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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.

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

The Importance of Credit

July 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

After the grueling years of learning your trade at college or university, you’re finally ready for that first job. You’ve bought an interview suit, practiced your sales pitch and think you’re ready. Sometimes, it’s what you don’t know that can stop you for your goals. When was the last time you checked your personal credit reportfor errors or looked at your score? Most companies will look at your credit to see what your character is before hiring a new graduate or employee. If you have late payments, liens or poor credit, you may not get that dream job.

Credit reports are checked by numerous agencies when you leave college and start a new job. Leasing agencies for your new pad, utility companies, direct.tv service, insurance agents and the telephone company will want to know if you’re credit worthy. When you come up short with bad credit, you’ll pay large deposits. If you plan to buy or rent furniture, you’ll need a good credit report before you furnish your first apartment. A new job may mean a new vehicle, but if your credit score is low, you could pay up to 20%interest for a bank to grant you a car loan.

Checking your personal credit only takes a few minutes, and you’ll have options to correct any mistakes. Start your life after college with the knowledge that everything is in tip-top shape, just like your degree. Don’t stop at one credit report, get all three with each individual score before you interview around town. Read each credit report thoroughly to determine if the credit ratings and score will pass inspection. Be prepared for the really hard questions during an interview with confidence when your credit is in order. Get that new TV and furniture with a gleaming credit report, then sit back with a smile and enjoy your new job.

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

Finding a retail job

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Waitrose jobs are on demand this year in 2011 and there is no doubt that they will be still in 2012 and afterwards. Waitrose application form will help you apply for job vacancies at this company.

This may be the single highest factor that’s holding the online retail environment at bay, while allowing the more traditional outlets to maintain a place in the market. Of all the different types of industries in the world, the retail industry is probably the industry that faces the public most often.

Most people don’t have to go to the bank every day or even every week. But most people buy something almost every day. It could be a pack of chewing gum from a shop one day and vegetables from a super market the next followed by clothing from the mall the day after. And the fact that the retail market is highly competitive means there a need for competent manager, purchasers, stock room personnel and all the other positions that a typical retail enterprise would have.

Working in retail can be quite fun if you have the right personality. A person needs to be a people person and have good manners. Sometime customers can be difficult and the job itself can become stressful, so a person with a calm demeanour would be an asset. As the market place becomes more technology centered, there will probably be more IT related jobs popping up in the retail sector. The retail landscape is likely to continue to change.
Job seekers register your CV to main UK job boards such as learnist.org, reed, cv-library.co.uk and etc.

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Job Search Tips for Freshers

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Finding a job is getting harder every other day in the UK and its extra hard if you don’t have any work experience. Christmas jobs can be ideal if you are one of those who hasn’t got enough experience to find permanent job vacancies.

A right and proper career advice is essential.

Step 1 Create CV and Cover Letter

The purpose of a CV is to provide potential employers with an outline of:

• Your contact details
• Your skills and abilities
• Your education
• Your work experience
• Your references

You should use a CV template to build a professional resume in order to best highlight your strengths and abilities. A cover letter is intended to summarise your strengths and indicate your suitability for, and interest in, a vacancy.

Step 2 – Finding a Vacancy

Searching for a traineeship can be a challenging and involved process so you must be organized in your approach. Employers advertise their willingness to take on a trainee in a number of ways. Local papers can be a great place to find traineeships, as many employers like to hire someone who lives close to their place of business. If you would like to find a traineeship with a large company, visit their website. Very often, large companies will have a JOBS link with information about their traineeship programs. Online job seeking sites will usually include a search function so that you can search for trainee positions. Talk to friends and family about possible traineeship opportunities – word of mouth can be a great way to find work.

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Making the most of job fairs

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Job and career fairs can be great places to hunt for a job and build your network too! Anyone, whether well experienced and looking for a change or fresh graduate, can find a suitable opening through such fairs. However, there are far too many companies featured in job fairs and you need to make the most of the time you spend there to maximize your chances of landing a job. Here are some tips:

1. Register for the job fair in advance and, if possible, get a list of the companies that will be present and what jobs they will be offering.

2. Shortlist the companies and jobs that interest and visit these stalls first at the fair.

3. DO some research on the companies that interest you so that you are aware of what they do, their employment and HR policies and so on. This will help you in answering questions that their recruiters may ask.

4. Chatting with recruiters that don’t belong to your field of interest will be an absolute waste of time, so don’t!

5. Prepare a short but impressive introduction of yourself. Instead of just placing your resume on the desk, take the time to quickly introduce yourself and hand over the resume to the recruiters personally. It leaves a better impression!

6. Be confident! Nervous answers, fidgeting and stammering will not convince the recruiters to hire you.

7. Be thorough in your knowledge of yourself! You should be able to give quick answers about your experience, education and strengths. Don’t ever hesitate while answering.

8. Collect business cards from the recruiters you have approached so that you can follow up on your application and improve your chances of landing a job.

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

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.

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Looking for a job online

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The internet has made searching and applying for jobs easier than ever before. There are several sites that carry job vacancies from across geographies with detailed job descriptions that you can use to decide if a job is good for you. They provide a direct link between you and potential employers, increasing the likelihood of you clinching an interview. However, there are certain ‘rules’ that you need to follow in order to make your online job hunts more effective. Here are some tips:

1. Although job search sites are more or less comprehensive, it is better if you expand your search to other options like individual sites of organizations that mostly have a ‘careers’ section.

2. Keep your expectations real. There must be hundred of thousands of candidates looking for internships so you may need to ‘try, try again’ before you land one.

3. Make sure you understand all the features that job sites offer. It will help you make your profile look more attractive and make the best use of searches.

4. Follow ups are important to clinch interviews as they show just how serious you are about getting an internship. So keep in touch with employers to whom you have sent applications.

5. Try placing a ‘Job wanted’ ad on the job search site. Many employers go through such ads before posting their vacancies so you may get a jump start.

6. Different employers have varied requirements on how they want to receive an application. Take the time to read through instructions and send in an application that meets all the employer’s guidelines.

7. Recruitment agencies have their own sites where you can upload your resume so look these up as well to make your job search comprehensive.

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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.

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