Take Action To Secure an Interview

Good read below from Selena Dehne in MSN Careers regarding steps to take after finding a job position of interest.  While detailed, the benefit is that you’ll stand out to the person reviewing your information.  And that can make all the difference when it comes time to select candidates for interview. 

Often, when job seekers come across job ads that interest them, they immediately submit their résumés and cover letters to the employers. Then they wait, wondering if their submission will develop into an interview opportunity or if it will slip into a black hole and never resurface again.

Unfortunately, this process is one of the least effective ways to achieve momentum in the job search, says Richard Deems, Ph.D., co-author of “Make Job Loss Work for You.“

Instead, he encourages individuals to work through his five-step Deems JobGetting Skills^TM System to ensure their job hunting progresses into job getting.

“This system takes an entirely different approach from what job seekers may have been taught in the past,” Deems says. “It starts with a simple difference: Before applying for a position, job seekers should find out as much as they can about the position to see if they’re interested in doing what needs to be done. Of course, people who do this won’t apply for as many positions as does the typical job hunter. But then, why should they waste time and energy on something they don’t really want in the first place?”

Below are the five steps Deems says job seekers must take to achieve success, no matter what level position, occupation or industry they are targeting.

Step one: Research the position
“When you hear of a position that interests you, contact the person who has the authority to hire you,” Deems says. “That’s really the only person you want to get in front of. You tell that person that you understand he or she may have a position open, and if so, you’d like to talk about their needs in detail.”

If the job ad fails to name the appropriate person to reach out to, job seekers can call the company directly, look at the company’s Web site or browse articles and blog posts on the Internet about the employer.

Deems says job seekers’ goals in this step should be to:
· Get their name to the decision maker.
· Learn more about the position than other candidates will know.
· Decide whether this is a position they want to pursue.

Step two: Research the organization
Before they apply for a position, job seekers should know a great deal of information, including the organization’s history, products or services, past mergers or acquisitions, locations, environment and key leaders.

To gather this information, Deems suggests that  job seekers:
· Ask the decision maker to send them a copy of the annual report or other pertinent material about the company (if it’s not available online).
· Use the Internet to research the organization. Visit Web sites such as the company’s press room, investor relations links and blogs.
· Use their network (both offline and online) to find someone already in the company. Ask that person what he thinks of the company — pros and cons.

Step three: Evaluate your strengths and interests
“After you’ve explored the position and the company, you need to stop, evaluate and make a decision,” Deems says. “Does the job call for what you do best and most enjoy doing? Will the workplace environment enable you to be your best? Do you want the job or not? One way to evaluate the position is to chart it out, listing your criteria for selecting the position and how this opportunity fits your criteria.”

Step four: Design your positioning strategy
Next, job seekers should contact the key decision maker in the hiring process and let that individual know they want to be considered the top candidate. Then, job seekers should ask what they need to do to make that happen.

Often, the decision maker will simply ask to see the job seeker’s résumé, but job seekers can do more to ensure they stand out from other candidates, Deems says.

“Your positioning plan needs to go beyond the résumé. You need to do things that will keep your name in front of the decision maker, even as that person is reviewing other résumés. To do this, you might need to follow up on your résumé, ask someone in your network to make a call on your behalf and so on. Also, take time to write down what steps you need to take,” he explains.

Step five: Implement
Deems says job seekers should do three things when they’re ready to implement their positioning plan. They  are:
· Assemble your application package according to the instructions of the person who has the authority to hire you.
· Deliver your package in person, if possible. If you cannot deliver your application in person, send it via e-mail or regular mail — or both.
· Follow up. Wait two or three days for the employer to receive your application package; then call to ensure it was received. At that time, have questions prepared to ask the hiring contact and also try to arrange a time to sit down and talk with him or her in person.

Some of these steps may intimidate job seekers at first, but it’s a proactive and effective way to achieve results in the job hunt. “The candidates who are out on the streets meeting and talking with people are the ones who maintain their energy and confidence,” Deems says. “Those who sit back at home and merely mail out their résumés are often those who get discouraged. Sure, they’ll eventually get hired. But the process is likely to drag on much longer than it needs to, and the position may be less satisfying than it could be.”

As always, if Bradley Resume can assist click here.

Dealing with Difficult Interview Questions

Nice read below from Caroline Levchuck on Yahoo! hotjobs on how to answer common, yet still difficult, interview questions.

You know they’re coming: Those seemingly unanswerable questions that pop up during job interviews.
You can’t clam up. And you don’t want to stutter and stammer. So what’s a job seeker to do?

The ‘Future’ Question

Otherwise known as the “big picture” question, the future question goes something like this: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” 

The best tactic: Talk about your values.  Don’t get too detailed about your specific career plan. Instead, discuss things that are important to you professionally and how you plan to achieve them. If growth is a goal, mention that. You can also talk about challenge, another value that employers prize in their employees.

The ‘Salary’ Question

Most people will tell you that whoever answers this question first loses. But that’s not necessarily true.  When an interviewer asks your salary requirement, try first to gently deflect the question by inquiring about the salary for the position.  If the interviewer presses you for a number, give a range. To decide on a range, think about the salary you want, your salary at your most recent position and the industry-standard salary for the job.

The bottom line: The salary question is one of the most important, so you should prepare for it in advance and plan what to say.

The ‘Why’ Question

There’s a fine line between boastful and confident. And you need to learn it.  When an interviewer asks you why they should hire you, you’re going to have speak confidently and honestly about your abilities. But you should avoid sounding overly boastful.

Aim for earnest and prepare by practicing. That’s right: Stand in front of the mirror and acknowledge your abilities and accomplishments to your reflection. Tell yourself: I have a very strong work ethic. I have integrity. I have excellent industry contacts. I aggressively pursue my goals.

It’s sometimes hard to praise yourself, but after a few sessions you’ll sound sincere.

The Seemingly Silly Question

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? What if you were a car? Or an animal?  These type of questions can bring your interview to a screeching halt.

First, don’t panic. Pause and take a deep breath. Then remind yourself that there’s no “right” answer to these questions. The job isn’t hinging on whether you choose to be a spruce versus an oak.

Interviewers usually ask these questions to see how you react under pressure and how well you handle the unexpected. It’s not so important what type of tree (or car, or animal) you choose as that you explain your choice in a way that makes you look favorable.

So, be a spruce — because you want to reach new heights in your career. Or be an oak — because you plan to put down roots at the company. Either way, you’ll get it right.

As always, if Bradley Resume can assist with your resume or cover letter needs, contact us today.

 

Keeping Your Resume Current

No matter your current job situation – employed, unemployed, on the lookout or about to be let go through downsizing – you should ALWAYS keep your resume up-to-date.  Always! That cannot be stressed enough.  Because as many folks have already learned, you never know what job changes lurk around the corner.  The excerpt from the article below discusses the importance of keeping your resume current and tips on bridging gaps due to unexpected changes.  From MSN Careers:

“You have to be ready to submit your résumé on short notice,” says Dustin DeVries, senior director of Lead Dawg, a job search consulting firm. “Candidates who have taken time to update their résumé may be passed over for another candidate of similar caliber that is ready to go now. You just never know when that opportunity may land in your lap and you have to be ready to act.”

Updating one’s résumé today, however, may not be as easy as it once was. As job losses and layoffs continue to swell, people have to do more with less to enhance their résumés. Job seekers are unsure how to deal with lack of employment, gaps between work, title demotions, fewer duties and shortened job spans when updating their résumés.

…Continued from MSN Careers.  Tips to stay current include:

1. Keep up with trends
“Keep up-to-date with current trends for résumés and online profiles. Be sure that you are highlighting how you stand out and emphasizing what makes you special,” Salpeter says.

2. Keep a brag book
DeVries suggests keeping a log of your performance reviews, coaching reports from managers, sales reports, goal assessments and the like to use as content for your résumé.

“You’re going to be measured against someone else in most any position you may hold,” he says. “Update this list each time you receive an e-mail from your manager or a report from your company. Include achievements applicable to the position to which you’re submitting your résumé.”

Additionally, Salpeter suggests keeping a file of any nice things that supervisors, clients and colleagues say about you, and asking for recommendations on social networking sites like LinkedIn.

3. List more than job duties
“Listing job duties on your résumé is OK, but include the metrics you were held accountable for and your performance to those goals,” DeVries says. “Many people just list the duty but don’t include the scale of their accountability and how they performed.”

4. Always ask for feedback
Never stop asking for feedback or critique from colleagues, friends and experts. “You never know what someone may see in your résumé that needs further enhancement or may just need to be eliminated,” DeVries says.

5. Keep lists
In order to keep your résumé up-to-date, you need to keep a running list of your accomplishments and things you’ve done in the workplace, and add to it regularly, Salpeter says. Keep track of your digital profile, too, and recognize that your digital footprint is an important part of your professional presentation and job search.

View the full article here.  If Bradley Resume can assist you with sharpening your resume, contact us today.