The following rules are important when considering references for your job search: Always ask a person for permission before you use them as a reference. You want to be sure the person you ask is not surprised by a call and that they are willing to give you a positive report. According to a survey by Accountemps, 34% of job candidates are removed from consideration for a job after their references are checked. Do no...

You've done everything you can for the past six months to get your desired job, but have not been successful! Try some of the following tips for putting fresh life into your search. - Reassess your employment goal. Ensure you're still enthusiastic about it, and it's compatible with your purpose, interests, needs, skills and accomplishments. Continually visualize yourself working happily and productively...

In a perfect world your résumé and LinkedIn profile let the reader know who you are and what to expect from you. Imagine for a moment how easy it would be for a manager to hire the perfect candidate if this were always the case. Unfortunately, just as job descriptions are often difficult for candidates to decipher, résumés often provide few clues about what a hiring manager can expect from the ap...

When it comes to knowing how to navigate job search, do you know the #1 secret to getting hired? If you think networking is the answer, you are on the right path. If you think building social media connections is the secret, you have the right idea. And, if working with recruiters is also part of the process, you are partially correct. In fact, all of the above do contribute to getting interview opportunit...

The birds are chirping. The flowers are blooming. The pollen is EVERYWHERE. You know what that means. It means it’s time to reevaluate what you’ve been doing with your job search and prune back the ineffective elements. Some things will need to be cut off completely and tossed into the career compost heap. You want to nurture the strategies and tactics that are effective and give them the most attention. Which o...

If you are looking to move on to a more responsible, higher paid, or more interesting career, then your resume has to reflect your preparedness for that new role. Just as employees are told to “dress for success,” your resume must dress your past experience for your future role. Here are five important steps to take when writing or revising your resume for the job you want: Be clear about your goal. Resear...

No matter how great you are, you want to get better. Improving is key to a successful career. Learning new skills is an essential part of improvement. Want some proof? Ben Franklin was always learning and taught himself Italian, French and Latin. He didn’t stop at languages. He also learned about meteorology. And Franklin invented bifocals. What are you waiting for? James Franco was a college dropout and h...

As an executive looking to advance your career, you likely have a long history of experience and accomplishments that should set you apart from other job applicants and easily capture the attention of hiring managers and executive recruiters. And while your work history does set you apart, it needs to be presented well in your cover letter and resume to get the attention of the people you want to get an interview with. An e...

Your application to a job is supposed to be all about you and your strengths, right? It’s the one time that it’s okay to brag—in fact, bragging is encouraged. That’s right, but only to an extent. You also need to show, especially in your cover letter, why your skills and accomplishments are beneficial to the company you’re applying for. As you write your cover letter, it’s easy to fall...

At a recent breakfast meeting with HR professionals, as we waited with coffee in hand for the program to start, I asked the recruiters and hiring managers sitting at my table about their perspectives on cover letters. Here’s what I learned: If there’s something that needs to be explained—perhaps a gap in employment or why you’re pursuing a job that you’re underqualified for—they&rs...