Wouldn’t it be awesome if you went into an interview knowing exactly what questions you’d be asked? While we do not have a crystal ball, we can tell you what some of the most common interview questions are for new hires and give some advice on how to answer. 1. Tell me about yourself. This question often trips people up because it’s so open-ended. The best way to answer this question is by pretending you’re selling yourself and come up with a marketing pitch for yourself as it relates to what you can bring to the job. “I am a dedicated, hard-worker with strong communication skills…” 2. Why should we hire you? This is your chance to really sell yourself. Share what unique skills and experience you can bring to the team. Make sure to share the point that you have [...]

There's no question that Covid-19 has made networking harder over the past year. Some people are still social distancing, working from home, and after work events are cancelled. This is making it harder than ever to network with your colleagues. However, it's still an essential part of your career success. Networking is harder but more important than ever. Networking is a great way to get your name out there, and to build your professional reputation. Recruiters are also more likely to call you in for an interview if they've interacted with you before. The same goes for business partnerships and building a client base; people want to work with professionals they trust. Networking is a great way to build that trust. Networking is essential to success in most industries. Yet, it's been much more difficult to arrange in person meetings and [...]

What Are Soft Skills and Why They Matter Soft skills are common or core skills that are typically desirable regardless of your profession. These are usually skills you've acquired through experience or may be part of your personality. These skills are abilities you've learned through life experience, self-teaching, and emotional intelligence. Soft skills matter because they are critical to your success at work. These skills are very difficult to teach during new hire training; they are gained through years of experience, successes, and failures, and some people possess them naturally. They are typically just as important to employers as hard skills and help you stand out among competitors. These skills enable you to interact effectively and harmoniously with others at work. Here are some examples of soft skills Time management Public Speaking Creativity Problem-Solving Interpersonal Skills Communication Skills Adaptable to Change [...]

What You Should Bring to an Interview One thing you can do to stand out right away in an interview is to show up prepared. Most people show up to interviews empty-handed. You will appear planful, considerate, and responsible by showing up to an interview with the following things. A Copy of Your Resume Most people don't think to bring their resume because they assume the interviewer already has a copy of it. However, it shows proactivity and thoughtfulness on your part by bringing a couple of extra copies of your resume to the interview. Although the interviewer may have a digital copy, it's good to have a physical copy to review in person.  Also, there may be more than one interviewer in the room, and often times only the primary interviewer has reviewed your resume beforehand. Plus, after you leave, [...]

With the world starting to go back to "normal" post COVID-19 vaccine, career fairs are being scheduled across the country! It's definitely possible to complete your career search online, but attending a local career fair offers many advantages for career seekers! A career fair is a lot like Speed Dating for a new job! Here are 3 Reasons to Attend a Career Fair:  Opportunities - This is probably the most obvious reason. Attending a career fair provides you with career opportunities. A career fair offers you the chance to speak with dozens of potential employers. This gives you the opportunity to learn about industries or companies you may have otherwise never considered. You can also talk to recruiters and expand your knowledge about an employer you've had your eye on. Career fairs open up a lot of opportunities for job seekers! [...]

Interview skills are obviously important to help you land the job, but in some cases, employees may be very qualified for the job, but have underdeveloped interview skills. Here are some tips to help you stand out during the interview process. Be Confident It's easy to let nerves get the best of you, but the more confident you appear, the more likely the hiring manager will trust your abilities. Confidence can be portrayed with body language, or speech. Make sure to speak clearly, eloquently, and timely. Don't rush through sentences, or trip up on your words. Keep your head high, make eye contact, and speak with ease. If you aren't sure what to say, ask a follow-up question before answering. Practice really helps here. You can practice with a friend, or one of our career coaches. Use Effective Non-verbal Communication Non-verbal [...]

How to be More Likeable at Work Being likeable at work goes a lot farther than you may realize. Think about it, as an employer faced with deciding between two employees both with the same skillset; one is challenging to work with and one is quite pleasant, who would you select? An employee who is well-liked and easy to work with is going to end up with more opportunities than a chronically difficult employee. So, here are a few ways you can be more likeable in the office. 1. Be humble Be modest about your success and give your co-workers a chance to applaud you for work instead of boasting. Practice humility and also share a piece of the glory with anyone who helped you. For example, if your boss highlights your good work during a team meeting accept that praise [...]

Not sure what to do with your life? This video may help… Do you have a hard time answering the ever-so open ended question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” There are millions of possibilities, and it’s so hard to pick just one answer. According to Emilie Wapnick, a writer and artist, many people have potential for a range of interests and jobs throughout your life. And, that’s okay! Don’t let society pressure you into a corner with your career. There are limitless opportunities for what you can do with your life, and if you have a hard time deciding, you may be what Wapnick describes in her TED Talk as a "multi-potentialites." It's completely okay to be unsure what you want to do with the rest of your entire life. Don’t let that stop you from [...]

May is the month of new beginnings for many. It’s a time when students all over the country turn in their last exams, and prepare for graduation. Graduation is quite an accomplishment, and a great first step to a successful career. It’s always wise to learn from other people who have been in your shoes, rather than learn the hard way. Here are  5 Pieces of Advice for New Graduates 1.Never Stop Learning Just because you are graduating doesn’t mean the learning stops. This is only the start of a lifelong learning journey. No matter what field you choose to work in, it’s so important to stay appraised of industry news, standards, and learn new ways of doing things. You will learn something from everyone you meet along the way; even if it’s what not to do. Keep an open mind [...]

The 4 P’s for Success With graduation is right around the corner for some, I wanted to share my 4 P’s for success: Be positive, principled, proactive, and productive Be positive Try to see the best in every situation, and focus your energy on that. Look for the silver lining in all things. Your positivity will radiate and be contagious for others. You will be more likeable, happier, and even healthier. Be principled Everyone should live by a set of principles. These are uncompromising truths that help us to evaluate our thoughts and actions. If you have a good set of principles, you will be able to make the right decision in every situation. This will help you be an ethical, reliable, and trustworthy employee & colleague. Be proactive Don’t wait for something to become a problem to fix it. Be [...]