I've been blessed to have the opportunity to be on both sides of the interview table on several occasions. Early in my career, I had opportunities to hear from the very best in my companies share with me their experiences...
Over time, Overtime May Be Better Than Undertime
One best practice I saw employed at a retail business was to give employees voluntary overtime on a regular basis rather than hire an additional full-time employee. It enabled the store to keep two or three employees happy. These employees...
Hiring Inexperienced over Experienced Workers
Q: Why do you think that managers hire unqualified people? Example - you have 3 candidates for the same job; one who is older and very qualified, one who is qualified, and one with no experience and knows nothing about...
Question on Resumes Sent Via the Internet
Q: What are some key things that you can do to make your resume stand outwhen applying for jobs via the internet?A: Here are a few suggestions that I have found have worked for me and others.THE BASICS1. Bulleted lists of...
Planned Obsolescence
"I don't know how long it's been going on, I don't know how long the colors were changing to gray..." from Michelle Branch's "This Way"Sometimes it hits us by surprise when a layoff comes, or when a change in our...
Dealing with a Creative but Abrasive Voice
Q: Suppose that you had a very creative member of your team. They're constantly coming up with excellent ideas that should be brought up at meetings. However, this persons etiquette isn't the best. Would you let others voice their ideas and...
References on a Resume
Q: I'm having a tough time figuring out who to use as a reference for me resume, as I am graduating soon and have limited work experience. Who should I use and who should I approach?A: A professor who you...
How to Get into a General Manager position at a hotel
Q: I'm close to graduating with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, and my advisor suggested I should be looking at opportunities in Food and Beverage since I want to be a GM of a large scale property. Do...
Explaining Breaks in Employment
Many of my students ask me if employers will hold it against you when you have breaks in employment. Most employers will ask you if you have had a break in employment, and why. Having an answer that is believable,...
Effective Replies to Online Job Postings
Q: When replying to a job posting online, would I use the message box for my cover letter and attach my resume? Or does something else go in the message box with the cover and resume as an attachment?A: Depending...