Make the most of LinkedIn with a comprehensive and engaging All Star profile!
LinkedIn, a professional networking site, is an amazing tool for professionals and students regardless of career field or interest. To make the most of your LinkedIn presence, it’s important to create a comprehensive and engaging profile. A great profile will allow you to showcase your qualifications and career aspirations via your online presence/professional brand, attract more quality connections, and rank higher in LinkedIn searches. Follow these steps to build your LinkedIn profile! read more
A reference will always say something nice about you, right? Wrong!
Each company or organization invests significant resources into new hires, and the act of checking references is one way to gain critical information about a candidate before sending out that offer letter. Although a candidate can look great on paper, in reality that person may not be a fit with a company’s professional needs or culture. By checking professional references, potential employers connect with people that will vouch for a candidate’s qualifications and even character. Selecting and submitting a reference can enhance or damage your candidacy. As a former recruiter, I encountered quite a few references that said negative things about the candidates in question. Their feedback absolutely influenced my hiring decisions, and not in a good way. Here are some tips about how you can ensure that your references will help you get the job! read more
Ways to avoid an online job scam
More people than ever are using the web to search for jobs, network, and identify ways to build their careers. There is so much great information out there that is accessible with just a few clicks of your mouse! While it’s tempting to dive into an online job search, take a minute to consider the risk involved when it comes to sharing your information and connecting with people virtually. To stay safe, make sure you protect your personal information, do your research, and make smart choices given the information you access. read more
How can career assessments add value to your career decisions?
While some people feel that career assessments are invaluable, others find them useless. How can you tell if they are right for you? As a career professional, I believe career assessments are valuable tools that can be used to help you create and execute an effective career strategy. However, there’s a catch. In order to be valid, they must be completed, interpreted, and applied correctly. There are no easy answers or a one-stop shop that will reveal your “perfect” career. The following is an overview of different types of career assessments, how they should be completed, and in what way you should utilize the results to make sound career decisions. read more
Need more experience to land that job? Here’s how to get it!
It’s a catch-22. You need experience to get a job, but if you don’t have a job how will you get that experience? Employers value experience when it comes to assessing candidates because it illustrates that an employee can perform desired duties and tasks, hopefully at a high level (that’s why it’s important to showcase accomplishments on your resume). The good news is there are many ways that you can gain experience that aligns with the skills and abilities affiliated with your target jobs. That’s right, full-time employment is not the only way to gain professional experience! Whether you are a college student or seasoned employee, you can gain valuable professional experience through internships, volunteer opportunities, and project work. read more
Should you negotiate salary? Absolutely!
Based on the time and resources that employers dedicate to the hiring process, if they offer you a job they want you! That’s just one thing to keep in mind as you engage in the exciting (and possibly nerve-wracking) process of salary negotiation. Although you’ve successfully navigated the hiring process thus far, don’t take your foot off the pedal until it’s a done deal. Salary negotiation is an important part of the journey to a new job that will impact both your personal and professional lives. How important is it? Consider this scenario. A company presents job offers to two individuals, with very similar skills and experience, that represent identical roles at a company. Candidate Joe doesn’t negotiate and accepts the initial offer of $35,000/year. Candidate Mary receives the same offer and effectively negotiates to secure a $40,000/year salary to start. If both Joe and Mary receive a 3% annual raise, Mary will have earned $250,000 more than Joe over the course of her lifetime. That’s a lot of money! Best practice is to negotiate in order to establish a salary that takes into consideration the skills, experience, and value you bring to a new employer. Here are three things you need to know when negotiating salary. read more
Ring…Hello? Here’s why you should hire me!
Congratulations! You’ve secured a phone interview for a job that really interests you. To make the most of that opportunity, it’s important to realize that not all interviews are equal and there are specific things you can do to effectively prepare. For a phone interview, it’s critical to identify unique opportunities and anticipate challenges in the areas of technology, connection, and the environment. read more
How can you ease the stress of starting a new job?
Whether you’re a recent grad or seasoned professional, starting a new job can be both exciting and terrifying. You’ll encounter a new organizational culture, supervisor, responsibilities, and colleagues. How can you prevent it from becoming an overwhelming experience? Have a plan! Your job search strategy was effective (you landed the job!), so now it’s time to develop and execute a new job strategy. Some of the keys to success include connecting with others, doing your research, and focusing on positivity. read more
Interviewing via Skype? Check out these watch-outs and best practices!
The hiring process is evolving in many ways, especially as technology changes the way we live our lives and conduct business. Many companies and organizations are integrating technology into their hiring practices and featuring Skype interviews as part of the candidate selection process. While in-person and Skype interviewing share many best practices, there are critical differences that you must be aware of as you approach your cyber interview experience. Environment, presentation, and technology are all factors that warrant consideration as you prepare for and execute your Skype interview. read more
What is the hidden job market, and how can you tap into it?
Whether you don’t know about it, or are aware of what it is and choose not to access to it, you are missing out on countless career opportunities if you are not engaged in the hidden job market. The hidden job market is defined as a collection of jobs that are not formally posted or advertised, and career experts estimate that it represents 60% to 80% of all jobs hired for each year. That means that as active job seekers are roaming job sites and applying to online postings, they are competing for just 20% to 40% of all available jobs. Applying to online job postings may feel productive, but where are the results? Many clients claim they are getting nowhere with their job search despite applying to hundreds of postings. In most cases, the answer lies within the hidden job market. read more