Debunking 10 Common Job Search Myths

Debunking 10 Common Job Search MythsPsstif you dont bring seven copies of your resume to the interview, printed on expensive paper, they wont take you seriously. Oh, and if you dont follow up with Human Resources once a day, every day after your interview, theyll forget you exist. Pass it on googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) The job hunt is one of those processes that is oddly regimented (when is the last time you saw a resume that wasnt templated to within an inch of its life?), but also subject to old wives tales and everyone thinking they know best. (Except we do. Trust.) It can be hard to know what advice to rely on, and which to take with a grain of salt. In that spirit, lets look at some of the fruchtwein common bits of job hunt conventional wisdom, and see how it stacks up, reality-wise.Myth You dont need a cover letter anymora.This is a popular one in this age of digital job applications and faceless job engine sites. The phrase co ver letter itself conveys a bygone era you would wrap your resume in a paper-life substance covered with words about your intentions, your qualifications, and your eagerness to talk in depth about this opportunity, then place it in abedrngnisher paper cover, whereupon a civil servant would convey your package to a mailbox. Quaint, no?In reality, the cover letter does indeed serve a purpose, even if the entire process is handled online. It helps give context to your resume, and puts a voice to your stats. Your resume may be neutrally reviewed for key words by a robot inside a hamster wheel (thats how those sites work, right?), but at some point your package will be viewed by a human looking to hire you. Its good practice to write a cover letter to attach to your resume, regardless of how you send in your package.Myth Never quit a job without having another job offer first.Ideally, sure, youd have your next job lined up while youre still working, and have a seamless transition from on e to the next. But you know what doesnt always line up correctly? Life. Sometimes quitting your job is the right option, regardless of what you have coming up next. bedrngnis having a job lined up can make your job search more complicated, but this isnt a black-and-white issue.Myth Add HR people to your network for future opportunities.According to career expert Hannah Morgan, this is not the best use of your time or networking energy. Human Resources professionals are usually focused on filling specific roles at specific times. They may not know about future openings, or even think to mine their own networks for openings that have already come up. Youre better off networking with people in your target departments at specific companies.Myth Enthusiasm and passion outweigh experience for reach positions.I wish this one were true Unfortunately, the reality is that overcoming a lack of experience is a major challenge for people looking to level up, or people trying to change careers. W hile its not an impossible challenge, especially if youre committed, theres no easy way around a lack of experience. Ideally, youd be eager and passionate while actively working to get more experience. But while passion alone may get you spunkiness bonus points, it may not translate into a job offer. If youre trying to show your dedication to the job, even when you dont have the most experience, you can help yourself by tailoring your resume to emphasize skills over experience, and use the interview as a platform to talk about other ways youre qualified for the position.Myth You cant change career paths after you choose one.Ever heard of famed newspaper editor Walt Disney? Or how about legendary bureaucrat Julia Child? No career decision is a permanent one, if you dont want it to be. Sometimes we just outgrow old choicesand career decisions arent immune from that. Or maybe your career path isnt what you thought it would be when you started. Or maybe you just feel ready for a change. Whatever the reason, you can always prepare to start over in a new field. There are challenges in making the switchexperience? Job opportunities? Skills?but if youre invested in this change and make plans to get the experience and skills you need (or are willing to start from the bottom), theres nothing stopping you.Myth All you need is a good resume.A good resume is the centerpiece of your job application package, that part is true. But its not the only thing, and you cant count on it to get you from first look to job offer. You need to build the rest of your package around it. Even great resume might not be able to overcome a meh interviewor worse, and actively bad one.Its important to be able to put your resume details (skills, experience, career highlights) in context, and to be able to talk about them coherently and confidently. You want your voice as an applicant to come through, and that comes via the interview, not just the bullet points on paper (or screen). Once you send off your resume, thats your starting point for interview prep. Practice your handshake, come up with specific anecdotes that demonstrate your skills, and dont forget to bring questions to ask.Myth Hiring managers will be able to connect the dots on my qualifications for this job.Dont leave anything to chance If you want the company to know youd be a good fit because of your communication and leadership skills, tell them Dont count on an HR rep or an interviewer to assume that based on your education, or past jobs, that youd be a good fit for the position. Use the cover letter and the interview to your best advantage to make connections to the job description, and make sure you hit the points you want to hit.Myth Im clearly qualified, so the automated application system will push me to the top.Remember what I just said about not taking things for granted? This goes double for computerized application processes. When you work on your resume for this application, make sure youre using as many keywords from the job description as you can, as well as strategizing how to make your resume pop, even in robot eyes. Knowing how these automated engines process and spit out the data in your resume is an extremely helpful tool in actively trying to game the application system. via LifehackerMyth You should stay in constant contact with the hiring department so they know how engaged you are.Follow-up is great. A thank-you note is imperative. But after that, regularly checking in to see how the post-interview process is moving along is not a great strategy. For one thing, they may be seeing other candidates, or doing an internal review process. Hiring can have a lot of moving parts, and if someone is out on vacation for a few days or there are a number of qualified candidates, you may not get the instant job offer that you might hope to get.After you submit a resume, its best to wait until you hear from the companyreaching out at that stage wont necessarily help get your res ume seen or considered. After you have an interview, send your thank you on the same day, and then give them at least a week. At the one week mark, its okay to start checking in occasionally (but only occasionally). And there are other, less invasive ways to follow up after the interview, if youre feeling especially anxious and dont want to annoy the hiring manager or long-suffering HR rep.Myth Your best job opportunities are found online.The interweb is one of the best, most inclusive tools you have in your job search arsenal. You can find companies and openings that you might never have thought to search for, and can have your resume in someones hands in the time it takes to send an email. But dont count out offline methods, either.Theres something to be said for good, old-fashioned networking most jobs are still filled by either internal candidates or by applicants directly referred by employees. (Theres a reason so many companies offer referral bonuses for employees who bring in new hires. And who doesnt like the idea of earning cash for their friends?) So while job engines can broaden your job search, dont rely on them exclusively to get that job offer in your hands.Theres so much career advice out there, and it can be hard to tell whats true, what used to be true, and what just isnt true. Taking the time to think through (and do some research) about which of our most cherished job search truisms and facts will make you a leaner, meaner candidate armed with the best information to make decisions for your own career and job hunt.

Why the Friends Test Could Set You Ahead For Your Next Interview

Why the Friends Test Could Set You Ahead For Your Next Interview Job interviews typically include a wide array of getting to know you questions some are specific while others skew toward being vague and open-ended. Perhaps the most difficult of all potential interview prompts falls into this latter category via the infamous So, tell me about yourself.It seems like such a simple request, but how do you know where to begin? What part of yourself should you share with your interviewers? And what the heck are they actually trying to learn about you?If this conversation topic leaves you stumped, leadership expert Simon Sinek has a strategy for you. In a recent chat with Sinek calls his technique the friends test, and its unbelievably simple1. Find a friend who you trust (not a spouse or a family member).2. Ask them Why are we friends?...and thats it.Because most people will respond to this question in a not-so-specific way (Were friends because youre loyal, because youre kind, because you re funny, etc.), Sinek recommends nudging your friends in a more detailed direction, rephrasing the question as What is it about me that I know you would be there for me no matter what?Ideally, Sinek told Business Insider, youll want to try the friends test with multiple pals in order to gain a fuller perspective on the qualities that draw others to you. Once you have a few key characteristics pinpointed, you can translate your friends feedback into interview-appropriate language. For instance, when Sinek tried this exercise himself, his friend told him that he has an inspirational presence. Heres how Sinek chose to present that info in an interview contextI wake up every single morning to inspire people to do what inspires them. I imagine a world in which the vast majority of people wake up inspired to go to work, feel safe when theyre there, and return home fulfilled at the end of the day. And I think that your company is devoted to that cause as well, which is why I want to work for you. Ive honigwein people here and they all seem on that path, which is why I feel compelled to interview here. I want to be a part of whatever it is youre doing because I think itll help me fulfill my own purpose and my own cause.Essentially, our close friends often have a clearer view of our positive attributes than we have ourselves, and asking them to weigh in can help us distill these traits and discuss them articulately during an interview.

Getting the Most Out of a Job Fair

Getting the Most Out of a Job Fair Given the cursory, assembly line nature of job fairs, it may seem ineffectual to spend time and effort crafting a job fair strategy and investing time into creating a unique presentation after all, youll just be shaking hands, exchanging greetings then being shuffled along, right? But dont talk yourself out of ignoring a perfect opportunity to stand out amongst your peers and grab the attention of potential employers who genuinely want to meet you. With a small change in mindset and some pre-planning, job fairs can be used to gain exposure, make a contact, and make an impactful first impression with a variety of employers. Treating a job fair as merely a matter of lining yourself up for inspection is folly. Contrary to this way of thinking, it is more advantageous to view job fairs as a tool for selecting your next employer, notlage the other way around. Making job fairs more effective begins with being picky about which events to attend. Narrow your employer hunt to those events within your specialty and those for jobs in regions youd prefer working in. Once youve chosen your events, be as selective about employers as you were the job fairs themselves. You dont need to make an impression on every one present. Instead, select the handful of companies that are the best fit for your goals and focus on making initial contacts with these firms first. Afterwards, you may look into other employers as time permits.Time spent with an employer at a job fair is necessarily brief but that doesnt mean they are a trivial matter. The best approach may be to approach this type of event as you would a traditional job interview. Learn about your target companies and create a few questions for each one to demonstrate your interest and familiarity with each firm. Dress in a formal style appropriate for an interview setting and bring several versions of your resume that fit each companys goals and focus. Finally, create your brief, personal sales pitch and memorize it. Let the prospective employers know who you are, in what you specialize, and what you can do for each business.Getting the best results from a job fair can be a simple matter of knowing how, and how not, to act at a job fair. For example, while it may help calm your nerves, avoid attending job fairs with a cadre of friends. Remember, you are approaching job fairs as you would a standard interview, and your friends wouldnt tag along for that. The idea here is to stand out and build your professional network moving in group here detracts from these efforts. With that in mind, introduce yourself to people around you whether they are hiring or looking for a job. Practice your pitch, get to know other stories, and build your network. Finally, lay off the swag. Sure, collecting a bunch of neat corporate-branded freebies may be fun, but walking around loaded up like a tourist at Disney World look unprofessional.At the end of the event, use your new contacts to your advantage. Reach out to these contacts, send them a thank-you email and dont be afraid to repeat your sales pitch and recap the benefits you have to offer their company.

How to Find Out If Your Future Boss is a Jerk

How to Find Out If Your Future Boss is a JerkHow to Find Out If Your Future Boss is a JerkHow to Find Out If Your Future Boss is a JerkBy now youre probably well aware that employers will Google you, check your online profiles, and in many cases, run a criminal background check, a credit check, and ask you to take a drug test before they hire you. (They might as well give you a colonoscopy while theyre at it.) A bad hire costs a company big bucks, so theyd be foolish not to use all the information available. The saatkorn logic applies to you as a job candidate. Due diligence about your potential employers can reduce the chance that youll unwittingly sign on with a first-class ass of a anfhrer.We hate to think it could happen to us, but bullying, discrimination, hostility, sexual intimidation, threats, and retaliation are facts of life in some workplaces. If youre serious about a particular employer, find out all you can about your would-be boss. Search Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twi tter, blogs, and sites like eBossWatch, which is aimed at helping job candidates find the truth about prospective employers. (Heres their list of the Worst Bosses of 2009.)In a post about this topic on the blog One Day One Job, writer Willy Franzen provided a helpful list of who and what you should be looking for when researching an employerPeople You Should ResearchThe companyTheir executive teamYour interviewer(s)Potential co-workersAny employees at the companyPeople at competing companiesThings You Should Look ForPersonal commentaryProfessional commentarySocial network profilesPhotosCustomer rantsEmployee rantsThe newsPrevious employment historyCompany financial conditionsQuotes in interviewsThe sad truth is, desperation often leads you to ignore your gut feelings and red flags about a prospective employer. When youre running out of money, you think you can tolerate anything as long as theres a paycheck at the end of the week. So, you accept the job despite your misgivings, and a lmost immediately you realize your boss is a jerk. But once youre hired, you get all sorts of pressure from all sorts of people (yourself included) to stick it out, put up with it for now, and make the best of a bad situation. Bad idea. The stress of working for an unstable, unpredictable, volatile boss whos a bully, a bigot, a harasser, or just a micromanaging nut job can permeate your life. It affects your confidence, your job performance, your physical and mental health, and your personal relationships. Its far easier to avoid the quicksand than to extricate yourself once youre in it up to your elbows.

Java Developer CV Example 2018s Top Sample

Java Developer CV Example 2018s Top SampleJava Developer CV Example - 2018s Top SampleCreate This CV ObjectiveHighly analytical and savvy Java Developer equipped with the ff. skills HTML, JAVA, C++, C+ and Eclipse. My skills in scripting and programming languages will b very helpful in creating websites according to the companys needs.Personal InformationThomas Carpenter987 Argonne StreetNewark, DE 19714(222)-143-5537t.carpentersampleresume.netDate of Birth May 6, 1979Place of Birth DECitizenship AmericanGender MaleProfile Summary Prototypes Development Skilled in scripting languages Web interactivity Java ProgrammingEducationBS in Computer Programming, 2006Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MOEmployment HistoryJava Developer II, 2007 PresentWilbur-Ellis Company, San Francisco, CAResponsibilities Modified the existing website applications with user-friendly applications. Analyzed images and decided what applications best suit them to create more effective apps. Worked hand in hand with team members to expand web activities. Tested the navigation features of the WestSide Ebay Site. Ensured that the navigation and scroll applications are easy to understand and use.Java Developer I, 2006 2007Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MIResponsibilities Selected the appropriate sound and background for certain web applications. Improved the animation, drop down menus and moving images of the websites company. Determined user requirements to address the geschftliches miteinander needs. Conducted quality assurance testing on web applications. Enhanced the appearance of the Whirlpool.com.ResearchN/ATrainingCertificate in Web DevelopmentAwardBest in Web Advertisement, 2005Professional MembershipAssociation of Java DevelopersSkillsHTML, Eclipse, SQL ServerJSB, EJBOutstanding programming abilitiesExcellent scripting knowledgeIT proficientJava, J2EE Customize CVJava Developer CV Questions1. How do you write a summary statement for a Java developer CV?Think of your summary statement as your handshake. It should be confident, but not too boisterous, friendly, but not too personal. Keep that in mind as you craft a summary statement that brings clear focus to both your technical skills and your soft skills, combining programming acumen with your ability to excel in a business environment.As in our Java developer CV sample, use only three bullet points or sentences to create your summary statement. Your summary is only an introduction, rather than a complete exploration of your entire career.2. Which skills are the best to list on a Java developer CV?Obviously, you want to focus on your technical skills. These include Java programming, JavaScript, JSP, Angular.JS, Node.JS, and any other extensions of the Java suite of programming platforms and tools that you know. However, as you can see by our Java developer CV sample, technical skills arent your only mainstay.Try to integrate skills such as project coordination, requirements management, and team-building. Your additional skills are what make you stand out in a crowded job market by showing that youre more than just a programmer, youre a valuable member of the team.3. How can you separate your Java developer CV from other candidates CVs?Focus on accomplishments to distinguish yourself from other candidates on the job market. Accomplishments detail moments where your contributions made a significant difference to your employer or your team. Whether you resolved a difficult problem with application performance or engineered a time-saving solution with reusable code, accomplishments give you a competitive advantage over other jobseekers.If youre not sure how to write accomplishments, refer to our Java developer CV sample for an example. You can also try our effortless CV builder, which will walk you through documenting your experience.4. Whats the best way to include digital skills on a Java developer CV?Because your digital skills are so essential, youll need to integrat e them more thoroughly than many other jobseekers might. Use your opening summary as a great place to discuss how you excel with particular technologies, and build on this by adding your top abilities to your list of skill keywords.Further build on your digital skills by discussing them in context throughout your work history. Show how you used each skill in your daily job functions, but be careful not to bog yourself down in jargon. Try our Java developer CV sample for an example.5. Whats the best way to show you work well in a team on a Java developer CV?Although full stack developers often can work independently, programming professionals in general often end up as part of a larger collaborative team. One way to discuss working together is to detail your role in the software development lifecycle. SDLC teamwork is a major buzzword for many employers, and being able to work in an SDLC environment is a great selling point in your favor.Our Java developer CV sample demonstrates othe r ways to discuss team collaboration. Include anything you did to support other team members with debugging or other core tasks.More CV SamplesHR Manager CV Internal Auditor CV Janitor CVJava Developer CV Journalist CV

5 Websites for Finding Remote Work

5 Websites for Finding Remote Work5 Websites for Finding Remote WorkAre you sick of your commute?Have you decided to leave the office behind and settle into remote work?Congratulations Deciding to work remotely is a big decision, but it can have a lot of benefits.Working remotely allows you to avoid a long commute, wear comfy clothes, and work anywhere in the world with a computer and internet connection.But you may find yourself asking Where can I find remote work?If you are ready to make the switch to working from home, get connected to a job board that specializes in remote work. See what opportunities are available to you.The following websites can help you start your journey to start working remotely.5. FlexJobsFlexJobs offers workers a massive database of remote, freelance, or flexible job options.They offer jobs in 55 different career categories with positions that range from entry-level to executive.To weed out fake job postings, FlexJobs hand-screens and curates every job an d company to make sure they are professional, high-quality positions with flexible options.If you arent sure you are ready to make the jump to fully remote work, you can also find flexible jobs that offer partly remote options.However, to fully experience the site and apply for jobs, you have to pay a membership fee of 14.95 per month.4. JobspressoIf you are looking for only remote positions, Jobspresso is a great place to start.Jobspresso offers jobseekers a curated list of high-quality remote jobs.All of the jobs posted to Jobspresso are hand-picked, manually reviewed, and expertly curated.They cover a variety of positions in tech, marketing, customer service, and creative fields.Jobspresso also works with big companies such as Microsoft, InVision, Amazon, Reddit, and Github.Best of all, its cost-free, and you can get daily job updates, articles, and more by following them on Twitter.3. We Work RemotelyWe Work Remotely is a popular online job board for seekers who are looking for jobs that arent restricted by commutes or particular geographic areas.They claim to be one of the first remote-only job boards established and the largest remote-only work communities.They offer several job categories such as marketing, programming, DevOps, management, design, and more.Companies such as Zapier, Hubstaff, GoDaddy, and Hotjar post jobs on We Work Remotely.The board updates frequently and you can get jobs in your field emailed to you daily.2. RemotiveRemotive is a great resource for workers looking to go remote.They offer a great job board with jobs in engineering, human resources, marketing, sales, and support.You can find work with companies like Github, Twitch, Buffer, and others.Not only can you find a great remote job, but Remotive also offers a community for remote workers.You can subscribe to their newsletter, join their community of workers on Slack, or check out their resources for remote workers on their blog.1. Working NomadsWorking Nomads offers a great lis t of remote options for job seekers interested in moving to remote work.Working Nomads offers a curated list of interesting remote jobs in a variety of career areas.You can search for jobs based on your interest, whether that be in design, development, consulting, or more.If you want to avoid searching through the listings yourself, you can elect to have Working Nomads email you a list of positions in your desired field.Many of the jobs focus on the tech field, with positions such as web developer and software engineer, but there are also positions in customer service, sales, and writing.

Survey 64% of applicants are better on paper than in person

Survey 64% of applicants are better on paper than in personSurvey 64% of applicants are better on paper than in personYou can have the best credentials in the world, but when you show up to the interview,youd better deliver.New research from global staffing firm Robert Half shows that 64% of senior managers report that its common for a job candidate with a great resume to not deliver at the interview.An independent research firm surveyed more than 300 American senior managers working for companies with a minimum of 20 employees.How the interview process works for senior managersThe research found that the fruchtwein popular reason companies give interviews is to confirm relevant experience (61%), and not having the right technical abilities is the most popular reason new hires dont work out (51%).Senior managers spend an average of 12 minutes on each resume - 35 and younger spend 18 minutes, ages 35-54 spend 13, and those 55 and older spend eight. They also interview an average of s even candidates for each job and get 40 applications per job posting.Brett Good, senior district president at Robert Half, talked to Ladders about the research.This tells us that hiring managers are looking for the right fit by taking the time to review resumes, Good said. Resume red flags managers should look out for include vagueness in job descriptions, gaps or missing dates, inconsistencies and added adjectives. Its also important for managers to do reference checks following the interview to get a clearer idea of a candidates work history.Because managers are taking the time to review resumes, this presents an opportunity for job seekers to impress managers through their job application materials, Good told Ladders.Detail significant contributions youve made at your current and previous job and how theyve positively impacted the department or companys bottom line. Make sure to keep it concise and proofread carefully, Good added.But the ball is in the candidates court.Here are t hree ways to help beat the interview odds1. Show - dont tell - that youre the perfect fitAlison Doyle, a career expert, author and founder and CEO of CareerToolBelt.com, writes in The Balance that you should show what you know during job interviews.Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. When discussing your career accomplishments, match them to what the company is looking for. Use examples from your research when answering questions, I noticed that when you implemented a new software system belastung year, your customer satisfaction ratings improved dramatically. I am well versed in the latest technologies from my experience with developing software at ABC, and appreciate a company who strives to be a leader in its industry. Take the time to make a match between your expertise and the companys requirements, and to sell yourself to the interviewer, she writes.2. Dont try to be perfect - do this insteadClaudio Fernndez-Aroz, author of Great People D ecisions and a senior adviser at Egon Zehnder International, told the Harvard Business Review about how to do this in an interview.No candidate will ever be perfect, and you will be no exception. If your past achievements are not directly related to the job, but youve demonstrated a great ability to learn and adapt to new situations, you should very clearly articulate that, he said.3. Dont show your true colors at the finish lineYouve made it so farBut once you leave the interview, youre going to want to maintain the same level of professionalism. After all, your offer may depend on it.So dont do things like sending a thank you email without proofreading it first, fail to send one at all, or attempt to friend your recruiter on Facebook - if you still have an account, that is.And one last thing Dont lash out if you dont get the job.