Category: Charting Your Career for Success

12 Tips to Help You In Your Job Search
1. COUNTER OFFERS

“Counter Offers: The Reason That You Resigned Seldom Goes Away If You Stay.”

Companies give counter offers when the timing works against them to lose a person. However, unless the reason you resigned have gone away, taking a counter offer means that you are returning to work where have shown disloyalty by looking for another job. Read more.

2. JOB CHANGE TIMING

“The Best Time To Change Jobs”

Changing jobs is one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. That statement does not mean that job changes do not bring high rewards. Getting married, having children, and buying a house are also among the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. Yet these experiences are rewarding. Read more.

To make any major life change successful and rewarding requires preparation, planning, and timing.

3. INTERVIEWING

“How To Handle The Interview Question What Is Your Greatest Weakness?”

I made the mistake of answering this question honestly during an interview for a promotion. I did get the promotion.

However, my new supervisor had an annoying habit of reminding me of my answer to that question during our work together.

Being able to answer this question is part of standard interview preparation. What should I have answered when he asked me about my greatest weakness? Here are some options that would have helped me.

4. INTERVIEW PREPARATION

“12 Things You Should Not Do In A Job Interview”

An interview is a critical step to getting a job. Preparing for your interview and making good choices in handling your interview can turn your interview into a job offer. Here are twelve things you should not do and suggestions for the correct things to do in a job interview. Read more.

5. JOB OFFERS

“How To Negotiate A Job Offer”

Employers are more open to negotiating a job offer when they can see that there is a real shortfall between what they have offered you and what you have in your current job.

The simple way to approach the matter is to make a straightforward presentation of the facts involved. Read more.

6. JOB OPTIONS

“Finding Jobs That Match Your Skills”

This lists compares skills to jobs to help you find jobs that you will enjoy and do successfully. Enter any of these jobs into the Job Search engine to find career opportunities. Read more.

7. SELF-EMPLOYMENT

“Is it Time for You to Start Your Own Business?”

Prior to entering recruiting, I worked for two terrific companies: Procter & Gamble and Polaroid Corporation.  I did a lot of things that I loved to do. I took pride in my companies’ brands. I loved giving presentations. I enjoyed the travel. I took fascination in new product introductions. I found joy in absolutely crushing the competition in shelf space, ad space, and in sales.  However, I had two frustrations. Read more.

8. RECRUITERS

“Should You Work with a Recruiter?”

Whether or not you should work with a recruiter depends upon your comfort level in working with other people about your income and upon your career goals and your urgency in finding employment. The best recruiters can help you in many ways. Read more.

9. NETWORK CONNECTIONS

“Your Know Network”

Today I so instinctively take the easy way to finding information and contacts.  I go to LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Job Boards, Business Directories, Google Search, and forget that the best network I have is the one made up of the people I already know. Read more.

11. NETWORKING FORUMS

“How to Pick a LinkedIn Group”

Different LinkedIn groups have different purposes. Some groups are directories of people in the same industry or who have the same interest. These groups are terrific for building networks or creating databases. You can pick nearly any business sector and find that there is LinkedIn group for that business sector. From there, you can build relationships to expand your network. Read more.

Other groups give terrific sources of information on how to get things done or how to find people who can help you get things done. These groups are really forums where people answer questions. The members of these forums tend are often very responsive and may give better help on topics that relate to products which have their own company forums.

12. PRIVACY IN ONLINE SEARCH

LinkedIn: Can People Tell that I Have Looked at their Profile?

LinkedIn: Who Can See My Profile?

12 Things You Should Not do In a Job Interview is a good start to preparing for your interview. How well you interview will decide whether you get the job.

An interview is a critical step to getting a job. Preparing for your interview and making good choices in handling your interview can turn your interview into a job offer.  Here are twelve things you should not do and suggestions for the correct things to do in a job interview.

1. Do not arrive late. You should plan for traffic delays. Arrive thirty minutes early. Wait nearby to enter the building. Go into the interview five minutes early. Introduce yourself and say that you are there a bit early for your interview.
2. Wear the proper clothes.Clothing will vary from job to job. If you need to be dressed to go to work that day, wear work clothes. If you are interviewing for a job for which you will have to wait for an offer, consider wearing clothes that are one level above the job. for example, if the job requires jeans, consider wearing khakis. If the job requires khakis, consider wearing dress slacks or a skirt. If the job requires slacks or a skirt, wear a suit.
3. Do not use a cell phone. Turn your cell phone off before you enter the building for your interview. Do not mute your cell phone. Turn the power off on your cell phone. For the short time you have in the interview, you do not need distractions from your cell phone.  If you even check your phone during the interview, you have lost the job offer.
4. Do not act rude. Be courteous. Know and say the interviewer’s name. Give the person a firm, but not strong handshake. Introduce yourself. Thank the interviewer for meeting with you.
5. Do not bring up subjects that are not about the interview. Help the interviewer focus on the interview. Offer the interviewer a copy of your resume before you sit down.
6. Do not fidget or act restless and nervous. There are simple ways to relieve your tension. Use the best body language. Take a couple of breaths before entering the interview. Make eye contact. If direct eye contact makes you uncomfortable, look at the person’s face. Focus on what you are saying and not what you are seeing. Smile. Sit up straight. Gently hold in your stomach. Keep your shoulders comfortably level. Practice sitting this way daily. It is good for your back, neck, and core, and will help you interview more successfully. Speak loudly enough that the interviewer can hear you. Keep your arms open. Make occasional gestures as you are speaking. As you behave relaxed, you will become relaxed.
7. Do not act arrogantly or talk about yourself and not about the job. Focus on your qualifications for the job. Talk about what you can do and not about who you are. Be specific when discussing how your experience fits the job requirements.
8. Do not go to the interview without preparing.Show that you are ready for the meeting. Refer to the things you have read about the company and about the job.
9. Do not act as though you are not interested in the job.  Ask questions about the company and the job based on the information you found through your research and through reading the job description. Write a list of questions as part of your preparation before going to the interview.
10. Do not say negative things about anyone. Talk positively about your present employer and your past employers. The way to keep things positive is to focus on your interest in the company that is interviewing you.
11.  Do not dominate the conversation. Allow the interviewer to lead the discussion. Answer the questions not the things that the questions bring to your mind.
12. Do not leave without understanding what you should expect next. If the interviewer has not told you what to expect next, ask the person when you will be getting information on the company’s interest in meeting with you again or making you an offer. Express your interest in the job and say that you look forward to meeting again. If the interviewer has a card on the desk, ask for one.

Finding Jobs That Match Your Skills

This lists compares skills to jobs to help you find jobs that you will enjoy and do successfully. Enter any of these jobs into Find Jobs Search engine to find career opportunities.

Environmental, Geographic, Geological Skills

• Archeologist
• Cartographer
• Conservationist
• Ecologist
• Environmentalist
• Geographic Information Systems
• Oil and Gas Explorers
• Surveyor

Hands Skills

• Barber
• Beautician
• Carpenter
• Cook
• Cosmetologist
• Electrician
• Mechanic
• Plumber
• Truck driver
• Welder

Helping Skills

• Child Care Provider
• Counselor
• Hygienist
• Librarian
• Nurse
• Nutritionist
• Paramedic
• Teacher
• Therapist
• Trainer

Math, Science, Research Skills

• Accountant
• Assessor
• Architect
• Astronaut
• Biologist
• Chemist
• Chiropractor
• Computer Developer, Programmer
• Doctor
• Engineer
• Financial Advisor
• Geneticist
• Investigator
• Meteorologist
• Pharmacist
• Scientist
• Statistician
• Systems Analyst
• Veterinarian

Negotiation Skills

• Agent
• Broker
• Insurance
• Lawyer
• Salesperson

Leadership Skills

• Coach
• Editor
• Insurance
• Lawyer
• Manager
• Pilot
• Politician
• Producer

Team Skills

• Firefighter
• Police
• Military

Creative, Design, Performing Skills

• Advertising Executive
• Chef
• Designer
• Marketer
• Performer (Actor, Actress, Musician, Singer, Songwriter)
• Photographer

Language Skills

• News Reporter
• Translator
• Writer

The Best Time to Change Jobs

The Best Time to Change Jobs

Changing jobs is one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. That statement does not mean that job changes do not bring high rewards. Getting married, having children, and buying a house are also among the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. Yet these experiences are rewarding.

To make any major life change successful and rewarding requires preparation, planning, and timing.

Changing jobs often means leaving friends and familiar routines to go to a place where you do not know anyone and where the people, the ways of working, and the culture are completely different.

Although money is a good reason to go to another job, money is not the only reason. If you feel frustrated, where you are working and want to move to a new job, write down the things that you want in a job. The three most important considerations are money, location, and duties. If you are underpaid, have a horrible commute, and bored with what you do every day, you have three good reasons to begin to look for a new job.

The best time to get a job is when you have a job. People who do not have a job are competing with people who do have a job. Unemployed people must explain why they do not have a job before they can start to present their qualifications.

If you do not have a job, prepare to discuss your situation. Rehearse your discussion with your friends or family before meeting an employer.

Look at your personal situation and decide if you want to try to change jobs at the time.

The holiday season can make job changes more difficult, but you do not have to put all your job-change efforts on hold. for example, you might want to use spare minutes between Thanksgiving and the New Year to polish your resume, put together your list of references, create a list of potential hiring companies, sign up for job boards, and other things you can do while sitting on your PC or laptop during the evening or when waking up in the morning.

Companies hire people year-round. Continue to contact employers, make applications, and schedule interviews any time that fits your schedule. If you want to interview between December 26 and December 31, there are fewer interviews that week, but companies still have their doors open to applicants.

If you are having difficulties in your current job and you have found that you cannot improve these conditions, begin to discuss your plans to make a change with your friends and family. However, keep your plans confidential and private to prevent your current employer from knowing your plans. If you have already found that conditions will not improve where you are working, you will only make your current employer view you as disloyal by having them learn of your plans to leave.

Consider the timing of bonus payments, options vesting, vacation time, and other things you have earned.

Leaving a company for a better opportunity when you are doing an excellent job and on good terms is a wonderful way to stay on top in your career. There is stress involved in the change. Pacing yourself, timing your change relative to other things in your life, and planning your change carefully will cut the stress and make your change more successful as you move on to the next stage of your career.

Job references can make or break your job offer.

During the interview process, most hiring companies do reference checks on potential employees.

Some companies ask for written references.  More likely, a company will conduct references over the phone.

When giving a person as a reference, get the person’s approval first.

In some cases, your current or former employer will not give information on your performance.  The employer may have a policy that limits giving employment information to the dates that you worked at their company.

Often the hiring company will speak with specific types of references.  For example, the company will ask to speak with current or former supervisors, co-workers, customers, vendors, or business connections.

In the case of reference checks for inexperienced workers, the hiring company may ask to speak with a neighbor, teacher, or classmate.

Here are common reference check questions.

• How long have you know this person?
• Would you hire or rehire the person today?
• Why did this person leave the last job?
• What was your relationship with the person?
• What would you say about this person and how would you describe the person?
• How well does the person handle conflict?
• What are his/her strongest points?
• How does this person work with other people?
• How does this person respond to feedback and criticism?
• What were the person’s greatest accomplishments?
• How would you rate the person’s performance on a scale of 1-10?
• What area of development could the candidate focus on?

Other helpful articles
How to Receive Job-Winning Reference Checks
Build a Powerhouse Reference List As Part of Building Your Professional Network.