Are you wondering how to deal with a sticky work history issue? Whether you were laid off from your last position, took time off to raise children or are looking to change careers, the cover letter is the perfect place to address potential red flags. One caveat: Keep the explanation brief. Writing a cover letter is an exercise in selling yourself, ...

Years later, I still remember that sinking feeling, just after I'd hit the Send button after writing an email complaining about an editor. My worst virtual fear was quickly confirmed: Yes, I had sent my bit of snark to the editor instead of my friend--and no, the editor wasn't amused. Although he initially refused to work with me again, he eventually ...

Think you’re safe job-searching online? Think again. Conducting a job search using the Internet has definitely transformed how job seekers contact hiring companies. The availability of copying and pasting a text version resume into a form at a company’s website [or uploading a Word file] has laid the foundation for an easier and more convenient job-search process. No longer does a ...

If you're among the millions of people who have lost their jobs since the recession started in December 2007, you’re facing some daunting financial questions. One may be: What should I do with my 401k? While raiding your 401k to pad your bank account during your time of transition may seem appealing, doing so could sabotage your chances of a financially ...

Leonardo DaVinci was the ORIGINAL Renaissance Man. Below is a copy of a letter Leonardo sent over 600 years ago to the House of Sforza. Look closely, it’s his resume! Modern day job seekers can learn a lot from Leonardo! “Most illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered the proofs of all those who count themselves master and inventors of ...

If you needed to find a new job, how many people could you turn to for help? If the answer is "not many," you may need to upgrade your professional network. "Maintaining a network should be a routine part of your career-development strategy, not just something you turn toward in a career crisis," said Janet Civitelli, associate director of University Career ...

You're probably aware that hiring managers cannot ask discriminatory questions during interviews. But this legal protection isn't too useful in preventing discrimination before the interview. If your resume contains personal information unrelated to your job target — your race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. — you might fall victim to discrimination, even if you're qualified for the position. Your resume ...

Exit interviews are one of the last items on your to-do list as you leave a job. Though you might be itching to just finish the job already and say sayonara to a micromanaging boss or a position you've outgrown, human resources managers appreciate it when employees take the time to give a thorough and thoughtful exit interview. Here's how to ...

When you're applying for a job, you work hard to make sure your resume will command the attention of the first person who reads it. But it's increasingly likely that the first reader of your resume won't be a person at all. Inundated with hundreds—or thousands—of resumes for some positions, many companies are using technology to streamline resume screening. "Any time ...

Almost all mature companies have shed employees at some point--and in most cases the pink slips don't come as a surprise. "Very often senior management will delay a decision to cut headcount, so unless there is a quick catastrophic event, layoffs have been a long time coming," explains Scott Steinberg, CEO of TechSavvy Global. How can you know if your job ...

Coinciding with the tightening job market is a gloomy statistic: Few American workers are saving for potential layoffs. According to an Adecco USA Workplace Insights survey, only one-quarter of workers claimed to be saving for unemployment, and 58 percent had no plans to put money aside for a job loss. You've probably heard that you should have at least six months ...

A great resume and solid interview skills may place job seekers in the running for a position, but a new survey conducted by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service, finds that the results of a reference check can really be what makes—or breaks—a job search. Hiring managers interviewed for the survey said they remove about 21 percent of candidates from consideration after ...

In tough times, job seekers are often advised to be flexible about issues from commute length to salary to job title. But while it's true that you have to be realistic, some compromises may end up hurting you more than they help. "I don't believe that you just cave and take anything," said Mary Jeanne Vincent, a career coach in Monterey, ...

I guess this is the month to talk about being thankful, which is an area I struggle with and need to continuously work on in my own life. It is so difficult for me to look beyond what I have—and yes, I have everything I need—and instead look for the stuff out there that I really, really want. I really believe ...

We’ve all been in interviews when it seems like all the interviewer wants to do is trip you up. It’s like everything you say is somehow misinterpreted to mean something completely different. How can you diffuse such an uncomfortable situation? First, understand that the interviewer’s hostility is probably not about you. Most likely, the interviewer started his day off by arguing ...

Dining out is usually associated with pleasure and relaxation -- except when you're being interviewed for a job while you're eating. There are many reasons why an employer will choose to conduct an interview over lunch. "A hiring manager may not want office staff to know the company is hiring for a particular position," says career strategist and workplace consultant J.T. ...

Videos can be a great way to share content beyond text and pictures. Below we'll show you how to upload a video in case you find a useful tutorial online or want to share a funny home made video. 1. Click on the Quizzes tab located in the navigation bar. Another set of options will appear, and you'll want to choose ...

Have you been at home and out of the job market for several years, and now want to get a job? That gap in your resume -- whether it's from taking time off to raise your children, tending to a family illness or just getting some R&R -- can be viewed by a potential employer in a positive light. But it's ...

BEWARE: Job seekers aren’t the only ones who sometimes get creative when it comes to selling themselves (i.e. resumes and cover letters that have been, shall we say, “tweaked” to make a person look like the ideal candidate). Some employers have a tendency to use verbiage that makes their open positions sound better than they really are. Over the years, I’ve ...

‘JT & Dale Talk Jobs’ is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com. After many years in the corporate world, I decided to go back to school and get an associate’s degree in health-care administration. I’m currently looking for a job in a medical or hospital setting, but it’s very frustrating. Health ...