Your Career Blog

Get the Most Out of Your Vacation
July 31, 2006, 3:35 PM
Now that we're in full swing of the summer season, many of us are planning vacations and time off from work. A common complaint of many workers is that it is often difficult to leave work behind when you're away from the office. Some people bring laptop computers on trips in order to keep on top of the emails and other duties. Other professionals dread actually taking any time off because the thought of returning to such a mountain of work is too stressful. To help ease the transition of taking vacation-and actually enjoying it-here are some useful tips to ...

Researching Potential Employers
July 18, 2006, 9:02 AM
When you're considering a new position, be sure to do your homework on a future boss.I'm sure everyone has known someone who did not get along with a supervisor. Some professionals even take a job without first meeting their direct supervisors. Now, there are numerous online sources that can help you find out how your boss stacks up against the competition in the industry. These resources include forums and chat groups, and you can email people in the forum if you're looking for specific information. Jobster.com is a job-search site that includes posts from readers explaining the corporate culture and ...

The Email Signature Effect
July 12, 2006, 8:59 AM
Recently, I received an email from a work friend with an email signature that had an inspirational quote. The email address was his work account, which means that everyone he emails receives the same email signature. Although the quote wasn't offensive, this made me wonder if having a personalized email address is unprofessional.This issue depends entirely on the industry, profession, and company. Whereas some professions and companies are creative and offer a great degree of flexibility, other firms are very regimented and have employee manuals that outline what information is permissible in emails. Realize that the information contained within a ...

How to Ace Interview Questions
July 06, 2006, 7:27 AM
Interviews can be daunting endeavors, in which you might feel that you're being interrogated rather than interviewed. The pressure, stress, and anxiety that often accompany an interview can also have a strong impact on how well you conduct yourself. If you sometimes grapple to find an answer to a standard interview question, you need to practice more on the best way to answer these questions. The following suggestions will help you ace all interview questions. Research the Company Before your interview, research the prospective employer's history, products/services, and culture. This knowledge will help you articulate how your professional experiences and ...

Performance Review Pointers
July 05, 2006, 9:07 AM
A performance review serves many purposes. For some people, it is a time when salary increases are determined. For others, it is an opportunity to discuss past performances, as well as a chance to set new goals. Whether a performance review is a formal occasion with a written form, or if it is a casual conversation, here are a few pointers to follow to get the most out of your next performance review. Addressing Shortcomings An ideal performance review is an honest discussion of both positives and negatives: areas of demonstrated strength and weakness. This discussion should not come as ...

Writing Effective Thank-You Letters
June 28, 2006, 9:23 AM
Sending thank-you letters after interviewing for a position is an integral part of a successful job application process. Not only do you exercise a good amount of proper social etiquette, but by sending a thank-you letter to an interviewer, you also reinforce in him or her a memory of your meeting. Especially if the interviewer is meeting a significant amount of people for the open position, a reminder note of who you are and what you discussed during your interview could be the item that clinches the interview for you.Send a personalized, not boiler-plate, thank-you letter to make sure that ...

Dealing with a Difficult Boss
June 26, 2006, 9:30 AM
Have you ever had the displeasure of working with someone who is difficult? It is fairly common to work alongside people who are condescending, ineffective communicators, or bullies, or whose personalities and actions simply annoy you. This problem becomes even worse when that person is your boss or supervisor. Frustrations and anger created from your interaction with a difficult boss can mount, and it may eventually lead to decreased productivity, low morale, or even your decision to quit your job. Alternately, your frustrations can come to the surface and cause hostility between you and your boss, which may lead to ...

Tapping Your Career Coaches
June 22, 2006, 10:26 AM
The use of career coaches is on the rise. Career coaches are in the business of offering you advice and services that will help you take the next step in your career. Ranging from resume writing to job search advice and more, using a career coach can be an investment worth its weight in gold. But, with hourly rates between $100-$150 and more, some professionals cannot afford a career coach's services. For these professionals, I recommend tapping into your trusted network of friends, family, and associates.There are definite advantages-and disadvantages-of using your friends, family, and associates for career advice. One ...

Finishing in Second Place?
June 20, 2006, 2:49 PM
Have you ever gone on an interview, thought you did extremely well, and were told that you were a final contender for the job-only to find out that someone else was offered the position? Rather than dwell on a sense of failure or rejection, analyze your actions to improve your performance for your next interview.There are many reasons why you may not have been chosen for a position. The good news is that you were one of the top candidates being considered for the job. That means your experience and skills are impressive, and you have most, if not all, ...

Employers Accessing Online Personas
June 12, 2006, 10:30 AM
There was a recent article in The New York Times entitled "For Some, Online Persona Undermines a Résumé." The article outlined the potential danger of having personal information on the Internet. The author mentions some the popular Websites Facebook, MySpace, Xanga, and Friendster, which can serve as sounding boards or scrapbooks of people's bad habits, vulgarities, and intimate details of their lives. These sites may also contain photographs of people displaying lewd or obscene behavior. Many employers are now looking beyond a resume and job application, and are using these sites to do a first-round, informal background check on prospective ...