Dress the Part

I remember when I first read “During your job search, dress professionally and be prepared to meet a prospective employer any time you leave your house.” I groaned as I thought to myself “you have got to be kidding me!”

 

But, you know what? I’m going to give you that same advice. Why? I am a relentless advocate of networking. And, if you’re going to be networking, you need to look the part.

 

You can relax a little bit. I am not suggesting you wear a business suit each time you walk out your front door. I am recommending, however…unless you are on your way to the gym. . .you dress in business casual attire, or at a minimum very nice casual attire, each time you are going to be out in the public eye.

 

Just think about it – how much credibility do you have if you need a shampoo (perhaps even a shower!), and/or you have on a t-shirt with questionable graphics, your best stylin’ jeans that are frayed and sporting a few holes and flip flops.

 

On the other hand, if I meet you and you are dressed in nicely pressed khakis and polo style shirt plus you demonstrate good communication skills and professionalism – I will be able to see myself talking to my friends and coworkers – even my supervisor -- about you.  

 

Networking really is the name of the game. Dress the part.

Telephone Etiquette

Telephone Etiquette During Your Job Search

Any introduction to an employer is important, whether face to face or by telephone. A few important things to remember regarding telephone etiquette follow.

Have a professional message on your home phone, cell phone and answering machine. Train anyone who might answer the phone for you (think roommates, kids. . .) to answer the phone politely, take a message and deliver the message to you immediately.

Be prepared to receive a call from an employer anytime you pick up a call. If you are in a noisy environment, or any situation that could compromise the quality of your conversation (for instance, you just woke up) let calls go to your voice mail. . .where the caller will hear that professional message we talked about earlier.

Return all phone calls promptly, or at least within 24 hours. If you don’t the prospective employer will assume you are no longer interested.

Good luck. Get a Job!

 

 

Research Prospective Employers

This is the second guest blog and is contributed by Kristy Laufer-Nelson, SPHR. Kristy is HR Generalist/Recruiter with Koch Supply & Trading, LP.

I remember my early years of job searching when I was so excited to get a job, I would go into an interview thinking about everything I needed to say and do to get that job. “What will they ask me?” “How should I respond?” “What do they want to hear?” As I grew in my career and experienced some very positive jobs and a few not-so-positive, I realized the not-so-positive jobs were a result of the culture of the organization and the management style of the person I reported to. I wonder if I would have chosen to work at those companies if I had known what it was REALLY like to work there before I accepted a job offer. What could I have done better to identify if the company was right for ME?

One thing I started doing after I had this realization was to ask better questions in interviews. I now ask questions such as: “How would you describe your leadership style?” “ Can you help me understand what some of the unwritten rules are in your culture?” “Why is this position open?” “Why did the last person leave?” “What is your turnover rate?” I also started asking for a tour of the company, so I can get a feel of what the environment is like. Are people smiling? Is it quiet? Is it loud? What is the mood? What are the working conditions? Are the people interviewing me approachable and friendly? Do they seem to  care? If I had done a better job of assessing if the company was right for ME, I may not have continued to pursue a few of the companies where I had a not-so-positive experience.

I encourage job seekers to do some research on the companies they are interviewing with. Ask around; get a feel of the company’s reputation. Also, you can do on-line research. One site I know of that provides overviews of companies, jobs available, salaries and even reviews from past and current employees is at http://www.glassdoor.com/Jobs/jobs.htm. Obviously, this information is tied to an individual person’s experience, but it could give you an idea of what you might face at the company.

Best wishes in your job search!

Kristy

 

 

 

Congratulations, Graduates

If you just graduated last weekend, congratulations! What a huge accomplishment. If you are a learner, here’s the good news. . .you can never stop learning. If you are really not into “stretching your mind” and thought you were through with that part of life with completion of your degree. . .probably not. Continued learning is essential to get jobs, keep jobs, advance in your field and stay marketable. Want some ideas of how to keep learning?

Find a mentor—a person who has experience and can answer your questions and give perspective on transitioning to the professional world, your career field, the company you work for—and lots more. 

Join professional associations. Actively participate. Take on leadership roles. Attend seminars and conferences. Attend networking events.

Read -- trade publications, news articles, books.

Listen—to the news, to other people, to your intuition.

Take more classes to gain additional knowledge and skill. Earn certifications in your field.

Bottom line: keep learning. You must. One of your peers told me to tell you. . .just yesterday.

Interviewing -- Soft Skills

GUEST BLOG

This is the first of what I hope to be several guest blogs and was contributed by Dacia Brown, Talent Recruiting Specialist with Emprise Bank.  Dacia graduated from WSU in May 2011 with a BS in Criminal Justice.

Let’s face it: most of us are not social extroverts. We all know the type- the individuals who have never met a stranger and feel comfortable in any new or awkward situation they get thrown into. In the time it takes you to introduce yourself to one person at a social gathering, this person has not only introduced themselves to two or three people; but has also learned the names of their new acquaintance’s children, grandchildren, grade-school best friend, and pet fish. These people have no shortage of friends, and probably know many of the key players in the professional community.

Chances are these “social butterflies” have no difficulty in job interviews. The social skills they display in their everyday lives are also being put to use when they go on an interview.  They show appropriate interest in their interviewer, have an open and friendly personality, and show confidence without coming off as arrogant.

Here’s an example. Candidate #1 and candidate #2 are up for the same position at the same company. Both candidates meet the qualifications for the position, have researched the company, and reviewed the key responsibilities of the job. Candidate #1 is called in from the waiting room and offers a split second of eye contact and a small smile. He or she offers a simple “fine” when asked how their day is going, and makes no attempt at returning the small talk. It may not be the case, but this candidate has given their interviewer the impression that instead of interviewing for their dream job, they would rather be on their couch eating a bag of chips and watching daytime TV.

Candidate #2 is called in next. Introductions are made, and the candidate immediately shows (appropriate) interest in their new “acquaintance”; asks them how their day is going, comments on the weather, etc. The tone of voice is positive and upbeat, and the recruiter is looking forward to spending the next hour (or more) of their day with them.

If scenario one seems familiar to you, small daily changes can be made to improve these skills. Goals can include introducing yourself to one new person a day, or just by making a regular habit of finding out something new about a current co-worker or friend.

Observe the social butterfly in your life next time you’re out together. When they’re meeting someone, they are leaning slightly forward, offering them a firm handshake, making eye contact, and giving a genuine smile. They’ve made their new contact want to get to know them. That should be your ultimate goal in your next interview. These soft skills are an integral part of the interview process and can make or break your chances of landing your dream job.

Dacia L. Brown, Talent Recruiting Specialist, Emprise Bank

 

Networking

Wasted Opportunities

Networking is probably the best job search tool you could use. It is through networking that you connect with someone who can help you connect with someone else who can help you connect with someone else. . . . ultimately resulting in you connecting with someone who can point you in the direction of a job.

It’s wise never to take contacts for granted. If someone you trust offers you the opportunity to talk with one of their associates or connections, appreciate that offer. Thank them graciously. Follow through. Above all, do not say you will talk with that person if in fact you have no intention of doing so.

One of the things about networking—and, in fact all of life, is you just never know who you are going to meet who can have a tremendous influence on you. Why would you not want to take advantage of that opportunity?

 “The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work.”

~ Robert Kiyosaki

Job Search

IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER A BRIDGE JOB?

Sometimes you do everything you can to find a job and none of it works. If you’re in that situation, you may want to consider a “bridge job”.  Bridge jobs are often perceived as a part-time or short term jobs following a full time career. For our purposes, a bridge job is just what it sounds like – a job to bridge where you are now to where you want to be in the future and can be either a full-time or part-time position.

Although frequently appealing to retirees, bridge jobs can actually meet the needs of any job seeker. 

Bridge jobs are a way for parents to stay in the workforce while taking time off to raise children. They can be valuable while pursuing education or training or while transitioning to a new career. A bridge job, providing connections to other people, is a great way to network—in addition to providing income.  

 Some examples of possible bridge jobs include:

Working for family or friends

Computer work from your home, which could include typing, bookkeeping, creative assignments

Other home based work: sales, personal services, organizing, home or yard maintainence

 

If you're discouraged with your job search, maybe it is time to consider a bridge job. Bridge jobs, as are other full time, part time, degreed and non-degreed jobs are posted on Hire-a-Shocker.