Job Search Advice Articles - Master Interviews - Write Cover Letters - Write Resumes

Researching & Planning Your Job Search / Writing Resumes / Writing Cover Letters / Interview Types / Prepare for the Interview / Making a Great Impression During the Interview / Interview Questions & Answers / Illegal/Questionable Interview Questions / Overcome Objections During the Interview / Questions You Can Ask During an Interview / After the Interview / Negotiating Job Offer Salary & Other Details / Reference & Background Checks /
"I just want to thank you so very much for such an incredible publication....Because of your publication, I was able to land the job of my dreams. At almost 50 years of age, I was extremely nervous to even attempt the job search process, thinking that "at my age, who is going to hire me?" I was stuck in a very dead end job for 5 years and only stayed because of the great benefits and salary. Because the agency I worked for was funded by the state, as the state budget kept getting cut, so did my salary, hours, and benefits. I had not been in the legal field for over eight years and did not think there was any way possible I would be able to do so again. I knew that is really where I wanted to be, so I followed your resume writing tips, job search ideas, etc. and here I am --- an administrative assistant to 2 partners. Every day I walk in the door I am treated like gold! This is not just a "job" for me, but a career where I truly look forward to being each and every day. Have a great day and once again, thank you so much for helping to change my life in such a positive direction." Sherry Lynn Adam Administrative Assistant Digital Resources: Need help with resumes, cover letters and interview strategies? Resume & Cover Letter Help: Real Resumes for Administrative Support, Office & Secretarial Jobs Interview Help: Interview Questions and Answers
	Researching & Planning Your Job Search The Organized Job Search - An expert in organizational and time management matters explains why and how to organize your schedule, your workspace and your contacts during and prior to the job search. Conduct an Informational Interview - An informational interview can be very enlightening in your job search. You may learn about job expectations and duties, salaries and key people in the industry or at that company. An expert tells you what is an informational interview and how to conduct one. Avoiding 10 Deadly Interview Mistakes? - Prepare for your next job interview by knowing about these 10 job interview mistakes you could make---so you don't! Writing Resumes The Interviewable Resume - If your resume doesn't get you called for an interview, it's useless in your job search. Learn how to write a resume that stands out from the other 300 resumes in the employer's "to read" pile. Three Steps to Writing Your Own Resume - You can hire someone to help you write your resume. Or you can write your own resume. If you choose to write your own resume, follow this expert advice so it looks professional and gets you the interview because it's a "strong" resume and not just "okay". Writing Cover Letters Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters - A strategically written cover letter increases your chances of being interviewed and lets you highlight your individuality. Here's how to add substance to your cover letter. The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter - Cover letters can win job interviews. But not if you don't know how to write a persuasive, targeted, and commercial-like cover letter. Read onward to learn how to do just that with this expert's step-by-step advice. Interview Types Job Interviews: Succeeding With Panel Interviews - These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of three-to-six interviewers. Panel interviews are beneficial for the employer, but they can also be beneficial for the job seeker. Here's how to make the most of them... Mastering the Lunch Interview - Doing lunch with an interviewer or prospective boss is not the same as doing lunch with a friend. Here is how to do the lunch interview with a job recruiter the right way. Tips for Terrific Telephone Interviews - Here's how to prepare for a phone interview so that it leads to an in-person job interview. 10 Steps to Getting the Most Out of Job Fairs - Can you get the job of your dreams at a job fair? Maybe. As with any job interview opportunity though, you need to prepare. Do research ahead of time, prepare and bring resumes, dress appropriately and much more. Here are the details. Making a Great Impression During the Interview Interview Skills That Attract Offers - An interviewer’s mission is to assess your qualifications compared to the other candidates. Asking you questions is their way of accomplishing that mission. Preparing meaningful responses in advance is your way of impressing the interviewer. Here's how to attract offers. The Likeability Factor – Do You Have It? - Making a good first impression during the interview process is vital to getting the job. Would you give someone a job based on their resume skills if you met them and they made a terrible first impression? Could you take that chance that they'd be different on the job? Read onward to learn how to fine-tune your likeability traits during the interview. More Companies Using Job Interview Phone Screening - Human resource directors and job recruiters use telephone interviews as screening tools to save time and money. The interviewer asks key questions that determine whether or not it's worthwhile to pursue you further as a candidate. Be prepared for that phone ring. Job Interviews: Plan Your Appearance to Make a Great First Impression - Learn how to dress for a job interview so you make a good first impression and so you don't do anything to harm your chances at getting the job. Don't just be yourself. Appearances do count. Interview Questions & Answers So, Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself? - It's a question that most interviewees expect and the one they have the most difficulty answering. Since interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your candidacy, you should be prepared to answer this question right. Follow the four easy steps outlined here. The Inevitable Job Interview Question: Why Did You Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position? - This is a question that you can almost count on being asked at your next interview. The answer you give could set the tone for the rest of the interview. Learn how to answer it so that you make a strong impression in a good way. What Is Your Greatest Weakness? - What is your greatest weakness? It's a question you're sure to hear in the interview. Only it might be phrased differently. Learn how so and how to respond to questions about your weak side. Why Should we Hire you? - Have a good reason or a unique reason; otherwise, why shouldn't the boss hire the next candidate or the one before you. Here is some help in answering this question. Questions You Can Ask During an Interview Now, Do You Have Any Questions?- During a job interview, make sure you ask questions. And make sure those are the right questions. The way you approach the Q&A session will have a direct impact on the interviewer’s perception of you. Here are a few things you might like to ask your prospective employer. Interview Questions: How To Stump The Interviewer - Job interviews are two-way streets when it comes to questions. Be prepared to answer questions with answers you've thought out before the interview. Also be prepared to ask questions you've contemplated before the interview. If the employer answers your questions wrong, you may not want this job offer. How to Ask for the Job - If you're in a tight competition for a new job, at least one thing can make you stand out as the better candidate. That one thing is if you ask for the job and your "opponent" doesn't. Learn how to speak up properly to make the ask for the job. It could be the deciding factor in who gets the job. Job Interview Success System If you want to master the secrets to acing any interview and winning a new job whenever you want, then spend 5 minutes reading this eye-opening report. Prepare for the Interview Six Factors That Can Cost You the Interview/Job - There are lots of little mistakes that can prevent you from getting an interview or job. But you can prevent these simple mistakes with preparation. Here are six mistakes that you don't want to make. How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews - Anticipate questions, prepare answers and practice responding. You can't anticipate every question word-for-word that an interviewer will ask you. But you can prepare background materials/answers to use in answering any question. Overcome Objections During the Interview Job Interviews -- The Four Worst Objections You’ll Face and How to Deal with Them - Expect tough questions and objections during interviews. Just plan ahead to deal with them. Here are four common ones you may encounter and how to deal with them. How to Overcome Being "Overqualified" - Before you pull out your hair or insult the interviewer who says you're overqualified for the job, do more research on the phrase. Here's what employers are really trying to say plus ways to proactively tackle the overqualified issue in the interview. Illegal/Questionable Interview Questions Illegal Interview Questions - Be Prepared - Illegal interview questions sometimes happen during a job interview. Find out what they are, why they happen and what you should do about answering the question if you're put in such a situation. "Hey, You Can't Ask Me That!" - An employer's questions must be related to the job for which you are applying. But that doesn't mean that you will never be asked inappropriate questions, inadvertently or on purpose. Learn if and how you should answer an inappropriate interview question. After the Interview Evaluating Job Offers -- Eleven Warning Signs You Must Watch Out For - Moving into a new job always involves some degree of uncertainty. One or more of these eleven warning signs, if present, may spell trouble. Job Interviews -- How to Follow Up Effectively - Post-interview follow-up can be a factor in whether or not you get the job for which you interviewed, especially if the competition is close. Here's what to do after the interview. Waiting For the Official Job Offer - Many job seekers are offered the position by the interviewer and they never hear from HR or it takes months before a firm offer is made. But there are steps that you can take as a job seeker to minimize your risk of being strung along by an employer. Negotiating Job Offer Salary & Other Details 10 Keys to Getting Paid What You are Worth - Negotiating salary once a job offer has been made is expected and adds to your credibility. Learn why you should negotiate salary and how to do it right. Smart Salary Negotiation Tips - Eleven commandments for smart negotiating. Salary negotiation is a learned skill. Learn it before you get that job offer so you can use it to your advantage. Negotiate Better Job Offers with This Twelve-Point Checklist - Do you think the job offer you just received could have been better? Here are twelve points that can help you negotiate better job offers. Reference & Background Checks If You're Fired, Will Past Employers Keep Your Secret? - Can your previous employer tell a prospective employer that you were fired? Can he comment extensively on what a great job you did (or didn't do)? Are Your References Ready? - Find out how many job references you need, who they should be and what you should tell them. The Background on Background Checks - More companies are conducting background checks on potential employees than ever before. Find out why, whether they have to notify you or not and what types of background checks companies do. Plus prepare for them.