Job searches are always hard, but going through them after being let go can make them even harder. Not only is your morale low, but there is a sense of pressure to quickly find a job as to not feel the impact of lost wages. It takes an organization an average of about fifty-two days to hire on a candidate for an open position. While a month and a half might not seem like a long time, it is long enough to cause serious harm...

Have you ever been told you’re perfect for the job, then received a rejection letter? Has an employer said he’d call and failed to do so? Have you sent out several resumes and received no acknowledgments? These and other job search challenges can be resolved by common sense, good timing, networking, research and confidence. The following discusses common dilemmas and possible strategies for dealing with the...

Your resume should communicate to prospective employers the value you actually and legitimately have (fact), not embellish unnecessarily, exaggerate or invent value (fiction). Don’t be tempted to “gild the lily” and risk causing yourself possibly major headaches down the road. (Note: According to Urban Dictionary, “gild the lily” represents “a condensation of Shakespeare’s metaphor...

A few years back I asked a gardener friend about the best time to plant fruit trees. His response, “Ten years ago.” And then he asked if I would like to know the second-best time. I took the bait and said, “of course.” To which he answered, “today.” Which brings me to the topic of this week’s column — references, testimonials and letters of recommendation. When is the best...

The executive job market continues to evolve. Think about it. The intro of social media and LinkedIn are top on the list. But, changes to the executive job market don’t stop there. Explosion of Executive Networks There are many executive networks out there, too. For example, SeniorExecutiveNetwork.com (SEN) and ExecutivesNetwork.com. A growing number of industry networks are online too. Consider Tech...

If only I’d done more networking, I’d be able to find a new job.” “If only they’d stop bothering me with trivial meetings, I could finish this project.” “If only I’d gotten that promotion, I wouldn’t hate this company.” “If only I were younger, I bet they’d listen.” One of the more self-destructive phrases used in discussing careers is...

The world of work is changing at an ever increasing pace. To succeed, we must embrace new ideas and technologies, and strengthen Questers traits such as adaptability and flexibility. Adaptability and flexibility have meanings which are broadly the same but not identical. Adaptable indicates long-term changes; flexible more short-term alterations. One might adapt to the introduction of a new shift pattern, and be flexible e...

Think summer is a slow time to find a new job? Think again! Recruiters and hiring managers do not usually take summers off. Hiring managers are looking for top talent now. If they have any openings, they do not wait to hire. So, now is as good a time as any to look for your next position. There’s less competition in the summer. Fewer people are job searching so you and your resume have a better chance of being s...

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...

You do have a job search marketing campaign, don’t you? Even if you’re not actively job searching now, you should have a campaign either in mind or in the works. To paraphrase an old saying, “An ounce of job search preparation is worth more than a pound of after-the-fact damage control.” What’s a Job Search Marketing Campaign? A campaign has been defined as work performed in an organized...