Many of us think of a temp job as a last resort, yet University of Florida researchers found they’re often just the opposite. Their recent study shows that [more…]
From the category archives:
employment
Contrary to the old belief that kidding around isn’t appropriate at the office, researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that just the opposite is true: an occasional joke among colleagues improves creativity, the ability to work as a team and overall performance.
[photo: D. Sharon Pruitt]
If you’re hunting for a job, chances are you’re going to be asked to do a preliminary phone interview at some point. “More employers are using this method to help them whittle down their choice of candidates to invite to an in-person interview,” says Marci Alboher, career expert for the Yahoo.com blog Working the New Economy. But it’s not just your job skills they’re interested in learning about. “They also want to get a sense of your personality, communication skills and ability to focus on a task.” Luckily, showing them over the phone is easy, says Alboher. Start by… [more…]
“Your cover letter is the first thing most employers read and sparks their interest in knowing more about you,” says Louise Kursmark, co-author of 15-Minute Cover Letter: Write an Effective Cover Letter Right Now. Here are her four easy tips to writing a cover letter that gets you noticed: [more…]
Think it’s flubbing a question or looking too nervous? Nope! Believe it or not, the majority of hiring managers surveyed by CareerBuilder.com said their biggest turn-off was job applicants who came to the interview dressed too casually. Other top pet peeves that bothered…
* 49%: Bad-mouthing a past employer.
* 48%: Not showing enough enthusiasm.
* 44%: Coming across like a know-it-all.
* 30%: Offering no specifics when answering questions.
[photo: Pink Sherbet Photography]
About three out of four hiring managers head to social networking websites—such as LinkedIn and Facebook—to check out potential job candidates before deciding to call them in for an interview. To up your chances of getting that important call, post a photo on your web page that shows you smiling and relaxed. This kind of pose makes people perceive you as warm and friendly, according to a new study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. And that’s key since friendliness is a trait most employers look for.
[photo: Benjamin Earwicker]
Rooted for Meg Ryan’s indie bookstore in You’ve Got Mail? Have friends who own a small business in the neighborhood? Believe that by supporting your locally-owned [more…]
Even if your boss says it’s okay to wear casual clothes to work—such as jeans, T-shirts and sneakers—you’re better off wearing skirts, slacks, heels and other formal attire instead. According to a CareerBuilder survey of over 2,700 employers, 41% said they were more likely to promote employees who came to work in professional-looking clothes over their more casually-dressed coworkers.
[photo: christyxcore]
If you haven’t updated it in at least six months, you sure do. Industry buzz words, technology and jargon change all the time—and including the current lingo makes you seem more plugged in and appealing to recruiters, according to Monster.com. Luckily, finding the words your resume needs is easy: Simply study postings of related job openings to see which terms are repeated most often and include those that best match your background.
[photo: dicktay2000]
Want to pitch a new project to your boss or ask for a raise? Looking to convince the P.T.A. president to go along with your great idea for a fund raiser? Want your child’s teacher to pay more attention to her? You’ll have better luck getting the response you want if you bring up the subject in the lunchroom, parking lot, elevator or any place else other than where the person does her or his work. [more…]
Which do you think is the top trait employers want in a job candidate:
A. Technical know-how
B. Years of experience
C. Certification or advanced degree
D. People skills [more…]
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