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	CAREER OXYGEN

Breathe life into your job hunt or simply get the know-how you need to manage your career effectively.

Using Phone Interviews To Your Advantage	11/20/09
Phone interviews are very subjective. While there are many best practices in terms of asking good questions, there are virtually no consistent practices in how interviewers score the results.

Freelancing: If You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get	11/13/09
If you do a lot of freelance creative work, you might wonder what set you on the freelance path in the first place. In the old jobs-a-plenty economy, the answer might have been creative freedom, or indecision about how you wanted to spend your future and who you wanted to spend it with – the old failure to commit problem.

Your Resume (Your Ticket)	11/06/09
When applying for a job, remember that you are trying to impress someone. That doesn’t mean don’t be true to yourself, but you do want to put your best, most impressive foot forward.

Build Your Credibility Bank	10/30/09
Linkedin.com and Spoke.com are ways to stay in touch, along with the ubiquitous Facebook and MySpace pages. But if you’re going to use them to your best benefit, you have to set up a credibility bank.

I’m a Freelancer . . . Should I Set Up a Corporation?	10/23/09
If you are starting a business as a freelancer, you have a choice of the legal type of business structure (entity) that you choose. There are advantages and disadvantages among them.

Metrics, Metrics, Metrics	10/16/09
Knowing the metrics of each job, and how well you met them, helps you put your best foot forward... it can also get you better jobs and higher pay.

When Enthusiasm Borders on Stalking	10/09/09
Before writing this, I asked a few fellow recruiters what topic I should cover and they came back with a resounding reply: “Stalking!” Stalkers wind up looking desperate and we all know, if you’re desperate, it means no one wants you. If no one wants you, you can’t be any good.

5 Financial Secrets to Know When You Look For a New Job	10/02/09
Everybody dreams of that perfect new job -- a great office, an even better title and of course, the perfect compensation. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you accept a new job. Look beyond the salary and get the whole package.

How Not To Get Dinged by a Recruiter	09/25/09
When you’re looking for a job or freelance gig, everybody wants to get past the gatekeeper and in front of the actual hiring manager. Here’s a list of 10 things to watch out for when applying and interviewing for a job.

The Job Search Plan: The Most Important Tool Ever in Your Arsenal	09/18/09
Here are some suggestions on how to chart your course, add some structure to your day, and give yourself definable goals to give you that sense of order that you had within the workplace.

Job Searching Secrets from the Frontlines	09/11/09
In the marketing industry, you’re expected to be creative … so why is this not being translated into your resume? Sadly, many resumes look nearly identical and do nothing in order to grab the reader’s interest.

Job Search 101	09/04/09
Originally published in February 09, this piece is among the most popular career advice articles on our site. Enjoy the read and holiday weekend.

Do's and Don’ts to Consider When Building Your Online Portfolio	08/28/09
A reality that has withstood the transition from an old school to online: A portfolio that is beautifully presented and thoughtful is a joy to review. It looks good, it has wonderful work, it is neat and tidy, and there are no typos.

Tips for Job Seekers in the PR & Marketing Field	08/21/09
While it is unfortunate that many companies have opted to lay off marketing and public relations professionals, I believe the other side of that coin points to a healthy re-shuffling of resources and creation of new, re-defined career opportunities for many.

Digging Deep	08/14/09
You always do your research before you put yourself on the line. Now try applying this lesson to your job search.

Thx 4 UR Email	08/07/09
The decision to take a job is, I’d say, second only in importance to that of choosing a spouse. If you don’t take this seriously enough to avoid overly casual text and typos in your correspondence, we’ll assume you aren’t as interested in the role as the candidate we’re interviewing tomorrow.

The Ten Job Hunting Blunders Many People Make	07/31/09
It's true. And it's common. Most people know what they DON'T want, not what they DO want. They move away from unpleasant, instead of toward fabulous. That's because one is much clearer than the other.

I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough...	07/24/09
In trying times, the biggest enemy you can face is yourself. The voice in your head can fling some of the nastiest insults you're ever likely to hear. The trick: fight back.

Cleaning Up Your Social Media Closet	07/17/09
Would you wear a dirty, tattered, or mismatched suit to an interview? Of course not! Yet many people allow their social media profiles to be a mess when looking for a job. Maybe they don’t know any better. Don’t let yourself be one of those people!

This Ain't Burger King	07/10/09
And you don't get to have it your way. Sorry folks, but that's how things are as a Job Seeker right now. Yes Employers are behaving badly (phone calls or emails not returned, disappearing acts in the middle of the interview process, you know the drill) but it's in direct response to how they were treated from 1996-2000, or 2004-2008 when YOU called the shots.

I do, I do, I Really-Really do!	06/26/09
There are still some good fish out there in the sea, and many of you will be lucky enough to be introduced to them and live happily ever after. Ever after is relative - marriages and employment tenures don't last forever these days - but you you won't know until you try.

Value Add	06/12/09
Recruiters want to know what you bring to the table. It’s even more the case these days. When you hear numbers like 2000 people have applied for one job at an institution used to receiving 20 applications per position, you know there is some very fast scanning of resumes going on.

A Bad Deal

06/05/09

Sometimes you just know when it's time to settle down - find that special someone, get hitched, and live happily ever after. And sometimes you want it so badly that you can't see the red flags popping up telling you to run the other way. Job hunting when you really need a job can produce the same blinders that love will. Even if you're ok with Mr.-Right-Now, there are some bad eggs to avoid at all costs - Mr. Never.

Meet the Parents	05/29/09
It's probably the most unnerving part of the interview process - meeting the CEO/Top-Dog. But if you look at it like you're meeting the parents of your new love interest, it may help you pass with flying colors and be one step closer to that offer.

Recession Guide for Designers	05/15/09
In difficult times people get creative — and creative people must find new ways to use resources wisely. Whether you work as an in-house designer at a large company, own your own design firm, or work as a freelancer, the recession has no doubt affected you or someone you know.

Is it OK to Settle?	05/08/09
Everyone wants a great job, just like everyone wants a great spouse or partner. But in this economy can you afford to hold out for Mr. Right, or should you settle for Mr. Right-Now?

How To Prepare For Interviews	05/01/09
Okay we’ve all read these tips before. It’s not brain surgery, but somehow the art of interviewing still eludes us. You think of yourself as a “people person,” but then somehow all intelligent thought seems to vanish as you blankly stare back at the recruiter. So here are a few quick tips to help prepare you for that hard-earned interview.

Job Advice Q&A	04/17/09
I was honored to participate in AdweekMediaConnect's live chat session on 4/15. Through the course of an hour answering questions in real-time, I discovered there were some smaller issues addressed that may benefit anyone reading this column.

101 for Recent Grads	04/10/09
If you are a college senior preparing to graduate in May, The Steve Miller Band said it best, “Well, I been lookin’ real hard and I’m tryin’ to find a job but it just keeps gettin’ tougher everyday”

Career Kama Sutra (or, Positioning Yourself)	04/03/09
Back when there were no jobs in the industry in 2001 & 2002, “Consultant” was the resume term du jour. It’s 2009 and everything old is new again.

Your Righteous Resume	03/27/09
I have seen some truly bad looking resumes in my time. And I mean bad. You don't necessarily have to have the best resume ever created or pay a firm to write one for you...

Nail the Interview	03/13/09
Interviews are your big chance to make it happen. A lot can ride on the outcome; often there's not a 2nd chance. But hey, no pressure right? A lot has been said and written about interviews in the past but I continue to receive questions about best practices and tips so it's obviously a timeless subject. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.

Patience in the Job Hunt – A Virtue?	03/06/09
Many adages revolve around the idea of having patience and that you will be rewarded for it. But how virtuous can you be when job hunting? And when do you show your take-charge and aggressive side that so many employers seem to value?

Salary and Title Expectations	02/27/09
You don’t have a lot of bargaining power if you receive a job offer these days. But there are some rules to keep in mind that will help keep your expectations in line and guide you through the process.

How to Get Headhunters to Do Back Flips For You	02/20/09
Distinguish yourself as being one of the best that every headhunter wants to know.

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