Telephone interviews & screening

What are phone interviews & screenings?:

Some employers use phone calls to pre-screen candidates before offering in-person interviews.

Some employers conduct interviews by telephone — they usually tell you this and formally schedule the telephone interview in advance, but some may informally do this without warning.

A phone interview can be a screening step before an in-person interview. Keep in mind that different employers have different methods of screening candidates, so you should be prepared for all possibilities.

Why employers use phone interviews & screenings:

Narrow the applicant pool:
When employers receive many applications for an open position, they need to narrow the applicant pool. Obviously, first they screen resumes and cover letters to narrow the field. Contact by e-mail can be an efficient way to further narrow the pool (they can see who responds and who follows directions). Phone calls can be a next step to further narrow the pool.

Efficiency and cost: 
Obviously a phone call is easier and much less costly than an in-person interview, especially if travel is involved for you and/or the employer for an in-person interview.

A step prior to an in-person interview:
A phone interview or screening usually does not take the place of an in-person interview. It is simply a means of learning more about the candidate, and letting the candidate learn more about the employer and the position, before both parties commit to the time and expense of an in-person interview.

Before you give your phone number to anyone!:

When you give your phone number, you expect to be called.

The moment you in any way make your phone number available to an employer -- whether on your resume, an e-mail, an online application, etc. — you should be prepared for the possibility of receiving a call from an employer.

Don't be surprised. Do be prepared.

Bottom line is that at any time you may be evaluated on your telephone conduct.

Your own voice mail.
Obviously a caller can reach your voice mail, so be sure it is appropriate, meaning simple and with your name clearly stated so the employer knows s/he is reaching the intended person, and thus may be more likely to leave a message.

Deciding to answer your phone.
If you are not in a situation appropriate to receive a call from an employer (noisy location, or quiet location in which you should not be speaking on the phone), let the incoming call go to your voice mail. Return the call promptly in an appropriate location.

Answering and inconvenient timing:
If you do answer your phone, and the employer has reached you at a time when you can't speak with him/her, it's perfectly appropriate to politely explain this and offer to call back at a time convenient to the employer. E.g.: "I'm so sorry I'm not able to talk with you now. Is there a time I can call you back at your convenience?"

For scheduled-in-advance phone interviews:
In some cases, the employer will contact you (by phone, e-mail, etc.) to set a specific time to conduct a phone interview. When you agree to that scheduling, you are committing to a business appointment and you should be fully prepared.

Details to know in advance about the scheduled phone interview:

If, in setting the phone interview appointment, the employer doesn't tell you the following, ask:

Will the employer call you or are you expected to call the employer?
Most likely the employer will expect to call you, but don't assume; ask if that's not made clear.

Approximately how long will the interview last? 
It's reasonable for you to know this before you commit; you may need time to get to a class or a job. You don't want to feel or seem rushed during the interview because you didn't know how long it would last.

Will you be speaking with one person, or more than one?
If more than one person is speaking and listening to you on the employer's end, this can involve a conference or speaker phone, which can interfere with sound quality.

Is this strictly a phone/audio interview, or a video interview?
If it's not strictly audio, then you need to be concerned with all the same personal appearance and conduct issues that are judged in an in-person interview. See interviewing skills to be prepared.

Preparation: same as for an in-person interview:

Prepare to expect questions, just as you would for any other interview. See the other interviewing skills, including interview format, typical interview questions, researching the employer, and thanks afterward.

Content of your responses is the most important factor. The rest is "packaging." Poor packaging can derail your success even if your content is good. But good packaging won't overcome inadequate content.

Of course you'll want to do appropriate follow-up and thanks. Seeinterviewing skills.

Preparation: differences for a phone interview vs. an in-person interview:

Location:
Choose a location for yourself where your cell phone coverage is reliable and clear, or arrange to use a land-line in a quiet, appropriate location (such as an office where you work or family member's home).

Notes | documents exchanged with employer:
Have a table or desk for any documents (resume, cover letter) you have sent the employer, any materials the employer has sent you, and any notes you've made in preparation. You can, and should, take notes as you speak -- and you can take more notes than would be appropriate in-person, especially if this helps you to focus and remember. Don't let note-taking distract you from listening and speaking, but do use note-taking to remember what is said to you. Also, if you use notes to remind yourself of things you want to remember to say, don't sound like you're reading!

Clock (other than your cell phone):
Be aware of the time. If your interview is to last 25 minutes, you'll need to be aware of the passage of time, and make sure if there is any particular information you want to share with the employer that you have time to do so. Watching the time allows you to pace yourself so you don't spend too much time answering one question.

Attire and grooming:
No worries about attire — unless you'll be doing a video interview, so know that in advance. However, if being nicely-dressed positively influences your mood and demeanor and voice, consider taking that step. Ask yourself if you can make yourself sound your best with whatever you choose to wear.

Handshake:
Obviously not a factor on the phone; in person, this can be a make-or-break factor.

Water:
You can make sure to have water to drink (which might or might not be available in an in-person interview).

Breathing:
... can be more noticeable — and distracting! Be careful to keep your receiver nearer to your chin than to your nose. Hold the phone receiver away from your mouth/nose when listening.

No visual cues between you and the interviewer:
If you are thinking prior to responding to a question, you have no way of providing a visual cue that you are doing so, as you would in person, so if you pause in speech you may need to provide a verbal cue, such as "please allow me a moment to gather my thoughts," or "please allow me to consider your question." This may sound more formal than your usual manner of speech, but, one, this a formal appointment, and two, this will make a better impression than "um" or "hmmmm," or silence, which could make the employer wonder if the call was lost. Don't worry about having silence after you've requested time to think. The interviewer might welcome that time to make notes.

The flip side is that you don't have visual cues from the employer, such as a nod or smile in response to what you say (or a look of disinterest that tells you you've gone on too long). Be careful not to ramble. Do offer pauses so the interviewer/employer can react to what you say. If you're unsure if you have said enough, just as with an in-person interview, you can stop and ask, "am I addressing your question?" or "am I understanding the intent of your question?"

Sound hireable on the phone. Practice and get feedback!

Tone and voice quality:
Remember that tone and quality of voice carries weight in any interview, but it carries much more weight in a telephone conversation. Other than content of what you say, voice quality is the only thing on which you can be judged.

Smile even though it can't be seen:
You don't have facial expressions, body language, and other non-verbal elements coming through in a phone conversation. However, silly as it may seem, smiling while you speak on the phone can make you sound more pleasant.

Get a reality check in advance:
Ask friends (who will tell you the truth) how you sound on the phone. They know you, but an employer doesn't. Do you sound cordial or aloof, articulate or fumbling, interested or gloomy? Do you tend to be too quiet and hard to hear, or too loud and thus annoying?

Again, as stated above, content of your responses is the most important factor, just as in an in-person interview.

How To Be Assertive In The Workplace

How To Be Assertive In The Workplace

Focus On Leading

“The important thing to do is to stand up for yourself in a manner that doesn’t trample on other people,” says  Bud Bilanich, author of Climbing The Corporate Ladder. “This is a good working definition of being assertive.”

Bilanich stresses that if you’re in a leadership position, you have the right and, more importantly, the responsibility to direct the actions of others.

“Don’t focus on being friends with the people you lead,” he advises. “Focus on leading them.”

So, how do you do this? Set goals with them and review their performance frequently.  Provide them with positive, encouraging feedback when they do well, and redirect their behavior when they get off track.

Be Proactive

According to Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of NextChapterNewLife.com, assertiveness is a crucial trait in a leader. But what if you’re not naturally assertive?

“You need to look at where you aren’t asserting your opinion and direction, and think through those situations in advance,” says Tannahill-Moran.

She suggests creating a “script” for yourself in advance. This approach allows you to work on your leadership skills in a proactive way. Look for one opportunity each day to assert your opinions and direction – practice makes perfect!

“Keep in mind that you are building a skill, which means it won’t feel comfortable or fluid at first,” she says. “But the more you do it, the better you will be.”

Map Out A Plan Of Action

“Leadership is about directing people and you need to be clear about the expectations of the organization,” says career coach Roshni P. Kumar.

Kumar suggests creating a plan of action. For example, if you need to reach your office, first thing you need to know is location. Then, you determine the most effective route and guide others (management).

“Once you are clear about your destination,” she says, “then you can communicate effectively to your team – and that, my friend, is ‘assertiveness.’”

How To Find Your First Job

How To Find Your First Job

Are you wondering how to find your first job?

We’ve all heard time and time again how networking with our friends, family, colleagues, and other contacts could vastly help job seekers find a job – and ultimately get hired.

Statistics show 40% of all hires come from employee referrals, making the old phrase ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ relevant to today’s job search. This is especially true if you’re a college student or college graduate who hasn’t had the chance to gain the professional experience required for an entry-level position.

Eyal Grayevsky, CEO and Founder of job and internship site First Job, created his site after experiencing the hardships of looking for work when he graduated from the University of Colorado in 2010.

“When I graduated, I was looking for a job and was disappointed with the resources that were available to me,” said Grayevsky. “I found them very limited and a lot of my peers felt the same way.”

Where someone starts looking for work is something that really plagued Grayevsky coming out of college. With the help of his recruiting knowledge, he thought of a way to solve the problem of where to begin looking for work.

“Coming out of college, you don’t necessarily have a lot of professional experience, and you don’t necessarily know or really understand where your strengths lie,” said Grayevsky. Having a system that would help communicate the skills and personality traits of young job seekers and promote them to employers would help college students and college grads stand out from the piles of applications employers receive every day.

By combining both Facebook and LinkedIn contacts, Grayevsky wanted to broaden the endorser base for young job seekers everywhere. Endorsers or vouchers can write letters of recommendation as well as select skills and personality traits to help showcase the strengths of young job applicants.

Grayevsky went on to say that when first time job seekers enter job search, they don’t really have a grasp of where their connections lie. This is where Facebook and LinkedIn connections can be powerful components of job search.

But it’s not just college students or college grads that need help. Employers often have a tough time finding the right applicants for their entry-level positions. You can’t be unqualified and overqualified at the same time. If employers had a better system where they can get to know an applicant through common contacts, positive endorsements, and maybe even some person-to-person interaction, more college students and graduates would find themselves working at a job they are genuinely qualified for.

If you’re serious about getting a job, you have to work smarter and use the resources that are right in front of you to make your job search work for you. “New graduates often spend months searching job boards for quality entry-level positions,” said Grayevsky in a press release. “Recent grads don’t realize that they already have an abundance of professional connections within their social network.”

Building relationships with relevant contacts can be tough. Why not use your current networks to continue fortifying your relationships and get closer to finding your first job?

How To Deal With A Bad Reference

How To Deal With A Bad Reference

So, how can you deal with bad references? Here’s what our approved career experts had to say:

Use A Different Reference

“The next time you pursue a job search, you would do well to prepare a list of vetted references, in addition to your letters of recommendation minus hers,” says Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of NextChapterNewLife.com. “The less information you can provide on her the better. You should have one or two managers in that same company you can use as a reference, so the attention is given to them rather than her.”

Finding a different manager not an option? Robin Schlinger of RobinResumes.com suggests using co-workers as references.

You may have had co-workers observe you doing good work when you worked in your previous position, she says. This positive input can help counter the bad reference.

Hire A Reference-Checking Agengy

“There are many [reference-checking agencies] out there including Allison & Taylor, who can make these calls on their behalf,” says Dawn Rasmussen of PathFinderCareers.com. ”Being forewarned is forearmed, and if the feedback eclipses what is legally acceptable to say, then she might have a case against the bad boss.”

Move On

“My advice would be to drop it, do well at your current job, and if you ever decide to make a move, you’ll have a new reference,”  Bruce Hurwitz of HSStaffing.com says. “As for the specific organization where you would ‘love’ to work, network and make contacts there so, perhaps, you’ll have an employee willing to speak up for you.

How To Respectfully Stand Up To Your Boss When You’re Overworked

How To Respectfully Stand Up To Your Boss When You’re Overworked

Lately, I’ve been hearing heard a common theme among many of the senior leaders I coach. They are tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, and overworked. Maybe it’s the time of year, but many of these leaders feel they have little control over how they spend and manage their time since they are regularly responding to “urgent requests” from their executive leadership team.

And, more often than not, these requests are not something they can delegate to their direct reports. As you may be able to understand, they are in fire-fighting mode more often than they want (or need) to be.

So, what can you do to stop the feeling of overwhelm, which leads to the tiredness and frustration? Do you stand up to your boss?

How To Respectfully Stand Up To Your Boss

There are two things you can do to alleviate this situation. First, you must prioritize. Clearly, there are only 24 hours in a day, so you have to be the leader who knows what the priorities are and decide what truly is urgent and what can wait for another time.

Chances are you effectively prioritize for your team, so why not do this for yourself as well. Yes, I know… your boss called and has a new urgent priority that now sits with the four other urgent tasks you were already working on, right? Not everything can be top priority urgent and something must fall below the most urgent of all the urgent priorities.

As the leader you must decide what must shift to make time for the new priority so everything can be done in a quality manner. This often means you need to pushback, which is the second thing you can do to alleviate the sense of overwhelm.

Yes, I said you must pushback on your boss (or whomever is handing out the urgent requests). I know that pushing back on someone at a higher level is not always an easy thing to do. It’s not always easy to confront your boss (or anyone at a higher level than you) when they assign you additional work or a new project; however, continuous urgent requests not only impact your ability to get work completed but also complete it in a quality fashion. So pushing back is often a necessity.

There are three things that you can do to effectively push back on your boss (or whomever is continuing to add urgent tasks to your list).

Choose Your Approach Based On The Person

Are they data-driven? Getting excessive pressures from their leadership? Dealing with their individual set of unrealistic requests? Knowing these things will help you know the best way to approach them.

Next, Use This Knowledge When You Approach Them

For example, if your boss loves data, present him or her with data that supports your need to challenge what he or she is requesting. At the same time, if they are getting excessive pressures from their leadership, present an alternative solution.

For example, perhaps your boss has given you the urgent task of investigating a customer issue. The time it will take for you or your team to handle this will remove resources from another strategic priority your team is working. While you share data that reinforces your limited resources, you can also present an alternative shift in your teams priorities that supports the latest request from your boss, or, ask your boss if the latest request can wait, based on the other urgent priorities your team is working.

The idea is to continue to show support for what your boss needs while at the same time remaining true to what you and your team can realistically accomplish.

Finally, Get Their Perspective While Holding Your Ground

After you present the facts to your boss, allow him or her to share their viewpoint on what you’ve presented. Often times it will take you pushing back a few times before they are able to see your perspective. Remember, they are also dealing with their own feelings of overwhelm so their initial reaction to your confrontation may simply be an acknowledgement but not a shift in the request. That’s why it’s important for you to hold your ground.

If you don’t and continue to take on more and more, eventually something will give and slip through the cracks. Too many times, it’s you and your own physical or emotional health that suffers because you didn’t pull in the reigns. As great a leader as you are, you are not supernatural (and neither is your boss).

Keep things in perspective and remember that success does not happen if you are buried under a pile of folders feeling exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Prioritize and push back to prevent this situation. By consistently doing this, eventually you begin to see your way out from beneath that never-ending list of urgent priorities.

This month’s development tip: Review the current “urgent priorities” on your “to do” list. Is this a manageable/doable list? If not, take the suggestions above and begin prioritizing and pushing back so you can regain control over your time and tasks.

3 Healthy Eating Habits That Will Help Boost Your Productivity

3 Healthy Eating Habits That Will Help Boost Your Productivity

We’ve all been there: No matter how much coffee you’ve pumped into your system, your brain just doesn’t seem to turn on. But why? Turns out your eating habits may be messing with your productivity.

So, want to be more efficient at the office? Try these healthy eating habits:

1. Ditch The Junk Food

Having trouble remembering things you have to do at work? It might be time to layoff the chips. Studies show that the saturated fats in junk food do more than just make you gain weight. It turns out that your memory can be impaired if your daily caloric intake includes lots of fatty foods. Opt for healthier snacks like fruits, vegetables, and proteins instead.

2. Eat Breakfast

Although there could be many reasons why your brain is in slug-mode, one stands out: You didn’t eat breakfast. Yes, you’ve heard it before, but there’s a reason why breakfast is the best meal of the day! Eating breakfast is a great way to stay sharp during the day. Your brain has fuel to run and you are able to concentrate better because of it. Even if you’re extremely productive on the mornings you skip breakfast, lack of fuel can affect your intellectual and physical performance by mid-morning, according to Livestrong.com.

3. Avoid Carbs At Lunch

Hate that 2:30 crash? Maybe you should think twice about eating a sub sandwich or a slice of pizza for lunch. Although carbs give you energy, they also can make you feel tired and unfocused. According to SleepFoundation.org, meals that are rich in carbohydrates will generally make you more sleepy and less alert. So, try opting for more protein in your lunches to keep your workday productive.

4 Reasons To Love The Boss You Hate

4 Reasons To Love The Boss You Hate

Why You Should Love A Boss You Hate

Working for someone you don’t like is the absolute worst. And yet, it can be a great learning experience if you approach it with the right attitude. Here are four reasons you should love the boss you hate:

1. Personal Insight

You can actually learn a lot about yourself in a situation like this. Consider the following questions:

• Why does this person get under your skin?
• What values are being stepped on here?
• How are you possibly contributing to the situation? (Ouch! Don’t skip this question; it will give you amazing insight.)
• What do you really want from a boss? Are you, perhaps, expecting too much?
• What kind of leader would YOU be?

2. Practice

Look, the business world is full of jerks. Consider this great practice for the future. You’re exercising patience and your ability to not take things personally. With practice, it gets easier.

3. Future Wisdom

After working for someone with whom you don’t click, you’ll be on the lookout for a better match in the future. Next time you’re interviewing for a new position, you’ll be more aware of the impact a supervisor has, and you’ll have more understanding of what you want in a boss. Perhaps you’ll see red flags you might have missed before.

4. Opportunity

I know this sounds a little nutty, but that jerk of a boss is giving you a great opportunity. You have the chance to adapt, to implement new strategies and, ultimately, build a bridge in some fashion. It might never be the perfect relationship, but there’s always a chance you can improve things. So, don’t give up! Look for openings to strengthen your partnership. Use your relationship building skills and develop new ones.

Jump Up A Level In Your Career

Jump Up A Level In Your Career

Here’s The Deal

Many, many, MANY people start out in entertainment making a pittance and being otherwise abused, either intentionally or not. Some do unpaid post-graduate internships on movie sets and at small production companies hoping for their big break. Some, such as your self, work in “administrative” positions doing far more than your salary and title indicates.

The Good News

This is a tried and true path to moving up in the industry and, congratulations, you have broken in to your chosen field! Check that step off your list!

The Bad News

It might take a while to make the jump up. Even poorly-paying jobs like yours are sought-after by the thousands wanting to break in behind you and moving up a notch is even more challenging.

Also, you have been at your position less than a year so you will probably have to tough it out at least a few more months, but you can start positioning yourself for the leap now.

The Strategy

Focus on doing the things in your job that either qualify you to move up in your current job or help you land your next job, such as networking and building relationships (both to increase your worth inside this job and to locate your next job), knowing the projects and material and key players out there, getting talent attached to your boss’s projects, creating show bibles, etc.

Do the administrative part of your job only well enough so you don’t risk getting fired.

(Being great at admin won’t get you to the next level, it will only get you more admin work and your boss will be hesitant to let his “stellar assistant” move up.)

And Don’t Forget

Have a current resume ready to go at all times that markets you for your next move. Focus on highlighting victories in the above areas, not the day-to-day admin. Don’t be hesitant to tell people you are looking for your next step and to submit yourself for open jobs.

(If it gets back to your boss, you will say you need more money and you want an opportunity to move up. He or she will understand and may even give you the chance rather than risk losing you.)

The Bottom Line

This is advice you can use throughout your career each time you are ready to move up. Start doing the job above you. It’s the quickest, surest way to success in any field.

Telephone use and issues in your job search

Making calls: reasons, etiquette and effectiveness

Reasons

Your job search will involve telephone calls for various purposes, as precursors and follow-ups to written (including e-mail) correspondence. Purposes may include:

• Confirming names, spelling, title, address and other information for prospective contacts prior to writing a letter.

• Following-up a letter or e-mail to arrange a visit, ask for further information, explore future employment possibilities, follow-ups to interviews, etc.

• And, if you're lucky, employers will call you. See receiving calls from employers.

• You may be interviewed, or at least screened for interviews, through telephone calls. See telephone interviews.

Etiquette

• Be courteous to everyone with whom you speak. Never treat support personnel in a disrespectful manner; the person you are trying to impress will hear about it, and no one wants to hire people who behave rudely to anyone.

• Identify yourself, stating your first and last name clearly. Be clear about the purpose of your call. Make reference to any previous contact, conversation, meeting, etc., to remind the person why you are calling. Don't assume the person remembers you right away. Even if he or she does remember you, a brief reintroduction of yourself is a business and social courtesy.

• Ask if this is a convenient time to talk. And indicate approximately how much time you are requesting, as in "Would you have just a few minutes to chat?" or "Could I take five minutes of your time?" If you want to talk to someone at length — e.g. to conduct an informational interview, etc. — you should ask to schedule a mutually convenient time for a phone appointment. Then you make the call at the agreed-upon time and stay within the limits of the time set. Notice that asking "are you busy?" is NOT the same thing as asking if this is a convenient time to talk (and can be annoying). Most people ARE busy, but may still be willing to speak with you (or likely would not have answered the phone). Note also that saying "I have a quick question," is irrelevant to the expected length of the phone conversation; a quick question may require a lengthy answer, and thus you are asking a large favor of the person you are calling.

• When leaving messages, SLOW DOWN when you state your phone number and your first and last name. DON'T make your listener have to replay the message three times in order to write down your number; very annoying; and s/he may give up and therefore not return your call.

Effectiveness

An employer will be more receptive to you if you can help the employer meet their organizational needs, rather than if you are asking the employer to do something for you.

Your goal is to start a conversation in which you gain information which will help in your job search. The employer is more likely to engage in that conversation if you seem like a problem-solver, and especially if you seem like an answer to the employer's needs.

• In asking for information, wherever possible, use open ended questions or statements about your interests and what you have to offer rather than questions which are likely to be answered with "yes" or "no." The best statements show you've done your research.
Examples:
Weak: "Will you have any openings in June?"
Better, not best: "I’m interested in learning about your hiring plans for management trainees this summer."
Best: "I read on your website about your management training program and have followed all the procedures to apply online. I wanted you to know I am flexible on location and plan to attend your information session next month. I'm very enthusiastic about the program and hoped to ask you a few questions at a time convenient to you.

• Do NOT ask questions that you could easily find answered on the employer's website. You'll risk looking lazy or unintelligent or both (or that you don't know how to use Internet resources). Asking someone else to take time and do work for you can also be viewed as arrogant (even if that is not your intent).

• Your voice: Remember that tone of voice carries a lot of weight in a telephone conversation.

• You don't have facial expressions, body language, and other non-verbal elements coming through in a phone conversation. Smiling while you speak on the phone can help your voice sound more pleasant.

• Ask friends (who will tell you the truth) how you sound on the phone. They know you, but an employer doesn't. Do you sound cordial or aloof, articulate or fumbling, interested or gloomy?

• Practice how you speak on the phone. You can record and listen to yourself through a practice interview, specifically Interview Stream.

• Seek advising through Career Services if you want coaching or assistance or have more detailed questions on this topic.

Cell phone issues related to your job search

A telephone conversation is a private conversation between the parties to the phone call. Unfortunately, cell phone use has led many people to conduct phone conversations as a form of public performance. This is annoying and discourteous to others and to the person to whom you are ostensibly speaking by phone.

Additionally since cell phones are typically available any time, any place, users often neglect common rules of courtesy to those with whom they are physically present in person.

Listing your cell phone number for employers:

• For most students it's your primary phone, so it's logical to place this number on your resume and on your e-mail signature block; do make sure it's a reliable place to receive your calls and messages.

Answering cell phone calls:

• DON'T answer it if you are not in an environment appropriate to receive business calls (noisy surroundings, competing conversations from others, etc.).
• Under no circumstances should you interrupt a conversation with an employer — interview or other — to receive a cell phone call.
This is one of the worst etiquette breaches you can commit.

Receiving calls from employers

Once your job search begins, your telephone becomes a business tool. Be prepared to receive calls:

• Clean up your voice mail. Make it clear, brief and to the point so the employer knows she is reaching the correct number. Employers are busy and don't need to listen to a lengthy message. No cleverness with messages.

• Timing: If an employer catches you at an inconvenient time and you can't speak, don't hesitate to politely explain this and offer to call back at a time convenient to the employer.

Leaving messages | when employers don't return your calls

If you are initiating a contact with an employer, don't assume or expect that the employer will return your call. Remember that in calling, you are likely asking the employer to do you a favor; if your call does not serve the employer's needs, and if the employer is busy (most people are), the employer may have no need or desire to call you back. This does not mean the individual you called is not a nice person; there are just many factors determining whether a call-back may happen. Some may hinge on the needs of the organization; some may hinge on the nature and manner of your call or message.

You may need to leave a message, and call again a week later, or do some other form of follow-up.

• When leaving messages, enunciate clearly. State your full name and give your phone number slowly. (Your contact won't be thrilled about needing to replay your message three times in order to understand your phone number.)

• If someone with whom you have had contact does not return your call, try again in a week. S/he may have a planned or unplanned circumstance that prevents a response.

• Keep in mind that most working people are not constantly available to take calls and do have other work to take care of. Don't always expect an instant return of your call.

• If you and your contact are trying to reach each other in a short time-span, this would be an exception to the "wait a week" advice. You might be playing phone-tag to reach one another; but this would be agreed upon.

• You can leave an e-mail address where you can be reached; enunciate it carefully. However, unless the person has a strong desire to reach you, s/he is unlikely to e-mail you in response to a phone message; most likely you want something from the employer and it is incumbent upon you to make most of the effort to connect. Better: indicate in your phone message that you will follow up with an e-mail; this alerts the employer to notice your e-mail and perhaps give that attention (depending upon the quality of your phone message and your e-mail presentation).

• Indicate best times to reach you if it is important that you speak directly with someone. However, don't assume that the best times for you are the best times for the employer. Even people who put in long work hours have lives away from work.

• If your calls are never returned, try another means of contact (e-mail, letter, etc.) or try someone else in the organization. If no one responds to you over an extended time, this is telling you something about the organization and/or your means of contact.

3 Things You Should Know Before Contacting A Recruiter

3 Things You Should Know Before Contacting A Recruiter

Considering contacting a recruiter to find out about executive or leadership jobs in your field? Many job hunters assume forging connections with recruiters will put them closer to lucrative, high-level positions that aren’t otherwise advertised.

However, a successful recruiter-job seeker relationship doesn’t just happen. It’s important to understand the relationship among all involved parties (the recruiter, company, and you), get your resume in top shape, and to be ready to deal with potential objections.

3 Things To Know Before Contacting A Recruiter

These tips will help you prepare to work effectively with a recruiter—with better results from the relationship and a faster outcome for your job search:

1. Recruiters Often Source Candidates Who’ve Been There, Done That

Career professionals and executives that have followed a straight-line, traditional career trajectory (and very few job changes) are the best candidates for working with a recruiter.

The reason? Recruiters are hired by companies to identify talent among leaders who can demonstrate commitment to a specific type of career or skill set, with steady advancement toward a senior-level role in their particular field.

Therefore, if you’re trying to switch between one job type to another, or you’ve hopped among different employers frequently, you’ll often fare better by contacting employers directly.

2. A Recruiter’s Mission Is To Focus On Their Client’s Needs

What many job hunters fail to grasp is that recruiter job orders often contain specific detail on the background, education, career history, and competencies  of the ideal candidate.

Depending upon the recruiter’s relationship with their clients, they may not be able to convince the company to take a chance on your background—especially if it’s not in line with these requirements.

A recruiter must not only be comfortable with the strength of your credentials, but confident that you represent a true personality and leadership fit within their client companies. After all, the recruiter’s professional reputation (and future commissions) are riding on their ability to supply the all-around perfect candidate.

3. Your Resume Must Be Ready To Present To Their Clients

Too often, job seekers dash off a resume to recruiters that undercuts their abilities—making it difficult for the recruiter to promote the job hunter as a viable candidate.

If your leadership resume hasn’t had a review from colleagues or a resume professional, it can be worth your time to request a critique or suggestions. Some recruiters even refer their clients to career coaches that can elicit a strong brand message on the resume.

Others can often see qualities in your background that you’re too close to realize, and their recommendations can make the difference in the response you receive from a recruiter.

As a job hunting method, working with recruiters can be very effective, but only if you go in with an awareness of your role, fitness as a candidate, and realistic expectations.

5 Things To Think Twice About Before An Interview

5 Things To Think Twice About Before An Interview

The best advice I ever received was from an executive uncle of mine. He told me that you need to take an objective look at yourself and remove all of the potential negatives, no matter how you may feel about them. He was referring to my facial hair at the time, I’d grown partial to mustaches, and I had a big interview coming.

It was tough for me to take the razor to my ‘stache, but I got what I wanted in the end and landed a solid gig with a reputable company. Not because of the clean shaven face, mind you, though that helped. I found that once I’d removed the negatives, I could focus on the positives and gain confidence.

Here are a few things to think twice about before an interview:

1. Updating Your Resume

Take a look at your resume before you even start applying. If you have an interview tomorrow, don’t bother changing your resume now as it will look disingenuous, but there is still time for those on the search. What are the negatives you’re looking for?

• Any poorly stated accomplishments that don’t support the objectives of the position you want.
• Any irrelevant past positions, even if you can explain why you took these jobs.
• Any dates that do not coincide with publicly available data.

If the employer does follow up on your resume, one of the first things this person should see is your LinkedIn profile. The advantage being that you can provide a more detailed history of your work for public review. The chronological format is best for most cases, but employers also want to know what you bring to the table. Opt for the functional format when experience trumps the positions you have held. Do a search for yourself and buy a domain name for your name or based on your name.

2. Grooming

Shaving my mustache was a win-win. I felt more confident, having eliminated something a potential employer may find unattractive, and I grew my facial hair back after I got the position. Get your hair cut, press your clothes, and shave (if you’re a male). Women should wear a simple, conservative hairstyle. Straight down or up in a bun will work, ponytails are also great. Remember that how you look can distract from what you’re saying, so groom accordingly.

3. Clothing

Both sexes should wear a conservative outfit in most business settings. For women, this can equate to a blouse and knee-length skirt. Typically, a suit jacket and slacks for men will be enough, with a tie to complete the look. It is also in your best interest to learn how to tie a tie, should the need arise elsewhere. Shoes should be dress, with women going no higher than a mid-heel shoe. Jeans are usually a no-go, even really nice ones.

This is also dependent on company culture and what you know before-hand. If you are up for a position in the fashion industry, for instance, you might be expected to show off your tastes at the interview.

4. Commuting

Google Maps is a great resource for getting an idea of commute time and route. If you have a few days leading up to the interview, check the traffic during the times you plan to leave. Traffic is a huge concern for major cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Allow yourself enough time in the morning to prepare, going to sleep extra early the night before. A 9-10 PM bedtime will usually work, but everyone is different.

5. Smoking

If you smoke, switch to an electronic cigarette a day or two before. There is really no downside for you:

• It gets rid of the smell, a potential turn off for employers.
• You still get the same Nicotine effects.
• It’s only one day, and you might get paid to do it (if you get the job).

Who knows, you may find out you prefer the e-cigs, but the point is that you’ll have removed a huge potential negative.

Once these hang-ups are gone, you’re free to pursue the job you want with a confident state of mind and swagger to your step.

5 Ways To Instantly Improve Your Job Search Results

5 Ways To Instantly Improve Your Job Search Results

By now, you’ve probably learned that the traditional ways of job searching don’t work anymore. A few years ago, you could put your resume up on Monster and CareerBuilder, and wait for the phone to ring. Those days are gone. So, here are five things you can easily do that will quickly improve your job search results:

1. Scan Your Resume For 15 seconds

That’s exactly what an employer will do, so if you don’t get a clear message about what you can do for them, then it is not a good resume. Since this is the most important document in your career, make the investment and have a good resume professionally prepared. Check out my FREE 10-point checklist on how to choose a resume writing service. (But be careful as there are many scams and mediocre providers out there.)

2. Focus On The High-Return Job Efforts

Job boards have less than a 5% effectiveness rate while networking has over a 50% effectiveness rate. Start by selecting 10 to 30 companies where you would love to work. Do a company search on LinkedIn and identify the decision makers and their staff.

Then, see who you know who might know someone who can make an introduction for you. Follow the company and people on LinkedIn and Facebook, join their groups and conversations, and comment on their blogs and become known. This is how you move from a passive wait for the right job to appear on the job boards to an active job seeker targeting the kinds of positions you really want.

3. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

If a recruiter was searching through LinkedIn to find people for the position you are seeking, would you show up? Try it and if you are not on the first or second page, go back to your profile and pepper it with the right keywords to get yourself a higher ranking. A simple trick is to look at the profiles of the people who rank well and follow some of the things they did.

4. Review Your Online Presence

88% of employers will Google your name to see more about you. Make sure you look good on LinkedIn (100% complete profile), review your activity in Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and any other online account. Take down or change any comments that reflect poorly upon you. Use your own blog, online exchanges and testimonials to showcase your professional knowledge.

5. Create Measurable Goals

Searching for a job is like any other project and you must stay disciplined, so set firm goals for yourself. For example, “I will make 10 networking calls and have two meetings per week.” Make sure you are focusing on high-impact efforts like networking versus job board submissions. Keep a record of your efforts so if an employer calls, you can quickly determine when and how they were contacted.

6 Warning Signs That You’re In The Wrong Job

6 Warning Signs That You’re In The Wrong Job

For some people, it is blatantly obvious they are in the wrong job. They just know that they hate their job, their company, their colleagues, or all of these aspects. In most cases, these people have either resigned themselves to a life or misery or they are actively seeking to change the situation.

For many people though, being in the wrong job is less clear cut. They might have a nagging doubt but it is likely that they have just pushed this to the back of their minds. If this sounds like you, then take a look at these warning signs that you’re in the wrong job and see how many you identify with.

1. You get that horrible feeling in your stomach on Sunday evenings.

Now, I know that most people don’t look forward to Monday mornings back in the office, but believe it or not, having a sick feeling in your stomach on Sunday evenings is not normal! Your body is trying to tell you something, so listen to it.

2. You are becoming a clock watcher.

For you, time probably passes really slowly at work. An hour can seem like a day and you probably lose count of the number of times that you look at your watch or the big dreary clock on the office wall.

From time to time we may all get bored at work. In the main though, if we are in the right job, we are often engaged, motivated, and caught up in the moment. In fact, time can actually pass exceptionally quickly when you are really focused on a piece of work or job task. If you never experience this sensation, then what does this say about your job?

3. You are jealous of every other person’s job.

When you are in the wrong job, you will start fantasising about being in other jobs. You will even start to imagine yourself in jobs that would normally seem deadly dull. It could be that you are envious of a delivery man’s freedom or maybe you are jealous of the opportunities staff have for creativity in your nearby coffee shop. This is understandable since the grass always seems greener on the other side, but would you really normally dream about doing these types of jobs if you weren’t so unhappy with your current situation?

4. You have classic signs of anxiety that keep coming back.

Being in the wrong job can be stressful and cause an emotional strain for our bodies. This is because everyone has a unique personality type that dictates behavior preferences, so when we have to carry out job duties that conflict with our ‘preferences,’ this conflict can create anxiety and stress. How this will manifest itself will depend but classic symptoms include headaches, stomach aches, tight chest, higher levels of perspiration, and difficulty sleeping well.

Take a good look at the responsibilities in your job – do you enjoy these or do you feel out of your depth? Do you have to perform duties that make you feel uncomfortable for a lot of the time? These are all signs that you are probably in a job that is not a good fit for your personality, and is therefore not the right job for you.

5. You cannot relate to your colleagues or members of your team.

Sometimes, people are in the wrong job. Other times, they are actually just in the wrong organisation. If your values are in conflict with the company culture, it is likely that you will find it increasingly difficult to relate to the ‘mantra’ that your colleagues believe in. Perhaps their suggestions seem morally or ethically wrong? Or is it that they seem to have their priorities the wrong way round?

If you feel in the minority, then this could be a sign that you are working in the wrong culture and need to get out and find a company that better aligns with your personal values.

6. Even if they doubled your salary, you would still want out.

If you are still left feeling cold about your job, even in a scenario where they offered to double your salary, then it is likely that you are severely lacking job satisfaction.  This takes many forms – sometimes it is a lack of work, too much work or just the wrong type of work. If you don’t get pleasure from the things you do at work and you allow this to continue, this can end up causing you unhappiness in your personal life as well.