Survival Job Are you considering taking a survival job? Have you been out of work for over six months? Have your unemployment benefits run out? Are you running out of money to pay the mortgage, or are you going to raid your 401(k) for living expenses? Many are driven to this decision by monetary issues […]
It Is Permissible To Be A Pest In Your Job Search
Being a Pest is not Just Permissible it is Required I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard from the unemployed, I do not want to be a pest. They may get angry with me and reject me. If you want to get the attention of a prospective employer, you may very […]
The Purple Cow Job Description – Should I Apply? [Updated]
Purple Cow Job Description? I guarantee you have read a purple cow job description. It’s one of those that, when you finished reading it, you said to yourself: I am not qualified for this job but…is anyone? They are looking for the purple cow. The ideal candidate does not exist! I am going out on […]
I Want to Be Hired Before I Move Dilemma
I Want to Be Hired Before I Move I live in Austin Texas and over the years I have heard, “I want to be hired before I move.” They do not want to commit to moving here until they secure employment. Austin is the 11th largest city in the United States according to Wikipedia with […]
How to Answer: What is Your Greatest Weakness? [Guest Post]
What is Your Greatest Weakness? So much of the job search process has changed. It can be disconcerting to someone seeking a new job after many years. Fortunately, many of the changes are positive. For example, can’t we all agree that personal statements are much more honest than objectives? Discriminatory questions have been eliminated from […]
How Do I Know That You Know Your Stuff? [Updated]
Know Your Stuff How do others know that you know your stuff? Where are the proof points? Where do you keep examples of your work? It is no longer acceptable to tell prospective employers that you accomplished X or Y—you need to demonstrate it. This is especially true if you are trying to make a pivot […]
Perfect Fit for the Position? Expect to Lose! [Updated]
Perfect Fit for the Position I have heard it over and over about how you are a perfect fit for the position. I hate to tell you that, if you are really a perfect fit for the position, you will almost always lose! WHAT??? Do you actually believe that job description is accurate? If you […]
Evaluating the Job Offer – What is Missing? [Updated]
Evaluating the Job Offer When you get a job offer what is the first thing you look at? The Money! If all you are looking at is the money in the job offer, you may end up very disappointed a few months down the road. I wrote about determining what you want in ‘non-financial’ terms […]
How Long Will My Job Search Take? Longer Than You Think! [Updated]
How Long Will My Job Search Take? I am often asked, “How long will my job search take?” My answer is almost always, “It depends.” I work, primarily, with those in the 2nd half of life—which is code for those over 50 years of age. I tell them that a really short job search is […]