New Jersey Job Market Blog

In an effort to apply lessons that we should have learned a long time ago, here are a few classic job search traps to be wary of. So, please take notes, take thought, and, above all else, take action.

Change is a bad word! That’s what most job seekers and managers believe. But the fact remains, the average individual goes through an enormous amount of change every day. Think about the changes a typical person goes through: They change houses, they change religions, they change schools, they change cars, they change jobs, they change spouses. The difference between those changes and changes within companies is people know what to expect outside of work.

Promotions are a delicate subject; just about everyone wants one, but no one wants to appear so bold as to actually ask for one. The tricky part is not only determining what is promotable behavior in your boss’s eyes and adjusting your allocation of effort accordingly, you also have to make sure your boss notices your efforts. The following eight guidelines are sure-fire ways to ensure that your efforts get noticed.

Aristotle said a long time ago: Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation. Ask yourself where you can put your talents to work in an area that you believe in. Choosing your work is your chance to do something more meaningful than getting up in the morning, putting in your time, and doing what it takes to pay the bills.

This month, NJJobMarket.com interviews Sarah Habit, Region Recruiter for Paychex in Piscataway, NJ, to learn more about her company's training program.

This month, NJJobMarket.com interviews Kerry Stachowski, Vice President Business Development at Congilose and Associates of Manasquan, NJ, to learn more about how her company handles Employee Retention particularly employee morale and satisfaction.

Q. A few people have told me that my resume is exceptional, but it’s not generating many face-to-face interviews. Recently, I have purchased several books on cover letters in an attempt to make my letters stronger and more persuasive. However, each book has a different version on what a cover letter should consist of.

Q. The other day I felt an interview slipping away from me when I heard the interviewer make this statement: “I’m sorry, but we don’t have anything right now that matches your qualifications. You’ve got a good track record, and we’ll keep your resume in our active files.”

According to a survey by Harris Interactive, just 45 percent of employees in the U.S. are happy with what they do for a living. A Yahoo! HotJobs study shows 72 percent of Americans are not in their dream jobs.

Helen Keller said it best Life is either a daring adventure or it’s nothing. Your entire life should be an adventure, full of all the surprises, new experiences, and unpredictability that the idea implies. But you can’t just wait for the excitement to come to you. You need to go after it, do some planning, even schedule your spontaneity.