Financial Jobs: Are Government Jobs for Real?

With all the talk of Wall Street workers turning to financial jobs in the U.S. government, a little skepticism about those jobs is brewing, according to an article on WSJ.com. Government hiring takes twice as long as it does in the private sector, and government salaries are not even close to Wall Street’s, according to the article.
And [...]

Hold Out for More Money and Get a Bigger Salary Offer

To grab a larger salary offer in a recession focus on what you perceive to be what the company is looking to hire most.

Yes, the economy stinks, but that doesn’t mean you should discount your own influence in a salary negotiation.
If it’s clear you’re the candidate the company wants, then negotiating for the best possible [...]

Resume Words and Phrases to Avoid

A resume is a far cry from creative writing; the advent of applicant tracking systems that govern resume retrieval at most hiring companies have made the selection of resume format and words as much a science as an art.
Certified professional resume writers follow the trends in ATS software; they establish guidelines on resume formats (such [...]

Verizon Business Earnings Forecast Continued Enterprise-Wide Hiring Freeze

Verizon Communications today announced that profits dropped 21 percent (year-over-year) in the second quarter and that the telecommunications giant would need to eliminate 8,000 jobs by the end of December.
But that wasn’t the bad news for the U.S. workforce and workers looking for signs the employment market might be revving up for economic recovery.
The profit [...]

How to Earn Your Worth

Lately, you’re lucky to be making the same salary you agreed to when you signed the offer letter.
Many workers in this recession have taken pay cuts in the 5 percent to 15 percent range; are dealing with forced furloughs, frozen salaries and reduced benefits; or are facing unemployment while searching for jobs below their pay [...]

The Job Search Starts with a Google Search … for Yourself

At this point, it shouldn’t be surprising that many recruiters and hiring managers meet you on Google before they meet you in person or over the phone.
A fast search on the Internet is the easiest way for a total stranger to conduct a litmus test on what sort of candidate you will make. Depending on [...]

Common Resume Lies

Eighteen percent of resumes include fake companies or lie about companies no longer in business, and 8 percent of resumes exaggerate accomplishments. Those are the findings of a study by Accu-Screen of Tampa, Fla., an investigative firm that conducts employment background screenings for hiring companies.
What are the most common forms of deceit on a resume? [...]

Social-Networking Job-Search Advice: Common Courtesy Applies

New to social-networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter?
Well, the same rules apply as in face-to-face networking. Be courteous and respectful of people’s time, and don’t overdo the self-promtion. There’s a line between taking and giving; in networking, think of others before yourself and you will reap the benefits, according to the article “Social Netiquette: [...]

Grab Attention with Your Cover Letter

Do you really need to write a cover letter? Does anyone even read cover letters? Aren’t they a formality?
The answer is “yes” to all three. They’re a formality, but one you’re forced to address in every job application.  Someone will read your cover letter.
Sure, you need to shine in an interview, and you will likely [...]

How to Manage an Extended Layoff

Among the harshest traits of this recession is that unemployment lingers. Those who find themselves out of work, on avergage, find they stay out of work for long stretches of time than in any previously recorded recession.
The result is that gaps in your resume are no longer the obstacle they used to be, say recruiters [...]