A few weeks ago I read in our local paper that a good friend of mine who is a professional trainer, Kay Stellpflug, was doing a program for our local Chamber of Commerce on Elevator Speeches. As I read the article, I thought how appropriate the subject was in light of my recent “Tell Me About Yourself” scenario that I described in my last blog.

Needless to say, Kay has agreed to put together a number of podcasts relating to your job search. You will begin to see them appearing on our website over the next few weeks. I hope you will find them informative yet fun at the same time.

I would love to hear your comments regarding this latest addition to our site or if you have any suggestions for future topics either for the podcasts or our blog. Please feel free to contact me at any time. My email address is suec@prirecruit.com.

Once again the month has gotten away from me. Where did January go? I will tell you that hiring activity with our clients has exceeded our expectations for the month. We hope this means that we may finally be coming out of one of the worst recessions in some time.

I had planned to write my blog about Interviewing Tips and had pulled a number of articles that I saved over the years to put together what I felt would be the ultimate list of tips but as I read through these and also checked out a Google search on the topic, there were so many other sites out there I just wasn’t sure what new information I could provide that many of these other career sites didn’t. If you are reading this and struggling with interviews, contact me directly. I would be happy to work with you one-on-one.

I do have to tell you about a situation that happened to me recently. I was phone interviewing an experienced plant manager. Often I start my interviews by asking the age old question “Tell me a little about yourself”. Well this candidate went through every detail about his life – - both personal and his work history. Twenty-four minutes later (yes, 24 – - I have a timer on my phone as it records our call) he finally finished his answer to my first question. I was stunned. I have heard many things from candidates when I have asked that question in the past but never that long.

While occasionally you might run into an interviewer who is looking for personal information about you, chances are they are seeing if you can summarize your professional experience. This summary should take maybe a minute or two – - definitely not 24 minutes.

So, before you go on your next interview, take a few minutes to write out how you would answer that question. Rehearse it over and over so when you are asked that question, you can answer it appropriately. You will then be amazed at how confidently you will handle the remainder of the interview.

How can it be the middle of December already? The days seem to be just flying by and Christmas will be here before we know it. I had hoped to write a blog on Interview Tips for our December post but just haven’t had the time to put together all my thoughts. Please check back in January.

To our clients and website visitors, I would like to express my sincere wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season, filled with joy, health, and prosperity.

Merry Christmas –

Susan Christian, President

Too often I hear people say that they are putting off their job hunt until AFTER the holidays because “nobody is hiring now”. Often job hunters think that from Thanksgiving until January 1st is a bad time to be looking for a job because people have the holidays on their mind, not business. So they postpone their search.

Unfortunately, that is a big mistake and it can lead to missed opportunities. Openings still occur during the holidays for a variety of reasons – - an employee gets promoted or transferred, has been fired or quits. In many organizations, budgets have been approved and money is available for hiring new employees starting the first of the year.
Since recruiting, screening, interviewing and selecting candidates takes time, it is not unreasonable that the process for a January hire would begin in November or December. Also, instead of hiring authorities being hard to reach , they are in town during this period because they will be attending holiday functions and networking.

This is also a great time for you to network. Networking is a great way to provide you with a lot of contacts. Every person you meet can be a resource of additional names of people who can help you in your search for that next job. Here are several ideas to get the most from holiday events:

1. Try to attend as many association-sponsored holiday events as possible. These could include your local Chamber of Commerce or other business networking breakfasts or luncheons.
2. Attend your own trade or professional association’s holiday event.
3. Resolve to meet at least ten new people at each event.
4. Organize a networking event of your own or with several other jobs seekers in your area, inviting business people you would like to meet. The event doesn’t have to be elaborate but should be tasteful.
5. Create a simple business card with not only your contact information but also professional designations or highlights (i.e. Engineering Manager, Six Sigma Black Belt, Continuous Improvement Champion) and take them everywhere.
6. Volunteer to help others in your community who are less fortunate this holiday season whether it is helping collect toys for your local toy bank, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, or putting together food baskets for the needy. Who knows who you might meet!

Remember there is no way to predict when an employer has the need to hire so don’t postpone your job search this holiday season.

Everyone at PRI wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.

Most job applicants don’t realize the importance of the phone interview. You should always prepare as much for the phone interview as you do for a face-to-face meeting as there is no second chance.

We’ve put together the following list to help you succeed to continue in the interview process and getting the offer:

1. When scheduling the phone interview with the perspective employer, make sure you allow yourself sufficient time to complete the interview without being rushed. In the initial scheduling call, ask approximately how much time you should allot for the call and block out at least an additional 30 minutes.
2. Always take the call in a secluded place – - away from distractions. Nothing is worse than to have children fighting in the background and dogs barking. It not only makes you sound unprofessional but it also may cause you angst. If you are the primary care provider, see if you can’t find a relative, friend, or neighbor who can watch the children at their home during this time. Just because the baby normally naps from 1:00 to 3:00, that day they may choose otherwise.
3. Be ready for the interview at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled call. Some psychiatrists even suggest that you dress as if you were actually meeting the person. It will make you feel more professional and you will come across as being professional.
4. Have your resume, company research and other critical data laid out in front of you. You may also want to have a pad of paper and pen to jot down quick notes during the interview.
5. If you have call waiting, you may want to have this feature blocked during the interview so your call is not interrupted. While the caller may not hear the interruption, it might cause you to lose focus.
6. Don’t talk too much or too little. Answer the questions in a concise manner using complete sentences and proper English – - not just “yes” or “no” answers.
7. Ask at least one or two thought provoking questions and after hearing the response, try to relate your education or experience in the rebuttal.
8. Avoid asking questions regarding compensation and benefits.
9. Before ending the call, you may want to summarize your conversation, hitting one or two of the employer’s hot buttons by linking your skills to solving specific workplace problems that you learned in the interview.
10. Always follow up the phone interview with a well written thank-you note expressing interest in the opportunity to speak further. Watch for more about Thank You Notes in an upcoming blog.

Hopefully if you handled the Phone Interview well, you will be offered the opportunity for a face-to-face interview which we will be covering in our next blog.

We want to thank not only our veterans but also all of those currently serving in the Military today.  We are proud of you and appreciate the endless sacrifices you and your families made.

From the tomb of the unknown soldier to the shores of Tripoli
To the Pacific’s pearl-green waters…I wish to give a tribute,
A four-starred salute today…for those who fought so bravely
For our freedom and American way.
We take our rights for granted, but they were earned in blue-red blood
And courage beyond the call of duty
In France’s cold, wet mud.
Beginning with the Revolution –
Through the Saudi Arabian sands…men and women have fought and suffered
And died on foreign lands.
So salute our veterans this Veterans’ Day and many more to come
It was through their blood and guts and glory
That our freedom has been won.
***
Author Unknown

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier no matter how many you go on.  You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often in today’s economy you are trying to finally land a job after being unemployed.  Being out of work makes the stress of the interview process seem that much greater. 

 Whether it is during a phone interview or a face-to-face meeting, proper preparation will help alleviate some of the stress involved.  Here are several tips to help prepare you to effectively interview.

1. Prepare and over prepare  -   Prepare your responses to the typical job interview questions most interviewers ask and then practice, practice and practice.  Role play and repeat your best responses until they come naturally – - until they simply roll off your tongue with the spontaneity that only comes with repetition.
2.  Do your research  -  Take time to research the company, their product line, processes,  and even their management team.  Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions during the interview.  Know the interviewer’s name and role they play within the organization.  Be sure to use their name (with the correct pronunciation) during the interview itself.  If you are not sure, call the company in  advance and ask the receptionist.
3. Be clear on what you know and what you want to achieve  -  If your interview is resume-based, have the facts of your experience, education, etc., thoroughly memorized.  Have a list of examples to support your achievements.  As to your objective, be clear and concise on what you want.  If you are willing to take “anything”, you will usually get nothing.
4. Be honest in your responses  -   While probably everyone has shaded the truth in an interview, honesty is really the best policy.  It is not a good idea when reviewing the requirements for the position to flat-out lie.  Companies today are doing thorough background checks and may request you provide verification of your college degree or the certifications listed on your resume.   So many people have been laid off through no fault of their own that it is no longer a stigma to have been let go – - unless it was for justifiable cause.  Answer directly but without a change in the reflection of your voice.  Expressing your bitterness over being let go tells the interviewer that you can’t accept the reality of today’s economy.
5. Have clear personal standards  -  Many organizations today are looking for people who do have ethical standards regarding their personal and professional lives, who can articulate them clearly and who live by them.

Got caught up on some blogs I follow, and found the What’s the cost of being unemployed? post on Keppie Careers interesting.  Here are some excerpts from the post:

If you expect a $20,000 salary, your weekly salary is $384.61 and an 18 week job hunt will cost you $6,992.98.

If you are looking for a job with a $50,000 salary, your weekly salary is $961.54 and an 18 week job hunt costs you $17,307.69.

If you are hoping for a $100,000 salary, your weekly salary is $1,923.08 and an 18 week job hunt costs you $34,615.38.

My point is pretty obvious — time away from your job search is costly.  But, there is always another view — like how good the break this holiday weekend will be for you.   We need breaks from our jobs, and if you are in a job search now, that is your job.  Here is a great post to read: Should Your Job Hunt Take a Break This Labor Day?

Whatever you decide, I wish you an enjoyable 3 day weekend!

Job Search Basics Overlooked, Part 3:  Three Oft-Overlooked Aspects of Your Resume

If you are in a current job search, you may be sick of hearing about the subject of resumes!  I don’t blame you, but there are two reasons we keep writing about the subject: 1) your resume is simply that important, and 2) we keep seeing resumes that do not hold up in today’s job market.

Here is my short list of often overlooked items in resumes:

1.  Proofing.

You can actually over-proof your resume… in other words, you’ve stared at it, and worked at it so much, you no longer actually see what is written, and end up with obvious and glaring errors that may prove to be unforgivable in the job seeking process.  A couple years ago, I presented a candidate to a client for an engineering management position.  The candidate was perfectly qualified, down to even having the specific experience preferred from their competitor.  This candidate was ruled out by the hiring manager due to one tiny grammar error (I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t even catch it!).  The hiring manager’s reasoning?  The candidate originally graduated with an English major, and should not have had grammatical errors on her resume.

Solve this problem by asking a few people you trust to proof your resumes, and see to it that each time you revise your resume, another pair of eyes proofs that document before you send it out.

2.  Missing the obvious.

So many times I have reviewed a resume and couldn’t figure out why that person had even applied for this position.  Most of those resumes are dismissed and not reviewed again unless they come up in our database for a different position.  Often, I will later find out that the person did have the skills or experience required, but it was not obvious on their resume.

Do not assume that the person reading your resume knows that because you were a Supply Chain Manager for XYZ company, you have had experience with low cost, off shore or strategic sourcing as the description defines.  Titles are not a reliable way to communicate that you possess the experience the employer is seeking.  Be sure to spell out your experience, but as you are also needing to keep your resume short and succinct, tailor your resume to a position – using more ‘real estate’ on the paper for highlighting your experience and accomplishments that match what the job description is looking for.

3.  Strong, intelligent writing.

You’ve worked diligently to create a resume that contains all the information, yet is short and organized.  That’s great!  But, take another look.  In all this, does your writing show your professionalism?  Does your writing, even the short bullets, show your industry knowledge?  Are you using commanding and compelling verbs, industry and discipline specific terms?

Don’t work so hard to crunch down your resume that you forget “sound” intelligent enough to do the job too!  I recently came across a great list of resume verbs on Secrets of the Job Hunt.  Keep the list handy, and take another look at your resume, this time reading it aloud, focusing on how it portrays you.  Reading your resume out loud is a good practice I recommend to people before an interview too… it forces one to focus on the how the content sounds, versus the formatting, keywords, etc., that job seekers also must work and focus on when writing a resume.

Looking for more help, advice or opinions?  Check out these links:

My, how tastes (and resumes) have changed!

Does Your Resume Make the Business Case for Hiring You?

Resume Best Practices

Should You Hire A Resume Writer?

Next-Day Job Interview, J. Michael Farr

J. Michael Farr has a number of sound career advice books, and one that has been on my “to-read” list is his “Next-Day Job Interview: Prepare Tonight and Get the Job Tomorrow.”

Since I haven’t had a chance to read this book, I was delighted to find a review on Keppie Careers blog about it.  Sounds like a good read – if you get to it before I do, comment back and let me know your thoughts!