Candidate
How to ‘Build Bridges’ in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
I have addressed the topic of “burning bridges” in a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career on multiple occasions. And while I am going to touch upon that topic once again in this article, my overriding focus is “building bridges” instead. However, let us touch...
How to Avoid ‘Drifting’ in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
As a recruiter and search consultant for more than 26 years, I know how easy it is to get into a “career rut.” However, before a person finds themselves in such a position, they’ve usually succumbed to something called “career drifting.” The problem is that some...
Switching Jobs: Why Embracing Change is Good for You in the Long Run
There are few things in life that are potentially as stressful as changing jobs. In fact, it is generally agreed upon that there are three such things: Getting married Having a baby Moving Pity the people who have done all three and also did so while changing jobs,...
The Art of Being a Passive Candidate in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
I have written about this before, but I am addressing it again because it remains critical to the success of a person’s professional life: career growth and advancement require a strategic and proactive approach. And this is certainly true of the Animal Health...
A Step-by-Step Guide for Growing Your Animal Health Career or Veterinary Career in 2024
Last month, I wrote an article titled, “How to Get a New Veterinarian Job to Help Grow Your Career in 2024.” As an executive recruiter and search consultant for the past 25+ years, I possess a certain amount of expertise in terms of landing a new veterinarian job....
How to Get a New Veterinarian Job in 2024 to Help Grow Your Veterinary Career
With less than one month left in the year, the job market for veterinarians in 2024 remains highly favorable, and candidates continue to hold significant leverage in most hiring situations. As has been the case in the past, this situation particularly benefits the top...
Conduct a Review of Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career Before 2024
Believe it or not, the year is nearly over, and since that’s the case, this is an opportune time for you to review and analyze your Animal Health or Veterinary career. This involves not only reviewing what happened during the past 12 months, but also planning steps...
What an Interviewer First Notices About You
I have written before about how to make a lasting impression as a job candidate in the hiring process. But what about the face-to-face interview specifically? I have also discussed how to answer the question, “Why should we hire you?” However, what does an interviewer...
How to Answer the Interview Question, ‘Why Should We Hire You?’
The face-to-face interview is one of the most important stages of the recruiting and hiring process. That’s because it represents the opportunity for both the job candidate and the employer to make the best possible impression upon each other. And yes, both the...
Forget Work-Life Balance; Instead, Strive for Work-Life Integration
There are a couple of things that I probably do not have to tell you. First, the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession can be stressful at times, especially the latter. Second, the phrase “work-life balance” has been prevalent during the past several years,...
Why Do I Need a Recruiter If There Are So Many Jobs?
The title of this article is a question that I have heard from a few candidates during the past year or so. As you might imagine, there is a good reason why someone would ask that question. The reason is that we are in a candidate-driven market. This is especially the...
Change is Not a Threat: It is an Opportunity for Growth and Development
I have been an executive recruiter and search consultant for more than 25 years, and if there is one thing I know, it is that many people are afraid of change. And even if they are not afraid of it, they sometimes go out of their way to avoid it. And in many cases,...
4 Big Mistakes NOT to Make During the Job Interview
Yes, we are currently in the midst of a candidates’ job market in the Veterinary profession. And yes, that means candidates (especially top candidates) have the majority of leverage in hiring situations. However, that does not mean you don’t have to “put your best...
10 Intangible Factors for Achieving Job Interview Success
There are many different factors that are involved in enjoying a successful job interview. Some of these factors involve tangible steps—i.e., researching the organization, reviewing the job description, etc.—while others are more intangible in nature. However, just...
10 Steps to Take for Experiencing More Job Interview Success
The interview is one of the most important stages in the recruiting and hiring process. That’s true regardless of the industry in which you work. It’s a prime opportunity for the interviewer (or interviewers) to assess your qualifications, skills, and personality. In...
How to Make a Lasting Impression as a Candidate in the Hiring Process
Yes, job seekers and candidates have the majority of the leverage in hiring situations, and that includes within the Animal Health industry and Veterinary impression. And yes, that is especially the case within the Veterinary profession, specifically in regards to...
‘Sowing the Seeds of Success’ in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
You may or may not know who Kevin Bacon is. For those of you who don’t know, Kevin Bacon is an actor and has been one for decades. You might say that he’s been a prolific actor, having starred in quite a few movies, television shows, and series over the years. In...
THIS Will Make a Difference in Your Career
At this point, you might be wondering what “THIS” is. Perhaps it is talent. Maybe it is education. Experience, anyone? There is no doubt that all of these things play a role in a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career. However, there is something else that is...
How to Practice Self-Love in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
One could say that stress levels within the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession are at an all-time high, especially in the latter. Long hours, unruly customers (pet owners), financial concerns, and mergers and acquisitions represent just a handful of the...
Animal Health and Veterinarian Job Search Tips for 2023
As I’ve stated on multiple occasions during the past year, there is no better time to conduct a job search in the Animal Health industry and the Veterinary profession than right now. There is a shortage of Animal Health professionals and veterinarians and an abundance...
How to Get a New Veterinarian Job in 2023
The job market is good right now for veterinarians, namely because it’s a candidate’s market, one in which candidates hold the leverage in the majority of hiring situations. This especially the case for the best candidates in the market, which is typically defined as...
Why You Need an ‘Elevator Pitch’ for Career Growth and How to Create One
It appears as though the employment marketplace is in a constant state of flux, especially lately. It seems there are new trends and developments around every corner and what was true just a few years ago—like the definition of a “job hopper”—has changed dramatically....
How the Recruiter Got Your Name
Perhaps you’ve been contacted by a recruiter and the first thing you asked them was, “How did you get my name?” As an Animal Health executive recruiter and Veterinary Recruiter for more than 25 years, I’ve had a number of people ask me this question. And because there...
Have You Benchmarked Your Worth as a Veterinary Professional?
There is a lot happening for those working in the Veterinary profession, especially veterinarians. Things are occurring very quickly and moving at a frenetic pace. With the “Great Resignation” still ongoing and the continued shortage of veterinarians in the job...
An Overlooked Key to Greater Career Advancement for Women
During recent years, women have become a bigger part of the Veterinary profession. This trend was substantiated in an article published by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in December of 2020. According to the article, the size of the nation’s active...
2 Important Factors in Nailing Your Animal Health or Veterinary Job Interview
It’s overwhelmingly a candidates’ job market right now, especially if you work in the Veterinary profession. There are far more job openings and opportunities than there are qualified candidates to fill those openings. As a result, if you’re interested and serious...
An Essential (But Overlooked) Element Necessary for Career Success
As you might imagine, Animal Health and Veterinary career success requires many things. One of the themes that runs through my blog posts and newsletter articles is that success, including career success, starts in the mind. That’s because what you think and what you...
5 Pieces of Timeless Wisdom to Grow Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
There are many things that a person can do to gain an edge in their professional life as they attempt to grow and develop their career. However, there are some things that a person can only learn through personal experience . . . and sometimes the experience of other...
A (Good) Recruiter Will Not Cost You Money . . . Nor Waste Your Time
By now, you should know that there is a severe worker and talent shortage in the United States, including within the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession. You should also know that as a result of these conditions, there is plenty of opportunity for career...
If You Don’t Explore Opportunities, Will You Regret it?
I’ve written about opportunity many times, both in The VET Recruiter newsletter and also in blog posts for our website. During my 25 years as a recruiter, I can say that there has always been opportunity in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession....
How Many Veterinary Jobs Will Go Unfilled by the Year 2030?
It would be nearly impossible for me to overemphasize how much opportunity exists for workers in the Veterinary profession right now. There has been opportunity in the profession for the past several years. However, there is more opportunity in the profession right...
What to Do If You Don’t Love Your Job (and How to Love Your Career)
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, people’s thoughts usually turn to the topics of love and affection. Typically, these thoughts are about another person, but how about your job? Do you love your job? And if you...
Don’t Turn Down an Animal Health or Veterinary Job Before It’s Offered
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® Later this year, I will be starting my 26th year in executive search as an Animal Health and Veterinary recruiter. That means, of course, that I was born 26 years ago. (Just kidding!) During that time, I have a seen a lot,...
How and Why Changing Jobs Helps You Make More Money
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® There have been and unfortunately continue to be misnomers and misunderstandings in the job market about Animal Health and Veterinary recruiters. (Actually, about all recruiters in general, but we’re dealing specifically...
Why Do You Need an Animal Health or Veterinary Recruiter If the Job Market is So Good?
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® You’re probably well aware of the fact that there is a talent shortage in the employment marketplace, one accompanied by a trend known as the “Great Resignation.” Workers have been quitting their jobs in droves—many in...
Doing What’s in Your Best Interests at the Cost of Your Personal Integrity
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® You may have already guessed from the title of this article that I am going to relay a case study regarding something that I recently encountered in the employment marketplace. If so, then you are correct. And in a year...
Don’t Let Your Employer Make You Feel Guilty About Growing Your Career
You may feel as though you are in control of your career, including how you’re going to grow your career. But how much are you really in control? I ask this question because of recent situations that I have seen as an Animal Health recruiter and Veterinary recruiter....
Animal Health and Veterinary Career Advice: Listening Without Getting Defensive
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® On more than one occasion, I’ve referenced the fact that emotional intelligence is a key factor in how much success a person enjoys in their career. The more emotional intelligence you possess, the more successful you will...
Veterinarians: What You Need to Know if You Want to Move From Clinical Veterinary Practice to Industry
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® As an executive recruiter and search consultant, I have the opportunity to talk with professionals and employers in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession on a daily basis. Because of the large number of...
What to Do if You Don’t Get the Animal Health or Veterinary Job You Want
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® At first, when the candidate said these words, I almost didn’t believe what I just heard: “The employer is stupid for not hiring me. I know more than they do!” But that was exactly what the candidate said, which was...
THIS is What Employers Are Looking for in a Candidate
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® Even if you’re not actively seeking a new job or actively looking for another employment opportunity, you might be curious as to whether or not you have what employers want. To an extent, this is human nature, but it’s...
Not Allowing Fear to Dictate Your Career Decisions
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® Fear is a natural emotion that can impact one’s personal life and their professional life. It’s unavoidable in the same way that change and adversity are both unavoidable. As an executive recruiter for more than twenty...
Humility is Not a Weakness in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® I’ve addressed the topic of personal branding numerous times in my articles and blog posts, and with good reason. Personal banding is an important component of a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career. The experience...
5 Steps for Making Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career More Durable
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® I’ve addressed the topic of resiliency in terms of a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career on more than one occasion. The reason I’ve done this is because resiliency is an extraordinarily important attribute for...
Are You Negotiating Your Starting Salary . . . Backwards?
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® Many times, the way that you approach a situation dictates what happens in that situation. If you approach the situation correctly, then you can expect a positive outcome, perhaps an even better outcome than you could have...
5 Costly Interview Mistakes You Might Not Realize You’re Making
By Stacy Pursell, CPC/CERS The VET Recruiter® The interview stage of the hiring process can be tricky, to say the least. You’re trying to make a good impression and brand yourself in the best way possible, but things don’t always go as you’ve planned them. In fact,...
5 Pro Tips for Growing Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career in 2021
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The employment marketplace has changed quite a bit during the last several years. And of course, COVID-19 has helped accelerate these changes since it arrived on the scene last year. I’ve written before about the fact...
What Albert Einstein Can Teach You About Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® You might have read the title of this article and thought, “What could Albert Einstein teach me about my Animal Health or Veterinary career? Didn’t he work in physics?” If that’s the case, then the answer to the second...
What is Holding YOU Back from Reaching Your Full Career Potential?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Here we are. It’s a New Year. Last year is finally behind us, and we are all hopeful that 2021 will bring more good things than 2020 did. And that includes in your Animal Health or Veterinary career. However, enjoying a...
Simple but Highly Effective Animal Health and Veterinary Career Advice
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The best and most effective career advice for growing your Animal Health and Veterinary career is typically the simplest advice. In my experience, that has been the case during my more than 20 years as an Executive Search...
Will My Animal Health or Veterinary Recruiter Keep My Confidentiality?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I hope that I caught your attention with the title of this article. That’s because job candidates ask me different versions of the same question quite often. These versions include: “Is this process confidential?” “Are...
Don’t ‘Burn Bridges’ or ‘Close Doors’ on Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® One of the problems in today’s society is the “immediate gratification mindset.” In other words, it has become commonplace for people to place a higher priority on what is short-term gain, as opposed to taking the long...
Don’t Be a ‘Ghost’ When It Comes to Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Even though Halloween is over, and we are in the middle of a pandemic and quite possibly a recession, there is still “ghosting” happening in the employment marketplace, including in the Animal Health industry and...
Control What You CAN Control to Grow Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® On many days, it might appear as if the world is “spinning out of control,” what with the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Presidential election. The good news is that it’s NOT actually “spinning out of control.”...
Is Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career ‘Sitting on the Sidelines’ Due to COVID-19?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I do not profess to be a football fan. However, it is football season and there are a few football-related phrases that I know. One of them is contained in the title of this article, and I wanted to use it to address an...
The Normalcy Bias and Your Animal Health Career or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The year 2020 has been quite a year. Actually, that’s putting it mildly. So perhaps it makes sense on a couple of different levels to bring up the normalcy bias as it pertains to your Animal Health or Veterinary career....
How Animal Health and Veterinary Professionals Sabotage Opportunities
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The key to growing your Animal Health or Veterinary career is not where you went to school. It’s not how much experience you have or how many employers you’ve worked for. It’s actually much simpler than that. The key to...
The Importance of Resiliency in the Animal Health Industry and Veterinary Profession
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Just recently, I received a phone call from a veteran of the Veterinary profession. This is a veterinarian who had been in the business for quite a while. He had seen a lot during his career, which has spanned multiple...
The COVID-19 Pandemic is NOT a Good Excuse to be Unprofessional
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® A number of trends have resulted from the COVID-19 virus and the pandemic that it created. Virtual interviews, working from home, and even making (and accepting) an offer of employment without actually meeting anyone in...
Why This is a Great Time to Explore Animal Health Jobs and Veterinary Jobs
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® When I think back to before the COVID-19 pandemic began—with the job market having record numbers of employment—I remember that some people when contacted about Animal Health jobs and Veterinary jobs would not be open to...
The Current State of the Veterinary Profession = Plenty of Opportunity
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Much has happened in the employment marketplace overall and in the Veterinary profession specifically since the start of 2020. As recently as just a few months ago, it was a candidate-driven job market. In fact, while the...
Avoiding the ‘Round-About’ in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® You may have read the title of this blog post and immediately thought to yourself, “What is a ‘round-about’? Is it a card game? A new dance? or like the Merry go Round we played on as kids?” No, it is not a card game or a...
Accepting a Job Offer Without Meeting in Person
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® You’ve probably heard or read about what is referred to as the “new normal.” Or at the very least, the normal that will be in effect until the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control one way or another. As you can...
Why and How to Focus on the Market Recovery (and NOT the Pandemic)
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® What you think about and focus on affects your mood, your attitude, and your approach to life in general. These days, there is a real danger in focusing on the wrong things. Simply put, when you focus on the wrong things,...
Tips, Advice, and Strategies for Career Success During This Uncertain Time
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® First, allow me to say that I hope you’re doing well personally and physically. These are not only uncertain times in this country and around the world, but they’re challenging and troubling times, as well, on a number of...
Why You MUST Use a Professional Email Address to Advance Your Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Everyone wants to gain an edge in the employment marketplace. Fortunately, as a recruiter and search consultant for more than 20 years, I know how professionals can gain that edge. And I am more than happy to share my...
Animal Health or Veterinary Career: How Often Should You Change Jobs?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® We are obviously at a crossroads in the employment marketplace and also in terms of a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career. That crossroads involves the following important question: how often should you change...
Veterinary Demographics: Women Veterinarians Dominate the Field
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I have witnessed many changes in the Veterinary profession since I started working as a Veterinary recruiter back around 1997. One of those changes is a major shift in Veterinary demographics, and that shift continues as...
Your Strategy for a Promotion Next Year (and Every Year After That)
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Almost everyone would like to receive a promotion. They’d like to receive one with their current employer, if possible, but if not, then some professionals would be open to receiving one by pursuing an employment...
The #1 Question to Ask Yourself Before 2020 Arrives
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Believe it or not, the year 2020 is almost upon us. I still remember when the Y2K scare was happening, and that was nearly two decades ago. During those two decades, I’ve learned quite a bit in my role as an Animal Health...
The Skill That Can Give You a HUGE Edge Over Other Professionals
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® There is no doubt that we’re currently living in the Digital Age. The Internet and wireless technology have revolutionized the way in which people communicate with each other. This includes both personally and...
What Dwayne Johnson Can Teach You About Career Success
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I am a fan of Dwayne Johnson’s rules for professional success even though I admit I haven’t seen many of his movies. More than likely, most of you know who I’m talking about. Dwayne Johnson is also known as “The Rock.” He...
How to Prepare for a Recession (Even Though the Economy is Good)
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Regardless of everything that’s been happening the world during the past year—trade wars, extreme weather, political strife—the national economy is still doing well. And because of that, the employment marketplace is...
Common Sense Career Advice for Gen Z from the Marketplace Trenches
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® There have been numerous articles, blog posts, stories, and studies about the Millennial Generation in the employment marketplace and workplace. But what about Generation Z? Yes, there is a generation behind the...
Why an Animal Health or Veterinary Employer Would Rescind a Job Offer
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® A job offer can be an exciting moment. It can be exciting for both the employer that extended the offer and also for the candidate who received it. It can also be exciting for me, the recruiter, because I enjoy seeing a...
Why the Proper Perspective Does NOT Revolve Around What You Want
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I’ve written before about the fact that there is a limit to the leverage that candidates possess in this current market. Yes, we are in a candidates’ marketplace. And yes, the National Unemployment Rate is historically...
How Poor Communication Skills Can Kill Your Chances for a Job
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® During my career as an Animal Health Executive Search Consultant and Veterinary recruiter, I’ve sent candidates on literally thousands of interviews. That means I’ve received feedback from hiring managers and practice...
10 Reasons to Talk with a Recruiter When You Don’t Think You Need to
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Yes, you’re a very busy person, in both your personal life and professional life. And no, you’re not really looking for a new job right now. So I can understand why you might be hesitant to talk with a recruiter or...
Do You Have to Threaten to Quit Before You’re Paid What You’re Worth?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® We’ve asked some rather hard-hitting questions in our newsletter during the past couple of months. They include: Is it unethical for recruiters to call candidates at work? Is it illegal for recruiters to poach...
An Easy Way to Give Yourself a Strategic Advantage in the Marketplace
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I hope that the title of this article grabbed your attention, because even though we’ve addressed this topic already to some extent, its importance can NOT be overstated. An easy way to give yourself a strategic advantage...
Why It Doesn’t Hurt to Have a Conversation with an Employer
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® You may have recognized the title of this blog post. That’s because I wrote a post previously with the title, “It Never Hurts to Have a Conversation with a Recruiter.” In that post, I explained that talking with a...
Is It Unethical for Recruiters to Call Candidates at Work?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Spoiler Alert: The answer to the question posed in the title of this article is “No!” I wanted to get that out of the way, lest someone believe there should be debate as to whether or not a recruiter calling a candidate...
The One Trait That Can Make a HUGE Difference in Your Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I’ve talked about numerous traits and characteristics in my articles and blog posts. I’ve discussed soft skills. However, I’ve not yet discussed the one trait that can make a huge difference in your career. That trait is...
Increasing Pet Ownership = Continued Opportunity in the Marketplace
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® There has been plenty of good news lately for those professionals seeking to advance their career in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession. And I’m pleased to announce that there is even more good news....
The Napoleon Hill Success Formula for Animal Health and Veterinary Professionals
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Last month, I used a quote at the beginning of a newsletter article, and I’d like to do so again for this blog post. I previously quoted Raye Montague. Raye was a naval engineer who revolutionized the design process for...
6 Career-Limiting Moves for Animal Health and Veterinary Professionals
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® To enjoy success in anything that you do, either personally or professionally, you must be in position to enjoy that success. It does not just happen “all of a sudden” or “out of nowhere.” Even when a person becomes an...
Being Self-Aware Gives You a Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Some of you may be aware that I’m a parent of five children, as well as the founder and CEO of The VET Recruiter, an executive search and recruiting firm serving the Animal Health Industry and Veterinary Profession. Three...
The Most Strategic Move in Your Career is Not Always a Straight Line
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® At the end of the electronic newsletter that The VET Recruiter sends out every month, I usually include a relevant quote. However, rather than wait to put this particular quote at the end of a newsletter, I’ve decided to...
7 Steps for Maximizing Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The topic of maximizing one’s career is both a personal and subjective one. After all, what is maximizing to one person may not be maximizing to another. People’s opinions can (and do) differ about this topic. In...
If You Don’t Love Your Job, Then What Keeps You There?
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Although the Valentine’s Day holiday is a good time to gauge exactly how much you love your current job, you should be conducting such an assessment at periodic intervals. The reason for this is simple (and it also...
How and Why Feelings of Loyalty Can Stunt Your Career Growth
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The employment marketplace is constantly changing. As a result, how a professional in that marketplace should view their career is also changing. As I’ve mentioned before, the days of working for the same organization for...
Top 10 Steps for Enhancing Your Career in 2019
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® The new year is here! In fact, we’re already more than a week into it. However, we’re not here to talk about New Year’s resolutions. Such things come and go and they do so, as you guessed it, on a yearly basis. Today...
How to Fight Ageism in the Current Employment Marketplace
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® While the national unemployment rate is the lowest that it’s been since 1969 and it’s a candidates ‘job market right now, ageism still exists in the employment marketplace. In fact, tech giant IBM was sued earlier this...
How “Jumping the Gun” with Your Job Offer Can Backfire
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® Excitement during a job search is great. Being proactive during that same job search is even better. However, there is such a thing as being too excited and perhaps just a bit too eager. The result can have negative...
Why It Never Hurts to Have a Conversation with a Recruiter
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I have spoken with numerous Animal Health industry and Veterinary professionals during the course of my career. I’ve spoken with them about employment opportunities, I’ve spoken with them about their careers, and about...
Why Trying to Push the Start Date Back Too Far is a Risky Proposition
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® I’ve noticed a new trend with some job seekers and candidates in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession. That trend is as follows: when a job seeker or candidate accepts an offer of employment, they ask the...
How Passion and Enthusiasm Give You an Edge During the Job Interview
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® If you’re like most people in the Animal Health industry or Veterinary profession, then you’re looking to gain an edge in your job and in your career. It could be that you’re looking to gain control of your career. You...
The Importance of Not Being Afraid to Resign from Your Job
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® I’m going to present a series of facts in a logical order, all for an intended purpose. All of these facts are pretty much indisputable. Here we go: We are in a candidates’ market, with plenty of opportunities for job seekers and...
Does Your Boss Support You and Your Career?
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® The title of this article poses an important question. However, as important as it is, I would be willing to bet that not many professionals in the Animal Health industry or Veterinary profession ask it. But they should be asking...
Do NOT Use a Job Offer to Get a Better Deal from Your Employer
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® There are all sorts of crazy things that happen in a candidates’ job market like this one. I can attest to this, of course, from personal experience. Unfortunately, job market conditions such as these cause job seekers and...
Are YOU Taking Advantage of Veterinarians’ Pay-Increase Potential?
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® I probably don’t have to tell you that times are good in the U.S. economy. Or that times are also good in the Animal Health Industry and Veterinary Profession. However, it’s one thing to know about a good situation. But it’s...
A Simple (But Critical) Tip for Navigating the Face-to-Face-Interview
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® There are a number of reasons why the face-to-face interview is one of the most important parts of the hiring process. In fact, it could be argued that it is the most important part of the process. While that point is debatable,...
3 BIG Reasons Not to Be (or Appear) Greedy During Salary Negotiations
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® I write quite a bit about the topics of both compensation and negotiation. That’s because not only are they two of the most important topics for job seekers and candidates, but they’re also two of the most popular topics among job...
The Importance of Acting with a Sense of Urgency as a Professional
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® People have different personalities. That’s a fact. Not everyone is a type-A personality. That kind of person is pretty much moving all the time. They typically have a lot of energy, but they’re sometimes high-strung. On the other...
“What Do I Want?” Ask THIS Question Instead
by Stacy Pursell, The VET Recruiter® As an experienced Animal Health Recruiter and Veterinary Recruiter for more than 20 years, I’ve seen a lot of resumes. Thousands upon thousands of resumes. As a result, I’ve seen just about everything when it comes to resumes. I...
Why the Interview is the Start of a Relationship (or the END of One)
Stacy Pursell The VET Recruiter ® There’s no doubt that a job interview is extremely important in terms of a person’s job search, and subsequently, the future of their career. That’s why we’ve devoted so many of our newsletter articles and blog posts to this topic....
The Proper Way to Handle Salary Negotiations
Stacy Pursell The VET Recruiter ® We’ve discussed the topics of money and salary negotiation before, and we’ll be doing so again. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, negotiating money correctly is very important for candidates who want to maximize the job...
This is Why You MUST Have a LinkedIn Profile
Stacy Pursell The VET Recruiter ® There is no doubt that LinkedIn is one of the biggest and most popular social media platforms. In fact, as of the beginning of this year, 530 million people use LinkedIn in 200 countries around the world. But do YOU use LinkedIn? I...
Why the Company is NOT Wanting you to Go Around The Recruiter
Stacy Pursell The VET Recruiter ® Professionals in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession occasionally make mistakes in the employment marketplace. I know this because I’ve witnessed some of these mistakes. In some cases, I’ve been an unwilling...
The Correct Way to React When a Recruiter Reaches Out to You
Stacy Pursell The VET Recruiter ® I reach out to candidates on a daily basis about career opportunities. Sometimes these candidates are active job seekers, and sometimes they’re passive candidates. If they’re an active job seeker, there’s a good chance that they’ll...
The Final Word: Your Resume vs. Your LinkedIn Profile
Stacy Pursell The VET Recruiter When I started in the recruiting profession, there was no LinkedIn. In fact, email was relatively new. Believe it or not, people still used fax machines. (If you don’t know what those are, Google it.) One of the ways people used fax...
Want to Impress an Employer? Then Brand Yourself THIS Way!
I rarely write a newsletter article or blog post with a title that has an exclamation point at the end of it. However, I’m making an exception with this article. That’s because I believe very strongly in the subject matter and the impact that it can have on a person’s...
6 Reasons Why You Should NOT Pursue an Opportunity
I have made a career out of convincing professionals that a particular position is the right one for them. However, I have never done that without actually believing that the position in question was the right one based on what I know of the individual, their career...
Ways to Gain a Career Edge That Have Nothing to Do with Talent
In my newsletter articles and blog posts, I talk a lot about strategy. That’s because strategy is instrumental in the employment marketplace and it’s integral to getting ahead. Of course, in order to get ahead, you need things like talent and experience. Those are...
Negotiating Money: The BIG Mistake You Might Be Making
Let’s face it: when it comes to a new employment opportunity, money is important. In fact, that might be an understatement. However, considering how important money is to candidates, you might be surprised by how candidates approach money and money negotiations....
Why and How the “I’m Not Actively Looking” Mindset Can Hurt You
Enjoying career success is about more than just skills and experience. Sure, those things can take you far, and they’re things about which employers are very much interested. However, your mindset is just as important as what you know or how much experience you...
Case Study: “Recruiters Won’t Call Me If I’m Unemployed”
As an Animal Health and Veterinary recruiter, I speak with people all day long every day. As you might imagine, this includes primarily professionals within the Animal Health Industry and Veterinary Profession. Sometimes these professionals are active job seekers,...
What Employers Want: the Movie You Should Know Inside and Out
As many of you well know, real life often serves as the basis for the articles and blog posts that I write. And that is once again the case with this blog post. However, the real-life situation on which it is based doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the...
The Dangers of “Ghosting” on Your Job Offer
It’s November, so Halloween is but a memory. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t address the subject of “ghosting” at The VET Recruiter. What is “ghosting,” you may ask? The best way to illustrate this is with a story, more specifically, with a case study . . ....
Why and How to Make a Quick Decision Regarding Your Job Offer
We’re starting this article with good news! As you can see by the title, we’re discussing a situation in which an organization has made an offer of employment to you. As we’ve discussed on many occasions, an offer of employment is the #1 objective of being in the...
Why Not Being Able to Relocate may be a Career-Limiting Move
I once had a candidate tell me that they wanted to take the next step in their career. In their next breath, however, they said that they only wanted to work in the Topeka, Kansas area. Using that example, let’s think about a couple of questions for just a minute. If...
Why It Is Okay to Changes Jobs More Frequently These Days
I’ve written about this topic recently, and the title of this article explains why. The title of another recent article also tells the tale: “It’s Official: Being a ‘Job Hopper’ is GOOD for Your Career!” For quite a while, there was a certain stigma associated with...
Feedback Following the Interview is a Gift, NOT a Personal Attack
There is no doubt that people are emotionally invested in their career. How could they not be? A person’s career is one of the most important aspects of their life. However, sometimes people allow the degree of their emotional investment to impede the growth of their...
You’re “Too Big” for the Position? Think Again!
Candidates say and do all sorts of things during the hiring process. Many of those things occur during the face-to-face interview, one of the most crucial phases of the process. Unfortunately, sometimes what is said and done does NOT help the candidate receive an...
How Job Boards Can Actually HURT Your Career Growth
It’s probably safe to say that everybody wants a great job. And if that’s the case, everybody wants every edge they can get in their quest to land that job. Not everybody approaches their job search in a way that leads to such an outcome. One of the reasons for this...
What the Skills Gap Means in Today’s Employment Marketplace
Nine years later, the Great Recession seems like a distant memory for many people. One of the best illustrations of this is that job openings in the United States recently hit an all-time high. According to data released by the Department of Labor, there were 6...
How to Have More Confidence in Your Job Search and Career
As a professional in the animal health and/or veterinary field, you’re more than likely looking for any edge or advantage that you can get in your career. That makes sense, since most people want to maximize their career and reach their full potential. However,...
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Candidate
Some of you reading this might not be old enough to remember the Hardy Boys or the Nancy Drew book series. (Although you might remember the Nancy Drew movie starring Emma Roberts from 2007). For those of you who don’t know, the Hardy brothers and Nancy Drew were...
THIS is the Person Who Cares the Most About Your Career
It’s not often that I reference an article for hiring managers within a blog post for job seekers and candidates, but this is an appropriate time to do so. The article I want to reference is, “Presenting the ‘X Factor’ for Hiring Superstar Candidates.”The reason that...
THIS is Why You Might Not Know About Some Career Opportunities
No matter what you do, being successful is all about opportunities. That’s because you can’t become successful until you have the opportunity to become successful. Makes sense, right? Not only does it make sense, but it also sounds simple. Unfortunately, things that...
How Getting Ahead in the Workplace Helps Grow Your Career
I’ve written many articles and conducted quite a few webinars about growing your career. In those articles and during those webinars, I’ve stated repeatedly that there are two ways in which professionals can grow their careers: You can grow your career with your...
The Dangers of Assumptions in Your Career and Job Search
You’ve probably heard the old saying about assuming things. (If you haven’t, then I recommend Googling the phrase, “old saying about assuming.” That saying is often used because it is often correct. Making assumptions is a dangerous proposition. That applies to not...
How to Tell if YOU Are Taking 100% Responsibility for Your Career
I am an advocate of a great many things in regards to one’s career. One of those things is continuous learning. That can include a wide range of activities, including attending webinars and conferences and earning industry-specific certifications. It also includes...
It’s Official: Being a “Job Hopper” is GOOD for Your Career!
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® A LOT has changed in the employment marketplace since I first became a recruiter. One of the things that has changed most dramatically is how “job hoppers” are viewed by employers. I’ve touched upon this subject before,...
The Soft Skills That Really Make You a More Attractive Candidate
Fact: the employment market is solid right now and employers are looking to hire within almost all levels of their organization. Fact: a tremendous amount of competition still exists for most open positions within companies, especially those at the highest levels....
Why Won’t My Recruiter Tell Me Who the Company Is?
The question above is one sometimes asked by job seekers and candidates. It’s a question they ask themselves during the search process, and sometimes they even ask a variation of it to their recruiter: “Why won’t you tell me who the company is?” As a recruiter, I can...
4 Ways to Proactively Take Control of Your Career
I’ve addressed the subject of fear on many occasions in this blog. In fact, for those of you who have read my articles, you probably already know the acronym I use regarding fear. That acronym is: Fear = False Evidence Appearing Real Fear holds people back in their...
Why the Comfort Zone Holds You Back from Moving Your Career Forward
Last month, I wrote one of the most important articles for candidates that I’ve ever written. The title of that article was, “I am NOT Open to Opportunity!” The reason that it’s so important is that it illustrates how people essentially sabotage themselves and their...
How to Manage Your Social Media Accounts When Changing Jobs
Social media and employment are indelibly intertwined these days, there is no doubt about it. In fact, they seem to become more intertwined on a daily basis. It used to be that a person was concerned about what was on their social media accounts during their job...
“I Am NOT Open to Opportunity!”
by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS The VET Recruiter® In 2017, I will start my 21st year in executive search. In my more than two decades of working as a search consultant “in the trenches,” I have literally spoken with thousands of professionals. As you might expect, I have...
5 Career Myths You MUST Stop Believing!
Everybody wants to enjoy a great career. However, as you are probably well aware, not everybody enjoys one. There is a wide array of reasons this is the case, and some of those reasons are out of the control of the people involved. However, what many people do not...
A Blueprint for the RIGHT Way to Leave Your Job
Chances are good that you’re going to hold more than one job during your career. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’ve already held more than one job. That means you’ve already encountered the potentially prickly situation of leaving your job for another one. As...
6 Things to Look for in a Job Offer
The job offer is what every candidate in the interview process with an employer wants to see. That’s the ultimate stage they want to reach. However, what should you be looking for once you reach that stage? There is a certain amount of excitement that exists when an...
Assessing your Career at the End of the Year
The end of the year is upon us. However, with the passing of one year we have the beginning of a brand-new one. This is a great opportunity to take inventory of your professional life and your career, and you can start with the following questions: Are you satisfied...
Your Resume: the Launching Pad for Your Career Growth
There is a certain ebb and flow to the hiring process. One stage of the process begets another stage, which begets another stage. That process can be summed up as follows: The resume helps secure a telephone interview. The telephone interview helps secure a...
A Primer for Answering and Asking Interview Questions
As we’ve discussed numerous times before in our blog and in our newsletter, the interview is one of the most important parts of the hiring process (along with the offer stage, of course). That’s why we’ve addressed it on more than one occasion and why we’re addressing...
How (and Why) to Get on a Search Consultant’s Radar
Approximately 64% of all executive-level positions are filled through search consultants. That statistic alone illustrates why it’s important for you to have a relationship with a search professional. It’s truly one of the most important and rewarding...
Best Practices for Starting a New Job the Right Way
Landing a new job is an exciting time. You’ve probably accepted a position that will reward you with more responsibility, a better title, and possibly increased pay and compensation. You’ll also be working with new colleagues and tackling challenging projects....
Why You Should be Honest and Upfront with Your Recruiter
Working with a recruiter does NOT have to be difficult. However, some candidates make it more difficult than it has to be. There are a number of reasons for this. They include inattention to detail, a lack of foresight, a lack of preparation, and miscommunication....
Why More People Are Changing Jobs (and it’s a GOOD Thing)
If you’re less than 32 years old, then you’re likely to change jobs at least four times before you reach that age. If you’re older than 32, then you’re likely to change jobs more frequently in the future than you did earlier in your career. Those are two of the...
Why and How to Make a Great First Impression During Your Interview
Some people believe that the job interview is about how much experience they have. Some believe that the interview is about the specific skills they have. Some even believe that it’s about how smart they are. All of those people are wrong. What’s most important is how...
2 Things You MUST Know Before Starting Your Job Search
People think of all sorts of things to do before looking for a new job: search online, research companies, network with their peers, spruce up their resume, etc. However, they often overlook the most important aspects of their job search. Those aspects are as follows:...
Being Late Will Cost You (and 4 Other Interview Mistakes)
It doesn’t matter how impressive your resume is. It doesn’t matter how qualified you believe you are for a certain position. There are mistakes you can NOT make prior to the face-to-face interview, during the interview, or after the interview. As is often the case in...
Are You Taking a Risk . . . or an Opportunity?
Being more successful in your profession—and in life—can be as simple as how you view the world around you. You might not think it’s as easy as that, but in my many years as a professional search consultant, I’ve witnessed thousands of situations. I’ve seen the way...
5 Things That Can Help Get Your Career Back on Track
You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you feel like something is wrong—with your career, that is. Once upon a time, you had an idea of how your career would progress—what steps you would take, the challenges you would meet, and the opportunities that would...
Case Study: Why You Should Always Consider Other Opportunities
Over the years, we’ve included case studies in our monthly newsletter articles. These case studies are designed to serve as an example—both of what to do and what not to do in specific situations. And we have another case study this month. This case study underscores...
Irrefutable Proof That You MUST Proofread Your Resume!
You’ve heard it hundreds of times: always proofread your resume. Read it twice, three times, four times . . . let other people read it. Make sure that the resume contains no errors and is basically “bulletproof.” However, at least once you’ve thought to...
What Hiring Managers Like (and Don’t Like) About Candidates
At the beginning of the year, The VET Recruiter® conducted a survey of hiring managers in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession. As part of that survey, we asked a series of questions, many of which dealt directly with candidates and the hiring process....
How to Increase Your Value and Grow Your Career
When you interview with another company, one of the things that the hiring manager is attempting to ascertain is how much value you might bring to the company. At the same time, you’re trying to figure out how valuable it would be for you and your career to work for...
Hiring Managers Identify the 4 Biggest Interview Mistakes
When you’re conducting a job search, the last thing you want to do is mess up the face-to-face interview. That’s the point of the hiring process that is the most crucial. The interview is where you can make the biggest impact. However, that impact has the potential to...
5 Ways to Get Noticed by a Recruiter in Your Niche
We’ve addressed the topic of why you should work with an executive recruiter before (“6 Good Reasons to Work with a Recruiter on a Confidential Basis”). So the value of working with a recruiter has been well documented. However, what about getting to the point where...
Case Study: Why You Need to “Dig Your Well” Now!
I’ve been an executive recruiter for the better part of two decades. I strive to use the experience that I’ve accumulated to help candidates reach their professional goals and grow their careers. As a recruiter, it’s part of my job to make people aware of great...
Candidate Etiquette: Asking About the Name of the Client
Whenever a recruiter approaches you about a new employment opportunity, you more than likely are curious as to the name of the client with the job opening. That’s a natural curiosity. However, there’s a time and place during the interview process for that question,...
You Need THIS for Your Career, Not Another Resolution
Are you “so over” New Year’s Resolutions? If so, who could blame you? After all, less than 10% of the people who make resolutions actually stick to them throughout the entire year. Not only that, but almost half of the people who make them have failed before the month...
The Best Way to Get a Recruiter’s Attention is . . .
There are a lot of ways to get the attention of a recruiter. Unfortunately, some of these ways are negative, and I have borne witness to them over the years. However, for the purposes of this article, we’re only going to focus on the positive ways that you can get the...
THIS is Why You Should Consider Disclosing Your Compensation
I’ve been an executive recruiter for more than 18 years now, and I’ve seen just about everything in terms of the interview and hiring process. And that includes discussions that involve compensation. Now, I know that there are numerous sources on the Internet (and...
2 Critical Mistakes Not to Make During the Interview
It’s a good bet that you’ve seen and read countless articles and blog posts about mistakes you should not make during the face-to-face interview. However, there are probably some mistakes of which you are not aware. While these mistakes might not be as common, they...
Is Fear Holding YOU Back From the Things You Deserve?
During my many years as an executive recruiter, I have seen what fear can do to people. It can (figuratively) paralyze them. It can cause them to believe things that are not true. It can cause them to act in irrational ways. And I’ve seen it hold them back from going...
Why There is NO Such Thing as a “Rubber Stamp Interview”
Have you ever “relaxed” or taken a part of the interview process for granted, and it’s come back to “bite you”? If so, then you understand the title of this blog post all too well. If not, then you need to pay heed to the information contained within it. Have you ever...
The 3 Main Reasons a Company Would Want to Hire You
Human beings, by their very nature, tend to complicate things. This is certainly applicable to the process by which people get hired by organizations. While the interviewing and hiring process can appear complicated, it really is not as complicated as people believe....
Yes, the Job Application is a BIG Part of the Hiring Process
Okay, so you consider yourself a top candidate for a company’s open position. That’s all fine and good, but that doesn’t mean you have the freedom and flexibility to circumvent the hiring process. As I’ve written before in our monthly newsletter, you’re being...
THIS is the #1 Reason Why People Change Their Job
People change jobs every day. In fact, somebody probably just made a decision to change their job right now, while you were reading this sentence. But why do people make that decision? What’s behind their decision? Is it money? Benefits? Better health insurance? More...
The Protocol for Accepting an Offer and Keeping Your Word
As we’ve stated in the past, some of our most popular and frequently read blog posts and newsletter articles are based on real-life examples of things that have actually happened, case studies involving people who have attempted to improve their careers. One of those...
5 Benefits of Staying in Touch with Your Recruiter
If you’ve worked with an executive recruiter before, you’re probably familiar with the value and the benefits that such a relationship provides. However, what are the benefits of staying in touch with your recruiter and maintaining that relationship over time? I can...
3 Tips for Navigating Money During the Interview
Job offer negotiations, especially negotiations that relate to money, can be stressful. They can also be particularly tricky, if you’re not experienced about the process and you don’t know what to do. Almost anything can go wrong if you’re not prepared to navigate...
5 Reasons to Use a Top Recruiter as the Talent Agent for Your Career
People spend long years and invest a tremendous amount of time, energy, and effort into their career. When they’ve invested that much, it only makes sense that they want to “protect” their career and take as much control of it as they can. That is why it makes sense...
2 Things That Will Turn Off a Recruiter (and Why)
There’s no doubt that an experienced executive recruiter can not only help you to find a premium employment opportunity, but they can also help you land that great job and grow your career. However, some candidates do not treat the relationship they have with a...
Why It’s Crucial to Do THIS Following Your Interview
We all know how important the face-to-face interview is in relation to the hiring process. If you perform well, you’ll increase the likelihood of receiving an offer of employment from the company. But what you do after the interview is just as important as what you...
Why You Should Always Be Looking for a Better Job
People approach their careers in different ways, which makes sense because everybody is different. Some people are deliberate, while others “fly by the seat of their pants,” so to speak. Some feel at ease taking risks, while others are afraid of risks and are more...
2 Real-Life Examples of the Benefits of Working with a Recruiter
In this newsletter, we strive to provide case studies regarding actual events in the marketplace. We believe this is one of the best ways to address issues that are happening right now and affect people just like you. We have two more case studies this month, and...
What Do Recruiters and Hiring Managers Consider a ‘Hot Candidate’?
There is often a disconnect between what candidates believe they have to offer in the marketplace . . . and what companies believe those candidates have to offer. Of course, the more that a particular candidate and a company looking to hire are on the same page, the...
How Following Business Etiquette Helps Build Career Relationships
There are many things that candidates can do to help grow their careers. Some of these things they should be doing all of the time. One of the “all of the time” things is business etiquette. What do I mean by that? Well, I happen to have a case study that...
6 Ways to Help Make Yourself the BEST Candidate for the Job
As you might imagine, some candidates and job seekers don’t do themselves any favors during the hiring process. They make mistakes that are very much avoidable, and those mistakes often eliminate them from serious consideration for better employment opportunities. Of...
5 Things on Your Resume That Are Outdated
There’s no question that your resume is one of the most important tools of your job search. It’s quite possibly what gets “your foot in the door” at a company that’s looking to fill an important position. As such, there’s a good chance that you’ve taken meticulous...
3 Reasons to Always Have Your Resume Ready
There’s no doubt that you’re busy, and there’s probably a rather good chance that you believe you’re too busy to give the proper amount of attention to your resume. “Why bother?” you might be saying. “My job is secure. There’s no reason to update my resume.” As we...
What a Recruiter Loves to Hear: ‘Thank You For Changing My Life’
Recruiting is not the easiest job in the world. However, it can very rewarding, especially when you receive an email like the one I recently received. That email was sent to me by somebody who I’ve placed in two positions so far in their career. The email contained...
4 Things Your Employer Might Do When You Resign
Accepting an offer of employment from another company and starting down the path of a great new career opportunity is certainly exciting. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. After all, you have to resign from your current employer. To be sure, this situation...
The Perils of ‘Renegotiating’ Your Current Employment Situation
Quite often in our newsletters and blog posts we share real-life stories that illustrate what to do and what not to do during the interviewing and hiring process. These case studies serve as excellent examples of how to brand yourself within the industry and position...
The Best Candidates Want These 4 Things, NOT Money
We’ve discussed on more than one occasion (in both our newsletter and our blog) the importance of treating passive candidates differently from active job seekers. That’s because what motivates one group does NOT motivate the other group. The most important...
4 Questions to Ask Yourself This Summer
Believe it or not, the year is already halfway over. (That happened quickly, didn’t it?) While summer is here and it’s certainly time to take vacation, enjoy yourself, and attempt to strike some sort of “work-life balance,” this is also a great time to ask a few...
The Employment Application: Why Attention to Detail Matters
In today’s employment and hiring environment, nothing can be taken for granted. If you’re seeking a better opportunity, one that could lead to greater career advancement and satisfaction, then you need to make sure that “your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed” ....
Your ‘Brother’s Meth Lab’ and 4 Other Major Interview Mistakes
It’s common knowledge that the face-to-face interview is one of the most important parts of the hiring process. Doing well during the interview is a prerequisite for receiving an offer of employment. You might not know that, though, judging by the behavior of some...
4 Healthy Questions to Ask About Your Employer
No matter how satisfied you are with your current employment situation, it’s always a good idea to “audit” your employer. That sounds serious, but what exactly does that mean? It’s not as serious as it sounds. However, when taken into the larger context of your...
3 Important Questions to Ask About Your Job Search
Everybody wants a job that’s fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding. Not only that, but everybody believes (or hopes) that they’re doing everything in their power to achieve that goal. However, for those who are currently yearning for more career satisfaction by...
Will 2014 Be the ‘Year of the Raise’ . . . for YOU?
There’s a good chance that you’re expecting to receive a raise this year. However, the question probably weighing on your mind is this one: just how big is that raise going to be? According to a recent article in USA Today, 2014 could very well be the “Year of the...
3 Strategies for Boosting Your Career in 2014
It’s a New Year, one filled with the potential for new possibilities, especially in regards to your career. The fact of the matter is that 2013 was one of the best years for the economy in the past five, and it appears that it’s still in the process of picking up...
4 Reasons to Stay in Touch with Former Co-Workers
Whenever you accept an offer of employment and explore a new career opportunity, you leave others behind—specifically, your former co-workers. When it comes to networking, some people believe the practice primarily pertains to meeting new people. However, that’s not...
4 Instances When You Should Contact Your Recruiter
In numerous articles and blog posts, we’ve addressed the benefits of working with an executive recruiter to help advance your career with exciting new opportunities. If you ARE working with a recruiter, we’d like to discuss instances when you should contact them for...
Emphasize THIS to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Everybody is looking for an edge when it comes to their resume. They want to set it apart and make it look different, so that it catches the eye of the hiring manager. However, many job seekers and potential candidates focus on the wrong things in their varied...
3 Tips for ‘Hitting a Home Run’ During Your Face-to-Face Interview
It’s September, which means the Major League Baseball regular season is winding down and the pennant races are heating up. With that in mind, this is great opportunity to discuss how you can “hit a home run” during your face-to-face interview. We’ve blogged before...
3 Ways to Determine What You’re Worth as an Employee
People weigh many different factors when they’re deciding whether or not to make a move in their career and pursue another opportunity. Their chances for advancement, the degree to which they’re fulfilled, and their work-life balance are just a few of the factors...
The 6 ‘Realities’ of Employee Job Satisfaction
Due to the uncertain nature of the current economy, some employees might not be giving much thought to their level of job satisfaction. After all, they should be “happy to have a job,” right? While that may sound like it makes sense, the fact of the matter is that...
Be Prepared for These 4 Straightforward Interview Questions
Hiring and—by extension—interviewing continue to evolve, and those wishing to advance the scope of their careers must evolve right along with them. Companies are constantly compiling different interview questions in their never-ending quest to find and hire the best...
4 Ways to Tell if It’s Time to Launch a Job Search
The recent economic recession produced many negative consequences in the job market. Some of them have been obvious (a high unemployment rate, for example), but some of them have been less obvious. One of the less obvious consequences involves people who are...
3 Ways to Turn ‘Career Regret’ into Career Satisfaction
It’s possible that everyone, to some degree, suffers from a case of “career regret.” Specifically, they believe that they “should have” done this or “shouldn’t have” done that in regards to certain decisions during their life. However, no matter how big or small your...
4 Reasons You Should be More Assertive During Your Interview
There’s a certain myth that exists about face-to-face interviews, and that myth can be summed up as follows: The people conducting the interview are the ones who have the power and the control. The person being interviewed should take a more subdued and passive...
How to Avoid Working for Another Bad Boss at Your New Job
Let’s face it: one of the reasons that people look to change jobs is because they don’t like their boss, for one reason or another. Maybe you’re one of these people. Perhaps you’ve tried to make it work. You’ve done all the things that a good employee should do,...
2 Important Tips for Finding a Great New Position
These days, there seems to be never-ending advice for those seeking a new job, but it’s often difficult to decipher which advice is the best. There are many factors to consider, including whether or not the person conducting the search is an active job seeker or a...
Don’t Be Afraid to ‘Seize’ the Opportunity of Change in 2013!
The end of the year brings with it a sense of closure . . . but it also brings with it a sense of excitement, since a New Year filled with new possibilities is just around the corner. Some of those possibilities (especially the ones tied to your career) involve the...
Is Your Current Job a Matter of Incentives . . . or Motivation?
Recently, CNNMoney.com interviewed Harvard business school professor Clayton Christensen, co-author of the book How Will You Measure Your Life? Christensen has faced a myriad of health problems in recent years, suffering a heart attack and being diagnosed with...
4 Reasons You Should Be Conducting a Passive Job Search
Everybody has an idea of what their “dream job” would be. There are some people who are working their “dream job” . . . but those people are in the minority. You might be currently employed, and you may even like your job, but there’s a good chance it’s not the job...
6 Tips for a Successful Phone Interview
Many times, candidates put more stock in a face-to-face interview than they do a phone interview. This is a mistake, since you won’t make it to the former without making a favorable impression during the latter. A phone interview is also referred to as a “phone...
3 Tips for Saying Focused During Your Interview
It goes without saying that if you don’t stay focused during your face-to-face interview, it could cost you a job you really want. Sure, you’re nervous and it’s difficult to concentrate, but it’s crucial that you do so. With that in mind, below are three tips for...
Focus on the Present to Help Ensure Career Success in the Future
Have you ever noticed how an unrewarding job can quickly translate into an unrewarding career? At least, that’s the way it can feel when you’re at work, thinking about how unfulfilled you are and wondering if you ever will be. While it might seem counter-intuitive,...
5 Tips for Achieving a Better Work-Life Balance
Summer is more than just a great time to have fun. It’s also a great time to reflect on your career, specifically your work-life balance and what you can do to enhance it. It’s a well-documented fact that Americans work long and hard—in most cases, longer and harder...
10 Questions to Ask During Your Interview
An employment interview is NOT a one-way street. Not only should you ask questions of your own, you’re expected to do so. This shows not only interest on your part in the opportunity, but also initiative—and both could curry favor with those conducting the...
4 Things Companies Want During the Hiring Process
Being involved in the recruiting and hiring process at a company can be an exciting time, especially if there’s a good chance that the company will extend an offer of employment to you. It might be even more exciting if you’re part of the hiring process at two or...
What It REALLY Means to Accept an Offer of Employment
Let’s start by identifying what accepting an offer of employment is NOT, which would be the equivalent of saying (and thinking) like the following: “Yes, I accept your offer of employment, unless my current employer or some other company I’m interviewing with offers...
Why Your Attitude Could Give You the ‘Interview Edge’
Today’s job market is one of the most competitive in recent memory. Job seekers (including passive ones) find themselves fighting to stand out from many other equally skilled and talented individuals. Consequently, everybody is looking for that certain edge, one...
Three Interview Mistakes That Are Easy to Forget
A face-to-face interview can be very exciting, since candidates are one step closer to perhaps landing the job of their dreams and taking the next step in their career trajectory. Sometimes, though, they lose track of their behavior in all that excitement. On the one...
How to ‘Visualize’ Your Interview Success
A face-to-face interview can be daunting for anybody, no matter how many interviews they’ve been through or how much success they’ve enjoyed during their career. In fact, interviews can be downright stressful, and not being able to handle that stress can prove...
A Tale of ‘The Offer That Got Away’
Every candidate involved in the hiring process appreciates feedback during each stage of the process. Feedback lets the candidate know exactly what is going on and where they stand. After all, communication is a cornerstone of any successful endeavor that involves...
Do YOU Feel Trapped in Your Current Job?
The title of this blog post is a fair question to ask—and this is why: According to a recent poll of over 1,000 employees in North America by Right Management, the talent and career management expert within the Manpower Group, workers feel trapped in their jobs and...
Here’s One Resolution You SHOULD Make Every Year
The new year is here! You know what that means, don’t you? That’s right . . . New Year’s Resolutions. For some of you, making (and either breaking or keeping) New Year’s Resolutions might be an annual event. Others might not even give New Year’s Resolutions a...
Should You Stay . . . or Should You Go Now?
Thirty years ago, an English punk rock band by the name of The Clash released what became a hit song. The title of the song was, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” A sampling of that song’s lyrics is below: Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be...
Why Your Behaviors Are Important to Companies
What companies want to know during an interview is whether or not the candidate will be able to help them in the future—make the company more productive, more profitable, etc. The traditional interview method only goes so far in that direction. It paints a picture...
Be Aware of (and Prepared for) the Evolving Interview Process
Everything about the job market these days is evolving. Not all of that evolution is due to the most recent recession, although the downturn has definitely played a large role. Something which has been evolving for the past several years has been the interview...
Your Family, Your Career, and Your Job Analysis
So—what are the final factors you should consider when conducting an analysis of your current job situation? We’ve already tackled the topics of passion and the role that your company plays. The final two factors might just be equally as important—or even more...
The Company’s Role in Your Job Analysis
We’ve already discussed the fact that passion is probably the number-one factor when it comes to analyzing your current job situation. But what about the role that your current company plays in your job analysis? There are two factors that are associated with that...
The Role of Passion in Your Job Analysis
If you’re conducting an analysis of your current job situation, which criteria should you consider? After all, making the decision to look for a new job is a big step. It involves a tremendous commitment of time, energy, and effort, and therefore, it shouldn’t be...
There’s a Difference Between ‘Satisfied’ and ‘Happy’
In our previous blog post, we discussed the “hunker down” mode in which many employees have been working during the past two to three years and the fact that they’ve been reluctant to actively search for a new job despite their desire to do so. One of the main reasons...
Have You Been ‘Hunkered Down’ at Your Job?
After what has seemed like a prolonged and rather painful recovery, the economy appears to be finally gaining some traction. While it’s impossible to predict the future, there’s a good chance that the rest of 2011 will see continued growth and improvement. As a...