Ah, yes, it’s that pumpkin spice, turkey, ham, and all the fixings time of year again. The days are shorter, the coffee cups are festive, and “Let’s circle back in January” has become everyone’s favorite phrase. But while it might feel  like hiring slows to a crawl, the truth is quite the opposite. At Alan J. Blair, after nearly 50 years in recruiting, we’ve seen the holiday season open up some of the best  opportunities for job seekers,  especially those open to temporary or

(Spoiler: 432 applicants are not 432 qualified competitors) You’ve just applied for a job on LinkedIn or Indeed. You hit submit  and immediately see it: “472 people have already applied.” Cue the stomach drop. You picture a virtual line of hundreds of other candidates — all better qualified, faster, sharper, with color-coded résumés and executive references. You close your laptop, grab a cookie, and think, “Why bother?” Before you start catastrophizing, let’s pause. Those big

Being unemployed, or as I like to call it, “in transition”, is never easy. The uncertainty, the endless applications, the silence after...

Ever wondered how hiring managers whittle down thousands of resumes into just a handful of interview invitations? It’s not sorcery, and...

If I had a nickel for every time a qualified candidate said to me, “I really thought I had that job! I had great interviews with the team...

A friendly guide for new businesses expanding their office footprint. This year, San Francisco has seen one of the largest comebacks in...

Let me start with a true story. A few years ago, I received what looked like a solid  resume: great experience, strong skills, relevant...

Have you ever stared at a sea of résumés, wondering how on earth to pick the one admin who won’t drive your team crazy? Or maybe you're...

After 25 years in recruiting and managing both the stars and the duds, I can tell you exactly what separates a pro from the pretenders. Whether you're in HR or you're a job seeker, here are five signs you're in very good hands.

After 25 years of recruiting and managing Executive Assistants (EAs) and administrative professionals, I can say this with complete...

Great advice for recent graduates to win their first job and jump start their career.

“The fear of the unknown” and “not being good enough” are a couple of ways in which Imposter Syndrome plays out in the people who...

Dear Alan J. Blair- I get talkative when I get nervous and I think this might be tripping me up in interviews. How do I know if I’m...