salary

Risky Business: Online Shopping at Work

Tom Musbach — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:23:14 -0500

The temptation to shop online while at work gets much stronger at this time of year. Despite the known risks, many of us do it on the sly anyway -- like using a cell phone while driving.

In fact, 1 in 5 workers (21%) said they will shop online for holiday gifts this year while working. The statistic comes from a new survey, conducted by financial staffing firm Accountemps, that was released a week before Cyber Monday -- typically the biggest day of the year for online shopping.

The Big Pileup: Social Networking Sites

Tom Musbach — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:13:11 -0500

Metaphors abound in descriptions of social media sites today. They are "exploding," the "next big thing," the "new media revolution." Here's another that will be familiar to anybody who watches football: They're the center of a big pileup.

Everybody -- including job seekers, recruiters, marketers -- is jumping on them, trying to get a piece of the action in the midst of a chaotic jumble. Sometimes you scoop up a new job lead or connect to a promising candidate. Or you come up empty-handed and a little bruised.

Some recent bits of data to consider:

Secret Weapon in the Job Hunt Today: Personality

Tom Musbach — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:26:04 -0500

Your interpersonal skills can make or break your chances of getting a job offer -- even in such a technical field as finance.

The point was made very clear recently in a survey by finance staffing firm Accountemps. More than 1,400 CFOs were asked: "If two candidates for an accounting or finance position had similar skills, which one the following additional qualifications would you find most valuable?" Topping the list was "personality or people skills" with 31% of the votes.

Avoiding the Resume 'Black Hole'

Tom Musbach — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:46:55 -0400

I've heard some recruiters say they usually scan a resume in seconds. That boast could challenge job seekers to stand out as much as possible, but it also feeds the impression among candidates that their resumes end up in a black hole.

But that dominant view -- "you have to capture a recruiter's attention within seconds or else" -- ignores others who might assess your resume.

Should You Change Your Looks to Get a Job?

Tom Musbach — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:41:20 -0400

A majority of job seekers this year have changed something about their physical appearance in order to impress employers, according to an online poll.

The respondents in the Yahoo! HotJobs poll made changes in several areas:

Clothing style: 11%
Lost weight: 13%
Hair style and/or color: 12%
Face (Makeup, teeth whitening, Botox): 4%
Two or more of the above: 19%
Nothing: 41%

Resume Format: 3 in 4 Hiring Managers Recommend...

Tom Musbach — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:31:49 -0400

If you're aiming to please a hiring manager in your job search (and who isn't?), then format your resume chronologically.

In a recent Accountemps survey, 75% of hiring managers prefer a chronological resume that lists the most recent work experience first. The respondents preferred this type of resume to one that is organized by job function and skills, according to the financial staffing firm.

The firm also reported that the managers' responses were little changed from 10 years ago when the question was asked.

Infographic of the Day: How Much Does Your Company's CEO Make? Per Hour?

Kelsey Keith — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:51:24 -0400

GOOD Magazine issued a challenge to its design-savvy readers last month, calling for infographics that "explore how much corporate officers in this country are paid," and using illustration and design to describe data like company profits, stock price, and salaries of CEOs versus lower-level workers.

Common Interview Surprise: Illegal Questions

Tom Musbach — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:38:06 -0400

More than half of job seekers report being asked an illegal question during a job interview.

That eye-opener comes from a Yahoo! HotJobs online poll, in which 62% of respondents reported being on the receiving end of a question about a verboten topic, such as one's religion or marital status. Almost a third (32%) had not been asked such a question, and 7% said they didn't know.

The numbers surprised me and several of my colleagues, so it's worth reviewing what's permissible and not. Interviewers are not allowed to ask about:

For Lasting Salary Damage, Get Hired in a Recession

Tom Musbach — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:03:23 -0400

New grads entering the job market have come to expect that during touch economic times -- like the present -- they may have to settle for a lower salary to get a job. But that flexibility may result in income damage that could take nearly 20 years to overcome, according to new research.

A Depressing Discovery

By equating salaries for new hires to the unemployment rate, a Yale professor calculates that students who graduate during a downturn earn 6-8% less in their first year for each percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate.

Overused Office Buzzwords: The List Grows

Tom Musbach — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:40:12 -0400

I recently wrote an article about the most annoying and overused terms in the workplace, and readers have been commenting with new words to add to the list.

The basis for the article was a survey by Accountemps, in which 150 senior executives identified the problem words and phrases (e.g. "leverage," "circle back"). But here's 10 more they missed, according to Yahoo! HotJobs readers:

Labor Day Surprise: Job Dissatisfaction Rises

Tom Musbach — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:15:00 -0400

One of the interesting things about this recession has been the modest rise in job satisfaction: People have been happy just to have a job, for the most part.

But that sentiment may be shifting as the economic tide starts to turn, according to a new survey by Adecco.

Workers' dissatisfaction with their employers gravitates toward three areas: compensation, retention efforts, and career growth.

Nearly a Third of U.S. Already at 10% Unemployment

Tom Musbach — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:17:58 -0400

New July unemployment figures show that 15 states have already reached 10% unemployment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many economists and pundits have focused like vultures on the national jobless rate rising to 10% this year, as if crossing that threshold might signal a new level of doom.

We're already there in 30% of the states and the District of Columbia. Double-digit unemployment is dreadful, but does it feel much different to the average jobless person who is struggling with the current national 9.4% jobless rate?

The Open Frontier in Hiring Today

Tom Musbach — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:02:17 -0400

The exploding popularity of social networking sites has created a new Wild West in the recruitment landscape, where few boundaries, guideposts, and rules exist. But recruiters and job seekers are rushing in for possible rewards.

A Hiring Helper?

How to Cope in a Miserable Job

Tom Musbach — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:29:22 -0400

Many people feel stuck in their current jobs. They may be grateful to have a job in this economy, but the job isn't satisfying them. If you're in that situation, some information below might help.

Begin by doing some self-reflection on the sources of misery on your job. Once you know the main cause, you can take steps to combat the misery. Here are some common problem sources:

The Boss

Stealthy Threats to Your Job Hunt

Tom Musbach — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:16:17 -0400

I've heard other reporters chuckle when I suggest that one of the biggest priorities for job seekers with their resumes should be spell-checking and proofreading. "No duh" is the implied message. But what seems obvious is often a surprising obstacle.

No Typo Is Harmless

A recent survey by the financial staffing firm Accountemps shows that three out of four executives (76%) said just one or two typos in a resume is enough to knock applicants out of the running for hiring consideration.

Report: Starting Salaries Hold Steady

Tom Musbach — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:06:53 -0400

The gloom of the recession had many people expecting salary shrinkage this year, especially for new grads just entering the workforce. But the average 2009 starting salary for new college grads is lower than last year's by less than 1 percent, a new report says.

A summer report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found the average starting salary offer was $49,307, compared to $49,639 in 2008.

Authors Share Insights on Career Success

Tom Musbach — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:10:39 -0400

In keeping with the overall theme of this blog, I decided to do a quick Q&A on career guidance with two authors of new career books.

Ford R. Myers is the author of "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" (published in June) and Rick Smith (pictured), author of the forthcoming (September) book "The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great."

Both experts answered my questions independently via email, and their complementary insights that can boost career advancement during these hard economic times.

Keep June's Jobless Data in the Rear View

Tom Musbach — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:47:50 -0400

With job losses in nearly every industry, the June unemployment numbers (9.5% unemployment rate, 467K jobs lost) show that the already tough job market has some distance to go before turning the corner. Hopeful signs exist, but people looking for work still must be persistent and resourceful to succeed.

The Worst Job-Interview Question

Tom Musbach — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:46:45 -0400

Being asked to name one of your biggest weaknesses during a job interview is the worst interview question from a job-seeker's perspective. It feels like an invitation to lie, because who is really going to reveal that kind of information to a potential boss?

Extreme Job Hunters: Where Are They Now?

Tom Musbach — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:44:25 -0400

A few months ago I interviewed some job hunters who were using unusual tactics to get work, like renting a huge billboard for a month. I went back to them recently to see what kind of success their extreme efforts brought.

Billboard Yields Offers

The Top 10 List for Job Seekers

Tom Musbach — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:32:09 -0400

Who doesn't love a "Top 10" list? Especially when it comes from David Letterman. The list I want to focus on today, however, isn't very funny (but there is a fun payoff at the end of this post).

Looking for a job today is serious business. It's a job in itself, and you need to take it seriously in order to succeed.

Youth: A Disadvantage in Today's Job Market?

Tom Musbach — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:40:35 -0400

"Out with the old, in with the new." That tired adage makes sense in many business settings, but not when you look at this recession's impact on the labor market.

Older employees aren't always the first to get the layoff axe today, despite assumptions about them being more expensive for an employer's bottom line.

Afraid to Take Vacation?

Tom Musbach — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:33:51 -0400

Vacations are supposed to relieve anxiety, not cause it. Yet many people are stressing out about vacations -- particularly about whether or not to take them.

Whether it's the cost of traveling or the fear of losing your job once you're gone, many Americans are deciding to scrap their vacations this year.

Recession Victim?

A Fresh Boost of Optimism

Tom Musbach — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:22:15 -0400

One of the things I love about this time of year is the hopefulness that comes with college graduations. Young people with fresh ideas and high hopes enter the workforce, and illustrious commencement speakers offer wise reflections (sometimes) that can motivate us anew.

Habits that Really Annoy Recruiters

Tom Musbach — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:41:58 -0400

Job seekers do the darnedest things.

Like addressing a cover letter to "Ms. Kennedy" when the recruiter has a different name and gender. Or starting a phone interview by asking, "Now what job is this for?"