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 New Best Friend
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 Even Want To
Your name and photograph provide the bedrock foundation of your personal brand online (LinkedIn, social …
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, …
What Recruiters Want to Know About Your Education
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 …
LinkedIn’s New Strategy to Make Skills Endorsements Meaningful
LinkedIn loves its Skills & Endorsements feature. Its strategy is to use members’ input to …
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 over 600,000 people use the word “manger” on their LinkedIn profiles? …
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 …
To Make More Money, Create an Internal Network
Recent research has found that building internal networks and staying in touch with former colleagues …
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 if I could offer any advice on how …
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 …
Choose Your Resume Font to Optimize Reader Experience
In late 2015, the Google logo font changed from a serif to a sans serif …
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 …
Unusual & Effective Advice for the Stalled Job Seeker
Has your job search stopped? Are you frustrated or worse? If it helps to know, …
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 …
65% of Successful Job Seekers Use Email to Thank Interviewers
You don’t have to send a hand-written thank you note after the interview to land …
Your Cover Letter — Write an Opportunity Letter, Not a Pain 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 …
Do You Confuse Phase and Faze?
You’re writing a cover letter or a thank you letter. You mention a challenge and …
Does a Resume Need a Cover Letter?
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 …
The Interview Thank You Email vs. Letter vs. Note
The debate over an interview thank you email, versus a letter or note, probably started …
Wave Goodbye to the Useless Resume Skills Section
Do you have a “Skills” section on your resume? You know, the resume section some …
The Three Best LinkedIn Profile Picture Tips — According to Science
Photofeeler, a Boulder, Colorado startup, conducts research on LinkedIn and other social media profile pictures. …
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 You 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 after a hiring manager viewed her LinkedIn profile. …
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
Most of my resume and LinkedIn profile clients want to know how to connect with …
Focus When Copying & Pasting Your 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
A recent survey found that 68% of Americans would take 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 …
Self-Awareness Tests — Whom Do You Discriminate Against?
LinkedIn profile photos can open the door to explicit and implicit discrimination. Some examples of …
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 to See 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 …
10 Tips to Get a Grip on Confusing Homonyms — Infographic
Have you ever wished for a sweet grammar infographic that would give you easy-to-understand tips on using …
How to Vet Recruiters Before Sharing Your Resume
Recruiters are taking a sad trashing in some of the comments on a post I …
Resume — PDF or Word DOC?
Resume — PDF or Word Doc? I love this debate. When writing a resume and …
10 Ways Recruiters Check Your Background
A recent SHRM survey found that most companies conduct some sort of reference or background …
3 Reasons Calibri is the Recommended Font for Resumes
Do you want to know if there is a recommended font for resumes? Yes, there …
How to Invite Second-Level Connections to Your LinkedIn Network
One of my readers made a comment about a LinkedIn connection request on my blog …
Should You 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 walked out wondering, “How …
The Ultimate Secret to the Best LinkedIn Profile Picture
Every professional needs a business headshot that conveys their branding message. If you’re an art director, …
Interview Impressions: Are You a Boss or a Leader?
In all the executive searches I did (over 400), I never had a client say, …
“What Do You Know About Our Company?” How to Ace this Popular Interview Question.
“Tell me, what do you know about our company?” If you can answer that interview …
How Many Pages Should Your Resume Be? — According to Research
I opened a resume file the other night that scared me. It used a tiny …
MOOC Your Way to a Better Career
The MOOC acronym is an easy way to say “massively open online courses.” MOOCs now …
LinkedIn Contact Info — Two Places to Feature Your Email Address
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 Linked. If …
The Big LinkedIn Email Mistake You’re Probably Making
People called sourcers spend their lives on LinkedIn looking for people their clients and employers …
How to Make Recruiters Click on Your LinkedIn Profile
Companies use LinkedIn to source active and passive candidates for their searches. Thus, it’s important …
12 Things You Wish You’d Known Before You Took the Job — Infographic
Have you ever accepted a job offer, started working, and found that it didn’t turn …
Resume Fontroversy — What’s the Best Choice?
There’s nothing like a good resume fontroversy. So, to stir things up, I decided to …
Your Resume & The Psychology of Fonts — Infographic
A recent AvidCareerist post on resume fonts shared an infographic about serif and sans serif fonts …
5 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview
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 …
How to Choose a Font for Your Resume — Infographic
I just came across a good explanation of how to choose a serif or sans …
How to View Profiles in LinkedIn Anonymous Mode
Let’s say you’re curious about the people at a potential employer, or at a competitor, …
No-Brainer Job Interview Prep with Glassdoor
You just scheduled a job interview. Congratulations! You want to ace it. What’s your first …
Top 5 Leadership Skills to Showcase on Your Resume
Do you ever ask yourself, “Which leadership skills do companies want to see on my …
How to Reverse Engineer Your Job Search for Speed
Researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University and TTG Consultants offered a fresh twist on a fast job …
Five Easy Accomplishment Statements for Your Resume
If you want your resume to get interviews, then provide a summary of accomplishments for …
No-Brainer Phone Networking: 24 Scripts
Do you get tongue twisted or terrified when it’s time to call your career network …
How to Meet People in Real Life via LinkedIn
Last week a new LinkedIn connection, who I don’t know in real life, sent me …
Have You Connected with Your Professors on LinkedIn?
Have you connected with your professors, especially those in your major, or your graduate program, …
Three Tips to Quickly Start Your LinkedIn Network
Focused on getting a job? What, no LinkedIn network? Relax, that’s not unusual. StacyZapar, the …
The Three Least Effective Words on Your Resume
Do you want to know how to turn off a recruiter or hiring manager just …
The Top 5 Reasons Recruiters Ghost Your Resume — According to Research
Job rejection hurts (this post will help you avoid it). Wouldn’t it be helpful to …
How to Identify a Job’s Key Deliverables Before You Apply
Recruiters and hiring managers want to hire people who are willing and able to do …
9 Twitter Bio Ideas to Help Recruiters Find You
Job hunting? Yes. Resume done? Yes. LinkedIn profile polished? Yes. Now it’s time for Twitter …
Improve Your Readers’ Experience with Shorter Sentences
How many words in a sentence? It’s a good question that doesn’t get asked often …
Another Word for Utilize — Or Is It Utilise?
The words you utilize in your resume matter. The words you use on your resume …
No Response on a Job Application — Do This
“I applied for a job and haven’t heard back. Now what?” Two-Column Cover Letter First, …
The Top 10 Reference Questions — According to Research
Do you ever wonder which reference questions your future employer plans to ask about you …
The Top 4 Reasons for Employment Reference Checks — According to Research
If your job interviews go well, the next step beyond the interview process is often …
Multicultural Competence — A Must Have 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 — Example
When I recruited, I never asked people, “What are your salary requirements?” in an initial …
How to Place Credentials on Your Resume
Have you earned professional credentials that are well known, respected in your field, and relevant …
9 Easy Steps to Negotiating a Lowball Job Offer
What can you do if you receive a lowball job offer you don’t want to …
Quick Employment References — Your Performance Reviews
Checking employment references can slow a job search and a hiring process down. However, you …
Internal Career Networking Boosts Your Income — per Research
A recent study showed that people with strong career networking skills enjoy greater job satisfaction …
Use Gig Work to Access the Hidden Job Market
Are you part of the collective groan that rolls across the land every time someone …
Why Taking Control of Your Interview Is a Bad Idea
Most advice counsels job seekers to take control of their interviews. Sadly, this can be an …
5 After-the-Interview Tips — When You Haven’t Heard Back
Bottom line, when you don’t hear back after a job interview, it is because the …
Why Reference USA Will Help You Find Your Next Job
Reference USA, a 44-million business on-line database, is a big data job search dream. Big …