Author Archives: MyJobHelper

Research Employers Before You Interview

Posted: September 6, 2016 at 8:22 am

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Job seekers should research employers online before they interview

You might not realize just how important online research can be in the interviewing process. Internet research gives you insight into into the company that you’re interviewing, and what they are all about. It’s a real confidence builder too. The more you know about a company, Continue reading

How To Toot Your Own Horn On Your Resume

Posted: August 22, 2016 at 9:28 am

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Young male trumpeter playing the trumpet isolated on white background

You want to win over a potential employer from the minute that they read your resume. You want to show them without a shadow of a doubt that you are the right candidate for the job. So how do you do that? How do you toot your own horn without coming off as cocky? Continue reading

7 Job Interview Questions You Should be Asking

Posted: August 8, 2016 at 9:46 am

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7 Job Interview Questions You Should be Asking

You should always prepare yourself for the questions you might get asked in a job interview…and how you are going to answer them. Doing your homework will give you confidence and help prevent embarrassment.

But beware. If all you do during your interview is answer questions without asking any yourself, you’re going to come across as a pretty passive job candidate who’s not that interested in the job. Continue reading

How to Answer 3 Difficult Interview Questions

Posted: July 25, 2016 at 9:08 am

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How to Answer Three of the Toughest Interview Questions

You’ve done your due diligence and it’s paid off: you’ve landed a job interview. Interviews can be extremely nerve-wracking, so it is best to prepare for them in advance. To help ease your nerves and ensure that you ace the interview, you should prepare answers to possible interview questions and rehearse them in advance. Continue reading

How to Stay Positive During a Long Job Search

Posted: July 11, 2016 at 9:30 am

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Think positive writing on white napkin

A job search can be an extremely stressful venture, especially when it feels like the search has been dragging on and on with no end in sight. It’s easy to become discouraged during a long job hunt, but keeping your head up and staying positive is vital to your success.  Continue reading

Don’t Let Your Facebook Profile Cost You a Job

Posted: June 27, 2016 at 9:30 am

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Don’t Let Your Facebook Profile Cost You a Job

You have polished your resume to perfection, made sure to fill out each job application completely and accurately, and purchased a business suit for interviews. But have you taken the time to review how your Facebook profile may look to potential employers?

A 2014 recruiting survey performed by Jobvite found that a whopping 93 percent of recruiters review a candidate’s social media profiles before deciding whether to hire them. This means that what you share with friends on Facebook can have more of an impact on your job search than you may think. To make sure that your Facebook profile passes inspection, here are six of the biggest offenses to avoid.

Making references to illegal drug use. Employers want a drug free workplace. References on your Facebook profile to illegal drug use – even jokingly – can be a big turn off to many hiring managers. It is best to avoid any talk of illegal drug use on your profile altogether.

Posting inappropriate pictures. A Facebook profile that is littered with pictures of drunken partying is going to leave potential employers second guessing whether a candidate is a good fit. This also goes for pictures that you share with friends even when they aren’t of you. A person who consistently shares sexually provocative photos is unlikely to be considered a company’s top candidate.

Badmouthing your current or past employer. Posts complaining about how much you hate your job or how dumb you think your boss is won’t do you any favors in your job search. These types of posts put you in a negative light and can make a hiring manager wary of adding you to their team.

Having posts full of spelling and grammatical mistakes. Even though your Facebook posts are intended to be seen by your friends, many hiring managers will be turned off if they are found to be riddled with poor spelling and grammar. Potential employers consider your online posts to be an evaluation of your communication skills and may balk at hiring someone who does not take the time to spell check what they are sharing publicly on their Facebook profile.

Using profanity in your posts. The excessive use of profanity in your Facebook posts can really hurt your chances of landing a job. Hiring managers want someone who gives off the image of being clean cut and professional, and profanity laced rants just don’t fit that image. It’s best to keep your posts clean.

Making discriminatory comments. While we are all entitled to our opinions, you should tread lightly when it comes to making your thoughts on sensitive subject matters public. Making comments that could be seen as discriminatory related to race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation can send potential employers running in the other direction. Employers don’t want to hire someone they worry may cast a negative light on them in the future, so sometimes it’s best to keep your private thoughts to yourself.

When beginning a job search it is best to review your Facebook profile and remove anything that may be seen as questionable by potential employers. This includes posts and photos that others tag you in. Your Facebook profile as a reflection of who you are, so make sure that it’s a positive one.

Avoid These 4 Common Job Application Mistakes

Posted: June 13, 2016 at 3:10 pm

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4 Common Job Application Mistakes You Need to AvoidA job application is the first step to getting a job. The information contained in a job application is a potential employer’s first impression of who you are and is used to determine whether you will be called in for an interview or be eliminated as a candidate for the job. Because your application is the gateway to landing an interview, it is extremely important that you take the time to fill them out properly. Make sure your next job application doesn’t land in the discarded pile Continue reading

How Temping Can Help You Land a Full Time Job

Posted: May 31, 2016 at 12:05 pm

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5 Ways Temping Can Help You Land a Fulltime JobJob hunting can be stressful, especially when you are unemployed. In today’s market many companies choose to hire temporary employees, commonly referred to as temps, in lieu of full time employees. When job searching, think carefully before you dismiss postings for temporary jobs and only focus on those postings that are advertising for full time positions.  Continue reading

5 Body Language Mistakes to Avoid at Your Next Interview

Posted: May 21, 2016 at 12:45 am

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Congratulations, you're hired! says the manager to selected candidate

You’ve carefully rehearsed your answers to the questions about your greatest weakness and where you see yourself in five years. You’ve picked out the perfect suit and gotten a haircut. You feel like you have done everything you possibly can to ensure that this job interview goes well – but have you given any consideration to your body language?

According to a survey performed by CareerBuilder.com in which they surveyed 2,500 hiring managers, poor body language during an interview can cost even the most qualified candidate the job. In fact, fifty percent of hiring managers decide whether a candidate is the right person for the job within the first five minutes of the interview.

To make sure that you make a good first impression, avoid making these five body language mistakes that could potentially cost you the job.

Not Making Eye Contact

Sometimes when a person is shy or nervous, they are tempted to direct their stare slightly over the interviewer’s head or look down at their lap because looking directly at the interviewer can feel intimidating. This is a big mistake. Making direct eye contact with your interviewer shows that you are engaged and interested in the conversation.

Not Smiling

Smiling during an interview gives the perception of you as someone who is warm and friendly. This can lead to the interviewer deciding that you are someone who will be a team player and nice to work with.

Slouching

Slouching in your seat during an interview can give off a vibe that you are sloppy or don’t care about the interview. It also can be perceived as disrespectful to the interviewer. Plus, sitting up straight with squared shoulders makes you look more confident and engaged.

Fidgeting

Fidgeting during an interview can be distracting to the interviewer and can also be seen as being disrespectful. Many people fidget when they are nervous without realizing that they are doing it. If you are worried about fidgeting during an interview, try doing a mock interview with a friend and having her point out any fidgeting you may be doing. You can also video tape yourself answering mock interview questions and see for yourself how much you fidget.

Crossing Your Arms

Crossing your arms in front of your chest can make you appear defensive and closed off. Interviewers want to hire people who are open and easily approachable, so make it a point to sit up straight with your hands resting loosely in your lap.

Score a promotion without asking for one.

Posted: March 4, 2016 at 9:25 pm

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Young business woman is going up to the stairs. A concept of successful business project Alright, let’s get real. You may still have to ask for that promotion, but here are five ways to increase the odds that your company will say yes. First things first, you should be doing a great job consistently.  It’s great if you killed your latest project before you roll into your manager’s office, but it’s not enough. Be honest with yourself about whether you need more time to establish a better track record. It’s critical to be the employee doing great work all of the time. Here’s how to be that employee.

1. Add value beyond your role. It’s totally fine if an employee fulfills their exact job description, and then clocks out for the day. However, that’s all it is.  It’s fine, not a reason for a promotion. In addition to meeting and exceeding your goals at work, you should seek out opportunities to go above and beyond. Ideally, you want your efforts to have a measurable impact on company profits. Companies are always going to prioritize rewarding employees who add to the bottom line.

2. Keep learning. That might mean learning on the job, or acquiring new skills and knowledge outside of the office. Finding and signing up for relevant workshops is a great way to enhance your contributions at the office. It also conveys that you’re an enthusiastic and proactive employee, not just another cog in the machine.

3. Get feedback often and early. There can be a big discrepancy between how YOU think you’re doing, and how a manager thinks you’re doing. Don’t toil for months on end without asking if you are in fact meeting and exceeding your manager’s expectations. If the feedback is that there’s room for improvement, then get to work making some changes.  If the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, then push yourself to do better. Sitting back on your laurels is never a good look.

4. Level up. If you want to land a promotion, it’s important to get out of your comfort zone. Request and tackle more complex projects. Just be smart about what you’re actually capable of taking on. Part of being a reliable employee is knowing the difference between stretching your skill set, and getting in over your head.

5. Be a team player.  Collaboration is frequently the key to getting ahead. Support your colleagues, and keep your focus on getting stuff done. Don’t be that guy (or gal) who says stuff like, “That’s not my job. It’s yours.”  It leaves an impression that you don’t care about the company’s overall wellbeing. Be somebody who is invested in the company’s success, so they literally invest their money in you when the time comes.