Making It Big Monday

The Interview Checklist

The goal of a selection interview is to predict the on-the-job performance of each applicant in order to select the best person for the available position. A handful of "on-paper" qualified candidates are interviewed to clarify their skills and experience and to assist their personal suitability to the position.
An interview should be viewed as an opportunity to show an employer what you have to offer, rather than as a nerve-racking ordeal.

Use this list to help with pre-interview planning.

Be Prepared

• Know where the office is and how you are going to get there on time; getting lost will only add to your anxiety level.
• Take time to choose appropriate attire (preferably the day before) and groom carefully -- appearances are important!
• Learn about the organization; the employer will want to know why you want to work there and how you think you can contribute to the organization's overall goals.
• Identify the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the job.
• Prepare two or three questions to ask the interviewer; avoid asking about benefits until you have been offered the job.

Demonstrate Good Manners

• Arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment time.
• Shake hands firmly with the interviewer when you are introduced and again when the interview concludes.

• Do not smoke, chew gum or drink tea or coffee -- even if you are invited to do so.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer; otherwise, you will give the impression that you are disinterested or untrustworthy.
• Try not to fidget; it will distract the interviewer from what you are saying.
• Allow the interviewer to take the lead; do not interrupt when she/he is talking.
• Answer questions clearly and concisely; do not ramble.
• Pause to construct a thoughtful answer; do not blurt out the first thing that comes into your mind.
• Attend to the interviewer's body language and other cues to sense when the interview is concluding; do not linger.
• Thank the interviewer for her/his time before leaving.

Be Yourself

• Convey your strengths and abilities without appearing boastful or conceited; do not exaggerate your qualifications.
• Answer the questions honestly, rather than telling the interviewer what you think she/he wants to hear; you do not want to succeed in getting hired for a job for which you are not suited!
• Do not hesitate to show your (genuine) enthusiasm and engaging personality and... remember to smile.

In General

• Volunteer information only if it is positive and pertinent.
• Watch for opportunities to sell your skills.
• Avoid using negative terms. Substitute the words "challenge" or "opportunity" for the word problem.
• Never forget that your objective is to get a job offer.

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Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 5 of 5)

Are you looking for a better job? A better Career? Recently laid off? No matter what the reason for your job search there are plenty of traditional—and not so traditional ways to find a new job. Here is part five (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks. Take time each Tuesday and read the twenty tips given. No matter how common they sound, a little tweaking always goes a long way.

81. Be nice to everyone you talk to: Be especially nice to the “gatekeepers”, those people whose job it is to protect the higher ups from unsolicited calls. They have the power to put your call through, or dump you to voice-mail.

82. Be prepared for delays: Don’t schedule an interview just before a doctor’s appointment, jury duty, or school car pool time. You will be too antsy to leave to be able to concentrate on the interview. Interviews before yours can run overtime—or yours could run long.

83. Show up early: Leave your house a bit before you need to and make sure to arrive on time.

84. Have a lunch interview? Brush up on your table manners—and pass on the alcohol, even if your host takes a drink. Order something that is easy to eat is a good idea as well—a job interview is not the best time for a messy burger and chili fries.

85. Have a second interview? If you did a great job on your first go–round, take the time to do some more in–depth research—the questions may be a little harder for this round.

86. Send a thank you note: After you have had an interview, follow up with a brief “thank you” note. Not many applicants do and it will keep you at the front of the pack of applicants.

87. Expect more than one interview: Companies have many applicants to weed through and you may need to interview with more than one person before securing a new position. Don’t be surprised if you need to meet with several people, on several different occasions before the offer comes in.

88. Offer references—and check them in advance! Ask someone if they are willing to be a reference for you before adding them to your resume.

89. Make sure your references will represent you well: A reference that gives you a “so–so” review will hurt your chances of getting that great new job!

90. Research pay rates for the job you want: Search online to get an idea what others in your field make. You should have an idea of what to expect, so you will know if an offer is a good one or not.

91. Read the materials you have been given: If you have been given information about the companies benefits program, or other job details, read through them after the interview.

92. Review benefits packages: A good benefits package can add thousands in value to your compensation package—and a poor one can cost you in the long run.

93. Labor Union: If you are in a skilled trade, look to your local group for job support. You may be able to get advanced notice of job openings and even get some apprenticeship or job training.

94. Waiting for the right offer? Consider freelancing while you wait. You will earn some extra money—and freelance jobs can easily convert to regular, fulltime positions!

95. Teach what you know: Colleges often hire “adjunct professors”, people who are experts in their chosen fields, or who excel in a particular area. You do not need a teaching degree to work as an adjunct and doing so can allow you to earn some extra money while increasing your networking potential.

96. Look in to a “recession proof” job: Certain positions are not affected by a recession—teachers, security people, police officers, IT and legal support teams are in demand even during a recession.

97. Look for “special interest” help: Are you a Veteran, or do you fall into a special interest category? If you do, there may be help available to you via your local employment commission or Veteran’s Affairs office. Be sure to check these avenues if you qualify.

98. Create your own job: Consider starting your own business. With your own business, the next time you use a job search engine you may be looking for employees of your own!

99. Consider a seasonal position: Some seasonal jobs convert to fulltime positions as well, so keep your eyes open for year round openings with your seasonal employer.

100. Don’t give up: It may take a while to find the right job—but the perfect job for you is out there and you will find it.

101. Don’t get discouraged and don’t stop trying to find the right position for you.

To view original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

How to Format a Cover Letter

How you format your cover letter, both from a content (the information you include) and a presentation (what your cover letter looks like) perspective is important. Even when applying online or via email, your cover letter needs to be properly formatted, readable, and without any mistakes.

Cover Letter Content

First of all, your cover letter needs to include your contact information (name, address, phone, email) so prospective employers can get in touch with you.

Your cover letter should include at least three paragraphs:
1. What you are applying for and where you found the job posting - First Paragraph
2. What you have to offer - Middle Paragraph(s)
3. How you will follow-up - Final Paragraph
In the first paragraph, if you are writing in response to a job posting, indicate where you learned of the position and the title of the position. More importantly, express your enthusiasm and the likely match between your credentials and the position's qualifications.

The second paragraph of your cover letter should refer specifically to the qualifications listed in the job posting and illustrate how your particular abilities and experiences relate to the position for which you are applying.

The final paragraph of your letter should reiterate your interest in the job and let the employer know how they can reach you and include your phone number and email address.

Cover Letter Format

Cover letter presentation matters as much as what you include. When writing cover letters it's important to use a basic font that is easy to read. Depending on the hiring process your cover letter may be viewed in an applicant tracking system or other online hiring system. Those systems work best reading simple text rather than fancy formatting.

It's also important for the hiring manager to be able to easily read your resume. Using a basic 12 point font will ensure that your cover letter is easy to read. Basic fonts like Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman work well. Don't forget to leave space between paragraphs and to proof your letter before you send or upload it. Do remember that your cover letter fonts should match your resume.

To view more information CLICK HERE

Making it Big Monday

Building a Personal Business Portfolio to Help Market You!

A portfolio is an excellent way to package a product, and you are the product! It will give future or current employers proof of you, your skills and abilities (what you bring to the table). Your portfolio will be made up of a sampling of artifacts which may be included on the list below:

Mandatory Entries

·        Table of Contents/Organization scheme - this will allow you to be organized during an interview. If you need a letter of reference for your interviewer, it's easy to access and will make you look much more organized
·         Résumé and Cover Letter and a Business Card - even if you have sent your résumé and cover letter via email, always bring a spare copy along for your interviewer. You can never be too prepared and you don't know if the interviewer misplaced or couldn't print off your information

Optional Entries

·         Degrees/Diplomas/Awards
·         Letters of Recommendation/References
·         Transcripts
·         Projects
·         Professional memberships
·         Community Service/Volunteer

Showcase Guidelines
·         Include an introduction and table of contents
·        Use a professional binder/ portfolio that is clean and well maintained
·         Be creative
·         Don’t punch holes in your documents
·        Have photocopies of your documents to leave with the employer
·         Use quality paper and captions to enhance the contents
·         Create all text on computer - don’t use too many font styles
·         Tailor your portfolio so it includes only relevant information to the opportunity you are seeking

Choose samples that show you in the best light. A portfolio is always a work in progress so the more you know about how to grow and maintain your portfolio the better off you will be.

10 Tips for a Professional Portfolio

1. Invest in a high-quality, leather portfolio with a zipper

2. Keep all articles, design samples, posters, or other materials that you may have worked on

3. Make sure your pieces have not been ripped out of the publication

4. Paste articles or smaller items on lightly colored paper and use double sided tape

5. Keep your pieces in chronological order as much as possible

6. Make an online portfolio

7. Paste the original copies in your portfolio

8. Add to your portfolio as you grow professionally

9.Include any certificates or special awards you may have received

10.Don’t forget to bring it with you!

A.N

How To Make A Professional Portfolio

How to Make a Professional Portfolio

What better way to introduce your skills, achievements, recommendations and qualifications to prospective employers than with a perfectly designed professional portfolio?

Here's How:

1. Create a file folder in which to file and save all professional documentation (flyers from conferences, test scores, photos, anything!)
2. Visit your nearest office supply store and buy the nicest faux leather three ring binder they offer.
3. Also, buy some plastic non-glare page protectors.
4. Sort through the papers and documents you've been saving.
5. Begin placing the items into your page protectors in a logical order, starting with your cover letter and resume first.
6. Your current job description
7. The objectives for the current year, identified by your supervisor and yourself
8. Your certificates, diplomas and training documentation
9. Continue by adding references letters, volunteer experience letters, and program outlines in the front of your portfolio.

Tips:

1. This is the time to strut your stuff, so include anything that demonstrates your skills and experience.
2. You might also like to add a brief, typed explanation of your educational philosophy.
3. Carry this portfolio with you to all interviews, job fairs, etc

Portfolio Help

PORTFOLIOS

The Importance of a Portfolio
· Sets you apart from other applicants
· Allows you to be more personal and creative
· A method of confidence-building
· Showcases your personality, accomplishments, goals and aspirations
· Provides tangible proof of your skills and abilities

Different Types of Portfolios
· Student – demonstrates knowledge attained throughout your school career.Very helpful for continuing your education.
· Project Portfolio – useful in professional or academic setting. Shows the efforts or steps taken to complete a specific task or project.
· Professional – demonstrates your skills, background, accomplishments and experiences. This is versatile and can be rearranged for a specific position.
· Online – useful in profession or academic setting. Enables your credentials to be more easily accessible. This should not take place of a hard copy portfolio. Very useful in the technology field.
· Personal – simply for personal use. A scrapbook of things that interest you.

What to include in your portfolio
· Letters of reference
· Resume
· Accomplishments
· Samples of work
· Transcripts
· Licenses or Certifications
· Evidence of specific skills

Presentation of a Portfolio
· Introductory Title Page
· Table of Contents
· Work samples
- Be sure to provide a reflection statement for each

Consider the following:
· Place items in a loose-leaf binder
· Use sheet protectors
· Use copies of your work and keep a master copy
· Organize your pages by index tabs
· Be consistent with headings and placement of items
· Avoid page numbers

AM