3 Job-Interview Myths

Think you know all there is to know about interviewing for a job? According to career coach David Couper, there are many surprising “myths” surrounding job interviews. In his book “Outsiders on the Inside,” Couper lists several myths that, if you believe them, may prevent you from landing your dream job.

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The Highly Efficient Job Search

Every unemployed person has heard this saying: Finding a job is a job. Unfortunately, it’s not the kind of work that makes you want to whistle while you do it. But as with any task, you can take steps to make it easier. Here are some tips to help you boost your efficiency as your

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How to Construct a Dynamite Resume

In a perfect world, no one would need a resume. The candidates most suited to a particular job would simply be summoned forth to interview, based on their reputation and word of mouth referral. Employers would carefully make their hiring decisions based on the candidates’ verbal account of their past performance, without regard to any

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Not All Seniors Are Equal: Interpreting Trait Scores of the College Graduate

Abstract Costa and McCrae, in their work with the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, have established a developmental trend for the Big Five traits. According to their findings, as individuals age from about 18 to about 30, their scores on the traits of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness tend to decrease, while scores on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness tend to increase.

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Achieving Success Outside of the Pack

“Let’s be perfectly clear: I’m talent, not management.” Who said this? Bette Midler? J.D. Salinger? Michael Jordan or Johnnie Cochran? Maybe it was your family accountant or the pastry chef at that French four-star down the street. It might have been uttered by any of countless other performers, singles players, do-it-yourselfers and soloists — professionals

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Interview Small Talk Makes a Big Impression

“Oh, I notice you went to Whittier College. So did I.” “You were at Disney for two years? I worked for Disney, too.” “Toastmasters? I’m in Toastmasters, too.” All of the above are opening gambits that I’ve used while interviewing candidates. They often were greeted with an “uh huh” while the interviewee waited for a

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How Free-Agent Tactics Boost Your Job Security

As an independent consultant, I’m astounded when people say, “I’d love to do what you do, but I’d miss the security of a paycheck every two weeks.” What’s astounding isn’t that some professionals want to enjoy the benefits of free agency without taking any risks. There’s always a segment of the population wanting to get

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