The Right Way to Resign

How to Leave Your Job in Good Standing
by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs


After you've landed a new job, the excitement of starting something new may be accompanied by anxiety and guilt over leaving the familiar and perhaps some good friends, too. Even if you're leaving mostly enemies behind, it's still a good idea to leave your job in good standing.

Corporate alumni associations are sprouting up all over the Fortune 500, at companies including GE, Procter & Gamble, and Yum! Brands, and it's in your best interest to be a part of these burgeoning professional networks. In fact, if you handle your transition properly, your former employers may even view your ascension elsewhere as a PR asset.

"Whatever the circumstances are around your departure, keep your mind on the big picture and don't do anything that could come back to haunt you," says career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman.

She recommends three steps for wrapping things up at your old job and departing with a pat on the back from your boss.

1. Write down everything you do and how it all gets done.

Forget job descriptions. They rarely tell us precisely what an individual does day-to-day or reveal the "It's not really my job, but I kind of do it anyway" responsibilities that grace any worker's plate each week. Also, in an age of zero redundancy at many companies, you cannot rely on even your supervisor to understand what it is you do and how you go about doing it.

Brown-Volkman says, "Often a boss feels like, 'I don't know what this person does -- I only know she can't leave!'"

So, do your boss and colleagues right by creating an exhaustive list of everything you handle, along with detailed instructions on how to handle it. Your coworkers will appreciate you for having this thorough document -- and for having done so much during your tenure.

2. Remain until you train the new you.

Two weeks' notice may be the minimum an employer requests, but most companies will appreciate a more lengthy lead-time so that you can help train your replacement. If you do so, your boss will be indebted to you. You're also sending a message that you want your former coworkers and employer to succeed.

Brown-Volkman, author of "Coach Yourself to a New Career," adds, "It's hard to give a lot of notice because your next employer may be waiting anxiously for you to start, and many people want to take a week off between jobs." However, she urges departing workers, "Spend as much time as you can with your replacement or colleagues who will be temporarily handling your workload. Train them so they've got it down cold."

Also, tap your own network for a potential replacement. You may even be eligible for a finder's fee if you refer the right person for the job.

3. Wish everyone well when you leave.

Brown-Volkman advises all her clients, "It's important to complete with your former coworkers on your last day." Give everyone a heartfelt farewell and say a few words of encouragement and appreciation to all your colleagues. "Even if you don't like someone, bury the hatchet. It takes a big person to do that, but you never know when you'll meet this individual again."

Also, she points out that former coworkers are the best candidates to join your professional network. "You will always have common ground with these folks. They're easy to stay in touch with. There will always be some bit of news or gossip you can bond over, and that makes it less awkward to pick up the phone and chat."

"All of this really is for the future, the big picture," she adds. "You could end up working for some of these people. You may need a favor. You just don't know, so make sure you leave on the best possible terms."

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How to Decide If You Need a Career Change

by Debra Davenport, for Yahoo! HotJobs


If you're not thrilled with your career, if you don't wake up excited about the day's prospects, or if you feel that your work has no intrinsic value, then it's time to get serious about making a change.

Knowing a Good Fit

The right career is a positive, productive and natural extension of you, your value system and your natural talents. The right career "fits"; it may not come effortlessly, but it does come naturally. It provides you with purpose, a positive self image and a sense of pride.

Just like finding your ideal mate, finding your ideal career has a lot to do with compatibility on many different levels. Your career must be a comfortable match with your personality, lifestyle, interests, skills, spiritual inclinations and values.

Signs of a Bad Fit

You know you're in the wrong career if:

• It is strictly a means to put food on the table
• It's just some job you took 10 years ago because, at the time, it was the only one you could find.
• Your parents are proud, but you're bored to tears.
• Your job makes you unhappy, damages your self-esteem, compromises your values, or undermines your integrity.
• You live for the weekend.

Assess Yourself

Here's another checklist to help you assess your current employment situation. Check the statements that apply to you (and ignore for now the letter after each statement):

1. I look forward to going to work most every day. (S)
2. My employer treats me fairly and with respect. (S)
3. I live for the weekend, or any days away from work. (G)
4. I feel valued and appreciated for my professional contributions. (S)
5. My workplace feels "toxic." (G)

6. I can be myself at work and not have to worry about being judged. (S)
7. I am included in my company's "information loop." (S)
8. My employer discusses with me and provides opportunities for advancement and professional development. (S)
9. I am commended for the extra effort I perform. (S)
10. I am stimulated intellectually and creatively by my work. (S)

11. I feel that I am making a positive contribution to society. (S)
12. I am compensated well for my work. (S)
13. I find myself daydreaming frequently about a new career. (G)
14. I feel that my work is a natural extension of who I am as a human being. (S)
15. I see myself as successful. (S)

16. I feel trapped and stuck in my current position. (G)
17. I feel in control of my career destiny. (S)
18. I am working at the level of my full potential. (S)
19. My current career negatively impacts those close to me. (G)
20. I have a desire to try something new and different. (G)

Now, count the number of "S" and "G" responses you have. "S" means "Stay" and "G" means "Go." This checklist is a reliable indicator of whether or not your present job is a good fit for you. Clearly, the more "G" ("Go") responses you checked, the more critical it is for you to start thinking about new opportunities.

Debra Davenport, PhD, is a Master Professional Mentor career counselor, and the president of DavenportFolio, a licensed firm that mentors entrepreneurs and professionals. She is the creator of the Certified Professional Mentor designation and certification program. Reach her at debra@davenportfolio.com or (480) 348-7875.

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Finding and Creating the Work You Love

Eight Steps to Your Dream Job

by Brian Kurth, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Identifying your dream job and the path that will take you there is both a challenge and an opportunity. But by following a realistic step-by-step "vocationing" process (outlined below), you can pursue your interests and passions to the job of your dreams.

1. Define Your Dream Job(s)

What are your passions and your interests? What activities give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction? Can you envision yourself in a job that fully engages your heart and your mind? You may still be trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. That's OK. This eight-step process gives you the opportunity to explore, experiment, and discover what your dream job is and how to pursue it.

2. Address Your Fears

Financial instability, family disruption, giving up an identity, failing at something new. These are all fears that may stand in the way of pursuing your dream job. The biggest thing you can do to get past these fears is to meet them head-on. Bring these deepest fears to light and examine them with reason; talk about them; play each one out to its most irrational end. What is the worst thing that could happen?

3. Do Your Research

Internal and external research helps you discover who you are and what kind of work meshes with your deepest self. Do your homework and access resources ranging from the Internet to one-on-one contact with people on-the-job to determine if what you think is your dream job truly is your dream job.

4. Find a Mentor

Inspirational, experienced, realistic, forthcoming, and optimistic. A good mentor is all of these things and eager to help someone else get started. Recruiting a mentor who is a good match for you requires following a plan of action, asking the right questions, and building a relationship that is mutually satisfying. Having a mentor is the crux to the vocationing process. Whether you're 20-something, 30-something, or even 60-something, you need a mentor!

5. Test-Drive Your Dream Job

There's no better way to learn than by doing. Test-driving your dream job with a mentor provides a hands-on experience that has the potential to change your life. This is the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the job, how you feel about the day-to-day activities, and what it takes to succeed. Whether your mentorship proves your perceived dream job is indeed your dream job, or if it is a reality check illuminating that the job is not the one of your dreams, the mentorship experience gives you the required personal and professional due diligence you need prior to making a career decision.

6. Create an Action Plan

Pursuing a dream job is less a leap than a series of incremental steps that move you closer to your goal. What is critical to reaching that goal is making sure the steps you follow are the right ones. An action plan is needed. If you make a list of all the things you need to learn and do in order to realize your dream job, you will have mapped out a plan for moving ahead. A knowledgeable action plan provides you with the power to forge ahead.

7. Establish Thresholds

The biggest reason we pursue our dream job is to increase our life satisfaction. It is important to understand how much risk, challenge, and uncertainty you can tolerate before the life-satisfaction goal becomes blurred by the process. The vocationing process is as much about what you learn on the journey as the rewards when you reach your destination.

8. Think Big, Start Small

You don't have to quit your 9-to-5 job to pursue your dream job. Obligations and concerns may take you down a less-than-direct path. It may take months, not weeks; years, not months. If you are patient and creative, you can keep your career transition moving forward.

Brian Kurth is the founder of VocationVacations and the author of "Test-Drive Your Dream Job." 

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Five Steps for Spring Career Fair Success

by Caroline Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


Spring career fair season is almost here. But merely showing up to a fair isn't going to help you net the job of your dreams. You've got to know how to work a career fair for all its worth to get legitimate leads that yield results. Use these tips from Shawn Graham, associate director of the MBA Career Management Center at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, to see a return whenever you invest time at a career fair.

Know Before You Go

Don't go to a career fair with the intention of hitting every exhibitor. Some career fairs have hundreds of booths, which is too much ground for one person to cover. Instead, says Graham, "Job seekers should identify and research [who you'll] want to speak with at the fair." Having what Graham refers to as "target organizations" will help attendees know how many resumes to bring as well as come up with questions to ask each company's representatives, he believes.

Keep It Short and Sweet

The best time to perfect your elevator pitch is prior to attending a job fair. Why? According to careers expert Graham, "Typically, job seekers will have about two to three minutes to spend talking to recruiters." Develop your brief pitch, which should, says Graham, summarize your interest in the organization along with your skills and relevant experience.

Just Say No to Swag

It's OK to accept a piece or two of swag, as promotional items are often called, particularly if a recruiter or company representative gives them to you. "Grabbing a handful of freebies teeters on appearing unprofessional and greedy." You want to look as though you are a potential employee rather than a "trick-or-treater, carting a bag of goodies from table to table," advises Graham, also the author of "Courting Your Career."

Pick a Card, Every Card

Every conversation you have should end with a request for each recruiter's business card. Business cards are vital tools as they give you each individual's contact information, including the proper spelling of everyone's name and title. This will prevent you from making careless errors in future communications. Graham states, "If a recruiter doesn't give you his or her business card, check with the career center to see whether the recruiter's contact information is already on file."

Contact Your New Contacts

Now that you've connected with recruiters, make sure you put their contact information to good use. Reach out to each within a few days of the career fair. Whatever method you use to reach out, says Graham, "It's important to reference the meeting at the fair." If you have notes that you took during the fair, use them to "remind [you] of key points to address in [your] follow up as well."

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Will an Advanced Degree Help Your Career?

by Doug White, Robert Half International


Do you miss the days of academic classroom discussions and all-night cram sessions? If so, you're not the only one who's thought about returning to school, either for personal enjoyment or to improve their career prospects.

But there are many factors to consider before re-enrolling. Ask yourself the questions below to help you decide.

Do I need another degree to advance in my field?

In certain lines of work -- social work, college teaching, and psychology, to name a few -- a master's degree or Ph.D. is essential. Finance and accounting professionals also typically need a master's in business administration (MBA) to be considered for senior roles.

But in other areas, the advantages of elevated academic credentials are less clear-cut. In these cases, an advanced degree makes for an attractive bullet point on a resume but is not required to move up to the highest echelons of the industry. As a guidepost, look at the educational backgrounds of leaders in your field and company.


If I don't need an advanced degree now, will it help me down the road?

An advanced degree may be unnecessary for the position you hold but could be extremely helpful when the time comes to target higher-level jobs or change careers.

Martin Hardrick, a designer at a Cincinnati-based landscape architecture firm and MBA candidate, says he's looking ahead. "My job function is very specialized, and I thought an advanced degree would help diversify my knowledge base," says Hardrick, who attends Northern Kentucky University. "I specifically chose to study business over a program related to my undergraduate studies in architecture and city planning because it would allow me to be more flexible in future career choices."

How will my education affect my finances?

An advanced degree can pay big dividends. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, adults with a master's, professional, or doctoral degree earned an average of $79,946 in 2005 (the most recent year for which data is available), while those with a bachelor's degree alone earned $54,689.

But don't assume an advanced degree is an automatic ticket to a larger paycheck or corner office. Corporate cultures vary. While some firms or managers highly value advanced degrees, others favor school-of-hard-knocks grads with more robust real-world experience.

Will my employer help foot the bill?

Pursuing an advanced degree isn't a small commitment, especially when it comes to finances. Depending on the institution, costs can rise above $100,000 when you factor in everything from tuition to textbooks. The good news is that some companies offer tuition reimbursement to retain top performers and groom future leaders. Other firms have affiliations with universities where employees can take courses at steep discounts.

Before approaching your employer about financing your education, do your homework and make a list of ways your academic endeavors will benefit your organization. For example, will you develop valuable skills that do not currently exist in your workplace?

If your employer doesn't offer financial assistance, consider asking for flexible scheduling options or requesting to attend industry conferences where you can expand your skill set.

Finally, if you return to school, remember these words of wisdom: "Having an advanced degree definitely garners you a certain degree of respect," says Jason Wilke, a marketing communications specialist, who received his master's from the University of South Florida in 2003. "But, ultimately, it boils down to how good you are at what you do."

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices throughout North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit www.workvine.com.

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Work, Interrupted: 6 Ways to Avoid Distractions

by Caroline Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


Do you feel like you're always under the gun at work? Not getting enough done? It might not be your fault. Even if you're working 40-plus hours a week, you -- and most of your colleagues -- aren't spending all that time working.

What's behind this lack of productivity? Some of it may be blamed on inefficient management and poor communication as well as too many meetings. You may not have any control over these factors, but there are steps you can take to limit distractions, so that no one and nothing can interrupt you when you are trying to work.

Follow these suggestions from the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), which surveyed senior executives to discover how they stay focused.

1. If you have a door, shut it.

Not everyone has an office with a door. In fact, now, many folks don't have offices, as open floor plans have gained favor in corporate America. But if you're lucky enough to have one, close it when you're trying to put your nose to the grindstone. If you don't want to be rude, post a small sign informing folks that you're on a deadline or an important call.

2. Budget your time (even your free time).

Have you ever wondered where the day went when you're leaving the office? If you make a careful schedule that accounts for all of your time and tasks -- free time, meetings, calls, and quiet work time -- you'll be more likely to accomplish what you need to each day. Also, you'll always know exactly where the day went and what went into it.

3. Put down your mobile device.

Constant but unscheduled phone calls and text messages are a common culprit when it comes to efficiency busters. Shut down your device or check it every hour or so, rather than keeping it at the ready when you're attempting to focus on a particular task.

4. Consider a change of scenery.

When you're under pressure to complete a project, you may want to take your show on the road if you can. Work from home or off-site -- anywhere you can truly devote yourself without the possibility of interruption. If working remotely isn't possible, find a conference room or vacant office to squat in so you can get things done.

5. Stop incessantly checking your email.

Remember the days before email? No one does. Today's professionals have become slaves to constantly checking their email. Take control of your inbox and limit how often you check on and address email to stay sane and focused on the job.

6. Off-hours are in.

If you're cursed with coworkers whose conversation you cannot resist, a phone that won't stop buzzing, or an email account that sees more incoming mail than the IRS on April 16, you may have to put in some time during off-hours. Try coming in earlier, staying later, or dropping by the offices on the weekend to get at work that's getting pushed aside. This may not be ideal, but it may be what you need to stay on top of your responsibilities and get to the top of the corporate ladder.

Corey Criswell, a research associate with CCL, also suggests wearing headphones, if you're permitted, as a fun way to tune out distractions, such as idle conversations. And, if you're truly engaged in something, avoid eye contact every time a colleague walks by your desk. "People will think that you are too busy to be interrupted," adds Criswell.

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Want Your Boss to See Your MySpace Page?

by Melanie London, Vault.com


The era of the social networking website is clearly upon us. An entire generation of people doesn't seem to think twice about sharing personal information and photos with the plugged-in planet. When it comes to employment, though, your willingness to share may cost you.

According to Vault.com's Social Networking Websites Survey, 44% of employers use sites like MySpace and Facebook to check out job candidates, and 39% have looked up the profile of a current employee. Profiles that reveal questionable behavior or attitudes can be harmful to job seekers, as 82% of employers say that something they perceive as negative on a profile would affect their hiring decisions. Despite these revealing statistics, only 57% of people with profiles take security measures, such as using the website's privacy controls or editing their profiles while in the midst of a job search.

As long as it's more important to you to land that dream job than to provide the world with photographic evidence of your win in last year's beer pong championship, remember these words: "This profile is set to private." If you're actively searching for a job, or if your resume is posted on an employment web site, be sure to utilize the privacy controls of any social networking sites you use.

The First Impression

Do you really want your online profile to make an impression before you can? It's becoming more and more common for hiring managers to use social networking web sites as a tool to whittle down the resume pile. If an HR exec logs on only to find coarse language and salacious shots, well, there's a good bet your resume will end up in the reject pile. Yes, it's fun to share borderline-scandalous profile content with friends, but why a potential employer? If it's NSFW ("not safe for work"), then it's NSF your non-private profile.

Personal Preferences

Revealing your affiliations and likes/dislikes can leave you open to someone else's biases. From your political party to even seemingly harmless information like your favorite movies or the last book you've read, these stated preferences could mean the difference between you and someone else getting the job. Isn't it safer to just keep this information private? You may feel that you wouldn't want to work for a company where someone would judge you based on such things, but in a close race, it may be easier for a hiring manager to align with a fellow oboe enthusiast than a candidate with whom he or she has no common interests. Get the job first; then reveal your love of Celine Dion.

Postings from Friends

Social networking site profiles are all about "friends." How many do you have? Who knows who? And what is everyone doing at every possible moment? Ask yourself, "Is it safe to let potential employers see what my friends are posting to my profile?" In high school, people judged you by who you hung out with; sad as it is, the same goes for social networking web sites.

Picture and Screen Name

So you've taken this all to heart, and you're about to set your profile to private -- great job! But don't neglect your photo and screen name. Resist the urge to choose a too-cutesy name and/or an excessively silly or revealing picture to represent yourself to the world at large. No matter how tempting it may be to call yourself Divalicious08, it doesn't exactly give off an aura of professionalism.

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4 Career Risks Worth Trying

by Denene Brox, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Taking calculated risks in your career can help you reach your goals. Below are some of the common career risks that you may grapple with, and how to weigh your options.

RISK: Going Back to School

Making the financial and time commitment to go back to school for an advanced degree or certification can feel overwhelming. Factoring into the equation family responsibilities or not being able to quit your job to focus on school can make furthering your education feel like a heavier burden.

Weighing your options: "First you need to know your end goal and what you are trying to achieve by going back to school, such as a raise or changing career paths," advises career coach Hallie Crawford. "Next, determine if going back to school helps you achieve this goal by talking to your boss and mentors. In some fields an advanced degree matters, in others it really doesn't."

RISK: Changing Careers

So many people hate their jobs yet toil away daily because sticking with the familiar feels safe. There are a number of reasons why people are unhappy on the job, including being in a profession that does not utilize their passions and interests.

Weighing your options: With increased company layoffs, no one is immune to losing a job. Finding work that you love should be a priority in your career. Mitigate the risk of career change by doing research before you make the leap so that you'll know what to expect from your new career in terms of salary ranges, and what the work is really like.

"There's always some amount of risk, but if you are truly unhappy the risk is worth it," says Crawford.

RISK: Saying 'No' to Added Responsibility

If your boss is saddling you with more responsibility with a project or promotion, be sure you understand exactly what that will mean for your success. Not all promotions are created equal, and you can quickly become the office doormat if you constantly take on projects that may not have high enough visibility to move your career forward.

Weighing your options: Saying no to more money or recognition is often hard to justify. Your friends, family, and colleagues may think you're crazy for passing up a promotion. But you have to follow your gut instincts. In weighing your options, ask yourself if this project or promotion will really move your forward.

RISK: Starting a Business

More people are going into business for themselves than ever before. Many dream of being their own boss but find the risk of giving up a regular paycheck, health insurance, and retirement accounts too high.

Weighing your options: Do your research (including health care options), save money, and build contacts in your industry while you're still working in your current job.

"Business ownership is a risk and it's not for the faint of heart," says business coach Dresdene Flynn-White. "However, the risks can be mitigated by financial and mental preparation. If someone wants to learn about business ownership, they should work part time in a small business to get that reality check."

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Beat the Post-Vacation Blues Before They Begin

Strategies for Getting Back to Work After Going Away
by Caroline Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


Summer vacations -- or vacations taken at any time of year -- are good for business. Workers get to recharge their batteries with rest and relaxation, and their employers usually reap the benefits. But no matter how much you love your job and how much you unwind on your vacation, you still may feel anxious about your initial return to work.

Why? Blame it on a backlog. According to a new survey from The Creative Group, one third of respondents claimed to dread getting back to the daily grind because of "the work awaiting their return." However, half of those surveyed admitted that vacations made them feel happy and refreshed. So how can you keep your post-vacation afterglow upon re-entry to the professional world? Use the tips below to reduce the work that will accumulate in your absence and enjoy the lasting effects of your time away.

Help Someone Else Step Up

Do you know someone who's waiting for an opportunity to spread her wings? Maybe a junior team member or an assistant has been chomping at the bit for a chance to move up. Megan Slabinski, executive director of The Creative Group, reveals, "High-potential employees who are being considered for management roles may welcome the chance to prove themselves while their supervisors are away."

To help your new protege be most effective, she advises professionals to "ensure their second-in-command understands the resources available and has a good framework for making decisions." Take time to bring your charge up to speed so she will succeed in your stead.

Spread the Word

You can put out fires and lessen your load while you're out of town with the push of a button (or two). Says Slabinski, "Leave outgoing messages on your email and voicemail to let others know you are away and whom to contact in your absence." Not only will this immediately direct people to connect with your newly named second-in-command, but, adds Slabinski, it "will reduce the number of calls and messages you must attend to on your return."

(Enabling an auto-response with Yahoo! Mail takes only a few moments and a couple of clicks. Learn how here.)

In Case of Emergency

If there's a pressing issue or pending deal that you need to be involved with even if you're away, say so. Addressing a problem as it arises could save you time and heartache when you're back at work. However, warns Slabinski, "Clearly communicate if and when you want to be contacted about business matters while you're away to help minimize disruptions and ensure a peaceful break." Setting boundaries ahead of time will make sure you're not being bothered unnecessarily.

Hire Extra Help

You're probably not the only person in your department or even on your team who's taking a vacation this summer. So why not make life easier for everyone by bringing in some hired guns on a temporary basis?

"Hiring freelancers to augment your team during staff vacations can prevent remaining employees from becoming overburdened," says Slabinski. It will also keep the work that awaits you to a minimum.

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How to Deliver Unpleasant News at Work

by Marc Hertz, Robert Half International

You've known about an important project -- and its Monday morning deadline -- all week. But figuring it would be easy to complete, you didn't start on the assignment until Friday. Then, you realize the information you need will take a couple of days to track down, and there's no way everything will be done in time. Now, you have to explain what happened to your boss.

While it is tempting to use evasive tactics when conveying bad news, there are a number of downsides to only presenting the upside. These include potentially harming your professional reputation, losing your manager's trust or missing out on support that might have helped you resolve the situation. It goes without saying that honesty is always the best policy.

Following are suggestions on when and how to deliver unsavory news to your boss.

Early is best. Receiving bad news is, well, bad enough for a manager. But learning that your staff member has known about a problem and not told you about it for weeks can be infuriating. So don't delay telling your manager that you can't find the necessary figures for a report due tomorrow, for instance. It's best to let him or her know as soon as possible -- postponing the discussion is likely to make things worse, not better.

Bad news should come from you. If you don't immediately deliver the unpleasant news to your manager, you can trust that someone else will. If the bearer of bad news, for example, is an important customer who was less than pleased with how you handled a request, your boss will be extremely unhappy about being surprised and unprepared for the customer's call. In addition, your manager is much less likely to be sympathetic to your explanation if he or she had to hear the news from a third party.

Deliver the news in person, if possible. Don't send your manager an e-mail telling him or her that you mistakenly deleted a voice mail from a client detailing extensive last-minute changes to a contract. E-mail doesn't allow your boss to ask questions or you to fully explain how and why the incident occurred. It is much better to ask for an in-person meeting and stress that you need to speak to him or her right away.

Be direct (and don't make excuses). Once you're in your manager's office, avoid over-dramatizing the event; your boss doesn't want a list of reasons you believe the error was not your fault. Likewise, don't downplay a big mistake -- such as attaching the wrong file to an e-mail that was sent to a large distribution list. Acknowledge the problem, apologize to the affected parties and work with your manager on not only a solution but also a strategy for ensuring a similar incident does not occur again.

While all of these tactics are useful if you have bad news to deliver, it's best to avoid the need for this type of conversation in the first place. One way to do so is to ask questions -- of your manager, coworkers, and clients -- from the beginning of a project. When in doubt, it's better to request clarity than to have to come to your manager later about a problem.

Obviously, you cannot avoid all mistakes or mishaps at work. However, by delivering unpleasant news immediately and in person, you'll spend less time on the firing line and more on the production line.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.

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5 Lifestyle Activities That Can Get You Fired

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Can having a bacon double cheeseburger and a cigarette put your job at risk? Maybe. It may sound surprising, but many off-the-job actions and lifestyles could put your job in jeopardy.

Fair Game?

Employment experts point out five key areas that a company may scrutinize:

    * Smoking, drinking, and overeating. Due to the cost of health insurance, more and more employers view "unhealthy" habits as a threat to their bottom line.
    * Risky behavior. Likewise, a company might see your bungee jumping hobby as a liability.
    * Speech. Will your employer consider your blogging to be destructive griping?
    * Romantic relationships. Dating someone at a competitor's company has landed employees in hot water. And some employers might take issue with unmarried coupling or even same-sex relationships (federal law doesn't protect employees from discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientation).
    * Political activity. Volunteering for Obama could be trouble if you have a pro-McCain boss, and vice versa.

Job- or industry-specific behaviors can lead to termination as well. A Ford worker who drives a Toyota is probably safe -- unless he or she is president of Ford. But a bank employee who bounces a personal check could get the boot.

Cause or Just Because

If these reasons for termination seem unfair, they must be illegal, right? Not necessarily. Just because most employers don't let valued employees loose for off-the-job activities and lifestyles, doesn't mean they can't.

"Most workers in the private sector don't understand that, unless they live in Montana and Arizona, their job is at-will," Paul Secunda, an assistant professor of law at the University of Mississippi, told Yahoo! HotJobs. "At-will means an employee can be fired for good cause or no cause at all," Secunda said.

Federal job protections include gender, race, religion, and national origin, as well as disability. "Some state laws forbid discrimination on other bases, including sexual orientation, or status as a smoker," said Rick Bales, a professor at Northern Kentucky University/Chase College of Law. Smokers in the tobacco-growing state of Kentucky, for example, are safe from termination, he said.

Don't Be Fooled

Although union members and public sector (government) workers generally have more protections, employees in the private sector -- the bulk of the U.S. workforce -- can be fired at any time, and usually without recourse.

"Unless you were fired because you are a member of a protected class under federal law, or under another state statute, it's likely not illegal," said Kimberly Malerba, an associate who litigates employment cases with Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., a law firm on Long Island, New York.

The good news is that most companies don't go out of their way to snoop into employees' lives, Malerba told Yahoo HotJobs. "A company is most concerned with (off-the-job) behaviors that directly conflict with business interests."

5 Tips to Consider

Legal experts have advice for protecting your job from unexpected dangers:

    * Understand the concept of at-will employment. Don't assume that termination must be illegal just because you think it was unfair.
    * Be fully aware of your company's policies and terms of employment. Read the employee handbook, and ask HR if you have any questions.
    * Be familiar with the company's internal dispute mechanisms (if any) for filing grievances.
    * Think before you act. Could your employer see your actions off the job as potentially destructive to the company?
    * Don't disclose. "You don't have to disclose lifestyle choices or off-the-clock activities unless there is a clear link to your ability to perform the job," Secunda said.

"My general advice is, don't do anything on your own time that, if reported in the local paper, would reflect poorly on you or your employer," Bales told Yahoo! HotJobs.

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Top Three Career Dilemmas

by Marc Hertz, Robert Half International


In your professional life, many decisions are relatively easy. When you're asked by your manager to tackle an assignment, you do it. When a colleague needs help and you're available, you pitch in. When you're offered a job you want, you take it. But what about those tricky situations where the proper course of action isn't so clear-cut? They come up on rare occasions, but when they do, it's important to be prepared.

Following are career dilemmas you may encounter and suggestions for how to handle them:

Dilemma 1: You find out a colleague makes more money than you do.

You're at the copy machine and find a coworker's pay stub. Seeing the salary, you realize the person makes more than you, even though he has the same job.

Proper course of action: While you might be tempted to immediately march into your manager's office to demand an explanation -- and a raise -- take a more cool-headed approach. Going to your boss with financial concerns arising from confidential information will do more harm than good.

Instead, use this knowledge as an impetus to examine your own pay and value in the employment market, reviewing resources such as the U.S. Department of Labor's website and the Salary Guides published annually by Robert Half International. With an idea of what others in your area and with your skills and experience are paid, you can approach your manager and back up your request with relevant information that's not sensitive in nature.

Dilemma 2: You are offered a new job, but you're happy with your current one.

A friend who works at another company just found out a position has opened up there. He calls and pitches you the opportunity, saying he's sure you'd be a front-runner for the role. You're intrigued, knowing how much he raves about the organization, but you like your current job.

Proper course of action: Ask your friend for more information about the company and role, so you can see how it compares with your current situation. Are there opportunities for quick and steady advancement? How competitive is the salary and benefits package? What is the corporate culture like?

Assuming you're still interested, there isn't any harm in interviewing. This will give you the chance to find out more about the ins and outs of the position and get an additional perspective on the organization. If the interview goes well, you may want to seriously consider this new opportunity.

Dilemma 3: You have the opportunity to take on an important but difficult project.

You find out a major project is approaching, and your manager is looking for someone to lead it. It promises heightened visibility within the firm, but it's also a big challenge.

Proper course of action: If you're undecided about volunteering for the project, first ask yourself if you can handle the responsibility in addition to your current workload. At the same time, consider the abilities you'll develop by taking on the assignment. You'll improve your project management skills, meet people across the organization and potentially put yourself in position for even more challenging opportunities in the future.

If you are uncomfortable about the prospect of leading the project, ask your manager if there is another way you can be involved in it. Taking on at least a partial role can help you expand your skill set and increase your value to the firm.

These tough decisions and others like them can test the mettle of even the most experienced professional, mainly because there's no clear right or wrong answer. But by carefully considering your options and using sound judgment, you can come up with the best answer for you.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit www.workvine.com.

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Recruiter Roundtable: The First 10 Minutes

by Yahoo! HotJobs

The Recruiter Roundtable is a monthly feature that collects career and job-seeking advice from a group of recruiting experts throughout the United States. The question we put before our panel this month is:

Many recruiters and hiring managers make hiring decisions within the first 10 minutes of meeting a candidate. What practical advice or tips would you give to job applicants to make sure they make the best possible impression in the first 10 minutes of an interview?

Project Enthusiasm Right Away

Applicants should know the interview begins as soon as they arrive at the employer's office, making it imperative for them to project enthusiasm and confidence from the moment they walk in the door. The fact that employers form opinions of candidates so quickly places additional importance on the more subtle points of interviews, such as giving a firm handshake, maintaining eye contact, and practicing good posture. In addition to providing strong responses to a hiring manager's questions, candidates must project enthusiasm and a professional demeanor from the outset of the discussion.

-- Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources

Dress It Up

I haven't found that (i.e., making decisions in 10 minutes) to be true, and we've been focusing on training our managers to gather all the facts before they make their decision. Having said that, we're all human, so I would recommend candidates dress for success. Over-dress rather than under-dress; especially in our business environment, give a firm handshake, and use eye contact.

-- Erin Erickson, recruiter, regional banking, Wells Fargo

Prepare With Examples

The core lesson many recruiting experts advise interviewers is to not make any decisions about a candidate within the first 30 minutes of an interview. Yet, we all know that we make instant judgments when we meet people.

What we've seen as a very efficient way for a candidate to impress any interviewer is to thoroughly prepare for an interview. For instance, if you are a graphic artist, come with samples of your work. Similarly, if you are in sales, be prepared to present details of your performance from the past couple of years.

-- Yves Lermusi, CEO, Checkster

Clean Your Fingernails

Many hiring managers go on first impression and spend the rest of the interview justifying their decision. First impression is everything. Learn as much as possible about the hiring manager and the people you are meeting with before the interview. It's always a good ice-breaker to mention some of your common interests or ties and let the conversation naturally slide into the interview. Engage the interviewer in conversation. Appearance has a lot to do with that first impression, too -- dress smart and appropriate for the interview and position. I've seen perfectly capable and qualified candidates rejected because they forgot to polish their shoes or came in with dirty fingernails.

If the hiring manager is conducting an in-person interview, they have usually already seen your resume and have a good feel for your qualifications. The first 10 minutes is more about the "culture" fit than the qualifications.

-- Lindsay Olson, partner, Paradigm Staffing

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Retire at age 26? Why not?

How to Redesign Your Career
by Ken Siegal, Experience, Inc.


My father and my uncles all retired after 30 or more years toiling at the same job. But don't be surprised if I tell you that's not in your future, and you might not want it to be.

You can make a different kind of 30-year career dream come true. Look at Bruce Tulgan of Rainmaker Thinking, Inc. for inspiration.

"I was a lawyer for 428 days, then, at age 26, I retired," Tulgan says. "After going through 20 years of school and then landing a job at a big law firm in New York, I realized that my career path was obsolete.

"As you think about making the transition from college to the world of work, ask yourself what kind of career you've been anticipating. Are you prepared for the workplace of the future? Or have you been imagining a career in the workplace of the past?"

A recent survey showed that between ages 19 and 42, the average worker -- just like you -- was employed at more than 10 jobs. So much for a 30-year job.

If working for one company won't happen for you, why not work outside the company? Here's how to take charge and re-fashion that career of yours.

* Think about "moving" your workplace. Try to work from places other than the office some of the time -- either on an occasional or regular basis. Thanks to remote access, you'll see empty cubicles everywhere, as more people at more companies become accustomed to working outside the office. (If they weren't contributing to the bottom line, that wouldn't be allowed -- we all know that.)

* Make remote access work for you, and get used to making the hours you work fit you. Learn to work at night or early in the morning, then schedule appointments or meetings to fit your new vision.

* Expand the scope of what you do at your current job. Volunteer for EVERYTHING. You'll interact with more people, gain respect and self-confidence, and develop new skills and project expertise. Consider this as training for your new, personalized career.

* Be creative. First, figure out the best way to get your job done. Then figure out how to talk your boss into going along with it. This ability will become invaluable when you're on your own, dealing with clients.

* Customize your own career path -- take it slow where needed, but follow a long-term plan. Remember, don't try to live in the workplace of the past -- you're shaping a 30-year job. Supplement what and who you know with solid research.

* When you're ready to go out on your own, don't panic as you pull it all together. You're taking with you the skills and confidence you've developed and the contacts you've made (and it's not uncommon for your former company to become one of your best clients).

Tory Johnson of Women for Hire tells the story about what triggered her decision as a young professional to branch out on her own. "First, instead of working for the man, I was now working for the man's son and helping him fulfill his dream, not mine. And second, I realized that if he could do it, I could too."

And so can you.

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The New Power Jobs

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! HotJobs

White-hot jobs are opening up in the power sector.

"These aren't just hot jobs, they're sizzling jobs," said Christine Real de Azua, spokeswoman for the American Wind Energy Association. Wind energy grew by 45 percent last year. "We need every type of job candidate."

Indeed, with oil topping $100 per barrel, expect power industry jobs to explode in the next 10 years -- and not just in petroleum or the electric company. Want to repair wind turbines, manage a nuclear reactor or install solar panels? The jobs await.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and energy leaders reveal what fields are expected to grow, and they are listed below with projected growth levels through 2016, salary data, and what you need to get a related job.

Engineers

11 percent projected growth

$44,790-$145,600 annually, depending on specialty

"We're experiencing a comeback in 'dirty jobs,'" said Chris McCormick, partner and head of the energy division of venture capital firm Landmark Ventures. "While a few years ago, what we wanted were the 'clean' jobs in computer engineering, now we're back to the types of engineers who get their hands dirty with chemistry and broad-application engineering."

Chemical engineers who work with biofuels, electrical engineers who design power plants, mechanical engineers who find better ways to capture air and wind energy, and nuclear engineers who make plants run more efficiently will all be in high demand -- with salaries to match. While some engineers, like chemical engineers, may need a PhD to do their jobs, most others, like environmental engineers, only require a bachelor's degree in physics or engineering, according to the BLS.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

11 percent projected growth

$35,590-$75,240 annually

"When I got out of college, people told me, 'Go do other things.' The conventional wisdom was that nuclear power was going to go away," said Carol Berrigan, senior director for industry infrastructure at the Nuclear Energy Institute. "But now, with some regulatory changes, we have something like nine applications out there for 16 new nuclear power plants in the next few years."

Which jobs will grow fastest? Think Homer Simpson, but with more computer knowledge and less buffoonery. On top of the billions of dollars the industry is spending on new construction, the field's employees are aging: In the next 10 years, half of all nuclear reactor operators are expected to retire. You don't need to have an engineering degree for these jobs, but you should expect extensive on-the-job training and classroom instruction as well as licensing exams, according to the BLS.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

9 percent projected growth

$42,350 median annual income

Someone's got to install the solar panels and repair wind turbines, and industrial machinery mechanics are often the ones who get the jobs. In solar, Tioga Energy's Executive Vice President Preston Roper said the biggest demand is for solar installers.

Both Roper and Real de Azua said local community colleges are the places to go to get the training necessary for the jobs. Many are offering specialized training in solar or wind repair work.

Skilled Trade Workers

Electricians: 7 percent projected growth

$44,780 median annual income

Line Workers: 7 percent projected growth

$52,570 median annual income

Welders: 5 percent projected growth

$32,270 median annual income

These workers repair the lines that bring power to your home and build and repair power plant structures. Want one of these jobs? Usually you don't need post-high school education, but you will need an apprenticeship through a union or other skilled trade group. The programs usually take about four years.

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