Given the tough competition that we have in the job market with fresh graduates still perky to grab the spotlight and early retirees updating their resume with more experience, grabbing the job of your dream becomes more challenging than before. Today, it’s a matter of who can amaze the employer more and make a memorable
The Winter Olympics are well under way and there’s one story line that just won’t go away: many people feel that Sochi hasn’t lived up to expectations. From high threats of terrorism to homeless canines running amuck, unfinished living accommodations to egregious human rights propaganda, the negativity surrounding this year’s Olympic host has been
Workers’ constitutionally protected right to free speech is generally checked at the doors of private enterprises. However, when it comes to social media discussions about inflexible schedules, ice-cold break rooms or obscenity-laden rants about mandatory overtime, employees have the right to post, share and like to their hearts content. “According to the National Labor Relations
Q. I am 64 and work full time. I plan to claim Social Security benefits at 70. My ex-husband is 66 and we were married for 19 years. I remarried at 61. Am I entitled to some of my ex-husband’s benefits? Am I eligible for my current husband’s? Can I claim spousal benefits on my
Social psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson wants you to find someone at work who has known you for a long time and ask them to complete the following sentence: “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think that you were … .” Most of us would hope to hear things like “a movie star” or “an
SEATTLE — Expedia has laid off an undisclosed number of employees in the wake of its acquisition of one-time rival Orbitz. Expedia said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing this week that employees will be cut from Chicago-based Orbitz as part of a restructuring resulting from a merger of the two companies. Expedia, based
CHICAGO — Tyson Foods announced that it will close one of its Chicago plants next year as it consolidates production at other facilities. The shutdown of the facility, which will occur before Oct. 1, 2016, will mean the loss of 480 jobs. The company also plans to close a pepperoni plant in Jefferson, Wis. The
Good news for summer job seekers: Jobs should be more plentiful this year and a majority of employers have jobs paying more than $15 per hour, according to a new report. The $15-per-hour wage has been highlighted this week by thousands of demonstrators at McDonald’s headquarters, where workers demanded higher wages for frontline employees at
SEATTLE — Inside a former Northern Trust bank vault in downtown Seattle, there now stand several rows of posh, wooden lockers. Just outside the heavy vault door is a series of curtained booths, a sleek, fully stocked bar and rows of small desks set up to look like a cafe. A blend of restaurant, bar
Q: In the family business where I work, the owner and his son have very different perspectives. The owner is always looking for growth opportunities, while “Stan” tends to focus on maintaining the status quo. Although I have good relationships with both of them, the owner and I tend to think more alike. Whenever I
PITTSBURGH — Dick’s Sporting Goods reported Tuesday that the third quarter wasn’t as strong as the company and analysts had hoped, and the Pittsburgh-area retailer said it expects the holiday quarter to be very competitive as retailers offer promotions to lure customers. Dick’s reported net income of $47.2 million, or 41 cents per share, compared
WASHINGTON — Employers shrugged off worries about the U.S. economy downshifting, adding a whopping 271,000 non-farm jobs in October and raising worker pay in the process. The unemployment rate in October dipped slightly to 5 percent, and measures of stress in the job market continued improving, the Labor Department reported Friday in a solid monthly
WASHINGTON — A burst of hiring last month accompanied by strong wage gains suggests that the U.S. labor market remains solid and increases the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will make its first interest rate hike in nearly a decade next month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday that employers across a broad spectrum
Whether you’re an avid soccer fan or just cheering on your home nation, the World Cup is an exciting event. As you celebrate victories (go USA!) and embrace defeats over the next week, your focus and productivity might take a hit. While some things can wait, not everything can be put on hold until the
The job search can be riddled with frustration. Believe it or not, some of this frustration may be tied to common job search myths. Several of these little monsters are floating around in dark clouds waiting to rain on your job search parade. Let’s shake a few of them out of the clouds, debunk them
It’s still a tough job market out there, and you’ll need to be on top of your game throughout the job search process to get hired. While your experience is important, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Recruiters are evaluating everything to determine if you’re going to be a fit for their team, and
If you’re sending out countless resumes but still aren’t getting any responses, it’s time to take a good, hard look over what you’ve been sending out. Are you committing one of these common cover letter or resume mistakes that are apt to make you appear unprofessional? Top 5 Common Resume Mistakes: 1. You’ve Missed Errors Even if
For many executives in high profile roles, taking a call from a headhunter is all part of a normal day at work. However for some individuals the experience may be new or completely unexpected particularly when it comes out of the blue. The timing of an approach may not be perfect to begin discussing new
When you leave a job interview, you should have a solid understanding of what the role entails, whether you’ll be a good fit for the team, and enough information to make a smart career decision. But far too often candidates will ask questions that just scratch the surface of these topics, or (gasp!) ask no
Hustling is the new networking. To gain needed edge in today’s job market, it’s no longer enough to sit behind a screen making passive connections on LinkedIn. You’ve got to get creative, trying new ways to contact – and connect with – decision makers and potential employers. Wondering how to get your foot in the
