You've picked an agency - now you have to apply for a spot on the team. It's not as easy as just walking in unemployed and being handed a job (or, placement in temp jargon). The people at the agency have to decide whether they want you to represent their company.Make an appointment at the agency and prepare yourself accordingly. 'Be professional and dress as if it's a 'real' interview,' said Jacqueline Johnson, who has more than 10 years of experience temping in Washington, DC, Boston, Mass., Nashville, Tenn., and Northridge, Calif.Bring a resume with a detailed work history and contact inform... view article details

How do you promote yourself while adding value to others? How can you do so successfully across generations?I just had the pleasure of chatting on Twitter with personal branding guru Dan Schawbel, bestselling author and managing partner of Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm. Schawbel and I tweeted about what he describes as “the new rules in the new workplace” in his latest book.Check out what he says about taking your career into your own hands, differentiating yourself, and targeting your audience.(In case you don't use Twitter, the @ symbol before our names is just th... view article details

Q: Dear Heather,I am an African-American female who is working for a company who only seems to want to mentor and promote Caucasian people (especially Caucasian females). After putting in maximum effort for this company and even recreating their company newsletter they previously let fall to the ground, they continued to promote one white person after the other, some with high qualifications and others with only previous fast food experience.All of us African-Americans slowly deflated and realized this company did not want anyone with my ethnic background in leadership. We watched while one Af... view article details

Do you think you are underpaid for the work you do? Have you recently received a pay raise and been disappointed at the increase amount? Would you like to unload on your boss for undervaluing you? Before you lose your cool and say something you may regret, follow our advice on how to prepare for and conduct a successful salary negotiation.Step One – Understand Your Role Make sure you understand your role and responsibilities and how your position contributes to the organization’s success. You and your employer will need to agree on your jo... view article details

COBRA  The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) is a federal law that protects your right to continued health insurance. COBRA gives former employees, retirees, spouses and dependent children, who were covered by a group health plan on the day before a qualifying event, the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. One overwhelming drawback to COBRA is the cost. If you and/or your family members qualify for COBRA, you will pay 102% of the insurance premiums until coverage is terminated. Most companies pay a portion of health insurance premiums... view article details

Dear Heather,What do you do about someone who just about stole your LinkedIn profile?! I've run into 'Amy' at a few networking events and noticed afterward that she kept looking at my online profile. At first I was flattered, but I finally looked at hers and found that she has posted, almost word for word, MY profile job description!! I was trying to be nice and introduce her to people at some industry events because she's new and a little socially awkward but began distancing myself after she asked for my contact list (!). Now I'm angry. How can I handle this? I worked hard on my profile and ... view article details

Dear Heather:I read your 'Death in the Workplace' column and found it to be helpful. But the person who was sick/dying wasn't in the workplace. It was a spouse of a co-worker. Right? How do you deal with a death IN the workplace?Thanks, 'Rachel'-----------------------------------------------Dear Rachel,While job promotions, moves, and career changes can shift the balance of personalities and politics in an office place, death leaves a sudden and often unexpected vacuum. With a co-worker's ascent up the career ladder, there is at least the promise of 'lunch' and a continued connection on Linked... view article details

Q: Hi,My name is 'Edie.' I am 51 years old. Last May I started working as a medical assistant for a local podiatrist. Unfortunately, although I learned a lot and loved every minute that I spent with the patients, my co-workers took the time and effort in every way possible to let me know they didn't like me nor accept me as part of the group.  I am very outgoing. They went as far as broadcasting every single mistake I made and some that I really didn't do and 'tell' on me to the doctor that I was working for, keeping to themselves important information about patients, coordinating wearing the ... view article details

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 5 percent of job seekers obtain jobs through the open job market which consists of help wanted ads, the internet and print publications. Another 24 percent obtain jobs by cold-calling companies directly. Twenty-three percent obtain jobs through employment agencies, college career-services offices and executive-search firms. The remaining 48 percent obtain their jobs through referrals or “word of mouth.” These individuals get the job referrals by networking. A job search that targets only advertised job openings will likely miss more than half of... view article details

We all want to be heard, but a surprising number of people only half-listen. If you spend more time listening than talking, use your listening skills to your advantage in job interviews, negotiations, networking, business meetings, and when selling anything to anyone. If not, improve your listening skills.'I remember an interview I had for a job,' says Doug Fidoten, president of Dentsu America, a full-service advertising and marketing-communications company. He shares this in my book, Self-Promotion for Introverts®: 'I had already met with a number of other executives, and this was the last on... view article details