The Work Buzz's Latest News: Not getting that promotion? Try ironing your shirt

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Not getting that promotion? Try ironing your shirt Posted: 30 Jun 2011 08:50 AM PDT You've worked your butt off the last few months trying to show your boss that you're ready for a promotion, to no avail. You've gotten compliments from customers and you've surpassed your sales goals, but the promotion just isn't happening. You're starting to think your boss must just hate the way you dress, or that she's just got something against tattoos. And you know what? You might be right. According to a new CareerBuilder survey on promotions, certain personal attributes — namely those that might detract from your professional image — can prevent you from ascending the corporate ladder as swiftly as you may like. "While strong job performance and leadership skills will weigh heavily on prospects for upward mobility, employers will also look at whether the employee conveys an overall professional image both internally and externally," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.  So next time you're running late in the morning and thinking no one will notice if you skip the iron, think again. Wrinkled clothes were one of the 11 qualities that employers said might deter them from extending a promotion to an employee. The other 10 include: Piercings — 37 percent Bad breath — 34 percent A visible tattoo — 31 percent Messy hair — 29 percent Dressing too casually — 28 percent Too much perfume or cologne — 26 percent Too much makeup — 22 percent Messy office or cubicle — 19 percent Chewed fingernails — 10 percent Too suntanned — 4 percent Though it’s not entirely fair that you could be overlooked for a promotion because of your nail-biting habit or a tattoo you got when you were 18, the bottom line is that professional image is important to many employers. Looking "put-together" sends a message of competence and, well, professionalism — especially if you're in a job that requires you to represent the company to clients or the public. The good news is, though, that none of the qualities mentioned above are permanent or too hard to change. All can be covered up, toned down or otherwise ironed out. So, if you're hoping for a promotion in the near future, it may be worth giving your office a quick cleaning or taking out your piercing before heading into work. "When it comes to career advancement, you want to stack the deck in your favor," Haefner says. Want to make sure your work persona is professional? Check out these articles, below. Your work wardrobe 101 Professional, not provocative, equals productive, employers say Spring cleaning? Don’t forget your desk

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How Volunteering Can Land You a Job | Career Rocketeer

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How Volunteering Can Land You a Job Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:30 AM PDT The transition between careers, whether you're new to the job market or not, is difficult for anyone. Further, it's becoming increasingly difficult to actually get your foot in the door if you're not familiar with influencers in your industry. So, how can you land the job of your dreams if you're feeling a little helpless? How about volunteering within your industry? Just like interning, volunteering gives you the opportunity to gain experience while building up your resume. However, volunteering differs from interning since many people work for organizations that deal with charitable causes. Further, volunteering is great between projects not just for its humanitarian aspects, but also for its professional brand benefits. But, can volunteering actually land you a job? Yes. Here's how: Network. If you were working in an organization day after day, making powerful connections and leads, you'd find it beneficial, right? Further, you'd probably do as much as you can to show off your skills in order to promote your professional brand. Guess what? That's networking. As with any other activity, networking while volunteering can help you connect with people internally and externally, which may land you a link to a potential career. Think about making a real effort to get to know the people you'll be volunteering with. Additionally, you should probably try to help others with their own agendas as well since networking works both ways. Regardless though, the more people that know about your job search the better, so try to network as much as possible. Move up within the organization. More times than not, people move up within an organization because of their attachment to it, like who they know or how long they've been there. If you have volunteered at a particular organization for an extended period of time and you've impressed high-ranking individuals, it may be easier to actually land a job within the company. So, if you are aware of a job opening, you may want to express your interest, while at the same time showing that you can actually do it well. How? Think about helping the organization reach its goals to the best of your ability, even if you are a volunteer. Your drive, as well as your passion for the cause, will probably impress management, making it easier to land a job within the company. Land a powerful recommendation. Many charitable organizations are not only well-known, but also they are run by powerful individuals. Besides knowing that you have helped out your community, you should also feel that you established a good relationship out of your volunteering experience. So, don't be afraid to ask for a testimonial from these high-ranking individuals. After all, the thoughts of an experienced influencer may do wonders for your professional brand. Do your best to not only create a relationship with these people, but also maintain it. That way, when you do need a little push into an organization, that powerful contact may be the key to your dream career. Has volunteering landing you a job? Guest Expert: James Alexander is Vizibility's founder and CEO. He's the guy with two first names. If you 'Googled' his name in 2009, you would never have found him. Now, he ranks within the first few results of a Google search. Find James in Google at vizibility.com/james.

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Retention Problem? Perhaps it’s a Career Development Problem

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• Retention Problem? Perhaps it’s a Career Development Problem
• What You Need to Know About the Latest Background Screening Trends
• Make the Most of Mistakes By Asking These 2 Questions
• 3 Great Habits for Ending Your Week on a Positive Note!

Retention Problem? Perhaps it’s a Career Development Problem Posted: 30 Jun 2011 11:00 PM PDT Your retention problem, if you have one, could very well be a career development problem and much more simple to amend than you realize. To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

What You Need to Know About the Latest Background Screening Trends Posted: 30 Jun 2011 10:30 PM PDT According to the Trends in Employment Background Screening survey by EmployeeScreenIQ, background checks have increased in importance among employers. To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

Make the Most of Mistakes By Asking These 2 Questions Posted: 30 Jun 2011 10:00 PM PDT Mistakes, “failures,” rejection and disappointments are part of life — most things don’t turn out exactly as we had planned, and many things miss the mark completely. It’s easy to “beat ourselves up” when we make a mistake, lose out on an important... To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

3 Great Habits for Ending Your Week on a Positive Note! Posted: 30 Jun 2011 09:30 PM PDT It's Friday(!), and as the week comes to a close (for most of us), I want to share a set of habits that have become an end-of-the-week routine for me. To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

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