Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

The standard workplace looks very different than it did a few generations ago. Technology alone has revolutionized the way most organizations function. Look beyond the contemporary furniture and laptops to see another difference: your boss. Gone is the image of your manager or boss as a curmudgeon with an ill-fitting short-sleeved, button-up, yellowing shirt with an askew tie. Today’s bosses look very different, and not just because they can wear jeans on casual Fridays.

According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 43 percent of workers 35 and older currently work for someone younger than them. (more…)

Professional skills you wish you had learned

Not everybody approaches education with the same goal. High school and higher education serve different purposes for each student. For some pupils, school is a direct path to a job. For others, it is a chance to learn for the sake of personal growth. Visit any classroom and you’ll encounter students with a variety of goals for their education.

Regardless of what you want school to be, most people seem to agree that an education should set you up with at least a basic set of skills. Not a universal set — no one expects someone who studied nursing to have an identical skill set as someone who studied accounting. But when you have employers posting jobs that say a high school diploma or four-year degree is a requirement, you realize they expect you to have crossed a certain threshold. Still you seem to hear frustrated employers and employees wondering aloud, “Why didn’t they teach this in school?”

From not knowing how to balance a checkbook to handling a tough boss, many schools don’t teach their students how to deal with basic issues they will encounter in their career. We asked employees and employers what skills they wish were taught in schools to see what they thought were the most glaring omissions. Here are their responses:

Communication skills
“Small talk. Probably the most important skill in business is how to engage people you barely know, how to hold your own in cocktail party and dinner conversation, and how to respond graciously to idiots, drunks and other problem personalities.” - Maureen Wall Bentley, vice president of brand strategy for Aartrijk

“Reading between the lines in other people’s words to find subtle indicators of dissatisfaction with what you’re doing (or not doing).” – Jeff Deutsch, life coach and presenter

“Public speaking. I was fortunate to have competed on a speech and debate team in high school, but most kids don’t get that training — and it’s truly priceless. I recently tracked down my coach and thanked him.” – Bentley

“One of the most important skills we have in business is the ability to truly listen — in fact, the skill of active listening. Many times, when people are giving a presentation, [participating in a] Q&A or doing a media interview, they’re listening with an intention to answer versus listening to fully understand and empathize with the person speaking. It’s a critical life skill, and one very few people have mastered.” - Bronwyn Saglimbeni, public speaking and media coach

Personal development
“[How] to be OK to change what you are doing to pursue something you are [passionate] about … even if it means working for yourself.” – Carrie Middlemiss, owner of Bella Cupcake Couture

“Time management. I had no idea how to organize my time to prioritize what needed doing.” – William Duke, president of Duke Computer Solutions

“Success. Schools do not discuss how to determine what success is for the individual. We leave everyone to figure out for themselves what they want, or just go for money.” – Duke

“Independent problem solving — how to get things done by yourself and use strategy, deductive reasoning and common sense to do it when you aren’t well-versed in the area and stuck doing it on your own.” – Sabina Ptacin, partner and chief creative strategist for Red Branch Public Relations

“Actual hands-on accounting skills, such as budgeting, reading financial reports, financial instruments and their use.” – Gary A. Powell, head of Financial Security Specialists

“Your values may not be the organization’s values. If your parents raised you with a strong ‘universal’ value set, you may be shocked that an organization’s values focus primarily on their goals — not yours or your parents.” - Kate Nasser, The People-Skills Coach

“Knowing when to say no and just slow down — my first few years all I did was work — but now I know what offers and networking events to say no to, what projects to pass on and when to just call it a day. My work is better, my creative juices are stronger and more creative, and I’m a nicer person to be around at home. – Ptacin

Interacting with others

“Relating to customers, superiors and peers. No matter how high you climb, you will always have all three to answer to.” – Deutsch

“Gauging how important a particular issue is to someone.” – Deutsch

“Tips on the best ways to ask for what you want and not to be afraid to do so.” – Middlemiss

“Sales. No matter what you think, you’ll be selling. Everyone’s selling something; even if it’s just themselves. Let’s teach our kids how.” – Duke

“That corporate meetings, like staff meetings where people are supposed to openly discuss changes to the organization, are not what they seem — open places to discuss changes to the organization. Instead the concept of working around the office with smaller groups to gain buy in on projects is key before taking anything up the chain or to the larger group.” - Paul Hager, partner at Information Technology Professionals

“Manual labor. Everyone should have a manual labor job at some point. Wait tables and wash dishes. Pump gas. Mow lawns. A little humility is good for you and might prevent you from being a jerk later in life.” – Duke

“Everyone likes and benefits from a positive attitude and genuine praise.” - Nasser

All things boss-related
“Not all in management have true leadership ability. Not all have good management skills. Others are learning how to be managers after they get the job. Learn how to communicate and work with these bosses or be prepared to get a different job. Simply complaining about it is never a good step.” - Nasser

“Practical aspects of management: hiring and firing skills, personnel management and employee assistance program management.” - Powell

“To let your boss know in advance if an issue is going to explode in her or his face. Would you want to experience a negative surprise in front of others?” - Nasser

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

By: Robert Half International

Emerging signs that the economic downturn is ending may mean you’re considering a job change, especially if you’ve been struggling under large workloads and high levels of stress. But what if you seek not just a new position but an entirely new career? You may dream of pursuing a personal passion, taking advantage of opportunities in an industry with significant growth potential or finding a path that better fits your skill set.

A new start can be attractive and worthwhile, but go in with your eyes open. It’s not always an easy road. Here are a few tips to help you make a successful leap into a new career.

1. Take a step back
Before you head full steam into your next opportunity, evaluate your present situation and make sure that switching careers is the right path. Are you unhappy with your job or the type of work you do? Would working for a company that provides better employee recognition or clearer paths for promotion, for instance, be enough to rejuvenate you? Be certain of your motivation before taking the leap.

2. Do your due diligence
If you think your current career path lacks promise, you can quickly convince yourself that any other option is better. But that may not be true. Pursuing a position in a struggling industry or area of the country, for example, could set you back professionally. Read trade publications, conduct online research and speak to members of your network to get a better sense of the field you’d like to pursue and its prospects. Also research any potential hurdles you may have to overcome prior to making the switch. You may have to gain new training or certifications, for instance, or face steep competition from a large labor pool.

3. Seek advice
Consider arranging an informational interview with someone in the field or position that interests you to get a real-world perspective. If you don’t know anyone, find out if people in your network do. Once you’ve identified the right person, contact him or her to schedule an informational interview. Be clear that you’re not asking for a job.

An informational interview will give you the chance to find out what’s currently happening in your field of interest and, potentially, additional insight into the hiring environment. You also can ask the people you meet with about how they started out in their careers, the challenges you might face when you make the transition and whether or not your contact can share any helpful advice for getting a foot in the door.

4. Know thyself
Once you know what opportunities are achievable, evaluate your current skills and experience and consider how qualified you are. For example, communication, organizational and leadership skills can often be effective across industries. Other skills, such as specific software knowledge, may not. The more transferable your skills are, the better able you will be to make a quick switch. At the same time, consider what skills or qualifications you might need to develop. Is extensive schooling or training involved? Do you need to become licensed or certified in a certain software or procedure? Think about the time and cost involved to determine the ease or difficulty of making a switch.

5. Transition slowly
Look for opportunities to give your new career a “test run.” Depending on the industry, you may be able to pursue volunteer or temporary work and determine if the new situation feels like a good fit.

6. Be realistic
No matter the economic climate, a career switch won’t usually happen overnight. It can often take time to transition into a new field, especially if you need to build skills, and you may have to start in an entry-level position until you gain experience.

Although it may not be a path to immediate employment, a career transition is an opportunity for you to rethink where you are headed and potentially discover a new course that gives you the professional satisfaction you crave.

Robert Half International Inc. is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm, with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.roberthalf.com.

By: Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

Time and time again, studies indicate that cover letters are read in less than 60 seconds. That’s all the time it takes for most recruiters and employers to decide whether or not you’re a candidate worth interviewing.

To progress beyond this point, you have to be savvy about what’s in your cover letter and how you present it. But how do you do that?

Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark, co-authors of “Cover Letter Magic” and two of the nation’s most reputable career coaches, offer the tips you need to write a cover letter that generates great results. Below are some of the most common questions they hear from clients, as well as their responses to them.

Q. How long should my cover letter be?
A. Generally, cover letters should be one page in length. This is true for approximately 90 percent of all cover letters.

There may be instances, however, when one page is not enough. If you believe that the information you are including in your letter is essential information that is not communicated in your résumé, go ahead and prepare a two-page letter. But be sure that everything you’ve included is vital to favorably presenting yourself to a company or recruiter.

Two-page letters are most frequently used by the following types of job seekers: career changers, industry changers, senior executives, scientists and technologists, people seeking government jobs and people seeking university and academic appointments.

Q. Should I include salary information in my cover letter?
A. It depends. We are of two minds. We offer dual recommendations in two situations but agree with one another on the other two situations. See which rationale seems right to you.

If you are responding to an advertisement that has requested your salary history or salary requirements:

· Supply the information. If you do not provide this information when requested, certain companies and recruiters will not look at your materials.

· Don’t supply the information. Repeated surveys show that nearly 100 percent of readers said they will look at your résumé and call you for an interview even if your salary information is not included. Why give them ammunition to screen you out?

If a personal contact or source you’ve uncovered during your search has requested your résumé and salary information:

· Supply the information. To do otherwise would seem unresponsive and impolite.

· Consider addressing the issue without providing numbers that can be detrimental in a future salary negotiation. Say something such as, “I’d be glad to discuss salary when we meet, once I learn more about the position and you have the chance to assess my fit for your needs.”

When contacting companies either as a cold call or in response to an ad where salary information has not been requested:

· Do not supply the information. It is much better to have this conversation in person rather than on paper. Always try to defer any discussion of salary until you have been offered the position.

When writing “cold” to recruiters:

· Always offer salary information. It helps them determine your “proper fit” within a hiring organization. A recruiter will not work with you without knowing whether you match the requirements (including salary) for the specific position she is attempting to fill.

Q. Should I follow up a faxed or e-mailed résumé?
A. We recommend that you do not mail a hard copy if you have already transmitted your information electronically. Electronic communication is now a totally acceptable method of communication in virtually any business, industry and market sector. The only time you should follow up with hard copy is when it has been requested.

Q. What if I don’t know the addressee’s name?
A. It’s a personal choice. Take a look at the following possible salutations:

· Dear Sir/Madam. All-purpose and inoffensive, although it might be perceived as stodgy and old-fashioned.

· To Whom It May Concern. Another standard; has the downside of being impersonal and old-fashioned.

· Dear Hiring Executive (or Hiring Committee). Formal, but appropriate.

· Dear Human Resources (or Human Resources Representative). Acceptable only if you’re writing to a “blind ad” that lists only a P.O. box and you cannot call to get a specific individual’s name.

· Dear Hiring Authority. Acceptable only if, despite your best efforts, you have been unable to uncover the name of the non-HR person to whom you’re sending your résumé.

· Good Morning (or Good Day). A bit more up-to-date, but it reminds us of junk-mail greetings that try (unsuccessfully) to be personal.

· Re: Job Title You’re Applying For (leaving off a specific salutation). A useful method for replying to want ads, when you truly don’t know to whom you are sending your résumé. We think it’s preferable to the “Dear Human Resources” greeting.

· No Salutation (begin your letter immediately after the inside address). Again, perfectly acceptable for want-ad replies. Might be considered an improvement over old-fashioned, nonspecific greetings.

Q. What if I’m unsure of the addressee’s gender?
A. Simple answer: Dear R. Smith (assuming that “R. Smith” is the contact name listed in the ad). But do make an effort to find out the person’s gender so you can address your letter to “Dear Mr.” or “Dear Ms.”

Q. Do I need to mention why I’m in the job market?
A. It depends. There’s certainly no requirement that you do so, but if your reason is particularly legitimate (such as a plant closing or a management change due to the successful initial public offering you were instrumental in negotiating), you might send a positive message by mentioning this information. In any event, be prepared for the question, “Why are you leaving your current job?” or “Why are you looking?” to come up early in your search. Practice a concise, positive and believable response. Never badmouth your company, boss or co-workers.

Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

Gender perceptions at work

By: Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Author BJ Gallagher, who has been a boss and worked for male and female bosses, has a list of tips she’s titled, “How to Tell a Male Boss From a Female Boss.” Among the helpful hints:

· A male boss is aggressive; a female boss is pushy.
· A male boss is attentive to details; a female boss is picky.
· He knows how to follow through; she doesn’t know when to quit.
· He’s ambitious; she’s driven.
· He loses his temper occasionally; she can’t control her emotions.
· He isn’t afraid to say what he thinks; she’s mouthy.
· He’s a man of action; she’s impulsive.
· He controls his emotions; she’s cold.
· He thinks before he acts; she can’t make up her mind.
· He thinks before he speaks; she second-guesses herself.
· He tells it like it is; she’s tactless.

The list might read like an e-mail forward that people laugh at, but considering the average American woman earns approximately 21 percent less than the average man, is there any truth to these perceptions?

“I can tell you that the exact same behavior is judged differently, depending on whether it’s a male or a female doing the behavior. This is true at all levels in the organization,” says Gallagher, author of “Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Other Women.”

It’s all about perceptions
Vicky Oliver, author of “Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers and Other Office Idiots,” says she sees the differences in how people perceive professional men and women. Oliver says leaders of both genders can show aggression and still be accepted by their employees. The problem arises for midlevel professionals.

“Yelling, berating underlings, slamming doors, throwing chairs and loud, truculent phone conversations with vendors on speakerphone that everyone can hear can sometimes be career-stallers,” Oliver explains. “If a woman acts out, underlings will gossip about her, and eventually their whispers will be overheard by someone in top management. If a man in the middle behaves in the same way, sometimes underlings will strive to ally with him. They may perceive that he is powerful or protected. His behavior is still errant, but it’s less likely to get him in trouble because he’ll have more allies to defend him if push comes to shove.”

Obviously, abrasive behavior isn’t the entire problem. How people react to it is also an issue, and it carries over into other types of workplace behavior.

“Crying is the worst emotion to show at the office, and unfortunately, this is generally a female response,” Oliver says. “Crying makes everyone around you feel like you’re weak and out of control, and it will positively unnerve some men in the office who won’t know how to react. Crying seems to be mildly acceptable in certain circumstances (such as when a female employee is laid off); it’s never acceptable as a response to a disagreement or office showdown.”

Naturally, if people didn’t let tears unnerve them, becoming emotional wouldn’t be a problem. But the fact that we use “emotional” to describe tears — but not screaming — alludes to the problem, considering that they’re both effects of an emotion.

Beware of the ‘crazy’ woman
Clinical social worker Irina Firstein has been a therapist for more than 20 years and has seen the problem firsthand.

“Unfortunately, it has been my experience that the workplace is more forgiving of a man than a woman,” Firstein says. “A man being emotional usually means inability to control temper. A woman being emotional is being ‘crazy.’”

In Firstein’s opinion, the problem doesn’t come only from men. She says women are more tolerant of a man’s unfavorable behavior than a woman’s. As a result, a strong woman is seen as competition by male and female colleagues alike, putting her in a tougher spot than her male counterparts.

Oliver suggests you try to understand the behavior. You don’t have to like it, but you might be able to handle it with less bias.

“I feel that sometimes people react at the office in a similar way as they’ve been conditioned to in their personal lives,” she says. Fits of rage could be the result of upbringing or a current household, not necessarily your performance. “If you happen to be on the receiving end of [someone's] outbursts, it’s helpful to remind yourself that most over-the-top reactions are not about business … it is personal, and it’s about something in that person’s life that has nothing whatsoever to do with you. The person is just venting steam.”

Does that mean you have to accept what’s happening? No. Learning how to deal with an angry boss is one thing; learning how to stand up for yourself is another.

Know when to speak up
If you’re a woman, you could find yourself in this situation more often than you’d like. Author Judy Hoffman still remembers a specific instance when she let intimidation get the best of her.

“I was the only woman on the executive team of our small chemical manufacturing company. At meetings, whenever I would voice my opinion, one male chauvinist — the vice president of manufacturing — would sit with his head in his hands, elbows on the table, looking down at the floor,” Hoffman says. “It was very clear what he was saying: ‘Why in the world would this woman be allowed to sit at the same table with us men, daring to give advice to the president of the company?’”

Hoffman hadn’t received that kind of hostility while at the company for 16 years prior to his arrival, and she didn’t confront him on the issue.

“To this day, I’m embarrassed that I did not deal with it better as I let it fluster me,” she recalls. “But it didn’t make me stop speaking up when called for.”

Even if Hoffman didn’t address the VP, she didn’t let him alter her behavior because she knew the problem was his and not hers. When you think about it, if an outspoken woman is going to be called mouthy and a quiet one will be labeled a pushover, what do you have to lose by being strong-willed?

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

Rachel Zupek, PrimeCB.com writer

Lying in any capacity is generally not advised — especially at work. More often than not, your lies will catch up to you or run away from you. Either way, you’re left in the dust, with a pink slip likely in your hand.

We’ve talked about lying in an interview, at work or on your résumé, but what about when it comes to lying to your boss? Are there exceptions to the rule?

Shawn Achor, a consultant and psychology expert, says that in every workplace where he has consulted, he’s found that most people lie when there is no “psychological safety.”

“There is no psychological safety when managers don’t allow humans to be humans — i.e., to make mistakes and to not be perfect,” Achor says. “If a manager is unable to hear about negative things, confusion or setbacks, then that manager is going to get lied to often. Good managers want an accurate assessment of the present, even if it is not good. Bad bosses want the semblance of progress in the present, at the cost of future successes.”

Even if this sounds like a position you’re in, it doesn’t mean that it’s acceptable for you to lie, says Mark Goulston, author of “Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone.”

“Other than telling your boss something they’re wearing looks nice when it doesn’t, or that they spoke clearly when they didn’t, I can’t think of any instances where it’s OK to lie to a boss. I can think of many instances where you can get away with it, especially when most bosses don’t tell the complete truth,” Goulston says. “I think of those as fibs. The problem is that what starts out as a little bad habit can become a way of life. If you start with a few little fibs, it can be a slippery slope until you’re always doing it.”

Whether or not it’s OK to lie to your boss, workers will do it anyway. Here are five common situations when workers are tempted to lie and whether or not they should tell the truth:

Situation No. 1: The boss asks you to do something that you don’t want to do
Should you lie? It’s OK to fib about this to your boss and say you’re “happy” to do something for him or her, even if you’re not. Doing so shows your boss that you’re a team player and you’ll do whatever it takes to help the company succeed.

“Try to adjust your mindset to being appreciative about something in your job or that you even have a job, to make the ‘happy’ be sincere. In other words, let your happiness to have a job supersede your unhappiness at having to do any task that comes with it,” Goulston says. “Also, realize that it will work out much better for you if you are low-maintenance — easy to please, difficult to upset — than if you are high-maintenance — difficult to please, easy to upset.”

Situation No. 2: You overslept and are late to work
Should you lie? It depends — telling your boss your alarm didn’t go off (when you actually turned it off and went back to bed) might be an acceptable explanation, Goulston says — but only once.

“Use it twice and it becomes an excuse; use it more than twice and you’re running the risk of being seen as disorganized [and] irresponsible, which can work against you at review time,” he says.

Situation No. 3: You’re confused about a project, but say you don’t have any questions to save face
Should you lie? It’s OK to tell your boss that you don’t have any questions when you really do, but only if you know you will be able to get an answer from someone else, Goulston says. If you don’t get an answer, however, and it leads to you doing something wrong, you risk getting pounced on later.

“A way to speak back respectfully and appreciatively to whoever gives you the order is to say, ‘This is too important for me to misunderstand what you said, because neither you nor I will be happy if I end up doing the wrong thing. Would you please repeat what you said or say it in a different way?’” Goulston suggests.

Situation No. 4: You’re behind on a project, but say you’re on track to avoid getting in trouble
Should you lie? If this is the only time you’ve been behind on a project, it’s OK to say you’re on track, Goulston says. That is, if you think you’ll be able to finish the project by its deadline. But, if you repeatedly lie about being on schedule and you miss deadlines, you run the risk of being seen as disorganized, irresponsible or unreliable.

“You don’t want to take that chance because your boss can quickly put you in the same category as others they view that way,” he says. “And you don’t want to be painted with the same brush as people your boss regards as slackers.”

Situation No. 5: You call in sick, but really, you just want a day off
Should you lie? If you need a day off, it’s best to just be honest and ask for one. “If you’re like many people, calling in sick may cause you fear of being found out or guilt that you’ve lied, which can take the enjoyment out of that day off,” Goulston says. “That would defeat the purpose.”

At the end of the day, Goulston suggests remembering that although your boss might be upset at first, he or she will forgive an honest mistake. But, your boss will never forgive or forget if you lie about it.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

By: Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Remember when your parents told you to always tell the truth? And then one day you answered the phone and the annoying neighbor asked to talk to your dad. He whispered to you, “Tell them I’m not here.” Thus began a series of contradictory behavior by your parents that led you to wonder why they weren’t following their own advice. By now you’ve probably realized no one is immune from this behavior, which can best be summarized as, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

This phenomenon still manifests itself in our daily lives, though we might not realize it. Look no further than your interactions at work. Someone enthusiastically says “yes” but is sporting a frown. You try to act calm when you talk to the CEO, but you can’t stop tapping your pen against the table. Our body language gives us away every time, and being able to decode it would benefit you and your career, says Dennis Kravetz, author of the book “Relating Effectively.”

“Nobody can control their body language for more than a few moments at a time,” Kravetz says. “This is why it is so powerful to read body language. People can control the words that they say, but they cannot mask their body language and true feelings for more than a few moments.”

The problem isn’t whether or not we can read body language, he explains. We all read it, but not everyone does anything about it or knows what to do about it.

“For example, a guy may see his spouse or co-worker walking around and slamming doors and cabinets and putting the heels of her shoes right through the carpeting. He asks his wife or co-worker, ‘Is something wrong?’ She says, ‘No.’ So he goes about his business,” Kravetz says.

What to look for
Nick Morgan, president and founder of the communications organization Public Words, has spent enough time researching body language that he has identified certain clues for body language giveaways, and you’ll recognize each of them in the workplace:

· “Beyond the eyes and face, look for the torso to be turned away (lying) or toward you (truth).”
· “If the voice is carefully controlled or a little higher pitched than usual, the person may be attempting to conceal something.”
· “Most of us, when we lie, turn our head away or tip it up or down so as to move it away from the other person.”
· “I’ve seen people in a meeting lean back and put their hands behind their head in order to express their superiority over the rest of the room. It’s arrogant but effective.”
· “Powerful people also take up more space: They splay their legs out, or their arms, or hog more space in the room. It’s why important people get bigger hotel rooms than lesser folk, and it’s why tall people are statistically more likely to rise higher in their professions than shorter people. The alpha dog strikes again.”
· “What is [the hand] doing? Is it clenched or nervously kneading the other hand? Is it twitchy or attempting to conceal itself in a pocket?”

What can you do
Author and speaker Selena Rezvani says that body language often overshadows what people say, so she recommends that professionals learn how to convey the right message through their actions.

· Project your voice
The right volume can enhance your message. “When you are speaking, project your voice at a level that sounds assertive and confident,” Rezvani explains. “Practice speaking confidently — no matter what you are saying — by projecting your voice and finding your perfect volume.”

· Find the right posture
“Posture is conveyed from the way you sit to how you walk and carry yourself,” she says. “When attending a meeting, sit upright with an open torso, which shows both comfort and confidence. If standing or presenting, keep your posture open with your torso facing your audience and maintain strong eye contact with the audience. When in group settings, avoid the common mistake of having side conversations, which tend to alienate others.”

· Eye contact matters
“Make strong eye contact with everyone from the receptionist to the chief executive of your company. Resist the urge to look down or look away if you are nervous. Being mindful about keeping strong eye contact can help build your confidence and send the message that you are interested in others, engaged and self-assured,” she says.

· Shake with a purpose
“A strong, firm handshake communicates to those you are meeting that you are someone to be taken seriously,” Rezvani says. “A firm handshake is best executed while making full, friendly eye contact.”

Of course, body language varies from culture to culture, so always know your audience. Whether you are visiting another country or are dealing with professionals from a different background, do your research so you know whether your for eye contact and handshakes are going to be read similarly or if you’ll be offending anyone.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

By: Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

If you turn on the TV, you’re probably going to see a character who has one of the following jobs: lawyer, doctor, criminal investigator or generic business professional who must wear a suit.

Not that we don’t love those jobs (and those shows), but the media in general seem to forget about the millions of workers who are in other fields. To give some coverage to other occupations, we decided to highlight 40 jobs that are in one of these industries: construction, maintenance, operations, production and material handling. These careers are typically considered blue-collar jobs and are some of the top-earning in each field.

Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and CBSalary.com, here are 40 top-paying blue-collar jobs and their mean annual salaries:

1. Aircraft mechanics: $54,506
2. Aircraft service technicians: $41,604
3. Boilermakers: $50,091
4. Brickmasons: $48,439
5. Carpet installers: $42,682
6. Chemical plant and system operators: $51,464
7. Construction and building inspectors: $51,815
8. Electricians: $55,188
9. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation and equipment: $44,450
10. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment: $49,260
11. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse substation and relay: $60,700
12. Elevator installers and repairers: $66,642
13. First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers: $61,280
14. First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers and repairers: $59,160
15. First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators: $53,960
16. Gas plant operators: $64,608
17. Line installers and repairers: $54,300
18. Locomotive engineers: $70,116
19. Machinists: $49,626
20. Millwrights: $54,969
21. Mining machine operators: $45,570
22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines: $44,300
23. Model maker, metal and plastic: $44,700
24. Nuclear power reactor operators: $73,510
25. Numerical tool and process control programmers: $46,360
26. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers: $54,950
27. Power distributors and dispatchers: $58,401
28. Power plant operators: $74,061
29. Plumbers: $49,169
30. Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers: $52,650
31. Rail car repairers: $44,981
32. Railroad brake, signal and switch operators: $49,400
33. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators: $44,870
34. Ship and boat captains and operators: $67,730
35. Ship engineers: $50,754
36. Stationary engineers and boiler operators: $50,098
37. Structural iron and steel workers: $47,170
38. Subway and streetcar operators: $55,318
39. Tool and die makers: $48,180
40. Transportation inspectors: $46,984

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

By: Robert Half International

With some companies beginning to emerge from the recession and pursue growth plans again, moving up the corporate ladder could be on your mind. Taking on a higher-level position — and, ideally, the corresponding bump in pay — could be especially appealing if you’ve assumed added responsibilities or put in longer hours during the downturn. What can you do to ensure you’re on the short list of candidates for a promotion? Here are some tips:

1. Talk to your manager.
Your supervisor has a large say in your chances of earning a promotion. Don’t assume he or she is aware of your desire to grow your career. Speak to your boss about your long-term plans. Your manager may know of opportunities within the department, or elsewhere in the company, and be able to help you evaluate and prepare for the opportunities. Your boss also has a more objective view of your professional strengths and weaknesses than you do and can provide an honest assessment of what steps you may need to take to assume a new role.

By involving your boss in your quest for a promotion, you can discuss with him or her any questions or challenges you face. For example, if you are an administrative assistant in the marketing department and are interested in a position as an account executive, your supervisor’s feedback could help you determine if such a transition would be right for you.

2. Upgrade your skills.
There’s a good chance you may lack some of the necessary skills or qualifications for a higher-level role. The supervisory position you’re eyeing, for instance, may require knowledge of budgeting procedures or recruiting techniques. In some cases, you may even have to earn a new certification, license or degree.

You also need to consider if you have the necessary soft skills. A promotion may require you to do less hands-on, technical work and instead manage people, oversee projects, help various groups reach consensus or negotiate with vendors. If you lack experience in these areas, work with your manager to identify the appropriate training opportunities. Also, volunteer for projects that allow you to build skills in essential areas.

3. Expand your network. Being connected at work has multiple benefits. Most obviously, you could learn of opportunities you might not have otherwise been aware of. You also may meet someone who can provide insight into the job or type of position you seek. A manager, for example, could outline the steps he took to move up from a staff-level role and warn you about any stumbling blocks he faced.

Perhaps most importantly, networking with others allows you to boost your visibility within the company, increasing the likelihood that someone considers you when a position becomes available.

4. Gauge your interest. The most crucial part of preparing for a promotion is determining if you truly want it. While it’s safe to assume that you want any additional compensation or perks the job offers, do you also want the additional responsibilities? After you’ve learned more about a role you’re interested in assuming, ask yourself if you can do everything the position requires. Take into account not only your skill set and qualifications but also your life outside of work. If you have young children, for example, will your work/life balance suffer? Will a higher-level position require you to play office politics? Are you comfortable transitioning from peer to manager if you take a supervisory role?

A promotion is a great way to advance your career, but remember that it isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. You’re unlikely to jump multiple rungs on the corporate ladder in a single move. So keep your eye on the position you want to assume eventually and focus on the steps, even if they seem small, that will allow you to get there.

Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com/.

By: Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Everyone has a different idea of what’s a good or bad salary. Some people are happy just to make ends meet. Others won’t settle for less than six figures. A lot of factors go into what makes a salary seem reasonable.

Therefore you can’t really classify any single salary as high or low without bringing in your own bias. That said, sometimes salaries just don’t seem large enough. We put together a list of 10 jobs that have salaries we thought would be bigger. Don’t mistake these jobs for having salaries that are impossible to live on; instead, these are salaries that seem too low for the amount of work, time or risk they involve.

Here are 10 jobs we thought would pay more:

1. Court reporters transcribe arguments during trials, mediations and other legal proceedings.
What they earn: $48,968/year
Why it’s surprising: Legal matters are important, and having an accurate record of what occurs is vital to almost any proceeding. Court reporters have to be attentive, speedy and accurate. That’s not easy.

2. Dry cleaners get those stubborn stains out of our clothing when at-home scrubbing just won’t do. Plus, they press our work clothes and formal attire so we look presentable in public and not like we’re wearing wrinkled tissue paper.
What they earn: $22,641/year
Why it’s surprising: Have you seen how much laundry your average dry cleaner is dealing with? Not to mention the fact that most people take their garments at the last minute, so the turnaround is usually very quick.

3. Maids and housekeeping cleaners are responsible for cleaning up the messes we make at hotels and homes. They empty the trash, replace the linens and do other chores that make homes and workplaces livable.
What they earn: $23,922/year
Why it’s surprising: It’s common knowledge that maids and housekeepers don’t earn as much as other occupations, but we’d probably expect someone whose job involves so much labor to be paid more.

4. Middle school teachers instruct children in grades six through eight. They sometimes specialize in one course, but often teach several.
Salary: $50,963/year
Why it’s surprising: Have you spent any time with an adolescent or teenager lately? Could you handle being trapped in a room with dozens of them, much less trying to keep them focused so you can teach them? A Nobel Peace Prize should be included in their compensation. Not to mention the amount of education most teachers are required to have, and they are usually required to take development courses every few years.

5. Paramedics respond to emergencies and provide medical care on-site. They also transport patients to health-care facilities if necessary.
What they earn: $46,184/year
Why it’s surprising: Although putting a price on saving a life seems impossible, you would expect a paramedic’s salary to be a bit higher.

6. Police officers protect citizens from criminals and help enforce laws that keep us safe.
What they earn: $53,428/year
Why it’s surprising: Their lives are on the line and they never know what they’re getting into. It’s hard to imagine many jobs that deserve better pay.

7. Rehabilitation counselors work with patients to treat disabilities, which can range from social to physical ailments. They work closely with the patients’ other health-care specialists to ensure they’re making progress.
What they earn: $27,617/year
Why it’s surprising: Rehabilitation workers are dealing with important issues that affect patients’ lives in a significant way and often have irregular work hours.

8. Security guards keep watch over businesses, merchandise and buildings. They make sure no one steals items or breaks into closed offices.
What they earn: $33,195/year
Why it’s surprising: Security guards have to be on the lookout at all times, and may be standing for their shifts. Their jobs involve little relaxation.

9. Teacher assistants do just what their title says — they help teachers. They often help students with some basic tasks or grade papers and prepare materials so teachers can focus on more demanding issues.
What they earn: $24,448/year
Why it’s surprising: Although these are assistants and not teachers, and therefore their education and experience requirements are less demanding, they are still highly involved in educating students and not paid as competitively as expected.

10. Veterinary assistants help veterinarians with caring for a variety of animals, which includes helping with examinations and treatments.
What they earn: $32,584/year
Why it’s surprising: Animals aren’t the easiest patients to deal with. They’re finicky, often dangerous and definitely not something just anyone can handle.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.