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

Making it to the interview stage of the job application process is an achievement in and of itself. The company obviously likes your background and wants to take the time to meet you in person and get to know you better. However, the pressure is on to impress them and prove yourself as a viable candidate for the job.

Although it is important not to make sweeping generalizations, it also goes without saying that millennials are unlike any generation that has preceded them and therefore stimulate much debate and conversation, particularly in regards to how to deal with them in the workforce.

With just over two weeks to go before the law comes into effect, relevant parties should begin to review application materials and job postings to eliminate incriminating lexicon and ensure compliance with the new legislation. There should be a strong focus on education so that all involved know their rights and obligations.

Sometimes money becomes the dominant focus of one’s job search—and it shows. This mindset greatly damages one’s prospects in meetings with potential employers. Job seekers should verbally prioritize other, unrelated factors, including new learning opportunities, company reputation, professional recognition, and long-term career development.

When your job search lasts longer than projected, it’s easy to blame external forces. There are several ways that professionals inadvertently sabotage themselves from securing new opportunities. An unwillingness to budge in four areas—compensation, company name, title, and interview process—prevents job seekers from finding positions that fit their goals.

A Tuesday publication from AccountingWEB, “6 Steps to Becoming a Star CFO,” really caught our eye this week. The article’s author posits that the key to addressing your paramount concern – “Is your company where you want it to be?” – lies at the intersection of effective people management and a winning compensation strategy.

Asking for a raise is fairly intimidating for most professionals.  The conversation is especially daunting given that the average salary increase expected to be less than three percent this fiscal year, a figure that remains unchanged from 2012 and only marginally higher than that in 2011. Given these statistics, you might be wondering: Why should I bother asking for a raise when my employer can barely afford to give me one?