If you upload your resume to a company or job board website, you are most likely uploading your document to an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. The ATS will scan your resume based on criteria set by the company and the hiring manager. The software will make the first decision. If your resume meets the […]
Articles posted by Laura
How to Research Company Culture Before the Interview

A bad fit with company culture can make a great job a miserable job. So do your homework and identify companies that have a mission that you can agree with and that treat their employees in the way you want to be treated. Remember, in every interaction, just as the hiring manager is interviewing you […]
Stand Out from the Competition

As you begin your job search, you must focus on the type of job or jobs that interest you. You cannot be all things to all employers – choose the job titles that best suit your experience, skills, and knowledge. Once you have done that, you can identify employers you wish to target. Now the […]
Using LinkedIn to Get in Front of Recruiters and Hiring Managers

According to Jobvite’s Recruiter Nation 2015 survey, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to identify talent in an increasingly competitive job market. As I discussed in a previous blog post, two ways to ensure that your profile is noticed and read is to load it with key words and create a customized headline that promotes your […]
Should I Write an Objective or a Summary?

In the past, everyone started their resume with an objective to explain exactly the reason the hiring manager was receiving this document. The Objective Objective: Seeking mid-level manager position in petrochemical industry to gain additional experience and skills. The objective above states what the job seeker wants to get from the position. It is written […]
Social Content — Will It Help or Hurt Your Job Search?

Social media is an ever present part of our lives and, as a job seeker, your digital content can help you or hurt you. You must think as a job seeker and make decisions as a professional when it comes to social media content and other digital information. As recruiters and hiring managers utilize digital […]
Decision-Making and Your Career: Sleep On It!

Did you ever get this advice? Don’t make a decision today, go home and sleep on it. I think we have all heard some version of that advice during our lifetime. It was good advice when you got it from your grandmother or your teacher or your first boss. And now Carnegie Mellon University researchers […]
Salary Negotiation 101: Part 2

In the last blog post, Salary Negotiation, Part 1, I discussed salary negotiation steps that can make the process easier. Keep in mind that salary is usually discussed when the hiring manager has decided that you are the best fit for the position. If the salary discussion happens too early in the process, it may […]
Salary Negotiation 101: Part 1

For many workers salary requirement questions and negotiation are the most difficult part of the interviewing process. But a discussion of salary and benefits is a standard part of the interviewing process and should not be skipped because it is stressful. Learn to ask questions and meet this discussion with solid information. Below are four […]
Make Sure Your Resume Speaks to the Hiring Manager

Every bit of information on your resume is important. If that piece of information, that bullet, that phrase, is not relevant to the position or industry, it needs to go. It needs to go to make room for relevant information. Contact Info Your name and contact information is at the top of the page and […]