Career Marketplace Blog

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.

In her article for U.S. News and World Report,  Karen Burns explains, How to Use the Holidays to Boost Your Career.

Below is an excerpt from Burn’s article. Read Full Article

It may sound calculating to leverage the holiday season to your professional advantage, but it’s smart, too.

The holidays are primo networking time. Most people are in a more jovial, giving mood. Many workplaces slow down a little this time of year, so you may have more mental space to think about ways to polish your resume and even set up informational interviews. And the end of the year is a natural time to reevaluate, refocus, and think strategically about your future.

If you decide to take advantage of this golden opportunity, whether to advance in the job you already have or find a new one, here are a few guidelines:

Read On

Shine staff writer, Sarah McColl shows readers Low-risk ways to get a better job without jumping ship.

Below is an excerpt from McColl’s article. Read full article

With the job market the downer it is, there’s a certain amount of pressure to stay in your current position even if you’re not happy. But rather than fuming in your cubicle about your dissatisfaction, there are ways to empower yourself without sending out your resume. Here’s how to put out your feelers, amp up your skills, and meet the right people so when the time comes to move on, you’re more than ready.

GET SPECIFIC
The most low-risk way to think about your next career step is something you can even do at your desk: make a list. What is it about your job that you like? What aspects give you a sense of accomplishment? Which leave you feeling depleted? Are the hours great but the work soulless? Do you feel like you’re helping people but the pay barely covers your expenses? Like your co-workers but find you have to work individually more than you’d like? Get specific about where there’s room for improvement, so that when you see the qualities you’re looking for in the next position you’ll recognize them.

BUILD YOUR SKILL SET
Often employers will pay for or subsidize classes that will allow their employees to bring top-notch design, copy-editing or computer skills to the office. Think about certifications that might make you a more attractive candidate or certain skills you need to brush up on or areas where you could use some improvement (spreadsheets, anyone?). You’ll meet people in related fields, gain some extra confidence, and have a concrete skill set to add to your resume.

VOLUNTEER
Is there an organization doing great work that you’d love to be a part of? Start your work on a volunteer basis. You’ll get the inside scoop on job openings and first-hand insight into the inner-workings of the place. While you’re there, though, temporarily shelve your hopes of getting a job and focus on the work at hand. Ulterior motives can turn people off. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground, be efficient and enthusiastic. Make a good impression. Even if a position doesn’t open up, you now have relevant experience to bring to a similar workplace and an extra recommendation in your pocket.

Read On

In her Wall Street Journal article, Employers Favor State Schools for Hires, Jennifer Merritt discusses a new Wall Street Journal survey showing U.S. companies are switching their focus to big state universities over elite private schools when hiring candidates.

Watch WSJ.com’s News Hub where Merritt discusses the results of this survey.

Read Merritt’s Article

In his article for the Wall Street Journal, Hobbies Help at the Job*, Dennis Nishi shows readers how their hobbies and/or volunteer work can lead to career success.

Benefits mentioned in this article:

• Explore job possibilities through volunteer work
• Gain valuable skills and work experience
• Have confidence to help with company projects.

*Click link to read full article

WSJ article, Internal Hires, Referrals Were Most Hired in 2009, reports results from an employment survey conducted by CareerXroads.

Important statistics listed in this article:

1) Internal transfers and promotions accounted for an average of 51% of all full-time positions filled in 2009
2) Of 49% of External hires in 2009, 27% resulted from employee referrals
3) 48% of companies surveyed expect to increase hiring in 2010.

In the article Internal Hiring: How to be the Right Candidate for WorkAwesome.com, Jason Finnerty shows you how to find new opportunities with your current employer.

The message of this article is to be proactive. Look for opportunities that not only challenge you but allow you to contribute to a company you love.