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An interviewer asks 4 receptionist candidates this question. “We value a calm, quiet reception area so we don’t like the phone to ring constantly. How will you handle this need?”

Candidate #1: “Hire me. I will rip the phone out of the wall. No more ringing.”

Candidate #2: “Hire me. After talking to me, your callers will never phone back. Guaranteed quiet.”

Candidate#3: “Hire me. I’m experienced and will answer all calls within three rings. ”

Candidate #4: “Hire me. I’ll answer your calls quickly because I’m fully trained and experienced with your phone system. I also know its automatic call distribution option, and can help implement it, which will reduce the number of calls coming in. It will be calm and quiet, plus I’ll be more available for direct customer service.”  Read more...

If you’re looking for inspiration to recharge your career, look no farther than Apolo Ohno’s 1500 meter Olympic performance. At 27, an age considered long in the tooth for a speedskater, Ohno not only won a silver medal, he proved he’s just as competitive as his younger rivals.

In the current economy, many seasoned employees are finding their careers plateaued or their job prospects slimming as they face stiff competition in the workplace. Here are four strategies that contributed to Apolo Ohno’s recent success and how you can apply them to your career.

Commit yourself. Ohno purposefully committed to a third Olympics because of his love for the sport, the Vancouver location, and his personal passion for excellence. That commitment fueled his drive forward through good days and bad.  Read more...

We’re one week into the New Year – the time when resolutions can start to fade. If this year you’re absolutely determined to do something about your career, take heart! Avoid becoming a career couch potato with your choice of four creative activities designed to inspire you to keep moving. They’re fun, easy – and they work! Betcha can’t try just one.  Read more...

What do you do when someone asks for help getting a job in your organization? Most people want to help. On the other hand, helping is risky. How do you help someone get a job but protect your own hard-earned political capital?
 
A friend of mine asked me this after her efforts to help a former colleague monumentally backfired. A VP who had been laid off from her previous company contacted her about an open position in her current firm. My friend’s actions to help him turned into a political disaster for her when she passed his resume on to her boss –and her boss was applying for the same position.

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Does your education appear front and center on your resume?

That may not be the best location.

At graduation, students are encouraged to put their education first on their resumes – and that’s good advice.  Education is a new graduate’s strongest asset. 

If you have experience, it’s a different story.  Throughout your career, you’ve developed more assets – skills, accomplishment, capabilities.  Education may no longer be your biggest strength.  It could even be a liability. When that happens - education does not belong at the top of your resume!

Put your Education Where it Best Supports Your Case

Emphasize a strong Education Section by locating it in the top half of your resume’s first page. Putting your Education above the fold gets it noticed by HR and hiring managers.   Read more...

The end of the Great Recession – are we there yet?   Half of our workforce can hardly wait. According to a recent survey by the Adecco Group North America, 54% of employed Americans plan to look for a new job as soon as the economy improves. You too?  That’s a lot of competition – if I were you I’d start now.

I’ve always tended to toward the “Lord helps those who help themselves” approach to things.  So please, help yourself to a few, proven strategies to get ready for when the job market improves:

Become the Ideal Candidate  Read more...