Career Blog

Companies truly benefit from having a strong Human Resources (HR) department. But alas, not all businesses have gotten the memo. When your boss doesn’t listen (or the problem you’re having is with your boss), HR is supposed to be the place you can turn to for help. But when an HR department under...

A cost-of-living raise is nice. But it would be a whole lot nicer if your annual raise actually made a significant difference in your paycheck. Sure, it helps to keep up with inflation. But a raise that goes above and beyond the minimum helps you feel more financially secure and builds self-confi...

Mentors at work have wisdom on matters large and small to offer those willing to listen. Here are seven incredible lessons from career role models.

Searching for a job is stressful. You put yourself out there to be judged by strangers, you deal with the sting of rejection, and unless you’re working, you’ll find your funds rapidly diminishing. It’s a rough time, and as a result, many people become depressed and begin living unhealthily. Don’t...

Now that the New Year has come and gone and you're cruising through your resolutions, if you’re like many people, finding a new job is one of the must-do's on your list. If you want to act while the iron's hot, it's helpful to know the ebbs and flows of when the best times of the year are to appl...

The New Year can be one of the best times to be motivated to give more than 100 percent—to eating healthy, working out, pursuing goals and, yes, even your job. There is no better time to take a step back and reset, having (hopefully) been recharged and refreshed following the holidays. As with an...

Negotiating a salary is a tough balancing act. You don’t want to settle for too little, but you don’t want to price yourself out of a job either. So how do you know when it’s advisable to accept an offer, and when you should continue the negotiation? Here are some basic rules of thumb.

You've put yourself back on the job market and have decided to work with a recruiter to help you land your dream job. After all the preliminaries are done, you might be wondering—how often is it OK to contact your recruiter during the job search or application process?

You’ve found a position you really want, and you’re thrilled with how well the interview went. The recruiter has given you positive feedback, and you’re expecting an offer any day. But time passes without an offer—or a rejection—and you’re frustrated and confused. When a recruiter goes dark on yo...

When you respond to a job posting, you can be almost certain your resume will be one of dozens received by the hiring manager. Before you hit "apply," follow this quick five-minute checklist to give your resume the best chance of success.

When email was first introduced, it was a timesaver, but it’s gotten a bit unruly since then. With communication so cheap and easy, people now send emails for every note, memo, question, comment, pitch, or thank you. Pair that with multiparty chains and an expectation for immediate reply, and it’...

Most people looking for a new job hope for a higher salary. Sometimes, though, a job offer comes with a pay cut. But that pay cut doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Here are questions to answer before agreeing to a lower paycheck.

You can't judge a book by its cover—but you can judge a job applicant by a cover letter, according to recruiters. One quick glance at a cover letter, and a recruiter has formed a strong impression of you as a job candidate. If your cover letter is good, you'll get another look; if it's not, well,...

It’s only a few hours before you meet with a potential employer. Suddenly, you experience a sinking feeling in your stomach. You tell yourself that you aren’t good enough for this job, your past achievements are a byproduct of luck, and you suspect that you will be exposed as a fraud at any momen...

Trying to figure out if you should go traditional or strike out on your own? Here are the pros and cons of the 9-to-5 lifestyle to help you decide.

If there is one thing we’ve noticed in the job market lately, it’s that the desire to constantly learn and polish skill sets is at an all-time high. An effective and often successful approach to this idea has been found in job rotational programs. So what should you consider before you accept (or...

For even the most extroverted among us, interviews can be nerve-racking. Fortunately, you can take steps to significantly reduce the risk that those problems will emerge. Want to give future you a leg up? Here is your night-before an interview checklist.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" Hiring managers love to ask this question—but admit it: the answer you give is probably tailored more to your potential employer's needs than your own. What's your real answer? You owe it to yourself to establish long-term professional goals—those big-pi...

There’s no doubt that Washington, DC is a unique place to work and live. If you’ve spent any time here at all, you’re almost sure to have heard the (not necessarily funny) joke that no one is ever really “from DC.” Even with the increasing short-term population of big cities around the country, D...

The dreaded self-review. Most of us don't look forward to this annual task, and with good reason. Culturally, we aren't used to talking about ourselves, and the line between arrogance and selling yourself short can feel awfully thin. However, with the right attitude and approach, you can turn wri...