It is not uncommon for adults to take pride in their personal histories and the experiences that have shaped them into who they are at this point in their lives. Our accomplishments and the goals we have attained empower us to continue our careers, try things in new and different ways and continue to grow. …
When you are out of work, control isn’t something you generally feel. But when you’re looking for work, you have more control than you may think! There are many aspects to the job search where you, the job seeker, are in control. And while you may need to exercise caution and respect exerting that control,…
Recently, I read an article from Bloomberg Business Week about how many employers believe it to be more important for prospective hires to have a strong cultural match with a company’s existing staff, than it is for applicants to just have strong skills. Really? I guess I didn’t get the memo on this edict. When…
Periodically, just about everything needs a little tune-up. You know? Maintenance! Not necessarily a major overhaul, but the kind of routine attention that keeps systems working as optimally as possible. The first thing that requires a tune-up is our bodies so they can serve us for many years to come. Our cars and other transportation…
If you’re looking for a job, In addition to all the online social and real interpersonal networking, job boards, posting sites and direct applications, are you still attending job fairs? Are these events still worth your job search time? For a great many job seekers, the answer is, “Yes”! Attending job fairs is still a…
You’ve probably heard the expression, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Well, when it comes to job search, and the self-promotion required to successfully obtain work, we’ve seen a tremendous evolution in the ways we apply for employment. Newspaper classifieds have given way to the online job boards, industry-specific sites and…
Recently, I was reviewing resumes, cover letters and doing some interview preparation for job seekers at a job fair. Although the age of the participants skewed a bit older than most of these events, the employment hopefuls were as diversified in their skills, experience and positions of interest, as would be expected. But one of…
There was a time not too long ago when job seekers routinely sent out their job search documents to unknown recipients. More times than not job announcements instructed job seekers to send their resumes and cover letters to blind addresses – Post Office boxes or routing numbers in care of the newspaper that ran the…
Happy Labor Day to all! Here it is September again, the year is ¾’s over and students are returning to their classrooms. While colleges and universities struggle to maintain standards because of their rising costs, curricula continue to evolve. Instruction of business and entrepreneurial coursework is on the rise, and many programs are focusing on…
Did you ever go on a first date with a too chatty gal or guy who told you far too much about themselves? Was he or she too self-absorbed? Too much superfluous information provided too soon can ruin your chances of getting to know another person. In job search, just like in dating, or other…
An old friend with more than 10 years in nursing needed to create a new resume because she wants to find another job. Having worked at several hospitals, in a number of specialized areas, she has a wealth of experience and accomplishments to convey to the medical professionals who could employ her. Not wanting to…
One of the prime motivators for switching jobs has always been money. Right or wrong, financial growth has been identified as a primary reason many workers have pursued certain careers. True enough, there are certain careers where high salaries and monetary gains are the attraction, but rarely are those fat paychecks achieved without lots of…
Listen and repeat! For many years, high school students had that phrase drilled into their heads when they were learning a foreign language. Regardless of the foreign language being studied, the prerecorded voice of the instructors in the widely used ALM series preceded each expression with “Listen and repeat.” In those days, students learned key…
Regardless of the type of relationship you are trying to establish, the first days truly are the hardest. This is particularly true when you start a new job. Even if you are a veteran in your field and think you are prepared to do the work that is expected, you are thrust into a multitude…
Recently my client Jessica and I were discussing salaries and raises. Her primary question wasn’t IF she should ask for a raise, but if under her current circumstances was Now a good time? Although Jessica’s situation may be somewhat unique – everyone’s situation is a bit different – I thought there was some good information…
Have you ever read a feature (online or in print) that claimed to offer two views of the same idea, topic or product? There are all kinds of examples of this “two sides of same coin” column in a wide variety of publications. But upon reading them, frequently the questions asked are not the same…
One of the least favored exercises of employers is the process of annual reviews. Having a sit-down with the entire staff (thankfully not all at once) to discuss personal advances, achievements, goals met, and future targets, as well as problem areas and shortcomings, is frequently a nerve wracking process for the employer, department managers and…
The concept of up-selling (trying to sell the customer more than just what they asked for), has been around for a long while. Whether it’s the waitress asking, “Do you want fries with that?”, or the appliance vendor asking if you want the matching stand for the plasma TV, offering more to the customer than…
If you’re an employee, the title of this piece may seem like an oxymoron. Jobs rarely turn out as they were described in their recruitment announcements. They often lack complete information and merely elude to on-the-job realities. And then there’s the catch all phrase, “… and other duties as assigned,” that necessitate your ability to…
Recently while providing feedback to job seekers about their resumes at a local job search preparation event, I was surprised by the overall quality of information delivered by many of those in attendance. It seemed that many candidates I spoke with were trying, often successfully, to convey not just what they did on their jobs,…
