Mid-career derailment can happen any time, but in today’s economy there is no room for complacency. With job opportunities harder than ever to find, it’s a particularly rough time to be fired or demoted or to hit a career plateau. You can reduce your risk for derailment by paying attention to your value and effectiveness and by focusing on interpersonal skills, adaptability, team leadership and bottom-line results.

Based on the Center for Creative Leadership’s ongoing study of executive derailment with clients around the world, here are 10 ways to avoid these pitfalls:

Ask for instant feedback. When walking out of a meeting, ask a colleague, “I think that could have gone better – what could I have done differently?” Listen to the response. Don’t defend or justify your actions and don’t interrupt. Sean Fowler, assistant vice president with insurance company IAT Group in Cold Springs, Fla., uses feedback from his co-workers as a reality check. “You have to develop a bit of a thick skin,” Mr. Fowler said. “Once you get past the initial shock, you really come to appreciate it. It’s a long-term effort made up of small steps, not a leap.”

Read the full article on wsj.com!

Ethics-shmethics, who needs ‘em? The answer is YOU do, especially if you’re searching for your next job while employed full time. There is nothing like a breach of ethics to turn off a potential employer. There is also nothing like a discovered breach of ethics to encourage a current employer to make your dreams come true. Not all your dreams, of course. Just the one where you don’t work for them anymore.

Given the economic downturn through which our nation has slogged, if you currently have a job, many would consider you fortunate (yes, even if your supervisor is the evil incarnate). Being employed may even raise your value in the eyes of hiring managers. However, to avoid burning any bridges with the folks who are presently signing your paychecks, you must conduct your job search ethically.

Read the full article here! (via glassdoor.com)

You maintain green habits at home, but are you as conscientious in the office? We’ve found 10 great accessories that will help you stay eco-friendly even when you hit your workplace.

From clever trash bins to reusable cutlery to designer paper clips, these objects will add some environmentally-friendly credentials to your office, and hopefully inspire your colleagues to go a little green as well.

Take a look through the photo gallery of planet-loving choices and let us know in the comments below which ones you would like to take to work.

Read the rest here! (via mashable.com)

Life would be perfect, wouldn’t it?  You could take time off whenever you wanted–or needed to.  What’s the catch?  You still have to make sure that all your work done.

There are companies that are trying this approach.  The Wall Street Journal reported on companies that had “name your own vacation” policies.  Aruba Networks is one such company. Their CEO, Dominic Orr, admits that it requires managers to manage properly and employees to take charge of themselves.

Read the full article on www.bnet.com/blog/evil-hr-lady

I fully admit to the utter truth in the saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know that counts.” Well, mostly. Before you slash your wrists because you think you don’t know enough people to find work, let me assure you it’s never too late to start what they call, “your network.”

“Network” is just a fancy word for people you know and to whom you are connected. People who follow you on Twitter are “in your network.” On LinkedIn, they list a number of people “in your network,” even though you are not first level connections. Are these people important to you? Of course! They at least have some level of connection to you – more than strangers on the street.

Read the full article on instantshift.com!

Whether telecommuting or freelancing, more and more professionals are trading in the cubicle for the home office. We hear all about the perks of the work from home lifestyle — no long commutes, more time with family, conference calls in pajamas, etc. But what about the challenges? It’s not always easy to stay productive in the face of countless distractions.

If you’re working from home, chances are you’re a freelancer, consultant, or small business owner. This means your ability to get paid is directly tied to how productive you are. As a freelancer, wasting time equals wasting money.

Here are some tips on how to stay focused as you move through the workday, while still enjoying all the unique benefits of working at home.

Read the full article on mashable.com!

If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and trapped in a blender, how would you get out?

That might sound like a ridiculous question, but to a job candidate–at least one reportedly applying for a job at Goldman Sachs–it might actually be an important one.

Glassdoor, a job-posting and community site for job-seekers, has compiled a list of the oddest interview questions of 2010, and that zinger–reportedly from Goldman–wins the number one slot. “Interviews can be an extremely nerve wracking experience, and by shedding light on the process we hope to give job seekers a leg up in their next interview,” says Robert Hohman, co-founder and CEO of Glassdoor.

Read the rest on bnet.com!

If you’re an experienced worker, you might be considering dumbing down your resume to land an interview for a position for which you might seem overqualified. This strategy could include downplaying or omitting work experience, resume skills, degrees and other credentials. But is reworking your resume in this manner a wise thing to do? Employment experts weigh in with their advice.

Special Circumstances Can Warrant It

Tracy Parish, a certified professional resume writer and president of resume-writing firm CareerPlan in Kewanee, Illinois, has encountered situations when dumbing down the resume can work. “Obviously, a person needs to keep bread on the table, so accepting a lower position is becoming more common and the resume needs to be appropriately tailored,” she says.

While you don’t have to include everything you’ve ever done on your resume, don’t cross the line into dishonesty. “Never lie,” Parish says. “It will come back to haunt you.” If you decide to omit some of your credentials on your resume, you still must provide a thorough account on a job application. A resume is a strategic marketing piece, whereas a job application is a signed, legal document that requires full disclosure.

Read the rest on monster.com

A recent question on LinkedIn came from a freelancer who was worried about detailing his multiple jobs on his resume. Would the list make him look like a job hopper?

Freelancing is an honorable employment status and should be treated that way. You are self-employed. Organize your freelance career under one “Freelance” heading, just like employees who work for a company organize all of their achievements, roles and projects under the company’s name.

The same rule applies if you freelance while holding a full-time job. Treat your freelancing as a separate “company” you work for year after year (the same way you work for your full-time job year after year). If you alternate individual freelance assignments with full-time jobs on your resume, you’ll confuse employers into thinking every new freelance job is a change in employment. Instead, keep all the freelance assignments together under one heading and no one will be confused.

Read the rest at careerealism.com!

Get ready to nail your next interview, job seekers. I’ve asked my experts for their A-list advice to get you a second interview. I suspect you’re already savvy enough to send a thank you note and avoid lying on your resume. Let’s take your technique to the next level.

What follows, in no specific order, is a tried-and-true list of job interview tips. And by all means, if something else has worked even better for you, please sign in below and share it in the comments section.

1. Ask them upfront why they wouldn’t hire you.

The interview is coming to a close, but make sure you stick your landing, says Roberta Chinksy Matuson, President of Human Resource Solutions and author of Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around. “Always end the conversation with the following question: ‘Is there anything about my background that gives you concern?’” says Matuson. Now you’ve bought yourself a bonus round to derail any doubts.

Read the rest on moneywatch.bnet.com!

Like flowers in early spring, new social media job openings are sprouting across industries as companies of all sizes look to create or expand their social squads.

The undeniable success and innovation of high-profile social media campaigns — from such brands as Old Spice, Google Chrome and Starbucks — have inspired this ongoing push for companies to hire people with social media skills.

If you’re seeking a gig as a community manager, public relations representative, marketing person or any other social media position, check out these resumes for inspiration on how to stand out from the crowd. Also, let us know in the comments about any creative tactics you use to promote yourself and your skills.

Read more at mashable.com

Great news! You’ve landed either temporary or contract work, which suddenly has taken so much stress off of you from looking for a job.

Now you can pay the bills, settle in, and concentrate your focus on getting up to speed and making valuable contributions.

But what’s the worst thing that can happen at this point?

Becoming complacent in this moment of opportunity.

But first, let’s be clear. Contract or temporary work does NOT guarantee a future at the company. It is exactly that: a stretch of employment that has a finite end to it, and you’re going to have to deal with an end point sooner or later.

Read the full article here! (via careerealism.com)

It’s tough to add tasks when you’re in the middle of a job search, but prioritize workplace culture fit. When you’re going through the interview process, a recruiter or hiring manager has three possible contexts for evaluating you – resume, personality and ‘fit’. Each is important in landing – and keeping – a job that translates to your career. Turn the notion of culture fit to your advantage by conducting a ‘culture audit’ of every prospective employer you speak with. It’s a very empowering exercise if done correctly.

Culture is one very important way in which employees describe where they work. It underlies their understanding of the employer’s business and helps employees orient themselves in the organization. I see plenty of company leaders who don’t think that building a differentiated company culture will lead to success and eventual talent retention. Nevertheless, from the recruiter’s side of the desk, a company’s culture attracts talent, and talent is what separates winning companies from also-rans.

Read the full article here! (via glassdoor.com)

CIO — Last September, LinkedIn announced Signal, a new product that streams updates and news from your contacts. Similar to Facebook’s News Feed and Twitter streams, many use the feature, LinkedIn says, as a method to keep up to date on what their connections are doing and what they’re reading online.

One lesser-known utilization of LinkedIn Signal, however, is for job hunting. Signal’s comprehensive filters—in addition to a few other features—make it surprisingly easy to find job postings in the city, industry and even company that you want.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use this LinkedIn product to narrow your job search, as well as some tips for achieving success.

Read the full article here!

Do hiring professionals even read cover letters for senior candidates anymore? Some say yes; some say no, they don’t bother unless the resume in question has grabbed their attention.

The simple answer is that you should assume your resume will merit a look at your cover letter; always include one (either as a separate document or an e-mail that acts as one); and make it exceptional, so you stand out from the crowd. TheLadders talked to hiring and career management professionals to find out exactly how a good cover letter is laid out and what it contains.

Dear who?

The salutation is your first chance to make contact with a hiring professional, but it’s one spot where laziness often wins out over due diligence. We’re talking about the “Dear Sir or Madam” approach. What this generic salutation says isn’t positive: Namely, that the author couldn’t be bothered to find out the hiring manager’s name.

Read the full aricle here! (via theladders.com)

I’ve traveled to many art schools, being asked to review senior student portfolios and speak on professional practices in the design business and the one thing I always notice is the lack of direction in student portfolios. Even with professionals, there is often no idea what or even how to present work to a client. Without senior level courses on portfolio preparation or classes taught by those who have been out of the field too long to know current trends, it is confusing and students are left with their own thoughts on what a client wants to see.

The biggest misconception is you need printed or live web pieces to show a client. To this end, as many professionals complain, students will do free or lower paying work just to garner a few “professional” samples to say, “SEE! Someone has actually hired me.”

If you think about this practice, what students are actually doing is chipping away at their own future and the industry itself. By doing this underpaying work, they are just teaching clients that they can get work for little or nothing. Contests and crowdsourcing are the equivalent to slave labor. You are doing free work, which the source will own all rights, in the hope for an iPod or pat on the back but, in the long run, it just negates your professional standing.

Read the full article here! (via instantshift.com)

The job market still isn’t good, but at least it’s on its way back.

There were just 4.3 unemployed workers for every available job in March, the best ratio in over two years, according to a new Labor Department report. When conditions were worst, there were nearly seven workers per opening.

March’s jobless-to-jobs figure was still well below its level before the recession, however.

On the other side of the ledger, the raw number of layoffs and discharges continue to be near lows:

Read the full article here! (via nytimes.com)