If you get this question, the interviewer is trying to assess your judgment skills and how you deal with adversity. If you say that you have never failed professionally, the interviewer will not believe you. This is a question that EVERYONE should prepare for in advance, as you do not want to try to think up an example on the spot.

I know many job seekers that are flummoxed when they get the dreaded rejection call or email. Since companies usually will not provide any feedback about the reason for rejection, the job seeker is left to ponder what exactly went wrong.  Below is a list of possibilities for why you might have been rejected. You many never know the reason, but this list may help you pinpoint what happened.

I recently came back from a trip spent hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. It was a great adventure with beautiful scenery. It was also a physical challenge hiking up what amounts to three Empire State Buildings. I got to thinking that many of the lessons learned also can apply to one’s job search.

You may have have heard that networking is one of the keys to job search success. Yet some people are hesitant to use their network of contacts for fear, among other reasons, that the connection will be bothered by any request for help. This is where having a strategy that makes it easier for your connections to introduce you to others can bring more success.

The project plan is a way for you to plan out the activities that you need to accomplish to successfully find a job.  At the outset you need to develop general categories of activities like developing a resume, networking, and researching companies.

Yes, I get that you had a horrible boss and the company did not care about its employees.  The reality is work may not be all unicorns and butterflies. Yet, when on a job interview, please refrain from bashing your employer.

I have read quite a few articles that reference the new trend of candidates “ghosting” companies. Even the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), a large HR trade organization, had an article about this. What does “ghosting” mean? The term comes from the practice of ending a relationship by not responding to email, text, etc. from another person. Candidates have frequently complained that they are subject to “ghosting” from companies when they either put in an employment application or go on an interview, only to hear nothing back.

A common mistake that people make with cover letters is to restate what they have already put down on a resume. What a waste of everyone’s time. A resume should be the cake while your cover letter should be the frosting.

I know a lot of job seekers are concerned that their attempt to sell their skills can come across as boastful and may turn off an interviewer. I believe this is a legitimate concern.