Job Hunting Basics

Whether you’re searching for your first job or your last, finding your perfect job is never easy. Browse our job search library to learn all the job-hunting basics you’ll need to get started.

Showing 316 articles

What to Do In Between Jobs: 23 Ways to Earn Income and Stay Productive

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Finding yourself out of work can feel a little nerve-wracking—it's like hitting the pause button on your career. The good news is that this pause doesn't have to be idle time. If you're wondering what to do in between jobs to help pay the bills and impress future employers, you're in the right place. This in-between phase can be your golden tick...

How to Find a New Job: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Are you seeking better career growth, improved work-life balance, or a more fulfilling profession? Whether you’re employed or in between roles, there comes a time when you might decide to search for a new job. Job hunting can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming, but we promise that our tips on how to find a new job will simplify the process. ...

Job Search Elevator Pitch Examples for Students

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

If you've ever seen an episode of "Shark Tank," you have seen an elevator pitch example in action. It's a short and engaging way to describe a business, product, or service. If an entrepreneur got into an elevator with a high-profile potential investor, they could describe their business in a minute or less, just enough time to reach their destinat...

How to Use ChatGPT for Job Hunting

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

In today's job market, the fusion of AI into your job hunting strategies is not just about following a trend—it means joining a revolution. Consequently, understanding how to use ChatGPT effectively is becoming a crucial skill for job seekers, transforming daunting tasks into streamlined processes. A Monster poll on attitudes to AI in the workpl...

What Is a Social Media Background Check for Employment?

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Spoiler alert! Your online presence is now as crucial to your job search as your resume. What you share on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, or TikTok speaks volumes about your personality and professional potential. A quick online search reveals that a substantial number of employers routinely use a social media background check to s...

11 Free Career Aptitude Tests to Help Match You with a Fulfilling Job

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

If you're entering the job market for the first time or considering a new direction, taking a career aptitude test is a smart way to explore your options and find a profession that suits you. These tests are invaluable because they cut through the noise and directly match your skills, interests, and personality with potential job roles. Plus, you c...

How to Follow Up on a Job Application to Land More Interviews

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Starting your job search is an exciting moment—you're sending out your resume, and there's a buzz of anticipation about what's next. But after you hit "submit," the waiting game begins, and it can be a bit nerve-wracking. We get it - and we're here to show you how to follow up on a job application in a way that gets results. Why follow up, you a...

What Do Employers Look for in a Background Check?

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

You can swear on your dog and promise up and down that you're a trustworthy person, but chances are, a potential employer isn't going to just take your word for it. For many roles, a background check will likely happen before they officially welcome you aboard. So, what do employers look for in a background check? Well, that depends. What dings ...

How to Find and Ask for a Job Referral

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Conventional wisdom says that a job referral equals a fast-track to getting a job. And in many cases, it's absolutely true. In fact, you're five times more likely to get hired through a referral. As a referred candidate, you're often considered a better fit and will typically stay in your role longer than other hires. But having a job referral d...

What Do References Mean in Your Job Application and How Do Recruiters Use Them?

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

You've aced your interview, and the job is almost yours, but the fate of your employment could rest in the hands of others: your professional references. Just when you thought the hiring process couldn't get more nerve-wracking, it does. So, what do references mean? In a nutshell, they add a layer of trustworthiness and depth to your job applicatio...

Top 15 Black Professionals’ Networks to Help Support Your Career

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

In today's increasingly globalized world, the power of networking cannot be overstated, especially for minority professionals navigating the complexities of corporate ecosystems. Black professionals’ networks serve as invaluable platforms, cultivating spaces for mentorship, opportunity, and advancement. These organizations are more than just social...

How to Navigate the Job Market for Blue-Collar Workers

By Daniel Bortz and Jennifer Verta

Looking for a job isn’t always straightforward, especially for blue-collar workers who face unique challenges. With technology and industry changes happening constantly, it can be tough to keep up. In this article we explore what has changed in the most notable blue-collar industries. And we provide you with some simple strategies to help you na...

How to Network in College and Future-Proof Your Career

By Dawn Papandrea & Venus Gentile

Finishing college and getting ready to enter the workforce can be an exciting and busy time. However, after working hard for four (or more) years, finding that first job can be challenging, especially in a competitive field. Therefore, knowing how to network in college is crucial to getting in front of the right people. You've likely heard the w...

What is a Professional Reference and How Can it Help You Secure a Job?

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

When applying for jobs, your resume and cover letter list your skills and experiences. But anyone can claim anything on paper, right? This is where a professional reference comes in. It’s someone who’s actually seen you in action and can confirm that, yes, you do indeed have the skills and background you’re claiming. They can vouch for your abil...

What Information Can an Ex-Employer Give Out in a Reference?

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you dreading including your past employer as a reference? Know the answer to “What information can an ex-employer give out?” might put your mind at rest. Allowing potential employers to contact your former employers is a critical step in the hiring process, however not always mandatory. This practice aims to establish credibility, confirming...

Who to Use as a Job Reference: Relationship Examples

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Looking for a new job? Then you know the excitement and nerves that come with polishing up your resume, crafting a knock-out cover letter, and gearing up for interviews. But wait - there's another piece to this job-hunting puzzle that's your secret weapon: picking suitable references. Relationship examples typically include professionals who can vo...

The Best Time to Apply for Jobs

By Dawn Papandrea & Jennifer Verta

Being in the right place at the right time can be a reason why some people get hired over others. But how do you know if you’re timing your job search just right? Is there actually a best time to apply for jobs? After all, there are so many moving parts like staff turnover rates, seasonal needs, and earnings reports, not to mention the state of ...

Answers to the Top 4 Questions About Remote Work

In the wake of the digital revolution, the traditional workplace has undergone a significant transformation. One of the most notable changes is the shift towards remote work. As more job seekers look to work from home, a myriad of questions arise. To help navigate this new landscape, career expert Braxton Wood has dug into the top 4 most frequently...

All the Career Fair Tips You Need to Succeed

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you heading to a job fair soon and looking for career fair tips to make the most of the event? Career fairs are unmissable opportunities both if you’re entering the job market for the first time or if you’re a more experienced candidate. Recruiters couldn’t be easier to reach than at these occasions. But you need to make sure you interact wi...

Security Clearance Explained

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

When we hear the word “security clearance”, Hollywood’s influence makes us automatically think about CIA agents and an intricate espionage case. The truth is that over four million Americans hold access to some level of secret information. And they’re not all CIA agents! In this article, we’ll tell you all about this government authorization use...

What is Online Networking and How Can it Benefit Your Career Success?

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

We live in a constantly evolving digital age, and connecting remotely with people from all over the world has never been easier. With the widespread use of social media and other online networking platforms, we can interface with others at the click of a mouse, build relationships and access new job opportunities and resources from just about anywh...

Jobs for People with Disabilities: How to Choose the Best One for You

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

According to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, one in five working-age Americans suffers from some kind of disability. Of those, KPMG research estimated that 17% were born with their disability, while the other 83% acquired their condition later in life. And while more and more companies are making it a priority to offer jobs for people with ...

The Best High Paying Careers in Education

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

The potential careers in Education and training are so varied that deciding which path to take might, at first, be intimidating or simply confusing. Our intention with this article is to give you some clarity and help you individuate which education careers best suit your professional skills and aspirations. Workers in education and training sha...

The Best States to Live in for Your Career

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

Just think of the glitz and glam of Hollywood, the peaceful sunsets in the Midwest, and the hustle and bustle of New York City. You can find just about anything you want somewhere in the United States and its territories. But which are the best states to live in for jobs? Once you settle on the best state to live in, you’ll need to decide which cit...

Explore Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Virginia

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Historic Virginia was the first permanent British settlement in North America. After Jamestown was officially established on the southern shore in 1607, Virginia was given its domain status by Charles II - hence its nickname, "Old Dominion." Aside from its rich history, the picturesque state is known for its breathtaking and distinct landscapes. Th...

Start Your New Career in One of the Best Places to Live in Utah

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Aptly nicknamed the "Beehive State," Utah has one of the fastest-growing economies in the U.S. Moving to Utah is an excellent choice if you're looking to relocate and start a new career. Not only is it one of the happiest states in the country, but it's also one of the safest. The best places to live in Utah offer their own distinct combination of ...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in South Dakota

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Discover the best places to live in South Dakota, where the cost of living is affordable and great job opportunities await. Expenses for housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation in the Rushmore Region are, in fact, cheaper than the national average. And if you aren’t a fan of spending a lot of time travelling to and from work and would rat...

Find Work in One of the Best Places to Live in South Carolina

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

The southern state of South Carolina has nearly 200 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline dotted with lush barrier islands. With the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains to the northwest, it's no wonder that people from all over the country choose to move here. In addition to its natural beauty, residents benefit from a thriving economy, excellent qual...

The Best Places to Live in Oklahoma to Start a New Career

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Are you looking for the best places to live in Oklahoma for a new job? Known as the "Sooner State," Oklahoma is famous for its Native American heritage, country music, college sports, warm southern hospitality, and some of the best barbecue in the country. Furthermore, you'll benefit from the states booming economy and diverse job market. If you're...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Washington State

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Discover what the best places to live in Washington State are, their high-demand jobs, average income, house values and more. Known as the “Evergreen State” due to its abundance of forests, Washington has many natural wonders, rich wildlife, and over half a million businesses in several different industries. Mainly due to its great education system...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Wyoming

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Affordable costs of living, beautiful scenery, and great tax systems are some of the perks of the best places to live in Wyoming. Life is certainly less crowded here than in most states. After all, it’s the least populated state in the country and over 91% of its land is classified as rural. Thanks mainly to the famous Yellowstone National Park pri...

The Best Places to Live in Wisconsin When You're Job Hunting

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Wisconsin is known for its vast farmland, 15,000+ lakes, outdoor activities, and cultural events, including Summerfest—one of the largest musical festivals in the world. If you’re searching for a new place to live and work in Wisconsin, you’ll have plenty of choices. The best places to live in Wisconsin range from tranquil suburbs to large metropol...

The Best Places to Live in Pennsylvania if You're on the Job Market

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Are you looking for a new place to call home in Pennsylvania? The best places to live in Pennsylvania include both large metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and smaller cities with tons of historical charm. In your free time, you can enjoy Pennsylvania’s many museums, outdoor adventures, and natural spaces. You’ll also be close t...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Oregon

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

If you’re considering relocating and are wondering how to pick the best places to live in Oregon, we’re not surprised. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place where outdoor recreational options are endless thanks to beautiful mountains, forests, beaches, rivers valleys, high deserts, and volcanic plateaus? With just over four million people, Oregon is...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in North Carolina

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you thinking about a move to North Carolina? You’re not alone. North Carolina is ranked fourth for net migration in the U.S. But what is driving so many people here and what are the best places to live in North Carolina? Here are some of the crucial factors: Job opportunities. North Carolina is home to the Research Triangle Park (RTP) the...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in New York

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Known as the "Excelsior State," New York is one of the most diverse and exciting places to live in the United States. Ranked among the most famous places around the globe, New York State is distinguished for the sprawling metropolis of New York City, also known as "The Big Apple." However, if you're looking to find some of the best places to live i...

Find Work in the Best Places to Live in New Mexico

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you thinking about relocating to New Mexico? This state of just over 2.1 million residents in the southwest U.S. has a lot to offer newcomers and long-term residents. So much so that you might need some help to choose among the best places to live in New Mexico. But first, let’s go through the reasons why “The Land of Enchantment” is worth movi...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Montana

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Let us tempt you with the idea of finding a job in one of the best places to live in Montana. It’s a large but not overcrowded state with abundant open spaces, a solid and rapidly growing economy, very low unemployment rate and interesting job opportunities. Called “The Treasure State” because of its rich mineral reserves, in fact, it’s the only st...

The Best Places to Live in Mississippi to Find a New Job

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Known as the birthplace of Delta Blues music, Mississippi is a soulful and charismatic state distinguished by its charming towns, cotton plantations, hearty cuisine, and warm Southern hospitality. Famous for its fertile soil, Mississippi is also an agricultural powerhouse. The catfish-farming industry here contributes significantly to the economy. ...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Minnesota

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Finding the best places to live in Minnesota doesn’t have to be a challenge! Discover Minnesota’s top locations for quality of life, average income, services, and number of jobs available in this article. Also known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, Minnesota presents a diversified economy and has been elected one of the 10 best states to live in for ...

Find a Career in One of the Best Places to Live in Michigan

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Michigan is known for being at the heart of America's automobile industry and famous for the birth of Motown music. However, if you're searching for some of the best places to live in Michigan, the “Great Lake State” has so much more to offer. For starters, Michigan is home to some of the country's most abundant natural beauty and provides a high q...

Find Work in the Best Places to Live in Maryland

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Maryland is the ninth smallest state in the country, but we assure you that you’ll find plenty to your liking in its 10,460 square miles. Maryland is often referred to as “America in miniature” since it accommodates almost everything you can find in the rest of the country. Here is what the best places to live in Maryland, “The Old-Line State”, hav...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Hawaii

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

If you want to work in a place where once clocking off work, it feels like you are on vacation, then Hawaii might be the right destination for you. In this article, we’ll show you the best places to live in Hawaii that offer jobs matching your skills and needs. With a median household income of $83,173 per year and average housing value of $536,400...

How to Use Your Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Developing your emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is essential for a successful working life. When you have healthy levels of emotional intelligence in the workplace, you're better able to build strong relationships with coworkers, resolve conflicts and manage challenging situations more effectively. When our e...

How Long Does It Take to Get a Job?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

I get this question all the time: How long does it take to get a job? And I totally understand that you want a new job and you want to get hired next week! (More like yesterday!) And you’ve been working it and hustling to make it happen: tweaking your resume, feverishly applying to jobs online, polishing your elevator pitch, and pounding the paveme...

The 9 Best Cities for Millennials

By Omar Sommereyns, Monster Contributor

What do Millennials really want out of their cities? This question has become all the more relevant as this generation—now exceeding Baby Boomers in size in terms of adults living in the U.S.—contains many people in their 30s who may want to settle down with a solid career, a family, and a permanent home. But what matters most to them when relocati...

When to Apply for Summer Jobs: A Timeline

By Peter Vogt, Monster contributor

Curious about when to apply for summer jobs? We've got the answers. Soon you’ll be trading lecture halls for work spaces and go from writing term papers to making paper. The countdown clock is ticking to find summer jobs for teens and students—and there are already many of them up for grabs on Monster, but you’ll need to get going. Right now. Wh...

How to Score the Best Summer Jobs

By Sally Buffalo, Monster contributor

The best summer jobs can line your pockets with a paycheck during the sunny months—and get your parents off your back—so you'd better get ready now. The youth labor force (people aged 16 to 24) skyrockets between April and July each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's not exactly a surprise. It's summer vacation time, and y...

How to Get a Union Job

By Omar Sommereyns, Monster Contributor

When President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Only a fool would try to deprive working men and working women of their right to join the union of their choice,” he was trumpeting a message to protect the laborers of the United States—and ensure they have an effective voice in the workplace for years to come, as people today continue to seek out how to ...

How to Ask for Feedback After Job Rejection

By Moira Lawler, Monster contributor

Three weeks after you interview for your dream job, an email pops into your inbox: “We regret to inform you that you haven’t been selected for this position.” You try to handle the news gracefully, but you need to know: Why exactly didn’t you get the job? You need to know how to ask for feedback after job rejection, and we're here to help. You can—...

Can You Get an Internship After College?

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

If you've recently graduated from college, chances are you've asked yourself a slew of questions like "What can I do with my major?" or "Do I have enough experience to find the job I want?" By now, you're likely aware that getting an entry-level job can be challenging in such a highly competitive job market. So, can you get an internship after coll...

Graduate Programs and Hiring Schemes: What You Need to Know

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Whether you've just graduated or are about to, you're likely thinking about how to transition smoothly from years of academia into your professional life. With so many options available across all types of industries, from entry-level jobs to internships, how do you know what's right for you? If you're looking for a structured career path that allo...

Top Reasons an Employer Didn't Call You Back

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

For many of us, submitting a job application and getting no response from an employer is worse than getting their application rejected outright. Was there a technical error? Did my submission accidentally get lost? Did aliens intercept it? Considering your confidence is shaky at best when you’re job hunting, it’s no wonder you immediately jump t...

Need a Job Now? Follow These Essential Steps

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

We hear you loud and clear: You really, really need a job now. In order to find one, you’re going to have to hustle—the good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Monster is all about helping you maximize your job search. (Hey, we don’t like to waste time, either.) The main thing you need to remember is to treat your job search like it’s a...

A Personal SWOT Analysis Can Help Your Career

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

If you’re feeling stuck career-wise and want to shake things up, running a personal SWOT analysis—the popular model used to analyze businesses—on yourself can help you figure out next steps. And, it’s a lot simpler to do than you might think. Read on to find out what personal SWOT analysis is all about, how to do it and what you can learn about ...

The 5 P's of Job Hunting

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Job hunting can feel like an epic journey with dozens of twists and turns that keep you awake at night. Enough of the roundabout—it’s time to put a stop to your on-again off-again job search and lay down some concrete steps that actually lead somewhere. Marketing has what’s known as the 5 Ps—product, price, promotion, place, and people—that serv...

Perform a Skills Assessment in 6 Easy Steps

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

A skills assessment is deceptively tricky. Many job seekers have a hard time taking a step back, looking at themselves in the mirror, and scrutinizing what they see. If you’re not sure what to look for, how exactly are you supposed to stand out from the zillions of other candidates? And we’re not just talking about your job interview attire—we’re t...

Your Work Values Can Help You Find the Right Job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Think about why you chose to do the job you do. Money? Autonomy? The chance to work for a good cause? These are just a few examples of work values that can influence your career path and job satisfaction. Being conscious of these core values—the importance, worth, or usefulness of something—can give you much greater odds of not only avoiding a job ...

The Myers Briggs Career Test Can Help You Find the Right Job

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

If you’re not sure of what you want to be when you grow up, there are a number of tools and assessments that can help you identify some potential jobs. One of the most well-known is the Myers Briggs career test, officially called the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test. The test was invented by the mother-daughter team of Katharine Cook Brig...

A Returnship Can Help You Rejoin the Workforce

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

You left your job a few years ago to raise your children or care for an aging parent. Now you’re more than ready to restart your career. But how do you approach potential employers when you have a substantial gap on your resume? Companies are finding a solution to this scenario that benefits both themselves and employees. It’s called a returnship. ...

Are You Job Hunting? These Are the Best Places to Live in New Jersey

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

The state of New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states, but it also has many small towns and villages. If you’re looking to settle down here, you have plenty of options. Some of the best places to live in New Jersey are larger cities where you can find a great variety of jobs, as well as key historical and cultural sites. But if you’re...

How a Letter of Recommendation Helps Your Job Search

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

There’s no nice way to say it: You’re up against some stiff competition. Whether you’re looking for a new job, applying for admission to graduate school, or vying for a scholarship, you need to stand apart from the throngs of other candidates. One way to do that? A strong letter of recommendation. What Is a Letter of Recommendation? A letter ...

Find Work in the Best Places to Live in Ohio

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

When you move to Ohio for a job, the most important names you need to know are Browns, Reds, Cavaliers, Guardians, Bengals, Blue Jackets, and Buckeyes. Current residents might tell you not to worry about the best places to live in Ohio, but you’d better pick your sports teams carefully! But it really doesn’t matter where you are; you can root for a...

The Best Places to Live in Connecticut for Your Career

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Located in southern New England, Connecticut is known for its breathtaking fall foliage, prestigious universities, and quaint coastal communities. From the New York City suburbs in the southwest to the quiet rural towns in the north, Connecticut has one of the most diverse landscapes and array of communities in New England—all within a small are...

Look for Jobs in the Best Places to Live in West Virginia

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Have you ever wondered why West Virginia is known as the Mountain State? The answer can be found in the rolling Appalachian Mountains that encompass the state, lending West Virginia its characteristic rugged landscape and lush green forests. West Virginians love their state for its strong sense of community, friendly people, and low cost of livi...

The Best Places to Live in Rhode Island for a New Job

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Rhode Island may be the smallest state by land area, but you’ll find big opportunities here. Nestled between Connecticut and southern Massachusetts, Rhode Island is called the “Ocean State” because of its 400 miles of coastline. If you move to Rhode Island, you’ll love its beautiful beaches, safe communities, great food, and thriving arts scene....

The Best Places to Live in Nevada When You're Job Searching

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Are you looking to find a new place to settle down in Nevada? While Nevada may be known for its blackjack tables, roulette wheels, and slot machines, it has much more to offer its residents, from favorable tax conditions to hours of sunshine and good weather. The best places to live in Nevada are close to spectacular scenery, thrilling experiences,...

Find a Job in the Best Places to Live in Kansas

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

Kansas is everything that makes the United States feel like home. It’s truly the heart of America, located in the middle of the country, halfway between California and New York. It’s got something to interest everyone. You can experience nature, visit the state’s historical sites, and soak up arts and culture in Kansas. If you like an urban atmo...

The Best Places to Live in Missouri When You're Job Hunting

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Looking to find a new home in Missouri? The best places to live in Missouri have a large variety of jobs, as well as a good mix of culture, history, and nature. You can hike past waterfalls and springs at the Ozark Highland Area, kick off the fall at a harvest festival, visit legendary music venues, and admire sunflower fields at the Columbia Botto...

Find Work in the Best Places to Live in Indiana

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Indiana is often referred to as “The Crossroads of America” for its central location in the Great Lakes region and its widespread highway corridors that take you anywhere you want. However, Indiana is also an excellent place to settle down and find a job in any field you like. Keep reading to discover what the best places to live in Indiana have to...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in Vermont

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Vermont is located in northern New England, nestled between upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and the Canadian border. It’s known as the “Green Mountain State” for its majestic mountains, lush green forests, and picturesque landscapes dotted by quintessential New England towns. What makes Vermont so unique? For starters, it’s the m...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in Nebraska

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Nebraska is known as the “Cornhusker State” for its vast cornfields and huge agricultural industry. But Nebraska is about much more than corn. It also has low levels of pollution and high air and water quality, which means its natural environment is among the best in the U.S. The best places to live in Nebraska have growing job markets, a high qual...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in North Dakota

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Located in the northern Midwest, North Dakota is known for its steep badlands, massive agriculture industry, and 70,000-acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It also goes by the nickname “The Peace Garden State” for the International Peace Garden that straddles the border between North Dakota and Canada. If you want to live somewhere with tight-kn...

Best Places to Live in Iowa When You're on the Job Market

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

If you’re looking for a tranquil place to live, you may find it in Iowa. Iowa is covered in corn fields, prairies, and farms. Among the best places to live in Iowa are charming small towns and small cities with relatively little traffic. Iowa offers a high quality of living and low crime rates, making this a good place to settle down. It also offer...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in New Hampshire

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Have you ever wondered where New Hampshire’s official motto, “Live Free or Die,” came from? New Hampshire—also known as the “Granite State”—was the first state to declare independence from England in 1775, a legacy which New Hampshire residents still take to heart to this day. But aside from being one of the freest states in America, New Hampshire ...

Find a Job in the Best Places to Live in Louisiana

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Louisiana is nestled in the deep south along the Gulf of Mexico and goes by the nicknames “the Pelican State” and “the Bayou State.” It’s known for its Cajun and Creole culture, excellent food, jazz and blues music, and strong French influences. If you’re planning on moving here, you may want to first explore the best places to live in Louisiana. ...

The Best Places to Live in Illinois to Build a Career

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Thinking of moving to Illinois? Illinois is a financial powerhouse, ranked as one of the largest economies not only in the United States but in the world. At the same time, the state has one of the most diverse economies, so you can find a huge variety of jobs there. But you don’t have to sacrifice your personal life for a great profession. When...

Find Work in the Best Places to Live in Florida

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Florida is well-known as a destination to enjoy retirement, spring break gatherings, or family vacations. But why should you wait for any of those to enjoy all that the “Sunshine State” has to offer? Florida is the 22nd most expansive state in the country and has something for everyone that craves a summer dress code year-round. If you’re consideri...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Maine

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Nestled in the top northeast corner of the United States, Maine is known for its small cities, rocky Atlantic coastlines, and heavily wooded mountains. Why do people move to Maine? Well, it could be because Maine has a relatively low cost of living for the New England area. Or, it might be the beaches, the vibrant and friendly communities, and the ...

Explore Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Massachusetts

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

From the sandy beaches of Cape Cod to the Boston metro area and the mountains and farms of the Berkshires, Massachusetts offers a huge variety of livable communities—as long as you don’t mind the long New England winters. The Bay State also has one of the most robust economies in the United States, with a business-friendly environment and lower-...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in California

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Have you been thinking for a while about moving to the “Golden State” and want to find out where the best places to live in California are? California is the third largest state in the U.S. and offers plenty for every budget. In this article, we’ll help you choose among the best cities to live in California with 500,000+ residents, as well as find ...

The Best Places to Live in Kentucky for a New Job

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Known for its bourbon, bluegrass music, baseball bats, horse races, and - let's not forget - Colonel Sanders, Kentucky is a fascinating place to live. If you're searching for a new career and want to explore the best places to live in Kentucky, the “Bluegrass State” offers many choices. Whatever city you ultimately decide on, you'll experience a...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Colorado

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Also known as the “Centennial State”, Colorado is a land of opportunity, thanks to its strong economic growth and excellent quality of life. It's one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. and ranks as one of the best places to live in the country. A combination of stunning natural beauty, moderate climate, excellent healthcare and schools make ...

Best Places to Live in Georgia When You Want to Make a Move in Your Career

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

With rich culinary traditions, a varied landscape, and a huge range of job opportunities, the state of Georgia offers plenty of choices for job seekers. Georgia has magnificent mountains, tranquil islands, tall forests, and miles of hiking trails. It’s also the birthplace of many beloved Southern dishes, which are best followed by a tall glass of s...

The Best Places to Live in Arizona and Find a Job

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Known for its stunning landscapes, beautiful sunsets, and incredible natural wonders, Arizona boasts some of the most breathtaking sights in the world. But the Grand Canyon state has so much more to offer. Consistently rated as one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., Arizona has a booming job market, a low unemployment rate, and a positive e...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Alaska

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Discover the best places to live in Alaska and find a job that suit your skills and lifestyle needs. Alaska is the biggest state in the United States and 5% of it is covered by glaciers. There are over 3,000 rivers here, more than 3 million lakes and the territory has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the country. Alaska’s economy is mainly driven by i...

Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Alabama

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Alabama is a southeastern state of the U.S., south of Tennessee, north of Florida, and between Mississippi and Georgia. A growing number of people are choosing it as home and it’s no surprise. There are many reasons to live and work in this state. Stick with us to find out the best places to live in Alabama and decide which one suits you best. Firs...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in Idaho

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Located in the northwest United States, Idaho is called “the Gem State” for a reason. Many people call Idaho their home because of its tight-knit communities, low crime rate, beautiful natural landscape, and abundant job opportunities. Idaho also has one of the strongest economies in America with a business-friendly environment and low unemployment...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in Delaware

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Known as “The First State” and the home of President Joe Biden, Delaware is the second-smallest state in the nation by land area, with only 96 miles in length and 381 miles of coastline. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in heart. Its two largest cities include Dover and Wilmington, but there are many other communities that have much to...

The Best Resume Words Are Lurking in Job Ads

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

If you've been searching Monster job postings for a golden career opportunity, you don't have to look too far for a helping hand. Job ads themselves offer valuable guidance on which resume words to use to best position yourself as a strong, competitive candidate. Job ads can vary from company to company—even if you're searching for one particula...

Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in Arkansas

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Looking for the best places to live in Arkansas? The state of Arkansas is home to spectacular nature and offers a high quality of life, making it a great place to live and work. In Arkansas, you can climb majestic mountains, visit spectacular caves, and experience wild river rafting—all in same day! If you prefer city life, Little Rock and Fayettev...

What Is an Internship and Why Should You Do One?

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

The benefits of an internship are enough that you need to fully ignore the nightmarish Hollywood depictions of them a la The Devil Wear's Prada. You should wholeheartedly pursue an internship during college and/or over the summer. Why? For one thing, employers overwhelmingly point to internship experience as one of the most important factors they c...

How Can Grads Decide Which Jobs to Apply For?

By Shadé Zahrai, Monster contributor

You've spent the past four years working hard to get to this point, but now you're confused and asking yourself, "What job should I have?" Knowing how to figure out which jobs to apply for when you graduate college can feel as challenging as college itself. As confounding as it may be, there are some easy steps you can take that will help narrow do...

Tips to Help Your Kid Find a Job

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

As we saw with 2019's college admissions scandal, some parents get carried away (even to the point of committing felonies!) in the name of trying to set their kids up for success. In some cases, the parental meddling includes intervening into their children's early careers as well. (And we're not talking about their burgeoning babysitting and dog w...

7 Job Search Tips Everyone Should Know

By Allison Smith, Monster contributor

The internet is rife with lists of life hacks—clever little tricks to help you save time, stay organized or otherwise solve pesky problems. But where is the definitive list of job-search tips? Job searching, like life, could use a few shortcuts, too. Who wouldn’t want to cut time off the laborious process of trying to find your next move, and ge...

How to Find the Best Workplaces for Women

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

The best workplaces for women are ones that empower—but what exactly does that look like? As a woman, support from employers can come in various forms, and in the era of the #MeToo movement, many firms are taking steps to encourage more gender diversity and inclusion. But while some companies' offerings may seem like obvious wins—Onsite childcare! ...

5 tips to always be ready for job opportunities

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Having a great job is one of the best feelings in the world. The job search process paid off, and you’re thrilled by all the challenges and accomplishments your new role has to offer. What can you say? You love your job, and looking for a new job is the last thing on your mind. But it shouldn’t be. “Never say never to opportunity,” says Dawn ...

How to find work: The top five myths

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Figuring out how to find work can feel like an epic quest, full of smoke, mirrors, and plenty of perplexities—including some falsehoods that are meant to throw you off your game. These job search myths are tricky beasts. Even experienced job seekers believe—and spread—common misconceptions about the job search process. Yet these flawed ideas can de...

How to write a letter of introduction

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

What is a letter of introduction and why should you familiarize yourself with it? For starters, it’s a valuable networking tool. There are two types of introduction letters: one that you use to connect with someone in your industry, whether they’re a potential employer, a new professional contact, client, or customer; you can also use this type of ...

Best Companies to Work for in the World

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

Everyone wants to work for a winner. Fortune magazine’s annual World’s Best Multinational Workplaces list cuts right to the chase. The annual roundup surveyed nearly 20 million employees that work at global organizations affiliated with Great Place to Work to come up with a list of the 25 best companies to work for in the world. What makes a com...

How your college's career services department can help your job search

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Being a college student (or alum) and never stepping foot in the university career services office is like having a gym membership and doing sit-ups in your room. There are so many ways the office of career services can help you in your job hunt, so why go it alone? “We help people wherever they are in their own career development,” says Patrick...

Popular companies for the class of 2020

By Monster Staff

What are the most popular companies according to the class of 2020? After surveying 52,738 students from 323 universities across the U.S., brand-management company Universum recently published its Most Attractive Employers list. So what exactly makes a company attractive to these up-and-coming workers? These students say a company must offer a p...

Build your job search network

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

One word that makes professionals cringe is networking—especially now that we're trying to network during a global pandemic. But a strong group of industry contacts is key to helping your professional development blossom. Granted, if you’re a newly minted college graduate hunting for a job, you have to build a network from scratch, which is no smal...

5 mistakes college seniors make during their job search

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

No one ever said finding a job after college was a quick process. And what with all the responsibilities you have during senior year, it can be hard to focus on all the details of a job search. But if you have realistic expectations, balance your school work and your job search, and avoid making rookie mistakes, you just might find a variety of job...

How to set a five-year career plan

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

These are grim times to be a new college graduate making a career plan. In the shakiest job market since the Great Depression, about half of U.S. employers have announced hiring freezes and put summer internships on hold. What’s more, COVID-19 has shut down so many local businesses that millions of old stand-by summer jobs—like your restaurant-serv...

How to work with employment agencies and headhunters

By Mack Gelber, Monster contributor

To the average job seeker, the world of employment agencies, recruiters, and headhunters may seem slightly walled-off and mysterious. You’re out there conducting your job search when one day you get an out-of-the-blue message from someone saying you could be a potential fit for a role they’re helping to fill. Maybe you follow up with a quick pho...

Tips for Getting a Job During a Pandemic

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

Getting a job during a pandemic is a challenge on top of a challenge. As we saw with the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, there were significant impacts on the global economy as well as job seekers. Some companies responded to the health crisis with layoffs, furloughs, cutting hours and overtime pay, and implementing hiring freezes. Other companies, m...

Tips to write a letter of intent

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

The term letter of intent is often used in the legal field, referring to a document that kicks off a project or contract between two parties. Letters of intent are also used in grant writing and fundraising fields to summarize proposed projects or serve as the starting point for funding requests. Given these common usages, it’s no wonder people ...

Five steps to take before you start a job search

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

You're used to the standard drill of applying to jobs: search online, update your cover letter and resume, prepare for interviews, send thank you notes, follow up, rinse and repeat. But there are things you should do that will set you up for a successful job search before you even start applying. Monster spoke to career experts to find out what sho...

Build a great professional portfolio

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

For many job seekers, the maxim “show, don’t tell” rings true. While your resume claims that you do amazing work—infographic resumes, anyone?—your professional portfolio is proof that you’re as skilled and talented as you say you are. “Recruiters look to portfolios to provide a substantive window into your work, enabling them to assess your work...

How to get your professor's help finding a job

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

While you’re still at college, there’s probably nobody more qualified to vouch for your performance than your professors—yet they’re often the last people you’d ask to help you get a job. It can be scary enough asking professors to help support you on class projects, let alone asking them to recommend you for a job, right? But the thing is, most pr...

5 things that will get you blacklisted from jobs

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

As you make headway along your career path, one surefire way to smudge your good name is by getting blacklisted from jobs. Now, there are plenty of good reasons why candidates don’t get a job—maybe your skills aren’t right for the gig or maybe you just don’t have enough experience yet. But being blacklisted is a whole other story. This happens when...

Tips to landing an exec gig

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

The longer you’ve been at the same desk, the harder it can seem to move into the corner office. The higher on the corporate ladder you rise, the stiffer the competition for executive jobs becomes. But landing that C-suite position—or another upper-level title you’re coveting—isn’t impossible. You just have to put in the work. That means being cl...

10 awesome pet-friendly companies

By Lily Martis, Monster contributor

Pet-friendly companies should be the norm, but unfortunately, we’re convinced that some companies are run by Cruella De Vil. OK, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch—dalmatians everywhere can take comfort in that—but the point is, some employers don’t give your pets a second thought beyond politely smiling at the 20 different pictures of your cat you ha...

Companies hiring freelance jobs now

By Monster Staff

Freelance jobs are synonymous with flexibility. You take the jobs you want, when you want, and you have the added bonus of working in a variety of industries rather than grinding it out doing the same old thing day after day. According to the most recent annual Freelancing in America report from the Freelancers Union, 57 million workers are freelan...

9 good qualities recruiters want to see in every single candidate

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

Though some jobs call for an endless combination of skills, the most sought-after employee traits are often universal, whether you’re an aerospace engineer, sales associate, or mailroom worker. So what are these highly coveted good qualities? Monster reached out to nine recruiters and career experts to find out what they want to see in every candid...

These Fortune 500 Companies Are Hiring

By Mack Gelber, Monster contributor

Every year, the Fortune 500 list ranks the highest-grossing companies in the United States. To be among the Fortune 500 companies is a big signifier of cachet in the business world. Just think of how many employers advertise themselves as “a Fortune 500” company in their job listings. Working for one of the Fortune 500 companies that made the mo...

Tips to Help Manage the Stress of Searching for a Job

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Looking to help manage the stress of searching for a job? You're in the right place. Let's face it: A job search can have its ups and downs (and ups, downs, and ups again) like the whole experience is one big emotional roller coaster. And trust me, you'll feel them all on your first job search in the real world. But work your way through the anxiet...

How to craft the perfect elevator pitch

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

You're standing in a hotel lobby, scrolling through Twitter on your phone, when you recognize the person standing next to you as the owner of some of the hottest restaurants in town. Coincidentally, you have a background in the food and beverage industry and would love nothing more than to be part of this owner's growing empire. Now's your chance t...

Theme parks hiring seasonal jobs and full-time jobs now

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

From coast to coast, theme parks and water parks bring people of all ages to ride towering roller coasters, engage with sea life, and enjoy attractions of many different shapes and sizes. Wouldn’t it be great if your job was to help keep the good times rolling? Well, with the top 10 theme parks welcoming 475.8 million annual attendees worldwide ...

Summer jobs: Companies hiring

By Carl Germann, Monster staff

Landing that sweet summer job that'll help you pay for school, a new car, or pad your bank account for the future is a rite of passage for high school and college students every year. For some of you, it can be filled with dread, while others are excited about the prospects of meeting new people and learning new skills. Either way, we're making it ...

How an Informational Interview Can Help Your Career

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

An informational interview is one of the best tools you can use when thinking about a complete career makeover or change of direction in your current field. It’s also helpful for college students who are considering changing majors or are about to graduate. As the name implies, your objective for an informational interview is to gather informati...

Common obstacles that keep you from getting your first job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

College graduation season is around the corner, but you’ve got bigger things to worry about than ordering your cap and gown. The reality is you might not have your first job lined up by the time you collect your diploma. Sure, the job market looks good. Case in point: Employers plan to hire 5.8% percent more new college graduates from the class ...

The myths (and truths) about job searching after age 40

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

You’ve got more than a decade (maybe two or three, gulp) of work experience under your belt. You’ve developed a valuable skill set, a deep network of VIP contacts, and a solid track record that others in your field would envy. So why are you so afraid of finding a job after 40? Maybe you think employers will consider you too old or too expensive...

How to use your intuition to make better decisions

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

Almost every business these days is so intent on collecting and analyzing data that the idea of making a decision by trusting your gut is starting to look downright quaint. “People say, ‘Intuition isn’t reliable,’” notes Rick Snyder, CEO of coaching and training firm Invisible Edge, and author of a new book, Decisive Intuition. “But neither is logi...

The right way to apply for an internal job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

If you love where you work but are looking for a change, you should have your ear to the ground for job openings within your company. But being an employee at your company doesn’t necessarily mean you’re first in line for internal jobs. “It’s really easy for internal candidates to think they’re a shoo-in, but you still have to bring your A-game,...

Quiz: What size employer fits you best?

By Julia Gaynor, Monster staff

There are pros and cons to working for both small and large companies, but really, company size comes down to personal choice. Some people love the stability and solid benefits of a big corporation, while others crave the excitement and flexibility of a small business. Before you say yes to your next gig, take this quiz to see where you’ll feel mos...

This plan can help you land a new job in 8 weeks flat

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Does your “new year, new you” plan involve a new job? Well, then you're not alone. According to a recent Monster survey, one in three Americans (33%) plans on looking for a new job this year—and 90% expect to start looking within the first three months of 2019. That's right now! But you're also very realistic, since almost half of you (46%) thin...

How to write an employment verification letter

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Every once in a while, an employee or former employee will ask for an employment verification letter. Seems easy enough, but there are guidelines regarding what should—and shouldn’t—be included. Human resource experts explain how to handle the request. Purpose of an employment verification letter An employment verification letter confirms an ...

Tips to write a strong LinkedIn summary

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

LinkedIn can be a great networking tool—the site says it has more than 706 million uses worldwide, and about seven in 10 recruiters in a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey said it’s the most effective social media site for finding talent—but you won’t get far without a well-crafted LinkedIn summary. The summary, or “about” secti...

How to be the unicorn candidate every company wants to hire

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

Believe it or not, unicorns exist outside of myths and legends. In fact, author Gregg Herning believes they’re all around us. Some—like Elon Musk in business, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick in pro sports, or Meryl Streep in Hollywood—are famous. But many more are not. Anyone who “eats, lives, and breathes innovation,” “despises medioc...

5 signs that scream you're a desperate job seeker

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Remember the kids in class who raised their hands to every single question the teacher asked and flailed their arms around, all while wincing and whimpering, “Pick me! Pick me!” Yeah, those kids were the worst. Their desperation looked bad then, and it looks bad now. The standard definition of “desperate” means “having lost hope.” And the Oxford...

The quickest ways to make a recruiter hate you

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

If you’re trying to find a new job, recruiters can be your best friends. They can match you with employers and roles that are perfect for your skills, interests, and values. The best part about a recruiter is that all you really need to do is be your wonderful and talented self! Alternately, you can totally alienate them and make them hate you! ...

The top 5 job search mistakes you need to stop making

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

You’ve been applying to what seems like all the right jobs, with all the right techniques, but you’re still unemployed. What gives? Well, there’s a good chance you’re making one of the most common job search mistakes. They’re the most common because they’re the easiest to make. But you don’t need to be one of the people making them, right? They’...

Keep your job search secret with these tips

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Bored at work? Ready to find a new job yesterday? The best time to explore better work opportunities is while you still have a job, but it’s not always an easy undertaking—especially if you work in an office environment where privacy is a luxury. What if your boss or co-workers find out that you’re on the hunt? You could end up in a very awkward si...

Business cards 101

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

When it comes to networking events, the business card has endured as a simple way to share your contact info with others. The most effective business cards, however, are the ones that are both practical and alluring. There’s an art and a science to knowing what to put on a business card. Beyond the obvious (or not so obvious) contact information, y...

How to fight ageism in your job search

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, the chances are good that you’ve seen or experienced ageism in the workplace—as two out of three workers between ages 45 and 74 have, according to AARP. People often think it’s most prevalent for employees 50 or older, but it can start even earlier. What does ageism mean? It's discriminating against som...

Ask Vicki: Can you submit a job application after the deadline?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. Can you submit a job application aft...

When it makes sense to hire a job search expert

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Your job search can feel complicated, overwhelming, even, especially if you’ve been away from it for a while. And like with every pain point, there are a variety of professionals who want to help you manage it, from specialists—interview preppers, resume writers—to generalists like career coaches and counselors. But do you really need a hired ha...

Relocating for work? Here's your moving checklist

By Christine F. Della Monaca, Monster staff

As if starting a new job wasn’t stressful enough, moving for a new job is sure to add to your stress. Between looking for a new place to live, a school for the kids, packing up all of your memories into cardboard boxes, and making a game plan for your first 90 days on the job, it can be hard to know what to do first—and even harder making sure you ...

Ask Vicki: How can I change careers without going back to school?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. How can I change careers without goi...

If job insecurity is the new normal, here's how to make it work for you

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

The Japanese have a phrase for it: playing ball on running water. It means staying nimble enough to win—and even have some fun—when the playing field under your feet is constantly shifting. Does this sound familiar to your career? “With technology advancing every minute, and buying habits changing on a dime, things have never been more uncert...

Learn how to get a high-paying job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Want a bigger paycheck? Of course you do. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to get a job where you can make money—lots of it. In fact, 63% of workers said compensation was “very important” to their overall job satisfaction, a Society for Human Resource Management survey found. Unfortunately, minimum wage is likely not going to cut it, plus, the...

How volunteering can help you get a job

By Monster Staff

There are a lot of obvious benefits to volunteering for your favorite charity—a sense of accomplishment, giving back to others, gaining perspective, and meeting new people. You can also find business benefits and ways your efforts can help your career. Simply put: Volunteering can help you get a job. According to the most recent federal study by...

How to humblebrag at work to get ahead

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

You want your supervisor to recognize your hard work (and reward you accordingly), but there’s a fine line between tasteful self-promotion (the kind that earns you a raise) and narcissism (where you come off like a boastful jerk). Understanding the difference between the two plays a pivotal role in determining your early career success. Fact is, i...

5 seasonal job myths debunked

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

It’s that time of the year when everyone is looking forward to making merry, but if your bank account is on the low end, we can understand why you don't exactly feel like spreading cheer. Luckily, offers of seasonal employment can stuff your stocking. So what is a seasonal job and why should it interest you? Seasonal jobs tend to be temporary jobs ...

Top 10 companies for career development

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

When was the last time you learned something new at work? Added a skill to your resume? Earned a promotion or raise? If you really have to think about it, then that’s a big problem. Your company should be invested in your career development—whether by offering mentorship programs or opportunities for advancement. Fortunately, some best-in-cla...

Top 10 companies for pride in work

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Collaborating at work is usually a good thing. In fact, there are certain industries where it’s very common. However, for some people, the very thought of working with another person is enough to make you want to run for the hills. That’s probably because their co-workers just don’t put the same amount of value into their work as you do—and you ...

Top 10 companies for work-life balance

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

When you left the house this morning, it was dark outside. Now, as you sit at your desk the sky has become the same navy color it was on your early morning commute. You feel your back crack from sitting at your desk for too many hours at a time. Your stomach grumbles, long past ready for dinner, as the lunch you scarfed down at your desk was less t...

The top 10 companies for worker satisfaction

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

It’s Monday morning and you jump out of bed before your alarm goes off, eager to get back to that job you absolutely love. Wait, are you dreaming this? Imagine if you were that excited to get to work. Sounds crazy, we know. But it’s definitely possible: Some best-in-class companies understand the value of worker satisfaction (after all, a happy ...

How to make sure your internship ends with a full-time job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

They tell you: “Get an internship, even if it’s unpaid. It’s great experience.” So you do. If you’re an overachiever, you may even land five internships by the time you graduate. Lost in all this is what they don’t tell you: how to turn all of that hard work into a full-time job. Well, first of all, to go from “intern” to “employee,” you’ll need...

How mastering the art of storytelling can lead to your next great job

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

We all like to think that our decisions, especially in business, are based strictly on fact, not emotion, but the truth is, emotion plays a key role in every choice we make. That’s where storytelling comes in, says Esther Choy, whose Chicago-based firm, Leadership Story Lab, coaches managers in storytelling techniques. In her consulting work and...

5 ways to help your unemployed friend get a job

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

You have a friend who’s talented, smart, and hardworking—but out of work. This unfortunate situation can be hard for everyone involved. It can also be an opportunity for you to step in and help them get a job. We all know the job search can be tedious, so the more support you can offer your friend, the better. After all, you’d want someone to gi...

Ask Vicki: What are some realistic and unrealistic expectations of first-time job seekers?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. What are some realistic and unrealis...

5 essential questions for every stage of your career

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

Think back to the last graduation speech you heard. Even if you can’t remember it, it’s probably safe to assume it was a pretty cliché potpourri of go-forth-and-conquer platitudes, well meant but, let’s be honest, snooze-inducing. So how does a commencement address like the one given last year by James E. Ryan, dean of the Harvard Graduate Scho...

Why you should take a sabbatical from work

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

Who wouldn’t immediately fall in love with a job at Google, where slides, go-carts, and scooters make going to work seem more like a day at the park than a day at the office? Rachael O’Meara, that’s who. When she joined Google six years ago, O’Meara was absolutely miserable in her role as a customer service manager, describing herself as the ...

See what these students did to try to get an internship at ad agency Droga5

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

If you’re a college student, you’ve reached the point in the semester that can only be described as “stressed AF.” Spring break is over, finals are coming up, and the clock is ticking to land a job or internship by summer. When you find yourself under the gun like this, sometimes you go to extremes. Like, extreme extremes. Like, say, stalk poten...

What is the largest company headquartered in your state?

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

There’s a case to be made for the traditional office desk job. What used to be just a bunch of cubicles thrown together, illuminated by bad fluorescent lighting, has transformed to be a place you look forward to going to and never want—or even need—to leave. And when going to work happens to be at the headquarters for a large company, you might ...

How to use your internship to find your first real job

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

This is part of an ongoing series of advice for new grads from career counselors. Wouldn’t it be nice if your job search started and stopped with the company you’re already interning for? Sometimes, it happens. If there’s a role available, and the position and company are a good fit, you could find yourself sitting behind the same desk you’re at no...

5 tax tips you need to know if you were unemployed last year

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

If you’re employed full time for an entire calendar year, your taxes are usually pretty simple. You get a W-2 and boom, your taxes are almost done. But if you’ve been laid off, worked part-time or had any other freelance-type situation, that’s when things start to get complicated. The good news? “There are some nice benefits in the tax code for ...

Why you should look for a job in another location

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

If you’re looking for a job within only a 10-mile radius of your home, you’re likely missing the boat—or the plane, train or automobile. And it turns out, you’re not alone. According to a recent report by the Brookings Institution, fewer workers are relocating for jobs. It’s understandable why you’d want a job that doesn’t require you to uproot ...

Will companies steal your ideas if you're asked to do spec work?

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Have you ever been asked to do work for a company—before you were hired? It happens. Sometimes, companies assign speculative (spec) work to candidates for them to complete as part of the hiring process. This could be a writing assignment, business plan, social media posts or some other example of the type of work you’d be tasked with at your new jo...

Why you need a career manifesto (and how to write one)

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

Why would you want to know how to write a manifesto? Well, some people have always known the answer to the oft-asked question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And others are still trying to figure out their answer many years (and jobs) later. A manifesto can help you know if an industry or a career path is right for you. This tool can he...

How to humblebrag your way into a new job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Great interviews are all about selling yourself to an employer. The hiring manager has seen your resume. She knows what you’re like on paper. Now you’ve got to close the deal. Naturally, this means highlighting your achievements. But when you’re in the hot seat, do you suddenly get bashful, and worry that you’ll sound like a big bragger when tal...

5 presidential quotes that'll inspire your career goals

By David Eisenberg, Monster contributor

You don’t make it to the highest office in American politics without turning a life-affirming phrase or two. A person’s ideology may make them a qualified presidential candidate but how they articulate their beliefs gets them elected. We’ve combed through the annals of history to find some of the more noteworthy quotes voiced by our nation’s mos...

Why a little pessimism can help your job hunt

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

Let’s say you’ve been job-hunting for a while now. Your significant other is getting impatient, your bank account looks anemic, and you’re feeling pretty blue. That’s normal, according to longtime career coach Doug Hensch, author of Positively Resilient: 5 ½ Secrets to Beat Stress, Overcome Obstacles, and Defeat Anxiety—especially since “in ou...

How mom and dad can help you find a job--and how they can't

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

If you’ve got helicopter parents, chances are you won’t be navigating your first job search alone: Prepare for mom and dad to be all up in your grill. In fact, a third of 18- to 24-year-olds said their parents were involved with their job search, according to a 2014 Adecco survey. There are pros to getting help from mom and dad, of course. Th...

Ask Vicki: Should I call recruiters or wait for them to call me?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. Should I call recruiters or wait for...

Ask Vicki: I frequently change jobs because I lose interest after just a few months. Is there a problem with me?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. I frequently change jobs because I l...

7 ways to make your job search less tedious

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Job searching may be at the bottom of your “fun things to do” list— but that might just be because you’ve hit the “job search wall.” It happens to the best of us, and it’s pretty common. But it can be reversed! “Looking for a job is a universal source of anxiety,” says Steve Dalton, author of The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Get the Ri...

Q&A: Author Mark Manson on how not to freak out about the job search

By Julia Gaynor, Monster staff

When it comes to finding a job, there’s a lot of well-intentioned advice out there—mantras like “Follow your dreams,” “Do what makes you happy” and “Never give up.” But “Don’t give a f***?” That seems counterintuitive, right? Well, according to best-selling author Mark Manson, that’s exactly the point. His new book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving ...

How to talk your way into a job

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

Any job description can give you a decent sense of what’s expected of applicants—skills required, experience needed, if travel’s necessary, etc. So you do your due diligence to make sure your resume mentions all the ways you are the perfect fit for the job. But in order to actually get the job, you’ll still need to persuade someone to hire you. ...

20 retailers with awesome employee discounts

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

Shopping enthusiasts will tell you: It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the time of year when retail stores slash prices, and gift boxes pile up all around the house. But if you worked in retail, you’d enjoy these cost-cutting perks all year-round, especially if you work for one of the top 100 retailers. Behold: the employee discount. It ha...

How to overcome the biggest challenges of looking for your first job

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Walking. Algebra. Wakeboarding. It’s hard to do anything for the first time, but looking for your first full-time job might very well top the list of scariest, most confusing, and daunting endeavors you’ll have to face. You’ll be applying to jobs that will undoubtedly affect the trajectory of your career, you’ll be interviewing with strangers in...

5 ways entry-level job seekers can get on a recruiter's radar

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

When you’re an entry-level job seeker, trying to connect with recruiters can feel a little like trying to navigate the online dating world: You’re not sure where to begin your search, or how to initiate conversation, or how to make a good first impression. However, building relationships with these gatekeepers is a crucial component to early car...

50 companies every business major dreams of working for

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Close your eyes and picture your dream company. What does it look like? We’ll give you another minute…OK, open ‘em (and keep reading). Universum, a global research and advisory firm, asked 265,000 business undergraduates that very question, and recently published a list of 50 companies that qualified as “dream” companies based on the reports ...

16 hilarious haikus all job seekers can relate to

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Wherefore art thou, job offer? OK, so maybe you’re not exactly Shakespeare when it comes to resume writing and perhaps your last interview was almost as tragic as the ending of Romeo and Juliet. Monster has you covered (just check out our resume writing services and interview tips). But taking it one step further, in the spirit of National...

3 social media red flags recruiters notice

By Julia Gaynor, Monster staff

Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. Even Pinterest. Like it or not, recruiters and hiring managers are checking out your social media profiles, so rather than burying your head in the sand and wishing it wasn’t so, why not take some pro-active steps to make sure you’re putting your best professional self forward? We recently ran a story titled, “These...

5 companies with crazy fun perks

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

You spend a big chunk of your life at work, so when it comes time to decide on a new job, there are some intangibles that might sway you. Intangibles being, of course, perks—or “culture.” Indeed, 77% of millennials said culture is just as or more important to them than salary and benefits, according to a report last year by Virgin Pulse. More to...

5 ways rushing a fraternity or sorority will help you land a job

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

We’re not saying you have to go Greek—but if you want some early job interview practice, you might want to give it a try. Monster Careers Expert Vicki Salemi, who has more than 15 years experience as an executive recruiter, says even if you’re not planning to join a fraternity or sorority this semester, rushing one could give you a leg up when it c...

20 of the fastest-growing private companies in America that are hiring

By Steve Masters, Monster contributor

When searching for a full-time job, you want to join a winning team that will grow with you. A sure sign that a company is a gold-star employer is the rate at which it grows. To help make your quest for long-term happiness a bit easier, Inc. magazine recently released its annual Inc. 5000 rankings, which is a list of the fastest-growing private com...

Ask Vicki: Can I apply for two positions at the same company?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. Can I apply for two positions at the...

9 companies with solid mentorship programs

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

When you start any new job early in your career, you’re kind of flying blind: You’ve got to figure out your day-to-day duties and catch up to your coworkers in terms of understanding company priorities, while simultaneously trying to think ahead to where you’ll go from here and how you’ll get there. It’s kind of intimidating to say the least. Emplo...

9 hacks that will streamline your job search

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

How many times have you heard the phrase, “There are no shortcuts in life”? Technically speaking, that isn’t wholly true—at least when it comes to a job search. There are definite job-search hacks that can cut down on inefficiencies and the time it takes to get yourself in front of potential employers. To find out how to make your job search as...

5 cool startups that are hiring right now

By Mack Gelber, Monster staff

When it comes to the tech world, we all know the big names: Google, Apple, Facebook and any number of companies familiar both to you and your grandma. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with working at a big company, the startups of the tech world also have a ton to offer job seekers—and many of these small up-and-comers are hiring on Monste...

What to do when your job title doesn't match your actual job

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

Job titles are supposed to capture the essence of how you spend your day, but sometimes that shorthand, well, falls short. Perhaps your company has some quirks in how they assign titles—the SVP of Awesome does what, exactly?—that don’t translate well to the outside world. Or you’re leading a team of people—a manager by any industry’s standards—but ...

7 ways to get unstuck when it feels like your job search has stalled

By Nicole Yang, Monster staff

See if this scenario sounds familiar: You’ve sent countless emails and job applications, but to no avail. Or better yet, you’ve landed a few interviews here and there, only to be politely declined in the final round, or worse, you’ve been ghosted. Ring any bells? Fear not. There are ways to break through the silence and keep your job search alive ...

Ask Vicki: What's the best and quickest way to find a job?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. What's the best and quickest way to ...

How to land your second job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

If you’re two to three years into your first job and already dreaming about your next one, you’re not alone. According to a recent PayScale report, the median tenure for a millennial employee is two years. Even though you’ve got more to offer your next employer, you’re facing a fresh set of challenges. “The job search process is very different o...

Find a job you love--it's easier than you think

By Mack Gelber, Monster staff

It’s all too easy to think of finding a job you love the same way you think about finding a soul mate—with thousands of opportunities out there, how can you ever expect to land on the right one? Here’s a little-known fact: It’s easier than you think. Monster’s latest report on social media job sentiment offers an in-depth look at who truly lo...

How to land your first health care management job

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

Those who work in health care management don’t directly care for patients, but they have a strong influence on the way an organization provides care. And, as in all industries, it takes a whole different skill set to become a manager in health care. Duties for a manager working at a health care institution may include improving the organizationa...

9 companies with a socially conscious culture

By Isabel Thottam

If you’ve got a passion for social justice issues, why not work for a company that shares your values by offering a socially conscious culture? Research shows you’ll be happier for it. A Deloitte survey of more than 1,300 workers at companies with socially conscious cultures indicates that 79% of respondents were more likely to state there was a...

How to use company reviews to fine-tune your job search

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Reading job reviews is a must for all job seekers. No matter how expertly crafted a job description is, there are bound to be some very important details left out. What are the hours like? (No, seriously.) What would your annual pay increase be? (No, seriously.) What’s the work-life balance like? (You get the idea.) I can tell you from my 15-plus ...

How to be the intern everybody wants to hire

By Daniel Bortz

Aiming to turn your summer internship into a full-time job? Good news: your employer wants that, too! The primary focus of most companies’ internship programs is to convert college students into entry-level employees, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2016 Internship & Co-op Survey. But if you intern for a medium o...

5 things you absolutely need to know about a company to get the job

Maybe you know this situation well or you’re going through it for the first time: You got the call to come in for an interview (yay!), but now it’s time to buckle down and do your research on the company. Very quickly, you realize just how much information there is out there. So what is the most valuable information you should focus on? While co...

How to apply for a job with the competition without blowing your cover

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

There comes a time in your career when the company you work for just doesn’t do it for you anymore. You don’t feel the same thrill you once did when you see your employer’s logo first thing in the morning, and your willingness to hang around the office after working hours is rapidly declining. If you like what you do but not where you’re doing it, ...

How to find the first job that will launch an awesome career

By Daniel Bortz

Your first job has the potential to jumpstart your career. But with so many jobs to choose from, it’s tough to tell which opportunity will actually position you for long-term success. But it’s not impossible. The good news is that you’re the one who decides where you want to work. “You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing your caree...

Is it better for your career if you work for name-brand companies?

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Google, Bank of America, Exxon. Get a job at a big, well-known brand like these and you won’t have as much explaining to do to friends and family when they ask where you work. Same goes when you’re talking to recruiters. So, you’re better off working for a blue chip company early in your career right? Well, let’s say the answer to that question ...

Use this secret weapon to land your first job

By Daniel Bortz

Getting an insider to endorse your skills and experience could be just the ticket to snagging your first job. But persuading someone who you don’t know to go to bat for you isn’t so simple. The person is putting their reputation at the company on the line. Your best move? Tap your school’s alumni network. Unfortunately, many college students tak...

How to snag a great last-minute internship

By Daniel Bortz

Don’t have an internship lined up for the summer? Take a deep breath. It’s not too late—so long as you’re willing to put in the work. It’s true: You’re a bit behind the game, as deadlines for applications at many companies with formal internship programs have already passed. Now for the good news: There are still internship opportunities up f...

Ask Vicki: What are some tips to pass the ATS resume test?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Q. What are some tips to pass the ATS resume test? A. First, let me explain what ATS is. ATS, short for applicant tracking system, is a software program that scans all the words in your resume and applies an algorithm to search for keywords to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for the job in question. It's super-important to have an ...

50 companies hiring interns right now

We get it: The semester's winding down, finals are approaching and you've had your head buried in books. In all the chaos, maybe you've let your internship search slip off your radar. Whoops. Good news is it's not too late. There's actually no better time than now to dust off that resume and check that "submit job application" off your last-minu...

3 creative job search moves that actually get you noticed by employers

By Isabel Thottam

There were 5.5 million job openings at the start of this year, a historically high level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Good news, right? But you’re sitting there wondering: “Then why haven’t I heard back from any anyone!?” We get it—applying to jobs is daunting, to say the least. You spend all day sitting in a cafe re-writing you...

3 of the worst reasons to move for a new job

Millennials are on the move. A study released last year by the U.S. Census Bureau found that between the years of 2007 and 2012 millennials—defined as individuals between ages 18 and 34—totaled 24% of the population, but this generational set accounted for over 43% of all people who had moved. There are some great reasons to relocate for work...

Ask Vicki: Is applying for jobs online a complete waste of time and energy?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com. Q. Is applying for jobs online a comple...

These are the 9 skills that would make any hiring manager happy

By Sally Buffalo

If you’ve considered changing careers, you've probably grappled with the fear that you might not have the right skills for a new line of work. But give yourself a little credit. You’ve got skills. Plenty of ‘em in fact. And just the type employers in all industries are looking for. Remember the time you condensed that incomprehensible pile of da...

3 smart reasons why millennials should move for a new job

“Opportunity city.” Rings a bell, doesn’t it? For millennials, opportunity has meant a massive shift to major cities for work,—about a million cross state lines each year—and it makes perfect sense. Some move to urban hubs with great work-life balance, some to places where the commute is favorable and others to areas where job creation is thriving....

Have you had a 'normal' number of jobs?

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

The days of your first job being your last are now long gone. Take the Baby Boomers—people born between 1946 and 1964. Baby Boomers have held an average of nearly 12 jobs before age 48, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And people born in the early 1980s—a.k.a. Millennials—held an average of six jobs by age 26, according to BLS. ...

6 traits millennials should look for in a new employer

By Isabel Thottam

Maybe you’re a job-hopping millennial that’s ready to settle down and start your career. Stability sounds nice, right? You’ve built up your skill set, know your worth and are ready to commit to a company long-term. But now the problem is actually finding “the one”—the company that meets all of your needs and is a perfect fit. Aside from a good s...

Recruiter Horror Stories

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

In my eight years as a recruiter, I've seen it all. And if I haven't seen it, one of my colleagues has. I'll share with you some of the recruiter horror stories I've heard that have made my colleagues run screaming (mostly to other recruiters). Job seekers: Take a lesson from these three tales from the trenches and avoid becoming our next horror st...

5 things to remember while you're anxiously waiting to hear back about a job

By Julia Gaynor

You made it past the phone screen with a recruiter. You aced your day-long interview with seemingly everyone on the staff. You crushed your session with the hiring manager. There’s nothing left to do but sit back and wait for your new boss’s offer. Then weeks go by and you don’t hear a thing. So what’s going on? Seeing what the typical recrui...

This is why you aren't hearing back from recruiters

By Bret Silverberg

You’re a perfect candidate. You know your skills match up exactly with what the company is looking for in this role. You triple checked your resume and your cover letter before submitting—they were typo free. You coast into the weekend riding high. But then one week passes, and you get no response from the company. A few more days pass. You c...

Are you ever too old for an internship?

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro share the big screen in The Intern, out today. In this role-reversal comedy, Hathaway’s character, Jules Ostin, runs an online fashion website, while De Niro’s character, a 70-something widower, re-enters the workforce as her intern after he realizes retirement isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. When we think ...

Your ultimate job search to-do list

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Now that summer has come and gone, it’s go time! Time to get back into work mode; time to get back to your normal heavy-traffic commute; time to put away the shorts; time to get back to a more structured schedule. And, if you'd put your job search on hiatus the last few months, this is also a great time to pick that back up. Just like with...

How to talk to your significant other about your job search

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

Searching for a new job can feel like a team sport. You bounce ideas off of your mentor, connect with your network, rally references for glowing testimonials and finally—but probably most importantly—you’ll lean on your significant other. When you embark on a job search, your partner unofficially becomes your cheerleader, your manager, and your ...

13 traits you absolutely need to get hired at Chipotle

You might think that to get a job at Chipotle, the ability to make a good burrito would be number one on the list of qualifications. But it's not. When looking at candidates, the chain weighs certain personal qualities more highly than technical skill. The company's co-CEO Monty Moran has developed a list of go-or-no-go traits called the "The 13...

This awesome map lets you zoom in on all the jobs in the U.S.

By Bret Silverberg, Monster Staff

Where exactly are all of the jobs in the United States? Are they clustered within the confines of major cities, or do they exist primarily on the outskirts, more toward major highways and minor suburbs? To figure out the answers to these questions—and others—Harvard University sociology and social policy Ph.D student Robert Manduca recently deve...

7 tech companies with great vacation policies

By Catherine Conlan

Tech companies are known for their in-office perks — ping pong tables, beer Fridays and other fun stuff. Some tech companies offer great vacation policies, too, and require employees to take time away from work to unplug and relax. Companies use these policies to attract and retain top talent — and help employees find balance. If you’re looking ...

How to make time for a job search when you're working full time

By Catherine Conlan

Conventional wisdom says it’s easier to find a job when you have a job, but it never says anything about the logistics of doing so. And those logistics can be difficult to sort out. Looking for a job using your current employer’s time and equipment isn’t a good idea and could get you in trouble, says Stamford, Connecticut-based career coach Jan Yag...

Here's how to boost your job search SEO

When Alfred Mosher Butts invented Scrabble in 1938, he assigned the letters S, E and O one point each. They paled in comparison to the powerful P and the mighty Q. Today, they are arguably the most important letters in the world. SEO, or search engine optimization, is, in simple terms, the process of increasing a website’s visibility on a search...

Don't overwhelm prospective employers during your job search

By Catherine Conlan

In his past work as a hiring manager, Richard Orbé-Austin, now a partner at Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting in Manhattan, says he dealt with a lot of job candidates — and the ones who are overly persistent stand out — in a bad way. He recalls one woman who continuously called and emailed him — and members of his team — from the star...

Best Work Environments for Millennials By Personality

It’s no secret that millennials are changing the way of the workplace. Gone are the days when cubicle and company were synonymous — now millennial-led startups pop up in cities at an astonishing rate — nearly 400,000 businesses born in the U.S. alone each year — welcoming team members into environments ranging from home offices to loft-like communa...

4 Ways Retail Job Seekers Can Increase Their Odds of Getting Hired

By Catherine Conlan

You've updated your resume, now it's time to click submit. And there it goes... your resume and 100 other resumes for the same retail job posting. Turns out only 22 of you will actually get an interview, according to recent data. How can you change your odds? Is there a way to avoid sending your resume into what may seem like a black hole? If yo...

The World's 10 Most Admired Retailers

Is it important to you to work for a reputable brand? If you're searching for the retailer with the right fit, look no further. Fortune released its World’s Most Admired Companies list — here's the breakdown for retail. The companies on Fortune's list are rated based on nine key attributes: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets,...

Working at Vector Marketing, a Perfect Match For College Students

For many college graduates, it can take anywhere from 15 to 25 years to pay off student loans. But for 21-year-old Matt Foss, graduating debt-free is very much a reality. Only a junior at Arizona State University, Foss will start his post-grad life with a clean slate. How? One word. Vector. Every spring to summer season, the Vector Marketing ...

Job searching by generation: 6 tips for Gen Xers

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Generation X, loosely defined as the generation of people born between the early 1960s and early 1980s, is the “sandwich generation.” Caught between parents who are aging and children they are raising, many from Generation X are trying to juggle family priorities and work responsibilities. Having borne the brunt of the recession, many Gen Xers may ...

Beating job search burnout

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Looking for a job is hard work. And like any work you do, it can burn you out if you go about it the wrong way. One of the best ways to avoid job-search burnout is to have a strategy — don’t just send out reams of résumés in the hopes of getting a call back from somebody. That will just make you feel desperate. Steve Langerud is a workplace cult...

5 Steps For Turning Your Contract Position Into a Full-Time Job

For many, the shift to a contract-to-hire position might seem impossible but there are steps employees can take to make themselves a more attractive full-time candidate. Danielle Durko, branch manager of Finance & Accounting at Addison Group, a provider of professional staffing and search services, has five tips that will help you turn a temp po...

A partner's job search is your job search, too

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Amelia Shroyer moved to Berlin in 2012 to be with her then-boyfriend, Nic. She didn’t have a job or speak German. Nic worked full-time and made good money, but she found it hard to be unemployed. “I'm a pretty industrious and driven person, and it made me feel so useless,” she says. “I was looking for jobs every day, going to interviews and getting...

Best City to Start Your Job Search: New York City or Los Angeles?

By McLean Mills

For those at the start of their professional lives, the question is likely, where can I get a job? Which coast is the best coast? The two largest cities in America ― New York and Los Angeles ― sit as polar opposites of the nation, geographically and culturally. These hotbeds define the coast they sit on the throne of and the nature of their job ...

Are you ready to move from a temporary job to a permanent one?

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

The number of temporary jobs in the U.S. grew in March, and the sector remains strong as the economy continues to improve. The number of permanent jobs has also risen steadily over the past year, which means some long-time temp workers may now be looking for permanent jobs. While you've loved your time working as a temp in one or more different ...

Can you get a tax deduction for job search expenses?

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Looking for a job costs money — and the bills can add up fast. The good news is you can sometimes get a tax deduction for certain job search expenses. Here’s how it works. Hit the threshold Itemizing your deductions is the process of taking approved expenses off the taxes you owe to reduce your tax burden. Job expenses are claimed a miscellaneous d...

5 Best-Paying Companies for Retail Sales Associates

Sales associates are the backbone of the retail industry. There are more than four million of these front-line workers who are responsible for stellar customer service that directly affects company profit. These workers will be directly impacted by President Barack Obama's proposal to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. Sa...

Is your unpaid internship legal?

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Unpaid internships got a new round of scrutiny in 2013 when a federal district court judge in New York found Fox Searchlight Pictures violated unpaid internship rules by not paying two interns on the set of Black Swan. Contrary to popular belief, labeling a “job” an “internship” isn’t enough to make it legal to get unpaid labor. Back in the day,...

Top 10 Best Retailers to Work For

Fortune partnered with Great Place to Work to produce its annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. The top 10 retailers to work for are: Wegman's Food Markets: The supermarket chain marks its 18th year on Fortune's list with 1900 job openings as of February 2015.The average base pay for salaried employees is $62,802. Nugget Markets: T...

The Young Professional Woman's Competitive Edge

Some idiot asked me if young professional women have a competitive edge over same age men when they enter the professional workforce. Having spat coffee all over my keyboard, I replied, “Do you really have to ask?” From as early as kindergarten, girls seem to take growing up more seriously: they want to be adults and they consistently model them...

Ways to spot a bad employer before it's too late

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

Some bad employers wave red flags in your face, while others present more subtle signs. You should be ready to notice both. Here are six ways to spot a bad employer before you take a job that will turn into a nightmare down the road. Ask pointed questions During most interviews, you’ll have a chance to ask some questions of your own. Donna...

6 Tips for Overcoming Job-Search Writer's Block

By Monster Contributor

Those words aren’t going to write themselves, you know. By Mary Ellen Slayter, Monster Career Expert It’s common for people to have trouble talking about themselves and their accomplishments. But when you’re putting together a resume or cover letter, you don’t want to have to struggle to get the words on the page. Writer’s block is a real pain, but...

5 things HR still wishes all job candidates knew

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Ever wonder what the human resource professionals who interview you are thinking? Chances are there are a few things they wish they could tell you. Last year, we published a popular article titled “5 things HR wishes all job candidates knew.” Today, we’re sharing a few more things HR would like you to know before you come in for an interview. That ...

Strategies for Landing Part-Time Work

By Malcolm Fleschner, Monster Contributing Writer

Whether out of necessity or preference, you may be considering joining the million Americans working part time. If so, experts say there are a number of concrete steps you can take to improve your prospects and make that critical transition from seeking to landing a coveted part-time job. (Tip: Check out Monster's list of employers with the most ne...

4 signs it's time to hire a career coach

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Career coaches can help employees and job-seekers with a wide variety of work-related challenges: writing resumes and cover letters, targeting job searches, finding ways to develop careers and more. Some will provide ongoing support during a difficult time at work, while others are more focused on helping clients achieve a specific goal, such as fi...

Professional Associations for Healthcare Workers

By Monster Staff

Whether you’re a lab tech, pharmacist, rad tech, social worker or therapy professional, you can find a professional association to serve your needs. Here are some organizations to check out, ordered alphabetically by profession: Med/Lab | Pharmacy | Radiology | Social Services | Therapy Services Med/Lab AABB (formerly the American Asso...

9 secrets of the world's 'most attractive' employers

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Earlier this fall, employer branding firm Universum released its 2014 rankings of the World’s Most Attractive Employers, based on surveys of more than 200,000 business and engineering students in the world’s 12 largest economies. According to the survey, a “creative and dynamic work environment” is the most sought-after attribute for engineering st...

Time to Decide: To Move or Not to Move

By Shannon Sweeny

You’ve always wanted to make a move to another state or country and you’re not 100 percent happy at your current job ‒ so do you make the leap? There are many things to consider when thinking about making the big move because a career is important but may not be everything. Take it from someone who moved across the country and back in a year. ...

8 Companies That Pay Above Minimum Wage

President Barack Obama's proposal to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 will increase earnings for 28 million Americans giving businesses customers with more spending money, reports the White House. But until the country is on board, many retail workers are left unable to make ends meet, having to choose between gas to get to wo...

How to launch a job search when you're not sure what you want to do

By Catherine Conlan

Eden Castaneda graduated from California State University-Long Beach in December 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing — and no idea what she wanted to do with it. “I had a general idea that I wanted to pursue a career in business and I enjoyed my marketing classes the most,” she says. But when she went to search jo...

Are your parents ruining your job search?

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster Contributing Writer

Life can be tough in your early 20s, especially as you work to graduate from college and land your first job. No one would blame you for wanting to use every bit of assistance available — including your parents. One Adecco survey published earlier this year found nearly four in 10 Americans ages 18 to 24 have their parents involved in their job sea...

Do you need to build a personal website to land a job?

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Technology is changing the way people look for jobs — and how recruiters look for and evaluate candidates. Even if you have a publicly available resume or profile online and a strong social media presence, a personal website may give you an edge in this competitive job market. How a personal website can help you land a job Having your own website c...

5 Personal Details You Should Never Mention in Your Job Search

By Monster Contributor

Don’t give them a reason to turn you down. By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer It can be tempting to share details about your personal life during your job search because it seems like a good way to humanize your cover letter or build rapport with an interviewer. That’s not entirely a bad idea, but there are some personal details y...

Think you can't turn volunteer work into a paying job? Think again.

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Volunteering isn’t just a way to give back to your community and make yourself feel good, a regular volunteering gig can sometimes turn into paying work. According to “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment,” a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteers are 27 percent more likely to find a job after being out of work t...

Reasons to use social media in your job search

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

Using social media is a great way to boost your job search. Taking advantage of social media sites can help you find companies hiring. Use social media as part of your job search on Monster. Here's how to do it! You Can Become an Expert Demonstrating a deeper knowledge about the industry you’re in -- or would like to be in -- through blogging...

7 Top Industries for Worker Satisfaction

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer Looking for a satisfying job? Rasmussen College recently surveyed more than 2,000 employees from a wide variety of industries and identified which ones produce the most satisfied workers. Here’s some information on the top seven. 1. Wholesale Trade 87 Percent of Employees Reported Being Satisf...

Why it's OK to search for a new job if you're unhappy

By Monster Contributor

Management expert Alison Green gives advice on job searching while you have a job By Bret Silverberg, Monster staff writer It’s one of the more challenging pursuits of one’s career: Seeking out and finding a new job when you realize you’ve had enough of your current one. Typically, revamping your resume and reaching out to prospective em...

4 reasons to seek out employers with diverse workforces

During your job search, are you looking at employers that stress diversity in the workforce? You should. Companies that focus on diversity — not just in terms of race, but also gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, educational background, and more — can offer you a lot of benefits other companies can’t. Consider these four reasons to seek ou...

5 ways to get noticed by recruiters

Working with a recruiter can help you get the job you want — but finding one to work with can be hard. Here are five ways to get noticed by recruiters. Show no fear “The best way to stand out to recruiters is to stand up to them” says Joseph Terach, CEO at career services firm Resume Deli. “Don't let them overly influence your preferences for...

5 things HR wishes all job applicants knew

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

When you apply for a job, don’t waste your time or annoy the recruiter or hiring manager by bungling the process. Instead, prepare yourself by learning these five things HR wishes all job applicants knew. What you’re applying for If you’re conducting an extended or wide-ranging job search, it can be hard to keep track of all the resumes you s...

5 Things Employers Never Want to Learn About Candidates Online

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer These days it’s easy to find out a lot about a person online through professional sites, blog posts and articles, or social media. As hiring managers use Google to get more information about candidates applying to their organizations, they can sometimes find out things they didn’t want to know abo...

Lack of fulfillment, boredom and other signs it's time to go back to work

Is it time for you to go back to work? According to reported government statistics, 90 million people over age 16 in the United States are not looking for work. No matter why you left the workforce, Laura Lee Rose of Rose Consulting says just asking that question is probably a sign the time is nigh. “People that are not ready never ask themselves t...

5 tips for rebuilding your confidence when you've been out of work

Projecting confidence is key to getting a job. You can have all the skills needed in your field, but if you’re second guessing yourself, the hiring manager will, too. When you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, voluntarily or not, it can be tough to rally that sense of confidence. How does one build it back up? Try these tips. Embrace the s...

What's in a job title?

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

You’ve decided to make a change and search for a new job. Congratulations! While applying online for some choice positions, you’re faced with a dropdown menu of job titles instead of a text box to type it in. Your choices are: Vice President, Director, Manager, Coordinator, or Assistant. Nowhere on this list is your current title -- Chief Officer o...

5 Tips for Securing a Job

By monsterstaff

This guest post is by Dr. Michael Provitera (aka "DocProv"), a motivational and organizational behavior expert. With his 15 years of executive experience on Wall Street coupled with his doctorate in management, he wrote two books about mastering self-motivation. One is for people hoping to become more motivated; the other is for executives who woul...

How to Search for a Job Without Getting Busted by Your Boss

By Monster Contributor

By Taylor DuPuy Monster Contributing Writer If you’re already employed, but considering a change, you may be wondering how to go about conducting a job search without causing problems with your current job -- or worse, getting busted by your boss. A recent survey conducted by the employment professionals at Accountemps revealed that almost h...

You Just Won $1 Million: Would You Quit Your Job OR Continue to Work?

By monsterstaff

On Wednesday, we asked a question on Facebook page that people often ask themselves: "If I won the lottery and won $1 million, would I quit my job or continue to work?" We were pleasantly surprised that many would continue to work and put effort into their responses on how they would allocate their million. Work-life balance was definitely the star...

Four big lies employers tell job applicants

By Charles Purdy, Monster staff

By now, we should all know that it’s dangerous to lie on a resume. But you know what? In the job search conversation between employers and candidates, a bit of fibbing sometimes happens on the employer side, too. Often, there’s no ill will intended. While there are a few bad apples in the bunch (as with the rest of humanity), most recruiters and...

10 questions to create your career vision

By Caroline M.L. Potter

Have the last few years been cruel or kind to you, professionally speaking? Even if your career didn't take a hit, the recent economic tumult may have you quaking in your boots over the future. "Your career is long," says career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman. "Some people work for 40, 50 or 60 years. Don't get stuck in the here and now when what ...

Intern at Any Age

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline M.L. Potter Are you between jobs? At a career crossroads? Trying to transition to another field? An internship may be your best next step, even if you haven't seen the inside of a classroom in many years. No longer just for college students or recent graduates, internships can be a passport to success for professionals of any age. ...

Six Tips for Landing Your Dream Job

By Monster Contributor

By Alexandra Levit Do you have a job that's just like everyone else's? Are you looking for a 9-to-5, but wish you weren't? Do you wish there was another option, one that would lead to an exciting, unique and fulfilling line of work? I recently interviewed more than 100 people who currently hold their dream jobs as research for a new book call...

How to Keep Your Spirits Up During a Job Search

By Monster Contributor

By Pat Mayfield If you're having a difficult time finding a job, and it seems like it's taking forever, don't despair. Here are some suggestions for keeping your spirit positive: Think Up The mind is a powerful vessel. How we think and what we think can control our spirits. We literally can think ourselves up or down. To keep out the negat...

Is It the Recruiter, or Is It You?

By Larry Buhl, Monster Contributing Writer

Some job seekers love to hate recruiters. They’re the middlemen (and women) who never call, never explain anything, don’t present you in the best light and may even keep you from getting the job you want. More Resources from Monster: Four Big Lies Employers Tell Job Applicants Update Your Resume Search for Jobs As in any profes...

Salary history: How much should you tell?

By Margaret Steen, Monster contributor

At some point during your job search, you might be asked about your salary history—how much you're making at your current job, and how much you made previously. Should you tell? Is there any way to avoid telling? And why do potential employers want to know, anyway? First, you should know your rights as a job seeker, as some interview questions a...

7 job-posting red flags

By Charles Purdy, Monster Senior Editor

Wondering whether a job post is worth applying to? If you're afraid that a job ad sounds either too good to be true or just plain fishy, certain cautionary signs in the posting could confirm your suspicion. Of course, one or two of these red flags don't always mean something is wrong, but if the clues start to pile up, you may want to proceed with ...

A Factor for Your Next Job: Organizational Democracy?

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline M.L. Potter Are you as disenchanted with your employer as you are with the economy? Tired of working for top-heavy companies with antiquated management principles and an inability to anticipate and respond to a crisis? Consider searching for a job with an employer that embraces democracy in the workplace. Traci Fenton, founder of ...

Do You Really Deserve That Job?

By Monster Contributor

By Heather Boerner Applying for your dream job is a thrilling prospect. But if you're like 70 percent of Americans, you may feel like you don't deserve to get that dream job. The application process could make you feel, ironically, like a fraud. "People who identify with the 'impostor syndrome' feel they've somehow 'fooled' others into thinki...

Six Essentials for Finding a New Job

By Monster Contributor

By Robert DiGiacomo Here are half a dozen essential tips for landing the right job -- in good economic times or bad: Try a Sales Technique Be prepared during a phone interview or a first interview to make the "60-second sell," a four- to five-sentence summary of your biography and career accomplishments, according to Robin Ryan, a career c...

Plan B: Should You Take a Survival Job?

By Monster Contributor

By Margaret Steen If you're out of work and your job hunt is not going well, you may be considering taking a "survival job" -- one that will help pay the bills but doesn't compare to the one you lost. But how will employers considering you for a professional job view a stint working retail or doing low-level work in your field? Experts say...

The Job Shadow Knows: Try on a Career Before You Commit

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline M.L. Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs Dreaming of pursuing a new career? Take a step closer to making it a reality through job shadowing. "Job shadowing is a great way to get a sense of what it's truly like working at a specific job," says certified career coach Hallie Crawford. "There's no way to be 100 percent sure you're going to fit int...

Managing the Black Hole in the Job Application Process

By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer

You’ve invested the time in completing the job application, polishing your resume and writing a compelling cover letter. Once you’ve submitted your materials, though, you enter the black hole -- the space between applying for jobs and hearing back from potential employers. Managing this period of the job search process effectively is harder than ev...

Decoding job descriptions: What they <i>really</i> mean

By NicoleWilliams.com staff

Like online dating profiles, job descriptions are often written in a cryptic, euphemistic language that takes an experienced eye to decode. Just as “free-spirited” in a dating profile hints at a lack of full-time employment, words like “self-starter” or “multitasker” may give subtle clues about the type of work and the work environment you’ll fi...

Get your references together for your job search

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Your resume and cover letter aren't the only things that need to be spiffed up for a job search. What about your references? Employers may ask for a reference list when considering you for a job, so it needs to be in top form as well. Create yours by following these expert tips. Format for references Create a separate document that includes a...

Lying in your job search: Where's the line?

By Dona DeZube, Monster Finance Careers Expert

The job market is filled with people telling half-truths about themselves in an attempt to land their next job. They’re telling white lies, omitting unflattering facts about their pasts and laying down some really big whoppers as well. In fact, Kroll’s Nashville-based Background Screening division finds a discrepancy on about 48% of all job applica...

How to Find Low-Stress Jobs

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Among the best oxymorons out there, "low-stress jobs" ranks toward the top. After all, chronic job stress is real. We’re not talking about the occasional aggravation of losing a computer file or the annoyance of having to listen to a co-worker talk on speakerphone. Serious workplace stress can be mentally draining and leave you feeling depleted ...

Five Ways to Test Your Marketability

By Monster Contributor

By Marty Silberstein, for Yahoo! HotJobs How marketable are you? Are you using a sound career strategy to keep fit for today's fluctuating marketplace? Whether you're looking for work or want to hold on to the job you have, maintaining your marketability for the long term requires that you continually invest in yourself. You are the product y...

How New Grads Can Take Charge of Job Search Rejection

By Susan Kennedy, Monster Contributing Writer

Nancy is a new graduate who sailed through high school and college. She earned good grades, participated in several extracurricular activities and had several prestigious internships -- including a junior-year summer internship that led to a job offer. However, that offer is now off the table because of a hiring freeze. So Nancy started an entry-le...

How to Network: 10 Tips

By John Rossheim, Monster contributor

Looking for advice on how to network? Here's a tip: It's not a numbers game, though in this age of metrics, it’s tempting for you as a job hunter to seek solace in the sheer numbers of your efforts: 200 job postings answered, 300 resumes mailed, 400 social media connections collected for the purposes of professional networking. But if you think ...

Landing a Survival Job

By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer

If you’re a highly qualified professional who has been unemployed for a while, you may eventually have to find a “Plan B” job to pay your bills until the job market improves and you can return to your preferred type of work. There’s no shame in that, but landing a temporary survival job can be harder than you think -- there may be dozens of app...

10 Ways to Make Job Hunting Your Full-Time Job

By Monster Contributor

By Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs If you have been laid off, your new occupation is looking for work. "It is a full-time job, probably the hardest one you'll every have," says Leslie G. Griffen, an HR consultant, career coach and principal of The Griffen Group. But once you have browsed the job ads and sent emails to your former collea...

Top 10 Ways to Use the Web to Get a Job

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs While newspapers and networking still play an important role in looking for work, the Internet is now a vital component in any job search. According to a Gad Levanon, economist at the Conference Board, "The Internet has become the most popular method of job searching." A survey by the Conference Board, the...

Strategies to Leverage Experience

By Monster Contributor

By Michael Kimmel, Courtesy of Just for Men They’re younger and hungrier than you are and willing to accept lower pay and fewer responsibilities to start out. They’re today’s young entrants into the job market -- members of Generation Y. They’re eager to get a foot in the door. And there you are, a decade older, a step or two slower on the ba...

Writing sample tips for a job application

By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer

In today’s competitive job market, applicants for many positions—even when they're not directly applying to writing jobs—are required to submit writing samples at some point during the interview process. Don’t let this request stress you out, even if you’re not a strong writer. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about writing samples...

Five Steps to Beat Job Search Procrastination

By Monster Contributor

By Bill Knaus, EdD, author of End Procrastination Now Procrastination dooms most job seekers to a sluggish search. Overcoming this complex human problem takes more than a "just do it" slogan to fix. You can start now to give yourself a winning edge by using time you'd ordinarily spend procrastinating to productively pursue job opportunities. You...

Five Tips to Stay Focused on Your Job Search

By Monster Contributor

By Doug Hardy, Special to Monster Monster's Six Fundamentals to Building a Lifelong Career ebook teaches the daily habits that all workers need to take command of their careers. In this excerpt, author Doug Hardy discusses one of those habits -- staying productive when you're looking for a job. Each time you interrupt a focused work task, it...

The pros and cons being a probationary employee

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Not all job offers are created equal. Unfortunately, some come with strings attached, such as an employment probation period, also referred to as a new hire probationary period. In a nutshell, these are short-term periods employers use to try out job candidates before rewarding them with full-time status. Typically, a job trial period runs for abou...

What to Wear to a Job Fair: How to Choose a Professional Outfit for a Career Fair

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Have you ever shown up to a party too dressed up—or dressed down? Wearing an inappropriate outfit to a social event may be awkward, but making the wrong impression at a career fair might cost you a job. Wearing the right outfit to a career fair will not only convey your professionalism to recruiters, but it will also give you the confidence to s...

Get Rid of Negative Thoughts

By Dona DeZube, Monster Finance Careers Expert

You've been unemployed for six months. You think you're too old, fat or stupid to find a job. Keep thinking that way, and you'll prove yourself right. Negative thinking and speaking can derail your job search. Most employers want to hire happy people -- not people who are down on themselves and the world. Picture two job applicants. Each walks i...

Five Job Search Tips for Trailing Partners

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Finding a job as the trailing partner in a job-related move can be a real challenge. Just ask Shane Miller, who has been searching for a retail manager job ever since he and his wife Kristin moved from Indianapolis to Colorado Springs so Kristin could accept a new public relations position. "The smaller market has been a problem," says Miller. ...

Create Your Own Opportunities

By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer

Here is one of those basic laws of life: There will always be opportunities for those who recognize and pursue them. The lucky people are simply those who have taken more chances than average. But you need a strategy for seizing opportunities, one that consistently demonstrates your passion for and commitment to your field. Stick with your plan,...

Job-Hunting Strategies That Really Work

By James Gonyea, Monster Contributing Writer

Many job seekers view their job search as an unpleasant experience filled with frustration, stressful encounters with strangers, a loss of control over their life and an opportunity for personal failure. Job hunting can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be! With proper preparation and a good attitude, looking for the right job can be an opportun...

Top 15 Hispanic/Latino Professional Associations

By Dan Woog, Monster Contributing Writer

Hispanics and Latinos are gaining a foothold in virtually every industry and career sector, reflecting the growing diversity of the US population. While most industries support general professional and trade organizations, a number of groups now focus specifically on issues important to Hispanics/Latinos. Education, networking opportunities and adv...

Perfect Your Search with Boolean Basics

By Ed Melia, Monster Contributing Writer

Whether you're looking for a new job or a rhinestone monkey pendant, searching the Internet for it may require more than a simple keyword. For example, uncovering an engineering job via a search engine will be time-consuming and frustrating if you simply use the keyword "engineer." The search will likely return thousands of irrelevant results, and ...

Starting a women's network at your company

By Francesca Di Meglio, Monster contributor

A report from sociologists at Harvard, the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Berkeley showed that diversity training and networking alone are failing to help companies recruit or retain women and other minority groups. What works? Coalitions that actively engage women in the company’s present and future. At your company, ...

Getting the Information You Need on a Company's Web Site

By David DeJean, Monster Contributing Writer

You've been approached for a job, and you need to do your homework on the company. Where do you start? At its Web site. The information you get depends where -- and how -- you look. The Web is an ocean of information. You can bring up pearls -- or old boots. How much can you really learn about a company from its Web site? Plenty. In fact, most site...

Sample of a recommendation letter

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

After you've been in the workforce for a few years, don't be surprised if a colleague asks you to write them a letter of recommendation. Not sure what to put in it? This recommendation letter sample can show you what to comment on, how to say it, and what not to say. It's always a smart idea to offer to write a letter of recommendation for a col...

Government Programs Help Diverse Job Applicants

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Although in recent years, workers with disabilities and minority job seekers have won and lost some battles on the legal front, they have made continued gains in terms of government resources. The legal losses include a series of Supreme Court decisions -- including US Airways v. Barnett and Toyota v. Williams -- that have progressively narrowed a...

Network, Hollywood-Style

By Christina Lopez, Monster Staff Writer

Whether you're trying to land a job or make new business contacts, networking can be one of your most fruitful strategies. And if there's one industry in which people know the value of networking, it's entertainment. Although the entertainment industry has something others may not -- like countless events offering opportunities for aspiring star...

Fight Job Search Ageism

By Linda Wiener, Monster Age Issues Expert

For many job seekers, the interview is the most difficult part of the job search process because of its impact on the hiring decision. For older men concerned about showcasing their experience without raising a red flag about their age, interviews can be more of a challenge. An interview is similar to a sales meeting, only you're forced into an ...

Which Internship Is Best for You?

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

There's no such thing as the perfect internship. But you can figure out which one aligns best with your career goals, and then tap your own initiative to turn that internship into an experience that will grab the attention of future employers. Take It or Leave It? How do you judge the potential value of a particular internship, especially when you'...

Use Career Assessments Wisely -- or Not at All

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

What do you want be when you grow up? If you're trying to figure that out, you're probably considering taking some career tests, like the Strong Interest Inventory, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or one of the dozens of other vocational assessments available in print and online. It's a great idea. But, please, be careful. Used wisely, career asse...

Rejection follow-up letter

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Was your ego bruised when you were notified that you didn't get the job? Get yourself back in the game by sending a post-rejection follow-up letter. You never know -- the person hired might not be working out, or there could be other suitable openings. Keep your name on decision makers' minds by checking in several months after you were rejected...

Globalization's Impact on the Labor Market

By Rusty Weston, Monster Contributing Writer

If globalization were put to a popular vote in the United States, it would lose, according to Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, one of the world’s largest multinational employers. Opponents of globalization contend that an economic race to the bottom is under way as workers in First World economies will be forced to cut their standard of ...

Ask for More as an Intern

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

You didn't sign up for a several-month sentence at the copy machine, yet there you are at your internship, making copies for hours. And then you go home each day and gripe about it to anyone who will listen (or pretend to). Why not do something about it? Seek out more challenging assignments –- the kind that will give you the skills you'll reall...

Job applicant, beware: You're being Googled

By Allan Hoffman, Monster Tech Jobs Expert

It’s not just what you say that can be held against you when you’re looking for a job. It’s also what you tweet, write in your blog, and broadcast on YouTube. Before you start applying to jobs, commit to a social media clean up. Why? Because if a potential employer uncovers salacious or otherwise unflattering material about you online, that job ...

On-Campus Recruiting: Myths and Realities

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

If your school's career center has a well-established on-campus recruiting program, consider yourself lucky. It's the first and maybe last time prospective employers will seek you out. That's why it's so critical to understand how on-campus recruiting works -- and doesn't. Let's set the record straight on some prevalent myths. Myth: Only bus...

The Benefits of Temping for College Students and Grads

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Taking on temporary assignments can be a way for college students and new grads to do their own testing -- with respect to their career plans, at least. By working for a temporary employment agency, they can test-drive potential careers, while saving time and money on the wrong ones. A Career/Company Test-Drive Chances are you've heard of tem...

How to get a great internship

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

It's one of the most common and frustrating career dilemmas college students face: "To get a good job after graduation, I need experience. But how do I get experience without having a job in the first place?" One common—and wise—solution: an internship, paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time. Easy enough. But how do you get one? Well, one or ...

Your ROI for Career Moves

By David DeJean, Monster Contributing Writer

Companies have several standard tools to calculate the value of a course of action. Return on investment, internal rate of return and payback period are all ways of quantifying the potential gains or losses of investing in a new venture, process or system. Unfortunately, there are no tools for doing the same thing on a personal level. How do ...

Put the Best Places to Live in Texas on Your Job Hunt List

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

Ask 10 Texans what they like about living and working in the Lone Star State, and you’re likely to get 10 different answers ranging from sunny weather and fantastic food to a healthy economy and winning sports teams. You’ll get a long list of the best places to live in Texas since there’s so much to enjoy throughout the state. The first thing yo...