June 3, 2005 09:41 - Interview Tips - # 9 and # 10
Today we present the final two interview tips in out mini series:Tip # 9 - Cell Phones
Turn off your cell phone and pager prior to your interview.
There is nothing more insulting to an employer or disrupting during an interview to have a cell phone or page continue to ring/beep. Let your voice mail catch any incoming calls.
Tip #10 - Enthusiasm
Be enthusiastic!
Let the employer know how interested you are in the position and what a great job you can do.
Kind Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
June 6, 2005 15:14 - Liars Get Caught! What NOT to Put on Your Resume
"Everybody does it" as they say. Face it, the job market can be a very tough place to compete. If everyone inflates their experience then how can an honest person get a job? Well, as tempting as it may be, you do NOT want to risk lying on your resume.
Whether it's personal information, job experience, or schooling - employers are finding new ways to sniff out liars and you don't want to be one of them.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
While some information may not be easily verified, information such as a criminal record, can be very costly to you in the event it is checked out. With sites like rapsheets.com you can never guarantee that an employer won't be able to find the information, even if your employer is hiring you for domestic work and is not a business.
JOB EXPERIENCE
Clearly this is not the place to boast about fake employment as you are going to list the businesses you worked for which may be contacted for verification. As this is the most likely area your interviewer will do a check on, avoid misrepresenting yourself at all costs.
EDUCATION
Think that nobody will notice if you slip in an education you don't really have? Perhaps you do have the skills, but you can't afford to claim education you can't provide proof of. EmployAct.com is a new service that will allow employers to have background checks - similar to criminal or credit checks - to verify your claim.
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE
With all that said and done, how can you create a resume that will highlight your skills and abilities without needing to lie?
Give yourself credit. Your skills in the workforce can be weighty indicators of your ability to work in a given job. You may not know what an employer is looking for. With many jobs that don't require a particular expertise, you many find that they are looking for people who are able to learn on the job. Proof that you have gained skills as a worker (or even a volunteer if you're just starting out) can be very valuable.
Be certain that you focus on skills. Expand your descriptions. Do not say 'I worked in an office', rather say 'I was responsible for answering the phones in a professional manner and directing calls to the proper departments. In a busy work environment I was able to multi-task by providing supportive administrative assistance to the head receptionist including maintaining a filing system, processing inter office memos, delivering documents in a timely manner, directing clients to their meeting appointments and providing relief reception. I was quickly able to learn the filing and switchboard systems as well as create good working relationships with fellow staff.'
As you can see from the above example, it is perfectly acceptable to elaborate on your skills, but do so in an honest and ethical manner. If you need help you can find software programs which will give you suggestions on wording depending on the position you are describing or you can hire someone who writes resumes to help you. Have confidence in keeping the job you are sure to get by doing it right the first time.
Best Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
June 7, 2005 16:23 - After Your Interview - What Must You Do Next?
Other than actually landing the interview itself and living through it, waiting after the interview and wondering whether you will get a phone call or a rejection letter can be one of the most difficult aspects of searching for a job. What you do after the interview should actually start while you are still ‘working’ the interview.Prior to leaving make sure that you have noted the name of the person or persons who interviewed you. This will come in handy later for a number of purposes. Also, do make sure that you shake hands once again with your interviewer and thank them for taking the time to meet with you. Also, it’s not out of line to ask when they expect to be making a decision. This gives you a timeline to go by.
Always be sure to send a thank-you letter. This practice not only demonstrates good social etiquette but it also helps to keep you and your skills fresh in the mind of the interviewer. On some occasions an interviewer already has an idea by the time the interviews are completed who they will be calling to offer the job; however on many more occasions they still remain unsure who will be awarded that coveted slot. Sometimes they want a little time to ‘sleep’ on the decision or they may need to consult supervisors or others within their organization regarding the hiring decision. If a decision has not already been reached in the mind of the employer when all of the interviews have been completed, taking the time to send a thank-you letter can go a long way toward making sure you don’t get lost in the shuffle.
While it’s a good idea to send a polite thank you note to the person who interviewed you it is not a good idea to pester that person to no end. The only result you are likely to achieve through this strategy is alienating yourself from them and assuring that you won’t get the job. Although ‘don’t take no for an answer’ is a strategy that many aggressive job coaches recommend; it is still always best to observe polite social standards.
That is not to say that you should sit by the phone and allow several weeks to elapse, waiting, while you hear nothing and do nothing. Ideally, your thank you letter should have gone out the same day as the interview, no later than the following day. This means that the interviewer should receive it within one to two days following the initial interview.
Keep track of when the employer indicated a decision would be made and if that time has come and gone, it is perfectly permissible to go ahead and phone them. However; when you do make the call, be polite. State your name, the date you interviewed and the position for which you interviewed. You may say that you are following up to inquire as to whether a decision has been made.
At this point, the conversation can go a number of ways. The employer may indicate that a decision has been made and all candidates who were not selected will be receiving a letter in the mail. If this is the response you receive, it is your cue that you were not hired. Had you been, you would have received a phone call from the employer by now.
Thank them for their times, ask them to keep you in mind for any future vacancies and get off the line. Don’t burn any bridges. It could be that there was simply a better qualified candidate for that particular position, but they might consider you for a different, future position.
On the other hand, the employer may state that they are still reviewing resume, conducting interviews, etc, etc. This type of response could mean a couple of different things. It could mean that they really have made a decision and the person just doesn’t feel comfortable telling you on the phone that you weren’t selected or it could simply be taken at face value.
Perhaps something came up and their initial timeline has been forced to be extended somewhat. In either case, always remain polite and thank them for their time. After you end the call, make a note of the date on your planner and set a tickler to remind yourself to call back in a week if you still haven’t heard anything. Call back once a week, every week until a decision is made. Once a week is persistent; a trait which is to be admired. Once a day is pesky; a trait that should be avoided at all costs.
While it can be difficult to wait around after the interview, the most important two things that you should do is not blow the opportunity by annoying the employer with numerous pesky phone calls and by all means do not show up announced at their office door asking if they have arrived at a decision. Finally, make sure that you don’t pin all your hopes on one job. Yes, it may have been your first choice and your ideal dream job; however; this is probably also true for someone else as well. Use the time while you are waiting to hear back from the employer to line up your ‘B’ plan. Continue job searching, scheduling interviews and most importantly, reminding yourself that you can do this.
Best Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
June 8, 2005 22:13 - Technology in the Workplace - Boon or Curse?
Like all new innovations, technology in the work environment can either work for you or against you. What is good for the employer or is not always the same for the employee.Is Technology Working FOR You or AGAINST You
When cellphones became available it seemed that they would fill a need for instant communication - any time, any place - that would help people be more efficient and thus save time.
Then email became a mainstream method of business communication. Marvelous - now telephones wouldn't ring off the hook, messages would not have to be stored and retrieved as verbal communications, which took time. Instead, information would be clear and concise and could be retrieved and answered any time, any where - again the promise of more freedom.
With email, internet and cellphones, was it really necessary for workers to be restrained to the office? Maybe shorter work days would ensue. Perhaps parents could collect their children from school and be contacted at home via either of these methods.
The work world was changing.
This truth came about as more workers were able to take their jobs with them. The travel from home to work and back again was no longer a barrier for actually DOING the work.
Telecommunication was making itself an integral part of conducting business. With cellphones and email, distance, time and travel were no longer barriers to conducting business effectively.
For some, this meant that coming to the office every day was an option - not a requirement.
Mothers and fathers found new freedom to take care of their children while still collecting the paycheck they needed to support them. Work could be done at home, at the park, at the grocery store, at night...
Unfortunately, this ability to work anywhere has become a nuisance instead of a luxury for some individuals. The fact that they are ABLE to do business any time, any where, means that they actually ARE doing business all the time.
Rather than free them, they found that they cannot get far enough away from work to really put it away for the day. Illness and emergencies do not stop the phone from ringing or the email from piling up - and because you can access it, there is no excuse for not dealing with it.
So for some, the convenience has become a ball and chain - creating longer work hours and constant stress. For these individuals it is necessary to commit themselves and their work mates to guidelines such as turning the phone off. Not accessing email regularly. Sticking to these rules and telling other work mates your new practices should help.
Remember that you were supposed to be ASSISTED by these devices. It is in the best interest of your health and the well-being of your family if these tools keep their proper place.
Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
June 9, 2005 16:40 - What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job
Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic and distressing experience at the best of times. If you are over 40 and can't find the job you deserve, you will need great inner strength and self belief to come out on top.Could this be you?
You’re working at your family’s welding business during the day, and then go to your second job at night. You’re 50-some years old, working as a cashier at Target. You always said that if you’re 40 years old and have a career that requires you to wear a name tag, then to just shoot you!
Not that there’s anything wrong with working at Target or wearing a name tag or working the family business. Those are all honest jobs. It’s just that after 20 years with your previous company, and with your education and expertise, you hadn’t exactly planned on ramping up to your golden years asking customers if they’d like to save ten percent on their purchase by opening a store credit card.
You heard rumblings about the company folding. But as far as you knew, the numbers were good. At least they were good. unemployed, unemployment, downsizing, out of work, job seeker, redundant, fired, sacked
Then competition took over and the owners decided it was a good time to bow out gracefully. You were hoping you weren’t going to be one of the countless main wage earners to get let go. But sadly, you were. Unemployment ran out. You sent out literally hundreds of resumes and still nothing. Your spirits are down, you’re frustrated (that’s an understatement) and you even had to humble yourself to get some help from a local food pantry.
You’ve done all the online courses; you have tirelessly pounded the pavement and scoured the classified ads. You’ve even hit up all the online sources to jobs such as www.monster.com www.usajobs.com hotjobs.yahoo.com and about 800 other job boards that you regularly surf. If one more person tells you that a door closes and a window opens or that good things come to those who wait, you think you’re going to puke.
You have a family counting on you; so now what? For starters, keep plugging along. Keep on keeping on. You know a job isn’t going to fall from the sky, so you need to just accept that your job right now is finding a job. You are working and you’re working harder than most at this task.
More importantly you need to keep a positive outlook. Yes that’s easier said than done. But if you can’t control the circumstances you can control your attitude toward it. You can either look at downsizing as an opportunity to do something different or to learn something new; or you can view it by accepting that you’ve been dealt a bad hand of cards and now all you can do is play it out. Do not view yourself as a victim. No good will come from that attitude.
You wouldn’t have advanced nor had the longevity that you did in your former career had it not been for your wherewithal and internal drive. You need to find that strength again. If you’re still having a pity party, it’s time to get over it. If you’ve sent out that many resumes and exhausted what you believe to be all your leads and you’re still bitter and feeling sorry for yourself, it’s time to reevaluate. If you haven’t already accepted a job that you’re overqualified for and underpaid, then it’s time you did.
Pride can be our biggest downfall. Working a family business that you never wanted to, or working nights at the concession stand may not be what you envisioned for yourself. View it as temporary. View it as a paycheck. View it as an opportunity to network with people you would have never had the opportunity to cross paths. Maybe your next customer could be a business owner that you’ve been attempting to get an interview with.
As for the people who give you clichés – know that they mean well. People who have not been a mile in your shoes don’t understand it. They don’t know what to say. Remember downsizing sometimes sucks, but it may be forcing you into a new opportunity that you really love. Make the best of it.
Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
P.S Have a look at these new additions to Rogers Resume Help Center
Librarian Jobs
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Fashion Designers
Nutritionists
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June 12, 2005 11:57 - How to Close Your Interview and Leave a Lasting Positive Impression
Closing the InterviewKnowing how to successfully close an interview can make the difference between getting the job and being one of the unfortunate individuals who receives a rejection letter in the mail. While much attention is given to the matters of how to write a resume and cover letter as well as what to expect in regards to interview questions, far too many job seekers are unprepared when comes to knowing how to successfully close an interview.
Keep in mind that this is perhaps your last opportunity to demonstrate why you are perfect for the job. Successfully closing an interview walks a fine line between being too aggressive and not being aggressive enough.
It’s always a good idea to bring along some questions that you can ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. This shows that you have more than just a passing interest in the position and truly want the job. If you have taken the time to do your research on the company, this also demonstrates initiative and increases your chances of being hired.
To find out more about being successful at inverviews, read the full article now!
Kind Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
P.S Today we have launched our new section on teaching job interview techniques. Please find some time to look at these powerful interview tips, questions, answers and techniques ...
Job Interviews
Interview Types
Interview Preparation
Starting the Interview
Answers to Typical Questions
Answers to Tough Questions
Interview Tips
Interview Questions to Ask
Salary Negotiations
Closing the Interview
After the Interview
June 15, 2005 23:07 - Final Word on Closing the Interview
In the event that the employer does not offer you a firm commitment and seems to be a bit hesitant about when a firm decision will be made, don’t take it as a personal affront. There could be any number of reasons why the employer is reluctant to hire you on the spot-the least of which could be the need to consult with superiors.
It’s important that even if you are disappointed about not receiving a job offer on the spot that you remain positive, up beat and confident. Finally, take the time to thank the employer for meeting with you. Above all, remember to always be professional no matter what happens.
To read more about interviews, read the full article here!
Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
P.S Please take time to have a look at these new free resumes and templates ...
Free Resume Template
Free Functional Resume Sample
Free Combination Resume Sample
June 16, 2005 23:40 - Interview Tip of the Day #1
Tip # 1 Dress appropriately.If you don’t take the time and effort to wear appropriate clothing to the interview, you will lose the job before you even get a chance to explain why you are the best candidate.
What you wear to the interview will greatly depend upon the industry or field for which you are applying. Any office related position will require that you wear clothing that is no more casual than a button up shirt, slacks and tie for men and either a nice slacks/skirt and blouse combo for ladies or a dress/suit.
Only under rare circumstances would you need to wear anything more casual and this generally includes fields such as transportation, construction, mechanics, etc.
Additionally, clothing should be conservative and preferably reflect neutral tones. Avoid excessive jewelry. Don’t go overboard on the use of cologne or perfume.
Many people suffer from allergies and the last thing you want to do is cause your prospective employer an allergy attack.
To read more about interviews, you can read the more here
Kind Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
P.S Please take a look at our recent additiions to Rogers Resume Help Center
Job Interviews
Interview Types
Interview Preparation
Starting the Interview
Answers to Typical Questions
Answers to Tough Questions
Interview Tips
Interview Questions to Ask
Salary Negotiations
Closing the Interview
After the Interview
Free Resume Template
Free Functional Resume Sample
Free Combination Resume Sample
Free Chronological Resume Sample
Sample Resumes
Chronological Resume Sample
June 17, 2005 22:48 - New Cover Letter Samples Added to Rogers Resume Help Center - Recruiters
Rogers Resume Help Center has added four new pages of cover letter samples to their website.Cover letters addressed to recruiters need to be handled a little differently than conventional cover letters.
Specifically, certain information that is traditionally not included in cover letters sent directly to employers should be included in a recruiter cover letter. This information generally includes salary information, why and when you left your last employer as well as your salary history for past employment and your expectations regarding future compensation.
In addition, you will need to mention the types of jobs you are interested in and if you are interested in relocating, then the locations that would interest you.
The following four sample resume cover letters represent the most popular types in use:
You are welcome to use any of the resume cover letters on this site for your
personal use. The resume cover letters may not be used or reproduced for
commercial purposes without written permission.Kind Regards
Roger Clark
(Senior Editor)
June 26, 2005 15:26 - Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews
The following topics are covered in this article : interviews, interview tips, active listening, body language, jobs, employmentIt takes a lot of time and effort to get invited to a job interview. Don't blow your chances by being misunderstood by the interviewer. Not many people are aware that giving one word answers to questions, substantially increases your chances of conveying the wrong impression.
Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews
During a job interview, a potential employer asks, Can you take on more than one project at a time? If you respond, Yes, you may want to rethink that answer. According to Dynamic Listening: Interview Skills, a computer based training module from Mindleaders in Columbus, Ohio, you should avoid one-word or one-sentence answers.
Be specific. And speak money-language. Here’s a preferred answer to the question above, In general, depending upon the type and length of projects, I believe in efficiently handling more than one project at a time. This could save a company as much as 30%.
Let’s check out the definition of active listening skills and learn more to help with your next interview.
Active Listening Skills
Just as everyday speaking is not the same as public speaking; listening is not the same as active listening. Active listening means two things: analysis and response to the message being communicated.
An active listener maintains eye contact and good posture with a slight lean towards the speaker. During the interview, the listener nods, smiles and takes notes. Be ware, however, that a daydreamer or pseudolistener, can adopt these behaviors. So a listener’s physical response does not necessarily mean good listening skills are at work.
Nonverbal communication, more than just the nod or smile, is important. Gestures, appearance, timing, voice responses, facial expressions, spatial distance all affect how the speaker (or interview) interprets the listener. So a person preparing for a job or work project interview should consider the cultural climate and norms of society of the interviewer. In short, perceived active listening based on nonverbal signals can vary from culture to culture.
Especially in this age of such great cultural diversity, be courteous of others regardless of cultural, sexual or societal backgrounds. If you are a woman and get to a door before a man, open it. If your interviewer doesn’t speak English very well and looks puzzled at your words, go back and explain yourself again in different words and re-establish a good communication exchange.
Note: a major part of active listening is paraphrasing. It’s not the same as summarizing. A summary is a shortened version of the original message, focusing on the main point. To paraphrase means to re-state the message in your own words.
Active listeners take notes by paraphrasing or restating what the speaker said in their own words, and summarizing main points. A good listener is not the same thing as a silent listener. Good listeners ask questions, even something like, Is this an accurate paraphrase of you have said? to let the speaker know that you understand the message being communicated.
Roger Clark is senior editor at Rogers Resume Help Center who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
June 27, 2005 18:56 - How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview
The following topics are covered in this article: cover letters, cover letter tips, interviews, resumes, winning cover letters, jobs and careers.Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are your resume will end up in the trash bin without even being looked at.
On the other hand, a well written cover letter can almost guarantee you get an interview.
Interview Winning Cover Letters
Ok, you may not win any awards for the cover letter that you enclose to your resume, but you may increase your odds it actually getting read, if you follow a few simple steps.
1. Keep it brief. Your resume is the document that conveys your qualifications, therefore your cover letter need not go on and on about how wonderful you are.
2. Remember it serves a purpose. It is announcing you - and your enclosed information, your resume.
3. Tell them what you’re doing: I’m applying for the position of ... Enclosed is my resume for the position of ...
4. Clearly state what position you’re applying for. Don’t assume the Human Resources person will automatically know what job you want or that they only have one opening.
5. Highlight a few of your strong suits. Although brevity is the key here, you don’t want to merely say, "Here’s my resume. Bub Bye."
6. Don’t be redundant with contact information. All that pertinent information should be on your resume.
7. Don’t staple your cover letter to your resume. Often photocopies need to be made and it just frustrates the person making the copies to have to remove your staples. Use a paperclip if you feel the need to attach it; else just send it on top of your resume.
8. Typos. That’s an obvious one. It’s hard to proof your own work. Find one other person to give both your cover letter and resume a glance over. You’re dead in the water if your cover letter has misspellings, poor grammar or typos.
Below is a same letter you can use as a guide:
---
Date
Human Resources, COMPANY NAME HERE
RE: NAME OF VACANT POSITION
Enclosed please find my resume’. I am very much interested in working with you as your POSITION TITLE. As you will see from my enclosed resume’ I am qualified in a variety of areas. (Or I am uniquely qualified for this position because of my vast experience in ...). My college degrees are in Business Administration with a minor in Management. I have spent the last two decades performing INSERT SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES.
I am anxious to discuss this opportunity with you further.
Respectfully,
Your Name
---
You as can see, the above cover letter is short and to the point. It serves a purpose of prefacing your resume. Don’t waste your time going on and on and on. It will not get read. As it stands, you have a 50/50 chance that anyone will even read your cover letter. Are you willing to take 50% odds that it will be read, only to have a lousy cover letter that will essentially hinder your resume from consideration? Follow the above simple steps and you’ll make a great first impression. Of course, it’s up to you to have knowledge, skills and abilities to back it; but at least you’re starting off right!
Roger Clark is senior editor at Rogers Resume Help Center who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
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