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Top Job Interview Tip: They’re All the Same — Important!

admin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:53:50 +0000

Ever been told to just relax, this is an informal interview? At Sequence Staffing we have learned that there is no such thing. If you consider every type of interview as a formal, serious affair then you will always be at your best, will give your best performance and will most likely land the job.

Likewise, if you drop your guard and approach the interview in an overly relaxed, informal way you may well have handed your interviewer the reason to drop you from contention. Why? Because you can come across as too laid back, or say something out of turn or out of character. If you are called by a recruiter or employer, then consider the conversation to be a serious interview and they are trying to obtain key facts and information about you, and they are seriously sizing you up on every response.

#1 Be on guard.

The manner in which an informal interview might be employed can be deceptive and purposely done. You might be at a social function, perhaps a trade association luncheon and a professional associate may begin asking you all sorts of questions related to your professional background and experience. You might interpret this as someone who has a keen interest in you, and that might be the case, but chances are that person is beginning to conduct an informal screening interview and you do not even know it.

#2 Give thoughtful answers.

If you keep this in mind and recognize it as an opportunity to respond with thoughtful answers that are provoking as they are interesting then you will be well on your way to the next step in your career. This is an excellent manner that many recruiters use and candidates have no clue they are under the spotlight. But a recruiter can quickly size you up and if you provide the sort of response they are looking for then you have a better chance to land that next job you covet.

#3 Stay focused.

As flattered as you might be when someone begins asking you many inquisitive questions about yourself and your professional background, accept in terms that you are being formally interviewed. That way you will be in the frame of mind to give strong answers; answers that promote follow up questions and incite the interviewer to dig deeper into your experience.

#4 Take advantage of social settings.

Not only do recruiters take advantage of social settings, but so do smart owners and managers of successful enterprises. It is a great way to scout out future employees. So it is good to join professional associations, attend the social gatherings, and treat every one as if they are your next boss because maybe one day they will be. Or at least they might be the one helping you climb up the next rung of your career ladder. Always be on your best behavior; people do notice. You especially want to always put your best foot forward around professional associates with whom you want to be associated with or wish to work for in the future.

#5 Mind your manners.

That said, watch what you say, eat and drink. Stay away from controversial subjects like religion or politics. Do not tell off color jokes or stories. Likewise, avoid gossip and hearsay. Always speak well of others. Find safe, common ground and keep your conversation along those tracks. Keep an eye on your table manners and watch your alcohol intake at social gatherings. If you believe getting drunk and acting silly makes you popular and gains you friends, you are sorely deluded in the business world. Remember, people are always watching you, taking mental notes and making judgments about you, your actions and your character.

#6 Good impressions count.

When you make a good impression on professional colleagues, it does not go unnoticed or is easily forgotten. You want to put yourself in the situation that the next time you are looking for a job you can call the president of a competitive firm and your call will be gladly accepted because they are eager to learn you are available to join their firm.

By: Craig Travis

About the Author:

For over 25 years Craig Travis has successfully been marketing people with his keen insight and is aptly noted for his highly effective and commanding communication style that’s as bold as it is innovative. He has redefined the way candidates are marketed and his creative approach has helped his clients capture the finest jobs in their fields.

Today, he’s the foremost writer producing exceptionally powerful resumes and persuasive cover letters for Sequence, a premier executive search and staffing firm for the construction, engineering, environmental and light industrial industries. Sequence is dedicated to supporting the core industries responsible for building and maintaining the nation’s infrastructure, natural resources and environment by recruiting and marketing personnel to work for the finest organizations throughout the United States. For more information: www.sequencestaffing.com.

Phone Interview Tips – Five Great Tips for an Excellent Phone Interview

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:27:49 +0000

There are several different reasons why a company might choose to run phone interviews. While it does not give them the face to face contact that a conventional interview does, it allows them to get through many applicants relatively quickly.

If you find yourself facing a phone interview, you’ll find that you need to distinguish yourself to make sure that you get offered a second, usually traditional, face-to-face interview. Follow the phone interview tips below to make sure that you present yourself well.

5 Phone Interview Tips

1. Double check the day and time.

Simple we know, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t remember it. Even if the phone interview is taking place in your own home, you’ll find that it is still important to be there in plenty of time and be ready. If the interview is early, you don’t want to sound like you are just rolling out of bed. Remember to make sure that you are ready and waiting to pick up whenever they call, so figure out where you are going to be and when.

2. Dress up

It might sound a little silly to put yourself in a suit or other business attire when you are not leaving the house at all, but you will find that if you do this you can remain a good deal more mindful about your situation than if you were simply wearing your sweats or your pajamas. When you dress sharp, there is a good chance that you will feel sharp too, so take the time to make sure you take advantage of this mental trick.

3. Keep things quiet

If you are in a situation where you live with other adults and children, make sure that you have a secure area in which to speak to your prospective new employers. Shut yourself up in a room and make sure that someone is keeping the kids quiet, or request that your roommates keep things quiet on entering and leaving while you are talking on the phone. Remember that the quieter the room is, the better your ability to concentrate is going to be.

4. Gather everything you need

Before the phone interview, get everything ready. You’ll want your resume, CV or job application form and any portfolio samples that you think might be relevant. Remember to keep a pencil and some paper nearby in case you need to make notes, and make sure that you leave yourself some reminders about things that you want to bring up. Keep everything organized so you don’t have to search frantically when you want to refer to something.

5. Thinking about call quality

Whatever you do, don’t eat or chew gun during your phone interview, although you might want to keep some water nearby to make sure that you can wet your throat. Unless you have excellent reception, you may wish to conduct your phone interview on a landline. Similarly, keep in mind the fact that you need to turn off things like call waiting to make sure that you can speak uninterrupted.

Follow these 5 phone interview tips and your phone interview will run more smoothly.

By: Catherine Z JonesAbout the Author:

Catherine Jones is a leading authority on recruitment and, with 3 colleagues, has written a how to snag a job website in which she shares her secrets on getting hired.

Catherine works as a senior manager for a large financial services organisation and recruits new employees on a regular basis. Learn from the experts and snag the job you want – your dream job!

Five Essential Resume Tips

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:03:33 +0000

Writing a resume can be a daunting task. It’s such a vital part of your toolkit in moving you up to the next level in your career. Here are five essential resume writing tips.

Resume Tip 1

Your resume and cover letter are the first items that will reach an employer’s desk. Therefore, you want them to best reflect you as an applicant and you want them to best reflect you as an applicant. It’s not just the words on the page, its the presentation of those words too. Always print your resume on good quality paper with an easy to read font of at least size 10 and preferably size 12. Always use blank ink, even for headings. Spelling or grammatical errors show a future employer that you are willing to send in sloppy work so keep it neat.

Resume Tip 2

Include all your accomplishments no matter how small. Include the details of the relevant jobs you have done in the past. You should present your work experience in a chronologically descending order i.e. the last company first. This should include the name of the company, your designation and tenure followed by your job responsibilities and achievements.

Resume Tip 3

Employers want to know what you can do for them in language that they will understand and appreciate. This is what the concept of transferability of skills is all about. Employers often receive more than 100 resumes each day; they skim each of these in 7 to 15 seconds. If they see unrelated job titles or skills the likelihood is very high that they will make an immediate assumption that you are not qualified for the job you want.

Resume Tip 4

Remember to see your resume as a marketing tool. Your resume is your personal testament that you are the right person for the job. Remember that your resume is your way of selling yourself to your potential employer. Thus, your resume should have enough substance about your educational attainment, your work skills, any work experience, and what you hope to achieve in this job you are applying for to impress your employer that you are THE candidate for the job.

Resume Tip 5

Accomplishments are probably the most important things you can list on a resume. This is true regardless of how old you are or how much experience you have. Accomplishments are a critical aspect of your resume. Your accomplishments distinguish you from your competitors in the job-search process.

By: Ed Baker

About the Author:

To discover how to create your own stunning resume visit us at resume tips

12 Job Interview Tips You Should Know to Nail that Job

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:22:06 +0000

So you want to further your career and go for a manager job or something of the same level. That’s great – ambition is always good.First, make sure your job resume is in good order. You can hire a professional resume writer if you want a great presentation or study some online resume writing tips if you want to have full control over your CV.

Once your resume is out there, the next thing you should do is prepare for possible interviews. Here’s where a little career planning is in order and so here we present not just a few but TWELVE job tips you should know before you face your interviewer for that manager job.

Job Interview Tip #1 – Know the Company.

It is good business etiquette to know as much as you can about the organization to which you’re applying. If you are quizzed about the company’s history it’s paramount you know something about them to prove you’re serious about work for them. Your manager job description will be tough to live up to if you know nothing about the people with which you want to work.

Job Interview Tip #2 – Prepare for Questions.

Our second interview tip is crucial. Be prepared to answer questions about the company and about yourself. There’s nothing more awkward than being stumped, flustered, and speechless. Avoid saying “Uhh” or “Ahhh” too much. Answer confidently by being knowledgeable about yourself, your goals, your skills, your achievements and what you can bring to the table.

Job Interview Tip #3 – Prepare Your own Questions.

Employers are impressed if you ask good, intelligent questions. Ask about work processes, quality control, common challenges within the company, and others. Demonstrate that you really want to understand the nature of your work so that you can function better in the organization.

Job Interview Tip #4 – Look Good.

You must be well groomed when showing up for an interview. Get a haircut if you need one; buy a new suit if your old one looks too tatty. Take a bath (heaven forbid you don’t!) and iron your clothes. If you’re a woman, wear moderate make-up, make sure your nails are manicured, and tone down the perfume. You don’t want to make the interviewer choke as he/she takes a whiff of your scent!

Job Interview Tip #5 – Be Punctual.

Tardiness is bad and will immediately put a damper on things. Leave early so you will get to the office early. Don’t waste your interviewer’s time by showing up late. If you really want that manager job, you must demonstrate responsibility and be determined to keep appointments.

Job Interview Tip #6 – Shake Hands Firmly.

A good handshake shows you are confident and willing to engage. Always make eye contact when shaking hands; this coordination can accomplish much in establishing positive vibes.

Job Interview Tip #7 – Don’t Overdo It.

Avoid unnecessary body movement; don’t fidget. Keep still and punctuate your points with limited hand gestures. Don’t ever point your fingers, especially at the person talking to you.

Job Interview Tip #8 – RELAX!

Many people panic at interviews and start biting their nails, toying endlessly with their wedding ring, drumming their fingers, or jiggling their legs. Stay calm, breathe deeply, and think of happy memories. Don’t worry yourself sick about something that can be dealt with positively if you just take time to relax.

Job Interview Tip #9 – Listen Closely.

Pay attention to what is being said. Maintain eye contact, especially when it’s obvious your interviewer is making an important point. Focus on the discussion at hand and keep your ears peeled for important details. If you mishear a word, don’t be afraid to clarify rather than pretend you understood what was said.

Job Interview Tip #10 – Communicate Clearly.

Speak clearly and choose your words carefully. You may want to make a humorous comment but what if it backfires? Also, don’t be obscure – use words and ideas that make sense and can be easily understood. Avoid being superfluous.

Job Interview Tip #11 – Don’t Ever Talk Negatively. About Your Current/Previous Employer.

This is very important – don’t be negative, especially when it comes to your previous employers or colleagues. It will only show that you have a tendency to bad-mouth other people and that’s not something to advertise when gunning for a manager job. Always be positive and enthusiastic.

Job Interview Tip #12 – SMILE!

Smiling is important so pay a tremendous amount of attention to your teeth. Make sure they’re immaculate and presentable. If you have discolored teeth (and most of us do), try a good tooth whitening product.

7 Keys to Avoid Inaction After Losing your Job

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:19:24 +0000

7 Keys to Avoid Inaction after Losing Your Job

Losing one’s job is often one of the most traumatic events in any person’s life, and can have an immediate and devastating impact on one’s social, emotional, financial, and family life. Worst of all, it can make a person feel incompetent, angry, confused, and discouraged. These feelings usually lead to inaction – the failure to do anything but mope and feel sorry for one’s self.

This is understandable, especially when you consider how many aspects of our lives are tied up with our working life, even our own sense of personal identity and self esteem. To lose a job is equivalent, psychologically, to experiencing failure and abuse. The result is truly shock. Many of these feelings linger even after a person gets a new job. While there are no magical cures, there are some things you can do if you find yourself in this situation.

Having a combined experience as a clinical psychologist and career counselor, I have worked with literally thousands of individuals in this difficult situation. Here are 7 keys I have found that help people to get through it so that they will have the energy and confidence to take the actions needed in pursuing the next job.

1. Don’t keep it a secret.

Many people actually feel a sense of shame when they lose a job. They feel that others will think less of them and look down on them, so they seclude themselves and try to keep others from finding out. And, indeed, some people will not be supportive. But to get another job, you need support, advice, contacts, and similar opportunities. And most of those opportunities come from the people in your personal and work life.

2. Take a few days to get over the shock, and then GET ACTIVE LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB. DO NOT take an extended vacation.

Too many people feel that they have been through such a rough time that if they had a nice vacation it would help them relax, and then they’d be ready to confidently get into a job search. So they take – not days, but weeks and sometimes months – crucial time, and use it for an extended vacation. In the process, they use up precious resources – time and money – that are now simply lost. And guess what: When they come back, they find that they are in the same lousy position they were before the vacation. But now they have lost that precious time and money.

3. Don’t look back or dwell on the past.

The natural tendency is to think about why you lost your job, to get angry with others, to wonder what you did wrong. Just think of it this way your old company is no longer paying you to worry about them. Every minute you spend thinking about your old company and what happened is a minute robbed from your future. They’re no longer paying you for it. You are donating your time; you are literally giving them free consulting time.

4. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Get help from the professionals.

It’s worth the money to get job search coaching and a professional to help you write your résumé. Most job seekers try to do it all themselves. The average person writes two or maybe three résumés in their entire working life. I don’t say this to brag (because it’s part of my work), but I have written upwards of 10,000 résumés in my professional role as a career counselor. But most people would rather get their résumé and job search advice from a $20 book or a weekly newspaper column, rather than pay me or my colleagues for our time and expertise. We know what is effective and what isn’t. I have seen too many job seekers come to me after spending sometimes a year or more spinning their wheels before seeking the help that would make their job search successful.

5. Be proactive. Don’t wait.

Don’t let Parkinson’s Law determine your actions. Parkinson’s Law, as you may remember, states that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. A person on a job search make day’s project out of writing one letter or making one phone. Don’t pamper yourself. Don’t wait to feel confident. Getting a job is a numbers game – the more potential employers you get in front of, the better your chances of getting a job. Do the things you need to do, no matter how you may feel.

6. Take the actions that will get you a job.

Don’t just do busywork and convince yourself that you are working hard to get a job. For example, what do you think is the most effective way to look for a job? Well, most of the research and opinions of the professions indicate that some form of personal contact (for example, personal networking, using recruiters or placement professionals, contacting your school) accounts for approximately 70% of new hires. On the other hand, the Internet accounts for (at best) maybe 10%, and probably below 5%. But guess how most job seekers spend their time? Right – on the Internet. Guess what they avoid most? Right – personal networking. Why? Because sitting at your computer is a lot easier and a lot more pleasant than personal networking.

7. Keep your focus on how you can make a difference to a potential employer.

Too many people who lose their jobs also lose the feeling that they make a difference that their work counts for something. Without knowing or being aware of how you add value to an organization’s success, you can easily drift into feelings of apathy and uselessness. At the point you have lost your job, it is too easy to focus on weaknesses, failure, and rejection. Instead, focus on your strengths and your value.

Armed with these attitudes and methods, you can not only get past the shock of losing your job, but be in a better frame of mind to do the things you need to do to get the next one.

By: Dr. Sander I. Marcus

About the Author:

Sander Marcus, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Professional Resume Writer. He has over 3 decades of experience in providing career counseling, aptitude testing, job search coaching, and resume writing to tens of thousands of individuals, and has conducted pre-employment personnel evaluations for hundreds of companies. He is the co-author of 2 books on academic underachievement, various tests, and numerous articles. He can be contacted at marcus@iit.edu, 312-567-3358. http://www.center.iit.edu/careermotiv8.htm

dayton

Job Clubs

admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:59:27 +0000

Are you looking for employment? Do you feel as if you are alone in this endeavor? Are you seeing no light at the end of the tunnel? A job club might be the answer for you. Job Clubs are a group of individuals getting together to supporting each other through the trials and tribulations of finding employment. There are no size or activity limitations. The design of the Job Club sets the tone, flow, time, and material covered. As the Job Club grows, it will continue to change to meet the needs of the participants.

The basic objective of a job club is to stimulate, motivate, and provide peer support to unemployed people encouraging greater activity in their job search. This is accomplished by expanding awareness and helping individuals learn the techniques to enhance their job seeking skills. Finding employment is a difficult process for all persons.

The economics of the country is a contributing factor on the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate among the blind, visually impaired, and disabled population continues to be triple that of the standard unemployment rate. Job Clubs have been very successful in assisting this population to find employment.

How to find a Job Club

The first thing to do is contact the employment service in your community to see if a Job Club currently exists. Sometimes local colleges or businesses sponsor these clubs. If you find that, there is a Job Club in your community schedule an appointment with the facilitator to evaluate if the program will meet your individual needs. Contact your local Blind Services Agency, Blind Training Centers, or local Vocational Rehabilitation office to see if they offer a Job Club. You might be able to work with these agencies in stating a Job Club if one currently does not exist.

How to set up a Job Club

If you are interested in starting a Job Club in your area there are a few things to consider. What type of Job Club do you want? Will it be long or short term? What material will be covered? Will you meet weekly or monthly? Do you need to find a facilitator? Where will you meet?

You only need a few energetic, enthusiastic, and motivated people to start a Job Club. Meeting places can be at local restaurants over coffee or a meal. Local churches, community centers, or libraries often have meeting spaces at no cost.

Participants will find that the peer support system developed through regular meetings provides stability, understanding, and emotional support while facing the rejection and frustration that accompanies the job hunting process.

The thing to remember is that all participants have a common goal and that is to find employment. It is essential that all have a well organized resume’, abilities statement, and action plan. Having individuals from the community speak at meetings provides members with knowledge, techniques, and networking skills for successful job hunting. In addition, the group is letting the community know that they are actively part of the job market.

Job Club Topics

Networking is a skill that all people need to refine when in the job market. The networking process will continue to develop as the Job Club grows. All persons involved in the Job Club will be able to contribute to the networking process in the membership, guest speakers, and community resources. Members need to continue to seek out community resources that can assist in the Job market process.

One might have excellent education, work history, and references’ but falls short in the interview arena. Mock interviews are the answer for solving this problem. It is easy, as the Job Club meets regularly, to forget this very important component. No one likes the dreaded interview but how we present our selves in the interview determines employment. It is best to ask individuals not involved in Job Club to facilitate the mock interviews allowing an element of realism. Video taping the interviews to critique later provides honest intervention from the peer support system.

The Job Club also might want to cover the following topics:

· Job readiness skills

· Communication and body language skills

· Disclosure of disabilities – the advantages and disadvantages

· Americans with Disability Act (ADA) – affects employment and the work place

· Identify individual strengths and skills matching them to local work opportunities

· Explore and analyze local work opportunities

· Transportation

· Social Security benefits

As the Job Club continues to meet and grow the interest and the needs of the group will dictate the topics to cover. Now that you are armed with the basics, it is time to call on a few friends, neighbors, or acquaintance to meet and get the ball rolling to find that job you are dreaming about. Remember, it is a timely process but the rewards are great at the finish line.

Author:

Susan Hipple

Director

http://visualinovations.org

By: Susan Hipple

About the Author:

I hold B.S. Degree in Administration of Health Care Services from Ithaca College, NY.
I have been legally blind all of my life and have understanding and compassion for an individual losing their sight.
In my 28 year career I have had numerous successes in job placement and overall integration into everyday life for those that are disabled.
Now with my Board we have created a non-profit foundation dedicated to bringing technology to the blind and visually impaired. Please visit us at: and help us help them.

knife

When the job hunting gets tough…

admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:26:04 +0000

When the job hunting get tough… The job hunters have to get more aggressive. The lowly resume, that often misused and always under appreciated tool becomes vital during times like these.

If you’ve been posting your resume around the web to places like Hot Resume, Beyond and Job.com and not had any employer interest. It’s time for an ‘Extreme Resume Makeover’. If you created the resume from scratch, lets step it up at least one notch and try some free trial resume software. While using resume software won’t change your work history, it often gives you many excellent templates to follow to build an eye catching resume. If you think the content itself could use some work try one of the resume writing or editing services like resume edge or e-resume. Sometimes just getting a professional to review and critique your resume can help.

Now that you’ve updated your printed resume and modified your posted resumes. If you are still not getting the attention you need to land the job you want… its time to conduct a little resume guerrilla marketing. Rather than waiting for human resource managers or employment agencies to find your resume, get it into their hands. Today, most hiring managers don’t want to have resumes sent by mail. It’s simply to much for them to manage, for about $50, you can use a service like Resume Exposure or Resume Zapper to target and distribute your new resume in the format the decision makers prefer.

They’ve got the resume, you’ve gotten the call for an interview. Congratulations are not in order quite yet. Be sure to check into our Interview Tips section. The work of getting a job is just beginning.