by Ethan Oblonsky on April 8, 2009
Writer’s note: Apologies for being M.I.A. for so long but I’m back on a regular schedule now. If you don’t see regular postings from me (at least one post every other week), email me on here and be the first to catch me. I’ll do one free resume consultation.
I may be exaggerating when I say a plane is a networking Mecca but with my recent travels I had to communicate a great place to network, the airport. The first time I was flown to a company to interview I was in business casual attire and being the middle of the week I was surrounded by business men and women flying to meet clients, go to different branches or have lost track why they’re going to God knows where. The whole trip from Detroit to Charlotte, I spoke to a gentleman about business, his family, my goals, my hobbies; almost like an interview.
I asked for a business card when we began our descent and low and behold he was a Global Vice President for one of the largest companies in the world. I gave him my resume and he even emailed me to see how my interview went as well as telling me he told his wife if he had half the energy of me, they’d be millionaires. Two weeks later I received a call from his organization about an interview. I didn’t end up working for them but in two hours I networked with a V.P. who travels the world making decisions for a Fortune 10 company and got an interview. All because I looked like somewhat of a business traveler and had the nerve to strike up a conversation. On the way back from this interview, I sat next to a buyer of Italian goods and spoke to her the whole way back.
I hate to sit here and talk about myself and my experience the whole time but it’s the only way I learned in college, being shown examples and real-life situations. This happened and has continued to happen every time I fly. Even if traveling for vacation, I wear a button down shirt and dress pants just in case. According to www.flightaware.com in the past 24 hours there were 43,746 arrivals! And www.bts.gov has a 2003 report that Americans make more than 405 million long-distance business trips per year. So next time you’re in a plane ready to swallow Dramamine, remember it’s more important now than ever to differentiate yourself and network like crazy. Here’s the main points:
• When you travel, at least wear business casual clothes
• Keep a resume` or business cards with you, get their email. You don’t have to be employed to have cards
• Guts. Have you ever traveled in the daytime where it was completely quiet on a plane? No, because every business person is talking business with the person next to them. So do the same. It’s not an interview, you have nothing to lose
• Get their information. Ask about possible employment, and be casual when conversing
• Talk to the whole row!
by Dave Rigotti on March 31, 2009
You can deduct certain expenses you have in looking for a new job in your present occupation, even if you do not get a new job. You cannot deduct these expenses if:
- You are looking for a job in a new occupation,
- There was a substantial break between the ending of your last job and your looking for a new one, or
- You are looking for a job for the first time.
Employment and outplacement agency fees. You can deduct employment and outplacement agency fees you pay in looking for a new job in your present occupation.
Employer pays you back. If, in a later year, your employer pays you back for employment agency fees, you must include the amount you receive in your gross income up to the amount of your tax benefit in the earlier year. See Recoveries in Publication 525.
Employer pays the employment agency. If your employer pays the fees directly to the employment agency and you are not responsible for them, you do not include them in your gross income.
Résumé. You can deduct amounts you spend for preparing and mailing copies of a résumé to prospective employers if you are looking for a new job in your present occupation.
Travel and transportation expenses. If you travel to an area and, while there, you look for a new job in your present occupation, you may be able to deduct travel expenses to and from the area. You can deduct the travel expenses if the trip is primarily to look for a new job. The amount of time you spend on personal activity compared to the amount of time you spend in looking for work is important in determining whether the trip is primarily personal or is primarily to look for a new job. Even if you cannot deduct the travel expenses to and from an area, you can deduct the expenses of looking for a new job in your present occupation while in the area. You can choose to use the standard mileage rate to figure your car expenses. The 2008 rate for business use of a vehicle is 50½ cents per mile (58 ½ cents per mile after June 30, 2008). See Publication 463 for more information on travel and car expenses.
by Guest Blogger on February 24, 2009
With the economy in its current state, and companies from around the world either closing their doors or laying off major sections of their workforce, you may find yourself looking for signs you’re about to be laid off and wondering whether you might be next. If that’s the case, your fears aren’t misplaced: After all, over 2.6 million U.S. workers lost their jobs last year. However, it’s important that you don’t panic or jump ship prematurely. Instead, follow these four tips on how to recession-proof your job and ensure your livelihood during these trying times.
[click to continue…]
by Dave Rigotti on February 15, 2009
by Ethan Oblonsky on January 27, 2009
Tired of looking at monster, jobing and the sorts for the same low grade insurance companies and pyramid schemes? Thought so. Fortune came out with the list of who is hiring in relation to their “Best Companies to Work for.” They listed about 20 companies, big and small, from Microsoft to the Mayo clinic.
But the biggest thing I have to say here is a company doesn’t have to be actively hiring for you to start a career there. If you are good enough, a company will make room for you, like a baseball team signing a free agent at 1st base even though they have one. This is where the importance of a good resume` comes in and an even better cover letter telling them why they need to make room for you. A website of a company typically says whom to send a resume to but if it doesn’t, call them up and find out who takes care of it. If that information is not given, use sales tactics and look up profiles on LinkedIN or call back and just go straight to HR and ask someone else, or a salesperson, they’re usually helpful. In this time, it’s most important to be persistent because your future is worth fighting for, right?!
[click to continue…]
by Dave Rigotti on January 22, 2009
Fortune just released the annual 100 Best Companies to Work for list and there are some noticable differences. Google is no longer #1.
When applying for jobs, I suggest you should apply to at least one company on the list.
I’ve had the please to work for a company in the top 10 and it was a great experience. You can view the full list here.
by Dave Rigotti on January 15, 2009
Yahoo! Education has an article today titled, “Seven Surprising Stay-Home Salaries,” which profiles 7 jobs that can be done at home. It’s worth a read.
The ability to work from home can be a great personal selling point when applying for a job, as companies are looking to decrease overhead to increase profitability.
by Dave Rigotti on January 14, 2009
PricewaterhouseCoopers has a great video featuring Lindsey Pollak covering “Recession proof your job search.” It’s well worth the watch and read.
by Allison Dagilis on January 8, 2009
So as I sit at my cubicle, I begin to wonder how in the world do I not gain weight at work. Why? Because there is a guy here that makes delicious fudge, from scratch about every other week. Vending Machines. Take out. Lunch meetings. Recently, as of yesterday, I joined a gym. And this isn’t any New Year’s resolution either that will fade, like I am going to lose 50 lbs by next month goal type of thing. It’s more of a, I just want to be healthy while I am in the corporate world type thing. Anyways, after doing some research I have complied what I think would be the best way for me and you to stay on track with being healthy even in the workplace. Most of it is common sense, but it will be a reminder and motivator.
[click to continue…]
by Guest Blogger on January 7, 2009
“A third of the resumes came with spelling or punctuation errors,” according to “LAUNCH!…Get That First Paycheck In 90 Days,” a new career assessment book for college seniors. “Twelve percent used obsolete addresses or phone numbers,” the book says.
“Most stated objectives that were generic. Some tried to tell so much that their unique characteristics, the truly distinguishing things about them, got lost. A few used unreadable type. Resumes that were emailed often bounced as spam.”
The career assessment quiz in LAUNCH! can also be taken online at WhoAreYouAnyway.com. It tells college seniors if they’ll do better in large or small organizations, among other things. The quiz ranks students’ energy, ambition, ethics, status needs, social abilities and fifteen other vocational traits. Results are translated into the best career path.
LAUNCH is a career guide aimed at college seniors and recent graduates, with more practical, hands-on advice than offered in other career assessment books. It’s available in paperback book, downloadable PDF, audio CD set, or downloadable MP3 audio book format at Launch-Your-Career.com.
