Author: Leah Arnold-Smeets

Leah Arnold-Smeets, owner of Emiko Consulting, is passionate about helping entrepreneurs capitalize on their strengths, improve on their weaknesses, and reach their full potential. Leah obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Entrepreneurial Studies from the University of Southern California (USC).

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How to Read the Hiring Manager’s Mind During a Salary Negotiation

Making it to the salary negotiation phase of the interview process is good news — good, stressful news. Data collected for PayScale’s Salary Negotiation Guide show that talking about money is so nerve-racking, many people opt to skip it. In fact, 57 percent of respondents said they’d never negotiated salary in their...
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Should You Ever Ask to Be Laid Off?

Sometimes, your dream job doesn’t turn out so dreamy. Your work grows more and more monotonous and unchallenging, you become increasingly frustrated with the people with whom you work, and you feel stuck in your career. The best course of action is usually to start a job search, but looking for work...
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5 Ways to Make Sure Women Are Heard in Meetings

Have you ever been in a meeting, said something, and been ignored — only to hear someone else say the same exact thing you just said, and receive all the praise? If you’re a woman, then your answer is most likely a resounding yes. Instead of giving in and keeping quiet, use...
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5 of the Best Non-Business Books to Inspire Your Life and Career

Sometimes, the greatest wisdom can be found in the most obscure places. For instance, some of the best career advice you’ll ever get is from books shelved far away from the business section of your local bookstore. For example: Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton Starting off as a blog...
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Get Ready for That Whopping 3 Percent Raise Next Year

We’ve come a long way as a nation since the Great Recession, but despite the economy doing better, real wages still seem to be lagging. In fact, it’s estimated that workers will see a meager 3 percent raise in 2017, the same as in 2016. The last recession officially ended in June,...
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Good News: You Already Have a Personal Brand. Here’s What to Do With It.

You’ve probably heard a lot about the importance of creating a personal brand as a professional, but what does that mean, exactly? Most people think a personal brand is something you have to start from scratch, but that’s not the case. Personal branding is about figuring out what already differentiates you from...
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How Many Americans Have ‘Good’ Jobs?

Having a job is one thing. Having a good job is another. If you’re a professional who endured the Great Recession, earning a paycheck was your main concern. From a broader economic perspective, those tough times ended in June 2009, the official close of the last recession, according to the National Bureau...
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Should Employers Cover Childcare Expenses When Parents Travel for Work?

When employees travel for work, they can expense their airfare and hotel accommodations. Generally, however, they can’t expense childcare … even though that cost is necessary for them to go the extra mile for their employers. In her recent piece for Fortune, Dawn Bovasso argues that this is unfair: “If I incur...
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How to Stop Being Angry at a Frustrating Coworker in 7 Easy Steps

It’s never a pleasant experience when you have a falling out with a coworker. You can’t necessarily give that person a piece of your mind, and it’s definitely not wise to sweep the situation under the rug, because that will only makes things worse for everyone in the end. What’s an angry,...
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3 Times You Absolutely Shouldn’t Connect on LinkedIn

One of the best ways to grow your career is to build a solid professional network, and what better place to do that than on LinkedIn? With the click of a button, you can send an invitation to connect with someone, regardless if you know them or not — and this is...
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5 Prime Times to Ask for a Raise

When it comes to asking for a raise, timing is everything. If you jump the gun and ask for more money before you’ve earned it, then you may be in for a rude awakening. However, if you wait too long to take the initiative, then you may be mistaken for a complacent...
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4 Working-Mom Stereotypes That Need to Go

It seems that mothers are faced with a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario when it comes to juggling career and family. You’re a bad mom if you aren’t 100 percent focused on your kids, but you’re also a bad employee if you’re not 100 percent plugged into work....
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Ask These 3 Questions Before You Change Careers

Truer words have never been spoken about major career decisions than Kenny Rogers' famous lyrics, "You've got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em." ... Before you make your final decision, you may want to consider these three things to ensure you're taking a leap of faith,...
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6 Emotions You’ll Experience During a Job Change

Leaving one job to pursue another can be a bittersweet time in your career. On one hand, you’re glad that you have this new, promising opportunity lying ahead, but it’s also scary and unfamiliar. You may even struggle with feelings of guilt and sadness as you leave your current employer and co-workers...
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5 Benefits of Career Coaching That You Need to Know

We humans are a weird bunch, especially when it comes to our careers. If we want to lose weight or get in shape, then we get a gym membership and hire a personal trainer. If we go through a difficult time in our lives, then we hire a therapist for guidance. However,...
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How to Ensure Your Flexible Schedule Is a Blessing and Not a Curse

Whether you’re a working parent, a college student, or just someone who wants to avoid wasting hours in a standard 9-to-5 commute, being granted a flexible work schedule seems like a dream come true. However, what happens when your flex schedule results in more work and stress than you expected? Here’s how...
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There’s a New Type of Pay Gap: The Height and Weight Gap

As if gender wasn’t a shallow-enough reason for the persistent wage gap, a new study found that height and weight have been added to the mix, too. More specifically, if you’re a short male or an overweight female, then you can bet that you earn less than your taller, thinner colleagues. Here’s...
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Want to Land Your Dream Career? Use These 3 Job Search Tips

Entering a job search is definitely not for the faint of heart. If you’ve ever had to look for a job, then you understand the emotional roller coaster that happens during this process. The highs of applying to potential dream gigs and getting called in for interviews will make you feel like...
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4 Things to Remember While You’re Chasing Your Dreams

If only you could have the innocence and resilience of your childhood self right now, as a professional chasing after your dreams, then maybe you wouldn’t be afraid of getting a few bumps and bruises along the way. Unfortunately, adults remember all those minor setbacks, which is why many professionals would rather...
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Don’t Be Afraid of Lateral Career Moves

Want to move up the corporate ladder? You might need to be willing to go sideways. Horizontal or lateral moves can be just as big a boon to your career as a straight shot up the org chart. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of lateral career moves. (Photo...
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Make Your One-on-One Meetings More Productive

The most important meeting you have on your schedule isn’t your annual performance review or even the quarterly board meeting: it’s the one-on-one you have with your reports, hopefully once every week or two. Here’s what you need to know about making these one-on-one meetings a good use of everyone’s time. (Photo...
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5 Ways to Tell If the Corporate Culture Is Right for You … Before Accepting a Job Offer

Finding the right company is just as important as finding the right job. Far too many professionals take the first job offer thrown their way out of desperation and impulse, without considering whether the company is a good fit, culturally. That’s like marrying someone after the first or second date without knowing...
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5 Free Online Courses to Boost Your Career

One of the most frustrating things a professional will face in their career is feeling stuck. There comes a point when the competition is steep in your field and the only way to get a leg up is to tack another skill or certification onto your resume. The only problem is: how...
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15 Inspiring Quotes Every Ambitious Woman Needs in Her Life Right Now

First things first, ladies: give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back for continuing to fight the good fight for women’s equality – even if it is the same battle we’ve been fighting since 1776 when Abigail Adams pleaded for John Adams to “remember the ladies” when penning the Constitution. The good...
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3 Alarming Facts About the Current State of Workplace Inequality

Workplace inequality may sound like some "oh, woe is me" sob story that women are, well, sobbing about, but the reality of the situation is much more serious than most of us would like to admit. It's 2015 and women still earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. So what's...
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3 Reasons Not to Stay at Your Job Too Long

Should you stay or should you go? Typically, job hopping is frowned upon because it suggests that you’re flighty and possibly incompetent, thus a waste of money for the employer. Of course, it could also mean that you know what you want and don’t want in your career. Here are three reasons...
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5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Your Promotion Doesn’t Come With a Raise

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for – promotion time! You’ve worked so hard and have given your absolute all to prove that you are capable of more in your career. Then, your boss says those magical words, “We’d like to award you a promotion to…,” but just as you’re getting ready...
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7 Tips for Young Women Who Aspire to Be Leaders

While some girls are busy dreaming about their wedding day, others are fantasizing about being the next Sheryl Sandberg or Mary Barra. For the ambitious, here’s some advice to support you in your endeavors and encourage you to become the leader you are truly meant to be. (Photo Credit: Kaboompics) 1. Know...
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5 Ways to Earn a Promotion Without Asking for One

The old adage of “don’t ask, don’t get” is usually true when it comes to promotions and raises. If you don’t let your manager know about your career goals, it’s much less likely that you’ll get to where you want to be. That said, workers often ask for promotions without stopping to...
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10 Things to Do When You Get the Silent Treatment After a Job Interview

Job interviews can be a lot like blind dates. You walk out of an awesome date thinking that this person is THE one. You’ve never felt more confident about anything in your life. Then, a couple of days turns into a week without you hearing back from that person, and you find...
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10 Things to Do When You Get the Silent Treatment After a Job Interview

Job interviews can be a lot like blind dates. You walk out of an awesome date thinking that this person is THE one. You’ve never felt more confident about anything in your life. Then, a couple of days turns into a week without you hearing back from that person, and you find...
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Can You Guess How Many Female CEOs There Are in the World?

If you can’t name the right number, don’t worry: neither can executives. The 1,700 participants of a Weber Shandwick study guessed that 23 percent of CEOs at large companies were women. Take a look at the embarrassing results of the study and the shocking truth of how few female CEOs actually exist...
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Ladies, Here’s the Key to Not Feeling Guilty About Negotiating a Raise

Negotiating a raise is no easy feat, especially for women who are crippled by the stigma that negotiating makes them greedy, bossy, or ungrateful. Read on to learn how to reverse those feelings of guilt and turn them into the fuel you need to get the salary you’ve rightfully earned and deserve....
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What Nasty Gal Can Teach Us About the Importance of Corporate Culture

If there’s anyone who understands the term “rags to riches,” it’s Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso, who built an online apparel empire from the ground up. However, according to some current and former Nasty Gal employees, the company’s once-vibrant corporate culture isn’t what it used to be, thanks to layoffs and restructuring....
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25 Invigorating Quotes to Ignite the Leader Within

Yehuda Berg once said, “Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair.” In this case, the words contained in this post are intended to be a driving force that will ignite the...
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25 Invigorating Quotes to Ignite the Leader Within

Yehuda Berg once said, "Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair." In this case, the words contained in this post are intended to be a driving force that will ignite the...
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Career Change Late in Life Is a Good Thing, Says Study

Growing older might be scary for most people, but it’s a great thing when it comes to your career success. A new study shows that a vast majority of professionals who change careers later in life are happier and earn more money in their new occupations. Here’s what you need to know...
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The High Cost of College Is Leaving Many Students Out in the Cold

College should be one of the most memorable times in a person’s life, not a time of financial stress, anxiety, and hopelessness. However, with the rising cost of attending college and student loan debt more than quadrupling over the past two decades, obtaining a degree is proving to be a strain, especially...
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Sarah Thomas Earns Her Stripes as the NFL’s First Female Referee

There’s a new face calling the shots for the National Football League and her name is Sarah Thomas – oh, and she just so happens to be the first female full-time referee in the history of the NFL. Read on to learn more about how Thomas began her professional journey and what...
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5 Bizarre Ways to Have a More Productive Workday

Sometimes, the conventional ways of trying to boost your brainpower just don’t cut it, and you need some clever, one-off tricks to smack yourself back in the groove and on your way to productivity heaven. Here are five bizarre, yet effective ways to help you have a more productive, less monotonous workday....
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Color Me Mad: How Colors Impact Productivity and Mood

Your favorite color might not be the best choice for the paint in your home office. Research shows that certain colors are capable of boosting productivity and mood, while other colors have more of a negative impact on disposition. Read on to learn more about how different hues send different cues to...
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Why Job Shadowing Is the Key to a Successful Career

Wouldn’t you like to “test-drive” a career before committing to it, much like you do when buying a car? In case you didn’t know, you absolutely can and it’s called job shadowing. We’ll take a look at what job shadowing is, whom it’s for, and why it’s the bee’s knees when it...
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3 Ways to Deal With an Offensive Co-worker Who Just Doesn’t Get It

In the workplace, there’s a fine line between joking around and being offensive — and there’s always that one co-worker who just doesn’t seem to get it. If you find yourself being put in uncomfortable situations due to a colleague’s lack of manners, then you’ll want to read on to see how...
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5 Creative Ways to Revive Your Struggling Career

What have you done for your career lately? Chances are, not enough. Much like a relationship, your career also needs proper care and attention in order for it to flourish. If you’re guilty of being neglectful, here are five creative ways to help you rekindle the fire and fall back in love...
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Find Out What Careers Best Suit Your Personality Type [infographic]

Choosing a career based solely on its earning potential used to be just fine. Nowadays, research shows that choosing a career path that fits your personality type is the real money- and happiness-maker. Does your job best suit your personality type? Read on to find out. (Photo Credit: Sasquatch I/Flickr) You’ve probably...
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5 Things Recruiters Are Looking for on Your Social Media Profiles

It’s no surprise that recruiters are turning to social media to scope out potential employees. Therefore, it’s essential that candidates understand what recruiters are looking for online. These elements of your profiles are making a big impression on recruiters — for good or for ill. (Photo Credit: Pascal/Flickr) Did you know that...
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10 Buzzwords to Eliminate From Your LinkedIn Profile for, Like, Ever [infographic]

Gone are the days when listing cliche keywords — like motivated, passionate, and experienced — on your resume got you noticed by recruiters. Read on to see which buzzwords were most overused on LinkedIn last year, so that you don’t end up blending in with the rest of the crowd in the...
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10 Popular Twitter Hashtags for Job Seekers to Follow

Hiring managers are beginning to veer away from conventional methods of advertising job vacancies, and they are, instead, turning to social media to locate qualified candidates. Their weapon of choice? A little thing known as a hashtag. See how hashtags are a candidate’s best friend when it comes to finding a job...
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Sorry, Not Sorry: Can Apologizing Too Much Hurt Your Career?

Whether you’re a high-ranking executive or an entry-level employee, being too remorseful could negatively affect your reputation as a professional and cause others to perceive you as weak. We’ll examine how too many apologies could leave your career in a sorry state of affairs. (Photo Credit: Craig Sunter/Flickr) Many successful companies abide by...
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When Social Networking Gets Creepy (and What to Do About It)

Many professionals consider LinkedIn a safe haven for networking, but sometimes clicking the “accept” button can open up a can of worms that you never expected … or welcomed. We’ll examine the many ways social connections become cyber stalkers and how to deal with these inappropriate and unfortunate weirdos. (Photo Credit: bplanet/freedigitalphotos.net)...
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Survey Says: 87 Percent of Employees Don’t Trust Their Bosses

Terrible bosses are everywhere, and they’re causing employees to not only mentally check out at work, but lose trust in their superiors, too. It’s an epidemic that Office Space poked fun at with its horrible boss, Bill Lumbergh, but the reality is, the Lumberghs of the world are causing employees to hate...
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Jack Welch: ‘The Four Es and a P’ of Hiring

Just as businesses need to understand their customers in order to effectively market to them, candidates also need to know what hiring managers are looking for in order to get noticed and get hired. Jack Welch helps job seekers to get a leg-up on the competition with “The Four Es and a...
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3 Tips for Dealing With a Sneaky, Manipulative Co-Worker

Proving yourself to your boss is hard enough. Add those manipulative co-workers to the mix and you have yourself an impossible situation – or do you? We’ll examine how to identify who those wheeler-dealer colleagues are and how to effectively deal with them so that you can shine bright in your career....
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10 Job Options for Mothers Wanting to (Re)Enter the Workforce

Whether you’re a mother looking to start a career, reenter the workforce, or just make a few bucks on the side, here are some family-friendly options to help you get back to the grind. (Photo Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr) There’s no doubt that more mothers are wanting to return back to the workforce,...
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5 Traits That Lady Gaga Has That Every Professional Needs

Lady Gaga know what she’s doing when it comes to personal branding, and more professionals could learn a thing or two if they followed her example. Here are five of the international pop star’s traits that every professional needs to create a successful personal brand.   (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons) 1. Uniqueness...
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Quora: When High-Paying Jobs Make You Miserable

What do you do when you’re bringing home the bacon, but you can’t stand your job? We turn to the Quora community to see what its members have to say about sticking with a high-paying job that you hate versus ditching the 9-to-5 to pursue a more fulfilling (and potentially less lucrative)...
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Quora: Should I Choose a Career for Money or Happiness?

Whether to choose a career that pays well or a career that brings you fulfillment is the million-dollar question in every professional’s life. We turn to the Quora community to see what they have to say about going after dollars or sense. (Photo Credit: sacks08/Flickr) “At age 25, would you pursue a...
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7 Ways to Master Your Job Search on LinkedIn

Not getting enough hits on LinkedIn from recruiters? You might be sabotaging yourself. Here are seven tips and tricks to help you right your social networking wrongs and get recruiters to notice you once and for all. (Photo Credit: Steven Depolo/Flickr) Standing out online during a job search is becoming increasingly difficult now...
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20 Funny Truths About Your 9-to-5

Heading back to work after a holiday weekend can be depressing, so here are 20 humorous quotes about the realities of your 9-to-5 that will surely make you chuckle. Remember, sharing is caring, so pass this on to your co-workers who could use a mid-day pick-me-up. (Photo Credit: JasonD’Great/Flickr) “A lot of fellows...
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Quora Question of the Week: What Is the Sexiest Thing About Your Job?

When you think of your job, does the word “sexy” come to mind? According to the Quora community, that word takes on a whole new meaning when you find people who love their jobs. Take a look at what these Quora members find “stimulating” about their careers. (Photo Credit: socialspice.de/Flickr) Question originally posted on...
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TED Talks: What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work? by Dan Ariely

Do you know what makes you feel good about your work? Is it the acknowledgement, a hefty compensation, or simply the satisfaction of doing a good job? According to an experiment involving Legos and Bionicles (yes, the awesome robots!), finding even the tiniest bit of meaning in our work is essential to...
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TED Talks: The Power of Seduction in Our Everyday Lives

The word “seduction” has been so sensationalized (and sexualized) that it is mostly associated with promiscuity or manipulation. However, as Chen Lizra points out, we all can use seduction in our daily lives to help achieve our life goals. In her recent TED Talk, Lizra shows us how seduction can be a...
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20 Inspirational Quotes for Job Seekers

The task of finding a job can be overwhelming, discouraging, and down-right frustrating. Here are twenty inspiring quotes for job seekers to keep in their back pockets while job hunting. 1. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with...
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The Importance of Internships From Lauren Berger, “The Intern Queen”

We had the chance to chat with Lauren Berger, “The Intern Queen,” to get her input on the role that internships play in preparing college students for successful careers. Here’s what the internship expert had to say. What advice do you have for students who aren’t sure of what major to choose...
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5 Ways to Clean up Your Online Profiles During a Job Search

Let’s face it, the job market has seen better days. Landing a decent job (or any job, for that matter) is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole — it feels nearly impossible and it’s incredibly frustrating. For those lucky candidates who actually land an interview with a...
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Think Outside the Box: Creative Ways to Get Your Resume Noticed

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for recruiters to be inundated with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of resumes when trying to fill a position at a company. So, how can you (the job seeker) ensure that you get noticed out of the endless number of applicants? One of the best ways to connect with potential...
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3 Practical Tips for Working Moms, From the Quora Question of the Week

Going back to work after having a child is a difficult decision to make, especially when it entails leaving your children at home to be cared for by someone else. In a perfect world, everyone would work together to prepare meals, clean the house, and stay on schedule, and working women would...
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TED Talks – David Pogue: 10 Top Time-Saving Tech Tips

David Pogue, the New York Times’ tech columnist, delivered an informative TED Talk earlier this year outlining 10 time-saving tips to help people with everyday technology use. These clever tips aren’t ground-breaking or revolutionary by any means, but you will definitely have an “aha moment” after hearing how they can make your...