Here are some simple interviewing tips that may help you land that next job, based on the feedback we get from hiring managers about their interviewees.
Do not overload on cologne or perfume for an interview. Many interviewers find this offensive and can have allergic reactions to strong new scents.
Do not smoke a cigarette in the car on the way to your interview. Again, many interviewers find it offensive to smell strong scents on their candidates, especially that of cigarette smoke.
Toss your chewing gum before walking in to the building.
Try to avoid going off in many tangents. A hiring manager or interviewer's time is very important, and at the very least, they want clear, consise answers to their questions.
Be prepared. Do your research ahead of time. Have questions prepared specifically about their company and their position.
Take a note pad, and take notes!
Always wear a suit. When interviewing for a semi-professional or professional job, it's always proper to wear a suit. Sales and marketing positions are no exception. The hiring manager wants to know how you present yourself to an audience, and first impressions are always the
most important.
It is always important to follow-up with a Thank You note. An e-mail, thanking the people you met with, is a sufficient means of communication this day-in-age. This is most valuable when you are considering a position or are interested in a position. Many times, hiring managers weight this very heavily.
Use your recruiter! Pump them for information on the hiring process, what to expect, who you will meet with, and how the interviews are conducted. That way, there are fewer surprises in store.
Here is a good site to visit to see standard questions asked in an interview (by the hiring manager or interviewer). This may help you when preparing to answer the interviewer's questions.
http://www.utsa.edu/hr/docs/InterviewQuestions.pdf
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Social Networking, Not Social Drinking
You probably realized very quickly how popular social networking sites have become when your mother wrote her first post on your "Wall." Almost everyone has a social network of choice these days (Facebook, My Space, Twitter, Linked In), and because checking your social network page has become as common as your morning coffee or your 5 minute Yahoo! News break, you have to remember the frequency by which your information is being shared.
Social networks allow you to operate both personally and professionally and many times, mix the two. But the old adage exists for a reason - business and pleasure don't mix! I heard on the radio this morning that 4 out of 10 college recruiters check the web while reviewing applications. So when that ivy-league school your son or daughter is applying to finds out that he/she had a blast at Senior Skip Day, it could very well affect whether or not they will get in.
The same goes for employers, as well! You better believe that recruiters, hiring managers and executive management are surfing the net to uncover incriminating evidence about current and potential employees. So if you are looking for a job, or intend on keeping the one you've got, make sure to use some discretion on your public profiles. I am not saying that you have to take the fun out of social networking, but just make sure you properly adjust your privacy settings. At the very least, remove any offensive or outlandish information that can be viewed by the general public, and make it so that your picture files can only be viewed by your friends. This is especially critical while you are job hunting.
As a recruiter/headhunter, I want to make sure the talent that I am representing to my clients is representing me well, too! I will definitely check profiles of candidates for any provocative or inappropriate material. We have had instances where hiring managers declined an interview with a super-star candidate due to inappropriate pictures on their My Space page from a scandalous Halloween party.
Social networking pages are the wave of the future, and there is plenty of legitimate business to find by using social networking tools to your advantage. Just remember that it will serve you best if you err on the side of caution, and make sure you are putting your best foot forward for the online world to see. Consider your online profile like a nice business dinner with a client - you can have a glass of wine with your dinner - but avoid the shots of tequila as the night progresses!
Social networks allow you to operate both personally and professionally and many times, mix the two. But the old adage exists for a reason - business and pleasure don't mix! I heard on the radio this morning that 4 out of 10 college recruiters check the web while reviewing applications. So when that ivy-league school your son or daughter is applying to finds out that he/she had a blast at Senior Skip Day, it could very well affect whether or not they will get in.
The same goes for employers, as well! You better believe that recruiters, hiring managers and executive management are surfing the net to uncover incriminating evidence about current and potential employees. So if you are looking for a job, or intend on keeping the one you've got, make sure to use some discretion on your public profiles. I am not saying that you have to take the fun out of social networking, but just make sure you properly adjust your privacy settings. At the very least, remove any offensive or outlandish information that can be viewed by the general public, and make it so that your picture files can only be viewed by your friends. This is especially critical while you are job hunting.
As a recruiter/headhunter, I want to make sure the talent that I am representing to my clients is representing me well, too! I will definitely check profiles of candidates for any provocative or inappropriate material. We have had instances where hiring managers declined an interview with a super-star candidate due to inappropriate pictures on their My Space page from a scandalous Halloween party.
Social networking pages are the wave of the future, and there is plenty of legitimate business to find by using social networking tools to your advantage. Just remember that it will serve you best if you err on the side of caution, and make sure you are putting your best foot forward for the online world to see. Consider your online profile like a nice business dinner with a client - you can have a glass of wine with your dinner - but avoid the shots of tequila as the night progresses!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Our Current Economic State and How it Relates to a Job Search
You may get swept up in the panic about the current state of our economy. We are constantly flooded with bulletins about job security and lay-offs and hiring freezes. But even in the midst of a potential dreaded "R" word (recession), the truth is there are still jobs to be found.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate is up 1.4 points this year, with the Sept. 2008 unemployment rate at 6.1, as opposed to 4.7 at the same time last year. With all of that harsh reality out of the way - let's talk about today's market and how it can affect your job search.
When markets tighten, so can companies' requirements. It is easier for a company to justify hiring during a slow period, if a person's background is a perfect fit for their company. Companies tend to get painfully specific with their job requirements, to filter through some of the unemployed or irrelevant candidates that may be applying for their jobs. This does not mean you cannot get it to a company - it just means that gatekeepers will be a little less tolerant and the hiring process could take a little longer.
The common theme of job transition during a time like this is that it's best to "sit tight" and hope that it passes you by. Fact - if you are jockeying yourself for a better position with a similar company (a competitor, a related industry, etc), you will have a far better shot than if you were looking outside of your current industry. Because of the tightening of funds and the resistance to hire or "onboard" a new individual - relevant industry experience can generally overcome hesitation to hire. Employers are far more likely to bring on someone with relatable experience, versus someone without relevant experience, because the cost of "onboarding" will be significantly reduced. It is more cost efficient to hire someone who knows the business.
Another aspect to keep in mind, is that you will be able to command the most money (salary, earning potential) if you keep within an industry that you have experience. If you start looking to switch industries in a tighter market, you will inevitably be competing for roles with folks that DO have industry experience. They will be able to command a higher salary, because they are more of a "slam dunk."
If you cannot "weather the storm" and need to find a new job right now, you may want to consider lowering your expectations on some of your search criteria. If the personal reward is greater to move on to another type of job in a different field, you may have to make the hard switch to a lower salary. There are always pay-offs in life; consider the age-old question - is it better to have time but no money, or better to have money and no time?? If you want a better quality of life, the pay-off may be a smaller salary. In order to land the job you really want, just remember you are always competing with folks that have industry experience, and in order to get the job, you may have to be more flexible on your requirements.
Another issue that may play a factor in finding a new job in a slower economy is number of interviews you go on. It is always wiser to entertain things that you may normally consider to be slightly "outside the box" because of less opportunities overall. You may find that a sales job in a higher-end consultative field may be just as satisfying as the marketing manager role you've been dreaming of. No one says you have to take a job that you don't want, but you are more likely to fill your personal pipeline with opportunities to evaluate if you are open to entertaining more things. And, it's a simple numbers game. Just like the number of cold-calls you make per day affects your earning ability in a sales job, the number of interviews you go on in a slower market can ultimately lead you to a job before you are unable to pay your bills.
This may come as little or no consolation, but keep in mind that all areas of business are affected during times like these. Try not to beat yourself up for not finding that recession-proof industry 3 years ago. Even necessary commodities, such as dentistry and veterinary medicine have been affected by a down-turned market. People are less likely to pay for services like animal care and auxiliary health maintenance, unless it is urgent. Until the market begins to even out and start the incline to a healthy status - many areas in both personal and professional lives will take a hit.
What goes up must come down and THANKFULLY, the laws of physics also hold true for the reverse. It can only get better from here! Just keep in mind that you may have to be a little more flexible until the market restores itself to a better state. And keep your chin up - companies are still hiring, there are still jobs to be filled; it just may take a little longer.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate is up 1.4 points this year, with the Sept. 2008 unemployment rate at 6.1, as opposed to 4.7 at the same time last year. With all of that harsh reality out of the way - let's talk about today's market and how it can affect your job search.
When markets tighten, so can companies' requirements. It is easier for a company to justify hiring during a slow period, if a person's background is a perfect fit for their company. Companies tend to get painfully specific with their job requirements, to filter through some of the unemployed or irrelevant candidates that may be applying for their jobs. This does not mean you cannot get it to a company - it just means that gatekeepers will be a little less tolerant and the hiring process could take a little longer.
The common theme of job transition during a time like this is that it's best to "sit tight" and hope that it passes you by. Fact - if you are jockeying yourself for a better position with a similar company (a competitor, a related industry, etc), you will have a far better shot than if you were looking outside of your current industry. Because of the tightening of funds and the resistance to hire or "onboard" a new individual - relevant industry experience can generally overcome hesitation to hire. Employers are far more likely to bring on someone with relatable experience, versus someone without relevant experience, because the cost of "onboarding" will be significantly reduced. It is more cost efficient to hire someone who knows the business.
Another aspect to keep in mind, is that you will be able to command the most money (salary, earning potential) if you keep within an industry that you have experience. If you start looking to switch industries in a tighter market, you will inevitably be competing for roles with folks that DO have industry experience. They will be able to command a higher salary, because they are more of a "slam dunk."
If you cannot "weather the storm" and need to find a new job right now, you may want to consider lowering your expectations on some of your search criteria. If the personal reward is greater to move on to another type of job in a different field, you may have to make the hard switch to a lower salary. There are always pay-offs in life; consider the age-old question - is it better to have time but no money, or better to have money and no time?? If you want a better quality of life, the pay-off may be a smaller salary. In order to land the job you really want, just remember you are always competing with folks that have industry experience, and in order to get the job, you may have to be more flexible on your requirements.
Another issue that may play a factor in finding a new job in a slower economy is number of interviews you go on. It is always wiser to entertain things that you may normally consider to be slightly "outside the box" because of less opportunities overall. You may find that a sales job in a higher-end consultative field may be just as satisfying as the marketing manager role you've been dreaming of. No one says you have to take a job that you don't want, but you are more likely to fill your personal pipeline with opportunities to evaluate if you are open to entertaining more things. And, it's a simple numbers game. Just like the number of cold-calls you make per day affects your earning ability in a sales job, the number of interviews you go on in a slower market can ultimately lead you to a job before you are unable to pay your bills.
This may come as little or no consolation, but keep in mind that all areas of business are affected during times like these. Try not to beat yourself up for not finding that recession-proof industry 3 years ago. Even necessary commodities, such as dentistry and veterinary medicine have been affected by a down-turned market. People are less likely to pay for services like animal care and auxiliary health maintenance, unless it is urgent. Until the market begins to even out and start the incline to a healthy status - many areas in both personal and professional lives will take a hit.
What goes up must come down and THANKFULLY, the laws of physics also hold true for the reverse. It can only get better from here! Just keep in mind that you may have to be a little more flexible until the market restores itself to a better state. And keep your chin up - companies are still hiring, there are still jobs to be filled; it just may take a little longer.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Resumes - What's Hot and What's NOT
A resume is your 1 minute (or less) commercial - did you ever think about it that way? I always tell my candidates that resumes are meant to generate interest not spark questions about a background.
Top advertisers know the key to captivating their audience and keeping their attention is tailoring their ads to their audience and keeping them in a 30-60 second window. I generally advise candidates to keep their resumes short, sweet and to the point. The more clutter there is on a resume, especially within the first page (ie: headers, objectives, summaries, bullet points, graphs, lists, etc), the more likely the onlooker is to quickly start scrolling through to the bottom. If I open a resume and do not see a job and title listed by the end of the first page, I almost never finish reading the resume.
If you have only been in your career for a few years, it is best to list your education and your jobs only. If you have 10 years plus of experience, it is more than acceptable to put a brief summary of your talents and/or skills - just remember to constantly edit yourself.
If you have stayed at most of your positions for more than 3 years - you should highlight your tenure. Make sure to put the length of time at your current and previous comanies in bold type.
In going with the "less is more" theme, try not to go in to great detail on your role or reason for leaving. For a sales position - you should list the functionality, quota, attainment, accolades and extra activities that were necessary for driving revenue. You shouldn't list the reason for leaving each company on your resume. You should also stay away from listing references on the resume. That way, when it comes time to close in on an opportunity, you can gauge a prospective employer's interest level when they request a list of references.
You should always tailor your resume to your potential employer. If your experience has been as an Office Manager and you are applying for a direct sales role - make sure to add examples or bullet points that highlight soft sales skills. Phone experience, driving revenue, finding opportunities to change a client's opinion or turn around a potentially lost-sale.
Things to Include on Your Resume:
Job Title
Job Description
Accolades, Certifications and/or Professional Training
Top advertisers know the key to captivating their audience and keeping their attention is tailoring their ads to their audience and keeping them in a 30-60 second window. I generally advise candidates to keep their resumes short, sweet and to the point. The more clutter there is on a resume, especially within the first page (ie: headers, objectives, summaries, bullet points, graphs, lists, etc), the more likely the onlooker is to quickly start scrolling through to the bottom. If I open a resume and do not see a job and title listed by the end of the first page, I almost never finish reading the resume.
If you have only been in your career for a few years, it is best to list your education and your jobs only. If you have 10 years plus of experience, it is more than acceptable to put a brief summary of your talents and/or skills - just remember to constantly edit yourself.
If you have stayed at most of your positions for more than 3 years - you should highlight your tenure. Make sure to put the length of time at your current and previous comanies in bold type.
In going with the "less is more" theme, try not to go in to great detail on your role or reason for leaving. For a sales position - you should list the functionality, quota, attainment, accolades and extra activities that were necessary for driving revenue. You shouldn't list the reason for leaving each company on your resume. You should also stay away from listing references on the resume. That way, when it comes time to close in on an opportunity, you can gauge a prospective employer's interest level when they request a list of references.
You should always tailor your resume to your potential employer. If your experience has been as an Office Manager and you are applying for a direct sales role - make sure to add examples or bullet points that highlight soft sales skills. Phone experience, driving revenue, finding opportunities to change a client's opinion or turn around a potentially lost-sale.
Things to Include on Your Resume:
- Contact Information
- Objective
- Education - GPA if recent graduate
- Company Name and length of tenure
- Brief description of the company in italics
- Brief description of the job you performed
- Extra Curricular activities relevant to your potential job
- Accolades
Things That Are Best Left Unsaid:
- Reason for Leaving
- Compensation
- Personal Activities you enjoy - for example - hiking, fishing, hunting, reading, jogging, etc
- Personal Information - number of kids, length of marriage, homeowners' association membership, etc
- Age
- Lengthy descriptions of yourself, your company, your role or your objective
- It is appropriate to put your highest level of education (ie -Bachelor's or Master's), however, you do not need to list your middle school name, or even your high school name.
Sample Resume Format:
Name
Address
Phone number
Email Address
Objective:
Education:
Educational Institution Year Graduated
Degree Earned
Experience:
Current Company, location Date Employed - Present (or Date Completed)Job Title Job Description
Previous Company, location Dates EmployedJob Title
Job Description
Accolades, Certifications and/or Professional Training
References Provided Upon Request
Next time you are revising your resume - keep in mind that you can explain any gaps of information in-person or over the phone. The goal is to first get your foot in the door. So view your resume as your 60 second advertisement during the Super Bowl :)
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