Job Articles http://www.degreedjobs.net 2008-08-20T11:17:03+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2008-06-23T13:53:16+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/116/2/ What you indicate on you resume as tasks could be much more useful to you if they were positioned as skills. Employers may not see as much value in learning about what you did in your last job, as they would in identifying skills that they can utilize. Of course if you are applying for a job in the same industry, your tasks may speak volumes to the new employer. Some just want to know that you have done the job before. But if you are in a transition, and you are targeting a job... text/html 2008-06-23T13:09:21+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/115/2/ Many people do not buy into the theory that you have to wear a suit to a job interview. In fact, in modern times, the idea that a suit is necessary for all job interviews has been replaced by a greater focus on individual comfort and appropriate attire for the role. For starters, if you don’t typically wear suits, you may look awkward and unnatural. And if you get the job, you will also be unable to live up to the impression you made during the interview. Yes you should have an appropriate outfit, but... text/html 2008-06-18T14:20:40+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/114/2/ A continuing look at some common interview questions and helpful suggestions on how to answer them… Tell me about your best or worst boss ever: Do: focus on your ability to appreciate and respect different management styles, and adapt to each. Do not: give examples of poor management or supervision. You could risk criticizing the established management style of the individual asking you the question or the company. If you state an example of your “best” boss, be careful not to suggest that you have a preference of management styles. text/html 2008-06-18T14:09:35+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/113/2/ A comprehensive look at some of the more common questions you can expect to be asked during your next interview What have you been doing since your last job? Stay positive and focus on productivity. “I am utilizing the down time to my advantage: researching, planning, and executing a thorough job search.” Do not mention social activities or hobbies. If you have had an especially long hiatus from employment (more than a year), you may need to insert an explanation, like “I took a brief sabbatical to deal with a personal matter, and I’ve since been... text/html 2008-06-18T13:52:14+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/112/2/ This three-part series takes a look at some of the more standard interview questions which are common to most industries and companies, and offers helpful suggestions on how to prepare your answers. Tell me about yourself. You cannot go wrong if you focus your answer on attributes and characteristics: “I’m bold and driven, a strong communicator, ambitious and well-rounded...” This applies to both personal and professional, and it answers the question well. Be sure to provide examples. text/html 2008-06-18T10:54:40+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/111/2/ Once you have identified a target networking contact through a referral, or as a result of your own research, you have to get him to agree to meet with you. You might think that the mere mention of the referral’s name would break the ice and get you in, but this isn’t always a sure bet. Typically, the contact will want to know what it is you wish to speak with them about, before they agree to meet with you. Depending on how your present your case and deliver your agenda, you may send the wrong signals... text/html 2008-06-18T10:39:02+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/110/2/ When people think of compensation, they immediately think money. It is certainly the foremost item on a job seeker’s mind at the point of getting an offer. But there can be a lot more than the base salary at play and there is certainly a lot more than that to be considered. Often times, employees are so focused on the salary amount that they fail to consider the many other variables that make for a fair compensation package, and ultimately, a happy working arrangement.If you do get the salary you want but you failed to negotiate on other... text/html 2008-04-21T16:44:11+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/109/2/ A job offer should always be presented on paper. It is frivolous and unprofessional for an employer to expect a new employee to accept employment terms if they are not clearly laid out on paper, and agreed to by all parties. Verbal agreements may be binding in some courts, but they leave far too much room for misinterpretation and discrepancy. Of course, you will likely have discussed the details of the offer verbally to come to agreement on all points before it is laid out on paper, but no work should commence until there... text/html 2008-04-21T15:56:39+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/108/2/ You may have had several discussions during the interview process as to the benchmarks for the first three to six months on the job and have a game plan somewhat laid out. But the first few days, weeks, and months in any new job are really all about getting your bearings and finding your rhythm. Employers don’t usually expect to see any real performance results in that initial phase. What they do expect to see is how you proceed to work yourself into the structure of the company, and establish working relationships with your peers and clients. text/html 2008-04-21T14:02:52+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/107/2/ During your job search, you will likely come across many possible organizations that seem to have the basic make-up you are looking for. But be sure to take a closer look and get an accurate picture of the company’s history and current status in the market. Here are a few things to look for when considering an organization: Stability: publicly owned companies will have posted financial statements so that you can get an idea of their financial stability. But privately owned companies can be trickier to evaluate. Pay attention to certain factors such... text/html 2008-03-17T16:24:59+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/106/2/ We can probably all agree that the ultimate sign of success in job hunting is getting a job offer. But we also realize that there are many steps to getting there. It’s a process that takes a lot of thought and it is important to stop along the way to take stock of what we’ve accomplished and assess how we are doing. The sooner we identify accomplishments and goals; the sooner we can align our approach and stay on the track to results.For starters, you should be keeping a record of all your pursuits: e-mails sent, follow-up phone calls,... text/html 2008-03-17T16:02:55+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/105/2/ The employee selection process can be very simple and straightforward for some employers and it can be extremely complex and strategic for others. There is no way to know when you apply for a job whether you might be subjected to a single interview competition or whether there is a multiple step process. Often the employers don’t have a fixed plan until they’ve and a chance to evaluate the response. There can be many factors contributing to the interview structure. The sheer volume of applicants can force an employer to add an initial round of screening interviews; especially,... text/html 2008-03-17T15:43:31+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/104/2/ Before you start to look for a job, you need to have a clear idea of what you want and where you see yourself. There may be many potentially suitable industries or companies that would require your expertise, but regardless of your academic credentials there may only be a select few that truly suit you. When looking for a job, we tend to focus on pleasing the employer. Although this is a very good attitude, and as important as it is, it fails to satisfy the equally important element which will inevitably be an issue sooner or later: pleasing... text/html 2007-12-17T16:28:05+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/103/2/ Once you have identified a target networking contact through a referral, or as a result of your own research, you have to get him to agree to meet with you. You might think that the mere mention of the referral’s name would break the ice and get you in, but this isn’t always a sure bet. Typically, the contact will want to know what it is you wish to speak with them about, before they agree to meet with you. Depending on how your present your case and deliver your agenda, you may send the wrong signals... text/html 2007-12-17T10:35:49+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/102/2/ So you’ve just landed your new job and you’re sitting with your calculator working out your monthly budget based on your new salary.Most of us think we are pretty good at estimating our monthly expenses. We account for all the bills that come in every month like cable, utilities, car insurance, and loan payments. We even remember to include such things as groceries, gasoline, and other miscellaneous expenditures. But our monthly expenses actually add up to a lot more than we typically account for. The only way to determine with any degree of certainty what your true expenses are,... text/html 2007-12-17T10:21:54+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/101/2/ There are several possible routes to advancement in your career. You may be fortunate to be employed with an organization that invests in upgrading their employees’ skills regularly. Some companies have a structure in place for providing employees with access to training courses, seminars, conventions, and ongoing education. They may also have a successful promotion program in place designed to facilitate the advancement of their star performers. This is ideal but these opportunities may not be readily available at your workplace. text/html 2007-12-17T10:01:09+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/100/2/ There is no set timeframe for finding a job. But there are averages, probabilities, and good old fashioned common sense. If you are planning to start a job search and you are counting on being employed in a few weeks, or even a few months, you may be in for a harsh surprise. An effective job search requires the careful execution of many important milestones. It is a step by step process, and there is really no way to speed through it. Know what to expect before you begin so that you can plan... text/html 2007-12-17T09:46:01+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/99/2/ When employers start to receive responses to a job posting, they immediately start the screening process to narrow down the candidate pool. Typically, all applications will be directed to a single individual who has the sole task of pulling out the gems from the pile. This person’s only objective is to select as few as two or as many as ten or more initial interview candidates, depending on the particulars of the job and the company. There are a few basic techniques utilized to implement this initial weeding out process. text/html 2007-11-20T13:11:10+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/98/2/ Selectively listing your significant career achievements on your resume is critical in imparting to the potential employer that you are able to set and achieve goals. It also shows that you have the ability to contribute and have a positive impact on your company’s success. An achievement does not necessarily mean receiving an award or winning a contest. It certainly can be an accomplishment of this nature, but it doesn’t have to be. We achieve things every day, but we don’t credit ourselves for it or identify it as anything worth mentioning. Granted, some of our achievements are... text/html 2007-11-20T12:09:50+01:00 http://www.degreedjobs.net http://www.degreedjobs.net/content/view/97/2/ The question of salary can come up at any time. Ideally, it will come up in the context of a job offer. However, often you will be asked about salary expectations much earlier in the screening process. Employers want to weed out candidates they can’t afford. That is one of the primary reasons they will bring up salary and put you on the spot. Unfortunately, it could distract form your impeccable qualifications. It would be a shame to lose a job in the first round because of the salary question. You want to get as far up the selection...