Networking is a funny thing. While it is unquestionably the most important factor in job search success, as well as career advancement in general, it's a subject most people are sick to death of hearing about -- and also one (when you bring it up) that causes a lot of job hunters to roll their eyes and say "Yeah, I'm doing all that, but it's not working." Part of the problem, however, is that there [...]
With a brand new year upon us, and a new presidential regime taking over this year, it's safe to say nobody quite knows how the job market will respond and whether the economy will be taking a turn for the better or worse in the months ahead. And while the U.S. unemployment level remains at a relatively low 4.2% rate, it's also safe to say that such statistics don't always tell the full story and [...]
If you've done even an ounce of reading on the subject of interviewing, you've probably come across a frequently recommended approach called the STAR method which encourages job hunters to break down their interview "example" stories into a series of four logical parts: 1) The Situation you faced; 2) the Task you had to complete; 3) the Actions you took; and 4) the Results you achieved. On the whole, this formula makes a lot of [...]
As part of my own professional development, I routinely monitor a ton of other career-related blogs, newsletters, and information sources that I've come across over the years -- and am always on the lookout for a "fresh take" or interesting new perspective on the working world that I feel might benefit my client base. Having recently caught up on my reading regimen, here's a quick breakdown of some articles from recent months that I thought I'd [...]
Roughly 20 years ago, I remember holding a conversation about the resume screening process with an HR friend of mine, who remarked: "Honestly, after you sift through 200-300 applications in a row you sort of fall into 'resume stupor' and start to tune out - since they all pretty much start to look the same." Fast-forward to 2024 and I sadly believe this phenomenon has gotten even worse, given the availability of so many generic [...]
Many years ago, I wrote a blog article emphasizing my belief that job hunters should avoid the trap of obsessing over a single employer since statistically, it's unlikely a person will be hired by one specific organization of interest -- and pinning all of one's hopes on a particular "dream company" can easily lead to disappointment and prevent a job hunter from considering hundreds of other companies as possibilities. At the time, the organization I [...]
As almost everybody knows, there comes a time in almost every interview where the hiring manager or recruiter finishes with their own agenda -- and asks the candidate across the desk "so do you have any questions for us?" These moments represent a "prime time" moment in most interviews, since they give candidates a golden opportunity to set themselves apart from the competition and demonstrate their interest, enthusiasm, and curiosity about the job to the [...]
The job market is a highly competitive place today -- and in most cases, one's resume is generally going to be the very first opportunity you have to make an impression on an employer. Needless to say, craftsmanship counts! Alas, many job seekers looking for help get overwhelmed by the hundreds upon hundreds of resume-writing outfits they come across out there,when conducting web research, and as a result, find it hard to evaluate the quality [...]
Growing up, I was never terribly strong at math (just ask my 7th grader when he needs help with his pre-algebra homework) but I always had an affinity for English -- and a fascination with language and the challenge of finding the exact right word for a given purpose. Not surprisingly, this lifelong love has carried over into my work as a career coach and I enjoy the challenge of trying to "package" people as [...]
In terms of building a lasting, rewarding, and meaningful career, it can be hard to argue that the recommended "success formula" (at least in recent decades) has centered around obtaining a four-year college degree -- and then moving on to secure a Masters or Doctorate degree (in many fields) to unlock even greater management and climb-the-ladder opportunities. And yet, like many other industries out there ranging from taxicabs to music to retail shopping, the educational [...]