Welcome to Work To The Wise job search, interview, and career change resource center. Job search (whether in your current field or a brand new one) is one of the most confusing, obstacle-filled processes I’ve ever encountered. Luckily, there are practical ways to improve your chances of getting to the kind of job or career you really want!
Our aim is to help you identify and deal with obstacles that might get in the way — from the employer side as well as obstacles you may not realize you’re contributing to the search. And to help you figure out the best way to get to your goals — with practical tips to better navigate (and hopefully demystify) the job search and career change process.
Job Search Advice & Tips
No one tip or piece of advice will help everyone in all cases. Oh how wonderful if we had that magic formula. But there are things you can do to improve your chances of getting an interview and then actually getting selected for the job.
And at the top of that list is prepare by knowing as much as you can about the job, the company, and yourself. Here are some posts to help you get ready:
12 Bits of “Insider” Info For Beginning a New Job Search
I Don’t Meet Job Requirements. Should I Still Try?
Is Your Online Reputation Hurting Your Job Search?
Will Volunteering During Job Search Get You a Job?
Help! I Want to Return to My Previous Career
So Many Mistakes! How Do I Start My Career Over?
Career Goals: Put Small Steps to Work on Big Goals!
No Time or Money To Improve Skills or Volunteer!
What’s Stopping You from Leaving a Bad Job?
Please Don’t Job Search Using Company Email!
12 Key Qualities You Should Look For In a Job
What Is an Elevator Pitch for Job Search?
Is Job Search Fear Stopping You From Even Looking?
10 Two-Letter Words To Motivate Yourself
What Are Transferable Skills?
Job Search Blues: Will I EVER Find a Job?
Job Interviews: What If the Job Doesn’t Exist?
8 Most Frustrating Parts of Job Search (Tips to Help)
What Is Structural Unemployment?
What Is Career Transition?
15 Job Search Tips To Help You Get a Job
What Is an Unlisted Job?
Resume Employment Gaps? How To Get That Job!
Should You Use Your IRA Money If You’re Out of Work?
Saying Goodbye To Your Job (Without a New Job)
Is It OK To Quit a Job After One Day?
When Is Work Forward Facing or Client Facing?
What Are Informational Interviews?
What Is Age Discrimination in Employment?
Do You Judge a Company By the Job Hiring Process?
⇒ EXTRA: Want To Career Coach Yourself? How To Get You Started
Job Interview Help
If you dread the interview process, you are definitely not alone. Being judged during a limited window of time for a job that could change your life is a stressful event. Even interviewers (like me) find it difficult, since a wrong decision can effect everyone.
Here are some job search resource center posts to help you lower the stress level for yourself. And, as a result, help your interviewer find the match they’re looking for. While not every job is right for you, it’s a wonderful feeling when both of you feel that “aha!” moment.
BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW…
How To Mentally Prepare for a Job Interview
12 Things You Need To Know BEFORE a Job Interview
Job Interview Nerves? Tips for Before, During & After
5 “Secrets” If You’re Worrying About a Job Interview
What Is Being Overqualified for a Job?
What Is a Behavioral Interview?
DURING A JOB INTERVIEW…
18 Practical Tips to Help You Ace Your Job Interview
15 Things I Look for When I Interview People
Are You Trash Talking Former Employers in Job Interviews?
Why Do I Get So Nervous During a Job Interview?
Help! I’ve Got Job Interview Brain Freeze
Positive Thinking in Interviews: Does It Work?
15 Interview Tips To Help Give Your Best Interview!
5 Interview Skills To Help Connect the “Hire Me” Dots
⇒ EXTRA: 10 Impressions You Leave After an Interview
AFTER THE INTERVIEW…
How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well
Good Interview Yet STILL No Response From Job!
Why Does It Take So Long After Your Interview?
After the Job Interview: Why Haven’t They Called Me Yet?
12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview
Stuck in the Waiting Game After 2nd Interview
They Reposted the Job. Should I Kiss It Good-Bye?
I Messed Up My Job Interview – What Can I Do?
Does a Bad Interview Mean I Won’t Get the Job?
After an Interview: Weekly Follow Up Calls and Emails
How Often Should I Call an Employer After My Interview?
Is It OK To Ask For Feedback After a Job Interview?
So What Really Happens After a Job Interview?
10 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job Offer
Got an Offer. But It’s Not The Job Offer I Want!
Help! My Salary Offer Is Less Than We Discussed
⇒ EXTRA: What Are the Basic Hiring Process Steps?
THANK YOU NOTES…
Should You Send a Post-Interview Thank You? [Sample]
Job Rejected You? Sample Rejection “Thank You” Note
Interview Nerves: Should I Apologize for Nerves in My Thank You Letter?
Did I Screw Up My Job Interview Thank You Letter?
PHONE INTERVIEWS…
Please Help Me Handle My Phone Interview!
What Is a Phone Screener?
Answering Job Interview Questions
There is no one way to answer a question. I’ve interviewed people and been interviewed — lots of times for both. When candidates come in with prepared answers and spit them out, they come off as robotic. And it certainly doesn’t help us get a real feel for who they are –and who they would be if they join the company.
Your main job is to listen carefully, answer what they really ask (or close enough), and help them see a person they want to work with and can turn to to get things done. Some posts to help with your interview:
Where Do You See Yourself Five Years from Now?
Job Interviews: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
Job Interviews: What’s Your Greatest Weakness?
How To Handle Tell Me A Little About Yourself
Job Interview: How To Handle “What Do You Want To Ask Us?”
Interview Question: How Do You Handle Failure?
How NOT to Handle the Biggest Weakness Question
Do You Talk Too Much In Job Interviews?
Interview Question: How Does This Job Fit Your Goals?
Job Interviews: How Do I Interview After Being Fired?
Fired for Reading Patient Records. How Do I Interview?
How Do I Explain Dropping Out of Law School?
Interview Question: So Why Do You Want THIS Job?
Job Interviews: Biggest Challenge You’ve Overcome
Answering “Why You Left Your Job” When You Quit
Reason for Leaving Job After 15 Years
⇒ EXTRA: 25 “Crazy” Interview Questions They Might Ask You!
About Those References
In a job (or even when we volunteer), we are creating potential references all the time. And they really do matter when a company is down to their final candidates. Some job search resource center articles to help you (also see networking articles in next section):
Job References: Sample Reference Page (with Notes)
What Does It Mean If a Job Is Checking Your References?
Job References: What If Former Bosses Don’t Work There Any More
What Types of Questions Do Reference Checkers Ask?
Former Boss Gave Me a Bad Reference. What Can I Do?
When Job References Matter (and When They Don’t)
They Want Supervisor References. Are These OK?
Why You Should CALL Your References
Build Those Networking Connections!
Now more than ever networking is your golden ticket to a new job — especially one you truly want. Like references, we are building potential networking connections all the time. And not just when needed.
The best networking connections are created over time — and go in both directions. So the best time to start building them is NOW.
Some posts to help:
Start Building Networking Connections That Last
Why Networking Matters So Darn Much
8 Ways To Lose a Potential Networking Contact
Networking Stories: Networking Can Happen Anywhere!
What Is LinkedIn & How Can It Help Me?
What Is Networking or Social Networking?
Resume Advice for Job Seekers
Your resume is a quick picture of who you are. It needs to be strong and clear enough to catch a screener’s attention in just a few seconds. While no one can put all of who they are on a page or two, you can figure out how to grab a potential employer’s attention by helping them easily find the “perfect” match.
Here are some job search resource center articles (more to come) to help you create a resume that gets noticed — and selected for an interview:
10 Resume Writing Tips for Stronger Resumes!
10 Things I Look for When I Screen Resumes and Cover Letters
How Is a Job Application Different from a Resume?
What Is a Targeted Resume or Cover Letter?
10 Steps To Match Your Resume to the Job
21 Resume Checklist Tips: Did You Forget Anything?
Problem With Fake Jobs On Resumes (Usually)
Resume Fonts: Beware Tiny Font Size on Resumes!
Sample Cover Letter: Match Cover Letters to EACH Job!
Why Employers Ask Such Stupid Job Application Questions
Why AI Resume Scanners Miss Out On Good Candidates
What Exactly Is Branding for Job Search or Career?
What’s a Resume Screener?
What are Automated Resume Screeners?
Cover Letter Basics: What Goes Into a Strong Cover Letter?
Bad Cover Letter: What Not To Say in a Cover Letter
Can Cookie-Cutter Form Cover Letters Get You Interviews?
Using Keywords and Keyword Phrases on Resumes
Why a Resume Gets Rejected — Even Good Ones!
Career change
Sometimes we find the career we love right away. And sometimes it even finds us. But for most of us, there comes a point where we start to question if there is something better for us out there.
Some articles to help you think about careers and career change:
Career 101: What Is a Career?
What Is Career Change?
Career Change Fear: How To Move Past the Fear
Daring To Imagine a Different Life!
Dreaming of a New Job Where the Grass Is Greener?
What If You Never Find Your Dream Job?
Career Goals: Put Small Steps to Work on Big Goals!
Niche Careers: Creating a Career Niche for Yourself
The Non-Linear Path to Happiness at Work
What Makes a Job Good?
Start Building Networking Connections That Last!
Interested in working with a career coach?
If so, click here.
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