Posted February 2, 2010 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
Deciding what to put on and leave out of a resume can be perplexing. Professional goals should influence these decisions. But I have found that job hunters can intrigue potential bosses and land interviews based on (seemingly) irrelevant but standout stuff. Here are non-work items that can differentiate you and make a positive impression.
Posted January 15, 2010 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
In the past couple of months, two clients have landed great jobs in the midst of the worst employment climate in decades. The secret to their successes, I believe, were delivering outstanding results in lousy jobs. Let me explain.
Posted January 4, 2010 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
After examining my goals for the past year, I realized that the type goal, rather than its perceived difficulty, is what often leads to fulfillment or frustration. Here are ways to define types of goals, deconstruct them, and plan for success.Posted December 29, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
Recently, a reader asked how to give stock to kids in her life in an effort to inspire a life-long interest in investing. Here are ideas on ways to get the younger generation started in stock-market investing.
Posted December 19, 2009 - 08:00 by Julie Rains
Every year for the past 20 years or so, I have exchanged gifts with my extended family including my parents and in-laws, who are now in their 80s. They've accumulated what they need and want but I still enjoy finding a special gift for each of them. Here are gift ideas for the person who has or seems to have everything.
Posted December 15, 2009 - 08:00 by Julie Rains
I just finished reading "The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man" by Brett and Kate McKay. As the married mom of 2 sons nearing manhood and the daughter of a man from the Greatest Generation that the McKays esteem, I found the book to be practical and entertaining. Skills for building a career, surviving in the wilderness, and more are covered. Here are some of my favorites in the rugged man and refined gentleman categories.
Posted December 3, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
I've taken a look at home affordability calculators that are available from many reputable sites offering personal finance advice. "Affordability" is based on bank lending guidelines rather than real-life budgets. I'll show you a simple formula to help you determine what is truly affordable. And, I'll give you ideas on how your view of affordability may change over the next 15 or 30 years based on typical work/life events.
Posted November 18, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
I’m a mortgage-free homeowner but, despite paying off my loan, I still have plenty of expenses associated with owning and maintaining my house. Some have been easy to anticipate; others, not so obvious. Either way, the dollars add up. I’ll tell you about some costs to consider for budgeting purposes.
Posted November 2, 2009 - 07:00 by Julie Rains
Competition for jobs is fierce but networking is one way of differentiating yourself as a stellar candidate. Here are tips on networking basics as well as ideas on how to avoid seeming desperate and how to use Twitter during a job search.
Posted October 22, 2009 - 12:15 by Julie Rains
Many people think I’m incredibly well organized because I can easily manage (certain) projects and recite dates, locations, deadlines, etc. for my family’s activities. The truth is that I’d be almost completely lost without my computer. Here are some easy-to-follow, tech-oriented tips on keeping things together whether there are toddlers or teenagers running amok at your house.
Posted October 8, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains
I love Halloween but hate paying high prices for kids' costumes. Over the years, I have managed to create a few costumes cheaply without tapping into my extremely sparse (nonexistent?) sewing and craft skills. Here are some costume ideas (suitable for kids of various ages) that could save you money with minimal effort.
Posted September 25, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
Figuring out what you've accomplished at work is essential to demonstrating your value to employers and clients. Though some people are keenly aware of their accomplishments, others stumble. Often, these other folks have made great contributions, but don't have highly visible results. Here are 50+ questions to jumpstart the process of articulating awesome accomplishments.
Posted September 19, 2009 - 07:00 by Julie Rains
Wondering how to use creative talents to pay the bills now and build for retirement later? Last week, I spoke with Texas wildflower artist Linda Calvert Jacobson about what works for her. I'll share her strategies so that you can find ways to invest your talents.
Posted September 11, 2009 - 11:29 by Julie Rains
Many people are job hunting these days. I have worked with job seekers for many years and have found that these five common assumptions frequently derail a job search.
Posted September 3, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains
My tween son went to a Lego camp this summer so that he could learn robotics, something I wasn’t sure I could teach him since his technical skills typically surpass mine. My initial fascination was with the computer programming aspect of the camp. Then, I became intrigued with the idea of running a summer camp as a side business. So, I spoke with seasoned camp directors about how they turned summer weeks into extra income. Here's a road map for a summer camp business.
Posted August 19, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains
Sometimes the shortest and best path to making a decision or solving a problem is to ask for insights from a wise person. Here are ways to make sure you are getting good advice.
Posted August 10, 2009 - 06:46 by Julie Rains
Creativity, frugality, and, on occasion, desperation can inspire innovative uses of the digital camera. Whether it is a standalone device or part of a smartphone or PDA, don't leave home without it. Here are 35 ways to be more productive, have fun, and save money with your digital camera.
Posted July 15, 2009 - 12:00 by Julie Rains
Charge cards, like their credit-card cousins, allow cardholders to use plastic cards to make purchases and then pay at the end of a settlement period, typically on a monthly basis. If you want the convenience and security of credit cards, without the risk of incurring debt and paying finance charges, a charge card may be for you.
Posted July 13, 2009 - 09:00 by Julie Rains
I know many people would like to spend more time outdoors, but may not know where to start. Here are some of my favorite modes of outdoor exploration that doesn't require too much research and preparation. Use them to plan a quick weekend adventure or spice up a staycation.
Posted June 25, 2009 - 08:43 by Julie Rains
I have encountered job seekers who had taken part in informational interviews but seemed to find them fruitless. Admittedly, having helped many clients using a straightforward approach, I was skeptical about the winding path to a career that the informational-interview process seems to represent. Recent conversations have shown me that taking the right approach, though, can land positions in competitive fields even in a difficult economy. I'll share what I learned about what not to say, how to leverage social media, and more.
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