The Internet and generalized job boards are getting more and more saturated with resumes and thus, the competition is growing fiercer for job-seekers. I like to think about the Ladders.com commercials where the two guys are playing tennis and suddenly a bunch of crazy people storm the courts and interrupt play. The Voiceover actor comes in with a statement about how all the other job boards let anyone in to play, but with Ladders.com, they are specifically catered to those who make $100K or above. Well, it's sad but true. Below, I have compiled a list of some "other" sites that I think are beneficial for the job-seeker needing to up his or her Internet job-hunting game.
Company Portals
Almost all companies post their job openings on their company portal (or website). This is the spot on a company website where it says "Careers". When I worked in Human Resources, we always had to post our job openings on the company portal so the internal employees could apply to the opening. So we would usually just check the second box stating "share to company website" just to see if we could drum up some outside resumes.
I suggest searching all the portals of main industry players and also larger companies that hire your profession and click on that company’s “career” section. Create an online profile and post your resume so that company’s hiring manager or recruiter can find your resume. Also, set up an alert before you log off the company’s portal. Alerts are email triggers that are sent to your Inbox once a company posts a position matching your credentials. Not only does this help you get pulled up when a company’s internal recruiter is searching for resumes on the company database, but it also allows for you to apply to the job instantaneously. As a recruiter, we can become inundated with upwards of 1000 resumes for one job, so we sometimes can only get to the first 250 resumes. If you apply to a company’s opening while it’s still a fresh posting, your chances of your resume actually being seen are increased dramatically.
But remember, set up alerts on both company portals and niche and general job boards. Once a position opens up with your title, you receive an email instantly and you can have an edge on competitors by applying that same day the job was posted before the next 2,000 resumes come through.
Also, set up Google and Yahoo News alerts for your specific title/industry and general job-hunting techniques. Use relevant keywords such as "job hunting tips", "apply mechanical engineer" and "automotive production supervisor opening".
General Job Boards
As much as they have become flooded, continue to post your resume on CareerBuilder and Monster because that is where recruiters typically search for resumes first; and why not, when there are more job seekers on there than anywhere else in the world. Also use Craigslist, which is a great place to find local job postings in your area.
Niche Job Boards and Forums within Your Industry
Perform an online search with your industry title plus “job board” and review the results. Post your resume on those sites and set up alerts as well. Sometimes these sites display forums where you can participate in discussions on industry topics or trends. I had a client in the past that utilized a forum and networked his way into a new position, solely based on a discussion about a particular piece of equipment he had worked on and a hiring manager just happened to have been engaged in this discussion. The hiring manager was so impressed by my client’s knowledge, he offered him an interview the next day.
Association Websites within Your Industry
Most professional associations are easy to find online and by checking out an association’s website, you might find a job board or resume posting access. Even if not, you may find industry events being held, networking groups or even an opportunity to create a profile and join an online chat-board to stay in the loop.
Job Board Aggregators
Instead of going to the major job boards (e.g., CareerBuilder, Monster), start by using Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com which are called job board aggregators. These sites search jobs on all the other job boards including company web sites and local newspapers and pull the results into one, nice place for you to view.
In conclusion, some people are growing more tired because they think they have exhausted all of their online resources, but the truth is that there are so many companies that are hiring, you just have to be a little more savvy in finding those openings.
Showing posts with label candidate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candidate. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Subscribe to the MJW Careers' Jobstickers Podcast on iTunes
Subscribe to the MJW Careers' Jobstickers Podcast on iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jobstickers/id444188047
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jobstickers/id444188047
Monday, April 18, 2011
Closing Questions Are the Answer to a Successful Interview
Preparing for an interview is just as important as the interview itself. Without proper preparation, you can get caught off guard or even leave the interviewer questioning your ability to deliver once hired for the position. The best interview tactic is to have impressive closing questions.
While working in Human Resources as a Recruiter, I once had a hiring manager hire a candidate simply because of their interview. He was so pleased with the candidate's knowledge and their pertinent closing questions relating to the company's current situation and the actual position being advertised. The hiring manager favored the interviewee over another candidate strictly due to the fact that he showed enthusiasm to learn more and really cared about the organization.
How was that candidate able to do all this? Researching the company. You always want to make sure you research a company prior to attending an interview, so you can:
1. Know if you would enjoy working there.
2. Find out if you would fit into their corporate culture.
3. Ask educated questions throughout the interview.
4. Use verbiage during the interview that relates to the company, industry and specific job for which you are interviewing.
5. Ask insightful closing questions.
Remember, your competition is doing this legwork. There is nothing worse than having no questions at all. You want to add some of these following questions in the mix to make you that much more effective:
1. Is there any other information you need from me regarding my application?
2. Do you have any hesitations about me for this position?
3. How do I compare to my competition?
4. Is there any reason why I would not be an asset in the job I am interviewing for?
5. I want to work for your company; can you see any reason how I might not fit into your corporate culture?
6. Is there anything hindering me from moving forward in the interview process?
7. Where do I go from here? Can you tell me about the rest of the interviewing process?
8. Do you know when I might hear correspondence regarding the next step?
9. Is there any reason why we can't set up the next interview now?
So before you go to an interview, research the company and prepare a list of closing questions. The more work you put into the preparation process, the greater your chance of impressing the interviewer and getting hired!
While working in Human Resources as a Recruiter, I once had a hiring manager hire a candidate simply because of their interview. He was so pleased with the candidate's knowledge and their pertinent closing questions relating to the company's current situation and the actual position being advertised. The hiring manager favored the interviewee over another candidate strictly due to the fact that he showed enthusiasm to learn more and really cared about the organization.
How was that candidate able to do all this? Researching the company. You always want to make sure you research a company prior to attending an interview, so you can:
1. Know if you would enjoy working there.
2. Find out if you would fit into their corporate culture.
3. Ask educated questions throughout the interview.
4. Use verbiage during the interview that relates to the company, industry and specific job for which you are interviewing.
5. Ask insightful closing questions.
Remember, your competition is doing this legwork. There is nothing worse than having no questions at all. You want to add some of these following questions in the mix to make you that much more effective:
1. Is there any other information you need from me regarding my application?
2. Do you have any hesitations about me for this position?
3. How do I compare to my competition?
4. Is there any reason why I would not be an asset in the job I am interviewing for?
5. I want to work for your company; can you see any reason how I might not fit into your corporate culture?
6. Is there anything hindering me from moving forward in the interview process?
7. Where do I go from here? Can you tell me about the rest of the interviewing process?
8. Do you know when I might hear correspondence regarding the next step?
9. Is there any reason why we can't set up the next interview now?
So before you go to an interview, research the company and prepare a list of closing questions. The more work you put into the preparation process, the greater your chance of impressing the interviewer and getting hired!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
JobStickers Podcast #7: Phone Etiquette for Job Seekers
LISTEN:
The 7th MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast series will be focused on phone etiquette for job seekers. It is important that every single aspect of your job search is sharp and effective, including your messages and phone interviews with potential employers.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
The 7th MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast series will be focused on phone etiquette for job seekers. It is important that every single aspect of your job search is sharp and effective, including your messages and phone interviews with potential employers.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
Thursday, March 10, 2011
JobStickers Podcast #6: Unusual Job Hunting Techniques with Guest Career Expert Mary Sevinsky
LISTEN:
The 6th installment of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast series will be focused on unusual job hunting techniques. In this market, job-seekers need to be creative in order to showcase their skills to potential employers and this podcast will discuss ways to make yourself stand out amongst the competition and to think outside the box with your job hunt. We will be joined by career expert and owner of the firm, Lifeworks, Mary Sevinsky. Her information can be seen on her website, http://www.life-works.info.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
The 6th installment of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast series will be focused on unusual job hunting techniques. In this market, job-seekers need to be creative in order to showcase their skills to potential employers and this podcast will discuss ways to make yourself stand out amongst the competition and to think outside the box with your job hunt. We will be joined by career expert and owner of the firm, Lifeworks, Mary Sevinsky. Her information can be seen on her website, http://www.life-works.info.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
Monday, March 7, 2011
Brand: You. Creating and Self-Marketing Yourself to Find a Job During Tough Times
A career brand is an image that portrays you as an expert in your field, attracts your ideal employer, and reveals how you can help their business. How can you promote your career brand effectively, to stand out among increasing competition in the workforce? Self-marketing!
Before you begin self-marketing, you need to understand:
1. What you are going to market about yourself
2. Who you are going to market yourself to
3. Why you are going to market yourself to them
This article offers some important tools to develop your career brand and understand your self-marketing plan.
Goals of Self-Marketing
1. Provide direction to help eliminate trial and error. As a result, save time and money.
2. Network with key industry players.
3. Identify your transferable skills. Marketing these skills, not just job history and accomplishments, puts you in higher demand (i.e., more interviews).
4. Determine what other industries your transferable skills fit into. The industry you are in affects the success of your career. Market yourself in growing industries (green-collar, biotechnology, nutrition, IT). Steer away from dying 5. industries (textile, printing, newspapers, steel manufacturing, etc.).
6. Resolve any setbacks that hurt your career and prevent you from getting interviews. Fix your resume so it does not portray you as "a job hopper", "lacking education", or "unable to advance at a company".
Create Your Own Mission Statement
Just as mission statements provide direction and purpose for companies, individuals can benefit from having their own personal mission statement too.
Your mission statement says what is important to you. Write yours before starting a career to get on the right path and connect with companies that have similar values and beliefs. You can revise it or write a new one at a career crossroads. Its sense of purpose is great motivation!
What to include:
1. Goals - Aspirations in life (short-term and long-term)
2. Core values - Who you are and what your priorities are
3. Successes - Professional, personal, etc.
4. Offerings - How you can make a difference for the world, your family, employer or future employers, friends and community
Integrate Assessments into Your Career Branding
Career and personality assessments reveal consistent patterns in your traits, characteristics, strengths, preferences, and skills. The assessment results may lead you in a new career direction. If you have an established career, they tell you how well your traits and branding messages align with your career path.
Present your distinctive and noteworthy traits to your targeted employers. Remember that not all recurring patterns contribute to good branding (e.g., introversion). Disregard any pattern you feel is not really you.
Incorporate the assessment results into your career branding materials: resume, cover letter, elevator speech, interview responses, portfolio, business card, etc. Convey a consistent branding message throughout all of these materials. But you can use different branding statements for different industries.
Tag! You Are "It"!
Self-marketing is not just about selling your specific skills. Everyone has skills. They get you in the door, but not necessarily get you the job. There can be 100 or more applicants per job posting, and they all have the same or better skills as you. How can you stand out as "the one"?
Develop a tag-line. A great tag-line tells people exactly what a product is and how they will benefit from using it. This is what employers want to know about you! Specifically, how you will help them make and save money. Tell them how much money you helped a previous or current employer make or save on a given project, sale, or time period.
Dear Career Journal...
Did you have a diary or journal when you were young? It helped you express feelings when no one else would listen, or when you did not want anyone else to listen! Similarly, a journal can help and guide us in our professional adult life too.
Writing in a career journal allows you to set aside time to think and learn more about yourself and your career. Just as when you were younger, using a journal allows you to express emotions (good and bad) about career progress. When you read past entries, see how far you have come!
Use your career journal to:
1. Write your personal mission statement
2. React to self-assessment tests
3. Do a SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) analysis
4. Evaluate your current situation
5. Reflect on your successes and failures
6. Devise career goal ideas (breaking into a new career, as a volunteer or consultant)
7. Think about career alternatives
8. Establish daily or weekly career-related objectives or tasks
9. Develop action plans to achieve your objectives and tasks
10. Make checklists
11. Record network contacts, job interview results, etc.
12. Develop job correspondence material (cover letters, resumes, thank you letters, etc.)
13. Practice job interview questions and answers
14. Gather salary information
15. Jot down ideas and information you like and want to use in the future
16. Record things you want or need to learn, skills to improve upon
17. Discover and explore your workplace values
18. Record your job-related likes and dislikes (and employers' likes and dislikes)
19. Note lessons learned
20. Develop ways to improve the workplace
21. Review job-search trends
22. Develop plans for achieving promotions
23. Document the career paths of your peers that you want to emulate
24. Prepare for job performance reviews
Do not keep your career journal at your workplace. Keep it at home on your computer or in a notebook. Try to set a regular time of day to work on your journal, maybe right after work. Maybe before work to get yourself motivated and focused on what you can achieve that day!
Your journal is always ready, and no matter where your career path leads you, you can continue to use it throughout your professional life.
Key Marketing Tools:
Strategic Marketing Plan - Your plan answers these questions:
1. What have I accomplished, where am I now, and where will my career be if I do not take action?
2. Where do I want to go with my career?
3. How do I get to where I want to go?
4. How do I put my plan into action?
5. What do I need to change if I am not getting success?
Market Research
Understand trends in your career field. Consult resources such as the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook. Interview industry professionals. Study the companies you would like to work for. Use this information for your cover letter, resume and job interview.
Marketing Mix
You are probably already familiar with the 4 P's of marketing, or the "marketing mix". The 4 P's are product, promotion, place, and price. Translate these in terms of you and your career for job search success.
Product
You are the product with unique characteristics, features, and skills. Expose your "product features" in your tag-line and resume. Let employers know your work experience, leadership experience, professional memberships, technical skills, education and training.
Make sure that your on-line marketing tools (i.e., Facebook or Myspace) are cleaned up and employer ready. You do not want a potential employer to see something on your personal networking sites that will land you in trouble.
Do not forget "packaging", to properly present yourself and your credentials to potential employers.
Promotion
This is your cover letter, resume, phone calls, correspondence and interviewing. Promotion tools include anything that you can use to get a job interview and ultimately get a job offer.
Be memorable by utilizing multimedia marketing like email, follow-up phone calls, or try using regular priority mail envelopes to send resumes, cover letters and other "marketing materials". This increases your career brand and distinctiveness.
Place
This includes everywhere employers can access you. How are you reaching employers or people who can connect you with employers?
1. Internet job-searching and applying to job postings
2. Cold calling
3. Networking with current and former coworkers, colleagues and alumni
4. Speaking with recruiters at staffing and employment agencies and company HR departments
5. Visiting your university career centers and alumni offices
6. Attending professional association meetings and seminars
Price
Price includes all aspects of the compensation you can receive from potential employers, as well as your strategies to get the price you want, and that the employer feels you deserve. Your price not only includes salary, but also insurance, benefits, paid time off and perks.
Call in the SWOT Team!
Performing a SWOT Analysis, used in marketing planning, is helpful to use in your career planning. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It answers:
1. What are your Strengths and Weaknesses (in your internal environment)?
2. What are Opportunities and Threats in your career field (external environment)?
Strengths
Internal, positive aspects which you can capitalize upon, such as:
1. Work experience
2. Education
3. Technical skills and knowledge (e.g., computer skills)
4. Personal characteristics (e.g., superior work ethic)
5. Strong network of contacts
6. Involvement with professional associations and organizations
7. Enjoying what you do
Weaknesses
Internal, negative aspects that you plan on improving, such as:
1. Lack of work experience
2. Inconsistent major with the job you are looking for
3. Lack of specific job knowledge
4. Weak technical knowledge
5. Weak skills (leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork)
6. Weak job-hunting skills
7. Negative personal characteristics (e.g., no motivation, indecisiveness, shyness)
8. Weaknesses identified in past performance appraisals
Opportunities
External, positive conditions out of your control, but you plan to leverage or add value:
1. Field trends* that create more jobs (e.g., globalization, technology)
2. Field needs your set of skills
3. Opportunities for advancement in your field
4. Location
5. Strong network
Threats
External, negative conditions out of your control, but you may be able to overcome:
1. Field trends* that diminish jobs (e.g., downsizing, obsolescence)
2. Companies are not hiring people with your major/degree
3. Competition from college graduates with your same degree
4. Competitors with superior skills, experience or knowledge
5. Competitors who attended better schools
6. Limited advancement in your field (too competitive)
7. Limited professional development in your field
8. Find hiring/employment trends in your field. Go on-line to ABI/INFORM, Business News Bank, and Lexis/Nexis.
After completing your SWOT Analysis, add the results to your Strategic Marketing Plan. Also, use your SWOT results to develop the following in your Plan:
1. Career goals
2. Marketing strategies
3. Action plan with deadlines
The Elevator Speech
The Elevator Speech is a clear, concise introduction that can be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator from the top to the bottom of a building. It can be as short as 15 seconds or as long as three minutes. Write down your Elevator Speech, and practice it so it comes naturally. Be ready to deliver it!
Use it at:
1. Networking events (including "unconventional" ones, like shopping)
2. Career fairs
3. Cold calls to employers
4. Voice-mails
5. Your current workplace, when you encounter the higher-ups
6. Job interviews when asked, "Why should I hire you?" and "Tell me about yourself"
Your Elevator Speech includes:
1. A greeting
2. Your name
3. Your industry or field
4. Accomplishments, background, qualifications and skills
5. If you are graduating soon, what school and what degree
6. What you want to do and why
7. Why you enjoy what you do or want to do
8. What interests you about the listener's company/business
9. What sets you apart from others
10. Your tag-line that you developed!
11. Your mission statement that you developed!
Finally, capture their interest and request action.
1. At a career fair: "May I have your business card, and give you my card and resume? Can you add me to your company's interview schedule?"
2. Networking: "What advice do you have for me? What employers do you suggest I contact?"
3. On a cold call: "When can we meet to discuss how I can help your company? May I send you my resume?"
Before you begin self-marketing, you need to understand:
1. What you are going to market about yourself
2. Who you are going to market yourself to
3. Why you are going to market yourself to them
This article offers some important tools to develop your career brand and understand your self-marketing plan.
Goals of Self-Marketing
1. Provide direction to help eliminate trial and error. As a result, save time and money.
2. Network with key industry players.
3. Identify your transferable skills. Marketing these skills, not just job history and accomplishments, puts you in higher demand (i.e., more interviews).
4. Determine what other industries your transferable skills fit into. The industry you are in affects the success of your career. Market yourself in growing industries (green-collar, biotechnology, nutrition, IT). Steer away from dying 5. industries (textile, printing, newspapers, steel manufacturing, etc.).
6. Resolve any setbacks that hurt your career and prevent you from getting interviews. Fix your resume so it does not portray you as "a job hopper", "lacking education", or "unable to advance at a company".
Create Your Own Mission Statement
Just as mission statements provide direction and purpose for companies, individuals can benefit from having their own personal mission statement too.
Your mission statement says what is important to you. Write yours before starting a career to get on the right path and connect with companies that have similar values and beliefs. You can revise it or write a new one at a career crossroads. Its sense of purpose is great motivation!
What to include:
1. Goals - Aspirations in life (short-term and long-term)
2. Core values - Who you are and what your priorities are
3. Successes - Professional, personal, etc.
4. Offerings - How you can make a difference for the world, your family, employer or future employers, friends and community
Integrate Assessments into Your Career Branding
Career and personality assessments reveal consistent patterns in your traits, characteristics, strengths, preferences, and skills. The assessment results may lead you in a new career direction. If you have an established career, they tell you how well your traits and branding messages align with your career path.
Present your distinctive and noteworthy traits to your targeted employers. Remember that not all recurring patterns contribute to good branding (e.g., introversion). Disregard any pattern you feel is not really you.
Incorporate the assessment results into your career branding materials: resume, cover letter, elevator speech, interview responses, portfolio, business card, etc. Convey a consistent branding message throughout all of these materials. But you can use different branding statements for different industries.
Tag! You Are "It"!
Self-marketing is not just about selling your specific skills. Everyone has skills. They get you in the door, but not necessarily get you the job. There can be 100 or more applicants per job posting, and they all have the same or better skills as you. How can you stand out as "the one"?
Develop a tag-line. A great tag-line tells people exactly what a product is and how they will benefit from using it. This is what employers want to know about you! Specifically, how you will help them make and save money. Tell them how much money you helped a previous or current employer make or save on a given project, sale, or time period.
Dear Career Journal...
Did you have a diary or journal when you were young? It helped you express feelings when no one else would listen, or when you did not want anyone else to listen! Similarly, a journal can help and guide us in our professional adult life too.
Writing in a career journal allows you to set aside time to think and learn more about yourself and your career. Just as when you were younger, using a journal allows you to express emotions (good and bad) about career progress. When you read past entries, see how far you have come!
Use your career journal to:
1. Write your personal mission statement
2. React to self-assessment tests
3. Do a SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) analysis
4. Evaluate your current situation
5. Reflect on your successes and failures
6. Devise career goal ideas (breaking into a new career, as a volunteer or consultant)
7. Think about career alternatives
8. Establish daily or weekly career-related objectives or tasks
9. Develop action plans to achieve your objectives and tasks
10. Make checklists
11. Record network contacts, job interview results, etc.
12. Develop job correspondence material (cover letters, resumes, thank you letters, etc.)
13. Practice job interview questions and answers
14. Gather salary information
15. Jot down ideas and information you like and want to use in the future
16. Record things you want or need to learn, skills to improve upon
17. Discover and explore your workplace values
18. Record your job-related likes and dislikes (and employers' likes and dislikes)
19. Note lessons learned
20. Develop ways to improve the workplace
21. Review job-search trends
22. Develop plans for achieving promotions
23. Document the career paths of your peers that you want to emulate
24. Prepare for job performance reviews
Do not keep your career journal at your workplace. Keep it at home on your computer or in a notebook. Try to set a regular time of day to work on your journal, maybe right after work. Maybe before work to get yourself motivated and focused on what you can achieve that day!
Your journal is always ready, and no matter where your career path leads you, you can continue to use it throughout your professional life.
Key Marketing Tools:
Strategic Marketing Plan - Your plan answers these questions:
1. What have I accomplished, where am I now, and where will my career be if I do not take action?
2. Where do I want to go with my career?
3. How do I get to where I want to go?
4. How do I put my plan into action?
5. What do I need to change if I am not getting success?
Market Research
Understand trends in your career field. Consult resources such as the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook. Interview industry professionals. Study the companies you would like to work for. Use this information for your cover letter, resume and job interview.
Marketing Mix
You are probably already familiar with the 4 P's of marketing, or the "marketing mix". The 4 P's are product, promotion, place, and price. Translate these in terms of you and your career for job search success.
Product
You are the product with unique characteristics, features, and skills. Expose your "product features" in your tag-line and resume. Let employers know your work experience, leadership experience, professional memberships, technical skills, education and training.
Make sure that your on-line marketing tools (i.e., Facebook or Myspace) are cleaned up and employer ready. You do not want a potential employer to see something on your personal networking sites that will land you in trouble.
Do not forget "packaging", to properly present yourself and your credentials to potential employers.
Promotion
This is your cover letter, resume, phone calls, correspondence and interviewing. Promotion tools include anything that you can use to get a job interview and ultimately get a job offer.
Be memorable by utilizing multimedia marketing like email, follow-up phone calls, or try using regular priority mail envelopes to send resumes, cover letters and other "marketing materials". This increases your career brand and distinctiveness.
Place
This includes everywhere employers can access you. How are you reaching employers or people who can connect you with employers?
1. Internet job-searching and applying to job postings
2. Cold calling
3. Networking with current and former coworkers, colleagues and alumni
4. Speaking with recruiters at staffing and employment agencies and company HR departments
5. Visiting your university career centers and alumni offices
6. Attending professional association meetings and seminars
Price
Price includes all aspects of the compensation you can receive from potential employers, as well as your strategies to get the price you want, and that the employer feels you deserve. Your price not only includes salary, but also insurance, benefits, paid time off and perks.
Call in the SWOT Team!
Performing a SWOT Analysis, used in marketing planning, is helpful to use in your career planning. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It answers:
1. What are your Strengths and Weaknesses (in your internal environment)?
2. What are Opportunities and Threats in your career field (external environment)?
Strengths
Internal, positive aspects which you can capitalize upon, such as:
1. Work experience
2. Education
3. Technical skills and knowledge (e.g., computer skills)
4. Personal characteristics (e.g., superior work ethic)
5. Strong network of contacts
6. Involvement with professional associations and organizations
7. Enjoying what you do
Weaknesses
Internal, negative aspects that you plan on improving, such as:
1. Lack of work experience
2. Inconsistent major with the job you are looking for
3. Lack of specific job knowledge
4. Weak technical knowledge
5. Weak skills (leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork)
6. Weak job-hunting skills
7. Negative personal characteristics (e.g., no motivation, indecisiveness, shyness)
8. Weaknesses identified in past performance appraisals
Opportunities
External, positive conditions out of your control, but you plan to leverage or add value:
1. Field trends* that create more jobs (e.g., globalization, technology)
2. Field needs your set of skills
3. Opportunities for advancement in your field
4. Location
5. Strong network
Threats
External, negative conditions out of your control, but you may be able to overcome:
1. Field trends* that diminish jobs (e.g., downsizing, obsolescence)
2. Companies are not hiring people with your major/degree
3. Competition from college graduates with your same degree
4. Competitors with superior skills, experience or knowledge
5. Competitors who attended better schools
6. Limited advancement in your field (too competitive)
7. Limited professional development in your field
8. Find hiring/employment trends in your field. Go on-line to ABI/INFORM, Business News Bank, and Lexis/Nexis.
After completing your SWOT Analysis, add the results to your Strategic Marketing Plan. Also, use your SWOT results to develop the following in your Plan:
1. Career goals
2. Marketing strategies
3. Action plan with deadlines
The Elevator Speech
The Elevator Speech is a clear, concise introduction that can be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator from the top to the bottom of a building. It can be as short as 15 seconds or as long as three minutes. Write down your Elevator Speech, and practice it so it comes naturally. Be ready to deliver it!
Use it at:
1. Networking events (including "unconventional" ones, like shopping)
2. Career fairs
3. Cold calls to employers
4. Voice-mails
5. Your current workplace, when you encounter the higher-ups
6. Job interviews when asked, "Why should I hire you?" and "Tell me about yourself"
Your Elevator Speech includes:
1. A greeting
2. Your name
3. Your industry or field
4. Accomplishments, background, qualifications and skills
5. If you are graduating soon, what school and what degree
6. What you want to do and why
7. Why you enjoy what you do or want to do
8. What interests you about the listener's company/business
9. What sets you apart from others
10. Your tag-line that you developed!
11. Your mission statement that you developed!
Finally, capture their interest and request action.
1. At a career fair: "May I have your business card, and give you my card and resume? Can you add me to your company's interview schedule?"
2. Networking: "What advice do you have for me? What employers do you suggest I contact?"
3. On a cold call: "When can we meet to discuss how I can help your company? May I send you my resume?"
Asking for a Raise and Salary Negotiation Techniques in a Declining Economy
To get the money you deserve, you have to ask for it and explain why you deserve it. In a bad economy, wondering "When is the best time to ask for a raise?" is sort of like asking "When is the best time to buy a house?" The answer is, "Whenever you need a house!" So if you feel you need (and deserve) a raise, now is the best time.
Reasons You May Feel Hesitant
1. You feel lucky to even have a job.
2. You worry the boss might view it as "unacceptable" or out of the question.
3. You are afraid of being rejected, demoted, or fired.
4. You feel guilty because friends and colleagues are laid off or cannot find work.
5. In general, fewer Americans are getting a raise (across all industries).
Your boss cannot fire you for asking for a raise. Under normal circumstances, it is customary to ask for a raise every 12-18 months. If you received a mediocre raise, ask your boss if you can revisit the discussion in 4-6 months.
The most opportune time to bring up a raise is after you have earned a major victory for the company or department, or whenever you are on the boss' good side. Schedule a convenient, stress-free time for your boss. If you prefer, ask them if they want to discuss it over coffee so it feels more comfortable.
Getting Ready
Any time you negotiate salary or a raise; you must be confident and be prepared. Compile a list your contributions and for each item, state its impact on the company's bottom line.
Here are some examples:
1. Goals met
2. Projects completed
3. Problems solved
4. Impact on your department or team
5. New ideas or projects generated
6. Tasks fulfilled
7. Knowledge gained
8. Expectations exceeded
9. Kudos from clients and co-workers
In your discussion, follow these guidelines:
1. Acknowledge that you understand the economy and company's financial situation.
2. Do not insinuate that your current salary or job position is a problem.
3. Never give an ultimatum or threaten to quit if you do no get a raise.
4. Do not tell them if you have a better offer from another company.
What to Expect When You're Expecting...a Raise
First and foremost, get ready to hear "No". When you know it is coming, you can respond unemotionally and state your prepared arguments. Take the initial rejection as jumping off point to start negotiation. Reiterate your best arguments and then about other possible options.
Budget can be a real issue for negotiating a higher salary or raise, especially in a tough economy. Non-cash options are a great alternative if your employer's budget cannot grant a raise or higher salary. These perks may seem less attractive than what you hoped for, but they do save you money and make life easier.
If you still come away empty handed, set up another meeting in 4-6 months or whenever the budget improves. For the mean time, define goals with your boss that you can meet to win a raise the next time.
Reasons You May Feel Hesitant
1. You feel lucky to even have a job.
2. You worry the boss might view it as "unacceptable" or out of the question.
3. You are afraid of being rejected, demoted, or fired.
4. You feel guilty because friends and colleagues are laid off or cannot find work.
5. In general, fewer Americans are getting a raise (across all industries).
Your boss cannot fire you for asking for a raise. Under normal circumstances, it is customary to ask for a raise every 12-18 months. If you received a mediocre raise, ask your boss if you can revisit the discussion in 4-6 months.
The most opportune time to bring up a raise is after you have earned a major victory for the company or department, or whenever you are on the boss' good side. Schedule a convenient, stress-free time for your boss. If you prefer, ask them if they want to discuss it over coffee so it feels more comfortable.
Getting Ready
Any time you negotiate salary or a raise; you must be confident and be prepared. Compile a list your contributions and for each item, state its impact on the company's bottom line.
Here are some examples:
1. Goals met
2. Projects completed
3. Problems solved
4. Impact on your department or team
5. New ideas or projects generated
6. Tasks fulfilled
7. Knowledge gained
8. Expectations exceeded
9. Kudos from clients and co-workers
In your discussion, follow these guidelines:
1. Acknowledge that you understand the economy and company's financial situation.
2. Do not insinuate that your current salary or job position is a problem.
3. Never give an ultimatum or threaten to quit if you do no get a raise.
4. Do not tell them if you have a better offer from another company.
What to Expect When You're Expecting...a Raise
First and foremost, get ready to hear "No". When you know it is coming, you can respond unemotionally and state your prepared arguments. Take the initial rejection as jumping off point to start negotiation. Reiterate your best arguments and then about other possible options.
Budget can be a real issue for negotiating a higher salary or raise, especially in a tough economy. Non-cash options are a great alternative if your employer's budget cannot grant a raise or higher salary. These perks may seem less attractive than what you hoped for, but they do save you money and make life easier.
If you still come away empty handed, set up another meeting in 4-6 months or whenever the budget improves. For the mean time, define goals with your boss that you can meet to win a raise the next time.
Monday, February 14, 2011
JobStickers Podcast #4: Sample Interview Closing Questions
LISTEN:
For the 4th installment of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast, we will be discussing some sample interview closing questions. You should always be asking questions at the end of an interview!
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
For the 4th installment of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast, we will be discussing some sample interview closing questions. You should always be asking questions at the end of an interview!
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
Monday, October 19, 2009
Pitfalls and places you should avoid on your job search
When job seekers are out on their own and sometimes do not think long enough before they jump into an opportunity, that might come few and far between, it can sometimes backfire and in turn hurt them emotionally and financially. These are some tips to read about some of the jobs out there that aren't worth pursuing.
1. Unpaid internships with small companies who have no brand. Unless they are partnered and can offer credit for your university, I would avoid the unpaid internships. Remember when Kramer in Seinfeld had an intern at his company Kramerica? My point exactly.
2. Buzz marketing outfits: These companies constantly need agents (who end up being gullible consumers) to receive samples & coupons to give their friends and employees. You can have people sign up through the website...they don’t get money or anything; just free stuff to give people!
3. Promotional marketing companies: the employers give out sample coupons door-to-door and earn a profit off of consumers purchasing these coupons to events, like baseball games. The catch is that the coupons aren’t affiliated with the event sponsor and thus, do not work. Avoid being a scam artist without knowing you’re a scam artist!
4. Work-at-home scams: You’ve probably seen an ad on CareerBuilder that says "$10,000 a month working part-time from your home", "Help wanted to work from home and make $1000/week" or "Internet advertising company needs people who want to earn $5000 or more a month, part-time!" Stay away from anything that’s too good to be true, because it probably is too good to be true.
5. Companies that make you pay application fees. No companies charge you to work at them, so why would you think that was a normal practice?
6. Mystery shopping scams: Some mystery shopping places are legit (see list on the Mystery Shopping Providers Association), but some will ask you to handle money on your own by using fake checks from the company in place of your own cash, only AFTER you’ve spent your own cash!
7. Companies asking for your credit card information, personal pin numbers and any extra personal information via email. You know better to not buy into this trick, so know better to not get caught up working at one of them.
8. Jobs that ask you to pay them for training at companies that aren’t certified. It’s one thing to enroll at a community college for some trade certification or rapid learning course, but it’s another to only communicate with an educational class via email and then to send them money for the paid-training and learning materials. I would research schools to see if they are a qualified online training institute such as the University of Phoenix Online among others. While U of P is good online training, beware of the others that have made a business taking advantage of internet learning. You don’t want to lose out on some hard-earned money that you desperately need.
Tip: Check out businesses at the Better Business Bureau’s website (BBB.org) or run a Google search of the company name and see if any search results yield the word “scam” or “fraud” in the context, if you are unsure about the company’s practices. Bottom line: if it’s easy, it most likely isn’t going to pay off. You need to work hard to garner success.
1. Unpaid internships with small companies who have no brand. Unless they are partnered and can offer credit for your university, I would avoid the unpaid internships. Remember when Kramer in Seinfeld had an intern at his company Kramerica? My point exactly.
2. Buzz marketing outfits: These companies constantly need agents (who end up being gullible consumers) to receive samples & coupons to give their friends and employees. You can have people sign up through the website...they don’t get money or anything; just free stuff to give people!
3. Promotional marketing companies: the employers give out sample coupons door-to-door and earn a profit off of consumers purchasing these coupons to events, like baseball games. The catch is that the coupons aren’t affiliated with the event sponsor and thus, do not work. Avoid being a scam artist without knowing you’re a scam artist!
4. Work-at-home scams: You’ve probably seen an ad on CareerBuilder that says "$10,000 a month working part-time from your home", "Help wanted to work from home and make $1000/week" or "Internet advertising company needs people who want to earn $5000 or more a month, part-time!" Stay away from anything that’s too good to be true, because it probably is too good to be true.
5. Companies that make you pay application fees. No companies charge you to work at them, so why would you think that was a normal practice?
6. Mystery shopping scams: Some mystery shopping places are legit (see list on the Mystery Shopping Providers Association), but some will ask you to handle money on your own by using fake checks from the company in place of your own cash, only AFTER you’ve spent your own cash!
7. Companies asking for your credit card information, personal pin numbers and any extra personal information via email. You know better to not buy into this trick, so know better to not get caught up working at one of them.
8. Jobs that ask you to pay them for training at companies that aren’t certified. It’s one thing to enroll at a community college for some trade certification or rapid learning course, but it’s another to only communicate with an educational class via email and then to send them money for the paid-training and learning materials. I would research schools to see if they are a qualified online training institute such as the University of Phoenix Online among others. While U of P is good online training, beware of the others that have made a business taking advantage of internet learning. You don’t want to lose out on some hard-earned money that you desperately need.
Tip: Check out businesses at the Better Business Bureau’s website (BBB.org) or run a Google search of the company name and see if any search results yield the word “scam” or “fraud” in the context, if you are unsure about the company’s practices. Bottom line: if it’s easy, it most likely isn’t going to pay off. You need to work hard to garner success.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Shh...I'm Looking For a New Job (How to search for a job while maintaining your current one)
How to search for a job while maintaining your current one
There was a period where workers actually stayed on with an employer for a long time. Long enough to earn the famous “gold watch.” Unfortunately times have changed and that is no longer an option for the majority of the workforce. Another underlying issue is for the workers that aren’t satisfied with their current employment. Maybe they don’t feel like it’s challenging enough. Maybe they don’t feel like they have potential to move up the corporate ladder. And while most of us who are collecting unemployment benefits probably don’t feel bad for those who actually have a job, we all have been in a place where we just want to get out of where we are at and move on already. Below are some steps to take that can help you create that discretion you need to be able to both maintain your current employment and also devote time to searching for a new job. Searching for a new job is a job in and of itself, but sometimes being proactive might get you where you want to be. Just make sure you do your search wisely so you don’t lose your current job!
1. Take the time to update your current role into your resume. A potential employer needs to see what you are currently doing. Make sure you change your contact information to only your personal phone number and email address, not your work information.
2. Post your resume onto the job boards using the “hide your contact information” setting and confidential feature for your profile display. You wouldn’t want your current employer stumbling upon your resume!
3. Do not list your current manager as your reference! Only use previous employer references.
4. Use your current networking database as an attribute for your new career search. Be discerning with who you speak to though about your search. When you do speak to them, make sure you let them know you are still employed and that you are just proactively seeking a new opportunity.
5. Don’t use company time to search for openings or field phone calls. Your cubicle might not be conducive for that and your boss might notice if you’re using the conference room or going to your car too much! Better yet, search classifieds and job boards after work or on weekends.
6. Schedule interviews before or after work, so you are not missing work. The potential employer will appreciate you mentioning that you cannot interview during company hours; it displays your respect for your profession and company.
7. Tell the interviewer that you wish to remain confidential and that you wish for them not to contact anyone at your current position.
8. Never bash your current employer during the interview. Enough said. Don’t do it.
9. Don’t tell your current colleagues you are searching for a new job.
10. While speaking to potential employers, make sure you promote your capability and not necessarily your availability.
11. There are various ways to self-market yourself without jeopardizing your current employment: Post your expertise on industry-specific blogs and comment boards under articles, write articles for industry publications and online sites, create your own blog and write about what you know, and speak at industry conferences on a panel of experts.
12. Finally, keep up the hard work, focus and attitude! Maintain a balance of searching for a new job and working hard at your current job!
There was a period where workers actually stayed on with an employer for a long time. Long enough to earn the famous “gold watch.” Unfortunately times have changed and that is no longer an option for the majority of the workforce. Another underlying issue is for the workers that aren’t satisfied with their current employment. Maybe they don’t feel like it’s challenging enough. Maybe they don’t feel like they have potential to move up the corporate ladder. And while most of us who are collecting unemployment benefits probably don’t feel bad for those who actually have a job, we all have been in a place where we just want to get out of where we are at and move on already. Below are some steps to take that can help you create that discretion you need to be able to both maintain your current employment and also devote time to searching for a new job. Searching for a new job is a job in and of itself, but sometimes being proactive might get you where you want to be. Just make sure you do your search wisely so you don’t lose your current job!
1. Take the time to update your current role into your resume. A potential employer needs to see what you are currently doing. Make sure you change your contact information to only your personal phone number and email address, not your work information.
2. Post your resume onto the job boards using the “hide your contact information” setting and confidential feature for your profile display. You wouldn’t want your current employer stumbling upon your resume!
3. Do not list your current manager as your reference! Only use previous employer references.
4. Use your current networking database as an attribute for your new career search. Be discerning with who you speak to though about your search. When you do speak to them, make sure you let them know you are still employed and that you are just proactively seeking a new opportunity.
5. Don’t use company time to search for openings or field phone calls. Your cubicle might not be conducive for that and your boss might notice if you’re using the conference room or going to your car too much! Better yet, search classifieds and job boards after work or on weekends.
6. Schedule interviews before or after work, so you are not missing work. The potential employer will appreciate you mentioning that you cannot interview during company hours; it displays your respect for your profession and company.
7. Tell the interviewer that you wish to remain confidential and that you wish for them not to contact anyone at your current position.
8. Never bash your current employer during the interview. Enough said. Don’t do it.
9. Don’t tell your current colleagues you are searching for a new job.
10. While speaking to potential employers, make sure you promote your capability and not necessarily your availability.
11. There are various ways to self-market yourself without jeopardizing your current employment: Post your expertise on industry-specific blogs and comment boards under articles, write articles for industry publications and online sites, create your own blog and write about what you know, and speak at industry conferences on a panel of experts.
12. Finally, keep up the hard work, focus and attitude! Maintain a balance of searching for a new job and working hard at your current job!
Should I be wary of a temporary employment agency that doesn't test my skills before matching me with positions in my presumed skill set?
Should I be wary of a temporary employment agency that doesn't test my skills before matching me with positions in my presumed skill set?
While working at a staffing company in my past, one of my duties was to find temporary contractors for short contract stints lasting anywhere from 1 night to 1 year. Sometimes the company hiring us to find these people just needed bodies to do simple small part separation from one bin into another at an automotive company. Sometimes we did have to test the potential employee in various mechanical aptitudes to see if they could fit the description given to us by the hiring company.
One thing to remember though is that the temporary employment agency has a reputation to fulfill with the client hiring them. The last thing they want is for the contractor to not work out for a simple 3 month assignment. It can become tiresome for the client having to maintain turnover and the staffing company will not only lose money from each worker not being at work but also from losing the client company as a customer.
So if they temporary employment agency is not conducting tests of your skills, I would assume it's because you do not need to be tested for the type of work they will find for you. Most of the time, your resume speaks for itself.
Trust me, if the client needs someone with a quality assurance background and you have an administrative background, they won't match you up with a quality assurance job that lasts longer than a month (MAYBE if it's a one night or one week stint). The employment agency needs to watch its turnover rates too! Even if the client just needs a body.
While working at a staffing company in my past, one of my duties was to find temporary contractors for short contract stints lasting anywhere from 1 night to 1 year. Sometimes the company hiring us to find these people just needed bodies to do simple small part separation from one bin into another at an automotive company. Sometimes we did have to test the potential employee in various mechanical aptitudes to see if they could fit the description given to us by the hiring company.
One thing to remember though is that the temporary employment agency has a reputation to fulfill with the client hiring them. The last thing they want is for the contractor to not work out for a simple 3 month assignment. It can become tiresome for the client having to maintain turnover and the staffing company will not only lose money from each worker not being at work but also from losing the client company as a customer.
So if they temporary employment agency is not conducting tests of your skills, I would assume it's because you do not need to be tested for the type of work they will find for you. Most of the time, your resume speaks for itself.
Trust me, if the client needs someone with a quality assurance background and you have an administrative background, they won't match you up with a quality assurance job that lasts longer than a month (MAYBE if it's a one night or one week stint). The employment agency needs to watch its turnover rates too! Even if the client just needs a body.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Who Do We Hire For the Future of HVAC?
The growing trend of Baby-Boomers retiring from the HVACR industry has forced many companies to scramble to find candidates to replace those seasoned service technicians and journeymen mechanics.
Without a doubt, the best way to find potential employees is through referral networks. Managers and HVACR contractors must always be on the lookout for new talent, even if they are not actively hiring. Companies that are not fishing for new talent as actively as they should will certainly feel the repercussions once their elder employees decide that golf is more enjoyable in retirement than soldering pipe is in the field.
Proactive recruiting should be at the forefront of any HVACR organization's professional agenda. Success will come to those who realize the importance of filling their employee pipeline with talent. Some candidates won't last, eaten up quickly by the competition; that makes it vital to have a stable of potentials in your pipeline at all times.
Today's job market belongs to candidates; journeymen know they can receive that bump up the union wage scale, and so are selective when looking for their employer of choice. Therefore, I always tell my hiring managers to look at the resume and move quickly when we decide to pursue an individual. Separate your company from competitors by showing candidates the advantages of working for your organization.
For example, Johnson Controls created the Service+Technical Excellence Program (S+TEP) to help groom its current mechanics and for use as a recruiting tool to entice potential employees. S+TEP is an educational training program that employees complete on their own time, with monetary incentives for each level accomplished. Candidates can also receive two certifications: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices (UA) STAR and Master Technician level achievement. The key is finding the right person to get into these programs. But how do we find those candidates?
Without a formal recruiting strategy to approach these hard-to-find candidates, a company likely will constantly stumble into the same dead ends. You always have to incorporate "out of the box" thinking if you want to successfully fill such a demanding position. One concept I find effective is advanced Internet recruitment strategies (AIRS), a headhunting technique that uses the Internet to find successful, seasoned, tradesman-level candidates that are qualified to fill the employee pipeline (Editor's Note: For more information on AIRS, visit www.airsdirectory.com).
Another trend is the growing use of technology in virtual recruiting-the majority of recruiters are online and prefer to receive Internet-based resumes more so than paper. This is a trend that is not going away any time soon; if you aren't recruiting in the "virtual" world and your competitors are, where will that leave you?
We certainly need to recruit mechanical-equipment service tradesmen (MEST) and future apprentices as well. The Catch-22 is locating a candidate that can hit the ground running, without the benefit of our having the time, money or resources to train these people. So what should we do?
The answer is simple: We have to train them and take time to build future employees up to standards so that they become a valuable company asset.
For candidates, I cannot stress enough that their employment search be viewed as a full-time job; actively submitting resumes through all mainstream, niche, and industry-specific job boards as well as company portals.
Candidates who lack Internet access and/or the computer savvy to produce an online resume should take advantage of the Internet access at public libraries; utilize resume templates such as those found at http://www.microsoft.com. Utilize such tools to your advantage, because employers are out there on the hunt.
Without a doubt, the best way to find potential employees is through referral networks. Managers and HVACR contractors must always be on the lookout for new talent, even if they are not actively hiring. Companies that are not fishing for new talent as actively as they should will certainly feel the repercussions once their elder employees decide that golf is more enjoyable in retirement than soldering pipe is in the field.
Proactive recruiting should be at the forefront of any HVACR organization's professional agenda. Success will come to those who realize the importance of filling their employee pipeline with talent. Some candidates won't last, eaten up quickly by the competition; that makes it vital to have a stable of potentials in your pipeline at all times.
Today's job market belongs to candidates; journeymen know they can receive that bump up the union wage scale, and so are selective when looking for their employer of choice. Therefore, I always tell my hiring managers to look at the resume and move quickly when we decide to pursue an individual. Separate your company from competitors by showing candidates the advantages of working for your organization.
For example, Johnson Controls created the Service+Technical Excellence Program (S+TEP) to help groom its current mechanics and for use as a recruiting tool to entice potential employees. S+TEP is an educational training program that employees complete on their own time, with monetary incentives for each level accomplished. Candidates can also receive two certifications: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices (UA) STAR and Master Technician level achievement. The key is finding the right person to get into these programs. But how do we find those candidates?
Without a formal recruiting strategy to approach these hard-to-find candidates, a company likely will constantly stumble into the same dead ends. You always have to incorporate "out of the box" thinking if you want to successfully fill such a demanding position. One concept I find effective is advanced Internet recruitment strategies (AIRS), a headhunting technique that uses the Internet to find successful, seasoned, tradesman-level candidates that are qualified to fill the employee pipeline (Editor's Note: For more information on AIRS, visit www.airsdirectory.com).
Another trend is the growing use of technology in virtual recruiting-the majority of recruiters are online and prefer to receive Internet-based resumes more so than paper. This is a trend that is not going away any time soon; if you aren't recruiting in the "virtual" world and your competitors are, where will that leave you?
We certainly need to recruit mechanical-equipment service tradesmen (MEST) and future apprentices as well. The Catch-22 is locating a candidate that can hit the ground running, without the benefit of our having the time, money or resources to train these people. So what should we do?
The answer is simple: We have to train them and take time to build future employees up to standards so that they become a valuable company asset.
For candidates, I cannot stress enough that their employment search be viewed as a full-time job; actively submitting resumes through all mainstream, niche, and industry-specific job boards as well as company portals.
Candidates who lack Internet access and/or the computer savvy to produce an online resume should take advantage of the Internet access at public libraries; utilize resume templates such as those found at http://www.microsoft.com. Utilize such tools to your advantage, because employers are out there on the hunt.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Phone Etiquette For Job Seekers
When speaking to or leaving a message for hiring managers or recruiters, it's important to follow some basic etiquette rules.
1. Always sound professional and ready to speak to the hiring manager/recruiter... but also be prepared and have a well memorized or written out message in case you need to leave a message
2. If you leave a message, always leave your name and number twice...name at beginning and end of message and number twice at end of message (repeated back to them)
3. Leave the message slowly and carefully so they can take notes without having to replay the message
4. Let them choose when to call you back by stating in the message "please give me a call at your earliest convenience."
5. If you do speak to someone, always start off with a brief intro and question the call time: "Hi this is Matt Warzel calling about the sales position advertised in the newspaper...is this an OK time to speak?"
6. If you do speak to someone, use that time to schedule a meeting in person and not to speak in further detail, unless they wish to do so
7. Best time to call is Friday afternoon after 3:30
8. Do not bug recruiters constantly because if they need someone with your skills, they will call you. They might not have an opening right away that fits your qualifications, but if they do, they will call you. (Quick non-phone related note: Only apply to the openings that fit in your realm. They do get the "jack of all trades" candidates who in actuality only fit the bill for one or two jobs at most. So be aware of your resume submissions. Follow the job posting directions and make sure you do what they tell you to do if you want to apply to their job. They implement rules for a reason)
1. Always sound professional and ready to speak to the hiring manager/recruiter... but also be prepared and have a well memorized or written out message in case you need to leave a message
2. If you leave a message, always leave your name and number twice...name at beginning and end of message and number twice at end of message (repeated back to them)
3. Leave the message slowly and carefully so they can take notes without having to replay the message
4. Let them choose when to call you back by stating in the message "please give me a call at your earliest convenience."
5. If you do speak to someone, always start off with a brief intro and question the call time: "Hi this is Matt Warzel calling about the sales position advertised in the newspaper...is this an OK time to speak?"
6. If you do speak to someone, use that time to schedule a meeting in person and not to speak in further detail, unless they wish to do so
7. Best time to call is Friday afternoon after 3:30
8. Do not bug recruiters constantly because if they need someone with your skills, they will call you. They might not have an opening right away that fits your qualifications, but if they do, they will call you. (Quick non-phone related note: Only apply to the openings that fit in your realm. They do get the "jack of all trades" candidates who in actuality only fit the bill for one or two jobs at most. So be aware of your resume submissions. Follow the job posting directions and make sure you do what they tell you to do if you want to apply to their job. They implement rules for a reason)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Career Fair Techniques
There are some techniques to utilize at a career fair. It's not supposed to be about long lines and bad parking. You need to do as much as you can to not waste your time, nor the time of the companies in attendance.
o Dress professionally always! It does not matter the type of career fair.
o Bring copious amounts of resumes. Better to have more than less.
o Bring a nice binder to store resumes and include a notepad and pen to take notes or further directions from employers.
o Go early if possible because you can avoid the rush!
o Have your elevator pitch ready. This is a pitch that summarizes your experience, abilities, objectives, and the assets you can provide to the company in less than 2 minutes. There are typically hundreds of job seekers that companies are engaging with, and they hate to waste time speaking with one candidate for a lengthy period of time, even if it’s someone they are looking for. Make sure you practice this pitch until you are comfortable using it, but make sure it does not sound programmed or too basic.
o Visit the inferior targeted companies first, so you can practice your elevator speech prior to visiting the top priority companies on your list.
o Make eye contact, shake hands firmly and create that good first impression with an employer.
o Always maintain professionalism. Employers notice everything!
o Do not wait in long lines, but rather spend that time networking with other job seekers or employers (even if those employers weren’t on your target list; there may be companies not within your industry that are hiring your profession). Network! Network! Network! Talk to both employers and other job seekers. You never know who might be able to help you find a job!
o Be prepared to answer multiple questions in a short time with each employer. Act as if they are an interview in and of it-self.
o Only ask questions about the job. Wait until after the interview to find out about the company. This time is for you to find out what the hiring managers are looking for now and down the road.
o Keep the conversation flowing. Have a mental list of questions prepared that are engaging and smart. Also, when given the opportunity, try to relate your skills and experience to the company or openings at the company.
o Always request business cards or at least write down contact information so you can follow up with a thank you and pursue any leads.
o Career fair follow-up: Keep yourself fresh in the mind of the decision makers. You must send a follow-up or thank you letter within a few days. Always refer to the specifics of the job fair and try to mention any part of the conversation that stood out to make it easy for them to remember you. Also, include your resume.
o Dress professionally always! It does not matter the type of career fair.
o Bring copious amounts of resumes. Better to have more than less.
o Bring a nice binder to store resumes and include a notepad and pen to take notes or further directions from employers.
o Go early if possible because you can avoid the rush!
o Have your elevator pitch ready. This is a pitch that summarizes your experience, abilities, objectives, and the assets you can provide to the company in less than 2 minutes. There are typically hundreds of job seekers that companies are engaging with, and they hate to waste time speaking with one candidate for a lengthy period of time, even if it’s someone they are looking for. Make sure you practice this pitch until you are comfortable using it, but make sure it does not sound programmed or too basic.
o Visit the inferior targeted companies first, so you can practice your elevator speech prior to visiting the top priority companies on your list.
o Make eye contact, shake hands firmly and create that good first impression with an employer.
o Always maintain professionalism. Employers notice everything!
o Do not wait in long lines, but rather spend that time networking with other job seekers or employers (even if those employers weren’t on your target list; there may be companies not within your industry that are hiring your profession). Network! Network! Network! Talk to both employers and other job seekers. You never know who might be able to help you find a job!
o Be prepared to answer multiple questions in a short time with each employer. Act as if they are an interview in and of it-self.
o Only ask questions about the job. Wait until after the interview to find out about the company. This time is for you to find out what the hiring managers are looking for now and down the road.
o Keep the conversation flowing. Have a mental list of questions prepared that are engaging and smart. Also, when given the opportunity, try to relate your skills and experience to the company or openings at the company.
o Always request business cards or at least write down contact information so you can follow up with a thank you and pursue any leads.
o Career fair follow-up: Keep yourself fresh in the mind of the decision makers. You must send a follow-up or thank you letter within a few days. Always refer to the specifics of the job fair and try to mention any part of the conversation that stood out to make it easy for them to remember you. Also, include your resume.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Here are some sample closing questions to ask a company before the end of your interview.
Here are some sample closing questions to ask a company before the end of your interview.
You always want to make sure you research a company prior to attending an interview, so you can be as educated as possible. Remember, your competition is doing this legwork. On top of finishing with verbage relating to the company, industry and specific job you are interviewing for, you want to add some of these below questions in the mix to make you that much more effective. Nothing is worse than having no questions at all.
o Is there any other information you need from me regarding my application?
o Do you have any hesitations about me for this position?
o How do I compare to my competition?
o Is there any reason why I would not be an asset in the job I am interviewing for?
o I want to work for your company; can you see any reason how I might not fit into your corporate culture?
o Is there anything hindering me from moving forward in the interview process?
o Where do I go from here? Can you tell me about the rest of the interviewing process?
o Do you know when I might hear correspondence regarding the next step?
o Is there any reason why we can’t set up the next interview now?
You always want to make sure you research a company prior to attending an interview, so you can be as educated as possible. Remember, your competition is doing this legwork. On top of finishing with verbage relating to the company, industry and specific job you are interviewing for, you want to add some of these below questions in the mix to make you that much more effective. Nothing is worse than having no questions at all.
o Is there any other information you need from me regarding my application?
o Do you have any hesitations about me for this position?
o How do I compare to my competition?
o Is there any reason why I would not be an asset in the job I am interviewing for?
o I want to work for your company; can you see any reason how I might not fit into your corporate culture?
o Is there anything hindering me from moving forward in the interview process?
o Where do I go from here? Can you tell me about the rest of the interviewing process?
o Do you know when I might hear correspondence regarding the next step?
o Is there any reason why we can’t set up the next interview now?
Unusual Job Hunting Techniques
Can you add more? Comment on this blog with any unusual techniques you've heard, seen or read about...
---people who stand on corners with signs, dressed up in suits...signs say "recently laid-off executive...will work for 401k" or whatever, unusual job hunting tactics -- just worked for a guy in the UK financial district
---people wearing "PLEASE HIRE ME" shirts to job interviews
---guy who bought a billboard saying he was looking for a job - hire him! --- it said "RESULTS DRIVEN SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER visit Mark4Hire.com"
---another lady kept bringing in breakfast every morning to a company until they hired her
---putting resumes on people's car windshields...it worked for one guy!!
---people who stand on corners with signs, dressed up in suits...signs say "recently laid-off executive...will work for 401k" or whatever, unusual job hunting tactics -- just worked for a guy in the UK financial district
---people wearing "PLEASE HIRE ME" shirts to job interviews
---guy who bought a billboard saying he was looking for a job - hire him! --- it said "RESULTS DRIVEN SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER visit Mark4Hire.com"
---another lady kept bringing in breakfast every morning to a company until they hired her
---putting resumes on people's car windshields...it worked for one guy!!
Quick Internet tips to help find a job
When a job seeker says "I don't have Internet access or I'm not Internet savvy," it cannot be an excuse in this competitive environment the job market has become. Here are some quick thoughts:
- Sorry, but faxing doesn't cut it anymore
- Get email account for FREE at Yahoo, Hotmail or Google
- Go to a friend's house with Internet or to your local library because THEY HAVE INTERNET!
- Enroll in a free or sometimes VERY cheap, local "Learn How to Use Internet" classes at Library or community colleges, high schools, etc. - sign up for a $25/class to learn basics of internet terms, navigation, etc. Even Microsoft Word to develop your resume and cover letter
- Post your resume onto general and niche specific job boards as well as company portals. Almost all companies post their job openings on their website...so go to a company website, find the CAREERS section and enter that career section (called a portal)...sometimes you can even setup an account before applying to a job, post your resume onto that company career account and setup keyword alerts....thus, if you're a mechanical engineer and they post a job a month later for an mechanical engineer, the company will let you know via this alert to your email, which will allow for you to apply as soon as it's posted...this can allow for you to be on top of the application list too for recruiters, because sometimes recruiters at companies will only look at the top 100 applicants as opposed to all 1000 candidates who applied (and being one of the 1st to apply, can make you higher on that list, thus in the top 100)
- Setup Google news and Yahoo news alerts for the word "'relocating' or 'relocation' and the job seeker's city or near-city's name" to find companies who are relocating to the job seeker's area; "expansion" and "growth" to identify growth companies and emerging opportunities for you to seek out hiring decision makers and recruiters at those companies
- Review leading online and published newspapers like Forbes and Wall St. Journal to keep up on those growth industries (as well as your local paper)
- DON'T BE INTIMIDATED OR ASHAMED! YOU WANT/NEED TO LEARN! YOU ARE BETTERING YOURSELF! THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP FORWARD! IF YOU AREN'T DOING IT, YOUR COMPETITION IS!
- Finally (non-Internet related), try to place yourself into growth industries (biotech, nutrition, energy & renewable energies, photonics, and IT) that you can fit into in respect to your transferable skills as opposed to dying industries (textile, printing, apparel manufacturing & general manufacturing such as steel, and airlines)
- Sorry, but faxing doesn't cut it anymore
- Get email account for FREE at Yahoo, Hotmail or Google
- Go to a friend's house with Internet or to your local library because THEY HAVE INTERNET!
- Enroll in a free or sometimes VERY cheap, local "Learn How to Use Internet" classes at Library or community colleges, high schools, etc. - sign up for a $25/class to learn basics of internet terms, navigation, etc. Even Microsoft Word to develop your resume and cover letter
- Post your resume onto general and niche specific job boards as well as company portals. Almost all companies post their job openings on their website...so go to a company website, find the CAREERS section and enter that career section (called a portal)...sometimes you can even setup an account before applying to a job, post your resume onto that company career account and setup keyword alerts....thus, if you're a mechanical engineer and they post a job a month later for an mechanical engineer, the company will let you know via this alert to your email, which will allow for you to apply as soon as it's posted...this can allow for you to be on top of the application list too for recruiters, because sometimes recruiters at companies will only look at the top 100 applicants as opposed to all 1000 candidates who applied (and being one of the 1st to apply, can make you higher on that list, thus in the top 100)
- Setup Google news and Yahoo news alerts for the word "'relocating' or 'relocation' and the job seeker's city or near-city's name" to find companies who are relocating to the job seeker's area; "expansion" and "growth" to identify growth companies and emerging opportunities for you to seek out hiring decision makers and recruiters at those companies
- Review leading online and published newspapers like Forbes and Wall St. Journal to keep up on those growth industries (as well as your local paper)
- DON'T BE INTIMIDATED OR ASHAMED! YOU WANT/NEED TO LEARN! YOU ARE BETTERING YOURSELF! THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP FORWARD! IF YOU AREN'T DOING IT, YOUR COMPETITION IS!
- Finally (non-Internet related), try to place yourself into growth industries (biotech, nutrition, energy & renewable energies, photonics, and IT) that you can fit into in respect to your transferable skills as opposed to dying industries (textile, printing, apparel manufacturing & general manufacturing such as steel, and airlines)
What to do immediately following a lay-off
Unemployment advice – general basic advice to get started week 1
o File for unemployment…immediately
o Find out about your qualifications for Cobra from your previous employer and ensure you contact the right people to enroll you into Cobra health insurance
o Life insurance – see if you can roll over your life insurance from your company into your own account
o Take care of your company investments such as stock options and the 401k program – find out from your financial house at the company, such as Fidelity
o Take a small couple days to a week break…clear your mindset of what was and what needs to be…reflect on your immediate thoughts…and get a home office together to use while you’re looking for work --- you need to be organized and ready to make looking for a new job, your new job
o Talk to people who have job titles you think you would like to do
o Contact friends, family, old colleagues and bosses and let them know what happened and see if there’s potential there for another job; even if not, it can be very therapeutic
o Get your budget together with what income/savings/investments you have vs. expenses
o Get your resume & cover letter up to date
o Get your resume up to date and post to general and niche industry specific web boards, setup job alerts, join social networking sites, local community networking events, local career fairs, and send resume/cover letter to recruiting/staffing/temp agencies as well as job listings online
o Take initiative to make looking for a job an 8 hour work day in itself…finding a job is a job!
o Look into cutting some bills you might not need anymore, like HBO cable TV and the ultra high speed internet package...try basic cable and regular high speed internet
o File for unemployment…immediately
o Find out about your qualifications for Cobra from your previous employer and ensure you contact the right people to enroll you into Cobra health insurance
o Life insurance – see if you can roll over your life insurance from your company into your own account
o Take care of your company investments such as stock options and the 401k program – find out from your financial house at the company, such as Fidelity
o Take a small couple days to a week break…clear your mindset of what was and what needs to be…reflect on your immediate thoughts…and get a home office together to use while you’re looking for work --- you need to be organized and ready to make looking for a new job, your new job
o Talk to people who have job titles you think you would like to do
o Contact friends, family, old colleagues and bosses and let them know what happened and see if there’s potential there for another job; even if not, it can be very therapeutic
o Get your budget together with what income/savings/investments you have vs. expenses
o Get your resume & cover letter up to date
o Get your resume up to date and post to general and niche industry specific web boards, setup job alerts, join social networking sites, local community networking events, local career fairs, and send resume/cover letter to recruiting/staffing/temp agencies as well as job listings online
o Take initiative to make looking for a job an 8 hour work day in itself…finding a job is a job!
o Look into cutting some bills you might not need anymore, like HBO cable TV and the ultra high speed internet package...try basic cable and regular high speed internet
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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