Tips to Becoming the Best Scholarship Candidate

Scholarship application and books on a table. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Millions of dollars in scholarship money is available to college students every year, and among the thousands of scholarships, you’re sure to find at least a few that are a great fit for you. That’s the good news. The rest of the story is that these scholarships may be hard to track down and the competition can often be quite fierce.

Let’s say you’ve conducted your search and successfully identified several scholarships for which you plan to apply. You are likely one candidate among many, so what can you do to make your application stand out in order to secure those much needed funds for your college education? Consider a handful of practical tips: Continue Reading

Starting a Business Right After Graduation

Smiling cafe owner or waitress. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Starting a business is something that most people think comes later—after they’ve worked their way up a ladder, made some contacts, saved some money, spent a few years in the trenches…you get the idea. That doesn’t have to be your story. Starting your own business is one of the best things you can do and there’s no time like the present to do it. Here’s how to make it happen. Continue Reading

How do you make your references stand out from the job-seeking crowd?

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

A RESOURCE WORTH KNOWING ABOUT

How do you make your references stand out from the job-seeking crowd?

5 Steps to make your references a powerful asset on your behalf.

Detroit (Oct 16, 2012) – It’s no secret that in today’s challenging job market, you’ll likely need some less-than-traditional tools in your arsenal. Too many applicants simply use their previous references as a listing to be offered upon request by prospective employers, say the reference checking experts at Allison & Taylor. Continue Reading

You Prepared for the Interview…Did you Prepare your References?

Do you understand the importance references play in your job search?  If not, the following post explains their role in the process.

A great resume and fantastic cover letter will get you an interview. What happens from there has a lot to do with you, and if you nail the interview, then you need to be sure that the final factor in the job search process – your references – are prepared to help you seal the deal.

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You Prepared for the Interview…Did you Prepare your References?

80% of Employers Call References and 16% of Those Call Before Job Interviews

Rosemary Haefner of Careerbuilder

A new study cautions job seekers about the references they cite when applying to companies. Three-in-five employers (62 percent) said that when they contacted a reference listed on an application, the reference didn’t have good things to say about the candidate. Twenty-nine percent of employers reported that they have caught a fake reference on a candidate’s application.

The study was conducted by for Careerbuilder by Harris Interactive© from August 13 to September 6, 2012 and included 2,494 hiring managers and human resource professionals and 3,976 workers across industries and company sizes.

“You want to make sure you are including your biggest cheerleaders among your job references,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “Before choosing someone, ask yourself ‘Did this person understand my full scope of responsibilities? Can he or she vouch for my skills, accomplishments and work ethic?’ You also want to make sure that you ask your former colleagues if you can list them as a reference. If someone is unwilling, it helps you to avoid a potentially awkward or damaging interaction with an employer of interest.” Continue Reading

Ten Common Mistakes Found In Military Resumes and How To Avoid Them

If you are a job seeker coming back from the military, beware of making some common mistakes on your resume, as mentioned in the following post.

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Ten Common Mistakes Found In Military Resumes and How To Avoid Them

Resume Nuts & Bolts

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Resume Nuts & Bolts

Strategies for Career Advancement, Part Three

Your reputation is one of the most important assets you will carry around with you in your professional life. And with social networks like LinkedIn providing more comprehensive pictures of professional experiences and backgrounds, a bad reputation is harder to escape. Building a strong set of references is vital at any point in your career, but there are right and wrong ways to manage this asset. Continue Reading

Interview Answers from The Interview Coach, Carole Martin

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Q. In 2010, after getting laid off, I made the decision to put my career on hold so that I could care for my elderly parents. Now I’ve made other arrangements for them, I am able to resume my career path as a software developer. I have been a developer/programmer since the mid 80′s.

I am having a serious problem getting interviews and getting hired. I have no recent professional references. Second, I have some gaps in my employment because of relocation.  Third, I am not up-to-date with current technology.I am in my early 50′s and know no other trade.

Recently my wife lost her job. Until then we had been surviving on her income. Now we are in a dire situation with very little income.

What can you recommend? Continue Reading

References Can Help Close the Deal

Laura Wagner, Résumé Writer & Career Coach

References are people who can offer informational comments about you to a potential employer and who can offer you credibility. You may include past supervisors, colleagues, personal acquaintances, professors, coaches, and anyone you may have worked closely with in social groups and associations. Relatives are generally frowned upon by hiring managers. Ideally you need to have a combination of work references and personal references who can attest to your character. Continue Reading