Quotations by Richard N. Bolles
Keys to Finding Hope: 1. Hope depends upon taking care that we have at least two alternatives, in every situation we find ourselves, and with every task confronting us. 2. In any situation, no matter how much we may feel we are at the mercy of vast forces out there, that are totally beyond our control, we can always find something that is within our control, however small, and work on that. 3. Nothing that happens to us is just senseless and meaningless. In the context of our total life, it will eventually turn out to have meaning. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
The longer any of us is out of work, the less willing some employers are to hire us. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
If you know what your talent is, I guarantee some employer is looking for you. You have to keep going. Some employers do want you. Your job is to find them. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
When hiring is tight, you will want to concentrate on small firms, and newer small firms. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
Write a thank-you note after the interview--not only to them, but to the receptionist, secretary, and whoever else you interacted with, there--by name. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
The Personnel Manager or Human Resources office is the employer's friend, not yours. Their basic function is to screen you out, so avoid them if possible. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
You are gonna need only half the information you initially thought you would need about the job-market, but twice the amount of information you initially thought you would need about yourself. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
Often you can put together a new career just using what you already know and what you already can do--with just a bit of training or retraining. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
When you negotiate salary, you want the bottom of your range to be near the top of theirs. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
Money does buy happiness. But only up to a point. That point was found to be around $75,000 annual income (at the end of 2011, median household income was $51,413). If people made more money than $75,000, it of course further improved their satisfaction with how their life was going, but it did not increase their happiness. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
The way anyone cures themselves of shyness is through enthusiasm. If you're talking with someone, and you are enthusiastic about the topic under discussion, you will forget that you are shy, in your excitement. Only go after a job you feel really enthusiastic about. Seek information only about a curiosity that you feel enthusiastic about the prospect of learning the answers to. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
If you would be unique, you must combine, as much as you can, two or three fields: that's what can make you unique, with very little competition from others. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
Every professional specialty has one or more shadow professions, which require much less training. For example, instead of becoming a doctor, you can go into paramedical work; instead of becoming a lawyer, you can go into paralegal work; instead of becoming a licensed career counselor, you can become a career coach. There is always a way to get close, at least, to what you dream of. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
See if the local chamber of commerce publishes a business directory; often it will list not only small companies but also local divisions of larger companies, with names of department heads; sometimes they will even include the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, which is useful if you want to search by the code of your chosen field. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
If you keep your blog focused--you can develop a reputation as an expert in your specialty, thus attracting the attention of prospective employers--maybe. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
The three top online universities are the University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, and Capella University. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
In general, the people who get hired are those who mix speaking and listening fifty-fifty in the interview. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
The twenty-second to two-minute rule: When it is your turn to speak or answer a question, you should plan not to speak any longer than two minutes at a time, if you want to make the best impression. In fact, a good answer to an employer's question sometimes only takes twenty seconds to give (but not less than that). [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
You will probably want to ask questions one and two out loud. You will observe quietly the answer to question three. You will be prepared to make the case for questions four and five, when the appropriate time in the interview arises. [2013] - Richard N. Bolles
Don't use the word "problems," as most employers prefer synonyms that sound gentler to their ears, such as "challenges" or "needs". [2013] - Richard N. Bolles