By the time you step into an interview, your confidence is brimming about your technical fit for the job.  Without doubt, you are ready to talk about past accomplishments how they prepared you for this new opportunity.  Yes, walking an interviewer through your resume is not problem – you could do that in your sleep, right? Are you ready, though, for the hiring manager’s first, face-to-face conversation that will begin with them simply saying, “Tell us about yourself”? If you’re not prepared for this common question, you’re not alone.  And, as benign as the statement sounds, your answer is important. [...]

No one wants to delay the hiring process.  Frankly, if asked, hiring managers and candidates looking for jobs say that getting the job of their dreams takes far too long.  Hiring, even in the tightest of labor markets, though, is a marathon (not a sprint). Job postings become stale, searches tend to drag, offers linger and decisions work through the ecosystems of the Human Resources chain at, too often, a snail’s pace. Delays happen and, often, for justifiable reasons: The net cast for candidates is wider in the tight labor market. Pools of candidates come into the process at differing [...]

We’d be naive to say that working alongside like-minded people isn’t initially easier. Yes, the first day for a new employee entering an environment that feels entirely comfortable can make the on-boarding process seem simpler for all.  Does that first day comfort, though, translate into long- term employee performance? The data suggests that it might not. In fact, if it is true that nearly half of new hires fail in the first 18 months of employment because they cannot assimilate into the new environment, it could be said that hiring a candidate because they are the closest match to the [...]

I might describe the Forbes list of 19 Workplace Predictions for 2019 as, both, on the mark and completely off-the-wall.  I agree with some points and disagree with others. The list was proactive, but, more importantly, brought up workplace trends that may scope the work of candidates looking for jobs and hiring managers looking to fill positions during the upcoming year - Trends For Job-Seekers: There is a workplace trend in candidates advancing their job searches through their own personal network. Applicants may start their search online but will turn to trusted sources quickly for insider tips and information. The Undercover [...]

As you ring in 2019, what have you vowed to do? Hit the gym more often? Lose weight? Save more money? Go on a summer vacation? Spend more time at home? These are great personal goals.  Have you, though, thought about your professional mission? During the holidays is an opportune time to assess your career and your intentions for the upcoming year – even if you have no plans to leave your current role. Employees should resolve to: Refresh your Resume If you plan to enter the job market anytime during the next year and haven’t dusted your resume off [...]

When you accepted your current job, you were prepared with data to defend the salary you were demanding. You researched your market value with sites like Glassdoor. You came up with a figure that you felt was reasonable and, at last, your boss agreed. What about now? Not feeling the love? That initial agreement might feel like a distant memory and, as you approach the end of the calendar year, now may be the time to re-visit that discussion. In today’s business environment, most employees get small, cost-of-living based annual merit increases to their salary.  And, managers will assume that [...]

It may be impossible to find objective advice for how to respond to a counter-offer to stay at your current job. Your current company wants you to stay. The new offer is exactly what you’ve asked for during the interview process. What do you do? And, as importantly, what are the risks (or opportunities) in making the choice about whether to stay or go? We coach candidates and hiring managers through these dicey situations frequently – The Counter-Offer – The Candidate’s Perspective It feels good to receive a counter-offer from the company you work for – validation for the years [...]

Every day we connect qualified candidates with eager hiring managers looking for top talent.  And, because we’re continuously talking about new opportunities, we spend very little time talking about how companies might look to retain their best employees.  After all, the best solution for any business (and any trades person) is to only post jobs because your best employees are earning promotions – not walking away. Holding onto your top performers takes a strategic approach – particularly in a labor market where opportunities are landing in those qualified employees' inboxes each day. One strategy that we recommend for retaining your [...]

No one will tap you on the shoulder and tell you that it’s time to update your resume.  The choice is yours and, often, not so cut-and-dry. Many people stay at jobs too long – leading to diminished performance, boredom and, particularly in the trades, less drive to learn new skills. And, while we cannot say if you should be applying for new opportunities, there are a few signs that might indicate a change might be right for you. How healthy is your current company? It’s easy to get locked in on the day-to-day grind of your current project.  And, as [...]

When you first see the candidate’s resume, in passing, you think, ‘I wonder how much they make now?’ A similar question weighs on each applicant after they’ve submitted their resume, ‘I wonder how much they’d be paying?’   And, whether you call it pay, salary, compensation or money – the topic is omnipresent in the pursuit of all qualified applicants. So, if the topic is important enough to weigh on both hiring manager and candidate, why isn’t salary the first topic of conversations between the company and prospective employee? There are many answers to that question: the unknown, the taboo nature [...]