First, a job hopper is not necessarily a bad thing in this market. Today, people have 6 or more jobs before they land and even then, there is no guarantee that a person will remain on the job. Back in “the day” people went to work every day, most of the time whether they wanted to or not. They worked for 20 years or so and retired. Very few people left their job. It was frowned upon if you were a job hopper. It is still frowned upon if you change jobs a lot, but it is not an insurmountable …read more

Recently I met with a new client that has been in the market for a job for more than a year. He was home responding to job ads from job boards. His phone was not ringing. No one was calling him back and he was more than frustrated.
At the end of our first meeting the homework I assignment I gave him was to develop a cover letter. I gave him a sample letter that included a strong opening, highlights of his accomplishments using bullet points, and highlights of his qualifications that fit the job ad he was responding to. I …read more

What are you doing to create a buzz about you? If you are waiting for the phone to ring, but there is no traction or attraction, you are waiting in vain. I have been following a question on LinkedIn. You can jump in the conversation too, just find the Job Angels Group, join and come share your thoughts and/or questions.
Here is the question:What are you doing to stand out to employers? Especially when you are responding without referrals to a job opportunity? Is a strong cover letter or resume enough to put you on the top of the stack?
My response: …read more

As a career coach, my strength is in preparing job seekers for upcoming interviews. I have spent years helping people get the jobs they want to get. Below are my Top 10 Interview Tips. As you are navigating the hiring process, the most critical part of your job search strategy is the interview. Check out my Top 10 Tips:

Prepare for your Interview – Assess the job description. Prepare for questions you anticipate from the hiring manager. Prepare questions for the interviewers. Know who you are and what you can bring to that organization
Research the company – Ask the HR representative …read more

Have you ever been moving along rather swiftly in your car, truck or van and all of a sudden there is a speed bump in front of you? Your foot is frantically looking for the breaks so that you don’t damage your car.

Speed bumps are asphalt mounds constructed on streets. According to Wikipedia,The use of speed bumps is widespread around the world, and they are most commonly found where vehicle speeds are statutorily mandated to be low. In other words, you are legally required to reduce your speed in the area of the speed bump. For the purposes of my …read more

I can’t imagine that you send your resume to prospective employers hoping they glance at it and then toss it in the trash. But if you are sending your resume to any job opening you see that sounds interesting, hoping they want to give you a chance you are deceiving yourself.
If your telephone rings and a prospective employer is interested in discussing their job opening with you, then you are on the target. The bullseye would be if you are sitting in front of the hiring manager and they are seriously considering you for the job opening. The HR Recruiter …read more

Back in the mid 80’s when I began working as an adult, it took me less than 90 days to get decent paying job when I needed a job. I didn’t know a lot about getting hired, but I knew that if I presented myself well, had enthusiasm, and could demonstrate relative competency to do the job I was interviewing for, I would get the job.
Today, you can be in the job market for a year and still not get a decent offer. I am talking about qualified candidates. Valuable people, looking for work and struggling to get the phone …read more