This is the 4th article in the 6 Strategies for Job Search series (look for the Job Search category in the right column to see the first 3 articles/posts).

The 4th strategy is to Sell Yourself / Talk Your Way In. The classic “get your foot in the door.”

In some ways, this is the hardest of the 6 to do. However, talk about targeting your job search!

I am not recommending that you go from door-to-door in an office complex, park yourself in the lobby, and demand that someone talk to you (sounds like a…

"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
- Walter Gagehot

"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Unknown

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."
- William Feather

"There is no future in any job. The future lies in the man who holds the job."
- George Crane

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does …

There is a growing and disturbing trend among US and Canadian companies to implement a policy of work confirmation-only references. In other words, their policy is to confirm employment, and that’s all. This is a major career management hurdle for all of us.

We all deserve references for work well done. They are, in effect, part of our compensation, a reward for work well done. So, given that you cannot impact company policy, what can you do?

What this trend does is highlight the importance of r…

One of the powerful things about blogs is that their very nature encourages we authors to share what is going on in our lives, professionally and personally.

I am often guilty of editing myself when it comes to posting on my site, but many readers and coaching clients have let me know that the value they receive from me is in large part made up of my personal experiences - both the successes and failures.

So, I remind myself to get personal.

Which is a neat segue to how I am feeling today. Running …

The importance of career investments

Not investing in yourself is like floating down a fast river without a paddle, map or knowledge of what’s around the next bend. Things may go fine for a while, but at some point, you’re going to realize you made a giant mistake.

To avoid such unforeseen disaster in your career, you need to invest in it to proactively and thoughtfully create a plan for achieving your career and life goals.

And if that doesn’t convince you, here are 10 reasons why investing in you…

Making the most out of your reference section

As part of the consulting I do, I have occasion to do or commission personal reference checking on candidates. In the last several months, I have run into a number of situations any job seeker should try to avoid.

The Setup

A very aggressive and seemingly capable candidate promptly provided me with a list of references at my request. As I made the calls and received rave reviews on the candidate, I started to get a sinking feeling. The responses were to…