great career advice, but sometimes, you just don’t have time to read lengthy articles or books.

Well, today, you’re in luck: We’ve distilled some of the best-ever advice on The Daily Muse into bite-sized chunks that you can scan in a matter of seconds.

Or, better yet—that you can share with your entourage! Each tip is 140 characters or fewer, so you can easily copy and paste your favorites to share with your followers all over the web.

General Career Advice

1. A first impression is made in less than 30 seconds. http://bit.ly/R78u8g

2. Want to boost your charisma? Focus on energy and optimism. http://bit.ly/1kbwDoe

3. “You’re always an employee, you’re always representing your company, and you’re always representing yourself.” http://bit.ly/1nMOzX3

4. Rule #1 for dealing with bad bosses: It’s okay to question authority. http://bit.ly/1s2a0Wo

5. No matter where your stress is coming from, it’s not doing you any good—until you learn how to address it. http://bit.ly/RaOMc0

6. Some of the world’s most successful leaders regularly express all manner of emotions, including anger. http://bit.ly/1rZ89zK

7. Work isn’t always about the larger picture; sometimes, it’s about the brown M&Ms. http://bit.ly/1eE1omO

8. Want to get ahead at work? The first step is gaining a loyal following. http://bit.ly/1n4zZwy

9. If you look really closely, most overnight successes took a long time. http://bit.ly/1mYWj8E

10. A job, even a great job or a fantastic career, doesn’t give your life meaning, at least not by itself. http://bit.ly/1kIOgcp

Work Relationships

11. “I’ve been reminded time and again just how far being a little nicer can go in business—and in life.” http://bit.ly/1q0MXOg

12. To really influence others, listen more than you talk. http://bit.ly/1rPifU2

13. Every person you meet is a potential door to a new opportunity—personally or professionally. http://bit.ly/1kIOgcp

14. Someone in a support role—an assistant, an intern—could be the best networking contact ever. http://bit.ly/1hmPida

15. Only woman on the team? Get used to establishing dominance over and over again. http://bit.ly/1iad4Z8

16. When pitching to your boss, look at the cost-benefit analysis from his or her perspective. http://bit.ly/1fEoJ8l

17. Your soft skills—like getting along with team members and being generally pleasant—aren’t an optional add-on. http://bit.ly/1iJgVyc

18. Wise words from a boss: “You’ve got to stop apologizing.” http://bit.ly/SkupK5

19. To be seen as a leader, you must know how to manage changing environments. http://bit.ly/1kyTj07

20. Don’t do every single thing your mentor advises: Sheryl Sandberg didn’t, and it paid off. http://bit.ly/1q0O54q

Finding a Job

21. People who master the job hunt build up the psychological know-how to get through a sometimes soul-crushing process. http://bit.ly/1l7Zygn

22. When it comes to searching for open positions online, big job boards aren’t the answer anymore. http://bit.ly/1iZ4BZ4

23. The first step after getting laid off: Mourn the loss and move on. http://bit.ly/Q0MdrR

24. Love the job you have? Good—keep looking at other jobs anyway. http://bit.ly/1s2f5hI

25. Fun fact: Hiring managers couldn’t care less where you went to college. http://bit.ly/1jqvbyN

26. A tip for getting a job before graduation: Have a resume or cover letter party with your friends. http://bit.ly/1kHB6lK

27. Mistaking a recruiter as your career confidante can mean the difference between getting a position and hitting a dead end. http://bit.ly/1ipi1BH

28. To see which startups have recently raised money (and, um, will be hiring ASAP), follow @vcdeals. http://bit.ly/1s2g4hT

29. To avoid bias in your job hunt, hold off on reading company reviews until you snag an interview. http://bit.ly/1kIKlxv

30. Sending in your resume on Monday can up your chances of landing the job. http://bit.ly/1jqvGJg

Resumes

31. Dear job seekers: Don’t write about your quirky hobbies on your resume. http://bit.ly/1kstbE6

32. Your resume should get very specific when giving your accomplishments. Talk facts, figures, and numbers. http://bit.ly/1moHhYB

33. Want a better resume? Create a “brag” folder in your inbox. http://bit.ly/1nloUVi

34. If you want to tell someone—or the world—who you really are, your resume will never be enough. http://bit.ly/1rZfeAl

35. When first reading your resume, ignore typos and think about the overall message your resume is sending. http://bit.ly/1kFkrwj

36. “Led,” “handled,” “managed.” Just a few words not to use on your resume. http://bit.ly/1kCnKEh

37. With so little space and so much awesome to share, it’s critical to get picky with the words you use on your resume. http://bit.ly/1o2SZt4

38. The story your resume tells about why you’re perfect for a position is more important than your resume’s length. http://bit.ly/Rf0ZMi

39. 95% of large companies use resume tracking systems—and knowing how to beat them makes a difference. http://bit.ly/1fEuCCy

40. Using an interactive and creative resume can be a great move for certain job positions. http://bit.ly/1moGhUq

Cover Letters

41. In your cover letter, employers don’t only want to hear about you. They want to hear about themselves, too. http://bit.ly/1ig9WL4

42. The secret to writing a great cover letter: Pretend that the person you’re writing to already loves and respects you. http://bit.ly/1hmTp93

43. Think of getting to know a company like getting to know a person. What is he or she like? Quirky? Serious? Snarky? http://bit.ly/1q0RdNN

44. To help with your cover letter jitters, just imagine you’re writing an email to the hiring manager. http://bit.ly/RaWuCI

45. Your cover letter is meant to complement your resume—not reiterate it. http://bit.ly/1moGsiw

46. Creepy pick-up lines don’t work in bars. They also don’t work in cover letters. http://bit.ly/1fYqdVl

47. Leave that phrase “To Whom it May Concern” out of your cover letter. Now. http://bit.ly/1i58Nun

48. A salesy tone in a cover letter can overshadow your solid qualifications and make you seem pompous and aggressive. http://bit.ly/1q0Snc5

49. “I won’t pretend your company’s mission is my passion…” started the worst cover letter ever. http://bit.ly/1iKI2wZ

50. Not quite qualified for the job? Don’t apologize for it in your cover letter. http://bit.ly/1iahXRY

Interviewing

51. The first thing to research about a company pre-interview: what makes it special compared to competitors. http://bit.ly/1hYrSKs

52. What to bring to an interview: Three copies of your resume, a few of your best work samples, and a notepad and pen. http://bit.ly/RszBvg

53. Read the fine print of a job description. It’ll prevent huge complications later on. http://bit.ly/Q18BRS

54. Saying perfectionism is your greatest weakness can seem like a cliché. Get more creative and authentic. http://bit.ly/1rBfk18

55. During your next phone interview, do some power poses, stand, and smile—even if no one can see you. http://bit.ly/1lIjHGS

56. In your Skype interview, pick colors that make you pop specifically on video. http://bit.ly/1iaTQCF

57. Look interested: 67% of hiring managers said they rejected a candidate based on a lack of eye contact. http://bit.ly/R92H2o

58. Just because you stumbled across your future boss’ vacation photos online, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to mention them. http://bit.ly/Q19aLi

59. Write a thank-you email and a handwritten card. Hey, it can’t hurt! http://bit.ly/1n7lfuE

60. If you’re following up post-interview, be polite and humble (and avoid sounding passive-aggressive). http://bit.ly/1i1NMk9

Management

61. Companies that have thought about their culture have 17% higher profit growth than those who didn’t. http://bit.ly/1gwpcUp

62. Billions of dollars are wasted every year from pointless meetings. http://bit.ly/1q1feUY

63. 47% of new employees want big projects right away. How are you treating new hires? http://bit.ly/1odv75Z

64. Great advice when interviewing a potential new hire: After a candidate has answered a question, pause. http://bit.ly/1iaUkc0

65. Before you decide whom to delegate a task to, make sure you know what you’re delegating. http://bit.ly/1iZfXw5

66. Want to be a more effective manager? Make sure you’re not making promises you can’t keep. http://bit.ly/1lLGxOB

67. With younger employees, make sure you do non-work check-ins every once in a while. http://bit.ly/1kvV8d4

68. The first step to a successful virtual employee operation is making sure everyone has the same technology. http://bit.ly/1fEZcvD

69. Unsure how to handle employee feedback? Take a breath, swallow your pride, and listen. http://bit.ly/1iL6nCR

70. Want to be like Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh? Be open, honest, and fair with your employees. http://bit.ly/1q1fLpY

Productivity

71. The most productive people in the world manage their energy, not just their time. http://bit.ly/1ntWF6S

72. Either you run the day, or the day runs you. http://bit.ly/1mYWj8E

73. Have a minute to spare and want to be productive? Spend it deleting an app that distracts you. http://bit.ly/1rsNeVL

74. Studies show that self-imposed deadlines are least effective when trying to get things done. http://bit.ly/1eNpAmD

75. Learning how to sync all of the to-do lists from your electronic devices can make you way more productive. http://bit.ly/1kONcd0

76. Changing a couple of the websites you use in the office can make a huge difference in your work life. http://bit.ly/1qBFCzL

77. Fact: Having white space in the office can boost team productivity. http://bit.ly/1iwVuit

78. You can slash the amount of time you spend answering emails by using auto-texts on your phone. http://bit.ly/1kzpj4p

79. Hitting the snooze button in the morning can actually help you wake up faster. http://bit.ly/RbsCGw

80. A poorly designed office could be crushing your creativity and productivity. http://bit.ly/Q1aDRZ

Communication

81. Acing your next presentation could be as simple as a strategically placed pause. http://bit.ly/1n95WUJ

82. Don’t reinvent the wheel: Many emails you need to send have been written already by people in similar situations. http://bit.ly/1fwUkbX

83. Synergy? Disruption? Corporate culture? Your favorite business buzzwords could say a lot about you and how you work. http://bit.ly/1n967zy

84. Dealing with an angry customer? Simply saying the caller’s name can make a huge difference in attitude. http://bit.ly/1s2Wthz

85. Interacting with someone you admire on Twitter starts with finding common ground. http://bit.ly/1n96kmb

86. Want to stop choking under pressure? It all has to do with training the prefrontal cortex properly. http://bit.ly/1jqOp7n

87. The average office worker receives 110 emails per day and spends 13 hours per week writing and responding to them. http://bit.ly/1fYIjXq

88. Rule #1 of conference calls: Make sure you figure out beforehand who is calling whom. http://bit.ly/1nenEDV

89. Ceasing to fear public speaking takes time, practice, and coming up with a plan. http://bit.ly/1kzqxg5

90. Sharing when you don’t know something could actually help you take a huge leap forward in your career. http://bit.ly/1mprooY

Social Media and Blogging

91. No matter what field you’re in, Instagram is a great way to find creativity and inspiration. http://bit.ly/1jqP1Ki

92. Want to get noticed by recruiters? Build a personal website. http://bit.ly/1jMELto

93. Your LinkedIn summary should be around 3-5 short paragraphs, with a bulleted section in the middle. http://bit.ly/1gynguI

94. LinkedIn’s 120-character headline limit is a prime piece of marketing real estate (marketing for yourself, that is). http://bit.ly/1fqTXtX

95. Don’t be afraid to ask your LinkedIn recommenders to focus on a certain aspect of your character. http://bit.ly/1rPGBNk

96. Writing “Following Up from Today’s Event” instead of “Following Up” in a LinkedIn message title may get a response. http://bit.ly/1lLKsLn

97. Even if you’re not job-hunting, post one article on your LinkedIn feed each week. http://bit.ly/1rPGBNk

98. Follow company Twitter accounts to get an early heads up on job openings. http://bit.ly/1od08XP

99. Want to stand out to hiring managers? Create a 140-character resume. http://bit.ly/SxKwEr

100. The easiest way to stalk your contacts and see what they’re up to online? Newsle. http://bit.ly/1ja6APg

Bonus

101. The best place to get career and job search advice every day? @dailymuse. http://bit.ly/1fU5lyt