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10 Tips for New Grads Entering the Workforce
Tweet Share on Facebook January 11, 2012 Comment (10)Is 2012 the year you start your first post-college job? Here are some tips to quickly build a strong reputation and ensure that your first job is a success.
1. Listen more than you talk. Soak up information about how the organization works, and the reasons why, before you offer "helpful" alternatives.
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Can I Get a Promotion in a Down Economy?
Tweet Share on Facebook January 10, 2012 Comment (1)Times are tough. People are getting laid off left and right. Depending on your industry, you may even feel lucky to even have a job. But does that mean it's impossible to get a promotion in a down economy?
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The Answer is Maybe
Your company may or may not be in a position to give you a promotion. Either way, it's your job to showcase yourself in the best light to make yourself an asset your company doesn't want to lose. Even if your company can't afford to promote you now, the effort will pay off when it can.
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Make the Most of Criticism in the Workplace
Tweet Share on Facebook January 10, 2012 CommentConstructive criticism from your boss can be a gift in the way that a free gym membership can be a gift: Even if you didn't want it, it can benefit you greatly.
Count yourself fortunate if you have a boss who is thoughtful enough to let you know early on that your performance isn't where it should be. Many bosses simply let a poor performer slide until it's too late and their job is at risk. If your boss pulls you aside to let you know that you're just not cutting it, consider the following:
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10 Secrets of a Hiring Manager
Tweet Share on Facebook January 9, 2012 Comment (20)Ever wonder what the hiring managers who are screening your resume, interviewing you, and—maybe—making you an offer are really thinking throughout the hiring process? Here are 10 secrets that most hiring managers share:
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1. Most interviewers aren't very good at interviewing. You might be going into interviews assuming that your interviewers know what they're doing, but in fact, many interviewers are inexperienced, unskilled, unprepared, or otherwise unable to conduct effective interviews. Some of them are even nervous. Most interviewers don't get good training on how to interview well, and a lot of them are winging it.
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How to Land a Job in Washington, D.C. in 2012
Tweet Share on Facebook January 6, 2012 Comment (3)What better place to work than in our nation's capital? Washington, D.C. attracts talent from around the world for jobs in both public and private sectors. Many large corporations have headquarters in Washington, government jobs are plentiful, and nonprofits are ubiquitous.
A recent look at job market competition by Indeed listed Washington as having a 1:1 ratio of job postings to unemployed persons; that is, there are about an even number of open positions as there are people seeking jobs. This means the job market in Washington is relatively uncompetitive compared to other metropolitan areas of the country.
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4 Mobile Apps for Job Seekers
Tweet Share on Facebook January 5, 2012 Comment (7)In today’s whirlwind of technology, it’s no surprise that mobile and tablet apps are now targeting job seekers. You’ll find loads of options for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, and Windows devices that help you enhance your resume, find jobs on the go, and network with the right people. In other words, it’s no surprise that 77 percent of job seekers use mobile apps during their job hunt. Let’s dive in and look at some of the newest and most useful.
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4 Little-Known Tools for a 2012 Job Hunt
Tweet Share on Facebook January 4, 2012 CommentYou already know you need a LinkedIn profile. And perhaps you’ve acknowledged that being active on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ can help improve your job search. Maybe you even have your own, professional website–a social resume. It seems there are new tools created every week to help job seekers connect with the right audience. It’s best to focus on social media tools that help to accomplish four key things: to expand your networks, to learn new information, to demonstrate expertise, and to be found. Here are a few tools that might help achieve these goals.
Expand your network via Tokkster. This beta-stage web plug-in allows users to chat with others who are concurrently visiting the same website. Asher Adelman, one of Tokkster’s creators, explains how the organization takes privacy very seriously. “We’ve designed Tokkster so that nobody’s data, browsing history or chats are ever collected, stored, or tracked,” he says. In fact, Tokkster users do not have names or “handles.” Instead, the app identifies you by your uploaded avatar, and all interactions happen in real time. Using Tokkster is the equivalent of walking down the street and interacting with people you meet—but, via a virtual, online, “street.”
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8 New Year's Resolutions for Your Career
Tweet Share on Facebook January 4, 2012 Comment (6)Before we get too far into 2012, make sure that you’ve taken some time to set some new year’s resolutions for your career. Here are eight to get you started.
1. Set clear goals. Instead of pulling yourself in multiple directions, pick one or two big things to focus on this year. Maybe you want a promotion, or to get a raise in your current position, or to change jobs altogether. Whatever it is, get very clear on what a successful 2012 would be for you. If you’re unsure, try this exercise: Pretend it’s December 2012. Look back on the previous 11 months, and ask yourself what you would have needed to have accomplish for it to have been a successful year? Make those things your concrete goals. Write them out, form plans to achieve them, and then have the discipline to stick to them.
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5 Commonly Asked Resume Questions
Tweet Share on Facebook January 3, 2012 Comment (4)How long should it be? What format should I use? Job seekers always have questions like this about their resumes, and not knowing the answer might cost you a great position. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions.
1. How long should I make my resume? The ideal length of a resume is an endless debate. Essentially, the longer your work history, the longer your resume. If it's more than two pages, you risk losing the readers' interest. You don't want them to stop reading before seeing the final pages' important details, which might give you a competitive advantage. Try to stick within the two-page guideline.
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6 Reasons to Reject a Counteroffer
Tweet Share on Facebook January 3, 2012 Comment (6)You've accepted an offer to work for a new company and it's time to quit your current job. Shouldn't be too difficult.
You do all the right things: give notice, offer to help in the transition, finish projects, say thanks for the opportunity. But instead of just shaking your hand and wishing you good luck, your boss hits you with a counteroffer – one that includes more money, more vacation, and better benefits.
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