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Posts Tagged ‘interview’

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Showing You Have Done Your Homework

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Job hunting tips always include the one that says you should do your homework about the company prior to an interview. So many of us do but when we get in the interview, it seems to be completely focused on us and our past that we never seem to get the chance to show we have researched the company. It is very important to find the opportunity to show that you have indeed done the research about the firm you are interviewing with.

When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, start with “I’ve noticed from my research that your firm…” Another opportunity is if the interviewer asks why you want to work for this company. You can name some of the philanthropic things the company has done, their policies, their achievements or anything else that you have learned about them. When asked the question “Why should we choose you over another applicant?” mention how your skills or beliefs fit something specific about the company. If all else fails, when leaving thank the interviewer and say what an honor it was to be interviewed at a company that has…

Take note of these subtle ways of showing your knowledge of the firm you are being interviewed for and you’ll be well on your way to impressing the recruiters.

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If You Write It, Make Sure It’s Right

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Every single thing that you write in your job search will become an important and tangible document that will be used by potential employers for everything from a first impression to whether or not to hire you. Often interviews depend solely on the resume and cover letter or other type of application. The final decision between you and another candidate may come down whichever was the one who took the time to write a thank-you note to the interviewer. Everything you write carries importance and you need to remember that, so you can act accordingly.

For that reason it is critical for you to make sure that every written work the potential employer sees from you is professional, neat, grammatically correct and without typos and spelling errors. You must carefully proof read absolutely everything from your resume and cover letter to emails and thank you notes. In addition to proof reading your own writing, it is also recommended that you ask another person to read it for clarity and errors. This will ensure that you make the very best impression you can with your written word.

Your written word is often the first impression a company has of you and the last thing they receive from you prior to deciding whether or not to hire you. By putting in the required effort you can be sure that the company is seeing your best work and the personification of many of your work-related traits.

Reviews of the top resume writers

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The First Impression at a Job Interview

Monday, May 4th, 2009

First impressions are formed within 7 to 30 seconds of meeting someone, according to various statistics, and these impressions tend to be lasting ones. Making the absolute best first impression is all about how you look and smell, body language, eye contact and the very first words out of your mouth. For the sake of the first impression, you need to go into an interview looking your all-out best, your confidence at an all-time high and with lots of planning to help you along.

Here are some interview tips to help you score a great first impression.

-    Wear your best interview clothes and prepare them in advance. Send them to the cleaners if you need to, or at least press them and inspect them for loose threads, buttons and hems before getting dressed.
-    Shine your shoes.
-    Make sure accessories match.
-    If you smoke, do not do so on the way to an interview. The odor will linger.
-    If you drive a lemon that has an unpleasant odor to it, use another form of transportation to get to the interview. You want to arrive smelling clean.
-    Men should be clean shaven.
-    Women should wear at least a minimum of makeup such as foundation and lipstick, even if you never wear makeup.
-    Remove all piercings, except for earrings for women.
-    Don’t slump.
-    Stand tall, hold your head high, make eye contact and smile when you get to the interview site.
-    Be the first to offer a hand for a handshake and remember to do so firmly.
-    Prepare the first words you will say. Since the interviewer will already know your name, a great place to start is to thank him or her for the opportunity to meet and discuss the opening you are being considered for. You may also want to mention something about the company that has impressed you.

Lots of time and forethought goes into making that first impression. Practice with someone you trust and you will be ready to wow potential employers in no time.

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Choosing a Resume Distribution Service

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The internet has created many new opportunities for people who are searching for jobs. Internet job boards such as Monster.com and others allow employers to list their jobs online allowing applicants to apply for the job in one easy step. While job boards are very useful, they do have one major drawback—they draw a lot of applicants. That means competition that makes it harder to obtain the job you want.

There are other options. In recent years, resume distribution service companies began offering their services to job hunters around the world. For a fee, these businesses will distribute your resume to job boards and company recruiters by e-mail or fax. They can target your industry in most cases making the chances even higher that you will get an interview.

Some resume distribution services offer their services for free, while others charge a fee. The fees range from $39 all the way up to $89. They will all distribute your resume to recruiters using various methods of delivery. Certain industries can be targeted for a higher fee.

Before you engage the services of one of these resume distribution companies, it would be wise to consult with them by phone first if possible. Before you sign up with any company, make sure you find out what they do with your personal information. In other words, how hard is it to you remove your resume from their site if you decide that action is necessary? Find out how they get the information about job openings. Do they send your resume to recruiters that have known job openings? Do they get their leads off job boards such as Monster.com? Will they be targeting your specific industry? Will they send your resume out by blast fax where hundreds or even thousands of companies will receive your resume?

Here are a few resume distribution services that I like:

•    ResumeSpider.com—this company has been in the resume distribution service since 1999. According to this company’s website, their methods are more effective because they create a targeted distribution network for you. All recruiters that receive your resume are subscribers to the service. They connect job seekers with companies in a similar way that mainstream dating websites help people find a spouse. Their proactive approach will save you weeks or months of your own time in creating a desired list of employers and recruiters. Their prices start at $39.95 for the standard package, and you can save 10% by using the promo code 961326.

•    myResumeAgent—website has a lot of useful information about job searches and resume writing. The distribution service allows you to instantly send your resume, connect with recruiters, and get more interviews for $47.95. One nice thing about this company is that they allow you to customize your e-mail before it is sent. You can also make your personal information confidential to avoid privacy problems.

•    Gadball—this company offers free distribution to sites that you choose. If you have to make changes to your resume, they are instantly sent out to the job boards. You retain complete control over your resume.

Resume distribution services will never replace good old-fashioned job searching methods. You still need to network with other people and send your resumes for job openings that you hear about.

Read customer reviews of the top resume distribution companies.

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The Art of the Thank You Letter

Monday, April 27th, 2009

In today’s economy, competition for jobs is more intense than ever, therefore anything and everything you can do to set yourself apart from other applicants is in your favor. The thank you letter is the perfect complement to the interview you have been granted. It is not only polite to thank the interviewer for his time and the opportunity, but doing so will make you stand out from those who neglect this step.

Impressing with a thank you letter does require a little time and thought. Keep these things in mind.
-    Do it immediately following the interview and mail it the same day.
-    Never email or text a thank you.
-    Print the letter on nice stationary.
-    Send one to each person who interviewed you. Remember to ask for their business card during the interview so you have the correct contact information and most importantly the correct spelling of their name.
-    Include a thank you for the time the person spent with you, any information you didn’t think to mention during the interview, something that impressed you about the company and how you can be an asset to it.
-    Remember to close with your desire to join the company and your contact information.
-    If you haven’t already provided it, attach a list of 3 references with contact information.

Use the thank you letter to your advantage by showing how prompt you are, that you follow through and that you have excellent social skills. The perfectly timed and articulated thank you letter may be the tie-breaker between you and other candidates.

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