6 Tips for a Successful Career Change Have you been laid off from a job? Are you feeling burned out? Are you bored with your current job and dreaming of bigger and better things? Was there a career you always wanted to pursue but were too afraid you didn’t have what it takes, or now you don't have a choice but to look into a new career or position? If any of these scenarios describe your situation, it is time for change. Sometimes, a new job isn't your choice, or your position has led you to the "enough is enough" stage. Perhaps you know deep down that you have more to offer a company or a business, and your skills and abilities are not utilized. Whatever the reasons that have brought you to this destination, contemplating a career change can be [...]

Helpful Hints to Strengthen a Thin Resume So, your resume is looking a little thinner than you think it should. You are probably struggling with the work history section, wondering how to further expound on the fact that you’ve got only a few positions to work with here. Maybe it’s because you’ve been at the same job for decades, and listing a previous job in the career section of your resume would be dated back to what you were doing twenty years ago, carrying little comparison to the caliber of work you are doing today. Alternatively, maybe you are newer to the job market and have only had your current job for several months. How much of your previous work is worth mentioning? Do your years as a nanny or mowing lawns as a teenager need to count toward your experience? [...]

It’s been more than a while since you’ve gotten a bite from an HR manager. Maybe you can’t remember which folder it was where you saved your latest resume update. Your lucky interview socks might be in the back of your drawer … Who knows? Does this sound like you? Are you in the dry and weary wasteland of waiting for a lead, a callback, or any semblance of interest? If this is where you find yourself regarding your job search, then it’s time for a jumpstart! It’s time to dust off your skillset, shake off your missed opportunities, and hit the ground running. Very few opportunities in life ever fall into our laps without doing some work on our end. If you want to be noticed and set apart from other interested employees, you must get back into the game [...]

Nail your interview- Top 5 Questions You Need to Answer Part 4: “Why did you leave your last job?” Read Part One. Read Part Two.  Read Part Three.  As we continue through this blog series, our focus is to reveal even more helpful tips for getting you well-prepared for your next job interview. This post focuses on our fourth question: “Why did you leave your last job?” This question can definitely be one that catches you off guard, potentially tripping you up if you haven’t rehearsed properly. If you have left your former job on any bad terms or with a bad taste in your mouth, it is human nature to be tempted to vent such frustrations. Take heed…your job interview is not the place for that! If the hiring manager asks you this difficult question, it is important that you [...]

Nail your interview- Top 5 Questions You Need to Answer This is Part One of a Five-Part Series Part 1: “What Are Your Greatest Strengths?” Over the years and for your benefit, we have spent a lot of time researching. We have listened and learned from many hiring managers and other decision-makers. Our findings have led us to what truly works best in helping a job candidate prepare for the interview process, and we want to take the next several weeks to really emphasize the top 5 most important questions that are commonly asked. To kick it off, let’s talk about the golden interview question, which you can guarantee will be heard. And it sounds so simple. I mean, who doesn’t like to talk about themselves? Even if you take the modest approach, everyone finds it rather relaxing to answer a [...]

You’ve been busy on the job trail for months on end until… Finally, you received the phone call you’ve been waiting for, the job interview is yours for the taking. Now it’s time to kick your interview prep work into high gear, to refine the list of questions that may or may not be asked of you. Knowing how to answer questions and what questions to ask will greatly impact whether or not you will be highly considered for the job. One such area is work benefits. However, although there will be a number of questions from your hiring manager that you should be prepared to answer, you should also be prepared with a list of questions of your own. What knowledge do you have of this company? Exactly how much will you get paid? Do you really understand the logistics [...]

How long has it been since you've taken the time to Update Your Resume? Chances are, like many things in life, it needs a little attention and some freshening up. We are a people of checklists and priorities, and once something has been filed under the “completed” tab, we often let it go from our minds. Time to move on to that which is more pressing, whatever else we think is more important and worthy of our time and effort. Now is the time to Update Your Resume! Your resume should never be left to collect dust on the proverbial shelf. There needs to be a process of polishing and grooming. Some say to revisit your resume as often as every few months to determine any necessary revisions, more or less often depending on what stage of the job search you [...]