One of the biggest tricks to being “found” by recruiters is to make your resume and online profile keyword-rich. If you’re a bit baffled by the term, you’re not alone. Keywords can be a source of confusion to the point where they are sometimes just ignored by job seekers. Ignoring them may mean your resume never makes its way to an actual hiring manager.
The 5 Core Competencies of Self-Promotion
Today our guest blogger is Matt Youngquist. Matt is the President of Career Horizons, serving Northwest individuals and organizations dealing with the unique challenges of job hunting and employment transition. Matt is a recognized expert in the field of career coaching, job hunting, and professional employment counseling. You can follow him on Twitter @mattyoungquist.
When it comes to ensuring ongoing career success, the operative word is marketability.
Marketability, not talent alone, is what is separating the big winners from the big losers in today’s world of work. And along these lines, I’ve been espousing an equation for years that will likely bore the dickens out of most people, but that I’m going to share anyway — since it sums up what I’ve learned after having the chance to observe thousands of people succeeding and failing on the front lines of the modern job market. That equation is Q+S=M, which stands for: Read More
Help! I Have No Online Presence!
A job seeker asks “What is online presence and why do I need it to find a job?” In today’s job search, you can have great qualifications and excellent connections, but without online presence, you may be overlooked. Online presence is your value displayed and expressed online. It’s what people find when they search on your name. It’s how recruiters and hiring managers notice your expertise and how you show your value to others in your industry. Read More
When You Don’t Have the Required Years of Experience
Job descriptions often give very specific time requirements for certain skills. Should a job seeker apply even if they don’t have the exact number of years? YES! Read More
Avoiding “Unemployment Discrimination”
Are employers discriminating by refusing to consider unemployed people for open positions? It’s unclear whether this practice is illegal and how widespread it may be. It does happen and it’s important to understand why.
Employers are trying to hire the best and brightest people with the sharpest, most up to date skills. All things being equal, they are likely to favor an applicant with recent experience over one who has been off the job for some time. Read More
Turning Internships into Jobs
Internships are a great way to gain experience in a new career field. Once thought of as just for college students or recent alumni, job seekers of a variety of ages are now taking advantage of internship opportunities. Read More
Preparing Your References
Great references are still very important and can make the difference in whether or not you get that coveted job. Making sure your references are adequately prepared is an important thing you can do to make sure the back end of the job search process goes smoothly. Read More
Improving Communication Skills for Job Search Success
Communication skills are essential to your job search. Being able to speak effectively when networking and interviewing greatly boosts your chances of getting hired. And strong communication skills are equally important once you’re hired. Read More
Little Ways for Jobseekers to Communicate Professionally
For job seekers, every communication counts. Recruiters and hiring managers are measuring you every time you interact and small details matter. Today, some tips on making each communication shine. Read More
Answering “How do You Deal with Conflict?”
Conflict is something we have to deal with on a daily basis. How we handle it is a reflection of the type of professional we are. That’s why the question “How do you handle conflict?” gets asked in interviews. When asked about your ability to deal with conflict, be prepared to explain your overall philosophy and give examples: Read More