A compelling resume should be a concise, well-written statement of your abilities
Writing your first resume isn't fun. Whether it's after you graduate high school, or a community or four-year college, it's a tedious, time-consuming chore requiring thought and concentration. It comes down to hard work. Considering that the average recruiter spends only seconds skimming resumes, grabbing a human resource or hiring manager's attention long enough to trigger…
If you don’t look like you’re telling the truth, it won’t matter that you actually are
I once spoke to MBA students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business as part of a wonderful program called the Mastery in Communication Initiative. In its expert speakers’ series, Stanford invites “pioneers in the field of communication” to share their insights with business students. In my presentation, on “How to Spot Liars at Work…
Understanding who, or what, reads your resume will increase your chances of getting hired
Once upon a time, in a world seemingly far, far away, a job seeker would sit down with the classified section of the Sunday newspaper and a red pencil (it always was a red pencil, wasn't it?) and circle jobs that were perfect for them. They would attach a well thought-out cover letter to their…
In the long run, accepting responsibility then following up with a solution is more productive than if you try to shift the blame
When mistakes happen, it is easy to point out loudly and in great detail just whose mistake it is and how it is not at all our fault. Blaming someone or something else is a short term fix to keep the attention off of people who don’t want to appear foolish, or who don’t believe…
Feeling burned out? Apparently you’re not alone. A recent survey from staffing firm Accountemps found that nearly all senior managers in Canada (96 per cent) believe their team members are experiencing some degree of burnout. In a separate survey, 95 per cent of Canadian workers said they are at least somewhat burned out. According to…
The most successful people realize that there are always two conversations going on; so stay equally alert to what isn't being said
You may have "sales" in your job title. But if you are a leader announcing an organizational change, an entrepreneur pitching to a venture capitalist, or an employee on a job interview – you too are in sales. And in any situation where you are selling a product, a service, or an idea, engagement and…
Have you ever met someone who appears comfortable in front of a crowd of people delivering a speech, making a presentation, cracking jokes or performance acting? Wouldn’t you like to be like them? Now imagine how you would react if you were told that part of your job would include giving presentations and talks? It…
September is around the corner. I was in school for so long, I think September will always feel like the start of the year. One of the things on my to-do list for the fall is to take my annual personal retreat. The retreat is my time to sit back and reflect on the past…
Women are less likely to feel financially ready for career change by 54 per cent, compared to 44 per cent for men
A new poll released Monday by investment firm Edward Jones found that 54 per cent have considered a career change in the past 12 months, but 46 per cent of respondents cited a lack of financial preparedness as a barrier towards taking that first step towards a new career. "Career changes can mean taking a significant…
A few small extra steps can be the difference between unemployment and actually getting hired
Under every rock, there’s another snake that claims that a candidate must have an “Elevator Speech.” Unfortunately, the vast majority of elevator speeches are long enough to last the time it takes to ride the elevator to the top of Toronto's CN Tower. Eyes roll back in respective heads and sleep beckons. Following are the…
When we improve our posture we display more energy, resilience, and confidence. In essence, we look and feel successful!
I see it all the time. When people find out that I’ve been hired to speak about body language, everyone does the same thing: they change their posture. They hold their head higher, pull their shoulders back and tighten their abdominal muscles. In doing so, people are transformed, instantly looking more powerful, confident, and energized.…
There’s a huge difference between “I failed at that particular task,” and “I am a failure"
A colleague of mine is a private teacher and she teaches students from ages 11 through adult. Over the years, she's noticed an interesting trend – young people, for the most part, are resilient when they make mistakes. They typically don't brood about it, they don't get too bent out of shape, and they tend…
In the Western world, too little eye contact is interpreted as being impolite, insincere, or even dishonest
You're at a business networking event and the colleague you've been having an intense conversation with begins to shift her gaze from your face to look around the room. Ever wonder why that makes you feel as if she has stopped listening? You know it's not logical. A person doesn't have to look at you…
To be the winning job candidate, your attitude must convey a passion for the employer's business and an eagerness to participate in the corporate vision
Even with the hundreds of career books published every year, not to mention the thousands of articles about how to write a perfect resume and ace job interviews, job hunters keep making the same mistakes. Every job hunter fumbles parts of the tedious job-landing process, but the four following mistakes can seriously slow the process,…
In business interactions, first impressions are crucial
Body language can be your greatest career asset. Here are 10 simple and powerful tips to help you have a super successful year: 1) To make a great first impression, begin before you enter the room. In business interactions, first impressions are crucial. Once someone mentally labels you as “likeable” or “untrustworthy, “powerful” or “ineffectual,”…
Writing your first resume isn't fun. Whether it's after you graduate high school, or a community or four-year college, it's a tedious, time-consuming chore requiring thought and concentration. It comes down to hard work. Considering that the average recruiter spends only seconds skimming resumes, grabbing a human resource or hiring manager's attention long enough to trigger…
