Cv for Interviews

When the economy is in bad shape, the job market is usually worse. Those with jobs are trying to stay employed and people without jobs are desperately trying to find a new job, both can be extremely stressful.

If you put in the time and effort into finding a new job you will be rewarded no matter how fierce the competition is. Stay motivated and persistent – finding a new job is your new job right now.

These are the top ten ways to find a new job:

1. Use the Internet Daily – It is so easy to get lost on the Internet wasting time on websites, job boards and social media sites with no real benefits. Make sure you are actively spending your time on the Internet looking for and applying to jobs and networking with those who may be able to help. There are a ton of useful job boards and career sites to help you focus your search. Check out JobBoardReviews.com to help find the most useful websites to your industry or profession. Do your best to stay focused on your job search for a few hours a day. Be sure to actively apply to jobs, don’t just upload your resume and wait for phone calls.

2. Perfect your resume – Your resume is often the first glimpse a potential employer gets of you and your skills, make sure it accurately details your skills and work history and how they can benefit your future employer. Make sure you have someone proof read it before sending it out and try to customize it for each job you are applying for.

3. Network – Let everyone you know that you are looking for a job. The more people you have out there on your team, with eyes open the more opportunities you will have. Tell everyone in your network what kind of a job you are looking for or any special skills you may have. You can forward your resume to people in your network and ask them if they know of anyone hiring or if they can check within their company for any open positions. Most people actually find and are hired through referrals from a friend or family member than any other source.

4. Go back to school – Now is the time to get the competitive edge over other job candidates. Many people are finding it hard to get to a traditional college or university and are opting for online schools and programs. Look into enrolling in an accredited online college for some online courses and upgrading your training. Increasing your education will improve your resume and get you one step closer to landing a job.

5. Target Local Companies – Get out and start knocking on some doors. If you are not having any luck online submitting your resume online, it’s time to get out and start meeting people face to face. Make a list of companies in your area that you would like to work for, call them directly to see if they have any openings that interest you. If that doesn’t work, put on some professional attire and stop by with your resume in hand.

6. Industry Mags and Social Niches – Sometimes the best positions that are the perfect fit are only being advertised in industry specific magazines and publications. Sign up for some Industry trade magazines, online groups, forums, and social networks. Reading up on the latest industry news is a great way to stay on top and find new open positions. It also will help with your industry specific networking.

7. Job Fairs – Can it get better than this. Job fairs are a giant room or convention center filled with companies who are looking to hire. Dress to impress, print out a bunch of copies on your resume and start talking to companies who are looking to hire. It’s such an easy way to meet people and get some help with your search

8. Get some Professional Help – Recruiters, headhunters, and temp agencies are always looking for qualified candidates. Find some recruiters that specialize in your industry or position and get them your resume.

9. State and public resources – There are so many free resources offered by your state to help job seekers find a new job. Most states and counties offer everything from resume writing services, career counseling, and lots of sessions on all the skills you will need to find you new job. State and local resources are also often given lists of openings that aren’t posted or found in other locations. Pop on over and see what they can offer.

10. Consider Freelancing – If you are not finding the right full time position, consider taking a contract position or freelancing your services out. Many companies are not able to hire for full time positions but would be willing to give you a try on an as need basis.

Get on out there! Remember to Network, keep your head up and Don’t give up! There is someone out there waiting to hire you.

Whether you choose to enter the job market with a high school vs. college graduation under you belt can have a very significant impact on the jobs you will be able to do and the amount of money you will be able to make.

According to a report entitled “The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings,” a person with a high school degree can expect to earn an average of £1.2 million over the course of their working life, and a person with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn an average of £2.1 million pounds over the same period of time. The report estimates that people with a master’s degree will earn an average of £2.5 million, people with doctoral degrees will earn an average of £3.4 million pounds, and those who get professional degrees will earn the most, an average of £4.4 million.

That said, all those figures are an average, so it doesn’t mean they are written in stone. There are good-paying careers you might pursue with only a high school diploma. Construction contractors can make a lot of money. So can entrepreneurs, small business owners or investors. All of those careers can be difficult, risky and taxing, but they do offer the possibility for a person to make an excellent living without a college degree.

Then there are good-paying careers that require a two-year technical education such as plumbing, electrician work or nursing. Those careers pay fairly well and offer opportunities for advancement and entrepreneurship.

On the flip side, there are many careers that require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) that do not pay very well at all. To be a teacher, social worker or public interest lawyer, you almost always need an advanced degree. Yet these professions do not offer tremendous financial rewards.

When you are considering going to college in terms of how it will help you make more money, you should think about what type of job you want. If your dream is to become a general contractor, you might be better off getting construction experience, learning skills on the job rather than in a classroom. Or if your goal is to make a good deal of money with only a bachelor’s degree you might not want to graduate with an English, Sociology or Philosophy degree. Choose a more financially rewarding course of study like Engineering or Accounting.

In general, we encourage high school graduates to go on to college. A college degree is viewed as the traditional pathway to success. As stated earlier in this article, the general financial trends support that notion.

However, it is crucial for every person to do what is right for them. Sometimes, opportunities open up when they are least expected. And other times, the most obvious pathway to financial success is less rewarding. We know that people with advanced degrees make more money, but these degrees take time and money to earn. People spend years of their lives and take on a massive debt load to earn these degrees. So, they may make more money, but they will owe a significant portion of that money.

Be sure you know what you want. Have a realistic idea of how to get there, and go for it.

Top Ten Job Searching Tips
How many of these have you read? Here we go again, but this time I am concentrating on those matters which have emerged over the last two to three years, that we often neglected or failed to use in the past; mainly it’s to do with new technology.

1. Get a professional email address.

Ditch the babyangel@gmail.com. Now is the time to professionalise yourself, use your proper name or professional name.

2. Google yourself.

Sounds egotistic doesn’t it? But just in case you wrote something many years ago, and it raises its head to bite you in the foot, it is better to check what is out there on you in cyber space. Also while we are at it, blog your email address, telephone number and address as well, all these can leave a digital footprint exposing yourself to other information .

3. Add your email address to your CV or resume.

How many times do I see this omission?

4. Start blogging.

This is a free way of getting yourself known and building your profile.

5. Register on online job sites.

There are many: seek.com, TradeMe/jobs.co.nz, and also check out your local newspaper online listings.

6. Use social networking sites to your advantage.

Make a special professional Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo etc account specifically to your work environment, keep your personal social networks to your friends.

7. Network.

Join societies, organisations and clubs associated to your career. Check out the Yellow Pages and online directories to see what is available, then network with these people.

8. Specialize – Become a Subject Matter Expert.

A sophisticated society has many specialist roles, therefore, the more specialised you are or can become, the more expertise you can provide, and more value to an employer’s team. But don’t forget to be a generalist in all areas connected with your career.

9. Lead from your strengths.

If you know what you are good at, or above average, or just brilliant at … then move from that area first. If you are good at public speaking then use that as your primary form of accentuating your strengths.

10. Mitigate your weaknesses.

Similar to number nine. Play down your weaknesses. Avoid (especially in those first couple of meetings) those things that you are not so good at, or generally don’t like doing.

Paula Stenberg, 2009

http://www.cvstyle.com

It’s about who you know, NOT what you know! But, what if you don’t know anyone? Then what are you suppose to do? You suppose to go hunting and make contacts. When finding any job the first rule is to make looking for a job your JOB!

Finding a Job Is Your Job

If you are unemployed then you should put aside at least 6-8 hours of each business day for applying to jobs, making contacts, interviewing, and staying on top of your industry. This strategy will always award you a job in less time. Your goal should be to apply to a minimum of 3 jobs per day. You should manage a list of contacts of everyone you directly or indirectly make contact with.

If you already have a job, then you shouldn’t be looking for a job. But, if it is imperative that you find a new job, then it will be more difficult to find the adequate time to job hunt, therefore you should put aside the time for your job search as it becomes available.

Analyze Your Craft

You should know your craft. Know the skill you hold and the level at which you best perform. Rate yourself fairly, do not underrate your talent. Know your worth, but better know the least (salary) you are willing to accept.

It is important to know your skill set. Knowing this information will help you better asses the position which you are seeking. Getting a job isn’t only about the employer finding the perfect fit, it is also for you to find the perfect fit. Research the salary for your position, such as Salary.com, SalaryExpert.com, and PayScale.com. Once you are familiar with the salary you should stay at least £5,000 within that range (e.g. if the salary for the job is expected to be £45,000 then you should seek opportunity within the range of £40,000-£45,000 or £45,000-£50,000, depending on your level of skill for the position).

Prepare Your Resume

You should update your current resume or create a new resume. Your original resume should be generic, but keyword-rich. The generic version should NOT contain any formal greets to any particular party. Basically, you should be able to apply to any job with the generic version without any editing. It should be readily available for fast access and quick apply. The generic version will be used to post on job boards, for employers to view when searching the database. Editing your resume for formal greets should be done at the time of applying to a job.

You want your resume to be keyword-rich because when employersrecruiters search databases for resumes they usually use keywords to find employees. If your resume has the proper keyword density and strategy then your resume is more likely to be returned within the search results (e.g. if the job you are searching for is ‘customer service’ then your resume should focus on the keyword ‘customer service’).

Many argue that a one-page resume is the best resume, but in my experience a one-page resume doesn’t provide enough information for those with extensive backgrounds. In this case I suggest not exceeding 2 pages, unless the job you are applying for is information technology related or relies on extended details within the industry, then it is (sometimes) best to list or add every product, program, service, and technology which you have touched, worked with, or have knowledge of. Even still do not exceed 3 pages at this point, and that may be too much. Though, I must admit I have seen 5-page resumes which are highly detailed and keyword-rich that receive a very high response rate.

Never boast or brag on your resume. Be truthful and list your objective, skills, professional experience, education, and knowledge.

If you do not have the ability or time to create an award-winning resume then it may be worthwhile to invest in a professional resume writing service.

Build Your Contacts

The best way to make contacts is by calling the employer or recruiter directly. Usually this information is made available when applying for a job online. If you are at a job board site such as: Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, or a niche-based job board such as: DataCenterLife.com then more than likely the contact information is found on the job post page. If you are applying through an employer site then more than likely the contact information can be found under the “Contact Us” page usually found on the sites’ navigational bar. Respect the wishes of employers and recruiters who state NOT to contact by phone.

You should create a contact for any job you apply for.

Manage Your Contact List

Every employer or recruiter you make contact with directly or indirectly should be added to your contact list. Your contact list should include the company name, contact name, email address, phone number, and position title. You should also have a field or method which denotes the last time you spoke with or contacted each contact. This is important so you do not make the mistake of contacting someone you spoke with days earlier as well this helps you manage your time between each contact. You should follow-up with your contacts at least once every week or every 7 business days.

Out of Work. Out of the Loop.

Just because you are unemployed doesn’t mean you need to fall behind in your industry. You should still stay familiar with your industry and spend your time wisely. Study your industry market and know the new technologies being used inside your job industry. Stay afloat, use your resources such as: the internet, newspapers, media, friends, and ex co-workers to know what is going on in your job industry. If you are out of work for months and have no idea of a new application that is being used by all professionals in your industry, then it will look bad in an interview when you have no clue what they are talking about and you are claiming to be a skilled professional in the industry. Keep your eye on the prize and know your stuff. Even if you are not an expert at it, at least have the basic knowledge.

Don’t Answer That Phone

You only have one chance at making a good impression, do not blow it! Do not answer the phone if you are too busy to talk, if you see a number that you do not recognize assume it is an employer or recruiter and you should not answer the call, if you are too busy. There is nothing worse than a crying baby in the background, a large bulldozer from a nearby construction site, the sound of a flushing toilet, a third-party conversation going on in the background, or being in a drop-call zone when an employer or recruiter calls. You should be focused, relaxed, calmed, and ready to answer all questions swiftly without any interruptions when the phone rings, otherwise allow your voice mail service to get the call and return the call later when the time is more convenient.

Give Yourself a Break

I also suggest taking off Friday, don’t do any job hunting or interviewing this day, enjoy yourself. Have yourself a 3-day weekend. The only reason you should schedule Friday for interviewing is if the employer or recruiter schedule it, never inconvenience your interviewer unless it is life-threatening or extremely important. Also, you should still answer your phone on Friday when you have the time, if you are too busy or unable to answer your phone then make sure you have a voice mail service set up.

Interviewing

Getting an interview is what you worked hard for. Having a successful interview is just as important as getting the job. This determines everything. Preparation for your interview should begin the minute you are scheduled for your interview. You should study the background of the company. You should be familiar with what the company does and their procedures. Most of this information is usually found on the company’s website (sometimes buried within the site so you may have to do some digging). You should prepare questions which you may have for the interviewer about the company andor position. You should familiarize or refresh yourself with the requirementsqualifications of the position. And most importantly you should have a good night sleep before the interview, at least 8-10 hours of rest.

You should have at least 2 business suitsattire for interviewing. If you have a second interview you should have the ability to switch to a different suit. Your suits should be only of the three colors: black, navy, or gray. Make sure you are well groomed for the interview.

You should arrive to the interview between 10-15 minutes early. You should never come to an interview empty handed. You should at least have a business folder with notepad paper, a writing pen, and a hardcopy of your resume.

When interviewing you should relax and be yourself. You should be focus, articulate well, and be keen. Make non-offensive eye contact with your interviewer. Ask questions about the company and the position. Ask the interviewer about their position and the length of time they been with the company. Ask the interviewer why the position is available and why did the last person leave the company? Ask the interviewer how soon do they hope to fill the available position? Ask the interviewer for a business card or way to contact them if you have any questions later.

Just remember to be yourself and remember that the interviewer is only human just like you. If you don’t get the job then try and try again, until you get a job. Many times an interview is a display of your personality and character. If you have truthfully and appropriately represented your skill set on your resume, then the interviewer already know you are capable of handling the job.

You’re Hired!

If you are still looking for a job, here are some tips on how to follow up on your contacts:

* Send a thank you note right after the interview, ideally after a
couple of days. This is a way of getting the prospective employer
to hear from you again. Should you not get hired for the current
position that they offer, someone from that company will likely
keep your information on file for future consideration.
* Make sure that you leave your mobile and landline number, email
address and home address so that prospective employers
will have no excuse of not getting in touch with you.
* Be accurate in getting the contact information of perspective
employers. In return, when you place their information on any
letter that you send out (i.e. resumes, thank you notes) avoid
typographical errors and make sure that you have their names
correct, to see to it that everything is in order.
* Some companies do take a look at your character references
so alert the people on your list that they might receive a call
from your prospective employers.
* Always be on the positive side. Should you not get hired for a
particular position, you may ask the people from that company
for referrals to other companies or at least keep you in mind for
future hiring.

If you are currently in business, whether you are just starting out or in
the midst of expanding, you also need to make sure to follow up on all
important contacts. For example, you go to a corporate event and you
have distributed a lot of business cards. Do not stop there. These
people might eventually bring big business to your company so it is
important to build up a strong business relationship with them.

When you are searching for a job, aside from checking the ads in newspapers, internet and bulletin boards, it is also very helpful to ask
for information from the people on your warm contact list. They can provide you with up-to-date information on the company and
position vacancies that are not posted on job ads. At times when they cannot provide you information about the job that you are looking for,
they may be able to refer you to a person that they know who might be able to tell you something about the job.

This is called networking. Networking is when you start using your warm list to get information or referrals to their other contacts. Many
people are repelled by the thought of networking. Some believe that it is not a reliable source of information about the job. Others say
networking is more difficult than following the leads on the ads that are posted in the newspaper, internet or ad boards.
Contrary to such beliefs, networking is not that difficult to do. You may just have to contact or meet some people, and you can get

valuable information that can help in your career search. Also, since the people you meet belong to the same industry, they can provide
you information about hiring that isn’t advertised and first-hand facts about the company.

You are already networking and you just dont know it. When you have seen an ad in the paper posted by a company you know little of,
you ask your friends if they know somebody who works for the company. So even if you are not attracted by the idea of networking,
it is still essential when seeking a job. To make networking easier and more productive for you, here are a few tips.

Here are some tips on how you can hold your own against a big
business:

1. Small businesses have big competition.
This means that you need to know how to survive out there.
No matter what nature of business you have, it is better to learn about
the competition so that you will be able to survive.
Here are some tips on how you can survive the big competition:
>Keep your business alive.
When it seems as if your cash flow is in a downward slope, keep a
tight rein on your budget.
Do not spend on unnecessary business purchases and always balance
your books.
If you are one to buy on impulse or if you are the type to listen to
those who sweet-talk you into purchasing “necessary” items, control
yourself.
Get a second and third opinion if possible, as these impulsive buys
may lead to the end of your small organization.
>Do not be afraid to seek professional help.
The fall of most small businesses start with decisions on problems
which are not carefully analyzed.
Although you think that you already have a contingency plan, make
sure that you have foreseen the results of a certain business decision.
In the long run, it is better to seek professional help rather than
embark on a plan that could start the downfall of your business.
>Keep your books straight.
The better option is for you to hire a professional outside accountant to
figure the returns of your investment and handle the other financial
aspects of your business.
>Take advantage of every free business counseling whenever
available.
This does not just help widen your knowledge, but it will also give you
an idea of how other businesses are ran by small-scale owners.
>Know exactly where your business is headed.
In your day-to-day operation, make sure that you know where you
want your company to be 5 or 10 years from now.
Be always aware of the trends in the industry that you are in, practice
good money management and learn how to recognize potential
problems before they arise.

Do you blame the economy for making you stay at a dead end job? You feel you are stuck at your current job because there are no good jobs available in today’s economy. Well you are not alone. Many people feel the same way.

But is this honest? Is it really the economy’s fault or is it your fault and you are using the economy as an excuse to not look for a different job? Once you have joined the club of reality, read on.

Even in today’s economy, good jobs can be found; it just takes a little more time and effort to find them. Stop making excuses and get out there and find the job you want. Read the next part very carefully, it could prevent you from making a fatal mistake.

Lesson One
Look for and find a job that you want to do. Do not base your job search on what others think you would be good at doing. You know you better than anyone else. You surely have a good idea of the types of jobs you would enjoy doing.

In today’s economic situation, it is vitally important to be passionate about what you want and equally passionate when it comes to finding the perfect job. If your heart is not in it then you are doomed before you ever start.

Lesson two
The best jobs are those that are filled via word of mouth. They never have to advertise because the best people for the job come highly recommended by others associated with the company. Someone who knows someone talks to someone, then that person talks to someone, and so on.

Network for the job you want. Tell everyone you know about the job you are after. Ask everyone you know if they know of someone you could talk to about the job. Talking to everyone you know and getting them to talk to everyone they know is called networking.

Lesson Three
Take action now, do not delay, time is of the essence. You can find an entirely new job market through networking. It is the best way to find your dream job. Do not make the mistake of thinking small. Be creative and talk to everyone. Talk to the cashier at the grocery store. Talk to the bank teller when you cash your unemployment check. Talk to the mail carrier and the paper boy. You never know who others might know. It could land you the job of a life time. Being highly recommended from a friend of a friend is much better than being one of hundreds turning in applications for dead end jobs.

Searching for employment can be an overwhelming undertaking. With all the competition doing lots generally has to be matched with value for success. Have a look at Target Jobs for constructive recommendations and also Target Employment application. Having sound suggestion saves time searching for what may work through having to look through what doesn’t. By receiving solid help probably will boost one’s chances of separating yourself from the opposition.

The employment marketplace is forever shifting and the individuals who are able to adapt the quickest often will be the ones that get first choice of the top opportunities. Through the accessibility of information and the upgrades in computer, searching for work is not what it once was.

The game has changed in a huge way and at the moment people have to not only manage to deliver a total package of abilities and knowledge for the profession but have got to also learn extra competencies to even be given an meeting for the occupation you want.

How To Write A Successful Internet Job Posting?
The key to a successful Internet job posting is first recognizing that it is not a print classified advertisement. An Internet job posting is interactive, and requires a good understanding of interactive marketing. One of the greatest challenges contractors face when posting jobs online, is recognizing that they must change their traditional job posting habits. An online job posting will not do well if written like a print classified ad. It must be thought more like an interactive marketing campaign for the entire firm. The Marketing Department rather than the HR Department should write it.

Update the Company Web Site
The company web site is rapidly becoming the first point of contact for most job seekers or prospective clients. Contractors should update their corporate web site so that it provides a professional and interactive presentation of the firm, its goals, key personnel, corporate culture, top achievements, and business philosophy. In fact, every marketing resource available to the contractor should be utilized to make the corporate web site the best it can be. Although most job boards provide hot links to company web sites, some do not. Either way, job seekers are likely to independently surf the Internet in order to locate a contractor’s web site, relevant press releases/news, before submitting their resume.

Keywords Rule
In the fast paced world of Internet surfing, most job seekers will only take the time to view the top 20 search results. Making it to the top usually is about keywords. They often make the difference between a successful job posting and a waste of time.Contractors should put the right keywords in the right place so that the right people can find their job postings. Online job postings are not viewed the way print classified ads are viewed. Online job postings are hidden within databases containing thousands of records, and they must be called up for a job seeker to view them. This process up may take the form of keyword selection in a search engine or any number of methods with point and click directories. It’s important for contractors to study the job posting and keyword guidelines of the hosting job board since they will differ from site to site. Many job boards will rank or prioritize job postings within their database by title, membership status, date, keywords or other less obvious means. Adding keywords properly assures that a job posting will find its way to the top of the job board’s search results. Adding keywords improperly may result in having the job posting deleted by the hosting job board or simply lost in the volumes of database records that job seekers never find. While identifying the best keywords for a job posting, contractors should determine which words the job seeker will select in utilizing the job board’s search engine – and include all relevant occupational-specific terms (i.e. Hard Bid Estimator or value engineering). To cover all the bases, It is a good idea to use multiple words or synonyms that may mean the same thing. For example, if the job location is in a lesser-known town such as Maitland, Florida but near a well-known city like Orlando, Florida, then Orlando should be added as a keyword. Most job boards require keywords to be added in a special field, in a particular fashion (using quotes, comas, etc.). Job postings that do not offer a special field for keywords usually require the contractor to add keywords to the Job Description, Job Requirements or other searchable fields. When adding keywords to a Job Description, contractors should write the keywords into complete sentences so that the content flows as a logical composition.

Make It Believable
Job Postings should be believable and complete if they want to attract the top talent. Most executive job seekers are interested in job postings that contain detailed job descriptions and job requirements. Many want to see salary and information about the company. Others want to know job location. Most job boards claim that a well-written job posting can achieve many more qualified applications than a poorly written job posting. Fortunately many job boards offer FAQ’s and job posting guidelines to help contractors get the most from their job posting. Some provide statistical analysis of individual job postings. These statistics often show the number of job seeker views and applications submitted to each job posting. Contractors can use statistics to evaluate their results and modify the job posting accordingly. The more details provided in a job posting the more credible the job and the better the fit. Therefore, more job seekers will respond. Contractors should be specific about the scope and type of work, the hours, the job goals, the salary and the location. They should also make sure all fields are appropriately filled in completely. Some boards allow for job postings to be previewed prior to going live helping contractors see the completed job posting the way job seekers will see it. Many job boards allow for real time editing during the advertisements flight.

Manage Style
Unlike classified print ads, online job postings usually allow for pages of copy. Headhunter.net allows for three thousand characters in the Job Description and three thousand characters in the Job Requirements fields – or about two typewritten pages. Contractors should write clearly and present text in an organized, logical manner. Job postings should read like a composition and not a print classified ad. Sentences can be short but they should always be complete sentences containing correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The copy should include natural paragraphs, with line breaks, so that the job seeker can find relevant information quickly and easily. Writing in all Caps, using excessive exclamation points, or adding acronyms and abbreviations will reduce the credibility of the job posting and potentially result in job deletion by the hosting job board. Acronyms and abbreviations should also be spelled out since job seekers usually search by complete words.

Read Job Posting Guidelines
Most job boards have Terms of Use agreements that members/users must agree to – in order to utilize their service. It’s important that contractors read and understand the terms that relate to job postings and keywords to get the best results. It is typical for job boards with have high quality control standards to delete or edit up to 25% of all job postings as being inappropriate. Most job boards do not allow for listing of emails, URL’s, use of copyrighted material, defamatory remarks, false, inaccurate or misleading information, illegal or unethical content. Job postings that encourage job seekers to email for more details, are usually prohibited.

Follow up
Contractors should immediately follow up on all qualified applications that have been submitted. Peter Weddles at weedles.com says, “Speed is everything in hiring top talent.” Within ten days, the top 10% of job seekers are gone. Once someone desirable is identified, it’s important to act on that person right away. Today’s recruitment market is highly competitive and the hiring cycle should not allow for any dead time between in-house interviewing schedules and final selection. Contractors should not leave job seekers hanging more than five to seven days without a scheduled follow-up meeting. Otherwise, they risk losing the job seeker entirely. There needs to be top-level management involved with all key hires. Involving top management makes job seekers feel that the hire is an important position, and that they have personally been selected as the “candidate of choice” by the top brass. Contractors should begin closing the deal the moment they know that they want someone for hire. They should not let up until an offer is on the table and accepted.

Common Internet Job Posting Fields & Their Purpose

Job Titles
Titles should be industry-specific and familiar to job seekers since they will use keyword search for positions according to standard job titles. The Job Title field is not the field to market the job posting (like with a classified ad). The Job Title field should be used primarily to have the job posting found by job seekers. Adding appropriate keywords, in the appropriate place, is far more important than catchy job titles that never get seen. However, it is acceptable to add relevant, occupational-defining adjectives to the basic Job Title (such as On-site Architectural Project Manager, Conceptual Chief Estimator, Hospital Flooring Project Engineer, and Veteran Concrete Superintendent).

Job Descriptions
Job descriptions typically focus on job responsibilities, duties, scope, achievements and goals to be accomplished. The clearer the description, the more likely qualified job seekers will apply. Job descriptions should focus on the job seeker’s needs and not just the position. Job descriptions should be written from the job seeker’s perspective. They should also answer the question, “Why would a job seeker want to apply for this job?” Contractors should describe the best parts of the job, interesting challenges, future job opportunities, reporting relationships, and why the position is available. It’s important to sell the overall career opportunity while not just describing it. If a job seeker takes the job, what will their lives be like? Use word pictures and try to communicate desirable images that the job seeker can visualize, compelling him/her to change jobs. For example: “work in a progressive environment where you can learn more in six months than you may have in the last six years”, or “walk into your private office and join a team of enthusiastic professionals who are building the next great management firm”. If there is not a job-posting field that lists specific benefits and perks, add them into the job description. Job benefits include things such as flex time, work at home, child care, above average medical benefits, company vehicle, education reimbursement, country club membership, and other special offerings. However, contractors should recognize that the Job Description field should not describe the company, the job requirements, the job location, salary, or anything else unless there is no other appropriate field in which to post this information. Inappropriate content (or placing content in the wrong fields) may result in the job posting being edited or deleted.

Company Profile
Most job boards allow for a hot link to the contractor’s corporate web site. Many job boards, in addition to offering a hot link, will offer a special Company Profile field. Contractors should completely fill in this field. This will add valuable content and keywords to the job board’s database in order to improve their chances of being found by searching job seekers. A Company Profile field creates an additional promotional opportunity for the firm and the job position. Use this field to describe what the company does – addressing key elements like organization size, location, benefits, company goals, mission, management style, employee quality of life and what makes the firm special. Contractors should also include information about the qualities desired in all team members. This field often provides for limitless content and is the least edited by the hosting job board. Some job boards even allow for multiple company profiles that can be individually linked to a respective job posting (allowing recruiters to add information on each respective client, and contractors the opportunity to promote information about their various divisional offices).

Contact Information
It is essential to put contact information on all forms and in all appropriate fields. Contractors should make it easy for a job seeker to apply. Most job seekers prefer email. Some prefer using mail, fax or phone calls before sending their confidential resume. It is appropriate to specify a preferred contact method, and request that all applications include the respective Job ID. By having several contact methods and the contact name (not just a department) of a real person, a job seeker is more likely to believe the job is valid and apply.

Job Identification (ID)
For job postings, contractors should use a tracking system to provide a unique Job ID for each job posting and require that job seekers reference this ID on applications whether faxed, emailed, or mailed. This allows contractors to know which site – and specifically which ad – brought in the respective application. Information as to where the best applications come from will help contractors to know what job boards have been the most productive sources of talent.

Job Responsibilities
Job Responsibilities are simply the job requirements for the position. In order to get the best response, contractors should list why the requirements are there. Examples would be: “A Bachelor of Arts Degree is required to help lead Corporate Communications” or “We require seven years of project management experience for commercial building projects. This position will manage three Project Managers and seven Project Engineers”. Make clear the “required” qualifications and the “desired” skills. Avoid clich’s or trite phrases like “self-motivated”, “team player”, and “fast-paced” (making the job posting appear common). Contractors can also use the Job Responsibilities field as an eliminator of unwanted resumes by making qualifying statements (“Applicants must have a minimum of six consecutive years with the same general contractor. Otherwise, please do not apply.”). In order to eliminate many unwanted job seekers, contractors can also add qualifying phrases such as “background checks are performed in the hiring process” or “personality testing is used in the hiring process”.

Salary
Many contractors refuse to post salary information in job postings. Salary figures make job postings credible, and substantially improve the job seeker response rate. It is also one of the most widely searched fields on a job posting. Job seekers are typically more interested in the salary than any other item in a job description. According to executive recruiter, Chuck Groom of CC Group, Inc., money is one of the top reasons why people leave their job. Job seekers do not want to waste time with a job that may not pay what they require. When a salary figure is lacking, they will assume that the contractor may be embarrassed by the level of salary level – or have something to hide. Phrases such as “Salary is commensurate with experience, N/A, Open, or Depends on experience” do not prove effective. They will actually significantly reduce response rate to a job posting.

Work Status
An important qualifier, that is often overlooked, is the work status field. With the international reach of the Internet, more and more foreigners (without valid work visas) are applying to United States job postings. Contractors can eliminate many foreign applications by simply stating “applicants must be United States citizens”, or “only United States citizens or those with valid work visas need apply”, or “you must have clearance to work in the United States to be considered for this position”.

Location
Most major job boards require the location field to be completed. Although many recruiters refuse to identify job locations (in fear of disclosing their clients need for confidentiality), listing the job location is one of the main fields that job seekers search. Job seekers from all over the country/world may see the job posting. Without a valid city noted, job seekers must guess the job location. They often will not apply because they think that the posting is in an undesirable location, or that it’s invalid to serve only as a ploy to collect resumes.

Best Places to Post an Internet Job Posting
There are several good choices for contractors who want to post their jobs online. However, the key is to find job boards that to provide the “right” viewers – as well as a large volume of “right” viewers. Contractors want their job posting to be seen by as many relevant viewers as possible. However, although most job boards charge similar fees for services, their volume of viewers can vary dramatically. Many contractors will choose to post jobs online with traditional, well-known, off-line businesses that have a job board presence online. However, the online job posting business (like any Internet business) is a unique business that requires an entirely different set of rules and business acumen. The off-line leaders are rarely the leaders in the online world. In selecting the right job board, contractors should compare results based on verifiable industry standards. One way to make an accurate comparison is through Amazon’s Alexa Research, which can be downloaded at Alexa.com and easily attached to a web browser. Once installed, this tool will indicate a web site’s visitor traffic (based on a common standard, and measured against the entire seventeen million plus web-sites currently on the Internet).

“The article above was written by construction recruiter Frederick Hornberger, CPC, president of Hornberger Management Company in Wilmington, Delaware (www.hmc.com), a construction recruiter specializing in senior level, executive search.”

In the midst of technological advancement nowadays, the “back-tobasics” rule still applies when it comes to getting hired for a job. It
does not matter if you are planning to apply for a million-pound company or a small, independent firm. When you face an interviewer,
it all boils down to how you present yourself. This is the deciding factor whether you will get hired or not.

So you have distributed your resume to prospective employers and you have determined the correct job to apply for. The next step is to
schedule the job interview.

You can make the acquaintance of the assistant or the receptionist when you schedule for the interview, either by phone or personally. Be
friendly and polite, as these people might provide information that can be essential to getting that job or, even just give you a background of
the company or your prospective boss.

Finally, you show up for the interview. The basic traits of being prompt, how you speak and carry yourself
and even how you dress are all factors that contribute in making a lasting impression that will eventually get you hired.