Career Information Online

I was reading an article in an industry newsletter that said the single most important factor when evaluating a job opportunity is the company’s culture and values.  In other words, “what will it be like to work for this company?”  I started to think about how you can truly determine a company’s culture, and outside of working for the company for a few months it is going to be difficult to know what the culture will be like.  There are a few questions that you can ask in the interview process that might help you get a handle on what kind of culture this company offers.

First, what kind of hours are employees expected to work?  Are you given the opportunity to telecommute or to utilize flex schedules?  Do the successful employees get to work early every day and stay late?  Are you expected to put in extra time on the job (whether or not you are compensated for it)?

Next, what kind of dress code does this employer have?  If you have always worked in a casual dress environment you might find a formal suit and tie environment stuffy and unbearable.

Does the company offer any training and development programs for the employees?  How often are these programs offered, or how often is an employee able to take part in them?  What kind of programs do the offer?

How is the work environment structured?  Are you working in cubicles or is it an open bullpen type of environment?  Is it a bright and cheerful office space, or is it dull and drab?

Does the company have any kinds of on-site perks (like a daycare facility or gym)?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  The culture that is comfortable for one person might not be a good fit for you.  Try to ascertain the culture of the company in the interview process so you’ll be able to include it when making a decision about a new job.

Should you post your resume online?  Many people will say that you shouldn’t post your resume.  You put all your personal information out there for anyone with a subscription to that resume database to see.  If your current employer has a subscription to that job board they might stumble across your resume and figure out you are on the market. 

But there is a way to post your resume while maintaining your privacy, and that is to select the “confidential” option if the job board offers it.  Monster offers the option to post your resume while blocking out your personal contact information, name of current employer and names of references.  Interested companies will contact you via email through the job board to let you know they want to have a conversation with you.

If you’re looking to move to another city or state, posting your resume online will give you exposure to employers in that geography.  You can select your preferred job locations when posting your job.  I would also suggest including an objective statement that says you want to obtain a job as X in the new city or state.  With a few minutes at home you can give yourself exposure to many potential employers.  If you were to research employers in your desired city or state it could be a long and arduous task.

Don’t just dismiss the idea of posting your resume online.  There are some benefits to doing so.

Just for a moment go back to your high school days.  You’ve just been asked out by that guy or girl you’ve had a crush on for several weeks.  You go out on a date but you play it cool – a little reserved, even shy.  You really like the other person but you don’t want to seem forward or pushy so you don’t say anything about it.  Your date ends and you don’t hear from the other person again (probably because they don’t think you like them).

Let’s take a similar scenario in a job interview.  You spend some time speaking with the interviewer and really like what you hear.  You know this could be a great career opportunity.  You think that the other person can figure out you are interested, but you don’t come out and say anything.  A few weeks later you get a rejection letter in the mail.

So what happened?  The problem was you didn’t clearly state your interest in the job to the interviewer at the end of your meeting.  If you are interested in the position then you need to ask for the job before the interview is over.

Asking for the job is not some big sales close.  It’s just making sure you tell the interviewer that you are interested in getting this job.  Give the person the opportunity to ask any additional questions about your skills and tell them you want to move forward in their process.  Here’s something you might say:

“So, do you have any questions about my background that haven’t been answered yet? (wait for response and continue)
I like what I’ve heard today.  I know I can be an asset to this department and the company and I am very interested in this job.”

Of course if you’re not interested in the company you won’t say anything like this.  If you are interested in the job don’t leave the interviewer guessing – come right out and tell them!

It seems that no matter the position in any industry there’s a list of “standard” interview questions that are asked.  Many companies have a form that managers use to conduct interviews.  The questions might be worded differently depending on the person and the company, but deep down they are the same.  If you know what to expect, you can mentally prepare answers that will showcase your skills and background.

So what questions might be asked of you in an interview?  Following is a list that you can use to begin your preparation for your next interview.

• Tell me about yourself.  (Not really a question, but it’s bound to come up in any interview.)
• What do you know about our company?
• Why do you want to work for our company
• How much money do you want to make?
• Why are you looking for a new job?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why should we hire you?

Of course you’ll have questions specific to the job and you’re background, so be prepared for questions about your management skills, your experience with certain software programs and your abilities to do what is required in the new position.  With a little preparation you’ll be ready to do well when asked the “standard” interview questions.

In most every interview, you’ll be given the opportunity to ask questions. At this point many people make one of two critical mistakes.  The first mistake is saying no.  When you say no you give the impression that you are not interested in the position or that you didn’t make any preparation for the interview.  The second mistake is to ask only questions about salary or benefits.  If you only ask questions like this you give the interviewer the impression that you are motivated by money alone and that you have no interest in the career potential offered by this company.  Salary and benefits are important, but the interview is not the time to ask these types of questions.

Since it’s important to ask questions during an interview, what type of questions can you ask?  There are a few areas where you can find questions.  Below are some examples of the questions you can ask.

About the position:

• Why is the position open?  How long has it been open?  Where is the person who previously had this position?
• How do you evaluate performance?  When do you conduct performance reviews?
• What are the most important responsibilities of the position?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this position?
• Is there the opportunity for growth in this position?

About the company:

• What, if any, growth and expansion plans do you have?
• What projects are scheduled for the future?
• What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the company now and in a few years?
• Do you offer training and development programs for employees?
• How would you describe the culture of this company?

About the interviewer:

• How long have you been with the company?
• Did you start with the company in your current position?  If not, how did you get where you are today?
• Why do you like working for this company?

Third party recruiters (AKA Headhunters) provide a valuable service for both employers and employees.  Headhunters sometimes have a bad reputation, but not all of them are unethical.  Many recruiters have been in business for years and have long standing, positive relationships with companies.

If you’re contacted by a recruiter, what do you do?  I’d suggest the following.

Find out as much as you can about the position.  Since most Headhunters work on a confidential basis (at least in the beginning) you’re not going to find out the name of the company.  You can find out about the size of the company – revenue, number of employees, number of offices, etc.  Also ask where the position is located.  While this might sound like a great opportunity it might be located in Iowa when you live in New Jersey.  Ask about the title, duties and responsibilities of the position as well.

Ask about the process.  If you decide you are interested in moving forward, find out about the process.  What is the recruiter’s role?  What is expected of you?

Are you responsible for any fees?  If the answer is yes hang up the phone.  Reputable third party recruiters do not charge the candidate for anything.  The company with the open position pays all the fees.

Control your resume.  Make sure you know where your resume has been sent.  Let the Headhunter know you want the option to say yes or no before your resume is sent to any company.

If you’re looking for a Headhunter to help in your job search, one great resource is www.mrinetwork.com, which is the web site for MRI Network.  From this site you can search for a recruiter based on industry and geographic location.

There are many successful and reputable third party recruiters who can provide you with assistance in finding a new position.  The key is to be kept informed throughout their process.

I was interviewing candidates for a secretarial position in my previous company a few years ago.  In the advertisement for employment I stated that attention to detail was a requirement for the successful person.  I can’t tell you how many resumes and cover letters I received that had blatant spelling errors or formatting mistakes on them.  No matter what the employment background of the candidate there was no way I would hire someone who made a spelling error on their resume, not in the age of spell check.

The argument can be made that while this might have been true in the case of a secretary, good spelling isn’t necessarily a requirement for a salesperson or a computer programmer.  I disagree.  Your resume and cover letter are the tools you need to get an interview.  They are the first impression that a potential employer is going to get of you.  You don’t want this person to think you are careless or sloppy.

Take the time and proofread your cover letter and resume before you send it anywhere.  Step away from it for an hour or so and look at it again with fresh eyes.  Print it out and ask a friend or family member to look at it for you.  If it helps, read your resume backwards so you’re looking at the actual words and not filling in the context.  No matter what use the spell check function in your email and word processing programs.  Finally, verify that you are sending the resume to the person named in the advertisement and if you use a template email for resume submissions that you change any information

We’ve all been there – either unemployed and looking for a position (any position), or employed and unhappy, looking for a better opportunity.  You send out resumes and cover letters and you might be lucky and land a few interviews, or maybe you haven’t had any positive response.  In this situation it’s easy to become discouraged or depressed.

Don’t go there!

I did a search on Yahoo! and Google trying to see what research is out there about the length of time of the “average job search”.  The results I found were interesting.  A “typical” job search can last anywhere from three months to one year.  You’re not alone if you don’t get the perfect job after a few weeks of searching.

The reasons you might not get a job are varied, and sometimes have nothing to do with you.  While you might want to take this rejection personally, it’s important to remember that it’s not personal.  It’s business. 

Finding a job is often about luck and timing.  Don’t let rejection stop you from finding your next career opportunity.  Keep your attitude positive and your focus clear and soon you will find that new position.

I had a friend who was changing jobs.  The new job had everything she wanted – a good career path, challenging work, flexible schedules and a shorter commute.  She would not be required to be “on call” or work overtime hours on a regular basis (just once in a while, if absolutely necessary).  The salary offered, however, was less than she had hoped to see. 

We talked it out and after some long conversations we determined that while on paper it was a lateral move, it in fact was a good financial decision.  Here’s why:

• Her commute was shortened from twenty-five minutes to five minutes, saving on gas and car maintenance.
• She’d be working at least ten hours less a week, because of no overtime and no “on call” hours.
• She now had the ability to work from home, cutting back on time taken due to the weather or illness.
• She can work a flexible schedule.
• She would have a lot less stress.

My point is this – there are a lot of factors to consider when weighing a job offer.  Don’t get hung up on the salary offered to you.  When you look at the big picture you might be saving money by taking this new job, or you might be losing money.  Carefully consider all the factors involved before saying yes or no to a job offer.

Unless you really hate your job and/or your boss, resigning from a job will be uncomfortable.  You’ve spent a significant amount of your life with your fellow employees, and you probably consider many of them friends.  If your supervisor doesn’t know you are looking for a new position he/she will be surprised when you give your notice.  He/she might express some sadness, disappointment or even hostility towards your decision.

When you turn in your resignation keep in mind why you are doing so – it’s to take an opportunity with a new company that’s better (for whatever reason) than the one you have right now.  It’s going to be uncomfortable for a few minutes while you give your notice, but you’re taking a step that is better for you in the long run.

Don’t feel guilty when you give your notice.  The company wasn’t doing you a special favor by giving you a job.  You worked for them and they compensated you for it.  It was a business relationship, not a personal one.  You’re not doing anything that could be considered a personal attack.  Don’t let yourself feel that way, and don’t let your current supervisor make you feel guilty for leaving.

You’ve determined the new position is a better one for you, whether it’s because of the company, salary or career path.  The few minutes you feel uncomfortable while giving your notice will quickly be forgotten when you start this excellent new opportunity.