References

{Click here to read the original article on Marie Claire.}

It’s canned, not can’t-ed.

In 2008, I got laid off from my first-ever job. I was crushed, to say the least.

I grew up watching Almost Famous, fantasized about moving to New York, and managed to get hired at Rolling Stone, covering my favorite artists (David Bowie, The Eagles, Jay Z). So when my boss called me into his office on a Monday morning to break the news, I remember thinking: How could they be letting me go? I still haven’t interviewed Fergie! (It was 2008, remember?)

Fast-forward eight years, and I now run my own writing business, with a client list that includes Forbes, Food Network, and Dell. I’ve learned a lot of lessons from my fateful layoff, but here are my top five. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on The Muse.}

Hi Kyle,

I’ve given notice at my job, and I’m leaving in six weeks. No one is upset; in fact, everyone is being supportive of my move. The issue is that I’m finding it hard to be motivated and worried that these six weeks are going to drag on. Because I work quite quickly, I’ll have nothing to do for the last few weeks. How do I keep myself going and not give up mentally?

Signed,
Thumb Twiddler Read more

{Click here to read the original article on The Balance.}

How do you choose who to put down as a reference? It’s an important choice you’ll have to make when you’re putting together your job application. One wrong word from a less-than-enthusiastic reference can quickly knock you off an employer’s list of candidates. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on About.com.}

Are you concerned about getting a bad reference from one of your previous employers? A negative or even lukewarm reference can knock a candidate right out of contention for a job. Find out ways to prevent getting a bad reference, and how to tackle bad references when they are unavoidable. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on About.com.}

What’s almost as important as your resume and cover letter, and much more likely to slip your mind during the job search process? A good list of references. (Note that these should be separate from your resume; no need to waste space on that old resume cliché, “References available upon request.”) Read more

{Click here to read the original article on US News & World Report.}

Boost your chances of getting hired for a job you love.

There is one thing you can do that increases your chances of being hired: getting an employee referral. Referred candidates are more likely to get hired, perform better and last longer in jobs. This is why companies, large and small, are investing in referral programs. It makes good business sense for them and for you. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on About.com.}

One of the questions I get asked frequently is “What can an employer say about former employees?” Some job seekers presume that companies can only legally release dates of employment, salary, and your job title. However, that’s not the case. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on Real Simple.}

Have you listed your charity endeavors on your résumé? If not, you probably should. A recent LinkedIn survey found that one in five employers hired someone primarily because of her volunteer service outside the office. “If you’re unemployed, this work shows you’ve been productive,” says John Challenger, the CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement firm. “And if you’re already employed, it supplements the experiences you’ve gained at your job.” Here’s how to put your good work to good use. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on Real Simple.}

You’re thisclose to landing a new gig, and your potential boss has asked for references. You jot down a few names, assuming it’s a formality. Mistake. Those references can make or break you: Approximately two out of three employers said they have changed their mind about a candidate after speaking with a reference, according to a 2012 survey by the job-search site CareerBuilder.com. Read more

{Click here to read the original article on Arleen Bradley Career Coaching.}

I often mention in my posts why it’s important to belong to job search networking groups. That is because I am the founder and facilitator of 2 such groups. For the last 5 years, I have met with job searchers in various stages of their search. The members represent different industries and roles. The thing they all had in common was their job search stress and frustration.

One of the things I urge them to do is to see the positive things in their lives. They are facing many negatives, and it prevents them from seeing anything good. To help them look for the good, I ask each member to say their name, the type of work they are looking for, and one good thing that has happened to them since the last time we met. Read more