Job Search Tips – Talent Market

Talent Tip #168: What My Favorite Christmas Vacation Scenes Teach Us About Career Moves

December 19, 2024

My Christmas season isn’t complete without at least one viewing of Christmas Vacation. Clark taking a chainsaw to the newel post is a perfect metaphor for most of my holiday misadventures.

And it turns out that my favorite scenes provide some good lessons for job seekers. Just trust me on this.

Do some planning before you start your job search.
I love the classic scene of the Griswolds kicking off the fun, old-fashioned family Christmas by heading out into…

Talent Tip #163: Dating and Side Hustles: It’s Complicated Part I

July 23, 2024

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but side hustles are having a moment.

An increasing number of jobseekers these days have or are considering side hustles in addition to full-time jobs. The proliferation of virtual work has provided fertile ground for budding entrepreneurs to take on more than one opportunity.

And we’re noticing that both job seekers and hiring managers aren’t entirely sure how to navigate these uncharted waters.

If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I think there…

Talent Tip #158: Lessons From the Roller Coaster: A Job Seeker’s Advice for Job Seekers

November 20, 2023

Bailey Drouant

Is it just me or does job hunting feel like a roller coaster ride?

It takes you from the build-up of painstakingly updating your resume and meticulously tailoring cover letters, to the anxiety-inducing anticipation of interviews, to the lows of getting the dreaded “we went in another direction” email, to the highs of getting a coveted job offer. Whew. There’s a reason people throw up on roller coasters, ya know.

Not too long ago, I…

Talent Tip #100: Your Resumé: A Chance to Tell a Clear, Logical Story About Your Career

February 20, 2018

First of all, can you believe this is our 100th Talent Tip? I wanted to arrange a confetti drop for everyone, but logistics proved to be a challenge. On the occasion of our 100th Talent Tip, I thought we would cover one of our favorite topics — resumés!

I look at dozens of resumés each day. What never ceases to amaze me is how daggum confusing many of them are. I usually think, “How hard is it to put together a…

Talent Tip # 99: Want to Be Fashionable? Stop Wearing Fanny Packs (And Stop Asking Candidates for Salary History)

January 23, 2018

If you follow fashion, you know that off-the-shoulder necklines, fanny packs, and male rompers are going out of style in 2018.

If you are like me (fashionably clueless), you are surprised to learn that fanny packs had even staged a comeback (once in style was too much, amirite?). And you are even more surprised to learn that male rompers are even a thing. (Apparently they are nicknamed “RompHims.” Get it? Instead of “Romp-Hers.” I wish you could see the look…

Talent Tip #98: What NOT to Wear To an Interview

December 26, 2017

As you may recall, last month’s Talent Tip was about topics to avoid during your interviews with candidates. One astute reader suggested that it would be useful to flip the script and address about what candidates shouldn’t wear to interviews. Thanks for the idea, Meg!

Let’s face it: interviewing is tough.

You don’t know what challenging questions will be thrown at you. You aren’t sure how you’ll stack up against the competition. You’re worried about having sweaty palms. And you…

Talent Tip #97: For the Love of Lawsuits: What NOT to Ask Candidates During Interviews

November 14, 2017

As you know, I love to compare interviewing to dating. The similarities are plentiful. It’s all about getting to know someone well enough to determine whether you want to spend the foreseeable future with him.

When I was single, my father offered this sage dating advice:

“On your first date, make sure to ask if the guy is on any drugs — prescribed or illicit. The answer will provide insight about his health and his nefarious activities! Also,…

Talent Tip #96: How to Get Your Groove Back – Part Deux

October 17, 2017

Last month we talked about why employees lose their hustle. Specifically, we covered three of the six most common reasons people tell me they have fallen out of their groove – lack of challenge, not feeling financially rewarded, and geographic mobility. This month we are covering the other three reasons (which will make last month’s reasons seem like child’s play!) and the big-picture take-aways about how to regain your hustle.

1. Organization dysfunction
Every once in a while…

Talent Tip #95: How to Get Your Groove Back – Part One

October 2, 2017

At the State Policy Network Annual Meeting earlier this month, I had the privilege of being on a panel that discussed why we lose our hustle, including lessons on resilience, strength, and creating a career that lasts. In case you missed it (which was a big mistake because we served Prosecco….and the panel started at 3!), I thought I would share some of the key take-aways with you here.

You start a new job bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, excited to wake…

Talent Tip #94: Burning Bridges and Lessons from Peter Gibbons

August 22, 2017

Have you ever wanted to tell your boss to take a long walk off a short cliff or post something incendiary on social media about your former employer? Have you daydreamed of walking out of the office for a lunch break never to return? Did the movie Office Space strike a chord with you?

We’ve all been there. You’re so frustrated that you’re tempted to burn a bridge.

I’ve witnessed the destruction of many-a-bridge in my career, and they all…

Tag: Job Search Tips