interview tips

Find Hidden Job Opportunities: Tips from Industry Insiders

Find Hidden Job Opportunities: Tips from Industry Insiders

Feeling frustrated by the lack of responses after sending out dozens (or even hundreds) of resumes? Don't take it personally! The reality is many job listings you're applying for might not exist, receive overwhelming responses, are already filled, or are part of the hidden job market that isn't advertised publicly. 

5 Ways to Test Drive a Career Change

5 Ways to Test Drive a Career Change

Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of changing careers? Does the idea of making a shift quickly get buried under doubts like "I'm not qualified," "It's too late," or "It's too expensive"? If so, it's time for a fresh perspective. Making a career change might seem like an impossible task, but it doesn't have to be.

The Introvert’s Guide to Informational Interviews

The Introvert’s Guide to Informational Interviews

Ready to embark on an exciting new career journey? Informational interviews can be your secret weapon to explore new roles, and work environments, and build a professional network that will help you succeed. Even if you find networking challenging as an introvert, you can still leverage these conversations to your advantage. 

Negotiating a Job: Focus on This, Not That

Negotiating a Job: Focus on This, Not That

In general, job offer negotiations are rarely easy but can be critical in advancing your career and ensuring you're paid fairly for your skills and experience. How you handle yourself will depend on where you are in your career and what aspects of the role are most important to you. 

Why both? The resume and career portfolio have different purposes and unique benefits.

The Ultimate Guide: What to Do After the Job Interview

The Ultimate Guide: What to Do After the Job Interview

You just left the interview and feel eager, excited, and nervous. You think it went great. Now what?
Now is not the time to let up. Everything you’ve done up to this point is moving you forward in your job search. Keep the momentum going.

Job Interviews: Best & Worst Times

Job Interviews: Best & Worst Times

When is the best time to schedule your interview? The easy answer is whenever it works for the interviewer! After all, that’s the goal — to get the interview and the job offer.

But what if you are offered a choice of dates and times for the interview?  Is it better to be the first person interviewed? Or to be one of the final candidates considered? Should you schedule your interview for the morning? Or the afternoon?  And, if you’re offered the option of a virtual interview or meeting in person, which should you choose?

Here are the pros and cons of being towards the front of the pack, one of the last, or somewhere in the middle.

Are You Making these Job Search Mistakes?

Are You Making these Job Search Mistakes?

Are you unknowingly making some of these mistakes in your job search? Chances are, you’re making several — if not more! Go through this checklist, mark which mistakes you’re making — and then learn how to get back on track.

Help Your References Help You

Help Your References Help You

Great news! Someone has agreed to be a reference for you! Now, what’s the next step?

Life Working® career coaches suggest preparing a reference page that you can give to a prospective employer. It should match your resume's format, font style, and font size with the same contact information.

Use this format for each reference:

Myths About Employment References

Myths About Employment References

Do companies need your permission before contacting your references? Yes, they should. But keep in mind that providing contact information for references may be construed as permission to contact in many cases. Some companies will require you to sign a release form. Read it carefully, as it may authorize the company to contact unnamed references as well (people not on your “preferred” reference list — sometimes called “back door” references).

Selecting Your References

Selecting Your References

Generally, a potential employer will want at least two of your references to be former employers. The advantage of preparing your references in advance is that you can take the upper hand, identify the “best” references, and control whom you offer the employer as your references. You will want to select three to seven individuals to be your “preferred” references.


Reference checks are necessary for both job seekers and employers. References allow employers to confirm the information they learned from your resume and the interview and decide whether to hire you or not to extend a job offer…

Great References Seal the Deal

Great References Seal the Deal

“Resumes win interviews, but references win job offers,” says Martin Yate, author of the “Knock ‘Em Dead” series of career books.


Reference checks are necessary for both job seekers and employers. References allow employers to confirm the information they learned from your resume and the interview and decide whether to hire you or not to extend a job offer…