Career coaches talk a lot about value propositions. But it is a concept that confuses many people. So the admonition to make your value proposition into a compelling story feels to many like career coaches are speaking a foreign language. How can I do that when I don't even know what a value proposition is?

Interviewers have a reason why they ask a particular question. It is crucial for the person being interviewed to understand this. If you know the motivation behind a question, you can have a better strategy for answering it.

While having a visually appealing resume does not guarantee that you will advance in the recruiting process, it certainly gives additional clues about your care in putting together this important document - it speaks to your professionalism and attention to detail.

Stories are just another avenue to build personal connections and to promote yourself. As a job seeker, it gives you additional visibility. It also may allow you to share more about the personal side of yourself.

Make sure that when you look for a job, you think through before you apply or network with others, what are the "must-haves" for you. The "must-haves" will help you to be proactive and know the types of firms you want to target, but it will also keep you from being swept off your feet by an opportunity that is too good to be true.

You have taken the step to start networking as part of your job search strategy. You have identified many interesting people that you would like to have as a part of your network. You've spent a lot of time crafting an engaging email. You should have heard something back. Instead, all you hear is *crickets*. What do you do?

Knowledge is power. Understanding how a company determines its pay structure is vital to understanding how to maximize your potential compensation, should you be made an offer. The first thing to know is that different industries will offer different pay scales.

Q: What is your best productivity tip? I work full time and have limited time for my job search, but I always seem to get distracted. Any suggestions?

You know you need to work on your job search. You have been laid off and need to pay your bills. Or you hate your job and know that you need to find someplace better. Yet, sometimes you are just not motivated to make that phone call to a networking contact or research that potential employer. You wake up with good intentions but get distracted by the latest news, your child's needs, or just wanting to do something else.