8 Job Search Tips to Remember

Secrets job seekers should know

Tweet
     

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

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

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

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

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

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

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

7 Phrases to Leave Off Your Resume

Resume writing - less is more

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

Tweet

     

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

1. "Effective Communicator"

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

2. "Detail-Oriented"

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

3. "Highly Skilled"

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

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

10 Weaknesses That'll Destroy Your Job Interview

Big Job Interview, Little Mistakes

This article was reprinted with permission from danielhenrygroup.com

Tweet

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

9 Steps to LinkedIn Networking for a Job

A simple guide for job networking on LinkedIn

Tweet

     

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

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

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

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

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

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

5 Ways To Turn Off A Hiring Manager

Job seekers beware

Reprinted with permission from FabJob.com .

Tweet

     

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

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

1. Get More Information Before Applying

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page

Ten Mistakes that Can Sabotage Your Job Search

How to be more efficient in your job search

By Jay Edward Miller of alabamajobwatch.com

Tweet
     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page

Your Student Loans Will Affect Your Credit Score

A financial lesson to for new graduates

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

Tweet

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

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

How a Credit Score is Calculated

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

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

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

| 1 | 2 | Next Page