Career Advice & Insights

You want people saying, “I know someone who’s unbelievable at that.” If your friends aren’t saying this yet, they will be soon. According to a study conducted by the Federal Bureau of Labor on how people get hired, more than 70 percent of all jobs come from some type of referral. The question is: Will … Read More

You were taught not to talk to strangers as a kid. That’s why it’s normal that networking is uncomfortable. Find out how being brave enough to extend a hand can bring unforeseen opportunities. Who is sitting near you right now? Look around. Do you really ever know exactly who you are attracting? A fun exercise: … Read More

It all starts with your imagination. Think through more than one method for every action you take. When you think in multiples, you step out of your comfort zone and into new opportunities. How do you cope with the rejections and outright lack of response that arise in most job searches? What can you do … Read More

What to remember when a job search goes from weeks to months, or longer. Before you can deliver a great performance, you need an opportunity to perform. With at least 15 million Americans out of work, the length of the job search has stretched from a sprint to a marathon. To endure and succeed, you … Read More

How do you pick the directors, coworkers and direct reports to be your job references? A job reference must be more than just someone willing to shower you with praise. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for someone who can speak to your performance and impact on the team; someone who was in a position … Read More

Families are prepared for a fire or hurricane. Take the same measures to ensure you’re also prepared for an emergency job loss. Many families have an earthquake, hurricane or disaster plan, but how many have a layoff plan? A job loss is a time when the Earth unexpectedly moves from beneath your feet, so it … Read More

In a tight economy, your boss may be out the door. What if a peer takes his place instead of you? Who’s making more money than you? Probably the person you report to. That’s why they’re often let go ahead of the folks below them — folks like you. To capitalize on this situation, I … Read More

My high school reunion was the other week, and one thing surprised me. I realized how the social cliques of our past often translate to how we interact with our professional networks. Here are the lessons I wish I’d known all along. I recently attended my high-school reunion. It was great to see old friends, … Read More

Two job seekers tell all. Find out which tool each used to catapult their job searches, and which could help with yours. A layoff is never easy. Nevertheless, if your previous job was focused on studying the maze of social-networking sites and figuring out how to use them best, you’d be way ahead of the … Read More