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

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: , ,

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.

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

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.

Filed Under: Job Search Tagged With: , ,

The importance of internships

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

College students often under-estimate the value of a good internships taken up before graduation. It goes a long way in helping students understand their course, introduces them to the corporate work environment and adds great value to their resume helping them get better jobs. Most organizations prefer hiring fresh graduates with some experience which can be gained through internships. Here are some things college students should keeping mind while looking out for internship prospects:

1. Plan your future before you start looking for internships. Apply for internships that you believe will contribute most to your plans.

2. Aim to undertake at least one internship during your college term. If you can manage more than one, then do so!

3. Keep your salary expectations real. Internships usually don’t pay too well and some don’t pay all. You will be taking them up for experience and knowledge alone.

4. Even though you might still be a college student, you are expected to behave like a professional where you are interning. You should also expect to be treated likewise.

5. You need to convince organizations to hire you as an intern just like for a regular job. So make sure your application is customized to match the internship you are applying for.

6. It will be a known fact that you are working as an intern to learn so don’t hesitate to ask questions and clear doubts as you work.

7. Use your time at the organization to network and gain valuable contacts who could help you secure a good job post graduation.

8. Try your best to give a great performance during the internship and acquire an employment recommendation from the organization’s HR department. It could prove useful during post graduation job hunts.

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: , ,

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: , ,

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.

Filed Under: 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.

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

Making Yourself Marketable for Today’s Job Market

February 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many of us, in today’s employment market, may be looking for a new job or just looking to advance in our current career position. This can sometimes be a frustrating proposition. However, by taking a few steps to increase your job marketability, you may find yourself with your dream job.

There are many ways to improve your marketability, whether you are actively searching for a new job or just exploring your options. So what are the things you should be doing to improve your skills and marketability?

Look at your marketable skills. Are they in high-demand in today’s job market? The market has changed dramatically in just the past few years. Factors that come into play are such things as high technology demands, location changes and so on. You should educate yourself as to what the current market is demanding. Find out what the jobs are in the highest demand.

Keep your education on par with the job market. This may mean taking classes from online schools or even enrolling in a degree program to obtain new skills or just to make sure your current skills are keeping up with advancements. You may also consider attending workshops and seminars.

Consider expanding your actual job responsibilities. This will teach you new skills that will make you more attractive for advancement in your current position or a possible new job. This means you may have to step out of the comfort zone of your job and take a few risks.

Ask for feedback about your skills from not only friends, but other professionals. Your friends may tell you only the positive things you want to hear, but other professionals may provide a more realistic opinion.

And finally, make sure your resume is up-to-date and professional in appearance. Hire a professional resume writer if you feel it is necessary. These people can make your experiences and skills shine!

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

If You Smoke Cigarettes, You Can’t Work Here

February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Hiring practices have changed, but now there’s a precedent new action being taken – employers aren’t hiring people who smoke on their free time. It’s long been argued that what people do on their free time shouldn’t affect a person’s being qualified for jobs, and this is America, where we have rights and freedoms to protect us.
It’s not just an argument, people all over are wondering if it is even legal to demand that employees have to behave a certain way when they’re not on the clock, or that they can’t do something that’s legal. As  much as some don’t like it, tobacco is legal, and it’s unconstitutional to force someone to stop doing what is legal.
There are many arguments; for one, employers don’t want to hire people who make poor choices. Or that they want to reward people who have acceptable lifestyles without having to support those with bad lifestyle choices.
Employers Take the No Smoking Rule too Far – or Have They?

Cigarettes themselves are a huge cost, and medical costs for smokers is typically higher than for non-smokers. According to federal estimates, smokers annually cost employers $3391 per year, on average, in increased healthcare costs and loss of production. The truth of this statement has yet to be proven, as there are many smokers who never call in sick, and there are non-smokers who have serious health problems. It’s not like hospitals are full of smokers only.
Whether it’s fair or not to disregard someone for a job because of tobacco use doesn’t matter if the courts are upholding this kind of decision, and they are. Soon enough, some day, someone will start a class action law suit to protect the right to do something legal.
Because of the recession employers can really pick and choose their prospective employees, as hundreds apply for each opening. It won’t be hard to enforce the new rule, especially if people want a job bad enough. It’s going to make people mad and make others happy, but it’s here and it’s real and it’s right now.
Filed Under: Job Search, Mannerisms Tagged With: , , , , ,
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