It may sound counter-intuitive in a down job market, but there are instances when it is best to turn down a job offer. This can be a result of many factors, including the job not being a good fit, the responsibilities are not ideal to your career goals and more. Even when you do turn down a job, maintaining a professional demeanor is still important. Let's address the best approaches. Even though you are not accepting t...

Flexibility at work is a necessity for employees and employers, alike. Streamlined workforces, shifts in technology and a changing market are just a few reasons why flexibility is the new norm for many organizations. While your company may not have a formal set of rules for a flexible workplace, there are many advantages to be gained by taking on a flexible attitude – and approach, when it comes to your job. Advant...

What makes a good employee? While the response may differ from manager to manager and company, one constant holds true – employers want employees who are dependable, trustworthy, and good at their jobs. Great employees share certain characteristics and these are the ones that employers seek above and beyond the ability to fill a job description. If you are looking to position yourself as a great employee, make sure...

To enhance their job search and make it more effective, many people are turning to the encouragement found in Job Clubs-groups for support, networking, and sharing tips on job hunting, resume writing, and interviewing. Many people find job clubs energizing and genuinely helpful in moving their job search forward. I spoke about job clubs with Jolene Varley Handy, the Director of Career Services at Grace Institute. Jolene...

When you’re faced with the decision of taking a paying job over an unpaid internship in your field, it is worth considering whether the short–term paycheck will be more important than the long–term investment that interning can provide. While some internships are paid, many are not, which might lead a person into feeling as if the internship would be of no value because they would have nothing in their ban...

Entry-level job seekers find themselves in a unique position. While they may have the education that a job requires, they lack the all important on-the-job experience. From college students about to enter the labor force, stay-at-home moms who want to work outside the home, to any number of job seekers, there are strategies you can employ to land an entry-level job. 1. First step, do the research. As with any job search...

What is the 'perfect job?' Unfortunately, it doesn't exist. This is not an alarmingly pessimistic point of view, but rather a real one. Every man and woman in the work force has different strengths, weaknesses, opinions, personalities, and an unfathomable amount of other characteristics that, when combined and utilized, can help in the search for a position that is a good fit. When you focus on finding your job fit, suc...

First impressions are always important, and never more so than on the work-front. The reality is - and will always be - that people make an assumption of you within the first few seconds you meet. This can include everything from the way you dress, to how you speak and your general attitude. At work, the first impression can not only impact short-term perceptions of you - but your long-term reputation and career success. Ou...

The old mantra – 'there is no I in team,' although overused should be considered a sound philosophy all employees need adopt to succeed in today’s work environment. A streamlined workforce, mergers and acquisitions and countless other shifts in business necessitate that employee’s foster a sense of community with their peers. There are some simple steps you can take to build this team environment. Start...

Is everything really that important? Sometimes it may feel that way whenweighed down with both work and family life. The hardest part when this happens is to determine what is the real priority, and what tasks can be relegated to a later time. Unfortunately, when you reach a point where everything seems like a fire drill, this is usually when you may already feel overwhelmed. So how do you determine what projects take pr...