Recruiters Share 9 Mistakes Job Seekers Are Making Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic
Recruiters Share 9 Mistakes Job Seekers Are Making Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic
Beyond the enormous human toll coronavirus has had over the past few weeks, the pandemic has also had a significant impact on people’s careers. Temporary furloughs, rescinded job offers, hiring freezes, and layoffs have created a tremendous amount of upheaval across all industries and roles.
Many professionals now find themselves having to apply for positions during one of the most challenging times in modern history. “The job market is tougher than it’s been since The Great Depression,” says Eleesha Martin, recruiting process outsourcing manager of G&A Partners, a leading national HR service provider. “As a result of the pandemic, it’s become an Employer’s job market. Candidates will have to get more assertive and creative in finding ways to help them stand out, or they will get lost in the crowd.”
Even though landing a new role in the middle of a pandemic is challenging, companies are still hiring. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately hit certain industries very hard from an economic standpoint, there are many other industries like e-commerce, delivery, and cybersecurity growing rapidly during this time,” says Mehul Patel, CEO of Hired. “I would encourage candidates to remain optimistic and continue applying for new roles.”
If you do decide to apply for a new job right now, be aware that approaching hiring managers and recruiters requires even more thoughtfulness and effort in order to stand out as a viable candidate.
During the last week, I asked 20 recruitment professionals actively involved with screening and hiring candidates during this pandemic to share their perspectives on the most common mistakes candidates have been making.
1. Using Same Old Outreach Tactics
The coronavirus has radically changed the world. With social distancing and many companies no longer doing in-person interviews, candidates stuck in their old ways of simply sending a resume and cover letter or making a phone call are not cutting through.
According to Lewis Fawsitt, corporate sales director of Acorn Global Recruitment, you’ll need to find other ways to stand out in an increasingly crowded candidate marketplace. “Successful candidates have proactively thought beyond the usual CV, getting around social distancing factors by producing short videos that allow recruiters and their clients to get a richer snapshot of them as an individual.”
Recruiters used to receiving hundreds of resumes each day are also encouraging candidates to find more engaging ways to reach out. “During normal conditions, a phone call could suffice, but now, candidates need to be more proactive and ask for a video conference call to connect and build rapport,” says Chris Underwood, managing director of Adastrum Consulting.
Tip: record a short, professional video of yourself for introductory or thank you messages. It takes more effort, but if done well, helps you stand out.
2. Videoconferencing Struggles
Social distancing and working from home have recently becoming the norm. According to a March 2020 survey by Handshake, an online career community for college students, 89% of employers are now adopting virtual interviews given the COVID-19 situation. That means you have to be able to bring the same level of enthusiasm, professionalism, and communication that you would to an in-person interview. “Candidates really need to embrace video,” says David Stone, founder of MRL Consulting Group. “Don’t forget that this is a formal interview and your appearance, outfit and surroundings should reflect that.”
Although everyone understands technical issues beyond your control can arise on conference calls, struggling with the tech won’t help your cause. “Candidates who can run video meetings without technical difficulty immediately set themselves apart,” says Kevin Fanning, talent acquisition manager of Notarize. “The candidates we’ve hired in the past few weeks were great on video. They were very prepared, engaged communicators, and spoke to us from quiet, well-lit spaces in their homes. It was very easy to get a sense of what working with them would actually be like.”
Tip: test out all functionality of your videoconferencing app (e.g., audio settings, camera access, and screensharing) in advance to avoid hiccups.
3. Applying Everywhere
You may be eager to quick get your career back on track after any setback caused by the current pandemic, but beware of applying to every role under the sun. Sarah Doughty, director of recruitment at Talentlab, says too many candidates are currently falling into the trap. “Mass applying to everything they see regardless of true interest is pretty common right now. We have seen a significant increase in candidates admitting that they don’t even remember applying to the role, and haven’t bothered to prepare for the interview.”
As a candidate in this hiring environment, you have to keep in mind that more competition now exists for each available role. Janou Pakter, CCO of Janou LLC says you need to be more targeted when applying to roles during the pandemic. “You should be even more selective and personal when you approach recruiters and hiring managers.”
You should focus on quality rather than quantity of applications. Barend Raaff, CEO of Harver, a pre-employment assessment platform, says you need to invest time into creating a more customized pitch. “If you are not prepared and have an application that is tailored to the role you’re applying for, you’ll not reach the top of the list. Learn about the company and especially understand the impact that COVID-19 has on the role you want to have.”
Tip: apply to only those jobs where you fully understand the role’s requirements and feel you’re uniquely positioned to stand out as a strong candidate.
4. Unrealistic Salary Expectations
Although there’s nothing wrong with aiming high, pushing for a higher salary or more comprehensive perks in the midst of a global pandemic may not land well with recruiters and hiring managers. “Candidates who are setting rates or salary expectations too high and therefore pricing themselves out of a potential job,” says Shib Matthew, founder and CEO of YunoJuno, a UK marketplace of creative and tech freelancers. He says companies are already under extreme pressure to manage their own costs during this pandemic, so understanding this can benefit you longer-term.
Doughty agrees that now is not the time for candidates to be seeking huge salary bumps, especially during a time when so many people on the front lines of COVID-19 are sacrificing so much. “Candidates attempting to aggressively negotiate or use this crisis to job jump for financial gain only will find that employers’ patience will be very thin, and they will ultimately end up burning a bridge.”
Tip: remember that salaries may not be as competitive as they have been in recent years, so tread carefully when approaching compensation discussions.
5. Lack of Empathy
With so many people are struggling with both personal and professional challenges in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, failing to openly acknowledge the difficult time we’re all in can come across as tone deaf and indifferent during a time when emotional intelligence is paramount.
“Every firm you approach will have their own story about how COVID-19 has impacted them,” says David Lewis, CEO of OperationsInc, an HR outsourcing consulting firm. He says you must be mindful of the fact many companies have shifted from on-site to remote working, while others may be going through rounds of layoffs, which can have a huge impact on company culture and employee morale.
Being sensitive to the potential impact the pandemic has had on an organization is also one way you can demonstrate you’re fully cognizant of the exceptional circumstances we’re in. According to John Bush, vice-president of talent acquisition at Zendesk, “One trait hiring managers are looking for are candidates that show an authentic interest in the company and how the company is approaching this difficult time.”
Tip: explicitly verbalize your awareness of the challenging times any organization inevitably finds themselves in at this moment.
6. Inflexibility
In spite of this now being an Employer’s market, many candidates are still refusing to flex on their requirements. “The biggest mistake we’ve witnessed is candidates failing to react appropriately to the changing business landscape caused by the pandemic,” says Tom White, managing director of Paratus People. “Some have refused to be flexible on start dates or on the specific requirements for their role. This is short-sighted.” He goes onto say that adaptability is a critical quality to possess, and candidates who can’t be flexible during this crisis aren’t likely to receive offers.
Flexibility could involve an openness to part time roles, different locations, or levels of compensation according to Pakter. She suggests ideas like starting a job online from home without having a secure starting date to be on premise, starting on a freelance basis, or forgoing some full-time benefits until the official on-premise starting date has been confirmed.
Stuart Hicks, managing director of The City & Capital Group agrees with a flexible approach. “Candidates with unreasonable expectations are unlikely to represent the themselves, or their recruiter, well. Hiring clients and recruitment firms may have had to furlough staff, therefore those remaining may be spread very thin.” He says candidates that fail to apply empathy and understanding are likely to put off recruiters.
Tip: how you approach this job hunt says a lot about your expectations as an employee, so in an environment of uncertainty and upheaval, find a way to convey your adaptability.
7. Impatience
Due to the increased urgency in candidates’ searches, Fanning says too many candidates over the past few weeks are coming across as needy and pushy. “I’m seeing a lot of candidates follow up multiple times in rapid succession within a matter of hours after a phone call. Those candidates who can balance their interests with a little patience end up making a better impression and going farther in our process.”
Deborah Roland, vice president of human resources at CareerArc says you need to be aware managers and recruiters are dealing with a lot right now. “They are tamping down fires to their left while new ones are starting on the right. It may take more time for companies to respond to you. Be gracious.” Following up does demonstrate proactivity and interest, but when done too frequently, can come across as bothersome. “Candidates are reaching out to potential employers more frequently than they should in hopes that they will get the job, but it’s causing an adverse effect,” says Martin.
Candidates should also remember that companies are making enormous organizational pivots to remote and virtual processes now. “Companies are adjusting to interviewing and hiring remotely, so the process may not be smooth,” says Donna Kimmel, chief people officer at Citrix. She says a bit of patience and understanding can go a long way.
Tip: With all the struggles people are managing within their organizations not to mention their personal lives in the midst of this pandemic, err on the side of giving others extra time to get back to you.
8. Jumping At Anything
Coming across as desperate will rarely serve you well in any walk of life. The same is true with jobs, especially in the middle of a crisis.
Ineke McMahon, an executive recruiter with 20 years of experience says the biggest mistake is to panic and talk desperately about how much you need a job within the first few minutes of a conversation. “Making comments early in the conversation like ‘I’m prepared to take a huge drop in salary’ really turns hiring managers off.”
Instead, she recommends still focusing on the value you bring to the table. “More than ever, companies are looking for people who can add value over and above their own role and keep calm in a crisis. You need to demonstrate these skills as part of your job application process.”
Doing a sense check with your own genuine interest in an opportunity is also worthwhile, even if you are desperate to land your next role because this could affect your long-term job satisfaction and performance.
Employers also want to know you’re interested in their company for the right reasons. “We are always interested in why people are looking to join our company. Now, more than ever, candidates should be prepared to discuss this point,” says Tony Cicio, chief human resources officer of the Argo Group that shifted their entire workforce of 1500 employees to remote work within 48 hours. They continue to hire, and have onboarded more than 30 new employees during this pandemic.
Tip: Capture the exact type of location, sector, organization, function, role, and salary you would find acceptable before job searching so you can objectively evaluate opportunities against these criteria.
9. Waiting Until Crisis Passes
You may be understandably hesitant to apply for a new role in the middle of the biggest global pandemic we’ve ever witnessed in our lifetimes. “We’ve experienced lots of candidates who, two months ago, told us that they were looking for new opportunities, now deciding to wait things out and resume their search when this pandemic passes,” says Stone.
However, he encourages candidates to still apply based on how he’s seen things transpire with his clients the past few weeks. “Candidates who are optimistic and enthusiastic about the job opportunity are still getting offers. Employers are looking for candidates remaining positive in the face of current pandemic.”
While it may be tempting to wait for things to blow over with the pandemic, the reality is that companies and industries are still hiring. In fact, you may also possess unique skills especially relevant and even more valuable during this time of global uncertainty. For example, White says his clients are “looking for people who can demonstrate success in an organisation which has undergone rapid transformation, or those who have experience in a volatile situation.”
This also represents an opportunity to demonstrate how prepared, focused, and professional you can still remain in spite of everything else going on in the world. “Candidates we’ve placed in senior level roles over the past month have been the ones to go above and beyond to impress,” says Emma Robinson, managing director of Red Diamond Executive Headhunters.
The pandemic also gives you a unique opportunity to demonstrate how you handle adversity, an especially attractive quality in the context of the pandemic. “This pandemic presents a unique opportunity for candidates to proudly showcase their battle scars,” says Siddharth Batra, founder and CTO of ThriveCash. “Being part of company turnarounds or failed ambitious projects are experiences employers, particularly start-ups, hugely value.”
Tip: identify one of your skills or experiences especially valuable during times of crisis, then highlight it across all your job search communications.
Related Blogs
-
Dec 20, 2024Nailing the Job Interview:…
Job seekers today face an increasingly competitive job market, where finding the right fit isn’t just about having the right skills—it’s about making the right..
-
Dec 13, 2024Landing Opportunity in the…
As the festive season rolls in, many people take a well-deserved break to recharge and enjoy time with family and friends. But for those actively..
-
Nov 15, 2024The Power of Experience:…
In today’s fast-moving job market, many companies focus on hiring younger workers who bring fresh ideas and energy. But there’s one powerful resource that often..
-
Sep 6, 2024Landing your first job:…
Landing your first job: Essential tips for recent graduates Stepping into the job market as a recent graduate can be exciting but difficult. After years..
-
Jul 26, 2024Landing your Dream Job…
Summer is not just a time for vacations and beach trips; it's also a golden opportunity to land your dream job. With many companies looking..
-
Apr 26, 20245 perks employers in…
In today's competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent is a strategic imperative for businesses across the globe. In Cyprus, where the personnel is..
-
Apr 19, 2024Why you should build…
As a recruitment agency situated in Limassol, we are well acquainted with the multitude of factors motivating individuals—both locals and expatriates—to seek career opportunities in..
-
Apr 5, 20242024 Recruitment Trends: Reshaping…
In the dynamic world of recruitment, staying ahead means understanding the latest trends shaping the industry. Significant shifts are redefining how businesses find and retain..
-
Mar 22, 2024Unlocking Career Opportunities: Your…
Unlocking Career Opportunities: Your Guide to Finding Jobs in Cyprus Cyprus has some exciting career opportunities in recent years, making our island a better place..
-
Mar 15, 2024Recruitment Tips: 5 Skills…
Recruitment Tips: 5 Skills Interviewers Should Master Advance Career as a recruitment agency in Cyprus knows well that unlocking the potential of top talent begins..
-
Mar 8, 2024Attracting Top Talent: Why…
Attracting Top Talent: Why a Company’s Online Presence Matters In today's competitive job market, attracting top talent is more challenging than ever before. A lot..
-
Mar 1, 2024The Pros and Cons…
Internal recruitment is happening when a company decides to fill a job opening by choosing someone who already works there. It is like giving someone..
-
Feb 2, 2024Emerging Job Opportunities in…
AI-Enhanced Marketing is transforming the sector, creating opportunities and reshaping the talent pool. AI takes Marketing beyond simple predictions, employing complex algorithms to uncover patterns..
-
Jan 5, 2024Find your Dream Job…
Find your Dream Job in 2024: Tips by a Recruitment Agency This blog post is meant to provide valuable tips for candidates looking for job..
-
Nov 24, 2023The Role of Recruitment…
The Role of Recruitment Agencies in Cyprus: How We Can Help You Find Your Dream Job In recent years, recruitment agencies in Cyprus have been..
-
Nov 9, 2023Top 10 In-Demand Jobs…
Getting closer to the end of the year, as a recruitment agency in Cyprus, we would like to share some of our predictions about the..
-
Oct 27, 2023Why Do Employers Employ…
When you might think about using a Recruitment agency: Personnel recruitment requires a lot of effort, and many organisations struggle to find the time to..
-
Oct 13, 2023When Personal Values Align…
What characterizes a contented worker? The majority would most likely respond, "A BIG SALARY!" But do you only base your decisions on the salary while..
-
Oct 27, 202210 Tips to Motivate…
Nothing is better for the bottom line than employees who are motivated to work for psychic benefits. Are you looking for ways to motivate your..
-
Oct 21, 202212 Practical Steps To…
In our world in general, but especially in the workplace, change is a continual presence. Whether it's driven by new technology, shifts in the market,..
-
Sep 23, 2022No Experience Required: Does…
If you work in recruitment, you’ve probably heard the saying, “You need experience to get experience.” In job listings, we’re often guilty of writing “zero..
-
Sep 9, 2022How To Motivate People…
As a startup founder, you’d usually spend a large part of your time trying to get various people to do new things. On one side,..
-
Sep 2, 2022Don’t Give Up On…
“Why do we keep following the process if it doesn’t work?” You’ve probably heard something to the effect of this before or have even said..
-
Aug 19, 20225 Ways to Recharge…
Are you the type of workaholic that has a difficult time sitting still during holidays? Do you typically go stir crazy during family visits or..
-
Jul 29, 2022Finding Your Focus Through…
It happens all the time. You start out the day with great intentions to get that financial report done or to work on your marketing..
-
Jul 22, 2022How To Market Yourself…
With nearly a billion members worldwide, LinkedIn is the most powerful professional platform for connecting with others, bar none. That fact is not lost on..
-
Jul 15, 2022The Secret For Conducting…
A lot can be riding on the outcome of corporate brainstorming sessions. The list includes the need to come up with ideas for the creation..
-
Jun 24, 2022How to Know It’s…
HR activities at startups are often reactive in nature instead of proactive. That leaves gaps in the system. When starting their businesses, most entrepreneurs tend..
-
Jun 17, 2022How to Leave Work…
Some jobs have very clear lines between when you’re “on” and when you’re “off,” while in others the lines are blurred — or potentially nonexistent...
-
Jun 10, 2022How to Keep Working…
Motivating yourself is hard. In fact, I often compare it to one of the exploits of the fictional German hero Baron Munchausen: Trying to sustain..
-
Jun 3, 2022Why Setting Boundaries Is…
One of the major plots of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade revolves around the search for the Fountain of Youth — some magical..
-
May 27, 2022When a Leader Is…
Not long ago, I received a call from an HR manager at a large corporation seeking an executive coach for one of their senior leaders...
-
May 20, 2022How to Speak Up…
I recently spent a month interviewing the group heads of a large financial services company in order to understand how their direct reports need to communicate..
-
Apr 29, 2022What to Do When…
The summer vacation season may be behind us, but the holidays are right around the corner. And soon enough your colleagues may be asking you..
-
Apr 15, 2022Make Your Meetings a…
I recently met with a group of managers to discuss ways to improve meetings. Our goal was to figure out how to create a space..
-
Apr 8, 2022Understanding Extroverted And Introverted…
Extroversion and introversion are used to define two ends of a personality spectrum. People can have a mix of introverted and extroverted traits, and we..
-
Mar 24, 2022How to Follow Up…
We’ve all been there. You email someone asking for a conversation, information, input, or an introduction, and you get no response. Whether you are reaching..
-
Mar 11, 2022How to Quit a…
Whether you’re looking to leave your current position for an opportunity that your company couldn't offer, or perhaps for a completely new career, or a..
-
Feb 25, 2022Go Ahead, Reveal Your…
Talking about office disasters is key to better productivity and healthy competition. We all have our share of office-related horror stories. From the incorrect market..
-
Feb 11, 2022Why the Secret to…
What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur? Vision, forward-thinking, risk-taking abilities, determination, hard work, dedication, a good game plan…. Most of us are aware..
-
Feb 4, 2022Should You Wait To…
Should you stay in your current role in hopes of a promotion or make a lateral, internal job change? That question will be familiar to..
-
Jan 28, 20225 Ways To Break…
It’s time to face the situation and to find out what you can do in order to break the dangerous cycles. Here are 5 main..
-
Jan 14, 2022How To Give And…
For many people, giving and receiving feedback can be incredibly stressful. When you have poured your heart and soul into your work, having someone offer..
-
Jan 7, 20223 Practical Ways to…
Early in my corporate career, I was masterful at replying to emails instantaneously and staying on top of the multitude of requests I received from..
-
Dec 10, 2021Future Trends In The…
As the year is slowly coming to an end, it's a great time to gaze into our crystal balls and see what may happen in..
-
Dec 3, 2021As Your Team Gets…
Back when our Facebook design team still fit around a conference table, a new designer joining our merry band was a momentous event. Everyone loved..
-
Nov 26, 2021Want to Build a…
Finding good people is hard, but it's the only way to build a company that can succeed in the long term. Not that long ago,..
-
Nov 19, 2021What Super Productive People…
In 2018, I came across a meme that was going viral on the Internet. It read, “You have the same number of hours in the day..
-
Nov 12, 2021How to Create a…
Creating a learning culture in the workplace is all about fostering an environment that empoweres people to pursue knowledge. This is important for individual evolution,..
-
Oct 29, 2021The 3 rules to…
I started my career in academia, where mentoring bright young minds is commonplace. Years later, mentoring and coaching others was one of the best parts..
-
Oct 8, 2021Avoiding Negative Emotions Won’t…
I’ve been thinking a lot about dessert lately. What’s the most memorable, delicious bite of dessert you’ve ever tasted? Chances are, it wasn’t a store-bought, plastic-wrapped ball..
-
Sep 30, 2021The Vacations We Don’t…
When was the last date you took a vacation? Did you know that not taking a break also has consequences? The Mexican startup Worky, a..
-
Sep 10, 20215 Things I Wish…
Here's how to jumpstart your career and achieve meaningful success by age 30. It’s no secret that with age, comes wisdom (generally speaking). Over the years, I’ve..
-
Sep 3, 2021How To Lead Meetings…
It is crucial to tap into the different personality traits in your workplace to cultivate a supportive, inclusive atmosphere. There are extensive studies in personality..
-
Aug 27, 20215 Ways To Regain…
The summer season can make it hard to focus on work. And if you work from home, it is that much more challenging. For example,..
-
Aug 20, 20214 Tips to Better…
Email is an extremely useful communication tool in business. Less intrusive than a phone call, email is convenient and fast. It empowers entrepreneurs to run..
-
Jul 23, 202115 HR Experts Explain…
Regardless of industry, job hunting remains a competitive process. Potential employees often look for out-of-the-box ways to distinguish themselves from other candidates; however, they still..
-
Jul 16, 2021How To Promote Yourself…
Did you know that Beyonce’s shy? Most people don’t expect this, because she’s so hugely successful and we tend to equate success with outgoing people...
-
Jun 18, 2021How To Become More…
Dr. Robert Cialdini is the CEO of Influence at Work, the author of New York Times bestseller Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion, and an expert..
-
Jun 11, 2021When Establishing A Personal…
Establishing a personal brand is critical for future success. A muddled idea of who you are or what you can offer can mean a lot..
-
May 28, 20215 Ways To Quickly…
The world is constantly changing, and successful organizations adapt to new circumstances. The ability of organizations to adapt depends on their professionals being willing and..
-
May 21, 2021The Two Levels Of…
Faced with increasing challenges, there are new shifts and changes in today’s corporate world. High levels of competition, new technological advances, demographic adjustments, political turbulence,..
-
May 7, 2021Stop Using Job Titles…
Summary. What’s the first thing you focus on when applying to a new role or looking for a job? If you said job title, you’re..
-
Apr 16, 2021How To Answer This…
Where do you see yourself in five years? Anyone who thought they knew where their lives would be five years ago is probably re-evaluating their..
-
Apr 9, 2021Five Things Your Boss…
Your boss may be extremely clear in spelling out your job expectations, setting goals, adding to your do-list and measuring your performance, but she may..
-
Mar 26, 2021Top 10 Remote Online…
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an interruption for businesses around the globe. It is an unsettling time for everyone as we are all unsure of..
-
Mar 5, 2021Five Tips For Supporting…
I got into management earlier than many of my friends and colleagues, and now I find myself becoming the go-to resource for when they're struggling..
-
Feb 26, 2021Why Every Organization Today…
It’s time all organizations make what could be the most strategic decision in decades regarding organizational structure: Move the learning and talent development functions out..
-
Feb 19, 2021Body Language Tips To…
According to anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell, who pioneered the original study of nonverbal communication called "kinesics," face-to-face conversation is less than 35% verbal. In comparison, more than..
-
Feb 12, 2021How to Collaborate in…
How to adopt the “us versus the problem” rather than a “you versus me” mind-set. Your first step in resolving a conflict should be to..
-
Feb 5, 2021The First Four Things…
Ever find that it’s noon and you haven’t accomplished anything on your to-do list? Get a productive jump-start on the day with these tasks. I..
-
Jan 29, 2021Deep Work: Prioritizing Work…
Fascinated by habits and patterns, I started to observe and pay attention to find value in my day-to-day activities — the ones we always do..
-
Jan 22, 20216 Signs Your Teammates…
You can hire the best team in the world, but if they can't communicate well, you won't get very far. A business owner I know..
-
Jan 15, 2021Making Room At The…
Raising awareness is the key to inclusion. We’re all fighting against centuries of conscious and unconscious bias in the workplace. The first step is acknowledging..
-
Jan 8, 2021How To Overcome People-Pleasing:…
People-pleasers often find themselves doing things they don’t want to do and putting the needs of others ahead of their own. When they’re asked to do..
-
Dec 18, 2020How to Give Creativity…
Today’s organizations spend considerable time and energy selecting and recruiting creative talent. And rightly so. Creative employees help their organizations survive and remain relevant in..
-
Dec 11, 202014 Key Steps To…
As a member of a team, you have a responsibility to help your co-workers, just as you’d expect them to offer assistance when you need..
-
Dec 4, 2020It’s Not You: The…
People who are on the job hunt regularly feel dejected and disenchanted with the interview process. They'll point to a multitude of reasons as to..
-
Nov 20, 2020Storytelling Can Make or…
“It’s a new goal-setting framework.” That was one of my large enterprise clients’ attempt at an inspirational rallying cry for their rollout of Objectives and..
-
Nov 13, 2020You Only Need To…
When you’re in between jobs, it's an overwhelming experience. There’s an overflow of too much well-intentioned advice. Everyone’s telling you what you must absolutely do..
-
Oct 30, 2020How To Effectively Answer…
What do you do? It’s a question that comes up repeatedly at both virtual and in-person networking events. It’s a dreaded question. You tell people..
-
Oct 23, 2020Your Guide to your…
You walk through the revolving door of the lobby toward the elevator, soaking in your surroundings—there’s not a familiar face in the building. You straighten..
-
Oct 16, 2020The Art Of The…
“I blew it,” said my client, Deborah, a sales exec with a mid-sized tech company. Her conversation with another executive had not gone very well...
-
Oct 9, 2020Four Simple Self-Affirming Mind…
When you’re on the job hunt or navigating the upward trajectory of your career, sometimes you just need a little pep talk. It can be..
-
Sep 18, 2020How To Set Goals…
Back in the day, company leadership would decree their mission and hand down their goals to all their employees. While a few companies still do..
-
Sep 11, 2020Rebounding After A Job…
People have been furloughed or let go at alarming rates these past few months. Never before has the job market experienced this type of shift...
-
Sep 4, 20204 Morning Habits For…
Arguably, mornings are the most important part of the day. They can springboard us into a day filled with productivity and inspiration or trigger our..
-
Aug 28, 2020If You’ve Tried Hard…
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused devastation and destruction. It's not just a health crisis any longer. The outbreak and governmental measures enacted to deal with..
-
Aug 21, 2020New Study Shows Forming…
“Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone,” goes the song. For decades, singers have crooned about the power of smiling..
-
Aug 14, 2020How To Jump Start…
How To Jump Start Your Job Search With Advice From 15 Career Experts Like millions of other Americans and people throughout the world, you may..
-
Aug 7, 2020Why the month of…
As we put July firmly in the rearview mirror and enter August, I can’t help but reflect on how unique this month is every year...
-
Jul 31, 2020Here’s How You Can…
Here’s How You Can Be Indispensable At Work During the pandemic as workers adjusted to working from home as many people work even harder than..
-
Jul 24, 2020It’s Time To Take…
It’s Time To Take Control Of Your Career Why do so many people wind up in jobs that they regret, even when faced with so..
-
Jul 17, 202010 Things You Need…
10 Things You Need To Know To Win In Business And Life “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are..
-
Jul 10, 2020Landed Out Of Work?…
Landed Out Of Work? Ten Ways To Reset Your Mindset If you've been furloughed or laid off in recent months, you’re in the company of..
-
Jun 19, 2020Your Words Have Impact,…
Your Words Have Impact, So Think Before You Speak Do you know of those people who fly off the handle without stopping to think about..
-
Jun 12, 2020Why Empathy Is One…
Why Empathy Is One of the Most Overlooked Skills in Business It was a sunny day in April. The air was crisp and the walk..
-
May 29, 20203 Tips For Applying…
In a difficult job market, you may find yourself needing to consider job openings that wouldn’t be on your radar during normal times. While all..
-
Apr 24, 2020Job Hunt During Crisis
How To Job Hunt During The Coronavirus Pandemic Caroline CastrillonContributorCareersI write about career, entrepreneurship and women’s advancement. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over..
-
Apr 10, 2020How to Avoid Toxic…
The Zero-Sum Mindset: How to Avoid Toxic Thinking in Moments of Crisis Believing that in order to win, others must fail is a critical mistake..
-
Mar 21, 2020Build a Super Virtual…
Now’s The Time To Build A Virtual Super-Team. Here’s How. Before the SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 outbreak, millions of Americans worked from home. Suddenly, tens of..
-
Mar 13, 2020The Art Of Working…
The Art Of Working Remotely: How To Ensure Productivity Working remotely isn’t a new concept. People in all kinds of career fields have been doing..
-
Mar 6, 2020Effective Job Search
The Key To Carrying Out A Productive And Effective Job Search In my experience as a career coach, I have found that people who are..
-
Feb 21, 2020Benefits of Stay Interviews
Retain More Employees With Stay Interviews Employees are quitting in droves, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, backed up by hard data from..
-
Feb 7, 2020February Job Search
3 Things You Need To Know About A February Job Search There’s no bad time to look for a job, but there are seasonal trends..
-
Jan 31, 2020Promote Yourself Right!
3 Ways To Promote Yourself And Advance Your Career For Free In today’s digital world, if you don’t have a stellar social media presence, you..
-
Jan 24, 2020Hire Without A Resume
Hire Without Looking At A Resume We’re all more than what’s on our resume. But while a lot of leaders pay lip service to that..
-
Jan 17, 2020Meeting Don’ts
8 Things You Should Not Do In Meetings Meetings are perhaps the most powerful personal branding tool there is—when you master them. They also make..
-
Jan 10, 2020Soft Skills
What Are The Top 10 Soft Skills For The Future Of Work? The future of work is likely to herald a wide range of new..
-
Jan 3, 20202020 Resolution Hacks
Resolution Hacks That Actually Work It’s that time of year again, when we all make New Year's resolutions. But will this year be any different..
-
Dec 13, 2019Work-Life Integration
Move Over, Work-Life Balance. Hello, Work-Life ‘Integration’ As a busy executive, Margaret Keane has had to find creative ways to fit time with her family..
-
Dec 6, 2019December Job Search
3 Things You Need To Know About A December Job Search It’s impossible to predict what the 2020 job market will have in store for..
-
Nov 29, 2019Job Offer Management
How To Turn Down A Job Offer Without Burning Bridges Sometimes you have to make the difficult decision to turn down a job offer. It’s..
-
Nov 22, 2019Spend your day wisely
How To Spend Your Working Day Wisely And Actually Get Things Done Time doesn’t discriminate. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company with an overloaded..
-
Nov 15, 2019Transferable Skills
How To Prove You Can Do The Job, Even Without Direct Experience "Tell me about a time you...." As a career switcher, you may be..
-
Nov 8, 2019Career Challenges
7 Unexpected Career Detours That Can Benefit You When most professionals introduce themselves or create a LinkedIn profile, they appear to have a smooth, well-planned..
-
Nov 1, 2019Advance Your Career!
Four Myths You Should Ignore If You Want To Advance Your Career In today’s competitive corporate landscape, standing still is equivalent to moving backward. No..
-
Oct 11, 2019Personal Branding
Six Sacred Rules For Personal Branding In The Digital World Everything has gone digital – including you. The move to all things digital may have..
-
Oct 4, 2019October Job Search
3 Things You Need To Know About An October Job Search Seasonal timing has a large impact on a job search. It can work in..
-
Sep 27, 2019The Interview Question
The Interview Question You Need To Answer Right: ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ “I bombed the interview.” This was a message I got from a brand..
-
Sep 20, 2019Belonging At Work
Belonging At Work Is Essential—Here Are 4 Ways To Foster It In the complex study of human psychology, one finding is remarkably consistent: our well-being..
-
Sep 13, 2019Job Search Pitfalls
How To Avoid The Five Emotional Pitfalls Of A Job Search Spoiler alert: your job search will be anxiety-inducing, frustrating, and at times, painful. It..
-
Sep 6, 2019Back to Work
Summer's Over: Here's Why It's The Best Time For Job Seekers And Hiring Managers To Act Now Labor Day has come and gone, which means..
-
Aug 30, 2019Effective Time Management
11 Signs You're Not Managing Your Calendar Effectively Time to admit there's a better way to stay on top of your appointments. If you’re like..
-
Aug 23, 2019Great First Impression
How To Make A Great First Impression At Your New Job You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it count...
-
Aug 16, 2019Purpose And Values
How To Connect With Your Company's Purpose And Values Some employees feel fully inspired by their company's mission, vision and values. But they don’t just mindlessly glug the Kool-Aid—they connect on a deep,..
-
Aug 9, 2019Holiday Season Job Search
4 Reasons You Should Keep Up Your Job Search During the Holidays Now that the holidays are upon us, you may be considering taking a..
-
Aug 2, 2019After the Interview
What Not To Do After A Job Interview The waiting period after a job interview can be one of the most stressful times. You’ve done..
-
Jul 26, 2019Job Search Difficulties
3 Surprising Reasons Your Job Search Still Isn't Working It’s been months into your job search and you’re just about ready to pull your hair..
-
Jul 19, 2019Attitude vs IQ
Why Attitude Is More Important Than IQ When it comes to success, it’s easy to think that people blessed with brains are inevitably going to..
-
Jul 12, 2019Video Interviewing Tips
Video Interviewing: Lights, Camera -- But No Connection Nothing screams “personal” more than you on a 20-inch video monitor, beaming in from a remote location..
-
Jul 5, 2019Overloaded And Overwhelmed?
Overloaded And Overwhelmed? Four Things You Can Control When Your Workload Is Out Of Control Our research indicates a terrifying 43% of knowledge workers do..
-
Jun 28, 2019Successful People
13 Difficult Things Highly Successful People Learn To Do Young To invent a product, turn a profit or start a business is to be accomplished. To..
-
Jun 14, 2019Career Summer Checkup
A Career Summer Checkup For Professional Growth Whether you’re graduating college or gearing up for your first fiscal year-end performance conversation, the summer months represent..
-
May 31, 2019Thrive At Work
6 Steps To Unleash Your Inner Polymath And Thrive At Work In a previous article I explored some of the virtues of striving for a..
-
May 24, 2019Successful and Happy
The One Daily Action That Will Make You More Successful And Happier At Work In our fast-paced world where we have more to do than..
-
May 10, 2019How to Evaluate, Accept,…
Congratulations! You got the job. Now for the hard part: deciding whether to accept it or not. How should you assess the salary as well..
-
May 3, 2019Great Employees
What It Takes To Be A Great Employee: The Parable Of The Oranges Being a great employee pays off with better positions, higher pay, and..
-
Apr 25, 2019Your first Job
10 Essential Strategies To Succeed In Your First Job Congratulations, graduate! After the exhausting and stressful process of finishing school, searching for and landing your..
-
Apr 19, 2019Starting a New Job?
When You Start a New Job, Pay Attention to These 5 Aspects of Company Culture When you join an organization, you have a short window..
-
Apr 12, 2019How To Escape Procrastination
How To Escape The Procrastination Doom Loop When you imagine a highly productive person, you likely think of someone who focuses effortlessly on the job..
-
Apr 5, 2019Exceptional Employees
8 Clues That a Candidate Will be an Exceptional Employee Over the past 40 years, I have reviewed at least 30,000 resumes and LinkedIn profiles..
-
Mar 22, 2019Increase Employee Retention
4 Smart Ways to Increase Employee Retention Keeping your employees once you have them is a thorny problem in the staffing services industry. The difficulty..
-
Mar 15, 2019Things Happen!
Here's How To Recover From A Career Setback Whether you’ve botched an interview question, cancelled an important meeting last-minute or missed a typo in an..
-
Feb 27, 2019Sabotaging your job search?
8 Ways You're Sabotaging Your Job Search Following certain best practices can make or break you in your quest for the right job. Some bad..
-
-
Feb 1, 2019Your Social Media Profile
Here’s what recruiters look for on a candidate’s social media profile Maintaining the right balance between being professional and being yourself on social media can..
-
Jan 25, 2019Effective Job Interview
How to conduct an effective job interview As the employment market improves and candidates have more options, hiring the right person for the job has..
-
Jan 18, 2019Things You Should Never…
14 Things You Should Never, Ever Say In A Job Interview It’s always intimidating to interview for a new job, whether you’re fresh out of..
-
Jan 11, 2019Reasons for Leaving?
How To Answer Why You Left (Or Want to Leave) Your Employer If you want the job, don't reveal this. Job interviews are designed to..
-
Jan 4, 2019A good LinkedIn Summary
Here's how to write a LinkedIn summary that could help you land your dream job, according to a marketing director at LinkedIn You might approach..
-
Dec 14, 2018Stay Focused Through the…
14 Ways to Stay Focused at Work Through the Holidays We’re in the midst of the holiday season, and as you try to juggle parties,..
-
Nov 23, 2018Help Your New Hires…
3 Ways You Can Help Your New Hires to Succeed Filling a vacant position is expensive, and unless you do these three things, it's liable..
-
Nov 15, 2018A Successful Meeting
Three Ways To Prevent Someone From Stealing Your Spotlight In A Meeting We've all been there at one point or another. You're in a meeting,..
-
Oct 26, 2018Recruitment in Cyprus
Recruitment in Cyprus - Thoughts and Ideas from Advance Career Team Read the detailed interview published on TopJobsCyprus website and share your comments and ideas!..
-
Oct 19, 2018Find Career Clarity!
How To Find Career Clarity Using Three Top Career Theories Feeling like you need to make a career pivot because your job isn’t a good..
-
Oct 12, 2018Integrators VS Segmentors
Are your employees integrators or segmentors? An organization has both integrators and segmentors. Being a segmentor is a tough ask. If you choose to be..
-
Sep 21, 2018What Motivates You to…
What Motivates You to Work? That paycheck will never be big enough if it's the only reason you're going to work. Each of us respond..
-
Sep 14, 2018Update Your Resume
Updating Your Résumé Might Mean Updating Yourself It seems like a total no-brainer: you should update your résumé and online profiles when you are job..
-
Sep 7, 2018Tap Into Your Motivation!
Putting Yourself In Drive: How To Tap Into Your Motivation The one common component in every great success story is motivation: an ever-elusive elixir that..
-
Aug 31, 2018Enhancing your job search
How To Bounce Back When The Job Search Gets You Down With a dream job in mind, an updated résumé in hand and responses to..
-
Aug 17, 2018Social media can cost…
When 'What Happens In Vegas' Ends Up In Your Job Search What happens in Vegas really doesn’t stay there. That “funny” picture about that..
-
Aug 3, 2018Emotional Intelligence at Workplace
How To Develop More Emotionally Intelligent Employees In the quest to develop leaders who will foster a culture of equity and inclusion in the workplace,..
-
Jul 27, 2018Are you ready to…
The Difference Between People Who Succeed and People Who Flop Successful people charge forward, take calculated risks, and come out on top because of it...
-
Jul 6, 2018Hiring the right people?
5 Steps to Hiring the Right People for Your Business "Hire slow, fire fast" is great advice, but it's not always easy to follow. The..
-
Jun 29, 2018Ready for Entrepreneurial Success?
4 Entry-Level Jobs That Will Prep You for Entrepreneurial Success Success is a journey, not a destination, so think hard about where to start. Entrepreneurship..
-
Jun 22, 2018Simple Work-Life Balance
Work-Life Balance Is Simple. To Succeed at Work, Get a Life. With the right balance of health and business, entrepreneurs can maximize productivity. The Organization..
-
Jun 8, 2018Back On Track
How to get back on track when you’re having an unproductive day A rocky start shouldn’t dictate your entire workday. Do these things to reverse..
-
May 4, 2018Strategic Workforce Tools
Your Workforce Tools Are More Strategic Than You Might Think This is not a typical article about attracting talented job candidates or retention — while..
-
Apr 20, 2018Engagement Strategy
Don’t Let ‘Meaning’ Be Missing From Your Engagement Strategy Meaning is one of the five keys in building employee engagement and it may be the..
-
Apr 5, 2018Inclusion in the Workplace
Inclusion Doesn’t Mean Including Everything and Everyone Inclusiveness is not about thought policing. It’s also not about turning everyone into a liberal. It’s a normal..
-
Mar 30, 2018Inspire Change In Your…
4 Ways To Inspire Change In Your Employees Have you ever listened to a speech that inspired you so much, you were ready to make..
-
Mar 23, 2018Employees Feel and Act…
7 Ways to Incent Employees to Feel and Act as Owners Building accountability into your business culture is a leadership process. It can't be driven..
-
Mar 16, 2018Don’t Shuffle People Into…
Don't Shuffle People Into the Wrong Job Just Because They're Already on the Payroll You grow your company by putting proven performers where you need..
-
Feb 26, 2018Minimise Workplace Negativity
Tips for Minimizing Workplace Negativity To Deal with Negativity in the Workplace, Use These 9 Tips Nothing affects employee morale more insidiously than persistent workplace..
-
Feb 23, 2018Leadership Role but Unprepared…
You Were Promoted To A Leadership Role But You Feel Unprepared - Don't Panic You’ve been at the job for years. As much as you..
-
Feb 16, 2018Fail at Switching Jobs?
This Is the No. 1 Reason Why People Fail at Switching Jobs (and What to Do About It) There's a reason changing careers is so..
-
Feb 2, 2018A Technique To Get…
Didn't Get Your Dream Job? This 1 Technique Could Get You a Second Chance Every job seeker experiences this at least once, if not several..
-
Jan 26, 2018Prepare new employees for…
The Best Way to Set New Employees Up for Success Create an onboarding program that's both meaningful and memorable Congratulations; you've just hired a terrific..
-
Jan 19, 2018First Hour, Day, Week,…
Do This In Your First Hour, Day, Week, And Month Of Your New Job Getting settled into your new job is the ultimate act of..
-
Jan 12, 2018Make 2018 a Productive…
11 Expert Tips To Make 2018 Your Most Productive Year Ever Could eating cake for breakfast and never listening to your voicemail help you get..
-
Jan 5, 20187 Ways Modest Leadership…
7 Ways Modest Leadership Increases Team Success When we imagine the traits of successful leaders, whether they are managers, high level executives, CEO's or owners..
-
Dec 22, 2017Career Goals for 2018
How to Set Your Career Goals for 2018 and Achieve Them Each New Year offers the opportunity for a fresh start—and that includes your career...
-
Dec 15, 2017Employee stress during Christmas
Managing employee stress during the festive period More than half of employees feel stressed in the weeks leading up to Christmas, with most calling for..
-
Dec 1, 2017Appreciating your employees
How to Avoid the No. 1 Reason People Leave Their Jobs William James, the father of psychology, stated that the most fundamental psychological need is..
-
Nov 24, 2017HR Function in 2024
Will You Be Leading an HR Function in 2024? Here are five things to look at to examine and determine if you’ve got what it..
-
Nov 10, 2017Your Impact at Work!
What Is Your Impact? We keep throwing this word around called "impact." Do you know what your impact is and how would you define, discover,..
-
Oct 27, 2017Inspiring Career Advice
LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner's 3 Best Pieces of Career Advice Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn's CEO, has had nothing short of a successful career. After graduating from..
-
Sep 15, 2017Lost your Job?
Nine Things You Should and Shouldn't Do If You Lose Your Job Most of us wouldn’t think to associate the words "joblessness" and "fun," but..
-
Sep 8, 2017Why Risk Is A…
Why Risk Is A Necessary Component To A Successful Career - And How To Balance Risk With Reward Taking at least some risk is necessary..
-
Aug 16, 2017Write your first CV
It's all about potential: how to write a CV with no work experience Follow these tips to stand out among competing candidates – from research..
-
Aug 10, 2017Friends and Career
Being Too Busy for Friends Won’t Help Your Career Friendship matters. Everything we do to succeed in our careers is improved when we’re supported by..
-
Aug 4, 2017Is it time to…
The Best Ways to Reward Employees. Having an effective reward program in place can help solve many of your HR issues. Every company needs a..
-
Jul 28, 2017Burnout: exhausted or lonely?
Burnout at Work Isn’t Just About Exhaustion. It’s Also About Loneliness More and more people are feeling tired and lonely at work. In analyzing the..
-
Jul 21, 2017People don’t take HR…
People Don’t Take HR Seriously; Here’s Why That’s Dangerous Legacy beliefs like being the bad guy and a lack of strategic vision isolates HR, and..
-
Jun 30, 2017Career Development
Think Strategically About Your Career Development In a world where the average employee sends and receives 122 emails per day and attends an average of..
-
Jun 16, 2017Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity Doesn’t Stick Without Inclusion Leaders have long recognized that a diverse workforce of women, people of color, and LGBT individuals confers a competitive edge..
-
Jun 2, 2017Advance Your Career
How To Advance Your Career In A Crappy Entry-Level Job Yes, you can still bring yourself one step closer to snagging that dream job even..
-
May 8, 2017Interview Preparation
Interviews are generally regarded as the primary decision-making event in any recruitment process. Regardless of your academic credentials or career thus far, it is crucial..
-
May 2, 2017Employee Burnout
What causes burnout and how it can affect both the employees and the organisation How HR Can Help Prevent Employee Burnout An engaged workforce. It's..
-
Apr 3, 2017Interview questions you have…
Studies have shown that structured interviewing is more than twice as reliable a predictor of future employee performance than unstructured interviewing. That is why most..
-
Mar 19, 2012Job Search Tips That…
Cyprus unemployment has been steadily increasing monthly since 2008 and is getting closer to double digits (January 2012 Eurostat figure – 9.6%). However there are..