5 Job Search Pitfalls to Avoid - CareerAlley

5 Job Search Pitfalls to Avoid - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. Mahatma Gandhi The age-old question How long will it take me to find a job always reminds me of the question How long is a piece of string. The answer to both questions is, of course, it depends. However long or short it is (finding a job, that is), it is always longer than we would like. There are so many things you can do to speed up your job search (and that is a topic for another post), but there are also as many (or more) things you can do to slow down or derail your job search process. According to Challenger, Gray Christmas, Incs 1st Qtr 2012 Job Search Stats, the median length of a job search was 3.03 months, of which 91.88% found equal or better positions. Sounds wonderful, although the results of my unscientific survey of people I know who are looking for a new job tend to vary wildly from person to person. So whats the point? The road to a new job can often be long and bumpy. Why make it more difficult than it needs to be? Following are some tips on making sure your job search does not turnuglier than it needs to be. Unpreparedfor Interview Given the amount of time and effort it takes to get an interview these days, there is nothing worse than not being prepared. You should (hopefully) be fully aware of the job description and how your skills match. You should know everything on your resume (you would be surprised how many people cant speak to some of the specifics theyve placed on their resume scary). You should be prepared to answer the usual suspect questions as well as ask relevant questions. Job Interview Tips How to Prepare for a Job Interview Time Does Matter There is a directcorrelationbetweenthe amount of time you spend looking for a job and how long it takes to find a job. If you are unemployed, your full time job should be job hunting. If you are currently working, you obviously have less time to spend looking for a job. Waiting around for someone to find you is also not likely to happen. How Much Time Should You Spend Job Searching? Lazy Job Seekers are Kidding Themselves Document Errors We all make mistakes. Even after checking a document several times an error (or 2) may slip through. Your resumes, cover letters and thank you notes should be perfect. One option is to have someone review your resume for you to ensure there are no errors. Ive also seen cases where someone was using someone elses format and accidentally included some of the other persons data(like their education). Error Free Job Search Documents Methods to Ensure Resume Mistakes The 14 Fatal Most Fatal Attitude The power of positive thinking does work (as does the power of negative thinking). We all know how difficult and discouraging a job search can be, but you cant let this impact your attitude while looking for a job. Yes, you may have discussed your background with 100 interviewers, but that does not mean that you should appear bored when you speak with interviewer number 101. A positive attitude is one of the most important components of your job search. Average Job Seeker Gives Up After 5 Months Check Your Job Search Attitude Lack of Company/Interviewer Research In the old days (BI Before Internet), company research was time consuming and interviewer research was almost impossible. With the Internet, there really is no excuse as to why youve not done your research on the company and the interviewer(s). While I would argue that you should already have done research on the company prior to accepting the interview, you should certainly do that research prior to the interview. Many interviewers will ask what you know about the company. If you say nothing, there is not much of a chance for you. 7 Company Research Tips Before The Job Interview Research a Company Before the Job Interview more Job Search Stories Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

Revealed #1 Shocking Secret about Job Searches - Pathfinder Careers

Revealed #1 Shocking Secret about Job Searches - Pathfinder Careers Revealed: #1 Shocking Secret about Job Searches With unemployment rates still heading off the charts, jobless workers engaged in job searches are frantically working to find the right way to present their credentials to convince prospective employers to call them in for an interview. But there’s been one secret stumbling block that most people hit which sends them into a tailspin when it comes down to an actual interview. When presented with the question “Why should I hire you?,” most people fail to show what it is that they offer a prospective employer. In fact, the real secret is that most of us are actually terrible at saying what exactly makes us good at what we do. That’s both a good news / bad news scenario for job seekers. The good news is this means that the other candidates competing for the same job opening aren’t doing a much better job in selling employers on why they should hire them either. But that still leaves your own inability to express your value to employers as a real job search liability. While our society teaches us to avoid being braggarts, the one place and time to talk yourself up and take credit where it is due is in your résumé, cover letter and during an interview. Employers are probing to find out what your value has been to previous companies. If you can’t convey this to an employer, what this really means is that you really don’t have any idea of what your own worth is, either. By gaining a firm handle on what you have to offer a prospective employer, you can confidently answer the question with specific reasons to add you to their staff team. A good place to start building your confidence and a “30 second commercial” is your résumé. Instead of including a passive, weak objective statement, try building two to three sentences that marry words that describe your work ethic and values with the key words relevant to the position you are pursuing. Example: “Bottom-line focused sales professional with more than 15 years of experience delivering high-integrity, customer-centric consultative business development tactics geared to drive bottom line results.” That sure beats the heck out of   Objective: To find a sales position that matches my selling and marketing abilities, doesnt it?   The example above shows VALUE and makes someone want to hire you, where an objective statement flops around like a fish in the bottom of  the boat. By spending some time and taking the time to put this down on paper, this exercise can help you build value into not just your résumé document, but also into your psyche so your worth to potential employers is more deeply under your skin. Being connected to this sense of self-worth can literally make the difference between being offered the job or not. Once you have your value statement polished on your résumé, it’s now time to practice saying it out loud. Use friends or family as your audience, and prepare how you want to answer the question, “Why should I hire you?” Remember to smile, keep eye contact, don’t fidget and be centered on your value proposition so you can deliver it with the confidence that you know you have. The final test before the interview process is to march yourself out to industry or business networking events and start  a conversation.   Eventually, it will come back to you and youll be asked, What do you do? and your value statement will be ready to roll.   Being able to quickly and easily articulate what you do and how well you do it is one of the most empowering things in the world, and will help set you apart from the other candidates.

How College Graduates Can Land That Job Offer - Hallie Crawford

How College Graduates Can Land That Job Offer I was recently interviewed for the article, How College Graduates Can Land That Job Offer for Fox Business News by Meghan Sharp. Heres an excerpt: College seniors are graduating in one of the toughest job markets in history. Employers are looking to cut college hiring 22% this year, according to research done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Fortunately, not all the news is bad. Career experts say there are still opportunities in this market, especially for those who start the job search early and keep up the momentum. “The worst mistake to make right now is to let yourself become paralyzed because of the recession”, said Generation Y career counselor Lindsay Pollack. “The more actions you take to find a job, the better your results will be,” Pollack said. However, landing the perfect position is that much harder when there are more people applying for the same jobs. It may even mean taking a job that isn’t necessarily your ideal. “You need to make a list of the things you want ideally in a job and define which ones you are willing to compromise on and be ok with that, said certified career coach . You can read the article in its entirety here. Are you a recent college graduate and dont know what career path to take? Contact me for a complimentary consultation. Heres to having a career you love!Atlanta Certified Career Coach

The Hidden Truth About This Little Brand Resume Writing

The Hidden Truth About This Little Brand Resume Writing Choosing This Little Brand Resume Writing If you're a brand-new graduate seeking to create your start on your career ladder, we can still help you distinguish yourself from the crowd. You should make yourself look like the very best job candidate, and should you do that successfully, you'll have the ability to land the job of your dreams. There are a few things that don't belong on a resume for work. Land the job that you want now. It is possible to also incorporate relevant coursework in case you have any. To join the website, you will want to have at the very least a Bachelor's degree, which can be in any subject, and superior writing abilities and understanding of the English language. So below are some of the most crucial purposes of a resume, and the way you can ensure that you are capitalizing on all them to dazzle your upcoming employer. When used correctly, the language in your resume can not just get the appro priate points across, but nevertheless, it may also demonstrate to an employer that you have the capacity to communicate clearly. You might need to submit a Brand Ambassador resume that highlights qualities which most represent their product or support. So it is not going to matter if you've got an entry level Brand Ambassador resume. In a sense you've got to turn into the item. Therefore, you must know everything about the products or services you're representing. The Debate Over This Little Brand Resume Writing Selecting a Professional Resume Writer is an excellent idea for the majority of professionals since resume writing is a distinctive skill. Skills a lot of the skills listed here were pulled from work description. Aside from this, you will also have to have excellent written and verbal English communication abilities. You'll also have to have excellent written and verbal English communication abilities. It is possible to find out more about optimizing your resume here. Rather, it is a strategic tool for marketing your personal brand. Whenever you have your own company, you can place your own prices. You're a personal services business. You don't need to be concerned about having a resume writer who's unaware of the role which you're applying for. The art of resume writing has changed a good deal in the past twenty decades. If you continue seeing a skill or tool mentioned you don't know a lot about, search for free or low-cost on-line courses on the topic to bolster your skill collection. By joining the elite group of CDI-certified and trained writers it is possible to be assured you could satisfy any resume challenge and be recognized among the best the industry offers.

Understanding Describing Freelance Writing on a Resume

Understanding Describing Freelance Writing on a Resume The Fight Against Describing Freelance Writing on a Resume Resume writing is more engaging and client-facing as you should work one-on-one with the customer. It can be difficult to fit an independent career into a traditional resume structure. As a freelancer, you can believe you don't require a freelance resume. At times, you may simply observe an opportunity that you are unable to enjoy as a freelancer. The Importance of Describing Freelance Writing on a Resume Freelancing provides the perfect respite, if you're one of many who is running the success-race in Freelance resume writing. Freelancing 101 is an occasional series to help the growing number of freelancers in the marketplace. Freelance work ought to be included as a boost to your resume, and is less valuable if you're doing work that doesn't relate to your field or wouldn't lead to a reference. Today, freelancers encompass just about any part in every busin ess. By doing this you will grow as a writer and it will provide the impression that you're one of the trusted people in the area. Although a resume won't be absolutely the most important document potential hiring managers will appear at for an artist (a portfolio is), to the best extent possible, it's still true that you have to produce examples of why you're an artist people should watch out for. You may be taken aback at how many writing gems you find when you get started searching your files. As you can format it in many of ways, elect for simplicity. Top Choices of Describing Freelance Writing on a Resume Unfortunately, the term freelance in the industry world may have a slightly negative meaning. Think of what you'd like to find out if you wished to seek the services of a freelancer for your organization. Sadly, freelancer sometimes includes an unfavorable connotation. In bigger companies, freelancers (often known as independent consultants) are often asked to supply resumes. Each client differs. If you're not an employee, in the majority of cases clients won't supply you with training. You may also have to think to be an HR or a hiring manager. You may probably get by with no more than two or three primary resumes, which you're then adapt further for particular clients. Focus on a single area in your accomplishments section and different areas in your work experience so you do not repeat yourself. Still others wish to benefit from the benefits many company workers enjoy benefits which are rarely readily available to freelance workers. What's more, you typically have opportunities to exercise skills which are far outside your general field of expertise. Writing resumes for individuals supplies you with the chance to help them land work, besides earning money from your writing skills.

How to Handle Illegal and Inappropriate Interview Questions - Your Career Intel

How to Handle Illegal and Inappropriate bewerbungsgesprch Questions - Your Career IntelHow to Answer When Youre Asked an Illegal vorstellungsgesprch QuestionThats a beautiful engagement ring, are you married?Do you have any children?So you went to Northwestern? What year did you graduate?Over drinks with a new acquaintance, these questions may seem like completely harmless small talk. But in the context of a job bewerbungsgesprch, they can take an entirely new meaning. These are unethical interview questions. Thats because your answers to these questions could bias your interviewer against you, even if thats elend his or her intention.Previously, Ive written about the problem of illegal interview questions. Since then, Ive been asked by a number of different job seekers about how best to answer these questions. In some cases, job seekers feel that answering these questions could be a great opportunity to establish a better rapport with their interviewer. You might discover mutual acq uaintances from college or commiserate over parenting challenges.In other cases, an interviewer may be trying to ascertain your willingness to travel for work or how a spouse or children might impact your availability to work late or entertain clients. Even more personal questions about your age, citizenship or English language skills could be used to illegally disqualify you as a candidate. Regardless of the interviewers intent in asking the question, revealing certain information could inadvertently bias your interviewer against you.Of course, its always your prerogative to answer these questions. If you feel comfortable disclosing personal information, such as your marital status or the fact you have children, you can certainly do so. Remember, people can ask these questions, but they cant make the basis for a hiring decision on this information.As an executive recruiter, I work closely with candidates to ensure theyre comfortable with what can (and canelend) be asked in an inter view and that theyre prepared to navigate these questions in a non-confrontational manner.Illegal Interview Questions and Answers1. Thats a beautiful engagement ring, did you recently get married?It is illegal to base hiring decisions off your marital status and/or sexual orientation. While this question may seem harmless enough to a newlywed, keep in mind that the reason for asking this question may be to weed out people who are unwilling to work late or entertain clients at night. The best approach is to clarify the interviewers intent with the question.Thanks so much for leidicing. Im excited about this position and would like to chat a bit more about XYZ job duties.This response is polite and clear you understand its not kosher to ask about marital status, and youre re-directly the conversation without being rude. This is a great transition into discussing job-related duties, such as the need to travel.2. Do you have children? Do you plan to have children? Who cares for your chi ldren when you are at work?This question is very similar to the one about marital status. As a reminder, hiring decisions cannot be based on personal information such as your marriage status or whether or not you have children. However, a hiring decision can be based off your willingness to work certain hours, relocate, or travel for the job.There are two options here. The first is to use this as an opportunity to ask for a clarification on job duties.Option 1 Id prefer to keep this conversation focused on my professional skills, rather than my personal life. Could you clarify how this is relevant to the job in question?If, however, you feel comfortable discussing your children or feel doing so would help you establish better rapport with your interviewer its certainly your prerogative to answer the question directly. Even here, however, I suggest pivoting back to job duties andOption 2 Yes, I do. And I think you do as well, based on the photos on your desk here. It looks like you r daughter is about my sons age. I know it can be a challenge finding the right work-life balance, and I can assure you I do not allow my personal life to interfere with my professional duties.3. When did you graduate?You do not have to answer a question about your graduation year as doing so could lead to age discrimination. Again, context matters here. Perhaps your interviewer has a close friend or relative who attended the same school as you and is curious if you two overlapped. Unless such a scenario has been made abundantly clear, however, I advise against directly answering this question. Instead, bring the question back to your professional experience.I can tell you that I definitely graduated from SCHOOL with a degree in SUBJECT and that I have more than 10 years of relevant industry experience.4. Are you a U.S. citizen?This is a common question that comes up for job applicants who are on a visa. Interviewers cannot legally ask about your citizenship. It is legal for the int erviewer to ask whether you are legally authorized to work in the US. I recommend a response like thisI am legally authorized to work in the United States. Are you asking about my ability to travel, work overtime, or relocate for this position?You can then volunteer additional information in response to the question, as needed.5. Is English your first language?Again, this is a tricky question as theres an implicit bias perhaps youre not legally a U.S. resident or perhaps the interviewer is worried about whether your English skills are suitable for the job.Im fluent in two languages, and whenever Ive been asked this question in the past, Ive responded accordingly I am 100% fluent in English and Cantonese.As with the previous questions, I recommend bringing this one back to the job at hand.Im glad you asked. As you can tell from this conversation and as my resume demonstrates, Im certainly fluent in English. Are there any additional language requirements for this job I should know abo ut? Im proficient in insert other language/languages here.Additional ConsiderationsRemember, at the end of the day, how you answer an illegal interview question is up to you. Consider the intent behind the question, your rapport with the interviewer, and whether you feel comfortable disclosing certain personal details. You never have to answer a personal question directly. At any time you can always say, Id prefer to keep this conversation focused on my professional skills, rather than my personal life. Could you clarify how this is relevant to the job in question?If at any point you feel that you have been discriminated against, file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Bartending Resume Objective Examples

Bartending Resume Objective Examples Bartending resume objective examplesYour bartender resume needs to show off your punchy personality, friendly demeanor, and attention to detail. Crafting a strong resume objective can do just that. The objective clearly states what youre looking for in a bartender job. Although career summaries are more common nowadays, resume objectives are also beneficial. This brief statement at the top of the page can say a lot about you in just a few words.Entry-level bartender objectiveIf youre applying for your first bartending standort, you wont have previous experience to lean on. Your potential employers will want to know about the extent of your bartending knowledge, your previous experience in related professions, and what makes you a candidate worth training. Check out these examplesSeeking a position as a bartender at Hometown Pub and Grill where I can utilize the bartending skills obtained through Bartending School, including profit pouring, mixolog y, and knowledge of essential health and safety codes.To obtain a bartending position with Beachside Resort where I can bring my hospitality skills, efficiency, attention to detail, and cocktail knowledge to the poolside bar area.A position as bartender with Convenient Catering using serving and sales experience to increase the bars profits at special events.Experienced bartender objectivesIf you have previous experience behind the bar, your bartender resume objective should make this clear immediately. A well-trained bartender is a coveted commodity. Let your potential employers know what you can do in detail. For exampleSeeking bartender position with Upscale Resort where I can increase guest satisfaction utilizing five years of bartending and mixology experience.A position as a bartender with Swanky Restaurant using my mixology experience to create custom nightly cocktails, prepare personalized drinks for patrons, and increase client base.To obtain a bartending position at Resort Spa where my outgoing attitude, seven years of bartending experience, attention to detail, and commitment to workplace safety and cleanliness can contribute to the hotels success.A bartender position at Downtown Dance Club where I can utilize my three years of flair bartending experience to entertain guests while preparing stunning custom cocktails and beverages.Keep your objective to a single sentence and make sure to mention your most marketable skills in this area. Read through the employers job description carefully, so you can tailor this to their particular needs as well. If theres an emphasis on the need for a creative bartender, dont fail to mention your knowledge of mixology. If the job description features a heavy focus on health and safety, mention your safe practices. A good objective will keep the employer reading.