college career office being pushed to give students bad advice by Alison Green on March 26, 2012 A reader writes: I am a former HR manager who decided RIFing is not good for my soul. I decided to get into Higher Education a couple of years ago. I have recently accepted a position as a Director of Career Development. I know all about the bad and outdated advice that university career centers […] Read the full article →
another job search cliche that isn’t true: “looking for a job is a full-time job” by Alison Green on January 23, 2012 “Looking for a job is a full-time job.” No, it’s not. I don’t know why people say stuff like this. It’s one of those simplistic cliches that have ended up getting repeated over and over without being true. It’s a great way to mislead job-seekers about what an effective job search is really about. If […] Read the full article →
more bad job advice from parents by Alison Green on December 6, 2011 A reader writes: When I go on job hunting journeys to my local mall, department store, etc., I at times know which places I want to work for and which places I don’t. For example, two years ago I really wanted to work for a gaming store due to my love of video games, I […] Read the full article →
how can I tell my relative her career advice is out-of-touch? by Alison Green on November 22, 2011 A reader writes: I have recently found your blog and really appreciate the advice that you offer. You have written many times that the job search/hiring process has changed in the past times and to generally ignore the out-of-touch advice parents are offering. As a recent grad, one of my relatives offered to help me […] Read the full article →
awful advice: lie and cold call your way into a job! by Alison Green on October 10, 2011 A reader writes: I wanted to know what you think of the advice in this blog post: 3 Steps To Network Your Way Into An Interview. I find it weird that the writer basically advises cold-calling and calls it “networking.” Then there’s the other suggestion: “Call anyone the hiring authority has recommended.” Wouldn’t you find […] Read the full article →
when the government requires you to listen to bad career advice by Alison Green on October 4, 2011 I’ve ranted before about how some of the worst career advice seems to come from the places where it’s most important that they have the best — college career centers and state unemployment offices. Not all of them, of course — but enough that there’s a trend, and it’s troubling. And now comes this story […] Read the full article →
is my parents’ advice destroying my job search? by Alison Green on July 16, 2011 A reader writes: Since I came home from my first year of college in May, I’ve been looking for a new job to no success. I haven’t even gotten so far as to be interviewed, despite having been on a job hunt since May. Finally, in mid-July, I’m getting a glimmer of hope! The bakery department at […] Read the full article →
10 pieces of outdated career advice by Alison Green on July 11, 2011 Job search advice that worked a decade or more ago isn’t always effective today. In fact, some of it can hurt your chances. Here are 10 pieces of job search advice that are now outdated and which you should ignore. 1. You must use a landline for a phone interview. These days, many people don’t […] Read the full article →
should recent grads have a resume objective? by Alison Green on June 4, 2011 A reader writes: I am well aware that you do not like resume objectives. However, I read on numerous websites and blogs that you should only include a resume objective if you are a recent graduate or changing careers. Do you agree or disagree with that statement? With that being said, I fall into the […] Read the full article →
bad career advice and salary negotiation by Alison Green on April 19, 2011 Prepare yourself for a rant. I’m frequently annoyed by some of the bad job advice that’s out there, and there’s one thing in particular really irking me right now: “career advisors” who write long articles blithely telling you how to avoid discussing your salary requirements in a job search, with absolutely no acknowledgement of the […] Read the full article →