Maybe it’s a function of getting older and wiser, or maybe I’m just less interested in monkeying around these days, but I’m finding that being direct with people is better than beating around the bush. When someone invites me to dinner at a place I can’t stand I no longer offer excuses about my heavy […]
Wearing Your Values on Your Sleeve
I was talking with a college career counselor the other day and learned something I think will be useful to me: Tact. She was describing a common occurrence on her exuberantly Christian campus, which was a student’s penchant for ending job search letters with a religious sentiment. In this case, the student was saying something […]
Sticking It Out vs. Switching It Up In Your Career
Have you noticed how much hype there is about starting a new year? Clean slate! Fresh start! Say goodbye to all your faults and hello to the slimmer, richer, smarter you! It would be easy to sneer at all this thinly-veiled optimism but I, for one, believe the hype and buy in with my whole […]
How to Stop Talking Too Much
Why, why, why do we do it? Why do we open our mouths, insert one or both feet and continue talking? What makes us talk too much, say the wrong things and then keep talking in a desperate attempt to distract attention from whatever awful thing we just said? More to the point, why do […]
How To Make More Money
Not all job hunters are unemployed or even unhappy in their chosen professions. Some, and you might be one of them, are simply interested in finding a more lucrative position. Maybe your job today doesn’t allow you to easily make ends meet. Maybe you’d like to save up for important expenses, like college educations for […]
Could Your Credit Prevent You from being Hired?
In this economy, every open position is extremely competitive. Did you know that a poor credit score could actually be the deciding factor between you and another candidate? It isn’t illegal to check credit scores as part of the hiring process. Employers do have to stick to Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rules, though. The […]
How to Apply for Jobs via Email
These days, more and more companies are asking applicants to use email, rather than mailing a resume and cover letter. Some employers even have online forms, so you simply fill in the boxes to apply. But what if you’re just asked to submit your application to an email address? It’s one of the most commonly […]
What is Work Ethic?
I’ve been thinking about work ethic lately and what it means to different people. When I lead workshops on combating age bias, middle-aged workers almost invariably raise the subject of work ethic. As in: We have it and younger workers don’t. And yet, I sometimes hear young managers complain about duffers who sit around waiting […]