job & interview

4 Ways to Boost Your Career Prospects – Today

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4 Ways to Boost Your Career Prospects – Today</h1>
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The best time to prepare for a career change? When you're already employed.</h2>
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Knowledge is power in the workplace. Study industry trends, advancements and success stories.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">The worst time to look for a job is when you must have a new one immediately.</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/10/07/8-stages-of-a-successful-job-hunt" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/10/07/8-stages-of-a-successful-job-hunt">Job searching</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">under duress often results in nervous interviewing, surface-level research and decision making from relatively few options – none of which may be ideal long-term career matches. Don’t leave your future to chance. If you are one of the millions who is professionally employed and not in need of an immediate career change, here are ways you can improve your long-term career prospects today:</span></div>
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<b>1. Identify at least two different roles that seem compelling to you.</b> You do not have to be qualified for these positions today, nor do they have to exist in your company. However, these roles should be remotely related to your current skill set. They are career options that look interesting. Once you have a couple targets, think about why and what interests you. Is it that the role involves travel or allows you to train and mentor others? Maybe it pays more or offers some flexibility for <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/04/18/7-secrets-of-a-kick-butt-telecommuter" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">working from home</a>? Perhaps it is in an industry that fascinates you or involves challenging projects.</div>
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There is no right or wrong answer, but pay close attention to what appeals to you, and write it down. This will give insight into your motivations and targets. With this knowledge, you can examine your current role to see if there are ways to incorporate more of your motivators today. Also, you can make future decisions to aid in moving to a more desired path. With long-term goals, even if they are lofty, you can add additional purpose to your daily tasks and make ongoing decisions that are more in line with your career “big picture.”</div>
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<b>2. Subscribe to an industry or career-specific magazine or news source.</b> Knowledge is power in the workplace. All businesses must stay relevant to their customers in order to beat competition and increase revenue. Reading about industry trends, advancements and success stories keeps you in touch with market conditions. This information gives you plenty to talk about with peers, managers and clients, but it also allows you to see which companies and professionals are leading the pack. You can follow their examples in your own workplace and look for opportunities to interact with the best in your field through <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/dont-be-that-guy-or-gal-8-networking-turn-offs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">industry events</a>, presentations and associations.</div>
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You are often judged by the company you keep. If you associate with and learn from those that stand out from the rest, you are likely to find yourself with better opportunities both inside and outside your firm.</div>
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<b>3. Do exceptional work. </b>In any role, there is a way to perform at your best. Look for ways to deliver a top performance. Show up early, be flexible to new assignments, have a positive attitude, collaborate with other departments, pay attention to the little details and figure out how your role impacts the company’s big picture. Employees who value their work perform better than those who don’t understand how they fit into the business.</div>
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Also, be honest with yourself about why others are in roles more senior than yours. Most often, promotion results from top performance in your current role and showing the professional skills and demeanor relevant for the next role. People who <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/12/6-rock-star-habits-that-lead-to-a-promotion" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">get promoted</a> exhibit the skills necessary for a higher-level position before you are offered the position. Make your work count.</div>
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<b>4. Be professionally curious. </b>Talk to people about their careers. Learn more about how success is measured in other roles, departments and companies. Ask people their thoughts on different industries. Take a class on a professionally relevant subject. Attend an industry conference or association group. In short, challenge yourself to expand your business knowledge through interactions with people every week. This is called networking, but it can be as simple as sharing a coffee break with Jim in accounting to hear about the impact of the new online expense reporting policy.</div>
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People hire people. You never know what connections may be relevant when you start your next job search, so make a habit of <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/24/10-ways-to-nurture-your-network" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">making good connections</a> everywhere you go. Be interested, responsive and polite, and you will be amazed at how many people will become part of your “network.” In general, most people like to be helpful. Take the time to learn about others, and be helpful when you can. It is no secret that those who excel socially have a much easier time with the job search and interview process.</div>
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As in all things in life, getting in front of a daunting task early is always easier and less stressful than reacting to a career surprise. Changing jobs is to be expected. No matter how secure you feel today, the time will come when either you or your employer will decide it is time to change. Take these small steps now to prepare for a smooth career transition on your terms. After all, isn’t luck where opportunity meets preparation? </div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/10/09/4-ways-to-boost-your-career-prospects-today" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

4 Ways to Boost Your Career Prospects – Today

4 Ways to Boost Your Career Prospects – Today The best time to prepare for a career change? When you're already employed. Knowledg...

4 Salary Negotiation Secrets for Women

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4 Salary Negotiation Secrets for Women</h1>
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Expert advice for landing a raise.</h2>
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Plan ahead. Be ready to share the purpose of the meeting, your objective and the data on why you believe you’ve earned a raise.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Sad but true: Women are still earning about three-fourths of what men are, across all industries. And while we can shake our fists at the unfairness of it all, it often boils down to our unwillingness to negotiate for more money.</span></div>
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Let’s face it: Your boss isn’t going to hand you a raise without some prodding, so sharpening your<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/05/08/11-tips-for-negotiating-your-next-job-offer" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/05/08/11-tips-for-negotiating-your-next-job-offer">negotiation skills</a> can only help. Here are stellar secrets from professionals that can help you turn your next performance review into a raise:</div>
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<b>1. Practice the art of negotiation. </b>Don’t wait until you’re sitting across your boss to sharpen your skills, says Daria M. Brezenski, a psychologist and professor who teaches entrepreneurs and career professionals. She says: “The problem with asking for money of any type – raise, promotion, price of a product or otherwise – has to do with confidence, and confidence has to do with practice. She adds that rather than a "boxed set of replies," the right words "come from being familiar with the situation [and] being able to frame the present." For the latter, she cites examples such as the emotional state of boss, volume of the setting and feeling in the room, like if it it's relaxed or chaotic.</div>
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She has seen effective results when her students – particularly women – practice negotiation in real life. She encourages them to go to farmer's markets, flea markets and yard sales to negotiate the price of objects for purchase. “This gives my students and clients experience and confidence, learning how to evaluate the environment. In asking, getting turned down and going on to the next dealer without feeling discouraged, <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/07/7-ways-women-can-build-confidence-at-work" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/07/7-ways-women-can-build-confidence-at-work">gaining confidence</a>, learning 'how to' techniques [and] recognizing who is amenable and what to ask for.”</div>
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<b>2. Plan the discussion. </b>Walking into your boss’s office in a tizzy over how little you’re earning won’t get you far. Instead, prepare what you'll say, and even write out your presentation, says Dana Manciagli, career coach, speaker and author. “Don't wing it or think that having a conversation is effective. It's not.”</div>
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She suggests writing out the flow of your discussion and limiting the topics to three items. Specifically, you should be ready to share the purpose of the meeting and your objective, share data on why you believe you’ve earned a raise and then <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/03/17/7-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-asking-for-a-raise" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/03/17/7-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-asking-for-a-raise">request a salary increase</a>.</div>
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After that, she says, review you plan with a friend or mentor to find any holes, and fix them. Finally, book a 30-minute meeting with your boss. Make the agenda solely about your career. “Be sure you don't let him or her or yourself start it with other work-related topics. Dive right in. Lead the meeting and be clear and prepared. Take notes, listen and respond in an impactful way.”</div>
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<b>3. Be aware of body language. </b>Don’t put so much focus on researching what you’re worth and preparing your discussion that you overlook body language. Women especially can give off the vibe of submission if they’re not careful. In a negotiation conversation, you want to come off powerful and confident.</div>
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Carol Kinsey Goman, is a speaker, author and <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/05/07/6-body-language-tells-that-ruin-your-job-interviews" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">body language</a> coach who says it’s important to keep your head straight during negotiations. “Head tilting is a signal that someone is listening and involved – and a particularly feminine gesture. As such, head tilts can be very positive cues under some circumstances, but they are also subconsciously processed as submission signals. (Dogs tilt their heads to expose their necks, as a way to show deference to the dominant animal.) When you want to project confidence and authority, you should keep your head straight up in a more neutral position.”</div>
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She also says it’s important to take up space – rather than condensing your body – with elbows at your side and legs crossed. She says that status and authority are nonverbally demonstrated through claiming height and space.</div>
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<b>4. Keep a bragging folder. </b>If you’re like many women, you find it difficult to talk about <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/13/transforming-your-dreams-into-accomplishments" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">your accomplishments</a>. But you’ll need them to convince your boss that you’re worth more.</div>
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Cristy Villarreal, a public relations specialist for Beckman Coulter, suggests keeping a folder in your email inbox labeled “Compliments.” Anytime someone gives you a kudos via email for your hard work, store it there.</div>
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“Some people find it difficult to brag about oneself. That is something we should all work on, but until then, let others speak for you. Print out the emails, highlight key statements and place in a file folder. Bring the folder with you when you meet with your supervisor. Ask for a raise and have the data to back up why you deserve one.”</div>
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While you’re not guaranteed to get the salary or wage increase you want every time, these tips will better position you as an assertive and valuable asset to your company and increase your likelihood of making what you’re worth.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/11/4-salary-negotiation-secrets-for-women" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

4 Salary Negotiation Secrets for Women

4 Salary Negotiation Secrets for Women Expert advice for landing a raise. Plan ahead. Be ready to share the purpose of the meeting, yo...

How to Interview Your Interviewer

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How to Interview Your Interviewer</h1>
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Five tips for assessing a job and a potential employer.</h2>
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Ask yourself: Would you hire your interviewers to work with you?</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">You get the jitters before an interview. Who doesn’t? You’re in your</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-wardrobe-musts-for-your-next-interview" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-wardrobe-musts-for-your-next-interview">best outfit</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">, you’re well prepared and you just really want this job.</span></div>
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Or<i> do</i> you?</div>
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We assume the interview is all about selling ourselves to the interviewer to land the job, but it’s much more than that. It's your chance to get to know the organization and the people who work there. Even if a company gives you a job offer, if you didn’t get a good feeling from the interviewers or if you have second guesses, you need to put a lot of thought into your decision before accepting.</div>
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An interview is your chance to assess <i>them</i>. Here's how:</div>
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<b>1. Be yourself. </b>You should be looking for the right fit during an interview just as companies are when they look at us as candidates. That’s why it’s vital to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/how-your-personality-could-help-you-find-a-job-or-keep-you-unemployed" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/how-your-personality-could-help-you-find-a-job-or-keep-you-unemployed">be yourself</a> at the interview, within limits, of course. You don’t need to talk about how much you partied last night, but it’s OK to show your sense of humor or discuss hobbies.</div>
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<b>2. Get the scoop on the job. </b>A job description does not tell all. In fact, many times people who do not work in the same department or field write the descriptions, which may be inaccurate. You may wind up interviewing for a role completely different than the one advertised – and it may be something you're not interested in. During the interview, make sure you get a clear picture of your daily responsibilities and the skills required to be <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/08/08/12-things-killer-employees-do-before-noon" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">successful in the job</a>.</div>
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<b>3. Understand the culture. </b>Look around the office, and observe what is going on. Is it an open office space with cubicles? Is there a lot of chatter, or is it completely silent? Think about what environment you perform best in. Perhaps you work better with background noise and are an outgoing person who likes a lively office. Or you might prefer quiet.</div>
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You may receive strong signals during an interview about the culture or people who work there. A candidate was once put in a difficult position when two interviewers suddenly made a joke about her current employer out of the blue. This turned her off from the organization.</div>
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<b>4. Ask powerful questions. </b>One of the most <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/10/23/the-best-questions-to-ask-during-a-job-interview" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/10/23/the-best-questions-to-ask-during-a-job-interview">telling questions</a> you can ask is: “How did this position come to be open?” If the interviewer is honest, you will find out if the role is new, or if someone left or was fired. It should give you some insight into what you’re up against and what kinds of expectations the employer may have of you if you are hired.</div>
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Another useful question is: “What is the most positive part of working here, and what would you change if you could?” The answer to this should help you decide whether you’d be happy there or not.</div>
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<b>5. Evaluate the interview overall. </b>You might have a great experience talking to your interviewers and feel like there was good chemistry. Then they may surprise you with an awkward question or request. One candidate was unexpectedly given a timed test of 30 items to demonstrate his Excel expertise. He was disappointed, because he felt it was unrealistic to assume a candidate knew uncommon Excel functions.</div>
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Maybe you interview at your <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/08/28/5-dream-jobs-that-arent-so-dreamy" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/08/28/5-dream-jobs-that-arent-so-dreamy">dream company</a>, and do not like any of the people you meet with. While it may be worth searching your contacts to find people to talk to about the company, pay attention to your gut. We spend countless hours a week at work, and you want to spend that time with people you like to be around and can work with. It has a substantial effect on the quality of your life.</div>
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Perhaps you get an offer, and you feel you need more information to make an informed decision. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your point of contact and ask additional questions. It shows your genuine interest and tells the employer that you want to find the right match just like they do. You want to spend your working hours at a place that respects and values you, so make sure you conduct your own thorough evaluation of your interviewers and the company. Ask yourself: Would you hire your interviewers to work with you?</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/28/how-to-interview-your-interviewer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How to Interview Your Interviewer

How to Interview Your Interviewer Five tips for assessing a job and a potential employer. Ask yourself: Would you hire your interviewe...

How to Explain Your Fabulous Unemployment Stint

It's all fun and games until you have to explain that employment gap in your résumé. But, with careful planning, you can ease your interviewer's concerns.</P><P>Interviews are nerve-wracking enough without a hulking elephant in the conference room. The pachyderm's name? "Ralph, The Yearlong Unemployment Stint." He's got value, really – he's a good elephant! – but it's hard to tell as he chews a gaping hole through your work history.</P><P>Maybe your break from the workforce was intentional. You wanted to travel, try a new hobby or just hang out. Or maybe the break was unintentional, but at one point you didn't worry too much about finding a new job. Whatever the case, now you have to explain the stint and why it shouldn't concern employers. Here's your plan for acknowledging – and perhaps even celebrating – the elephant in the room:</P><P><B>Keep calm.</B> For starters, "don't panic," says Jenny Foss, founder of the career blog JobJenny.com. While unexplained gaps may still raise employers' eyebrows, she says, "there are a lot of ways you can thoughtfully and strategically manage the message surrounding the gap." Here's how to get working on that message:<BR><B><BR>[See: Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice.]</B> </P><P><B>Think about what you gained in that period of unemployment.</B> Do some soul-searching, and ask yourself what you learned during your break, says Andrea Kay, career consultant and author of “This Is How to Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want.” Did you volunteer? Perhaps you gained new perspectives or discovered more about your community. Took a class? You (hopefully) learned new skills. Did you travel? Perhaps you learned about certain cultures, became more resourceful or honed your Spanish skills.</P><P>"These are all great qualities to bring to an employer," Kay says, so log them. For example, the adaptability and comfort with other cultures you developed while traveling are worth showcasing when interviewing with companies that have offices throughout the globe, Foss adds.</P><P>If you didn't travel, volunteer or take classes, the break may shed less obvious lessons – but they’re there. “I don’t care what you’re doing, people always gain or learn something,” Kay says. “They always go from being something to something else.” Maybe you learned more about what kind of person you are or what you want to focus on, she says, while writing in a journal, building better habits or talking to others.</P><P>Or maybe you simply gained a sense of renewed energy or focus – a chance to hit the refresh button. This is a common result of work hiatuses, Kay says, and it definitely counts as a gain.</P><P><B>[See: </B><B>The 25 Best Jobs of 2014</B><B>.]</B></P><P><B>Write down your worries. </B>What are you concerned employers will assume about your gap in employment? Maybe you're worried they'll think you're a slacker or someone who has no valuable skills. Consider your red flags, Kay says, which will "give you more fodder for the response you’re going to craft." Speaking of which ...</P><P><B>Craft your message. </B>You've got the raw materials in front of you. Now mold them into an articulate explanation. Say how you decided to take some time off for such-and-such reason, and "here's what I learned, and here's how it helped me," Kay says. Cue enthusiastic references to the new perspectives, renewed energy and other takeaways you mapped out earlier. And those anxieties about how employers may perceive the unemployment stint? Here's your chance to weave counterpoints to them in the explanation. You probably won't come off as a slacker as you describe how you spent your unemployment gap volunteering or learning new things. Be sure to finish with something like, "Now I’m focused and ready to make the transition back to [insert your line of work]," Foss suggests. </P><P><B>Keep the explanation succinct. </B>Practice your "funemployment" message like you would rehearse other interview answers, like why you want to work at that particular company. While practicing, aim for a message that's thorough but concise. As Foss points out, over-explaining can seem inauthentic. "When you rattle on and on about something, you immediately look like you're nervous or trying to cover something up," she says.</P><P><B>[See: </B><B>The 10 Things You Do That Turn an Interviewer Off</B><B>.]</B></P><P><B>Be proactive. </B>Mention the employment gap on your own terms, rather than "with your back up against the wall and your defenses up," Foss says. Don't wait for your interviewer to call out the break – and he or she will. Bring it up in the beginning, when asked to talk a little bit about yourself. You'll have already perfected and practiced this message, so launch into it. As Foss puts it: "Your best defense is almost always a good offense."<BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/10/09/how-to-explain-your-fabulous-unemployment-stint" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>

How to Explain Your Fabulous Unemployment Stint

It's all fun and games until you have to explain that employment gap in your résumé. But, with careful planning, you can ease your inte...

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