What to do After the Job Offer

Posted by Krista at 9:41 pm

Congratulations, you got a job offer. You are so excited, you probably want to accept the position right away. Take a breath, relax, and do not answer just yet. Let your potential employer know you need time to think about it, usually about 24-48 hours. While looking over the offer, here are a few things to keep in mind:

The Offer Letter

If they have not already sent you one, you should ask for an official offer letter before making a decision. This should include your title, supervisor, company, start date, salary, benefits, vacation and sick days.

Salary

Is it what you were looking to make? Can you live comfortably on what they are offering to pay you? If not then you should make a budget and decide the salary you need to make. Then you can come back with a counter-offer.

Benefits

Do they offer benefits? Is a 401k important to you? These can factor into how much to negotiate. If you have amazing benefits and flexible work hours, you might be able to sacrifice the salary a bit.

Vacation and Sick Days

How much vacation, sick and personal days do they offer? When do they kick in? Some companies don’t allow vacation days until you have been there for a certain amount of time. Make sure to find out how their plan works.

Putting in Your Notice

After you have decided to accept the position, remember to put in your notice (at least 2 weeks) with a resignation letter. The letter should explain that you are leaving as well as thank your current employer for the opportunities. If you decide not to take the offer, remember to thank that company for the opportunity as well and respectfully decline.

Whatever the offer, you should always take a day or two to think about it. You do not want to end up making an impulsive decision and ending up with a position that’s not right for you, or ending up declining a position that is.

For more information on job searching, click here.

Interviewing Tip: Things You Should Never Do in an Interview

Posted by Krista at 10:44 pm

Are you spending a lot of time focusing on what to do in an interview? It’s also helpful to know what NOT to do. Here are some things you should never do in an interview:

• Show up unprepared. Always study up on the company beforehand, have a list of questions ready and bring several copies of your resume.
• Have nothing to say. An interview should not be an informational session for you. Communicate with the interviewer(s) and let them know how you have prepared and why you would be a great fit for the position.
• Chew gum or eat. This should be a given but it does happen. Just remember to throw your gum away and eat before your interview.
• Show up late or too early. Obviously it is not good to show up to an interview late, but showing up too early can have an impact on you as well. Arriving about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview is ideal.
• Lie or tell jokes. Be truthful in your answers as you can easily get caught up in a lie and lose the possibility of getting the job. Also, it’s not the appropriate time to tell the new joke you just heard because you are nervous or want to seem funny. An interview is a professional setting; jokes should be left for social activities.
• Discuss money or benefits. Most likely you are dying to know how much the job pays and what the benefits are. Sometimes you are told during the first or second interview and sometimes it is kept until the offer is made. Either way, it is guaranteed you will not get the position if you ask about money before getting the job.

For more interviewing tips, click here.

5 Job Searching Tips to Follow

Posted by Krista at 11:12 pm

Are you getting stuck in your job search? Do you feel like you are not finding the right kind of jobs? Here are 5 simple tips to help you move the job searching process along:

Be Prepared

Always have a resume and cover letter ready to edit for each position you are applying to. You should also be checking your voice mail at least once a day in case an opportunity for an interview is presented.

Staffing and Recruiting Firms

Staffing and Recruiting firms can assist you in your job search. They already have a certain amount of positions available that they need to fill. Register at a couple of local staffing or recruiting firms, but remember to chose the ones that focus on the industry you are looking for.

Job Boards

Take full advantage of job boards. Use them to search for jobs, post your resume and even receive job emails daily. Do not limit yourself to the big job boards such as Monster and CareerBuilder; you should also try the smaller job boards such as craigslist, indeed and simplyhired.

Career Services

If you just graduated from college, you probably have a career services center that will help you find a job. If you did not just graduate, try looking into free career services such as career counseling or your local workforce center.

Networking

Networking, it cannot be said enough. Build relationships with people through social media, networking events or just through people you already know. Most of the time you will find that to reach your career goals, it is about who you know.

For more information about job searching, click here.

Building a Professional Network

Posted by Krista at 8:52 pm

Are you waiting for your dream job to fall into your lap? Have you used every job board out there but still no offer? It’s time to start building your professional network. 

Though there are many vehicles (online or offline)  for building a professional network, the formula is simple.

For starters, contact someone you know that is well connected in your professional community. Try to schedule an informal informational interview over lunch or coffee. In addition to getting answers to some general high-level questions, ultimately your goal is to get a short list of people that can help in your career search. Then just  repeat the process until you feel like you have built the right group of professionals to network with. Just remember, giving every new connection the third degree isn’t the goal!

Here is a list of people you might want to have in your professional network:

• An executive
• A mentor
• A co-worker
• A public leader
• A recruiter or headhunter

Remember that joining groups, attending networking events and connecting through social media are also great ways to meet the right people. If you want to land that dream job, you are going to have to work for it.

For more tips on job searching, click here.

10 Resume Rules to Follow

Posted by admin at 7:38 pm

Whether this is your first time creating a resume or you have written several over the years, knowing what rules to follow and when can be frustrating and confusing.  Here are 10 tips to help you get started:

• Always include an objective.
• Customize your resume for each different position you are applying to.
• Include the dates, employer’s name and title for each job listed on your resume.
• Update your resume when you have acquired a new skill or changed jobs.
• Check for punctuation and spelling errors.
• Keep it to one page, unless you have an extensive amount of experience.
• Follow the instructions each employer gives you on what to include and how to send it.
• Do not include the reason for leaving each position, but do have them prepared.
• Only include what is relevant, not every place you have ever worked.
• Be honest about everything on your resume.

Your resume is the first impression you make on an employer. Remember to have someone review your resume before sending it out.

For more tips on resume writing and job searching, click here.

Interview Tip: Selling Yourself

Posted by admin at 10:29 pm

Selling yourself during an interview could be the deciding factor between a job offer or denial. Here are a few tips for increasing your chances:

1. First impression is most important. Make sure you are on time, prepared, your hand shake is firm and that you make eye contact.
2. You should have studied the company and the position thoroughly so that you can answer as well as ask questions. The interviewer will know you do your homework.
3. Relate your strengths to the position you are interviewing for.
4. Bring a brag book of your accomplishments, awards, certificates, or any work relating to the position.
5. Turn negatives into positives. If you do not have a ton of experience, let them know anything you have done that would represent any characteristics of the position. For example, if you don’t have sales experience (but are interviewing for a sales job) you might want to mention the fund raising you did for your charity, or the door knocking you did for a campaign.
6. Be enthusiastic, responsive, truthful and friendly.
7. Always follow-up. Send a thank you note or e-mail and remind them of your interest and strengths.

Following these simple rules should put you above your competition. Your resume has gotten you in the door, now comes the real work.

For more interview tips, click here.

No Call, No Show?

Posted by admin at 9:44 pm

Interviewing can be stressful and over-whelming. When interviewing for a job that might not feel like the best fit, you still have to take time off, commute or even spend time (that you don’t have) on a brag book. You then decide you might just skip this one.

So you didn’t call or e-mail; you just didn’t show up. It doesn’t matter since you don’t know the interviewer and you have other opportunities, right? Wrong. There are several ways not showing up to an interview without canceling can hurt you.

You close the door of opportunity for good. You never know when you will be job searching again, and when a position you once passed on might look very appealing. If you declined or canceled on good terms, you might just have a chance of getting a position at that company again. But, if you no called/no showed to an interview, you can forget about it. Once that impression has been made on a potential employer, that door is shut, locked and most likely guarded.

It’s a small world. People know each other, especially corporate recruiters. You might think no one will ever know that you didn’t show up to an interview besides you and the hiring manager. Think again. The world is not that big and if word got around that you don’t show up to interviews, this could look very bad on your part, hence, making it hard to find the perfect opportunity.

You don’t know ’till you get there. An opportunity might not seem like a great fit at first glance. An interview can give you great insight into a job; what the environment is like, what is expected and what the management might be like. You’ve heard the phrase, “Never judge a book by it’s cover.” You should also apply this to jobs; it could be just the position  you are looking for.

Courtesy is not dead. If you made plans with another person and they did not show up but decided against letting you know, you would be frustrated, angry, sad, etc. Showing respect for people can go a long way. It’s perfectly OK to decide that an opportunity is not right for you, just make sure you let the interviewer know one way or another. Even if you make the decision the morning of the interview, you will be on better terms with the company than you would if you just didn’t show up.

There is not a national database of people who do not show up to interviews, and most likely you will feel guilty for a little bit and then move on. But what if you missed that one great chance, or that one person you were supposed to meet? And what if they know someone who knows someone that can affect your future opportunities? These are just some things to keep in mind, after all, showing up to an interview never hurts.

Buidling Your Brand: The Brag Book

Posted by admin at 5:23 pm

Whether you are a PR professional, sales representative, a writer or an artist, having a brag book along with a great cover letter and resume is essential to landing a good job. A brag book gives you a chance to show off your experience and talents, giving the interviewer a better idea of what kind of employee you would be.

So what exactly goes in a brag book? Well that depends on what industry you are in. Here are some examples:

• Any letters of recommendation
• Awards and certificates
• Emails or letters from employers, clients or co-workers that give you praise
• Copies of your work if you are a writer or artist
• A list of references
• Copy of your resume
• College transcripts

Again, whatever profession you are in depends on what you will include in your brag book.  You should put everything in a binder (a white or black one works just fine) with sleeves to separate each page. Once you have your book all ready to go, remember to practice the presentation.

For more job searching tips, click here.

Writing a Cover Letter

Posted by admin at 8:38 pm

When writing a cover letter, your mission is to grab the attention of the hiring manager. You should focus on why you are the best fit, why you want the position and what you can do for their company. Below is an example of how to set up your cover letter:

Your Information

You should put your name at the top, center of the page. Then on the left-hand side, you should list your address and the date. Also, if you have the company’s information you should list their name and address below your information.

You should start the letter with “Dear Mr./Mrs. ABC” or “Dear Hiring Manager”.

First Paragraph

This should include why your are writing them, what you are applying to and how you found out about the position. You should make the introduction short; no more than 2-3 sentences.

Second Paragraph

This should be the “why I am qualified” part of your cover letter. Refer to any experience you have that relates to the position and how you could apply that to their company. Also, you can add what type of worker you are, i.e., a great team performer, great at working individually – or both.

Third Paragraph

This paragraph should be a closing statement. Remind them that you are a interested in working for their company and that you are a great fit for the position. Let them know that your resume is enclosed and thank them for their time.

End the letter with sincerely or regards, and your signature.

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.

For more tips on job searching, click here.

Interview Tip: The Follow-up

Posted by admin at 5:35 pm

Now that the interview is over you can just sit back and wait for the offer, right? Wrong. You still need to work on landing the job by following up and keeping in contact with the people you have interviewed with. Below are some guidelines to help you with the final stages of the interview process.

Write a Thank You

Make sure to get all of the contact information for each person that has interviewed you. The best way to go about this is to ask for a business card; if they do not have one, ask for their email address, phone number and the correct spelling of their first and last name. Send a thank you letter to each individual person. You also want to send this out no longer than 48 hours after the interview, but the sooner the better.

Sell Yourself

Always express your interest for the position and your strengths as they relate to the job when following up. Keep in mind that you are always selling yourself and they want to know what you will bring to the table. Make them aware of how your skills can benefit their company.

Keeping in Contact

If you have not heard from anyone, you may contact them with a phone call (or email if that is what they prefer) regarding the position about 7 to 10 days after the interview. Again, express your interests and your strengths and ask them for an update. This will let them know you are a serious candidate.

Following up will put you ahead of the rest of the candidates that may just be waiting around for a phone call. Remember to always ask what the next step is at the end of the interview and do not rely on one or two interviews to land you a job: interviewing takes work so continue to apply until you receive an offer.

For more interview tips, click here.

Time Saver Tip: Have Your References Ready

Posted by admin at 11:12 pm

When applying for jobs you may start to feel over-whelmed just thinking about each step of the process. One thing you can do is prepare your references so they are ready for any employer that may ask for them.

You should have about 3-5 references ready with all of their information, including: address, number, email and current position/company. Also, try to keep most of them, if not all, professional references. If you do not already have permission from your references, make sure you get that first as you do not want anyone to be caught off-guard.

Having your references ready is a short process but could save you a great deal of time and frustration in the end.

For more information on job tips, click here.

Can Your Facebook Profile Affect a Job Opportunity?

Posted by admin at 5:23 pm

When applying for a job, do you consider what is on your Facebook profile? In some instances, during an interview you could be asked about the content of any of your social media profiles. Keeping everything private is only one way to go about avoiding an uncomfortable situation with a potential employer.

You also need to make sure that anything that could be visible is appropriate. This includes your profile picture, any status updates, your information and even your wall posts and photos. You should follow these rules for any social media, including a blog.

With employers looking at Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. more so than ever, you want to make sure they don’t get the wrong idea. Also remember that including your website, blog or other links to your resume can give the employer a better feel for who you are and what you can bring to the table; just make sure that they too are appropriate.

How to Ace the Phone Interview

Posted by admin at 2:57 pm

Phone interviews are usually conducted to screen candidates and to narrow down the search. Phone interviews also allow you the chance to land an in-person interview, therefore it’s important to be prepared.

You should treat this as you would a regular interview. Below are some tips to help you get started:

• Make sure you are in a quiet place where you will not be interrupted
• Have a copy of your resume in front of you, as well as a list of answers to possible interview questions
• Do not smoke, chew gum or eat during the interview process
• Speak slowly and remember to enunciate
• Never interrupt the interviewer
• Smile while you are on the phone; it will reflect a positive and excited attitude
• Have something ready to write with in case you need to take notes

Remember to always thank your interviewer and ask about the next step. If you are interested in moving along in the process, ask to set up a face-to-face interview. You should follow-up with a thank you email as you would with any other interview.

For more information on interviewing tips, click here.

Social Media Networking for Job Seekers

Posted by admin at 2:21 pm

With the boom of the internet and social media, traditional job searching is no longer the answer. If you are a job seeker, taking advantage of networking with people via social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn could greatly increase your chances of landing that dream job.

So how do you get started? Think of the type of job you would like, or the type of company you would like to work for. From there you can search the company, the people who work there, or people who are connected to the people who work there. (Twitter and LinkedIn are best for these types of connections). You then need to start building a relationship with your connections so that when the time comes to get a new position, you have a better chance of being on their list of top candidates.

You can also join groups that relate to the specific industry you are looking into, or even subscribe to blogs about that industry. Following or connecting with recruiters is another great option.

Get involved, build relationships: finding the perfect job takes work . For the right approach, you need to integrate the old rules of job searching with social media networking.

For more tips on job searching, click here.

How to Write a Good Objective

Posted by admin at 2:30 pm

A good resume objective is strong and to the point. It also is the first thing a potential employer will read, so make sure to catch their eye with the following steps.

The objective should be fairly simple. Targeting the specific job and/or company is highly encouraged, for example: To obtain an outside sales position with ABC company. This lets the employer know that you are interested in this specific opening with their company. If you do not know the company’s name, just make sure to list the job title you are applying for.

You may also want to add your job skills to the second part of the objective. You should avoid writing anything that pertains to what you want out of the position; the company wants to know what you can do for them, not what your personal career objective is. You can add something about applying your knowledge and (specific) skills, for example: An outside sales position to help the company grow its’ client base by applying my knowledge of the sales industry and my prospecting skills. Or, something like: To obtain an outside sales position with ABC company, using my 3 years B2B sales experience to prospect for new clients.

Remember that an objective sets the tone for the rest of the resume and should always be included at the top of your resume. You also need to slightly alter the objective with each new position you are applying to.

For more resume writing tips, click here.

What to Look for in a Company

Posted by admin at 2:16 pm

When you are searching for a new position, what are the key things to look for in a company?

While that changes from individual to individual, the following items usually top the make-or-break list for candidates:

Compensation

Make sure you do not sell yourself short here. Determine your budget and figure out how much you will need to live comfortably. You can then give a company a certain range (if asked) or negotiate when offered the position. If the job description lists a non-negotiable salary too low for your budget, you may want to reconsider apply. (But make sure that you also consider benefits and commission if applicable!)

Culture

Do you prefer a team environment? Work hard, play hard? Are you looking for a small office setting, or a corporate culture? If you are not sure what you would be most comfortable with, ask the company what the day-to-day office environment is like, how people interact with each other and how much is team work vs. individual work. Once they go into more detail about the work environment, you should get a good feel for how you would fit into the picture.

Performance and Schedule Expectation

Are you looking for a M-F, 9-5? Are you looking to work a non-traditional shift? Or you could be willing to work a 45 hrs + workweek given the hard work pays off.

Don’t forget to ask about the hours and what amount of time is expected of someone in that position.

Upward Mobility

Promotion is important to most job seekers. Ask the company what the career path is for a certain position and what needs to be put in to the position to reach that promotion.

All of these are based on the level of importance to each job seeker. To really get a good picture of whether a position is the right fit for you, you also need to make sure you are prepared for the interview and ask the right questions.

Career Fair Etiquette

Posted by admin at 7:33 pm

Career fairs can be over-whelming and confusing. Here are some tips to help you be prepared to attend a career fair:

Dress Professionally

Wearing a suit is highly recommended. Treat the career fair as several pre-interviews. For more information on appropriate attire, click here.

Be Prepared

Check to see what companies are going to be there and make a list of the ones you want to talk to. Do some research on those companies as well so that when you talk to them, they know you are really interested. When you get there, take time to check out where the companies are on the map so that you are not walking around looking lost and wasting time.

Also, practice a 2 minute speech about yourself and what you want out of a career. Bring several copies of your resume, one for each company.

Follow-up

Make sure to get a business card from each individual you talk to and follow-up with them. Thank them for the opportunity to meet with them and let them know how you would be a perfect fit for their company. Let them know how interested you are in a position with them and that you are going to apply for a certain position, or that you already have applied.

These are just a few tips to get you started on career fair etiquette. If you are looking for a career fair in your area, you can check out our job seeker events calendar.

Backpack to Briefcase: Job Searching for Recent Grads

Posted by admin at 3:28 pm

Graduating from college is a big accomplishment. You are excited to be out in the real world and to begin looking for a career, but where do you start?

Job Boards

If you haven’t already checked out your schools’ job board, you should do that first. Then you can move on to the big job search engines such as Career Builder, Monster, Hot Jobs and Indeed. Looking on Craigslist is a good way to find local openings as well.

You can use keyword searches or look under different categories with job boards. You might also want to post your resume so it is available for potential employers to see.

Recruiters

Using a recruiter or a recruiting firm is a great way to see several opportunities that are available as well as to get a little bit of career advice, if offered. There are temp-to-hire agencies, agencies with permanent or contract work from all industries, or firms that specialize in a specific industry. Do a search in the city your are looking for a job to see what services are offered.

Networking

Use the people you know. The best way to get an opportunity is to contact friends who are working in your field of interest, teachers/professors, family members or anyone you have come across that might be able to help you find employment.

Finding a job post-graduation can be tough, but you shouldn’t give up. There are jobs out there and using all available resources is the first step towards starting your new career.

Interview Tip: Preparation

Posted by admin at 2:05 pm

Your resume has gotten you in the door, but the interview gets you the job. In order to prove you are the best candidate for a position, you must be fully prepared. Below you will find a few helpful  tips for preparation.

Research

Look up as much information about the company and the position as you can. This will not only allow you to comment on anything that perked your interest regarding the company or the position during the interview, but it will also prepare you for any questions they might ask you, or any questions you would like to ask them.  Being knowledgeable will give you a leg up on competition that might not have been fully prepared.

Make a List of Possible Questions

Thinking back to the research you did on the company and the tradition, what are some questions you could be asked during the interview? Practice your answers with a friend or in the mirror. Be prepared for the traditional questions as well, such as:

• Tell me about yourself
• What are your strengths and weaknesses
• Why are you the best fit
• What interests you about the position
• Questions regarding any information on your resume

What to Bring

Brag books used to be for Executive-level positions or sales jobs: That is a thing of the past. Anything such as letters of recommendations, projects, writing samples, certifications, awards, your cover letter and resume can be added to a portfolio to present at the time of the interview. Make sure you practice the presentation of your brag book and that anything you put in it relates to the position you are interviewing for in some way. Make this look clean and professional, using a binder of some sort as well as plastic inserts for each page.

If you know how many people will be interviewing you, bring a copy of your resume for each person. If you don’t know, 4 copies should suffice. Make sure to bring one for yourself as well to have in front of you at the interview.

Not being fully prepared is the biggest mistake made in the interviewing process. Arrive about 15 minutes early and dress professionally. A suit is highly recommended, no matter what position you are interviewing for.

For more tips on interviewing, resumes and job searching, visit the StratStaff blog.

The Basics of Resume Writing

Posted by admin at 10:57 pm

Whether you are a new grad applying to your first job, or searching for a senior-level position, the resume is your key to landing an interview. With an over-whelming response to job postings, your  resume needs to stand out. Here are some simple guidelines to follow to get you started:

Write a Clear Objective

Make sure your objective defines exactly what you want in a position. Better yet, change your objective each time you apply to a new job to gear it specifically towards that position. If you are applying for a software sales job in Denver for example, use something along the lines of “To obtain a Software Sales position in the Denver Metro area.” This will allow potential employers to know that you are not looking for a PR position but applying to sales because you “just need a job”.

Summary of Qualifications

Here you can list what you have experience with, whether that be 2 years B2B sales, 6 years customer service, proficient in Microsoft Office, or any other significant amount of experience in an industry or software/hardware programs that relate to the position you are applying for. You may keep this the same is applying to the same types of positions, but remember to change it if you are applying to several different industries.

Education

List dates of your education, starting with the most recent. If you have a college degree, you do not need to list your high school education, as it is a given that you graduated. If you have some sort of certificates or licenses, again, make sure they are at least some what relevant to what you are applying for otherwise you are just taking up space.

Experience

List the dates of your employment, starting with the most recent. You do not need to include every place you have ever worked. If you have 2 years work experience out of college for example, listing just one of your jobs in college is OK. If you worked two jobs at once, you only need to list the one you worked at primarily. Contract work can be added to your summary of qualifications.

Gaps in your employment can look bad to a potential employer, so be prepared to answer any questions as to what you were doing during that time. Length of employment is also important; you do not want to look like a job hopper.

Achievements

Here you can list any awards you have received either from school or another employer. You may list activities you are or were involved in such as clubs, sports, fraternities/sororities or any volunteer experience. If you wish, you may also add a new sub-header specifically for your volunteer work.

These are just some of the basics to get your resume on the right track. Remember to try to fit everything into one page if possible, never staple or fold your resume, use print that people can read but doesn’t look like a banner ad, and always put your contact information at the top; your name, phone number, email and physical address. Make sure your resume is in a clean and professional format, and you are on your way to landing the job!

For more information on resume writing, interviews and job searching, please visit the StratStaff blog.