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The Art of Getting Positive References

Congratulations! Your resume has landed you an interview. But to authenticate your work history, prospective employers ask for professional references. They want to know the person behind the resume. To help them do this, they either contact the references directly, or they enlist the services ...

Don't be your own worst enemy

Hello everyone! This month, I wanted to focus on something that “SHOULD” go without saying, but I see it enough that I am moved to make it my topic this time around. 

Should I apply?

As you are going through a job search, you inevitably come across a position description for a company that you’d really like to work for. But the position description isn’t a 100% fit. Or even a 70% fit. Maybe (gasp!) not even a 50% fit. So, should you apply? What’s the worst that c...

How To Find A Lost Reference – and Other Tips for Managing Your Professional References

References are a critical part of the hiring process, and I have seen the strength (or weakness) of professional references influence the ultimate hiring decision. You don’t want to scramble last-minute to collect your references when you’re in a job search. First of all, it takes time to track ...

5 Reasons PhDs Are Valued More Than Other Job Candidates

The idea that getting a PhD is going to hurt your chances of getting a non-academic job is a misconception. In fact, most PhDs go on to get non-academic jobs and most get paid more than non-PhDs in the same position.

How Do You Convince An Employer To Give You A Chance When You Are Changing Careers

Beef up that resume

You can make yourself marketable. Really, you have to, especially if you’re considering a career change. There are a few things I’ve done or currently do that continue to add to my resume. And yes I know – you have a family. You volunteer. You have a full-time job. You’re a part-time super-h...

Listening to your inner-self to find your professional calling

Have you ever wondered what you would’ve done if you hadn’t gone into science and gotten a PhD? When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a vet or an interior designer. More recently, I wondered if I’d have made a good urban planner or human resources manager! Over the past year, I’ve been ponde...

Which is better? To Use a Recruiter or to Apply Online?

The short answer is “Neither” and here is why. The way hiring works is that a company does not hire unless they have a problem they can’t solve with the people that are already paying. Why would they hire somebody if their team can get it done? The first person who knows that they’re n...

What if your new job is NOT what you expected?

If you are looking for a job, most likely you have many expectations about it. How much money you wish to get paid, how many vacation days you will get and what type of benefits will be included just to mention a few. You might also think about how related the job is to your expertise or experience....