5-Step Workout to Ace the Job Interview

By Jimmy Sweeney

 Many job seekers believe that all it takes for a successful job interview is to:

• Arrive early
• Dress appropriately
• Memorize the company mission statement
• Listen carefully
• Communicate clearly.

But it's not—enough, that is. There is so much more to a great job interview than these obvious points, important as they are. If you wish to overcome the opposition, stand out in the crowd of job seekers, and win the attention of the person who can help you get the job, then it's essential that you do some mental exercises before you walk into the hiring manager's office.

One of the biggest obstacles you're likely to face is your mind—that part of you that shouts defeating statements such as "You're not the right one for this job and you know it" or "What are you thinking? You're a small fish in a big pond."

If you buy into this thinking, make no mistake; a hiring manager will be able to tell at a glance––before you even say a word––whether or not you're someone who can fill the position.

 Therefore, take time to spend a few minutes each day during the week before the interview doing a complete mental workout.

High Five!

Prepare yourself by doing the following 'high five.'

1. Breathe deeply: Sit quietly for five minutes and take deep conscious breaths, thinking encouraging thoughts about yourself and the interview. Notice how your mind relaxes and your pulse rate slows.
2. Lunge forward: Move your mind in a positive direction. Review your best traits: problem solving, organizational skills, leadership, and compatibility.
3. Push up: Repeat affirmations about yourself. I, John (or Mary), am capable and confident.
4. Step up: Walk yourself up the ladder of success mentally. Tell yourself you're the one for the job, you can do it, you will get the job of your dreams.
5. Shake out limbs: Release the results to the universe. Accept whatever comes, trusting it will be for your ultimate good.

After a good mental workout you'll feel confident, clear-minded, and committed to walking into the hiring manager's office and giving your best.

So prepare yourself now—putting mind over matter––with a solid mental workout that will take you where you want to go—from a great job interview to a great job!

Are you tough?

By Vinod Bidwaik

“You should be tough, ruthless and very assertive when you are in business. If managers are not tough, then their subordinate will not be tough and it is very difficult to sustain in the competitive world.” So-called tough manager was preaching the junior managers in the meeting. He then declared that there would be one sharing session where all managers would share their experiences on how they were tough in their personal life. It was year 2008. The indications of slow down were prominent. The business was down. All new projects and businesses were not doing well. The reasons for the failure were different, but the slowdown was the opportunity to conceal their failure.

“You should be empathetic with people.” Was his another preaching topic. He read it somewhere about empathy and started to preach people. If you are empathetic, you can achieve desired results. However he was literally spoiling the career of good employees by doing experiments about their profiles.

“There is a clause of termination in appointment letter, one month notice period. Ask employees to resign without any severance packages. You do not have any obligations. You should be empathetic; still you should be tough and ruthless.” He ordered in another meeting.  

Empathy means understanding other’s feeling, putting yourself in their shoes and deciding your strategy to deal with them.  Excellent fundamental! I personally use this tactic while dealing with different people.

CEO of the company decided to close one office at one location. So- called tough and empathetic manager was given the responsibility of this project. But this whole project was handled very unprofessionally where high profile and critical talent were treated like a contract and casual workmen. They started agitation against the management. The matter was referred to media and political leaders including ministers. Adverse reports and comments spoiled the reputation of the company.  CEO had to take the control of the situation to salvage where management had to agree to pay them heavy severance package.  

So-called empathic and tough manager failed in his strategies. He actually did not know the real meaning of empathy. He tried to be tough; but at wrong situation with wrong people.

After some days, management decided to be tough with him without being empathetic.

Being tough does not mean you miss the human dimension. Good companies focus log term goals. The hiring of talent is supposed to be for achieving long term goals. Good companies touch the talent cost at last when all the resorts fail; however bad companies focus cost reduction by reducing the talent at first site. You can be tough with situation. You also can be tough with people but before that you also need to understand the consequences and your capability to handle the consequences.  

6 Job-Networking Techniques

We all know that networking is the most effective way to find a job. But these six mistakes can kill your networking efforts.

1) Not preparing for the networking event and not having a plan of "attack."

What do I mean by preparation and a plan of attack?

A. Find out who else will be there and what companies/organizations will be represented. (The organization arranging the event should have a guest list.)

B. Learn as much as you can about the different companies.

C. You have to be aggressive with your time, meaning, you must designate a certain amount of time for each individual on your list.

D. You have to follow through closely and stick to the designated time limits with each person.

E. Don't forget to take your business cards with you and use a different pocket for those cards that you will be receiving from others.

2) Taking your resume with you to a networking event.

You might be shocked to hear this - don't take your resume with you when you attend professional meetings. I'm talking about conferences, trade shows, club meetings, cocktail parties and such. Do you really want to be seen as a desperate person who walks around with a folder full of resumes? Do you really want to juggle that folder and worry about whether the resumes get wrinkled or not, how many you can give away and whether the person you gave it to will remember where he or she put it?

(Now, of course, DO take your resume‚ to job fairs and related career-events. Leave them with the appropriate person and don't forget to record who you gave your resume‚ to so you can follow up within a couple of weeks or so with a phone call.)

3) Not having a PREPARED and REHEARSED 20 second "mini" speech/introduction about your expertise.

You cannot just show up blindly, thinking whatever happens will be OK.

A 20 seconds mini speech is not too long. It's just enough for you to articulate your expertise and let someone know what you are about. So, when someone asks you what you do, give her or him your mini speech.

One caution.

Don't be a generalist. Don't just say: "I'm a Process Engineer and I work for Ford Motor Company."

Instead, be SPECIFIC. Say: "I'm a Process Engineer and my expertise lies in providing cost effective solutions to complex process engineering problems within the automotive industry."

4) Not finding out how you could contribute.

Ask questions! Find out what problems the person you are talking to is facing within his/her job and industry. Then, if appropriate, propose your possible solution by lining up your matching skills. Basically, find out how you could contribute, how you could help them solve a problem.

5) Focusing on yourself.

You will come across as far more personable if you ask questions about the other person instead of talking about yourself. Remember that people do business with those they perceive as friendly and those that show genuine interest in learning about the other person. So, by showing an interest in the other person, you will accomplish two things: learn about her or him and about their company's needs and will show that you are personable and a good communicator. So, ask away! You will reap great benefits.

6) Not sending a thank you note.

Send a thank you note to those that took the time to talk with you at the networking event. Thank them for their time and again, subtly, let them know about your expertise.

Say something like:

"Mr. Smith, it was great talking to you at the XYZ conference. As a Website Designer, I particularly enjoyed our talk regarding the future of e-commerce and Internet technology."

By Rita Fisher 

Emailing Your Resume

Emailing Your Resume

When searching for a job, there is nothing more frustrating than emailing resumes and never receiving responses. For this reason, I took the time to ask recruiters, hiring managers, and human resources representatives the mistakes job seekers make when applying for a position electronically. Below are the main points I got from the discussions.

• Not reading directions before applying. Some hiring organizations have specific guidelines. Don’t dismiss the guidelines just because you don’t agree with them or don’t understand the purpose. When applying for a position you have to follow their rules. So when the classified states that you need to designate a specific position you are interested in or your application won’t be considered, be sure to include one. This means that if you are interested in more than one position don’t toy with the idea of providing a list of positions you are willing to interview for. Choose the position you are most qualified and interests you more.
• Classified ads also indicate an email address you should send the resume. The email address provided is usually of screener and I understand your hesitancy in submitting your resume to an individual who doesn’t have hiring authority. Because of this, you may decide to call the company and get the manager’s name for the department that has the open position and email the resume directly to her. Smart move, but your suaveness may backfire. The hiring manager may choose to delete. To cover your bases, email your resume to both the manager and the email provided in the job description.
• Cancel the email verification system you have installed. You know the program. The one where the email sender (in this case the hiring organization) receives a notice indicating that in order for the recipient (that’s you) to receive the email the sender needs to click on a link and type in a verification code. Interviewers are very busy and they will not take the extra steps to ensure that you receive their email unless you are a candidate that they can’t live without. And the reality is that qualified candidates are a dime a dozen so you have to make it easy for an interviewer to reach you. Cancel the email verification while conducting a job search and deal with the unwanted emails from Nigeria asking if you are interested in a business proposal. If you choose not to, it can cost you the interview you have been waiting for.
• The following tips seem so simplistic, but these mistakes happen time and time again: (1) when searching for a job don’t change your email address and then email your potential employer about the change. Keep your email address until your job search is over. The likelihood that a hiring manager is going to find your resume and insert your new email address is virtually non-existent (2) your subject line should read professionally, such as Linda Matias Resume for Career Coaching or Resume Writing Position (3) don’t email more than one hiring organization within the same email. Take the time to send each one out personally and finally (4) if the organization requests a Word attachment, make sure you name the attachment professionally, such as matias.linda.resume.doc.

By Linda Matias

How To Ace An Interview - The Checklist

A job interview is a screening tool. For you, it's an opportunity to assess whether or not you want to work for a company. For the employer, it's an opportunity to decide whether or not they want to hire you. Both sides are looking for a match. 

You can ace an interview and win the job you want even in this economy; even with the competition that wants the same job as you. You will have to work hard, but it can be done. Know that the work you do upfront and afterwards will make the "during" (while you are interviewing) much easier for you. 

Here's a checklist to help you: 

I. PREPARE BEFOREHAND

• Do your homework and find out who you will be interviewing with. You are looking for job title, responsibilities, accomplishments, as well as anything else that impresses you about this person. 
• Know as much about the company as possible. Get on their web site and memorize their products and services. Look at their press release section for news. Talk to a few people about what they know. Look online for comments, discussions, blogs, forums, and additional insights. - Don't just look for good news. Look for challenges that the company is facing, and think about how you might contribute to their success.
• Write out the top 3 points you want to make sure you get across.
• Write down what makes you different or unique.
• Have a story/example for each bullet on the job description and each bullet in you resume. Include the challenges you were up against, the action you took to solve these challenges, and the results you achieved.
• Write down answers to questions such as your strengths, weaknesses, where you want to be in the future, etc. The questions that employers don't always feel comfortable asking. The same questions you don't always feel comfortable answering. Nevertheless, expect to be asked these questions anyway.
• Write down the answers to the questions you don't want to be asked. If you have a gap in your resume, have a good response for when you are asked about it. If you were fired, be prepared to tell the employer why with a positive spin. Don't shy away from these questions and hope they won't be asked. Expect them to be posed to you and have your answers mapped out and ready to go.
• Write down questions to ask the interviewer; three to five should do. Questions like, "What are you looking for in a candidate?" "What keeps you up at night?" "What's the biggest challenge you are facing right now?" These questions may be answered during the interview, and other questions may come up as the discussion progresses, but these questions will give you a place to start.
• Write down an introduction; an opener that says who you are and what you do. Include your past title, the type of work you have been doing, why you are excited to be interviewing with this company.

II. DURING THE INTERVIEW

• Be upbeat, passionate, and excited to be there.
• Use your prepared introduction and introduce yourself.
• Right after your introduction; say something flattering to the interviewer. Reveal what you like about the person or the company. Include what impresses you the most. Sincere flattery starts the interview off in a positive way.
• Answer questions and ask them. Remember, it's a two way conversation, and an opportunity for both parties to see if there is a match. Don't forget to listen and let the interviewer talk.
• Make sure you cover anything that was not discussed in the interview before you leave. For example, did you cover your 3 points? Did you tell the interviewer what makes you different? Did you handle all objections properly? Did you ask the questions you wanted to ask? Cover this now; afterwards may be too late.
• Tell the interviewer again why you want the job.
• Ask what the hiring process is, and when you can follow up with them again.

III. AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Send a thank-you note. Email one version and also send a handwritten version. Thank you cards work well here.
• Include in your email anything you left out during the interview. Add credibility to your email by mentioning something specific the interviewer said that impressed you.
• If you promised to follow up on a specific day and time, keep that promise.
• Continue interviewing. No matter how great an interview went, no matter how many people told you that you are "the one," you do not have the job until you have formally been given a job offer in writing. Don't let everything ride on one job. Keep going until you are officially employed.

 ByDeborah Brown-Volkman

5 Steps to Job Search Magic

The successful job search all boils down to one word -- synergy. 

Synergy is defined as the interaction of two or more agents so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. 

Synergy explains the difference between John, Paul, George and Ringo (individual musicians) and The Beatles (a magical combination). 

Most job seekers apply for positions haphazardly -- sending out an email resume for this opening, a printed resume for that one, sometimes following up and most often not. (Admit it -- you've done this!) 

But you'll get far better results -- and create synergy -- if you first write out a job search calendar, to schedule your efforts over the next 60-90 days. Then, follow your plan and systematically use as many tactics as possible for each job you apply for. Organizing your efforts this way will focus your job search, like sunlight through a magnifying glass. 

Here's how to create synergy and job search magic, in 5 easy steps. 

Step 1 -- Choose your target job

 

You can do so by picking a job title (example: Sales Manager) or skill set to shoot for (example: sales, marketing, management). No target job = no results in your job search. Because you can't score if you don't have a goal. 

Step 2 -- Choose your tactics

 

There are many. Among the most effective is networking with your personal and professional contacts. Let people know you're in the job market and tell them what you're looking for. Then ask this question: Who do you know that I should be talking to? This one question can double or triple the size of your network.

Other job hunting tactics include submitting your resume to online job postings, the newspaper classifieds, recruiters and temp agencies. But try to spend 80% of your time networking. 

Step 3 -- Plan your work

 

Create a job search calendar. This time of year, you can get free wall calendars from many stores and businesses. Any calendar will do, so long as there's room to write brief notes for each date.

Map out the next 30-90 days with specific goals for every day, such as visiting 5 Web sites, calling 10 networking contacts and mailing 7 resumes.

Post your job search calendar prominently. Then.. 

Step 4 -- Work your plan

Devote at least 3-5 hours a day to your job search if you're currently employed, and 5-8 hours a day if you're unemployed. 

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Recognize that your job search is a job in itself, the most important one you have right now. And that means you look for work EVERY day, Monday through Friday. Because just one day skipped per week equals a 20% loss in output. You can't afford that. 

Step 5 -- Fail your way to a new job

 

As you follow your job search plan and contact all those people every day, you're going to hear one word more than any other: 'No.' 

Learn to embrace failure like Thomas Edison, who failed 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb. He said: 'Every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.' 

Every no you hear in your job search is another step closer to the one yes you need to get that position you really want. It's simply a numbers game -- take heart! 

By following this five-step formula, you can create synergy, magic and the job offer you're dreaming about this holiday season. 

By Kevin Donlin

Pieces of Gold in Those Job Postings

Job Postings are "pieces of gold." They are your customer's wish lists. 

Any sales person would tell you that in order to sell someone something you have to know what they need.

Read through job postings to find out what your customer (the employer) is looking for - what is the need?

By familiarizing yourself with the language of the job posting you will be able to not only read the words and the content, but you will be able to read between the lines. 

Here's an exercise that will help you find the "gold" and make good use of it once you discover it.

Look at the job postings and the ads to see what experiences, skills and traits are in demand for the type of position you are seeking. In fact, look at several job postings that would be of interest to you. 

For this exercise, don't limit yourself to geographical location. Look at jobs of interest located anywhere. 

Your goal is to find key words and phrases. Some postings will be more vague about what it takes to get the job done and will require reading between the lines to determine what other skills are necessary. When you have several postings, read each word and sentence carefully, taking notes as you do. 

Read the job posting three times.

• Read the first time for content.
• Read the second time for words - vocabulary. What words appear consistently in almost every posting?
• Read the third time and read between the likes - what would it take to get this job done? What are they looking for?

Now, take a piece of paper and divide it in half. On one side of the paper write, "What they are looking for," and on the other side, "What I have to offer." Each time you apply for a position, it will be invaluable for you to know how you stand against what they are looking for. This exercise will help you see how close a match you are and where you should focus.

Your next step is to add your uniqueness to the "What I have to offer" list. Some postings will list additional skills required, which make it easier for you to see what is important to them.

An example would be, "Must have excellent communications skills, strong organizational skills, and be a willing team player."

If these words appear in most of your posting examples, then make sure that these are a part of your focus.

Can you work these words and your five strengths into the interview to demonstrate your fit - and then some? It is your challenge to do just that to make yourself stand out in the crowd.

- Carole Martin

Why Task Lists Will Not Make You Productive

An acquaintance of mine is constantly making lists. She makes them on old envelopes, scratch pads, her phone, her laptop, her email and even her hand. Yet she is one of the most scattered, disorganized and unproductive people I know. She doesn't know the secret: lists alone won't make you productive.

The Purpose Of Task Lists

Lists exist simply as a place to write things down. They are lines of text that represent tasks that need to be done. But they are not repositories of things to be ignored, places to brainstorm, or jumbles of unrelated ideas.

Task lists are a great tool, but only if they used in a productive way.

The Downfalls of the Typical List User

Lists Are Incomplete

Many people will make lists of things, but leave stuff out. My mother used to make lists of dishes to put on the table for large holiday meals, but she would leave things off the list because she knew she would remember them (but she didn't, always). Many task lists leave out bits and pieces — things that need to be done — and that is their downfall.

 

Lists Are Vague

Lists are often vague and unclear, leaving the reader in doubt of what needs to be done. I am guilty of this from time to time. I looked at a daily list I had made at work last week, and asked my tech lead what she thought "world 2012″ could possibly mean. We still don't know.

 

Lists Are Ignored

Lists are great ways to get things out of your head; however, if you then ignore them, they do no good. Your brain will become used to not trusting you and spin up, reminding you of things all the time. (There's a reason David Allen calls it a "trusted system."

How To Use Lists

Lists, when used in a productive manner, can be a second brain, and help you out. Write it down, look at the lists regularly, and you will find that they are a big boost for getting things done. Here are qualities of a successful list system:

• Minimize the number of lists you have. Having lists everywhere is an invitation to lose one (or more) of them. While I am not a fan of one ginormous list, I think it makes sense to minimize the lists you have.
• Have different types of lists. If you need to go grocery shopping, you do not need to bring the list of things you need to do next week. Segregate your lists in a way that makes sense to you: shopping, home, work; now and later; or something like that.
• Write everything down. Don't leave some things in memory and write everything else down. It is better for your brain to build the trust that everything will be in the list and dealt with, or it will keep reminding you about things you need to, on the list or not.
• Be specific. The more detail that you put into the list about what you have to do, the better off you will be. If you don't get to take action on an item, will you know what it is in 2 weeks?
• Use your lists to plan your day. In order to be effective, lists have to be used. Review your lists after you make them. Are there things on there that don't belong? Take them off. Are there things that need to be looked at later? Move them to another list you will reveiw later. Take what's left and figure out what you can get done today.

Thanks to L. J. Earnest / Simple Productivity Blog

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10 Body Language Tips

By Robert Phipps

EYE  contact is one of the most important aspects of dealing with others, especially people we've just met. Maintaining good eye contact shows respect and interest in what they have to say. Here in the UK we tend to keep eye contact around 60-70% of the time. (However, there are wide cultural differences, so be careful in other countries) By doing this you won't make the other people feel self conscious, like they've got a bit of vegetable stuck between their teeth or a dew drop hanging from the nose. . Instead, it will give them a feeling of comfort and genuine warmth in your company, any more eye contact than this and you can be too intense, any less and you give off a signal that you are lacking interest in them or their
conversation.
POSTURE  is the next thing to master, get your posture right and you'll automatically start feeling better, as it makes you feel good almost instantly. Next time you notice you're feeling a bit down, take a look at how your standing or sitting. Chances are you'll be slouched over with your shoulders drooping down and inward. This collapses the chest and inhibits good breathing, which in turn can help make you feel nervous or uncomfortable.
HEAD  position is a great one to play around with, with yourself and others. When you want to feel confident and self assured keep your head level both horizontally and vertically. You can also use this straight head position when you want to be authoritative and what you're saying to be taken seriously. Conversely, when you want to be friendly and in the listening, receptive mode, tilt your head just a little to one side or other. You can shift
the tilt from left to right at different points in the conversation.
ARMS  give away the clues as to how open and receptive we are to everyone we meet and interact with, so keep your arms out to the side of your body or behind your back. This shows you are not scared to take on whatever comes your way and you meet things "full frontal". In general terms the more outgoing you are as a person, the more you tend to use your arms with big movements. The quieter you are the less you move your arms away from your body. So, try to strike a natural balance and keep your arm movements midway. When you want to come across in the best possible light, crossing the arms is a no, no in front of others. Obviously if someone says something that gets your goat, then by all means show your disapproval by crossing them !
LEGS  are the furthest point away from the brain, consequently they're the hardest bits of
our bodies to consciously control. They tend move around a lot more than normal when we are nervous, stressed or being deceptive. So best to keep them as still as possible in most situations, especially at interviews or work meetings. Be careful too in the way you cross your legs. Do you cross at the knees, ankles or bring your leg up to rest on the knee of the other? This is more a question of comfort than anything else. Just be aware that the last position mentioned is known as the "Figure Four" and is generally perceived as the most defensive leg cross, especially if it happens as someone tells a you something that might be of a slightly dubious nature, or moments after. (As always, look for a sequence)
ANGLE OF THE BODY  in relation to others gives an indication of our attitudes and feelings towards them. We angle toward people we find attractive, friendly and interesting and angle ourselves away from those we don't,
it's that simple! Angles includes leaning in or away from people, as we often just tilt from the pelvis and lean sideways to someone to share a bit of conversation. For example, we are not in complete control of our angle at the cinema because of the seating nor at a concert when we stand shoulder to shoulder and are packed in like sardines. In these situations we tend to lean over towards the other person.
HAND  gestures are so numerous it's hard to give a brief guide but here goes. Palms slightly up and outward is seen as open and friendly. Palm down gestures are generally seen as dominant, emphasizing and possibly aggressive, especially when there is no movement or bending between the wrist and the forearm. This palm up, palm down is very important when it comes to handshaking and where appropriate we suggest you always offer a handshake upright and vertical, which should convey
equality.
DiSTANCE FROM OTHERS  is crucial if you want to give off the right signals. Stand too close and you'll be marked as "Pushy" or "In your face". Stand or sit too far away and you'll be "Keeping your distance" or "Stand offish". Neither are what we want, so observe if in a group situation how close are all the other people to each other. Also notice if you move closer to someone and they back away, you're probably just a tiny bit too much in their personal space, their comfort zone. "You've overstepped the mark" and should pull back a little.
EARS , yes your ears play a vital role in communication with others, even though general terms most people can't move them much, if at all. However, you've got two ears and only one mouth, so try to use them in that order. If you listen twice as much as you talk you come across as a good communicator who knows how to strike up a balanced a conversation
without being me, me, me or the wallflower.
MOUTH  movements can give away all sorts of clues. We purse our lips and sometimes twist them to the side when we're thinking. Another occasion we might use this movement is to hold back an angry comment we don't wish to reveal. Nevertheless, it will probably be spotted by other people and although they may not know the comment, they will get a feeling you were not to pleased.There are also different types of SMiLES and each gives off a corresponding feeling to its recipient which we'll cover next time.

Stunning Secrets to Getting Hired

Getting hired can be a difficult thing in today's economy and circumstances. There are a number of factors that lead to getting hired. Three main ones are:

1. Finding real jobs.
2. Getting the right things on the resume/job application.
3. Getting past the automated systems and HR filters to the hiring manager.

Finding Real Jobs 

We've all seen the advertisements--Local Jobs (Hiring Now) Positions open in your area. Hiring immediately - Apply Here.. Once you get on the site, you may actually see many ads for jobs that look good, interesting, and enticing. These jobs may or may not be real. What I mean is that just because the jobs are advertised doesn't mean that those positions are really available to you at this time. Many of those ads are just place-holders meant to get a lot of applicants into the offering company's Applicant Tracking Database. But, why would anyone advertise just to get applicants into their database? It comes down to the automated systems that are used to acquire employees. It actually takes some time to set up ads, get them posted, and get applicants coming in. It is faster for the hiring company, if they already have a list of people to start looking at. This way they only have to consult the database when they are really ready to hire. 

Other jobs that you see out there are old and outdated-the positions that the companies once had, have already been filled. It just happens that it costs more in time and money to take down the ads, rather than leave them up. And to make matters worse, the big job conglomerates routinely spider those pages every month or so and pick up the dead job again and again. 

Some job listings are out there as a fishing expedition. Companies know that they need someone, but they aren't sure exactly what they need in a candidate. They put out an online ad anyway. As applications come in and as job requirements become more solidified, the company changes the ad to better fit their thinking. Sometimes this takes many months and many revisions, so the job openings appear, get stale, then disappears without ever creating a real new job. 

What all this means is that a lot of people apply online for a job, or multiple jobs, that they just aren't going to hear back from. Companies don't care about how much time, effort, and total frustration these systems cause the applicants, the systems save the company time and effort when hiring, and that is their only concern. 

If you don't want to be spinning your wheels, applying for dead or non-existent jobs, and pulling your hair out waiting for responses to your online job applications that you will never get, then you need to know how to spot the real jobs immediately. You need to know how to separate the time wasters from the real McCoys.

Getting the Right Things on Your Resume or Job Application 

Your resume and job application are the only tools you have to get in the door at a perspective company. These tools are the veritable keys that can get you in or keep you on the outside. Each and every resume and job application will need to be custom made for the specific job that you are applying for. The problem is, knowing what needs to be on that resume and job application. Get the resume and job application right, and you will get more interviews than you thought possible. Get it wrong, and you will hear the crickets chirping while you wait for the phone to ring. 

Getting Past the Automated Systems and HR Filters to Get to the Hiring Managers 

Ever get one of those form letter, rejection letter emails from one of your online job applications? You can tell that it is a form letter because of how poorly the content fits with the position that you applied for and their excuse for passing you up. 

Frankly, getting a rejection letter is a relief in some cases. Not because you didn't want the job, but because often you get no response at all from the company, and wonder for weeks if you just might still, by some miracle, get a surprise interview (which by the way never happens). At least with the rejection email, you aren't left wondering. 

However, I started investigating why people were getting the rejection letters, and I was floored at the answer. The rejection emails come out of the automated systems, the resumes and job applications were often never even looked at by a human being. The applicant tracking systems search for specific words and phrases. If those words or phrases are not found, then they move onto the next application. Interestingly enough, the same words and phrases are the ones that the HR personnel are looking for when they look at the application, after getting it out of the automated system. HR is often just another filter to make sure that only the most qualified applicants get through. Don't get nixed by the autobots, or filtered out by HR. Learn exactly what these filters need to see in your application to get through to the hiring managers.

- Dean Giles, Job Search Coach 

Twenty one years as a Project Manager gave me a lot of experience on the interviewing and hiring end of the job market. One company acquisition and a subsequent reduction-in-force, put me on the opposite end of that equation. I quickly found that the automated online job application mechanisms had pretty much high-jacked the hiring processes. I found that the hiring process for most people is completely broken and that what I had learned over 21 years had to be applied in new and creative ways. I documented how the new systems worked, why the old ones are failing most people right now, and exactly how to take advantage of the new systems and hierarchies. I have managed to help a number people get employed or change jobs even after they had lost all hope of finding a new job.

You Must Know Your Career Goal

Since childhood, most of the people aspire to become a professional in a specific area. Most of the kids say that they want to become a doctor, an engineer, a policeman, an architect or an expert in any other field. However, as people grow up they become lesser specific about their job objectives. Consequently, they find themselves placed in any random organization doing a job that may not be the best for them.

You Must Have Your Career Goal Clearly Defined
Just saying that you want to reach the top position in a company is not enough, you must clearly know where exactly do you want to see yourself after a specific period of time. It means you must know the designation you aspire to work on. It will help you in polishing your skills accordingly.

How To Define Your Career Goal?

1. Consider Your Present Job Status
   You must jot down your present job status, which must include your designation, salary, personal financial position, etc. You be aware if your current employers provide sufficient growth opportunities. The most important question to ask yourself is that whether you like the job or not.
2. Analyze Your Need To Work
   While most of the people work for financial reasons, there are some who work to follow their passion or to with a purpose to create a name for themselves. Identify your need to work.
3. Give A Thought To Your Post Retirement Life
   Ask yourself about how you want to see yourself after retirement. You must ask yourself that what all do you want to achieve after retirement.

Give considerable thought to all the above mentioned points and identify your career goal accordingly. Taking professional assistance is a good option for those who find it problematic to define their long term career objectives. It is advisable to get registered with a reliable Online Placement Portal. Leading web portals provide placement services in accordance with the skills and interests of the candidates and also have informational write-ups on career planning.

SELF APPRAISAL

A little boy went to a telephone booth which was at the cash counter of a store and dialed a number.

The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:

Boy : "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?
Woman : (at the other end of the phone line) "I already have someone to cut my lawn."
Boy : "Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price than the person who cuts your lawn now."
Woman : I'm very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.
Boy : (with more perseverance) "Lady, I'll even sweep the floor and the stairs of your house for free.
Woman : No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner : "Son... I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job."
Boy : "No thanks,
Store Owner : But you were really pleading for one.
Boy : No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!"

This is called  "Self Appraisal"