job & interview

3 Reasons 'Tis the Season to Get Hired

<P>Between holiday vacations, company closures and snow days, hiring managers are still seeking qualified candidates to fill positions and looking to network with those on the job hunt.</P><P><BR>Even if you're already balancing shopping and entertaining, here are a few reasons why now is a terrific time to activate your job search.</P><P><BR><STRONG>[See: The 10 Worst Times to Switch Jobs.]</STRONG></P><P><BR><STRONG>Qualified candidates stand out. </STRONG>Depending on the company and the amount of time job seekers have on their hands, there can be an influx or decrease in job openings and applications. Still, Christine Assaf, human resources professional and founder of the careers blog hrtact.com, says you shouldn't waste available time. "Gaining experience in networking and interviewing is always a plus when job seeking, so therefore don't quit the search during the season because you may miss an opportunity," she says.</P><P><BR>According to Nancy H. Segal, owner of career coaching and HR consulting firm Solutions for the Workplace, LLC, "holiday hires are not just limited to seasonal hires. For some employers, there are less distractions during the holiday period so that they are more able to focus on assessing candidates," she wrote in an email.</P><P><BR>However, Assaf says there's usually a decrease in hiring during the holiday season. "Businesses are trying to hit their final budget at the end of the year and sometimes hold off on hiring until after the new year," she explains.</P><P><BR>As Segal points out, continuing the job search during the holidays shows that you're interested, and hiring managers have time to focus on you. "You may get to see people who normally would not have time to talk to you," she writes. Keep in mind that because the season is filled with events, vacations and company holidays, a hiring process that would usually take a few weeks might take longer. Segal advises job searchers to regularly check their emails and voicemails for communication from potential employers. "Respond in a timely manner," she writes. "You do not want a potential employer to think you are ignoring their efforts to contact you." Another tip: Abstain from using holiday music on your outgoing voicemail message. Doing so may sound unprofessional, Segal writes.</P><P><BR><STRONG>[Read: Jump Out of the No-Pile and Onto the Call-Back List.]</STRONG></P><P><BR><STRONG>You can add value to a potential employer's bottom line. </STRONG>Hiring managers can be too distracted by holiday events, vacation time and personal obligations to even look at applications and résumés during the holidays, but they could be planning to hire in 2014. Many companies have goals for the new year that can't be fulfilled without new hires. Even if you're also busy with seasonal activities, you should make yourself available. "It is still a buyer's market, and there will be plenty of applicants who will be available. If a job seeker is out of town, they could offer a phone interview or, even better, a Skype or FaceTime interview," Segal writes.</P><P><BR>Assaf adds that applicants should be truthful and upfront about holiday needs and respectful of potential employers' schedules. However, according to Segal, the holidays are "also a great time for informational interviewing – you can take people out for coffee, etc. – and since things tend to be quiet during this period, they may be able to give you more time and attention than normal."</P><P><BR><STRONG>[Read: 6 Ways to Expand Your Network This Holiday Season.]</STRONG></P><P><BR><STRONG>Holiday networking can get your foot in a door that's not open yet.</STRONG> Use holiday schmoozing to your advantage. Holiday events are prime networking territory for applicants to meet people capable of hiring and in search of viable leads. Events may be held in your area by local and national professional organizations, private employers and even friends who can introduce and connect you. "Holiday networking events are a great way for job seekers to mix and mingle to find good contacts for potential jobs," Assaf says.</P><P><BR>Sending out holiday cards can add a special touch. "A holiday card with a short handwritten note can be useful – the card should be of the 'happy holidays' variety rather than one that has pictures of the candidate's children or pets; nor should the card have religious overtones," Segal writes. She adds not to forget the do's of successful job seekers for the rest of the year: Present yourself professionally, consider what you say and to whom and don't become a nuisance.</P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/12/13/3-reasons-tis-the-season-to-get-hired" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

3 Reasons 'Tis the Season to Get Hired

Between holiday vacations, company closures and snow days, hiring managers are still seeking qualified candidates to fill positions and loo...

3 Types of Recruiters and How to Impress Them

<P>Have you been contacted by an outside recruiter about a potential job opportunity? You're not alone. More jobs were filled by third-party recruiters last year than in each of the past eight years, according the CareerXroads Source of Hire report, released last week. </P><P>Incorporating recruiters in your job search strategy yields another source to hear about opportunities that you may not have learned about otherwise. Another way to get sourced for opportunities is by having the right online reputation.</P><P>Many job seekers are confused about how recruiters work, or they have unrealistic expectations of what a recruiter is supposed to do. Learn about the different types of recruiters and review how their roles are slightly different. While the role may vary from recruiter to recruiter, these general guidelines offer a place to start:<BR></P><P><B>Recruiters</B><B>  <BR></B><BR>This term applies to people whose primary responsibility is to find and hire the best candidate for job openings. There are two types of recruiters: inside recruiters and external or third-party recruiters. While their mission is the same, how they are compensated is different. Inside recruiters are salaried employees with a full load of positions to fill. External recruiters are usually paid commission based on jobs filled. <BR></P><P><B>I</B><B>nside Recruiters</B></P><P>They are often called "in-house recruiters" or "corporate recruiters." Companies with numerous positions to fill often have internal recruiters who are solely responsible for hiring, whereas smaller companies have human resources teams that oversee all aspects of talent management. Inside recruiters are typically employees of the company, but sometimes they can be contracted employees. <BR><B></B><BR>The pros and cons: What's nice about inside recruiters is that they know the culture and overall needs of the organization or company. However, inside recruiters may not know the true nature of the job if they don’t have a close relationship with the hiring manager or haven’t previously placed people within that department. Also, inside recruiters often serve as filters that screen candidates who don’t fit the criteria.</P><P><B>External or Third-Party Recruiters<BR></B><BR>External or third-party recruiters are hired by a company to fill positions. Almost 6 percent of new hires were attributed to using third-party recruiters in 2013, according to CareerXroads. A company may decide to use these types of recruiters for a number of reasons: There's been an increase in the number of jobs to be filled; the position is very specific and difficult to fill; or the company wants to keep the opening quiet. </P><P>The main responsibilities for both external and internal recruiters is to find and present the most qualified candidate. External recruiters fall into two camps: retained or contingent. Retained means that that the recruiter or agency has a contract relationship with the company (either exclusive or not) to help find the right talent. Contingent means contingent on placement. In other words: If a recruiter provides the candidate who gets hired, he or she gets paid. If the candidate presented is not hired, the recruiter is not compensated. You may even notice several recruiters competing to fill the same job. You should only partner with one recruiter in this case.</P><P>The pros and cons: An external recruiter serves as a middleman between you and the company. If one job doesn’t work out, he or she may have other opportunities for you. Plus, if you meet the qualifications of the job the recruiter is trying to fill, he or she will be extremely interested in you. <B></B>But keep in mind that not all recruiters are created equal. Some have less than scrupulous reputations and recruiting practices. Also, if a recruiter doesn’t place many people with jobs like yours, you may not hear from him or her again.</P><P><B>S</B><B>ourcers<BR></B><BR>In some cases, companies have specialists known as sourcers. These professionals do the digging to find the very best candidates and then pass the candidate information to the recruiter. Sourcers are known for their masterful sleuthing and research abilities. More than 60 percent of the companies surveyed in the CareerXroads report said they have a separate division or group that only does sourcing. Imagine the difference in workload if you were a recruiter who didn’t have to find candidates.<BR></P><P>The decline in resume database searching gives candidates one more reason to enrich their LinkedIn presences. CareerXroads reported that when hiring from a job board, 50 percent of companies hired from job postings rather than resume searches. Spend time refining your LinkedIn profile, which almost 60 percent ?of companies said has a critical impact on sourcing and recruiting candidates.<BR></P><P>The number of new hires sourced from referrals, job boards and career sites decreased last year, but it's still significant. One of the few sources of hire expected to increase is direct sourcing, which grew by 5 percentage points between 2012 and 2013?,? according to CareerXroads. So what does this mean for you? To be a sourced candidate, you want to be recognized or well-known within your industry or role, connected to the right people or have optimized keywords in your LinkedIn profile and other places online. </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/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

3 Types of Recruiters and How to Impress Them

Have you been contacted by an outside recruiter about a potential job opportunity? You're not alone. More jobs were filled by third-par...

How to Toughen Up at Work

These tips will help you resolve workplace conflicts like a champ.</P><P>It's natural to feel bruised when you trip over a bump in the road. A bad performance review stings. A botched project bulldozes your confidence. Micromanagement makes you feel microscopic on the corporate ladder.</P><P>But conflict is guaranteed in the working world (and life). And if your emotional response – getting defensive, depressed, angry – distracts you from your work, you'll both derail your performance and potentially taint your image. "Successful people aren't perfect, but they know how to manage their emotions," says Andrea Kay, career consultant and author of “Work’s a Bitch and then You Make it Work: 6 Steps to Go From Pissed Off to Powerful.”</P><P>As David Reiss, a psychiatrist based in San Diego, puts it: "The most valued employees are the ones that can handle conflict and resolve it." </P><P><B>[Read: </B><B>The 5 Things You Must Know About Yourself as an Employee</B><B>.]</B></P><P>To help you resolve conflict like a champ – sans passive aggressiveness or tears – follow the expert tips below:</P><P><B>Know thyself. </B>You're innovative in brainstorming meetings, and you're enthusiastic as a team player. Good to know. Equally important to understand: You get defensive when peppered with questions about your project's status, and you tend to perceive critiques as personal attacks. Whew. Glad we got that out there.</P><P>Being conscious of both your strengths and your Achilles' heel – "that button that gets pushed that makes you crumble and feel bad about yourself," as Kay puts it – will help you control your emotions in and outside the workplace.</P><P>Ask yourself, "What gets under my skin and why?" to strengthen your "awareness muscle," Kay says. You could even keep a journal to track the times your panic button has been pushed and how you reacted. Or if you're really brave, ask a close friend or colleague to point out these situations. Maybe you don't realize how passive aggressive (or flat-out aggressive) you get in meetings when given constructive feedback.</P><P>When you identify these blind spots, you're more likely to react out of logic rather than emotion next time. (Think: I know I get stressed when my colleagues ask me so many questions about my project's progress because they make me feel like I'm not good at my job. But really, they're probably just asking questions because they care about the project.) </P><P>If you never step back and you only see a narrow interpretation of the situation – they're asking questions because they think I'm an idiot! – you react out of emotion. Cue the eye rolls, defensiveness, anger, tears. But whatever the case, "if your emotion is running you, you've lost control," Kay says.</P><P><B>Prepare and practice. </B>Now that you're aware of what gets to you, practice how you'll react to it. Maybe deep breathing calms you, or perhaps it's a five-minute walk, a cup of tea, a scroll through Instagram, some seated yoga, a text to your sibling or a little Kenny G. Everyone is different, so choose what works for you to get grounded.</P><P>Don't wait until you're upset to find an effective stress neutralizer, says Beverly Flaxington, author of "Self-Talk for a Calmer You" and adjunct professor of leadership and social responsibility at Suffolk University in Boston. That's like waiting until the Olympics to learn your sport. Try a few de-stressing exercises when the pressure is off, and practice them. So next time you start to feel yourself getting overly emotional or stressed, you know to start taking deep breaths or cue the smooth jazz.</P><P><B>[Read: </B><B>The Best Cures for Workplace Stress</B><B>.]</B></P><P><B>Expect mistakes and criticism. </B>Some tough love from Kay: "In the workplace, you're going to be criticized, you're going to be judged and your performance will be rated," she says. "There will be lots of challenging moments, and you're going to make mistakes." Sound bleak? Here's how to get by: "Make peace with the notion that you can't control anything besides your own reaction to others and to your mistakes," she says. Speaking of reactions ...<BR><BR><B>Don't beat yourself up. </B>"Reasonably self-criticize, but avoid self-punishment," Reiss says. Say you made a mistake – not a screw-up big enough to get you fired – but a mistake nonetheless. "If you catch yourself really putting yourself down as a person or in terms of your abilities, step back and see it as a learning experience," he says. No, you're not an idiot for letting that typo slip into the big report. (And your boss isn't a monster for pointing it out.) But next time you'll proofread the report a few more times, right?</P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/09/16/how-to-toughen-up-at-work/*" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

How to Toughen Up at Work

These tips will help you resolve workplace conflicts like a champ. It's natural to feel bruised when you trip over a bump in the road. ...

The 20 Fastest-Growing Jobs This Decade

With an expected growth rate of 46.1 percent, interpreter is the fastest-growing social services job on our Best Jobs of 2014 list.</P><P>Just how good is a dream job if it's unnecessary to society? Not much good at all, and therein lies the reason hiring demand is the most pervasive factor U.S. News uses when selecting and ranking occupations annually. Every one of our Best Jobs is expected to create new openings between 2012 and 2022, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the best of the bunch will produce those openings at a percentage rate that's faster than 10.8 percent, the average for all occupations. The BLS estimates total employment will increase by 15.6 million by 2022. </P><P>For a handful of occupations on our list, new positions will sprout particularly fast. Here's the skinny, by industry, on those jobs where employment should spike by 30 percent or more:</P><P><B>HEALTH CARE</B><BR>The cause for job growth in this industry is easy to figure out – a large and aging population plus more insured people stemmed from health care reform – but specific reasons for the growth of particular branches of health care are more complex. For example, there should be openings in health care support positions in specialties such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and dentistry, because the qualified professionals who fill these jobs will enable rehabilitation centers and dentists' offices to treat more patients.</P><P><B>[See: </B><B>The Best Health Care Jobs</B><B>.]</B></P><P>When it comes to wellness care, the new job openings and rate at which they'll pop up is different. Seeking treatment for emotional health is losing its previous stigma, so counselors trained to treat and advise on marriage and family issues plus substance abuse and behavioral disorders will face good job prospects. According to the BLS, job prospects will also be favorable because military personnel coming off active duty are expected to seek treatment and will need good therapists and counselors. Overall, health care and social assistance jobs should account for one-third of the projected increase for jobs, the BLS reports.</P><P>Here are the expected growth rates for the fastest-growing health care jobs between 2012 and 2022:</P><B>Personal Care Aide:</B> 48.8 percent<B>Home Health Aide:</B> 48.5 percent<B>Diagnostic Medical Sonographer:</B> 46 percent<B>Occupational Therapy Assistant:</B> 42.6 percent<B>Physical Therapist Assistant:</B> 41 percent<B>Esthetician:</B> 39.8 percent<B>Physician Assistant:</B> 38.4 percent<B>Medical Secretary:</B> 36 percent<B>Physical Therapist:</B> 36 percent<B>Nurse Practitioner:</B> 33.7 percent<B>Dental Hygienist:</B> 33.3 percent<B>Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor:</B> 31.4 percent<B>Marriage and Family Therapist:</B> 30.6 percent<B>Medical Equipment Repairer:</B> 30.3 percent<P><B>BUSINESS</B><BR>It costs a lot of money to develop and promote a product, so most companies want to sell something that's a sure bet to be bought. Enter the market research analyst, who studies our preferences and makes recommendations to clients on how to create, package and promote their materials to best entice us to buy. The drive for more effective marketing strategies will also drive hiring for this position, and the BLS predicts this occupation will grow by 31.6 percent from 2012 to 2022.</P><P>The other swift-growing business job on our list, meeting, convention and event planner, includes social event planners, but the BLS predicts the strongest job prospects will be for job seekers who want to coordinate the logistics of corporate functions. Big businesses have international offices and job openings throughout the globe, and although technology allows colleagues to connect in a variety of ways, face-to-face communication is still preferred. Companies are re-upping their budgets for corporate planners – for both the salaries to employ them and the events they'll plan – so this job should grow at a rate of 33.2 percent between 2012 and 2022.</P><P>Here are the expected growth rates for the fastest-growing business jobs on our list:</P><B>Meeting, Convention and Event Planner:</B> 33.2 percent<B>Market Research Analyst:</B> 31.6 percent<P><B>[See:</B><B> </B><B>The Best Business Jobs</B><B>.]</B></P><P><B>CONSTRUCTION</B><BR>Our six ranked construction jobs are overshadowed by professions in information technology and health care. The No. 1 job for this industry – construction manager – is a great one, but it has 36 other occupations ranked above it that steal a skosh of its glory on the overall 100 Best list. And a few jobs we were bullish on in 2013, like carpenter and electrician, have skidded out of our rankings. None of this is to say we don't have high hopes for these jobs as the housing market and economy recuperate, and the jobs expected to open at the quickest rates didn't necessarily make our rankings list.</P><P>For instance, one of our unranked jobs, insulation contractor, should grow at a rate of 37.6 percent. There will be more growth for mechanical insulation work – installing heating and cooling material to pipes and ductwork as opposed to ceilings, walls and floors. Brickmasons and blockmasons construct or repair a building's structure. Their job is another unranked entry on our list; still, the BLS predicts employment growth of 35.5 percent for this profession between 2012 and 2022.</P><P>Here are the expected growth rates for the fastest-growing construction jobs on our list:</P><B>Insulation Contractor:</B> 37.6 percent<B>Brickmason and Blockmason:</B> 35.5 percent<P><B>TECHNOLOGY</B><BR>In the last 12 months, there have been major security breaches at Twitter, LivingSocial, Target and the University of Maryland. At this rate, there could be a cyberattack to yet another major corporation before you've finished reading this article. Take this lead-in – and that bad joke – to mean hiring opportunities for qualified information security analysts are cropping up. This job, which involves monitoring and maintaining software and networks plus analyzing and recommending the best cybersecurity practices, is expected to grow at a rate of 36.5 percent between 2012 and 2022. Keep your eye on openings at hospitals and other health care organizations, because as more medical records are transferred to electronic files, more information security analysts will be needed to protect patients' privacy.</P><P>Here is the expected growth rate for the fastest-growing technology job on our list:</P><B>Information Security Analyst:</B> 36.5 percent<P><B>[Read: </B><B>What it Really Takes to Snag an Awesome Tech Job</B><B>.]</B></P><P><B>SOCIAL SERVICES<BR></B>Social services is an elephantine industry of occupations on our list of the 100 Best Jobs. And from that group, the fastest-growing job is expansive all by itself. Interpreters and translators could technically be two occupations – those who are strictly interpreters handle verbal communication while translators work with the written word – and professionals from both pie halves are further segmented by specialty and language. For instance, the BLS anticipates increased hiring demand for interpreters and translators who are fluent in frequently translated languages in the U.S. – such as the Romance languages, German and Russian – but if you speak lesser-translated languages, like Arabic, you're poised to enter the harder-to-fill positions. Video relay service technology now allows people who are deaf to participate in online video conferences, so there will also be a greater need for organizations to hire more people who know American Sign Language.</P><P>If you're interested in this line of work but are struggling to fit a niche, pursue a master's degree in international business. The BLS also predicts verdant job opportunity to facilitate international trade, and if you've complemented your communication skills with an understanding of global markets, you'll be golden. Altogether, the interpreter and translator occupation should grow by 46.1 percent between 2012 and 2022.</P><P>Here is the expected growth rate for the fastest-growing social services job on our list: </P><B>Interpreter and Translator:</B> 46.1 percent<br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/03/06/the-20-fastest-growing-jobs-this-decade" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

The 20 Fastest-Growing Jobs This Decade

With an expected growth rate of 46.1 percent, interpreter is the fastest-growing social services job on our Best Jobs of 2014 list. Just ho...

6 Types of Interviews and How to Nail Them

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6 Types of Interviews and How to Nail Them</h1>
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Here's how to prepare for whatever the interviewer throws at you.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">There are many types of interview styles, and you should be aware of each before putting yourself out there. Before ending the conversation with the interview scheduler (whether by phone or email), try to gather information about the interview itself. You should ask with whom you will be interviewing and if you’ll be meeting with them separately or as a group. Also ask if you will be expected to take tests or prepare a presentation. Knowing what’s to come will allow you to</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/13/5-ways-to-prepare-for-your-next-interview" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/13/5-ways-to-prepare-for-your-next-interview">mentally prepare</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">.</span></div>
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Interviewing methods differ greatly depending on the industry to which you’re applying, the company and even the position within the company. The interviewers may focus on one style or engage you in a combination of several interview types. The best thing you can do to prepare is to understand each kind and its intention from the interviewer's perspective.</div>
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<b>Standard</b></div>
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The most common interview questions are:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">Where do you see yourself in five years?</li>
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The interviewer may also ask you to tell him or her about yourself. Come up with well-thought-out, specific and truthful answers to each of these classic questions <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/23/the-ultimate-interview-prep-checklist" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/23/the-ultimate-interview-prep-checklist">before interview day</a>. That way, you will have a concise response ready to go.</div>
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<b>Behavioral</b></div>
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Behavioral interviews focus on the past so employers can attempt to predict future behavior. For example, they may say:</div>
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Choose one example, and briefly describe the situation, how you handled it and what you learned from it. People often confuse behavioral and situational interviews, which are described next. Questions may seem similar, because an employer is assessing your behavior in a particular situation.</div>
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<b>Situational</b></div>
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Typically, situational questions concentrate on future performance rather than past performance, which is the focus of <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/09/26/how-to-answer-behavorial-interview-questions" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">behavioral interviews</a>. The interviewer will give you a problem and ask how you would deal with it. For example:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">Your boss is on a whirlwind business trip. He assigned you a report to write for a client while he is gone, and he expects a first draft in two days. You thought everything was clear, but when you look back through your meeting notes and emails, there are outstanding questions that will make it difficult to complete the report. What do you do?</li>
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Employers want to know how you would likely solve a problem, and in some cases, they want to measure your expertise. Always be honest and specific. Address the problem, and describe your solution and the action you would take. If it’s a question that probes at your expertise in an area, include something applicable in your answer to show you know your stuff.</div>
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<b>Case</b></div>
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Case interviews are used mainly in the <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/management-analyst" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">consulting industry</a> and focus on how you would solve specific business issues. These can include quantitative questions that show the interviewer how you think. For example:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">An online bank is growing well, but it's not reaching profitability targets. What could be wrong?</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">How many gallons of ketchup do New York City McDonald’s restaurants use each month?</li>
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You’ll want to talk aloud as you consider your answer, because the interviewer is looking for insight into your thought process and an interactive conversation rather than an exact answer. Explain your suppositions and issues that may have a substantial effect on your estimate. As you talk through it, you will come to an estimate. This is a skill you are wise to practice in advance if you will be interviewing with a company that uses this technique. Google “case interview questions,” and you’ll come up with good samples and resources.</div>
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<b>Presentation</b></div>
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Some interviewers will challenge you with a business issue and ask you to present solutions to one or more employees. You may be given 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes or less to present.</div>
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The key here is to put pen to paper immediately to get thinking fast. In the first five minutes or less, outline the problem and as many solutions that come to mind in words. Drawing diagrams or pictures may help, too. Next, circle the solutions you think are the best or the ones for which you have the most ideas on how to implement. After that, brainstorm what resources you need to apply to each solution in under five minutes. Use the remaining time to prepare. If you were asked to use a whiteboard or computer for the presentation, transfer your ideas to the board or screen. Don’t worry about being fancy, because you don’t have time for that. The logic and contents of your thought process are most important.</div>
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<b>Panel</b></div>
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Perhaps you’ll be interviewed by five people at once. Each person may have a list of questions to ask you – perhaps in varying interview styles. Or maybe each interviewer came up with his or her own questions in advance based on your background. Use the techniques above under behavioral, situational and case interviews. In all types of interviews, eye contact, smiling when you can and leaning forward to show you’re engaged in the conversation are all fundamental to scoring <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/03/04/simple-techniques-to-increase-your-likeability-at-work" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/03/04/simple-techniques-to-increase-your-likeability-at-work">likeability points</a>. Chemistry is something all interviewers are looking for. If they don’t like you, it’s unlikely you’ll be hired – no matter how smart or experienced you are.</div>
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There are many other types of interview situations. One or more interviewers may use all the different types of questions. You may be in a speed interviewing session where you meet with a new interviewer every five minutes. You may be given writing or behavioral assessments. In every case, while you’re trying to sell yourself to the employer, you want to always be yourself. The last thing you want is to give a false impression or erroneous information and end up in a job that’s not a good fit for you or the company.</div>
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<b>Marcelle Yeager</b> is the president of <a class="" href="http://www.careervalet.com/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.careervalet.com/">Career Valet</a>, 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. </div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/24/6-types-of-interviews-and-how-to-nail-them" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

6 Types of Interviews and How to Nail Them

6 Types of Interviews and How to Nail Them Here's how to prepare for whatever the interviewer throws at you. There are many typ...

Don't Believe These 8 Job Search Myths

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Don't Believe These 8 Job Search Myths</h1>
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Time to rethink your assumptions about the hiring process.</h2>
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No, you will not hear back from every company to which you apply.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">If you are tired of the job search rat race, then stop doing what you are doing. While you are at it, dismiss all the assumptions you’ve made about how jobs get filled. People hire people, not résumés. Let’s debunk your beliefs and myths associated with</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/02/3-job-search-myths-busted" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;">job searching</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">:</span></div>
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<b>MYTH: You will find your next job by applying online. </b>You may believe that if you apply to enough jobs, you’ll eventually beat the odds and land one. While applying to jobs may make you feel productive, a recent CareerXroads survey shows that only 15 percent of positions were filled through job boards. Most jobs are either filled internally or through referrals. When you spend all your time and energy scoping out jobs and applying, you’re hurting your chances.</div>
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So what else should you be doing? Try a combination of things. Successful job seekers use a variety of tactics, such as contacting industry-specific recruiting agencies or <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;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them">third-party recruiters</a>, meeting one-on-one with past colleagues, attending professional association meetings, volunteering and meeting new people every day. If this sounds daunting or almost impossible, remember: More than 70 percent of people land jobs through networking.</div>
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<b>MYTH: You should expect to hear a response soon after you apply. </b>After you have taken time to research a company, modify your résumé and go through the application process, you assume you’ll hear something. The reality is you may not hear back from the company. Expect this to be the norm and take proactive steps. Plan to follow up with someone in human resources after you have submitted your application. Ask what the time frame is for filling the job, and then ask if your application was received. Always end every conversation by asking when you should follow up next and with whom. The really eager job seekers will make that call the same day the application is submitted. The less assertive job seekers wait about a week.</div>
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<b>MYTH: Your cover letter will </b><b>always </b><b>be read in full. </b>You can’t make someone read your cover letter. In reality, some people will never read a cover letter, and others won’t look at your résumé until after reading your cover letter. And there are varying preferences in between. The bottom line is that you should always include a customized <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/24/is-your-cover-letter-read-worthy" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">cover letter</a> that explains specifically why you are interested in and qualified for the job and shares something about the company to show you are a fit. If you don’t take the time to do this, then why should the company take time to review your qualifications for the job?</div>
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<b>MYTH: You should network with human resources. </b>One of the many roles human resources serves is to fill open job requisitions. Often, there are numerous requisitions in the pipeline, and the No. 1 priority is to fill these jobs. Requesting to network with human resources is not in your best interest nor in the best interest of the busy human resources professional. He or she probably doesn’t know about future openings or department-level plans. And and even if he or she did, the advice you get would be to wait until you see something posted.</div>
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Invest your time reaching out to peer-level employees inside a company. Learn how these employees landed the job, what the company culture is like and the skills and responsibilities required in the job.</div>
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<b>MYTH: The best time to network is after the job has been posted. </b>You see the perfect job posted and believe you’re a match. With great excitement, you reach out to someone inside the company only to get ignored or brushed off. You’re doing the right thing, so why isn’t it working? You’re too late to the party. That job has probably been circulating inside the company for weeks. The person you are contacting may even be in the running for the job.</div>
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The best time to network is in advance of job opportunities being posted. In fact, networking after a job has been posted really isn’t networking – it's tracking down a job. That's not bad – in fact, it's recommended – but it's not truly networking. Start identifying companies you would like to work for, and<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;" title="Link: null">begin networking</a> before jobs are posted.</div>
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<b>MYTH: You will be granted an interview for every job you apply to. </b>If you’ve purposely submitted a vague or general résumé with the hope that a recruiter will call for more details, think again. Most of the time, you will not receive a call. Recruiters, human resources staff and the hiring manager only call you if you are a good match for the job. If your application and résumé don’t show how you are a perfect match for the job, the recruiter has very little interest in speaking with you.</div>
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<b>MYTH: Your references are contacted before or during the interview process. </b>Every company has a different policy regarding <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/11/4-ways-to-guarantee-a-killer-reference-check" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/11/4-ways-to-guarantee-a-killer-reference-check">reference checking</a>. Seldom will your references get checked while résumés are being reviewed or during the interview process. It costs time and money to verify references, and if there are multiple candidates applying and interviewing, this can be a costly investment.</div>
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On the other hand, a quick Internet search can often reveal information, so some recruiters may be checking you out online. Carefully select the people you want to serve as references, and prepare them to provide the most relevant and important details about you.</div>
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<b>MYTH: Your </b><b>résumé</b><b> is the most important job search tool. </b>It is important to have a well-written résumé. However, how many hours do you spend updating, modifying, tweaking and adapting it? Too many. The numerous hours you spend hiding behind a computer screen means you aren’t spending time on the phone reaching out to people or attending one-on-one networking meetings.</div>
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Invest your time wisely. How many people will actually take the time to thoroughly review your résumé and ask you questions about each job you held? Much of the detail you obsess over is irrelevant to hiring professionals or will be overlooked in haste.</div>
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<b>Hannah Morgan</b> writes and speaks on career topics and job search trends on her blog <a class="" href="http://careersherpa.net/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://careersherpa.net/">Career Sherpa</a>. 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.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/17/dont-believe-these-8-job-search-myths" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Don't Believe These 8 Job Search Myths

Don't Believe These 8 Job Search Myths Time to rethink your assumptions about the hiring process. No, you will not hear back from ...

About the U.S. News Best Jobs Ranking Methodology

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About the U.S. News Best Jobs Ranking Methodology</h1>
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An insider’s look at our process for selecting and ranking the best jobs of the year.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Choosing an occupation is personal, so there is no ideal way to determine the best job overall. Still,</span><a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;">U.S. News' Best Jobs rankings</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">offer job seekers an intuitive method to compare professions based on components that matter most: the number of expected openings, advancement opportunities, career fulfillment and salary expectations. The result of our efforts is a list of jobs ranked according to their ability to meet those employment concerns.</span></div>
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The Best Jobs methodology is divided into two components: The first is how U.S. News selects jobs to profile. The second is how those jobs are ranked against each other.</div>
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<strong>Selecting the Jobs</strong></div>
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To identify professions that should be included in the 2014 rankings, we started with data on jobs with the greatest hiring demand, or in other words, the highest projected number of openings from 2012 to 2022, as categorized by the <a href="http://www.bls.gov/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>. The jobs at the top of our list were then selected for the 2014 Best Jobs analysis and rankings.</div>
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<strong>Ranking the Jobs</strong></div>
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U.S. News ranks jobs in <a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">an overall list</a> and in category-specific lists, such as "<a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-healthcare-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">Best Health Care Jobs</a>" and "<a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">Best Technology Jobs</a>." Occupations are ranked based on our calculated overall score, which combines several components into a single weighted average score between 0 and 10.</div>
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The overall score is calculated from seven component measures: 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance. For each measure, jobs receive a score between 0 and 10.</div>
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Here are the component measures and their weight in computing the overall score:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">10-Year Growth Volume (10 percent)</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">10-Year Growth Percentage (10 percent)</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Median Salary (30 percent)</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Job Prospects (20 percent)</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Employment Rate (20 percent)</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Stress Level (5 percent)</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">Work-Life Balance (5 percent)</li>
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<strong>About the Component Measures</strong></div>
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<strong>1. 10-year growth volume. </strong>This is the total number of new jobs the BLS expects will be created for an occupation over 10 years. For example, BLS projects the United States will add 139,900 new <a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">software developer</a> jobs between 2012 and 2022.</div>
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<em>Why is it important?</em></div>
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An occupation with significant job growth is likely to have many new job opportunities in the future.</div>
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<em>How is this score calculated?</em></div>
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We translate job growth volumes from a number to a score of up to 10 points. Those occupations expected to grow by 500,000 openings or more received the highest score: 10. Occupations with job growth numbers between 200,000 and 499,999 earned 8 points; between 100,000 and 199,999 earned 6 points; less than 100,000 openings earned 4 points and any occupations in which numbers were expected to decrease received 2 points.</div>
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<strong>2. 10-year growth percentage</strong>. This is an occupation's employment percentage growth over the course of 10 years. For example, the BLS estimate of 139,900 new software developer jobs between 2012 and 2022 equates to 22.8 percent job growth.</div>
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<em>Why is it important?</em></div>
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The 10-year growth percentage measures how rapidly an occupation is expanding. A high growth rate indicates strengthening demand for this type of worker.</div>
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<em>How is this score calculated?</em></div>
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We translate job growth percentages from a number to a score of up to 10 points. Occupations for which the projected growth rate increased by 30 percent or more earned the total possible 10 points; those for which growth increased between 20 and 29 percent earned 8 points; where growth increased between 10 and 19 percent, the job earned 6 points and where growth increased by 9 percent or less, the job earned 4 points. Any occupations that saw growth decrease received 2 points.</div>
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<strong>3. Median salary.</strong> This is the median salary earned by someone employed in a given occupation, according to BLS.</div>
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<em>Why is it important?</em></div>
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Most people prefer higher salaries to lower salaries.</div>
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<em>How is this score calculated?</em></div>
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We translate median salary from a dollar amount to a numerical score using the following formula: Salary Score = SQRT(Median Salary) 40. We set a maximum salary score of 10 points.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/01/22/about-the-us-news-best-jobs-ranking-methodology" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

About the U.S. News Best Jobs Ranking Methodology

About the U.S. News Best Jobs Ranking Methodology An insider’s look at our process for selecting and ranking the best jobs of the year. ...

How to Crush the All-Day Marathon Interview

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How to Crush the All-Day Marathon Interview</h1>
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The seven-step, no-energy-drink-necessary plan to coming out on top of a very long day.</h2>
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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.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">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.</span></div>
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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:</div>
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<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.</div>
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<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 <i>their </i>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.</div>
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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.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-8-best-questions-to-ask-a-job-interviewer" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-8-best-questions-to-ask-a-job-interviewer"><b>The 8 Best Questions to Ask a Job Interviewer</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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<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?</div>
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<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<i> </i>boss four interviews later, however, go for it. "Save your caffeine burst for when you actually need it," Slayter says.</div>
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<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:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><i>Hiring manager</i>:<i> </i>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.</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><i>Colleague: </i>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?"</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><i>Hiring manager's boss</i>:<i> "</i>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.</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><i>Human resources employee: </i>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.</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><i>Wild card</i>: <i></i>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. </li>
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<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></div>

How to Crush the All-Day Marathon Interview

How to Crush the All-Day Marathon Interview The seven-step, no-energy-drink-necessary plan to coming out on top of a very long day. ...