A sponsor or a mentor?  They are very different but both are very important to your career. Basically, mentors are there to give you advice while a sponsor actively acts on your behalf. Think of a sponsor as your personal cheerleader and a mentor as a shoulder to lean on.

What will 2021 hold for recruiting and hiring?  According to a new survey by XpertHR on HR challenges for the new year, the survey said:

Thinking about using a professional resume writing service? These services are very common and useful but they are not for everyone. Consider these points before you hire any service:

Networking shouldn't stop just because we are now working virtual. Meeting or having coffee with someone may be out but that doesn't mean that your networking activities must stop. Here are some tips to help:

Your resume gives an impression of you. It's a quick, first-glance impression that a hiring manager makes while scanning your resume.

Showing confidence in an interview is a necessity but you most be careful that you do not come across as arrogant or over-confident.

Lies on resumes. You've seem them, you've heard about it being done and, maybe, you've done it.  One thing is for sure:  You will get caught.    Stretching the truth is a lie and it can come back to haunt you. So why do it?

Interviewing is a hard process and first impressions can win or lose you a job. No matter how many times I counsel my candidates, they still make the same mistakes. Now, Anne Corley Baum has given us the bible of interviewing mistakes with her new book, Small Mistakes, BIG Consequences for Interviews.

Interviewing is difficult. With the pandemic, I'm seeing less in-person interviews and more  over the phone or on video

Online profiles play a very important role in your job search.  Profiles can help recruiters find you and, if a hiring manager is interested in your resume, they will check you online.  Of all the online sites, LinkedIn is probably the most important site.  Take the time to review your profile and make the following changes:

Cover letters are not easy to write. Although not always asked for, a cover letter can give you the opportunity to provide the reader with additional information not on your resume

Job descriptions can be very helpful while evaluating a job as well as prepping for your performance review.

Writing a cover letter can be stressful.  You want to capture the reader's attention but you don't want to bore them or, worse, have a mistake in your copy.  Since your resume is attached, you want the reader to be so interested they open it.    There isn't any magic involved, just common sense.  So relax and remember to follow these basic rules to get your cover letter read. 

Committing the ultimate 'oops' at work is embarrassing.  We all can and do make the stupid mistake now and then.  You can't hide it, hide from it, or pretend it didn't happen.  Some people will understand and forget, some won't.  It's up to you to make sure it doesn't last.  It's important not to dwell on the mistake.  Be proactive--follow the steps suggested by PayScale Career News.