Career Advice & Insights

As the talent pool gets flooded with laid-off, often high-performing salespeople, employers re-consider their staffing plans. The economy’s in tatters. Consumer spending is down so far that almost every major company has had to lay people off to keep itself in the red instead of the deep, deep red. Can anyone who knows sales expect … Read More

If you’re unemployed, the last thing you need is a tax bill due April 15. You’ve been laid off, and money is tight. The last thing you need is a surprise tax debt due April 15. But it can happen just when you’re least prepared to manage it. Your 2008 taxes are probably behind you, … Read More

How to get your credit and budget stable when you’re unemployed. Unless you’ve filed for an extension, chances are your 2008 taxes are behind you. But what sort of tax planning should you be doing for 2009 if you’re currently between jobs? Sure, getting laid off means having to deal with a lot of things … Read More

Looking to pick up contract work while you’re looking for the next steady paycheck? Don’t forget a few significant differences in how that income is taxed. You’re between full-time gigs and looking to stay in the game — or maybe even considering freelance work as a longer-term employment option. What do you need to know … Read More

Cold calling works, but only if you do it right. When it comes to selling, it’s tough to make a cold call – especially when you’re selling yourself to a potential employer. Cold calling combines the usual discomfort of making an unsolicited contact with the high anxiety of job hunting. So why even try? Because … Read More

Recruiters report that there are still IT jobs out there – but you need to demonstrate the right qualifications in the right locations and industries. This economy is no picnic for tech talent – but recruiters told Ladders there are still seats at the table for candidates with the right skills who are in the … Read More

Are your skills still in demand or do you need to invest in training? As some skills become less desirable, others are more in-demand than ever. Ladders dug into which specialties are most frequently inserted into job postings now versus year ago. Pinpoint which of your skills are unfavorable and what classes or training you … Read More

Light up a room without burning a bridge If you have ever been on the interviewing side of the table, you understand the basic differences between “active” candidates and “passive” candidates. An active job seeker is looking for a job, whether he’s out of work or ready for a change; he’s posted resumes and is … Read More

An analysis on the marketing services sector as the economy remains challenging for job seekers. Marketing is the first to go. Marketers will tell you themselves. They don’t need research to tell them business lines too often see marketing as expendable when an enterprise hits hard times. They might argue that the business stands little … Read More