What is the Worst Thing a Candidate Can Do in an Interview

What is the Worst Thing a Candidate Can Do in an Interview Even if youre the most qualified candidate in the running,  if you slip up  or behave in an inappropriate manner during your job interview, it could cost you the job. From turning up late, to not dressing the part, there are a number of common job interview blunders that candidates make time after time; but whats the worst thing that a job seeker can do in an interview? I asked the Undercover Recruiter community to find out what #UROpinion is on the matter and heres what you had to say: Louise Parkes Marketing Co-ordinator at SVC Group Ltd Admit to the hiring manager that they are not interested in the job after they told the recruiter that they were! Jason Basile Executive Recruiter at  Recruiting Specialists Lack of preparation. To me, an interview is like a golf swing. It takes planning, finesse, and follow through. Kira Seki Recruitment Specialist at Quantum Management Services Ltd. Pull out their cell phone, apologize for doing so and still check it or turn it off at that point before saying, where were we? Even having your cell phone vibrate in your pocket/purse is not okay during any kind of interview, let alone to actually pull it out and check it. Mark Cunzolo Teacher at  South Park School District Not show confidence by having a poor handshake, bad eye contact, and a general inability to hold a conversation. Hila Turabaz Corporate Recruiter at  Spotzer Media Group Not researching the company they have an interview at. Cat Cobb Senior Recruiter, Strategic Talent Sourcer at Discover Ive had someone bring a lunchbox and snack during the interview. Sunitha Narayanan Career Coach at  Promark Company Show disinterest and lack of preparation. Jolie Frechette Executive Healthcare Recruiter Not exhibit true enthusiasm and interest in the opportunity. Ask questions, do your homework before the interview. Manoj Kumar Anand Director Merchandising at Indiana Sourcing Pvt Ltd. Criticising a  previous employer, role, boss or  processes of the company. Kranect IT  Staffing and Consulting Agency We think not being prepared is the biggest mistake. Meaning you need to do research on the company and preparing answers. Calibre Search Specialist Recruitment Consultancy Not researching the company before they come for the interview! Recruiting Bandwidth Recruiting strategy and talent management firm Come unprepared and not appropriately dressed. Samantha Angermeier Technical Recruiter at HKA Enterprises I had a manager ask a candidate what the best thing about their current job is They answered when I get to go home and leave. Lysha Holmes Managing Director at  Qui Recruitment Lie about their experiences.

Finding the Best Resume Writing Service For You

Finding the Best Resume Writing Service For YouFinding the best resume writing service DC medical may take some time. There are lots of them out there and if you want to get a good one, you need to do some research. Here are some tips that will help you in finding the best DC medical resume writer.One of the most common questions that is asked is whether or not they would be able to make a good resume for your career goals. If you have been out of work for a long time, this is something that you should ask the service that you choose to hire. They should know how to do this and should be able to make one for you, so that you are not having to do it yourself.After asking about this, you should also ask how they can make your career goals become a reality. You should be able to get your goals in writing and that should be enough for you. You may also ask them if they will make them personalized, so that you can have something unique to show the person you are considering for the job.Yo u may want to also consider the types of jobs that are available. Some people don't realize that there are plenty of positions in the medical field available now that they might not have expected. It can be hard to plan a future if you don't know exactly what the job market will be in a few years.You need to be aware of the kind of job you want to do. You need to remember that every resume writer knows the kind of job that the best ones do, and they will know exactly what to do to get that job. Most of the time, the best resume writers work for agencies or consultancies.They know exactly what they should include in the job description, and they know exactly what will help you achieve that. However, if you don't know what kind of job you want to do or how to describe what you are looking for, they can still help you. A resume writer knows what kind of work you need, and he or she can do that for you, so that you get that job you really need to get.You don't need to be on the last leg of your journey as a new employee, especially if you're new to the industry. A lot of the best services are only able to find good jobs for employees when they need them, because they have already done their job. This means that you don't have to spend months looking for jobs, just to find out that you don't have anything that is going to get you hired and paid well.There are a lot of ways that a resume writer for the best DC medical service can help you. These are just a few of the ways. With a little planning, you can have a good resume written by a great professional and start looking for work once again.

How to Build Your Personal Brand with an E-Newsletter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Build Your Personal Brand with an E-Newsletter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career E-newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with your network, clients, and/or customers while still providing value to these individuals. Think about it: You likely receive an e-newsletter each week from a company or an individual whom you admire or enjoy. You might even share the content inside the newsletter with your network or forward it to a friend. Create your own e-newsletter in these seven easy steps: Set goals. What do you hope to achieve by sending out this e-newsletter? What’s the purpose? How will you measure success? Perhaps you’d like to direct more people to your content or increase registrations to an event you’re planning. Make sure your goal is specific and measurableâ€"how else will you determine if the e-newsletter is working toward your goal(s)? Determine target audience. If you have a specific goal, you should be able to easily determine who your target audience is for the e-newsletter. For example, if you’re planning an event and want more registrants, the e-newsletter should appeal to the audience of the event. Decide on frequency. How often will you send out a new newsletter? Will it be daily, weekly, monthly? Think about your target audienceâ€"how often is too often for them? If you’re unsure, start with bi-monthly or monthly. You can always increase communications once you find out the frequency that works best. Choose a program. How are you going to reach your subscribers? One of the easiest ways is to use email marketing solutions such as MailChimp or ConstantContact. Set up a template to match your blog or website. Don’t forget to allow for users to unsubscribe at any timeâ€"you don’t want to force anybody to continue receiving emails if they don’t find value in them. Advertise to your target audience. Put a signup form on your blog or website. Tweet out the link. Share with your Facebook fans how the newsletter can benefit them. Reach your target audience with your message to get subscribers. Develop content. What do you want to get across in your e-newsletter? Will you use existing content from blog posts or eBooks? Will you write all new content? Do you plan on reaching out to other thought leaders in the space to ask for content or advice for the newsletter? Develop an editorial calendar to keep track of your ideas for each newsletter to ensure fresh content goes out each time. Sendâ€"and listen to feedback. Once you’ve gotten your newsletter drafted, edited and revised, it’s time to send it to your subscribers. Whether you have five or 50 people signed up to receive your e-newsletter, don’t delay in sending it out. The feedback you receive can be an invaluable way to learn what your audience likes (or dislikes) and make future e-newsletters even more valuable for them. Do you have an e-newsletter? What do you use it for what advice do you have for newbies? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of Come Recommended, a  content marketing consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010) and writes  career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

How to Talk About The Reasons for Leaving a Job at Interviews + Examples

How to Talk About The Reasons for Leaving a Job at Interviews + Examples How to Talk About The Reasons for Leaving a Job at Interviews + Examples So far so good! Your interview is going well. The conversation is flowing at a nice pace between you and your interviewer and you seem to be connecting positively on so many levels.That is until the interviewer pauses, takes a breath and ask that one question that you have been dreading this whole time. The one question that you hoped wouldnt be brought up and had so far been avoided. “Can you tell me why you left your last job?”What is the best way to respond to this question that still leaves you in a positive light? What is the right (or wrong) thing to say here? Do I give up now and admit defeat?Lets take a look at some of the ways you can answer this awkward question without it negatively affecting your interview.Be honest with the interviewerFirstly, there will be no point in lying about why you left your last job, especially if you were fired and left under a cloud.Most employers will check your resume and references with your previous employer before an interview is ar ranged. Your previous employer may have disclosed why you were cut from the company, so it is important here to be honest with your interviewer.If you were terminated from your previous post, it will be good for you to check with your ex-employer to find out what reasons they are giving for the termination.This will help you to match up your response to be the same. The last thing you want is to give a completely different reason for why you left to that of your previous employer. It can create confusion, suspicion and doubt about your truthfulness and trustworthiness.Decide how you will answer this question before your interviewBy far the best way to handle this question is to be prepared for it. Simply going along for the interview and hoping the question will not be brought up isnt going to cut it.Not being able to respond in a professional and controlled manner will make you look flustered and unprepared. Not a good first impression to give to a potential employer!Depending on t he circumstances of how you left your last job, you may want to decide on taking any of the following approaches:1: Answer quickly and move on:If you find it painful to talk about leaving your last job, then often the best thing to do is to rip off the band-aid and get it over with as quickly as possible.2: Keep your answer simple:Keep your answer short, sweet and to the point. There is no need to elaborate on the details or draw out your answer. Just state the facts behind the termination and dont let your emotions rule your response.Cutting your answer down as short as possible will give you more time to focus on other questions and leave a better impression at the end of the interview.3: Raise the subject before the interviewer doesBringing up the fact that your previous job was terminated before being asked is a way for you to take control of the question and deliver your reasons for your departure on your terms.4: Use positive reinforcementTry to avoid answers that will make yo u look less qualified to take on this job. You dont want to imply that you left your last job because you were not qualified or lacked the skills or experience to do it.Instead, focus on using more positive phraseology. Dont mention the word fired, but instead say that you were let-go because the job wasnt the best fit for you and your future career plans.Dont play the blame-gameWhile it can be very tempting to shift any blame from your shoulders on to your previous employer to make you look better, pointing blame is never a good idea.An interviewer never likes to see job candidates disparage their former employers. It is not professional or respectful. In a lot of cases, the interviewer may well know and be on friendly terms with your previous employer, especially if they have a B2B relationship with them.By blaming an ex-employer for your job termination and trying to make yourself look completely blameless, they will wonder what negative things you may say about their company sho uld your employment not go well with them.Blame is a negative no matter where it is pointed. However, you shouldnt blame yourself either. Blaming yourself will make the interviewer doubt that you would be a good employee.Simply say that the job wasnt a good fit and it was mutually beneficial for both you and your previous employer for you to move on.Turn a negative into a positiveAnswering this question in a way that paints you in a good light is what you need to do here.Try to avoid mentioning any shortcomings that would cast doubt in the mind of your interviewer. Stick to referencing the good parts of your previous job that you did well with and achieved positive results.Even though you left your previous position for valid reasons, not every single aspect of the job was difficult for you. Talk up the positive aspects of the previous job and what you enjoyed about it can be an effective way to answer the question and leave a positive impression with the interviewer.If you feel lik e things are not going your way, it can be wise to learn how to reverse a bad job interview beforehand so you can turn the interview back in your favor.What are good reasons for leaving a job?Lets take a look at some working examples and scenarios where you can put the above tips into action:Example 1:You were let go in your previous job in sales for failing to consistently meet with your set sales targets.However, part of your job was to help resolve customer issues by using their product. This you excelled at and you were recognised for your ability to talk to unhappy customers and explain how to use the product properly.Your strengths would enable you to thrive in a technical support role, so you should demonstrate to the interviewer that you have valuable skills to bring to the company sales team despite your previous job termination.Example 2:You were terminated from your employment because you lacked essential skills that negatively affected your performance.The company didnt offer any in-house or external skills training courses, so you felt compelled to seek training at a local college to brush up your skills.You can explain in your interview how you have since addressed this issue by yourself and would now be able to meet with all competency tests in the same job.Example 3:Your previous company went through a period of restructuring that resulted in your job becoming obsolete.A lot of jobs are lost through downsizing and restructuring and often it can be no-ones fault when they are let go.Going for a job at one of your previous employers main competitors can be a good move here. You would be working in the same sort of environment that you were used to and you will be bringing valuable industry skills with you that the company wants.Make a positive pitch to reinforce this and the fact that you would need zero training or input from the company to train you up for the role (if you were working the same job in your previous position).From the interviewe rs point of view, your appointment would be swift, smooth, create minimal upheaval and have zero integration cost to the company.Remember to finish your interview on a positive note and try to close your job interview to make it memorable so that you stand out in the interviewers mind.Use your termination as a learning experienceBeing fired for a reason can be one of the hardest issues to overcome during your interview.Always remember that you should take this experience as a learning step. You can use this opportunity to reassess your qualification, skills training or work experience.Assess your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you had your heart set on a role in sales where you could earn a healthy commission and enjoy competing with your colleagues over smashing sales targets.However, in the real world of hard sales, you found your strengths were actually better in sales support and resolving customer complaints.   Realizing this can make you choose to move in a different career d irection. One that is better suited for your talents.Changing career direction doesnt mean you need to swap your industry sector. Remember that you will have gained a lot of insider industry knowledge of your chosen sector.This can be a very valuable experience to take with you to another employer, even though it may not be in the same role as you had previously. Remember this and recognize that you do have great value to offer despite being let go from your last position. previous article Ready For The World a Free Functional Resume Template next article The Personal Branding Creative Resume Template you might also likeWhy Do You Want to Work Here? Best Answers to This Interview Question

Why It Is Important to Use Summaries in Resumes

Why It Is Important to Use Summaries in ResumesIf you're going to take advantage of using summaries in resumes, there are a few things you should know before you get started. If you aren't sure how to use them, you might be missing out on a good opportunity. Making use of summaries in resumes will give you a much better chance of being hired than doing things the traditional way.First, you need to know that the resume is not your tool. As much as you'd like to think that it is, it's just the means by which an employer will view your resume. It's no different than a flyer or any other type of marketing material that you have used. What you want to do is ensure that you are communicating what you can about your skills and experience to a potential employer.When you have your summary, you want to make sure that you are conveying to your potential employer exactly what they need to see. Not only does it tell them what you have to offer, but it gives them a chance to get to know you. The more time they spend thinking about you, the more likely they are to hire you.The first thing you want to do when you are writing your summary is figure out where you want to start. If you are writing it on your own, you'll have to come up with an intro. For most people, this is going to be the most important part of the resume. It needs to say something about who you are and what you can bring to the table.Next, you need to decide on the point in your resume where you are going to break out the meat. Often this is going to be a summary of your most relevant experience. This is important, because it tells the employer exactly what they are getting.The most important part of your summary is going to be your skills. Again, keep in mind that the resume is just a tool. Rather than going into a lot of detail about a single skill, you want to emphasize the areas that you feel most confident about.Finally, you need to provide a note to go along with your summary. The note is the type of th ing that will let the employer know how you are going to fit in and what they need to know. It is also something that will set you apart from the other candidates.Using summaries in resumes should be a simple process. The tips mentioned above should help make it easier for you to write and to understand. By simply putting down your summary in resumes, you will have a much better chance of being hired.

The Advantages of a Self-Motivated Job Search CareerMetis.com

The Advantages of a Self-Motivated Job Search All too often, job seekers fall into the trap of relying on advertised or posted job openings as their primary strategy for their job search. They start off with enthusiasm and the best of intentions, but after the initial flurry of activity, their efforts degrade and so does their attitude. Sticking with this approach will significantly lengthen you job search. There is a better way!The most effective and efficient job search strategy is a self-motivated approach.evalThis is a proactive approach where the job seeker actively engages the job market to discover opportunities where their skills and competencies bring the greatest value to an employer.There are several distinct advantages of conducting a self-motivated job search that help you get a job more effectively. These advantages can also help you get the compensation package you want. 1) Hidden Job MarketevalA self-motivated job search will tap the Hidden Job Market, uncovering unadvertised positions. Statistically speaking, 75 to 80 percent of all open jobs are not advertised.Instead of passively searching, you’ll engage the job market proactively by networking and contacting target companies to create your own pipeline of opportunities with as many leads as your well-planned efforts can produce.2) Present Yourself as a Solution/Value PropositionYour professional value proposition is the totality of your education, experience, and other intangible factors that an employer views as valuable to the company. When you present yourself as a solution to a hiring need, this professional picture of you sparks the employer’s interest and motivates them to evaluate the benefits and costs of making you an employee of the company.You will discover how to transform information about the company, products, services, executives, industry, company news releases, and so on into messages to the hiring executive of how you can prevent, solve, or divert a business problem.In the end, your value proposition must make or save the company money beyond the costs of hiring you and keeping you as an employee A self-motivated job search puts you in control. Rather than being at the whim of posted job openings, you make things happen. This will keep your attitude about your job search positive, helping build confidence and self-image.Believe itâ€"maintaining a positive attitude and showing confidence is a big deal and being proactive will keep things moving forward. It’s likely you won’t fall victim to the negative emotions a stale job search may bring if you’re feeling good about how your search is progressing. 4) Direct Contact with Hiring ExecutivesOne of the keys to landing job offers is getting hiring executive5) NetworkingNetworking is proactively reaching out to others in your professional and personal database, both online and face-to-face, offering yourself as a resource to help others, and knowing that they will do what they can to help you in return.evalNetworking keeps you engaged with o thers and with the events, news, and emerging trends in your industry. Networking will include reaching out to your contacts in a variety of settings including LinkedIn, your local Chamber of Commerce, professional associations, and civic and philanthropic organizations, among others. Networking creates relationships.Your next job will likely be as a result of “people, talking to people, about people.” It’s estimated that from 60 to 80 percent of jobs are filled by networking.6) ReferralsAs your networking expands and your relationships mature, you will receive a steady flow of referrals and recommendations from colleagues, insider-employees, former bosses, and others. Your reputation and sphere-of-influence will grow and you will gain the inside track regarding open positions.7) CompetitionIt’s no secret that in today’s market, many candidates vie for the same job position, all with the same goal: to be hired. However, in a self-motivated search, you could become one of j ust a handful of referred or recommended candidates, or in some cases the only job seeker under consideration, minimizing competition.8)Direct Insider InformationWhen you use a self-motivated job search strategy, you will quickly learn what the hiring executive wants from the person filling a position. This invaluable information allows you to focus your background and achievements to fulfill those needs.9) RapportA self-motivated job search encourages building rapport. If you are introduced to a hiring executive by referral from your network, you may be able to speak with others who know the individual. They can give you valuable insight on personality, hot buttons, and so on. And if the executive is the decision maker for hiring, you avoid Human Resources, sometimes until after you’re hired.REFERENCE MATERIALSThe Motivated Job Search and The Motivated NetworkerAll of these advantages of a self-motivated job search may sound nice, but how do you do it? What do you have to do to g et these advantages? This is where The Motivated Job Search and The Motivated Networker books come in.The Motivated Job Search is a job search book written for career-minded professionals that want simple and direct answers on how to conduct a successful job search in today’s job market. The book covers meaningful topics like how to correctly prepare for a job search, profiling your next job, understanding the employer’s mind, branding, elevator speech, success stories, LinkedIn, resumes, networking, social media, and how to penetrate the hidden job market, along with a myriad of useful job search tools not otherwise written about in other job search books. It is one of the most comprehensive and easy-to-read job search books to ever hit the market.evalThe Motivated Networker has been endorsed by Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI (Business Network International) â€" The world’s largest business networking organization. Dr. Misner has been dubbed “The Father of Modern Networkin g” and is one of the world’s leading experts in business networking. This is what Dr. Misner had to say about The Motivated Networker:“The Motivated Networker is the most comprehensive networking book on the market on how to use networking to find a job. Well-written, thoroughly researched, and practical, The Motivated Networker covers important networking topics and introduces the “ICE” Method for job search networking. It is a must-read for all job seekers!”The Motivated Networker book is a practical, non-nonsense guide for networking during a job search. When 60-80%of all jobs are filled through some form of networking, mastering the skill of networking is imperative to success in landing a new job in the shortest time possible.The Motivated Job Search and The Motivated Networker can be purchased through Amazon.

Oil Rig Work [Infographic]

Oil Rig Work [Infographic] Photo credit: Dirk Dallas via Foter.com / CC BY-NC Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work on an oil rig? With the current bad jobs climate, many people are looking for new areas of job opportunity.  Whether youre mid career or coming out of high school or college. And with recent efforts to ease restrictions on oil drilling and an unsatisfied demand for oil industry workers at all levels, many are considering careers in the oil industry. One of those areas of opportunity is working on an oil rig. Recent movies such as Deep Water Horizon make it seem pretty tough, but is it really that bad? This piece first looks at how to actually land a job on an oil rig. Then youre taken through all the different types of jobs on-board as well as the two main types of rigs. Then life on-board is explored covering where rig workers sleep, eat, hang out etc. Finally, you get the true facts on how dangerous life on a rig really is -with stats and graphs as well as some common hazards you need to be wary of if you ever find yourself on-board an oil rig. So, take a look and see if YOU could work and live on an oil rig. Can You Rig It? â€" Work And Life On An Oil Rig by Fuel Fighter.

5 Things Youre Doing About Your Career Change That Are Unproductive - What To Do Instead - When I Grow Up

5 Things Youre Doing About Your Career Change That Are Unproductive - What To Do Instead - When I Grow Up Career changes are so  messy, right? I have been there and done that multiple times over, and Im still shaking years later! Are you making progress? What should the next step(s) be? How can you get people to take you seriously when you have experience in X but youre yearning to do Y? And lets not mention those who are in the I-dont-know-what-I-want-but-I-know-its-not-this camp. If your only certainty is Out Out Out! I Need Ouuuuuuutttttt!, then things are even cloudier. I think itll help if we go over the 5 things youre doing about your career change that are unproductive and what to do instead: 1. Youre bitching 24/7. Yeah, not helpful. Im hippy-dippy enough to believe that this attitude permeates everything, and you dont need negativity like this hanging around you like a rain cloud. It also makes those who are subjected to said bitching tune out when you talk about work, so even if you clue them in on your plans and ask them for help, theyre only half listening. While Im all for venting, lets time this bitchfest instead. Ask your one trusted friend or partner to just listen for 15 minutes while you go on about your abusive boss, your jerky colleague, your mind-numbing project. I had a friend like this  at my day job, and wed take a coffee break together most weekdays around 3p to bitch bitch bitch. But tell her you want to leave it there and then, when the 15 minutes are up, you can both talk about what youre actively doing to change your situation. Ever better? Journal out your complaints as much and as long as you want. Writing is theraputic and could lead to real clar ity and action. 2. You care too much about your day job. It was true of me when I was at my Executive Assistant job, and its true for so many of my clients: Youre too attached to your work. Youre most likely a teachers pet-type and you want to do a stellar job even if your boss treats you like dirt, you could care less about what your company does, and/or youre so bored with your work youre thisclose to shooting yourself in the face. My husband gave me great advice at that job: I should work on the level of being the 4th person fired. I worked in a department of about a dozen, so it made sense to do an okay-ish job as long as I could think of 3 people whod get fired before me. Please put your hand down and stop volunteering for extra work. Please put up a wall when it comes up to your yearly review and how many high marks you get. Aim for average, please. Save the A+s for your long-term business or career. 3. Youre doing (lots of) research.  Sure, research is great. You need to know about that interior design program, or how to build a SquareSpace site, or what it takes to become an LLC in your state. But seriously, if youve just been a research machine for multiple weeks (months? YEARS?!) without any action, youre not doing anything productive. This includes those of you who take a class (after class after class) and yet dont follow through on the implementation. Put yourself on a research ban and start taking action instead.  Buy your business url, write your bio, update your LinkedIn account its how you eat that career change elephant, one bite at a time. 4. Youre expecting The Answer from personality tests. Yes, knowing your Myers-Briggs and working through Strengths Finders is helpful, sure. But being an ENFJ doesnt come with an exact career change prescription. Through my 9 years of coaching, Ive found that the introspective work like defining your lifestyle goals, sketching out your dream work week, and finding your mission statement leads to  way more clarification than a test ever could. 5. Youre not utilizing your network.  This is also known as Staying Quiet. While, sure, you cant shout about your career change from the rooftops when you have a job that you dont want to lose, only applying for jobs online or attempting to find your first client solely by tweeting wont do you much good. Instead, talk to your trusted network about your business goals. Send an email out specifying the work that youre looking for. My first client came through my boyfriends (now husbands) first improv class, and my second came from writing a direct Facebook message. If you stay small and quiet and dont let your peeps (and the Universe!) know your plans, youre mostly doing busy work. Ooh, I can add a 6th mistake:  doing it on your own!  We dont want to have you go through this big, stressful life transition in a vacuum. Thats why Jenny Foss and I along with 14 of our career change expert friends are here to help you evolve your career with confidence at  Pivot Assembly, a free virtual conference! While our interviews wont be live for another week, theyre only available gratis for  24 hours each. Sign up here and get the tools, inspiration and wisdom you need to start the new business or land that new position youve been dreaming of!