How can you appeal to an employer? Spoon feed your resume! You would not hand an infant with no teeth a whole apple to eat; he or she wouldn’t know what to do with it. (For the uninitiated, take my word for it here. The baby may just throw it back at you and still be hungry. And crying.) Instead, you would offer applesauce and manipulate the spoon full directly into the infant’s mouth. Similarly, (see where I am going here?...

Almost every resume I see reads like a laundry list of “stuff” the person has done at work. The problem is that everyone applying for the job you seek probably has a similar list of “stuff.” What makes you stand out? Why are you special – why do YOU deserve to win an interview and the job? It certainly isn’t because you were “responsible for” something or that you were “recruited to” do something. No one really wants to see...

When so many people are out of work, it can be intimidating for new graduates to face the job market. How can you make yourself distinctive from the competition? Jennifer Lasater, Kaplan University's executive director of National Career Services, offers these tips for job seekers with new degrees:1. Own your degree. Don't focus on the degree as a means to an end. Immerse yourself in your field, which can include becoming i...

You've probably heard a million times that networking is the way to land a job. But what if you don't have a strong network already? All is not lost—you can start now to build one. Debra Feldman, known as the "JobWhiz," is a professional networking expert and executive job search agent. Follow her suggestions to build a network that will help you land your next opportunity: 1. Develop a short list of target employers. It's...

I’m not going to pretend I have been following this story, but some friends were posting about it on Facebook, and I couldn’t help but think of what a great “career” post/reminder it makes. Tiquan Underwood, a defensive lineman for the Patriots, was released from the team just before the Super Bowl, as reported by the Yahoo! Sports Blog. According to the article, it’s the third time the Patriots have cut him this season, an...

Making a career change isn't easy. You need to showcase why you are qualified for the targeted job, even if your past experiences do not identically match the employer's requirements. Most employers are not familiar with military service, positions, jargon, or acronyms, so it can be even more challenging for veterans to make a strong case. What can job-seeking veterans do to help transition into civilian positions? Identify...

Steering your own career, getting a new job — or what I like to call “driving your own career bus” is more important today than ever. Everyone needs to maintain responsibility for his or her own success, and that includes keeping an eye out for larger trends and signs and signals of change at a current employer. Burying your head in the sand and ignoring the writing on the wall when your company falls out of favor in the ma...

Informational interviews can make all the difference in your job hunt. Meeting with someone who may be able to share insights or information with you to improve your job search prospects is a key job search and networking strategy. Do you know how to ask for them? Or why? Talking to people about their jobs and companies is a great way to (1) learn about people and organizations and (2) introduce yourself, your skills and ac...

Last night, President Obama delivered the State of the Union address. He spoke a lot about jobs and getting people back to work, but that is not what inspired this post. The President spoke about a mission — and about being able to get something — something BIG — done, because you know someone has your back. This was the end of the speech: “One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the...

Looking for a job? I’m sure you already know — it’s important to recognize having dreams isn’t enough. However, you can’t succeed without them! Dr. Martin Luther King offered many inspiring messages. As we honor him, it seems fitting to remember his message of hope. Dr. King delivered his “I Have A Dream” address in a time when most of his “dreams” really seemed to be just that. He and other leaders of the Civil Rights mov...