Career Marketplace Blog

In this Digits video from the Wall Street Journal, Leslie Kwoh explains how companies are looking to young employees for Social Media advice. (Click link below if video does not appear)

Young Workers Become Social- Media Mentors

In this article from the Wall Street Journal, Joann S. Lublin describes How to Look and Act Like a Leader.

Read an excerpt from Lublin’s article. Read Full Article

Savvy executives know the part, act the part and look the part. That’s because they exude “executive presence,” a broad term used to describe the aura of leadership.

For Janie Sharritt, now a vice president at Sara Lee Corp., an image makeover helped her gain the managerial gravitas that she needed to advance further up the ladder.

In 2005, Ms. Sharritt was a newly promoted middle manager for another consumer-products manufacturer. She preferred to wear a ponytail, scant makeup, khakis, sweaters and loafers. But by taking a “Power of Image” workshop led by image coach Jonna Martin, she got an expert makeover. Her revamped look included a sophisticated hairstyle, dressy slacks and jackets, pumps, colorful necklaces and extra makeup.

She thinks the changes boosted her self confidence, resulting in faster acceptance of her ideas by senior management. “In the past, [that quick buy-in] wasn’t one of the things I was known for,” says Ms. Sharritt. She joined Sara Lee four years ago.

Executives with presence act self confident, strategic, decisive and assertive, concludes a study released late last year by the Center for Work-Life Policy, a New York think tank.

Presence plays an increasingly important role as companies grapple with a weak recovery and fewer management layers. “You have less time to make that lasting impression,” warns Stefanie Smith, head of Stratex Consulting, a New York coaching firm. Today, 75% of her coaching practice involves enhancing clients’ presence–up from 35% in 2007.

Read On

Is there too much pressure to be named “most likely to succeed”? Sue Shellenbarger of the Wall Street Journal explores this topic in WSJ video, News Hub: The Pressure of ‘Most Likely to Succeed’

In her article for Forbes.com, Want the Job? Get a Sponser, Colette Martin explains what a sponsor is and how they can impact your job search.

Below is an excerpt of Martin’s article. Read Full Article

For the past two decades we’ve heard a lot about mentoring. Having a mentor – someone to guide you in your career and provide critical advice – is one of the keys to career success.

And we’ve heard a lot about networking. We have been taught that most jobs are found through networking. While estimates vary from 60% to 80%, it is a compelling data point that has made us think differently about working relationships.

Now there’s a new player everyone is talking about – the sponsor.

If you want to get ahead – and specifically if you want to get the job, your chances are dramatically increased if you have a sponsor.

What is a sponsor? And how is a sponsor different from a mentor?

Read On

Mashable article, 5 Ways to Get a Job Through YouTube, Zachary Sniderman advises readers how they can achieve job search success using YouTube. Sniderman illustrates his tips using video success stories from teen sensation Justin Bieber, real estate training coach Tom Ferry, and many more.

Read on to read the full article and view success story videos.

About.com Guide, Dawn Rosenberg McKay explains how your ability to listen can benefit your job search. In her article, Now Pay Attention. Here’s Why You Need Good Listening Skills, McKay explains the difference between listening and hearing and explains why you need good listening skills.

Below is an excerpt of McKay’s article. Read Full Article

Wall Street Journal Career Stategies article, Most Promotions Take Place in January, Study Finds, Joe Light references a study conducted by LinkedIn Corp showing when “the greatest percentage of in-house promotions” occur. In this study, the professional networking site found that, “16% of promotions since 2000 occurred in January”.

January is not always the hot month for promotions. Depending on the industry, the study finds June, July, and September are also popular months for job advancement.

Read more of Light’s article to learn how you can secure a promotion in the coming year.

About.com Guide, Alison Doyle shows you, Resignation Do’s and Don’ts. How (and How Not) to Resign From a Job.

Tips to look for in Doyle’s article are:

• Do Give Notice
• Don’t Be Negative
• Do Offer Help

Read On

Check out Rusty Rueff’s U.S. News and World Report article,  5 Reasons to Refer a Friend for a Job.

Below is an excerpt of Rueff’s article. Read Full Article

Companies have long touted employee referrals as the best method of hiring new employees—and rightfully so. The old adage, “leaves don’t fall far from the tree” is true. We often surround ourselves with like-minded people, and good employees are likely to know others who are just like them.

But companies often have to go to extremes to entice employees to refer a friend or former colleague for an open position. Employees hesitate to make referrals for many reasons; maybe they don’t want to put the effort into suggesting a new hire, or they might worry about how a new employee will rub off on them. But referral programs only work when employees are willing to offer up a name to the company’s recruiter.

Even if your company doesn’t offer a referral bonus, trip, or extra vacation time to encourage staff to suggest new hires, you’d be smart to consider recommending a friend.

Here are five good reasons why you should make a referral the next chance you get:

Read On

In an interview for Susan Adams’ Forbes Magazine article, How to Communicate Better at Work, Karen Friedman has helpful advice on how to simplify and capitalize business communication.

Below is an excerpt from Adams’ article. Read Full Article

The title of Karen Friedman’s new book isn’t exactly subtle.Shut Up And Say Something: Business Communication Strategies to Overcome Challenges and Influence Listeners lays out her no-nonsense philosophy about how to best get your point across, drawn from her 35 years of experience as a professional communicator. As a TV news reporter, she worked at local stations in cities from Milwaukee to Huntsville, Ala. For the last 15 years, she’s headed up Karen Friedman Enterprises, a communication coaching firm in Philadelphia.

How does she apply her ideas in the workplace? Her No. 1 rule, gleaned from two decades in the TV news trenches: “It is absolutely critical to be as direct, to the point and concise as possible,” she says, in a lively, forceful voice with a Philadelphia tinge. Vagueness is all too common in the workplace, she observes, and you easily remedy it by following the newscaster’s drill of spelling out who, what, where, when and why.

Read On