job & interview

5 Ways New Grads Can Get a Boost Up the Corporate Ladder

Don't be shy about sharing your ideas. This assertiveness will help you stand out and get promoted.</P><P>When you’re at the beginning of your professional career, that corporate ladder can look pretty tall from the bottom. But while you’ll have to work hard (and be patient) to merit promotions, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to move up that ladder faster.</P><P><B>1. Show off your knowledge of a brand’s product. </B>When interviewing for a role, you’ll stand out more if you know a brand’s product inside and out. Jess Lee, CEO of Polyvore, an online shopping platform, says it’s important to impress your interviewers with your knowledge of their product. She says: “Become a user, study the product, learn its strengths and identify some areas for improvement. Bring it up in the interview, or better yet, prepare something that you can share with the interview team."</P><P>How to do it: A little Web research can go a long way, but go beyond just visiting the potential employer’s website. Look for reviews of the product, as well as company news that you can bring up in the interview.</P><P><B>2. Leverage LinkedIn. </B>You know that connecting with professional contacts on LinkedIn is a good idea, but if you’re not maximizing the potential, it’s a waste of time. LinkedIn’s newly enhanced mobile app lets you glean details about the person who’s interviewing you. So even if you wait until the last minute, you can still find what you’ve got in common, which can warm up your job interview.</P><P>There’s also LinkedIn's Job Search app that you can use to find your next career move – without worrying that your boss will catch you searching for jobs on your desktop. Use LinkedIn to stay on top of what content your contacts are sharing, and amplify its reach by sharing it with your network. Also participate in LinkedIn groups to learn from others, as well as establish yourself as an expert in your field.</P><P>How to do it: Carve out time each week to add new contacts, explore what they’re sharing and send quick outreach messages.</P><P><B>3. Put your ideas out there. </B>Don’t be shy about sharing your ideas, says Leisa Peterson, founder of WealthClinic, a community centered around learning about finances. She calls herself a “22-year veteran of the corporate ladder,” and she's found that by sharing ideas, she was able to show her boss that she cared about the company and was constantly thinking about ways to improve the bottom line.</P><P>In one role at a company that worked with credit unions, she noticed the credit unions struggled with several things she thought the company could help with. She suggested a way to capitalize on this space by creating a product her company already had experience with. Peterson says: “It was a big idea that led to me gaining a huge amount of respect in my manager's eyes, which most importantly led me to see how powerful my ideas were and the power of what happens when you go outside your comfort zone. That idea and all that I learned is what got me hired by Wells Fargo.” </P><P>How to do it: Peterson says you should spend time thinking about how your idea will work so it is reasonable to execute. And even if it doesn’t come to fruition, your assertiveness shows your manager that you care about the bottom line. This will help you stand out and help you get promoted faster.</P><P><B>4. Stick with the hard work. </B>Many grads feel that entry-level work is too mundane and doesn’t offer enough of a challenge. Realize that this work is a necessary part of your climb. Prove yourself at the easy and rote tasks, and you’ll soon be rewarded with something more engaging.</P><P>Stick out your first job – no matter how much you may dislike it – for at least a year. You need the credit on your résumé, and you don’t want future employers wondering if you’ll flee after a few months.</P><P>How to do it: Find ways to challenge yourself in the job you’ve got. That might mean asking your boss for additional responsibilities, learning new software or attending career development classes. </P><P><B>5. Get a reputation. </B>You aren’t stuck at one company for your entire career, so it’s important to make connections beyond the walls of your office. Barry Maher, author and speaker, says it’s imperative that you be active in your field and work to gain an industry-wide reputation. He says: “If it turns out your company doesn't appreciate you, maybe another company will.”</P><P>How to do it: Find industry networking events and start attending them. Write a professional blog (that's not associated with your company), and share your insights on your industry. Be active on social media, and connect to others in your field. If you’re so inclined, look for speaking opportunities that will further brand you as an expert in your field. Then when you’re ready for your next career move, you’ll already have a solid network of people in your field to turn to.</P><P><B>Lindsay Olson</B> is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs, a niche job board for public relations, communications and social media jobs. Hoojobs was voted as a Top Career website by Forbes. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues and is chief editor of the HooHireWire – The Hoojobs Guide to Hiring & Getting Hired.  <BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/21/5-ways-new-grads-can-get-a-boost-up-the-corporate-ladder" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

5 Ways New Grads Can Get a Boost Up the Corporate Ladder

Don't be shy about sharing your ideas. This assertiveness will help you stand out and get promoted. When you’re at the beginning of you...

3 Reasons Managers Should Help Their Virtual Team Network

Virtual team members can connect with their counterparts on the ground via Google Hangouts and Skype.</P><P>From Google Hangouts, to Skype to text messages, connecting with a team virtually is easy and cost effective. Team members with the specific expertise you seek might not live around your geographic location. Reaching out virtually makes good business sense when finding the best person to fulfill a need or work on a project.</P><P>And yet it also produces a whole other set of concerns. One common concern is if a virtual team member really needs to network at events or industry conferences. It’s interesting that the sentiment “out of sight, out of mind” sets the tone for virtual team members. Since these virtual team members are not within the immediate group that might have day-to-day and face-to-face interaction, their professional development needs and even industry interactions are not given the same importance that’s afforded to in-house and in-person team members.</P><P>Here's why it's equally important for your virtual team members to network:</P><P><B>1. </B><B>Connective resources. </B>Well-connected team members, whether virtual or face-to-face, will have access to and knowledge of resources that an isolated team member would not. Not knowing where to go, who to ask or who to connect with are some of the products of a team member that is not networked and not continually developing his or her social skill set and connections. Businesses can learn vicariously through their virtual team members' networking experiences. The business can use that insight as they encounter different people and companies that are not easily accessible.</P><P>Through extensive social networks, a virtual team member taps new and different resources and also becomes even more productive. It’s easy to forget your virtual team members and assume that they're self-sufficient. Yet if they feel uninvolved on disengaged, it can affect their problem solving-skills. And often, in the employees' perceptions, it devalues their contribution to the team. It’s tough to help out, share numbers and share resources when you don’t really know someone. The networking events that are often forgotten are those that involve all of your internal and virtual team members meeting and getting to know each other. Networking within your teams is vital to create an understanding of each person’s expertise and how they can assist.</P><P><B>2. </B><B>Fewer degrees of separation. </B>When a team member feels disconnected, which can happen in a virtual office setting, it can have a negative effect on their abilities to problem solve and reach across parameters for assistance. They can become siloed and even negative. When your virtual team gets to know the team on the ground, the relationship provides a cohesive environment to increase innovation. Creating a collaborative environment is beneficial to all involved. It helps in painting that bigger picture of how they contribute and how they are valued. It gives a stronger sense that they are an important part of the organization’s brand story. </P><P><B>3. </B><B>Positive representation. </B>When a virtual team member feels connected, they represent your business better. They feel like part of the team and overall plan. They also get a better sense of the big picture when they interact with others who learn how vital that person’s connection is to your company. They have the chance to understand, in human form, what your company actually does and how it makes a difference.<BR><B><BR>Teach them how to network. </B>Providing skills that support your team encourages the members to be the best versions of themselves and creates an empowered team that's encouraged and excited to be working together. Owners save time if they themselves make the connection. If the owner can make the introductions between team members, it gives validation and importance to the connection. It also models to team members how to interact and provides a strong visual of the connectivity of each team member. It also maximizes learning if current team members can meet with and acclimate to new virtual team members. </P><P>Anytime you have a highly motivated, committed and productive group, it’s a result of creation and cultivation. As the leadership of an organization builds a culture that has clearly defined goals, those goals are supported by everyone all the time. The focus is not on individual job descriptions. The focus is on everyone doing what’s necessary as a group to achieve the organization’s goals. In part, this means immediately addressing negative behaviors constructively to produce the needed behavior change and rewarding positive behaviors. It is amazing how quickly a dynamic and committed organizational workforce can be created. </P><P><B>Maria Elena Duron</B> is a brand relationship trainer, national presenter, author and small business marketing coach specializing in helping individuals, teams, businesses and organizations apply the concepts of the book “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace” in their daily business and interactions with customers. She is editor-in-chief of the Personal Branding Blog. <BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/14/3-reasons-managers-should-help-their-virtual-team-network" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

3 Reasons Managers Should Help Their Virtual Team Network

Virtual team members can connect with their counterparts on the ground via Google Hangouts and Skype. From Google Hangouts, to Skype to tex...

Do You Want a Better Career? Learn to Love Yourself

<P>It may not be a big surprise to hear that your job impacts your self-esteem. According to a University of Phoenix School of Business survey by Harris Poll of more than 1,000 working adults in the U.S., 47 percent said they gain equal or greater feelings of self-worth from their jobs and careers as they do from their personal lives. <B></B></P><P>The search for the right career is a lifelong quest. The survey found 66 percent of workers in their 20s are searching for the right career, but they aren’t the only ones. Fifty-three percent of workers in their 30s, 42 percent in their 40s, 25 percent in their 50s and 21 percent age 60 and older are all searching for fulfilling careers. Your definition of the right career is a moving target and changes as you go through life, based on your changing values and priorities.</P><P><B>Values and Priorities Change – So Should You</B></P><P>Is your job aligned with your values? It may have at one point, but your values can and often do change. In fact, sometimes values change without your realizing the shift. This may be one reason you're feeling dissatisfied with your work. The good news is “professionals no longer feel locked into a specific career path,” according to Sam Sanders, college chair for University of Phoenix School of Business and former human resources executive. There are other influences at play here too. According to Sanders, “workers are staying in the workforce longer and the lines between personal lives and work have blurred, so it is not surprising that workers are focused on finding jobs and careers that align with their values and contribute to their feelings of self-worth.”</P><P><B>Avoid Putting All Your Effort in One Basket</B></P><P>One day, you may wake up and find you have fallen out of love with your professional life. Changing jobs isn’t the only solution. One way to create a personally and professionally fulfilling life is to volunteer or join activities in line with your personal values. For example, if you have a soft spot for animals, invest free time helping out at an animal shelter. You could help raise money, promote an upcoming event or even walk orphaned dogs. The key is to diversify how you invest your time in case one day you find your job no longer suits your values. By getting involved in outside activities, you will surround yourself with other, like-minded professionals involved in something that does provide you with a feeling of self-worth. This also provides you with contacts for new opportunities that align with your current values.</P><P><B>Defining Your Own Self-Worth</B></P><P>If you haven’t evaluated what is most important to you at this stage of your life, now would be a great time to assess your values. Your values provide guidelines for your daily choices and actions. Think about what you're most proud of today, inside and outside of work. You were most likely successful because your work and values supported each other. For example, if your accomplishment was a report your produced, this may indicate you value providing excellent quality, conducting research or collaborating as part of a team. Dig further and consider which experiences have shaped you into who you are today and determine the compromises you're not willing to make. Remember, your answers should apply to your personal and professional life.</P><P><B>Follow Your Passion</B></P><P>Whether you believe following your passion is good advice or not, it is at least a great starting point. The things that interest you or that you're passionate about may hold the key to the types of jobs that may provide you with a greater sense of self-worth. Use your passion as a launching point to investigate options and research the reality of a career move, not necessarily a direct path to satisfying work. </P><P><B>Own Your Happiness</B></P><P>If there is a lesson from this study, it’s that it's up to you to own your career and happiness, no matter what stage of life you're in. If you're like almost half of U.S. workers and allow yourself to be defined by what you do for work, be clear about what your current motivators are and clearly communicate and take action on them. Instead of expecting your employer to know what will make you a productive employee, discuss the types of projects or activities that you think will keep you engaged. Also be on the lookout for training or professional development opportunities that will keep your skills fresh and in-demand. And most importantly, maintain a balanced life.</P><P><B>Hannah Morgan</B> writes and speaks on career topics and job search trends on her blog Career Sherpa. She co-authored “Social Networking for Business Success,” and has developed and delivered programs to help job seekers understand how to look for work better.<BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/09/do-you-want-a-better-career-learn-to-love-yourself" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

Do You Want a Better Career? Learn to Love Yourself

It may not be a big surprise to hear that your job impacts your self-esteem. According to a University of Phoenix School of Business survey...

How to Crush the All-Day Marathon Interview

Plant your feet, dig deep and finish strong. We're not talking about a race, but an all-day marathon interview may feel like one, so make sure you're prepared.</P><P>A marathon race: 26.2 miles, buckets of sweat from demanding so much of the body, a sense of achievement after crossing the finish line.</P><P>A marathon interview: 26.2 references to your work history, buckets of sweat from talking and talking and listening and listening, and a sense of achievement after leaving the final interview of the day and buying yourself a latte, because you deserve it.<BR><B><BR></B>Both are long days, and both require preparation and a plan to keep your energy high. Consider this your all-day marathon interview training guide:</P><P><B>1. Come to terms with the nature of these interviews. </B>Yes, you will probably be asked the same question by a few different interviewers. And yes, by 3 p.m., that will get old. "Make peace with the fact that you're going to be repeating stuff," says Mary Ellen Slayter, Monster's career advice expert and founder of the marketing company Reputation Capital Media Services. Accept this quirk of marathon interviews as you make small talk about your hobbies for the third time.</P><P><B>2. Get organized.</B> You have a notepad. You have copies of your résumé and the job post. You have a pen. You have your business cards. Later, you'll have their business cards. And you've got to cart all this stuff around from interview to interview. To get organized (and to appear organized), Slayter suggests adopting a padfolio system with a notepad inside a folder that has compartments for business cards.</P><P>Now that you've organized your gear, organize your thoughts. "Think to yourself: What are the three main take-aways I want every person in the conversation to come away with after talking with me?" Slayter says. "Write that down, and keep it in front of you as the first page in the notebook." On the big day, read through this page before each interview to refocus, she adds.</P><P><B>[See: </B><B>The 8 Best Questions to Ask a Job Interviewer</B><B>.]</B></P><P><B>3. Research the interviewers. </B>When scheduling your interview, ask the point of contact with whom you'll be meeting. And then, just as you should investigate the company, research each individual on LinkedIn, says Peggy McKee, CEO of Career Confidential, a job search training company. So many job seekers skip this step, she says. "It's stunning to me, because by not doing that, you’re missing a huge opportunity to connect with that person, to show them that you value them, that they’re important and to start that off on the right foot." She adds: While researching, keep an eye out for talking points. Do you have shared connections, rival alma maters or similar backgrounds?</P><P><B>4. Eat for energy. </B>Just like marathon runners, marathon interviewers must be mindful of what they put in their bodies before and on the big day. It's not a great time to feel jittery, sleepy or nauseated when you're trying to describe a professional challenge you've overcome. To feel full throughout the day, McKee advises her clients to load up on protein the night before and for breakfast and lunch. So go for something more substantial than a handful of cereal and a slug of coffee for breakfast.<BR>?<BR>Speaking of coffee, take it easy. Limit your caffeine intake before the interview, because you're likely already full of nervous energy, Slayter says. When you're feeling drained and about speak with your prospective boss's ?boss four interviews later, however, go for it. "Save your caffeine burst for when you actually need it," Slayter says.</P><P><B>5. Shape your questions to each interviewer's position. </B>Marathon interviews often include meetings with the following types of people, Slayter? says, and here's what to consider:<BR></P>Hiring manager: During this interview, Slayter says, "dig into the nitty-gritty of what are the skills, traits and habits of what makes someone successful in this job." Get a sense of this manager's work style, too, and if it will gel with your own. If he or she stresses the importance of being punctual, for example, and you're notoriously late, that clash is worth jotting in your padfolio.Colleague: When meeting with a prospective team member, ask questions about what it’s like to work on the team and for the boss, Slayter says. ?Ask: "What makes someone successful on a team like this?"Hiring manager's boss: "You need to impress the pants off them, and you probably don’t have them for very long," Slayter says. To make the most of your time with him or her, "elevate your conversation," Slayter says. Ask about industry trends, what he or she envisions for the team and where he or she sees the company in five years, she adds.Human resources employee: For this meeting, focus on how the role fits in with the overall plan for the company, along with long-term opportunities for development, Slayter says.Wild card: ?It's not uncommon for companies to gain a different perspective of a candidate by adding an employee who is not directly part of the team to the interview queue.? When talking to these people, Slayter suggests asking what they like about working at the company and their perspective of the prospective team. <P><B>[See: </B><B>8 Important Questions to Ask a Job Interviewer – And Yourself</B><B>.]</B></P><P>Yes, that's a lot of people, and it may sound exhausting. But it's also a lot of insight waiting to be tapped. "It’s really a gift," Slayter says. "I understand these interviews can be so overwhelming, but if you’re smart and strategic about it, you can walk out with a more complete idea of what it’s like to work somewhere." Take notes during each interview, and as McKee adds, don't forget to get a business card from everyone.</P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/09/25/how-to-crush-the-all-day-marathon-interview" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

How to Crush the All-Day Marathon Interview

Plant your feet, dig deep and finish strong. We're not talking about a race, but an all-day marathon interview may feel like one, so ma...

5 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile – in Less Than an Hour

What's your story? A LinkedIn summary helps recruiters get to know you beyond your résumé.</P><P>If you’re still on the fence about LinkedIn, it’s time to jump off. A 2013 social recruiting survey <B></B>by Jobvite concluded that LinkedIn is recruiters' top social network of choice for hiring. Recruiters use it to search for and contact candidates, keep tabs on potential candidates and vet applicants prior to an interview. </P><P>Your LinkedIn profile is just as important as your résumé. However, they are not the same thing and should be treated differently. There will be some crossover between the two, but your LinkedIn profile gives you the opportunity to create a more substantial version of your résumé. You can include elements in your profile that you cannot fit or easily include in a standard Word or PDF résumé. </P><P>Are you convinced yet that you need to build or update your LinkedIn profile? Here are five major fixes that will distinguish your profile from your résumé – and take you less than one hour to make. </P><P><B>1. Picture. </B>Yes, you need one! According to a 2012 study by TheLadders, recruiters spend 19 percent of their time on a candidate’s LinkedIn profile looking at the picture. That seems a bit funny, but it points to how important the photo really is. If you do not have a picture up, your profile may not get any attention at all. </P><P>You do not need a professional photo. Pick one you like that doesn’t have a distracting background. It’s also best not to choose one taken from so far away that you appear to be a dot on the landscape. If you can’t find a good photo, take a new one and upload it to your profile. </P><P><B>2. Headline. </B>In addition to your photo, the headline is the first thing recruiters and connections will read. You have 120 characters to craft a headline that provides a unique professional description. If you just put your current job title or “sales professional searching for new opportunities,” it’s not going to do you any favors when recruiters search for candidates. </P><P>Consider what you want for the next step of your career. Search for people on LinkedIn who are in that particular field. Or if you're looking for a role with increased responsibility in the same industry, search for more senior people in your field. Do you see any patterns among those headlines, like common keywords? You want to construct your headline so it demonstrates exactly who you want to be next.</P><P><B>3. Summary. </B>A summary is essential to a profile and doesn’t have to be more than a few lines, although you can use up to 2,000 characters. Within that space, you should highlight your background, major accomplishments and your goals. Write it in first person and make it personal. </P><P>The summary helps the recruiter get to know you beyond your résumé. Tell a brief story about why you love what you do or why you want to do something new. This is the way to stand out and make recruiters want to meet you. If you only use professional-speak and leave out your career story, recruiters may lump you with the other applicants. If you are just starting out in your career, describe what made you choose the field you’re targeting. Keywords are important to include here, too. They will help you get found by recruiters when they do general searches for candidates. </P><P><B>4. Publications. </B>While you can add links to publications, interviews and other media in your résumé, they can be cumbersome. These are much more likely to be clicked on through LinkedIn, which has a section dedicated to publications. You can insert a link there or directly in the appropriate job section, or you can simply write the name and date of the publication if no link is available. The same can be done with interviews, podcasts or videos related to your professional and volunteer work. </P><P><B>5. Recommendations. </B>Recommendations are vital to a solid LinkedIn profile. You can request a recommendation from a former colleague, client, professor or vendor easily through LinkedIn. When you do, include a brief personal note to the person asking for the recommendation instead of using the generic language LinkedIn provides. This makes it more personal and thus more likely the person will say yes. It will only take a few minutes. Just make sure you’re asking someone you worked well with. </P><P>You should aim to eventually have three or more recommendations, so you may want to send out a few requests if you have the time. At any time, you can edit your profile, add to your publications field, tweak your headline or summary or change your photo. </P><P>These five elements of a LinkedIn profile are significant and can have a direct effect on whether you’ll be found in a recruiter’s search or called for an interview. Your résumé might be stunning, but if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, the recruiter may second guess that first impression. If you’ve filled out your profile and have a customized, concise résumé, you are much more likely to get called. </P><P><B><B>Marcelle Yeager</B></B> is the president of Career Valet, which delivers personalized career navigation services. Her goal is to enable people to recognize skills and job possibilities they didn’t know they had to make a career change or progress in their current career. She worked for more than 10 years as a strategic communications consultant, including four years overseas. Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.<BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/21/5-ways-to-improve-your-linkedin-profile-in-less-than-an-hour" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

5 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile – in Less Than an Hour

What's your story? A LinkedIn summary helps recruiters get to know you beyond your résumé. If you’re still on the fence about LinkedIn,...

8 Keys to Communicating Effectively During the Job Search

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<a href="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/138e1b5/2147483647/crop/358x322%2B77%2B4/resize/300x270/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2Ffb%2F21%2F0b42958c4a769433f052d911e63c%2Fresizes%2F500%2F140401-smilingtalking-stock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Secret to Hiring Really Good Telecommuters" border="0" src="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/138e1b5/2147483647/crop/358x322%2B77%2B4/resize/300x270/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2Ffb%2F21%2F0b42958c4a769433f052d911e63c%2Fresizes%2F500%2F140401-smilingtalking-stock.jpg" /></a>Whatever your field or experience level might be, your ability to get hired and then to succeed is dependent on excellent communications skills. It’s rare to see an advertisement for a job that doesn’t include this among the various other requirements. <br />
However difficult it may be to evaluate any of your other skills, employers can easily tell how well you communicate by the way you write your cover letter and résumé, and how you converse during phone or in-person interviews. Spelling or grammatical errors are often “the kiss of death” for otherwise well-qualified candidates. But the requirement for strong communications skills goes well beyond this minimal standard.<br />
Communications can take many different forms: oral, written and nonverbal. You convey facts, concepts, impressions and ideas. Is your mind cluttered or well ordered? Does your body language convey interest or boredom, self-confidence or anxiety? What does the way you dress and groom yourself say about how you see yourself? Employers read much into all these nonverbal cues you give off, knowingly or not.<br />
Hiring authorities key in on these critical areas:<br />
<b>1. </b><b>Well-ordered reasoning.</b> Does the prose of your cover letter read well? When you answer questions in an interview, do you meander or get to the point directly? Do you present facts in a coherent way that is easy to follow?<br />
<b>2. </b><b>Strong action verbs and vocabulary usage</b>. Does your résumé read like a job description, with statements beginning with: “Responsible for …” or do you actually say what you did? Effective communicators begin every bullet point with strong verbs like: built, managed, conveyed, analyzed, delivered, produced, maximized/minimized, etc. Do you use the same words or phrases repeatedly, or do you find new ways to communicate what you're trying to get across?<br />
<b>3. </b><b>Wasting time. </b>One way to waste yours and other people’s time is to consume it by writing and saying the obvious. Don’t bother saying what doesn’t need to be said. Don’t clutter your written documents or speech with things that everyone already knows and which don’t add something to an understanding of your qualifications. <br />
Examples: Objective statements or offers to provide references. If an employer is reading your résumé, he or she already understands that your objective it acquiring the job. Likewise, it is obvious that if an employer wants your references, you will provide them when requested. Getting rid of unnecessary words leaves more space on a résumé and time in an interview to convey the things about yourself that will do the most to advance your cause.<br />
<b>4. </b><b>Interest in the position and company</b>. You can demonstrate this by writing in your cover letter that you have been following the company on LinkedIn, or set up a Google Alert to get all the latest news about it. Then, you can remark on something you’ve learned about the company's work or mission that appeals to you. When you do your homework about the company before your interview and show what you’ve learned by the questions you ask, you communicate much about yourself and the way you go about things.<br />
<b>5. </b><b>Passion. </b>Of course you have to be qualified in terms of education, experience, degrees and licensing. But, chances are that many of your competitors will share much of these in common. More than simply being able to do the job, employers are eager to find candidates who show a passion for the work by their tone of voice and general attitude. When you show that you relish the challenges of a particular job opportunity, you can set yourself apart from and above your competition.<br />
<b>6. </b><b>Pride in results.</b> Your résumé bullet points should provide examples of the challenges you faced and the results of your actions. And when you speak of these things in your interview and employers see that your work is meaningful to you and that you relish getting strong and positive results, they will gravitate toward you. From an employer’s standpoint, a productive worker is important, but one who is engaged and prideful of his or her contributions is invaluable.<br />
<b>7. </b><b>Follow up. </b>Your actions say much about you and your work style. If, for example, you state in your cover letter that you will call to make contact on a given date, and you fail to do so, you have already proven your unreliability. The same is true if you are asked to provide information of any kind and you tarry or fail to do so. Instead, take the initiative to promptly respond to a phone or in-person interview with a thank-you note, provide references or other documentation. Thereby you demonstrate respect and thoughtfulness, both of which are noted and valued. <br />
<b>8. </b><b>Listen carefully. </b>At the heart of all effective communication is actively listening to your audience to understand what they want and need to hear. Only this way can you be certain to articulate the right content in an appropriate fashion. <br />
That can mean taking the time to deconstruct a job advertisement to see what the job is really all about before composing your cover letter. <br />
Or, it can mean pausing for a second before responding to an interview question to make sure that the information you are about to provide is on point to the query that has been posed.<br />
It takes much more than claiming to be an effective communicator to convince an employer that you are one.<br />
You will demonstrate that you're an effective communicator when you carefully assess your situation, logically think out what you want to say and then do so clearly and succinctly. You will make the best possible case for yourself, and thereby convince an employer that you represent the ideal answer to their needs.<br />
Happy hunting!<br />
<b>Arnie Fertig, MPA</b>, is passionate about helping his Jobhuntercoach clients advance their careers by transforming frantic “I’ll apply to anything” searches into focused hunts for “great fit” opportunities. He brings to each client the extensive knowledge he gained when working in HR staffing and managing his boutique recruiting firm.<br />
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/24/8-keys-to-communicating-effectively-during-the-job-search" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

8 Keys to Communicating Effectively During the Job Search

Whatever your field or experience level might be, your ability to get hired and then to succeed is dependent on excellent communications sk...

5 Networking Tips for New Grads

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5 Networking Tips for New Grads</h1>
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Your crash course in standing out from the crowd and making meaningful connections.</h2>
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Drop the script. When networking, be spontaneous and genuine to show off the real you.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">Networking: Some people love it, and others others hate it. There's no denying that it's an essential part of business and socialization. This is how meaningful relationships are formed with other people, whether they’re your clients, business partners, colleagues or even supervisors.</span></div>
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Interns who have transitioned into full-time positions and those who've taken on new roles often find themselves thrust into the <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/10/networking-101-for-new-grads" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">world of networking</a> without having a real skill set to make the introductions and develop connections.</div>
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<b>College gave you a taste</b></div>
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From forums to mixers to organization-based events, many college graduates have had opportunities to fine-tune their networking skills. But while much of college networking is with fellow students or recent graduates, the mix of people in work settings will be much more diverse.</div>
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There's a right way to network. When connections are made at events, people want to feel like they're meeting others worth getting to know, who listen and who would be good fits for their businesses. Strong networking skills position someone as a good conversationalist, as opposed to someone who uses, manipulates or even attempts to “make a sale” at networking events.</div>
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<b>Stand out by standing up</b></div>
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Networking events are not about the food. It's networking neophytes who can often be found with the hors d'oeuvres or drinks, quickly putting on that freshman 15. (In college, this was the 15 pounds gained by being a new student. To those new to a position or the world of networking, it’s the 15 pounds gained from all the gripping, grinning and grazing done at <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/09/7-tips-for-networking-success" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/09/7-tips-for-networking-success">networking events</a>.)</div>
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Moving around, meeting people and listening to and joining in on conversations is the order of business at a networking event. The focus is not the food or drink. If it is, then the event is not effective and has merely become an expensive place to snack.</div>
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In being more mobile, also make a decision on whether to have a drink<i> or</i> snack. Having both makes it too difficult to work the room and meet others. To be most effective, keep your right hand free to shake hands and accept business cards. Keeping a phone on hand can also prove challenging. It's best to keep your phone close in your pocket if mixing and mingling. Or consider keeping the phone in a small purse held close enough to the body that you're able to feel it vibrate or access it to make an introduction or share information.</div>
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<b>Tip to be effective instead of efficient</b></div>
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<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/08/08/12-things-killer-employees-do-before-noon" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">Be efficient</a> with things and effective with people. Maya Angelou once shared that people remember how you make them feel. The interaction with others becomes the basis for your relationship. Here are some tips to help you effectively network and connect with other people:</div>
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<b>1. Be yourself. </b> Don’t attempt to be someone you’re not. People are a lot smarter these days, and no one likes talking to someone who appears fake. In networking situations, remember that people typically enjoy being informal and relaxed. It’s not necessary to have a script ready whenever people talk to you. What’s better is to be spontaneous and genuine.</div>
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Most people don’t really do business with just anybody – they only do so with people they really know and genuinely like. So be authentic, and show off who you really are. You may be surprised that you are able to connect in a more meaningful way with people.</div>
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<b>2. Be friendly and approachable.</b> The key to networking effectively is to be friendly. While you don't have to be the life of the party, it's important  to look approachable, introduce yourself to people and<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/19/7-ways-to-be-a-better-listener-while-interviewing" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">listen attentively</a> when someone speaks to you. When you make people feel heard and valued, they will flock to you.</div>
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<b>3. Be interested in what other people are saying.</b> Though you may be networking to increase your business contacts or clients, it shouldn’t always be about you. Listen, and appear genuinely interested in what the other person is saying. It’s also important to be able to briefly tell your story. The keyword is brief. The great thing about networking is engaging in two-way conversations with other people.</div>
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<b>4. Think quality</b><b></b><b> – </b><b>not quantity.</b> It may be true that the more people you know, the merrier you are. However, when it comes to networking, quality is more important than quantity. Knowing and connecting with the few right people is a lot more important than creating less meaningful relationships with dozens of people.</div>
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<b>5. Reach out to someone you need to get to know better.</b> Maintaining relationships is key to your<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/13/3-keys-to-finding-your-perfect-career" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">personal success</a>. How often have we made a connection, developed it and then failed to nurture it?<br /><br />Networking events are perfect opportunities to reach out to someone you know who might need to meet people at an event you’re attending.<i></i> Do you have a plan for connecting with others? Do you know their goals, activities, interests and networks? Do you know what the next steps are in creating a deeper relationship with them?</div>
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Treat meetings with professionals as the beginnings of new relationships. Look for opportunities to connect more, get to know them and develop an even stronger relationship. Even if you don’t plan on trying to find a job, any contact with whom you develop a strong relationship will improve your business skills and the social network needed to be successful. </div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/11/5-networking-tips-for-new-grads" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

5 Networking Tips for New Grads

5 Networking Tips for New Grads Your crash course in standing out from the crowd and making meaningful connections. Drop the script. W...

6 Ways to Hunt for Headhunters

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6 Ways to Hunt for Headhunters</h1>
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Help recruiters help you.</h2>
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Learn how recruiters do their job, and you're more likely to build a beneficial relationship with one of them.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">In many areas, the U.S. economy is heating up. While long-term unemployment remains persistently high, in many labor markets, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find talented people for key hard-to-fill roles. For example, the Boston Business Journal recently reported that the rate of unemployment for well-qualified information</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs">technology professionals</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">in Massachusetts is down to 1 percent.</span></div>
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More than at any time since the financial debacle that began in 2008, employers are now clamoring to find and attract quality employees. Their search for talent requires companies to rely upon and engage third-party recruiting companies for IT and many other fields.</div>
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Working with a recruiter can be a great option if you are looking for a new job and have the particular skill set and experience for a hard-to-fill position. Bear in mind that they are invariably paid by the employer. Given that, some recruiters go out of their way to be helpful to candidates they know they can’t place, while others limit their focus to what they call MPCs – Most Peaceable Candidates.</div>
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Because commissions are based on the principle of "first touch," a candidate has no value to a recruiter if he or she has previously <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/12/how-to-avoid-the-resume-black-hole" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">submitted a résumé</a> to a client. The value is also limited if a recruiter knows that the candidate is working with the competition and is likely to come to a position of having to choose between multiple offers.</div>
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It can be very helpful to understand how headhunters go about finding candidates in order to position yourself to be easily found.</div>
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<b>1. Internal database.</b> The soul of every recruiting company is its own internal proprietary database of people and résumés. Included will be potentially interesting candidates, people who have referred them to others and just about everyone the recruiters have ever dealt with.</div>
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There are free services that will blast your résumé out to hundreds of recruiters in the hopes that it will “stick” somewhere. But beware that many recruiters see this is a self-defeating act of desperation, which also improves the chances that you will be working with their competition.</div>
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<i>Tip:</i> Develop relationships with a few <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">key recruiters</a> who specialize in placing people like you to become a part of their database.</div>
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<b>2. Sourcers</b>. There is a mostly "underground" industry of people and firms paid to source the names and contact information of potential “passive candidates” – currently employed individuals who are not overtly looking to be found. Sourcing companies do the dirty work of calling companies and getting past gatekeepers to determine who works in the relevant departments or serves in target roles. They also do extensive research on LinkedIn and through sophisticated Google searches. For example, they will cull lists of membership roles of professional organizations and lists of attendees at industry and professional conventions and conferences. </div>
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Recruiters will take the lists of contacts that sourcers develop and reach out to anyone and everyone. If you get the standard line: “Do you know anyone who would be interested in or be a good fit for such-and-such role,” take that to mean: “Are you interested and available?” Of course, if the role sounds even a bit intriguing, don’t hesitate to begin a conversation.</div>
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<i>Tip:</i> It's pointless to try to introduce yourself to a sourcer. Instead, leave professional tracks online. Attend and make presentations at meetings. Write blog posts about areas of your expertise using keywords particular to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">job descriptions</a> for which you would be a good fit.</div>
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<b>3. Job board </b><b>résumé</b><b> databases</b>. Recruiters and internal human resources staffing pros pay to gain access to résumés posted on the mega job boards, such as CareerBuilder and Monster, as well as relevant smaller industry or skill-specific job boards.</div>
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<i>Tip: </i>When you post your résumé, you lose the ability to tailor it to specific jobs. Nonetheless, if you have a strong generic résumé, it may well be worth posting.</div>
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<b>4.</b> <b>Job board ads</b>. Recruiters frequently advertise the key positions they are seeking to fill.</div>
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<i>Tip:</i><b> </b>Respond with a personalized cover letter and highly targeted résumé if you are qualified for the role. If you suspect you aren’t a great candidate, don’t apply! Instead, get in touch with the recruiter for the purposes of introducing yourself and building a relationship. And if you know someone who would be that great fit, do refer him or her!</div>
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<b>5. Networking events</b>. Good recruiters understand that it is as much of a relationship business as a transactional one. They will frequently attend <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/09/7-tips-for-networking-success" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">networking events</a>, conferences and professional meetings to learn about and meet the “who's who” of any given group.</div>
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<i>Tip:</i><b> </b>Attend these events, bring your business cards and prepare to network!</div>
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<b>6. Social media.</b> Recruiters are all over sites like LinkedIn and find people based on status updates, group discussions and sophisticated searches of profiles for the right keywords.</div>
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<i>Tip: </i>Make sure your profile is strong and keyword-rich. Post interesting updates, participate in groups and keep it entirely professional.</div>
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Happy hunting!</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/23/6-ways-to-hunt-for-headhunters" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

6 Ways to Hunt for Headhunters

6 Ways to Hunt for Headhunters Help recruiters help you. Learn how recruiters do their job, and you're more likely to build a bene...