Alexandra

It makes good business sense – and is respectful professional etiquette – to stay in touch with your former bosses, says Allison & Taylor, the nation’s oldest professional reference checking firm.

As your career advances, your efforts to stay connected with past employers could pay dividends Read more...

Most working adults have experienced an uncomfortable situation at work; that’s the reality of interpersonal relationships in a professional setting. However, while no work situation is perfect in every respect, your workplace should be more positive than negative, and never a place where you Read more...

It can be a challenge to find that perfect new career, but sometimes things come together in just the right way, and voila! You’ve found that ideal new job, one that is a perfect “fit” for you.

Imagine the frustration, then, to having sailed through the pre-screening process with Read more...

Jim, 48, is the candidate sitting in an interview, which has been going well. He’s confident that his qualifications match those of the position, and he believes he’ll fit into the corporate culture. As the interview is winding down, the interviewer casually asks: “Will your family Read more...

You’re filling out a job application when you come to the question “May we contact your former supervisor?” While you didn’t “part company” with them on particularly good terms, your understanding is that all they should be allowed to divulge to a prospective employer were your Read more...

Jane was anxiously awaiting input on her application for a Restaurant Manager position at a local hotel. Her interviews had gone well, encouragement had been offered, and then…no callbacks of any kind from the hotel. When she called them for a status update, she was merely told that she was Read more...

It is no secret that job resume fraud has been on the rise in recent years. With the economic downturn in recent years, many desperate job seekers have resorted to “embellishing” their resume credentials. Their hope: that prospective employers will forego checking the dates and credentials offered Read more...

References matter. The most important reference is that of your former boss. In fact, they may give a winning push to landing that job or they may sabotage the position for you.

AllisonTaylor outlines a five-step strategy to ensure the best possible outcome during the job hunting progress.

1. Make a list of your former bosses – Have you stayed in touch? Was there bad blood? Before you go on that interview offer an olive branch.
2. Make a secondary list – A mentor, coach, former boss, or manager is a great place to start. Job hunters should have a few references available at a moment’s notice, take the time when you craft your resume to craft this document too.
3. Contacting references in advance and inquiring about their willingness to actually be a reference is an important step.
4. Verify that you have all information for your references listed correctly; the correct spelling of their name, current title, and up-to-date contact information.
5. Remember reference letters obtained really don’t matter, unless the company goes out of business and none of your people are to be found. Everyone knows it’s very easy to make up letterhead and a reference.

Etiquette Read more...

Negotiating a fair severance package is common when a person involuntarily leaves a company. What many people fail to realize, however, is it’s just as important to negotiate a fair professional reference for use in landing one’s next position.

This is one of the biggest blunders people Read more...

You’ve come through the job application process with flying colors and your prospective employer has told you they need only confirm your job references before making you that offer. You’ve heard that your references can only (legally) confirm Read more...

Does this scenario sound familiar? In your search for new employment, you’ve done your homework in refining your resume and presentation skills and have perhaps even “aced” an interview (or two) in spades. A prospective job offer is within reach; one of the last hurdles remaining, the Read more...