Career Advice Archives

How to Impress Recruiters with Your LinkedIn Profile

Posted on December 9, 2015January 6, 2021 by caitlinhoward

By now, most job seekers have figured out that LinkedIn is a valuable tool for landing a job, but not everyone has figured out what it takes to impress a recruiter. Hint: simply copying and pasting your resume onto your profile is not going to work. There are 6 main areas recruiters look at when evaluating potential candidates. Learn what these areas are and how you can tailor your LinkedIn profil...

Should I Disclose My Compensation Expectations to a Recruiter?

Posted on October 29, 2015January 4, 2023 by caitlinhoward

It’s understandable why many candidates are skeptical about disclosing certain information to recruiters they don’t know, especially information about their current compensation. When recruiters reach out to passive candidates, they often reach out to people who have never worked with a recruiter before and have never heard of them or their company. The recruiter then has to earn the candidat...

3 Ways You’re Scaring Off Recruiters

Posted on October 22, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

An eager job seeker may have the best intentions, beginning with a phone call, sending a couple emails, then incessantly following up with the recruiter until they get a response. While the candidate may think they’re being proactive, their actions are actually scaring off recruiters and decreasing their odds of getting a callback. Keep reading to learn about the wrong way to interact with a recru...

5 Phrases to Omit From Your LinkedIn Profile and Resume

Posted on October 16, 2015January 17, 2023 by caitlinhoward

5 Phrases to Omit From Your Sales Resume

Social media profiles are often your first chance to make a good impression on prospective employers and can decide whether you get an email or call back to forward your resume. You should also make sure your resume does not have these phrases to ensure you go further in the process and get that interview. While you want your profile and resume to stand out, you also want to make sure it stands ou...

What Recruiters Look for in Marketing Resumes

Posted on September 9, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

It’s a great time to be looking for a new marketing job. Not only has the job market shifted toward candidates, but talented marketing professionals are now in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor, the number of marketing jobs is supposed to grow through 2022. And some positions, like marketing analyst, are expected to grow at a rate of 33.2 percent, making it one of the fastest-growing jobs t...

How To Answer Difficult Sales Interview Questions

Posted on August 20, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

Interviews are nerve-wracking enough on their own, but sales interviews are notorious for having outlandish questions, role-playing exercises and even the dreaded “sell me this pen” scenario. Even the most experienced sales reps can get caught off guard when trying to answer a difficult sales interview question if they’re not expecting it. Before your next sales interview, take some time to revi...

When Changing Jobs Is the Right Move for Sales Reps

Posted on July 24, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

The job market is no longer employer-driven and the power has shifted to the candidate. According to the Pew Research Center, since the recession’s end, fewer Americans are unemployed and there are more job openings available. While this is great news for sales reps actively seeking a new position, what does it mean for passive sales professionals? When should they take advantage of this hot marke...

The Insider’s Guide to Using Social Media to Get Hired

Posted on July 1, 2015August 18, 2022 by caitlinhoward

Many job seekers think it’s best to hide or delete their social media profiles and online activity when searching for a new position. In reality, having no online presence will make you seem suspicious or even deter employers and hiring managers from pursuing you. In fact, 21 percent of hiring managers say they are less likely to consider job candidates if they can’t find information about that pe...

3 Ways Candidates Can Prepare for a Video Interview

Posted on May 8, 2015June 21, 2022 by caitlinhoward

Life in most parts of the world has returned to normal after more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoom grew by 2900%, making it one of the fastest-growing applications in 2020 and 2021. Video interviewing is one of the changes that are here to stay. So before you get on that zoom, be sure to prep so there are no problems with your technology. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS The best...

3 Strikes, You’re Out! – Tips for Post-Interview Follow Up

Posted on April 17, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

After completing an interview, your next step should always be to send a thank-you email to the interviewer or hiring manager. Since hiring managers are very busy people, sometimes it can take them a few days or even a week to respond to your email. But what happens when the hiring manager isn’t responding at all? How do you know when to stop reaching out? In honor of baseball being back, I’m goin...

How to Deal With Negative People

Posted on April 18, 2014June 1, 2022 by caitlinhoward

By Geoffrey James (Inc.com) Staying positive and optimistic can help you become a happier person both at work and at home. Unfortunately, there are many everyday obstacles that can get in the way of maintaining this positivity. One of those obstacles can be the negativity of other people. Keep reading to learn how to deal with complainers and how to make sure they don't drag you down. How to Deal ...

5 Avoidable Job Interview Mistakes

Posted on April 11, 2014January 8, 2021 by caitlinhoward

You only have one chance to make a good first impression in an interview. You are being evaluated on the way you talk, dress, and even smell from the second you enter the room. What you do, and even what you don't do, can be the difference between landing a new job or heading back to the job boards. Before you schedule your next interview, consider these 5 common mistakes job seekers make in...

Practice Makes Perfect: How to Rehearse for Your Next Job Interview

Posted on August 13, 2013December 2, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

By Caroline M.L. Potter There are a lot of steps that usually happen before you get to the interview portion of your job search: writing a resume, networking, compiling your references. Most folks are able to put a lot of effort into getting the interview, but many fall apart during the actual interview. Why? Poor planning and a lack of practice. Instead of winging it, or relying solely on your pr...

5 Questions Great Job Candidates Ask

Posted on September 25, 2012April 4, 2023 by KathleenSteffey

By Jeff Haden, INC.com Be honest. Raise your hand if you feel the part of the job interview where you ask the candidate, "Do you have any questions for me?" is almost always a waste of time. Thought so. The problem is most candidates don't actually care about your answers; they just hope to make themselves look good by asking "smart" questions. To them, what they ask is more impo...

Gracefully Decline a Job Offer

Posted on January 18, 2011May 12, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: The LaddersBy Andrew Klappholz It sounds too good to be true. One highly touted job seeker was hit with a perfect financial services storm: job offers from Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Blackrock — all at the same time. This was the situation facing one client of career coach Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, a partner at SixFigureStart and former head of staffing for Merrill Lynch...

Didn’t Get the Job? Don’t Be Shy… Ask Why!

Posted on December 14, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

By Tim Estiloz, Posted Dec 7th 2010 AOL Jobs You go in for a job interview and do what you believe is a killer performance that should nail you the position, only to find out a short time later, after no call backs, that someone else got the position. Along with the natural disappointment at losing the job, it's also natural to wonder why your qualifications and presentation fell short. You can't ...

Seven Tips for Reentering the Workforce

Posted on December 7, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: By NicoleWilliams.com staff Reentering the workforce can be a challenge no matter how good your excuse is: volunteering, working or studying abroad, starting a family, caring for a sick relative or coping with your own illness, or investing in your future by completing a graduate degree. Your search can be made more difficult by the poor economy and a bias against people who have la...

What to Expect on a Second and Third Interview

Posted on November 23, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: By Darryl K. Taft, The Ladders “Understanding the typical schedule and purpose of each round can prepare you to face each and give you an advantage in the hiring process.” Before you hear the words, “You’re hired,” you will typically sit through three separate interview sessions … at least. You prepared for the first interview. So you’re prepared for the second and third interviews,...

The Power of a Simple Thank-You Note

Posted on November 9, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer When my wife was hired for her first real job after graduating from college, she was remembered and saluted by her new supervisor for one seemingly small step she had taken during the interviewing process: She was the only applicant of several interviewed who had sent a thank-you note after her interview. It seems amazing, but it's true...

Don’t Let a Bad Attitude Ruin Your Job Search

Posted on November 4, 2010December 28, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

While a lengthy job search might be unpleasant, expressing negative thoughts to a recruiter or hiring manager about the search process or a past company can cost you the position. Businesses look for individuals with a positive outlook and a high level of excitement. People want to collaborate with others who are optimistic and enthusiastic about their work and exhibit these qualities visibly...

Use The Holidays To Find A Job

Posted on November 2, 2010December 3, 2024 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: Susan Adams, Forbes.com You can and should. One reason: You'll have less competition then. When my friend Matthew turned down an offer for a lucrative marketing position two weeks ago (it conflicted with the noncompete agreement from his old employer), he told me he couldn't find another job until the new year. That's just the way it is in his business, he said. Once the holidays hi...

Top 10 Online Job Search Tips

Posted on October 12, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: CareerBuilder.com While the popularity of online job boards puts millions of jobs at one's fingertips, it has also made the job applicant pool that much bigger. For this reason, national job search sites and the Internet as a whole have gotten a bad rap from some industry professionals as an ineffective job seeker tool; on the contrary, the Internet actually can be a great re...

What if They Want Me to Sign a Non-Compete Agreement?

Posted on October 5, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

By Jack Chapman - Original Post: The Ladders.com Don't sign that non-compete agreement. A non-compete agreement may look harmless enough, but if you're not careful it can cost you a lot of time and money in the long run. Here's an example: A college student had an internship at an ad agency. She signed a routine non-compete and was subsequently hired as a full-time employee. Two years later a form...

13 Ways Your Resume Can Say ‘I’m Unprofessional’

Posted on September 21, 2010 by KathleenSteffey

Hiring pros share the faux pas they find in real resumes, including wacky e-mail addresses, defunct phone numbers and cookie-cutter templates. Original Post By Lisa Vaas, The Ladders No offense, thebigcheese@domain.com, but if nobody has told you yet, we’re telling you now: That e-mail address is not making you look particularly professional. Unprofessional e-mail addresses are just one way of se...

Keys to Researching Your Next Employer

Posted on September 14, 2010December 2, 2024 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: By Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer "I know right away when a candidate doesn't know the current news about our company," says Chris Brabec, director of leadership talent acquisition for Western Union. "If you don't know the CEO is retiring, or if a company made a big acquisition recently, that's not a good sign. If a candidate can't tell me what the company does (or think...

Are You Getting Interviews, But Not the Job?

Posted on August 17, 2010 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: How to Diagnose Where You Might Be Going Wrong By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer Your resume has earned you interviews with several employers over the past year. That's impressive, especially in this economy. But none of those interviews has yielded a job offer. You've done the standard interview preparation. You've shown up on time and dressed in appropriate in...

Step-by-Step Guide to Negotiating a Great Salary

Posted on July 27, 2010May 11, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

By Kim Lankford, Monster Contributing Writer Here's a secret: Employers rarely make their best offer first, and job candidates who negotiate generally earn much more than those who don't. And a well-thought-out negotiation makes you look like a stronger candidate -- and employee. "We found that those people who attempted to negotiate their salary in a constructive way are perceived as more favor...

The Interview Was Awesome. Now What?

Posted on July 6, 2010 by KathleenSteffey

By Don Straits Original post: The Ladders Thank-you letters are so boring. You feel compelled to write one because the career books, career counselors, and HR managers tell you that’s what you are supposed to do. If you don’t do it, then you failed to show professional courtesy. If you do send one, it is rarely the defining factor that gets you the job. Furthermore, they all sound alike. Yawn. ...

Can Recruiters Find YOU? 5 Online Methods to Borrow

Posted on May 25, 2010 by KathleenSteffey

Joe Turner was a recruiter for more than 15 years, so job seekers often ask him for advice on how to meet recruiters and how to make working with recruiters a beneficial experience. His reply is not always what they want to hear: Top recruiters don't want to meet you. They don't want you to call them, and they don't want you to send your resume to them. They are already wired into their own netwo...