Resume Tips and Career Advice

There are many values that guide our decisions and direction in our personal lives. Some of us are strong proponents of eco-friendly products. Some of us insist on buying American-made products. Others will not associate with companies who have certain political connections. The myriad of values can be a direct path to the type of companies we'd like to work for, but also can create roadblocks to others.

Lance Armstrong has dedicated his career to winning the Tour de France. As we all know, he showed the world that he could master that race and beat anyone who competed in the "Grand-daddy" of pro cycling races--seven times! After a short "retirement" from the cycling world, Lance has been competing again. Last year's Tour de France was a warm-up of sorts for Lance as he didn't have a full year of conditioning and training, nor did he have the team built around him.

In this series of articles, I have been discussing managers' opinions on qualities they value in a "Dream Employee." In Part 1, I shared three aspects: Servitude, Attitude, and Intelligence. In this post, I'll highlight two more essential qualities to master for career growth: Good Communication and Being the "Real Deal."

Are you the manager's dream employee? Naturally, meeting the qualifications of the job description is essential, ranging from skill sets to knowledge. But most managers will tell you there is more to getting the job than just checking those boxes.

When leaders decide who to hire or promote, it's the intangibles that often elevate the best to the top. So what are these "unposted requirements" for the job? I recently interviewed several managers to get their opinions on this topic. In this series of articles, I will share them with you. The first three requirements the managers shared were Servitude, Attitude, and Intelligence.

So you made it through the pre-screens and phone interviews, and got the call. The one that says show up at this place and this time for the big interview for the job you've always wanted. So on "Interview Day," you are pumped and ready to hit the starting line and get the interview underway. But where exactly is the starting line? Do YOU know? Some obviously don't. Let's work backwards to figure this out.

The Winter Olympics have finally arrived! The years of dreaming of a gold medal can become a reality. As I hear the stories of the athletes, I am always amazed at the amount of dedication they have given to their sport. All in hopes of the highest recognition and a moment of glory that they'll keep in the hearts for the rest of their lives. As a recruiter and an avid cyclist training for my own version of a gold medal, I've lately drawn parallels between our Olympic athletes and everyday working professionals striving to make their own mark. Are you training for a gold medal career?

The Internet has become a constant in our world of change. We leverage it for staying in touch with current events, our friends, and even our favorite shops and restaurants. We expect current information from all these locations to be readily available whenever we need it.

As if being the boss wasn't hard enough, in France, you can get "kidnapped" by your employees for doing a poor job. In the States, there are plenty of challenges keeping our teams happy with so many economic downsides to the job--no raises, no bonus, no 401(k) match. This requires managers to be more creative in building a strong bond with their teams.

My wife and I were discussing some of these management challenges the other night over some wine. Bad combination, I know. Don't drink and manage. We talked about how we've been coached to recognize that no two employees are the same and they all need to be managed differently. I said, "That's a lot of work to be twenty different kinds of manager, isn't it?" My wife smirked and my mind raced leveraging the fuel supplied by fermented grapes from, of all places, France.

Many of you have had unique experiences working with recruiters during a job hunt. Some good and some not so good. Like every profession, there are "good people" and then there are others. You need to do your own homework to ensure you are working with a reputable recruiter. At the same time, you need to do what is expected of you to avoid harming your chances to land a job they are working on. After all, they hold the keys to the opportunity. It is essential for you to have a great working relationship.

With this in mind, I recently polled my recruiter community to find out their top "pet peeves" about working with candidates. I know you have you own list for them, but theirs is a good one to read to ensure you are a stand-out candidate. I have included their Twitter name so you can ask them follow-up questions if you like. This is a smart and reputable bunch. Heed their advice and you'll be glad you did!

Losing your job is a shock. It's a blow to your self-esteem. It can be a financial burden. As excited as we were to leave 2009 behind us, aspects of it are still following us. As the New Year dawns, so does more layoffs. Losing your job is bad news. So what's the good news?

When you are laid off or fired, it sometimes means you needed to be thinking about a new job anyway. While in your job, you need to constantly be evaluating if you've outgrown the role, the company, or if the company is moving in directions that may not include you. Yes, it is best to be looking for a new job when you still have one. But if you lose your job first, consider it a wake-up call telling you it's time for a change.