Job search tips & strategies

March 23, 2013

The never-ending job search

Kevin Holly held several jobs over the years, ranging from a cashier at an airport gift shop to a cook at a fast-food restaurant, most of them taking place while the 23-year-old went to school part time. In fact, the only constant during Holly's off-and-on college years was constant change.

February 19, 2013

Job contingency plan: Always be prepared to move on

Even the most vital and vibrant health care facility is susceptible to cutbacks, relocation of services or a new owner. Any of these factors could leave employees scrambling to fend for themselves to find a new job.

11:27 AM CST, January 21, 2013

Lunch interview heighens exposure

Experts agree that a job interview over lunch calls for your best behavior — don't mistake the more casual atmosphere as an excuse to let your guard down.

November 7, 2012

Essential apps for the job hunt

Every day, the list of things that you can accomplish with today's smartphones and tablets continues to expand.

10:10 AM CDT, September 17, 2012

Disadvantages and options for job hunters without college degrees

Navigating the job market without a college degree is harder than ever, but there are still plenty of solid jobs to be had, according to a new report.

September 17, 2012

How to handle employer rejection on social media

The sting of rejection is not pleasant, and as a job seeker, you need to be able to deal with the letdown. As easy as it is to find and connect with employers on social media, it is just as easy for them to react in a negative, undesired way.

2:57 PM CDT, September 10, 2012

Down and across: Solving resume puzzle

While there's no silver bullet when writing a resume, there are a few things a job seeker can do to try to make it as close to perfect as possible.

August 25, 2012

Getting your resume to the top of the list

The online job search can be daunting in even the best of times. But today, with the unemployment rate hovering above 8 percent and employers receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for positions, it might feel as though you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting called for an interview.

3:17 PM CDT, August 13, 2012

5 ways to negotiate the best salary for an out-of-state job

While negotiating an acceptable starting salary is critical for every job seeker, workers who are relocating should be especially diligent to ensure that their paycheck will cover their new situation. Before coming to the table, arm yourself by:

May 31, 2012

Focused résumé gets results

What seems more interesting: a laundry list of all the menial daily tasks and functions you performed at each and every job OR well-written, action statements illustrating the impact of your accomplishments?

April 30, 2012

Critical research for career relocation

We recently shared our , and now we’ve put together a post on resources for those who are considering relocation.

March 12, 2011

Jobs are out there, so are scammers

Being out of work is tough enough. Don't be so desperate that you get scammed while job hunting.

February 29, 2012

Make resumes catch the computer's eye

If this is a foreign language to you — "proprietary algorithms," "advanced semantic search," "computational linguistics" and "statistical inference" — keep reading.

February 29, 2012

Jobless discrimination ban gains steam

Recently, a hiring director complained to me that he was aghast at the way a job candidate came dressed for an interview for a financial position. He wore jeans and a mostly unbuttoned, button-down shirt. Even worse, the candidate questioned whether the job hours would force him to sit in traffic to arrive on time. "It was clear that even though he had been out of work for a year, he really didn't want the job," the director said.

February 23, 2012

Should I change jobs?

QUESTION: I'm having trouble deciding whether to change jobs. For a number of years, I have worked for a small local company. I can walk to work and go home for lunch, which is a great lifestyle benefit. The pay is fair, but there is no room for advancement, and the business owners are greedy, arrogant people.

October 7, 2011

JOB POSTINGS THIS WEEK

Indeed.com adds resume search

A new resume search claims more than 42,000 job hunters in Chicago.

September 8, 2011

What hiring managers really want to see

When you're job searching, simply getting the attention of potential employers can be a challenge. Of course, there are always a few tricks to keep employers intrigued, no matter what job you're eager to land. Wondering what hiring managers want to see? Here, job-search experts weigh in on what makes job applicants irresistible:

10:30 AM CDT, August 25, 2011

Human connections guide social networks

It might be time to write those recommendations your LinkedIn contacts have been requesting. It's the right thing to do.

2:06 PM CDT, May 20, 2011

What makes a good reference letter?

How does a job seeker help strengthen his or her credentials as a person of substance?

March 29, 2011

Office Hours

Lights! Cameras! Job interview!

One of my husband's students recently interviewed for a TV journalism job several states away.