Tag: employment

Networking Conversations Part Three: Keeping the Conversation Going

For many of us, the most challenging parts of the networking conversation are getting it started and steering it through the middle. If you’ve gotten it this far, the end should be easy! But beware; you don’t want to drop the ball at this point, because the end of the conversation is actually the beginning of the networking relationship. It’s important you end strong, and with the promise of ongoing connection. Read More

Making the Most of the August Slowdown

Many job seekers notice a slowdown in openings, interviews, and hires during the warm weeks of August. Hiring managers and recruiters may be on vacation and it can feel like not much is happening. If you’ve noticed this, don’t let it discourage you and do not put your job search on hold. Read More

Avoiding Pre-Interview Faux Pas

Imagine this: A friend is picking you up for an outing, but shows up 20 minutes early. You’re not ready. Maybe you’re busy with something else. But your friend has arrived and you feel compelled to drop everything and rush to get ready. That’s how an interviewer feels if you show up 20 minutes early for an interview. Showing up way too early is just one of a number of pre-interview “ooops” that are easy to avoid. Read More

Answering “What’s Your Biggest Weakness?”

Hiring managers love the question “What’s your biggest weakness?” because it tells them at least three different things about you:

  1. Are you self-aware?
  2. Are you honest?
  3. Is your “flaw” something they can live with?

If you answer “I work too hard for my own good” or “I’m my own worst critic,” you don’t show honesty or self-awareness and you don’t give the interviewer a clue about whether your flaw will work OK with the job they need to get done.  So it’s important you give an honest answer, one that shows you know yourself, are addressing your weakness and have no problem so big it will interfere with your work. Read More

Why You Need a Job Search Strategy

Job seekers often remark about the vast number of resumes they are sending out and the limited response.  Or, they tell me they go to many networking events yet they haven’t generated results.  The problem is that while sending out resumes or going to networking events is part of a job search, activity without a strategy will not generate success. Measuring a job search by number of resumes sent out or events attended leads to a false sense of productivity coupled with an increasing sense of frustration. Read More