Recent Graduates, Remember These Tips in Your Job Search

You have just graduated from college and are ready to conquer the world.  First, though, you need a job.  While you may not have the most work experience among your competition, that does not mean you can’t get hired.  For some employers, the energy you bring to your job search can make the difference in landing a new position.

As a recent graduate, remember these tips in your job search: Continue Reading

Understanding the Biotech Industry Can Enhance Your Resume

Whether you’re just getting your start in the biotech industry or have been in it for years, writing a resume for a new position can sometimes be challenging. It’s often difficult to know which past experience, skills, and accomplishments to include that will make you more appealing as a candidate than your competition.

One benefit that you have when applying for work is a deep understanding of your industry. By showcasing your wealth of knowledge and wisdom in the field you love, you’re likely to get that leg up when seeking your next biotech position. How can you do it? Here are some tips to consider: Continue Reading

11 Mistakes Federal Job Seekers Should Avoid

Federal job seekers often are frustrated with, overwhelmed by or puzzled over the complex federal hiring process. In their new book, Find Your Federal Job Fit, authors Janet M. Ruck and Karol Taylor explain that the “federal application process, which is unlike any other, can be cumbersome and confusing at times. It is based on a set of laws and regulations that were written for a specific purpose. Over time, layers of new laws were added. Eventually they created a morass of rules that now make up the federal hiring system.”

Federal job seekers, especially those just starting their searches, often make mistakes during the application process that could easily be avoided. Ruck and Taylor highlight 11 mistakes that many federal job seekers make, and how to avoid them. The errors include: Continue Reading

‘I Hate My Job, But What Can I Do About It?’

The late comedian George Carlin once said, “Do you hate your job? Sorry to hear that. There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar!”
As a consultant on employee engagement to major healthcare companies, Melissa Evans understands that feeling well. Her solution to it, however, is a little “uncorporate.”

“It’s a fact that most people don’t like their jobs,” said Evans, also author of Sole to Soul: How to Identify Your Soul Purpose and Monetize It . “According to a recent survey published by Time Magazine, fewer than half of American workers – 45 percent – are satisfied with their jobs. This is the lowest percentage since 1987.  Gallup reported that this phenomenon also hurt businesses in a significant way. Companies with large numbers of dissatisfied workers experience greater absenteeism and lower productivity. These workers create a turnover rate of 51 percent. Can you imagine working at a company, or trying to run one, that loses half its staff every year?”

That turnover isn’t just from firing or layoffs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people who quit their jobs from June 2010 through October 2010 was actually larger than the number of people who lost their jobs. Gallup says all these disengaged employees cost the U.S. economy upwards of $370 billion annually. Evans believes that one key way to turn this around is for employees to look inward before they look outward. Continue Reading

22% Fewer Employers Hosting Holiday Parties

While the economic recovery failed to make great strides in 2011 and, in fact, appeared to stall in the second half of the year, nearly 70 percent of companies still plan to hold holiday parties in the coming weeks, according to an annual survey of human resources executives conducted by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

The percentage of companies hosting parties is about the same as a year ago, but remains well short of a pre-recession 2007, when about 90 percent of companies surveyed held holiday festivities. Continue Reading

Full-Time Employees vs. Seasonal Help – What Happens When The Two Clash

It’s estimated that 30% of businesses will be hiring extra help for the holidays.  While that extra help might seem to be a positive factor to help with the increased workload, one executive level consultant and author warns it could cause some serious issues for your team.

Deb Spicer, author of the best-selling book POWER TEAMS, says bringing in a mix of new people for the holidays can cause a flare up in negative behavior – varying from downright infuriating to outright disruptive.

Here are some of the most common negative behaviors to watch out for: Continue Reading

Survey: Attendance Optional at Company Holiday Party, Most Executives Say

It will soon be that time of year again for the holiday office party.

Will skipping the holiday party at work land you on the boss’s “naughty list”? Not necessarily, according to a new OfficeTeam survey. More than six in 10 (61 percent) executives whose companies host holiday parties said there’s no unwritten rule requiring employees to attend. But that doesn’t mean staff should miss out on the merriment: Thirty-eight percent of respondents indicated that making an appearance is expected.

Managers whose companies host holiday celebrations were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “It is an unwritten rule that employees should make an appearance at the holiday party.” Their responses*: Continue Reading

13% Take On Extra Work To Pay For Holiday Gifts

If holiday shopping wasn’t enough to stress us out, try taking on additional workload in order to afford gifts. According to a November Persuadable Research survey, 29% have less money to spend than last year. Still, 60 percent plan to spend over $300 on gifts for friends, family and others. Where will this money come from besides regular employment? Thirteen percent will take on more work, 12 percent will sell something, 12 percent will use holiday bonus money.

It’s not easy to make ends meet for many Americans these days, but the holiday season is really important to many respondents. Over half, 56 percent, place high importance on the ability to give holiday gifts. Moreover, the chance to spend quality time with family and friends is exciting or extremely exciting to 43 percent of panelists. This excitement appears to be what fuels the need for people to take on extra work. Besides work, according to a variety of online sources, people might hold garage sales, sell things online, or even donate plasma to earn extra holiday cash. Continue Reading

Survey Highlights the Importance of Office Etiquette; Wackiest Workplace Blunders Revealed

How you treat your co-workers may help you move up the corporate ladder.

It still pays to play nice at work, a new Robert Half survey confirms.  Nearly half (48 percent) of workers interviewed said being courteous to others can help an employee rise through the ranks. Another 41 percent said etiquette plays at least some role in career advancement.

Workers were asked, “In your opinion, to what extent does being courteous to coworkers positively impact a person’s career prospects?” Their responses: Continue Reading

Student Loans About to Top $1 Trillion and Surpass All Credit Card Debt

With the average American household bringing in $50,221 a year, many parents face a serious dilemma on how they will pay for their child’s college education. “What happens when their child gets accepted into the college of his or her choice only to discover that it costs over $50,000 a year?” asks Forrest Broman, President of The International Educator, a newspaper that reports on news and trends in the field of international education.

“Even with scholarships and financial aid that still leaves a huge out-of- pocket expense, one for which most families are unprepared for,” said Mr. Broman. “Double or triple that amount if they have more than one kid of college age, or approaching college-age,” he estimated. What does that leave cash-strapped families to do? Borrow. Continue Reading