You, the Resume and the Interview!

By Guest Blogger Lee Koren.

Today, I would like to answer a few questions which seem to be quite popular. 

Q:    With the job market so competitive, getting beyond the resume to an interview is difficult.  Resumes are screened by recruiters or systems – any advice on how to get noticed?

A:    The purpose of the resume is not to get you a job – it is to get you an interview.  Therefore, the resume must optimize your key strengths and competencies and highlight them in a way which “catches the eye” of the recruiter or whoever might be reading the resume.  Therefore, it is important to insure your key strengths and competencies are identified and strategically placed on the resume using “keywords” This will improve the odds of your resume being noticed during the screening process.

Q:   Do cover letters really get read?

A:    Depends on the person – I have been a recruiter for 20+ years – if the cover letter is in the body of the email I will read it.  If it is attached to the email along with the resume I will open the resume first.  If it is incorporated into the resume document well I might scan it quickly.  The shorter the cover letter the better, recruiters are just not going to read a 2 page cover letter.  Three short paragraphs – First Paragraph contains your interest in the job.  Second Paragraph makes the link between the key skills required for the job and your strengths.  Third Paragraph is the close.

Q:   I do not have a problem getting the interview; in fact I get good feedback on my interview skills.  I usually get invited back for a second interview; however I just can’t seem to get beyond this point.  Do you have any words of wisdom?

A:   Oh to have a magic wand when it comes to the interview!  There are so many things riding on a successful interview, some of them are out of your control.  I coach my clients to be as prepared as possible.  Find out all you can about the company on the internet, its website and Linkedin.  Spend time going over the skills required for the job and identifying your accomplishments which demonstrate these skills.  Be prepared with specific examples which link your skills to the skills required for the job.  If the interviewer does not perform a behavioural interview work some of your good examples into the conversation. 

Q:    Does it matter if my resume is a Word document or PDF when applying on-line?

A:   Many companies are purchasing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).  These systems may or may not be integrated with the rest of their business systems.  If not integrated, then the system may or may not open a PDF.doc so to be safe I suggest using a Word doc Why?  Because if the recruiter cannot open your resume he or she will be clicking on the next resume in the list.

Q:   You talk about a “system friendly resume” what does this mean?

A:    Again, it goes back to a company’s technical infrastructure; and if there is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), whether or not it is fully integrated.  If you up-load your resume online and it happens to contain fancy formatting, graphics and tables there is a possibility the text will be distorted when the document is opened at the other end.  To be on the safe side, keep the formatting simple; avoid graphics, table and fancy bullets.

Q:     I am in career transition and have been told to put a profile on Linkedin.  As a recruiter do you use Linkedin to locate talent?

A:    Absolutely, Linkedin is the best social networking tool out there and is quickly becoming very popular with corporate and agency recruiters when it comes to locating qualified talent. 

Q:     I have a few companies I am targeting and would like your option on asking executives at these companies for an informational meeting – what has been your experience with this type of approach – does it work?

A:     It depends on how and who you ask.  I know of a PhD grad who targeted a pharmaceutical company she was very interested in.  She sent an email to one of the executives asking if he would mind taking time from his busy schedule to meet with her for the purpose of learning more about the company.  He agreed and when they met he suggested she send her resume to Human Resources and gave her the contact information.  She sent the resume and sent him a thank you note (letting him know she sent the resume) and the next thing she knew she was being invited in for an interview and yes, received a job offer.

For more information on career transition, your resume and the interview please take a few minutes to check out my blog at www.bselected.wordpress.com

Remember to take one day at a time!

Lee Koren. PHR

About the Author:

Lee Koren is a results oriented senior recruiter with extensive and acknowledged International expertise in four core categories: career transition, recruitment, selection, and behavioural/performance based interviewing and facilitation.  She is certified as a Professional in Human Resoruces (PHR) and a Lead Master Trainer in Behavioural Interviewing.

Job Searchers can tap into Lee’s vast experience to optimize their resume, social media networking strategies and learning effective techniques to enhance the interview experience.. Contact Lee directly at the following links:

            http://www.selectionstrategy.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/leekoren

Blog http://bselected.wordpress.com/

Why You Should Never Turn Down an Interview

Being invited for an interview is a major accomplishment – and when it happens, you should take a moment to congratulate yourself on a job well done!

Competition is fierce these days. For every job position available, thousands of resumes are submitted. So getting past the paper stage (resume) and being invited to move on to an interview, even a 20-minute phone interview, is a good signal that you are on the right track; but what happens if, upon reflection or re-reading the job position details, you decide that the job may not be for you or you can’t find the time to schedule an interview?

Just do it – and here’s why in an article I found called Why You Should Never Turn Down an Interview by Andrew Rosen, author of How to Quit Your Job and creator of http://www.jobacle.com/ a career advice blog

Here is the direct link to the article:

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/Why-You-Should-Never-Turn-usnews-2353752977.html 

To your success!

Trish King

You can also find Trish at http://blog.trishking.com/

Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job

“When one door closes, a new door will open up but, how long is the hallway?” she said. This made me laugh. Both of us on the hunt for a job but she expressed what I’ve been feeling this week; a mix of anxiety and optimism, with my first rejection letter landing in my inbox. Bummer.

Searching for a job is not fun. Once I made the decision to stop being self-employed, focusing my energies on a job search and not a new project for my business, I suddenly felt alone. An ominous silence has taken over my world.

The phone doesn’t ring and my email inbox is getting zero action, though my sent box has lots of activity. I think I’ve sent out about 60 resumes this week. I am going for quality and not quantity but, the job market sector for my type of skills-set seems to be hot right now. Which has made me feel like I am behind and need to catch up but quick or be left out of the game entirely.

But what to do about it?

As is my nature, when presented with a problem, I turned to research. If the job market is an industry, and it is, then my skills are the product or commodity that I have for sale. Just as I have always done in my advertising sales and marketing career, I want to find decision makers and align my offerings with their business drivers and priorities. The closer we are to each other, then the closer I am to a job.

But it’s tricky. How do you stand out and get heard through all of the job seeker collateral that hiring managers receive on a daily basis? Resumes, cover letters, follow up emails or trying to find somebody, anybody, to talk too is very difficult. People are busy and hiring managers really don’t want to hear from you; job applicant software on websites feeling like a one-sided conversation or more accurately, no conversation at all, with a 3-second assessment and your well-crafted resume chucked to the delete bin.

However, there is hope.

In all of my research I found that LinkedIn is an excellent source for job seekers. Not only can you define your search using categories but, if you upgrade to a Premium package, you can take advantage of a few extra features that ensure (so LinkedIn promises) that you can speak directly to hiring managers or decision makers.

I am going to give it a shot and see what happens? I will let you know how it goes but for now, here is a great blog post that offered a few tricks and techniques to try for using LinkedIn in your own job search: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job

Direct Link to Blog:
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html#axzz1GDZCyqus

Also helpful was Alison Doyle’s article at About.com

Alison’s Link:
http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2010/02/16/how-to-use-linkedin-to-find-a-job.htm

To your success!
Trish King

Demand for Web Professionals on the Rise with Hybrid-Organizational Staffing Models the New Trend for Attracting Talent

Elance.com recently released its Online Employment Report predicting renewed optimism for 2011 as companies both large and small increase demand for skilled Web Professionals.

IT, Facebook App Developers and Content Creators (blog, tweets, websites) are in high demand with Online Marketers the fastest growing segment and is up 74% year-over-year, revolutionizing the workplace as companies adopt a hybrid-organizational staffing model that promotes offsite and online employment.

In fact, 40,000 new offsite and online positions were added each month (US), contributing to over $340,000,000 million in earnings during 2010, as job-seekers embrace greater flexibility in their work schedule; proving that less face-time around the office can mean more productivity in a increasingly dynamic marketplace.

More trends for Web Workers include:
*IT is still King
*Mobile continues to fly; Android on top
*WordPress is the undisputed champ of content
*Facebook Experts growing in demand and getting even hotter
*HTML5 explodes but Flash holds steady
*Texas the new Online Employment hot-spot

And, Online Marketing will continue to grow as businesses make heavy investments in online branding, media and customer acquisition strategies like social media marketing, affiliate marketing and search engine marketing. In the last Quarter of 2010 (US), social media marketing saw a 20% growth and moved to the No. 26 position on the top 100 most desired job-skills list as substantial marketing dollars are being deployed across social platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

If you’ve got online skills then SHOOT them out in your resume – employers are looking for you! If you don’t have the skills, then check out my other blog, http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com/ for helpful resources, information and tid-bits to get you started and thriving.

Check out the full report at Elance.com
http://www.elance.com/p/online-employment-report.html

Cheers,
Trish King

The Disappearing Job Offer

You put together a killer resume, went through the first, second, and then the third interview - all that's left to do is to confirm a start date for your new job, right?

Maybe but, read this article from Workopolis first before you quit your current position, just incase the Disappearing Job Offer happens to you.

http://blog.workopolis.com/en/2011/02/dont-quit-your-job-just-yet-the-mystery-of-the-disappearing-job-offer.html

Presented by Trish King
You can also find Trish at http://www.trishking.com/ or http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com/

Preparing for Your Interview - The Mirror is Your Best Tool

Part and parcel of a job search is the interview process. There's just no getting around it. You have meticulously gone over your resume and written a compelling cover letter. You've stayed organized in the job search and understand the needs and wants of the companies you desire. You may feel like you are already the perfect employee and yet, you still have to go through the job interview.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make in their job interviews is coming unprepared. There are many aspects to getting prepared for a job interview and the first starts with getting to know the company. Research information about the company's goals, mission, products and services, and structure. You can usually glean this from the Internet, the public library, professional magazines or from former employees. This knowledge not only shows your interviewer that you are interested in working for their company but it also helps you to prepare a list of targeted and focused questions which help you to know if you and this company are a good fit.

Your next step while preparing for this interview is to practice answering common questions that you anticipate from your interviewer. One of the most common questions is "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" Or "tell us a little bit about yourself." Individuals who arrives at an interview unable to articulate a string of thoughts for these particular questions gives the interviewer the idea that you will be unable to work in a business setting at all. This is because these questions should be anticipated, and if you can't anticipate questions for your interview you won't be able to anticipate the needs and future of the company.

Preparing for the interview also means understanding what your body language is telling your interviewer. You may have the verbiage down pat but your body language may be giving a whole other impression. For instance, if you arrive chewing gum it indicates that you feel either much too relaxed or are too nervous. If you are sitting back, with your back against the back of the chair, it looks as if you're uninterested in what the interviewer is talking about. Sitting too far foreword indicates nervousness and eagerness.

One trick that headhunters often give to their clients is to use a mirror. Practice answering questions in the mirror and watching your own body language. Sometimes this can be difficult and doesn't always work well because you're watching yourself at the same time you're answering the question. If you have the option to use a camera, either a digital handheld by your friend or a web cam mounted on your computer, videotape yourself answering questions and going through the interview process. This gives you the opportunity to evaluate your performance before the interview, making adjustments where required.

If you don't have access to a video camera or a tape recorder then ask a trusted friends to read you the list of interview questions, add a few of their own, and give you feedback at the end of the interview. Write out any questions that you have difficulty with and practice your delivery smooth. This includes your introduction of who you are and why you want the position, as well as saying goodbye to the interviewer.

Preparing for your interview takes a bit of time and diligence, but in the long run it pays off.

Resource: "Boost Your Interview I.Q." by Carole Martin

http://www.amazon.com/Boost-Your-Interview-Carole-Martin/dp/0071425470

Presented by Trish King
You can also find Trish at www.trishking.com or http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com

How to Find A Head Hunter

The first responsibility of every good headhunter is to fill positions and not help people find jobs. A headhunter is first and foremost responsible to the company who will be paying them their commission. In some cases the headhunters are hired by employers when companies are too busy working on specific assignment to find employees with specialized skills. So don't be surprised or put off if the headhunter does not immediately return your call or it requires you to call several times.

The opposite is also true. If a headhunter sends you for an interview and you are not hired they may never call you again. That's just the nature of the headhunters business and you should not expect any more. However, working with a headhunter can be powerful and easy if you can accommodate the system you may be able to expect very positive result.

There are several websites where you may be able to find a headhunter who is searching for someone with your qualifications.


http://www.onlinerecruitersdirectory.com/

http://www.headhuntersdirectory.com/


Another approach to finding a good headhunter is to use their techniques when they are looking for employees. First, pick out five or six companies that you really want to work for and identify the manager to whom you would be reporting if you worked there. Do your best to speak with that individual personally, but if you get the administrative assistant this can also work.

Your objective is to introduce yourself and ask for their advice. In other words, something like: "I am Jane McGee over at Landmark Bearings. I would like to ask for a little advice. I am searching for a good headhunter in (insert specialty here). I value your suggestion. Can I ask what headhunter you use and would recommend for filling positions in (insert it shall see here)?"
This kind of question is very rarely asked and can get you noticed. Not everyone will provide you with a recommendation but some will, and some will admire your initiative to call and invite you in for an interview, saving the cost of a headhunter's fee.

The downside is that some headhunters won't speak with you unless they contact you directly.

When you are looking for a headhunter remember that they are your career partners. They are helping you to fit with a particular job and it is in both your best interests to represent yourself accurately to the potential employer. If you enter an interview without being prepared or qualified it sends a bad message to the employer about the headunter's ability to ferret out the best employee and you lose credibility with the headhunter.

And while the headhunter will call you only if there is a position that they feel you are qualified to fill, most headhunters work in the same field. In other words, a headhunter doing searches for marketing will hear about marketing positions.

When you find a recruiter, or headhunter, with whom you can work you must develop a basic element of trust. This is a basic human relationship in which they are sharing information about a company and you are sharing information about your qualifications, past history and interest. If there isn't a basic trust between you then the relationship is doomed to failure from the start.

It is for this reason that most headhunters won't reveal too much information about a company or position on the first call. They anticipate that you may do an end run around them and contact the company directly which means they lose their commission.

When you are working with a headhunter be sure that you are able to develop a reasonable relationship with the recruiter and that both of you learn to trust each other. In time, if an open and honest relationship doesn't begin to develop, then you may want to reassess your choice of headhunters.

Presented by Trish King
You can also find Trish at www.trishking.com or http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com

Online Tools to Help in Your Job Search

Searching for a job used to be completely tedious and dependent upon newspaper ads, journal advertising or word-of-mouth. Today job seekers can also employ several other tactics to expand their search and increase the likelihood that they will land their dream job. Online job searches are just one such technique.

And in fact, although online job searching is one such technique, there are several different ways of accomplishing this task that will net you different results. Here are couple of tips to get you started on your search online.

Searching for a job online is not easier or harder than it is off-line. The pros and cons are different but the energy expenditure is the same. Don't be fooled into believing that the only way you can find a job is online either. Online job searches are meant to augment the work that you are doing by networking with friends, relatives and previous employers as well is scouring your industry journals and networks.

1. Jobs search engines can be used to make your online job search easier by searching through the top job posting sites, companies sites and niche job sites. Don't rely specifically on job search engines such as Hound. Although they are an incredible, they are just one piece of the puzzle.

2. Social networking sites have become extremely popular in all niches. Examples of these sites are Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and LinkedIn. These are also websites which will help you to network online with potential employers or individuals who may be able to put in a good word for you at their company. You should also understand that most employers are now doing searches for their a potential employees to investigate what these people are writing online. While it is important to use your real name when dealing with potential employers or networking in the social scene it is also important to be sure that what you are writing you are comfortable with potential future employers reading.

3. Company websites often have a page where they post current job openings. Some believe that you have a better chance of getting to be interview if you approach a future employer through their own website and not through a posting they may have put on a job board. You can search through these postings by using a search engine such as Hound.

4. Employers are also looking through the Internet for job applications such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. When you post on these sites be sure that your resume is up to speed, is formatted well and contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Remember that your resume is the first impression that employers will have of you.

5. Look for the ability for a site to send you automatic job alerts when a job is posted in your location or job category. This helps you get the edge over your competition by applying quickly while matching the job qualifications specifically.

6. Explore your professional affiliation sites for job postings or listings. This will also give you a way of networking with peers in other geographical areas that may land you a future job.

7. Doing an online search also means having opportunities you wouldn't otherwise have such as the site VisualCV.com which allows you to load a traditional resume with addons like video, images and links.

8. JibberJobber.com is a site that will allow you to keep track of all of the information you collect during your job search online. You can log where your resumes are sent, jobs you've applied for and the status of each. It is an incredible organization tool that will help you manage the maze of job search opportunities.

9. Indeed.com is a site that has several widgets and online gadgets to make your search more organized and productive. There are plugins, alerts, buttons and my.indeed.com that saves your searches, jobs and notes online.

Presented by Trish King
You can also find Trish at www.trishking.com and http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com

Job Search Vanilla

The recession and advances in technology have changed the Job Market. No longer can you simply post a resume on a large online network or respond to a newspaper advertisement – well you can but, so are hundreds of others doing the exact same thing, at the exact same time.

So how do you distinguish yourself; showcasing your best “stuff” without sounding vanilla or relegated to the D-List, as in “Delete.”

Step One: Clean up Facebook

I love Facebook, it’s where I get to talk to my friends and meet up with old acquaintances. While I’ve generally been careful about what I post, comment on, or who I invite into my network of friends, I’m not in control of what others say about me or tag me on – it could seem innocent, but is it?

I thought the picture of me wearing a Halloween wig was funny; a had to be there occasion, because my friend who snapped the shot owns a dog with the same hair-cut. Funny to me and my friend but, did I want to risk a potential employer seeing it and not getting the joke? Absolutely not!

Clean up your Facebook and make sure the privacy settings are set to what you feel comfortable sharing with say, your Grandmother.

Step Two: Set up a LinkedIn Account

I’m sure by now you know that LinkedIn is a powerful business-to-business network, but it’s also a great way to provide additional information about you to a potential employer.

If someone Googles your name, your LinkedIn account will pop-up, making it easy to verify what you’ve said on your resume and connect with you if you make doing so valuable to them.

What do I mean by that? Don’t simply re-post your resume – that’s vanilla. You can use LinkedIn to showcase your expertise by sharing an e-book, tip or fact sheet, article on trends in your industry, link to interesting websites or YouTube clips that are relevant to you and what you bring to the job market table. Be creative but make sure that whatever you do, it’s still professional and represents you in the best light.

For more steps and ideas, visit JobMob.co
http://jobmob.co.il/blog/personal-branding-website-job-search-thoughts/

To your success!

Trish
You can also find Trish at http://www.trishking.com/ or http://blog.trishking.com/