The Value of a Summer Job

It’s the summer of 2009, and I’m looking to land a job. I paint the town with my resume, and even check back with each business a week later. To my distress, however, no jobs become available for a teenager with no prior work experience except doing chores for my parents. Luckily for me, one of my parents’ friends hears that I like clouds (this is a true fact; I think that clouds are quite beautiful). Did I want to work for a meteorology lab? They were looking for new data processors. It was going to be boring work—running programs, and then fixing the programs when they inevitably crashed....

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LinkedIn Networking Tips and Tricks

One of the best resources available today to create a network in your industry is LinkedIn. There are more than 300 million LinkedIn users, and 25 million profiles get viewed every day. And it just keeps growing: on average, 3 people sign up for LinkedIn every second. It’s no wonder, then, that many employers now turn to LinkedIn to search for potential new hires. Having a well-connected LinkedIn profile can open doors for job seekers. However, LinkedIn is a tool and, just like any tool, you have to use it properly in order for it to work well for you. That means getting on regularly, having...

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5 Networking Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Networking is an absolute must in today’s world of work. Your network is often the primary resource to find new opportunities, and being part of a network to someone else is an important aspect of the job search. But I often see people making networking mistakes, sometimes out of ignorance and sometimes out of forgetfulness. Your network is a super important part of your job search, so you want to treat it right. Here are five of the biggest networking mistakes I’ve seen, plus some quick ways to fix them. Neglecting face-to-face networking. The internet is a wonderful tool. It provides...

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Simple Ways to Improve Your Job Search

Job searching is no longer what it once was. Gone are the days when simply placing your resume on a job site would get you found. Opportunities seem few and far between, and most job ads only yield an outcome 5% of the time. Job searching the old fashioned way can be incredibly labor intensive without producing the same results. So instead of sending out the same form resume again and again with nothing to show for it, try implementing the suggestions below to increase your job search results and decrease your stress. Target your resume, and then proofread. Resumes are no longer documents...

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Job Searching Over 45

I have worked with many clients who worry that their age will adversely affect their job prospects. They tell me, “no one wants to hire someone my age,” and this mindset leads them to feel defeated before they’ve even started looking. It is true that we exist in a working culture where age discrimination can and sometimes does happen. But you shouldn’t let that fear stop you from continuing to pursue your career and job interests. Remember: you have a depth of experience and knowledge of your industry and field that younger workers lack. Use that knowledge to identify hiring companies and...

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