Could This Be the Reason You Didn't Get the Job Offer?

Unfortunately for many, the glowing, complimentary, or at least noncommittal reference you expected to receive from one or more of your previous employers could be sabotaging you. In the case of job references, what you don’t know definitely CAN hurt you!

Career Management, Executive Job Search, General Interest, Interviewing, Recruiters and HR, View All PostsLaurie SmithApril 21, 2021Creative Keystrokes Executive ResumesCareer Advice, Career Management, Executive Job Search, Job Change, Professional References

How to Avoid an Executive Job Interview Disaster

For a successful executive-level job interview, here’s how to research the company thoroughly beforehand. It is so easy nowadays to find a wealth of information about a company you are considering or one that you are scheduled to interview with that there is just no good excuse not to do so!

Career Management, Executive Job Search, Interviewing, Job Change Etiquette, LinkedIn, View All PostsLaurie SmithMay 17, 2019Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume ServiceCareer Advice, Career Management, Executive Job Search, Interviewing Etiquette, Job Interviewing

Structure Your Resume and Executive Job Search Strategy to Combat Ageism

Ageism in hiring and in the workplace after you have been hired is nothing new… Here are some anti-ageism steps to take in your executive job search and career management.

Play Your Cards Close to the Vest When Employers Request Your Current Salary

There really is no good reason for prospective employers to insist you reveal your salary requirements or history… You can “Just Say No” to demands for salary history information. As a matter of fact, recent court rulings in many states have made it illegal to ask a person’s last or current salary, primarily in an effort to combat gender discrimination through wage disparity.

View All Posts, Career Management, Executive Job Search, Interviewing, Salary Trends & StrategyLaurie SmithOctober 17, 2018Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume ServiceJob Change, Job Interviewing, Career Advice, Salary Negotiation, Recruiters and HR, Career Management

Avoid Making Any of These Executive Job Interview Mistakes

I particularly warn my executive resume clients against knowing little to nothing about the company you are interviewing with. Interview prep requires extensive research into the company, its market(s), the challenges it faces, and the opportunities it has (currently or in the near future).

View All Posts, Executive Job Search, Interviewing, Job Change EtiquetteLaurie SmithJanuary 4, 2017Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume ServiceCareer Advice, Executive Job Search, Interviewing Etiquette, Job Interviewing

Dress for Success in Your Executive Job Interviews

You’ve got an absolutely stunning executive resume and LinkedIn profile, have practiced your responses to the toughest interview questions, and have researched everything you can find about your target companies. But don’t forget how you look at that upcoming interview.

View All Posts, Age Factor & Ageism, Executive Job Search, Interviewing, Job Change Etiquette, General InterestLaurie SmithDecember 26, 2016Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume ServiceCareer Advice, Executive Job Search, Interviewing Etiquette, Job Interviewing

Have You Been Asked Any of These Awful Job Interview Questions?

A post I wrote recently on LinkedIn about How to Respond to Illegal Interview Questions generated quite a bit of interest. I was a bit surprised and in some cases alarmed or amused at the kinds of questions that misguided employers seem to think it is acceptable to ask job candidates.

View All Posts, Age Factor & Ageism, Executive Job Search, Interviewing, Job Change Etiquette, Salary Trends & StrategyLaurie SmithNovember 15, 2016Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume ServiceExecutive Job Search, Interviewing Etiquette, Job Interviewing

After the Executive Job Interview: Be Sure to Send a Thank-You Letter!

One of the first things your parents taught you as a toddler was to say “please” and “thank you. The percentage of candidates who take the time to send thank-you emails or postal letters is abysmally low (some have cited under 4%), so this strategy is virtually guaranteed to make a major impression.

View All Posts, Cover Letter Strategy, Executive Job Search, Interviewing, Job Change Etiquette, Career BrandingLaurie SmithJune 17, 2016Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume ServiceCover and Thank You Letters, Job Interviewing, Job Change, Executive Job Search, Interviewing Etiquette, Career Brand

What Should I Bring to the Executive-Level Job Interview?

What do I bring to the interview? The last thing you want to do is be flailing around the morning of the interview, tossing things into your handbag or briefcase. You’ll obviously want to have your executive resume with you…