What is a non-compete agreement? According to Investopedia, a non-compete agreement is “a legal agreement or clause in a contract specifying that an employee must not enter into competition with an employer after the employment period is over.” Non-compete agreements ensure that employees don’t disclose proprietary data to third parties while working for an employer, or after they’ve left the company. In other words, non-compete agreements help protect employers from working with competitors or revealing any trade secrets they may have learned about in their job. Job seekers need to be aware ..read more

When you’re staring at a blank screen thinking about writing your resume, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Or, perhaps you’re not anxious about it; you’re just unsure where to start. After all, a resume is unlike any other job application document you create. While you certainly want to take your time building an effective resume, you can easily wrangle it if you take it step by step and one section at a time. Why not schedule some time now? Turn off your notifications and focus on drafting and polishing your resume. This guide will help you learn how to create a resume that conveys your profess ..read more

Whether this is your first job search or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s easy to make common job search mistakes if you’re not looking for them. Before you know it, you’ve accidentally sabotaged your job search and aren’t any closer to landing your dream job.  The good news is that you can learn from common job search mistakes and implement better strategies in the future. You might need to make minor tweaks and renew your focus in a few key areas, but with some attention, you can breathe new life into your job search and overcome any blunders that might be holding you back. Top Job Search M ..read more

Part of almost every hiring process involves job seekers needing to submit professional references. But what do you do if you don’t have professional references to provide as part of your application materials? Candidates without professional references do have some options, though it takes a bit more creativity to satisfy this requirement without solid recommenders at the ready. While it may seem odd to be job searching without professional references to recommend you, the situation is more common than you might think. You could find yourself wondering who to use when you don’t have professi ..read more

You know you’re perfect for the job—but the hiring team thinks you might be too perfect. If you have substantially more work experience than is required for a position, some employers may count you out, assuming you’re “overqualified” or have too much experience for a particular role.  Who’s Considered “Overqualified”? More senior-level employees may be the ones who most commonly find themselves in this conundrum, particularly when applying for a role that’s more junior than their current title. For example, if someone who has management experience or an executive title on thei ..read more

Your job search requires you to make many decisions. And while it’d be easy to overlook the importance of choosing the best font for your resume, you need to ensure that your resume font doesn’t distract a hiring manager’s attention from your message. You need to consider which resume font to use and what size. But before you start scrolling through hundreds of Google Fonts, read the tips below. Finding the perfect font that communicates friendly professionalism is much easier than you think. Why Your Resume Font Matters Before you pick your perfect font, you might wonder if it’s worth your t ..read more

Once you reach the executive level, you should elevate your job search strategy to a higher level as well. Recruiters and hiring managers have different expectations for candidates who are conducting an executive job search—and as a senior-level job seeker, you should be prepared to not only meet but exceed these expectations. Keep in mind these key points that executives need to be prepared for and plan for when job searching. Search With Clarity Linda Shaffer is Chief People and Operations Officer at Checkr, a leading HR technology company, where she handles the people and le ..read more

Leaving a job can be scary. What if it’s a mistake? Or, what if you can’t find a new position? Despite these concerns, there are times when leaving a job is the right thing to do for your career. Below, we share a few signs that it’s time to leave your job and how to find a new one quickly.  When It’s Time to Quit Your Job Leaving a job isn’t a decision to make lightly. However, there are some red flags that, when combined, can signal that it’s time for your tenure at a company to draw to a close. Consider some of the following signs that it’s time for you to look for a new job. People D ..read more

Vulnerability is the word that experienced job seekers use to describe something they desperately want to avoid in their next job search. Getting out of touch with the job market can happen surprisingly fast, even if it’s only been a few years since your last job search. Minimize your risk exposure by sharpening or maintaining job search skills. Are you keeping your job skills up to date? Good move to future-proofing your career! An equally important but often overlooked skill set is the one needed to conduct a job search. Being a savvy job seeker requires a cross-section of skills, including ..read more

Do you know what sets you apart from other job seekers? Can you offer a confident answer if a hiring manager asks why they should hire you or what makes you the best candidate for the job? If you’re unsure how to create an answer, it’ll be a challenge to genuinely communicate that to prospective employers. This is especially true if you are naturally more introverted and tend to be uncomfortable promoting yourself, downplaying your accomplishments and believing that your work speaks for itself. Unfortunately, failing to communicate the value you bring to your employer will allow them to form ..read more