Newsletter
Mar 02Job Hunting? Don’t Make These 10 Mistakes
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 8:55 am
In this job market, there’s no room for error if you’re looking for work.
What not to do is just as important as following all of the proactive advice you receive.
Don’t get tongue-tied on the basics. If you met someone at a cocktail party and they asked what you do, could you answer in one clear, concise sentence? Many job seekers have huge difficulty with this because they’re unsure of their identity now that their paycheck is gone. “Well, I don’t really do anything now — I’m out of work.” Wrong answer.
Instead, offer a focused response: “I specialize in marketing for small businesses.” “I’m a Special Ed teacher.” Or “I work in retail sales.”
Being out of work now is not part of your opening line. Your response is focused on what you do — and then from there, as you engage in chit chat, you’ll make it known that you’re looking for your next opportunity.
Don’t say, “I’ll take anything.” If you do, you wind up with nothing. No employer wants someone who’ll do absolutely anything. Focus on what you’re best qualified to do — and target all of your efforts around that. Instead of asking, “Hey, do you know anyone who’s hiring?” frame your inquiries around your unique skills, experience, education and interests. If you ask, “Do you know anyone who’s hiring in retail sales?” it’s much easier to receive a meaningful response than if you ask, “Do you know anyone who’s hiring?” Help people to help you by being clear about what you do and what you seek.
Don’t focus on your needs. Too many cover letters and objective statements on resumes focus exclusively on what you, as the job seeker, want. “I want stability, I want growth, I want this much money.” All of that is no doubt very true, but that’s not what any employer wants to hear. If I’m going to hire you, I want to know that you have the ability to bring value to my organization. I need to know that you understand the needs of my company and you have the skills, education, experience and interest to make a positive impact. Hiring decisions are about the company’s needs, not yours. Ultimately you’ll have to decide if it’s what you want, too — of course — but your needs aren’t first and foremost when applying.
Don’t use one resume for every job. Tweak every resume to the needs of the position you’re applying to. Don’t assume that someone can read your one-size-fits-all resume and immediately know that your goal is to change fields. You must invest the time to prove that you understand their needs and that your resume is tailor-made for that opening.
Don’t go negative. Recruiters shy away from candidates who give off negative vibes by complaining about being laid off, the unfairness of the job market, or their extraordinary frustration with the job search process. On the flip side, there are many candidates who’ve received the same pink slip, but when they’re interviewing, they’re positive — and that positive attitude is contagious. Save your job search pain and frustration for pillow talk — don’t let it seep into your job-related conversations.
Don’t spend all of your time on big job boards. The majority of job seekers spend the bulk of their job search time scouring the big job boards, applying to anything and everything that seems appealing. You can do some of that, but it should account for the least amount of your time. Shift the majority of your time to build your personal brand online by engaging in online social networks. Use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Comment on influential blogs in your industry or create a digital resume. Talk to other people instead of simply applying for advertised openings.
Don’t ignore the need to account for your time. If you’ve been out of work for a year, an employer (and even networking contacts) will want to know how you’ve spent your time. “Uh, looking for a job” or “Pounding the pavement” won’t be impressive, but someone who can speak to volunteering, interning, temping — anything to show that you’re busy and proactive while looking for the right opportunity — will be more impressive. It’s never too late to start today.
Don’t show up unprepared. You finally get the call to be interviewed — no small feat in this job market, so you want to do everything to over-prepare. What does the company do, who are its competitors, and what’s happening in the industry in which it operates? Google the people you’ll be meeting with to see what you can learn about them. Ask the person who sets up the interview to tell you about the people you’ll be meeting, and to share a bit about the culture and dress code. Ask, “What should I know about the people I’ll be meeting — I want to make sure I’m prepared as best as possible.”
Review your resume and be ready to elaborate on every line if asked. Review the job description and prepare notes for yourself in advance about how exactly you’d be an asset for their specific needs.
Keep in mind that there are two elements to hiring: the hard skills — by the time you’re calling for the interview, someone has a decent feeling that you may have the skills, experience and education to do the job. What they don’t know — and what’s really critical — is what makes you tick, what ticks you off — what kind of person are you, will we like working with you every day? And some of this is determined from the second you say hello, and more is determined by asking behavior-based questions: “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.” “Tell me what your former colleagues would say about you.” Arrive prepared and don’t leave without asking about the next steps and the time frame for a decision.
Don’t apply for openings at the expense of creating opportunities. Your greatest competition is for positions that are advertised — and yet, that’s where job seekers spend the bulk of their effort applying for jobs. In addition to applying for relevant openings, you should also think about creating opportunities. Come up with 20 companies that you’d love to work for — and create a specific pitch about what you could do for them, even on a contract or freelance basis.
Bring a brilliant business idea to a manger or business owner, and you’ll get an audience. I’ve hired many people when I didn’t have a formal opening because they brought me an idea I couldn’t refuse. Small businesses are ripe for this, as are large corporations or nonprofits. The key is having a great idea that you’re uniquely qualified to plan and execute. Explain what you know about the organization and why this is the right time and the right idea. Plus, it’s easier now to land a part-time or freelance opportunity than a full-time staff position, so you’re leveraging this growing trend.
Don’t sit around and wait. This is the “spray and pray” method. You apply to 100 jobs and then you pray the phone will ring. It won’t. You must follow up with a call to make sure someone knows you exist. Don’t call to ask, “Did you get my resume?” Instead, you can say you know there’s an opening, you’re sure they’re flooded with applicants, but you know you’re an ideal match, so you want to make sure to get in front of the right people.
Find contact names on LinkedIn, look for an internal referral — and if all else fails, cold call the hiring manager and recruiter responsible for filling the job. Just don’t assume they received your resume. Don’t wait for the phone to ring. Make it ring!
Keeping Your Résumé Out of the “No” Pile
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 11:35 am
The last time you applied for a job and didn’t get an interview, was your résumé tossed on the “no” pile after someone skimmed it for only a few seconds, or did the employer read it carefully and you just missed making the cut?
Seventy recruiters met recently at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business to discuss what can make or break a résumé. The recruiters represented a variety of industries including oil and gas, tourism, technology and financial services, and some of what they revealed may surprise you.
An employer may review 100 or more resumes in an hour, spending only 20-30 seconds on each one. “Recognize that most employers are using the résumé to screen you out rather than to select you in,” says Derek Chapman, Ph.D., professor of industrial organization and psychology at the Haskayne School of Business.
Getting Attention
“If you don’t catch my eye, you’re out,” one recruiter said. That doesn’t mean you should use bright pink paper or multi-colored lettering, but several recruiters said they don’t mind applicants including a photo. Creative photos (such as the shot an applicant included of herself in a snow suit with snowmen on either side and a caption saying “I’m the one in the middle”) might help land the interview.
However, Chapman cautions against including a photo. “A photo can be used to screen you out on the basis of your sex, age, national or ethnic origin, etc. If someone hires you for your good looks, are you sure you want to work for that supervisor?”
Name Dropping
A better way to catch an employer’s eye is to include names of well-known companies you have worked for. As one recruiter explained, if you previously worked for a reputable company, it enhances your application “because they have some standards.” Employers are likely to assume you will be a good employee because you successfully passed that company’s hiring process and were well-trained. If you haven’t been employed by any large companies, consider doing an internship or volunteer work for a well-known organization.
Surprisingly, “name dropping” only works when mentioning companies. The recruiters said they are turned off when an applicant writes in a cover letter that they were referred by someone such as a company executive. The employers said if someone really thinks you are a good applicant that person should deliver the résumé to the recruiter or phone on your behalf.
Résumé Mistakes
While employers want résumés that are error-free, making a mistake such as addressing your cover letter to the wrong company won’t necessarily disqualify you from the job. Of course, it depends on the employer. For some recruiters, that kind of mistake is inexcusable. However, many others will allow one or two mistakes — even stapling the second page upside down — as long as you have the right qualifications.
To minimize mistakes, proofread your résumé. Your spell-checker doesn’t know you meant to say “manager” instead of “manger”.
Another surprise is that about one-third of the recruiters at the session said they do not read cover letters. To make sure your important information doesn’t get overlooked, it should be in your résumé.
Making the “Yes” Pile
Here are some additional tips to help you make the “yes” pile:
Have a conventional e-mail address. Your name is fine; kookybear@hotmail.com or partyanimal@msn.com are not.
Tailor your résumé to each job you apply for. Make sure it shows you have the skills the employer is seeking for that particular position.
Use lots of white space and bullet points to help information stand out.
Include interests that are relevant to the job. If you are applying for a job in agriculture, for example, show that you have rural roots.
If you are submitting an electronic résumé use a standard format such as Word to ensure it can be opened.
Don’t disclose irrelevant personal information. (”I don’t want to know you are 5′6,” and weigh 195 pounds” one employer said.)
State your accomplishments rather than just your responsibilities. “For example, simply stating: ‘Managed a budget of $200,000 annually for training and development’ is not nearly as powerful as ‘Reduced training and development costs by 20 percent while maintaining the quality and quantity of training provided to employees’,” Chapman says.
“Placing positive information at the very beginning and again at the very end of the résumé helps keep the employer’s attention and capitalizes on the psychological principles of memory to work in your favor,” Chapman says. “Remember, most employers are only skimming your résumé at first to make a preliminary decision. Make sure they can find your information easily.”
Feb 01The Career Exposure Network Shares Top Job Search Tips For a Tight Market
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 11:19 am
A tight employment market is creating new demands on job seekers according to The Career Exposure Network, the leading source of niche job sites for women, diversity and MBAs.
“With more candidates applying for each open position, standing apart from the competition is increasingly critical to getting the offer letter,” stated JillXan Donnelly of CareerExposure.com. “The rules for job seeking are changing and candidates need to switch up their game to make new connections and learn new skills that will get them noticed.”
To this end, Career Exposure offers the latest tips to getting noticed.
1) Make every resume unique
Gone are the days where one resume or cover letter will get the interview. Customize every resume and cover letter to showcase why your skills and experience make you the best match for each job.
2) Use broad and niche job-seeking tools
Broad job sites are easy one-stop-shops for job seeking, but don’t overlook niche sites that are tailored by profession, industry, skill set or gender. By using these sites, such as CareerWomen.com, DiversitySearch.com and MBACareers.com, job seekers can connect with employers that are targeting their specific demographic. Who can afford to miss that?
3) Employ virtual and in-person networking strategies
Certainly call and e-mail former co-workers, colleagues and business associates to get connections. You should also join associations or volunteer in your area of interest to create new contacts. Use online networks such as LinkedIn and build connections virtually. Consider jumping into social networks such as Twitter where you can find, follow and chat with people who work at companies or in industries you find of interest.
4) Take a class for content and connections
Staying sharp is one reason for taking a class; however, other reasons could include making new connections by way of classmates or the professor. Classes can also add extra beef to your resume that will demonstrate your commitment to your career and skills.
5) Stay positive
A positive attitude is tremendously appealing to an employer, both current and future. Look at your job search as an adventure that will have both high and low points. Being positive about the process, while sometimes challenging, will help you get through it.
Avoid These 7 Killer Cover Letter Mistakes
Posted in Tips & Tricks at 9:41 am
The student’s resume was impressive. The formatting was impeccable, the content was excellent, and he did a great job of focusing on accomplishments instead of job duties. If I were an employer, I would have been impressed.
Then I looked at his cover letter and imagined the employer tossing that perfect resume into the trash bin.
Many college students and recent grads destroy their resumes by accompanying them with halfhearted or downright terrible cover letters. While some employers don’t bother reading cover letters, most do. And they will quickly eliminate you if you make these cover letter mistakes:
Using the Wrong Cover Letter Format
The student’s cover letter looked more like a cut-and-paste email than a business letter. It had no recipient information, no return address and no date. The letter screamed unprofessional.
Be sure your cover letter uses a standard business-letter format. It should include the date, the recipient’s mailing address and your address.
Making It All About You
It may seem counterintuitive, but your cover letter, like your resume, should be about the employer as much as it’s about you. Yes, you need to tell the employer about yourself, but do so in the context of the employer’s needs and the specified job requirements.
Not Proofing for Typos and Grammatical Errors
Employers tend to view typos and grammatical errors as evidence of your carelessness and inability to write. Proofread every letter you send. Get additional cover letter help by asking a friend who knows good writing double-check your letter for you.
Making Unsupported Claims
Too many cover letters from college students and recent grads say the applicant has “strong written and verbal communication skills.” Without evidence, it’s an empty boast. Give some examples for each claim you make. Employers need proof.
Writing a Novel
A good cover letter should be no longer than one page. Employers are deluged with resumes and cover letters, and their time is scarce. Make sure your cover letter has three or four concise but convincing paragraphs that are easy to read. If your competitor’s letter rambles on for two pages, guess which candidate the employer will prefer.
Using the Same Cover Letter for Every Job and Company
Employers see so many cover letters that it’s easy for them to tell when you’re using a one-size-fits-all approach. If you haven’t addressed their company’s specific concerns, they’ll conclude you don’t care about this particular job.
It’s time-consuming but worthwhile to customize each cover letter for the specific job and company.
Not Sending a Real Cover Letter
Some job seekers — college students, recent grads and even those with years of work experience — don’t bother sending a cover letter with their resume. Others type up a one or two-sentence “here’s my resume” cover letter, while others attach handwritten letters or sticky notes.
There is no gray area here: You must include a well-written, neatly formatted cover letter with every resume you send. If you don’t, you won’t be considered for the job.
Dec 23Top 10 Tips for Your 2010 Résumé
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 3:42 pm
“Out with the old, in with the new,” isn’t that what they always say? The same thing applies to your résumé. Chances are you applied for hundreds of jobs in 2009, only to be ignored or rejected. That means that something has to change.
Last year, 25 percent of employers said that on average, they received more than 75 résumés for each open position; 42 percent received more than 50 résumés. In addition, 38 percent of employers last year said they spent one to two minutes reviewing a new résumé and 17 percent spent less than one minute, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.
“Human resources managers serve on the front lines of a company’s recruitment efforts and are often the gatekeepers of the interview process. Because they can receive a large volume of applications, you may only have a matter of seconds to make a lasting impression,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “You should always have a current résumé and portfolio ready to go, because you never know what the next day will bring, whether it’s a weak or healthy economy.”
You want employers to see you differently this year. Here are 10 ways to get your résumé noticed in 2010:
1. Start from scratch
A new year means a new résumé. Even though it might not sound like fun to rewrite your whole résumé (it probably won’t be), give it a try. Obviously, if you didn’t get any bites last year, something was a little off with your current résumé. Rearrange some sections, try a different format and use a different font. Just switch things up a little bit and see what happens.
2. Use a different format
Many job seekers don’t realize that there are different formats to use when writing a résumé. The most common form is chronological, which lists each job you’ve had in reverse sequential order, so you start with your most recent job. This form doesn’t work for all people, though. For example, if you’ve done a lot of job hopping in recent years or if you haven’t had a job in a long time, a functional résumé is a better option.
A functional résumé focuses on your skills versus your work experience. For this, you would list a pertinent skill for the job to which you’re applying, followed by a list of accomplishments that demonstrate that skill. If you don’t have relevant skills or a strong work history, you could use a combination résumé, which combines elements of both a functional and a chronological format.
For a combination résumé, you should list your applicable skills and the accomplishments that demonstrate each one. Below that, you’ll list your work history, starting with your most current job and working backward, but you won’t list your job description. Doing this allows you the chance to play up your skills while proving your solid work history.
3. Ditch the empty words and vague phrases
Many job seekers fall prey to a common mistake that irks most employers: using cliché keywords. In a 2009 CareerBuilder survey, employers cited these common phrases as overused and often ignored by hiring managers:
• People person: 39 percent
• Go-getter: 38 percent
• Team player: 33 percent
• Hard-working: 29 percent
• Multitasker: 28 percent
• Self-starter: 27 percent
• Results- or goal-oriented: 22 percent
These words are just empty fillers that don’t say anything about your achievements. For an accountant position, for example, keywords might include “accounts payable” or “month-end reporting” — words that actually say something about what you can do. Look over your résumé and find where you have listed generic qualities about yourself and replace them with keywords that match the job to which you are applying.
4. Make your achievements stand out
Many job seekers list their job duties on their résumés, but not their accomplishments. Although your past duties are important, employers care more about your ability to produce results. Try separating your daily functions from your achievements by first listing your job duties in a paragraph format, and then incorporating a bulleted area below that is titled “key accomplishments” to list your successes.
5. Quantify your accomplishments
Applicants often don’t know the difference between quantifying results and just stating a job responsibility. A job responsibility is something that you do on a daily basis; a quantified achievement is the result of that responsibility. By quantifying results, you show employers what you can actually do for them. So, if your current résumé is a block of words and you don’t have one number in there, whether it’s dollars, percentages or comparative numbers, you need to make some revisions.
6. Include a summary or objective
Including a summary on your résumé is one of those steps that many job seekers forget to take — and if they do remember, they usually include the wrong information. Employers want to know if you’re a good fit for their organization, so writing something like, “To gain experience in X industry,” doesn’t say much about you or what you can do for the employer. Your career summary should portray your experience and emphasize how it will help the prospective employer. It should be specific and include explicit industry-related functions, quantifiable achievements or your areas of expertise.
7. Fill in the gaps
Most people will tell you to wait to explain any gaps in your work history until you get to the interview. But there’s a good chance that you won’t get that opportunity if there are gaps in the first place. If, for example, you were laid off at the beginning of 2008 and are still unemployed, try using the functional résumé format we explained earlier. Or, if you feel comfortable doing so, explain what you were doing during lapses between jobs. The employer will know you aren’t trying to hide a sketchy past.
8. Keep it simple
How many times do we have to tell you? Do not, by any means, format your résumé with crazy fonts or colors or print it on fluorescent paper. Find an uncommon, yet attractive and simple layout to catch the employer’s eye, instead of his wastebasket.
9. Double-check for the basics
Silly as it sounds, many people get so caught up in formatting and proofreading that they don’t check for the most basic information, such as an e-mail address, phone number and permanent address. Double-check that your résumé has this information — none of your hard work will pay off if no one can get ahold of you.
10. Check for consistency
Take a look over last year’s résumé and make sure there are no inconsistencies. If you decide to include periods at the end of your sentences, for example, make sure they are at the end of each one. If you chose to list your job duties, followed by an accomplishment in that duty, make sure you do so throughout your résumé. Use consistent fonts, sizes, bullets and other formatting options. Employers will notice your attention to detail and assume your work quality is of the same standard.
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