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When Does It Make Sense to Take a Job with Less Pay?

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Have you ever taken a salary cut with a new job? For many, the thought of accepting less money to move on to something better is repulsive, especially if their lifestyle is, shall we say, a bit on the extravagant side. But there are times in your job search when you might have to swallow your pride and take a hit in the wallet.

Are You Unemployed and Happy or Employed and Miserable?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

I hear and read stories about people who feel miserable in their jobs, but can t risk quitting in today s job market. Some who have held onto their jobs are even expressing envy toward those who have been laid off. But would you rather be happily unemployed? Or employed and miserable?

Job Searching with an Imperfect Past or Criminal Record

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

If companies you interview with don t use Google to dig up dirt about you, they re stupid. Case in point: The FBI stormed into a Massachusetts business recently to arrest an employee who was apparently wrapped up in a drug distribution scheme. No one in the office saw it coming, especially the employer. Learn how to get the job and stay employed if you have a less than perfect past.

7 Ways to Spend Less on Job Interviews

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

When you re out of work, getting a job interview is just about the best thing that can happen to you (second only to receiving an actual job offer). An interview means you re a contender. You ve made it into the finals. But when your cash flow is dwindling, an interview can also pose a budgetary dilemma. Fear not, my frugal friends. Once you start thinking like a cheap bastid (as we say in New England), there are lots of ways to prevent your limited funds from being depleted. Here, for example

Addressing a Gap in Your Resume: A Pongo Rerun

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

One topic that seems to resonate most with our readers is how to address a gap in your resume. Almost everybody has one (or more) employment gaps, but nobody seems quite clear on what to do about it. We tackled that issue back in a March 2008 post, and here it is again.

4 Visions of the Post-Recession Workforce

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST

We all like to know what awaits us at the end of a story. For most of us, that applies especially to economic cycles, like the current recession. We not only ask questions from a personal view (When will I land a new job?), we wonder about the broader ramifications (What will the workforce look like when the economy turns around?). An article from CBS MoneyWatch.com offered four pictures of what the job market might look like after the recession ends.

Write a Resume Haiku

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

Ever notice that people tend to make things harder than they have to be? Wouldn t the job search be simpler, for example, if you could forgo the trouble of crafting a brilliant resume that details your past experience, and instead just sum up your essential nature, your true value, in the form of a haiku?

Two Harsh Truths about Your Job Search

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST

Ever wonder how many resumes you ll have to send out before you get at least one interview? Or how many interviews you ll need to suffer through before someone extends a job offer? Nobody likes to hear bad news, but here are two harsh truths that every job seeker needs to hear and understand.

Want the Job? Make a Connection with the Interviewer

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EST

You researched the company, sent your resume, and got called for the interview. As your interview with the hiring manager progresses, you become convinced that this is the right move. How can you become the first choice? It will likely come down to how well you connect with the hiring manager and other interviewers.

Get What You Want Out of Part-Time Work

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

Anyone looking for a part-time job needs to figure out exactly what they want and need out of it, whether it be certain days of the week, specific hours, a particular hourly wage or wage range; whatever. Use this checklist of priorities to figure out what you need most out of your part-time job, and whether your potential employer will meet those needs.