ArtBistro

Sample Resume for a Graphic Designer

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:22:00 -0700

Your resume should have substance as well as style. Review our sample resume for a graphic designer below to see how you can portray your full creative abilities to employers

This resume is an example of Monster's Resume Writing Services. Impress employers with a high-impact resume and cover letter from the experts.

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10 Words and Phrases That Can Ruin a Resume

Charles Purdy, Monster+Hot Jobs senior editor — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:58:00 -0700

Your resume needs an update—that is, if your
resume is like those of most people, it’s not as good as it could be. The problem is language: most resumes are a thicket of deadwood words and phrases—empty cliches, annoying jargon, and recycled buzzwords. Recruiters, HR folks, and hiring managers see these terms over and over again, and it makes them … sad.

Wouldn’t you rather make them happy? It’s time to start raking out your resume, starting with these (and similar) terms.

1. “Salary Negotiable”

Yes, they know. If you’re wasting a precious line of your resume on this term, it looks as though you’re padding—that you’ve run out of things to talk about. If your salary is not negotiable, that’d be sort of unusual (still, don’t put that on your resume).

2. “References available by request”

See the preceding comment about unnecessary terms.

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3. “Responsible for ______”

Reading this term, the recruiter can almost picture the C-average, uninspired employee mechanically fulfilling his or her job requirements—no more, no less. Having been responsible for something isn’t something you did—it’s something that happened to you. Turn phrases like “responsible for” into “managed,” “led,” or other decisive, strong verbs.

4. “Experience working in ______”

Again, experience is something that happens to you—not something you achieve. Describe your background in terms of achievements.

Next: Problem-Solving Skills →

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5. “Problem-solving skills”

You know who else has problem-solving skills? Monkeys. Dogs. Mice. I once saw a YouTube video of an octopus that figured out how to open a jar. On your resume, stick to skills that require a human.

6. “Detail-oriented”

So, you pay attention to details. Well, so does everyone else. Don’t you have something unique to tell the hiring manager? (Plus, putting this on your resume only makes that accidental typo in your cover letter or resume all the more comical.)

7. “Hard-working”

Have you ever heard the term “Show; don’t tell”? This is where that might apply. Anyone can call himself or herself a hard worker. It’s a lot more convincing if you describe situations in which your hard work benefitted an employer (and use concrete details).

8. “Team player”

See the preceding comment about showing instead of telling. There are very few jobs that don’t involve working with someone else. If you have relevant success stories about collaboration, put them on your resume. Talk about the kinds of teams you worked on, and how you succeeded.

9. “Proactive”

This is a completely deflated buzzword. Also, again, show; don’t tell.

10. “Objective”

This term isn’t always verboten, but you should use it carefully. If your objective is to get the job that you’ve applied for, there’s no need to spell that out on your resume with its own heading. The “Objective” section of a resume is usually better replaced by a summary of your background and achievements, and a description of what you have to offer an employer. An exception might be if you haven’t applied for a specific job and don’t have a lot of experience that speaks to the position you’d like to achieve.

What are your least favorite resume terms? What creative ways have you found to talk about your achievements? Let us know in the Comments section (and like us on Facebook to get updates with resume tips).

This article was originally published on MonsterThinking.com.

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The Right Way to Say, "I Quit!"

Margaret Steen | Yahoo! HotJobs — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:04:00 -0700

The job market is finally showing signs of life--and that means more workers will likely have the opportunity to change jobs in the coming months.

It's clear that many will welcome this: A recent survey by the Corporate Executive Board, a research and advisory services company, found that 25 percent of workers whom employers had labeled as having high potential were hoping to move to a new company in the next year. This figure is up from just 10 percent in 2006.

Once you've found a new job, you may not give too much thought to the one you're exiting. But leaving a job--and the colleagues who will now become part of your network--the right way is crucial to your career.

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"Reputation is very important," says Marianne Adoradio, a career counselor in Silicon Valley. You'll cement yours with how you leave.

Experts explain how to avoid four common mistakes when leaving a job:

Staying too long

In most jobs, the standard is to give two weeks' notice when resigning. When you give notice, you may feel as though you should stay longer to make sure you don't leave your former employer short-handed.

Sometimes this is a good idea--for example, if you're working on a project that will be done in three or four weeks. However, you may discover that as soon as you announce your resignation, you are no longer considered indispensable and are left out of the loop. Your continued presence can even be a drain on an employer if you're no longer being useful.

Plus, "it's depressing and very demotivating," Adoradio says.

Next: Saying too much →

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Saying too much

Whatever your reasons for leaving, now is the time to simply say that you have accepted a position that will move you closer to your long-term career goals.

"Leave graciously, and take the high road," says Kathryn Ullrich, the author of "Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success." "Don't use it as a time to air your grievances."

If you have an exit interview with the human resources department, it's OK to raise legitimate issues and let them know why the new offer seemed better. But don't use either formal or informal interviews to trash your coworkers.

Not preparing

If your job involves confidential information or you're leaving to go to a competitor, you may find yourself escorted out the door as soon as you tender your resignation, Ullrich said.

You should prepare for this possibility by making sure you have removed any personal items from your office or computer. (Do not take company items or information, of course.)

Accepting a counteroffer without careful consideration

Your company may offer you a raise or promotion to get you to stay. Sometimes this is a good deal--but keep in mind that much of the time, workers who accept a counteroffer end up leaving anyway not too much longer after. (And your employer might have lingering doubts about your loyalty.)

"People need to know why they're leaving in the first place," Adoradio says. If the boss you don't get along with is still there, or if you still don't see a likely promotion path at your current company, it's unlikely that a counteroffer will give you what you're looking for.

And even if it will, "you have to question, well, why didn't they offer this to me in the first place?" Ullrich says.

This article was originally published on Yahoo.HotJobs.com

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How Flexible Should You Be When Accepting a Job?

Margaret Steen, for Monster — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:03:00 -0700

In tough times, job seekers are often advised to be flexible about issues from commute length to salary to job title. But while it's true that you have to be realistic, some compromises may end up hurting you more than they help.

"I don't believe that you just cave and take anything," said Mary Jeanne Vincent, a career coach in Monterey, California, and owner of WorkWise. "I have an underlying philosophy that you always sell value."

Steve Levin, CEO of Leading Change Consulting & Coaching in Portola Valley, California, draws a distinction between what he calls "healthy resiliency and begrudging compromise." One is a reasonable response to a challenging market. The other is a self-defeating trade-off.

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To tell the difference, experts suggest asking these six questions:

How Badly Do You Need Money?

If you're about to lose your home or are having trouble putting food on the table, you may need to take whatever job is offered.

Will the Job Make You Miserable?

Taking a job that's not right for you increases the risk that you'll be laid off again within a few months -- something that can make it even harder to find the next job. If you will feel resentful rather than excited about the job, you might be better off continuing your search.

Can You Explain Why You're Taking It?

If you take a job that's less than your previous one, you'll need to be able to explain this apparent step backward the next time you're looking. Saying you couldn't find anything else is not likely to impress an interviewer.

But if you have a good reason for taking a position -- to gain experience in a new industry, for example, or to learn a new skill -- a step down doesn't have to hurt you.

Next Page: What's Most Important to You? →

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What's Most Important to You?

Perhaps you'd be willing to take less money as long as you got the title and authority you wanted. A longer commute may be more palatable if you can telecommute some of the time.

"You really need to do all this thinking -- what are the trade-offs you are willing to make in order to be employed?" said Libby Pannwitt, principal of the Work Life Design Group in San Carlos, California.

Will This Job Help in the Long Term As Well As the Short Term?

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Consider what you'd like to be doing several years from now -- and whether this job could help you get there.

"I really believe that a lot of people panic and get anxious about short-term needs and forget all about their long-term goals," Levin said. If a job will give you an important new skill, for example, it may be worth making other trade-offs to take it.

"In a knowledge-based job market, learning is your quickest pathway, your best investment," Levin said.

What's the Alternative?

To know how flexible to be, you have to know the market. Long-term unemployment is hard on both careers and finances.

If you decide to wait for a better job, what will you be doing with your time while you're waiting? "If you aren't working for someone else, then work for yourself by treating your job search as a full-time endeavor," Levin said.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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10 Ways to Make Sure You Stay Unemployed

J.T. O'Donnell | CAREEREALISM — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:28:00 -0700

The following are 10 true stories.

These have all happened to me or my colleagues over the years as hiring managers. I know the job search process can be hard to maneuver. Add the fact there’s a whole set of “new rules” you need to follow to get employers to even want to hire you and a job seeker can feel pretty overwhelmed.

That being said…

Some things are just common sense. For example, I wouldn’t suggest doing any of these:

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1. UNDER-DRESSED: Candidate came to the interview for a professional job in a suit and dress shoes – but with no shoelaces or socks. AND THEN, proceeded to sit with his leg across his knee, tapping his foot, drawing attention to his lack of proper attire.

2. OVERLY-HONEST: When asked what the person’s greatest weakness was, she replied, “I hate getting up early and tend to be late to work a lot.”

3. GREEDY: When I asked if the candidate had any questions, he said, “Ya. How long will it take until I get a raise?”

4. TEAMWORK CHALLENGED: When I asked for references, the candidate said, “You can’t call anyone from my old company because I hate them all and they probably wouldn’t say nice things about me.”

5. IGNORANT OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL PERSONA: When I called to schedule an interview, the recorded message was playing ‘Funky Cold Medina’ and had people making noises in the background. (Do I need to explain more?)

6. UNMOTIVATED: When I e-mailed the candidate about scheduling an interview, she e-mailed back, “Now’s not a good time for me, can I call you in 2 weeks?”

7. IMPATIENT: After the interview, the candidate called and left me 5 voice mail messages and sent me an e-mail everyday saying he was just “checking in” to see if I’d made a decision. He did this in spite of the fact I told him, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

8. INSINCERE: After the interview, I contacted a person in our company who the candidate said would be a reference for her. The employee said, “I should tell you she doesn’t really want the job and is planning to quit if she gets accepted to grad school.”

9. UNPREPARED: When I asked the candidate what he liked studying the most as a Finance major he said, “I liked the financial stuff.”

10. DESPERATE: When I asked why she wanted the job, she said, “Because nobody else will hire me.”

Hiring managers, now tell me your stories…

What kinds of things have happened to you? What insights can you share in this post to help job seekers avoid making costly mistkes? Give the gift of advice this season – tell our readers what WON’T get them the job below.

This article was originally published on CAREEREALISM.com.

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Answers to the "Why Should We Hire You?" Question

Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:03:00 -0700

This is another broad interview question that can take you down the wrong road unless you've done some thinking ahead of time. This question is purely about selling yourself. Think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy?

The Wrong Track

Spencer answers by saying, "Because I need and want a job." That's nice, but the bottom line here is, "What can you do for us?"

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Mariana says, "I'm a hard worker and really want to work for this company." The majority of people think of themselves as hard workers -- and why this company?

The Right Track

Tom's answer to this question is, "Because I'm a good fit for the position." Getting warmer, but more details, please.

Sharon answers, "I have what it takes to solve problems and do the job." This is the best answer so far. Expand on this, and you've got it.

Develop a Sales Statement

The more detail you give, the better your answer will be. This is not a time to talk about what you want. Rather, it is a time to summarize your accomplishments and relate what makes you unique.

Product Inventory Exercise

The bottom line of this question is, "What can you do for this company?"

Start by looking at the job description or posting. What is the employer stressing as requirements of the job? What will it take to get the job done? Make a list of those requirements.

Next, do an inventory to determine what you have to offer as a fit for those requirements. Think of two or three key qualities you have to offer that match those the employer is seeking. Don't underestimate personal traits that make you unique; your energy, personality type, working style and people skills are all very relevant to any job.

Next Page: The Sales Pitch: You Are the Solution →

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The Sales Pitch: You Are the Solution

From the list of requirements, match what you have to offer and merge the two into a summary statement. This is your sales pitch. It should be no more than two minutes long and should stress the traits that make you unique and a good match for the job.

Example: "From our conversations, it sounds as if you're looking for someone to come in and take charge immediately. It also sounds like you are experiencing problems with some of your database systems. With my seven years of experience working with financial databases, I have saved companies thousands of dollars by streamlining systems. My high energy and quick learning style enable me to hit the ground and size up problems rapidly. My colleagues would tell you I'm a team player who maintains a positive attitude and outlook. I have the ability to stay focused in stressful situations and can be counted on when the going gets tough. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

What Makes You Unique?

Completing an exercise around this question will allow you to concentrate on your unique qualities. Like snowflakes, no two people are alike. Take some time to think about what sets you apart from others.

• "Never miss deadlines."

• "Bring order to chaos."

• "Good sense of humor."

• "Great attention to detail."

Let the interviewer know that you have been listening to the problem and have what it takes to do the job -- that you are the solution to the problem.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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Build a Great Working Relationship with Your Boss

Peter Vogt | Monster Senior Contributing Writer — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:56:00 -0700

One of the worst things you can do when you start your new job is to make your supervisor look bad for hiring you. After all, your boss is key to your current on-the-job satisfaction and to your future success in the organization -- and perhaps even beyond.

If there ever were a relationship for you to invest in, this is it. So here are five ways to get off to a great start with your new supervisor. Your efforts now will lay the groundwork for a productive working relationship over the long haul.

Watch Your New Boss and Learn

"The No. 1 thing is to observe the company culture and your supervisor closely during your first few weeks," says Terese Corey Blanck, principal of College to Career, a career-consulting firm in suburban Minneapolis. "Keep your opinions to yourself until you understand the company culture well and know what people will look upon with favor and what they'll look upon with disdain."

Even something as simple as asking intelligent questions will make a difference in how your boss perceives you as an employee. "It's always better to clarify than to charge off and go completely in the wrong direction," Corey Blanck says.

Communicate the Way the Boss Wants To

Some bosses are very hands-on, keeping close tabs on you throughout your workday. Others may talk to you once a week or less often and send you on your way to do your job.

Whatever your supervisor's style, typically it's up to you to establish and maintain the lines of communication between the two of you. Using either email or the occasional stop-by-the-office visit, make sure you keep your boss informed with the answers to these questions:

• What are you working on?

• What have you finished, and what are the results?

• What can you help your supervisor with?

Next: Look and Act Professional >>

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Look and Act Professional

Allison Hemming, author of Work It! How to Get Ahead, Save Your Ass, and Land a Job in Any Economy and founder of The Hired Guns, a Manhattan-based interim workforce agency, talks about a candidate she recently placed with a major investment bank -- quite easily, thanks to the candidate's background and skills.

"Two weeks into the job, we got a call from her manager, saying that she was doing a terrific job, but that she sometimes dressed inappropriately, in short, short skirts and open-toed shoes," says Hemming. "The manager asked me to have a chat with the person, because they really liked her and didn't want her attire to impact her ability to get promoted in the future."

The new hire was a bit shocked to discover her fashion faux pas were damaging her relationships with her supervisor and colleagues, but she quickly made the necessary changes to her wardrobe, Hemming says.

Demonstrate Initiative

Any new employee can sit around waiting to be told what to do. Why not be proactive enough to figure it out yourself so your supervisor doesn't constantly have to hold your hand?

"Take initiative to get something done when you see it needs getting done," says Corey Blanck. "It can be something as simple as taking a stack of files and going through them before you're asked -- anything to show that you're not beneath the small tasks that take up everyone's time."

"Come in early and stay late," says Stephen Viscusi, author of On the Job: How to Make It in the Real World of Work and a frequent workplace contributor on ABC's "Good Morning America." "You should be busy whenever you're starting a new job, learning the ropes, but even when you're not, perfect the art of looking busy."

Do Great Work

This might seem like painfully obvious advice for developing a solid relationship with your new boss, but it bears repeating. "Make your boss look good by, guess what -- just plain working hard," says Viscusi. "It's old-fashioned, but it really works."

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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5 Ways to Keep Your Career Moving Forward

Caroline M.L. Potter | HotJobs — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:12:00 -0700

The adage says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and its wisdom is applicable to job seekers. It is usually far easier to find another job if you're already employed. But how can you ensure that the worst never happens to you -- that you're never left without a job and possibilities for your next opportunity?

Here are five suggestions from career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman:

Keep Thinking Positive

It sounds deceptively simple, but try embracing the power of positive thinking when you're thinking about your career. "When you tell yourself something bad will happen to your job, something bad will probably happen," says Brown-Volkman. "If you tell yourself that you are marketable and confident and that you will always be working, your words can make this true."

Keep Thinking Ahead

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If you're not following trends within your particular industry, you could be caught off guard by a layoff. Is your position or division vulnerable to outsourcing, further automation or elimination? Brown-Volkman says, "If your job is being eliminated or outsourced, you will want to know about it before you are in the room with the human resources person telling you that your job is going away."

She urges professionals, "Look for trends and then train yourself in growth areas. Having the right skills at the right time ensures that no matter what is happening around you, you will be needed and employable."

Keep Your Resume Ready

Having your resume at the ready gives you confidence. You always know that if opportunity casually knocks, you're prepared to answer. Brown-Volkman reminds her clients, "Even if you are not looking for work, your resume reminds you of the contributions you make on a regular basis, something you can easily forget when you are immersed in the day-to-day. Whether you are looking for a job, or you already have one, an updated resume is essential for your career."

Keep Cultivating Your Network

Brown-Volkman says networking should always be a part of your professional life. "If you start to network only when you need something, you will have a lot of catching up to do," she says. Instead of waiting until the 11th hour, she advises workers to network in some way every day. "Wherever there are people, there is an opportunity to network," she says.

She also urges workers to network within their own workplaces. If coworkers understand what you do and your value, this could help safeguard your job in dicey times.

Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open

You're up on the trends. You're networking. You've got a current resume. You're thinking positive thoughts. Now it's time to get creative -- by creating your own opportunities.

Read up on what your peers are doing and what you aren't. Consider how you might strike out on your own -- or on the side. Brown-Volkman adds, "Rather than thinking, 'It cannot happen,' believe that what you want is possible and is within your reach. Then, make it happen."

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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6 Ways Finding a Dream Job Is Like Finding Your Soul Mate

Steve Berman | ArtBistro — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:25:00 -0700

The idea of what makes a dream job changes over time, as does what a person looks for in their soul mate. In the past, one simply wanted steady work to provide food and shelter for his or her family. People also didn't live as long, and as a result didn't have the flexibility to date a wide variety of people to find a soul mate. Usually proximity and economics trumped trivial concerns such as "love" and "things in common" when it came to choosing a mate. But times have changed, and now one’s opinion plays heavily into choosing both that dream job and a life partner.

Here are some reasons why finding one's dream job can be as difficult as finding a soul mate these days.
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1. An infinite number of choices can be overwhelming.

With social networking, greater ease of travel, and less pressure to get married at a young age, the world of dating and courtship is more complicated than ever before. Many people think that settling down has more to do with "settling" on a person instead of finding an absolutely perfect partner (if that even exists).

In terms of finding a job, a similarly wide number of choices face people as they grow out of adolescence and into adulthood. And now that the idea of choosing a job with a company out of school and staying with that company until you retire is completely antiquated, it can get even more confusing. After all, workers between the ages of 18 and 38 change jobs an average of 10 times.

Next Page: A dream job is often about options →

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2. A dream job is often about the options available to a person.

Unrealistic expectations can prevent people from finding happiness with any choices they make. If someone wants a soul mate to have the looks of a model, the education of a Rhodes scholar, and the bank account of Bill Gates, they probably will be disappointed when that doesn't happen.

In terms of finding a dream job, the same problem with standards applies. If your dream job is to be a professional athlete, model, rock star, or astronaut, sheer numbers can make that impossible. For those who can't find something they like doing that they're also good at, a dream career can be as difficult to find as a so-called perfect partner.

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3. Knowing what you want is half the battle.

Think about the qualities you wanted in a mate when you were in high school, and how that might have changed when you went to college. As you grow older, your tastes change and what you want from a mate changes. While finding a soul mate is in part due to luck, and partially based on doing the work to put one's self in the position to find someone special, it's also about figuring out what's important to you — and that changes over time.

Dream jobs are no different. One might think they want to be an investment banker in college, and then after an internship at a large bank the person changes their mind. Maybe now the person would rather be a teacher, or something completely different. As you grow up, learn more, and become exposed to new experiences, the concept of a dream job can change.

Next Page: Nobody is perfect... →

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4. In reality nobody is perfect, and no job is perfect either.

Finding a soul mate doesn't mean finding a person who you experience ultimate bliss with 24/7. It's about loving every part of that person, appreciating even the imperfections. In fact, expecting perfection can be a way to drive a wedge between you and your partner, ruining a relationship with someone who actually possesses all the qualities you hold dear.

Even so-called dream jobs have their bad days. Even the most successful athletes and entertainers have off nights, and if your dream is to be a graphic designer, there are going to be bad days in that arena as well. Without realistic expectations for your love life and your work life, there isn't a mate or job out there that you'll be happy with. And to expect total bliss every day is foolhardy, as well.

5. People and jobs change.

For relationships to work over the long haul, there has to be an underlying agreement that you'll change together. You won't always see eye to eye on everything, but if people grow apart, what used to be the perfect relationship can seem quite different somewhere down the road.

For people who are lucky enough to figure out what they want to do and then get a job that they consider a dream job, the work isn't done. With turnover, changes in technology, the economy, and a multitude of other factors, all jobs change. And if you don't have the flexibility to change along with the job, you might end up finding that you want to leave that job.

Next Page: Fear of commitment →

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6. Fear of commitment.

With all these options available in both love and work, many want to keep their options open at all times. Sure, you might like or even love the person you're with, but maybe there's somebody better out there. What if you miss out on the love of your life just because you're comfortable or even settling for the person you're with. However, the person who spends all their time at the fork in the road worried about choosing the wrong path doesn't end up going anywhere. While monogamy isn't for everybody, people afraid to make any sort of commitment end up missing out on a large part of human relationships.

The same is true in terms of work. People get bored, and look for the next best thing. While changing jobs is almost inevitable nowadays, someone who bounces around from job to job sends a signal to employers that they are not a stable employee. In the mission of finding one's dream job, often sticking out the hard times leads to opportunities (read: promotions) you never even thought of. If you don't pick a career and stick it out, it's doubtful you'll end up in a dream job position.

While finding a soul mate or a dream job can at times seem difficult if not impossible, the key is to focus on the here and now, not some sort of idealized version of what you think your life should be. Enjoy the moment, learn about yourself, embrace imperfections in other people and your work from time to time, and don't let an infinite number of choices overwhelm you. Keep all these things in mind, and you should be happy in love … and at work.

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8 Secrets of “Lucky” Job-Seekers

Nina Kim | ArtBistro — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:24:00 -0700

Still looking for the four-leafed clover that will get you the job you’ve always wanted? If Lady Luck hasn’t been on your side lately, maybe it’s time to try a new approach.

Contrary to popular belief, good luck doesn’t solely have to do with fate and the mysterious unfolding of the universe — according to several psychology study results, luck largely has to do with the way you think and your general outlook on life.

As the old saying goes, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” So start living life from the perspective of a “lucky” person, and maybe you’ll come across that opportunity for an interview or meet the person you need to know to get that job.

First: Truly Believe You Are a Lucky Person >>

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Truly Believe You Are a Lucky Person

You’ve heard the phrase, “Mind over matter,” but do you actually believe it? All those self-help coaches telling you to “Stay positive! Be optimistic!” may be annoying and seem disingenuous, but they actually might be onto something.

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To get in the right mindset of a “lucky” job-seeker, you have to truly believe in the likelihood of good things happening to you. If you’re constantly down in the dumps, you won’t behave positively, which is the one thing that could possibly change your situation.

"If you believe you are fortunate much of the time, you are likely to exhibit behavior that makes people more responsive to you," says Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Authentic Happiness.

Next: The Grass Isn’t Greener on the Other Side >>

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The Grass Isn’t Greener on the Other Side

Hellen Keller once said, “Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged.”

If you’re constantly comparing your life with the lives of others, of course you’re going to feel unlucky! But consider the following: Just because someone may have had good fortune — say, by winning the lottery or getting a job — that doesn’t mean happiness is guaranteed.

Lottery winners are often miserable from all the media attention and people trying to use them for their money or even rob them. Just because someone else got the job you wanted doesn’t mean you’d necessarily be happy in that job. In fact, that person who got the job may not even end up being that happy in his new job.

The grass always seems to be greener on the other side, but always keep in mind, just because something might seem great for somebody, it doesn’t exactly mean it’d be great for you too. You’ve got to pave your own path instead of incessantly comparing yourself to everybody.

Next: Don’t Be a Negative Nancy >>

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Don’t Be a Negative Nancy

Beware of luck-inhibiting emotions like resentment, anger, jealousy, or shyness. People are generally willing to help you, but showing these types of emotions will only get them running in the opposite direction. No one likes to be brought down by others.
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Learn to control any negative emotions that arise. You’ll be more optimistic, confident, and extroverted — all qualities people find attractive.

"It is one thing to feel these negative emotions but another to show them," says Raymond DePaulo, chair of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of Understanding Depression. "If you recognize what triggers these emotions — recognize that you tend to get upset in these situations — you can take steps to defuse or overcome them before they are expressed."

Next: Embrace Spontaneity >>

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Embrace Spontaneity

Keep an open mind to the random events that happen and the random people you meet in your life. See every instance as a potential situation for improving your luck.

Striking up a conversation with a person sitting next to you on an airplane can be the start of an important networking relationship with someone who may know of a job opening in your area.

Taking a new route, hanging out with a different social group, or even partaking in something you come across randomly — all of these spontaneous occurrences can easily pave the way to new “luck” and opportunity.

"Always keep your options open and be prepared to make mistakes," says John Krumboltz, professor of education at Stanford University. "You get more in life when you are willing to learn than closing everything out."

Next: Be Prepared >>

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Be Prepared

It’s important to embrace spontaneity, but random situations will only be beneficial for you if you’re prepared for them. Imagine that you strike up a conversation with the woman sitting next to you on the airplane and find out she’s a marketing manager at a company you’d love to work at.

Are you prepared to impress her with all your knowledge about that company or industry? Do you have interesting and intelligent questions prepared about the workplace culture and industry news? Or are you going to fake your way through it or not even bother telling her you're looking for a job in her field?

If you’re prepared, this chance encounter would be a major break and a giant step toward your dream career. If not — well, sorry to say, but there probably won’t be a next time.

Next: Strive to Be a “Connector” >>

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Strive to Be a “Connector”

“Connectors” are sociable people who come across “lucky” situations because they are likeable and know very many people, according to Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Bigger Difference.

They’re essentially people who have mastered the art of networking. “Connectors” interact with big groups of influential people who have access to vital contacts and information. Now, the idea of orchestrating big social situations may sound daunting, but proper networking isn’t rocket science. All you need to do is be conscientious of other people and industry news — send an e-mail about a news item to a new acquaintance or write a birthday card for your old boss. When networking, it’s the little things that count.

"If you know many different types of people, you will hear about many more opportunities," Gladwell says. "Sociability, energy, and openness breed luck."

Next: Always Think of the Glass as Half Full >>

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Always Think of the Glass as Half Full

To have the mindset of a “lucky” person, you must have an optimistic perspective of not just the future and your current situation, but of your past as well, says Matthew Smith, professor of psychology at Liverpool Hope University in England and co-author of a 1998 study on luck.

In this study, researchers found there was a positive correlation between considering oneself “lucky” and the propensity to remember more of the good things that happened to them rather than the bad. Smith found that when something bad happens to these “lucky” people now, they still think that even though it’s bad, the situation is better than the worst that could have possibly happened.

Next: Keep Your Expectations in Check >>

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Keep Your Expectations in Check

So you’re connected, optimistic, spontaneous, and prepared — you should be the luckiest person in the world, right? Not really. The keys to being a truly “lucky” person are patience and persistence. If you’re taking every failed connection or lack of opportunity to heart, you’ll fall into a negative mindset, which will only lesson your luck.

Set realistic goals for yourself, like “At the job fair, I will introduce myself to someone who works at Citibank” or “I will make three new vital connections in the next month.” These goals should be fluid and adaptable to situations in which you find yourself. Don’t let any setbacks get you down — truly lucky people keep on keeping on no matter what.

Images Provided By Creative Commons

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10 Ways to Craft Your Creative Career Vision

Caroline M.L. Potter | HotJobs — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:28:00 -0800

Have the last few years been cruel or kind to you, professionally speaking? Even if your career didn't take a hit, the recent economic tumult may have you quaking in your boots over the future.

"Your career is long," says career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman. "Some people work for 40, 50 or 60 years. Don't get stuck in the here and now when what is happening at this moment is just a small span in a long career. Instead, create a vision to help you move forward."

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Claim What You Want

Deciding what you want to do doesn't happen overnight, but the process can be simple, says Brown-Volkman. "All of life's journeys begin with the phrase, 'I want,'" she says. "It's a very powerful phrase, and without it, it's hard to go very far." Brown-Volkman likens your professional journey to a trip, revealing that if you didn't decide where you wanted to go on vacation, you'd likely wind up at a destination you don't enjoy.

Or What You Don't Want

It's hard to say what you want when you're not sure of it. "The reason certain people can't answer that question is that it's too overwhelming," Brown-Volkman says. "But most folks can say what they don't want. They can say, 'I don't want to work for a large company,' or 'I don't want a lengthy commute.' The flip side of what you don't want is what you do want."

Fight the Fear

If creating a vision is so simple, why don't more people do it? "People are lost and afraid now, and they're scared to say what they want because they're afraid of not getting it," Brown-Volkman says. "When it comes to vision, sometimes people won't even say what they want unless they know they will get there or how to get there. But you have to create what you want first and then live into it. It's like a declaration. It takes courage -- and a bit of faith."

Next: Questions to Ask Yourself >>

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Ask Yourself

Are you ready to build a vision for your desired professional destination? Begin by getting it down on paper. "I believe if you write down your vision and look at it on a daily basis, it's more likely it will happen," Brown-Volkman says. "Either consciously or subconsciously, you'll take steps to make it a reality." Start with the following 10 questions:

1. If anything were possible, what would I want to be different in my career?

2. What type of job would I want?

3. What would I want to be responsible for?

4. What type of boss/coworkers/team would I want?

5. What kind of hours would I want to work?

6. What type of company would I want work for?

7. What sort of culture would I want the company have?

8. What city would I want to live in?

9. What salary would I want to earn?

10. What would I want my approach to stress, my workload and deadlines be?

Get in the Game

Once you have a vision, start exploring new positions that would offer some, if not all, aspects of it. You may have to switch industries or change careers, but you'll lead a more fulfilling professional life.

"Everybody needs a game to play," Brown-Volkman says. "If you don't have a game, you get stuck in the day to day. The only way out is to say, 'This is what I want next.'"

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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How to Use Numbers on Your Resume

Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:33:00 -0800

If you were an employer looking at a resume, which of the following entries would impress you more?

• Wrote news releases.

• Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines.

Clearly, the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to quantify the writer's accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of difficulty involved in the task.

Numbers are powerful resume tools that will help your accomplishments get the attention they deserve from prospective employers. With just a little thought, you can find effective ways to quantify your successes on your resume. Here are a few suggestions:

Think Money

Organizations are and always will be concerned about money. So as you contemplate your accomplishments and prepare to present them on your resume, think about ways you've saved, earned or managed money in your internships, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities so far. A few possibilities that might appear on a typical resume:

• Identified, researched and recommended a new Internet service provider, cutting the company's online costs by 15 percent.

• Wrote prospect letter that has brought in more than $25,000 in donations so far.

• Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000.

Next Page: Think Time →

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Think Time

You've heard the old saying, "Time is money," and it's true. Companies and organizations are constantly looking for ways to save time and do things more efficiently. They're also necessarily concerned about meeting deadlines, both internal and external. So whatever you can do on your resume to show that you can save time, make time or manage time will grab your reader's immediate attention. Here are some time-oriented entries that might appear on a typical resume:

• Assisted with twice-monthly payroll activities, ensuring employees were paid as expected and on time.

• Suggested procedures that decreased average order-processing time from 10 minutes to five minutes.

Think Amounts

It's very easy to neglect mentioning how much or how many of something you've produced or overseen. There's a tendency instead to simply pluralize your accomplishments — e.g., "wrote news releases" or "developed lesson plans" — without including important specifics — e.g., "wrote 25 news releases" or "developed lesson plans for two classes of 20 students each."

Don't fall into the trap of excluding numbers. Instead, include amounts, like these:

• Recruited 25 members for a new student environmental organization.

• Trained five new employees on restaurant operations procedures.

• Created process that bolstered production 25 percent

The more you focus on money, time and amounts in relation to your accomplishments, the better you'll present your successes and highlight your potential -- and the more you'll realize just how much you really have to offer prospective employers. Add it all up, and you'll see that playing the numbers game is yet another way to convince employers that you should be a part of their equation for success.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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5 Tips for Working on a Creative Team

Steve Berman | ArtBistro — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:13:00 -0800

It's impossible to find a job these days where teamwork isn't valued. If you're asked in an interview whether or not you like working on a team, you'd better not answer that you work best as a lone wolf, because it will be hard to get hired. To get (and keep) a job, you must show excellent collaborative, communication, and overall people skills.

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So how does one maximize his or her effectiveness in a team setting, especially if that setting is amongst a group of creative people, where egos, tastes, and ideas can clash on a daily basis? Here are a few tips to ensure that your team (and boss) will consider you a creative team MVP.

Next: Develop a Thick(er) Skin →

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1. Develop a Thick(er) Skin

This isn't always easy, especially when you put your heart and soul into your work. However, if you work in a creative team, you have to face the fact that your ideas or creations might not always sync with everyone on your team. The key is to not let your hurt feelings get in the way of doing good work, or create conflicts within the team.

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Say you work all week on a design, and you're pretty proud of your progress. Then when you show your piece to the team, one of the other team members doesn't like it. Not only that, but they're also not shy about telling you why and just how much they don't like your creation. What do you do?

What you DON'T do is respond in kind, especially if a teammate is harshly critiquing your work or even bashing it in an unprofessional manner. The best thing is to ask what specific problems your coworker has with your layout, and foster a productive discussion to either find out a different way to do things or convince your coworker why what you created could work.

Next: Be a Diplomat →

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2. Be a Diplomat

If you're in the opposite position, where you don't agree with a teammate's idea or artwork, brutal honesty is rarely the best policy. The last thing anyone needs is an enemy in the office. However, as a member of the team, the finished product has everybody's name on it, not just the person who screwed things up.

When you need to speak up, do it in a way where it's almost complimentary. Start out with the positive, and then pose a question about a change you'd like to make. Something like, "I love the color and design of the header here. Do you think that this area below would work better if the color were a little brighter?" Clearly that's kind of a general example, but the key is to treat someone else the same way you'd like to be treated if the situations were reversed. Actually, that same basic principle is probably the most useful tactic in any situation requiring teamwork.

Next: Speak Up →

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3. Speak Up

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While you always need to be tactful and polite, you can do more damage at times with what you don't say than with what you do. In any kind of creative team setting, contributions are expected from every single person. Sure, a manager might lead the discussion, but they won't want to do all the work. Those who don't contribute on a regular basis can seem apathetic, withdrawn or lazy, or give off the impression that they simply aren't that creatively talented.

The key to making valued contributions is to prepare before the team starts working together. If there's an upcoming meeting, jot down at least 5-10 ideas that you can pitch. Even if the person organizing the meeting didn't request any ideas beforehand, the fact that you have well thought-out talking points will impress your manager and help gain the respect of your teammates.

Next: Assess Your Strengths (and Weaknesses) →

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4. Assess Your Strengths (and Weaknesses)

The reason every workplace seems to be so into teamwork and team-building is that nobody is great at everything. For a team to truly be effective, everyone should be in a role that suits what he or she is best at. If someone is really tech-minded, they should handle that side of a project. If someone has a great eye for color, they work in that domain.

At the outset, any new team should have a frank discussion about what each member is comfortable doing, what they like to do, and where they might be deficient. Sometimes this can be taken care of to a certain extent by a manager with a good grasp of his or her employees' strengths and weaknesses, but it's also good to hear from everyone on the team about what they'd like to focus on so everyone can be placed in the best possible position to succeed.

Next: Be Positive →

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5. Be Positive

Nobody wants to work with negative people, especially those who put others down or complain constantly about work that needs to be done. On the other hand, people who listen, dish out compliments, and contribute to a positive atmosphere make things easier and more fun for everybody.

Being courteous, working hard, providing strong contributions all factor into a positive demeanor at work. The thing is, there's no magical answer to how to work on a team, and it shouldn't be so foreign because anybody who's been in a musical group, played sports, or even just been a part of a family knows what it's like to be a valued team member. Working on a team isn't all that much different than working alone; it's just that you don't have to focus on everything. And really, isn't that the biggest advantage?

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7 Questions to Never Ask a New Acquaintance

Annie Tucker Morgan | Divine Caroline — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:33:00 -0800

When we’re just getting to know someone—a friend, a business associate, a romantic partner—being inquisitive about the other person’s background and interests is a healthy and inevitable part of the process.

But that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate to fire off just any question that pops into your mind, no matter how burning your desire to know the answer is. In the case of these seven topics, your curiosity will get you nowhere fast.

1. How much money do you make?

The only times it’s acceptable to ask this question are when you’re an employer interviewing a prospective employee and need that person’s salary history, and when you have a domestic partner with whom you’ve merged your finances. Otherwise, it’s strictly off-limits. Even if you share every other detail of your life with your friends and family members—and even if you choose to be open about how much you make—that doesn’t mean anyone is required to disclose his or her earnings to you. Nor are you entitled, just because a friend may have revealed her salary in past positions, to know that information about subsequent jobs she takes. When it comes to money, mum’s the word.

2. Are you pregnant?

Many females lowball how much they weigh, even on their driver’s license, so you shouldn’t even have to ask why it’s not a good idea to ask a woman any pointed weight-related questions. But just to make things crystal clear:

1) A woman who is not pregnant but is simply overweight may already be struggling with low self-esteem or poor health, so to mistakenly ascribe her heaviness to pregnancy is to add insult to injury.

2) Worse, if a woman has visible abdominal bloating, it could be symptomatic of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (a complication from certain fertility drugs) or the result of undergoing in vitro fertilization—meaning not only is that woman not pregnant, but she also can’t conceive a child without medical intervention, in which case inquiring whether she’s pregnant will only draw attention to her already difficult emotional and physical circumstances.

3) If a woman looks pregnant, she might actually be. But that doesn’t mean she’s ready to tell people yet, let alone a complete stranger.

Next Page: Why aren’t you married? →

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3. Why aren’t you married?

Statistically, there’s a good chance that if the person you’re asking is in his or her thirties or forties and beyond, he or she already has been married and is now divorced. If that’s the case, the person may have ended the marriage very recently and may still be reeling emotionally, so this question is both invasive and potentially traumatic. In the case of homosexual couples, many states won’t even allow them to marry legally, and while the couples might not have made that decision for themselves, it could still be a sore subject. Finally, even if someone isn’t currently and has never been married, who’s to say he or she even believes in the institution in the first place? If the respondent feels strongly that marriage is little more than a legal agreement, all you’ll get in response to your query is a long diatribe on what a meaningless arrangement it is—and you’ll deserve it for nosing around in the first place.

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4. Why don’t you want/have kids?

The decision to have or not have children is one of the most personal in life, and as such, asking someone about his or her opting not to procreate is not advisable, as it could be perceived as disrespectful or judgmental. It may be the “American way” to have 1.5 kids, but people choose not to follow that path for a wide range of reasons: maybe they aren’t biologically capable of reproducing or able to adopt; maybe they had a child who died in infancy, and starting over is too painful; maybe they just want to enjoy their adulthood without shouldering the responsibility of caring for another life. As with the question “Are you pregnant?” the answer to this one is, quite simply, none of your business.

5. Do you believe in God?

Religion manifests itself in myriad forms, from going to church every Sunday to making a pilgrimage to Mecca to practicing yoga regularly to worshipping at the altar of red wine each weekend. No matter what someone’s religious—or atheistic or agnostic—inclinations are, his or her decision to share those views with you should be left to individual discretion and good timing. If you ask a friend, “Do you believe in God?” she might say no but could still be an intensely spiritual person—one who doesn’t feel comfortable discussing her rich inner life with you because your mention of a specific deity might imply your inability to appreciate the realm of faith beyond organized religion.

Next Page: How Much Does [Blank] Cost? →

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6. How much does your house/rent/car/purse/child’s tuition cost?

This type of query generally accomplishes little more than setting up a dichotomy between the “haves” and the “have nots,” and breeding resentment and competition within otherwise loving relationships. The way people choose to spend their money—whether they’ve earned it through hard work or are blowing a massive inheritance or trust fund—is up to them. And why do you care, anyway? If an acquaintance tells you she paid $900 for her Louis Vuitton tote, what does that mean to you: that she’s squandering her wealth, or that you have to have one of your own to keep up with the Joneses? Either way, that question is a loaded one. And even if your motives are genuinely practical—for example, you’re considering enrolling your child in the school your friend’s kid attends and want to know if you can afford it—it’s not right to put someone on the spot about how much tuition she pays, especially when you can learn such information by simply visiting the school’s website.

7. How many people have you slept with?

Even if the person you’re asking is someone with whom you’re considering having a sexual relationship, this question is more offensive than pragmatic. (In this case, the truly important inquiry to pose up front is not how many people your prospective partner has been intimate with, but rather whether [and when] he or she has been screened for all manner of sexually transmitted diseases.) The number of partners someone has had in the past could be embarrassing, whether because it’s “too many” or “too few,” in society’s opinion, or because the person has lost count and doesn’t want to admit it. In addition, the emotional significance people assign to the act of sex varies widely, so while sleeping with a hundred people could seem perfectly normal to one person, having sex with five could feel deviant to another—and in either case, asking someone for that figure could be divisive because doing so calls forth a discussion of personal values that don’t necessarily reflect your own sexual mores. Worst of all, consider the ramifications of asking a rape victim how many people she’s had intercourse with—how would it make her feel to have to wonder whether to include her rapist in her head count, just to satisfy your curiosity?

Cultivating personal relationships is a lifelong undertaking, and the closer you become to someone, the greater the likelihood that you’ll be privy to the intimate details of his or her life. These seven subjects may not be verboten forever—in fact, they often arise organically over the course of years spent with loved ones—but if you’re not sure whether they’re appropriate to broach, chances are, they aren’t yet. When it comes to curiosity, discretion is certainly the better part of valor.

This article was originally published on DivineCaroline.com.

More From Divine Caroline:

Whatever Happened to Manners?

The Etiquette of Bringing Meals for Friends

A Guide to Office Restrooms

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9 Memorable Questions to Ask in Any Interview

John Kador | Monster Contributing Writer — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:40:00 -0800

The landscape for job seekers today is more treacherous than at any other time in recent memory. In other words, if you want a job today, the hard work starts when you prepare for the interview.

That means not just nailing the questions you are asked, but actually asking the kinds of questions designed to make the interviewer sit up and take notice. It’s no longer enough to be qualified. If you want a job in today’s business environment, you have to shine, and there’s no better way to show your excellence than by asking excellent questions.

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Don’t squander the opportunity to shine by asking mundane questions the interviewer has heard before. Your goal is to make a statement in the form of a question. The statement is designed to:

• Highlight your qualifications.

• Demonstrate your confidence.

• Reinforce your commitment.

• Understand the employer’s challenges.

• Make yourself accountable.

• Advance your candidacy.

Questions are the best way to demonstrate that you understand the company’s challenges, emphasize how you can help the company meet them and show your interest in the most unmistakable manner possible — by actually asking for the position.

Based on my interviews with dozens of recruiters, human resource professionals and job coaches, here are nine of the most memorable questions candidates can ask:

1. What exactly does this company value the most, and how do you think my work for you will further these values?

2. What kinds of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?

3. In what area could your team use a little polishing?

4. What’s the most important thing I can accomplish in the first 60 days?

5. Can you give me some examples of the most and least desirable aspects of the company’s culture?

6. Am I going to be a mentor or will I be mentored?

7. How will you judge my success? What will have happened six months from now that will demonstrate that I have met your expectations?

8. This job sounds like something I’d really like to do -- is there a fit here?

9. Now that we’ve talked about my qualifications and the job, do you have any concerns about my being successful in this position?

Use these questions as prototypes for questions based on the particulars of the position you are interviewing for. Make them your own and polish them until their shine reflects on you. Asking questions like these is not for the faint of heart but, then again, neither is succeeding in today’s hyper-competitive job market.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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How To Overcome Being Overqualified

John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:31:00 -0800

You were laid off from your executive job by a company that's now six feet under. You've sent out 800
resumes, done one interview, received zero offers. You find yourself looking lower and lower on the totem pole and occasionally eyeing openings for line managers at the competitor that killed your former employer. If you must apply for a position for which you're clearly overqualified, how do you actually land the job?

Withhold Your Resume

Here's what not to do: Fire off a volley of resumes to human resources departments. "Sending a resume is simply a way to oblivion," says Jeffrey Fox, author of Don't Send a Resume. HR departments must quickly eliminate nearly all of the hundreds of resumes submitted for a single opening. At the first whiff of your extra qualifications, most screeners will stamp "no" on your application. "Resumes are read to be rejected," Fox says.

What's the workaround for overqualified candidates? Go directly to the hiring manager to pitch your ability to excel in the open position. You can either call or write, but hold back your resume in the first round of communication with the employer.

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Sell to the Employer's Need

Once you've found out as much as you can about the company and the position, you've got to imagine how your qualifications mesh perfectly with the job requirements. "If you're overqualified, you need to articulate how a handful of your skills will help that specific employer," says Nick Corcodilos, author of Ask the Headhunter. At least at first, say nothing about higher-level skills that don't pertain to the position at hand.

Use Emphasis to Shape Employer Perceptions

Sooner or later, you'll probably have to send a resume. More than you ever have before, you'll need to customize your one-page presentation of yourself. To de-emphasize those over-the-top elements of your professional background, "you can make some information more sparse, but you've got to be careful about misrepresenting yourself," says Corcodilos.

How do you tread this fine line? One solution is to create a functional resume where relevant skills are pumped up in detail toward the top of the resume, while overly impressive titles are demoted to the bottom and given little ink. Strategic emphasis is integral to persuasion; omission of recent, important rungs in your career ladder is unethical deception.

Next Page: Make a Virtue of Your Extra Qualifications →

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Make a Virtue of Your Extra Qualifications

In the interview, if your prospective employer says that your extraordinary qualifications cast doubt on your candidacy, recast your past as an asset to your future at the company. Emphasize that "you're getting somebody with the potential to move up," says Frances Haynes, coauthor with Daniel Porot of 101 Toughest Interview Questions.

Draw Out Objections; Don't Volunteer Them

Employers typically have the following objections to candidates with extra qualifications: You'll get bored quickly; you won't be satisfied with the salary; you'll jump to another company as soon as you get a better offer. "Employers are pretty reticent to hire overqualified people, because they believe when the economy picks up, they'll lose those people," says Haynes.

If you raise these issues early in the application process, you risk short-circuiting your candidacy. Instead, see what's on the minds of your interviewers by asking open-ended questions such as these: "What else do you need to hear to be convinced that I'm the best fit for the job? Do you have any questions about my candidacy that I haven't yet had the chance to answer?" Just make sure you've already ferreted out all the tough questions that your work history could possibly raise -- and practiced answering them.

The Ultimate Issue

Finally, be prepared to answer one question that the interviewer may be too embarrassed to ask: Won't it be humiliating for you to take a job that many people would consider beneath you? You can address this issue indirectly through the positive attitude you convey in everything you say about the available position and your fitness for it. "You have to be perceived as the kind of person who believes there is honor in every job," says Haynes.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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8 Tips for Better Email Cover Letters

Larry Buhl | Yahoo! HotJobs — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:29:00 -0800

As the saying goes, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. If you're doing a job search or resume submission via email, the first impression any employer will have is from your cover letter.

Some tips for creating successful email cover letters are the same as for paper cover letters: Be professional, with correct spelling and grammar, and -- very important -- do use them. Other tips pertain only to the electronic medium, and when disregarded, could ruin your chances before your foot is in the door.

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Here's what you should you consider when crafting an email cover letter:

Don't Waste Your Subject Line

What you write in the subject line can determine whether your letter gets read, according to Lydia Ramsey, business etiquette expert and author of Manners That Sell. "Don't ever leave the subject line of your email blank and don't waste it by just inserting the job number," Ramsey says. "The subject line should be clear and specific to the job you're looking for." An example: "Bilingual CPA seeks account manager position."

Use Standard Cover Letter Protocol

Write your letter as the body of the email and include a salutation (use the receiver's actual name if you know it) and a standard closing. ("Sincerely" or "Warm regards" work well.) Leave blank lines between paragraphs, and use appropriate signature and closing lines. Include all the information in your signature line you would have on your business card, including snail mail address, phone number and email address. "Remember, your email address doesn't always automatically show up on the receiver's email program," Ramsey says.

Keep It Short and Dynamic

Managers and recruiters are busy. They want to get the gist of your pitch in 150 words or fewer. The first paragraph is crucial, according to Ramsey. "Hook the reader in the first paragraph by selling him or her your abilities," she says. "Use short paragraphs and short sentences to give a very brief bio on who you are and what you can do for them, and wrap it up in the second paragraph."

Next: Keep It Simple →

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Keep It Simple

If you write a cover letter in a word-processing program, strip away all formatting and save the file as plain text. The ideal line length is 40 characters. Some email packages automatically do word wrap for you, so your cover letter doesn't arrive in fragments. If your program doesn't do this, go to FormatIt.com, drop in your text and the free service will format your email for you.

Don't get cute. Save emoticons, abbreviations, and wild colors and fonts for your nonprofessional emails. The same goes for humor. Chances are, the reader won't think it's funny, and may even find it irritating.

Be Specific

Don't respond to an ad for a copywriter when you're really a graphic designer, says Diana Qasabian, talent director at Syndicatebleu. "It may be the tight job market, but we've been receiving more and more letters responding to a specific job from candidates who are not at all qualified for it," she says.

"We look for specifics in email cover letters, which means skills and abilities," she adds. "Embellishment and fluff are not necessary. It's not necessary to write, 'I'm a hard worker.' That goes without saying."

Keywords Are Key

Because many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATSes) to find and screen candidates, skill-oriented keywords will boost your chance at being discovered, a recruiter at a large technology company says.

"ATS tools track keywords that identify skill sets," she says. "So even if you're not right for the job you're seeking, strong keywords improve the chance that your cover letter and resume will be retrieved in a future search or be selected for a more appropriate job."

Play by Their Rules

Take the time to learn the company guidelines for submitting resumes, and follow them. Many companies list these guidelines on their Web sites. Also, don't include attachments unless they are requested. Some companies block all emails with attachments to prevent viruses.

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Check It Again

Thoroughly spell-check and proofread your email letter. And remember, your email software's spell-checker won't catch grammar mistakes. Send it to a friend first and ask him to check it for content and style. If all your friends are tapped out, or even if they aren't, test your email cover letter by emailing it to yourself, and put yourself in the mind-set of an employer when you read it.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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3 Ways to Stop Undermining Your Work

Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:53:00 -0800

From time to time, you may undermine yourself on the job with your behavior. This form of self-sabotage not only prevents you from performing at your full potential, but also gives colleagues and customers an opportunity to think less of you as an individual and professional.

With self-awareness, determination and practice, you can minimize these negative behaviors. Try this three-step process.

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Name Your Behavior

The first step is to understand exactly how you undermine yourself. Three of the most common ways are:

• Dwelling on the Negative: Whether in a recurring internal dialogue or conversations with colleagues, the themes are the same. You focus on what is bad about your situation versus what is good, what is not possible versus what is. You remember all the bad things that have happened to you, not all the good things or your accomplishments.

• Falling into Work-Habit Traps: We all have bad work habits that act as traps we walk into again and again. Common examples include procrastination, tardiness, careless communication and sloppy work.

• Listening to Your Gremlins: Gremlins are the limiting beliefs and assumptions that subconsciously sabotage your progress. They tell you that you aren't good enough somehow -- that you're not smart enough, not worthy enough or just not up to the challenge. They embody your biggest insecurities.

Next Page: Zero Tolerance →

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Zero Tolerance

The second step is to decide which behaviors you will commit yourself to improving. Recognize that it's easier to overcome some behaviors, such as bad work habits, than others, such as deeply held, limiting beliefs. Also consider how failing to change certain behaviors could cost you professionally both now and later. Once you decide, put your personal integrity on the line and make a commitment not to tolerate those behaviors from yourself any longer.

Support the Positive

The third step is to create structures and systems to support the positive behaviors and discourage the negative. Here are some examples:

• Begin noticing when you're undermining yourself. When you find yourself complaining, falling into a work-habit trap or heeding a gremlin, stop. Tell yourself what you are doing and correct yourself. One common way to raise self-awareness is to snap a rubber band around your wrist each time you realize you've fallen into one of your old patterns.

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• Remove yourself from environments that encourage the behaviors you're trying to change. For example, if you always talk negatively about work with the same people at lunch, break the pattern by refusing to engage in such conversations or by having lunch elsewhere or with different people.

• To avoid falling into work-habit traps, design ways that support your good behaviors and discourage or minimize your bad ones. If you undermine yourself by being late, schedule buffer time in your calendar. If you procrastinate, set an early, artificial deadline for projects. Immediately determine what you need to do and get to work.

This strategy can also help combat some forms of negative thinking. If you think your failures outweigh your successes, objectively reflect on your wins. Collect positive performance reviews as well as emails and letters containing positive comments about you and your work. Build the collection and refer to it whenever you need a boost.

• To quiet your gremlins, you may need help from a therapist, mentor or coach. If, for example, you avoid challenging assignments because a gremlin tells you you aren't up to snuff, a therapist can help you understand why you think this way and work out strategies with you to overcome that limiting self-perception. A mentor or coach can help you focus on your goals, highlight your strengths and encourage your forward progress.

When it comes to undermining yourself, you are both the cause and the solution. By successfully managing such behaviors, you allow yourself and others to experience your best qualities.

This article was originally published on Monster.com.

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5 Attitudes That Get Creative Pros Promoted

Yun Siang Long | CareerRealism — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:07:00 -0800

You are looking for attitudes in the workplace to become your career booster. You are possibly past your first year mark at work. You have somewhat learned the ropes of your position but you feel you are slowing down.

So, what are some of the attitudes in the workplace that can help you get ahead at work? There are many positive attitudes that can help you do that. In fact, the value of these attitudes is they make you more motivated and hence, give you a career boost.

1. Enthusiastic

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I know, how can you ever feel enthusiastic about work especially when you already feel sluggish with the same work after a few years? It is precisely this reason I ask you to be enthusiastic. To be enthusiastic at work is about a mental state. You need to make the decision to be enthusiastic. Start by saying, “I will be an eager participant in this project or task.”

Attack your task with energy. Do not drag your feet. The more you tell yourself, “This is so boring,” or whatever the excuse maybe the worse you will feel. Get interested in the work and the energy will come naturally. Then decide to be eagerly involved. Being enthusiastic and energetic are attitudes in the workplace that can get you ahead. You cannot get ahead without energy.

2. Efficient

Strive to be the most efficient worker in your team. According to Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, to be efficient means “performing or functioning effectively with the least waste of time and effort.” When you are effective, you are producing the intended result. When you are efficient you do it with the least waste of time and effort. That means you are capable and competent.

If you carry with you the attitude in the workplace of constantly striving to be the most efficient worker, then you will sooner or later get ahead in your career. You will get a career boost because you are the most capable and competent on the team.

Next: Excellence →

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3. Excellence

Of the five attitudes in the workplace, this one probably calls for you to give yourself some pressure. A little pressure is good since it makes you push yourself harder. Strive for excellence in everything you do. Do not be contented with good. Go for great.

Exceed expectations by knowing good is sometimes not good enough. Give everything your utmost best. You will naturally see how this becomes your career booster. When you strive for excellence in everything you do, you quite naturally surpass others in your work. That gets you ahead.

4. Early

Have you ever thought about being early as an attitude in the workplace that can get you ahead? Yes, especially when your workplace practices flexi time. Many people take flexi time for granted. They stroll in and out at their own pace, not knowing they have probably wasted productive time.

Start early at work. Some of my most productive days are those I start early before the phone rings and before my staff walks in with questions. Clear your emails from last night, craft that important email when there are no disturbances.

5. Easy

Make every effort to be the easiest to work with in the office. Now, I am not saying compromise on your need for excellence. For example, this means not to complain and grumble each time there is a team meet. No one likes to work with someone who nags all the time.

When you are easy to work with, you make working enjoyable for the rest too. Such attitudes in the workplace is welcomed everywhere and you make yourself a competitive edge of any team. This competitive edge is your career booster.

There is no need for complicated plans to get a career boost. Simple steps with these attitudes in the workplace can get you ahead in your career.

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Is It Ever Okay to Bash Your Art Director on Facebook?

Kathy O'Reilly | Monster's Director of Social Media Relations — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:20:00 -0800

Employees have been criticizing their bosses since the beginning of time.

Until the birth of social media, these conversations generally played out in lunchrooms or restrooms, around the water cooler, over a few cocktails at the local pub after working hours, and in the smoker’s circle outside the office building.

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Regardless if the criticisms were true or not, the context remained private for the most part, usually involving a few other employees who also had similar disdain and negative feedback regarding the boss. Now, via social channels like Facebook and Twitter, private thoughts shared among a few are becoming very public statements broadcast to the world in real-time.

Should employees be allowed to bash
the boss on Facebook? More importantly, should they be legally protected when they publicly disparage their boss in social media?

These questions and concerns hit mainstream media last week following a recent case in Connecticut where the National Labor Relations Board ruled that
companies can’t fire employees for complaining about their boss on Facebook.

To set the historical context around the recent ruling, in 2009, American Medical Response (AMR), an ambulance services company, fired one of their emergency medical technicians for posting a criticism of her supervisor on Facebook. Several of the woman’s coworkers agreed with her Facebook post, in which she “referred to their supervisor using AMR’s code for a psychiatric patient.”

Fast forward to October 2010, when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in turn
filed a complaint against the company on behalf of Dawnmarie Souza, the fired EMT. The NLRB argued that “the National Labor Relations Act made Souza’s comments protected speech; the act gave her the right to discuss terms of employment with AMR with her coworkers and other people.”

The NLRB also felt AMR erred in not providing Souza with union representation when supervisors met with her to discuss her Facebook post.

Next Page: Three Questions for Employers To Consider →

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What happens when the workplace and social media collide? What precedent does this now set in labor law and what repercussions will this ruling have on future employer/employee relations? And what does this mean for existing
employee policies and their use of social media?

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HR blogger
Lance Haun recently authored an
article on The NLRB-Facebook Firing Case, looking at the Four Things Employers Need To Know. Lance brings up some interesting points, in particular, does this ruling only protect union employees and is this a victory for free speech, or something else all together.

We’d like to open up the conversation further and suggest additional questions for employers following last week’s NLRB ruling.

Social Networking: Three Questions for Employers To Consider

1. Isn’t this behavior just another form of workplace bullying or harassment?

While companies are going to great lengths to protect employees (including the boss) in the workplace, what is the employer’s role in protecting the employee being bashed publicly? If boss bashing is a form of workplace bullying, should such behavior be tolerated, let alone protected by law?

2. Are current social media policies/guidelines now at risk?

Even if employers have clearly defined social media guidelines established within their organizations, this ruling could challenge social media policies currently in place. If employees can now cite AMR vs. Souza in their own defense, existing social media guidelines may now need to be revisited by organizations.

3. What damage control and legal risks potentially lie ahead?

When a company’s dirty laundry is aired in public for the world to see, what negative impact does it have on the brand reputation of the organization, and what processes can they put in place to get back on track? If the information posted in a public online setting is libelous and slanderous, does boss bashing now put the company at risk for a potential lawsuit brought on by one of their own employees?

We suspect this is just the beginning of the discussion, and while we continue to watch how things will play out, we do predict two things in the aftermath of this current ruling:

1. Employers will be re-thinking their in-house social media policies immediately.

2. Anyone thinking about getting into social media law as a career choice will likely have excellent job security in the years to come.

This article was originally published on MonsterThinking.com.

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ArtBistro

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3. Knowing what you want is half the battle.

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4. In reality nobody is perfect, and no job is perfect either.

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Claim What You Want

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Ask Yourself

Get in the Game

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1. Develop a Thick(er) Skin

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2. Be a Diplomat

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4. Assess Your Strengths (and Weaknesses)

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1. How much money do you make?

2. Are you pregnant?

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3. Why aren’t you married?

4. Why don’t you want/have kids?

5. Do you believe in God?

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6. How much does your house/rent/car/purse/child’s tuition cost?

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