Monthly Archives: December 2020

Hindsight is 2020: What We Learned This Past Year

2020 was a weird year. Remote work started across the country, the job search went through a major change, and many of us came out of it more than a little bit stressed.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t things to learn! We covered a ton of job search ground here on Job Journey, from interview tips to resume guides. Here’s a summary of our top read blogs this year. (more…)

Setting Goals in the Wake of a Tumultuous Year

Saying this year didn’t go exactly as planned may be the understatement of 2020. Businesses that made bull-market goals and optimistic development plans had to reevaluate their vision for the year, even to the point of having a plan just to maintain some sense of normalcy within their organization.

So, as the year comes to a close, normal folks are faced with a similar choice to make when creating goals for next year: should our goals be lofty and aggressive or stay on the safe side in case 2021 is similar to 2020. And if a we fell short of our goals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, should the same goals stay intact or be revised under more realistic conditions?

The best way to answer these questions is to change the way you make goals altogether by evaluating past achievements and building on that foundation. (more…)

Deck the Halls with a Resume Revamp

‘Tis the season, after all!

Boughs of holly are great, but a stellar resume makes for the ultimate holiday decoration. What better way to celebrate the season than with a shiny resume revamp? If you find yourself with a bit of downtime as this month draws to a close, take a look at your resume and see if there’s anything you might want to change. 2021 is fast approaching, and you want to be prepared! Here are a few yuletide-inspired tips for wrapping your resume just right.

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Asking the Right Questions in an Interview

Fear not with these top tips.

Interviews are awkward. You’re trying to prove you’re both a fun person to work with and that you have the best skills for the job. You’ve finished explaining your resume and answering their questions, and then they ask if you have any questions in return. They want to know you’re interested in the job and did your research, so saying you don’t have anything further to ask isn’t a great idea.

We previously detailed five of the top questions to ask, and now we’re back with four more! (more…)

Negotiating Pay for a New Job

You don’t hate your job. You like the company, your co-workers are great, and you’ve learned a ton. But one day you realize there are few opportunities for advancement. Something inside of you is restless, which might mean it’s time to explore other opportunities with a new company or job.

You hit the online job search and end up interviewing. Eventually, you get a job offer and the question of salary comes up: given that you have a good deal of experience, you want to make sure you get the salary you’re worth. But how exactly do you figure out that number? Here’s our advice. (more…)

Accept Job Search Rejection by Retooling Your Job Search

With the way 2020 has gone, it’s easy to get discouraged with your job search. If you graduated in May, you’ve likely found it difficult to find anyone who is hiring. And if you found yourself unemployed soon after the pandemic began, it was similarly tough to find positions to apply for.

As time has gone on, companies have started to hire again. However, the opportunities available might not match what you previously saw yourself doing. In-person networking events are also out, and it can feel like you’re sending resumes out into the void. You never hear back, you never talk to anyone, you can’t get feedback, and you start to feel defeated.

The first thing to realize is this isn’t your fault; there’s most likely nothing wrong with you as a job applicant. The market is just different now, and there could be plenty of reasons you aren’t hearing back or getting interviews. Know that, especially now, the job search is partly a numbers game: you need to accept rejection is part of the game and send out as many applications as you can. Since the job market looks different, your job search should too. Here’s how to make that happen. (more…)

Poll Results: How Do You Prefer to Interact with the Companies, Stores, Etc. That You Patronize?

Companies want to reach you so they can persuade you to buy things or use their services. That’s why we get a daily barrage of emails, text messages, phone calls, and more, filled with ads and price tags.

We wanted to know your preferences when it comes to interacting with companies that you patronize, so we asked about it in a recent poll. The results might surprise you. Unwanted ads are annoying, right? Well think about how this data could apply to how your interviewer feels about unwanted inquiries. (more…)