Career Advice & Insights

As the calendar turns to 2017, think about the things you can do to make it great — like landing a new job. At the beginning of a new year we’re full of resolutions — lose weight, exercise, be a better person. But what are your career resolutions? Ladders asked recruiters, career coaches, resume writers … Read More

Companies want HR pros who know HR, but can you break the code of the employer’s business, culture and mission. Sometimes being out of work offers you the opportunity to learn and become better at your next job. For Ralph Chapman, the experience gave him a very valuable — though opposite — perspective. When he … Read More

A recruiter for CDW shares the tactics his company now considers its most fertile source of new candidates – Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. CDW is a leading provider of technology products and services that employs more than 6,000 people. The company, based in Vernon Hills, Ill., just outside Chicago, does a lot of hiring. And … Read More

Recruiters don’t work for you and they don’t have to help you, but they can be a valuable resource to help you be the right candidate for the job. There are a few things you should know about recruiters before you work with them. Recruiters’ measure of success is filling open positions, not getting people … Read More

How do you think beyond the paycheck when you’re on the job hunt? The objective of a successful job search is not to get a job. The objective is to fulfill your purpose. I’m 47 now and 25 years into my career. I’ve had the opportunity to watch many people start their careers and talk … Read More

There are plenty of rules in the tax code, and it’s easy to break one when filing job-search expenses. Keep these common errors in mind to stay on the right side of Uncle Sam. The U.S. tax code comprises more than 16,845 pages, according to the U.S. Government Printing Office. By comparison, “War and Peace,” … Read More

Older candidates aren’t the only ones who worry about how they’re perceived by employers. Younger candidates for senior positions can take a few steps to raise their credibility. One of my more popular columns for Ladders was titled ” Take 10 Years Off Your Image.” My tone was a bit tongue in cheek, but the … Read More

Confidence gets hired, while arrogance closes doors. Know how your behavior reflects on you during a job search and if it’s a barrier to you connecting with a recruiter. Read More

The most common psychological exams used by HR managers to review job applications. According to experts interviewed by Ladders, some of the most commonly used pre-employment personality assessments are: The Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF) Questionnaire The 16PF is a personality inventory that measures the 16 normal-range personality traits identified by psychologist Raymond B. Cattell and … Read More