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How to avoid falling victim to these mistaken career beliefs

By Annemarie Cross

Whether you are thinking about entering the job market or plan to remain with your current employer until you retire, take heed. The job market can be highly competitive and the perception of a guaranteed job for life is no longer valid. To ensure you maintain an impressive marketable and highly employable edge within a constantly changing career landscape, ensure you aren’t fooled by the following career misconceptions.

Misconception One: The most qualified candidate always gets the job offer.

Impressive qualifications and expansive experience does not necessarily guarantee that you will get the job. In fact, jobs are often offered to the better communicator, the better ‘sales person’ who is able to connect with the interviewer and subsequently market relevant skills and achievements in a professional and articulate manner. Studies have shown that 55% of the impact of communication comes from body language, your mannerisms and the way you conduct yourself; 38% comes from auditory functions, including tonality, speed of your voice, volume and articulation; and only 7% comes from the words you are speaking. Read More

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Five ways to look great without spending a fortune

By Diana Pemberton-Sikes

A fashionista is someone who devoutly follows fashion, like the Carrie Bradshaw character in "Sex in the City." Fashionistas often put fashion before comfort or even common sense, often wearing clothes that are inappropriate for the occasion or the weather. I know. I used to be one. When you follow fashion to the extreme, you're known for your clothes, not for your restraint or fiscal savvy.

But times change. Just take a look at the Dow.

With the sluggish economy and tightening credit, many fashionistas are going into serious withdrawal. Fashion, like eating out, is one of the first things many indulge in when times are good - and one of the first things they go without when times get tough. Read more

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Show an employer how you can fill their needs

By Carole Martin

Interviewing for a job is in many ways comparable to a sales person making a sale. If you were a sales person and were about to sell a product to a customer you would do some homework or research so that you could convince your customers that your product was the best product on the market to fill their needs.

If you think of this scenario and apply it to the job interview process you will find that it is a powerful tool to use for your interview preparation. What do you have to offer (as a product), to the customer (the employer)? What do you have that will fill their needs (the requirements of the job)? What can you bring that is unique or added value to the position/company? (that sets you apart from the pack)?

Let’s begin with “what you have to offer.” Think of ways to present your key qualities throughout the interview. An example of this technique is when interviewing for a position that requires “strong organizational skills.” You will want to let the interviewer know you are not only organized, but that your organizational skills have made a significant difference in your performance. If you can give an example of a particular event that you organized and how your organizational skills made a difference in a past job you will make an even stronger sell. Anyone can say that they have “strong organizational skills,” but not everyone can give specific examples of a time when they had a success using those skills. Don’t tell them – sell them - with proof of a past experience or success. Read More

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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