How do you find out the real story of a company's corporate culture and if you'll be a good fit? Here are a few ideas: Drive by the company early in the morning, when everyone is getting to work, or during the afternoon, when everyone's leaving for lunch. You'll get an idea of how eager people are in leaving or getting to the office as well as what the corporate image is like. Visit the company and check out the lob...

If you're going to be part of the herd and respond to online and newspaper ads, learn how to stand out from your competition. Here are some tips: Don't send your resume to every ad that catches your eye, that's called spam. Be selective. Carefully review the ad to see if the majority of your qualifications are a match. Targeting websites? Find a niche site with positions near your city or in your exact profession or...

Whatever you put on the Internet stays on your permanent record. I'm paraphrasing Andy Sernovitz, CEO of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (www.womma.org), who spoke to marketing execs and business owners at a recent event. Many of his recommendations and talking points apply directly to managing a successful career. Your permanent record. Think about it. You've got a lot to say, you started a blog, and one of y...

You never know what can happen at holiday parties, who's going to attend, who works for what company, and what the employment scoop may be, so buck up. It could be a gift waiting to be opened by you, and that gift could be a job.The Don'ts: Don't over indulge. No whining about your current jobless situation. It's a turnoff. No begging either. Oliver Twist's "more food please" doesn't work when job hunting.What works? Listen...

“YOU WORE FLIP FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE?” screamed the front-page story in the Chicago Tribune. The photo of Northwestern University’s national championship women’s lacrosse team, taken during their visit to the White House, shows four of the nine women in the front row wearing flip-flop sandals along with their dresses and skirts.Who gives a flip? Apparently everyone, since the news hit the AP wire, CNN, NBC’s “Today” show...

How many times have we heard, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" when we're looking for a job? So much our ears are bleeding, right?Here are some quick tips to build your contact list. I think you'll be surprised, when you develop your contact list, about who you actually do know -- and who they know. Recent surveys state that 61 to 85 percent of all jobs are found through networking. And with 80 percent of jobs no...

Case studies: you see them on websites, marketing brochures, and business proposals. They describe challenges, actions, and results (CAR) -- ultimately demonstrating how the company or product can do the same for you.Even dreaded infomercials use them. They demonstrate the products' benefits by having actual product "users" tell their story. "Why, I lost 25 pounds using Therma-Trim combined with diet and exercise. Here's my...

Who are you? What makes you unique among all other job seekers? What transferable skills do you bring to the table that no one else offers? What makes you a star?Answering these and similar questions can help you identify your personal brand. By knowing who you are, what you want, and what makes you unique, you will be able to clearly communicate your goals and unique value to people in your network and potential employers....

Everyone talks about how to answer the interviewer’s questions, but how do we handle asking them questions? (Responding to the interviewer's question of "So, do you have any questions for us?") What do they want to hear and what questions should and should not be asked during an interview?Answer:What you’ll need to do is find information about the company where you are interviewing. This can be done in a variety of ways. Th...

Clearly define your objective. “We don’t have time to be career counselors,” said Tim Moran, Hallmark’s Director of Human Resources, at a recent Career Masters Institute conference, “so please, help us out a little. Let us know what you want.”Be specific when recounting your achievements. “Dollarize” them says Jeffrey Fox in “Don’t Send a Resume.” Qualify and quantify them in some manner that demonstrates what you can offer...