It is very difficult to find much good news in today's job market. However, there are signs of a sliver of silver lining in the dark clouds for ambitious young men and women. With companies downsizing to operate with fewer employees as a means for reducing operating costs, job opportunities are opening up for younger careerists, with lower salaries and less experience, to take on more responsibilities. Fair or not,...

It's a cardinal sin to go into a job interview without planning and preparing to manage the opportunity for maximum impact.First of all, be aware of the six criteria by which most interviewers will rate your interview skills and qualifications for the job.1. Personal impression you make: neatness in dress and manner; self-confidence; and maturity.2. Preparation for the interview: knowledge about the business of the potentia...

A persuasive sales letter will separate your job application from the avalanche of resumes that land on the desk of employers.In most instances, your cover letter will be your first and only opportunity to make a good first impression on the potential employer.It's purpose is simple: capture the potential employer's attention and cause him to go on to read your resume which you hope will lead to an interview and an offer fo...

People losing their jobs; survivors being asked to take on more duties, often with fewer resources; businesses going bankrupt; mortgages being called. These conditions translate in to more tension and apprehension in the workplace. "People are feeling anxious, so they're being short-tempered, passive and unproductive," says Martin Yate, a career adviser at GoSavant.com In this environment people tend to hunker down. They s...

The news media rarely skip a day in reporting the grim economic news and calculating the number of jobs lost in the United States since the recession started in December, 2007. But those reports do not take into full account the collateral damage caused among family, friends and co-workers of those who have lost their jobs. Survivors of the axe have to deal with a variety of emotions: mourning over those who have been fired...

Given the dismal outlook for the job market in the foreseeable future--driven in large measure by the uncertainty of the regulations and taxes the government may impose on businesses--employers are reluctant to take on permanent employees. This means that there will be more opportunities for temporary hiring and internships. There are two ways to work in these situations. One, some will treat the job as a short ter...

It’s very difficult --no, it's impossible-- to get there if we don’t know where we want to go.Do you know of anyone who disagrees with the common sense wisdom of setting a final destination and having a plan for the journey before beginning a trip? Then why do many of us act as if we can drift along day to day, thinking somehow we can achieve our dreams of career success without defined personal goals, as well as plans to r...

After all your efforts--networking and distributing your resume--you've landed an interview for a job that looks just like the spot you've been looking for. It's a good fit between your qualifications and the requirements of the opportunity. You feel confident it will be another step on your career path. Now, it's up to you to conduct a winning face-to-face interviews with those persons who will make the final hiring decisi...

Mentors have strong and respected place in the world of work. In fact, that role is growing in importance.Usually, older and more experience, mentors provide coaching and serve as role models for neophytes who turn to them for advice on how to build and manage careers. This role is important to the success of individuals and organizations.Mentoring is taking on a new dimension as increasingly younger careerists are performi...

Forget the macho mode. You are not expected to know everything or to be perfect in all regards as your pursue your career goals.Never be afraid to admit you need help and then ask for it. Many careerists, otherwise smart and capable, hamstring themselves by believing they lose face if they say, "Hey, I don't understand this problem, much less what to do about it. Please help me."Career Tip: Asking for help is not a sign of...