"Being you is all that you can do," or so says a song I heard this morning by rock band Audioslave. The aptly named track "Be Yourself" describes what I feel people should aim to do all the time -- whether they're in the middle of a job interview, on a blind date, or at a party. Now, just because you project the "real you" doesn't mean you can't strive to better yourself, whether that means taking public speaking classes, giving up drinking, or becoming more charitable. But when it comes to your natural core -- your true temperament, your bedrock principles -- you should always stand firm. You shouldn't have to fake who you are just to impress other people. If others don't give their stamp of approval to the most genuine version of yourself, guess what? (1) You don't need their validation to begin with, and (2) You're with the wrong people. The right people for us, on the other hand, accept us for who we are -- flaws...

Is having too many choices good or bad? Some might say it's a good thing, as it allows you to pick what best suits your needs. Others contend it can be a bad thing in that it causes you to second guess your decisions, especially if the alternatives are fairly comparable. We face this type of conundrum on an almost-daily basis. Which job offer should I accept? Which computer should I buy? Which of these two guys should I become exclusive with? About a month or two before graduating from college, I was hitting the pavement hard in hopes of landing a full-time job. (Mind you, this wasn't long before the global recession began.) I went on a flurry of interviews and was offered nearly every position I applied for. I turned down the first two because I thought the salary being offered was a tad low. Besides, I didn't want to run after the first opportunity that came my way; I wished to take a little more time testing the job market waters. Unfortunately, the positio...

Let's face it. Human beings are social, emotional creatures. When it comes to job interviews, a candidate's qualifications and experience matter a great deal. However, in order to outshine other equally qualified -- or better qualified -- candidates, you have to bring something more to the table. Yes, knowing someone who knows someone else can improve your odds. But chances are you will eventually apply for a job at a company at which none of your friends, acquaintances, or friends of friends work. Luckily, though, you can still land a job without networking. Here's my secret to increasing your chances of getting the job exponentially: Connect with the interviewer on a personal level . Let's say my interviewer's name is Stacy. At some point in the interview (usually toward the end), I might tell her that I had a very close friend in college with the same name. Or, I might see a sticker on her filing cabinet that says "Born in New York" and sa...

Though the economy continues to improve, some job-seekers are still struggling to find work. To make matters worse, myriad employers around the country still receive scads of applications for every job opening they put out. This means that the competition for jobs remains fairly stiff. Without a doubt, getting a job – let alone the right job – is hard enough. But by heeding the job hunting tips listed below, you’ll not only learn how to make your resumes and cover letters stand out more, but also discover the little things you can do to make a favorable impression during interviews. Whether you are unemployed and have been job hunting for more than 6 months, or gainfully employed and simply longing for better career opportunities, these job search strategies will ultimately put you one step closer to snagging the job you want. Determine the type of job you want . Do you have your sights set on an account executive position at a finance company? A tax accountant post at a...

When we were kids, we were asked a specific question that we probably felt we knew the answer to: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Answers would run the gamut -- from firefighter to teacher to baseball player. It's understandable that we wouldn't know what our calling is at such a young age. Unfortunately, though, some of us -- even in our 20s, 40s, or 60s -- still haven't arrived at a concrete answer. It's well-documented that a lot of us switch majors multiple times in colleges and go on to receive a degree in something we might never use in the real world. While this isn't a big deal, it does become a problem when one opts to change careers several times after being in the working world for a considerable amount of time. Here are a couple of reasons why: It shows you can't make up your mind as to which career you wish to settle into People will start to think you can't hold down a job Your resume is proof that you have ...

These days, finding a great job seems almost like a losing proposition. A still-feeble economy and stubbornly high unemployment rate have led employers to shed more and more jobs by the day, resulting in stiff competition for the few positions available. This article discusses effective job search strategies you can avail of to help you land the job you want. It guides you through the different stages of the job hunting process, from determining which jobs suit your personality and match your skills to making a good impression during interviews to sending post-interview thank you letters that yield great results.  Tips on How to Find a Job You’ll Love Scads of employers around the country report receiving hundreds of applications for every job opening they put out. This means that the competition for jobs is stiffer than ever. To be sure, getting a job – let alone the right job – is difficult enough. But all hope is not lost! By heeding the job hunting tips listed bel...

When you're looking for the right job, you have to take a myriad of factors into account: Do the hours suit you? Is overtime expected? Is the culture to your liking? Does your personality fit the culture and demands of the job? Are you okay with the distance to and from work? Are the salary and benefits sufficient? What is the room for growth like? Do you feel you'd get along well with your supervisor? Does the job require travel? If so, would you be okay with that? Unfortunately, the answers to most of these questions will likely remain a mystery until you've been working there for a while. It's impossible to decipher what the culture will be like when you've only sat for one or two interviews. That's why I recommend that people do their research beforehand. Visit sites like glassdoor.com for any reviews that current or former employees may have written about the company. Perhaps you notice that a friend of a friend on Linkedin works at the com...