Hi dear readers. Every once in a while I like to check in to see if you have any questions for me. Or any comments you want to share about job search or the job market in particular.

While I can’t guarantee I have the perfect answer, I’d be happy to spend some time trying to come up with a response that may at least help. Or add comfort.

Not only is the job market more difficult to deal with than ever, but the result may be that you’re staying in a job far longer than you’d ideally want.

Please let me know in the comment section below if there’s anything on your mind about this or any career topic, even if just to let it out. And feel free to remain anonymous. 🙂

Wishing you all well and the best holiday season possible!

Are you blaming yourself because you didn’t get a second interview? Or maybe it’s the stupid company that doesn’t know real talent when they see it. Of course the latter may be true, but there’s a bit more to the job search and hiring picture.

When a company calls you in it’s because they saw something in your resume and, if there was one, your screening phone interview. So they are already interested in you and what you potentially have to offer their company.

If that makes it sound like you blew the first in-person interview by not getting a second one, that’s not my point at all. You might have left the room and had them all agree they liked you. But that doesn’t mean they felt you were right for the job — even if you did nothing especially wrong.

So who does get a second interview?

Since jobseekers who get called in for a first interview have the basic qualifications for the job, a second interview is pretty much about three basic things: [Read more…]

A case can be made that using LinkedIn for job search is more important than ever. Especially nowadays as getting your resume noticed becomes more and more difficult. For that reason alone (though not the only reason), most job search experts would insist on you creating a LinkedIn profile.

But, as I google around, I see many job seekers frustrated by LinkedIn. Rather than seeing it as the much-touted ally in finding jobs and connecting with people, they say they’re disappointed by the results. And some say, having tried it for a while, they prefer not to use it at all.

Upside of LinkedIn to find a job

Some helpful things LinkedIn can do for you: [Read more…]

You’re not imagining things.  It is harder. At least for most people. Finding a good job was always a challenge. But now so many things can get in the way of a successful job search. And that even holds true for highly qualified job seekers.

So what gets in the way?

Years ago the job search process was pretty cut and dry. You see an ad. You send in your resume. And someone gets back to you about an interview. Or you get a polite “sorry but…” letter. And if you sent out enough resumes, odds are you’d at least get an interview or two.

But that was many years ago — before [Read more…]

Being willing to relocate for a job can open up exciting new job possibilities. And maybe even shake you out of a career and / or life rut. But there are also things you need to think about before you take the leap!

I speak from personal experience having made the leap myself once. Not only was it a job working for an organization I was proud to be part of, but it was in San Francisco — a city I loved visiting. What could go wrong?

What went wrong

I had reached a crossroads in my career life and was willing to relocate if no job I wanted magically appeared where I was. And a longshot job in San Francisco with a great organization contacted me for an interview. It was pretty exciting.

Meanwhile, I did have a job offer where I lived [Read more…]

First, I hope none of this stops you from applying for a position you really want. Especially one you believe you can handle. Let the employer decide you’re not right for the job — unless you’re clearly not even a close match. Just give it your best shot.

As I’ve learned in the past, you can be missing “requirements” and still find a way in. Though admittedly things have become harder now with so much of the initial resume screening being automated. But even that isn’t always a dead end.

⇒  I Don’t Meet Job Requirements. Should I Still Try?

What’s “not right for job” to an employer?

Some employers make hiring criteria so precise (inflexible) odds are they’re a lost cause if you don’t have it all. And if you rely on simply waiting for job postings online and follow the standard application route, again the screening system may never let your resume get seen by anyone human. [Read more…]

As the new year approaches, maybe you’re thinking of putting “get a new job” on your new year’s resolutions list. You wouldn’t be alone. But before saying goodbye to a job, you should probably do at least a few things in advance. While a good motivator, don’t let frustration be your sole guiding force!

Of course, you could simply jump in hit-or-miss while still working. Or wait until you leave your job to begin formulating a plan. But when it comes to finding a new job, preparation can help you hit the ground running — and strengthen your chances. Maybe even open up hidden opportunities.

Before saying goodbye to a job

[Read more…]

Yes. There is a hidden job market. But many people never look beyond job board listings for their job search. Problem is they may be missing out on the majority of available — or soon available — jobs. And they are competing against everyone else who sees the same listings.

Nowadays you just can’t rely on the obvious to find a good job. While it can happen, why not give yourself a better chance at finding something you really want? And maybe save yourself many extra months of job search agony.

What is the hidden job market?

[Read more…]

What if your interview goes well and yet the company turns you down? Can you still go back to them later and try again for another job at the same place? Or even that exact same job if it gets reposted??

Of course, the interview may not have gone as well as you think. So maybe even thinking about trying again at some point is a waste of your time.  The thing is, there’s really no way to know for sure unless you can get some feedback from your interviewer. But there are some clues [Read more…]

If you’re just beginning a new job search, odds are there are things you don’t know about the process that could help. And even some things you think you know may not be exactly right in today’s job market.

I recently spoke with a friend who hadn’t searched for a job in many years. And I realized how much those of us in the job search business think is common knowledge — yet is not part of the knowledge base for otherwise intelligent, educated folks.

So I put together a list of things that I think would be useful for any job seeker to know. But especially someone new to the process — or rusty after many years. While some of these may seem obvious at first, I’m betting there are at least one or two tips here that can help get you to a job you want!

Beginning job search “must knows”

[Read more…]