How to deal with a non-disclosure agreement

Dear WW: Recently I got a recruiting call from a giant software company that I’d kill to work for. But they insist that I sign a nondisclosure agreement before they’ll even meet with me. What are the risks of signing? T0 SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN
Dear Sign:
These days nondisclosure agreements seem to be breeding faster [...]

How to sum up your career in 30 seconds

DEAR WOUNDED: No one has time to listen to what you have to say anymore. How do you make a point in 30 seconds? TIMELESS
Dear Timeless:
I’ll make a bet with you. Researchers from Ireland recently told a medical convention in Chicago that two-thirds of the patients who received injections into the buttock muscle hadn’t [...]

What do you think of ‘peer interviews’?

DEAR READERS: I received the following e-mail from a reader about “peer interviews.” This is when employees who would have to work with the job candidate get involved in the interview process. I’ve always thought of peer interviewing as a positive way to give the rest of the team a chance to “kick the tires” [...]

Keys to a successful job interview

DEAR WW: I have a great resume. I get a lot of interviews. But I can’t seem to turn the interview into a job. What’s up? FREE AGENT
DEAR FREE:
I heard an interview with a football player, who said that he wouldn’t want to have Terrell Owens on his team. T.O., suspended by the Philadelphia Eagles, [...]

How to write an effective cover letter

Dear WW: I’ve always thought cover letters were a waste of paper. But recently I talked to a friend who said that he hired someone based totally on what they said in their cover letter. Am I off base? NOT COVERED
Dear NOT,
Have you heard of “The Swan”? It’s a show where people get plastic surgery [...]

What to do before a job interview

Dear WW: I’ve got my first job interview in a very long time. I need you to remind me of the keys to a successful interview. Please help me to put my best foot forward. BACK IN THE SADDLE
Dear SADDLE,
It’s the time of year when birds are flying south for the winter. Have you ever [...]

How to respond when told you are overqualified in a job interview

Dear Readers: Below is an email from a reader who is unemployed and broke. He’s frustrated because he believes employers don’t want to hire someone with a professional background for an entry level job.Dear Working Wounded: I’m an Information Technology professional who has been looking for work for several months. Unfortunately, like many professional people, [...]