Composure Resumes

Almost everyone is requiring criminal background checks on prospective employees these days. If you have a criminal history, particularly a felony, what does that mean for you? You probably already know. Having a blemish or two doesn’t have to mean the end of your career. For most employers, the exclusion criteria is minimal and job-specific. For retail, no theft. For work with machinery, no drugs. For work with children, no violence. For...

The Most Important Thing about Using Social Media in Your Job Search

Using social media to promote yourself is a tool you should have in your job search toolbox. However, you need to know how to use this tool appropriately. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and the like can ruin your job search efforts if used poorly. The most important thing to remember is that you are a professional portraying a business image of yourself as a valuable work...

Have all of your recent jobs been of short durations due to layoffs? Have you worked for several temp agencies in the last few years? If so, your résumé may be saying “I’m a job-hopper!” sending out red flags that are costing you interviews, when in reality the terminations of those jobs were no fault of yours. To address this and make your résumé effective, you need to be strategic about how you list those jobs on your résumé.

Yesterday, ...

“Professionals re-entering the workforce after just three years lose approximately 16% of their earning power, and over a quarter report a decrease in their management responsibilities.” - Center for Work Life Policy

Returnship is a term trademarked in 2008 by Goldman Sachs, a leading global...

There is no question that there are both good and bad résumé writers operating out there. You need to thoroughly weigh your options and investigate aspects of each potential writer’s business before making a suitable choice. This person works for you with your money. Some things you need to explore are listed below including the writer’s website, portfolio, credentials, and testimonials.

1. The writer you choose should have some type...

Organizational skills are crucial in nearly any position, especially with employees assuming additionall responsibilities as companies downsize. You must be able to adequately convey that you have systems in place to handle multiple types of information, priorities, and deadlines. These are things you need to think about before you interview so that you are prepared.

1. How do you prioritize your time?

Strategy: Describe what level you assign to v...

Here are 5 more interview questions, the strategy to use when answering, and an example answer for each question.

1. What skills do you have that make you a valuable member of a team?

Strategy: Think about your best strengths in a group setting. Are you an organizer good at keeping members on tasks, creative wonder, technologically savvy, good at negotiating among members for a compromise? What have been your historical team member strengths? Give...

Although every organization and interviewer has their own set of interview questions, there are five you are guaranteed to be asked at some point in your job search. Being prepared to answer them is a task that is part of standard interview preparation. A few general interview prep chores are listed below as well as the five most common interview questions and the strategy to use when answering.

Interview Preparation

• Know where you are going...

Is most of your experience in a field that has died or been seriously wounded as a casualty of the economy? Are you at a loss for how to proceed in your job search? All hope is not lost. With some research and re-strategizing, you can breathe new life into your job search. First, you should assess how realistic your view of the job market is and whether you have indeed conducted a comprehensive, exhaustive search for jobs in that field. If you find you are truly out of options in your field, ...

The best new technology to keep track of your networking efforts is JobPad at https://www.jobpadhq.com , and its FREE. I found it while brainstorming for iPhone app ideas. As stated on the website:

“JobPad truly is the job seeker's best friend. This tool serves as the secret job hunting weapon by allowing users to find, store, and organize all aspects of the job hunt in one place; from resumes, and applications, following up after an...