Archive: Karen Burns
The 10 trickiest job interview questions
If some interview questions seem like trick questions, it's because they are. Here are 10 common questions, along with ideas for handling them: "Tell me about yourself." Don't ramble. This is your chance to talk about how your specific skills...
Advice on advice: a quickie primer
Knowing where to find good career advice, and knowing how to tell good advice from bad, are huge life skills that can take years to master. Here are some tips to shorten your learning curve: Seek multiple advisers. No one...
What hiring managers are really looking for
To get a good job, you need the right skills, education and experience. But that's not all; employers are also looking for other, fuzzier qualities. Here are some of the biggies, in no particular order: Judgment. When interviewers ask, "Tell...
Cookie-cutter resumes don't cut it anymore
Job hunters obsess about resumes. And for good reason. There's so much to get right -- functional versus chronological, objective statements (pro and con), keywords, templates, references, font size, white space, action verbs, employment gaps, placement and style of bullets,...
Do you feel lucky? Well, do you? If not, learn how
If you've been job hunting for any length of time, you undoubtedly understand the importance of compelling cover letters, snazzy resumes, knock-'em-dead interviews, the all-important thank-you note and -- of course -- networking. However, if you've been pounding the pavement...
5 resume tips for job hoppers
Here's a depressing truth: When hiring managers consider a resume, the first thing they look for is a reason to eliminate it. And yes, even today, when staying at a firm long enough to earn a gold watch is practically...
How to work at home and still keep your job
Here in the digital age, we thought that working from home -- a beloved practice of introverts, parents with small children and the disabled -- was a secure "right." But if Yahoo's recent move to ban working from home is...
7 things bosses should never say to employees
Last week's post featured seven things employees should never say to their bosses. Well, it's a two-way street. Bosses, it's your turn: "I pay your salary. I'm the boss." Signing paychecks does not make you lord and master. It does...
7 things never to say to your boss
It's a no-brainer: Never allow your boss to think you dislike your work, or are incapable of doing your work. So why do many statements frequently heard around the workplace do exactly that? Here are seven of the most common....
Now's the time to get back to job-hunting basics
OK, so the stock market is posting record highs. Even more important, unemployment statistics are looking -- for the first time in a long time -- not that bad. This is good news if you are looking for work. So...
How to talk yourself into a job
Last week, we discussed how to "run" a job interview (in the event your job interviewer is unprepared, inexperienced or untrained). Most of the time, though, interviewers are reasonably competent and you will not need to manage your job interviews....
How to run your own job interview
It happens all the time. Job interviewers are unprepared. Or inexperienced. Or untrained. Or have poor social skills. In fact, many interviewers will appear to have never glanced at your resume. You may even arrive to find that they have...
Why you need to become a decent public speaker
You're at a funeral. Whom would you rather be: the person giving the eulogy or the person lying in the casket? If -- like a lot of us -- you say you fear public speaking more than you fear death,...
How to love a job you hate
Sure, the economy is getting better -- slowly. The key word here is "slowly." Getting a job can still be tough. Therefore, if you happen to already have a job, you should feel lucky. Right? Right. In theory. But what...
Resume buzzwords to avoid like the plague
"Goal-oriented." "Innovative." "Self-starter." "Dynamic." Are your eyes glazing over? Of course they are. Resume buzzwords are a turn-off for you as well as for potential employers. Buzzwords make your resume blend in rather than stand out. They are tired and...
Are you too "overqualified" to get a job?
The bad news: Employers are often suspicious of applicants with too many qualifications. They fear you'll want too much money. Or that you're slumming until something better comes along. Or that you'll resent being supervised by a younger or less-experienced...
How to be a classy quitter
Maybe one of your new year's resolutions is to quit your job. Congratulations! Just make sure you do it right. First, of course, be certain that your new job is absolutely positively nailed down. Don't be left out in the...
How to appear smarter than you really are
Wouldn't you like to be smarter? Even if you are already super-smart, you probably wouldn't mind goosing the old IQ a few points. Or at least making it look that way. Now, I'm not suggesting that you do anything ridiculous,...
A worker bee's letter to the boss
Your boss tells you to be a "self-starter," to follow through, to be flexible and patient and dependable and loyal. You're told there is no "I" in "team." You're told, "You should just be grateful you have a job." For...
9 career resolutions for 2013
A new year, a fresh beginning. That's the plan, anyway. Here are nine not-so-hard ideas to get you started: 1. Stop procrastinating. Seriously. You'll be amazed at how your productivity will soar. Your daily existence will become simpler and smoother,...
Conduct your own year-end career review
A lot of employers conduct year-end evaluations. That's because it's good to look back at the old before jumping forward into the new. But maybe your employer doesn't do this. Or maybe you don't have an employer. No problem; you...
New job? 9 things not to do your first week
You just landed a job -- finally! -- and you've got the jitters. Of course you do. It's not easy being a newbie. All those traumatic first-day-of-school memories come flooding back. What to do? I mean, beyond working really hard? I find it really...
Use the holidays to boost your career
Little-known fact: The holidays are a golden opportunity to give a boost to your career. Why? It's primo networking time! All you have to do is do a little more of what you're probably already doing. For example: Go...
Keep the 'work' in workplace holiday party
'Tis the season: Shopping, decorating, cooking, parties. Maybe even a party hosted by your employer. That's the good news, because you and your co-workers deserve a little something for a year's worth of hard work. The bad news? A workplace...
Karen Burns is the author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl, a career guide based on her 59 jobs over 40 years in 22 cities.
Lisa Quast is a certified career coach, mentor, business consultant, former corporate executive and author based in the Seattle area.
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
Former contributors
Matt Youngquist is the president of Career Horizons, a career counseling firm.
Natalie Singer is a Seattle writer, editor and small-business owner.
Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide."
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