SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

About Professional DashboardDashboard Browse Topics Create Professional AccountCreate Account

Home/
Articles

Browse SelfGrowth articles

Loading the searchable article library…

SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

Explore experts, guides, articles, videos, and events by topic.

Explore

All topics Experts Guides Articles Videos

Platform

About SelfGrowth Websites Newsletters Events Become an Official Guide Contact

Compliance

Legal

Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Cookie Policy

Your choices

Privacy Requests

Help improve SelfGrowth

Accounts

Personal account Create Professional Account Become a Contributor

SelfGrowth helps readers explore personal growth topics with clear paths into guides, experts, and related resources.

Home/
Experts/
Maria Hebda/
Articles

Articles by Maria Hebda

Browse published articles attributed to Maria Hebda, with full-archive search.

articles: 93

Explore

TopicsBrowse every topic ExpertsFind people ArticlesRead guidance WebsitesOpen resources EventsSee sessions VideosWatch clips

⌕

SortRecommended Most viewed Most recent Highest rated Alphabetical

Showing 51–93

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Job Search Strategies: Reach Beyond the Obvious

The process of finding a new job can be overwhelming. It takes time, energy and focus-resources that most people don't have in abundance. Job hunting can also be psychologically taxing and usually requires some degree of discipline and organization. In my experience, nothing will undermine a job search more quickly than a negative attitude. With this in mind, I've developed a list of the top ten strategies for finding a job. 1. Make small career appointments with yourself --

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,216 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

5 Sure-Fire Steps to a New Job

The new year is here - budgets are fresh, positions are open and every statistic points to aggressive hiring. Here are 5 sure-fire steps that will get you a competitive edge and land you that job.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,211 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Invest in Yourself Without Going Broke

You ARE your business. Investing in yourself IS investing in your business and should be viewed as a business strategy. How you show up in your business and the impression you leave with potential clients whether having a phone conversation or a visit to your website helps them determine whether or not they think you’re a “good fit” or not when it comes to hiring a career professional. Unfortunately, many business owners pass up professional development because their bank account can’t support the expense right now.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,211 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Why You Need a Personal Brand

What do the most successful people over 50 have in common? They know and express who they are. They have honed and communicated their professional identity and made others aware of their personal attributes - their expertise, talents, and deepest commitments. In other words, these people have developed a personal brand - or a "Brand You," the term coined by Tom Peters.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,211 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Stand Out – Follow Up

Whether you are applying for posted positions, connecting with recruiters, or networking to build a business, a critical component is often overlooked — follow up. What can you do to turn the business cards you have diligently collected into opportunities? Here are few tips:

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,209 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

The Perils of Online Posting

I was captivated by a CNN interview with an unemployed father named Eric Bell. Mr. Bell was laid off and immediately took the shotgun approach to job hunting that I passionately argue against. As a mid-level manager with a solid employment history, Eric figured he'd simply post his resume online, send out a few hard copies, and wait for the job offers to come rolling in. They never did (and I'm here to tell you that they rarely do).

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,201 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

3 Reasons Never to Include Your Street Address on Your Resume

Below are the three reasons never to include your street address on your resume: 1. Personal Safety If you post your resume online, you're opening yourself to security risk. Most of us wouldn't include our home address on Facebook posts, personal Web pages, or tweets but we never think twice about putting it on our online resumes for the entire world to see.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,198 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Invest in Yourself without Going Broke

Investing in yourself IS investing in your business and should be viewed as a business strategy. Unfortunately, many business owners pass up professional development because their bank account can’t support that expense right now. How you show up in your business and the impression you leave with potential clients whether having a phone conversation or a visit to your website helps them determine whether or not they think you’re a “good fit” to do business with when it comes to hiring a career professional to their job search or anything career related.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,198 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Why You Need Competitors

When it comes to your business, do you worry about competitors? If you do, what’s behind the worry? There are more than enough people in the world to serve so running out of clients or customers shouldn’t be something to spend your time worrying about. Rather than viewing competitors as trying to take away business from you, view them as resources to learn from—check them out!

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,198 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Does Your Resume Need A Facelift?

Many people don't realize is that if you put your resume together without much thought or reason, simply writing down your life's story and distributing it to potential employers, chances are you'll experience less than impressive results. In fact, you'll probably end up in the unenviable position of joining the 80% who are dissatisfied with their jobs and wondering why the good opportunities are eluding you.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,180 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Top Mistakes Career Service Businesses Make

The career service industry covers a lot of ground from career coaching in various areas to writing career documents (i.e., resumes, cover letters, etc.), to positioning your clients in the right light on social media via LinkedIn profiles and online networking. Social media plays a huge role in how people communicate nowadays. So when it comes to job searching, you, as a career professional, can serve as a key resource for people seeking help and guidance when it comes to presenting themselves in the best possible light both online and in person.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,172 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Be Honest on Your Resume

Nothing tells a prospective employer that you are not the right person for his or her job more quickly than a resume that does not match the job description or the stated needs of the employer. Your resume should be written in a way that reflects your education and accomplishments. Resist the desire to overstate your abilities, education, or achievements. If you overstate, you may appear over-qualified for the positions you are seeking.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,167 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Bringing Out The Real You In Your Resume

There's a widespread frustration held by business executives that their resumes' cannot adequately describe "the real me." I've challenged this notion with the following comments and suggestions: I'm pleased to read how many executives are put off by the idea that they might be encapsulated on a single piece of paper (or two or three). But couldn't the same argument be made for the interview: that 2 hours sitting alone with someone in a room just isn't enough time to truly get to know a person?

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,154 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

So What's Your Story?

Some people are natural storytellers. They describe events and circumstances in a way that captures attention, compels interest, and engages listeners. Storytellers are a direct contrast with those who use language solely for targeted and factual communications. In interviews and professional networking, the storyteller has a distinct advantage - the ability to engage and interest people who can open doors and present opportunities.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,151 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

ASCII Resumes: An Essential Ingredient to Today's Job Search

ASCII (pronounced ask-ee) stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. So what's that mean? Computers can only read numbers. Technically speaking, ASCII is a numerical representation of the letters, digits, punctuation marks, and other symbols used in conversational English. It was created in 1968 to allow data processors to "talk" to each other and, although it's been upgraded, ASCII continues to be the "alphabet" almost all computers use to communicate.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,146 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

No Second First Impression

As the saying goes, "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression." People tend to form judgments based on what they see and hear during the first few seconds. Extended contact may modify their initial judgment but probably won't change it significantly. In terms of job or career changes, this means you need to consider carefully how you present yourself. Clients typically think of this in relation to interviews, which is certainly important, but waiting until then to focus on it would be a big mistake.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,143 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Getting The Most Out of a Job Fair

You spend days preparing for that big career fair, where you'll meet your dream employer who will throw lots of money your way because YOU are the one they've been waiting for. However, the reality is that many people who attend job fairs are left disappointed, frustrated and jobless. Here are some pointers to help you get the most out of your job fair experience. * Don't expect to get a job at a job fair. The descriptio "job fair" is a misnomer. Typically, a recruiter at a job fair will glance over your resume, spend about five or ten minutes talking to you, and then move on.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,139 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

How Thinking small Has BIG Rewards

Thinking small does have its benefits! I was on a coaching call with one of my TCE member clients and the focal point of our conversation was a topic I frequently have with colleagues. And, I want to share my thoughts to ensure that you’re making the most of your marketing efforts and seeing results. Some of you may have heard what I’m about to share while others haven’t. So if what you read sounds familiar, it’s my hope that you’ve taken action when you first learned about it. But if you haven’t taken action yet, let my posting serve as as a reminder of what could be.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,129 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Top Ten Excuses Why People Don't Network

I don't want to ask for a favor. Many people think that when you network you are asking someone for a job. But this is not the goal of networking. When you network, you never ask for a job. You ask for information about an industry, company, or position. Fear of rejection. Many people fear that if they ask for information the other person might not be willing to talk to them. While it is true that not everyone will agree to meet with you, many people will extend help to you and you have nothing to loose by asking.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,128 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Is a Cover Letter Necessary?

One of the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to the job hunt has to be: "Do I need a cover letter?" Yes, you do! "Can't I just send my resume without it?" Only if the employer, recruiter, or software refuses to let you submit the cover letter! Why? Because the resume doesn't create the first impression of you: the cover letter does. Make sure your cover letter is professional, targeted, and polished so that you create a strong first impression. An excellent cover letter almost always leads to the employer reading your resume.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,122 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Why the Resume is an Endangered Species

As a professional resume writer, I don't like to admit this, but the resume is going the way of gray suit, the fax machine, and the generous pension plan. No, the resume isn't in danger of immediate extinction. But it is certainly endangered. Resumes are a relic of a traditional employment recruiting process in which employers needed a standard way of comparing numerous prospects for open job positions sight unseen. By reviewing a short summary of qualifications and work history, employers could weed out the unqualified candidates and find the most qualified ones.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,115 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Pricing Services: 7 Facts to Consider When Pricing Career Services

Pricing services is a challenge for many service based business owners because they don’t want to be too high or too low. The goal is to make sure you don’t short-change yourself. When it comes to pricing your career services, whether you’re a new or established career professional, consider ALL that comes into play in your service delivery. When pricing services, DON’T sell yourself short or get caught up in what other people are charging. Instead, step back and look at what you’re really providing clients when they decide to work with you:

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,111 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Top Reasons Why You Are NOT Getting Client Leads

Hearing "I have client leads for you" is no doubt music to the ears of any business owner! Next, is "how can I work with you?" Getting referrals is another excellent way to get client leads and it happens--why? Because someone did some marketing for you. For example, in the "careers" industry there are thousands and thousands of people searching for career services every single day. But if you are a career coach or resume writer and they can't find you anywhere, how are these thousands and thousands of people going to know that you even exist?

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,105 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Stop Keeping Your Business a Secret!

Demonstrate your value and get on the radar of potential clients. Your business shouldn't be a secret. It's time to STOP hiding! If you don't let people know your exist, who will? Getting yourself out there and being seen and heard by your target audience is how you reveal your industry expertise and build your credibility as a career expert while building your brand. Putting yourself out there also gives you the opportunity to really connect with your ideal clients, giving them a chance to get to know, like, and trust (KLT) you.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,099 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

So Why Do I Need A Resume Anyway?

I must say there has been a lot of talk about resumes this year. It's one of the most talked about topic next to social media and networking. But why is there so much talk about 2 pieces of paper? And, why is having a resume so important? I can think of a reason why having a resume is so important.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,090 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

To Be or Not to Be an Interim Executive?

Interim Executive... Many companies are using Interim Executives. To quote Karen Klein of businessweek.com: "Unlike consultants, Interim Executives work within a company, filling a position that has gone vacant due to an employee leaving, dying, or being dismissed. They can fulfill as many as three functions: Stepping into a job that needs doing, helping to interview and choose a permanent replacement, and diagnosing and implementing important internal changes." Advantages:

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,087 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Is Your Resume Employer Driven?

Are you interested in knowing what potential employers are looking for in a resume? If you haven't updated your resume over the last few years, you might be surprised to learn what companies (large and small) are requesting in today's resumes. In the past, resumes would begin with an Objective Statement, which showed the type of position you were seeking along with your career goals. Today's "employer-driven" resumes are designed to grab the attention of hiring managers by highlighting "what you can do for the company."

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

1,060 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Part I: Resume Makeovers; Does Your Resume Have A Focus?

This will be a five part series in helpful tips on making over your resume. As I have stated in previous discussions everyone can create their own resume if they had the proper tools in which to do so. It takes time and in depth research on your part when it comes to writing down what your accomplishments/achievements are in creating a resume that's "value-based", not one that is not. Employers today want to see when reading your resume the value or talent you are bringing to the workplace, not the job responsibilities you did.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

973 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Part II: Resume Makeovers; I Should Hire You?

This is the second of a two-part series on making over your resume. If you read Part I, we talked about having a focus. Now, that you know how important that is let's talk about the next topic. I've said in the past that you have 8-10 seconds in grabbing the reader's attention. That's not a long time! So you need to hook them in really, really fast. Don't assume the reader is going to read your entire resume just because you sent it, when in reality unless you spark their interest quickly they will put it down.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

962 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

What Is Career Coaching About Anyway?

There are still many people who don't really have a clear understanding of what career coaching is or how to go about choosing a career coach. Let's just say it's not uncommon for me to get emails, social media messages, or phone calls asking me about one or the other. So... What is career coaching exactly? It's championing and helping you reach your ultimate career goals and your career coach being with you on that journey.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

956 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Five Steps to Job Fair Success

While you will need a strong resume for any job fair, don't forget - attending a job fair is not just about submitting your resume. It's about socializing and networking with the representatives of the companies and showing off your communication skills. In order to do those things confidently, you MUST do your homework in advance and follow these 5 steps for a successful job fair experience. * STEP ONE:

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

918 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Accessing the Hidden Job Market

The Truth Behind the Open Job Market Most job seekers relay on the open job market which includes job posting boards and help wanted advertisements in local newspapers to source job leads. While it appears on the surface that these search vehicles have an abundant number of job leads, the reality is that very few people secure their positions through these methods of search. Only about 5-10% of people in search find their jobs using these two methods combined.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

895 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Creative Ways to Invest in Your Development Without Spending a Fortune

However long you've been in business, there is always something new to learn. It's essential to keep up with the trends of your industry and not get left behind. You'll not only provide better service to your clients, you'll also find new ways to grow and improve your business. Formal ...However long you've been in business, there is always something new to learn. It's essential to keep up with the trends of your industry and not get left behind. You'll not only provide better service to your clients, you'll also find new ways to grow and improve your business.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

889 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Top Secrets of The Expert Job Search

Every day I talk with top professionals and executives looking for a better job. But deep down, they know they want more than a job - they want more fulfillment. They need to see a greater value and satisfaction in the 40-50 hours of brainpower and expertise they put forth every week. They have excellent skills and experience in their industry, but now they're faced with finding a new position, or expanding their career, and have very little background in that department.r

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

874 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Career Coaches CAN'T Help You - Here's Why

If you're not willing to be coached or open to change they can't help. When you're willing to be coached, open to change and new ideas, when you welcome constructive criticism, and commit to taking action is when coaches can help. What a Career Coach Does: Challenges and inspires you to do your best, and will be there to support you each step of the way. Provides you with feedback, backs you when times get difficult, and will be honest and up front.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

865 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Thriving in Trying Times

In this difficult economy, it can be far too easy to focus on the economic pain that has undeniably affected everyone. Many people are unemployed. Households are stretched financially. Discouraged job seekers struggle to maintain their self-esteem. Even people who are employed fear for their livelihoods. And yet, not all is doom and gloom. Even with a national unemployment rate just under 10 percent, there's still an enormous amount of economic activity taking place.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

851 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

How to Price Your Services

Whether you're a new or established career professional, pricing can be a constant puzzle; especially when you start talking to other people in the industry or surfing the web. There are so many pricing models, fees, products and services out there. Don't sell yourself short or get caught up ...Whether you're a new or established career professional, pricing can be a constant puzzle; especially when you start talking to other people in the industry or surfing the web. There are so many pricing models, fees, products and services out there.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

832 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Building Your Network of Experts

One of the most important things I did to grow my business was to step out of my comfort zone and begin to expand my professional network. It was a stretch for me to transition from being a certified career coach and resume writer to being a resource for my career expert peers. My ...One of the most important things I did to grow my business was to step out of my comfort zone and begin to expand my professional network.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

827 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Show Me the Money!

Do you want to negotiate a salary increase this year but are unsure of how you would justify it? Here are some strategies you can implement now to build a strong case for the raise you want in the future. Document Your Accomplishments Throughout the Year

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

814 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Make Your Network Work for You

Networking is the art of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships. Frequently when I coach people who are in a job search and we discuss networking within the context of job search, many will say "Does that really work?" Like anything else, networking requires a bit of practice and finesse, but if done correctly, networking can be an invaluable part of your job search campaign. Here are a few tips to help you develop a network that works for you. Be a teacher

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

803 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Seven Strategies for Reducing Stress During a Job Search

Job loss ranks high on the list of most stressful situations. Many report going through a grieving process, similar to the stages people go through after the death of a loved one. Shock, denial, anger, and depression are all common reactions to the loss of a job. These emotions are important and you should acknowledge them. Unfortunately, some people become stuck in one of these stages and this is detrimental to a successful job search campaign. Below are seven strategies you can use to reduce stress and generate acceptance and enthusiasm during your search. Maintain a Routine

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

802 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Interviewing Authentically

The goal of the interview is to showcase your accomplishments while developing a relationship with the hiring manager. The quality of the relationship hinges on the job seeker's ability to build credibility for their candidacy and effectively gain the hiring manager's trust.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

787 views

By Maria HebdaRecently published1 topic

Publishing an Ezine: Why bother?

Here are the Top 5 reasons that I suggest you publish an ezine: 1. Staying in touch with your clients and prospective clients shows them you care about cultivating a relationship with them and that you have their interests at heart. 2. An ezine is a simple and straightforward way to systematically deliver free and valuable information to your clients and prospective clients. 3. A well-written ezine increases your credibility as a career expert. 4. A consistently delivered ezine demonstrates your professionalism.

Primary topic: Career Transition

Career Transition

721 views

Previous pagePage 2

Back to top ↑