How to Interview Your Interviewer

How to Interview Your InterviewerHow to Interview Your Interviewer Youvescheduled the einstellungsgesprch. Youveprinted extra copies of your resume. Youve researched the companys site, and maybe even researched some employees on LinkedIn. But are you really prepared?For many people, interviews are intimidating. A life-changing opportunity is based on an hour or two of answering a strangers questions. At the endcomes the final query Do you have any questions for me?Its tempting to say no, especially when your brain feels like a pile of mush after so much talking. However, you should always have questions to ask. Not only will it make you look more prepared - it will help you determine whether or not the opportunity is truly right for you.Here are career experts and hiring managers greatest tips and tricks to nailing that final question by turning the tables and performing an interview of your own.This one comes from Laura Handrick, Workdistributionspolitik Analyst with FitSmallBusiness.com . According to Laura, This question allows you to understand if the company is growing, the prior employee was promoted or whether theres high turnover. Their answer regarding the reason for the position being filled can provide you insight as to whether theres growth opportunity and a positive culture vs. a bad manager or a culture with a high level of churn and dissatisfaction. While this one might seem awkward to ask, the answer can help give you an idea of the culture without directly asking about it.Tammy Perkins, Chief People Officer with Fjuri Group suggests these questions as a way to gain insight into the job, the people on the team and the expectations they have. Theyre both open-ended, meaning youll most likely receive more valuable input than if you were to ask a yes-or-no question. It can also give you insight into whether expectations are ideal for your skillset or unrealistic, which is much better to find out before you receive an offer letter , additional interview, etc. A great place to start is by asking about the organizations core values. In a positive company culture, everyone can identify what the core values are and what they mean. This now provides you with a great opportunity to share how those values resonate with you on a personal level - something thats likely to score big points with your interviewer, says Piyush Patel , author of Lead Your Tribe, Love York Work .Interviewers are expecting this question, and will most likely give a thorough, positive answer. However, Stuart Ridge of VitaMedica recommends having some follow-up questions ready in case their answer to this question is a little vague. Whats the formality of the office culture ? Whats the flexibility of the work schedule? Whats the management style? What are some of the development opportunities available to employees? These questions are incredibly important to some people when interviewing, so make sure to ask before its too late. Plus, it shows that youre actively invested and interested in the position. However, if you ask this, you may want to pair it with questions two or five so they dont think youre too focused on what youcan get from the company versus what you can offer them.This is a different question from all of the others, as its not directly about you or the company, though it can help you gain insight to the latter. Ridge explains that this question serves two purposes. Asking for personal stories builds a rapport and connection with your interviewer, as people love to talk about their experience and knowledge. The more personal and interested you appear in your interview, the better impression youll leave. Ridge goes on to say that Personal insight will also give you a more honest view into the company culture You will be able to tell right away if the person loves their work, or if they are struggling to find positive things to say. The difference between a glowing recommendation and hesita tion is obvious.This is a safe question, as youve already listed your own skills and experiences before, so it shows that youre still engaged and interested in what theyre looking for. Perkins recommends asking this question as it gives you a sense of what the manager values most - is it tactical execution, strategy and what types of skills they reward? Do those values align with yours? Or are they opposites? Now you have a solid list of questions to keep in your mind, or even write down in a notebook, you can walk into your next interview with confidence. Remember the company should be trying to impress you just as much as youre trying to impress them.

10 Cover Letter Samples by People Who Got Hired at Volvo, T-Mobile or HubSpot

10 Cover Letter Samples by People Who Got Hired at Volvo, T-Mobile or HubSpot10 Cover Letter Samples by People Who Got Hired at Volvo, T-Mobile or HubSpotIts better to landsee something once than to hear about it a thousand times.We totally agree. Which is why were back with a bunch of deckblatt letter samples that deserve your attention.These 10 well-written career documents helped real job seekers find real jobs in real companies. They will teach you valuable lessons about the content and style of your own titelseite letter.So lets see what they have to say and how to use that information to your advantage.1. Norwegian- Cabin Crew Cover Letter SampleHeres a well-structured titelseite letter that uses all the weapons of a smart editor. The use of bullet points, indentation, headlines and numbers make it a very readable document that tackles fatigue with fresh formatting.This cover letter also reminds us crude facts and raw dates belong to the resume. The cover letter should, on the other hand, include stories where you can elaborate things you list in your resume.2. VolvoIf youre shooting for an intern position, recruiters need to see your enthusiasm and dedication already in your cover letter. But considering the scarcity of hard skills, you need to then turn your education to show youre a promising young professional.Dont also forget to balance it with keywords that speak about your technical competencies, especially if youre applying for a job in a highly specialised field.3. TEnglish is fantastic - you can usually choose from several different words to say the same thing. So use the power of vocabulary and make your cover letter sound good, too.If youre about to list your job responsibilities and accomplishments, take your time to explore the world of action verbs. These can help you avoid repetition and start afresh with each new bullet point.4. HubSpot- Director of Business Development Cover Letter SampleHiring managers love brief cover letters that avo id details unrelated to the position. No one really wants to waste their time by skimming through vague sections packed with buzz-words and worn-out phrases. Hemingway would tell you, of that Im sure.Evan DiLeo manages to squeeze everything he needs into just a handful of paragraphs. Outlining his career vision in the first section, he lists his current job responsibilities in the second and his key accomplishments in the third one. 5. Lockheed Martin- Manufacturing Manager Cover Letter SampleIf you want to see your career take off, check out this Lockheed Martin cover letter. Its written by an industry expert that knows his craft and value - and what exactly recruiters need to hear.Gabriels most sought-after qualities include his dedication to work and a strong sense of commitment. The wealth of experience has made him feel confident as a leader and he doesnt hesitate to show it to his future employer, too.The lesson Dont bathe in false modesty and praise yourself for your accompl ishments.6. American Eagle OutfittersThis cover letter underlines the importance of preparation. Its tailored to the position and addresses specific company needs such as diversity in thoughts and actions, collaborative learning, teamwork, empowerment.So before you apply, read through the companys website. Search for the mission or culture statements. Make it clear that you understand and honor the core values of your future employer. The more information you collect, the better your prospects of getting hired. After all, recruiters are far more likely to hire someone that has taken the time to do more than just scratch the surface and send a generic cover letter.7. Microsoft- Technical Director Cover Letter SampleSeasoned professionals keep their cover letters brief and to the point. Once theyve garnered some relevant skills and reached some leidable landmarks in their career, they can let their experience talk. The cover letter has an air of positivity and introduces Paul as a str aightforward and easygoing person. Its pleasant to read and contains no buzzwords or radical statements.Finally, its crowned with a brief rundown of job seekers academic background, career trajectory and relevant certifications. Pretty elegant, right?8. Tory Burch- Account Executive Cover Letter SampleWith the persuasive narrative and a proven track record in sales, its easy to see why Ariels cover letter turned into a winning ticket to Tory Burchs fashion world.Putting equal emphasis on both sides of the coin (sales and relationships, or numbers and people, if you will), Ariel portrays herself as a reliable individual thats pleasant to deal with.But what really takes is to the next level are positive references from customers - and her dad. Back your skills up with a reference from your supervisor, colleague or a customer, and youve got an ace up your sleeve.9. LushHeres a literally lush cover letter that sheds a positive light on job seekers experience and personality at the same time. Being familiar with the inner workings of marketing, Ryan recalls his internships in renowned companies such as Disney World and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Naturally, the letters packed with soft skills like problem-solving attitude, attention to detail, passion and creativity, which makes the profile of a young marketing professional even more appealing.10. Allen Institute Brain Science- Software Engineer Cover Letter SampleListen to the informal tone of the cover letter. While Marks not actively searching for a job, it doesnt prevent him from casually looking around.Frankly, this is a much less stressful way of advancing your career. Even if youre not struggling in your current job, you shouldnt feel restricted to communicate with the world and move up the ladder when the time comes.Also, the offer to create a sample product for the company is a generous one. Its a step towards the employer - and a good sign that youre taking your job search seriously.Not just another piece of paperWhatever your current career stage, dont underestimate the importance of a well-written and well-structured cover letter. Compared to your resume, it speaks about your personality and the way you communicate with others.See your cover letter as a handbook to your resume. Translate raw data from your resume into an easy-to-read letter demonstrating your skills and abilities. And if you still need that little push, here are 10 valuable tips to check out.Good luckShare Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

Why relocating may be the next best step for your career

Why relocating may be the next best step for yur careerWhy relocating may be the next best step for your careerA considerable number of professionals are relocating, and for good reason.Locations have always played a key role in the availability of certain types of jobs. Detroit became the hub of automotive industry in the early twentieth century San Francisco attracts technology companies New York City now focuses on financial, media and technology.The reality of the job market is that the right job isnt always available within a commutable distance. This prompted us to investigate just how often the job binnenseekers apply for jobs outside their current drehort. Using our 2015 databaseof sixmillion members, this is what we found.Job seekers stay local in large citiesLooking at this years nationwide job application data on Ladders, we observed that 39% of the applications sent out were from job seekers applying to jobs outside their current location (defined by their DMA Designated Market Area). Further, we also discerned the likelihood of a job seeker applying to a job outside of their DMA varies greatly by the population of that location. The chart below highlights that as the population of the DMA decreases, the likelihood of candidates sending applications outside their current location increases. The adjacent table details the top 10 DMAs, by population, and their ranking in terms of job applications coming from out-of-town professionals.What we see in the chart above is that job seekers in the 10 highest-ranked DMAs only sent 29 percent of their applications out of town, compared to the national average of 39 percent. Job seekers in all other DMAs exceeded the national average, with the 11th to 25th fruchtwein populated locations sending close to 50 percent of applications out of town. Cities with a population rank of 51 or higher sent over 60 percent of their job applications to other DMAs. This is significant, considering that the DMAs ranked from 11 to 25 include many large cities such as Phoenix, Seattle and Detroit.Recruiters dont consider relocation as a deal-breakerBut are these out-of-town applications worthwhile? We examined next the employer side of the equation. If, for instance, employers are not likely to entertain out-of-town applications, then the volume of applications to alternate DMAs may not matter. To determine this, we reviewed the rate at which employers accepted applications that seemed a potential fit for the position. We found that 12 percent of candidates nationwide received a positive rating by the recruiter, compared to an 11 percent acceptance rate for applications that were from outside the jobs location. Based on our analyses, if candidates are treated negatively because they require relocation, it isnt by a large degree at all. This is good news for relocation candidatesSo where do the job seekers go?Weve determined that more job seekers from smaller DMAs look for out-of-town opportunities compared to those from larger areas. But where do they go?New York continues to be the most desirable relocation DMA, however the gap between other cities has come down this year when compared to the last. Washington, D.C. and Atlanta are displaying significant growths within in the past year, while Dallas and San Francisco continue to maintain a high share.The following visualization depicts the flip side of thisfour metro areas and their imbalances, in terms of out-of-town job applications, with other cities.Philadelphia pushes a lot of job applications to New York proximity may play a role here. Besides New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., figure out prominently. Last year, Dallas was the most prominent destination out of these cities. While Dallas remains a desirable destination, Atlanta and Washington D.C. display a remarkable increase.Breaking this down one layer further, we see that not every location is considered equally desirable across professional functions. The visualization below depicts which functions are gaining out-of-town applications (by city) and in which functions and locations the job seekers are looking to new DMAs for their next job.For example, New York remains dominant in the fields of finance, and marketing, though it may be giving in some of its edge in Technology. While Dallas and San Francisco continue to be a desirable destination for Technology, we see good gains in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta for Technology jobs, possibly some at the expense of New York.If you build it, job seekers will come We continue to see a trend emerging that seems to hold true throughout history job seekers go where the jobs are. As different locations attract specific functions (i.g. New York maintaining finance and marketing hub status or Dallas becoming technology hub), the influx of applications from alternate locations grows.This is only our second year of taking a close look at professional movements across cities, and already we see som e changes in patterns on a year to year basis. Even though New York continues to be the most popular destination for professionals, we see a lot more balance this year. As we look towards the future, we can expect more competitiveness among different cities, as more and more professionals go to the cities considered to be top hubs for their industry. It appears these job seekers will be met with success and have the opportunity to explore new and exciting chapters in their careers.

The Art of Putting (Just Enough) Effort into Your Cover Letters

The Art of Putting (Just Enough) Effort into Your Cover Letters The Art of Putting (Just Enough) Effort into Your Cover Letters As it turns out, Cover Letter Tutor is the first program that Clayton has released on the Internet. While Im happy with it, he wrote in an email, My family keeps asking me how Im going to monetize it The affable Clayton, whose likes include punk music, programming, primatology, ancient saga history, etymology, bad coffee, and watching Youtube reviews of movies hell never see was kind enough to agree to an interview about Cover Letter Tutor. Because the interview was carried out over email, Ive decided to reproduce his answers below, with minimal editing.Recruiter.com Why did you decide to create Cover Letter Tutor?Charles Clayton I built it for myself. When applying for internships last spring, my university job-placement coordinator made us write sample cover letters and gave us feedback. In my sample cover letter, I mentioned the company name in the last paragraph. My coordinator explained that it was risky. Every year he saw students copy and paste certain elements and forget to change out that one mention of the company name. He was right, and many people I know did just that. Thats when I got the idea to write a program.I also made it mandatory to include a specific reason you wanted to work at that company. Its tempting to say I really want to work at Microsoft, but gloss over giving a specific reason. So instead of opening up my browser and going to Google and typing the company name and clicking the first result, with one click I made it so I was already at the companys website in the about or mission statement section.Cover Letter Tutor lets users search companies right from the programFor the inner content, I remember speaking to recruiters who emphasized the importance of addressing exactly what was said in the job description. If it said, Must have strong math skills, the company really didnt want to hear about your writt en communication skills, and it concluded that you didnt read the description.I made a skill bank of about a dozen technical and personal skills so I could read the job description. Lets say it said, Looking for someone with good teamwork skills, time management, and proficiency in C++ and technical writing. Id have a preset sentence or two for each of those and run through my list of skills checking teamwork and unchecking self-reliance, and checking C++ and unchecking JavaScript. Then Id press enter, and like that Id have a formatted Word document ready to go.Without breaking a sweat, I could make 20 applications it one evening. I got a couple interviews early on, and I got a job with a company I really love working for.I think pspeciesly because Im just the type of guy that will look to automate a procedure that might otherwise consume more energy than its worth. The reason I built it was for myself, and the reason Ive put a new version on the Internet is because it worked for me , and I hope it can work for someone else.R What would you like to see people using the tool for? What kinds of people do you think could most benefit from it?CC Everything in the cover letter is your own content, and its quality entirely depends on the effort you put into it and the quality of your own writing. Its just the repetition and the simple mistakes Ive tried to help people eliminate. Without a doubt, its great to write each cover letter from scratch. With one company and goal in mind, you can make your letter flow smoothly and complement why youre the perfect fit for the company.But I dont think its an efficient time-and-effort vs. reward pursuit. When it feels like a company will glance at your cover letter for mere moments, if they even look at it at all, is it really worth your time? It might be, and if youre applying for a dream job it certainly is, but it sure doesnt feel like it. Especially after ten applications and no callbacks. This is what worked an easy way to increase the speed and quantity of your applications without sacrificing quality (in my biased opinion, that is). With a tool like this, youre giving the employer exactly the information they were looking for, youre leid making silly mistakes and wasting their/your time, and youre ensuring you find at least one thing about the company that motivates you.The two major criticisms of the program were completely contradictory. That a) cover letters are too important to automate and not pour your heart into, and b) cover letters are outdated and worthless in this job-hunting environment, and you shouldnt bother. I think people are pretty polarized on the topic, and I dont find myself on either end. Theyre too important to make a silly mistake on, and not important enough to consume your life.There was a small ethical call I made when I decided to convert the program from Cover Letter Generator to Cover Letter Tutor, and start implementing changes that reflected that. It started as a way to just mass-produce cover letters for those who have already written one to work off, but I realized many people struggle even with that first one. So I wanted to give feedback and try to guide them through the process for first-time job hunters, or anyone unfamiliar with the structure.For people looking for jobs where writing is critical, this isnt the way to go. Maybe itll help you with the structure and give you a bare-bones framework to work off, but its not a final product by any means. But for people in other fields, where the occasionally choppy writing is not much to fret over, I think you can create some letters that are just as good as individually written ones.R Any plans for Cover Letter Tutor going forward? New features, revamps, etc?CC At the moment, you can only copy the cover letter content, then paste it into an email or a Word document or what have you. Im working on allowing you to download it automatically as a Word document or a pdf. I also want to allow inline editing of the final product with some spelling/grammar tips, although I think Hemingway Editor is a great tool for that. (Ed. note - Clayton recently added an option to Cover Letter Tutor that allows users to run their cover letter through the Hemingway Editor.)I have some simple ideas to start monitoring and suggesting transition words between skills or suggesting alternatives if too many sentences start with I. A company search that doesnt take you away from the site would also be convenient. Im open to suggestions from you and other expertsUltimately Im a slave to demand if people like it and continue to use it, Id love to keep working on it. If not, Im eager to find the next thing I want to build.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career. Like this article? We also offer tons of free eBooks on career and recruiting topics - check out Get a Better Job the Right Way and Why It Matters Who Does Your Recruiting. document.write(Read more ) in Cover Letter

Resume Header Examples - a Short Overview

Resume Header Examples - a Short Overview The Benefits of Resume Header Examples Its possible to have a look at our post about how to include things like a LinkedIn URL on a resume. Once more, if you keep a professional Twitter page, you might include it compliment your resume. You wouldnt, as an example, want to CAPITALIZE, ITALICIZE, AND UNDERLINE parts of text. There are not any specific headings you need to use. You may even include things like unrelated experiences, as you never understand what unique background an employer could be on the lookout for. You might be able to determine the name of the individual who will be reading your cover letter by checking the job posting, asking the individual who told you regarding the ort, or contacting the firms HR department. When tailoring your resume youll want to ensure you put the main info to the recruiter at the beginning of each section in order to draw attention to it so that it will be seen and not missed. Use the work description and company profile offered in the posting or by the particular person who informed you of the opportunity. The One Thing to Do for Resume Header Examples Regardless of what engineering track youre on, your cover letter should highlight problem solving skills and the ability to fulfill quality standards. In work search, youre the item and youre indeed selling yourself in an incredibly competitive sector. The work experience section will most likely take up the majority of the space on your resume. The format you select will be dependent on many different factors, including your work history and degree of experience. Details of Resume Header Examples A significant collection of action verbs are available here. Once youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to know how to vary using action verbs and receive a feel for what makes an effective accomplishment statement. Grammar and spelling should be ideal, and you may employ your cover lette r to showcase your writing and communication skills, giving it your special voice. Resume headlines are perfect for candidates with lots of experience. Things You Should Know About Resume Header Examples If youre serious about getting that executive sitzordnung then youll want to be sure that your resume offers you the very best chance of succeeding. Used correctly our tool supplies you with the ability to produce and modify your resume in a matter of minutes so you always have the option to tailor each application for the best possibility of success. Your resume must make them obvious. Resume Header Examples Help Review the subsequent sample resume headers for ideas on the best way to combine information. The remedy isnt to use the wordprocessor header and footer except to create your own within the webpage. When you have finished entering your information youll be able to choose the particular template format you want your resume in. For a key time job, you truly do no t need to go over one web page in dimension. If youre asking for work in marketing or sales, you will need to highlight key performance metrics. You will have the ability to select that you would like to make an executive resume and the suitable layout for your resume will be offered. Including a portfolio works especially well for projects that appear very good online. Make certain that you have added the appropriate portfolio or certification. Including a summary is essential should you really need to catch the eye of a hiring manager. Recruiters prefer you do not incorporate any bodily descriptions or any political or individual channels in order to lower any possibilities of prejudice during the right time of hiring. They are going to care more about the real-world experience you have. The New Angle On Resume Header Examples Just Released After youve finalized your experience section, its time to produce your skills stick out. Do not be worried if you dont have any legal experience yet. Communication skills are in quite high demand. Its better to include soft skills with a real-life instance of a single time youve used them. While its going to be a bit additional work, be certain to make a new headline for each work application. It will be helpful to take the benefit of a well prepared cover letter as you are likely to make an application for a work application. Its actually rather simple to earn a good resume heading. The objective of your resume is to secure you that interview, it does not need to detail every component of your past and every grade you have at any time received. Ideally, your resume headline is going to be personalized for each job that you apply to. Its simple to write a very good headline for your resume when you know the steps. The Principles of Resume Header Examples You Will be Able to Benefit From Beginning Immediately Make pre-research regarding the position and business beforehand and have the enough inform ation for both organization and position during the time that you are preparing a cover letter. Express your enthusiasm for the organization and why you want to know more about the position. At the same time that you will still have to identify what the position expects from you, our user friendly executive resume builder permits you to make and modify a resume in only a couple of minutes. Employed as an executive in any field can be quite financially rewarding, but first youve got to land the position that you would like. There are in fact loads of resume making software packages to pick from. Referring a sample template will thus help you in creating the the majority of the opportunity. If you want, I can supply you with current samples of my work. The resume sample has a strong ability to keep a readers interest over the span of the whole document. Again, all of the contact details are a breeze to discover and clearly visible. In that scenario, its more important to st ick to the instructions on the work listing. The direction you organize the info on your resume is nearly as crucial as the resume itself. Be certain that your contact information on top of each page of your resume is accurate.

Outrageous Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Tips

Outrageous Writing Resume for New Rn rang Tips What You Should Do About Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Starting in the Next 5 Minutes A new grad nursing resume needs to concentrate on any appropriate training in the health care industry that you have together with your professional qualifications, even if theyre only tangentially linked to nursing. It does you little good to have a whole cover letter just like the rest of the applicants. The new graduate registered nurse without healthcare experience shouldnt be overly concerned about her or his lack of experience for a nurse. Creating a resume for the very first time can be challenging as its tricky to ascertain the main information employers wish to see in a nurses resume. The Fundamentals of Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Revealed Hiring managers are aware of what they are doing and what things to look for. Remember that virtually all employers right now will choose candidates for a work emptiness based on what is on thei r resumes. It is possible to still prove that youre excellent for the job. Detecting a job in the medical industry wont be difficult if your New Grad Nursing resume has all of the critical details on your abilities and other qualifications. The Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Cover Up If you anticipate writing a new grad RN resume, it is better that you start with searching for a sample to follow. An impressive nurse resume is important in receiving your very first job after graduation. If at all possible, complete a minumum of one internship before you graduate. An internship is the ideal approach to acquire relevant work experience in your field when you are still in school. Choosing Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Is Simple Because your CV demands specific and all-inclusive career info, it ought to be frequently updated. The majority of the aspirants that are not exactly aware about the most recent format of CV should determine relevant sources of information. Your resum e should be held under two pages, and be as easy as possible. The format of your entry-level college-graduate resume will be dependent on the info you need to work with. The Most Popular Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Nursing can be a difficult job field to break into even if youve got a whole lot of experience within the field. Whether you are prepared to put in the area or are already employed as an RN, there are steps to take to provide help. 9 Postpartum Rn Resume Examples While you need to land that splendid job then you need to have a stellar resume. The best way to discover an RN job is to search online for an appropriate position. The Secret to Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Your new grad Nursing resume objective may most likely be the most critical quality of your application as it will set the tone for the remainder of your content especially in the way its been formatted. Your resume objective is your opportunity to tell a brief story about yourself. Dont forge t that your resume is your very first field of protection on the field of landing your supreme job. Our crew of cover letter writers is composed of skilled professional. The Downside Risk of Writing Resume for New Rn Grad Most employers are very picky with respect to the group of staff for a work opening. Always keep in mind that the letter you write is representing you and you wish to be invited for an interview and show that youre the absolute most appropriate candidate for the position youre applying. CVs are the norm in the majority of European nations and can differ from the conventional American CV. Since you are searching for a new grad RN resume to apply for employment in america, you may want to check out what we have to offer on our site. Writing Resume for New Rn Grad and Writing Resume for New Rn Grad - The Perfect Combination You may also say that you are looking for a different job because of ethical factors. Use the resume objective to acquire state the sim ple fact that youre a new grad and dont have any experience. You may frame your deficiency of experience within the goal statement in a means that wont diminish your chances. Listing experience has become the most important aspect in the resume that have to be stated.

Lunch and Dinner Job Interview Etiquette Tips

Lunch and Dinner Job Interview Etiquette TipsLunch and Dinner Job Interview Etiquette TipsInterviews are often stressful - even for job seekers who have interviewed many times. Interviewing can be even more stressful when you are expected to eat and talk at the same time. One of the reasons employers take job candidates out to lunch or dinner is to evaluate their social skills and to see if they can handle themselves gracefully under pressure. Thats important for many roles, and particularly for positions that are client- or customer-facing. How to Handle Lunch and Dinner Interviews Dining with a prospective employee allows employers to review your communication andinterpersonal skills, as well as your table manners, in a more relaxed (for them) environment. Table manners do matter. Good manners may give you the edge over another candidate, so, take some time to brush up yourdining etiquette skills. Interview Dining Tips If youre feeling nervous, check out the restaurant ahea d of time or visit the restaurants website. That way youll know exactly whats on the menu, what you might want to order, and where the restrooms are located.Arrive early. You can ask the restaurants host if there is a reservation under the interviewers name. If not, wait outside the restaurant for your interviewer to arrive.Wear an interview-appropriate outfit (even if the restaurant is more casual than the company office).Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent. Resist the temptation to check it (even if others at the table are looking at their phones). During the meal, mind your manners. Say please and thank you to your server as well as your host. And, remember what your mother spent years telling you keep your elbows off the table, chew with your mouth closed, sit up straight, and never, ever speak with your mouth full.Is the table full of utensils? My British grandmother taught me an easy way to remember what to use when. Start at the outside and work your way in. Your sal ad fork will be on the far left, your entree fork will be next to it. Your dessert spoon and fork will be above your plate. Liquids are on the right, solids on the left. For example, your water glass will be on the right and your bread plate will be on the left.Put your napkin on your lap once everyone is seated. During the Meal Dont order messy food - pasta with lots of sauce, chicken with bones, ribs, big sandwiches, and whole lobsters are all dangerous.Keep conversationlight toward the start of the meal. You can ask interviewers if theyve been to the restaurant before, chat about the weather, or ask how their day has gone.Dont order the most expensive entree on the menu.When you do order your meal, make it something thats easy to cut into bite-size pieces. During the meal, take small bites, so that its easy to finish chewing and swallow before responding to questions and participating in the mealtime conversation. The polite way to eat soup is to spoon it away from you. There s less chance of spilling in your lap that way tooBreak your dinner roll into small pieces and eat it a piece at a time.If you need to leave the table, put your napkin on the seat or the arm of your chair.When youve finished eating, move your knife and fork to the four oclock position so the server knows youre done.Remember to try and relax, listen, and participate in the conversation. To Drink or Not to Drink Its wise not to drink alcohol during an interview. Interviewing is tough enough without adding alcohol to the mix. After the Meal Put your napkin on the table next to your plate.Let the prospective employer pick up the tab. The person who invited you will expect to pay both the bill and the tip.Remember to say thank you. Consider also following-up with athank you notenzeichenwhich reiterates your interest in the job. More Interview Tips Review these job interview etiquette tips for before, during, and and after a job interview, to ensure that yourjob interview etiq uetteis up to speed and youre making the best impression on the interviewer. Also brush up your interview skills, to make sure that youre a perfect candidate and dont inadvertently make any mistakes. Find outhow to interview,tips,what to wear, andwhat not to do during the interview.

How to Ask for a Pay Raise During a Tough Economy

How to Ask for a Pay Raise During a Tough EconomyHow to Ask for a Pay Raise During a Tough EconomyHow do you ask for a pay raise when your company has put most raises on hold this year? Alternatively, your employer is offering a 2 percentpay raise across the board, but you believe that you have earned more. What do you do? Whether your company is prudently managing resources or struggling with falling sales, the answer depends on economic circumstances and your perceived value to the firm. You can ask for a pay raise during tough economic times- you may even receive a raise- but your preparation for asking must be thorough and communicate your value. Dont even think about asking for a pay raise at your weekly one-on-one meeting with your manager. Especially when money is tight, preparation is essential. Dont blow your six-month opportunity to ask for a raise. What If They Are on Hold? If pay raises are on hold, keep in mind that you risk looking like youre not a team player when you ask for a raise. You could also receive an automatic turndown because a salary freeze gives your manager an excuse to avoid considering individual requests. Your company may legitimately strive to treat employees equally, a short-sighted strategy if it costs the company its best employees, but it is a strategy some companies often adopt. Especially if your company is in any kind of trouble or laying off employees, no matter your circumstances, you may want to wait a few months to ask for a pay raise. Your chances of success look up as your companys prospects improve. But if your company is simply being prudent, pay raise opportunities may exist for the companys best employees. Steps to a Potential Pay Raise The tried and true continues to work when you ask for a pay raise. Even in tough times, you start by researching your salary against what the market is paying people with your job and your responsibilities. If you are a stand-out contributor and you are underpaid for your market, you have a case for a pay raise. If you have experienced any of these work events, asking for a pay raise is legitimate and expected. In fact, your company may offer you a pay raise when you accept the new position or responsibility. You were promoted to a higher-level position.You took on new and substantial responsibilities, which doesnt necessarily mean more work. In this time of layoffs and negative decisions about replacing staff, everyone is doing more work.The number of reporting employees that you supervise increased, and thus broadened your areas of responsibility.You took over the leadership of a project on which you had been a participant. Without a qualifying work event, you may need these extra pay raise ideas for a difficult economic climate. Make a list of the goals you have accomplished for the company. Determine how their accomplishment has helped the company. Document your contributions. Make the contributions measurable and visible whenever possible.If yo u are the ace developer of new business, a sales professional extraordinaire, the developer of a product that is outselling all competitors, or the employee who saved the company $100,000 in costs, you may qualify for a pay raise, even in tough times. Your company doesnt want to destroy your motivation or lose you to a competitor, but you need to ask for a pay raise. Ask for additional responsibilities and document your success in achieving them. It is a longer-term strategy because you must first demonstrate success. But, depending on the value of your increased contribution, your company may decide to give you a pay raise.Take a serious look at the way you approach work and your communication style. Are you achieving gains for the company that are unmeasured and uncommunicated? Dont assume people notice. You may need to raise your visibility at work and the visibility of your contributions, not obnoxiously, but to help your manager comfortably go to bat for your pay raise. How to Ask for an IncreaseEven in Tough Times Youll want a strategy for asking for that raise- a good policy at any time, but particularly now. Set up a meeting with your immediate supervisor to discuss your compensation. You will not want to ambush this person.If the supervisor is unprepared to discuss a pay raise with you, nothing will happen at the meeting. Your boss will want to do his research with the Human Resources staff and his own industry sources.You may want to rehearse your pitch with a good friend or family member. Come to the meeting with a one-page list of bullet points that you believe will pinpoint your value. Make sure you are prepared to promote your value with examples and numbers. Come to the meeting prepared to demonstrate the value you add to the company. Nothing else matters,especially when pay raises are scarce. Share your documentation and your contributions. The tone of the meeting should be conversational, not confrontational.Never make the mistake of thre atening your boss with the possibility that you will leave the company if you dont receive a pay raise. Under those circumstances, the pay raise will only happen if your company is desperate. But your boss will never forgive you. Nor will your company plan for your presence in their future. Your contribution is not to be trusted long term. You will have burned your bridges. At the same time, recognize the value that you add, and if your current company cannot reward you for that value, find a company that will. You can ask for a pay raise in a tough economy. If you decide to ask, be prepared to support the value that you add to the company. Nothing else matters when economic times are tough.

Dealing with Homepagelessness

Dealing with Homepagelessness Dealing with Homepagelessness He may bedrngnis have a home, but he does have a home page of sorts- at LinkedIn, where he has posted a resume that mentions two degrees, from Dartmouth and Purdue and experience as a Senior Research Engineer at Lockheed Aerospace and Applied Physicist at Aerodyne Research Corporation. He is also the featured interviewee in a YouTube video that has attracted the attention of some heavyweight online-news organizations, such as Huffingtonpost.com and Time.com.Inconsistently reported in mainstream media as an unemployed and homeless Ph.D. in plasma physics (www.theblaze.com) with two masters degrees (one in engineering and one in acoustics) or as having just the two masters degrees (Huffington, Time), Johnson has become a poster child for the un-and underemployed. The details of his story, including the well-publicized YouTube Boston interview, can be found all over the Net, with the Huffington Post article and video about hi m serving as a good sample treatment.musiknote In a call to one of Lockheed Martins corporate affairs spokespersons, Jeff Adams, I requested verification of employment and credentials and was surprised that my call was the first regarding Johnson. Adams helpfully said he would look into the matter upon receipt of my emailed query and details. (Should that information become available, it will be posted as an update.)Homepagelessness and RecruitmentEven though blogosphere response to his tale has been intense, the focus of this report is something other than the vivid and poignant details of his employment and housing challenges or their accuracy and veracity.Its the issue of homepagelessness.Homepagelessness can afflict not only the unemployed and homeless, but also employed recruiters. Although almost certainly a rarity among recruiters, the homepageless recruiter, viz., one with no online presence whatsoever- either in the form of a LinkedIn profile, a Facebook page, an independen t agency website, a YouTube video or an umbrella corporate website- needs to catch up with the 21st century and Maurice Johnson, whose YouTube video interview and LinkedIn profile have plucked him from the masses of the unemployed and obscure and propelled him into Net celebrity (even if not on the scale that similarly discovered Justin Beiber enjoyed after his amateur(ish) Stratford, Ontario sidewalk debut videos on YouTube got noticed by promoter Scooter Braun).fremdartig from the tactical and strategic commercial and professional benefits of having an online identity, there are a number of psychological onesReminder that you and your professional expertise still exist, even if not currently utilized. Even for those who are not homeless, having a home-page or other online professional presence serves the same psychological purpose as the Star-Spangled Banner- a reminder that your personal flag and you are still there.Reassurance that, no matter what, you still have a secure base- one you can call home or at least home page. Such a sense of security, however tenuous, can be crucial to staying emotionally afloat.Reinforcement of your values, value and goals With the home page as a personal mirror, you can validate yourself and reinforce your identity.Recognition that you dont need a fixed physical space or address to run your business It is psychologically, as well as professionally liberating, to know that you can reach out and be reached anywhere in the world.Regular proactive behavior, to the extent that you have to monitor, update and beef up your page(s). This can be a subtle, but valuable, morale mainstay during professional dry spells.Real-time and readily offered input and feedback from others that allows you to adjust and align your efforts and enjoy reality checks on your situation, challenges, opportunities and prospectsReintegration and integration- into a community, virtual or otherwise of renewed, sustained or expanded contactsYou can be absolute ly certain that Maurice Johnsons YouTube and LinkedIn homes are providing him with not only valuable, helpful professional and media exposure, but also with all of the foregoing psychological benefits, including a comforting, perhaps inspiring, sense of place in the scheme of things, if not yet a place he can literally call home.If, as is virtually certainly the case, you have both a home and some kind of home page, you can still note, appreciate and cultivate the listed benefits of overcoming homepagelessness. Whats more, you may want to consider setting up an additional home, e.g., a YouTube video or an additional social media site.Having a second or third home is not just a luxury for the rich. Online, it may be a necessity for those who want to be rich.As for those who are truly homeless, having at least one online home may make the difference between being psychologically or otherwise able to home in on a job (and a home) and being forced to hit real highways instead of the wha t then Vice-President Al Gore memorably and presciently called in 1993 the information superhighway.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.