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The History of the Resume
Where did our tradition of the resume come from? Who wrote the first resume, and why do we still use them today? These are questions that often crossed my mind when I performed my first job search. This was mostly due to my frustration at having to cram all my background onto one page (I hadn’t realized that I should only include relevant information at this point). Well today we are finally going to explore the history of that all-important document, the resume. Most resume histories begin in 1482 with Leonardo da Vinci composing the first...
read moreSeven Stellar LinkedIn Tips
We talk a lot about LinkedIn profile development here at Career Solutions Group, in part because it’s one of the best ways to be found for jobs today. A key component to using LinkedIn effectively is providing a well developed profile. Here are seven tips towards making your profile stand out: Make your profile as complete as possible. LinkedIn’s search algorithm favors profiles which are filled out to near completion. If you’ve been avoiding filling out sections of your profile, now would be the time to do so! Having a fully filled out...
read moreRecruiters are People Too
One of the questions I get asked most frequently when helping clients with LinkedIn is “how do I connect with recruiters?” It’s a valid question, and the answer actually varies from person to person depending on industry, goal position, location, etc. But connecting with recruiters is just like connecting with anyone else: if you could solve a problem, i.e. be a potential hire in the future, then they’re probably as interested in connecting with you as you are with them. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when connecting with...
read moreLinkedIn to Reenter the Work World
Re-entering the professional work world is SCARY. Because of this, some people consider it a risk to step out of the professional world to raise children, care for family member or other personal reasons. However, you certainly don’t have to view taking time out as a step backwards. Instead, consider your time out of the professional world as a “non-paycheck” job. You have developed skills and competencies that translate directly into the professional “pay-check” world. Start to view yourself as a professional again as you make the transition...
read moreDon’t Wait (for the Job Offer)
When you’re on the job hunt, your instinct is to be as active as possible. Sending out those resumes, leveraging your network, interviewing, and constantly looking for new opportunities all come as par for the course in job hunts. So the stagnation of waiting for a job offer can come as both a relief and a shock. If you’ve gotten through the resume gauntlet and several rounds of interviewing, you might feel confident that a job offer is just around the corner. You can now sit back and enjoy a well-earned break. And you can. For a week. But...
read more3 Questions to Ask Prior to Taking a Job
You’ve been made an offer of employment! Hooray! Huzzah! You survived the evaluation of resumes, the gauntlet of interviews, and your patience and perseverance have been rewarded. You have every right to be excited, and probably a little relieved. However, before you say “yes” to the offer take some time to make sure you know what you will be getting. After all, you will (probably) stay with this company for some time. You want to make sure that time is well spent and positive. So when you hear from the company, graciously thank them and ask...
read moreGraciously Turning Down a Job Offer
Being offered a job is almost always cause for excitement. But sometimes, for one reason or another, a job offer will be more of a burden than a boon, and you are forced to graciously turn it down. The key word here is “graciously.” Keep just two things in mind – be very polite and be respectful. Being in the position of turning down a job offer falls into the category of a nice problem to have. Don’t mess it up. You don’t want to leave a bad impression. Your reputation is a valuable asset and your professional network is built on that...
read moreLinkedIn for Career Changers
I have worked with quite a few people to develop and optimize their LinkedIn profiles, and one of the questions that I often get is “how do I make this suitable for a new career?” Lots of clients come in concerned that, because they’re trying to move to a new position outside their comfort zone, they won’t be able to use LinkedIn to find new opportunities. I am here to tell you, today, that this simply is not true. You can use LinkedIn to find new opportunities regardless of where you are in your career process; you just need to know the...
read moreWhen Is It Time to Make a Change?
Career paths are not set in stone, and they do not fall into a person’s lap fully formed and ready to be followed through to their conclusion. Rather, careers are a process of trial and error. I imagine them like a closet full of clothing when getting ready for a dinner party. You have a general idea of what to wear; after all, this is a dinner party so you won’t be wearing your sweatpants and college t-shirt. But should you wear the black dress or the blue? Do you prefer the green striped tie, or the bright red one? Sometimes, the only way...
read moreSalary Negotiation: Tips and Tricks
A number of studies have shown that job seekers—particularly those new to the job search process—choose not to negotiate salary when a job offer is made to them. In the current job search climate, where a job search can end up taking months, this is not surprising. The instinct would be to jump at the first job offer made to you. In addition, many new job seekers and career changers are simply unfamiliar with the tactics used in salary negotiation. Salary negotiation is an unspoken option, one not everyone knows about. However, knowing and...
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