You may be pleased and flattered by the offer, but before you say yes, make sure you pause and take these five critical steps. (Click here to tweet this list.)

1. Keep a cool head

Whatever you do, don’t let the excitement of the moment push you into a hasty decision. Your employers will probably discuss your candidacy in glowing terms and tell you how happy they were to meet you and how optimistic they feel about bringing you onboard. They’ve already decided that you’ll make a great addition to the team, and they’ll probably enjoy sharing this with you. But don’t get carried away. Accepting a job can be a major life decision, and before you say yes, you have the best possible opportunity to negotiate the terms of your agreement.

2. Say thank you

Before you get down to business and start talking about the terms of your employment, thank your potential managers for the offer. Saying thank you won’t lock you into a commitment — it’s just a pleasant and professional way of showing respect and gratitude.

3. Be honest about their salary offer

Expect your potential employers to include a clear annual or hourly salary rate in their informal offer. They should also include a clear explanation of your basic insurance benefits, commission details and bonus rates with the intention of listing these again in a formal written offer later on. But be aware that they may not do this and may expect you to speak first and clearly state the preferred terms of your employment. If you’ve done your research and have an answer ready, feel free to share your terms. But if not, don’t speak until you’re ready.

4. Ask for some time to think about your decision

No matter the terms of your employment, and no matter who speaks first during your negotiation process, ask for at least 24 hours before you provide your official answer. This will give you time to discuss your decision with your friends and family, and it will give you the time to conduct some research into the standard salary and benefit rates for this type of position if you haven’t done this already.

5. Consider your current position

If your current position involves an “at-will” agreement between you and your employers, then legally, you’re free to walk away at any time for any reason. But for the sake of courtesy and professionalism, it’s a good idea to give your employers two weeks’ notice before you walk away. Your new managers will probably factor this two-week period into your start date, but if they don’t, you’ll need to make this request on your own. Make sure you leave your previous employer on good terms, and make sure you’re satisfied with your formal written offer before you sever your existing ties.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post How to Accept a Job Offer: 5 Crucial Steps Before Saying Yes appeared first on Brazen Life.

If you’re so anxious about your job that you’re up all night tossing and turning, then it’s time for a little perspective. And if you’re tiptoeing around the office like your job is made of glass, it’s time to recognize your fears may be exaggerated. Overcoming them can actually help your career, not ruin it. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

Here are three common workplace fears and a few tips that can help you push them aside.

1. You’re afraid of getting fired

From an early age, most of us are taught that getting fired is the worst, most humiliating thing that can ever happen to a person. Worse yet, the firing ends up on your “permanent record.” If you’re fired, you may never be able to land another job ever, ever again.

Employers want you to believe these things, since this attitude helps workers self-regulate and work harder in exchange for less. But here’s some good news: You don’t have a permanent record. Getting fired won’t ruin your life. And as it happens, about 70 percent of all professional adults have lost at least one job by the time they’re 35. This is the best-kept secret in the corporate world: Getting fired happens to everyone.

If you want to overcome this fear, start by building a strong social network. With that in hand, you’ll have the most reliable form of job security you’ll ever need. Meanwhile, remember that job loss is a nearly universal experience — an experience that won’t hurt your future as long as you learn something from it.

2. You’re afraid to ask for a raise

Again, employers want you to feel embarrassed about asking for pay increases. As long as you believe it’s a privilege to work here, you won’t raise your voice and ask for more. But here’s another secret of the professional world: Your worth isn’t just decided by your employers. You also have a say in how much you should be paid. And if it isn’t enough, you have a right to ask for more.

To get past this fear, be calm and persistent. Ignore the feeling that asking for a raise means you aren’t a “team player” or that you’re somehow selfish for requesting a rate that reflects your contributions. And as you negotiate, remember you have plenty of other options outside of this company.

3. You’re afraid the higher ups with ignore your ideas

You’ve come up with a great idea. But you’re afraid to bring it up in your next team meeting because you haven’t yet worked out all the kinks and there may be flaws in your suggestion that you can’t yet see.

If you speak, you might be shut down. What’s worse, the next time you have something to say, those around you will be less likely to listen. Being ignored too often can mean the death of your career.

Instead of shelving your idea, get over your fear by keeping a few things in mind. If you speak with conviction, you won’t be ignored. And even if you are, this isn’t personal. It’s not about you. Do what’s right for your company, put your ego aside and speak up. Then sleep soundly knowing you took a risk for your team and you gave your all, regardless of the outcome.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post 3 Fears That are Holding You Back at Work—and How to Get Over Them, Fast appeared first on Brazen Life.

But fear rarely makes a strong impression. Instead of quaking and counting the seconds until your interview is over, take control of the process from the start by keeping these considerations in mind.

1. Grow up

Job interviews have a tendency to transport us back to childhood, a time when we strove to please our elders and stay out of trouble. But resist this tendency. You and your interviewer are two adults who’ve earned a place in the world and a seat at the table.

You’re going to have a simple conversation. You’re not here to be judged, scolded, punished, tested or cross examined. And if you’re treated this way, you don’t want that job.

2. Clarify, don’t guess

If you don’t understand your interviewer’s question, that’s his fault, not yours. Don’t fumble or mumble your way toward whatever you think he meant. Simply say, “I don’t understand the question. Can you rephrase?”

3. Honesty wins — always

If you have to choose between telling your story in your own words or telling your interviewer what you think she wants to hear, choose the first. At some point, you may be asked to describe your feelings, your plans or the lessons you learned from the past. Think about the question for a few seconds before you speak. Then speak from the heart.

4. You’re a specialist, not a jack-of-all trades

Young candidates often assume that the more they can do, the more they’ll impress their interviewers. They claim to be all-around superstars (hard workers, tech pros, brilliant writers, mathematicians and natural leaders) who turn everything they touch into gold.

Instead, focus on what you really do — the skills you have to offer that others don’t. Let the other things go.

5. You’re not a “social media expert” (unless you are)

You may have a Facebook account, and you may be a Millennial, but these alone don’t make you a social media expert or a social media marketing pro. These are real terms, and if you use them to describe yourself, you’ll need to back up that claim.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do this. Especially if this isn’t a social media marketing job. Focus on your degree in chemistry, your background in art history or your child development experience, and don’t let your interviewer put you on the defensive because you haven’t updated your Twitter feed in a while.

6. Manage your appearance and non-verbal cues

Whatever you decide to wear to your interview, look clean, neat, pressed and sharp. Your clothes should look new, especially your shoes. Your posture should be confident and relaxed. Keep the conversation flowing in two directions. Judge as much as you’re judged, and ask some questions instead of answering each one and passively waiting for the next.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post Job Interview Tips: Because a Strong Handshake is Just the Beginning appeared first on Brazen Life.

Some employers stubbornly place greater confidence in a candidate if someone else (no matter who) wants to keep them onboard. There’s not much logic to this assumption, but there it is.

So where does that leave you if you’re unemployed?

And, even more importantly, how should you approach interviews if you’ve been out of work for a long time?

If you’ve been on the market for six months or longer, get ready for skeptical employers to present you with any of these five questions. Understand what the interviewer is asking and practice your answers prior to the interview so you won’t be caught off guard. (Click here to tweet this list.)

1. Why did you leave your last position? And why did you leave the one before that?

Translation: If she’s out on her own and she’d rather not be, then what is she doing wrong? Maybe the clues lie in her departure from past positions. I’ll ask her about past employers, then I’ll read between the lines and try to determine if she’s a dedicated worker and good performer who’s easy to get along with.

How to answer: Keep your responses positive and focus on what you learned from your positions.

2. Have you been interviewing much?

Translation: Have you been actively looking for work? And if so, how are other employers responding to your resume?

How to answer: Be honest, but recognize that your potential employers will want reassurance that you’ve been aggressively searching.

3. What else have you been doing while searching for a job?

Translation: The employer wants to make sure you’ve been working hard to develop your skills and pursue goals, whether you have a job or not.

Now is a great time to talk about your volunteering gig, the fund drive you organized, the open source community you joined or the family member you’ve been taking care of.

How to answer: Make sure you come off as a busy and ambitious person, not a couch potato.

4. How has your time off affected you as a worker? Will you be ready to jump back in and be a leader?

Translation: The employer is trying to find weak points in your self-description. She’s also trying to get a sense of how you approach challenges, how you might fit in with the company culture and how you would handle the responsibilities of this specific position.

How to answer: Keep your answer as honest as possible. Pause for a few seconds to organize your thoughts before you speak.

5. What can you tell us that might allay concerns about your lack of employment?

Translation: We like you, but we see a red flag. Why aren’t you already employed? What’s wrong?

How to answer: This question may seem upsetting, but it’s actually a brilliant opportunity in disguise. This is your chance to deliver your elevator pitch, the 30-second speech that tells employers about the talents, skills and contributions you can bring to this position that no other candidate can.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post How to Answer the 5 Interview Questions Employers Ask If You’re Unemployed appeared first on Brazen Life.

But, you’re unemployed. You wonder, “Should I let my hair down and enjoy myself? Or do I need to fully invest myself in my job search?” If you want to get the most out of life and be the person you’d like to be — job or no job — keep these tips in mind:

1. Go out

Getting out of the house and away from your screen can be the best job search move you’ll make all week. As long as you aren’t spending money, it’s a good idea to stay in circulation. Keep talking to people. Keep getting dressed, going out and staying busy. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

You may be taking your nose away from the job search grindstone for two minutes, but in the process, you might engage in conversation with a stranger and find out about a new opportunity — or a new industry. You’ll also expand your network by making new friends.

2. Keep an eye on your money

As you stay in contact with old friends, new friends, professional contacts and family, know the difference between a cup of coffee and a walk (good), a free museum (also good) and a ski trip to Italy (not so good). For the moment, accept that you can’t afford some items and activities. Over the long term, these expenses can add more stress than they take away.

3. Don’t be a jerk

While you struggle with the unexpected serving of misery and hardship, don’t make your problems into problems for everyone around you. Share your feelings with those you trust, but don’t snarl at those who make well-intended thoughtless remarks. Don’t lash out in frustration at those who don’t deserve your wrath.

4. Don’t overthink

This can be difficult if you’re experiencing unemployment for the first time. It’s easy to get drawn into a spiral of questions about what went wrong at your last job (why were you laid off instead of the person next to you?), your future prospects and your basic worth as a human being.

But these questions don’t have answers. The more time you spend asking them, the deeper you’ll dig yourself into a hole of fear and self-doubt. When you’ve been staring at your navel for too long and you need to interrupt a harmful thought pattern, get up and do something kind for someone else.

5. Expect to be judged, and rise above it

Unemployment isn’t glamorous. It can — and will — draw abuse from narrow-minded, judgmental types who don’t have a wide range of life experience. Don’t listen. Don’t let fear of a few catty remarks push you into a foolish life decision such as committing to a job you don’t want, staying in an industry you don’t like or passing on an opportunity that would truly make you happy.

6. Stay in touch with the things that bring out the best in you

Identify the people and activities that make you feel most alive, most engaged and most at home in your own skin. Sometimes the job search requires you to plaster on a fake smile, but when do you smile for real? When do you truly feel like yourself?

Make a list of these moments, and the people who make you feel this way, and spend as much time with them as you can — even if it means taking a short break from your job search.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post Don’t Let Unemployment Keep You from Living Your Best Life appeared first on Brazen Life.

The question is, when you step in the door of your new office, what can you do to make sure you stay off the job market for good? How can you make a great first impression and form a lasting, meaningful relationship with your new employers? Start with these seven moves in your first week:

1. Focus on introductions

New employees are often distracted and rushing from one introduction to the next. All this meeting and greeting makes it easy to commit a small social mistake. You might forget the name of a new coworker before the handshake is even over. And you might leave an introductory conversation without saying “goodbye” or “it was nice to meet you.”

Each time you meet someone new, smile, shake hands firmly, maintain eye contact and repeat the person’s name. Then say goodbye before you walk away.

2. Ask to meet your boss

If you’re welcomed and shown to your workstation by a coworker or HR manager, take a moment before the interaction ends to request a meeting with your actual boss. This person may be out of the office or too busy to meet you right now. But find out what’s going on and make plans to meet with her later. Don’t wait for her to come to you.

3. Create a functional workstation

If your password isn’t working or you need to order more paper clips and manila folders, speak up. Don’t let this slide until your second week on the job — that’s a surefire way to fall behind.

4. Make your lunch matter

Your boss or coworkers may invite you out to lunch, and if they do, go. But if not, determine how lunch is conducted. If it’s a social affair, make an effort to join the fun. Don’t fall into the habit of eating on your own.

5. Scope out a mentor

You don’t have to tell this person you’ve chosen them as a role model — at least not yet. But keep an eye out for someone who might be able to teach you how to fit in and earn respect in this culture. (Click here to Tweet this thought.)

6. Scope out bad apples

If you notice employees who seem to bring others down or who seem to be actively avoided, make note of this and think twice before you engage with them. You can get to know them on closer terms as time goes by, but if you value your career, don’t let them become your first and closest friends.

7. Solve a problem or tackle a challenge

If you aren’t presented with a single, clear-cut project during your first week on the job, create one. Clarify your goals and hit the ground running. Don’t let days and weeks go by while you wait to be told what to do.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post 7 Tips for a Successful First Week on the Job appeared first on Brazen Life.

You also try to mind your manners when she opens up about the details of her search process. Here are a few things it’s probably better not to say so you don’t compound her feelings of frustration and isolation (and place a burden on your relationship):

1. “How’s the job search going?” (again, and again)

It’s fine to make conversation and inquire into your friend’s well-being — but don’t ask incessantly.

Some job search days are better than others, but your friend will be on the market every day until she isn’t anymore. If she hasn’t told you she has a job and is starting next week, don’t expect to be provided with updates every hour. In fact, only ask if you have something to offer.

2. “Here’s what you’re doing wrong…”

If your friend asks you for advice, feel free to offer tips and critique her strategy. If she doesn’t ask, don’t attempt to tell her what she’s doing wrong — because you might add to her annoyance or, worse yet, give her misleading advice.

3. “I know a guy who does the same thing you do. He can hardly tie his shoes, but he was hired within a week of graduation for a six-figure salary. You should think about doing that.”

This story can be inspiring if you end it by handing your friend the name and phone number of the manager who hired the guy. But if you aren’t planning to do that, it’s not a good story.

4. “That’s the problem with kids in this economy today. They always (fill in the blank).”

Alternatives include “They never…” or “They think they’re special, but they’re not” and “They’re so entitled.” These are especially toxic if your friend is younger than you.

People don’t love being handed a list of everything that’s wrong with them. They also don’t like lists of everything wrong with their generation.

And while we’re at it, they also don’t love hearing what’s wrong with every member of their ethnicity, their gender, their hometown or everyone from their alma mater or with a degree in their area of study.

5. “On the plus side, you have all this free time now!”

Your friend knows exactly how much free time she has. No need to rub it in.

Try these five statements instead

Words of encouragement will go over better. The following statements show you have your pal’s back, you care and you’re not spewing generic advice:

1. “It’s rough out there.”

This might sound cliché, but it’s actually polite.

2. “Ugh.”

Sometimes a simple “ugh” is all your friend needs to hear. Honest emotion feels good every now and then.

3.  “I’m keeping an eye out for you.”

Having a trustworthy supporter is vital.

4. “I know a guy who’s a complete genius, who graduated at the top of his class in Harvard, and he can’t find work anywhere.”

This puts your friend’s job search in perspective.

5. “I remember when I was laid off and spent months on the job market. It was frustrating and isolating, but it worked out OK. I made it through, and I’m sure you will, too. I’m here if you ever need a sounding board.”

Nothing beats a compassionate friend who’s willing to listen and talk. (Click here to Tweet this thought.)

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post What You Should and Shouldn’t Say to Your Unemployed Friend appeared first on Brazen Life.

In any case, it’s time for you to go. And as you walk out the door, here’s one thing you’ll immediately learn about the path ahead: getting fired sucks. In the initial aftermath, everything from your career to your financial security to your friendships seems threatened.

But getting fired is an important life lesson. Overcoming job loss will teach you lessons that other people simply won’t get the chance to learn. Once the initial shock of being fired wears off, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Here are the five highlights of losing your job:

1. Firings are for bad-assess only

Are you a mouse? Are you a nervous, obedient little handwringer who lives to please and trembles in the face of disapproval? Maybe you were once…but not anymore.

Welcome to a new kind of club. You’re now among those who speak their minds, who get things wrong, who make mistakes, who fight back, who try, fail and try again, and who wear dark sunglasses and rev their motorcycles really loud. Even if you step back into the corporate world at some point, you still get to keep your membership card. Hold onto that card—it may help you. And you’ve earned it.

2. Firings break the walls that hold us in

After you’ve been fired, you’ll no longer fear being fired in the future. And this fear is one of the major obstacles that prevents people from accomplishing the things they really want to accomplish. Once you’re over the first few rough days, prepare to view the world in a broader and more flexible way.

3. Firings demonstrate that you’re growing, learning and alive

Interviewers like to see signs of growth and energy, so they often ask candidates to describe their mistakes and what they’ve learned from them. Then they yawn and roll their eyes while Mousy Miltons (see item 1) launch into rambling stories about the time they almost got a B-minus (oh, the terror!) in English 201.

You, on the other hand, have a real story. Tell it, and bring the house down.

4. Firings help you understand people

Losing your job—or any gloomy experience, really—can teach you what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a sucky experience. This knowledge can take your mind, your relationships, your life and your career to new heights. Empathy is a valuable trait and skill, and it’s easier to understand what others are going through when your own range of experience is wide and deep.

5. Firings are by no means a deal-breaker in most careers

Some of the best and boldest minds in every field have been fired at least once or twice. Why? Because of items 1 through 4. And because those who tend to get fired typically have some passion and recklessness in their bellies to begin with.

Now that you’re back on the market, it’s time for the next step: Channel this messy energy—the brilliant, white-hot star that is yourself—into a job that actually lines up with your skills, personality and true ambitions.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert who provides consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers across every industry. Her blogs and articles appear regularly on LiveCareer, home of America’s #1 Resume Builder.

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The post Getting Fired Is Awesome: 5 Ways Job Loss Can Boost Your Career appeared first on Brazen Life.

For most of us, coworker relationships are pleasant, friendly and warm—but you’re still bound by the rules of professionalism and respectful distance.

 It’s always a good idea—but not always easy—to recognize the line between a true friendship and a working friendship. Respecting this line means maintaining control over how much you share and disclose in the office. It also means you allow coworkers to choose their own level of disclosure when they decide to share with you.

With this in mind, avoid these subjects that stray a little too close to the edge of inappropriate. Try to remove statements like these from your workplace conversations:

1. “So, when will you be moving in together/buying a house/having a second baby?”

Warmly congratulate coworkers on their personal milestones. But while you show interest, be careful with your follow-up questions. Don’t probe. No matter how friendly your intentions may be, if they aren’t welcome, they’ll come off as judgmental and nosy.

2. “That’s nothing. My story is much worse…”

Don’t be a “topper,” especially not at work. If someone shares the details of a liver surgery or a nephew’s car accident, just listen. Show interest with questions that respect the established level of disclosure.

If you feel your own story might help her or shed light on their situation, feel free to tell it. But if you’re just trying to keep the attention focused on yourself, don’t.

3. “Did you hear about the drama between so-and-so and so-and-so?”

A little gossip in the workplace can provide a pressure release, a way for coworkers to bond and a way for newer employees to feel included. But healthy gossip becomes toxic when it involves criticizing someone for behaviors that 1) don’t hurt anyone else, 2) can’t be controlled or 3) may be the result of circumstances the gossiping parties don’t understand.

Snarking about a tyrannical boss is one thing. Snarking about a defenseless, absent coworker who may be facing unknown personal challenges is quite another.

4. “Sometimes I feel hopeless/unhappy/overwhelmed.”

Just as you respect the disclosure levels of others, show the same respect for your own. Don’t reveal anything that may invite judgment or open you up to attack. Just because you work here doesn’t mean you’re obligated to trust everyone around you.

Among friends and family, it’s wise to open up and let those who love you find ways to help you. But at work, this just isn’t the case. In fact, if those around you see your difficulties as a threat to the company and feel forced to choose between one or the other, they’re likely to act on behalf of the company, not you. It sounds cruel, but it happens all the time.

5.  “I know more than you/am better at my job than you/am a more valuable employee than you are.”

You can say this a thousand different ways, and all of them are unwelcome in the workplace. At the very heart of being a jerk lies a desire to dominate, upstage or gain power over others. If you’re really set on doing this, and the reward (dominance) is worth the risk (losing respect, social capital, allies and friends), then go ahead. But as soon as those around you recognize the game you’re playing, it’s over. And you’ve lost.

There’s a smarter way to gain influence and rally others behind you: lift them up. Ironically, the more you give praise, share credit, shine the spotlight on others and raise others above yourself, the faster you’ll rise.

Jenny Treanor is a career advisor and job search expert whose articles appear regularly on www.livecareer.com. Check them out at www.facebook.com/Livecareer or on Google+ for advice and tips on all things career- and resume-related.

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