Free Career and Job Search Advice

2022-12-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

On choosing a career path

2010-05-09T11:17:00.001-04:00

Haven't posted for a while... because I've been struggling with this subject, as it relates to young folks trying to decide. I think back to my own story and realize that my early choices were absolute nonsense. How many, I wonder, have the same issues? From my experience, many, if not most people make wrong choices, especially the young. I have read many books on the subject, plus a whole

2010-03-30T11:20:00.001-04:00

Interview Tip: Listen Well

2010-03-25T15:51:00.001-04:00

I found this in my files this morning – this advice is really on target. Interview Tip: Listen Well by Carole Martin If you thought interviewing was only about answering questions, you’ve been missing the point. You’ve also been missing an opportunity to gather valuable information. Listening is one of the most underused skills in a job interview. Most candidates go into an interview

2010-03-25T14:39:00.001-04:00

I found this in my files this morning – this advice is really on target. Interview Tip: Listen Wellby Carole Martin If you thought interviewing was only about answering questions, you’ve been missing the point. You’ve also been missing an opportunity to gather valuable information. Listening is one of the most underused skills in a job interview. Most candidates go into an interview thinking

The Meaning of Life: Discover Your Purpose

2010-02-06T15:03:00.001-05:00

The Meaning of Life: Discover Your PurposePosted using ShareThis

Discover Your Passion

2010-02-06T12:51:00.002-05:00

After a 90-minute dialog with a client recently, I sent her an email summarizing our observations. I include it here so you can get the “flavor” of this process. Hi, Rachel,It was good talking with you this morning! I hope at some point in the not too distant future you’ll find a way to come back here for a visit! As we discussed, networking to find the type of position you want is going to be a

A Probing Interview – Unusual, but Effective. Worth Thinking About

2010-02-04T10:31:00.001-05:00

You won’t often hear these questions in a job interview. But the way you answer reveals a great deal about you, and how you would fit into an organization’s culture. It is worthwhile to consider this possibility and prepare for it.Take a minute and think about your most outstanding, significant professional achievement. What about you made this achievement possible? What do you value deeply

Job Objective

2010-02-02T11:02:00.002-05:00

An effective resume needs a clearly stated Job Objective. And it must be focused on the employer, not on yourself. Let me explain. I have seen many resumes with an objective that focuses on “opportunities for advancement”“contributing to the company while improving my skills”“allow myself to grow”“to obtain long term employment with growth potential”“put to use my diversified

The Job Proposal

2010-01-31T17:03:00.003-05:00

Nearly every applicant for a job submits a resume, and usually a cover letter. The resume is a tool to market you to an employer. It describes the successful application of your competencies. It provides insight about your motivation, commitment and degree of expertise. And it indicates a level of performance that you have already achieved, and therefore should be able to repeat and build

Résumés - Sample Profile (Summary, Highlights) Statements

2010-01-31T08:40:00.001-05:00

résumé

Resumes - You Need a Summary, Profile or Professional Highlights Section

2010-01-30T18:57:00.001-05:00

Resume Profie and Professional Highlights Examples

2010-01-30T18:25:00.001-05:00

Accomplishment or Success • Outstanding record in recruiting, training and motivating Yearbook staff. • Consistently rank among the top 3 admissions assistants. • Proven ability to get any individual into the best shape of his life. • Successfully published photographs in regional magazines. • Completed

2010-01-30T15:48:00.001-05:00

Two Critical Questions

2010-01-29T09:48:00.001-05:00

(I found this article in my archives and unfortuanately have no idea where it came from, so I can give proper credit. But this is as valid and critical today as it was then… whenever that was. My apologies to the author). Does it seem as if you're at the mercy of companies when it comes to your job search? You are, for the most part - except at two critical times when you are in a position to

PASSION POWER – Recommended Reading:

2010-01-28T19:32:00.000-05:00

The Occupational Adventure Guide – A Travel Guide to the Career of Your Dreams, by Curt Rosengren (eBook) The ‘What Color is Your Parachute’ Workbook – How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career, by Richard Bolles (This is the “Flower Exercise” found in all the “Parachute” editions) ‘Discover Your Passion’ Workbook – An intuitive search to find your purpose in life, by Gail

An Effective Approach that Leads to Your Ideal Work

2010-01-27T12:26:00.003-05:00

I am often asked about figuring out what career path to follow. One of the resources I have found useful is the book “What Color Is Your Parachute”, by Richard Nelson Bolles. Particularly helpful is the companion publication “The What Color Is Your Parachute Workbook – How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career”. The end result of the workbook process is a “flower” – a model for the

Seek Out Individualized Help in Your Community

2010-01-26T13:37:00.002-05:00

There is a great deal of help available in our cities and communities, mostly free of charge. I live near Asheville, North Carolina. The Mountain Area Job Link organization is outstanding in its delivery of services to job seekers and those needing help with career related challenges (http://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/JobLink/). Be sure to check for similar services in

Resume Blunders

2010-01-26T10:50:00.001-05:00

These quotes were taken from actual resumes! "I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience." "I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet progroms." "Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year." "Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave." "Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions." "Failed bar exam with relatively high grades." "It's

How to Handle Liabilities

2010-01-26T08:20:00.002-05:00

What do you say when your grades are just so-so or you have little or weak job experience? What if you were fired from your last job? How would you explain that you are changing your career path? We all have liabilities, and the way we handle them in an interview is an important factor in whether or not we get selected for the job. A liability is any personal factor or experience that hinders

Typical Interview Questions

2010-01-24T13:12:00.002-05:00

I suggest that you review all these questions, and think about how you will answer them. Planning is essential to avoid coming across as unprepared. Worse yet, you may answer in a way that will keep you from getting the job. On the other hand, don't invent answers. It is equally important to be truthful and sincere. No employer will hire someone that can't be trusted. Write

Questions You May Want to Ask your Interviewer

2010-01-22T12:52:00.006-05:00

You are coming to the end of the interview. Everything seems to have gone well. Quite often the interviewer will ask you… “Well, do you have any questions for me?” Here are some you may want to ask: Why is this position open? How often has it been filled in the past five years? What were the main reasons? What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position? What

Interview DOs and DON'Ts

2010-01-20T10:05:00.005-05:00