Interview Tip
Do a little homework! Research the company and the position if possible, as well, the people you will meet with at the interview. Review your work experiences. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the companies needs. Have your facts ready!!!!!
Posted under: Interview
Resume Tips
Your resume has only a few seconds to impress – or to end up in the trash.
People say that it’s the sizzle that sells the steak. That may be true but, when it comes to job searching, you have to have done what you claim on your resume.
Don’t rely on automatic spelling and grammar checking programs. You need to find an editor you trust. If no one in your immediate circle of family or friends can help, try other resources.
A strong resume gives potential employers a concise, clear picture of your skills and experience. And, it’s the crucial first step in securing an interview and hopefully a job offer.
Posted under: Resumes and Cover Letter
Networking Is More Than Just A Buzz Word
It’s probably the best opportunity you will ever have to make connections, build relationships and help yourself and others in the networking group succeed. Networking with like-minded individuals is also a great way to explore new career options, learn more about a specific industry, gather insights from peers on critical business issues and grow professionally.
The Right People Can Help You Find Your Calling. Your friends and family may dream bigger than you would ever dare.
Posted under: General
Salary Negotiation
Dealing with the salary question is often the most difficult interview question facing job seekers.
Most job seekers feel understandably anxious, embarrassed and uncomfortable when the time comes to discuss salaries. Advice such as “never bring up the issue of salary, let the interviewer say it first,” is rarely helpful if you don’t have any idea of how to respond when the topic does come up.
The Top Five Tips to Negotiating Salary in an Interview:
- Be prepared. Before going to the interview, it’s crucial to research the company and salary range for the position you are applying for persons with your background and experience. Have a salary range in mind and be prepared to discuss these figures once salary negotiation has come up.
- Know your absolute bottom line. Know what your minimum salary range must be to support the life you want to live. So decide, before you go into an interview, what salary you want to earn, what you need to live on, and what you will be willing to settle for.
- Never discuss salary until you have a job offer. If you do, you could price yourself out of a job before the employer is convinced they need you. If pressed by the interviewers, tell them you’re flexible and would be happy to discuss salary when you learn more about the job.
- When questioned about desired salary, the best response is one that returns the employer’s ball back into his court: You can say, “what kind of salary range are you working with?” or “Well, I’d like to make as much as other employees with my qualifications.” or “What is a typical salary for this position?” Another strategy is to avoid a specific salary and name a pay range instead.
- Don’t say yes to an offer right away. Be enthusiastic and appreciative when you get the job offer, but ask for at least 24 hours to respond. This gives you time to get over your initial joy at being selected. If you feel the salary is insufficient, express your concern to the employer when asking for time to consider the offer. You’ll find out right away whether the salary quoted is set in stone or is flexible.
Never underestimate the importance of negotiating salary in an interview. Employers tend to prefer those candidates who already earn a greater income. While these candidates cost more to employ, their higher incoming salaries are assumed to reflect greater competence, initiative and achievement. So it’s in your interest to pursue income increases at every legitimate opportunity.
by Debbie O’Halloran
http://www.jobseekersadvice.com/index.htm
Posted under: Job Search
Career Center in the News
Finding employment in a recession
Times-Standard
http://www.times-standard.com/business/ci_11406752?source=email
HSU spurs $2.1 million in student employment
Times-Standard
http://www.times-standard.com/business/ci_11175125
Business Meal Manners
Business meal manners
David Robinson
SFGate.com
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A friend told me that when you’re invited to a meal as part of recruiting you should always choose the cheapest item on the menu. This doesn’t seem right – the recruiter isn’t paying for the meal, the firm is. I feel like, hey, I’m giving up my time to go through the interview so it’s just a way of getting paid. I’m going for the lobster!
Your friend is exaggerating and over-stating a rule: The conventional wisdom is that you should never order the most expensive item on the menu when you are guest, either in social or business settings. While it’s true that recruiting involves a great deal of personal inconvenience and time commitment and you may feel entitled to some reward, especially if you don’t get offered a job, that’s probably not the best approach to interview dining.
Firms set up interview meals to provide a more relaxed environment than the in-office interview situation in which the questions and answers are often preplanned. Your duty is merely to be yourself so that the recruiter and other professionals from the firm can get to know you. Additionally, if one of the duties of the job opening is to entertain clients, the firm wants to know that you are reasonably comfortable in a formal restaurant.
As to what to choose from the menu, the chief concern is not price. While you should avoid the most expensive dishes, there’s no need to be excessively frugal. More importantly, you want to choose something that is easy to eat (that rules out lobster!). Since all the focus of attention will be on you, you want to choose something that allows you to take bites and then talk. It’s a good idea to avoid anything that is unfamiliar to you – this is not the time for experimentation. You wouldn’t be the first job candidate who had to make a hasty trip to the bathroom because he over-estimated his stomach’s enthusiasm for calf brains, snails or spicy food.
Aren’t french fries finger-food? I was at lunch with a colleague from our firm and we were at a nice enough “white table cloth” restaurant. When my “Le Hamburger Americain” arrived, I picked up french fries one by one and dipped them in the ketchup that was provided just as I always do. Mr. Snooty sniffed and tut-tutted that I should be eating them with my fork. Who’s right here?
Ah, one man’s finger-food is another man’s faux pas! On the one hand, we have your assertion that everyone picks up french fries one by one and eats them out of hand. On the other hand, your co-worker thinks that the context demanded a knife-and-fork routine.
There’s no way to settle this one. Arguably the level of formality demanded switching to knife and fork, but on the other hand, the broader context was quite informal – a lunch between co-workers. Perhaps the way out is not to order the hamburger. You did wash your hands, though, didn’t you? When do you bring up business during a business lunch? My boss made a big deal about setting up some “private time” away from the office and we went through lunch talking politics and baseball and on the way to the car he blurted out the real reason for the meeting: I’m getting an early promotion. Shouldn’t this have come up sooner?
There are cultural differences as to when and what can be discussed at over a meal. In some countries, even though the context is a “business lunch” business itself is never discussed; the lunch just serves a “getting to know you” function.
Although some people might have different opinions, a good time to get to the heart of the matter is when the main course is served. In your example, if your boss was continuing his sporting analysis, you could’ve reasonably said: “But tell me, I’m anxious to know – what’s the reason for setting up this meeting away from the office?” Even if you anticipate bad news (“As you know, we’re going through a lot of restructuring and unfortunately …”) it’s better to get it over with. As you experienced, it’s not helpful to hear even good news in a rush.
Posted under: Interview
The Right References
The Right References
Strategically choosing your job references can give you the edge in getting an offer
Taylor Lindstrom
SFGate.com
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Though serious job seekers devote many hours into perfecting their resumes and cover letters, they often get caught flat-footed when a potential employer asks for professional references. Many simply throw out the names of a few old bosses and hope for the best, but putting a little more time and effort into the process can provide the extra edge that job seekers need to make them stand out from the pack.
Good references can make or break a potential hire, and it’s always smart to have several to choose from in your arsenal. “In general, you should always have three references,” says Isabella Schwarzinger, president of Advanced Employment Services, a San Francisco staffing firm. “Usually that’s what you’ll be asked for.” Though most hiring managers only ask for three references, it’s smart to have as many as a dozen available so you can offer those that are best able to talk about your strengths for a particular job. After all, if you’re applying to a supervisory position, you want a reference who can discuss your leadership capabilities.
The best references are always managers and supervisors. “You want someone who has supervised your work, like a superior,” says Schwarzinger. “Friends aren’t going to say anything bad about you, and you’re only going to ask the coworkers you’re buddy-buddy with.”
However, Rebecca Kieler, owner of Kieler Career Consulting, suggests casting the net a little wider. “I think people miss a lot of opportunities when they don’t think of other people besides management,” she says. “I always recommend that they ask colleagues, people in cross-functional teams, vendors and clients. If they’re managers, they should ask some of their employees.” References who can speak to all sides of your job performance – as a team player, a supervisor or an assistant – can help create a picture of a well-rounded individual.
Once job seekers have chosen the people they’d most like to ask to be references, they face the often-difficult task of popping the question without creating an awkward obligation. Kieler recommends e-mail as a tool to avoid this problem. “If you ask people directly, they’re uncomfortable and they may say yes even if they don’t want to,” she advises. “If you ask by email, they have the option to say no gracefully, and that’s much better than them saying yes and then not giving you a good reference.”
Once the contact has agreed to be a reference, the work’s over – right? Not a chance, says Kieler: “References need to be cultivated just like anything else.” The reference needs to know what strengths the job seeker would like played up – though that doesn’t mean stretching the truth. “Never lie,” Schwarzinger says flatly. “It’s going to come out very quickly. Call your references after a job interview and let them know this is for a sales manager position or an executive assistant position, so can you please mention the things I’ve done for you that are relevant to that job.”
It sounds simple, but if the reference isn’t aware that certain skills need to be played up, they may forget to mention them altogether. “Help them help you,” says Kieler. “Say, ‘I know they’re going to ask about this, will you make sure to talk about this experience, would you focus on my leadership, my ability to work with teams, my ability to work with deadlines.’” Without that vital information, references may fall back on generic approval of the job seeker’s overall performance, which may not be enough of a boost to get the hiring manager excited. With just a little prep work, job seekers can make sure their references know which strengths should be brought to the forefront for each individual job.
One caution about references: as hiring managers become more sophisticated in their networking, job seekers may find themselves with more than they bargained for. “If you had three managers, and you didn’t have a good rapport with one of them, you should know that a well-connected hiring manager may get to that person and ask them anyway,” says Kieler. “You need to be prepared for that.” Most managers, Schwarzinger is quick to note, are professional enough to keep their personal feelings out of their recommendations. “A manager should definitely be able to say I might not like you as a person, but this was your contribution to the company and this is what you did well.” However, there is always the possibility that an old employer may give an uncomfortably biased view.
The good news is that hiring managers are usually capable of disregarding a single bad review in the light of several favorable ones – which is yet another reason to make sure all those other references are enthusiastic and well-prepared.
Posted under: Job Search
Holiday Shopping for a Job
Holiday Shopping for a Job
How to get ahead of the post-season competition
SFGate.com
Sunday, December 21, 2008
(12-21) 04:00 PST 12/21/08 — While you’re making your holiday shopping list (and checking it twice), make sure you start looking for what you really need: a new job.
More News
Conventional wisdom may say that the fourth quarter isn’t an ideal time to find work — but conventional wisdom is wrong, according to job-market expert Janet White. She says, “In my opinion, there is no such thing as an ideal time to job hunt or not job hunt.”
Companies are still hiring, and their decision-makers are still on the job in December. John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the nation’s oldest outplacement consulting firm, says, “Big business doesn’t slow down anymore. In kinder, gentler days, things may have eased up between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, but not today.”
White can confirm this firsthand, “Last year, I was laid off one week before Christmas, and I had another job offer within 18 hours.”
Forget the economy
It’s hard to ignore the news of a troubled economy, and it’s easy to feel defeated before you even begin searching for work. But, she reveals, “At any given time, regardless of what the economy is doing, of the time of year it is, of what the Fed or the headlines say, there will be companies that are thriving and others that are not.”
Avoid looking at the job market or a particular industry as a whole. White, author of “Secrets of the Hidden Job Market,” advises, “You can’t make generalizations. Instead, just look for the companies that are doing well — the ones that are expanding and buying up the assets of failing companies.”
Focus on your attitude
It sounds simple enough, but while looking for a job, you have to project a positive attitude, even if you’ve recently lost a job. “If you’re mired in negativity, nobody will hire you,” White points out. She cautions, “If you believe all the negative news and really take it to heart that it’s tough out there, I guarantee you will have a hard time. Conversely, if you believe we live in an abundant universe with enough possibilities for everyone, you’ll find opportunity.”
If you’re having a tough time accentuating the positive, try focusing on the good things in your life – be it family, friends, unemployment benefits or food on your table. “It’s hard to be negative when you’re feeling grateful,” White says.
Look beyond the job listings There are thousands of advertisements for new jobs on Yahoo! HotJobs every day, and you should use these ads to search for work. But you should also feel empowered to approach potential employers independently — especially if you think they’re in need of your skills.
In fact, White’s 18-hour job search ended when she sought out a company that she believed needed someone with her skill set. Before clearing out her desk at her former job, White says, “I sent an e-mail with the passing thought that, given their circumstances, if anyone could use me to help them build their business, it would be them.” The next morning, the president of that organization was calling to begin creating a position for her. As you search for work — this holiday season or any time — remember to remain positive. White adds, “Anything you focus on or believe to be true will become your experience, like it or not and whether you want it or not.”
The Savvy Networker
The Savvy Networker
10 Must-Do’s for Online Networkers
SFGate.com
Sunday, January 4, 2009
When my 81-year-old dad sent me a LinkedIn invitation, I knew some milestone had been passed.
It’s an online-networking world, and working people who aren’t already on the bandwagon need to catch up, fast. Here are 10 tips to help you get your online networking activities going without ruffling any feathers:
1. Get a new “one”
You’ll need a ONE -an online networking e-mail account – just for use in discussion groups and social networking sites. If you don’t get an account just for this purpose, you may find your “regular” home e-mail address (or, worse, your work address!) beset by spam messages and bacn (social networking spam). Get a new address at Yahoo! or another free-e-mail site today, and use it for all of your online networking adventures.
2. Find your group
Yahoo! Groups is the epicenter of group online discussion, with 10 million groups covering every topic from search engine optimization to moms working from home. Search for a group that suits your taste and then join it, taking care to read the group’s membership guidelines before you plunge into the conversation.
3. Stake your claim
MySpace, Facebook and a zillion other high-profile sites are fun and diverting, but LinkedIn is the place for business networking, and basic membership is free. Create a profile and invite your friends to become first-degree connections with you on LinkedIn – your friends will be able to share your contacts and vice versa.
4. Find your inner TwitterJoin Twitter to keep your network updated on your daily doings, in 140-character increments. Follow other people on Twitter to learn about cool Web sites and online tools, be directed to provocative blog posts and generally keep on top of what’s up among the people you know and admire.
5. Reach out, with tact
Go ahead and write to people you meet online – that’s what online networking is all about. When you do, lead off with a subject line like “Loved your blog” or “I see that you’re interested in astrophysics, like me” rather than “I need your help” or “Here’s my resume.” Speaking of resumes, never, ever send your resume to a person who hasn’t asked for it. You wouldn’t send a stranger pictures of yourself – so keep your resume until/unless someone asks you for it.
6. Don’t poach contacts
When you belong to an online discussion group or meet people on LinkedIn, it’s OK to contact people one-on-one in regard to a topic they’ve written about. It’s not OK to spam people with sales pitches or add them to the subscriber list for your newsletter. And, it’s not OK to harvest e-mail addresses from an online group for your own use.
7. Be grateful
When an online networker writes to you with advice (on LinkedIn Answers, in response to a question you posed to him or her, or in an online discussion group), write back and say thanks. That little touch marks you as a thoughtful online networker.
8. Remember the basics“Please,” “thank you,” and “I’m very appreciative of your time” are just as appropriate in the online sphere as they are in your neighborhood. Don’t forget the niceties just because you’re communicating virtually.
9. Play with Ning
Jump over to Ning to explore social networks that Ning users have created on every topic under the sun, and join one of them to learn more about communication and advice-sharing in the social networking arena. Ning lets users set up their own social networks on the fly, so feel free to launch JerryWorld or some other networking site once you get comfortable.
10. Watch your signature
If you’re going to use online networks and discussion communities, be sure to delete or shorten a long e-mail signature. Don’t subject your online contacts to the same never-changing quote, a list of all your favorite books and Web sites, or any other information that’s more than three lines long. We love you and everything, but a little e-mail signature goes a long way.
Posted under: Job Search
Burned by e-mail brush-off
Burned by e-mail brush-off
David Robinson
SFGate.com
Sunday, January 4, 2009
(01-04) 04:00 PST 01/04/09 — Four rounds of interviews culminated in concrete discussions about which office I was going to work in – the firm was thinking of having me work stateside for a year, then move overseas to open a new branch office. Then, all of a sudden, a one-paragraph e-mail arrives in my inbox, thanking me for my interest, wishing me luck with my career and encouraging me to keep in touch by a social networking site in the future. This came from the executive who’d been actively recruiting me and arranging dinners with the firm’s top managers. Of course I’m upset to be losing what seemed to be the perfect job opportunity: A good match to my skills and the chance to rapidly advance. But, as I brood over this, I realize that I’m also furious at being dumped by e-mail after weeks of high-level meetings, meals and negotiations.
You’re well within your rights to feel disgruntled. The e-mail rejection at this point in the recruiting process was crass, to say the least. We can speculate what went on: The executive who was recruiting you really looked forward to your joining the firm, but had misestimated senior management support for a new position and international expansion. At some point, they said words to the effect of: “It’s a nice idea, but we’re not going to fund it.” Then the executive clearly lacked the communication skills to let you know in an appropriate way and resorted to a parody of the classic bureaucratic “brush off” e-mail.
While there are always some details of a firm’s strategy that are proprietary and need to be kept secret, as far as possible, complete transparency – telling people what you are doing and why – is by far the best rule. In this case, the recruiting executive should have warned you early on that he hoped to have a new position, but that it wasn’t yet funded. Since all candidates called to second-round interviews immediately feel that the job is theirs, it’s good practice for recruiters to remind people that the selection process isn’t complete, as in: “We’re talking with several people at this point …”
Once the position had disappeared, it’s too bad that the recruiter didn’t have the courage to call you personally, and tell you directly: “I’m afraid I have bad news.” He should’ve acknowledged the time you’d invested in the interview process and concluded with an honest appraisal of where things stand for the future, even if that’s grim news.
It’s cold comfort, but you should recommit yourself to being forthright and honest in your recruiting interactions and always demonstrate your professionalism. In this case, you were a victim of someone who lacked those skills.
It’s clearly going to be a tough recruiting environment for this year’s college graduates. What can a candidate do stand out?
Read the newspaper! That might seem a bit self-serving since this is a newspaper column, but most college students don’t read a newspaper as a daily habit. And unlike their grandparent’s generation, they don’t sit down solemnly to watch TV network news each night either.
Many college students spend their information-gathering time on social networking sites, often for several hours a day. While this keeps them more connected with friends from home and high school than has ever been the case before, it means that their “news” sources are limited to gossip and trivia. As a result, most candidates are remarkably ignorant about current affairs. No matter what your GPA or the prestige of your school, you can rise to the top of the pool of job candidates by being expertly informed about target firms, their industry and the current business climate. Not only is this material inherently useful, it’s worthwhile remembering that senior managers are still reading the newspaper, listening to NPR and so on. They will respond well to a cheerful, energetic candidate who is up to date on the ne
Posted under: Interview
Job Fairs are more crowded than ever
Feb. 4, 2009
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/29011290#29011290
Business Week’s 50 Best Internships
http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/best_internships_07/
5 Ways to Get the Job You Want
5 Ways to Get the Job You Want — in Any Economy
By Brian Tracy, author of “Reinvention”
MSN.com
Regardless of your employment experience, your target industry or the economic climate, you can get a job — a great job — if you are willing to work hard and know how to work smart. Here are some of the very best ideas, strategies and methods for putting your career back on the fast track.
1. Take control of your career
The average person starting work today will have 11 full-time jobs and as many as five different careers over the course of his or her lifetime. To weather the storms of lifelong career change, you must be proactive, not reactive.
Begin by seeing yourself as self-employed. See yourself as the president of a company with one employee: you. See yourself as having one product to sell in a competitive marketplace: your personal services. You are completely responsible for research and development. No matter who signs your paycheck, you are always on your own payroll. This attitude is the starting point for getting the job you want for the rest of your career.
2. Take stock of yourself
Before you go out and look for a job, do some self-reflection. Make a list of all the things you can do for which someone would be willing to pay. What have you done especially well at your previous jobs? What sort of activities in your work and your personal life do you most enjoy? The good news is that you will always do the very best at something that makes you the happiest. To help yourself follow the right career track, describe your ideal job. The greater clarity you have about exactly what it is you want to do and how much you want to earn, the easier it is for someone to hire you.
3. Understand the job market
All labor, including your own, is subject to the economic law of supply and demand. The only way to ensure you get a rewarding job is by doing something important for which there is a demand in the marketplace and in which you are difficult to replace. A change in technology, consumer preferences or the economy can make a particular talent or specialty obsolete almost overnight. You must continually upgrade your knowledge and skills and adjust your efforts so that they conform to the needs of the current job market. In a free society such as ours, everybody works on commission.
4. Don’t mistake unemployment for a vacation
Look at your job search as a full-time job, taking 40 to 50 hours a week. Get up and get dressed each weekday morning as if you were going to work, eat a light, high-energy breakfast and then get going. Looking good and staying productive not only improves your attitude, but also impresses other people, both those inside your own house and those on the outside. Remember, you should never see yourself as unemployed. You are a fully employed person in a temporary state of transition.
5. Sow seeds everywhere
Most of the jobs available are not advertised. They are hidden and waiting for you to discover them. Along with regularly surfing Internet job sites, be sure to list your qualifications and interests on every site that might attract employers seeking someone like you. Visit community job fairs and talk to exhibitors. Keep an eye out for news of new product releases and then seek out key people in the company. A business expansion represents job opportunities. Gather information about a prominent individual in an organization you would like to work for. Ask that person, by phone, by e-mail or in a letter, to grant you a 10-minute informational interview. Almost invariably, your interest, knowledge and gratitude will pay off in a job offer.
Adapted from “Reinvention: How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life” by Brian Tracy (AMACOM Books).
Brian Tracy is an internationally recognized leader in the art and science of motivation and empowerment. As a personal and professional development consultant and speaker, he works with Fortune 500 companies and addresses more than 250,000 people a year. He is the bestselling author of numerous books, including “Reinvention: How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life.”
Posted under: Job Search
12 Things to Ponder Before Taking Your First Job
12 Things to Ponder Before Taking Your First Job
By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com Writer
MSN.com
Finding your first job is easy. You send in your rĂ©sumĂ© for a position to which no one else is applying. You get a call back right away, have a successful interview (during which you are promptly offered the job) and of course you’re offered the salary to last a lifetime. Nothin’ to it.
Dream on.
A more likely scenario might look something like this: You send out multiple copies of yourrĂ©sumĂ© to several different positions that have hundreds of other applicants. Maybe (if you’re lucky) you’ll hear back from five employers. Of those five, you might get two or three interviews, none of which will go as seamlessly as you think. After waiting several weeks in career purgatory, you may or may not get an offer for a job that is closer to a nightmare than a dream and that pays just enough to foot the bills.
“Although the job market is a little shaky right now, recent grads don’t want to settle, either,” says Kristen Fischer, author of “Ramen Noodles, Rent and RĂ©sumĂ©.” “Many recent graduates feel like taking a job is a life or death decision. While every job will impact their career, they have to remember that a first job is a steppingstone. Chances are that it won’t be an ideal situation or their dream job, but it can provide the foundation for a fulfilling career.”
To avoid landing in a position that’s not for you, here are 12 pieces of advice to consider about the job hunting process before you accept your first job.
1. Consider reasonable expectations for an entry-level salary
Research your desired industry and the jobs you’re interested in within that sector. Use Web sites such as cbSalary.com to find the average salary for the job you want, in the location you’re looking for work. Use that knowledge when deciding if a salary offer will be enough to pay the bills.
2. Weigh the entire benefits package
“A salary offer is only one part of the compensation package,” says Dwayne Keiffer, assistant director of career development at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. Evaluate the entire benefits package. Does the company provide insurance? Will it contribute to a 401(k) plan? How much vacation do employees receive?
3. Reflect on company quality
Job content and the quality of the organization you’re going to work for should take a back seat to most other things, says Shawn Graham, author of “Courting Your Career.” After all, you want the job that gives you the most options for your next career move. Compare job content, fit within the job and organization’s culture, opportunities for advancement and compensation before saying “yes.”
4. Job satisfaction is more important than salary
Consider job satisfaction as well as salary, suggests Rachelle Canter, author of “Make the Right Career Move.” Launch yourself in a direction you want to go by considering the skills you have and enjoy using, skills you want to acquire and rewards that are meaningful to you.
5. Evaluate the employer’s brand
Does a company place an emphasis on its talent? Does it engage in employee development? What reward incentives does it have in place? Are employees encouraged to participate in company decisions? All of these questions are key indicators of an employer’s brand and how much a company invests in its employees, says Ed Lawler, professor of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
6. Get rid of the “shoulds”
Don’t listen to what other people tell you that you should want. “Before accepting a job, make sure it’s a job you want and not a job your parents want, your college counselor wants or your friends want,” says Lindsey Pollak, author of “Getting from College to Career.”
7. Make your decision based on your current life realities, not “what if” scenarios
“You don’t have to create a fit today that will fit your life in 20 years, when you may have children or a mortgage,” Pollak says. “Just be where you are today and know that managing your work and life will change many times over the course of your life.”
8. Find out where former employees in that position are now
Training and development is the most important thing about a first job because it’s the springboard for your career.
“Your prospective boss’s record for having his employees promoted to good positions both inside and outside the company is a key indicator of how good that person is at developing his people,” says Lee Miller, managing director of YourCareerDoctors.com.
9. Consider job location
“Would you rather have a good job in a great location or a great job somewhere you’re not so crazy about?” asks JillXan Donnelly, president of the Career Exposure Network. If location, culture and way of life are important to you, consider taking your second or third job choice if the location appeals to you more.
10. Know what you’re looking for
“Despite the fact that you’ve invested a lot of time and effort ? not to mention money ? into getting your degree, far too many of us don’t really know what we want to do after graduation and we’re hoping we’ll just figure it out along the way,” says Elizabeth Freedman, author of “Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the Workplace without Hanging Yourself.”
You don’t need your whole life planned out, but at least have an idea of what you want to do so you don’t waste time and energy applying to jobs you don’t really want.
11. Don’t underestimate the power of networking
“If location, location, location is the slogan for real estate, then networking, networking, networking is the mantra for career development and landing full-time jobs,” says Bill McCarthy, associate director of Binghamton University’s career development center in Binghamton, N.Y. Don’t wait until you need a job to utilize your network, he says. Most openings are filled through word of mouth and referrals, so keep in touch.
12. Finding a job is a job in itself
“It can take months to find a job and for many people, finding a job is a job in itself,” says Amy Diepenbrock, director of career services at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. “Most of the time, students think that by stating that they will take any job, in any company, that their chances are increased. In reality, this hurts their candidacy because employers want to hire individuals who know what they want to do, understand how they can impact the organization and who display an interest in their specific position and organization.”
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Posted under: Job Search
Ten questions never to ask in job interviews
Ten questions never to ask in job interviews
Liz Ryan
Sunday, April 19, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/
You know enough to bring a list of questions to a job interview. When the interviewer asks you, “So, do you have any questions for me?” the last thing you want to say is “No.” But that could be the best option if you.re at a loss for words, because some interview questions are better left unasked. Here are 10 highly unsuitable interview questions that should never make an appearance, unless you don’t want the job:
1. “What does your company do?”
This was a reasonable interview question in 1950 or in 1980, before the Internet existed. Today, it’s your job to research any company you’re interviewing with before setting foot in the door. We need to show up for a job interview knowing what the employer does, who its competitors are and which of its accomplishments (or challenges) have made the news lately.
2. “Are you going to do a background check?”
It is amazing how many job candidates ask this question, which provokes alarm on the part of the interviewer, instead of the more general, “Can you please tell me a little about your selection process, from this point on?” Lots of people have credit issues that cause them worry during a job search or aren’t sure how solid their references from a previous job might be. If you’re invited for a second interview, you can broach any sensitive topics from your past then. Asking “Will you do a background check?” makes you look like a person with something to hide.
3. “When will I be eligible for a raise?”
Companies fear underpaying people almost as much as they fear overpaying them, because a person who’s underpaid vis-a-vis his counterparts in the job market is a person with one eye on the career sites. Instead of asking about your first raise before you’ve got the job, you can ask (at a second interview) “Does your organization do a conventional one-year performance and salary review?”
4. “Do you have any other jobs available?”
A job search requires quick thinking about straight talk, and if a job is far below your abilities, you’re better off saying so than beating around the bush with this question. You don’t have to take yourself out of the running; you can say, “The job sounds interesting, but frankly I was earning 30 percent more and supervising people in my last job. Could you help me understand the career path for this role?” That’s the cue for the interviewer, if he or she is on the ball, to highlight another job opening that might exist.
5. “How soon can I transfer to another position?”
You’re broadcasting “I’m outta here at the first chance. when you ask this question. If you like the job, take the job. If it’s not for you, wait for the right opportunity. Almost every employer will keep you in your seat for at least one year before approving an internal transfer, so a job-search bait-and-switch probably won’t work out the way you’d hoped.
6. “Can you tell me about bus lines to your facility?”
Get online and research this yourself. It.s not your employer’s problem to figure out how you get to work.
7. “Do you have smoking breaks?”
If you’re working in retail or in a call center, you could ask about breaks. Everyone else, keep mum; if your need to smoke intrudes so much on your work life that you feel the need to ask about it, ask your best friend or significant other for smoking-cessation help as a new-job present. Lots of companies don’t permit smoking anywhere on the premises, and some don’t like to hire smokers at all. Why give an employer a reason to turn you down?
8. “Is [my medical condition] covered under your insurance?”
This is a bad question on two counts. You don’t want to tell a perfect stranger about your medical issues, especially one who’s deciding whether or not to hire you. Ask to see a copy of the company’s benefits booklet when an offer has been extended. This is also a bad question from a judgment standpoint; no department managers and only a tiny percentage of HR people could be expected to know on a condition-by-condition basis what’s covered under the health plan. Anyway, your pre-existing condition won’t be covered under most corporate plans for at least a year. 9. “Do you do a drug test?”
If you have a philosophical objection to drug tests, wait until they ask you to take a drug test and tell them about your objection. Otherwise, your question sounds like, “I’d fail a drug test,” so don’t ask.
10. “If you hire me, can I wait until [more than three weeks from now] to start the job?”
Employers expect you to give two weeks’ notice. If you’re not working, they’d love to see you more quickly. If you ask for tons of time off before you start working – unless you have a very good reason – the employer may think, “How serious is this candidate about working?” In any case, a start-date extension is something to request after you’ve got the offer in hand, not before.
Posted under: Interview
Cover letters that catch the eye
Cover letters that catch the eye
Heather Boerner
Sunday, May 17, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/
(05-17) 04:00 PDT 05/17/09 — Throw away your form letter. These days, getting your cover letter noticed means getting creative.
More News
“A good cover letter can be the difference between getting a job and not getting a job,” said Gretchen Hirsch, writing coach and author of “Talking Your Way to the Top.” “How you stand out, how you tell your story, is with cover letters.”
Consider these tips from hiring managers and writing coaches: Start strong
News reporters know most people only read three paragraphs, so they lead with the most important information. You should, too. “Start with a relevant professional accomplishment, said Sherry Mirshahi, a resume writer and interview consultant with Interview Roadmap.
“The accomplishment should be aligned with at least one of the qualifications the employer seeks,” she said. “This encourages the reader to continue reading and automatically positions you as an expert.”
Keep it employer-focused
Talk about how the job fits your goals in the interview. Use the cover letter to show how you can help the employer meet her goals, said Alison Farrin, hiring manager and owner of Innovative Pension.
Make sure your cover letter shows that:
- You.ve looked at the company Web site and know what they do.
- You can help cut costs or increase profits.
- You have something that makes you special and will make the company special.
Farrin suggests the following example:
The description of your company’s range of services indicates that you place a high value on quick response to clients but with particular attention to details. In my position with XYZ Company, I was employee of the month six times based on my fast, accurate service record. I look forward to improving on that record with a company that values my skills in this area.
“If I received a resume that took the time to come up with anything remotely close to this kind of thoughtful information, once I picked myself up off the floor, I would be picking up the phone,” she said. Write a “charticle”
Short charts in magazines attract more eyes than long articles. So ditch paragraphs in favor of columns, said Malcolm Munro, a career coach and author of “Marketing Yourself for Your Dream Job.”
In one column, list the attributes the employer needs. In the next, show how you meet them. For instance, if it asks for four years experience, list that you have six. If it asks for a self-starter, list your experience starting and leading a team and how it increased profits.
Keep it short
“If you’re a hiring manager and you.re going through resumes for eight hours a day, cover letters better be real short,” said Munro. “No one wants to read a long one.”
Keep it less than one page with lots of white space and in 12- point type. If it’s longer, ask yourself if each sentence meets the qualifications in the first section. If not, cut it.
Munro says, “What you’re telling the hiring manager [in a short cover letter] is, ‘I’m the perfect fit, write notes here and call me in.’”
Posted under: Resumes and Cover Letter
Follow Idealist.org on Twitter
“If you live or want to work in California, New York City, or Washington, DC, you might want to follow Idealist job listing feeds on Twitter: idealistJobsNYC, idealistJobsDC, and @idealistjobsCA.”
10 boilerplate phrases that kill resumes
10 boilerplate phrases that kill resumes
Liz Ryan
Sunday, August 23, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/
(08-23) 04:00 PDT 08/23/09 — The 2009 job market is very different from job markets of the past. If you haven’t job-hunted in a while, the changes in the landscape can throw you for a loop.
One of the biggest changes is the shift in what constitutes a strong resume. Years ago, we could dig into the Resume Boilerplate grabbag and pull out a phrase to fill out a sentence or bullet point on our resume. Everybody used the same boilerplate phrases, so we knew we couldn’t go wrong choosing one of them – or many – to throw into your resume.
Things have changed. Stodgy boilerplate phrases in your resume today mark you as uncreative and “vocabulary challenged.” You can make your resume more compelling and human-sounding by rooting out and replacing the boring corporate-speak phrases that litter it, and replacing them with human language – things that people like you or I would actually say.
Here are the worst 10 boilerplate phrases – the ones to seek out and destroy in your resume as soon as possible:
. Results-oriented professional
. Cross-functional teams
. More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience
. Superior (or excellent) communication skills
. Strong work ethic
. Met or exceeded expectations
. Proven track record of success
. Works well with all levels of staff
. Team player
. Bottom-line orientation
You can do better. What about adding a human voice to your resume? Here’s an example:
“I’m a Marketing Researcher who’s driven by curiosity about why people buy what they do. At XYZ Industries, I used consumer surveys and online-forum analysis to uncover the reasons why consumers chose our competitors over us; our sales grew twenty percent over the next six months as a result. I’m equally at home on sales calls or analyzing data in seclusion, and up to speed on traditional and new-millennium research tools and approaches. I’m fanatical about understanding our marketplace better every day, week and month.and have helped my employers. brands grow dramatically as a result.”
You don’t have to write resumes that sound like robots wrote them. A human-voiced resume is the new black – try it!
Posted under: Resumes and Cover Letter
New grads: what to do when you can’t get the jobs you want
New grads: what to do when you can’t get the jobs you want
Caroline M.L. Potter
Sunday, July 12, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/
(07-12) 04:00 PDT 07/05/09 — You’ve spent four years pursuing a profession from the comforts of a classroom, hoping that when you earned your degree, a job offer in your chosen field would follow. But then the recession hit and job openings – for seasoned pros and college grads – grew a bit scarce.
Says Matt Smith, from Responsible Outgoing College Students (ROCS), a small staffing and recruiting services company that helps companies find the top talent in the Washington, D.C., area, “I was in a panel speaking with alumni from my college and they’re worried about what they’re going to do after graduation, wondering, ‘What’s the environment like? Am I going to get hired right away?’ A lot of graduates are very idealistic and want a job they.re going to love, but the reality may be different.”
What should graduates do when the jobs they’ve dreamed of have dried up? Read on for expert advice from Smith and others who help twentysomethings find their way.
Adjust your expectations.Alexandra Levit, author of “They Don’t Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty- Something’s Guide to the Business World,” says, “Most people don’t develop careers related to their majors anyway, and even if they want to, if the field is competitive it will probably happen gradually over time. For your first position, adjust your expectations and look for something that allows you to master the transferable skills that will serve you well no matter what future path you decide to pursue.”
Don’t rely only on resumes. “At this point in the game, just sending in a resume isn’t going to do anything,” Smith reveals. “A lot of hires are based on referrals. Reach out and call alumni. Identify people who work in your target industry or company. Offer to meet them for happy hour. They want to talk to young people and connect. And if you can make a connection and get a current employee to submit your resume (to a potential employer), odds are you.ll probably get an interview out of it.”
Expand your horizons. If you don’t live in a magnet city for your industry, you may need to move. Smith says, “If you’re in a fraternity or sorority, or have family, see if you can crash on someone’s couch (in another city) and do interviews for a week. If you can, list this local address on your resume. That’s even more ideal.” A part-time job is still a job. Having something on your resume is better than nothing. According to Smith, “Taking a part-time job shows that a candidate has to pay bills and cares about personal finances, that he’s motivated and hungry. I’d take someone who’s been doing this rather than someone who has just been interviewing the whole time. It demonstrates a strong work ethic.”
Make the most of your current job. If you’ve got a job that’s “just a job,” you can still use it to help you get to where you want to go. Matt acknowledges, “The hardest part about being in something you don’t exactly like is it that it can affect your overall performance. When you feel like that, look for other responsibilities assume. See if there’s another group of tasks that you can get involved with.”
Have a Plan B. Smith admits, “A lot of students shut their minds off to certain opportunities, but you have to have an open mind and consider different possibilities. You may want to be in marketing, but in reality, you may not be a good marketer. However, you may be a really good salesperson. You.ll never know if you don’t explore all your options.”
Internships aren’t just for undergrads. “It’s never too late to do an internship,” Levit reveals. “In fact,” she says, “the trend is swinging older. Baby Boomers who are mid-career and using an internship as the jumping off point to switch into a new field represent the fastest- growing population of interns.”
Moore advises, “If you graduate and you don’t have any internships, you’re behind, but it doesn’t matter if your first job is an internship. It’s never too late.”
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/07/12/JOBS_potter.DTL#ixzz0Q4EJoWE4
Posted under: Job Search
Interview insights: 10 ways to make the most of the first 10 minutes
Interview insights: 10 ways to make the most of the first 10 minutes
Caroline M.L. Potter
Sunday, June 28, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/
(06-28) 04:00 PDT 06/28/09 — You only have one chance to make a good first impression, and you only have a few minutes to do just that in a job interview. According to a Robert Half International (RHI) survey of 150 senior executives at the nation.s 1,000 largest companies, hiring managers form either a positive or negative opinion of job candidates within just 10 minutes.
Brandi Britton, senior regional vice president with RHI, says, “Your behavior may be under scrutiny from the moment you arrive for the interview.” Use these tips from Britton and other career and job-search gurus to make sure you wow them from the minute you walk in the room.
1. “A firm, non-sweaty handshake, eye contact, and a nice smile make you seem likeable. Likeable people are hired most often.” – David Lewis, an executive with Express Employment Professionals and an expert on career development
2. “Prepare to engage in small talk, which helps to break the ice and puts both parties at ease and also demonstrates your ability to make conversation with potential clients, coworkers and executives.” – Brandi Britton, Robert Half International
3. “Be prepared with everything you can possibly know about the company and the person who is doing the interview.” – Executive coach Beth Ross
4. “Don’t take the head of a table or sit down until you are invited to do so to demonstrate how you’ll behave in professional situations.” – Patty DeDominic, cofounder of DeDominic & Associates, a professional coaching and business services firm
5. “Open with penetrating questions that prove beyond a doubt that you’ve done your homework on the company, the position, the department, the industry and/or the competition.” – Ford Myers, author of “Get the Job You Want Even When No One’s Hiring”
6. “Practice your answers to commonly asked interview questions so that you come across as a well-prepared candidate.” – Certified executive career coach Cheryl Palmer, Calltocareer.com
7. “If asked to talk about yourself, always answer from a professional sense. Telling people about your family and what you do on the weekends is definitely the wrong approach. You want to solely focus on the areas of your work in which you are most effective and productive.” – Careers and resume expert Lauren Milligan, Resumayday.com
8. “Become an object of interest by the questions you ask! Leave them wanting more with the quality of content you add to the conversation (versus noise).” – David Nour, consultant and author of “Relationship Economics”
9. “Mirror the body language of the interviewer. If they are leaning forward, you should be doing the same. This builds rapport on a sub-conscious level, giving the feeling of a deeper connection.” – Job market expert Jabez LaBret, ThawingtheJobMarket.com
10. “Your interview strategy must include proof that you have successfully completed job-relevant tasks. A good strategy is to marry a strength and a specific example to prove that you are accomplished at what you do. Quantify accomplishments using numbers, percentages and dollars whenever possible.” – Barbara Safani, president, CareerSolvers.com
Posted under: Interview
7 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
7 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
By Robert Half International
msn.com
Performing well during the job interview is one of the most important steps in the hiring process. Every candidate wants to impress a prospective employer, but, despite his or her best efforts, not all do. Often, a simple mistake can cause an applicant to blow the entire meeting. Here are some errors to avoid:
1. Arriving late
Getting to an interview on time or, for that matter, a few minutes early is an easy way to impress a prospective employer. Arriving late is not only unprofessional, it also shows the hiring manager that you have little regard for his or her schedule. It also calls into question your ability to show up to work on time, one of the most basic aspects of any job. Plus, arriving late could cause you to miss the meeting altogether if the interviewer has another appointment.
2. Being rude to the receptionist or assistant
Some candidates don’t think it matters if they’re dismissive of the hiring manager’s assistant when arranging the interview or get upset at the receptionist because he or she mispronounced their name by mistake. After all, this person isn’t the one making the hiring decision. But you may be surprised to learn that six out of 10 executives polled by Robert Half said they consider their assistant’s opinion important when evaluating potential new hires. So remember to be polite and respectful to everyone you interact with during the hiring process.
3. Acting like you’re the only person there
Consider this scenario: After you’ve checked in for the interview, you make a quick phone call to give your friend a blow-by-blow description of last night’s party, speaking so loudly that everyone in the office can’t help but hear you. That’s the wrong approach. It’s better to sit patiently and peruse any company literature in the lobby. Doing so demonstrates common courtesy and can help you learn more about the firm and its needs.
4. Going into the interview unprepared
Far too many candidates fail to properly prepare for the interview, believing that they can “wing it” and still make a strong impression. The savviest job seekers spend time considering questions the hiring manager will likely ask, so they can answer confidently during the meeting. They also research the employer ahead of time so they can explain how their skills match the open position, and also highlight their true interest in the company and position.
5. Appearing arrogant
Confidence is key for any applicant to possess, but taking it too far is sure to make you stand out — for the wrong reasons. Boasting about your abilities (“I was the best worker my previous employer had ever had!”) is a good way to appear arrogant and come across as someone who may have difficulty collaborating with others.
6. Not asking questions
As the interview winds down, the hiring manager will likely ask if you have any questions. Your answer should be yes. But your questions should go beyond “How much does the position pay?” and “How many days of vacation can I expect?” Although compensation and benefits are important components of any job, broach these subjects only if the prospective employer has expressed serious interest in hiring you — usually not until the second or third interview. More appropriate questions for a first interview include “What will my specific duties be?” “What are your top priorities for this position?” and “What does a typical day in this position look like?”
7. Not following up
Even if you feel you aced the interview, it’s not a good idea to simply sit back and wait for the hiring manager to call with an offer. Sending the hiring manager a brief note after the interview allows you to thank him or her for meeting with you, and can emphasize your interest in the position.
Posted under: Interview
More Employers Screening Candidates via Social Networking Sites
Gone are the days when all job seekers had to worry about was their résumés and cover letters. Today, those documents remain a staple of the job-search process, but they are joined by a growing phenomenon: social networking.
Forty-five percent of employers reported in a June 2009 CareerBuilder survey that they use social networking sites to screen potential employees, compared to only 22 percent of employers last year. Eleven percent of employers plan to start using social networking sites for the screening process. More than 2,600 hiring managers participated in the survey.
Of those who conduct online searches/background checks of job candidates, 29 percent use Facebook, 26 percent use LinkedIn and 21 percent use MySpace. One-in-ten (11 percent) search blogs while 7 percent follow candidates on Twitter.
Additionally, 16 percent of workers have used similar social networking sites as part of their job search.
“In this difficult job market, online networking is an important piece of the puzzle for workers wishing to build professional relationships, and ultimately, connect with their next great job,” said Liz Harvey, senior director of online products for CareerBuilder, which just launched its own online community BrightFuse. “With more than 1.6 million users, BrightFuse.com has become a thriving professional community. Workers of all levels can use BrightFuse.com to have that important open dialogue — while promoting themselves and recommending others.”
While social networking is a great way to make connections with potential job opportunities and promote one’s personal brand, job seekers must ensure they are using these sites to their advantage by conveying a professional image and underscoring their qualifications.
Many job seekers seem to be doing this, as 18 percent of employers said they found content on social networking sites that encouraged them to hire the candidate. Some examples include:
Profile provided a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit within the organization — 50 percent
Profile supported candidate’s professional qualifications — 39 percent
Candidate was creative — 38 percent
Candidate showed solid communication skills — 35 percent
Candidate was well-rounded — 33 percent
Other people posted good references about the candidate — 19 percent
Candidate received awards and accolades — 15 percent
Many job seekers, however, are doing the opposite and not being mindful at all of the content they’re posting online.
Why employers disregard candidates after screening online
Thirty-five percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate, including:
Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information — 53 percent
Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs — 44 percent
Candidate bad-mouthed their previous employer, co-workers or clients — 35 percent
Candidate showed poor communication skills — 29 percent
Candidate made discriminatory comments — 26 percent
Candidate lied about qualifications — 24 percent
Candidate shared confidential information from previous employer — 20 percent
Here are five tips for job seekers to keep a positive image online:
1. Clean up digital dirt before you begin your job search. Remove any photos, content and links that can work against you in an employer’s eyes.
2. Consider creating your own professional group on sites like Facebook or BrightFuse.com. It’s a great way to establish relationships with leaders, recruiters and potential referrals.
3. Keep gripes offline. Keep the content you post focused on positive things, whether it’s related to professional or personal information. Make sure to highlight specific accomplishments inside and outside of work.
4. Be selective about whom you accept as friends. Don’t forget others can see your friends when they search for you. Monitor comments made by others and consider using the “block comments” feature. Even better, set your profile to “private” so only designated friends can view it.
5. If you’re still employed, don’t mention your job search in your Tweets or status updates. There are multiple examples of people who have gotten fired as a result of doing this. In addition, a potential employer might assume that if you’re willing to search for a new job on your current company’s time, why wouldn’t you do so on theirs?
Posted under: Job Search
Finding a Job: It’s a Lot Like Dating
Finding a Job: It’s a Lot Like Dating
by Brad Karsh: President and Founder, JobBound
Although the task of finding a job may seem too tough to tackle, it’s really quite simple when you compare it to one of your favorite pastimes: dating.
Just like burping out the alphabet or talking to your ex at the dinner table are sure-fire ways to blow a date, there are some things you just don’t want to do when trying to find a job. I found that if you apply these dating guidelines to the job search, you’re sure to find a dream job that’s a perfect fit for you.
1. Don’t be afraid of rejection. It’s going to happen. You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince/princess. Just like dates, there will be some companies that just aren’t that into you. Don’t get discouraged; the right one is sure to come along. Rejection is just part of the game. 2. Don’t use the same old line. “Do you have a map? Because I am getting lost in your eyes.” It’s been done before! Just like a good pick-up line, a cover letter should leave the recruiting director begging to know more. No one is going to read a four paragraph version of your resume. For your cover letter, short, catchy, and non-cheesy is the best way to go. 3. Don’t tell them what you think they want to hear. Just like a smart date, recruiting directors can see through your answers that are too good to be true. Your date won’t buy the fact that for fun you save baby whales from haphazard environments, just like the recruiting director won’t buy the fact that being a perfectionist is your worst “weakness.” 4. Don’t be a stalker. There is a fine line between being persistent and being a stalker. If the recruiting director hasn’t gotten back to you, don’t call every 5 minutes and then hang up. They probably have caller ID, and they’re officially scared of you. After calling once, leave them a message telling them how to reach you. 5. Don’t always listen to your mom. Just because your mom says the blue sweater makes you look handsome, doesn’t mean you should wear it on your first date. When it comes to resumes and interviews, your parents mean well, but they don’t always give you the best advice. However, as a student, you have access to an amazing resource – the Career Center! From helping you find jobs and internships to assisting you with resume writing and interviewing skills, your Career Center is an amazing resource.If you keep these tips in mind, the job search won’t be half as grueling. Graduation will be here before you know it, and you want to make sure you’re ready when the right company comes along.
Posted under: Job Search
Tackling Table Manners
Tackling Table Manners
Tips for Your Team
If business meals were like football, would your team be ready for
The Big Game? This year, improve your company’s image and strengthen sales by tackling table manners. Here are ten errors to avoid:
1. Delay of Game: Arrive early for your business meal, whether you
are the host or guest. Do not order alcohol while you are waiting.
2. False Start: Wait for the host to tell you where to sit. Place your napkin on your lap when your host does and begin eating after your host. Order first, then talk business.
3. Illegal Procedure: Napkins are not for blowing your nose or spitting out unwanted objects. Blot your lips with your napkin between food and drink. Remove unwanted objects with thumb and index finger, cupped fingers or discreetly moving the object from your mouth to the fork or spoon.
4. Pass Interference: When someone asks for the salt or pepper, you may not intercept and use it for yourself. The same goes for shared dishes, which are passed to the right (counterclockwise). Salt and pepper are passed together, one in each hand.
5. Illegal Use of Hands: Do not reach for items beyond your grasp. Say “please pass the…” and “thank you” when it arrives.
6. Illegal Motion: Keep your elbows in. No elbows on the table except between courses when there is no food on the table.
7. Unnecessary Roughness: Be kind to the cook, especially when dining in someone’s home. Do not say you do not like something. Let the host/hostess know when you do. (This is delicious!)
8. Technical Foul: Do not lose patience with the wait staff – kill them with kindness. Try not to send anything back, unless it is so undercooked it is crawling off the plate.
9. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Do not talk or take a drink with food in your mouth. Do not use a toothpick or chew ice. No grooming at the table – do not use a comb, nail clippers or apply lipstick.
10. Fumble: If you spill something on another person, such as a glass of wine, apologize and offer to
reimburse him or her for the cleaning expenses.
When the meal is over, do not stack the dishes or push them away. Leave your napkin slightly crumpled to the left of your place setting.
Touchdown!
Have a winning season with etiquette training from the Culture and Manners Institute.
Callista Gould, a certified etiquette instructor with the Culture and Manners Institute, gives dining tutorials and other etiquette seminars. Visit: http://www.cultureandmanners.com or contact Callista at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Phone: (515)225-9683
Posted under: Interview
6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes
6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes
Erin Joyce
http://www.sfgate.com
With more than 400 million active visitors, Facebook is arguably the most popular social networking site out there. And while the site is known for the casual social aspect, many users also use it as a professional networking tool. With that kind of reach, Facebook can be a valuable tool for connecting to former and current colleagues, clients and potential employers. In fact, surveys suggest that approximately 30% of employers are using Facebook to screen potential employees – even more than those who check LinkedIn, a strictly professional social networking site. Don’t make these Facebook faux-pas – they might cost you a great opportunity.
IN PICTURES: 6 Hot Careers With Lots Of Jobs
1. Inappropriate Pictures It may go without saying, but prospective employers or clients don’t want to see pictures of you chugging a bottle of wine or dressed up for a night at the bar. Beyond the pictures you wouldn’t want your grandparents to see, seemingly innocent pictures of your personal life will likely not help to support the persona you want to present in your professional life. 2. Complaining About Your Current Job You’ve no doubt done this at least once. It could be a full note about how much you hate your office, or how incompetent your boss is, or it could be as innocent as a status update about how your coworker always shows up late. While everyone complains about work sometimes, doing so in a public forum where it can be found by others is not the best career move. Though it may seem innocent, it’s not the kind of impression that sits well with a potential boss. 3. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume If you say on your resume that your degree is from Harvard, but your Facebook profile says you went to UCLA, you’re likely to be immediately cut from the interview list. Even if the conflict doesn’t leave you looking better on your resume, disparities will make you look at worst like a liar, and at best careless. (Social networking can also be used as its own job. Learn more in Make Money With Social Networking Sites.) 4. Statuses You Wouldn’t Want Your Boss to See Everyone should know to avoid statuses like “Tom plans to call in sick tomorrow so he can get drunk on a Wednesday. Who cares that my big work project isn’t done?” But you should also be aware of less flamboyant statuses like “Sarah is watching the gold medal hockey game online at her desk”. Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically anything that doesn’t make you look as professional as you’d like, can seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job. 5. Not Understanding Your Security Settings The security settings on Facebook have come a long way since the site started. It is now possible to customize lists of friends and decide what each list can and cannot see. However, many people do not fully understand these settings, or don’t bother to check who has access to what. If you are going to use Facebook professionally, and even if you aren’t, make sure you take the time to go through your privacy options. At the very least, your profile should be set so that people who are not your friend cannot see any of your pictures or information. (These rules apply to Twitter as well, and you can also use Twitter to find a new job. Find out more in Tweet Your Way To A Sweet Job.) 6. Losing By Association You can’t control what your friends post to your profile (although you can remove it once you see it), nor what they post to their own profiles or to those of mutual friends. If a potential client or employer sees those Friday night pictures your friend has tagged you in where he is falling down drunk, it reflects poorly on you, even if the picture of you is completely innocent. It’s unfortunate, but we do judge others by the company they keep, at least to some extent. Take a look at everything connected to your profile, and keep an eye out for anything you wouldn’t want to show your mother.Facebook Can Help You Get Hired – Or Fired
The best advice is to lock down your personal profile so that only friends you approve can see anything on that profile. Then, create a second, public profile on Facebook purely for professional use. This profile functions like an online resume, and should only contain information you’d be comfortable telling your potential employer face to face. Having a social networking profile is a good thing – it presents you as technologically and professionally savvy. Just make sure your profile is helping to present your best side – not the side that got drunk at your buddy’s New Year’s party.
Posted under: Job Search
10 Job-Search Mistakes of New College Grads
0 Job-Search Mistakes of New College Grads
People entering the job market (and all job seekers) should avoid these common errors.
by Charles Purdy, Yahoo! HotJobs
Although this year’s college graduates are facing a tough job market (and the smart ones are facing it now, rather than waiting until after graduation), they have an advantage over other job seekers, according to Andy Chan, vice president of career development at Wake Forest University: they are among the age group most likely to be hired in coming months.
“Organizations are very interested in hiring young people because they have a lot of energy and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done,” Chan says.
But no matter how well-positioned these young people are, they—and all job seekers—will have a better chance of success if they avoid these common job-hunting mistakes of new college grads:
1. Not being proactive enough
Emily Bennington, the author of “Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job,” says, “This isn’t the time to sit back and be casual in your approach. Create a hit list of five to ten target companies, and really utilize your network to locate an ‘in’ at each.”
2. Relying solely on the Internet
In a recent Yahoo! HotJobs poll, 57% of respondents said networking was a factor in landing their current or most recent job. Brad Karsh, president of JobBound, says, “When thousands of candidates are applying to the same jobs online and posting their resume to the same job boards, candidates need to stand out by making connections and networking their way into a company.” Job boards are an important tool, but Karsh says new grads also need to focus energy on networking.
3. Not creating wide networks
Career expert Liz Ryan agrees: “Use your parents’, grandparents’, and friends’ networks to help you in your post-graduation job search,” she says. “Don’t be shy—reach out to any long-ago Scoutmaster, choir director, or babysitting or leaf-raking boss. … There’s no statute of limitations on networking.” (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective networking.)
4. Not creating customized resumes
Ryan says, “Don’t send out any resumes that simply list your courses, the degree you’ve earned, and your part-time and summer jobs—use this opportunity to make a stronger statement about what you want to do with your adult life.” And according to Jay Block, the author of “101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times,” younger job seekers often haven’t thought about what they have to offer an employer (as opposed to what they want to get from one). With this mindset, they create resumes that are “boring biographies” instead of effective marketing tools. (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about crafting better resumes.)
5. Misusing the Internet
Tory Johnson, CEO of Women For Hire and the author of “Fired to Hired,” says, “New grads don’t use LinkedIn—it’s not sexy like Facebook or Twitter. But it’s the best resource for getting names and building a professional identity. Don’t overlook it.”
6. Failing to follow up
Johnson says, “It’s not enough to send resumes and pray the phone rings.” She cautions that job seekers can’t expect a resume to be discovered in that “big black online hole.” “Hustle to follow up,” she says.
7. Setting expectations too high
Johnson says new graduates too often focus on looking for the perfect job, instead of a first job: “Especially in this economy, the first job should be about finding a position where you’ll learn a great deal, you’ll be super busy, and you’ll be surrounded by lots of people.”
8. Appearing unprofessional
Make sure you’re ready for employers’ scrutiny, says Tim McIntyre, president and CEO of The Executive Search Group. That means you should “sanitize your MySpace page—right now. It will be checked,” he says. He notes that many college students will need to change off-color voicemail greetings. Ryan adds, “Don’t assume that Facebook’s privacy settings will keep your youthful antics away from curious eyes. Rid your profile page of any photos of the ‘three Bs’ (beer, bongs, and bikinis).”
9. Not taking the job interview seriously
Even when you’re applying for an unpaid internship, you need to adhere to common standards of professionalism. McIntyre says those standards include demonstrating you’ve done your research on the company and dressing appropriately. Block adds that new grads are often unprepared for tough (but standard) interview questions, such as “Where do you see yourself in three years?” and “What are your weaknesses?” (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective interview tactics.)
10. Not using the college’s career office
“A career office can help [students] identify networking contacts, learn important job-search skills, and significantly improve their resume and cover letter,” says Wake Forest University’s Chan. Ryan agrees, but adds that this is just a first step. The career office’s job is to “to prepare you for your job search, not to conduct it for you,” she says. “Use LinkedIn, reach out to everyone you can, and begin researching employers who’d be likely targets for your job-search.” (Start your job search now.)
Posted under: Job Search
6 Reasons They Didn’t Call You Back
6 Reasons They Didn’t Call You Back
Are They Just Not That Into You?
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs
In the best of times responding to a job listing can feel like sending your resume out to sea in a bottle. But at least you received a call or an email acknowledgement. Now, with the volume of applicants higher than ever, you’re more likely to hear nothing.
If there is a resounding silence from your queries, keep looking and networking. But you can also do some sleuthing to give you a better chance of standing out next time. Recruiters and career experts agree that, if you didn’t get an interview or phone call — or even a thank-you email — it may be due to at least one of six reasons.
1. They’re just not that into you.
You’re good, but someone else more closely met the qualifications. In a tight job market employers can usually get exactly the type of candidate they want. A polite “thanks, but no thanks” letter or email would be nice. But don’t expect it these days.
2. They may be into you, as soon as they get to you.
Companies receive so many submissions these days that they don’t even have time to send out letters or confirmation emails. “I know a major software company that’s taking more than three weeks just to send out acknowledgement notes, and some companies are spending months sifting through resumes for just one opening,” workplace etiquette expert Sue Fox tells Yahoo! Hot Jobs.
3. They would have been into you if you had followed directions.
“Many job listings use the word ‘must,’ not ‘it would be nice to,’” according to Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet. “If it says you must have experience in X, then tailor your resume to show that,” Opton says.
If you’re answering a job listing, be sure you respond in exactly the way the company wants. And be aware that if you’re not applying for a specific job but rather sending out dozens or hundreds of form letters, your resume is likely to end up in companies’ spam folders.
4. They might be into you if you apply for a more appropriate job.
Independent recruiter Cheryl Ferguson tells Yahoo! HotJobs that many job seekers are overqualified, under-qualified, or otherwise just wrong. “If we need to fill a specific job, and you’re not right for it, don’t assume that we’re going to find the right fit for you. A lot of times people send me resumes, and I want to ask, ‘Did you even read the job description?’”
5. Your presentation could use some work.
“A lot of mistakes I see are a lack of cover letter, and an objective statement on the resume that is all wrong for the job opening,” says Lindsay Olson, partner and recruiter at Paradigm Staffing. “Even worse are obviously mass emails where the candidates had no clue what they were applying for.”
6. There isn’t any job.
Sometimes, due to last minute budget cuts, a position is eliminated before it’s even filled. Other times, according to Olson, companies reel in resumes even when they know there isn’t any opening. “Some companies want a big applicant pool because they think they may be hiring in the future,” Olson said.
How can you learn what happened?
If you feel like your resume is out at sea, and you’d at least like confirmation that you’re out of the running, there are things you can do.
1. Contact the company.
Yes, the ad had a NO CALLS warning, and there wasn’t a name anyway. But if you’re pretty sure you’re right for the job, and you’ve heard nothing after a week, you can still call someone to find out if you’re at least in the running. Try to find the hiring manager (HR is too busy, and they almost never want to hear from you).
“If you do follow up by phone, don’t leave a voice mail,” Opton says. “Early in the morning or after five you’re more likely to reach a real person.”
2. But don’t be a pest.
“If you’ve had an interview and sent your thank-you letter, wait a week to call,” Fox says. One or two emails are OK, but three will probably look desperate, she adds. “And never, ever, show up at the company without an interview and demand to be seen. It will backfire.”
3. Re-read the job posting.
Did the resume you sent really fit the job requirements? Or were you hoping they would find another job just for you? “I love it when a candidate has done the homework and already knows the company and the position,” Ferguson says. “It makes it easier for both of us.”
4. Take a look at your resume.
Get a second opinion, and a third. Does it present you in the right light? Is it professionally formatted? Does it feature accomplishments, rather than merely job titles and dates?
5. Step up the networking.
“It’s always best to network your way into a position,” Opton says. “You’ll get a lot more individual attention than someone responding to a job listing.”
Posted under: Job Search
Emerging Jobs in Social Media
Emerging Jobs in Social Media
Blog and tweet your way to a new career.
by Carol Tice, PayScale.com
The world of marketing has changed with the rise of social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Now companies are seeking their customers’ attention with tweets, videos, blog posts, pictures—online content designed to create buzz and attract a following. And this means more and more companies are looking for employees who know how to create and distribute this kind of content.
Growing numbers of job hunters are turning their blogging skills or Facebook savvy into new careers in social media. A background in marketing, computer technology, copywriting, or journalism is often a plus in landing Web 2.0 jobs.
This is an emerging field, so pay rates are all over the place right now—but good pay is already to be found, with full-time jobs ranging from $45,000 to six figures.
“My rule of thumb is, you get paid in social media for what you’ve done in the past,” says Jim Durbin, who operates the niche job site JobsInSocialMedia. “A fresh college grad may make $25,000 as a social media marketer, but if you already have a marketing job where they pay you $80,000 a year, your employer might move your duties over to social media marketing and keep that salary.”
Many ad agencies that assist major corporations with social media campaigns are hiring, but the majority of jobs in social media are freelance rather than full-time. On the upside, hourly rates can be high—$200 an hour and more, says copywriting coach Chris Marlow.
“The lowest rate anybody should charge for social media marketing work is $50 an hour,” she says. “Many are charging $100 an hour.”
Here’s a look at some of the most common jobs in social media, and the skills they require:
Social media strategist or digital strategist
Chris Marlow calls this job “the top of the heap” in social media. These experienced marketing strategists understand how to create social media marketing campaigns and measure their success. At larger companies, they may oversee a social media team.
“They’re the people who put together a plan,” she says.
Community manager
At Spherion subsidiary Mergis Group, recruiting practice director Greg Bennett says he recently filled a $120,000-a-year community manager position with a major company. Community managers oversee company blogs and forums, keeping visitors coming to the site through outreach on social sites, and moderating conversations to make sure nothing libelous or insulting is being said.
The job calls for marketing experience, as well as work in Web publishing, copywriting, project management, and social media. Bennett says his recruiting research turned up several similar positions already earning in the same range.
“Everyone I see wants the same thing,” he says. “Someone who is a marketing person but has been heavily involved in social media—they know how to run online symposiums, draw people into the company’s community, and keep them in.”
Blogger
Posting short articles filled with links to related sites has become a popular technique for improving rankings in search engines. Marlow says $35 to $75 an hour is typical pay for a corporate blogger. Many bloggers have journalism training, but others who enter the field have their own personal blogs and use them to audition for corporate blogging jobs.
Social media marketing specialist
The virtual-world version of a marketing specialist, this job entails taking existing company marketing materials and circulating them effectively in various social-media channels, says Durbin.
Search engine marketing associate
A lower-level position than a social-media strategist or marketer, search engine marketing (SEM) associates work on building a company’s results in “natural search,” the unpaid results delivered by search engines.
Online customer service representative
A growing number of companies are watching social sites for customer complaints—prominent examples on Twitter include Comcast Cares. “There’s a lot of work here, because it’s so expensive to take calls,” says Durbin of JobsInSocialMedia. Workers who have call-center experience and who write well are ideal candidates to cross over into this field.
Business writer Carol Tice is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur, The Seattle Times, and other major publications.
Posted under: Job Search
Worst Resume Blunders
Worst Resume Blunders
What can you learn from these dreadful gaffes?
by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer
Your resume should be perfect—with nary an error in sight. But all too often, say employers, resumes are riddled with mistakes.
“Making errors on your resume just screams, ‘I’m careless, I don’t care to double-check my work or have a friend look it over, and that’s exactly the same sloppy, lazy effort I’ll give you as my employer,’” says Tony Katsulos, who keeps a file of the worst resume bloopers he’s received as head of Jetstream Public Relations.
Here’s a look at some cringe-worthy real-life resume gaffes:
1. Careless Mistakes
“Speak, read, and wright English/Spanish.”—seen by Angie Beauchamp, Charm Factory manager.
A candidate actually misspelled her own first name, writing “Barbara” as “Barabara.”—Mark Gollihur, who managed a video store when he received that application.
A resume objective stated the candidate wanted a job as a nurse. The job she was applying for? Security manager.—Philip Farina, author of “Antiterrorism Careers.”
“They write, ‘I’ve researched your company and would be a perfect fit.’ And then they call your company by a competitor’s name.”—Tony Katsulos, who has weeded out this cut-and-paste gaffe many times.
This one says it all: “I’m very detale oriented.”—reported by Sharon Armstrong, the author of “The Essential HR Handbook.”
Instead of “biological organisms,” a university job candidate wrote “biological orgasms.”—from Berit Brogaard, associate professor of philosophy and psychology at the University of Missouri, Saint Louis.
“Psychology professor” became “psycho. professor,” and “analytic philosophy” became “anal. philosophy.”—“Asso. professor” Brogaard has seen these and other abbreviations lead to resume trouble.
Lesson: Be vigilant about spelling, proofread each resume a few times, get someone else to look at your resume for errors, and be wary of abbreviations. (Read more articles with tips on crafting the perfect resume.)
2. TMI
“GPA: 2.0”—, seen by Kristen Barrett, Spark Design.
A man appeared to be the perfect candidate for an accounting position. “But at the bottom he mentioned he would not be able to interview immediately as he was serving time for embezzlement.”—seen by Jodi R. R. Smith, of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.
“I was fired.”—Robin Ryan, the author of “Winning Resumes,” says this is one of the most common blunders she comes across.
A few clients have actually put their social security numbers on their resumes.—Mike Ballard, Turning Points Research.
A recent graduate sent a resume that came through with track changes and comments from a variety of people. Adding to the blunder: “Some of the changes were not for the better.”—Debbie Mitchell, president, Mullen Public Relations.
Lesson: What you exclude from your resume is almost as important as what you include. Don’t include any information that doesn’t contribute—or worse, detracts—from your overall selling message. Keep in mind that your resume is just your ticket to interview-land. You will have plenty of opportunities to provide employers with a complete picture once you’ve landed an interview.
3. Bad Moves
A candidate included photos of himself at the gym and a glamour photo with his resume for an administrative position with a financial services provider.—from Philip Farina, who also runs Manta Security Management Recruiters.
Email address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by Stacey Schmidt, a recruiter at Vistaprint.
A job-seeker used a free return-address sticker from an endangered-wildlife nonprofit on his resume instead of typing his contact information out.—seen by Philip Farina.
A person reduced his cover letter and three-page resume onto one page and then faxed it.—seen by Penny Miller, Venture HRO.
Lesson: Even the littlest details—both in your resume and how you use your resume—send a message to hiring managers. Be clear about what image you’re trying to get across in your resume, and make sure everything you say and do is consistent with this image.
Posted under: Resumes and Cover Letter
Networking Tips for Shy People
Networking Tips for Shy People
5 simple ways to make job-search connections
by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs
Network, network, network: It’s the most common advice job seekers hear. And it’s good advice—in a recent HotJobs poll, 58 percent of respondents said that networking had helped them land their most recent job.
But for people who aren’t naturally outgoing, the very idea of networking can cause a lot of anxiety. Many of us dread “schmoozing” with large groups of people.
The good news for those people is that networking isn’t just about working a crowd. In fact, introverts have some qualities that work to their advantage.
“Introverts are usually excellent listeners. They reflect before speaking, and they enjoy one-on-one conversations,” says Janet Civitelli, a workplace psychologist and the owner of career advice site VocationVillage.com.
In fact, networking is about building relationships, and that can be done one-on-one, in groups, or online via social networking.
Networking in groups is usually the most difficult for introverts, but “all three can be valuable in different ways,” says Wendy Gelberg, the author of “The Successful Introvert: How to Enhance Your Job Search and Advance Your Career.”
Experts offer these tips to help introverts build the strongest networks they can—even in group settings:
Broaden your networking goal. If you simply ask people you meet if they know of any job openings, you’ll likely be disappointed.
“Most people in the world are not walking around with jobs in their pocket,” Gelberg says. “We talk about networking as a tool for a job search, but it’s not always a linear, direct process.”
Instead, Gelberg advises, redefine networking as a mutual exchange. Perhaps someone you meet could give you advice on your resume—or maybe you could help someone you meet with a job search or professional development. If you’re on the shy side, offering something may be easier than asking for something.
Volunteer at large events. Instead of going to a professional association meeting and trying to strike up conversations with strangers, volunteer to help organize or run the meeting, for instance.
“Many people find it easier to become acquainted with others by making a contribution rather than making small talk,” Civitelli says. You can help find speakers for an event or serve on a committee, for example. Both of these activities will give you a purpose at the event—and the work itself is a good networking opportunity.
“The networking happens naturally, and the focus is on accomplishing something,” Civitelli said. “You’re getting to know people, but you’re getting to know them because you’re part of a team with a goal.”
Arrive early for group events. Introverts tend to procrastinate about going to big events. Then they arrive and find the other guests already gathered in intimidating small groups.
Gelberg encourages introverts to go early instead: “Those groups haven’t formed yet. There are just a few random people who have shown up early, and they’re delighted to have someone to talk to. Then you become part of the group.”
Don’t set unrealistic goals for group meetings. For example, don’t pressure yourself to meet everyone. Instead, set a goal of talking to five new people, for example. If the event has an attendee list, you can always send follow-up emails to people you didn’t have a chance to talk to. (Want more networking tips? Don’t miss “How to Make Networking Really Work.”)
Network online—in moderation. Social networking sites can play a valuable role in networking: they help you keep up your connections with people who may be able to help you, and connecting virtually can be less stressful than face-to-face interaction. Just be sure you don’t spend so much time connecting online that you never connect in person.
(Get more tips for successful online networking—read “How to Social Network Your Way into a Job.” And follow HotJobs on Twitter to receive daily tweets with career and job-search advice.)
Posted under: Job Search
Job-Search Tips: How to Nail a Phone Interview
Job-Search Tips: How to Nail a Phone Interview
by Gina Pogol, FindtheRightSchool.com
With nearly five candidates (on average) applying for each available job opening—and with hundreds applying for some positions—many human resource departments and recruiters are using telephone interviews much more extensively to narrow down job-applicant pools. These tips will help keep you in the running.
No more softball!
Until recently, telephone interviews were mainly used to verify your basic qualifications before the “real” interview. So if the position required an MBA and you thought you could sneak in with your good looks and your associate’s degree, the phone interview would be as far as you got. People who met the basic requirements would then field a few softball questions. Preparation for these phone interviews consisted of spitting out your gum before answering.
Today, however, the person on the phone might not be some appointment-setting flunky—you could be speaking to an actual decision-maker. Expect to be grilled.
Before the interview
1. Create a cheat sheet. Keep your resume in front of you, as well as a list of key achievements in previous jobs. Write down the answers to commonly asked interview questions. You know the drill: What are your greatest strengths? What are your career goals? And so on.
(Get tips on answering the dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question.)
2. Research the company. Yes, you didn’t have to do this for phone interviews in the past, but now you do. Think of it as an early opportunity to show your stuff.
3. Take the interview seriously. One hiring manager told the Wall Street Journal that interviewees have put her on hold while taking calls from other people, allowed the interview to be interrupted by screaming children, or had the TV blaring in the background. One applicant on a cell phone actually ordered from a drive-through window during the phone interview!
4. Create the right atmosphere. Treat a phone interview like an important meeting with someone who can change your life—because it just might be. You wouldn’t go to an important meeting in your pajamas, so dress neatly and attractively for your phone call. Sit up straight (you may even prefer to stand) because it makes your voice resonate more effectively. If you plan to use a cell phone, have a friend call you for a practice run to make sure the connection is good. And be alone for your interview. You wouldn’t go to a professional meeting with your mommy by your side or a puppy in your lap, would you?
5. Finally, make sure your outgoing voicemail message sounds professional. (And if you don’t know exactly when the interviewer will call, refrain from answering your phone with “Duuuuude!” during the window of possibility.)
During the interview
1. Be nice. You may speak with the company president. You may speak with a switchboard operator. No matter what, be professional and polite (because the switchboard operator talks to everyone).
2. Remember that the other person can’t see you. If you need to stop speaking in order to write something down, don’t just leave the interviewer with a bunch of dead air. Say something like “Please excuse me while I write that down.”
3. Don’t jump the gun. “So, Mr. Jones, where did you go to s—” “I have a bachelor’s degree in communications and an online MBA.” “As I was saying, where did you go to ski when you lived in Vermont?” Oops. Don’t interrupt the interviewer. It’s rude, and it makes your rehearsed answers sound a bit too rehearsed.
4. Don’t drone on. Some people panic and feel a frantic need to fill up every pause in a conversation—especially when they can’t see the other party. Don’t do this. Drawn-out explanations make it look like you’re either hiding something or trying to exaggerate your qualifications.
6. Ask questions. The phone interview is an opportunity for you to learn about the company and get a better idea of exactly what the hiring manager wants to see. For example, if career training in specific software is required, ask how the program is used. Then if you get an in-person interview, you’ll be able to highlight your proficiency with the software and your ability to use it as required.
Closing the deal
Just as you would when completing an in-person interview, tell the interviewer what you want. At the end of a phone interview, make it clear that you are enthused about the position and that you would like to go further in the process. Be sure to send a prompt “thank you” that also recaps your qualifications and emphasizes your interest in the job. With any luck, you’ll emerge with an appointment for an in-person interview.
Posted under: Job Search
Twitter Job Search 101
Twitter Job Search 101
By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing
You can gain a wealth of advantages when turning to Twitter for help in the job search. You can research companies and organizations, uncover little-known job leads, connect with recruiters and employers and learn up-to-the-minute news about the industries and employers that interest you.
It’s important to note, however, that your activities on Twitter won’t pay off until you’ve invested some time learning how to use it best. Those new to the social networking site often complain that Twitter is too overwhelming, time-consuming and intimidating to be a useful tool in their job search campaign.
That’s why Chandlee Bryan, co-author of “The Twitter Job Search Guide,” has developed a blueprint to help job seekers ease into the Twitter experience.
“It takes some time to gain momentum on Twitter,” Bryan explains. “I recommend phasing into your plan. Doing so, you’ll find that your network will grow, your relationships will deepen, your job search will become more productive and you’ll just have more fun.”
Bryan outlines her four-week blueprint for easing into the Twitterverse:
Week one: Twitter boot camp
Allow yourself time for a learning curve.
Create your account, claim your username and design your background.
Set goals for your job search: How do you want to use Twitter? As a source of job leads, for company research, to expand your network …?
Write your Twitter bio. This should identify what makes you unique and tell readers what you want. You may also want to mention a special achievement or unusual accomplishment.
Write 10 to 12 tweets offline. Then, tweet one or two of them each time you log in.
Follow 15 people you know who won’t be judging your account.
Week two: Lurking and cultural immersion
Search for hashtags and industries of interest to you. (Example of a hashtag: #greenjobs)
Actively begin following people you don’t know in your field.
Observe posts of others and how they use hashtags.
Subscribe to job feeds.
“A feed is Web content from a source such as Twitter that can be delivered to your cell phone, e-mail or a designated Web page you set up. You can subscribe to a feed with services like Feedreader.com or Google.com/reader,” Bryan explains.
“Feeds enable you to actively review new content on a relevant topic without having to search for it on your own; once you’ve established a feed, the information will be delivered to you automatically. Feeds can help you optimize your time in conducting employer research, monitoring trends in your field and finding job openings.
Subscribe to Twitter lists. According to Bryan, “Lists enable you to organize users into groups. Through lists, you can view tweets from users you don’t follow. If you don’t want updates from hundreds of users in your stream, creating or subscribing to lists by subject area is a great way to optimize your time on Twitter.”
Week three: Full throttle
Ask engaging questions that start conversations.
Retweet others.
Tweet blog posts and other items of interest that align with your brand or career goals (save space by shortening URLs in your links).
Don’t forget the 75/25 rule: Approximately 75 percent of content should be professional and 25 percent can be personal.
Week four and beyond: Onward, in 15 Minutes a day
Expand your reputation, including creating lists.
Revise retweets to include your own opinion.
Incorporate both online and offline content for tweeting (from attending association meetings and workshops to sharing Google News alerts or blog comments).
Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.
That’s a Real Job?
That’s a Real Job?
5 careers you might not have heard of
By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
A shift in public demand can create new jobs or cause others to fade away. Technology also plays a significant role in the evolution of career opportunities, as some of today’s jobs (think Internet security) couldn’t have existed 40 years ago. The job industry has a natural give and take that permanently removes certain jobs and creates other. For instance, within the manufacturing industry alone, you can witness a shift from one emphasis to the other. Once upon a time, turntables and large console stereos were being built in droves because they were found in every home. Today, digital music players and music-playing phones are being churned out for music lovers. The production is still there, but the job titles changed.
Now, as you try to find the right career, you just don’t recognize some of these job titles. In order to simplify your job hunt and perhaps realize where your skills can be put to good use, we’ve put together a list of five jobs that many job seekers don’t recognize but that are real opportunities. In some cases, the jobs are relatively new, while others are just often overlooked.
Here are five careers you’ve probably never heard of:
Social media managers / social media strategists
Industries: Technology, public relations and communications
What they do: Social media have emerged in the past six years as a serious player in the business world. Although MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare began as ways to kill time or connect with friends, they have become essential extensions of a company’s brand. Social media managers and strategists help organizations understand how to use social media to connect with customers, what messages they should be conveying and how to measure success. Social media experts can be part of a marketing campaign that is promoting a new ad campaign online or they can be liaisons who interact with customers and present feedback to managers and company leaders.
Cybrarians
Industry: Library and information sciences
What they do: Cybrarians are exactly what the name implies: librarians for the 21st century. Cybrarians have the same research and data gathering skills of traditional librarians, but they apply that knowledge to online technology. They are experts in accessing online information and using the latest technology to conduct research. (Many libraries and research centers do not distinguish between the two, as many traditional librarians have the same education and technology skills as a cybrarian.)
Risk management specialists and managers
Industries: Finance, technology and insurance
What they do: Risk management professionals look at specific projects or initiatives, assess the potential damage that could occur to any involved parties and set plans for dealing with it. Although that description is vague, it can be applied to a variety of industries. In one setting, a risk manager might estimate the cost of a natural disaster and what the financial repercussions would be. In the technology sector, a risk manager can look at computer safety issues, such as data leaks or security flaws.
Patient advocates
Industry: Health care
What they do: Patient advocates work for patients who need assistance understanding the often confusing world of medical bills and treatments. They educate patients on their rights and ensure they are consulting with the proper specialists. They also help patients sort through medical bills and keep important items in order.
Futurists
Industry: Science and social sciences
What they do: Simply, futurists are the opposite of historians. Futurists predict how an industry, consumers or even nature might change over time. They use research and case studies to understand what is happening today and then attempt to figure out what will happen in the coming years. Futurists are employed by many organizations, from an educational institution to a corporation wanting to create a business plan that is ahead of consumers’ demands.
Bing: The most unusual jobs
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.Posted under: General
How to Get Better Online Job Search Results
How to Get Better Online Job Search Results
(Hint: Stop searching by job title)
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer
It can be tough to figure out the nuances of the online job search. With the option to search by keyword, location, industry, company or all of the above at once, it’s hard to know which query will return the best search results for you.
In the absence of knowing the best method for getting targeted results, many people default to what they DO know about their job search: the title of the position they’re looking for. While searching for “marketing assistant” or “pediatric nurse” may seem like a good way to get direct hits on the jobs you want, searching by job title actually eliminates a lot of positions that may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Why? Because job titles often aren’t standardized across different companies and industries. One company’s software engineer is another’s database programmer. The job descriptions might be exactly the same, but the positions may have different titles.
In order to get the largest number of relevant search results, try one of these methods instead.
1. Search by keyword
Instead of simply searching by a job title, develop a list of keywords that represent both the type of job you’re looking for and the work you’re qualified to do. The list should be comprised of functions you’ve performed at previous jobs, duties you’d like to perform at your next job, as well as relevant skills and experience.
For example, if you’re looking for software engineering position, your keyword search terms may include:
Software design
Software languages
Algorithms
Linux
.Net programming
Network security
Computer science
Master’s degree
Instead of searching the term “software engineer,” use the terms above terms to find job results that match what you’re looking for.
2. Combine keywords with Boolean search terms
While searching by keyword will bring up a broad range of search results, combining keywords to create a “Boolean search” will allow you to narrow down your results.
Though the term may sound complicated, Boolean search is actually a simple way to combine search terms in order to form strings of keywords. They’re surprisingly easy to conduct once you understand the basics.
The basics:
Put quotes around terms you want to keep together. For example “software languages.” This will ensure that your results are returned with listings that contain this specific phrase, not just the words software and languages somewhere in the listing.
Combine words using plus (+) and minus (-) signs.
For example, if you’re searching for a job where you can put your Master’s degree to good use while working on software languages, your search may be: “Master’s degree” + “software languages.”
However, if you prefer not to use the JAVA language, your search may look like: “Master’s degree” + “software languages” – JAVA.
To make your search even easier, Boolean searches also enable you to search root words. Meaning you won’t have to conduct separate searches for “programmer” “programmers” and “programming.” Instead, type in the root of the word, with an asterisk, to search all forms of the root word. For example, you might search “software language” + program*.
3. Try an advanced search
If you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, or you’re interested in a job function, but not a specific industry (i.e. an administrative position in any sector), start with a broad search — you can always narrow it down as you figure out what you want and don’t want.
On CareerBuilder, for example, you can type in a general keyword, like “administrative” and then narrow it down through a variety of search categories. If you realize you’d prefer to work as an administrative assistant in a medical office or at a school, for example, you can specify this in the advanced search.
Similarly, if you are only interested in jobs that pay over $50,000, you can enter in your salary requirements as well.
The more fields you enter values for, the fewer, but more targeted, your search results will be.
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
Posted under: Job Search
The Importance of Résumé Keywords
The Importance of Résumé Keywords
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer
Years ago, when résumés were still sent to employers by mail, job seekers hoped things like a high-quality paper stock and unique, professional formatting would catch the eye of an employer. These days, things are a little different.
First of all, it’s rare that employers even accept paper rĂ©sumĂ©s anymore. Second, and more importantly, it’s not even the employer’s eye that job seekers should hope to catch anymore — more likely, they’re trying to get noticed by an applicant tracking system – essentially a rĂ©sumĂ© search engine – now commonly used by employers to screen rĂ©sumĂ©s and separate the qualified candidates from the unqualified ones.
This digitized version of candidate screening brings with it a whole new set of rĂ©sumĂ© rules. No longer are human resources managers scouring rĂ©sumĂ©s looking for intriguing phrases on luxurious linen paper. Now, rĂ©sumĂ©s are downloaded into a database and digitally searched for specific keywords. If your rĂ©sumĂ© doesn’t contain the keywords the employer is looking for, consider yourself overlooked.
So how can you ensure that your résumé makes it past square one? Below are a few things that every job seeker should know about résumé keywords:
1. Include words from the job description
More than likely, many of the keywords that rĂ©sumĂ© databases will be searching for are the functions that are listed in the job description. For example, if you’re looking for a bookkeeping position and the job description calls for someone with experience managing accounts receivable, bank reconciliations and payroll, then all of those words should appear in your rĂ©sumĂ©.
An even better way to make sure you include relevant keywords is to look at various job postings for positions similar to the one you’re applying for, advises Laura Smith-Proulx, a certified professional rĂ©sumĂ© writer and author of “Solving Your Toughest RĂ©sumĂ© Challenges.”
“To maximize your rĂ©sumĂ©‘s effectiveness, I recommend looking in detail at several job descriptions … that represent your ideal role. For example, an operations manager might find productivity, Six Sigma, process improvement and sales operations in most job postings for a position at their level. Job hunters can also search through LinkedIn profiles of other professionals in their field to gather even more keywords,” she says.
2. Always assume your résumé will be scanned by an applicant tracking system
Companies both large and small are using keyword-search software in their hiring processes these days, so it’s important to make sure you always send out a search-ready rĂ©sumĂ©.
“While applicant tracking systems are more common in large corporations, due to the volume of rĂ©sumĂ©s received and the impossibility of reviewing them all manually, some smaller companies may also have installed these systems to help with hiring,” Smith-Proulx says. “My point is that you’ll never know if your rĂ©sumĂ© actually needs to pass a keyword scan, so it should be ready for this step.”
3. Don’t just add a list of keywords
While adding a “skills” section to your rĂ©sumĂ© is the easy way to make sure keywords are included, a list is usually not enough to get noticed by the search engine.
“Be sure that this common suite of keywords is used in your rĂ©sumĂ©, but not merely in a list,” Smith-Proulx says. “Many ATS systems look for the frequency of keywords that are sprinkled throughout the text of a rĂ©sumĂ©, rather than listed by themselves. Therefore, ‘Leveraged Six Sigma principles to improve productivity’ or ‘Led process improvement project that resulted in 23 percent gain in sales operations efficiency’ will not only impress the human reader, but fulfill the keyword requirements at the same time.”
Lastly, Proulx says, be sure that your rĂ©sumĂ© doesn’t completely abandon the qualities it takes to attract the human eye as well. “Like any other marketing effort, a job search is most effective when you plan to address the needs of all audiences you might encounter. Your chances of being selected for an interview are much higher when your rĂ©sumĂ© satisfies both audiences — automated and human.”
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
Posted under: Resumes and Cover Letter
5 Ways to Botch a Phone Interview
5 Ways to Botch a Phone Interview
By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing
Phone interviews are a fairly fundamental part of the job search process. Yet many candidates fail to progress beyond this stage in their pursuit of a particular job.
“Often, a candidate’s failure occurs because he didn’t treat the phone interview as seriously he would have a face-to-face meeting with a recruiter or potential employer,” says Vicki Salemi, author of “Big Career in the Big City.”
In her book, Salemi pinpoints several phone interview faux pas, which include the following:Conducting the interview in your pajamas
Even though you’re not meeting with someone face-to-face, you should still wear clothes that make you feel confident and put together, Salemi says. In addition, she recommends that candidates wake up at least 30 minutes before the interview, comb their hair and brush their teeth. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve conducted phone interviews with people who literally just woke up. This created the visions in my head about their unbrushed teeth, uncombed hair and overall inability to focus,” she explains.
Picking the wrong spot to talk
Whenever you’re talking with a recruiter or potential employer on the phone, it’s best to do so in a place that’s peaceful and quiet. Outside noise and too many distractions around you can make it difficult to concentrate on what you’re being asked during the interview. Salemi suggests staying at home for the phone interview and talking on a land line instead of a cell phone. “This way, it’s likely you’ll have clearer reception and you reduce any risk that you’ll lose the call in the middle of a sentence.”
Failing to use resources right at your fingertips
Salemi says the main advantage to a phone interview is that you can refer to helpful resources during your interview. For example, you can glance at a list of talking points or you can pull up the company’s website on your computer so that it’s in front of you while you’re interviewing.
Forgetting to let your smile shine
It may feel silly to smile when no one’s around to see it, but odds are strong that the person interviewing you will notice how much more pleasant your voice sounds when you’re doing so. Salemi also suggests standing up during the interview. “You’ll be able to project your voice more and sound more confident if you’re standing as opposed to sitting down. Celebrities do this all of the time during radio interviews, so why not channel your inner rock star?”
Neglecting to close on a strong note
It’s important to close the phone interview just as you would an office interview, Salemi says. “Ask the interviewer about the next steps in the interview process, when you should follow up and where they are in the process. Then say your cordial good-byes, hang up and immediately send a thank-you note.”
Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.
Posted under: Interview
How to Build Your Personal Brand
How to Build Your Personal Brand
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer
It can be tough to pinpoint exactly what the term “personal brand” means, especially when it’s loosely used to describe everything from professional image, to manner of dress, to online reputation. While this broad definition may make the term seem like just another empty business buzzword, developing a personal brand can be a great get-ahead strategy for both job seekers and those looking to advance their careers.
So what exactly is a personal brand?
“A personal brand is what you stand for and what makes you special,” says Dan Schawbel, author of “Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future” and owner of PersonalBrandingBlog.com. “[It’s] composed of values, a mission and a positioning statement that depict what you do and who your audience is. [It] is an indicator for how valuable you are to employers and customers at every stage of your career.”
Your personal brand also encompasses the way you market yourself to your professional community, whether via your résumé, your LinkedIn profile, your manner of speaking or even the way you dress.
While creating a personal brand may seem daunting, chances are you’ve already started building one. Here’s what you need to know in order to expand upon, shape and use the personal brand you’re already creating.
Define your brand
First and foremost, you need to decide what you want your personal brand to convey about you.
“Your personal brand should represent something that is unique to you,” Schawbel says, “your personality, your passions, your talents and your dream goal. Ask yourself: ‘What do I want to be known for?’”
For instance, if you’ve spent most of your career as a human resources manager in the financial world, and your ultimate goal is to become the vice president of human resources at an investment bank, then your personal brand needs to send the message that you’re an expert and a leader in HR, management and finance.
Market your brand
Once you decide upon your professional goals and values, it’s time to start letting others know about them. This may seem like an odd concept at first, especially for those who have trouble tooting their own horn, but there are plenty of ways to subtly start getting your new message out there.
The Internet is a good place to start establishing both visibility and a strong personal brand, Schawbel says. “[Take] ownership of your online presence, because that is where almost all first impressions now occur. Start your own blog or website under your full name, as well as accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Then, add your bio information to each and start reaching out to people in your industry using the tools. By constantly getting your name, face and valuable content out there, you will start to build and shape your brand, which will turn into opportunities,” he says.
On LinkedIn and Facebook, for example, that may mean joining groups that reflect your professional goals. On Twitter, that means tweeting about what’s going on in your field instead of your plans for the weekend. If you have a blog, update it regularly with posts and insights on your industry.
Be consistent
“Think about how you dress, how you behave, what you publish online — and what that says about who you are,” Schawbel says. All of these things should be consistent with the message your personal brand is trying to send.
For example, if your goal is to reach an executive-level position in the next five years, highlight your leadership qualities on your rĂ©sumĂ©, follow corporate leaders on Twitter, offer to spearhead new projects at work and dress like you’re already in the executive position you’re aiming toward.
“Your brand should be consistent, because you never know how someone might find you,” Schawbel says.
Look at how others are branding you
To gauge the effectiveness of the brand you’ve created for yourself, evaluate how others see you — and whether it’s in line with the image you want to project.
“You know you’re communicating your brand effectively when your self-impression is equal to how people perceive you,” Schawbel says. “One way to find out this information is to see how people categorize you on Twitter, with Twitter lists. If you’re a personal finance expert, but people put you in real estate lists, you have a real problem.”
If you’re not on Twitter, asking colleagues or friends to sum up your professional image in a sentence or two will help you evaluate whether you’re branding yourself properly.
The bottom line, Schawbel says, is that “by building your brand throughout your career, you protect yourself from the unpredictable nature of the economy, and gain more career options and opportunities.” And in a time like this, who couldn’t use more opportunity?
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
Posted under: Job Search
Successfully tapping into your alumni network
Successfully tapping into your alumni network
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer
People differ in the level of their enthusiasm for their alma mater — from those who make the annual homecoming pilgrimage, to others who make the occasional donation to the alumni fund — but most of us would agree that we have some pride in the university, graduate school and even high school we attended.
With this pride often comes an instant connection to fellow schoolmates, forming a camaraderie that can be a great career asset, if approached and used strategically.
“In my experience, alumni often misuse their connections with one another by approaching fellow alumni with requests that are hard to fill,” says Chandlee Bryan, former career services director at Dartmouth College and co-author of “The Twitter Job Search Guide.” “‘I need help getting a job’ is much harder to respond to than an expression of interest in learning more about what another person does.”
Here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your alumni network:
Make targeted connections
While social networking sites can allow you to find fellow alums easily, establish criteria before you begin sending rapid-fire connection requests to every person in your school’s alumni group.
“I don’t recommend cold-call requests,” Bryan says. “Blanket requests to connect on social networks because you went to the same school are a turn-off. Researching an individual’s interests and then sending an invite to meet works better.”
Should you just be starting out on your alumni networking journey and want to see who’s out there, Bryan recommends following those you might like to get to know on Twitter. “As Twitter requires no previous connection to ‘follow’ and you can search for groups of users by interest, it is a fast way to connect,” she says.
Be proactive
Don’t wait until you need a job or startup capital to begin your networking efforts. Not only will people be less inclined to help you if you ask them for a favor right off the bat, but you’ll also waste a lot of valuable time if you wait until you need something to start networking.
“You don’t go in gangbusters and say ‘Hey, we went to the same school, so can you help me get a job?’” says Darrell Gurney, author of “Backdoor Job Search: Never Apply for a Job Again.” “You focus always on the person and the relationship … and then gradually, but with intention, other business or networking opportunities can arise. Underneath it all, people always just like helping other people. You just have to focus on the people and the relationships, and the rest takes care of itself.”
Bryan agrees. “One of my college classmates did this brilliantly,” she says. “He reached out to me and to other alums on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter before he needed it. We developed a friendship that we didn’t have in college. When he was laid off, he found a new job in less than a week over Facebook simply by letting his network know of his situation. You see, he had already built the goodwill.”
Find common ground at networking events
Alumni networking events can bring your classmates out of the woodwork, but — especially if the event isn’t being held close to campus or you went to a big school — you might not know anyone there. While you’ll always have the “So when did you graduate?” icebreaker, there are other, more engaging ways to approach these fraternal strangers at networking events. Try asking about what dorm they lived in freshman year or what activities they were involved in at school instead.
“Try to find common experiences you can talk about, especially if you were involved in the same clubs or course of study. ‘Did you have professor x’ is a great icebreaker,” Bryan says.
Sign up for the newsletter
Subscribing to your alumni newsletter or magazine is not only a great way to keep up-to-date on alumni events in your area, it can also be helpful in targeting your networking efforts, since alumni publications often feature stories about successful alums, or a “where are they now” section that summarizes what people are up to.
Though you can always find out about your classmates’ careers on LinkedIn or Facebook, your alumni newsletter makes a valuable companion to these online networking sites. For example, your newsletter may feature a classmate you didn’t know in college, who is now the CEO of a leading business in your industry. Now, you not only know the person is a great networking contact for you, but you also have a reason to reach out on LinkedIn. Mention that you were impressed with the feature in the alumni newsletter as a conversation starter.
The most important thing to remember about your alumni network, though, is that if you’re not using it to your advantage, you’re likely missing out on potential job and career opportunities. Many of your fellow alumni will be happy to connect with you and offer you advice and insight on your career.
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
Posted under: Job Search
8 tips to apply for an out-of-state job
8 tips to apply for an out-of-state job
By Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder
You’ve been looking for a job for months, to no avail, so you’ve decided to start fresh — in a new city, in a different state, hundreds of miles away. Some people might think you’re crazy, but expanding your job search might actually be the best thing you could do.
“People should not limit themselves to one area. There are many jobs in specific fields that are hot in certain geographic locations [and not so hot in] others,” says Gina Kleinworth, social media coordinator for HireBetter in Austin, Texas. “In these times when jobs can be scarce, you must be open to going where the jobs are. They are not going to come to you.”
While submitting your rĂ©sumĂ© to an out-of-state employer is a good way to ramp up your job search, it’s not without challenges. Job seekers may worry that hiring mangers may not consider their rĂ©sumĂ© as seriously as a local candidate, for example, but that’s not necessarily true.
“At first, hiring managers may be inclined to consider candidates that are local or within commuting distance. But as the search continues they can become more open to candidates that are applying from out of the area,” Kleinworth says. “Hiring someone from out of the area can be a great way to bring in top talent that you wouldn’t otherwise find in your local area.”
The level of the position can also be an obstacle when you apply for a job out of state. An executive out-of-state applicant might be more appealing to an employer than an entry-level candidate, for example.
“Generally, entry level jobs are more abundant,” Kleinworth notes. “You normally see people relocating for a job because it is a step above their current level, a great new opportunity or is in a more desirable location. This usually isn’t the case with entry-level positions.”
Other obstacles that job seekers might consider when searching for a job in a different state include:
Lack of contacts
Fewer (or no) opportunities to attend networking events
Traveling for multiple interviews
Difficulty obtaining current and accurate information on the local job market
While it may seem like the odds are stacked against you, it’s important to remember that you’re going to face difficulties whether you’re searching locally or out of state. And like all challenges, there is a way to overcome them, if you just know how.
Here are eight best practices and tips that job seekers should keep in mind when submitting their résumé out of state, according to Kleinworth and Barbara Babkirk, master career counselor and owner of Heart At Work Career Counseling in Portland, Maine.
1. Identify your career and personal goals
“Clarify the type of job want. Are you interested in changing careers or just employers?” Babkirk asks. “Where do you want to live, including location and type of residence? What is your ideal time frame for moving?”
2. Write a job description that reflects what you want and use it as a benchmark
“Know what is necessary or negotiable for you in terms of: salary and benefits, responsibilities, physical work environment, colleagues, skills and workplace culture,” Babkirk says.
3. Research the new location
“Look at the quality of the schools if you have children, make sure the housing is acceptable and within your new price range, check out the crime rate where you’d be wanting to live, research the demographics, look into services available and how they compare with what you are looking for,” Kleinworth says.
4. Identify and research key resources in your industry or career field
“Research the professional associations affiliated with your target job. The Encyclopedia of Associations, available in libraries and online, gives useful descriptions,” Babkirk says. “Note the officers’ names and the date and place of their annual conference. Plan to attend if possible. Contact the association’s officers for help with networking.”
5. Be rational
“Be realistic about what it will truly cost you to relocate if the new employer doesn’t offer assistance,” Kleinworth says. “Moving is expensive.”
6. Network your way out of state
“Tell anyone you know of your plans to relocate. Ask if they know anyone who lives and works in your target location and if they would be willing to send an e-mail asking if you might contact them for networking,” Babkirk says.
7. Stay focused on your goal and take specific steps each week toward it
“Before you know it, you’ll be living and working where you want to be,” Babkirk encourages.
8. Don’t give up
If you are committed to finding the perfect job- it does exist and you can have a job you love in a place you love living in.
Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
Posted under: Job Search
11 job search tips for 2011
11 job search tips for 2011
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer
It’s 2011 and it’s time to take control of your job search. This year, it’s no longer up to companies to hire you, it’s up to you to get hired. Forget about how the economy is doing. Reflect on last year if you must, but then forget about that, too. This year, your focus will be on finding the right job for you and doing everything you can to be the best candidate for that job. The competition may still be tough, but here’s how to turn the tables in your favor.
1. Narrow your search. Stop applying to jobs that you’re not qualified for or don’t really want. It’s a waste of time. Be honest with yourself when evaluating job postings. If you had to start the job tomorrow, do you have all the skills you’d need to succeed? Or are there areas of the job description that you don’t have experience in? While it’s always great to be willing to learn, most companies want to hire someone who can jump right in and get started without being trained from scratch. Focus your time on creating great applications for jobs you are well-qualified for instead.
2. Know exactly what you want. Narrowing down your job search may force you to ask yourself tough questions like: What kind of job am I really after? And what skills can I offer an employer? If you’re unsure of the answer, make one list of the job skills you excel at and one of the skills you like to use most. Use these skills as search terms in your job search.
3. Re-evaluate your skills. If you feel as if you’ve looked at every job posting on earth and you still can’t find one your skills match up with, then it’s time to get some new skills. The good news for those who are unemployed is that it’s the perfect opportunity to go back to school. You won’t have to divide your time with your job obligations, and there’s also the possibility that the economy will have recovered a bit by the time you graduate, giving you a double leg up. Government funding and other programs are available for out-of-work job seekers who want to enroll in training or continue their education.
4. Set goals. Yes, your overall goal may be to get a job, but setting short-term, specific job search goals for the year will help you grow and force you to continuously evaluate your progress. Improve your networking skills, for example, by making January’s goal to join a professional organization and February’s to attend a college alumni event. Holding yourself accountable for achieving these goals will boost your self-esteem and motivate you to continue searching by providing you with new leads and information.
5. Try something new. If you’re stuck in a job search rut, add a new strategy to your repertoire. Instead of only job searching online, try working with a recruiter and setting up informational interviews with industry contacts, too. A multifaceted approach will get the best results.
6. Get a leg up on the competition. If you come across a job that seems perfect for you, do something that will subtly help you stand out from the crowd. When you find a job posting you want to apply to, find out the name of the hiring manager or someone who works in the same department, and send the person an e-mail directly. It’s 2011, which means almost anything can be found online, including names and e-mail addresses. A LinkedIn search on the company should turn up a list of employees and their titles, from which you can select the most appropriate person. Then, search the company website or press releases for the company’s e-mail format.
7. Get ahold of your online reputation: When human-resources managers search for your name online – and they will do it – you can either take control of what they see, or you can leave it to the powers of the crawl search gods. Search results that are professional and consistent and that establish you as an expert in your field will be far more impressive than Facebook pictures from Thanksgiving. Things like a Facebook or LinkedIn profile and a Twitter feed will all show up on the first page, so signing up for these sites and populating the accounts with up-to-date, professional content will make a great impression.
8. Start a website: If you want to take your Internet presence one step further, starting a website will showcase your skills and talents in a thorough and interesting way, and it’ll add to your professionalism and give you credibility. Plus, it’s not as costly or as time-consuming as you might think. Domain names (i.e. YourName.com), can be registered on sites like GoDaddy.com or Bluehost.com for around $10, and web hosting can cost as little as $3 per month. If you’re not particularly tech savvy, premade blog templates give you a professional look with minimal hassle. Wordpress.com has tons of template options and also provides great technical support for novices.
9. Stay current: You should always be in the loop, even if you’re out of work. Read trade publications, comment on industry blogs and stay on top of any emerging technologies or policies that may affect your career path. This will not only help you have a great conversation with an interviewer and keep your professional edge, but it may also give you new ideas about where and how to look for a job.
10. Sell yourself: An interview is no time for modesty, especially in times like these. When you land an interview, go prepared with at least five examples that demonstrate your best qualities. That way, when an interviewer asks, “Why should I hire you,” you can talk about how you’re such a quick learner that you taught yourself Photoshop in a week and how your entrepreneurial spirit led you to start your first lawn-mowing business at age 16. Be sure to leave the interviewer with the phone numbers of references who will back you up with glowing recommendations.
11. Keep that glass half-full approach, all year: A job search will always have its frustrating moments, because things don’t always happen when or how we want them to happen. But instead of letting setbacks ruin motivation, take them as lessons. Your lack of interviews may mean it’s time to re-evaluate your career path or skills, which could lead you to a more fulfilling career. This type of positive attitude will be much more productive in helping you find your next job.
The bottom line is that job searching will be tough this year, but landing a job — even your dream job — can still be a reality. A proactive job search is your best bet, so take the necessary steps to ensure you get the job you want.
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.
Posted under: Job Search
What not to wear
What not to wear
5 interview attire don’ts
By Robert Half International
You may think to yourself, “I’d never wear anything that crazy!” But even subtle mistakes when it comes to your wardrobe can damage your chances of landing the job you seek.
Here are some interview attire no-nos:
Don’t take casual to the extreme. Take a lesson from the job seeker who made the mistake of wearing sweatpants to an interview: You will not be taken seriously if you look like you just strolled in from the gym.
Even if a company has a very laid-back atmosphere, maintaining a professional look is essential. It provides instant credibility and signals to the interviewer that you take the position seriously. If you’re working with a recruiter, ask him or her for insight into the interview dress code. When in doubt, err on the conservative side and wear a suit, sport coat or blazer.
Don’t overdo it. You don’t want the most distinctive thing about you to be the scent of your cologne still lingering in interviewer’s office hours after you’ve left. Avoid overpowering fragrances; many people are sensitive — even allergic — to perfumes and colognes.
The same guidelines apply to makeup and jewelry. While these aspects of your wardrobe can allow you express your personality, be judicious in your choices. Less is usually more.
Don’t forget about comfort. Most people are already nervous enough during the interview. Don’t increase your propensity to sweat by wearing a plastic skirt, like one individual cited in the survey.
Similarly, avoid wearing clothes that itch or constrict your movements. You want to exude confidence during an interview, not look like you have a rash or can’t breathe. A well-fitting outfit also can put you at ease.
Test-drive your clothing choices ahead of time to ensure everything fits well and makes you feel good about your appearance. This is especially important if it’s been awhile since you’ve donned your interview suit. Repair or replace anything that is torn or soiled.
Another tip: Dress in layers so you can be at ease regardless of the temperature. If you show up in Bermuda shorts, as one candidate referenced in the survey did, you might spend the whole meeting shivering under an air conditioning vent.
Don’t show too much skin. One job candidate we heard about arrived to the interview in a micro-miniskirt and fishnet stockings. Another wore a leather vest without a shirt underneath. If you want the job, avoid attire that is more fitting for the club than the office. Midriff-baring T-shirts, low-rise pants or mini-anything should be shoved back in the closet.
Don’t avoid the mirror. Conduct a final head-to-toe assessment before leaving the house to ensure that everything — including your hair, nails and shoes — is presentable. Do the same when you get to the interviewer’s office. A quick trip to the restroom will allow you to make final adjustments before meeting with the hiring manager.
Remember, when it comes to attire, simple is best. What you wear won’t get you the job, but it may take you out of the running. In the end, it’s best to focus attention on your abilities, not your favorite funky shirt, shoes or skirt.
Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/roberthalf.Posted under: Interview
6 Steps for First-Time Job Hunters
6 Steps for First-Time Job Hunters
By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor
Congratulations, you’ve done it! You made it through college, have your degree in hand and are finally ready to make your mark. You are now in the real world and it’s time to get your professional life started.
If you are in the middle of this crossroad, it can be scary, exciting, confusing, overwhelming or all of the above. Following are some steps to make a successful college-to-real world transition.
Step 1: Pinpoint Your Direction.
After four (or five, or six) years of college, you are completely certain about what you want to do, right? If not, now is the time to determine what your strengths are and identify what kind of careers suit you. Are you someone who loves to be around people? Or are you happier crunching numbers or creating computer programs? Consider all of your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and interests when thinking about your career plan. Read about fields that interest you and talk to others who are doing jobs that you find interesting. Focus your direction on positions and fields that match your interests and talents.
Step 2: Do Your Research.
It is vital to learn as much as you can about the companies that interest you and to consider all of your options, says Pam Webster, a recruiting manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. She should know: Enterprise is the nation’s largest recruiter of college graduates.
“You should be open-minded about opportunities in companies and industries you might not have thought of before,” she says. Once you have identified companies that you want to target, Webster suggests looking at their Web sites, reading news articles and talking to current employees to learn as much as you can. “You also need to look at a company’s stability,” she says. “Is the company going to be there for the long term?”
Step 3: Assemble Your Toolkit.
It is important to have the right tools for any task. The tools needed for a job search are a résumé, cover letter and a portfolio of your work. Take the time to develop a résumé and cover letter that clearly convey your strengths and experience. Here are a few tips to remember:
Think about the type of résumé you need. A functional résumé, which highlights your abilities rather than your work history, is a good choice for first-time job seekers.
Focus on accomplishments and results you have achieved, rather than simple descriptions of experiences.
Use action words in your rĂ©sumĂ© and cover letter to describe your experiences, such as “initiated,” “produced” and “managed.”
If you are low on practical work experience, look to your part-time work, school activities or volunteer positions. “Evaluate all of your experience and translate how it applies to any job you might apply to,” Webster says.
Step 4: Network.
One of the most important tasks in any job search is networking. Take advantage of any resources you have, including your school’s career placement office, friends who graduated before you and are already working, friends of your parents, former professors, and neighbors. Send e-mails to ask if your contacts know someone who can help you. Pass your rĂ©sumĂ© around and ask others to do the same. Call your contacts to see if they know someone who works for a firm you are interested in joining.
Step 5: Play the Part.
If you want to join the professional world, you need to act — and look — the part. Buy a business suit and wear it to all of your interviews. “Make sure your e-mail address and voice mail greeting are appropriate,” Webster says. That means if your e-mail user name is “crazygirl2005,” you might want to get a new account. Webster says you should also remember to be professional at home. “Be prepared for a phone call or a phone interview at any time,” she says. The more you play the part of a well-trained professional, the more people will see you as a professional.
Step 6: Don’t Give Up.
The real world can be a real challenge. Set realistic expectations and recognize that you will probably have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You will likely face rejection as you start looking for your first full-time job, but everyone goes through it. Just remember to be proactive, be persistent and remain confident that there is a great job out there for you!
Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Posted under: Job Search
A résumé checklist
A résumé checklist: 13 things to do before you apply for the job
By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing. Featuring an excerpt from “Step-by-Step RĂ©sumĂ©s” by Evelyn Salvador.
msncareerbuilder.com
Fortunately, boosting a bland rĂ©sumĂ© or simply polishing it before applying for a job isn’t as difficult as you might expect. Evelyn Salvador, author of “Step-by-Step RĂ©sumĂ©s,” says there are many simple, yet effective, tricks that can significantly strengthen your rĂ©sumĂ©‘s readability, call to action, marketability and overall appearance.
In her book, Salvador recommends you take the following steps to improve your résumé before using it to apply for jobs:
1. Remove personal pronouns. These are understood in your rĂ©sumĂ© and you should leave them out of each sentence. If your rĂ©sumĂ© contains the words “I,” “me” or “my,” delete them and restructure your sentences if necessary.
2. Check for verbs. Be sure each bullet in your “professional experience” section starts with a verb or an adverb preceding a verb.
3. Delete redundant or superfluous words. Review each sentence or bullet and delete any words that your sentence reads fine without, such as “the” and “that,” as well as unnecessary “fluff” words. Edit down to the most concise sentence possible without omitting important content, such as achievements.
4. Include personal attributes. Double-check that your primary attributes are included in your “professional summary” section and that you didn’t leave out any important ones.
5. Ensure that all pertinent, targeted qualifications are included. Compare your rĂ©sumĂ© to the description of the job you’re targeting. Is there any information you didn’t already mention that would address a function or need listed in the description? If so, revise your rĂ©sumĂ© to include that information.
6. Prioritize your bullets. Review your responsibilities and achievements in each position and move the more important, targeted ones closer to the top under each position.
7. Remove irrelevant information. Check to ensure that anything irrelevant or not directly related to your targeted goal is minimized, put toward the end or omitted so that your résumé includes more relevant information.
8. Subdivide and categorize bullets. If you have many responsibility and achievement bullets under each position (say, more than 10), you can divide them into two categories (“responsibilities” and “achievements”) and subtitle them as such under each position for easier reading.
9. Check for quantifying information. When reviewing your sentences, ask yourself, “Did I include how many, how much, how often, how big, how fast, how well and so on?” If not, go edit your sentences to include more specific, concrete information.
10. Verify that “CAR” and benefit information is included. Do your achievements include the Challenge you faced, the Action you took and the Result? Be sure you show how well you performed these functions and always include the benefit(s) to the company.
11. Vary bullet line length. Try for a good mix of line lengths. Bullets are effective when they are a combination of one, two and three typed lines. Because it is important to show not only what you did, but also how well you did it and what the benefits were to the company, information should be concise without sacrificing content or meaning. In this way, you will have an action-packed, achievement-oriented résumé that is tightly and concisely written.
12. Check grammar, punctuation and spelling. Spell-check your document in your word-processing program. Proofread several times. Be consistent in your use of capitalization and hyphenation. Be sure you have used correct grammar and punctuation. If this is not one of your fortes (and it isn’t for many people), give your completed rĂ©sumĂ© to someone you trust to proofread it for you.
13. Add adjectives or adverbs where applicable. Check to see whether you can add descriptors that show how well you performed your job functions.
Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne
Posted under: Resumes and Cover Letter
What not to wear
What not to wear
5 interview attire don’ts
By Robert Half International
msncareerbuilder.com
You may think to yourself, “I’d never wear anything that crazy!” But even subtle mistakes when it comes to your wardrobe can damage your chances of landing the job you seek.
Bing: Is business casual the new norm?
Here are some interview attire no-nos:
Don’t take casual to the extreme. Take a lesson from the job seeker who made the mistake of wearing sweatpants to an interview: You will not be taken seriously if you look like you just strolled in from the gym.
Even if a company has a very laid-back atmosphere, maintaining a professional look is essential. It provides instant credibility and signals to the interviewer that you take the position seriously. If you’re working with a recruiter, ask him or her for insight into the interview dress code. When in doubt, err on the conservative side and wear a suit, sport coat or blazer.
Don’t overdo it. You don’t want the most distinctive thing about you to be the scent of your cologne still lingering in interviewer’s office hours after you’ve left. Avoid overpowering fragrances; many people are sensitive — even allergic — to perfumes and colognes.
The same guidelines apply to makeup and jewelry. While these aspects of your wardrobe can allow you express your personality, be judicious in your choices. Less is usually more.
Don’t forget about comfort. Most people are already nervous enough during the interview. Don’t increase your propensity to sweat by wearing a plastic skirt, like one individual cited in the survey.
Similarly, avoid wearing clothes that itch or constrict your movements. You want to exude confidence during an interview, not look like you have a rash or can’t breathe. A well-fitting outfit also can put you at ease.
Test-drive your clothing choices ahead of time to ensure everything fits well and makes you feel good about your appearance. This is especially important if it’s been awhile since you’ve donned your interview suit. Repair or replace anything that is torn or soiled.
Another tip: Dress in layers so you can be at ease regardless of the temperature. If you show up in Bermuda shorts, as one candidate referenced in the survey did, you might spend the whole meeting shivering under an air conditioning vent.
Don’t show too much skin. One job candidate we heard about arrived to the interview in a micro-miniskirt and fishnet stockings. Another wore a leather vest without a shirt underneath. If you want the job, avoid attire that is more fitting for the club than the office. Midriff-baring T-shirts, low-rise pants or mini-anything should be shoved back in the closet.
Don’t avoid the mirror. Conduct a final head-to-toe assessment before leaving the house to ensure that everything — including your hair, nails and shoes — is presentable. Do the same when you get to the interviewer’s office. A quick trip to the restroom will allow you to make final adjustments before meeting with the hiring manager.
Remember, when it comes to attire, simple is best. What you wear won’t get you the job, but it may take you out of the running. In the end, it’s best to focus attention on your abilities, not your favorite funky shirt, shoes or skirt.
Bing: Body language can say a lot
Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/roberthalf.
Tips for getting hired long distance
Tips for getting hired long distance
By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer
Long-distance job hunts bring with them a special set of requirements that can seem daunting at first, but aren’t all that much worse than a regular job search. With a little planning, you can conduct a long-distance job search that will land you a job in any city you want.
Choose locations
Hunting for a job in a single city is difficult. Hunting for one in all 50 states is virtually impossible. Rather than approach your job search as a nationwide Easter egg hunt, decide what cities you want to focus on. Although you might be open to any location that will offer you a job, you should make a list of five or 10 cities where you can see yourself working. For example if you hate to drive and love cold winters, then you should probably cross Los Angeles off of your list.
Know the job market
When you’re looking at potential locations for your job search, do some research on the local economy. Not all cities offer the same opportunities. Although you know that local unemployment rates differ from city to city, remember that industry vitality is just as diverse. One city might have a low unemployment rate, but your industry isn’t necessarily enjoying the same boom. Look at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and peruse newspapers for localized information.
Use your network
The glory of social media is that networks aren’t confined by geography anymore. Look at your Facebook friends and you probably know people in dozens of states, if not countries. Use your contacts from all of your social media profiles to publicize your job search and ask for any information that could guide you toward the right opportunity. When it comes to job hunting, you can’t ever have too many people looking for jobs on your behalf.
Brush up on your phone skills
Phone interviews typically come before any in-person interview, but the likelihood of them increases greatly when you’re searching long distance. In most cases, employers won’t expect you to fly out for a first-round interview, so a phone interview is most common, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. Practice speaking at a calm pace, be certain your phone signal is strong and do a few dry runs with a friend.
Perhaps most importantly, job seekers are often afraid to appear impolite when interviewers call and say, “Sure, I can talk right now.” If you are caught off guard or if you are in the middle of feeding your children and doing laundry, you can be honest. Even if you ask for 15 minutes to go to a quieter room, you want to create the best setting for your interview.
Decide if you’ll travel for an interview
Sometimes you’ll get to a second or third round of interviews when the employer wants to meet you in person. Sometimes the company pays for travel, but other times they don’t. Set a few ground rules for yourself in order to determine what opportunities you consider worth your time and money. Also, if asked to travel, find out as much information as possible about so that you can make the arrangements that work best for you. See what dates are available (so you can book the most affordable flight) and how long the process takes (so you know if you can fly home that day and save hotel fare). You want to know as much as possible beforehand so you can make the most informed decision possible.
Travel
Relocating for a job is a big move that can pay off for your career, but it can also require sacrifices. Leaving behind your friends, paying for the move, and spending the time on the move itself all require a lot of energy. You want to be certain the city you’re moving to is worth it, so if you haven’t visited in a while or ever, find a way to visit before you move. Not only will you find out if the culture is right for you, but you will also get a better idea of the layout. You could realize that you should extend your job search to nearby suburbs or towns, which can open up a new set of possibilities.
Know your own relocation plan
The most important part of your long-distance job search is having a flexible game plan. Without a job offer, you might not have a definitive move date, but you should have an idea of what is possible in case you get an offer. Employers know you’re not a local candidate, so they will want to know how soon you can start and when you plan to be in the city.
If you get an offer and then say you need time to put your house on the market, find a good school for your children, and decide where you want to live, you’ll probably lose out on the opportunity. Most employers understand the complexity of a long-distance job search, but they don’t have six months to wait for you, either. A flexible plan allows you and the employer to negotiate a mutually agreeable start date while also showing that you’re serious about relocating.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues
Posted under: Job Search
How are you supposed to answer “What are your weaknesses?”
How are you supposed to answer “What are your weaknesses?”
By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer
Interviewing someone for a job is not as easy as it looks. First, as the interviewer, you’re tasked with finding the person who will not only do the job well but also fit in well with the other employees. You have to assess abstract qualities that can’t be found on a rĂ©sumĂ©. Because you have to repeat the process for every potential employee, you end up asking question after question to applicant after applicant.
Still, interviewers need to be told something: “What is your biggest weakness?” is not a good question. It just isn’t.
Now, job seekers have to understand that interviewers want to find some way to distinguish one applicant from another. Asking questions that are seemingly impossible to answer is one way to see who can think creatively. The question is an admirable way to achieve this. However, this question isn’t the same as asking, “Name three difficult situations and how you’ve overcome them.” That question asks you to think critically about your performance, talents and problem-solving skills. Asking you to identify your weakest professional trait is like asking, “Why should I choose someone else for this job?”
Yet, it’s a staple that you should assume will come up in every interview. Rather than tell the interviewer, “Well, that’s a dumb question and I refuse to answer it,” you do have a legitimate ways to respond and look better for it. And no, stating that your biggest flaw is being a perfectionist is not an acceptable answer, either.
Honesty, with a twist
“‘What are your three strengths and three weaknesses?’… is a classic, but not too many people know how to answer this,” says Kenneth C. Wisnefski, founder and CEO of WebiMax, an online marketing company specializing in search engine optimization. “As an interviewer, we want to hear strengths that describe initiative, motivation and dedication. The best way to respond is to include these attributes into specific ‘personal statements.’
Similarly, weaknesses should be positioned as a strength that can benefit the employer.
“I like to hear applicants state an exaggerated strength, and put an interesting twist on it. An example of this is, ‘My initiative is so strong, that sometimes I take on too many projects at a time.’”
This answer leads with a strength that employers want — initiative — and still acknowledges that you’re not perfect. In fact, you can overextend yourself. Although you might consider this acknowledgement too honest, it works because it proves you’re being honest. Plus, employers are still requiring workers to “do more with less,” so you show that you are prepared to multitask.
Honesty, with progress
When you consider what your weaknesses are, think about how you have attempted to overcome them. No one is perfect, so pretending that you had a weakness and then eliminated it entirely will come across is insincere. Debra Davenport, author of “Career Shuffle,” believes citing examples are the best approach.
“My preferred response for this question is to tell the truth without damaging the applicant’s image — and in a manner that doesn’t make the candidate come across like they’ve been coached by a Hollywood PR person,” Davenport explains. “Many candidates are on to this question and so have developed fluff answers such as, ‘My co-workers have told me that I sometimes take my work too seriously,’ or ‘I can never seem to leave the office at 5:00 — I guess I just love my work too much!’”
Employers aren’t buying it, she says.
“A better response might be, ‘I’ve had some challenges with work-life balance in the past and I realize that a life out of balance isn’t good for me, my family or my employer. I’ve taken the time to learn better time and project management, and I’m also committed to my overall wellness. I eat right, exercise and maintain healthy boundaries for myself.’”
The answer adds some dimension to the question, and proves you’ve thought beyond the answer. You’ve actually changed your behavior to address the situation, even if you haven’t completely overcome the weakness.
“[It] lets the employer know that this candidate is emotionally mature, self-directed and takes care of himself or herself … and possesses a high internal locus of control — a very positive attribute.”
Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes
However you decide to answer, Debra Yergen, author of “Creating Job Security Resource Guide,” recommends job seekers imagine themselves sitting on the other side of the desk.
“If you were doing the hiring, what would you be looking for? What would be your motivation for asking certain questions? Who would you be trying to weed out? If you can empathize with the interviewer, you can better understand what they want and need, and then frame your qualifications to meeting their needs for the position you seek.”
Once you consider what the goal of the question is and figure out what your honest answer is, you’ll be able to give the best possible answer to a tricky question.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues
Posted under: Interview
10 important Twitter career resources
10 important Twitter career resources
Follow these people and improve your job search
By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer
msn.com
Recently, a friend of mine returned from a two-year stint overseas, where his access to current technology was limited. He asked, “So, this Twitter thing — is it a phenomenon?” After thinking about it, I realized that Twitter is beyond that stage. It’s officially here to stay, or at least has outlived the possibility of simply being a passing trend.
Although Twitter began in 2006, it gained popularity in the 2008 presidential election and since continued to make news with its important role in political conflicts around the world. Somewhere along the way Twitter went from “What is it?” to “Are you on it?”
For those who don’t know what Twitter is, or the stubborn who refuse to participate in peer pressure, Twitter is a microblog service. You write messages that are no more than 140 characters in length and let the world read them, all while you read theirs. If you’re familiar with Facebook, it’s basically like reading the Newsfeed: an endless series of pithy messages. Really, though, it can be so much more than that if you want it to be.
Why use Twitter during a job hunt?
Twitter can be overwhelming when you log on because, if you’re following many people, their messages roll down the screen quickly and you can’t possibly read every single one. That’s also what makes Twitter perfect for a job seeker. Playing online can feel like a waste of time when all you want to do is earn a paycheck, but it can augment your search rather than distract from it.
Think about some of the key elements of a successful job search:
· Find the right company culture for you
· Research the latest news and events for any company you apply to
· Know what’s happening in your industry and the job market as a whole
· Understand current technology and trends (depending on your industry)
You can use Twitter to help you achieve each of these goals. With that in mind, we put together a list of people we believe you should follow on Twitter in order to improve your job search.
6 important accounts
@AskAManager (Alison Green)
Green, a former manager, left the corporate world to do her own consulting and started the Ask a Manager blog along the way. On the blog, she answers job seekers and employee questions, dishing out secrets that few non-managers are privy to. With topics like “My friend is applying for my job and I don’t want to recommend her,” Green is a valuable Twitter friend to have.
@CareerBuilder (CareerBuilder)
Of course we include ourselves, but it’s because we keep you up to date with articles and blog posts (written by us and other experts) discussing job search tips, workplace issues and employment trends.
@careerdiva (Eve Tahmincioglu)
Tahmincioglu writes a workplace column for MSNBC.com, maintains her own blog at CareerDiva.net, and even wrote a book . In other words, she’s immersed in all things career, and her Twitter updates are proof. One way she also sets herself apart from other career Tweeters is by highlighting workplace issues unique to women in the workforce, which is often an issue largely ignored.
@heatherhuhman (Heather R. Huhman)
Huhman, founder and president of marketing organization Come Recommended, is an expert on hiring issues from an employer and job seeker standpoint. She links to new advice articles on her site and links to other helpful advice she comes across from other sources.
@SelenaDehne (Selena Dehne)
As a book publicist for Jist, a publisher devoted to career topics, Dehne closely follows work news and advice all over the Internet. When one of Jist’s writers has an article published or she finds a helpful bit of advice from a blogger, she alerts her followers.
@usnews (U.S. News & World Report)
Longstanding newsmagazine U.S. News & World Report covers events of all sizes, but their Twitter feed does a great job of highlighting their job-related stories. Whether it’s an article on salary trends or dishing out tough love on why you’re not getting tired, the @usnews account is a job seeker’s friend.
Other important people to follow
Companies you want to work at
Researching the companies you’re applying to is an essential way to show employers that you are interested in the organization, not just the job. Follow their Twitter accounts to see what information they’re publicizing and to get a feel of their culture.
Friends
Networking is essential to any job hunt because friends can often refer you to a position, and referrals are usually more valuable to a company than a rĂ©sumĂ© from a stranger. Twitter, like Facebook and LinkedIn, is an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and to let them know that you’re looking for a job. Plus, it’s nice to have some Twitter updates sprinkled into your newsfeed that aren’t just about finding a job.
Industry experts
In addition to the career-focused experts listed above, you should seek out experts in the industry you’re looking to work in. The leading thinkers in your field will give you insight relevant to your specific job search, and people they follow are probably also worth looking at. Job search advice is good for everybody, but a graphic designer and lawyer can probably benefit most from following people in their respective fields.
News sites of your choice
Job searching doesn’t happen in a bubble. The economy is affected by more factors than can be counted, and you should know what’s going on in order to understand the job market you’re searching in. Plus, current events often weave their way into interviews, so you want to be well informed.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz and on Twitter at @CareerBuilder. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Posted under: Job Search
5 ways to derail your interview
5 ways to derail your interview
By Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder.com
An interview is one of the hardest things to obtain as a job seeker — and unfortunately, it’s also one of the easiest ways you can lose the job opportunity.
Interview mishaps happen to everyone, but the key to avoiding them is to relax and be yourself, says Laura Rose, a life and business coach and owner of Rose Coaching.
“The interview is as much about getting to know the company and work environment as it is about them interviewing you. This strategy relaxes the entire interview,” she says. “You can essentially direct the interview to the areas you are most comfortable talking about. Listening to the interviewer answer the questions, you can clue in on his terminology, terms and what he feels is important. Then you can highlight those same terms, and skill set in your comments back to him.”
Preparing for the meeting beforehand can also help you impress a potential employer.
“It’s difficult to overstress how important it is to do some research on a company you’re interviewing with. Have a list of good questions to ask the person interviewing you. You want to seem like you are asking questions that require thought rather than questions seeking information that may be available on the website,” says Debra Yergen, author of “Creating Job Security Resource Guide.”
“Start with questions about the importance the organization places on industry hot buttons and what the hiring manager sees as differences between their company and their competitors. Another great question might be something like, ‘Are there any employee groups here that work together to plan team-building activities or extracurricular events that bring co-workers together either to boost morale or support the community?’ These kinds of questions send a potential employer a message that you’re looking for more than a job,” she says.
While asking the right kinds of question is vital, you must also be prepared to answer the tough questions, says Henry Motyka, business solutions manager at Norwood Consulting.
“Of particular importance are behavioral interview questions like ‘Tell me about a situation when … ‘ It is best to define those situations beforehand and memorize them,” he says.
Doing your research, asking the right questions and answering tough questions effectively are all ways to avoid making an interview mistake. But, unfortunately, there are many ways to derail an interview. Here are five gaffes to steer clear of in your interview:
1. Inappropriate attire
“If you are not professionally attired, you won’t get the job, even if you are the most qualified,” says Sandy Dumont, the Image Architect. “Always dress better than required for an interview. Never dress down because it is insulting to the other person. It says ‘I don’t have to impress you, I dress for my own comfort.’ When you dress to impress, they get it, and you will stand out from all the other candidates.”
2. Trying to lead the interview
“Many of my clients have children. [They have a] tendency to talk over their interviewers. That’s how they manage to be heard at home and that’s what they often do in their interviews,” says Rory Cohen, career counselor. “When you don’t listen, you don’t get invited back for a second interview. Interviewers, in general, want and expect to be in the driver’s seat.”
3. Showing up too late or too early
“If you’re more than 15 minutes early to your interview, go to the restroom and freshen up, then casually walk in about 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment,” says Marie Applegate Prasad, founder of WiSo RĂ©sumĂ©s.
4. BYO food or drink
“Do not bring any food or drinks into the office of the interviewer. Many find eating or drinking a big distraction and some people are sensitive to smells,” Prasad says. “It’s best to just wait until after the interview is over.”
5. Forgetting important information
“On a sheet of paper write down the following information: company, address, phone number, hiring manager, person who scheduled the interview, position you are interviewing for and job duties,” Prasad says. “Study this and bring with you the day of your interview.”
Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.
Top paying jobs for the class of 2011
Top paying jobs for the class of 2011
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder writer
Historically, college graduation has been a time of celebration. The years of hard work and studying have come to end, and life in the real world — with a real paycheck — can finally begin. Yet for the students who graduated from college over the past three years, leaving the safe haven of a university campus and entering into the unstable job market was more panic provoking than festive.
Hiring of new college graduates began to decline in 2008, when companies first started feeling the effects of the recession. By 2009, the graduating class was faced with industry-wide hiring freezes. Things started to look up for the class of 2010, but companies — many of which had gotten used to doing more with less — were still hiring cautiously.
Now, in 2011, we can at last say that things are really and truly looking up for new college grads. According to the annual survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, overall, employers plan to hire 19.3 percent more new college graduates this fall than they did in the fall of 2011, the first double-digit percentage increase since 2007. In comparison, last year, hiring managers reported that they would be hiring 6.9 percent fewer new grads than the year prior.
There’s good news on the pay front, too. Salaries for the graduating class of 2011 are up from the previous year for the first time since 2008. On average, students can expect a starting offer of around $50,462, 5.9 percent higher than the average offer of $47,673 that 2010 grads received. Plus, 75 percent of employers surveyed said they planned to offer higher salaries to this year’s graduating class.
Like every year, though, certain degrees command a higher salary than others. While graduates from a variety of majors and disciplines have a shot at a decent salary in 2011, almost all of the top-10 offers will go to engineering and computer science grads. According to the NACE survey, the following are the highest anticipated payouts:
1. Chemical engineering
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $66,886
2. Computer science
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $63,017
3. Mechanical engineering
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $60,739
4. Electrical/electronics and communications engineering
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $60,646
5. Computer engineering
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $60,112
6. Industrial/manufacturing engineering
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $58,549
7. Systems engineering
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $57,497
8. Engineering technology
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $57,176
9. Information sciences & systems
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $56,868
10. Business systems networking/ telecommunications
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $56,808
For those who aren’t graduating with an engineering or computer science degree, however, all hope for a high salary is not lost. There are other majors that can expect offers of more than $50,000 per year. Here are 10 more degrees that will pull in the big bucks.
1. Nursing
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $55,774
2. Mathematics
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $55,300
3. Economics
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $54,634
4. Management information systems/ business data processing
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $$54,372
5. Finance
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $53,048
6. Agricultural sciences (not including plant science, animal science or conservation majors)
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $52,934
7. Human resources
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $52,532
8. Logistics/materials management
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $50,602
9. Accounting
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $50,316
10. Liberal arts & sciences/general studies
Average annual salary offer to 2011 grads: $50,313
Unfortunately, not all new graduates can expect high salaries right away. Those who might have delayed gratification when it comes to compensation include students who majored in elementary and secondary education, communications, journalism, social work, visual and performing arts, plant sciences and animal sciences — all degrees with an average starting salary of $35,000 or less.
Posted under: Job Search
10 jobs for outdoorsy types
10 jobs for outdoorsy types
By Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder
If you’re the outdoorsy type, picking a career that gets you away from the cubicle is key. Whether you’re roaming the woods as a park ranger or tending to livestock as an organic farmer, doing a job with an outdoor element is an important part of feeling satisfied at work. But don’t just reach for any outdoorsy position; consider other elements to figure out the perfect fit. Just because you love the outdoors doesn’t mean you’d be a great zookeeper.
Bing: Tips for commuting to work by bike
Are you a nature lover? Here are 10 jobs worth considering:
1. Archaeologist
Average annual salary: $75,559
Digging and studying what’s left behind by the ancient world can sound like a dream job to some. But archaeologists must be disciplined and understand that it’s rare to have the amazing discoveries shown in Hollywood films. Many spend a great deal of time outdoors at archaeological sites. Travel is a big perk.
2. Zookeeper
Average annual salary: $33,327
Working to maintain the indoor and outdoor e
vironments of zoos, zookeepers get plenty of time to connect with nature and the animals. Getting time to interact with and take care of the animals, many of which are endangered, is another rewarding part of the job.
3. Geologist
Average annual salary: $80,527
By studying the different components of the Earth, geologists often strive to understand its complicated history and processes. Both liquid and solid matter are studied, so geologists travel often and conduct research from a host of remote locations. Geologists need a thorough understanding of science and advanced degrees.
4. Fish and game warden
Average annual salary: $56,567
Patrolling natural areas such as lakes, rivers and wetlands, fish and game wardens spend a large part of their day enforcing state and local hunting and fishing codes. They spend most of the workday outside, so they have a lot of time to connect with their natural surroundings.
5. Wildlife biologist
Average annual salary: $41,502
Studying wild animals, biologists often help in efforts to conserve and protect wildlife. Biologists work with state and federal agencies to facilitate an understanding of wild animals and their habitats. Wildlife biologists have some of the most important roles in preserving endangered animals.
6. Botanist
Average annual salary: $67,777
Studying plant life and the environment, botanists work on a variety of initiatives and have the opportunity to learn about the most detailed aspects of the outdoors. Some botanists work with integrating plant products into medicine or cosmetics.
7. Park ranger
Average annual salary: $22,203
Patrolling state or national parks, park rangers help enforce regulations and ensure that visitors use the area in an orderly manner. Park rangers are in charge of anything from cleaning up to helping facilitate parking permits, so work duties differ each day.
8. Organic farmer
Average annual salary: $35,389
Farming with a sustainable focus, organic farmers are often at the helm of the “green” movement and have made significant headway when promoting their products. Working in all modes of production and with different crops, they spend a significant part of the year tending to crops outdoors or preparing products for delivery.
9. Photographer
Average annual salary: $46,924
Most professional photographers will tell you that there’s nothing like natural light to enhance their work. Whether they are photographing people, nature or animals, many photographers shoot at least part of their work outdoors.
10. Landscape architect
Average annual salary: $72,402
Whether they are designing gardens, rooftops or parks, landscape architects get to use their skills to make use of outdoor areas. With so many environments to choose from, the profession also appeals to creative types who want to help beautify unused spaces.
*Average annual salary from cbsalary.com
Bing: Lunchtime workout ideas
Alina Dizik researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter
Posted under: Job Search
Job references: How to choose good ones and get the most from their support
Job references: How to choose good ones and get the most from their support
By Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder
Think before you select.
According to Jayne Mattson, senior vice president of Keystone Associates (a career management consulting firm headquartered in Boston), a good reference is someone who:
Wants to see you succeed as much as you do.
Can clearly articulate your strengths, areas of expertise and development.
Can think on her feet if asked a tough question.
You would feel good about being a reference for.
While several people you know may fit the bill, consider whose position or ability to give pertinent information would be most useful to the prospective employer. “In most instances, companies are looking for professional references — people you have worked for or with who can comment on your skills and accomplishments,” says Tracy A. Cashman, partner and general manager of the information technology division of Winter, Wyman — one of the largest staffing firms in the Northeast. “There are occasions when companies want more personal/character references, but you should have at least three or four (professional) references at your disposal, ideally to include a past manager, a colleague, a subordinate (if appropriate) and perhaps someone from another team/division who you worked with on a particular project.”Since you are looking for references to be enthusiastic advocates, it also is worth considering who might best convince others of your abilities. “There’s nothing worse than a potential employer checking a reference who only answers in monosyllables and provides no detail,” Cashman says.
Likewise, Mattson notes that it is wise to avoid anyone with whom you did not have a good working relationship and people who you worked with years ago who are not up-to-date with your current career endeavors.
If you’re conducting a secret job search, you might want to think carefully about choosing someone from your current workplace. Make sure the person can be trusted to keep the search confidential.
Ask before you list.
Contacting people you’d like to use as a reference before listing them serves several purposes:
It makes you look professional and courteous.
It gives them time to prepare and not be caught off-guard by a phone call they didn’t expect.
Their willingness or hesitancy can help you judge whether or not they would make a good reference.
Lavie Margolin, a career coach and author of “Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers,” warns that just because someone agrees to give a reference, it does not mean that it will be a good one. “Your former supervisor may have had a different impression than you of the quality of work that you provided … Or what if your boss felt you left him in the lurch when you quit the company?” Instead of assuming, he suggests having a brief conversation with the potential reference where you can ask what he thought about you as a professional and what he plans to share.
Keep people in the loop.
Prepare your references to support your candidacy by briefing them on your background and career goals. Mattson suggests providing each with a current résumé, access to your LinkedIn profile and information on the best way to get in touch with you.
While it is good to occasionally update people on the status of your search, contact is especially useful when you know a potential employer is about to begin checking references. Discussing the position and pointing out key elements that you are trying to emphasize can help your reference prepare informative answers.
Be sure references can be contacted.
Once you’ve finalized your references, be ready to present them to a prospective employer when asked. Margolin suggests creating a one-page list that includes the following for each reference:
1. Person’s name
2. Job title
3. Relationship to you (such as co-worker or direct supervisor)
4. Company name
5. Address
6. Contact info (phone number, email address)
Then, check back with your references from time-to-time to make sure that contact information has not changed. The best reference in the world becomes useless if he can’t be reached.
Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.
Posted under: Job Search
The 10 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job Hunters
The 10 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job Hunters
By Kelly Eggers
If you’re in your final year of college, be warned: the rumors about landing a job in this economy are true. You should be taking steps today, not next semester, to prepare yourself.
An April 2011 survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Adecco Staffing U.S. found that 71% of 500 recent four-year college graduates would have done something differently to prepare for the job market. While companies will hire 9.5% more graduates from the class of 2012 than they did from the 2011 graduating class, according to another poll, employers are still looking for the pick of the litter.
“When you’re not familiar with the job market or job seeking, you really don’t know how much effort it will take,” said Kathy Kane, senior vice president of talent management for Adecco NA,
To find out what students can do to better prepare for the current job market, we spoke with career coaches, recruiters and recent graduates.
“I would have started looking for jobs earlier.”
Putting off your job hunt isn’t a wise move. Among the Adecco survey’s respondents, 26% said they would have started looking for potential positions earlier.
“It’s easy to fall into ‘my weekend starts on Thursday’ mode, rather than ‘I’ve got to put my job search into full gear today’ mode,” said Kane, “but procrastinators will have fewer choices.”
Most students don’t start thinking about their careers until they have to, said Lindsey Pollak, a career expert who focuses on Generation Y in the workplace. “There’s so much you can do that’s not a lot of work and not overly time consuming.”
“I would have actually networked.”
For students and older professionals alike, networking can feel like the most dreaded part of a job hunt. Twenty-nine percent of respondents to the Adecco survey said they would have spent more time building a solid professional network.
“Networking can be scary,” said Pollak, “but about 70% of jobs are found through networking.” Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solid connections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce, industry experts and alumni, and spend only 30% of their time looking at job listings.
For the most part, Pollak said, people love to help students. As long as you are gracious and thankful and not trying to hard-sell yourself right off the bat, potential connections are likely to be receptive.
“I would have taken on a job or an internship in addition to my courseload.”
Bottom line: There’s no substitute for experience.
Having some professional experience under your belt before entering the workforce has become a necessity for many employers.
“I don’t know a company that doesn’t want people with internship experience,” said Pollak. “My advice is to get yourself through the recession any way you can, and come out with whatever experience you can.”
Look for internships that provide college credit or are paid. Otherwise, gain work experience in a setting such as waiting tables — and talk with people at each and every table. “There are CEOs who started networking while they were waiting tables,” Pollak said.
If you can’t find a full- or part-time position on- or off-campus, try going to the Internet for virtual work. “There are jobs you can get without even leaving your dorm room,” Pollak said, including maintaining someone’s social media outlets, working as a copyeditor or building a website for a small business. Many of these types of jobs have flexible hours, an added benefit for busy students.
“I would have gotten more involved in career-relevant extracurricular activities.”
On-campus groups, clubs, events and activities are a great place to get experience that translates to the working world. Skills are skills. You can show you have gained relevant experience by planning concerts on campus or working as a freshman orientation assistant, for example.
“Everybody wants to hire people who understand how to manage projects, work alongside difficult people, and have built their communication skills,” said Kane. If you were on the dance team, and choreographed a group performance, for example, you’ve developed creative, leadership and training abilities, all of which translate to the workplace.
Experts say it’s a matter of framing the extracurricular experience you’ve had in a professional way. Try thinking of your biggest accomplishments as a member or leader of an extracurricular group, and using them to brainstorm resume bullet points.
“I would have applied to more jobs.”
Many recent graduates regret not putting out more feelers. According to the Adecco survey, 26% of recent graduates would have applied to more jobs prior to finishing school.
Putting your hat in the ring is the only way to be considered for most opportunities. The trick is to keep track of the applications you send out. “Sending in your application for hundreds of jobs on Monster.com will work against you,” said Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author of Me 2.0. Not only is it difficult to remember what you applied for and when, but you’re also likely to send out generic resumes.
Write your resume so it highlights your experience with each position’s requirements. Not sure what your relatable skill-set is? Try creating a Venn diagram that illustrates all of the skills and experience you’ve developed. The overlap can indicate your primary strengths, and the remainder can help you see where you have specific skills related to your prospective industry.
“I would have focused more on becoming ‘professional.’”
Save the sweatpants and fratty T-shirts for the weekend. Replace them with clothes that are fitted, pressed and at the very least casual-Friday appropriate even when you’re going to class. You may think dressing well every day doesn’t matter, but the professors you ask for recommendations will remember your style.
Another way to show your professionalism is to pick up the tab for networking coffees, and send thank-you notes for even a little bit of help. “If someone gives you advice, all you have to do is say thank you after the fact,” Pollak said.
And, of course, monitor your online appearance. Clean up and privacy-protect your Facebook accounts, start Tweeting interesting news (instead of which class you’re skipping), be careful where you “check-in” on your smartphone, and set up a solid LinkedIn profile, Pollak said. Add a signature line to your e-mail account and set up a professional voicemail message.
“I would have done more to figure out what my career goals were.”
Your first job out of college is unlikely to be your dream position, if you even know what that is. Indecision can hold you back, so set up some informational interviews to try to narrow your focus.
“It’s a rare gift at any age to know what your passion is,” said Bruce Tulgan, CEO of Rainmaker Thinking, a New Haven, Conn.-based management consultancy that focuses on integrating generations in the workplace. “In 99 out of 100 cases, people start to learn about a career path, gain experience in something, and over time they become passionate about it.”
Don’t be afraid to try something that you’re initially lukewarm about, said Pollak. “I don’t believe in dead-end jobs when you’re early in your career,” she said, “because everything is experience.”
“I would have gone to the career center.”
This is what they call a “no-brainer.” You might not think you need your university’s services, but there’s no reason to find out the hard way you did something wrong that could have been avoided.
“College students have an advantage other job seekers don’t — an on-campus career center staffed with people who have one purpose: to help students find jobs,” said Kane of Adecco. “Most career centers aren’t taken advantage of to their full extent.”
Once you get to know the counselors and they know what you’re looking for, they can tell you about new opportunities, Kane said. It’s also a good place to practice your elevator pitch, draft introductory e-mails or cover letters, perfect your resume, or any other measures you don’t want to run by friends or family members.
“I would have kept better track of my achievements.”
Experts say that even on-campus accolades belong on your resume.
“Start creating tangible results with your name on them so you have evidence of your ability to add value,” said Tulgan. “Save the tangible results, date them, and be prepared to present them.”
Tracking how many donations you collected from calling alumni or that you created a new filing system for the admissions office are achievements that translate to everyday work activities. Don’t forget to highlight your academic awards, such as making the dean’s list or honor society.
“Any accomplishment matters,” said Schawbel. “ Track them in a public setting, like your LinkedIn profile.” If it’s not out there for people to find, those achievements won’t be doing anything to help you, he said.
“I would have focused more on developing relevant skills.”
Having an awareness of industry-specific skills as well as broad, transferable ones is a way to really stand out.
“Companies aren’t investing as much in training, so companies are more likely to look for someone who can hit the ground running,” said Kane. That isn’t just familiarity with industry terminology, it’s also having professional “street smarts.”
“Show your understanding of chain-of-command issues, working with older, more experienced colleagues and working with people in parallel roles in other departments, or with vendors and customers,” said Tulgan.
You should also have excellent customer service knowledge – not only to use as a professional, but also to use as a job seeker. That includes making yourself available, being fully prepared for interviews,and knowing how to problem-solve, Tulgan said. “Above all, develop self-management skills and the ability to work effectively with a manager,” he said.
Posted under: Job Search
10 Interview Questions Decoded
10 Interview Questions Decoded
By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing
msn.careerbuilder.com
Anyone who’s ever spent time in a job search has probably walked away from at least one interview knowing right away that he botched it. Quite often, people who do feel confident about their last interview know they still could have answered one or two questions much better than they did.
The problem behind such scenarios is that too often, job seekers misunderstand or underestimate what they’re being asked during an interview, according to Jack Warner and Clyde Bryan, co-authors of “Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job.” A question such as, “Do you have any more questions for me?” may seem innocent and simple enough to answer, but candidates who give a weak response are usually the ones screened out of consideration for the job.
Job seekers should be aware that every question an interviewer asks is an opportunity to sell themselves as the most outstanding, must-have candidate for the job. In their book, Warner and Bryan identify some of the most popular interview questions, reveal what interviewers really want to know when asking them and offer tips to help job seekers develop a savvy response.
These questions include:
Tell us about yourself.
What they’re really asking: What makes you special? Why should we hire you?
Tips: Prepare several selling points about yourself. Give a quick “elevator speech” that overviews your experience and achievements.
What are your greatest strengths?
What they’re really asking: How do you perceive your talents and abilities as a professional? Will you be an asset to our organization?
Tips: Sell yourself. If you don’t promote your strengths, nobody else will. Prepare six or seven responses. Be “confidently humble.”
What are your greatest weaknesses?
What they’re really asking: How honest are you being about yourself with us? How realistic are you?
Tips: Present your weakness as a positive. Don’t talk too long or emphasize your downfalls.
Why are you interested in working here?
What they’re really asking: How dedicated are you? Do you have a passion for this type of work?
Tips: Keep your answer simple and to the point. Stay away from such responses as, “Many of my friends have worked here.” This response isn’t very impressive.
Why should we hire you?
What they’re really asking: Can you convince us you’re “the one?” Can you sell your “product?”
Tips: Make a powerful statement about the value you’ll bring to their organization. Toot your own horn, but be wary of sounding arrogant.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
What they’re really asking: Will you be here for only year a before moving on, or are you committed to staying here for a while? Are you a stable person? Can you set goals for yourself?
Tips: Be aware that they might not want to hire someone who will be around for only a year or two. Feel free to say that you have one goal at the moment: to be the very best employee for that particular job.
What are some of your hobbies?
What they’re really asking: How well-rounded are you? What do you do outside of work that might transfer positively into the workplace?
Tips: Emphasize any hobbies or activities that may relate to the job. Help the interviewer learn more about you and perceive you as a person, rather than a job candidate. Therefore, don’t just answer questions, respond to them.
Would you be willing to pursue an extra certificate or credential?
What they’re really asking: How is your attitude? How flexible are you?
Tips: Tell the interviewer how important professional growth is to you. Understand that the person who will impress the interviewer the most is the one willing to do the extra work.
What were you hoping we’d ask today, but didn’t?
What they’re really asking: Is there anything special about yourself that you want us to know?
Tips: Consider this a “show and tell” opportunity. Use materials from your portfolio to convince them how valuable you’ll be to their organization.
Do you have any questions for us?
What they’re really asking: Are you prepared to ask questions? How interested are you in this position?
Tips: List five or six questions on an index card. Ask at least one question, even if all of your prepared questions have been answered. Never say, “No, you’ve answered all of my questions.”
Warner and Clyde remind job seekers that it’s important to sound natural and thoughtful when replying to such questions, saying, “Don’t let your responses sound ‘canned’ or rehearsed. It’s important to make the interviewer feel as though you’ve given serious thought to their question and are genuinely interested in the job.”
Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. Her articles help people find meaningful work, develop their career and life plans, and carry out effective job search campaigns.
Posted under: Interview
How to connect with an employer via LinkedIn
How to connect with an employer via LinkedIn
By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer
Used right, LinkedIn can be a job seeker’s golden ticket.
Savvy job hunters can use the site to gain all kinds of advantages: information on the types of people a company hires, the name of the hiring manager for a particular job (and if they’re really lucky, an email address) and even the ultimate “in,” a personal connection at a company of interest.
But for every job seeker who expertly navigates the online networking scene, there are plenty of others who fumble their way through it, often over- or underestimating the role the site should play in their searches.
“LinkedIn is a valuable tool, but sometimes when people search for a job they can confuse activity with productivity,” says Tony Beshara, president of Dallas-based placement firm Babich and Associates, and author of “Unbeatable RĂ©sumĂ©s,” for which he surveyed more than 2,000 people about their LinkedIn use. “No matter what activity you’re doing, whether it’s writing your rĂ©sumĂ© or browsing profiles on LinkedIn, if that activity isn’t actually getting you an interview, it’s not as productive as something that would get you an interview.”
If your online networking has been less than productive — read: If it hasn’t actually lead to a connection to or interview with an employer of interest — you might need to revamp your LinkedIn strategy. These guidelines will help you get the most from the site.
When reaching out to your contacts:
· Don’t be shy
The whole point of LinkedIn is to connect with people, so if you’re hesitant to reach out to a former co-worker you haven’t spoken to in awhile, don’t be. She’s on the site for the same reason you are — to network with people — so she probably expects the occasional introduction request.
“Interestingly enough, everybody that’s on LinkedIn expects the same thing out of everybody else,” Beshara says. “[The thought is] ‘What I do for you today, you’ll do for me tomorrow.’ People are a lot more open to responding to you because they know that somebody else is going to do the same thing for them, or that you’re going to do the same thing for them the next time.”
· Don’t be needy
When you do find someone in your network who has a connection or works for a company you’d like an introduction to, your approach will play a big part in the person’s response.
“Make it known early in the process that you’re not expecting your networking connections to do the hard work for you,” says Diane Crompton, author of “Seven Days to Online Networking” and “Find a Job through Social Networking.” “In other words, if you want them to introduce you to a contact at their employer, say something like, ‘I’m not expecting you to endorse me for this position or intervene on my behalf.’ This will take the emotional burden off of them should they feel too much ownership in your job-search process.”
If your networking contact is new, or someone you don’t know very well, it’s especially important to make it known that you’ll be the most active part of the equation, Crompton says. For example, “Ask if you can use your contact’s name as a door opener to get the conversation going with your desired end recipient. By doing this, you’ve taken them off the hot seat in terms of their involvement,” she says.
· Take it off-line
InMail, LinkedIn’s messaging function, is great for making initial contact with someone. But once that’s done, take the conversation to email or a phone call, or establish a time to meet face-to-face. Besides being impersonal, communication via InMail is often ineffective and slow, since not everyone checks their LinkedIn profile consistently.
If you’re browsing your connections and find out that someone you know pretty well works at a company or has a connection of interest, you can skip the InMail message altogether.
For example, Beshara says, “Once you find somebody you know at an organization, call them up and say ‘Hey Mary, this is Tony, I understand you work with Leroy, and I’d like to get ahold of him. Can you tell me a little bit about him, or what’s going on at your organization?’”
When making introduction requests:
· Let your contact know it’s coming
If you plan on asking a contact for an introduction and have his email address, send him a “heads up” to let him know it’s coming. Doing so will help you gauge his reception to your request, Crompton says. “[Plus], not everybody is active on LinkedIn every day, and this will ensure that your message doesn’t sit in their LinkedIn Inbox for a long period of time,” she says.
· Make a good first impression
Something that not all job seekers realize before they send introduction requests: “When using the ‘Request an Introduction’ function on LinkedIn, you’ll need to create messages to your ‘bridge’ (middle) contact as well as to the end recipient,” Crompton says. “Keep in mind that both people receive both messages, so if you’re on a casual name basis with the introducer, you’ll still need to keep the communication more formal and professional, knowing that your end recipient will also get the message you sent along to the middle connection.”
When researching companies
· Find the hiring manager
If you’re interested in a particular job, try finding the hiring manager for the position on LinkedIn. Job descriptions will often include the title of the person to whom the job will report. If the position you’re interested in reports to the director of marketing, for example, pull up the company page, and see if you can find the person with this title.
If you do find the hiring manager, “It’s absolutely OK to reach out to him or her directly,” Beshara says. If the person’s email address isn’t listed, you can often find the company’s email format online (for example, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)), and plug the person’s name into the format.
· Look at whom they hire
Browsing company profiles will not only give you a better idea of whether or not you’re the type of person they usually hire, but will also clue you in about potential connections you may have missed.
“You can look at employee profiles and find out what kinds of people the company has hired in the past, what companies employees come from, if you went to school with any of them, etc.,” Beshara says.
If you find a common bond between you and someone you’d like to reach out to, “Use the transparency of LinkedIn to assess the best approach for communicating with your end recipient,” Crompton suggests. “Customizing your message by using these commonalities will build rapport and make your initial approach that much more warm.”
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.
Copyright 2011 CareerBuilder All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
Posted under: Job Search
How to Prepare for Career Expo
This year, we have over 50 employers and 40 community service organizations who are scheduled to attend our “Career Expo and Volunteer Fair.” With this handout, we hope to give you information to help you prepare and make the most out of your contact with these employers.
Before Career Expo Review the list of organizations, arranged by major on this handout. Make sure to check out the “Any Major” section. Identify those you would like to talk with or those you want to learn more about. Conduct research on the organization – links to the employer web pages can be found under “Career Expo & Volunteer Fair” on our web page – http://www.humboldt.edu/career. Create a list of questions to ask. Prepare your general resume and/or federal resume (if needed).
For Career Expo Dress Appropriately: If you are seriously seeking a seasonal, permanent, SCEP (Co-op) position or internship, we strongly urge you to “Dress for Success.” Remember, first impressions make a difference. Bring 10 – 15 copies of your current resume and federal resume; some employers have job opportunities available. Ask Questions: Spend your time finding out what type of careers the employers offer and how you can best gain experience while in school. Ask questions similar to the following: What does your organization do? What type of college training is desired by your organization? Are there specific courses that are most helpful? What personal characteristics are desired? What’s the forecast for employment opportunities with your organization? What summer job, internship or SCEP (cooperative education) opportunities exist with your organization? What “permanent” career opportunities does your organization offer? If positions (summer, SCEP, internship, permanent) exist, what are the application procedures?
During Career Expo Greet each employer with a handshake. Make good eye contact. Pick up brochures/applications. Ask for business cards. Maintain a positive attitude.
After Career Expo
Send follow-up/thank you notes! (One good reason to obtain employer business cards!)
Where can you obtain applications? Many employers who are attending this Career Expo program will have applications with them. The HSU Career Center has most application forms required by federal and state employers, although most federal and state agencies now have on-line applications.]
Private Sector Employers: We have invited over 450 employers to the Career Day program, including 200 private employers. As you can see, many are not able to attend. Research has shown that only 20% of the jobs with private employers are publicized. By directly contacting the people for whom you would like to work you can uncover the 80% of the jobs that are not advertised. Web sites (many linked through our Career Center webpage—www.humboldt.edu/~career), employer directories (available in the Career Center—NHW 130), and the yellow pages of telephone directories can be effective places to help you identify employers and specific jobs.
Career Center Survey
TO: HSU Departments/Programs/Institutes
FROM: Joy P. Soll, Career Center
SUBJECT: Thank You For Posting Your Jobs on Springboard! Career Center Survey.
Congratulations on the great 2011/2012 school year. We at the HSU Career Center would like to thank you for another successful year and for hiring students in your departments. Many of these students would not be here, but for the income they receive from you as campus employers. Students also gain valuable experience that enables them to develop skills for future success. You do a great service. Thank you!
As many of you know, the HSU Career Center hosts Springboard, our on-line job posting board. We would like to invite you to post all of your on-campus student positions on Springboard in order to centralize all on-campus job openings. Please do this at Humboldt.edu/career. This will allow students to more easily find on-campus job openings and us to track what jobs are available to students. Please call us with any questions or concerns at 826-3341.
Finally, our desire is to continue serving you and students well by understanding the types of student employment currently available on campus. As such, we are requesting your support in identifying student employment opportunities in a short survey. Go to https://docs.google.com/a/humboldt.edu/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFhLZlR6bkRwb1ZJU0MwWHlQWXFZMWc6MQ to do the 5 minute survey. Thank you so much for supporting the Career Center. We look forward to serving you in the future.