Salary negotiations are one of the most intimidating parts of the job search process. Even those that are confident through every phase of interviewing can sometimes be stumped about how to approach salary discussions. How you approach salary negotiations, from the research you conduct beforehand to questions you address during the interview, will not only impact how much you earn but also how your employer perceives you wh...

Many federal contractors who are developing their first-year affirmative action plan (AAP) often have the same question: who should be included in my AAP? The Office of Federal Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has provided some guidance on this topic by stating that all employees who have worked in a federal contractor’s establishment during the fiscal (or plan) year should be included in the contractor’s AAP. Som...

I’m sure you’ve noticed the ubiquitous statements against racial inequality in recent days. Such statements are being issued by public organizations, educational and nonprofit institutions, and for-profit companies. These statements are, sorry to say, generally mealy-mouthed in nature. It is very unusual for any entity to come out publicly to disavow both explicit racism and microaggressions. (Kudos to Ben &...

Being dismissed or furloughed from your job has been more common than not as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic that rocked the worldwide economy. For the unemployed, or underemployed – now is the time to pick yourself up and get back into the saddle in order to find your next job. Showcasing your ability to be nimble and resilient is appealing to employers. Here are some tips to help find a job after being let...

What elements make up a good resume? Try on this list: brevity, clarity, positivity, attractiveness-and truthfulness. Your resume is your calling card to hiring managers and human resource departments. Because it represents you, two things are paramount. First, make sure your resume truly represents what you have to offer. Get all the advice you can, but remember, in the end your work, qualities, and accomplishments g...

According to the National Institute on Mental Health, 19 percent of American adults experience mental health conditions each year, such as depression, anxiety disorders (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder), and bi-polar disorder, to name a few. The vast majority of these individuals are of working age, so it behooves America's employers to learn strategies for fostering a mental health-friendly work culture. For federal...

In a time when “flattening the curve” requires universal participation, when, how, and who to re-open requires tough decisions. Wise business leadership is needed more than ever before. There’s no shortage of talks, posts, or tweets on our need for wise, capable leaders who pursue the common good; who balance big-picture thinking with next-step management. But predicting outcomes becomes much more compl...

In an era where the Office of Federal Contract and Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has become more inquisitive into contractor recruitment and selection processes, there is a need for more awareness around the utility and benefits of using evergreen requisitions. We find that there is both a lack of regulatory guidance for their use and a need for more resources on how to use them effectively to meet business and compliance nee...

You may have seen them on social media…the memes and articles about how our lives will be forever changed due to Coronavirus. One of those memes, from Brené Brown, recently appeared in my social media feed questioning the whole idea of “normal” and pointing out that “normal” in the current age has had a very low bar. Brené Brown observes… “We will not go back...

Maybe you're just about to graduate. Maybe you've been a parent and homemaker since you got married. Maybe you left school to care for a sick parent and now it's ten years later, and you're wondering how to start a career. Now you wonder, 'How can I convince someone to hire me when I've never had a real job?' We are so used to labeling one thing 'work' and another 'home' or 'school' that we forget how...