Regular old resumes appear to be for the birds these days. According to Colorado Tech University, the resume you choose needs to include your social networking savvy as well as your standard experience. Their own infographic walks a resume writer through the necessary steps:
22 Jun
Posted in interview, job hunt, job search on 22.06.11
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.
17 Mar
Posted in career, hiring/staffing, jobs, networking, Recruiter, social network, social networking on 17.03.11
Source: http://bit.ly/fwl1NT
Recruiters are a great source for finding a job that will fit your need and skill set. They help you through the interview process and try to help prepare you for your interviews. The best thing about having a recruiter help you is that they have already done most of the leg work. They know the right contacts for certain companies and have built relationships with the people that work there.
Social networking is extremely important in today’s society. It’s a good way to introduce yourself to large groups of people and also a great way for people to find you. The more contacts you have, the better chances of you receiving a great job opportunity. LinkedIn is one of the top social networks to use right now, because everyone is a professional and looking to make connections with other professionals. It’s extremely successful in helping to build relationships and helping with your job search. Most recruiters use this LinkedIn to find candidates with the right experience for the positions. Since your profile is basically your resume, make sure it’s accurate and up to date! That way recruiters can find you easily and reach out to you. Recruiters can search the database of information for people with relevant skill sets and experience pertaining to specific job requirements.
Here’s what you need to do to get started:
1) Create a profile. Include current and past employment, education, and any other information that details your skills or qualifications.
2) Make sure to use keywords! This way, you can be found when those keywords are searched for.
3) Post a picture. Make sure it’s just you in the picture and professional looking. People with profile pictures get more connections.
4) Build your network. Connect with colleagues, friends, family, etc. The more people you are connected to, the more opportunities will come your way.
5) Join groups of interest to you. This is a great way to meet new people!
6) Get recommendations from previous colleagues and bosses.
You don’t have to wait for the recruiters to contact you. Find out which company the recruiter is working for and visit their website. Most of the time, jobs will be posted in their career section and you can check and see if there are any open positions that support your background. If you find a position that you are interested in, try and reach out to the recruiters and let them help you get the job!
Sources:
21 May
Posted in employment, hiring/staffing, job hunt, job search, jobs, tips & tricks on 21.05.10
Age is nothing but another number in the job seeking game!
It seems older job seekers are in limbo during the current economic and hiring landscape. Recent reports from the U.S. Labor Department earlier this month show that unemployment rates are lower for older workers than other age groups. However, that being said, the same report shows that it actually takes these individuals longer to find a new job than any other age group. What does it all mean for the older job seeker in today’s employment landscape?
Older, mature professionals are now job seekers for a number of reasons. Some older job seekers may get discouraged and lose confidence because of their age. However, if you are an older job seeker, stay positive! In today’s evolving job market, not only have the types of jobs out there changed, but so have the individuals who make up the current workforce. Remember that as seasoned professionals, older job seekers are great resources for any company, filled with loads of information and experience!
There are several steps an older job seeker can take to make the most of their job search. First and foremost, take a career inventory. Make a list of all the positions previously held. What tasks were completed? What accomplishments were made? One of the biggest obstacles for older workers is that they may be overqualified for jobs they’re applying to, so try to narrow down experience to what’s really important. Completing this exercise will help get your job search in gear by identifying potential opportunities and serving as a reminder of accomplishments achieved over the years.
