For many years, as a career coach, I offered resume writing services. And I don’t mind telling you that I was a darned fine resume writer. But I no longer offer these services—and I want to take a few minutes to explain why and to help those of you who might be considering working with a resume writer in the future.
A participant in our recent Q&A session asked: “CVs (or resumes) are often rejected by recruiters for having career gaps. Can you suggest a way of avoiding rejection for this reason?” Watch this video to hear Chrissy’s answer.
Join us for this month’s free webinar on the topic of “The New Rules of Modern Job Search.” In my role as a career coach, I’ve helped a lot of people navigate the complex world of job search. Often, when people come to me for help writing a resume or practicing for an interview, they’re really...
Past work experience is, of course, the most important part of your resume. It’s meant to show a prospective employer that you have all the skills required to do the job for which you are applying, and that you’ve used those skills before in a professional capacity. But what if you’re applying for...
Job seekers are notoriously eager to believe things. They’re not necessarily gullible or naïve, but they often want to think optimistically about every “opportunity” that crosses their path. Sometimes, they’re just so desperate to find a job, that they ignore critical job search red flags—clear...
As a career coach and professional resume writer, I work with a lot of “older” job seekers. I use quotes there because age is relative. It always surprises me that the people most concerned with age discrimination are usually women in their mid- to late-forties. I hardly consider...
This is a question I get quite frequently in my monthly “Ask the Career Coach” sessions. It's not surprising; people who are in the midst of a job search are always anxious. They want the process to be much faster than it (usually) is. The longer it takes to land that new gig, the more self-doubt...
Every week, I get a ton of emails from blog readers with career questions they want me to answer. Typically, I don’t provide career advice via email—that’s why we have the monthly Q&A (“Ask the Career Coach”) video sessions. Members of the Free Career Resource Library can attend for free and...
By now, most of you probably know that LinkedIn is the gold standard for online professional networking. Regardless of your opinion of social networking in general, LinkedIn is a site you simply can’t afford to overlook. A basic account is free, though in order to really get the most out of it,...
What you don't know could hurt you! Perfect example: Many job seekers have no idea that resumes submitted online are typically filtered through a software system before a human being ever sees them. That means if your resume isn't formatted correctly, it could be kicked out before any real person...
If you’ve heard the term “social resume” floating around recently and wondered what it’s all about, you’re in the right place. A social resume is not so much an actual thing; rather it’s a variety of things. Essentially the term refers to the use of online tools to gain visibility, position...
A lot of people think cover letters are relics of the past. But truth be told, they're still a crucial part of the job search process. Of course, that doesn't mean you should just throw one together and check the box. You want to use the cover letter as an opportunity to differentiate yourself...