10 Interview Fashion Blunders

Any article about what to wear to an interview might well begin with a qualifying statement covering the extremes in various states (New York and California, for example) and industries (technology, manufacturing), which are possible exceptions to the normal rules of fashion. But it might surprise you to learn that those extremes have, over the last couple of years, begun to move closer to the middle ground.

Nowadays, if you were to ask 100 people their opinion about what to wear to an interview, the majority would answer, "Dress on the conservative side." With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to avoid fashion blunders.

Anna Soo Wildermuth, an image consultant and past president of the Association of Image Consultants International, says, "Clothes should be a part of who you are and should not be noticed." She cites 10 dressing faux pas to avoid when interview time comes around: 

• Wild Nail Polish: This tip is for women or men. Extremely long or uncut nails are a real turnoff, too. Your nails should be groomed and neat. 
   
• Jangly Jewelry: Don't wear more than two rings per hand or one earring per ear. And no face jewelry or ankle bracelets allowed.
   
• Open-Toed or Backless Shoes: And mules are a definite no-no. Out-of-date shoes should be thrown out or kept for other occasions.
   
• Bare Legs: Wear stockings, even in humid summer weather. Stockings can be in neutral colors or a fashion color to match your shoes.
   
• Out-of-Date Suits: These have lapels that are too wide (three inches or more) or too narrow (one inch or less). A good tailor can alter lapels. The style for men's jackets is full-body and looser rather than fitted or tight. 

• Short Skirts: Hemlines should not be more than three inches above the knee. Don't wear capri pants or leggings to the interview.
   
• Leather Jackets for Men or Women: Even leather blazers are not good for interviewing purposes. They look like outerwear.
   
• Turtlenecks for Men: A tie is preferable, at least in the first go-round. At the very least, wear a collared shirt.
   
• Printed or Trendy Handbags: Purses should be conservative and inconspicuous.
   
• Red Briefcases: Briefcases, purses and shoes should all be conservative in color and in good condition.

Conservative colors in various shades of blue and gray are best. Wearing black to the interview could be viewed as too serious. If you do wear black, make sure another color is near your face to soften the look. Brown is still considered questionable as a business color and probably should be avoided. Change your outfit's look for a second interview by wearing a different color blouse, shirt, scarf or tie.

An interview is not the place to make a fashion statement, though those in the creative/design field and the very famous can be more adventurous. Everyone else should opt for a conservative look. "More and more companies are returning to traditional professional dress," Wildermuth says.

Whatever you wear should accent the fact that you're a professional who's ready to get to work at a new job. Let common sense guide you, and it should be easy to avoid fashion blunders that could damage your chances of getting to the next step in the process. In this market, it is essential that you look good and your appearance is right for the job.

8 Danger Signs When You’re Job Searching

As a job seeker, it can be hard to see danger signs when you’re interviewing. When you really want a job, it’s all too easy to ignore signals that a company might turn into the workplace of your nightmares. But if you don’t want to end up in a job that regularly leaves you in tears, it’s important to pay attention to red flags.

Here are eight danger signs to watch out for when you’re applying for a job:

1. Flakiness. The job description seems to be a work in progress that keeps changing. You’re told that you’ll be reporting to finance and later it changes to operations. They say they’ll get back to you within 48 hours and you hear nothing. You arrive for your interview with Bob and learn that you’ll be meeting with Jane instead. Guess what it’s going to be like to work there?
Of course, there can be legitimate reasons for any of the above. But an organized company will realize that these things can look flaky and will acknowledge it and explain what’s going on. It’s an absence of any awareness or concern about how this may be coming across that should alarm you, because it indicates it’s not anything out of the ordinary for this company.

2. Taking a long time to get back to you. This is common, but it’s still worth looking at. You want to work somewhere that can move quickly and make decisions and respects people enough not to let them languish. Companies are sending you a powerful message about their culture when they’re responsive or at least let you know what their timeline is—and they send an equally powerful message when they don’t.

3. Not updating you when a timeline changes. Every job seeker knows how agonizing it is to be expecting to hear back by a certain date, only to have that date come and go with no word. You want to work in a culture where people do what they say they’re going to do, or update you accordingly. This is about simple respect, and once you’re working there, it will also be about your ability to get things done.

4. High turnover in the position or department. High turnover means one of two things: a willingness to replace poor performers (good) or lots of people running away from a disaster (bad). Your job is to find out which one it is. For instance, ask, “It sounds like you’ve had some turnover recently. What’s been behind that?” It’s unlikely that anyone will come out and say, “The boss is a nightmare to work for,” but you should be able to get some sense of what’s going on from the type of answer you get.

5. Zero turnover, ever. You’ll know why this is a bad sign if you’ve ever had your quality of life destroyed or your effectiveness diminished by someone who your company should have fired but didn’t. You want to work for an employer that has high standards, holds people accountable, addresses problems, and gets rid of people when needed, because you want to have coworkers who pull their weight.

6. Rude or inconsiderate interviewers. If your interviewer treats you like you’re an unwelcome interruption, beware. It probably says something about the employer’s culture. The same goes for employers who ask you to do inconvenient things, such as interviewing on just a few hours notice, and don’t bother to acknowledge or apologize for the inconvenience. (To be clear, sometimes a great employer might ask you to do something inconvenient; the key is that they’ll realize it and be appreciative.)

7. No interest in your side of the transaction. An employer who doesn’t seem interested in ensuring that you get to know them and that you have a solid understanding of what the job entails is an employer that likely doesn’t think much about its employees. You want an employer that recognizes that they should be wooing you just as much as you’re wooing them.

8. Lack of transparency. Do you feel like they’re trying to sell you something? Are they painting a picture of a job that sounds way too good to be true? Smart employers will be honest not just about the upsides of a job, but also about the downsides. Employers who try to downplay the less attractive aspects of the job—like boring work or long hours—end up with employees who don’t want to be there. Look for truth in advertising, and you won’t end up feeling snowed once you’re on the job.

Steer Clear of Interviewers' Pet Peeves

You sit facing the interviewer, feeling like things are moving along nicely when all of a sudden the interview takes a drastic turn for the worse. What just happened? You may have hit one of the interviewer's pet peeves, one of those things that automatically triggers a negative response.

Here are seven of the most common peeves provided by experienced interviewers, along with some tips on how to avoid them:

1. Smells: Too Much of a Good Smell Can Be Bad

Pat Riley, author of Secrets of Breaking into Pharmaceutical Sales, has a pet peeve story to relate: "Preparing for an interview is not like preparing for a date. I had one interview with a woman who doused herself with perfume (the same perfume my ex-girlfriend used to wear) right before stepping into the small interview booth. The perfume was overpowering and brought back bad memories."

2. Communication: Too Little Leaves Interviewers Exasperated

"My No. 1 interviewing pet peeve is an applicant who won't talk,” says Steve Jones, a manager of client services at a software company in Dallas. “I try to ask open-ended questions and prod them for longer answers, but no luck. I've even mentioned to a few that I need more information so I can get an idea of where they're coming from -- still no luck. I always end the interview saying, ‘Now it's your turn to ask questions,' and still no luck. They don't have any. Oh well -- next!"”

Jones advises job seekers to come prepared to answer questions and talk about yourself.

3. Communication: Too Much Can Be Too Much

"Candidates who ramble are the ones who get to me," says Dotti Bousquet of Resource Group Staffing in West Hartford, Connecticut. “I was interviewing a candidate and asked her one question. The candidate talked and talked and talked for 45 minutes straight. I was unable to stop her. I had to say, ‘Let's wrap this up,' and I stood up while she continued to talk. I walked to the door of the office and opened it. She left, but continued to talk while walking out the door."

The lesson? “Candidates should stay focused, and answer the question asked -- in less than two to three minutes," advises Bousquet.

4. Lack of Focus: Results in Losing the Interviewer

"Typically, candidates are simply too intimidated by the process," says Mark Fulop, project director for a large nonprofit agency. "Relating the answer given to one question back with another -- and asking clarifying or follow-up questions -- shows me that the candidate is confident and thinking about the whole picture instead of enduring an interrogation.

5. Averting Your Eyes: One Way to Avert an Offer

Incorrect nonverbal communication is a turnoff for many interviewers. People who do not make any eye contact during the entire interview irritate Gwen Sobiech, an agency recruiter in West Hartford, Connecticut. “I realize some people are shy, but to never look at me once -- they look down, around, everywhere -- but not at me for the entire interview," she says. "I find that extremely annoying. I also tend to distrust someone who will not look at me when I've asked a question."

If you are uncomfortable looking into someone's eyes, look at his third eye, just above and between the person's two eyes.

6. Slang and Street Speak: Leave Them on the Street

"Poor communications skills really get to me," says Robert Fodge of Power Brokers in Dover, Delaware. "What I mean by this is not merely their language fluency, but more about the use of language. Slang words and street speak just don't have a place in most business environments. Also, candidates who say 'um,' 'like' and 'uh' between every other word lose my attention very quickly."

7. Deception: Little Lies Leave a Big Impression

One major complaint among recruiters is when a candidate is not completely truthful; small lies are all too common in the world of recruitment. This includes not being completely forthcoming with relevant information, embellishing accomplishments, hiding jobs or leading the process on with no intention of ever following through. Building trust during the interview is key to getting an offer.

Five New Skills Job Seekers Need

Job seekers have had the same list of critical skills to brush up on or acquire for decades -- things like careful follow-up, attention to grammar and punctuation, and great listening abilities. But today's overcrowded job market and the ever-shrinking attention spans of hiring managers are creating brand-new job search requirements.

Here are five new must-have skills for job seekers today:

Pain Spotting

It used to be that you could apply to a job and parrot the requirements listed in the job ad. But simply saying, "You want organizational and communication skills? I've got 'em!" won't cut it now. Every job seeker says the exact same thing in his cover letter. These days, you've got to do more. You've got to figure out -- by reading the job ad and researching the employer -- what sort of business pain lurks behind the job opening.

What are your choices? There's growth-related pain, and there's consolidation-related pain. There's pain associated with customers fleeing, with competitors outsourcing the work and cutting costs, and with a shortage of talent in an industry. When you know or can guess at the pain behind the job ad, you have something of substance to say to a hiring manager. Until then, you're just another banana in a very crowded bunch.

Storytelling

"I have a strong work ethic and get along with all kinds of people" is about as compelling as "I had cereal for breakfast" -- but, worse, it's not even believable. Anyone can claim these characteristics, and nearly everyone does. To get a hiring manager's attention, tell a brief and powerful story that demonstrates what you get done when you work: "When our big Q4 product release was delayed a month, I put together an outbound-calling campaign that kept our accounts from bailing and got us $450,000 in preorders" will let a hiring manager know some of the good things that happen when you showed up, saw and conquered.

Using a Human Voice

The old "results-oriented professional with a bottom-line orientation" style of resume is as out of date as high-fructose corn syrup. A human voice in your resume and your other outreach to employers will separate you from the boilerplate-spouting legions of typical job seekers. Replace tired corporate-speak like "Met or exceeded expectations" with a concrete, visual bullet point like "I sold our sales VP on a matrix territory structure that boosted sales 14 percent." Don't be afraid of the word "I" in your resume, or of using vernacular. Real people -- such as your next boss -- use slang every day.

Showing Relevance

The typical job seeker has a one-size-fits-all resume that gets pressed into service whether the open position is for a purchasing coordinator, a marketing assistant or a human resources analyst. That's no good. Your background won't be relevant to the hiring manager unless you highlight the accomplishments from each past job that have the most in common with the role you're pursuing. For a purchasing job, spell out your negotiating milestones. For the marketing role, tell the reader how you created or maintained a database and about your writing and creative skills. For the HR opportunity, describe the times when you untangled thorny human problems. Update your resume as often as necessary to make sure your most relevant stories come to the fore.

Knowing Your Value

No one will pay you more than you're worth, so know your value before you begin an active job search. Start with Monster’s Salary Wizard so you know your market value and don't get low balled in the hiring process. If you and an employer have wildly different ideas about what your background is worth, keep looking. Even in a tough economy -- maybe even because of if -- your ability to solve expensive employer problems is worth a lot more than peanuts. Arm yourself with information, and then get out there and tell your story.

Interview Cheat Sheet

Relax -- a cheat sheet is not really cheating. It's a checklist to make sure you stay focused before, during and after the interview. Creating a cheat sheet will help you feel more prepared and confident. You shouldn't memorize what's on the sheet or check it off during the interview. You should use your cheat sheet to remind you of key facts. Here are some suggestions for what you should include on it.

In the Days Before the Interview

Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On the left side, make a bulleted list of what the employer is looking for based on the job posting. On the right side, make a bulleted list of the qualities you possess that fit those requirements.
Research the company, industry and the competition.
Prepare your 60-second personal statement.
Write at least five success stories to answer behavioral interview questions ("Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example of a time...").
List five questions to ask the interviewer about the job, the company and the industry.
Research salaries to determine your worth.
Determine your salary needs based on your living expenses.
Get permission from your references to use their names.
Prepare Your Interview Answers

Be ready to answer common interview questions such as these:

Tell me about yourself.
Why did you leave your last position, or why are you leaving your current position?
What do you know about this company?
What are your goals?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why do you want to work here?
What has been your most significant achievement?
How would your last boss and colleagues describe you?
Why should we hire you?
What are your salary expectations?
Before You Go to the Interview

Do you look professional? Check yourself in the mirror; part of your confidence will come from looking good.

Carry these items to the interview:

Several copies of your resume on quality paper.
A copy of your references.
A pad of paper on which to take notes, though notes are optional.
Directions to the interview site.
Upon Arrival

Arrive early -- enter the building 10 minutes before your appointment.
Review your prepared stories and answers.
Go to the restroom and check your appearance one last time.
Announce yourself to the receptionist in a professional manner.
Stand and greet your interviewer with a hearty -- not bone-crushing -- handshake.
Smile and maintain eye contact.
During the Interview

Try to focus on the points you have prepared without sounding rehearsed or stiff.
Relax and enjoy the conversation.
Learn what you can about the company.
Ask questions and listen; read between the lines.
At the conclusion, thank the interviewer, and determine the next steps.
Ask for the interviewer's business card so you can send a follow-up letter.
After the Interview

As soon as possible, write down what you are thinking and feeling.
Later in the day, review what you wrote and assess how you did.
Write an interview thank-you letter, reminding the interviewer of your qualities.

TAKING THE LEAD IN THE INTERVIEW DANCE

 

Fred Astaire is one of the most celebrated dancers ever. But have you ever noticed that Ginger Rogers had to follow him, moving backwards and in high heels?

Like partner dancing, an interview has a "leader" and a "follower." It's the role of the hiring manager - as leader - to set the tone of the interview and guide you on its structure. But you are Ginger Rogers. It's your role to listen carefully, take the subtle cues given and follow that lead expertly. Landing a job in the competitive financial industry can take some maneuvering. Read on to learn the steps that will help you glide effortlessly through your next big job interview.

Warm Up
If you have always been one of those gawky kids who sat near the punch bowl while everyone else was out on the dance floor, don't panic. There are ways to prepare so you can cool your sweaty palms and relax those knocking knees.

First, be sure to look the part. Ginger Rogers would never dream of doing the Lindy Hop dressed like a gangster. Look neat, clean and business-like. When in doubt, it's always best to dress up rather than down.
Arrive at your interview on time. Better yet, be a little early. Make sure you have extra copies of your resume and samples of your work on hand and, of course, business cards, if you have them.

Arrive prepared by researching the company ahead of time. Nearly every company now has a website that's packed with useful information about its senior team and its business. Read through press releases and annual reports, and get to know the company's strategic vision and day-to-day challenges. By doing your homework, you'll be able see where you might fit into this company. This knowledge will enable you to talk intelligently about how your skills and experience can help the company solve its problems and achieve its strategic goals.

Practice Makes Perfect

Before you arrive for your interview, you should be familiar with the typical interview questions and how you'll answer. Like any successful dance move, it's important to practice, practice, practice! Have a friend or colleague role-play with you so you can practice answering typical interview questions out loud. There are many books and web resources on effective interviewing. Read them.

It's important to have a simple, easy-to-use strategy for your interview in case you get rattled. This becomes even more important when you're interviewing with financial types, who are introverts by nature and usually struggle with social contact and interpersonal exchanges. We'll call this strategy the "top three reasons" method.

Use The Top Three Method

Before arriving at your interview, ask yourself this question: What are the top three reasons that I should be hired for this job? Three is a good number; three reasons are easy for a hiring manager to absorb and remember.
Choose your three reasons carefully. For example, you might choose something like this:

1) I have a passion for this industry/this company/this specific job,

2) I am self-directed and driven; and

3) I am smart as hell. Whatever your talents and skills, boil them down to the top three reasons that you are right for the job. Practice delivering those reasons in a way that seems natural, not programmed.

Charm Your Interviewer

Your simple, three reasons strategy may pay off in ways you can't imagine. Sometimes, you'll encounter a hiring manager who is ill-equipped or unprepared to interview you. Maybe that person is stressed, has not yet seen your resume or feels caught off-guard. That's when you take over.
"Let me make this easy on you," you may offer. "Here are the top three reasons why I am the best candidate for this job."

Having your top three reasons also works as a nice summary of your candidacy when an interview draws to an end. How many times has a hiring manager asked you, after you think you've exhausted all new information about yourself, if there's anything else that you'd like to add. This is when you respond, "Yes. Let me review the top three reasons why I am the best candidate for this job."

Take A Bow

Doing the interview dance doesn't end when you exit through the front door, either. You have a unique opportunity to close the deal with how you write your follow-up thank-you note.

Lloyd Feinstein of Career Marketing Consultants developed an approach called the long thank-you letter. Feinstein points out that impressions from interviews don't last long, especially when there are multiple candidates for a job and all you've left behind is a resume. The long thank-you note aims to refresh memories and set you apart from the pack. Typically 2-7 pages long, the notion of such a lengthy follow-up note is intimidating at first. He recommends that you begin by taking good notes during your interview, which you will reconstruct later in a summary format. That summary is the basis of your letter.

Feinstein suggests the following format for your long thank you. The opening paragraph should thank the interviewer for his or her time, candor and the information provided about the company. The second section is laid out in a column format. In the left-hand column, state what problems or issues you heard from the hiring manager during the interview. In the right-hand column, list which of your experiences, skills or accomplishments can help to solve those problems. This approach allows you to target your accomplishments to the hiring manager's needs. It also demonstrates that you're a problem-solver. The more issues or problems discussed during the interview, the longer your thank you will be.

The Finale

The most accomplished dancers communicate in a way that allows the leader to incorporate the follower's ideas, abilities and creative suggestions into their next moves. With good preparation, including the top three reasons and the long thank-you letter, you can convince a hiring manager that the company can't afford to take the next step without you.

7 Things You Should Say in an Interview

 

Today's job market is as competitive as ever. You need to be able to effectively communicate you skill set so that you will give yourself the best competitive advantage to secure employment. During the interview process, you want to highlight as many of your strengths as possible. An easy way to do this is by slipping a few simple phrases into your next job interview. Here are seven things you should say in an interview:

1. I am very familiar with what your company does

Letting a prospective employer know that you are familiar with what a company does shows that you have a legitimate interest in the business and are not just wasting their time. Do your homework before arriving for an interview. Check out the company website for information about products and services. Search for the latest transactions and pertinent business news.

Be sure to let the interviewer know that you are familiar with the newest company acquisition or the latest product that was just developed. Explain how your skills and experience are a perfect fit for the employer.

2. I am flexible

Work environments are always changing. Prospective employers are looking for candidates that are open to change and can adapt at a moment's notice. In today's fast paced business world, employees must have the ability to multi-task.

Stating that you are adaptable lets an employer know that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. This may mean working additional hours or taking on additional job duties in a crunch. Show your potential employer that you are equipped to deal with any crisis situation that may arise.

3. I am energetic and have a positive attitude

Employers are looking for candidates with optimism and a "can-do" attitude. Attitudes are contagious and have a direct affect on company morale. Let the optimist in you shine during the interview process.

Be sure to always speak positively about past employers. Negative comments and sarcastic statements about past employers and co-workers will make you look petty. If you bad mouth your past company, employers are liable to believe that you will do the same thing to them.

4. I have a great deal of experience

This is your chance to shine. Highlight any previous job duties that relate directly to your new job. If it is a management position, state every time that you were responsible for the supervision, training and development of other employees. Discuss your motivational techniques and specific examples of how you increased productivity. Feel free to list any training classes or seminars that you have attended.

5. I am a team player

Do you remember when you were young and your teacher wanted to know if you could work well with others? Well the job market is no different! Companies are looking for employees that are cooperative and get along well with other employees. Mentioning that you are a team player lets your prospective employer know that you can flourish in group situations. Employers are looking for workers that can be productive with limited supervision and have the ability to work well with others.

6. I am seeking to become an expert in my field

Employers love applicants that are increasing their knowledge base to make themselves the best employees possible. Stating that you are aiming to become an expert causes employers to view you as an asset and not a liability. You are a resource that other employees can learn from.

This is also a subtle way of illustrating that you have an attitude of excellence. You are aiming to be the best at what you do! This will let employers know that you are not just a fly-by-night employee, but in it for the long run.

7. I am highly motivated

A motivated employee is a productive employee. Talk about how your high level of motivation has led you to accomplish many things. If you are a meticulous worker, discuss your organizational skills and attention to detail. Companies are always looking for dependable employees that they can count upon.

The Bottom Line

Remember that a job interview is an opportunity to sell yourself to a prospective employer. Be sure to slip in the right phrases to give you the best chance possible of securing that cushy corner office on the ninth floor.

10 Resume Rules: Fact or Fiction?

 

For better or worse, the job market has certainly changed during the past few years. As such, the practice of looking for a job has evolved as well -- so much, it seems, that what was once considered a best practice can now in fact cost you an interview.

What tried and true résumé rules have become obsolete post-recession? This is what experts find out what exactly has changed:

1. Your résumé should fit on one page.

Verdict: Myth

The conventional wisdom used to say that interviewers would not look at a résumé longer than one page. Not so, says Nick Jimenez, executive vice president of recruitment site Climber.com. For him, this "rule" applies only to entry-level applicants who don't have credentials that stretch beyond a page or, perhaps, applicants looking only for part-time work. Everyone else can (and should) feel free to type on.

"In today's electronic age, very few recruiters or hiring managers actually print the résumés out when they are screening candidates," Jimenez says. "I subscribe to the theory that a résumé should be as long as it takes to tell your story and convince the reader your background is well-aligned with the needs of the open position."

Bruce Hurwitz, career consultant and executive recruiter at New York staffing agency Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, agrees. "The résumé needs to be as long as it takes to properly reflect the candidate's career," he says. "I have received horrible one-page résumés, fabulous five-page résumés, and magnificent 40+ page résumés from academics and scientists with multiple publications."

2. Always use a cover letter.

Verdict: Rule

Sorry to break it to you, but this résumé myth, it seems, is true. While most job experts admit that many employers do actually skip over a cover letter and move straight to the résumé, you should still always send one. According to Allison Nawoj, corporate communications director of CareerBuilder.com, a recent survey conducted by the jobs site found that 20% of hiring managers would automatically dismiss a candidate who submitted a résumé without a cover letter, which means that those who don't want to risk having their application end up in the slush pile would do best to include one.

"A cover letter allows the sender to explain, succinctly, what their objective is, to answer any questions if they are responding to an ad and to refer to any issues that, by definition, would not be included on a résumé," Hurwitz says.

3. Your résumé needs an objective.

Verdict: Myth

You can skip on including an objective on your résumé.

"Most 'objective' paragraphs are meaningless," says Hurwitz, the career consultant. "It means nothing. In fact, it's a waste of time and an insult to the intelligence of the recipient."

Nawoj agrees, saying that the résumé objective, a must-have inclusion five or 10 years ago, has slowly been replaced by what can be referred to as a "career summary," a short list of accomplishments that highlight your achievements.

"Like an objective, the summary should give the employer an idea of who you are, except it allows you to focus more on your experience than on your goals," she says. "You can briefly mention your career highlights, including past roles and your strongest skills."

4. Gaps in employment will cost you an interview.

Verdict: Myth

Before the recession, a gap between employment would have been a major red flag, but employers have become increasingly understanding in the current economic climate.

"Depending on the actual amount of time you were unemployed, as long as you were active and engaged, many employers will look at the employment gap as a non-issue," Jimenez says.

Laura Smith-Proulx, a professional résumé writer, agrees, but emphasizes that you will still need to be able to offer an explanation should an employer ask.

"Be prepared to explain the gap itself by pointing to an activity that filled it, such as volunteer work, caring for an ill family member, or launching a business, in order to explain time in between jobs," she says. "Try not to point out a gap that you can't name. Essentially, your best strategy when dealing with any potentially negative information is [to] focus more on the results you can bring to your next employer than anything else."

5. A little embellishment is OK.

Verdict: Myth

The current competitive job market may entice prospective employees to alter job titles, embellish achievements or fudge timelines, but our experts assert that applicants would do best to stick with the truth.

"Candidates should always be honest on their résumés," Nawoj says. "It's the first impression you make to an employer, so you want to show your integrity by being honest about your background."

6. Organize your résumé in reverse chronological order.

Verdict: Rule

While it may seem unnatural to some applicants, this myth, experts say, is true.

Climber.com, for example, surveyed recruiting managers and discovered that a majority preferred reverse chronological résumés, listing work experience from most to least recent. They preferred this traditional structure over the topical or achievement-based résumés that have emerged in the digital age. Why exactly?

"Topically oriented résumés are difficult to read, particularly when the recruiter or hiring manager is reviewing hundreds of other résumés for the same position," Jimenez explains. "By not providing the context for your accomplishments, you make it harder for the reader to draw comparisons between you and the other candidates."

Additionally, Hurwitz points out, a résumé should show growth. "Recipients want to know immediately where a candidate is now, not where they were five, 10 years ago," he says.

7. Educational background should be at the top.

Verdict: Myth

According to experts, this is another myth that gets perpetrated because it applies to entry-level applicants who have recently graduated from school. Experienced hires, in fact, should move their educational background further down.

"If you are an experienced professional, your education should always be listed at the bottom of your résumé," Jimenez says.

8. Your résumé should include references.

Verdict: Myth

Don't bother including a references section or even typing in "references available upon request" at the bottom of your résumé, since recommendations come much later in the application process.

"It isn't necessary to include your references on your résumé," Nawoj says. "If a hiring manager would like to contact your references, they'll let you know. Save the space for more valuable information."

9. Use buzzwords.

Verdict: Rule (with some exceptions)

This myth is mostly true. Experts agree that you should include buzzwords in your résumé, because they may help a recruiter find you in their internal tracking system or while searching databases on sites like Monster.com. However, be careful what words make it into your final product.

"If it seems like the candidate has dumped a bunch of buzzwords in for show, the résumé might also get dumped," Tiffani Murray, a career consultant and former human resources manager.

Hurwitz agrees that "the résumé has to read like it is meant for a human being, not a computer. Just listing keywords reflects poorly on the candidate and impacts credibility."

10. You should provide a hard copy printed on fancy paper.

Verdict: Myth

The idea that you should bring a printed version of your résumé on glossy or otherwise fancy paper is absolutely false. While you should bring a hard copy to an interview, all experts agree that there's no real need for it to be printed out on thick and environmentally unfriendly résumé paper.

"The days of fancy résumé paper are all but dead," Murray says. "Companies are cutting back on paper, so your résumé is likely stored in an applicant tracking system that the hiring manager and recruiter can look at on their computer or smartphone whenever they need to review it."

IKLAN KEKOSONGAN JAWATAN

IKLAN KEKOSONGAN JAWATAN KUMPULAN SOKONGAN II DI KEMENTERIAN PENGANGKUTAN MALAYSIA

JAWATAN : PEMANDU KENDERAAN BERMOTOR GRED R3

Penempatan : Sekitar Putrajaya

Jadual Gaji : PlTl RM 701.42- P1T17 RM 1354.86
P2T1 RM 743.89- P2T17 RM 1423.41
P3Tl RM 787.99- P3T17 RM 1493.59

Elaun : i) lmbuhan Tetap Khidmat Awam - RM 95.00
ii) lmbuhan Tetap Perumahan - RM 180.00
iii) Bantuan Sara Hidup - RM3 00.00

Syarat Lantikan :
Calon-calon untuk lantikan hendaklah memiliki kelayakan seperti berikut: -
(a) Warganegara Malaysia;
(b) berumur tidak kurang dari 18 tahun pada tarikh tutup iklan jawatan;
(c) (i) Tamat Darjah 6 sekolah Rendah Bantuan Penuh Kerajaan;
(ii)Memiliki lesen memandu kelas D/E/E1/E2/F/G/H/I berkenaan yang
dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) kecuali lesen memandu
dalam tempoh percubaan.
(iii) Berkebolehan memandu, mengendali dan menyenggara kenderaan bermotor
berkenaan yang diliputi oleh skim perkhidmatan ini.
Gaji Permulaan ialah pada Gred R3:
- Lesen D P1T3
- Lesen E/E1/E2 P1T4
- Lesen F/H P1T5
- Lesen G/l P1T6
(iv) Berkebolehan bertutur, membaca dan menulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia dengan
baik.


JAWATAN : PEMBANTU AM PEJABAT GRED N1

Penempatan : Sekitar Putrajaya

Gred : Gred N1

Jadual Gaji : PlTl RM 649.15 - P1T22 RM 1506.79
P2T1 RM 691.62 - P2T17 RM 1583.49
P3T1 RM 735.72 - P3T17 RM 1661.82

Elaun : i) lmbuhan Tetap Khidmat Awam - RM 95.00
ii) lmbuhan Tetap Perumahan - RM 180.00
iii) Bantuan Sara Hidup - RM 300.00

Syarat Lantikan :
i. Calon-calon untuk lantikan hendaklah memiliki kelayakan seperti berikut:-
(a) Warganegara Malaysia;
(b) berumur tidak kurang dari 18 tahun pada tarikh tutup iklan jawatan;
(c) tamat darjah 6 Sekolah Rendah Bantuan Penuh Kerajaan;
ii. Boleh bertutur, membaca dan menulis dalam Bahasa MalaYsia dengan memuaskan.
(Gaji permulaan ialah Pada Gred N1:P1T2)

TEMPOH PERCUBAAN : 1 hingga 3 tahun

CARA MEMOHON:
i. Pemohon yang berminat hendaklah menggunakan Borang MOT( BKP)1/09 yang boleh
didapati di :
Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia
Bahagian Pengurusan Sumber Manusia
Aras 5, Blok D5, Kompleks D,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62616 PUTRAJAYA.
ii. Calon-calon yang ingin memohon Borang MOT (BKP)1/09 melalui pos hendaklah
dialamatkan kepada Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia dengan menyertakan sampul
surat berukuran 32sm x 22 sm yang beralamat sendiri dan bersetem bernilai 50
sen.
iii. Borang Permohonan yang telah lengkap diisi hendaklah ditulis di sudut atas
sebelah kiri sampul surat nama jawatan yang dipohon.

Top 10 Effective Resume Checklist To Survive The Screening

Baru - baru ni aku ada post kerja kosong dlm blog ni n fb aku n aku dpt lihat banyak kekurangan dlm resume yg dihantar especially oleh bdk2 yg br grade. akibatnya, byk yg aku rejek sendri sblm aku submit kt HR sbb aku xnk dimalukan krn submit resume yg mcm hampeh...

So, kt cni aku tulih checklist yg korg kn wat ms nk tulih resume...

tgk2 la yer...


1) Keep it short. The effective resume is preferably one page, two at the most. If you’ve written a novel, tear it apart and whittle it down to one/two pages.

2) It must be easy to read. That means the effective resume is well organized with clear headings, brief statements of responsibility, bulleted points for emphasizing achievements.

3) It must avoid overly specific professional jargon. Keep in mind that your resume is likely to be read first by someone in the HR department who may not have a clue what you’re talking about when you say... "Chaired brain dump resulting in a turnkey solution to improve customer’s ROI." Rather, talk like an earthling and state it plainly: "Boosted customer sales 20%." Take care to craft a resume with universal appeal so as to at least get to the starting gate.

4) Curb your design enthusiasm. That means limiting your font selection to one or two. Use the traditional and popular New Times Roman if you prefer lettering with a serif, or consider Arial, Helvetica or Verdana if you prefer san serif fonts, lacking the slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter. Go easy on the bold and the underlining. And limit your paper selection to white or beige with a weight of 22 or 24 lb. Black type.



5) The effective resume is tailored for a specific position. I understand that may mean cranking out slight variations of your resume every day of the week to target different job postings. Nobody said a job search was a walk in the park.

6) Portray yourself as a problem solver.

7) Quantify your accomplishments with hard numbers whenever possible.

8) Don’t mention your current, or expected salary on the resume.

9) Don’t mention personal information, like whether or not you’re single or married, whether or not you have kids, whether or not your hobbies include golf or listening for extra-terrestrials with the modified ham radio contraption in your garage. Especially that last one.

10) Check, check, check for misspellings. Don’t ever, ever, ever submit a resume or post it online without doing a spell check. In fact, take it a step further and have one or two friends or colleagues proofread the resume for spelling and grammar problems. Do this because an automated spell check program will not know whether you meant to say "principal" or "principle." Both are spelled correctly but mean totally different things. It will not know that you erred by using a verb in the present tense when referring to a job in the past tense.

Do's and Don'ts for Resume Writing

DO’S

• Make sure your resume is easy to read. Remember, it's a summary, not an autobiography. Use concise, unambiguous sentences and avoid over-writing. The reader is likely to be busy and not inclined to struggle through flowery prose.
• Keep the overall length of your resume short. Depending upon your experience, one or two pages is ideal. A three-page resume should be considered only if it is absolutely necessary to do justice to your career experience.
• Stress your past accomplishments and the skills you used to get the desired results. Your accomplishment statements must grab the reader, and quantify the results. Did you increase profits? By what percentage or dollar amount? Did you save the organization time and/or money? How much?
• Focus on information that's relevant to your own career goals. If you're making a career change, stress what skills are transferable to support your new career objectives.
• Neatness counts. And how! A poorly structured, badly typed resume tells the reader much about the applicant — none of it good. Spend the extra money to have your resume typed or word processed, or even printed. It's well worth it.

DON'TS

• If you're considering enclosing a photograph of yourself, don't! It's not necessary, and no matter how attractive you may be, it's possible that you may bear a striking resemblance to someone the reader doesn't like, and that could mean a strike-out for you!
• If you're planning to include personal references on your resume, don't! A potential employer is interested in references only if he or she is seriously considering hiring you. At that time, you may be asked to provide reference information.
• Avoid odd-size paper or loud colors. 8 1/2 X 11-inch paper — in white, buff or beige, is appropriate. Also, be sure to use a good quality paper.
• Your salary history or reasons for leaving previous jobs should never be included in a resume. Also, don't mention sexual harassment issues, lawsuits, workers' compensation claims, or say, "they fired me for no good reason." In addition, leave out any discussion about hobbies, musical instruments you play, sports you enjoy, your marital status (with the number and gender of kids), age or race. This is a business marketing document, so limit the information on it to business related issues.
• Don't include references to areas of your life that are not business related, or have nothing to do with your current career goals. Membership in outside social organizations, military service, etc., have no place in a resume, unless they somehow apply to your job objectives.
• Last, but certainly not least -- don't have any unreasonable expectations of what a resume can do. You will be guilty of a grave error in judgment if you expect someone to hire you because of your resume. It never happens! Your resume is simply a piece of paper. It comes with no guarantee of truthfulness, and it certainly can't close a deal. You may choose to believe that your record speaks for itself, but the truth is: Only you speak for yourself.

How to Write a Job-Winning Resume

One of the most important tools in a job seeker's arsenal — and possibly the one that is treated most casually by the job seeker — is the resume. How well could a carpenter perform with a broken hammer, or a surgeon with a faulty instrument? Likewise, landing the job that’s right for you will be far more difficult without a powerful, accurately targeted marketing tool.

Crafting an effective resume requires stepping back, making objective assessments of oneself, being organized, and writing well.

Where to Start

Before sitting down to write your resume, it is best to have a clear plan. As a result, it will be helpful to consider the following: 

Find your direction

As you would for any journey, decide where you want to go. The more specific you can make this decision, the better. If you have been a widget-maker all your life and you wish to continue in this field, the decision is simple; if you want to switch to making thingamajigs, you will need to dig a little deeper and possibly do some in-depth personal assessments.

Once you have decided upon a goal, you have a resume target. This will guide you in selecting the details that match (as closely as possible) the requirements of the type of position you seek. 

Uncover your qualifications and accomplishments

Identify the information you will be using including work history, education and/or training, certifications, accomplishments, strengths, etc. Keep in mind that your accomplishments and strengths help ensure you stand out from other candidates with similar skills; therefore, it is essential to draw out those most relevant to the position you are targeting so that you may showcase them in your summary and work history.

Many people, surprisingly enough, have difficulty recognizing their strengths and completely overlook some of the best accomplishments they have to offer. The trick to uncovering these key points involves looking at what you do (and/or have done) from the employer's point of view: How have your actions benefited the organization?

Everyone has accomplishments, yet often we are unaware of them. If you are particularly proud of something you have done, it is probably an accomplishment. Also, it can help to think in terms of challenge / action / result: What challenge existed? What action did you take? What was the result? If you can quantify the results — by using percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames, for instance — you will give your resume more authority and "punch" when an employer reviews it. 

Consider the visual elements

Determine the design of your resume. If you generally submit a resume utilizing 8-point font and quarter-inch margins on all sides (a mistake often made by those who believe in the one-page myth), objectively assess the entire document. Will it stand out in a stack of resumes? Will your skills, strengths, and goals be quickly and easily identified?

White space can be used to your advantage. In fact, if you are at a mid-career level, a two-page resume is most common; and executives or those at highly experienced levels may find a two- or three-page resume is appropriate (depending upon your history and goals).

The idea is that you need not be concerned about keeping your resume to one page. It is more important that you present your most relevant qualifications and strengths in a clear and concise manner that maximizes the impact.

As You Craft...

Now that you have a plan, the next step involves crafting the resume; it is important to keep these fundamental strategies in mind: 

The 15-second review

Employers are likely to spend only about 10-20 seconds on the initial pass. Your objective is to capture his/her attention while encouraging a more in-depth reading. This can be a valuable guide when deciding what to include in the summary and what to eliminate: Will it have enough impact to pass this rule?

The basic elements of an effective resume will include:

• A clean, visually appealing appearance that invites tired eyes to read.
• A dynamic and powerful summary of qualifications that targets the position requirements.
• Accomplishments emphasized in the initial summary and/or work history.
• Keywords and phrases appropriately placed throughout the document.
• A strong, well-written work history that highlights the last 10-15 years; earlier positions may be included in condensed fashion unless the skills are particularly relevant to your current goals.
• A section highlighting education, professional development (workshops, seminars, or other training that relates to your job goal), and other relevant certifications, publications, etc.
• Depending on your level, field, and goals, a table or list of specific technical skills may prove beneficial.  

Summary of qualifications

Think of this as the "headline" to the "advertisement" that will "sell" you to the employer. Select your top skills, abilities, and strengths while ensuring they pertain directly to the type of job you are pursuing.

While it is critical to align your qualifications with the type of positions you are pursuing, quality of the writing is important, too. Write concisely, and write well. Keep in mind that while the language should be strong, sentence fragments are standard practice for resumes; however, cover letters need to be complete sentences (i.e., in first-person narrative form).  

Work history 

If you have a resume that details every job you have held beginning in high school, it will be a relief to know you may be able to eliminate them and free up a great deal of space for important information. You want to include information that demonstrates your strengths and illustrates your track record utilizing skills relevant to your job target. Positions you have held during the last 10-15 years are considered the most important unless you are a Senior Executive and you need to show a more complete career track. Sometimes earlier positions can be included in a block of additional experience.

It is important to be concise and pointed. Back up the statements made in the summary of qualifications with information that demonstrates how you used your skills and how they benefited your previous employers. Here, too, it is vital to remember your target, choosing and arranging information so that it will highlight your most relevant abilities and background. 

Education and Training

An overview of your education is typically reserved for the end of the document; however, if it directly relates to your job target, you may place it early in the resume following the opening skill summary. This can be especially helpful if, for instance, you have a degree in widget making even though your work history has been largely in thingamajigs.

Give brief information that includes the level (e.g., associates, bachelors, etc.), kind (e.g., arts, science, etc.), and area (i.e. major and/or concentration) of degree(s) that you possess as well as the awarding institution and location.

If you have attended seminars include these. If you have obtained certifications in your chosen field, or ones that show you could easily secure any required certifications, list them either before or after the continuing-education portion of this block. The relative importance of the certifications will determine their position; for instance, a technical certification will be more important for a job involving information technology than one involving hospitality services.

Finally — A Resume that Gets Noticed!

You are just about done, and you should have a much stronger resume document. Just a few additional points to consider:

• Personal information — age, marital status, health, religion, and ethnicity should not be listed when seeking positions within the US. (When pursuing jobs in other countries -- particularly with non-US employers -- various personal data is often included, depending upon the country.)
• References are rarely included because they are submitted at a later stage in the process when mutual interest has been established between you and the employer.
• Often, particularly for a job you really want or need, there is no substitute for having a resume professionally prepared. Just knowing that writing specialists — who are highly trained and keep up with industry and job trends, and innovations in resume preparation — are preparing a powerful document for you can be a big boost of confidence, which allows you to wow interviewers. And you can't put a price on that.

Either way you do it, think positive and be confident as you enter your job search!

kerja kosong

Pegawai Khidmat Singkat diperlukan segera

Mempunyai kelulusan ijazah
Sila submit resume terkini kepada facebook saya

5 Pointless job-Search Tactics

Resume-blast services
There are vendors who will blast your resume out to zillions of employers for a fee. Only problem: employers are deluged with resumes already. Your unsolicited, uncustomized resume is the last thing they want to see. Skip these services and conduct your own research, using search engines such as jobstreet.com and JobsDB.com. Then write to hiring managers directly with targeted overtures.

Job fairs
Today, job fairs have devolved into thankless, confidence-crushing cattle calls. Save the money you'd spend on dry cleaning and parking to attend a job fair; instead, contact employers one by one after researching their businesses.

"I'm job hunting" messages on discussion boards
I read a few online discussion groups, and I always feel bad for the folks who join a group to post a message that says, "I am seeking an accounting job" to the other members (that is, total strangers). The odds of getting a job lead that way are slim to none.

We need to know the people we refer for job opportunities. You're better off spending your online-community time making one-on-one connections, or following up via phone or in person.

Video resumes
Imagine the hiring manager sitting at their desk swamped in resumes, cover letters, reference lists, portfolios, and unanswered emails from job applicants. What's their incentive to watch your video resume? There isn't one. Video resumes are a solution in search of a problem. Craft a killer resume and get it out, along with a pithy "pain letter" that explicitly shows how your background makes you the perfect person to relieve a business's pain, to hiring managers instead.

Spray and pray
Applying to every job in sight with the same, uncustomized resume is a job-search non-starter. Employers hire people they believe can solve their problems. That belief comes from the understanding of the problem that the job-seeker demonstrates in his or her pitch. Research is the key!

So, how do people get jobs? They do it through thoughtful, well-crafted letters, resumes, and phone calls, sent in response to posted job ads or sent to employers who don't currently have jobs posted but who may well have business needs anyway. They do it through networking, and through careful follow-up with the people they know and the new people they meet during a job search. "Hey, I need a job" is not a compelling pitch--but "I think I understand what you're up against, and would love to talk about solutions" most definitely is.

Things Hiring Managers Wish You Knew

BE HONEST

There are too many job applicants who approach the interview as if their only goal is to win a job offer, losing sight of the fact that this can land them in the wrong job. Think of it like dating. This means being honest about your strengths and weaknesses and giving the hiring manager a glimpse of the real you, so he or she can make an informed decision about how well you'd do in the job.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL STUFFS

Frequently, hiring manager see candidates act as if only “official” contacts—like interviews and formal writing samples—count during the hiring process. They'll send flawless cover letters and then check up on their applications with sloppily written E-mails with spelling errors. Or they'll be charming and polite to me but rude to an assistant. Hiring manager pay attention to how quickly a candidate responds to requests for writing samples and references, and even how fast he or she returns phone calls.

ASK QUESTIONS

Many candidates who don't have many—or even any—questions when asked what can be answered for them. Your interviewer wants to know that you're interested in the details of the job, the department, your prospective supervisor's management style, and the culture of the organization. Otherwise, you risk signaling that you're either not that interested or just haven't thought very much about it.

SEND A THANK-YOU NOTE

E-mail is fine for this and has the advantage of arriving faster, but handwritten notes are still appreciated (and are increasingly unusual so will stand out). And if there are multiple interviews, send a thank-you note each time.

ENTHUSIASM

Commonly, job seekers are too worried about looking desperate. It doesn't look desperate to express your interest in the job or check in to ask about the hiring time-line. However, enthusiasm does cross the line if you are calling more than once a week, calling earlier than the date they said they'd get back to you, sounding like you're eager to take any job as opposed to this one in particular, or appearing as if this is the only option you have.

NOTIFY YOUR REAL WEAKNESS

Claiming that your biggest weakness is perfectionism and you work too hard is disingenuous. It looks like you're avoiding the question. Candidates who can't or won't come up with a realistic assessment of areas where they could improve make hiring manager think they're lacking in insight and self-awareness—or, at a minimum, just making it impossible to have a real discussion of their potential fitness for the job. Hiring manager want to know about your weaknesses not because they are trying to trip you up, but because they genuinely care about making sure you're a good fit for the job.

YOUR RESUME OBJECTIVE USUALLY HURTS YOU

Your resume gets tossed when it lists an objective totally unrelated to the position opened. Really, just get rid of the objective altogether. It rarely helps, often hurts, and always takes up valuable real estate that could be better used to showcase your accomplishments. If you want to talk about your career objective and how this position fits it, use the cover letter for that.

THE PHONE INTERVIEW IS NOT A CASUAL CHAT

While the interviewer wants to get a sense of your personality, a phone interview is still an interview, not an informal phone call with a friend. Don't sound stiff, but don't use the same tone you'd use to talk about your date last night.

DON'T COUNT ON A JOB OFFER

Whatever you do, don't let up on your job search, no matter how confident you are that an offer is coming. Things change; other candidates come along; plans for the position evolve or even get canceled. Until you have a firm offer in hand, you have to proceed as if you don't, since ultimately you can control only your side of the process—so keep setting up those other interviews.

HIRING MANAGER MAY CHECK REFERENCES BEYOND YOUR LIST

Simply not listing that person as a reference isn't enough; Reference-checkers can call anyone you've worked for or who might know you, even if they aren't on the list you provide. In fact, smart reference-checkers will make a point of calling people not on your list, because presumably you've only listed the people most likely to present you in the best light.

GAIN EDGE WITH YOUR COVER LETTER

Individualize. Yes, it takes a lot longer than sending out the same form letter over and over, but a well-written cover letter that's obviously individualized to a specific opening is going to open doors when your resume alone might not have. These account for such a tiny fraction of applications that you'll stand out and immediately go to the top of the pile. And you'll have an extra look, even if your resume isn't stellar.

DON'T BE TOO EARLY

Many interviewers are annoyed when candidates show up more than five or ten minutes early, since they may feel obligated to interrupt what they're doing and go out to greet the person, and some feel vaguely guilty leaving someone sitting in their reception area that long. Aim to walk in five minutes early, but no more than that.

LEAVE THE SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION OFF THE RESUME

Your resume is for experience and accomplishments only. It's not the place for subjective traits, like “great leadership skills” or “creative innovator.” Interviewers ignore anything subjective that an applicant writes about themselves, because so many people's self-assessments are wildly inaccurate and don't yet know enough about the candidate to have any idea if theirs is reliable or not.

YOUR RESUME SHOULD ANSWER ONE KEY QUESTION

The vast majority of resumes read like a series of job descriptions, listing duties and responsibilities at each position the job applicant has held. But resumes that stand out do something very different. For each position, they answer the question: What did you accomplish in this job that someone else wouldn't have?

PERSONALITY

You might not get hired because your working style would clash with the people you'd be working with. Often, one personality type will simply fit better into a department than another will, and that's the kind of thing that's very difficult (if not impossible) for a candidate to know. Remember, it's not just a question of whether you have the skills to do the job, it's also a question of fit for this particular position, with this particular boss, in this particular culture, in this particular company.

BE CONCISE

There's always at least one otherwise-qualified candidate in any hiring round who kills their chances by being too long-winded. You might think, “Well, some people are long-winded, but it doesn't mean he wouldn't do a good job.” The problem is that, at a minimum, it signals that you're not good at picking up on conversational cues, and raises doubts about your ability to organize your thoughts and convey needed information quickly.

BE HONEST BUT DON'T SPILL ABOUT BAD BOSS

You're far better off explaining that you're looking for new challenges, excited about this particular opportunity, taking the time to find something right, and so forth. I'm not crazy about advising someone to be anything less than forthright, and I don't normally recommend it, but in this area, the potential for giving an employer an bad impression is just too great to do it safely.