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Tips for the long-term unemployed

Although there are signs the economy is healing, there are still 15.3 million unemployed workers in America according to the most recent BLS data. Among those unemployed, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) continued to trend up, reaching 6.1 million in December 2009. That means 4-in-10 unemployed workers have been jobless for 6 months or longer.

In addition, about 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force last December, an increase of more than half a million from the previous year. Marginally attached persons are defined as those individuals who were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed, however, because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. Have they simply given up?

“Unemployed people are facing some historic numbers and formidable competition. However, they need to pinpoint those areas they may be able to change, make a difference and increase their chances for success. Despite the odds, people are still landing jobs every day. Job seekers need to continually make adjustments, learn to run a focused campaign and never give up,” said Bob Wilson, managing partner of OI Partners-High Potential Inc. in Chicago.

If you are feeling the stress of long-term unemployment, here are some tips from Wilson and his colleagues at OI Partners:

Double-check your references: “Make sure that your references are telling potential employers what you think they are, and they are up to date on your skills and accomplishments. We suggest that our clients ‘groom’ their references constantly and determine in advance exactly what their references will say about them. Finally, use only those that will ’sell’ you the best to potential employers,” Wilson says.

Be sure you are targeting the right industries: The health care industry has added 630,000 jobs since the recession began. Also, the financial services, manufacturing, and professional service industries are the most likely to re-hire people they have previously laid off, according to an OI Partners survey, indicating they may have cut back too deeply.

Increase your face-to-face contact: “Some long-term unemployed may be spending too much time looking for jobs and posting resumes online, and have not had enough face-to-face contact. Join networking groups, and increase your networking contacts by volunteering your services with civic, charitable, and religious groups. Continue attending professional association meetings, as well as finding out from your network what your target companies are doing in the marketplace,” Wilson says.

“You want to become knowledgeable in the areas of your interest. The often used term ‘networking’ is so very important. When you meet a contact and are able to tell your story, you don’t know who or how many that contact will be sharing your story with in the days and weeks to follow your meeting. That is why face time is key – be sure to keep your network up to date and informed. It is how jobs are being filled today,”  Wilson adds.

Use social networking Web sites to identify contacts within targeted companies and possible jobs that have not been posted or advertised: Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter are particularly helpful for finding inside contacts. “Work these electronic networking media to identify fellow alumni, friends, and former colleagues who may be internal contacts who can be helpful in getting your resume reviewed,” Wilson says.

Focus on the immediate value you can bring to an employer: “You may not have clearly communicated to potential employers what you can do for them right now and within your first three months on the job. Be sure to clarify your value proposition, including a performance pledge and a timetable for achieving results,” Wilson says. ” Employers want to find people who can help with one of three things: increase revenue, decrease costs, or mitigate risk.”

Related posts:

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/job-search/long-term-unemployed/

State of the Union: Jobs, jobs, jobs

If you’re like millions of Americans, you tuned into President Obama’s State of the Union address last night. If you’re like millions of Americans, you might have tuned in accidentally because you forgot it was on and went to watch Modern Family, only to find Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos chatting with each other. So there’s a chance the only part you watched of Obama’s address was the beginning and that was merely by chance. Either way, even if you only saw the first 20 minutes, you heard one word a lot: jobs.

Over at Novaurora Blog, Jason Putorti made a handy word cloudfor Obama’s speech. Front and center, sandwiched between the oversized text of people and America is jobs. Obviously, getting people back to work is as much on his mind as it is on the average American’s.

If you go to the New York Times site, you can see video of the speech and the accompanying text. Along the top is a timeline of the address, so you can see when he moves from one point to another and see just how much of this speech was about the job situation. At 1:43 into the speech, he first mentions our current (or most recent, depending on whom you talk to) recession and unemployed Americans. At 9:18 he references unemployment benefits. At 10:51 he continues his discussion of employment and continues until 13:50, when he begins to discuss his plan to create jobs. And it goes on and on–you can read the full text (sans video) here. The point is that the state of our union depends on jobs, and surely most of you reading this know that. If you’re looking for work either because you’re unemployed or want a change, you realize how much your career influences all other aspects of your life, and that affects everyone else in the long run.

Here are just some of the speech’s moments relating to jobs:

One in 10 Americans still cannot find work. Many businesses have shuttered. Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard. And for those who’d already known poverty, life has become that much harder.

That’s why we extended or increased unemployment benefits for more than 18 million Americans; made health insurance 65 percent cheaper for families who get their coverage through COBRA; and passed 25 different tax cuts.

But I realize that for every success story, there are other stories, of men and women who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next paycheck will come from; who send out resumes week after week and hear nothing in response. That is why jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010, and that’s why I’m calling for a new jobs bill tonight.

We should start where most new jobs do –- in small businesses, companies that begin when companies that begin when an entrepreneur — when an entrepreneur takes a chance on a dream, or a worker decides it’s time she became her own boss. Through sheer grit and determination, these companies have weathered the recession and they’re ready to grow.

We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities — and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy-efficient, which supports clean energy jobs.

But the truth is, these steps won’t make up for the seven million jobs that we’ve lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America’s families have confronted for years.

Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history -– an investment that could lead to the world’s cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of last year’s investments in clean energy -– in the North Carolina company that will create 1,200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced batteries; or in the California business that will put a thousand people to work making solar panels.

Obviously, it’s a bittersweet topic–for every bit of enthusiasm, it’s tempered with the reality of today’s unemployment situation. And it’s controversial depending on your ideological standpoint, I’m sure. Certainly not everyone reading this blog agrees with Obama–either with what he says or what he’s done. And perspective certainly comes into play, too. The AP released its fact check of the speech. Some points he made were labeled as false, others true. And one key jobs assertion? Well, that depends…

OBAMA: “Because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. … And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.”

THE FACTS: The success of the Obama-pushed economic stimulus that Congress approved early last year has been an ongoing point of contention. In December, the administration reported that recipients of direct assistance from the government created or saved about 650,000 jobs. The number was based on self-reporting by recipients and some of the calculations were shown to be in error.

The Congressional Budget Office has been much more guarded than Obama in characterizing the success of the stimulus plan. In November, it reported that the stimulus increased the number of people employed by between 600,000 and 1.6 million “compared with what those values would have been otherwise.” It said the ranges “reflect the uncertainty of such estimates.” And it added, “It is impossible to determine how many of the reported jobs would have existed in the absence of the stimulus package.”

So what does this all mean? Ultimately, everyone is trying to figure out how to get the job situation under control. You and I–aka regular people–want to know that we’ll have a paycheck tomorrow or find a new job when we want to. The president and Congress are trying to figure out how to make that that hope a reality (if for no other reason than to get reelected). We’ve also posted about the stimulus package of the last year, too. (See Stimulus package for job seekers and Great Jobs in the President’s Stimulus Plan) Everyone’s thinking about jobs–from you and me all the way up to the president.

If you watched last night and are reading this blog, jobs are certainly on your mind. So what was your reaction to Obama’s address? Let us know what your thoughts are on the job situation, his plans and what he’s done about jobs so far.

Related posts:

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/job-search/state-of-the-union-jobs-jobs-jobs/

Handling job search desperation

When you really want to — need to — work, is there anything worse than being unemployed? How about being long-term unemployed.

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

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

Related posts:

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/career-advice/desperation/

10 Signs Time to Quit

How many times a day do you say to yourself, “I like what I do, but not where I work?” Or the opposite, “I like where I work, but not what I do?”

The current economy has kept many employees stationed for the past couple of years, not because they love what they do — but because they are too scared to pursue other opportunities. But, according to a recent Gallup Poll, 71 percent of employees feel disengaged from their jobs. So what should you do? Continue to stay in a job where you are unhappy? Or start looking for somewhere where you’ll be happier?

People quit their jobs for many reasons. Maybe you don’t like your co-workers or your boss drives you crazy. Maybe there’s nowhere for you to move up in the company. Maybe you’re overworked and underpaid. Maybe you’re all of the above.

While the choice to move on to greener pastures is up to you, here are 10 signs that should tell you if it’s time to start thinking about moving on:1. Your co-workers drive you crazy.
Co-workers can be a curse or a blessing in the workplace. When you work with people you love, it’s one thing. But how are you supposed to get any work done when your colleagues are irritating you, offending you, distracting you, coming in late, leaving early, talking loudly on the phone, procrastinating or coming to your desk to gossip? If you find that you want to tear your hair out at the end of each day because of your colleagues, it might be time to look for more tolerable people.

2. You hate going to work.
When Sunday night rolls around, are you dreading going into the office the next morning? As soon as you arrive on Monday morning, are you already thinking about Friday at 5 p.m.? I think all of us have had to go to job that we hate at least once, and if you haven’t — you’re the exception, not the rule (not to mention extremely lucky). When you’re spending 40+ hours at work, the last thing you want is to hate every second you’re there. If you do, it might be time to start thinking about your next career move.

3. You’re bored.
Most people like to feel challenged at work. If your work has started to seem too easy or repetitive, it’s a sign that you need more responsibility or extra a change in roles. But, don’t confuse boredom with slacking off. There’s a vast difference between watching YouTube videos all day long with work piling up next to you and watching YouTube videos all day long because you’ve completed all there is to do.

4. The company — or your job — is in trouble.
It’s no secret that many companies are still struggling as a result of the economy. There continue to be layoffs and budget cuts. While we don’t suggest quitting your job in a panic without having some sort of plan as to what your next step is, we do think you should pay attention to what’s going on at your company. If you’re concerned about the state of your job or the company, approach your manager with any concerns before taking other actions.

5. You don’t feel at home.
Sometimes we forget how important it is to feel comfortable at work — that is, until we don’t. If competition seems far from friendly, your colleagues steal your ideas, your ethics or values conflict with the company, or even if your casual style clashes with the buttoned-up policies of management, you might try to find a company where you feel more at home.

6. You can’t stand your boss.
Just because someone is a manager or boss doesn’t give him free reign to be a jerk. Whether you realize it or not, your relationship with your boss has a huge impact on your overall professional happiness and success. After all, even the best job can be terrible if your boss is lousy. If you don’t see eye-to-eye or your manager is untrustworthy or unwilling to help you succeed, it might be time to look for a new job — with a new supervisor.

7. Your career is at a standstill.
Maybe you’ve been doing the same job for several years and you’re ready for more responsibility. Maybe you’ve lost your passion for what you used to love. Maybe you work at a company where there’s no other role for you than the one you’re currently in. Start by talking to your boss about taking on more work, or trying different tasks. Express to him or her that you want to continue to develop your skills and reach your goals. If no alternatives are available, it might be time to start looking around.

8. You’re not valued.
Recognition is important — you need to feel as though you’re making a contribution and like other people will give you credit for your successes. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you get bonuses, perks or positive feedback? If your boss has never heard of positive reinforcement, it might be time to find company that will value your talent.

9. Your work environment sucks.
State of the economy aside, every job and every company experiences highs and lows. It doesn’t take a psychiatrist to know that working in place with negative energy or low morale is draining on even the happiest soul. If you find that you’re always feeling stressed out, depressed or having a negative attitude, it might be time to explore more positive options.

10. You’re exhausted.
Everyone says they’re stressed. But some people are really stressed. Too many projects and not enough help equal a heavy workload and job burnout. We don’t advise quitting when the going gets tough once in a while — let’s be honest, everyone has to take one for the team at some point. But, if there’s no end or reprieve in sight, do yourself (and your sanity) a favor and see what else is out there.

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/office-etiquette/10-signs-time-to-quit/

Need a Good Read Today?

Good morning, WorkBuzzers! Nothing can bring down my good mood this morning — not even the fact that’s Monday. Why? The elation I feel from the Vikings’ loss to the Saints in the NFC Championship last night is immeasurable. I was going to write a football-related blog — something along the lines of why professional football kickers might have the hardest job in the world — but time got the best of my morning, per usual.

Instead, I thought I would start off your week with some interesting articles I found on my TweetDeck this morning. Stay tuned tomorrow for a post about how to know when it’s time to quit your job.

• 100 Best Companies to Work for (via @CBforEmployers)
• Top 10 Job-Search Personal Branding Mistakes (via @interviewcoach)
• Five tips for turning temp work into full-time employment (via @heatherhuhman)
• Working Twice as Hard for Half the Money (via @CareerBuilderPR)
• New Year is Time to Fine-Tune Your Job-Hunting Strategies (via@BriteTab)
• Your 5 Step Recipe for a Memorable Job Search Message (via @kristid)

Happy Monday!

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/featured/need-a-good-read-today/

What can a handshake say about you?

In the workplace, a handshake is supposed to be a quick gesture that says, “Hello, I’m here, I’m engaged, I’m assertive, I’m professional.” Yes, those few seconds when you grab another person’s hand and move it vertically for a second or two should convey something about you as a person. Ridiculous? Maybe, but people expect it and that means you’re being judged whether or not you want to be.

You might wonder what the big deal is. After all, a handshake’s a handshake. (Unless you’re the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.) But anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a lackluster or awkward shake understands why it matters. Even if you think a handshake is a fleeting gesture, you will make a snap judgment about the person’s presentation in that moment. Well, if it’s good, you might not pay much attention. However, if it’s bad, you will definitely take note.

University of Iowa business professor Greg Stewart conducted a study where students were sent into mock job interviews. In the interviews, the students met handshake raters (whose purpose was not revealed to them) and hiring managers. After the interviews, the handshake raters gave the students a score on their shake. Separately, the hiring managers assessed the students’ interview performance. The students who had the best handshake ratings were also seen as the most hirable candidates. Perhaps not a coincidence. As Stewart points out, job seekers are told time and time again how to dress and answer questions. Handshakes are one of the few moments when personality shines through. Unfortunately, all the wrong parts of a personality can shine through.

A good handshake should consist of a firm grip and a few pumps up and down. Maintain eye contact with the other person while you do this. Remember, everything in moderation. Don’t crush the other person’s hand or pull her arm out of socket while you stare into her eyes like a hypnotist. A normal, controlled handshake is perceived as outgoing and personable, which aren’t bad qualities to display in business.

What don’t you want to convey with your handshake? Here’s a quick guide you might want to keep in your pocket for reference before you head to an interview or meeting.

1. “I get it, you’re stronger than me.”
Your hand is not trying to wring all the juice from a lemon, so please don’t attempt to crush every bone in the other person’s hand—it just makes you look like you’re trying to prove yourself.

2. “Oww!”
An overeager shaker can catch the other person by surprise, so by the time the handshake starts, you’ve got one person grabbing on to four fingers. It’s awkward, yes, and painful for the person whose four fingers are being cracked.

3. “Sure, I guess I’ll pretend to care about meeting you.”
Some people liken this shake to a dead fish. It’s limp and apathetic and very awkward for the other person. Don’t give the impression that you’re disinterested—that’s no way to give a greeting.

4. “We’re now bonded together for eternity.”
An eternal handshake usually comes from people who are a little too happy to greet you or who are extremely nervous and forget to let go. You do a few hand pumps…and then some more…and some more…and finally you start to wonder if you’ve just participated in some sort of wedding ceremony.

5. “Bet you didn’t see that one coming!”
Although in most cases we don’t suggest changing who you are just to fit in with the crowd, the hand shake is one instance. Most people use their right hands for a shake, and so if you extend your left hand, you end up with a fumbling, awkward encounter that leads to a strange hybrid of a hand shake and an old-fashioned Southern Belle’s greeting (charmed, I’m sure). In this one scenario, follow the crowd and use your right hand.

Ultimately, you want people to remember you, not the handshake. Rarely do I remember a good handshake, and even less often do I hear anyone discuss a great handshake. I do remember the bad ones, and I’ve had people ask me if I remember so-and-so because he gave such a strange, awkward shake. In the grand scheme of things, handshakes aren’t the most important part of life. However, in today’s competitive job market, no one wants to get dismissed for something as frivolous as a handshake, so you might as well put your best hand forward.

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/interviews/good-handshake/

Is “To Whom It May Concern” the Kiss of Death?

Most job seekers know that, whenever possible, it’s best to address your cover letter to the person who has the power to hire you — or at least the person who can bring you in for an interview.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Or maybe the conversation goes like this:

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

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

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

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

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/career-advice/whom-it-may-concern-kiss-of-death/

7 courses that will help you in the real world

Education is invaluable because it teaches you so much. However, it is expensive and involved, so not everyone has the funds and time to earn one or several degrees. Some people already have the credentials, but they’re lacking in some skills. Plus, not every course you take in college translates to the proverbial real world, so you  might have missed out on some important classes. In the interest of saving you time, money, and research, we thought we’d make a list of seven subjects everyone should take courses in at some point in their lives.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Source: http://www.theworkbuzz.com/career-advice/7-courses/