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  • How to Prepare for a Job Interview

    How to Prepare for a Job Interview

    Everyone wants to score a good job. But how do you do that? Make a good first impression. The job interview process is the most important part of starting work at a new place: not only do you get to market your talents, but you give your potential employer a sense of who you are and whether you’re the right fit for the position.

    That being said, you have to come prepared. In order to land your dream career, you’re going to have to prove you deserve it—and you definitely want to be memorable enough (in the positive sense!) to warrant a call back. Here are some tips for preparing for a job interview.

    Dress the part. Looking professional is a key part of your visual first impression on your employer, and it shows you really care about the job. That being said, dress appropriately for the work environment—if you’re applying for a job as a busboy, it might be a little weird to show up in a suit and tie. “Business casual” is usually your best bet: look presentable, but not like you’re about to go to the opera.

    Bring your file. Print out two copies of your resume, one to give to your interviewer and one for yourself to refer to as you speak. Depending on the job, you could also bring other documents that you think the employer might want to see (e.g. a portfolio, past works, etc.). Don’t be pushy, though. Only bring out these extra documents if they happen to come up in the interview.

    Know your answers. To make sure you don’t get blindsided, try to think of what may be asked of you. Don’t prepare a speech, but you should have an idea of what you’re going to say in response. Some classic interview questions include: Why do you want to work for us? Why do you think you’d be a good candidate? What are some of your strengths and weaknesses in the workplace? You can even try out a “mock interview” with a friend or family member.

    Be confident—and be yourself. You may be nervous, but stay calm and speak clearly. Bring a bottle of water—if you feel like you’re losing track of what you’re saying, pause and take a sip before you continue. If you are levelheaded and rational during the interview, the interviewer is going to know you’ll act the same way on the job. However, don’t feel like you have to put on a charade. Let the employer get to know your unique abilities. If you act totally different during your interview and you get hired, chances are you’re going to have to maintain that disguise when you start working.

    Good luck on your job searches!

  • How Does Social Media Impact You?

    How Does Social Media Impact You?

    Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, social media is a great way to connect with people around the world. These networks allow you to meet new people as well as re-connect with people you haven’t talked to in a while. Sharing pictures and updates can even make you feel closer to people near and far. These networks also allow for a venue of discussion about recent hot topics and news stories. As social beings, social media allows us to fulfill our natural desire to connect with people despite our busy schedules. While all of these things may seem positive, there is also quite a bit of negativity associated with social media. It is therefore important to be aware of these aspects in both your professional and personal lives.

    What a lot of people don’t realize is how social media can affect you and your job search. Any type of social media profile you create is a direct reflection of yourself. You are choosing to show people who you are and anything you post affects the way people are going to view you. These social media profiles can contribute to your reputation. They either help you maintain a good one or create a bad one. If you decide to maintain a professional social media account then it can be used in a positive way by you promoting yourself and your skill set. If you are trying to start a business, you could use social media outlets as free marketing venues.

    A practice that a lot of companies have been involved in recently is searching the social media profiles of potential employees to get a better idea of who they are. This is especially important to keep in mind when you are searching and applying for jobs. You don’t want employers to see pictures of you partying or doing inappropriate things. It may be hard to believe, but employers may view you as a liability to their company and that your behaviour on these social media websites could compromise their public image. This is why it is extremely important to maintain professional social media profiles. Despite social media having privacy settings there are still ways for companies to get around these, so proceed with caution.

    However, social media also has the ability to help you network with future employers. It gives you the opportunity to learn about different opportunities. It can even help you learn about these opportunities before the greater public learns about them, giving you an edge above the competition. An important website that many people use in order to expand their network of employers is LinkedIn. LinkedIn allows you to post your resume online and connect with employers in your field. It is a great resource for finding job opportunities.

    So make sure you think twice about the things you decide to post on your social media profiles. It could be the difference between landing a job you really want or missing out on an opportunity!

     

  • Networking to Land a Career

    Networking to Land a Career

    When people get together to meet and talk, they sometimes learn a lot about each other. At family gatherings, people might find out about what their cousins or aunts and uncles are doing and how their lives are going. At parties, friends might find out more about each other and about the other people they know. What happens when job seekers and businesspeople get together? Through a process called networking, people can connect with each other in ways that can benefit them and lead to success.

    What does the word “network” mean to you? If you work with computers, you probably know that networks in this area are all about connections. The same is true in business and job searching, except that this kind of networking involves people instead of machines. When people need something, they can connect with someone who has what they want. A person who needs a job, for example, can connect with someone who is looking for employees. Someone who has something to sell can connect with someone who wants to buy it. For some people, these kinds of connections can make the difference between success and failure.

    Networking can take many different forms. Sometimes, it can be as simple as just talking to friends and family members about a product or a job need. It could involve talking to people on the street and passing out business cards. Often, however, employment agencies and business centres have more formal networking events when people can get together to meet each other.

    Suppose that you have a business of selling greeting cards. You might take some of your cards to a networking event to show to other people so that they can see exactly what they can but from you. What if you are a high school student and are unsure of what direction to take after you finish your studies? By networking at a job fair, you might be able to find out what career suits you and be able to choose the right educational path for what you want to do. Networking can help you achieve your goals.

    Usually, networking involves meeting people face to face and talking with them, which might be very difficult for some people. How can people network with others if they find it difficult to talk to strangers and to explain themselves? Some of the basic networking techniques can help for people who are not natural talkers. Preparation is very important for anyone who wants to build up a network of contacts. Having a business card to hand out, even if it includes only a name and e-mail address, can be a good way to be remembered.

    Gathering information and forming relationships are important parts of finding a good job. Following up on those contacts is as important as the first meeting, and a large part of networking happens after the actual event. When networking is done well, it can help lead people to success in their chosen fields of work.

  • Do Employers Look at Volunteer Experience?

    Do Employers Look at Volunteer Experience?

    When thinking about volunteering, we have a tendency to believe that volunteer experience simply doesn’t measure up to work experience because it is not paid. Sometimes we think that volunteering is “just for fun” or “just to help out”, but we don’t really consider volunteering to be good enough to be counted as real experience.

    These thoughts are false. Volunteering is, in many ways, much better than work experience because it demonstrates initiative on the part of the individual. It also demonstrates that one can do many of the basic requirements for any job, such as working as part of a team, working independently, and performing specific job tasks that may be relevant to another job in the future.

    Employers are also interested in finding people who have experience in a particular field. Currently, it is very common for people applying to medical school or looking to work in prestigious companies to put in time as an intern – without pay. This type of experience is looked upon quite favorably and is considered as far superior to having no experience.

    Personally, having worked a volunteer position as a brand ambassador for a fitness company, I was able to land more than five jobs that I would not have been considered for had I not volunteered. At the time I was unaware of the value of volunteering and was mostly disappointed that I was not receiving any pay for my efforts. I learned many valuable skills while volunteering in addition to having the after benefits of getting other related (paying) jobs.

    Stick with it! Volunteering is a great way to get a foot in the door and perhaps begin a job placement after volunteering.

  • Writing Effective Cover Letters

    Writing Effective Cover Letters

    A cover letter is a formal letter used to introduce yourself to a potential employer and to convince him or her that you are the best candidate for the job.  Its purpose is to highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job you want to apply for.  Employers are very busy people who usually receive hundreds of applications for any particular job.  That means an effective cover letter has to immediately grab their attention and tell the employer why he or she should spend time learning about you.  Keep your cover letter on topic and try to use succinct sentences that are relevant to the job.

    To write an effective cover letter, you must include three important elements.  First, introduce yourself, identify the position you are applying for and explain how you found out about the position.  This can be done in a single, introductory paragraph.  Next, in the body paragraph, explain why you are qualified for the position by describing your skills and how you demonstrated those skills in past jobs, volunteer positions or at school.  You probably have lots of skills that could apply to a range of different jobs.  However, it is best to discuss in your cover letter only the skills that will be most useful for the job and keep discussion of all of your other strengths for the interview that will come later.  But how do you figure out which skills are the most important to include in the letter?  You can figure out which skills to discuss in the cover letter by closely reading the job application and trying to get a clear sense of what the job will entail.  Finally, in the third and last paragraph of the cover letter, ask the employer to set up an interview and thank them for considering your application.  Always make sure to include your contact information so they will know how to get in touch.

    Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when writing an effective cover letter:

    1. Do your homework:  Learn as much as you can about the company you are applying to so you can show, in your cover letter, that you will be a good addition to the organization.
    2. Follow instructions:  Be sure to clearly answer everything that is asked in the job posting in your cover letter.
    3. Be brief:  Your cover letter should usually be made up of three paragraphs and never be more than one page long.
    4. Personalize your letter:  If possible, address the cover letter to a specific person by using their name and title.  Do not misspell the name.
    5. Don’t just restate your resume:  Usually employers read the cover letter first, so catch their attention in a way that persuades them to continue reading your resume.
  • The Importance of a Good Reference

    The Importance of a Good Reference

    When you apply for a job, a volunteer position, scholarship or even graduate program, you are often asked to provide reference(s).  A reference is a person who knows you well and who can vouch for who you are. They can be your high school teacher, college or university professor, former boss or even former colleague.

    Ideally, you want to choose a reference that likes you and will speak highly of you, whether personally or professionally. You want that person to highlight your strengths and not your weaknesses. You want them to convince the person requesting the reference that you are in fact who you say you are –  and more! A good reference can make the difference between you getting a position or not. It can even be more influential than a transcript, resume or cover letter put together. This is why it is so important that you choose a reference who not only knows you well, but who speaks well of you and can increase your chances of being chosen for a particular job, volunteer position, scholarship or graduate program.

    It is a good idea to ask the person whether they can provide a reference for you before putting them down as your reference. This way, your reference is not caught off guard when someone calls them asking about you. It is also a good idea to give your reference a heads up that someone may contact them to ask them about you. This way your reference is prepared and knows what to say when that email or phone call comes in.

    Sometimes references are also required to provide letters of recommendation, as is the case for graduate school and scholarship programs. In these instances, you should ask your reference well ahead of time if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. Beware that often times these letters of recommendations are required to be sent directly from your reference to the school or scholarship program. This is done to ensure that the letter has not been tampered with or altered by you in any way. In situations like these, it is imperative that you pick a good reference that you trust will put in a good word for you, because you might not be able to see what they wrote about you.

    Remember, references are not supposed to lie about your credentials or who you are. Rather, they are meant to support and enhance the person you have claimed to be. If you have chosen good references that know you well, like you, and can verify the kind of person you are, then you are already on the right track for success.

  • Networking: Your Tool to Success

    Networking: Your Tool to Success

    There is a saying that you will become very familiar with in life as you enter university and eventually into the workforce. The saying goes: it’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know that matters.

    This may not make sense to you at first glance. I’ll be the first to admit that it didn’t make sense to me at first either. After all, I had spent years trying to learn as much as I could about my specific course of study. I figured that the more knowledge I had under my belt the better my chances were at getting into a great graduate program or getting a job in my desired field. But I soon discovered that this was not the case. Don’t get me wrong, either. Knowledge is important – very important! But so is your network.

    So, what is a network? A network is a person (or group of people) you interact with and exchange information with. Put simply, it consists of anyone you know and have developed a relationship with. Your network can include your family, friends, past and current colleagues, former high school teachers, past and current university professors, past and current bosses (assuming you have a good relationship with them), etc. Your network can even include people you met at the gym, coffee shop or church! The possibilities of who make up your network (and how large your network is) is only limited by the number of people you know. And I bet there are a lot of people you know in your life!

    Not everyone in your network needs to know each other. What’s important, though, is that the people in your network know you and like you. It wouldn’t be a good idea to have someone in your network who speaks poorly about you. This is because a network consists of people who help (not hinder) you in your career. Let’s consider the numerous advantages of having a network. For instance, when trying to find a job, a network can:

    • Provide you with internal job postings leads that may not be advertised to the general public
    • Provide you with contact names (people whom you may not be able to access on your own)
    • Put in a good word for you. Word-of-mouth referrals always have influence!
    • Provide you with advice during your job search process
    • Provide ongoing mentorship throughout your career

    Often, these things are more powerful and influential than WHAT you know. Again, this is not to suggest that knowledge and expertise aren’t important – they are! But when knowledge and expertise are coupled together with a lead on an internal job posting, a word-of-mouth referral and a contact name, your chances of getting that job go up tenfold, compared to another candidate who just has the knowledge and expertise.

    Remember that relationships are important, and this is no different in your personal life than it is in your professional life. So build your network and be part of someone else’s network. The benefits you reap from it are endless, especially since we live in a world where it’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know that matters!

  • Interview with a Hairdresser

    Interview with a Hairdresser

    Fashion is a huge industry worldwide. People care about how they look, so they turn to professionals to give them exactly what they’re asking for. One such profession that benefits from making people look good is that of hairdressing. I interviewed a local hairdresser, Sarah Hearsey, about her schooling, professional opportunities, and how it feels to be in the business.

    M: When did you decide to become a hairdresser?
    S: I decided to become a hairdresser in the middle of my aesthetics training. I saw what the girls in the hairstyling class were doing, and I figured that since I was there already, why not do hairdressing as well? It turned out to be just what I wanted to do in the end. I do cuts and colours more than I do anything else now.

    M: How much schooling did you go through before becoming certified?
    S: Well, I was about five months into my aesthetics course as I mentioned before. I took my teachers aside to discuss doing the hairstyling course and they agreed that it was an excellent idea. The total time that I was in school was nearly two years because I had to make up lost time due to illness.

    M: With your qualifications, where are you able to get hired?
    S: With all of the qualifications I have, I can work in salons, kid’s salons, barber shops, makeup stores, and makeup counters.

    M: Would you say that getting a job in a salon is the best way to go, or can a freelancer make just as much?
    S: I think that it depends on if you want to do hair every single day. I find freelancing better for me because you can make up your own hours and wages, and you aren’t really under a time restriction like you would be in a salon. It depends on the individual.

    M: What are some other benefits of freelancing over working in a salon?
    S: Another perk of freelancing is that anything you make goes into your pocket. Honesty is important in this respect because you have to write down everything you make if freelancing is the way you are going to go.

    M: How do years of experience relate to the amount a hairdresser can charge for their services?
    S: I think that because they [experienced hairdressers] have been in business longer than those who are newer, they become more trusted with their employers and clients. They will get more clients so I believe that raising their wage by year seems fair.

    M: What is the best thing about having this trade under your belt?
    S: The best thing about being a hairdresser is all the types of people you work with. You make them feel good about themselves. They leave with a smile on their faces and they play with their hair and say, “I love it and I can’t stop touching it!” It’s a good feeling.

  • Writing Effective Cover Letters

    Writing Effective Cover Letters

    A cover letter is the first thing a potential employer sees, even before they look at your resume. Without a strong cover letter, they may not even get that far.

    Cover letters are more often sent by email these days, with your resume sent as an attachment. But, whether print or paper, the anatomy of a cover letter is essentially the same. You open with a greeting, state the position you’re applying for, outline your qualifications, and sign off.

    It may sound like a lot, but your cover letter should only be about one page long.

    Greeting
    Start it as you would a letter, “Dear So-and-So.” Using “Hi” or “Hello” in place of “Dear” may come across as too casual.

    If possible, your letter should be addressed to the specific person doing the hiring, and lead “Dear First Name Surname.” You can find this out from the ad, through a contact who already works there, or by calling up the human resources department and asking. But if not, “Dear Hiring Manager” works in a pinch. However, going the extra step will help your cover letter stand out.

    In the past, you’d preface the name with Ms or Mr, but these days it seems a little fussy and can quickly become confusing for gender neutral names.

    Position You’re Applying For
    Following the greeting should be a short statement about the position you’re applying for – “Please consider my application for [position title] at [company].” You may want to include a note about how you heard about the position. If a friend or family member who already works for the company recommended that you apply, the hiring manager will take a closer look at what you have to offer.

    Your Qualifications
    This is the most important part. It’s what gets them to flip to your resume and call to arrange an interview. Depending on your level of experience, this section may be one to three paragraphs long.

    The focus should be on showing how your skills meet the employer’s needs. Highlight the work, volunteer, or personal experience you have that demonstrates you’re a perfect fit for the position. Don’t just give a bald work history – they can read that in your resume. Instead list your professional skills, soft skills or interests, how you won employee of the month, or had the highest sales during the holidays. If you’ve taken any certified courses relevant to the position, be sure to include them here.

    Closing Remarks
    Close with something courteous like, “Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.” On another line, your valediction, “Sincerely,” or “Regards,” another line break, your name, phone number, and email address.

    Look It Over
    Once it’s finished, look it over and make sure it flows. Don’t solely rely on spell check to catch spelling and grammar errors. “Deer” may be spelled correctly, but if you write “Deer Jane Smith,” you’re going to look pretty silly – and even sillier if it’s actually “Jayne Smyth.” Triple check the spelling – there’s nothing more embarrassing than getting someone’s name wrong.

    It’s a good idea to have another pair of eyes go over it. Have a friend or family member who may be able to offer suggestions or catch any typos or omitted words you might have missed.

    Good luck!

  • Job Skills: Get Factual

    Have you ever seen someone who has the skills to juggle knives or walk on a tightrope? How about someone who can remember large amounts of information? The first two skills are unlikely to lead to a job, except for perhaps entertainers and circus performers. The third one, however, could lead to a job in many different areas, such as acting, teaching and working as a doctor or nurse. That’s because all of these jobs require a lot of information that people can remember in an instant. Almost any kind of ability can lead to a job, but you need to know how to translate the things you can do into skills that can help you find a job.

    When employment experts talk about job skills, they often talk about hard skills, soft skills and personal branding. Personal branding could include what people do at work or school, but also who they talk to and what they do in their spare time. Volunteer work, writing blogs and other daily activities can help develop both your personal brand and skills that will help you find work in the future.

    Soft skills are a lot like personal branding. These skills include things like an ability to get along well with people or to organize information. If you can easily get a lot of different people to work together to get projects done on time, that is a soft skill you can use in many different jobs. You could eventually manage a store or an office with a skill like this. Often these skills will help you get and keep good jobs.

    Hard skills are practical, measurable skills that people use every day at work. They could be things like an ability to type at one hundred words a minute or to use a welding torch. They could include the ability to speak French or to drive a large truck. These skills relate directly to whatever the job is about. They help people get interviews and to do the work if they get the job.

    Almost every job requires a combination of hard and soft skills. If you want to work as a teacher, you will need soft skills such as an ability to communicate with others and to lead groups. However, you will also have to know the subject matter you are teaching, whether that is English literature or addition and subtraction. When you apply for jobs, hard skills will probably be the ones you should emphasize, but they are not the only ones you should develop.

    Hard skills are important, but your soft skills might be just as necessary. If you can show how soft skills like getting to work on time will help you get the job done well, that might be all you need to land the job. Almost any skill you have can lead to work. They key is to find out what employers want and to match your hard and soft skills to the practical, everyday requirements of the job.