Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

Rhonda sat down at her desk to draft a cover letter for a job she really wanted—director of a preschool. She had recently completed the training for Preschool Director Certification and had five years of experience working in two different schools as a teacher. Now she was eager to move into a position with more responsibility and opportunity.

She stared at a picture of her grandfather on her desk. He had died just months before but his words still rang true for her. He was someone she looked up to all her life. In fact, his influence prompted her to work with young children so she could pass on to others the love and care she’d received from him.

“You’ve done me proud,” he’d said with a big smile when she received her credential. (more…)

Young engineer business man with thin modern aluminium laptop in network server room. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Although there are tons of open job positions for IT specialists all over the world, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get your first job in this sector. There are many professionals with better skills, greater experience, and more recommendations that will attract an employer’s attention. How do you get the right people to notice you?

It is hard to get a job of this type with no previous working experience, but you cannot gain the needed experience if no one is willing to give you a job. That’s a paradox we’ll never solve. Don’t despair; there is always hope for everyone with the right set of skills needed for success in this industry. After all, you can attract attention with your own projects, right? Read on; the following tips will teach you how to get that first job in the IT sector. (more…)

Smiling college student with credit card and laptop. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

One of the rites of passage for college students is obtaining credit cards and beginning to establish their financial history. For some, the availability of new credit is an opportunity for expenditures that are out of reach, but for others it presents the valuable chance to establish their credit for the future.

If you are wondering if it is worth it to apply for a credit card or other type of financing arrangement, there are some good reasons to do so that have nothing to do with a shopping excursion or spring vacation. Credit card companies are willing to take a chance on college students even without a credit history, and you should take advantage of the opportunity to establish your credit even before you apply for your first job. (more…)

Cropped image of businessman analyzing resume at desk in office. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Your first step to professional life, is selling yourself on paper or a document which is globally called a resume. A resume also sometimes called a CV is a summary, highlighting all your academic achievements, work experience and job-relevant skills that can help a potential employer make a decision of whether to proceed further in a recruitment process with you or not. (more…)

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

During tough economic times job interviews are difficult to land, and some of them more so than others depending on the industry that interests you. Your cover letter must show who you are as a person, as well as a professional. Be sure to add examples and statements that communicate clearly that you’re someone who is eager to work hard, meet expectations, help advance the company’s bottom line, get along with colleagues, and promote harmony wherever you are.

I call this a CAN DO cover letter because it lets the employer know that you can do the work required of the position he or she wants to fill. (more…)

Mark Feffer

Tools like Skype and Google Hangouts have made online video nearly as easy to use as Facebook. That’s leading more employers to replace some in-person meetings with video interviews. The advantages are obvious: Managers get the opportunity to have a conversation that feels a lot more personal than a telephone interview, without the time and expense that often come with an in-person visit.

Like any other interview, video conversations require preparation. Indeed, they need as much planning as a personal interview. Here are the things you need to consider. (more…)

If you are someone who has changed jobs multiple times, then you have probably heard that doing so makes potential employers skeptical about hiring you for employment.  While that is a fair point from an employer’s prospective, it does not mean that a job seeker can’t get another position.  In fairness, you may have had personal and/or professional reasons for leaving one job and searching for another one.  Now, though, because you have been a job hopper, you must prove to a potential employer that you are the best candidate for a job opening.  Here are some things to keep in mind for your job search. (more…)

Ryan Hickey, Managing Editor of Peterson’s & EssayEdge

An entire book could be written about your life. Regardless of whether or not you think it would be a particularly interesting book, the fact remains that you’ve had a lot of experiences that you could include in your admissions essays. Deciding on which parts of your life to highlight can be difficult, so follow these steps to guide you as you write your essays.

To make things easier, let go of the bad stuff first. Here’s what can be left behind. (more…)

Ken Sundheim, Chief Executive Officer at KAS Placement Recruiting

For the majority of individuals, success is very much a possibility. However, successful people get to where they are because of a conscious choice to act and behave in ways that promote a healthy career.

Below, our headhunters have defined 5 ways that successful people operate. By knowing their methods and mindset, you are able to immediately begin a journey that, ultimately will lead to a more lucrative, fulfilling job. (more…)

Smiling businesswoman at job interview in office. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

We have always heard our elders telling us about those people who do not look in your eye when they lie. As much as it is not always the case but maintaining an eye-contact during a job interview is very important. Surely it is one of the most stressful times for any individual, but looking in the eyes of the recruiter has never yield bad results. Employers know exactly what goes in the minds of candidates when they look around in the room, stare down at the shoes or floor or adjust their watches and rings. They would instantly know that you are either feeling uneasy or being dishonest with them. (more…)