You updated your resume, apply to jobs and network every day, yet you’re still unemployed. What is wrong? Many job seekers are blaming economy and forget to consider that the problem might be themselves.
Many employers consider finding qualified applicants their biggest challenge. Among other things, they value initiative, multitasking, creativity and problem-solving skills. Something most of us have. However job applicants often inadvertently display signs that let employers know that they’re not the best fit for the job.
There are fewer jobs and more competition, but are you doing everything possible? Here are a few reasons for employers to consider somebody else: Read this »
A big part of a successful interview is avoiding simple mistakes. Mistakes are deadly to the job seeker and easy to avoid if you are prepared.
Here are ten of the most common mistakes people make during job interviews:
Arriving Late. One of the worst job interview mistakes is to not be on time for the interview. Collect all the necessary details beforehand to ensure that you arrive on time. Get directions from the interviewer or a map. Leave home early. If you cannot make it on time, call the interviewer, and arrange to reschedule.
Not Being Prepared. There is no excuse with today’s technology to go into an interview without doing basic research on the company interviewing you, their executives, products, customers, and competitors. Read this »
Despite of constant warnings about the career dangers of posting certain content on social-media sites, many job hunters still don’t follow the advice. Social profiles are easily remembered and not always in a positive way. Recruiters, who often move around from company to company, carry this information with them. This can significantly reduce your chances for a long period of time.
People don’t realize that small things like spamming their resumes or bending the truth can damage their career. Job hunters often send cover letters that claim a specific position at the company or submit the same letter for several other openings. Those candidates are loosing their integrity immediately. To avoid that, it is recommended to write about the two or three positions you’re most qualified for in a single letter. Read this »
Perfect grooming is your first assignment when you interview for a job, whether you want to be a top manager or an entry-level factory worker. Clothes may not say everything about you but they sure are a big part of making a first impression.
There is a large group of people who believe in the whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” lie but, let’s face it, we all judge each other by our outer appearances. When you’re applying for a job, it’s smart to bear in mind that you may only get to make a first impression, and that most people hiring you will not spend enough time with you to see past your appearance. Studies show that many interviewers make up their minds about you after the first 10 seconds. It’s therefore important to carefully consider what you should wear to impress your interviewer.
When you are dressing up for a job interview, don’t wear anything too distracting. Don’t dress too casually or wear flashy clothes. And, most important, be neat and clean. Wearing ill-fitting or unpressed clothes sends the message that you are slovenly and don’t pay attention to detail - not what most employers want.
Appropriate attire supports your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously and understands the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed. Even if you are aware that employees of an organization dress casually on the job, dress up for the interview unless you are specifically told otherwise by the employer. You also need to think about your face, hair, the amount of jewelry you have on, the strength of your perfume or aftershave, the bag you carry and so on. Read this »
A woman, interviewing for a pharmaceutical sales position, answers common interview questions. Denham Resources created great examples of bad and good answers.
The recruiting process varies by industry, company and profession, but end result is the same: only one person out of many candidates is hired. Not every company sends out rejection letters and only few say why.
For those who aren’t hired, it can be a mystery to understand what happened, but knowing what exactly goes on behind the scenes may give you the inside track for a job.
Many employers use recruiters or human resources (HR) personnel to pre-screen applicants that meet a job’s basic qualifications. The goal is to remove only candidates that are a clear miss. Some screeners read every resume, but many search for certain keywords. Some of them consider cover letters and others may ignore cover letters completely. To stay on the safe side, it is better to submit a well-written cover letter and include relevant keywords that usually found in the job posting. Read this »
Before going for an interview, find out as much information about the company as you can. It may seem obvious but there are a lot of people failing to answer the “What do you know about our company?” question. The best way to show enthusiasm for the job is to research the company and position you are interviewing for. Human Resource managers say they are impressed when the interviewee is well-informed. Read this »
The biggest mistake in interviewing is not being fully prepared. It is doesn’t matter how knowledgeable you are and how much experience you have, but if you won’t be prepared for a job interview, most likely you won’t get a job. Here are five steps that would help you to prepare:
Step 1: Do Research Before the Job Interview.
Use every possible method to learn all you can about the company and position. The Internet makes researching companies pretty easy. Just simply type the company’s name using a major search engine, such as Google. If it is a big company, go right to the company’s website, as well as, competitors’ sites. Use investor web sites to learn what’s happening now in the news with this company and its competitors. Use bizjournals.com to find business news by industry and location. Take special note of the information that can be gained from the corporate annual report. Any candidate who has read the President’s Letter to the Shareholders will be way ahead of the competition. Read this »
For the most of us, a job interview could be a very stressful experience during which it is easy to make mistakes. Here are some simple recommendations to keep in mind during your job interview:
1.Do your homework so that you are familiar with the company’s mission, their products, services, clientele, etc. This will not only show that you’ve done the homework but will also build your confidence and ultimately help you answer questions better.
2. Don’t ever be late for a job interview. Late arrival to a job interview is never excusable. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier to make sure you are not late.
3. Do be friendly by giving a firm but not a bone-crushing handshake, making eye contact, smiling and speaking up. Address the receptionist (and everyone you encounter) with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression.
4. Don’t ask questions about salary or benefits. These questions are really only appropriate if you have been offered the position or the interviewer expresses serious interest in hiring you.
Body art is everywhere and most people can name at least one person they know who has some kind of body work done. People with tattoos work in a variety of industries and hold entry-level jobs, as well as, top executive positions. Based on the number of new tattoo parlors and the number of people getting tattooed, this trend doesn’t appear to be slowing any time soon.
So, is body art a workplace issue? Does having a visible tattoo say anything about an individual that is relevant to his or her job? Read this »