new 15 career tips for recent grads

Do Your Research

Before you go in for your interview, be sure to research the company you are applying to. By having an in depth understanding of the company as well as some background information on whoever is interviewing you, you will come across as prepared and interested in the company.

Practice Interviewing

Take time to practice interviewing before you go in for an interview. Have a family member or friend ask you the most common interview questions so you can be polished and know what you are going to say ahead of time instead of winging it.

Come Prepared With Questions

At the end of any job interview, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions for them. Make sure you have a few questions to ask the interviewer. This can be anything from “what do you like best about your job?” to “how would you describe the work atmosphere here?” By asking a few questions, you show interest in the interviewer and the company.

When in Doubt, Dress Up

If you aren’t sure what kind of dress is expected of employees, be sure to go more formal than informal. By dressing up, you show that you are professional and that you are taking the interview process seriously.

Be Flexible

When applying for jobs, be flexible about where you apply. Don’t limit yourself to just one city or one company. Keep an open mind about all potential opportunities.

Keep Building Your Resume

While you apply for jobs, continue to build your resume. Take on an internship, volunteer, or take on a part time job. By continuing to build your resume and increase your skill set, you make yourself more marketable to potential employers.

Figure Out Where You Are Going Wrong

If you aren’t landing any jobs, take a look at where you are going wrong. If you aren’t getting any interviews, go back over your resume and spruce it up by getting more experience or adding information to it. If you are getting interviews but not jobs, practice your interviewing skills so that you can be more successful in your interviews and potentially get job offers.

Utilize Your Network

Reach out to the people in your professional network for their assistance in your job hunt. Oftentimes when it comes to getting hired, it’s not what you know but who you know. So send along your resume and have your contacts pass it along to anyone they know at their

Don’t Rely Solely on the Internet

When searching for a job, don’t depend solely on the Internet. Be sure to attend job fairs, industry events, and utilize other networking opportunities to get your resume out there.

Have an Elevator Speech

An elevator speech is a 30 second spiel about your experience and career goals. Having an elevator speech is not only a great way to quickly introduce yourself at networking events but is also a good way to answer the “tell me about yourself” interview question.

Sign Up for LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to get all of your professional contacts in one place for networking. Sign up for LinkedIn, add everyone you know, and make sure to fill out your profile completely. LinkedIn also has a job search tool, so take advantage of that.

Send Thank You Notes

After every interview, be sure to send thank you notes to each person who interviewed you. Sending a thank you note shows that you appreciate the interviewer’s time and gives you an advantage over candidates who don’t send thank you notes.

Do What You Love

No matter what, take a job that you will love. If you don’t, you will be miserable and probably won’t end up staying at your job very long. Be sure you are happy with what you are doing.

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you are getting lots of rejections, don’t get discouraged. Remember that times are tough right now and getting a job is hard. Keep sending out your resume and stay positive.

Utilize Your School’s Resources

Most schools will give graduates access to their career center up to one year after graduation. So head on over to your career center to get your resume critiqued, practice your interviewing skills, and check out recent job postings.

ELEVEN CAREER TIPS FOR THE YEAR 2011

1. Take responsibility for your own career development. Many large organizations have scaled back on training and development-a common outcome of the economic downturn-and small companies can rarely provide significant support. Simply put, your career rests in one set of hands: yours.


2. Be strategic. Have a long-term career strategy or, at the very least, a sense for where you’re headed. Ask yourself, “What do I really want to do?” or “Where do I see myself in five to ten years?” Seek people in similar roles and ask for their advice.


3. Work in step with your company’s goals. Connect the dots from your role to your company’s vision and key objectives. How does your work align with the organization’s goals? What can you do to maximize your contributions?


4. Be customer-centric. Whether your customers are internal or external, know their wants and needs, and be fervent about meeting them. Bring the voice of the customer into your day-to-day work and let it enhance your decisions and deliverables.

5. Collaborate. Working with and through others is requisite to innovating, creating, and producing business results. Adopt a mindset for teaming and collaborating, and put it into daily practice.


6. Hone your communication skills. Communication skills can make or break careers. Pick one area that needs your attention-considering skills such as listening, presenting, influencing, persuading, or distilling messages-and commit to improvement. Take a class, practice with a trusted friend or colleague, or join a group such as Toastmasters.

7. Cross over functionally. Many successful executives have risen through the ranks by taking cross-functional roles, such as moving from finance to sales or from marketing to IT. Follow their lead and you can grow your skills, your network, and your political capital.

8. Expand your experience. Volunteer for special projects or assignments that are outside your everyday role. Discuss your goals with your boss, an HR representative, or a senior leader, and ask for help in finding opportunities to broaden your experience base.


9. Find a guide. Mentors can serve as influential role models and provide important guidance for your career. Reach out to a potential mentor within your company or industry and see if he or she would be open to mentoring you for a specific purpose and timeframe.

10. Network-now. The best time to increase your network is today. Starting now, get involved in groups such as professional associations, charitable organizations, or even sports leagues. Step into leadership roles and make your expertise known.


11. Specialize. Today, companies look for specialists, not generalists. Develop a personal brand, distinguish your skills and strengths, and determine how to best market yourself.

6 Tips to Help Young Professionals Fit In

1. Dress well
Even if the company is “business casual” you can’t be that way. You can’t wear the uniform until you’re part of the team. The best rule of thumb is to dress at least one step above whatever everyone else is wearing, and to wear a suit if anyone at the company wears a suit. Don’t just do in with a shirt and tie. Wear the jacket, too. Look professional.

2. Don’t text
Younger generations love to text. Generally speaking, texting at work should be kept to an absolute minimum. Texting while driving is incredibly stupid, illegal, and can get someone killed. Texting while at meals with another person is incredibly rude. The phone/computer should be turned off during any business meetings, any business lunches, or anytime you are supposed to be interacting with real-world people.

3. Work must be produced
We value you for the work you produce, not just for existing. This means you have to actually do something during the work day to get paid and get ahead. Some of you work very hard, and some of you don’t. This is to the ones who don’t. Unemployment is not fun. Neither is living with your parents until you’re 40.

4. Be respectful
You’re not dealing with someone who is a social equal. When you’re interviewing for a job, or working on a job, you’re dealing with someone who is your boss. Even if you have a friendship with him or her outside of the office, while you’re at the office you need to treat this person with the atmost of respect. If you cannot be respectful to your boss, you probably will eventually be looking for another job.

5. Understand life and work are not fair
You may think it would be fair for you to get highly applauded and given time off because you worked 80 hours this week. Life isn’t fair and neither is work. Learn it. Live it. Know it. If you get a “good job” for a job well done, you’re lucky. If you get a “thank you,” you’re even luckier. If your boss gives you time off to go snow-boarding or jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or whatever, you’re very, very lucky. Probably what will happen is you’ll get a nod, and everyone will get back to work. Your accomplishments won’t be celebrated. You aren’t going to get a parade. Live with it. The rest of us have been living with it all of our lives.

6. Manners, manners, manners
Behave yourself and remember your manners. A belch at dinner is not funny anymore. Shoving your way into an elevator before everyone is out is not acceptable. And so on. If you don’t know manners, buy one of the many great business etiquette books on the market.

Tips for dressing for the job interview

Do your homework.

Yes, dressing for the interview requires you to research the boss. If you are applying for a job with a young, trendy boutique, dress in a way that the interviewer can envision you in their shop servicing their clientele.

Stylish is better than funky.

Employers want to see that you will fit in with their business. However, be warned - stylish is better than funky. Too much "trend" can scare a potential employer away. Fine taste is more valuable than how avante-garde you can be. This is not the time to experiment. For the guys, the same rules apply.

Clean goes a long way.

Clean, pressed khakis or costume pants are preferred. Clean, appropriate shoes and accessories are essential (use a tie if it matches the employer's profile). No T-shirts with political satire, obscene graphics or logos.

Accessories.

Be frugal with jewelry - less is more. If your jewelry jingles, makes noise or can get caught on any of your clothes, leave it at home.

Keep your grooming simple.

Hair should be clean and neat, and nails clean and well manicured. Chipped nail polish will not make a fine impression. The applicant should look like they cared enough to shower. Go light on makeup. Heavy eye makeup or lipstick is a no-no.

Go easy on the perfume and aftershave.

There is nothing worse than causing your interviewer to have an allergic reaction.

Shoes need to be clean and in good shape.

No sandals of any kind - no matter where you live

Color is important.

Dressing for the interview also requires that you choose colors carefully.

"Color as part of your interview strategy is extremely main since it is a useful tool in conveying a powerful message - that said, make sure you're sending the right message,"

"Wear" confidence.

"Confidence comes from knowing who you are and what your values are, and most importantly being comfortable with them - whether or not you get the job," Your stage of confidence really does come across in an interview, so don't forget to come prepared and show it.

9 great interview tips

1. "Do your study. There's nothing worse than walking into an interview without knowing about the company. You should be able to clearly articulate why you're interested in that particular company and that particular position. Check the company's site, search for current news items featuring the company, read the company's blog and look for their Twitter or Facebook page."

2. "Know yourself. You need to be prepared for all sorts of questions about yourself, including your past experience, education, knowledge, skills, strengths, weaknesses, preferences and personal traits. Figure out how these things align with the needs of the employer."

3. "Prepare questions in advance. When an employer asks ‘Do you have any questions?' always ask questions. It shows you're enthusiastic and interested in working for the company."

4. "Practice, practice, practice! Visit Career Services for a mock interview, where we simulate the actual interview experience and provide you with feedback afterward. This is a great way to ease your nerves and boost your self-confidence before a true interview."

5. "Dress for winner. Any time you meet with a potential employer formally (through an information session, workshop you attend or a career fair) or informally (through a family friend or for a casual informational interview), always dress and conduct yourself in a professional manner."

6. "Before you arrive, put the mobile phone away, change your shoes and attire if necessary and put away your water bottle miles away. You never know who you can run into."

7. "Shake his or her hand and look him or her in the eye, even if you're nervous. No one expects perfection, just professionalism. Nonverbal cues are just as important as what you tell."

8. "Have extra copies of your resume with you."

9. "Always, always send a follow-up ‘thank you,' either as a card or e-mail. Follow-through is a main transferable skill to exhibit."

Interview tips: Preparation is job No. 1

Customize your resume to highlight the skills you have for the position you are seeking. Study information on the company, look at the products they sell or the services they provide. Find out what makes that company different.

Be prepared to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." It's your opportunity to connect to the position. Speak about earlier work experiences that relate to the job to which you are applying. Summarize your experience in two or three sentences.

Be ready to describe a hard work situation and how you handled it. These types of questions can be intimidating, but display your adaptability and analytical skills to the company. Describe the situation or task, the action you took and the results.

Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses. When an interviewer asks for your weaknesses, be honest, but turn the negatives into positives. Tell them something that was a weakness but you overcame. For example, you were terrible with Excel and then took a community college course on the program.

Never say anything negative about your earlier employer. Statements such as "My visions were special than the company's" or "There wasn't room for growth" are acceptable answers. Another sensitive topic may be compensation. Research the salary for the position, but it's OK to ask for the range if the information is not shared up front.

Bring in questions for when the manager asks, "Do you have any questions for me?" If you do not ask any questions, the interviewer may think that you are uninterested in the position.

Thank you notes show your appreciation for the interviewer's time and consideration.

Show enthusiasm "An interviewer can tell when you are interested in the position

Ten Tips for Career Changers

1. Understand what’s behind your desire to make a change.

Maybe you are starting to become disillusioned with your job. You’re bogged down. Perhaps you’re no longer on the way up. This is the time to step back and start to think about life more broadly. But be warned, career changers can go into mourning. All of a sudden, you realize how you miss their old career, and you’re not really open to replacing those things.

2. Get your life in order.

Get physically and financially fit. Change is stressful. When you’re physically fit, you have more power and are mentally sharper to face the challenges ahead. Starting a fresh career later in life takes an incredible amount of strength and energy.

3. Be practical.

If possible, make your move in stages. You may need to upgrade your skills and education, but take one class at a time. If you’d like to go to graduate school, maybe start by taking a night classes. You don’t have to enroll in a full-course load. You can include more classes as your direction and motivation become clear.

4. Find a mentor.

Ask for help. Seek advice from people who have been winning in the field you are interested in switching into from the start. Everybody likes to be asked for counsel.

5. Be prepared for setbacks.

It’s not all-smooth sailing, but if you’ve laid the correct groundwork, you’ll get through the rough patches. Having your family or partner at your back for support will help tremendously. They don’t have to own your dream, but be supportive.

6. Volunteer or moonlight.

You might try on several jobs before you find the one that’s correct. Anne Nolan, executive director of Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s biggest homeless shelter, started as a volunteer. She didn’t know what she wanted to do when she lost her executive-level career. She had a year’s salary and time to think her options through. She decided to volunteer at the shelter–not because she dreamed it would turn into a full-time job.

7. Research. Look for jobs that leverage experience.

Check out job web sites like encore.org, retiredbrains.com, workforce50.com, to get a flavor for what others are doing and what jobs are out there at the present. Investigate fields like healthcare, the clergy, eldercare and education that have a growing demand for employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good reference.

8. Don’t lock yourself into a must-have salary.

Salary is the biggest roadblock for most career changers. Chances are when you start-over in a new field or move to a nonprofit, you will need to take a salary cut at least primarily. If you have an emergency fund to buy you time, you can to do a more thoughtful job hunt. Pare back your discretionary living expenses to reflect a more realistic view of what you’ll earn. What are the things that are main in your life? What things are actively giving you pleasure that you might have to give up?

9. Keep your hand out of the cookie jar.

Don’t dip too deep into your core savings. Of all the mistakes older employees make in launching second careers, this is probably the bad. Would-be entrepreneurs aren’t necessarily raiding retirement accounts to launch businesses, but they’re tapping home equity and other savings, and that has obvious implications for retirement safety.

10. Do something every day to work toward your goal.

Changing careers can appear overwhelming. Don’t struggle to find an ideal initial point or perfect path, is great advice I gleaned from Clearways Consulting career coach Beverly Jones, a second-acter herself. Once you have some picture of where you want to go, get things moving by taking small steps toward that vision. What really matters is that you do a little something on a regular basis.

Quick job hunting tips

Networking is the greatest way to find jobs. Talk to family, friends and acquaintances, attend job fairs or business events, use the Web or volunteer.

Research workplaces. At least know their history and mission before the job interview.

Be specific when listing technical skills on resume. Don't say, "I have computer skills"; write, "I am proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel."

Make sure resumes and cover letters have no mistakes. Ask three to four other people to review them for errors and clearness.

Don't send the same cover letter and resume to each company, and don't list every skill or past job. Tailor the resume to showcase which of your talents and skills fit the job description. For manufacturing jobs, for instance, highlight machining abilities and training. For consumer service, focus on social skills and experience.


Ask one to three question during the interview. Also ask when you may expect to hear back from the employer.

Send the interviewer a hand-written thank-you note by the day after the interview. If the interviewer is hours away and a hand-written note isn't possible, send a mail.

Put contact details on the cover letter and include that you'll follow up in one week.

10 tips for boosting your career in 2011

1. Look out for number 1

Take responsibility for your own career growth. Many big organizations have scaled back on training and development a regular outcome of the economic downturn and small companies can rarely provide significant support.

2: Be strategic

Have a long-term career strategy, or at the very least, a sense of where you’re headed. Ask yourself, “What do I actually want to do?” or “Where do I see myself in 5 to 10 years?” Seek people in similar roles and ask for their advice.

3: Work in step with your company’s goals

Connect the dots from your role to your company’s vision and key objectives. How does your work align with the organization’s aims? What can you do to maximize your contributions?

4: Be customer centric

Whether your clients are internal or external, know their wants and needs and be fervent about meeting them. Bring the voice of the customer into your day-to-day job and let it enhance your decisions and deliverables.

5: Collaborate

Working with and through others is requisite to innovating, creating, and producing business results. Adopt a mindset for teaming and collaborating and put it into every day practice.

6: Hone your communication skills

Communication skills can make or break careers. Pick one part that needs your attention considering skills such as listening, presenting, influencing, persuading, or distilling messages and commit to development. Take a class, practice with a trusted friend or colleague, or join a group such as Toastmasters.

7: Cross over functionally

Many winning executives have risen through the ranks by taking cross-functional roles, such as moving from finance to sales or from marketing to IT. Follow their lead and you can develop your skills, your network, and your political capital.

8: Expand your experience

Volunteer for special projects or assignments that are outside your daily role. Discuss your aims with your boss, an HR representative, or a senior leader and ask for help in finding opportunities to broaden your experience base.

9: Find a guide

Mentors can serve as influential role models and provide important guidance for your career. Reach out to a potential mentor within your company or industry and see if he or she would be open to mentoring you for a particular purpose and timeframe.

10: Network now

The best time to raise your network is today. Starting at the present, get involved in groups such as professional associations, charitable organizations, or even sports leagues. Step into leadership roles and make your expertise known.

10 tips to improve your interview skills

1. Know the job, and know the company. "If I've got a place open for a nuclear engineer," told Laura Paddock, talent acquisition manager at TVA, "do they understand that I'm a utility. Do they understand what TVA does? We're always surprised to hear public say, 'I don't know a lot about you, other than that you make electricity.' "

2. Be willing to do what it takes. Brad Pope, vice president of human resources at Memorial Health Care System, told knowing that a candidate has the willingness to do the job for which he or she is interviewing is the No. 1 thing he looks for during a conference.

3. Be on time. Or early. And if you're kept waiting, be gracious about it. "We've had candidates who have complained," told Kathy Reid-Papson, talent acquisition manager at BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee.

4. Be honest about your experience. "Don't lie, either on your resume or during the interview," Paddock said. "Don't oversell yourself." Speak accurately to the roles you had in previous jobs.

5. Turn off the cell phone, or better yet, leave it in the car. You want to focus on the interview, not on what is ringing or vibrating in your pocket.

6. Address the interviewer by the right name. "It seems like many candidates don't go to the trouble, when setting up an interview, of listening to hear with whom they'll be speaking," told Reid-Papson. "Maybe it's one person, maybe it's three, but they need to know who they are and what their titles are, so ask that when the interview is being set up."

7. Look and act the part. Be professional in dress and demeanor. "Can they articulate?" said Paddock. "Do they provide professional responses, regardless of the position?"

8. Don't talk to the interviewer about your personal problems. "If a person's looking for a job, obviously they need and want to work," told Reid-Papson. "But if they start getting into too many details about not liking their former boss or their husband doesn't want them to go to work, anything that's personal can become a turnoff pretty fast."

9. Don't ask about salary out of the gate. "That's a bit of a red flag," said Paddock, "because it sends the message that the person is only interested in the salary and not in the bigger picture."

10. Be specific. Employers are interested in hearing examples of your successes and failures. Rather than just saying, "Yes, I have management skills," tell the recruiter about a project you led and what you learned.

7 Tips to Give Your Career a Social Media Facelift

• Give your perspective a facelift.
To develop a valuable social media marketing presence, requires accepting that social media has become an integral part of how we communicate and share information. Not participating means that you’re missing a big part of the conversation.

• Do your research.
Just as you would practice for the job interview, use time lurking on the sidelines to get a feel for how people communicate and share on social media networks and the type of language they use.

• Check the grapevine.
In business, as in your individual life, you need to know what people are telling about you. Two simple, low cost ways to accomplish this are Google searches and alerts. This may not job as well if you’ve got a common name.

• Put your best foot forward.
The online equivalent of the fresh interview suit is your social media presence on various social media platforms. To this finish, think about how you want to position yourself just as you would when marketing any other product. Unlike the previous fashioned resume, career-oriented social media tends to be forward looking.

• Practice your talking points.
Regardless of the size of your rolodex, in social media each one begins at the same point. To become the belle of the social media ball, it’s main to build your friends and followers.

• Be generous with your praise.
One way to build your presence is to help earlier colleagues and staff. Where appropriate, provide them recommendations on LinkedIn without being asked. Pay it forward without upsetting about whether they will reciprocate.

• Work the crowd.
Get out and meet people in actual life. While social media enables you to stay sequestered behind your laptop, it’s serious to get out and meet people in real life. This way you can strengthen relationships with people you got acquainted by participating in social media.

Nine top telephone interview tips

1. Ensure that you have a quiet area with no possible distractions. You don’t want your children/others etc disturbing you in the middle of your chat. It’s very distracting and you will come across as unprofessional and unfocused.

2. Your tone of voice speaks volumes about your enthusiasm so talk with energy and motivation. This is vital as it is one of the few methods an interviewer can use in determining a person’s interest in the role. Sales trainers often include this as part of their programme when training telesales staff. Energetic voice tones are very infectious and help to connect you to your speaker.

3. Another division of sales training is to smile when you talk. This is very main when talking on the phone. This does not mean grinning but smiling speaks volumes about you and illustrates to the interviewer that you are enthusiastic. This is infectious.

4. Research is vital here – have your notes in front of you and have your work done. Do not have reams of notes in front of you as you will get flustered if you cannot read them clearly – jot down key bullet points in front of you. Lack of research tells the interviewer that you have little interest in the role. This is equally important in face to face interviewers and is a fundamental basic so should never be overlooked.

5. Speak clearly to the interviewer. In Interview situations, people can get anxious and stagger over their words or speak too fast. Relax, take your time and answer each question carefully. Deep breathing is very effective here, take a few deep breaths before you talk.

6. Always be professional. The interviewer is assessing your skills right from the begining of the conversation. This is also applicable when arranging your venue etc for a face-to-face Interview. Be professional and polite and enthusiastic at all times. All interviewers are making judgements on their candidates even when they are talking about mundane issues. Inappropriate humour and comments should not be included here.

7. Have a list of your Unique Selling Points in front of you. What are these? These are your career ‘highlights’ or your key achievements. These points will help differentiate you from other candidates. These points are very main as they help sell you to the interviewer. Most importantly, they can really make a lasting impression with the interviewer.

8. A very interesting method used by some is to stand when taking the phone call. This alters the sound and energy of your voice. It also helps project your voice and helps you sound more assertive.

9. Ask your friends/family how you come across on the telephone. Without realising it, we can talk too fast, be unclear or sound disinterested. This information can actually help you improve in your communication skills. Although you have the added advantage of not seeing the interviewer face-to-face, this can also be a disadvantage as the interviewer is judging you solely on your voice.

4 Job Search Tips for Aspiring SEO/SEM Specialists

1. Show, Don’t Tell

It doesn’t matter how pretty your resume is or how many years of experience you have. What SEO firms are looking for is evidence that you can do a good job pulling their clients’ websites to the top of search engines. Do that, and you’re in.

“What I want to look at is sites that they’ve optimized,” explains Nick Spears, the director of search for SEO firm Incredible Marketing. “And I am going to basically open up the source code; I’m going to look at how they’re optimizing title tags and things as simplistic as keyword meta tags and descriptions.”

2. Work For Anyone to Build Experience

Work on your own website. This is how both Spears and Canu got their begin. Spears says he used his first sites as “crash dummies” in order to test what worked and what didn’t work. Billy learned SEO while running an online DVD rental business. Working on your own website can be a great way to not only perfect your trade, but build a portfolio.

Volunteer to help a non-profit develop its SEO. You’ll be contributing to a cause you care about and building your portfolio at the same time.

3. Experience Trumps Degree

Since SEO is a relatively fresh field, most accreditation programs are relatively new, and universities are just now starting to offer classes on it. There are instructional programs offered through organizations like SEO company Bruce Clay and the Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization (SEMPO), but your knowledge will trump any certification that you can buy.

4. Keep Learning

An SEO specialist’s job changes as fast as the Internet. The rise of social search and social media, for instance, has affected how SEO works.

“Someone who would come to me and say, ‘I have a very well understanding of Facebook and Twitter’ is going to be a step ahead of someone who just comes in and says, ‘I understand the SEO strategies and record and things like that,’ ” Spears says.

Top tips on how to get new work

A predicted 500,000 public sector workers could face redundancy and be looking for jobs in the private sector.

While a third of public sector workers believe their background puts them at an advantage, more than a fifth (22%) fear it will put them at a distinct disadvantage.

Employers, meanwhile, say public sector experience is "not very important".

We've teamed up with recruitment specialist Hayes with these top tips on how ex-public sector workers can appeal to the private sector: Don't take it personally Redundancy in these tough times is not the result of poor performance. Focus your energy on planning your next move and remain confident. Identify transferable skills Make your CV appeal by showing your strengths and experience and how they will add value in a new role. Update your CV You may be used to filling out application forms for jobs, but the private sector tends to rely more on CVs. Make yours as clear and succinct as possible and refer to skills, rather than tasks and duties. Consider updating skills and temporary work Learning new skills and qualifications will help you stand out, giving employers evidence you can do the job and are capable of developing. Short-term positions will keep skills up-to-date and may help get your foot in the door. Know the differences Private sector employers often struggle to interpret public sector job titles. You'll need to demonstrate how your skills and experience are relevant to the role you're applying for and show potential employers you understand the market they operate in. Different interview styles The public sector often uses competency-based interviewing, where candidates have skills assessed by being asked how they would perform in a given situation. The private sector uses a range of techniques and interviews can be less formal. Remember, do your research.

How To Nail Job Interview Tips

It's important to nail a good impression at the first job interview because most interviewers form their opinion of you in the first few minutes.

Here's a few tips to help you with your interview. You may want to talk to people who have worked at the company. If it's practical, hang around outside the building while employees are arriving and note how they dress and behave.

Learn the name and title of the person you'll be meeting with. Arrive at least 10 minutes early to collect your thoughts. Take time to greet and acknowledge the secretary or administrative assistant. This might be old-fashioned courtesy, but this person may provide some influence.

Always bring an extra resume and letters of recommendation in case the interviewer doesn't have them handy. Be open and upbeat. Face your interviewer with arms and legs uncrossed, head up, and hands and face at ease. Smile and always look the interviewer in the eye because this builds honesty and trust.

Know the company's business, target clients, market and direction cold. Walk in prepared with a few relevant questions and listen carefully. Subtly give the impression that you're already part of the team by using "we" when asking how something is done. For example, say, "How do we deal with the press?"

Conclude with a positive statement and a quick, firm handshake. Ask when you might follow up, and get a business card from the interviewer. And one of the most important steps is to send a thank-you note. This shows responsibility.

Career experts offer tips to make job hunt less frightening

Job hunting can be scary, even after Halloween has passed. Here’s a set of tips from job clubs, recruiters and human resource consultants to improve the odds of a good job offer:

• Use LinkedIn to connect with people you’ve worked with, and connect the site’s relevant online groups to get your name in their networks. Recruiters are scavenging names from LinkedIn because they know that people who know people are the greatest resources.

• Don’t just look on well-worn paths. If you only react to online job postings, you’re going to be joining hundreds, maybe thousands, of other applicants.

• Spend only a fraction of your time answering online ads, then try to focus on specialty niches, trade publications and corporate sites.

• Get out of your house. Attend professional and association meetings in your field. Ask others for detail, not jobs. Let people know what you’re looking for.

• Don’t pass up doors that don’t seem inviting at first glance. It may not be wise to refuse jobs because they don’t pay what you used to earn or aren’t a step up.

• Go to job clubs, community career offices at community colleges and large public libraries, where you’ll find outstanding and free job search resources.

• Don’t masquerade as someone you’re not. Have an accurate self-perception of your talents and your market value.

• Study the landscape. Don’t misuse your time hunting in depressed areas or industries that have nothing to give.

• Make your own goodies. If you aren’t getting a job dumped in your lap, create one. Sell your talents.

Employment experts offers tips for job seekers

Most people don't view themselves as a company.

But in the competitive world of job hunting, that's not a bad approach to take, according to Dan Schawbel.

A recognized "personal branding guru," Schawbel is the managing partner of Millennial Branding LLC, and a leading authority on personal branding.

Schawbel advises job hopefuls to launch a broad attack in their quest for employment. And in many cases, that means thinking like a company.

"There are millions of job seekers out there and the ratio right now is five applicants for every one job opening," Schawbel said. "The online world has become a global talent pool. If you don't have an online website, a blog or you're not on Facebook, every time a job comes up you're losing opportunities."

Schawbel said job seekers can greatly increase their chances of being hired by developing specialized skills.

"Seventy percent of employers are looking to hire people for specialized positions, while 61 percent of job seekers have more generalized skills," he said. "Try to pick an area and become the best in the world at it. You'll become more marketable and it will allow you more flexibility to move up."

Schawbel also noted that business are looking beyond technical skills and experience. These days, they're also placing an increasing importance on interpersonal skills, such as good communication, teamwork and organizational abilities, as well as cultural fit.


Marinoff, associate director of Cal Poly Pomona's career center, said today's job market is tough for everyone - students included.

"The average number of people who apply for every job posting that appears on Monster.com or other web-based job search sites is 300 to 500," Marinoff said recently. "So if you are a student who will be graduating next June you need to be looking now."

Marinoff said the job seekers in the current economy need to be focused - and aggressive.

"It's not about quantity, but quality," he said. "The summary to me is, `Am I the best dressed in the line? Do I have the best portfolio? Am I the most qualified?' It's very competitive, but we have a program in place through our career center that has a 100-percent placement rate.

We're working with students one at a time to make sure they are prepped and hand delivered to employers."

Schawbel said schools like DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management offer specialized bachelor's and master's degree programs that are focused on high-growth career fields.

"You should do some research online to find flexible and affordable opportunities to dial in your personal brand niche," he said. "It's important to have an educational foundation. And some of these schools have professors with real-world experience. So it's not just about who you know, but also who they know."

Los Angeles County's unemployment rate held steady at 12.6 percent in September, but every San Gabriel Valley city saw its jobless rate decline, according to figures released last week by the state Employment Development Department.

Sell yourself

Dressed to impress, Rachel Schallenberg shook his hand with confidence. She had done the easy greeting before. Then he stopped her and made her do it again. Her professional shake did not meet his standards.

Thankfully, this was a learning environment. Using the career services at KU, Schallenberg, Olathe senior, left her mock interview prepared to pursue a real job.

A quick shake counts for three hours of continuous interaction says Patti Wood, body language expert. Start every interview with these 10 steps and you’ll be closer to getting a job.

Walk to the person confidently with head level and hands at your side, not in your pockets. If carrying a purse or portfolio, switch it to your left hand.

If sweaty palms or clammy hands plague you, wipe your hands before any handshake.

Briefly smile but don’t go over the top and look cheesy.

Make eye contact, but don’t stare. This lets the person know you want to interact.

Face the person directly, not at an angle.

Make sure you fully extend your right arm, or you may look timid.

Position your hand straight up with thumb on top.

Open the space between your thumb and index finger so your hand easily slides into theirs, keeping your other fingers straight so your palms touch.

Wrap your fingers around their hand and lock hands.

Shake firmly three times and release. The grip is not a contest of strength. Make sure to match the pressure of the other person.

Learning how to interview can help students feel more confident when they nervously sit down to impress future employers. At the University Career Center (UCC), students can get personal guidance on preparing for interviews.

To prepare, the UCC has practice questions, mock interviews and a virtual interview program online. Talking through questions with family and friends can help students get comfortable talking about themselves, says Ann Hartley, associate director at the UCC. For professional advice on interviewing performance, Hartley says the mock interviews at the UCC can help. The staff records and watches the interview with the student. “As much as students hate it, seeing yourself can help you notice the umms and pauses,” Hartley says.

When the interview has arrived, Hartley reminds students to take a résumé, pen and paper, but to leave the cell phone behind. “The danger of forgetting [to turn it off] is high, and that won’t make a good first impression,” Hartley says.

Career expert offers tips on acing a second job interview

Bravo! You've shown you're a qualified applicant and have been invited to a second interview. The odds of being hired have increased, but question will be tougher and you'll likely be expected to meet - and impress - more people.

"Feel fine because they like you, but be on your toes because they're not 100% convinced," says Maureen McCann, senior career consultant with Graham Management Group of Toronto.

Consider these dos and don'ts:

•Find out in advance what the plan will be and who will be interviewing you. Find as much as you can about them using tools like Google and LinkedIn.

•Find out how much time you need to dedicate to the interview and brush up on correct etiquette. If you're going out for lunch or dinner, for example, be aware of the establishment's dress code.

•Don't drink alcohol, unless you're being interviewed for an alcohol-related company. If you do have a drink, limit yourself to one n analysis your performance in the first interview. "Get a coach for mock interviews," McCann says. "Talk to your references and let them know how they can help if they get a call earlier than your second interview."

•Set goals. "Make a list of five things you're going to talk about before you go the interview," McCann says.

•Build a rapport with interviewers, then ask what the ideal candidate looks like and how they'll recognize necessary qualities or skills.

•Build on the research you did for your first interview. Review sources like trade publications and industry associations.

•Don't be caught off guard if asked about salary. Try to save that conversation until there's a job offer with a response like, "I'm sure you're a very fair company and I'm willing to consider your very best offer when the time is right." But suggest a salary range if pressured to reply.

•Reiterate your interest in the job when the interview ends. Inquire about when you can expect a reply.

•Send a handwritten thank-you card within 24 hours.

Techniques for Interviews: Tips That Definitely Won’t Help You Score the Job

Everyone forever seems to have tips on what to say during a job interview, as well as how to dress, how to act, how to stand and even the correct way to shake a hand.
However, every job interview has always held at least one question that I was unprepared for, didn’t have an reply to or that, after I had replied with my rehearsed speech, the interviewer added an unexpected, “What else?”
Don’t be like me and find out yourself caught unawares. I’m going to give you a unique view of the terrible, so you know what to steer clear of. You can thank me once you’re receiving paid. And by “thank me,” I mean give me wealth.
Here is a quick list of things you should not say when unsuspecting. I have said all of them and while at first look they may seem like amazing responses, they are really not.
Q: You’re in college now? What are you studying?
A: “I don’t know yet.”
I said this once while apply for a job at Staples and was given a look like I had the brains of a Hilton child.
This reply may suggest to your friends or family that you are an individual seeking to find your identity in college, but apparently interviewers think this means that you’re stupid.
A correct reply might be, “I’m thinking of focusing on [pick a major and explain why].”
Q: What’s one of your strength?
A: “I’m eye candy.”
I have said this during two different interviews. In one the person laughed and I didn’t get the job. In a different the interviewer looked disgusted and told me,
“Don’t ever say that.” It’s bad when you’re being given interview tips during an interview.
Apparently a suitable answer is something akin to, “I finish tasks ahead of time.” Q: Do you have any visible tattoos or piercings?
A: “Depends on how much clothing I’m wearing.” Wink.
Don’t say this.
Q: What job would be ideal for you?
A: “Professional eye candy.”
Again, this is not a suitable response. In fact, don’t mention your looks at all.
Never talk about how attractive you are. Don’t even think of saying that your looks are the main difficulty in your life and that you almost wished you were uglier, except that you would hate to be ugly. This will not get you hired.
Q: Do you have any trouble following directions?
A: “Only if they’re on a map!”
I said this at a job interview for AMC, while laughing. And then, in my head, said, “What up!” General advice is to never assume the interviewer has a sense of humor. It’s safe to laugh at every single joke they make, but don’t make your own. And try not to reference your sex life ever.
Seriously people, these are gems I’m giving you. For free.
Q: Do you have any questions for us?
A: “No.” or
A: “Do I really have to dress like I like Abercrombie & Fitch?” or
A: “When do I start?”or
A: “Are you sure a girl knows enough about video games to be manager?”
I have yet to figure out the correct answer to this question. Like the secret to a healthy relationship, it eludes me. I guess I could ask something inane like who I would report to or what my responsibilities would be, but there’s got to be a classier answer than that.
Maybe something like, “Would your uniform make my eyes pop?” Go with my advice and you’ll get hired, I guarantee you’ll get the job. (No, I don’t).