If the kind of relationship you have with your boss can determine how successful you are in your career and ultimately how much money you can earn, why not invest the time and commitment necessary to make sure you and your direct manager see eye-to-eye? Here are five tips on how to improve your relationship with your boss regardless of personality type. 1. Schedule weekly catch-up meetings. Your boss simply cannot keep...

Three weeks ago I met with a new client, Rich. He expressed urgency because he has been out of work for eight months. We discussed the career history information necessary to create his resume. After following up with Rich, he said he would need a few more days. In five days, I called again and Rich replied that he would be visiting friends in Seattle for a several days and probably would not have a chance to work on th...

Is it worth the investment to hire a genuine expert? In many cases, hiring an expert represents long-term value. How many DIY home projects have you seen gone awry at your home or for one of your friends? My favorite is a friend who saved $50 on the connection of a new refrigerator only to flood his entire downstairs, costing him a $1,000 insurance deductible and two weeks of downtime for the clean-up and new floor instal...

Selecting the appropriate adjectives to describe your best self in your resume can be a daunting challenge. For the professional resume writers and career coaches on our team, doing this task on behalf of our clients can be even tougher. Below are 4 of the most common resume writing clichés we see, and our suggestions on what to do to avoid using them incorrectly and turning off a potential employer. The key takeaway is a l...

The cover letter remains a critical component of a successful job search despite what you may hear anecdotally. It may be true, however, that a great cover letter will not win you an interview or be the defining factor in getting you the job you want, but it is certainly true that a terribly written or bland cover may earn you an instant rejection from a recruiter or HR representative. Achieving success in your job search i...

Resume writing is a challenge for many. It can be a very frustrating experience if you are planning a major career change. It does not have to be frustrating. With the right approach you can craft a resume that paves a path to your new career. Whether you work with a professional resume writer or write the resume on your own, understanding and tapping into your transferrable skills will make the transition easier. What...

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you probably have an understanding of the importance of a proper appearance for work, presenting an impeccable resume, and maintaining a professional social media presence. The fact that you are reading this tells me that you are dedicated to your career. How much time do you think about the words you speak? What verbal cues are you giving about your personal brand? Here are so...

After working with thousands of high-tech clients, I’ve noticed some universal résumé strategies that most techies don’t get. If you can master these strategies, you will make an excellent first impression and your interview request rate will be on the rise! Show Skills Relevant to Your Target Job In your technical skills section, list the skills that are most relevant to your target job. This should not be a listing of...

Ah… the dreaded resume cover letter! Nothing stirs fear in the hearts of job seekers more than the thought of writing a cover letter. It must be the pressure of being succinct, factual, and original. Before you reach a state of high anxiety, consider therapy – cover letter therapy. To write an excellent cover letter, you must really know yourself. Before you begin to draft your cover letter, you must dig deep. Read these ti...

Cover letter! Those are possibly the two most dreaded words known to any job seeker. If you feel your cover letter is weak, take a look at the list below of six things that you must “nail” in a cover letter. If you master these categories, you will have an effective cover letter. Not only that, you may even enjoy writing cover letters. (Well, that may be extreme.) Salutation Take the time to get an appropriate contact nam...