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Web Design, Creative in Most Demand Next Year

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Intersting reference to article in the Wall Street Journal pEmployers Still Want Passives

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Job Forecast: Partly Cloudy With A Chance Of Showers

Job Searching Secrets from the Frontlines | TalentZoo.com

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Job search 101: five tips to capturing the job with a thank you letter

Job search 101: five tips to capturing the job with a thank you letter

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Interview Etiquette: Lessons from a First Date

Written by Andrea Sobel and posted on The Ladders (Way to go Andrea!!! Well said!!!)

You’ve heard the analogy: An interview is like going on a first date. Think about it. Blind dates can be painful without some chemistry. And they even check your references. Translate your dating knowhow to win over your next interviewer.

Most of us have only limited experience with interviews. But first dates, no matter how long ago…or how we’ve tried to forget, are something we can all recall. So what can you glean from those awkward encounters? Well, there won’t be chocolate shakes or a good night kiss, but there are a few ways to translate your dating experience to better prepare you for that first interview with an employer.

Don’t show up too early, and never show up late.
We’ve all seen the movies where the poor guy is sitting in the living room getting grilled by the dad while the young woman frantically applies a last coat of mascara. Similarly, the business world tends to run on a schedule. Arriving too early for an interview can make the managers uncomfortable. They end up leaving you in the lobby, fidgeting in a chair pretending to read the ancient copy of Fortune magazine on the coffee table. It is best to arrive 10-15 minutes early; that’s it. That way, you send the message that you are not only punctual, but also appropriate.

Arriving late is a no-brainer; don’t do it. It is always seen as disrespectful . Though you might not get shoes thrown at you (back to the movies again), you have instantly damaged your chances of making a good first impression and getting the job.

Make a good first impression.
In the dating world, this is all about cologne or your skinny jeans. In the interview world, good first impressions are equally crucial. You can never dress “too professionally” for an interview. If it’s a corporate environment, that means a suit for men and a pants suit for women. The devil is also, as they say, in the details: polished shoes, appropriate heels or flats and clean finger nails. Practice a firm handshake and direct eye contact with a friend to make it feel like second nature. There are finer points to consider, but the key is to start off on the right foot. Additionally, bring a couple extra copies of your resume. The more people you meet, usually the better, and you want to be prepared.

Don’t tell ‘em you snore.
Of course, you want to be honest during an interview, but this is not the time to give away all your secrets. The company can verify a great deal of information through employment background checks and references, so you want to make sure you present yourself honorably and that means honestly. But don’t advertise your negatives. You would never tell a first date that you snore. You’d wait until she falls in love with you and will find all your idiosyncrasies endearing. In the same way, make sure that you are presenting all your information by putting your best foot forward. It is the job of the manager to figure out reasons you don’t fit, not your job to red flag them. Stay positive and present the glass half full. If you have little or no experience with something, then respond with an answer that says, “No, but….” Then present the closely related skills you have, your ability to learn quickly or a relevant class you completed. Sell your strengths; do not point out your weaknesses.

Don’t ask for the kiss before the date.
Applicants are always concerned about how to respond when they are asked for their salary requirements. It’s an important part of the process, but it does not belong at the beginning. As many of us have experienced, the kiss belongs at the end of the evening; likewise, the salary discussion should be saved for after the company “falls in love with you.” A safe answer regarding your salary requirements is: “I’m sure you will make me a fair offer, and I’m interested because _____.”

It’s great to get fixed up, but it’s all about the chemistry.
When your friend tells you all about a potential date, you listen for key details. Maybe you care about the date’s job history, or where he went to college or what sports she’s involved in. If you hear something that sparks your interest, you decide to meet. In the same way, your resume got you in the door. It said something the employer liked. But we’ve all met people we thought sounded interesting, but turned out to be a dud. An interview is similar. The manager has to walk away feeling like you’d fit into the team. You can help this along in several ways. First, look around while you are sitting in the lobby or walking toward the manager’s office. Is it a quiet place or do people seem to be working in teams? Based on what you see, that’s what you emphasize. Additional chemistry builders: lean forward in your chair, don’t fidget and smile. Be prepared. Listen. All of these are simple things which increase your likeability.

Tell him what a good time you had.
The technical term is “closing the sale.” Think about it, are you more likely to call the other person back when, at the end of the evening, he says what a good time he had? Of course! No one likes rejection. Companies do the same. They are more willing to call you for a second round of interviews or offer you the job if they think you are interested in them, too. So, before you walk out the door, thank the interviewer for her time and tell her what you like about the job and why you’d be a great fit.

Though the results are different, a first date and job interview both involve one person trying to impress another. Because it’s so unfamiliar, yet so important, the world of interviewing can be a scary place. Hopefully, thinking of something familiar offers some reassurance. Though these are just a very few pointers, they give you an idea about how this all works. Just relaxing a bit will make you more successful and increase your chances of success. Now go out there, and get that job!

Crafting a resume that will grab recruiters

Some old rules no longer apply. Creativity can help, but going too far can ruin your chances for a job.

By Tiffany Hsu
March 29, 2009 – Los Angeles Times

Even in choppy waters, recruiters are still angling for the perfect job candidate.

But employers don’t have the time or resources to sift through all the applications churned up by the recession. California’s unemployment rate hit 10.5% in February — the highest in nearly 26 years — while the national rate stands at 8.1%.

To boost your chances of getting plucked, you’ll need a top-notch resume. That means one that combines eye-catching details and a fast, modern pitch with old-school basics, including impeccable grammar and spelling.

Today’s successful resumes are marketing tools, not encyclopedia entries. They’re capable of selling your story on paper or online.

Here’s how to get a recruiter to fall for your resume, hook, line and sinker.

Be a profit center

In these tough times, many companies are concerned with just staying afloat. Show how you can boost revenue, increase productivity or cut costs for your prospective employer.

“Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities,” said Doug Hardy, a resume expert for job search website Monster. “Look for numbers and put them up high.”

Mention how, as a purchasing agent, you sought out bargains and negotiated millions of dollars of savings on supplies. Or show how, as a sales manager, you were responsible for 80 employees and helped double their sales figures in just two months. Even busboys and bank tellers can demonstrate how they boosted efficiency.

Remember to quantify the results. Dollar amounts are the most effective, followed by time saved, then percentages, Hardy said. Employers often search resume databases for candidates who “saved 20%” or “increased revenue $100,000.”

But don’t act like a hot shot and list your salary demands right off the bat. Unless you’re Manny Ramirez, you’re likely to turn off employers in the current environment if you appear pricey and inflexible.

Go digital

Many employment applications now consist of online forms. But that’s just the first round. If you hope to be seriously considered later, have a resume handy. And be prepared to send it digitally.

More employers are using computers to scan resumes for certain keywords and phrases before any human recruiter sees them. The trick is figuring out the code. Here’s one strategy: Browse job search engines such as Monster.com, Indeed.com or CareerBuilder.com (which is part-owned by Tribune Co., the parent of the Los Angeles Times) and search for positions that match your skills. See what terms employers are using and start using those in your resume.

Go easy on the italics, bold lettering and underlining. Keep the font simple. Minimize graphics and colors. It will make the resume easier to read and download.

“Don’t cutesy it up,” said Robyn L. Feldberg, president of the National Resume Writers’ Assn. “Clip art and photos in general look tacky.”

Some recruiters now read resumes on smart phones, devices that can send e-mail and browse the Internet. Send a trial copy to a friend’s BlackBerry or iPhone to see how it looks.”Sometimes, a bullet point comes across as a question mark — not quite the brilliant first impression you were trying to make,” she said.

Develop a permanent online home for your credentials. The networking site LinkedIn lets you create a personal profile where you can list your education, professional experience and skills. When you share your contacts with someone, that person in effect has access to your electronic resume.

Sites such as LinkedIn can put you on the radar of prospective employers, who increasingly are using online tools to hunt for qualified candidates.But be warned: Companies trawl sites such as Facebook and MySpace to verify the backgrounds of prospects. You’d be wise to yank those online pictures you posted of yourself drunk in the hot tub while you’re job hunting.

Be (a little) creative

Creativity counts when you’re looking for work. Graphic designers have screened their resumes onto T-shirts. One recent applicant scored a manager position with a Manhattan accounting firm after wearing a sandwich board inscribed with “Experienced MIT Grad for Hire.”

If you’re applying to a smaller, local company, show your enthusiasm by going into the office and handing the resume directly to the recruiter. Who knows — if you’re likable enough, you might be offered an interview on the spot.

But there’s a fine line between self-expression and self-destruction.

Skip the smiley faces, exclamation points and pink, scented resume paper — only Elle Woods of “Legally Blonde” fame can pull that off.

And beware the video resume. Less than a quarter of executives said their companies accepted them.

And consider the cautionary tale of Aleksey Vayner. The Yale senior constructed a video resume a few years back, replete with clips of his weightlifting prowess, fancy dance moves and bizarre ramblings about what it takes to succeed.Some snickering investment banker e-mailed it to friends. It ended up on YouTube, where it promptly went viral. National publications picked up the story, completing Vayner’s humiliation.

Get to the point

Many recruiters narrow the field after just a cursory scan of your resume.”An employer is going to form a first impression in 30 seconds or less,” Hardy said. “The only purpose of the top of the resume is to get them to read down to the end.”Be concise. Keep the document to one page and leave the most relevant, impressive information at the top. Avoid a too-detailed list of job experience, and cut out that waitress position you held for three months in college.

Leave plenty of white space. Employers aren’t going to bother reading a resume so jammed that it requires a magnifying glass.

Laura DeCarlo, president of Career Directors International, recommends a “summary” early on of concrete skills, such as budgeting or supervision.

Florid prose is likely to irritate recruiters rather than impress them. And skip the “references are available upon request” boilerplate. Employers assume you’ll provide them.

Customize

A targeted resume that demonstrates your understanding of the company and the specific requirements of the job will do better than a slightly rehashed version of a decades-old document.

“It’s a fatal flaw when people leave their resumes generic,” Feldberg said. “The hiring manager can’t figure out what kind of job they want, and the candidate can’t present themselves as the solution to that employer’s problems.

Never lie on your resume; recruiters are increasingly vigilant about confirming credentials. But you can tidy up flaws in your work history.

Start by shaking up the format of your resume. The traditional method of listing your work history in reverse chronological order is becoming passe, experts said.

A “functional” resume might be best for someone switching careers or trying to hide gaps in employment. Instead of a timeline, this format focuses on skills and experiences, showcasing a candidate’s range of abilities.

Meanwhile, keep your skills current. That item about your Microsoft Word proficiency might have been impressive 15 years ago, but highlighting it today makes you look dated.

Consider a short section on special interests. Candidates for sales positions can show competitiveness by running marathons, while mechanical engineer hopefuls can prove their aptitude by building computers for fun, Feldberg said

“Employers don’t care if you garden or like to spend time with your family,” she said. “But mention a hobby if it pertains in some way to the job, or if it’s so interesting that it could be a conversation starter.”

It’s illegal for prospective employers to ask your age, marital status, sexual orientation, religion or political affiliation. So don’t volunteer it.

Loose ends

Typos can be lethal to a resume. More than 75% of employers bounce applicants if their resumes contain spelling errors or are grammatically sloppy, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. So run a spelling check, and then ask others to proofread your resume.

If you’re still employed, don’t include your work e-mail or work number. You could lose the job you have.

Use your personal e-mail and cellphone instead. But keep them professional. Your bunnyboo@gottagetajob.com account doesn’t belong on your resume. And when prospective employers call your mobile or home phone, make sure they don’t get a voice mail recording of your kids or that ear-splitting jam from Fall Out Boy.

After all, the only horn your resume should be tooting is your own. Just make sure it’s playing a song that recruiters want to hear.

tiffany.hsu@latimes.com

 

 

Another Way To Manage The Flood Of Resumes: Throw Fairness Out The Window

Or hire a recruiter (Laura’s snarky comment!) This is from Workforce Magazine.

Workforce magazine reports today that some companies are so overwhelmed by applications for their open positions—one company got 500 applications for one position in the first hour—that they’re reduced to narrowing their sourcing methods. For instance, companies that would have gone to Monster.com to post a job are staying away from such “broad” networks and are aiming for, say, posting on the hiring manager’s alumni association board. Some companies aren’t even posting the openings on their own web sites. This is a huge issue for multiple reasons: one, says recruitment outsourcing firm Accolo, is that companies could be slapped with discrimination lawsuits by only looking at a tiny fraction of the true applicant pool. Two, you’re just not getting diverse candidates—and we’re not just talking about skin color here. If the hiring manager picks somebody who went to the same school as she did, just because it’s easier to call up her alumni association rather than be bombarded with job applications, then those two have had similar formative experiences. No new ideas, no outside perspectives. Of course it’s not that simple; the hiring manager isn’t going to find a clone of herself. But it’s another downside to the recession.