Tag Archives: job hunting tips

Why Cleaning Up Your Social Networking Pages Is So Important

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s social networking sites have become as familiar as your favorite bathrobe. It’s estimated that people spend over two hours a day on Facebook, updating their status, chatting with the friends, and looking at pictures. However, if your social networking pages are not professional in nature, then potential employees might not be so interest in your skills, experience, and qualifications.

A Sign of the Times

Because of the popularity of social networking, more and more employers are searching for pages of potential employees. They want to know the type of person that they are considering hiring. Are they one to badmouth a previous employer or other people? Do they portray an image that could cause the company embarrassment? These and other questions are frequent today and the number of applicants that are not getting hired because they didn’t clean up their social networking pages is increasing, as well.

What You Should Not Have on Your Social Networking Pages

There are a few things that immediately come to mind. Nudity, excessive use of alcohol, and racial comments are some that top the list. However, you should also be aware of what others post on your wall, too. You should immediately delete anything that may reflect negatively on you. It’s often hard to keep up with everything that your friends or family might post or even worse those who aren’t your friends! Don’t have an account if you can’t keep up with what is on it.

Limit Access

One of the best ways to have a little more control on what goes on your pages is to limit access to those you know will “behave” themselves. This will also limit what potential employers might see. Keep your profile page up to date and informative, but in a positive light. Focus on your education and skills, but don’t make it look like one large resume. A bit of humility and tact will go a long way.

If All Else Fails…

If all else fails and you find that for some reason you cannot remove some of the more negative information, then you may want to consider closing your account. It can seem like a drastic move because most people have had their social networking pages for a long time. However, if it is causing you problems, then it’s simply not worth keeping. You can also start another page, but remember that your current page name may no longer be available.

Social Networking Pages Can Work For or Against You

Social networking pages can really do a lot for or a lot against your job hunting efforts. Because many employers are including these pages in their background check efforts, you can bet that someone will see those pictures of you drunk at spring break. Clean up these pages by deleting offensive or questionable content, watching what other post on your page, and consider limiting access to those who will help you in your quest for a job. These are the best tips for cleaning up your social networking pages.

Job Interview Tips: Clean Up Your Facebook Page

Posted on by
Reply

Facebook is one of the most visited websites today. With over a half a billion accounts, this social media network is has revolutionized the way that people keep others informed about what is going on in their lives. However, Facebook has also been the downfall of many job applicants. In the following job interview tips, you will find all the information you need to clean up your Facebook page so that potential employers get the right impression of you when they do some research on you.

What Does Your Facebook Page Say about You?

While you may not think that employers look at Facebook pages, it really couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a wealth of information to be found online and social media websites are no exception. Think about what is on your Facebook page. Does it contain photos of you that might not show your best side? For example, the last night you were out at the club and dancing on the table may not be what you want a potential employer to see. Job interview tips include removing photos that show excessive drinking or even worse.

If you have strong political beliefs that may not coincide with a potential employer views, you may want to reconsider what your profile says. Consider what your likes and dislikes include. If you list your favorite activities as skydiving, riding motorcycles, bungee jumping, or other dangerous activities, an employer may not want to take a chance that you will be hurt and miss work. They could choose to hire someone who enjoys reading, poetry and basket weaving! These are job interview tips that really can help you in the long run.

Another thing to remember is that you don’t want potential employers to see any risqué photographs of you. You don’t need a photo of you on Facebook that shows you any type of compromising position. It simply isn’t worth it. Far too many college students post up pictures from fraternity and sorority parties that should be filed away for private viewing. Good job interview tips include those that limit the amount of skin that you should show online!

While there is no law against being yourself on your Facebook page, if you are job hunting, the wrong content can cause you problems. You may want to limit access to your wall or profile to only your friends. This means that potential employees will not be able to view all of your information unless you give them access. Other people have changed their name slightly so that their account will not come up when a search of their legal name is done. These are really important job interview tips that can help you stay in the running for your dream job.

In Closing

Facebook is quite a phenomenon, but it can also damage your chances of getting a great job. Employers do look at Facebook accounts of potential employees. Keep the above job interview tips in mind in order to stay in the running for that next job.

Getting Beyond Human Resources To Speak To A Hiring Manager

Posted on by
Reply

There is a principle that applies to any contact that you might have with any employee of a company, whether in a private or commercial context – every employee answers to a superior. Of course, this assumes that the definition of employee in this context does not include the senior management of a company. When you talk to the salesgirl in a department store, for example, and you find that she is being unreasonable about something, you need not engage in an angry conversation with her. You simply ask to speak to someone with more authority and in a higher position – in most cases this will be a manager of some sort. The same principle applies when you deal with personnel from the human resources department of a company.

When applying for a job, the most common point of contact with any company will be the human resources department. This is simply because the human resources department is directly responsible for almost all contact that a firm has with private individuals outside the company. The human resources department is therefore also directly in charge of hiring and firing employees of the company.

While the typical process when applying for a job with a company is to make an application to the human resources department of a company and send in your resume, there are times when a more direct approach could be rewarding. You might, for example, be applying for a hotly contested position and you need to do as much as you can to set yourself apart from the crowd of other people applying for the same position. This is when simply sticking to the rules established by the company will not do, and you need to take more positive action.

Making An Impression Before Your Interview

One good way to make an impression even before your interview is scheduled is to speak to someone with even more authority than the general personnel in the human resources department. This usually means someone occupying the position of hiring manager, who ultimately controls all of the employees joining or leaving the company. A short introduction and a few words of appreciation over the phone might be all you need to leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager and get you hired.

The problem, however, is overcoming the barrier presented by the human resources department. Companies guard their privacy jealously, and it can be difficult to find the phone number for the hiring manager of a company. If there is any place that will find it, however, that is online, and you will need to do several extensive searches in order to locate the contact number of the hiring manager. By going behind the human resources department and contacting a hiring manager directly, you show resourcefulness and initiative, making it that much more likely that you will be remembered when the time comes to decide which applicants the company should call in for interviews.

More Jobseeker Tips

 

Have You Distributed Your Resume to the Thousands of Niche Job Boards Online?

How To Contact The Human Resources Department Of Most Companies

Posted on by
Reply

If you are looking for the opportunity to get hired at a particular company, then you will need to get in touch with the company one way or another. Your best bet is to talk to someone in the human resources department of the company. This is because the human resources department is the department that is responsible for dealing with everything that has to do with the employees in the company; this includes present employees as well as potential employees. Moreover, if you make it to the interview stage, your interviewer will usually be a person from the company’s human resources department.

Traditional v/s Modern Ways of Contacting the Human Resources Department

The traditional method of communication with the human resources department of a company is through regular post. Many people still use this method of communication even today because most of the time, people communicating with the human resources department are doing so as part of the job application process and so they need to send their printed resume in by regular post. If you are looking to contact the human resources department of a company to apply for a job, then you can send your printed resume in through regular post, unless you are absolutely sure that they will accept your resume in a digital format.

In this day and age, the most convenient way to contact the human resources department of a company is through email. Technology is now reliable and widespread enough that almost every human resources department is used to communicating with job applicants through email.

If you are thinking of contacting the human resources department of a company through email, however, you must remember to keep the tone of your email formal. One mistake that many people make when they choose to contact the human resources department of a company through email is that they forget to keep a formal tone. Many people are simply too used to the informal tone that they use in regular email communication and they forget that communicating with the department of a company requires a formal register.

A Better Form Of Contact

While you can definitely contact the human resources department of a company through post or email by obtaining their physical or email address through the internet, there is another way that you should explore first.

One of the best ways to get in touch with human resources personnel in a company is through your personal contacts. If, for example, you have a friend or family member who works in the company you wish to contact, you should definitely ask them for an introduction to the best person to talk to. People working within a company will know exactly who you should approach depending on what your purpose for contacting them is. If you are looking for a job, for example, then your contact can introduce you to the manager of the human resources department. This sort of recommendation can also greatly increase your chances of landing a job. 

More Job Search Tips from CareerRush

Applying For Employment At A Previous Employer’s Competitor

Posted on by
Reply

Among any employer’s worst fears is the one that their prize employees will be lured away by a competing firm offering higher salaries and more attractive privileges. This is a very real possibility; after all, what better way is there to get trained, motivated employees than by attracting those very same employees over from a rival company? This very same desire also provides anyone looking for employment with a unique opportunity.

While you were working with a company, you are sure to hear about and get to know about other companies operating in the same industry. This information will serve you very well if you are now looking for employment in the same market but can no longer work for your previous employer.

Approaching Old Competition

As someone who used to work in a competing company, you might even be acquainted with people from rival firms. These are the first people you should look up if you are now looking for a job in their companies. This is because you are likely to have built up a name or reputation for yourself while you were working in the industry, and in most industries, people are at least aware of the other professional working in the same markets. If you are able to leverage on respect that you might have earned as a worthwhile competitor, then you might be able to secure a job with ease. If not, then you will still have to go through the regular job application process.

Do not be discouraged however, if you find that you have to send in your resume like any other regular job applicant. As long as you have listed your previous firm under your prior employment, you are sure to be granted an interview almost immediately. This is because employees who are familiar with the business and do not require the same amounts of training as brand new employees do, are considered extremely valuable to a business.

At your interview, you should emphasize the fact that you know the ins and outs of the business and the markets in which it operates. Your interviewer is sure to appreciate the fact that you know what you are talking about and that you can be a valuable asset to the company.

You also need to make sure that you are clear about why you left your previous employer. If it was not by choice, then you can downplay it by saying that you had a falling out with your previous employer or something along those lines. If it was because you had a problem with the organization or with your fellow employees, then make sure you are explicit with the details. The one drawback of coming from a competing firm is that prospective employers will be wary about whether you are honestly applying for a job or are a corporate spy tasked to find out more about the inner workings of a rival company.

All in all, applying for a job at a previous employer’s competitor is a great way to get yourself into a relatively high-paying position without having to start at the bottom rung and work your way up the corporate ladder.

More Jobseeker Advice from CareerRush.com

How to Become a Solution For Your Target Employer

Posted on by
Reply

When seeking out employment you must have an effective and proven strategy in place.  You need to realize that when it comes to filling a vacant position at a specific company, you are most likely not the only individual who is seeking out that position. Therefore, you will need to formulate a strategy that will make you stick out and that will put you ahead of your competition. Once such strategy presents you to try to be a solution for your target employer.

Here is the truth: all employers are hiring employees to fit and meet a specific need at their place of business. They need to find a person who will act as a solution in filling this position and carrying out its responsibilities in a professional and effective manner. Regardless of your skill set and previous experience, all you need to do is prove to any potential employer that you are the solution to their problems. If you can prove yourself to be a solution then you will be able to acquire the position that you desire over your competition with very little effort.

How can I Make Myself Appear to be the Solution?

The first thing you should consider is “first contact.” Your first contact will most likely be in the form of your personal resume. The first thing you should do is learn everything you can about the position you are applying for. You should consider the responsibilities that are involved in this position. Then, look back at your work history and determine which are the other positions you have held that match up with or feature the same type of responsibilities as this new position you are applying for.

From there you should compose a very strategic cover letter that states that you have read the responsibilities of the position for which you are applying and that you already have the skills necessary in order to fill this position and to carry it out without concern. You should shortly cover these past experiences in order to truly show a potential employer in your resume that you have the training and skills necessary to fill this position and that you are eager to get involved.

Never hesitate to add in this personal aspect. Feel free to tell a potential employer that you hope to excel at their company and in their position. You need to immediately show them that you are the solution to their vacancy and that you are more than trained and eager to get started in the position.  You don’t need to be robotic in your resume. Add a degree of personality to show them how you truly feel about the position you are applying for.

Try to be a solution for your target employer to show them why they should choose you. Try to be a solution for your target employer so that you can show them why you should be considered above your competition. The quicker that you become a solution and prove to a potential employer that you are the solution to their needs, the quicker you will able to acquire the position you desire.

Learn More By Watching Our Job Interview Example Videos…

Avoid Slamming Your Old Employer

Posted on by
Reply

When seeking out employment in an industry that you are passionate about, you may often be tempted to speak negatively about a past employer in order to gain favorable attention from a potential new employer. Many people feel that if they are staying within the same industry and they speak poorly about another company in the same industry that will help them curry favor with their new employers and earn them huge brownie points. While theoretically this may sound like a good idea, you should avoid slamming your old employer at all costs! In fact, the moment you say anything negative about an old employer you could actually jeopardize any chance you may have of clinching the job.

This is very true when it comes to both, in person interviews as well as information that you present in your resume. Many resume writers will use their cover letter to point out their negative experiences while working for the company’s main competitor. When you do this, not only do you create a bad image of your old employer but you also create a poor representation of yourself. A poor representation that could actually endanger your chances of gaining the employment that you desire.

Why You Should Avoid Slamming Your Old Employer

One of the main reasons you should avoid slamming your old employer is because it immediately creates a poor image of yourself. A potential employer could see your slamming of an old employer as a poor quality trait. They may assume that you are a whiney person who is simply looking for any reason to complain. Therefore, they may pass up on hiring you, fearful that you will constantly complain while working for them or that when you leave their company that you may turn around and slam them as well.

No one wants to hire an individual who seems to be bitter. The moment you show a potential employer that you are bitter person who holds grudges, they may assume that you will bring that same attitude to their company. Most employers are also aware that this type of attitude can quickly spread from one person to another and if they were to hire you, they would be fearful that your attitude would affect everyone else around you that you work with. This could result in a collectively poor work ethic and could result in future problems for the company.

How To Avoid Slamming An Old Employer

The best way to avoid slamming an old employer is not to talk about them unless asked. Even when asked about a past employer, avoid speaking negatively about them. Just explain why you are no longer employed with them in as professional and respectable a manner as you can muster. There is no need to recount every reason why you hate your old employer and why you are now looking for new employment.  

As the old adage goes- “if you have nothing nice to say; don’t say anything at all.” It’s far better to just keep your opinions to yourself rather than to say something or to place something in your resume that will reflect poorly on you in the long run.

More Job Hunting Tips…

Job Interview Questions and Answers from CareerRush

Posted on by
Reply

Question:  What are three qualities that you feel you would bring to the table if hired?

Answer: The three qualities that I would bring to this position are honesty, respect and responsibility. I am an honest person who is willing to ask for help and who will always remain transparent with my work dealings. I am also a very respectful person who works well with others. I’m the type of person who is very respectful and supportive of my superiors and who is also respectful and kind to those I work with. I am also a very responsible person who is always willing to take on more work and who is willing to go the extra mile to get the job done right.

Question: Why do you want to work for our company?

Answer: Your company has a strong reputation and is the type of company that is fair and honest. I feel that working for your company would be a great benefit to me and my future and I equally feel like I would be a great benefit to your company in return.

Question: What is one negative quality about yourself that we should be aware of?

Answer: Some people say that I am too obsessive when it comes to work. I tend to overdo things while working because I put everything I have into the job. I tend to think about work all the time and am always spending time focusing on how I can do a better job. This may seem like a positive trait but some times I think I need to step back and relax a bit.

Question: Why should we hire you over all our other applicants?

Answer:  Because I am a committed individual who isn’t just looking for a “job.” I am looking to invest all my time, dedication and hard work into the task at hand. I want to do my best to ensure that I am constantly being a benefit for your company, and in return I know that I will receive the benefits of working for such a wonderful company. Others may be more qualified in work experience but I am a dedicated and responsible person who isn’t simply looking for a job, but am instead looking to make this job my career.

Question: What if your long term goal with the position that you are applying for?

Answer:  I want to acquire a position with your company so that I can excel at all things and become a huge asset for your company. I am not just another warm body but am the type of person who goes into a job with the intent to turn it into a career. In the long term I would dedicate myself to every task and duty that you assign me and will strive to obtain perfection when completing these tasks. I want to prove to your company that I am a valuable asset in hopes of slowly working my way to the top. I wish to invest my time and effort with your company, and would like to eventually stay with you long term.

More Job Hunting Tips…

Job Interview Questions to Ask

Posted on by
Reply

When attending a job interview, you will most likely be given the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have pertaining to the job for which you are applying or about the company that you are interviewing for.  You should always be prepared to ask a couple of short and brief questions. 

Most people will simply say that they have no questions and will walk out the door. However, when you ask a potential employer questions, you may be showing them that you really value the opportunity that you have been given and that you are very interested in the position that they have to offer.

Most people will simply ask questions like, “how long before I know if I got the job or not,” or “I have a wedding to go to in 2 months. Will that be hard for me to get off?” Asking these types of questions is out of place during an interview. You are best suited to gain your answer to question number one by calling back in a few days after your interview and asking. As for question number two, it is best to put it on hold until you have gotten the job and know who your supervisor is so that you can speak to them directly.

Examples Of Questions To Ask During A Job Interview

One question to consider asking is “what is the dress code?” This allows a potential employer to know that you are thinking about the way in which you must present themselves while working for them. 

Another good question to ask is “How many hours can I expect to work a week?” Once again this shows that you are curious and excited about the possibility of working for their company and that you are concerning yourself with scheduling.

There is another question that you may wish to ask once you have gauged the personality of the person interviewing you. One question that actually turns the tables on the interviewer is to ask them this: “Why should I work for your company?” If asked in the right tone, this question can be a great conversation starter. This allows the interviewer to see that you believe in yourself enough to actually question what their company can do for you.   This question has been used to the success of numerous people who have attended job interviews of all types in all industries.

Finally, one other great question to ask is “what do you personally value in your employees and what qualities do you look for in your employees?”  This once again shows an interviewer that you are curious about exactly what they are looking for and that you are also willing to learn these things and take notice of them so that you can make yourself a better employee.  Questions like this are questions that your interviews may ask such as, “what are your 3 best qualities?” However, now you are turning the question around on them in order to get their opinion on the situation.

More job hunting tips…

Job Hunting Tips: Matching the Needs of An Employer

Posted on by
Reply

When most people sit down and create their resume, they only have their personal needs in mind. They use their resume in order to obtain a job or career that matches up with their personal needs and goals. Though this is the purpose of obtaining employment, it is not always the best way to go about obtaining a job. You have to realize that all companies great and small are looking to match their own needs, and the majority of them don’t care about your personal needs. All they want is to ensure that you as an employee will meet their expectations and their needs.

This is where you must decide how you will present your resume. If you want your resume to more effective and want it to have the ability to secure you a job that will meet your needs, then you will need to be sure that your resume is not “self-directed.” Instead, you will want your resume to be what is known as “employer directed.” This also means that you will have to watch the way in which you word and list things throughout your resume in order to make sure it is directed at your potential employers needs.

For example, most people who put their resume together will create a dynamic objective that details why they personally want the job they are applying for and what their goals are with the job. Many applicants will go as far as saying that they are using a job as a “stepping stone” to bigger things. What you truly need to do with your objective is tell the potential employer what you will do for their company, rather than what you hope their open position will do for you.

You need to immediately show these potential employers that you are hoping to fill a need that they have for a strong-working and dedicated employee who is willing to do whatever is asked and is willing to excel at everything they do. Your objective is your sales pitch to these potential employers. You need to use these short few sentences to show them how you will not only match their needs but you will excel at filling them.

How Can I Ensure That My Objective And Cover Letter Are Geared Towards Company Needs?

You can easily determine if your resume is self focused or company focused by simply reading over it. You should read over your resume as if you were preparing to interview yourself and consider each sentence and section of your resume and determine if that section convinces you that you would fill a need at the company, or if that section instead is self-focused. You may also wish to ask an outside third party such as a friend or a family member to assist you with this. That way you can have a second set of eyes and a fresh mind break down your resume for you.

Remember, you are attempting to get a job to fill your own needs, but at the same time you need to truly convince a potential employer that you are going to fill their needs above all else. If you can do this with your resume then you will quickly acquire the job you want and can begin to fulfill your personal needs.

Read more job hunting tips…