Looking for a new job is stressful enough. Not only do you need to have your resume and references ready to go, but you also have to attend a first, and possibly a second, interview for each position. There are certain things you need to think about before going to an interview. Interview blunders are made all the time and have cost people the job they were trying to get. If you prepare first, then you won’t make these same blunders.

Not Being Prepared
Many people don’t bother researching the company they are applying for. They don’t realize that some interviewers will only hire those that genuinely seem interested in the company and what it does. Do your research on the company before the interview. Find out when it started, what it does or sells, and who the head people of the company are.

Dressing Inappropriately
Another mistake people often make is dressing the wrong way for an interview. If you aren’t sure how you should dress, go to the company and see what the other employees are wearing. If you can’t get in, then sit outside when the company opens or closes to see what is considered appropriate dress. If it is a professional position, you will want to use your best suit (but not your tux). If it is a warehouse or industrial position, then wear clothing accordingly. If it is an outdoor job, dress for it, but dress neatly.

Communication
Many people get nervous just before an interview. Calm yourself and prepare yourself before the interview. Don’t view the interviewer as someone ominous. They are a person doing the job they were hired to do. Be confident, but not cocky. Shake hands, make eye contact, talk in an even toned voice, don’t whisper, but don’t yell. Speak in a normal voice, don’t crack jokes, and don’t use a bunch of slang words or phrases. Don’t jabber away, be polite, and ask practical questions. The interviewer will take notice of people who talk too much or too little.

A Few Other Blunders to Avoid
When the job is described, don’t give a list of what you like to do or don’t like to do. If there are aspects of the job that you are not good at, indicate that you are willing to learn more about doing these tasks.

Don’t bad mouth prior employees. The interviewer is interested in what you can bring to the company that is of benefit. They don’t want a laundry list of what you didn’t like about your previous employer.

Don’t forget to follow up a few days after your interview. Many people will just wait around for the company to call them. If you make the follow up calls, then they become aware of the fact that you are actually interested in working for them.

Do Not Commit These Top Job Interview Blunders! was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

One of the hardest decisions you will encounter during your professional career is the decision to change jobs. The safe decision is to stay in your current job, where you know what to expect and where you feel safe. In a new job you have no idea what to expect. As a result, the whole process of entering a new job can be very intimidating.

When you are considering a change in career, there are many things to think about. Even though you have to think about the benefits or changes it will make for you financially, your family and even where you live, you also have to think about how to prove you are qualified. You will have to change your resume to fit the career you want. This can be a difficult task if you don’t know where to start. There is a wealth of information and sites that can help you with this, sometimes enormous, task.

• Where to find information: The Internet is an excellent source for finding information and advice about drafting your resume. It is also a good place to start looking for positions that fit the genre of your career change requirements. Not only will you find information, you will also find that there are numerous resources that make the resume writing process considerably easier. You will be able to compose the right resume, save it and send it to numerous job search engines and recruiter sites. When you are looking for advice about how to draft your resume, be careful about the advice you take, and use your common sense.

• Elements to be aware of: There are two basic elements that you need to be aware of. First, you need to list the things that are going to look the most promising. These will be the things that you have learned about your new career and your transferable skills. Second, you need to make sure that you have written your resume in such a way that will show you are qualified for your new career choice. It is up to you to prove that you will be able to adapt to the demands of your new career.

• Research the New Career: Before you start to write your resume, set some time aside to do some research about the career that you are considering. The more you know about what your new job will demand, the more you can improve your resume in order to meet your potential employer’s expectations. Knowing what your new career is going to demand will also make it easier for you to write your career objective.

• Transferable Skills: Your transferable skills are skills that you will be able to use in a variety of fields. Take some time to think about the skills you have that will transfer to your new job. Strong transferable skills include excellent communication skills, strong management skills, adaptability, project management, and organizational skills.

• The Final Copy: When you are happy with the information that you have provided on your resume, there are a few things you need to do to finish it. You want to make sure that it is typed in a font that is easy to read. Your resume should not be longer than two pages. If you are handing out or mailing your resume make sure it is printed on clean, good quality, white paper. Don’t get fancy, just make sure you are correct in your spelling, grammar and punctuation, and that the resume is well organized.

How to Write a Resume for a Career Change was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

When interviewing for any position, you are essentially trying to market and sell yourself as your own brand. You need to communicate to the hiring committee reasons for why you are the perfect person for the job. So in order to set yourself apart from the competition, you need to know what differentiates yourself from all the other candidates. In other words, you need to come up with your unique selling point to maximize your job offers. Here are some interesting points to consider.

A great way to discover your selling point is to try and brainstorm what makes you impressive, incomparable and distinctive. Figure out your unique skills and abilities so that you can effectively display them in your career documents and succinctly convey them in an interview. When you are in that all important interview, it is incredibly important that you can successfully convince the hiring committee of your worth and the benefits that will come to them from hiring you…And the way to accomplish that is by utilizing your unique selling point.

If you aren’t sure of your unique qualities and skills, look to your resume and cover letter. This is a great resource to turn to when looking for your selling point. Better yet, develop your resume with your selling point in mind. This is a situation where you are forced to communicate your skills and qualities, as well as your accomplishments. The adjectives that you come up with to describe yourself are the very qualities that make you unique. Don’t be afraid to tout your own horn – this is the time when it’s important to do just that. Your resume and cover letter are your first impression with a hiring committee, so showcase those great qualities and skills that make you special and stand out from the rest of the candidates. By doing this, you will also discover your unique selling point that you can further use when it comes to the all important interview.

When preparing for the interview, list all of the accomplishments that you’ve made throughout your teaching career. Next, list all the adjectives that best describe you and your accomplishments. Then, tailor these traits and accomplishments to the ones that are best suited towards the teaching position for which you are applying. You have now successfully discovered your unique selling point, so the next step is to take this to the hiring committee in the interview.

You can practice your interviewing skills by making up mock interview questions. This will give you the chance to make up answers to questions that showcase your skills and utilize your unique selling point. Not only will this better prepare you for the interview, but you will also be more confident in using your selling point in this type of scenario.

During the interview, you will be asked many questions about your teaching style, accomplishments, and what you can bring to the new school/district. This is your time to shine. You can focus your answers around your unique selling point, showing the hiring committee why they should hire you for their school. Your selling point will make up the overall theme of your interview, highlighted by your specific skills and talents and showcased by your accomplishments. This will create a great impression on the hiring committee, and place you in a fantastic position for landing the position.

Job Search Success – Know Your Unique Selling Point! was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

Your internet presence is an indispensable part of your 21st century job search. Not only should you be actively reaching out to recruiters and hiring authorities, but you should also be leveraging your efforts with direct networking (through LinkedIn, Facebook, Ecademy, etc.) and a strong internet presence. This combination creates an effective job search strategy that will increase your exposure to more opportunities.

If you have a website, blog, Facebook profile, or other web presence, there are two things to examine:

1. Can people find you?
2. When they do, what will they find?

Do you worry about what people might find, or not find, if they do a Google search on you? Here are some steps to ensure you sleep better at night and increase career opportunities.

Promoting yourself on the Internet can be challenging. You want to be searchable, in that if someone types in your name to Google, you want to be found. In this day in age, it can be detrimental if nothing exists in your name. On the other hand, you don’t want the information that pops up in your search to be unprofessional.

The focus here is keeping your “business presence” what you intend it to be. Someday, you will probably need to rely on it for future employment. Your internet presence is your personal brand. When potential employers and clients Google search you, what they find should encompass your brand – meaning that they should be able to find everything that is related to your professional endeavors.

Keywords are not just for resumes. If you have written articles, books, or have presented your artwork or given presentations, all of these belong in categories with keywords associated with them.  This will ensure that they will be searchable under your name, adding to your professional internet presence.

Screen icons should represent you and your skills, not necessarily be cute and fuzzy. A screen name can make or break you. Can others take you seriously with your screen name?  Facebook for family can be cute; Facebook for business should be representative of your skills and talents. Taglines are similar to screen names. They should be carefully chosen to represent you and your work- in as few words as possible as a tagline is meant to be catchy, so that means short and to-the-point.

Work samples show variety, but you should be cognizant of what samples you show. If you show personal or proprietary information on the web, you may be held liable. Others may not want to work with you if they think their projects will be shown in your public portfolio. Develop sensitivity towards others’ feelings.  Always ask clients before posting material to the web. Don’t post everything you’ve ever done. When your portfolio list gets too long, it’s a good idea to just post a listing of the items (if needed), not the entire work.

When you can refer everyone from your parents and spouse to potential employers or employees to your website or blog, you can safely bet your web presence is heading in the right direction.  You can sleep easier knowing your future employer won’t find that questionable whatever-it-is you hope they won’t see.

Managing Your Internet Presence to Increase Career Oppourtunities was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

Many job seekers spend a lot of money on futile distribution of resumes and cover letters, especially when they do it by mail or by walk-in. Luckily, there are several, more effective ways to make resume submissions for your job hunting endeavors. Here’s how.

1. Submit your resume through email, but make sure that you set it in HTML type or plain text format. Also, avoid converting it into PDF format unless the company or companies are asking for a PDF file. Make sure that all your spelling and grammar is correct.

It is a big no-no to use ordinary email stationery, and remember to use a white background with no graphics or colors whatsoever. You also need to email every employer separately because most employers use anti-spam software that is set up to instantly recognize bulk mail as spam.

2. Send your cover letter inclusive of your contact information and other pertinent details about you in the body of your e-mail and make your resume the attached document. Make sure that your cover letter is directly addressed to the correct recipient. Also remember to fully include the subject of your email. You can state it like: RESUME (Your full name and the position you are applying for).

3. While you are sending an email of your resume to potential employers, send them a hard copy through postal mail as well. This will serve as a supporting document to what you’ve sent them via the internet. This also shows professionalism on your part which can help enhance your professional branding.

You can print your letter using a laser printer and should also use 24-lb. white paper with at least 90 lumens rating. Avoid using typical resume paper unless you are planning to submit the resume and cover letter in person.

4. Make sure to send a follow-up email that includes in your subject header, “Follow up to resume of (insert your name)”. Make sure that you indicate properly in the body of the email the reason why you are following up your application and let them know that you are willing to set up an interview at their own convenience. Always remember to state the position you are applying for.

5. While you are searching for other job opportunities, it is also recommended that you send them an updated resume at least one month later because most companies will clean up their records of resumes regularly. This will make sure that you get an adequate chance for your application to get noticed, and this in turn will also increase your employability rate.

Utilizing the best methods for sending resumes and cover letters can guarantee you a higher employability rate and prioritization from potential employers. This will also help you to avoid spending too much time and money on sending resumes through less effective means.

5 Steps for Submitting Your Resume and Cover Letter was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

There are several steps one must take to achieve a job position; getting chosen for an interview is step number one. When you get chosen, this shows that an employer is interested in you and that you may have some quality or skill they need. They will then require you to come in person to clarify or buttress some key points regarding your resume and the position.

In other words, when you reach the interview step you are very close to securing the job; but of course, there are other people shortlisted too. So, it now boils down to how you can effectively prove that you are better than the others; and you have to do this in a very short time period. Starting the interview on a positive note is important, but closing it on an electrifying note is even more important.

The following 10 steps will show you how to close a job interview in a way that will help you land the coveted position.

1. Emphasize the Reason Why You Are Applying. Make it very clear why you are applying for the job and try to customize your responses to fit the company and its goals.

2. Make Relevant Claims. State how you can help the company fulfill its mission and vision with your own ideas, and how your agenda can fit into theirs. You can only do this if you have researched and studied the company’s objectives and goals beforehand.

3. Ask Insightful Questions. Be careful not to sound ill-informed or ask questions of items you could have readily gotten off their website or other such sources. Ask questions that are relevant to the daily activities of the position. This will show your interest, your capabilities, and your motivation.

4. Request for More Questions from the Panel. Make sure they have exhausted all possible questions for you by requesting if they have any more questions for you. This shows you know what you are doing and are fully prepared for them, and will also ensure that you will leave the interview with your interviewers having all the information they need to make an informed decision.

5. Never Talk About Money or Remuneration. This is not the time to discuss wages and benefits; you can do that when you have a concrete job offer. For now, just limit the discussion to how you can be of help.

6. Inquire About the Competition. There is no harm in finding out how many people you are up against. This will help you to strategize better in order to land the job. Make sure to not sound as if they are a threat to you, though.

7. Ask What Follows Next. Be sure to find out what the next step is before leaving. Find out who should contact whom, and when they will expect to have made a decision. Ask in a very courteous manner.

8. Demonstrate Niceties. A firm handshake with all the members of the panel shows a lot of confidence. Look them in the eyes, smile and offer a hand to all, one after the other, thanking them for meeting with you.

9. Do Not Leave in a Hurry. In an interview, you are expected to be fully prepared. So don’t rush through it because you have other appointments. Don’t leave until you are excused.

10. Pack Your Stuff Nicely. Don’t show any sign of nervousness, just take your time and make sure you pack all your things; do it gently and in an organized manner. It commands some respect and shows your confidence and ease.

10 Techniques to Successfully Close a Job Interview was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

You may have come across the term ‘elevator pitch’ recently during your job search. Basically, this term refers to the brief sixty-second speech that people use to describe the product or service they offer to others. And while this speech may not be part of your regular discourse, it must be delivered in a very concise and compelling way, and have the necessary attracting points that will entice the interests of employers around you.

For all job seekers, it is important to learn how to create a compelling elevator speech. In order to do so, you must be familiar with the idea of professional branding and the concept of enhancing your brand to promote yourself as well as your career. More often than not, personal branding through a properly drafted elevator speech will allow you to create a good image for yourself which you can use for a successful job search. This will allow you to differentiate yourself from other applicants who may be vying for the same position.

You must understand that good personal branding will play an important part in your elevator pitch. This will serve as a mini presentation of what you can do to get over the all too common phrases like “what can you do for us” and “tell us about yourself”. An effective elevator pitch conveys to your audience that you are a professional, and this must be done in such a way that your speech will not only address your unique selling points but the concerns of your listener as well.

But how do you create an effective elevator pitch for your job search? With an honest evaluation of yourself and thorough introspection, you can develop your own elevator pitch even without the help of a career coach. To begin with, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my main objective for my job search and what is my job target?

• Who are the persons I am planning to talk to about hiring me?

• What is my unique selling point?

• What are the problems currently faced by my audience?

• What can I do to help them solve it?

• What are the characteristics I have that sets me apart from other applicants?

• What are the benefits of my work experience which I can bring to a new work environment?

As you create your elevator pitch, try to incorporate all these elements in a short presentation that you can deliver in no more than sixty seconds. Once you assess the correct answers to the above questions, you will have everything you need to create an effective and compelling elevator pitch. A concise and direct speech can help you get the attention you need to secure the job interview you have been waiting for.

How to Create a Job Search Elevator Pitch was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

There are many possible situations that can make writing a cover letter more difficult. These situations can include lay-offs, demotions, long-term unemployment, and medical leave. Although these may seem to be potential red flags, a cover letter is deemed the perfect place to address these issues; however, you must remember one thing: keep the explanation brief and the tone of the letter upbeat and positive. After all, this is your marketing tool. This article will help you learn how to effectively overcome some of these obstacles in your cover letter.

In explaining your previous layoff: briefly explain the layoff and then try to show your excitement and enthusiasm about the opportunity to work immediately for the position available.

If you faced long-term unemployment: try to briefly state the position and responsibilities allocated to you in your previous employment. Do not lay emphasis on your duration of unemployment but instead focus on the new skills attained during your hiatus. Remember, you are trying to focus on the positive aspects in your career.

If you’re trying to explain reasons for your medical leave: do not disclose any medical information because this may jeopardize your chances of gaining employment. Briefly state your leave of absence and try to notify your potential employer that you have regained your strength and are fit to work again. Deciding to disclose your medical information is a strictly personal choice.

If you have taken time off to care for an ill family member: briefly state this and let your potential employer know that you have honed your skills or have upgraded your skills through other ventures. Let them know that you are available and that you are qualified for the position.

If you have taken some time off to raise your children: show your potential employer that during your break you have been up to date in your line of work or profession. Letting them know that you have acquired new skills and connections will be an added advantage to you.

If you’re embarking on a totally new career path: state your reasons for doing so. Try to steer the employer to view you as a competent person in your new career. State the reasons why you think you can excel in this new position.

If your transition is from an entrepreneur to a corporate position: show the potential employer that the reasons for leaving that field were not due to failure, but rather to pursue your passion. The employer needs to realize that you would be an asset to their company instead of a liability.

If you have been changing jobs frequently: state that you are searching for a job that you are willing to commit to. You must assure the potential employer that you are willing to be loyal and committed to the work.

If you have experienced a demotion in your previous job: briefly state this as the reason for why you have remained employed. Assure the employer that you are capable of doing more and will be efficient and competent in the position they are hiring for.

How to Overcome Obstacles in Your Cover Letter was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

Did you know that you can actually use Twitter as an effective tool for finding jobs and other employment opportunities? There several methods you can use to make this social media platform a convenient way of finding employment opportunities and when you know what to share on Twitter, you may be surprised at the rewards you can get in terms of career growth and employment opportunities. Here’s how you can make Twitter an online tool for finding possible employment.

• The first thing you need to do is maximize your profile. You can create an online resume either in Visual CV or LinkedIn and then use the site field on your Twitter profile to link your employment history from LinkedIn or Visual CV to your Twitter account.

• If you are planning to use your Twitter account solely for the purpose of job searching, make sure that you are using a professional name. You can use your first initial and integrate it with your surname but don’t use account names like “SexyMitch” or “FootballFan181”. Names like these won’t get you anywhere.

• Make it a point to follow companies you want to work for. This will allow you to learn more about the company, business matters related to that particular company plus you can also use it as a platform to let them know of your interest in working with them.

• Twitter also has a special tool you can use in your job search known as TweetMyJobs. This particular application has received a lot of attention particularly in the media related to business because it provides companies with a new way of finding talent.

• Use your tweets to boost your credibility and professional branding. You can let potential employers know about your specialization and how your skills and expertise can help or provide significant contribution to a particular industry. Avoid pretending to be someone whom you are not; instead, try to present yourself in a very knowledgeable and professional manner and let your experience speak for you.  Try to be as creative as you can with your posts so you can attract the attention of others while keeping it relevant at the same time.

• It is also helpful to use hashtags on your tweets. The formula is simple when using hashtags (#keyword). For instance, if you are interested in finding a job in the technology sector, you can create your tweets along with a hash tag like #technology. This provides a good chance of being found by potential employers on Twitter searches.

• Lastly, avoid at all cost aggressively following a potential employer or a particular individual related to your field. Try to keep perspective and avoid pestering your potential employers. Be selective with whom you want to affiliate yourself and never add more than twenty follows each day.

Twitter can be a wonderful platform for a productive job search. Just learn the proper etiquette and rules for tweeting and you will be surprised at how it can make your job hunting more efficient and fruitful.

Share On Twitter and You May Be Surprised at the Rewards was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service

Returning to work after a long medical leave is among the most difficult and often complicated transitions in the life of an employee. But in order to overcome all the obstacles it may present along the way, you need to create an efficient plan that will help you move your career forward and avoid being stagnated after a lengthy medical leave. Experts believe that by creating an advanced and more comprehensive plan before returning to work, you will be able to better focus on the things that can help you to adjust to your workplace and, thereby, have a better shot for career advancement.

Before you begin your medical leave, you need to discuss it with your superior so both parties can define clear expectations. Because of the Family and Medical Act, there is an allowance that is often referred to as ‘intermittent leave’ which is designed to help employees on medical or family leave have an easy and flexible way of returning to the workforce. But you also have to expect that you will face challenges once you return, such as needing to brush up on your skills or adapt to a new system that has been developed during the months you’ve been away on medical leave.

While you are on medical leave, you can engage yourself in various light activities that will help you to further develop your skills and core values without putting your health at risk. This will allow you to keep up with your professional interests and career aspirations while reducing the risk of succumbing to lethargy due to temporary unemployment. This process can also help you maintain your functional skills and industry knowledge so you will not have such a hard time fitting in once you return to work. With updated experiences and skills, you can even increase your chances for career advancement, particularly when your superiors see that you have not neglected your professional development while off on medical leave.

It is also important for you to keep up with the current technological developments, especially if you will be away for a long period of time. If you fall behind on your technological skills, it can become a huge barrier for you when you return to the workforce. While at home, research various office applications and the latest technological innovations in relation to the software or office applications currently in use at your company. You also need to stay connected with your work colleagues. This will keep you up to date with the latest news about your work place. This way, when you return to work; you will not have a hard time coping with the changes implemented while you were away.

How to Move Your Career Forward After a Lengthy Medical Leave was written by Candace. You can visit her blog at Canadian Resume Writing Service