June 27, 2005 - Deciding between staying at job or buying a franchise; Choosing not to put survival job on resume; Understanding keys to starting a pet-sitting business; Using sample cover letters and resumes properly.

June 13, 2005 - Exchanging information with person adding to career network; Examining possibility of getting old job back after resigning; Writing thank-you letters to members of panel interview; Responding with key information in a thank-you letter.

May 30, 2005 - Utilizing the Internet as part of job-search strategy; Figuring out why prospective employer ignored job-seeker; Providing a salary requirement in job-seeker cover letter; Dealing with a very bad boss situation.

May 23, 2005 - Handling issue of stepping off corporate ladder; Using the STAR technique in preparing for behavioral interviews; Applying for new position at company where previously rejected; Identifying flaws in job-search plan, job-seeking behavior.

March 07, 2005 - Struggling with Quarterlife career and job issues; Writing resume for job-seeker with extensive work history; Addressing near-completed degree on cover letter, resume; Determining best method of emailing network contacts.

January 24, 2005 - Moving from full-time position to portfolio career; Deciding best attire for meeting prospective co-workers; Uncovering job-search resources for doctoral students; Determining proper etiquette for following-up job lead.

January 10, 2005 - Setting career goals for the new year; Obtaining list of top financial services recruiters; Inspecting the future of careers in home inspection; Finding references for confidential job search.

December 27, 2004 - Getting the salary increase you deserve; Choosing between two career paths; Contemplating dramatic career change; Making the case for workplace flexibility.

December 13, 2004 - Getting the most out of informational interviews; Returning to the job market after 2-year layoff; Writing resignation letter for short job stint; Starting over after multiple firings.

November 29, 2004 - Seeking advice about changing into non-traditional career; Older worker with diverse skills seeking new employment; Dealing with former boss who gives poor recommendations; Planning a relocation job-search strategy.

October 4, 2004 - Developing an attractive and strategic resume; Changing careers from PR to marketing; Having questions handy to ask at job interview; Struggling with issues in IT job-search.

August 22, 2004 - Dealing with symptoms of being a workaholic; Struggling with finding work in electronics field; Retiring to a complete career change and new job; Determining best way to send resume to employers.

July 12, 2004 - Waiting by the phone for job offer; Researching potential career in dermatology; Identifying and demonstrating analytical skills; Clarifying multiple jobs for same employer on resume.

June 28, 2004 - Using a temporary job to get foot in the door; Finding job opportunities for younger teens; Handling the issue of getting fired in job-search; Changing careers - breaking into pharmaceutical sales.

June 14, 2004 - Taking advantage of the pivotal junior year of high school; Dealing with issues of possible age discrimination; Choosing the best color suit for job interview; Succeeding in high school - and beyond.

June 07, 2004 - Rising above low-wage, non-benefits jobs; Job-hunting with MBA, but no business experience; Determining career paths with sociology degree; Deciding on best graduate program to attend.

May 16, 2004 - Finding employment after college graduation; Considering a career in historical preservation; Looking for personality test to help with career change; Using transferable skills to strengthen job-search.

May 02, 2004 - Overcoming the label of being overqualified for positions Starting early learning and preparing for career choices; Handling issues of employment gaps and being fired on resume; Giving notice and making smooth transition to new job.

April 05, 2004 - Thinking about moonlighting with a second job Finding answer to lack of job-hunting success; Developing a system for students to find summer jobs; Helping a teen focus on choosing a college major.

March 21, 2004 - Providing some basics on preparing and writing a resume Writing a salary history when you don’t have one in your field; Finding time for job interviews outside normal business hours; Identifying job-search strategies for hearing-impaired job-seekers.

March 7, 2004 - Determining the best methods for making a career change Finding a financially rewarding career after graduate degree; Transitioning from legal secretary to paralegal; Changing careers from education to gardening/horticulture.

February 23, 2004 - Regarding strategies for finding an internship; Wondering if former employer will be negative; Gaining experience while changing careers; Learning more about potential career field.

February 9, 2004 - Discovering career that’s right for you Writing resume for part-time positions; Conducting long-distance informational interviews; Completing job application for summer job.

January 26, 2004 - Determining timing for a second follow-up to employer; Planning a career change into event planning; Deciding on best resume format for new job; Getting career back after short stint in jail.

January 12, 2004 - Following-up job leads without sounding desperate or anxious; Choosing careers/professions based on amount of vacation time; Obtaining information about a career as a pharmaceutical sales rep; Deciding upon best path to take to pursue a career in finance.

More Columns »   2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003

Dr. Randall S. Hansen is currently Webmaster of Quintessential Careers.

Dr. Hansen is an associate professor of marketing at the School of Business Administration, Stetson University. He has been a published career expert for the last 10 years and an employer and consultant with hiring/firing decisions for the past 15 years.

Through his experience as a professor of marketing, Dr. Hansen uses proven marketing techniques and applies them to job-hunting. He is currently working on such a book. Some of his work can be seen at his personal Web site.

He and Katharine Hansen co-wrote the very successful job-hunting book, Dynamic Cover Letters, published by Ten Speed Press. You can order copies from Barnes and Noble of this cover letter bible. He is also author of several career-related magazine and journal articles.

Finally, Dr. Hansen has been an employer and has firsthand experience in the hiring process. He also stays active in the field by reading magazine and journal articles and by talking with employers on a regular basis.

Copyright 1999 by Dr. Randall Hansen. All rights reserved.
The information on this page is general in nature, and does not constitute professional advice or counseling. All opinions expressed, if any, are those of Dr. Hansen.
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