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Your story is your biggest career asset. It’s what separates you from every job candidate out there. It holds your strengths and passions. It shapes your career vision. No wonder employers’ favorite first question for an interview is a simple request to “tell me about yourself.” They want to hear your story.

The problem with this question, and probably the reason it’s a favorite, is that it gives responders enough leeway to make a unique case for themselves, or completely bomb the interview. Fear not. We’ve compiled 10 tips from top recruiters to help you craft an answer that will leave interviewers with the perfect sense of who you are.

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From Essence

I can’t sit through one more sermon, debate or call-in radio show.

I can’t read another statistic-littered blog post, magazine article or self-help book jacket.

I can’t—and never will—pay good money for a singles conference, get anointed with special herbs and spices, or visit my local soothsayer for answers.

I can’t listen to one more piece of here’s-how-to-snag-a-husband-and-get-your-lonely-tail-down-the-aisle advice, especially from a man.

I’m over it. On behalf of all of us.

There are far, far too many self-proclaimed relationship experts and marriage gurus building their brands and platforms on Black women’s desire to be part of loving, committed couples. Our hope is their business opportunity. Those elements, juxtaposed with this pandemic spirit of scarcity that insists there’s a man shortage, has created a bountiful environment for every half-cocked, wannabe man whisperer.

You’ve got to check out the rest of the Write or Die Chick’s thoughts over on Essence.

What do you think? Have the relationship experts gone too far in their quest to try and “marry off” black women?

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Sometimes when you’re around completely unpleasant people, you grit your teeth and bear with them and their antics.  It’s hard, but it’s worse when they’re a person that you see on a regular basis.  It seems like even their presence can sometimes make time stop, and make things like your home, job, or classroom seem like a dreadful place to be.  But, even though you hoped and prayed for it, there it is: a light at the end of the tunnel.  You and this odious person are about to part ways!  Through your excitement you might count the days until you don’t have to see that “nutcase” again and for some, you might even plan an extravagant exit strategy.  Like George Costanza, you can’t just leave this person without doing something big.  You have to bring the same frustration on them in a matter of seconds that they did in a matter of days/weeks/months/years.  Or at the very least, let them know what you think about them.

Well, while you’re imaging going off on your mother, kicking the student behind you in the shin (who always kicked your chair) or flipping your boss’s desk over, can I intercept your daydream for a minute?  While it’s fun to imagine  getting your payback, can I interest you in only keeping it a daydream and implore you to not act on it?

Why?  Life has a funny way of having people you completely despise re-emerge in your life, and sometimes they are the people who you need the most for something.  As we all know, sometimes to succeed in life, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know;  and that person you were literally about to give the boot, might be the same person who helps you get to the goal of your dreams. See what I’m saying?

Yes, idiot people have friends and resources too.  So when you leave the job that made you decide to go back to college to get a completely different major, you might need that douchebag of a boss to write you a recommendation.  That husband you divorced who you went off and told him you didn’t want to have anything else to do with, might have cheaper and reliable connections to help you with the house repairs you might have (seeing that you’re going from two incomes to one and that does take some adjusting).

As much as people want to roll their eyes and throw in a,  “Whatever,” situations like this happen all the time.  I once read an article about a guy who was bullied in high school, but when he got older he was in a position to hire people.  When the resume of one of his former bullies came in, though he had the perfect credentials, he ripped the resume up and threw it away.  Though this is illegal, the people who you are dealing with are humans who have hurt feelings, the same way you have, and along with those hurt feelings, they have memories like elephants.  They won’t remember all the horrible things they did to you, but they’ll throw everything you did to them right back in your face.

If that’s not enough of a reason not to burn that bridge, think about your ego.  Some people’s pride is so large, that it feels almost impossible to go back to a person you ripped thinking you’d never see them again and say,  “Hey, sorry for saying how I really felt about you…could you help me with this?”  If you’re one of those people, don’t even burn the bridge.

I’m saying all that to say this:  Just because someone seems that they’re out of your life now, doesn’t mean that it’ll always be the case.  Yes, you have a right to be upset if someone has hurt you, but retaliation might not be the right track to take.  No one’s telling you to be fake and pretend like the entire time you knew this jerk-wad it was a dance in the clouds.  What I’m saying is, you don’t have go down the same petty route they took the entire time they were around you.  You can be cordial, because even when you’re snapping and hurting the person who hurt you, you could be hurting yourself in the future.

Not only does Kendra Koger try not to burn bridges, she tries not to fall off of them either.  Fall into her twitter account @kkoger.

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“A Dollar and A Dream” spotlights low- and no-cost ways to build a better business. The economy may be lagging, but new resources are empowering small business owners like never before. Follow the series to learn how to take your dreams to the next level without breaking the bank.

Your success in business is directly linked to how you produce your product. Maximizing productivity can be difficult for small businesses where manpower is in short supply. Luckily, improving productivity isn’t always about working harder; you may just need to work smarter.

New apps are hitting the marketplace everyday, designed to streamline business systems and help owners and employees get the most out of their time and efforts. The tools below allow for greater efficiency in managing billing, information, tasks and time. This selection only scratches the surface of what is available. Check out “Go Digital: Web Tools for Every Business” for even more recommendations.

When searching for a reliable app, first take a look at how you do business. What tasks or areas are you slowing down? Once you pinpoint the areas where you need to save time and money, the answer is just an Internet search away. It’s hard for a good app to stay a secret for long. Reviews from users and business publications will give you a good idea if a tool has the right features for you.

Here are a few common issues apps solve:

“I’m always late.”

Solution: OnTime

Platform: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

Price: $1.99

Benefit: Analyzes your schedule to provide timely reminders to keep you on schedule.

How It Works: OnTime syncs with your existing calendar and takes into account your current location, the location of your next appointment, and traffic patterns to provide accurate alerts to keep you on time. It will even alert your next appointment if you are running late. Perfect for busy individuals who complain about time getting away from them.

“My team works remotely and has trouble staying on the same page.”

Solution: Flow

Platform: Web, Desktop (Mac), and iPhone

Price: Free app ($9 monthly service fee / $99 yearly)

Benefit: A central location to create and delegate project tasks and keep project updates from being overlooked in e-mail.

How It Works: Flow is an online collaboration platform. Invite contacts to join a task or project list whether they have an account or not and you can tackle projects as a team regardless of location. The app allows you to delegate tasks, keep track of each team members’ progress, as well as discuss and collaborate issues in real-time. Payment options are available on a yearly basis or month-to-month for special projects.

“My team wastes time tracking me or a client down to sign off on documents.”

Solution: DocuSign Ink

Platform: Android, iPhone, iPad

Price: Free (paid version $14.99 and up)

Benefit: Send, sign and save documents anywhere, on any device.

How It Works: DocuSign is the most widely used eSignature software and provides extra document encryption, authentication of signers’ identities, and tracking of who signed, when, and where. The paid version offers additional features including sending documents to multiple parties and creating reminders.

“We have so much paperwork to keep track of, our filing system takes up too much time.”

Solution: TurboScan

Platform: iPhone

Price: $1.99

Benefit: Turns your iPhone into a multipage scanner.

How It Works: Don’t waste time looking for paperwork. Take a picture of documents, receipts, notes, whiteboards, or other text and TurboScan will generate a high quality PDF or JPEG file that be stored and shared easily. All processing happens on your iPhone, so there’s no need to worry about your confidentiality being compromised.

“I have too many small tasks to keep track of; I feel like I’m always forgetting something.”

Solution: Wunderlist

Platform: Web, Desktop (Windows and Mac), Android, iPhone, and iPad

Price: Free

Benefit: The classic to-do list, updated with the functionality and portability of modern technology.

How It Works: Wunderlist manages whatever needs to be done, from shopping list, to projects, to to-dos. Unlike a conventional to-do list, you don’t have to keep track of a piece of paper. Wunderlist syncs your lists across platforms, allows you to set reminders or notifications, and lets you share your list via email, Facebook, or Twitter. It’s one of the more elegantly designed to-do list apps on the market.

“I haven’t perfected setting hourly rates for my clients; I think I’m under-billing.”

Solution: MyPrice

Platform: iPhone

Price: Free

Benefit: Especially helpful for new freelancers and contractors who aren’t sure where to begin when setting prices.

How It Works: The app helps you calculate rates for a project based on the tools, help, and supplies you will need. Just plug in what you’ll need to get the job done. The app will calculate how much you should charge to turn a profit. MyPrice is also beneficial in helping business owners think critically about the resources and expenses at their disposal for a given project.

Do you have any apps that your business swears by? Help out your fellow entrepreneurs and share them in the comment section.

C. Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City, perfecting living the fierce life at The Red Read. She is at your service on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.

Essence

Do you make an effort to make your man feel necessary? Does he feel needed in your relationship?

Some women balk at the idea of “needing” a man to do anything or the idea that they should “help a man feel like a man.” However, there are other women who feel loved and appreciated and want to reciprocate that feeling. These women know a good, spontaneous, well-timed ego stroke goes a long way to mutual happiness in a relationship. Of course, that doesn’t mean a self-sufficient woman should morph into a helpless toddler. That would be disingenuous, but there are times when a woman should consider taking a break from running the relationship and allow her man to handle business.

Ask Men

Let him change your tire/Jump A Dead Battery/Check and refill the oil

When I was 16, my dad taught me how to change a tire. “I will never have to do this,” I told him. “I will always have my phone and therefore, always be able to call someone.” He customarily responded, “You can’t rely on people.” So there, in the middle of a parking lot on a bitterly cold, snowy winter evening, at the direction of my dad, I changed a tire. My dad also taught me how to use jumper cables to jump a dead car battery and how to check/fill my oil if the light came on.

Many women are capable of taking care of their own car troubles, but it doesn’t hurt to let your man feel like the hero while you chill in the car. Especially when it’s cold outside!

Good evening customer service employees of the world,

You know, it wasn’t long ago that I worked in retail. I know the struggle of the customer service worker trying to make a little money (post college, I was trying to make as much as possible actually) and maintain as much dignity as possible. I had spent most of high school and college waltzing around in itchy dress pants trying to sell overpriced cheap jewelry at Claire’s, risking my life trying to pull down California King sized comforters for ungrateful customers at Linens-n-Things, and trying to let women know that the bra that was giving them double boob DOES NOT fit at Victoria’s Secret. I had been called stupid, been made to think that selling bright sweats to spoiled teenagers in the suburbs was the best I would do with my life, and had enough panties that weren’t on sale thrown at me as a cashier to know that dignity was a hard think to keep intact as a customer service worker. But despite all that, I worked for my little minimum wage and didn’t let people keep me from giving good service, getting promotions and getting paid at my gigs. Maybe that’s why I’m so confused/perturbed about the alleged customer service I’ve been seeing lately from folks. Girl at Aldo, this one’s for you.

I was just in your store on Sunday trying to find a gift for my mother and trying to possibly find some cheap sandals for this hot weather that’s slowly creeping back in. I was tired as all get out post church, but still in a good mood. A sale sign can do wonders for a gal’s mood. But anyway, I asked you, young woman with the big hair and face full of makeup, if I could get a pair of sandals in a 9 1/2. Knowing how busy retail kids can be, I was even nice enough to apologize for interrupting you. In response you said that was fine and proceeded to put a few shoes back and walked away to help others, and to, I assumed, call in my request. In that time, I actually started to think the sandals were still a bit overpriced, even on sale, and that unless they looked stellar on my feet, I would probably pass. But you didn’t even really give me the opportunity to try those jokers on.

After about 15-20 minutes you walked past me multiple times, didn’t even look in my direction as you moved around the opposite side of the store. At first I understood that you were probably busy…and then I realized you were playing with my time. You did more floating around the store trying to look busy rather than actually being busy. While trying to pass the time looking at purses with my friend, you walked near me, smirked and kept walking. I proceeded to stop you with the quickness to finally get it all out there: “Uh, excuse me, are those sandals still coming out?”

You made somewhat of a confused face and then said, “Oh, I forgot!” Thinking about the fact that I wasn’t in love with the shoes, and you clearly weren’t trying to get them for me, I said, “That’s fine, nevermind on the shoes.” I was expecting a quick “I’m sorry,” and then I was going to be on my way. But instead, your response was the following–with a dose of attitude: “Cool.” *proceeds to shrug and quickly walks away*

madamenoire.com

Some people are natural givers. Givers are the kind of people you want in your life. They are very dependable and reliable; but do you ever think about what those favors and sacrifices have cost them? If you are a giver you know exactly what I’m talking about. You love to help and be supportive but you know at times you wish that you had more time to yourself. It’s hard to recognize when you are giving too much of yourself, but here are some signs that let you know when you’re doing too much.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Taylor Lea Thomas

You’re getting married and your mom is a super proud mother of the bride and revels in the title. Now that you’re in planning mode, you’re a little worried about the fact that she wants you to invite all of her friends, and seems to want to be involved in every little detail of planning your big day and letting you know what’s a good and terrible idea. Uh…No disrespect to your mother, because you want to include her in your wedding plans, however, you don’t want her to take over. Here are a few ways to help your mom feel important by involving her in your wedding planning without fear of her becoming your unofficial wedding planner:

• If your Mom likes being in charge, consider asking her to be the designated go-to person on your wedding day just in case something goes awry. Late participants in the wedding, guest issues–if she spots a problem, she’ll be the person to address it. Also, make sure to provide her with a list of the contact names and phone numbers of all of your vendors just in case one of them is running late or something needs fixing. This will make her feel very important, and of course, as mother of the bride, she is!

• Planning a wedding can sometimes be so stressful that it leaves little time for blending both families together unless you’ve been together for many years. Consider asking her to host informal family dinners for your future in-laws. It doesn’t have to be fancy and can be as simple as a barbecue, spaghetti dinner, Sunday dinner–whatever works, it’s just all about getting everyone fully acquainted and comfortable with one another. Perhaps, she can even prepare a special family favorite dish of yours to share with your groom’s family as a way of showing the blending of two families as one now. You’d love it and I’m sure your groom would appreciate your people making an effort to get to know his family better too.

• It’s easy for a guest list to get out of hand with people you haven’t seen or spoken to in years who expect to be invited. Sometimes invited guests RSVP with more guests than can allow. If you’re trying to narrow your ever growing guest list and need a little assistance for extended family members and others who may be offended that they didn’t get an invite, ask your mom to take on the daunting task of making that dreaded phone call to your cousins and crazy uncle. It will take the stress off of you, and you won’t feel the pressure to give in to “Can I come pretty please?” requests or any guilt trips by distant third cousins. Your mom might enjoy having that final say and putting her foot down for her baby. Awwww!

More on Madame Noire!

• Celebs Who Rode Their Famous Sibling’s Coattails to Success
• I Get it Now: Parental Wisdom That Took a Minute To Grasp
• No Child Left Behind: Can Having a Big Family Harm Your Children?
• Why I Question The Release of A Posthumous Aaliyah Album
• Getting To Happy: 7 Habits That Can Change Your Life
• Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: 6 Reasons Not to Go Back to Your Ex
• True Life: If I Could Say Anything to My First Love, I’d Say…
• Is The Black Standard of Beauty Giving You Low Self-Esteem?

Joseph Kony - Source: newsi7.com

If you’ve been seeing anything on your social media that says “Kony 2012″ or #stopkony, you might be wondering just what the heck or who the heck a “Kony” is. If you were indeed wondering, you should know that Kony refers to Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. He is the head of the guerrilla group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has kidnapped thousands of Ugandan children and forced them to become child soldiers. He has also caused the displacement of thousands of people, and his team has been responsible for a number of killings, rapes and more in Central Africa. While he has been a threat for years, and President Obama has tried to send troops to find him in the past, Kony has somehow been able to evade capture.

Though the LRA has allegedly been around since ’87, people are making Joseph Kony’s name an internationally known one this week after a video by film maker Jason Russell for the group Invisible Children was recently released about Kony. They were hoping that the video would increase U.S. involvement in the issue. But whether or not the government gets involved, it seems as though the people are ready. The more notoriety he gets from his bad deeds, the more likely Invisible Children believes he will be taken down.

The goal for right now, however, is to get the word out so that on April 20, supporters can put posters around where they live (wherever that is) that call for Kony to be brought to justice. The posters they have in mind say, “Kony 2012: ‘Stop at Nothing.’” No word yet on what the next step would be after the big poster posting event…According to ABC News, Invisible Children says people can support by going to their website, buying T-shirts, bracelets and posters, donating, or you can simply go to the site and sign their pledge.

If you want to know more about Joseph Kony, you can actually check out the 30-minute film by Jason Russell below and spread the word. Check it out if you haven’t already:

More on Madame Noire!

• Celebs Who Rode Their Famous Sibling’s Coattails to Success
• I Get it Now: Parental Wisdom That Took a Minute To Grasp
• No Child Left Behind: Can Having a Big Family Harm Your Children?
• Why I Question The Release of A Posthumous Aaliyah Album
• Getting To Happy: 7 Habits That Can Change Your Life
• Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: 6 Reasons Not to Go Back to Your Ex
• True Life: If I Could Say Anything to My First Love, I’d Say…
• Is The Black Standard of Beauty Giving You Low Self-Esteem?

By Blair Bedford

The path to employment isn’t limited to just one road or direction. There are various ways you can make the most out of your time and energy in-transition during the job searching process. Although interning and volunteering have a stereotype for only being opportunities for young, inexperienced college students looking to get coffee and answer phone calls all day, these methods are some of the best ways to occupy your time while on the job hunt. Plus, if you find the RIGHT internship you can be given a lot of responsibility, and in turn, get your foot in the door and possibly be offered a position in the end. While you’re waiting, try utilizing and broadening your skill set and experience with some of these non-traditional employment alternatives for some of the traditional college degrees: