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Executive Job Search Advice

Save time. Look good. Get hired.

LinkedIn viewers of this profile

LinkedIn’s Problematic “People Also Viewed” Feature

LinkedIn has a feature called People Also Viewed. What is People Also Viewed? It displays …

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LinkedIn — Privacy & Visibility (6 Posts)
accomplishments for resumes

3 Easy Templates for Resume Accomplishment Statements

Accomplishments for resumes make most people tear their hair out during job searches. However, it …

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Resumes — Accomplishments (3 Posts)
resume keywords

Awesome New Tool for Resume Keywords

Job seekers often ask me, “How do I identify resume keywords?” Until recently, that was …

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Resumes — Keywords (5 Posts)
best linkedin profile

The Top 10 LinkedIn Profile Fields

This morning, I got some compelling insight into the best LinkedIn profiles for job seekers. …

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LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
reason for leaving

Interviews — When Your Boss Is Your Reason for Leaving

One of my resume clients (let’s call them Pat) reported to the CEO of a …

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Interviews — Questions (3 Posts)
LinkedIn Green Dot

The LinkedIn Green Dot — A Job Seeker’s Best Friend in 2021

By now, you’ve probably noticed the LinkedIn green dot on some of your connections’ LinkedIn …

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LinkedIn — Privacy & Visibility (6 Posts)
how to change your name on LinkedIn

How to Change Your Name on LinkedIn & Why You’d Want To

Your name and photograph comprise your personal brand’s foundation online (LinkedIn, social media, etc.). Because …

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LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)LinkedIn — Your Name (3 Posts)
LinkedIn profile photo

How to Find an Awesome Photographer for Your LinkedIn Profile Photo

Hiring a professional photographer for your LinkedIn profile photo can be confusing. A few weeks …

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LinkedIn — Profile Pictures (4 Posts)
LinkedIn Public Profile

Do You Even Need a LinkedIn Public Profile in 2021?

My clients often have questions about the visibility of their LinkedIn profiles. For instance, they …

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LinkedIn — Privacy & Visibility (6 Posts)
add company logo linkedin

Outsmart LinkedIn’s Ugly Tombstone Logo Box

If your profile displays an unattractive gray box next to any of your job titles, …

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LinkedIn — Work Experience (3 Posts)
Resume Education Section

Your Resume’s Education Section in 2021

Many job seekers want to know how to best show their educational background to recruiters …

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LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
bad resume words

10 Most Common Resume Words People Hate

“What’s your least favorite resume word or phrase?” I asked this question on LinkedIn last …

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Resumes — Best & Worst Words (4 Posts)
job search strategy

Use This 10X Job Search Strategy

Every once in a while, a picture comes along that shows a job search strategy …

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Best Job Search Strategies (4 Posts)
lying on resume

The Top 4 Resume Lies

Studies consistently find that lying in resumes is rampant, although it’s hard to know how …

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Resumes — Optimization (1 Post)
common typos auto correct won't catch

Is It Manger or Manager? — How to Customize Word AutoCorrect

Do you know that more than 16.5 million people use the word “manger” on their …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)
LinkedIn Resume Assistant

How to Use & Protect Yourself from LinkedIn Resume Assistant

Launched several years ago, Resume Assistant was one of the first product integrations between LinkedIn …

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LinkedIn — Privacy & Visibility (6 Posts)
non-compete agreement

Ask This Question About Non-Compete Agreements Before Taking Any Job

Non-compete agreements limit your ability to quit jobs and get raises. Would you want to …

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Job Offers (4 Posts)

How to Quit Your Job

You have a new job, or you’re just done (a Fast Company poll says 52% …

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Job Search — Transition to New Job (2 Posts)
Google for Jobs

Google for Jobs — Review

If you’re looking for a job, or just want to be aware of the market …

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Job Search — Tools (4 Posts)
job clubs

Job Clubs: The Top Habit of the Most Successful Job Seekers

This post: Describes what a job club is. Explains how a club can help you …

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Best Job Search Strategies (4 Posts)
tailoring your resume to a job

Do You Really Have to Tailor Your Resume for Every Job?

Conventional wisdom says you MUST tailor your resume to every job you apply for, but …

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Resumes — Keywords (5 Posts)
LinkedIn Job Preferences

A Tool That Doubles Your Visibility on LinkedIn Recruiter

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could send recruiters a signal that you’re open to …

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LinkedIn — SEO (6 Posts)
skills to put on your resume

10 Tools to Identify Skills to Put on Your Resume

If you’re going to rock the job market and get interviews, then you have to …

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Resumes — Keywords (5 Posts)
Social Media Resume

Risks in Using Social Media as Your Resume

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard about your “social media resume,” i.e., what …

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Resumes — Strategies (2 Posts)
job search goal

The Best Job Search Goal to Actually Get a Job

In the realm of possible job search goals, one beats all the others. The Best …

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Best Job Search Strategies (4 Posts)
find company email addresses

3 Easy Ways to Find Company Email Addresses

Have you found recruiters you want to contact, but you can’t find company email addresses …

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Job Search — Tools (4 Posts)
how to find a good recruiter

How To Find a Good Recruiter

Last week, a Twitter friend asked me, “How do I find a recruiter?”  I’ve been …

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Recruiters — Working With (5 Posts)
LinkedIn Background

How to Use Canva to Make a Perfectly Sized, Custom LinkedIn Background Photo

Every person who views your LinkedIn profile sees your background image. Wouldn’t you love to …

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LinkedIn — Profile Details (4 Posts)
Interview research with Google

2 Best Tools for Interview Research

You know company and interview research benefit your job search and career in many ways. …

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Interviews — Preparation (4 Posts)
professional resume

The Top 10 Secrets Your Professional Resume Reveals

As a job seeker, you might not know about the secrets your professional resume reveals …

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Resumes — What Recruiters Want (5 Posts)
ats resume keywords

The Best ATS Keyword Every Time

Smart job seekers use applicant tracking system (ATS) keywords to help recruiters find them in …

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Resumes — Keywords (5 Posts)
LinkedIn Recommendation Generator

Would You Use This Free LinkedIn Recommendation Generator?

A friend just pointed me to a free AI tool you can use as a …

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LinkedIn — Recommendations (2 Posts)
pain letter

How to Ditch Your Pain Letter for an Opportunity Letter

Career advice from Liz Ryan tells you that writing a pain letter to accompany your …

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Cover Letters (6 Posts)
LinkedIn Headline

Your LinkedIn Headline — 10 Tips & Examples to Increase Profile Views

Are you a job seeker? If so, it’s good to know that after recruiters look …

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LinkedIn — SEO (6 Posts)LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
dates on resume

The ATS Doesn’t Care How You Write Dates on Your Resume

I saw a blog post last week about how to write dates on resumes.  It …

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Resumes — Structure & Format (4 Posts)
How to Save LinkedIn Profile as PDF

How to Create a PDF of Your LinkedIn Profile

Do you keep a LinkedIn PDF file with your old profiles?  Have you ever wished …

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LinkedIn — Profile Details (4 Posts)
faze or phase

How to Use Phase and Faze

You’re writing a cover or thank you letter. You mention a challenge and say: “This …

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Cover Letters (6 Posts)
does a resume need a cover letter

Everything About Cover Letters That Matters

Does a resume need a cover letter? It’s a good question. Career experts and writers …

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Cover Letters (6 Posts)
quotes on your resume

Quotes on Your Resume: A Waste of Valuable Real Estate

Last week, a reader found himself quoted without his permission on a former colleague’s resume. …

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Resumes — Strategies (2 Posts)
linkedin visibility

Increase Your Visibility to Recruiters by Following Companies on LinkedIn

Are You Following Companies on LinkedIn?    If you are, I have good news and …

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LinkedIn — SEO (6 Posts)
Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?

Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?

“What is LinkedIn Premium, and is LinkedIn Premium worth it?” Have you ever asked yourself …

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LinkedIn — SEO (6 Posts)LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
resume heat map

A Resume Heat Map Study Shows You Where to Use Bold Font on Your Resume

Resume font choices can be confusing. First, you have to decide on the best font for …

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Resumes — Structure & Format (4 Posts)
Interview thank you email

Interview Thank-You Winner

The interview thank-you stumps many people. Thus, when one of my clients sent me a …

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Interviews — Thank-You Templates (4 Posts)
interview thank you email

Interview Thank-You Email or Letter or Note?

The debate over sending an interview thank-you email, versus a letter or a note, probably …

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Interviews — Thank-You Templates (4 Posts)
skills portion of resume

How Career Writers Unintentionally Mislead Job Seekers

Let’s talk about the Skills portion of your resume. You know, the resume section job …

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Resumes — Keywords (5 Posts)
Three LinkedIn Profile Picture Tips

The Three Best LinkedIn Profile Picture Tips — According to Science

Photofeeler, a Boulder, Colorado startup, researches LinkedIn and other social media profile pictures. Because of …

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LinkedIn — Profile Pictures (4 Posts)LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
accomplishments for resume

Bad Resume Math Loses Jobs

Do you know that the most powerful way to write accomplishments for your resume is …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)
how to connect with the hiring manager

How to Connect to Anyone — But Especially Hiring Managers

Last month, a reader wanted to know how to connect with a hiring manager who …

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Job Search — Networking (4 Posts)
career direction

The 10 Best Resources for a New Career Direction

Has your career stopped working for you? If yes, then use this post to answer …

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Job Search — Tools (4 Posts)

How to Enable LinkedIn Skills Endorsements

LinkedIn loves its Skills & Endorsements, yet few members share their passion. Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn’s …

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LinkedIn — Skills (2 Posts)
LinkedIn Profile Picture Discrimination

Do You Always Have to Use Your Picture on Your LinkedIn Profile?

Have you ever asked yourself, “Does LinkedIn profile picture discrimination exist?” or “Will putting my …

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LinkedIn — Profile Pictures (4 Posts)
What is an Oxford Comma?

The Oxford Comma on Your Resume

“What is an Oxford comma,” you ask?  Take a look at this brief, charming TEDEd …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)
leverage my skills

Are You Using “Leverage” Correctly on Your Resume?

Search Consultant Patricia Duarte and I have been having a Twitter conversation about the use of the …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)

Use the Location Where You Want to Work on Your LinkedIn Profile

Over 11% of working age Americans moved to a new county, state, or country last …

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LinkedIn — SEO (6 Posts)LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
piqued my interest

Why Writing “You Peaked My Interest” Might Lose You Interviews

Cover letters eliminate you from consideration for jobs far more often than they compel your …

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Cover Letters (6 Posts)
how to request recommendation on linkedin

Awesome Request for a LinkedIn Recommendation

If you’ve ever wondered how to request a recommendation on LinkedIn, you’re smart. Testimonials are …

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LinkedIn — Recommendations (2 Posts)
video interview

How to Look Better Than Everyone on Zoom

Do you have a video interview coming up? Zoom? HireVue? Oh, joy. Have you noticed …

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Interviews — Preparation (4 Posts)
Add awards

How to Add Awards on LinkedIn — Photo & Video Style

OK, so maybe you haven’t won an Oscar (yet), but it’s still good to know …

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LinkedIn — Profile Details (4 Posts)
hiring manager viewed my profile

The Hiring Manager Viewed Your LinkedIn Profile — Should You Connect?

A job seeker recently wrote to me because a hiring manager had viewed her LinkedIn …

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LinkedIn — Connections (6 Posts)
job offer rescinded after salary negotiation

You Negotiated Your Job Offer & They Pulled It. Now What?

Should you negotiate your job offer? If you know you won’t take it as presented, …

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Job Offers (4 Posts)
Address on Resume

The Real Reason You Shouldn’t Put Your Address on Your Resume

Address on resume — yes or no? It’s a smart question to ask. Here’s what I …

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Resumes — What Recruiters Want (5 Posts)
executive power words

Executive Resumes — 100 Research Proven Power Words — Infographic

Executive power words. They belong on executive resumes. We know they’re mostly verbs — words …

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Resumes — Best & Worst Words (4 Posts)
how to ask for a reference after being fired

How to Ask for a Reference After Being Fired

If you’ve just been fired, then you might be worried about what type of references …

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Interviews — References (3 Posts)
how to unfriend on linkedin

How to Unfriend Someone on LinkedIn

How do you unfriend someone on LinkedIn? Good question! But first: When Should You Unfriend …

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LinkedIn — Connections (6 Posts)
Abbreviation for Million

How to Abbreviate Million

Don’t abbreviate the word million. Spell it out.  Many people want to abbreviate million, but …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)
Should I Put My Resume on LinkedIn?

Should You Put Your Resume on LinkedIn?

Many people wonder, “Should I put my resume on LinkedIn?” If you’re an active or …

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LinkedIn — Work Experience (3 Posts)
linkedin name

Your Name on LinkedIn — 5 Tips to Increase Profile Views

Your LinkedIn name is the first thing people see about you on the site, whether …

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LinkedIn — Your Name (3 Posts)
resume information

Resume Information Recruiters Want to See — Infographic

Do you ever ask yourself: 1. What should I put on my resume?2. Or, what …

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Resumes — What Recruiters Want (5 Posts)
how to connect with recruiters on linkedin

How to Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn

Earlier this week, one of my resume clients asked me, “Should I connect with recruiters …

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LinkedIn — Connections (6 Posts)LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)Recruiters — Working With (5 Posts)
cover letter resend

I Made a Mistake on My Cover Letter

A reader recently sent me this note: “I made a mistake on my cover letter, …

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Cover Letters (6 Posts)
Interview Thank-You

How to Lose the Job with Your Interview Thank-You

Do you know that your interview thank-you can cost you the job? When I did …

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Interviews — Thank-You Templates (4 Posts)
LinkedIn algorithm

LinkedIn’s Search Algorithm Favors the Employed

My resume and LinkedIn profile clients want recruiters to find them on LinkedIn. Because of …

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LinkedIn — Work Experience (3 Posts)
pay cut

Cover Letters — When You’ll Take a Pay Cut

Recent research found that 58% of people have taken a pay cut for more satisfying …

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Cover Letters (6 Posts)
Recruiter.com

How to Use LinkedIn Groups to Help Recruiters Find You

Many recruiters belong to the Recruiter.com Network group on LinkedIn. While it’s best to be a …

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LinkedIn — SEO (6 Posts)
infographic LinkedIn profile

5 Reasons Recruiters Ignore Your LinkedIn Profile — Infographic

Many job seekers tell me that recruiters ignore their LinkedIn profiles — that they don’t …

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Recruiters — Working With (5 Posts)
creative resumes

Recruiters Don’t Want Creative Resumes

While the media loves to feature stories about creative resumes that land dream jobs for …

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Resumes — What Recruiters Want (5 Posts)
Where do quotation marks go at the end of a sentence?

Where Do Quotation Marks Go?

Do you know where quotation marks go? Poor little things, when they come at the …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)
linkedin skills

LinkedIn Takes Skills & Endorsements Seriously for Search Results

Two weeks ago I wrote a post noting that using a keyword, say 116 times, …

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LinkedIn — Skills (2 Posts)
Best interview Thank-You Letter After Interview

Best Thank-You Letter After an Interview

A few years ago, I received the best thank-you letter after conduting an interview ever. …

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Interviews — Thank-You Templates (4 Posts)
recommended font for resume

5 Reasons Why Calibri is the Best Font for Resumes

Do you want to know if there is a recommended font for resumes? Yes, there …

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Resumes — Fonts (1 Post)
LinkedIn Connection Request

How to Invite 2nd-Level Connections to Your LinkedIn Network

Have you ever wondered, “What do I write in a LinkedIn connection request?” Well, one …

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LinkedIn — Connections (6 Posts)LinkedIn — Top 10 Profile Fields (9 Posts)
contacting recruiters on LinkedIn

How to Contact Recruiters Who View Your LinkedIn Profile

One of my LinkedIn connections sent me this question about contacting recruiters on LinkedIn today: …

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Recruiters — Working With (5 Posts)
how to know if your interview went well

How to Tell If Your Interview Went Well

Have you ever asked your end-of-job-interview questions, received answers, and then switched Zoom off and …

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Interviews — Follow-Up (2 Posts)
business headshot

The Best Business Headshot Tip

Every professional needs a business headshot that conveys their branding. If you’re an art director, you …

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LinkedIn — Profile Pictures (4 Posts)
what do you know about our company

7 Hot Tips for Answering, “What Do You Know About our Company?”

Recent research indicates that how you answer the interview question, “What do you know about …

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Interviews — Preparation (4 Posts)
How many words should a resume be?

How to Size Your Resume to Recruiters’ Needs

I opened a resume file the other night that scared me. It used a tiny …

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Resumes — Structure & Format (4 Posts)
linkedin contact information

The Very Best Places for Your Email Address on LinkedIn

Recruiters spend their lives on LinkedIn looking for people to hire. When they find and …

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LinkedIn — Profile Details (4 Posts)
how to add credentials to LinkedIn

How to Add Credentials to Your Name on LinkedIn

It might make sense for you to add credentials to your name on LinkedIn. If …

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LinkedIn — Your Name (3 Posts)
accepted a job offer

How to Avoid Accepting a Job Offer You’ll Regret — Infographic

Have you ever accepted a job offer, started working, and found that it didn’t turn …

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Interviews — Questions (3 Posts)
questions to ask at the end of an interview

Get to “Yes” with These 5 End-of-Interview Questions

You’ve made it through the interview. You can feel it coming to an end. Now …

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Interviews — Questions (3 Posts)
linkedin profile url

How to Customize Your LinkedIn Profile’s URL [Video]

How ugly is your standard-issue LinkedIn profile URL? Pretty bad. Mine used to look like …

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LinkedIn — Privacy & Visibility (6 Posts)
linkedin anonymous

How to View Profiles in LinkedIn Anonymous Mode

Let’s say you’re curious about the people at a potential employer or competitor, and you …

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LinkedIn — Privacy & Visibility (6 Posts)
interview preparation

2021 Job Interview Preparation with Glassdoor & Reddit

You just scheduled an interview with a company where you want to work. Congratulations! Now …

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Interviews — Preparation (4 Posts)
leadership skills resume

The 5 Best Leadership Skills for Your 2021 Resume

Do you ever ask yourself, “Which leadership skills do companies want to see on my …

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Resumes — Accomplishments (3 Posts)
summary of accomplishments

5 Easy Accomplishment Statements for Your 2021 Resume

If you want your resume to get interviews, then provide a summary of accomplishments for …

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Resumes — Accomplishments (3 Posts)
career network

Scripts for 24 Unique Phone Networking Scenarios

Do you get tongue twisted or terrified when it’s time to call your career network …

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Job Search — Networking (4 Posts)

Why Connecting with Professors on LinkedIn is a Best Career Practice

Have you connected with your professors, especially those in your major, or your graduate program, …

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LinkedIn — Connections (6 Posts)
LinkedIn network

How to Grow Your LinkedIn Network Fast

Are you focused on getting a job? And you don’t have much of a LinkedIn …

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LinkedIn — Connections (6 Posts)
progressively responsible experience

The 3 Least Effective Words on Your Resume

Do you want to know how to turn off a recruiter or hiring manager just …

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Resumes — Best & Worst Words (4 Posts)

The 5 Biggest Reasons Recruiters Ghost Your Resume

Job rejection sucks. This post will help you avoid it. Wouldn’t it be useful to …

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Resumes — What Recruiters Want (5 Posts)
Twitter bio ideas

10 Twitter Bio Ideas — Get Found by Recruiters in 2021

Job hunting? Yes. Resume done? Yes. LinkedIn profile polished? Yes. Facebook profile built? Yes. Now …

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Recruiters — Working With (5 Posts)
how many words in a sentence

How to Write Your Best Resume Ever with Shorter Sentences

How many words in a sentence? It’s a good question that doesn’t get asked often …

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Resumes — Common Errors (7 Posts)
Another word for utilize

What is Another Word for Utilize?

The words you utilize in your resume matter. The words you use on your resume …

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Resumes — Best & Worst Words (4 Posts)
I applied for a job and haven't heard back

3 Tips for the Best Job Application Success

“I applied for a job and haven’t heard back. Now what?” 2-Column Cover Letter First, …

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Job Search — Networking (4 Posts)
employment reference check

4 Reasons Why Employer Check References

If your job interviews go well, the next step in the hiring process is often …

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Interviews — References (3 Posts)
multicultural competench

Multicultural Competence — A 2021 Best Job Skill

There’s a recruiters’ rule of thumb to beware of any candidate who has spent more …

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Job Search — Transition to New Job (2 Posts)
salary requirements

How to Answer Salary History & Expectations Questions

When I recruited, I never asked, “What are your salary requirements?” in an initial conversation. …

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Job Offers (4 Posts)
credentials on resume

How to Place Credentials on Your Resume

Resume credentials confuse many people. Have you earned professional credentials that are: Well-known Respected in …

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Resumes — Structure & Format (4 Posts)
lowball job offer

How to Increase a Lowball Job Offer

What can you do if you receive a lowball job offer you don’t want to …

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Job Offers (4 Posts)
employment references

How to Use Performance Reviews as Quick Job References

Checking employment references can slow a job offer down.  How Do Employers Check References? Employers …

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Interviews — References (3 Posts)
career networking

Why Internal Career Networking is a Best Practice

A recent study found that people with strong career networking skills enjoy greater job satisfaction …

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Job Search — Networking (4 Posts)
gig work

How to Use Gig Work to Win in the Hidden Job Market

Are you part of the collective groan that rolls across the land every time someone …

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Best Job Search Strategies (4 Posts)
after the interview tips

How to Keep Momentum After Your Interview

Bottom line, when you don’t hear back after a job interview, it is because the …

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Interviews — Follow-Up (2 Posts)
Reference USA

How to Use the Reference USA Database to Find a Job in 2021

Reference USA (now Reference Solutions), a 60-million business on-line database, is a big data job …

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Job Search — Tools (4 Posts)
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