Comments for Your Best Impression.com

Comment on Is the Executive Resume Becoming Obsolete? by Engberg

Engberg — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:30:08 +0000

nice i enjoyed reading the articles and comments

Comment on Great Advice for Women MBAs … and anyone else by Louise

Louise — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:10:51 +0000

Hi, Deborah - thanks for sharing your experiences. I wish I could tell you specifically where to go/what to do, but there are no magical answers. My advice would be to focus 100% during your job search and interviews on what you can do for the company. For example, in the interview, you can emphasize that your accounting education is really up to date and you are aware of all the latest rulings/trends. Also indicate that you firmly intend to pursue your CPA because you want to be of greatest value to your employer. Don’t bring up the issue of who’s going to pay for it. Once hired, if your company has a policy of paying, then they’ll do so. If they don’t, you can ask for a special exemption and perhaps based on your great work you’ll get it, If not, you’ll have to decide if you’re willing to foot the bill yourself.

The same strategy applies to age and experience. Let them know how your experience benefits them, the intangibles you offer that a 22-year-old doesn’t have (not in so many words… you don’t want to dis the competition, just promote your own advantages!).

What companies DON’T want to hear is any sense of entitlement, bitterness, negativity, whining, etc. I’m not suggesting you are doing this! But concentrating on a positive, future-focused message all about value is the best approach.

Comment on Great Advice for Women MBAs … and anyone else by Deborah Scott, MBA

Deborah Scott, MBA — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:34:20 +0000

I paid my way through school as an older adult who still has many years to go before I reach full-retirement age. I will have my undergraduate and Masters in Accounting paid off when I am in my mid-70’s if I am lucky. I didn’t do it for something fun to do, to fill my time, or to work part-time or contract. I really want to get in the game and have a full- or more-than-full- time job/career. I still have to take the CPA exams but during interviews they continually act like I should pay for that too. Yet most, younger candidates get the company to pay for it. So with all the different groups obtaining all the tax breaks, who’s going to pay the taxes. Any suggestions of how to get over the hurdle. Many others don’t want to hire MBA’s and college grads. It was easier to obtain work with a HS diploma. Where do 50-somethings with no kids or military find satisfying work until full retirement age?

Comment on Lying on Resumes … Topic Never Gets Old by Louise

Louise — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:29:07 +0000

And even the smartest people can be clueless … Here’s a story from a colleague who is nameless to protect her friend’s identity!

“I have done one of my best friend’s resumes for years.

I’ve always admired her, even using her as a role model. She’s a working mom who managed to obtain an MS and PhD in psychology since I’ve known her.  Well, in her most recent job hunt, the employer red-flagged her Ph.D. and she was not called for her promised second interview. When I questioned her about the issue, she replied,   ”Do you think it’s because I didn’t finish paying the school off on my educational loan.”   I further inquired, “Well, did they present you your diploma?” She said, “Not exactly … It was contingent on paying off the loan before graduation.”  

OMG!!!! She’s been interviewing most of 2009-2010, often getting second interviews but no offers. I advised her to remove all references to Ph.D. from her resume.”

Comment on Lying on Resumes … Topic Never Gets Old by Louise

Louise — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:53:37 +0000

Hi, Sarah - yes, very astute comment … the lie is trivial but the reaction to it is not. And, as I noted, I find that it usually stems from a deep insecurity about the candidate’s ability to get a job with this enormous perceived flaw.

That’s why resume writing is such satisfying work! After clients work with us, they see themselves anew through our eyes and can really appreciate their value … what they have, not what they don’t have.

Comment on Lying on Resumes … Topic Never Gets Old by Sarah Cooper

Sarah Cooper — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:43:02 +0000

You are so right. I can’t get over how many people believe that lying on your resume is acceptable. Its like we group lies into different levels as if by grouping them some are ‘better’ than others. We like to white wash, gloss over, don’t sweat the small stuff etc. The white lie doesn’t hurt anyone right? Well lying on your resume only hurts yourself. 9 times out of 10 out of the candidates I come across, the untruth on the resume is trivial, but if uncovered the fact that they lied in most cases too difficult to get over.

Comment on Truth (and Congruence) in Advertising by Louise

Louise — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:54:34 +0000

Kynslie, very interesting. My daughter just told me about a trivia game she played where they learned people who smoke can’t work for the World Health Organization! I think it’s OK to be controversial if you are, as you say, walking your talk.

Comment on Truth (and Congruence) in Advertising by Kynslie

Kynslie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:44:07 +0000

Speaking of Whole Foods, did you hear about their store in NYC where they were offering a great in-store discount to employees who had a lower BMI? Pretty controversial, but definitely a “walk the talk” kind of incentive policy. I wonder if it’s had any impact on Whole Foods jobs seekers in that location…

Comment on Job Search Tips to Start Your New Year by Louise

Louise — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:48:36 +0000

Dawn, thanks for the note. When you click the link, look in the right-hand panel for the job search tips document. It is a download, not a web page.

Comment on Job Search Tips to Start Your New Year by Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:40:12 +0000

Hi, I would love to read this article but the link brings you to a search page. Could you relink? Thanks