You spend most of your waking hours at work. You rarely get out for lunch, never mind dinner. You'd like to meet that special someone, but you just don't know where to look. Suddenly, Cupid shoots his arrow, and it hits the person in the next office. Out with all reason – love is in the air! Stop. Sure, meetings ...

Just a few years ago a college degree in hand meant an entry-level job was virtually assured. Those days are gone-- right along with the idea of staying with one employer for 5 to 10 years. Here's why -- and what you can expect from this new reality we call the modern job market: Your Degree Is Helpful But Not a ...

No one will ever care about your career as much as you do. But if there were ever a group of people to come close, it would be alumni from your college or university. These former students have likely been in your shoes themselves, and are generally among the most willing to help your career development if you ask. Why are ...

Meeting with people who work in a career or company that interests you is a great way to get a jump-start on your dream job. They'll not only let you know about opportunities in the field, but they can also give you some great advice based on their experience. However, in order to get the information you need, you have ...

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ. Practice Good Nonverbal Communication It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a ...

If you were an employer looking at a resume, which of the following entries would impress you more? Wrote news releases. Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines. Clearly the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to quantify the writer's accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of ...

The stakes are high during job interviews, especially when you're a college student who is about to compete for your first job — the one that could launch your career. It's no wonder you'll be nervous. But you can minimize your anxiety and put yourself in a position to win the job by preparing for your interviews thoroughly. Here's how: Research ...

Parents pay a lot for their children's college educations, and so they often feel they ought to help select their children's future occupations. Sometimes it's subtle, and sometimes it's in-your-face coercion. In my experience, arranged careers almost never work out in the long run. If you're going along with accounting, consulting or law school because your folks think that would be ...

When you're a college student or recent grad and trying to write a resume, especially your first one, you'll face questions you typically won't find addressed in the current blizzard of resume books. That doesn't mean your questions aren't valid; it simply means the resume experts often overlook them, because they generally target mid-career audiences. Over the last five years as ...

In some cultures, bargaining is the norm. A buyer or seller makes an offer, and the other party either accepts or counters the offer. The two negotiate until a deal is made or one of the parties walks away. When you're negotiating your pay with an employer, do you know what you're doing? Do you have any idea of what you're ...

Take a variety of different classes. Don't pigeonhole yourself into one tight line of study. Branch out and take a good look around to see what interests you. Complete a few self-assessment tests. Self-assessment tests can tell you a lot about yourself and may help you match your skills and interests with possible careers. Develop a career inventory. What kind of ...

"Where do I start?" That's an obvious question when you're considering a technology career. Should you get a technical certification? Learn a programming language? You'll hear a seemingly endless variety of answers, largely because the technology field is so vast, with numerous career paths ranging from database administrator to network engineer. For those just starting to consider a technology career, it's ...

Has someone told you that only full-time students can cash in on financial aid programs? If so, listen up. It’s time to bust another higher education myth. It’s true that many financial aid programs are limited to full-time students, but determined part-time college-goers like you can also leverage the system to subsidize your educational opportunities. If knowledge is power, then arming ...

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “work your way through school?” Waiting tables? Working the night shift? What about standing in front of a roomful of freshman students teaching course material? Many university graduate programs offer the opportunity to become a graduate teaching assistant (TA). A TA position offers many benefits, including relief from paying full tuition and ...

There is more to human resources than recruiting the hottest talent. In fact, this field offers many varied career paths, and the one you choose should depend on your interests. Learn what's available before you settle on a direction. HR Generalist Are you the kind of person who likes to do a little of this and some of that? Then ...

Q: I want to apply for a job online, should I send my resume in an attachment? I want to show off the bold fonts and bullets. What do you think? A: You are right and wrong at the same time. Resumes DO look better when they get sent as attachments, but increasingly employers are asking applicants not to send their ...

When I am responding to a job posting and a contact name is not given, is it OK to address the letter "To Whom It May Concern"? Or is there a better way to handle this? Answer: "To Whom it May Concern" is a bit outdated, as is "Dear Sir/Madam." You might want to go with "Dear Hiring Manager" when you ...

The idealist in you wants to take that great but unpaid internship you heard about the other day. After all, it will give you critical experience in your chosen career field that will help you land a job after graduation. But the realist in you rightly argues, "How are you going to pay your bills?" The unpaid internship dilemma is one ...

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 ...

On my shelf of forgotten and useless VHS tapes sit two videos I watched frequently as a child: "I Wanna Be a Fire Fighter" and "I Wanna Be a Heavy Equipment Operator". I don't exactly remember wanting to be a heavy equipment operator, but you just never know at that age. These educational videos depicted what a day on the job ...