Do you know who will actually make the decision about hiring you or not? The answer to this question is a vital part of good interview preparation. Who is the decision-maker, and what is that person’s job? It might seem to be an obvious question, but sometimes people don’t realize that, so they don’t ask … Continued
Have you ever done an inventory of the accomplishments in your life? An accomplishment is something notable that you have successfully completed. They can be both personal and professional, big and small, be recognized by other people, or just something you know about yourself. Moreover, they can be used to boost your resume and get … Continued
I’ve written a lot about first interviews, particularly about how to prepare for them. But what about the second interview? When you’ve passed your first interview with flying colors, you might wonder what the second interview will be like. My advice is that you need to be equally prepared and fully understand the purpose of … Continued
Have you ever left an interview with a feeling that something was not quite right? For the last 20 years, starting as a recruiter and now as a coach and resume writer, I have coached hundreds of people to get ready for their interviews, and then heard back with stories about what happened. These stories … Continued
It would be lovely if everyone had a stable financial situation that would not get in the way of things like looking for a new job. But that is just not true. A family’s financial matters can quickly become a big problem if they are, for example, faced with overwhelming medical bills. This situation can … Continued
Have you ever left an interview with a bad taste in your mouth because it seemed more like an interrogation? What was the general attitude of the person interviewing you? Was anything specific said that made you feel defensive or uneasy? An example might be questions asked about a gap in your employment. Well, there … Continued
There is a real mix of cultures here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of the people living in the area were born and raised in another country. This mix of cultures can sometimes result in different types of “proper” etiquette, putting people unexpectedly at odds, even in professional situations. In my time as … Continued
I recently had the good fortune of taking a week-long paddlewheel steamboat river cruise down the Mississippi River from Memphis to New Orleans. Needless to say, it was both fun and very interesting! Now, every cruise ship has someone whose job it is to sell future cruises to the passengers. They always give big incentives … Continued
As an interview coach, I’ve had many people contact me because they took a job that did not turn out to be at all what they expected. They are questioning their decision to accept the position, and don’t know quite what is wrong or what to do about it. The first thing I ask is … Continued
How much do you worry about your look before you have a job interview? Over my 20 years as an interview coach, I’ve helped people face countless issues. I’ve given them advice about questions they might be asked, or how to best highlight things in the resume, or simply talking to them about their insecurities. … Continued
