Have quantifiable results. A review — and your success — can be subjective. While you might see your recent performance as success, your boss may not. That’s why it’s important to come in with numbers and examples to prove your worth. Did you help reduce costs in your department by five percent over the last year? That’s something worth sharing. Don’t share something that can’t be verified or that could be doubted, such as “built relationships with key department members.

Be up front. If you think it’s time for you to receive your next promotion, go into the review prepared to say so and be up front. Don’t wait until the end of the review to lay out your goals and thoughts.

Learn from the experience. Not every review will end like you hope. You can’t anticipate a raise every time, especially given the current economy. If your superior gives you something to work on, take note of it and use the next few months to show you listened. This can go a long way when it comes time for your next review.

Depending on your company, you could have many months or even a year to prepare for your reviews. Use this time wisely and follow these tips to make your next review a successful one.

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Don’t leave your co-workers in a bind. Your departure may come as a surprise. To help prepare co-workers and your company for your absence, make yourself available for extra meetings to go over your duties and any facets of your position others may not know. Make detailed notes for your successor. You’ll want your company to continue to function successfully even in your absence.

Leave on a high note. No matter how your next position goes, your co-workers will always remain a valuable resource in your career. Be sure to leave them with your contact information and keep in touch to maintain these connections. Don’t forget to be grateful and thank them for the opportunities they have given you.

Don’t check out early. It would be easy to go through your last days in the office on autopilot. But that doesn’t reflect well on you or your work ethic. Be present—both mentally and physically— until you begin your new position.

Making the transition from one job to another can be difficult. By following these three tips, you can make the move easier on yourself and your professional reputation.

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The “one page” rule may not apply. It used to be common knowledge that résumés should not exceed one page, otherwise it would never be read. If you’ve held executive level positions for three different companies over the last 20 years, you’d be doing yourself a disservice to condense your career into one page. If you write your résumé well enough, the reader should want to continue to the next page.

Embrace technology. Before being hired, most companies will do a thorough check of your social media presence and blogs. If you don’t have either of these, now might be the time to start. Build up your online presence to show your industry knowledge and thought leadership. Make it easier for others to reach out to you. Consider these platforms to be your online résumé.

Think outside the box. There could be some sections to your former résumé that are no longer necessary, like objectives or any sort of personal hobby. If you do decide to include any information beyond just your career experience, stay away from the overused and cliché expressions. “Hard worker,” “leader,” and “team player” have all been overused.

After years of experience in your industry, your knowledge and leadership will help you land your new job. But what has changed over time is the résumé. By following these tips, you can successfully update your own to catch the eye of your future employer.

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All promises and no action. While you’ve been staying late and going without that raise, has your company been promising you a reward in the future? You might not be happy to admit that this promise is one that hasn’t been followed up on. Now is the time to consider your options. Do you truly see your work being rewarded or are they just trying to appease you?

Know your numbers. Whether you’re going for a raise or on to a new job, you’ll need to know your numbers. What do you have to show for your work over the last few years? Has your performance been historically better during that time? If the answer is no, then it might be in your best interest to stay in your current position.

Understand company issues. Is your company currently in the middle of a hiring or raise freeze? These may be factors out of your manager’s control, so be understanding. A little more patience could go a long way when office politics are back to normal. At the very least, you can negotiate for better benefits.

Whether your ultimate decision is to stay with your company through the hard times and hope to be rewarded for your loyalty – or if you think the grass truly is greener on the other side – this will be a difficult decision. If you ultimately look elsewhere, our professionals can help place you with the right company and position. Contact us today to get started.

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Keep it clean. With your Facebook username and password, anybody can read the private messages you send to friends, even the photos you thought were hidden. As a general rule of thumb, don’t put anything on Facebook – even if it is “private” – that could cost you a job. This is the best way to protect yourself.

Use other communication. Along the lines of “keeping it clean,” if you are going to have a personal conversation through the Internet, don’t do it on Facebook. If you have any personal messages around in your Facebook inbox, delete them.

Consider the value of your privacy. While we want you to land your “dream job,” it shouldn’t have to be at the expense of your privacy. If you decide that a company insisting on obtaining your Facebook information crosses the line, you can always look elsewhere.

Ultimately, your social media presence can either help or harm your candidacy at any company. By keeping your profile clean of any detailed personal information both now and in the future, you can be sure that there are no “skeletons in the closet” to be discovered.

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Speak up for yourself. One reason men are more likely to receive a promotion or a raise than women? They are more likely to ask for it. You can’t count on your superiors to recognize that you are doing a great job and are deserving of a raise.

Take risks. Regardless of gender, few people ever made it to the top of the ladder by playing it safe in their careers. If you’re unhappy in your current position or career, now is the time to take a risk and make a jump. Would you rather advance in a company you love or stay where you are forever with a company you dislike?

Be prepared. Many people think of quarterly or annual reviews as the time that a raise or promotion is doled out, but the truth is this could happen at any time of the year. That’s why it’s important to always be prepared. Know exactly why you are an asset to the company and what you have done for them in your time there. If the time comes for you to part ways with your company, you’ll already have a list of your accomplishments prepared.

Earning a promotion or raise is always an anxiety producing experience, regardless of gender. But for women to begin taking their positions as the heads of companies and earning their fair share, they’ll have to break through the glass ceiling and these tips can help.

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1. Learn and develop new skills. Even if you held previous position for several decades, there’s still room for you to learn and develop. Use this time while unemployed to pick up new skills in your industry and with technology. You can put these skills on your résumé as well as show prospective employers exactly what you’ve done while out of work.

2. Keep a schedule. For the last 10 years, you were up at 6 AM sharp. Now that you’re out of a job, it’s easy to sleep in at your leisure. This is okay for a few days, but we strongly encourage those in search of a new career to set a schedule and keep it. It’s a good way to stay productive and on top of your game. Plus, it will help you not be groggy the next time you have a call for a 9 AM interview.

3. Use your network. We’ve previously mentioned the importance of growing and maintaining your network. Even if you think you’ve tapped your entire network for resources, there’s still more you can do. Set up lunch or coffee dates and attend networking events within your industry. You never know where you could meet your next professional connection.

While many of these tips might sound like common sense, they are still the foundations for any job hunt. Whether you’ve been searching for a new position for a few weeks or a few months, it’s important to remember the basics.

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Networking. We’ve said it before and we’ll mention it again. When hiring managers look through piles of résumés and interview dozens of candidates, who you know can be your foot in the door. If you’re not networking with decision makers and the people who matter most in a company, you’re not doing all you can to be considered for a job. If it comes down to you and somebody else who has good connections with current employees at a company, who do you think will be selected?

Highlight your relevant experience.  If you’re not tailoring your résumé for each specific position to which you apply, then you’re not using it to its full capability. Much of the responsibilities in a senior position are leadership oriented, therefore your résumé should cater to that. Did you serve on a committee in a previous job? Or head up a major project? This is the experience that is relevant and should be mentioned.

Do your research. Whether it’s an entry level or senior level position, you should always do research on the company with which you are applying. This is even more so important in senior level positions, where many candidates are internal and are already familiar with the corporate culture. To give yourself a shot at a job against others already within the company, be extra diligent in your research. Know what makes this company (and its employees) tick.

Everybody knows the basics of job hunting and interviewing, but doing so for a senior level position can be even more difficult. By following these tips, you can improve your odds of beating the dozens of other candidates looking to get an open position as well.

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Learn more about potential employers and companies. We all know the importance of researching a company and asking thoughtful questions in an interview. But where do you go to find this information? These days, Facebook can serve as a secondary website for some businesses. Learn everything from their charitable involvements to their upcoming corporate events just by looking at their Facebook page so you can be sure to ask the probing questions others don’t.

Connect with people who count. If LinkedIn is the place you go to find and build professional connections, then Facebook and Twitter can be the places you form a personality and rapport with the important people. Respond to tweets and start conversations with people from the company with which you are interviewing, or even with the Twitter account for the company itself.

Show off your knowledge. It’s becoming more and more common for employers to research your social media profiles before making a hiring decision. Instead of letting them find embarrassing pictures from your weekend in Mexico, use it to post a link to your blog that shows off what you know.

For many people in the past, social media has been a factor in why they weren’t hired. To use social media as a tool in your job search – and not a hindrance – follow these simple tips and be sure to keep your profile clean and professional. Remember: social media can’t be your only means of searching for a job, but it can be another valuable tool in your arsenal.

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• Build up referrals. Before bringing a new employee on, hiring managers will call references. Instead of leaving it to chance with one or two old employers whose reference you might not be able to count on, be prepared with online references through LinkedIn. Former bosses and co-workers can leave you a referral that will be visible for all to see on your profile. But remember – it’s better to give than to receive. If you want a referral, you should give a few of your own first.
• Get a foot in the door. Does your old college roommate work for the same company with which you are seeking employment? Or is a former co-worker now a potential boss? These are connections you should use, not lose. Keep tabs on all of these people through LinkedIn and use them as a potential foot in the door the next time you see their business is hiring. Don’t think of it as manipulating or cherry picking – think of it as capitalizing on your opportunities.
• Build connections. How can you get your foot in the door in the first place? With your connections. Building up a LinkedIn profile and connections isn’t something you should do the first day you find yourself out of work. It’s something you should constantly be working on and building so that, when you need it, your network is there.

Remember, LinkedIn may not actually get you a job, but it can help you get an interview. From there, it’s up to you to show what you’ve got. By utilizing this social network now and before you’re on the job hunt, you can be sure that LinkedIn works in your favor when you need it most.

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