I’ve often heard that interviews are won or lost in the first five minutes. In the last week I have conducted a slew of interviews for an entry-level communications specialist. The position requires excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, organizational skills, a strong “get it done” attitude, and a journalism or public relations background. I can honestly confirm that, while the job may not be given, the job is often lost in the first five minutes.

You already know that you need to arrive on time, dress professionally and give a firm handshake, but did you know that the way you present your resume matters? I recently watched as one candidate spent several minutes looking through a stack of papers for what was a dog-eared copy of her resume and list of references. Note that organizational skills were integral for this job.

Another thing that will lose an interview is showing a lack of confidence, so act confident, even if you’re not.*
How?
Watch your body language. Sit up straight, don’t fidget and maintain eye contact.
Don’t be afraid of silence. This is difficult, but it’s the easiest way to trip someone up; just ask lawyers or journalists!

One that some people may not think about is showing that you take direction well. You may think that you need to prove you can take control, but there is a level of respect that should be adhered to within an interview.  Let the interviewer lead the interview. I once interviewed a graphic designer that brought his laptop to show some of his sites. What transpired next was twenty minutes of him leading me around the Internet. I didn’t want to be rude as he was clearly excited about his work, but it was unnecessary and I felt he lacked focus as a result.

Do your research. I’ll never forget asking a candidate, “What do you know about StormStaff?” and the response was, “Well, I was hoping you could tell me more about StormStaff. What is it that you guys do?”  Clearly the journalism skills haven’t led her to research us! Plus, how passionate could she possibly be if she doesn’t know what we do?

If you need further interview help, download our Interviewing Tips Whitepaper

* When acting confident, don’t act cocky. It’s ok to admit if you haven’t done something that may be expected of you, but are a fast learner and excited to take on new challenges.

Cover letters can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a company that you want to work for.  A cover letter is usually sent in the body of your email with an attached resume when applying for a job.  They tend to be of great importance in this stage of your job search because it highlights your qualifications, skills, and why you would be an asset for the company.  Career Columnist Eve Tahmincioglu, says that cover letters are even more important for social media and tech job seekers. “Today companies want tech employees who are critical thinkers, well-rounded and do more than just tech speak, these things are hard to convey in a résumé.” 

Hiring managers prefer a customized cover letter for a position, because it shows that you are actually applying for thatposition.  Often, job seekers blindly send their resumes out , so taking the time to write a cover letter specific to the job you are applying for shows that you are truly interested in that position!  Also, a lot of times, the first person to see your application is a human resources manager, who may not know much about the computer programs and technical projects on your résumé.  The cover letter can be an opportunity to draw them in with a personal touch.

Cover letters are more important now than ever before because of all the social media platforms out there.  A study shows that 45% of employers are screening social media profiles, and another 11% plan to do the same in the near future.  According to this study, roughly 35% of candidates have not been hired due to content found on their social networking sites.  Due to these statistics, many career experts think sending a cover letter is a crucial step in landing a job these days. 

Mark O’Connor, staffing manager at oil company Tesoro, says he doesn’t read much into cover letters, particularly for tech jobs — but adds that it doesn’t mean applicants shouldn’t bother to send them. “They should be short functional summaries of their relevant experience,” he says.  O’Connor’s team of recruiters focuses on developing relationships with candidates via social networks.  From there, they’re more concerned about the details that lie within the résumé and try to learn more about their past experience.

Here are a few cover letter tips:

• Make sure it’s brief and to the point
• Tell all about your accomplishments
• Be creative and don’t just summarize your resume
• Your letter should serve as an introduction to your resume

In my opinion for all you job seekers, whether you are looking to get a job doing Social Media, IT, or in any other industry, it is important to set yourself apart from everyone else.  Although it’s not necessary to send a cover letter, I do think that is important that you sell yourself by sending a cover letter and tailor it to the specific job you are applying for.  A cover letter is still valuable and can help you by setting you apart from everyone else trying to get an interview for the same position.  Make sure you take the time to research writing a cover letter and do it the right way! 

 If you are interested in career opportunities, make sure to check out our website.

Sources:  http://mashable.com/2011/02/05/cover-letter-tech-jobs/#

                  http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/job-search-secrets/#

How can you shine like an Olympian during your job search in 2010? Olympic athletes may have four years to prepare for the intense competitions they face during the Olympic Games, but you only need these four steps to go for the gold in your job search and beat out the competition!

© VANOC/COVAN

How can you prepare yourself to top the competition during your job search? In order to succeed, you need to create a strategy that works for you.

Do your research. Research encompasses all aspects of the job hunt. Know the industry you are trying to enter. Are companies in that industry hiring? Do you have experience and the skills necessary? If you don’t know much about the industry you are attempting to enter, now is the time to educate yourself as much as possible.

What jobs are you applying for? What do you know about the companies or organizations you want to join? Do you know what they’re looking for in a hire? How will you convince them you’re the best fit for the job you’ve applied for?

After you research the industry or company, don’t forget to research yourself, too! Here’s a question for you: have you ever Googled your name? If not, you may want to take a moment to type it into the search bar and see what comes up! Many hiring managers and recruiters do this, so you’ll want to make sure positive and professional content appears under your name before a hiring manager may find something you won’t want to be seen.

Expand your Job Search Resources. Job boards and networks can be extremely helpful with your job search. Many companies have their own job boards that are easy to search (for ex., we have a job board on our page). You can try contacting your alumni office or career resource center at your college/university and use industry associations and professional organizations which can all be great resources for your job search. You can also use your social networking pages like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to reach contacts and connections that can provide potential leads for your job search.

Use Your Cover Letter and Resume to Your Advantage. A well-written cover letter is extremely important to your job search. Use it to your advantage by writing to show the potential employer that your skills and experience match the position you desire. An effective, targeted, customized resume is equally important. Consider these documents as the tools in your “job search kit.” These will be essential to help the hiring manager assess your fit for the job and the culture of the company.

Make a good presentation during and after your interview. Once you’re on track and an interview is scheduled, make sure you are ready. Since your physical appearance is the first thing an employer sees, it really matters. Remember that your clothing, hair, makeup and jewelry make an immediate impression. For presentation tips, check out our previous blog post on how to present yourself at your interview.

Have other tips for a Gold Medal Job Hunt? Follow us on Twitter at @StormStaff and tell us what you think!

What advice do you have that can help job seekers out there? Send us your responses and we’ll post them!

On Wednesday, Staffing Industry Analysts released survey results asking staffing companies how often candidates decline an assignment. According to the results, the median candidate decline rate is 11 to 15 percent. Those representing the healthcare industry reported the highest decline rate with a median in the 21 to 25 percent range. Meanwhile, business services ranked low on the spectrum, reporting a rate of decline at only 6 to 10 percent.

According to the report:

“Staffing firms primarily serving the business services… report the lowest rates of candidate decline.”

Another article in BusinessWeek reported that the business and professional services industry currently holds the second highest number of available jobs employers can’t fill. It seems companies are actively seeking qualified candidates but can’t seem to recruit the qualified talent or fit for their organizations.

So, what could all of this mean for staffing companies specializing in business services and the clients they serve? Well, it certainly means that both sides stand with much to gain.

First off, research shows that candidates specializing in business services aren’t likely to decline a position offered to them. Using a staffing company with a high level of expertise, resources, commitment and personal approach will certainly achieve favorable results.

Secondly, companies say they are facing trouble filling positions and claim they are “actively recruiting but so far have been unable to fill.” If these organizations use expert staffing companies, they will receive assistance from recruiters who know exactly what they are looking for and are true experts in finding the right fit for the right position. Recruiters find the high-quality, top talent candidates that companies want and need. Organizations that use staffing companies can save valuable time and money in meeting these demands.