By Jennifer Allnutt, Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor According to a 2023 article in FORBES Magazine regarding the state of Remote Work in the U.S, 12.7% of the workforce is now working remotely full-time. Additionally, 28.2% of the workforce is working in a hybrid capacity. FORBES further estimates that by 2025 up to 22% of US workers will be full-time remote, which equates to about 32.6 million people. Remote work is here to stay. How do you determine whether working remotely is for you? A few questions to ask yourself: “Can I work alone ..read more

Job fairs can benefit job seekers by giving them opportunity to explore different job options and make connections in their industry. Job seekers also have the advantage of meeting directly with hiring managers and recruiters from a variety of companies. How can you make a good impression and stand out from other candidates? There are many tips you can follow to help you feel confident and make a great first impression. Use the tips below to wow the crowd at your next job fair. Do Your Research  Research the companies that will be in attendance presenting their job openings at t ..read more

Use These 7 Tips to Prepare for Your Next Interview! You can never be too prepared for an interview. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to interview success in no time! Practice, Practice, Practice! Practice your interviewing skills as much as you can! From your elevator pitch to your outfit, you should prepare everything ahead of time. Use friends, family, and tools like Maryland Workforce Exchange’s Big Interview program to practice interviewing. Take our “How to Answer Interview Questions” eLearning to access sample questions tailored for your own personal situation. Dress for su ..read more

Have a Source Document A source document or source resume will hold ALL your resume information. This is everything you have ever done! It is where you can brainstorm the best pieces of information for future use in a resume. Put it on a spreadsheet for easy filtering or in a word processor to get everything on the page. It collects information about: Work and school history: The name of the school/company, their location, dates you were there, and the description of the job you did or the program you participated in. Sometimes you may wish to include your pay scale from that position. Sk ..read more

How to Prepare for an Interview by Dressing the Part Making a strong first impression is important to gaining new opportunities in the job market. Often your interviewer will likely see you before you can wow them with your knowledge and skills. Most people make judgements based on visual cues and the direction of your interview can be changed based on your appearance. This is why it is important to dress for success. Follow these tips to put together a successful interview look Research the Company Culture to Decide your Outfit It is always better to dress a step above the usual attire at ..read more

By Laura Brown, Frederick County Workforce Services Virtual Interviews has become more and more common as we continue to find balance with in-person, virtual, and hybrid hiring practices. There is a level of convenience, efficiency, and ease that comes with virtual interviews for employers and candidates alike. Below are some tips to help you prepare for and have a successful virtual interview. PREP YOUR TECH Making sure you have technology on your side is critical to a virtual interview. Using a laptop or desktop computer instead of a cell phone camera is ideal. Regardless of what camera you ..read more

By Laura Brown, Frederick County Workforce Services Did you know a robot reads your résumé before a human being does? That’s right, if you are applying for jobs online, chances are your résumé is being screened by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before it’s being seen by an HR rep. Applicant Tracking Systems are software systems used by HR professionals in their hiring process. The ATS uses an algorithm to rank applicants and present the HR rep with the top candidates they should consider. Keeping the ATS in mind when writing your résumé is key to landing an interview. So, how do you write ..read more

By Haleigh Sylvester, Frederick County Workforce Services Use the tips below to wow the crowd at your next job fair event. Dress for Success  Wear clean and well fitted clothes. A white shirt with a well fitted blazer and basic black pants is generally a safe bet.  Stick to basic colors and patterns to help interviewer focus on you and not your clothes.  Avoid clothes that don’t fit well, are especially baggy or tight, shirts with graphics, messy/un-groomed hair, and excessive jewelry.  Resumes for Everyone!   Bring multiple copies of your general resume, hig ..read more

Teri Bisceglia, ETS, GCDF, CPRW Have you ever been in a situation and had these kinds of thoughts afterward? “That didn’t turn out the way I thought it would.” “What could I have done differently?” “Why did the other person react that way?” If yes, then emotional intelligence played a part in your experience. If not, then there may be some work needed to improve emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence can have an effect on your success in the workplace. It’s a skill that can be improved upon through attention and practice. Emotional Intelligence – What is it? In 1990, Peter Salovey and ..read more

Question: I’m interested in upgrading my skills because I want to make more money. I know that colleges are currently enrolling and I feel like I'll be missing out if I don’t register for something now. I do have some idea about what I want to take but it’s very expensive. I’ve looked at online certificate programs but have heard that getting a degree holds more value. What is my best option? Answer: It’s great that you want to update your skills and improve your marketability to employers as well as secure a sustainable wage for yourself. Your scenario is actually more complex than you might ..read more