Here’s a shocking statistic: 59 percent of Americans would choose a different career if given the chance to do it all over again. Although these professionals may be able to move horizontally in their current organization, oftentimes a complete industry switch is necessary.   When you find yourself in the position of job seeking in an industry you’re not familiar with, it’s important to take some alternative routes. View Details

“So why do you want this job? ” Answering that question should be really easy! Often the answers are:  *Well, I want a job…*I want to work…*I want to pay the mortgage/rent…. View Details

Sales momentum. How do you get it? How do you know it’s there? How do you keep it going? What do you do when it’s lost?   Do you know what a smart-selling rep looks like in action? Test yourself on your Smart Sales Visual IQ:  Rep #1 is sitting at their desk with everything super neat and tidy. View Details

A few weeks ago I wrote an article covering the 5 Must-Have Qualities Of The Modern Manager. However it’s not just the managers that need to adapt and evolve to the changing workplace; it’s also the non-managerial employees. As I mentioned in the previous article dramatic changes in the way we work are being fueled by new behaviors and new technologies. In fact, there are five trends which are shaping the future of work. View Details

You’re currently employed and get a paycheck every other week. It’s a sure and steady income. Why, then, are you searching for a new job?   During an interview, a hiring manager is undoubtedly thinking this and almost certainly will ask about it. A “bad” answer can kill your chances at getting the job offer. A “good” answer can position you for success.   So how do you answer that question? View Details

In 2013, the average worker can expect a raise of 3 percent, according to human resources and consulting group Aon Hewitt. Top performers may be able to snag an additional 1 percent. Although this may seem like small potatoes, many businesses are struggling to give their employees that much. Every bit counts in a down economy, and there are ways you can position yourself for that higher-than-average pay raise at work. View Details

LinkedIn is most professional social network on the internet – but are you missing out on job opportunities? This infographic by LinkedIn in 30 Minutes and AvidCareerist shows you the top 5 reasons why recruiters may not click on your profile.   Takeaways: *Is your headline too generic? Here are ten examples of headlines that stick out from the crowd.   *Are you on LinkedIn? View Details

One of the most prevalent obstacles for job seekers looking for their first professional job is work experience. In one of the biggest workforce catch-22s, candidates need work experience in order to get a job, but they first need a job in order to get the work experience. View Details

Just because you’re entry level doesn’t mean you can’t churn out awesome work and positively affect your company’s bottom line.   As an entry level employee, you’ve got to kick @$$ and take names to eventually move up from your position. But it’s up to you to decide what kind of entry level employee you’ll be. View Details

This infographic by CyberCoders gives you the top tips to make sure your resume doesn’t get rejected by an ATS and actually read by a human.   Takeaways: *72% of the time an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) will see your resume before a human. *Make sure you don’t use any fancy fonts! *Tactfully sprinkle key words within the resume to make sure it makes it through the system. View Details

My first boss told me in no uncertain terms: THESE ARE THE RULES, and they should never be broken if you want to be successful.   *Every phone call should be returned within 24 hours. Even from people you don’t know. *Every memo should have a response by the next business day. Even if the response is “I am in receipt of your memo, stay tuned. View Details

When you're applying for jobs, being told that you're being dismissed because you're "overqualified" for a job you know you could do well is incredibly frustrating. After all, having higher qualifications than what a job requires should be a good thing, shouldn't it?   To job seekers, being told they're overqualified can feel like being told by a date that they're too funny or good-looking – and leaves them wondering why it's a deal-breaker. View Details

When times are tough and you’re competing with not only people from your graduating class, but also new grads and experienced veteran workers in any given field, you’re likely to step down a few rungs on the corporate ladder in order to do things like make rent and eat. You think your wealth of experience and knowledge would make you a shoe-in for any position, but it can actually scare employers off. View Details

Too often, sales reps want to “cut to the chase” by going straight to the decision maker and making their pitch. However, in most organizations these days, the decision maker is connected to and supported by a network of team members, many of whom can influence the outcome of the deal.   This network of people will often serve cross functions and departments within the customer organization. View Details

These four simple rules will help ensure that your audience sits up and pays attention.   It takes an audience about 15 seconds (at most) to decide whether your presentation is worth their attention. Fritter away those fifteen seconds and your audience will either mentally check out or pull out their phones to start texting.   Here's how to begin a presentation so that your audience really sits up and takes notice.   1. Have somebody else introduce you. View Details