Have you ever been head over Monolo heels for someone? You make every effort to get their attention, you want them to notice when you aren’t around, and you problem solve endlessly about how you can secure a place in their heart. It likely will not work to approach your love interest--who unbeknownst to you is a vegetarian, likes jazz and theatre, and romance novels--and say “hi, I like hunting, skydiving, death metal, and science fiction novels!" Where is the connection? After doing some research on this individual, you need to ask yourself, “Would we make each other smile?” As I mentioned in one of my last blog posts title This is the Year to Meet Your Soul…..Job?, you have to do your research on the person, or company, before the approach. But even before researching people or companies, you must know yourself (what you value, what you want, and your interests) to know if there could even be a match.
I maintain an active and healthy lifestyle and like learning about health, diet, and exercise. Thus, about 10 years ago I was certain I wanted to become a dietitian. I told everybody my plan and was enthralled with my decision. I did my research on what courses I needed to take and upgrade just to enter into the degree program: they included math and chemistry. With some trepidation I registered for math and chemistry, neither being my strong subjects. In hindsight, I was setting myself up for disappointment and failure which was exactly what I encountered. I thought dietetics was my soul profession! Had I known myself a little better before spending countless hours proclaiming my love for the career and struggling and failing with the education, I could have saved myself a lot of time and energy. Where would I be today in my career if I had known myself better and met my match 10 years ago?! How would my life be different?
I was heartbroken! “But I was head over Monolos” I kept telling myself. Time to reassess. I deeply explored my intrinsic personality, values, beliefs, skills, weaknesses, and interests; I found…me. With every assessment completed I received a list of careers that might be a good fit. I began to see an overlap in the top five and with overwhelming clarity I knew I needed to explore these avenues. I conducted labour market research, I performed informational interviews, and I spoke with educational advisors to find wholeheartedly the best match for me. I found career development and felt the butterflies, and I knew I was head over Monolos again. This time, however, I knew the industry matched my values, skills, personality, and interests; I have found contentment and longevity in this profession--a feat I was discouraged with not too long ago. Although I still like learning about health, diet, and exercise, I realize now I didn’t want to make a career out of it; just as you may find an individual that you are head over Monolos for, who may not be your soul mate. Thus, as Shakespeare once said “To thine own self be true.”
Happy job shopping!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Hybrid Resume is like Dating "The One"
The hybrid resume is like dating “The One.” Do you believe in love at first sight? Remember the first time you met “The One?” In the first 10-15 seconds, you may have had a physiological reaction and seen your future flash before you. You start sentences, he finishes them; you stare just a little too long; you both like jazz; and he takes you on romantic excursions: stargazing, dancing in the street, on a carriage ride in New York City, and to an aquarium after hours where tropical fish serenade you. He is everything you are seeking; he was made for you!
An employer is going to take no more than 10-15 seconds to browse your resume to identify whether or not you may be “The One” for the position; therefore, you have 10-15 seconds to serenade the attention of your employer of choice. The hybrid resume is tailored to the employer; it is made specifically for one company; it is to be a match made in heaven. In your documentation you are going to tell the employer everything they ever dreamed in finding an ideal applicant including your relevant skills, achievements, and dates of your history. The nice thing about a hybrid resume is that it harmonizes relevant skills, achievements, and history, just like “The One” blends friendship with fervor.
Just about anyone can use a hybrid resume in their job search: older workers, career changers, individuals with a solid work history, students, and entry-level job seekers. Here is the disadvantage however: If you are a job-hopper or have gaps in your employment history, the hybrid resume will highlight these unfavourable circumstances and you may want to consider a functional resume instead. The key to identifying whether or not to employ a hybrid resume in your job search is to ask yourself, Do I have at least 80% of the qualifications required for the job and company I am targeting? and Do I have dates to incorporate in my documentation? If you answered yes to both of these questions, I encourage you to utilize a hybrid resume in your job search. If done correctly, the employer will quickly determine that you may be “The One.”
Happy Job Shopping!
An employer is going to take no more than 10-15 seconds to browse your resume to identify whether or not you may be “The One” for the position; therefore, you have 10-15 seconds to serenade the attention of your employer of choice. The hybrid resume is tailored to the employer; it is made specifically for one company; it is to be a match made in heaven. In your documentation you are going to tell the employer everything they ever dreamed in finding an ideal applicant including your relevant skills, achievements, and dates of your history. The nice thing about a hybrid resume is that it harmonizes relevant skills, achievements, and history, just like “The One” blends friendship with fervor.
Just about anyone can use a hybrid resume in their job search: older workers, career changers, individuals with a solid work history, students, and entry-level job seekers. Here is the disadvantage however: If you are a job-hopper or have gaps in your employment history, the hybrid resume will highlight these unfavourable circumstances and you may want to consider a functional resume instead. The key to identifying whether or not to employ a hybrid resume in your job search is to ask yourself, Do I have at least 80% of the qualifications required for the job and company I am targeting? and Do I have dates to incorporate in my documentation? If you answered yes to both of these questions, I encourage you to utilize a hybrid resume in your job search. If done correctly, the employer will quickly determine that you may be “The One.”
Happy Job Shopping!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Chronological Resume is like a Date with an Old Friend
The chronological resume is like going on a date with a long-time friend who is traditional by nature. This is the guy who pulls out the chair for you and lays his jacket over puddles so your Monolos won’t get wet; whose history and secrets you know well; he is familiar to you and comfortable to be around. You’ve participated in his life journey and watched his progression. He is transparent and most of your questions have already been answered.
The chronological resume is traditional and familiar to hiring manager; most prefer this format. It is the chronological format most job seekers employ and the format most hiring managers are conditioned to read. The chronological resume typically includes concrete content such as dates of employment, education, achievements, and professional development listed in reverse chronological order (meaning latest to earliest).
The chronological resume is employed if the job seeker has a steady, consistent, and progressive work history as it demonstrates growth in an industry. If you have had a variety of jobs in a short period of time, perhaps a functional or hybrid resume ought to be considered due to an anticipated employer’s perception of disloyalty or boredom.
A chronological resume is typically safe just like continuing with the relationship of your long-time friend. If you are seeking a relationship, ahem, resume that is even more comprehensive and offers everything desired, check out my next blog post on “The One.”
The chronological resume is traditional and familiar to hiring manager; most prefer this format. It is the chronological format most job seekers employ and the format most hiring managers are conditioned to read. The chronological resume typically includes concrete content such as dates of employment, education, achievements, and professional development listed in reverse chronological order (meaning latest to earliest).
The chronological resume is employed if the job seeker has a steady, consistent, and progressive work history as it demonstrates growth in an industry. If you have had a variety of jobs in a short period of time, perhaps a functional or hybrid resume ought to be considered due to an anticipated employer’s perception of disloyalty or boredom.
A chronological resume is typically safe just like continuing with the relationship of your long-time friend. If you are seeking a relationship, ahem, resume that is even more comprehensive and offers everything desired, check out my next blog post on “The One.”
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Functional Resume is like a Mysterious Date
The next three blog posts are a series about different resume styles and their pros and cons. The different resume styles that I will discuss include the following: functional, chronological, and hybrid. To wet your whistle, the functional resume is like going on a date with a mysterious guy, the chronological resume is like going on a date with an old friend, and the hybrid resume is like going on a date with The One! Today, I will begin with the functional.
I made the analogy that the functional resume is like going on a mysterious date because it is intriguing and tempting (and may even look scintillating) but leaves room for significant questions. The functional resume highlights your skills, knowledge, and accomplishments and how they relate to the job for which you are applying. When an employer first sees a functional resume, however, they are often suspicious that the candidate is trying to hide something as typically dates are left off this resume style. On the contrary, the most positive aspect of employing a functional resume in your job search is that you are able to create a key word rich document; a key word rich resume is often times your ticket to the next step: The interview.
If you have a sporadic work history, have worked in a variety of industries, are a new graduate (high school or university), or are over qualified for the position, you may want to employ a functional resume in your job search. Thus, minimizing the fact that work experience, consistency, or progression may be lacking. Therefore, you can leave the explanations and elaborations for the second date…I mean, interview.
A great example of a functional resume can be found in this link: http://bit.ly/oTadzy
Happy job shopping!
I made the analogy that the functional resume is like going on a mysterious date because it is intriguing and tempting (and may even look scintillating) but leaves room for significant questions. The functional resume highlights your skills, knowledge, and accomplishments and how they relate to the job for which you are applying. When an employer first sees a functional resume, however, they are often suspicious that the candidate is trying to hide something as typically dates are left off this resume style. On the contrary, the most positive aspect of employing a functional resume in your job search is that you are able to create a key word rich document; a key word rich resume is often times your ticket to the next step: The interview.
If you have a sporadic work history, have worked in a variety of industries, are a new graduate (high school or university), or are over qualified for the position, you may want to employ a functional resume in your job search. Thus, minimizing the fact that work experience, consistency, or progression may be lacking. Therefore, you can leave the explanations and elaborations for the second date…I mean, interview.
A great example of a functional resume can be found in this link: http://bit.ly/oTadzy
Happy job shopping!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Easily, Breezily, Beautifully Being Prepared
There is nothing worse then waking up the day of your interview to have everything go wrong. I woke up one morning, on the day of an interview, and bumped my shin on the side of my bed causing an instant bruise that a) did not match with the outfit I intended to wear and b) displayed its brilliant colours just under the hem of my new pencil skirt, ugh. “If this is any indication of how my day is going to go” I thought, “I am not going to get this job.” Well, my morning did not get much better: The cowlick in my hair made it impossible to have a good hair day; I poured cereal and sliced a banana to learn I did not have my typical almond milk…so I settled for a protein shake; and after choosing a new outfit (due to my early morning melee with my bed causing the bruise), I spilled protein shake on my blouse!
My saving grace was that I afforded myself enough time, in the event of a disaster (or two or three), and I performed a dry-run of my route to the interview; so, I knew how much time to allow myself to eliminate at least one morning stressor. A few days prior, I set my GPS, timed myself, and then tacked on an extra half an hour just in case a train should attempt to derail my morning or heavy traffic should arise. Further, when I arrived at my POI, I walked around familiarizing myself with the area and the building so I knew exactly where I was going on that day; and thank Gucci I did because I arrived early with enough time to relax in the waiting area and review my documentation. Lesson of the day: Afford yourself enough time in the morning, both in getting ready and in the commute, so that you eliminate added stress. The morning of an interview is never easy and why burden yourself with additional anxiety? Remember anxiety shows and you want to be an easy, breezy, beautiful cover girl for your big day.
Happy job shopping!
My saving grace was that I afforded myself enough time, in the event of a disaster (or two or three), and I performed a dry-run of my route to the interview; so, I knew how much time to allow myself to eliminate at least one morning stressor. A few days prior, I set my GPS, timed myself, and then tacked on an extra half an hour just in case a train should attempt to derail my morning or heavy traffic should arise. Further, when I arrived at my POI, I walked around familiarizing myself with the area and the building so I knew exactly where I was going on that day; and thank Gucci I did because I arrived early with enough time to relax in the waiting area and review my documentation. Lesson of the day: Afford yourself enough time in the morning, both in getting ready and in the commute, so that you eliminate added stress. The morning of an interview is never easy and why burden yourself with additional anxiety? Remember anxiety shows and you want to be an easy, breezy, beautiful cover girl for your big day.
Happy job shopping!
Monday, August 15, 2011
To Flare or not to Flare
I am often asked what type of font to use for a cover letter and resume. Here’s my take on it: Picking a font is much like picking an outfit for an event—it must be acceptable. You are likely not going to wear your best purse, heels, and jewels from New York’s runway to your friends BBQ, right? So, pick a font that suits the intention. There are two fonts frequently used by writers: serif and sans serif. I like the word serif as it represents letters with flare; meaning, letters that have semi-structural details at the corners of the letters like Times New Roman font (My opinion? Times New Roman is also more feminine). Sans serif font, sans meaning “without” in French, is very simple, stick-like, and uninteresting like Arial font. When determining which font to use, ask yourself the following questions Will I be faxing my documentation? Will I be emailing my documentation? or Will I be handing out my documentation in person?
Typically, if you are handing out your resumes and cover letters in person, a serif font like Times New Roman is a great choice; the serifs propel the reader to move forward and studies state that a serif font is easier to read in print. On the contrary, if you will be primarily faxing or emailing your resume and cover letter, you may want to choose a sans serif font which may look clean and crisp once received by the employer (most notably when faxing as fax machines tend to smear or blur the content with a serif font).
My choice is clearly a font with flare. Characteristic of my personality? Definitely!
Happy job shopping!
Typically, if you are handing out your resumes and cover letters in person, a serif font like Times New Roman is a great choice; the serifs propel the reader to move forward and studies state that a serif font is easier to read in print. On the contrary, if you will be primarily faxing or emailing your resume and cover letter, you may want to choose a sans serif font which may look clean and crisp once received by the employer (most notably when faxing as fax machines tend to smear or blur the content with a serif font).
My choice is clearly a font with flare. Characteristic of my personality? Definitely!
Happy job shopping!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Bait the Hook to Suit the Fish. Don't use Wasabi!
I was invited on a fishing trip and figured, I haven’t been adventurous in awhile, so I accepted. Standing in my walk-in closet staring at Coach Purses, Rock and Republic Jeans, and my Valentino Sunglasses I wondered what I was thinking in accepting this invitation—I have nothing to wear! I managed to find some old Guess Jeans at the bottom of my drawer, a sweatshirt, and a couple of t-shirts to sustain my fishing weekend. I also took a pair of heels…just in case.
Holding the hook, I asked, “what do I put on it?” My girlfriend replies, “what the fish wants,” and pulls out a wriggling worm—yuck! “Can’t I put the hook in the water bare like this fall season’s fashion trends?” I was not going to touch that slimy worm. My girlfriend then says to me, “you can, and you may snag something, but your chances of attracting a fish increase greatly if you lure them with what they want.” Ah (chandelier bulb), at that time, I had a hankering for sushi but I wasn’t going to put some wasabi on the hook because that’s not going to attract a fish. I thought this is what I try to teach my job search clients; you can’t apply for any job, you have to do some research and find out what the employer wants. The dilemma most job seekers face is that they write their resumes for themselves, adding achievements or certifications that they are proud of, but in that the employer takes no interest. Thus, we have to identify our target audience, what they want to see, and how we attract them? When writing your resume, the page is your hook; the content, your bait.
I caught a couple of fish that trip, with the assistance of my friend’s fearlessness of slimy animals, and took home a valuable lesson: Bait the hook to suit the fish. Now, I have to do my research on what a handsome real estate agent with a great car and an excellent physique wants.
Happy job shopping!
Holding the hook, I asked, “what do I put on it?” My girlfriend replies, “what the fish wants,” and pulls out a wriggling worm—yuck! “Can’t I put the hook in the water bare like this fall season’s fashion trends?” I was not going to touch that slimy worm. My girlfriend then says to me, “you can, and you may snag something, but your chances of attracting a fish increase greatly if you lure them with what they want.” Ah (chandelier bulb), at that time, I had a hankering for sushi but I wasn’t going to put some wasabi on the hook because that’s not going to attract a fish. I thought this is what I try to teach my job search clients; you can’t apply for any job, you have to do some research and find out what the employer wants. The dilemma most job seekers face is that they write their resumes for themselves, adding achievements or certifications that they are proud of, but in that the employer takes no interest. Thus, we have to identify our target audience, what they want to see, and how we attract them? When writing your resume, the page is your hook; the content, your bait.
I caught a couple of fish that trip, with the assistance of my friend’s fearlessness of slimy animals, and took home a valuable lesson: Bait the hook to suit the fish. Now, I have to do my research on what a handsome real estate agent with a great car and an excellent physique wants.
Happy job shopping!
Monday, July 4, 2011
This is the Year to Meet Your Soul…..Job?
Ladies, have you ever used a dating site to meet your soul mate? I can’t count the number of individuals I know who have found the love of their life by utilizing a dating site. I suppose it makes sense as dating sites work at matching up individuals with similar likes, interests, values, personality traits, etc. When the successful matches are high in numbers, it makes me wonder why we don’t employ the same theories in our job search. If you discover an available job in a company whose interests, culture, and values align with your own, you may have found your perfect match. You may have found your…soul job, in other words. Ah, love is grand.
When evaluating a potential employer, do your research. Go to the company’s website and click on the “About Us” section. Often times this section will contain the company’s mission statement, vision statement, and values. Perhaps you may set up an informational interview to discuss how the company will advance in the future, what the employer likes about working there, and how the hiring manager began working for the company. It could be like your first date to see if you would like to continue the relationship. When getting into the field of career development, I conducted three informational interviews with companies for whom I thought I might like to work. Wouldn’t you know, all three companies contacted me within the next three months to offer me an interview. Luckily, I found my soul job…we’ve been in love ever since.
Happy job shopping!
When evaluating a potential employer, do your research. Go to the company’s website and click on the “About Us” section. Often times this section will contain the company’s mission statement, vision statement, and values. Perhaps you may set up an informational interview to discuss how the company will advance in the future, what the employer likes about working there, and how the hiring manager began working for the company. It could be like your first date to see if you would like to continue the relationship. When getting into the field of career development, I conducted three informational interviews with companies for whom I thought I might like to work. Wouldn’t you know, all three companies contacted me within the next three months to offer me an interview. Luckily, I found my soul job…we’ve been in love ever since.
Happy job shopping!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Interests: Fashion, etc.
I like Coach Purses, Mary Jane Shoes, Gucci Sunglasses, and Juicy Jewelry. I thought that after the employer was finished devouring my employment experience, extensive education, and professional development she might want some dessert. Thus, I added my interests that I am passionate about: Coach Purses, Mary Jane Shoes, Gucci Sunglasses, and Juicy Jewelry. I cogitated that it would be nice for the hiring manager to know something about me as a unique individual rather than simply learning about my dry employment related past. Whoops!
A couple of weeks went by with no contact from the hiring manager; so I called her to learn that she had filled the position. I set up a time with her to call back and receive some feedback. She asked how my interest in purses, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry were relevant to the marketing position for which I was applying. Um, hmm. I was stymied! She explained to me that she is not interested in what I fancy and that I ought to leave it off my professional document. After working for years in the career development field, I learned that many hiring managers do not care about your interests, they are concerned with their own—which at the time, is to hire the right candidate for the position. Had I been applying for a position with Holt Renfrew for a retail salesperson position, it may have been acceptable for me to add my interests to fill some white space; but, I was applying for a marketing position! Lesson learned: Keep the interests off, unless you have some white space to furnish and some relevant interests to satisfy that space. I’ll save the purses, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry conversation for my weekend expeditions with the ladies.
Happy job shopping!
A couple of weeks went by with no contact from the hiring manager; so I called her to learn that she had filled the position. I set up a time with her to call back and receive some feedback. She asked how my interest in purses, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry were relevant to the marketing position for which I was applying. Um, hmm. I was stymied! She explained to me that she is not interested in what I fancy and that I ought to leave it off my professional document. After working for years in the career development field, I learned that many hiring managers do not care about your interests, they are concerned with their own—which at the time, is to hire the right candidate for the position. Had I been applying for a position with Holt Renfrew for a retail salesperson position, it may have been acceptable for me to add my interests to fill some white space; but, I was applying for a marketing position! Lesson learned: Keep the interests off, unless you have some white space to furnish and some relevant interests to satisfy that space. I’ll save the purses, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry conversation for my weekend expeditions with the ladies.
Happy job shopping!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Leading from the Heart
Well, I am back from my educational hiatus. I have recently completed my Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology. Thus, I have time on my hands to write.
I went to a conference recently on leadership and was utterly inspired. I would like to start off 2011 with an inspirational story that touched my heart and taught me an important lesson. The lesson is: Lead with your heart. For all you ladies seeking managerial or supervisory positions, this message will be particularly important for you and how you approach your resumes, cover letters, and interviews. A manager is efficient, knows where and when to cut costs, knows how to write proposals, and attains goals; a leader on the other hand, knows her team, inspires, encourages, motivates, listens, takes time to problem solve how to move individuals forward, and leads with the heart. You never know whose life you will change in doing so. Please find below the story that inspired me; it is long, but worth it!
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her fifth grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie? Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same? But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade Teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed, how pretty the bracelet was. She put it on and dabbed some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "pets".
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
Friday, August 27, 2010
We all want our time in the spotlight. Here’s your chance!
As a little girl, I wanted to be famous! I was always the centre of attention and would demand the spotlight from anyone who seemed uninterested in my freshly created painting or newly learned acrobatics. It is curious to me that as I matured, and found myself in (what felt like) dungeon-like interview torture chambers, I no longer wanted to be the centre of attention. Stop asking me all these questions about myself! It was painful! Truth be told: The more you do, the easier interviewing becomes. Thankfully for you, I have been through many a “torture chamber” and survived to transfer my successes to you.
Here is what I learned:
Wait to be seated. It is extremely awkward to sit when the employer is still up walking around. By waiting you are exhibiting courtesy and politeness.
Bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter; you never know who will be in the room interviewing you. Respectfully offer additional copies to ensure everyone has your documents.
Use your resume as a cheat sheet throughout your interview. Remember, your resume lists your work experience; your skills, evidence, and what they can do for the employer; your education; your achievements; and potentially a whole lot more. If you are puzzled by a question, briefly scan your resume to prompt your memory.
Propose returning to a question later if you are feeling stymied. Please only use this tactic once or twice at most as you could imagine the perception of the employer when your response to every other question is “may we return to this question at the end?”
Take time in the awkward silences to create a genuine answer. Employers know when you are talking for the sake of talking because you felt uncomfortable in the space between the question and your answer. The last time I conducted interviews, multiple interviewees provided me with intricate elaborate stories that never answered my question because they felt pressured by the silence. Someone who takes the time to search their memory for the best possible answer shows me that they are genuine and will be thoughtful and careful in their role, not jump the gun.
Try not to fill the void with um, ah, you know, or like in those silences that you feel are awkward. These words could be distracting the employer from the real content you want them to remember. Using these words may also demonstrate poorer oral communication skills then you actually possess. Simply speaking: be cognizant.
Bring your portfolio to evidence or support anything you state. By referring to your portfolio, you may be also demonstrating your presentation skills.
Ask questions at the end of your interview. Inquire about the company’s goals. Ask when you should expect to know the outcome. Query about what the interviewer likes about working for the company. And my fave: What does an ideal candidate look like for this position, in your opinion? Google questions to ask at an interview to discover many more. Asking questions at the end of the interview demonstrates your interest in working with the company and your interest in ensuring this is the right “fit” for the both of you. Have a minimum of three questions prepared.
Remember these tips and certainly you will be the centre of attention, and, maybe even land yourself your dream job. Happy job shopping!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Secrets
Hey Gossip Girl! I bet you love secrets just as much as I do; therefore, I am going to let you in on one of my fave’s. Don’t tell ok? On second thought.....let’s tell everybody!
When in an interview and the hiring manager asks you, “tell me about yourself,” what do you say? Does the hiring manager want you to talk about your hobbies? Your work history? Your education? Your family? Where do you start? Ugh. I was stumped by this enquiry myself, until I learned a little trick. Lean in a little closer so I can whisper to you my secret: Utilize the acronym W.E.P.! W.E.P. stands for:
Work history
Education and training
Personal
Remember this acronym and you will never fret the dreaded enquire tell me about yourself again. For example, my friend Blair has an interview for a retail position. The hiring manager asks, “tell me about yourself Blair.” Blair may answer something like this:
I have worked in the customer service industry for 5 years including 2.5 years in retail. My education and training consists of 1+ years post secondary in Fashion Marketing and I am World Host certified which validates my skills in customer service. Something personal about myself is that I am extremely customer focused, great with conflict resolution, and I love to stay on the cutting edge of fashion.
What do you think? Blair has given a very strong and well-rounded answer in my opinion. Remember, when speaking of your work history, to quantify your years of experience if possible and leave out anything that is not relevant. For example, if Blair also worked in landscaping for 1 year, she is likely going to leave that information out. When speaking of education and training, you can always use high school, post secondary, or any certifications you may have received that are relevant to the position. Again, if Blair also has her Serving it Right, she is not going to mention it in her retail interview. Furthermore, something personal about yourself could be soft skills, hard skills, or even relevant hobbies.
Essentially, when the hiring manager asks you to tell him/her something about yourself, they are asking you to sell yourself in 30 seconds or less; so, provide only the highlights. We could call this your 30 second commercial; you will find that having a 30 second commercial will benefit you in other areas of your life also—not just in the interview.
Happy job shopping!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Miss DJ play my song!
You’ve handed out hundreds of resumes and cover letters and have not answered your bejewelled cell once to hear an invitation to an interview. What is going on??? Are you targeting your promotional documents (resume, cover letter, etc.) to the jobs for which you are applying? Targeting your documents is time consuming, I know; however, isn’t it better to take a day or two to target your documents and find quicker results than create lacklustre general documents that the employer will likely yawn at?
Here is an analogy to help you learn how to target your documents: A DJ has hundreds, maybe thousands of songs, but is she going to play all of her songs at each gig she receives? Put her playlist on random and hope the crowd dances? Likely not. The DJ is going to put together playlists based on the type of gig obtained: wedding, night club, graduation, etc. You, ladies, are the DJ; the event, is the job; and the playlist, is your skills.
Say you are applying for a position as a Food and Beverage Server. Are you, Miss DJ, going to talk about that time you worked in a warehouse folding boxes all day? Or that job landscaping one summer? Do you think the employer will be interested to know what is not relevant to the position? Probably not. Employers are getting dozens of resumes each day and they do not have time to read what is not relevant to the job; therefore, like the DJ who chooses her music based on the type of gig, you choose your skills to showcase based on the type of job. So, maybe instead of promoting your physical aptitudes, ability to work outside in all weather conditions, or capacity to do repetitive tasks for eight hours, you can advertise your approachability, salesmanship, professionalism, great memory, proven ability to work with a sense of urgency, and cash handling skills—to name a few. So, if I am the employer and you are applying for a job within my company, please Miss DJ, play my song!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Preparing for Vancouver’s......daylife?
I went to a classy Vancouver Night Club last Saturday. You know what time I had scheduled in my agenda to start preparing for the evening? 4 o’clock PM. My friends were not coming to pick me up until 7PM!!! Even then, I was still applying my fancy Elizabeth Arden lip gloss as I hurried out the door. Three hours it took me to get ready because I showered, I primped, I curled, I brushed my teeth, I flossed, and finally, I had to decide what clothes to wear so I could match my make-up! My question is, why do ladies spend so much time preparing for parties and night clubs, and yet, lack the preparation time required for interviews?
Preparing for your nightlife should be no different really than preparing for your interview—hygienically and aesthetically speaking; however, there are a few more preparation tips you should know:
First, make certain you know yourself. Know your work and volunteer history; your education including post secondary, certifications, and professional development; personal attributes that would be a great asset to the company; and any awards you may have received. In addition, make sure you know your strengths and weaknesses. Remember to always back up your strengths with evidence and remember to talk about your weaknesses genuinely and how you working to improve them.
Second, know the company. Research, research, research the company. Know what kinds of products or services they offer. Know the company’s mission and vision statements. Knowing the company will help you to answer the questions Why do you want to work for this company? and What makes you the best fit for this position? Have you ever been asked what you know about a company to answer that you have no idea? Did you get the job?
Third, practice! Practice answering typical and behavioural interview questions such as Tell me about yourself or What are three skills you would like to improve? For a great list of questions to practice answering, check out the following link from the City of Vancouver website, http://vancouver.ca/humanresources/interviewprep.htm.
Fourth, generate a list of questions to ask the employer. Again, you can refer to the City of Vancouver’s link above for great questions to ask the employer. Asking the employer questions demonstrates your interest in the company and where they are headed in the future; in addition, you are making sure the company will be a good fit for you. Remember, interviewing is a two way street; the company is trying to find a good candidate to fill a position and you are trying to find a company for whom you will be proud to work. My fave question is In your opinion, what does an ideal candidate look like for this position? If the employer answers with attributes or qualifications that you possess, that were not discussed in the interview, here is your opportunity to speak to them.
Fifth, print extra copies of your resume and cover letter in case there are additional people in the interview room. Always offer additional copies of your resume and cover letter in case the interviewers do not all have copies. Additionally, make sure you have copies for yourself that you can use as a cheat sheet in your interview. It is always nice to have something to refer to rather than relying solely on your memory.
Finally, do a dry-run of the travel to the interview. You will know exactly the route you will take and how much travel time to allot yourself in the morning. Hopefully, you will be relaxed and not applying your lip gloss hurriedly out the door. Happy job shopping!
Preparing for your nightlife should be no different really than preparing for your interview—hygienically and aesthetically speaking; however, there are a few more preparation tips you should know:
First, make certain you know yourself. Know your work and volunteer history; your education including post secondary, certifications, and professional development; personal attributes that would be a great asset to the company; and any awards you may have received. In addition, make sure you know your strengths and weaknesses. Remember to always back up your strengths with evidence and remember to talk about your weaknesses genuinely and how you working to improve them.
Second, know the company. Research, research, research the company. Know what kinds of products or services they offer. Know the company’s mission and vision statements. Knowing the company will help you to answer the questions Why do you want to work for this company? and What makes you the best fit for this position? Have you ever been asked what you know about a company to answer that you have no idea? Did you get the job?
Third, practice! Practice answering typical and behavioural interview questions such as Tell me about yourself or What are three skills you would like to improve? For a great list of questions to practice answering, check out the following link from the City of Vancouver website, http://vancouver.ca/humanresources/interviewprep.htm.
Fourth, generate a list of questions to ask the employer. Again, you can refer to the City of Vancouver’s link above for great questions to ask the employer. Asking the employer questions demonstrates your interest in the company and where they are headed in the future; in addition, you are making sure the company will be a good fit for you. Remember, interviewing is a two way street; the company is trying to find a good candidate to fill a position and you are trying to find a company for whom you will be proud to work. My fave question is In your opinion, what does an ideal candidate look like for this position? If the employer answers with attributes or qualifications that you possess, that were not discussed in the interview, here is your opportunity to speak to them.
Fifth, print extra copies of your resume and cover letter in case there are additional people in the interview room. Always offer additional copies of your resume and cover letter in case the interviewers do not all have copies. Additionally, make sure you have copies for yourself that you can use as a cheat sheet in your interview. It is always nice to have something to refer to rather than relying solely on your memory.
Finally, do a dry-run of the travel to the interview. You will know exactly the route you will take and how much travel time to allot yourself in the morning. Hopefully, you will be relaxed and not applying your lip gloss hurriedly out the door. Happy job shopping!
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