I was reading Abby Kohut’s excellent book, Absolutely Abby’s 101 Job Search Secrets, and came across this statement: “Prepare a good reason for any gaps on your resume in addition to an explanation of what activities you were involved in that may have enhanced your career, including personal activities. Gaps are typically not the reason […]
Flaws In Your Résumé or Background Read More »
Here’s the next of my search-killing phrases: “I’m a results-oriented professional…” or this variation: “Proven results in…” These are used all the time in résumés and cover letters, or even in oral 30-second pitches…and they do absolutely nothing for you. Remember the adult voices on all the Charlie Brown specials,
Phrases to Kill Your Search, #3 Read More »
This is a question that was posed: “The more you know about a company’s culture, the easier it can be to tell what what you can offer to them if there is a match. I wanted to know how you would go about finding which company is the right fit in an industry: Company websites
Uncovering Company Culture Read More »
I’ve had a lot going on lately, so I haven’t been as diligent about posting. I welcome your comments on any issues frustrating you about your career or career search, and then I’ll address those issues here. In the meanwhile, phone interviews make a lot of candidates nervous: You can’t see the interviewer’s body
Quick Tip for Phone Interviews Read More »
In my August issue of Career Tips, I wrote about the benefits of volunteering to make yourself more marketable, and some potential traps to avoid. Another form of ‘volunteering’ is the unpaid internship or ’sample’ consulting project. Basically, you are giving a prospective employer something for free to demonstrate the value you can add.
Think Outside The Box (In A Career Search) Read More »
I was struck by a phrase in a posting about a job as follows: “Cultural fit will be very important…looking for an all-around athlete that is easy to get along with” This is a point that many candidates overlook – they are so worried about ’selling themselves’ that they forget to take a really close
Don’t Overlook Fit To Job Read More »
“The last company I worked for was small and didn’t pay very well. I gained a lot of experience but my pay doesn’t match my last position. I am attempting to get interviewed/hired into a position that is a step up from my last position and a large jump in pay but I am having
Negotiating A Higher Starting Salary Read More »
“In one of my interviews, I was asked the following questions: What are the qualities that “you think” your colleagues like in you? What are the traits that “you think” are disliked? I just wanted to know how should we answer such a question and what is the purpose of such a question?” These are
Tricky Interview Questions Read More »
“How should I handle a question as to why I would consider leaving an employer that I have been with for a relatively short time? I have been employed with my current employer for 7 months, the previous employer was for 8 years.” You need to keep your answer short and simple…the longer the answer,
Explaining Why You’re Looking Read More »
Candidates so often focus on their responsibilities, duties, and experience in their résumé, cover letter, elevator pitch, etc. This is an interest killer. Talking about things you were responsible for doesn’t say anything about the quality of your work or the results you can produce. The only reason I would hire you is that