The Johnnies Blog

Welcome to the Johnnies Blog—where your college journey comes into focus. Designed for prospective students and their families, this space brings together authentic student voices, expert perspectives, and practical guidance to help you explore opportunities, navigate decisions, and build a meaningful path forward.
Job recruiter reading resume

Is Your Résumé Ready for the Current Job Market? 8 Quick Fixes

Here’s the reality: most student or recent graduate résumés aren’t as polished as they need to be. Maybe the layout is cluttered, the language is too generic, or the impact of your experiences isn’t clear. Employers see so many applications that small issues can quickly push a résumé aside. 

The good news? These are simple fixes. With a few intentional updates, you can turn your résumé into a document that’s clear, professional, and ready to grab attention in a competitive job market. Here are eight updates, shared by St. John’s University Career Services professionals, to help you get started. 

Thomas Rudzewick, President and CEO of Maspeth Federal Savings

5 Financial Literacy Tips Every Young Professional Should Start Now

Landing your first job. Paying rent. Tackling student loans. Whether you’re wrapping up college or stepping into your first full-time role, one thing becomes clear fast: every dollar counts.

When you understand how to protect your money, manage debt, and plan for the future, you give yourself more freedom, not less.

Graudates with back to camera caps in air

How to Build Your Personal Brand as a Student or Young Professional

Think personal branding is just for influencers or people with shiny business cards? Not anymore.

Whether in college, working part-time, or still figuring things out, you already have a personal brand. The real question is whether you’re intentionally building it or letting it develop on its own without your input.

As a university career advisor, I’ve worked with dozens of students and young professionals learning to own their voice early. In this post, I break down what personal brand means and give clear, actionable steps to shape your brand with intention.

Nikki Pebbles-Perretti Assistant Director, Career Advising | St. John's College & School of Education
Nikki Pebbles-Perretti
Student networking with career professionals at a career fair

Level Up: 6 Networking Tips Every College Student Should Know

Networking is more than just exchanging contact information—it’s about building meaningful relationships that can shape your personal and professional life. Like many students, I once believed networking was only for those nearing graduation—something to worry about later. But I quickly realized that it’s one of the most valuable skills you can develop in college.

In this blog, I share six tips on how to network without feeling “icky” or “sales-y.” While grades and extracurriculars are important, building relationships with peers, professors, and professionals can open doors you never saw coming.

Aishwarya Gupta
Two students in professional attire for a career fair event

Future-Proof Your Career: The Top 10 Skills Employers are Looking for in 2026

In today's rapid job market, staying ahead is non-negotiable. Developing future-ready skills is crucial, particularly as the evolution and integration of artificial intelligence and other technological innovations is redefining the business world (and how we engage in it). Upskilling is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but instead a necessity, to enhance your employability and open doors to higher-paying or leadership-oriented roles.

College Student Building a Linkedin Profile with their resume

How to Build an Exceptional LinkedIn Profile: Top Tips for Students

Building your digital branding strategy as a college student is essential for success in today’s professional world. A strong online presence opens doors to internships, alumni connections, and future career opportunities. With platforms like LinkedIn, you can position yourself as a standout candidate even before graduating.

This guide provides insights on building a solid digital brand that converts. It includes examples from St. John’s University students and faculty who have crafted exceptional LinkedIn profiles.

Young female professional
Toni Critelli
College student completing an internship in sports and sneaker culture, organizing shoes on display in a trendy sneaker store.

Your Guide to Careers in Sports and Sneaker Culture

Are you passionate about sports and sneakers? What if you could turn that passion into a career? With the rise of sneaker culture and its deep connection to the world of sports, there are now more opportunities to build a career at this exciting intersection. From design and marketing to athlete partnerships and merchandising, let’s dive into how you can explore a career combining sports and sneaker culture.

Person working on cybersecurity code at a desktop computer, focused on a screen displaying lines of code with cybersecurity protocols and data encryption algorithms

A Day in the Life of a Cybersecurity Professional

The field of cybersecurity is vast and expanding. Cybersecurity professionals work in a variety of fields and sectors. Once you earn a master of science (M.S.) degree in Cyber and Information Security, there are many career paths you can pursue.

If you are interested in one of these careers, you may wonder what a day in the life of a cybersecurity professional actually looks like.