Did you know that most job applicants don’t understand the purpose of a resume? The purpose of your resume is not to get you a job, it is to get you an interview. You can sabotage your very first impression by including too much in your resume. So what should you cut out? The answer may surprise you. [Read More]

Whether you’re gearing up to graduate or there’s a hiring fair in your area, the calendar year is front-loaded with job fairs. Most people think of job fairs as over crowded, competitive marketplaces with few opportunities compared to candidates. This may be why most people who attend job fairs do so casually, and come under dressed and under prepared, and so their negativity becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The good news is, by taking extra time to prepare, you can turn stand out from the competition and make your mark with a standout company. [Read More]

You’re sitting in the interview room. You’re dressed well, even on a budget. You researched the company and practiced answering interview questions honestly and with confidence. Now the interviewer asks you if you have any question, and your mind goes blank. The only one you can think of is the salary question, and you’re worried it will make your interest in the job shallow and one-dimensional. Here are the questions you should be asking, and why. [Read More]

No matter how hard you work, how early you arrive and how late you stay at the office each day, no one gets more than twenty-four hours in their day. Everyone wants to be more organized, more efficient, more effective, and better at using their time. There are many ways of learning and honing those skills and everyone has their own challenges and priorities. Instead of telling you what to do to be “highly effective” professionally, whatever that means to you, here is a list of 7 habits that are guaranteed to keep dragging you down. [Read More]

The big interview is almost here and you’ve done your research on the employer, assembled a list of glowing references and rehearsed your winning answers. Now you just need to look the part. You may have have heard the axiom “dress for the job you want, not the one you have”--hard enough if you’re looking to climb the ladder, but that old rule can be daunting when you’ve been wading through the shallow waters of unemployment for months. You already know perfectly well you can’t turn up in worn, stained or ragged clothes, but then how do you put together an interview outfit that makes you look capable and confident? [Read More]

If your list of goals and resolutions this year include securing a higher salary, you’re not alone. In a tough economy the cost of living is constantly on the rise and the compensation you originally negotiated may be out of step with the value you represent to your employers. Odds are, though, that your employers have an even closer eye on their bottom line, so if you want a raise, you have to be strategic. For your best chance at a boost to your paycheque, follow these 5 steps. [Read More]

A telephone interview is usually short, just enough time to rule you in or out, so the focus is on questions that help evaluate you quickly. Your goal is to turn it into a face-to-face meeting, so your answers need to be concise. As a rule of thumb, keep your answers to less than two minutes, if an interviewer wants to know more s/he will ask. [Read More]

Okay, I promise the next job interview you go to will most definitely NOT be like that! But we all know job interviews are nerve racking and the best way to minimize those nervous symptoms of sweaty palms, dry mouth, and of course, the worst of all – going blank, is to prepare as much as possible. Part of the preparation includes going over possible interview questions the interviewers may ask you, writing out responses, not memorizing them, but practicing, and if possible, even doing a mock interview. It’s also important to keep in mind that knowing what questions should not be asked in an interview is just important as knowing what questions may be asked. At times job seekers aren’t aware of the fact that there are inappropriate and illegal questions. Therefore it is important to know what these types of questions are and how to respond to these questions in a manner that wouldn’t hinder your chances of getting the job. [Read More]

The most terrifying obstacle for me when I entered the social networking scene was the lack of rules and guidelines.Why was this scary? Because maybe like me, you too had learned at some point that it was for my own good that I separate my business and private life. These two should never mix and if they did, it was a really bad thing! Seriously. Bad. I got this message first from childhood and then later on from school in my marketing classes. Be different in every part of your life. [Read More]

Your resume is the primary branding tool to introduce and position yourself to the professional world. It is, quite simply, the most financially important document you will ever own: when your resume works you work, when it doesn't you don't. Properly executed, a carefully branded resume insures that prospective employers and colleagues see you, as you want to be seen. Short-change the effort you put into your resume and you cheat employment and future success. [Read More]

Your resume is an awesome tool. In your job search, you use your resume for just about everything. Between blindly submitting it to various companies and passing it along to a friend of a friend, your resume goes through a lot. Your paper resume works hard already, but what about your online resume? You pass it out to potential employers, but how else do you use it? Simply having your resume online does wonders for your SEO (search engine optimization) by linking professional keywords to your overall brand. Check out these four nifty online places your resume can live: [Read More]

So you’ve been unemployed for a while now, and you’re tearing your hair out with boredom and frustration. Read our tips on how to stay sane and motivated while looking for that dream job: [Read More]

Most job-seekers like to list skills on their resume. In fact, most experts suggest listing skills on your resume. The problem with simply including a skill set is that the reader has no reason to believe you. You could say that you're an expert in hiring, training, sales management, payroll control, visual presentation, and loss prevention, but that doesn't mean the reader will trust you just because you say it. That's why it's important to back up those statements with proof in the way of accomplishments. [Read More]

It’s scary starting a new job. For some, the first day is preceded by a pitiful night’s sleep leaving the apprehensive newbie groggy rather than laser-focused. And then there are those who leap in in a blaze of glory to prove themselves worthy … and step on toes along the way, which leads to the need for damagecontrol! Is there a better way to start a new job? [Read More]

Does your resume or online profile tell the world all about you? Does it sell your skills? Are you using key words that help it stand out in a search? Have you defined your brand? [Read More]

One of the areas of employment law which remains least predictable is the enforceability of post-employment restrictive covenants. A recent decision of the Alberta Court of Appeal represents another pendulum swing in favour of employees’ interests. The element in question is whether a restrictive covenant can be enforceable after the employee has been wrongfully dismissed by the employer. This question attracts periodic attention and my thinking is that even most employment lawyers and judges aren’t certain of the answer. [Read More]

How do you handle rejection in the job search? Do you need some down-time so that you can recoup your energy in order to refocus your job hunt? Staying motivated to push past the WALL of rejection is hard, but as long distance runners know, a lot of the motivation is mind over matter. [Read More]

"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world."- Philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein So very true. Isn't it remarkable how so few words capture so much meaning? As is my way, I can absolutely relate this quote to career management. How (the question begs to be asked) is the language of your resume working for you? If you've saturated your resume with "provided, assisted, or even managed," might I suggest that you have some work to do? [Read More]

You just landed an interview. You’re excited. You’re nervous. And, your head is full of questions about how to come across as the perfect candidate: What should I wear? What should I say? What are the frequently asked interview questions are they may throw at me? Most of these first questions revolve around marketing yourself to the company and answering the question, “What does an employer expect in an interview?” But, hang on a second. Take a moment and remember, it's also important to use the interview process to answer the most important question of all: Is this the job I want? [Read More]

With increasing regularity, job seekers draft a résumé with an opening “objective statement” section without realizing this can be a turn-off to employers. Objective statements, by definition, are a declaration of what you want out of your next position. Think, “A stable position with room for advancement”. However, employers rarely hire an applicant based on what the applicant wants, but rather based on what the applicant offers. [Read More]

When was the last time you heard someone whine “I’ve sent out 200 resumes and I haven’t gotten one call.” Probably yesterday just before that person started sending out the next 200. It’s odd how people resist analyzing an unproductive job search with hard questions. If you are sending out resumes by the dozens and checking your phone to see if the battery has died, try applying a few questions. Science would be nowhere if scientists insisted on redoing the same experiment 200 times, wishing for a particular result. [Read More]

Who: While portfolios have traditionally been used by creative professionals -- artists, photographers, marketers, advertisers and designers -- the rise of web communication and social media has brought online portfolios into the mainstream. For those looking for their first break or simply aiming to stand out from the crowd, upping the ante on your job search toolbox may make the difference. [Read More]