018 - Listener Questions, Vol. 2 - Salary Negotiation, Counter-Offers, & Going Negative Jackie and Alexis answer questions from our listeners the following topics: Salary Negotiation - how to negotiate salary as an entry level candidate without much experience. Is it ever appropriate to do so? Is it worth the gamble? Counter-Offers - what to do if offered a position with a new employer, but then receiving a counter-offer from the current company trying to convince you...

017 - Be Your Best Self to Attract the Best Opportunities “Be the best version of yourself” is a phrase that’s thrown around a lot these days. It’s a concept that is embraced by many, but thought to be a little hokey by others. Whichever category you fall into, it’s important to know that there is actually a lot of merit behind this idea when it comes to getting hired, or advancing your career in general. People who know who they are and project it confidently are the ones ...

016 - Public Sector Jobs - Could One Be the Right Move for You? Have you ever seriously considered a career in the public sector? Most people haven’t (but probably should!) Sure, government work isn’t for everyone. But the truth is, public sector jobs have a reputation for offering unparalleled stability, excellent benefits, and more. Whether you’re just coming out of school and starting your career, or looking for a change at any point along your professional path, o...

015 - Listener Questions, Vol. 1 - References, Attire, & Follow-Up Jackie and Alexis answer questions from our listeners on the following topics: References - how to determine who to put on your reference list, what to do if you don't have much work experience, and what distinguishes a great reference from a mediocre (or bad!) one. Interview attire - how to know what's best to wear, particularly when interviewing with a more casual company or for a casual non-office position. Appropri...

014 - Entry Level Job Search Hacks Entering the “real world” is a stressful, overwhelming time for young adults and their parents. Most graduating seniors come out of school well-educated, but without any idea how to actually land a job, let alone the RIGHT job. While they lack basic job search skills, they also make mistakes at all stages of the hiring process that instantly disqualify them from consideration – without ever realizing it. But believe it or not, it’s actuall...

013 - You Want Me to Take a TEST?!? The Role of Personality Assessments in Hiring Have you ever been asked to take a personality test or behavioral assessment when you applied for a job? If not, chances are you will at some point in your career - and it’s a step in the hiring process that causes many candidates to really panic! While these "tests" can be intimidating, they’re actually there to support everyone involved (including you), and to help ensure that the best...

012 - Networking is Everything! Here's Why (and How to Do it Effectively) Everyone searches for jobs online. Job boards, social media, etc. But is that really your best strategy? Recent stats have shown that roughly 60% of jobs are secured NOT online, but through networking! The “hidden job market” is a real thing, and companies choose not to advertise positions for all sorts of reasons. So, networking is key to maximizing your odds of landing in a great job.&nb...

011 - Who's in Your Corner? How to Make a Recruiter Your Best Ally A great recruiter can be the most valuable person in your network as you search for a new opportunity. A full year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the job market remains tight. Competition is fierce. It is more important now than ever for candidates to do everything they can to get ahead. Getting into the good graces of a recruiter (or recruiters) who know what they are doing can make all the difference be...

010 - How to Win the Job with a Solopreneur (or Small Business) Have you ever considered working for a solopreneur? Most candidates don’t, because the idea of being part of such a small team can be unnerving. But, bigger doesn’t always mean better! And if you want to get hired by a very small company, you’ll need to know the traits and behaviors that will make you stand out. Here’s a little-known secret: the things that solopreneurs look for in candidates are unique (...

009 - Looking for a Sales Job? How to Snag One with Confidence Skilled, dedicated sales professionals are invaluable to any company – and employers know it. When it comes to hiring for these roles, decisions are not made lightly. But how do hiring managers determine whom to bring on board? What traits, behaviors, and qualifications make a candidate a clear “yes” vs. an automatic “no”? And how do those answers differ when hiring for a sales position vs. other roles wit...

008 - Career Selection: What Are You Meant to Do, Anyway?! You already know it’s important to pick a career path that aligns with who you are. Of course you’ll do your best work (and be a lot happier) if your job reflects your strengths, abilities, interests, and values. But, HOW do you decide what specific career is best for you? And how do you ensure your success once you’ve selected your track? It’s not so easy to figure out... but, take heart! You can absolu...

007 - The Top 2 Secrets to Retaining Superstar Employees What keeps employers up at night? Almost universally, the answer is employee retention. Finding and keeping high-performing team members is crucial to the success of any organization. And yet, hiring and retaining effectively is a major challenge – and a tremendous source of stress and anxiety – for far too many companies. In this episode, we take a hard look at factors that contribute to employee retention (o...

006 - Experience vs. Personality - Which One Matters More? Spoiler Alert: the answer is personality (and by a landslide!) When job seeking, of course technical qualifications matter. But savvy employers tune into personality right away, and tend to weigh it more heavily in their hiring decisions. If Candidate A has a mediocre skill set but an extremely likeable demeanor and Candidate B has incredible experience but presents in a way that is off-putting, the former will receive the offer – n...

005 – Laid Off During COVID-19? Now What?! It's been 5 months since the pandemic has turned our world upside-down. In a flash, we went from a booming economy that felt unstoppable to one of staggeringly high unemployment. Businesses of all sizes and across many industries have been crippled, or forced to close altogether. And unfortunately, millions of capable, loyal people have lost their jobs as a result. It has been a scary time, to say the least. But how we respond to the situatio...

003 – The Four Most Common Reasons Hires Fall Apart in the Eleventh Hour Here’s the scenario: an employer advertises a fantastic open position, and before long, a great candidate surfaces and does really well in the interview process. Both sides fall in love, everyone has the warm and fuzzies, and before long an offer letter is on the table. Everybody is excited to get the deal done and live happily ever after. And then? BOOM. Suddenly, something goes down, an...

004 – Enthusiasm Counts! Why it’s the #1 Reason You Will (or Won’t) Get the Job Did you know that your level of enthusiasm (or lack thereof) as a job seeker can 100% make or break your chances of getting the offer letter? It’s a fact! So, why do so few candidates understand or embrace the importance of enthusiasm? Why do they go into the hiring process “playing it cool,” when that’s actually the worst thing they could do? There is a lot of bad advice out there, and ...

002 - How to Use LinkedIn Like a Rockstar You probably have a LinkedIn profile. But… do you understand how to actually put it to work for you? If asked what makes a great LinkedIn profile, or what hiring managers want to see on a job candidate’s LinkedIn, could you answer either of those questions with any degree of confidence? What are hiring managers thinking about YOUR content when they come across it (and yes – they are looking!) In this episode, we turn to Ab...

001 - Trailer Welcome to Almost Hired: the show about all things related to hiring, and getting hired!