The 3 Golden Rules of Advanced Networking

Not too long ago, we wrote about beginner networking skills. Just to refresh your memory (and, personally, mine needs refreshing about every five minutes), networking is all about building relationships and is a two-way street. With that in mind, how do we build our networking skills? Well, like anything else that’s a life skill, we…

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Can Fear of Public Speaking Hurt Your Career?

Only if it stops you from trying! Around 75% of us fear public speaking and it is regularly ranked among the top five fears, usually right before death. Being able to deliver a good presentation is crucial to career development, especially if you want to rise within the ranks. Presentation skills are highly ranked in…

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What to do after a negative performance review

It would be nice to think that your annual performance review won’t contain any surprises. In an ideal world, we’re asking for and receiving feedback on a regular basis, so you always know what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong. In the real world however, things are likely different. Everybody gets busy. Everybody…

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How do I respond to negative feedback?

None of us like to be criticized. We’re only human. But the important thing to remember when you’re receiving less-than-glowing feedback is feedback is good. It is your friend. How else would you know if you’re doing something wrong? How else would you learn about a better way to accomplish a goal? How else would…

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Salary Negotiation – Tips and Pitfalls

Negotiating your salary is scary. There’s no getting around it. But, armed with some solid information and advice, you can do this! Whether you’re negotiating your salary for a new job or negotiating a raise in a current job, it pays to do a little research. First, find out what the current salary range is…

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Soft Skills – what are they and why we need/value them

You know what IQ is, right? Well what about EQ? EQ, or emotional intelligence quotient is all about soft skills. Yes, we need them and yes, employers value them. Soft skills are things like communication, adaptability, teamwork, problem solving, conflict resolution and critical observation. Put simply, it’s about who you are, as opposed to the…

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Should you get an advanced degree?

In a word, probably. A weak answer, I know, but it’s not black and white. There are numerous reasons to get a master’s degree, or even a doctorate, and a few very good reasons not to. The most obvious disadvantage is the cost. A master’s degree will likely cost tens of thousands of dollars, and…

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Is My Job Vanishing? Am I a Dinosaur?

Not if you keep up. Not if you evolve with the times. In our business of marketing and creative talent, things have changed and, in many cases, dramatically. With the advances in technology—some that are happening so quickly we can’t keep up—these jobs have most definitely changed. Entire industries have changed. I’m old enough to…

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The Good and Sometimes Surprising Benefits of Community Involvement

No surprise here. Community involvement offers numerous benefits, both for employers and employees. What’s surprising is what some of those benefits are. More and more studies conducted over the past years indicate that volunteering is healthy for you.—yes, you read that correctly. When you are focusing on someone other than yourself, you reduce stress. And…

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How can I use my network?

This is a common question for us to hear, especially from job seekers. It’s a logical one, of course, especially if you’ve spent years being involved in professional associations, getting to know colleagues in your industry, and accumulating all sorts of acquaintances. Especially when you’re feeling urgent (“I NEED a job!”), it’s a normal instinct…

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