Is Your Network Helping or Hurting Your Career?

5 ways to use a network to your advantage

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Most professionals are aware of the value of networking for career advancement. Appropriate networking can lead to opportunities that are hard to acquire on your own. But there is such a thing as bad networking--and that can do some serious damage.

Career experts point to several common networking pitfalls and how to overcome them:

Problem: Homogeneity If you're interacting only with people who do exactly what you do or who work at the same company--or who are all out of work--they are less likely to help you reach the next rung. If you're all looking for jobs, you may spend your time griping rather than sharing information. And if they see you as competition, they may even actively work against you.

Solution: Expand your circle "You should be looking for diversity on all levels within your network," says Barbara Safani, president of Career Solvers. "Take a look at who's in your network in terms of job titles, age differences, geography, and even ethnicity. Start leveraging the people you know well in your circle, and find out who else they know who may be different from you."

Problem: Desperation Many professionals start networking when they're out of a job. This leads to the (often accurate) perception that you want one thing and aren't likely to offer anything in return. Your contact may help you out, but it may be the only time. Worse, you may acquire a reputation as a taker and not a giver. "If you start your network with an open hand, it's too late," says Heather Hamilton, staffing manager at Microsoft.

Solution: Reach out before you need something Start today. Join a professional organization and keep going back. Develop relationships with people you'd like to know, but don't ask them for a favor right away. Instead, consider why they may want to know you.

Problem: Quantity over quality You share business cards everywhere you go. You have hundreds of "friends" on social media sites. That's great, but it won't take you far unless you actively cultivate at least some of those relationships.

Solution: Get personal "It's important to offer information to people in your network and show them you know something about them," Hamilton says. With social media, it isn't that hard to learn what a person does, what they like to do, and what their interests are. From there, pick out those who can help you, who can reach people who can help you, or who share your interests--and offer them something first.

"If you think the people you want to know don't need anything from you, remember there is more than one way to offer help," Safani says. "You could let a contact know you have industry information, or information or help in one of their hobbies."

Problem: Scattershot networking If you don't know what you want from your network, your contacts won't know how to help you.

Solution: Establish clear objectives "It's important to do the pre-work of networking," says John M. O'Connor, president of Career Pro, Inc. "What do you want to get out of your network? How do you want to be perceived by others? What do you have to offer others? Answer those questions first; then take a disciplined approach and make a plan for reaching out."

Problem: Dead-end contacts If a new job is your goal and you're building relationships only with people who don't know many people, or who are introverted, or who are generally unhelpful (not returning your calls is a sign), then your network isn't working for you.

Solution: Create targets Susan Whitcomb, president of Career Coach Academy, recommends identifying people in companies you want to work for, or people who know people at those companies.

"Your top rung of targets should be people who have relationships with hiring managers and knowledge of the company you want," Whitcomb says. "Next best are those who have knowledge but no relationships at the company. Next are those with relationships but no knowledge. At the lower rung are people who don't know the company and don't know anyone there--they may be good to know personally, but don't expect them to help your career."

There are many kinds of networking--for professional goals, for personal growth, or for fun. But career experts emphasize that, on the career side, networks take much care and feeding. "Networking can be like static electricity--wasted energy--or it can channeled for power," O'Connor says. "If you do it right, it should be like handing someone a cord and letting them plug it in."

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Unusual Stress-Busting Remedies

4 international strategies for relieving stress

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer

Feeling a little stressed? You're not alone. In a recent American Psychological Association survey, 75 percent of respondents reported feeling moderate to high stress in the past month, and nearly half reported that their stress had increased in the past year.

And it's no wonder, with sky-high jobless rates and extra workloads for people lucky enough to have work--on top of all of modern life's normal stresses.

What to do? We searched the world over for unique stress busters--and then looked closer to home for practical and relaxing alternatives that will melt away work-related stress:

1. Plate throwing in Tokyo
Frustrated workers can head straight to The Venting Place for a chance to smash plates, cups, and saucers against a concrete slab. "To break something, as all of us know from experience, is something extremely exhilarating, and it helps bring down pent-up anger," Venting Place brainchild Katsuya Hara told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Bring it home: For most of us, it's best not to smash things at work. Instead, try to fit in a cardio kickboxing class during your lunch break if you really want to throw a fist at stress. Or find other ways to exercise during your work day. A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that people who exercise every day reduce anxiety and stress levels by 40 percent.

2. Sleeping with the fishes in Japan
Yes, another entry from Japan, where the business of healing stress and its related ills is a whopping $30-billion-per-year industry. Tokyo's Enoshima Aquarium offers an overnight program where you can sleep in a room gently lighted by biofluorescent jellyfish. The aquarium's marine biologists claim that observing the slow undulations of jellyfish produces a chemical relaxation response in the body.

Bring it home: Set up a fish tank at work if possible. When on-the-job tensions are mounting, look to your fish to soothe your nerves. Research has shown that watching fish swimming in a tank lowers stress levels. That's one reason so many doctors' offices have them.

3. Laughing yourself silly in India
Throughout India, thousands of Laughter Yoga Clubs meet in public parks every morning so participants can start the work day with low stress and an inner (and outer!) glow. "Laughter ... can change your mood within minutes by releasing endorphins," explains Madhuri Kataria, the Indian physician who founded Laughter Yoga International 15 years ago. "They bring good feelings in your body, and the moment you feel good, you perform to your maximum."

Bring it home: You could join one of 6,000 Laughter Yoga Clubs around the world. Or you could simply bring more laughter into your life. Go out to lunch with your most entertaining colleagues, for instance. And plan to have a few belly laughs on May 2--World Laughter Day.

4. Bathing in beer in the Czech Republic
Beer spas are all the rage in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany. As you relax in barrels, tubs, or pools full of specially made brew, your troubles bubble away, say beer-bath aficionados. It helps that in some spas you get to imbibe beer while you soak in it.

Bring it home: While beer and work generally don't mix, you can take advantage of this stress-buster at home--and you don't have to actually fill your tub with beer to get the benefits of a beer bath. There are plenty of herbal bath oils that combine hops (a key ingredient in beer) with valerian (a plant widely believed to have relaxing effects). Sprinkle a few drops in a bath before bed so you can sleep off the stresses of your workday.

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Fun Ways to Beef Up Your Resume

Enjoyable activities that can help you advance your career

by Charles Purdy, Yahoo! HotJobs senior editor

The word "fun" isn't usually associated with looking for a job. Even in the best of circumstances, being unemployed or under-employed can be scary and stressful. But in any job search, keeping a positive attitude is important. So in addition to refining your resume and assiduously applying for jobs, consider these pursuits that can not only be lots of fun but also make just about any candidate more attractive to hiring managers. (Most can be done for free or on the cheap.)

What's more, most of these activities involve meeting new people--and therefore put you in new networking opportunities. Meeting people outside of your normal social and professional spheres is an excellent way to broaden the reach of your job search.

1. Study a language
Even knowing only the basics of a second language can be a boon in many jobs--for instance, greeting foreign clients in their own tongue makes a great first impression. And most language classes involve fun socializing activities and learning about foreign cultures.

Fluency takes time, but just telling an employer that you're studying a language can demonstrate self-discipline and a desire to learn new things, according to career expert Jason Seiden, the author of "Super Staying Power: What You Need to Become Valuable & Resilient at Work."

2. Enroll in an acting or improvisation workshop
"I definitely advocate taking an improv class," says Seiden. "I've done this myself ... and I learned to work across an incredibly diverse group of people, I learned to become more adaptive to my environment, and I got some great stories to use to break the ice with new people."

These types of workshops can also be very beneficial for people who fear public speaking. (Joining a Toastmasters club is another fun way to become a more effective speaker. Read more in "Mastering the Art of Public Speaking.")

3. Learn something new
"Take classes at your local college, online, or through job-training programs," suggests Debra Davenport, business coach and founder of Identity IQ. "Employers want knowledge workers with top skills in the areas of technology, social media, communication, leadership, coaching, budgeting, marketing, and global commerce." (In addition, "fun" classes--like photography--may come in handy in surprising ways. After you get your financial-services job, say, the company may urgently need someone to take photos at an investor event--and you'll be able to save the day.)

4. Turn a hobby into a business
Enjoy cooking? Gardening? Crafting? Davenport suggests looking into services provided by the Small Business Administration for ideas and guidance on turning your pastime into profits. And even if your side business doesn't become lucrative, your entrepreneurial initiative may impress the hiring managers in your future.

5. Volunteer
Jay Block, the author of "101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times," recommends volunteering as a way to gain confidence and strengthen your resume: You could volunteer to teach what you know--for instance, if you're good at sales, an organization like Junior Achievement might be a good fit. You could turn a hobby into a volunteer opportunity--for instance, if you enjoy playing the piano, you could schedule song nights at a local retirement center. Or you could even travel to an area that could use your help or skills--for instance, to work with Habitat for Humanity.

6. Write
Many career experts suggest developing a blog that focuses on a hobby or your industry. Or, suggests Block, you could offer to write a column for a free local newspaper. These are not only enjoyable ways to express yourself but also great ways to promote yourself as an expert and establish a well-rounded online presence.

7. Get physical
"Sign up for yoga or Pilates--or work on becoming an instructor or a certified fitness trainer," suggests Block. "At a time where too many people are unhealthy and depressed, this can be fun and healthy and look great on a resume."

8. Get social
"Become a social networking junkie--not to just pass time socially, but to collect a huge amount of contacts and to build solid relationships that would be valuable to a prospective employer," says Block. "Networking and relationship building are critical skills today."

9. Explore a new career
Block suggests "job shadowing" as one interesting way to learn about a new field: "Job shadowing is when you follow someone around to learn how they do their job," he explains. "It's an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and get advice from professionals in industries or venues you hope to break into."

10. Be creative
If you're in the midst of a period of unemployment, you can expect hiring managers to ask how you've spent your time away from the 9-to-5 routine. With some creative thinking, you can turn just about any hobby or learning experience into a resume or interview asset. According to Seiden, "The most important thing about resume boosters is not what they are, but how you present them. When you're interested, focused, and self-motivated, nearly anything can be an asset."

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9 Ways to Ensure You Don't Get the Job

Hiring managers share simple ways to make a terrible impression in a job interview.

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Different jobs require different qualities in an employee--so what a hiring manager is looking for will vary from interview to interview. But there are some behaviors that decision-makers agree are especially annoying. We asked several hiring managers for their interviewee pet peeves--and for their take on what a job applicant can do to get his or her resume tossed into the recycling bin.

If you're looking for a job, be warned.

Send a follow-up "thx 4 mtg" text message.
Kristin Terdik, inside sales support director of Technekes in Charlotte, N.C., laments the lost art of professional thank-you notes that feature actual words on real paper: "Candidates directly out of school think they can send you a text message or an invitation to a social networking site, and that counts as a thank-you note," she says. "It doesn't count, but so many entry-level people are doing it now I'm forced to cut them some slack."

Peggy Rosenblatt, senior vice president for AKRF, Inc., an environmental planning and engineering consulting firm, is less forgiving. "If I don't get a well-written thank-you note as a follow up, they're out."

Spam your resume.
Maria McGuinness, a hiring manager for a small manufacturer in central New York, says that too many applicants repeatedly apply for the same position and cite different websites where the job was posted. Other managers are annoyed when candidates apply for every position in the company--both behaviors cause unnecessary work for hiring managers. "While I realize the job market is tight and people are desperate, spamming your resume is a very bad idea," McGuinness says.

Ask, "What does your company do?"
"If candidates don't have the curiosity or interest to do their homework on our website, then I am not interested in them," says Rosenblatt.

Bring the family.
Erin Duddy, a recruiter at a small staffing firm in Raleigh, has been unpleasantly surprised when a candidate brings a baby or a child to an interview. "If you absolutely must bring children to the company, at least clear it ahead of time," she recommends.

A hiring manager at a Florida hospital adds that bringing a spouse or parent to the interview--or letting a loved one negotiate your salary and benefits for you--is one way to ensure you'll get no salary and benefits.

Use your cell phone in the meeting.
Hiring managers say that they're seeing more candidates use their cell phones to send text messages or take personal calls during interviews--but that doesn't make the behavior any more acceptable.

John M. O'Connor, president of Career Pro Inc., adds that even using electronics in the waiting room can reflect negatively. "Executive assistants often tell the boss everything, and if they see you constantly using your PDA, it may give the impression that you're unfocused or easily distracted."

Don't smile. Or laugh too much. Or cry.
O'Connor says that a smile and a sense of humor are crucial in interviews, no matter what the job may be. "Hiring managers have told me, 'this person is great on paper--but he's so intense and humorless in person, I would never want to go to lunch with him,'" he says.

On the other hand, Frank Papa, operating partner at H.I.G. Capital in North Carolina, warns against undue giddiness. "When a candidate laughs all the time ... it says they are trying too hard to be accepted and be liked."

Then again, laughter may be better than tears. "I hate interviewing someone who is so nervous they cannot answer the questions and then break down and cry," says Isabella Tagore, a recruiting consultant based in southern California.

Come with your own beverages.
Many hiring managers dislike it when people bring their own take-out cups of coffee to drink during an interview, according to career strategist Barbara Safani. It can come across as far too informal. And if you bring a child's Hello Kitty lunch box containing utensils to brew your own tea, as one candidate did when meeting Terdik, you will be memorable--but not in a good way.

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Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs & Training

By : Michael Ekman

Not everyone who goes into the medical field wants to be a doctor or a nurse. Not everyone has the time to complete even the year of schooling that it takes to become an LPN. A person who wants a medical career should looking into available certified nursing assistant jobs.

Even though additional education is not needed for most certified nursing assistant jobs, a candidate must still possess a high school diploma to qualify for this position. A knowledge of how to write and speak English are essential, as is a working knowledge of basic mathematics. CNAs usually do not administer drugs, although they may be required to draw blood for testing purposes.

Having a high school diploma is a qualification for most certified nursing assistant jobs, but there is more to qualifying than just this. Most candidates must complete and pass an examination before they can apply to become a CNA at a hospital or a nursing home. The certification is specific to the state where it is taken, although most states will take another state's certification.

CNAs take care of patient tasks such as delivering medicines, preparing a patient for lab work, sometimes removing bed pans and sheets. The exact duties for certified nursing assistant jobs depend on the institution where he or she works. Changing diapers, lifting patients, and cleaning changing wound dressings are only some of the tasks a person in this profession is expected to perform on a daily basis. The work performed by the people in this profession is physically demanding. For some, it is a good career in itself, for other people, it can serve as a stepping stone to a different medical career.

The shift for a person who has any of the common Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs starts by making the rounds with the CNA they are relieving. The person on the earlier shift alerts his replacement to any potential problems and the instructions left by the doctors and the nurses for each patient.

Another duty that does not get covered by most hospitals, but is an important part of the job is to watch out for patient abuse or neglect. This duty falls under the moral imperative category. Any hospital or nursing home employee who witnesses abusive treatment even outside of his rounds is obligated to report it to his supervisor. Reporting it to the family is a good idea, although he or she may risk his job by doing so.

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Career Development - Top Three Problems Faced by Job Hoppers

By : Joseph Stutzman

Young professionals are energetic and vibrant, but often restless. Because of this, many of them have the tendency to job hop. Job hopping happens when a person changes jobs too often, often in a span of just a few months. Typically, job-hopping implies having to transfer from city to another, and this fact can hurt people's budding careers in ways that one would not be able to realize right away. If you are a young professional who can relate to this, then by all means, read further.

First, it's very expensive to change jobs and move residences. The down payment for the rent of your new flat, payments to the movers, home improvements - all these can be very expensive. Job hoppers typically experience relatively long periods of joblessness, and that adds even more to the financial burden. In short, it's messy and expensive.

First, changing jobs and residences too often will make it more difficult to establish your career. Keeping a single job for a relatively long time is the first major step towards building your own portfolio. Typically, real job experience can be gained only after a few months into the job, and job hopping makes this impossible. As they say, you can become a jack of all trades, but you will be the master of none.

While there are people who actually found ways to make it work, a lot of employers look for patience and diligence in every job applicant. They want to know if you can exercise company loyalty. On the business side of things, they want to feel that whatever resources they will use to develop your skills will benefit the company as a whole, and not just you.

Third, you still have a short and fragile credit history, and it will get hurt. Credit scores are not only computed based on your existing loans, but are also based on other financial variables like your length of stay in a single residence and job, and if you pay your monthly rent on time. Furthermore, every time you apply for a new flat, your landlord or landlady typically performs a credit check on you. This hurts your credit score even more.

Hence, if you hate your job, find ways on how to resolve it without quitting. After all, it's you who's going to suffer the most if you do.

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Making a Bad Job Good Everyday

By : Craig Calvin

Technology could be defined as improvement and advancement of tools we already have and use, or wish we had and were able to use. Working hard usually isn't much fun but a necessary task. Working smarter is beginning to shine as the fun and more acceptable way to work. Here is a good starter tip: work smarter, not harder.

The funny thing about jobs is that they are supposed to require effort, which is part of the reason that it is called going to 'work' and not going to 'do nothing all day'. It would be nice if you could get away with doing nothing all day and enjoy a successful career, but very few people are able to do that. The ones that do generally have worked their tails off for many years to get to that point. If you're looking to make your job a little less stressful and effort-filled, there are many different things that you can do. Check out the tips below to get started:

Focus on the fun in your job. Do you enjoy what you do? If so, try to keep the attitude and mood lighthearted and fun. Never get stuck in a rut where you are miserable because this will make every day that much more work and less play. Find things that you enjoy, even if you hate your job. Pick apart the smallest, most insignificant and mundane tasks, and figure out how you can enjoy them or make them a little more bearable for yourself.

Socialize with co-workers. Having relationships with the people that you work with can always make the workplace less work and more enjoyable time. You shouldn't spend all day fraternizing when you're supposed to be working, but you'll at least be more comfortable, which can alleviate a lot of stress in the workplace. Figure out what stresses you the most in your job. Find a way to avoid that situation, change how you handle it, or do something to make it more bearable. Often, it's as simple as a change in attitude to be able to stress less and enjoy more at work, or anywhere for that matter.

Doing your job the proper way is very important. Doing the job wrong as well as neglecting your responsibilities will lead to more undue stress and conflicts. If you are creative, it should be easy for you to find new innovative ways for the various routines associated with your job. You might be surprised at how receptive management will be to a good innovative job improving ideal. This should also be easy to do if you are stuck in a job you don't like; you can focus your attention on creative ways to do the same job while being entertained with the new challenge. This should in theory make your job more interesting, more tolerable and more enjoyable with less work involved. This in turn will lead to less stress and could actually make your job enjoyable for once.

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