Job Hunting

Know in ten minutes what takes others hours to learn, and keep up with the latest trends in the industry.
In this summary you will learn:

What prospective employers will ask you
What you should answer and ask in return
How to avoid common job interview mistakes

Why you should read Acing the Interview
You got fired. How do you handle [...]

Looking for a better job? Or any job? Start by looking at Andy Lester’s new book, Land the Tech Job You Love.
It’s tougher than ever to get that great job. Companies are more demanding and your competition is smart, tech-savvy, and resourceful. You’ve got the right skills for the job, but you also need the [...]

As you begin to develop your list of potential references you should consider the responsibilities of the job that you are applying for and think about the people you know that are in a position to provide information that will be helpful to you in your quest for the job. There is no point in [...]

It is possible that one of your references may provide a negative job reference. This may happen because you did not prepare the people on your reference list about the requirements of the position or the reference did not write a letter that outlined your strengths that applied to this job. You need to be [...]

Before you agree to be a reference for a colleague or friend it is important that you consider what you would say if you are asked to provide a reference. If you have reservations about your ability to write a positive reference then you should decline or at least explain why you have reservations. However, [...]

You will have asked the permission to include the names of your references before including them on the list. If it possible you should advise the people on the list about the details of the position that you are applying for and what skills and experiences that are necessary or preferred for the job. This [...]

Selecting the people to include on your list of references when you are applying for a new job is probably as important as writing a good resume.
Employers may not contact all of the people on your list of references, but they will probably contact one or two. Before you prepared your resume you examined [...]

When you are preparing to apply for a new position it is important to write or update your resume. Your letter of application and your resume are your first introduction to the potential new employer so it is important to give careful consideration of what you include in the resume and what you include in [...]

Richard and I talk to Buck Woody in this week’s RunAsRadio.com podcast. We had planned on talking about sqlcms.codeplex.com but ended up instead digging into what it takes to be in an IT career in today’s economy. The discussion ranges from the advantages of generalists vs. specialists, consulting vs. employment and how technology is evolving to support [...]

You have put together the perfect resume and landed an interview. You spend time polishing your physical appearance, wanting to make a great first impression. At the interview, you greet and shake hands with each interviewer. You slouch down in the chair, cross your legs and let one shake idly over the other, and fold [...]

Job interviews are not just an opportunity for employers to size up candidates. In fact, they provide a good opportunity for candidates to also size up potential employers. If you are going to ask the employer some questions, be sure to avoid the “what about me” questions such as “how long is my lunch break,” [...]

Many people end up being out of the work force for extended periods of time for various reasons such as family, injury, availability, opportunity, and so on. When it comes time to re-enter the work force you may find that you are left with a gap in your resume. This is something that recruiters and [...]

Creating the perfect resume is something many of us strive to do. There are many Web sites available dedicated to this topic, all offering many suggestions to help you accomplish this goal. However, there are few ideas to help you keep your resumes and cover letters organized.
If you are on the hunt for a [...]

Believe it or not, there are some companies that will request a salary history from a potential employee. They are considering making you an offer of employment but want to see how much you have earned at your past jobs. The company may use this information as the basis for the salary included in their [...]

Note: This entry is reprinted from the weblog is my personal site, and does not represent my employer. What I write here is my own opinion, etc. I am posting a couple job openings here because I figure some quality people reading this might have an interest, based on the readership of this weblog. I am [...]

This is one of those general questions that interviewers often throw at potential employees. It may be an employer’s way of getting some idea of where you want your career to go and how it fits with the company. However, it may also be a way of seeing how well you can think on your [...]

In a previous article, I referred you to the Microsoft Office Online Web site that offers many Word templates that can be used to create resumes, cover letters, and so on. What you may not know is that Microsoft also offers a nifty template that you can use in Excel called the Job Search Log [...]

Job hunting can be challenging, especially in today’s competitive market. The process begins with creating a resume that will catch a potential employer’s eye and stand out about all others. But when it comes to creating that resume, where do you start? This question may be going through your head as you stare at a [...]

If only you knew exactly what an employer was going to ask the night before the interview. Not only would you be able to prepare your answers, but it would probably relieve some of the stress. But life just ain’t like that and you can expect to have one or two curve balls thrown your [...]

With this post, I run the risk of painting myself as a snob or hypocrite if somebody detects an unintentional misspelling or typo. I cannot, however, contain myself anymore and must vent a little about a pet peeve of mine.
As an independent IT professional, I am always looking at what other people are doing in [...]