As college graduates enter to world of work, employers will be watching them and evaluating their job performance. New employees are expected to accept the culture, fit in and prove that they belong. Employers want new employees to hit the ground running, perform at a high level and impress everyone they work with or encounter. In other words, recent grads must earn their way into the company by making solid contributio...

You know you need to build a professional brand to effectively market yourself in your career. But how do you build awareness of your brand? Branding is one of those things that we like to make really difficult. It doesn’t have to be; it’s actually quite simple. Let’s start with what branding is not. It isn’t: A tagline A logo A website A campaign These are all tactics that you employ...

Kathleen, a grade six teacher wonders whether to accept the promotion to principal. Les, a human resources manager, wants a job that 'excites' him. Recently laid off, Barbara thinks this might be a perfect time to start her own business. Tom, an engineer, wants to try a different field where he can still use his engineering skills. Intuition is a great tool to use in solving varied career and personal challenges. Sigmun...

John resigned and left a couple of weeks ago. It was on good terms, but you recruited John and feel some of the sting. After all, you needed him in that role and went out and got him. He left you hanging - he left for what he considers a better opportunity before spending a year at your company. Free Agent Nation my #$$. What ever happened to working through the bumps? Cue the music from the Godfather... Then, t...

Taking control of what recruiters and hiring authorities find when they search for your name online isn’t just smart — but critical in today’s digital and global job search landscape. So, what have you done to steer your online image the right way? We'll, let's see... #1 You are probably on LinkedIn. Yes? Great. No? #2 You have a Facebook account. Good! Maybe. Be careful with w...

I recently had a very telling conversation. I was speaking with a man at a networking event. Let’s call him David, for the sake of this story. David regaled me with the story of his professional life. He graduated from an Ivy League university in the late 1970s, with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. Upon graduation, he moved to New York to pursue his dream of becoming an accomplished stage actor. As expected,...

The nuts and bolts of job search strategy in some instances have stayed the same for many years. For example, careerists still need … to have a great resume. to have a solid, focused resume cover or introduction letter. to know people who know people. In other instances, job search strategies have metamorphosed. For example, you must … 1. Have more than a resume chronology. Your resume must te...

Preparing for interview questions will give you the edge over other qualified candidates. Although there isn't one correct way to respond to questions, keep the following in mind: 1. Understand what's being asked. Employers want to know about your adaptive skills (meeting deadlines) and personal qualities (dependability, motivation). 2. Answer questions briefly. Present the facts as advantages. 3. Answer the...

Amanda had a great career as a computer programmer that she put on hold to devote time to raise her sons. Now that they're older, she wants to reenter the job market, but she doesn't know where to start! Ihor, who took time out to care for his aging mother, is in a similar position. Thousands of women and men who took time away from work feel the same as Amanda and Ihor. Those who research and plan, do very well...

If you want your sales resume to make the final cut to land you an interview for your dream sales job–whether that is an inside or outside sales or as a hunter or farmer sales representative–it is time to let go of outdated rules. Time for a Sales Resume Makeover Making over your sales resume using updated resume writing best practices will improve your job search results. It will ensure you get past the c...