All Blog Posts (1,650)

As more and more Americans look for work in 2012, there are myriad of reasons that many individuals continue to be unemployed.

Some fell victim to company layoffs; a percentage was running their own small businesses that failed to take off, while others were met with the unenviable firing.

The latter group makes for an interesting challenge for human resources when it comes to interviews.…

A January 24, 2012 article by the Wall Street Journal online (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203750404577173031991814896.html) states that some firms are sourcing candidates for jobs by reviewing their credentials only through various online forums. In other words, they are not accepting resumes from job seekers.





So how will a prospective employer evaluate a…

Are you READY to return to work?

The decision to return to work is a thorny issue , one that is rooted in a number of issues affecting the unemployed. Among the thousands of clients I have assisted, including adults with severe mental illnesses, the decision to work again, or to end a lengthy absence from the workforce necessitates careful thought and reflection. I wish I could credit the author of a resource called the “Readiness checklist.”  The resource is organized into three…

As more and more workers have hopes of returning to the workplace this year, one conundrum oftentimes is whether to temp in the meantime or concentrate all efforts on the full-time search. Quite frankly, both can and should be done.



If you find yourself job hunting and coming up short, temp agencies not only help fill in some of the money gaps, but it also makes you more desirable to…

It's a well known fact in the recruiting and HR world that hiring managers/HR reps/recruiters spend an average 15 seconds deciding if you make it to the interview pile ... or if your resume gets discarded.



Keep in mind this is an average ... recruiters/HR reps spend more time on those…

Most of us have been there at one time or another.

You know that co-worker that just drives you up a wall. The individual who makes you cringe each time you see their face around the office. The person who’d leave you jumping for joy should they come in and give their two weeks’ notice they were leaving the company.

At the end of the day, having to deal with a bothersome co-worker can be difficult, but your career and its future success are more important when all is said and…

How can you get references when your ex-employer has a policy against giving references?



It's not just if your old employer won't give references, you also have problems if your ex-employer will only give minimal references and only confirm dates of employment.



While…

I'm a fan of recruiting videos and companies making fun of themselves. Take a look at this twitter recruiting video.

A job interview is stressful enough, let alone when you have to deal with illegal questions that may throw you off, therefore leading to you not getting the job.



While some of the questions that employers are prohibited from asking may seem obvious, it is good to review such items before you go on that interview, be it in person or over the phone.



In the event you are preparing to interview for any type of job, take note that you cannot be discriminated against due to…

As individuals fight for jobs in an economy that is still struggling to gain its footing, it is important for aspiring workers to give themselves the best chance possible to get their foot in the door.



The best way to go about doing that is having a cover letter and resume that stand out from the competition. If your cover letter and/or resume are just average, they are likely to be filtered into a pile of similar pitches that may or may not get a response.



If you are…

Does your email address matter?



Some career advice I often give candidates - Your email address is often the very first impression you make as you apply for a job, and the first establishment of your personal brand.



It's often the first thing a hiring manager looks at when…

Average is over. That is the title of Thomas Friedman's latest column in the NY Times. This particular passage sums it up best;

In the past, workers with average skills, doing an average job, could earn an average lifestyle. But, today, average is officially over. Being average just won’t earn you what it used to. It can’t when so many more employers have so much…

Employers are big chickens.



Especially when it comes to saying, "Thanks, but no thanks".



With all of the risk of lawsuits these days, it's no wonder. But as a candidate, you don't care about employer risk - you care about getting a straight answer.



Chances are you've…

As more and more people look to go back to work in 2012, there are a number of roadblocks that could stand in their way.



Among the issues to worry about is whether or not one’s credit report could hinder them in obtaining a new job.

With the economy still in a fragile state of mind, it remains an employers’ market, meaning they are primarily calling the shots.



In the event you’re job…

Today, most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to pre-screen candidates (or MS Office features that mimic basic ATS functions).



These systems, basically resume databases with Google-like search tools, help companies only focus on candidates that meet minimum requirements, from the…