All of us appreciate support, encouragement, and tips when we are job hunting. Knowing that you are not alone and there are resources to help can really increase your confidence. Good luck in your search and may your future be as bright as you are. If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction. You've heard about the fabulous pay and great benefits for County and State jobs, know where to find them and use any and all tools available in your area.
Set yourself apart and use the internet differently than the competition by having job openings emailed directly to your inbox and using company websites to educate yourself on the mission and vision the organization. Ask plenty of questions before, during, and after the interview, and always do your home work so you aren't wasting your time or that of the human resource professional you are speaking with.
If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction.
o "________, I've heard good things about your company and you seem to like it, right? Who would I talk to about floating my resume?"
o "________, I haven't seen anything that Company XYZ is hiring, but do you happen to know anyone in HR you could put me in touch with?"
County and State jobs are coveted - know where to find them. Set up your profile and find out what's out there that may be a dream come true for you!
o See if your State and/or County has a website for their job postings (try googling the name of the state and the word jobs - same thing for the county)
Set yourself apart - use the internet differently than the competition.
o Use the Job Center website if your State or County offers this helpful tool and have your resume and cover letter ready to go.
o Have Job Center jobs matched to you and emailed directly to your inbox.
o If you have a social networking profile, tidy it up a bit... foul language and drinking pics should be taken down - you don't want to send the wrong message.
o If you have your resume on multiple sites, make sure it's the same or similar on each. If you update one, update all of them.
Ask Questions.
(Before, During, or After the interview it's important to ask questions. If you aren't sure what to ask - here are some examples:)
How would you describe the company culture/work environment?
What type of employees tend to excel at this company?
What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?
Can you tell me more about the interview process?
What is your turn over rate for the type of position I am interested in?
What type of training do you offer?
How often do you provide reviews and feedback?
What are the most important skills for the job?
How would you describe your ideal candidate?
What are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?
Do your home work.
o Most companies have a website with important information about the company and if you're lucky - information for job seekers.
The Shiny Sparkly Resume!
If a car on a car lot doesn't look shiny and impressive, you'll likely drive by without checking the sticker. Your resume works the same way - if your resume doesn't catch the employers attention you will not get the phone call or the interview much less the job.
Make sure your resume is shiny and sparkling!
Choose Resume Words Carefully / Surpassed vs. Completed
o Anyone can complete a task - surpassing expectations shows that you went above and beyond.
Catch the readers attention and capture interest by using strong words to describe your accomplishments:
Sample Headlines
o Dedicated ______ professional with ___ years of experience in _______
o An accomplished _____ professional with proven entrepreneurial success and expertise in ___________
o Talented _____ professional with over ___ years of experience providing outstanding support to ____________
Sample Qualifications
o Extensive hands on experience in ______
o Diverse _ skills with exceptional __ background in _________
o Fluent understanding and extensive experience managing _____
o Thrive in deadline-oriented, fast paced situations
Focus on: How you saved the company time or money, How you problem solve, How you use your creativity, How you initiate change and develop others, How you use your skills, How you work successfully with a team.
Submit Your Resume/Application
Always read the fine print and submit your resume/application just ask the employer specifies (ie: if they tell you to fax... don't email - if they request a resume and cover letter, don't forget the cover letter, etc... ). Make sure your resume is short and sweet, to the point, and impressive!
Follow Up
Follow up with a phone call or a card (yes, the kind you mail... set yourself apart)
The follow up should be short and sweet - if you send a card, it could say: Thank you for considering me for the _____ position with company XYZ; I am looking forward to meeting with you. Please call me at ____ and we can schedule a phone interview or face to face meeting.
Prepare for the Interview
Make your list of traits, skills, and abilities
Story Format
Stories Should...
Describe a challenging situation
Describe a difficult decision
Describe your strengths
Describe your successes
Describe your weaknesses
Describe a time when the result was not what you planned for
Don't Forget to Ask Questions?
When the potential new employer asks: "Do you have any questions?" your answer should always be a quick "yes" - and go back to those questions you had ready during the job search:
THANK YOU!
The potential new employer will thank you - but be sure to thank them for their time too. Then... follow up with a thank you card (yes the kind you mail - it will set you apart from other applicants)
Set yourself apart and use the internet differently than the competition by having job openings emailed directly to your inbox and using company websites to educate yourself on the mission and vision the organization. Ask plenty of questions before, during, and after the interview, and always do your home work so you aren't wasting your time or that of the human resource professional you are speaking with.
If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction.
o "________, I've heard good things about your company and you seem to like it, right? Who would I talk to about floating my resume?"
o "________, I haven't seen anything that Company XYZ is hiring, but do you happen to know anyone in HR you could put me in touch with?"
County and State jobs are coveted - know where to find them. Set up your profile and find out what's out there that may be a dream come true for you!
o See if your State and/or County has a website for their job postings (try googling the name of the state and the word jobs - same thing for the county)
Set yourself apart - use the internet differently than the competition.
o Use the Job Center website if your State or County offers this helpful tool and have your resume and cover letter ready to go.
o Have Job Center jobs matched to you and emailed directly to your inbox.
o If you have a social networking profile, tidy it up a bit... foul language and drinking pics should be taken down - you don't want to send the wrong message.
o If you have your resume on multiple sites, make sure it's the same or similar on each. If you update one, update all of them.
Ask Questions.
(Before, During, or After the interview it's important to ask questions. If you aren't sure what to ask - here are some examples:)
How would you describe the company culture/work environment?
What type of employees tend to excel at this company?
What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?
Can you tell me more about the interview process?
What is your turn over rate for the type of position I am interested in?
What type of training do you offer?
How often do you provide reviews and feedback?
What are the most important skills for the job?
How would you describe your ideal candidate?
What are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?
Do your home work.
o Most companies have a website with important information about the company and if you're lucky - information for job seekers.
The Shiny Sparkly Resume!
If a car on a car lot doesn't look shiny and impressive, you'll likely drive by without checking the sticker. Your resume works the same way - if your resume doesn't catch the employers attention you will not get the phone call or the interview much less the job.
Make sure your resume is shiny and sparkling!
Choose Resume Words Carefully / Surpassed vs. Completed
o Anyone can complete a task - surpassing expectations shows that you went above and beyond.
Catch the readers attention and capture interest by using strong words to describe your accomplishments:
Sample Headlines
o Dedicated ______ professional with ___ years of experience in _______
o An accomplished _____ professional with proven entrepreneurial success and expertise in ___________
o Talented _____ professional with over ___ years of experience providing outstanding support to ____________
Sample Qualifications
o Extensive hands on experience in ______
o Diverse _ skills with exceptional __ background in _________
o Fluent understanding and extensive experience managing _____
o Thrive in deadline-oriented, fast paced situations
Focus on: How you saved the company time or money, How you problem solve, How you use your creativity, How you initiate change and develop others, How you use your skills, How you work successfully with a team.
Submit Your Resume/Application
Always read the fine print and submit your resume/application just ask the employer specifies (ie: if they tell you to fax... don't email - if they request a resume and cover letter, don't forget the cover letter, etc... ). Make sure your resume is short and sweet, to the point, and impressive!
Follow Up
Follow up with a phone call or a card (yes, the kind you mail... set yourself apart)
The follow up should be short and sweet - if you send a card, it could say: Thank you for considering me for the _____ position with company XYZ; I am looking forward to meeting with you. Please call me at ____ and we can schedule a phone interview or face to face meeting.
Prepare for the Interview
Make your list of traits, skills, and abilities
Story Format
Stories Should...
Describe a challenging situation
Describe a difficult decision
Describe your strengths
Describe your successes
Describe your weaknesses
Describe a time when the result was not what you planned for
Don't Forget to Ask Questions?
When the potential new employer asks: "Do you have any questions?" your answer should always be a quick "yes" - and go back to those questions you had ready during the job search:
THANK YOU!
The potential new employer will thank you - but be sure to thank them for their time too. Then... follow up with a thank you card (yes the kind you mail - it will set you apart from other applicants)
Seeking for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.
No comments:
Post a Comment