As many of you know by now, I'm a big fan of Twitter and I use it on a regular basis to share musings on the job search process and to build community with my colleagues, friends, and job seekers. But many job seekers are still somewhat perplexed by Twitter and it's value. Enter Marci Reynolds...I r...
Five Things Not to Say to a Job Seeker During the Holiday Season
Everyone wants to help a friend in need. Especially during the holiday season where depression over a job search can be at an all time high. And if you have a friend who is currently in job search, the natural tendency is to try more diligently to help him during this time of year. But before you st...
No Job Search Obstacle is Insurmountable
I was recently reminded of a client that came to me several years ago. When I met him and we discussed his resume, he expressed a concern over his lack of education and how he would be perceived by employers. I assumed he was concerned about not having a college degree. Many of my clients tell me a ...
How to Communicate Difficult Stories on Your Resume
Yesterday was my son's birthday. It is a tradition in our family to tell our kids the story of the day they were born each year on their birthday. And while I've been telling my son this story for the past 13 years, it has always been somewhat sanitized. You see, my son's birth was particularly hair...
Branding Schmanding
The topic of Tiger Woods' tarnished brand is all over the Internet, TV, and print media. And while I understand the commentary I think that the concept of celebrity branding is doomed to fail because celebrity brands often represent attributes that nobody can maintain forever. No one makes the right...
Replace Running Shoes and Resumes Regularly for Optimal Performance
I just bought a pair of new running shoes. You are supposed to replace your running shoes every 300 to 500 miles depending on your running style, weight, and the sneaker. My sneakers had seen at least double that amount of mileage. The tread on both sneakers was worn down so far that I was striking ...
Create a Job Search Strategy With Some Bite
My son is getting braces. In order to prepare for the braces, he first needs to wear a special "appliance" to realign his jaw. When you look in his mouth it looks like he has four giant screws in the back, all in different places. Each time he closes his mouth he must push his jaw forward in order t...
What Your Grandparents Can Teach You About Interviewing
This weekend I attended a workshop on story telling facilitated by a company called Narativ. During the workshop, I learned how to tell a better story and be a better listener. One of the most memorable exercises of the day was when each person in the group was asked to tell a story about one of th...
Job Seekers Are A lot Like 450 Pound Pianos
I'm having a piano delivered to my house. Arranging for a piano delivery is no small feat. Besides making arrangements with the showroom, I had to coordinate the insurance with my apartment building's managing agent and figure out if the piano would fit in my elevator. Delivering a baby seemed to ...
Employer Brands That Suck
A client of mine just had an employment offer rescinded. He was upfront from the beginning about an accommodation that he needed for employment and was told by Human Resources it would not be a problem. The company's legal department thought differently which led to the offer being rescinded. After ...