Job Seekers

Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?
- By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer
There are many reasons you might have left your last job, and not all of them are rosy. Perhaps you worked for a toxic boss or you met obstacles on your way up the ladder. Or maybe you were just plain bored with your work. Read More...

Six Style Tips for Interview Success
- By Robert DiGiacomo, Yahoo! HotJobs
In a tight job market, what you wear to an interview could be the difference between getting an offer and getting rejected.

"By not really investing in your appearance, it can actually cost you the job," says New York City-based image consultant and personal stylist David A. McKnight. "Nine out of 10 employers say, when all else is equal, they select the most attractive candidate, or the candidate that presents themselves the best." Here are six style tips to ensure your look is a career asset, not a liability.

10 Interview Fashion Blunders: What Not to Wear to the Interview
- By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer
Any article about what to wear to an interview might well begin with a qualifying statement covering the extremes in various states (New York and California, for example) and industries (technology, manufacturing), which are possible exceptions to the normal rules of fashion. But it might surprise you to learn that those extremes have, over the last couple of years, begun to move closer to the middle ground. Read More...

Deal or No Deal: Negotiating Salary
- By Cheryl Ferguson, for Yahoo! HotJobs
Talking about money during the hiring process should feel nothing like being a contestant on a nerve-wracking game show. Job candidates who prepare before the interview and adhere to some specific principles during the negotiation will eliminate much of the guesswork in the equation.

Before the Interview know what you want and prioritize what's most important to you in your next role -- money, more responsibility, work-life balance, a shorter commute, corporate culture -- before you begin interviewing. Use the salary benchmarking tool on Monster or locate an industry association contact who can provide you with relevant compensation information. This will also help you know that jobs you apply for pay well enough for you. Remember, however, that variables such as company size, economic conditions and availability of qualified candidates in the market need to be factored into your information-gathering process Read More...

What's Your Resume Objective?
- By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert
The first step to creating a high-impact resume is determining what you're trying to accomplish. With a clearly defined career objective, you can write a resume that conveys the experience, skills and training that best serve your overall professional aspirations. Read More...

Declutter Your Resume in Five Steps
- By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert
In preparation for a job search, you dust off your old resume and tack on your most recent job, new skills and training. But without editing or deleting old information, your resume becomes a hodgepodge of outdated accomplishments, awards and skills.

It's time to declutter your resume. Clean up your act in these five steps.

Keywords for Executive Resumes
- By Wendy S. Enelow, Monster Contributing Writer
Keywords are nothing new. Previously known as buzzwords, keywords are words specific to a particular industry or profession and have two vital purposes in your job search. Read More...

Adjust to Your New Job
- By Anya Martin, Monster Contributing Writer
Your first week at a new job is supposed to be exciting -- the start of the next adventure in your career -- and you've been looking forward to doing something different. Perhaps you've made a shift into a new kind of business, leaping from law to finance or from a technology firm to a medical practice.

Whatever the case, starting a new job means you may be confronted with a range of challenges that might include new software or a fresh operating system. You're sure you're up to it, but suddenly you're faced with a learning curve that seems as steep as Mount Everest.

Don't panic. Remember those first days on your last job. You probably felt just as nervous, but after awhile, all those intimidating tasks became second nature. Here are some tips to get you over the mountain.

Build a Great Working Relationship with Your Boss
- By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer
One of the worst things you can do when you start your new job is to make your supervisor look bad for hiring you. After all, your boss is key to your current on-the-job satisfaction and to your future success in the organization -- and perhaps even beyond.

If there ever were a relationship for you to invest in, this is it. So here are five ways to get off to a great start with your new supervisor. Your efforts now will lay the groundwork for a productive working relationship over the long haul. Read more...

How to Handle Being a New Hire
- By Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs
Starting a new job can be exciting -- and a bit nerve-wracking. In addition to having to master new tasks and understand new procedures, you'll have to navigate an often complex social network that exists at the company.

Use these 10 tips to make your transition from new hire to trusted colleague. Read more...