Preparing for interview questions does not require memorizing answers to the most popular inquiries. Instead, job seekers need to focus on what they offer as it relates to what the employer wants. Deciding What You Offer Before every interview, ask yourself: “Why am I a good fit for this job?” I tell my clients to post the question, “Why should we hire you?” on their bathroom mirror, refrigerator or anyplace they will see i...

Are you sick of hearing about how important it is to tap your network to earn referrals and jobs? You hear it from your friends, your career coach, and when you pick up a book about how to find a job. If you're spending all of your time pushing out resumes to apply for positions, you're missing a crucial piece of a successful job hunter's strategy. Today, networking opportunities abound and come in many forms: both online (...

I’m sure many of us have been guilty of just taking a job because it was available, or because the pay was better than another job that may have been more suitable to our goals. What should you think about when it’s time to look for a job? Especially if it’s a part-time job or internship? These were some questions writer Emily Driscoll asked me for a post she was writing for Fox Business. Here is the information I shared wi...

Are you running around with a virtual J (for job seeker) on your forehead? Think about it: If you’re looking for a new opportunity and stopping everyone you know to ask if they’ve heard of any open positions for you (because you “can do anything!”), you may be wearing this imaginary tattoo without realizing it. And the truth is, it’s not doing you much good. To your credit, career coaches have always alleged that networking...

You've probably heard that candidates referred by friends are much more likely to be hired. Statistics regarding how many employers fill jobs via their networks vary, but some toss around numbers as high as 80 percent. No matter the exact figures, no one doubts that networking helps job seekers. There are many ways for job seekers to expand the numbers of people who know, like, and trust them and who may be willing to serve...

If your interviewer asks you a question that is out of the world, how should you reply? Most employers don¡¯t ask crazy interview questions like these, but it¡¯s a good idea to prepare for how you¡¯d address them, just in case. These strategies will help you answer any oddball interview question. 1. Never question the value of the inquiry itself. If you say, ¡°What does this have to do with the job?¡± you might as well get...

“If you were to get rid of one state in the U.S., which would it be and why?” What would you say if an interviewer asked you such an off-the-wall question? Forrester Research asked this of a candidate for a research associate position; it’s No. 1 on Glassdoor.com’s list of “Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions for 2013.” Glassdoor compiled these questions from the tens of thousands of interview questions job candidates shared...

The drum is beating for a new job in 2013. It’s up to you to make it happen, and it’s not as hard as you may think. Simple steps make all the difference, especially when it comes to successful interviews. Avoid these killer interview mistakes and you’ll be that much closer to a new job. 1. Don’t prepare what to wear. This is a bigger mistake than you may realize. When you reach into your closet to select your interview atti...

One of the most important factors you probably aren't considering in your job hunt is how important it is to influence what people you do not know think of you. What? You need to worry about people you don't know? Absolutely—it's probably the most overlooked job-search step you aren't doing anything about. Of course, there is a catch: your goal is to increase the number of people who know, like, and trust you. You should id...

One thing that hasn't changed with the new calendar: If you want a new job, you're going to have to take some action to get one. The sit-back-and-wait technique is low-impact, but usually doesn't yield results. If you're hoping for a new job in the new year, make sure you keep the following in mind:You need to know what you offer. It's a cliché to say, "If you don't know what you offer, no one else will know it either," but...