It’s not easy managing people - especially right now, when the economy is down and stress levels are up. Being a great manager takes time and dedication. Here are a few tips to help you be the leader that people want to follow:1. Share information. There’s a lot going on these days. Long management meetings are bound to make your team nervous. Communicate the news that you can, so minds don’t wander.2. Say thanks. Pe...

Without a doubt, technical skills are important in our day-to-day operations. Advanced technologies and complex software propel our operations and keep our businesses afloat. Professionals spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on education and training on these technical skills annually. Yet, when it comes time to make a presentation on the capabilities or outcomes of these resources, we can't communicate!Communication ski...

Communication skills – it sounds so rudimentary, but it can really make or break your career. Can you name any great leaders who couldn’t communicate their ideas or share their vision? If you want to be a great employee and leader, you need the ability to command a room with your communication and presentations.Here are a just a few tips for becoming a great communicator:1. Listen first. The best communication springs fr...

New Year, New You! It’s 2010, and it’s time to set new goals to transform your year and your career. If you’re looking to land a promotion, a new job, or make a career change this year, consider these top five career resolutions: Resolution #1: Get My Resume in ShapeIs it time to wipe the dust off your resume and give it a fresh new look? 99% of resumes aren't as good as they could be! Write a resume that focuses on acc...

You passed the resume test, and you landed the big interview! The interview is just one step away from the job offer, so you need to make sure you ace it.Here are a few tips to keep in mind:1. Be prepared. Do research on the company, and do “You” Prep. Go through your resume and familiarize yourself with all of your experiences and accomplishments. Review the standard interview questions, so you have fitting answers and...

Networking is the key to getting to where you want to be.Here are a few advanced networking tips to help you make the most of your next event:1. Set a goal before the event to give you focus. For example, "I will make solid connections with seven new people tonight." 2. Set a reward for beating the goal. "If I make a connection with eight new people tonight, I earn (insert fitting reward here)." 3. Consider wearing a fun ac...

Two out of three people get a job through networking.Most job seekers spend the majority of their time scouring online postings and blasting their resume to job boards. Ask any hiring manager or recruiter where they find most of their candidates, and time and time again they will say through a referral or a recommendation.Since networking is the key to getting where you want to be, you need to make sure you know the rules o...

There is a lot of doom and gloom out there. With all the grim headlines, it’s pretty easy to feel down and out about your job search. If you were laid off, downsized, or euphemized, then it’s hard to stay positive and vigilant about taking a bright, successful next step.The good news is that there are some recession-proof industries such as education, healthcare, energy, international business, the environmental sector, a...

How many recruiting directors do you think actually read your cover letter? If your cover letter is written like most job seekers, then no one is reading it!Most cover letters are long and boring; they are basically a prose version of your resume. If a recruiting director is only spending fifteen seconds looking at your resume, do you think she is going to get excited about reading your cover letter novelette? No way. Th...

“Do YOU have any questions?” Finally, the interviewer has stopped spouting off questions, and he is curious to hear your queries. There is nothing more disconcerting than a candidate who has no questions at the end of the interview. Sure, the company is trying to get to know you, but you also are interviewing the company to see if it’s a good fit for you. Your questions are a great way to explore and see if it’s a nice...