Looking at a recent CareerBuilder survey, I suppose many other job seekers share the same face-in-the-palm level of embarrassment about some of their missteps. For the survey, employers were asked to name some of the most notable interview mistakes they’ve witnessed, and they gave some whoppers. As outrageous as some of these missteps are, I’m sure we’ve all had interviews we wish we could take back. The professional equivalent of acid-washed jeans, if you will.

Here are some of the most entertaining responses:

• Candidate wore a business suit with flip flops.
• Candidate asked if the interviewer wanted to meet for a drink after.
• Candidate had applied for an accounting job, yet said he was “bad at managing money.”
• Candidate recited poetry.
• Candidate applying for a customer service job said “I don’t really like working with people.”
• Candidate used Dungeons and Dragons as an example of teamwork.
• Candidate filed fingernails.

Even if you haven’t exhibited interview behavior on this level, you might have still left an unfavorable impression behind. According to employers, these are the most common mistakes candidates make during interviews:

• Dressing inappropriately
• Appearing disinterested
• Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer
• Appearing arrogant
• Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview
• Not providing specific answers
• Not asking good questions

In the full release, vice president of human resources Rosemary Haefner offers several tips on how to avoid being the candidate who is singled out for strange behavior. Perhaps the most important piece of advice she gives is to practice. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to ramble or say something you’ll eventually regret. Read the rest of the release for more tips and examples of interview faux pas.

So how about it, readers–who else can admit to some embarrassing interview behavior? Surely I’m not the only one.

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So the concept of assessing your best career choices by clicking on colors seems fun but, well, too simplistic, doesn’t it? I think it’s fair to say the average person (if I might call myself average) is skeptical of the process. The whole idea of CareerPath’s Career Color Counselor sounds odd: You go to the site and follow the instructions to click on colors that you find most and least appealing. Then after five minutes of clicking, you get an assessment of yourself and what careers are best for you.

Some of my co-workers and I took the test. Our results were fairly similar, and under normal circumstances that would be problematic, but we all have creative backgrounds so they should be similar. And although I don’t understand how color preference is indicative of career options, it seems to hold true for everyone. CEOs who took the test showed similar traits. It wasn’t as if they all chose the boring, primary colors of power ties as their favorites. Says USA Today:

[When] 877 members of USA Today’s CEO panel took an online personality color test, they were three times more likely to favor magenta than the public at large, three times less likely to select red, and 3½ times less likely to choose yellow.

And, as USA Today points out, the test might highlight some qualities of CEOs that we don’t consider.

[The] color test shows that the typical CEO is more sensitive and private than the typical person and is less likely to be a perfectionist or to be dominant and more likely to be emotionally unstable.

You can take the test here to see if the results reflect your current occupation or if they suggest a career you’ve always wanted to try but have been unable to. The fun of the test is that it takes five minutes and might remind you of untapped talents that you’ve forgotten about over the years. Or it might suggest careers you hadn’t considered. When you’re looking to change careers or find a job, you need all the inspiration you can get, and this is one more tool to get you there. (Or, at the very least, the next time you’re standing in front of a wall of paint chips, trying to choose a color for your living room, you’ll have even more reason to doubt yourself!)

Try out the Career Color Counselor and let us know what your results are.

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The number of long-term unemployed  people (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) grew to 6.1 million in December 2009, according to the most recent BLS data. That means that four-in-ten unemployed workers were jobless for 27 weeks or longer. That’s means of all the people who are unemployed in the United States, 40% of them have been looking for work for six months or longer. Looking at those staggering numbers, it’s not difficult to see why so many people are getting desperate or simply giving up on their searches.

A word of caution: While you might be willing and able to do just about any job, it unfortunately could backfire on you if you admit this to employers or are constantly hammering your contacts for leads. Watch this video from CareerBuilderTV to learn more.

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But, all too often, if a name isn’t listed on a job posting, the job seeker resorts to an old-fashioned salutation like, “To Whom It May Concern.” What they don’t know, is that this approach can sometimes be considered the kiss of death.

Impersonal salutations like “Dir Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern,” show an employer two things. The first is that you lack the initiative to locate the appropriate contact; the second is that you show a disregard for any research needed to be done on your part. In short, employers will think you’re lazy and your cover letter will end up in the trash.

One of the most common questions we get is how to find the name of  a hiring manager, particularly at a large company. Here are four ways to find out the addressee of your cover letter:

1. Read the job posting
A no-brainer, but still needs to be mentioned. Sometimes you’ll get lucky, and the job you want to apply for will list a contact right in the posting. But even then, you sometimes need to dig a little deeper. Say, for example, the listed contact is “Chris Smith.” You don’t know if Chris is a man or a woman. If you can’t find that out, it’s safe to address your letter “Dear C. Smith.” That way, you’ve made it personal, but you haven’t offended anyone.

2. Call the company
If a job posting does not list a contact name, call the company. Yes, it really is that simple. Call the main number listed for the company and ask for the name of its corporate recruiter or hiring manager. Or, call and say you were wondering who manages the position to which you’re applying. That way, your materials get sent directly to the person who needs to see them.

3. Look on the Internet
A simple search on your favorite search engine can often do the trick. One search and anything from company directories to employer background information to stock market share could pop up. Try searching “ABC company hiring manager” and see what you find. The Internet is a wealth of information, if you just put in a little effort to find out what you want to know.

4. Ask your personal contacts
We always try to stress the important of networking in your job search. Surprisingly, many people ignore that advice in situations like writing your cover letter. Let’s say you find a job that interests you, and there’s no contact information listed. You go to one of your contacts and have the following conversation:

You: “Hey, do you happen to know of anyone who works at ABC Company?
Contact: “Actually, I used to work there five years ago.”
You: “Really? I’m applying for a position there. Do you know how who I might report to?”

Or maybe the conversation goes like this:

You: “Hey, do you happen to know of anyone who works at ABC Company?”
Contact: “I don’t, but I know my colleague worked there before coming to work with us .”
You: “Really? Do you think I could have his or her name to see if they can help me find out who to send my application materials to?”

You get the picture. The bottom line is everybody knows someone — you just never know until you ask.

If you try all of these methods and you’re still coming up short, Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark, co-authors of “Cover Letter Magic” and two of the nation’s most reputable career coaches, examine a few possible salutations and a few key points to remember about each one.

• Dear Sir/Madam. All-purpose and inoffensive, although it might be perceived as stodgy and old-fashioned.
• To Whom It May Concern. Another standard; has the downside of being impersonal and old-fashioned.
• Dear Hiring Executive (or Hiring Committee). Formal, but appropriate.
• Dear Human Resources (or Human Resources Representative). Acceptable only if you’re writing to a “blind ad” that lists only a P.O. box and you cannot call to get a specific individual’s name.
• Dear Hiring Authority. Acceptable only if, despite your best efforts, you have been unable to uncover the name of the non-HR person to whom you’re sending your résumé.
• Good Morning (or Good Day). A bit more up-to-date, but it reminds us of junk-mail greetings that try (unsuccessfully) to be personal.
• Re: Job Title You’re Applying For (leaving off a specific salutation). A useful method for replying to want ads, when you truly don’t know to whom you are sending your résumé. We think it’s preferable to the “Dear Human Resources” greeting.
• No Salutation (begin your letter immediately after the inside address). Again, perfectly acceptable for want-ad replies. Might be considered an improvement over old-fashioned, nonspecific greetings.

Editor’s note – 2/16/2010: We appreciate all the comments our readers are leaving. To gauge more hiring manager opinions, we took this debate to the hiring managers themselves on our FaceBook page for Employers: http://www.facebook.com/CBforEmployers The verdict so far? It’s not a deal breaker. While using general addresses are not deal breakers, the lesson, however, is to make sure you personalize your cover letter as much as possible when you can because the more you can do to catch a hiring manager’s attention, the better!

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Look at your local community colleges, universities, training institutes and workshops to see what’s available to you. You can also check online webinars or even check out materials from your local library. We’re not talking about anything bizarre here, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a course that fits your budget, skill level and schedule.

With that in mind, we suggest everyone take courses in these subjects:

Accounting
Money matters. Whether or not you earn a satisfactory salary or you’re barely making ends meet, you’re dealing with money. You have bills to pay and things to buy. Yet, a surprising amount of people know how to handle money. Come tax season, they throw all their documents at a financial specialist, hope they don’t owe any money and never understand their financial situation.

• On a personal level, you need to know your credit score, budget and other related financial matters. Remember, employers check credit scores during the hiring process.
• How can you accept a job offer if you don’t know that the salary will cover your living expenses?
• In most industries, once you reach a certain level (such as a managerial role), you have some budget issues to deal with. Covering your team’s costs, saving the company money and handling raises aren’t as simple as you might think.

Technology
Every professional today needs to feel comfortable using a variety of technology. Understanding e-mail and online browsing are expected skills is most professions. But are you confident in your skills with word processors, spreadsheets, presentations and other software? Are you proficient on both PCs and Macs? How much HTML can you write or understand? Do you know how to do more on Facebook and Twitter than just log on?

Identify your skill level and then identify areas of improvement. Some people might never need to understand HTML, but they will use PowerPoint every day, so look at what others in your industry or workplace are doing. Not only will you gain knowledge that could make your daily tasks easier and less mysterious, but you’ll more confident if you find yourself searching for a job or angling for a promotion. You won’t have to rush to learn that skill just to catch up with everyone else.

Public speaking
One of those oft-quoted statistics that I’ve never seen supported is that public speaking consistently ranks as the number one fear of most people—even ahead of death. I don’t know if it’s actually true, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were. Why? Because the world can be divided into people who like giving public speeches and those who don’t. Some people need three types of medication just to keep from passing out before an audience consisting of three people. If you can learn how to calm your nerves and give a speech or presentation, your life will be much easier. It might sound silly but it’s true. Even if your job description doesn’t involve giving speeches, you’ll find yourself presenting to a group of people someday—mark my words. It just happens. And if you’re an Anxious Annie, you’ll dread that moment from the time you find out. It will drive you mad. When public speaking becomes second nature, or at least isn’t a daunting task, you’ll realize how much time you’ve wasted fretting over nothing!

Writing
How much time you spend sending e-mails? These messages count as business communication, though few people realize it. If ur messages lack punctuation AND DISREGARD STANDARD WRITING guidelines no 1 will take u srsly!!111 In an era where we can exchange e-mails with people for months without ever meeting them in person, your writing skills are often the first and most important judge of your talents or professionalism. Plus, spend enough time in the working world and you’ll realize many people have no writing skills. I’m not saying they can’t write like Hemingway—I mean they just don’t have the training or skills to write effectively, which means people who can write stand out for all the right reasons.

Marketing
Corporate and nonprofit organizations alike are concerned with brand management and getting their messages to the world. Regardless of your industry and specific position, employers like for everyone to stay on message and have the same goal. A marketing course can give you some insight into how the leadership at the company is thinking. Not only will it help you understand what’s going on, it will enable you to approach your job in a way that might get you noticed or at least appreciated.

Sales
Earlier I said the world can be divided into people who are public speakers and those who are not. I’d also be willing to divide the population into salespeople and non-salespeople. I was not blessed with the innate ability to be a salesperson and am in awe of the people who are. However, I learned more than I expected from courses that integrated sales techniques into the curriculum, even if only to show us that these skills exist. The interpersonal and persuasive skills teach you to relate to people on an individual level, which is important in any job—even if you’re sitting at a desk all day. At the very least you’ll learn how to detect someone who is trying to schmooze you.

Management
Not all managers know how to manage. If you haven’t learned this by now, trust me, you will. People who are great at their job and know what they’re doing are rewarded with promotions. Problems arise when these people are promoted to a level where they have direct reports. If they have no clue how to delegate responsibility or give tough love every once  in a while, they’re not doing their jobs. Don’t be that person. Learn the ins and outs of managing, even if you’re not close to that role yet, because you want to be prepared when the day comes. Worst case scenario: you can pick up the slack when your incompetent boss doesn’t deliver.

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Our guest blogger today will help you do just that.  Joe Turner, the Job Search Guy, who is the author of  “Job Search Secrets Unlocked” and “Paycheck 911”  tells us four tactics to try in 2010.

4 Resolutions to Rock Your Job Search in 2010
By Joe Turner, The “Job Search Guy”

We all know 2009 was a devastating year economically for the United States.  The good news is that next year, 2010, may promise recovery in some sectors.  The bad news is that the high unemployment rate will continue to be with us for quite some time. 

Sure, there will be fewer jobs available, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities.  Companies still do business and they still need talented employees to help them better compete during the coming year.

Are YOU a value-added employee? 

Remember this: There is a place for you in this evolving economy, but only if you think smarter and act differently than in the past. 

Here are four resolutions to maximize your chances of scoring a job in 2010:

Resolution #1: Get in the game
Forget passivity and become proactive. Stretch yourself, get out of your comfort zone and aggressively search beyond the listed jobs you find on the Internet. This requires a game plan and the expectation that you’re going to win this game. This is no time to commiserate with those who want to bemoan how bad it is out there.  Decide instead to excel and achieve at your job search.

Do something every day to further your search. Positive action diminishes anxiety and other negative feelings. This goes beyond survival of the fittest. For anyone who wants to succeed, it requires an iron will and determination. You will not be defeated by this job search process. Continually remind yourself that you will prevail and you will outlast this challenge.

Resolution #2: Think and talk ROI 
Guess what? The old ways of selling your skills and time no longer work in this tough economy.  Now more than ever, you need to demonstrate how you are (or can be) a problem solver for your employer or client.  Employers don’t hire people to be liabilities on their balance sheets. They hire people to be assets (to provide a Return On Investment) and to solve a problem. To do this, demonstrate clear benefits that you offer them.  

Take a look at your skills, experience, abilities and talents. Determine how you can best help the employer either make money or save money. Turn your skills and talents into benefits that an employer understands and appreciates. Pull out examples from your past work experience. Ask yourself, “How did my work save time or money, make money or otherwise improve the overall situation for my employer?”

Education and skills, while valuable, do not translate into benefits. Instead, answer this question: “What can I do for this employer that my competitors can’t?”  You have a unique set of skills, experiences and talents. Turn them into a “Unique Selling Proposition” that sells your biggest major asset that you alone can offer your next employer.

Resolution #3: Widen your network
In the past it was easier to find work by responding to ads found on the Internet job boards or corporate Web sites. Now it’s foolhardy to limit yourself to Internet ads and expect success. Here’s why: According to the latest annual Source of Hire Study by CareerXRoads, only about 12% of new hires come from the job boards.  As many as 27%, however, spring from internal sources. That means networking.

Start widening your network both in person and online. Begin by making some new contacts each week through local events or related professional meetings. Online, you can use social networking sites by adding your bio and profile. Brightfuse, LinkedIn and Facebook also have “groups” features that allows you to seek out and join other groups, not only in job search, like my VIP Club, but also industry and professional groups that you can introduce yourself to.  The “Ask/Answer a Question” feature is another good way to establish your expertise among a selected target group.  Twitter has also become an excellent way to follow movers and shakers plus make yourself known to a wider playing field. 

That said, don’t forget family, friends and neighbors who might know someone. Job search is about connections.  The more connections you can make, the higher your chances of success.

Resolution #4: Get inoculated against negative messages
Succeeding at a job search is a mental process requiring us to be “on” at the flip of a switch. Unfortunately, negative input can poison your outlook and lead to fear, discouragement, anxiety and other negative emotions.

Start by turning off the “noise” from the outside world as much as possible for at least a space of time each day as you concentrate on your search.  That includes the news and the inevitable negative commentary in the media.  Associate with positive people and protect yourself from all types of negativity. A job search can be a big undertaking and you can’t afford to be exposed to the negativity of others, whether it comes from friends, relatives, print media, radio or TV. Read books and articles that motivate, encourage and inspire you. Avoid anything and anyone that doesn’t fall into this category.

A former recruiter, Joe Turner spent 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers.  The author of “Job Search Secrets Unlocked” and “Paycheck 911,” Joe also hosts his Job Search Guy Radio Show as well as weekly resume writing workshops to thousands of job seekers across North America.  You’ll find Turners’s free tips and advice on landing a job in this tough economy at: www.JobSearchGuy.com

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One new beginning many Americans are are hoping to have are in their careers — whether finding new employment or switching industries. A proven asset to any worker is training and education and there are many — and quick — ways you can obtain new professional knowledge. Watch this video and learn how you can be in a new career by this time next year.

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I was pleasantly surprised, however, by a new CareerBuilder survey about employers’ plans to cut back on their 2009 holiday parties. While 11% of employers don’t plan to give a holiday party to employees though they had in previous years, almost 50% plan to give holiday parties – either on a smaller or the same scale as previous years. Although budgets are still tight, there’s a reason employers are trying to spread a little holiday cheer.

Experts predict that when the job climate improves, those employees who did survive mass layoffs and cut paychecks will start looking for greener pastures … and that has employers worried. Keeping those celebrations might be just one of the things employers need to do to show their top performers that they are valued. A survey by Chartered Management Institute (CMI) shows that two thirds (65%) of managers across the UK believe that Christmas parties are important in helping to improve employee engagement.

The survey, of 1,337 managers, found that 66% claimed that the office Christmas party is a vital way of recognising the hard work undertaken throughout the year.  A slightly higher proportion of managers (71%) also believe end of year celebrations should continue in spite of the recession.
 
But the findings also show that managers recognise the need for responsible reward and celebration.  When asked about public perceptions, 58% agreed that an expensive party could damage their organization’s reputation.  The research also discovered that half of those questioned (50 per cent) believe that a “team lunch is better than an organization-wide party.”

If you are lucky enough to be treated to a holiday office fete this year, make sure you remember that what happens at the office party does not stay at the office party.

The Creative Group, a creative services staffing firm, reports that nine out of 10 advertising and marketing executives (92 percent) they polled said workers’ office party antics can affect their career prospects. When asked, “To what extent do you think an employee’s behavior at an office holiday party can affect — either positively or negatively — his or her career advancement prospects?” 44% said greatly and 48% said somewhat. Only 8% said not at all.

The goal is to use the holiday party — no matter how big or small — as an opportunity to give yourself some positive work PR. “There often are many influential people in the room at office holiday parties,” said Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group. “Although these gatherings can be festive, it’s important to keep in mind that they are still work events. You want to exhibit poise and good judgment throughout, no matter how casual the celebration may seem.”

Farrugia noted that office holiday parties are an opportune time to network within your company. “In many businesses, there may be few chances to mingle with corporate executives and others throughout the organization,” she said. “Employees should use these events to form positive connections with colleagues outside their usual circle. Being well-networked internally can help professionals perform better and enhance their value to their firms.” Something to consider if you are treated to some merriment by your employer this year.

If you’re one of the almost 50% of workers who will not have a holiday party this year, however, watch this clip from The Office so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.

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Here’s an interview with Graham on WGN where he gives job seekers some advice for their job searches.

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As regional blog Torontoist explains, publishers at newspaper Toronto Star recently announced editing positions–possibly as many as 100–would be outsourced. This news naturally upset the editors. As a result, one editor decided to take his or her red pen to the memo announcing the outsourcing and make a point. The editor marked up the outsourcing announcement to show why editors are necessary in-house members of the paper’s team. [I should point out that the pen-wielding editor sent this memo directly to Torontoist anonymously--or at least they're not printing his or her name. So we don't know who did this.]

The bleeding memo is here.

We can all learn a few lessons here, I think. Though I’m sure you can add even more (and please feel free to do so in the comments). The lessons aren’t just about leaving a job gracefully, either–they’re about dealing with workplace conflicts and conversations with your boss.

1. Keep discussions in-house
   I’m not taking sides in this debate, but making your case to a third party and in public can backfire on you. This person’s goal might be to pressure the boss into rethinking his decision, but few people give in to public embarrassment.
2. Quantify your contributions
   Public airing of grievances aside, this editor did successfully make the case that he or she and presumably the rest of the editors know their trade. When you tell the boss you deserve a raise or a promotion, don’t just say, “I deserve it.” Have proof.
3. Keep the focus on the job, not on the boss
   If you’re frustrated with your boss because you’re not earning as much as you think you deserve, you haven’t received a promotion in a couple of years or you’re experiencing some other disagreement, don’t take it out on him or her. While this memo’s intent is about preserving editing jobs, the decision to choose the publisher’s letter to mark up makes it more about attacking his writing skills than about the outsourcing. As stated on the Torontoist, the union leader described the benefit of on-site collaboration between editors, writers and other staff members. That point gets lost in this example.
4. Don’t ruin your reputation
   Again, without taking sides, I can say that the eager proofreader was smart enough to remain anonymous (or at least remains anonymous thus far). When we feel jilted, we all say some pretty crude things. Haven’t most colleagues complained about their bosses during happy hour? But we also know that when we’re interviewing for a job, we don’t badmouth our previous employer. Had this editor proudly signed his or her work, you can assume few employers would’ve ever wanted to hire someone willing to publicly bash the company.
5. Don’t be afraid to make your case
   As explained in the above post about connecting with your boss, you shouldn’t be afraid to talk about what you want at work. If you’re confused or concerned about a decision that affects you, have a discussion with the boss. If you approach the conversation with a respectful attitude, your boss won’t view your concerns in a negative way. You might even be seen as someone who is proactive in his or her career, and that could benefit you in the long run. If you always keep your concerns to yourself, you could end up regretting your silence for the rest of your career.

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