So you managed to get through 2008 without laying anyone off. You’ve tightened budgets, cut back on spending, held your own against your competition, and even earned a profit. Congratulations! But 2009 looks like it will require additional belt tightening. You recognize the loyalty of your staff, and you’ve tried to reward them, but you’re…
Look, I know the economy sucks right now. People are getting laid off in record numbers and you begin to wonder whether looking for a job is worth the effort. Your frustrations mount because there are bills to be paid, you’ve got personal and familial responsibilities, and the outlook is less than optimistic. Well, I…
My conversation with a young cab driver the other day went something like this: Hank: If you weren’t driving this cab, what you rather be doing? Cabbie: I’m not sure. I’ve thought about doing a lot of different things. I only graduated high school last year and needed to find work, and this is what…
With the unemployment rate rising, it is apparent that more people are completing for fewer jobs. And as employers are receiving more resumes than they have positions to fill, they can’t always spend the time coding, classifying and filing all the resumes they receive – electronic or paper – for present or future consideration. Even…
There’s no question that one’s skills, experience and qualifications should be the primary consideration by an employer when selecting a candidate for hiring. But one of the most important skill sets any applicant can bring to a job is far less recognizable from interviewing alone. The qualities one brings for being able to deal with…
Employers have to be clear about what they are looking for when hiring. It is a difficult thing! The intro to so many job listings these days includes a blurb extolling the virtues of the company filling the position. This is important information, it’s part of a good promotion campaign, it helps applicants to know…
With about a month to go at the time of this post until the 2008 Presidential Election, let me start by encouraging you vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 4(! It is so very important for all of voting age to exercise their rights! And there is none more important than participating in the selection…
Where will the jobs of tomorrow be? What industries will be hot, and sustaining 5, 10, 15, 25, 50 years from now? Most people doing a job search right now aren’t overly concerned with what will be the hot gigs of the next 20 to 50 years. And employers are mostly concerned with finding and…
Recently I was asked to review a cover letter from a bookkeeper/accountant who for many years had been an independent contractor (IC), and who is now seeking a full time position. Luckily for her, she has had a number of very long-term clients, who have kept her very busy, and she has not been at…
Recently I got a call from a client whose resume I worked on about 4 years ago. In that time her responsibilities grew and became quite varied, particularly compared to what she thought she would be doing. So while her work had progressed, she never received a promotion or a more advanced job title. Now…
You can take this title in a variety of ways, and likely you’d be right. But the issue of the moment lies in the details of what you have previously told your current employer. Picture this: You’ve been on the job for a few years, built effective relationships, trust and a good record of productivity…
Well, you can, but it’ll cost you! Possibly big time! That cell phone in your pocket or purse, excellent tool that it is, can cost you a job! Especially if it goes off at an inopportune time like an interview, or even while waiting for that all-important meeting. Do I really need to remind you…
Got a call recently from a former associate who told me he was being laid off at the end of the month. At the time of his call, he had 2 weeks remaining on the job, and he was just starting to reach out to his network. Because he works for a nonprofit organization, I…
One of the themes that will get expressed frequently in this space is the importance of being concise and brief. Among the biggest mistakes job seekers make is giving too much information, in resumes, interviews, and networking. Sometimes this comes from nervousness, sometimes from a lack of language skills, but more often, from our pride…
If you’re one of the lucky few that found an internship in your field of choice, further congratulations are in order. Play your cards right, and that internship could lead to a decent position and your career is on track. But not everyone knows what they want to do after they get their diploma. There…
Simply stated: the computer equipment in your office – the machines, network, etc – is the property of your employer. Therefore your employer can strictly enforce control over what you can do and can’t do with that equipment. Many employers tolerate employees checking personal email accounts, but still have formal policies in place against such…
The weather’s getting warmer. Have you noticed all the fun you can have in your community during the warmer months? All across the country, concerts, festivals, street fairs, will be filling the air with music and community. It is important for all of us to get out and enjoy being entertained for the sheer joy…
The economy is taking a nose dive. Housing prices are dropping and default rates increasing. Employers are getting nervous. Should they hire or fire? Where will it all lead? Recession? Inflation? Damned if I know! I’m no economist, to be sure! But I do know that good things can happen during times of an economic…
You can’t watch/read/listen to the news these days without noticing the large number of layoffs being generated by both large and small employers. As an employee, “You never know when someone will tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘bring your play book’”, according to a VP at a major bank. Layoffs are affecting…
So the nation’s economy is in a slump. Should employers be expanding their workforces or chopping them down? In a recession, unemployment rises. Though we may not be in an official recession yet, the unemployment figures are on the rise. Competition for good jobs will also go up! This makes it all the more imperative…
