Author Archives: Laurie Berenson

Interview Communication Techniques

Not everyone can claim strong verbal communication skills, and sometimes nerves or stress can unhinge a normally effective communicator. Interview coaching can often work out the kinks, but other times, it’s a problem for which job search candidates need to devise work-around strategies. When faced with a traditional face-to-face interview scenario, consider some of the…

How to wrap up your cover letters

A client recently wrote me that she was struggling with drafting a general closing for her cover letters. “I look forward to hearing from you” felt a bit presumptuous, and “When would be a good time to discuss the position?” a bit too pushy. “Thank you for your consideration” is nice, but too passive. She…

28 Verbs for Educators

This month’s collection of verbs focuses on educators, including teachers, professors, lecturers, teaching assistants, and tutors. If your job is in the academic field, some of the following verbs may apply to you. 1. Advocate 2. Apply 3. Assess 4. Communicate 5. Demonstrate 6. Develop 7. Educate 8. Encourage 9. Energize 10. Evaluate 11. Facilitate…

How to conduct valuable company research before your interview

Job interviews aren’t meant to be an interrogation — they are supposed to be a dialogue. An interview is as much about making sure the company is a fit for you as it is that you are a fit for the company. With that in mind, before the interview, you should research the company —…

How to answer confidential questions on an employment application

Filling out an application can be filled with land mines if you’re conducting a confidential search, and filling in an application online can be even trickier if the fields require a certain type of answer before letting you progress. This topic was a recent conversation on one of my professional e-lists, and what follows is…

30 Verbs for Sales Professionals

My last list of verbs was centered on executives. As promised, this time around I’ve collected 30 verbs targeted for sales and sales management professionals. Consider how using these verbs in a resume update or a social media profile could enhance the keyword searches that your resume or social media profiles are subject to during…

7 ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile

Almost every professional today knows about LinkedIn and has created a profile page. Hopefully you can count yourself among them. If not, take a look at the following ways to create and/or enhance your LinkedIn profile. 1. Connect with at least 50 people. You don’t need to shoot for 500. 50 has been proven as…

8 ways to revitalize your résumé for the New Year

New year, new resume? In the midst of all the New Year resolutions and revitalized interest in diet, exercise and improving lifestyle, it is natural to take a good look at your resume. After all, if your resume does not speak well of you and what you can do for a prospective employer, what will?…

Questions a Job Seeker Needs to Ask at an Interview

Interviewing is often stressful for the average job seeker. When you finally have the opportunity to speak to a recruiter or hiring agent, what do you want to ask them? You don’t want to blow the interview and yet, you may have many questions whirling around in your head. What’s appropriate to ask in which…