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

When preparing for an interview, many job seekers focus solely on what questions will most likely be asked and brainstorming answers about their experiences and skills that will set them apart from their competitors.

Job seekers are more active than ever, meaning it is critical to set yourself apart from other applicants. To do so successfully, you must put time and consideration into every application you submit.

There is no denying that LinkedIn is the leader in professional social networking and can be an incredible tool for job seekers. While many applicants focus on finely tuning their resume and cover letter, it is important not to disregard your LinkedIn profile.

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.

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.

College graduations are about two months away, so now is the time for upcoming grads to start preparing for their first job search. The process can certainly be daunting but taking some of the first steps over the next few weeks will only benefit you in the long run. Here’s a checklist of 10 things you can do to prepare for your job search before graduation!

It can’t be reiterated enough that LinkedIn is a tremendous resource for job-seekers, employers and recruiters alike. It’s important however that users leverage its vast features and by doing so, eliminate any behavior that doesn’t best serve their brand.

The importance of soft skills in the job market has not gone unrecognized. Because of the emphasis on these skills that are so difficult to verify and substantiate, effectively incorporating them into your resume is imperative.

The fact of the matter is that LinkedIn accounts in any capacity are incredibly powerful, however, this will highlight the difference between the basic and premium options, reinforcing the immense capabilities of a paid LinkedIn subscription. LinkedIn Premium is very popular among recruiters but there is a lot of value there for job seekers and networkers in general.

Summer certainly isn’t the easiest time to find a job but it’s best to look at the season as an opportunity to kick your search into gear, perhaps even take a different approach.