Tax Tips for the Unemployed

Posted on April 14, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

Tax time is upon us once again. And for the many people who spent the majority of 2009 looking for work they may be a little confused about what expenses they can and can’t deduct this year while doing taxes. We gave a pretty detailed list of deductions you can take in general here and here.

But the following deductions are just related to people who spent a portion of 2009 looking for work.

Travel and Transportation – If you visit an area for your current job while looking for work in the same occupation you can deduct those travel expenses. Pretty much any trip you make that includes a job search while there is fair game.
Resume – You can deduct pretty much anything related to the creation of your resume. Paper, mailing expenses, copying time spent writing it, professional writing services, etc.
Employment or Job Placement Services – Though you can’t make this claim if your company has paid the fees, but as long as it’s for help seeking employment in your current occupation you can write these off.
Phone Calls Long distance calls related to your job search re also fair game.
Career Counseling Services – These can also qualify for a deduction if you’re looking to continue in the same line of work.

Important Tips to Remember:

You CANNOT write off job search expenses if you’re looking for a job for the first time.
Don’t forget if you’re collecting unemployment that you have to report that income.
Severance pay, bonuses, 401K and/or other pension distributions may be taxable
None of the above listed deductions are allowed if you’re looking for work in an entirely new line of work.
They are also not allowed if there was a large span of time between your last job and your current job search.

And MOST importantly remember that these are just a few tips, you should always look to the IRS for complete details as to what you can and cannot deduct when doing taxes. Good luck and happy tax day!

Tips on Staying Employed

Posted on April 7, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

422670456_68dd9265e3 Here on the blog we are always looking for at the future. How and where you can find your next job or a new career. But what if you’ve already got one? Sometimes keeping the job you already have is a challenge in it’s own. Today we’re going to take a look at a few ways you can work to keep the job you have.

With a pretty large number of people looking for work in this day and age it’s important that if you’re happy with the job you’ve got you may want to make an extra effort to ensure you keep it

Keep Your Skills Updated – Take a class at your local college or adult community education center. Something that will help keep your skills sharp and show you even better ways to do your job. And remember there’s a good chance your employer will foot the bill. If there is certifications you can achieve related to your field, go for it!
Play nice – When you get along with your co-workers and maintain a pleasant air around the office you can keep your office a pretty happy place. Avoid the gossip and office drama you’ll also stay on everybody’s good side.
Do Your Job – And do it well. Show up to work on time, do your job and don’t complain. A simple task that should remain at the top of your to-do list.
Stay Involved – Follow along the success of the company and whatever else is going on related to the company. Attend meetings as often as you can. Show your bosses your interested in the welfare of the company, not just your job.
Take Care of Yourself – Eat right, get enough sleep and exercise. Work out and be sure you make sure you take some time for yourself on the weekends. If you stay healthy and happy, that attitude will carry over into the workplace as well.

Happy Working!

Job Hunting: It’s All About Who You Know

Posted on February 18, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

Though there will probably never some a time when job boards, newspaper want ads and employment agencies will ever become obsolete, the fact remains that in this day and age the true key to getting a job is who you know. Of course there has always been a lot of stock in that ideology since the beginning of time, but now who you know is really the name of the game when you’re playing the job hunt shuffle.

Research and studies are showing that not only are job seekers looking more at their online and real life network to find their next job, but employers are looking more to other employees or other personal referrals when looking to fill open positions.

Jeremiah Owyang of Web Strategy did a 5-part series based on a survey he took recently titled, “Jobs in a Recession.” In the first series of results Owyang found that of the all the respondents that had found work since September 2008 (when the recession started) 43% found those jobs through their immediate online network of friends, colleagues, alumni, or family. This is why many insiders and corporate insiders recommend devoting the majority of your job search time to networking.

The same can also be said for companies looking to hire, who trust a good referral more than a generic reference. This is why so many companies are either implementing new employee referral plans or building on plans that already exist.

A recent article on Martketwatch.com talked about just that. According to the article a good majority of positions are never even advertised because companies are choosing to rely on employee recommendations instead.

Companies such as Prudential and Vistaprint both offer lucrative employee referral programs. This benefits the company, who is hiring based on a trusted recommendation, the new hire, and of course the employee who made the recommendation who is not only helping the company succeed, but also making some quick cash in the process.

Prudential’s program offers $500 and $2,500 for each successful referral, depending on the job level. Vistaprint has the “Everyone Here is a Recruiter” program, which offers employees not only a home theater system for the employee with the most referrals hired, but also a $1,500 referral award for each successful hire. It’s no wonder that 48% of Vistaprint’s new hires in 2008 came from employee referrals.

This is a big part of the theory behind Ntroduction as well. With the majority of new hires coming from personal referrals, it’s important to know the right people. Be sure and check out our leads or list you own and see how YOUR network might work for you.

Job Fairs: Are They Worth It?

Posted on February 4, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

Job fair attendance across the country has increased dramatically over the last year. With job fairs usually offering a handful of jobs to hundreds or even thousands of attendees (depending on where you are) you may ask yourself, why bother? Well don’t be so quick to dismiss the oversaturated job fair scene.

First and foremost, you never know. Armed with some good looking resumes, a few references (many people at job fairs don’t bring these along, so set yourself apart by having some handy) and the right attitude you just maybe walking into a great opportunity. And that doesn’t necessarily mean the companies who are there looking for a few new hires.

One of the greatest things about a job fair, especially ones with a lot of people, is it gives you a chance to network with other people looking work, in your field in particular. Today’s job hunter could be tomorrow’s hiring manager.

As mentioned in this week’s earlier post, Avoiding the Black Hole When Job Hunting, a good way to open doors is by working together with friends and colleagues who are also looking for work.

Follow up with contacts you make at a local job fair. Ask them about what kind of work they’re looking for and tell them that you’ll them to a list of other contacts looking for work and that you’ll be sure to send them any job leads you find that may be w2ell suited to them. Ask them to do the same.

Soon you could find yourself with a great circle of contacts all working together to find work.

And hey, you never know! You could find yourself being wooed by any one of the companies hosting a booth at the local job fair too.

Be sure to check with your local paper or Chamber of Commerce for job fairs in your area. You can also visit sites such as, EmploymentGuide.com to find job fairs near you.

Making an Introduction on Ntroduction (Part 2 of a 2 Part Post)

Posted on December 17, 2009 by meghan_ntroduction

3388027881_afb4ee1103 You’ve done it! Congratulations, you’ve ut up your first listing on Ntroduction! You’ve already read the steps you should take leading up to craeting your first introfduction on Ntroduction, but now you’ve already got a repsonse. What next?

Well, that’s why we’re here. Read through these simple steps that will take you through how to make the most of your repsonse and real life introductions once they start rolling in.

After your Introduction proposal is listed:

As soon as you list the introduction proposal, matching introductions are shown – feel free to respond to them.
Respond to inquiries promptly with details for each and every question. For example: If the inquiry is about how many people are involved to make the decision, respond back to them clearly with ‘there will be 3 primary decision makers and 3 influencers – I will be providing an introduction to one of the key decision makers.”
If you are in or around the neighborhood of the matching Seeker or Provider, meet with them in person – you never know, they can probably help you in future (we will provide a separate blog on what to discuss when you meet the matching seeker or provider in person). At the very least, discuss how frequently you want to keep in touch.
Always make sure you exchange your contact information and follow up to find out more about the opportunity.
Remember, in order for the deal to close, introductions made (whether you are seeking or providing) can take a little time. Discussions between key players as well as putting heads together will have to happen first.
You should always respond to inquiries within 5-7 days. A delay in response to inquiries can be deemed as not serious or really interested in the introduction.

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge that you need to make the most of Ntroduction, get out there and do it! And always feel free to contact us or even leave a question here on the blog if you have any questions. Good luck!