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…
Unless you’re devoid of any feelings, one of the toughest things to hear from someone is that they lost their job. This is a hard thing to hear from anyone, particularly if you know the person well, and know that they have committed themselves for a long time to that gig. And even if you…
Over the last 10-15 years there have been a lot of changes in the way we look for work. Some of these changes have been subtle, while others have been more dramatic. But at the core of a search job seekers must still get their work histories and skills in front of decision makers. And…
Questions about the best way to submit your resume and application documents are as common today as they have always been. Despite all the ways technology has provided for submitting these necessary documents, is there a single best way to make sure the right person sees and considers your materials? The answer is, “It depends!”…
If you’re looking for work, there’s nothing wrong with tooting your own horn, and telling others about the quality of the work you do. In fact, it’s expected! Being able to tell others what you are good at what, and how it relates to what they do, is as important as where you send your…
Are you judged by the company you keep? When it comes to your job search, frequently the answer is Yes! Networking with the right people can mean the difference between success and failure in your hunt for the right job. But for many job seekers, where to meet the right people is the problem. If…
In the world of job search and career development, we tend to focus mostly on those who are actively looking for full or part time employment, or regular, preferably long term contract or freelance work. Jobs with regular hours, in offices, in the sciences, in technology, in public media, in public and social services, etc. …
Among the additions to a job seeker’s toolbox has been the addition of electronic social networking. Sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and other tools have proven invaluable to people looking to expand their network and the reach of their searches. Being able to maintain contact with long known associates, the ability to reach out to those…
Statistics from the US Department of Labor indicate that those entering the workforce now will likely change careers at least five times in the course of their working lives. Not just change jobs, but change careers. Some will discover that they are not cut out for the careers they planned, or they have burned out…
What do the following scenarios have in common? Making a new contact at a networking event A job interview Sending out your resume A date that went better than expected When you say, “I’ll call you later.” These and so many other circumstances involving your career and your personal life require that you “make a…
There’s a biblical quote that says: “the eyes are the window to the soul.” If that is the case, from what I’ve seen lately, too many people have their windows drawn shut, and don’t want to let anyone see what’s inside. While conducting a bunch of practice interview sessions recently I was reminded how many…
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…
Despite the recent slight uptick in job growth, the graduating class of 2010 will face the toughest job search challenge of the past 20 years, maybe longer. Sadly, it will be harder for most new graduates to find work related to their degrees than in recent memory. While so many earlier generations were promised unlimited…
Like millions of others, I spent some time this past weekend watching the NFL playoffs. Congrats to the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, who will battle it out in the Super Bowl. Although I’m not the world’s biggest sports fan, I do enjoy watching teams try to execute their offensive and defensive strategies…
With the Winter Holiday Season upon us, occupying our thoughts, hearts and lives, I wanted to take a moment or two to encourage those who are out of work to keep looking and keep trying! “But who the heck is hiring, this time of year,” you ask? Maybe not as many employers are hiring right…
Recently I attended a very large, and very crowded free outdoor 3-day music festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Moving between six stages of exceptional talent proved to be an arduous and exhausting experience; that thankfully wouldn’t diminish the inspiration and invigoration fueled by the great music. But I was thinking that it might…
Throughout the country, state-provided resources for job seekers are drying up. Staff shortages, mandatory layoffs and furlough days that close facilities all impact the employment offices’ ability to provide comprehensive one-on-one services. It wasn’t that long ago that if you were out of work, you could have gone to your local unemployment office, talked to…
You’re out of work, spending a lot of time in front of the computer looking for job leads. You go to networking and chamber of commerce events, attend job fairs, and try to be where you meet potential employers. But this has been going on too long and its getting old fast! And though you’ve…
One of the questions I frequently get asked is: Do I really need to send a Thank You note after an interview? The Thank You letter has almost disappeared as a message of appreciation in today’s fast paced age of computers, email, and online social networking. But communicating your gratitude is no less important today…
On a New York commuter train last week the two strangers sitting across from me became engaged in a career discussion. The gentleman, casually dressed, older, appeared close to retirement age; the woman also casually dressed, appeared to be in her early 30’s. It was just simple commuter banter – small talk. The man was…
