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Job Follow up After an Interview

March 3, 2013 by

There’s a fine line between being excited about getting the job and being desperate. If you really want to work for the company you’ve applied to and have done your homework to make sure you are the perfect candidate for the job, then you have to do some job follow up.

The follow up should start right after the job interview. Simply ask the hiring manager what the next step will be and when you should expect to hear something from them. A good length of time is somewhere between a few days and a week or so. In a couple of days send a hand written thank you note for them taking the time to meet with you. Wait for them to get your note and give them time to respond. [Read more...]

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Are You a Job Hopper?

October 22, 2012 by

If you’ve sent out tons of resumes and haven’t heard back from any of them, maybe it’s because they consider you a job hopper. When you have hundreds or thousands of resumes to sort through, one thing that stands out is the fact that you’ve had way too many jobs in too short of a period of time. Employers call these people “job hoppers”, and it doesn’t look good in their eyes.

As someone who has been on the hiring end of things in start-up companies, I can tell you that it’s even more important to make sure you get the right employees from the start. Hiring and training employees is one of the biggest expenses we have. Hiring the wrong person can be a costly mistake.

Job hoppers come in all ages, but is even more common in those under 30. When you just get out of college and still don’t really know what direction you want to go in, that’s one thing. But too much beyond that and it doesn’t look good to the person hiring you that you’ve had 7 jobs in the past few years. I personally wouldn’t be willing to take a chance on that employee. As a business owner I’ve put too much time, sweat, blood, and money into the business to hire people who are just going to be fly by nights. I would prefer to hire someone who has shown more loyalty and stability.

Of course, there are all kinds of reasons why someone would have a series of jobs before the age of 30. The problem is that you probably won’t get the opportunity to tell me about them because your resume wouldn’t get that far. This is why I like the idea of the job fair, where you can tell the person face to face what happened. Be honest. But if you really want to settle down with a job and believe this company is going to be right for you, let the hiring person know that. And explain your swiss cheese resume before it gets tossed in the trash.

 


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Job Search Across Generations

September 30, 2012 by

When a baby boomer friend was searching for a job, his elderly dad said “Look in the newspaper classifieds”. Since I haven’t picked up a newspaper in quite a while, I’m not sure they even still have job listings there.

With so many people unemployed in all age ranges, it made me curious how they each conduct their job searches. I was surprised to hear that Boomers use social networks more than Gen X and Gen Y, who tend to go with Google +.

All generations value job security, which seems to be harder to come by these days. Boomers tend to gravitate towards more meaningful work, while millennials value a higher salary and more flexibility.

Job seekers in all generations spend between 5 and 20 hours a week looking for a job. As a small business owner and freelancer I spend twice that amount of time looking for work, because the minute you finish one job you have to start looking for the next one.

What surprised me the most is that 95% of all job seekers in all generations were searching online, while spending only 5% searching offline. This leads me to think that we’re losing the ability to connect to a real, live human being. People are actually surprised when I call on the phone.

I still believe the best way to get a job is by meeting someone face to face. The one thing you can never get across in a text or email is personality. If I’m hiring someone, that’s the number one thing I want to see.

 



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Taking a Break from the Job Search

August 1, 2012 by

As a business owner I feel like I can never take a vacation because I have to hold down the fort. If I leave town the phone might ring. A customer or distributor might call with a problem. So I can understand when job seekers feel that way.

But everyone needs to take a break from time to time. It doesn’t have to be a long break or even classified as a vacation, but just getting away from it all can put things in a new light. It can give you a new perspective. But most of all it takes some of the pressure off and the stress of looking for a job.

And also, once you do get a job you may not be able to take that vacation for a while. So get the rest while you can.

If you can’t afford to spend a lot of money, do something like camping or even just getting away for the day. Go to the zoo, an amusement park, go hiking. But don’t take your cell phone or computer. Unplug for the day and enjoy!



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Job Search Tough for Law Graduates

July 15, 2012 by

The job search is proving daunting for recent graduates of law school. According to the American Bar Association only 55% of graduates of the class of 2011 had found jobs within 9 months of graduation. In 2010 the number was 68%. These are some of the lowest numbers since 1994.

The number of talented and qualified applicants grossly exceeds the number of available jobs. And law firms are hesitant to hire in these uncertain economic times. Also, they have their pick of the best of the best. That doesn’t mean just because you’re in the top of your class that you’ll get a job either. Those graduates are also having a hard time.

There used to be a time when clients were open to younger, more inexperienced lawyers, but that is changing. Now firms are looking into law school alumni associations for recruits.

All of this is made even worse because of the huge student loans they have taken out.

But the good thing about their law degree is that it can be used in a variety of different professions. Getting a job at a law firm is just one of them.

 



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A Fun Job Interview That Leads to a Fun Job

June 23, 2012 by

If you’re bored with the typical job search and are looking for a  fun job outside the cubicle. A fun job where you’re actually paid to encourage others to have fun, then today’s your lucky day.

The Westin Kierland Spa and Resort in Scottsdale, AZ didn’t conduct the typical job interview this week. To commemorate International Surfing Day the resort started a competition to fill the full time job of ‘wave master’.

The person picked for the job would have to have a passion for surfing, people, and fun. They would have to be a good teacher and like helping others learn how to surf on the FlowRider, which is a wave simulator. Unlike regular surfing, the FlowRider is a sport for all ages and all experience levels.

The wave master would be responsible for the management of the $2.4 million Kierland FlowRider. In fact, the job requires much more than just surfing and having fun all day. A list of requirements are listed on their job site at http://kierlandwavemaster.com/.

The application process starts with a video submission and an explanation of why you are the perfect person for the job. If you are selected, you’ll go on to the next step, and finally to the surf off event to determine the winner of the position.

The wave master job search goes from June 20th to July 23rd.

 

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Job Competition Can Be a Good Thing

June 17, 2012 by

In today’s competitive job market a few things have changed. Gone are the days when a job seekers could sit around passively waiting for an employer or recruiter to call. Gone are the days when you could just show up and get a check. With 4-6 people competing for every available job, job seekers can’t afford to be passive in their job search anymore.

If there’s one thing to be learned from the Great Recession it’s that you have to up your game on every front. It’s just a simple matter of supply and demand. These days employers can afford to be picky. They can afford to pick and choose from the cream of the crop. If you read the job descriptions it seems like you have to have a master’s degree and ten year’s of experience in your field for the simplest of jobs. It sounds pretty depressing.

As an employer and small business owner myself I can tell you that I’m just not willing or able to hire employees that just want to show up and get a check. Hiring employees is costly and a big responsibility, especially for a small business owner. I have to know that I’m making the right decision and that the person I’ll be hiring is the best one for the job. I want to know that they really want the job. That means someone who has done their homework and knows as much about my company as I do. I want an employee that really understands the market and will go the extra mile to make my business the best it can be.

I think competition is a good thing because it forces you to be a better employee. This is something you should do anyway, but when times are good economically we all tend to get a little complacent. We take it for granted that things are going to be easy and when they’re not we’re not prepared. Competition keeps you on your toes.

As the world in general becomes more competitive, job seekers have to learn to adapt to it. When you’re competing with several other job seekers who all want the same job, how can you stand out from the rest? How can you go the extra mile and prove to an employer that you’re the best one for the job?

Learning how to be competitive puts you ahead of other job seekers and makes it easier for you to find a job no matter how good or bad the economy is.

 



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Summer Job Search

May 27, 2012 by

The Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial end of spring and the beginning of summer. Many job seekers think the summer is a bad time to look for work, but it’s actually a perfect time to network, which is probably how you’re more likely to get a job anyway.

Though hiring may slow down in the summer, the amount of social activities goes up. This is a great opportunity for you to get out and start networking now. Of course, there is a right and wrong way to do that. People attend social functions to get away from work. They want to relax and spend time with family and friends. And that’s how you should approach it too. Use this time to get to know people without constantly bringing up the fact that you need a job. I know it’s hard to do, especially if you’ve been unemployed for a long time. But don’t seem desperate. Instead, think about ways you could help that person. How can you bring value to their life?

Another good way to network at social events is to put on on yourself. Or find a way to work a job where you will be in contact with a lot of people. One of the best ways I used to meet important people was by working as a bartender at events. Everyone comes up to the bar. And I was in a different position than just someone walking around the party. Suddenly I was at the center of the party and everyone came over and talked to me. I made a lot of new contacts AND I got paid to do it. You can just as easily volunteer your time to help out the host of the party. In fact, you should do that anyway.

Another way to insure you will meet everyone at an event is to be the person checking people in at the door. It’s much easier to be in a fixed position where others come to you than it is to have to walk around and introduce yourself. If you’re shy to being with, this is a great way to get over it and meet a lot of important contacts.

Summer is also a great time to brush up on your skills, spruce up your resume, and do some research on the companies you want to target.

Since your job search right now should be your full time job, don’t even think about taking time off until you get your first vacation under your new job. Just remember, your competition may not be taking time off and neither should you. You can always rest later.



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How Long Should You Pursue Your Dream Job?

May 19, 2012 by

If you’ve been sending out resumes and going on interviews in search of your dream job, you might just be thinking that any job that paid the bills would be good about now. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dream job. We all have an idea in our minds about what our perfect dream job would look like. And it’s good to have something like that to strive for. But when should you stop pursuing it, if ever?

This is going to be one of those posts that has a question, but no answer. That’s because it’s an individual decision. You’re talking to somebody that spent 12 years developing a product before it even made it to market. And someone that hung in there for years as an actor. Some years were great, and I made several movies and TV shows. And some years were spent bartending and waiting tables for what seemed like an eternity. I’ve spent years in a relationship waiting for a ring. So, I’m really not one to tell anyone else when they should give up a dream. I guess the answer is… when you no longer have a passion for it. Or when your dream job changes. I personally have several dream jobs so I’m not too disappointed if one of them doesn’t happen.

Yesterday I was told that I would finally be getting a dream job I had been pursuing for about 2 years. But it started way before that. I started planting the seeds for it before I even knew I was looking for a job. And I didn’t know I was planting seeds at all. It started years ago when I went to get a Christmas tree. The guy at the lot was very proud of the trees and wanted to tell the story of how they got there. Most people were in a hurry to get their tree and go home. But I wasn’t in much of a hurry, for a change, and sensed his excitement over telling someone the Christmas tree story. So, I stayed and listened.

He showed me the freshly cut trees that had just come in that afternoon and were still in the refrigerated truck. I can still remember the strong smell of pine. He told me the whole story about how they were grown and shipped and how much pride they took in them. And how the lot gave seasonal jobs to people that really needed them. And I went back to the Christmas tree lot every year to hear the story and pick out a tree.

So, fast forward to the dream job. As it turned out, Christmas tree man was best friends with the hiring agent for said dream job and yesterday he made a personal introduction on my behalf. I got the job. It doesn’t start until the end of next year, but it just shows that it can happen if you’re patient.

When I coach with people who are starting their own business or looking for a job, they want things to happen quickly. So do I. If you tell someone it may take years to get their dream job or get their business off the ground they will probably give up. I am pretty sure I might have done the same. That’s where the passion comes in. If you’re not able to sustain it, it becomes harder to keep hope alive.

So, how long should you chase your dream? As long as you still have hope.



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Should You Try Temp Work?

April 23, 2012 by

I remember temp work being office busy work, like answering phones and filing. But today temp work has evolved into much more. Today the temp work field is a multi-billion dollar market with jobs as diverse as security guard and even paralegal.

If you’re unemployed, any job can be better than no job. But doing temp work can be more than just a stop gap on the way to something better. These days plenty of people are hired for full-time work by starting as a temp. It’s a good way for you to test drive a company and a good way for them to test drive you as an employee. You’ll find out if you really want to work for the company or not.

Sign up with several different agencies as long as they don’t have any kind of exclusive policy. Make yourself available for work if it does come up. Call in on a regular basis and let it be known that you want to work. One thing many temp workers forget to do is supply their current contact information. Make sure you can be reached.

Keep an open mind about the kind of jobs out there. There is almost always something about any job that you learn from. Also keep an open mind about pay and hours. Remember, it’s just temporary unless it turns into something more.

If you like the idea of flexible hours and a variety of different jobs, temp work may be perfect for you. It allows you the chance to learn new job skills and meet new people. The down side is that you don’t have the security of a regular job. But these days, not many people do anyway. And you may not get the same benefits as a full-time employee.

Temp agencies do more than just help you get work. They can also help you with your resume and career guidance.

If you’re unemployed you should constantly be updating your skills and training. The more skills you have, the easier it is for the temp agency to sell you.

Sometimes the only way to get into a company might be through a temp agency that has a good relationship with them. They know what the company is looking for and can provide them with a perfect match. Always remember that you are representing the temp agency, so be on your best behavior and show up with a good attitude. You never know what kind of job it could turn into. You might be very surprised and end up with a dream job.

 

 



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