Thank You for Wanting to Work in the USA

I decided to write this article because I am presently conducting an IT-related search.  Because of my LinkedIn presence (28,500 first degree contacts and growing), when I announce a search I receive applications from around the world.  That delights me.  But every so often unqualified candidates can’t take “no” for an answer.  They want to… [Read more…]

10 Signs a Boss May Not be for You

Times are tough and people need jobs, but you don’t want to exchange one set of problems with another by signing up with someone for whom you will not want to work. Of course, there are no absolutes and there can be a logical and good explanation for everything, but here are ten things to… [Read more…]

The Two Great Job Search Anomalies

As we enter a new year, it may be worthwhile to confront two job search realities that most people either don’t know about or ignore.  I call them “the two great job search anomalies.” The first anomaly is that your job search is not about you.  You are incidental to the process.  You do not… [Read more…]

The Great Anomoly or A New Year’s Resolution for Job Seekers

Here’s the thing.  As a good job seeker you sit down and work very hard on your collaterals – your marketing materials.  Specifically, your cover letter and resume.  Some of you may even have paid someone to prepare them for you, albeit under your supervision.   They are important documents – the equivalent of the company… [Read more…]

The One Interview Mistake You Are Making That Could Cost You a Job

Nothing new here: differentiation is the key to getting a job.  No matter who you are you will have scores, perhaps hundreds, of competitors.  You have to differentiate yourself.  As I have written elsewhere, you have to grab the attention of the recipient who is tired of reading boring misleading cover letters and resumes. It’s… [Read more…]

Collecting Business Cards is NOT Networking

Believe me.  I understand the frustration.  You have been unemployed for a considerable period of time.  You are having trouble making ends meet.  You are trying your best.  You know that the vast majority – over 70%! – of job openings are not publicized but are filled through networking.  And you network.  Boy do you… [Read more…]

How to Hire Your First Employee

There’s an old adage, “Hire slowly; fire quickly.”  It’s good advice.  Here’s another piece of advice: Don’t use a recruiter.  True, a recruiter will do 90% of the work for you, hold your hand for the remaining 10%, and give you a guarantee. But in making your first hire, learning under fire is a rite… [Read more…]

The Length of a Resume Does NOT Matter

I repeat, the length of a resume does NOT matter.  I write this because I am tired of reading blog postings on the subject and receiving resumes from candidates who have been told that it is a capital offense for a resume to be longer than one or two pages.  Style over substance?  Unbelievable! Let’s… [Read more…]

Occupy Wall Street – Maybe History Holds the Answer?

Who owns your LinkedIn and Outlook contact lists?

I just read an article on Forbes that has gotten me thinking.  Basically, the article reports that a UK court ruled that a company owns the LinkedIn contacts of a former employee who used the contacts to steal clients from the company.   If you read the article, you’ll see that the facts of the case… [Read more…]