OFFICE PARTIES: Conquering the holiday office party doesn't just mean keeping track of how much you drink. Seasonal social events can be the best opportunity to network within your company, so you may want to consider veering away from the buffet line. "Whether you're the life of the party or full of social anxiety when it comes to holiday events, it's ...

By Matt Villano | Monster Contributing Writer  Out of gainful employment, out of job offers and running out of savings, Scott Stevens of Portland, Oregon, has turned to a familiar strategy to gain experience and keep his skills fresh: The internship. In spring 2009, Stevens, 35, took an internship on a sustainable tourism project for Travel Portland, a nonprofit destination ...

Mention being out of work to a friend and they’ll be the first to emphasize that you do have a full-time job — looking for a job, that is. And they’re right. Looking for a new job can be just as time consuming as working nine to five. But there is one major difference and that’s making the transition from working ...

There is ultimately no better way to start networking than to try it for real. The easiest way to do this to commence with the people you already know, rather than to find new ones. One highly beneficial task you can undertake at the outset is to map or chart your contacts. This mapping can be done in a number of ...

As Executive Managing Director of two Northern California chapters of eWomenNetwork, and sponsor for three other chapters within the organization, I meet these two types of people all the time. And I see a distinct difference in the progress of their careers because of their approaches. Whether online or in-person, there are key characteristics that clearly differentiate net-workers from net-beggars. You’re ...

In celebration of April Fool’s Day last week, I was asked by a few fellow bloggers to address foolish job search tactics. However, it’s hard to write something funny when what you’re seeing is no joke. We’ve got 15 million job seekers right now. I’d argue more than 70% of them are conducting a weak job search. I guess the good ...

Ahh, the shaking of hands. It sounds simple enough: Two hands meet and greet and do a little shake. Easy, right? Not so fast. Unfortunately, there are quite a few ways a handshake can go south. From an overly moist hand to a bone-crushing grip, handshakes come in all shapes and sizes — and only the best will hit the ...

Twitter can be a great resource–if you know how to use it. Here are 28 tips for marketers who want to learn how to use Twitter to network and share information: 1. Determine your purpose
 Before spending any amount of time on Twitter, you should decide what you want to get out of it. Do you want to meet people who ...

When you’re young and the world is seemingly your oyster, going to a job fair sounds like a no-brainer. A bunch of companies looking to hire? and All in the same place? As long as you bring enough copies of your resume and pass them out to everyone, you’re certain to get a callback. Right? Not necessarily. Without the right approach, ...

1. Bring a Wingman Rather than flying solo at your next networking event, bring a friend, co-worker, or business associate along with you. This "security blanket" will boost your confidence as well as your comfort level and immediately removes the bulk of reluctance associated with attending a networking event by yourself. Next Tip>> [page] 2. You Are Not Alone If you ...

Choose Your Flavor Don't jump at every offer to join a social networking service. Some focus on dating, while others are devoted to professional interests. Many mix business and pleasure: One moment you may marvel at a newfound friend's taste in tunes; the next you realize she works at the company of your dreams. But you probably don't want to devote ...

After you’ve successfully completed a job search, shouldn’t networking be the last thing on your mind? Not so, say networking experts. In fact, internal networking, right from the beginning, is key to maintaining the upward trajectory of your career. Here’s how to successfully launch your networking campaign at a new job. Why Network from the Start? “When you start in a ...

It's a conundrum faced by many, if not most, job seekers: You want to cultivate all the connections you can to maximize your chances of plugging into the best career opportunities. But the more word gets out about you, the more chance your exit strategy will get back to the boss. Even professionals in industries rife with job hoppers are careful ...

When we were younger, making friends was easy. School provides us with an instant pool of people our own age that we interact with on a daily basis, who are in the same boat we are. But once we leave college and enter the real world, finding friends can be a more difficult task, especially if you have to relocate for ...

We don't walk around wearing signs displaying the names of everyone we know. It would probably shock you to learn about some of the influential people your best friend knows but hasn't told you about. You can't assume that your friend, acquaintance or referral partner doesn't have powerful contacts that can help you-or your business-in important ways. Never underestimate the depth ...

You wouldn't wear jeans to a job interview, but do you pay as much attention to job-hunting etiquette when networking? If you're approaching potential contacts in an offhand way, you may be putting them off entirely. Learn what the most common networking mistakes are so you don't have to make them. 1. Waiting Many people start networking only after they've lost ...

Build your personal brand, while enjoying some holiday fun! If you’re dreading the holiday office party or attending one more open house and small talk doesn’t come naturally to you, consider creating your own “Do’s and Don’ts” cheat sheet, suggests Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep it Going, Build Networking Skills--and ...

To a large measure, your likability will lead to success or failure. It often trumps skill levels in surveys of HR people who are asked to name the most important characteristic of job candidates and employees. Other than “don’t be an jerk,” what can you do to increase your own likability? Is it really possible to change? Or, do you ...

If you've put in a number of years in your professional field, this dreaded scenario might sound familiar: You get a call or an email from a friend of a colleague, asking for a meeting with a murky agenda. Not wanting to offend your colleague, you halfheartedly agree to a brief encounter. The day arrives, and so does the feckless schmoozer. ...

Meeting new people and starting conversations is often challenging. It can be difficult to enter a room and view strangers everywhere you turn. Meeting all these people and engaging in conversation with them can be exhausting and overwhelming. But it does not have to be this way. Skilled conversationalists turn business and social interactions into opportunities for making a good first ...