10 Common Job Interview Blunders

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Did you know that five out of six Americans will be looking for a new job position this year? That's according to a recent survey conducted by job-placement firm Manpower. If you're planning to look for a new gig, then you might want to pay attention to some advice Executive Search Consultant Kathryn Ullrich has offered to TheCareerPioneer.com readers. 

Ullrich is the author of Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success (Silicon Valley Press, 2010), and also serves as associate … [Read more...]

11 Smart Career Tips for 2011

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By Kathyrn Ullrich Andy Warhol said, “Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art.” As a passionate executive recruiter, I couldn’t agree more, particularly when it comes to professionals being good in managing their careers. Here, for the New Year, are 11 career tips for 2011: 1.  Look out for #1. Take responsibility for your own career development. Many large organizations have scaled back on training and development—a common outcome of the economic downturn—and small … [Read more...]

What to Do When Job Searching Takes Longer Than Expected

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Even the most talented, educated and experienced job seekers have a difficult time finding a job in today’s economy. Most people hope the transition between jobs or finding a job after college graduation lasts only a few weeks, the reality is that many job seekers spend months, or even a year, trying to secure work. This delay can wreak havoc on a job seeker’s confidence, motivation and sense of pride—all of which are characteristics that need to stay in tact in order to build … [Read more...]

Life’s a Blizzard

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In the Northeast corridor of the U.S., we've been battling major weather conditions. In the Washington, DC metro area alone, we've seen as much as four feet of snow and thousands of people are currently without power. Meanwhile, wind gusts are reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, sweeping blankets of snow everywhere. As I sat inside my home, all warm and cozy, I couldn't help but compare how life is much like this blizzard. Such as life, weather conditions can suddenly take a turn … [Read more...]

Are you prepared for opportunity?

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A lot of people wonder why opportunities don't come knocking at their door. They feel as if they've been dealt an unlucky set of cards or that life's just unfair. 

Some believe that outsiders simply fail to see their worth or talent, and therefore are bypassed opportunities. While those scenarios could certainly be the case. More often than not we -- ourselves -- are the reason why chances at success fall short of landing in our path. If you've ever wondered why it seems you never get a … [Read more...]

Rejuvenate Your Job Search

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New Year's Resolutions For Job Seekers I'm not generally someone who believes strongly in creating New Year's Resolutions. They're mostly rooted in lofty thinking and, for much of the population, are very rarely based on definitive plans.  I do recommend, however, using the start of a new year as an opportunity to explore your accomplishments from the previous one, and consider what your life could look like in the days ahead. In lieu of the new year, (and for those die-hard resolutions … [Read more...]

Get What You Can, While You Can!

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Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Ms. Amanda Lloyd -- my husband's grandmother. As funerals would go, it began and ended with a mostly somber and reflective undertone. Even though she reached 90 years of age, and had suffered from several medical issues in most recent years, it was still difficult to see her be laid to rest and to say "farewell," particularly among immediate family members. We had to travel about three hours to attend the funeral. As the day ended, my husband and I, along … [Read more...]

“What to Say When You Talk to Yourself”


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When I first saw the above-mentioned title of a book about “powerful new techniques to program your potential for success,” I have to admit that I was a bit of a skeptic. The book was written by Shad Helmstetter, an acclaimed psychologist, who champions the idea that you can improve your outlook, focus your plans, and stay on top, in touch and going for your dreams and any other life aspirations, simply by reprogramming your thoughts. His strategy is simple: adopt techniques of what he … [Read more...]

Got a Job? Give a Job. Four simple things you can do today to help the unemployed.


These days, especially in times of economic downturn and as available jobs dry out, it seems that everybody’s only looking out for themselves. But what if we all took personal responsibility for our fellow jobless professional and saw to it that they had ample opportunities ahead? It might be absurd to think that you (yes, you!) could actually award another human being a job or career. After all, you’re not the founder of your own company, or the CEO of another business; and you don’t even … [Read more...]

Find Inspiration to Live Your Dream Career, Take Hold Opportunities & Watch Project Runway

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I love watching the television show Project Runway, which airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on the Lifetime Network. It’s a reality-based show about individuals from virtually all walks of life who are living out their dreams and competing to become a famed, nationally recognized fashion designer. “Either you’re in, or you’re out” is the show’s motto, regularly spoken as fact by Project Runway host, supermodel Heidi Klum. Despite the fact that contestants could possibly kill their careers simply by … [Read more...]

Are You Really Stuck? 



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Do you feel stuck? In your career? In life, in general? Feeling “stuck” in your career is certainly not a good feeling. What precedes it? A number of reasons could be the underlying culprit, such as low self-esteem, lack of education, lack of perceived opportunity and many more. Stuckness poses a direct threat to your career pioneer prowess. So, it's best to nip it in the bud as soon as you see the signs. Maybe you feel stuck because the economy is in a slump, and it seems no one is … [Read more...]

What Are You So Afraid Of? Top 5 Fears That Paralyze the Career-Minded


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This week I decided to take some calculated steps to advance my career as a journalist and writer. Most recently, I felt the need to step outside my comfort zone. So, I decided to bypass opportunities with smaller publishers, and attempted to break into the more competitive markets. Even as an experienced business journalist working with the nation’s top news outlets, I was still riddled with self-doubt as I considered whether I would be "good enough." Here's something I rarely share with … [Read more...]

Going Green’s the Going Thing in Jobs


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Everyone's talking about being eco-friendly -- from what you wear to what you put in your body. But increasingly, more people are having serious discussions on what the job market has in store for workers and businesses that implement environmentally conscious design, policy, and/or technology to boost conservation and sustainability. This evening I attended an informational session focused on the topic: “What is a Green Job?” led by Reclamation Energy, a Washington, DC-based organization … [Read more...]