Photo by: ewen and donabel

I don’t know about you but I love a good mug. The best mugs that I have seen and used have been from staff kitchens. These are the miss matched mugs that people donate to the kitchen for everyone to share. In this case one persons trash is another persons treasure.

I’m a morning person so I was usually one of the first people in the office. One of the advantages of being one of the first people at work was that you had a great selection of mugs to choose from. Some of these mugs were the property of other co-workers and you didn’t want to take another persons mug, unless of course you wanted to be hunted down and attacked by an angry coffee deprived colleage. If you didn’t want anyone else using your fantastic mug than you did what any other sane employee did and locked your mug in your desk drawer

If you’re looking for a new mug check out these sweet ideas:

The Grumpy Cat Mug – Who doesn’t love Grumpy cat?

Anger Management Ceramic Mug – Pretty self explanatory. Approach with caution.

ON/OFF Mug – A great way to tell those particularly bubbly co-workers that you’re either “On” or “Off” that morning.

GARFIELD MONDAYS SUCK – You can’t go wrong with a classic Garfield mug.

F*ck Work Mug!! – This mug maybe better left at home.

Secret Cookies – Face Mug – A great place to store some afternoon sweets.

The Ninja Mug – Ninja’s are cool.

The Recycling Bin Mug – For all those tree huggers out there. (I like this mug )

Owl Mug – I LOVE Owls!

Rubik’s Cube Mug – I think this mug would be great as a candy dish or a planter.

Chalk Talk Mug – Oh the possibilities.

Toilet Mug – If you want a guarantee that nobody will take your mug then this mug is for you.

Mycuppa Mug – A color guide for the perfect cup of coffee. Brilliant!

I’ve said this before (because it’s true!) but recruiters only take a few seconds to look over your resume before deciding to put it in the maybe pile or trash can. The truth is that depending on the role we might have to look through hundreds of resumes. To make life easier we simply throw out any resumes that don’t meet what we are looking for.

Here are three ways to make sure that your resume does not make it to the trash can:

Have a Clean Layout

One of my pet peeves is to look at someone’s resume and cover letter and notice that the font does not match. THEY SHOULD MATCH! Think of your application as a total package. You want your cover letter and resume to be perfectly paired to each other. The cover letter introduces the resume so they should both be in the same font and size.

I also don’t like when people put unnecessary information on their resumes. A resume should only really be 2-3 pages in length (it really depends on how much work experience you have). You need to think that that everything you decide to put on your resume is taking up valuable real estate. If you have a mix of marketing and sales experience but you are applying to a marketing role then I don’t want to know about your sales history. Focus your resume to the role and highlight with accomplishments that I’m going to be impressed with and that are relevant to the role. FOCUS your resume! It will help to keep it out of the trash.

Meet the Basic Requirements

Some people think that they should apply to a job even without having all of the qualifications. I think aiming high is great but if you only have two years of IT experience and I’m looking for at least ten then your resume is not getting through. Make sure to read the job description and that you have the skills required to do the job.

One common mistake that I see all the time when I review a resume, is that the requirements I’m looking for are hidden somewhere in the resume. Some people do not make easy for recruiters. Since we only take a few seconds to look over your resume make sure that it is really clear to us that you have the skills or experience we are looking for. If we are looking for knowledge of a specific program why not highlight it on your resume. If we want someone who has experience coaching or motivating staff why not highlight it. If you make it clear and simple for us to see that you are the candidate we need to interview then you will probably get an interview.

Don’t be Generic

I don’t care that this application was one of 20 that you sent out that day. I don’t want to see a generic profile or objective statement. Well I don’t want to see an objective statement at all but if you have one you better make it good. Under a profile I don’t want to read:

Talented and accomplished Project Manager with excellent communication skills and proven ability to plan and lead projects. Areas of expertise include: Program Management, Contract Negotiations, and Team building and Leadership.

This is way too generic and can really describe anyone. I want each resume that you send out to reflect your experience and skills and be tailored to the company and the job. Recruiters know that this can be done and it’s not that hard so when we do come across a generic resume we almost always throw it in the trash.

At the End of the Day

Creating a great resume is hard work. You do need to put some time and thought into each job application. Once you have a great resume adjusting it for each job should be easy so don’t give up.

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.- Confucius

Photo by: Muffet

I actually think bumper stickers or any decals look tacky. Some people love bumper stickers and literally plaster their cars with them. Even though I wouldn’t put a bumper sticker on my car, I like to read them on other peoples’ cars and I think it’s great if other people get a quick laugh on the way to work.

Here are some bumper stickers about work: (I personally love the first 5 )

Thanks to Jobmob you can click here to find 44 Funniest Car Bumper Stickers About Work.

Click here to view Phil Dub’s full size resume

The rules of resume writing are changing. Depending on the industry, sometimes a more personalized and unique resume will give you the edge on the competition. Let’s look at four creative resume and decide if all the effort and hard work is worth it. Let’s begin with Phil Dub’s Amazon resume. He’s a web product manager and what better way to show his stuff by selling himself as a product. Look at all the detail. You can tell that Phil put in a lot of work to make sure that his resume resembled a product that would be sold on Amazon. I don’t think Amazon likes this resume format but it’s definitely creative and I like that you can add him to your wedding registry

Click here to view Eugene Hsu’s full size Resume

So obviously Eugene loves animating. This resume is bright! I don’t see how any recruiter can miss it and it has an overall young feel to it. I like that she gets to the point and states that she is simply looking for a job and wants to work for an awesome company. I think this is a fun young resume for a recent graduate student. What better way to stand out when you’re just starting your career.

CLick here to view Loren’s full-size Airbnb Resume

Here’s a great resume that is focused on getting the attention of a very specific company – Airbnb. I think this resume is beautiful. It’s really nice to look at and very easy to follow. Loren has 5 points on why he thinks he should be hired and you just need to follow the coloured arrows to learn more about the points. I think he did a great job getting his message across.

Click here to view Matthew Epstein’s full-size Resume

Matthew Epstein is not just a man with a moustache. He created a very funny video resume and landed his dream job. It wasn’t with Google but because of his creative resume he received many interviews from marketing departments and like he says landed his dream job. Not everyone can pull off a video resume like this but I think Matthew did a great job.

At the End of the Day
It all depends on the industry you want to work in. If the job/industry you want loves and hires creative people than making a personalized resume might give you the advantage over other candidates. All these creative resumes still provide all the information a recruiter is looking for: contact information, work history, academic history, technical qualifications and of course some extras such as humour. I think taking the time and effort to put together a creative resume is worth it.

The downside of having a creative resume is the pain of updating it. If you think updating a regular CV is time consuming try creating/updating a video resume. Showcasing yourself in this unique way also puts a lot of pressure on your next resume. Will it be as creative as your last resume? Should it be even more creative and unique?

One thing I do know is that if I came across any of these resumes I would definitely give the candidates a call.

Photo by: jlz

We all want to do our best at a job interview. I have interviewed thousands of people for various roles and many make the same common mistakes that affects their final interview score and therefore their chances of getting the job.

Here are four tips to help you on your next interview:

1. Never count on your qualifications and experience to outweigh a bad interview. You were invited to the interview because we were impressed by your resume i.e. your qualifications and experience. Too many people think their resume should speak for itself. The interview is scheduled so we can meet YOU, get to know YOU, confirm your resume and figure out if YOU can do the job and fit in with the team and culture of the company. A good resume is a great start but you need to prepare and prove to us that you’re likeable and the best candidate for the job.
2. Never say “I don’t” or “I haven’t” or “I can’t”. Interviewers will only remember/write down a few notes about you and you don’t want them to be negative. Unfortunately, negative comments are usually the easiest to remember Rather than saying “I don’t have that particular skill set” or “I’ve never been in charge of staff”, try saying “I have experience training and mentoring staff”. You just need to share the skill set that would be applicable and find the positives in what you have done.
3. Don’t be afraid to show us that you’re excited and want the job. I’m not saying to start the interview off by saying “I really want this job”. We hate when candidates say that before really hearing anything about the role. I would rather hear that you want the job by saying “frequent travel energizes me” or “I love working in a team because I feel I have a lot to contribute to a team environment” and “I’m comfortable in both a leadership or team member role”. You get the point.
4. Be memorable. The truth is that at the end of the interview process we don’t really remember a lot about you, especially if we interviewed a lot of candidates for the same position. We might remember you as “that shy girl” or “that guy from Australia” or “that girl with that top”. Please note – Using your clothing can be a great way to show your unique style but make sure you always look professional. Things are memorable because they are unusual. Why not use this to your advantage and create a memorable note for the interviewers.

At the End of the Day
You only have one shot to make a good impression and this is even more important in a job interview. I think that too many people are aware of the mistakes they are making during an interview and they simply don’t care or think that it won’t affect the outcome. The fact is that a bad interview is a bad interview and if you want the job then you need to bring your A game. Standing out is the name of the game. If your next interview is just before lunch why not bring some chocolate (because everyone loves chocolate!). Not only will it give everyone that needed sugar rush and put them in a better mood for your interview but it’s something they will definitely remember about you and that’s a great thing.

So many of us want to be more healthy in 2013. I know we might have said the same thing in 2011 and 2012 but this time we mean it. I’m getting married this year and if looking good in your wedding dress isn’t enough of an incentive than I don’t know what is.

Exercising more and eating better are great positive things to do to make you feel and look better and since we are at work for most of the day, it makes sense to start at our desks.

• Keep healthy snacks on hand. This sounds obvious but if you don’t replace those chocolate bars and skittles with trail mix, a piece of fruit or a handful of cut carrots then you will not see those pounds disappear. Not only do we need to replace our junk food but we need to remember to take it with us when we visit a friends desk because we all know how tempting a jar of jellybeans or homemade cookies are. Here are a few of my favourite snacks:
• Roasted Chickpeas
• Air popped or low fat popcorn
• Dry cereal with yogurt. Make sure the cereal is low in sugar and high in fibre.
• Healthy Trail Mix
• Peanut Butter stuffed Apples
• Portion control. Watch out and don’t eat all of your healthy snacks in one sitting. I know low-calorie oreos sounds like a good idea but it’s worthless if you end up eating the whole box. Make sure you measure out and pre pack small portions of snacks rather than bringing the whole container to work. I know it’s easier to bring the whole container to work but sometimes the temptation is too strong and you’re left with not only the stomach ache but the extra pounds too.
• Sit properly. Sitting properly can really help you “engage your core”. I really hate when fitness instructors say that but it’s true. Here are 5 reasons to engage your core. Speak to HR and get someone from Occupational Health and Safety to come in and do an ergonomics assessment on you.

Photo By: procsilas

• Eat more often. It makes sense to eat 5 smaller portions a day instead of just 3. Not only does it boost your metabolism but it will help you not crave that chocolate bar at 3pm. I don’t know about your office but from my experience it seems that everyone wants chocolate at 3pm.
• Drink water. I know grabbing another cup of coffee would be so much nicer but it’s amazing how much extra weight we put on thanks to our coffee, lattes, and English Toffee Cappuccino’s (my personal favorite from Tim Hortons). Instead of grabbing a coffee have a water bottle handy and bring it with you all the time. It’s amazing how much water you will drink when it’s right infront of you.
• Take the stairs. You will not lose those love handles by sitting infront of the computer screen all day. I received a Nike Fuel + Band from my fiance a few months ago and I love to make sure that I reach my goal every day. To get you moving more make sure you take the stairs, park further away from work, or take walks around your building during lunch. Not all of us have a gym at our workplace so make sure you just keep moving as much as you can.
• Clean your desk. Another way to keep healthy is to clean off all those germs from your phone and keyboard. It’s as easy as bringing in some Lysol Disinfecting Wipes to work. We all know that you can’t exercise when you’re sick in bed and if you want to fit into that dress (or whatever goal you have) you need to stay healthy.
• Get motivated. Set reminders for yourself at work to get up and walk around or to make sure you drink another cup of water. Sometimes when you think your hungry you’re actually thirsty. Another way to stay motivated is to have a motivation calendar or even sticky notes to remind you to stay on track.

At the End of the Day
You just need to keep moving. Just 30 minutes a day of some kind of exercise is a great start. When you lower your sugar, bad fat and calorie intake then you will see results. I’ve decided to start the INSANITY Workout. It’s not going to be easy but I feel motivated and throughout all the junk food from the house. I’ll keep you guys posted on my results. What have you done to stay on track and keep your New years resolution?

Being unemployed at anytime of the year can be difficult but it can be particularly hard during the holidays.

Here are 5 ways of coping with unemployment during the holidays:

1. Put your job search on hold during the holidays. Hiring normally slows downs during December so it’s a good reason to give it a rest. Take a break and just enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Hiring managers are usually on vacation this month anyway so sending your resume while they are on vacation isn’t ideal. Your resume might get buried in a stack of resumes or emails and get overlooked. Start your job search again in the new year.
2. Take a look at your resume. Take this time and really look over your resume. Make sure that it looks the best that it can look. Remember that one cover letter does not fit all. You need to adjust each cover letter to focus on each job description. You should be able to easily make changes to your resume or you should have a few versions of your resume depending on what type of job you are looking for. Take this holiday time and invest in yourself and update your resume.
3. Don’t spend money that you don’t have. A lot of people feel pressure to buy everyone the best gift ever. The truth is that the world will not end if your sister doesn’t get that cashmere sweater or your brother doesn’t get an ipad. You will feel terrible spending money that you don’t have especially if you didn’t have to. Check out these 53 inexpensive gift ideas. My favourite inexpensive gift idea is giving someone a resume critique
4. Think of your future. Take this time and really think about the new year and what you want to achieve. Do you want to change careers? Do you want to go back to school and finish or get that degree? The holidays can be a stressful time and the best way to help you think clearly about your goals and combat stress is to exercise. Don’t wait for the new year to start working out at home or joining a gym. Start exercising and feeling better now! It’s amazing how running on a treadmill or holding a yoga move can unlock ideas that can kick start your life.
5. Get back in touch with friends. Increasing your social circle will help you get a job. Get back on LinkedIn and Facebook and start reconnecting with old friends and colleagues. These are the people that can help you find your next job. Let them know what you’ve been up to and what you really want to do. It’s amazing how someone will know someone who could help you realize your dream.

At the End of the Day
Dealing with the pressure of the holidays and being unemployed can be extremely stressful but it doesn’t have to be. You can still enjoy the holidays without going over budget. Make this holiday season really about family and not presents. Start to look forward to the new year and what it can bring.

Stay positive and Happy Holidays!

Photo by: John-Morgan

Photo by: nSeika

What do you think about lunch interviews?

As a jobseeker you could be subjected to a wide variety of interviews. One of them is the dreaded lunch interview. During a lunch interview you generally meet the Director/VP/Manager or even members of the team. This type of interview can be very confusing because there are no rules. At least, in my experience they’ve always been different and there is no standard lunch interview process.

Judge and Jury

I’ve taken part in lunch interviews that are set up to include the candidate, the manager and the team. When it’s over and the candidate has left everyone is asked to score the candidate or give their opinion on them.

On other occasions I’ve seen team members having no real impact on the interview at all. They just eat lunch and even leave before lunch is finished. They don’t even get to give their input in terms of whether they approved of the candidate. In this case the manager just makes the decision and then informs the rest of the team.

Just you and the Judge

There are also the one-on-one lunch interviews. Generally this type of interview is loved by managers and hated by recruiters. Hiring managers don’t always enjoy the interview process given the formal nature of it all. Or maybe a hiring manager has a personal issue with the recruiter. As such, suggesting a one-on-one interview allows the hiring manager to bypass the formal environment of a closed office and replace it with an informal environment.

Relax..It’s just Lunch

No one likes to see someone uncomfortable or nervous, especially recruiters and hiring managers. You may think we love seeing you squirm but we jus’t don’t. We want you to do really well because it makes our lives easier. When a candidate is very nervous it effects the whole interview and everyone involved. The panel feels for the candidate and wonders why they can’t just relax. This is where the recruiter comes in. It’s the responsibility of the recruiter to create a relaxed environment for the interview. That way everyone can feel comfortable enough that personalities come out rather than just a formal back and forth Q&A.

I’ve taken part in many lunch interviews where the hiring manager was disappointed by the candidate. Often the hiring manager will say they thought the candidate would have done better if they took it more seriously. And this my friends, is what really bothers me about this type of interview.

In your typical formal interview everyone knows what to expect. The recruiter outlines what is going to happen and how long it will take. Recruiters don’t even attend most lunch interviews so the hiring manager has more to do here. Usually the hiring manager and the candidate start lunch with very different ideas. The hiring manager still wants the candidate to impress them and to sometimes take charge of the conversation. The candidate on the other hand feels a little out of their element and waits for the hiring managers cue before getting into anything too serious. In other words people tend to get confused about who is leading this dance.

Other Types of Interviews:

Phone Interview: These are often very short and can take the form of a phone screen to see if you have the minimum requirements for the role. These can also even replace a face-to-face interview and be done on a conference call with an interview panel.

Video Interview: These are becoming increasingly popular as more people feel comfortable video chatting using technologies like skype et al. A side benefit of video interviews is that recruiters and companies take note of the appearance and interpersonal skills of the candidate, much of which is lost on phone interviews.

Technical Interview: This interview will emphasize knowledge and will probably involve a few tests. Get your pencils out nerds!

At the End of the Day

No matter which type of interview you are subjected to, you need to be ready. Understand your audience and tell them what they want to hear. You need to communicate properly and feel comfortable talking about yourself, your career, and your biography. It always comes down to confidence, the relevance of your experience, and the skills you bring to the table.