In one of my groups on LinkedIn a member asked, “How important is it to post testimonials on the website? It seems to be necessary to some but few feel it’s too much of self-gratification.” I feel testimonials are mission critical to a business website and immediately address the “Why should I hire you?” question potential customers are asking. I thought I’d share my response: Think about it like this, do you ask friends f...

The holidays are fast approaching and that means parties, parties, parties – friends, family, and office parties. A great time to network. Let’s talk first about the “Do’s,” the right things to do during holiday gatherings that improve your brand and build your network: Attend holiday gatherings. I know, you’ve been invited to so many and it can get a bit overwhelming. I encourage you to participate and take an acti...

This year’s Job Action Day is about helping our military transition from a Military Career to a New Career. With broad military experience that typically requires travel for extended periods while on active duty, it can be difficult to maintain a network that will be there for you when you’re ready to transition to a civilian career. Here are some tips to reconnect and rebuild your network: Create a networking pl...

Did you choose your current career or did it choose you? Perhaps you started in banking during college and moved up. Now you are out. Maybe you were recruited by an investment firm during college. Now you are out. While times are tough, you still have a choice. You can choose to whine and complain about the economy and your crappy career situation OR you can choose to take this time to find a career that is ideal f...

“Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ‘em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.” -Theodore Roosevelt Now is the time to take on extra responsibilities on the job and move out of your comfort zone. Here are 10 tips to help you recession-proof your career: 1. Speak up at the next staff meeting. Make a positive contribution to the conversation and share your ideas. Don’t wait until some...

Networking DOES work. Time and again, my clients land positions using their network. BUT, as others have said, it must be done right. “Hey, know anyone who’s hiring?” is NOT networking done right. And this happens to be the way many people start their search. One of my clients, a senior programmer, was unemployed 18 months before meeting with me. (She’d been downsized after 25 years at a company that had been acquired.)...

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years trying to get people interested in you." -- Dale CarnegieGreat advice Carnegie – and a great start for networking. One of the best ways to begin a conversation – and become interested in others - is by asking open-ended questions.What’s an open-ended question? One that cannot be answered by either “yes,” “no” or another...

It's not what you know; it's who you know that gets you hired. We’ve all heard this phrase so many times our ears are bleeding, right? Here are the facts: 61% to 85% of people land new careers through networking. With that in mind, here are 10 secrets to help turn your networking pain into career gain:Know yourself and your personal brand: Are you hip, trendy, and cool? If you are, then the networking group you join should...

Question: My wife and I want to relocate to California. What’s the best way to begin a job search? Answer: While job searching and relocating simultaneously seem daunting tasks, there are several steps you can take to begin your search. First, don’t make a move without having a job in place! Next, you can search for jobs online or at the library. You’ll need to use both to find out more about the city you p...

When I was a recruiter, candidates sometimes called our company a few times a day asking if we found anything yet. Sometimes it was once a day, every day during the week. Interestingly enough, these were for all levels of positions, including high level professional positions (I specialized in placing IT and sales executives). This extreme follow up is annoying and definitely the wrong way. In a recent conversation with an...