Category Archives: Job Search Tips

Common Job Search Mistakes: College Graduates, Take Note

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Catherine Palmiere

If you graduated with a college degree earlier this year, congratulations! And if you found a job and are now a member of the full-time working world, then well done, and good luck. Enjoy the adventures that lie ahead.

But if you’re like an astonishing number of 2011 graduates, you’re still looking. You’re wondering when your ship will come in, and you’re also probably wondering if you’re doing anything wrong. If you haven’t done so already, try making some of these productive changes in your approach to the job search.

First, get off the computer. It’s easy to sit at …

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Should You Accept a Less-than-Perfect Offer?

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Catherine Palmiere

The temptation to accept any job offer, even a questionable one, can be very strong when we’re out of work. After all, we all need to make a living, and no job represents a lifelong, binding commitment. According to the logic that sometimes governs this decision, we can always accept the position and continue to search on the side. And if something better comes along, we can just make a graceful exit. All’s well that ends well. Right?

Not always. There are a few common reasons why we become tempted by imperfect job offers. Here are some considerations for each …

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Chasing an Out-of-State Position: Should you Do it?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Catherine Palmiere

Until now, you’ve been limiting your job search to the local area. After all, this is where your spouse works, where your friends live, where your children go to school, and maybe you even have extended family nearby. You want the right job, you aren’t interested in settling, and at this point, the perfect job means (among other things) a job in this area. But so far, your efforts have not yielded much. When is it time to expand your search to the national level? If you happen to see a job that’s perfect in every way except for the …

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Removing Tired Clichés from Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Catherine Palmiere

As they polish their resumes and try to present their qualifications and experience in the best possible light, candidates often lose sight of what these resumes look like from a hiring manager’s point of view. If a job seeker latches onto a certain phrase because it sounds forceful or catchy, she may not realize that hundreds of other job seekers have considered the same phrase and come to the same conclusion. She should remember that the hiring manager who reviews her resume will be tasked with comparing all of these similar resumes, possibly on the same day. Every similar resume …

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Typos in Your Resume: Two Myths You Can’t Afford to Believe

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Catherine Palmiere

Everybody knows that typos in a resume can be a deal breaker. Or at least, we’ve all been told this. But many candidates just don’t seem to believe it or don’t think it applies to them. As you tighten and polish your application materials, watch out for these two thoughts. They’re alluring, but they simply aren’t true: 

  1. My resume is typo free! And so is my cover letter. I’ve checked them and re-checked them. I am one hundred percent sure they’re clean.
  2. Even if I made one mistake (which I didn’t), the reviewers will forgive me. After all, I’m only

    3. …

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