http://jobs.aol.com/articles AOL Jobs http://o.aolcdn.com/os/careers/images/AOL_jobs_logo.png http://jobs.aol.com/articles en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/10/great-cover-letter-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/10/great-cover-letter-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/10/great-cover-letter-tips/#commentsIn a job market that's more competitive than ever, it's critical that your cover letter stand out. With the advent of online job postings, you're competing with a more global and wide-ranging group of people, so consider the content of your cover letter carefully. And never submit a resume without one-that's a great way to be dismissed by a recruiter for lack of effort.

Here are some pointers on how to craft a great cover letter:]]>candidatescover letterjobsperfect coverrecruiterresumeBrazen Life2013-06-10T06:25:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/03/things-never-say-coworkers/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/03/things-never-say-coworkers/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/03/things-never-say-coworkers/#commentsBy Jenny Treanor

If you're lucky enough to spend the day surrounded by co-workers whom you consider close friends, count your blessings. Not everyone has the good fortune to work side-by-side with those whom they connect with on the deepest personal level. For most of us, co-worker relationships are pleasant, friendly and warm -- but you're still bound by the rules of professionalism and respectful distance.]]>inappropriate behavior at workoffice friendshipsprofessionalismrelationships with coworkersworkplace etiquetteBrazen Life2013-06-03T08:00:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/31/things-to-leave-off-resume/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/31/things-to-leave-off-resume/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/31/things-to-leave-off-resume/#commentsBy Leslie Anglesey

Your resume may only be a single page, but it's a potential minefield when it comes to your career. On one hand, you want enough information so the employer sees what a stellar candidate you are. On the other, you don't want to step into any pitfalls that will give the hiring manager reason to exclude you.

Here are the do's and don'ts for writing each section of your resume:]]>how to write a resumejob hunting adviceresumeresume writingBrazen Life2013-05-31T08:00:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/23/traits-successful-bosses/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/23/traits-successful-bosses/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/23/traits-successful-bosses/#commentsBy Brad Lomenick

Let's be honest: you don't want to fail. But if you're a leader, you've more than likely failed at one point or another. One of the most prevalent reasons for failure is the lack of the essential elements needed to lead now and well. Here are four traits you must possess if you want to succeed as a boss:]]>bad bossescollaborationgood bossleadershipsuccessfulBrazen Life2013-05-23T08:00:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/21/twitter-resume-hired/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/21/twitter-resume-hired/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/21/twitter-resume-hired/#commentsBy Jen Glantz

The days of lengthy cover letters and bulleted resumes are fading as employers ask job applicants to present their case in a modern and challenging way -- by describing themselves and why they are a perfect fit for a job in 150 characters or less. Borrowing from the style of Twitter (which maxes out at 140 characters) and similar to a quick-and-to-the-point elevator pitch, this new request forces you to carefully select words and summarize your most important skills.]]>150 characterscover letterselevator pitchjob searchresumetwitterBrazen Life2013-05-21T08:13:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/17/yoga-lessons-job-hunting/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/17/yoga-lessons-job-hunting/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/05/17/yoga-lessons-job-hunting/#commentsBy Amber Erickson Gabbey

When you're in the deep trenches of job seeking, the last thing you're likely thinking about is yoga. You probably have more pressing issues to deal with. Perhaps you're worried about how to pay next month's rent or can't shake that the dreadful feeling you'll never find employment again.

Yoga can help these worries and job-hunting related stressors in more ways than one. It's a great way to break away from the job boards to refresh your mind and body. And, it provides some powerful lessons along the way:]]>downward dogexerciseflexibilityjob huntingstress managementyogaBrazen Life2013-05-17T06:10:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/29/long-term-unemployment-benefits/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/29/long-term-unemployment-benefits/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/29/long-term-unemployment-benefits/#commentsBy Sarah Li Cain

Google any news article and you'll find horror stories of people being unemployed for six months or more. You'll mostly likely read that they suffer from depression, have anxiety issues or are even suicidal.

Kind of bleak, isn't it? While long-term unemployment isn't something to be taken lightly, you can view it in a positive way. In fact, there are benefits to being unemployed!

Here's how long-term unemployment actually benefit you:]]>free timejob interviewsLong term unemploymentresumesunemployedBrazen Life2013-04-29T08:03:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/25/networking-mistakes-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/25/networking-mistakes-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/25/networking-mistakes-tips/#comments
By Marian Schembari

Hopefully you know by now that networking is the only real way to land your dream job. But are you doing it right?

Last week, I experienced the ultimate networking experience. Let's say hello to Ginny.

Ginny emailed me a week ago. Her subject line was, "I think I love cupcakes more than you." She got five points in my book right off the bat. See, on my blog's "About" page, I talk about my cupcake addiction. So, Ginny clearly knew who I was and had read my blog, wrote a personal email to me (she didn't copy and paste) with a fun touch instead of trying too hard to be overly professional.]]>dream jobjob searchnetworkingBrazen Life2013-04-25T07:30:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/22/career-love-affair-relationship/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/22/career-love-affair-relationship/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/04/22/career-love-affair-relationship/#commentsBy Sarah Greesonbach

You already know to avoid a second date with someone who doesn't laugh at your jokes or who was mean to the waiter. But what about staying with an employer as they slowly cut back on important perks? Turns out that treating your career like a relationship might be just what you need to kick it into high gear. Here are a few important principles -- in love and business -- that can help you make those tough decisions:

1. Use the first date to feel out your compatibility and pick up on warning signs. The interview (a.k.a. the job equivalent of a first date) is much like its relationship counterpart; you get a general impression of a person and, if you're paying attention, you can also get a preview of the warning signs.]]>career advicecareer relationshipfinding a joblove affairrelationshipsBrazen Life2013-04-22T07:14:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/19/nice-people-customer-service/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/19/nice-people-customer-service/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/19/nice-people-customer-service/#commentsBy Cassie Nolan

Employers love to put nice people in customer service positions. Especially if they're authentically nice people -- I'm talking about the kind it's impossible to get mad at because they're just naturally so dang polite and pleasant. It's obvious that they genuinely want to solve everyone's problems, and they're working really hard to make it happen.

This setup makes sense (put nice employees in front of clients = a no-brainer) and works out well for all involved -- except you, the sweetheart professional.]]>customer servicecustomer service jobsextrovertsintrovertsBrazen Life2013-03-19T08:15:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/15/job-application-resume-recruiter-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/15/job-application-resume-recruiter-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/15/job-application-resume-recruiter-tips/#commentsBy Anna Pitts

Applying for jobs is a challenging task, one made all the more difficult when you know your recruiter has dozens of other applicants to consider. Instead of getting lost in the crowd, here are some things you can do to fast-track your resume to the front of a long queue:]]>Applicant Tracking SystemsATSrecruitersresume tipsBrazen Life2013-03-15T08:30:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/01/how-stop-procrastinating-work/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/01/how-stop-procrastinating-work/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/03/01/how-stop-procrastinating-work/#commentsBy Jude Bijou

It's normal to procrastinate at work. Usually we do it because we're avoiding a task that's unpleasant or daunting. And, in truth, procrastinating isn't really a serious problem until it starts to interfere with your performance at work. If you're feeling worried, fearful and stressed out, or your behavior is causing others to feel anxious because you're holding up progress, then it's time to take action!]]>how stop procrastinatingmanagement of timestop procrastinatingtime managementBrazen Life2013-03-01T08:42:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/27/work-from-home-tips-yahoo/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/27/work-from-home-tips-yahoo/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/27/work-from-home-tips-yahoo/#commentsBy Danny Rubin

This past Tuesday morning, a Yahoo employee probably sat down at his home office, checked his email and promptly spit his coffee into the air. That's because his boss, Marissa Mayer, announced through a company memo that, starting in June, staff can no longer work from home.]]>Marissa Mayertelecommutingtelecommuting jobsworking from homeYahooYahoo work from homeBrazen Life2013-02-27T11:37:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/22/work-relationship-mistakes-errors/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/22/work-relationship-mistakes-errors/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/22/work-relationship-mistakes-errors/#commentsBy Ben Drake

Let me let you in on a little secret: Everything you do is judged by the people around you.

Unfortunately, people tend to judge only what they choose to see. For example, if you're late to work, the automatic judgement might be that it's because you're irresponsible and can't manage your time. Yikes! Why couldn't they see the accident and traffic jam during your commute or the sick child you had to help?]]>judge othersjudgementaljudging othersmistake at workmistakes at workwork relationshipsBrazen Life2013-02-22T08:47:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/01/are-you-a-boring-interview-yes-if-you-do-this/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/01/are-you-a-boring-interview-yes-if-you-do-this/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/02/01/are-you-a-boring-interview-yes-if-you-do-this/#comments

By Rocco Brown-Morris


It's easy to ruin a job interview. If your interviewer's counting her yawns, it doesn't matter how qualified you are for the position -- you've lost the job. So, what mind-numbing mistakes are costing you work? And, more importantly, how can you keep the conversation lively while also coming across as professional?]]>avoid boring peoplebad interview questionsbad interviewsbad job interviewshow to shake handspeople are boringweak handshakeBrazen Life2013-02-01T08:31:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/18/working-part-time-two-jobs/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/18/working-part-time-two-jobs/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/18/working-part-time-two-jobs/#comments

By Melanie Fischer

Have you been looking for a full-time job but only been able to find part-time positions? Earning money through part-time work is better than not earning money at all, but it's not always optimal.

Maybe you've been thinking about trying to get two or more part-time jobs to earn the same amount of money you'd earn with one full-time gig. But beware: This can be more difficult than you might think.]]>multiple jobspart-time jobspart-time worktwo jobsworking two jobsBrazen Life2013-01-18T08:53:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/17/tech-career-core-skills/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/17/tech-career-core-skills/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/17/tech-career-core-skills/#comments

By Liz King


There was a time when basic computer skills like "email" and "Excel" were rare and in demand. You could even list "typing" or "telephony" on your resume and expect it to get some attention.

Not anymore.]]>cloud computingemployableinformation technologyinformation technology jobsit jobsjobs in technologysocial media networkingBrazen Life2013-01-17T08:11:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/14/3-great-reasons-to-pursue-work-outside-of-your-field/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/14/3-great-reasons-to-pursue-work-outside-of-your-field/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/01/14/3-great-reasons-to-pursue-work-outside-of-your-field/#comments

By Alan Brady


When we graduate college, we hope that the job fairy will give us a high-paying job at a great company-the day after we get our loan-financed diplomas, no less.

Unfortunately, what usually happens is that we find ourselves sitting in our parents' basements, lamenting the cruelty of fate and resigning ourselves to a part-time job as a barista while we hope for the economy to return to its fabled 1990s state. You know, that time when six-figure jobs fell into the laps of even the most liberal of liberal arts majors-right?]]>career changecareer skillshow to change careersjob qualificationsnew jobBrazen Life2013-01-14T07:46:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/26/7-best-careers-for-foodies/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/26/7-best-careers-for-foodies/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/26/7-best-careers-for-foodies/#commentsBy Annie Favreau


Last November, we ran "Eat, Pray, Find a Job" featuring a delectable selection of our favorite food-based jobs-from dietitian to flavor chemist. Here's a second edition. To turn your passion for edible goods into a successful job, read on for some delicious inspiration:]]>careers in food industryfood industryfood industry jobsfood jobsfood loversfoodiesgood food jobsBrazen Life2012-12-26T08:36:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/15/made-a-huge-mistake-at-work-5-damage-control-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/15/made-a-huge-mistake-at-work-5-damage-control-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/15/made-a-huge-mistake-at-work-5-damage-control-tips/#comments

By Kelly Gurnett


You've really done it this time.

You blew the deadline on THE big project. You sent an email to the wrong person (the absolute worst person, actually) thanks to address auto-fill. You messed up the numbers on the end-of-year spreadsheet that goes directly to corporate.

If you've ever made a mistake like this-the kind that has visions of pink slips flashing before your eyes-you know what happens the instant you realize what you've done: complete and utter paralyzing panic.]]>angry bossangry bossesmake mistakesmistakemistakes at workmistakes on the jobBrazen Life2012-12-15T07:21:00+00:00