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Category: Career

Not a supertasker?

Only some brains can multitask, says a new study from the University of Utah. In the study, only 2.5% of the participants could talk on the phone while navigating a driving simulator. Everyone else’s performance dropped by 20% to 30%.

Jump on the trend toward certification

Trend alert: The Wall Street Journal recently noted, “Many companies … are encouraging employees to sit for certification exams—and some are flat-out requiring the effort. Companies say the certifications are proof that their current or prospective employees meet an industrywide standard.” Which certification is right for you? It depends on your career goals.

Most likely hire? Jane, next cubicle

More companies are promoting from within, according to a recent survey by CareerXroads. When asked how they filled open positions in 2009, 51% of survey respondents said they filled positions with internal candidates. Just one year earlier, a mere 39% had filled full-time positions with internal transfers and promotions.

Your online image

It pays to build a positive online “brand.” Example: 77% of recruiters are using Google to pre-screen job candidates, says a 2006 ExecuNet survey. So resist the temptation to post negative comments on blogs.

Getting your résumé noticed

It’s never been easier to apply for a job online, yet résumé-screening software is designed to filter out candidates who aren’t a perfect fit. So to make it into the hiring manager’s inbox, you need to know a few tricks:

Is your chair your worst health enemy?

“Your chair is your enemy,” a recent New York Times article declared. Een if you exercise regularly, if you spend most of your time sitting, you’re still at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. That sounds like terrible news to anyone whose job requires sitting at a desk, working on a computer or spending long stretches in meetings. But you do actually have a choice.

Building circles of life

The future you want is attainable, but you’ll need a positive vision to reach it. That’s according to personal finance expert Marianna Olszewski, who has a new book called Live It, Love It, Earn It. In addition to the advice about managing finances, she offers these fun suggestions for charting your future: