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Today's Market

Karen’s Clients and Questions

Today we are going to talk about some success stories and questions I received during the week. 


First of all let’s talk about some success stories.  I worked Sunday afternoon  from 3-7 PM.  I was excited to do it.  Four clients called me on Friday and said that they received calls from employers and they all had face to face interviews on Monday.  What is interesting there was a common denominator. All the interviews were a result of phone screens 30-60 days ago. One candidate was told the job was on hold, another that there was a hiring freeze and one never heard anything or got a response to his calls.

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Looking for a 6-Figure Job

Companies value soft skills because research suggests and experience shows that they can be just as important an indicator of job performance as hard skills.

“Soft skills” refer to a cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes and social graces that make someone a good employee and compatible to work with. It is no longer enough to be a functional expert. To complement these unique core competencies, there are certain “soft skills” every company looks for in a potential hire.

  1. Tenacity – Dedication to getting the job done.  Strong work ethic. Works until the job is completed.

  2. Positive Attitude – Optimistic and upbeat.  Will you generate energy and contribute to a synergistic team.

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Be Proactive, Not Reactive

“I know there is another layoff coming.  What do I need to know to be proactive and prepared to walk out the door?”

When layoffs are announced most individuals are completely caught off guard.  Sometimes they don’t want to admit they are going to be unemployed, others are just in denial “I can’t believe they included me. I always thought the management team liked me.” Before you know it, you are standing in the parking lot thinking about all the things you should have done.

Here are 5 proactive steps you can take:

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There Are Two Sides to the Story: Background Checks... Why and How?

Whether you are hired or promoted for a job may depend on the information revealed in a background check. Job applicants and existing employees as well as volunteers may be asked to submit to background checks. For some jobs, screening is required by federal or state law. The current emphasis on security and safety has dramatically increased the number of employment background checks conducted.

In short, employers are being cautious. At the same time, applicants and employees fear that employers can dig into the past in ways that have nothing to do with the job.

Employers check potential and current workers for several reasons. The things an employer wants to know about you can vary with the kinds of jobs you might seek.

Here are a few of the reasons for employment screening:

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Get out there, Generation B

...and show the employers who you are. Let’s take the focus off the stereotypes.

Are you tired of hearing "...overqualified, too expensive, out of touch with technology, set in their ways"? Then you are the only one who can change it. Two key words in being successful in the job market, no matter what generation you are, are preparation and rehearsal.

Preparation is research, information, knowledge and facts. Don’t go into an interview without being prepared. Today 70% of the employers do a behavior based interview. What does that mean... you need to demonstrate your experience. If you are applying for a position that requires building client relationships, be able to describe the steps you took to develop that relationship. Employers listen for enthusiasm, passion, being adaptable and flexible, show you can accept change and you want to be there for more than money. Companies want older workers willing to coach and mentor younger workers. They are looking for the ability to share ideas, good interpersonal skills, and communication skills. In the past we said knowledge is power... today, sharing knowledge is power.

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