eFinancialCareers

Some people scour jobs boards, others network like there's no tomorrow. Whatever your job-search strategy, here's five tips to help you stand out from the pack. Think Strategically "You never want to get caught behind changes in the marketplace," says Dawn Fay, New York-based regional vice president of Robert Half International. "When the market changes, it's often subtle, so stay ahead of the game." That means reading as much as you... Read more

During the dance that goes on between a candidate and employer, you've got many chances to shoot yourself in the foot. In no particular order, here are 10 ways to pull the trigger. Bad Behavior and Dress We've all heard stories about people who've walked into job interviews talking on their cell phones or slurping a Starbucks, or at some point put their feet on the interviewer's desk. Not good ideas. Then... Read more

Even before they get to the job interview, applicants must be articulate, polite and compelling. It's not the hiring manager you're trying to impress - it's the corporate gatekeepers. Make friends with them, and whole new worlds can open up. "Gatekeepers aren't meanies. They're their boss's designated agents charged with limiting unnecessary, potentially wasteful interruptions and unexpected interference," says Debra Feldman, a Connecticut-based executive talent agent. Thus, if you don't know... Read more

How real people have led their boss in the right direction. The common theme? Honest and open communication. The guidelines for managing up sound simple and straightforward. Among other things, you must communicate clearly and openly, anticipate your boss's needs, avoid surprises, be sensitive to his work and management styles and, in general, make him look good to both superiors and subordinates. Tales from the trenches tell a similar story. In one... Read more

Are you involved in your college's alumni network? You should be. When networking with your fellow alumni, you're talking to people who speak the same language as you: You all understand the work it took to make you a member. You have built-in loyalty to your school and your peers. Whether on a local or national level, the alumni network will support you throughout your entire working life. And there's an... Read more

Managing up isn’t the same as kissing up. Not by a long shot. Master it, and your career possibilities grow exponentially. Managing up is about knowing how to create a work environment that produces the best result for three entities: you, your boss and the company you both work for. Like other workplace tasks, successfully managing up involves planning, communication and timing. “It’s important to manage up, across and down, but... Read more

A career in investment banking presupposes that you're good with numbers. To get ahead, you have to be good with words, too. That's not to say you have to be F. Scott Fitzgerald, but you do have to convey your thoughts, plans and data clearly, concisely and in a jargon-free style that any audience can understand. Plus, you want to write in a way that makes you look good. So get the... Read more