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Job Hunting? Don’t Forget to Follow-Up!

February 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Great job! You submitted the application, you got the callback, and you had the interview. Now you just have to wait for a call, right? Wrong! You’re not done yet. You have one more crucial step before sitting back and waiting to hear from a potential employer. Don’t forget to follow-up!

Though hand written notes used to be commonplace, emails have taken their place. Not only is it essential to write a thank you note to your interviewer, you should also include a note to the recruiter and/or the HR representative you worked with before going to the interview, if applicable. And just a note of thanks is not enough. Many candidates will write and send a quick note of thanks to their interviewer. This is great, but to really set yourself apart, consider including a few other elements. Make reference to the conversation that took place in the interview. Relate elements of the questioning to your skills and experience that may not have come up when you were in front of the panel. And if possible, even include links to relevant information or articles that pertain to the topics of discussion. And most important, thank them for their time and indicate that you look forward to hearing from them.

Follow-up after a job interview is essential. Letting a hiring manager know you appreciate their time will keep you in the forefront of their mind when they consider candidates. But do more than thank them! Highlight elements of the interview that went especially well and make reference to items that may not have been covered in the interview. Keep it brief, but make an impact with a follow-up email.

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Using Social Networking Sites in Your Job Search

February 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It seems like everyone has a Facebook profile, a My Space page, or a Twitter account these days. Most people use these solely for social contact and networking, to keep in touch with friends, family and former colleagues. There are ways to take advantage of these sites when you’re job hunting. Since many jobs, some reports say up to 70%, are found through networking, using some of these social networking sites to find a job makes perfect sense. Social networking sites can be an effective part of your job search.

Your Profile

Many companies and corporate recruiters will search professional networking sites looking for candidates for positions they have open. Having a complete profile is important; it can be one of the ways employers find you. Use keywords and related information in your profile. Have a real and professional looking photo of you, not a cartoon character, for your profile picture. Post links to your blog or a website that contains samples of your work so companies and recruiters can quickly see what you’re about and what your skills are. Make sure your profile is clean and looks professional. Even though you may use it primarily for a social tool, making it appealing to prospective employers can pay off when they find you and your profile. It’s also important to have a complete profile before you start to do any searches or contact/follow anyone.

Contact People

Searching and finding other people is the whole purpose of these networking sites. You can use them to find other people from companies you are interested in working for using the search tools. You can also search for corporate groups and pages that are in your field. You can join groups related to your career and look through the members and people and contact them. This is where the value of these networking sites comes in. These groups will connect you with others in your field that you can network with. You can meet people you have never had access to before, and knowing more people increases your chances of finding a job.

Other Tips

Use your friends! Write postings that indicate you’re looking for a job and in what field. Chances are someone knows someone who can introduce you or refer you or recommend you. You might even know someone who knows of available positions that they can give you the information on.

Check the job boards on the sites. Most of these networking sites have job search boards or marketplace information where job postings and information can be found. Check it regularly for anything new that might fit what you’re looking for.

Don’t join more networking sites than you can keep up with. And don’t spend all of your time on these sites; remember to keep some time for job hunting the old fashioned way. Use the social networking sites to your advantage. After all, it’s not what you know it’s who you know!

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Elements of an Effective Resume

January 20, 2010 By 1 Comment

Writing a resume can be a daunting task, but it’s an absolute necessity when job searching. A resume shows employers your work history, skills and experience. Here are a few elements to include that can help ease the resume writing process.

First, break down the information into sections. To start, you need a section for your name and personal contact information, one for your work experience, and one for your education. You can also add sections for technical experience, club and association membership, certifications, etc. Design your resume to fit your background. The second most important tip is to use bullets. Do not try to fit all of your information into long, descriptive paragraphs. Keep the information brief and include only pertinent information that describes your work experience and skills. Make sure you put the most important information first, and put an emphasis on your achievements instead of your responsibilities. Also, where you can, quantify the information. For example try to include information such as: how many people did you support, how much money did you save, how many pieces of product did you ship? Use numbers to back up your information. And the most important part of writing your resume is proofreading. Do it at least twice, ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors and no typing errors. Have a friend read it as well, they may catch mistakes you’ve overlooked.

When you start your job search, make sure you have an effective resume. Keep it concise, organized, informative and error-free for the best resume results.

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Show Your Versatility on Your Job Search

August 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

If you’re in the market for a new job, take a tip from the pros. Everyone who is looking to hire these days wants an employee who will be a bargain for their buck. You need to be multi-talented, willing to work extra hard and do a variety of tasks. Showing that you have done exactly those things on your resume will increase your chances of being hired.

When writing job descriptions of your previous tasks, make sure to include the extra things you did, as well as your main responsibilities. Don’t make the job description too long though. For example, if you worked in accounts payable, your description should also include that you filled in as needed in other positions. Name them. Mention that you wrote the company’s internal newsletter each month or that you organized meetings or special events. The more you show you can do, the more in demand you will be.

Even though you are applying for a position that requires a limited skill set, be sure to list other skills you have that may be useful in other positions. The employer may want to fill the job as described but may already be thinking of additional tasks to transfer to that position, should job cuts be necessary in other areas. If you clearly show everything you can do, you will definitely increase your appeal in the job market.

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Job Search – Find What is Right for You Online

June 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Searching for a job used to mean you had to go buy half dozen newspapers and get your black Sharpie out for a good old circle and x session. Then you had to call places and follow up with going to these places and filling out an application and or drop off your resume. Not anymore.

With the advent of the Internet, now finding jobs in your area that interest you are a few short clicks away. Now I know for many of you this may seem difficult, but in reality it is extremely easy. Just go to Google or Yahoo and type in ‘Job Search’ in the search bar and boom, you will be hit with a flurry of choices.

Scroll through and read about many of the online job sites, such as Monster.com and Snagajob.com, and see what they have to offer. Most online jobsites are free to join and free to upload your resume. Now not only can you look for a job, but prospective employers can find you as well. While at the online job search site of your choice, you can browse for jobs in and around your area. Many times you can apply online and upload your resume to the job you are interested in; it really is that simple.

If you insist on sticking with the newspaper, you can always go to your local newspaper’s website. Many local papers, like mine, have a job search section within their websites that are the same postings you will find in the regular paper. Print some or all of them out and grab your Sharpie. If nothing else, I just saved you the hassle and gas it takes to drive to get your local paper.

Even though the job environment is a bit sketchy these days, the Internet makes your job search a whole lot easier. With all the free resources available, your dream job is just waiting to be found, so go find it.

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The Job Fair And Getting A Job

March 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Job fairs are great ways to connect job seekers with companies looking to hire. If you have never been to one and are looking for a job, find one in your area and go. It may be the best thing you do for your job search. However, there are many things to remember to make sure the job fair is the best experience possible for you.

  • Remember that those working a company’s booth are pre-screening applicants on the spot. They do not hire during the job fair, but instead gather resumes of qualified, pre-interviewed applicants.
  • Since the job fair is all about first impressions, make sure yours is excellent. Dress as if you are going to an interview. Look well groomed and professional. Double check your breath as you may be more physically close to these recruiters than you normally would be during an interview.
  • Research the companies who will be at the job fair and prepare resumes appropriately. This is much more effective than the one-resume-fits-all approach. You can also ask relevant questions that show you are familiar with the company. This step will make you stand out from many other applicants.
  • Prepare a 30 second or less monologue about why you would be a great fit for each company you are planning to visit at a job fair. You may or may not get to use it, but you want to know exactly what you should say to get the best use of your time in front of recruiters.

With preparation you can turn a job fair into a very beneficial step in the job search.

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