Thursday, March 18, 2010

How to Get a Raise

How to Get a Raise

6 personality traits that will impress your boss and increase your salary
by Sara Eckel, PayScale.com

You work hard--meeting deadlines, delivering results, and showing up on time. But each year you've been getting a raise in the measly 2 percent range (if that). Meanwhile, certain coworkers stroll out of their review meetings with big smiles on their faces.

Why do some people get a fat, juicy slab of the pie while others are offered crumbs? Experts say that, of course, diligence and talent play their part, but if you really want to increase your salary, you'll need these qualities:

1. An Owner's Mentality

Many people go into their annual review with a list of reasons that they need more money. But Joel Rudy, vice president of operations for Photographic Solutions, a supplier of digital-camera cleaning products, says that such pleas don't inspire employers to give raises. "I know that utilities have gone up," he says. He is more impressed with people who apply those inflationary concerns to the business--as if it were their own. For example, he was recently impressed with an employee who found a less expensive phone plan for the company. "Now, that's a raise-getter!" he says.

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2. Forward-Thinking

While the people who get good raises definitely know how to highlight last year's achievements, Laura Browne, a corporate trainer and the author of "Raise Rules for Women: How to Make More Money at Work," says the highest earners don't dwell on the past. "Forget about last year. Find out the key initiatives that your company or your president wants to achieve this year," she says. For example, if the president said in the annual report that he wants to increase customer satisfaction by 15 percent, focus on that goal. "Your work needs to be connected with what the company cares about right now," says Browne.

3. Visibility

If you stay cloistered in your cubicle, you'll probably be disappointed when raises are announced--no matter how hard you work. "Quiet, shy, or otherwise invisible types are often left behind when it's pay-raise time," says Jane Goldner, PhD., president of The Goldner Group, an Atlanta-based consulting firm. To ensure that you and your hard work are seen, request projects that will get you in front of others--working with colleagues from other departments, giving presentations, or even contributing to the company newsletter. This will make it easier for your boss to plead your case to any necessary approvers. "If your boss is in the meeting and says, 'I want to give a raise to Sally,' it's going to be hard if no one knows who Sally is. On the other hand, if you have been visibly helpful, they'll say, 'Oh Sally, She's terrific!'" says Browne.

4. Charisma

Having great ideas and lofty goals is terrific. But if you want to see them executed, you also have to motivate others to rally around your initiatives. Executive coach Lisa Chenofsky Singer says these kind of interpersonal skills play a huge role when compensation is discussed. "Although someone may be competent from a technical-qualifications perspective, if their style doesn't flow well with others or they're not able to influence others, they tend to be the low-increased players," she says.

5. Tough Skin

No boss will ever say, "I love to give raises to self-promoters." So how do you draw attention to your achievements without looking like a braggart? Milan P. Yager, president and CEO of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, says that giving your boss a quarterly progress report and asking for feedback is a subtle way to get noticed. "It is a fine line, but if you can master the technique, it will pay rewards," he says. And letting your supervisors know that you want criticism will show them that you have the confidence to handle any negative comments, which makes the evaluation process a lot less stressful for them.

6. Empathy for the Boss

The highest-earning employees understand that their job is to make their boss's life easier. Think about the things that your boss doesn't like doing--running meetings, tracking numbers--and ask if you can help by taking over those tasks. It's also important to understand that your boss can't always give you what you want, no matter how great your work is. "Most people get keyed up to ask for a raise and when they hear 'no' they respond really negatively," says Browne. "If you instead say, 'I understand, but when raises are unfrozen I would like to be the first in line,' you'll have a much better chance of getting the raise when they can give it."

7 Things Never to Say to Your Boss

7 Things Never to Say to Your Boss

Buzz up! 69 Print..Karen Burns, On Wednesday March 17, 2010, 11:19 am EDT
Everyone has a boss. Even if you "work for yourself," you're still an employee to your client.

A big part of maintaining the boss-employee relationship is to never allow a boss to think you dislike your work, are incapable of doing it, or--worse--consider it beneath you.

[See the best careers for 2010.]

These sound like no-brainers, but many statements heard commonly around the workplace violate these basic rules. Looking for an example? Here are seven heard in workplaces all the time. They may seem ordinary, even harmless. But try reading these from your boss's point of view. You'll see right away why it's smart to never allow these seven sentences to pass your lips:

"That's not my job." You know what? A lot of bosses are simple souls who think your job is to do what's asked of you. So even if you're assigned a task that is, indeed, not your job, refrain from saying so. Instead, try to find out why your boss is assigning you this task--there may be a valid reason. If you believe that doing the task is a bad idea (as in, bad for the company) you can try explaining why and suggesting how it could be better done by someone else. This may work, depending on the boss. In any case, remember that doing what's asked of you, even tasks outside your job description, is good karma.

[See the 50 worst job interview mistakes.]

"It's not my problem." When people say something is not their problem it makes them look like they don't care. This does not endear them to anybody, especially the boss. If a problem is brewing and you have nothing constructive to say, it's better to say nothing at all. Even better is to pitch in and try to help. Because, ultimately, a problem in the workplace is everyone's problem. We're all in it together.

"It's not my fault." Yet another four words to be avoided. Human nature is weird. Claiming that something is not our fault often has the result of making people suspect it is. Besides, what's the real issue here? It's that something went wrong and needs to be fixed. That's what people should be thinking about--not who is to blame.

"I can only do one thing at a time." News flash: Complaining you are overworked will not make your boss feel sorry for you or go easier on you. Instead, a boss will think: (1) you resent your job, and/or (2) you aren't up to your job. Everybody, especially nowadays, feels pressured and overworked. If you're trying to be funny, please note that some sarcasm is funny and lightens the mood. Some just ticks people off.

[See how to answer 10 tricky interview questions.]

"I am way overqualified for this job." Hey, maybe you are. But the fact is, this is the job you have. You agreed to take it on and, while you may now regret that decision, it's still your job. Complaining that it's beneath you only makes you look bad. Plus, coworkers doing similar jobs may resent and dislike you. And guess what? Bosses will not think, "Oh, this is a superior person whom I need to promote." Nope, they'll think, "What a jerk."

"This job is easy! Anyone could do it!" Maybe what you're trying to convey here is that you're so brilliant your work is easy. Unfortunately, it comes off sounding more like, "This work is stupid." Bosses don't like hearing that any work is stupid. Nor do they really like hearing that a job is easy peasy. It belittles the whole enterprise. If a task is simple, be glad and do it as quickly as you can. Even "stupid" work needs to get done.

"It can't be done." Saying something can't be done is like waving a red flag in a boss's eyes. Even if the thing being suggested truly is impossible, saying it is can make you look ineffectual or incapable. Better to play detective. Why is the boss asking you to do whatever it is? What's the problem that needs to be solved? What's the goal? Search for doable ways of solving that problem or reaching that goal. That's what bosses really want. Most of them do not expect the impossible.

Last words: When in doubt, remember that silence really is golden.

Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.

Remember: Bosses are customers: give them what they want to make the "sale". Keeping them happy is self serving.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Value of time...

Read quietly then send it on its Journey…



To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam..

To realize The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.....

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,
But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember...

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Do not keep this letter.

Send it to friends & family to whom you wish good luck
And don't forget the one who sent it to you!

Peace, love and prosperity to all!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

sleep

Sleep Solutions from Chinese MastersBy Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Mon, Mar 08, 2010, 12:18 pm PST Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity
by Dr. Maoshing Ni a Yahoo! Health Expert for Cholesterol

Visit Cholesterol Home »
More By This Expert

Sleep Solutions from Chinese Masters

5 Ways to Avoid Burn Outs

What Your Face Reveals About Your Health

Nearly two out of three Americans are affected by insomnia and other sleep disorders. With that many people resting poorly, it is a wonder anyone gets through the workweek—let alone their whole life! While there are many pharmaceuticals available to induce sleep, there are centuries-old traditional techniques that can get you your zzz’s naturally.

The traditional Chinese medical view on sleep

In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is considered yin time—the time when your body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is necessary for your body to repair itself and regenerate. It is also critical for the proper functioning of organs such as the liver, which performs most of its detoxification at night while you are sleeping.

Insomnia is one of the most common conditions I see in my practice, usually as part of a pattern of imbalances. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression all negatively affect the delicate balance of the liver, spleen, and heart, disturbing the spirit and activating the mind. Once the mind is active, it becomes increasingly difficult to fall asleep. To reach deep, restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm and your liver and spleen networks must work together to process nutrients.

Read on to learn four traditional, time-tested ways to reach deep, restorative sleep:

1. Acupressure for sleep enhancement
Acupressure is an ancient healing technique, in which you use your fingertips to press key points on your body to stimulate natural healing. Here are two acupressure points you can press to induce restorative sleep:

• Inner Gate, known technically as Pericardium-6 is three finger-widths above your wrist crease, between the two tendons on the inside of your left forearm. Apply moderate pressure with your right thumb, holding for 5 minutes and breathing deeply. Repeat on the other arm.

Inner Gate Acupoint (Pericardium-6)

• Bubbling Spring, also known as Kidney-1, is on the bottom of your foot, at the center of the indentation below the ball of your foot. Press down with your thumb, hold for 30 seconds, relax for five, and again continue for five minutes.

Bubbling Spring (Kidney-1)

For a deep, calming sleep, try to do 10 minutes of acupressure each night.

2. A traditional sedative: Jujube seed

In Chinese medicine it is thought that the heart houses the spirit. When the heart is weak, the spirit becomes restless and cannot properly rest at night, which you experience as insomnia or poor, unrefreshing sleep. The herbal remedy for this condition is the seed of the jujube date. A traditional sedative, jujube seed calms the spirit, strengthens the heart, and supports a good night’s sleep. Research has shown that this seed is rich in saponins, which promote relaxation and sleep while reducing irritability and anxiety. A typical dosage is 500 mg a day. Look for jujube seed in health food stores, online, and from acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists, where it is often combined in a formula with other natural herbs.

You might also try traditional herbal formulations that contain sleep-enhancing herbs. Anxiety/Sleepless formula contains jujube seed and other herbs to help diminish insomnia, anxiety, and mental exhaustion. Also, Emotional Tranquility tea is an herbal blend formulated to settle the mind and soothe the emotions, very useful for people suffering from stress and insomnia.

3. Empty your mind before sleep

Rumination, the emotion of the spleen network, concentrates energy within the brain. For example, when one continually ponders problems, the most frequent symptom experienced is insomnia. In this case, the energy stays in the brain at night instead of following its normal course of descending to the lower part of the body, which allows one to sleep peacefully. Try writing in a journal every night to get thoughts and worries out of your mind and down on paper. Another way is meditation, which has long been practiced to get beyond the thinking mind and into a deeper state of relaxation. Nearly all of my insomniac patients have benefited from my guided Stress-Release Meditation. (In fact, many people report falling asleep to this meditation as I narrate it on a CD, which I try to take as a compliment!)


4. Four Exercises that target insomnia

The famous Taoist physician Ge Hong, who lived during the Han dynasty in the third century, promoted this set of exercises as prevention and treatment of insomnia. Chinese studies indicate that these moves effectively improved the sleep quality of chronic insomniacs when practiced nightly for two to four weeks. Now you can try them.

1.Lie on your back with your knees bent. Use your hands to pull your knees toward your chest and breathe naturally. Hold the position for one minute, then relax, straighten your legs, and rest your arms and hands at your sides.

2. Remain on your back, inhale, and stretch both arms up above your head. As you exhale, bring your hands down and massage your body from your chest to your abdomen, then rest your hands at your sides. Repeat with every breath for one minute.

3. Still on your back, make fists with both hands. Place them under your back as high as possible toward the shoulder blades, one fist on either side of your spine. Take three complete breaths, then reposition your fists downward one notch and repeat, moving downward every third breath until your fists are at waist level. Take five breaths here. Now put your fists on either side of the tailbone and take five more breaths.

4. Lie face down and place your hands under your abdomen. Slowly inhale, filling your abdomen and chest, and feel the energy permeate your whole body. Then slowly exhale and visualize negativity leaving your body. Pause after each exhalation and relax every muscle. Do this for one minute.

5. A Taoist sleep position: The Deer Sleep Posture

Ge Hong recommended following the four anti-insomnia exercises above with this particular sleeping posture. Turn partway over to sleep on your right side. This is called the “deer sleep posture” because it looks similar to the position of a deer asleep in the wild. Bend your right arm at the elbow, with the palm facing up in front of your face. Rest your left arm with your elbow on hip, hand dropped down in front of your abdomen. The right leg is naturally straight, and the left knee is bent, resting on the mattress in front of your right thigh.

There are many more solutions to sleep issues and several other common conditions in my book Secrets of Self-Healing, which gives practical explanations about traditional Chinese medicine.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

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Transform your health and bring quality to your years with Dr. Mao's natural health products from the Tao of Wellness.

Discover a high-quality water filtration system that will provide you with pure, healthy water.

Order Dr. Mao's new book Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age.

Learn hundreds of ways for living a long and happy life with Dr. Mao's book Secrets of Longevity.

Find out amazing ways you can naturally increase your energy and heal common ailments in Secrets of Self-Healing, Dr. Mao's landmark book on natural healing.

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To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.

To purchase Dr. Mao's book, "Second Spring," click here.

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Weight Found to Affect Prostate Cancer Outcome

REGIMENS

Weight Found to Affect Prostate Cancer Outcome

A new study reports that overweight men with advanced prostate cancer seem not to live as long as those with normal body mass.

In the study, published online yesterday and scheduled to appear in the Dec. 15 issue of the journal Cancer, researchers looked at 788 men being given different types of therapies for prostate cancer. More than half were overweight or obese.
In an average eight-year follow-up, the overweight and obese patients were about 1.8 times as likely to die of prostate cancer as men of normal weight. The association persisted after controlling for type of treatment, age, race, cancer severity and other factors.

The reasons for the association are unclear, but the authors suggest that hormonal conditions of obesity may be conducive to severe prostate cancer, and that prostate treatment may be less successful in overweight men. (A stndv in The Journal of the American Medical Association last week found that overweight people are less likely than others to die of some diseases, but it did not specifically look at prostate cancer.) Dr. Matthew R. Smith, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard who was the senior researcher for the prostate study, said that though the subjects had the same treatment and follow-up, "this one variable — their body weight — had a dramatic impact on their outcome. Weight loss after diagnosis might reduce the risk. But this study doesn't prove that."

How to get a bigger tax refund

Want a Bigger Tax Refund? Don't Itemize
by Cheryl A. Morse
Monday, March 15, 2010
provided by

Six reasons why many taxpayers can save money and time by claiming the standard deduction.


More from Forbes.com:

• 10 Reasons to Convert to a Roth IRA

• America's Highest Sales Taxes

• 12 Dodgy Tax Preparers


Did you know you can legally take a deduction that is more than the total of your receipts? It's called the standard deduction and for a lot of taxpayers it's a money and time saver.

Year after year taxpayers spend hours hunting down and organizing all their receipts and canceled checks for totally legitimate deductions -- gifts to charity, medical expenses, unreimbursed business expenses and so on. Then they're told by their tax professionals, (or discover while using software such as Intuit's TurboTax or H&R Block's At Home) that all their conscientious record keeping is for naught. Those itemized deductions won't be showing up on their tax returns, because they'll get a bigger refund by claiming the "standard deduction."

Often people are left feeling a little cheated and confused by the process. So it helps to understand why you may be better off not itemizing, particularly this year. Here are six reasons:

1. The Standard Deduction Isn't So Small or So Standard


More from Yahoo! Finance:

• The Right Way to Squirrel Money from the Taxman

• 10 Tax Breaks for Parents

• Rat Out a Tax Cheat, Pad Your Wallet?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Taxes Center


The standard deduction is an amount assigned to each filing status. The base amount for 2009 is $5,700 for a single filer and double that -- $11,400 -- for a married couple filing jointly. A head of household (a single parent with kids, for example) gets a standard deduction of $8,350. There are additions to these standard amounts for those who are blind or over age 65.

In addition, for 2009 filers using the standard deduction can claim some extra breaks, including a $1,000 per couple ($500 for a single) deduction for real estate taxes paid. In fact, there are so many special breaks the Internal Revenue Service created a new tax form this year: Schedule L, Standard Deductions for Certain Filers. You use Schedule L to claim the extra real estate tax deduction, certain casualty losses and a special deduction for sales tax on a new vehicle purchased after Feb. 16, 2009 and before the end of 2009. With such add-ons, the standard deduction can quickly become a large number, and more beneficial than deducting your actual expenses. The common complaint I hear is: "I don't get to take anything anymore." I explain it as "Let's Make A Tax Deal." Behind door No. 1 are all your receipts and behind door No. 2 is the standard deduction. You want to pick the door that will get you a bigger deduction.

2. Medical Expenses Aren't Easy to Deduct

The list of allowed medical deductions is long and includes out-of-pocket expenses such as medical co-pays, dental work, glasses, $0.24 per mile to get to and from medical appointments, nursing home costs, health and long-term care insurance and even the cost of adding a wheelchair ramp to your home. (Note: If you're self-employed, the cost of medical insurance is deductible on more favorable terms on your Schedule C.)

One point of confusion: Many people help pay for their health insurance with pre-tax money taken out of their pay. Even though those insurance premiums are a big and rising expense, they aren't deductible since they come out of untaxed money.

Here's another catch: You can only deduct medical expenses to the extent they exceed 7.5% of your income. So most people, while they may feel their out-of-pocket medical costs are high, will not qualify for much of any medical deduction unless they have a catastrophic illness or a family member in a nursing home.

Let's take the example of Charlotte, a single mom filing as a head of household. Charlotte works in a job with medical insurance and has an adjusted gross income of $42,000, She had out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling $3,300. But only expenses above $3,150 (7.5% of $42,000) are deductible for Charlotte. So she can deduct only $150 in medical expenses. (If she had a medical flexible spending account at work, she could have paid all of her expenses out of that -- pre-tax.)

3. Some Real Estate Taxes Are Deductible Either Way

Yes, real estate taxes on your first and second home are deductible. Charlotte paid real estate taxes of $1,200. That means if she itemizes, she can deduct $1,200. But remember, for 2009, if she claims the standard deduction, she can deduct $500 of that tax anyway.

4. Your Deductible Mortgage Interest Could Be Shrinking

Yes, this can be a big itemized deduction. But as you pay down your mortgage your interest deduction is lower, and that write-off becomes less valuable as an itemized deduction. Moreover, when you refinance to get a lower interest rate, your mortgage deduction also goes down. Note that points you pay on a new mortgage may be deducted in full the year you pay them, but those paid to refinance a mortgage must be deducted over the life of the new loan. Also be aware that closing costs are never deductible on a personal residence, although many of my clients seem to be told otherwise.

5. Charity Requires Record Keeping

You need receipts for any and all donations, including $20 you put in the church collection plate on Sunday. The Internal Revenue Service is serious about the records part, and if you're chosen for one of its "correspondence audits," it will deny charitable deductions you can't substantiate.

You cannot take a deduction for your time, but your travel to perform charitable works is deductible at $0.14 per mile. Back to Charlotte, who keeps fastidious receipts, gives generously and volunteers frequently at her church. Between donations and mileage, her deduction for charitable giving if she itemizes is $2,200.

6. Miscellaneous Deductions Are Deductible, but ...

Various items, including preparation fees, safe deposit box fees, and unreimbursed job related expenses are also deductible -- but like medical deductions, only to the extent that they exceed a certain percentage of your income. For miscellaneous deductions, that is 2%.

Charlotte paid $195 to have her taxes done, $30 for a safety deposit box and $560 in job search expenses. Her total is $785, but only amounts above $840 (2% of $42,000) are deductible. So she can't claim any miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Let's recap. Charlotte's allowed deductions, if she itemizes are: real estate taxes, $1,200; sales tax on a car $650; state and local income tax withholding from her pay, $1,100; medical expenses, $150; mortgage interest, $3,000; charity, $2,200. Grand total: $8,300. (Normally, you can deduct either state and local sales taxes or income taxes, but the car provision is an extra for 2009 that can be claimed in addition to state and local income taxes.)

Charlotte's standard deduction, as figured on Schedule L, is $8,350 for head of household status, $650 for the car taxes and $500 for real state taxes. Grand total: $9,500. So she, like many filers, receives of a larger tax break by not itemizing.

In some cases, whether itemizing saves you money will vary from year to year. But the point is this: Don't assume you're being deprived of some benefit if your tax preparer or your tax software tells you to take the standard deduction.

Cheryl Morse has been an enrolled agent specializing in individual and small-business taxes for more than 25 years and is a tax manager with Emerging Business Partners in eastern Massachusetts. She is a national instructor for the National Association of Tax Professionals, an instructor for the University of Massachusetts Tax School and area chair of the IRS Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.

Errors on job interviews

.50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes

Buzz up! 1026 Print..Karen Burns, On Wednesday March 10, 2010, 11:56 am EST
You may have heard the horror stories--job hunters who take phone calls or text during an interview, or bring out a sandwich and start chomping, or brush their hair, or worse. You wouldn't do any of those things, would you? Of course not.

[See the best careers for 2010.]

But there are tons of other job interview no-no's you may not have thought of. Or that you've forgotten. The job hunting trail is long and arduous, and a little refresher course can't hurt. So for your edification and enjoyment, here are 50 (yes, 50!) of the worst and most common job interview mistakes:

[See how to answer 10 tricky interview questions.]

1. Arriving late.

2. Arriving too early.

3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.

4. Bad-mouthing your last boss.

5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.

6. Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes.

7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with.

8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.

9. Wearing sunglasses.

10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.

11. Failing to research the employer in advance.

12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.

13. Inquiring about benefits too soon.

14. Talking about salary requirements too soon.

15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.

16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.

17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio.

18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume.

19. Asking too many questions.

20. Asking no questions at all.

21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.

22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.

23. Talking more than half the time.

24. Interrupting your interviewer.

25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.

26. Yawning.

27. Slouching.

28. Bringing along a friend, or your mother.

29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.

30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.

31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um."

32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.

33. Asking to use the bathroom.

34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.

35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.

36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).

37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does.

38. Becoming angry or defensive.

39. Complaining that you were kept waiting.

40. Complaining about anything!

41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist.

42. Letting your nervousness show.

43. Overexplaining why you lost your last job.

44. Being too familiar and jokey.

45. Sounding desperate.

46. Checking the time.

47. Oversharing.

48. Sounding rehearsed.

49. Leaving your cell phone on.

50. Failing to ask for the job.

Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

How Long Should Your Resume Be?

How Long Should Your Resume Be?

Expert advice and 5 tips for determining the right length
Over the past few months, Glassdoor.com career expert Jeff Hunter has surveyed a group of recruiters and HR managers in order to provide job seekers with insight into the hiring process. His list of ten questions inspired interesting responses, including varied answers regarding resumes and resume length. It's clear that there isn't a straight answer to the age-old question "How long should my resume be?"
Here are some of the responses from top recruiters and HR executives:

"1-2 pages for a junior candidate, 3-4 pages for a senior candidate."
--Glenn Kwarcinski, senior technical recruiter in the Wireless Technologies Division of Apple. "One page, but I don't ding people for more than that."
--Craig Campbell, director of talent acquisition at Dolby Labs =========================================
Also on Yahoo! Hot Jobs:

• 6 resume must-haves

• After the recruiter says no

• Find a new job near you

• Get personalized Twitter job alerts from Yahoo! Hot Jobs
=========================================

• "2 pages . . . that's it. But I believe a true recruiter's job is to set interviews, not submit resumes." --Sean Rehder, recruiter

"There is [no single correct answer.] But remember that the longer you go, the greater the chance of boring the reader."--Jeff Hunter, Glassdoor.com career expert
And here are five tips to consider as u update your resume & debate the length it should be:

1. Make sure your resume clearly and succinctly communicates your achievements. Avoid resume "filler"--vague language that doesn't precisely explain a skill or an accomplishment. According to Rusty Rueff, Glassdoor career and workplace expert, you should try to tie each thing in your work history to a measurable result you achieved.

2. Evaluate whether an achievement is best highlighted in your resume, in an interview, or perhaps in your cover letter. Rueff says, "The resume is an outline, or a storyboard of you. It tells a story of continued achievement and growth. Storyboards hit the high points; the interview is when you can introduce dialogue, drama, the overcoming of barriers, and so on."

3. Consider whether a long-ago job best supports your qualification for a job you're after today. For example, a valuable experience waiting tables at one of the busiest restaurants in your town may have taught you how to multitask, but does that job readily speak to why you would make a great software engineer at Oracle?

4. Look at the format of your resume with fresh eyes and consider whether a brief paragraph or five to seven bullets would more easily express what you managed to do in your last few jobs. Rueff explains, "Consider your audience. For example, if you're applying for a job that will require a lot of writing, consider developing a two- or three-sentence paragraph for each job that gives a hint of your writing skills. However, if you're in a technical field, brief bullets may best showcase your experience. The bottom line is that whether you bullet-point your achievements or offer more color in a paragraph format, everything should be tied to a result and tell a mini-story within the bigger career story of you."

5. Avoid cliffhangers or one-liners that extend your resume to a second or third page. Often that last hanger line will either be ignored or simply have the potential employer asking, "Why didn't they clean that up?!'

And last but not least, if you're concerned about resume length even after running through each of these considerations, do not shrink the font size to something barely readable. Recruiters, hiring managers, and others who can help get you a job want to actually read your resume, so don't make doing so difficult. While there is no rule of thumb when it comes to the overall length, one to two pages is still the average. For your resume, ask yourself whether it's direct, informative, insightful, and appropriate to your skills and experience. No problem, right?!

For more information and tips to help you craft, update, and manage your resume, visit Glassdoor.com