How to make yourself stand out from the crowd

By Carole Martin

If you have been reading articles or listening to news reports about the job market, you are aware that you are in a tough job market and that you will have to do something to make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd.

You realize that you are competing against the odds. The question is, "How can you make yourself stand out when there are so many other candidates looking at the same job?"

The answer is to "BRAND YOURSELF."

What this means is you have to discover WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE.

Let's assume that you have an outstanding resume and that you make it to the top of the stack of resumes of people to be called for an interview. You, and maybe nine or ten other equally qualified people for the position, that is.

Because companies have so many candidates to choose from they are interviewing more people so that they can select the "best." When you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview it is essential that you be ready to sell yourself - to let the interviewer know what makes you unique – what makes you a "remembered" person -- what added value you can bring to the position—in other words, why you are the best person for the job? Your goal is to leave behind an impression of your "brand." Read More

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How to turn your unwanted articles into cash

By Scarlett De Bease

For Sale: Wedding Dress Worn Once by Mistake. Did I get your attention? This is an ad I saw years ago in a small town paper and I have never forgotten it since. It is such an excellent example of a creative way to get rid of an unwanted item while making some money at the same time.

Everyone is talking now about finding ways to make extra money and avoid over spending. But did you know that there is money hiding in your closet and drawers? Allow me the opportunity to provide you with some ideas as to how you, too, can discover the extra cash hidden in your wardrobe, drawers, and even in your shoeboxes.

First, and for my clients this suggestion comes as no surprise, go through your closets and drawers and pull out what you never wear, what does not fit, or in the case of shoes, the ones that hurt your feet.

The items that are new or barely worn can be brought to a consignment shop. Clothes that are in good condition and not outdated are always excellent candidates for consignment shops. In today’s tough retail world, consignments stores are the star performers. Their sales are up and their inventory is usually quite diverse and full. The better the consignment store does, the more likely your items will sell quickly and for a higher price. Read more

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Overcoming the 12 hidden crises of professional women

By Kathy Caprino, MA

Are you a professional woman longing for a radical change?

You are not alone.

According to my research — a yearlong national study in partnership with the Esteemed Woman Foundation — seven out of 10 women today, particularly those in their middle years, say they are facing a major turning point in their professional lives. After devoting years to building successful careers, they feel that their professional lives and identities no longer work. As a result, most are facing at least one of 12 hidden work-life crises, including chronic health problems, financial bondage, and painful losses of the “real me.”

There is good news, however. A professional crisis — or “breakdown” — is sounding an important wake-up call that, when answered, can lead to real and lasting change in how you work and live. In other words, breaking down opens the door to breaking through.

Breaking down — identifying the crises

A true professional crisis is more than a “tough time.” For most women, it feels like a no-turning-back situation—a point in time that demands reckoning and reevaluation. So how do you know when you’ve reached that point? If you frequently find yourself saying, “I can’t do this”—the desperate cry, or negative mantra, of work-life crisis—and consistently have deep-down feelings of disempowerment, you may be experiencing one or more of 12 hidden crises. Among them: Read More

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Interview Expert

Professional Image Expert

Carole Martin is a coach with over 18 years in Human Resources Management. She is an acknowledged expert in the use of behavioral interviewing techniques.

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Style expert Bridgette Raes is the author of Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want and the president of the NYC based style consulting company for women, Bridgette Raes Style Group.

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Resume Writing Expert

Career Development Expert

Annemarie Cross is a multi-award winning, triple certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Management Specialist, Speaker, and Author of 10 key steps to Ace that Interview!

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Annette Richmond, MA, is founder and editor of career-intelligence.com and The Career Intelligencer. She is author of several publications, ebooks and interactive workbooks on career management.

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