I recently went to a retirement party with my husband for one of his co-workers. I worked at this same place six years ago (that’s where I met my husband, but that’s another story), so I knew most of the people at the party.

One person I didn’t know (I’ll call her Jill but that’s not her real name) was talking about how bored she is in her current job. She’s been with the agency for about three months and is doing administrative work. Continue reading →

Years after Disneyland was built, after the completion of Walt Disney World, the story goes that someone went up to Mike Vance, Creative Director for Walt Disney Studios and said, “Isn’t it too bad Walt Disney didn’t live to see this?” Without pausing, he replied, “But he did see it, that’s why it’s here.” Continue reading →

Telephone interviews are becoming more popular these days. Whether that’s good or bad depends on how you handle them!

Sometimes telephone interviews are used as a pre-screening technique for all candidates. Other times they are reserved for candidates who live far away. Continue reading →

You’ve heard the expression that some people see the glass as half full while others perceive the same glass to be half empty? Yesterday I had the opportunity to see this difference in perception in action.
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My father and I drove to the airport to pick up my some family members visiting from Florida. It was 100 degrees and muggy. “Knowing” there wouldn’t be any parking spaces close to the terminal, my father was inclined to head directly to the back lot where we’d be sure to find a space. Continue reading →

These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of three-to-six interviewers.

A “team approach” to finding the best candidate can be beneficial for the employer. Each member brings a different set of skills, experience and judgment to the team, and can point out pros (and cons) about a candidate that the other interviewers might miss. Continue reading →

Sometimes a hiring process will include having lunch with the hiring manager. Despite anything said to the contrary (like “It’ll just be an informal lunch so we can get to know each other.”), this is a formal part of your interview! Continue reading →

Many interview guides advise candidates to answer the common “What’s your greatest weakness?” question with a positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, “I tend to expect others to work as hard as I do,” or “I’m a perfectionist.” Continue reading →

When you’re looking to get hired or get promoted, what do you think is your most important asset? Your experience? Knowledge? Skill? Talent?

While all of those are advantages that will help you achieve your goals, there’s one thing that’s more important than all of them combined. Continue reading →

This year we are experiencing the most dynamic and rapidly changing economy in all of history except for next year, and the year after, and the rest of our working lives. The days of being able to get a college education, then get a good job for life, which will give you financial security and retirement are gone forever. Continue reading →

You’re a scientist, you’re very well educated, you’re intelligent, and so writing your own résumé should be easy, correct? I mean, how hard could it be? Especially if you have written your own thesis or dissertation in the past, you may feel that you can save the $300 bucks (or however much it costs, even if it is a tax deduction!) and simply do it yourself. The answer to this may surprise you? Continue reading →