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It's been a great year, you've worked really hard, and your company has brought back the holiday party to reward the team for a job well done. According to one survey, 9 out of 10 employers plan to hold a holiday bash this year. Before you pop the champagne, be mindful that your behavior at the holiday bash will impact your professional reputation come Monday morning and beyond. Here are seven things not to do at the holiday office party in 2012:]]>Christmas partyholiday partyoffice holiday partyoffice partywhat not to do at company holiday partywork party etiquetteCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-11-30T08:53:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/11/24/take-a-vacation-without-losing-your-job/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/11/24/take-a-vacation-without-losing-your-job/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/11/24/take-a-vacation-without-losing-your-job/#commentsMost experts preach the importance of taking a vacation. And there are plenty of studies showing it's good for your health, productivity and creativity.

But in America, most of us are limited to two weeks paid vacation. And most of us don't take even that in large part because we fear for our jobs, according to research.

Is that warranted? Unfortunately, it can be -- if you're not careful. Before you book your winter holiday vacation, take these precautions:]]>American workersChristmaschristmas vacationpaid time offrelaxationvacation timewinter holiday vacationwork life balanceCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-11-24T09:15:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/26/make-sure-you-re-not-laid-off-5-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/26/make-sure-you-re-not-laid-off-5-tips/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/26/make-sure-you-re-not-laid-off-5-tips/#comments

Unemployment is slowly declining, but many employers are still downsizing. Just last week Sony announced it was restructuring and letting go of 2,000 workers.

How can you make sure that you're not laid off? If you make sure to demonstrate your value, you can increase the odds that your job won't be eliminated. Here are 5 tips:]]>avoiding a lay offbossescolleaguescoworkersdont get laid offdownsizingdownsizing layoffhow to be valuable workerlaid offlayoffsnetworkingvalued employeework ethicCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-10-26T08:56:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/01/how-to-get-a-raise-even-if-no-one-else-does/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/01/how-to-get-a-raise-even-if-no-one-else-does/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/01/how-to-get-a-raise-even-if-no-one-else-does/#comments

Raises have been minimal, or non-existent from 2010 to 2012, according to a survey from Mercer, a New York human resources consulting firm. Most raises have been in the 2.7 percent range this year -- less than the 2012 cost of living adjustment of 3.6 percent.

Clearly, the struggling job market is enabling employers in many sectors to keep raises low. (In-demand jobs, like engineering, for instance, are enjoying better pay.)]]>bonusbonusescost of livingcost of living adjustmentget a raisemanage upMercer Consultingnegotiate for a raisepay raiseraisessalary negotiationsalary raisesCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-10-01T08:34:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/27/6-things-not-to-do-in-an-interview/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/27/6-things-not-to-do-in-an-interview/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/27/6-things-not-to-do-in-an-interview/#comments

For many people, the most stressful part of the job-hunting process is the interview. That's the time when you have to sell yourself and prove why you're perfectly suited for the job. Many well-qualified people stumble and make mistakes that kill their chances of getting the job. Here are the most common mistakes I see people make:]]>interview mistakesinterview tipsjob interviewquestionsresearchweaknessCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-08-27T09:37:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/23/insider-secrets-from-temp-to-permanent-work-fast/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/23/insider-secrets-from-temp-to-permanent-work-fast/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/23/insider-secrets-from-temp-to-permanent-work-fast/#comments

One of the ways people are surviving in this tough economy is by cobbling together part-time or temp jobs. According to a July 2012 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8.2 million workers are employed part-time or in temporary positions, working without job security or benefits. Is it possible to turn these gigs into permanent jobs?

Tim Whitney, author of "The Fast Track 50 -- The Get-Ahead Guide for Temporary Employees," recommends these five tips to fast track yourself into a permanent job:]]>first jobgigspart time jobssalaried workerstemp jobstemp to hireCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-08-23T08:10:00+00:00http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/17/is-the-cover-letter-obsolete/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/17/is-the-cover-letter-obsolete/http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/17/is-the-cover-letter-obsolete/#comments

Are cover letters necessary anymore? There are some who claim that the Internet era has made them obsolete. And when you're applying to dozens of jobs online, it isn't worth the extra effort; all that employers look at are the resumes.

Don't believe them. A resume alone will rarely get you the job-- no matter how stellar your credentials. The reality is that there are so many job applicants for each position you must distinguish yourself above and beyond the competition. A cover letter can help you do that very thing.]]>cover lettercover lettersjob applicationjob searchnecessityrequirementsCaroline Dowd-Higgins2012-08-17T08:52:00+00:00