Job Seekers and career changers often ask how they can remain relevant and demonstrate to the marketplace that their skills are current, their energy level is high and their value is significant, despite being in transition or not currently employed.  The media is full of advice on "TO DOs" so I'd like to give you some suggested "TO DON'Ts".

Don't be defensive or make excuses about your situation. Simply be prepared with a short, accurate statement about why you are between positions or...

As the old year winds down, it is not uncommon to complete a mental career review of the past year. In some cases, after we take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly, a picture emerges in which all is not as good as it could be. If you are becoming concerned about what seems to be a growing list of elements causing you discontentment and unhappiness and feeling as though you are simply going through the motions of your job responsibilities without having any interest in what happens, it...

If you are in the enviable position of receiving multiple offers, then you are also in the not so enviable position of having to decline at least one of them. Pretty straightforward, right? Well, no, not so much. Part of the credit for your being in this situation goes to the organizations for recognizing your potential value to achieving their goals, but I am almost certain that the majority of the credit for generating the offers rests squarely with you.

So here you are facing a dilemma....

My birthday is in November, and every year before the month ends I take stock of what the previous 12 months have brought.  Although each year is different from those before and almost certainly will be different from those to come, one absolute truth is that each November I am one year older.  Aging inevitably means changing, and neither our lives nor our careers escape the effects of aging. 

As we age, new career dilemmas appear, especially for those in career transition.  Should you stay...

Shakespeare's Hamlet had it easy: all he had to do was ponder his existence. Job seekers have to ponder how to account for gaps on their resumes, including determining whether or not their current severance period legitimately qualifies as ‘Present’ employment.

What do you think? Take this two-question quiz.

Q1. Even though your last actual day at work was three months ago, since you're still receiving severance, it's OK to use the term ‘Present’ in the dates describing your position until...