RSS feed for InstantSpot site SpearHEADED Job Search

Effective Approach in Getting Interviews

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:06:00 GMT

Effective Approach in Getting Interviews

Self Confidence : An Interview with Ms. Jiggler

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:25:00 GMT

Stella Maris College Interview :Stella Maris College Interview

Getting the Job You Want

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Michael Sherman

Uncover Hidden Jobs

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:57:00 GMT

Michael Sherman Michael F. Sherman Executive Member Relations michael.sherman@execunet.com

Women, Job Search & Fear The 4 Little Voices That Run Around In Women's Head

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:56:00 GMT

Vicki Brackett

Uncovering Opportunities in Your Backyard

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:29:00 GMT

By Marji McClure

How to leave a great impression with your potential employer?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:09:00 GMT

Appointment for Interview Tips

A Very Informative Job Search Video

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:58:00 GMT

Very Informative Job Search Video

Rescuing a Dying Interviews in 5 Ways

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:39:00 GMT

There are many ways for an interview to go wrong. It might be that you show up late. There's a stain on your shirt. You accidentally insult the interviewer's mother.

All of these mistakes can be avoided.

Sometimes, however, there simply isn't a clear explanation for why an interview isn't going well. Sometimes, no matter what you do or say, an interview just fizzles.

Don't panic! You can save this interview.

The first step: Smile. Body language plays an important part in an interview. If you relax your shoulders and give a big ol' grin, you'll feel more comfortable ... and so will the interviewer. Smiling also helps increase your energy and project confidence -- all plusses in an interview. While smiling is a good start to turning an interview around, there are other steps you can take.

Ask the Interviewer Questions

This is known as the "switcheroo."

If you feel that you just aren't giving the right answers to an interviewer's questions, try changing tactics -- and ask the interviewer a few questions of your own.

If you momentarily switch the focus from yourself to the interviewer, it will give you a chance to regroup and compose yourself. Also, it will make the interviewer do some talking, perhaps giving you a clue to what he or she is looking for.

Be sure to prepare your questions in advance and make sure they are appropriate. Some examples:

What's your favorite thing about working at this company?
How would you describe the working environment here?
What's a typical day like in the department?

Get Feedback

If an interviewer seems bored or cold while you're answering a question, all is not lost.

Stop and ask if your answer is going in the direction they're looking for. That way, you can avoid talking about the wrong things and begin talking about the right things.

Maybe you misunderstood the question. Or maybe the question wasn't phrased clearly. That doesn't mean you have to struggle -- just ask the interviewer for some clarification.

If you still feel like the interview is going poorly, ask if the interviewer has any concerns or questions regarding you as a candidate. That way, you can respond to any worries directly.

The key point to remember: If an interviewer is getting bored or appears distracted, cut your answer short and get some feedback.

Flattery Will Get You Everywhere

Everyone likes to feel good about them even interviewers.

So to put an interviewer in a better mood, offer a compliment.

Say a nice word or two about the company, the office's location, and the view from the window -- something that will make the interviewer feel good. Paying a compliment also indicates you are a positive person, an attitude many hiring managers seek in candidates.

Giving a compliment about the company is especially useful, since it will offer you a chance to show that you did research on the company before the interview, proving you're well prepared.

A note of caution: Your compliments should not be too numerous, too obvious or too personal. If you suddenly begin gushing about how GREAT the interviewer's haircut is, the interviewer will see right through your charade. Better to keep your compliment simple and safe, such as saying how friendly everyone seems to be.

You May Not Be the Problem

If you feel like you've done everything possible to succeed in your interview but you're still getting the cold shoulder, and then follow this advice: Just do your best and move on.

Perhaps the interviewer fought with his or her spouse that morning, or perhaps the interviewer is sick. Or perhaps, for no reason, the interviewer is just in a foul mood.

There are innumerable reasons why an interviewer may have been in a bad mood ... many of which have nothing to do with you. Interviewers are people too and everyone has bad days.

So remember to trust yourself and not let it get you down. Just do the best you can and try not to worry about things you can't control.

Contributor: Jai Tabb, a Call Center Agent. She is a enthusiastic woman who administer geekster site. Upon finding the right job for her, she learned many things about job hunting.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

Build Up Your Job Search Now

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Recognize Resume

Keyword Tip

You should visit company web sites (Generally, Company’s information can be found in their respective websites). Take a Look for job descriptions in job-description page. You must also browse the meetings and Web sites of professional associations in your field to look and listen for current catchphrases. Human resources professionals & Recruiter be an excellent source of keyword tips, try to consult to them, if you can.

Investigate, integrate and listen for the jargon and buzzwords that your interviewees use in talking about the company and its jobs. Then, use Web search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, to search for job description and explanation.

Hobbies and Interests on a Resume

Citing personal information on a resume is helpful only if it relates to your job target and demonstrates qualifications that you need in your future employment. If your hobbies are computer-related, and your job needs computer knowledge, then you should include this information. If your hobbies and interests are unrelated to your job and do not reflect any personal characteristics that would help you perform in your career, and then do not put this information on your resume.

In additional to that also, you should never include information such as your age, height, weight, marital status, children, ethnicity, political affiliations, religious affiliations or other nonessential personal information unless it is clearly relevant to the job position.

Don't Arrive on Time—Arrive Early!

Don't arrive on time—arrive early! No matter how understanding your interviewer may be to the fact that there was an accident on the throughway, it is virtually impossible to overcome a negative first impression. Do whatever it takes to be on time, including allowing extra time for unexpected emergencies.

At the interview, please respond questions with complete sentences and with substance. Always remember that your interviewer is trying to determine what substance you would bring to the company and the position. Do not answer questions with just simple "yes" or "no" answers. Give complete answers that show what knowledge you have concerning the company and its requirements. Let the interviewer know who really you are.

Speak about stories or examples that heighten your past experience. Past performance is the best indicator of future performance. If you were successful at one company, odds are you can succeed at another. Be ready to sell your own features and benefits in the interview.

The Hidden Job Market of Networking

Every time you get in touch with a person who is in-line with your career interest, you set up the possibility that he or she will lead you to more people, or to the job you are seeking. Remember, people are connected to one another by an infinite number of pathways. Many of these pathways are available to you, but you must activate them to make them work to your advantage. Most of the available jobs are in the hidden job market. They can’t be found in the classifieds or placed with a headhunter. Find them through your network of contacts. This can be your most valuable resource!

Contributor: Kira Permunian, SEO Specialist (Media Buyer) of Sticky Media Solutions Incorporation. He is a blogger and a webmaster of SEO Bonds blog. He was urged to contribute this article to help jobseekers build an effective job searching techniques.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

2 Ways to Find a Job using Modern Applications

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:03:00 GMT

Here's one of their tips, with modern applications for you ...

1) "Put the employer's needs before your own. Visualize the needs of the person for whom you want to work. Then fill them"

The authors call this, "the most important step of all in the job-getting formula." It was true then and still is today.

When you keep the employer's needs uppermost in your mind, it improves every word you write in your resumes and cover

letters, and every word you say in job and networking interviews. You will see the world differently -- and for the better.

Because, when you focus on employer's needs, you see problems that need solving in almost any business, in any city. These

problems are jobs in disguise. Prove you can solve them, and jobs will be given to or created for you.

Meanwhile, ordinary job seekers, who think first of themselves and their needs, are looking for advertised openings that

appeal to them -- and not finding many.

The second tip comes from "Pick Your Job And Land It!" by S.W. and M.G. Edlund. Of their methods, they write: "For over three

years, the authors have tested the program laid down in this book in the now famous Man Marketing Clinic" in New York City.

2) "Make a written sales presentation of what you have to offer" (page 48).

Your resume and cover letters can get you interviews. A sales presentation, delivered in the interview, can get you job

offers.

What should go into your presentation? Four things, according to the Edlunds (and me):

1. a description of all your experience, education, and training relevant to the job you seek; this can be as simple as a color copy of your resume, extended to 2-3 compelling pages

2. samples of your work: copies of reports you've written, presentations you've delivered, graphics you've designed, etc.

3. case studies of achievements and specific results produced in each position

4. proof of your performance: letters of recommendation from managers, clients, professors, et al; copies of awards, photos,

3 Habits of Job Seekers Who Get Hired Fast

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:55:00 GMT

What do they do differently from average job seekers? Here are three recession-proof habits:

Have focus on results, not processes

People who struggle to find work always seem to be in the process of doing something. They can't tell friends exactly what job they seek because they're in the process of deciding. Or they can't improve their Linkedin profile because they're in the process of revising their resume. Highly successful job seekers know that results are what count. So, they just get stuff done.

Put this on mind, a job seeker who meets 3 networking contacts with an imperfect resume will get hired faster than one who spends all week revising their resume and zapping out emails.

Pick up the phone and call

You have to talk to and meet employers first. In other words, it takes multiple conversations to get a job.

Successful job seekers know this. They stack the odds in their favor by proactively calling, talking to, and asking to meet employers they've sent resumes to. What's the worst that can happen if you call and ask an employer to meet?

They say no. But ... if you wait for a phone call that never comes, you're still getting a "No" from that employer, albeit a tacit one that can take weeks to play out.
Make your own luck. Call to verify that employers got the resume and cover letter you emailed. Better: Print and mail your documents. In your cover letter, say: "I will call your office at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday to answer any questions you may have."

Two very good things can happen when you call at a specific time to follow up:

1. Your call may turn into a phone interview.

2. If you get voicemail, your message will be stamped with the time you called, which should be when you said you would in your cover letter. Congratulations -- you've proven that you're detail-oriented and keep promises. And you're not even on the payroll yet.

3) Contact employers 7 times

In advertising, it's a rule of thumb that prospects must be exposed to your pitch at least 7 times before they buy. Successful job seekers recognize this.
So, create a plan for contacting target employers 7 times in the next 3-4 weeks. Be sure to vary the means of contact and -- this is vital -- always give employers another reason to hire you with every contact. Here's an example campaign to illustrate:

Day 1: Mail well-researched cover letter and resume to ABC Corp., promising to call in two days to follow up.

Day 3: Call, as promised. Ask for interview.

Day 5: Mail newspaper clipping of interview with company president, underlining comments about strategic plan that I can help achieve.

Day 8: Visit company office, saying I was "in the area." Ask if president got article by mail.

Day 14: Mail hiring manager a white paper, "5 Ways to Save on Purchasing at ABC Corp.," based on research done on days 1-10.

Day 16: Call hiring manager to follow up. Ask for interview.

Day 22: Email company president with 5 news items about ABC Corp. found via www.Google.com/alerts in days 1-21. Offer suggestions for how I could help with each.
Now, is contacting one employer 7 times a lot of work? Yes. Do you think any other job seeker will create and follow such a detailed plan of action? No.
So, which is better: a little work now, or no work later?

Contributor: Carlo Till, Graphic Artist of Graphic All-in Store. He is a freelance graphic artist also. He designed logos, tarpaulins, brochures, cards, booklets, book covers,etc. He was inspired to provide this article while looking for a job. Within three weeks, he found job following this blog.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

Great Way to Interview with Recruiters

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:04:00 GMT

Here's the Great Way to Interview with Recruiters

Online Job Search Tips

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:07:00 GMT

The internet has changed the way job search and job hunting is done. Over the past decade there has been a gradual transition from manual employment

searching to online job search. Job seekers feel more comfortable with online search engines because of the scalability they have. However while searching a job online it is good to follow certain procedures to make your ultimate goal of job hunting successful.

1. Create a Killer Resume: Your resume is what presents you to your employer. Your resume is as important as a profile for a company. You must take the time to create a resume that makes you stand out from the crowd. Try to be very specific in your resume, as employers would not read through all the details in your resume. Highlight whatever you feel that could add strength to your resume. Try to add good references in your resume.

2. Create a Good Cover Letter: You must have a cover letter that exhibits your attitude. As a job seeker you must exhibit your positive attitude and discipline in your cover letter. Try to be as polite as possible.

3. Multiple Resumes: It is better to have multiple resumes. You may prepare a resume specifically for a software engineer job and another one specifically for a call center job. You must target your resume to the employer.

4. Searching for a Job: When searching for a job online, you need to find a job search engine that is reliable and that would help you achieve your ultimate goal of job search. Visit usjobcareer.com and register as a job seeker. USJobCareer is a reliable and job seeker friendly search engine designed with job seekers in mind.

5. Keep Track: Job seekers should keep track of the job applications they have made and constantly check the websites to see if your CV has been shortlisted.

Register your resume and take advantage of the free job search resources and tools available at the website.

Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

How Recruiters Can Speed Your Job Search

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:39:00 GMT

         A job search can feel very lonely. You find yourself in a buzz of activity — from crafting cover letters and sending resumes to lining up interviews — all while networking at every opportunity. But you don't have to feel all alone. A recruiter can be an ally in your job search and for the rest of your career. A good recruiter can present you with an attractive job opportunity (including jobs you may not typically see), facilitate interaction with a prospective employer, serve as a resource of market information and much more. But how do you engage a recruiter and maintain the connection long term?

        ExecuNet recently published an article on this subject, titled Working with Recruiters: How to Build and Maintain an Effective Partnership, which I'm making available to you today. In it, you'll find insights from top executives and career advisors on how to get on a recruiter's radar, as well as cultivate and maintain a successful relationship.

      These are the kinds of insights ExecuNet shares with members every day. In addition, they provide proprietary research and intelligence on the executive employment market, a private peer network that can help you achieve any career or business goal, and access to $150K+ executive jobs that are hidden from the public Internet job boards.

Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.

Source: Execunet

Steps in Attracting New Jobs

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:09:00 GMT

Searching for a new job is like the old story of the motorist who is lost in somewhere else and trying to get to his destination. After hours of trying to find the way back to the highway, he stops and asks a farmer the best way to get to his destination. The farmer replies that the best way is not to start from here.

If you're feeling that your job search has taken a detour, and if you are unsure as to how to get back on the highway, here’s something that can help.

1. Set goals: What do you want to do? What are your salary requirements? What types of positions are you willing to accept? How far are you willing to commute? Goal-setting early in your search will help you make better decisions down the road.

2. Tap your network: Reach out to and engage your network. Organize your contacts into power brokers and peers. Your power brokers are connected to decision-makers in many companies, while your peers may only have connections within their present company, so it is important to develop unique ways of communicating with each group.

3. Develop your materials: Be sure to identify your unique benefits and features, so you can determine what to bring to the table and the benefits of your skills to a potential employer. A résumé listing your previous jobs won't stand out from the flood of résumés employers now receive for each opening. Describing your unique skills and accomplishments and how they can benefit a potential employer will.

4. Write a positioning statement: Create your positioning statement (elevator speech), then present it to your network for feedback.

5. Manage your pipeline: Continue to contact the power brokers in your network for new opportunities.

6. Get visible online: Make sure your profile on networking sites consistently reflect your positioning statement, and your work history and experience support it.

7. Gather strangers: Continue to grow your network. Reach out to former clients and vendors, professional associations, community groups and lifestyle groups. Emphasize positive past encounters or shared goals and interests.

8. Continue to reach out to your power brokers: Check in with the power brokers in your network every 30 days, so you'll be top of mind when an opportunity comes their way.

9. Measure your progress: Start measuring your success both numerically (for example, the number of contacts you are making) and qualitatively (how people are responding to you and your value statement).

10. Remember: No one gets very far unless he accomplishes the impossible at least once a day. You may find a job in 90 days or less. Or your search may take you much longer. Keep your momentum going and never give up until you reach your destination.

Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

Six Job Search Helpful Tips

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:05:00 GMT

1. Stress the similarities in your resume and remain silent on the rest. If your resume shows the real you then you are a solid management asset, you may at least receive a call-back.

2. Do the research; we live in a world with so much public information one should be able to demonstrate some insight. Caution: Always be upfront that your slim knowledge is based on public info; but it doesn’t be a know-it-all.

3. Think like this: I must help them [the hiring company] see how well I understand their customers, their products, their metrics and processes, and then relate my level of understanding and abilities to how I'd contribute to their personal success and organization goals.

4. First, see what are most portable with your skills. Second, show that you understand the applications of the knowledge you bring to the table and that you can help them monetize that knowledge.

5. Finally, make sure you understand the gaps you don't fill well and speak to those in a positive way.

6. Executives interested in making a transition to a new industry must understand how to make a strong case for such a move. They must be able to make a connection between their current industry and a new sector and demonstrate their value to prospective Identifying transferable skills is the first step in building that connection from one industry to another.

Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.

Strategies to Re-ignite Your Job Search

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:52:00 GMT

Here's a helpful list you might find valuable:

Focus on networking with people you don't know as quickly as possible. During the first month of a search, contact a minimum of 50 "warm" contacts, those you know and with whom you are comfortable. After the first month, network to at least 100 new contacts every month.

Search for interim roles when you begin your search. Up to 40 percent of the time, interim roles lead to full-time positions. When you work on an interim/consulting basis, you and the company become so comfortable with each other that a full-time position is often created.

Target smaller companies. Research Dun & Bradstreet, Moody's Million Dollar Directory, Standard and Poor's, Hoover's and other websites for valuable smaller company information. The reference section at public libraries provides access to these resources, sometimes for free.

Identify underperforming companies. A significant portion of competition for jobs comes from working executives. During a weak economy, they are less inclined to move to a struggling company which carries greater risk. Therefore, there is less competition for these jobs.

Spend less than 10 percent of the time contacting and working with recruiters. Job seekers are advised to limit their involvement to those recruiters they have retained in the past or are referred to them by close friends and colleagues. Even recruiters themselves acknowledge the limitations of obtaining an executive position by relying too heavily on search firms, because recruiters only account for about 10 percent of all jobseekers hires.

Allocate no more than five percent of your search effort responding to published job leads and Internet postings. Responses should only be made to opportunities which closely match your skills and experience. Thousands of individuals see these opportunities, dramatically increasing competition and reducing the odds of securing the position. Be sure you are a "best fit" for a published/posted opening.

Contributor: Sandy Salute, Entrepreneur. She is an independent business woman. She found out that job searching should be thought critically in order to get the job you want.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.