New Grad Life

3 Job Search Mistakes Everybody Makes

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Finding a job is tough, but these 3 mistakes could really cost you

Many of you are making 3 serious job search mistakes. We need to clear these up if you want to get a job.

#1: You believe your job search is completely dependent on your resume and cover letter.

Wrong. In a perfect world, your resume is more of a formality than a necessity. If someone already knows you or has received an excellent recommendation of you, they are more focused on getting to know you in the interview rather than picking through the details of your resume.

A bad resume is definitely getting cut, but a great resume does not guarantee you the job.

Let’s be honest, I don’t care how many cool internships you’ve had or what your GPA is: many employers feel that an entry-level candidate is an entry-level candidate. In large companies you may have to meet a certain GPA or major requirement, but much past that, it’s all about you.

Your personal brand is what lands you a job. Not your resume. Your personal brand should match online, offline, in your personality and in your appearance. The way you write your LinkedIn profile, what you say online, and who you meet in person are a few important aspects of a job seekers personal brand.

#2: The Internet is the only tool you have used to aid your job search.

I’ve been doing a lot of research for Job Search Boot Camp and have found career expert, after career expert claiming that 80% of open positions are not posted online. They also claim that the vast majority of job seekers rely solely on the Internet to find a new job.

To turn this idea into simple math, this means that roughly 80% of the people are going for 20% of the jobs. Not only are those online jobs way more competitive, they are most likely more generic than those you’d find offline.

So what does this mean for you? It means that if you’re smart, you’d be playing in the offline field where you’d be one of the 20% looking at 80% of the jobs.

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Top 5 Unique Job Interview Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Bauer) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:10:00 PDT

Interesting Pointers For Your Next Job Interview

This article was reprinted with permission from http://www.careerealism.com

It can be overwhelming to think about how much work it actually entails to find a job in today’s web 2.0 world. If you are very serious about it, you have likely educated yourself in all the various facets of a job search and become well-equipped to go out and tackle the task. But, so have many others. Once a company narrows down the candidate pool to a group of people they want to meet, and you are one of them, it’s time to start thinking about your next steps. Only one person can be chosen in the end. When all things are equal, what makes you stand out?

Finding strategic and creative ways to land job interviews is half the battle. Once you are chosen for an interview, it’s not always going to be enough to arrive early, smile at the right times, answer the questions properly, ask the right questions, and then conduct all the proper follow-up tasks. Chances are you are going up against other candidates who will also be doing those same things. Now is the time to go that extra mile.

The best proactive strategies are somewhat subtle in nature and just flow with the rest of the process. The following are the top five strategies 80% of candidates do not utilize:

1. Confirm your interview.

If you have at least a few days between when you set up your interview and when it actually takes place, use the extra time to your advantage. Call or e-mail to confirm the interview, and let them know you are really looking forward to it. Not very many candidates do this, yet it’s these little acts of professionalism that matter.

2. Develop a rapport with the people who interview you.

Typically interviews (including phone interviews), start out with some small talk. Don’t just answer questions asked of you, ask them questions too and get a lighthearted conversation going! Ask them how they are doing and maybe share a lighthearted story. Try to help take the rigid formality of a job interview down a notch so that the conversation can flow easier. If any of the interviewers share something of some level of significance, be creative and use that information in further communications. Your thank you letter to that person could briefly mention something that had come up. For example, if an interviewer mentioned that his or her child was sick, why not briefly mention in your thank you letter that you hope his or her child is feeling better? Who wouldn’t appreciate that?

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8 Job Search Tips to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney Austin) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Secrets job seekers should know

Not getting the results you want in your job search? Here are eight ways to help put your search on fast-forward:

1. Monitor your online time: We’ve all experienced the phenomena of “online creep” where you log on to get one piece of information and three hours later, you’re still surfing the computer. Decide in advance how much time you need to spend online and then stick to it. If needed, set a timer to remind yourself that it’s time to move on to other activities.

2. Sign up for personal “job agents”: Many sites now offer “personal job agents” that can automate your job search for you. After registering information about the specific type of job you are looking for, the agent notifies you by e-mail when jobs are posted on their database that meet your criteria. You can then apply for any position directly with the employer.

3. Follow up your online correspondence: Don’t sit around passively waiting for the phone to ring after you respond to a job posting. Take the initiative and follow-up by phone several days later to check on the status of your application. This one action can distinguish you from the competition and get you an interview.

4. Use the job boards to scope out companies in active hiring mode: Do you repeatedly see ads for multiple positions within the same company? Apply directly to those firms even if you don’t see a specific posting within your field of expertise. Chances are they’ll need employees in a variety of positions and departments.

5. Maximize the research capability of the internet: The internet is the ultimate research tool. You can find out just about everything you need to know about companies and industries of interest – use that information to gain a competitive edge in your correspondence and interviews. One of my favorite resources for getting in-depth information on specific companies and industries is Vault.com. They have extensive reports on management consulting firms, law firms and a number of Fortune 500 companies (among others).

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7 Phrases to Leave Off Your Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney Austin) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Resume writing - less is more

This post was written by Rick Saia, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com.

So you're writing your resume and figure the structure is fine, but what about the content? With more and more resumes being sent to fewer positions, employers see the same phrases come up over and over again. In order to write a resume that stands out, job seekers should avoid using the following seven phrases:

1. "Effective Communicator"

This phrase on resumes doesn't distinguish you from other job applicants, but that's exactly what you need to do today to be called in for an interview. Hiring managers assume you can communicate well, so, if you don't know how — either by e-mail or with your voice — you have about as much chance of getting hired as a tree.

2. "Detail-Oriented"

Every job requires a certain level of attention to detail. So, again, this won't help your resume — or your chance at landing an interview. The best thing to do here — if you know the job you're applying for calls for this trait in particular — is to be ready to explain in an interview how your high level of attention to detail resulted in a key accomplishment in your current or previous job.

3. "Highly Skilled"

This is a nothing phrase. You have skills, and you can use some or all of those skills in some kind of job that calls for them. The only way you don't have skills is if you've been doing — here it comes — nothing. Do you believe you have more skills than the average applicant? Show, don't tell.

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10 Weaknesses That'll Destroy Your Job Interview

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:01:00 PDT

Big Job Interview, Little Mistakes

This article was reprinted with permission from danielhenrygroup.com

You've gotten your foot "in the door", and have been invited to an on-site interview. Now is not the time to make any errors due to a lack of preparation. Avoiding these simple mistakes can allow for a more successful interview. Always be prepared with an interview strategy.

1. Make a nuisance of yourself and show up early for your interview or be late. Suggestion: Don't be more then fifteen minutes early and don't be late.

2. Pester support staff and receptionists with questions or treat them rudely. Suggestion: Treat support staff with adequate respect and leave them to their work.

3. Don't bring a copy of your resume. Suggestion: Bring multiple copies of your resume for interview staff, in case they need one to refer too.

4. Don't ask questions or ask irrelevant questions. Suggestion: Be prepared to ask smart and effective questions that will provide you with information you may need to know.

5. Share a lot about yourself. Suggestion: Share briefly about yourself in regards to being an asset to the given opportunity. Interviewers don't want to know about your winning the spelling bee.

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9 Steps to LinkedIn Networking for a Job

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Astley) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

A simple guide for job networking on LinkedIn

Competition for advertised jobs is fierce. An advertised job posting can generate applications from thousands of potential candidates. Likewise, employers can cherry-pick potential employees. So how do you differentiate yourself while job hunting on LinkedIn? With all the tools for job seekers on the site you may get overwhelmed. Try this step-by-step process below and land a job on LinkedIn successfully!

To increase your chances of generating a response including an interview from a job posting, you should:

• Use LinkedIn to locate a company insider with a common connection (professional association, alum, etcetera)
• Request an informational interview to determine if the job is still available, name of the hiring manager, desired characteristics of the potential employee, and etcetera
• Customize your resume and cover letter using this information
• Ask your company insider to deliver your resume and cover letter to the hiring manager

Next, I am going to provide you with the steps I used to apply for a position last week with a Fortune 100 company.
1. Go to http://www.linkedin.com/
2. Click on the “Advanced” link for the Search People field in the upper right region of your screen
3. Select “Located in or near:” for the Location field

4. Input a zip code for the Postal Code field and select the appropriate entry (such as 50 mi) for the Within field to ensure the location of the company is within this geographical range
5. Input the name of the company in the Company field and select Current in the box below this field

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5 Ways To Turn Off A Hiring Manager

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:13:00 PDT

Job seekers beware

Reprinted with permission from FabJob.com .

Are you high maintenance? Do your friends tease you about being a "diva"? Is one of your favorite phrases "enough about you, let's talk about me"?

If you answered "no," check out the following behaviors, compiled from bad moves of dozens of real-life job-seekers, for ideas guaranteed to make a negative impression on employers.

1. Get More Information Before Applying

Before you apply for a job, make sure you're not wasting your time going after a position that's beneath you.

When you see an ad for a job that looks interesting, phone the employer and demand to speak with the person in charge of hiring. Once you have that person on the phone (if necessary, keep phoning until they agree to take your call), grill them about the job.

Get answers to questions such as: "How much does it pay? How much vacation time will I get? How big will my office be?" and anything else that's important to you.

Finish by insisting that they fax or email the job description to you.

2. Create a Cover Letter That's All About You

Start your cover letter with a strong statement such as "This is the type of position I've been looking for."

Then go on to explain what you want in a job. For example, "I am searching for a financially rewarding position where I can gain experience and pursue my interests." Add that you see this job as a stepping-stone to something better.

Even if they haven't asked for salary expectations, tell them the minimum amount they'll need to pay you "with benefits."

Better yet, don't waste your valuable time writing a cover letter when anyone can see from your resume how lucky they would be to have you.

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Ten Mistakes that Can Sabotage Your Job Search

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Montez) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

How to be more efficient in your job search

By Jay Edward Miller of alabamajobwatch.com

Your resume is the number one most power job search tool in your arsenal. It has the power to make you successful beyond your wildest dreams. But if you screw it up, it also has the power to stop you dead in your tracks.

1) Overuse of "blasting" to distribute your resume. Mailing or emailing hundreds or even thousands of resumes to employers and recruiters can be counter-productive. For one thing, you are limited to a weakened, general, all-purpose version of your resume. Your cover letter if you have one, addressed to "Whom It May Concern" will be meaningless. Your submission will be lumped with the spam and junk email. You will have no opportunity to move the process forward by following up with a meaningful phone call, letter, or email.

And if that isn't bad enough, if a recruiter or employer reads your resume, they are smart enough to know that everyone else has a copy of it. If you are a recruiter and you know a thousand other recruiters have the same resume, you would know the tough time you would have earning a commission on the placement. Plus, you might figure that all the local employers have the resume and could cut you out of the loop. If employers know that all the other employers have your resume they may not be interested in competing with them.

Indiscriminate blasting reduces your market value. Don't expect quality interviews; expect interviews for hard-to-fill or high-turnover positions. Some commission hungry agents will be forgiving and may take a chance on you, higher class agents and employers will not.

2) Applying for jobs you are not qualified for. What is the harm? The job looks interesting, the "apply" link is right there, what is the worse that could happen? All they can do is say, "no".

If you are unqualified and waste a recruiter's or employer's time, they will ignore you in the future. And when their time is wasted, they suddenly have a memory like an elephant. That is not the way you want to be remembered in a job search. Plus, how smart does it make you look?

3) Not customizing your resume and cover letter for each employer. The Internet makes it so much easier to investigate companies. Corporate websites will tell you exactly what they are looking for in employees. Leverage these resources. The resume and cover letter are the most powerful marketing tools in your arsenal. And with today's technology, sending a generic resume and cover letter is inexcusable.

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Your Student Loans Will Affect Your Credit Score

noreply@blogger.com (Terrance Williams) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:03:00 PDT

A financial lesson to for new graduates

This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, bringing you informative personal finance content and helpful tools, as well as the best interest rates on financial services nationwide. Visit them online to read more student loan articles.

Student loans are a form of debt, which means having one will affect your credit score. Of course, it's pretty hard to get through school without one.

If you're worried about the impact a student loan could have on your credit, know that how you handle it will determine whether that effect is positive or negative.

How a Credit Score is Calculated

Your credit score is an extremely important number. As a soon-to-be or recent college grad, your credit score will play a huge role in your financial future. Basically, it gives lenders and creditors an idea of how financially responsible you are--how heavily you rely on credit and whether you pay bills on time, for example--and helps them judge the level of risk you present as a borrower.

Your credit score will play into how easily you can obtain credit cards, loans and even an apartment, so taking care of it now will save you a lot of grief in the future. Here's a breakdown of how your score is calculated:

Payment History: Your ability to consistently pay bills on time makes up 35 percent of your score.
Amount Owed: Coming in at a close second, the amount of debt you owe is 30 percent.
Credit History: At 15 percent, the length of time you've been using credit is also considered.
New Credit: 10 percent of your credit score is reliant upon how often you open up new lines of credit.
Types of Credit: Also at 10 percent, the varied types of credit you possess (credit card, student loan, auto loan, etc.) will affect your score.

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Top 5 Reasons Why Your Resume Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Is your resume all it can be?

You have sent out hundreds and hundreds of résumés with barely a response. You reason that it’s the economy and some other factors that you are simply not aware of. How can this be? No response whatsoever? You have accomplished a lot; you were well liked in your last role and did a number of things for the company that even resulted in a promotion. So what’s going on? I will tell you. It has nothing to do with you. It’s your RÉSUMÉ that sucks! What’s wrong with your résumé? It may be these top five things:

1. Your Résumé Is Not Results Oriented
For reasons completely unknown to me, people like to reference the things they are responsible for rather than the results they obtained! Again, this document is an important marketing and sales tool. The examples of what you have done with the corresponding outcome are paramount to ensure that your résumé is considered! If you don’t reference how you drove productivity, revenue, profitability, or added value – some type of value, you will not be successful!

Make sure you provide the reader with the juicy details of how you added value for your employer. Here are a few examples to help you get started:
- Drafted a full business plan, including the financial forecast to open a new profit center for the company, resulting in a 40% revenue increase in year one.
- Conceptualized and implemented a team training concept, which reduced production downtime by 35% and increased employee productivity by 50%.

2. You Don’t Have Core Competencies Called Out
This is a quick snap-shot of what you are offering your next employer. This section is critical; it shows the reader at a quick glance what you bring to the table and what you have accomplished in the past. It will help the reader quickly understand the competencies you possess as they connect with the position for which you are applying.

It can be a bulleted list of key words that when scanned by a person or a system will be easily identified as your key attributes. Don’t be afraid to revise your existing, or add new competencies to meet the position description. I would not suggest adding them verbatim; get a little creative in how you write them.

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10 Ways Your Job Interview Could Go Horribly Wrong - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Mon, 06 May 2013 00:42:00 PDT

A Job Interview Miniguide

This article was reprinted with permission from responsewebrecruitment.co.uk

In part 1 of the 10 key reasons a job interview could go wrong, we looked at how a lack of preparation, dressing poorly and turning up late for an interview could all have a very negative on your chances of interview success. In this 2nd and final part, we look at a further 5 things that could scupper your chances of clinching that next big job.

6. Failing to answer the ACTUAL question

Listen carefully to the question, there will be a specific example of a skill or experience that the interviewer will be trying to draw out. Sometimes nerves can take over and you will begin to waffle about everything apart from what the interviewer is actually asking.

As I mention in part 1 the key here is in the preparation. Although you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, by practicing the answers to typical interview questions, you will be able to try and eliminate the waffle and answer the question with real substance.

7. Failing to portray positive body language

Remember, from the moment you arrive to when you leave, you need to be fully aware that you are there to impress and to sell yourself.

So, don’t sit in reception with your legs stretched out, hands clasped behind your head with a chilled out demeanour. Greet the interviewer with a firm (but not iron grip) handshake, and certainly not a limp handshake which might suggest a weak character. Smile and make eye contact. Remember that those first few seconds are a great opportunity to create a great impression.

When you are in the interview, avoid the classic negative body language traits; don’t cross your arms as this can be interpreted as defensive and try to sit forward and make direct eye contact to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.

If you can subtly imitate your interviewer’s positive body language this will certainly build up a rapport, but try not to make it too obvious or they may just find you a tad weird!

8. Failing to sell yourself

One of the classic mistakes we often see in interviews is when candidates believe it’s a sign of arrogance to give examples of where they have excelled in a position. I’m not sure whether it’s a British trait that perhaps we feel too reserved to boast about our achievements. It certainly isn’t the case over in America where candidates are much more confident about self-promotion.

But, there is obviously a fine balance between arrogance and confidence. For example, in an interview, you could say, “I have a reputation for delivering an excellent ROI on marketing projects”, rather than, “I am the best marketing person in my company”.

Make sure you add some substance when reflecting on your strengths, and it is always wise to reflect on some of the projects you delivered and the facts and figures behind those projects.

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12 Deadly Sins That Kill Your Job Search

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Bauer) — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Common mistakes job hunters make

This post was written by Diane Coffey and originally appeared on PongoResume.com.

Job seekers often make mistakes during their job search - but in these tough economic times even the slightest detail must be taken care of. From resumes to cover letters, and from the interview to the reference and background check, there are 12 huge mistakes that can be avoided with just a little bit of effort on the job seeker's part. Read on to see what they are and improve your job search!

RESUMES and COVER LETTERS

1. Not customizing your resume for each job submittal: Each resume you submit should be tailored to the position, highlighting those dimensions of your background that are most important to the job.

2. Only using job boards to search for opportunities: The least effective way to find a job is by applying to job listings on job boards. Other, more useful tactics for identifying job opportunities include networking with colleagues, targeting specific companies, and attending professional association meetings, to name just a few.

3. Not using a cover letter: Cover letters provide a way to highlight the personal qualities and accomplishments that differentiate you from other applicants. Your cover letter also allows you to draw the reader’s attention to the parts of your background that are most applicable to the specific job.

4. Not following up on resumes and interviews: Professional follow-through on resume submittals and interviews helps set you apart, puts your name in front of the hiring authorities, and demonstrates your interest in the company and position.

5. Not taking extra copies of your resume and cover letter to each interview: Interviewers are notorious for forgetting to bring your resume to the interview, so demonstrate your preparedness by taking extra copies for them. You may also meet people who have not seen your resume before.

6. Lying on your resume or at any point in the hiring process: Lying is very high risk, both during the selection process and after you get hired. Many people have been fired for lying on their resumes, even after years of high job performance. Positive spin is good; lying is bad.

7. Putting personal information on your resume: Personal data is irrelevant to the hiring process. Companies are governed by law to not discriminate based on personal characteristics or circumstances. Listing personal information on your resume, which used to be standard, is now viewed as unprofessional.

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7 Resume Writing Mistakes to Avoid

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda Mitchell) — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Resume blunders that cost job seekers dearly

Most people view resumes as a necessary evil and I can completely understand why. A good resume takes thought, some creativity, an ability to “sell yourself” and some basic marketing principles. Yet, the resume is so vitally important. As I have said before, the resume must evoke an emotion in the eyes of the reader and compel them to pick up the phone an give you a call. Your resume really is a marketing piece at a very basic level.

I want to share with you what I believe are the top 7 resume blunders. Trust me, I have seen them all over the last eight years as an Executive Recruiter. In fact, I have a “running” Word document that I add to on a weekly basis anytime I come across a funny, unusual, or bizarre item on a resume. One day I will share it with the world and you will not believe what I have seen on resumes.

Anyways, back to the purpose of the blog post. If I were to take all of the blunders I have seen I could place them into 7 basic categories. I would encourage you to take time to measure your resume up against these blunders and be sure that these are not true about your resume.

TOP 7 RESUME BLUNDERS

1. Lack of Focus – If anything bugs me more it is seeing a resume that has no focus. I have seen great candidates with bad resumes and a lack of focus on their resume is what is keeping them from getting in the door for an interview.

SOLUTION: Have a solid summary statement at the beginning of the resume. Personally, I am not a big fan of “Objective Statements.” I just don’t think they are very useful. However, a nice summary statement or qualifications summary at the beginning can work well. The idea is to have a paragraph at the beginning of the resume that “sells you” into the position.

Now, you may need to tailor this to specific positions before you submit it but the idea is to have compelling statements that are clear as to what you are trying to accomplish and what you are all about.

2. Too Wordy – There are some people who want to put “everything” on their resume. Their philosophy is that if it isn’t on the resume then they will think I don’t have the experience. The problem is that your “presentation” on a resume is just as important. The reader is judging your overall presentation based on how the resume looks and if you are able to say things concisely.

SOLUTION: If you are under 5 years of experience try to stick with a one page resume. If you are a 5-15 year person then you have earned a two-page resume. If you have more than 15 years of experience then you can go to a three-page resume. However, I would normally recommend that you stay to two pages if at all possible.

Another tip that is becoming common practice is to list at the bottom of the resume “Additional Professional Experience Available Upon Request.” This can help those who have a 20+ year career and are struggling with keeping their resume short. It can also help you if you feel like your age is becoming a factor in your job search (although, it is not supossed to!).

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6 Job Networking Tips for New Grads

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

How job seekers can start networking for their careers

Job networking events are often intimidating for college students and graduates. These events are often places where they feel out of place - but that shouldn’t be the case. Networking events are places were job hunters can make contact with prospective employers and show them just how strong they are as job candidates.

More often than not, the issue with networking for a college grad is not about whether or not they know how to tie a Windsor knot or how to pick out the right business card, but what to say to company representatives and how to say it. Below are 6 tips we hope will help recent grads out with networking.

1. Show passion for the industry and company

New grads normally do not have much relevant work experience, but can impress potential employers with passion about the company and the industry. The following are crucial pieces of information college grads should research to impress employers.

a) The top 3 competitors in this industry
b) The company’s strengths/weaknesses
c) The company’s vision and values
d) Industry trends (social, economic, etc.)

2. Show interest in the person you are talking to

Company representatives respect sincerity and will open up as job seekers ask questions. Most people are happy to talk about themselves (what they do for a living, how they got involved with the company, etc.) so college grads should show some genuine interest in the person they are speaking with.

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How to Measure Job Search Success

noreply@blogger.com (Terrance Williams) — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:05:00 PDT

How effective is your job search? Do you really know?

Here's the thought: What parts of your job search do you measure?

If you're thinking, "Huh?" or "I don't measure anything," you are like a dieter who doesn't own a scale -- how can you know if you're succeeding?

The answer lies in questions. Specifically, if you ask the right questions, you'll get the right answers needed to measure -- and improve -- your job search.

So, to get you started, here are three questions to ask yourself at the end of each day ...

Question 1: How many networking phone calls did I make today?

Write the number down. Are you happy with it? Did you make 15 phone calls, for example? Good. Reward yourself appropriately, write down what you did to achieve that goal, then repeat it tomorrow.

Not happy with the number of calls you made? Think back to a day when you were happy, when you were "hot" on the phone, and talked to a lot of people. How did you do it? Whatever you did that worked before, repeat it tomorrow.

What if you've NEVER had a good day making networking calls? I would suggest that this is impossible -- and I can prove it to you.

Think about a time when you made a lot of phone calls to ask an important question. Maybe it was to confirm the guest list for a party, or to find a babysitter, or to get a sub at work. If you can do that -- pick up the phone and ask a question of people you know -- you can make networking calls about your job search. Because it's pretty much the same thing.

In this case, the question you are asking is not, Do you know anyone who's hiring? Instead, first tell others what kind of company and job you're looking for, then ask, Who do you know that I should be talking to?

Regardless of whom you call and what you ask, the goal of each networking phone call is simple: To schedule an in-person meeting.

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10 Phrases That Kill Your Job Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney Austin) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Job interviews gone bad

Reprinted with permission from careersinmotion.co.za.

If you want to make a good impression during a job interview, it is important to say the right things. Here are ten things you should avoid saying.

Job interviews can be an intimidating process. There are a number of good resources that will help you to learn what the right things to say are during a job interview. It is also important, however, to know what things you should not say during an interview. Here are ten things that you should absolutely avoid saying during an interview if you want to walk away with the job.

1. "I'm sorry I'm late."

If you want to start an interview off on the wrong foot, being late is a good way to do so. Make a good first impression by being on time. Being late tells the interviewer that you do not respect his time, that you are unorganized and that you do not manage your own time well. Most importantly, when you have to start off an interview by apologizing for being late, you have already established a dynamic where you are subordinate to the interviewer rather than being an equal. This will hurt you immensely during the negotiating process.

2. "I left my old job because my boss was a jerk."

A prospective employer does not want to hear you bad-mouthing your old boss. When she hears you complaining about what a jerk your old boss was, all that is going through her head is that, someday, this is what you will be saying about her. Even if your ex-boss was a jerk, your prospective boss does not want to hire someone who, it seems, cannot get along with others, cannot accept responsibility and who is not a team player. Stay away from the negative, and focus on the positive. For example, does this new position offer more opportunities for responsibility and advancement? These kinds of things are what your prospective boss wants to hear.

3. "I'm just looking to work here until something better comes along."

Sometimes in life, we do have to accept employment that is less than ideal in order to keep food on the table while we are looking for something more appropriate. Your prospective employer does not want to hear this, however. He believes in what his company does, whether it is flipping hamburgers or washing cars or constructing luxury high-rise apartments. Every company makes its own contribution to the whole of society, and when a prospective employer asks you why you want to work for his particular company, he wants to know that you understand, respect and value the significance of his company.

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10 Uncommon Job Hunt Tactics that Work

noreply@blogger.com (Terrance Williams) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Getting a job through unconventional means

Before you can get a job, you need to know which job search strategies work and which do not. Take a look at these tips to find out how to make your job hunt more effective.

1. Hire a cold caller.

Cold calling to get a job really works–if you're good at it. Your ability to sell yourself on the phone shows exceptional sales skills, self-confidence, drive, and commitment. But most cold calls are executed poorly for the job hunt.

Debra Feldman is a professional cold caller at Job Whiz; you hire her to get you a job, and she can do it. By cold calling CEOs. What's the catch? She costs thousands of dollars. So consider teaching yourself the skill well enough to talk your way into a job where you can afford Feldman. You can definitely learn how to get a job from this as confidence on the phone will often help you with your career development.

2. Use proactive recommendations.

Instead of waiting for a hiring manager to ask for job references, have your job reference call immediately. This works well if you have a heavy-weight reference, like a well-known CEO or someone who knows the hiring manager. But it also works well if you have little career experience. In fact, if you are just starting out with your job search it's a great tool.

"The good employers have relationships with professors and they forward students who seem exceptional," says Joel Spolsky, chief executive of Fog Creek Software and author of the blog Joel on Software.

Also tap your job coaches. They tend to know students well after meeting daily for practice over the course of a few years. "A coach has extended knowledge of the students' personalities," says Tom Carmean, head lacrosse coach at Amherst University, who has given many references to employers. To start your job hunt off on a good start, this is one tip to consider for sure.

3. Stay organized with job hunt software.

How many times have you put the wrong name on a cover letter? Forgotten where you applied? Forgotten what the job was? You need to be organized right off the bat – maintain an Excel spreadsheet with all your contacts. This essential for the job hunt.

For a serious job hunter who recognizes that a hunt never ends, you could try JibberJobber, which not only helps you organize your information, but can bug you about the things you should be doing but might not be, such as following-up with a phone call. So to be successful in your job search, consider this technique.

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5 Ways To Waste Your LinkedIn Account

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:57:00 PDT

The job is yours through LinkedIn - if you know to snag it

This post was written by Elliot Lasson, the Executive Director of Joblink of Maryland and writer at http://joblinkofmaryland.wordpress.com.

By now, most people know that LinkedIn is the world’s most popular professional networking site. Yes, I have drunk the Kool-Aid and am a big fan.

However, while LinkedIn has many useful capabilities, many people do not use it properly. This ranges from not having an account/profile at all or overusing it. If LinkedIn is not appropriately utilized it will be ineffective or even counterproductive. Also, given the fact that recruiters will often check out your LinkedIn profile, it is critical to have a positive LinkedIn presence.

In this piece, the top 5 mistakes which job seekers and other professionals make on LinkedIn are presented:

1. Incomplete, underwhelming or multiple profiles

An essential step in developing your network is by inviting potential connections to join it. Connections might be colleagues, friends, or relatives. This must be done one person at a time. A prerequisite to sending invitations is starting with a complete Profile. This means developing your Profile in a manner that includes relevant information from your resume and having one or two professional recommendations. LinkedIn will walk you through the steps involved and provide a progress bar as to how close you are to “Profile completion”.

2. Insufficient number of connections and weak invitations

Simply creating a profile and not developing a network is not good form. Inviting connections can be done through entering the person’s email address, through a preexisting organizational affiliation, through an alumni group, or through a niche group. While there is no magic number as to the optimal number of 1st degree LinkedIn connections, it is certainly greater than 0 or 1. Make sure that you do not somehow have multiple profiles, as you don’t want people confusing the “old” you with the “new” you. When inviting people whom you do not know, you must provide some context. Do not simply use the impersonal default message. Having a phone or in-person conversation or sending an email before the fact is often helpful before requesting the person to join your network. If too many people whom you invite click “I don’ know this person”, you will be put into the equivalent of “LinkedIn timeout”, which will then require you to always have the email address of future invitees and you will not be able to simply connect through some other LinkedIn relationship.

3. Failing to proofread for mistakes

One turnoff to consumers of your Profile is seeing spelling or spacing mistakes either in your profile or in requests to connect. You should definitely proofread your information before going “live”. If you identify yourself in your Profile as a “Profesional Profreader”, a writing job at the local newspaper is unlikely to be in your future. This also includes those for whom English is not a first language. Since we often miss mistakes in our own profile, it would be a good idea to have your Profile proofed by someone else and you return the favor for his/hers.

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3 Things Employers Look for on Your Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Bauer) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Write a resume that gets an employer's attention

Ever submit a resume and wondered why you didn’t even get a call, when you felt that you were ideal for the job? Ever felt that your resume was buried in a database and not even getting seen?

Chances are your resume didn’t demonstrate the 3 things an employer looks for on a resume. Even in the prescreening process (databases, recruiters and HR staff) are instructed to search for these 3 things, by the keywords they search for.

If you can clearly present these three things in your resume, you give yourself a much greater chance of scoring an interview. But what are they?

#1: Can the candidate solve the specific top problems I have today? An employer is searching for evidence that you can solve their unique top problems. The best way you can demonstrate that you can solve their top problems is by clearly demonstrating that you’ve already solved those exact problems. Most resumes do a poor job answering this question, as most candidates create resumes that demonstrate general problem solving skills rather than solving the unique top problems a specific employer has today.

• Do your research to find out the specific problems, challenges, and goals a company has today
• Do more research to determine how those corporate challenges, problems, and goals affect the department and hiring manager
• Don’t just list broad industry skills, hoping it meets your target’s needs
• Don’t just say that you can learn – Beyond entry level jobs, few companies will pay you for training or ramp-up time when they can find plenty of candidates who won’t need training

#2: Can the candidate build shareholder value?
Outside of the non-profit world, a company is willing to pay an employee because they believe you will make them more money than they pay - You are an investment. The best way you can demonstrate that you’re a profitable investment on your resume is to demonstrate how you’ve already built shareholder value for past employers and clients. Most candidates forget this notion, writing a resume that focuses on what they themselves want or a resume that describes how they spend their day.

• Do your research to find out the type of value likely to be important to this specific company, department and manager
• Demonstrate your value in numerical results or percentages
• Translate your accomplishments to shareholder value

• Claim responsibility
• Don’t emphasize responsibilities
• Don’t emphasize your past companies accomplishments over your specific achievements

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10 Ways Your Job Interview Could Go Horribly Wrong - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (New Grad Life) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:26:00 PDT

A Job Interview Miniguide

This article was reprinted with permission from responsewebrecruitment.co.uk

Unfortunately a lot of people think that the hard work has now been done and that they can simply turn up to an interview and stroll towards a job offer.

The reality is that getting an interview is a great start, but if you really want to bag that job then this is where the hard work really starts.

Having interviewed a number of people myself over the years, I’ve seen so many candidates fail to prepare and as the old cliché goes, prepare to fail.

So, I’ve listed below the first five of the most common things that could go wrong in the interview process.

Remember that with most of the examples, you are in control and if you prepare as well as you can, you will give yourself the best chance at securing that move.

Let’s kick off with the absolute basics….

1. Failing to understand what the company does

Most job interviews start with the question, “So, tell me what you know about the company”. Make sure you take the time to take a look at the company’s website and research the key facts about the business.

This isn’t a case of spending hours learning everything there is to know about the organisation. Ten minutes on their website or a look at company house, will tell you when they started in business, how many employees they have, which areas of business they are focused on and where they are going in the future. It may also be worth looking at sites like www.newsnow.com where you can search to see if the company has posted any news articles and what is going on in their particular sector.

You may even want to consider looking at LinkedIn and search for individuals who are currently working in that business to see what backgrounds they come from. Try and also find the interviewer on LinkedIn or even Google them to see if you can find out what makes them tick.

Job Research is a must and by carrying it out it will show you are serious about the position you have applied for. Not doing your research will start the interview off on the wrong footing and the next 55 minutes will probably be painful!

2. Failing to arrive on time for the interview
You race across the car park, and arrive to the interview ten minutes late and now you are sweaty and anxious. You are immediately on the back foot and at a disadvantage to all those being interviewed for the position. Let’s face it, would you employ someone who can’t make it to work on time?

Again, this is where preparation is key; plan your journey, leaving yourself plenty of time for unforeseen problems such as late trains and traffic.

Print off maps, practice your route and arrive at least 10 minutes before your interview is due to start. This will give you a last chance to look over your notes and gather your thoughts.

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Hey Grads! No Experience? No Problem! (Sort of)

noreply@blogger.com (Terrance Williams) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:03:00 PDT

Advice from a fellow college graduate

This post was written by Brianna Raymond, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com. It originally appeared on The Pongo Blog on May 12, 2010.

I graduated from college two years ago (four now!) with the notion that having a college degree would serve in place of experience and pretty much guarantee a decent starting salary in a first job. And finding that first job was going to be a piece of cake with a degree to boast. Knowing what I know now, I couldn't have been more foolish.

What I Learned about Experience, from Experience

1. You have it, but it's not the right kind.

The "Experience" section of my pre-graduation resume looked a little something like this: Pizza Place, 3 years; Some Pharmacy, 2 years; This Gym, 5 months. In my mind, this kind of work record showed a prospective employer that I'm a good, loyal worker. But if the jobs and skills are irrelevant to the field of work you're looking to enter, your resume will appear weak and incomplete. And that's where point #2 comes in ...

2. Your free time in college counts for more than you think.

College meant the freedom to schedule my own day. To be done with classes by noon or to not even start until 4 p.m. Oh, and the parties? Yeah, those were really something. But what about student activities and clubs? Or the internships advertised around campus? Not only did my contributions to the campus newspaper and my summer internship at a publishing house give me valuable experience for the workforce, they also gave me a stronger resume that secured interview after interview.

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Resume Ignored By Online Application Sites? Here's Why.

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Montez) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Is your resume standing out in the pile?

You’ve filled out hundreds of online job applications, and have never heard from an employer. You are beginning to feel rejected, unloved and unappreciated. Why doesn’t anyone call back? The reason may be in your resume and you haven’t noticed it.

I'm going to start with the assumption that your resume is neat, truthful, printed in a simple font, no smaller than 11 points, no more than two pages covering the last 10 years, and that it is spell-checked and proofread. No “manger” for “manager,” no “it’s” when it should be “its.”

There are two areas that will get your resume ignored–fast. One of them is the “Objective” statement. Anything vague gets you rejected. “I’m looking for an exciting job to advance my career,” is an example of a sinker. So is “Powerful executive with 20 years of increasing responsibility available for lateral applications of bricks-and-clicks viral e-marketing,” or anything else that looks like it comes from a jargon generator.

The objective is not a PR statement–the purpose is to get you hired. You will need a new one for every job you apply to. Hate the idea? Then get used to longer unemployment.

Your resume is being scanned for key words every time you submit it. If you don’t have the right key words, your resume will be shot into the shredder. What are the magic key words? Read the ad. The job description contains the key words. That’s why you need to change your objective for each job. Because the key words change. Look for nouns (titles, duties, responsibilities), not verbs (action words). You’ve probably been taught to create a “results oriented” resume. They don’t work anymore. Everyone “generated top results,” “managed profitability” and “won industry-wide awards,” and the scanner is not interested.

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Famous Resume Myths - Debunked!

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Bauer) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:15:00 PDT

Resume writing myths you may have heard, but should forget!

Reprinted with permission from wetfeet.com.

There is no one best way to write a resume; there are no absolutes. Every career counselor and recruiter has his or her own take on resume writing. Even the formatting you use and the positions you list depend on the industry, the specific job, and your experience. But amid all the potentially conflicting opinions, there is some agreement on common resume myths.

1. Your resume must be only one page.

False. "Your resume should be as long as needed [in order] to get your concise message across with zip and punch," says Joyce Lain Kennedy, careers columnist and author of Resumes for Dummies. If your experience and background justifies two or more pages, so be it. Recent grads shouldn't go beyond one page, but senior executives with decades of experience will probably need at least two pages.

The rules are slightly different for resumes sent via e-mail. Laura Dominguez Chan, a Stanford University career counselor, says that in that instance, shorter is better for both cover letters and resumes.

2. Prospective employers don't read cover letters.

False. "Remember that anything you send is part of an image you're projecting," says Dominguez Chan. "If [nothing else,] your cover letter shows your writing skills…and if all the candidates [for the position] really are top notch, it could be the cover letter that lands you the job."

3. Resumes should include and describe your entire work history.

False. Your resume is a sales piece, a personal marketing tool. Take time to consider what skills the position requires. It’s likely that a part-time job you took for a few months isn't going to be relevant or impressive. Unless you need to cover a significant time gap, it’s wise to include only those jobs that will showcase your ability to excel in the position for which you’re applying.

Volunteer and other non-paid positions can be just as valuable as paid ones—especially if you’re a recent grad or are re-entering the workforce after an absence. Use your resume format to communicate volunteer work as experience.

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Is My Job Search Doomed if I Don’t Have a Network?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Montez) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Job search fact or fiction?

Your job search is not doomed, but without networking you are doomed to suffer a longer more difficult one.

Although networking is important, it is only one piece in a multiple-channel job search marketing strategy. You help yourself best by working all your channels. Some other channels are:

- Online networking portholes such as LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace

- Recruiters and Search Firms

- Job sites such as Indeed, LocalJobNetwork, Ladders and CareerBuilder

- Targeted mailing and Informational Interviewing

- Career Fairs, Trade Associations, and Community Organizations

Nevertheless, many jobs are found by being at the right place at the right time and that means a lot of deliberate networking. Some may say, “Being at the right place at the right time is all luck.” I don’t. I say it is resultant of “preparation” meeting “opportunity.” If you are not prepared, you may have opportunities looking you in the face and never know it; or you may recognize an opportunity and not be prepared to take advantage. It is only when preparation and opportunity meet you are likely to win a job.

The caveat: Opportunity is actually a compound-variable in the equation. The other piece to “opportunity” is “time.” In other words, you can be in a lot of right places (potential opportunities) and be prepared for each, but without a crystal ball you will not know it’s the right time until you get there. So, you must be in a lot of right places at ONE time. Implementing a strategy using multiple channels simultaneously will virtually have you in many places at one time. Equation solved! Of course everyone will say, “You were lucky.” I’ll say, “You were prepared.”

As for the networking piece of the simultaneous multiple-channel marketing strategy…

I will tell you what I tell those who have substantial networks and still suffer hard times: Make it easy for others to help you and they will. Whether you are looking to build a network or jump-starting a stalled (existing) network, here are several tips that can help:

1. Start building permanent relationships while you are still employed.

2. Become known in professional associations.

3. Reacquaint yourself with peers in other companies.

4. Push out emails to update friends and acquaintance.

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4 Tips To Answering The Toughest Job Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney Austin) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:05:00 PDT

Tricks To Ace Your Job Interview In No Time

This article was reprinted with permission from http://www.careerealism.com

From blatant job interview questions like, “What’s your greatest weakness, weakest attribute, or most significant failure.” To soft, “What might your previous employer say?” Even softer, “You certainly seem to have a lot of strengths, but we understand no one is perfect.” The question will come one way or another, everyone knows it, yet still befuddled by it.

There have been many Rules of Thumb (R.O.T.) developed over the years, from making light of the question with an answer like “Pizza!” to true confessions, putting a cloud over everyone, to developing a response that actually demonstrates a strength, “I tend to be a workaholic,” or “perfectionist.” (Yuk!)

In principle, Rules of Thumb are meant to have very broad application such as, “when in doubt, get out.” Great advice if you are in the middle of an intersection and the light changes. Would it apply in the final seconds of a game, you’re down 3 points and have the ball? What, you’re going to walk off the floor? I don’t think so. I find many R.O.T. (pun intended) to be off the mark and misleading. What may be good for one may not be for another. That is not to say there are no rules that can be applied; there are. Just choose your medicine carefully.

When answering interview questions, here’s the first rule…

RULE #1 – Stay positive…ALWAYS!

The “what’s your greatest weakness” question is your opportunity to shine. One way is to demonstrate you are a positive person by nature. Everyone likes a person with a positive nature, right? Remember you are in the interview to make yourself desirable for hiring, so you might say, “I rarely sit there and think of myself in those terms, nevertheless, I do want to respond to your question,” or something on those lines. Notice by the way I did not say, “I rarely sit there and think of my weaknesses.” Here’s a rule of thumb that always applies: Do not use or repeat negative terms, even if the interviewer throws it out there.

Here are three other rules I suggest you follow:

RULE #2 – No superlatives!

Keep it singular. Superlatives such as “weakest” or “worst” or “biggest” indicate the greatest degree of whatever is it describing. “Worst weakness” is the weakness of the highest degree implying there are other weaknesses of varying degrees but weaknesses nonetheless. That begs the question, “What are some others?” Likewise, “need most to improve” implies there are others areas for improvement. In any case, try this as an alternative, “If I had to come up with one…” (No negatives; no multiples).

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