Friday, September 16, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
What Employers' always looks for in interviews, resumes, and cover letters
Take a few minutes to review your resume, your cover letters, your elevator pitch and your interview answers, and look for opportunities to add numbers. Think about the critical questions you must answer to land the job you want. Then match up the numbers that prove it. Numbers will show you are a doer, not just a talker.
How does an employer know that you are someone who produces results? That by bringing you on board they will be better off?
Proof comes in many forms. Yet, one of the most powerful and easiest to apply is numbers.
Numbers prove that you are the real deal. And when done right, they can seriously change your job search. Let me explain.
Here are typical examples of phrases that individuals use on their job search (across resumes, interviews, and cover letters). Where a few numbers would make a difference.
"Improved company sales" Was that by $500 or five million dollars? By 2% or 20%?
"Revitalized school, resulting in improved academic performance"
Did student's academic achievement improve by a 1/10th of a grade level or two grade levels? Did graduation rates improve by one student or 100?
"Implemented stroke recovery best practices, expediting rehabilitation"
Did the stroke sufferers recover 1 day faster or a month faster? Did they return to 60% of pre-stroke functioning or 90% of pre-stroke functioning?
As you can tell, adding numbers makes your arguments a lot more persuasive. You move from being vague to being specific. More importantly, you move from seeming like a talker to a doer, someone who produces results.
Put another way, if you leave off these numbers, it's like leaving off a Grade Point Average for a recent grad. A hiring organization can only assume you are a C or D level performer. Average or lower. You'll see below how you can do better.
If you are like many people, you're saying,
1. "Numbers don't really apply to me," and
2. "Even where they do apply, I don't know what's right. I'm not going to say something that's dishonest."
Let's dispel each of these.
Numbers always apply. For instance, let's say you worked in a non-profit that educates consumers about avoiding debt. Here are just some of the numbers you could include:
- How many people were on your team educating consumers?
- How many events did you host?
- How big was your budget?
- How many people attended one of your programs?
- How many people received your literature?
- For those people where you do know results, by how much did they reduce their debt, or reduce their interest rate on debt?
That reason is just: I don't know the exact number, so I won't say anything.
Here's what you do. You guess.
Not just an out of the blue guess. Rather give your best guess at what the right amount would be, an amount that if an interviewer asked you about it, you would feel like it was pretty accurate, something that you would feel comfortable defending.
For instance, let's say you decided to participate in a 5K race to raise money for breast cancer research. You don't know exactly how much money you made.
But, you do know that it was more than a $1,000 and less than $5,000, probably somewhere in the middle. You could either say, "raised over $1,000 or "raised ~$3,000". Either number helps your audience to understand the scope of the accomplishment.
What are other ways you can use numbers?
Level of participation:
- Hosted over 500 conference attendees from four countries
- Led 8 member team
- Received over 400 sign-ups.
- Month-long project
- 5-year strategic plan
- Decreased processing time by 10%.
- Decreased customer returns by 20%.
- Responded to customer calls up to three times faster.
- Went from 20% to 65% of students reading at grade level.
- Moved from 60% on time deliveries to 85% on time deliveries.
- Improved from one help desk call needed per hour to three per day
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
3 BEST SECRET JOB DIRECTORIES
Hello Friends, how re you doing today?Great i guess?It my privilege to introduce to you three 3 powerful secret Job directories i discovered lately.
Here are three of my powerful secret job "directories". These are places where you can find jobs -- if you know how.
They are unknown to most people -- or, if folks do know about them, they're overlooked (either way, to the savvy, opportunities are ripe for the picking).
There's no tease today, no big build-up.
BUT -- there is one crucial caveat, which I'll tell you about at the end. (Make sure you read it, otherwise you might not know how to use these resources.)
Okay?
Here they are:
#1 -- Chambers of Commerce (and trade organizations)
The more local organizations list their members in an online directory, sometimes with a contact name. Guess what? Many of these members are hiring -- if not formally, then they're at least looking for talent.
You need to find companies and organizations that are a good match for your skills, then reach out to them and see if they're interested.
(More on this in a moment -- remember my caveat.)
#2 -- CraigsList.org
This is still a GREAT resource for job opportunities. You can drill down into different towns and cities, or by different professions.
It's one of those websites that should be on your "radar" -- you need to keep coming back and checking for new opportunities at least once per week. Jobs move here.
#3 -- MeetUp.com
Now, before you start throwing your rotten fruit my way, let me say really quickly: YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANY "NETWORKING".
Here's the deal:
Look for professional meetups in your area where people with similar skills to yours go to socialize and network. What many folks -- and, until recently, myself included -- don't realize is that recruiters often turn up to these events and announce job openings, or you'll have hiring managers asking their team members to "poach" people from these peer groups.
You just need to turn up, lurk in the background while people make these announcements at the beginning or end of the meetings, and then approach them later on when it's more quiet and relaxed.
There you have it -- three overlooked/unknown resources for finding new job opportunities. Add these to your list, and I'm confident they'll help you find your dream job even faster.
Before you go out and give them a look through...
I said there's a caveat.
What you absolutely do NOT want to do is treat these resources like job boards, where you send in your resume and wait to hear back.
Because if you do that, you'll be treated like an "applicant" and your resume will be put "on file" where it will lie forgotten (i.e. the black hole).
There's a better way to approach these hiring managers -- one where you'll be treated like a talented professional rather than a piece of livestock, one where you get to skip the whole HR process and go straight to the interview.
I show you how to reach out to hiring managers cold, win their respect and trust quickly, and then have them line you up as their next hire -- without you asking for a job, or hinting that you're "currently seeking new opportunities".
You can learn more about this program here
SEE YOU AT THE TOP
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Your Resume!
Your Resume is one of the most important tool in job search!
Do you want to know what the most important part of your resume is?
It's NOT your qualifications.
It's NOT your experience.
Recruiters, HR reps, and hiring managers do care about these things -- but not as much as you might think. They're really looking for something else:
When it comes to wowing hiring managers especially, and getting invited to interview with them, accomplishments are the coin of the realm.
BUT:
Accomplishments come in two different flavors. One is practically worthless, and makes HR reps snigger and roll their eyes. The other makes them stop what they're doing, sit up straight, and smile with approval and respect.
What's the first type?
Abstract accomplishments. They're what everyone else puts on his or her resume, and the typical one reads like this: "Responsible for managing in-house sales team."
You need to make your accomplishments concrete.
How?
Specify real, actual results.
And make sure you include numbers!
Example "Led 8-member sales team to a 94% revenue increase over a 7 year period."
Do you see how a resume filled with accomplishments and results like this
Monday, July 11, 2016
6 BEST WAYS TO GAIN MORE CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS
Preparing For Interview?
I know that preparing for an interview can be overwhelming and frustrating. There's a lot to do and it's not always clear what needs to get done.
And if you do it wrong, you can find yourself nervous in your next interview and taken by surprise by certain interview questions.
Good news!
I don't have time here to help you with answering interview questions,however, below are 6 easy ways that you can seem more confident and comfortable in the interview process:
1) Have a written copy of the name of your contact person.
It's 5 minutes before your interview. You walk up to the security desk or to the receptionist, and they say, "Hi, who are you here to see?"
And you have no idea the name of the person, or can't seem to spell this person's name. Worse, the person at security doesn't know either. Writing down the name and having the proper spelling will at least make sure you get in the door.
2) Be nice to the receptionist.
That person at the front desk, who seems to know everyone's name when they walk by, could make one comment and put your future job at jeopardy. So remember to be nice.
3) Wash off clamminess, sweat and oil.
Yes, I think the handshake sometimes is talked about too much. But you don't want someone to give you funny looks because your hand felt weird.
If you're one to have sweaty, clammy, cold or oily hands, before your interview, go to the bathroom and wash your hands with soap and warm water. Then dry them well.
4) Be positive during your interview.
Why is cranky old Scrooge all alone? In part, because people don't like those who whine, complain or talk badly about themselves and others.
Even if your boss was a total jerk, don't say anything negative about them. Your prospective next boss may worry you'll do the same when their back is turned.
5) Don't sweat the small stuff.
Sometimes when people prep for an interview, they read blogs on what's the best body posture, how to fold your hands, how much eye contact is the right amount, etc.
If you paid attention to all these things during your interview, you'd go crazy. So don't worry about them if they make you nervous.
If you stay engaged in the conversation, your body will follow.
6) Send each person an individual thank you note within 12 hours.
The world keeps moving faster, so the old 24 hour response time can feel too slow to some people.
Send an email because it's faster, and also a hand written card if you want to appear thorough and thoughtful.
Get a business card from each person you interview with, so you have their contact info. A personal note can remind the interviewer(s) how you connected.
Read more here
I know that preparing for an interview can be overwhelming and frustrating. There's a lot to do and it's not always clear what needs to get done.
And if you do it wrong, you can find yourself nervous in your next interview and taken by surprise by certain interview questions.
Good news!
I don't have time here to help you with answering interview questions,however, below are 6 easy ways that you can seem more confident and comfortable in the interview process:
1) Have a written copy of the name of your contact person.
It's 5 minutes before your interview. You walk up to the security desk or to the receptionist, and they say, "Hi, who are you here to see?"
And you have no idea the name of the person, or can't seem to spell this person's name. Worse, the person at security doesn't know either. Writing down the name and having the proper spelling will at least make sure you get in the door.
2) Be nice to the receptionist.
That person at the front desk, who seems to know everyone's name when they walk by, could make one comment and put your future job at jeopardy. So remember to be nice.
3) Wash off clamminess, sweat and oil.
Yes, I think the handshake sometimes is talked about too much. But you don't want someone to give you funny looks because your hand felt weird.
If you're one to have sweaty, clammy, cold or oily hands, before your interview, go to the bathroom and wash your hands with soap and warm water. Then dry them well.
4) Be positive during your interview.
Why is cranky old Scrooge all alone? In part, because people don't like those who whine, complain or talk badly about themselves and others.
Even if your boss was a total jerk, don't say anything negative about them. Your prospective next boss may worry you'll do the same when their back is turned.
5) Don't sweat the small stuff.
Sometimes when people prep for an interview, they read blogs on what's the best body posture, how to fold your hands, how much eye contact is the right amount, etc.
If you paid attention to all these things during your interview, you'd go crazy. So don't worry about them if they make you nervous.
If you stay engaged in the conversation, your body will follow.
6) Send each person an individual thank you note within 12 hours.
The world keeps moving faster, so the old 24 hour response time can feel too slow to some people.
Send an email because it's faster, and also a hand written card if you want to appear thorough and thoughtful.
Get a business card from each person you interview with, so you have their contact info. A personal note can remind the interviewer(s) how you connected.
Read more here
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Top 5 Interview Mistakes
Hello Friends, Welcome to Career wise Blog,where we will be discussing all career related Issues,Challenges and Solution to Unemployment challenges!......WELCOME ON BOARD!
TOPIC #1. TOP FIVE INTERVIEW MISTAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM!
Have you ever said something in an interview that got you into trouble? Maybe you didn't even realize you said something wrong. Yet, suddenly, your interviewer seems a lot less interested in you, maybe even unhappy.
And, it looks like whatever you said, your chances at this job just went down the drain.
Well, even if you were just worried about that happening, here is a sample of the most common mistakes that you should absolutely avoid in your next interview:
Mistake 1. Length
The perfect interview answer should last between 20 seconds and two minutes.
That means, you should basically never answer a question with a simple yes or no. You need to share the critical details and should provide a thorough answer as required.
But you don't want to tell your life story. When you feel like you've shared the highlights, cut yourself off.
If you feel compelled to share more, you can offer the information, "If you'd like I can also describe..." but don't be surprised if the interviewer turns you down.
Too long an answer, and the interview will just tune you out.
Not to worry.
If you've crafted your answers the right way, these time constraints are very manageable.
Mistake 2. Not answering the interview question.
Now, some people think they are politicians and "cleverly" avoid giving a straight answer (sleazy). More often, you may just be a bit confused about what the interviewer is asking.
If you aren't 100% sure, ask for clarification. Repeat the question back in your own words.
And, if you still don't know whether you answered the question, at the end of your response, say to the interviewer:
"I'm not sure whether my answer fully answered your question. Was there a piece of it, I left off?"
Note: The best job seekers also know the interviewer's goal in asking a question.
They answer both the question asked and the interviewer's unsaid concern. This comes from their preparing the right way for the interview.
Mistake 3. Speaking before thinking
You will likely face an interview question that you're not ready for. Whether you sink or swim, depends on how you respond.
First, get your feet under you. Otherwise, you may use lots of "Ums" and "Likes." And, your answer may lack direction or miss the question entirely.
Pause. Take a breath. If you want, say, "That's a really good question, let me take a few moments to gather my thoughts." If you're still not sure how to tackle it, break it down into pieces.
Start by answering what you feel most confident about and go from there.
Mistake 4. Providing generic answers.
A good answer gives vivid examples. An okay answer at least references yourself and the organization.
A generic answer sounds like you had a list of canned responses, played Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, and pulled out wherever your finger landed. Generic answers include, "I'm a team player," or "I'm really excited about the work you do here."
To avoid this mistake, you just need to prepare the right way. Gather the key facts about the organization and craft answers that describe yourself effectively.
Mistake 5: Not creating a conversation
An interview is in large part about establishing a relationship between you and your interviewers. That means you need to feel confident enough to be yourself and ask questions.
If it seems like they're just shooting questions at you on the hot seat, you'll be doing yourself a disservice.
So, when you have a question pop up during the conversation, ask it.
For example:
If they ask you, "what's the most challenging project you faced?" at the end of your answer, you can follow up with, "what are the kinds of challenges that people here encounter?"
A good interview splits the air time 50/50 between the interviewer and the interviewee.
There are some questions for you to ask that are highly effective for the beginning of your interview. Others that are better for the end. They aren't covered here, though are inside the Interview Success Formula™ program.
This program also covers the information you need to get inside the interviewer's head, so you can deliver answers that get at what the interviewer really wants to know.
And it will help you articulate your best qualities and stories, so you don't have to worry about delivering generic answers.
Learn more about how this program can benefit you.
https://www.fiverr.com/s2/99bd48a672
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR ENDEAVORS....SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
TOPIC #1. TOP FIVE INTERVIEW MISTAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM!
Have you ever said something in an interview that got you into trouble? Maybe you didn't even realize you said something wrong. Yet, suddenly, your interviewer seems a lot less interested in you, maybe even unhappy.
And, it looks like whatever you said, your chances at this job just went down the drain.
Well, even if you were just worried about that happening, here is a sample of the most common mistakes that you should absolutely avoid in your next interview:
Mistake 1. Length
The perfect interview answer should last between 20 seconds and two minutes.
That means, you should basically never answer a question with a simple yes or no. You need to share the critical details and should provide a thorough answer as required.
But you don't want to tell your life story. When you feel like you've shared the highlights, cut yourself off.
If you feel compelled to share more, you can offer the information, "If you'd like I can also describe..." but don't be surprised if the interviewer turns you down.
Too long an answer, and the interview will just tune you out.
Not to worry.
If you've crafted your answers the right way, these time constraints are very manageable.
Mistake 2. Not answering the interview question.
Now, some people think they are politicians and "cleverly" avoid giving a straight answer (sleazy). More often, you may just be a bit confused about what the interviewer is asking.
If you aren't 100% sure, ask for clarification. Repeat the question back in your own words.
And, if you still don't know whether you answered the question, at the end of your response, say to the interviewer:
"I'm not sure whether my answer fully answered your question. Was there a piece of it, I left off?"
Note: The best job seekers also know the interviewer's goal in asking a question.
They answer both the question asked and the interviewer's unsaid concern. This comes from their preparing the right way for the interview.
Mistake 3. Speaking before thinking
You will likely face an interview question that you're not ready for. Whether you sink or swim, depends on how you respond.
First, get your feet under you. Otherwise, you may use lots of "Ums" and "Likes." And, your answer may lack direction or miss the question entirely.
Pause. Take a breath. If you want, say, "That's a really good question, let me take a few moments to gather my thoughts." If you're still not sure how to tackle it, break it down into pieces.
Start by answering what you feel most confident about and go from there.
Mistake 4. Providing generic answers.
A good answer gives vivid examples. An okay answer at least references yourself and the organization.
A generic answer sounds like you had a list of canned responses, played Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, and pulled out wherever your finger landed. Generic answers include, "I'm a team player," or "I'm really excited about the work you do here."
To avoid this mistake, you just need to prepare the right way. Gather the key facts about the organization and craft answers that describe yourself effectively.
Mistake 5: Not creating a conversation
An interview is in large part about establishing a relationship between you and your interviewers. That means you need to feel confident enough to be yourself and ask questions.
If it seems like they're just shooting questions at you on the hot seat, you'll be doing yourself a disservice.
So, when you have a question pop up during the conversation, ask it.
For example:
If they ask you, "what's the most challenging project you faced?" at the end of your answer, you can follow up with, "what are the kinds of challenges that people here encounter?"
A good interview splits the air time 50/50 between the interviewer and the interviewee.
There are some questions for you to ask that are highly effective for the beginning of your interview. Others that are better for the end. They aren't covered here, though are inside the Interview Success Formula™ program.
This program also covers the information you need to get inside the interviewer's head, so you can deliver answers that get at what the interviewer really wants to know.
And it will help you articulate your best qualities and stories, so you don't have to worry about delivering generic answers.
Learn more about how this program can benefit you.
https://www.fiverr.com/s2/99bd48a672
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR ENDEAVORS....SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
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