Fast food workers across America are preparing to go on strike this Thursday, reports suggest.

McDonalds cooks, employees working behind the counter at Burger King, staff at Pizza Hut and employees of other fast-food chains are reportedly getting set to strike over pay and healthcare.

Organisation Fight for 15 announced the plans of the protest on social media and the protest will reportedly see workers striking for an increase in their salary to a $15 hourly wage.

Previous strikes have seen restaurant workers stage walk-outs but this latest strike is apparently set to be the biggest strike so far – with employees in up to 150 cities preparing to protest over a minimum wage increase.

There are currently four million fast food workers in the US and strikes will be centred around increasing the minimum wage and rallying fast food chains to provide better salary packages.

Upcoming strikes will involve thousands of workers across states like California, Wisconsin and New York.

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Attending job interviews can be incredibly nerve-wracking and sometimes, confusing!

There are so many different job interview scenarios – group job interviews, panel job interviews, Skype job interviews, face-to-face formal job interviews…there are so many job interview options and you could find yourself attending a variety of them! And with each job interview there is always the ‘preparation’. But when it comes to job interview etiquette and preparation, there are a few rules that you should stick to (no matter the job interview scenario!) in order to impress the employer.

Here are our top tips to job interview etiquette which should hopefully help you win over an employer during your next job interview:

Be Punctual

Turning up to your interview on time or even early is one of the most important things when it comes to job interview day. Turning up and being punctual on job interview day will demonstrate that you are reliable and trustworthy – two personality traits that employers find desirable in candidates. If however you turn up late then your interview will not start on the best foot – the employer will automatically feel you are not that dedicated to the job interview and if they have only allocated a certain amount of time for your interview, it may even mean you won’t have that much time to impress them.

To avoid this ensure you set your alarm clock, get plenty of rest before the day and plan your journey. An employer won’t want to hear that you got the bus time-table wrong or that you were stuck in traffic – plan your route and ensure you turn up on time!

Dress Sense

During a job interview an employer will be judging you on first impressions so it’s crucial you make a good one! Dressing smart for a job interview will not only ensure a positive first impression but it will also demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in the job and the organisation. Ahead of your job interview consider looking at the company website and social feeds to get an idea of the company image to help you dress appropriately for the day. Researching the company before choosing an outfit is crucial – turning up to a job at Google in a shirt and tie may not be entirely appropriate but it would be the right choice if attending a job interview with a small, corporate company. Try to do as much research as possible to dress appropriately for the event.

Body Language

This is an area that many candidates don’t even consider but during a job interview an employer isn’t just listening to the questions and answers you are giving, they are looking at your overall body language to try and form an overall view of your character. A candidate’s body language during a job interview can tell an employer a lot about that candidates work attitude and motivation which is why it’s so important to get it right! Negative body language which could hinder your chances of securing a second job interview include folding your arms, turning away from the interviewer, making very little eye contact, yawning and raising your eyebrows. Before your interview you should practice your job interview body language to ensure you are representing yourself in the best possible light. Positive body language moves include smiling, maintaining eye contact, nodding and turning towards the employer to keep an open and friendly frame – practice it before you attend to help you build confidence.

Questions

During a job interview you will be answering a number of questions about the job role and your key skills but one of the main things to focus on during a job interview is also the questions you ask the employer. Many employers like candidates to ask questions during a job interview because it shows them that the candidate in question has done their research on the company and it also demonstrates that the candidate is genuinely interested in the role. To ensure you have plenty of questions to ask read through the job description and make notes based on the role and the responsibilities. Are there any responsibilities you need clarity on? Is there daily duty that you need more information about? Note down any questions you might have about the role. You should then look at the company website and write some questions based on the company’s history and overall ethos. Is there anything you want to ask about the future of the company? Is there anything you want to find out about the future goals and aspirations of the team you might be joining? Thinking about this before your interview will ensure you have plenty of questions to ask – which is important to helping you decide whether it’s the right job for you.

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Cover letter writing can be difficult and if you have written a cover letter and are disappointed with the content it can be even more difficult to edit!

But there are lots of ways you can improve your cover letter with very little effort – here are three ways to instantly boost your cover letter content and hopefully your job interview chances too:

Cut Down the Words

One of the quickest ways to improve your cover letter is to spend time on editing the content and decreasing the length of your document. Just like your resume, your cover letter should be concise – ideally one page or less. A couple of paragraphs would be perfect. Your cover letter should briefly describe your current work experience and your expertise and briefly explain why you are looking to move jobs. If you write pages and pages of text for the cover letter it could be detrimental for a number of reasons. Firstly, you don’t want to give too much information away on your cover letter as you’ll struggle for talking points during a job interview. Your cover letter should simply serve as a teaser – offering some initial career information to an employer and prompting them to want to find out more. So read through your cover letter and cut down any information that you feel goes into too much detail or is not that relevant to your job application. And secondly, creating a cover letter that is pages and pages long may mean your cover letter and resume isn’t read at all. Employers allocate a certain period of time for recruitment however as most employers can receive hundreds of resumes for every one advert they post, many employers have less time to spend to whittle down job applications. If your cover letter is too lengthy or doesn’t get straight to the good stuff, then an employer may skip it and move on to the next. You need to make your resume and experience as accessible as possible so include the key details of your expertise and keep it concise.

Personalise It

If you are trying to improve your cover letter then one of the most effective ways to do this is to personalise it to the employer. If you have written a cover letter that doesn’t relate to the job role or the responsibilities then you are not showcasing your ability to do the job in the best possible light. Personalising your cover letter can not only demonstrate why you can do the job – but it allows an employer to visualise what kind of impact you could have on their organisation and what you could bring to the job role. Personalising your cover letter can be easy too; find out the name of the hiring manager or the person conducting the interview and address your cover letter to them. Read through the job description and the key skills required for the role. Your resume should already reflect these skills but use your cover letter to further outline why you are qualified for the job by outlining examples of your work that the employer may find impressive or by reiterating your previous experience and expertise. Doing this will ensure the employer can easily see the value of your application and it should increase your job interview opportunities too.

Tell the Employer Something Your Resume Doesn’t

Although your cover letter should reference your resume, you should try to avoid repeating exactly what you have included on your resume. Use your cover letter to outline the specific skills and experience you have that make you the right candidate for the job and also try to show an employer why you want to work for their company. Although an employer will mainly be looking for your skills, qualifications and experience on your cover letter, they will also be looking for some passion and enthusiasm for the job – so try to show this in your cover letter writing.

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The latest employment figures from the US reveal that Texas is the number one job creator in the country.

State-by-state figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that Texas added 46,600 in July making it the number one state for job growth and employment during July.

During the previous month Texas had been second to Florida but managed to overtake the state for this latest set of employment results. The biggest hirers in Texas, the oil and gas and technology industries, are thought to be contributing factors to the job growth. With employees earning higher paid salaries in these industries, it’s suggested consumer spending increases and therefore demand for staff in the retail and hospitality sectors grow.

The oil and gas industry has seen a 7.8% growth rate during the last 12 month but it wasn’t only the oil and gas and technology industries affected by the growth. Figures suggest Texas has seen an overall employment growth in all industries.

In total, 396, 200 jobs have been created in Texas during the past year but experts expect this figure to increase dramatically during the next year. Experts are forecasting that Texas will add 480, 000 jobs during the next year.

It hasn’t been all good news in employment – with some states making substantial job losses. Thirteen states lost jobs overall with Ohio seeing the biggest employment decline with over 12,400 jobs lost throughout July.

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If you are spending a lot of time on writing and creating a new resume, then it can be terribly frustrating if employers ignore your resume when it lands on their desk.

But this can happen – recruitment restraints, volume of applications and available time to read through resumes are all factors that could lead to an employer only skim-reading your resume or perhaps ignoring it all together.

When spending time on creating your resume and job hunting it’s essential you get over that first hurdle and ensure employers read through you entire document and offering. Here are a few ways to increase the chances of your resume being read and hopefully increase the chances of a job interview too:

Keep It Concise

One of the easiest ways to ensure your resume gets read is to keep it concise and to the point. Most employers don’t have a lot of spare time to read through resumes and to whittle down a shortlist pile. Instead, most employers allocate a specific amount of time to recruitment (usually only a few hours per role) and once this is reached they stop their recruitment drive. If you are sending out your resume and it spans over several ages then you are really hindering your chances of an employer reading it. That’s because for every one job they advertise, an employer will receive dozens of applications. After reading a few resumes an employer will probably begin to tire of it and will start trying to skim-read applications in order to try and pick the most relevant resumes out of the pile. If yours is pages and pages of text then an employer will find it difficult to pinpoint the key information and may even get tired of trying to read it. To avoid this you need to keep your resume concise – two pages or less is a good size resume. You should include catchy sections, like bullet pointing your achievements, to show an employer why you are the right candidate for them. If they can pick this information up whilst skim-reading your resume then it’s more likely you’ll be invited to a job interview.

Make It Relevant

If you want an employer to be engrossed in your resume whilst reading it then you really need to make it relevant to them. An employer will feel disengaged if they start reading a resume that has nothing to do with their company ethos or the job role they are advertising for. To personalise your resume ensure that you read the job description of the role you are applying to. Highlight the main responsibilities of the job and the main skills that are needed to successfully fulfil the role. Look at your own resume and work experience and start to pick out the experience you have that proves you can handle the responsibilities and the key skills you have that you think an employer would find valuable. Personalising your resume to the job description will help an employer to visualise the impact you could have on their company and it will hold their interest when reading your application.

Make It Interesting to Read

Your resume should excite an employer and make them want to read on and there are a variety of ways you can do that. Personalising your resume to the employer is one way of making your resume interesting. If you can include specific information about the job role you are applying for and why you want to work for the company throughout your resume and cover letter, then you’re more likely to impress an employer. You can also use the hobbies section to add a bit of character to your resume. Including your interests outside of work can not only make your resume more interesting to read but it can create rapport between you and a possible employer. If they share similar hobbies then this may well improve your conversation – if you progress to the interview stage.

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If you are currently unemployed and looking for employment read on for tips on how to improve your job search…

Although you may have more time on your hands to look for a job if you’re unemployed, looking for a job can be very difficult if you are out of work. Not only does it make updating your resume and explaining your current employment situation difficult, but receiving rejection after rejection can make you feel unmotivated. If you are looking for a job whilst unemployed, check out these career tips to help you get back into work:

Keep Your Resume Up To Date

When you are job searching you should try to keep your resume as up to date as possible. If you don’t keep your resume up to date then you may end up leaving vital bits of information out or you may even forget to include some work experience or information that could really benefit your job application. Keeping your resume up to date also means that you are ready to send your resume out as soon as you see a vacancy. Quite often with job hunting, the successful candidates are the ones that send their application in as soon as possible. With so much competition out there for work you need to ensure that your resume is one of the first ones an employer sees. Keep it up to date by adding in any extra work experience you might do and assess your career objective and personal statement regularly to keep them as relevant to your current situation as possible.

If you are sending your resume out without much response from employers then it could be worth assessing your resume content. Is it relevant to the job role and the company you are applying to? If it’s not then the employer might not feel that compelled to read it. Every time you apply for a new role read the job description and try to match the responsibilities of the role and the skills needed to your resume and own work experience.

Use Social Media

Social media can be a great tool when job searching as it can be used to find out about new opportunities and you can make valuable industry contacts. If you’re currently unemployed you should check social media sites like Twitter and Linked In on a daily basis and find out about new opportunities. Create a profile on social media, include a small biography and links to any other pages like a blog or website that you want employers to see and get chatting. The more you talk and interact on social media sites, the more you will get from it!

A lot of companies now use social media to advertise their latest vacancies so having a social profile will mean you’ll find out about the latest vacancies first. Start searching for companies you would like to work for and follow them, comment on industry news and topical conversations and make industry connections to get the most out of social media.

Talk to Careers Advisors

Career advisors can be very helpful during a job search as they can help you to pinpoint your career strengths and weaknesses and find relevant job roles. Search for career advisors in your area and arrange a meeting. Local recruitment advisors are also valuable during a job search as they will have access to all of the latest job opportunities.

Volunteer

When unemployed it can be easy to get stuck in a rut which can hinder your resume content and your job confidence. If you are out of work for a long period of time it can be difficult to integrate into a working environment and it can be quite damaging to your overall confidence and career development. To avoid this you could try applying for voluntary roles or internships. The majority of charities look for volunteers all year round to help in a variety of roles so whether it’s gaining experience working outdoors or in an office environment, this can be very beneficial to your resume. A lot of companies offer internships for people looking to gain experience in a particular industry. Whilst internships are often unpaid or only pay expenses, they can be good work experience for your resume, can build your job confidence and can help you to meet industry contacts. Some internships and voluntary roles can even turn into employment if you impress during your time at the company so this is something to consider applying for whilst you look for a job.

The post How to Look for a Job If You Are Unemployed appeared first on Resume Surgeon.

When applying for a job you’ll no doubt battle with the length of your resume as this is a problem for many candidates looking for employment. With work experience, skills and your expertise to outline all in one document it can be tough to keep the length to two pages or less.

For those that struggle with resume length, there is always the temptation to leave sections out. Suddenly the key skills section can be left out, the education section can be shortened and the hobbies section is sometimes cut out completely. But when writing your resume you should try to leave as much information in as possible. By including sections like hobbies the employer reading your resume will have a much more rounded view of you as a candidate and will be able to visualise what kind of employee you would be.

If you are editing your resume you should also try to include the achievements section. Although this might be one of the first sections you think about cutting, it can be beneficial to your overall resume and here’s why:

It Gives a Snapshot of Your Career to Date

Your achievements will normally be a concise section – a few bullet points including both career achievements and personal achievements that you are proud of. And this can be incredibly powerful on a resume. Firstly, as this section is so concise, it’s one of the easiest ways for an employer to pick up information about your expertise. A quick glance at the achievements section will show an employer what you are capable of in the work place and what you specialise in. It will also give them an idea of your personality too. If you include personal achievements, like running a half marathon, an employer will have a better idea about you as a candidate which can help them to decide whether you would be a good fit for their team. This section is one of the best ways to hook an employer in – if they like the sound of your achievements, they are more likely to read your entire resume.

It Shows an Employer What You Can Bring to Their Company

When hiring for a vacancy an employer will always have in mind what they are looking for. Whether they are looking for someone to bring in more sales, generate new customers or improve their customer service – they will always think about this when reading a resume. If you can personalise your achievements to an employer’s specifications then your chances of being invited to a job interview greatly improve as an employer will be able to visualise the impact you could have on their organisation. For instance, if an employer is hiring for a Customer Service Manager they will probably be looking for someone to build rapport with their customers and improve customer retention. If you include achievements that reflect your customer service – like an award you have gained or a particular customer story – then the employer will be able to see the impact you could have on their business.

It Demonstrates Your Passion for the Industry

If you write down your achievements then you are demonstrating that you are proud of them and you are passionate about your industry. Employers are always looking for candidates to show passion and dedication on a resume as it suggests that the candidate will be dedicated to the job – so by including your achievements on your resume you’re already displaying your passion and commitment to the industry which can only be a good thing!  

The post Why Include Achievements on a Resume? appeared first on Resume Surgeon.

New reports out this week reveal that 209,000 jobs were added to the US economy during July.

The report, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, outlines how the job market is improving throughout the country. Although the unemployment rate has slightly increased, the number of jobs available is growing month on month.

It has been estimated that the US has to add around 150,000 new jobs every month to keep up with the growing population. But recent figures show that over 200,000 jobs have been added every month during the past few months. And looking at July’s figures, that number doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

The economy grew by 4% during the period between April – June. Although the number of unemployed has risen recently, this could be a good sign. Experts say people are only classed as unemployed if they are in the labor market and actively looking for work. These latest figures suggest that candidates who have previously given up on finding employment have joined the job search once again.

The only figure that remains unchanged is the number of long-term unemployed people in America. The number of people that have been unemployed for six months or more remains at 3.2 million people.

The post Over 200,000 Jobs Added to US Economy in July appeared first on Resume Surgeon.

Are you currently looking for a job and finding it tough to secure a job interview? Or finding it tough to find vacancies full stop? The job market is so competitive that finding the right position and getting an employer to notice your resume is becoming increasingly difficult. If you’re wondering why your job search isn’t going to plan here are five reasons why it might be failing and some tips on how to revive it:

Your Resume

If you are not receiving much response to your resume or have not been invited to a job interview then the first thing you need to assess is your resume writing. Re-read your resume – does your personal statement reflect your current expertise and offering? Does the career objective demonstrate how passionate you are about the industry? Does your work experience reflect your expertise? When applying for a job you should always try to personalise your resume to the role as the employer reading it will want to know what you can bring to their organisation and how you could fit in with their team.

Tip: Change your resume every time you apply for a job. Visit the website of the company you are applying to and make some notes on the company’s goals. Next, read the job description and identify the key skills needed to fulfil the role. With this information you can begin to tailor your resume writing to the job role – by highlighting your key skills and work experience that you think the employer will find of interest.

You’re Ignoring Social Media

Social media is used by companies all over the country. Social media is used by companies to share company news, publicise a brand or product and companies also use it to look for potential candidates. A lot of companies use their social media pages to advertise job vacancies so if you are ignoring social media you could be missing out on a lot of work opportunities.

Tip: If you haven’t got a social media profile consider setting one up especially on sites like Twitter and Linked In which a lot of companies use. Create your profile and include links to any online work, like a career portfolio or blog, and get involved in conversation. Updating your profile with industry news, talking to potential industry contacts and following companies you are interested in working for are all ways you can improve your job search.

Avoiding Networking Events

Networking events happen up and down the country and can provide a great opportunity to meet contacts and publicise your experience. If you’re not attending these events you could be missing out on a chance to have your resume read by a potential employer.

Tip: Find out about industry networking events and career events in your area. Print off copies of your resume, dress smart and attend these events. You never know, you may meet a valuable industry contact or you may even find out about work opportunities.

Cover Letter

Cover letters are a great addition to a resume as they can introduce your resume content and reiterate to an employer why they should hire you. If you’re missing a cover letter in your job application then an employer may find other resumes and cover letters more appealing.

Tip: You should create a cover letter every time you apply for a job. Find out the name of the hiring manager to personalise your cover letter and refer to the job role to include key information about yourself. A cover letter shouldn’t repeat your resume writing but it should outline your key skills and experience and draw attention to them on your resume and it should enhance the content by further explaining why you are the right candidate for the job. Use your cover letter to tell an employer why you want to work for them and why you think you are the right person for the job.

Not Updating Your Job Search

If you’re looking for employment, job searching is constant. But if you’re sending out your resume only once or twice a month (when you see a particular job vacancy) then you are massively hindering your chances of finding employment.

Tip: Keep updated with job news and local vacancies by reading industry publications and your local newspaper. Many of these will post job vacancies so it’s crucial you read them regularly. Keep up to date with online vacancies too by regularly logging into your social media profiles and by checking the websites of companies you would like to work for. By keeping up to date with vacancies you’ll probably find more of them to apply for. You should apply to every job role that is relevant to your experience and career development plan. The more vacancies you apply for, the more chance you have of hearing back from an employer.

Happy job hunting!

The post Five Reasons Your Job Search Might Be Failing appeared first on Resume Surgeon.

Many companies organise multiple job interviews when interviewing candidates for vacancies.
Some companies require a candidate to go through two job interviews before they will offer employment and some also organise group job interviews too. And there are a number of reasons why employers have multiple job interview stages.

If you’ve been to an interview and have been invited back for a second one, here are a few possible reasons why:

Clarify Sections of Your Resume

If you have attended a first job interview with an employer recently then you’ll know this is an introductory stage. It’s the first time an employer will have had the opportunity to meet you face-to-face and to find out more about you as a candidate. During an initial job interview an employer will ask an array of questions based on your resume template and they will ask questions about your resume content, work experience, achievements and career goals. But, as most job interviews are only scheduled for an hour or less, the employer won’t have much opportunity to delve too deeply into your career background and to find out why you want to work for them. A second job interview can give an employer the opportunity to find out more about you and how you could fit in with their team and it allows them to be more in-depth when it comes to asking job interview questions.

Group Interviews

Some companies like to include group interviews in their job interview process and this could be a reason why you have been invited back for a second interview. Group interviews usually consist of several potential candidates working in a workshop environment. Depending on the industry, group interviews can involve practical assessments, group interviews and group assignments. The main outcome of an interview like this is to assess how you interact with other candidates and to assess your team work skills. But it’s also an opportunity for the employer to see prospective candidates in a room together – allowing the employer to assess each candidate thoroughly and to decide which one is right for the role.

Panel Interviews

During an initial job interview you’ll probably be faced with the Hiring Manager. But if you are invited back for a second interview it could be because other members of staff want to sit in on the meeting. Managing Directors, Directors and Direct Line Managers often get involved in the latter stages of the job interview process. A second interview gives senior members of staff the chance to find out about your expertise and skills and to decide whether you are the right candidate to join the team.

Ultimately, To Help Them Decide

If an employer has interviewed multiple candidates for the role and they have all demonstrated similar work experience and skills then a second interview will help the employer to make their decision and choose a candidate. Employers can find it incredibly difficult during the hiring process – if they are impressed by a few candidates and only have one position available then it can be frustrating to try and shortlist the applicant pile. But a second interview can help an employer to find out more about each candidate and it can assure them that they are making the correct hiring decision.

Second Interview Tips:

• Assess your previous job interview performance. This is vital as it can help you to assess what your strengths and weaknesses were during the interview. Look back on your job interview answers and list down some improvements you could make. Think about questions you were asked that you struggled with or areas of your resume that you didn’t discuss thoroughly. Note these down and prepare to talk about them in the next interview.

• Be punctual. Just like your first job interview, you should allow for plenty of time to get to the venue. The second interview could involve multiple candidates or multiple staff members so, even though you may have already met the Hiring Manager previously, this is the first impression many people will get of you. So ensure it’s a good one.

• Take your career portfolio. Your career portfolio can help you to demonstrate some of your successes and achievements listed on your resume and can help to demonstrate to the employer what impact you could have on their company. So whether it’s a portfolio of printed out facts and figures or an online blog you wish to showcase, ensure you take it to the interview.

• Have some questions to ask. The second interview is an opportunity for an employer to find out more about you and how you could fit in with their company but it’s also an opportunity for you to find out more about the company. What’s the career progression like within the company? Are there regular team building events? How does this job role fit in with the business? These are just a few of the questions you should be asking to ensure this is the right career move for you. Remember, job interviews are a two-way street and you need to find out (just as much as the employer does) whether this is the right job for you.

• Build rapport. The first interview can be nerve-wracking as many candidates are so focused on making a good impression and portraying their skills effectively. But the second interview is usually more relaxed and is an opportunity to build rapport with an employer – and don’t ignore that. Ensure you create conversation, talk about your previous interview, find relatable subjects on your resume that you can mention and build rapport. Doing this will help you to stand out and should hopefully improve your chances of being offered the role.

The post Why Have I Been Invited to a Second Job Interview? appeared first on Resume Surgeon.