Always Be Job Hunting

How to boost your career prospects

Posted on October 9, 2015 by John N. Frank

Trying to find the ideal career is something that people spend years pursuing. And it can be difficult to know the best ways to go about getting a new career. Now, a lot of the time it can be very soul destroying applying for jobs. It might feel like you’re continually getting knocked back, and you may feel as though you’re hitting a brick wall.

And that’s why you need to have some techniques up your sleeve to help you. The idea is to try to boost your career prospects. You want to help yourself stand out from the crowd, and have a good chance of gaining employment. Continue reading →

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How to move into a new career

Posted on October 6, 2015 by John N. Frank

Are you bored of your current career? Want to move into a new one? Well, here’s how you can do it.

Research the Options

Research is one of the keys stages in the process when you’re looking to make a career move. You should think about what you can do and what you love, and how this can translate into a new career. This is a big step, so don’t rush it. People don’t tend to make many career changes in their life, so it’s important to spend time studying and researching the options, so you don’t make any mistakes. There are lots of websites that help you with skills matching; they should help you out a lot.

Consider Your Transferrable Skills

When you’re researching the options, it’s always best to research careers that you have the potential to do well at. That means thinking about the skills you already have and how they can be transferred to a new career. When you stop to think about it, you’ll probably be surprised at how many skills you already have. And those skills could form the basis of your next career. So, if your old job meant that you had to talk to people and communicate a lot, you could look for a job in communications. Continue reading →

Posted in career switch, job hunting | Tagged career changes, time to leave | 1 Comment

How to deal with the stress of unemployment

Posted on September 30, 2015 by John N. Frank

Make no mistake about it, losing a job and facing up to unemployment can be hugely stressful. It can lead to you losing your professional identity, confidence, routine and your sense of purpose. Not to mention the loss of money and the feeling you are letting down your loved ones. However, there are several ways to deal with the many stresses you could experience. Let’s take a look at some of those now.

Talk about it

There are plenty of reasons you might want to bottle up your feelings after you have lost your job. Perhaps you feel ashamed that you can’t provide for your family, or maybe you are struggling to come to terms with your current reality. The trouble is, when you keep everything inside, you run the risk of developing anxiety issues and depression. In a worst-case scenario, you could even suffer from suicidal thoughts. So, try and talk about how you are feeling with your family, friends, and even your therapist. It will help get everything out in the open, and give people a heads up if you are struggling.

Keep your head up

One of the most important aspects of being unemployed is to keep your head up and try and stay confident. It’s going to be tough, and there will be more difficult times ahead. But, the less confident you feel, the fewer jobs you will apply for and the fewer interviewers you will impress. Try and keep in mind all the things you have achieved in the past, no matter how small you think you are. You might not be able to dine out on your past successes, but they can certainly help your frame of mind.

Stay in touch

It’s a good idea to keep networking – even if you think that your career in a particular industry is over. Why? Well, the vast majority of job offers are made through word of mouth, and you never know what might turn up. A chance meeting here, a business networking there, even a talk in your local bar could lead to job opportunities. Try it out – it really could make a difference to your prospects.

Train up

If you have lost your job, you are going to have more time on your hands. So, why not fill that time by learning new skills? For example, let’s say that you have been in a manufacturing job at a relatively low level. You could go and do injection molding classes to give you an extra chance of getting another job in a similar industry. Combined with your previous experience, it might help give you the edge over the competition. Yes, it will cost you money – but if you have savings put aside, you should see it as an investment.

Maintain your balance

Finally, make sure that you still having some free time to do the things that you love. You might find that your hours are quickly filled with job applications and searching through ads in the paper. But, it’s important to keep your life balance intact. It will help you feel more normal, and spending quality time with your family might make you realise that work isn’t everything.

This post has been contributed and may contain affiliate links.

Posted in job hunting, unemployment | Tagged stress, unemployment | 1 Comment

How to answer the 15 most popular interview questions — a Guest Post

Posted on September 22, 2015 by John N. Frank

Even if the mere idea of a job interview makes you really nervous, with a little preparation you’ll be ready to face any questions asked by recruiters. Here’s a list of 15 most common job interview questions and how to respond to each of them to make a good impression.

1. Tell me about yourself.

A tricky classic. Say something not included in your resume – it’s like a short pitch of yourself and what makes you a desired employee.

2. Tell me about your education.

Talk about what you’ve learned, what projects you worked on and how it’s all relevant to the position.

3. How did you learn about the position?

If you’re here because of a reference, mention it. If you saw a posting, say why it caught your eye.

Interviews can be intimidating, so be prepared.

4. Why should we hire you?

Sell yourself to the recruiter by emphasizing your qualifications and passion for the job.

5. How do you work under stress?

Say how you handle stress – do you sweat it out in the gym or have killer prioritizing skills?

6. What is your desired salary?

Don’t guess, but go for an average – it’s no use being too modest or overly confident here.

7. What do you know about this company?

Mention the company’s mission, values and priorities and you’ll nail this question.

8. What are your strengths?

Be specific and relevant by always following up with examples which show those traits.

9. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Share your track record of previous achievements which are relevant to the position. If you’re freshly out of college, mention projects that were noteworthy and what they taught you.

10. What are your weaknesses?

Talk about something you’re struggling with and show how you plan to improve it. Don’t act like a perfect robot – that kind of attitude won’t impress anyone.

11. What type of environment do you prefer?

Before saying anything, try to learn whether the company provides the work environment you like. If it’s the case, just say the truth – this way you’ll make everyone’s life easier.

12. What are you looking for in a this position?

Be specific and state all professional goals that the position actually offers.

13. What are your goals for the future?

This is a question meant to check whether this position is in line with your career goals. If you’re sitting there, it probably is so just be honest and state your goals.

14. Have you got any questions for us?

This is when you can check whether the job is right for you – ask about specifics like your responsibilities, the number of teammates or the management style.

15. Why do you want this job?

Show your passion for the position, express your interest in the company’s activity and identify key factors that make you a perfect fit for the role.

Prepare for your interview by rehearsing your answers and you’ll surely make a great impression on recruiters.

Torri Myler is a human resources specialist at http://www.bankopening.co.uk/. She is very enthusiastic about using new media such as gamification for recruitment. She believes in the potential of the Internet and new technologies for professional and personal development.

Posted in interviews, job hunting | Tagged interviewing, job hunting, search tips | 3 Comments

Coping With job-search frustration: Maintain your sanity! — a Guest Post

Posted on September 22, 2015 by John N. Frank

There’s nothing like the job search process. Rigorous, tedious and demanding incessant effort, you can easily become extremely frustrated while chasing employers and maintaining an optimum level of efficiency.

It happens quite frequently that you send out a zillion job applications, get shortlisted in a few and then wait for weeks and months just to hear from the employer.
And there he or she sits, the hiring manager, pushing you away with more and more dates. Here are some tips to keep yourself sane and score a desirable job.

Start With Being Grateful
Frustration is often a matter of perspective. When you can finally look back on a job search, you might focus on all the places that didn’t answer your query or call you in for an interview. But that will only add to your frustration. So instead look at the multitude of other things you should be grateful for. Continue reading →

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Six skill teachers should emphasize when job-hunting

Posted on July 31, 2015 by John N. Frank

Being a teacher requires a blend of knowledge, experience and very specific skills. People tend to misinterpret the role of a teacher to be limited to that of giving lectures, showing movies and singing songs to children. Hence it could be thought that they don’t possess any specialized skills that could translate into the business world and other jobs.

But that’s far from true. Teachers possess a variety of skills that can hep them should they decide to transition to a new career. Specifically, they possess:

1. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Teaching involves lecturing, designing a syllabus, lesson plans, communicating and empathizing with students, their families and with the school administration. Hence teachers need to master the art of communication. When searching for a new job, a teacher should highlight the types of writing he or she has done that includes e-mails, class materials, lesson plans and presentations. Continue reading →

Posted in job hunting, Job search tips | Tagged job hunting, search tips | 3 Comments

How to research an employer before a job interview: a guest post

Posted on July 24, 2015 by John N. Frank

In today’s difficult economy and overcrowded job market, it’s already an achievement to get past the job interview phone screening. If you’ve been invited to a face to face interview at the employer headquarters, it’s your job to find out as much as you can about the company.

Facing recruiters will be easier when you’re well-aware of the company culture, goals and mission – you’ll simply make a better impression and boost your chances at getting hired.

Here are a few tips to help you research an employer before running off to your interview.

Screen the job posting

Take a step back for a moment to find the job posting you responded to. If it’s on a service like UK-based Gumtree, take some time to analyze its content – contrary to other job boards, here recruiters are free to write as many things as they want, often producing far more detailed job postings.

Read between the lines to see what the key skills and experiences that are valued by the employer are. After the company website and its career subpage, this is the best place to find out what kind of professional profile the employer is after.

Key company facts

To seem a viable potential employee, you should come in already aware of type of work you’ll be expected to do once hired. It’s good to have a general idea of who the company’s main clients are and what its key types of products or services are. It will help you situate yourself at the company, showing those parts of your experience that really matter.

Your best source for key company data is the employer’s website. Have a look at the company blog, case studies and white paper to gain a better idea about the employer’s accomplishments.

Recent events and news

Having the knowledge about the latest happenings at the company can only help you during the interview. You can usually find this kind of information on the company website, on a page dedicated to events and press releases. If something catches your eye, you can always check Google News.

Company culture

Company culture is a serious aspect to consider. If you’re able to confidently say that you’re a great fit, you’ll surely positively impress the recruiters – many of them believe that cultural fit is one of the most important qualities job seekers can exhibit during the interview.

Browsing through the company website, you’ll spot information about company culture, values and mission on the about page and other places. It’s a good idea to follow the company on social networks – this is where the culture is best exposed.

Insider knowledge

A good way to gain some insider knowledge is to check the company on websites that uncover company details, ranging from salaries to internal organization, reviews, employee functions and main responsibilities, as well as key details about the hiring process.

The interviewer

Find out who will be your interviewer and research them as well – it will improve your chances at connecting with them. If you cannot infer the person’s name from the email inviting you to the interview, reply and ask politely for the name of the person who’ll be interviewing you. Once you’ve got the name, turn to social networks to learn about this person, their position with the company, background and maybe some common interests you two share.

Researching the company properly before going to your interview is the single best way to ensure that you make an excellent repression and land the job.

Cindy Boesel is a marketing specialist with a huge interest in personal branding and UK startups. She works at BizStats.co.uk and is a great travel lover.

Posted in finding a first job, job hunting, Job search tips | Tagged job hunting, search tips | 1 Comment

Here are the 10 worst interview mistakes you can make — a guest post

Posted on April 29, 2015 by John N. Frank

For many job seekers, obtaining an interview with a promising company is an uphill battle. However, your hard work and attention to detail shouldn’t stop once an interview date has been scheduled. Unfortunately, many job hunters enter the interview room nonchalantly unprepared. To land your next dream job, you should avoid the following 10 worst mistakes job seekers make during an interview.

Dressing Inappropriately

One of the most common errors people make during an interview is to dress inappropriately. The interview room is not the right place to debut your trendy animal print blouse or red pair of slacks. When choosing clothes for this important event, always go with a conservative ensemble. Tailored black, navy, or gray suits are usually great options. In addition to clothing, you should also pick shoes in neutral hues. Your canary yellow heels might be stylish, but you should save them for a dinner date instead of an interview.

Inquiring about Benefits

Understandably, before accepting a job position, you want to learn more about the prospective benefits a company offers. However, inquiring about benefits too soon will make you appear unprofessional. Your prospective employer might start to believe that you will be more interested in collecting a paycheck than completing your task satisfactorily. Consider inquiring about benefits during a second interview or during salary negotiations.

Glancing at Watch

If you’re like some people, you’re always preoccupied with what time it is. You might look at your watch scores of times during each day. When you’re nervous, you may even glance at your timepiece more than usual. During an interview, looking at a watch is often tempting. After all, many people gauge how well an interview went by how long it lasted. However, during this important session, you should avoid glancing at your watch even once. Doing so might give your employer the wrong impression. He or she might wonder if you’re ready to leave. Your prospective employer may also start to suspect that you’re bored with the proceedings. If you will be tempted to look at your watch, leave it in your vehicle.

Leaving Cellphone On

Like glancing at your watch, looking at your cellphone can be a huge problem. Prospective employers usually view this activity as highly unprofessional. Before entering an interview room, always turn your cellphone off. Better yet, leave it in your automobile with your watch.

Chewing Gum

When some people get nervous, they unconsciously reach for a stick of gum. For these people, the constant chewing motion has a soothing effect on their frayed nerves. However, chewing gum should always be avoided during an interview. This activity makes the job applicant look unprofessional, unconcerned, and uncouth.

Being Late

Arriving to an interview late is like a death sentence. Regardless of your performance during the interview, you will probably not get the job. Before a scheduled interview, commute to the interview site during the same time of the day that the interview will take place on. After you determine how long your commute will be, add an additional fifteen to thirty minutes to this time. The extra time will give you a cushion for unexpected emergencies on the day of the interview.

Failing to Ask Questions

At the end of the vast majority of interviews, the interviewer will ask the job applicant if he or she has any questions. Because you know that this prompt is coming, failing to respond with any questions makes you appear unprepared and nonchalant. Before an interview, make a list of around three to five questions to ask. Any of your questions that have been answered during the interview should be marked off your list.

Asking Too Many Questions

While failing to ask questions is a problem, asking too many questions is a mistake as well. Your prospective employer will think that you’re trying to control the interview. Also, the interviewer may have several interviews to complete in a particular day. You don’t want to appear rude. Try to keep your list to three to five questions during the first interview. You can always ask more questions later during a second interview or salary negotiations.

Speaking Too Informally

If you are a frequent author of short text messages or social media posts, you should be careful not to speak too informally during an interview. Nowadays, people’s spoken language is seemingly becoming more casual than ever. During an interview, remember to speak in complete sentences and avoid common text messaging and online phrases.

Being Negative

While you might be tempted to say something negative about a previous employer, resist the urge to do so. Being overly negative about anything or anyone in particular will make you appear like a hard person to please. Your prospective employer might worry that you won’t be able to get along with the other employees in the company.

A sought after job interview can either affect the rest of your life positively or negatively. To showcase your best self, strive to avoid the aforementioned 10 worst mistakes job seekers make during an interview. Your future career may depend on it.

Amy Klimek is an experienced HR recruiter and VP of Human Resources for ZipRecruiter, she was employee #7 at Rent.com, where she first worked with ZipRecruiter’s founders. Her philosophy on human resources infuses the company culture: “To create an open, enriching environment by hiring the best, keeping the rules to a minimum and making it fun.” She’s married and has three active children to whom who she enjoys playing chauffeur.

Posted in interviews, job hunting, Uncategorized | Tagged interviewing | 1 Comment

Acing a Telephonic Interview: How Difficult or Easy Can It Get? — A Guest Post

Posted on March 2, 2015 by John N. Frank

You’ve put immense thought in building an efficient resume and guess what, it caught the eye of your targeted employer.

Although this calls for some celebration, but you need to confine your excitement because the scrutiny has just begun.

So, what’s next?

Yes, you answered it right-the telephonic interview!

Your selection for the next set of rounds depends on how efficiently you ace this one. However, there are certain subtleties which make all the difference between making it to the interview room and heading back to applying again.

Make Sure You’ve Done Ample Research At Your End

Whether the interview is in person or over a phone call, studying about the company and your potential employer will surely pay-off.

It goes as a part of pre-interview research for you to check the company’s website and various social media platforms it is active on.

You should also be familiar with the job profile and the responsibilities associated with it. This will help you to answer how you can be the right fit for the role.

Use Your Landline Phone and Avoid Noise- If possible!

Any distractions during the interview might prove to be fatal interruptions. Make sure that you’re well rested, in a quiet place, to avert coming across as an unprofessional candidate.

Keep Some Handy Notes By Your Side

One of the major benefits of a phone interview is that your potential recruiter can’t see you. So why not use it for your own advantage!

You can have notes, your resume and job description next to you, to be more accurate and to make your answers substantial. These will work as perfect reference tools.

Short Responses Would Definitely Work

Obviously, a phone interview would make it impossible for you to pick up on the interviewer’s non-verbal cues. This would make you go prattling on even in the shortest of gaps. Avoid this by keeping your answers short and crisp. Keep them under two minutes and wait for his or her response or a follow-up question.

Breathe and Speak Clearly

Since the only communication you can carry out with the hiring manager at this stage is through the call, make sure whatever you say is expressed clearly. Being a bit slow while answering might help in this regard. Your voice has to be engaged and enthusiastic, so don’t ramble and exhaust yourself. Take a moment to gather your thoughts and speak like a professional.

And Last, but not the least…

Considering that you’ll have other interviews as well, taking notes is a good idea. Jot down the key points to review yourself and start working on the pitfalls you may have stumbled in so you’ll be better prepared for your next phone interview.

It’s not the last one, just do your best.

Anshuman Kukreti

Author Bio: Anshuman Kukreti is a professional writer and a keen follower of the global employment market. An engineer by qualification and an artist at heart, he writes on various topics related to employment across the globe. Reach him @ LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.

Posted in interviews, job hunting | Tagged interviewing, job hunting | 1 Comment

Career Opportunities: Rejoining Society after Prison– a Guest Post

Posted on March 1, 2015 by John N. Frank

“Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.”
– Richard M. Nixon

Keeping the tenure of a convict in prison aside, the challenges they face when searching for employment is another story all together. Looking for work is no mean feat, but when ex-convicts start probing for a job, they are faced with additional hurdles and trials.

Some employers may cringe from hiring such individuals. But many organizations across the globe – felon friendly employers – do take them on, thereby leaving an exemplary example in their wake.

Companies, at times, conduct a background check after 2 – 3 rounds into the interview. According to a report by Prison Policy Initiative (PPI), a criminal-justice research and advocacy group, in United States, around 688,000 people are released from prison every year.

Some Advice
Ex-convicts need to keep certain pointers in mind before they embark on the arduous journey of looking for a job. The suggestions given here may help.

Networking: The first thing to do before looking for any job is to ask around. Most jobs are acquired through contacts. A stint in prison leaves you quite disoriented; hence, ask friends and family to vouch for you if you find something interesting.

Part-time work: Acquiring full-fledged employment instantly is difficult. If you are tired of twiddling your toes at home, look for some part-time evening work. Employers don’t often conduct background checks for such positions.

Follow your passion: Being an ex-convict does not make you talentless. You could have a flair for painting, writing, or tattoo designing. Music and dance might flow freely in your veins. Some ex-convicts are great with their technical skills and could find work as computer operators. If you think you have a hobby which can be turned into a career, go with it.

Look for specific jobs: Certain companies are comfortable with hiring former felons and deem background checks unnecessary. Construction work, driving and customer service positions, delivery work, etc. are some of the job profiles that could serve your purpose for starters.

Start your own business: This is the era of start-ups. Whether it is marketing your paintings or writing content-pieces as a freelancer, being your own boss is not only gratifying but shifts focus from your conviction as well.

Where to begin

The dilemma faced by all – where do I look? – can be answered very simply. There are many ways for ex-convicts to begin their job search. By employing traditional methods you could find a company that does not conduct background checks, or a company that may not reject you based on your criminal record.

Look to cold calling, going through community assistance programs, and the best option – job search engines that list all possible jobs by category and requirement. Start communicating with people and let them know that you are ready to rejoin society and are seeking employment.

Create an account on social media websites like Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. which help in making connections in a small time frame.

Enhancing skill-set
Ex-convicts can improve their skill-set by undertaking diploma or certification courses. Short courses or workshops of three= six months are being conducted by leading academic institutions all over the world. Enrollment requires a nominal fee and classes can be taken in shifts if required.

A crash course in design, computer operating, programming languages, communication, etc. can definitely provide an edge. Use this opportunity to upgrade your competencies and build out your resume.

Justifying your Resume

The one thing that gives every ex-convict cold feet is how to justify a conviction on the resume.

Expecting a background check, it is wise to tell the whole truth. Here is what you need to do:

• Do not give out additional information. Read the questions carefully and supply to-the-point truthful answers. Giving unnecessary leads is not required.

• Conduct your own background check before sitting for an interview. Knowing what the employer knows will give you the added benefit of preparing appropriate answers for the difficult questions.

• Recite a platonic version of what happened. Do not sound needy or desperate.

• Have a positive attitude. Appear friendly and not menacing. Give the employer constructive reasons to hire you by exhibiting a desire for change and development.

Keeping the global economic crisis in mind, looking for employment in the current job market is quite a harrowing experience. Ex-convicts require perseverance when embarking on this trail. They must be prepared to accept work that is low-paying and sometimes, menial. Despite all the applications and interview calls, ex-convicts still need a little extra help.

Agencies that provide professional assistance to such job seekers are:
• Xamire.com
• National H.I.R.E Network
• America Works
• One Stop Career Centre
• Chrysalis
• Delancey Street Foundation

Organizations such as these not only provide expert help, but endeavour to improve the lives of many dejected souls. Investigate some of these resources to get the best assistance for increasing your chances of getting a job.

Guest blogger Tina Jindal

Author Bio: Tina Jindal is a professional content writer who works on a variety of topics like employment, real estate, and education. She has been involved with publications such as Cookery, Gardening, Pregnancy, and Healthcare. She loves to travel and is crazy about dogs. You can contact her @Gmail | LinkedIn | Google+.