What Do I Do When My Employer Wants to Be Too Social?

There has been lots of talk on the news about employers asking for Facebook password when interviewing potential candidates. Seems ridiculous to me that anyone would even entertain releasing their personal password to any social media site or elsewhere...let alone the fact that an employer would be silly enough to think this was a fair question to ask. I for one, would never even entertain working for a company that asked for that, This article off lifehacker.com (great site!) went in line with the facebook password story more on the other side of things as far as getting friend requests after an interview...enjoy! : )

Dear Lifehacker,
I went on a job interview, and everything went well, but when I got home the hiring manager had sent me a friend request on Facebook and LinkedIn. What should I do? I know some people have gotten their jobs through Twitter, and he seems like a nice guy, but I feel a little creeped out. Should I accept his friend request? What if I get hired and this is normal for everyone who works there? What should I do? Sincerely, Slightly Antisocial

Dear Slightly Antisocial, You're right—I know a number of people who owe their current jobs to interactions with companies or individuals on Twitter or LinkedIn. Social media can be a powerful tool to help people get exposure and connect with people—people with jobs to offer—that they would never have spoken to directly otherwise. Reaching out to employers via Twitter and LinkedIn gives you a way to get your name in front of someone and out of the stack of resumes they have to sift through. How closely you connect to potential employers on those networks however, has more to do with the network in question and how comfortable you are with it than anything else. At the same time, with potential employers asking candidates for their Facebook passwords, you have reason to be cautious. Mind you, that practice is possibly illegal, definitely against Facebook's terms-of-service, and Facebook is threatening legal action against anyone who does it. It's possible they just want to see what you have behind the veil of your privacy settings, or maybe they really want to get to know the real you before extending an offer, to see if you fit in with the corporate culture. You're also right to be worried about what might happen if you're hired there—maybe it's normal for everyone in that office to be Facebook friends, or to all follow the company's Twitter account. Let's take a look at these possibilities one at a time, then you can decide whether you want to click accept, or ignore. The Post-Interview Friend Request

Your situation is a rough one, Slightly Antisocial—my first instinct is, unless your interview went so well that your interviewer wants to be your friend personally, that they want to see your Facebook profile, but don't want to directly ask for your password. If the interviewer is especially malicious, they may be asking now to give you the impression that your future with that company may hang in the balance. You have every right—and frankly, should—say no here, and direct the interviewer instead to your LinkedIn profile. You mentioned they wanted to connect with you there—respond by letting them know that your Facebook profile is for friends and personal acquaintances, and LinkedIn is for professional networking.

If they don't care for that response, or claim (like one company I know) that it's company policy for everyone to be Facebook friends, then you have a choice to make. You can dangle it back in front of them and say you'd be willing to do that when or if you're hired, or you can walk away. Ultimately it depends on how sensitive you are to what your Facebook friends see, and how much you personally value that privacy. If we can offer a tip that's outside the principle of the matter, consider setting up friends lists or groups so you have better control over who sees what. Then you can dump this person—and any other future coworkers—into a select group that sees little to nothing. The trouble is that you'll have to go back over past posts, photos, updates, and everything else to make sure their permissions are changed to exclude this new group. You'll have to decide whether that's more hassle than it's worth.

The Post-Hire Friend Request

The next—and more common—scenario you might encounter happens after you're on the job and you start getting friend requests from coworkers, your boss, or even HR. At one company I worked for, our marketing department sent out an email to the whole organization to "let us know" that the company now had a Twitter account, and that we were "highly encouraged" to follow it, and to like their Facebook page while we were at it. This same company would regularly check on its employees to see if they were updating their LinkedIn accounts or publicly posting their resumes and reported those employees to their managers, warning that they may be looking for new jobs. The big difference here is, of course, if you're good friends with your coworkers, you may have no trouble friending or following them on Facebook or Twitter. However, if your boss or HR suddenly sends you a friend request and you're not comfortable with it, there's no reason you should accept it unless you think it really is a friendly request and you're about to rebuff them for personal reasons. If that's the case, they should understand that you try to keep your work life and your personal life a little separate, but either way the situation calls for a little tact. Here are some tips:

Direct managers and HR to LinkedIn whenever possible. If your boss wants to connect with you professionally and does so by sending you a Facebook request, let them know your professional connections are at LinkedIn and give them your profile URL. Assuming, of course, you have a LinkedIn profile. Are your coworkers really friends or just snooping? It's unlikely, but it is possible that your coworkers are just adding you in order to see what you're up to, especially on off hours. Be careful of coworkers and managers who use Facebook during the day to see whether you are using it during the day, when you should be working. If you're really friends with your coworkers, go ahead and add them. If not, it might be time to shunt them to LinkedIn.

Lock down your Facebook account. Using your Facebook profile to snag a job by sprucing it up, adding a new photo, and updating your education and interests is a great idea, but be ready to back it up if a company tries to connect with you. Lock down your past posts so only your real friends can see them—especially any times you were complaining about your old job. Then add them to a list where they only see things you're comfortable making public.

Use Facebook to your advantage. Create a friends list for professional contacts, and feed it accomplishments, certifications, or other similar news. Even better, create a Facebook page for your "personal brand," that can serve as a Facebook-based resume. Then encourage the company or hiring manager to like your page to see your portfolio, accomplishments, and what you're working on professionally.

Clean Up Your Twitter account. The beauty—and trouble—with Twitter is that everything's either all public, or all hidden. I know more people who have found new jobs through Twitter than Facebook or even LinkedIn, but the only things you can do is go back in time and delete anything you think would be worrysome or be on your best behavior when you tweet. You have the option to take your account private, but then no one can see anything, and you're cut off from potential friends and employers—but you will have your privacy.

Throw caution to the wind. There's always the option to just not care. You could just accept friend requests and Twitter followers and not bother to moderate yourself at all. There's some logic to the notion that any company that won't accept you for who you are, both in public and to your friends on Facebook or Twitter as well as LinkedIn, doesn't deserve you. It's idealistic, and most of us know there's a difference between our professional and personal lives (eg, check your political, religious, and potentially disruptive views at the door), but speaking as someone who knows what it's like to work at a company where you have to keep even your benign interests and hobbies secret, it can be soul draining to have to be a different person at work than you are when you get home. This XKCD comic sums it up pretty well.

The post-hire friend requests are harder to deal with, for obvious reasons, and you should take any direction you're most comfortable. Ultimately though, make sure you do what's comfortable, not what you think is expected. You'll have to deal with the consequences, and sometimes removing someone causes more hassle than not accepting their request in the first place.

The Post-Employment or Pre-Interview Friend Request

While far less common, friend requests from people you used to work with, or a company that's interested in you are just as tricky. On the bright side, you're in the driver's seat in both cases, so you can decide whether you want to stay in touch with a colleague you used to work with on Facebook, or read their weekend activities on Twitter. You can research a company that wants to connect with you on LinkedIn or Facebook, and decide if you'd like to talk to them about what they have open.

Again, we'd advise caution with Facebook, just because it's such a tome of personal connections and information that you may not want public—and make no mistake, friending a company or coworkers means that information is public, at least at the office—but LinkedIn is always a good bet, as is Twitter, mostly because both are designed to be more public than private.

In the end, the network an employer wants to connect with you over makes much of the difference, as does your familiarity with that network's privacy tools. If you're already a master at custom friends lists at Facebook, and your status updates are set to post to a safe list by default, then you probably have no problem friending your boss. If not, or you don't want to tempt fate, it might just be better to apologize for any offense and suggest they head over to LinkedIn and connect with you there, instead.

Hopefully that gives you a few options, Slightly Antisocial. While it's a little underhanded of your interviewer to dangle a potential job in front of you with a friend request attached, how you handle it—even if you tell them Facebook is personal and LinkedIn is professional—may land you the gig. Good luck!

BeKnown - a mix of LinkedIn and Facebook

Check out BeKnown...a facebook application that allows you to network professionally with those you also know personally. I have not dug into researching this site too heavily...but the concept seems to be a mixture of facebook and Linked In..although the app states that it allows you to network. It is sponsored by Monster and allows you to set up a profile.

I have personally seen some amazing networking lately on a personal level in my own life with a family friend of ours who has a child battling cancer. The sveen degrees of separation theory comes to mind, as it is true that everyone knows somebody and we all connect to each other pretty easily with who we know.

In any event, the be known app has job listings, an opportunity to also post jobs if you are in a hiring position or recruiter. I have yet to link into anyone else or really check it out, but will do so shortly. Please let me know what you think fo the app.

Here's the link: https://apps.facebook.com/beknown/jobs

Phone Interviews: Five Tricks for Standing Out

I talked to a candidate today who faced the challenge of acing the telephone interview. Many think they are masters at phone interviews...but you would be surprised how many peopel are truly bad at it! Since it si typically the first impression you are giving the hiring authority or teh HR employee who will either give you the thumbs up or down...beefing up on your telephone skills never hurts! This article, courtesy of Monster, covered some pretty basic, but good reminders for interviewing on the phone. Enjoy!

Phone interviews are a useful tool for potential employers -- the conversations help screen candidates quickly and determine who’s worth a face-to-face meeting. So when you’ve sent out and uploaded your resume online, it’s essential to be ready to kick booty when the phone rings. Here’s how:

Know what you speak of: Make sure you have a copy of your resume, the cover letter you sent and the original job description in a folder near your phone. It’s also nice to add information about the company, the person who may be calling to interview you and any potential questions you know you’ll want to ask. Be sure to be armed with a pencil and paper for taking notes.

Rehearse your responses: Prep for the conversation by thinking about the job and the qualities a candidate must have. How do your strengths match up? What are your weaknesses? Anticipate questions you might be asked and consider how you’ll answer them. Bounce ideas off a friend if you’re concerned about a particular aspect of the job description or use Monster’s Advice Forums to gain information from others in that industry.

Watch your language: In a phone interview, it is important to speak slowly and clearly. Remember, the quality of your conversation and your ability to answer questions is all the interviewer has to go on over the phone. Keep the “ums,” “ahs” and “you knows” to a minimum (think about the Caroline Kennedy debacle. Don’t use slang or other informal language.

Think before you speak: Take the time you need to answer the interview questions completely and thoughtfully. Be sure not to interrupt or begin answering the question before the interviewer has finished speaking; there may be more to the question than you realize. If the interviewer calls at a time that is inconvenient for you, while you’re at work or in a noisy environment, arrange another phone meeting in the near future.

Ask for a meeting: If you feel the interview has gone well, be confident and direct enough to request a face-to-face by saying, “Would it be possible for us to meet in person and continue our conversation? I’d really like to have the opportunity to meet you.” If the interviewer says no, or shies away from making a commitment, be sure you understand what the next step will be. Will they call if they want to meet you? E-mail? If you are out of the running, will they let you know? Taking the time to close the deal proves your competence once again. Understanding the next step will help you sleep easier at night -- always a good thing when you are on the job hunt.

Email Address

I am consolidating email addresses and websites and also eliminating the use of the Prolyn name. Being an independent recruiter, I figured it makes more sense to brand my name versus a company name since "I" am the company. I have done this with a new business venture of mine and have found that it makes sense for people to remember my name versis some company name that doesn't necessarily reflect what the company is all about. Many of you know that I am veering away from Building Materials due to the hardships the industry has faced with the downturn of the economy. It has been sad to see so many great and talented people leave this industry, but also understandable! While my focus career wise has me doing a few different things myself right now in roles I probably never would have imagined, I can honestly say it's a nice reminder to be doing things that I enjoy amd that offer me a diverse job roles in a few completely diofferent arenas. Recruiting will always be one of my passions and as such one of my focuses. I am just not sure in what capacity and all the details of that yet. The fun part is figuring that all out! Please use my caburns@comporium.net address from this point forward. I will have email forwarding on from the old email address for quite some time, but want you all to get used to teh new emails address. Telephone number stays the same. Website is down already and will probably be using none other than my name as my domain for website. There is nothing posted there yet however. : )

Hope everyone is enjoying the Fall and hopefully what will soon be the start of a great new year with lots of new jobs opening up for many of you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! : )

106 Excuses that prevent you from ever becoming great

Just saw this posted on Linked In...A great read and one of the best articles I have read in a long time!!
Not sure if the embedded link below will show, as I always have trouble with that...so here is the copy and pasted version...long I know, but worth teh extra two seconds to selct, copy and paste...and read! Enjoy!

http://www.linkedin.com/share?viewLink=&sid=s660708856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Echrisbrogan%2Ecom%2F106%2F%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Bchrisbrogandotcom%2B%2528%255Bchrisbrogan%2Ecom%255D%2529&urlhash=0krv&pk=member-home&pp=&poster=17746473&uid=5534621797305036800&trk=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-title

How to Find a Seasonal Job

With teh Holidays fast aproaching, many are starting to look for additional income and employment in taking in a second job. Many others are still just looking for work, having been unemployed for long periods of time. Here are some tips that will help you find seasonal work... (article courtesy of Hotjobs)

As soon as the calendar turns over to September, retailers will know how much help they'll need to handle the holidays. John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, states that retailers are facing an uphill battle. "Consumers are tapped, and credit is increasingly harder to come by," he says. "Meanwhile, retailers' shipping costs are ballooning thanks to gas prices, and the weak dollar is raising the price of imported goods. With profits already getting squeezed, most retailers are going to be reluctant to take on the additional cost of extra staffing."

There will be some holiday hiring, he assures job seekers. However, Challenger points out, "The labor pool is flush with qualified candidates who undoubtedly would be eager to earn some extra holiday spending money and take advantage of employee discounts." If you want to get a distinct advantage over other would-be seasonal workers, plan your job search carefully using these tips.

Know Where to Look

"The best opportunities for seasonal job seekers will be at the large discounters like Target and Wal-Mart, which will be heavily favored by cost-conscious consumers this holiday season," Challenger says. But be prepared to look past retail sales jobs for other opportunities.

"The big-box stores need extra workers on the floor, but they also need extra workers in their shipping facilities and overnight stocking positions," he says. "Opportunities also exist outside of retail, in areas like catering and with shipping companies such as UPS and FedEx."

Start Early

Employers already know how many people they'll need, so start searching today. Even if a job doesn't begin for another month, it's best to lock in an opportunity sooner rather than later.

Dress the Part

When you're looking for any kind of job, show up dressed in business-casual attire, at the very least. Even if the seasonal work for which you're applying is outdoors (think Christmas trees), wear neat slacks, polished shoes and a collared shirt.

Be Prepared

If you're stopping into an establishment to shop for seasonal work, be prepared to fill out an application and participate in an impromptu interview. Bring your own pen, necessary documentation to prove you can work in the US legally, a resume if you have one and all contact information for your professional references. Be sure you block off enough time to meet with a few supervisors should the opportunity arise.

Know What You Want

If you're applying for seasonal work, know precisely what you offer to a potential employee -- and what you want in return. Determine what hourly rate is acceptable to you, what hours and days you're available, if you've got the wherewithal for a particular position (some may involve lifting heavy boxes or standing for the greater part of your shift), and if the location is viable in terms of fuel costs and transportation options. (Will you always have access to a reliable car or a convenient subway or bus line?) You don't want to make a commitment only to leave an employer in the lurch during the hectic holidays.

Be Flexible

The best way to make sure you stand out from other seasonal talent is to present yourself as flexible -- but only if you really are. A hiring manager revealed that demanding a specific schedule from prospective employers is a sure way to jettison your chances at landing a job.

Five Ways to Proactively Protect and Present Your Online Reputation

A great article from the undercover recruiter with some good reminders and tips on what not to do with your online activities and self branding efforts. Enjoy!

Job hunters must keep in mind that countless employers and human resources personnel are utilizing the web and, in particular, social networks to get additional information on prospective employees. This growing method of gaining information on applicants has provoked many job seekers to “get off the grid.” But it’s important to note that information gleaned from the web can be what wins you a position as much as it can be what disqualifies you from one. Because of this, aspiring professionals should consider the following when attempting to perform their own online reputation management:

1. Clean Up Your Social Networking Act This one is a given, but the ever-evolving nature of social networking has made it more of a meticulous task than merely removing raunchy images or references to dirty deeds. It’s important to always be aware of your privacy settings, as the activity of friends can affect your profile through image tagging and wall posting. Whenever you’re informed of “updates” by-way of an automatic email from your preferred social network, examine privacy settings for signs of change. You may not be aware of it, but updates could include a reformatting of such settings and introducing new options that are defaulted to whatever the social network decides.

2. Expand Your Social Networking Act Becoming a listed member of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and now Google+ does more than just make you look like a go-getter, it means that so long as you keep these accounts relatively active you help eliminate the possibility of undesirable uncontrolled information about you from making its way to the top of a Google search. These sites are such incredibly popular results that they’ll always sit at the top. That way any unauthorized content related to you, if in existence, is less likely to make an appearance to a possible employer.

3. Buy Your Own Website If you have a popular name like Robert Smith this one might be impossible, but acquiring a yourname.com resume website is a great way to influence your online reputation massively in one single step. Buying the domain of your full name allows you to make that URL the destination of your online resume and additional personal information you wish to disclose to the public and potential employers. It also keeps someone else from buying it and making your name associated with who-knows-what.

4. Perform a Positive Google Bomb

It’s a primitive measure, but if you have some time to kill, simply do repeated Google searches of your own name with added words that highlight achievements. This is especially effective if these searches lead to information about achievements you otherwise wouldn’t put on a resume for the sake of space. Athletic achievements are a good example of such facts that are good to lead employers to.

5. Send Employers to These Sites Yourself

Employers might still go ahead and do their own search engine snooping but a good way to curb the intensity of their research is to go ahead and provide them with links to these sites through your resume or cover letter. You want to show you have an established online presence you’re happy to share. It’s also an easy way to look confident when making a first impression.

Employers and human resource personnel expect for potential employees to exist online. Your mission is as much to present your Internet image as ideally as possible as it is to protect it from negativity. Don’t fear Facebook and other social sites, but instead, utilize them to increase the odds of getting hired. It requires the proper balance of activity and alertness, but there’s nothing about managing an online reputation that’s outside the realm of possibility of those eager to get hired.

Happy Summer! Summer Job Search Tips!

Hard to believe that Summer is already here!! This year has really flown by already. I have to say that over the past few weeks especially I have never heard a better and more encouraging buzz about so many of you landing new career opportunities and even several selling their homes and relocating successfully! It honestly seems like ages since I can remember talking to even just a few people relocating in the same week, versus what has been lots lately. Great news and congrats to those of you who have landed great new jobs!

On that note, please don't forget to update me on your search status or with an updated resume. I have started another business which involves another passion of mine, but continue to recruit part time and as much as I can as it will always be something I enjoy. Once the economy rebounds more, and it is warranted, I will return to full time recruiting, yet will most likely continue recruitment focusing on a broader scope of building materials industry...and am even considering branching out with a potential company name change or new division of with an entirely different scope of industry focus. I think that windows and door industry will always be a part or division of my company, but that it is also time for a change of scenery. As so many of you already know and have experienced yourself with having moved on and out of the industry, a change of scenery - or rather an addition to that scenery seems fitting and much needed. More on all that later...for now it is just brainstorming. Hope you are all enjoying the start to what looks like a very promising and wonderful summer! This article seemed appropriate with summer hitting and so many of you still actively in job search mode...article courtesy of Monster...enjoy! : )

Are you taking a break from the job search and surrendering to the lazy days of summer? The conventional wisdom is that almost everyone is in vacation mode from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Consequently, many postpone job searching until September.

Is this a mistake? Could you be missing opportunities if you take the summer off? We asked the career experts to find out.

Summer Job Searching -- Worthwhile or Waste of Time?

"I often hear job seekers say that they want to take the summer off," says Wendy Terwelp, career coach and president of Mequon, Wisconsin-based career management firm Opportunity Knocks. Terwelp says that by the time the summer ends, job seekers who took the summer off will be competing against even more job seekers who have followed the same strategy. Anne-Marie Ditta, president of MyCareerCoach.net, agrees. "A fair number of job seekers think that recruiters and hiring managers are unavailable during the summer," Ditta says. Therefore, many believe it's a waste of time to job search from June through August.

Debunking the Summer Vacation Myth

"Few people take long vacations anymore, so for the corporate world it's business as usual in the summer," says Laura Berman Fortgang, a pioneer in the personal coaching field who has appeared on “Oprah” and “The CBS Early Show” and wrote Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction. "It may take a little longer to get internal consensus on a hire because of staggered vacations, but why waste three months when you can move things forward during that time?" suggests Fortgang, who says that summertime can offer advantages to job seekers. "Sometimes, summer's quieter pace gives hiring managers a bit more 'brain space,' so they are more attentive to employment applications," she says. Summer can be a prime hiring season for some employers. "Many projects hit the ground running in the fall, and employers want new people in place," Fortgang says.

Six Summer Job Search Tips

How do you keep your search moving forward in the summer? Our experts offer these tips: Capitalize on Seasonal Events: "Summer is a terrific time to network," says Terwelp. "There are festivals, barbeques, weddings and other gatherings that can be a perfect time to connect." Fortgang says that using personal and social gatherings to let people know you are looking is an excellent strategy.

Don't Get Discouraged: Summer vacations may make reaching the right people more challenging, but don't use this as a reason to back off, Fortgang says. "Be patient and consistent, leave polite messages and continue due diligence," she says. Keep in mind that receptionists and other gatekeepers take vacations, too. "You might connect with that otherwise hard-to-reach hiring manager while your competitors are lolling around waiting until September," says Ditta.

Keep a Job Search Schedule: Yes, it's summer, but don't be lulled into laziness. "Even if it is just an hour a day, put structure in place to keep you going,” says Fortgang.

Build a Network: "Form a group of like-minded job seekers to keep your summer job search on track," Fortgang suggests. Meet regularly to share information on who's hiring. A job opportunity not right for you may be perfect for someone in your network, and vice versa.

Take Stock of Your Resume and Skills: Summer is the perfect time to assess and update your resume and skills. "Review your resume and add any new accomplishments or training," Terwelp says. Also, brush up on any skills that may be lagging. "Take a class or two in the summer. Not only will you be improving your skills, but you can network with your classmates."

Get Outside: Warm weather is the prime time for outdoor home improvement projects, and by helping your neighbors you can help your career at the same time. Walk around your neighborhood and offer to give someone a hand. While you're helping that neighbor, you can share that you're job hunting and tap into someone else's network. "This can lead to more connections, informational interviews and maybe even a new job," says Terwelp.

When it comes to your job search, summer doesn't have to mean slow. While that perfect swimsuit may remain elusive, you can use the summer months to find an ideal career fit. Your time and effort can reap big rewards and even land you a new job before autumn.

Commuting impacts job satisfaction

Thsi recent article/poll was somewhat crazy timing for me to stumble across it as I have talked to several people over the past few weeks who have listed a long commute as one of the three reasons they were looking for a new job.

Commuting might not make you unwell but a new survey of U.S. employees showed that four percent, or 5 million people, have called in sick because they could not face the trek to work. The Harris Interactive poll commissioned by The Workforce Institute also revealed that 48 percent of people said commuting has a significant impact on their job satisfaction and 32 percent considered the commute when they chose their current job.

"Where possible, putting policies in place to allow employees to travel during non-peak hours or work from home can increase employee satisfaction, without a negative impact on the bottom line," said Joyce Maroney, the director of the institute, a workplace issues think tank, said is a statement.

Eighty three percent of workers questioned in the survey said they drove to work alone and nine percent used a carpool.

Only 11 percent of workers opted for mass transit, 10 percent said they walked to work and some people used more than one mode of transport to commute.

Fifteen percent of people who took part in the online survey said they would change jobs for a shorter commute and 11 percent said the time spent commuting had a negative impact on their life-work balance.

"Managers should be mindful of the time their employees spend commuting as our survey shows it has a significant impact on job satisfaction," said Maroney. One-third of workers said their round-trip commute was between 30 minutes and an hour, while 16 percent spent between one and two hours getting back and forth to work.

Nearly everyone had a nightmare, or worst commute ever story, with seven percent saying it had taken five hours or more, and another 30 percent spending more than two hours. Only six percent of workers are paid for the time they spent commuting and just 14 percent of adults who commute have the option of working from home. If workers could spend less time commuting 50 percent said they would use the extra time to sleep, 42 percent said they would relax, 33 percent would spend more time with their family and 28 would exercise.

Your Job Search Expenses May Be Tax-Deductible

Article courtesy of Monster....enjoy!

Did you spend substantial amounts of money looking for a new position last year? You may be able to succeed where Nelson Rockefeller failed and take a tax deduction for many of your job search-related costs.

When New York Governor Rockefeller was appointed vice president in the '70s, he deducted expenses incurred in connection with his congressional confirmation hearings. Years later, the courts upheld the IRS's denial of the write-off, saying it violated a key rule on job search deductions: You must be looking for a job in the same trade or business as your previous position.

But fear not: The legitimacy of these deductions rarely gets decided in court. Armed with a bit of knowledge and some individualized professional tax advice, you may be able to reap savings by writing off a variety of job search costs.

Three Major Deduction Categories

Deductible job search expenses generally fall into three categories, according to IRS Publication 529:

Outplacement and Employee Agency Fees: If you pay for job counseling or to have an agency match you with an employment opportunity, this expense is generally deductible. Of course, if you are reimbursed by an employer or anyone else, you cannot deduct these fees.

Resume Preparation, Mailing and Related Expenses: Paper, envelopes, portfolios, postage, phone calls and the like add up. To deduct them properly, you'll need to keep meticulous records, including receipts and notes on the purpose of purchases.

Travel and Transportation Expenses: Whether you take the bus to an interview or fly across the country to pound the pavement, your job search-related travel and transportation expenses may be deductible. But remember: The amount of time you spend searching for a job versus engaging in personal activities during your journeys can be a factor. In other words, a three-week trip in February with one face-to-face informational interview thrown in isn't going to cut it. These deduction rules are complex; get professional advice.

Before You Take That Deduction, Consider These Factors
Even though you now have an idea of what to deduct, you still need to jump through some hoops -- four, actually -- before plugging in those deductions:
You Must Be Looking for a Job in the Same Occupation: Career changers don't get a break from the IRS. "If a general manager of a food market goes out and looks for a job as a VP of an Internet company, that's not going to fly," says Bradford Hall, managing director of Hall & Co. CPAs. Distinctions between career fields can be arguable, so it pays to get professional advice. "I would go ahead and take the deduction if, say, you switch from journalism to marketing, because it's all communications," says Jim Dowling, senior tax manager for Weaver and Tidwell LLP.
You Can't Take a ‘Substantial Break' Between Your Previous Job and Your Search: "There's no specific time frame provided by the IRS," Hall says. "But if a teacher becomes a stay-at-home mom, then years later decides she wants to go back, that's too long" to qualify for job search deductions. "The IRS wants to encourage people to get back on the horse and get back in the labor force."
You Can't Be Looking for Your First Job: High school and college students seeking their first real-world job cannot deduct search expenses -- you must be transitioning between career positions.
Job Search and Other Miscellaneous Deductions Must Exceed 2 Percent of Adjusted Gross Income: Major caveat: You can deduct job search costs only to the extent that they -- lumped together with all other miscellaneous deductions (such as unreimbursed employee expenses) -- exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income.

Toll Free Number

Just a quick update that I have removed Prolyn's toll free number. Turns out not many, if any were using it. Other than the many calls I received about beauty supply orders that people had placed. Turns out Prolyn's toll free number was very close to the number of a beauty supply company. :)

Tips for Job Hunting in a Slowed Economy

This article form Monster....enjoy! :)

The global credit crisis and flat-lining domestic economy have turned this into one of the most challenging times to be looking for a job in recent history. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 14 million people are currently unemployed, about twice as many since the recession started in December 2007. And while the January 2011 unemployment rate fell to 9 percent -- the lowest level in nearly two years -- that rate is still high by historical standards. To be a successful job seeker in this climate, you have to be calm, patient and proactive -- and try any (or all) of these tips.

Pick and Choose Your Targets

When Jack Hinson was laid off in mid-2008 from his job at a large Internet content company in Austin, he prioritized his search. “It’s important to put your time and energy into opportunities that you’re the most interested in and that have the best chance of coming to fruition,” he says. “Pick a few companies you’re interested in and pursue them, whether they have current openings or not.”

Concentrate on Growth Industries

Brent Berger, a Las Vegas-based scenario planning and strategy consultant, suggests focusing on growth industries and areas. “Look at energy,” he says. “With oil costs where they are, the need for cheap fuel and cheap heat is ever-mounting. And any job that alleviates pain is recession-proof. Similarly, the National Guard, Border Patrol, homeland security and the defense industry in general will continue to thrive as the next stage in the war on terror continues.”

Work Your Network

Hinson’s new gig came from an old connection. “I’d spoken to the company’s founders about a year ago and stayed in touch,” he says. “Then I ran into one of them at a networking function.” So flip through your Rolodex or business social media contacts and let them know you’re looking.

Sell Yourself

San Francisco PR account executive Samantha Rubenstein launched a job search just as the economy began to flag. After three months, she got a great offer from Atomic PR. She attributes her success to doing more than learning about the company. “Preparation [includes] learning how to talk about yourself in a meaningful and powerful way,” she says. “I created a list of potential interview questions and typed up bulleted answers to create speaking points.”

Consider Freelancing

Russ Carr, a designer and writer in St. Louis, has twice had a line on a job only to see it slip away when the employer lost a key account or decided to distribute the duties among current employees. To keep some money coming in, Carr started freelancing. “I haven’t stopped trying to shop myself for a full-time gig again, but freelancing certainly has kept food on the table,” he says. “If you’re in a field that supports it, don’t think twice -- just do it.”

Take a Temporary Position

If freelancing isn’t practical, try temping. “Consider interim staffing to fill a temporary slot for work that needs to be done despite the economy,” advises Ronald Torch, president and CEO of the Torch Group, a marketing staffing firm in Cleveland. Or temp with a company that interests you. “Many of these options pay well and can carry the burden of bill-paying until a permanent position comes along,” he says.

Sweat the Small Stuff

“Don’t forget the personal touches,” counsels Felicia Miller, assistant director of career services at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. “Don’t use a template cover letter -- make sure each letter addresses specific skills or qualities the company is looking for. And always send a thank-you note or email after the interview. Use this correspondence as an opportunity to revisit weak areas of your interview.”

Stay Positive

The most important thing when searching for a job in tough economic times is to retain a positive attitude, says Carol Vecchio, founder and executive director of Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal in Seattle. “Even in a job market with 10 percent unemployment, there’s 90 percent employment,” she says. “There is an average of over 3 million jobs available in the US per month -- and each job seeker is looking for one. Those are pretty good odds.”

Struggling to find a great job in a bad economy can be a drag, but undertaking even a few of these tips will improve your chances of landing a gig. “Remember it doesn’t matter how many jobs are or aren’t out there,” Vecchio says. “You’re just looking for one -- the right one for you.”

Prolyn Update

As many of you know, things are still quite sluggish in the Building Materials Industry. Jobs are few and far between and when the do come open, it is just as rare for a company to hire a recruiter to find their candidates due to the strong and large talent pools so readily available. Most of the jobs I am seeing now continue to be engineering related. When they are open, there are several recruiters vying to work on the positions leaving an oversaturated pool of hungry and often desparate recruiters vying to fill these spots. No fun for anybody! The tougher challenge from a recruiter's point of view is that most people these days won't leave their current jobs too willingly, lots of fear and uncertaintly still out there. I get that completely and quite honestly I wouldn't up and move my family for a new position either with the way the economy and housing market is.

So...am I still recruiting?? - yes, of course, and could never in a million years give it up as it will always be one of my passions. However, am not recruiting full time for a variety of rather obvious reasons and also to getting involved in some other businesses as well. I really respect several of my client company's and like the people I have forged relationships with so will probably never be one of those recruiters who calls and markets all day long to see what sticks. My focus has leaned much more towards exclusive relationships with company's and candidate's now and not working on positions or for candidates where other recruiters are not involved. And the other side of it is, having come from the HR side of things prior to recruiting, I know how time consuming and annoying it is to field recruiter sales calls all day long. Even listening to those many 1-2 minute voice mails from recruiters sucks up time, even if only pressing delete. Marketing and sales calls are a necessary evil of course to keep any business afloat however. I think I am just marketing in different ways, having adjusted my efforts along with the changes in the economy which has not only been good for me, but also far more enjoyable.

If you are actively seeking a new position, don't give up - jobs do exist in our industry, you just have to dig a bit deeper and harder to find the good ones. Chances are networking or applying yourself are the easiest ways to landing that next job. Even in a strong economy, networking far outweighs any other method (even recruiters!) to landing that next job. It always surprises me how many people resist really tapping into their contacts to do so though! While exclusives still exists with recruiters, they are much more rare these days. Please continue to keep me updated on your job searches....it helps me tons to keep you in mind for anything I see or hear about - even if I am not recruiting on that position. Most of you know me well enough by now that I am in this for the long haul and as such know that even if I am not the recruiter getting paid at the end of the day, that I will do what ever I can to help anyone get a job in this industry, even if just referring you to a position I have heard about. Don't forget to send me your updated resumes to: careers@prolyn.net And with Spring right around the corner, things already have picked up, even in the slow economy, trends ahave always been the best this time of year for hiring across the board. : )

Strangers to Friends

On a personal note.....

I stumbled across a blog this morning purely by accident that totally sucked me in with interest - which is a rarity for me as I generally lose interst quick and often! As I was reading some of the blog posts, I happen to notice the author shares my first name, which is incredibly rare. It was an "almost fell out of my chair" moment for me.

I think I have met a total of 2 other "Carlyn's" in my life. So this was truly a freak/special moment for me. I reached out to her on facebook, linked in and am proud to say I am big fan of hers! Check her site out if you have time:

www.strangerstofriends.com

or on facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/StrangerstoFriends

The Job of Finding a Job

Great article from the employment digest site...enjoy!

People often feel that the desirable job to find is agonizing for its hunter. Those who have experienced continuous rejection of losing the previous job should find the new job but only after coming out from the threat of identity and rejections. It often depends upon a person’s skill and luck to find the best available and suitable job to tear down those high levels of egos. The process of job hunting should be carried very aggressively to get fruitful results. The process of job earning includes the steps taken to obtain interview with the help of resume and cover letter. The next step is to get a call for the interview and the third is the ability to negotiate for the job.

It is necessary that the job is applied with either ways proves in providing better life. It is rightly said that you can cover the bases of an aggressive search for job by using the web, making an application to various recruiters and employment agencies, search through referrals and scan the want ads. The employment recruiters prove helpful in the search for job since they have several corporate relationships at various places. The recruiters are divided into two categories, the retainer and the contingency. The retainer type of recruiters is paid their percentage in advance while the contingency type of recruiter earn only after the employee accepts the desired position. Both the types of recruiters are paid between fifteen to thirty three percent of what is paid to the newly recruited employee after acceptance of a job. The recruiters sometimes work only for highly specialized jobs.

For that desired job to find, people often visit the various recruiting internet sites which are good sources for job hunt. It is better to post the resume online only after considering the various risks attached with your personal information in general. Often it happens that the recruiter rejects a talented or experienced candidate because of a poor resume or CV. It is imperative that the resume is written in a highly professional attitude and would be better if written by a professional. The high profiled and up to the point resume often attracts the recruiters for getting that important interview call. It is good practice to post your resume to multiple recruiters or employers so that you can easily get bunch of interviews as per your desire.

Job to find is easy if you consider doing something everyday with your search. It is better to send out resumes and follow up for the update over the phone and make sure that your personal information is received in proper and safe hands. Those job seekers who are unemployed should immediately accept the first ever offer that comes on their way. It is always wiser to accept both the offered jobs and then select the one that suits and fits you best in getting utmost job satisfaction. You should always attend the interview like a jobholder and not like a job seeker because job seekers often gives the first impression that the person is dejected, needy and too willing to accept any damn offer given on the table.

Positioning for Better Times Ahead at IBS

I heard some varying reports and feedback from many of you on the IBS this year...sounds like traffic was well below prior years from what the majority of you relayed. Here is the take from windowanddoor.com....Hope everyone is having a great start to the New Year!!

Orlando, Fla.–A fairly upbeat mood prevailed at last week's International Builders' Show, despite evidence that there's still plenty of caution about housing and the economy. Although the show filled only one hall of the Orange County Convention Center and attracted about half as many people as the last edition held here, window and door manufacturers exhibiting at the show seemed more focused on the longer term, with less talk about survival and more about positioning for better times ahead.

Although this year's IBS didn't see the crowds previously seen three years ago when it was held in Florida, most exhibitors were pleased with the traffic in their booths. Attendance for the National Association of Home Builders' annual trade show was estimated to be about 50,000 people. Despite a lower attendance level, most exhibitors expressed satisfaction with the traffic they were seeing. "The people who are here want to do things," said GlassCraft Door's Michael O'Shea. "We see it as a positive sign for business going forward."

One way a number of companies appear to be positioning themselves to move forward is greater emphasis on increasing sales by creating bundles of products beyond windows and doors. One example at the NAHB show was The Designed Exterior Collection, a series of nine housing-style vignettes featured in the Ply Gem booth. The manufacturer of windows, siding, decorative stone and other building products has put together different product groupings—along with guidelines for combining them—to help customers "build architecturally accurate homes with confidence," explained the company's John Stephenson. Window and door dealers benefit because the program inspires customers to look beyond white windows and basic styles toward higher-end decorative options.

Also positioning itself with a bundled product line was Therma-Tru Doors, which was emphasizing not just doors but complete entrances decorated with synthetic millwork products in numerous housing styles. Parent company Fortune Brands had brought Fypon into the Therma Tru fold as a way to save costs, but having the two companies together under one umbrella "enabled us to deliver an enhanced package that delivers real value," said David Randach, president.

Other companies looking to get more from each sale included Andersen Corp., which was highlighting new exterior trim options for its Series 200 and 400 products. Introduced last year with the company's A-Series windows and doors, the exterior trim is made from the company's Fibrex material and is offered in a variety of styles and colors. What's also appealing about the trim package, noted Andersen's Stacy Einck-Eckberg, is the ease of installation. Components can be ordered with windows and delivered cut-to-size and ready to install. "Trimming out the windows in a home typically takes a couple of days. With this package, the job can be done in as little as half a day," she notes.

You can read the rest of the article here at: http://www.windowanddoor.com/news-item/meetings-events/positioning-better-times-ibs

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a wonderful remainder of the Holiday Season and a wodnerful New Year!! Hoping 2011 brings lots of great new careers for those of you who are still searching for your next opportunity!! : )

'Tis the Season For Your Job Search

Article courtesy of Hotjobs...some great points and motivation on not letting your job search sit idle during the holidays. Many recruiters and even sales people make this mistake at this time of year as well by convinving themselves that job needs, openings, budgets aren't always actively in place for the next year yet. On the contrary, it is often the best time to network or as a recruiter fill those last end of the year jobs that companies often scurry to use the last of their hiring budgets prior to the new year starting. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Many job seekers are tempted to slow down the search (or pause it altogether) during the winter holiday season. But career experts say that, if you're looking for a new job, taking a break during the holidays is a mistake--because hiring doesn't stop.

At the end of the year, some companies rush to fill job openings that might otherwise be removed from next year's budget. And other companies will be looking ahead--as career expert Kimberly Bishop, the author of "Get Down to Business and You'll Get the Job," explains: "Jobs that might have been on hold until budgets are in place will become available in January," she says.

Roy Cohen, an executive coach and the author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide," agrees, saying, "There's a belief that recruiting shuts down during the holidays. That's a myth--so when other people take off from their job searching during the holidays, you're at an advantage should an opportunity surface. It's all about numbers and odds."

In fact, the holidays provide some distinct advantages and special opportunities for proactive job seekers. Here's how to make the most of your holiday-season job search:

Be flexible. Judi Perkins, of FindthePerfectJob.com, says, "When I was a recruiter, the holidays were one of my busiest times, and I was often on the phone either side of Christmas day." Conversely, this means that you should be prepared to interview at unusual times, to allow for a recruiter's or hiring manager's busy holiday schedule.

Do volunteer work. All sorts of philanthropic organizations ramp up activities during the holidays--and volunteering can be a great way to network, gain skills, and fill the gap that unemployment might otherwise leave on your resume.

Look into temporary positions. Many companies have end-of-year crunches--at the same time that many workers want to take time off--so they look to staffing agencies to fill gaps. A temporary job can be a great foot in the door at a new company.

Seek out seasonal jobs. Bishop says, "The most obvious opportunities are in retail sales or retail-related positions. There are a variety of part-time and temporary jobs that range from sales and customer service to merchandising, stocking, greeting, gift-wrapping, and playing a role in special in-store events.

Use holiday social events to network. You don't want to make every conversation about your job search--but letting people know how they can help you is crucial. Cohen advises, "Have your pitch--who you are, what you want, and why--ready and perfect."

And try to keep things positive. For instance, when you tell people that you're looking for work, also tell them how you've been productive with your time off. Reach out to your contacts. The holidays are a great reason to reach out to friends and acquaintances, as well as to reconnect with people you may have fallen out of contact with. Cohen suggests, "Send out a holiday greeting, but add a little extra in your message. Email or snail-mail the card to everyone in your job-search universe. It should be upbeat--that you continue and are committed to search for a great job and know that it is only a matter of time and timing. ... And that you're deeply grateful for all the people who have reached out along the way during your search."

And remember that the holidays are a time for giving. Find ways to help the people in your network, and they'll be likelier to help you in the future. Recommit to your job search. Start 2011 off right: make an appointment with yourself to determine your goals for the coming year; then schedule some time to revamp your resume, practice your interviewing skills, and polish up your personal brand.

Resume Cover Letter Help – It’s Been 6 Months and Still No Job Offers

This one is for those of you struggling to land that next job...and there are many of you out there unfortunately. Tough times require more diligent detail to your resume, cover letter and follow ups...and often none of that helps due to the sheer anount of competition out there for very few open jobs. Seemingly, there is no better time to tweak your resume or cover letter or your overall approach to your job search to breathe some new life and energy into your efforts. This article courtesy of a link posted of one of my facebook comntacts, was written by Casey Alexander off the boomersnextstep.com website. Enjoy!

Getting hired in a tight job market isn’t easy. The best way I found to get over the tight job market was by getting some resume cover letter help. I needed it. For some reason I had been sending it out for 6 months with nothing more than just call backs and a few interviews. I knew my cover letter wasn’t stellar but I didn’t think it was that bad. After I made some very serious changes to it, I started to see a change in the results I was getting.

I figured out that the resume cover letter help I needed was for the generic letter I was using. It was too simple and didn’t read very well. It just said, thank you for the opportunity and gave a little about my experience, almost the same information that’s on my resume. To change this I had to completely forget about the cover letters I had copied from the internet. I don’t know how many people use them but I wasn’t getting much out of them. I decided to use a cover letter generator that was recommended widely on the internet. I was afraid of getting the same results but with the money back guarantee I figured I had little to lose.

Making changes to the cover letter worked. I think the structure was better than what I had been using and the language on it was far from how I usually write. It was much more professional. I noticed I got more call backs. I don’t know if it was the letter of the fact that it was easier for me to send twice the number of letters but I did get call backs.

It wasn’t the end of my dry spell by any means. To further improve my resume cover letter, help was available through a good friend of mine who shared her tactic to stand out. She told me that taking it, in person and addressing it to the person interviewing helped her a lot. I didn’t realize how well that impacted the reader. It gave them the impression that I was serious about being hired by taking the time to go and meet the person in charge or hiring.

Another thing that worked really well was to tell them on my cover letter how I want to work for a solid company like theirs that offered the opportunity to learn and grow. I often checked the company website, if it was available and checked for any signs of the company being recognized for anything. If they were a little league sponsor I would find a way to relate to that. If it was for excellence in anything I wanted to know and make a reference to it on my letter. I wanted to send the massage that I was informed about the company and had done some homework on the place I wanted to work for. I did this to have my resume cover letter shine, it did help.

In my experience, a good cover letter has made a difference between landing the interview and not. That’s the first step, right? I catch the reader with the knowledge I have of their organization and a few other key tips I learned to incorporate into my letter. I’ve helped my sister and brothers with their letter and they’ve also landed the jobs. What I picked up made the difference on how I write my resume cover letters. Get all the tips today at Resume Cover Reviews, it can help you land a better job. (c) Copyright 2010 – Casey Alexander. All Rights Reserved

Fastest growing Jobs in America

This article seemed fitting to share as I have talked to several people over the last month who are in process or have changed jobs to outside of the Building Materials industry. There are also many people (some of my favorites!) who are still unemployed after one or two+ years stretches. Seemingly making sense to many fleeing our industry and either changing career paths entirely or going back to school to earn a different degree. This article from Fortune/CNN/Money by by John Bedecarre and Scott Olster

How will the job market evolve in the next decade? Fortune takes a look at some of the fastest growing professions in the U.S.

Nurses

The number of registered nurses is expected to swell to 3.2 million by 2018, accounting for approximately 581,500 new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's up from 2.6 million today, and it represents the largest overall growth projection out of all occupations in the U.S. economy, for good reason.

Americans aged 65 and older will make up 19% of the population in 2030, up from 12.4% in 2000. As the population ages and the growth of the working-age population slows down, there will be an increased demand for health care services in general, and home health care services in particular. In the past year, the home health care services industry has experienced sales growth of 11.2%, making it the fastest growing industry in the U.S., according to Sageworks, a financial analysis company.

Along with registered nurses, Sageworks projects that home care aids, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other medical professions will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

Network Systems and Data Analysts

This occupation's full title is "network systems and data communication analysts." And while it's a mouthful, it is worth remembering as it's the second-fastest growing occupation in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In simpler terms, these analysts are the folks who design and build the systems that we use to connect to the web, from work or home.

In many ways, these are the folks that make communication possible in our Internet-centric world. So perhaps it's not so surprising that they are in high demand, and will be for the foreseeable future. BLS's latest employment outlook report estimates that the profession will grow by 53.4% to almost 448,000 workers between 2008 and 2018.

Software Engineers

What would all that planning and design by network and data analysts be worth without software? Not a whole lot, which explains why the BLS expects the cadre of software engineers and application developers to swell to 689,900 by 2018 (up from 514,800 in 2008). Whether they are building business software, constructing an operating system, developing games, or designing mobile apps, software engineers have a wide array of career avenues to consider.

And it surely does not hurt that the worldwide smartphone market grew by 50% between the second quarter of 2009 and 2010, according to the market research firm IDC. The impressive growth of the smart mobile industry over the past few years will only add fuel to the fire of the impressive job prospects for application developers, as smartphone users have come to expect increasingly advanced software applications to justify the increased expense of their phones.

Biomedical Engineers

Biomedical engineering is expected to be the fastest growing occupation, with a whopping growth project of 72% between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It's not much of a surprise, given that this field lies at the nexus of technology and health care, two ballooning industries within the U.S. economy.

The immense growth of biomedical engineering will be driven by the demand for new treatments for diseases and the increasingly higher expectations of aging patients to maintain an active lifestyle. Indeed, the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry experienced 11.1% sales growth in the past year, according to Sageworks.

Accountants and Auditors

While number crunching and bean counting has certainly not fallen out of style in recent memory, the economic fallout of the past few years has placed renewed focus on financial regulation. And with the passage of the federal financial reform bill in June, companies will need an even larger cohort of auditors and accountants to parse through new regulations to make sure they are in compliance. The accounting profession is poised to experience 22% growth between 2008 and 2018, with an anticipated 279,400 new jobs in the field by 2018, according to the BLS.

Veterinarians

Our love for the dogs, cats, and fish in our lives truly knows no bounds. Pet care was one of the only sectors of the retail industry that grew during the recession. According to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households owned at least one pet in 2008, accounting for approximately 71 million households. And the American Pet Products Association estimates that pet owners will spend almost $48 billion on their pets. Just under $24 billion of that will be spent on medicine and veterinary care, as more Americans than ever before open their wallets to spring for treatments for an ailing animal family member. It's no surprise, then, that veterinarians are listed as one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S. -- the number of vets is expected to expand by 36% between 2008 and 2018.