Check out the Casual Workforce Interview...plenty of good job search techniques discussed!

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How I Use the Oversaturated Internet to Find Career Opportunities

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.

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Subscribe to the MJW Careers' Jobstickers Podcast on iTunes

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JobStickers Podcast #8: How to Search for a Job While You're Still Employed

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The 8th MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast series will be focused on those job-seekers that currently have a job, but are proactively seeking new employment. It is important that you conduct your job search in a manner that will not affect your current role, but can also allot enough time and strategy to effectively seek new employment.

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

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!

Surefire Resume Killers That Will Murder Your Career

As a former human resources recruiter with over 10 years experience, I would commonly go through hundreds of resumes for any one particular position. And while it became tedious to sift through the same inadequate pieces of paper over and over, there was always a diamond in the rough.

A resume that stands out can create a sense of urgency for a recruiter to present it to the hiring manager without even calling the candidate first. Of course, that isn't the reality, because we do have to pause and track down the one with the "golden eggsume." Recruiters investigate all candidates to see if they really do match up with the opening.

Now you're asking, "what did that person have on his or her resume to make them stand out?" Simple... they can do the job and the resume reflects that. As much as I would like to just spend time on top candidates, I still want to help the rest of the fold, should they ask why they didn't get chosen. With that, I give you five surefire resume killers that can become deal breakers, in no particular order.

Get Rid of the Fluff - People tend to use too many adjectives (i.e., "fast learner", "hard working") when describing themselves or their experience. Do not be one of those people! Anyone can say they are a "team player". These descriptions are subjective and cannot be proven. We also don't need to know how you helped Bill get to work for a week when his van broke down.

It Isn't a Novel - You do not need to write a paragraph for each job description. I once had a candidate send me a summary of his work experience, as opposed to a nicely formatted section including employment dates, employer, location and title. My hiring manager told me it had to be cleaned up before he would even review it, so I passed the memo along to the candidate and apparently he was too lazy (or offended) to make any edits. Even though he was a fit for our opening, it was on to the next candidate!

Lack of Depth - Write tangible descriptions relating to your skills and duties. Provide numbers or results you produced and quantify the statement with that information. Anything is better than broad statements. They are annoying and a major turn-off for HR people and managers. Data and numbers showcasing your ability to impact the bottom line is what they want to see. So find out how you were able to increase revenue or decrease expenditures for your previous employers and make it known on your resume.

One Title, One Resume - Tailor your resume to the job you are attempting to land and market yourself specifically for this job. Hiring managers are focused on what they need and expect your resume to be geared towards that need. If you are interested in multiple job titles, create multiple versions of your resume. Make sure they are based on the company's job descriptions/titles you apply to and tailor them towards those openings.

Not Enough Buzzwords - Use words from the job posting to customize your resume each time you send it out. If the job posting says "project management," use that same term in your resume as it relates to your experience. Most recruiters are not experts on every single facet of every single opening, so they constantly are seeking out information from actual candidates to further their knowledge about the openings. With that said, try to help them out and put buzzwords onto your resume so they can see that you actually have comparable skills to that job posting. Plus, when recruiters search databases to find your resumes, most of the time they use those same buzzwords.

A superior resume displays your marketable or transferable skills and experience and "pre-sells" you. Not to only gain an interview, but make it so that when you walk in, the interviewer's reaction is: "I've read your resume, and I'm really looking forward to meeting with you." A superior resume puts you ahead of the ever-increasing competition, so you can be confident that you get noticed over the hundreds of other people applying.

JobStickers Podcast #7: Phone Etiquette for Job Seekers

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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

JobStickers Podcast #6: Unusual Job Hunting Techniques with Guest Career Expert Mary Sevinsky

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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

JobStickers Podcast #5: Career Fair Techniques

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The 5th of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast series will be focused on career fair techniques. Career fairs are 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.

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

JobStickers Podcast #4: Sample Interview Closing Questions

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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

Salary Negotiations: The Initial Offer and Your Response

When negotiating salary or other benefit, you are also negotiating the foundation of a relationship, so you want to get off on the right foot. You and the employer must come to an agreement that you both feel is fair.

If you have multiple job offers, you can sharpen your negotiation skills. Practice with a company you are indifferent about working for. If you are feeling confident, try for the company with the best offer. Remember, if they are negotiating, then you are the leading candidate. Use this power to your advantage.

The following are the best steps to take when negotiation begins:
1. Do not negotiate until you have an offer in writing. Let the employer go first with the offer. However, if they ask you first, tell them your salary range (that you determined with the Considerations in this handout).
2. Restate their offer, and then process it. Keep an honest yet non-emotional response (including body language) based on your research.
3. If it is less than you expect, indicate that it is lower than you expected per your research. Be prepared to verify the sources of your research.
4. Counteroffer with your research-based response and desired range. Remain objective, optimistic, and polite.
5. Never accept an offer right then and there. Ask when they need to know your decision. A respectable company does not ask you to respond immediately.

Their Response and Your Arguments
They may have to consult with the company and get back to you. Rarely do they withdraw an offer because of a counteroffer, but they may if the company is reorganizing or downsizing. Hopefully the employer returns with a satisfying offer. Otherwise, they state their objection and the offer that stands.

Numbers always work in salary negotiation just as they do in your resume. Never give subjective or emotion-based arguments like, “My co-workers really like me” or “I deserve it”. Give undeniable business-related numbers such as, “I increased annual sales by $25,000” or “As vice president, I’ve reduced my department’s employee turnover by 40%”.

Handling Common Salary and Raise Objections
You may hear the following objections. Here are some methods for overcoming these:

Their Objection and Your Response
1. "That’s not within our budget for the job."
-or-
“That’s all we have allocated for the job.”
• Communicate your value to the employer.
• Convince them to revise the budget allocation for the position.
• Point out that the amount is below market value, using your researched range (not an exact amount).
• Show your interest in the job, but mention that you cannot justify accepting less than the market value.

2. "Other employees with similar qualifications and experience aren't paid that much."
-or-
“You’d be earning more than others in this type of position.”
-or-
“No one else has received a raise, so why do you think you should?”
• Persuade them that you should earn more because you are worth more. Give specific examples to support your argument (e.g., more advanced degree or more experience than others).
• Suggest that they give you a different job title so you fall into a higher salary bracket. Offer to take on additional responsibilities to offset the higher salary. Usually big companies are not quick to blur job titles and salary levels. But smaller companies not using formal pay-grades may be more flexible to this.

3. "Your salary history does not justify such an increase."
-or-
“That’s a lot more than your last salary.”
• Stress that you expect to be compensated for the value of your work and what you plan to achieve within the organization. Help the employer realize that previous salaries are unrelated to this job. Try using these responses in terms of your situation:
• “Yes, I earned less at my last job. However, I held that position for 3 years and the experience I’ve gained certainly warrants an increase.”
• “What I’m paid is below market rate. That’s one reason I’m looking for a new job. Because of my skills and recent degree, I don’t want to accept anything less than market value for a new job.”

4. “You haven’t been working for a while.”
• Do not let them assume you are willing to work for less, need retraining or are desperate for a job. Let them know that you offer as much as those with current experience.
• Stress that your endeavors away from work (training, education, volunteer work, personal projects) enhanced you as an employee.
• Accept a lower salary and request a performance review in 6 months. Ask for a guarantee that if you meet your goals, they will increase you to the market value.

5. “I’m sorry, but it’s our policy not to negotiate.”
• Look into whether this is true about the company. If it is true, you may have no choice. If might not be true, say, “I understand you don’t normally negotiate salary. But I am an exception, because…”
• Negotiate for better non-cash benefits.

Final Offer
Know when to quit. If you sense the employer getting frustrated with your proposals or states that this is all they can do for you, stop and evaluate the existing offer. Do not give the impression that you are impatient or greedy. You may annoy the employer if you push beyond their limits, and they may withdraw offer.

When they come back to you with their final offer, be ready to evaluate and decide to accept or decline. Once an offer and package is agreed upon verbally, always make sure they are going to mail it to you in a signed, written document (an “offer of employment” letter).

Other Negotiables
Salary is not the only area to negotiate. If the employer rejects your desired salary or in certain jobs, industries or companies where salary is non-negotiable, you still have other options. These other options may be more important to you and might be negotiable.

To better prepare and negotiate, you may want to ask their HR department for information about benefits and options available. These can include:

• Bonuses (performance-based)
• Performance reviews (including timing and percentage)
• Health, dental, life and disability insurance
• Retirement or pension plans
• Vacation and sick days
• Work-from-home days
• Tuition reimbursement
• Overtime policies
• Profit sharing plans
• Stock options
• Employee discounts
• Company car and expense accounts (like commuter expenses)
• Relocation/moving expenses
• Termination contract
• Professional association or gym memberships
• Certifications
• Childcare
• Sign-on bonus

Tell the Company, “Show me the money!”

Salary Negotiations Overview
Many job seekers leave the salary verdict up to employers, assuming that they cannot negotiate their compensation. While some employers do not encourage negotiation, there are others who are willing to be flexible, for the right candidate!

Reasons to negotiate salary:
• Your education, experience and skills are worth more than the offered amount
• The pay range for the position is less than the industry average
• The area’s cost of living is higher and the salary offered does not coincide
• You have received multiple offers with similar salary amounts and benefits

Considerations
You must determine a desired salary range. This gives you more flexibility during negotiation. Most employers already know their range for the position, so you want to aim for the high end.

Consider the following to determine if your desired salary range is reasonable:
• Scarcity of the required job skills and experience in the job market
• Your career progress and experience
• Fair market value for the job
• Level of the job within the organization
• Salary range for the job within the organization
• Salary range for the job within the geographic area
• Salary range for the job within the industry
• Existing economic conditions within your job market
• Existing economic conditions within your industry
• Company-specific factors such as comparable jobs, culture, pay philosophy, and promotion practices

Research the going market rate for someone with your skills and the type of position for which you are applying. When you know you are making less than your industry peers, you have more ammunition to ask for a higher salary or a raise. Check out these and similar websites:

• Jobnob.com
• Salary.com
• SalaryExpert.com
• SalesHeads.com (log in and go to Career Resources>Salary Calculator)
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm

To determine your minimum required salary, also take into consideration your expenses, cost of living, saving needs, etc. Once you establish this baseline number, you know the lowest point in your expected (and desired) salary range.

Also, think of a salary range that seems unattainable to you. When you negotiate, fight as if you were fighting for that amount! It causes you to want it more.

Increasing Your Perceived Worth
By increasing your perceived worth, you gain a powerful position at the negotiation table. Here are some ways to do this:
• Present yourself in a positive manner as the "must have" candidate. They are more interested in a long-term asset, not just the right person for the job.
o Make everything flawless (your resume, interview responses, and dress style).
o Speak confidently about your accomplishments.
o Express your goals.
o Show that you fit in the company's culture.
• Show that your work value is better than what they realize. Speak in terms of the whole company. Instead of “I can provide good customer service”, explain how “I can retain valued customers and stimulate business activity”.
• Convince that you have more to offer the position and the organization. Establish how your unique skills, experience, and understanding of the company's needs, make you more qualified than other candidates.
• Validate your skills while objectively negotiating the offer. Throughout the actual negotiation period, listen and politely assert the value you have presented.