How to Respond When Human Resources asks a Job Interview Candidate “Tell Me About Yourself”

When an interviewer for a prospective job asks “Tell me about yourself,” it’s not an open invitation to ramble about your life’s history or talk about every job you’ve ever had.
The open-ended question is an opportunity for the candidate to shape strengths and anchor positive traits about themselves, wrote career coach and author Lee Miller [...]

Job-Interview Basics: A Refresher

We know the job-interview basics: Get there early; dress formally (and season appropriate); and listen intently to every question thrown your way. A good listener shows patience, thoughtfulness and a willingness to work with others. It’s not only about how you qualify for a job; it’s how well you can play in the corporate sandbox.
Here’s [...]

Grab Attention with Your Cover Letter

Do you really need to write a cover letter? Does anyone even read cover letters? Aren’t they a formality?
The answer is “yes” to all three. They’re a formality, but one you’re forced to address in every job application.  Someone will read your cover letter.
Sure, you need to shine in an interview, and you will likely [...]

Interview Tips: Wear the Right Clothes for Summer Interviews

Arriving for a job interview hot and bothered, red-faced and sweating,  is the last thing you want a potential employer to see. How do dress for a summertime job interview in a way that will keep you cool but appropriately formal?
TheLadders Career Advice has you covered with the right mix of things to wear and [...]

Interview Tips: How to Explain Gaps in Jobs

Do you have time gaps on your resume?
Life happens, and you have to explain it in a job interview. But did you know that companies cannot ask you about your personal life? It’s up to you to choose how you want to explain a gap.
A blog post at Pongo attempts to explain it. They put [...]

What to Wear to a Job Interview in the Summer Heat

Fashion writer Nina Myers and photographer Karl Rozemeyer took to the streets of New York to find real      professionals with a sense of summer style. Use these tips to stay cool and look sharp as you hit the streets this summer to find a job.
What To Wear To A Summer Job Interview [...]

Job-Interview Tips: Shut Off Your Phone and More

Some of these job-interview tips may seem old hat, but a few reminders never hurt.
Resume Tips: What to Bring to a Job Interview makes it crystal clear as what you should and shouldn’t have with you in a job interview.
You should bring:

Hard copies of your resume
Printed out references
Addendum (Could be a list of published works [...]

How to Go From Job Rejection to Job Acceptance

Have you heard this line before? “We’ve decided to go with another candidate who we think is a better fit.”
Ouch. If you made it that far in the process and the interview was practically flawless, what do you take away from the experience? How do you get inside the head of the hiring manager so you [...]