Author Archives: MyJobHelper

6 of the Most Common Interview Mistakes

Posted: October 9, 2015 at 4:04 pm

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Broken girl during an interview

It can be a long journey from searching job classifieds on your computer to meeting with an executive to discuss an actual job. That’s why stumbling during a job interview can feel absolutely excruciating. However, most people have suffered a misstep in a job interview before. If you stay calm and keep cool, you can absolutely rebound. Here are some fairly common interview mistakes, and how to get things back on track.

1. Taking a jab at a your current employer. The company you work for might in fact be a gulag run by terrible people who rejoice in your misery. However, it’s never a good idea to bring that up in an interview. Ever. You’re not the first person to make this mistake though. Redirect the story back to what an awesome person you are for thriving in what was likely a challenging situation.

2. Drawing a blank. Interviews are nerve wracking for most humans, and sometimes our brains just short out on us. Don’t freak out if an important piece of information or a common industry term evaporates from your memory.  Acknowledge the slip up, and find a way to make the larger point that needs to be made.

3. !@#$%, you cursed. We’re not gonna sugarcoat this one. Cursing is a major faux pas, so apologize and move on quickly. Dive right back into answering the original question, and hope your interviewer is either extremely forgiving or has a short memory.

4. Talking too much. Awkward silences might feel stressful, but try to get comfortable with them in a professional setting such as an interview. Avoid the need to fill the silence with mindless prattle which can leave an unfavorable impression. Your interviewer might just be gathering their thought or taking notes.

6. Your phone is ringing, buzzing or beeping. Before walking into an interview, you should always take a moment to turn your phone off. If you forget to do so, don’t ignore it. The sound or vibration is an enormous distraction and will pull attention away from where it belongs which is on you. Apologize, turn it off, and get back to the business at hand.

How To Find a Mentor

Posted: October 2, 2015 at 6:34 pm

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mentor

What is a mentor?
Why do I need to find one?
Who cares? I’m going to go shop for shoes on Zappos.

Ah, mentorship! It’s the career advice topic that we all love to ignore. However, anybody who is serious about their career needs to stop running from this topic. Mentors can be an indispensable guide along your career path providing advice, making valuable introductions, and lending a hand when you’re in need. Of course, many of us discover that it’s not so easy to find a mentor. It’s not like you ask somebody to be your mentor the way you would ask somebody to go to the prom. So what do you do?

1. Approach somebody you know. Ideally, this is somebody that you respect in your field. Somebody knowledgeable. Somebody who is a few steps ahead of you along your career path. Somebody who knows and likes you. That last one is really critical. You might be tempted to approach an industry titan you’ve never met before. However, their dance card is probably full. Stick to your network for now while you work on cultivating a relationship with those you have yet to meet.

2. Don’t be so formal. There’s no formal ask. Don’t do that! It’s weird. Just cut to the chase, and ask your mentor for feedback in regards to whatever ails you. If they like you, they’ll help you out. If they don’t, they’ll ignore you or make up an excuse. It’s normal to feel weird, angry, stressed or disappointed in the event that you’re rejected. Go ahead and feel those feelings, and then move on (quickly!) to the next person.

3. Groom future mentors. Most of us look up to a handful of people in our fields whom we we respect for their accomplishments. They are frequently well regarded and unavailable. However, you can attempt to get on their radar. If they are published, share their work with others on social media. Perhaps they blog? Leave comments on their latest post. And lastly, don’t forget to check your LinkedIn and social networks for any existing connections. You might be surprised at who you have in common. There might be an old school friend or gym buddy who can help you out by making an introduction.

4. Show gratitude for their help. Don’t just take a mentor’s advice, connections, time and then run! It’s important to show appreciation for their time and efforts, or this valuable relationship might disappear before your very eyes. Be thoughtful, considerate and kind in return. If you can refer a new client, that will always be appreciated. Connect them with a journalist who can cover one of their products or services. It might be as simple as offering to walk their dog while they’re on vacation. Just do something, anything, that lets them know how much you value their advice and time.

7 Things You Should Never Say At Work

Posted: September 25, 2015 at 2:35 am

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There are a million decisions that we make when we show up at work each day. However, one of the most important choices you can make is the language that you use. Just one word or phrase can shift people’s perception of you in either a positive or negative direction. Do you want to be perceived as confident, or tentative? Dedicated, or lazy? The right choice of words can create a long-lasting, positive impression on your employer and team. The wrong choice of words might convey that you’re disposable, and ultimately result in your being dismissed.

1. That’s not my job. If these words ever escape your lips at the office, you should just show yourself the door. Failing to execute on assignments that fall outside of your job description will signal that you’re not a team player, and that you’re not invested in the success of your company as a whole. While you may not always like what you’re being asked to do, it is usually in your best interests to just get it done. The only exception might be is if you’re actually unable to do the task because you lack the skill set, i.e. I can’t help out with that Powerpoint presentation because I have no idea how to use Powerpoint. In that case, consider yourself excused.

2. That’s not fair. It may not be fair, but actually saying That’s not fair sounds like whining. If have a valid complaint, then make your case in an intelligent, articulate and carefully considered manner.

3. What a jerk! It’s valid to give voice to any personnel issues you’re having at work. However, it should never be done with name calling. Be specific, be tactful, and address the issue through proper channels. Blasting people so aggressively makes you look unprofessional, and it may actually expose you to legal action.

4. There’s nothing I can do. Valued employees come up with solutions, not reasons why something can’t be done. Make sure that you’ve exhausted every possible solution before throwing in the towel. Always be positive, and let people know how you can contribute.

5. This may be silly, but… It’s important to present yourself at work as somebody with confidence and credibility. Discounting yourself at the outset demonstrates insecurity, and reduces the impact of your ideas. Don’t do it!

6. We tried that once, and it didn’t work. That’s fine, but explain why that solution wasn’t effective. Present alternate solutions that might be workable. Otherwise, it may appear that you’re shirking your responsibilities out of laziness.

7. I’m too busy. Aren’t we all? If you’re too busy right now, then offer an alternate day and time when you’re not busy. Again, your job is not to create obstacles. Your job is to solve problems, and get things done.

We hope that these examples of how language can impact your career will inspire you to think, act and speak positively in the workplace. In addition to enhancing your reputation as a professional, it will create a better experience at work for everybody – including yourself.

5 Ways To Build Your Professional Brand Using Social Media

Posted: September 18, 2015 at 6:46 pm

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Brand Building

These days almost everybody knows the rules of social media. Bikini shots and booze are bad. Photos of your food and feet are boring. Exotic vacations, adorable babies and your dog are all good. However, it’s always shocking how many career minded folks don’t invest in building their professional brands online outside of LinkedIn. Let’s get cracking!

1. Tag your current company in all of your social handles. That includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Periscope or any other social platform where you hang your virtual hat. It lets your personal network learn a little bit about your career, but-more importantly-your employer will smile upon being the source of your professional pride. Kissing butt? Maybe. Smart? Definitely.

2.  Share any positive developments about your company online. Obviously, that should include anything exciting to you personally like a promotion. However, you should also share updates regarding anything that the company is particularly proud of at the moment. Maybe it’s positive press, or a recently completed project. It demonstrates enthusiasm for your work which can only reflect well on you.

3. Post Updates About Your Professional Development. If you’re investing in growing your career, let people know. Examples of relevant news are earning a degree, taking part in a conference, attending a seminar or professional networking event. It makes you look like a go-getter! So go, go, go update your status!

4. Share helpful tips with your network. People in your professional network will always be hungry to hear about any new and valuable resources that will help them excel at their jobs. Let your peers know if you’ve uncovered a fantastic online discussion forum, private Facebook Group or Quora thread. Maybe there’s a great new piece of software, or important legal news that impacts your industry others are eager to learn more about. You get the idea.

5. Follow influencers and leaders in your industry. Prominent business figures frequently post breaking news, and insightful thoughts on issues currently impacting your industry. Tracking and sharing their updates demonstrates once again that you’re enthusiastic about staying informed and furthering your career.

Building your professional brand online definitely requires a commitment of time and energy. However, establishing yourself as a thought leader in the minds of your colleagues can really elevate your reputation. It might also impress the next person responsible for bringing you  your next exciting career opportunity. Well worth the investment, if you ask us!

 

How To Turn An Hourly Gig Into a Full Time Job

Posted: August 14, 2015 at 11:30 am

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manclock

We’ve all heard the media chatter about the “new freelance economy” in the United States. It sounds, empowering right? We’re all working for ourselves – how freeing! Except it’s not that simple or straightforward. While there are some people who love the freedom and flexibility of freelance employment, it can also be enormously stressful and difficult to turn a profit. Many of these freelancers are actually part-time employees who would vastly prefer to have a full-time job with a stable salary and health benefits. If this sounds like you, we understand your stress and frustration. However, you can make the leap from an hourly gig to a full-time position.

Be selective. If you have a choice (and we don’t always have choice), pick a temporary gig in the field you’d like to work in. And don’t set the bar too low! There’s no point in toiling at a job that has no relation to your desired career path, or existing skill set. For example, you should avoid taking an administrative job in accounting if you were a marketing executive in your former life. Try to hold out for a job at an ad agency or marketing firm that’s in line with your experience.

Treat the job like an interview. Show up everyday with your game face on. I recently hired a part time employee who is incredibly thoughtful about her work and the impact on our organization. She is bright, articulate, relentlessly detail oriented and truly takes the time to make sure that she’s delivering exactly what we need. As soon as I’m in a position to hire a full-time employee, she’s absolutely the first person getting an offer. In my mind, there’s no reason to interview candidates when the perfect employee is sitting quite literally under my nose.

Show that you’re part of the team. It’s easy with a temporary gig to find yourself on the sidelines with other employees. Most people won’t bother reaching out to somebody who’s going to be gone in months, weeks or days. While that’s a difficult barrier to overcome, you must do your best to establish a rapport and relationship with your coworkers. Ask them out to lunch, or bring them a cup of coffee. Create opportunities for socialization and collaboration. Team chemistry is a funny thing! All companies have brought in employees that look good on paper, but are a bad cultural fit. If an employer sees you getting on exceptionally well with their existing team, that is certainly going to weigh heavily in your favor if a full time position opens up.

Let your employer know you want the opportunity for full-time work. If you don’t ask, you don’t get! Employers aren’t mind readers, and not all temp workers are looking for full time jobs. Ask them if there is an opportunity for the role to transition to full time, and let them know you’d like to be considered. Otherwise, you may find yourself watching a pool of candidates traipse in to interview for the job YOU want.

4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Switching Careers

Posted: August 7, 2015 at 12:38 am

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switchingjobsillustration
When you’re unhappy at work, it can be exciting to daydream about new career directions. However, you have to ask yourself some serious questions. For example, being an occupational therapist might look like a fantastic job. Maybe it is…but do you know what the required credentials are? Do you need to go back to school? Do you know how much will it cost? Regardless of the career path you’re considering, here are some of the questions you should ask yourself before making such an enormous decision.

  1. What don’t you like about your current career? If you’re unhappy at work, it’s important to pinpoint the reasons WHY. That’s simply because you might have the right career, but your working environment is lousy. People are frequently unhappy at work because they dislike their co-workers and managers. Before walking away from years of work, consider that the simplest solution might be working elsewhere.
  2. What would you rather be doing? It’s simply unwise to quit a job on a whim with only a vague notion of where you’d rather work for a living. If you can’t answer this question, then continue to do a little soul searching before making the leap.
  3. Have you researched your new career path? Obviously, you know how to use Google to drum up information on almost any endeavor. However, we strongly recommend that you make the extra effort to speak with professionals who currently have a career in your newly chosen field. These conversations will help you discern whether your expectations line up with reality. For example, a successful real estate agent might make pulling in a six or seven figure salary look easy. However, you may not be aware that they spent a decade brokering small sales and rentals before they reached their current position. Are you ready to put in that kind of work?
  4. Do you have an exit strategy? A few years ago, a video of a woman quitting her job to Kanye West’s Gone went viral. It was amazing, but a dramatic exit is a great way to burn bridges – and it is definitely not an exit plan. Assuming you worked hard at your old job, those contacts will likely prove invaluable as you embark on your new career path. All of your current co-workers probably know somebody who knows somebody who can help you. So be decent about it. Explain why you’re leaving. Don’t leave your employer in the lurch, and generally conduct yourself in a professional manner. When it’s time to walk, you get to do so with a clean conscience and your references intact.

The reality is that changing jobs always carries some degree of risk. If you’ve done your homework though, then hatch your plan and go for it. Good luck!

How to List Multiple Jobs At One Company

Posted: July 31, 2015 at 8:48 pm

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Office job Employees who spend most of their careers at one company are about as rare as a unicorn sighting these days. However, there’s something to be said for loyalty to one company over a long tenure. Many companies will look fondly upon long term employment at one company as long as your resume tells a story of achievement rather than stagnation. Here’s how to make sure your career highs are front and center on your resume, not lost in a disorganized clutter.

Stack ‘em. Stacking your job titles is a nice, clean way to emphasize a history of promotion at one company. Begin with the highest ranking position, listing the rest of the positions you held in reverse chronological order. It’s also important to mark the dates each position was held next to the corresponding title. Here’s an example for review:

Best Buy, New York, New York, December 2003-Present

Store Manager, April 2008 to Present

Assistant Manager, February 2005-April 2008

Store Clerk, December 2003-February 2005

Beneath each title, provide a brief, bulleted job summary that details all of the responsibilities you assumed with each new position. Additionally, make sure you lead with language that spells out that you were promoted. You’ll find this approach works well for up to five job promotions at a single company.

Put the squeeze on. Once you move beyond five job titles at one employer, you need to be even more economical with your approach. That’s simply because you’re going to run out of room! The best solution is simply to condense your earliest job titles down to only one line of text. Here’s an example:

Best Buy, New York, New York, December 2003-Present

Store Manager, April 2008 to present

Assistant Manager, February 2005-April 2008

Store Clerk, December 2004-February 2005

Earlier Positions: Inventory; Security; Janitorial duty.

Switching It Up. Many people change their career paths – and departments – while they’re working at a company. Let’s say that somebody in accounting decided to start over in the marketing department. In this particular case, break the new position and department out cleanly on your resume as if it were a job position at an entirely different company. If you lump it in with everything else, a recruiter may not be able to gain a clear picture of you career history.

It’s all the same. Many employees find themselves entrusted with greater job responsibilities, rewarded with a generous raise, but no new job title. In this special case, itemize your responsibilities under one job title on the resume. If you’re called in for an interview, make sure you convey in person that there was a change in your job responsibilities and pay scale.

What about formatting? Don’t get creative. Keep it clean, be consistent, and be ever mindful if you’re submitting your resume via an applicant tracking system. Read our article on how to properly format your resume to increase the odds of being selected for an interview.

4 Steps To Answering: Why Should We Hire You?

Posted: July 17, 2015 at 4:09 pm

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shutterstock_124547059

When you walk into a job interview, you’ve likely got a lot on your mind. It’s normal to be preoccupied with everything from your recall of key facts about the company to what you’re wearing. However, it’s important to remember that your prospective employer is only trying to answer one key question – and that question is, “Why should we hire you?” Make sure you know the answer because the odds are strong that they are verbally going to ask you that exact question.

Prepare a response ahead of time. You’re probably competing with several other candidates for employment, so this is not the time to wing it! Think long and hard about what makes you a better prospect for this job than all of the other applicants. Refer back to your cover letter and resume if necessary, and come up with a sixty second answer that hits a recruiter  hard with your star qualities.

Customize your answer based on company research. We’ve written tons of articles on how important it is to customize both your cover letter and resume. It is equally important to customize your answers during a job interview. Let your recruiter know specifically what you like about the company, its culture, and this specific job opportunity citing key facts that you know to be true.

Bring your qualifications to life. The recruiter already knows that you’re qualified, and that’s why you’re sitting in his or her office. However, it’s very likely that you don’t look a whole lot different on paper than every other job candidate under consideration. Breathe life into your skill sets by providing anecdotes of how you contributed at work in your previous position, and explain how that experience impacts your ability to contribute to their company in this new role.

Let them know why they are your ideal employer. Flattery will get you everywhere! If you’re excited about working for this specific company, let them know exactly why. Great culture? Great mission? Great people? Ambitious plans for growth? Whatever it is, let them know in no uncertain terms exactly why you think they’re a great company. And of course, let them know why you’re the perfect fit!

5 Reasons Why You Don’t Get More Job Interviews

Posted: June 30, 2015 at 3:48 pm

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We’re all familiar with the old adage No news is good news. Unfortunately, one of the few times that adage doesn’t hold true is during a job search. Radio silence after you’ve fired out a resume typically means that a recruiter has taken a pass on meeting with you. Of course, rejection happens to everybody. However, it’s time to take a hard look at how you’re conducting your job search if you’re receiving little or no response at all. Here are five of the most common reasons why you’re not being called in for a job interview.

  1. You didn’t proofread your resume and cover letter. First impressions are everything in a job search, and that means your resume and cover letter must be perfect when they land on a recruiter’s desk. Typos or misspellings will absolutely sink your efforts as a job candidate. There’s no question that the worst offense is submitting a cover letter addressed to the wrong person, or carrying the wrong company name. It’s a very easy mistake to make when you’re submitting several job applications each day. Slow down and give each cover letter and resume the attention it deserves.
  2. You’re only applying online. Applying for a job online is one way to obtain a job lead, but it is also an incredibly difficult way to obtain a job interview. You’re likely competing with hundreds – or potentially even thousands – of other job candidates. It’s a mistake to rely exclusively on job search engines for job leads. Reach out to everybody in your professional and personal networks to find an “in”. A recruiter will always select a job candidate forwarded by a personal contact over somebody that came in cold.
  3. You’re only applying to big companies. Expand your ideas about where to apply to include small and mid-size firms. Fortune 500 companies and larger firms can receive hundreds of resumes for just one position, and thousands over the course of the year. They may not even see your resume. Smaller companies attract smaller pools of potential candidates simply because they lack name recognition. It is much more likely that they’ll notice your resume when it comes their way.
  4. You’re aiming too high. We’d all like to believe there ain’t no mountain high enough to keep us from getting to our dream jobs, but sometimes the job you’re applying for is too much of a reach – at least, for now. Spend some time getting real about your current skill set. Consider having a heart-to-heart with a friend or colleague about where you should set your job seeking sights. If necessary, rewrite that resume – and yes, your cover letter too- and gently steer yourself back on track.
  5. You failed to customize your resume and cover letter. Earlier this year, we provided an in depth look at how critical it is to customize your resume and cover letter to secure a job interview. If you fail to customize your job application, it’s unlikely that you’ll even clear the computerized system used by companies to identify appropriate job candidates. Take the time to craft a cover letter and resume that make you look like the perfect candidate for each specific job. It will absolutely reduce the number of job applications you’re able to submit each day, but it will also drastically increase the response rate.

5 Signs It’s Time To Make a Career Change

Posted: June 26, 2015 at 3:07 pm

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justdoitsticky

The realization that it’s time to make a career change is rarely a lightbulb moment. It tends to be more of a quiet build over time. Think of a persistent whisper gathering volume and momentum while you go through the daily motions of your job. I don’t want to be here. I’m bored. There must be something else. Of course, it’s hard to heed an inner voice calling for a career change when that job pays well. There’s no denying that the professional and financial risks of making a move are very real. So how do you know when it’s time to take the plunge?

    1. You’re miserable. We’ve all heard hackneyed expressions like Work is work. That’s why they call play, play. While there’s some truth there, that doesn’t mean you have to keep your chin up and soldier on in an unfulfilling career until retirement comes calling. Consider that most of your waking hours are being spent at a place that makes you unhappy. If there are viable alternatives, slogging away at an unfulfilling job is no way to live.
    2. Your career has stalled. Routine can feel comfortable at work. It’s nice to know what to expect, where you’re needed, and that a steady paycheck is coming in. Unfortunately, there simply is no such thing as job stability these days – and operating on automatic pilot can be a career killer. If there’s nowhere to go at your current company (but where you are now), there’s a very real risk that you’ll become professionally obsolete. Start looking for new opportunities as soon as you can.
    3. You are stressed out all of the time. It’s normal to encounter stress in the workplace. Co-workers, supervisors, and deadlines are just some of the factors that can set your teeth on edge for weeks at a time. However, it’s not normal if you’re experiencing stress all of the time. High levels of stress are terrible for both your physical and emotional health. If this is the case, then it’s time to move on.
    4. Higher education is calling your name. Pursuing a degree can be a boon to existing careers, or a fantastic ticket to charting a new career course altogether. However, make sure you’re not using school as an excuse to escape reality. Everybody knows an attorney who doesn’t practice law. A diploma might look nice on your wall, but that’s a pretty expensive piece of artwork.
    5. You’re ready to start your own business. Some people get the entrepreneurial bug, and just can’t shake it. If you’re dreaming of big things,  that’s fantastic. Make sure you do your research, and that you’re prepared financially. Launching a new business can be a high risk endeavor, and it’s very common not to turn a profit for years.

Ultimately, you’re the only person who can decide if it’s time to take the plunge. If it is time, dig deep, find some courage, and hatch a plan. There are rarely quick fixes, but there is almost always a way forward. Good luck!