Creative Approaches to Layoffs  It's the classic layoff problem. Relief from bottom-line pressure on the one hand; and low morale, bad publicity, and the loss of talented employees on the other. In the face of an economic downturn they believe to be temporary, companies need to be resourceful in looking for alternatives to the traditional layoff. In the past, some large employers forced to layoff workers have pulled together some very creative approaches to this dubious issue. Consulting powerhouse Accenture announced a voluntary sabbatical program known as 'Flexleave.' Offered to about 1,400 ... view article details

While our economy appears to be making gains in other areas, unemployment in this country is still hovering around 9.6%, according to the most recent statistics released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor. If you are currently searching for a job, consider taking paths less traveled -- and therefore less crowded. This article explores 14 less conventional ways to land a good job.1. Tailor your message to potential employers Forget generic resumes and cover letters -- they won’t cut it in today’s competitive environment. Make sure your objective statement is specific to t... view article details

Pendulum People The watch is swaying back and forth as you are getting sleepy, very sleepy. Well, not exactly. In a real hypnosis session, you would be more likely to focus on a spot on the wall, or an object in the room, than a pendulum. And the hypnotist would use different words. But you would be deeply relaxed. Then, the power of suggestion would take over. Jean Fain, a hypnotist and clinical social worker in private practice, uses techniques pioneered in ancient Greek healing temples to cure patients of smoking habits, overeating, phobias, pain, even warts. Hypnosis can also be used to en... view article details

Horrendous Resumes Actually Submitted to Hiring Managers So Much for First Impressions... Resumes and cover letters are often the first things seen by hiring managers and the deciding factors that determine whether or not you get a job interview. Armed with that knowledge, most people spend copious amounts of time crafting them, honing them, and even paying professionals to write it for them. And then there are those who don’t. The following examples will likely be difficult to believe, but there really are some people out there who give zero thought to how they come across to potential em... view article details

Q. I am a creative director with a mid-sized Internet development company (200 people). I oversee a department of 10 graphic designers, programmers, writers, and interface architects. Is it uncommon for one of my department members to be compensated more than I am? A. It doesn't happen often, but from time to time a supervisor may make less money than an employee who reports to him or her. When an employee earns more than his or her supervisor, it is normally because the employee's technical skills are worth more than those of the supervisor. For instance, employees who have very strong techn... view article details

Q: I received an offer lower than my desired salary. I talked it over with HR, and they met me almost halfway with a second offer. Is it appropriate to renegotiate to get closer to my desired salary, or is it time to accept their offer?A: It is okay to renegotiate a job offer with an employer if you do not feel comfortable with their job offer. However, you should be clear what you're willing to accept. Intensive conversations about a few thousand dollars may in the end prove to be a waste of time. It is also okay to ask a company what their final job offer is.If the company won't meet you all... view article details

I sometimes tell a story in my presentation about the sales guy who persisted over several months to get an appointment with a corporate buyer. Regardless of how hard he tried he could not get this woman to make the time to see him. She was a 'Master of the Universe' in the cosmetics industry based in New York City, and doing business with her could do wonders for any company or career.Sales Guy (yes, it was a man and his gender is important to the story) managed to get through to the gatekeeper who, after all his months of trying, came to appreciate his persistence. And from this gatekeeper, ... view article details

We all have days when something unpleasant happens at work and we wonder 'What am I doing here?' These moments of reflection help us put things into perspective and even reaffirm the reasons we took the job in the first place. But, when those reflections turn into an all-consuming preoccupation it could be a sign it's time to move on. Here are nine more signs that are telling you: 'It's time to get a new job!'Tick-tock, body-clock At some point it may dawn on you that you're exhausted from not having enough hours in the day. When you become aware that the hand on... view article details

Dear Annette,Everything in my tiny cubicle is beige. Day after day I arrive at my desk and think, 'Well, there go all my ideas.' All this beige is making me blue. Annette, how can I bring my workspace to life?Dingy in DaytonDear Dingy,Three words: accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Nothing stimulates creativity like nice things. You clearly need to give your cubicle a makeover.Besides, everything talks. Every book and every accessory communicates something about your motivation, attitude, and of course, personal style. Why Blah when you can Blossom?Give your office space the same loving to... view article details

Parting with Tradition For most of us, working on a resume is pretty uninspiring stuff. Fire up Microsoft Word, search for synonyms for “experience,” fiddle with the spacing until everything is lined up just so. Should the font be Arial or Times New Roman? 12-point or 11-point?But because we live in the digital age, there are a few brave souls among us who are turning the tedious traditional resume into something a little more creative and compelling. Personal branding websites, video resumes and social networking profiles are becoming increasingly valid ways for job seekers to distin... view article details