Jessica Pierce

As we slowly crawl out of the dismal economic conditions of the last years we are left with a workforce that is dis-engaged. For employees left behind after company layoffs, their managers are having to re-engage or face the reality that employees will leave the company. Not only that but there are many job seekers [...]

As a follow-up to the Call 12 to Action investigation featured in the Arizona Republic business section on May 13, 2012 called Be Wary of Some Online Job Offers I was part of an online discussion with journalist Robert Anglen and local job seekers yesterday. We covered a wide variety of topics some of which I wanted [...]

As you can see from many of my posts I am a fan of utilizing online resources to help job seekers re-enter the workforce. From Twitter to LinkedIn to online job boards, there are a variety of options and as with anything, some use the internet in ways that are – let’s face it – [...]

While this isn’t a comprehensive list of interview questions, these are the most commonly asked in today’s new economy. For many it is your first time in the job market in years and the questions and answers have changed. Employers are often seeking not only a skill set but a personality or type of experience [...]

As someone who has been laid off I can say with certainty it is one of the toughest situations I have ever faced. Without a set schedule we’re lost and it’s hard to know where to start. The first few weeks are a flurry of activity that may not feel like it has gotten us [...]

Job seekers are increasingly being asked to illustrate their transferable skills and how they fit into the corporate culture of prospective employers. Gone are the days of “moving up the corporate ladder.” It’s a new economy filled with possibilities. As the economy moves forward so to will your job search and career. A great way [...]

As a career expert I am often asked what kind of resume is the best. The answer is a non-specific “it depends.” College students and Baby Boomers will have different types of resumes, for example, for the simple fact they have different work histories and experience. Your resume will change as you grow and learn…and [...]

As a consultant I am dedicated to matching employees with the right positions in the marketplace by coaching companies as well as candidates. From an employee perspective today’s marketplace is one of little demand and high supply. Depending on who you ask and which factors are included in the evaluation, unemployment is between nine and [...]

Social media is a driving force of the economy and it is here to stay. As many as 80% of positions are filled with candidates identified and contacted through social media. Many hiring managers won’t even call a candidate for an interview unless they have a LinkedIn profile. If that’s not reason enough to be [...]

As you know I am a HUGE fan of using social media in the job search. The most popular platforms for job seekers are LinkedIn and Twitter. Having recently read about a case in Maryland involving an employer asking an prospective employee for their Facebook password, I asked myself how I would handle this situation. [...]

In today’s business world and economy it is important to stand out from the crowd. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through Personal Branding. For job seekers and those in career transition it is especially important because as many as 80% of open positions are never posted to company websites. Jobs are [...]

Whether meeting a client or a prospective employer your appearance can make or break the deal. Pull up in a dirty car or with shirttails hanging out and you’ve already decreased the likelihood of making the sale or getting the job. You might be the cleanest person you know; your prospect doesn’t know you and [...]

This week I was privileged to moderate a panel at the US Department of Labor Symposium on Job Clubs & Career Ministries. The panel included Sandi Ashton – Career Connectors, Ruben Camacho – Vista del Camino One-Stop Career Center, Sheila Coulam – SEO Services, George Fleming – Momentum Coaching Resources, Justin Jones – Maricopa County [...]

Social media has changed the way we connect with people, businesses and jobs. In 2012 we are seeing recruiters move away from traditional avenues to fill open positions and turn to the more cost-effective social media. Traditional marketing or job search tools such as resumes, interviews and professional portfolio are less important than in the [...]

Let’s start with Twitter basics. Twitter began in 2006 and has grown to over 56 million Active Users and a total of 200 million accounts. Companies are increasingly looking for low or no cost ways to identify ideal candidates and Twitter is one of the best ways to reach people. It’s a conversation or sharing [...]

Whether you are changing careers or changing jobs, it is important to understand the value of networking and digital marketing in your search. In the recent blog post Job Seeker Social Media & Networking in 2012 we touched on the value of creating and maintaining a personal website. Now let’s take a look at the [...]

So you got the job offer but it isn’t exactly what you wanted. That’s okay because even in a slow economy there is room to negotiate. Maybe we aren’t negotiating for larger salaries. Rather we are negotiating for working from home or a flexible schedule. Understanding the company and position you would like is important [...]

From Monster and CareerBuilder to TheLadders and Twitter, finding a job has changed since you last looked for work. Even if you have been in career transition for a few months there have already been changes. A little website called Pinterest has blasted onto the scene and Facebook has converted to Timelines. Social media is [...]

As you know, I am a HUGE fan of using Twitter to find a new job or career. In many of my presentations I have the opportunity to walk guests through setting up an account and real-time examples; on a blog it’s a bit more cumbersome. Here’s a tutorial of  How to Create a Twitter [...]

This week I was privileged to speak at the Disability Empowerment Center at their event Focus on Employment: Creating Careers for a Brighter Future. The following are the high points of my presentation Interactive Networking to Career Landing.   Did you know as many as 80% of open jobs are never posted publicy? It’s true. [...]

Last week I was privileged to speak at the Disability Empowerment Center at their event Focus on Employment: Creating Careers for a Brighter Future. The following are the high points of my presentation Interactive Networking to Career Landing.   In the first part of this post we discussed the benefits of networking to job seeker and employer. The homework was [...]

Resumes are often one of the first impressions a prospective employer has of you. That is why it is important to create a job specific resume that is honest and accurate. Prospective employers are searching for you online on LinkedIn and other social media sites. They are calling to verify employment and education so don’t [...]

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking to about 75 professionals in career transition at Career Connectors about the Twitter: The Hidden Job Market.  I’ve posted the content below in a previous blog from last year, but I wanted to provide it again for those that were searching for this content. One of the fastest [...]

Job Resources on Twitter @CareerConnected – job resources program in Phoenix, AZ @jobs_now – all kinds of jobs @37jobs – high tech jobs @jobsintech – more high tech jobs @robojobs – even more high tech jobs @sfmobilejobs – Jobs for the Mobile Web and Digital Media in Silicon Valley, Seattle, LA and NYC. @medical_jobs – [...]

As a career expert I am often sharing how to use LinkedIn from the job seeker and the recruiter perspective. Rarely am I asked what NOT to do so I wanted to share some LinkedIn DON’Ts. What is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is an online resume and reference website. The “social” aspect of this site is in [...]

The job market has more than likely changed since the last time you have looked for a job. Even if you searched a few months ago there are social networking websites like Pinterest creeping into awareness and being utilized by businesses. We’ve even had news that wasn’t bad (though I wouldn’t say good) about the [...]