Industry Links and Tidbits that get you to the interview and through the interview!

More and more companies are using Targeted Behavior techniques during their interview process. Please click Contact Us and ask any counselor to email you a copy of “What Employers Want to Know”.

Rule of thumb in a job search that becomes an offer is that you should take no more that 24 hours to accept and less than 24 hours to resign.

Do’s and Don’ts during the interview process:

Don’t talk politics – this is a volatile subject, avoid it!
Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s).
Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry.
Don't chew gum or answer a cell phone during the interview.
Don't tell jokes during the interview.
Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um").
Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers.
Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly, don't over-answer questions.
Do stress your achievements.
Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process.

Links that may be of interest to you:

U.S. Department of Labor: www.dol.gov

Cost of Living / Salary Calculators: www.homefair.com
cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html
www.rileyguide.com/relocate.html

The Latest News, Tips and Tools for your Career: www.thecareernews.com

Internal Revenue Service: www.irs.gov

Create a website: www.powersurge.net

Career Assessment: www.assessment.com

Resume writing tips

What is going to get your resume to the top and make you the most viable candidate for the job?

The obvious answer is that your resume shows more impressive accomplishments than the other candidates. They serve as proof of your ability to not only meet, but to exceed the highest level of performance expectations. They also provide direct evidence that you actually do possess the skills, abilities and personal strengths that the job requires.

Four simple rules to follow when writing a resume:

1. Avoid idle claims such as “expanded vendor sourcing activities and negotiated more favorable contracts” instead SPELL IT OUT with hard dollars and numbers. Facts and figures speak louder than ‘fluff’.
2. Begin each statement with a different action verb i.e. Accelerated, Balanced, Captured, Eliminated, Engineered, Managed, Negotiated, Transformed, Upgraded, etc. You can find lists of these verbs with any resume-writing package that can be purchased at an office store.
3. Make sure that each accomplishment is stated in two parts. First, clearly indicate the exact action you took to achieve the accomplishment (what you did). Second, make sure that you show how the company benefited from your actions (a tangible benefit, preferably expressed in terms of money, percentages, time units etc.). If the accomplishment was the result of a team effort, be specific as to your particular role.
4. Use terminology appropriate to your area of expertise, but minimize the use of “buzz” words, technical jargon and acronyms unless it is absolutely necessary to convey your credentials. I.E., use Total Quality Management as opposed to TQM. Many resumes are scanned for key words and you want the correct wording in your resume for the scan to pick it up.

PHONE SCREENS

Telephone screening is a way to decide which candidates to bring on-site for an interview. Be prepared to answer a few questions about your background and qualifications during the first phone call.

• KNOW the name of the company.
• KNOW the name of the recruiter who got you there.
• KNOW the job postings you have replied to over the past weeks/months.
• KNOW the location of the opportunity and have a positive reaction when questioned about the location.
• HAVE a copy of your resume on hand so that dates and accomplishments don’t become a blur in your mind.
• BE PREPARED with questions to ask them about the opportunity.
• TURN off call waiting and any electronic devices and move to a quiet place.
• BE friendly and smile during the phone screen, the person on the other end if the line can HEAR that!
• ENJOY the conversation, the person talking to you could be your colleague soon.

THE INTERVIEW

The telephone screening went great and now the company wants a personal interview! How do you prepare to stand out from the crowd?

• Be prepared - research the company.
• Practice answering typical interview questions with a friend or family member.
• Decide in advance what you are going to wear.
• If possible make a practice run to the interview site so you’ll know exactly where you’re going and how long it will take.
• SHOW UP EARLY!
• Get business cards of everyone you meet and then...
• SEND A FOLLOW-UP NOTE
• In the note include something the interviewer told you the position required and why you believe you fit that description. Let them know you look forward to joining the team.
• Receive a rejection letter? Send a thank you note. Quite often the candidate given the job offer may withdraw for one reason or another, leaving the field open for you. Another opportunity may open up that is a closer match to your skill set. Make sure the company knows that you would like to have your resume kept for future opportunities. Your Thank You note will keep your name front and center.
• You have followed all of these steps and still don’t have a job? Go back to the beginning and start again, always remembering that you are the QUALITY candidate of choice!