I can think of a million ways to "fix" other people around me. They're just all so messed up, aren't they?

Here's the brutal truth: That's not the way the universe works. You don't get to "fix" them.

After I get over the disappointment from that statement, now what can I do? How do I keep myself from just being a victim of circumstances, a slave to my situation?

Here's the secret: I have considerable influence over the people in my life.

Maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. What it means is that if I want to make a difference in other peoples' behavior, I first have to take responsibility for my own. I have to work to influence others, which isn't a simple process.

Continue reading "You Can't Change Others -- How to Use Influence to Your Advantage" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 5, 2010 at 11:27 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Aside from the basic rules of engagement LinkedIn has established, here are a few other courtesies to remember while making the most of your LinkedIn experience. Follow these points and you'll be sure to get the most out of LinkedIn--and you'll avoid aggravating other users in the process. Here are four mistakes to avoid while using LinkedIn:

BLINDLY REQUESTING CONNECTIONS WITH NO MUTUAL BENEFIT

On Facebook you can request new friendships with anybody at all. It's a social network of friends, and if you want to be friends you simply make a request. With LinkedIn you're making a 'connection' that will hopefully create a mutually beneficial networking opportunity later on down the line. Be strategic when deciding with whom you will connect, and explain to the person why you want to connect; what's in it for them--and what's it in for you? Don't request to connect with just anyone at all; understandably, people will want to know why you are requesting the opportunity to connect. So provide a brief sentence or two explaining what you think a mutual connection can bring to both parties.

Continue reading "4 LinkedIn Mistakes - Have You Made One? " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 5, 2010 at 9:04 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The Job Awful Truth's: 5 Interview Tips to Keep Your Phone Ringing (Volume 1)

When you are actively pursuing new opportunities, the process will most likely start with some type of phone interview. Sometimes this will be a simple phone screen with a Human Resources representative, but sometimes it will be with the actual hiring manager. Regardless of who you speak with, the five tips in this series will give you best chance of reaching your next goal in the process, getting to the face-to-face interview.

1. BE PREPARED...

THE AWFUL TRUTH is, this will be the only time for you to make the first impression and you are at a disadvantage already. Over 50% of human communication is done through body language and with that piece missing in a phone interview, it is imperative that you be well prepared. Start with a printed copy of your resume so that you and the person you are talking with are looking at the same document. Have a list of your top accomplishments written out and placed in front of you. Remember to focus these accomplishments around ways that you have either saved a company money, made a company money or improved a process or procedure. In addition, you will want to have the research you have conducted on this company for reference. As you share your accomplishments, you can relate the information you have gathered to the company and the position you seek. Have a pen and paper for taking thorough notes. Lastly, you will want to have your calendar readily available should the opportunity arise to schedule the face-to-face interview. THE AWFUL TRUTH is, winners don't wing it, they come prepared, do these things and you should move right on to the next step in the hiring process.

Copyright 2009, Nicole Dukehart and Jennifer Bruton. All rights reserved. Used with Permission

Courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities, and posted on Career Alley.

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 5, 2010 at 8:53 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

What happens when the going gets tough?

In sports, when a team is about to face a tougher opponent, when they are expected to lose, do their coaches have them prepare in the same way? When you're up against a tough business problem, up against a difficult challenge, do you go prepare the same way as for something easy?

Successful teams, competitors, and business people attack difficult challenges differently than the easy stuff. They prepare differently, they train harder, they push themselves, and they try new tactics to put prepare their competition. Better preparation is why underdogs have a fighting chance to win.

Continue reading "Job Seekers - It's Not Just The Economy, It's You " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 4, 2010 at 4:52 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

For some months now I've been writing articles about Sramana Mitra, a.k.a. "The Serial Entrepreneur," and her Strategy Roundtable Webinars. Entrepreneurship seems to be growing in popularity these days because the struggling economy has made it increasingly difficult for talented people to find good jobs. And then there are some people who want the freedom(?) of being their own bosses. So one might think that business school graduates, given their educational background, would be the most successful entrepreneurs. One would be wrong.

Mitra, who is a strong believer in bootstrapping, recently discussed in her article, Why B-Schools Set Up Entrepreneurs to Fail, how many business schools let students down by not educating them about how to bootstrap.

"I have come to observe that most business school programs have an extensive emphasis on fundraising, especially from venture capitalists, and very little pragmatic understanding of what it really takes to get a venture off the ground. As a result, business schools launch students into the real world with completely unrealistic expectations, set up to fail," Mitra says. "Investors fund businesses that have already taken off, not a slide deck or a business plan."

Continue reading "Are Business Schools Doing Enough to Prepare Students for the Real World?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 4, 2010 at 6:47 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

About 15 years ago, I came to the realization that my career was going to be different than others around me. Not better or worse, but uniquely mine.

With that shift, I needed to decide what it was about me that would drive me to unique accomplishments:

• My values and principles
• My life goals or life purpose
• My unique talents, skills, and situation

What's fascinating is that this has helped me to a much deeper sense of satisfaction with my jobs, my career, and the choices that I make. Instead of chasing the rainbow of living up to others' expectations, I focus on what will give my existence purpose and improve others' lives.

To get grounded in who you are, spend some serious time on these areas:

Values and principles

These are the basis for how you view your life and how you make important decisions. At this level we'll see ideas such as fairness, individual or group achievement, contribution to society, fame, and family.

My clients who are working on career choices often find it difficult to get down to the truth here. They tend to start with what society has told them are ideal values (Truth! Justice! The American Way!) but then start to realize that this doesn't actually explain how they really think.

Below the surface, then, are tough questions like:

• What does your use of time tell you about your true values?
• If you were unable to do your current job ever again, how would you go about figuring out what direction to take?
• What would your family say your values are, just based on the way they see you behave?

Life goals or life purpose

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." - Lewis Carroll

Over time, many people realize that there's some longer term direction than just living their life day to day, year to year. Being clear about that end-point gives you a way to make useful long term decisions and build tangible progress with passion and energy.

If you're spiritually inclined, you might tend to focus on a mission or purpose which is "given" to you from the outside. If you're not, this may feel more internally generated. It doesn't really matter, because the value you get is the same.

When you pick and commit to a certain direction, it helps you to put enough energy behind it to make lasting progress.

Unique talents, skills, and situation

Your life thus far has been composed of unique twists and turns, different from every other person on the planet. This includes your way of thinking, the abilities you've uncovered, skills and knowledge you've acquired, the people you know, and your reputation.

Externally, you also have unique opportunities and challenges, presented by the people you know and your overall life situation.

The last challenge, then, is to look at these as a huge set of resources that you have at your disposal. The nice thing about having hundreds of resources is that you don't have to worry about using each and every one - you can pick the ones which will help you reach your life goals. The others are still there, laying in wait for the day when they can be most useful.

This also means that every investment you make in learning and developing relationships is part of the creation of more resources. That's not the only reason, of course, but it helps you to keep investing even though it's hard work.

Being grounded

When you start with knowing yourself and your situation, you've created an incredibly powerful starting point for designing the career that's truly worthy of the time you'll spend working, growing, and making a difference.

And, of course, living a life of great joy and passion.

Carl Dierschow is a certified Organizational Leadership Coach and author of the career management guide, Mondays Stink! 23 Secrets to Rediscover Delight and Fulfillment in Your Work. He is a career coach for those going through interesting transitions, and works with leaders who are creating amazing teams. Find out more at www.Dierschow.com and www.PossibilitiesPartnership.com.

Article courtesy of WorkBloom, an employment blog incorporating a comprehensive career resources section, including the largest database of professionally written resume and cover letter samples on the Web.

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2010 at 6:40 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

When looking for a career transition, consider the warning signs.

Last time, we considered where job seekers or those looking to make a career transition might look for an industry with huge upside. But there are plenty of industries staring at a steep downside right now, as well, and it can be just as important to know where not to look for a job right now. It's also worth considering if your own field is topping the not-hot job lists right now.

The Department of Labor has targeted 10 careers it expects to have the largest wage and employment declines through 2018. According to the government, department stores, topping the list, are likely to have lost 159,000 jobs between 2008 and 2018. That's 10 percent of the industry! Right behind them are semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturers, with a staggering one-third of jobs projected to be lost in that same time period. Auto parts manufacturers, postal workers, printers, sewing-apparel providers, newspaper employees, miners, gas attendants and wired-telecom workers are all expected to take a huge hit.

Continue reading "Where the jobs aren't in 2010" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2010 at 5:46 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Could one of these growing industries be the road to a new career?

Job seekers often hear that despite the continuing rise in unemployment, the bleak hiring outlook, and the uncertainty of a drawn-out economic recovery, they shouldn't worry because "there are still jobs out there!"

They're meant as words of encouragement, of course, but at a certain point, an exasperated job hunter can't be blamed for wanting to yell "Oh yeah? Where?"

Where, indeed. Since the mid-90s, there has been plenty of research to go around about the best careers for each new year, and the rise of the Internet has only increased the number of outlets putting the job market under a microscope. At a certain point, in fact, the problem becomes too much information. It can be difficult to get any practical job-search wisdom without looking at a cross-section of the most reliable sources and looking for trends.

Continue reading "Where the jobs are in 2010" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2010 at 5:38 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I would like to begin by thanking my lucky stars that, in this economy, I have had the good fortune of being gainfully employed for the past two years since graduating college. But, as I start a new chapter in my life, one that I hope turns out to be about a fabulous new career in a wonderful new city, I can't help but compare my job search today with that of two years ago. So much has changed in so little time, so I want to pass along the little bit of knowledge I've gained over the past few months of job searching. I hope this advice resonates with those of you who are looking for employment for the first time in years and may be feeling a little lost.

1. Social Media Isn't Just For College Kids Anymore

If you hadn't heard, social media is all the rage now. (By the way, if you really hadn't heard, you may want to climb out from under that rock and join us all in 2010.) There are so many choices for social media, but the three most common sites for those looking to network during a job search are Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

If you don't have a profile/account on these sites, I really recommend you check them out. Click on the respective logos below for some great tips from some folks with much more expertise (Mashable, Forbes, and ICT-Guru) on how to use these sites effectively to make professional contacts.

Continue reading "Avoiding the Job Search Kiss of Death" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2010 at 4:07 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Everyone's had mornings when they'd rather stay in their bunny slippers and gloat at the traffic reports while sipping coffee and working from their "home office." But in the past (let's call it the dark ages), some bosses considered "working from home" a euphemism for "doing errands" and only allowed it in the event of major plumbing or medical emergencies. Fortunately, progress in technology has made it possible to stay in your PJs and also be productive.

Here's a surefire way to get even the most stubborn boss to let you give "teleworking" a try.

Staying home is not just for snow days anymore

Besides the occasional blizzard, dentist appointment or teacher conference, there are uniquely modern motives for working remotely, such as needing to get kids to and from various activities, wanting to reduce gas consumption and carbon emissions, and avoiding the spread of contagious flu germs and viruses.

In fact, with all the hurdles employees face simply getting to the office five days a week, the potential for costly absenteeism and inefficiency is definitely cause for concern. Continue reading ...

Article by Laura Laemmle Frongillo and courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2010 at 3:29 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Find Ways to Bolster That Self-Esteem

I can think of very few situations that can be as confidence-deflating as trying to find a job. It is particularly difficult to maintain a positive attitude in today's especially tough, bleak employment market. Multiply by the number of months you've been looking for work or trying to move out of a bad job and your ego is taking a huge hit.

Sales jobs aren't my thing, but I have worked in that area and it is challenging work. You are selling a product - YOU, when applying and interviewing. And like a shark smelling blood, a skilled HR person can spot a candidate's low self-confidence in the first few minutes of an interview. It's almost impossible to stand out as a top contender when you obviously aren't able to sell yourself.

So how do you combat this eroding self-esteem and confidence? Here are a few things to try...

* Too often we define ourselves only by what we do for a living. But you have many personas. Maybe you are a terrific mother, trustworthy friend or the "dependable one" in your family. Spend time with people who reinforce those roles. Their positive feedback will remind you of your value. Continue reading ...

This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.

Article courtesy of Andrew G.R. and jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2010 at 3:02 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Over the last two years you've heard it: "Consider yourself lucky to have a job." Whether coming from the manager sugar-coating furloughs and four-day work weeks, or the family member who needs help with the rent -- again! -- going through the same routines, when what you really want is to move on, can be soul-destroying.

But on balance, are things so bad? Does leaving really make sense? You decide...

This job doesn't challenge me anymore

Stay: In today's job market, it is unlikely your boss is concerned that you might walk, so why should you? Keep plugging away and allow yourself the time and space to do things outside of work that will keep you mentally and physically on-the-ball. After all, isn't that in part what you're working for?

Leave: Going through the motions may not keep you engaged. Disengagement can lead to a downward cycle of despair. When you are then forced to find a job, you'll appear to be one of the embittered miseries recruiters pass over. If you really want a challenge, resist disengagement or get out now. Continue reading ...

Article by Amitai Givertz and courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 2, 2010 at 2:59 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Article provided by JIST Publishing

Gaining a great deal of support from career industry professionals, recruiters and human resource specialists worldwide, Twitter is revolutionizing how people hunt for jobs in today's economy.

How? Susan Britton Whitcomb, co-author of The Twitter Job Search Guide, explains: "In the past, you had to go through a maze of gatekeepers to get to the cloistered person in charge of hiring decisions. Now you can have access to them with the click of a Follow button. The ability to level the playing field--placing you nearly peer-to-peer with influencers, leaders and hiring authorities--is extremely powerful." Continue reading ...

Article by Selena Dehne and courtesy of JIST Publishing

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 2, 2010 at 9:38 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Hiring managers, recruiters and HR departments use more than just your resume to find and learn about candidates. That's good news for candidates who have additional ways to market themselves, and ways to differentiate from their competition.

Companies often look first to Linkedin when going beyond a candidate's resume, and often search Linkedin for candidates.

Facebook may be much larger in size, but Linkedin is a business focused social network, plus it doesn't have all the games and valentines day cards on a personal Facebook profile. If you're a candidate, you want to be searched for and want to be found - Google indexes Linkedin profiles.

If an employer, HR staff, or recruiter Googles a job seeker by name, your Linkedin profile will turn up in the results. Job seekers should assume that they will be searched online by recruiters, before an interview is scheduled, when making short list decisions, and before a final offer is extended. In addition, recruiters and HR departments are not just searching to find dirt, but are using Linkedin and Google more frequently to find new candidates.

Continue reading "Job Seekers - 20 Ways To Brand Yourself On Linkedin" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 2, 2010 at 8:44 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Today, I spoke to Ella Bell, who is an associate professor of business administration at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University, and author of Career GPS. In this interview, Ella talks about the new corporate ladder, the challenges people have as they try to climb the corporate ladder, whether you should quit a job you're not passionate about, and the discusses some important career lessons.

What is the new corporate landscape? How is it different than ten years ago?

The new corporate landscape is shaped by several major features. Compared to 10 years ago, we now live in a global era. Given the multinational reality most corporations face, they have had to become more global. We are working on a global field and executing across geographic borders. Corporate executives must now possess cross cultural savvy to build their business relationships and grow their business. Corporations must now know how to develop employees from very diverse backgrounds because they simply don't fit neatly into the stereotypical white male box.

Continue reading "Personal Branding Interview: Ella Bell" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 1, 2010 at 6:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

What you need is a competitive advantage, something that gets the hiring manager's attention, causes him or her to keep reading your resume, and ultimately, pick up the phone and call for the interview. How do you differentiate yourself from all the other people seeking the same opportunity?

Simply put, value.

WHAT VALUE DO YOU OFFER?

If you were going to purchase a new laptop computer or a new car, chances are you would do your research. If you weren't sure which make and model you wanted, you would test drive the car. Or you would go to Best Buy and play with the display laptops to decide which one was best for you. What you're really looking for is the one car or computer with VALUE. The one that meets your needs and wants.

Continue reading "A Key Strategy to Standing Out In A Sea of Other Job Seekers " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 25, 2010 at 5:49 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There is one definitive answer for this question - Longer than you think.

It's interesting that when I talk to candidates, most have such an unrealistic view of how long their job search will take.

I think this reaction is driven by:

Past Experience - Chances are, your past experience in looking for a job was in a better job market than today, unless it was in the 1930's
Need - If a candidate is driven by the need to save their home and put food on the table, they are more likely to figure something out - even if it means working at a lower level position, even if it means working for much less pay
Hope - It's great to be hopeful, not so great to be unrealistic

I'm all for the power of positive thinking. However, unless you are independently wealthy, it pays to look at how long your job search will take realistically.
When you look at the "How Long" question realistically, you can plan ahead, and you are much less likely to be caught in a dire financial situation (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/02/are-you-planning-to-fail-in-your-job.html).

Continue reading "How Long Will My Job Search Take? " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 25, 2010 at 5:38 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

You've been applying for various positions in your field for a number of months, and finally have received the call to schedule an interview. Are you ready for an Academy Award winning performance?

Top candidates understand the importance of preparation. They realize it can take hours of practice to answer an interview question with the level of confidence and professionalism an employer expects of their next hire. Keep in mind, your interviewer is not looking for "canned" responses, but they do want answers that illustrate your value as a potential
employee.

Continue reading "Lights, Camera.....Interview: Tips for an Award Winning Performance" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 24, 2010 at 2:25 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

How many of you have a project plan for your job search?

I'm not talking about a marketing plan, or a list of target companies, or an opportunity pipeline tracking spreadsheet. I'm not talking about a to-do list, or a plan somewhere in your head.

I'm asking about a real, honest-to-goodness job search project plan.

A real job search project plan is written, complete with a timeline, metrics, daily activities, includes a marketing plan, list of target companies, pipeline tracking, and to-do lists. A job search project plan is written out on a spreadsheet or specific planning software, allowing you to plan activities to get a job within a designated period of time.

Continue reading "Are You Planning To Fail In Your Job Search, Or Failing To Plan? " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 24, 2010 at 2:06 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

People are so wrapped up in finding job opportunities, that they often forget the importance of how to quit a job. If you're not using the final weeks, months, days and hours at a job to reinforce your passion and expertise, you are missing out on a golden personal branding opportunity. The people you work with today, from the newly minted intern to the curmudgeon in clerical, could be the lead to a new job tomorrow.

Work hard until the very last second

The reality is that people WILL talk about you after you leave a job. They'll likely blame you for things that you had nothing to do with. Imagine how nice it would be for someone to come to your aid, defending your honor, even after you're gone. It is possible! Give people very little reason to bad mouth you. Not only do you need to work hard and tie up all loose ends when you come to the end of the road at a gig, but you need to be your own cheerleader too. Make it known that you're giving the job your all until the very end. You'll be amazed at how impressed people will be to find you still there at 5pm on your very last day. Or how thrilled they'll be when you leave them instructions on how to do something that only you handled. Not only will it help you brand yourself in a positive light, but it's also good career karma.

Continue reading "Leaving a Job? 4 Ways to Brand Yourself Until the Very End" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 24, 2010 at 1:49 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As a career coach, people are always talking to me about their careers. We discuss their dreams, wishes, and future plans. But when I ask some of these people how they will implement their plans, their reasons for not moving forward begin to flow.

Their reasons vary. Some people tell me they are too old. Some are too young. Some have the wrong education or not enough. Some have too much experience, while others don't have as much as they'd like.

Today, the reason is the pretty consistent. The economy. How can you have a job you love when you are lucky to be working?

Continue reading "You CAN Achieve Your Career Goals" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 24, 2010 at 9:31 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The longer a job search drags on, the more desperate a person can become. This desperation can manifest itself in the form of job seekers kow towing (figuratively speaking) to prospective employers and going out of their way to ingratiate themselves to interviewers. According to an article on Ask a Manager, Combating Unhealthy Power Dynamics During a Job Search - the Ones in Your Head, this desire to please could actually cause more harm than good.

It's too easy to take a job out of desperation - been there, done that - only to turn around six months to a year later and return to the job market because the job wasn't, for one reason or another, a good fit. It's also easy for one to sabotage a job search by allowing desperation to lead to destructive behaviors like overreacting when an interviewer is late for a scheduled phone interview. Chances are, it's not personal. The best thing to do is to call the interviewer and remind him of the appointment. If he simply forgot, he'll probably offer to do the interview right then. But if something came up, he may have to reschedule.

Continue reading "Don't Let Desperation Damage Your Job Search" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 23, 2010 at 10:34 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In today's job market, the question isn't whether or not it would be wise to have a personal brand - but how do you take the first step? It is becoming more and more difficult to stand out from the crowd and 'be noticed' for those promotions and positions that you would like to have. With a very limited amount of positions available, it becomes increasingly clear how important building your personal brand becomes.

People know you. They have associated positions and characteristics to you. They have built an idea in their mind about you. Building a personal brand entails you taking control of the characteristics that are being assigned to you. You decide how you want to be known and the career path that you'd like to take. What do you want people to think of when they think of you? What positions would you like to be considered for?

Continue reading "Step 1 in Building a Personal Brand (Yes You Need One)" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 23, 2010 at 10:06 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you're in the process of choosing a career and looking at career options, you're surrounded by enough bad news to make you a "paralytic decision-maker." Like discouraging findings from the new report, "The Labor Market, Then and Now" from the John J. Heldrich Center on Workforce Development:

• U.S. Government employment projections have historically been proven wrong.
• Job satisfaction is at its lowest level since the data was first tracked.
• Baby boomers are not retiring like they were supposed to so there are fewer jobs than expected.

In the last decade, the time it takes to find a job has gone from 3 to 6 months (there go your savings!) and the list goes on....

Not to mention all the doom and gloom predictions about the U.S. "empire" going down the tubes due to "do-nothing" politics and overwhelming deficits. It's been so bad I substituted watching Stephen Colbert's Winter Olympics for online news this week.

So instead of putting on Leonard Cohen CDs and opening a bottle of strong medicine, what's the forward-looking, hard-working career decision-maker to do with all this gloomy outlook? I call it channeling your inner optimist - being realistic but optimistic. Here are 5 ways to do that:

1. Make sure you have realistic expectations of the career choice process. No matter how much research you do, how many assessments you take, what informational interviews you conduct - your choice is a calculated risk. That's why important decisions are hard - you can never be 100% sure your choice will result in success. Prepare to be adaptable and surprised.
2. Explore all aspects of the career decision process in a methodical way - confronting your fears and negative consequences of your choice with a plan to respond to them. Use our 4 step "High Quality Decisions" article and the downloadable "decision balance sheet" to get started. Write down your thoughts - it's called bibliotherapy and writing therapy - it works and it's free!
3. Rely on the best resources for career information you can, knowing their weaknesses and strengths. Although the government job outlook data can be proven incorrect (maybe God should be hired as a consultant to predict job growth), it has also been proven correct for many occupations. The government uses data from individual states and provinces, relying on labor economic experts to compile it but it often lags a few years behind. As long as you treat it as only one piece of the puzzle, government information can be useful.
4. Rely on scientifically valid self-assessments - ones that are proven to measure what they say they measure. Otherwise you may make a decision you regret. The Career Key is not the only valid test; we recommend you take other tests and assessments in addition to The Career Key. Just be careful and discriminating about tests on the Internet because very few have scientific validity. If you are a college graduate, make sure you take advantage of your school's career center that may offer valid tests for free or a nominal fee.
5. Think "right" thoughts. Your thoughts help determine your behavior and actions so treat your career choice and career development with a positive outlook. If you believe you will fail, you will. Cognitive psychology research has shown this to be true. Books from positive psychology thought leaders like Dr. Martin Seligman and cognitive psychology experts like Dr. David Burns can help. Make sure to surround yourself with positive people to support your efforts.

Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 23, 2010 at 9:11 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

How's your job search going? You've networked. You've updated your LinkedIn profile and used social networks to learn about leads. You've revamped your resume to tailor your background and experiences to each job posting. And then finally, an opportunity presents itself. You've got an interview lined up for next Friday at 1:00pm. Have you thought about what you're going to wear? Fashion isn't frivolous. Thinking about image and wardrobe are more important than ever. The Department of Labor reported that in January 2010 there were 14.8 million unemployed Americans. Hiring managers are inundated with applications. How are you differentiating yourself from the pack?

Personal image, according to Robin Fisher, President of Polished, a full-service personal styling and image- consulting agency, is "what you visually and non-verbally communicate to the public through personal appearance and social etiquette. 55-70% of your first impression is determined by your clothes, grooming and posture." If you are exclusively invested in your content and you ignore the power of your image, you are missing a critical element of your overall effectiveness. Are you allowing a professional image to support you?

Continue reading " Fashion Forward Interview Tips for YOU, The Brand" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 23, 2010 at 8:29 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The Internet has a lot junk to distract people from their entry level job or internship searches, but it has a lot that's useful, too. An article on Accredited Online Colleges.org, 100 Web Tools Business Students Need Now, lists sites specifically for business students, but many of them, like Google Reader, Doodle, Elance, WordPress, and BizShark, could be helpful for anyone. Sites like U.S. Business Reporter, which allows people to research businesses, would be a good addition to any job seeker's favorites list.

To read the full list, click here.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 23, 2010 at 6:03 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Everyone (myself included) is telling you to go out there and network. But, what do you plan to say to people while you're networking? (For the uninitiated, networking is not merely retaining as many business cards as possible from other people in the span of an hour.)

Who are you?

This is the first question you should ask yourself when constructing your elevator pitch. My answer might look a bit like the bio at the end of this piece.

What are you seeking?

Is your end goal to land a job or a client? After you've explained to your new networking contact who you are, it's important to communicate what you're seeking.

What can you offer?

It's not enough to be looking for a job, client, etc. You have to offer something of value in return. This is often called your unique selling proposition (USP).

Request action

Sure, you said what you're seeking, but you should be explicit with your networking contact about the next step in this new relationship.

Putting it together

To borrow from a great book you should pick up and read immediately, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career by Katharine Hansen, a college student or recent graduate might follow this basic structure:

Hi, my name is ______________. I will be graduating/I just graduated from ______________ with a degree in ______________. I'm looking to ______________. I recently ______________. Can I take you out for coffee sometime to elicit your advice?

K.I.S.S.

Keep it simple and short. Your elevator pitch should be no longer than 60 seconds. After all, (1) you don't want to bore the other individual and (2) you want to hear his/her story, too! Networking is a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship.

What is your example of a successful elevator pitch?

Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder & president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

Article courtesy of Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 22, 2010 at 3:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

My friends and I acted like unofficial advertising experts on [Super Bowl Sunday], immediately commenting in between bites of chips and salsa about which Super Bowl ads were funny (Betty White in the Snickers ad), poignant (Google's Parisian romance ad) or a waste of time (the ad that seemed to be for the U.S. Census Bureau).

Did you do that, too?

And we shared our immediate like or dislike for the ads by those and other companies like Coca-Cola, Denny's, Intel, Anheuser-Busch, Dodge, Doritos, Dr. Pepper, CareerBuilder.com and others, I realized that I was happily judging the work of professionals in the advertising industry. It probably took months to brainstorm and create the ad, and maybe even some sleepless nights. Even one ad, for Doritos, wasn't done by a professional, but two unemployed and wishful filmmakers who won a $1 million prize for creating the ad for less than $2,000.

Continue reading "Super Bowl Ads Put the Spotlight on Careers" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 22, 2010 at 11:48 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you've been struggling to find work this year, you've got company.

While the pace of job losses slowed last month, with payrolls declining by 11,000 positions in November 2009, the length of the average job search actually surged, to 28.5 weeks of average unemployment -- the worst in more than 10 years.

So, times continue to be tough.

And times may stay tough, if you're laboring under two of the most common and costly misconceptions that plague most job seekers.

What are they?

Misconception #1: "Sure, that person got hired, but I'm different. What about an idea I can use in my job search?"

Solution: I can't tell you how often I hear variations on the "I'm different" question, and how wrong-headed the thinking behind it is.

Continue reading "Two Costly Job-Search Misconceptions and How to Avoid Them " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 22, 2010 at 11:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

It's official: we're in for a long roller-coaster ride on the job market. After an unexpected drop in unemployment numbers, the government has released new figures that found the number of people filing for unemployment rising once again last week, to 473,000--a gain of 31,000.

The hope, of course, had been that we'd seen the worst of this recession, and that job numbers would steadily improve. The new info means layoffs aren't slowing as fast as we might have hoped, but it doesn't change the general consensus that the job picture is improving. The four-week average for new jobless claims dropped by 1,500 to 467,500, and that's among the best numbers we've seen throughout his whole recession (keep in mind, the total of jobs lost is now believed to be around 8.4 million since the end of 2007).

Continue reading "Do you have staying power in your job?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 22, 2010 at 8:44 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In job search, it's better to be lucky than to be smart.

Unfortunately, most candidates play by an outdated set of rules that makes them unlucky. Employers today use very similar procedures to pick which employees to interview and hire. These procedures are vastly different than the tactics that most candidates use (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2009/10/are-you-buying-mac-cheese-of-job-search.html).

I suggest to candidates that they will need 3 times the number of opportunities in their pipeline than their last job search. Candidates should plan on a pipeline that can deliver 3 times the number of interviews ... in order to get lucky. It's THAT competitive out there, when CareerBuilder reports that the average job seeker is taking 6 months to find a new position (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/02/some-good-news-for-job-seekers.html), CNN reports a national average over 30 weeks, and ExecuNet reports that it's taking managers & executives 9-12 months on average.

Continue reading "5 Ways To Get Lucky In Your Job Search " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 19, 2010 at 3:29 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Starting over in a new career field isn't easy. Finding a job is tougher because you no longer have years of industry experience to back you up. So, essentially, you're competing on a level playing field with people who are ten years or more your junior. It could be discouraging, but it doesn't have to be.

The following tips from Randstad Staffing could help you position yourself to find a great job and make 2010 a stellar year:

• Be open to starting at the bottom and working your way up
• Focus on training and education in your new field, versus climbing the ladder
• Sometimes a stint at a smaller company where you get to wear a lot of hats can be the launching pad that gets you to a bigger and better opportunity
• Volunteerism is valuable, but if you can't identify these opportunities in the industry you're hoping to break into, definitely focus your efforts on nonprofit opportunities that provide skills that will be helpful in your new career direction.
• Identify and introduce yourself to potential mentors in your new field. Ask for their help in discovering learning opportunities

Changing careers can be as exciting as it is frightening, but finding an entry level job in a new career field could take from several months to a year. Following the tips above might make the search a lot shorter and a lot less painful.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 19, 2010 at 7:57 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you are bored at work and wondering what to do about it and are not one of those who are exhilarated for not doing anything and still getting paid - like Dilbert and Wally here in the Dilbert comic picture; then this article is for you.

If you do not enjoy your current work and the thought of getting up everyday and getting ready to get to a place that bores you thoroughly then take follow these 5 steps that will help you deal with your current boring work and find a better solution to get out of it as well!

1. First- Analysis - is the work boring you or the routine

Often you will come across people who say have had a great performance record at their present job but slowly and surely they find it dwindling to the extent of getting bad reviews, disinterest in any work and not keeping the deadlines. Is it the job that they once were completely excited about a dead end for them or is it the routine that has bored them? What about you? Have you taken time to analyze why once a "to-die-for" position has suddenly lost its luster entirely?

Continue reading "5 Steps to Deal with Boring Work " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 18, 2010 at 1:20 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Are you telling employers simply what you've done, or are you selling yourself to them by showing what you've accomplished? Telling the hiring manager what you've done sounds just like everyone else that ever held the same job. Selling them the idea of hiring you because of what you can accomplish is a more effective strategy. When writing your own resume, answer this one simple question and you can't go wrong:

"What makes me different from everyone else around me?"

Let me use myself as an example, if I may: When I was a human resources manager, I was able to reduce turnover rates by 50% and reduce fill time by more than 90%. This made me an extremely effective hiring manager. I implemented processes and procedures to hire, train, and retain staff. Turnover costs an organization money, and so does onboarding. By reducing the time spent, I was saving the company money and, later on down the line, making myself a very tempting hire. Some time later I applied and interviewed for a high position with a larger organization that subsequently told me they had specifically interviewed and hired me as a direct result of the accomplishments I had included on my resume.

Continue reading "Give Your Resume A Competitive Edge TODAY With This Key Strategy " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 18, 2010 at 1:15 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

These tips are good habits to get into to manage your career even in boom times. So even if you're one of the lucky ones who aren't concerned about being laid off, put the economy to work for you. Let it motivate you to get ready for an emergency job search.

Network everywhere you go, all the time.

Attend networking events and meetings of professional associations. Keep up with your former coworkers, friends, and acquaintances. That way, if you need to ask for a referral, it won't be the first thing they hear from you after a long silence.

Check in with your "affinity groups."

Colleges and universities have done a great job in building and enhancing their alumni databases. These are great resources for informational interviews, job openings, and potential business partners. Some companies have "alumni" groups as well. Continue reading ...

Article courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 18, 2010 at 8:54 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Maybe there was a time when you could post your resume on Monster.com and sit back and wait for the offers to come flooding in, but that time is long gone. In today's economic climate, that's like waiting for the job fairy to come and tap you on the head with a magic wand. Well, guess what? There is no job fairy. That's what I call a reality-based wake up call, and one I've repeated time and time again to the thousands of people I've spoken to as a career coach and strategic advisor. What it means is, you can't afford to be passive and wait around for the jobs to come back, because a lot of them won't. It's time to take control of your career again.

The way to take control is to go where the growth is. It's not hopeless out there, even though it feels like it sometimes. There are choices you can make that will improve your situation. They may be tough choices, but who ever said the important things in life are easy?

Continue reading "Stop Waiting for the "Job Fairy" and Get Proactive About Your Job Search" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 17, 2010 at 1:19 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The real estate of your resume is one of the most important, and most over looked concepts of effective resume presentation. Most resumes I review have an antiquated notion, if any notion at all, about how use of real estate affects your reader's impression of your qualifications.

First, what is resume real estate?

Resume real estate describes the use of space and placement on your resume. Not all spaces are created equal.

Most candidates I advise use a resume that's planned around being printed on paper. However, most interview decisions are made on a screen. This is a huge difference, because the human eye focuses on different information in the space of a screen, versus on paper.

Continue reading "10 Ways To Manage Your Resume Real Estate " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 17, 2010 at 12:50 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Watching the news this morning, an adjective used to describe one of the Olympic competitors caught my attention. The word: impervious. Checking its definition in Webster's New Dictionary, I found:

impervious: incapable of being affected or disturbed...not capable of being damaged or harmed.

As a job seeker...

Do you let little things get to you?

Do you let the slightest criticism bug you and ruin your day?

Do you let the silly remark slide, or do you want to hire an attorney and sue the one that said it?

Do you filter conversation, lifting up the good stuff and letting the rest go?

Do you smile and thank the person who offers you a job lead, only to later ridicule them wondering why they would think of you for such a 'lowly' job?

Do you take with a grain of salt the person who asks you for the umpteenth time, "haven't you found a job yet?"

Are you an impervious job seeker? I hope so...I hope that you are a job seeker who doesn't quit, who doesn't give up, who stays positive, focused, inspired, motivated, and grateful, no matter what, until you figure it out and find (or create) a new place for yourself. Impervious.

Article by, Billie Sucher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 17, 2010 at 12:22 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you've decided that you need the help a life coach or career coach to get your career or job search moving in the right direction, you're not alone. Lots of people go to life/career coaches when they're having trouble deciding what to do in their lives or careers. But there's more to hiring a coach than just picking up a phone book. There are certain questions, tough questions, that have to be asked in order for a prospective client to know if a potential coach is a good fit or not.

Here's a collection of the questions and advice that coaching experts and experienced professionals in other fields think you should ask when you're interviewing a potential coach:

• "What is your area of expertise? (Hopefully the person has one area of expertise, otherwise he is a generalist).
• What is your experience? (Is he qualified and trained or did he just pick this "skill" out of a hat?)
• What type of results do your clients experience? (You want to find out if there is a match between the potential client's challenges and what the coach can do.)
• Have you had previous clients with these concerns / issues / challenges (This question will help determine fit and whether or not the person has prior experience),"

Continue reading "How to Interview a Potential Life or Career Coach" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 17, 2010 at 8:20 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Long before Randy Pausch ever gave his Last Lecture speech, my sister likened me to Eeyore. I'm always able to imagine the worst-case scenario, but not so good at imagining the best. I struggle with this natural tendency every day.

It's hard to be positive when there's negativity all around, not only in the form of layoffs and increased workloads, but also in reports of war and violence and natural disasters. Good news reports are grossly outnumbered by bad and often appear at the end of individual segments or programs (if they appear at all). It's no wonder people feel discouraged, despite reports that the economy is recovering, especially if they work for companies that are still laying people off. Many remaining employees feel overwhelmed by their increased workloads. Some employers, fearing that the economy may take a turn for the worse once more, are opting to hire temps to help out rather than hire regular employees to fill the vacancies, maintaining a "realistic view." Other employers are choosing to have a more positive outlook, and they're encouraging their employees to do the same.

Continue reading "Is it Positive Thinking or Are You Just Kidding Yourself?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 17, 2010 at 6:56 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Communication has evolved over the years due to technological and other changes in our society. How we write letters is a great example. At the beginning of the 20th century, a business letter would have been handwritten in meticulous cursive style. It would have been lengthy and chock full of flowery images and adjectives.

In the mid 1900s, letters got shorter and less long-winded, however still tended to be very detailed.

The advent of the personal computer enabled the job candidate to prepare a comprehensive one-page letter with bulleted achievements, printed and mailed to the targeted employer.

In the second decade of the 21st century, today's six-figure executive is likely to email his/her materials to the board, search committee, hiring director or recruiter. Typically, it will be a resume and a very brief letter--as short as a few sentences--highlighting only a select notable successes. Details are few. The point is to whet the reader's appetite to take the next step. The other point is that people are busy, and appreciate cut-to-the-chase documents.

Continue reading "Writing Electronic (E-mail) Cover Letters" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 16, 2010 at 5:12 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

One of the most common job seeker dilemmas I hear about these days is how to position a layoff with prospective employers.

My advice - pure and simple - is to mention it directly. Since the subject of how you left your last job will inevitably come up in the context of discussing your recent work experience, I don't think you can really hide the true story without coming across as insincere or even dishonest.

Nor should you. Consider how many people have been laid off nationwide in the last eighteen months. It's a lot - and there could be any number of reasons for your termination, including a company bankruptcy or merger or a widespread plan to cut expenditures. Many of these situations have little or nothing to do with job performance, and there's nothing you could have done to prevent or circumvent the outcome. There's not an employer out there that hasn't been negatively impacted by the poor economy, so it's unlikely that your interviewer will hold a layoff against you.

Here's the key, though. When discussing your layoff in the interview, you must be careful of your tone. Communicating that you feel sorry for yourself or that you're experiencing a crisis of confidence will portray you in a bad light even if the layoff itself doesn't. If you sound certain that it worked out for the best and that you'll land on your feet, prospective employers will be certain too.

Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 16, 2010 at 3:36 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Sometimes when your job search or career falls into a rut, you need a little help getting out. Or maybe you don't even know where to begin to make the changes you need to make to get your life, job search or career heading in the right direction. For some people, the answer is to seek out a life coach or career coach. As I discussed in a previous post, life/career coaches serve as guides, helping people to successfully navigate their lives, careers or job searches. But how do you determine which coach is best for you?

Although shopping around for the best price is certainly important for someone who is unemployed, it's not going to matter one bit if the coach's personality rubs his potential client the wrong way. And nobody wants to end up in a blind-leading-the-blind situation because he's chosen a coach who isn't qualified for the job.

Continue reading "What Kind of Coach is Right for Me?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 16, 2010 at 6:22 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

When dispensing interview advice, I forgot to mention the important step that comes before that, the job search. While RBA is a great tool to help you in the job market, it is unable to keep you safe from the sharks in the water. Fortunately, it comes complete with this wonderful, complementary blog to help you along the way.

I've been running into a ridiculous amount of fishy jobs on the internet, and according to the San Francisco Chronicle, I'm not alone. The article claims that online job scams are increasing in conjunction with the desperation of the job-seeking masses. Here are three things I recommend to reduce your risk of being scammed:

Continue reading "Shark Infested Waters: Apply at Your Own Risk" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 15, 2010 at 3:45 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

"'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' 'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat." - Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I've never really been a big believer of networking as the main job search strategy. In fact, for whatever reason, I've always felt that "who you know" plays a very small part in landing a job (despite the statistics). But just last week I helped someone I know get a job by referring them. I actually referred three people over the last few weeks (only one got the job so far), so it got me to thinking. Maybe there is something to this "it's who you know". For me, out of the way too many jobs I've had over the way too many years I've worked, only two jobs were as a result of someone I knew. But in my current job, of the six people I've hired over the last 10 months, three have been referred in one form or other. 50%! Lower than the statistics would lead you to believe, but still an impressive number. So you know what? I've changed my mind. There is something to this "it's who you know". So, what better place to start than my Job Search Marketing Toolkit and the Networking post?

Continue reading "Job Hunting - It's Who You Know" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 15, 2010 at 3:26 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Ever worked in more than one industry or more than one position on your way to career super stardom? I thought so. Many of us get trapped by this feeling that our resume has to be a complete historical rundown of everything we have ever done and everywhere we have ever done it. Not true. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying; I'm not advising you to lie, be untruthful, or withhold information. What I am going to share with you are three ways to focus your resume so that you can optimize your opportunities for interview call backs.

DO NOT SEND A GENERIC RESUME.

Sending a generic, unfocused resume is a waste of your time and the hiring manager's time. Instead, spend a few extra moments tailoring your resume to fit the needs of the organization to which you are applying. Review the job description and ensure that you offer what they need. Then make sure you show them that.

Continue reading "3 Ways to Position Your Professional Resume to Land the Interview " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 15, 2010 at 3:20 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

You made a decision to change careers but you're feeling REALLY uneasy. You can't tell if you're coming down with the flu or if that sinking feeling is your decision. Big decisions are always kind of gut wrenching but there are some things you can do to test your situation.

1- Did you make this decision for the right reasons? Making a career decision is a big life changer and it requires some quality think time from you. If you have made this decision quickly because you had a fight with the boss or got a bad assignment, you do want to slow things down and think through the situation. We all have work we don't always love to do every day. We all have days that you can't stand the boss. Of course you don't want to do something you hate or work with bad people but the question(s) is: How long is this situation apt to continue? Can you work on your relationships? What can you do to make this better? If you have made the decision in haste put the actions on hold. Pick a point out in the future to revisit the decision. Allow time to present the potential of improvement. If it doesn't, then move on.

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Continue reading "Career Change: Feeling queasy about changing? 5 ways to Confirm You've Made the Right Decision" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 15, 2010 at 3:13 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There are some people who have difficulty finding the right jobs or who aren't sure where they want to go in their lives or careers and feel they need a little outside help, so they enlist the aid of a life coach or career coach. In her article for Newsweek, Do You Need a Life Coach? Nancy Cook writes that a person could, on average, pay anywhere from $75-$300 per one hour session with a professional coach. After reading this article, I wanted to know what life coaches or career coaches do exactly and, most importantly, when should someone enlist the aid of a professional life or career coach?

Dictionary.com defines a life coach as: an advisor who helps people with problems, decisions, and goal attainment in daily life.

It defines a career coach as: a person who guides another in planning and managing [his] career, especially managers and executives.

Clearly, Dictionary.com views life coaches and career coaches as completely separate entities, but for the purposes of this article, I have combined the two because life coaches can also give career advice and career coaches can advise clients to make certain lifestyle changes if the clients' life choices interfere with their career successes.

Continue reading "How Do You Know When It's Time to Get a Life Coach?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 15, 2010 at 7:06 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Yesterday I had a conversation with a job seeker who was very worried about his former boss.

For the past few years, Jim (not his real name) had worked as a programmer in a small, tight-knit part of the IT industry. After the economic crisis hit and clients started tightening budgets, Jim's company reacted in cutting salaries by over 25%. Living in one of the more expensive cities of America, Jim's new salary wasn't enough for him to pay his bills so he decided to resign and look for another job. Logical enough, but there was a problem.

Jim's ex-boss is well-known and very popular in their part of the IT community yet his employees know a different side of him, cutthroat and vindictive. The company thought they had cultivated a family-like atmosphere and when Jim announced his resignation, the ex-boss "wasn't very happy" to say the least, even after Jim explained that his reasons were purely economic. He would have stayed on otherwise.

Continue reading "Reader Branding Nightmare: Job Search Sabotage?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 12, 2010 at 4:18 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There's gloom and doom everywhere regarding the economy, especially in the media. This can make it especially difficult to focus on conducting an effective job search. Let's be real - the economy will have an effect on your career search. It is tougher to find jobs, but not everything is as bad as the media makes it out to be. There ARE jobs out there and there ARE opportunities for you.

The current economic situation requires that you be more aggressive with you career search. You must create a transition plan, identify your goals and your ideal job. You have to network more aggressively and market yourself effectively.

See this as an opportunity

As a career coach, I find career seekers typically fall into 2 categories:

1. The person who's recently laid off, who is forced to take a look at whether they were happy in their career. People in this category should use this as an opportunity to make a positive change. They have a choice to stay in their current industry or embark on a career path that will be more fulfilling and rewarding for them.
2. The other person is the one who is unhappy in their job but is scared to do anything about it because they hear all the doom and gloom in the media. Therefore they remain in a job they're unhappy with. People in this category should realize that life is too short to stay in a career that is making you unhappy. And that despite the tough economy, they can make a change. They just have to be smart about it. At the end of your life do you want to say that you tried and even failed, or that you didn't try at all? You know the answer.

Continue reading "3 Keys to Adjust Your Career Search to the Tough Economy" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 12, 2010 at 3:34 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Writers, particularly freelancers, have to beware of all kinds of pitfalls when working on assignments. Linda Formichelli offers some helpful advice in her article, The Sticky Situation Room, in the February 2010 issue of Writer's Digest.

The first sticky situation is one that I've encountered more than once. It's when a source wants a preview copy of your article to "make sure everything is all right." Sometimes this is a good idea and sometimes it's not. Formichelli cautions writers to ask their editors before sending a source an advance copy of the article because policies on such practices differ from publication to publication. If sending a preview copy isn't possible, the next best thing is to call or email the source with only those parts of your article in which he was quoted. I think it's also a good idea to let your source know how he was cited, just to ensure you didn't misspell his name or use the wrong title.

Sticky situation number two is related to number one. It's when a source is permitted to have a preview copy of your article and he makes so many changes that you barely recognize it. I had this happen to me once. My solution was to to undo any superfluous changes - of which there were many - and send the article to my editor. When the story finally appeared in the paper, everyone approved. Formichelli suggests telling the source in advance that he's only allowed to change his own quotes and correct any factual errors. Continue reading ...

Article by, CollegeRecruiter and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 12, 2010 at 10:40 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I wanted to introduce a concept that I use with strong success for my career coaching clients. A skills inventory is a way to expand on the candidate's statement - "Here's all the things I could do."

Most candidates today make a big mistake and brand themselves with what they could do by placing it at the very top of the resume, often in a summary section.
Even though this is common advice, in practice it rarely works well today.

Here's where I usually get pushback, because a summary section has been so ingrained in or thought process from the paper resume days that it's hard to break from (See: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2009/10/are-you-buying-mac-cheese-of-job-search.html). Summary sections made sense when you could only have one version of a static resume, because it was printed on paper ... at Kinko's.

Continue reading "Resume Ideas - Add A Skills Inventory To Get Noticed For More Jobs " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 11, 2010 at 4:51 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Every day I either read or write the phrase "dream job." It would probably be more accurate to call it a "dream come true job." Either way, it's different for everyone, I'm sure, because we all have different likes and dislikes, tolerance levels, and aspirations. But I wanted to know what "someone in the know" had to say about it.

Below is my brief interview with communication expert, David Cunningham, who is featured in Alexandra Levit's new book, New Job, New You.

CR: Is there such a thing as a dream job?

David Cunningham: Your attitude about your work can determine whether a job is a dream job for you. When you commit yourself completely to your job and deal with the reality of your job versus what you add to reality, you will feel fulfilled in what you do. You can also help to make your job a dream job by maintaining a foundation of integrity and open, honest and complete communication with your coworkers, colleagues, clients, customers, bosses and employees. If you focus on the contribution you get to make versus what acknowledgement you are getting, you have a dream job.

Continue reading "Do Dream Jobs Really Exist?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 11, 2010 at 12:54 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Attaining an on the road job is a must for those who love to travel. There are currently many fun and rewarding on the road jobs for individuals who enjoy being on the go. Following are a few popular on the road jobs.

Taxi driver. If you love people and spending time on the road then a job as a taxi driver is a perfect career opportunity for you. You won't need a college education to become a taxi driver but you will need a little job experience or hands on training for this particular on the road job. As a taxi driver it will be your duty to pick up passengers and take them to different locations, you'll have to keep your vehicle clean and in good condition and you'll also need to be a good driver with a clean record. According to Gacollege411 the national average annual wage for a taxi driver is $22,740 with an hourly wage of $10.93. If you want a job that allows you to stay on the road then a job as a taxi driver is an excellent choice. Continue reading ...

Article by, Brittany Tucker and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 11, 2010 at 11:26 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

How to Become a Commercial Print Model

Commercial print models are the models you see in magazines, catalogs, billboards, posters, etc... playing character roles and advertising products and services of various clients. If you want to be a commercial print model but don't know how, just read the article below to learn a few steps that you can take in order to start a print modeling career as a commercial print model.

First, find a commercial print photographer to take some commercial print photos of you. Make sure you take a variety of commercial print shots playing different character roles and posing with various props and products.

Once you get your photos back from the photographer, send your best photos to multiple commercial print modeling agencies in your area or even areas you don't mind traveling to. You can find a totally free list of commercial print modeling agencies at the website "All Modeling". Their website address is as follows: http://www.allmodeling.com.

Article by, eWriter and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 11, 2010 at 7:22 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Do you have a boss who frequently flies off the handle? A co-worker who constantly whines? A sabotaging supervisor? Every workplace and every department has them -- difficult people. Whether these people just "get on your nerves" or are having a serious impact on your success, learning how to deal with challenging people takes skill.

You'll meet 10 difficult personalities in Parts I and II of this article and learn some strategies to help you handle them.

The Bully

Meet Tom Tempestuous. Tom knows that most people dislike conflict and hassle, so his strategy is to throw fits and temper tantrums to get his way. Unfortunately, many bullies get their way because either people fear emotional conflict or they want to avoid the drama and noise. Continue reading ...

Article by Dawn Dugan and courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 11, 2010 at 7:18 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

For job seekers, the resume may be the most important document they need. After all, what's on that simple piece of paper can mean the difference between landing an interview and landing in the circular file.

While most job seekers concentrate on what they should include on their resume, few pay attention to what they shouldn't include. This article explores 10 things you should never put on your resume.

A crazy objective

So you want to be the next Bill Gates. Terrific! And you may even have the chops to make it happen. But please don't put it in your objective statement. Outlandish, overconfident, or "out there" objective statements almost always ensure that the rest of your resume isn't read. Continue reading ...

Article by Dawn Dugan and courtesy of Salary.com®

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 11, 2010 at 7:13 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

You're looking for your next opportunity, and you begin doing routine searches on your favorite job board. As you browse jobs in your category, you quickly send your resumé along with a generic cover letter. You believe that the more resumes you submit to prospective employers, the more you will increase your chances of getting hired - somewhere. Does this sound like an example of quality career planning?

Think about this for just one minute. If you were purchasing a new car, would you just pick one off of the lot, without ever considering the pros and cons of that particular vehicle? If you were buying a new home, would you just take the first one that came along; or would you research the area, learn about the schools, and determine if this was the right fit for your entire family?

Continue reading "How To Select Your Target Employer " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 10, 2010 at 4:48 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I see this at just about every networking event, and even online - The glommer.

You've experienced the glommer at parties and hopefully you're not a glommer yourself. The glommer is someone who over-capitalizes your time, who overstays their welcome with you, who just won't let you talk to others no matter how politely you try to leave.

Instead of building goodwill with you, job seekers who are glommers destroy it.

How likely are you to take the glommer's call after a networking event? How likely are you to refer the glommer to your friends and contacts? Would you suspect the glommer would also glom onto them?

Continue reading "How Job Seekers Can Destroy Networking Goodwill By Cyber-Glomming " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 10, 2010 at 4:27 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

1. Get caught up in your own world and busy life

2. Don't bother keeping in touch with your network of friends, ex-colleagues, ex-clients and contacts

3. Lose your job / find your job may be under threat / or get stuck in a rut with your career

4. Get back in contact with your network because you've heard the mantra: "network is best way to find a new job"

5. Jump on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to broadcast your "hi, I'm looking for a job - please help!" message

Continue reading "19 Steps To Screwing Up Your Career" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 10, 2010 at 3:36 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There's no such thing as an ideal workplace or a dream job. Mixing different generations, races, cultures and genders opens the door to all kinds of opportunities for conflicts and misunderstandings. But the worst conflicts and misunderstandings are the ones employees have with their bosses.

"When you're feeling frustrated by your boss' behavior, it's easy to become distracted from the job at hand," said Tony Deblauwe, workplace expert and author of Tangling With Tyrants: Managing the Balance of Power at Work. "To improve ways of working, you have to focus on solutions not emotional reactions to behavior. For example, if your boss is prone to yelling, you can say 'When you yell, it's not as clear as when you ask something of me calmly, and I want to make sure I capture all that you're asking.'"

Continue reading "How to Make Things Work at Work" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 9, 2010 at 1:20 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I recently injured my back. As I go through daily life with a newfound hesitancy, which I'm sure some of you can relate to, I'm always wondering how far to push it.

I've decided this is a metaphor for career issues, too. Here are some ways in which caring for a hinky back can help you get your career back on track, too.

Don't get stuck - If you've got back issues, sitting too long in any one position can make you feel like the Tin Man in "The Wizard of Oz." Stay fluid in your career, too. You don't need to change jobs at the drop of a hat, but make sure you've got room to stretch and grow.

Align yourself - Many back injuries result from doing something a little off-balance, which over-stresses your muscles and makes them wail. To feel better and prevent further injury, get your body parts lined up the way they should be. If you're feeling discomfort in your career, maybe it's because your goals, objectives and actions aren't in sync.

Continue reading "When to Push On Through" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 9, 2010 at 9:26 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Matching your Holland interests or personality to your career choice or "job congruence" leads to higher earnings, according to a new research study involving alumni from 300 U.S. colleges and universities. The study appears in the journal Labour Economics and authors are from the University of Iowa, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth, and ACT, Inc., respectively. (Citation below)

In short:

• Choosing a career that is consistent with or matches your Holland interests (RIASEC types) results in higher earnings;
• Job congruence affects earnings almost to the same order of magnitude as additional years of schooling.

To take advantage of these findings and all the research supporting Holland's Theory of Career Choice in career and education decision-making, it is very important that you use a scientifically valid measure of Holland's personality types. You need to be confident that the test has been proven to accurately measure what it says it measures.

On the Career Key website, we have tips on how to tell whether or not a test is "scientifically valid", including a download of a recent National Career Development Association Career Developments magazine article about evaluating and choosing a career test written by Career Key author Dr. Lawrence K. Jones.

Study Citation:
Neumann, G., Olitsky, N., Robbins, S. (2009) Job congruence, academic achievement, and earnings. Labour Economics, 16, 503-509.

Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 9, 2010 at 9:19 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In 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 sales in China, Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Russia. That would be everywhere except the US and Antarctica.

In terms of a personal brand stance, Ms Doherty personifies the concept of "failing upward." In fact, like so many business leaders, she loves to hire people who have failed because she wants to see how they recovered, grew and changed.

She also wants candidates who have a great answer to this question:

"If you could be in my shoes today, what would be the top three things you'd do?"

For whatever other value this interview might bring, it was worth the read just for that question. You must be able to answer that question -for anyone you meet in a leadership position, your boss, clients, prospects, investors - heck, the head of the CIA, President Obama and the owner of your favorite football team.

If you were asked that question by the people who play a role in your success or failure, what would you say? Think about the people you aspire to meet, those you certainly will meet, and those who are on your "must meet" list. Get to know their lives well enough, their past decisions and their future leanings, so you are prepared to help them.

It's really preparation for your brand to be known as an informed, interested and trusted advisor.

TO DO: Make a list of the people you want to influence. Then go about researching the topics that matter to them. Be ready for your opinion to be asked - or the opportunity to weigh in on the issues that matter.

Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! & Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 9, 2010 at 9:14 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Who invented the jigsaw puzzle?

A. Ben Franklin B. George Washington C. Abraham Lincoln D. John Spilsbury E. Thomas Edison F. Christopher Columbus

According to this site, an Englishmen by the name of John Spilsbury invented the jigsaw puzzle in the mid-1700s. Mr. Spilsbury was a London engraver and mapmaker and his first jigsaw puzzle was a map of the world. Teachers used his puzzles to teach geography by putting the pieces of the world map back together.

Just for kicks, wouldn't it be an interesting exercise if you took all the various 'pieces' of you and mapped them on a large piece of paper, using images, numbers and words to describe yourself? For example, somewhere on my map, the casual observer would see images of trees, flowers, (nature), books, pens/pencils, travel, music, chocolate, etc.; you would see my favorite numbers and you would see specific words representing my brand, my interests, my passions, and my dreams. What a fun exercise, huh? (Well, I think so, anyway!)

Once you have mapped your images, numbers and words that well represent you, the next step is to scissor-cut your 'map' into small pieces. The goal is to put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle you back together again. Just as you are trying to make your distinct pieces of the puzzle fit, organizations are also trying to put their own puzzle pieces together, hoping to hire the best talent and the best 'fit' to best meet their own unique needs.

If you are looking for a job in today's competitive market, where do you think you best fit? What organization is just waiting for you to complete their jigsaw puzzle? What entrepreneurial endeavor is just waiting for you to put the pieces together?

Article by, Billie Sucher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 9, 2010 at 8:54 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Eight Recession-Proof Tips that Will Keep Your Writing Career Afloat in These Troubled Times

As a freelance writer, the recession is bound to make you nervous. I know it makes me nervous. Unlike other jobs that have unemployment and other benefits like severance and COBRA benefits, the self-employed person has nothing - nada - in which to fall back on. You don't make money; you don't get paid, pure and simple. This lack of a safety net is why it's so important to set yourself up for success as a freelancer.

In some ways, freelancer writers have a chance at excelling in the market and even doing pretty good. The trick is flexibility and following these eight recession-proof tips. Continue reading ...

Article by, MH Bonham and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 1:05 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The importance of how to choose the right part-time job from home cannot be understated for home-based workers, as it can spell the difference between amazing success and miserable failure. Too often, home-based workers choose the right part-time job from home in accordance with the "path of least resistance" and it may very well be the right part-time job, but for the wrong person. An individual should never accept a part-time job from home without careful deliberation of the demands of the position, and priorities should be firmly established before considering what may be the right part-time job from home. In nearly every instance the time spent considering how to choose the right part-time job from home pays huge dividends in terms of acquiring a career that is successful on all levels of endeavor.

How to choose the right part-time job from home begins with determining how much income is desired. While the obvious answer is to make as much money as is possible, it is not practical simply because there are other considerations that require attention outside of work. A home-based worker should have a specific sum of money in mind in terms of salary, and those positions that offer less income should be excluded from consideration as the right part-time job search. Continue reading ...

Article by, Thom W. Conroy and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 12:58 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Technical writing is not only writing about technology but also presenting complex, technical ideas in easy-to-understand, laymen terms. In order to claim yourself a good technical writer, you should be familiar with industry's publication and presentation standards.

Here are some basic tips that you can practice when you are writing or reviewing documents. These could be pretty straightforward for those who are experienced and native in English, but no matter who you are, it should worth a read. Also these are applicable in any form of formal communication, not just technical writing. Continue reading ...

Article by, The TechWriting Machine and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 12:54 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

You did it - you had the interview. It went pretty well, you were prepared and got along nicely with the interviewer. But wait - you're not done! There's still one very important step you need to take, a step that can seal the deal: The Thank-You Note.

Thank-you notes are old-fashioned. Maybe you're like me and your parents made you write one for every family member who gave you a birthday present. And, like me, you often feel guilty for not sending them now. But in this age of 2-minute emails and 1-second texts, this quaint gesture is surprisingly powerful.

Continue reading "Don't Forget to Say "Thank-You"" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 12:02 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Thanks for that invitation to add more pearls of wisdom, Brian - and, of course, thanks for that great blog entry. Here, from the other side of the desk is one for potential interviewees to consider.

What happens on the web does not stay on the web. Read the results of the Microsoft Data Privacy Day study here to learn how HR finds out about your online reputation.

The one thing I didn't see in the study is how those of us who are likely to be called by HR to get a reference check on you are influenced by what you put on the web about your time with us.

Continue reading "From the Other Side of the Desk: Reflections on the Third Eye" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 11:51 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

On Fridays, I'm posting a job search question from one of our readers. This was a question posted in response to my posting on Linkedin Answers "Candidates - What's your most difficult job search question?"

M.M. shared that her toughest job search question was:

"What are you looking for?"

This is a tough question, because the employer isn't really asking what they appear to ask. The question isn't about you...it's about the employer, and how you will fit into their plans.

A strong answer demonstrates that the candidate and the employer are both looking for the same thing.

The worst way to answer this question is the way most candidates answer it ... without preparation. Other answers that don't work well are What's In it For Me (WIFM) answers (See the Homer Simpson section at: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-personal-branding-statement-can.html). Unfortunately, these are the most common answers given by candidates.

Continue reading "What Are You Looking For?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 10:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I had a great example recently of how one word, a unconscious slip of the tongue, the use of a habitual phrase can unintentionally offend.

I was traveling for work. I got off the plane and went to the rental car kiosk. The customer service agent got high marks for his pleasant, welcoming and efficient service. In no time I had the keys to my vehicle. He directed me to the car lot and advised me that "one of his guys" would help me out.

Continue reading "Say What You Mean: Mean What You Say - Speak Up to Promote Respect" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 8, 2010 at 9:39 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

With some kinds of disasters, like hurricanes, you get advance warning. If you pay attention to the weather reports, you have time to board up your house, pack up your belongings and get to safety.

It would be nice if you got similar alerts for career catastrophes, wouldn't it?

These days, we all need to be watching for such signs, because even though the economy shows signs of recovery, many businesses still face hard times and jobs continue to disappear.

Continue reading "Top Four Signs It's Time to Go" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 5, 2010 at 3:58 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

"Clothes don't make the man, but clothes have got many a man a good job."
- Herbert Harold Vreeland

Congratulations, you've got the interview!

Believe it or not, that may have been the easy part. Now, what will you wear? In today's job market, there is no one right answer.

Industry expectations, company environments and your experience are all part of the equation.

Interviewers hope that you are the perfect combination of the skills on your resume and the ideal fit for their company.

Continue reading "Is Your Interview Attire Helping or Hurting You? " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 5, 2010 at 3:29 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As Will pulls his car out of the company parking lot, his mind searches for relief. He's just endured another day with his controlling, egomaniac boss. He can't believe that this guy yelled at him publicly during a staff meeting for sending out a standard contract without permission. Just the thought of that humiliating moment makes Will's blood boil.

Will remembers there's a soccer game he can bet on, and drives to his favorite sports bar to watch it. Once there, he knocks back several bottles of beer. For dinner, he scarps down a plate of Buffalo wings, followed by some deep-fried onion rings. Heading home, Will begins to feel sick to his stomach. He goes to bed with extreme heartburn and wakes up hung over. He finds out that the team he bet on lost. Will's attempts to relieve his boss-related stress yesterday only gave him more tension (and heartburn) today.

Continue reading "Leave Your Boss at the Office" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 5, 2010 at 10:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

It's a common maddening occurrence: You innocently open an email from a colleague, customer or boss only to suddenly feel ambushed by its contents. The sender blames you for a problem you didn't create, unfairly accuses you of sabotaging a project, or negatively interprets something you said. Even worse, he or she cc's the email to your superiors.

As you stare at the offensive message, your vision blurs. You feel blood rushing to your face. Your heart beats faster. Your stomach drops. Your strongest impulse is to render justice by striking back.

Though it's hard to remember, you do have a choice in that moment. You can either react out of anger and fire back a harsh retort, or you can close the infuriating email and calm down.

Continue reading "Hostile Emails at Work " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 4, 2010 at 3:42 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

What do employers look for in potential employees? That was the question that was posted recently on a career discussion forum online. Naturally, for each different position, the particular answers to that question would be different. However, there are some common skills that employers look for in all employees, whether the employee happens to be a network engineer or a fry cook.

In-Demand Skills for Success

1. BASIC SKILLS - Reading, writing and arithmetic! Believe it or not, a good portion of high school graduates (and some college grads) do not read at an 8th grade level and cannot do multiplication in their head. Employers are seeking employees who can read well, can write coherently, and who can calculate mathematics in a business environment (fractions, percentages, etc.) Add to that the modern basic skills of keyboarding skill, basic computer knowledge, and ability to use most computerized tools (e.g. fax machine, basic word processing program, etc.) to round out the basic skill sets needed for employment success.

Continue reading "6 Factors of Career Success" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 3, 2010 at 4:32 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Are you.....

Scared of making a vital call?

Worried about sending an email to that contact?

Fearful about making a big decision?

.....do you consequently feel paralysed and powerless?

Ok, try following these steps:

1) Write down EXACTLY what you're scared of

Is it losing your job? Is it the prospect of never finding a 'proper job' , is it financial?

2. Write down the worst thing that could happen if you did the thing you're trying to avoid doing?

Play out the worst case scenario

3) Take an educated guess at the chances of that fear actually becoming a reality

Very often, we fear the worst when in fact there is very little chance of the worst becoming a reality. So we allocate excessive time and energy thinking about it - which, of course, is completely irrational.

4) Write down the TWO biggest things you can do to minimize impact of the worst case scenario

Part of handling fear is taking some control in a given situation. So list two specific actions you could take so as to have more control and handle whatever consequences come up.

5) Quickly take the first step (e.g. send a text, make a call, send an email)

By quick - I mean in the next 24 hours.

When you take yourself through these 5 steps, you often realise how irrational your fear is. You realise that you're spending 50% of your time fearing an outcome which may only have a 5 or 10% chance of actually occuring. And if that worst case scenario did play out, you've got some key actions to minimize the impact of it.

These steps immediately give you the courage to do the things you fear the most and so help you break out of that self imposed prison called F-E-A-R (.....False Evidence Appearing Real)

Article by, Sital Ruparelia and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 3, 2010 at 1:42 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

A cover letter can be the most important part of any package you send out into the world: it's your opportunity to show hiring managers why you are the perfect candidate for their position. It's also an opportunity to let your personality and background shine.

There are several things you should include in a cover letter: first, a simple introduction - what sets you apart from others in your field in terms of style, skills and experience. Next, it's important to speak directly about the specific position you are applying for and why you want to work for that particular company.

Continue reading "Cover Letters: The Basics" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 3, 2010 at 11:04 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In trying to figure out why reality shows are so popular, I've come to the conclusion that they offer us a way to deal with our fears.

I'm not talking about eating bugs, or being confined in a plastic box with snakes and then eating bugs. I'm talking about even scarier things.

We don't like judgment and public humiliation, so that's why we watch shows like "American Idol." We don't like confrontation so that's why we watch... well, you name it.

Continue reading "The Top Four Mistakes in Handling Confrontations at Work" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 2, 2010 at 4:58 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

While it's helpful that this WSJ article "What's a Degree Really Worth" draws attention to some overblown numbers for the value of college degree and the risks of getting a degree, I think a main point is missed. Instead of focusing on the average lifetime earnings of a college grad - not a terribly useful or accurate statistic for people choosing a career or educational program, focus instead on career direction and planning. Our "Getting Started" article gives the 3 steps for that process based on the best science and practices of professional career counseling.

The point is not whether a college degree is worth $450K or $800K in lifetime earnings, but how a student plans to translate their degree or program (training, 2 year, 4 year) into a career path. Look at the article's example of a UC-Berkeley grad earning a pittance (for San Francisco) as a small paper reporter with over $60,000 in student debt. It is not a mystery or a surprise to any writers out there that journalism is not a lucrative profession, even in the best of times.

Continue reading "Who Cares What a College Degree is Really Worth? It's Career Planning That Matters. " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 2, 2010 at 4:53 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

People losing their jobs; survivors being asked to take on more duties, often with fewer resources; businesses going bankrupt; mortgages being called. These conditions translate in to more tension and apprehension in the workplace.

"People are feeling anxious, so they're being short-tempered, passive and unproductive," says Martin Yate, a career adviser at GoSavant.com

In this environment people tend to hunker down. They spend a lot of time looking over their shoulders, afraid to take chances and assume more responsibility for fear they will make mistakes.

Continue reading "Conquer Fear of Mistakes to Make Career Progress" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 1, 2010 at 3:13 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

In this article, I wanted to touch upon some important points, which can help your entire performance review process go much smoother.

1) Start the process properly - Be clear on your objectives

When you join a new job, or at the start of the review cycle, it is essential to have a very clear understanding of what your job objectives/goals are. The main idea is to leave as little ambiguity as possible. Have a look at the official document which has your objectives and talk with your manger to make sure both of you are on the same page. As far as possible, keep the objectives specific, achievable and measurable - request to make changes to the document accordingly. In addition to knowing what is needed to meet expectation/objectives, it is also a good idea to ask your manager what you would need to do, in order to exceed the expectations and receive an outstanding review at the end of the year

2) Take stock often

Don't wait till the end of the year to find out how you have done. Meet with your manger every 3 months or so, ask how you are doing and whether you are on track to getting the outstanding review you aim for. This way you can make corrections and change course along the way and ensure that your manager is on-board. In a way you are also preparing your manager for giving you a good review

3) Ask for what you deserve

At the end of the year, assuming you have met/exceeded the performance criteria, make sure that you get what you deserve in terms of final performance rating, promotion, salary increase, more responsibility and so on.

Article by Amit Puri of Sandbox Advisors

Courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities, and posted on Gradversity.

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 21, 2010 at 11:24 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

When I first heard this as a recruiter, I asked the hiring manager to please repeat himself.

Later I learned that many savvy hiring managers often look to hire someone who has failed at a past job or project.

Ok, everybody out there that has hidden failures on their resumes, raise your hand ...

I was intrigued as I heard more and more hiring managers seek those who have failed at something, because it's counter intuitive. And based on the number of people out there with their hands in the air, most candidates don't realize just how valuable failure is.

Continue reading "Why Employers Look For Candidates Who Have Failed " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 20, 2010 at 11:39 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

When you make career decisions - whether it's a career change or choosing a college major or training program, it helps to know what kind of decision-maker you are. Some decision-making styles are more productive and effective than others, like being "planful" or "intuitive." Others, like "delaying" or "paralytic", are obviously less helpful and lead to career indecision. Young people may be more "compliant" in their decision-making, following blindly what peers or parents tell them to do instead of focusing on their unique qualities and career interests.

The more self-aware you are, the better prepared you are for changing styles if you need to, moving through inevitable roadblocks. You'll find that these decision-making styles apply to other life decisions so knowing yours can help you in non-career related areas too.

Continue reading "Using Your Decision-Making Style To Improve Your Career Planning " »

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 11, 2010 at 5:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

A career aptitude test helps to see what job career is right for you. It is a test that a person can take to help understand the strengths and weaknesses that he or she may have. This test is supposed to be able to help a person find a job or career that fits the person better. Basically, it is a test to help discover which job careers are a good fit for a person based on the ability to do well at it.

Can Do:

Career aptitude testing measures your ability to learn different types of skills. It helps a person to see what they would do well at. It also helps to see if a person has the basic ability to be able to perform the task well. It tests a person's learning ability.

Measure:

Taking a career aptitude test will measure many different things that a person can do. It will show the person's ability to do and learn math. A career aptitude test will exhibit a person's fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination. It will also check a person's hearing and pitch. Continue reading ...

Article by, Debi Rideout and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 22, 2009 at 10:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The following career advice is courtesy of author and career coach, Thom Singer

The art of the handwritten note is long lost, especially on men. Many men have excuses why they don't practice personalized note writing in the workplace (ex. "I have bad handwriting." And "why write when I can email?"). According to speaker and author Thom Singer, these guys are missing an important networking opportunity.

1. "No one writes notes any more, it is old fashioned, I use email and it
is the same thing."

This is a common belief amongst people looking to not hand-write notes. Email is a great tool for communicating, but it is commonplace. Many people receive over 100 emails a day. They scan them, deleting ones that don't stand out, and forget about them instantly. Handwritten notes are rare. Since human beings are experiential creatures, the whole act of touching the envelope, holding the card, opening it and reading it become part of a tactical experience.

Continue reading "Real Men Don't Say Thanks. Really?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 16, 2009 at 12:20 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The workplace is no place for emotional outbursts, especially fits of temper. I know first hand how detrimental a loss of self-control can be. Stress levels are high in many workplaces because layoffs have left remaining employees with an increased workload. But even when times are good, things can go wrong and people can find themselves becoming tense and angry.

Christopher Steiner addresses this issue in his article, Soothing Anger-Management Techniques. Keeping cool under pressure is easier for some than it is for others. As Steiner says, it's a bad idea to suppress anger. Holding anger in can lead to either a huge, embarrassing outburst later or to illness, neither of which is good for your career.

Continue reading "A Bad Temper is a Bad Career Move" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 15, 2009 at 1:06 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Below is some very helpful career advice from Sital Ruparelia and the folks at Career Hub.ca

Here in the UK, we are still in recession and still experiencing rising unemployment (albeit at a much slower rate than earlier in the year). Like many major economies, the group facing the biggest challenge on finding work in the UK is the "Under 25's" with youth unemployment sitting at a worrying 20% (..more than double the figure for the total economy).

So in recent months we've seen lots of political debate on what the best way forward is along with various marches and petitions from young people in an attempt to gain greater government support on turning around youth unemployment.

Continue reading "Youth Unemployment and Tips For Graduates" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 8, 2009 at 12:04 PM | Leave a Comment (0)