New Rule’s Timing Couldn’t Be BetterOn January 29, 2010, federal regulations were issued regarding parity in mental health and substance abuse insurance coverage. What it means is that employer group health insurance plans (of companies with over 50 employees) will now have to offer the same coverage for mental health and drug abuse treatment as they do for medical illnesses.
Selected by gradversity
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Jobacle
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Parity for Mental Health Insurance Coverage
8 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am -
Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz Resigns; Tweets Haiku
4 Feb 2010 | 9:38 amTechcrunch reports that Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz has resigned from his job via Twitter. Today’s my last day at Sun. I’ll miss it. Seems only fitting to end on a #haiku. Financial crisis/Stalled too many customers/CEO no moreI guess when you're a CEO, you can get away with it. But if you want to exit the right way and quit your job with class, you need The Exit Guide: How to Quit a Job the Right Way. Included are some great resignation letter templates. Schwartz might be out of a job, but we're sure he can spare a few bucks to buy a copy. -
Super (Unemployment) Bowl
4 Feb 2010 | 7:17 amThis weekend there will be about 20 people at Jobacle HQ watching the Super Bowl. We'll all be chowing down on chicken wings and pulled pork sliders, shushing each other as the first commercials start to play.At an average cost of $2.6M for 30 seconds, everyone from Anheuser-Busch to Walt Disney will be jockeying for our attention.We'll all muse over the cost of these ads, a figure, which quite honestly, is incomprehensible to me and my middle class friends.The out-of-work construction worker will laugh; the unemployed teacher might chuckle. And my friend's dad, who's worked… -
Choose Not to Fly Your Freak Flag at Work
3 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amWhen Not Fitting in is a Good ThingIn a recent post, “VIDEO: Pains in the Office,” Andrew gave some terrific examples of stereotypical rude co-workers and how they drive us nuts. I’ve always been thankful that at least they seem to be in the minority. But an article in eWeek.com, “Four in 10 Workers Say They Don’t Fit in with Peers,” tells us that it’s possible most of us are outnumbered by these characters. The article points out how one “bad apple” in a work group can “spoil the “barrel” and have a negative affect… -
Reality Check: Work Fire Drills FAIL
2 Feb 2010 | 7:01 amShouting fire in a crowded theater could land you in jail; yelling 'fire drill' at work is a big, fat, colossal fail. While an exciting and welcome change of pace in fourth grade, workplace fire drills are a time-wasting distraction in the corporate culture. Before my inbox gets jammed from fire survivors, let me preface this post by stating I am not anti-fire drill, nor am I pro-fire. I just think the methods employed by most organizations are laughable.THE TRUTH ABOUT WORK FIRE DRILLS1) Don't give me a mandatory meeting place in the event of a fire. I understand that…
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Blue Sky Resumes Blog
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What Posh Spice Knows About Starting a New Gig
13 Jan 2010 | 3:12 pmBefore Tuesday night’s American Idol premiere, I knew precisely 3 things about Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice): 1) She used to be the in Spice Girls. 2) She’s married to David Beckham. 3) She’s a clueless and cold-hearted clothes hanger with no personality. I have no idea where I got that last one from because I have never paid the woman one iota of attention, but there it is, in my brain anyway. Or there it was until Tuesday night when she appeared as a guest judge on my favorite guilty pleasure TV show. And then a funny thing happened … I found I kind of liked… -
How to Resign With Class
12 Jan 2010 | 2:23 pmIf you’ve been following the entertainment news over the last few days, you’ll know that NBC plans to deal with the failure of Jay Leno’s new show by giving him his old time slot back and pushing Conan O’ Brien’s Tonight Show back to after midnight. Not surprisingly, Conan isn’t happy with this. He’s been waiting to take over the Tonight Show for years - indeed, he had a contractual agreement with NBC to do that. And he apparently turned down offers over the years in order to inherit the famed Tonight Show. So now to have his show pushed back just to… -
It’s All in a Name … or Is It?
7 Jan 2010 | 2:21 pmI’m happy to be one of CareerRealism’s Twitter career experts. We answer job seeker questions in 140 characters or less, but today’s question seemed to call for a more detailed answer. Here it is: I am in job search mode, and have decided to take the opportunity to transition into another field. It is a role I have performed in the past but not titled. Advised by professionals/experts in the field, that it is feasible. However, although my targeted resume has gotten to the hiring managers, and even some interviews, I do not get offers because I lack experience. How do I find… -
How to Find a Job in Just 18 Minutes a Day
30 Dec 2009 | 5:46 amAccording to the US Department of Labor, the average job seeker spends 18 minutes a day looking for a new job. It would be great if I could fulfill the promise of my title and tell you how to succeed doing the same, but of course I can’t. Because 18 minutes a day IS NOT ENOUGH! Until I replaced my PC a few months ago, it took about that long for it to warm up in the morning! My hobby is drawing and I’m currently working on a still life done in colored pencils. I’ve spent more than 18 minutes on just one of the grapes! My big business project right now, as some of you know,… -
Advice to a Friend on Starting Her Business
22 Dec 2009 | 5:41 amI was emailing back and forth with a friend the other night who is starting up a small business. She was struggling with writing copy for her website and wanted to know what I thought. Seeing her agonize over the process reminded me of something a very wise ex-colleague said to me when I was getting to ready to launch my business. I had gone to him for an opinion on our business plan. He said: There are two things you need to know: 1) Everything will take longer and cost more than you originally think. 2) You will never get it right the first time, so you might as well just get started and…
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What Would Dad Say
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Things We Say in Minn E Soda.
5 Feb 2010 | 4:35 pmI am not from here originally, but I admit that I say “U betcha,” which is very Minnesotan, maybe Norwegian. We are also fond of ending sentences with with. As in “we are going to the bar to watch the Super Bowl, want to go WITH?” (u betcha!) What are the things you say in your state or hometown? As for Brett Favre, I hope he comes back. If he does he will become the ONLY PROFESSIONAL PLAYER EVER IN ANY SPORT to have his jersey retired by two teams. (Packer snd Vikings) The above billboard was put up in Brett’s hometown in Mississippi, Hattiesburg, and… -
LinkUp vs The Government Jobs Report: We Called It. Again.
5 Feb 2010 | 6:49 amWell, we (LINKUP) called it. Again. Two days ago, ahead of the ‘official’ Department of Labor report issued at 7:30 am CST this morning, @TobyDayton released the LinkUp numbers showing a dramatic improvement in the jobs report for January. Most pundits, networks, bloggers and followers were on the other side. Cretins. Never go against LINKUP. January’s jobs report from the Department of Labor is scheduled to be released later this week and based on data released this morning by LinkUp, Friday’s report will show that the job market improved sharply during the… -
Money Mules, JobSeeker Victims and the American Way
29 Jan 2010 | 7:39 amGenerally speaking it is not a good idea to even mention a competitor. Even bad PR is still PR. But it is hard to stand by and watch job seekers get taken to the proverbial cleaners by people in the industry who profess to help them. A few days ago, JT O’Donnell had @TobyDayton and me on a webinar talking about How To Use a Job Board. There were lots of questions, mostly about the bad practices of some of the job boards. It was sad to hear the experiences of these job seekers who are frustrated and angry. After the session I received a call from a CEO in our industry, who runs… -
Luckily, THIS Will NEVER Happen Here in USA
27 Jan 2010 | 1:25 pmFrom today’s Daily Mail, Jan. 27, 2010 -
Jacob Share’s 117 Funny Job Ads
27 Jan 2010 | 6:45 amMy friend Jacob Share just posted 117 job and recruitment ads. Hilarious. There are ten or so here, but please, jump over to his site to browse through them all. It will brighten your day.
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Sweet Careers
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Free resume review service update
7 Feb 2010 | 4:27 pmDue to health concerns related to my pregnancy, I have had to be hospitalized. As a result, I am unable to continue the resume and cover letter review service at this time. I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this causes any of you. Please know that I hope to eventually have the free service up and running at full capacity, with the addition of more services, later in 2010. -
Find Your Recruiter and Find Your Job Vol 4
30 Jan 2010 | 11:11 amGuest Author: CareerAlleyWebsite: http://careeralley.com"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife." - Daniel BooneSo what does a telescope and Daniel Boone have to do with Recruiters and job search? It's all about leaving the search to the experts and while you don't need to be Daniel Boone to find your next job, you should leverage the search experts to help you find your way. Many times (although not always), recruiters have job opportunities that have not been advertised (either in newspapers or on job boards). This is true not only for the high level… -
What Matters Now
26 Jan 2010 | 6:31 pmGuest Author: Emily Bennington is the author of Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job. She hosts a popular blog for career newbies at www.professionalstudio365.com and can be found on Twitter @EmilyBennington or via email at ebennington @ msn dot com.Inspired by Seth Godin’s recent e-book “What Matters Now”, I decided to give the topic some thought myself. What better time to ponder these questions than at the start of a new year, right? If I had been invited to participate in Seth’s book (I wasn’t), I would have written about something… -
The Top 10 Worst and Most Common Interview Mistakes
19 Jan 2010 | 8:03 amGuest Author: Nikki Ruth, CV writer and founder of job interview coaching company My CV and Me. Nikki has over 10 years experience conducting job interview coaching and she is an active blogger.Website: My CV and MeA big part of a successful interview is avoiding simple mistakes. Below are some of the worst and most common interview mistakes that even the most intelligent graduates make and how you can avoid them.1. Not being prepared - If you really want the job, you need to do some homework. There’s no point in turning up on the day and crossing your fingers. You need to show the… -
The Seven Deadly Sins of the Job Search - Lusting After the Wrong Job
12 Jan 2010 | 10:24 amGuest Author: © Copyright, 2009, Nicole Dukehart. All rights reserved. Used with Permission.Website: http://thejobawfultruth.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/the-job-awful-truths-the-7-deadly-sins-of-the-job-search/Your “dream” job is available, you’ve crafted a fantastic resume, sent it over to the proper contacts and now all that you hear are the crickets chirping! Could it be you are lusting after a a job you really want, but are not yet qualified for? How realistic is the focus you have on the position you are entertaining? Are you maybe a little overzealous about this new position, so…
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Punk Rock Human Resources
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Job Do-Overs
9 Feb 2010 | 3:45 amI wish I could have a do-over of an experience in 2007. I worked for a VP of HR who was losing his job in a company-wide reorganization program. I had one foot out the door, too, and there was no love lost between the two of us. I spoke my mind. He spoke his. It was a sad level of dysfunction, and I never missed an opportunity to be a bitch for the sake of keeping myself entertained. When it was confirmed that the VP of HR was scheduled to leave, one of my colleagues asked me to take a professional portrait as a gift to the VP. My picture would be included as part of a larger departmental… -
Rejection
8 Feb 2010 | 6:45 amJess left a comment on my blog that I wanted to share with you. What I’m disgruntled about currently… is the long online application process of many organizations. I’ve spent upwards of 6+ hours for a good job submission… carefully constructing my cover letter, researching the company a bit, tailoring my resume to that position, crafting essays…. taking online personality tests, skills assessments, etc. Only to hear nothing. Or to receive a generic email two months later that the position was not created. I understand why the online submission process is lengthy… but after… -
Monday Morning HR Humor: New E*TRADE Baby Commercials
8 Feb 2010 | 3:45 amLast year, I hailed the arrival of the E*Trade Baby commercials as the savior of the Super Bowl. This year? You tell me. Whaddya think? Do you like these new commercials or is E*TRADE trying too hard? -
Sunday Shout Out: Jennifer Hughes
7 Feb 2010 | 3:45 amHappy Sunday! I want to recognize my friend, Jennifer Hughes, who works in the Public Affairs/Media department at SHRM. Jenny has been a supporter of Punk Rock HR since I first started writing this blog. (I hope that doesn’t get her fired.) She is so helpful when I need information and data from SHRM. Whenever I can’t figure something out, Jenny is there to lend a hand. Some people wonder why an anti-establishment blogger would remain an active member of a large HR association — and it’s because of women like Jenny. She makes that organization great. Jenny, you are… -
Guest Post: UNC Grad Seeks Non-Lameass Job
6 Feb 2010 | 3:45 amToday’s post was sparked when I saw an ad from James Diagle on Facebook. I’d like to thank Laurie for the opportunity to guest post on Punk Rock HR. Laurie clicked on one of my Facebook ads that I use to drive traffic to my job search website, and was kind enough to let me share with you all how my job search has gone so far. I’m a December, 2009 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications, and I’ve been looking for a job for about two months. I started my search about a month before I graduated. Like a lot of people, I posted my…
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Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist
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Check-up for self-delusion
7 Feb 2010 | 9:41 pmIt’s unbelievable to me that everyone continues to watch football when we know that men are getting genuinely, permanently, brain damaged. The game is tantamount to cockfighting, only with people instead of animals. The NFL has finally admitted the problem, to the extent it is poised to be the largest funding source for research about trauma to the brain. But still, the game encourages brain trauma. And people cheer. I can understand if it’s like smoking. You’re addicted, you can’t stop. But what about bringing your kids to the game? What about all the people who make the Superbowl a… -
Chat with me tonight, live, via video.
3 Feb 2010 | 7:43 amIs this even a good headline for a blog post? I don't know. Do you want to know what I'm like unedited? Read this blog post. I never post unedited, but my editor has a day job, and he has no time to deal with manufactured emergencies like this one, so I'm just posting this post as is. I'm supposed to be doing a web chat thing tonight. I had this idea that this would be a good format for me. And I had this idea that I could stick to a schedule. But look. It's the day of my video chat and I have not even announced it. Because I'm nervous. I'm nervous about a… -
Frugality is a career tool
1 Feb 2010 | 11:02 amI have earned a lot of money in my life. But I have never had an extravagant life. I don’t own a house. I’ve never bought a new car. I’ve never bought a new piece of living room furniture, and I do not own a single piece of real jewelry. What I have spent money on was always intended to help me with my career. That was so I know that I can always earn money doing something I love. I leased a BMW when it was clear that that mattered when it came to making deals in LA. I hired a stylist when I realized my clothes were holding me back in NYC. In Madison I have tons of household help so my… -
Being an expert takes time, not talent
28 Jan 2010 | 9:39 pmI've been walking around with the July/August 2007 issue of the Harvard Business Review constantly, for close to three years. Sometimes, if I’m getting on a plane, I’ll put it with the other heavy stuff into my luggage, and then get it out later. When my last car broke down in the middle of an intersection, I got the magazine out of the trunk before I abandoned the car. The article that I’m attached to is The Making of an Expert by Anders Ericsson, Michael Prietula and Edward Cokely. I would not normally bother to tell you all three authors for one article in my blog. This is not a… -
Workplace news you cannot use
25 Jan 2010 | 8:23 pmI collect data points constantly, and I index them by topic, and I always hope that they will come together in an interesting, useful way. Lots of times, that doesn’t happen, and I just have to throw ideas away, because I have a rule for myself that I have to be useful in every post. But today I’m trying something new. I’m doing a post that is useless to you. Here are four ideas I was just about to toss out as incurably useless, but instead, I bring them to you: 1. Law firms are making concessions for women. One of the top law firms in the world, Allen Overy, just announced they are…
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Brazen Careerist
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Millennials Want to Start Families
9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 amThe USA Today says that Millennials are more cautious about getting married and starting families than previous generations. According to the USA Today, “The average age of first marriage is now almost 26 for women and 28 for men. And a growing percentage of Americans aren’t marrying at all: Provisional federal statistics released Tuesday report 7.1 marriages per 1,000 people in 2008, down from 10 per 1,000 in 1986.” But caution doesn’t mean that Millennials don’t want to start families. In fact, two of my favorite Millennials are starting families as we speak. The first is my… -
Fallen Off the Career/Job Search Wagon?
9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 amThere are something like 15 million people out there right now without jobs. I believe the average length of the job searcher is 7 months unemployed. Luckily things are turning around, and jobs are being created, but it has led me to be thinking about this 7 months marker. When I graduated 5 years ago, a number of my friends already had jobs lined up. I started looking after commencement and was employed within 2 months. I'm pretty sure marketing majors are getting scooped up now like crazy with their new-found social media skills, but what about everyone else? How long are newly educated… -
Life. Is. A. Secret. Game.
9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 amI sit. Thinking. Smiling. Reflecting. Wondering… About all of the people, the moments, the times that have changed my life. How did my path lead to where I am? Why do I feel so fortunate for everything that I have? Why am I typing and smiling so cheesy that the coffee shop barista probably thinks I am in love with this crack box called a computer? Because it is incredible, but realize, it is a game. A game of inspiring and enabling others. A game of doing the unexpected. That’s it. The UNEXPECTED. Many of us do what is asked of us. That’s not a bad thing per say. Imagine if… -
Deliberate vs. Situational Job Seekers on Twitter
8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pmI believe there’s a lot of untapped gold on Twitter when it comes to searching for job candidates. The thing you need to keep in mind is that there is more than one type of job seeker on Twitter. Here are the two types of active job seekers I’ve noticed on Twitter: The Deliberate Twitter Job Seeker The Situational Twitter Job Seeker The deliberate twitter job seeker is the person who has written in their bio line that they are looking, whereas the situational twitter job seeker is one who might tweet that they dislike their job or want a new job after a frustrating day at work. -
5 Ways to Not Be a Complete SAP on Social Media
8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pmMaybe… I am just in a bad mood. Maybe… I am just upset because the Colt’s lost the Super Bowl last night. Maybe… I am just being honest and open with my opinions… whether right or wrong. Either way… I have a bone to pick with a certain group of people that use social media. I am going to preface this by saying that I have also been guilty of this activity and have been trying to change my ways… There are a certain group of tweets, status updates, and posts that are sent out every day that consist of what I call “The Tony Robbin’s Smile Tweet-Post-Update.” If you are…
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About.com Job Searching
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What You Shouldn't be Asked in a Job Interview
8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pmWhen I was interviewing for one of my first jobs, the company wanted know if I was married, and wanted to meet with my husband to be sure he didn't mind the travel involved. After I got the job, we had hiring criteria for the people who worked for me as part-time merchandisers, including being a married woman whose kids were in school, with time available mid-day to work, and who only needed supplemental income. Back then, you didn't hear that much about discrimination, but, that was only one blatant example. Federal and state laws prohibit prospective employers from asking certain questions… -
Company Reviews
6 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pmWhen the job market is tight, it's more important than ever to get the inside scoop on companies you're interested in working at. First of all, the more information you have, the more effectively you'll interview. Secondly, company information will help you decide if you want to work for a company - or not. Glassdoor, the company and salary research site, has excellent information for job seekers including company reviews, ratings, salaries, CEO approval rating, competitors, and much more company information. Job seekers can find and anonymously share company reviews, ratings and… -
Unemployment Down and Running Out
5 Feb 2010 | 1:04 amThe unemployment rate dropped slightly, from 10% to 9.7%, in January, with non-farm payroll employment losing 20,000 jobs. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) continued to increase in January, reaching 6.3 million. In addition, the job market remains really competitive with over 6 unemployed workers for every job opening. Job losses continued in construction and in transportation and warehousing, while employment increased in temporary help services, health care, retail, and in federal government hiring. The underemployment rate, which includes people… -
CareerBuilder Super Bowl Commercials
4 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pmFor the sixth year in row, CareerBuilder is heading to the Super Bowl. This year, the commercials (three are in the running for the Super Bowl spot) feature ads from everyday consumers who entered and won the HireMyTVAd contest. There were three winners selected, all of whom get a prize, but only one (not the ad that was too hot for TV) will be featured on game day. Take a look at CareerBuilder's commercials - Job Fairy, (very) Casual Friday, and Worst Seat - and vote for your favorite. The focus of the ads is fitting in at work. In conjunction with the ad campaign,… -
More Jobs in January
4 Feb 2010 | 1:46 amJob search engine LinkUp, which indexes jobs from over 20,000 company sites, reports that new job listings on company websites rose by 69,082 in January. This is an increase of 18% from December. Even though December is traditionally a bad month for new job listings, the report shows progress in the right direction. This is good news for job seekers and a sharp contrast to LinkUp's dismal December report in which new and total job listings job search by 24% and 17% respectively. By the way, LinkUp is a terrific site for finding jobs direct from company websites. Job seekers can…
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J.T. and Dale Talk Jobs
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The Evil Co-Worker
5 Feb 2010 | 2:45 pmDear J.T. & Dale: I have a co-worker who is always a total sweetheart when other people are present. However, when we are alone, she yells at me and calls me incompetent. I mentioned this to another co-worker, and he told me I was nuts, that everyone loves her. We do the same job, and I’m guessing she is threatened by me. I’m not sure I can hack much more of this evilness. — Francesca Dale: Hmmmm…no one else has seen this behavior, and your explanation for your co-worker’s obnoxiousness is that she is “threatened” by you. This worries me. I fear it… -
Can’t Find Work? Try Self Self-Employment
5 Feb 2010 | 2:18 pmDear J.T. & Dale: In 2001, I pled guilty to a federal sex offense. I have not held regular employment since. Some potential employers are sympathetic, but none has been willing to offer me a job. I’ve got more than 20 years’ experience in computers, retail and home-rehabbing. — Ed Dale: Big problem, Ed. Even if you find employers who are sympathetic, at some point they are going to ask HR, legal or a partner some version of the question, “Are we opening ourselves up to lawsuits if this guy says or does something to an employee or customer?” Asking the question is… -
No One Will Take a Chance on Me
29 Jan 2010 | 12:33 pmDear J.T. & Dale: I was in the trucking industry and drove 18-wheelers until last July, when I got fired because of a misunderstanding over company policy. Without going into the issue, I was wrong and the situation warranted termination. Since then, I’ve found it extremely difficult to find another trucking job. No one will take a chance on me. How do I get around this? — Mike Dale: Let’s look at a recent case study of getting back to work — the case of ex-con quarterback Michael Vick. Think of the chance someone took in hiring him. How did he return so readily to his old… -
Are Writing Skills More Important Than Ever?
29 Jan 2010 | 12:28 pmDear J.T. & Dale: I’ve been applying for jobs recently, and several companies have requested that I send writing samples along with my resume. What are they looking for? Is there a certain format or length that is appropriate? — Anastasia J.T.: The key is to assess the kinds of writing you would be doing in the job you’re applying for. A person applying for a sales position would consider sending in examples of proposals to potential clients, while a training manager would send in samples of employee handbooks or training support materials. As for length, send two or three… -
How to Handle Medical Issues in an Interview
22 Jan 2010 | 12:15 pmDear J.T. & Dale: I was assaulted by a former neighbor. As a result, I suffered a stroke and have headaches that lead to seizures. I lost my job after suffering a seizure during a phone call. How do I handle this in an interview? — Cynthia Dale: Before we get to future interviews, Cynthia, I was dismayed to hear that a seizure cost you your job. So let’s bring into the conversation a long-time friend of this column, employment law expert Scott Gordon of the Rodey Law Firm in Albuquerque, N.M., and ask him if there is something — perhaps the Americans with Disabilities Act —…
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Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel
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Personal Brands: Be Ready to Answer This
9 Feb 2010 | 4:30 amIn Sunday’s New York Times, the least likely person in American business is interviewed in the Corner Office column. She’s Susan Docherty, who “leads” General Motor’s US sales, service and marketing team. In case you don’t get the joke, GM is one of the more famous bankrupt companies in the US, based on its resistance to building cars that Americans want to drive. If it weren’t for their pesky rebuke of its target market, GM’s sales, service and marketing team would be doing just fine. You might expect Ms. Docherty to be keeping a low profile, since GM has reported record… -
3 Reasons Why Personal Branding is Essential For Networking
8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amWhen I was in college, I was always told that it’s all about who you know. I heard this common saying from teachers, my parents, older friends and managers at my internships. It was very hard to disagree with this phrase because I had spent months interviewing to get a job upon graduation because I wasn’t comfortable networking. There were many opportunities for me to attend events, meet alumni and connect with friends, but I felt introverted and didn’t have the confidence back then to take the “networking leap.” By disregarding networking from my job search, I… -
Personal Branding Interview: J.D. Roth
7 Feb 2010 | 12:02 pmToday, I spoke to J.D. Roth, who is one of the blogospheres most beloved personal finance experts (Get Rich Slowly) and the author of Your Money: The Missing Manual. In this interview, J.D. talks about his new book, how he got the idea of it, how he’s differentiated himself in his niche, how his blog led to his book deal and more. How did you get the idea for writing “Your Money”? It wasn’t actually my idea. I started Get Rich Slowly in 2006, and by the end of 2007, I was being approached by agents and publishers. I explored the book idea a little bit, but never… -
Two Breakthrough Ideas That Changed My Life
7 Feb 2010 | 4:30 amKeeping up with information these days is like sipping through the proverbial fire hydrant. You don’t need to check your Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader, etc…..you already know what’s building up on the other side. An avalanche of knowledge That’s right, when the circle stops spinning or the screen is fully loaded – BAM – the constant avalanche of knowledge, hypothesis, and musings from real experts, pseudo-experts, and everyone in between begins again. Even junkies like me who actually thrive on the continuous info-stream can get a bit numb to the never-ending pitches, articles,… -
Personal Branding Interview: Susan Whitcomb
6 Feb 2010 | 6:03 pmToday, I spoke to Susan Whitcomb, who is the founder and president of The Academies and author of the new book, The Twitter Job Search Guide. In this interview, Susan explains what her own branding model is as a career coach, what you should and shouldn’t include on a resume, and brand consistency for job seekers. If someone is unclear about their own brand, what are a few things he or she can do to establish it? Start by getting clear on these three “A’s”: Authentic Image: This is “the genuine you”—not costumed to play the part of someone else, but cast in the right…
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Lindsey Pollak Career Blog
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On MyPath.com: An Interview with Two College Career Services Professionals
4 Feb 2010 | 2:00 amWhat are the major hiring trends on campus this year? What are the best strategies for finding an entry-level job? What are the biggest mistakes students make in the job search process? To answer these questions and more, I spoke with with Trudy Steinfeld, Executive Director of the Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University, and Manny Contomanolis, Associate Vice President and Director of Co-op and Career Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear top tips from two of the best career services professionals in the country! -
On MyPath.com: Job Opportunities with Women-Owned Businesses
28 Jan 2010 | 5:09 amI recently came across a study by the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute predicting that about one-third of new jobs created over the next eight years will be at small businesses owned by women. As a woman small business owner myself, I was really intrigued by this news. It also reminded me that many students and young professionals miss out on great opportunities because they overlook the potential to get a job at a (man- or woman-owned) small business. In this week’s podcast, I share my thoughts on the opportunities available in small businesses, how to find these… -
On MyPath.com: 5 High-Impact Career Habits
25 Jan 2010 | 4:00 amExercise for 30 minutes a day. Sleep eight hours a night. Floss. Good habits are the building blocks of a healthy life. The same goes for your career: small daily habits add up to big success. The earlier in your working life you develop smart daily practices, the easier they will be to maintain and the more overall impact they’ll have. Here are 5 important career habits to cultivate: 1. Keep up with the news. We live in the Information Age, so there’s no excuse for not being informed. Whether you read a news site every morning, watch the headlines on TV or subscribe to a major news… -
Next 30/20 Vision Podcast: Wednesday, January 20th at 5:00pm EST
19 Jan 2010 | 12:31 pmJoin me and my fabulous co-hosts, Christine Hassler (author of The 20-Something Manifesto) and Alexandra Levit (author of New Year, New You), for our next 30/20 Vision podcast on Wednesday, January 20, at 5:00pm EST. Our topic this month is The Future of Work: what it will look like and what that means for you. Click here to join us live or download the episode anytime. -
On MyPath.com: An Interview with Financial Literacy Expert Manisha Thakor
14 Jan 2010 | 4:30 amAre you making smart money decisions in your 20s? In my podcast this week for MyPath.com, I’m thrilled to present an interview with Manisha Thakor, financial literacy expert and co-author of two great books on personal finance, On My Own Two Feet and Get Financially Naked. In this 15-minute segment, Manisha answers the questions on the minds of today’s college students and recent grads, such as: - What are the most important financial steps to take in your 20s? - What are the biggest mistakes to avoid in your 20s? - How can college students make good decisions about how much…
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One Day, One Job
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Fantazzle
9 Feb 2010 | 7:47 amIt’s a tough time of year for fantasy sports enthusiasts. The football season is over, and it’s still a bit early to be preparing for your fantasy baseball draft. There’s hockey and basketball, but they’re right in the middle of their seasons. The excitement of the draft is long gone, and the playoffs are still too far away. You need an outlet for all of that fantasy sports energy, and Arlington, VA based Fantazzle might be the perfect outlet. They’ve only been on the scene for a couple years, but they’ve already been acknowledged by The New York… -
Knewton
8 Feb 2010 | 7:45 amYou thought that you were done with test prep, but now the economy is in a rough spot and the job market is kind of weak. You’re thinking about grad school, and that means doing the standardized test thing all over again. Luckily, things have changed since you took the SAT or ACT. The one size fits all approach of classroom instruction is out, and “adaptive learning” delivered through an online platform is in. Knewton is a New York City based startup that is one of the leading innovators in the test prep market. They seem to be mostly focused on the graduate school test prep… -
National Football Foundation
7 Feb 2010 | 8:22 amIt’s Super Bowl Sunday, which means that it’s time to talk about jobs in football (we’ve featured NFL jobs in addition to a few other cool opportunities). Since it’s our practice to feature non-profits on the weekend, I started browsing around the NFL’s Join the Team site, which features all of the league’s charitable work. One of the things that I came across was the Play It Smart program, which partners “academic coaches with student-athletes in order to, ‘take a student-athlete’s passion for sports and intense dedication to their team and… -
Advertising Research Foundation
6 Feb 2010 | 8:43 amI’m always amazed with the diversity of the non-profits that I come across. Yes, there is a lot of redundancy in the non-profit world, but I swear that you can find an organization for every idea, interest group, and cause. Take Advertising Research Foundation for example. They are a New York City based organization that aims “to improve the practice of advertising, marketing and media research in pursuit of more effective marketing and advertising communications.” They bring together people from all areas of marketing to promote collaboration and the open exchange of ideas. -
DriveCam
5 Feb 2010 | 8:00 amIt’s every teen’s worst nightmare. You finally reach that magical age where the state says that you’re ready to drive a car. Your parents reluctantly hand over the keys to the family station wagon. You get a lecture, but you’re going to escape. You’ll finally have the freedom that you’ve been waiting for all your life. But there’s a catch. Your parents have installed a camera in the car to assess your driving and mitigate risk. It’s from a San Diego based company called DriveCam. To you it’s a terrible idea. You hate being spied on. You…
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Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom
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Practice Good Karma at Work
8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amAccording to the Buddhist tradition, karma is the total effect of a person's actions during successive phases of existence. It assumes that your conduct in this lifetime will influence events and relationships in future lifetimes. Whether or not you believe in reincarnation, practicing good karma at work can only help you, for most people see the consequences of their behavior play out in this life. How do you do it? The main strategy is to consciously manage your work relationships, which are similar to family relationships in that while we don’t necessarily… -
6 Ways Working Parents Can Spend More Time Parenting
4 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amHere are some tips I recently shared on Lifehacker and ABC News:Choose webinars over in person training: Webinar technology allows for one-way communication from an individual speaker to an audience, and it can include polling and electronic Q&A. You can now avoid two days trekking through airports on both ends of a conference, which is a major win if you're a working parent. Services like Cisco’s WebEx don't require any special software or hardware. All you have to do is launch your Web browser from your home office and you can attend or deliver real-time training,… -
How I Stay Happy
1 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amIn the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Gretchen Rubin, the writer of the Happiness Project blog and the bestselling book The Happiness Project, a little better. Gretchen was kind enough to feature an interview with me on happiness, a topic I really enjoy but haven’t had the chance to discuss much on Water Cooler Wisdom. I thought you might be interested in some of my thoughts. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Alexandra: Going out to a good restaurant or a beautiful natural spot with friends. Even if I’m… -
Turn a Temp Job into a Permanent One
28 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amMy friend and colleague Anita Bruzzese wrote a great piece for her Gannett News Service column and her blog, 45 Things. She was kind enough to feature my thoughts on turning a temp job into a permanent one, as well as terrific advice from Martha Finney, president of Engagement Journeys. Here’s what Anita had to say: “Employers, still nervous about the health of the economy, have kept their permanent staff numbers lean, but have boosted their number of temporary workers. So, the question is: if you’re a temporary employee, how to you get an employer to hire you on a… -
Lessons Learned from New Job, New You
25 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amSometimes success hits you when you least expect it: I worked on promotional tactics like the New Job, New You webinar and website for a good chunk of the last four months. And while these did reasonably well, none of them compared to the incredible response I received from the Chicago launch event at Rockit Wrigley Bar & Grill on January 12th. The event was planned more or less at the last minute, but nevertheless we had 250 people register and a waiting list of 50. More than 80% of registrants attended, and I received a flood of e-mails the next day telling…
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Secrets of the Job Hunt
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6 Timesaving Social Media Tools for Business
9 Feb 2010 | 9:59 amTime management is something that most of us struggled with long before social media. As we become more involved in the world of social media and the see the importance of building personal business relationships, managing your time both inside the social media space and outside as a business professional and human being becomes ever more important. Once a month I host a free teleseminar where I discuss a topic related to social media. This month, I discussed “How to Manage Your Social Media in 30 Min. a Day.” A very important topic for those of us who have too much to do and not enough… -
What HR managers want
9 Feb 2010 | 6:07 amI just love it when HR people divulge the secrets to getting hired. Check out this interview with Libby Sartain, Chief People @ Yahoo! Most interesting in the post are these two nuggests of advice:Question: What makes a cover email and resume 'pop' for you?Answer: In the cover email, or summary when submitting your applications through an online jobs site like Hot Jobs, we look for your personality to show through. You should be able to come up with a succinct summary of who you are, what you bring to the table, and why we should hire you...but your unique personality should 'pop.'I suggest… -
Do you look for a job like in the 70s?
9 Feb 2010 | 1:04 amwww.laurentbrouat.com Do you still use a Cover letter and a CV (or Resume)? Do you still use the network of your close friends and only the network of your close friends? Guess what, you look for a job like in the 70s! My dad is 60 this year, and just retired from his company after almost 40 years of good work. He started working there in 1971. When he arrived in my city, he only knew my mother and had no contact at all. But at the time, he had a GSCE level which was good. The first job he got was to work for the local newspaper doing some admin stuff. He got this job because my mother’s… -
Who’s Hiring from Forbes Most Trustworthy Companies List – Vol II
9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 amReposted from CareerAlley "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain." - J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, 1999 Now there is a quote that not only pertains to fantasy, but also makes sense in the real world too, and you know who I'm talking about. But what about in the business world? Can a company actually be trustworthy? I say yes (even if you can't see where it keeps its brain). You've been there, you go to a store to buy a large ticket item and you get the hard sell from the salesman. Is he telling the truth or just… -
What can a jobseeker give?
8 Feb 2010 | 4:45 amI write often about the importance of putting on an attitude of giving (rather than of desperation) for your job search. Well I will make this post short and sweet because I could not say it better than @JasonAlba says in his latest post "QUESTION: If a jobseeker has no money, what can he give?" You must check this out to learn how to help others build their network to their next great job opportunity! What other ways have you given that have accelerated your job search?
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College Recruiter
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Twitter Followers, Facebook Friends No Longer Trusted
8 Feb 2010 | 12:23 pmI've long been a proponent of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, and others as they've proven themselves to be wonderful sources of information and referrals. But it appears that the gravy train may be coming to an end, and perhaps it is because users of the social media sites are increasingly realizing that the so-called objective referrals they're receiving from their friends are often made at the request of the marketer and not adequately screened by the friend. For years, advocates of social media marketing have been telling anyone who would listen that… -
Marketers Plan 17% Increase in On-line, Mobile Spending
5 Feb 2010 | 6:04 amI'm a pretty active member of the only trade association for job boards, the International Association of Employment Web Sites. One of the many pieces of information that I've digested at the meetings is that about 90 percent of the job boards generate about 90 percent of their revenues from two failing products: job postings and resume searching. Very few boards have successfully transitioned to products which deliver added value to their employer clients and so will continue to face a cash crunch even as the economy recovers. What are some of the more innovative, value add products that… -
Skills vs Behavioral Assessments
3 Feb 2010 | 3:41 pmOscar Hernandes of HireLabs asked me to participate in a video blogging effort in which HireLabs asked a number of people in the recruiting industries to discuss whether they felt that skills or behavior hold more importance in employment assessments. I believe that some employers for some positions such as information technology jobs feel that skills are more important while other employers for other positions such as sales jobs believe that behavioral traits are more important. For more details, watch the video below: -
Most Important Skill to Employers is Communication
3 Feb 2010 | 1:32 pmEmployers look for their job candidates to exhibit strong communication skills. Employers taking part in the Job Outlook 2010 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers' (NACE) ranked communication skills at the top of the skills they seek in potential employees: Communication Skills Analytical Skills Teamwork Skills Technical Skills Strong Work Ethic -
Great Economic News: Employers Adding 382,000 Jobs
2 Feb 2010 | 8:02 amThe recovery from any recession is always a two steps forward, one step back kind of a process. And sometimes it is one step forward, two steps back. But some great economic news was just released. The number of jobs advertised on-line increased by a whopping 382,000 in January. According to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine™ (HWOL) Data Series, the number of on-line job postings increased 382,000 to 4,024,000 in January 2010. This is the third straight month of increases with December 2009 being up 255,000 and November 2009 being up 107,000 for a total increase of some 750,000 over…
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Keppie Careers by Miriam Salpeter
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Thinking about making a change for a career in healthcare?
9 Feb 2010 | 7:14 amAs part of my new “Altruistic Tuesdays” series, today, I am pleased to highlight a story from Encore.org: Terry Ramey started working on an assembly line at a Ford plant outside Ann Arbor, Mich., when he was in his 20s. “I’m third-generation auto,” he explains. Like his father and grandfather, he figured he would retire from the same job. But after more than 13 years, the monotony of the line, the physical toll it took on his body, and the auto industry’s uncertain future started Ramey thinking about leaving. “The quality of life, even though I made a good living, was… -
What to tell your job references
5 Feb 2010 | 1:05 pmMy colleague, August Cohen (@resume_writer on Twitter) tweeted about preparing your references to talk about you should a prospective employer call. This is an often overlooked topic. Job seekers are so busy trying to get interviews, often thinking ahead to the next step (references) is an afterthought. Some things to think about… Do you know what your references are saying about you? Many job seekers overlook this important part of the job hunt. Especially if you have often reached the final stages without landing the job, touching base with those who may hold the keys to your next… -
Finding the silver lining in job search – Altruistic Tuesdays!
2 Feb 2010 | 10:53 amIf you look hard enough, you can find a silver lining in this economy for job seekers. Many people have been trudging along in careers that didn’t suit them, but leaving seemed impossible and risky. Taking advantage of a layoff and turning a difficult situation into an opportunity is not always easy, and it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when making plans for the future. Let’s face it, if you have always done a certain type of work, it is easy to think that your “next” thing needs to be that same thing. If your field does not seem to have much of a… -
How to apply for jobs that are a reach
31 Jan 2010 | 9:17 pmKey advice for job seekers – apply for jobs you are clearly qualified to do! However, it’s also clear that there will be times when you need to apply for jobs that may be a bit of a reach. I don’t think that this is contradictory advice. The important thing is to demonstrate that you are qualified to do what it is you want to do. Don’t assume that anyone reading your resume is going to give you “credit” for anything that you don’t clearly show that you can do. Here are some things to think about… Job ads are “best case scenarios,” sometimes… -
How to apply for jobs
27 Jan 2010 | 9:08 pmHave you been applying for jobs and have not been hearing back? I recently read something about the percentage of employers who are not replying back to job applicants…If anyone is familiar with a post along these lines, please share it, as I cannot put my hands on it now. Suffice to say that many, many job seekers never hear a word in reply to their applications. The question is – can you apply for jobs in such a way that you don’t wind up in this predicament? Of course, there is no perfect approach, but I want to suggest something to consider – ONLY APPLY FOR JOBS…
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JibberJobber Blog
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Job Search vs. Organize Your Files
9 Feb 2010 | 7:19 amLinkedIn for Job Seekers for $49.95 $25. Check out all the specials here.Many years ago I worked at the FBI as a clerk. When I first started there we didn’t have an office or cubicles, but eventually someone fought for us to have our own little space. It was really nice and we ended up with our own oversized cubicles. Going from nothing to a full suite was really cool. I look back on that time and remember a distinct activity I did when I was bored (I was frequently bored there). I would organize my files. I could spend a lot of time going through my files, organizing them,… -
Giveaway: 12 Boxes of Golden Grahams cereal
8 Feb 2010 | 12:27 pmLinkedIn for Job Seekers for $49.95 $25. Check out all the specials here.Seriously (or is it, cerealously)…. 12 boxes of Golden Grahams cereal. Not a book, not a DVD. Cereal You know how this is done (if you don’t, read about other Monday Giveaways here)… the question is: What was your funniest or most awkward job experience? Leave your answer in the blog comment, below! Good luck! Dear FTC: this cereal giveaway is possible because of General Mills. I’m not touching the boxes, they’ll ship it directly. I’m just a blogger trying to have fun. Go… -
My daughter cut her own bangs (related to your job loss)
5 Feb 2010 | 8:09 amLinkedIn for Job Seekers (the DVD) for $49.95 $25. Check out all the specials here.My three year old daughter cut her own bangs this week. Actually, the appropriate word is not “cut,” it is “butchered.” Just like every other kid in the world, she found some alone time with a mirror and scissors, and she had just seen my wife trim her bangs. So it was something she wanted to do. At first she was pretty proud of the job she did. But as people started noticing and talking about it (with a snicker here and there) she started to realize that her haircut wasn’t… -
Question: If a job seeker has no money, what can he GIVE?
4 Feb 2010 | 4:04 amWhen I figured “it” out (it = my job search), everything changed. The biggest change was in my happiness and excitement. I was jazzed about life and my job search. Why? Because I had figured out what I could GIVE. I couldn’t give money, or lunches, or anything that would be out-of-pocket. Even $10, like what I blogged about yesterday, was out of the question. How could I give $10 to someone when one of my kids needed food, or shoes, or ____ (there’s always something, right?)? But then I figured “it” out. I could give something to those who needed it… -
Ten Bucks for Keisha
3 Feb 2010 | 4:21 amMy buddy Daniel Johnson changes his status regularly, and this one caught my attention: Dan doesn’t know I’m writing this post right now. He just knows I contributed, that’s all. Dan is… how do I put this… the salt of the earth. Dan is one of those really good, genuine people. We’ve known each other virtually since 2006. I have always had a lot of respect for what Dan does for job seekers (a lot). He’s one of the first bloggers I wanted to get to know, and I can say that having known him has enriched my life. You may have already given at the…
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TheJobBored
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Multiple Job Offers – Choosing Between Them
30 Jan 2010 | 5:00 pmThis is from an Ask Brian Question. Send in your own Ask Brian Question here. My name is XXXX, and Im 24 years old. Ever since last year i have been applying for different jobs in the field of fashion, I used to work and still do as a Fashion Stylist, which means I do a lot of shoots for tv and print ads etc. I finished my diploma course in Fashion Design last year and i thought i should leave the world of fashion styling behind because it was very difficult to find shoots on your own if you did not know the right people. But i found some young entrepreneurs like me and although work is slow… -
Can Facebook Harm Your Job Search?
27 Jan 2010 | 9:35 amFor years now, as social media has proliferated, we’ve been hearing more and more about how what you do online can be viewed and viewed negatively by your boss… or by a prospective boss. But what about Facebook? After all, can’t you control who sees what on Facebook? Well, if you’re doing a job search, you’d certainly better hope so. According to new research by Microsoft, if HR people can check your Facebook page, then they probably will. And what they find there can have an impact on your chances of getting hired. In other words, Facebook can have an impact on… -
Resume Paper – What Paper Should I Print My Resume On?
8 Dec 2009 | 2:44 pmWhat is the best paper to use when printing up your resume to present in an interview? What is the best paper to use when mailing a resume as part of a job application? I guess this goes along with my post concerning the best font to use for your resume. I actually have a very specific answer to this question. For more than a decade now, we’ve been printing hard copies of people’s resumes as an add-on feature to our resume writing service. And in all that time, we’ve used the same paper. I’ll tell you all about it, but first, let me make clear: I’m not getting… -
What Does It Mean When They Say They’re Still Interviewing Candidates?
18 Nov 2009 | 11:06 amHere’s a quick Ask Brian question that has been sitting in my inbox since last week. It’s a short question, but I think I have a short and possibly unpleasant answer. Here goes: A reader asks: What does it mean, a week after my interview they say they are still interviewing candidates? Brian sayz: Unfortunately, it probably doesn’t mean much good for you. Not to be too harsh here, but interviewing is like dating. When you’ve found the one, you kind of know it right away. The long and short of it is, if they thought you were the one, they probably wouldn’t be… -
Retiree Job Search Tips – Job Tips For Over-65 Job Seekers
27 Oct 2009 | 2:22 pmInteresting article in the New York Times regarding retiree job seekers and the special job search problems facing retirees and those over the age of 65. …In fact, there are more Americans 65 and older in the job market today than at any time in history, 6.6 million, compared with 4.1 million in 2001. Less well known, though, is that nearly half a million workers 65 and older want to work but cannot find a job — more than five times the level early this decade and this group’s highest unemployment level since the Great Depression. The unemployment rate for older Americans is still much…
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Entry Level Careers Examiner
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Four ways to create resume magic
9 Feb 2010 | 9:39 amToo many people wait to renovate their résumé until the last minute – internship deadlines or graduation are approaching. In such situations, people often feel pressured to whip together a résumé as quickly as pos... -
Early report shows lower average salary for Class of 2010
5 Feb 2010 | 4:43 amStarting salary offers to Class of 2010 new college graduates are down, compared to those offered a year ago, according to a new study published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The Winter 2010 issue of NACE&rsquo... -
Survey: College recruiting activity up, hiring down
4 Feb 2010 | 5:30 amWhile employers plan to be more active on campus over the next three months, they have scaled back their hiring plans, according to results of a monthly poll conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). NACE’s... -
Top 10 internship programs for 2010
3 Feb 2010 | 8:18 amVault.com has released its Top 10 Internships in America for 2010, as well as the Top 10 internship programs across a number of industries and categories, such as best perks and most unusual experiences. According to Vault research, 50.4 perc... -
5 reasons job seekers should use Twitter
2 Feb 2010 | 8:08 amStill not convinced you should be on Twitter? Teena Rose of Resume to Referral just published an e-book, “How to Get Job Leads Fast Using Twitter: How to Use Twitter to Network, Mine the New ‘Underground’ for Jobs, and Connect wi...
