As a part of my own job search I read a lot of articles about things like networking, cover letters, resumes, interviews, etc. One thing I try to do to help others in the same boat is by aggregating these into my on-going series of “Article Aggregate” posts. For reference, I try to post one of these about every 5-7 days.
- If your material is mentioned here – and there are a lot of people whose good work I try to capture – please RT this broadcast to reach and help others.
- If you contact one of the people / organizations mentioned because of my post (e.g., a resume consultant, a job search coach, etc.) please tell them you heard about them through me.
- If you tweet one of the links here specifically, please include me in your tweet (i.e., by adding “via @davidhuntpe” to the tweet) – and consider following me: @davidhuntpe
- Please check out my Original Essays; shares welcomed and encouraged.
- In general, if you like what you see please spread the word about my blog: https://davidhuntpe.wordpress.com
(Plug: If you really like this aggregate – and consider that I put a fair amount of time into this! – please check out my SRG page; buy from my affiliates who pay me a commission. If you’re not feeling commercial, consider giving to one of the charities I support. Or take a look at the kind of places I’m looking for work – perhaps you know someone, or know someone who knows someone, who works there; an introduction would be welcomed!)
Thanks!
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SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION
In shameless self-promotion mode, I’m going to start putting links to the last two Original Essays I’ve published here at the top. Reverse-chronological order. These will, of course, change as I publish new ones.
Show Me the Stupid
https://davidhuntpe.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/3138/
** Every company has them: those policies, practices, or just things-that-happen that make an outside observer do a facepalm. Here is a collection of such things, presented without comment in an effort to get people to start looking at their own organization with fresh eyes.
Ask 5: Some more penetrating questions to ask at interviews
** The fifth in a series of “penetrating questions” for job seekers to ask in interviews.
I’m going to, at random, hype an essay from earlier on – changing every time:
Pianos, Cost Savings, and Innovation
https://davidhuntpe.wordpress.com/2014/05/11/pianos-cost-savings-and-innovation/
** Why won’t employees innovate anymore? A better question is “Why should employees innovate?”.
One more shameless self-plug… I just published a short sci-fi/fantasy/romance piece of fiction on my blog. If you have a shred of interest in science fiction, fantasy, or a hint of a romantic in your character, please do consider reading it:
Fiction: “Butterfly Dreams”
https://davidhuntpe.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/fiction-butterfly-dreams/
** If you like it, please forward on to others. If you have suggestions on how I might improve the story, please leave them in the comments so I can use them as guidance for my next sci-fi/fantasy story (already in progress).
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TOP OF THE FOLD
7 Reasons Employers Will Hire You
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/7-reasons-employers-will-hire-you/
** Think like a hiring manager. Related:
3 Employer Concerns Every Job Candidate Must Address
** Remember, many hiring managers are swamped with resumes; they’re looking for a way to wash you out. The First Rule: don’t wash out immediately. (Make ’em work for a reason! 😉 )
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How To Get A Job You’re Not Qualified For
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-get-job-youre-qualified-liz-ryan
** This is a must-read.
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8 Questions Every Candidate Should Ask In A Job Interview
http://www.inc.com/jerome-ternynck/8-questions-every-candidate-should-ask-during-job-interviews.html
** Some good questions, but the golden nugget is in the intro: get the hiring manager to think of you as already on the team.
—
5 Ways to Separate Yourself as a Job Seeker
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/separate-yourself-as-job-seeker/
** Differentiation. Remember, you are selling yourself, to wit:
How Sales Tactics Can Get You a Job
** IMHO it’s a lot harder to figure out what salary to ask for than this article implies; it’s very much a black art.
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My Thoughts on Job Interviews: Natural Behavior vs. Expected Behavior
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-thoughts-job-interviews-natural-behavior-vs-expected-karthik-rajan
** Read the whole thing – very insightful. Yes, we all put on a face at work. And somewhat related:
Five Lies You’ll Hear On Your Job Search
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-lies-youll-hear-your-job-search-liz-ryan
** Excellent… if only it was that easy.
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How to be a cultural fit
http://www.keppiecareers.com/cultural-fit/
** Just remember, cultural fit goes both ways. If you have time, contact industry/trade groups and attend meetings – companies have a reputation. Listen to that feedback and take it seriously. If, for example, when talking with someone about a particular company and they scoff and ask “Oh, that sweatshop?” that’s a huge warning sign.
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FOR OLDER WORKERS
Why employers should harness the potential of older workers
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/20/employers-harness-potential-older-workers
** Very useful to use in a discussion.
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How to identify high potential employees
http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/how-to-identify-high-potential-employees
** How can you, as an experienced person, leverage these insights to present yourself in a better light?
—
Older Job Seeker? Stop Making These Mistakes Immediately
https://jobmob.co.il/blog/older-job-search-mistakes/
** And another article on older workers and the job search from the same site:
40 Tips for Job Seekers Over 40
https://jobmob.co.il/blog/40-tips-for-job-seekers-over-40/
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NETWORKING
10 Habits of Remarkably Powerful Networkers
http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/10-habits-of-remarkably-powerful-networkers.html
** I’d add “Be helpful.”
—
The 6 Networking Mistakes Women (And Men) Make
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140611112558-174077701-the-6-networking-mistakes-we-women-make
** All good. And two other good ones on networking from the same author:
My Two Very Simple Rules for Networking
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130710130036-174077701-my-two-very-simple-rules-for-networking
My (New) Third Very Simple Rule of Networking
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130805103249-174077701-my-new-third-very-simple-rule-of-networking
** I highly endorse the idea in this last one! Meet and cultivate relationships with people that are different than you.
—
60 Seconds Of Networking Advice
http://www.careerealism.com/60-seconds-of-networking-advice/
** Worth reading, and I endorse the idea of keeping records.
—
A Master Networker Shares His Top 20 Networking Tips
http://www.businessinsider.com/jon-levy-top-networking-tips-2015-1
** Somehow I doubt this is something everyone can do. Good inspiration, no doubt, but…
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COVER LETTERS
10 Rules of cover letter writing
http://careerprocanada.ca/10-rules-of-cover-letter-writing/
** 11: Translate your experience, as selected from your resume, into what you can do for their bottom line. Three related pieces at the bottom.
—
How To Write A Cover Letter When You Have No Experience
** Focused on younger people, but broad advice nonetheless.
—
5 Cover Letter Cliches That Make Employers Cringe
** I cringed.
—
How to Write a Great Cover Letter
http://www.cio.com/article/2877934/resumes/how-to-write-a-great-cover-letter.html
All good points.
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RESUMES
Go Ahead. Use An Infographic Resume
http://careersherpa.net/go-ahead-use-infographic-resume/
** Great if you can get it into a human’s hands!
—
The Biggest Mistakes I See on Resumes, Part 2: Your top 8 questions
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/biggest-mistakes-i-see-resumes-part-2-your-top-8-questions-bock
** Insights.
—
My Personal Formula for a Winning Resume
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume
** Sounds… familiar:
The New Formula for Resume Success
http://www.youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2014/08/03/the-new-formula-for-resume-success/
** Thanks to YouTern for republishing my essay! And in a similar vein:
The Right Way to Use Overused Words In Your Resume
http://chameleonresumes.com/2015/01/19/right-way-use-overused-words-resume/
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10 Things You Should Leave Off Your Resume
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-things-you-should-leave-off-your-resume-gerry-walsh
** In reference to #8: At least put your city. Employers want to know.
—
5 Little Resume Tweaks Employers Are Begging For
http://www.careerealism.com/resume-tweaks-employers-begging/
** Wait… I thought the “Objective Statement” was out of favor. Ultimately, you can lay resume consultants end-to-end and not reach more than broad-brush conclusions.
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INTERVIEWING
The One-Question Interview
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/one-question-interview-bob-baxley
** That would be a stumper if hit with it blindly. Wow.
—
How to Stand Out During the Interview: Use These 25 Questions
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/25-questions-stand-out-interview/
** A couple of years old but very good.
—
6 questions to ensure you get a “yes” at your next interview
http://aquent.com.au/blog/6-questions-to-ensure-you-get-a-yes-at-your-next-interview
** Ask to stay in touch, but I’ve not had much luck with that.
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Here’s Why I Won’t Hire Anyone Until I Take Them to Lunch First
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/interviews-final-frontier-always-dine-before-you-sign-brayton
** The meal is part of the interview! 1) Don’t season you’re food before you taste it, 2) use utensils correctly; 3) be nice to the wait staff; 4) watch what the interviewer does… how they treat the waiter is how they’ll treat you in six months. (That last also applies to dating!)
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30 Things You Should Never Say In A Job Interview
https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-things-you-should-never-say-in-a-job-interview-1
** I think I’m guilty of a couple of these. And related:
How to Blow a Job Interview in Less than 5 Minutes
http://workbloom.com/articles/interview/how-blow-job-interview-less-than-5-minutes.aspx
** An interesting observation on arrival time. And a bunch of other resources to browse as well! (Resumes, cover letters, and networking too!) More on this:
Mistakes and blunders to avoid in your next job interview
http://advice.careerbuilder.com/posts/mistakes-and-blunders-to-avoid-in-your-next-job-interview
** The first rule: don’t screw up!
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The One Job Interview Question That Blows Recruiters Away
** This is a stellar question to ask.
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Still talking about “we” during an interview?
http://thingscareerrelated.com/2015/01/29/still-talking-about-we-during-an-interview/
** I do agree the interview is about the person, but… there is a balance between being a glory-hog, and sharing credit where it’s due. Where that line is, however, is a mystery.
—
How to Answer Strange Interview Questions?
http://www.social-hire.com/career–interview-advice/5064/how-to-answer-strange-interview-questions
** Why do they really ask these questions? Related:
What to Say If an Interviewer Asks Which Animal You Would Be and Why
** I have the cynical impression, just a gut feel, that one of the reasons these kinds of questions are asked is to test just how eager-beaver (or desperate) a candidate is for the job by testing their patience with pop-psychology questions like this.
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How To Effectively Demonstrate Your Value In A Job Interview
http://www.careerealism.com/job-interview-demonstrate-value/
** Don’t forget the SPARTACUS approach:
How to turn yourself into a winning job candidate
http://40pluscareerguru.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-turn-yourself-into-winning-job.html
** As always, I’m glad Neil Patrick likes my stuff enough to have republished his on his blog!
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BRANDING / SOCIAL MEDIA
Personal Branding 101
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/personal-branding-101-sallie-krawcheck
** It’s marketing. So here’s a question: at what point does the marketing evolve to the point where you are not you?
—
How To Find The BEST Keywords For Your LinkedIn Profile
http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-profile-best-keywords/
** Word clouds can also be very useful.
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Secrets To Managing Your Online Visibility
http://careersherpa.net/secrets-managing-online-visibility/
** Short and to the point.
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GENERAL
To Get What You Want, Say What You Want
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/get-what-you-want-say-bruce-kasanoff
** Want the job? Say so.
—
The 7 Things I Learned When I Got Fired (Again)
** Just because you were fired from company A doesn’t mean you won’t work out well at company B. A critical point: not everyone fits into every company.
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How to Find Jobs Using Employer Websites
http://www.job-hunt.org/findingjobs/findingjobs_employers.shtml
** Good resources.
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Personality Tests and the Rise of the Hiring Machines
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201502/alix-stuart/tipsheet-the-rise-of-the-hiring-machines-.html
** I personally view using tests like this as a cop-out, not to mention the effect on a person’s fit into growth, not just the slot being considered:
The Lazlo Emergency Commission Report
http://40pluscareerguru.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-lazlo-emergency-commission-report.html
** Another one of my essays, republished/reblogged on 40pluscareerguru.
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Bringing Your “A” Game: 5 Tips For Acing A Job Fair
http://www.careerealism.com/job-fair-tips-acing/
** The real benefit is the networking while you stand in line waiting to talk to company representatives.
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UNDERSTANDING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE
Can Science Be Used To Hire Kick-Ass Teams?
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-science-used-hire-kick-ass-teams-kate-morgan
** There are things that can advise; if a company uses tests and computer games or other screening tools as the determining factor… run. For a whole litany of reasons. Still, understand that a lot of companies are going to use these.
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SALARY
Job Applicants: Why Negotiation Techniques Are Crucial
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/job-application-negotiation/
** To have any sort of strength in negotiation, you need to have the ability to say “no” and walk away. And five more negotiation-related articles:
How to Negotiate Your Next Salary – Ask #HR Bartender
http://www.hrbartender.com/2015/recruiting/negotiate-next-salary-ask-hr-bartender/
Job Hunting? Here’s How to Negotiate a Higher Opening Salary
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/job-hunting-heres-how-to-negotiate-a-higher-opening-salary
Mistakes to Avoid When Negotiating Your Executive Compensation
https://www.bluesteps.com/blog/mistakes-to-avoid-when-negotiating-your-executive-compensation.aspx
The Art of Salary Negotiation During the Job Interview
http://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/the-art-of-salary-negotiation-during-the-job-interview/
A Step-by-Step Guide to Salary Negotiation
https://www.dailyworth.com/posts/3267-7-scripts-to-negotiate-at-work/1
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Do You Know How Much You’re Worth?
http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2015/01/13/do-you-know-how-much-youre-worth
** Some good places to look to try and get a handle on what number range to quote when asked. And some more places to look for guidance in targeting that range to give:
Find Out How Much You Are Worth to Employers
http://www.gotthejob.com/blog/find-out-how-much-you-are-worth-to-employers.php
David Hunt, PE... Mechanical Engineer on the loose! 
Dave, Wow, what a great collection! You obviously do a lot of reading! Thank you for mentioning my work and I hope others appreciate the hard work that goes into curating such a collection!
Thank you for the very kind words!
Reblogged this on The Arts mechanical and commented:
More David Hun Job search stuff.
There’s so much good stuff here.