“The less said the better.” (Jane Austen) “It is best to say as little about a difficult or unfortunate topic or situation as possible (to avoid making it worse or dwelling on it for too long.”) (idioms.thefreedictionary.com) The quote “The less said the better” encapsulates a profound perspective on communication and its nuances. At its core, this phrase suggests that sometimes, …
Job Descriptions: Ya Just Gotta Luv Em!
July 02, 2024
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 4 minutes
How many of you read the blog subject line above and just want to throw up? 🙂 I mean, the topic of job descriptions was never that thrilling to you while you were employed, and now that you’re in a job transition, with everyone telling you to match up your resume to the job descriptions…well, it just doesn’t sit well …
Networking – The Relationship Depth Chart!
March 19, 2024
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 3 minutes
There’s an old adage that goes, “what got you here won’t get you there.” This saying is used many times to spur people towards innovation and thinking afresh about a familiar topic. For Crossroads Career, networking is one such topic! In fact, our corporate name used to be Crossroads Career Network! If you’re familiar with us at all, or if you …
Salary Negotiation – Use What’s Available
March 12, 2024
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Figuring out how and when to talk about compensation in the recruitment process has been the nemesis of job seekers for decades. Ranging from advice snippets like, “Whoever talks about money first loses” to detailed outlines of how to broach the compensation topic with a recruiter or hiring manager, compensation has been a bit of a mysterious topic for people to …
Work shapes so much of life, and yet it can be difficult to think about, confusing to develop a good perspective on, and scary to search for a great fit throughout different seasons. Why is this thing we were made for so hard to understand, find joy in, and accomplish faithfully? After graduating from college, I found myself in circumstances …
Career Advice: ChatGPT or Your Manager?
February 27, 2024
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 3 minutes
In a recent study conducted by Workplace Intelligence and INTOO, 800 HR managers and 800 full-time employees were surveyed to understand what’s missing for today’s workers – and it turns out career development tops the list. Here are a few of their findings: Sobering results. Yet not surprising. Over the decades I’ve been involved with HR and people development, I’ve …
Persistent or Pest: Follow-up
February 20, 2024
Written by: Crossroads Career |
Reading Time: 3 minutes
You’ve had the final interview…it seemed to go really well. You asked if they were considering any internal candidates, and the answer was no (single hardest obstacle to overcome). You seemed to make a connection and the Hiring Manager was impressed with the research you had done on the company and on him/her. There was a great back and forth …
How to Answer: “If You Were a Tree…”
December 26, 2023
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 3 minutes
While probably close to 20 interview questions show up in 80% of the interviews that take place, occasionally you’ll get an unusual, ‘odd duck’ interview question. I’m not personally a fan of such questions, but some interviewers have them in their quiver and may ask you one or more of them. Here are a few examples: The Purpose of ‘Odd-Duck’ Questions …
How to Answer: “What are Your Greatest Strengths?”
December 19, 2023
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Let’s dive right into Scripture for an example! 1 Samuel 17 records the account of David and Goliath. Here are verses 33-37 where Saul skeptically states that he doesn’t think David is able to defeat Goliath. “Saul replied, ‘You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he …
How to Answer: “What Are Your Salary Expectations?”
December 12, 2023
Written by: Dave Sparkman |
Reading Time: 4 minutes
How many of you have played the game, Monopoly? If you have, you’ll certainly recall the ongoing cycle around the playing board filled with different properties you can buy or rent. You probably also recall that if you complete one full cycle around the board, you pass “Go” and receive instructions to gain $200 from the bank. You may also remember the dreaded …


