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Deduct Job Hunting From Taxes – IF you Can

August 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Sometimes when looking for work, people have to buy things. Sometimes a person needs nice clothes for the interview and business attire, or sometimes people are required to buy a uniform for the job. Some will do payday loans for this but guess who gets to claim the cost on their federal taxes?
If the answer was the uniform, it’s correct. Clothing can be deducted if the person can prove it wasn’t possible to use the clothing for anything other than work. Then, once the job has been landed, purchases like waterproof rain gear, steel-toed work boots, coveralls, tools, etc. Remember, IF the person never wears them except for work they can be deducted.
Travel, hotel and meals can be taken off if looking for work out of town is required. However, do NOT bring the spouse, kids or even the dog, or the expense can’t be used. For instance, if flying to Phoenix for a job interview, don’t bring the family and turn it into a weekend vacation. None of the expenses can be used if anything personal happens. Try not to mix business and pleasure and be sure to keep all the receipts.
Some Costs are Tax Deductible, but Not All

Costs like printing and mailing resumes can be tax deductible and so can fees from head-hunting and temp agencies that help find people a job. Tuition and fees for employment-related classes can also be deducted.
Health insurance premiums are tax deductible if they haven’t been paid with pretax moneys – employer paid insurances are usually paid with pretax money. However, they must amount to 7.5% of total adjusted gross income in order to be deducted.
If job interviews are reached via public transportation, that can be deducted from taxes, too. If one must take a cab, get a receipt. Only use a car if the car isn’t used for anything except the job – not looking for work, but after the job has been gotten and worked, then someone can use a car.
Make sure to get informed on tax law changes so the most money as possible can be returned to the filer.
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Preparing for Your Job Interview

August 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

MIAMI - MARCH 27: Juan Carlos Soto, who lost ... 

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

A job interview can be a stressful but exciting time. In order to improve your chances of getting the job that you want, there are a few tips that will help you prepare for your interview and make the best possible impression on the company representative.

1) Prepare your answers.

It is not always easy to anticipate what the interviewer will ask. But there are several common interview questions that you should be prepared to answer. Do some research into the most popular interview questions and how to script your answer for maximum effect. When you are prepared to give the interviewer the information she is looking for, you can make a better impression on the company.

2) Research the company.

The interviewer will ask you questions about the company to see what you know about the company’s history and the position you are applying for. In order to be completely prepared, you should learn as much as you can about the company’s history, recent accomplishments and how the position you are interviewing for ties into the company’s success. You can also go to canada 411 to get some useful information about the company you are applying in.

3) Have all of your paperwork ready.

Arrive at your interview site at least 30 minutes early to fill out paperwork. Have copies of your resume and references on you to give to anyone that may need them.

You can reduce the stress of a job interview by being prepared and having everything you need on you when you arrive at the interview location. Bring your own pen and paper, take a deep breath and be ready to give the best interview you have ever given.

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Fonts and Success: Resume

June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Typeface sample of Courier New

Image via Wikipedia

The choices are infinite — a collection of colors, slants and serif curls. Programs generate unique styles, offering strokes that are far superior to the traditional Roman lines, Gothic swirls that shouldn’t be denied. You’re searching for the perfect font, trying to redefine your resume. All information has been carefully selected; all facts have been secured. Each paragraph is economical in its wording and its revelations: you have the skills (and experience) listed to make an impression.

You simply now crave the right design, and you believe you’ve found it tucked within your text editor. It’s bold, bright and certain to please.

Instead, however, it simply fails — with an employer dismissing your paper before he even reads it.

Resumes are meant to represent your life. They detail the accolades you’ve earned, the talents you possess. Trying to prove such talents with a creative (but ultimately dizzying) font will serve no purpose, however — beyond branding you as incompetent.

Employers expect precision. All words must therefore be shaded to fonts that are easy to read. The common choices of Times, Arial and Courier must be selected. While many may assume that these offer no value, they instead ensure that pages are seen — with managers able to quickly scan all bulleted points, rather than stumbling over an excess of color. They avoid any frustrations and project wisdom. They must be used.

Celebrating creativity is a worthy trait. Applying that trait to a resume, however, will only end in disaster. You must restrain your need to be unique — allowing your experience to instead distinguish you from others, not your font selection.

 

 

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Over 50 Crowd’s Resume Needs a Spruce-Up

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
With so many people around the world looking for work, it can be very hard for someone over 50. Especially if they’re coming out of retirement to make more money. Employers can really pick and choose their new hires, with so many on the market. Younger, fresh-from-college applicants are beating out those who have more experience. As Doug Fay, Portland restaurant owner, says, “an older person is going to quit in a few years, and hiring someone I know I have to replace soon just isn’t the way I do things.”
The Congressional Research Service finds that 11.5% of job-seeking adults over the age of 50 have spent at least two years job-hunting unsuccessfully. Unemployment insurance only lasts 99 weeks (in most states), so every day there’s someone over 50 who stops getting any kind of income. Since 2007 older adult unemployment has grown to 6.7% – double what it was four years ago. What can they do?
Hire Someone With Experience First

One thing they can do toward being more hirable, is to update their skill set. Some skill sets have changed over the not-to-recent past (e.g. waitresses need computer skills for ordering) and an applicant needs to know exactly what skills will be required of them so they can be able to perform them.
Only 13% of unemployed over 50 actively use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. These social networking sites can be very handy tools for getting the word out. On Twitter, post the message of the job-hunt and ask for people to ‘retweet’ the message to their followers. If all goes well, the ad for work will be seen by hundreds of people that day.
Almost 40% of younger workers polled said they used their last employer as a helpful reference, compared to only 23% of older workers. Hard feelings and resentment were the two most common reasons why older workers wouldn’t do the same. However, contacting previous employers can get someone referrals and possibly fill openings with them. Plus, it gives the interested new bosses someone to contact.
Our un-asked-for advice; don’t give up!
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Getting along with a tough boss

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are several factors that contribute to your job satisfaction at work. The work environment, your pay, benefits, colleagues but, most importantly, your boss greatly influences just how happy you are with your work. However, if you get stuck with a bad boss, then your life at work could be miserable. One needs to be very tactful in handling situations that arise from having a short tempered and hard driving boss who could be very unforgiving of faults and mistakes. Here are some tips to follow if you way to survive a tough boss!

1. No matter what the situation, you should remember that you are a professional and should behave in a befitting manner.

2. You should seek out someone on a higher post who has been in the organization for a while and would be able to guide you. One always needs a good mentor at work, even if it’s not your boss.

3. Never let your relationship with your boss affect your efficiency and productivity.

4. Keep your temper under control at all times. You don’t want to end up in a heated argument with the person who could fire you!

5. Find a way to release built up stress and frustration. Bullying colleagues doesn’t count! Try yoga or boxing, whichever suits your taste.

6. Get in touch with the HR department and ask for a transfer to a different department where your skills would be equally utilized.

7. Abusive language or aggression is never acceptable in an organization, even from bosses. Report such behavior as harassment to the HR department.

8. Maintain a journal containing details like date, kind of behavior and supposed reason behind it. You can use it when reporting abusive behavior to HR.

9. If working with your boss is beginning to affect your self esteem levels and is causing depression, then your job simply isn’t worth it! Consider looking for work in other companies.

Filed Under: Interviews, Job Search Tagged With: , ,

Making a good cover letter

March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Your resume is your first introduction to a potential employer and plays a huge role in getting you an interview. People recognize the importance of a good resume and pay a lot of attention to drafting it well. There are several companies that provide professional resume drafting services too! However, people often tend to ignore the cover letter that they send as part of their job application. While the resume contains facts and details about you, the cover letter is you addressing the employer yourself. It says a lot about your professionalism. Here are a few things you should keep in mind in order to make a good cover letter:

1. Always send a cover letter along with your resume to make a complete application.

2. Customize. Instead of creating a ‘one-size-fits-all’ letter, personalize each cover letter based on what job you are applying for.

3. The first paragraph of your cover letter should be interesting and most convincing. It should let the employer know why you are a best fit for the job.

4. Sounding professional and being clichéd are two different things. Use easy to understand yet professional language instead of clichéd jargon like ‘Please find enclosed’.

5. End your letter with a request for an interview and let the employer know that you will be following up on the application. Follow ups increase the likelihood of you getting an interview than if you just wait for the employer to respond.

6. It is a must that your letter should be neatly formatted, easy to read and contains no spelling or grammatical errors. So check and re-check!

7. Limit your letter to a single page. Keep it simple, concise and to the point, effectively addressing the job requirements.

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Interview Tips That May Make a Difference in Getting Hired

February 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In this day of millions of people looking for work, it’s more important than ever to make a good impression when on an interview. A person needs to stand apart from the crowd in some way that’s beneficial to the company being applied to.
There are a few ways to make sure the interview gets as much mileage as wanted by the applicant and the interviewer. For instance:
  • Start the interview off right by being early. Five to 15 minutes early is best.
  • While waiting for the interview, don’t update Facebook status, check email or worse; talk on the phone. Make the time’s focus the new job, not personal agendas.
  • Offer the resume before you even take a seat. It shows that the applicant is prepared and focused on the meeting’s reason for being.
  • Start the conversation for the interviewer. Mention something about office décor or the photographs of family sitting around. Be warm and conversational without over-doing it. Don’t compliment the interviewer (I like your shoes) because that’s a personal remark that should be left out of a business meeting.
  • Give a short pause between questions and answers. A quick response may sound glib or cocky. Take the pace from the interviewer; if they’re calm and relaxed, go with that. If they’re seemingly in a hurry, be sure to offer complete answers without going on.
  • Don’t talk too much about yourself or go off topic. They want informed responses but keep it business-like and short.
  • Be prepared to tell the interviewer why their company was chosen; what attracted the applicant to apply there and how they can be an asset to the company.
  • Stick to the subject at hand; you. It might be helpful to write down three main reasons they should hire you and stick with that.
Ask for a business card if they haven’t given one yet. Offer a firm handshake and thank them for their time before leaving.
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The Successful Resume

January 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It may have been a while since you have had to write and submit a resume.  With jobs being sought through the Internet you may have to practically write out your resume over and over again.  Most jobs that you will be applying for will require your resume.  Even the very basic of resumes tells a lot about a person.  At the very least, the boss will have an idea how much education you have and if that education was geared towards this particular career.  He will also be able to see how much experience you have had in this field.  All of these factors can persuade a boss to call you in for the interview.

Check your resume frequently.  Keep a copy of it in a folder on your desktop.  If your experience changes, add it.  If you take additional classes or go to further schooling, make sure you add it onto your resume, even if it was not school for the career you are seeking.  Some bosses are looking for someone versatile and your minor in English may just come in handy some day.  For example if your degree is in psychology and you have had three kids since you last submitted a resume, this is life experience baby.  In some colleges, life experience counts towards actual college credit.  Even the most basic of skills should be placed on the resume.  The boss may be looking for a trouble shooter.  The more you know, the more valuable you will be to the employer.

You may want a professional to look over your resume.  There are people who specialize in just writing the resume.  You can contact someone, and for a fee of course, they will clean up your resume so that it looks more professional, making sure that it reflects the real you.

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I Like Me

January 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You need confidence to go on a job interview.  You need to be able to convey to a boss that you are the right person for the job.  You also need to be able to do this without nervousness, without making him feel that you are unsure of yourself.  You have confidence in your skills.  You have been trained well.  You did well in school and you are more than comfortable with every aspect of the career you have chosen.  This is important.  If you are knowledgeable and well versed in your career, you will not stumble over your words, and you may have more confidence when discussing the particulars of your job, as you know it like the back of your hand.

Meeting new people, especially a potential new boss, can make you a little nervous.  Before going on the interview take some time to take inventory of yourself.  You know you can sell your skills, but can you sell you?  Do you like yourself?  Do other people like you?  Are you easy to talk to?  Are you a good negotiator?  Are you someone people can come to and you can help with a problem?  These are all important skills in getting a job.  There are a lot of people out there who may be knowledgeable about your career.  The difference could very well be in your ability to let the boss know you are the right person for the job.  Let him know that you work well with others.  Let him know that you take criticism well and learn from it.  Let him know that you can taken on a problem and figure out a solution with very little guidance.  These are extremely important qualities to a boss.  A self motivated, highly trained individual, who works well under pressure and works well with others is a blessing for any company.

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Clearing Your History

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

More than ever, bosses are screening and re-screening potential employees.  They are pouring over resumes sent in to find just the right person for the job.  Once they have narrowed down the resumes to the few people they will actually speak to, they make the phone calls.  If you receive a phone call from a potential boss, it is time to go on the interview.  You will actually meet the boss, see the company and have a chance to let the boss know you are the best person for the job.

If the interview goes well you may be called back in for a second or even a third time.  These are screening interviews and you may see different supervisors or persons with expertise in the area of employment for which you are being considered.  Once the boss makes a decision or at least narrows it down to two or three people, there are some final steps.  The company may do a criminal background check on you, as well as a credit check.   At some point during one of the interviews, the boss may ask you if there is anything else you would like to tell him or her, or if there anything he or she should know.  If there is something that may come up from your past be honest.  A thorough background and credit history check can show a lot about a person.  If a boss sees something through one of these checks, and he or she already knows about it, he or she is less likely to let it have a negative effect.  They would not be checking up on you if they were not really interested.  When you disclosed whatever it is, you would have been told thank you anyway.

As with anything else, honesty is now and always will be the best policy.

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