U.S. News and World Report article, How to Beat 8 Job-Search Time-Wasters, Tim Tyrell-Smith shows you ways to get past common job-search mistakes.
Tips to look for in Tyrell-Smith’ s article are:
In her article for U.S. News & World Report, Karen Burns tells job seekers, 50 Buzzwords You Shouldn’t Use on Your Resume.
Below is an excerpt of Burns’ article. Read Full Article & List
You’ve written your resume. You poured a lot of effort into the page that will represent you, and you can’t wait to distribute it far and wide.
Not so fast. Before you send that puppy out, check it for buzzwords. Like “team player.” Or “detail-oriented.” Or “accustomed to fast-paced environments.”
Here’s why you should avoid them: They’re vague. They make your resume look like everyone else’s. They’re probably not among the keywords employers search for. They take up space on your resume that could be used for strong, concrete, specific examples of what you’ve accomplished, the work you’ve produced, and how hiring you would benefit your potential employer. Buzzwords are tired and overused, clichés that have lost their meaning over time.
In her article for Mashable, Stephanie Marcus shows job seekers HOW TO: Score a Job Through Facebook.
Tips to look for in Marcus’ article:
About.com Guide Alison Doyle shows job seekers how to Follow Up After Sending a Resume. Doyle also speaks with Recruiters and Employment experts to give readers a variety of opinions on the topic.
Below is an excerpt from Doyle’s article. Read Full Article
There isn’t an easy answer to the question of whether you should follow up after submitting a resume. I posted the question on the (very useful) Answers section of LinkedIn to see if I could get some insight into whether you should (or shouldn’t) follow up after sending a resume. I received a variety of good answers, both in favor of, and against, following up. In addition, if it makes sense for you to take that extra step in the hiring process, there are good suggestions on how to best follow up after sending a resume.
Chris Dittus, owner of August Communications Consulting, told me “As an HR professional who has received thousands of resumes over the years, I can tell you that there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to your question (unfortunately!). There are numerous variables at play in these processes, and every organization is a bit different. It’s impossible to know if you will be wasting your time following up on a resume you have sent in response to a job posting, or if it will be the one thing that gives you a small edge over another candidate.”
In her article for U.S. News and World Report, Karen Burns tells job seekers 21 Ways to Avoid Job Interview Anxiety.
Below is an excerpt from Burns’ article. Read Full Article
Career experts often offer helpful tips for reducing job interview anxiety. But you don’t want to reduce job interview anxiety; you want to avoid italtogether. Before you say, “But that’s impossible!” let’s clarify: You don’t actually have to eliminate the anxiety. You only have to avoid letting it show.
Anxiety is a turn-off. In a job interview, you want to come across as confident, competent, and ready to go to work. Anxiety detracts from the strong, positive impression you want to make. It’s also contagious—your jitters can infect and distract your interviewer, making him less able to focus on you.
The bottom line: It’s okay to feel anxious. It’s not okay to display it.
How can you prevent yourself from looking nervous? By preparing for the interview. Preparation will boost your confidence and help you make that positive impression. Even if you feel nervous, you won’t look it if you’re prepared.
To put an end to anxiety, follow this preparation checklist:
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.
Forbes.com article, 13 Big Mistakes Job Seekers Make, Jacquelyn Smith documents job search mistakes that can derail your job search.
Below is an except of Smith’s article. Read Full Article
There are a lot of ways you can go wrong during your job search. You can fail to spend enough time at it, but you can also get so involved you become isolated from family and friends. Those are among the most common mistakes job seekers make, according to a new study published in theAcademy of Management Journal. Three scholarly researchers, Connie Wanberg, Jing Zhu and Edwin A. J. van Hooft wrote a paper titled “The Job-Search Grind: Perceived Progress, Self-Reactions, and Self-Regulation of Search Effort.” The study shows that signs of progress can make you relax too much and that you should have diversified ways of searching.
The three scholars asked 233 participants to complete a baseline survey and then follow up online every Monday through Friday for three weeks. They were asked to indicate their emotions, the time they dedicated to their job search and the level of confidence they felt about finding an acceptable job. They all had been out of work for about 16 weeks.
Related Story – In Pictures: 13 Big Mistakes Job Seekers Make
In the September 16, 2010 SimplyBlog article, Answering the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question, the folks at Simply Hired show you how your answer to this often challenging question can help you stand out with employers.
Below is an excerpt from the Simply Hired blog. Read full article here
There are a number of ways to answer this question, but don’t make “winging it” an option. As a question you can count on hearing in an interview, you should come fully prepared with an answer. What your interviewer wants is a quick, 1-2 minute summary of your professional experience and an explanation of why you are the best candidate. Your response will usually serve as a jumping off point for discussion. To begin, summarize your professional experience in a sentence or two. Then, highlight your biggest accomplishments, especially during your most recent work experience. Finally, describe how your unique combination of experience and accomplishments applies to the position, and how you would benefit that company.
LiveCareer article, Resume Facts That Can’t Wait Until the Interview* reminds job seekers to be honest when writing their resume. Don’t assume you can wait until the interview to explain gaps in employment, geographical moves, or constant job changing.
“Explain employment gaps on a resume, whether is was because of a recent birth, family member’s health or even a sabbatical.”
The article suggests writing a resume summary to explain anything that would raise a question to a hiring manager. This will show the employer you are upfront about your employment history.
*Click link to read full article.
In a segment with MSNBC, author Zenja Glass explains how to seize your job search using more than traditional job search methods.
