Recent Articles from Liz Ryan
Creating your online soapbox
It’s no shame to have kids who are miles ahead of you in Facebook proficiency. In fact, we might worry about you if you spent as much time on FB as a typical teenager does. But is your online soapbox supporting your career goals? If not, building your social networking chops could be one of […]
The key to a killer cover letter
Dear Liz, I’ve been using the same cover letter template for years, and I think I’m in need of a makeover. I read this cover letter and don’t get excited, so I can’t expect an employer to get excited, either. Any suggestions? Thanks — Tom P.S. Here’s my cover letter template: Dear Sir or Madam, I […]
Job seekers, look for the pain
For many hours each day, I rewrite cover letters that begin “Please find my resume enclosed” or “I was intrigued by your posting for a marketing manager, because of my umpteen years of experience in snap, crackle and pop.” On the phone, over email and face-to-face with groups and individuals, I make the case: Employers […]
Sorry, you’re overqualified
My friend George asked me, “Liz, how long does it take the average person to get comfortable at a new job?”“I’d say about six months,” I replied, “give or take.” “So after six months, the average person’s got the job pretty much down pat?” George asked. “Depending on the job…” I said. I wasn’t sure […]
Beating the “So what?” barrier
White collar job-hunters these days have a tough hill to climb. For each job opportunity they pursue, they’ve got to ascertain what’s most important to the hiring manager and tailor their resumes and cover letters to address that issue. They’ve got to couch their stories and triumphs in a way that will resonate for the […]
Show us, don’t tell us you’re wonderful
”Please join my network on LinkedIn,” says a message in my inbox, so I dutifully jump over to LinkedIn to remind myself whether and how I know the person who’s writing. I met her, I think; her name is familiar. I get to her profile and see the headline “Product Development Guru, Leadership Diva, Strategy […]
What job seekers can learn from PR pros
It’s a tough job market, but savvy job seekers are making an impact on hiring managers by knowing their strengths and the intersection of those talents with the employer’s need. We caught up with PR consultant and advisor Steve Koenigsberg to learn how job seekers can benefit from the use of smart PR practices. Liz: […]