Excelle

I'm hosting my first thanksgiving this year. While its not as sexy as i dreamed—decorating the table with my fiance as my new engagement ring sparkles in the chandelier—I'm very excited. And stressed. In less than a week my sister and I will be hosting seven members of our family at my apartment in Chicago. Amidst our preparation over the last ...

You spend most of your day at work. Why not make some friends while you're there? You won't just have more fun — you'll be happier and work better. Gallup research shows that developing close friendships at work boosts employee satisfaction by almost 50%. And while we don't always choose our friends with career success in mind (company happy hour, ahem), ...

By Denene Brox, Monster Contributing Writer All job hunters are waiting for that call -- the one that says they've landed the job. But as eager as you may be to escape either your current job or the unemployment ranks, don't abdicate your power position once the offer comes in. Now it's your turn to sit in the interviewer's seat and ...

By Wendy S. Enelow, Monster Contributing Writer Writing powerful thank-you letters is not just a formality. Thank-you letters are marketing tools that can have tremendous value in moving your candidacy forward and positioning you above the competition. Although much of what you include in your thank-you letter may have already been communicated during your interview, there is nothing more effective than ...

A lot has been written about the revolutionary impact of Twitter: how it's changed the way we communicate, how it's connected us to one another, how it's increased transparency in everything we do, and how it's even helped us find jobs. But as much as people love Twitter, there's growing concern about other impacts the social networking tool is having, ...

Last month I heard a radio broadcast proclaiming that there are six people applying for every available job. This week I saw a television newscast claiming that number was more like 15, with jobs in manufacturing and construction having 21 people on average applying for every job. I’m not sure where these shows get their statistics but the message is clear ...

You spend most of your day at work. Why not make some friends while you're there? You won't just have more fun — you'll be happier and work better. Gallup research shows that developing close friendships at work boosts employee satisfaction by almost 50%. And while we don't always choose our friends with career success in mind (company happy hour, ahem), ...

Sweet? Not always... By Juliet Perrachon | Excelle So you’ve just been laid off. Or maybe you're a recent graduate who hasn't found a job yet. As if joblessness weren’t enough of a blow to your self-esteem, you find yourself with no other choice but to move back home – back to the place you thought you'd managed to escape ...

I knew since I was about five-years-old — when I wanted to play “office” instead of “house” with my sister — that I loved the idea of running my own business. Like many other women, I pursued my education, started a family and found myself quickly approaching the ceiling in the organization I was working in. It was in my burnout ...

By Not Just The Kitchen for Divine Caroline The dreaded job interview. No matter your resume and talents if you mess this up you won’t get that job. In today’s tough economy you need every possible edge. It can be a simple equation: You want to be liked—not hated. Here are ten simple things to do that will dramatically increase your ...

As a hiring manager in a Fortune 100 company, I read through thousands of resumes and cover letters in my career. Since HR and recruiters would pre-review the resumes for grade point average, degree and other minimum requirements, every resume I saw was from a top performer or a top student so everyone was “qualified”. However, some of these resumes went ...

It seems that you can't throw a rock without hitting a handful of complainers, but there is an excellent alternative to keep you out of the complaining rut to become or remain a positive woman. Pay attention to what others are saying around you and to how much of it is negative vs. positive. You may be amazed at the negativity ...

Does your job uniform include fishnet stockings? For this month anyway, they've become a required part of the dress code for a wide spectrum of professions: police officers, firefighters, airline pilots, construction workers, nurses and even plumbers. A quick glance at the latest Halloween garb reveals that almost every imaginable profession is being fetishized. It's like an erotic game of Mad ...

Times are tough. And these days, it seems like everyone is looking for a job. But don't be discouraged by all the depressing news. Work smarter not harder. How? You just need to know where to look. Luckily, Excelle's done the research for you. We've identified fifteen companies that are hiring near you -- even now! Read the descriptions then ...

During her eight-month jobless stint, Amy Tinsley of Houston may well have been the happiest unemployed woman in America. Tinsley, a former marketing director for a local law firm, was laid off in December. It was the first time since age 16 that she'd been without a job. Unlike most of America's unemployed, however, Tinsley wasn't fretting about her down time. ...

Effective communication is key in order to build a strong relationship with anyone. You have to be prepared at all times to engage in a conversation with the people around you, and maintain a calm, professional state. You can only leave a first impression once, so it’s crucial to present yourself in the best way possible so you are never forgotten. ...

No matter where a meeting takes place, it is still a meeting. If a potential client decides to interview you over a meal at a restaurant, your table manners must be up to par. The following etiquette guidelines will help get you through your next dinner interview. Long before you enter the restaurant, make sure you turn off your cell phone ...

Whether you're entertaining clients or out with business associates, knowing the proper gratuity for a service or meal is critical. If you are noticeably unsure of yourself, you may come off as unsophisticated, and if you are inaccurate you may come off as a cheapskate. You need to make sure you are comfortable with these simple financial transactions. Here are Excelle's ...

Introductions The proper way to make an introduction is to introduce a lower-ranking person to a higher-ranking person. For example, if your CEO is Mrs. Jones and you are introducing administrative assistant Jane Smith to her, the correct introduction would be "Mrs. Jones, I'd like you to meet Jane Smith." If you forget a person's name while making an introduction, ...

What's the difference between the rising star whose career is picking up speed and his counterpart who can't seem to get the engine to turn over? Often, the star has mastered the nuances of business etiquette - the subtle but critical behaviors that can make or break an important meeting, influence a first impression or impress a potential client. According to ...