The ONE Question That Can Ruin Your Interview

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

If you’re job searching, sooner or later you’re going to have to sit through some interviews. I recently read an article about the ONE question that if answered improperly can destroy your chances at winning the job. What is that question, you ask? And how do I answer it properly?

According to the article your best bet is to answer it honestly, which of course shouldn’t really need to be said.

Preparation is a key element in acing an interview. My recommendation to you is this, think about the questions you’ve been asked in past interviews and come up with good answers. Get comfortable with the questions and with your answers, including the ONE.

To read the article about The One Question That Can Ruin Your Interview click here.

 

 

 

Job Searching In The Age Of Social Media

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

Not that long ago social media consisted of people getting in touch with old friends, staying in touch with family and joining clubs or groups of people that shared similar interests.

Today it’s all that and more.

There was a time when you didn’t have to worry about what you said on your Facebook page or the pictures that got posted of the wild party where you were wearing a lampshade and little else.

In today’s world things are different. Employers Google you and search out your Facebook page. If they don’t like what they see, then your résumé could end up in the trash can.

Does this mean you should deactivate your Facebook account? NO! That’s really not necessary. What is necessary is to adjust your privacy settings. Simply make sure that only certain people have access to your more personal information and posts on Facebook.

The reality of our world is that you need to have a Web Presence. That includes Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn and Twitter. Do you have to have all of them? Probably not.

For job searching the main one you really need is LinkedIn. You need to have a complete profile on LinkedIn. Why? Because more and more employers are using that tool to find their new hires. I recently read an article that stated 85% of employers found 69% of their most recent hires through LinkedIn.

Today, and in the future, I’m sure it will be even more important for job seekers to have computer skills.

You don’t have to like computers but you do need to learn to use them and the social media platforms associated with them.

Five Easy Ways To Mess Up Your Interview

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

Here are five of the most common mistakes interviewees make:

1.    Arriving late – employers figure if you can’t get to the interview on time you probably won’t get to work on time.

2.    Failing to research the company – virtually every interviewer is going to ask you, “Why do you want to work for us?” You need a good answer. If you don’t know anything about the company, coming up with a good answer is going to be very difficult.

3.    Lying about your experience or education – sooner or later the truth will come out and most likely lead to you being fired.

4.    Shaking hands too weakly or too firmly – no one wants a limp fish and by the same token, no one wants their hand crushed. In addition, clasping the other person’s hand with both of yours could be considered a power play.

5.    Wearing sunglasses – we live in Florida, for cryin’ out loud, everyone wears sunglasses. Yes, however, as you enter the building for your interview, take the sunglasses off and put them away. That does not mean, put them on top of your head or around your neck. It means put them away so they are out of sight.

For more great information on the dos and don’ts of interviewing attend Interviewing Skills for the 21^st Century offered at your local Flagler-Volusia County One-Stop.

 

 

 

 

 

How to Handle Those Last Days

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

There are still people out there being downsized, laid off, or whatever euphemism is being used this week to describe letting someone go because the company can’t financially afford to keep them any longer.

Should you find yourself in that position, here is something you might want to keep in mind.

Your current employer will very likely be called by potential future employers. So how you behave at work during those last weeks or days prior to your departure will have a huge impact on your future job search. You need to make sure you maintain a good attitude combined with continuing to do your job.

I’m not saying it’s easy. I am saying it’s important that you continue to do quality work and have a good attitude.

You might ask, “Isn’t it enough that I’m doing my job? I mean, after all they’re getting rid of me. Rejecting me.”

The answer is “NO!”

Let’s look at a possible scenario.

Jane Doe gets a notice of lay off. She will have a job for three more weeks. Jane gets angry. She starts coming in late and doing the bare minimum of work. For the next three weeks Jane does only what is required of her. She sulks and pouts like a spoiled child. Before the three weeks is over, the company gets a new contract and now has sufficient funds that they don’t have to eliminate Jane from the payroll.

Hmmmm. What do you think is going to happen? Will they keep Jane? Or will they still let her go? What would you do if you were the one in the position to decide?

Let’s revisit Jane.

Jane Doe gets a notice of lay off. She will have a job for three more weeks. Jane continues to do her job. She does her best to always have a good attitude and is eager to help her co-workers. Before the three weeks is over, the company gets a new contract and now has sufficient funds that they don’t have to eliminate Jane from the payroll.

Hmmmm. What do you think is going to happen? Will they keep Jane? Or will they still let her go? What would you do if you were the one in the position to decide?

There is very little in life we have control over, our attitude is the one thing we always have control over. You choose how you react to life’s obstacles. Quite often how we react will determine whether life’s everyday obstacles become mountains or remain speed bumps.

Time May Fly But Remember, You’re The Pilot

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

We are all given the exact same number of hours in a day, minutes in an hour and so on and so forth. It’s what we do with our time that makes the difference. Organization is a key element in getting the most done in the least amount of time. You have the same number of hours in a day that Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci and Helen Keller had, now think about what they accomplished. 

Hours in a Week 

7 x 24 = 168 hours in a week

168 – 40 hours for job searching = 128 hours remaining in a week

128 – 56 hours for sleep = 72 hours remaining in a week (3 full days)

72 – 24 hours for miscellaneous chores = 48 hours remaining in a week

48 hours remaining = 2 full days left to recharge 

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
                                                                                     Michael Altshuler

Remember this: your lack of planning does not create an emergency for anyone, other than yourself.

 

For more on this issue, click here for an article.

The Importance of a Web Presence

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

It wasn’t too long ago I attended a workshop on résumé writing and the presenter made it abundantly clear that in the near future having a web presence will be more and more important for job seekers.

 

For more information on this issue click here.

INVEST YOUR TIME

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

A friend of mine recently told me how she came to have her current job. When you’re looking for a job we here at the One-Stop are very likely to suggest that you volunteer somewhere. A lot of people look at me like I’ve just grown a second head when I tell them they should volunteer. They tell me, “I’m not giving my time away for nothing. If I’m going to work I’m going to get paid for it.”

That attitude won’t help you find a job. However, volunteering your time may very well help you find that next position.

Here’s the condensed version of how it worked for my friend, who I’m going to call Kay. Kay was working part-time but wanted a full time office job. Her part time job was in a coffee shop. She started volunteering at a hospice facility working with the patients. However, some things in her life happened and she felt she was too emotional to continue working with the patients. She asked her supervisor if they could use her in some other capacity. Since she was a good worker and they didn’t want to lose her they granted her request and moved her into a volunteer office position. When a paid office position opened up she was offered the position.

Did her volunteer work get her the job she wanted overnight? No, it took her nine months to go from volunteer to paid position. But it was the reason she got the job she has today. She invested her time and it paid off for her.

So once again I’m suggesting that if you’re unemployed find somewhere to volunteer.

 

 

RECENT MILLENIAL COLLEGE GRADUATES

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

According to a recent survey the millennial generation graduating college this year isn’t having good luck getting hired. It seems that one of their biggest challenges is passing the interview. Read the article to find out what you need to do to get a passing grade in the interview.

 
Click here to read the article.

No One Wants To Be Around A Sad Sack

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

Are you a positive upbeat person? Or do you always have a serious expression on your face? Is the glass half empty or half full?

Check out this article and find out why you can improve your job search odds by being a happier individual.

Click here for the article.

 

 

 

Make Your Résumé Interesting Not Boring

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

Does your résumé motivate hiring managers to pick up the phone and call you for an interview? If your answer is no, you need to read this article.

 

Click here for the article.

8 Ways Your Smartphone Can Help With Your Job Search

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

A co-worker of mine sent me the link to this article on using your smartphone to land a job. All this technology we have is wonderful only if we put it to work for us.

 

Click here for the article and see if you can make use of any of these techniques.

5 Things You Should Be Doing If You’re Unemployed

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

If you’re applying for jobs you’re not qualified for, just to meet the requirement for getting your Re-Employment Assistance, you’re wasting your time.

If you really want to find a job, make yourself more hirable. At the One-Stop we encourage all of our unemployed clients to VOLUNTEER. Volunteering makes you a more desirable hire. It shows employers you’re out there trying to make something happen for yourself, rather than waiting for something to happen for you. People like to hire people they know and like, volunteering puts you in a position to get known and hopefully, like.

That’s just one of the five recommendations in the article linked below.

 

Click here to read article.

 

 

 

Get Endorsed!

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

LinkedIn endorsements can be that extra element in your favor when it comes time for an employer to decide on who to interview and who not to interview.

While Linked In endorsement can help you they still don’t compare to a letter of recommendation. Having said that it’s much easier to ask someone to go to Linked In and give you an endorsement than it is to get them to write a letter of recommendation.

Read the article and then get busy figuring out what skills you want to be known for.

 
Click here for article.

Follow Twitter to That New Job

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

Are your job searches limited to the classified section of the newspaper and online job boards, like Monster and Career Builder? If so you really need to read this article on how to use Twitter to help with your job search.

 

To be successful today, you don’t have to like technology but you do have to learn how to use it to your best advantage.

 

Click here for the article.

Get a New Perspective

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

How’s 2013 going for you? Are you having the same issues you had in 2012? If so, ask yourself this, am I doing the same things I did in 2012? If the answer is yes, then you know why you’re getting the same results you got in 2012. If you want different results, you have to do different things.

If you’re looking for a job and you’re using the same unsuccessful methods you used last year, you can pretty much expect the same unsuccessful results you had last year.

Perhaps you never heard or have forgotten Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. – Albert Einstein

Think about what you’ve been doing in your job search and then start exploring different job search methods. If the old way wasn’t successful you’ve got nothing to lose by changing it and everything to gain.

It’s a new year and it’s time for a new perspective on life.

 

 

 

Top 10 Interviewing Tips

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

Are you getting interviews but not getting hired? Then maybe the article I just read will help you be more on target and ace that next interview.

Click here for the article.

Your Cover Letter’s Impact

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

Is your cover letter the weak link in your job search? Are employers reading your cover letter? Maybe not, if you’re starting it with that tired old opening that has been used since the dawn of cover letters. It goes something like this, “Please, accept the enclosed résumé as application for…” BORING!

Click here for to read an article that will give you some great ideas on how to have a more positive impact with your next cover letter.

The Times They Are A Changing

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

Some of you may wonder why I continue to point out the obvious and repeat the same topic for posts. The answer is simple. There are still a great many people that don’t get it. Social media, LinkedIn in particular, is the new way to get found for a job.

I recently attended a workshop on Social Media for Job Seekers. The presenter told us that the majority of recruiters and headhunters she has spoken with recently tell her that 70% of their time is spent on LinkedIn.

Here’s a link to another good article on this topic.

Click here for the article.

Is The Force With You?

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

I just read an awesome article about ‘job searching’ for the over 40 and unemployed group. The truth is that regardless of your age, it’s still a great article.

Click here to read words of wisdom from Yoda.

 

 

Overused Words In Your LinkedIn Profile

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

With the New Year just around the corner now is a good time to update your LinkedIn profile and get rid of the clichés and overused words.

 
Click here to read a good article on some of the most overused words.