10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Boss

Keep Personal Info Personal

Discrimination in the workplace is illegal. It's also despicable and certainly not anything we condone. In an ideal world, the details of our personal lives wouldn't matter nearly as much as our performance and productivity on the job. But the cold, hard truth is employers may still make decisions based upon details of an employee's life.
From judging workers based on Facebook photos to thinking twice about promoting someone with kids or a chronic illness when another employee is free of those obligations or difficulties, there are kinds of potential pitfalls. By revealing some private information to your boss, you could set yourself back when it comes to a raise or promotion.
Obviously every workplace is different and bosses will vary. If you have an understanding manager who sees the value in knowing employees on a personal level, this article probably won't apply to you. But if you're not that lucky, you may wish to keep the following details about your life private if you want to maximize your success.

10. Night Life

Whether you're reading bedtime stories to your kids or hitting the bars every night, your boss shouldn't know anything about your night life unless it includes taking classes in your field or doing extra work from home or your favorite cafe.
If you can't complete an after-hours work task due to a hot date or helping kids with homework, it's best to simply indicate that you have other obligations at home. Keep the personal drama at home.

9. Religious Beliefs

It's against the law to discriminate against religious beliefs, but talking about religion too often at work is inappropriate (unless you work for a religious organization).
If your job duties entail something that violates a religious belief, you should speak up. You do not necessarily need to be specific with your boss; you can simply indicate that the task at hand violates one of your beliefs. If possible, present an alternative or workaround.
We're all entitled to our personal religious beliefs, but remember not everyone is religious and a workplace is not a church. It's all about common sense. A Bible quote on your cubicle is no big deal, but proselytizing and trying to convert your coworkers is going to ruffle a few feathers and could potentially put your  job security on shaky ground.

8. Political Affiliation

The quickest way to alienate people in a mixed crowd is to talk about politics.
Your political affiliation should remain private information. For a myriad of reasons. First of all, you risk offending coworkers and your boss while creating an uncomfortable work environment. But more important, once a boss knows about your affiliation, you could be judged as too open or closed-minded for a particular job. Even if your boss treats you equally, political prejudices still exist and could easily work against you.

7. Spouse's Income

You might be wondering why this is on the list, but trust us -- your boss shouldn't know about your spouse's income.
If your spouse is CEO of a successful company and a coworker vying for a job has an unemployed spouse your boss is aware of, you could lose out on a promotion even though you're equally qualified because it may seem as though you don't "need" the promotion. Even if your boss isn't conscious of that information playing a part in his/her decision, you don't want to take any chances where your career is concerned.

6. You're Working Another Job

Many people work second jobs, including freelance positions. But your other business should stay your business.
Companies often develop and expand non-competition agreements and policies instructing employees to retain only one job. As your company could implement such a policy at any time, you should avoid telling your boss about other work obligations so you can continue to fly under the radar and make ends meet.
Not to mention, if you have an annual review with your boss and he/she cites a decrease in your performance, your boss could easily point the finger at the time and energy you're spending working at the second job. Don't give anyone any excuses to question your work ethic.

Read more at www.salary.com 






Source: Salary

5 Critical Ways Job Search Has Changed -- And How To Make The Most Of It

If you're looking for a job for the first time in a long time, you're probably stunned by how much has changed. Successful job seekers embrace the changes and take advantage of new technological opportunities. If you want to be successful and competitive in today's market, make sure to consider the following factors when it comes time to do a job search:

Applicant tracking systems: This isn't a new phenomenon, but many job seekers don't realize how important it is to cater application materials to appeal to the computer systems that screen resumes. It's crucial that you target your materials specifically to address the jobs that interest you. Do not assume a human being will read and interpret your resume; make a very clear and specific case for why you are well qualified. Do not expect someone to read between the lines of your materials and to give you credit for skills you do not specifically mention. Take advantage of the lengthy job descriptions employers provide and include specifics about each of the details they request in your application materials.

Employer databases: In the old days, you could safely apply for a job, and if you didn't get it, apply for another position with the same company a few months later without the company having a record of the previous application. Today, companies maintain information about applicants and their hiring professionals will notice if you apply for a variety of different positions or try your luck by submitting different resumes over and over again. Job seekers who apply for every job available at one company can assume someone will notice they aren't focusing their efforts. Additionally, if you make a lot of mistakes on your application, it could stay on your record with the company, even if you update your materials. Be aware that you're creating a paper trail whenever you apply for a job.

Social media: Job seekers have never had more access to information about organizations and individuals than they have today. A click of the mouse or an easy Google search provides context about interviewers, details about company culture and streams of information from people who work in organizations where you want to work. Job seekers should learn to use social media tools. Today's networking possibilities are tremendous; you don't need to hope your brother-in-law's neighbor can introduce you to someone in a target organization -- you can connect with a networking contact directly via a few tweets on Twitter or via a group discussion on LinkedIn.

Employers are checking you out, too: While access may open doors, the flip side is that the onus is on job seekers to make sure to have optimized online profiles. If employers Google you and can't even find a LinkedIn profile, they may wonder if you are the type of employee they want to join their organization. It's up to you to make sure you create and maintain social media profiles and content that makes it clear that you have the skills and experience you say that you have on your resume. If you apply, indicating what a great collaborator and team player you are, but your social media updates are full of argumentative remarks, you're unlikely to land an interview for that job.

Competition and a shifting economy: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 40 percent of all U.S. workers now work part time or as contractors. People who study career and employment trends have been predicting this shift for years. The result? There are fewer full-time, traditional positions, and job seekers need to learn how to market themselves as freelancers in order to secure work. Luckily, social media and online tools make this easier than ever, but it's a trend many are slow to understand and appreciate. Even if there are still many full-time opportunities in your field, you may find this long-term trend catches up with you and your industry sooner than later. Smart job seekers think strategically about making a clear case for their skills and expertise online and to build a community of potential allies now. When you learn to market yourself online, you're more likely to succeed in this new economy.

Source: AOL

What You Can Tell From Your Boss's Signature

Ever wonder what your boss's signature might say about him or her? A new study suggests that chief executives with outsized John Hancocks are more likely to be narcissists. Big signatures may also mean the CEOs are less capable and poor performing, though that doesn't mean they take home smaller paychecks.
In fact, the study of 605 U.S. CEOs, released by the University of North Carolina business school, found that those with large signatures make the most money -- regardless of how well or poorly they do their jobs. (Shown above is President Barack Obama's signature, which wasn't included in the study.)

In focusing on the size of the signature, ABC News reports, the study is believed to be the first of its kind, according to its authors, who defined narcissism as being conceited and having little regard for others. Narcissists, generally, have heightened opinions of their own capabilities and performance, and tend to dismiss the abilities and advice of others.

The hundreds of CEO signatures were mainly gathered from financial documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as of July 2011, professor Sean Wang, one of the study's three authors, told ABC News. The signatures were then run through a software program to aid in comparison. "We standardized the measure by dividing the area by the number of letters in the CEO's signature," Wang said.

The researchers, he said, relied on findings from psychological literature that "a bigger signature means a bigger ego, on average, though other factors may also determine signature size."

Other experts expressed skepticism. Narcissism experts James Westerman and Jacqueline Bergman of Appalachian State University told the network that other factors can determine signature size, including, high self-esteem and an extroverted personality.

Wang said that he and his colleagues aren't claiming a direct correlation between big signatures and poorly run companies, but rather, on average, it appears to be true. One noteworthy example, first cited by Fast Company, compared Carly Fiorina, the (now former) CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co., and Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Inc. Fiorina has a larger signature than Dell, but HP underperformed its rival by getting lower return on its investments.

Which CEO has the largest signature? Wang said it was Timothy Koogle, who ran Yahoo Inc. from 1995 to 2001 and was the Internet company's chairman from 1999 to 2003. Koogle's tenure mirrored that of the dot-com bubble and its burst. But even allowing for that "relatively strange time," Wang said, Koogle very much fits the model.

From 1997 to 2001, Wang said, Yahoo paid no dividends, made "extremely high investments," and provided Koogle some of the highest compensation in Silicon Valley.

Source: AOL

Could You Be a Translator?

In the modern business world, the ability to communicate in more than one language can be a tremendous asset. The person who can speak and write multiple languages will be in greater demand, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that translator jobs will increase faster than national averages through 2014.

What's fueling this trend? Homeland security issues, large numbers of foreign-language speaking immigrants, and recent requirements for federally funded healthcare facilities to provide language services to non-English speaking patients, mean that people with the knowledge and familiarity with various languages are in-demand.

President Bush announced the National Security Languages Initiatives in January 2006, requesting more than $100 million in funding to develop the country's foreign language skills, especially in "critical need" languages like Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Persian, Hindi and Central Asian languages.

This increased attention to "critical need" languages puts translators and interpreters with these skills in the catbird seat. Language specialists working for the federal government earned an average of nearly $72,000 in 2005, and some specialized translators can earn more than $100,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"A translator or interpreter with security clearances and knowledge of a "critical need" language can make upwards of $140,000 a year with an assignment in Iraq," says Kevin Hendzel, spokesman for the American Translators Association.

While homeland security jobs may have a high profile, the increasing number of non-English speaking immigrants in America are creating a large number of jobs as well.

"In Alexandria, Va., the local schools need to provide services for people who speak 82 different languages," Hendzel says. In addition, demand for those who can translate, interpret and have certifications to do so rises exponentially within public services, like hospitals and court systems.

"A translator or interpreter working full time can make between $40,000 and $65,000 a year on average," Hendzel says. "But many choose to work as freelancers for $200-$500 per day."

Other opportunities for translators and interpreters come from the global economy. "Open any VCR and the directions are in five languages -- that's all work done by translators," Hendzel says. "Corporations operating in many countries require a number of translators and interpreters. The European Union spends over a billion dollars a year on interpretation and translation."

But just because you're fluent in more than one language doesn't mean you can do the job of an interpreter or translator. "If you're multilingual and think you can translate, it's like being able to type and calling yourself a novelist," Hendzel says. "Translators and interpreters deal with meanings, not just words. It takes creativity and the ability to process two languages simultaneously."

If you're multilingual but not qualified to serve as an interpreter or translator, careers as an ESL teacher or multilingual hospital worker are also growing fields. A student today who is fluent in more than one language would do well to study in a specialized field like medicine, sciences or law, as each of those fields have their own language of sorts, says Hendzel, whose own specialty is physics.

Though many people call translators and interpreters "linguists," the true definition of linguist is very different.

"Classic linguists don't even need to be fluent in more than their own language," says Anthony Aristar, professor of linguistics at Eastern Michigan University and moderator of the Linguist List, a listserv for linguists. "What they need to know is how language works."

In recent years, the demand for linguists has also been increasing. With an advanced degree in linguistics, one could pursue careers in such diverse tracks as pharmaceutical research and information technology.

"Languages are dying at a large rate," Aristar says. "While there are about 7,000 languages in use today, in another 100 years, there will likely be only 2,000." Pharmaceutical companies use linguists to identify how plants are used in healing by tribes, extrapolating clues for their use from language. For example, Aristar says one of the first drugs to come from this sort of exploration is quinine, which is used for malaria.

"Linguistics today is a very formal discipline, more like mathematics that anything else," Aristar says. Training a new generation of part-detective, part-mathematician, part-scientist scholars will provide fascinating challenges, if not the more attractive salaries of the private sector.






Source: careerbuilder

Intern Cover Letter

 

 

 

 

RONALD GLICK

46 Jane Street, #7C -- New York, NY 10038 --
(H) 212-799-5000 -- ronglick@aol.com

February 10, 2013

Jill Worthington, Supervisor

XYZ Company

1251 6^th Avenue

New York, NY 10036

Dear Ms. Worthington:

I read with great interest your job posting on CareerBuilder for an intern.

My experience in office, retail, and academic environments has given me the opportunity to master administrative, time management, and customer service skills. Despite the diversity of the jobs I have held during and after college, all the positions seem to share some common themes. In each role I was asked to interpret and simplify information and interact with others on a regular basis.

As a college student, I tutored several freshman and seniors in multiple subjects while successfully juggling a full-time course load. Over the course of two summers, I helped grade school children improve their language arts and math skills. Through administrative roles at two major New York area hospitals, I streamlined patient record information, automated data storage and retrieval processes, and managed receptionist duties as needed. As a crew member for Fast Food Express Restaurant, I learned how to manage cash register responsibilities, provide excellent customer services, and interact effectively with the public. In addition, I am proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite and I have a degree in Math from SUNY Oswego.

At this juncture I am seeking a new opportunity where I can apply the above-mentioned skills and add value to another organization. My resume is attached for your review and I look forward to a personal interview.

Sincerely,






Ronald Glick






Source: AOL

Ready For A Career Switch? Don't Skip These Steps

Given the recovering economy, emerging jobs and pure human nature, career switches are common. What may have been a great job 10 years ago can be obsolete now. But how can you prepare yourself for a career switch? These experts share the following advice for planning your next career steps.

Understand the work involved in switching careers.

Before you quit your job, know what you're getting yourself into. "When people change careers in this market, the No. 1 thing they must be aware of is that they need to develop the new industry or role experience and knowledge," says Megan Fox, career coach and resume writer. "A lot of people think they can tweak a few transferrable skills and land their dream job, when in fact it takes strategic planning and re-education to make a successful career change. These kinds of activities not only make you more qualified for the new role, but they display a sincere passion for the switch. I also encourage my clients to pick either an industry change or a functional role change, one at a time, as it is much easier to do than trying to completely change your job and industry type at the same time. Take baby steps and you'll be able to make the change without sacrificing too much in salary."

Use transferable skills to your advantage.

You may think you're ready for a career switch, but how can you convince hiring managers that you'll be a valuable employee? "For job seekers dealing with career changes, we find it advantageous to conduct an assessment of the transferable knowledge and skills that were developed in the individual's previous career and how that may apply to the new career path they intend on following," says Lynda Zugec, managing director for The Workforce Consultants, a human resources consultation company with offices in Toronto, Ontario and New York. "Interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability and project management are all examples of knowledge and skills that can be applied in differing context and careers. We try to focus on these transferable skills to understand the benefits and applicability to our business. Some of the skills we focus on include the following:

• Communication -- This entails the ability to communicate at all levels of an organization and across different generations.
• Strategic thinking -- The ability to determine and envision where an organization is going. This will help align work efforts with company goals and objectives.
• Partnership building -- Work rarely occurs in a vacuum, and the better their skills in deciding who they can best partner with to achieve desired results, based on their skills and knowledge, the better off we will be.
• Conscientiousness -- Time and time again, conscientiousness proves itself to be among the No. 1 predictor of job performance. We hire individuals that pay attention to the details. Spelling and grammatical errors, lost and misplaced files or general disorganization can have major implications.
• Technical skills -- We look for individuals with up-to-date and relevant technical skills. They are among the most desirable."

Be prepared before you leave your job.

You can start making your career switch before you leave your current role. Krista Mazzuca, director of human resources at Community Renewal Team, a nonprofit human-services agency in Hartford, Conn., offers these suggestions:

• Think carefully about the field you want to switch into and what it will take to land a job in that field. Don't assume that going back to school will guarantee that you'll obtain your desired position -- often you need both the credentials and the experience. Find out as much as you can before enrolling in a school program.
• While you're still employed at your first job, get as much experience as possible that moves you in your desired direction. How can you volunteer in the community, change assignments at your company or find synergies between what you're currently doing and what you hope to be doing?
• If you're a manager, prepare for a potential change in status. You may have to start near the bottom in your new career, which may mean that you're working a defined shift in a cubicle and taking direction from someone younger than you. You might also have to take a substantial pay cut. The person interviewing you for the position will want to see that you have thought about this and have acclimated yourself to the possibility.
• Prepare a good answer as to why you're changing fields. Be candid, but frame your argument around the hiring manager's point of view.

Source: AOL

Why Unemployment Stretches Are Getting Shorter

NEW YORK -- The average time Americans spent unemployed dropped a record 2.8 weeks in January ... but hold the applause.

The reason is likely because many people ran out of unemployment benefits so they stopped looking for work, experts said.

"People are getting frustrated and are giving up," said Adam Hersh, economist with the Center for American Progress.

The average duration of unemployment was 35.3 weeks in January, down from 38.1 weeks in December and 40.2 weeks a year earlier, according to the latest monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are other indications that the ranks of the long-term unemployed are thinning. The median duration of employment, which is less affected by those who've been out of work for many months or years, was 16 weeks in January, down from 18 weeks in December.

And the number of people out of work for at least six months fell to 38.1%, down a percentage point from the previous month. December was the first month this figure fell below 40% since the end of 2009.

The cause of the big drop likely stems from the fact that federal extended jobless benefits were curtailed in several states in January because their unemployment rates improved, said Claire McKenna, policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project. To receive unemployment checks, the jobless must look for work, which keeps them in the labor force. And since there was no notable uptick in employment, it's not likely that the majority of them got jobs.

Unemployment benefits last up to 73 weeks, but their duration in each state depends on its jobless rate. Residents in Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, for instance, are getting 10 fewer weeks of checks as of January because of the improving rate. Five other states also saw the duration of the benefits shrink in January.

Once they are no longer eligible for benefits, many may stop applying for jobs because they don't see any opportunities, McKenna said. So they are no longer considered unemployed under the Bureau of Labor Statistics criteria, leading to an improvement in the average duration of unemployment.

This phenomenon is one reason to maintain -- or even lengthen -- federal extended benefits, which have been in place since mid-2008, labor advocates said.

One school of thought believes that extended benefits keep the unemployment rate high because they discourage people from accepting offers. But the fact that the long-term unemployed are likely just dropping out of the labor force shows that they still need support, said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

"The benefits are not holding them back from taking jobs," Baker said. "You take away their benefits and now they aren't working. They have to struggle to get by."

Source: AOL

7 Ways To Be A Boring Interview

It's easy to ruin a job interview. If your interviewer's counting her yawns, it doesn't matter how qualified you are for the position -- you've lost the job. So, what mind-numbing mistakes are costing you work? And, more importantly, how can you keep the conversation lively while also coming across as professional?

If you really want to bore your interviewer, go one (or more!) of these routes:

1. Offer a weak introduction.

It's true in dating, and it rings even more true when interviewing for a job: First impressions matter. And they're made quickly.

Your interviewer might be smitten by your good manners and positive energy, or turned off by your listless handshake and quiet "hello." Fair or not, you can win or lose the job within the first few minutes.

So introduce yourself with confidence, be personable and show sincere enthusiasm about working for the company. If you can make your mark quickly, it'll set a good tone for the rest of the interview and you might make a lasting (positive) impression.

2. Fail to treat the interview like a conversation.

Interviewers hate it when the discussion feels like a CIA interrogation. Similarly, their interest will fade fast if you simply rattle off answer after answer like a parrot with a cue card.

Get comfortable and engage your interviewer with some genuine conversation. Don't pry into their personal life, but find a balance between how you'd speak to a friend and how you'd talk to a boss. Of course, you'll need to assess your interviewer. Is she the HR Manager or CEO? Is she chatty or straight-laced? Does she go to football games or opera houses? Adjust your conversation accordingly.

3. Speak without energy.

"Uhhh ... like ... I guess my strength is ... you know ... my ability to ... umm ..." That's how to INDUCE A COMA WITH YOUR WORDS. Your delivery, inflection and tone of voice should reflect your attitude about the job. This doesn't mean you need to talk like a Valley girl on Valium; just don't speak in a monotone voice, use a bunch of fillers or sit in your chair like a statue.

Give careful responses, but also use your voice and body language to show that you're excited about the job and a fun person to work with.

4. Give long-winded answers.

You can't disguise a bad answer by dressing it up with a bunch of irrelevant information. Talking too much is often a sign that you're nervous or digging deep to find something-anything-to say. And while you're shoveling words like dirt into your interviewer's face, she probably mentally checked out minutes ago.

It's okay to pause before you give an answer. But when you do open your mouth, make sure your response stays on point, relates to the job and highlights why you're the ideal candidate.

5. Don't relate your answers back to the job description

Sure, your greatest strength might be your lightning-fast reading skills, but that has nothing to do with the sales job you want. If your answers veer off track during the interview, you'll lose the interviewer's attention and, worse yet, the job.

So focus your responses on what the company needs. What is that, exactly? Just look at the job description, which should be your cheat sheet for all the necessary job duties, skills and qualifications. Once you look it over, jot down how your experience and skills match what the company's looking for.

6. Don't bother doing your research

When was the company founded? How many people work there? What's their mission? What do they even do? If you can't answer these questions beforehand, your interview is sure to be a borefest.

Explore the company's website, read their "About" section and, if possible, check out the store in person beforehand. Scribble some notes, and bring your notepad to the interview.

With this research in hand, you'll come across as professional and well-prepared. In addition, you'll be more ready to ask questions of your own. All of this will lead to a more insightful, smooth and fun conversation.

7. Let yourself blend into the crowd

Maybe you run marathons. Perhaps you're in a band. Maybe you raise blind miniature kittens. Whatever it is, there's something that makes you unique. So if you have a chance to bring up your "something" in a natural way, go for it.

Being remembered as "the person who climbed Everest" will be a good conversation piece and make you stand out. Plus, it shows that you're driven, goal-oriented and interesting. Just make sure you stick out for the right reasons; don't expose yourself in an unflattering way.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: AOL

How To Use Your Friends To Get A Job

If you want a job, and you aren't focusing on tapping into your network to try to win a referral into the company that interests you, it's time to drastically alter your strategy. As employers try to cut hiring costs, decrease turnover and improve new hire time-to-productivity, they are becoming more aggressive about encouraging their employees to recommend people who would be good candidates. A New York Times article reports that employees hired as the result of a referral are 15 percent less likely to quit and that they "perform better, stay longer and are quicker to integrate" on the job. What company wouldn't want to identify this type of candidate?

CareerXRoads, a consulting practice that studies recruiting technology solutions, conducts annual studies about how organizations source and hire employees. They found that nearly half of all companies make at least one hire for every five referrals they get. If you are not putting yourself in positions to be referred, you are missing out on one very key aspect of job search networking.

How can you get referrals and avoid the "resume black hole" that so many job seekers dread? The key is to expand the number of people who understand your background and who like and trust you enough to stake their own reputations on your expertise. Here are some tips to help you convince people to help you in your job search:

Let people know what you do. Don't be obnoxious about it, but especially if you are actively job searching, make a point to talk about your professional expertise with people you know. If you're at a party, it's natural to exchange pleasantries and ask, "So, what do you do?" When you have a chance to respond, don't delve into a diatribe about your job search -- simply mention your expertise matter-of-factly. If the person seems really interested, and especially if you share professional interests, consider steering the conversation to find out if the person may know anyone at some of your target companies. However, recognize, that if you've just met it's unlikely that your new contact will jump at the chance to refer you for a job. Think of the meeting as a steppingstone and make sure to follow up.

Grow your network and keep conversations alive. You can't get referrals before people get to know you. It's your job to put yourself in positions to meet new people and to keep in touch with contacts. Why do people refer candidates for positions? One reason is because they think they are competent and can do the job, but another important reason is because they like the person. When you meet people you like, or you might like to know better, follow up with them. Forward occasional links to articles that they may like and ask to meet for coffee. The more people who know you and like you, the better your chances to land a referral.
 

Demonstrate your expertise via social media. There's no better way to demonstrate what you know to people who don't already know you than via social media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. Pick your favorite network and share a steady stream of news and information about your field. Be a useful resource for people in your industry. Comment on articles, offer your own insights about key topics and start online conversations with influential people in your field. You may be surprised to find that someone you never met in person will refer you for a job because he is impressed with you online.

Volunteer for opportunities. Be known as someone who is always willing to pitch in. If you are employed, step up to take on challenging projects where you'll have a chance to showcase what you know. If you're between positions, look for places to offer your help. Ideally, you'll land volunteer gigs where you can use your work skills, but if you have a hard time landing the perfect volunteer job, find an organization whose mission you support and find ways to pitch in. You'll grow your network and your potential for job referrals simply by doing what you say you will!

Make seeking opportunities for referrals a priority and you are much more likely to land a job sooner than later.

Source: AOL

The 10 Countries With The Highest Unemployment Rates

America's unemployment rate remains stubbornly high at 7.8 percent, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics, released in December 2012. But that figure represents a vast improvement from the worst of the recession, when the tally stood at 10 percent in October 2009.

But believe it or not, many other countries in the developed world are struggling far more, as the financial crisis was a global one, according to statistics from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The OECD, which tracks employment rates in 34 industrialized nations, including the U.S., finds many other countries with higher unemployment rates -- with one as high as 21 percent.

Here is the list of the 10 countries with the highest unemployment rate.

1. Spain (21.8 percent)
2. Greece (17.9 percent)
3. Ireland (14.6 percent)
4. Slovak Republic (13.6 percent)
5. Portugal (13.4 percent)
6. Estonia (12.7 percent)
7. Hungary (11.0 percent)
8. Turkey (10.0 percent)
9. Poland (9.8 percent)
10. France (9.3 percent)

 

 

 

 

 

Source: AOL

10 important Twitter career resources

Follow these people and improve your job search:

Recently, a friend of mine returned from a two-year stint overseas, where his access to current technology was limited. He asked, "So, this Twitter thing -- is it a phenomenon?" After thinking about it, I realized that Twitter is beyond that stage. It's officially here to stay, or at least has outlived the possibility of simply being a passing trend.
Although Twitter began in 2006, it gained popularity in the 2008 presidential election and since continued to make news with its important role in political conflicts around the world. Somewhere along the way Twitter went from "What is it?" to "Are you on it?"
For those who don't know what Twitter is, or the stubborn who refuse to participate in peer pressure, Twitter is a microblog service. You write messages that are no more than 140 characters in length and let the world read them, all while you read theirs. If you're familiar with Facebook, it's basically like reading the Newsfeed: an endless series of pithy messages. Really, though, it can be so much more than that if you want it to be.
Why use Twitter during a job hunt?Twitter can be overwhelming when you log on because, if you're following many people, their messages roll down the screen quickly and you can't possibly read every single one. That's also what makes Twitter perfect for a job seeker. Playing online can feel like a waste of time when all you want to do is earn a paycheck, but it can augment your search rather than distract from it.
Think about some of the key elements of a successful job search:
· Find the right company culture for you
· Research the latest news and events for any company you apply to
· Know what's happening in your industry and the job market as a whole
· Understand current technology and trends (depending on your industry)
You can use Twitter to help you achieve each of these goals. With that in mind, we put together a list of people we believe you should follow on Twitter in order to improve your job search.

6 important accounts:@AskAManager (Alison Green)
Green, a former manager, left the corporate world to do her own consulting and started the Ask a Manager blog along the way. On the blog, she answers job seekers and employee questions, dishing out secrets that few non-managers are privy to. With topics like "My friend is applying for my job and I don't want to recommend her," Green is a valuable Twitter friend to have.
@CareerBuilder (CareerBuilder)
Of course we include ourselves, but it's because we keep you up to date with articles and blog posts (written by us and other experts) discussing job search tips, workplace issues and employment trends.
@careerdiva (Eve Tahmincioglu)
Tahmincioglu writes a workplace column for MSNBC.com, maintains her own blog at CareerDiva.net, and even wrote a book . In other words, she's immersed in all things career, and her Twitter updates are proof. One way she also sets herself apart from other career Tweeters is by highlighting workplace issues unique to women in the workforce, which is often an issue largely ignored.
@heatherhuhman (Heather R. Huhman)
Huhman, founder and president of marketing organization Come Recommended, is an expert on hiring issues from an employer and job seeker standpoint. She links to new advice articles on her site and links to other helpful advice she comes across from other sources.
@SelenaDehne (Selena Dehne)
As a book publicist for Jist, a publisher devoted to career topics, Dehne closely follows work news and advice all over the Internet. When one of Jist's writers has an article published or she finds a helpful bit of advice from a blogger, she alerts her followers.
@usnews (U.S. News & World Report)
Longstanding newsmagazine U.S. News & World Report covers events of all sizes, but their Twitter feed does a great job of highlighting their job-related stories. Whether it's an article on salary trends or dishing out tough love on why you're not getting tired, the @usnews account is a job seeker's friend.

Other important people to follow:
Companies you want to work at:Researching the companies you're applying to is an essential way to show employers that you are interested in the organization, not just the job. Follow their Twitter accounts to see what information they're publicizing and to get a feel of their culture.
FriendsNetworking is essential to any job hunt because friends can often refer you to a position, and referrals are usually more valuable to a company than a résumé from a stranger. Twitter, like Facebook and LinkedIn, is an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and to let them know that you're looking for a job. Plus, it's nice to have some Twitter updates sprinkled into your newsfeed that aren't just about finding a job.
Industry expertsIn addition to the career-focused experts listed above, you should seek out experts in the industry you're looking to work in. The leading thinkers in your field will give you insight relevant to your specific job search, and people they follow are probably also worth looking at. Job search advice is good for everybody, but a graphic designer and lawyer can probably benefit most from following people in their respective fields.
News sites of your choice Job searching doesn't happen in a bubble. The economy is affected by more factors than can be counted, and you should know what's going on in order to understand the job market you're searching in. Plus, current events often weave their way into interviews, so you want to be well informed.





Source: careerbuilder

Interviewing the interviewer

During the job interview, your primary concern is what the hiring manager will think of your qualifications. But don't forget the interview is also an opportunity for you to evaluate a potential employer. In fact, it's the best chance you have to determine if the company and its prevailing culture are right for you.

Consider the situation if the roles were reversed. What would you want to know if you were interviewing the hiring manager? What would convince you that this is the perfect workplace for you?

Ask yourself the following questions during the interview to turn the tables on the hiring manager and get a true sense of what working for the company would be like:

How does the company's résumé stack up?

The hiring manager will be paying close attention to your résumé, so it only makes sense that you scrutinize the firm's, too.

The company's annual report can give you a good idea about the financial health of the organization, its stability and its future prospects. Press releases and marketing materials can provide insight into how the company differentiates itself from competitors and what is unique about the products or services it offers. These documents are typically available on the firm's website.

Also search the Web to get a more complete sense of the potential employer's reputation. Social media, in particular, can be revealing. What are people saying about the firm on Facebook, Twitter and similar services? Are the comments mostly positive or negative?

And don't forget to speak to those in your professional network, especially individuals who have worked for the company or might be able to put you in touch with someone who has.

How prepared is the hiring manager?

You arrived on time to the interview, brought extra copies of your résumé, and spent hours going over potential questions and answers. Did the hiring manager prepare as thoroughly as you?

If the interviewer keeps you waiting past the scheduled time, hasn't read your résumé or simply seems to be winging it, think about what it would be like to work for that person. Would he or she leave you waiting during meetings or provide only limited information on important projects?

You don't want to read too much into the actions of a hiring manager who may be busy or stressed. But several small slights could reveal a pattern.

How does the work environment align with my needs?

A hiring manager is trying to determine your personality and how you would fit in with other employees. You should do the same.

When visiting the company, try to get a sense of how people in the office operate. Are people rushing around, looking stressed, or is the atmosphere relaxed? Do people talk with each other in the hallways or keep their heads down? How employees work and interact with each other can be indicative of what the corporate culture is like.

How does the hiring manager answer my questions?

Before the interview concludes, make sure you have an opportunity to ask your own questions. Ask about any concerns you have. For example, you may want information about the professional development resources provided to employees or more specifics about the open position. You might also ask about the hiring manager's personal experiences with the firm. How long has he or she been employed there? Why does the interviewer like working for the company?

Pay attention not only to the interviewer's answers but also to the way he or she responds to your queries. When talking about the company, for instance, do you sense true passion and engagement? Or does the person seem to be rehashing standard marketing points?

Interviewing the interviewer doesn't involve actually switching roles with the hiring manager. But it does require you to think about the qualities you seek in an employer. By asking yourself -- and the potential employer -- the right questions, you can gain get a deeper understanding of the firm and be confident in your decision if you're extended a job offer.

Source: careerbuilder

Are you ready for a career switch?

Given the recovering economy, emerging jobs and pure human nature, career switches are common. What may have been a great job 10 years ago can be obsolete now, or you may simply be ready for a life change. But how can you prepare yourself for a career switch? The overwhelming advice from career coaches and human-resources consultants is to do your homework and play to your strengths. These experts share the following advice for planning your next career steps.

Understand the work involved in switching careers
Before you quit your job, know what you're getting yourself into.
"When people change careers in this market, the No. 1 thing they must be aware of is that they need to develop the new industry or role experience and knowledge," says Megan Fox, career coach and résumé writer. "A lot of people think they can tweak a few transferable skills and land their dream job, when in fact it takes strategic planning and re-education to make a successful career change. These kinds of activities not only make you more qualified for the new role, but they display a sincere passion for the switch.
"I also encourage my clients to pick either an industry change or a functional role change, one at a time, as it is much easier to do than trying to completely change your job and industry type at the same time. Take baby steps and you'll be able to make the change without sacrificing too much in salary."

Use transferable skills to your advantage
You may think you're ready for a career switch, but how can you convince hiring managers that you'll be a valuable employee?
"For job seekers dealing with career changes, we find it advantageous to conduct an assessment of the transferable knowledge and skills that were developed in the individual's previous career and how that may apply to the new career path they intend on following," says Lynda Zugec, managing director for The Workforce Consultants, a human-resources consultancy with offices in Toronto and New York. "Interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability and project management are all examples of knowledge and skills that can be applied in differing context and careers. We try to focus on these transferable skills to understand the benefits and applicability to our business."

Some of the skills on which Zugec's company focuses include:

• Communication: The ability to communicate at all levels of an organization and across different generations.
• Strategic thinking: The ability to determine and envision where an organization is going. This helps align work efforts with company goals and objectives.
• Partnership building: The ability to choose the best partner with whom to achieve desired results, based on their skills and knowledge.
• Conscientiousness: The ability to pay attention to details, ranging from spelling and grammar to personal organization. "Time and time again, conscientiousness proves itself to be among the No. 1 predictor of job performance," Zugec says.
• Technical skills: Individuals with the most up-to-date and relevant technical skills are among the most desirable employees, Zugec says.

Be prepared before you leave your job
You can start making your career switch before you leave your current role. Krista Mazzuca, director of human resources at Community Renewal Team, a nonprofit human-services agency in Hartford, Conn., offers these suggestions:

• Think carefully about the field you want to switch into and what it will take to land a job in that field. Don't assume that going back to school will guarantee that you'll obtain your desired position -- often you need both the credentials and the experience. Find out as much as you can before enrolling in a school program.
• While you're still employed at your current job, get as much experience as possible that moves you in your desired direction. How can you volunteer in the community, change assignments at your company or find common ground between what you're doing now and what you hope to be doing?
• If you're a manager, prepare for a potential change in status. You may have to start near the bottom in your new career, which may mean that you'll be working a defined shift in a cubicle and taking direction from someone younger than you. You might also have to take a substantial pay cut. The person interviewing you for the position will want to see that you have thought about this and have acclimated yourself to the possibility.
• Prepare a good answer as to why you're changing fields. Be candid, but frame your argument around the hiring manager's point of view.

Source: AOL

Seven Creative Tips for Finding a Retail Job When Unemployment is High

Find Job Openings and Beat the Job-Seeking Competition:

If you're looking for a job, but you're limiting your job search to the obvious sources like newpaper want ads, job websites, and Craig's List, then you may find your application on the bottom of a really big applicant pile. If you don't want to get lost in the growing job search crowd, you'll need to find a way to outsmart your job-seeking competition. Use these tips to sidestep the competition, find job openings, beat the recession, and get off the unemployement line fast.

1. Socialize

It’s time to get all those friendsters, buddies, and cyber contacts you’ve been collecting working for you. Get as many locals as you can on your buddy list and then send out a note asking them who’s hiring. Surely somebody will know somebody who’s looking for somebody. Isn’t that what networking is all about?

2. Get in the Stack

If you're wanting to get into, or stay in the retail industry, keep in mind that there there are more candidates than positions. In an employer's market, retailers don't have to advertise their job openings because they already have a stack of unsolicited job applications. You’ve got to get yourself on the top of “the stack” if you want to get hired by these retail organizations. In your best interview outfit, walk into your favorite retail stores with your resume in hand, and tell them you’d like to work there. This type of cold calling works best with the stores that sell the stuff that you like to buy because then when you’re asked why you want to work there, you can honestly answer, “Because I love your…”

3. Think Small

If you're looking for a retail sales position, it may be easier to conduct your job in the climate controlled comfort of your local mall, but your efforts might yield better results if you focus on companies that receive less foot traffic. Less traffic and fewer applicants mean less competition for you!

 

4. Look Before You Weep

Don’t conclude that a company isn’t hiring just because there’s no ad in the newspaper and no sign in the window. Unless there is an urgent need, many companies will only advertise job openings on their own websites. Visit the company’s website and look for links like “careers” or “about us” or “company info.” Click around these pages until you find the listing of available positions in the company. When you use this strategy, hiring managers will get the impression that you found the job opening because you are specifically interested in their business. This is a good impression to give because every company thinks it’s special, and they want their employees to think so too!

5. Search By the Hour

If you're looking for a part-time, entry-level, hourly, or seasonal position, there are several websites that are specifically promoting jobs that pay an hourly wage. Since many hourly wage jobs are in the retail industry, a search of these hourly-pay sites will reveal positions that are not even listed on Monster, HotJobs, or CareerBuilders. If you know that you specifically want an entry-level position, it’s more efficient to go to these hourly-wage websites because you won’t have to wade through all the salaried jobs to find what you’re looking for.

6. Take Stock in Stocks

You don’t need money to get a great return from the stock market. When you invest some time reading the latest stock market news, your effort can yield some important job-hunting inside tips. While many companies in the retail industry are struggling right now, there are also many companies that are thriving. Focus your job-hunting efforts on the companies that are doing well, because they’re the ones that need employees and, most importantly, they're the ones that have the money to pay their wages. No matter how much Circuit City likes you, you’re probably not going to get hired there while the company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

7. Make the Hop

If you want to work in the retail industry, but it doesn't have anything to offer you right now, don't be afraid to make the hop into another industry. Many of the most famous CEOs worked in jobs that were seemingly unrelated to retailing. Several of the largest retail organizations are currently being run by CEOs who had no prior retailing experience at all. It's important to remember that you take your experience with you wherever you go. You can learn, grow, and achieve in any industry. By hopping into a completely new job, and gaining new knowledge and skills, you will be even more valuable when the retail industry rebounds and starts hiring talent like you again.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: about.com

What 6 rules should be guiding your career?

Daniel Pink’s The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need conveys a number of principles about the world of work that everyone should take note of.
Why? Though Pink doesn’t bog the story down with academic research, all of his core ideas are backed up by plenty of studies, many of which I’ve posted about in the past.
So what does he have to say? Six simply-stated concepts:

1. There is no plan.
2. Think strengths, not weaknesses.
3. It’s not about you.
4. Persistence trumps talent.
5. Make excellent mistakes.
6. Leave an imprint.

So let’s break these down and explore what they mean and why they’re so effective.

1) There is no plan.

As Pink explains, you can’t plan your career too far in advance because there are too many x-factors.
In the world of work we do things for two reasons: instrumental and fundamental. Instrumental reasons are things that get us from point A to point B — whether we enjoy it or not. Fundamental reasons are ones we consider inherently valuable — doing something we care about or believe in, even if we’re unsure where it will take us.
Which one is the better choice? Pink explains:

“The dirty little secret is that instrumental reasons usually don’t work. Things are too complicated, too unpredictable. You never know what’s going to happen, so you end up stuck. The most successful people — not all of the time, but most of the time — make decisions for fundamental reasons.”

What does the research say?

The most obvious type of person who would fit into the fundamental category would be artists. Despite despite low pay and high unemployment artists have higher job satisfaction than most people. And it’s not due to personality. In fact, if anything, artists are more likely to suffer from depression and other mood problems. And yet they’re happier with their careers.
It is hard to predict where life will take you: 35% of college graduates end up in a job that was not their major.
What’s the number one thing people regretted on their deathbed?

“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

That’s a strong argument for acting on fundamental reasons.

2) Think strengths, not weaknesses.

“Successful people don’t try too hard to improve what they’re bad at. They capitalize on what they’re good at.”

What does the research say?

This is one of the primary points that management expert Pete Drucker, author of The Effective Executive, hammered home in his writings:

First and foremost, concentrate on your strengths. Put yourself where your strengths can produce results. Second, work on improving your strengths… In identifying opportunities for improvement, don’t waste time cultivating skill areas where you have little competence. Instead, concentrate on—and build on—your strengths.

Pink also directly references the work of Martin Seligman. His research has shown that people who use their signature strengths, those things they are uniquely good at, experience more “flow” on the job and are happier at work:

The more signature strengths were applied at the workplace, the higher the positive experiences at work. This study showed that character strengths matter in vocational environments irrespective of their content. Strengths-congruent activities at the workplace are important for positive experiences at work like job satisfaction and experiencing pleasure, engagement, and meaning fostered by one’s job.

3) It’s not about you.

“…the most successful people improve their own lives by improving others’ lives.”

What does the research say?

Those who are other-focused are happier.
Via Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don’t Have in Search of Happiness We Can’t Buy:

“Researchers have: they’ve found that happy people are ten times more likely to be other-oriented than self-centered. This suggests that happiness is a by-product of helping others rather than the result of its pursuit.”

Happier people are more successful — and that’s causal, not correlative:
Via The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work:

We become more successful when we are happier and more positive. For example, doctors put in a positive mood before making a diagnosis show almost three times more intelligence and creativity than doctors in a neutral state, and they make accurate diagnoses 19 percent faster. Optimistic salespeople outsell their pessimistic counterparts by 56 percent. Students primed to feel happy before taking math achievement tests far outperform their neutral peers. It turns out that our brains are literally hardwired to perform at their best not when they are negative or even neutral, but when they are positive.

4) Persistence trumps talent.

That one is pretty straightforward. :)

What does the research say?

How much does natural talent control what you can achieve in life?
In ~95% of cases, it doesn’t.
Via Mindset: The New Psychology of Success:

“After forty years of intensive research on school learning in the United States as well as abroad, my major conclusion is: What any person in the world can learn, almost all persons can learn, if provided with the appropriate prior and current conditions of learning.” He’s not counting the 2 to 3 percent of children who have severe impairments, and he’s not counting the top 1 to 2 percent of children at the other extreme… He is counting everybody else.

What makes the best musicians? Nothing but hard work:
Via Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else:

One factor, and only one factor, predicted how musically accomplished the students were, and that was how much they practiced.

I’ve posted exhaustively on the 10,000 hour theory of deliberate practice, “grit” and what it takes to be an expert. The best resource for that is here and the best books on the subject are here.

5) Make excellent mistakes

“Too many people spend their time avoiding mistakes. They’re so concerned about being wrong, about messing up, that they never try anything — which means they never do anything. Their focus is avoiding failure. But that’s actually a crummy way to achieve success. The most successful people make spectacular mistakes — huge honking screwups! Why? They’re trying to do something big. But each time they make a mistake, they get better and move a little closer to excellence.”

What does the research say?

Making mistakes can be vital to improvement.
Via Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation:

“The errors of the great mind exceed in number those of the less vigorous one.” This is not merely statistics. It is not that the pioneering thinkers are simply more productive than less “vigorous” ones, generating more ideas overall, both good and bad. Some historical studies of patent records have in fact shown that overall productivity correlates with radical breakthroughs in science and technology, that sheer quantity ultimately leads to quality. But Jevons is making a more subtle case for the role of error in innovation, because error is not simply a phase you have to suffer through on the way to genius. Error often creates a path that leads you out of your comfortable assumptions. De Forest was wrong about the utility of gas as a detector, but he kept probing at the edges of that error, until he hit upon something that was genuinely useful. Being right keeps you in place. Being wrong forces you to explore.

Being guided into mistakes during training led to greater confidence and overall better learning than being taught to prevent errors.
Via The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work:

In one experiment where 90 people went through a software training program, half were taught to prevent errors from occurring, while the other half were guided into mistakes during training. And lo and behold, the group encouraged to make errors not only exhibited greater feelings of self-efficacy, but because they had learned to figure their own way out of mistakes, they were also far faster and more accurate in how they used the software later on.

One of the best ways to improve is to keep making little risky bets.

6) Leave an imprint

“…when you get older and look back on your life, you’ll ask yourself a whole bunch of questions. Did I make a difference? Did I contribute something? Did my being here matter? Did I do something that left an imprint? The trouble is, many people get towards the end of their lives and don’t like their answers. And by then it’s almost too late.”

What does the research say?

Visualize your funeral and consider what you would want friends to describe as your legacy is an excellent way to clarify what is really important to you and what you want to achieve.
Via Richard Wiseman’s excellent book 59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute:

Asking people to spend just a minute imagining a close friend standing up at their funeral and reflecting on their personal and professional legacy helps them to identify their long-term goals and assess the degree to which they are progressing toward making those goals a reality.

9 minutes in to his famous Stanford commencement speech Steve Jobs discusses the importance he placed on thinking about death during life:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.”

Scientists now agree he was on to something:

Thinking about death can actually be a good thing. An awareness of mortality can improve physical health and help us re-prioritize our goals and values, according to a new analysis of recent scientific studies.

Summary

Six lessons:

1. There is no plan.
2. Think strengths, not weaknesses.
3. It’s not about you.
4. Persistence trumps talent.
5. Make excellent mistakes.
6. Leave an imprint.

Source: bakadesuyo

The Trick To Getting A Job At A Hot Startup

Q: What's one interview tip you have for a job seeker who is looking to work at an entrepreneurial startup?

–Ashley

Demonstrate how you pivot

"Entrepreneurs like to move quickly, so offer examples that show your flexibility. You can't be afraid to fail in a startup, so demonstrate how you've implemented, tested, failed, pivoted and improved in the past, and you'll stand far above other candidates."

- Kelly Azevedo | Founder, She's Got Systems


Fill the table with ideas

"When hiring, we don't just want someone who will be competent at the particular job we're hiring for, but someone who is going to bring fresh, creative ideas to the role and think critically about our business. When interviewing, it's important to come with ideas you have for how to improve the business so that they know that you're an innovator."

- Stephanie Kaplan | Co-Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Her Campus Media


Show your startup passion

"Startups want to hire someone who loves the product and is a great fit for their team and culture. Do your homework on the startup and the founders before your interview, and discuss why you would be great fit and why you believe in their product. Most importantly, you'll likely be working longer hours for a smaller salary, so be honest with yourself about whether that belief is genuine."

- Doug Bend | Founder/Small Business & Startup Attorney, Bend Law Group, PC

Don't B.S. it

"Most entrepreneurs have very defined BS detectors. If you're asked a question and you don't know the answer, say, "That's a great question, I don't know, but I'd be happy to research it and get you the answer." Don't make something up! It's the fastest way to get passed over in my company."

- Nathan Lustig | cofounder, Entrustet


Bring strategic questions

"A job seeker should do enough research on a startup to know that business and have great questions to ask about how that business operates. Ideally, the job seeker could even make suggestions about what the startup can be doing to succeed more. Whether those ideas are something the founders never thought of doesn't matter, because it shows that person understands the business."

- Victor Wong | CEO, PaperG


Show off some initiative

"Entrepreneurs and young startups hire for the "ability to get stuff done" -- with a minimum of hand holding, supervision or instruction. Demonstrate this skill. Do lots of homework before your interview, and be willing to do a small project to show your abilities if you make the candidate shortlist."

- Matt Mickiewicz | Co-Founder, Flippa and 99designs

Polish your portfolio

"Portfolios aren't just for creatives anymore. When I'm hiring someone, I want to see examples of their work in action. That could be a series of planning documents for projects, bullet points of savings you created for a past employer or something else entirely. Show me what you've accomplished in similar positions in the past."

- Thursday Bram | Consultant, Hyper Modern Consulting



Make an impression beforehand

"Show the startup what you've got beforehand. A great way to make an impression before the interview is by tweeting the startup, writing on their Wall, etc. Make sure you stand out!"

- Ben Lang | Founder, EpicLaunch



A unique personality matters

"Show your personality. Obviously, entrepreneurs are looking for skills and qualifications, but startups are usually close-knit teams that need to work well together (for long hours), so knowing that the candidate will fit in is very important."

- Nicolas Gremion | CEO, Free-Ebooks.net

Available upon arrival

"A job seeker should have as many materials (resume, portfolio, etc.) as possible upon arrival to a phone, in-person, or virtual interview. Traditionally, resumes would include "Available Upon Request" for references, but have previous employers and teammates leave you a review on LinkedIn. Then, copy and paste these reviews and bring them to your interviews to give the interviewer insight."

- Nancy T. Nguyen | President & CEO, YMH, Inc.


In it for the long haul

"Make sure you explain that you're not in it for the immediate payoff. That will show dedication and an alignment of interests."

- Brent Beshore | Owner/CEO, AdVentures



Can you solve the problem?

"Startups are usually small teams faced with big problems. Demonstrate how you are a scrappy problem solver who can think of creative solutions to any problem thrown your way."

- Tim Jahn | Co-Founder, matchist

Be a believer

"If you're interviewing at a startup, you're likely speaking to the person who has poured their entire life into the company. Show them that you believe in their vision and are equally committed to making it happen by doing your homework, asking them smart questions and congratulating them on whatever success they have achieved to date."

- Christopher Kelly | Co-Founder, Principal, Sentry Conference Centers



Learn everything you can

"Most startups today have a Twitter account, Facebook Page, website, YouTube account, etc., so use all of these resources to your advantage! Soak up as much information as you can prior to the interview to really "wow" them with your knowledge. It also helps in understanding your fit at the organization and determining if it's the right next step for you."

- Heather Huhman | Founder & President, Come Recommended



Cut the cliche

"Strong record, results-driven, fast learner? Please stop the buzz words. Instead, be unique -- explain why you really like what the company is working on, and touch on how you could contribute to it."

- Christian Springub | CEO and co-founder, Jimdo

 

 

 

 

Source: AOL

Cover Letter Mistakes That Will Kill Your Chances

Face facts: Some people will never read your cover letter. The rest of the people may trash your resume if it does not include a cover letter. Others will value the cover letter over all other application materials. Since you can't know for sure which type of employer or recruiter will receive and review your materials, assume the cover letter is a crucial piece of your application package.

Don't make these 13 cover letter mistakes and you will be ahead of the game:

1. Forgetting to include a cover letter.
For reasons noted, the cover letter is important, especially if the job description requests it. When you leave it off, you may look lazy (at best) or appear to be someone who cannot follow instructions (at worst).

2. Addressing your cover letter generically.
"Dear Sir" is totally out of the question, since it is sexist and "To whom it may concern" makes it clear that you didn't think it was important enough to try to identify the person in charge of the search. It may be difficult to identify the correct person to address your letter, but you should try. Make a valiant effort to identify a name to include. Contact the company to ask for the correct name and use your Internet research skills to see if you can confirm a specific person to send your letter. As a very last resort, "Dear Hiring Manager" may not keep you totally out of the running, especially if the company has gone to great lengths to shield the exact name from the applicant pool.

3. Adding your cover letter as an attachment and writing a brief note in the body of the email.
If you apply via email, include your cover letter's contents as the body of the email you send. That way, it is very easy for the hiring manager to decide whether to open your attached resume or press delete.

4. Sending a boring or terse cover letter.
If you're going to include a letter, it might as well be good enough to give you a better chance to land the job. If you send a formulaic sounding letter with nothing more interesting than the fact that you are applying for job No. 123 and that you saw the ad in XYZ.com, you won't pass the cover letter test for those sticklers who demand a cover letter. Make sure you write a letter that is interesting enough to read.

5. Missing an opportunity to make a great connection or to tell an interesting story.
Not everyone has a great story or reason for applying for a position, but if you do, use the cover letter to tell it. Was it the company where you launched your career, and you are ready to come back? Say so. Did you always admire the organization's television ads growing up, and now you are applying to help create new ones? That's a great story, and the cover letter is the place to share it.

6. Being self-centered.
The cover letter should not be a note detailing what you want. If you appear self-centered, that delete key is always handy.

7. Including errors or typos in your letter.
This is the kiss of death for many job application materials. Even if the job does not require you to wax eloquent regularly or to or create written materials for the company, if you misspell words or send a letter with typos and grammatical errors, it's a mark against you in a competitive field. Edit your own note carefully and ask a trusted friend to review it. Read it out loud to be sure you haven't left off words or made a typo that spell-check doesn't pick up -- for example, if you've said, "I'd be a terrific manger" instead of "manager."

8. Not targeting your letter.
Just as you should target your resume for every job so you're most likely to pass the company's computerized resume screening system, you should also target your cover letter to each position and organization. Include specifics about the company and describe why you are a good fit for their job. Use the job description and information you can find out about the job and organization online to choose the best details to include. If you send the same cover letter to every company, you are missing an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

9. Writing a novel.
No one needs a three-page cover letter, no matter how interesting or perfect the candidate may be for the job. Just as you don't want to be too terse, don't think you need to tell your life story. Write the equivalent of about one typed page at most.

10. Using the cover letter to repeat everything in the resume.
While you should make sure to include everything important in your resume (in case this hiring manager does not read cover letters), don't just summarize your resume in your cover letter. Take the opportunity to make direct connections between the job description and your skills. Consider creating three headlines based on information in the job description the employer wants and listing under each topic why you are a good fit. The more you can make a direct correlation between their needs and what you offer, the better your letter will be.

11. Exaggerating.
Don't say, "I'm perfect for the job" if you know you are not. Be honest in your cover letter and identify the best matches between your skills and their needs.

12. Being too humble.
The opposite of the braggart, who is "ideal" for every job, the overly humble job seeker may actually apologize for applying and explain the skills he or she does not have for the job. Hopefully, it's obvious why the "why I'm not qualified" strategy is less than optimal! You may be applying for jobs that are a reach, and when you do, focus on what makes you a good fit and don't dwell on the negatives.

13. Going overboard with the sell.
Unless you are actually applying for a sales job, think twice before including language such as, "I'll call you on Friday to schedule an interview." This may be a turnoff for some hiring managers. Is it appropriate to indicate that you hope they agree you're a good match and that you will follow up as of a certain date, but you could lose the interviewer's attention if you act as if you are in charge of the process.

Source: AOL