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I’m never one to say I’m perfect. I mean, who is? But I definitely have an issue with patience in situations where I feel like a job is either not being done properly or quick enough for me.

I guess you could call it a control thing. Hey, we all have issues we’re working on.

In customer service situations, I’ve found myself ready to blow a gasket because the representative is not moving fast enough to resolve an issue or is telling me no for whatever reason. And, admittedly, I might not be so nice in my reaction to it.

Then there was that moment of clarity where I got CHECKED.

I was trying to settle an issue with a customer service rep at a phone company about my bill. The agent was very nice about explaining to me the situation and why the bill was the way it was. I’d done my own calculations and based my opposing argument on those, so I was quite annoyed that the customer service agent wasn’t in agreement with me. I asked for her supervisor, who told me the exact same thing she’d told me.

I made a big, frustrated fuss and spent half a day trying to defend my case. The supervisor even offered to add extra minutes to my bill because of the inconvenience but I was so upset I simply hung up the phone without a resolution.

A few days later, after calming down, I discovered I’d made a mistake and that the customer service rep was right all along. Not only was I embarrassed and had to bite the bullet in the end, I lost a lot of unnecessary time, money and energy simply because I did not respect that the customer service agent had been hired to do her job for a reason and that she knew what she was doing.

It’s always good to respect people in general, but even beyond that, it’s best to respect someone’s professional position and why they were hired for that particular job in the first place.

True, there are people out there who may have gotten positions they don’t deserve, aren’t qualified for or where they’re simply incompetent. But initial benefit of the doubt ensures one doesn’t make a fool of themselves and tarnish their own reputation because of situations that could have been avoided.

Take that Type-A coworker or boss. He might delegate a task, and instead of trusting the person delegated to get the job done properly, he decides to jump the gun and do it himself. He might not be as well-versed in handling the task as appropriately as the originally designated person — who, by the way, was hired to do that particular task. Not only can mistakes be made — and morale diminished — but time and energy capital has been lost that could have been used by that coworker or boss to do what they were hired to do to the best of their ability.

Let people do what they do best — the job they earned by bringing their own skills, talents and experience to the table and were hired, accordingly, to do. Respect the career journey that includes the training, studying, interviewing, and toiling it took for one to attain a particular status or position in their career, whether senior or entry-level.

I learned a great lesson after that customer service incident: Respect people’s position, and know that they were hired for a reason. Give them the benefit of the doubt that they can and will do the job to avoid unnecessary headaches.

Madame Noire details cities with a concentration of companies that pay women top dollar in top industries including manufacturing, scientific and management services, education and healthcare.

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So you’ve gotten the training, searched the job openings, aced the interview and landed the position that is your entry into professional life and first step in your career journey. But once you’ve gotten the position, there are a few things you should keep in mind to get a good start on success and keep the momentum going. It’s always good to plan early in dotting all i’s and crossing all t’s so that you can focus on doing your best and building a routine of excellence.

Madame Noire details the first six things you should do upon getting employed and why these actions will keep you focused and organized. You can take charge with the confidence that you’ve done your due diligence.

1. Keep any important work-related documents: It might be difficult to remember to save important documents like your pay stubs (if you receive them by paper) once the check comes in, but paperwork like this and other information might be valuable to keep, especially during your first year of employment. Besides referring to these important documents for reference while filing taxes or keeping track of earnings and deductions, keeping documentation such as your check information and more could also help you in case you decide to apply for a new position, a loan or if you’re looking to move into a new place. But if you decide not to keep your work information, make sure it is disposed of in the right way to avoid having your personal info used by someone other than you. Shredding is always a great disposal method for all your juicy information.

Read more at Madame Noire….

Khaleeqa "Roxi" Rouse

As the unemployment rate remains high for African Americans—more than 15%— many workers are forced to find other ways to make ends meet. Some have been forced to face harsh realities about their lifestyle, their budgets, their passions and what really matters at the end of the day.

For Website entrepreneur and health advocate Khaleeqa “Roxi” Rouse, unemployment sparked a holistic change in her life, from her health to her self-esteem to her career path. After downsizing, soul-searching and taking an honest look at her definition of happiness, she decided to start Paparoxi.com, a hub focused on helping people tap into healthy, purposeful living that features insights and tips on fitness, food and fun.

Check out how she did it, why pursuing your passion is the best route and how you can turn the stigma of unemployment into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Produced by Janell Hazelwood; Videography by Janel Martinez; Video editing by Melissa Johnson

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But one tough question that is common during many interviews is: How do your efforts support achieving and maintaining profitability?”

In any industry and for any company, contributing to the bottom line — profit — is the main goal. Companies thrive from making money, thus their employees must in some way play a role in doing just that.

AOL Jobs offers a strategy to best answer one of the most difficult and vital questions you may be asked by a prospective employer.

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Let’s face it: In today’s job market, having a diversity of job experiences can be the norm. Some resumes can include the most unconventional jobs in an economy whether many have to get creative to make ends meet.

One resume could list experience both working as a missionary fund-raiser in Africa and coordinating projects for a middle-man accounting company, which could lead some recruiters and hiring managers with major questions as to what focused expertise you can offer to their companies.

Brazen Careerist offers three ways you can effectively market such a resume, tailoring it in a way that is easy to understand and explain during an interview.

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With the rising cost of college comes the question of return on investment, and choosing a major can be a major factor in determining whether it all adds up in the end. Usually a major is chosen based on aptitude, skills and passions, and the opportunities for success can depend on several factors including the individual’s utilization of their degree, the market demand and the availability of job openings in a chosen field.

AOL Jobs has broken down the numbers on how college majors relates to unemployment, detailing which majors can be applied to jobs where jobless numbers are high and which can be applied to those where numbers are low. While choosing a major may not be solely based on these numbers, it’s good to have an understanding of what’s out there in order to know how to strategize.

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The Internet is one tool that can be both convenient and vital in establishing your professional brand and marketing yourself. Whether you’re looking for new job opportunities, trying to establish new relationships or seeking new clients or customers, the Web is the prime place to thrive and make things happen.

When it comes to your brand presence on the Internet, it’s best to have a good foundation in place on which to build. Madame Noire offers five steps for getting started or refreshing your approach so that you can present the best impression possible on an international platform that can either make or break a professional.

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Brazen Careerist offers three common errors job seekers make that can put them out of the running — straight from the mouth of a hiring professional. Take heed to avoid the mistakes that might lead to your resume being sent to the trash bin.

Read more at Brazen Careerist …