Career Site

Gap years, at any stage in your student life, give you the ability to demonstrate the desire to develop yourself as a global citizen. Photograph: Alamy

Despite the stark youth unemployment statistics and tough competition for graduate jobs, there is still a “war for talent” among top employers. Many firms tell us that new recruits aren’t as prepared for the world of work as they would like them to be, that more should be done while students are still at university to help boost their employability.

Multinational employers are looking for something even more.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – After nearly 40 years in public education, Patrick Godwin spends his retirement days running a horse farm east of Sacramento, Calif., with his daughter.

His departure from the workaday world is likely to be long and relatively free of financial concerns, after he retired last July at age 59 with a pension paying $174,308 a year for the rest of his life.

Such guaranteed pensions for relatively youthful government retirees — paid in similar fashion to millions nationwide — are contributing to nationwide friction with the public sector workers. The

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Its not WHAT you know, its WHO you know.  Right?  So who is it that you should know?

The implicit assumption is that if you want to get a new job, you need to know people who have jobs.  But that could be ANYbody with decision-making authority, so its not as helpful as youd like to think.

Heres some people who you need to develop good relationships with:

• Your boss.  This is a person with whom you have some of the most contact, yet I see too many employees who are scared to treat their boss as an actual human.  Yet when it comes to opening doors for you, theres no one better positioned.
• The HR representative.  Many of them are frustrated because they got into the job because they loved working with people, and are now spending all their time filling out forms.  Many would appreciate the opportunity to help you with their broader view of the organization.
• The person who used to do your job.  You may or may not want to follow the path theyve taken, but theres something to be learned from their experience.
• The person doing the job you want.  Just imagine how powerful it might be if they gave you inside information about what it takes to do that job, and then recommended you as their replacement when they move on!
• The IT guy.  He tends to be invisible, but sees whats going on in many departments.  He might be able to help you be more productive by making better use of the technology you have – or could start using.
• Your union rep.  If you are in a union environment, her top priority is to help you get the treatment you deserve.  If she knows you by name, shes much more likely to help you the next time you need it.
• The person who would be impacted if you left.  He just might help you deliver more valuable work, and even convince your boss not to lay you off the next time that money gets tight.
• The lady in the finance department.  Most major decisions are based on a financial analysis, so shell have an advance view of things that are being considered.  And if you can translate your value into monetary terms, youll be able to better justify that next raise or promotion – and improve the impact of your résumé tenfold.
• The person who wants your job.  Really?  Yes.  You become more valuable to your employer when youre able to help others be as effective as you are, and you might remove a barrier to your promotion if theres someone ready to do your job.
• Your spouse or partner.  Remember, life isnt just about work.  Its also about having other relationships and living out your life as a human being.  Plus, who will you turn to when youre stressed about your job?

Get out there, and start developing more relationships than just the work you deliver.  If you want to enjoy your work more, if you want to improve your future, its all about WHO you know!

Marketing professionals looking for jobs need look no further than job site Indeed.coms list of the 10 companies with the most marketing job postings right now.

Indeed collaborated with Forbes to release the list, which was crafted to boost confidence in both employers and those looking for marketing jobs.

“Hiring is much better this year than last year,” Peter DeLegge, CEO of Marketing Today and MarketingHire.com, told Forbes. “The field has transformed tremendously over the past few years and it’s an exciting time to be in marketing.”

Indeed said the list does not reflect a precise number of available jobs, because an opening can be listed in more than one place and can remain online for a time after it’s filled. But the job

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One of the easiest things to do right on your Profile is to have a good Profile picture.

Why then do so many people do it wrong?

LinkedIn wants a headshot.

I want a CLOSEUP of the headshot.

You might have a great, professional picture, but if your head takes up less than 50% of the picture, Ill tell you to zoom in!

I often see Profile pictures where the persons head is 1/6th or 1/12th of the entire image.   The image is already small, people!  ZOOM IN!  I want to see facial characteristics.  I dont care who cool the background is!

Aside from that, here are some turnoffs Ive seen on Profile pictures:

• ZERO facial details.  Wh

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