Vacation

They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But what about 25 percent work and 75 percent play? That sounds pretty good – unless, of course, you’re on vacation. But more and more Americans are checking in, returning phone calls, responding to emails and teleconferencing while on vacation.
Summer is upon us and, for most of us, that means vacation time. But according to Career Builder, 25 percent of Americans will still manage to do some work while on holiday. Among those who work the most even at play were employees in sales, IT and financial services.
Unfortunately, the tendency to work while on vacation – as noble as it sounds – can be enough to burn you out after not too long. If you must work, limit your time to a specific window everyday so you can keep your mind carefree the rest of the time. And once you plan that vacay, do everything you can to prepare your workload accordingly. Let you contacts know you’ll be gone and coordinate calendars to correspond with your vacation time.
After all, no one wants to be dull – especially on vacation.
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Coaching Yourself

Sure, a career coach can help give you the drive and direction you need to succeed in chosen path – or even determine what that path might be. But unless that coach is your mother or spouse, chances are, he or she can’t be around to impart their wisdom at all times.
That’s why it doesn’t hurt to become your own career coach when you need a bit of motivation. Take a few tips on coaching yourself and those quiet evenings at home or daily commute could be the most empowering time of your day.
Ask yourself the right questions – Don’t let yourself off easy. Give yourself the hard questions – the ones that make you cringe. Then answer them.
Pretend to advise someone else – You may never know what vault of knowledge lies within you until you impart it to someone else – even if that someone is imaginary.
Talk to an imaginary coach – Talking aloud – even to a make-believe guru, can make you give better detail than you might otherwise, and give you a clearer picture of your problem or dilemma.
See? Imaginary friends aren’t just for kids.
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Give us some credit!

It’s kind of a Catch-22; you’ve fallen behind on your bills because you’ve been out of work (or underemployed), but your unpaid bills are preventing you from finding a full-time position.  Such is the case for many Americans who face a pre-employment credit screening when interviewing for a job. And while frustration mounts, this topic has moved into the spotlight as many states now explore the possibility of legislating the practice.  In fact, just last year legislators in 18 states and the District of Columbia introduced 33 bills to ban or restrict access to credit reports by employers. Both Oregon and Illinois successfully banned the use of credit reports in determining a jobseeker’s candidacy.    As yet, there is no direct link between low credit scores and poor job performance. According to a 2011 Credit.com survey, 53 percent of its users agree with a ban on credit checks for pre-employment screening.  It’s time for YOU to weigh in on the subject. What are your thoughts; to ban, or not to ban?

Mother Knows Best

     You probably don’t need to hear it from us, but your mom is brilliant. And that’s not just because she can whip up a chicken casserole in 10 minutes flat or turn heaps and heaps of dirty clothing into clean and tidy stacks.

     No, your mom is pretty brilliant because of those little life lessons she taught you – lessons that, little to your knowledge, would help make your career that much more successful. So as we approach Mother’s Day, let’s look at those things mom said that have direct and positive effects in your work life as well.

*If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all: pettiness and poor attitudes can sabotage your relationships and growth within a business.

* “I don’t know” is not an answer: if you don’t know the answer, show initiative and find out.

*Always share: teamwork is vital in business.

*Make friends: keeping an active business network is key to building your career.

*Say “please” and “thank you:” being polite can ensure that your coworkers and supervisors appreciate and respect you.

Now, don’t forget to give mom a hearty thanks this Sunday. After all, your career is just one more thing you couldn’t have done without her!

The Tough Questions

You may be oozing confidence when you walk into a job interview, but that self-assurance can quickly dwindle when you’re hit with a difficult or awkward question. And believe us, those questions will come, so maybe it’s time to prepare your response.

Though it may seem easy enough, when an interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself,” you can make or break the tone of your meeting. Telling a life story, for instance, may leave your potential boss with the impression that you’re not as concise and targeted as you are. Instead, quickly rattle off your education, experience and future goals. This will keep the conversation on the object of the meeting – your career.

Ever asked why you left your last job? Career candidates can ruin their chances by spouting off gripes about their prior employer. Instead, reiterate the skill set you gained from the job and how you can utilize that in a new setting. And if you’re asked where you see yourself in the future, you may not want to admit that you’d like to start your own business in six months. Employers are looking for longevity and commitment, not an employee looking for a filler job.

Got more tough questions to tackle? See the complete list.

Crashed and Burned

    Whether in a high-pressure, fast-paced position or a relaxed office atmosphere, it’s not uncommon to experience some work-related burnout. In fact there are many reasons for burnout on the job, from boredom to office politics to a complete lack of interest in your line of work.

    If you’re experiencing burnout, the best defense is to combat boredom. This can entail requesting new or additional tasks or discussing a role change with your supervisor. Some people’s burnout may be a sign that they’re in the wrong career altogether. It’s never too late to go back to school or switch careers.
 Your burnout could be a sign that you need to focus a little less on work. Your job may be your living, but it doesn’t need to be your life. Make sure you’re not sacrificing important aspects of your life to get ahead at work.  That means monitoring your own tendency for overworking. Just because it’s your job, doesn’t mean you’re required to say yes to every coworker. 
    It will also help to revamp your time-management skills. For instance, set aside a few times a day to read and respond to emails, or to file paperwork. This may help you feel more organized and in better control. 
 After all, the only place you should feel the burn is at the gym.

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Getting Linked

It’s no secret that the key to career advancement is networking. So you’ve got a killer resume, a strong cover letter and you’ve joined the professional networking site LinkedIn. You have it in the bag, right?  Well, not quite. Joining the social media Mecca for professionals is a good call, but once you’re there, you should know a thing or two about using it to further your career goals. In fact, there are several LinkedIn groups that can help you get ahead – you just need to know where to look (good thing you’re still reading). The following groups are a must for all job seekers:

Executive Suit: Comprised of more than 100,000 executives and recruiters, this group will also send you a weekly email to keep you in the loop – and the market.

Indeed: You may have already used their career search engine on the web, but joining the Indeed family on LinkedIn can get you frequent updates on job availability and opportunities.

The  Talent Buzz: Keep up with the “buzz” in the world of social media, business and HR with this group of more than 7,000 members.

Got another tip? Let us know!

Resume Remix

               While the old, “It’s not you, it’s me” can offer a bit of comfort at the end of a romantic relationship, the excuse doesn’t quite work when you’re not selected for an interview by a potential employer.

                And while it may very well be “you,” that still doesn’t mean you’re not the ideal candidate for the job – it just may mean that your resume isn’t reflecting that. In fact, many job applicants don’t know what a great resume looks like; let alone how to build one themselves. These four tips can help you improve your resume (thus avoiding that awkward rejection phone call – or worse, no phone call at all).

1.            Keep design simple: Photos, colors and fancy fonts may get you noticed, but probably not in the way you want. Keep your design and font simple and readable.

2.            Include complete contact info: Make sure your contact info is comprehensive and professional. For instance, if you have a clever, sassy email address, consider replacing it for one that is simple and respectable.

3.            Spell and Grammar Check! Nothing throws a potential employer off more than a grammatically poor resume, or one full of typos or spelling errors. Employers may think your attention to detail is less than exemplary.

4.            Keep it snappy. Long-winded resumes may quash your chances from the get-go. A good resume should be a maximum of two pages. Leave your salary history and references off your resume and on another document.