Career Tips Blog

The Power of Positive Thinking for Job Seekers

Alana Davis — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 14:12:00 GMT

Winston Churchill said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist seesthe opportunity in every difficulty.” We have all heard of the power of positive thinking. Look at life as the glass being half full, rather than half empty. And for many of us, we may have had experiences that would confirm this outlook on life, while having other experiences that did just the opposite. Positive thinking is not a magic formula by which we can think about that lottery ticket and behold, it is the winner! Having positive thoughts about obtaining that dream home certainly does not sign the finance and closing documents to put the keys in your hand. And unfortunately, when we are in need of employment, positive thinking doesn’t bring employers knocking at our door. However, when searching for a new job opportunity, thinking positively about the process certainly empowers us to be successful in our search.

Consider this situation: A man named John applies for a job. He tends to be a negative thinker and when he applies for the job, finds it unlikely that he will get it because someone better, and more experienced will win over the hiring manager. As a result, he doesn’t mentally prepare for the interview by thinking of questions that may be asked and how he would answer. He doesn’t take any time to research the company or explore the job description in depth. On the morning of his interview, John oversleeps, and when he gets dressed, discovers his best suit has a stain on it he never had cleaned. Because he has to find something to wear, he is delayed and late to the interview, causing him to be out of sorts upon arrival. He is able to answer most of the questions asked of him but stumbles on his words a few times and has a hard time explaining how he could benefit the organization.

John may get the job, but the process would have looked quite different had he began with a positive outlook. His positivity and belief he could get the job would have empowered him to be proactive in his preparation. Perhaps he would have looked up the company’s website and read on its history. Maybe he would have given some forethought to what he would wear and had that suit dry cleaned. John would have gone to bed early in order to wake up in time for a nice breakfast and ample time for the commute. And most importantly, he would have completed the interview with confidence, being able to adequately sell himself as a professional and a good fit for the job. Then, even if John doesn’t get the job, he knows that he was proactive in doing all things in his control and anything outside of that is out of his hands. Overall, his chance of receiving a job offer along the way would have likely improved.

Job seeking can often be a long road, and at times seem very stressful and difficult. By taking Churchill’s advice and seeing this time as an optimist, filled with opportunity, we better present ourselves to potential employers while further increasing our chances of landing a great job!

From Shy Professional to Networking Social Butterfly Using 3 Helpful Tips

Erin Tovo — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:35:00 GMT

For some people, meeting and making new friends is the easiest thing in the world.

Somehow, it just comes naturally to them; however, for those of us on the other end of the spectrum, mixing and mingling with strangers can be extremely difficult.

While there is nothing wrong with being shy, certain occasions such as attending networking events where you are expected to connect with other professionals may certainly begin to cause some anxiety.

Well, good news! This stress is completely avoidable! The next time you find yourself at a networking event, try to use these helpful tips and you just might find you’ve transformed from that shy professional you once were to a networking social butterfly!

Do Your Homework and Have a Plan

Walking up to someone you’ve never met and know absolutely nothing about and striking up a conversation out of thin air is tough and definitely not for everyone. A great way to avoid this situation is to know exactly who you want to meet and why. If possible, get a list of those that will be attending the event in order to decipher those individuals ahead of time. If this isn’t possible arrive at the event a little early and ask the organizer for this information to make your plan from there.

Having a solid plan in place will ease even the shyest professional’s nerves!

Change The Way You Think About Networking

There are a lot of things in your life you can’t control, but your attitude is something that you alone control! If you go into a networking event with a negative attitude, then chances are you probably won’t have the best experience. Be positive! Positivity will help conversations become more engaging and valuable. Furthermore, your positivity will help you appear more confident to those around you despite what you may be feeling on the inside.

Try to avoid thinking of networking events as these huge daunting tasks with the added pressure of meeting and connecting with a whole group of strangers. Networking events are a unique experience for you to meet others in your industry and a place for you to possibly get advice from and connect with those with completely different points of view. Most important, these events are meant to be fun!

Attend Virtual Networking Events

Although attending these events may be somewhat stressful for you, it is necessary and it does get easier over time. However, every once in a while you can take the pressure off yourself by attending virtual networking events, using sites such as Mingle or LinkedIn. There are plenty of these events available to you, just take the time to look for them! You may find that by attending these virtual sessions, your comfort level increases with the thought of attending face-to-face events.

We cannot all be center of attention, eye catching, extroverts; but, in the professional world, we can all benefit from learning how to make strong connections in a networking setting. So next time you receive an email invitation for one of those chamber luncheons or after hours social, graciously accept and follow these three tips. You may be surprised at how social you can be!

Get the Most Out of Your Thank You Card!

Erin Tovo — Fri, 23 May 2014 13:32:00 GMT

It is a well-known practice in the job search process that following your interview you should send a thank you card. However, many candidates will make the mistake of preparing their thank you as simply a nice gesture instead of using their thank you note to reinforce their candidacy now that they have obtained “insider” information.

Here are some useful ways to make your thank you note a key marketing tool to gain a competitive edge over the competition:

1. When Your Interviewer Shared A Concern

If you were told during your interview that the perfect candidate must meet certain requirements and you unfortunately didn’t meet them, don’t be discouraged! Use your thank you note to bring this up again. Reiterate to your potential employer why this wouldn’t be a problem and despite this “weakness” you would be the PERFECT candidate for the job.

2. When You Didn’t Say the Right Thing the First Time

No one always says the perfect thing at the right time. Sometimes, when you think back to your answers during your interview you realize perhaps there was a better answer you could have given or you think of something you wanted to elaborate on. Your thank you note can be your second chance! Bring up the topic in the note and let them know that you had some time to think about the subject and you’d love the opportunity to talk further about it.

3. When You Just Want to Say, ‘Thank You’

Even if you felt the interview went great, you don’t know how your competition performed in their interviews or what kind of thank you letter they will send. In this case, say thank you but also secure your candidacy further.

Point out several of your qualifications that were discussed during the interview. Now that you have more information about the position and the company, use that knowledge to your advantage! Consider a way to connect your qualifications with company needs expressed during the interview.
Express an increased interest in the company! Your interviewer most likely shared information about the company with you. Bring up this information and let them know how enthusiastic you are in becoming a part of the company.

Most importantly, always remember to keep your thank you letter concise! It shouldn’t be as detailed as your resume or cover letter.

From your resume to your thank you note, each step in the process can be its own unique marketing tool. To ensure that you are a successful job seeker, always use every tool at your disposal and maximize every opportunity!

Application Submitted! Now What? Next Steps in the Job Seeking Process

Sarah Chatelain — Fri, 16 May 2014 20:11:00 GMT

When you are searching for a job, it is a good idea for you to reach out to your potential employer to demonstrate that you are interested in the particular position. While you may have experience in this method when applying directly for a job, the process is slightly different when you are applying through a staffing firm. You should still follow up to confirm that your application has been received, and inquire if more information is needed, but whom do you talk to, and how long should you wait before you do so? Here are a few guidelines to consider when deciding the appropriate time to call the staffing firm.

1. Wait at least 2-3 days before you contact the agency.

It may take time for processing and review of resumes, so it is best to allot a few days, before you contact the company to check on the status of your application. Calling before the recruiters have had a chance to look at your information could convey the impression that you would be an impatient employee who would be difficult to keep engaged. If you physically turned in your résumé, suggest a day that you will call to check in on the status. This will give you the opportunity to show the interviewer your reliability and that you set and adhere to deadlines. If you submitted it electronically, two to three days is a good guideline to allow for review of your application. Make sure that you contact the actual decision maker. It’s easy to get headed off by an assistant when you call to check on the status of your application. Messages can get lost, or vary when based on simple phone conversations with more than one person. Furthermore, merely leaving a message can show that you aren’t actively interested in the position. Instead, do some homework to determine who the recruiter is for the position you have applied for and if possible, send them an email. The email should not be long; briefly introduce yourself, and inquire as to whether your application has been reviewed. Perhaps you may mention a few key skills or qualifications that you have for the job. This will show the recruiter that you have carefully considered the job requirements and you are fully capable of performing the job. This simple note should encourage him or her to advance your application in the process. At the end of the email, you can ask about next steps, or request an appropriate time to call.

2. Adhere to your deadlines

Once you have confirmed a time for final news, stick to it! If you are supposed to receive a verdict by Friday, do not call on Thursday just in case he or she made a choice early, as this can rush a decision that could have been in your favor. If you do not receive a specific time for a call back, make a deadline for yourself (a week is usually a good space of time). This will show the interviewer that you observe deadlines and would show the same concern for the staffing firm’s reputation.

While it can be difficult to wait when you are anxious to hear news about a job opportunity, patience and well-placed communication will benefit you more than doing nothing or doing too much. By reminding the company of your name and interest in the position, while also showing strict adherence to deadlines, a fickle decision can turn in your favor. Following these guidelines can help you show your potential as a conscientious employee and an asset to the company, thus increase your chances of being hired!

Job Satisfaction: Avoiding the Trap of Living for the Weekend

Alana Davis — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:00:00 GMT

If you have had any contact with social media within the last year, you have likely been introduced to a barrage of postings and supporting images describing what, for many, is the average workweek. The week starts with a “case of the Mondays,” continues into Wednesday and getting over the hump of “Hump Day” (insert GEICO camel commercial), and by Friday, you delightfully arrive at work internally shouting, “TGIF!” while envisioning riding off into the weekend sunset come 5:00pm. Therein lies a trap of always living in anticipation for the next weekend, while just making it by during the week. Most people would agree that weekends and rest from the daily grind are necessary and important. However, when you spend over two-thirds of life at work, wouldn’t it be more pleasurable to experience time there a s something more than a means to an end?

As an employee, you can benefit from finding contentment in whatever your current role is, even if you missed that last promotion, or are considering a career change. After all, when the next promotion comes or a door opens at a different company, both current and future employers will want to know what you did with the time you were given previously to learn, excel, and grow as an employee.

Look at each day as an occasion to perform with excellence. Proactively seek opportunities to show yourself as valuable to your employer. You may be surprised by the transformation of your attitude and how your perspective of work changes, to the extent that the coming weekend is no longer your focus; rather, personal satisfaction and the enjoyment of work becomes your motivation. Every day can bring new possibility and excitement.

Common Interview Question: Tell Me About Yourself

Sarah Chatelain — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:51:00 GMT

One of the most popular ways for a potential employer to begin a job interview is to ask you to divulge a few facts about yourself. This question can be quite frustrating, as it is never clear just what kinds of facts you should include, and how long your answer should be. Does your interviewer care that your ukulele band from college managed to produce an album and sold approximately 100 copies (including family)? Or that you once read Herman Melville’s Moby Dick cover to cover in under a week? While these can both be remarkable achievements on their own merits, they may not be the specific personal details that will help get you the job you are interviewing for. Here are a few tips to help you effectively answer this question.

1. Have an answer ready

Since this is such a typical question, there is no excuse for you to not have an answer prepared ahead of time. If you respond with something such as, “What do you want to know?” the interviewer will not only see that you did not appropriately plan for the interview, but also that you are indecisive and unsure of your own accomplishments. When you prepare your answer, make sure that you only include facts that are relevant and advertise your experience that qualifies you for the job.

2. You don’t have to condense your entire life story into a five minute answer

Don’t try to say too much in a short amount of time. Only focus on a couple of points that are relevant to the job, and that you can thoroughly explain in five minutes or less. Unless you are interviewing for a job in a music store, your experience in a ukulele band probably won’t help you get a job. However, you can discuss your role in managing the band’s budget, or your role in marketing the album, if you lack other pertinent details. If you can clearly and concisely cover one or two items, you will show yourself to be prepared, controlled and focused on the important details.

3. Rehearse it several times

As with all of your interview questions, you should rehearse your answer beforehand. This will give you a good idea of how long it will take to deliver, and make your presentation more confident. Remember, you don’t want to talk so much that the interviewer’s attention strays away. Stay short and to the point.

“Tell me about yourself,” can be one of the most difficult questions to answer in an interview. However, with prudent planning and rehearsal of your answer, you can successfully promote the various qualities you have to offer and pique the interviewer’s interest to pay attention for the duration of the interview, and ultimately getting that much closer to snagging the job!

How to Create a Targeted Résumé

Sarah Chatelain — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:49:00 GMT

It’s already common practice to keep an updated résumé on file, but did you know that you might need more than one type? Depending on the variety of jobs that you apply for, you may need to create several distinctive versions that highlight specific aspects of your job experience. Some companies may place more value on a certain talent or capability, such as supervisory skills or a particular proficiency on the computer. Here are some tips for creating a targeted résumé that will help you capture the attention of an array of potential employers.

1. Assess what skills your potential employer will value

Closely read the job listing and make note of the required skills and experience desired. For example, if you are applying for a supervisory position, make sure that you emphasize any past managerial experience you have, noting all of the related tasks you were responsible for performing. How many employees did you supervise? How did you ensure that their tasks were completed in a timely manner? Did you compose the schedule? Previous experience in these areas is highly desirable in a supervisor candidate.

If you are applying for a position that is more hands-on, you should accentuate your expertise in the skills that are required. For example, if you are applying for a welding job, you need to provide the various types of welding that you have been certified to perform, such as TIG, MIG, or stick welding, and length of experience in each.

2. Drop in a key word or two from the company

Do a little research on the company that you are applying to and determine what its key words are. Every company has a few qualities or descriptive words that it continually uses and integrates into the workforce culture. Usually, you can find these words either in the job listing itself or by going to the company website and examining how it describes its environment to potential applicants. For example, if the company uses the word “fast-paced” as a description of its atmosphere, you can use words such as “dynamic” or “quickly adaptive” to market your ability to quickly meet its needs and integrate your talents into the team.

3. Pay attention to the format

If you are submitting your résumé by hand, make sure that your name is large and legible at the top of the page. If possible, print it on slightly thicker paper to prevent it from easily getting wrinkled, folded, or overlooked. In the event that you are submitting it electronically, check the listing thoroughly for any file format requirements. If you use a program or file type that the interviewer does not have, he or she might not be able to view your résumé. Usually, you can send the interviewer your resume directly as an attachment to an email, but you should also include a cover letter of introduction in the body of the email. When naming the file you are going to attach, use your full name so it won’t get confused with other résumés and will be easy to find.

While it may take a little more time, targeting your résumé to each individual company will be sure to make you stand out from the crowd. In the competitive job marketplace of today, a few familiar keywords or accent on a much-needed skill can make a world of difference in your chances of being hired.

What to Do if You Don’t Get a Promotion

Sarah Chatelain — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:36:00 GMT

The feeling of rejection is hard to deal with, from not getting chosen for the kickball team in grade school, to not getting a promotion at work. While you have probably realized that your popularity in grade school gym class has had little to no bearing on your adult existence, denial of a promotion has irrefutable influence on your career and your life. How you handle this type of situation can directly affect the rest of your career. Here are some tips on how to improve your chances at earning the next promotion.

1. Don’t take it personally
It’s easy to react emotionally to this kind of setback and assume that you didn’t get promoted because of personal reasons. Before reaching assumptions, remember that your supervisor probably had to justify his or her decision with factual evidence of who was the best candidate for promotion—not just who he or she liked more. Whether or not you think your supervisor was influenced by personal preferences on his or her decision, you must be able to keep a level head and move on to the next challenge.

2. Meet with your supervisor

If you do not pursue the position further, your supervisor may think that you did not truly want it. Schedule a meeting with him or her to discuss why you did not get the promotion. Bring your notes from your independent review, compare them with his or her notes, and construct a detailed plan to improve your skills. Make sure that you set specific guidelines for what is expected, and set regular meetings to assess your progress. Assume full responsibility for keeping these meetings consistent—this is your chance to show how capable you are at keeping deadlines.

3. Keep track of your progress

Keep a running file on the skills that you are developing and their positive impact on your job performance. Being able to show concrete results of your hard work will most definitly increase your chances of being awarded the next promotion. In addition, don't forget to present the results at your yearly review!

Common Interview Question: What are Your Weaknesses?

Sarah Chatelain — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 18:04:00 GMT

Inconsistencies…opportunities…deficiencies…it seems like every company has a different term for weaknesses. When you are interviewing for a job, you are trying to present the most positive and capable version of yourself to a potential employer. When he or she says, “Tell me about your opportunities,” it may seem counterintuitive to start talking about what you need to improve as opposed to selling the skills in which you are already proficient. However, there is a specific reason that the interviewer is asking you this question, and your answer will tell him or her what kind of employee you will be if you are hired.

Why is your answer to this question so important? Depending on how well you have prepared your response, it can either tell the interviewer that you are concerned about your job performance, receptive to feedback, and constantly seeking to improve, or conversely, that you are potentially unwilling to listen to constructive criticism and not self-motivated to improve yourself. Here are some tips to help you prepare for this question in an interview:

1. “I can’t think of anything” is not an answer

First, this reply tells the interviewer that you haven’t prepared for the interview, as it is a fairly common question. Second, it says that you don’t have an accurate account of your job performance and may not have any desire to adjust for the better. The interviewer isn’t looking for you to say you’re perfect; he or she wants to see that you can assess your own conduct and identify the areas in which you need to improve.

2. Spin your weakness into a win

Presenting your weakness as a strength can also help you impress your interviewer. A predilection to get hung up on checking every detail of a project can make you late for a deadline, but if presented the right way, it can also show that you are a conscientious employee who consistently strives for perfection in your work. You could say, “I tend to get sidetracked by scrutinizing small details when I am working on projects. As a result, I have to hold myself to a very strict timetable and priority list to make sure that I have tasks completed on time.”

3. Don’t just stop at the opportunity; say what you’re doing to change it

Once you have identified that you can objectively assess your performance and distinguish opportunities, you need to show the interviewer that you can also independently plan to improve or eradicate the behavior. You can discuss how you researched the problem and found a solution, and/or give an example of how this has successfully worked in the past. Instead of merely saying, “I have trouble delegating small tasks,” you can explain, “I identified that I have trouble delegating small tasks because I am a perfectionist. In working to improve this, I periodically check with the person responsible to make sure he or she is on track to achieve the same result I would. This has enabled me to spend more time on complicated tasks and thus improved productivity of my department.”

A confident, prepared answer to this question will help you show the interviewer that you are capable of assessing your own performance, in addition to demonstrating that you’re concerned about how your performance affects your co-workers.

The Interview Before Your Job Interview

Sarah Chatelain — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:27:00 GMT

It’s common knowledge that you should dress up for a job interview, but did you know that you should also consider what you wear when you’re picking up job applications or turning in your resume? Potential employers are concerned as much (if not more) about your outfit when you’re asking them for a job as when you’re formally interviewing for one. While it’s true that you shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover, your potential employer will certainly judge what kind of employee you might be by what you wear when you come in to introduce yourself and deliver your resume (if possible).

Even though most companies have the ability to accept job applications and resumes online, it is still a good idea to go into the business in person and introduce yourself to the hiring manager. This accomplishes a few critical points: first, it allows the manager to put an actual face to your name, and second, if you made a good first impression, he or she will be more inclined to look more favorably at your resume. While you don’t have to dress up as if you are interviewing, you should at least wear something that says you woke up that morning intending to find a job. Here are a few tips to find the appropriate attire to impress future employers:

1. Do some research before introducing yourself

Look on the company website and investigate what their employees are wearing. Normally, the company will have an employment page with pictures of their staff to encourage you to apply. You can base your outfit on what they are wearing when you dress to introduce yourself, and then go a step above that for your job interview. This will show that you take the interview seriously and you are invested in this opportunity.

2. Show some personality

Your potential employer has probably seen a wide variety of applicants who have done the same kind of research that you have. Wearing at least one appropriate item that he or she will remember will help you stand out from the crowd. This could be anything from a blazer, to a boldly colored shirt, to an elaborate scarf. While it may seem trivial, this is a simple way to show that you have a unique and valuable view to bring to the team.

3. Don’t forget to smile

Your most important accessory is your smile. Many studies have shown that people who smile are generally perceived to be more confident, capable, and able to successfully navigate a variety of challenges.

Outfitting yourself to make a positive first impression in your search for employment is only the first step in getting the job. However, your attention to detail can make a significant difference in how you compare to other applicants. Your primary meeting with your potential employer is the first part of your job interview, and your appearance will certainly speak louder than the words on your resume.

Job Interviews: How to Beat the Competition!

Erin Tovo — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 17:15:00 GMT

The New Year presents a chance for job seekers to jump back into the job market with a renewed sense of vigor. In order to begin a new career, job seekers must complete job applications, as well as in-person interviews. Incorporate the following tips into your next interview and stand out amongst the crowd!

1. Have Confidence.

Be confident in yourself and your skills. You’ve made it this far for a reason. Job interviews are the one time in life where it is an acceptable practice to brag about your accomplishments!

2. Knowledge Is Power.

Thanks to the internet, the knowledge you need to prepare for your interview is just a click away. Use Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn to educate yourself. It is important to learn everything you can about the employer, hiring manager, leadership, etc.

3. Be Memorable.

Make yourself stand out and ensure your interviewer will remember you after you leave. Find something about yourself that makes you unique and mention it when it feels right during your interview. There is no one else like you, so make sure your personality comes through.

4. Break A Leg.

As stressed or nervous as you may be, don’t forget to smile and breathe during your interview. Go into the interview knowing that it is just an interview. Believe it or not, it’s not the end of the world! There will be other interviews…so relax, go in there and be yourself!

10 Professional Resolutions for 2014

Erin Tovo — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 18:18:00 GMT

The New Year presents the perfect opportunity to start moving your career in the right direction. A change in direction might involve a pay raise, promotion, or even a new career! Whatever the case, the following tips will ensure a successful start to 2014.

1. Set Goals

Figure out what your dream job is and set goals to achieve it. You can make this dream come true, you just have to believe in yourself and your abilities.

2. Stay Alert

Use each day as a learning opportunity. Read articles on developments within your chosen industry, ask for advice and learn from your colleagues. Make an effort to not just “go through the motions” at work. Try to grow and learn a little bit every day!

3. Expand Your Skills

Know your strengths, but don’t be afraid to take a look at the areas that you perceive as weaknesses. Figure out what these areas are and find a way to develop them into strengths. Always keep your resume updated so it doesn’t become a headache when you have to rewrite it for new opportunities.

4. Organize Your Workspace

Organization leads to an easier and much more efficient life. Prioritize your jobs daily. Make sure you aren’t spending all of your time on busy work. Do your best to make the most out of your time every day.

5. Be Proactive

Keep in mind that professional development isn’t something that happens solely in the workplace. Find interests outside of work and get involved with people that share those interests.

6. Patience is a Virtue

Be aware that your dream job won’t happen overnight. As you work towards the job of your dreams, strive make the most of every situation along the way, whether it be positive or negative.

7. Networking

The saying “It is not WHAT you know but WHO you know” is incredibly true. It is important to make contacts. Contacts can come in the form of fellow professionals, colleagues, friends, and even family. Also, it is extremely important to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. Who knows what opportunities might come knocking?

8. Leave A Job You’re Not Happy In

You aren’t required to stay at a job if it makes you unhappy. If you’ve given the job a chance and have found that it just is not a fit for you, start making alternate plans. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities. The job market might be slow, but new career opportunities will arise!

9. Be Willing to Take Risks

If a new career opportunity does come knocking, take it! Don’t let a fear of taking risks hold you back! Take this new job, try new things and volunteer for tasks you’ve never done before. Not only will you learn and grow as a person from the experience but you will get noticed along the way.

10. Be Happy

Always make sure you look and feel good. Make time for yourself, your hobbies and always get ample amounts of rest. Doing so will ensure that you’ll be your best self each and every work day!

4 Tips to Ensure Your Holiday Job Search Keeps Moving Forward

Erin Tovo — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 15:47:00 GMT

One of the biggest mistakes a job seeker can make is to let the holiday season distract them from their job search! Use the following tips to make sure you keep your job search moving forward and end the year strong.

1. Make A Schedule and Stick to It

One of the easiest ways to stay accountable and on track is to make a schedule. Get a daily planner and book appointments with yourself at a specific time each day of the week for online research, reaching out to leads, making follow up calls, etc.

2. Networking

The holiday season presents unique networking opportunities that are not available at other times during the year. While there might not be any jobs available for you right now, increasing your number of connections through holiday parties and other networking events will increase the number of people you know, thus increasing your chances of landing a job later on!

Start your search for these events in early December and make note of them in your calendar.

3. Volunteer

Community service opportunities skyrocket during the holiday season. Volunteering is a great way to help those less fortunate during the holiday season and to get to know your fellow volunteers. Organizations generally draw volunteers from all sorts of career fields so you never know who you may come across and how they could possibly help you in your job search.

4. Keep Moving Forward

Don’t be afraid to take a few days off during the holiday break, but always make sure you stay focused on your goal of finding new employment!

How to Get a Job!

Randy Hatcher — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:51:00 GMT

Are you looking for work or do you have a friend or family member who is? If so, this video blog can help with some encouragement!

MAU President Randy Hatcher counsels job seekers on how to actively look for a job. In fact, looking for a job can be a full time job in itself, he says!

Job seekers must exhaust all possible contacts in searching for employment including; past co-workers, employment agencies, friends, relatives, etc. This is because for every 100 contacts made, statistics show that only ten people will respond and out of those ten, usually one will know of a job opportunity. These numbers indicate that job seekers may have to contact numerous people in order to find just one job!

To learn more about how to find a job, please watch the following video from MAU President Randy Hatcher. As an additional resource, please reference the following blog about staying busy while unemployed.

We wish you the best of luck in your job search!

Using LinkedIn to Get an Employer's Attention

Erin Tovo — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 13:52:00 GMT

How can you ensure that an employer will review your resume? The answer is simple. Have the document referred to HR from a past or present employee of the company you wish to work for. While this task might seem strenuous, LinkedIn has made it easy to connect with employees all over the world!

Here's how it's done:

1. Use the search box to find the company you want to work for and employees from that company should appear among the search results.

2. Connect with as many of those employees as you can, regardless of whether they are past or present. Past employees may still have connections to the company (and you want to utilize all of your options)!

3. Invite them to connect as a “friend” and then send them a personal note. Just two or three sentences is sufficient. Make sure to ask about how they like working for the company, as well as if they would be willing to talk to you for 5 minutes or so about what they do (or did) on a day-to-day basis.

4. When the two of you do connect over the phone, make sure the conversation stays focused on them and their experiences with the company. Don’t make the conversation about you or ask them for any favors right now. When the conversation ends, if it goes well, usually they will ask what you are interested in and if they can help in any way. This is what you’ve been waiting for! You haven’t asked them for anything, yet they’ve offered their assistance to you.

Searching for employees via LinkedIn is one of the best ways to connect with today's professionals; however, it is by no means the only method! Other options include: Joining Groups and Using Your Alumni Network.

By joining a LinkedIn Group, you gain the ability connect with those who share similar interests and/or careers. Most likely, someone in the group will be employed by a company that you wish to work for.
Joining your college and high school Alumni Network is useful because most people are willing to support those who attended their alma mater.

Always remember, you must build a relationship with someone before immediately asking them for any favors!

Simple Ways to Break the Ice at Networking Events

Erin Tovo — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:33:00 GMT

Getting a conversation started is typically the hardest part of networking events! You must keep in mind that the prospect of approaching someone new is stressful for just about everyone involved. Read our tips below to develop smooth, natural conversation at your next networking event.

Go Fishing At the Food Table

When standing in line for food, strike up a conversation with those around you. Don't just stand in silence. This is a great opportunity to get conversations started because you already have developed common ground- the food in front of you!

Find a Loner

If you see someone standing alone, chances are they are feeling uncomfortable or perhaps intimidated. Don’t be afraid to go up to them and initiate conversation. Doing so will most likely make him or her feel more relaxed and willing to converse!

Give Compliments

Compliments are a sure way to win someone over especially when they are feeling insecure or uncomfortable. When you’re struggling to find a conversation starter, giving out compliments is a simple way to break the ice. Just make sure your compliments are sincere!

Sports Lovers

If you’re a sports fan, use that to your advantage! Sports are a topic people love to talk about. If you hear a group talking about a sport or event you’re familiar with, go ahead and chime in!

A Simple Hello

Sometimes, simple is the best way to go. A confident smile partnered with a handshake and “Hi, I’m Bill” can work wonders!

Keep the Conversation Alive

After you’ve broken the ice, it’s imperative to keep the conversation going. The easiest way is to find common ground and what could be better than talking about the event itself! Another way to keep the conversation alive is to get them talking about themselves. Most people like to talk about themselves, so a simple, “What drew you to that line of work?” or “What do you like best about your job?” should do the trick.

Finally, Moving On

When you’re ready to move on and the conversation has started to wind down, let it happen. Don’t feel like you have to force the conversation to continue. Remember, you’re at this event to meet new people and create new connections. This isn’t going to happen if you stick to the same person all evening.

3 Ways to Keep Your Skills Sharp No Matter the Industry

Erin Tovo — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:27:00 GMT

Considering the lack of jobs and an increasingly competitive job market, the likeliness of job seekers taking a job within their industry becomes less and less. However, just because you’ve taken a job in a different industry doesn’t mean you should let your hard earned skills go to waste. Use these 3 tips to keep your skills sharp and ready to go!

Actively seek ways to use your skills in your current job! Just because you are working in a different industry doesn’t mean there isn’t any use for the skills you’ve worked so hard to master. You might just have to look a little harder to find ways to exercise them!
Ask to be given more tasks at work! These new and challenging tasks will open up different opportunities for you to use your skills. It will also help you stand out at work while at the same time showing your employer you’re not afraid of a challenge.
Using social media and learning how to best market your company will actually help you increase your knowledge about who you are working for. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to find ways to utilize your skills and continue to be a valuable asset to the company.

5 Ways to Ensure Successful Answers During a Job Interview

Erin Tovo — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 16:05:00 GMT

Job seekers send out countless resumes in the hopes of potentially getting an interview. Once you have finally landed that interview you have been waiting for, use these 5 tips when forming your answers!

1. Patience is a Virtue

Listen carefully to the employer and always make sure to let him/her complete their question. Questions may start off sounding generic, but in the end they may require a specific response. For example, the general question “What are your strengths?” will demand a completely different response than “What are your strengths that help you in dealing with customers?”

2. Take a Minute to Think

After you are sure the employer has completed their question, take a few seconds to form a mental checklist of important information you want to convey prior to responding.

3. Keep It Short and Stay on Point

Be sure to stay on topic and answer the question completely. Never assume your employer won't notice you neglected to answer a part of their question. They will notice!

4. Highlight Your Key Points

Describe how these points helped you in previous positions. A good practice is to repeat your key points 2-3 times in your answer. Reiterating your key points will help support your position and demonstrate that you are the right person for the job!

5. Leave a Lasting Impression

Everyone has something about them that makes them unique. Always let a potential employer know about skills that make you stand out amongst the crowd! It could be these skills that help you land your dream job.

Make Your Resume Stand Out From the Crowd!

Erin Tovo — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 20:12:00 GMT

Many active job seekers spend countless hours searching and applying to open positions. For some, the application process is easy; yet, the next step seems impossible – securing the job interview! If this situation seems familiar, it might be time to review your resume.

Most often, a resume is the first item that a hiring manager will see prior to meeting you. It’s important that this document is clear, concise and free of grammatical and spelling errors.

Make sure you adhere to the following five rules when drafting your resume:

1. Research states that once a hiring manager opens your resume, you have 10-20 seconds to impress them! Therefore, make sure that your most significant skills and/or related job experience is listed at the top of your resume.

2. Use strategic keywords (such as those listed in the requirements section of the job posting) to showcase your personal achievements. Doing so ensures that you pass online screening software!

3. Do not submit the same resume to every job you’re interested in applying for. Carefully read each job description and make sure that your resume includes the necessary experience and skills required to apply. In addition, do not fabricate any information on your resume. If you do not meet the requirements, or possess the skills necessary to perform the position, continue your job search!

4. Make sure your resume is visually appealing. Use easy-to-read font styles, bullet points and more to create a resume that stands out among the crowd!

5. Avoid using generic statements when crafting your resume. Instead, include numbers and quantitative evidence to highlight your achievements.

In today’s tough economy, creating a flawless resume is imperative. You must demonstrate to hiring managers and prospective employers that you are without-a-doubt the best candidate for the job!

How to Build Successful Workplace Relationships

Erin Tovo — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 13:56:00 GMT

Positive workplace relationships are a crucial part of a successful career.

It’s true that you only get one chance to make a good first impression, so make it count each time you are offered the opportunity to build a relationship with a co-worker!

The following five tips are designed to help new and long-term employees to develop positive relationships in the workplace:

1. Always strive to do your best so that your co-workers will know that they can depend on you to do a good job.

2. Be responsible! If you say you are going to do a job, do your best to make sure it gets done. If for some reason you are unable to complete the task, find someone else that's equally qualified to do so. At MAU, our commitment to applicants, clients and employees is demonstrated through our slogan, "Consider it Done".

3. Be friendly to those around you! Don’t be afraid to start up conversations with your office mates so you can all begin to get to know each other better.

4. Try your best to maintain a positive attitude! Constant complaining tends to have a negative impact on relationships.

5. Make a concerted effort to develop trust between yourself and co-workers. At MAU, we believe that the best workplace relationships begin with trust. In order to create an environment of trust, internal MAU employees must complete a program called "Trust Building". This program enables employees to become more trustworthy in the workplace, as well as in their personal lives.

To receive career advice on a monthly basis, sign-up for MAU's Career Tips Newsletter.

5 Tips to Effectively Transition Careers

Erin Tovo — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 13:23:00 GMT

Changing careers is a fact of life for many of today's business professionals. Sometimes these changes are welcomed by the individual themselves, and other times, they're devastating and unexpected. Despite how and why a career transition takes place, it's up to the individual as to how they handle it. For some, career transitions become personal success stories, and for others, failure occurs.

The following tips are designed to help turn a period of transition into a meaningful and rewarding experience.

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Accept Help

Ask friends or colleagues in the field for advice and introductions. Connections are very important in today's market, and most often people will be flattered and glad that you asked them for help. If you find that a person’s advice is extremely helpful, don’t be afraid to ask them to mentor you on a regular basis.

2. Set Up A Schedule

To successfully navigate your career transition, you may need to acquire some new career skills. Embrace this learning process and dedicate some time during your transition period to your own self-development.

3. Stick With It!

We all can agree that disliking where you work and what you do is not a fun experience; however, maintaining a source of income during your career search is much better than the alternative! If your career transition is initiated by choice, try to stay with your current employer until you've secured a new position. This will help to reduce any financial burdens that may be experienced in between jobs.

4. Expect the Unexpected

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Keep an open mind about your career transition and where your newly acquired skills can take you. This will help increase your career possibilities. You may not end up in the career you planned but it may end up being the career you love!

How to Get the Most Out of Your LinkedIn Headline

Erin Tovo — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:36:00 GMT

The LinkedIn Headline is one of the strongest tools that you have at your disposal within your LinkedIn profile. It is the first piece of information that recruiters see when they view your profile, so you want to show them something that catches their attention and makes them to want to search through the rest of your information. To help your headline reach its fullest potential, try the following tips:

Market Yourself

Sell your unique skill set to an employer; don’t just list your job title. Answer these questions: Why should they give you an initial meeting? What do you bring to the table if they hire you? To help shorten this information, list your assets in order of importance and choose the top two or three.

Target Your Career Field

Keep your headline targeted to your career field. Include keywords that a recruiter is likely to use when searching for your specialty. Rise above your competition by using some creativity in your headline, but remember not to let your imagination go overboard.

Make a Long Story Short

120 characters can go quickly, but it’s plenty of room to make a statement about yourself and your qualifications. Reflect on how you got to where you are in your career, as well as what you are capable of doing for an employer in the future.

When you are ready to update your headline,

Log in to LinkedIn and select the Profile menu and then click Edit Profile
Click the Edit button next to your name
To simplify the process, first compose your headline in Word so you can see how many characters you have used and then cut and paste it into the LinkedIn Headline subheading.
Finally, save your changes and you’re finished!

How to Concentrate Within a Distracting Work Environment

Stephanie Morrow — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:33:00 GMT

For those working within a distracting environment, accomplishing even the simplest of tasks can become quite difficult. To remain productive at all times, employees should consider implementing the following ideas:

Earplugs/Earphones

Purchasing earplugs or earphones may help to reduce the ambient noise and chitchat that pollutes the work environment on a daily basis. Play soft, classical music through earphones for an increased sense of calm during working hours.
Speak Up

There’s nothing wrong with explaining to your co-workers, or superiors, that you desire an increased level of peace and quiet in the workplace. Remind these individuals that your goal is to achieve as much as possible, and that a change in the work environment will help you do so.
Avoid Social Media

Unless using social media sites is part of your job description, refrain from using social media during the work day. It’s easy to waste 15 minutes here and there checking Facebook or Twitter, when you should be working!
Leave the Office

If you’re unable to concentrate at the office, ask to leave! Many individuals find working from home, a local coffee shop, or library to be much quieter than a traditional office setting.

The next time your work environment is lacking peace and quiet, remember to bring earphones, express your desire for improvement, avoid social media, and if necessary, leave the office!

Are You Currently Unemployed? Stay Busy!

Stephanie Morrow — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 12:25:00 GMT

We all appreciate time off from work. However, for those dealing with unemployment, time off can lead to disaster if not handled properly.

The search for employment should function much like a traditional job. It takes discipline, hard work, and dedication to secure an opportunity.

To avoid monotony and boredom while searching for your next job opportunity, try the following:

Develop a job search schedule that includes set hours, just as if you were employed and currently earning a paycheck. For example, you might consider searching for jobs between 8AM to 5PM Monday through Friday, to keep yourself used to traditional work hours.
Strive for productivity, even if your job search is slow. For example, continue to get up early, exercise, attend social events, etc. Doing so will help with the downtime between jobs, as well as keep structure and order within your daily life.
Constantly work to find new job boards, create new business contacts, and join new professional networking groups. Not doing so will lead to a stale job search. As always, you need to be your own advocate! One way to accomplish this is to continually widen your network.

Developing a schedule, striving for productivity, and developing new contacts will help job seekers to find a position as quickly as possible, and thus, avoid long periods of unemployment!

Effectively Using LinkedIn

Lori Holley — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:05:00 GMT

Even if you are not currently in the market for a new career opportunity, it is important to stay up-to- date on LinkedIn. It’s a great networking tool, and it’s free except for your time investment!

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

Regularly view and update your profile-

You never know if a key contact may be connected to you through LinkedIn and looking at your profile. Or, what if a recruiter is searching for someone to fill the perfect job opening for you and you haven’t updated your experience?

Make sure your profile is updated to reflect your experience to date in your career. Don’t only include what you have done, but what you do and why someone would benefit from talking to you. Focus on the services you provide and show what makes you stand out from others within your field.

Carefully choose your connections-

LinkedIn is for professional networking, so set this as your strategy. Worthwhile connections are key so choose quality over quantity. Think of both the long and short-term potential for the connection. When you meet someone and send an invitation to connect, include a personal note or message stating how you know the person or why they should connect with you. Stay away from the canned invitations unless you know someone extremely well. Remember that second and third-level connections can be valuable as well, and your mutual first-level connection can help make an introduction.

Stay Engaged-

Use LinkedIn to grow your personal brand. Join groups related to your industry or field of expertise. Stay active in the groups by posting questions or comments and sharing articles. Follow thought leaders on LinkedIn to see how their blogs and suggestions can help you. Be consistent, credible, and knowledgeable so that you can be seen as a go-to person for your peers.