December 2012

I always suggest that no single method or style works all the time and one must self-evaluate periodically in order to make changes to one's efforts. I would be a hypocrite if I did not also practice what I preach. This, the third month of my blog, I’ve determined to make an adjustment to my own efforts. Until now I have had a forums page with different subjects I thought might be of interest and, although I have received a lot of emails commenting on the subjects I have listed, nobody has wanted to post comments, for whatever reason. Regardless, I am taking advantage of the slow period between Christmas and the New Year's celebration. So, as an administrative note, I have decided to remove the forums page and encourage direct commentary in response to my twice-weekly entries. I will

If you received a signed job offer, congratulations by the way, all that is left to do is resign from your current and soon to be old job – easy, right? Well, it‘s not always so simple. Unless you hate your job and you think your boss is a jerk, resigning is not so easy if you want to leave on good terms. You do want to leave on good terms; in the future you’ll need references and you don’t want to exit with the equivalent to showing your middle finger on your way out the door. The reaction of your boss could vary, but I want to discuss only two possibilities; whether they accept your resignation, or they do not want to accept your resignation. I see no need to discuss any unpleasant reactions you may experience, because such

If you received a signed job offer, congratulations by the way, all that is left to do is resign from your current and soon to be old job – easy, right? Well, it‘s not always so simple. Unless you hate your job and you think your boss is a jerk, resigning is not so easy if you want to leave on good terms. You do want to leave on good terms; in the future you’ll need references and you don’t want to exit with the equivalent to showing your middle finger on your way out the door. The reaction of your boss could vary, but I want to discuss only two possibilities; whether they accept your resignation, or they do not want to accept your resignation. I see no need to discuss any unpleasant reactions you may experience, because such

For whatever reason, perhaps the available jobs in your local vicinity are either not suitable or there may be few available. Let’s say, hypothetically, there is a job you are considering, you like them and they like you. They are willing to pay more money, but there is a two hour or longer one-way commute on a clear weather and good traffic day. However, it is a good job and the kind for which you have been looking, so you think beyond the commute issue, instead considering the good things and benefits for you and your family. I’ve witnessed this sort of situation and, most often, accepting these circumstances is rationalized by focusing on the good or because of need, although I do warn candidates of the negatives to which they should give more credence. Everything starts out well, but often

For whatever reason, perhaps the available jobs in your local vicinity are either not suitable or there may be few available. Let’s say, hypothetically, there is a job you are considering, you like them and they like you. They are willing to pay more money, but there is a two hour or longer one-way commute on a clear weather and good traffic day. However, it is a good job and the kind for which you have been looking, so you think beyond the commute issue, instead considering the good things and benefits for you and your family. I’ve witnessed this sort of situation and, most often, accepting these circumstances is rationalized by focusing on the good or because of need, although I do warn candidates of the negatives to which they should give more credence. Everything starts out well, but often

This phrase is often used when someone receives a job offer and would like to consider it before committing themselves. They may first want to discuss it with their family, or perhaps they simply want to step back and take a breath before saying yes (or no). And why not, what’s wrong with taking some time to consider a job offer? However, the question for how long comes to mind for the people who’ve been directly involved in the hiring process. How you conduct yourself at this time can ultimately influence their perceptions of you, even before you arrive for your first day of work. As a headhunter, often a delayed decision tells me there may be other issues influencing the timing of how long someone takes to consider whether they will either accept or decline a job offer. Asking for

This phrase is often used when someone receives a job offer and would like to consider it before committing themselves. They may first want to discuss it with their family, or perhaps they simply want to step back and take a breath before saying yes (or no). And why not, what’s wrong with taking some time to consider a job offer? However, the question for how long comes to mind for the people who’ve been directly involved in the hiring process. How you conduct yourself at this time can ultimately influence their perceptions of you, even before you arrive for your first day of work. As a headhunter, often a delayed decision tells me there may be other issues influencing the timing of how long someone takes to consider whether they will either accept or decline a job offer. Asking for

I always suggest that no single method or style works all the time and one must self-evaluate periodically in order to make changes to one's efforts. I would be a hypocrite if I did not also practice what I preach. This, the third month of my blog, I’ve determined to make an adjustment to my own efforts. Until now I have had a forums page with different subjects I thought might be of interest and, although I have received a lot of emails commenting on the subjects I have listed, nobody has wanted to post comments, for whatever reason. Regardless, I am taking advantage of the slow period between Christmas and the New Year's celebration. So, as an administrative note, I have decided to remove the forums page and encourage direct commentary in response to my twice-weekly entries. I will

Yeah, I know, it sounds a bit paranoid, but many people fail to come to grips with the fact that one of the simplest ways for a company to conduct a reference check on you is a Google search and all that can be found so easily. I am not talking about your professional presence, but rather the open window into your personal world - often a bit too personal. What will they find? Most of us are online, and social networking enables us to stay in contact with friends and family, express opinions and so much more. Living on another continent, it allows me fast and direct contact. However, many people post without even a second thought. Sure, it can be very entertaining for you and your friends, but companies are watching or they have the means to check what

Whether you need a job or there is a mitigating factor causing you to find a new one, it’s a higher priority for you than for most anyone else and the process usually moves slower than you like, or need. The more urgently you need and want a job, the more lethargic the pace feels. In fact, “urgency” is the key word for this blog entry, and it’s the level of urgency a company places on filling the position, which will dictate the fluidity leading to any job offer. Sometimes we get lucky and experience a shared synchronicity, when both you and the company are in the right place at the right time, with a mutually beneficial happy ending. But this is the exception more than the rule and one side or the other usually drags their feet for whatever