A few ground rules to start: all things being equal, a company is much more likely to hire someone they like than someone they don’t. That’s why it’s key to find ways to build rapport with your interviewer. Equally true, nobody can be good at everything so anyone who tries to sound in an interview…
Author Archives: Laurie Berenson
Job Board Strategy
Clients often ask should I be applying to job boards? Is it worth my time? Here is a job board strategy you can feel good about. Go niche – is my answer. I never recommend clients rely on a “post and wait” method of applying to jobs listed on the large job boards as the…
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…
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Laurie's work, including resumes, cover letters, and job search advice, has been included in the following career books:
