Coffee Break

Internships. They’re the buzz on university campuses everywhere. From freshman year to the graduation stage, students are constantly reminded how important it is to get “real world” experience under their belts before they hit the post-graduation job search. Companies hiring recent graduates are always going to have a preference for those who have taken the time and initiative to complete one, two or more internships, gain skills, make connections and bring more to the table than a diploma.

 But what if you are not sure what field you want to go into? What if you fall into the general studies or liberal arts category? Maybe you’re working toward a degree in finance or marketing, but you’re not sure you want to go into that line of work. What do you do then? Will interning in marketing, finance or another field set your career path in stone and ultimately lead you to feel stuck in a field you’re not sure you want to pursue?

 Internships and career-pathing can be tricky business. Here are three tips to help you get the most out of any internship and build the career you want, instead of a career you feel stuck in. Read the rest

You’ve heard it all before, and it’s true. Today’s college graduates are entering a workforce much tougher and more competitive than graduates did 10 years ago. The gist is to remember that when things are hard, they are not by any means impossible.

In fact, a recent CareerBuilder and CareerRookie.com survey found more than half of employers (54 percent) reported they plan to hire recent college graduates in 2012, up from 46 percent in 2011, 44 percent in 2010 and 43 percent in 2009.

It looks like things are on the up and up, but just in case, here are 6 tips for getting hired in a tough job market from Grant Cardone, New York Times best-selling author and international sales expert. Read the rest

Spring brings thoughts of warm weather, outdoor activities … and cleaning. Although few people truly look forward to the last item on this list, almost everyone understands it needs to get done.

Don’t concentrate solely on your closet, dining-room table or other household areas. Also look to your workspace. Chances are your desk and computer could use some freshening up, too.

Here are some of the benefits of cleaning around the office: Read the rest

The summer movie season is kicking off, and the first big blockbuster to open is “The Avengers.” It brings together some of Marvel universe’s biggest superheroes into one movie for a battle royale between a demigod and his alien cohorts. Chances are you haven’t encountered a master assassin at your office potluck, because comic-book stories aren’t usually ripped from the headlines. However, the personality types on display in “The Avengers” are probably not that far off from the volatile and larger-than-life people you encounter — or hide from — at the office.

Here are the superheroes you’ll see in “The Avengers,” the struggles they face and what we can learn from them: Read the rest

While Facebook Timeline is primarily a cosmetic change that will affect the layout of your profile, it also comes with a number of functional modifications that will make it easier for others to see your Facebook history and parts of your profile: potentially embarrassing photos, status updates from your college years and what your friends have posted on your wall since the day you joined Facebook.

“While your privacy settings will remain intact, Timeline makes information easier to access,” says Anthony Morrison, vice president of Cachinko, a social media community for job seekers. “Everyone should take an hour and review exactly what is available [on their profile]. Look at old, forgotten posts — they’re going to be a lot more visible. Start deleting what you don’t want anyone to see and limit the audience for the content you want only some people to see.” Read the rest

The job market is slowly starting to heat up. If you’re already employed, you may be thinking about making a move from your current position. But you don’t want to switch jobs unless you find a situation that’s a substantial upgrade over the one you have now. Even if you aren’t in this enviable position, you want to be able to identify the most promising career opportunities when they arise.

 Here’s how to find the right employer for you, no matter your situation: Read the rest

If you had a time machine, would you travel into the future to see what’s in store for you 10, 20 or 30 years from now? Or would you rather travel back in time, perhaps right after university graduation, to fix a mistake you made or take another path in life?

As university seniors get ready to graduate in the coming months, they will be faced with making big decisions on everything from their career to their finances to their personal and professional relationships. So we asked recent graduates, seasoned professionals and hiring managers to get in a virtual time machine and finish the following sentence: “If I knew then what I know now…” What would they have done differently post-graduation? How can their hindsight help the class of 2012 and beyond? Read the rest

The job market is slowly starting to heat up. If you’re already employed, you may be thinking about making a move from your current position. But you don’t want to switch jobs unless you find a situation that’s a substantial upgrade over the one you have now. Even if you aren’t in this enviable position, you want to be able to identify the most promising career opportunities when they arise.

 Here’s how to find the right employer for you, no matter your situation: Read the rest

Most workers have to clock in overtime at some point (or multiple points) in their careers, and they do so for a variety of reasons. It could be because of a big project with a tight deadline, the desire to make time-and-a-half or the nature of the job. Others work long hours just because they are workaholics. Yet if you’re finding yourself working late into the evening most nights, you may be harming your health.

According to a British study – which looked at more than 2,000 middle-aged British workers for an average of nearly six years – employees who work at least 11 hours per day were up to 2.43 times more likely to experience depression when compared to those who worked between seven and eight hours a day. Read the rest

Unless you’re updating your “Business Cards through the Ages” diorama or have a compulsive desire to buy lunch for other people, networking when you already have a good job can seem unnecessary. After all, what do you stand to gain from it?

Plenty, actually. For starters, “needless” networking keeps your connections — and your networking muscles — in good shape for when you do need help finding a new opportunity. Getting in touch only when you’re scrambling for a job won’t endear you to your contacts, whether or not they’re willing to help.

The quality of that help will suffer, too. For example, a former colleague who needs to be reminded who you are, isn’t likely to provide a sterling reference. Your current situation gives you a much better chance to invest the time it takes to let fruitful relationships develop naturally.   Read the rest