Joyce Lain Kennedy
Joyce Lain Kennedy, author of the nationally syndicated "Careers Now" column, has been an expert in the employment field for nearly four decades. She is the original careers columnist in syndication and her work is now distributed twice weekly by Tribune Media Services.
Kennedy estimates she has received more than 3.5 million letters from readers and has answered more than 5,500 queries in her columns since 1968. The vast majority of her reader mail now comes by e-mail to Kennedy at her Web site, www.sunfeatures.com. Her advice on jobs and career management issues addresses the problems experienced by virtually all working people: job search, layoff, discrimination, specialization, keeping up with technology in the workplace and networking both on land and online.
She began her writing career by offering advice to teenagers and young adults before broadening the scope of her column, which now relates to all ages. Kennedy is the bestselling author of seven career guides, including "Resumés for Dummies," "Cover Letters for Dummies" and "Job Interviewing for Dummies."
A former resident of Washington, D.C., and New York, Kennedy grew up in St. Louis, and earned a business administration degree from Washington University. She now resides in a suburb of San Diego.
Joyce Lain Kennedy Samples
Ideas for new grads without experience
DEAR JOYCE: As a new college grad, I have yet to find reasonable employment. "Need a job? If you have worked an internship, you do have experience and need to step up your self-marketing approach.
When to take no response for an answer
DEAR JOYCE: I had what appeared to be a gratifying interview with the vice president of a fairly small company two months ago. My guess is that the executive encountered another candidate who outscored you in the selection process.
Dealing with a bad job reference
DEAR JOYCE: I was fired for being chronically late to work.
Latest news on resumes and cover letters
DEAR JOYCE: I'm hoping to make a new career move this year. Resumes are alive and well for now. The career professionals' findings are reported in three career timeframes: the now, the new and the next. DEAD RESUME RUMOR. SHORT, SUCCINCT.
Can dating site eHarmony match you up with a job?
DEAR JOYCE: My daughter met her husband on eHarmony, and so far their marriage has worked out great. EHarmony has been helping people find a date for years.
'Garden leave' agreements holding you back?
DEAR JOYCE: I have accepted a job offer from a company that expects me to show up in two weeks. A little-known type of employer-employee agreement is known in law circles as "garden leave." Don't laugh. LEGAL EAGLE EXPLAINS.
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