Career advice
Features on job hunting and career strategies from the Chicago Tribune.
4:35 PM CDT, July 8, 2011
Talk yourself into a new job
Talk too much? That's good. Striking up a conversation can lead to a new job.
10:00 AM CDT, July 1, 2011
How you quit makes difference in career
With more job stress than ever resting on your shoulders, it may be tempting to leave – either quitting or being fired – in a blaze of glory, giving everyone who made you dread going to work a piece of your mind. But experts say that while it may feel good at the time, it's not your best career move.
3:03 PM CDT, June 24, 2011
Job hunt calls for details, not phone contact
You've likely seen the usual closing line on an online job posting: "No phone calls, please."
Take the work out of workplace attire
For recent graduates, looking for a job and entering the workforce is stressful enough without the added task of recycling student group t-shirts for blazers and dress pants.
June 11, 2011
Master plan: A career strategy can benefit you in both the near and distant future
A career plan can help you focus your time and energy and help you lead a more organized attack on your goals. It can even help you define those goals.
June 4, 2011
9 companies hiring now
Targeting companies you want to work for can be an effective job-search strategy, particularly if you make connections with people who already work there. But which companies should you target?
June 4, 2011
Negotiating a salary offer
For those employees who have been lucky enough to keep their jobs or get job offers during the recession, negotiating a higher salary or asking for a raise may not be top-of-mind.
June 4, 2011
Joyce Lain Kennedy: Build new career in skilled trades
Q. I am a 36-year-old man being forced into finding a new career as my old one dries up. I have a liberal arts degree. If I choose advanced college study, I risk stacking up too much student loan debt. So maybe I should learn a skilled trade instead.
4:22 PM CDT, May 25, 2011
Life after layoff: Get finances in order, then move on
It's a scenario being repeated in offices and warehouses throughout the country. You've seen it on the news and heard about it from friends but figure it isn't going to happen to you. But then you get the call. You've been summoned to the boss's office and you know it isn't to discuss your golf game.
2:06 PM CDT, May 20, 2011
What makes a good reference letter?
How does a job seeker help strengthen his or her credentials as a person of substance?
1:12 PM CDT, May 20, 2011
Frustration slows job search, but keep fighting
There's something missing in your life but you can't quite put your finger on it. Maybe it has something to do with those calls from Visa about your bill. Or it might be related to your firsthand knowledge of every case decided by Judge Judy since October. How about your unfamiliarity with the hours between 7 a.m. and noon? Still not getting it?
3:38 PM CDT, April 29, 2011
Job transfers: What you need to know
Whether it means a move around the block, across the country or to the other side of the world, employees should think long and hard about relocating for a job. While the temptation of a paycheck is enticing, problems are sure to arise if a move is made prematurely.
6:00 PM CDT, April 20, 2011
Simple note conveys enthusiasm, interest
As the job market picks up, job seekers may suddenly find themselves struggling to keep up with sending out resumes, being poised for phone screens and having a suit pressed in time for the next interview.
5:38 PM CDT, April 15, 2011
When your dream company's hiring on Twitter
As more companies warm to the idea of recruiting on Twitter, the world of tweets, at symbols, and hashtags is becoming populated with a new kind of handle: usernames created specifically to lure applicants. And for job seekers, that means opportunity.
3:05 PM CDT, April 14, 2011
Green days ahead in workplace
The employee of tomorrow makes the morning commute sans fossil fuels. The employee of tomorrow works so efficiently, a four-day workweek is commonplace. And, finally, the employee of tomorrow goes green even when crunching numbers in a cubicle.
10:38 AM CDT, April 7, 2011
Slack is back: Benefits to a work break
Whether it was a quick round of Angry Birds under the desk, an onslaught of e-mails from friends and family that needed answering or a lingering trip to the watering hole, most people are guilty of slacking off at work.
March 29, 2011
Office Hours
Lights! Cameras! Job interview!
One of my husband's students recently interviewed for a TV journalism job several states away.
March 21, 2011
10 tips to ace your next job interview
Given the late-winter thaw showing up in what has been an ice-cold job market, many workers are pondering a topic they haven't worried much about lately -- job interviews.
5:12 PM CDT, March 25, 2011
Pets unleashed at work
Some of the best workday pick-me-ups are a little slobber on the shoes and a wet tongue to the ankle.
10:35 AM CDT, March 21, 2011
Look beyond pay in considering job offer
Once upon a time, a great job offer equaled great stock options. Not today.
1:25 PM CST, March 11, 2011
Green initiatives create new careers
Move over, white- and blue-collar jobs. Today's focus on the environment and sustainability has given rise to a new category: "green" collar.
5:41 PM CST, March 7, 2011
Can you pursue business idea on the side?
We're all aware that in today's business climate, gone are the days of graduating from college, getting a job with a good pension and staying for the next 50 years until retirement. People are increasingly working on the side of their 9-to-5 jobs, which the Internet makes all too easy.
Should online comments about work, boss be grounds for dismissal?
Last year, Dawnmarie Souza was fired from an ambulance company, American Medical Response of Connecticut Inc., because she called her supervisor a "jerk" on Facebook. A few weeks ago, with a little help from the National Labor Relations Board, the company agreed to settle with Souza and make clear-cut rules so that employees could feel comfortable discussing work outside of the office without fear of discipline or termination.
3:34 PM CST, February 17, 2011
Hot demand for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians
In a career culture where more and more people are earning four-year degrees and doing desk jobs, demand for skilled trade workers is increasing.
9:40 AM CST, February 11, 2011
Previous jobs on resume can be good conversation starters
Past employment experience doesn't make the cut of the resumes for the rich and famous. For example, Brad Pitt made a few extra bucks as the most handsome refrigerator mover ever, Jerry Seinfeld used to sell light bulbs over the phone and Fidel Castro practiced law in Havana.
9:35 AM CST, January 31, 2011
Cell out: Mobile phones pose office distraction
It's easy to forget where we were before the cell phone hit the mass market.
January 22, 2011
To whom it may concern: Get a name
It seems that "To Whom It May Concern" is deemed acceptable for cover letters when you can't find out who is handling the resumes, but you should only use the above greeting as a last resort.
Make the connection with peers, forgotten contacts
Krista Canfield, senior PR manager at LinkedIn, says it's a great time for professionals to start sprucing themselves up.
January 11, 2011
Video skills fit into marketing picture
Online videos have brought a lot of laughter into our lives. Admit it. We're all guilty of scouring the deepest and darkest depths of YouTube to find the most hilarious and shocking videos the Internet has to offer. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of finger biting or watching the evolutionary steps of dance. The song remains the same. We've fallen in love with online videos.
January 11, 2011
5 tips to LinkedIn success
Many professionals think the networking site LinkedIn is for people looking for careers in sales or marketing, but anyone working or looking for a job can benefit from the ever-growing site.
January 6, 2011
Craft a smart career profile on social media
Getting hired means showing both your skill and your passion for a job.
January 6, 2011
Tech writers wired to many disciplines
Rapid technology advances are changing everything from how we make phone calls to programming the washer to clean a load of clothes as energy efficiently as possible. But making the best use of those advances still relies on some "old school" communication skills.
December 26, 2010
Online job applicants can face unexpected hurdles
Job hunting has become considerably more convenient post-Internet. Prospective employees can find out who's hiring, as well as figure out job requirements and submit resumes, with the click of a button. But, as with most other things made easier with technology, this electronic advancement comes with its own set of rules and concerns.
December 11, 2010
Perfect office gift spreads the cheer
Giving the perfect gift is daunting enough. It's even more of a chore when you face "the office gift dilemma." Should you buy your boss a gift? Which coworkers should receive a gift from you? How much should you spend? In addition, an office gift is stressful, since it has the potential to affect your career.
November 24, 2010
Creative resumes: Make your resume match your career
If you're looking to land a job in a creative field, it's going to take more than your run-of-the-mill cover letter and résumé. You need to fully express your creativity to a potential employer right off the bat.
November 18, 2010
Office etiquette: College grads will need quick lessons when joining working class
Upon turning 16, high school students are taught the rules of the road and instructed to follow them ... or else. Back then, the threat of speeding tickets or parking violations was enough to keep one from straying from those sacred teachings. As those students get older and graduate college, one would think there would be a similar rulebook for life. Unfortunately there isn't. But the good news is a little common sense and courtesy will get you a long way on the corporate highway.
November 18, 2010
Resume keepers: Sometime the overlooked parts of your past are the most essential
You might like to think you have the memory of an elephant but it's probably closer to that of a goldfish. And that's a problem when it comes to putting together a resume.
October 31, 2010
Frightful hair days are confidence killers
Don't look! Frightful hair days are equal opportunity confidence killers
October 17, 2010
Corporate workout: Exercise in the office
We do a lot of our everyday routines in funny places. A few people drink coffee in the shower. Some eat breakfast when running out of the door. Others put on makeup as they speed toward work. So, what about exercising in the office?
October 3, 2010
Tap attitude, interests to land a temporary position
Can't leave the house without a sweater? Then you know it's time to cozy up to the computer with a cup of tea and start applying for seasonal work.
September 27, 2010
Dress for less: Autumn provides new options for workplace attire
Look around. The leaves are already changing colors and soon enough, they won't even be on the trees. Sun showers will become snow showers, dry pavement will be overrun by sludge and that welcoming breeze? It's just a chilling reminder that winter is on the way. And you know what that means? Time to pull out the cold weather clothing.
Resume not getting responses? Time for an overhaul
Even though you've been unemployed for several weeks now, you've been keeping yourself busy. You've sent out dozens, maybe hundreds, of resumes, and have been waiting diligently by the phone for responses.
February 17, 2010
Plastic surgery boosting careers?
The media, and its consumers, generally keep conversation about plastic surgery and careers pegged on a couple of figures: The aging Hollywood idol and the would-be Hollywood idol. Cosmetic surgery is de rigueur in the movie and TV business--pretty understandable given how much looks matter on-screen and in career trajectories.
Get ready for your first job while youre in school
One day, you're playing on a jungle gym and drinking juice boxes. The next, you're graduating from college with your sights set on a career.
August 26, 2010
Physique could show employer shape of things to come
You have an interview at a company you really like. Congratulations. But before you walk into that office, there's a lot you'll do to make that lasting, first impression. Buy a new outfit. Get a haircut. Maybe even whiten your teeth. What about getting in better shape?
August 23, 2010
How teachers transfer job skills beyond classroom
Times are tough if you're a teacher, but if you're unfortunate enough to lose your job, don't lose hope. As an educator, you have gained skills that can easily be transferred to another position.
August 12, 2010
Office feng shui: Desktop eases job-related stress
The workplace is autonomous. After trudging through similar morning commutes, employees file into an office building, one after the other, to complete comparable tasks as they wait for the day to end. For many, the office is a gray place where people's interests blend together, not letting anyone's identity shine through. But in these grim surroundings, there is a single sanctuary, where you can be you--your desk.
August 5, 2010
Marketing me: The origins of personal branding
Extend your brand. Figure out ways to build your brand. You are a brand.
Social media for job hunters
Social media has rapidly become an essential tool in the world. Sure, Facebook might be a good place to look at pictures of your friends engaged in drunken, weekend antics and you can quickly tell people about how hungry you are on Twitter, LinkedIn has established itself as the platform where business professionals can powerfully extend their brands.
April 29, 2010
Thought process: A decision to look for a new job is important. Be sure to think it through
It's not hard to imagine yourself in a job in the field of health care these days. After all, more money and more responsibility seem like natural improvements. But it's important to really consider what you want to do with your future before you start re-arranging your life to accommodate those dreams of life as a doctor or nurse.
April 29, 2010
Spending smart
Make your expenses count when job hunting
When you're out of work, the last thing you need to do is waste money.
April 11, 2010
Job hunters show taste in lunch interviews
Lunch interviews are great for the interviewer. Company recruiters and direct managers get to see their prospective employees in an everyday setting.
January 6, 2009
NEW JOBS CAN BE FOUND, EVEN IN A RECESSION
The job of finding a job
5 tips for the hunt
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