Getting Ahead
I'm
Great! The Problem is No One Knows It
Unfortunately, all too often, we, as individuals, are the only ones
who know we have it in us to do great things. Unless recognized by others,
our talents go unnoticed. In today's extraordinarily difficult job market,
it is not enough to wait for others to recognize us, reward us, promote
us, and employ us.
12
Tips for Making Small Talk
A study at the Stanford University School of Business tracked a group
of MBAs 10 years after they graduated. The result? Grade point averages
had no bearing on their success -- but their ability to converse with
others did.
How
Does an Informational Interview Work?
If you're a recent college graduate or a professional looking to change
careers, you've likely read mounds of material about the job or field
you're interested in pursuing. While books, trade publications and Web
sites are great resources, there's nothing quite as effective as gathering
information firsthand.
Negotiating
a Win-Win Compensation Package
Let's face it, pay is often a primary motivator for work. When setting
your financial goals and preparing for salary negotiations, Rich Lakis,
a human resources consultant with more than 15 years of senior level
HR experience in the banking, telecom and travel industry sectors, offers
these tips in negotiating a win-win compensation package.
Should
You Pursue an Online Degree?
Education or experience: Many people find that their career reaches
a plateau and that employers place greater value on employees with a
higher level of education or one more relevant to the modern workplace.
Anyone that has ever been passed over for promotion only to find a college
graduate in the post will know how frustrating it can be.
Oscar-Worthy
Salaries
Julia Roberts may not have starred in a movie in 2005 -- her last film
appearances were in 2004's "Ocean's Twelve" and "Closer"
-- but she remains the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, commanding
$20 million a film, according to the Hollywood Reporter's annual list
of top-earning actresses. And she's not the only one to rake in the
big bucks for as little as a few weeks' worth of work.
Are
TV Characters' Salaries Realistic?
Think back: When was the last time you saw Carrie Bradshaw chopping
vegetables or preheating an oven to cook herself dinner on "Sex
and the City?" How about shopping on the clearance rack or setting
foot inside a discount store?
Why
It Pays to Be a Math Geek
Surviving those advanced integral calculus lectures and organic chemistry
labs meant downing gallons of coffee, but that math- or science-related
major might just be worth it – in terms of job outlook and high
starting pay, that is.
America's
10 Most Dangerous Jobs
They help us build our houses and feed our families. They deliver our
packages and take away our trash, and when we need a ride, they're there
to whisk us away. And
they're risking their lives to do it. According
to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the workers
most likely to be killed at work aren't the ones donning bullet-proof
vests to capture criminals or saving victims from fire-engulfed buildings.
Instead, the workers most likely to die on the job are the ones who
help provide us with our daily needs like a safe home, food and electricity.
25
Breakout Jobs
We live in an aging, technology-hungry society -- and the jobs of the
future prove it. According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one-in-four new jobs will be in the
healthcare and social assistance or the private educational service
sectors, and computer occupations account for five of the 20 fastest-growing
occupations.
Master
the Art of Working a Room
The economy is on a roll, with record-setting growth over the past quarter.
But where are the jobs? Unfortunately, it is almost a jobless recovery.
New job activity has picked up somewhat, but the job market is still
tough. In order to generate or find job leads, you must be willing to
pursue a multitude of job search strategies.
Five
Ways to Get a Bigger Paycheck in 2006
You wrote a flawless résumé, applied to what seemed like
thousands of jobs, networked 'til you were blue in the face, dazzled
them in the interviews and got an offer for the perfect job. All that
hard work has paid off... well, almost.
10
Career Resolutions for 2006
It's that time again. Time to make those New Year's resolutions in an
attempt to regain control over some part of our lives: the part that
has gotten away from us in the past year or has been slowly slipping
away for a long time. If your career is losing direction, maybe it's
time to make not only personal resolutions, but some professional resolutions
too!
Highest-Paying
Jobs in the US
Do what you love and the money will follow is great in theory, but the
truth of the matter is, certain jobs and fields simply pay more. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey showed, for
example, that white-collar earnings, which averaged $21.85 per hour,
were the highest among occupational groups. Blue-collar pay averaged
$15.03 per hour, while the hourly pay of service occupations averaged
just $10.40.
Are
You Stuck in a Toxic Job?
When it comes to your career, it's often wise to play it safe arriving
15 minutes early versus 10 minutes late for an interview, over-preparing
for a presentation rather than winging it, or ordering a salad at a
business lunch even though you really want the ribs.
Say
"Hmmm" to the First Salary Offer
When it comes to salary negotiations, a two-letter word can cost you
thousands of dollars. If you say "OK" to the first offer you
hear, you are essentially throwing in the towel without a fight and
giving up any hope that your employer might have gone higher.
Bilingual?
You're Valuable
Spanish has become the country's unofficial second language, and corporate
America has responded with diversity initiatives that seek to recruit,
understand and attract a Hispanic/Latino workforce, writes Graciela
Kenig in her book Best Careers for Bilingual Latinos.
The
"Netiquette" of Internet Communications
Customs such as saying "please" and "thank you,"
wearing appropriate business attire, and waiting to be invited to sit
at an interview often separate the winners from the losers in a job
search. We have all learned to give a firm handshake, to smile appropriately
-- but not too much, and to sit forward in our chair, leaning slightly
and making eye contact.
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