Accomplishments for resumes make most people tear their hair out during job searches. However, it …
Awesome New Tool for Resume Keywords
Job seekers often ask me, “How do I identify resume keywords?” Until recently, that was …
The Best LinkedIn Profiles for Job Seekers Rock These 10 Fields
This morning, I got some compelling insight into the best LinkedIn profiles for job seekers. …
Interviews — When Your Boss Is Your Reason for Leaving
One of my resume clients (let’s call him/her Pat) reported to the CEO of a …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Do You Even Need a LinkedIn Public Profile?
You have a LinkedIn profile so people you know and people you don’t know can …
Outsmart LinkedIn’s Ugly Tombstone Logo Box
If your profile displays an unattractive gray box next to any of your job titles, …
Your Resume’s Education Section in 2021
Many job seekers want to know how to best show their educational background to recruiters …
10 Most Common Resume Words People Hate
“What’s your least favorite resume word or phrase?” I asked this question on LinkedIn last …
Use This 10X Job Search Strategy
Every once in a while, a picture comes along that shows a job search strategy …
How to Stop Lying on Your Resume
A recent study found that lying on resumes is rampant. Over 90% of the participants admitted to …
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 …
How to Guard Your Profile Against LinkedIn Resume Assistant
Late last year, Microsoft announced LinkedIn Resume Assistant, a new MS Word feature. It connects …
Do You Need a Success Coach for Your New Job?
Have you ever worked happily for a company for several years then made a job …
Update Your LinkedIn Profile Before Your Salary Review
HiQ Labs, an analytics company, can predict how likely you are to quit your job …
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 …
How to Quit Your Job Gracefully
You have a new job, or you’re just done. You have to figure out how …
Google for Jobs — Review
If you’re looking for a job, let Google make your life easier with Google for …
Job Clubs — The Top Habit of Exceptionally Successful Job Seekers
Research has shown that the most successful job seekers join a job club. These groups …
Have You Bombed This People Skills Test?
Paul Pierotti, a Managing Director at Accenture Digital, recently implemented a quick, smart check on …
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 …
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 hearing about …
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 …
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 …
How to Add Your Interests to Your LinkedIn Profile
A recent study of recruiters found they look at the interests you describe on your LinkedIn …
Top Job Search Metric
I’ve introduced a new series, Donna Svei Reviews, to assess job search tools. This post …
3 Easy Ways to Find Company Email Addresses
Have you found recruiters you want to contact, but you can’t find company email addresses …
10 Types of Annoying Facebook Posts
You’ve read all the advice about locking your Facebook page down so recruiters and HR …
How One Job Seeker Got Her Dream Job
I bet you carry a vision of a dream job in your head. Many people …
How To Find a Good Recruiter
Last week, a Twitter friend asked me, “How do I find a recruiter?” I’ve been …
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 …
Interview Research: Speed It Up with Two Google Tricks
You know company research benefits your job search and career in many ways. For instance, when …
Superior Alternatives to LinkedIn Groups
While LinkedIn Groups still get the most attention for online, professional networking, there is a …
The Top 10 Secrets Your Professional Resume Reveals
As a job seeker, you might not know about the secrets your professional resume reveals …
How to Find the Best Version of a Keyword for Your Resume
Smart job seekers use resume keywords to help recruiters find them in applicant tracking systems and …
How to Decline an Interview
Is your skill set in high demand? If yes, you might find yourself invited to …
Would You Use This Free LinkedIn Recommendation Generator?
A friend just pointed me to a free AI tool you can use as a …
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 …
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 …
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 …
How to Create a PDF of Your LinkedIn Profile
Do you keep a LinkedIn PDF file with your old profiles? Have you ever wished …
How to Use Phase and Faze
You’re writing a cover or thank you letter. You mention a challenge and say: “This …
Everything About Cover Letters That Matters
Does a resume need a cover letter? It’s a good question. Career experts and writers …
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. …
Increase Your Visibility to Recruiters by Following Companies on LinkedIn
Are you following companies on LinkedIn? If you are, I have good news and …
Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
LinkedIn changes its member account offerings, including LinkedIn Premium, about as often as some people …
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 …
A Sample Interview Thank You Email (She Won the Job!)
The interview thank you stumps many people. Thus, when one of my clients sent me an …
Interview Thank You Email or Letter or Note?
The debate over sending an interview thank you email, versus a letter or a note, …
Wave Goodbye to the Useless Resume Skills Section in 2021
Let’s talk about the skills portion of your resume. You know, the resume section …
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 …
Avoid Eating & Interviewing
Job-Hunt.org just published a fabulous, practical guide on optimizing a breakfast, dinner, or lunch job interview. The …
The Four Best Social Media Shares, According to LinkedIn Research
Good news! LinkedIn just completed a study of what professionals around the world like to …
Bad Resume Math Loses Jobs
Do you know that the most powerful way to write accomplishments for your resume is …
How to Connect to Anyone — But Especially Hiring Managers
Last month, a reader asked me how he could use LinkedIn when the hiring managers …
10 Excellent Resources for Finding a New Career Direction
Has your career stopped working for you? Are you stuck in limbo, afraid, or confused …
How To Get the Best Resume Advice
Advice? Opinion? If you’re a job-hunting executive, you’re likely getting crazy-making input on your resume …
Interviews — 8 Big Body Language Mistakes
Your interview body language can make or break your opportunity for a job offer. Thus, …
How to Enable LinkedIn Skills Endorsements
LinkedIn loves its Skills & Endorsements, yet few members share their passion. Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn’s …
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 …
The Oxford Comma on Your Resume
“What is an Oxford comma,” you ask? Take a look at this brief, charming TEDEd …
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 …
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 …
Why Writing “You Peaked My Interest” Might Lose Interviews
Cover letters eliminate you from consideration for jobs far more often than they compel your …
How Resumes Showcase Communications Skills
Have you written a “communications skills resume?” What do I mean by that? I want …
Awesome Request for a LinkedIn Recommendation
If you’ve ever wondered how to request a recommendation on LinkedIn, you’re smart. Testimonials are …
How to Not Look Ugly in Your Video Interview
Do you have a video interview coming up? Slack? Skype? Zoom? FaceTime? Oh, joy. Have you …
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 …
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 …
You Negotiated Your Job Offer & They Pulled It. Now What?
Should you negotiate your job offer? If you know you won’t take it, then yes, …
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 …
Executive Resumes — 100 Research Proven Power Words — Infographic
Executive power words. They belong on executive resumes. We know they’re mostly verbs — words …
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 …
How to Unfriend Someone on LinkedIn
How do you unfriend someone on LinkedIn? But first — when should you unfriend someone …
The Best Email Signature [w/VIDEO]
Why Your Email Signature Matters Sometimes when I blog about job search, I worry that …
How to Abbreviate Million
Don’t abbreviate the word million. Spell it out. Many people want to abbreviate million, but …
Change Your LinkedIn Profile Photo — Get More Interviews
An AvidCareerist reader sent me an intriguing LinkedIn message last week. He had read my …
Find the Hiring Manager with This Free Tool
Get ready to smile because there is a free tool that helps job seekers xray …
Should You Put Your Resume on LinkedIn?
Many people wonder, “Should I put my resume on LinkedIn?” If you’re an active or …
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 …
Resume Information Recruiters Want to See — Infographic
Do you ever ask yourself: 1. What should I put on my resume?2. Or, what …
How to Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn
Earlier this week, one of my resume clients asked me, “Should I connect with recruiters …
I Made a Mistake on My Cover Letter
A reader recently sent me this note: “I made a mistake on my cover letter, …
The Interview Thank You Mistake That Can Cost You the Job Offer
Let’s say that you just wrote a fabulous interview thank you letter, like this one …
LinkedIn’s Search Algorithm Favors the Employed
My resume and LinkedIn profile clients want recruiters to find them on LinkedIn. Because of …
Cover Letters — When You’ll Take a Pay Cut
Recent research found that 58% of people have taken a pay cut for more satisfying …
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 …
5 Reasons Recruiters Ignore Your LinkedIn Profile — Infographic
Many job seekers tell me that recruiters ignore their LinkedIn profiles — that they don’t …
Recruiters Don’t Want Creative Resumes
While the media loves to feature stories about creative resumes that land dream jobs for …
5 Ways Your LinkedIn Profile Helps Recruiters Source Other Candidates
Recruiters are LinkedIn sourcing omnivores. They’ll eat your young to find the best candidates, including …
Where Do Quotation Marks Go?
Do you know where quotation marks go? Poor little things, when they come at the …
LinkedIn Takes Skills & Endorsements Seriously for Search Results
Two weeks ago I wrote a post noting that using a keyword, say 116 times, …
The Best Interview Thank You Letter Ever
Should you or shouldn’t you write a thank you letter after an interview? Or a …
4 Reasons Why Calibri is the Best Font for Resumes
Do you want to know if there is a recommended font for resumes? Yes, there …
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 …
How to Contact Recruiters Who View Your LinkedIn Profile
One of my LinkedIn connections sent me this question about contacting recruiters on LinkedIn today: …
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 …
The Best Business Headshot Tip
Every professional needs a business headshot that conveys their branding. If you’re an art director, you …
6 Hot Tips for Answering, “What Do You Know About our Company?”
Recent research indicates how you answer the interview question, “What do you know about our …
How to Size Your Resume to Recruiters’ Needs
I opened a resume file the other night that scared me. It used a tiny …
The Very Best Places for Your Email Address on LinkedIn
If you read last week’s post about what a mistake it is to omit your …
How to Add Credentials to Your Name on LinkedIn
It might make sense for you to add credentials to your name on LinkedIn. If …
How to Avoid the Biggest LinkedIn Email Mistake
Recruiters spend their lives on LinkedIn looking for people their clients and employers will want …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
2021 Job Interview Preparation with Glassdoor & Reddit
You just scheduled an interview with a company where you want to work. Congratulations! Now …
The 5 Best Leadership Skills for Your 2021 Resume
Do you ever ask yourself, “Which leadership skills do companies want to see on my …
5 Easy Accomplishment Statements for Your 2021 Resume
If you want your resume to get interviews, then provide a summary of accomplishments for …
Scripts for 24 Unique Phone Networking Scenarios
Do you get tongue twisted or terrified when it’s time to call your career network …
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, …
How to Grow Your LinkedIn Network Fast
Are you focused on getting a job? And you don’t have much of a LinkedIn …
The 3 Least Effective Words on Your Resume
Do you want to know how to turn off a recruiter or hiring manager just …
The 5 Biggest Reasons Recruiters Ghost Your Resume
Job rejection sucks. This post will help you avoid it. Wouldn’t it be useful to …
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 …
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 …
What is Another Word for Utilize?
The words you utilize in your resume matter. The words you use on your resume …
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, …
4 Reasons Why Employer Check References
If your job interviews go well, the next step in the hiring process is often …
Multicultural Competence — A 2021 Best Job Skill
There’s a recruiters’ rule of thumb to beware of any candidate who has spent more …
How to Answer Salary History & Expectations Questions
When I recruited, I never asked, “What are your salary requirements?” in an initial conversation. …
How to Place Credentials on Your Resume
Resume credentials confuse many people. Have you earned professional credentials that are: Well-known Respected in …
8 Steps to Increase a Lowball Job Offer
What can you do if you receive a lowball job offer you don’t want to …
How to Use Performance Reviews as Quick Job References
Checking employment references can slow a job offer down. However, you might be able to …
Why Internal Career Networking is a Best Practice
A recent study found that people with strong career networking skills enjoy greater job satisfaction …
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 …
How to Keep Momentum After Your Interview
Bottom line, when you don’t hear back after a job interview, it is because the …
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 …