Recording If you haven’t had a job interview in awhile, you may be surprised when you get asked what are called “behavioral interview” questions. These are questions that ask you to describe how you handled a past job situation in a way that concisely conveys your impact. This can be hard to do and preparation is key! Watch a recording of this July 20, 2022 webinar to: discover how employers use the behavioral interview…
The Big Benefits of a Smile File
Earlier in my career, I remember reporting to a new office after a promotion. One of the first things I noticed was that everyone had a manila folder with a smile drawn on it on their desk. Curious, I asked a friendly face what the folders were for, and her matter of fact response of “they’re our smile files” let me know I was missing something. Seeing my confusion, she…
Search Path Forward’s Returnship Matcher to Find Your Best Fit
Job searching after you’ve been out of the workforce for several years is daunting. You quickly find out how much things have changed. One thing that may be new to you, for example, is the concept of returnships. Returnships bridge the gap between employers and highly qualified returners. They are supportive hiring programs that offer a pathway for mid-career professionals to return to the workforce and gain new skills and…
Is a Mock Interview for You?
You just got the call. They want to interview you for your dream job! But wait, instead of feeling happy and excited, a sense of dread washes over you. Some advice to get yourself back to feeling excited and confident? Take a deep breath and set up a mock interview. What’s a mock interview? If you haven’t heard of mock interviews, or aren’t utilizing them, you need to add them…
Is “Back to School” Making You Think of “Back to Work”?
The end of summer and start of a new school year feels like a fresh start for everyone. The kids are older now – maybe your youngest is beginning full-day kindergarten. Or the oldest is off to college. Or your teen or preteen is super busy with activities. What about you? The back-to-school season is when many stay-at-home moms and dads begin to think about their own next steps. Maybe…
Easy Ideas to Ease Back Into a School Routine
You’d think that back to school would mean a big sigh of relief. As we’ve written before, a summer strategy is needed for those yawning weeks when the usual childcare arrangements (generally known as school) suddenly disappear and parents across the land scramble to keep the kids safe and occupied. While it certainly solves a lot of problems to have the kids back in school, those first weeks can present…
You’re Not Starting From Zero: Call Out Your Transferable Skills
A brand-name employer we work with was hoping to hire more sales consultants for their IT services division. “You know,” the hiring manager said. “Some of our most successful employees are former teachers.” The manager had noticed something: these former teachers — because of their experience working with students, parents, and administrators — had exceptional skills in understanding and adapting to the needs of different customers. Put another way, the…
How to Research a Company Before Your Interview
In many ways, the Scout Motto “Be Prepared” applies to job searching as much as it does to camping and hiking. This is especially true if you’ve been invited to a job interview. Your resume piqued the employer’s interest and now they want to meet you. Hooray! This is a huge step in your candidacy and you’ll want to be prepared and make the most of this opportunity by researching…
Is Housework Stressing You Out? Lower Your Standards.
My dining room table was dirty when I woke up this morning. Some of it was kid debris – a plastic box full of crayons, half-finished drawings, books, birthday cards. Some of it was food debris – crumbs from last night’s dinner. It was dirty when I woke up because it was dirty when I went to bed. If you just read that paragraph and thought “Oh honey, you are…
Success Story: Stephanie Vidales
Stephanie Vidales took a two and a half year break from her HR career to care for her family. When she was ready to return to work, Stephanie decided to try pivoting into IT support. She completed a returnship at Akin Gump, and now works there full-time as an IT Support Specialist. Stephanie talks about her return-to-work experience, how Akin Gump’s robust support and training helped her career transition, and…