Employee

It’s a classic early-stage interview query, a seemingly simple prompt meant to get the process going. “Tell me about yourself.” But while it often appears like a softball question, many job seekers struggle with the topic. It’s so broad and some open-ended that it becomes dangerous. You can say almost anything you want. That fact…

It can represent a nerve-racking experience, a kind of nightmare version of speed dating (as if speed dating wasn’t nightmare enough). But despite the inherent awkwardness that comes with approaching a succession of strangers to ask for employment, the job fair offers an excellent opportunity to crack open your job search. The venue allows you…

Finding the right talent is key to driving your business forward. However, the process of recruiting often requires significant resources – time and money that you might not always have available. These conditions lead to an obvious question: how do you find the right workers without breaking the bank? How can you compete with the…

A strong relationship with your boss can represent a big boost to your career. Sometimes, this happens naturally. Other times, it requires some effort on your part. The relationship ultimately means more to you than it does to your boss, so you have to be the one prepared to bend to ensure that everything goes…

Everyone knows that networking represents one of the most important skills (perhaps the most important skill) for building a long-term career. However, like any social interaction, it comes with a lot of potential pitfalls. There’s a lot of opportunity for misreading cues and for good, old-fashioned embarrassment. Networking involves a lot of unspoken rules. You’re expected to…

A strong interview performance can give you a certain rush of euphoria and optimism. It’s a little like the feeling you get following a great first date. However, just like texting your new romance a dozen times the next day could end up hurting your long-term chances, an over-aggressive follow up after a good interview…

A good network pulls in people from all parts of your life. Family, friends, former roommates, acquaintances, people you meet at conferences – anybody from any walk of life can provide a meaningful career connection. However, no one is more relevant than former coworkers and former managers. These key connections operate in your industry and…

It’s good to be wanted. Being out of work can mess with your confidence, so receiving interest from multiple potential employers can help pump up your deflated ego. However, it can also create complications. When you’re deep in the job-search process, you’ll send out applications to any position that seems remotely promising. And you’ll accept…

The worst part of any first date? The point in the evening where you trade details about old relationships. The worst part of any job interview (besides the moment right after they ask the dreaded “what are your biggest weaknesses” question)? Recounting why you left your previous jobs. Like discussing the end of an old…

It’s become a bore. Every commute is an uninspired trudge, and every day unfolds as dragged-out grey tedium, punctuated by yawns and the constant checking of the clock. Well, maybe it’s not that bad. But you do feel underutilized and unappreciated. You need room to stretch your talents and develop your skill set, both to…