Posted by Jill Gaynor on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 @ 07:58 AM
1. Start Off Strong - Have a Solid Handshake
Your handshake is your first impression, and as we all know, first impressions are everything.
When meeting your future employer, make sure to give a firm hand shake. It is the best way to kick off an interview and will give your future employer a strong gage of both your energy and confidence level.
2. Come Prepared
Make sure that you have all the materials that you were asked to bring to the interview. Always bring multiple resumes in case you meet with more people than expected.
3. Know Your Stuff
There is nothing worse than a candidate who cannot describe what they did in an 8-hour day at his/her last position.
Before an interview, review your resume. Make sure that you are aware of all dates, duties, and software programs used at each prior position.
4. Think Ahead
Anticipate what the interviewer will ask. Prior to the interview, make a list of questions you think interviewers may ask and practice answering them aloud.
Common questions include: What were your job duties? What are your strengths/weaknesses? What are your salary requirements?
5. Do Your Research
Never go into an interview unprepared, whether with an employment agency or with the hiring company.
Check out the company’s website and educate yourself. When you walk into an interview, be sure to know facts about the company. Learn the company mission.
Bonus Step: Smile and Relax
Though these may seem like the hardest pieces of the puzzle, they shouldn’t be. When going into an interview, your confidence level should be skyrocketing. It means that, in this economic climate, your resume was one of the few chosen out of hundreds of others.
You are there because the hiring manager is impressed with your credentials and already thinks you are "the one" for the position!
Posted by Jill Gaynor on Tue, Jul 20, 2010 @ 05:58 PM
Applying for jobs has never been easier - log on to a job board, find the jobs you like, upload your resume and click "submit." Unfortunately, landing your dream job is not as simple. Millions in the US are unemployed and hundreds are sending their resumes to the same exact position you are. Therefore, one must break the mold and try new approaches to getting noticed.
Three Quick and Easy ways to Get Noticed:
1. Be Knowledgeable.
Do not blindly send your resume out to every listing in hopes that one will be a match. Do your research first. Know what you are applying for, customize your resume to reflect the exact position at hand, and detail the skills you possess in order to be successful within that role.
2. Keep it Simple
Remember, employers' in-boxes are flooded with responses; to make sure that yours is seen, keep it simple. Format your resume to flow chronologically and use bullet points. When possible, have a one (1) page resume with action verbs describing what you have accomplished at each job.
3. Follow-up
One job listing generates hundreds of replies. Don't let your resume get lost in the bunch. A follow-up call will show your level of interest and get your resume a second look.
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For additional tips on the job search, visit our Survival Kit page. There you will find Resume Help, Interview Prep Tips and otherHelpful Resources.
Posted by Andrea Poldoian on Mon, Apr 05, 2010 @ 08:36 PM
There's no point mincing words. This is a tough market in which to find a job.
To succeed, job seekers need to distinguish themselves from the competition. Here are 7 effective ways to gain a competitive edge:
- Write a killer cover letter - It's the first thing hiring managers will see about you, your real first impression. Make it count. Make it compelling. If you need help, ask your professional recruiter; they do this every day.
- Let them sample - Willingly volunteer to work at a job for a brief period of time to demonstrate your skills and capabilities to those doing the hiring.
- Kick it up a notch - Use your time between assignments to hone technical skills, get yourself to "expert" level at whatever it is you do.
- Polish and perfect - Make sure your resume shines. Professional recruiters are aces at showcasing candidate skills and experience.
- Speak clearly - Be able to articulate how you bring value to prospective employers.
- Network, network, network - The wider the net, the bigger the catch.
- Know your stuff - Nothing impresses people more than seeing you cared enough to find out something about them beforehand. Having context about a company gives you common ground for discussion and enhances the employment opportunity.
Economists predict the job market will get better eventually. If you have time for eventually, that's fine. If not, doing everything you can to make yourself more visible, more appealing, more worthy than other candidates is one of the smartest moves you can make.