I am on an airplane that suddenly starts descending. It’s losing air pressure rapidly.

“Oh, shit.”

The oxygen masks are released from overhead. Before I put on my own mask, I want to help the person next to me. I struggle to help them put on their oxygen mask.… Read the rest

Some fear and anxiety are always going to be there when you interview. After all, this is pretty important for you, isn’t it? If you don’t care at all, then you wouldn’t be nervous, and thus by being nervous, it just means you simply care enough for it to have some impact on you.… Read the rest

There are a host of new analytics tools and algorithms that mix behavioral psychology, personality tests and motivation that are staring to be used in the job search process. Basically what has been done by humans is slowly being outsourced to machines.… Read the rest

People tend to do the bare minimum of what’s expected of them. Make a resume. Create a cover letter. Apply online. Go to a networking event. Clean up the drunk prom photos from Facebook. Make a spiffy resume online. Practice mock interviews for 1 hour in your Pajamas.… Read the rest

When interviewers ask about your greatest weakness, the biggest mistake would be to respond with some cookie-cutter answer like “my greatest weakness is that I am a perfectionist” or “I work too hard.” Those answers are just sucking up. Interviewers weren’t born yesterday and are not going to fall for the “spin that slightly negative thing into a really positive thing” approach because it sounds too rehearsed and insincere.… Read the rest

We like to think that we have control over our lives. That our actions lead to predictable outcomes and that we can influence others around us.

In an interview setting we believe that if we do our research, practice in front of the mirror, and present ourselves well then we can convince companies to hire us.… Read the rest

A friend of mine was living in England and interested to relocate back to Japan with her family where she was originally from. At that stage of her career she was already quite experienced and looking for a step up.

The problem was that she didn’t have much recent work experience in Japan.… Read the rest

It’s 1943 and a Nazi officer knocks on your door.

“Any Jews in here?” 

“No, it’s just me,” you whimper innocently.

In fact, you are hiding a Jewish family under your floorboards. You hope that they don’t make any sounds.

Their lives depend on it.… Read the rest

You might have heard the phrase “hidden job market” floating around. At a first glance this sounds like some sort of black market for jobs or corporate conspiracy to keep people out of employment. I assure you it is neither of those things.… Read the rest