How to Show Off Your Soft Skills to Employers – With Samples

Tell a story on your resume and cover letter to demonstrate your personal qualities. What are soft skills?  When employers are searching for candidates on Handshake, they’re usually looking for hard skills: specific competencies like Python, Spanish, or Photoshop.  Your soft skills, on the other hand, are about personal qualities that influence how you do your work. For…

This One Easy Habit Will Make You Better (and Happier) at Work

One of my mom’s favorite stories to tell us as children was the tale of the traveler and the three bricklayers. In the story, the traveler meets the bricklayers, who are hard at work, and asks them what they’re doing. One of my mom’s favorite stories to tell us as children was the tale of…

47 Online Classes That’ll Help Your Career (and They’re Free!)

Learning a new skill helps your career. Period. And it’s true no matter who you are. Looking for a new job? A unique skill could easily set you apart from the hundreds of other applicants. Worked in the same position for a long time? Expertise in a new field could be the factor that gets…

How to Develop a Strong Work Ethic

Will Hunting, they boy genius from the movie Good Will Hunting, said that when it came to organic chemistry, he could "always just play". He also said that Beethoven saw a piano at a young age and could "just play". Well good for them! What about the rest of us? Can we too achieve greatness?…

Why Work in Government?

Every July 4th we celebrate our founding of our nation and it seems like a good time to discuss career opportunities in government. Career opportunities in government range from cybersecurity to environmental safety to public health. Public servants are passionate about making a difference in the world and keen to help our government tackle complex…

How to Make a Potential Employer Fall in Love With You

Looking for ways to impress a potential employer? Want to make your resume or job application stand out from the pack? During one two-week time period, a Human Resources staff member in a small manufacturing company shared that she reviewed 485 resumes and applications for 18 different positions. They then interviewed 23 candidates and brought six back…

7 “Green Flags” to Look for in an Employer

When interviewing with a new organization, it’s wise to keep an eye out for “red flags.” Some job-seekers might be wary of high company turnover, lack of punctuality, low salaries, or other factors that signal that it might not be the right job for them. Others might have had negative experiences in the past and…

When in Doubt, Apply!

How do you analyze a job description to determine if you are a fit? Many people assume that you must meet every requirement in order to apply. In particular, women tend to apply for fewer opportunities than men due to self-doubt about their qualifications. Keep these tips in mind during your job search to boost…

Salary Negotiation Tips for the Entry-Level Applicant

Don’t take that job!… at least, not until you’ve scrutinized your pay rate and every detail of your offer. Many students fall into the trap of accepting their first entry-level job offer without realizing what a bit of research can do to drastically change the concessions in their favor. Even fewer realize just how crucial it is to negotiate…

How to Write a Cover Letter For a Job: 5 Essential Tips

Before you start writing your cover letter, read the job posting carefully. Pay attention to the primary responsibilities, as well as the desired skills and experience for candidates. Keep the posting handy so you can refer back to it while you write. Customize your letter One of the most important cover letter tips: do not…