In today’s job market, it’s not very effective to simply respond to job postings online and wait for a call. It only makes you one of dozens, or hundreds that are doing the same thing with each of those postings.It is much more effective to pick one, or five, or ten companies you most want to work for, and execute a strategy to target them whether they have an appropriate opening posted or not. Here are 5 steps:1 ~ Prepare...

You’re in an interview, things seem to be going well, and then they ask one of the most commonly asked, and most poorly answered questions: “What do you consider to be your greatest weakness?”Common thinking has been to give an answer that turns a negative into a positive; like: “My biggest weakness is that I work too hard and don’t know when to turn it off sometimes. Or “I push myself too hard.” To which, the typical UNSPO...

Tricked you! Sorry about that. You probably looked at this article because you’d like to know what the ‘Magic Bullet’ for a job search is. “What’s the one thing I can do to guarantee a new job quickly?!?” That’s what most job seekers want to know! Unfortunately...there is no ‘Magic Bullet’. There is no one thing that works every time. There isn’t a list of 5 things done together that work every time. The fact is: you have t...

It’s a tough economy! No question about it. As people get laid-off, many find that it’s difficult to find their next job. Many decide that since they’re struggling to find a new job in their field, they may be better off making a career change. Is that the best answer? Will it make their job search easier? Maybe, but not likely!There are, at times, very good reasons to leave the old behind and pursue something new. However,...

A “30-Second Resume”; an “Elevator Speech”; a “Marketing Blurb”...what are they, and do I really need one?Imagine you walk into an office building for an appointment. You’re looking sharp because you’re on your way to a meeting with a recruiter on the 22nd floor. You step onto the elevator, and you notice someone that you used to live next door to in the past, but haven’t seen in years. You say “Hi” to each other, and they...

Most advice you read for a job search says to call and network with as many people as you can. That’s fine...but what do you say? What’s the objective of the call? How do you attract your contacts rather than repel them? Here are some ideas to make those calls effective!First...Why are you calling? What is your objective for the call? Most people get a networking contact, tell them about their background, and ask if they kn...

Networking in a job search is critical. Often people don’t do it because they think they have to know hiring managers in their field in order for it to be productive. Not True!It’s not who YOU know. It’s who you know, knows, and who THEY know!Many people may think of their grandmother as a poor job networking contact. However, you may not know who her neighbors are, or who she knows at her church, or seniors club. You may n...

You’ve created the “perfect” resume! In 5 pages it lays out every great thing you’ve done in your career in terrific detail. It’s a work of art! It’s a literary masterpiece and shows ALL the reasons any company should want to hire you! So why aren’t you getting called with job offers?A “masterpiece” is often very different from an effective resume.First, it’s important to understand what happens in the selection process whe...

Ask 10 “experts” their opinion of your resume and you’ll get 10 different, often contradicting answers. Some will tell you to include and ‘Objective’, others will tell you not to. Some will tell you to use a Functional style, others may tell you that it always has to be a Chronological style. Some will tell you to write your job responsibilities in detail, others will tell you to write only in short bullet points. Some wil...

What makes someone “Professional”? I’ve read interesting takes on that question lately. Some good points, and some...not so much. What defines professionalism? Based on various pieces I’ve read, it’s certainly subjective. Whatever the definition anyone uses, it’s often THE factor that tips the scale from one candidate to another in the hiring process.In trying to define it, the dictionary doesn’t seem to be much help. Webst...