Career Advice

Most job seekers know that when interviewing for a job, asking intelligent and well-thought-out questions is an integral part of the applicant evaluation process. Approaching a job interview with a variety of questions on topics such as company and departmental goals, culture, mission and values, why the position is open and what is expected of the successful candidate who fills it all speak to the applicant’s preparation, and foreshadow the level of dedication he or she will show if hired.

However, there are a number of questions that are best avoided in the preliminary interview stages. While some may cover relevant topics and provide information necessary for candidates to make an intelligent decision on how to approach the next step in their career, these questions may send the wrong message to employers who, above all else, simply want to gauge candidates’ knowledge of and interest in working for the company.…

Given what your mother always told you to do, you’d be surprised how few people do the one simple thing that can help push you closer to getting hired.

That’s right. It’s the thank-you note.

Just a quarter of entry-level job applicants typically sent a thank-you note after completing a job interview in 2017, according to iCIMS’ Class of 2018 Jobs Outlook report. iCIMS is a global talent acquisition software company.

It might seem as dated as flip phones but sending a thank-you letter is critical, said Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster.com in New York.

Remember back when you were a new grad and applying for every job mentioning your degree, only to be told you didn’t have enough experience? Now, you’ve got years of experience under your belt and the skill set and experience to get any of those jobs you applied for years ago, but you’re faced with one critical problem. You’re now overqualified.

Hiring managers tend to overlook candidates with too much experience. Often they’re worried that the applicant will jump ship as soon as something comes along that they’re better suited for, or that they’ll expect a salary that’s greater than their budget.

“We tend to think of lower-level jobs as a way to pay our dues in order to advance,” says Kim Stiens, hiring consultant and founder and CEO of career advice site Ranavain. When reviewing resumes of individuals who seem to have already put in those dues, employers may…

Remote work is common these days — whether your company offers telecommuting as a benefit or you’re striking out on your own as a freelancer. It seems like a great perk, but it can also remove the structure that holds your days together. Before you know it, it’s 4 p.m., you’re still in your pajamas and you haven’t eaten lunch … let alone seen the outside world.

We gave you some basics on how to work from home not too long ago, but this pitfall can be extremely hard to overcome. Maybe that flexible schedule keeps you from daily basics like exercising and eating, or maybe it just causes you to work 12 hour days without realizing where the time has gone. Whichever camp you fall into, it’s important to make sure your day doesn’t become a black hole.

Set Your Work Hours Around Your Internal Clock

Are you a…