It’s a tough job market… no question about it! People that previously seemed to be able to jump into a new job fairly quickly after a lay off, are having much longer stretches of unemployment these days. Finding a new job today requires different methods and much more initiative than it has in many years. Unfortunately, many… perhaps most… people are trying to apply what worked in the past in a new set of circumstances. Much (certainly not all) of their delay in landing that next position is due to self-imposed causes. In no particular order, here are eight: 8 Self-Imposed Reasons People Can’t Find Jobs.  read more »

Navigating the waters of career advice can be murky at times. Everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should or shouldn’t do and what you should or shouldn’t write. With all the information out there how do you really know what advice to take and what to leave behind? Have you read every article on resume writing or submitted your resume for free evaluations only to find that every place says something different? Then chances are you’re in information overload: Are You Experiencing Resume Information Overload?  read more »

If you are like most people I talk to every day, keeping your resume current isn't at the top of the priority list. People usually think about their resume only when they are actively looking for work or when a job comes up that piques their interest. But if you have to spend a few days writing a new one, it could mean someone else gets the job before you have the opportunity to apply, or the recruiter moves on to the next person. You also risk forgetting some of those valuable accomplishments to add to your resume. Here are four tips to keep your information up-to-date: 4 Easy Ways to Maintain a Great Resume.  read more »

There are certain common job interview mistakes that you want to do your best to avoid. Making any one of these can hurt your chances of getting the job or have the employer hire another candidate who didn't make these common job interview mistakes: 10 Classic Job Interview Blunders You Must Avoid.  read more »

So often the advice we’re given — when networking and especially when job hunting — is to be affirmative and open, and to say yes (with enthusiasm)!! “Yes” conveys that you are generous, open to change, flexible and unafraid of hard work and a challenge. It makes sense in many workplace and job-hunting situations. Yet sometimes you just have to say no, hard as that may be. Here are some situations where career experts say it may be smart to say no: When It’s Smart to Say No  read more »

Usually when people are faced with a job search, they dive into the mechanics of looking for work—how to write a perfect resume, how to answer tough interview questions with ease, and so on. That’s all important, but human beings that we are, it’s only part of the equation. The other part of the equation has to do with managing how we feel: 13 Ways to Stay Sane in Your Job Search.  read more »