Salary Basics |
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Most people don't enjoy salary negotiation, however, to look after number one (yourself!) you need to know what you want and go after it. To do this successfully, you always need to be tactful as well as have your research done. Below are some tips to help in getting the information (and the salary) you need.
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New and Emerging Occupations |
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There's nothing sadder than a missed opportunity.And when it comes to your job search, missing the chance to land a job in a field on the edge of hitting it big can be particularly frustrating. If only you knew then what you know now, who knows how your career path would've changed?
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Handling a Gap in Your Work History |
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Chances are you were out of work at one time - or maybe you are now - either by choice or by someone else's decision for a significant period of time, possibly months. Your work history includes a strong record of accomplishment and you're highlighting those accomplishments in your resume as you launch a job search.
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Interview Essentials |
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Companies want to hire competent, successful, articulate executives, yet the very first encounter between the candidate and the company often places the candidate in a particularly stressful and uncomfortable situation: The interview.
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Experience and Management Questions |
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Strong companies need strong people. A growing, energetic company is rarely unable to use its employees' talents. Emphasize your interest in a long-term association, pointing out that the employer will get a faster return on investment because you have more experience than required.
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General Interview Questions |
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Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time online or at the library researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company.
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What Not to Wear to the Interview |
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Any article about what to wear to an interview might well begin with a qualifying statement covering the extremes in various states, (New York and California, for example) and industries (technology, manufacturing), which are possible exceptions to the normal rules of fashion.
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Quantifying Your Experience and Accomplishments |
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Give examples as to your responsibilities. Explain how the budget was determined, and your role in overseeing your department's portion.
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Bringing Your Career in Line with Your Personal Priorities |
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Do you feel fulfilled with the career path you're currently on? Are you happy, or at least content, with how your life—both personal and professional—is shaping up? If the answer is no, then it's time to make a life plan that includes identifying your priorities and developing goals that match those priorities.
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Salary Questions |
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Answer with a question, e.g., "What is the salary range for similar jobs in your company?" If the interviewer doesn't answer, then give a range of what you understand you are worth in the marketplace
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Effective Interviewing |
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Arrive on time, if not a few minutes early, for your interview. If you show up to a job interview late, ill prepared, or dressed inappropriately, you could be sealing your own fate. It may sound old fashioned, but a neat, professional appearance is always apropos for a job interview.
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Your boss may be spying on you. Get used to it |
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Companies can now scan your computer's hard drive from a remote location--meaning your bosses could read all the data on your office PC (even the deleted stuff) without your knowledge.
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Prepare for the Top 10 Interview Questions |
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Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.
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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers |
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It's a tough market out there. For every one position there are 80 candidates. How do you increase your odds of making the short list?
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Case Interview Cheat Sheet |
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If you're applying for a job at a consulting firm, chances are you'll be confronted at least once with the dreaded case interview. In it, you'll be asked to analyze a hypothetical business problem and come up with solutions. Case interview questions are designed to test your ability to think analytically under stress, with incomplete information. While case interviews rarely have just one right answer, there is a right way to approach them.
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Simple steps to find out the ideal length of your resume - The One Page Myth |
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Take personal inventory of your existing resume to determine how strong your presentation really is. The real question Have you communicated why you are the best candidate for the position?
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The Hiring Manager: Your Next Boss |
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Under the advisement of the recruiter, the hiring manager decides the specifics of a position (including salary), who is interviewed for the position and, ultimately, who is hired.
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Personality Questions |
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Do you generally speak to people before they speak to you? It depends on the circumstances.
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Acing Your Tech Interview |
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You might think technical-job interviews are no different from interviews for non-tech jobs, but in fact, they’re special situations with unique potential pitfalls. The three tips that follow will help you better prepare for them.
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Optimizing Productivity: Making the Decision to Outsource |
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Organizational ability in the marketplace will determine which companies survive and which, well—don’t. In an effort to retain that agility, Fortune 500 companies like Kodak™ and General Motors® and even IT innovators like Microsoft® and Intel® have outsourced IT support.
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What are KEYWORDS? |
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When a computer scans a resume, it looks for specific job titles and job-related words and phrases. These are called KEYWORDS. A 21st Century Resume MUST include a separate KEYWORDS section, and these keywords must be carefully selected and targeted to make certain that your resume will not be overlooked by a computer search.
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Focus on Your Strengths |
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What do you have to offer an employer? Why should that employer choose you over someone else? What will make interviewers remember you after they're done with their first round of meeting potential candidates?
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Cover Letter Checklist |
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Not everyone you are applying to wants to see a cover letter but when you do send one it is just as important as your resume. It is probably the first piece of communication you are presenting and your first impression must be a good one.
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Informational Interviews |
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Many people find jobs through networking and informational interviews are a part of the networking process. What you gather at these interviews is information helpful for the next job interview.
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12 Step Resume Writing |
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Before you can begin to design your resume on paper, you need to have the words. Use the following twelve-step writing process to help you clarify your experience, accomplishments, skills, education, and other background information, which will make the job of condensing your life onto a sheet of paper a little easier. If you need more help, consider using a ResumeEdge professional resume writer.
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Choosing a Recruiter |
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As a job seeker, chances are you will work with a recruiter at one time or another during your search. The function of the recruiter is to market your skills and promote your work history to their client companies. A recruiter works with you, but not for you.
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Tell Me About a Time When… |
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As soon as you hear the words, "Tell me about a time when…," you should be aware that your interviewer is probably using a behavioral interviewing technique.
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Sure-Fire Resume Blunders |
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A resume is not an easy document to produce. After all, you're writing about your career here. You're writing about the fruits of your labor, the culmination of your years as a professional. You don't want to over-do your qualifications, or worse, sell yourself short. But sometimes it's difficult to be objective about your own career. Sometimes you can be your own worst biographer.
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Decoding the Interview and Evaluation Process |
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It’s another tough job market this year. Looking for a competitive advantage or new resources to help you prepare and perform at your best? Here are some insights into the interviewing and evaluation process.
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Scannable Resume Fundamentals |
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The purpose of a scannable resume is the same as that of a traditional resume -- to help you find a job! But, the design and format of a scannable resume is quite different than a traditional resume.
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The Importance of a Thank You |
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Thank you letters are an important factor in the interviewing process. You should always send one to each person you interview with by fax, mail or email. Neglecting to send a thank you letter may give someone else the upper hand to get the job you want. Send it as soon as possible after you interview, but no more than five days later.
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Using Keywords to Make Your Resume Stand out Online |
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Companies are relying more and more on technology to sort their way through the stacks of resumes they receive. That doesn’t mean that the traditional paper resume is dead, but it does mean that in order to get noticed, you’ll need to get savvy about posting or submitting your resume online.
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Your Career Goals Questions |
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Think carefully about your answer and relate it to your career accomplishments.
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The Hiring Manager: Your Next Boss |
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The hiring manager is the decision maker of the hiring process.Under the advisement of the recruiter, the hiring manager decides the specifics of a position (including salary), who is interviewed for the position and, ultimately, who is hired.
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If You Are Leaving a Job |
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Refine your answer based on your comfort level and honesty. Give a "group" answer if possible, e.g. our department was consolidated or eliminated.
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How to Answer Resume-Based Questions |
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Recruiters love to ask all candidates, from undergraduates to mid-career, about their resume. These questions give an interviewer a chance to dig a little deeper into your background and at the same time test your critical thinking abilities.
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How to Ace a Meal Interview |
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Meal interviews may seem less formal than office interviews, but they are just as important. During a meal interview, you're not only evaluated on your answers, but also on your demeanor. Can you hold an intelligent conversation? What are your manners like in a social setting? Are you a pleasant person to talk to?
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Commonly Asked Interview Questions |
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Being prepared for an interview is essential to put yourself above the competition. Knowing what the interviewer(s) will ask and how to answer the questions are what will help you get a second interview and possibly the position.
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Using Keywords to Make Your Resume Stand out Online |
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Companies are relying more and more on technology to sort their way through the stacks of resumes they receive. That doesn’t mean that the traditional paper resume is dead, but it does mean that in order to get noticed, you’ll need to get savvy about posting or submitting your resume online.
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If You Are Leaving a Job |
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Refine your answer based on your comfort level and honesty. Give a "group" answer if possible, e.g. our department was consolidated or eliminated.
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Choose your Employer Wisely |
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For years, would-be employees have undergone scrutiny by employers during the Interview process. In addition to our resume, we have to provide personal and professional references. We have to pass drug tests and personality tests.
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Burying or Not Including Important Information in the Resume |
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Many recruiters shared that candidates often leave off very important and critical experience/information that is pertinent to the job they are seeking
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Job Search Questions |
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Finding a job is easy; finding the right job is more difficult. Stress that you are being selective, and are looking for the right "fit."
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Acing Your Tech Interview |
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You might think technical-job interviews are no different from interviews for non-tech jobs, but in fact, they’re special situations with unique potential pitfalls. The three tips that follow will help you better prepare for them.
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Simple steps to find out the ideal length of your resume - The One Page Myth |
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Take personal inventory of your existing resume to determine how strong your presentation really is. The real question Have you communicated why you are the best candidate for the position?
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Personality Plus |
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On the surface this appears to be a straightforward question, but if you answer too hastily, you may end up sounding like every other candidate. You must think about what makes you unique, and how you can make yourself stand out and be remembered.
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Behavioral Interviews and the Career Changer |
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If you're changing careers, behavioral interviews can your best friend. In fact, they can provide the perfect showcase. In a behavioral interview, the interviewer will evaluate your competencies (such as teamwork, analysis, planning, and initiative) in relation to those she has determined to be required for successful performance on the job.
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Deliver A Perfect e-Resume |
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How do you create an e-mail resume that will win interviews and influence recruiters? To get started, follow these rules:
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Unemployment & the Recruiting Industry |
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The US government reported that the unemployment rate rose to its highest levels in nearly four years. The rate rose to 4.9 percent from the 4.5 percent reported in July. While the employment rate is high, in some industries, there were jobs actually added to companies.
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Bad Resume Advice ... And What To Do About It |
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We've all received bad career advice at some point. Mine came from an aunt who said: "You should be a chemical engineer. You'd be good at it." Two years of advanced math and 627 headaches later, I decided she was wrong.
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Ten Interviewing Rules |
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In the current job market, you'd better have your act together, or you won't stand a chance against the competition. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before you go on that all-important interview.
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Making An Online Resume Visible |
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What that really meant was not always clear to everyone but the impression it left was unmistakable. Such a person was way cool. They were techno-savvy, computer literate, in-the-know and on-the-cutting-edge. The novelty of being capable of using technology to promote yourself in this manner proved powerful indeed.
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Developing Leaders from the Bottom Up |
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Great organizations know strong and continuous leadership is vital to sustaining success and ensuring future growth. That's why most world-class organizations have well-established processes for identifying and pulling leadership talent into greater roles.
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Interviews: Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths |
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Sometimes, interviewers will pelt you with questions that require you to analyze your weaker traits. The types of questions you are likely to encounter in this style of interviewing include:
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An Introduction to Case Interviews |
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The case interviewing style is particularly common among management consulting firms, law firms, counseling and social work organizations, police departments, and other organizations that place a premium on understanding your thought process. Most likely, the case will be the final part of a screening or hiring manager interview.
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Questions You Should Ask at an Interview |
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Before going into an interview, do your homework on the company. Read the current and past press releases, corporate literature, and learn as much as you can about the company in general.
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Too Duty Oriented |
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The second most common complaint among recruiters was reading a resume that is “too duty oriented.” Resumes need to describe more than just job duties. A good resume must also detail your accomplishments.
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Decoding the Interview and Evaluation Process |
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It’s another tough job market this year. Looking for a competitive advantage or new resources to help you prepare and perform at your best? Here are some insights into the interviewing and evaluation process.
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10 Tips on Selecting a Strategic HR Partner |
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Smart companies realize that in today’s competitive business environment, keeping employment costs – which can represent 65% of a company’s budget – variable enables them to control costs and operate much more efficiently and competitively.
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12 Step Resume Writing |
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Before you can begin to design your resume on paper, you need to have the words. Use the following twelve-step writing process to help you clarify your experience, accomplishments, skills, education
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Writing a Letter of Recommendation |
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Letters of recommendation are a great resource to the job seeker. If they have been laid off and the potential employer raises an eyebrow, a letter describing the job seeker's attributes along with the circumstances around the layoff could make the difference between getting and not getting the job.
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Ten Interviewing Rules |
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In the current job market, you'd better have your act together, or you won't stand a chance against the competition. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before you go on that all-important interview.
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Tips on Asking for a Raise |
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You've been with your company for a year. Normally employees get a review and according to their procedures, some type of a raise. While this is standard practice for companies, there's nothing that says they HAVE to give you one.
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Job Interview Tips From a Hiring Professional |
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You already know enough to practice your answers to such commonly asked interview questions as "Can you tell me about yourself?" and "Why do you want this job?"
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General Interview Questions |
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Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time online or at the library researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company.
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Functional Resumes |
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Why do I have to guess in which roles you acquired these skills? How much actual experience do you have with the listed skills? Is it 3 months or 10 years? I prefer a chronological resume with a list of accomplishments for each position.
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Ace Your Audition Interview |
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Some employers realize that it is difficult to obtain a full picture of someone's capabilities and behavior in a normal interview. They may, instead, devise a simulation or put you in the real-life role before making a final decision.
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Choose your Employer Wisely |
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For years, would-be employees have undergone scrutiny by employers during the Interview process. In addition to our resume, we have to provide personal and professional references.
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How to Write Letters for Informational Interviews |
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When it comes to gaining access to job opportunities, consider approach letters, since these, together with approach phone calls, are a good way to get your foot in the door.
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Nonverbal Communications |
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It begins even before you say your first word in an interview. By the time the interviewer walks toward you, an opinion is already being formed. There you sit waiting to spew out your answers to questions you've prepared for, while you are already being judged by your appearance, posture, smile or nervous look.
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How to Seize Control of Your Next Interview |
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You squirm in your chair, trying to get comfortable. You try to swallow, but your mouth feels as if it's been chalked. You reach around to itch your back and your starched white shirt feels like it was dipped in a swamp. You're torn between collapsing in tears and making a mad dash for the bathroom.
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Grooming Leadership: Talent Planning at the Senior Level |
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"The War for Talent" a recent study of high performing companies conducted by the consulting firm McKinsey concluded, "The right group of senior executives is the most valuable asset a company has. In all too many companies, however, this asset is undermanaged and underdeveloped."
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Job Search Questions |
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Finding a job is easy; finding the right job is more difficult. Stress that you are being selective, and are looking for the right "fit."
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How to Turn Down a Job Offer with Class |
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I have recently received a few job offers and have made a decision, after many careful considerations. What is the most appropriate way of turning down the other offers? E-mail, phone, snail mail?
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Interviewers' Pet Peeves |
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You sit facing the interviewer, feeling like things are moving along nicely when all of a sudden the interview takes a drastic turn for the worse. What just happened? You may have hit one of the interviewer's pet peeves, one of those things that automatically triggers a negative response.
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Resumes not sent as a WORD Attachment |
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Unless specifically requested otherwise, your resume should be sent as a Word Attachment. Word is the standard in business correspondence. Do not send your resume as a PDF, Mac file, etc. As mentioned in previous weeks, candidates have to be aware that recruiters receive literally hundreds upon hundreds of resumes per week.
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Your Work Habits and Style Questions |
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Emphasize your skills, and don't be overly negative about your weaknesses. It's always safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a shortcoming.
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Salary Negotiation Basics |
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Many people see negotiation as a process of each party trying to get the most for what they have to give. And that's a reasonable way to look at it when you're buying or selling a car, a computer, or a carpet. It's tempting to look at job negotiations in the same way—but not advisable.
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What Not to Say in an Interview |
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An interview can be incredibly stressful: You often have only a few minutes to show an interviewer how capable, confident and intelligent you are.
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10-Second Cover Letters |
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Since the cover letter is what most hiring managers and HR people read first, yours should make the most impact in the shortest time. I submit that you have less than 10 seconds in which to make your reader want to put down your cover letter, pick up the phone and call you for a job interview.
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How to Seize Control of Your Next Interview |
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You squirm in your chair, trying to get comfortable. You try to swallow, but your mouth feels as if it's been chalked. You reach around to itch your back and your starched white shirt feels like it was dipped in a swamp. You're torn between collapsing in tears and making a mad dash for the bathroom.
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Thank You Letters—How to Do Them Right |
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What's the general etiquette on "thank you" letters after first-round interviews? E-mail okay? Do they have to be snail mailed? How should they be tailored? I don't know the first thing about them, and I have interviews coming up!
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Why Skimping on Recruitment Efforts Will Cost You |
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In the current economic climate, many businesses assume it should be relatively easy to fill a finance position. After all there are fewer jobs available and more people competing for those jobs—unemployment hit 6% in April 2002 and layoff numbers remain high.
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When and How to Discuss Salary During an Interview |
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It happens in almost every job interview. Your potential employer looks you straight in the eye and asks the question that gets you squirming in your seat: "What kind of salary are you looking for?"
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Getting the Big Picture on Your Career |
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There are few jobs that take advantage of your complete inventory of skills and interests. If your current job does not allow you to flex all your muscles, find another outlet. Take a class, volunteer for an organization or start a home-based business that will capitalize on strengths that are underutilized by your current employer.
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Quantifying Your Experience and Accomplishments |
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How have you helped increase sale? Explain in some detail, citing figures and specific examples.
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Common Job Search Misconceptions |
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Contrary to what you may think as you mop the sweat from your brow while contemplating your upcoming interviews, the recruiter who'll be sitting across the table from you wasn't born in a pinstriped suit with the keys to a Beamer in one hand and a Palm Pilot in the other.
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Creating A Powerful Resume |
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Albert Einstein once said- "He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice."
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Managing During Uncertain Times |
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It probably began as a rumor. An employee is enjoying lunch with a co-worker when she hears her friend utter the most feared words in the business world.
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An Introduction to Case Interviews |
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The case interviewing style is particularly common among management consulting firms, law firms, counseling and social work organizations, police departments, and other organizations that place a premium on understanding your thought process. Most likely, the case will be the final part of a screening or hiring manager interview.
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Acceptance Letters |
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Before accepting a job offer you should always ask for a written confirmation that expressly outlines the terms of your employment. Information that should be included is your start date, job title, salary and other incentive programs you may eligible for, benefits and who you will be reporting to. Not all employers voluntarily provide such letters but it is better in the long run for you to be persistent in asking for one. It could help prevent problems down the road.
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Why I Don’t Like Lists of Telecommuting Companies |
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In my research for telecommuting jobs, I’ve encountered several sources that provide lists of companies that offer telecommuting. I have to be truthful; when I see these lists I get hives.
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Long Resumes |
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I hate long resumes, meaning any resume over 2 pages long. If a candidate cannot adequately communicate the information in 2 pages or less, there is a problem. Situations that usually contribute to long resumes are; too many jobs; a career that is not focused, an inability to be concise, written communication problems, or something similar.
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New and Emerging Occupations |
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The collapse of Enron caught most of the American public (and even many experts) off guard. How could so much fraud have happened right under our noses?
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Common Job Search Misconceptions |
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Contrary to what you may think as you mop the sweat from your brow while contemplating your upcoming interviews, the recruiter who'll be sitting across the table from you wasn't born in a pinstriped suit with the keys to a Beamer in one hand and a Palm Pilot in the other.
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Case Interview Cheat Sheet |
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If you're applying for a job at a consulting firm, chances are you'll be confronted at least once with the dreaded case interview. In it, you'll be asked to analyze a hypothetical business problem and come up with solutions.
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Resumes Written in the 1st or 3rd Person |
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A resume should not be written in the first person. A resume is a marketing piece and business correspondence. No recruiter or future employer wants to read a resume full of "I did this and I did that..." Furthermore, writing a resume in the first person often leads to it becoming too verbose.
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Why I Don’t Like Lists of Telecommuting Companies |
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In my research for telecommuting jobs, I’ve encountered several sources that provide lists of companies that offer telecommuting. I have to be truthful; when I see these lists I get hives.
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Tell Me About a Time When… |
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As soon as you hear the words, "Tell me about a time when…," you should be aware that your interviewer is probably using a behavioral interviewing technique. This technique uses your past experiences and behaviors as an indicator of your future success. In other words, if you can demonstrate through examples that you accomplished something before, there is a tendency for the interviewer to believe you may do it again.
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How to Turn Down a Job Offer with Class |
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I have recently received a few job offers and have made a decision, after many careful considerations. What is the most appropriate way of turning down the other offers? E-mail, phone, snail mail?
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Cover Letter Strategies |
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In a nutshell, your cover letter should say, "I'm the right person for the job. I have unique skills and experience that will help your company right away. I hope you're as excited about this as I am." The accompanying résumé should then prove your case.
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Ten Questions You Should Never be Asked in an Interview |
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There are numerous state and federal antidiscrimination laws designed to assure that employers hire based upon skill, rather than stereotypes. Therefore, there are some things an interviewer isn't allowed to ask. How do you know what’s fair game? Here are some questions that should raise red flags.
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Personality Plus |
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On the surface this appears to be a straightforward question, but if you answer too hastily, you may end up sounding like every other candidate. You must think about what makes you unique, and how you can make yourself stand out and be remembered.
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Telecommuting Wrong & Telecommuting Right |
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Telecommuting is extremely popular ... on paper. Businesses large and small relish the promise of reduced costs, improved productivity and increased retention, but when it comes to cutting the corporate cord and sending workers home, many begin to lose their nerve.
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How to Negotiate a Change from Full Time to Flextime |
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Developments in computing and communication have made it easier than ever to plug into the office from home. If you've got skills your employer needs, chances are you can negotiate a flexible job that enables you to work the way you want.
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When and How to Discuss Salary During an Interview |
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It happens in almost every job interview. Your potential employer looks you straight in the eye and asks the question that gets you squirming in your seat: "What kind of salary are you looking for?" It takes finesse and negotiating know-how to get the best possible pay and perks. You can learn how to navigate the rocky waters of talking about salary during an interview with the ensuing tips from experts.
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What Not to Say in an Interview |
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An interview can be incredibly stressful: You often have only a few minutes to show an interviewer how capable, confident and intelligent you are.
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3 Job Search Mistakes To Avoid |
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Is your job search going nowhere? You can blame the economy or the summer hiring slump. You'll have lots of company if you do. Or ... you can look to yourself. Are you secretly sabotaging your job search?
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Resumes for Career Switchers |
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So you’ve finally decided to leave your accounting job to sell waterfront property. Or maybe you’re an institutional investor with a yen for website design. How can you tailor your resume for a career change?
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Under the Radar: The One-Week Job Search |
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That's the typical job seeker. There's a better way to land a job. I call it the One-Week Job Search. Yes, it's a demanding week, but afterwards, you may be able to sit back and watch the interview requests roll in.
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The Hire Seven or Why a Resume? |
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To market yourself to prospective employers. An effective resume works like advertising copy. Think of your resume as your personal brochure and one you can live up to. You don’t have to make “hard sell or make any false claims, but you do have to get over your modesty and toot your own horn a little bit. If you don’t, who will?
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The Value of a Good Recruiter |
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Admittedly, in the past, I've been a staunch critic of the majority of recruiting practices at work today. Thanks in part to the .com boom in the late 90's, recruiting became one of the fastest growing industries. Now, with a steady unemployment rate, the future of recruiting is a big question mark.
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How to Write Letters for Informational Interviews |
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When it comes to gaining access to job opportunities, consider approach letters, since these, together with approach phone calls, are a good way to get your foot in the door.
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The Value of a Good Recruiter |
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Admittedly, in the past, I've been a staunch critic of the majority of recruiting practices at work today. Thanks in part to the .com boom in the late 90's, recruiting became one of the fastest growing industries. Now, with a steady unemployment rate, the future of recruiting is a big question mark.
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Technology Improves the Job Search. |
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When it comes to recent advancements in recruitment, the facts are clear: technology has fundamentally changed the job search process. E-mail and the Internet have created new information highways, providing faster, more direct paths for pursuing career opportunities.
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Under the Radar: The One-Week Job Search |
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Creating a resume is a few-hour not a few-week activity. ResumeMaker 10.0 ($39.95) software makes it easy. It has hundreds of model resumes. Pick one that's most like the one you'd like to create. Plug in your information, inspired by what you saw in the model resume(s). Focus on accomplishments, not just duties. Show a draft to a respected person or two.
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Escape the Pitfalls |
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It begins even before you say your first word in an interview. By the time the interviewer walks toward you, an opinion is already being formed. There you sit waiting to spew out your answers to questions you've prepared for, while you are already being judged by your appearance, posture, smile or nervous look.
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Negotiating A Better Job Offer |
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While everyone wants a handsome salary, almost nobody wants to discuss that salary before being hired. Few questions inspire as much dread among job seekers as: "So, what kind of salary are you looking for?"
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Interview Essentials |
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Companies want to hire competent, successful, articulate executives, yet the very first encounter between the candidate and the company often places the candidate in a particularly stressful and uncomfortable situation: The interview.
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Your Career Goals Questions |
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If you could start your career again, what would you do differently?
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Mentors: The Key to Your Success |
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Having a mentor is a crucial key to success—one that many women in today’s workforce simply do not have. And it’s no surprise. With only six women at the helm of Fortune 500 companies, less than 13 percent of the corporate officer ranks made up of women, and the time pressures all working women confront, finding a mentor may seem next to impossible.
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15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes |
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The thought of writing a resume intimidates almost anyone. It's difficult to know where to start or what to include. It can seem like an insurmountable task. Here are 15 tips to help you not only tackle the task, but also write a winning resume.
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Deliver A Perfect e-Resume |
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How do you create an e-mail resume that will win interviews and influence recruiters? To get started, follow these rules:
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Resumes for Career Switchers |
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So you’ve finally decided to leave your accounting job to sell waterfront property. Or maybe you’re an institutional investor with a yen for website design. How can you tailor your resume for a career change?
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Comparing Salary Packages |
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Comparing compensation packages has become increasingly difficult over recent years because of the different options available. There are more pieces to the puzzle with all the vesting schedules for stock options, perks, etc., and the trickiest part of salary negotiation is comparing the new offer with what you are currently receiving.
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Escape the Pitfalls |
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It begins even before you say your first word in an interview. By the time the interviewer walks toward you, an opinion is already being formed. There you sit waiting to spew out your answers to questions you've prepared for, while you are already being judged by your appearance, posture, smile or nervous look.
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Unemployment & the Recruiting Industry |
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The US government reported that the unemployment rate rose to its highest levels in nearly four years. The rate rose to 4.9 percent from the 4.5 percent reported in July. While the employment rate is high, in some industries, there were jobs actually added to companies.
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Candidates Who Apply to Positions They are Unqualified For |
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In order to gain experience in an area, you need to start out somewhere, and recruiters understand this. However, recruiters are buried up to their eyeballs in resumes. Recruiters do not have time to sort through hundreds of resumes that are in no way a match for the requirements they are trying to fill.
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Your Work Habits and Style Questions |
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Emphasize your skills, and don't be overly negative about your weaknesses. It's always safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a shortcoming.
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Dressing for Success in Interviews |
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Chances are, you already know the conventional wisdom when it comes to dressing for interviews. Wear a suit, right? While following that advice is unlikely to get you disqualified from any job, the more pre-interview research you do, the better your chances of looking the part.
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Interviews: Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths |
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Sometimes, interviewers will pelt you with questions that require you to analyze your weaker traits. The types of questions you are likely to encounter in this style of interviewing include:
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The 2-Minute Drill |
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According to one UCLA study, people evaluate one another using the Three V's: visual (appearance), vocal (voice) and verbal (what you say). About 93 percent of a person's communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal communication.
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Extending a Counteroffer |
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Congratulations! You’ve made it through the interview and the company has made an offer. If you’ve done your research, you already know if the package is fair or if you’d like more. Unless you’re satisfied with the offer as is, the negotiations begin here.
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Personality Questions |
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Balanced is a good word to use, but remember the type of company you are interviewing at. Some companies may want someone who is aggressive and a go-getter.
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Tips on Using Recruiters |
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Along with being comfortable and confident in the abilities of the recruiter of your choice, there are some things that a recruiter will do and questions they'll ask that you need to be aware of.
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Choosing a Recruiter |
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As a job seeker, chances are you will work with a recruiter at one time or another during your search. The function of the recruiter is to market your skills and promote your work history to their client companies. A recruiter works with you, but not for you.
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Ten Questions You Should Never be Asked in an Interview |
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There are numerous state and federal antidiscrimination laws designed to assure that employers hire based upon skill, rather than stereotypes. Therefore, there are some things an interviewer isn't allowed to ask. How do you know what’s fair game? Here are some questions that should raise red flags.
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How to Answer Resume-Based Questions |
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Recruiters love to ask all candidates, from undergraduates to mid-career, about their resume. These questions give an interviewer a chance to dig a little deeper into your background and at the same time test your critical thinking abilities. The questions also give you a chance to show the interviewer your confidence, competence, and enthusiasm about a project or job you really understand.
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Employer or Industry Information Not Included |
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People often try to write a resume so generic that a reader has no idea what industry the candidate comes from. Did they manufacture fertilizer, package cow chips, cook and distribute potato chips or assemble computer chips?
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Thank You Letters—How to Do Them Right |
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What's the general etiquette on "thank you" letters after first-round interviews? E-mail okay? Do they have to be snail mailed? How should they be tailored? I don't know the first thing about them, and I have interviews coming up!
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Know Your Worth |
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Network, network, network. Talk to other people who have the same position as you do now - in person and at online discussion boards. Find out what their responsibilities are. Do you have skills they don't? Find out whom to talk to next.
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Tips on Using Recruiters |
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Along with being comfortable and confident in the abilities of the recruiter of your choice, there are some things that a recruiter will do and questions they'll ask that you need to be aware of.
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Lying or Misleading Information |
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We all know the temptation is there to beef up your background by stretching the truth here and there to land that job.
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Burn Your Resume, Build a Resume Portfolio |
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You might want to consider burning your resume, but that might be a little extreme. You could set your house on fire! But I do want you to stop thinking in terms of the traditional one- or two-page resume. I know virtually every book on resume writing and almost every career counselor and recruiter across the country will tell you to write the traditional one- or two-page resume.
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Salary Negotiation Basics |
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Many people see negotiation as a process of each party trying to get the most for what they have to give. And that's a reasonable way to look at it when you're buying or selling a car, a computer, or a carpet. It's tempting to look at job negotiations in the same way—but not advisable.
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Pre-Interview Research |
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Before going on an interview, you need to know as much as possible about the company. How secure is the company, and the position you're considering? Does the company have a good business model?
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RecruitersIndia Network - A Global Portal for recruiting needs for India. |
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The explosive growth of the Web has resulted in thousands of job boards … millions of resumes … a dizzying array of online recruiting options. Yet this apparently successful leap into digital recruiting has left too many recruiters scratching their heads trying to sort it all out.
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How to Negotiate a Change from Full Time to Flextime |
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Developments in computing and communication have made it easier than ever to plug into the office from home. If you've got skills your employer needs, chances are you can negotiate a flexible job that enables you to work the way you want.
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Avoiding Work-at-Home Scams |
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"There are very few legitimate [work-at-home] opportunities available," says Beverley Williams, President and Founder of the American Association of Home-Based Businesses.
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Thank You Letter Checklist |
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Every piece of communication between you and the hiring manager or recruiter is an opportunity to sell yourself and give you an edge over the other candidates. Did you know that less than 10% of applicants follow-up interviews with thank you letters?
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Laid Off: How to Make Losing Your Job a Winning Venture |
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The turbulent winds of a stormy job market are here, and if the winds should blow in your direction, there is a way to handle things. Nobody likes drastic change when it comes to careers. Americans, on average, spend 70% of their waking hours, Monday through Friday, on work-related activities. That being said, to change your job is a lifestyle change. As Americans, we make our careers a part of our lives. For some a job is a status symbol distinguishing oneself in society. How quickly in meeting does a new person ask, "What do you do?" Pretty quickly.
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Objectives or Meaningless Introductions |
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A general objective is a good way to have your resume tossed out immediately. A candidate who states they want to be with a great company who values its employees... well, guess what? Everyone wants that!!”
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Getting a Promotion to Get a Raise |
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When people are hired for a position, the pay they receive coincides with the rates and experience of the employee. Raises are done on a percentage scale based on performance. Inevitably, this can result in newer employees getting hired at a higher rate than one who has been with the company for several years.
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Behavioral Interviews and the Career Changer |
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Behavioral interviewing is designed to elicit information from a job candidate about relevant past behavior and performance. The theory is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. The interviewer will ask you to discuss your past experiences in an attempt to assess your proficiency in one or more job-related competencies.
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Ask Your Way into a Better Job |
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You can't really tell how good a job is from a want ad. There's often a gap between the exciting opportunity portrayed in the ad and the actual job.
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Ace Your Audition Interview |
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Some employers realize that it is difficult to obtain a full picture of someone's capabilities and behavior in a normal interview. They may, instead, devise a simulation or put you in the real-life role before making a final decision.
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Helping Employees Find the Right Balance |
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Clearly, finding a balance between one’s work and personal life is important to workers today for a myriad of reasons. Whether they are new parents, students, caretakers for elder relatives or have simply reached a point in their lives where they are financially stable
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Salary Questions |
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Answer with a question, e.g., "What is the salary range for similar jobs in your company?" If the interviewer doesn't answer, then give a range of what you understand you are worth in the marketplace. Check out Monster.com's Salary Center.
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Gaps in Employment. How to Explain it? |
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Employers are probably going to be a bit more understanding than in the past regarding gaps of employment because of all of the corporate layoffs, reductions, etc.
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Staying Networked |
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In this tough job market, no one has to tell you how important it is to network. If you don’t know that, you are either independently wealthy and don’t ever need to work, or you’ve been hiding under a rock for the bulk of your career.
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Bringing Your Career in Line with Your Personal Priorities |
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Do you feel fulfilled with the career path you're currently on? Are you happy, or at least content, with how your life—both personal and professional—is shaping up? If the answer is no, then it's time to make a life plan that includes identifying your priorities and developing goals that match those priorities.
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Experience and Management Questions |
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Strong companies need strong people. A growing, energetic company is rarely unable to use its employees' talents. Emphasize your interest in a long-term association, pointing out that the employer will get a faster return on investment because you have more experience than required.
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How to Leave a Job with Class Once You Know It's Over |
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What do you do when your current job or career becomes a nightmare? Your crystal ball sees another round of downsizing around the corner? Or you're offered your dream job at twice the salary?
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Preparing for a Potential Layoff |
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Your coworkers appear to be nervous. The atmosphere in your office is getting tense. You can smell it in the air: Layoffs are coming.The easiest way to shake the fear that your job is at risk? Be prepared for the worst.
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Prepare for the Top 10 Interview Questions |
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Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.
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The Hire Seven or Why a Resume? |
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To market yourself to prospective employers. An effective resume works like advertising copy. Think of your resume as your personal brochure and one you can live up to. You don’t have to make “hard sell or make any false claims, but you do have to get over your modesty and toot your own horn a little bit. If you don’t, who will?
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De-Mystifying Cover Letter Confusion |
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Practically all professionals realize the value in having an outstanding resume, knowing full well how important this piece of paper is for a successful a job search. Assured that their resumes are powerful, some job seekers ease up on their cover letters when it comes to preparing these essential documents.
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Avoiding Work-at-Home Scams |
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"There are very few legitimate [work-at-home] opportunities available," says Beverley Williams, President and Founder of the American Association of Home-Based Businesses.
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Dressing for Success in Interviews |
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Chances are, you already know the conventional wisdom when it comes to dressing for interviews. Wear a suit, right? While following that advice is unlikely to get you disqualified from any job, the more pre-interview research you do, the better your chances of looking the part.
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Mentors: The Key to Your Success |
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Having a mentor is a crucial key to success—one that many women in today’s workforce simply do not have. And it’s no surprise. With only six women at the helm of Fortune 500 companies, less than 13 percent of the corporate officer ranks made up of women, and the time pressures all working women confront, finding a mentor may seem next to impossible.
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Telephone Interviews |
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More and more companies are relying on telephone interviews in their recruiting and hiring decisions. Just like any other interview, the better you are prepared, the better the phone interview will be. A good telephone interview can give you an advantage prior to meeting a potential employer.
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Staying Networked |
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In this tough job market, no one has to tell you how important it is to network. If you don’t know that, you are either independently wealthy and don’t ever need to work, or you’ve been hiding under a rock for the bulk of your career.
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The Internet Resume |
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The resume that grabs the attention of employers and recruiters today goes far beyond qualified skills and accomplishments. Before being forwarded to the hiring manager for review, resumes are often uploaded from e-mail and electronic forms and scanned into a resume database.
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How to E-mail Your Cover Letter |
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Please tell people that just because they're sending resumes by email doesn't mean they can get away with a poor cover letter, or no cover letter at all
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Handling a Gap in Your Work History |
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No matter how hardworking and responsible you are, it's possible that you'll find yourself out of work for a significant period of time at some point in your life. The trick is to keep this sabbatical from hurting your long-term career.
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Acing an Out-of-State Interview |
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Tom Lawler earned an MBA in Human Resources nearly 4 years ago. He felt his career was progressing nicely because he was holding down a HR Management position, he was teaching business management courses at his local community college, and he was an established free-lance writer; but something was missing from his life.
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