JOB SEARCH BUSINESS CARDS

by Brian Skory

Business cards are the currency of exchange in the business world. Whenever business people meet for the first time, they do the “business card shuffle,” each one circling to the next until cards have been exchanged by all. For a job seeker, what you obviously want to be placing into the hands of the business people you are meeting is a resume – which is fine when you’re at a user group meeting or a networking event and you’ve got your folio stuffed with resumes with you. But let’s face it, you don’t walk around 24/7 with a stack of resumes in hand. As any good career coach will tell you, when you are networking for a job, you want to be prepared to give your “30 second commercial” to anyone, anytime, including your wife and kids. (See Getting Hired Issue 26 on how networking can often times be more effective than sending out resumes.) (more…)

ACCEPTING A COUNTER OFFER: SAVVY NEGOTIATING OR CAREER SUICIDE?

by Brian Skory

Imagine yourself as a hiring manager. Here’s a scenario you don’t like: you escort a candidate through multiple interviews and then give the candidate a great offer. Much to your surprise, the candidate calls you up and says he’s not going to accept the offer. Instead, he accepted a counter offer from his current employer! The pay is better or there is a promise of better working conditions or some other enticement is dangled in front of him. (more…)

YOUR ONLINE CAREER PORTFOLIO

by Brian Skory

Probably some of the most informative candidate submissions I have had are the ones which include an Online Professional Portfolio (blog, personal Website, Tumblr site… whatever works for you). In past issues, we’ve talked extensively about the ways to make your resume stand out, but let’s face it—there’s only so much that can be communicated in two to five pages. But an Online Professional Portfolio, now that’s a place where you can do some selling of yourself! Here are just a few of the things that could impress a prospective employer: (more…)

HOW TO WORK FOR YOUR DREAM COMPANY, EVEN IF THEY AREN’T HIRING

by Brian Skory

For several years, a friend of mine had wanted to work in a particular industry, within which were several notable companies. Landing a job at any one of those companies would have been a dream come true for her. The problem was that none of these companies had any open positions posted on their websites.

I advised her to use LinkedIn to track down whoever might be a hiring manager in those company’s departments where she would like to work. Then, I suggested, she craft a succinct message stating: (more…)

TOPICS TO AVOID IN INTERVIEWS

by Brian Skory

Creating a good impression requires more than just good skills and experience combined with getting dressed up and putting on your best cheerful attitude. You have to be aware of how your interviewer is judging your character. And one major way her or she is doing this is by engaging you in casual conversation and observing what you say. (more…)