Prepare for each interview with the audience in mind This month’s article is born during a fishing trip I recently enjoyed with my family. After a day in gold medal waters there are many stories to tell: the big one, the monster that got away, the fierce fighter, you get the picture. So as I…
A lot of you have spent weeks, even months, looking for a job in the midst of this latest economic catastrophe. This has been a tough road, indeed, but you’ve finally landed a new job – congratulations! If you are like many of the folks I’ve been working with you’ve been building or rebuilding your…
Building effective relationships with the doorman In my coaching sessions I talk with job seekers about taking a multi-pronged approach to breaking into a company. Yes, you should contact the hiring manager directly, and yes you should attempt to get an introduction from someone inside the organization. You should also observe protocol and apply through…
Social Groups and Volunteer Activities CAN lead to a job Looking for a job, especially if you are under the added stress of being unemployed, is hard work. The process takes an emotional and mental toll on you for a number of reasons; 1) you are personally connected to your search, 2) the search process…
Removing self-imposed obstacles to your career success I’ve been in the selling business for over 15 years now – recruiting is a selling activity on steroids. I spend my day selling ideas to job seekers, selling candidate strengths to clients, getting candidates excited about opportunities, you get the idea. I’m also a student of selling…
Building strong relationships is the cornerstone of professional success regardless of your chosen field. Social networks are emerging as another channel to foster professional and personal connections with an expanded reach. Although personal networking best practices have evolved over hundreds of years, the rules for social networking are just now emerging. As well, online networks…
Thoughts on increasing your ‘employability’ factor I was talking with a friend last week and we happened upon the topic of what distinguishes people who rise to the top of their chosen profession and those who seem to struggle through their work life (and maybe even their personal life). As you can imagine this quickly…
Remember your manners during a job search I’ve been recruiting for 3 economic cycles now (over 15 years) and I’ve noticed some distinct differences in this particular downturn. There are a bunch of folks who, for the first time in their career, have found themselves unemployed or fearful of becoming unemployed. I’ve also noticed that…
Are you putting the right effort into your Job Search? Looking for a job, much like parenting, is not something that we studied in college so many people when faced with unemployment are at a loss for what makes a ‘well-rounded’ job search. Most of us start with the low hanging fruit, the obvious approach;…
Tips for a productive salary negotiation Many of you would rather scrub your bathroom tile with a toothbrush than talk with an employer (or future employer) about salary. Even though you need to, and expect to, get paid a reasonable amount for your work, you fear the act of getting there. There are likely a…