Coffee Break

By Robert Half International

 Job seekers know the power of networking in their search for employment. But it’s not just who you know; it’s also who your contacts know. An effective way to make the most of your connections is by asking for referrals.

 A referral is just one piece of the hiring puzzle, but it can support a well-crafted résumé and help your application rise to the top of the stack. It’s a recommendation made to a hiring manager, on your behalf, by someone who knows you both. Read the rest

By Beth Braccio Hering, special to CareerBuilder

 Don’t tarnish your reputation by making whiny, haughty or untrue statements. Remember, silence can be golden — especially if it prevents you from uttering one of these potentially career-damaging phrases:
1.  “I can’t take on any more work. I’m completely overwhelmed already.”

Run your fingers through your hair and let out a big sigh during this lament and colleagues will either nominate you for an Academy Award or provide the number of a good therapist. Professionals work on solving problems, not creating drama.

 “Yes, the recession and corporate downsizing has meant fewer people doing more work; however, employers want employees who can manage their workloads and communicate when they have reached their maximum capacity,” says Lisa Quast, CEO of Seattle-based Career Woman Inc. and author of “Your Career, Your Way!” “A much better comment is, ‘Let’s look at my project list and see where we can work this in. It might mean moving something else out to a later date.’” Read the rest

By Larry Buhl, special to CareerBuilder

 Yahoo’s recent ban on telecommuting — an effort meant to “raise employee morale”– raises questions about the possible downsides of work-at-home employment. Statistics from the Telework Research Network show that half of the U.S. workforce has jobs that are compatible with at least part-time telecommuting, and nearly eight in 10 employees would like to work from home. But if being out of sight also means being out of mind, telecommuting might not be worth the benefits.

 Experts agree that telecommuting does not necessarily stall careers. But they do have several recommendations for determining whether it’s right for your situation and how to make it benefit you and your employer.

 Follow company policies to the letter. This is to protect you as much as the company, according to Chuck Wilsker, President and CEO of Telcoa, a nonprofit telework education and advocacy organization. “The more procedures and expectations are set up for supervisors and employees, the safer the transition to telecommuting will be,” Wilsker says.  Read the rest

By Larry Buhl, special to CareerBuilder

 Is it not enough to have a résumé bursting with accomplishments, an action plan for how you can benefit the company and a winning interview style to land the job? Now, you’re also expected to answer brain teaser questions? Seriously? 

 Seriously. “This trend toward asking off-the-wall questions started in high tech a few years ago and has now emerged in interviews for jobs in a variety of fields,” says John O’Connor, president of North Carolina-based CareerPro Inc., a professional career coaching and branding company.

 These questions are often brain teasers and can be anything from a complex, multilayered math and logic problem to a wacky question with no real answer. Some examples include: Read the rest

By Stephanie Gaspary, director of social strategy and creative services, CareerBuilder

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ new databook on women in the labor force, women have made significant progress in the areas of educational achievement and earnings over the past 40 years. Labor force participation is significantly higher among women today than it was in the 1970s, but it seems to have peaked at 60 percent in 1999. By 2011, only 58.1 percent of women were in the labor force, down .5 percentage point from 2010.

 While there are a variety of reasons women may be exiting the workforce, the economic benefits to promote female employment are pretty clear. According to the recent paper from Booz & Company, “Empowering the Third Billion: Women and the World of Work in 2012,” “… if female employment rates were to match male rates in the United States, overall GDP would increase by 5 percent.” 

 Employers can help to stop this decline by stepping up their efforts to recruit women – and that means understanding how women search for jobs and what they look for in potential employers. Read the rest

Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer

 If you’re psyching yourself up to ask for a raise by thinking, “The worst they can say is ‘no,’” you may already be in trouble. Requesting a pay increase can be a fickle business maneuver and how you go about it may affect the answer.

 Do you know the right way to ask for a raise? Find out by taking this quiz.

  Read the rest

Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer

 Everybody has an opinion about what makes a good leader, but you know one when you see one. You also know an incompetent boss when you see one. If you’ve just started a new job, or you’re working with a newly promoted boss, what should you do if it’s clear you know more than your boss? Don’t resign just yet. There are plenty of ways to make the relationship work for both of you.

 Be an asset

Instead of approaching your boss as an obstacle to be dealt with, look at the relationship with an open, positive mindset. What might seem like shortcomings in your boss may actually be opportunities to complement his management style. Ken Rupert, strategic life coach, offers these three tips: Read the rest

By Robert Half International

 Most likely you were drawn to your profession, because it enables you to use your skills, knowledge and talents to their maximum potential. But if lately you feel as though you’re standing still or stuck in a rut, it may be time to step back and evaluate your situation.

This type of objective, frank assessment can be challenging because, when it comes to professional dissatisfaction, there may not be any external factors you can point to as the source.

 We can sometimes be our own worst enemies when it comes to job satisfaction and career advancement. We set unreasonable expectations, get caught in negative thought patterns or lose sight of our long-term goals and aspirations. Internal factors such as these can stifle motivation, hamper professional growth and curtail our progress.

 Here are some of the most common ways professionals can self-sabotage. If any of these seem familiar to you, use the tips below to readjust your thinking and get out of your own way.

  Read the rest

Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer

 College graduates from 2008 and onward have entered a tough economy and a competitive job market they may not have felt prepared to face. After four years or more of classes, papers, labs, homework and exams, it’s hard to hear that there’s not necessarily a dream job waiting for them, or in some cases, any work at all.

 How can you survive the uncertain economy and still start a career? With some adjustments to your perspective, planning for your future and developing a new work ethic, it’s possible. Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder, author of “The Unemployed College Graduate’s Survival Guide: How to Get Your Life Together, Deal with Debt, and Find a Job After College,” tackles this subject and has some tips for success. “I know that you were hoping to cash in your academic chips at the pay-off window of life at this point, but there is simply too much competition for employment right now to allow you to do that,” Snyder says. “You’re going to have to shrug it off and adjust your expectations and your behavior to match reality. So let’s talk about some productive strategies and attitudes that will help you move forward into a bright future.” Read the rest

By Robert Half International

 If you’re job hunting, one way to potentially increase your chances of success is to look for a position with a small business. Many applicants focus their efforts on large companies, because they either are attracted to the idea of working for a household name or believe these companies have more openings. Yet pursuing employment opportunities with smaller companies can be a wise move.

 Before you begin sharing your résumé to every small employer with an opening, however, make sure you’d be a good fit for the company. Small businesses often have very defined corporate cultures, and working at a mom-and-pop shop can be different than working at a larger company.

 The ideal candidates for roles with small businesses often have these traits: Read the rest