Why Has It Taken You So Long To Find a Job?

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

It’s difficult to believe that employers are still asking this type of question. Don’t they read the newspapers or listen to the news? If they were informed, they would know the answer; i.e. jobs are very scarce and difficult to find these days, and unemployment is at an all time high since 1994 – in some areas reaching 10% – 11% in some states.

Unfortunately, quoting these facts probably wouldn’t get you a job offer and could even result in the interview ending rather quickly. So, what is the correct answer to give an interviewer when you’re asked such a question? There is no “correct” answer. However, a technique that works well is to take the focus off the length of your job search and to place it on what you have to offer. Continue Reading

Don’t Bring Your Baggage Into The Job Interview

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

The truth is that you may have very good reason to have baggage regarding the interview. You may feel frustrated and angry about today’s job market. A job market that doesn’t feel “user friendly.” But here’s the hard part – you’ve got to let go of all that before you go into an interview.

Going into an interview with baggage is like dragging a big black garbage bag along behind you and parking it next to your chair during the interview. And it is going to start to “stink” after awhile. Nobody wants to hear about your problems and baggage. Some people’s lives begin to sound like a Soap Opera; there have been so many extenuating circumstances. You may have been treated unfairly in your last job – had a jerk for a boss. But, please – don’t feel compelled to share every detail with the interviewer. It’s a Big Mistake if you do. Continue Reading

Survey: Tattoos Hurt Your Chances of Getting a Job

Aaron Gouveia, Salary.com contributing writer

Maybe it’s a tribal arm band, the orchids on your lower back playing peek-a-boo with your coworkers, or — gulp — you’re wearing it on your face a la Mike Tyson. But even if it’s that cute little leprechaun on your ankle, our latest survey results show visible tattoos at work could have a negative effect on your pot of gold.

A recent study from the Pew Research Center found nearly 40% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo, and body piercings are also a growing means of self-expression among people in this age group. In a perfect world we would all be judged solely on the merit of our work. But if the 2,675 people we surveyed are any indication, there is a lot more going on when it comes to performance evaluations, raises, promotions, and making character assumptions about people based on their appearance. Continue Reading

7 Career Obstacles and How to Overcome Them

Dawn Dugan, Salary.com contributing writer

If you’ve been fired, laid off, demoted, or passed over for a promotion, join the club. Even the most talented, hardworking, and well-meaning people hit a career snag now and again.

The difference between people who are successful and those who aren’t isn’t the roadblocks they face, it’s how they navigate those roadblocks.

This article explores seven common career obstacles, and how to overcome them. Continue Reading

How to Tell if You Enjoy Your Job or if It’s Just a Paycheck

Do you love your job? Or has that honeymoon phase of your first job out of college transitioned instead to a dull and monotonous everyday chore? When asked what you do, do your eyes glaze over momentarily before you desperately try to change the subject? Are you going places in your career? Or just cashing it in?

If doubts—whether small or substantial—about your job are becoming a more frequent part of your daily life, perhaps it’s time to really reflect on your situation. Continue Reading

30% of Those Date Who Co-Workers Get Married to One

Office romance photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Looking for love this Valentine’s Day? It may just be in the cube next to you. Thirty-nine percent of workers said they have dated a co-worker at least once over the course of their career; 17 percent reported dating co-workers at least twice. Thirty percent of those who have dated a co-worker said their office romance led them to the altar. This is according to CareerBuilder’s annual office romance survey of more than 4,000 workers nationwide, conducted online by Harris Interactive^© between November 1 and November 30, 2012.

How Many Dated the Boss?

While the majority of relationships developed between peers, 29 percent of workers who have dated someone at work said they have dated someone above them in the company hierarchy, and16 percent admitted to dating their boss. Women were more likely to date someone higher up in their organization – 38 percent compared to 21 percent of men.

Which Industries Have the Most Romance? Continue Reading

Student Loan Delinquency

Unfortunately, many college students are having a hard time repaying their student loans, which has created enormous student debt in the United States.  The following infographic highlights student loan debt and its delinquency. Continue Reading

Important education technologies you should know about in 2013

Children on the computer with their teacher. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Technology adoption in the classroom is becoming a common trend even as 2013 comes to a fast start.  Software, gadgets, and online education technologies are fast becoming popular among educators and learners.  Even though most of these technologies are operational in other fields, we can rely on the most important ones in the way in the classroom. This article gives you some of the up-coming technology tools for the classroom scenario in 2013, moving forward. Continue Reading

Social Resumes: What Job Seekers and Employers Should Know

Tech savvy job seekers are using social resumes as an alternative to the traditional resumes employers have been used to seeing.  Employers are also taking advantage of social media and looking at these resumes to find their next job candidates.  The following infographic has more information for job seekers and employers interested in this trend. Continue Reading

7 Tips for Attention-Grabbing Resumes

Rick Gillis, Salary.com contributing writer

Think of how many news articles you read daily. Now think about recruiters who review hundreds of resumes day in and day out. What makes the difference between an article — or a resume — that may be eagerly devoured in its entirety, and another that merely receives a passing glance? What has to happen in that 3- to 10-second span to garner attention and keep the reader engaged?

While the newspaper industry has fallen on hard times during the last few years, it behooves you to think like a journalist when crafting your resume. This mindset may enhance your chances of cracking the barrier between you and your next job, so here are some things you need to include to quickly capture the attention of employers. Continue Reading