How to Prepare for a Successful Interview

How to Prepare for a Successful Interview No matter how many times you iron that navy blue suit, you keep finding a wrinkle! That wrinkle threatens to upend your interview as it mocks you with its crinkly wry expression. Spritz a little water on it, and try again. If not, grab another pair of slacks and your favorite dress shirt, and get ready to turn up the charm and confidence. You’ve got skills to sell because you do what you do so well. Here’s every tip to succeed in preparing for interview victory. Getting to Know the Company and Culture First things first â€" you need to know what you’re walking into here. Get to know the company and culture, so the conversation isn’t one way. The Internet Knows All â€" Almost Everything Scour the great wide web for all you can find out about the company, and find real folks to talk to about the company. What are their impressions of the company? Read news releases and articles about the company from multiple sources. Read reviews on Glassdoor from previous interviewees and employees. Don’t just glance at the company website or scan the social media profiles. Dig deep. Learn More About Who Who is the company? What kind of people work for them? Who is your supervisor, and who will make up your team? Lean into the staff listings and search names to see if you can find articles or blogs by the leaders and staff at the company. Read up, and take notes on what interests you most. You also gain insight into what it means to excel at this company. Interview the Product Interview the product before you head right into the meeting. Use and get to know a product the company sells, if you can. Now, you’re entitled to offer feedback and kudos. Glassdoor Reviews Don’t Dish Everything Think of Glassdoor as a guide because previous and current employees will all have mixed feelings about their work experience at the company, and some bad reviews aren’t all they’re chalked up to be. The internet will reveal a bad egg, the more you dig. Take it with a grain of salt. Gain Intel On the Interview Before You Go In Don’t go into a mission â€" interview â€" blind. When preparing for interview, the first step is finding out what you’re getting yourself into before you show up. Call in Advance for an Interviewer List Know who will interview you and other significant employees you will meet along the way, such as the person giving you the tour but not interviewing you. Use your sleuthing skills to learn more about them, and prepare questions for each interviewer to hone in on a common interest or relevant topic, such as their focus at the company. Ask About the Interview Format This is one of the questions you can â€" and should â€" ask before the interview. Know the interview types you’ll participate in since many companies offer different interview structures. You may do a series of single interviews or a group interview. You may get interviewed by your team and then a leadership staff. You may have to take a test. Take time to familiarize yourself with the style they choose. Kiss the Evil Wrinkle Goodbye â€" Selecting Your Perfect Interview Outfit It’s time to iron out your professional fashion woes. Here’s how to select your perfect interview outfit. Innovate the Dress Code Is the company more traditional or eclectic? Consider who you will meet and the environment you’ll be in â€" is the company tour more of a hike? Don’t be afraid to ask: “Should I arrive in a suit, or does the company prefer a more casual style?” While the culture may thrive on a casual vibe, you should still dress up a little more for your interview. For staunch business attire, visit a tailor to get the best cut for you. For men, style up with cuff links, snazzy shoes and a tie. Use a pop of color underneath darker clothes, or let fun patterns and colors show only in your accents. Build on basics. Polish and Pamper Once you select your innovated interview attire, clean, press and tailor it to your perfect, professional fit. Clean your nails. Keep makeup light. One statement piece of jewelry only, please. Nix loose hems and thread. Shine your shoes. The details factor into your first impression, so take the time to pamper yourself and destress, too. Printing and Pre-Game Preparation You have so much paper and no idea what to do with it all. Calm down and focus on printing what you need with these pre-game preparation tips. Five Copy Resume Rule Remember your interview list? Good. Print out a copy of your resume for each interviewer, with an extra copy or two, just in case. Regardless, a good rule of thumb is to print five copies of your resume. Make an Interview Survival Kit Time to make a survival kit. It should hold the everyday essentials and interview musts, such as a notepad and resumes. Printed directions with parking notes are helpful in the event your GPS doesn’t work. Don’t forget a stain stick and breath mints and a water for the ride. Organize your purse or briefcase, but leave what you can in the car. Review Your Career Timeline Don’t stress about memorizing verbatim answers or rehearsing questions too much. Know your story by reviewing your career timeline focusing on characters and setting. You tell your story well on paper, but you need to translate that into real life. Who knows you better than yourself? Study Early and Review Briefly Late Got technical tests to pass or questions to answer? Prepare early on, and limit the time you spend crunching beforehand. Limit reviews to an hour or two in the days leading up to your interview. You’ll stress less. Plan to Stall in Advance You will struggle to answer at least one question. What’s your go-to phrase to skip by dead air and gain more time? Part of it is breathing and pacing yourself â€" don’t be a nervous talker. Say, “That’s a great question. Here are my thoughts” If you need time to answer, just say so. Make a Cheat Sheet Make a list of what you’ll need to remember for your interview. Colored pens work wonders for organization. Put a copy where you’ll find it, such as on your steering wheel or your fridge. Slip one into your survival kit. Sleep Shut those weary eyes to let your brain process all of that information you reviewed. Let your mind ease itself from stress. Don’t go to the interview with bags under your eyes and your lips resembling that wrinkle in your once trusty navy blue suit. Now, stride into that interview with confidence. Follow these tips when preparing for interview success to make your best first impression and get the call you’ve been waiting for. For more interview tips and tricks, subscribe to Punched Clocks. Keep the conversation going by sharing and commenting. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.

How To Get The Best Qualities From A Resume And CV Writing Service

How To Get The Best Qualities From A Resume And CV Writing ServiceThe business of resume and CV writing service Exeter is one that provides services for organizations that would want to stand out in a competitive market. And where can one turn to get help with this?Exeter has a large and diverse range of services for consumers and businesses. Businesses can choose from a range of different types of service provided by Exeter including audio narration, resume writing services, graphical presentations, videos, job search tips, publishing services, special offers, and a host of other products and services. The list goes on.With Exeter, businesses can look for a range of services in one location as well as look for the right service providers at the same time. In addition, customers can find all sorts of service offerings online too, such as from resume writing to technical and legal services.When looking for the right Exeter resume writing service, businesses should be aware of a few po ints about Exeter. Exeter also has an array of services available for consumers that include user-friendly software applications for resume writing, CV online submission and website designing and development.When looking for a service provider for Exeter, customers can also search for the best CV services in the UK or even overseas. Exeter has a lot of features and services to offer, so businesses can also look for the best service providers available in their locality.Business owners can also look for excellent performance, reliability, accountability, and professionalism in the service provider they hire. Another point to consider when looking for the right Exeter service is whether or not the firm delivers on time, as service delivery is the responsibility of the company in question.The servicesof Exeter are intended to deliver on time. Business owners should also consider the level of experience of the company providing the services. If a CV writing service is offering the servi ce, it is a good idea to ensure that the service provider has more than five years of experience in the CV writing industry.

When to Ask for a Raise at Work

When to Ask for a Raise at Work You haven’t seen a raise since the Great Recession hit the country, and you probably feel overdue for a salary bump. But when is the right time to ask your boss or supervisor for a raise? Does your timing play a role in whether you’re likely to nab that paycheck boost? It sure does. Here are five times when you should demand â€" or at least ask for â€" a raise from your boss. 1. You’ve Made or Saved Your Company Money Have you worked on a new advertising campaign that has increased sales at your company? Maybe you’ve recommended new technology that has saved your company thousands of dollars per year. If you’ve done something that has either boosted your company’s revenues or cut its expenses, there might be no better time than now to ask for a raise. Just make sure to remind your supervisor of the benefit you’ve just brought your company. And if your boss refuses your request for a pay raise even when shown this evidence? Then it might really be slow going to get a raise at this company. 2. You’ve Surpassed a Goal Maybe your boss asked you to land three new clients this quarter, but you brought in five. Or maybe your supervisor asked you to create a new video promoting a product in three months and you wrapped your work in just two. If you’ve not only met, but surpassed, a big goal, it’s time to ask for a raise â€" especially if you do so consistently. Your goal when asking for more money is to show your employer how valuable you are to the company. You want your boss to know that the extra money you’re requesting pales in comparison to your value. The best time to prove this is when you’ve exceeded your boss’ expectations. 3. You Just Got Another Job Offer There’s something appealing about negotiating from a position of strength. If you’ve gotten a job offer from another company, you now have an advantage when it’s time to negotiate a raise. Don’t be afraid to tell your boss that you’ve gotten an offer from another firm. Tell your boss, too, that you’d like to stay put, but that you’ll need a salary bump to do so. If your boss doesn’t want to lose you, the odds are good that your raise will be forthcoming. Be careful, though. Only threaten to leave if you really are willing to accept your new job offer. And don’t ever bluff your boss by pretending that you’ve been offered another job. This could backfire if your boss refuses your request for a raise. If you don’t have that fallback job to turn to, life can get pretty awkward around the office. 4. You’ve Been Asked to Train a New Employee If your boss asks you to train a new employee, it’s a sure sign that your boss respects and appreciates the work you’ve done. Your boss thinks you are talented and knowledgeable enough to mentor a new worker. Now that you know this, there are few better times to request a raise. Remind your boss that you are taking on a new responsibility by training an employee and that you’d like to be rewarded for it. 5. Your Division Is Thriving Maybe your entire company isn’t raking in the big dollars, but your division or department is thriving. It’s actually growing and generating an ever-increasing amount of profits. If this is the case, you can ask for a raise confidently even if your company isn’t having a record-setting year. Remind your boss that you are an integral part of the company division that is performing well. And offer evidence that your work is part of the reason for that success. No matter when you ask for a raise, make sure that you come armed with concrete reasons why you deserve the paycheck boost. It’s not enough to remind your boss that you haven’t had a raise in five, seven, or 10 years. You need to convince your boss that your performance is boosting the company, and that you’re too much of a valued employee to potentially lose over a $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000 raise. More From Wise Bread: 10 Important Signs That Your Job Sucks 5 Ways a Side Hustle Can Further Your Career 5 Things to Say to Your Boss to Get a Promotion or Raise 10 Important Signs That Your Job Sucks 5 Ways a Side Hustle Can Further Your Career 5 Things to Say to Your Boss to Get a Promotion or Raise

7 Tips To Help You Protect Your Online Reputation - Work It Daily

7 Tips To Help You Protect Your Online Reputation - Work It Daily All press is good press, right? Not really. When you’re talking about your online reputation, what the Internet says about you can make or break getting accepted into college or being hired for a job. It can also affect how people think about you - your parents, in laws or elementary school teachers will all form opinions based on your Internet presence. Here are some tips to help you protect your online reputation: 1. Sign Up For Social Media Websites Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google Plus all rank highly in searches. If you’re trying to crowd out a bad review about your business, having various social media profiles that will turn up in search results will help the bad information to be pushed further back, reducing the chance of anybody finding it. 2. Don’t Post Negative Things About Yourself Far too often, social media users are their own worst enemy. Take your social media accounts seriously and assume that your future teachers and bosses will be looking at your feeds. Even if you use the Internet mainly for play, be wary of what you post. Also, don’t trust privacy settings. They change often and what you think is private can soon become public. 3. Remove Reputation-Damaging Information If someone posts something that’s not true about you, reach out to them to request that they change it. Often, bloggers are concerned that their own reputation will be ruined if people find out they’re not relaying honest information. It’s not enough to simply mention somewhere that a previous article had misinformation - the information itself should be removed, changed, or corrected. 4. Start A Blog By regularly posting to your blog and using keywords that are highly searched for, you can crowd out the negative information. Even better is if your blog is on a website that has your name as the domain name. 5. Don’t Go Too Crazy With Protecting Your Reputation Sure, you don’t want to have a picture of you mooning your senior class on your Facebook, but a photo of you enjoying a martini at a wedding is completely fine. If it’s not embarrassing or illegal, it’s probably not as taboo as you think. Employers want to see that you have a personality, too. 6. Don’t Assume All Hope Is Lost Even the biggest names in Hollywood had awful reputations at one point that they managed to turn around. How’d they do it? A lot of celebrities rebuilt their reputation with social media, of all things. Just like the Internet can tarnish a rep, it can also help you build a whole new one. Websites like Reputation.com are dedicated to helping people protect and regain their good reputation online. 7. Put Your Best Foot Forward You may think that your Instagram profile doesn't need to have a well thought out tagline, but it does. You may assume that spelling and grammar and Facebook doesn't matter, but it does. First of all, you can't convey what you want to if your English is poor. Secondly, any quality employer is going to want their future employee to be a solid writer and speaker. Information Is There To Stay Once something’s been posted online, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of it. Often, the best you can do is make sure there’s enough good information about you online that it weighs out or covers up the bad information. As always, though, the best defense is prevention. A Final Note Think of your name as your own, personal brand. Protect and market that brand as you would your own company. There are plenty of ways to show your personality without ruining your reputation! Make sure that the Internet is full of positive, interesting and kind things about you, even if your online past isn't so fresh and clean. Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles: Protect Your Digital Reputation: 10 Useful Tips Online Reputation Management For Executives How To Protect Your Online Reputation Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

Why the Hybrid Resume is the Best Resume Format

Why the Hybrid Resume is the Best Resume FormatPosted on August 7, 2019August 29, 2019 by Paige Doepke The kreuzung resume, also called a combination resume, is a combination of the chronological resume format and the functional resume format.The hybrid resume highlights the job seekers skills and achievements section first (like a functional resume) followed by work experience (the focus of a chronological resume format). While the chronological resume format seems a bit too traditional to some modern job seekers, the functional resume format is typically not preferred by hiring managers.Think of it like Goldilocks and the Three Bearsthe hybrid resume is the resume format thats just right.The Benefits of a Hybrid Resume FormatHighlights skills and accomplishmentsTakes the pressure off of work history/gaps (but doesnt hide it)Top-loaded style shows hiring managers the most valuable information firstThe neutral format appeals to both traditional and non-traditional hiring managersA hy brid resume example that leans more towards the traditional side. (Download .docx schablone)The functional resume template focuses on skills as well, but it is not preferred by hiring managers because it tends to leave out employment history and gaps in employment, which makes the applicant seem unforthcoming. Employment gaps happen, and most hiring managers will understand. The hybrid format helps diminish those gaps without totally hiding them.It also helps hiring managers see your best selling points (your skills) first. As Jessica H. Hernandez, Executive Resume Writer explains, Hiring managers are not reading the entire resume on the first pass. Theyre going to scan over it for position titles, employment dates, keywords and metrics that stand out before deciding to read it thoroughly. The resume format you choose should make those areas of information simple to locate and read.Who Should Use a Hybrid Resume FormatThe hybrid resume is, most often, the best option for a job seeke r, but it is particularly useful to those starting out in the workforce for the first time, changing careers or re-entering the workforce.This format shifts the focus away from work experience and turns the attention toward transferrable skills (skills that you may not have picked up by working in a particular industry but still apply to the job for which youre applying), which is why its great for people who dont necessarily want to showcase their work history.If youre applying for a job in the same industry that youve worked in for many years, you can also consider the chronological resume format.Hybrid Resume Examples and TemplatesDownload Classic hybrid resume template(.docx)Download Mid-level hybrid resume template (.docx)Download Management hybrid resume template (.docx)Get additional templates here.Skills sections are an important part of any hybrid resume.Including skills also helps your resume make it past applicant tracking systems. Jobscan compares the job description to your resume and lets you know exactly which skills youre missing. To write a great hybrid resume, this is what you need to knowWhich fonts will get the most out of your resumeThe difference between job duties powerful accomplishmentsHow to write your accomplishments (fill in the blank)How to top-load your resumeFacebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important

Things You Should Know About Resume Buzz Words

Things You Should Know About Resume Buzz Words Resume Buzz Words Ideas In earlier times job seekers personally walked into companies and waited in lines simply to submit their resumes and to receive an opportunity to acquire an interview. Many resumes are put on job hunting websites or included within an individuals profile on a site like LinkedIn. The keywords in your resume can help you get selected for a work interview. Keywords from the work announcement has to be utilized throughout the resume to reveal the reader which you are capable of being the candidate they are trying to find. After you have identified the words that you ought to use within your resume make sure you actually utilize them. Action words are used to refer to your impact in prior roles. Not all words are here for the very long term, obviously, and a few are plain ridiculous, but if you wish to remain at the forefront of the buzz, there are some you definitely will need to understand. The important po int to understand is you shouldnt pick words you believe you have to use and then fit them into your resume. The Fight Against Resume Buzz Words Should you need additional inspiration, then you will need to glance at resume examples 2017. In the majority of the areas, grabbing a teaching job is tricky to find. Action words ought to be used to spell out the way in which you carried out your duties and to boost the achievement youre mentioning. Retooling your resume doesnt need to be as hard as you think, although it sounds somehow daunting. Who Else Wants to Learn About Resume Buzz Words? Besides using appropriate keywords and phrases in your resume, it is likewise crucial that you check the content of your resume to make sure that youre handing in the very best paper for the job available. Resumes are a thing not many individuals understand how to improve correctly, especially if we speak about keywords. There are those who use keywords only for the interest of using keyword s. There are particular keywords for every single industry. You assemble a resume that resembles a million others, then describe yourself as creative. If you truly want your resume to produce the best impression possible, you will need to use them correctly. Employing action words, recruiters can find a better feeling of your prior experience and you may present your initiative. You should use words that force you to stick out from the crowd not make you just another portion of it. Among the ways to raise its effectiveness is by employing power words. A good example may be the buzzword creative. Steer clear of repetition, and just utilize words that you understand. The proper words help you express the role of your goods or service with flair.

Attracting Talent to Job Openings - May 2015 Roundup

Attracting Talent to Job Openings - May 2015 RoundupIn the month of May, our hiring and recruiting roundup theme is how recruiters and hiring professionals attract talent to their job openings. Just as April showers are needed in order to grow May flowers, companies need great talent in order to grow their organization. Attracting general talent can be simple, but attracting the right kind of talent with the skills and cultural fit youre looking for can be tricky.Throughout the month, we collected highly informative and useful blog posts that anflug on this topic. We know youre busy and might not have time to read through each and every article in its entirety, so we summed up each article to give you a taste of what was discussed in each one.Try These Trends to Attract Top TalentWith company competition on the rise, which steps do organizations take in order to stand out from the rest? Is it their vacation policy? In-office benefits like catered lunches or weekly massages? According to Amelia Wilcox, founder of Incorporate Massage, culture is what attracts top talent. But how can we create an inviting and meaningful culture?This article highlights six trending perks that many companies are including in their benefits packages. Among the trends mentioned include, corporate retreats, fun competitions, volunteering programs, and in-house rock climbing walls.And if you dont have the budget to install a rock wall in your lobby (like most of us), your organization can also opt for weekly outings to the local rock climbing facility. Anything to get your employees mora involved, working toward teamwork both inside and outside of the office is key here.With company competition on the rise, which steps do youtake in order to stand out? HiringTrendsClick To Tweet3 Tired and True Ways to Attract Top TalentThis blog post written by Spark Hires CEO, Josh Tolan, explains three innovative ways recruiting professionals go about attracting top talent.Katrina Collier of Winning Impression, suggests using social media to map candidates interests to start a hyper-focused conversation. Connecting to your potential candidates this way is huge when looking at recruiting success, as the candidate will feel their interests matter to you.Amy Rees Anderson of REES Capital, gives out recruiting cards in order to attract the right attitude (rather than skill) needed for positions. These cards are given to employees to distribute to people they find out and about who possess the personality they think will be suitable for their office.Interview coach, Margaret Buj hosts networking events in order to meet candidates who are interested in a new opportunity. These informal events bring out highly qualified, and sometimes passive talent and proved to be incredibly successful.How do you go about attracting top talent? TopTalentClick To TweetHow to Attract Talent to a Small CompanyWhile big businesses can attract talent by offering brand-name recognition and sought out perk s, how will small businesses grow without the top talent they need? This article includes some tips on how recruiters can communicate small business benefits to their candidates.Let it be clear that working for a small company can actually be more helpful on a resume than working for a large company. For example, in a smaller company, employees are more likely to work on a range of projects projects they might not have the opportunity to touch while working for a large company with minimal growth.How can recruiters communicate small business benefits to candidates?Click To TweetFollow the Leader How Successful Companies Attract TalentThis article is published in ERE MEDIA TLNT, written by Ian Cameron, Managing Director of The McQuaig Institute. This data-backed article summarizes a survey called The McQuaig Global Talent Recruitment Survey 2015 with insights from more than 450 HR professionals around the world.This report gives some insight on how Winners companies are attracting t alent and what Strugglers organizations need help with in regards to sourcing talent. Some key findings conclude both groups are investing in employee training, and consider candidates with potential to develop desired skills. However, the Winners are searching for candidates on social media through social recruiting tools (LinkedIn), while the Strugglers are not.Is your company a Winner or a Struggler? AttractTopTalentClick To TweetOptimize the Recruitment Process, Maximize Hiring SuccessOne of our partners, Greenhouse, posted a blog about how to successfully attract top talent by optimizing the recruitment process. How do we optimize our recruitment process? First, they mention how important tracking a candidates ROI is for a focused recruiting strategy. This will help determine where youre getting more bang for your buck in terms of which sourcing methods you are using.Next, in order to proceed with the best talent, be sure to ask each candidate the same questions to evaluate ski ll gaps. Lastly, instead of asking canned interview questions, try opening the conversation by discussing company challenges and goals. This will give more insight on how interested the candidate is in the company and encourages real-world solutions.Great tips from Greenhouse on optimizing your recruitment process for hiring successClick To TweetIf you found this helpful, get your daily dosage of talent acquisition-rich content by subscribing to the Spark Hire newsletter, and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to suggest content to be highlighted in the June roundup by commenting below.