Before analyzing the details of state of the art resume building, a bit of context is in order. As a job applicant you need to know how the process really works to gauge your perfect resume’s chance of success.
Let’s take a quick quiz.
True or false?
1) Your resume took hours or maybe even days to write so it will get a careful look.
False: Even your visually appealing resume will get a quick glance. Som...
You know someone who found a great job in a week. But you’ve been looking for the last six months. What’s wrong with you? Chances are, nothing. It’s entirely possible that your strategy needs help, but that’s why there is help here, and of course, not just here. Before you start comparing yourself to anyone, though, remember that the job search is affected by a thousand things that none of us can con...
As you might expect, not all interviewers have taken the time to parse the regulations that govern their behavior. Most of them have the obvious missteps under control, so you are unlikely to find interviewers asking direct questions about your racial identity or religious affiliation.
That leaves plenty of room for job interview questions that are slightly more subtle but equally problematic. It may also be the case tha...
My conclusions about job search strategies come from years of experience with hiring managers, HR professionals, recruiters and from my own career changes: journalist to project manager to researcher to author to communications professional. They are conclusions drawn from years of helping applicants—at every level and in many different industries—make their way successfully through the hiring gauntlet.
My fo...
No matter how great you are, you want to get better. Improving is key to a successful career. Learning new skills is an essential part of improvement.
Want some proof?
Ben Franklin was always learning and taught himself Italian, French and Latin. He didn’t stop at languages. He also learned about meteorology. And Franklin invented bifocals. What are you waiting for?
James Franco was a college dropout and h...
Profiles and connections are what most of us know best about LinkedIn. But there’s a third feature I recommend paying attention to: LinkedIn Groups.
Groups are almost a parallel universe within LinkedIn. They can open doors completely outside the structure of first- and second-degree connections.
There are regulars and occasional visitors, valued contributors and people who are largely ignored, people whose post...
Whether you’re looking for your first job or trying to find a new job, the process might be as consuming as a full-time job. In fact, if you’re currently unemployed, you could find yourself spending as much as 30 or more hours a week on job search-related activities. If you’re already working, you might only have 5 to 10 hours to spare. No matter how much time you have to devote to the process, you can str...
A job search is an exercise in analysis. You must analyze yourself and also the employer you hope will hire you. Ask not what the employer can do for you; ask what you can do for the employer. Keep that thought in mind throughout your job search, especially during interviews.
The better you know yourself, the easier it will be to figure out what’s right for you. A useful piece of advice comes from a man who managed...
How Good Deeds Help Your Cause, Boost Your Skills and Add a Spark to Your LinkedIn Profile
Volunteer work often involves skills and responsibilities that translate nicely to the workplace, but people tend to neglect those activities and say “it wasn’t a real job.”
Volunteering as a Big Brother was challenging and satisfying for me. I connected with a delightful young man and watched him grow. In addi...
What to do before accepting the job
You’ve run the gauntlet of the job search and come out in one piece. In fact, everything has gone so well that an offer is on the way. All that’s needed is the quick finalization of a few details, and you’ll have the offer in hand. What should you expect to see?
The first and most important answer to that question is contained in the question itself. What should yo...