Gerald Walsh Associates

18 APR 2021

How to Find Out if an Employer is Right for You
By Gerald Walsh ©

Interviews are far from perfect. Think about it. You spend a couple of hours in meetings with the employer, where everyone is on their best behaviour. Then, if you are offered the job, you have another few days to consider it before you must decide if you should quit your current job and take this new one. You are being forced to make an important life decision...
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11 APR 2021

Why Am I Not Being Called For Interviews?
By Gerald Walsh ©

The Labour Standards Code (or equivalent) in every province specifies the minimum notice period you must give your employer should you decide to quit your job. For example, in Nova Scotia, you must give one week’s notice if you have worked with an employer between three months and two years.
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04 APR 2021

How Much Notice Should You Give?
By Gerald Walsh ©

The Labour Standards Code (or equivalent) in every province specifies the minimum notice period you must give your employer should you decide to quit your job. For example, in Nova Scotia, you must give one week’s notice if you have worked with an employer between three months and two years.
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28 MAR 2021

Try Writing a Failure Resume
By Gerald Walsh ©

Most of us don’t bother to reflect on our past and how we became the person we are. Or, if we do, we fool ourselves by only focusing on the good parts of the story—not on the failures and setbacks we may have experienced over the years. That’s why writing a “failure” resume can be helpful.
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21 MAR 2021

Confidence + Humility
By Gerald Walsh ©

Being confident in an interview is good so long as you don’t come across as arrogant. Humility is also good. It’s a positive character trait most people admire. But like too much confidence (arrogance), too much humility can rule you out as a job candidate. You need to find the right balance. In other words...
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14 MAR 2021

Working For a Younger Boss
By Gerald Walsh ©

We hear a lot about the challenges caused by demographics in the workplace. One that creates a lot of stress is when an older worker must report to a much-younger boss. If you find your self in this situation, rather than getting stressed out about it, why not find ways to make the relationship flourish? Here are a few tips.
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07 MAR 2021

Conduct a Post Mortem After Every Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

One of the best ways to improve your performance in future interviews is to deconstruct how the past interview just went. If you can, you should try to obtain pertinent feedback from the interviewer or recruiter. For example, not long ago, a candidate asked me for feedback. I was able to tell her that she might consider not relying on her notes as much because she came across as too scripted during the interview. She appreciated...
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28 FEB 2021

The Benefits of Working For A Small Company
By Gerald Walsh ©

I am a big fan of small business and always encourage young people to consider this route when thinking about where they will work. Many people (falsely) believe that a big company will provide lots of job security and offer a great career path. Nothing could be farther...
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21 FEB 2021

When Your Interview Goes Bad
By Gerald Walsh ©

During an interview, you should be on the lookout for signs the interview might be going badly for you. For example: 1. If the interviewer sticks to the script and asks no follow-up questions, it’s possible they have already decided ‘no’ and...
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14 FEB 2021

How to Prepare For a Second Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

For many jobs, the employer will want to interview you more than once before making the final hiring decision. The first interview—often conducted by HR—is primarily a screening interview to determine if you meet the minimum requirements of the job. When they have met...
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07 FEB 2021

How to Recover from a Poor Performance Review
By Gerald Walsh ©

A poor performance review—especially one that caught you off guard—can be devastating. You may experience a range of emotions like anger, embarrassment, denial, disappointment, confusion, or shock. You might even be worried...
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31 JAN 2021

Lies We Tell Ourselves When Looking for A Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Looking for a job can be frustrating especially when it’s taking longer than hoped. Sometimes there are legitimate barriers, like a weak economy. But more often the source of the problem is...
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24 JAN 2021

What College and University Students Can Do Now To Prepare For The Job Market
By Gerald Walsh ©

Without a doubt, the pandemic has affected the career plans of many people including students. But you shouldn’t let it sideline you altogether. If you are in college or university right now, yes, you should have some fun...
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17 JAN 2021

Don’t Let Anxiety Sabotage Your Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Most people experience some level of interview anxiety. For some, it’s noticeable like sweaty palms, a flushed face, or a shaky voice. For others, it’s less noticeable but still bothersome like a dry mouth or a pounding heartbeat. Why does this happen?
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10 JAN 2021

23 Buzzwords That Make My Head Explode
By Gerald Walsh ©

Many of you know I detest buzzwords and other corporate jargon. In many cases, these are terms invented by consultants who take an old idea, put a new label on it, make it as confusing as possible, and then sell you a solution.
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20 DEC 2020

My New Year’s Wish List
By Gerald Walsh ©

I am sure you will agree that 2020 has been an extraordinary year and no doubt many people will be happy it is over. As we mark the holiday season, many of us will look back over the past year and reflect. At the same time, we also look ahead to the coming year and think...
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13 DEC 2020

How To Impress Your Boss When You’re Not Receiving Feedback
By Gerald Walsh ©

Let’s face it: most managers are bad at giving feedback—whether it’s positive or negative feedback. This can be particularly unsettling if you are new to a job and looking for direction. So, how should you perform if you receive no feedback...
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06 DEC 2020

Are You A New Leader?
By Gerald Walsh ©

At one time, if you did your job reasonably well and behaved according to your boss’s norms and wishes, you would eventually get promoted into a leadership role. That’s all changed
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29 NOV 2020

12 Things To Remember When Starting A New Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Starting a new job can be exciting and stressful at the same time. It’s natural for doubts to creep in. Will you like your new job? Will your co-workers like you? Can you do the job? How can you make a good first impression?
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22 NOV 2020

What Should You Do If You Suddenly Lose Your Job?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Earlier this week at a local news radio station, eight people—including a couple I know well—lost their jobs unexpectedly. Admittedly, they are in an industry that is susceptible to economic swings. But it’s still a shock, and it brought to mind the question...
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15 NOV 2020

If Money Was No Object, What Would You Be Doing?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Which scenario describes you the best? 1. You work to finance the necessities of life: pay the rent, support your family, or fund your hobbies. You don’t want your work to interfere with your personal life. Loyalty to your employer is low and...
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08 NOV 2020

Why Am I Not Getting Interviews?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Has this happened to you? You apply for a job believing you meet all the requirements. Then you wait and wait for that call to schedule an interview. But it never comes.
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01 NOV 2020

How You Speak Matters
By Gerald Walsh ©

How you speak in an interview has a huge impact on how interviewers perceive you. Even the most qualified candidates run a huge risk of not getting the job when they speak in an unprofessional way.
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25 OCT 2020

Is Your Resume the Flip Phone of Resumes?
By Gerald Walsh ©

If you have been out of the job market for some time—but now find yourself looking for a job— simply dusting off (and using) your old resume could be a very unwise decision. Even if you are well qualified for many jobs, you might not get called for an interview if your resume looks dated. But how do you know?
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18 OCT 2020

Give Smart Answers to Strange Interview Questions
By Gerald Walsh ©

As if interviews weren’t stressful enough already, interviewers will sometimes lob a strange or silly question your way to see how you respond to an unexpected query. The stupidest questions (in my opinion) are ones supposedly designed to measure an aspect of your personality.
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11 OCT 2020

4 Pieces of Career Advice You Should Ignore
By Gerald Walsh ©

Parents, teachers, friends, co-workers—they are more than happy to give advice on your career. Although their intentions are good, sometimes you should just say “thanks” and move on.
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04 OCT 2020

Will My References Help Me Or Hurt Me?
By Gerald Walsh ©

While some people downplay the value of reference checking, most employers still check them. There are steps you can take to ensure your references work in your favour, not against you. Here are...
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27 SEP 2020

Mistakes People Make When Negotiating Their Starting Salary
By Gerald Walsh ©

Salary negotiations can be one of the most difficult steps in the job search process. For some, it’s a natural discomfort with talking about money. For others, it’s a fear of asking for too much (and losing the opportunity) or too little (and being underpaid).
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20 SEP 2020

What Is The Hidden Job Market?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Simply put, it is all those jobs (or potential jobs) that have yet to be advertised, such as: jobs that are still in the planning stages; jobs that will arise due to corporate reorganization or restructuring...
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13 SEP 2020

17 Simple Things That Can Make or Break Your Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Not long ago I sat with a search committee of a community-based organization while they interviewed candidates for an executive director position. One of the committee members was a former English teacher who had low tolerance for spelling errors and poor grammar. One of the candidates...
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06 SEP 2020

Is It Better to Use Email or Phone to Reach Potential Employers?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Most job seekers have a list of organizations they might like to work for. Ideally, you have a personal connection in those organizations—someone who can “open the door” for you. But often you do not know anybody who works there, so you must take it upon yourself...
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30 AUG 2020

How to Stand Out While Working From Home
By Gerald Walsh ©

Even though we haven’t had much (if any) face-to-face communication with work colleagues over the past six months, there are still several ways to stand out from the crowd...
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23 AUG 2020

Manage Your Time During the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question
By Gerald Walsh ©

Most interviews start with some version of the “Tell me about yourself” question. And most candidates respond to that question by describing their education and work history...
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16 AUG 2020

Don’t Tell Stories From The Good Old Days
By Gerald Walsh ©

There’s this principle in hiring that “past performance is the best predictor of future performance.” The principle is self-explanatory: If you have performed a certain way in the past...
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09 AUG 2020

How to Successfully Conclude a Job Search
By Gerald Walsh ©

Conducting an exhaustive search for a new job can be a lengthy and gruelling process. So, it’s not surprising that once you land that new job, your attention turns to the future. But your search...
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02 AUG 2020

When Things Go Bad During An Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

In an interview, you must be on the lookout for signs that things might be going badly—even if you think you are doing just fine. For example, you may be in trouble if the interviewer doesn’t try to sell you...
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26 JUL 2020

12 Things You Should Leave Off Your Resume
By Gerald Walsh ©

Employers often receive several dozen if not hundreds of resumes for job openings. Since they don’t have time to read each one carefully, they often look for reasons to reject an applicant. Typos, grammatical errors...
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19 JUL 2020

Write For Humans, Not Machines
By Gerald Walsh ©

We just finished a series of four job search webinars for newcomers to Nova Scotia who are registered in the Halifax Partnership’s Connector Program. In one of the webinars, we had several questions about applicant tracking systems such as...
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12 JUL 2020

Poor Time Management During the Interview Can Cost You the Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Every employer wants to have employees who can prioritize, organize, and plan their work. In job interviews, they will ask questions like: How do you decide which tasks to do first? How do you manage competing deadlines? Can you tell us about a time when you were late completing a task...
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05 JUL 2020

13 Traits of New-School Leaders
By Gerald Walsh ©

Old-school leadership used to be about “command and control.” The boss told you what to do and you (the employee) put your head down and did what you were told. Your best strategy was to behave according to your boss’ norms, wishes, and values. If you did this well...
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28 JUN 2020

How to Create a Personal Development Plan
By Gerald Walsh ©

One of the most challenging—but most useful—aspects of career planning is figuring out what skills you need to develop to advance your career. To do this you need to build your own personal development plan which is a process that helps you define what is important to you...
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21 JUN 2020

Increase Your Chances By Asking Good Questions In An Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Near the end of an interview, the employer will often ask if you have any questions for them. If you say ‘no’ your chances of getting the job offer will decrease. That’s because the employer could conclude you are...
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14 JUN 2020

How to Compete in a Highly Competitive Job Market
By Gerald Walsh ©

No one knows when things will return to “normal” but when they do there will be a lot of people competing for fewer jobs. The question is: How can you stand out? How can you differentiate...
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07 JUN 2020

How (And Why) To Write A Personal Vision Statement
By Gerald Walsh ©

I read a lot of books on personal development, growth, leadership, and so on. One of my all-time favourites is The Power of Full Engagement by authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. There is a wonderful quote in the book which is: The issue is not so much whether your life is providing you with a sense of meaning. The issue is whether you are actively using life...
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31 MAY 2020

Don’t Be Too Humble In A Job Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Humility is good. It’s a positive character trait that most people admire. But like too much arrogance, too much humility can quickly rule you out as a job candidate. During the interview, the employer needs to find out if you have the skills and experience to do the job. They need to find out if...
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24 MAY 2020

Job Searching During a Pandemic
By Gerald Walsh ©

In the not-too-distant future, things will become clearer. We will know which businesses did not survive and had to close. We will know which businesses discovered new opportunities and are now thriving. We will know...
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17 MAY 2020

The Benefits of Working For A Small Company
By Gerald Walsh ©

Many people believe that large companies provide lots of job security and offer a great career path. We’ve seen from the coronavirus that this is not true. While job losses have happened in both large and small companies...
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10 MAY 2020

Bouncing Back from Job Loss
By Gerald Walsh ©

In the last few months, millions of people found themselves without a job—through no fault of their own. Fortunately, governments have stepped in to offer some financial support. But these measures are only temporary...
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03 MAY 2020

You’ll Be Happier If Your Work and Values Align
By Gerald Walsh ©

After many years of interviewing and coaching people, I’ve concluded that the greatest cause of career unhappiness is when people are forced to work in conflict with their values. Interestingly, many of these same people incorrectly diagnose the cause of their unhappiness. They tell me that...
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26 APR 2020

Is It Time to Consider a Career with Greater Purpose?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Times of crisis and tragedy often make us introspective and give us an opportunity to reflect on our own lives. In doing so, many of us wonder about life’s purpose...
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19 APR 2020

What College and University Students Can Do Right Now
By Gerald Walsh ©

If you’re a college or university student whose career plans have been thrown into disarray by COVID-19, there still are steps you can take to prepare yourself for the job market...
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12 APR 2020

If Your Job Was Eliminated Tomorrow, Would You Be Ready?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Scary thought, isn’t it? What would you do? Are you ready to launch a search for another job – one that (hopefully) would give you the same level of satisfaction and reward as your current job?
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05 APR 2020

Make Your Video Interview As Good As An In-Person Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Right now—and for the foreseeable future—job interviews will mostly be conducted by Skype, Zoom, or some other video platform. As videos interviews replace the traditional in-person interview, it’s worth reviewing a few tips so you present yourself in the best light.
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29 MAR 2020

We’ll Get Through This Together
By Gerald Walsh ©

Two weeks ago, I was in a small restaurant in Port Williams, Nova Scotia called The Noodle Guy. At that time news was just starting to break about the rapid spread of the virus and the probable restrictions being placed on virtually every aspect of our lives. From a safe distance I had a quick conversation with the owner...
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22 MAR 2020

How to Manage Your Career in Unsettled Times
By Gerald Walsh ©

The speed by which COVID-19 has impacted businesses, economies, and jobs is unprecedented and no one really knows what the coming months will bring. Already, people in the several industries...
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15 MAR 2020

Should You Apply For A Job You’re Not Qualified For?
By Gerald Walsh ©

What should you do if you see a job you are interested in but under-qualified for? Should you just pass on it (like most people do)? Or, is there something you can do to get the employer to consider you even though you might not...
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08 MAR 2020

Write A Failure Resume To Learn About Yourself
By Gerald Walsh ©

“Tell us your greatest failure and what you learned from that failure” is a common interview question and one that catches a lot of people off guard. That’s because on our resume and in interviews we focus only on the positives...
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01 MAR 2020

10 Signs You’re Stuck in a Dead-End Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Let’s face it. Everybody has good days and bad days at work. Even if you’re in your “dream” job, there will be times when you wonder if...
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23 FEB 2020

The Perfect Job Will Rarely Drop in Your Lap
By Gerald Walsh ©

Most job seekers conduct their search by sitting at home and checking job boards. If they see a posting that interests them, they might apply. More often than not, they receive no response...
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16 FEB 2020

Five Things to Do if You Receive a Poor Performance Review
By Gerald Walsh ©

A poor performance review—especially one you are not expecting—can be devastating. You may experience a range of emotions including anger...
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09 FEB 2020

Five Regrets of the Dying
By Gerald Walsh ©

Last week’s blog How Will You Measure Your Life? about the late Professor Clay Christensen drew several lovely responses from readers who found meaning in Dr. Christensen’s words. Those responses brought to mind an article...
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02 FEB 2020

How Will You Measure Your Life?
By Gerald Walsh ©

This is the title of one of my favourite business books of all time. It was written by Professor Clayton Christensen, a renowned Harvard Business School professor...
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26 JAN 2020

Always Send a Thank-You Note
By Gerald Walsh ©

When hunting for a job you need to find ways to stand out. One easy way to get a leg-up on your competition is to write a simple thank-you letter...
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19 JAN 2020

Self-Promotion: Finding the Balance Between Mr. Rogers and Mr. Trump
By Gerald Walsh ©

Humility is an admirable quality for sure, especially these days when it seems like the airwaves and social media are filled with self-aggrandizing, narcissistic politicians taking credit for accomplishments they don’t deserve. But having too much humility, on the other extreme, can work against you...
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12 JAN 2020

Red Flags That Interviewers Watch For
By Gerald Walsh ©

Astute interviewers are doing several things during the interview. First, they are trying to make you feel comfortable and relaxed so you will enjoy the interview. Second, they are listening carefully...
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05 JAN 2020

Renewing Your Career at Mid-Life
By Gerald Walsh ©

At mid-career, you may begin to wonder if you are in the right job, and contemplate “Is this all there is?” As you think back over your career, you may recall the plans you had...
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22 DEC 2019

My 2020 New Year’s Wish List For The Workplace
By Gerald Walsh ©

The holiday season: the time of year when we look back on the year gone by and think about the peaks and valleys we experienced. It’s also the time to anticipate the coming year...
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15 DEC 2019

The Complete Resume Checklist
By Gerald Walsh ©

Employers don’t spend much time reading resumes. Most say they spend only 20 – 30 seconds. That doesn’t give you—the applicant—great odds of being selected for an interview...
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08 DEC 2019

Is There Really A Hidden Job Market?
By Gerald Walsh ©

The short answer is: Yes! Simply put, it is all those jobs (or potential jobs) that have yet to be publicized, such as...
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01 DEC 2019

How to Figure Out If A Company Is The Right Fit For You
By Gerald Walsh ©

Interviews are far from perfect. Think about it. You spend a couple of hours in meetings with the employer, where everyone is on their best behaviour. Then, if you are offered the job...
Read More

24 NOV 2019

How To Ace A Video Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

More and more interviews, especially initial ones, are being conducted via Skype or Zoom or some other video platform. For employers, it’s a quick, low-cost way to screen candidates. Usually, if the video interview goes well...
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17 NOV 2019

The Importance of Role Models in Your Career
By Gerald Walsh ©

Learning happens in many ways – from books, lectures, training programs, videos, workshops, etc. One of the best ways to learn is by...
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10 NOV 2019

Use A Personal Vision Statement to Direct Your Career
By Gerald Walsh ©

When people are unhappy in their jobs, they think it will be fixed by more money, extra vacation, a job closer to home, flexible work hours, or even a new boss...
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03 NOV 2019

Language Matters
By Gerald Walsh ©

How you speak in an interview has a huge impact on how interviewers perceive you. Even the most qualified candidates run a huge risk ...
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27 OCT 2019

Should You Ask for That Raise?
By Gerald Walsh ©

When job searching, most people sit at home (sometimes in their pyjamas) and check job boards. If something catches their eye, they might submit...
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20 OCT 2019

You’ll Never Find a Job Wearing Pyjamas
By Gerald Walsh ©

When job searching, most people sit at home (sometimes in their pyjamas) and check job boards. If something catches their eye, they might submit...
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13 OCT 2019

Don’t Sweat The Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Most people experience some level of interview anxiety. For some, it’s very noticeable like sweaty palms, a flushed face, or a shaky voice. For others...
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06 OCT 2019

What Successful Job Seekers Do Well
By Gerald Walsh ©

People often ask me what they’re doing wrong when it comes to finding a job. They worry that their resume is poorly written...
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29 SEP 2019

Should I List My Current Boss As A Reference?
By Gerald Walsh ©

I had an email a few days ago asking if employers consider it a "red flag" when an applicant provides references but excludes their present boss...
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22 SEP 2019

Why Am I Not Being Called In For Interviews?
Gerald Walsh ©

You apply for a job with optimism and excitement believing you meet all the requirements. Then you wait and wait for that call to schedule an interview. But it never comes...
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15 SEP 2019

If Your Job Was Eliminated Tomorrow, Would You Be Ready?
Gerald Walsh ©

Scary thought, isn’t it? What would you do? Are you ready to launch a search...
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08 SEP 2019

What Can College and University Students Do Now To Prepare For The Job Market?
Gerald Walsh ©

This blog is written primarily for students entering (or returning to) university or college—and for their parents...
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01 SEPT 2019

When Your Boss Is Younger Than You
Gerald Walsh ©

We hear a lot about demographics in the workplace and the challenges it creates. One that causes particular stress is when an older worker must report to a much-younger boss...
Read More

25 AUG 2019

What’s The Worst Career Advice You’ve Ever Received?
Gerald Walsh ©

This week I thought I’d flip it around and ask, “What’s The Worst Career Advice You’ve Ever Received?”...
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18 AUG 2019

In The End, You Will Regret The Risks You Never Took
Gerald Walsh ©

A friend of mine, Peter, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, approached me at an event recently...
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11 Aug 2019

What’s the Best Career Advice You’ve Ever Received?
By Gerald Walsh ©

The best advice I got happened early in my career when I worked in the banking industry...
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04 Aug 2019

Does the Timing of Your Interview Matter?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Is it better to be interviewed first? Or last? Or somewhere in between?
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28 July 2019

10 Behaviours That Could Get You Fired
By Gerald Walsh ©

We all misbehave occasionally. And while one slipup, on its own, might be overlooked by your boss...
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21 JUL 2019

Should You Use ‘I’ or ‘We’ in Job Interviews?
By Gerald Walsh ©

This question came up in a job search workshop I conducted recently. Honestly, I had never...
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14 JUL 2019

Didn’t Get the Job? What to Do Next.
By Gerald Walsh ©

It’s disheartening when you don’t get a job you really wanted. The news can be even harder to take if...
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07 JUL 2019

How to Prepare For a Second Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

For many jobs, the employer will want to interview you more than once before...
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30 JUN 2019

Old-School Leadership is Out
By Gerald Walsh ©

Old-school leadership used to be about “command and control.” As an employee, if you...
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23 JUN 2019

Useless Career Advice That Everyone Gives
By Gerald Walsh ©

One thing there is no shortage of is useless career advice from well-meaning friends, family, teachers, and career counsellors...
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16 JUN 2019

How to Keep Your Job if Your Employer is Signalling Downsizing
By Gerald Walsh ©

It may make no sense, but even in strong economic times some companies still downsize. Possibly the company is...
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09 JUN 2019

Use the Cover Email to Improve Your Job Chances
By Gerald Walsh ©

You may be surprised to learn many job applicants think that “Hey” is an appropriate greeting for an email...
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02 JUN 2019

10 Lies We Tell Ourselves When Looking for A Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Looking for a job can be terribly frustrating especially when it’s taking a lot longer than you hoped...
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26 MAY 2019

10 Signs You Should Not Take the Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Looking for a job requires a big investment of time and energy, and, in some cases, money. It can also be a long, drawn-out process...
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19 MAY 2019

What to Do if You Receive a Bad Performance Review
By Gerald Walsh ©

A bad performance review—especially one you are not expecting—can be devastating. The emotions you may experience include...
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12 MAY 2019

Treat Your Career Like A Business
By Gerald Walsh ©

Your career is like a business. It has assets and liabilities. It generates revenue and requires investment...
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05 MAY 2019

When Your Job Search Is Over
By Gerald Walsh ©

Conducting an exhaustive search for a new job can be a lengthy and gruelling process...
Read More

28 APR 2019

When Things Go Bad During An Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Even if you fully prepare for an interview, things can sometimes go horribly wrong...
Read More

21 APR 2019

The Benefits of Working For A Small Company
By Gerald Walsh ©

I am a big fan of small business and always encourage young people to consider this route when...
Read More

14 APR 2019

How Much Notice Should You Give?
By Gerald Walsh ©

The Labour Standards Code (or equivalent) in every province specifies the minimum notice period...
Read More

07 APR 2019

What To Do If You Are Overqualified For A Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

For some strange reason, employers view being overqualified for a job as a...
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31 MAR 2019

The 10 Most Frequent Job Searching Errors
By Gerald Walsh ©

Everyone makes mistakes now and then. But in a competitive job market, the smallest of mistakes, even a minor typo or grammatical error, can cost you...
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24 MAR 2019

Can I Buy You A Coffee?
By Gerald Walsh ©

When you are looking for a job (or to change jobs), it makes sense to reach out to potential employers to build your network, learn about...
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17 MAR 2019

The First Few Months of a New Job

Starting a new job can be stressful and you may begin to doubt yourself. Did I make the right move? Will my co-workers like me? Do I have...
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10 MAR 2019

Is It Ever Okay To Leave A Job Off Your Resume?
By Gerald Walsh ©

This question arose a couple of weeks ago in a conversation I was having with a career coaching client...
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03 MAR 2019

The 3 Most Common Reasons An Employer Will Not Hire You
By Gerald Walsh ©

There are only three possible reasons why an employer will not hire you. 1) You don’t have the right skills and experience. 2) You want...
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24 FEB 2019

The Interview Post Mortem: A Constructive Way To Get Better At Interviews

One of the best ways to improve your performance in upcoming interviews is to deconstruct how the past interview just went...
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17 FEB 2019

How To Explain Why You Were Fired From Your Last Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Being fired or terminated from employment can be embarrassing especially if your dismissal was due to poor performance or...
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10 FEB 2019

Write A Failure Resume To Really Learn About Yourself
By Gerald Walsh ©

If you are like everyone else, your resume shows off your best side—your qualifications, skills, successes, and accomplishments...
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03 FEB 2019

How To Make Your Boss Notice You
By Gerald Walsh ©

Have you been passed over for a promotion and not understood why? Instead of doing what most people do—blame the boss—why not take a honest look at yourself and ask...
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27 JAN 2019

Translate Your Interests Into Career Possibilities
By Gerald Walsh ©

Psychologist John Holland (1919-2008) pioneered one of the most commonly-used frameworks, called the Holland Code, to help people understand...
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20 JAN 2019

How To Answer The Dreaded Salary Question
By Gerald Walsh ©

What salary are you expecting? is perhaps the most sensitive of all the interview questions you may face. That is because most people...
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13 JAN 2019

Drinking From A Fire Hose Is A Really Bad Way To Get Hydrated - Seth Godin
By Gerald Walsh ©

Trying to find time to look for a job can be overwhelming. This can be especially challenging when you are trying to balance your job search activities with...
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06 JAN 2019

The Complete Resume Checklist
By Gerald Walsh ©

Your odds of being selected for an interview are low. Just look at the numbers. Many job postings attract over 100 resumes. The person reviewing the resumes spends...
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30 Dec 2018

My Top Blog Posts For 2018
By Gerald Walsh ©

As we get ready to move into 2019, here’s a quick look back at my top five blog posts of 2018. I look forward to sending you weekly posts in the coming year...
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23 DEC 2018

My 2019 New Year’s Wish List For The Workplace
By Gerald Walsh ©

The holiday season—for many of us—is the time of year for reflection. A time to look back over the year gone by and ponder the highs and lows we experienced, and contemplate...
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16 DEC 2018

Don’t Be Too Humble In A Job Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Humility is good. It’s a positive character trait that most people admire. But like too much arrogance, too much humility can...
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09 Dec 2018

8 Salary Negotiation Mistakes To Avoid
By Gerald Walsh ©

Negotiating a starting salary makes most people uncomfortable. For some, it’s a fear of asking for too much and losing the job opportunity. For others, it’s...
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02 DEC 2018

Don’t Ruin Your Job Interview With A Bad Handshake
By Gerald Walsh ©

Nothing builds a favourable impression in a job interview like a strong handshake and friendly greeting. The rules of handshakes are well-known but...
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25 NOV 2018

Phone Call Or Email: Which Is Better When Looking For A New Job?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Last week, we spoke about the value of building personal connections—people who can help “open the door” for you. But let’s say you are new to a community and do not have a long list of personal connections to give you introductions to...
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18 NOV 2018

Skip The Networking And Build Personal Connections Instead
By Gerald Walsh ©

The word “networking” often brings up negative emotions. For example, in my job search workshops, I ask participants what comes to mind when I say “networking” or...
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11 NOV 2018

Don’t Let Your Fears Prevent You From Reaching Your Career Potential
By Gerald Walsh ©

I encounter many people who are leading a “fear based career.” By this, I mean that many of their career decisions are governed by an underlying fear that prevents them from...
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04 NOV 2018

25 Buzzwords That Make My Head Explode (2018 Version)
By Gerald Walsh ©

Those of you who read my blog regularly will know that I detest buzzwords. My rationale is: Why use confusing words and phrases when you can just use plain, simple language that says...
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28 OCT 2018

Brain Teaser Questions Don’t Tell You Much About A Job Candidate
By Gerald Walsh ©

As if interviews weren’t stressful enough, some interviewers like to throw in a few brain teaser questions to see how job candidates respond to an unexpected query...
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21 OCT 2018

21 Simple Things That Can Make Or Break Your Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Small, seemingly-minor things can sometimes cause big problems. For example, last week I sat with a search committee of a community-based organization while they interviewed...
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14 OCT 2018

How To Assess A Company’s Culture—Before You Accept The Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

nterviews are an imperfect science. Think about it. You spend maybe one to three hours in meetings with the employer, where everyone is on their best behaviour...
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07 OCT 2018

Are You Ready For Your Job To Be Eliminated?
By Gerald Walsh ©

There are certain telltale signs your job (or your employment) may be eliminated. Perhaps you are being given fewer responsibilities or you are no longer invited to important meetings. Perhaps your colleagues and boss are...
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30 SEP 2018

Are You Feeling The Mid-Career Blues?
By Gerald Walsh ©

At mid-career, it’s not uncommon to question if you are in the right job, and wonder “Is this all there is?” As you ponder your career, you likely recall...
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23 SEP 2018

All Jobs Are Important
By Gerald Walsh ©

Honestly, I had never heard of the term “job shaming” until a few weeks ago. That’s when photos of Geoffrey Owens went viral. Owens, in case you don’t know, is a former actor on The Cosby Show sitcom from 1985 to 1992...
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16 SEP 2018

Take The High Road If You Get Fired
By Gerald Walsh ©

Our job plays many roles. It provides a sense of identity and status. It provides a structured framework around which we...
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09 SEP 2018

How To Work For A Boss Who Is Younger Than You
By Gerald Walsh ©

Many workplace changes made over the last decade have been welcomed by employees: flex time, telecommuting, healthy workplaces, variable benefits, casual dress, and others...
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02 SEP 2018

12 Work Habits That Can Harm Your Career
By Gerald Walsh ©

We all have habits we're not aware of, which may be annoying to our colleagues at work. It’s possible we’ve had these habits for years yet no one has ever told us about them...
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26 AUG 2018

10 Job-Search Rules You Can Break
By Gerald Walsh ©

I generally like to follow rules. It makes life easier. But sometimes rules become out of date and no longer make sense...
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19 AUG 2018

Do You Work For A Bad Boss Or A Good Boss?
By Gerald Walsh ©

There are plenty of really bad bosses out there: Bosses who rarely communicate...
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12 AUG 2018

10 Unmistakeable Signs It’s Time To Find A New Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Let’s face it. Everybody has good days and bad days at work. Even if you’re in your dream job, there are bound to be times when...
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05 AUG 2018

You’ll Never Find A Job Sitting At Home
By Gerald Walsh ©

When job searching, most people sit at home and check job boards. If something catches their eye, they might submit an application...
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29 JUL 2018

Can Self-Awareness Help In An Interview?
By Gerald Walsh ©

I’m going to take a slightly different approach to my blog this week. Rather than writing 600 - 700 words on a topic, I am going to suggest...
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22 JUL 2018

10 Tips to Help You Thrive in Your New Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Starting a new job can be exciting and stressful at the same time. And it’s natural for you to doubt yourself. Will I like my new job? Will my co-workers like me? Will I fit into their culture...
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15 JUL 2018

Should You Provide References Before Being Interviewed?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Some employment ads instruct you to include the names of your references when you submit your application. That’s right, even before you’ve had the first interview...
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08 July 2018

How To Create An Hour A Day To Focus On Your Job Search
By Gerald Walsh ©

It sounds incredible but many people never make the career shift they want because they don’t find the time to plan and execute a job search...
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01 JUL 2018

I Won The Lottery
By Gerald Walsh ©

No. I don’t mean Lotto 649. I won the birth lottery. What do I mean by that? It means I was lucky to be born in Canada, a peaceful, free and democratic country.
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24 JUN 2018

It’s Never Too Late
By Gerald Walsh ©

Does this sound like you? You’re at mid-career. You have a respectable job with a steady income and nice benefits – yet you still feel dissatisfied with what you’re doing...
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17 JUN 2018

Make Your Skype Interview As Good As Your In-Person Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

For first interviews, employers will usually interview candidates in person, if they live nearby. Candidates who live out of town will likely be interviewed by Skype...
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10 JUN 2018

What Does ‘Fit’ Really Mean?
By Gerald Walsh ©

When employers interview candidates for jobs, they are trying to answer three questions: 1) Do you have the necessary technical skills to do the job? 2) Does your past experience qualify you for the job?...
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27 MAY 2018

Don’t Let Your Eulogy Say You Played It Safe
By Gerald Walsh ©

A friend of mine, Peter, who I hadn’t seen in a while, approached me at an event recently. I put out my right hand to shake hands with him but...
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20 MAY 2018

Leadership Is A Marathon
By Gerald Walsh ©

This is Blue Nose Marathon weekend in Halifax, NS. If you’re reading this on Sunday morning, right now there are about 10,000 – 12,000 people out on the streets of Halifax running (or walking) either the 5K, 10K, 15K, half-marathon (21K), or full marathon (42K).
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13 MAY 2018

Relax And Put Your Best Foot Forward In Job Interviews
By Gerald Walsh ©

Almost daily, I see well-qualified candidates undersell themselves in job interviews because they let their nerves get the better of them...
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06 MAY 2018

Should You Use ‘We’ or ‘I’ When Answering Interview Questions?
By Gerald Walsh ©

This question came up in a job search workshop I conducted this week. Frankly, I had never seriously considered the question before. After all, they’re just two small pronouns. What difference could it possibly make...
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29 APR 2018

Avoid Making Career Decisions You’ll Later Regret
By Gerald Walsh ©

Many people wander through their career aimlessly. They move from one job to the next without a clear sense of purpose until one day...
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22 APR 2018

The Coffee Break Story
By Gerald Walsh ©

If you recall, I spoke about Paul – a person I worked with early in my banking career – who through his own misfortunes taught me about the value of having many career options available...
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15 APR 2018

What’s The Best Career Advice You’ve Ever Received?
By Gerald Walsh ©

A few days ago, somebody asked this question on Twitter: What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? It got me thinking back to my banking days...
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08 APR 2018

Should You Apply For A Job You're Not Qualified For?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Years ago, I met a young environmental engineer who had just graduated from university. He had come from an informational interview...
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01 APR 2018

How Non-Verbal Communication Influences The Outcome Of An Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

How you carry and present yourself in an interview does count. Even if you have impeccable qualifications and great answers to the interviewer’s questions...
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25 MAR 2018

How To Improve Your Interview Performance
By Gerald Walsh ©

One of the best ways to improve your interview performance is to dissect how the past one just went...
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18 MAR 2018

8 Tips To Build Better Relationships With Recruiters
By Gerald Walsh ©

The terms executive search firms, executive recruiters, employment agencies, placement firms, and head-hunters all mean the same thing...
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11 MAR 2018

Illegal Interview Questions And How To Respond
By Gerald Walsh ©

When hiring, employers cannot discriminate based on age, race, colour, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ethic, national, or aboriginal origin, family or marital status, irrational fear of contracting an illness, source of income, association with protected groups or individuals, and political affiliation...
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04 MAR 2018

The Answers To Readers' Questions
By Gerald Walsh ©

Q. I have decided to take a few years off while my children are young but anticipate re-entering the workforce maybe five or seven years down the road. Is there any strategy you would recommend I follow so I don’t fall too far behind...
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25 FEB 2018

Avoid These 8 Salary Negotiation Mistakes
By Gerald Walsh ©

Talking about money makes most people uncomfortable, especially when it’s your own starting salary you’re talking about...
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18 Feb 2018

How To Turn Around A Bad Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Despite our best efforts, interviews sometimes go horribly wrong. Many times, you will know what happened. Perhaps you misjudged...
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11 FEB 2018

‘Follow Your Passion’ Is Awful Career Advice
By Gerald Walsh ©

I just finished reading an excellent book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport in which he discredits the firmly-held belief that ‘follow your passion’ is good career advice. This book is a great read ...
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04 Feb 2018

The Best Questions To Ask At The End Of Each Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

Whenever I ask a job candidate “Do you have any questions for me?” and they say they don’t, I am always disappointed. That’s because they’ve lost a good opportunity to...
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28 Jan 2018

20 Questions That Will Help You Determine Your Ideal Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

A number of people start their job search without knowing what type of job they want. This has all sorts of problems associated with it...
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21 Jan 2018

10 Behaviours That Can Derail Your Career
By Gerald Walsh ©

Have you been passed over for a promotion or not received the raise you wanted? If so, for most people, their first inclination is to blame...
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14 JAN 2018

Can You Quit A Job Before You Start?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Some time ago I had this question asked of me: Last week, I accepted a job offer with a new employer which I had planned to start in three weeks. I have now just received an offer from another company. This was the offer I really wanted to get...
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7 JAN 2018

Your Cover Letter Can Be More Important Than Your Resume

I’ve written about cover letters before but today I want to give you a specific example of how important they are. We are just now doing a search for...
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31 DEC 2017

My Top Blog Posts For 2017

As we get set to start a brand new year, here’s a quick look back at our top five most popular blog posts in 2017. I look forward to sending weekly posts in 2018...
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23 DEC 2017

My 2018 New Year’s Wish List for the Workplace

For most of us, the holiday season is the time to look back over the year gone by and think about the highs and lows we experienced. It is also...
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17 DEC 2017

7 Pieces of Career Advice You Should Absolutely Ignore

Parents, teachers, friends, co-workers – they all share one thing in common: they are more than happy to give you advice on your career. Even though they are well meaning...
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3 DEC 2017

When Things Go Wrong In A Job Interview

Airline pilots, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics all train for things that can go wrong. If they are properly trained and an emergency arises, their response...
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26 NOV 2017

Should You Ever Quit Your Job Before Having Another One Lined Up?

Quitting your job when you don’t have another one lined up can be frightening. You think: How will I pay the bills? How will I explain it to a potential employer? Will it look like I’m a quitter or worse...
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19 NOV 2017

What To Do When You Don’t Get The Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

It’s always disheartening when you don’t get a job you really wanted. The news can be even more demoralizing if you’ve been looking for a job for a long time and have received several rejections. Most people will tell you...
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12 NOV 2017

Should You Agree To An Exit Interview After You Quit Your Job?
By Gerald Walsh ©

Let’s say you just quit your job to move onto another one with brighter prospects for growth and more pay. You’re spending your final weeks...
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5 NOV 2017

How To Impress Your Boss When You’re Not Receiving Feedback
By Gerald Walsh ©

Let’s face it: most managers are bad at giving feedback whether it’s positive or negative. This can be particularly unsettling...
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29 OCT 2017

12 Things You Should Leave Off Your Resume
By Gerald Walsh ©

Are you sending out resume after resume and hearing nothing back? Quite possibly it’s because you don’t have the right background or skill set that particular employer is looking for...
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22 OCT 2017

What To Say And How To Behave In A Networking Meeting
By Gerald Walsh ©

So, what should you say and how should you conduct yourself in one of these meetings? Keep in mind that your primary goal is to obtain information and advice from...
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15 OCT 2017

Try This Approach To Get In Front Of Potential Employers
By Gerald Walsh ©

When job searching, one activity you should consider is targeting specific organizations that are of interest to you. Ideally, you have someone who...
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8 OCT 2017

10 Tips To Master A Skype Interview
By Gerald Walsh ©

I’ve been interviewing a lot of candidates by Skype lately. And it’s not that people are doing anything really bad...
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1 OCT 2017

20 Signs It’s Time To Look For A New Job
By Gerald Walsh ©

Are you having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Constantly frustrated with the people you work with? Find...
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24 SEP 2017

8 Tips For Staying Calm In A Job Interview

Everybody gets a bit nervous before or during an interview. So you’re not alone. For some, it will be very minor like experiencing a dry...
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10 SEP 2017

I am a big fan of small business and I always encourage young people to consider this option when thinking about where they will work. Here is why working for a small business can help...
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3 SEP 2017

University is a time to learn, have some fun, and make new friends. It’s true – your course selection is important. But...
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27 AUG 2017

Applying for jobs is time consuming. Like every step in the job search process, you have to give it sufficient time to ensure you present yourself favourably, but not so much that ...
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20 AUG 2017

“I was let go in my last job and feel very embarrassed about it. I have never been dismissed before and I have never been ...
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13 AUG 2017

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that most are written from the perspective of the job seeker. That’s intentional because, frankly, most people need guidance in this area...
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6 AUG 2017

How And Why To Write A Personal Vision Statement

Many people can recite (reasonably well) their employer’s vision statement. But if you were to be asked What is your personal vision statement? How would you answer?...
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30 JUL 2017

Use Your Phone (Not Email) To Get In Front Of Potential Employers

Targeting specific companies that you might want to work for is one of the most worthwhile steps in your job search. Under ideal circumstances, you will have a personal connection...
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23 JUL 2017

Lies We Tell Ourselves When Job Hunting

Every day I see well-intentioned job seekers become frustrated by their lack of success in the job hunt. True, there are barriers ...
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9 JUL 2017

10 Bad Habits That Can Cost You Your Job

We all have bad habits. And while one bad habit, on its own, might not be the end of the world and can often be overlooked by your boss...
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25 JUN 2017

When An Employer Says You’re Not The Right Fit … What Does That Mean?

When employers interview candidates for jobs, they are trying to answer three questions: 1) Do you have the necessary hard skills to do the job? 2) Is your past experience suitable for the job? ...
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18 JUN 2017

Starting a new job can be exciting and stressful at the same time. And it’s natural for doubts to creep in. Will you like your new job? Will your co-workers like you?...
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11 JUN 2017

I know of many people who would happily go on job interviews “just for the practice.” They argue that you shouldn’t worry about wasting the company or interviewer’s time. They claim that many companies...
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04 JUN 2017

Many of you will know from previous blogs that I am a strong advocate of using plain language on resumes and in interviews. Simple, clear words – that say what you really mean – are far more effective than confusing, overused jargon...
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28 May 2017

While some people downplay the value of reference checking, most employers still check them. Knowing this, there are steps you can take to ensure your references work in your favour, not against you...
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21 May 2017

I read in The Globe & Mail this week about a person who was made a verbal job offer in the morning, only to have it rescinded that same evening. Unfortunately, in the interim, he resigned from his current job...
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14 MAY 2017

Quitting your job to take a new one is seldom easy. Even if your new job pays more money, reduces commute time, and offers more room for growth, it can still be difficult to leave your current employer...
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07 MAY 2017

For some time, I’ve been curious about why people do not pursue career paths that will make them happy and then end up – at the end of their careers – regretting their choices...
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30 APR 2017

That title may sound familiar. It is a quote taken from Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. I've chosen it because understanding your past is vital to moving ahead in your career. But getting to an understanding of who you really are...
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23 APR 2017

Old style leadership used to be about “command and control.” If you put your head down, did what your boss said, and didn’t ruffle any feathers, you eventually would make your way up the corporate ladder. Your best strategy was...
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09 APR 2017

When job hunting, you will encounter a variety of interview formats and you should be prepared for each type. Here are the most common ones...
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02 APR 2017

Scary thought, isn’t it? What would you do? Are you ready to launch a search for another job – one that (hopefully) would give you the same level of satisfaction and reward as your current job?
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26 MAR 2017

I’d like you to think about your skills and abilities and answer honestly: If you had to change jobs, could you compete effectively against other people in the job market?
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12 MAR 2017

There are reasons why some people are more successful than others in their job searches. It is not just luck, or because they have better qualifications or more experience. It is usually...
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05 MAR 2017

Job searching – whether you are currently employed or not – can be a long, arduous process. So it’s not surprising that once you land that new job, your attention turns to the future. Understandably, you want to...
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19 FEB 2017

Parents, teachers, friends, co-workers – they all share one thing in common. Whether asked or not, they are more than happy to give you advice on your career. Even though they are well-intentioned, sometimes it’s better...
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19 MAR 2017

I want to talk about some of the bad habits that can cause you to be fired, passed over for promotion, turned down for a job, or refused the raise you wanted. When these things happen, the first inclination often is...
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12 FEB 2017

Resigning from your job is seldom easy. Even if your new job pays a lot more money, reduces your commute time, and offers room for...
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29 JAN 2017

Some employers like to read cover letters; other employers just ignore them. Personally, I believe they are an important part of the job search process...
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22 JAN 2017

Those of you who work in marketing or studied it in school will recognize the 4Ps of marketing – product, promotion, place and price – otherwise known as...
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15 JAN 2017

Despite our best efforts, interviews sometimes go horribly wrong. Here is a question sent to me which illustrates that point...
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08 Jan 2017

With one in five jobs in Canada dependent on trade with the United States, the election of Donald Trump has injected a lot of angst into the Canadian job market. While no one knows just what the economic impact is going to be, a lot of businesses are...
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01 JAN 2017

Making the decision to look for another job can be disruptive to your career, your reputation and your family. You may lose friendships and income and run the risk of blemishing your resume if you move to the wrong job. But staying in your present job can be even worse...
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18 Dec 2016

At this time of year – when things are less busy – we tend to reflect on the year gone by, thinking about the highs and lows we experienced and what we have learned from those times. For me, some of the highlights included:
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11 Dec 2016

Your career is like a business. It has assets and liabilities. It generates revenue and requires investment. It has customers and competition. It has a life cycle and goes through phases...
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04 Dec 2016

Q. I was pleased to receive a job offer recently but after thinking about it for a few days, I decided to turn it down. When I spoke to the hiring manager and told her the news, she asked if I would be open to another offer. I told her “no thanks.” I had already made my decision...
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27 Nov 2016

We all make mistakes. We forget to call someone. We miss an appointment. We say stupid things in job interviews. When mistakes occur, two things should happen...
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20 Nov 2016

Employers want to hire people with well-developed skills and whom they feel will be a good fit for their organization. But sometimes even the most qualified candidates commit blunders in the interview that rule them out immediately from further consideration. Here are seven big ones you want to avoid.
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13 NOV 2016

If you are like most people, you’ve experienced some level of interview anxiety. For some, it’s very noticeable like sweaty palms, a flushed face and a shaking voice. For others, it’s less noticeable – but still bothersome – like a feeling in the pit of your stomach, a dry mouth or a pounding heartbeat.
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30 OCT 2016

Take a look at each of these scenarios and decide which one most closely describes your relationship to your work.
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23 OCT 2016

Which fork should I use? Is that my bread on the left? Is it okay to have a glass of wine? You may not worry about these things if you’re having lunch with friends, but if it’s over lunch with a prospective employer, you better get it right.
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13 OCT 2016

You should always remember that interviewing is a two-way street. The employer is asking questions of you to learn about your background, experience and skills to determine if you are a good fit for their organization.
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02 OCT 2016

As if interviews weren’t stressful enough already, interviewers will sometimes lob a bizarre question your way to see how you respond to an unexpected query. How you handle those questions says a lot about you, even though you may think of them as strange or silly. Let’s start with the stupidest of questions (in my...
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25 SEP 2016

In my search practice, I conduct a large number of first interviews by Skype. While I don’t keep track of the exact numbers, my guess is that about 25 per cent of my interviews are conducted that way. I can only see this trend continuing as the travel costs to bring candidates in for initial...
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18 SEP 2016

In last week’s blog, I spoke about the importance of targeting specific organizations that you might want to work for. Remember, your goal in approaching companies directly is to obtain a meeting – ideally in person – to introduce yourself, learn about specific careers, and generally network with the person you are meeting to uncover...
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11 SEP 2016

Targeting specific organizations that you feel you might want to work for is one of the most valuable steps in your job search. Ideally, you will have a personal connection – someone who can “open the door” for you – but if you simply cannot find anyone to give you a referral, you will have...
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04 SEP 2016

The short answer is: Yes! Simply put, it is all those jobs (or potential jobs) that have yet to be publicized. It contains: Jobs that are still in the planning stages; Jobs that will arise due to corporate reorganization or restructuring; Jobs that will open up due to retirements, resignations, promotions, or transfers; Jobs that...
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28 AUG 2016

When looking for a job you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. There is no sense in trying to blend in and be part of the scenery. You need to be different, hopefully in a positive way, so that employers will remember you. One obvious way to give yourself a leg-up...
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21 AUG 2016

There are three possible reasons why an employer will not hire you. They are pay, experience and fit. If it’s pay, you’ll hear the employer say something like: We can’t pay you what you want. If it’s experience, they say: You don’t have enough experience or You don’t have the right skills for what we...
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14 AUG 2016

Does this sound like you? You’re now about halfway through your career. You have a decent job with a respectable income, nice benefits and comfortable surroundings. You’re well regarded for what you do and your future is relatively secure. But deep down, you’re feeling less than satisfied with what you’re doing. For some reason, that...
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07 AUG 2016

Not using social media in your job search today is the same as not using the telephone while job searching in the 1990s. It is an indispensable tool that has to be used intelligently to promote yourself and to engage with the right people. This is particularly relevant because most employers and recruitment firms now...
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31 JUL 2016

Most people hate the thought of networking. For example, when I ask participants in my job search workshops what comes to mind when I say “networking” or “networker,” they come up with words like ruthless, big-talker, gossiper, slick, devious, tricky, disingenuous, and a bunch of other words I can’t repeat here. No one wants to...
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17 JUL 2016

All provinces in Canada as well as the federal government have laws that protect individuals from discriminatory hiring practices. This means that, when hiring, employers cannot discriminate in any way based on age, race, colour, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ethic, national or aboriginal origin, family or marital status, irrational fear...
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10 JUL 2016

Making the decision to look for another job can be disruptive to your career, reputation and personal life. You may lose relationships and income and blemish your resume if you make the wrong career move. But the alternative – staying in your present job because you fear the uncertainty of a move – can be...
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03 JUL 2016

Once the initial excitement of accepting a new job has worn off, it’s time to think about how you can start off your new job on the right foot. At this stage – for many people – doubts start to creep in. Will I like my new job? What will the people be like? Will...
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26 JUN 2016

It’s hard to argue with Steve Jobs’ success but he certainly sparked a hot debate with his follow-your-passion commencement speech to Stanford University graduates in 2005. In that speech – which focused on three stories from Jobs’ personal experience – he said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and...
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19 JUN 2016

The terms executive search firms, executive recruiters, employment agencies, placement firms, and head-hunters all mean the same thing. These firms work for employers to source and screen candidates for job openings. Now, here’s the problem. Some of you will mistakenly believe that a recruitment firm (a collective name for the above) will find you a...
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12 JUN 2016

We all know people who are quite content working “9-to-5” and collecting a regular pay cheque every two weeks. Now, I am sure most of you reading this blog do not fall into that category. You have the desire to grow both professionally and personally throughout your career and your life, perhaps even stretching for...
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05 JUN 2016

The part of my role as an executive recruiter that I like the least is calling candidates to tell them they did not get the job. No one likes delivering bad news – me included – but it is a necessary part of the process. Plus, I know it is better to be upfront and...
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29 MAY 2016

Every day I see intelligent people make serious mistakes when they look for a job. And this doesn’t just apply to young people entering the job market for the first time. I see candidates for very senior-level jobs write inadequate resumes, prepare poorly for interviews and present themselves badly in front of prospective employers. Frankly,...
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22 MAY 2016

Mistakes People Make When Negotiating Their Starting Salary

Salary negotiations can be one of the most difficult steps in a job search process. For some, it’s a natural discomfort with talking about money. For others, it’s a fear about asking for too much (and losing the job opportunity) or for too little (and being underpaid). Mistakes made at this point in the search...
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15 MAY 2016

The 8 Best Ways to Leave a Lasting Impression in an Interview

Employers want to hire people they like and whom they feel will be a good fit for their organization. In fact, employers often reject candidates with strong technical skills but come across as arrogant, in favour of candidates who are likeable but with fewer technical skills. Now I know most of you are both competent...
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08 May 2016

8 Behaviours That May Be Damaging Your Career

Have you ever felt angry at being passed over for a promotion? Or felt the disappointment of not receiving the raise you wanted? And when you feel these emotions, do you look for someone else to blame? I bet, if you’re like most human beings, your first inclination is to blame your employer. After all,...
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16 DEC 2015

It’s that time of year again – the time when we reflect on the year gone by and plan for the coming year. I’ve decided to join in too and prepare my own list of wishes for the workplace in 2016. I wish …. That businesses start caring for people (their customers and employees) and...
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27 APR 2015

Some people know – from a very young age – what they want to do with their career. But there are others who never really figure it out. Most are working simply to pay the bills. The hours drag on, the bosses are intolerable, and “living for the weekend” becomes their mantra. It’s easy to...
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05 JAN 2015

Let’s say you have a big interview coming up next week for a job you’re really interested in. You know you want to be at the top of your game and excel in all respects. Here is a list of ten essential things you must do to use your preparation time wisely and to get...
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22 JUL 2014

One of the best ways to retain key employees is to give them interesting and challenging things to do. When you expose high-potential staff to development opportunities, you help them learn. In turn, you increase your pool of leadership talent and you reduce the risk and cost of turnover. But with organizations slimming down, how...
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13 FEB 2014

Not long ago, candidates competed with one another for jobs. Now employers compete with other employers for good candidates. A case in point: Recently, we conducted two searches for senior financial professionals for a client. After a two-month search, the company made highly competitive offers to two early-career, high potential individuals. Only after these offers...
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16 JAN 2014

No organization can afford to have under-performing employees. Yet many managers turn a blind eye to mediocre employee performance hoping that somehow the problems will go away. They rarely do and the consequences of this inaction can be grave. Here are eight reasons why employees under-perform and possible courses of action you can take as...
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09 DEC 2013

We know hiring mistakes are expensive. Some say the real costs can range from two to four times the person’s salary. When you add up the cost of under-performance, severance costs to let the person go, recruiting costs to find a replacement, and the overall impact on employee morale, you can see how these costs...
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20 OCT 2013

Many companies already know that compensation, while important to employees, is not sufficient on its own to attract and retain the best workers. So what do the top candidates look for when they are thinking of joining your company? What will keep your best employees excited about their work and not looking for another job?...
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09 JUL 2013

Reference checking, like many parts of the hiring process, is a quagmire. Concerns of being sued by former employees, who have been denied employment because of negative references, cause many employers to offer nothing more than “name, rank and serial number” to reference checkers. Despite these frustrations, all employers agree that checking references is essential...
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05 MAY 2013

Have you ever wondering how so many intelligent people could have been swindled out of billions of dollars by Bernie Madoff? How so many well-educated investors, analysts and bankers could have been duped by the now-convicted criminals who ran Enron? How so many wise world leaders could have be convinced that weapons of mass destruction...
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05 APR 2013

Quitting your job is not easy. Leaving co-workers whom you like and often, several years of emotional investment in an employer is difficult, even if the job you’re going to offers you more pay, is closer to home, and presents greater career potential. In my 20+ years as an executive search consultant, I’ve concluded that...
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05 FEB 2013

The theory goes that you spend your time where you receive the greatest return. That’s what good sales people do: they focus their attention on those customers who buy, or will potentially buy, the most products from them. Unfortunately, it seems when managing staff this theory doesn’t hold. In fact, I would venture to guess...
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05 DEC 2012

Companies want to hold on to their brightest and best employees. So why is it that most companies don’t notice that an employee is unhappy until after they give their notice? What can be done to reduce the risk of losing talented workers to other organizations? Here are a few tips you might consider to...
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05 AUG 2012

Many managers understand the worth in showing appreciation to their employees, yet struggle with how to implement an employee recognition process. Why wait to establish a formal recognition program when there are so many informal ways in which you can achieve the same goal? Informal and unexpected acts of recognition are also often more meaningful....
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05 JUL 2012

In sports, visualization is used all the time to influence future performance. For example, golfers are told to picture their putt dropping cleanly into the cup. Basketball players are coached to think about their foul shots swishing through the net. Marathon runners are encouraged to focus on what “it’s going to feel like” when they...
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05 MAR 2012

One person that you should never attempt to prove wrong is your boss. Even if you are absolutely right. I learned this lesson the hard way several years ago, long before I entered the human resource field. Then, I was working for a major bank. I had prepared a lengthy report assessing the financial position...
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