Lindsay Mustain, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Lindsay Mustain is a job coach and former Amazon recruiter. She says that a period of rising inflation is a good time to ask for a salary increase.

Ongoing column for Smart Wealth News

As inflation and cost-of-living expenses continue to soar across the United States, workers are stepping up and asking for pay raises to offset costs. Exactly how much of a salary increase should an employee ask for and how can they prepare to make this ask in a way that advocates their worth? And, if you ask for a pay raise but do not receive it, are there any alternative financial options available to employees? Keep reading to find out the answers to all your questions.

If you’re seeking a pay raise this year to help balance out the highest inflation rate in more than four decades, here’s the good news: While inflation is historically high, unemployment is historically low. This means employers are desperate to find and keep good workers, which gives you more bargaining power.

Flexible working arrangements allow employees to work more during the hours they are most productive.

According to Lindsay Mustain, ex-Amazon recruiter,

“ Employees have been statistically proven to be more efficient when provided the opportunity to independently work when, how and as much as they like. Flexible options increase both productivity and the time an employee spends working. Remote workers put in more hours than their office counterparts and are even more effective… Show more

Flexible working arrangements allow employees to work more during the hours they are most productive.

According to Lindsay Mustain, ex-Amazon recruiter,

“ Employees have been statistically proven to be more efficient when provided the opportunity to independently work when, how and as much as they like. Flexible options increase both productivity and the time an employee spends working. Remote workers put in more hours than their office counterparts and are even more effective than in traditional office settings with constant distractions and interruptions.” Show less

It’s not just you: If, lately, you’ve been feeling tight on money without having changed your spending habits, the astronomical inflation rate in this country may be to blame. Over the past 12 months, the consumer price index (CPI) has risen by 8.5 percent, the highest annual increase we’ve seen in four decades, reflecting rising prices for necessities like gas, food, and electricity. And there’s no clear end in sight, either, as economists forecast the spike (to as much as 10 percent) to… Show more

It’s not just you: If, lately, you’ve been feeling tight on money without having changed your spending habits, the astronomical inflation rate in this country may be to blame. Over the past 12 months, the consumer price index (CPI) has risen by 8.5 percent, the highest annual increase we’ve seen in four decades, reflecting rising prices for necessities like gas, food, and electricity. And there’s no clear end in sight, either, as economists forecast the spike (to as much as 10 percent) to continue throughout the year, largely due to effects of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. That reality may leave you with less money to spare—unless your employer offers you a raise, that is. Figuring out how to ask for a raise based on inflation may be simpler than you’d think, though, in this economy. Show less

In the early days of the pandemic, companies adopted new work practices out of necessity. Now, the value of flexible work has increased substantially among employees. “People are not going to return to work the way they have in the past,” says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer at CareerBuilder. “Flexibility is the new norm and expectation from employees—we’re going to see this trend continue in the months ahead.” To support the trend, research from CareerBuilder revealed that jobs… Show more

In the early days of the pandemic, companies adopted new work practices out of necessity. Now, the value of flexible work has increased substantially among employees. “People are not going to return to work the way they have in the past,” says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer at CareerBuilder. “Flexibility is the new norm and expectation from employees—we’re going to see this trend continue in the months ahead.” To support the trend, research from CareerBuilder revealed that jobs allowing employees to work remotely received seven times more applications than in-person roles the previous month. And according to a study conducted by ManpowerGroup Solutions, nearly 40% of global candidates report that workplace flexibility is among the top three factors they consider. Show less

Join us, Thursday, March 3, at 9:00 ET for LinkedIn Live. This week’s guest is Lindsay Mustain, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, a self-described ‘recruiter gone rogue.’ Her expertise is vital during this time of great aspiration. Bring your questions – we'll be heading to the audio portion afterward!

ore than two years into the pandemic, many people are rethinking their relationship to work and exploring different career paths. But how do you find the time to build and grow your ideal work life? For busy professionals, career podcasts can offer an excellent solution.
Since starting the Find Your Dream Job career podcast in 2015, I’ve discovered a thriving community of fellow podcasters who help people build dynamic careers. These hosts produce terrific shows, focusing on tactics that… Show more

ore than two years into the pandemic, many people are rethinking their relationship to work and exploring different career paths. But how do you find the time to build and grow your ideal work life? For busy professionals, career podcasts can offer an excellent solution.
Since starting the Find Your Dream Job career podcast in 2015, I’ve discovered a thriving community of fellow podcasters who help people build dynamic careers. These hosts produce terrific shows, focusing on tactics that help you get hired and create the career you want. Show less

People “hire who they like the most.”

The job search process can be nerve-wracking at any stage: Prepping a stand-out resume and cover letter, taking tests, or acing a series of interviews. The interviews can be the biggest hurdle if you’re an introvert.

“The big secret in interviews is people don’t actually hire the most qualified person,” says Lindsay Mustain, a career coach and former Amazon recruiter. “They hire who they like the most.”

For a reserved and quiet person… Show more

People “hire who they like the most.”

The job search process can be nerve-wracking at any stage: Prepping a stand-out resume and cover letter, taking tests, or acing a series of interviews. The interviews can be the biggest hurdle if you’re an introvert.

“The big secret in interviews is people don’t actually hire the most qualified person,” says Lindsay Mustain, a career coach and former Amazon recruiter. “They hire who they like the most.”

For a reserved and quiet person who might take time to open up, making that favorable interview impression could present some challenges. With that in mind, the key job interview tip career experts have for introverts is to prepare. Show less

More than two years into the pandemic, many people are rethinking their relationship to work and exploring different career paths. But how do you find the time to build and grow your ideal work life? For busy professionals, career podcasts can offer an excellent solution.

Since starting the Find Your Dream Job career podcast in 2015, I’ve discovered a thriving community of fellow podcasters who help people build dynamic careers. These hosts produce terrific shows, focusing on tactics… Show more

More than two years into the pandemic, many people are rethinking their relationship to work and exploring different career paths. But how do you find the time to build and grow your ideal work life? For busy professionals, career podcasts can offer an excellent solution.

Since starting the Find Your Dream Job career podcast in 2015, I’ve discovered a thriving community of fellow podcasters who help people build dynamic careers. These hosts produce terrific shows, focusing on tactics that help you get hired and create the career you want.

In the vast universe of the podcast world, it takes time to find career-focused content that’s worth your time. There are scores of shows under the career section of Apple Podcasts, for example, but they’re not all going to deliver useful advice that will be helpful for your job search.

In 2017, I decided we all needed a better way to find great career podcasts. So I created my inaugural Top Career Podcasts Guide: a single source for the best shows dedicated to helping professionals look for work and grow their careers.

As time has gone on, I have continued to explore new podcasts to find the best shows that help people with job searching and career development. We’re returning with our fifth annual guide this year.

Representation and racial equity continue to be crucial in the workplace. I’m pleased to share that 53 percent of this year’s featured podcast hosts are women and 41 percent are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or people of color). Show less

“We really think that we’re doing good by our people when we give them, like, 1% to 2%.”

Inflation is rising at record rates. It jumped 7% from December 2020 to December 2021, according to the Labor Department. Salaries, though rising, are not keeping up: More than half, 58%, of people who received a raise in 2021 report that it was 5% or less, according to a Q4 2021 Joblist survey of 2,783 job seekers.

“It’s no surprise that we’re not keeping up with inflation, because we never… Show more

“We really think that we’re doing good by our people when we give them, like, 1% to 2%.”

Inflation is rising at record rates. It jumped 7% from December 2020 to December 2021, according to the Labor Department. Salaries, though rising, are not keeping up: More than half, 58%, of people who received a raise in 2021 report that it was 5% or less, according to a Q4 2021 Joblist survey of 2,783 job seekers.

“It’s no surprise that we’re not keeping up with inflation, because we never have,” says Lindsay Mustain, a career coach and former Amazon recruiter. “We really think that we’re doing good by our people when we give them, like, 1% to 2%.”

If you’re thinking of asking for a raise, the rate of inflation could come into play. Here’s what to keep in mind. Show less

Careers experts say it's possible to be critical in an exit interview without burning bridges.
They advise using neutral language, preparing in advance, and avoiding getting personal.
Here are exit interview tips from four careers experts interviewed by Insider.

Workers are quitting jobs in record numbers as part of the Great Resignation, with many looking for new jobs that better suit their needs and values.

This has increased the pressure on businesses to make themselves more appealing to modern workers. However, it has increased the strain on employees, who must compete for the most in-demand positions against intense competition.

The first step is to create a stellar resume that will stand out amid the throng and attract recruiters'… Show more

Workers are quitting jobs in record numbers as part of the Great Resignation, with many looking for new jobs that better suit their needs and values.

This has increased the pressure on businesses to make themselves more appealing to modern workers. However, it has increased the strain on employees, who must compete for the most in-demand positions against intense competition.

The first step is to create a stellar resume that will stand out amid the throng and attract recruiters' attention. According to Lindsay Mustain, an ex-Amazon recruiter and author of "7 crucial CV blunders to avoid," many people still get this first step incorrect.

The majority of candidates indicated they spent between 20 and 40 hours writing their résumé, according to an independent poll.

The average recruiter spends barely six seconds on each CV in the early phases of a hiring process, according to the poll, with 200-250 applications per job opportunity.

As a result, candidates must improve their resumes to make them clear and enticing to any recruiter. Show less

On many occasions when we are looking for a new job we think that our resume is so well prepared that we do not know how it does not immediately attract the attention of all those responsible for human resources. Unfortunately, recruitment professionals have the same time as other people … and this means that our CV and anyone else is judged in a very, very short time.

Lindsay Mustain, a former Amazon recruiter, is the author of the book ‘7 Critical Curriculum Mistakes to Avoid’, in… Show more

On many occasions when we are looking for a new job we think that our resume is so well prepared that we do not know how it does not immediately attract the attention of all those responsible for human resources. Unfortunately, recruitment professionals have the same time as other people … and this means that our CV and anyone else is judged in a very, very short time.

Lindsay Mustain, a former Amazon recruiter, is the author of the book ‘7 Critical Curriculum Mistakes to Avoid’, in which she reviews some concepts to get attention before the critical six seconds, the time a resource manager spends Humans dedicate to receiving the first impression of a CV and approving or rejecting it. Show less

The Great Resignation is seeing workers quit their jobs at historic levels, with many seeking new roles that better suit their needs and values.

That has upped the ante for companies, who need to make themselves more appealing to modern workers. But it has also piled the pressure on employees, who must vie against stiff competition for the most in-demand roles.

The first step toward that is crafting an excellent resume that will grab recruiters’ attention amongst the crowd. And… Show more

The Great Resignation is seeing workers quit their jobs at historic levels, with many seeking new roles that better suit their needs and values.

That has upped the ante for companies, who need to make themselves more appealing to modern workers. But it has also piled the pressure on employees, who must vie against stiff competition for the most in-demand roles.

The first step toward that is crafting an excellent resume that will grab recruiters’ attention amongst the crowd. And yet, still so many are getting this first step wrong, according to Lindsay Mustain, an ex-Amazon recruiter and author of “7 critical resume mistakes to avoid.”

In an independent survey conducted by Mustain, the majority of candidates said they spend between 20 and 40 hours writing their resume. Show less

Wait before chasing — then use this template:

Wait until the first business day after you were due to receive a response before reaching out again to the recruiter via email, Lindsay Mustain, a careers coach and host of the Career Design Podcast, said.

She provided a short template to frame your email.

Start with this:

'"I wanted to reach out and say thank you for your assistance in the interview process. I enjoyed meeting with [insert interviewer's name] and… Show more

Wait before chasing — then use this template:

Wait until the first business day after you were due to receive a response before reaching out again to the recruiter via email, Lindsay Mustain, a careers coach and host of the Career Design Podcast, said.

She provided a short template to frame your email.

Start with this:

'"I wanted to reach out and say thank you for your assistance in the interview process. I enjoyed meeting with [insert interviewer's name] and believe I can [insert where you feel you can bring your expertise and value to the company and position.]"

If applicable, add this:

"'I did want to let you know that I am also interviewing with another company and anticipate that I will be scheduling a final interview with them this/next week or anticipating a job offer.

"I am very interested in this opportunity with [insert company name] and wanted to be transparent about my other process."

End with this:

"I am looking forward to hearing back about the next steps."

Mustain said that, "In this example there is no finger-pointing or name-calling."

If no response arrives, Mustain recommended following up with one more similarly-worded email, then moving on. Show less

There’s no “heart” in human resources (HR) in most companies today.

Legacy HR departments can be siloed, stereotypical and bureaucratic. In the eyes of many employees, they function as “policy police” and are designed to protect the company’s interest while paying lip-service to its employees’ well-being.

This begs the question: what’s the real function of a HR department?

While there’s need for some by-the-book guidelines for governance and to ensure organizations follows… Show more

There’s no “heart” in human resources (HR) in most companies today.

Legacy HR departments can be siloed, stereotypical and bureaucratic. In the eyes of many employees, they function as “policy police” and are designed to protect the company’s interest while paying lip-service to its employees’ well-being.

This begs the question: what’s the real function of a HR department?

While there’s need for some by-the-book guidelines for governance and to ensure organizations follows the letter of the law, the current model that is based on compliance needs to go, vocal critics argue. Show less

It’s a frustrating situation when employees undermine your authority. You feel like you’ve done everything right, but they just don’t seem to follow any of the rules and regulations set forth by management.

Here’s how to deal with employees who undermine your authority, according to experts.

Chapter: LinkedIn By Lindsay Mustain

The world order is being shaken up at a scale our generation has never seen before, as we face a pandemic, widespread social isolation, and global economic collapse. And as if we haven’t seen the worst that this year had to offer, we bore witness to the tragic injustice of a man named George Floyd, who cried out to his mother as he was slowly killed on video by a police officer. A new pandemic was brought to our attention: the racism pandemic. Our citizens did not remain silent; our entire… Show more

The world order is being shaken up at a scale our generation has never seen before, as we face a pandemic, widespread social isolation, and global economic collapse. And as if we haven’t seen the worst that this year had to offer, we bore witness to the tragic injustice of a man named George Floyd, who cried out to his mother as he was slowly killed on video by a police officer. A new pandemic was brought to our attention: the racism pandemic. Our citizens did not remain silent; our entire country is inflamed and outraged over moral inequities. We are searching for answers, refusing to be bystanders any more, and finding a way to shine a light on those who have been marginalized for centuries. There is no better time than now to forge a future; a far more inclusive one. Show less

After Lindsay Mustain’s father was laid off from his job after 25 years, his family lost everything. His suffering and his experiences being told time and time again that he was overqualified led Lindsay to a career in recruiting to help people. Her gift for connection, finding talent, and highlighting it led her to work for 25 Fortune 100 companies and ultimately to becoming Amazon’s most visible employee on LinkedIn.

When her time at Amazon had run its course, Lindsay walked away to… Show more

After Lindsay Mustain’s father was laid off from his job after 25 years, his family lost everything. His suffering and his experiences being told time and time again that he was overqualified led Lindsay to a career in recruiting to help people. Her gift for connection, finding talent, and highlighting it led her to work for 25 Fortune 100 companies and ultimately to becoming Amazon’s most visible employee on LinkedIn.

When her time at Amazon had run its course, Lindsay walked away to pursue the membership model. Now, at Dream Job Hack, Lindsay uses her experiences from the world of recruiting and hiring to help people find careers where they love what they do. She uses her insider knowledge of just how broken the job search process is to empower her members to find great roles and earn more.

Today, Lindsay joins the podcast to share how she found her strength, how embracing the membership model has allowed her to do what she loves best, and why every aspiring entrepreneur already has all the tools they need hiding inside of them.

Key Takeaways

How Lindsay’s father’s struggles in the job market after a layoff shaped her life’s work and career.
What Lindsay learned from managing large recruiting processes – and from having to tell people “no” 99.9% of the time. Show less

The world order is being shaken up at a scale our generation has never seen before as we face a pandemic, widespread social isolation, and a global economic collapse. And as if we haven’t seen the worst this year had to offer, we bore witness to the tragic injustice of a man named George Floyd, who was killed by police during an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.

Black Lives
Source: Mlle Sonyah / Shutterstock
A new pandemic was brought to our attention: the racism pandemic. Our… Show more

The world order is being shaken up at a scale our generation has never seen before as we face a pandemic, widespread social isolation, and a global economic collapse. And as if we haven’t seen the worst this year had to offer, we bore witness to the tragic injustice of a man named George Floyd, who was killed by police during an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.

Black Lives
Source: Mlle Sonyah / Shutterstock
A new pandemic was brought to our attention: the racism pandemic. Our citizens did not remain silent; our entire country is inflamed and outraged over moral inequities. We are searching for answers, refusing to be bystanders any more, and finding a way to shine a light on those who have been marginalized for centuries. There is no better time than now to forge a future—a far more inclusive one.

Diversity Will Save the Day Show less

inkedIn should be a vital part of your job search. You can build your professional network, apply for jobs posted on LinkedIn, or craft a profile that attracts recruiters. Ideally, you’re doing a little bit of each.

LinkedIn can also be one of the most valuable learning platforms in your job search, but only if you follow and connect with the right people. Below are my favorite job search experts — resume writers, recruiters, career coaches, and HR professionals — to follow on LinkedIn… Show more

inkedIn should be a vital part of your job search. You can build your professional network, apply for jobs posted on LinkedIn, or craft a profile that attracts recruiters. Ideally, you’re doing a little bit of each.

LinkedIn can also be one of the most valuable learning platforms in your job search, but only if you follow and connect with the right people. Below are my favorite job search experts — resume writers, recruiters, career coaches, and HR professionals — to follow on LinkedIn to boost your job search efforts in 2019. Show less

Staring across the boardroom table at your potential next employee is as nerve-wracking for you as it is for them. Is it because, after dozens of interviews, you’re still not sure about those basic questions you’ve been asking for years?
Now’s the time to enhance your hiring process by adding a few of these questions from HR experts, CEOs, and other masters of the job interview.

>Tell me about a time in the past where you had to prioritize multiple tasks. What was the situation… Show more

Staring across the boardroom table at your potential next employee is as nerve-wracking for you as it is for them. Is it because, after dozens of interviews, you’re still not sure about those basic questions you’ve been asking for years?
Now’s the time to enhance your hiring process by adding a few of these questions from HR experts, CEOs, and other masters of the job interview.

>Tell me about a time in the past where you had to prioritize multiple tasks. What was the situation, and how did you address it?

>When you have had to report in to more than a single manager, how have you prioritized your duties?

>What productivity tools have you used on the job previously?

These all come from Lindsay Mustain, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, an 18-year veteran of the talent acquisition process. “The questions are based on behavioral-based interview style,” says Mustain, “which goes on the assumption that past behavior is future behavior.” Show less

You’ve probably heard the term “boomerang” used in recent years, most likely referring to adult children who move back home after college. But another type of boomeranging is also on the rise: employees who leave a job only to return to it years later.
Workplace boomeranging can happen for a number of reasons. Maybe you’re laid off, but when lean times are over, your employer invites you to return. Or perhaps you just want to take time off to get a degree or travel the world. Jennifer Liou… Show more

You’ve probably heard the term “boomerang” used in recent years, most likely referring to adult children who move back home after college. But another type of boomeranging is also on the rise: employees who leave a job only to return to it years later.
Workplace boomeranging can happen for a number of reasons. Maybe you’re laid off, but when lean times are over, your employer invites you to return. Or perhaps you just want to take time off to get a degree or travel the world. Jennifer Liou left her marketing job because she wanted to learn new skills, for example. She’d been working for a year and a half at consumer electronics company Belkin when she decided to leave. “I reached a point where I wanted expand my skill set to include creating web banners, photography assets, creative collateral, understanding target audience, communications and more,” she tells Mental Floss.
Liou moved to Hong Kong to work for a gaming company, where she learned an entirely new set of skills. Later, when her former boss offered her a new position back at Belkin, Liou decided to boomerang. “My original boss and I kept in touch the entire time from when I left Belkin,” she says. In fact, her boss even became a mentor. “She let me know that the marketing department had evolved and that I would continue to sharpen my skills and grow as a marketer.”
While it probably sounds like an ideal scenario, boomerangs should keep a number of factors in mind before swinging back to a job. “I’ve been on this side of rehiring people many times and I can say that two out of three people who are rehires will leave within the following year,” says Lindsay Mustain, a former talent acquisition professional and founder of Talent Paradigm. Most importantly, the company culture has to be welcoming to returning employees—which may explain why a company like Belkin, in particular, has so many boomerangs in its employment. Show less

Strategy 2: Pique a Hiring Manager's Curiosity
Dear [Hiring Manager],

I knew that I was destined for greatness when I was slimed on Nickelodeon. Nothing like being covered in green goo to help you realize your potential. "How does this apply to the open internship at Airbnb?" you may be wondering. Because I am collaborative, creative and tenacious enough to get a bunch of smelly slime dumped on me and still keep smiling.

Lindsay Mustain, Talent Paradigm's vice president of… Show more

Strategy 2: Pique a Hiring Manager's Curiosity
Dear [Hiring Manager],

I knew that I was destined for greatness when I was slimed on Nickelodeon. Nothing like being covered in green goo to help you realize your potential. "How does this apply to the open internship at Airbnb?" you may be wondering. Because I am collaborative, creative and tenacious enough to get a bunch of smelly slime dumped on me and still keep smiling.

Lindsay Mustain, Talent Paradigm's vice president of business development and job coach, says that starting a letter in a way that piques curiosity is "considered a pattern interrupt. It's silly and interesting. It's enough for someone to stop and get a little bit of attention and keep your audience interested in your story. Make sure it's something interesting to read." Show less

Because let's face it. Cover letters can be the toughest part of any job application.

trategy 2: Pique a Hiring Manager's Curiosity
Dear [Hiring Manager],

I knew that I was destined for greatness when I was slimed on Nickelodeon. Nothing like being covered in green goo to help you realize your potential. "How does this apply to the open internship at Airbnb?" you may be wondering. Because I am collaborative, creative and tenacious enough to get a bunch of smelly slime dumped on me and still keep smiling.

Lindsay Mustain, Talent Paradigm's vice president of… Show more

trategy 2: Pique a Hiring Manager's Curiosity
Dear [Hiring Manager],

I knew that I was destined for greatness when I was slimed on Nickelodeon. Nothing like being covered in green goo to help you realize your potential. "How does this apply to the open internship at Airbnb?" you may be wondering. Because I am collaborative, creative and tenacious enough to get a bunch of smelly slime dumped on me and still keep smiling.

Lindsay Mustain, Talent Paradigm's vice president of business development and job coach, says that starting a letter in a way that piques curiosity is "considered a pattern interrupt. It's silly and interesting. It's enough for someone to stop and get a little bit of attention and keep your audience interested in your story. Make sure it's something interesting to read." Show less

Being funny or unconventional can help your application stand out.

Let's cut straight to the chase: Most cover letters are bad. In fact, Dawn Rasmussen, certified resume writer and president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services, happily admits that "I love writing cover letter openings because I know how bad they usually are."

But that doesn't mean your cover letter is destined for the slush pile. By starting with what Rasmussen calls a hook, you can snag a hiring manager's… Show more

Being funny or unconventional can help your application stand out.

Let's cut straight to the chase: Most cover letters are bad. In fact, Dawn Rasmussen, certified resume writer and president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services, happily admits that "I love writing cover letter openings because I know how bad they usually are."

But that doesn't mean your cover letter is destined for the slush pile. By starting with what Rasmussen calls a hook, you can snag a hiring manager's attention -- and even a new job. Show less

Let's cut straight to the chase: Most cover letters are bad. In fact, Dawn Rasmussen, certified resume writer and president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services , happily admits that "I love writing cover letter openings because I know how bad they usually are."

But that doesn't mean your cover letter is destined for the slush pile. By starting with what Rasmussen calls a hook, you can snag a hiring manager's attention -- and even a new job.

Let's cut straight to the chase: Most cover letters are bad. In fact, Dawn Rasmussen, certified resume writer and president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services , happily admits that "I love writing cover letter openings because I know how bad they usually are."

But that doesn't mean your cover letter is destined for the slush pile. By starting with what Rasmussen calls a hook, you can snag a hiring manager's attention -- and even a new job.

If your cover letter introduction is boring, it’s not going to get the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s cut straight to the chase: Most cover letters are bad. In fact, Dawn Rasmussen, certified resume writer and president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services, happily admits that “I love writing cover letter openings because I know how bad they usually are.”

But that doesn’t mean your cover letter is destined for the slush pile. By starting with what Rasmussen calls a hook… Show more

If your cover letter introduction is boring, it’s not going to get the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s cut straight to the chase: Most cover letters are bad. In fact, Dawn Rasmussen, certified resume writer and president of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services, happily admits that “I love writing cover letter openings because I know how bad they usually are.”

But that doesn’t mean your cover letter is destined for the slush pile. By starting with what Rasmussen calls a hook, you can snag a hiring manager’s attention–and even a new job.

“The best openings–otherwise known as a hook–are attention-getters,” Rasmussen says. “Hooks are similar to headlines you see online that tempt you to click and find out more.” Show less

“HR leaders are going to need to adapt to employee engagement versus transactional and tactical metrics,” says Lindsay Mustain, a talent-acquisition expert. “It will no longer be about how quickly you can process the claim, how many patients you can touch or how many prescriptions you can fill.” Machine learning and artificial intelligence will perform those transactional tasks, while HR leaders will need to focus on data that will tell them how to engage and delight employees rather than… Show more

“HR leaders are going to need to adapt to employee engagement versus transactional and tactical metrics,” says Lindsay Mustain, a talent-acquisition expert. “It will no longer be about how quickly you can process the claim, how many patients you can touch or how many prescriptions you can fill.” Machine learning and artificial intelligence will perform those transactional tasks, while HR leaders will need to focus on data that will tell them how to engage and delight employees rather than measuring incremental performance. Show less

Maintaining a presence on LinkedIn is a vital part of any job search, whether you’re actively submitting resumes, hoping to attract recruiters, or keeping an eye out for new opportunities. Writing a great LinkedIn profile is the first step. To gain a further leg up, follow people dedicated to helping job seekers make the most of their opportunities. Below are my top career coaches, resume writers, recruiters, and job search experts to follow on LinkedIn.

A recruiter’s day is spent juggling applicants, candidates, hiring managers, e-mails, phone screens, intake meetings, queries and reports—making effective time management a critical skill to stay above water.

Job searching is one of the most stressful processes you endure as a working adult in America. Endless online applications and ceaseless rejection emails leads to a gloomy outlook for your job search. If you're ready to make your job search more effective, a compelling and attract resume is where it starts.

In this book you will get key insights into:
- The six-second rule
- What your recruiter specifically looks at when reviewing your information based on heat map and eye… Show more

Job searching is one of the most stressful processes you endure as a working adult in America. Endless online applications and ceaseless rejection emails leads to a gloomy outlook for your job search. If you're ready to make your job search more effective, a compelling and attract resume is where it starts.

In this book you will get key insights into:
- The six-second rule
- What your recruiter specifically looks at when reviewing your information based on heat map and eye tracking technology
- Basics that get missed by all levels of experience
- Ensuring your resume passes the relevancy test and gets past the applicant tracking system (ATS)

If you're frustrated with your job search, this is the book to get started down the right path. You'll improve the response rate to your resume in just minutes after you download and read this eBook! Grab a copy today! Show less

Many industries are experiencing explosive growth, and that typically means you need incredible gifted recruiters. This is where I come in; my specialty is in hiring recruiters. My focus is all about incrementally building a team of recruiting professionals and leaders who will outperform where we stand today and be prepared to solve hiring problems that we have not even thought of yet. I hire the best and brightest; this requires that I search, pursue, and network each day to unearth talent… Show more

Many industries are experiencing explosive growth, and that typically means you need incredible gifted recruiters. This is where I come in; my specialty is in hiring recruiters. My focus is all about incrementally building a team of recruiting professionals and leaders who will outperform where we stand today and be prepared to solve hiring problems that we have not even thought of yet. I hire the best and brightest; this requires that I search, pursue, and network each day to unearth talent from all over North America. The hiring bar is high, and in recruiting for recruiters, the bar is at its highest. I daresay that recruiters face the most scrutiny in the vetting process of any organization. Show less

The interaction between candidates and recruiters during a job interview plays a key role in whether or not an applicant is hired. Everything from a candidate's appearance to how well he or she communicates creates either favorable or unfavorable impressions for recruiters tasked with determining the candidate's fit for the organization and the role before moving him or her along in the process.

Getting an interview at Amazon is notoriously difficult; the interview process is rigorous.
Getting a job offer, now that’s finding a purple squirrel. In this viral article, I talk about what it's really like to work at Amazon (good or bad).