Resume and hiring trends can confuse even executives, especially when they are getting advice from multiple sources, and some information may contradict what others are saying. So what data, specific to hiring and resume trends, can you depend upon? Career Directors International (CDI) created a Global Hiring Trends report after surveying professionals worldwide for their insights and preferences and brought context a...

Even executive job seekers can’t escape the reality that applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by companies and recruiters for all levels of potential candidates. Because of their efficiency to track keywords and phrases, these ATS systems have an influence in the hiring process that is not likely to go away in the near future. What is an ATS-friendly resume? An ATS-friendly resume is formatted in such...

Companies with new budgets and new demands for products and services start posting new openings in the first quarter of the new year (and some companies have already begun). Is your executive resume prepared for a 2017 job search? Let’s state the obvious: your executive resume should be ready to go at all times, even if you’re not actively seeking a new position. You don’t want to miss out on a great...

Do you think that sometimes you are getting mixed messages from a recruiter or potential employer? Well, you may be right! What’s not being said to spare your feelings or avoid a direct answer? Here are 3 Examples of What Recruiters & Employers Really Mean — Help For Jobseekers Who Aren’t “Mind Readers” “We’re still interviewing other candidates.” When they are...

There are generally two opportunities to influence how much money you make: when you get a new job and when you ask for a raise in an existing job. Salary negotiations are generally the most sensitive issue in the hiring process. Discussing compensation often causes anxiety for both employee and employer. Negotiating an initial salary can be stressful; it doesn’t get any easier once you have the job and want a rais...

“The world of work ain’t what it used to be. The long-held contract between employers and employees has been ruptured. Since we can no longer rely on “the company” for security, it must come from within. For people who know who they are and what they’re called to do, it will be a world of great opportunity. For those who continue to define themselves in terms of the expectations and opinions of...

There’s no time like the present! Here are a few stats about LinkedIn to convince you that social media is a great addition to your next job search: When polled, 82% of users view LinkedIn as a trusted social media resource. LinkedIn stood out above other social media as the most professional social media site. People like to hang out in areas and with people they trust, making LinkedIn a more “friend...

New resume accomplishments—yup, your career success stories. What exactly are career/resume accomplishments and how can you highlight them? Accomplishments (in context to your management/executive resume, anyway) are simply career successes. In fact, I’ll provide a few examples of professional accomplishments towards the bottom of this article. We all have them. You could group 20 managers into a ro...

Job loss: the words represent just a few of the emotions you may feel when you lose your job. Even though others may know your fate, you’re not likely to hear about it. Or, if the handwriting is on the wall about your department’s elimination, the news may not actually sink in because we have an amazing ability to disregard unpleasant facts. We define ourselves and others by the jobs we hold no matter what ou...

Steve left the interview smiling and totally convinced that he had “connected with the hiring manager.” As he stated, “The job is mine to lose.” Now that the interview was over, he just had to sit back and wait for the magical phone call. Right? While Steve went about his usual activities, the interviewers compared notes, and the search to fill the position continued. “He seems t...