I remember spending my mornings after graduation glued to my computer screen, repeatedly clicking refresh with the hope of seeing any sort of positive update. I wasn’t tracking fantasy football stats, nor was I waiting excitedly for a delivery notification from Amazon. Instead, I was compulsively checking my inbox, eager to hear back from potential employers.   While graduating college is an exciting venture, it can also be a confusing and stressful time in our lives. Although Bloomsburg University prepared us to meet the challenges of our respective disciplines head-on, many of us found that establishing our careers can be trickier than we initially thought.   During my own journey navigating the job market for the first time, I learned a few crucial concepts that helped me pave the way to the beginning of my career. Remember these tips when you start your job search:   Call yourself an emerging professional rather than a recent college graduate. This title allows you to highlight your post-graduation status without calling attention to any inexperience. In addition, it engages you to think dynamically about how your accomplishments differentiate yourself from the rest of your competition. It’s crucial to stand out amongst a sea of other applicants, especially when you’re new to the industry.   Be open to different career options. Although you may have studied one specific subject area in school, many of the skills you learned are applicable in a wide variety of industries. For example – just because...

The seminar begins with a speaker, who opens his presentation by exclaiming, “The secret to successful career development is … F.O.A.M.,” before spraying an entire can of shaving cream on the podium in front of him....

Treating others with respect goes a long way and is quite empowering – not just for others, but yourself, as well....

There’s a small subset of search professionals who really know how to take this data and create personalized messaging that resonates with their target audiences. They are the ones who win for their clients and get the hard-to-get, high-potential candidates. They are the ones who anticipate how the digital world is changing the recruiting industry and effectively use the available toolsets or create new ones in response.  ...

I’ve decided to take a pass on New Year’s resolutions for 2016 and share my predictions for what will happen in the coming year instead....

Click here to view our report: Rating Philadelphia Survey Results – Salveson Stetson Group  

They may have more experience, but job seekers over 50 are unemployed 5 to 8 weeks longer than 30 to 49 year olds.  That’s according to a study by Professor Connie Wanberg at the University of Minnesota.  We may immediately think the reason is age discrimination.  Although that may be a factor, it is also true that this group is more selective in maintaining personal and professional networks.  Researchers found that older people on average have smaller social networks than younger people.  I am sure that news is not surprising and it implies we become more discerning about who we associate with as we get older.  On the other hand, the connections we have are critical as we launch a job search. Therein lies the dilemma.   No matter what your age, what can you do to expand your network and boost your chances of landing that job?   Actively seek out new projects to learn something new. It stretches your thinking and enhances your knowledge and experience base, but also introduces you to new people and expands your network. Reach out to former co-workers and college friends. LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media tools make it easy.  Rekindle those friendships now rather than waiting until you need to ask for a favor. Join a professional association. By attending events, you will gain more knowledge and perspective about your profession.  If you actively participate, you will also grow your network and be seen as a leader in...

I’m always struck by both the similarities and differences in our work across the globe, and I learn a great deal from our discussions of best practices, industry trends and new developments in our field....

While I’m not going to argue that age bias doesn’t exist, I do think its prevalence is overstated in today’s hiring environment....

How many times have you become frustrated with a customer service operation? I would be surprised if everyone hasn’t had a similar, less than positive, experience. This recent encounter of mine may sound familiar: I called a company’s customer service department and I was placed on hold for 20 minutes. Eventually, my call was disconnected. Then, I reconnected with the customer service department and the representative on the line couldn’t help directly. As a result, I was passed off to several of their colleagues, with each person asking me the same questions. Once reaching a customer service professional who could help, I had a great deal of difficulty understanding them. Either their phone system was poor and muffled, or I was connected with their outsourced colleagues in the Philippines or India. In the end, I still did not have a resolution to my problem.   As a result, when you do reach a customer service department that is exemplary, it really stands out. What does above-average customer service entail? Here’s what your experience should look like:   Consistent: One person should be able to handle and answer the questions and problems of a customer. Avoid passing the person around to your colleagues as much as possible. If you need to enhance your knowledge to solve the issue, find out the answer quickly and remain the consistent contact with the customer.   Results-oriented: Be tenacious and find the solution to the problem. Call the customer back to ensure...