Career

Feature

• How to Use Facebook So It Doesn’t Use You

  Sure, Facebook’s fun -- until the wrong person knows your business. Veteran tech reporter David Kirkpatrick helps you hoard the perks and avoid the pitfalls.

• Getting Ahead in Hard Times

  The workplace hasn’t exactly been business as usual lately -- and neither should your career-development plan. Here are four ways to succeed in business today.

• The Workplace Workout

  Is work curtailing your workouts? Are your workouts cutting into work? Fix both problems at once with the workout you do at work.

• Starting a Business in a Tough Economy

  It can be done, say our experts, as long as you follow these key steps.

• The Quitting Quiz

  Answer these eight questions about your job, and we'll tell you whether to stick it out, start planning your exit, or hightail it out of there ASAP.

• Olympic Hopefuls: A Roundtable Discussion (Part 2)

  Ever wonder what it takes to be an Olympic athlete? In Part 2 of our discussion, our three athletes talk about the challenges and motivations of being an Olympic hopeful.

• How to Buy a Suit: What Men’s Mags Won’t Tell You

  They make it seem so complicated. Expensive. Fussy. We make it simple, because the fact is: It is.

• Switching Jobs in Bad Times: Should You Make the Leap?

  Love it or hate it, common wisdom says you should hold tight to your job when the unemployment rate is high. Our experts say otherwise.

• Take Your Resume to the Next Level: Video

  Trying to stand out from the crowd? Make sure your video resume follows these guidelines.

• Make Your Resume Stand out in the Digital Age

  These days, a computer may screen your resume before any human does. Here's how to convince R2D2 that you're fit for the job.

• Out-of-the-Box Ways to Get That Job

  In these hard times, any tactic to help you rise above the job-hunting competition couldn't hurt -- could it? We'll show you some smart tricks that have helped men land jobs (and a couple to avoid).

• Return to Work Way Ahead of the Game

  You need a vacation -- without phone and email interruptions. Here’s how to enable your office to function without you and look like a hero when you return relaxed.

• How Shaving Sharpens Your Life

  Shaving accomplishes much more than just removing hair from your face. Here, we reveal the surprising benefits that accompany the right cut.

• 10 Smartphone Apps to Help You Get Ahead

  How to succeed in business? There's an app for that. If you want to be in career-competitive mode while mobile, here are 10 of our favorite applications for your smartphone.

• 2010 Special Report: The State of Careers

  Stocks have rallied (somewhat) and the recession’s “over.” Yet unemployment still worsens. Here’s this year’s playbook for tackling your career goal -- and coming out on top.

• Rocket to the Top of Your Career

  A star astronaut offers a flight plan for astronomical success in any job.

• Smoke out Your Office Enemies Now!

  Which co-workers can you trust and which are out to shut down your career? Use these methods to test the staff and find out who’s on your side.

• Cut for Success? What Your Hairstyle Says About You

  You get just one chance to make a good first impression -- and your haircut needs to be an asset, not a liability. Here are the signals your hair’s sending and why.

• Job Fair Play

  They may be called career “fairs,” but they’re hardly carnivals. Treat them as daylong job interviews -- with multiple suitors -- and you’ll be poised to land a plum position.

ExpertQA

• My colleagues socialize a lot outside of work. Am I obligated to join them? I'd much rather see my non-work friends after hours.

• I am an awesome video game player. I think I’m ready to take it to the big leagues. How do I get into the tournament circuit?

• I'm graduating from college next year and would love to work abroad for a year or two before I settle down into a career here. How do I find (and land) a job in another country?

• I've never given a speech before in my life -- and now I have to for work. How do I get through it?

• I've got a little extra cash coming in after college: My dad is giving me $10,000 to start my portfolio. What's the best way to invest it so I can get the greatest return in this treacherous economy?

• I'd like to launch a blog. How do I get started, and how do I get people to read it? Is it something I can do in my spare time, or do I need to quit my job?

• My office has half-day Fridays in the summer, but the past couple of weeks it seemed my boss worked the full day. Should I be staying too?

• I have a job interview. Do I need to wear a tie? No one seems to wear one anymore.

• The guy in the cube next to me at work has killer body odor. How do I tell him -- without coming off like a jerk?

• I excel in a lot of different sports and love to play them all. I don't know if I want to try to go pro. If so, do I have to focus on one, and at what point? I'm a junior in high school.

• I just got an offer for my dream job from another company. I’ve been at my current job for eight months. Can I take the new job without burning bridges at the old one?

• I'm a funny guy. (No, really!) How do I get into professional comedy?

• I'm often under a lot of stress at work. How can I prevent the pressure from affecting my performance?

• How do I get on a reality-TV dating show? Looks like a great way to get to know some hot ladies!

• My one-year review is coming up, and I heard that well-groomed employees are more likely to be promoted. Why is this? Shouldn't my work performance be the only factor?

• In my neck of the woods, I'm the video game king -- I'd like to turn my awesomeness into a career. Are there any potential jobs for people good at video games? How do I prepare for one?

• Let's say I need to clean up my 5 o'clock shadow before I leave work for a date or business dinner. Is it OK -- in terms of proper etiquette -- to shave in the men's room at work?

• I want to improve my on-the-job productivity -- but I think I need to organize my work space. How can I better set up my station to accomplish this? Are there any must-haves (in/out baskets, staplers)? Is there a certain way I need to set up my papers?

• I know there are job interview questions that are commonly asked (“Where do you see yourself in five years?”, “What’s your greatest weakness?” and so forth). But how do I ready myself for queries that come way out of left field? I want to be able to score with every answer I give.

• There’s a high probability I’m about to be laid off. Is there anything I can do to maximize my severance package?

• My company’s holiday party is coming up. Frankly, I’d rather not go. Do I really need to attend? And if so, is there anything special I need to know before I get there?

• My company just gave me a cell phone -- and I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to be expected to check email and be accessible by phone at all hours of the night, on weekends and vacations. How do I set limits or at least find out what kind of limits I’ll be able to set?

• What are some up-and-coming industries these days on the job front? I’m rethinking my career plans, and I want one that helps put me ahead of the curve. What should I be prepping for?

• I just landed a new job. How can I make my work space look professional, like it belongs to someone who’s worthy of climbing the ladder?