Unemployed? 3 Ways to Fill that Gap in Your Resume

by • Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Resume, LinkedIn, self-promo •

If you’ve been out of work for a while, you may face a well-documented bias against the unemployed in your job search. But fear not; there are ways to easily fill the gap, preempting any potential uneasiness about your unemployment while reassuring employers that you’re current in your field. Here are three of those ways, followed by what to say when asked about an employment gap in an interview. More

When Bad Interviewers Happen to Good Candidates

by • Interviewing •

When you’re in an interview with a bad or inexperienced interviewer, they’re not giving you the opportunity to truly make the case for your candidacy. They’re not asking you the right (or any) questions, and in fact they may be turning you off by their behavior.

Very often, however, you can find a way to change the subject back to their number one question, “How can you help me?” and thus do both of you favor; they will get their answer and you’ll stand out from the competition as the candidate who answered this key question. Let’s look at how to improve your outcome in four of the most common bad-interviewer scenarios. More

Want a Promotion? Then Do These 4 Things

by • On-the-job Success •

You can improve your odds of getting promoted by first setting the stage: show that you’re ready for the role, differentiate yourself by demonstrating leadership and build supportive stakeholder relationships. In addition, ensure that they’re thinking about you as promotion material by having “the promotion conversation” with your boss. Let’s dive into each of these four areas. More

Odds Are You’ll Be Fired Before Retirement, So Build “Career Security”

by • Getting Interviews, Job-Search Strategy, Life, On-the-job Success, Resume, LinkedIn, self-promo, Work •

For those over 50 and gainfully employed, a new study says you have a 56% chance that you’ll be let go before you’re ready to retire, risking substantial income loss. The study supports my own observations via client work that there is no real job security, only “career security.” In a sense employees are really all consultants.

But not to worry! Here’s a list of things you can do to both minimize the risk of an unwanted departure and set yourself up for a quick, positive transition if necessary. More

Want to Ace Your Interview? Tell a Great Story

by • Interviewing •

The single most effective thing you can do in an interview is to make your experience come alive through stories or examples. Yes, you need to get other things right in an interview as well: ask the right questions, prep for handling issues with your candidacy, follow-up effectively and so forth. But telling a good story is the most powerful way to stand out from the competition, since our brains are wired to remember the imagery, the drama, and the emotion that’s conveyed in a good story. More

How to Optimize Your Relationships and Jump-start Your Career

by • Getting Interviews, Job-Search Strategy, On-the-job Success •

Building and leveraging a network of mutually beneficial career relationships is easier than you may think. And having this network of relationships is crucial in today’s environment, where being good at your job is simply not good enough, or where applying to lots of jobs is an inefficient way to search. Whether you’re eyeing a promotion or seeing layoffs on thehorizon, your network will help you. In a job search, your network will enable you to shortcut the application process and tap into the hidden job market where you’ll find the best opportunities.

Here are some ideas to help you to quickly build and optimize your network of career-advancing relationships. More

Want to Get Hired Quickly? Play the Numbers Game to Win

by • Getting Interviews, Job-Search Strategy •

Even if your resume, pitch and communications skills are stellar and your background is in demand, you may still be in for a long job search. Many opportunities simply won’t pan out through no fault of your own; budgets, priorities and hiring managers can change unexpectedly. To ensure that you’ll have a quick job search, play the numbers game to win; have many things More

The No. 1 Way to Get Attention on LinkedIn

by • Building a Business, Career Change, General, Getting Interviews, Job-Search Strategy, Org. Effectiveness, Resume, LinkedIn, self-promo, Social Media •

Business prospects or employers are probably searching on LinkedIn for someone like you. The single best way to ensure you’ll show up in their searches, and stand out from competitors, is to have the right profile “keywords.” These are the words or phrases that resonate. They’re used in search queries, and answer your target audience’s main question: “How can you help me?”

Profile keywords have benefits beyond boosting your LinkedIn search ranking. Since search engines like Google and More

You Need to Start Leading Now. Here’s How

by • On-the-job Success, Org. Effectiveness •

In most workplaces, the key to achieving job security and advancing in your organization is to demonstrate leadership. Going above and beyond the status quo for the greater good will improve your chances of getting promoted. Plus, taking initiative to improve the organization may be the reason you get to keep your job if layoffs are in the forecast.

No matter where you are in your organization’s hierarchy, you are leading if: More

Turn Job Search Rejection into Opportunity

by • Getting Interviews, Interviewing, Job-Search Strategy •

All too often, jobseekers snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; they see rejection too quickly and end up essentially rejecting themselves. If you can adopt the mindset of a successful salesperson, however, you’ll see opportunity where others might see rejection.

That’s because in a job search, your “job” is now sales (you’re the product), regardless of what you do professionally.  More

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