• The official blog of Abacus Group — a place to share our knowledge and thoughts on trends in recruiting •

When preparing for an interview, rarely do you need to practice the answers to questions about your past positions, current role, and the skills you have acquired. However, every interview includes some tough questions that can catch you off guard if you don’t have a plan on how to answer them.

Pursuing professional development opportunities, regardless of how long you have been working, will bring you so many benefits. From getting an advanced degree or taking night classes to attending a conference or conducting individual research, there are so many types of professional development that you can take advantage of.

Congratulations, you have landed your first job out of college! In the mix of all the excitement and nerves, try to focus your energy on preparation.

Regardless of what role you are applying for, leadership skills are sought after across all companies and industries. Compared to technical skills, they are not as easy to quantify but demonstrating that you have these leadership skills will put you above those whom you are interviewing against and assure your potential employer that you have the ability to make a great impact on the company and community.

Staying focused and productive at work can be tough when you know so many others are lying on the beach, hanging out with friend and family, and generally enjoying the warm weather. Instead of spending your time in the office daydreaming of summer fun, push yourself to stay focused and motivated while allowing yourself to bring a little brightness into a mundane workday.

Going to networking events and building a list of industry contacts is a key part of advancing your career. As a recent grad, you might have networked a little at career fairs, but true networking events aren’t only about finding potential work opportunities. Following the tips below will ensure you walk in knowing everything you should, feeling confident, and make the right impression.

Every office has its busy seasons and working through them can be very overwhelming and exhausting. During these times, there is often a lot of pressure to work harder and longer than normal to get the job done, which can result in you crashing. Taking the following steps to prevent burnout will help preserve both your mental and physical health and ensure work is a positive force in your life.

After the excitement of getting an in-person interview settles, it is time to start your preparing. Depending on how far in advance you have scheduled the interview, you might not need to begin immediately, but you also don’t want to push it off until the day of.

In the next few weeks, thousands of graduates will be throwing their caps into the air and entering the workforce. Although many grads know the career path they’re hoping to go down, some are still trying to figure out their next step after they cross the stage. If you are still unsure about what kind of positions you should be applying to, consider one of the most popular jobs for recent grads.

After weeks of feeling like your current position is no longer the right fit for you, you know it’s time to find a new job! Searching for a job can be an extensive process, but there are a few things you can do before you start sending out applications that will make it go smoother.