Choose Your Professional References Carefully

Job references are one major aspect of job searching. You need to have several available on request. You need to choose people who are the best possible stand-ins for ourselves—people we trust to support us, stand with us, and make us out to be the best possible candidate for the job

Finding people to say good things about you may sound like easy. However, choosing people who can specifically speak to your skills and work ethic on a professional level should be taken seriously. These people are typically held back until the end of a key interview.

Pay attention to the finer details of securing job references here.

Leaving? How to Handle the Exit Interview

You’ve given your notice and it’s time for your exit interview, you may not know how to proceed. Your former employer wants to know why you’re leaving. They’re trying to see what they can do going forward to keep other employees from leaving.

Instead of being apprehensive about the interview, view the interview as an opportunity to think critically about your experience. What was learned, how might the company improve?

See how to handle your exit gracefully, honestly, and professionally here.

How to Handle Being Overqualified

It’s easy to think that being overqualified for a job might be a good thing. Sometimes it’s not obvious that you are overqualified for a job. It takes more than meeting the job checklist, it takes a self evaluation of qualifications and future objectives.

Whether you’re deciding if you want to apply, or are feeling uncertain in the middle of the interview process, there are six factors to look for.

See how to handle overqualifications in a job interview here.

Avoid Remote Burnout

Millions of technologists are now working from home. Many have figured out remote schedules that allow them to effectively balance work and life. Teams have adopted workflows that compensate for a lack of in-office contact. However, the possibilities of burnout remains.

With more businesses moving to a remote-only model for employees, it’s clear that employees may have to take steps to avoid frying mentally after too many months of hardcore work at their home offices

See several tips on managing your personal 'homework' here

Write Effective Professional Emails

Businesses large and small rely on email. If you need to circulate an interoffice memo, discuss progress on a project, or plan a meeting agenda, email was “the” way to communicate. You need to know your audience and have clear objective to communicate.

Email is a hybrid type of communication, blending casual conversations with the structure of a formal written letter. That means that when you write an email, you need to combine both informal and formal writing styles.

See detailed considerations for a successful email here.

Things to Do When Your Boss Quits

It can come as a surprise when your boss quits their job. No matter how or why your boss leaves, you’ll want to collect yourself and make sure that regardless of what happens, you’re set up for success. Pay attention and be aware, figure out what happens next.

While you may worry about your next boss, continue to be the professional you are and remember that the one thing that’s constant in life (including your work life) is change.

Find eight things you should (and shouldn’t) do here.

Personal Websites for Job Seekers

You may feel like you have this job search process down pat. However in today’s competitive job market, job seekers need to do everything in order to set themselves apart from the competition. Having a personal website is one of the ways to do just that

Anyone can and should have a site that helps give potential employers a better glimpse into who they are as a job candidate - and why they should be hired. A personal website is an additional source that you can use to demonstrate your achievements, work history, and personal interests - all of which will help you stand out from your competition. It also is not limited to a resume's one or two page limit or format. 

See some tips on creating a personal website portfolio here.