Category: Career development

By now, you’ve probably learned that the traditional ways of job searching don’t work anymore. A few years ago, you could put your resume on multiple online job boards and wait for a promising email or phone call from an employer. Those days are gone. If you want to land your dream job, you have to be proactive. Today’s job market is fast-paced, competitive, and heavily influenced by technology (AI is here to stay). Simply having a great resume isn’t … Continue reading “5 Ways To Instantly Improve Your Job Search Results”

Becoming a successful leader at work can be challenging. You want to be the one your team looks to for guidance and support, but you may not be in a leadership role yet. So, can you establish yourself as a leader at work and display the characteristics of a good leader daily? There are many ways, but listed below are some things to start doing today. By doing these things, you can position yourself as a leader at work without … Continue reading “7 Tips For Becoming A Successful Leader At Work”

If you’re a recent college graduate and you’re unemployed, you might have an idea of what we’re about to talk about. You’ve spent four years of your life hitting the books, getting good grades, participating in relevant extracurricular activities, and maybe even juggling a part-time job in between. You’ve worked really hard for your degree, and you’ve been told time and time again that a degree is essential to finding employment in today’s competitive job market. So, why are you … Continue reading “Young And Unemployed? 3 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Hired”

A prepared job seeker will have thought about the questions that will be asked in their job interview. One of them may be: “Why are you leaving your job?” As you think about a response to this question, also consider how the interviewer may interpret that response. It’s important to take caution with how you answer questions in a job interview because when they’re not framed properly, they can be interpreted negatively and cost you the job opportunity. There can … Continue reading “3 Tips On How To Answer “Why Are You Leaving Your Job?””

We all have times on the job when the work piles up. However, we don’t all react in the same way. Some of us handle that stress better than others. A potential employer naturally wants to know how you will react when that situation happens in this new job. So they say something like, “Describe a time when your workload was particularly heavy and what steps you took to handle it.” This is a common behavioral interview question, and how … Continue reading “How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle A Heavy Workload”

In 2008, I read Bloomberg Businessweek‘s article entitled “Management by the Numbers,” in which they review how IBM has been building mathematical models of its own employees with an aim to improve productivity and automate management. I’ll let you read it and draw your own conclusions, but I realized that this article still rings true today. After reading this article so many years ago, I learned a new workplace term that they’re using over at IBM. “Fungible” is a word … Continue reading “Are You FUNGIBLE? (Hint: You Don't Want To Be In Today's Labor Market)”

It’s easy to get excited when an employer is interested in you, especially when you haven’t had much luck getting interviews or job offers. But what if the job proposal isn’t a good fit for you? How do you decline a job offer? Some of you might be thinking, Decline a job offer? Why would I do that? Saying “no” to a job offer can feel uncomfortable, but it’s an important part of managing your career with confidence. Knowing how … Continue reading “How To Decline A Job Offer”

Landing a job interview is a big deal, but making the wrong impression on the hiring manager can kill your chances before you even realize it. With competition fierce and hiring managers pressed for time, even minor missteps can be deal-breakers. If you’re not aware of how you’re coming across, you might unknowingly sabotage your own success. That’s why it’s crucial to understand what hiring managers are really looking for—and what drives them away. I’m a big fan of the … Continue reading “5 Ways To Kill Your Chances With A Hiring Manager”

How can you make an effective resume after getting fired? People get fired from their jobs for various reasons. However, to a potential new employer, it may leave an unfavorable connotation on the candidate. If you find yourself in such a situation, you may have a number of questions concerning how to address the adverse reactions you may receive from a potential employer. You may have questions such as: How do I impress an employer given I was fired from … Continue reading “How To Create An Effective Resume Even If You Were Fired”

Did you know that there are interview questions that might seem legitimate but are actually illegal? While there are some that are clearly inappropriate, not all of them are so obvious. Don’t overlook the different types of illegal interview questions! Illegal interview questions often touch on personal topics like age, marital status, religion, or citizenship—topics that have no bearing on your ability to do the job. Knowing what’s off-limits can help you recognize red flags and respond professionally when you’re … Continue reading “6 Types Of Illegal Interview Questions To Watch Out For”