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Helpful Tips On Job Hunting

By Michael Dierson

May 2012

Those who want to start in a new job must go through the challenging experience of job hunting. They have to have patience and determination, so they can land on their choice of career. Moreover, they must be resourceful in looking for a job. It is essential that they think about their options well whenever they examine the different jobs available. When they get rejected, they should keep going in their quest for finding the best job. Here are some tips that will help you, as you find work.

Job applicants must know the kind of job that they want before they start looking at the classified ads. They need to have a strong goal when applying for a job, as this will push them to do their best during their application. They should review their credentials, and know the skills and training that they have. Some people end up feeling depressed whenever they fail in the tests or the job interview. But, it could possibly be because the work they applied for was not a good match to their experience and education. In fact, they'll find the job more fulfilling and rewarding if the career is what they've always dreamed of.

Start researching your options. Many internet sites and printed publications publish regular classified ads, where people can find job openings. When applicants have decided on the company they want to join, they should start by looking at the company's background. The company must have a good reputation, such that their employees have good feedback for them. A notable company with goodwill is the best work place that can provide any employee countless opportunities for growth and success.

Create a network of friends. Job seekers should communicate with their family and friends about their hunt for a job. They might be able to refer applicants to a company with good standing that needs new employees. They can help those who are searching for a job, especially when they have contacts in a company. Set a meeting with friends who can help in recommending a reliable office that provides excellent benefits and compensation. An association of friends can likewise offer moral support to the applicant. They can offer assistance that will help an applicant in his endeavor.

Maintain a good reputation. Companies don't need mediocre employees. They want to get the best and highly-talented applicants that can give their industry a boost. Because of the intense competition in job hunting, applicants should make sure that they could wow their employer. They should make effective application letters and complete curriculum vitae, so they could leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager of the company. Applicants must also be punctual during the job interview.

In addition to authoring journals, you may also check out some of this writer's specific websites pertaining to detecto scales and yuasa motorcycle battery.

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Are Recruitment Agencies Really Necessary for Job Hunts?
By Thomas C Lee

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When talking about the importance of recruitment agencies, we should consider both the viewpoint of employers and viewpoint of job seekers. Since the agency acts as a liaison for both parties, it becomes imperative to assess the two sides in order to come up with a viable answer to this particular inquiry.

At present, employment positions are quite rare, particularly for popular careers and professions in the industry of medical, healthcare, marketing and banking jobs. Aside from employment positions narrowing down overtime, the level of competition is another thing you should be worried about. Whether you are going for a position as sales manager or marketing manager, you will find hundreds of applicants aiming for the same position as you are aiming for. If you are carrying weaker credentials or qualifications compared to another applicant, you might as well say goodbye to that particular spot.

For job seekers, recruitment agencies are heaven sent. Their services are streamlined to make sure that you land a job that best fits your individual circumstances and conditions. What is great about such a service is that almost all recruitment firms provide services totally free of charge. Why is that you might ask? Basically, their commission comes from employers who they are also working with. With the standard commission-based system, this yields further benefits to the job hunter since they will most likely be working with agencies that aim to give you a job you are most interested in and will exercise all necessary efforts in order to secure a position for you. Commission-based system means that the agency will only be paid by the employer for every successful placement of an employee into the organization. So the odds are your agency is rooting and supporting you all the way until you land a suitable job position.

Working with recruitment firms as a job hunter also gives you access to networks of top level management and large corporations that can further your career opportunities in the future. A good and reputable recruitment agency definitely has some promising career positions up its sleeve that you or any other job hunter can find on the Internet or the classified ads of the local newspaper. Many recruitment firms will also handle the responsibilities entailed from job hunting, thus reducing the legwork from your side. From handling paperwork and documents to setting up interview schedules, job seekers will have fewer responsibilities when working with an agency than they would have when riding solo.

As an employer, you can also say that companies can benefit from the services of a recruitment firm. Whether you stand as an accounting or a business development manager, your workforce contributes significantly to the success of your enterprise. Although most large corporations have their private Human Resources department that handles the placement of competent workers for the organization, a few have limited resources to employ their own HR department. If you are in need of only a few job positions to fill up, a recruitment firm can definitely be a practical and economical option for you to take.

Another vital benefit of using the services of a recruitment firm as an employer is that they can fill up the available job positions and find the best transport staffing members to comply with their company's specific demands and requirements.

Thomas Lee recommends the help of a recruitment agency when opting for a career change, especially in sales, marketing or accounting jobs.

MONTLY QUOTE FOR MAY

A mother is someone who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take

-Unknown

How To Write A Resume - Steps You Must Take To Write An Impressive Resume 

By Jeff Schuman

May 2012

How to write a resume is a topic that people all around the world need to know about because everyone has to have a job in order to survive day to day. When you want to get a job you have to have an impressive resume that will get you any job you wish to get and that is why you need to learn right now the steps you must take to create your own impressive resume.

There are a number of steps that need to be done, but the following are the steps that you absolutely have to take if you want to impress employers with your resume.

1. Find and utilize a resume builder - For any person that is really serious about creating an impressive resume, the best way to accomplish that is with a good online resume builder. This software will provide you with samples or even better, templates so you can create your resume in minutes.

Plus, the template is going to make it so much easier to get it done without fearing the writing process because all that is required from you is to add in your personal information and work information. From there the template software will take over and will put it all in the right order and in the right spot.

2. Get yourself ready for the writing process - Before you begin the writing process it is a smart idea to take time to get yourself ready for it. This means that you need to spend some time getting all of your personal and work information ready.

Make sure it is in one easy to access area so you can get to it at any time without having to interrupt the writing process.

3. Begin the writing process - Once you have done the first two steps, this is the next most important one and it is also the most difficult step for a lot of people. You have to just get started writing the resume and don't let yourself take time to think about what you are doing because that is what prevents many people from even getting started.

You have to take this step in order to create the resume you need for a job because until you do you have no chance of being hired for any job.

These are the most imperative steps that need to be taken to create an impressive resume. Most people make the resume writing process much more difficult and complicated than it really is, but now that you understand how to write a resume you can create your own within minutes and be out looking and applying for jobs while everyone else is at home still trying to get their resume completed.

If you enjoyed this article by Jeff Schuman please visit our resume builder website today. You will find information to help you learn how to do a resume and even more information to help you build a resume. Check out our sample resume before you begin so you will be confident that you are writing it correctly. http://www.theresumebuilder.com

LDF Applauds New EEOC Guidelines That Expand Workplace Opportunity 

May 2012

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) applauds the issuance of detailed guidelines by the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that makes it easier for those who have paid their debt to society to transition back into the workforce.  The new guidelines instruct employers to consider only important and relevant details about a candidate's criminal background, such as the nature of the offense, age at time of conviction, and the extent of rehabilitation efforts, so that reasoned employment decisions can be made without compromising safety and security.  This is the first time in more than 20 years that the EEOC has updated its guidelines regarding employers' use of criminal records to make hiring decisions.  With over 90% of employers reporting consideration of criminal records in a recent survey, these new guidelines are essential for ensuring that employers use only information that is pertinent to job performance.

The updated guidelines, which incorporate many of the recommendations offered by LDF during the EEOC's public comment period, provides employers with a useful roadmap to design a fair and lawful criminal records policy.  The EEOC encourages employers to identify specific criminal offenses that demonstrate unfitness for the job in question, check criminal background information only after evaluating a candidate's experience and qualifications, and provide candidates an opportunity to explain mitigating circumstances or correct inaccurate information. 

According to the federal government's estimates, more than one out of every four adults has a criminal record.  The numbers are far higher for African Americans, who as a group are far less likely to have engaged in criminal activity, but are more likely to be unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system.  For example, a 2005 study found that African Americans represented 14% of current drug users, yet constituted 33.9% of persons arrested for drug offenses.  Thus, overly broad criminal records policies—including those that deny employment to anyone who has been arrested or convicted of any offense—prevent millions of otherwise qualified Americans from obtaining gainful employment.  The EEOC's new guidelines make clear that such policies may also violate Title VII if they disproportionately exclude African-American jobseekers and are not job-related.

"We salute the EEOC's bipartisan effort to update its guidelines to ensure that employers are not unfairly excluding otherwise qualified applicants from the job market.  No one should be penalized for the rest of their life for mistakes that they made in the past.  Our whole nation benefits when we open up opportunities for people who are willing and able to become contributing members of our society," said Debo Adegbile, LDF Acting President and Director-Counsel.

10 Worst Things to Do in an Interview

By Stacey Hawley

1. Be late

Leave EARLY. Check train schedules, bus routes, traffic, etc. Set TWO alarms. BE EARLY. Something will happen. It inevitably does. So if your interview is scheduled to start at 9, be prepared to arrive at 8. Use the time to prepare, relax, or have a cup of coffee. But whatever you do, don't be late. You cannot undo that first impression.

2. Name drop

Do your parents know the CEO? Did you get the interview because you are close friends with a manager? Do your children attend the same school as the boss? SO WHAT! The interviewer(s) do not want to know that. They do not care. But, once you tell them, they will care. They will care because the impression is not favorable. They will care because you sound arrogant.

3. Dress inappropriately

This, unfortunately, requires some discussion. Because some people BELIEVE what they wear IS appropriate. But it isn't. I have seen a lot - too much. So let's cover some of the basics. Iron. Do not wear a short skirt. Tuck in your shirt. Shave. Go easy on the makeup - no harsh eyeliner. Don't wear LOUD clothes or overbearing jewelry. In short, be conservative. Remember, what you wear creates a lasting impression. Do not let your appearance detract from what you have to say. It is hard to know what someone else will think about your appearance, so be conservative to play it safe.

4. Come empty handed

Bring extra resumes, notepads, pens, business cards, etc. The interview(s) may take unexpected turns. Someone may walk in and join the conversation unexpectedly. A few extra people may join you for lunch. Showing you are prepared gives the impression you can handle whatever the job throws at you. You want to show that you are calm, cool and collected. Plus flexible and motivated.

5. Ask questions about the company that is public information

You want to show that you have done your homework. Research the company thoroughly PRIOR to the interview. Read the website. Read any press releases. If it is a public company, read their filings and know their stock price. I have heard, on numerous occasions, interviewers ask the interviewee if he/she knew the stock price. Show them you want this job. You should be doing this research anyway in order to tailor your answers to their business strategy.

6. Act arrogant - like the job is in the bag

You want to create a favorable impression. You also want to show what you will be like to work with and how you will act with colleagues and/or clients and customers. No one wants to work with someone who is arrogant. Of course, it is slightly difficult for arrogant people to actually KNOW they are arrogant. It requires a good deal of self-awareness and openness to constructive feedback. Therefore, it is easier to talk about what not to do - don't make jokes, don't put your feet up on the table or even assume where you will be sitting. Watch and observe. Be polite. Use the good manners your parents taught you. Don't talk about the company like you already work there (yes, you may have done a case study but that information is dated and static). Don't ask questions where it seems like you assume the answer (e.g., when can I start?).

7. Act nervous

This is not the opposite of acting arrogant. Acting nervous is sweating, perspiring, having sweaty palms or a weak handshake. Nervousness shows when you struggle to answer the questions completely and comprehensively. Nervousness shows when you don't smile or walk too quickly. We all have nerves. We can quell our nerves by practicing prior to the interview. Practice your answers. Practice your questions. Go prepared. Being prepared nixes the nerves.

8. Have ZERO questions prepared for the interviewer

Believe it or not, I have actually conducted many interviews where, afterwards, the interviewee did not have one single question for me. Perhaps I provided enough context that I answered some of the questions they had prepared, but our discussions should have elicited additional questions. Make sure you have enough questions prepared so you aren't caught empty-handed. If you do not have any questions, it does not seem like you researched the company or job thoroughly. You SHOULD have questions. You SHOULD be striving to determine whether a particular role/company is a good fit. The questions need to be intelligent and thoughtful. PREPARE.

9. Ask about career advancement - or how long it will take to get to the next level

The company is hiring for a particular job. They interviewers want to know that you are interested in THAT job. They want to confirm you are ready to jump in, be part of the team and excel. They do NOT want to think that you are a part-timer, trying to get to the next level so fast that you won't be committed to this job. There are ways to find out about career development without asking this question. You can ask about training and development, who you will be working with, how the work is striated, who you will be reporting to, etc. Through the course of these discussions, you will gain valuable insights into how you might progress with this company.

10. Forget to thank the interviewer

Yes, we should all send a "thank you" email or note following our interview. But I am talking about the actual END of the interview. Taking the time to thank the interview for his/her time and insights shows thoughtfulness, gratitude (aka not arrogance) and is a professional way to close the conversation. It gives a glimpse into your professional demeanor should you be hired. Plus, people LIKED to be thanked. It is a bonus.

Stacey Hawley is a leading career counselor and leadership development expert. After working for the premier HR consulting firm for 14 years, she launched Credo in 2011 to help individuals fulfill their potential. She also authored "The Good, The Bad and the In-Between: A PRACTICAL Career Evaluation Guide for REAL People."
She can be reached at info@thecredocompany.com
http://www.thecredocompany.com.

Recruiters! I Hate Them!

By Julie Holmwood

May 2012

Do you think a recruiter is standing between you and that job?

I have spoken to many people over the years who are convinced that is true: I am perfect for this, that and the other job; I have excellent transferable skills; That recruiter is too stupid to realise how brilliant I am; What do they know anyway!

Today I received such an email.

It all started a couple of days ago when I received an email from a friend on Facebook. He asked if I could help one his ex-colleagues, who was now out of work. I read an email exchange and reviewed this man's LinkedIn profile. I could see room for improvement. I put forward a few suggestions and comments and sent them to my friend, for him to forward.

Today my friend forwarded me the reply.

Here are some snippets:

...because recruitment agents are naturally lazy, they employ word scrapers on sites like LinkedIn

True! Recruiters do use search tools. In my case, only LinkedIn's advanced search facility. With over 100 million profiles, it is impossible to look at them all. Recruiters run key-word searches and sift through the list of matching profiles.

Tip: Make sure your key words are in your LinkedIn profile so that you come up on those all important searches.

Recruitment agents are my largest obstacle. I no longer get to talk to employers directly and explain my skills from an informed position. The agents very rarely bother to look up what my skills actually are. You can imagine their eyes glazing over as I explain it to them. Their preference at that point is to put my CV to one side...

True! You do have to sell yourself to recruiters and explain both your skills and experience to them (otherwise known as an interview), prior to your CV being submitted to their client. A recruiter's reputation and ongoing relationship with the hiring company, is based on their ability to put forward the best candidates and be able to answer questions the client has, prior to interview requests being made.

Tip: A good way to think of your conversation with your recruiter is as an interview. As important as meeting the company themselves.

From what I have gathered so far, agents receive a tick list of features from employers that they wish prospective candidates to have.

True again! Recruiters receive a job specification from their client and they are expected to provide a shortlist of up to six candidates who match the role and requirements. This is a combination of work history AND personality! If you are rude to the recruiter they will not risk your attitude with their client even if you have every skill the job asks for.

Tip: Remember this is your first interview. You need to impress to get to the next stage.

They argue that they are only able to put through a certain number of CVs and they can't be certain that my skills match the requirement.

True yet again! Recruiters are skilled in recruitment, not necessarily your job. If you don't include 'it' in your CV, they can't be expected to know 'it'. If you are responding to a vacancy you've seen advertised, make sure you have tailored your CV. Some recruiters are mind readers; a lot are not.

Tip: Do not risk your job search. Personalise every application and make it count!

They won't risk their contract with the employer.

Absolutely right! An unemployed recruiter is never going to be able to help anyone. Their job is to find people jobs. Not to lose their own!

Tip: Displaying the right attitude to the recruiter is key if you want them to put you forward.

The employers don't care about personal situations; they just want resource for their vacancy. The smoother the process, the better. So they outsource the recruitment to an agency

Don't care is harsh. The truth is that they are focused on their own problem; lack of resource. They know there are great candidates out there. They want to find the best one for them. Recruiters take away a lot of the headache of search and CV sifting.

NB: the person they hire may have wanted the job as much, or more, than you do. All of the other applicants are trying to get that job too!

Tip: If you want that job, be ready to prove you are the best person for it.

The result is an agency that employs agents at £15K + commission, to process applicants that they don't understand the skills for because their last role was shelf stacker at Lidl (which, by the way, is a role I can't even get!).

Despite a lot of recruiters being graduates, recruitment salaries are often low. A good recruiter makes their money via the commission element of that equation. Salary does not determine ability to do a job. Years within the role speak volumes.

Tip: If you speak to a recruiter who has three+ years experience within their company they are good at what they do. Not placing people and satisfying client requirements is a sackable offence!

If I sound bitter, it's because I am. My remuneration, career and future are being dictated by the decisions of people with a 2 digit IQ. With the recruitment process being so 'black box' I have few options to get around it.

Not having a job is hard. Not having a regular income is even harder. I understand that. Identifying recruiters as the key that unlocks the door to your future happiness and then seeing those very same people as your enemy is a dangerous approach to job search.

Tip: Knowing how to win friends and influence people are key skills to get through interviews. Being able to win over your recruiter can make the difference between them wanting to represent you or not.

I have met people so appealing I have personally championed their job search. Does that guarantee they get the job? No! Does it guarantee they get interviews? Absolutely!

There is another layer to this. Anyone that takes the time to win me over, will take the time and effort to win over the hiring company too. Is that likely to get you the job? You bet!

Now that is a winning job search strategy!

Are you frustrated by your job search success (or lack of it)? Are you really good at what you do but you just can't work out how to get that next job or promotion? Is it sometimes difficult to even get noticed? Do you just wish you could find a good job and be happy?

There's nothing wrong with you. Most people have felt like you do at some point in their career. We are your job search experts.

Churchill Brook run a range of webinars as well as providing audio and video courses to help you get 'job search fit' and secure that new role. We take you from the initial stages of job search: finding that vacancy, through; creating your attention grabbing application (including CV and covering letter); acing the interview so that you get the job offer, to; negotiating the best package.


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