Tag: Job Searching

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Resumé Red Flags and How to Avoid / Address Them

Red flags are an indication of possible danger. When the temperature is hot with low humidity and the winds are high, red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service to indicate a high probability of raging wildfires. Hurricane warnings are indicated by a red flag with a black square in the middle of it. In the 1700’s red flags were first used as to indicate floods.

So, what does that have to do with resumés? Everything, it turns out!

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Timing Your Job Search

They say timing is everything. For example, you could walk into a company and fill out an application on the same day that they post a job fitting your qualifications. Unfortunately, it could also be the day that they have already extended an offer to another candidate for your perfect job. It is important to time your job search strategically, and know the best when to apply for a posted job.
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How to “sneak” your way into a job

There really isn’t a way to sneak into a job, per se. There are no squatters’ rights for breaking into the CEO’s office and staking your claim. Hacking into the payroll system and adding yourself in as an employee is also a risky option. The best way to “sneak” into a job is by simply employing the method of talking to people and asking lots of questions. Socrates was right, at least until he drank that poison.

Allow me to give you a real-world example.
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Don’t write a “Pain Letter” write a Cover Letter…the right way

Forbes and other job searching advice website are really kean on writing what they call “Pain Letters” in place of cover letters. I am going to tell you exactly why a Pain Letter will inflict you the pain of not getting an interview and why they are a pain for the Hiring Managers who have to read them. Then I am going to show you a much more effective method for writing Cover Letters that will substantially increase your chances of securing an interview.
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The Top 10 Job Searching Mistakes and How to Avoid Making Them

I love the first verse to Queen’s We Are The Champions. That first verse is all about perseverance towards attaining a goal, which is in this case, a Championship. However, pay attention to lines 5 and 6 of verse 1:


“I’ve paid my dues
Time after time
I’ve done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I’ve made a few”

“Bad mistakes, I’ve made a few.” One can conclude that if the Champions have made bad mistakes, then everyone is going to make mistakes, which means by extension, you are going to make mistakes in your job search. So what are the most egregious mistakes and how can you avoid making them?
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Evaluating Job Postings – Finding good companies and good jobs

You can tell a lot about a job from a job posting. After all, the job posting is the first impression you will have about a prospective employer. Many employers post many different types of ads, and depending what kind of company you want to work for, this can be a criterion for narrowing down which ones are worth pursuing…or not. Continue reading “Evaluating Job Postings – Finding good companies and good jobs”

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Building a slick, effective and professional resumé that will get you interviewed

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of schools of thought on what constitutes a strong and effective resumé. You could submit your current resumé to 100 different employment agencies and recruiters and ask them what they would change and would probably get no less than 200 variations on how you should revise it.

A resumé is an advertisement, and an advertisement by definition is a request to accept offers. As far as advertisements go, you can have a slick professional and technically adept presentation that highlights the benefits of a product or you can be this guy. I recommend leaning towards the first option.

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Who NOT To Use When Listing References

References are one of those “checking the box” exercises that is mundane for employers as they expect to hear people say delightful things about you. There isn’t much to be gained, but there is much to be lost. Reference checks can usually only go 2 directions: (1) A desire to hire on the part of the employer to extending an offer or (2) A desire to hire, to a sigh a relief and a “holy shit did we just dodge a bullet!” moment.
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The Experience Conundrum – Overcoming Inexperience in a Job Search

It seems like a paradox. You are applying for a job that requires 1-2 years’ experience. You have zero years of work experience, which is less than 2 years or even 1. Meanwhile, it seems everywhere you look, everyone is requiring experience. So how the hell can you be expected to get experience when everywhere is requiring….experience?!?
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