Career Marketplace Blog

U.S. News & World Report article, Tips on Following Up After You Send a Resume, Lindsay Olsen has helpful tips on how to professionally follow up after sending your resume to an employer(s)

Below is an excerpt of Olsen’s article. Read Full Article

One of the most frequent questions I get from job seekers is about follow-up timing after submitting a resume. Who do I contact and how long should I wait?

The answer depends on how you were introduced to the company. If you respond to a job posting online, it’s important to remember that some ads generate hundreds of responses a day. Many companies have tools to automate processing your application into their applicant tracking systems. A real person may not be looking at the responses sent and many times, the hiring manager isn’t even involved at this stage.

The best way to make sure your resume gains the attention it deserves is to tweak it to fit the job description. It sounds like obvious advice, but job seekers often don’t do it. Integrate the keywords that a recruiter might use to find a qualified candidate in their database. Your goal is to make sure your resume will be found and put on the short-list. If you have done this and haven’t heard back, give it a week and follow-up.

Read On

In this video, men and women talk about what they plan wear for an upcoming job interview. The candidates discuss everything from color and fit of their suit, use of accessories, and more.

Wall Street Journal article, Make the Most of a Starter Job, Ruth Mantell reports that recent college grads are willing to accept positions outside of their field in order to gain valuable skills and  experience they can use throughout their career.

Below is an excerpt from Mantell’s article. Read Full Article

With the tough labor market, many recent college graduates may take jobs outside their field and settle for lower salaries than they might have hoped for.

But there are steps college grads can take to better position themselves for success down the road.

Entry-level workers can take positions that teach them universal skills they’ll need throughout their career, says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at job website CareerBuilder.com. “Even if a position isn’t what you want, it may be rich in experience.”

Read On

About.com Guide Dawn Rosenberg McKay provides readers helpful information about a career as a Writer.

Below is an excerpt from McKay’s article. Read Full Article

U.S. News & World Report article, 25 Qualities Job Interviewers Look For, Karen Burns describes specific qualities employers are looking for during an interview.

Below is an excerpt from Burns’ article. Read Full Article

When you’re job hunting, you need the right skills, education, and experience. But that’s not all you need. Employers are also looking for a host of other qualities.

For some examples, take a look at the following list. Don’t be freaked out by the length. Read through it. Think about how you rate on each item and how you could improve. It could be the best thing you ever do for your job hunt.

1. Energy. Humans are drawn to energetic people because energy is contagious and an upper. Job interviewers are human.

2. Good manners. Dressing appropriately, sitting erect, maintaining eye contact, waiting to sit until your interviewer is seated—these things all show respect for the person and the situation.

3. Maturity. Mature people know how to focus on the needs of others. Immature people are just wrapped up in themselves. Employers really prefer the first one.

4. Judgment. When interviewers start questions with “tell me about a time when you,” that’s your opening to bring up examples of when you showed excellent judgment.

5. Problem-solving skills. The “tell me about a time” question is also an opportunity to talk about how you effectively approach problems.

Read On

U.S. News & World Report article, In a Job Interview, How to Explain You Were Fired, Alison Green tells readers how to explain getting fired during a job interview.

Below is an excerpt from Green’s article. Read Full Article

If you were fired from a recent job, you’re probably dreading being asked about it in an interview. Is there any way to tell the truth without killing your chances of getting the job?Fortunately, yes. There are five keys to handling this well:

1. First, before you can formulate a good answer for why you were fired, you need to be honest with yourself about what really happened. Try to detach your ego from the firing and ask yourself what really went wrong. Don’t feel defensive or ashamed; try to see it objectively. Do you understand why your boss let you go? Were you even partially at fault?

If you haven’t already, now is the time to take responsibility for what your role was in what happened–even if your employer was also at fault. You need to get genuinely comfortable with this because when you’re comfortable with what happened, you’ll give an answer that will make your interviewer more comfortable, too.

2. Formulate an answer that speaks to how you ended up in that situation, what you’ve learned from it, and what you do differently now as a result.

3. Make sure your answer is brief and to the point. Most interviewers will only be looking for a couple of sentences and won’t expect you to present a detailed account. Definitely no rambling or defensive diatribes.

Read On

About.com Guide Dawn Rosenberg McKay provides readers helpful information about a career as a Fitness Trainer.

Below is an excerpt from McKay’s article. Read Full Article

Jane J. Lee of Forbes.com shows you, How to Land a Job in Another Industry.

Below is an excerpt of Lee’s article. Read full article

Benjamin Kinney used to spend hours poring over dusty property records in courthouses across Oklahoma. His job: mapping out legal titles to mineral rights at the behest of oil companies.

“It was good to be in the oil business,” says Kinney, 31. “I liked the routine, and it really was stimulating work.”

But being a field land man lacked one important thing: stability. “You could get called into the office to work on Monday and then get fired on Tuesday,” says Kinney. “I was no longer interested in riding the roller coaster.”

How to translate his skills into a new, less volatile job in a different industry?

Millions of people are faced with reinventing their careers in this troubled economy. While industry expertise remains important, employers large and small confirm that there is ample opportunity for those looking to make a vocational switch.

Kinney is proof. Last month he interviewed at ONEsite, which builds social-network software and is based in Oklahoma City. With zero experience in the technology industry, Kinney wouldn’t have seemed a logical pick. Still, Thad Martin, ONEsite’s cofounder, saw another set of skills that his company needed. “Researching property ownerships takes a lot of precision, and so does project management,” says Martin.

Read On

About.com Guide, Alison Doyle offers you, 10 Cover Letter Writing Tips and Techniques.

Below is an excerpt of Doyle’s article. Read Full Article

Shine staff writer, Sarah McColl shows readers Low-risk ways to get a better job without jumping ship.

Below is an excerpt from McColl’s article. Read full article

With the job market the downer it is, there’s a certain amount of pressure to stay in your current position even if you’re not happy. But rather than fuming in your cubicle about your dissatisfaction, there are ways to empower yourself without sending out your resume. Here’s how to put out your feelers, amp up your skills, and meet the right people so when the time comes to move on, you’re more than ready.

GET SPECIFIC
The most low-risk way to think about your next career step is something you can even do at your desk: make a list. What is it about your job that you like? What aspects give you a sense of accomplishment? Which leave you feeling depleted? Are the hours great but the work soulless? Do you feel like you’re helping people but the pay barely covers your expenses? Like your co-workers but find you have to work individually more than you’d like? Get specific about where there’s room for improvement, so that when you see the qualities you’re looking for in the next position you’ll recognize them.

BUILD YOUR SKILL SET
Often employers will pay for or subsidize classes that will allow their employees to bring top-notch design, copy-editing or computer skills to the office. Think about certifications that might make you a more attractive candidate or certain skills you need to brush up on or areas where you could use some improvement (spreadsheets, anyone?). You’ll meet people in related fields, gain some extra confidence, and have a concrete skill set to add to your resume.

VOLUNTEER
Is there an organization doing great work that you’d love to be a part of? Start your work on a volunteer basis. You’ll get the inside scoop on job openings and first-hand insight into the inner-workings of the place. While you’re there, though, temporarily shelve your hopes of getting a job and focus on the work at hand. Ulterior motives can turn people off. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground, be efficient and enthusiastic. Make a good impression. Even if a position doesn’t open up, you now have relevant experience to bring to a similar workplace and an extra recommendation in your pocket.

Read On