Do Your Detective Work—BEFORE the Interview!

You know what kind of job you want. A sales associate. An office manager. A legal secretary.

Whichever position suits your personality and skills, you’ll have a better chance of landing it if you do a little detective work––before the interview. Learn as much as you can about the company, its goals, as well as products and services. Then during the interview, you’ll be ready to ask good questions, and to show how and why you’re ideal for the job.

How To Research

1. Visit the company’s web site to find out about its day-to-day business, employee benefits, mission statement, and customer service.
2. Consult the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers or other source at your public library to be sure the firm has a solid reputation.
3. Make a list of items you’re interested in learning more about, including: history, financial stability, plans for growth.
4. Call the personnel department and ask for a brochure and other material that will help you decide whether this is the right company for you.
5. Read magazines such as Fortune, Business Week, and Wall Street Journal to learn more about the organization.
6. Google the company, look for job seeker forums and posts to get a feel for a particular business.

Take Care of Yourself

The more you know ahead of time, the better you’ll feel before, during, and after the interview. And think about what a boost you’ll give the interviewer. People who are prepared, peaceful, and professional are those most likely to win the job. So do your detective work and you’ll be among them!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new "Secret Career Document" job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
Visit our friends at Job Interview "Secret" and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.

Do Your Detective Work—BEFORE the Interview! is a post from: Free Career Advice

What’s an Employer Really Looking For in Your Resume?

Most job-seekers write their resumes with one thing in mind—themselves! They toot their own horn so loud the interviewer is blown away by the sound. The "I did this" and "I achieved that" approach is important, of course. The hiring manager wants to know what you’ve accomplished in your previous line of work and how you can benefit his or her company in the new position.

Reading Between the Lines

BUT—he or she is also looking for some intuitive abilities that a potential employee can express on the job without every detail being spelled out. This means the new hire should be able to anticipate and sense problems and challenges and be able to meet them instinctively.

For example, suppose you hope to be hired as an administrative assistant to the president of a financial corporation. You have computer skills, an ability to organize corporate data, you’re capable of keeping the filing system up-to-date, and you’re ready to field phone calls and e-mails for the executive without being told.

Beyond the Job Description

These skills look good on paper, but for your resume to move to the top of the pile, include a few sentences that state what else you can do that may not appear in the job description. Example: Able to chair a meeting of corporate executives when the president is unexpectedly detained or called away on emergency business; able to trouble-shoot with customers on the phone, keeping the president free of time-consuming entanglements; able to stimulate essential communication between employees in other departments and then report back the findings to the president.

An employee of real value is one who not only meets the requirements for the job, as described, but goes beyond them, delivering both practical help and heart-felt support that call for intuition and attentiveness.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Resume Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Visit our friends at Amazing Resume Creator for your "instant" resume today. "In just 10 minutes flat you will have an amazing resume guaranteed to land you more hot job interviews next week.

What’s an Employer Really Looking For in Your Resume? is a post from: Free Career Advice

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The ‘Cat’s Out of the Bag’… Top Three Interview Secrets

Be prepared.
Be yourself.
Be attentive.

What’s so ’secret’ about these precepts that surely everyone knows? The secret is that few people live by them when it comes to landing a job interview. Many job hunters follow these instead:

Protect your emotions.
Protect your privacy.
Protect your rights.

In other words, their focus is all about them, rather than on what could occur if they were warm, friendly, and honest about who they are and what they can bring to the job.

Follow the first three and look forward to something great.

Secret #1:  Be Prepared

Take time before the interview to put yourself and your resume in order. Plan to dress professionally. Have copies of your resume available in case you meet more than one interviewer. Jot down a few notes regarding your successes, your solutions to problems, even your failures—as well as what you learned from them and how you applied that knowledge to other challenges.

Secret #2:  Be Yourself

As long as you tell the truth in words and behavior you’ll never have to cover your backside. People will know who you are and what they can expect from you. This tactic will also inspire others to be themselves with you. Authentic people working with authentic people can accomplish amazing things in a short amount of time. So express yourself rather than trying to impress others with words and actions that don’t fit your personality. Hiring managers are on the lookout for open-faced, friendly individuals who are quick to shake hands, ask pertinent work-related questions, and show enthusiasm for the tasks associated with the job. They’ll also want to know what new and worthwhile abilities you can bring to the company, so think about that too.

Secret #3: Be Attentive

It’s easy to be distracted when you’re nervous or anxious about what’s coming at you. The best antidote is attentive listening. Look the interviewer in the eye. Take in what he or she is saying and how it relates to you. When it’s time to respond, sit forward and speak up. Keep your hands in your lap so you won’t be tempted to fiddle with your tie or scarf or the buttons on your jacket. The best gift anyone can give another person is time and attention.

As you prepare for your next job interview, keep these secrets in mind. Then put them into practice and see where they lead—straight to the job you most desire.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new “Secret Career Document” job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”

Visit our friends at Job Interview “Secret” and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.

The ‘Cat’s Out of the Bag’… Top Three Interview Secrets is a post from: Free Career Advice

How to Write a Positive Cover Letter Quick and Easy

Many job-seekers miss the opportunity to get past first base when it comes to landing the job of their dreams. What holds them back? A negative attitude reflected in their cover letter to potential employers.

Negative Thoughts Lead to Negative Actions!

They may feel bitter about how their former employment ended, or angry toward a previous business colleague, or hurt by an experience with a boss. Negativity, however, drains energy, shuts down healthy emotions, and keeps one stuck. Even if you don’t complain outright, a hiring manager can pick up a bad attitude by reading between the lines.

You can overcome this block by looking up, walking on the sunny side of the street, finding good things to say about yourself and others, and trusting that everything works out for the best—even when you can’t yet see the outcome.

Therefore, replace your negative thoughts with positive ones, even when you don’t feel like it. Then write a cover letter that sparkles with possibility and ‘positivity’ and see how the very act itself can transform your attitude.

Following are some positive ways to frame your cover letter so a hiring manager will sit up and take notice—and then contact you for an interview that could lead to the job you’ve been dreaming about.

Positively, Absolutely!

•    Thank you for posting your opening for a position in management on JobSearchersDream.com. This is the exact position I’m looking for and I’d love the opportunity to interview for it.

•    I’ve heard nothing but encouraging comments from two of your employees about the excellent working conditions at ABC Enterprises. It would be an honor to join your family of employees.

•    I am eager to meet with you in person to discuss what you’re looking for in an administration assistant. I believe I’m an excellent match for this position and would like to interview for this opening.
•    Based on my performance at my previous employment I can assure you that I will bring to this job enthusiasm, experience, and excellence.

Think and ACT positively. Employers respond to enthusiasm and positivity!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, “Amazing Cover Letter Creator.” Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”

Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your “instant” cover letter today. “In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!”

How to Write a Positive Cover Letter Quick and Easy is a post from: Free Career Advice

Kick off the New Year with an Amazing Cover Letter

It’s that time again—time to usher in a brand new year. No matter what you did or didn’t do in the past, you can turn the calendar page and begin again. Start your job search fresh with a cover letter that will result in an interview for the career you’ve dreamed about.

Even in a tight economy, people are being hired every day. You can be one of them. Businesses need qualified individuals who are professionally trained, experienced, and ready to step into a wide range of jobs—from A to Z.

Blow away the competition this year with a unique cover letter that commands attention.

Adopt a Winning Strategy

A well-crafted job search cover letter has three tried and true ingredients and you can include them in your letter as easily as anyone else. Here they are, yours for the taking.

Make it SHORT:  Thank you for posting your need for a bookkeeper on CareerJimmy.com. With five years of experience in this field for my previous employer, I feel well qualified to fill this position and would welcome the opportunity to interview.

Keep it SIMPLE:  I’ve received two company awards for my skills and performance. I understand the importance of taking responsibility for the job assigned, holding myself accountable to my superiors, and being a team player with my co-workers.

Be SINCERE:  I would love the opportunity to interview for this position. I want to learn more about your excellent company and then show you how I can do my part to help achieve your goals.

Help employers do their work by putting your name and experience in front of them.

Think of the hiring manager as a good friend, joining you for lunch after a round of golf or a workout at the gym. Keep your writing short, simple, and sincere and you will be noticed.

Avoid a Losing Strategy

Notice the difference between the previous examples and this one that is filled with clutter, confusion, and camouflage…

“Regarding your posted listing on CareerJimmy.com I am taking time today to respond to that listing in hopes that you will take some time to consider me for the job of bookkeeper, given that I have five years of doing this type of work for the employer I used to work for before I saw your listing. I hope you will decide to interview me, although I realize there are other people hoping to win this job. If you want I can provide you with more information about my qualifications. Just ask. Please consider me for this job. I have been unemployed for the past six months and need to get to work soon.”

Salute the New Year!

Read your cover letter aloud—preferably to someone you trust for honest feedback. Then kick the clutter, confusion, and camouflage off the page! And turn to short, simple, and sincere. Be yourself. That’s the person a hiring manager is eager to meet. When you hear your unique voice on the page, you’ll know you’re there.

Then lift your glass and tip your hat to the New Year with expectation and excitement. It’s going to be a great 2010 for you, perhaps one that will change your life and career in ways you’ve never imagined. And all because you took the time to write an amazing job search cover letter that will have a future employer raising his glass to yours (and inviting you in for a job interview).

Happy New Year and happy job hunting!

_______________________________________________________________________

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career-related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job-Search Secrets.”

Visit Jimmy on the web at Amazing Cover Letters.com for your ‘instant’ cover letter today. In just three and a half minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!

Kick off the New Year with an Amazing Cover Letter is a post from: Free Career Advice

Ring in the New Year with a GREAT Job Interview

While most people are sipping champagne and nibbling on caviar or dipping veggies on New Year’s Eve you can be thinking about what 2010 will be about for you. Enjoy lifting your glass with friends, but remain focused on your goal—to land a terrific interview for a fabulous new job.

Start planning now by asking yourself the following questions—and then answering them as honestly as you can.

1. What position do I want?
2. What kind of company do I hope to work for?
3. What am I qualified to do based on my training, education, and experience?
4. What can I bring to the company that will make a difference?
5. What are my expectations regarding the company I choose?

Remember: A Great Interview Starts With You

Today’s hiring manager is as interested in who you are as in your professional accomplishments—maybe more so. Dependability, integrity, trustworthiness, and kindness toward fellow employees and management are all part of the ‘package.’ So don’t be shy about showing your true self, the kind of person who will not only get the job done but also one who will come alongside co-workers to solve problems and cast a vision for the future.

No Room for Fear in the New Year

Become your own best advocate. Look in the mirror and remind yourself out loud how capable, caring, and committed you are. “You’re great with people.” “You can handle problems in a calm and cool manner.” “People look to you for solutions.”

Take time to write down a few personal anecdotes that illustrate these points. When did you handle a work-related problem without losing your cool? What prompted you to come up with a solution to a sticky situation? If you received a promotion or an award at a previous employment, what prompted such an event?

Then go over the description of the job you hope to land and visualize yourself performing the required tasks and succeeding at each one. This will give you the confidence you need to speak up during the interview on your own behalf. Be ready to mention specifics such as how you handled day-to-day operations, fielded customer service requests, or made important decisions. Weave your stories into the conversation and in response to questions asked.

And last, check your emotions. If you’re feeling jazzed, then you’re ready to step into an interview. If you’re a bit wobbly, select a different position to respond to, one that matches your emotional level at this time.

And remember my “4 P’s” to a successful job search: Be Patient, Pro-Active, Persistent and Positive. And always remember to follow up all leads, you automatically DOUBLE your chances for success!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new “Secret Career Document” job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”

Visit our friends at Job Interview “Secret” and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.

Ring in the New Year with a GREAT Job Interview is a post from: Free Career Advice

Deck the Hall With a Stellar Job Interview!

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the holiday buzz––shopping, decorating, gift-wrapping, over-eating, and entertaining. To avoid going over the edge, take time for some rest and reflection. Think through your goals for the new year. Then make a list, and check it twice!

I If finding new employment is on that list, remember that every great job starts with a great interview! So plan now to take stock of yourself, your presentation, your ability to express yourself, your standards for the company you work for. Use the week between Christmas and New Year’s to take strategic steps to insure a bright future.

Interviews Don’t Just Happen!

They begin and end with you––even though a man or woman is sitting across from you in an office. Keep in mind that today’s hiring manager is more interested in who you are as a person than who you are as a professional. Something called ‘behavior-based’ interviewing is becoming the norm.

Employers are looking at a candidate’s past performance as a predictor of future behavior. They are not only interested in your background and experience, but also in the way you treat others and how you interact with a team or department employees, and how you’ve handled sticky situations that called for logic and leadership.

Truth or Consequences

Following are some of the hard-edged questions and directives you might receive in a behavior-based interview.

1. Give me an example of a specific time you took charge of a situation that was out of control.
2. What goal have you set in a workplace and how did you achieve it?
3. How have you performed above and beyond the requirement of the job you held?
4. Provide an example of how you bailed yourself and others out of what appeared to be a hopeless situation.
5. What specifically have you done to alleviate a problem with a difficult co-worker or superior?

Expect to provide details, dialogue, and a description of what occurred and how it was resolved.

A New Year Without Fear

Give worry a good swift kick. Stand in front of a mirror and speak positive words to yourself. "You are a good manager." "You are the one people turn to in a tough situation." "Care more about people than problems." "Believe in yourself." "You are admired."

Next, jot down a few personal stories that illustrate situations and times when you successfully resolved conflict, stood up for the truth despite criticism, or used your creativity to negotiate a challenging relationship. Then go over the job description to get a feel for the requirements, standards, and expectations of the person who is hired. Picture yourself on the job, handling day-to-day operations, fielding calls, making decisions, and dealing with co-workers.

Finally, check your emotional pulse. If you’re smiling and feeling comfortable and well suited to such a job, then go for it. If you feel stressful, confused, or overwhelmed, consider setting this opportunity aside and going for another one that is a better match for your skills and strengths.

Equipped with practical insight and emotional clarity such as this, you can walk into any interview and establish a good rapport with the hiring manager.

Afterwards, all that’s left is the question only you can ask and answer for yourself. "Is this the job for me?"

Happy Holiday and happy job-hunting!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new "Secret Career Document" job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Visit our friends at Job Interview "Secret" and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.

Deck the Hall With a Stellar Job Interview! is a post from: Free Career Advice

Incredible Job Interview Techniques

You received the call. You’ve been invited to show up for a job interview—the one you hoped you’d get. So now what?

More Than a Smile and a Warm Handshake

Like most experiences in life, interviewing for a job—especially for one you really want––is a skill. The more you think about it, prepare for it, and actually do it, the more accomplished you’ll become. The tendency is to focus on yourself—your voice, your outfit, your resume, your experience. However, it’s not really about you. It’s really about your potential employer and how you can fit the position he or she wants to fill.

Therefore, consider the following three incredible job interview techniques and then put them to work for you.

1. Come well prepared––meaning know enough about the company and the job you desire, that you can speak intelligently, asking and answering questions related to the topic, and showing the employer how you can contribute to the company’s success and growth through your skills, leadership, and talent.

2. Provide specific examples—meaning avoid speaking in generalities when asked about the work you did for your former employer. Be specific. "I hired and trained five new employees and oversaw their performance for the first six months of probation, then evaluated each one before they were employed permanently." OR "I took charge of cutting our yearly budget by 30% and achieved this goal by eliminating office clutter—paper files, outdated equipment, and unnecessary phone calls––as well as folding the duties of two part-time jobs into one full-time position."
3. Focus on the hiring manager––meaning take note of his or her body language, conversation, mood, attitude, and demeanor. You can move the interview in your favor by being more interested in what he or she is communicating than in what you are saying. Of course you need to answer questions clearly and pointedly, but avoid being so caught up in your own words that you overlook what the hiring manager is communicating to you. Keep in mind that people who are interested in others are interesting to others!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new "Secret Career Document" job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Visit our friends at Job Interview "Secret" and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.

Incredible Job Interview Techniques is a post from: Free Career Advice

Great Cover Letters Lead to Great Job Interviews

Searching for a job? Moving in a new direction? Changing professions?   Take this step to win that interview for your dream job. Spend more time and energy writing cover letters that are job-specific.

Go the Extra Mile

Having a degree or work experience in business administration or accounting or nursing is not enough. You must show the hiring manager your specific job-related abilities, leadership strengths, and communication skills across the board. Being able to work with a variety of people, respond to crises, and meet unexpected challenges are now more important than ever. Because if you can’t, someone else will. In today’s tight job market, hiring managers have the advantage. So you must show them why they need you!

Use Proven Methods

How can you do this? "By using tried and true professional job-search tools," says California-based Karen P. O’Connor, professional writer and career expert.

Take seriously the importance of writing what she calls "a sizzling cover letter––one that captures the hiring manager’s imagination with a great headline, [THREE-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD WINNER SEEKING A POSITION AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER] job-specific details, [trained and retained more customer service representatives in my first five years than at any time in the company's history] a clear understanding of the company’s objectives, [I am eager to show by my actions your objective that customers come first.] and how you can fill those needs competently and with commitment [I welcome the opportunity to prove myself to you.]"

Be Sure to ASK For What You Want

Close the letter, O’Connor suggests, "by asking for what you want. ‘May I come in for an interview?’ or ‘I’d appreciate meeting you in person to talk further.’"

Searching for a job may be more challenging now than it was even two or three years ago but every day men and women are interviewed and hired to fill the openings that exist. You can be one of them. "Start with a great cover letter, keep an open mind, and focus on gratitude," says O’Connor, "as you anticipate your new job. It will come."

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career-related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job-Search Secrets.”

Visit Jimmy on the web at Amazing Cover Letters for your ‘instant’ cover letter today. In just three and a half minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!

Great Cover Letters Lead to Great Job Interviews is a post from: Free Career Advice