Think back to the last big gathering you had with family or friends. Maybe it was Thanksgiving dinner and your house was full of people -- some you knew well, others you just met. No matter how great the day ended up being, one person could have easily ruined it. Perhaps one person did.
Think back to the last big gathering you had with family or friends. Maybe it was Thanksgiving dinner and your house was full of people -- some you knew well, others you just met. No matter how great the day ended up being, one person could have easily ruined it. Perhaps one person did.
Do you ever think your boss behaves like a child going through the "terrible twos," throwing tantrums or reverting to a little lost lamb when in over his or her head?
In the current economic climate, people are finding themselves in dire situations. Veteran workers find themselves laid off after 20-plus loyal years with the same company. College graduates, with their diplomas hot off the press, can't find a job. Parents, who perhaps have never had to work outside the home before, find themselves desperate for a job.
Bosses get a pretty bad rap. Where two or more employed people gather, you're sure to hear a story that involves the word "boss" and one of the following descriptors: "stupid," "dumb," "incompetent" or "clueless." Turn on the TV or go to the movies and bosses don't fare much better. They're either bumbling fools or conniving villains.
In the current state of our economy, more than 15 million people are unemployed. That's 15 million people who are all looking for a little help, whether it's in the job search, writing a résumé, interview advice, networking or even finding a new career path.
Most job seekers have a case of the jitters before going on a job interview. Anxiety's normal, but almost always those butterflies were in your tummy for nothing. The interview goes well, you don't make any serious mistakes and you exhale the moment you walk out of the room.
Just like Vegas, what happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet. How that affects your job search is up to you.
On "The Bachelorette," contestant Ed Swiderski told bachelorette Jillian Harris that he wasn't being fair to his employer in Chicago and that he had to leave her and go home.
If you ever arrive early to a holiday party or big family gathering, try to secure a spot where you can see guests walk into the room.
Let's be honest: Sometimes you don't care about the job -- you just care about the salary.
Growing up, plenty of people dished out advice about what kind of job to get. I was told to find a way to get paid doing what I love. I was also told to find a job that paid the bills because I'd resent my passion if it were my job. Each person had a story to prove why their advice was right.
From résumés accompanied by shoes to get candidates' "feet in the door," to candidates sending cakes designed as business cards, hiring managers have seen it all when it comes to memorable job-seeker tactics.
In film and literature, the villains are the most entertaining characters. We root for good to triumph over evil and we're connected to the protagonist, but we're most interested in the bad guy.
On a recent flight I sat next to a businessman who told me that, even at that young age, his children were exhibiting very different personalities.
Today's economy has many people returning to school in lieu of working full time, while others have chosen to enhance their education to make themselves more marketable to employers.
You're sitting in a meeting, minding your own business, when one of your colleagues makes a suggestion.
Job seekers in today's economy are all familiar with the difficulty in finding a job. Adding to that difficulty is the fact that many job seekers are all competing for the same positions and job titles.
We're no prudes, but as a rule we avoid discussing restroom habits in public. It's just not an appropriate topic for most conversations.
After a long day's work, workers often look forward to a relaxing evening at home, enjoying their favorite TV shows to escape the chaos that they (hopefully) left at the office.
When microblogging and social networking site Twitter debuted three years ago, plenty of people wrote it off as yet another pointless addition in the overcrowded networking world.
Not everyone is suited for every job. For example, I'm in awe at anyone who works as a restaurant server.
As social media becomes the latest branding strategy, networking technique, job seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, it's also becoming the latest way for people to get job offers rescinded, reprimanded at work and even fired.
Here we are again, nearing the end of yet another summer and the start of a new school year. By now, you (hopefully) know where you'll be attending college this fall, but do you know what you'll study?
In the sales world, the fabled "elevator pitch" is championed as a business fundamental. If you can't recite your job description in a 30-second elevator ride, you're going to miss out on major business opportunities.
By now you've heard several times that the job market is competitive and it's more important than ever that you stand out to employers through your cover letter and résumé.
Workplaces are all about trust. It's one of those buzzwords you can't escape, along with "synergy," "teamwork" and "value add." There are even teambuilding activities based on trust.
In today's uncertain job market, even the jobs once marked as "recession-proof" are not as safe as we thought. So where should you focus your job search?
Right now, "microblogging" is the technological term du jour. Twitter this; Twitter that.
Ask any hiring manager, recruiter, human resource executive or career coach, and they'll all say the same thing: Never lie in an interview.
Recently, Stephanie Somogyi Miller was interviewing candidates for an entry-level public relations position at her company, Spread PR, a Miller/Hamilton company. Over the course of 20 candidates Miller quickly realized -- much to her shock -- that many job seekers were unprepared when she asked them, "Why should I hire you?"
In theory, etiquette is a way for everyone to express mutual respect for one another. In practice, it's a confusing set of arbitrary guidelines not everyone follows.
Entering the third quarter, employers everywhere are still feeling the effects of the current economic climate.
I can think of only a few rituals that encase my body with adrenaline and sweat: running a race, struggling through Bikram yoga, having that dream where I'm still in junior high and I've completely forgotten about a huge project that's due in less than an hour, and interviewing for a job.
Sherry Shealy Martschink, 57, is a former state legislator, state senator and worker's compensation commissioner for South Carolina.
There's a viral video that probably everyone has been e-mailed: A cyclist nearing the end of a race raises his arms in excitement ... then falls off the bike, struggles to get back on and watches someone else cross the finish line first.
You know the friend who constantly dates the wrong kind of person? The one who's endlessly frustrated that he or she is going to die alone because all the good ones are taken?
There are certain things you probably shouldn't ask your boss:
If television sitcoms of the 1980s and 1990s are to be believed, every parent in America argued with a teenager who wanted to wear ripped jeans and ill-fitting shirts to school.
When two people fall in love, they only see sunshine and rainbows when they look into each other's eyes. If you asked, "What's the worst trait of your boyfriend or girlfriend?" they would answer, "Absolutely, positively nothing!"
The right words make all the difference in life. Try asking "Wanna get hitched?" instead of "Will you marry me?" for proof.
Talk to a dozen students on any college campus and you're likely to hear a dozen different perspectives on what they hope to get out of college. Some want high GPAs; some want to get into the work force and earn a lot of money.
As graduations are taking place across the country and the economy is remaining in a bad state, college graduates are faced with one of the most competitive job markets in years.
With an abundance of job losses, salary cuts, eliminated bonuses and diminished 401(K) matching contributions, your income is shrinking -- but the bills aren't.
Nate Torvik has mixed feelings about his upcoming graduation from Purdue University.
In the past year, there's been so much talk about job loss, high unemployment rates, lack of jobs and employment declines that it's been hard to focus on anything else.
Have you ever found that the people most guilty of unruly behavior at work are also the ones who are most oblivious to their behavior?
In the past year, there's been so much talk about job loss, high unemployment rates, lack of jobs and employment declines that it's been hard to focus on anything else.
Every now and then, I come across an occupation that makes me wish I was in a different line of work. Don't get me wrong, I love my job -- but some professions really seem too good to be true.
Watch the news for 30 minutes and you'll quickly lose perspective of the value of a dollar.
At 2 a.m., most workers are asleep in their beds, blissfully unaware that their alarm clocks will sound in a few short hours. But for 41 percent of Americans this is the time of day is when they are most productive, according to a 2005 poll by the National Sleep Foundation.
Imagine how your legs feel when you stand up after a long road trip. Your knees pop and your muscles burn.
This summer, diplomas will be handed out, hats will be tossed in the air and college graduates will look to enter that elusive Real World they've heard so much about. It's all very exciting and nerve wracking, in a good way.
With a record 12.5 million people unemployed in today's labor market, it's apparent that now, more than ever before, the people looking for employment must work even harder to ensure that they stand out to employers through their applications.
There is no worse feeling than waking up in the morning, rested from good night's sleep, and glancing at the clock, only to do a double-take: You're late!
With unemployment numbers continuing their steady climb, you've probably seen layoffs happen in your company or to someone you know -- hopefully not to you.
Stand on any street in your town and you'll witness a trend that began 30 years ago with the invention of the Walkman: music lovers walking around wearing headphones.
A famous George Carlin observation goes, "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"
Everyone knows how hard it is to get along with others when there's a personality clash -- so imagine how hard it is to be happy in career that does the same thing.
Few of us will ever win an Oscar. We will, however, receive a job offer at least once in our lives.
There's no worse feeling than when you're in an interview and the interviewer asks you a question to which you don't know the answer.
Income isn't considered polite conversation for most Americans. We'll talk about our jobs, our families, the weather, the couple down the street who is obviously hiding something in that garage ... but not how much we earn.
The struggle to fit in follows everyone throughout life. It's one of those human experiences everyone must endure.
In a classic episode of the TV show "Sex and the City," Carrie Bradshaw realizes that she's spent thousands of dollars on gifts for one of her married friends.
For the average kindergartner, the school day peaks around lunchtime. The whole class gets to eat together, then goes outside to play for a while before coming back inside to take a nap. Once they wake up, class resumes and the rest of the day breezes by.
Do you know what TMI is? Chances are you're either guilty of it or have been its victim. It stands for "too much information" and it's making daily life awkward for people across the country.
Have you ever seen "CMP," "CQM," or "PMP" behind someone's name and not had a clue what it meant -- or if it meant anything at all?
Being part of a team can be a great learning experience when collaboration and discussion lead to new ideas and career growth.
There's a wealth of career information on the Internet, and these resources are just a mouse-click away for any job seeker.
Between October and March, the following scene plays out in workplaces across the country.
Facebook's been around for almost five years -- a lifetime in the Internet world -- and by now it has become a mainstay of workers who want to kill a little (or a lot) of time updating their statuses and playing Scrabble.
If you decided to stay home from work today because your psychic told you to, would you tell your boss the truth or make up an excuse?
While the importance of earning a college degree to secure a good job has been engrained in our brains for as long we can remember, a four-year degree is not the only path to a successful career.
Embarrassing yourself in a social situation is the stuff of nightmares. The toilet paper stuck to your shoe, an open zipper during a speech or slipping on a patch of ice while walking down the street -- you don't forget the red face and cold sweats.
There's a great deal of career information available to job seekers on the Internet. And some of the most important, timely content can be found in blogs.
Though 2008 was wrought with layoffs and economic struggles, the New Year means rejuvenated hope for job seekers.
If I had to guess, I would bet that at least once in years past, come January 1, you've resolved to lose weight, be more organized, spend less and save more, find a better job, or simply be a better person.
Recent news about the economy and the job market hasn't been encouraging. Companies are taking a much closer look at their operating expenses, especially their payrolls.
The boss summons you to her office. On the long walk to her door, you wonder what you did wrong. Did you miss a deadline? Did you oversleep one too many times? Did they catch you stealing pens from the supply closet?
In 20 years of career consulting, Karen Masullo has seen more job search mistakes than she can remember. There is one mistake, however, that she still chuckles about today:
We've all heard the conventional wisdom about good work habits. Many of us have attended time management classes, participated in workshops and have been advised to "work smarter, not harder."
Attitude counts for a lot. Just think of how often people's attitudes affect your perception of them. First impressions often include come down to phrases such as "He had the worst attitude" or "She has the best attitude of anyone I've ever met."
When Martin P.* was laid off from his job as a marketing vice president, he embarked on a two-year job search and still came up short.
During the homestretch leading up to the new year, bosses often become generous and kind -- traits no one knew they were capable of exhibiting.
During the homestretch leading up to the new year, bosses often become generous and kind -- traits no one knew they were capable of exhibiting.
Winter brings an avalanche of year-end celebrations. Party season is at an all-time high, and, whether you're schmoozing with co-workers or mingling at a friend's holiday celebration, you become a pro at small talk.
So, you want more money? Welcome to the club. We've been waiting for you.
Job seekers with no ties to any particular location often seek jobs in big cities like New York, Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, or San Francisco, California.
Men and women who leave the military might put dangerous missions behind them, but they face a host of other challenges when they return to civilian life.
After several long months of unsuccessfully posting his résumé and applying to jobs online, Alex Ballin, 24, decided to take his job search into his own hands.
If you want to find a job that is free of stress, you're out of luck. Only characters in movies and on TV have jobs that don't cause occasional hair-pulling or high blood pressure.
Who hasn't looked at his or her paycheck and imagined how much better life would be with a lot more numbers after that dollar sign?
A work spouse is a co-worker of the opposite sex with whom you have a close platonic relationship. In many ways, these relationships can mirror a real marriage.