Tricia Dolkas | Kickstart Career

Ask 100 people for resume advice and you get 100 differing opinions that often contradict each other. So who do you believe? In my 20+ yrs. of recruiting, seems that most resume advice comes from people who don’t read resumes as part of their work. This article shares resume advice from recruiters and dispels commonly…

You’ve invested years and countless thousands of dollars supporting your child to adulthood. My husband and I did the same. Yet few graduates are prepared to face the job market even with the help from college career centers. Graduates often lack practiced skills to build a professional network or identify jobs that establish a strategic foundation…

Illegal interview questions happen when you least expect it. And when it happens, the emotional shock you feel makes it harder to present your best in the interview. Be prepared for these questions with a response that doesn’t sound defensive. Which interview questions are illegal? In the United States, it is inappropriate to be asked…

I did a test to determine which job portal had the best results for full-time employee positions. I compared Google, LinkedIn and Indeed. I found significantly more job postings on LinkedIn. And I am not surprised. Why? Because most corporations use LinkedIn’s product “LinkedIn Recruiter” to post job listings and search for candidates. It is…

“I have one word for you… Plastics!” In this scene from The Graduate , Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin Braddock, is being advised to start his career in the plastics industry. Clearly from Benjamin’s body language, he has absolutely no interest in working in the plastics industry! Success Comes from Finding Companies that Match Your Values You will…

How you interview companies makes a huge impact on the impression made to interviewers. Interviews are your time to learn information not found on the internet. As a result, every conversation is an opportunity to ask your questions. Here are examples: Questions about the Position: Who will be my direct supervisor? What are the three…

Measurable Goals

I went from feeling hopeless to feeling confident and motivated in my ability to find a job. Tricia worked with me to set achievable and measurable weekly goals for my job search that turned it from a daunting task to a manageable one.

Lisa M.

Tufts University Graduate

Uniquely Qualified

Tricia is uniquely qualified to explain the hiring process and to guide job seekers. I could see my daughter’s confidence and competence grow.

Gerald R.

UC Santa Barbara Parent

Wealth of Knowledge

Tricia brought her wealth of knowledge and experience in recruiting, and a calm, structured, well thought out approach that developed a toolbox my daughter will be able to use for the rest of her professional life. Skills such as customizing resume for each application, leveraging LinkedIn tools, organizing a job search, preparing for interviews, post-interview follow-ups, offer negotiation, etc.

Barb M.

University of Michigan Parent

Posts by Tricia Dolkas

Advice for Your Resume

Benefits & Limitations of College Career Centers

Illegal Interview Questions and How to Respond

Best Website for Jobs Postings?

Find Industries and Companies that INSPIRE You

What Questions to Ask in an Interview?