Most job seekers expect traditional interviews. They arrive at an office, meet with a hiring manager, and field questions about their background and abilities. Advice for these types of interview is readily available. However, few professionals are prepared for a group interview. Some companies like to utilize this technique to evaluate several job seekers at once. It is important that you can sta...
Don’t worry, everyone is nervous when they’re preparing for their next interview. The cool headed smooth talkers are just as terrified as you are before they step into the hiring manager’s office. But what is the difference? Confidence can be the one ingredient to make or break your job search. Attitude in an interview as important as possessing the right skills for the job. Candidates who e...
Keywords have been a thing since search engines took over the internet. Everything is driven by the right choice of words. You’ve certainly experienced it when Googling a particularly tricky subject. All it takes is just one changed word to completely alter the results. The same thing happens when recruiters and hiring managers are looking for you on social media, through search engines, or in t...
As a member of Generation Y you have different professional needs from your GenX and Baby Boomer counterparts. On the other hand, you also have some ownership over your own career experience and can influence how you’re treated in the workplace and how you treat others. If you’re looking for your first job out of college or a job transition, here are some important tips for millennial job seek...
When you begin questioning whether or not your current job is right for you it can be easy to fall down a rabbit hole of “what-ifs?” The decision to stay or leave is a personal one and shouldn’t be approached lightly. Before you decide to quit, or not, it is important to determine all the reasons why and look at what can be fixed and what can’t. Here are some things to think about to get y...
There is no rule that says you have to find one career in life and stick with it until you retire. In fact, more and more people today are making major career shifts once or twice throughout their adult lives. However, there are better ways to go about the experience than others and it is helpful to understand common mistakes so you don’t repeat them. Let’s take a closer look at what not to do...
Have you heard the phrase “job hopper?” Was it directed at you or those around you? What exactly does it mean and it is really as bad as people seem to say it is? Before you can know whether or not it is a problem it is important to know what it is, what it does, and why it has a bad reputation. Let’s take a closer look. What is job hopping? When hiring professionals view a resume ful...
Interview questions come in a lot of forms. You've probably been asked to tell the interviewer about yourself or describe your biggest weakness. You may have also been asked to "Describe a time when..." This type of interview question is known as behavioral interviewing and is commonly used by companies to determine whether or not a candidate will be able to fit in with their current team and perf...
It is finally springtime. Snow is melting, the birds are singing, and the flowers are blooming! If hibernation was in your nature for the winter, now is the perfect time to crawl out from your den and face your job hunt with renewed energy. While cleaning your closet or washing your windows is easy, how exactly do you go about spring cleaning your career search? Here are 10 tips you can start usin...
“I’ll know it when I see it,” is a phrase commonly heard by recruiters. Our clients are looking for candidates who possess the right skills, of course, but also something a little extra. Top candidates need to bring a more to the table and these intangibles are often referred to as “soft skills”. Soft skills are, in general, traits that can’t be learned or taught. They are simply an in...
You might think that by the twenty-first century our job search and hiring techniques would have evolved past resumes and interviews. However, these old fashioned rituals are still used by companies all over the world, even if some of the methods have changed. So, how do you explain your work experience in a job interview in a way that makes you stand out from your competition? Here are a few thin...
Leadership skills will serve you well throughout your career regardless of your job title. While many people are born leaders it is possible for anyone to cultivate these skills with a little work and attention. But which leadership skills will be most important to your career? Here are the 5 most important leadership skills you can build. Can inspire others: A true leader's best skill is to ins...
You've been hearing for years how important it is that you have a completed LinkedIn profile. However, even if you do you may wonder what all the fuss is about. If your LinkedIn page isn't grabbing anyone's attention it may be time to make a change. Now that we've turned the calendar to 2015, give your LinkedIn profile a much needed makeover that can help the right employers find you online. Here ...
We are well into January 2015 and by now we should know whether or not our resolutions are going to stick. Most people give up their resolutions by February unless they've created a strong plan to keep up with their goals. However, changing habits is an entirely different mindset and can begin at any time. Do you want to be more productive in 2015? It is never too late to start. Here are some tim...
Networking may be the single most important skill you learn while you're searching for a new job. You should already have a well written resume, references, and a cover letter prepared. You may have even practiced your interviewing questions with a friend or in the mirror. But the best way to get your resume seen and an interview scheduled is to meet as many people in positions of hiring as possib...
Leadership skills can come to some people naturally or they can be learned and cultivated over time. Your own career can benefit from stellar leadership skills even if you don't find yourself in a management position. Here are some steps to becoming a leader at work. Be responsible. Not only should you have ownership over your successes but you need to be comfortable admitting failure. Good lead...
You've probably heard that networking is the best way to find your next job. But how do you actually get started? Networking is equal parts art and science. Some people have to work harder at the different aspects of it. Someone who is especially skilled at relationship building, such as a sales professional, may not focus as well on getting only the best contacts while someone who prefers a behin...
It seems like you can't escape social media these days. Some people reject the idea because they believe that online communication is not authentic but there is certainly a time and a place for it. The rest of us are logging on to Facebook regularly to check on friends and family throughout the day. As it turns out, one of the biggest trends in social media is online job searching. We already know...
If only the job market were full of easy to follow rules that were fair for everyone. Unfortunately, not all job searches are equal and what works for one person may not work for someone else. This doesn't stop well-meaning friends and opinionated professionals from making broad statements about what works and what doesn't. Here are just a few of the most common job search myths that can change th...
Everyone works hard to stay motivated on the job. Companies often put policies in place to help engage their workers and help everyone stay happy and effective in their jobs. However, employees have a responsibility too. While environment, co-workers, and management all play a role in at work satisfaction, only individuals can be in control of their own actions and reactions. "It's not the situat...
They say that it's not what you know but who you know. While it is exceptionally important to have the right skills and experience for your desired job it is also important to cultivate networking skills to meet people within your industry and set yourself apart from your competition. However, it is also essential to do networking the right way. Getting out and meeting everyone isn't always the m...
Distractions are everywhere in the office. Everything from a conversation by the coffee machine to Facebook can keep you from your number one priority of doing your job. How do you avoid all of the common pitfalls in the office? Here are a few ways to steer clear of major distractions and keep your performance on track. Keep a calendar and to-do list. The first step to battling unproductive days...
Have you heard of an elevator pitch? This short, 30 second story can break the ice with important industry contacts. When it comes to your career it is important to have all of the right tools in place for when you need them the most. There are a few things you need to know about crafting your elevator pitch and how to use it during an interview or in conversation. Here are some tips to keep in mi...
When you've been on the job market for a long time it is easy to get frustrated. Every rejection begins to feel like the world is against you. But why are you searching for a job and what are you hoping to gain? What are the real reasons behind the lack of offers or the loss of momentum in your job search? Many people have an expectation that each new job will provide them with the fulfillment ...
There are so many possible reasons that you don't get a job offer. Even if your resume is perfectly crafted, there are things you can't control about the process. When you submit a resume for a job there are likely another hundred, or several hundred, who have done the same thing. If your resume is selected you are still up against some stiff competition. On average, a company interviews three to...
Every office has that one person; the person who, no matter what is going on in the office or in their personal lives, has the energy to do the job of 10 people each and every day. Most of us aren't that person. Everyone has high points and low points throughout the day that may be related to personal work rhythms or blood sugar levels. Whatever the case, your work may not wait until you get the n...
Not every reason for leaving a job is negative. You may have an opportunity to move to a new city or you stumble upon an opportunity that you can't pass up. However, there are also plenty of reasons for leaving a job that are negative. You may be dissatisfied with your current company or you don't feel challenged in your role. In either case it is extremely important to understand that the way you...
The true mark of a successful person is not that they don't fail but they know what to do when it happens to them. Making a critical mistake on the job does feel like the world is about to end. In fact, you're quite sure when it happens that you will be fired. The truth is being terminated is a distinct possibility but not a guaranteed outcome. Your actions from the moment the mistake is discov...
As a job seeker your work isn't over once you've accepted a job offer. Your first few days, and even months, can be crucial to determining if the job is right for you. Your new employer is also using this time to evaluate whether or not you're right for them. It is essential for you to consider what to do, and what not to do, before you start your next job. Here are some ideas to keep in mind. ...
Cover letters may be the most overlooked tool in the job seeker's tool belt. Especially in today's digital world many job seekers are skipping the cover letter all together. This can be a big mistake. Not paying enough attention to your cover letter could be the only thing standing between you and an interview at a great company. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're sending out resumes...
