You've been hearing that voice again, the one that says you're not pursuing what you were born to do. That may be true, but how do you figure out what you should be doing? To begin answering this question, examine whether your current career path matches your core interests, beliefs, values, needs and skills. Professional career counselors usually undertake this strategy ...

Hey, looking good! That new designer suit makes you look like a runway model on the way to a Fortune 500 job. Once you've graduated, you'll take on the working world in style. But will you be able to prove that you're not just another pretty face? Here are a few skills you'll want to develop before you get out into ...

Your cover letter is the first thing employers see when they open your materials. Avoid these 10 mistakes, and make your first impression a good and lasting one. Mistake #1: Don't Overuse "I" Your cover letter is not your autobiography. The focus should be on how you meet an employer's needs, not on your life story. Avoid the perception of being ...

Internship: Rand McNally, Internet division How I heard about it: I am involved with the INROADS organization, whose mission is to match corporate sponsors with qualified minority college students. Daily routine If I could use one word to describe my internship, it would be "busy"! My start date happened to be three weeks before the official re-launch of randmcnally.com, so there ...

Your job requires more than the allotted 40 hours, and you don't have time to put another set of letters after your name. Still, you want to keep up with changes in your industry and career. One place to start is through a career or industry association. After all, if there's one out there for Women's Pro-Rodeo, chances are there's one ...

Which is more important: Your independence or your interdependence? Do you cherish your water-cooler time with your peers, or would you rather meet new people every day? These are just a couple of the factors you should consider when choosing between inside and outside sales. Before you can make a decision, you'll want to get a handle on the typical daily ...

What makes you tick? What major will fit you best? How will you find a good career? And how can you keep from going crazy trying to sort through this swirl of career-related questions? Many college students feel confused and overwhelmed by all of the career decisions they must make. Fortunately, there's a strategy you can use to make the whole ...

Job postings for product managers are peppered with phrases like "customer-centric," "consensus-builder" and "fluid environment" -- requirements that don't easily translate into the concrete abilities and experiences needed to succeed in the product manager role. Despite being one of the most sought-after positions, the skill set needed for this position is surprisingly difficult to define. What Exactly Is Product Management? Product ...

In a rarely quoted yet invaluable line from Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Marlow says, “One ship is very much like another and the sea is always the same.” I’m graduating this year (the Lord and the registrar willing). Aside from the usual pressing questions of what to do with my life after that May day, I’m concerned about how to ...

Like many people trying to get into HR, Andrea Battle spent months applying for listed positions without success. Battle had decided to make the move from university administration to HR, so she initially focused on rewriting her resume to target her newly chosen field. However, she had little success when she applied for HR vacancies. "I knew I could convey my ...

Developing your career plans? Tap into a career network by joining a professional association in your field of choice. Many associations offer special services and membership rates for students, and through the association's programs, you can learn more about the field and develop relationships with established professionals. Check below to find the right association for you. Accounting American Institute of Certified ...

It's no secret that education is linked to job security and salary. Those with a high school degree were likely to earn less than half the salary, and experience over twice the unemployment, as those with a master's degree according to research from Salary.com. General facts about education and employment can help your individual career choices, but you have particular ...

If you're a college student or recent graduate and have done some preliminary research on entry-level positions overseas, you know they aren't easy to come by. Because of the costs and immigration issues, companies aren't likely to send just any entry-level lackey out into the world. But if you're not the type to let what's deemed unlikely keep you from exciting ...

Graduating from college is a major milestone. Once you have finished celebrating your student’s success, it’s time to help your student determine their next steps. Your student’s college degree is a stepping stone to other future life achievements. So what's next for your student after college? For some students, the career they want to pursue requires a graduate degree; others may ...

Networking is more important than ever when it comes to landing a job. You may think that networking is for corporate types, not for college students. But you're wrong. According to one Wall Street Journal survey, 94 percent of respondents said networking was their primary job-search method. As the saying goes, "either network or not work." So where do you start ...

College grads this year are facing one of the toughest job markets in decades. As of March 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate for people age 20 – 24 was 13.9%. That’s 5.4% higher than the national average, and 3.7% higher than last year. “Graduates who are unable to find jobs are at higher risk of ...

Presidents were once lowly employees too... Think Presidents have it easy with all of their Cabinet and appointed staff to do things for them? Well, life wasn’t always so sweet. They had to work their way up the career ladder to the White House too! Here are some examples of jobs they had before the Oval Office and tips that ...

A firefighter’s job involves the protection of life, property and environment. Fighting fires is dangerous and complex, therefore requiring organization and teamwork. Firefighters provide emergency medical attention, ventilate smoke-filled areas, and attempt to salvage the contents of buildings. Other duties include routine apparatus maintenance, drilling, and training in new techniques. Median Annual Salary $45,000 Education Requirements Applicants are required to have ...

There is no right way to organize your resume. Different formats create different effects - and a different picture of you! Determine which format (Chronological, Functional or Combination) will put you in the best light. Chronological Resume In the chronological resume, job history is organized sequentially, with the most recent job listed first. Job titles and employers are emphasized and duties ...

You've decided you need a second opinion on your resume, but where should you turn? We've gathered the top eight resources for resume critiques, as well as the pros and cons of each, to help you find the best reviewer for your needs. Professional Resume Writers Resume writers can provide excellent advice on how to improve your resume, says Murray Mann, ...