Archive for July, 2008
July 30th, 2008
In order to be equipped for interviews in today’s working world, it is very important to do your research. Not only should you learn about the company and the position that you are applying for, but also your own experience and qualifications. Be prepared to discuss specific reasons why you would be an asset to the company, and provide examples of work-related accomplishments.
Tricks to help you: The 3 B’s and RELAX!
Be Prepared
Be Honest
Be Calm
R - Research
E - Experience
L – Lessons Learned – turn mistakes into a positive
A – Attitude – have a positive attitude
X– eXamples
Remember to smile!
July 28th, 2008
Sports, Weather, and Entertainment. These are among topics that are talked about on a daily basis in every workplace. While these can create good conversation (well, maybe not weather), few topics will spark a debate like Politics will.
As the Presidential election nears, political issues will undoubtedly be at the forefront of every media outlet (more than it already is). Obama-McCain, war, oil, economy, health care.
No matter your views on those issues, it is probably best to leave them at the door and have your voice heard in November.
July 24th, 2008
Have you heard the phrase or been sent an invitation and said “what on earth is this LinkedIn?” Well, I am here to tell you about it. LinkedIn is an online networking resource tool that people from all over the world can connect with.
First, to be able to connect you need to be a member- it’s free to join. Second, you need to have a purpose: job seekers-networking-professional-personal affiliations. Visit www.linkedin.com - (now don’t go look at that site until you finish reading this and post your opinion about LinkedIn). Do you have a profile up? If not, it doesn’t take that long to do it. It will be worth it if you know you will use it.
Once you have a LinkedIn account - there are a number of ways of inviting people to connect on LinkedIn. The follow is from LinkedIn Q & A page:
If you have specific contacts in mind: Invite one contact at a time by entering his or her name and email address into the Quick Invite Box on the home page.
To see which of your contacts are already LinkedIn and easily select multiple contacts to invite: Upload contacts from Outlook or upload a .csv file of your contacts into the Other Contacts section of your LinkedIn account. From there, you can see which of your contacts are already LinkedIn, select contacts and invite them to connect. *Note that these two methods require that you know the email address of each person you invite to connect.
To reconnect with colleagues or classmates who are already LinkedIn, use LinkedIn Colleague and Classmate Reconnect features:
Colleague Reconnect helps you connect with current and former colleagues who are already LinkedIn users. It searches for LinkedIn users who have worked at companies and at times that match those in your profile, then displays the results so you can decide which colleagues to invite.
Classmate Reconnect helps you find current and former classmates who are already LinkedIn users. It searches for classmates with educational experience in their profiles that matches yours, then displays the results so you can decide which classmates to invite.
LinkedIn is actually a neat tool to connect with people in similar professions, help solve problems in your working world, help with a job search, and connect with an old co-worker. Check it out!
July 22nd, 2008
The potential for employers to see your online accounts is very likely nowadays. The Internet is such a highly used resource in today’s technologically advanced world, and an employer could possibly look at your Myspace or Facebook account. Employers can use your online profile to do a little more research about who you are as a person.
In my opinion, these accounts really should be completely separate from work. These social media sites were designed as a tool for people to keep in touch with old friends or to stay hip to the new age way of communicating.
On the other hand, these online accounts should not be so inappropriate that a future employer could not look at them.
Just keep in mind, future or current employers could have access to look at your MySpace or Facebook accounts, and if there is something inappropriate for work, you should probably avoid putting it on your personal page.
July 18th, 2008
The summer is here and the weather we wake up to oftentimes has us wishing we could head to the pool or a golf course rather than work. Whether you enjoy taking time off of work in the summer months or if you prefer to plan your vacations to warm climates during the cold Rockford winters, there is a way to go about planning your time off.
Here are some tips to help you:
1) Plan in advance- You might think this goes without saying, but, you’d be surprised. Make sure you have the dates in place and you give your company proper notice. Typically, if you are taking extended time off (3 days or more) you will want to ask 3-4 weeks in advance. This will allow your employer to plan accordingly. If you are taking a day or two, usually a couple weeks notice is sufficient.
2) Be Sensitive to Your Company’s Schedule- When planning out your time off, be aware of any deadlines or busy periods your company may be going into. If possible, try to find out when your co-workers have their time off scheduled. Companies do not like having to deny time off, but there may be certain scenarios where it is difficult to grant extended time off to an employee. Careful planning should help alleviate this issue.
3) Spread out your days off- If you are fortunate to have enough time off to take a couple extended vacations, spread them out throughout the year. It is not in your best interest to ask for extended time off soon after you just had a vacation. If it is too soon after, it may not be possible for your employer to grant the time off and more than that, they might start to wonder if you are planning to leave the company and want to use all your days before your departure.
4) Be Professional- Always “ask” for permission for time off, rather than going in and telling your supervisor that you “need” the time off. Companies can be sensitive to an employee’s personal life and schedules, but going in with the attitude that “I’m taking the time off whether you grant it or not” is not a good approach.
Follow steps one and two the best you can. Even when unexpected events happen in your life that don’t allow much preparation for the time off, go about asking for it the right way, and more often than not, your employer will do what they can to approve your time off.
July 16th, 2008
I have been in Recruiting and Staffing in many facets for over 20 years. As I reflect back, I have met many people and been affected by their stories. I feel that while I can’t help everyone I meet, I have been able to help many people and have been blessed by getting to know them along the way. Believe it or not, candidates teach me a thing or two on a regular basis and that is what I love about Recruiting.
I have a very strong recollection of a candidate I was interviewing back in 1988. I recall it was a very, very hot summer. The company I was working for was near O’Hare airport and the traffic was horrible. I was always dealing with people for in-person interviews. Wilma, our Receptionist, called me and said one interviewee was 45 minutes early and one was 15 minutes late. I opted for the early candidate.
Her name was Rose, and she was a single mother from the south side of Chicago. She had no car, and took two forms of public transportation to get to the interview. And, she was 45 minutes early. She had a shopping bag that she kept by her feet during the whole interview. She had a beautiful phone voice (the position was for Customer Service). She did well in the interview and sold me on why she would be perfect for this job. Rose was someone who was so committed to getting to an interview early with many obstacles and she was more than qualified for the job. She was hired, did extremely well, and was there every day.
I found out later that the shopping bag held a change of clothing. She asked the Receptionist if she could use the restroom once she got there so she could be fresh for our interview. After all, she did travel for several hours. I have remembered Rose for all these years.
Tell us about your strongest workplace memory….
July 14th, 2008
We all know that work is not always fun, and we can’t have parties everyday to break up the monotony of the work day. We have to find ways to stay motivated in order to complete the tasks for the week. Here are just a few ideas on how to stay productive throughout the week and avoid the “Case of the Monday’s” or the “Middle of the Week Syndrome.”
Set CLEAR Goals.– If you are unsure of what tasks need to be completed, you will never be able to accomplish them. Prioritize, set a timeline, and go for it! If you need to readjust the timeline later, at least you have started somewhere!
Push your LIMITS. – Do not let yourself get comfortable. That is when things will become easy and boring, and you will lack the motivation to do anything else. Always push yourself to learn more, and continuously improve upon the skills you have!
Take PRIDE in your work. – It always helps to know that you are making a difference! Believing that what you are doing is being appreciated and recognized will provide the motivation needed to give you the drive to accomplish your goals!
Productivity. – Being productive means finding ways to make work easier, simpler, rewarding, and fun!
Add some SPICE to your Work LIFE.– Try inner office competitions to keep things fun. Have a Bagel Day, decorate the office with seasonal and holiday decor, and use your imagination!
July 9th, 2008
Network with previous employers from summer jobs or internships, classmates, and parents of friends and classmates. Do some connecting with local affiliations that are of interest to you or your field. A simple e-mail with your resume and a note attached will suffice- don’t be pushy. Have good follow up, but not to often. You do not want to become a pest.
In addition, open your search outside of the obvious box. Connect with a good Recruiter. You never know how they can help with your search or who they may know in order to assist you in your search.
Do you have any tips for the fresh talent in the job market?
July 7th, 2008
The common thread with fresh grads this year seems to be “There are not a lot of jobs out there.”
Well, there are a lot of jobs out there- you just have to keep trying.
Target companies that you are interested in-keep a watchful eye on their Web site in your last year of school. If they post all of their positions online, check for ones that your skills and degree match up with. Only apply if you meet at the very least 3 out of 5 requirements and explain why you should be considered in a cover letter.
Do not send resumes blindly to e-mail addresses just to get noticed. You will get noticed all right and you will annoy the person reviewing resumes. They will feel that you are not respectful of their process for applications. Make sure you follow directions on job applications and Web sites! If you cannot confirm to them that you are following directions at the time of application-how can prove that you would be a good employee?
July 3rd, 2008
When forming a resume, you want to make sure the details in the resume are highlighting the best characteristics and responsibilities about your past work experience. Resumes are the first impression that a company will develop about you, and it is important to establish a resume that portrays the most relevant information about the kind of person you are and how you would bring success to the company.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when developing a resume:
Poor Organization – When there is no clear focus or the resume in not organized properly, it will be difficult for a company to analyze the qualifications you have for the potential position.
Lack of Relevancy – List responsibilities and duties that best represent why you would be a great fit for the company. If your experience is not relevant to the position, you most likely would not be considered for the position.
Weak Presentation – If your resume does not have a “good appearance,” it could be passed over. Make sure to check for grammatical errors, misspellings, and typos. Make sure that the overall flow of the resume is presented in a professional manner. Remember, FIRST IMPRESSIONS are the key.
Exaggerating – BE HONEST! You will only get into trouble if you say you are qualified for something and you are not. Simply state the qualities you have that would make you the best person for the position.
Not Including the “Extracurricular Activities” – Involvement in extracurricular activities can tell a company a lot about a person, so don’t be afraid to include these on your resume.
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