Do you want to negotiate a salary increase this year but are unsure of how you would justify it? Here are some strategies you can implement now to build a strong case for the raise you want in the future.Document your accomplishments regularly throughout the yearKeep track of all the projects you manage. Upon completion of each assignment, write a note to yourself detailing your contribution and how your efforts helped the...

Do you want to create a more “user friendly” resume to submit to recruiters and hiring authorities? Here are 15 suggestions for composing more compelling and targeted resumes.1. Create a resume headline. Headlines sell newspapers. They can also sell job search candidates. Hiring managers don’t really read resumes, but rather scan them to determine the candidate’s fit for the job. Help make that fit more obvious by creating...

The goal of the interview is to showcase your accomplishments while developing a relationship with the hiring manager. The quality of the relationship hinges on the job seeker’s ability to build credibility for their candidacy and effectively gain the hiring manager’s trust.Despite this, many job seekers continue to “spin” their responses to interview questions. This is often the tact that job seekers take when they are ask...

Do you want to negotiate a salary increase this year but are unsure of how you would justify it? Here are some strategies you can implement now to build a strong case for the raise you want in the future.Document your accomplishments regularly throughout the yearKeep track of all the projects you manage. Upon completion of each assignment, write a note to yourself detailing your contribution and how your efforts helped the...

The self-marketing capsule is a valuable piece of marketing collateral that job seekers need to position themselves effectively during a job search. Whether in a networking context or a job interview, job seekers must always be ready to deliver their personal pitch in an exciting and memorable way. Ultimately, you want to be able to recite a message that is clear, targeted, and easy for anyone to understand. When the capsul...

I love doing research on the Internet and I frequently direct my clients to job relevant resources on the web. But for certain research, you just can’t beat the public library. Some of the best research tools online are fee based, but candidates can gain access to these same resources in book form at their local library. Whether your clients need to search for recruiters, networking leads, or decision makers, the library ca...

When I counsel clients on their job search during the summer months, they often tell me that they plan to put their search on hold because they think that everyone is out of town and no one is hiring during this season.Actually, the summer months can be the best time to step up your search campaign because so many applicants believe this misperception of the market. Consider the following:Fewer people in town could mean mor...

After you find a new position, the relationships you developed during your search may continue to be important to your career. Here are a few suggestions for maintaining a viable network once you conclude your job search.Update contact informationBe sure to send information on your new work location to all those who supported your efforts. This includes all personal contacts, recruiters, and other interested parties. Thank...

The Truth Behind the Open Job Market Most job seekers rely on the open job market which includes job posting boards and help wanted advertisements in local newspapers to source job leads. While it appears on the surface that these search vehicles have an abundant number of job leads, the reality is that very few people secure their positions through these methods of search. Only about 5-10% of people in search find their j...

I don’t want to ask for a favor.Many people think that when you network you are asking someone for a job. But this is not the goal of networking. When you network, you never ask for a job. You ask for information about an industry, company, or position Fear of rejection.Many people fear that if they ask for information the other person might not be willing to talk to them. While it is true that not everyone will agree to me...