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the hunt

By Kara McGuire, Star Tribune

Last update: November 28, 2007 - 4:02 PM

Here are some tips from successful liberal arts graduates about landing a job and building a career.

Ask for informational interviews. "Do not be afraid to contact people," Boston Globe food writer Adam Ried said. "People love to talk about themselves."

Intern -- a lot. "They're valuable for helping you figure out what you don't want to do," said JoAnna Hicks, director of development at Ryan Companies.

Sell yourself. Liberal arts grads can write, are creative, are strategic thinkers, and can synthesize a lot of things, Hicks said. The trick is to convince an employer that a women's studies or history major has those skills.

Be yourself. Ried's sense of humor helped him land his Boston Globe gig. His pants split up the back just before he met his future boss, and he's convinced that how he made light of that mortifying situation helped him win the position.

Hate your job? Ditch it. After a few months, Quyen Tran, the owner of the Pacifier baby boutique in Minneapolis, knew she hated her consulting job and wanted to be her own boss. Her current boss was the one who convinced her to take the leap, sharing the following advice: Life is too short to do what you hate.