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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 résumé 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 your résumé 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 Résumés.” “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:

  1. You.ve looked at the company Web site and know what they do.
  2. You can help cut costs or increase profits.
  3. 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