Establishing yourself in a new role is critical for future career trajectory. Early impressions of your attitude, drive, and performance are often established within the first year -- or sooner.

The world's growing ever more competitive. Even if you already have a job, making sure you have access to the best opportunities means going beyond the usual.

For most people, a resume is their only real marketing tool. Unfortunately, today employers use resumes to screen people out. Unless you are seeking a lateral move to one of your company’s main competitors, chances are your resume will not survive the screening process.

Only a unicorn ticks every box of a recruiter's job description. Skills and experience aren't all acquired only at work. You are more than a mere list of your employers and what you did for them. When in doubt, apply anyway.

It is possible to get recognition for your work and make advances in your career whilst maintaining an introverted personality.

Whether the organization you work for has a mentoring program, a leadership development program, or no program at all, a large part of your leadership development ultimately depends on you.

A new survey suggests creative professionals are being asked to do more work in less time–and it’s taking a toll.

The truth is, when it comes to career planning most people think they have all the right answers when they’re dishing out clichéd and uninformed advice to others, and if you’re the unwitting recipient of these tired tips from everyone in your life you’re likely feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn.

Does going for multiple open roles at the same time make you look desperate, or does it increase your odds of landing a dream job?

A quick and helpful guide for today’s executive job hunter addressing the professional options available to you.

You want to be prepared for your upcoming salary negotiation, so you plan to research the standard pay range and practice asking for what you want. Those steps are certainly valuable, but they’re not enough.

There are benefits to sharing your concerns and frustrations about work with your boss, but only in certain circumstances.

Be careful of falling into these four common traps once you get that desired title change and pay bump.

It’s not that hard to update your resume when you’re applying for the next role up the ladder in your field. Just show how what you’ve already done qualifies you to do similar things at a higher level.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with maintaining one full-time job with great benefits and a standard corporate structure. For many people, this type of scenario works for as long as they need it to. For others, the dream is sometimes interrupted, and a back-up plan becomes necessary.

That moment may come in the first three months or the first anniversary of your first job. Maybe, if you’re thick-skinned, you don’t feel it until your second anniversary. It’s the moment you say to yourself, “This isn’t what I thought it would be.”

It’s difficult to answer, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” when you are still figuring out what you want, but you can still give a good answer without sounding lazy.

Gallup’s new report reveals why most people aren’t engaged at work, and it’s something their managers could easily fix.

Found out that a co-worker earns more than you? You’re not alone. Compensation in the workplace is rarely completely equal.

Many people are questioning whether you should date in the workplace today, and if you do, what rules should be followed.

Remember, the hiring process is a two-way street. You will want to make sure that the job will be a good fit for you. Having some telling questions of your own will help you to make the right decision and make sure that the job will be everything you think it will be.

How can you get someone to meet you for coffee and career advice when it’s like pulling teeth to get an email reply?

If you haven’t been a casualty, you have probably read about the rash of layoffs that have been happening in our industry. The positive spin of “responding to current client needs” and “aligning to a new method of working” is another way of saying the agency model continues to morph.

Quitting a job in a moment of passion feels great. You get to tell the boss off or just free yourself from a situation that no longer works for you.

You already know not to let recruiters see your wild vacation photos. These are a few lesser-known things for which they’re scouring your social profiles.

When you’re in your 20s, it’s always "interview season." Even later in life we’re occasionally asked to explain our career arc to others when speaking on a panel or starting a presentation.

There’s probably no area where this is truer than the free job search advice that many people take for granted. It’s almost always based on the conventional wisdom, and falls apart when you look at it more closely.

I'll venture to say that most likely, you dislike interviews because of how the interview — or the interview process — makes you feel.

Walter Scott said, “For success, attitude is equally important as ability.” If we don’t have the right attitude or our head is not in the game, our actions may not be as effective.

Relocation is undoubtedly exciting as a change of scenery usually is, but it can also be difficult. There are a million different reasons why people find themselves uprooted from one city and deposited in another.

Leading others to your particular strengths is not rocket science — it’s common sense. But nothing happens until you understand what your particular strengths are.

Talking about salary is generally considered taboo, and it should be discussed with care. But it’s not necessarily inappropriate and it’s definitely not illegal, as some professionals may think.

Mobile gaming is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and requires a steady influx of new talent, ranging from illustrators, animators and programmers, to testers, marketing managers, and more.

Most job hunters use standard methods learned from friends, books, networking groups, etc. They write resumes and cover letters, contact a few recruiters, call friends to ask if they know of any suitable openings, search job posting sites and maybe some company websites.

If someone tried to sell you a new smartphone but only told you how great the touchscreen and battery life were, would you buy it? Probably not.

Negotiating your first salary presents a major challenge. You have not been trained in the art of negotiation, face strong competition, have a deep emotional connection to your work, and often feel some insecurity about your talents.

If you think recruiters don't have the time to properly read your cover letter, you'd be surprised. In fact, a cover letter says a lot about a person and after screening the resumes of potential candidates, hiring managers usually turn to cover letters to see if a candidate will fit into the company’s culture.

It doesn't make any sense to let HR decide if you get interviews. For one, it’s almost certain to result in prolonging your job search.

Time flies. We reflect in disbelief that another year has passed, and our goals for the year remain unfulfilled. Instead of surrendering to discouragement, use the lack of progress as an opportunity to change your approach.

If you are job-searching, you know the importance of making yourself stand out from the crowd. An average corporate job position receives 250 resumes. Out of these, only 4-6 are chosen and ultimately one person will get the job.

It doesn’t matter if you have 50,000 contacts and you’ve done what your networking leaders said you need to do -- if you aren’t getting enough interviews with people that can hire you.

Our jobs pay our bills, and in many cases, our career is part of how we define ourselves. So making a change in this area can be especially stressful. Here are five things that can make your career transition easier.

Recently, a contact emailed me to ask for some help on a troubling situation. After a long period of unemployment, she had finally landed a job at a company she had really wanted to work at for some time. The trouble is, things didn’t exactly work out the way she had hoped.

With the holidays quickly approaching, many young professionals want nothing more than a job they love. The holidays often pass by with family and friends and the things that are truly important in life, and then it hits...

If you are looking to make a career move, informational interviews are a great way to get the inside scoop before making your final decision. Informational interviews are one-on-one conversations with others who work in the job or industry you want to work in.

A goal, by definition, is the object of a person's ambition or effort. Goals are what keep us moving forward in life, and reaching them gives us great satisfaction. But when it comes to work, 80% of people are not passionate about what they do.

The best way to handle an objection is to anticipate and pre-handle it before it ever comes up. If that isn’t possible, then the best way to deal with an objection is to question it and then turn the objection into the very reason why your idea should be accepted.

Choosing a career is a much more complicated process than taking a simple career test. We have clients come to us often who want to find that ideal job, and have read a book or taken a career assessment only to still feel lost. It’s frustrating, understandably, because we all want to be successful and happy with our choice of career.

If you’re feeling despondent about your career, lack of growth probably tops the reason list for why. Before you decide to bail on your present job, construct a plan for going forward that improves your situation.

A resume is made up of many different layers, not unlike a burger. It needs to have a "bun," or strong foundation to start with that gets the point across of who you are and where you want to go.

Many times we react to situations with feelings of fear, weakness, or negative energy. But really, fear prevents you from being open to new directions and solutions. How you can get over your fears?

Doing things the wrong way over and over won't get a better result. Consider these alternatives.

You may be reading this at work. Why is that? Shouldn’t you be working? Shouldn’t you be so engaged in what you’re doing that reading a blog post, or checking email, or your Facebook account is the last thing on your mind?

Every few years (or whenever the need arises), we engage in a loathsome activity that is about as pleasurable as getting a root canal at the dentist. It’s called updating our résumé.

The professional world is smaller than you think — many job opportunities depend on whom you know. So by omitting a job or an internship that you held in college, you could miss out on potential connections with hiring managers.

Thousands of skilled marketing, PR, and advertising people are looking for new opportunities in an uncertain economy. Many will make common errors that can hurt their chances for finding a new job. Here are the 7 deadly sins you need to avoid.

Regardless of who the big boss is, the person who has the greatest impact on how quickly you move along your career path is usually the person you report to directly.

The hiring process is a two-way street. You will want to make sure that the job will be a good fit for you. Having some telling questions of your own will help you to make the right decision and make sure that the job will be everything you think it will be.

You have a clear purpose, you understand your audience, you have a robust and compelling structure, and you now even have a high-impact opening. Now you are in your stride, and it’s time for the fireworks.

A goal, by definition, is the object of a person's ambition or effort. Goals are what keep us moving forward in life, and reaching them gives us great satisfaction. But when it comes to work, 80% of people are not passionate about what they do.

First, remember that your integrity is one of the most important qualities that the interviewer will be gauging. Therefore, only tell her or him things that are true and that people who know you would back up. Here are some suggestions that most hiring managers appreciate.

Negotiating your first salary presents a major challenge. You have not been trained in the art of negotiation, face strong competition, have a deep emotional connection to your work, and often feel some insecurity about your talents. The following discussion is designed to help you obtain the salary you deserve.

Walking into any creative agency, it's not likely that you'll see stale colors and environments with a boring corporate touch. Creatives simply cannot bear spaces devoid of a stimulating design. Here are five small changes you can apply to your office right now and enjoy a greater creative output.

Making a good first impression in an interview is critical. In fact, the first 10 seconds may be it.

Career Regret: When you realize the career you've spent so much time working on isn't a good fit. Here are three tips to make better decisions.

Would YOU like a job you can do from home, on your own schedule? Doesn’t that sound great? Just know — there’s no starting salary, no benefits, no support staff, and no free coffee. And no clients or leads.

Setting SMART goals is a great way to stay focused and advance in your career. But sometimes we focus too much on a goal being SMART and we forget to ask ourselves if we even like the goal, are inspired by it, or if it’s the right one.

Being thrown into the deep end in a new job with unclear expectations or mentoring can be difficult and stressful. But there are specific steps you can implement to take the reins and get a handle on the situation.

Negative feelings on the job are inevitable, just like any other area of our lives. But when negative thoughts and attitudes linger, or you feel that your work environment is negative and influencing your day-to-day attitude on the job, it can become more of a problem than just the usual day-to-day challenges we can face at the office.

Things had become a bit challenging where I worked, at EMA, and we had experienced some layoffs due to the ups and downs of the economy and how it impacted the advertising industry. One day, I got called into my boss’s office...

You are not your work. Your work can be a source of satisfaction and a channel for your talents and interests or it can be a means to fund a meaningful life or find a partner.

Creating human connections, developing and leveraging them, is key to creating potential opportunities to "cut the line" and get on the radar.

I cannot tell you how many times I have sat in portfolio reviews during the hiring process and heard someone say, "This person has some great ideas, but he or she can't recognize the good from the great." You might think that isn't too bad a comment, but it is deeper than many realize.

We all understand the importance of having a professional brand. It allows us to communicate our value to others easily, the skills and experience that make us stand out from everyone else in our industry.

Which excites you more? A job with long-term security that you can really sink your teeth into, or a job with an impressive pay packet and a dash more risk?

Advertising, media, and marketing are about negotiating a constantly changing universe of ideas and technology. Here are ten fundamental attitudes and behaviors to help you to zig and zag your way to success.

If you need or want to make a timely, successful career move, one of your contacts may know of a job opening that would be ideal for you. If you let your contacts know that you’d appreciate their help, most people will oblige.

The job market today is like a dangerous wolf pit; only the strongest, fiercest, and most versatile make it through. The value of a well-earned degree is no longer what it once was; even a well-qualified individual has a hard time getting a well-paying job. The only way to get ahead of your competitors is by setting yourself apart. Sounds easy, right?

You’ve no doubt heard or read that networking is the best way to get a job. Many self-described job hunting experts preach that the best jobs are never advertised, and that networking is how to get one of them. The people who promote networking rarely explain exactly how exactly you’re supposed to proceed to actually land one of those dream jobs via networking. It’s just assumed that everyone knows.

As he began to leave nearly an hour later, he asked one question I’d heard before: “What’s the most important communication rule I need to know for my business?” “Well,” I responded, “not the talking I’ve been doing here. Instead, ask a couple highly relevant questions and listen, listen, and listen. Then clarify the responses with another question or two, and listen, listen, and listen some more. At the end of an hour you’ll know a great deal of highly useful client information.” He nodded in very strong affirmation.

In March of 2009, Chris and I went to Destin, FL so that she could take a break from her cancer treatments. She had completed her first rounds of chemotherapy, and desperately needed an escape from her everyday life.

Today job hunters contend with more than a poor economy and lots of talented competitors. Most don’t know how to hunt for a job so their efforts are smart, strategic, and effective.

You’ve landed a job interview. That’s great news! Surely you will want to prepare well for the interview. You will want to prepare your STAR stories, know which strengths to talk about, and the general questions the hiring manager will most likely ask. However, sometimes in the preparation process, we forget about things to ask the hiring manager and factors to ask ourselves before accepting the job.

“Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.” - Victoria Holt In life, we all experience some form of regret. It can be hard to have Victoria Holt’s positive point of view and see regret as a learning opportunity — harder still when someone realizes that the career they spent so much time working towards isn’t a good fit.

Focus your efforts and energy on getting interviews with hiring authorities. If your main focus is on getting a job, you might do something that cripples your chances of getting interviews—like filling out an application online or sending a resume—which will be screened by HR, regardless of whom you sent it to.

Has your better judgment ever yelled “cut!” like a director when composing email/text/social media post? If so, consider that a save from spewing the dreaded regrettable. It’s your good gut manners way of red-flagging what you wanted to say and letting you know what you should say. Call it an etiquette edit.

Why are some people successful while other talented people fall short? Desire and talent are always the main ingredients for achievement. However, highly successful people stand out not so much because of what they know or even who they know, but because of how they brand themselves.

It is the best job market for new grads we’ve seen since the Great Recession, but it will still be a competitive market with more qualified job seekers than entry-level jobs. The class of 2017 will bring 1.8 million new bachelor’s degree holders into the market. Many will come equipped with college debt — the typical grad carries $30,000 in college loans. It’s not surprising that a record number of young adults — as many as 1 in 3 — are living at home despite an improved job market according to a Pew Research Center study of Millennials ages 18–34.

Leaders, it is on you to take the reigns. It is on you to influence and inspire. Why lead followers when you can lead leaders who can help you influence those followers?

Working from home is becoming more standard practice for business professionals. 24% of business professionals worked from home in 2015 and that number is expected to grow. While working from home has a lot of benefits, it also comes with its own list of distractions. How can you stay focused and motivated?

Behaving like a bully reduces negotiation skills because it blinds one from understanding the other person’s point of view. Victoria Pynchon, co-founder of She Negotiates Consulting and Training, puts it this way: “If you believe you have to force people to do what you want in order to get what you want, you won’t bother learning how to ‘sell’ them.”

We all know the expression “think outside the box” — be more innovative and creative at work. And when we’ve experienced this ourselves, I think we can all safely say we are more successful at work, and happier because we’re using our creative potential. But what happens when we can’t get there, and we get stuck inside the box, so to speak?

In complex business conversations, metacomm can profoundly impact conversations and make them far more constructive and efficient—even timesaving. To a significant degree, metacomm functions to facilitate conversation and is highly useful for training participants in sequencing 101. In our studies and experience with metacomm, we have found a number of these forms especially useful.

One of the most difficult problems with collaborative conversation is staying on track. Smart people inevitably get waylaid by tangential ideas that are suggested by their meeting interactions. That’s precisely why many think that team meetings are such a waste.

Chris and I were in shock. Her neurosurgeon at Duke University Hospital had just told us that she had bone cancer, and that Chris likely had less than five years left to live, since there was a ninety percent five-year mortality rate from the type of bone cancer that she had, which was osteosarcoma.

This is about a critical difference between Trump’s campaign and Hillary’s that has nothing to do with voter registration, allegations of foreign attempts to interfere with the process or voter turnout on election day.

To effectively seek work, think like a marketer and market yourself. Identify your unique selling proposition, carefully target your potential new employers, craft persuasive messages, and determine ways to get the attention and consideration you deserve. Finding a new job requires a Zen that’s comprised of patience, routine, sustained confidence, steady action, and considered risk-taking. But be realistic. Manage your nerves and marshal your resources.

In today’s business world, we all want to get ahead and reach our career goals. It’s important to have a plan to know how to get there. But too many times, an important factor is left out: gratitude. Sometimes we focus so much on getting to the next level that we forget to take a moment to celebrate our accomplishments (being thankful for them), as well as thank those who have helped us along the way.

The job market is becoming more competitive, and job seekers will find it increasingly difficult to land their desired jobs. If you want to get your dream job, you need to have a good understanding of the recruitment methods that are currently being used by companies and take the appropriate measures to make yourself more visible and attractive to potential employers.

Most professionals want to advance at work. Some do not (because they would prefer not to move into a management position where they are supervising others), but the majority of us want to advance in some way and, at least, continue to feel challenged by what we do.

Relocation is undoubtedly exciting as a change of scenery usually is, but it can also be difficult. There are a million different reasons why people find themselves uprooted from one city and deposited in another. But there’s one common thing that everyone who has relocated shares: Starting over from scratch.

How did this happen? You’re sitting there in a cubicle, watching the clock, waiting to get away from the misery. Everyone said you were going to be a star. Here you are, cranking out drivel. You’re not taking it lying down. You’ve got applications out to the best companies — the ones where you’ve dreamed of working since college. No luck yet, and frankly, you’re getting a little sick of them ignoring you. What’s up with that? You’re good. They should see that and at least acknowledge your existence.

MYTH: “Your resume is your primary marketing tool, and it needs to include detailed information about dates, duties, titles, companies, and industries where you have been employed in the past — plus the year you graduated from college, and what you majored in, and if you omit anything, it makes you seem suspicious."

Workplace dynamics aren't what they used to be. Turns out, crafting a stellar resume and nailing all the interview questions won't guarantee you get the job. A study conducted by Duke University researchers revealed a steep positive correlation between appearance and compensation.

It’s the one question every job hunter wants answered: How do I make myself stand out from all the other applicants? How can I outsmart everyone else?

You’ve no doubt heard or read that networking is the best way to get a job. Many self-described job hunting experts preach that the best jobs are never advertised, and that networking is how to get one of them. The people who promote networking rarely explain exactly how exactly you’re supposed to proceed to actually land one of those dream jobs via networking. It’s just assumed that everyone knows.

Networking at large events is essential for making new connections, but it can seem overwhelming if you don’t know anyone in the room and it’s a very large event. It can also seem like an insurmountable challenge if you are more introverted than extroverted.

In April of 2008, Chris and I went back to see her neurosurgeon for her one-year checkup. He asked her to get an MRI so that he could make sure that she was clear of spinal tumors. After Chris had the MRI scan, we went back to see her doctor about a week later to review the scan results. At that appointment, his news floored us.

Success as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, or professional requires careful, calculated branding, both to enter the arena and to stay in the game. Top corporate executives, Hollywood icons, and high-profile athletes have long tapped into the branding model to create and build a personal brand. Now, savvy people in every field are using personal branding to be more successful.

Advertising, media, and marketing are about negotiating a constantly changing universe of ideas and technology. Here are ten fundamental attitudes and behaviors to help you to zig and zag your way to success.

Most times when we think of a job interview, we think of all the potential questions the hiring manager will ask us. The general questions, the personality-telling questions, and how to show our strengths during the interview process. But a lot of times business professionals forget to prepare questions to ask the hiring manager.

It would be wonderful to have a career that fits us, where we always use our strengths! Gallup affirms that if you are lucky enough to be able to do so, you will be six times as likely to feel engaged in your job. However, sometimes we don’t know what our real strengths are or how to properly use them in the workplace to our best advantage.

If you think recruiters don't have the time to properly read your cover letter, you'd be surprised. In fact, a cover letter says a lot about a person — after screening the resumes of potential candidates, hiring managers usually turn to cover letters to see if a candidate will fit into the company’s culture.

Your résumé is the perfect test of your ability to gather, analyze, and translate information into an appealing package. By not including everything you’ve achieved or experienced, you’re telling the hiring manager that you don’t know your own value and how it relates to the business.

After you’ve responded to questions about your current and prior employment, you might be asked to name your strengths and weaknesses. First, remember that your integrity is one of the most important qualities that the interviewer will be gauging.

Some people are simply born for networking. They're able to connect with others in various contexts, keep the conversation going, and have the courage to talk to people they don't know. If you're an introvert and all of the above scares you, welcome aboard!

Recently a recent college graduate lamented how agencies wouldn’t respond when she sent her portfolio for consideration. After learning that she had sent her work to some of the hottest agencies in our industry, I told her they had responded.

Tired of hoping to win the Resume Lottery in order to generate interviews? There’s a long-proven formula used by direct mail marketers that you can adapt for use in generating interviews. Known as AIDA, it lets you get interviews based on factors that you can win on, rather than those that are commonly used to screen you out.

If you’re like most people, your career isn’t where you want it to be. The number one reason people leave a job is a lack of growth and opportunity. If you’re feeling despondent about your career, lack of growth probably tops the reason list for why. Before you decide to bail on your present job, construct a plan for going forward that improves your situation.

Here’s what a champion does to close more sales and open more accounts. She or he has a strong sense of urgency and knows that it’s vital to motivate a prospective buyer to make a purchase TNT: Today, Not Tomorrow.

My brother-in-law just graduated from college. Smart kid, graduated with honors, headed into journalism, already has experience, clippings, etc. Juggling a couple job opportunities, trying to figure out what’s best for his first full-time gig. And it got me thinking about my own career, with all its ups and downs. Especially the early days, when I made a pretty important decision that I don’t necessarily regret — but was probably wrong, with the benefit of hindsight.

Life is funny sometimes, in ways that you could never anticipate. Never in our wildest dreams could Chris and I have ever imagined that she would get a spinal tumor at the age of 37. We were not prepared for the upheaval and emotional challenges that it would bring, let alone the impact to our careers.

In the business world, you’re not a “bona fide” player unless you have a card. It’s especially important if you’re unemployed and actively going to networking events, job fairs, and interviews. Handing out your resume can be awkward at networking events. Your business card is your calling card. There’s nothing worse than meeting someone at a professional event and you have nothing to hand back but a ripped-up piece of paper or your old company card with your new contact information penciled in. Not exactly a great first impression.

That moment may come in the first three months or the first anniversary of your first job. Maybe, if you’re thick-skinned, you don’t feel it until your second anniversary. It’s the moment you say to yourself, “This isn’t what I thought it would be.”

Have your new year’s resolutions for your career lost their luster? If you started the year off with exciting plans and a timeline and did well for several months, but you’ve lost your enthusiasm, you’re not alone. As the months pass it’s easy to lose your enthusiasm for any goal, career or otherwise. Before you give up, read on to find your motivation. There are ways to get back in the saddle.

When you meet with the hiring authority, she or he will be trying to gauge how you come across in three critical areas. Their most critical concern, whether verbalized or not, is: What can you do for me?

Few people actually enjoy interviews. But part of that is because of the way we perceive what's going down. An interviewer will sense the difference and that could help you get the job. So reframe these key elements for a much better experience.

More and more companies are using video services like Skype, Google Hangouts, and Join.Me to interview job candidates and for regular business meetings. Video conferences are a lot cheaper than face-to-face interviews and offer immediate insights. But doing well in video interviews takes some extra effort and understanding of the platform.

Choosing a career is a much more complicated process than taking a simple career test. We have clients come to us often who want to find that ideal job, and have read a book or taken a career assessment only to still feel lost. It’s frustrating, understandably, because we all want to be successful and happy with our choice of career.

Mobile gaming is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and requires a steady influx of new talent, ranging from illustrators, animators and programmers, to testers, marketing managers, and more. Using our own company as an example, we have over a thousand employees working across our eight global studios from all walks of life. In terms of hiring, we only care about one thing — do you have what it takes to be a game developer?

You’ve no doubt heard that the best jobs are not advertised and are obtained by accessing the "hidden job market". Many resume writers, outplacement firms, career counselors, coaches, and networking groups all tout claims that a large percentage of the best jobs are in the so-called hidden job market, and that is where you should concentrate your job search efforts. Wait just a minute, though.

Fear. This could be the biggest thing holding you back in your career. Nine out of ten times this is an obstacle for clients, because it’s not just about not knowing career direction, but a fear of making a change and trying something new. We encourage our clients to make decisions with strength and positivity. Many times we react to situations with feelings of fear, weakness, or negative energy. But really, fear prevents you from being open to new directions and solutions. How you can get over your fears? Here is a three-step process to dealing with your fears.

Freelance clients can be hard to find — whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the business for 20 years. Sadly, there are no sure-fire ways to get freelance (unless you have a big family with lots of executives and/or entrepreneurs in it). I’ve always done freelance work on the side. It never interferes or competes with my regular work, and it’s a great way to make extra money and keep my writing skills fresh. (Because the “Hashtag Wars” Twitter contest on Comedy Central’s “@Midnight” is a different kind of writing.) So I’ve had to double up my efforts to get freelance, and it’s actually going pretty well. Here’s five tactics to try — along with the stories that inspired them.

Today job hunters contend with more than a poor economy and lots of talented competitors. Most don’t know how to hunt for a job so their efforts are smart, strategic, and effective. Here are four tips adapted from my new book, Graduate to a Great Career, on how to get a great, not just okay, job that I learned from successful job hunters.

I’ve been on both sides of the hiring process — both as interviewee and interviewer. Although our company has a multi-step process that can take a month or so, it seems to work. (We have a great team.) But it’s tough to wait, from each side of the process...

When it comes to professionals seeking marketing, PR, and advertising careers, your resume is not your first impression — your social media footprint is. I mean, if you can’t market yourself, how could I possibly trust you to market my company?

Abraham Lincoln is still a symbol of the best of America, and in 2008 historian Doris Kearns Goodwin listed the ten qualities that made Lincoln such a great leader as well as the qualities we should look for in our present leaders.

MILLENNIALS ARE ME ME ME MANIACS. Millennials grew up in an atmosphere in which everyone got a trophy for every effort, and everything they did was received in a positive and supportive way. In particular, they took their parents’ focus to heart deciding it was all about “me me me,” therefore in a professional setting one might assume they think that everything they do is perfect and they only want praise.

Whether you are looking for a new job or you are working towards a promotion, it’s important to know how to promote yourself. After all, you have to be able to show why you deserve the position over all the other candidates. Promoting or selling yourself is also important if you want to expand your professional network.

Everyone wants to succeed in their career path. Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Unfortunately, not everyone moves forward together, and not everyone in our lives is positive about us moving forward in the career path we have chosen, whether they intend to be that way or not. Or they are simply negative about their own life course and in the process can inadvertently cause our own negative feelings to creep up.

Negotiating your first salary presents a major challenge. You have not been trained in the art of negotiation, face strong competition, have a deep emotional connection to your work, and often feel some insecurity about your talents. The following discussion is designed to help you obtain the salary you deserve.

It can creep up on you slowly. The general grumblings around the office get louder and more frequent, coworkers start calling in sick more often, maybe your managers crack down hard without sympathy, and before you know it your entire workplace is suffering from a case of the occupational blues. Low morale is a serious issue that can hurt productivity, create a rapid decline in overall cooperation, and most importantly, deeply trouble the individuals spending a significant amount of their time working in a situation that is emotionally unhealthy.

If you are currently seeking employment and you have done the following, you may feel like you’re doing everything right: You’ve updated your resume and LinkedIn profile. You are regularly sending in applications online. You are attending networking events. You’re expanding your network through LinkedIn.

If someone tried to sell you a new smartphone but only told you how great the touchscreen and battery life were, would you buy it? Probably not. You would have more questions: How fast is the processor? How great is the camera? Are there any cool video features? If the salesperson only presented you with a few of the smartphone’s best features, he would be selling the product short, and he probably wouldn’t be selling you at all.

The recent buzz in the media regarding selfies and narcissism, and the fact that most employers will now Google their prospective employees, begs the question of whether the selfie can harm your job search. It’s a great question, and while it would be difficult to predict or study, as with anything related to your career, it’s better to err on the side of caution. Here’s why and what to do about it.

To be a successful leader, it is important to help your employees grow. Because new hires are the future of your organization, it is critical to train them well and empower them to become successful in their role as well as within your organization. Not everyone understands intuitively how to lead. Here are some common errors that even the most well-intentioned leader can make and what you should avoid in your own leadership role.

In most companies (and hiring teams) there are one or two interviewers who are good with names. The rest are likely to compare you based on persona. In the final rounds of recruiting, when everyone is equally qualified, that is when hiring decisions boil down to discussions about persona. Your demeanor, your confidence.

If you wear a smartwatch, you are quite familiar with the pesky nudge to “stand.” While that can be as annoying as a mother’s huck to stand up straight, it’s for the same good reason: you and your well-being. And a better well-being makes for a much happier person, on and off the job. Right? No matter how active you think you are after clocking out, it never hurts to squeeze a little more “me” time when planted at a desk for hours on end to help get the kinks out.

Losing your job can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In some cases, it actually could be the best thing that has ever happened to you! I had a client, years ago, call me, and she sounded great — much better than she ever had during our previous coaching sessions. Two minutes into the conversation she said, “I got fired last week and I’m so happy!” She had wanted to move on for a long time. So if you’ve recently lost your job, although we know in many ways it’s not ideal, here are a few ways to reflect on your situation and find the silver lining.

You've graduated college, landed a decent job with room for advancement, and are satisfied with your pay. So now what? Unfortunately, you can't just coast along, even if you're not looking to get promoted right away. Nowadays, people need to continue investing in themselves in order to simply keep their current job.

​Timing may not be everything, but in job hunting, some times are better than others.

Paying close attention to recent research into various workplace issues that impact employee productivity is crucial if you want your office to help you be more creative. Walking into any creative agency, it's not likely that you'll see stale colours and environments with a boring corporate touch. Creatives simply cannot bear spaces devoid of a stimulating design.

Sometimes applying for jobs feels like casting baited hooks into murky waters in the hopes of catching a big fish. Similarly, applicants push résumés out to job boards and recruiters, eager to hook a recruiter and land an interview. But with so many applications flowing into recruiters’ inboxes, how can job seekers make their résumés stand out in a sea of applicants? Here are 12 vital steps to creating a standout résumé:

Having made it over the transition hump from college graduate to gainfully employed PR and ad agency staffer, I have had my fair share of interviews. It’s fascinating to be “on the inside” and hear what agencies deal with as they search to fill more positions. Because of this, I’ve decided to provide a few do’s and don’ts of interviewing etiquette that might help you get in the door at a PR firm or ad agency.

There are several kinds of office events that let you socialize with other people in your workplace. Even if they may seem trivial or unnecessary, partaking in these social events may also yield positive effects.

Nothing gets your foot through a recruiter’s door like an intriguing CV. Here are some simple rules that you can follow to achieve a coherent and effective resume. A resume is made up of many different layers, not unlike a burger. It needs to have a "bun," or strong foundation to start with that gets the point across of who you are and where you want to go. This is the first thing the recruiter sees, and either encourages them to look further or put it in the "no" pile with the rest.

“Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.” - Victoria Holt In life, we all experience some form of regret. It can be hard to have Victoria Holt’s positive point of view and see regret as a learning opportunity — harder still when someone realizes that the career they spent so much time working towards isn’t a good fit.

When I teach people how to interview well, I am actually teaching people how to point out their defined strengths. Not sure what your defined strengths are? Join the club! I’ll help you identify those strengths, and explain how to let people know about them when you read…

Thinking of making a career change immobilizes most people with fear. Whether you are aiming for a slight adjustment or a dramatic shift, altering your career path in any way can be overwhelming. And let’s face it — conducting a job search is not anyone’s idea of a good time. Often, job seekers choose to ignore the challenge instead of face it head-on. As a result, they end up years later in the same job they do not enjoy, wondering where the time went.

It was a classic case of misunderstanding. But since more than 50% of all messages are loaded with misunderstanding, it wasn’t especially unusual. Here’s how it happened. The other evening I was having dinner with a half-dozen colleagues, all of whom are retired university faculty and administrators. Some really smart guys. The conversation veered into questions about my consulting and coaching and one of them asked how I “advise my clients.” “That’s not how it works,” I responded.

Is it smarter to focus on landing a job or on getting interviews? Answer: Focus on getting interviews with someone that can hire you. If you focus mainly on getting a job, you might inadvertently do something that spoils your chances of getting interviews, e.g., sending a resume to HR.

Why are some people successful while other talented people fall short? Desire and talent are always the main ingredients for achievement. However, highly successful people stand out not so much because of what they know or even who they know, but because of how they brand themselves.

Resumes tell, marketing letters sell. Save your resume and send it after interest has been expressed in you. An effective marketing letter has the additional advantage of pre-selling you, thus making it more likely that your interview will be mainly about chemistry, and less of an interrogation.

Regardless of who the big boss is, the person who has the greatest impact on how quickly you move along your career path is usually the person you report to directly. This is why it is important that he or she not only pays attention to your work but appreciates the effort and expertise that you bring to your position. In the modern workplace this can be more difficult than ever with the emergence of team collaboration and remote work agreements.

How did this happen? You’re sitting there in a cubicle, watching the clock, waiting to get away from the misery. Everyone said you were going to be a star. Here you are, cranking out drivel. You’re not taking it lying down. You’ve got applications out to the best companies — the ones where you’ve dreamed of working since college. No luck yet, and frankly, you’re getting a little sick of them ignoring you. What’s up with that? You’re good. They should see that and at least acknowledge your existence.

Job hunting methods haven't changed in 30+ years. Most people send out resumes to job postings they find online and to recruiting firms. They also fill out applications online, maybe call some recruiters, ask friends and professional contacts about any openings that they may know of, and that's about it. Some people attend job fairs and others join networking groups. As time passes by, pressures may rise, and low-level panic may even set in. This isn't good. What's going on?

To effectively seek work, think like a marketer and market yourself. Identify your unique selling proposition, carefully target your potential new employers, craft persuasive messages, and determine ways to get the attention and consideration you deserve. Finding a new job requires a Zen that’s comprised of patience, routine, sustained confidence, steady action, and considered risk-taking. But be realistic. Manage your nerves and marshal your resources.

About 10 years ago, I decided I didn’t want to work for “the man” anymore. I was tired of working at my little desk, drained from the daily hour-plus commute each way, and sick of getting paid less than what I knew I was worth. So, I decided to quit.

Failure. Let’s get this out of the way first. Failure happens when you stop believing and decide — yes, decide — you have failed. Failure is an end.

​Which excites you more? A job with long-term security that you can really sink your teeth into, or a job with an impressive pay packet and a dash more risk?

A little mayo won’t hurt you. Granted, that statement may be true (in the absence of any allergic reaction), but it doesn’t prevent me from gasping a little bit at the sight of the pasty white condiment. Of course, you can rightly guess that I try to avoid it if possible, but there are times when the lunch caterer has laid out the spread and there’s no place to hide.

Most professionals want to advance at work. Some do not (because they would prefer not to move into a management position where they are supervising others), but the majority of us want to advance in some way and, at least, continue to feel challenged by what we do.

Every few years (or whenever the need arises), we engage in a loathsome activity that is about as pleasurable as getting a root canal at the dentist. It’s called updating our résumé. So why is this process so painful?

Your boss can either help or hinder your career: wowing her/him will help your career. With an effective relationship, your boss can give you all kinds of support, insight, and linking to others in the organization.

Making a good first impression in an interview is critical. In fact, the first 10 seconds may be it. In that short period of time, you’ve probably just finished shaking hands and greeting each other, yet the interviewer most likely has sized you up and even decided whether to hire you or not, according to research done by the University of Toledo. Imagine, all that preparation you did for the interview, and you could ruin everything in the first ten seconds!

Thousands of skilled marketing, PR, and advertising people are looking for new opportunities in an uncertain economy. Many will make common errors that can hurt their chances for finding a new job. Here are the 7 deadly sins you need to avoid.

Some people are simply born for networking. They're able to connect with others in various contexts, keep the conversation going, and have the courage to talk to people they don't know. If you're an introvert and all of the above scares you, welcome aboard! Introverts usually find it very hard to delve into the reality of networking, which in essence means creating and nurturing new relationships. Don’t worry though — here are some tips on networking tailored specifically to the needs of introverted characters.

Hate to go to industry conferences and trade shows? You’re not alone, but avoid attending conferences at your peril. Why? There’s no better place to network and market yourself than industry conferences and trade shows.

Do you feel like you're always being interviewed but you never get the job? Believe it or not, you should count yourself lucky. Only between four and six people get called in for an interview for every batch of 100 resumes. Obviously you're doing something right on your resume and something wrong in your interview if interviewing has become a career for you.

The best career advice I ever got and will ever give comes from Herb Cohen, the famous negotiating guru, who taught me that in business you should “care … but not that much.” Herb believed that mastery of your ego and the confidence to walk away separated the truly successful from the worker drones.

This tends to be the time of year where attrition is at its highest point in many industries. I suppose it’s New Year’s resolutions that have us setting goals for ourselves and wondering whether a career change should be among them. Before we make change for the sake of change, we must start by evaluating what matters to us.

The job market is becoming more competitive, and job seekers will find it increasingly difficult to land their desired jobs. If you want to get your dream job, you need to have a good understanding of the recruitment methods that are currently being used by companies and take the appropriate measures to make yourself more visible and attractive to potential employers.

As we know from working with our career coaching clients and their enthusiasm when they identify their ideal career, it is possible to have a job you truly enjoy and are excited about. These three tips can help you take control of your career today, and begin to define the right fit for you!

I remember a marketing intern asking me once, “What is one thing that I should be doing to learn as much as possible while I’m here?” My answer was simple, “Eavesdrop.” Of course, I was kidding – at least partially kidding.

A very common misconception amongst the professional community, and especially where very talented people have the chance to “shine,” is that showing any type of leadership ability through resume or interview is a big “no-no.” Many equate the demonstration of leadership ability as something that should only be done if one seeks an executive role or a management position. The reality is that lack of leadership could be the one thing holding them back from that higher-paying senior position within the team atmosphere — or even barring them from an entry-level position within a company that requires self-starters in a fast-paced environment.

Communication in the workplace is very important; we all know this. It's the number one skill that employers want in their employees. Communication skills contribute to interpersonal skills and teamwork skills, which means relating well with others, whether it be clients or other workmates. Some communication skills come easily to us, like being assertive, speaking up at meetings, or writing effective emails.

Has your better judgment ever yelled “cut!” like a director when composing email/text/social media post? If so, consider that a save from spewing the dreaded regrettable. It’s your good gut manners way of red-flagging what you wanted to say and letting you know what you should say. Call it an etiquette edit.

At times, being laid off from a job can be devastating. At others times, it can be the best thing that can happen to a person. For me, it took a couple of layoffs for reality to set in…forcing me to take my career into my own hands.

I have always found soccer to be boring. Sorry, soccer fans. I grew up a football fan. It’s structured. It’s fast-paced. There’s a clock I can count on. There’s a score whose number gets in the double digits. But as I have watched my two young daughters take up the game, I’ve learned to appreciate soccer and the lessons about teamwork that they have learned.

Everyone wants to succeed in their career path. Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Unfortunately, not everyone moves forward together, and not everyone in our lives is positive about us moving forward in the career path we have chosen, whether they intend to be that way or not. Or they are simply negative about their own life course and in the process can inadvertently cause our own negative feelings to creep up.

Almost everyone in an office performs their duties satisfactorily, but only a few of them will be considered for advancement when the opportunity arises. Those few are employees who have succeeded in standing out in the office.

This is a message for ad agencies, marketing firms, consultants, freelancers, and everyone who buys or sells a service. Hmmm. That means you and me. Almost always, a freelancer or consultant is asked what their "hourly rate" is.

Negative feelings on the job are inevitable, just like any other area of our lives. Maybe you don’t feel that you can accomplish the task at hand, you’re frustrated by a customer, you don’t feel that the right choice was made by your superior, or you just don’t enjoy the project you’re working on.

The end of the year approaches and you’re still in the job that isn’t doing your career any good. Don’t lament that no one hires this time of year. Instead, use the next few weeks to prepare for your career to be in high gear by early 2017. Here’s a checklist of things to do until it's time to sing “Auld Lang Syne.”

In today’s business world, we all want to get ahead and reach our career goals. It’s important to have a plan to know how to get there. But too many times, an important factor is left out: gratitude. Sometimes we focus so much on getting to the next level that we forget to take a moment to celebrate our accomplishments (being thankful for them), as well as thank those who have helped us along the way.

Let go and renew. Just for the afternoon. Or maybe for the evening, too. But please, before we go any further, don’t confuse my suggestion to surrender as “giving up.”

​Do you recognise the situation? Year after year, we go to the same restaurant because we feel so comfortable there and there aren't any culinary "surprises." For the same reason many people go back to the same holiday destination and the same hotel every year and, of course, always book "their" room, number 24. Or we remain stuck in the same job for half of our lives because we are afraid of doing something new or we doubt whether we are good enough.

Fresh bagels, hot coffee, and the obligatory apple danish — that’s how they rope you in. Of course, if you're planning the meeting, I'd suggest going heavier on the fruit medley. This shows you are more in tune with today's dietary concerns. This article has an agenda to give both meeting organizers and attendees some useful tips, so let's start with the biggest and most overlooked question.

Sometimes applying for jobs feels like casting baited hooks into murky waters in the hopes of catching a big fish. Similarly, applicants push résumés out to job boards and recruiters, eager to hook a recruiter and land an interview. But with so many applications flowing into recruiters’ inboxes, how can job seekers make their résumés stand out in a sea of applicants? Here are 12 vital steps to creating a standout résumé:

I’ve been around. (Not in a sleazy way, you dirty-minded moolyak.) I just meant that as an ad copywriter and marketing guy since 1995, I’ve had a lot of jobs. And one of the many things I learned along the way (besides scoping out the closest bathrooms and when to get in line for Free Lunch Fridays) is the importance of New Hire Orientation.

Aside from the new standards of quality that have been instituted into the new resume requirements for getting past Applicant Tracking Systems, we have to realize that, for most of our lives, we have been writing the resume wrong. Professional resume writers are often baffled at how some of the top professionals at Fortune 500 companies have included so few achievements within their resumes, but have listed many duties!

If you think recruiters don't have the time to properly read your cover letter, you'd be surprised. In fact, a cover letter says a lot about a person — after screening the resumes of potential candidates, hiring managers usually turn to cover letters to see if a candidate will fit into the company’s culture and whether their competencies match with those the business is seeking. Here are six of the most common cover letter mistakes to avoid if you want to pass the initial screening and improve your chances of being considered for a position.

Relocation is undoubtedly exciting as a change of scenery usually is, but it can also be difficult. There are a million different reasons why people find themselves uprooted from one city and deposited in another. But there’s one common thing that everyone who has relocated shares: Starting over from scratch.

How many times, when you have been under pressure, have you thought to yourself: “If I could just calm myself down, I know I would do better!” I might be out of line here, but I think two words will provide a solution to this problem. You’ll see what I mean when you read…

It has been said by some that the Millennial workforce has a sense of entitlement, and that loyalty and commitment have been replaced by our search for purpose, but what it really comes down to is finding the right fit.

As he began to leave nearly an hour later, he asked one question I’d heard before: “What’s the most important communication rule I need to know for my business?” “Well,” I responded, “not the talking I’ve been doing here. Instead, ask a couple highly relevant questions and listen, listen, and listen. Then clarify the responses with another question or two, and listen, listen, and listen some more. At the end of an hour you’ll know a great deal of highly useful client information.” He nodded in very strong affirmation.

So this post is a doozy to write. But you can trust me on this subject — because it’s basically autobiographical. I was laid off (“NOT performance-related,” I was told). Luckily(?), I’d been through this before — several times, in fact.

To be a successful leader, it is important to help your employees grow. Because new hires are the future of your organization, it is critical to train them well and empower them to become successful in their role as well as within your organization. Not everyone understands intuitively how to lead. Here are some common errors that even the most well-intentioned leader can make and what you should avoid in your own leadership role.

A goal, by definition, is the object of a person's ambition or effort. Goals are what keep us moving forward in life, and reaching them gives us great satisfaction. But when it comes to work, 80% of people are not passionate about what they do.

If you’re like most people, your career isn’t where you want it to be. The number one reason people leave a job is a lack of growth and opportunity. If you’re feeling despondent about your career, lack of growth probably tops the reason list for why. Before you decide to bail on your present job, construct a plan for going forward that improves your situation.

Confucius said, “Choose a job you love; and you will never have to work a day in your life.” That is most everyone’s career dream, right? Do something you love. However, in today’s world, it isn’t always easy. There are many factors that can make it difficult to find a job that you love. Responsibilities and constraints like financial and family obligations, where you live, where you went to school, and your past work experience and skill set can affect your ability to do what you love.

About 10 years ago, I decided I didn’t want to work for “the man” anymore. I was tired of working at my little desk, drained from the daily hour-plus commute each way, and sick of getting paid less than what I knew I was worth. So, I decided to quit.

A very common misconception amongst the professional community, and especially where very talented people have the chance to “shine,” is that showing any type of leadership ability through resume or interview is a big “no-no.” Many equate the demonstration of leadership ability as something that should only be done if one seeks an executive role or a management position. The reality is that lack of leadership could be the one thing holding them back from that higher-paying senior position within the team atmosphere — or even barring them from an entry-level position within a company that requires self-starters in a fast-paced environment.

A goal, by definition, is the object of a person's ambition or effort. Goals are what keep us moving forward in life, and reaching them gives us great satisfaction. But when it comes to work, 80% of people are not passionate about what they do.

Fresh bagels, hot coffee, and the obligatory apple danish — that’s how they rope you in. Of course, if you're planning the meeting, I'd suggest going heavier on the fruit medley. This shows you are more in tune with today's dietary concerns. This article has an agenda to give both meeting organizers and attendees some useful tips, so let's start with the biggest and most overlooked question.

Would you like to take on more responsibility in your place of employment? Many quickly say yes, but are unsure of how to do so. Some think they let their boss know they are available for more work in the right way, but then watch as another employee is given a management position. What went wrong?

When I teach people how to interview well, I am actually teaching people how to point out their defined strengths. Not sure what your defined strengths are? Join the club! I’ll help you identify those strengths, and explain how to let people know about them when you read…

The equivalent of a CPA test for digital marketers does not exist. We do have hundreds, if not thousands, of certifications — but all of them are fairly arbitrary. Google, for example, is an incredible company; but becoming a Google “specialist” takes only a few hours, meaning this certification can be earned in a single weekend. Nonetheless, creating a website logo doesn’t make you an expert in Google AdWords or SEO any more than a weekend spent at defensive driving school creates a NASCAR driver. So why rely on certifications to help you land a job?

You have started your new job, are a week into it, and realize you are either in over your head or your company is offering little training and support — worst case, both. Being thrown into the deep end in a new job with unclear expectations or mentoring can be difficult and stressful. But there are specific steps you can implement to take the reins and get a handle on the situation.

Advertising, media, and marketing are about negotiating a constantly changing universe of ideas and technology. Here are ten fundamental attitudes and behaviors to help you to zig and zag your way to success.

We all know the expression “think outside the box” — be more innovative and creative at work. And when we’ve experienced this ourselves, I think we can all safely say we are more successful at work, and happier because we’re using our creative potential. But what happens when we can’t get there, and we get stuck inside the box, so to speak?

In most "tribes," there are one or two interviewers who are good with names. The rest are likely to compare you based on persona. Think about it; if you’ve been following any of the debates, you can see this on display front and center. The candidates all take jabs at each other’s positioning. As an experiment, forget the candidate’s name and just refer to them by the impression they left on you.

Having made it over the transition hump from college graduate to gainfully employed PR and ad agency staffer, I have had my fair share of interviews. It’s fascinating to be “on the inside” and hear what agencies deal with as they search to fill more positions. Because of this, I’ve decided to provide a few do’s and don’ts of interviewing etiquette that might help you get in the door at a PR firm or ad agency.

Colvin’s point is that trying to figure out what computers can’t do and getting an education to fill that need is wrongheaded. The driving question is: What do high achievers need to know that brilliant machines never will? Colvin argues that high-value skills, built on the humanities and social sciences, are the only sure way to beat the machines.

Quality trumps quantity. Remember that. Your portfolio is an honored place, a place where only your absolute best work resides. It is hallowed ground — the Valhalla for your creative, a place where your greatest ideas are gathered, waiting for that moment when you will call upon them to do battle for you, either in a job or client search.

A very common misconception amongst the professional community, and especially where very talented people have the chance to “shine,” is that showing any type of leadership ability through resume or interview is a big “no-no.” Many equate the demonstration of leadership ability as something that should only be done if one seeks an executive role or a management position. The reality is that lack of leadership could be the one thing holding them back from that higher-paying senior position within the team atmosphere — or even barring them from an entry-level position within a company that requires self-starters in a fast-paced environment.

Robert was at a crossroads. After four years at the same company, he needed a change. But not just a job change — a career change. He had joined the company right after college, was making a great living in sales, came and went as he pleased, and his managers adored him. But he despised cold calling, and he had no passion for the products he was selling

The lazy days of summer are behind us. Now is the time to get back to work, but what does that mean? For some, those words can signify a time of great challenge — entering a new stage in life. Starting college, grad school, entering the job force. For others it’s just more of the same; just another crunch season.

A lot of my work involves being part of a team. As a seasoned skeptic and long time solo contributor, my career goal for the fall is to be a better, more effective teammate. Here’s what it will take.

To effectively seek work, think like a marketer and market yourself. Identify your unique selling proposition, carefully target your potential new employers, craft persuasive messages, and determine ways to get the attention and consideration you deserve. Finding a new job requires a Zen that’s comprised of patience, routine, sustained confidence, steady action, and considered risk-taking. But be realistic. Manage your nerves and marshal your resources.

Being successful at work, just like anything else in life, is not just about what we do. Getting caught up in our to-do lists, it’s easy to forget that it’s also about how we approach actions: with the right perspective, the right attitude, the right energy level.

Is your career path a downward spiral? Why do most careers start and stay on the wrong path? It’s simple when you think about it.

Many that attempt to find a career in advertising know little of the complexities of getting into the best companies. A great portfolio of work is essential, but it isn’t enough to land the job. Here are a few skills to develop to make sure you are in the top tier of job candidates.

Networking is the oxygen of the connected economy. It is the currency of consumer collaboration. Unless you are a monk, getting through life in the 21st century is a challenge at best if you have no network. Virtually every job today is gained through the network.

Hate to go to industry conferences and trade shows? You’re not alone, but avoid attending conferences at your peril. Why? There’s no better place to network and market yourself than industry conferences and trade shows.

You work on the same team. You have similar job descriptions and work ethic. Maybe you even helped train them and have seniority. You both applied for the promotion but you felt confident that you had more experience and would be the first choice. But when the new promotion is announced, it’s their name that’s read, not yours. You want to feel happy for them, but all you can think of is: “Why? Why them and not me? What went wrong?” Here are a few tips that can help you.

Want to contribute to our funny, new WHAT NOT TO DO video series? To pitch us or learn more about this reader-submitted concept, email angel@talentzoo.com.

You’ll normally rub shoulders with skills mentors, people willing to help and mentor, during your first week at a company. It’s important from the outset to find the more capable people. Relational mentors, in contrast, are more difficult to locate.

You will find career mentors both internally and externally, often in consulting or contracting positions. They are the folk you can trust for a sympathetic career ear and advice. They are not limited by the traditional, linear career thinking. The best have a big picture of careers, stay open-minded, and are able to help you consider a variety of perspectives.

Skills mentors are the mentors you need to do your day-to-day work. They’re usually the first you meet in the organization because they have the responsibility to get you situated. Inside your organization and readily available, they can provide the basic mentoring in those specific disciplines and proprietary skills that your organization needs and holds dear.

The need for mentorship is more profound than ever: success without mentors is nearly impossible. Compounding the issue is that choice assignments in this hypercompetitive world are in short supply. So it’s the mentored employee who will be presented with better opportunities, faster promotions, and top salaries.

About 10 years ago, I decided I didn’t want to work for “the man” anymore. I was tired of working at my little desk, drained from the daily hour-plus commute each way, and sick of getting paid less than what I knew I was worth. So, I decided to quit.

At times, being laid off from a job can be devastating. At others times, it can be the best thing that can happen to a person. For me, it took a couple of layoffs for reality to set in…forcing me to take my career into my own hands.

Has your better judgment ever yelled “cut!” like a director when composing email/text/social media post? If so, consider that a save from spewing the dreaded regrettable. It’s your good gut manners way of red-flagging what you wanted to say and letting you know what you should say. Call it an etiquette edit.

I remember a marketing intern asking me once, “What is one thing that I should be doing to learn as much as possible while I’m here?” My answer was simple, “Eavesdrop.” Of course, I was kidding – at least partially kidding.

That moment may come in the first three months or the first anniversary of your first job. Maybe, if you’re thick-skinned, you don’t feel it until your second anniversary. It’s the moment you say to yourself, “This isn’t what I thought it would be.”

Bart Cleveland's video series continues with The Ad Career You're Meant to Have: Avoid Pitfalls and Grow Skills.

Bart Cleveland's video series continues with The Ad Career You're Meant to Have: Maximize Your Marketability.

Bart Cleveland's video series continues with The Ad Career You're Meant to Have: Establish a Career Goal About You.

Bart Cleveland's video series continues with The Ad Career You're Meant to Have: Success Doesn't Happen by Chance.

Bart Cleveland's video series kicks off with The Ad Career You're Meant to Have.

There was a time when youth and inexperience went hand in hand. Now youth appears to trump everything, in technical disciplines especially, but in creative ones, as well. In those arenas, age and experience are seen as liabilities.

The world has changed a lot since I first joined the workforce. Back in the 1990s when I graduated college, you could find a decent entry-level job that would pay you enough money that you could afford a liveable apartment (without any roommates!), and still manage to go out on the weekend. But times? They’ve changed. The truth is, it doesn’t matter what stage of your career you are in. Sometimes you have to make a move.

If you wear a smartwatch, you are quite familiar with the pesky nudge to “stand.” While that can be as annoying as a mother’s huck to stand up straight, it’s for the same good reason: you and your well-being. And a better well-being makes for a much happier person, on and off the job. Right? No matter how active you think you are after clocking out, it never hurts to squeeze a little more “me” time when planted at a desk for hours on end to help get the kinks out.

The best career advice I ever got and will ever give comes from Herb Cohen, the famous negotiating guru, who taught me that in business you should “care … but not that much.” Herb believed that mastery of your ego and the confidence to walk away separated the truly successful from the worker drones.

If you are currently seeking employment and you have done the following, you may feel like you’re doing everything right: You’ve updated your resume and LinkedIn profile. You are regularly sending in applications online. You are attending networking events. You’re expanding your network through LinkedIn.

It’s the one question every job hunter wants answered: How do I make myself stand out from all the other applicants? How can I outsmart everyone else?

Networking at large events is essential for making new connections, but it can seem overwhelming if you don’t know anyone in the room and it’s a very large event. It can also seem like an insurmountable challenge if you are more introverted than extroverted.

Aside from the new standards of quality that have been instituted into the new resume requirements for getting past Applicant Tracking Systems, we have to realize that, for most of our lives, we have been writing the resume wrong. Professional resume writers are often baffled at how some of the top professionals at Fortune 500 companies have included so few achievements within their resumes, but have listed many duties!

Whether it fits or not, we all get grouped into a stereotype. When it happens, and you pay the consequence for someone else’s behavior, it’s pretty demoralizing. But you don’t have to be the scapegoat, particularly if you’re a Millennial.

Would YOU like a job you can do from home, in your jammies, on your own schedule? Doesn’t that sound great? Then consider becoming a freelancer! Just know — there’s no starting salary, no benefits, no support staff, and no free coffee. And no clients or leads.

The tides of our times are shifting from newsrooms to the digital sea. Anyone can cast off there, but it takes fortitude to keep afloat and be discovered by an “audience,” or rather, a community of your own. Keeping afloat on the digital sea – tough!

It was a classic case of misunderstanding. But since more than 50% of all messages are loaded with misunderstanding, it wasn’t especially unusual. Here’s how it happened. The other evening I was having dinner with a half-dozen colleagues, all of whom are retired university faculty and administrators. Some really smart guys. The conversation veered into questions about my consulting and coaching and one of them asked how I “advise my clients.” “That’s not how it works,” I responded.

Fear. This could be the biggest thing holding you back in your career. Nine out of ten times this is an obstacle for clients, because it’s not just about not knowing career direction, but a fear of making a change and trying something new. We encourage our clients to make decisions with strength and positivity. Many times we react to situations with feelings of fear, weakness, or negative energy. But really, fear prevents you from being open to new directions and solutions. How you can get over your fears? Here is a three-step process to dealing with your fears.

A little mayo won’t hurt you. Granted, that statement may be true (in the absence of any allergic reaction), but it doesn’t prevent me from gasping a little bit at the sight of the pasty white condiment. Of course, you can rightly guess that I try to avoid it if possible, but there are times when the lunch caterer has laid out the spread and there’s no place to hide.

My brother-in-law just graduated from college. Smart kid, graduated with honors, headed into journalism, already has experience, clippings, etc. Juggling a couple job opportunities, trying to figure out what’s best for his first full-time gig. And it got me thinking about my own career, with all its ups and downs. Especially the early days, when I made a pretty important decision that I don’t necessarily regret — but was probably wrong, with the benefit of hindsight.

“You are so…creative” was a phase I often heard when growing up. Never really sure if that was a good thing or just an act of kindness said to a square peg, I learned to say “thank you” as I secretly wondered “really?”

Known as Gen X, those of us in our forties were supposed to be the troublemakers. The overlooked, under-valued generation. With a mark against us from the start, it’s no wonder one of our favorite super heroes was Underdog.

Graduating from a prestigious, small, liberal arts university, I thought I did everything right. I was involved in clubs and organizations. I had an internship every summer. I even received collegiate and national awards based on my achievements. I even had a job lined up before graduation.

Growing up, I considered two careers: teacher (both my parents were teachers) and writer (I wrote my first “novel” at nine years old—90 handwritten pages). In my childhood imagination, success was making a lot of money and having summers off. Little did I know.

It is the best job market for new grads we’ve seen since the Great Recession, but it will still be a competitive market with more qualified job seekers than entry-level jobs. The class of 2016 will bring 1.8 million new bachelor’s degree holders into the market. Many will come equipped with college debt — the typical grad carries $30,000 in college loans. It’s not surprising that a record number of young adults — as many as 1 in 3 — are living at home despite an improved job market according to a Pew Research Center study of Millennials ages 18–34.

Countless athletes who were average on paper ended up in their sport’s hall of fame. Drafted in the late rounds, if drafted at all, many attended small colleges with even smaller sports programs. They defied the odds, overcame skeptics, and forged legacies. Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, is a relevant example. Drafted in a later round, Brady worked his way into a starting position and led his team to the record books. Today he is arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of pro football.

It would be wonderful to have a career that fits us, where we always use our strengths! Gallup affirms that if you are lucky enough to be able to do so, you will be six times as likely to feel engaged in your job. However, sometimes we don’t know what our real strengths are or how to properly use them in the workplace to our best advantage.

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Share your thoughts and opinions on:
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I have always found soccer to be boring. Sorry, soccer fans. I grew up a football fan. It’s structured. It’s fast-paced. There’s a clock I can count on. There’s a score whose number gets in the double digits. But as I have watched my two young daughters take up the game, I’ve learned to appreciate soccer and the lessons about teamwork that they have learned.

Most professionals are familiar with the importance of setting SMART goals. They should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, and Time-bound. Setting SMART goals is a great way to stay focused and advance in your career. But sometimes we focus too much on a goal being SMART and we forget to ask ourselves if we even like the goal, are inspired by it, or if it’s the right one.

The economy is going through some difficult times. Advertising is leading the way when it comes to dissatisfaction. I look at it like A Tale of Two Cities. It may be the worst of times, but it is also the best of times. Technology has given us a large palette to use to create. Don’t believe the naysayer. You can still have a great career. Knowing some facts can help you properly manage your journey and have the career you’re meant to have.

Success as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, or professional requires careful, calculated branding, both to enter the arena and to stay in the game. Top corporate executives, Hollywood icons, and high-profile athletes have long tapped into the branding model to create and build a personal brand. Now, savvy people in every field are using personal branding to be more successful.

Today job hunters contend with more than a poor economy and lots of talented competitors. Most don’t know how to hunt for a job so their efforts are smart, strategic, and effective. Here are four tips adapted from my new book, Graduate to a Great Career, on how to get a great, not just okay, job that I learned from successful job hunters.

Believe the interview advice you've been receiving is stale, outdated, unusable? Think your parents, your older siblings, hell!... even that cool friend who graduated just ahead of you, doesn't know what it's like in the jungle that is trying to nail a job? There's only one way to change a situation. Yell it to the rooftops. Start by emailing angel@talentzoo.com for a shot at contributing to CAREER OXYGEN.

Believe the interview advice you've been receiving is stale, outdated, unusable? Think your parents, your older siblings, hell!... even that cool friend who graduated just ahead of you, doesn't know what it's like in the jungle that is trying to nail a job? There's only one way to change a situation. Yell it to the rooftops. Start by emailing angel@talentzoo.com for a shot at contributing to CAREER OXYGEN.

A GPS doesn't hem or haw. You input where you need to go, it maps the route and delivers. If you miss a return, it doesn't yell or stress. She simply tells you to make a U turn when possible.

In the business world, you’re not a “bona fide” player unless you have a card. It’s especially important if you’re unemployed and actively going to networking events, job fairs, and interviews. Handing out your resume can be awkward at networking events. Your business card is your calling card. There’s nothing worse than meeting someone at a professional event and you have nothing to hand back but a ripped-up piece of paper or your old company card with your new contact information penciled in. Not exactly a great first impression.

Freelance clients can be hard to find — whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the business for 20 years. Sadly, there are no sure-fire ways to get freelance (unless you have a big family with lots of executives and/or entrepreneurs in it). I’ve always done freelance work on the side. It never interferes or competes with my regular work, and it’s a great way to make extra money and keep my writing skills fresh. (Because the “Hashtag Wars” Twitter contest on Comedy Central’s “@Midnight” is a different kind of writing.) So I’ve had to double up my efforts to get freelance, and it’s actually going pretty well. Here’s five tactics to try — along with the stories that inspired them.

In business, as in other vocations, what’s not said is often far, far more important than what is said. Indeed, sometimes people lose their jobs, opportunities, raises, or promotions because they fail to understand what’s not said. So, in many of my posts, when I write about “subtexts,” I’m referring to these covert meanings, hidden commitments, “undiscussables,”or what's not said.

Last year during the Oscars, I saw two well-paid celebrity icons — Patricia Arquette and Meryl Streep — draw attention to an issue that’s very important to me: equal pay for women. Accepting the Oscar for best supporting actress, Arquette made equal pay for people everywhere a rallying cry, which Steep echoed with a standing ovation from the audience. I was cheering, too. And so was my husband.

Give your portfolio an annual check-up. If you can’t get anyone’s attention in the communication arts industry, more than likely your portfolio is the culprit. A goal to refresh your portfolio every year will keep you competitive. Employers seldom look for potential. They want the sure thing.

More and more companies are using video services like Skype, Google Hangouts, and Join.Me to interview job candidates and for regular business meetings. Video conferences are a lot cheaper than face-to-face interviews and offer immediate insights. But doing well in video interviews takes some extra effort and understanding of the platform.

Choosing a career is a much more complicated process than taking a simple career test. We have clients come to us often who want to find that ideal job, and have read a book or taken a career assessment only to still feel lost. It’s frustrating, understandably, because we all want to be successful and happy with our choice of career.

It can creep up on you slowly. The general grumblings around the office get louder and more frequent, coworkers start calling in sick more often, maybe your managers crack down hard without sympathy, and before you know it your entire workplace is suffering from a case of the occupational blues. Low morale is a serious issue that can hurt productivity, create a rapid decline in overall cooperation, and most importantly, deeply trouble the individuals spending a significant amount of their time working in a situation that is emotionally unhealthy.

Losing your job can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In some cases, it actually could be the best thing that has ever happened to you! I had a client, years ago, call me, and she sounded great — much better than she ever had during our previous coaching sessions. Two minutes into the conversation she said, “I got fired last week and I’m so happy!” She had wanted to move on for a long time. So if you’ve recently lost your job, although we know in many ways it’s not ideal, here are a few ways to reflect on your situation and find the silver lining.

Making a good first impression in an interview is critical. In fact, the first 10 seconds may be it. In that short period of time, you’ve probably just finished shaking hands and greeting each other, yet the interviewer most likely has sized you up and even decided whether to hire you or not, according to research done by the University of Toledo. Imagine, all that preparation you did for the interview, and you could ruin everything in the first ten seconds!

To effectively seek work, think like a marketer and market yourself. Identify your unique selling proposition, carefully target your potential new employers, craft persuasive messages, and determine ways to get the attention and consideration you deserve. Finding a new job requires a Zen that’s comprised of patience, routine, sustained confidence, steady action, and considered risk-taking. But be realistic. Manage your nerves and marshal your resources.

The first person to look at your resume is not likely to be a person, but a computer. That’s because to deal with the sheer onslaught of job applicants, most medium- and large-sized companies use an automated tracking system (ATS) to screen resumes and applications. The job of these resume robots is to decide which applications move forward for a further look by a hiring manager and which are discarded into the corporate database for rejected applications, fondly known as the “black hole.”

Thousands of skilled marketing, PR, and advertising people are looking for new opportunities in an uncertain economy. Many will make common errors that can hurt their chances for finding a new job. Here are the 7 deadly sins you need to avoid.

Workplace dynamics aren't what they used to be. Turns out, crafting a stellar resume and nailing all the interview questions won't guarantee you get the job. A study conducted by Duke University researchers revealed a steep positive correlation between appearance and compensation.

So this post is a doozy to write. But you can trust me on this subject — because it’s basically autobiographical. I was laid off (“NOT performance-related,” I was told) in mid-January. Luckily(?), I’ve been through this before — several times, in fact.

Failure. Let’s get this out of the way first. Failure happens when you stop believing and decide — yes, decide — you have failed. Failure is an end.

In today’s business world, we all want to get ahead and reach our career goals. It’s important to have a plan to know how to get there. But too many times, an important factor is left out: gratitude. Sometimes we focus so much on getting to the next level that we forget to take a moment to celebrate our accomplishments (being thankful for them), as well as thank those who have helped us along the way.

Aside from the new standards of quality that have been instituted into the new resume requirements for getting past Applicant Tracking Systems, we have to realize that, for most of our lives, we have been writing the resume wrong. Professional resume writers are often baffled at how some of the top professionals at Fortune 500 companies have included so few achievements within their resumes, but have listed many duties!

Whether you're looking for new employment or trying to move up within your organization, there is all kinds of advice out there. ​Although taking career advice is fine, you will need to use your judgment and see whether that particular advice is best for you and your career goals.

Sometimes applying for jobs feels like casting baited hooks into murky waters in the hopes of catching a big fish. Similarly, applicants push résumés out to job boards and recruiters, eager to hook a recruiter and land an interview. But with so many applications flowing into recruiters’ inboxes, how can job seekers make their résumés stand out in a sea of applicants? Here are 12 vital steps to creating a standout résumé:

As we all know, YouTube can be a powerful tool for self-promotion — especially when in the midst of a job search. YouTube has over one billion distinct visitors every month. So if you can create a solid, professional YouTube channel for your job search, you can not only have an additional tool for prospective employers to understand your value and your brand, but you can also create a national and even global presence in your industry.

This tends to be the time of year where attrition is at its highest point in many industries. I suppose it’s New Year’s resolutions that have us setting goals for ourselves and wondering whether a career change should be among them. Before we make change for the sake of change, we must start by evaluating what matters to us.

Many clients approach me and ask for help in setting up LinkedIn and other social media profiles. Easy enough. However, when I tell them that they need to get a photo posted, they get uncomfortable.

In November 2015, statistics showed that around 121.9 million people were employed on a full-time basis in the United States. That’s a lot of people working full-time. However, other studies show that over 50% of Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs. Too many people are not in the right fit in their careers. So how can you find your place in the world of work?

​Do you recognise the situation? Year after year, we go to the same restaurant because we feel so comfortable there and there aren't any culinary "surprises." For the same reason many people go back to the same holiday destination and the same hotel every year and, of course, always book "their" room, number 24. Or we remain stuck in the same job for half of our lives because we are afraid of doing something new or we doubt whether we are good enough.

In job hunting, the hiring authority plays the role of prospective buyer, and job hunters play the role of seller. Therefore, a smart seller realizes that many, if not most, prospective buyers will likely have one or more objections to a proposal. No sale is likely until any and all objections are answered — to the prospect's satisfaction. Since the prospect has the power of the purse, a smart seller knows that, to the prospect, her or his objections must be taken seriously.

So we’re cleaning our home office, and tucked in the far corner is my dusty old Rolodex. And hoo boy, is this thing full of memories. Phone numbers of long-forgotten friends and study buddies. Contact info for landlords, landladies, and landpersons. And a few interesting lessons picked up from 20-something years of careering — and an obsolete, business-card-holding piece of round plastic.

When you watch a professional presenter perform under pressure, it appears effortless. What you don’t see is what goes on before that performance, and the way the speaker uses those final few minutes before he or she begins to speak. I’ll tell you about my personal ritual, and how this might help you the next time you have to perform under pressure when you read…

You may not get a job offer during the holiday season, but you might well get the next best thing: an invitation to meet with hiring authorities. Remember: Do not include a resume with your letter. Wait until you are contacted and if they ask you to send it, then do so at that time.

A goal, by definition, is the object of a person's ambition or effort. Goals are what keep us moving forward in life, and reaching them gives us great satisfaction. But when it comes to work, 80% of people are not passionate about what they do.

I’ve been around. (Not in a sleazy way, you dirty-minded moolyak.) I just meant that as an ad copywriter and marketing guy since 1995, I’ve had a lot of jobs. And one of the many things I learned along the way (besides scoping out the closest bathrooms and when to get in line for Free Lunch Fridays) is the importance of New Hire Orientation.

Fresh bagels, hot coffee, and the obligatory apple danish — that’s how they rope you in. Of course, if you're planning the meeting, I'd suggest going heavier on the fruit medley. This shows you are more in tune with today's dietary concerns. This article has an agenda to give both meeting organizers and attendees some useful tips, so let's start with the biggest and most overlooked question.

Confucius said, “Choose a job you love; and you will never have to work a day in your life.” That is most everyone’s career dream, right? Do something you love. However, in today’s world, it isn’t always easy. There are many factors that can make it difficult to find a job that you love. Responsibilities and constraints like financial and family obligations, where you live, where you went to school, and your past work experience and skill set can affect your ability to do what you love.

Relocation is undoubtedly exciting as a change of scenery usually is, but it can also be difficult. There are a million different reasons why people find themselves uprooted from one city and deposited in another. But there’s one common thing that everyone who has relocated shares: Starting over from scratch.

The equivalent of a CPA test for digital marketers does not exist. We do have hundreds, if not thousands, of certifications — but all of them are fairly arbitrary. Google, for example, is an incredible company; but becoming a Google “specialist” takes only a few hours, meaning this certification can be earned in a single weekend. Nonetheless, creating a website logo doesn’t make you an expert in Google AdWords or SEO any more than a weekend spent at defensive driving school creates a NASCAR driver. So why rely on certifications to help you land a job?

How many times, when you have been under pressure, have you thought to yourself: “If I could just calm myself down, I know I would do better!” I might be out of line here, but I think two words will provide a solution to this problem. You’ll see what I mean when you read…

​There is a good reason why we get results for our clients — we focus on the source of their real power and ability to perform. Most people in the corporate world are worried about things like business systems, analytics, work flow, or marketing. It’s all important stuff, but not as important as you might think. Take a deep breath. You may not like what I have to say

It has been said by some that the Millennial workforce has a sense of entitlement, and that loyalty and commitment have been replaced by our search for purpose, but what it really comes down to is finding the right fit.

Advertising, media, and marketing are about negotiating a constantly changing universe of ideas and technology. Here are ten fundamental attitudes and behaviors to help you to zig and zag your way to success.

Within the past year, I’ve been on both sides of the hiring process in my current company — both as interviewee and interviewer. Although our company has a multi-step process that can take a month or so, it seems to work. (We have a great team.) But it’s tough to wait, from each side of the process...

If you work for a digital company, especially a start-up, there’s a reasonable probability you’ll be acquired, merged, or absorbed sometime along the journey. Most people initially freak out. But rather than immediately shooting out your resume or calling your shrink, consider these four coping steps.

There seems to be a lot of buzz about work-life balance these days. This is largely fueled by Generation Y (born post-1980), a generation that is starting to demand more flexible work opportunities. But the desire for more flexibility at work is not limited to those who grew up in an instant-gratification, technology-bred generation. Nine out of ten Americans feel as though they don’t have enough flexibility in their jobs to meet the needs of the people they put first: their families.

When I teach people how to interview well, I am actually teaching people how to point out their defined strengths. Not sure what your defined strengths are? Join the club! I’ll help you identify those strengths, and explain how to let people know about them when you read…

Would you like to take on more responsibility in your place of employment? Many quickly say yes, but are unsure of how to do so. Some think they let their boss know they are available for more work in the right way, but then watch as another employee is given a management position. What went wrong?

Job hunting is a solvable marketing problem. It isn’t a resume problem or a matter of finding the right recruiter — nor the need to know an insider at the company where you wish to apply, though knowing an insider might be helpful by telling you who the hiring authority is.

In most "tribes," there are one or two interviewers who are good with names. The rest are likely to compare you based on persona. Think about it; if you’ve been following any of the debates, you can see this on display front and center. The candidates all take jabs at each other’s positioning. As an experiment, forget the candidate’s name and just refer to them by the impression they left on you.

Having made it over the transition hump from college graduate to gainfully employed PR and ad agency staffer, I have had my fair share of interviews. It’s fascinating to be “on the inside” and hear what agencies deal with as they search to fill more positions. Because of this, I’ve decided to provide a few do’s and don’ts of interviewing etiquette that might help you get in the door at a PR firm or ad agency.

Colvin’s point is that trying to figure out what computers can’t do and getting an education to fill that need is wrongheaded. The driving question is: What do high achievers need to know that brilliant machines never will? Colvin argues that high-value skills, built on the humanities and social sciences, are the only sure way to beat the machines.

Success as a creative director has much less to do with your creative abilities than it does with your bedside manner. Manage people well, including your own ego, and you will be a star.

A very common misconception amongst the professional community, and especially where very talented people have the chance to “shine,” is that showing any type of leadership ability through resume or interview is a big “no-no.” Many equate the demonstration of leadership ability as something that should only be done if one seeks an executive role or a management position. The reality is that lack of leadership could be the one thing holding them back from that higher-paying senior position within the team atmosphere — or even barring them from an entry-level position within a company that requires self-starters in a fast-paced environment.

Burnout can happen over the course of a day, or even over a year. When you can feel stress closing in, don’t be afraid to stand up and take a walk. Clear your head and come back to your work refreshed. If you experience burnout over a long period, schedule your vacation days in advance so you can have a few days to decompress. When you let yourself refresh for work, your productivity increases dramatically and the quality of your output is better!

Do you ever have workdays when you come into the office, determined to knock out a list of tasks — then, before you know it, the end of the day has rolled around and not only have you barely touched your to-do list, it’s actually gotten longer. Often, the culprit is too much time spent checking emails, chatting with officemates, or just trying to get organized in the first place. Although every person’s organizational structure is different, a few basic steps will help you get your daily schedule into shape so you can achieve more tasks in less time.

Leaders, it is on you to take the reigns. It is on you to influence and inspire. Why lead followers when you can lead leaders who can help you influence those followers?

Communication in the workplace is very important; we all know this. According to Job Outlook 2005 (Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers) it is the number one skill that employers want in their employees. Communication skills contribute to interpersonal skills and teamwork skills, which means relating well with others, whether it be clients or other workmates. Some communication skills come easily to us, like being assertive, speaking up at meetings, or writing effective emails.

The lazy days of summer are behind us. Now is the time to get back to work, but what does that mean? For some, those words can signify a time of great challenge — entering a new stage in life. Starting college, grad school, entering the job force. For others it’s just more of the same; just another crunch season.

My objection to the planner junkies was not the calendar in their hands, it was what that document represented. Someone else set their agenda. Is what you are doing today putting you in control? Regardless of being a business owner or an employee, are you directing your future?

Recently, I had a conversation with a young professional. I was working on his resume and realized that although he was only 25, he was very accomplished. He had a Master’s Degree and multiple certifications. He had leveraged massive growth and real estate acquisitions for his company while maintaining budgets of over a billion dollars.

Networking is the oxygen of the connected economy. It is the currency of consumer collaboration. Unless you are a monk, getting through life in the 21st century is a challenge at best if you have no network. Virtually every job today is gained through the network. If you are selling storage, soup, semiconductors, software, soap, or self, you require relationships and relationship building skills.

Aside from the new standards of quality that have been instituted into the new resume requirements for getting past Applicant Tracking Systems, we have to realize that, for most of our lives, we have been writing the resume wrong. Professional resume writers are often baffled at how some of the top professionals at Fortune 500 companies have included so few achievements within their resumes, but have listed many duties!

Have you ever been faced with such overwhelming odds that a voice inside you screamed out, “Quit! Stop! This isn’t going to work!” We all hear this voice, but one performer I recently saw ignored the voice, and gained my respect…

Nothing gets your foot through a recruiter’s door like an intriguing CV. Here are some simple rules that you can follow to achieve a coherent and effective resume. A resume is made up of many different layers, not unlike a burger. It needs to have a "bun," or strong foundation to start with that gets the point across of who you are and where you want to go. This is the first thing the recruiter sees, and either encourages them to look further or put it in the "no" pile with the rest.

If you know the career you've always wanted is out there, but just can't seem to find it, when do you call it quits on the search? Considering the majority of the working class is having trouble just finding a good job to begin with, sometimes pursuing that dream job isn't worth the effort or risk.

You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with. -Jim Rohn

I've heard this quote on various occasions. Every time I come across it, I pause for a moment, as the message that lives there is simply so powerful. What and who we surround ourselves with can affect us — and we can begin to mirror the moods, problems, and passions of our surroundings.

If you are currently seeking employment and you have done the following, you may feel like you’re doing everything right: You’ve updated your resume and LinkedIn profile. You are regularly sending in applications online. You are attending networking events. You’re expanding your network through LinkedIn.

​In my experience, most interviewers hire the person they like the most, even at the expense of declining slightly more qualified or experienced candidates. People like people they feel connected with, and these five tips will ensure that you make that all-important connection.

In physical hiring processes, a hiring manager is apt to start at the expertise section, scan through previous employers, read your full education level, and then check out the rest of the resume. Sometimes, they go directly to education, skipping experience altogether, and continue to your affiliations and technical proficiencies.

As a professional in an ever-evolving world of technology, it is absolutely important to keep abreast of changes that occur within the standard operations of society and hiring processes. Not many realize that with the evolution of information systems, most hiring processes are initiated, if not fully executed, online. Therefore, hiring managers and executive decision makers are eliminating the number of resumes that they are scouring each week in order to streamline processes and maximize productivity in the job space while keeping staffing down to a minimum. Let’s take a deeper look into this science and discover how to get past all systems filters to at least be considered for the position that many are applying for.

This is a revolutionary new way of thinking about and landing a new job. What is proposed is that, rather than conducting a job search from the perspective of a seller, you should approach the problem from the perspective of the buyer — i.e., the hiring authority.

Resumes tell, marketing letters sell. Save your resume and send it after interest has been expressed in you. An effective marketing letter has the additional advantage of pre-selling you, thus making it more likely that your interview will be mainly about chemistry, and less of an interrogation.

Don’t you hate it when you run into a user experience problem? Like when a door has an ambiguous handle on it and unclear labeling. The absolute seemingly minor things can have consequences. If someone were in a rush, they might accidently swing it the wrong way and injure someone, or themselves.

Why are some people successful while other talented people fall short? Desire and talent are always the main ingredients for achievement. However, highly successful people stand out not so much because of what they know or even who they know, but because of how they brand themselves.

You've graduated college, landed a decent job with room for advancement, and are satisfied with your pay. So now what? Unfortunately, you can't just coast along, even if you're not looking to get promoted right away. Nowadays, people need to continue investing in themselves in order to simply keep their current job.

Have you lost that lovin’ feeling for your job? How do you know if it is just a phase, whether it is your job or role, or instead maybe the industry that you are in? If you are not as jazzed about your work lately, one of the things you want to consider first is — how bad is it? Is it just a passing phase and hopefully something you can address, or do you need to change positions or your long-term career direction?

We talk about mentors a lot- from softball coaches to swimming trainers to a high school teacher. When we are growing up, almost every adult could be considered a mentor for one reason or another. But many times when we enter the workforce, the general idea seems to be that our training is finished and we no longer need a mentor.

It’s the one question every job hunter wants answered: How do I make myself stand out from all the other applicants? How can I outsmart everyone else?

Interviews for a creative position are usually much different than for any other type of job. Wearing a suit is not a good idea. Discussing your love of Swedish cinema with the creative director is not out of the realm of possibility. However, don't let the relaxed attitude fool you into thinking that anything goes because it's still a job interview.

Almost everyone in an office performs their duties satisfactorily, but only a few of them will be considered for advancement when the opportunity arises. Those few are employees who have succeeded in standing out in the office.

Would YOU like a job you can do from home, in your jammies, on your own schedule? Doesn’t that sound great? Then consider becoming a freelancer! Just know — there’s no starting salary, no benefits, no support staff, and no free coffee. And no clients or leads.

Are you just a data point in the job search statistics? Whether you are one of the five million people who reportedly sent a résumé to Walmart in 2014, or one of the 250 people who applied for a typical corporate opening, why would you expect your résumé to get more than the six seconds the average recruiter spends on them?

Never is personal branding more important than when you’re on the line in a job interview, particularly if it’s a job you really want. Yet most of us go into an interview feeling nervous and powerless. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! With that mindset, it’s hard to feel genuine and comfortable in your own skin, so you’re likely to bomb. What you need to do is take control.

Few people actually enjoy interviews. But part of that is because of the way we perceive what's going down. An interviewer will sense the difference and that could help you get the job. So reframe these key elements for a much better experience.

The job market today is like a dangerous wolf pit; only the strongest, fiercest, and most versatile make it through. The value of a well-earned degree is no longer what it once was; even a well-qualified individual has a hard time getting a well-paying job. The only way to get ahead of your competitors is by setting yourself apart. Sounds easy, right?

It would be wonderful to have a career that fits us, where we always use our strengths! Gallup affirms that if you are lucky enough to be able to do so, you will be six times as likely to feel engaged in your job. However, sometimes we don’t know what our real strengths are or how to properly use them in the workplace to our best advantage.

Negotiating your first salary presents a major challenge. You have not been trained in the art of negotiation, face strong competition, have a deep emotional connection to your work, and often feel some insecurity about your talents. The following discussion is designed to help you obtain the salary you deserve.

Does getting out of bed, making coffee, and showing up to your computer sound like the perfect commute? Telecommuting is becoming more common, with employers realizing its money-saving potential and the popularity of telecommuting with workers.

You've spent your career being the A-list go-to person in your department or company. Awards hang on your wall, and the company exec pops in to personally to commend you and offer a handshake every so often. You're in good standing with an admirable track record. Does your résumé reflect that?

MYTH: “Your resume is your primary marketing tool, and it needs to include detailed information about dates, duties, titles, companies, and industries where you have been employed in the past — plus the year you graduated from college, and what you majored in, and if you omit anything, it makes you seem suspicious."

When beginning a new job or career, many of us feel pressure to have all of the answers. The thinking goes that the best people at the company always have the answers. The people at the bottom don’t, and the worst thing that can happen is to be caught without one.

You can differentiate your candidacy in a powerful way by having and communicating a USP — i.e., Unique Selling Proposition. In the context of reality-based job-hunting methods, what the hiring authority wants most is the result she or he will get because of your education, experience, and capabilities.

When it comes to professionals seeking marketing, PR, and advertising careers, your resume is not your first impression — your social media footprint is. I mean, if you can’t market yourself, how could I possibly trust you to market my company?

While it is not uncommon to hear quite a bit about people that are considered slackers and how this can impair their careers, what about workaholics? There are people that some consider to be workaholics, but aren't. These people just have a good work ethic and want to save for retirement or another event.

Presenting yourself as a creative professional comes with a special kind of pressure. You are representing not only yourself, but yourself plus the work you’ve done. Not only is your appearance and performance examined, but things that you create with your hands, heart, and mind are judged as well.

In this age of email, IMing, tweeting, and Google Hangouts, face-to-face communication is becoming increasingly rare. One of the unintended consequences of that fact is that young job entrants have developed a kind of situational Asperger’s Syndrome, that variant of autism spectrum disorder characterized by poor language selection and a lack of ability to “read” the faces of others or respond to their visual cues.

It has become more and more common that companies are conducting video interviews. With so much work done outside the office, it makes sense to avoid travelling conflicts and get right down to business. Whether you feel you’re good in interviews or not, there are a number of tactics that are best used in this situation.

Most of us have been there at one time or another. You start a new job and make sure that you’re on time for the first few weeks. Before you know it, whether by accident or plan, being at work at 8 a.m. turns into showing up at 8:03 a.m., 8:05 a.m., 8:10 a.m., and so on, and you are being reminded of what your hours truly are.

With steep competition for jobs (with at least three people for each opening, most likely more) and so many ways for your competitors to stand out in their job search, it’s even more important to find effective ways to stand out in the job market. Hokey tactics like printing your resume on colored paper, using strange fonts, or calling an employer too often are all frowned upon. But job seekers, feeling desperate, don’t know what else to do. Add to the mix the increase in the use of social media, and figuring out how to separate yourself from your competition can seem overwhelming.

Every few years (or whenever the need arises), we engage in a loathsome activity that is about as pleasurable as getting a root canal at the dentist. It’s called updating our résumé. So why is this process so painful?

Everyone wants to succeed in their career path. Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Unfortunately, not everyone moves forward together, and not everyone in our lives is positive about us moving forward in the career path we have chosen, whether they intend to be that way or not. Or they are simply negative about their own life course and in the process can inadvertently cause our own negative feelings to creep up.

Relocation is undoubtedly exciting as a change of scenery usually is, but it can also be difficult. There are a million different reasons why people find themselves uprooted from one city and deposited in another. But there’s one common thing that everyone who has relocated shares: Starting over from scratch.

It can be tricky sometimes to decide when to take an issue to human resources. After all, they walk the line between protecting you and protecting the company. It’s important to make sure that you are approaching human resources with an appropriate issue or you may be putting your job in jeopardy.

Google the phrase “confidence is,” and you’ll get several cute results. Confidence is sexy, confidence is key, and — my personal favorite — confidence is the new black. Everyone has a clever way of communicating the value of confidence, but in an interview, there’s only one that matters: Confidence will make or break your chances of landing the job.

There is little doubt that today's job market has changed dramatically. Companies are constantly hiring and firing, and people no longer expect 'life-long' careers at a single organization, ending with a fat pension. Instead, we're living in a 'gig economy' where one to five-year stints is the norm. So how does one embrace this environment and plan their career in a market that's becoming ever more unpredictable?

It is very easy to kill your chances of getting the job during an interview. If that is what you are hoping for, simply follow these simple rules.

Paying close attention to recent research into various workplace issues that impact employee productivity is crucial if you want your office to help you be more creative. Walking into any creative agency, it's not likely that you'll see stale colours and environments with a boring corporate touch. Creatives simply cannot bear spaces devoid of a stimulating design. Here are five small changes you can apply to your office right now and enjoy a greater creative output.

A GPS doesn't hem or haw. You input where you need to go, it maps the route and delivers. If you miss a return, it doesn't yell or stress. She simply tells you to make a U turn when possible.

Are you just a data point in the job search statistics? Are you one of the five million people who reportedly sent a résumé to Walmart, or one of the 250 people who applied for a typical corporate opening? Why would you expect your résumé to get more than the six seconds the average recruiter spends on them?

As content marketing roles evolve, brands and agencies alike are starving for individuals who can write, edit, manage a blog, and secure publication placements. So how does a candidate prepare to land a job in this field?

Almost everyone in an office performs their duties satisfactorily, but only a few of them will be considered for advancement when the opportunity arises. Those few are employees who have succeeded in standing out in the office.

For many professionals out there, whether actively seeking employment or a career change, or for those who consider themselves passive candidates, a hacked-together profile is often the extent of their digital presence. In the best case scenario, a candidate might have a strategically composed profile complete with well-thought-out headlines, compelling job descriptions, and a nice profile shot.

Our clients in career transition often ask us whether they should apply for internships as well as jobs, paid or unpaid, especially when they are just out of college or making a transition into a new career path. There are obvious pros and cons to working for free or having a short-term gig. And the argument can be made that internships are just a way for employers to just take advantage of free or low-cost contract labor.

Choosing a career is a much more complicated process than taking a simple career test. We have clients come to us often who want to find that ideal job, and have read a book or taken a career assessment only to still feel lost. It’s frustrating, understandably, because we all want to be successful and happy with our choice of career.

The question on the mind of every job seeker I meet is consistently, "How do I stand out and get noticed in this job market?" For a lucky few, the traditional resume-cover letter combo can sometimes get the job done, making it to top of the application pile and wooing the attention of hiring managers. But for the majority, it's a struggle of understanding the strategy behind self-promotional marketing, making sure you have the best tools for the job, and of course, a little bit of luck.

No matter the justification, there are millions of different reasons and circumstances as to why people end up having “bits and pieces” of jobs on their résumé. But what ends up happening is that these brief stings end up being seen as potential liabilities or else scream “job hopper” to potential employers. You need to be smart about how you handle these and help solidify your background into something an employer can digest. Here are some approaches you might want to consider in order to take the sting out of short-term jobs.

Most job hunters could gain access to more job opportunities by marketing themselves directly to the hiring authority, keeping in mind that what might well influence them sufficiently to want to meet you is something that is almost never mentioned in job postings.

“I’ve never been fired. I’m that good,” proclaimed the young art director to those of us sitting around the table in the bar. Our creative director’s shoulders slumped and he breathed heavily. I wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else — this wasn’t going to be pretty. The rest of the creatives around the table were all of a sudden very interested in their drinks or ceiling tiles or something other than looking at what was about to happen.

I have a love/hate relationship with spring cleaning. I positively dread the thought of the work involved, but admittedly get excited at the thought of a brand new start to something. Whilst in the midst of it, I inevitably have a mental collapse at the thought of tossing something seemingly precious, but in the end, revel in the cleanliness, sleekness, and “un-clutter” that abounds.

This is a message for ad agencies, marketing firms, consultants, freelancers, and everyone who buys or sells a service. Hmmm. That means you and me. Almost always, a freelancer or consultant is asked what their "hourly rate" is.

I’ve had 12 jobs in 21 years of writing for a living. (That’s not counting freelance during those “in between jobs” phases.) Clearly, if it’s one thing I’ve learned about, it’s job-hunting. And a good résumé has always been an essential part of the hunt.

Tired of hoping to win the Resume Lottery in order to generate interviews? There’s a long-proven formula used by direct mail marketers that you can adapt for use in generating interviews. Known as AIDA, it lets you get interviews based on factors that you can win on, rather than those that are commonly used to screen you out.

Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” While this quote is inspiring and easy to say, in reality it can be harder to actually implement, as we all know.

If you find yourself in this kind of situation (it happens a lot more than most of us would like to think), the best tactic is to proactively reinforce your desire to meet/exceed the performance expectations and ask for help from the supervisors on formulating a plan on how to get there.

If you think recruiters don't have the time to properly read your cover letter, you'd be surprised. In fact, a cover letter says a lot about a person — after screening the resumes of potential candidates, hiring managers usually turn to cover letters to see if a candidate will fit into the company’s culture and whether their competencies match with those the business is seeking. Here are six of the most common cover letter mistakes to avoid if you want to pass the initial screening and improve your chances of being considered for a position.

Workplace dynamics aren't what they used to be. Turns out, crafting a stellar resume and nailing all the interview questions won't guarantee you get the job. A study conducted by Duke University researchers revealed a steep positive correlation between appearance and compensation.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” This is how it feels when you’re constantly almost the right candidate for the job. You’ve got the skills and experience, but you’re passed over for someone with just a little more of whatever the employer wanted.

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. Or perhaps you were just using the freelance life as a way of getting your foot in the door when you were just out of school or in the midst of a career change.

It's safe to say that during the last few years, radical changes in the global economy inspired quite a few interesting trends in job markets. One of them is a growing interest in career transitions. Even when facing high unemployment rates, workers today are often willing to change the course of their careers. Retraining might become a part of the process, and knowing when and how to retrain is crucial for a smooth career transition. Here are four tips on how to retrain and successfully change your career track.

Being in the right work environment is as critical (if not more) to enjoying your work and being successful at your job than any other component to consider. It is so important, yet many people are not in a work environment that allows them to thrive and be fulfilled. Moreover, half of the clients I work with are actually in the right role or in a job that truly is a fit for them, but their work environment is not a fit. They’re miserable.

Do you feel like you're always being interviewed but you never get the job? Believe it or not, you should count yourself lucky. Only between four and six people get called in for an interview for every batch of 100 resumes. Obviously you're doing something right on your resume and something wrong in your interview if interviewing has become a career for you.

Would YOU like a job you can do from home, in your jammies, on your own schedule? Doesn’t that sound great? Then consider becoming a freelancer! Just know — there’s no starting salary, no benefits, no support staff, and no free coffee. And no clients or leads. But if you follow my exclusive, six-step program, you too can answer the “what do you do?” question by saying “I’m freelancing right now” (instead of “I got laid off” or “I’m between jobs”) — and really mean it.

Thinking of making a career change immobilizes most people with fear. Whether you are aiming for a slight adjustment or a dramatic shift, altering your career path in any way can be overwhelming. And let’s face it — conducting a job search is not anyone’s idea of a good time. Often, job seekers choose to ignore the challenge instead of face it head-on. As a result, they end up years later in the same job they do not enjoy, wondering where the time went.

When considering a new path in your creative career, you have to look at what makes sense in today's world. Changes in technology, along with other influences, have a big impact on the growth potential for some industries and career options. Remember that every industry has marketing, advertising, public relations, digital and social media opportunities, or even entire departments. Should you get specific about the niche you want to enter, instead of remaining either broad-scoped or agency side?

​Which excites you more? A job with long-term security that you can really sink your teeth into, or a job with an impressive pay packet and a dash more risk?

Whether you're looking for new employment or trying to move up within your organization, there is all kinds of advice out there. ​Although taking career advice is fine, you will need to use your judgment and see whether that particular advice is best for you and your career goals.

Sometimes applying for jobs feels like casting baited hooks into murky waters in the hopes of catching a big fish. Similarly, applicants push résumés out to job boards and recruiters, eager to hook a recruiter and land an interview. But with so many applications flowing into recruiters’ inboxes, how can job seekers make their résumés stand out in a sea of applicants? Here are 12 vital steps to creating a standout résumé:

As we all know, YouTube can be a powerful tool for self-promotion — especially when in the midst of a job search. YouTube has over one billion distinct visitors every month. So if you can create a solid, professional YouTube channel for your job search, you can not only have an additional tool for prospective employers to understand your value and your brand, but you can also create a national and even global presence in your industry.

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to jump-start career-related resolutions, including the ones you didn’t get to last year or the year before. Perhaps your list seemed overwhelming or the goals you set were unrealistic.

Marketing involves a lot of sales. Sales is the most difficult job in most companies, especially the “eat what you kill” variety. But if you are cut out for it, you will most likely reap some serious rewards.

The job market is becoming more competitive, and job seekers will find it increasingly difficult to land their desired jobs. If you want to get your dream job, you need to have a good understanding of the recruitment methods that are currently being used by companies and take the appropriate measures to make yourself more visible and attractive to potential employers.

​Timing may not be everything, but in job hunting, some times are better than others.

More often than not, how you convey your value and abilities can determine whether you end up at the top of the consideration set of a job interview. If you are prepared, can tell compelling stories of your career, and chemically connect with the hiring managers, more than likely you have struck a resonant tone for a positive outcome.

It’s all well and good to get on really well with your colleagues and superiors — in fact, it is very conducive to creating a pleasant work environment — but it is more important that they respect your abilities as a professional. After all, would you rather have a colleague who you could have a great time with but was unreliable, or one that was competent and could be trusted to get things done?

More often than not, how you convey your value and abilities can determine whether you end up at the top of the consideration set of a job interview. If you are prepared, can tell compelling stories of your career, and chemically connect with the hiring managers, more than likely you have struck a resonant tone for a positive outcome.

In today’s economy, job hunters often get screened out for reasons unrelated to their ability to handle the position they apply for. It can happen both before you get an interview and even after you get one — if you are fortunate to secure a meeting with the hiring authority.

No matter the justification, there are millions of different reasons and circumstances as to why people end up having “bits and pieces” of jobs on their résumé. But what ends up happening is that these brief stings end up being seen as potential liabilities or else scream “job hopper” to potential employers. You need to be smart about how you handle these and help solidify your background into something an employer can digest. Here are some approaches you might want to consider in order to take the sting out of short-term jobs.

Interview preparation is important, but it might be how you handle yourself after the interview that makes the biggest difference. That's right. There are a number of post-interview dos and don'ts that could mean the difference between landing a job and being overlooked. When it comes to interview success, here are just a few things to do — and not to do — after the interview.

If you think recruiters don't have the time to properly read your cover letter, you'd be surprised. In fact, a cover letter says a lot about a person — after screening the resumes of potential candidates, hiring managers usually turn to cover letters to see if a candidate will fit into the company’s culture and whether their competencies match with those the business is seeking. Here are six of the most common cover letter mistakes to avoid if you want to pass the initial screening and improve your chances of being considered for a position.

Why are some people successful while other talented people fall short? Desire and talent are always the main ingredients for achievement. However, highly successful people stand out not so much because of what they know or even who they know, but because of how they brand themselves.

The recent buzz in the media regarding selfies and narcissism, and the fact that most employers will now Google their prospective employees, begs the question of whether the selfie can harm your job search. It’s a great question, and while it would be difficult to predict or study, as with anything related to your career, it’s better to err on the side of caution. Here’s why and what to do about it.

Building a successful career in marketing, media, or advertising is an exercise in making smart choices by anticipating constant change. Technology, business processes, and economic conditions will be in continuous evolution or flux for the next fifty years. As the year winds down and many of us re-evaluate where we are and where we’re heading, accept this premise and prepare yourself to move ahead. Ask yourself three critical questions.

It’s not a secret…most job seekers are mystified by applicant tracking systems and the role they play in the recruiting and hiring process. As the co-creator of an applicant tracking system, I have a few decades of experience in this area and want to shed light on what an applicant tracking system is and why it can be a viable tool for job seekers to help get the job they want.

“I’ve never been fired. I’m that good,” proclaimed the young art director to those of us sitting around the table in the bar. Our creative director’s shoulders slumped and he breathed heavily. I wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else — this wasn’t going to be pretty. The rest of the creatives around the table were all of a sudden very interested in their drinks or ceiling tiles or something other than looking at what was about to happen.

With the holidays quickly approaching, many young professionals want nothing more than a job they love. The holidays often pass by with family and friends and the things that are truly important in life, and then it hits — the holidays are over and you’re back to being an intern or being that graduate looking to break into your industry. In other words, it’s okay to have a wish list this holiday season, and it’s okay that this wish list be centered around your career.

Interviews for a creative position are usually much different than for any other type of job. Wearing a suit is not a good idea. Discussing your love of Swedish cinema with the creative director is not out of the realm of possibility. However, don't let the relaxed attitude fool you into thinking that anything goes because it's still a job interview. You're still being evaluated even if it feels more like a cocktail party.

Sometimes people don't love their jobs, but stay anyway. A paycheck is one of the essentials for most people, after all. Another essential many receive from employment is benefits, especially those tied to health care.

Many clients approach me and ask for help in setting up LinkedIn and other social media profiles. Easy enough. However, when I tell them that they need to get a photo posted, they get uncomfortable.

My advice is that you will have a substantially higher likelihood of getting an interview if you make your first contact by sending a marketing letter directly to the hiring authority. Essentially, the idea is to make an offer to be of service to her or him by telling them that you can help them reach their business financial goals faster with the capabilities you can bring to the table as the result of your education and experience, and that you would be glad to come by one day soon for a brief visit to tell them more about your qualifications.

Employers must be very sensible and sensitive in regards to what questions recruiters can and cannot be asking in a job interview. Particularly, questions in regards to a candidate’s personal life or religious choices should not be asked at all. A recruiter’s aim in a job interview is to get as much information out of the candidate as possible, but also not to make them feel uncomfortable, because at the end of the day, they would want them to wish to work for the company! Here are some guidelines in regards to what questions you shouldn’t be asked in a job interview as a candidate.

A GPS doesn't hem or haw. You input where you need to go, it maps the route and delivers. If you miss a return, it doesn't yell or stress. She simply tells you to make a U turn when possible.

If someone tried to sell you a new smartphone but only told you how great the touchscreen and battery life were, would you buy it? Probably not. You would have more questions: How fast is the processor? How great is the camera? Are there any cool video features? If the salesperson only presented you with a few of the smartphone’s best features, he would be selling the product short, and he probably wouldn’t be selling you at all.

Keeping your nose to the grindstone is a great place to start, but a solid "brand" strategy is even better. You need to set a projected path and make the most of every interaction. Whatever you are doing, make a commitment to do it well — no matter what the task. It is your behavior that will identify you as something extraordinary.

It can be tricky sometimes to decide when to take an issue to human resources. After all, they walk the line between protecting you and protecting the company. It’s important to make sure that you are approaching human resources with an appropriate issue or you may be putting your job in jeopardy.

Social media is a fun place to be. We gather with friends, argue with others, and share our lives with the world around us. It can also be a boom or a bust when it comes to seeking employment. Statistically over half of employers will look online for additional information on prospective employees. For obvious reasons, this can be either a problem or an advantage. There are two main areas here that need to be addressed. The first is making sure your profiles don't work to your disadvantage. The second is to make sure you're putting your very best foot forward. So how is this done?

With steep competition for jobs (with at least three people for each opening, most likely more) and so many ways for your competitors to stand out in their job search, it’s even more important to find effective ways to stand out in the job market. Hokey tactics like printing your resume on colored paper, using strange fonts, or calling an employer too often are all frowned upon. But job seekers, feeling desperate, don’t know what else to do. Add to the mix the increase in the use of social media, and figuring out how to separate yourself from your competition can seem overwhelming.

To progress in a communications career, you'll most likely need to lead meetings, do new business pitches, and participate in client interaction. What these situations require is confidence and continual education. Enrolling in a public speaking club or other organization that offers consistent practice in front of a live audience is one of the best ways to succeed.

Creating a personal brand is much like creating a 3D resume. Everything on the paper has to come to life through social media, guest blogging on websites, business cards, and even email addresses. However you want to create your personal brand is up to you — be creative and start building up your accomplishments on and off the web. In the end, creating a personal brand can be a lot of fun. However what many professionals don’t realize is that you’re not always creating a personal brand from scratch.

MYTH: “Your resume is your primary marketing tool, and it needs to include detailed information about dates, duties, titles, companies, and industries where you have been employed in the past — plus the year you graduated from college, and what you majored in, and if you omit anything, it makes you seem suspicious."

Connectiquette is not a typo or a new state in the U.S. It refers to a process of thoughtful deliberation. In the spirit of being responsible, here are several recommendations on how to handle networking and connecting with people you feel can have an influence on your job search or career development.

It’s not always easy to admit a mistake, persevere during tough times, or follow through on every promise made. It’s not always comfortable to convey the hard truth or stand up for your beliefs. In the short term, it may not be beneficial to do right by your customers, to put people before profits, or to distance yourself from a questionable relationship. BUT, in the long run, doing the right thing is the clear path to both success and happiness.

If you're looking for a job, you are always looking for a way to get an edge on the competition - especially in an economy where there are more applicants than job openings. One of the keys is to understand why companies are hiring and how you can fit in with their reasons.

Telecommuting is at an all-time peak in terms of popularity. According to The New York Times, there are 3.2 million Americans who work a legitimate job from home. There are many benefits to telecommuting, such as convenient kitchen access, lack of noise, and the ability to lounge around in sweatpants instead of traditional work attire.

This past weekend, my husband and I were invited over to a friend’s house for dinner, and afterwards, we played “Catchphrase.” If you haven’t played it before, it’s sort of like the verbal companion to the game of Pictionary…one partner describes something (versus drawing it) and the other person has to guess, all while racing to beat the clock.

You've graduated college, landed a decent job with room for advancement, and are satisfied with your pay. So now what? Unfortunately, you can't just coast along, even if you're not looking to get promoted right away. Nowadays, people need to continue investing in themselves in order to simply keep their current job.

Nothing gets your foot through a recruiter’s door like an intriguing CV. Here are some simple rules that you can follow to achieve a coherent and effective resume. A resume is made up of many different layers, not unlike a burger. It needs to have a "bun," or strong foundation to start with that gets the point across of who you are and where you want to go. This is the first thing the recruiter sees, and either encourages them to look further or put it in the "no" pile with the rest.

There is a lot of different advice available on getting your first job in the web or digital arena. Even though there are lots of jobs available, it’s crucial to know how to look for them and which steps to take. The essential steps begin with building the fundamental tools that will get employers and possible clients interested and get your work noticed.

Never is personal branding more important than when you’re on the line in a job interview, particularly if it’s a job you really want. Yet most of us go into an interview feeling nervous and powerless. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! With that mindset, it’s hard to feel genuine and comfortable in your own skin, so you’re likely to bomb. What you need to do is take control.

Quality trumps quantity. Remember that. Your portfolio is an honored place, a place where only your absolute best work resides. It is hallowed ground — the Valhalla for your creative, a place where your greatest ideas are gathered, waiting for that moment when you will call upon them to do battle for you, either in a job or client search.

Whether you've been laid off, fired, or quit, if you don't have a job ready and waiting for you, you're going to have a gap in employment on your resume. And unfortunately, the bigger that gap gets, the harder it's going to be to finally land a job. Currently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the U.S. unemployment rate sits at 6.2 percent as of July 2014.

The best time to look for a job is while you already have one. Even if you're happy with your current position, you should be thinking about the future and positioning yourself for the day that you decide it's time to move on. Investing in your career inoculates you against layoffs, closings, changes of management, or simple burnout. Work for a better future while you're working today.

Are you immobilized by the fear of making a change in your career? Whether you are aiming for a slight adjustment or a dramatic shift, altering your career path in any way can be overwhelming. Often, job seekers choose to ignore the challenge instead of facing it head-on. As a result, they end up years later in the same job they don’t enjoy, wondering where the time went. As a certified career coach, I keep track of the surveys published every few years with depressing numbers about employee satisfaction. One of the most recent is from Right Management: 16% are somewhat satisfied, 44% are unsatisfied.

Robert was at a crossroads. After four years at the same company, he needed a change. But not just a job change — a career change. He had joined the company right after college, was making a great living in sales, came and went as he pleased, and his managers adored him. But he despised cold calling, and he had no passion for the products he was selling

Resumes tell, marketing letters sell. Save your resume and send it after interest has been expressed in you. An effective marketing letter has the additional advantage of pre-selling you, thus making it more likely that your interview will be mainly about chemistry, and less of an interrogation.

If you aren't satisfied with your current career, leaving your position before you have another job lined up could spell trouble for your future career-seeking endeavors. Sticking it out until something better comes along is the best way to manage your income and your work life.

Best of TZM: Originally titling this piece "What I Look for in a Candidate," the author wrote "I’ve always said I’d much rather hire someone who worked her way through city college... than someone handed an Ivy league education..."

Networking is the oxygen of the connected economy. It is the currency of consumer collaboration. Unless you are a monk, getting through life in the 21st century is a challenge at best if you have no network. Virtually every job today is gained through the network. If you are selling storage, soup, semiconductors, software, soap, or self, you require relationships and relationship building skills.

Networking is the oxygen of the connected economy. It is the currency of consumer collaboration. Unless you are a monk, getting through life in the 21st century is a challenge at best if you have no network. Virtually every job today is gained through the network. If you are selling storage, soup, semiconductors, software, soap, or self, you require relationships and relationship building skills.

If you need or want a new job and you want to differentiate yourself and stand OUT from the competition in an intelligent way, this article is meant for you. Even if all you want to do is make a lateral move. Most job hunters assume it will all come down to who has the most experience, the best accomplishments, education from the most prestigious college, etc. Those are often the deciding factors in who gets interviews, but not necessarily so.

Almost everyone in an office performs their duties satisfactorily, but only a few of them will be considered for advancement when the opportunity arises. Those few are employees who have succeeded in standing out in the office.

If you know the career you've always wanted is out there, but just can't seem to find it, when do you call it quits on the search? Considering the majority of the working class is having trouble just finding a good job to begin with, sometimes pursuing that dream job isn't worth the effort or risk.

Job searches can be frustrating for many of us. You feel like your resume is going into the black hole in the HR department. You do not hear back right away after your interview. Or you do not know how long your job search is going to take, much less which strategy will prove to be the winner.

You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with. -Jim Rohn

I've heard this quote on various occasions. Every time I come across it, I pause for a moment, as the message that lives there is simply so powerful. What and who we surround ourselves with can affect us — and we can begin to mirror the moods, problems, and passions of our surroundings.

This is a message for ad agencies, marketing firms, consultants, freelancers, and everyone who buys or sells a service. Hmmm. That means you and me. Almost always, a freelancer or consultant is asked what their "hourly rate" is.

Why are some people successful while other talented people fall short? Desire and talent are always the main ingredients for achievement. However, highly successful people stand out not so much because of what they know or even who they know, but because of how they brand themselves.

According to a Forbes article, statistics show that first impressions are made within the initial 30 seconds of a job interview. And yes, appearance and wardrobe choices play a big part in the hiring decision. You've worked so hard to get that interview; make sure you play it to your advantage by dressing the part. Business professional is the way to go for most any type of interview.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” This is how it feels when you’re constantly almost the right candidate for the job. You’ve got the skills and experience, but you’re passed over for someone with just a little more of whatever the employer wanted.

Have you lost that lovin’ feeling for your job? How do you know if it is just a phase, whether it is your job or role, or instead maybe the industry that you are in? If you are not as jazzed about your work lately, one of the things you want to consider first is — how bad is it? Is it just a passing phase and hopefully something you can address, or do you need to change positions or your long-term career direction?

It's a numbers game. You need to be vigilant about tapping into every job resource you can to put the odds in your favor. Sure, many jobs are posted online — but not all of them. There is also a large invisible market that you need to understand and tap into to significantly increase your chances of landing the job you want.

Tired of hoping to win the Resume Lottery in order to generate interviews? There’s a long-proven formula used by direct mail marketers that you can adapt for use in generating interviews. Known as AIDA, it lets you get interviews based on factors that you can win on, rather than those that are commonly used to screen you out.

There are plenty of slackers out there. There are people who work hard and earn all they've got. Then there are workaholics. But what about you? Are you spinning your wheels? Will it all work out? Or will your hard work backfire?

While some moms have the option of staying home or going back to work, many do not. Moms may be single, they may have a partner or husband who isn't working, or they may simply need the additional income that working provides. It's not always a matter of which is more important, it's a matter of what needs to happen in order to survive.

Few people actually enjoy interviews. But part of that is because of the way we perceive what's going down. An interviewer will sense the difference and that could help you get the job. So reframe these key elements for a much better experience.

The Internet has increased efficiency and improved communication for many businesses. One way that is happening is through videoconferencing for job interviews. This is not just a global phenomenon when you are hiring someone from across the country; it is also being done for local and statewide job applications.

How do you winnow your background into a tidy and clear illustration about your value to prospective employers?

It’s all well and good to get on really well with your colleagues and superiors — in fact, it is very conducive to creating a pleasant work environment — but it is more important that they respect your abilities as a professional. After all, would you rather have a colleague who you could have a great time with but was unreliable, or one that was competent and could be trusted to get things done?

In a job market that taxes every hiring manager in terms of the volume of candidates and resumes they are seeing each day, you need to deal with the reality that a major hurdle in the process comes on the phone. Handling that moment without preparation, focus, and planning can end your chances for new employment in a split second.

It's time to celebrate our independence, something our culture reveres and holds dear. But is total independence a personal goal as well? Or are we that much stronger when we depend on others, especially at work?

According to a survey done by Monster.com, health insurance was the most important benefit offered to employees. It was ranked highest by 32% over vacation time at 26%. The deciding factor in which job was accepted often came down to the benefits, and health coverage in particular.

Contrary to what you may have heard, networking is not the fastest way to get a new job according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which found that “those who use their network connections actually find jobs at a slower rate than the average job seeker. The most effective way is to directly contact potential employers.”

I recently gave a talk to a group of design students on negotiating their first salaries. Worth and how to determine it was very much on their minds. Three were in the process of bargaining.

Having a baby is one of the most remarkable experiences of your life. That being said, it doesn't come without a price. Pregnancy and babies are expensive, and having the right health insurance in place matters, especially in the workplace.

As Porter Gale launches her new tome Your Network is Your Net Worth, I am reminded of another aspect of networking that has both risk and opportunity. How do you handle requests to connect from people you do not know or know little? I have written previously about the Etiquette of Connecting and those rules still apply for most if not all situations. That said, conventional wisdom would have it that you simply do not connect for the precise reason that you do not know the person.

The average attention span in the year 2000 was 12 seconds. In 2013, it was down to eight seconds. That means: A. Bull riding really is the perfect entertainment, and B. If you want someone to notice you on a social network, be brilliant and brief.

Career resonance in my view is a state of existence where you are happy, healthy, balanced, busy, and emboldened. Your life is self-fulfilling because all aspects are generally working together to make you high performing and personally and professionally satisfied with your career and life. In my coaching practice, I see this phenomena from time to time. To me, this is the ultimate state of being and where the rubber meets the road. It is not to say that it is nirvana, but with purpose, passion, and persistence, you can thrive in a manner that feeds your performance and success.

Almost 1.5 billion people use Facebook. Twitter, Google+, and Instagram aren't far behind. As those in the world of marketing know, social media isn't just for connecting with family and friends; it's essential for branding, word of mouth, and networking. This, of course, makes social media very important in the job world, too.

Check out this quick and dirty, on-the-go list of resume tips from Tom Kellum. Here's just the first one: Assume that whoever reads your resume will do so with a skeptical, possibly cynical frame of mind and will rarely give you the benefit of the doubt.

For many students and professionals looking for jobs, optimizing a professional profile on top networking sites has been that dreaded thing that you know you have to do, but you also know you can push back (over and over again). Unfortunately for you, I’m here to tell you that optimizing your account can’t be put on the back burner any longer.

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. Or perhaps you were just using the freelance life as a way of getting your foot in the door when you were just out of school or in the midst of a career change.

When choosing a job, is the benefits package one of your deciding factors? Are you slowly ebbing away from that dream designer or marketing job in favor of low co-pays? For many people, working for a company that offers a superior health benefits plan is a top priority, especially for families.

It can feel like the same old thing — you and hundreds, if not thousands, of other job seekers are trying to make a good first impression. Career fairs can be a critical piece to your job search because of the access they provide you, in person, to employers who are hiring — a goldmine. But how can you stand out in the sea of faces from the hundreds of others in your field vying for the same job?

After putting in hours upon hours, day after day at your job, the truest gesture of appreciation comes in the form of a raise. Sure, a "thank you" here and there or a Saturday barbecue hosted by your boss is nice, but most employees agree that nothing says "I value your hard work" more than a good 'ole fashioned raise.

More often than not, how you convey your value and abilities can determine whether you end up at the top of the consideration set of a job interview. If you are prepared, can tell compelling stories of your career, and chemically connect with the hiring managers, more than likely you have struck a resonant tone for a positive outcome.

The “careers” your parents and grandparents had are things of the past — these days, we have experiences. The desire for stability in a career has been buried by the desire to love what you do, all day, every day. You will spend more waking hours a week at work than home — sad, but true — so if you desire a happy life, a happy job is pretty critical.

Working from home is a great job perk, but if you don't have the right in-home office setting, it could spell trouble for your productivity. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can easily turn just about any room in your house into a quiet, private office suite. When you're ready to work 9 to 5 from the comfort of your own abode, here are just a few tips to make your house work-friendly.

Does getting out of bed, making coffee, and showing up to your computer sound like the perfect commute? Telecommuting is becoming more common, with employers realizing its money-saving potential and the popularity of telecommuting with workers.

You have started your new job, are a week into it, and realize you are either in over your head or your company is offering little training and support — worst case, both. Being thrown into the deep end in a new job with unclear expectations or mentoring can be difficult and stressful. But there are specific steps you can implement to take the reins and get a handle on the situation.

I have a love/hate relationship with spring cleaning. I positively dread the thought of the work involved, but admittedly get excited at the thought of a brand new start to something. Whilst in the midst of it, I inevitably have a mental collapse at the thought of tossing something seemingly precious, but in the end, revel in the cleanliness, sleekness, and “un-clutter” that abounds.

Contrary to what you may have heard, networking is not the fastest way to get a new job according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which found that “those who use their network connections actually find jobs at a slower rate than the average job seeker. The most effective way is to directly contact potential employers.”

Recently, a contact emailed me to ask for some help on a troubling situation. After a substantial period of unemployment, she had finally landed a job at a company she had really wanted to work at for some time. The trouble is, things didn’t exactly work out the way she had hoped.

If you’ve been puzzled about why the resumes you’ve sent haven’t generated more interviews, this tip, known and used by direct response marketers, may be just what you need. It’s well known that HR only gives most resumes a very quick look before moving on to the next one, yet even if your resume gets to the hiring authority, you probably won’t get a response.

Thinking of making a career change immobilizes most people with fear. Whether you are aiming for a slight adjustment or a dramatic shift, altering your career path in any way can be overwhelming. And let’s face it — conducting a job search is not anyone’s idea of a good time. Often, job seekers choose to ignore the challenge instead of face it head-on. As a result, they end up years later in the same job they do not enjoy, wondering where the time went.

In today's job market, a video resume can be a great way to help you stand out from the competition, whether you are looking for your first job, looking for another job, or quite simply switching careers altogether. However, if your video resume isn't done well, it can actually hurt your chances at the getting the job.

Regardless of how you got the gig or what the company told you their reasons for needing a freelancer were, there is often a backstory that was conveniently not mentioned. Are you covering the workload of someone twice your senior? Did they just fire someone? Are they defending a key account? Is the agency using freelancers on a revolving door basis to keep health-care costs down? As a pure freelancer, as long as they pay you on time, the reasons don’t matter much.

It can be incredibly challenging for a woman to know what she should or shouldn't wear in the office. Some women dress a little too provocatively, possibly making their male coworkers uncomfortable or, even worse, making their coworkers or bosses view them as “unprofessional.”

While expecting a baby can be an exciting time as you prepare to welcome a new little one into your home, it can also be a stressful time in regards to your career. You may be worried about how this transition into motherhood will affect your career and what can you can expect. With that in mind, what should be your top priorities moving forward?

Beth had been at the company for two years and began the conversation with her manager to negotiate a salary increase. She deferred to HR and was told that her salary was higher than market rate based on the surveys they use. She then asked her manager to ask HR if they could share their info, because her surveys said otherwise. “I heard back today that they are not able to share their sources. They said that they matched my current role to surveyed job descriptions, then they added a premium for our location.”

Your performance review can have a major impact on your career — either positive or negative. A good review can improve your job security and may even score you a promotion, while a bad review may mean you'll have to wait an entire year to make another case for a raise. How can you prepare for your next review to make sure it's a good one?

It's no secret that people are looking for work these days, perhaps more now than any other time in the recent past. Even those with a job may be looking to change careers for additional income and/or better chances to move up within a company. Finding a job can seem to be a hit or miss prospect, unless you're in the know on how to ace an interview.

“Practice makes perfect” is an expression frequently thrown at youth sports participants, but it is also applicable for adults preparing for a job interview. Although it may be impossible to predict exactly what the interviewer is going to ask, there are still ways to develop sample answers. This makes it easier to have insightful responses prepared that will please the interviewers while enhancing the overall appeal of the candidate.

Negotiating is a part of life. My husband and I recently purchased a car and really had to work the dealership down on what we were willing to pay. My husband's not much of a negotiator and probably would have bought the car for sticker price had I not been there.

Major companies said goodbye to workers via layoffs during 2013. Corporations like Boeing, Cisco Systems, and many others sent people home en masse. Even smaller companies had to hand out the pink slips to their workers even though they didn't garner as much attention as the big names.

Creating a personal brand is much like creating a 3D resume. Everything on the paper has to come to life through social media, guest blogging on websites, business cards, and even email addresses. However you want to create your personal brand is up to you — be creative and start building up your accomplishments on and off the web. In the end, creating a personal brand can be a lot of fun. However what many professionals don’t realize is that you’re not always creating a personal brand from scratch.

In today’s economy, job hunters often get screened out for reasons unrelated to their ability to handle the position they apply for. It can happen both before you get an interview and even after you get one — if you are fortunate to secure a meeting with the hiring authority.

We all want to make a good impression at our new jobs, especially in that first few weeks. We are excited, enthusiastic, and ready to take on any challenge. So what happens if you realize early on that things are not as they seemed in the interview, specifically with the training or mentoring you thought you would receive? What if there is no honeymoon period and you have been thrown into the deep end with no flotation device?

Don’t chew gum. Don’t bring your own coffee. Be on time. Those are easy. Here’s the hard stuff. Don’t talk too much. Maintain your attention. Be relaxed. What’s the difference? It’s simple: we really don’t need to be told to be on time, sans coffee and gum.

No matter how brilliant you are, no matter how talented and qualified, the current job market is such that every job you apply for carries stiff competition. To land a job and make it a good one, you will need to work many angles to get those odds in your favor.

If you are one of the fortunate few to begin benefitting from the slow-going jobs recovery, you are in an enviable position. Furthermore, if the offers number more than one, you truly are in an exceptional position and can count your lucky stars for your luck, diligence, experience, and brilliance. In a recent Thomas Friedman, New York Times editorial, he takes time and words to illuminate what it takes to get a job at Google. Casting aside the importance of GPA and test scores, Mr. Friedman’s piece cites leadership, humility, collaboration, adaptability, and a love of learning or relearning as critical metrics to assess success.

We hear it all the time: “find your passion” or “do what you love and the money will follow.” It sounds so easy, right? But if it was, we would all be passionate about our work. And we know from statistics year after year that many of us do not feel that way, or even remotely close — only 19% are satisfied according to Forbes.com.

Time and again we are witness to crises of major proportion that often are unbelievable and defy a thinking person's logic. Bridgegate is one such example. How on heaven's green earth would anybody with an ounce of intelligence think that they could get away with creating a traffic jam on a major artery between New York and New Jersey and not get caught?

If you’ve been puzzled about why the resumes you’ve sent haven’t generated more interviews, this tip, known and used by direct response marketers, may be just what you need. It’s well known that HR only gives most resumes a very quick look before moving on to the next one, yet even if your resume gets to the hiring authority, you probably won’t get a response.

Most of you might be familiar with the goal setting process SMART. Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. There are also many other interpretations for SMART. However, so many personal or project goals are still not met.

Recently, a contact emailed me to ask for some help on a troubling situation. After a substantial period of unemployment, she had finally landed a job at a company she had really wanted to work at for some time. The trouble is, things didn’t exactly work out the way she had hoped.

So you want to work in “communications." Maybe you are in college and starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel called graduation. Or maybe you’ve been out in the workforce for a few years and wish you were actually using your mass communications/journalism degree. I understand that. After all, there is a reason you spent four years studying something, right? I work in HR, so I get to use my psych degree every day.

Networking is the oxygen of the connected economy. It is the currency of consumer collaboration. Unless you are a monk, getting through life in the 21st century is a challenge at best if you have no network. Virtually every job today is gained through the network. If you are selling storage, soup, semiconductors, software, soap, or self, you require relationships and relationship building skills.

Happy Holidays! What better way to kick off a season of gifting and goodwill than to share one of the most critical workplace gifts: knowledge. Here are some great pieces of career advice that have been passed on to me from some of my colleagues at MEC.

Many job hunters believe that the most experienced applicants are who gets invitations to interview. Others believe that their accomplishments are the key to getting interviews. Sometimes either or both are right, but in my experience of helping people of all ages and backgrounds, those who consistently get interviews for the best positions base their appeal on something different than either of the above.

Today's job market is tough — for those without a degree, for college graduates that hold a Bachelor's degree, and for those that hold a Master's degree or higher. Schooling aside, the job market can even be tough for experienced, well-qualified candidates. Degrees and work experience just aren't what they used to be, and it's getting tougher and tougher to find a job.