People often ask me for insider scoop on what to expect in the coming year when it comes to the job market. While of course the future isn’t entirely predictable, I’ve been noticing some trends that may help you out. Expect a wildly unpredictable hiring timeline (and process). At the beginning of the process, you might apply for a job and the employer sets up an interview within days. You might be asked to...

No matter how great you are, you want to get better. Improving is key to a successful career. Learning new skills is an essential part of improvement. Want some proof? Ben Franklin was always learning and taught himself Italian, French and Latin. He didn’t stop at languages. He also learned about meteorology. And Franklin invented bifocals. What are you waiting for? James Franco was a college dropout and h...

Maybe you get a “normal” interview, full of questions like “What are your strengths?” or “How do you like to unwind?” Maybe you have to come up with a solution to a hypothetical or real problem. But a standard interview isn’t a given anymore. With so many applicants and with money and time on the line, recruiters and hiring managers have more pressure to “hire right”...

If you talk with enough people, you're bound to come across some very interesting scenarios. Jim Webber conducted thousands of job interviews throughout his career as a human resources manager, and he joins Tim Muma to share some of the more disastrous conversations. These anecdotes aren't only meant to entertain and frighten, but to give the listeners an understanding of what NOT to do in an interview. Jim also shares his...

The job interview remains the best opportunity to truly sell yourself as a person and a professional to land a new job. There are a number components to the interview that runs the gamut from preparation and body language to questions for the employer and following up. Barry Drexler, the Expert Interview Coach, tackles a number of terms associated with the interview and gives Tim Muma an idea of how each of these impact you...

A common complaint of interviewers is that many candidates talk too much in interviews. There’s a list of questions the interviewer needs to get through, and there’s only so much time. How can you give concise interview answers while still sharing enough about your skills and accomplishment. Here’s your secret weapon: the expandable interview answer. (Thanks, E.B., for giving my little technique a name!...

“How many people do I have to interview with to get this job?” At some companies the answer is “quite a few,” either one person at a time – a sequential or serial format – or all at once as a panel interview. It’s not like they mean to gang up on you, although that may be how it feels! The usual reason for this kind of process is to enable a better hiring decision incorporatin...

As spring is followed by summer, hopefully your job interviews will be followed by reference checks! Don’t be knocked out of the running by any of the following deadly myths. Myth #1: Employers will only contact the persons you include in your references list. Not true. Many will contact others; it’s neither illegal nor particularly difficult. They can even discover and contact past employers you haven&...

Done well, a post-interview follow-up note does more than just say “thank you.” It helps you get the job. How can an interview follow-up email make that much difference? By reminding them why you’re the right person for the job. Can they have forgotten this so soon, the day after the interview? Sure, especially if they interviewed several people that day. And maybe they weren’t that clear on y...

What to do before accepting the job You’ve run the gauntlet of the job search and come out in one piece. In fact, everything has gone so well that an offer is on the way. All that’s needed is the quick finalization of a few details, and you’ll have the offer in hand. What should you expect to see? The first and most important answer to that question is contained in the question itself. What should yo...