February 2013

5 things you might not have on your resume but should

If you’re trying to write an effective resume, here are five things you might not be including, but should add. 1. A profile at the top of your resume. Profile sections or summaries have replaced objectives at the top of modern-day resumes. This is a quick list of the highlights of your strengths and experience, summing […]

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my boss won’t answer my emails

A reader writes: I started working for a company 6 months ago and I mostly work offsite. The manager I report my work to is extremely unresponsive on email. He doesn’t answer back on work proposals that we verbally talked over, requests for a meeting, or joint work with one of his staff that he […]

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returning to work after being a stay-at-home-mom

A reader writes: There are some high-level MBA type moms who have made a business giving career advice for moms who want to “relaunch” themselves back into the paid workforce. I am just wondering if you agree with this advice, which includes unpaid internships and per-project contract work, on the basis that getting a foot […]

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where did I go wrong in this interviewing process?

A reader writes: I credit your advice on resumes for helping me get a recent interview with a company for my dream job: a small publisher (~12 employees), in a city I want to live in, as an assistant editor (I am trying to get into publishing,) working on book topics I am interested in. […]

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short answer Sunday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions

It’s short answer Sunday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Eagle Scouts and resumes A jobhunting friend is in his early 40s and wondered if his resume should include his Eagle Scout-yness. While he has achievements that are far more recent on there, he thinks that achievement is too […]

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job-searching when you’re a single parent

Throwing this one to the readers to help with. A reader writes: I’m a single mom of a 2-year-old and am currently looking for a full-time job. Normally I pick him up at 3 pm from school/daycare, which, if I find a typical 8 am – 5 pm job, would make me unavailable during part […]

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speaking up when you’re unhappy and overwhelmed at work

I thought I’d print this exchange I recently had with a reader, to demonstrate why it’s often helpful to speak up when your unhappy. Here’s the reader’s initial message to me: I left my job of five years — right decision. I accepted a new job. It’s a better cultural fit, I love my team, and […]

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handling a pushy rejected job candidate

A reader writes: I am a manager of a small business. I have hired three new people since my start here two years ago. In all of those hiring processes, the same person has been an unsuccessful candidate each time: She’s someone who looks great on paper, but did NOT do well in the interview. […]

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stop applying without your resume

A reader writes: Since I know you appreciate good examples of bad job applications… I’m currently recruiting for a full time, entry level, customer service position. My HR department definitely pared down the job description more than I would have liked prior to posting, but it still conveys the basics of what we’re looking for, […]

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