Reaching Your Interviewer on a Personal Basis

Ken Sundheim, CEO of KAS Placement Recruitment

As a job seeker or any business professional, a great deal of your success relies on how effectively you can deal with others.  There is more to interviewing than simply answering job related questions.

The most effective meetings occur when the two parties reach each other on a personal basis and, when done the cohesion creates a stir of positive energy in the room which is going to increase performance, heighten perceived intelligence and make the meeting enjoyable. Continue Reading

Become the Solution To The Job Interviewer’s Problem

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

The absolute worst way to go to an interview is with the attitude of: “Please, please – hire me.”

When you go to an interview with that attitude you appear desperate. And even though you actually may be desperate in a difficult job market, you don’t want to appear that way.

The demeanor and attitude that you bring to the interview will set the tone for the entire interview.

Let’s look at it from the employer’s/interviewer’s point of view. Continue Reading

Think Like An Interviewer: Reminders For Recent College Graduates

Are you a recent college graduate who has just earned a job interview?  You may think you’re ready to ace the interview, but there are some tips you don’t want to forget when preparing for the big day.

The following is a guest post by Patricia Garza. No matter how extroverted and confident in your abilities you are, interviews probably still make you feel uneasy. Most recent college graduates (and job seekers in general) dread going to interviews. Having to wow an interviewer is undeniably nerve-wracking. One interview mistake can often, but not always, cost you the

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Think Like An Interviewer: Reminders For Recent College Graduates

7 Words That Make Your Resume Irresistible

Recent graduates, do you want to know which words employers are looking for on your resume?  Take a look at the following post to find out.

A great resume’s ingredients

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7 Words That Make Your Resume Irresistible

Returning to a Previous Employer

Every once in a while, you may do something you said you would not do: return to an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, dive in the deep end of a swimming pool, or maybe eat frog legs. But for some, doing something they said they would not do falls into the realm of returning to an employer after leaving many years ago.
If you’ve thought about returning to a former employer, it’s definitely not the end of the world. In fact, it could be the beginning of a new one. So if you’re serious about boomeranging back to a former employer, here are some tips to consider before doing so…
Remember the Contributions You Made
The thought of returning to a company that you once worked for can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. On one end, you may be excited about the prospect of returning to an environment that was once very familiar to you. But on the other end, maybe thinking about what employees and managers thought about you leaving the company in the first place. You may also be thinking about how the environment you once knew so well may have changed since you left.
A good way to feel more comfortable about the pursuit of your return is by thinking of the contributions you made while there. If you left the company in good standing then it is likely that the company will be more than willing to welcome a knowledgeable and reliable employee back with open arms – even if you’re now coming into a different position. They will likely have more faith in your abilities than a stranger’s, which actually puts you in a better position than most others up for the same position. So if you’re a little nervous, remind yourself of these contributions to help build your confidence.
Sell Your Knowledge of the Company’s Culture
Another area of comfort that you can carry with you when looking to return to a previous employer is knowledge of the company’s culture, mission, and what it values. This is a big deal since every company can be vastly different – and it takes time to get comfortable in a new one. Because you already understand how the company works, and what is expected of all employees, you have a better shot of sliding past your competition.
As for selling this point to the company, you can do it both in your cover letter and interview. If you are facing a recruiter who has entered the company since you’ve left, selling your knowledge will be especially important. Think about it; unless you were a dynamo, the recruiter will not likely be familiar with what you contributed. But that’s okay; this is where you can explain that catching up will be like riding a bike. Essentially, all you’ll need to do is learn new skills and begin to apply them.
Returning to a former employer can definitely bring with it great rewards. If you decide to return, take it as a positive experience. By rekindling old friendships and building new ones, you can make the return a great experience for everyone involved.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

How to Manage Salary Negotiations

Whether you’re looking for a new job or trying to make financial gains at the one you’re at, you may find that at some point you’ll need to make a salary negotiation. But how can you do it if you never have before?
It’s not as difficult as you may think. In fact, in many ways it can be similar to any other business transaction. So if you’ve been thinking that it’s time to get a raise, or ask for a specific salary with a new job, take a look at some ways to get it done.
Approaching the Employer
Probably one of the most challenging prospects of negotiating your salary is deciding how to approach an employer. It can feel very intimidating to tell a company how much you want them to pay you. But this task is easier if you keep in mind that you’re simply expressing your desire to be paid based on your skills and ability to perform.
So when is the right time to make the approach? If you’re in the process of accepting a new position, then the right time is when you reach that point in the conversation. However, if you’re looking to ask for a raise with your current employer, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve explored the reasons that you feel it’s time to increase your pay (years employed, responsibilities fulfilled, etc.). When you’re ready to approach your boss you can simply ask for a meeting to discuss your salary. Then openly and honestly discuss the reason you feel it’s time to increase your pay.

How Much to Ask For
The amount you should ask for will vary widely based on your field and the position you’re in/seeking. This means it will be important for you to conduct some research to determine how much individuals with your level of education/experience in the position you’re in/seeking are typically paid.
Also, the city you live in can make a difference. For instance, someone living in New York City might expect to make much more working as a Human Resources Recruiter than someone living in Nashville, Tennessee. There are a number of books and websites that can help you get an idea of what you might want to ask for within the parameters of your specific circumstances. So be sure to conduct your research to make sure you’re not asking for too much or too little.
What Else You Need to Know
If you find that the salary you hoped for is not agreed upon, you don’t have to give up hope. There are other factors like healthcare benefits, additional vacation days and bonuses that you may be able to adjust to create a financial equivalent. But if you are surprised with an offer that equals or surpasses what you planned to ask for, don’t be afraid to still negotiate. You may find that you may be able to sweeten the pot even more.
Engaging in salary negotiations can seem like a fierce battle, but they typically are not. If you go in with an idea of what you want to make and the reasons why, you will most likely come out making more than you thought you would.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Writing Your Resume Objective

You’ve probably heard a million times that employers only spend 30 seconds looking at your resume. Help get their attention by writing a targeted objective.
Know as a career objective or professional objective, this section of your resume comes right after your personal contact information. It’s one of the first things an employer sees. So, if you write an objective that shows a clear link between the job and your skills, you’ll help employers see you as a viable candidate.
Your career objective should state your desired position and the employers’ needs. It should include job- and skill-related “action verbs”. It should also include the kind of employer you seek and the skills you want to apply.
Don’t say what you want to gain from the employer or the position. You want to keep the employer focused on what you can do for them.
Below, you can read some sample objectives:

• Research responsibility in the software architecture area of a growing financial services software company.
• Entry-level management information systems position requiring skill in systems analysis, design and research.
• Marketing assistant in the product marketing area of a large consumer goods company seeking a team player with attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Make sure your objective matches what you say in your resume. Try to customize your resume for every job.
BCjobs.ca brings jobseekers and recruiters accurate, timely information about the world of work.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Entry Level Job Placement From a Recruiter’s Point of View

Two recruiters from Todays Office Professionals, Sean Rice, district manager in Dallas, TX; and Kenneth Davis, account manager in Alpharetta, GA gave insight to all the things recruiters have to consider when working with entry level job seekers.
1. What is the recruiter’s responsibility to the candidate?
Sean Rice: A recruiter is responsible for assisting candidates in making successful, well-suited job placements. In order to successfully place a candidate on a job order, a recruiter must know how to listen and they need to ask the right questions of their candidates. I believe that recruiters need to establish a trusting relationship with their candidate in order to receive honest information in return. The candidate needs to feel confident in their recruiter, as they are relying on that individual to assist them is finding a job.
Kenneth Davis: I feel that the recruiter’s responsibility to the candidate is to always be honest. I always put myself in the candidate’s shoes and think of the information that I would like to know if meeting with a staffing company, especially if this is the candidate’s first time signing up with a staffing company. It is important to always deliver 100% customer/quality service.

• Always be up front about the positions that are available (whether they are temporary, temp to hire or direct hire)
• Discuss the hiring process in detail
• I explain the benefits of working for a staffing company such as Todays Office Professionals (what makes us stand out from other companies)
• I really feel that it is important to make sure that the candidate not only has a pleasant experience when coming in for their appointment, but that they leave with all the necessary information they need. By doing this will make the candidate not venture off to another staffing company

2. What should a candidate do if a recruiter isn’t serving his/her best interests?
SR: A candidate should communicate effectively with his or her recruiter if they feel that they are not being assisted properly or that their best interest is not being served. It is essential that the candidate be completely honest with the recruiter as to what their expectations of the recruiter are and make certain that all lines of communication are always open. In order for a successful placement to be made, both a candidate and the recruiter need to be on the same page.
KD: I think that the candidate should bring this issue to the recruiter’s attention in a professional manner because the recruiter may not even be aware that the candidate is not happy with the service.
3. What is the recruiter’s responsibility to employers?
SR: It is the recruiter’s responsibility to do their best to find the appropriate candidates to fill their clients’ orders. Recruiters are responsible for listening to and observing all of the important details of their clients’ needs in order to ensure that they can make a successful match between client and candidate. A recruiter should always make certain that they have a clear understanding of a job description before they present a candidate. They need to be sure to apply thorough follow up and quality assurance checks to the employer.
KD: Outside of delivering 100% customer/quality service, I think that as recruiters we need to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that the client is serviced (“The Todays Way”, which entails weekly quality checks, customer visits etc.)
Always make sure when filling a new order that the client is always aware of the pricing, company policies, benefits (vacation pay, holiday pay etc..). If I am working with a new client, I always set up an appointment to view the facility. This helps me to place the most qualified candidate in the client company’s culture and allows me to better describe the work environment to potential candidates.
4. To the recruiting agency?
SR: A recruiter needs to make certain that the employees they hire are individuals that will represent both the agency and their clients. They need to make certain that they are hiring quality candidates that have the skill sets they can place and sell to customers. The recruiter needs to make certain that they are checking all proper employee identification and that reference checks are being completed to agency standards.
KD: The responsibility a recruiter has to the staffing company they are working for is commitment. It is important for the recruiter to be totally committed to their company’s mission and follow the policies and procedures 100%, while giving both the candidate and client the absolute best quality/customer service.
Entry level job seekers have a lot to think about when deciding to enlist the aid of recruiters in their job searches. But it’s clear that recruiters, too, have a lot to consider before taking on new candidates or clients.

What is a Recruiter’s Responsibility to an Entry Level Job Seeker?

Sometimes entry level job seekers make the mistake of believing that they are their recruiters’ clients, but this is not the case. The employers, who pay some pretty healthy fees, are the clients. The job seekers are candidates, which is not to say that they aren’t important. On the contrary, the better recruiters are at providing employers with the best candidates, and vice versa, the greater their chances of attracting more employers and more high quality candidates.
Unfortunately, candidates and employers who seem like a good fit during the interview process end up not working out later on. When this happens, don’t blame the recruiter, says Tom Ruff, founder of the Tom Ruff Company, a company specializing in pharmaceutical sales recruiting. A recruiter only suggests what companies he thinks would be a good fit, it’s the candidate who makes the final choice. And if a candidate suspects that a recruiter isn’t serving his best interests, “find another recruiter,” Ruff says.
“Your job is the right job for you. These goals may not be aligned, so if a recruiter is trying to force you into the wrong job for you, find a new recruiter,” advises Dr. Rachelle J. Canter, president of RJC Associates. “And more important, don’t depend on recruiters as your primary job search strategy.”
“The recruiter’s loyalty is to the employer,” he explained. “The employer is the one paying the recruiter’s fee and if the recruiter doesn’t find candidates that match the client’s criteria, the recruiter doesn’t get paid. Period. It is in the recruiter’s best interest, however, to build strong relationships with the top candidates in their respective field. When the recruiter is contacted with a new job opening, a good recruiter will already have a pool of well qualified candidates that they can contact for the position.”
Canter agrees. “A recruiter’s responsibility to the client (the company with a vacancy) is to find the best candidate for the opening, or at least an appropriate candidate for the opening.” Their responsibility to their firm is to maximize placements so they generate money for the firm — and hopefully do so in an honest and professional fashion. And the recruiter’s responsibility to you, the job-seeker,,” she concluded, “is to present appropriate opportunities. But it is easy to think the recruiter is working for you and that his/her job is to find the best job for you. WRONG! You are the only one with the responsibility and the mission to find the best job for you, so do not delegate this responsibility to anyone else or you are apt to find yourself in the wrong job.”
Ruff concluded with some guidelines for working with recruiters that bear repeating:

• “Be careful and selective about choosing recruiters to whom you will send your resume.
• Meet face-to-face.
• Ask the recruiter to secure permission from you before presenting your resume to any company.
• Ask for advice about each person you are interviewing with.
• Follow the recruiter’s advice about preparing for an interview. Do what he or she says to do.
• Let the recruiter see your brag book and suggest ways to improve it.
• Follow up with the recruiter after each interview.
• Do what you say you are going to do.”

“Follow these guidelines,” Ruff said, “[and] you will greatly increase your chances of working successfully with a recruiter.”