This month I want to take it back to the basics with my “Career Boot Camp” blog series. First up, ensure you have your job search fundamentals down!

Over the last few years I’ve seen and heard it all when it comes to the crazy things people have done to get a job, everything from auctioning themselves off on eBay to purchasing online ads boasting their work skills to singing their résumé in a YouTube video, even mailing hiring managers their name and contact information in frosting on top of a gigantic cookie.

I don’t disagree that these are creative ideas, but while sending hiring managers your résumé in a pop up box that explodes glittering stars when opened might get you noticed, it probably won’t get you hired if you haven’t already mastered the job seeking basics. Read the rest of this entry »

A woman recently emailed me and asked the following question, “I have two job opportunities but I’m at a loss as to which one to choose.  Do you have any suggestions that will help me decide what I should do?”  I think at one point or another in our careers, we will all face this dilemma, so I decided to address this topic in a blog. Read the rest of this entry »

It has long been touted that the best way to begin a new career is to earn a college degree. Whether someone is looking to get into a new job or move up in a current one, a higher education can be the key to grabbing an employer’s attention. Those wondering if this claim has any merit need only to ask the thousands of women who have successfully launched their careers thanks in large part to their college education. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the last 18 months I’ve witnessed an increase in the number of my coaching clients who are looking to make a move from working at for-profit companies to non-profit companies.  For some of them, the economic downturn and being laid off of work caused them to pause before jumping back into a similar job.

I was recently contacted by Beth Braccio Hering, who was writing an article for CareerBuilder titled, “Are You Shooting Too Low in Your Job Search?”  She asked me to help her better understand: 1) Why people shoot low in their job searches; 2) The dangers of shooting too low, and; 3) The ways people could ‘upgrade’ their job search.  Beth’s article was published on CareerBuilder.com and obviously hit a hot button with many people because it was subsequently picked up by MSN.com, CNN.com and quite a few other media outlets.

Soon after, I received an email from Ursula Reutin, a reporter at KIRO News wanting to interview me on air about my comments and also for an article on their website, MyNorthwest.com.  Is there a possibility you might be shooting too low in your job search?  Let’s look at each of Beth’s three questions in-depth to help you make sure you’re not off your target. Read the rest of this entry »

In several seminars I’ve conducted, during the Q&A section at the end, the topic of stretching the truth or lying on résumés has come up for discussion.  My feeling has been and always will be, “Never lie on your résumé.”

As a recent Knowledge@Wharton article proclaimed, “Thanks to the Internet and other technological advancements, past misstatements have a much longer shelf life, and embellishments are more vulnerable to being detected.”

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve received a lot of questions lately during seminars and from women emailing me to ask if I think there is a glass ceiling or an invisible barrier beneath the top of the corporate ladder that blocks successful women from achieving the highest rungs.  According to an article in the Harvard Business Review by Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carli, the answer is “No”, however, the sum of many obstacles along the way often hold women back from making it into the C-suite. Read the rest of this entry »

During speaking engagements with female audiences I love to ask them to raise their hands if they use mentors to help them in business.  Years back, almost no one would raise their hands.  Recently, more and more women are raising their hands and I’m ecstatic because I think the message about the importance of using mentors throughout your career is finally getting through to women.  But, in case you don’t already have a mentor, here are a few reasons to consider why you should start cultivating mentor relationships: Read the rest of this entry »

Anger. Frustration. Betrayal. Terror. These are often the first feelings and words that come to mind when you’ve been fired or laid off from your job. The first feeling to occur is usually anger…anger at being let go after working so hard and trying to do a good job.

Then comes frustration…the “why me?” stage of wondering why you were let go. After this often comes feelings of betrayal…”After being a loyal employee and working 10+ years for this company, why would they downsize me?”. Lastly comes the feeling of terror and the realization that you’ll need to start looking for another job, which you haven’t had to do in so long you’re now wondering where you should even start. Does any of this sound familiar?

Read the rest of this entry »

With today’s difficult job market and economy, it’s more important than ever to ensure accuracy and truthfulness on your résumé. Many companies, large and small alike, are realizing that job seekers are exaggerating and often lying on their job applications and résumés because they are desperate to find a job.

However, since the cost of a bad hire can range anywhere from one to five times the salary of the individual, more and more businesses are now using companies, such as HireRight, to help them implement, manage, and control employment screening programs. And beware the job applicant who exaggerates, falsifies their credentials, or outright lies on their résumé! Read the rest of this entry »