Recruiters On The Net
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recruiterjobs@recruitersonthenet.com
RESUME
Your resume is your sales brochure. In many cases it is the only
opportunity you
will have to present yourself to a potential employer. It
must be neat and easy to
read. Spelling and punctuation errors are fatal. Have
someone you trust proofread
and correct your resume. Remember that potential employers
receive many
resumes
The person screening them is usually not a technical specialist.
If they do
not
find what they are looking for or think your resume is sloppy, that
will be the
end
of the line for you. Using an objective statement limits the
scope of
opportunities
you will be considered for. Do not use one. A summary of
skills is
more
appropriate, do not use 'I' in your resume, do not
include hobbies, interests or
personal
information. A resume should never exceed 2 pages. The
chronological
format
is preferred, it starts with your current position and travels
back. It lists
dates,
job titles, employer and employer's location for each job.
Many employers
prefer
this format because of its familiarity.
JOB RESEARCH
What does the employer do? What is the corporate culture
like? What are the
challenges facing the industry? These are clues as to what the
employer is looking
for in a candidate. Research the company. Go to the library for
reference books.
Search the internet for company home pages, these are treasure troves
of
background
information. Use search engines. Use every possible
resource to
gather
information that prepares you thoroughly to understand what the
company
does. Use
these resources and mention some of the things you learned when
you
interview.
APPEARANCE
Your appearance is critical. Dress and act appropriately whenever you
have
contact
with a potential employer. Every meeting is a chance for you to
be
evaluated.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This
means
that
no matter how casual the meeting (especially breakfast or lunch
'get
togethers')
appears to be, you have an opportunity to make an impression that
counts.
Be well groomed and look professional. Don't overdo the make
up,
cologne
or perfume. While this may seem obvious, employers say appearance
will
either
disqualify a prospective employee immediately or move the applicant
along
to
the next level. When in doubt, it's better to dress too
conservatively rather than
too
casually. Before you walk in, take a few deep breaths to calm your
nerves.
Give
a firm -- not a limp or bone crushing -- handshake.
DEALING WITH THE RECEPTIONIST OR SECRETARY
You are talking to an important person. Do not act rude or
superior. Be pleasant
and
it may pay off. Be aware that how you treat these gate keepers
will affect the
net
result of your visit with other important people in the company.
It will also be
communicated to those who make final decisions.
JOB INTERVIEW
Be positive during your interview. An employer is only
interested in what you
have
to offer his company. If you give the impression that you are
only interested
in
what the company can do for you, they will lose interest
immediately. A firm
handshake
and eye contact are critical. If you have difficulty looking
someone in
the
eye, look at the the bridge of their nose. It will appear that
you are looking
them
in the eye. We highly recommend the book 'Knock 'Em
Dead',
www.knockemdead.com.
Appear confident and relaxed during the interview and
use
humor where appropriate, especially to defuse inappropriate or
touchy
questions. Avoid stiff, canned speeches. Show respect for the
recruiter's
time.
If the interview is only 30 minutes, for instance, don't give
eight minute
answers.
Be aware of your body language. Don't cross your arms or
fiddle
nervously
with a pen or piece of paper. It's OK to lean forward to make
points.
You
want to be natural yet convey energy and initiative.
Let the interviewer establish the pace. Don't interrupt or ask
questions at this point.
You don't want to come across as overly aggressive. Listen
carefully. There will
come a time to ask questions, and this is when you can demonstrate
your range of
knowledge about the company, its products and how your skills and
experience fit
their needs. We suggest writing down questions in advance and
taking
them
with you. Enthusiasm is often the significant factor in hiring.
Interviewers
respond
to a candidate's enthusiasm about a job. They want team players,
yet they
also
want someone who comes in with new ideas and eagerness, -- unlikely to
be
found
in an employee who's had a dozen similar jobs and who may be
nearing
burnout.
KEEP JOB EXPERIENCE POSITIVE
If there are negative things in your education or employment, be
honest. Don't
dwell
on them and do try to put them in as positive a light as
possible.
Do
not make negative comments about past employers. You do not want
to appear
to
be a malcontent. End the interview on a positive note. If
you are interested in
the
position, tell the interviewer. Don't make them try to read
your mind.
Remember
that your competition is definitely asking for the job. As you
shake
hands
good-bye, restate the key message that you want the job. That
won't cinch
things,
but it will set you apart from the pack, experts say. One good
approach is to
say,
'Steve, you've given me a great picture of ABC Company and
it just confirms
in
my mind that ABC Company remains my first choice. Working for you
is
something
I'd really like to do. Thank you for taking the time to meet with
me. If
there's
any other information you need, please give me a call.'
FOLLOW-UP
Follow-up with a thank you note (see below). If you are interested in
the position,
say so. The employer is looking for your interest and
enthusiasm. They want
people
who want the job.
THANK YOU LETTERS
Now that you have written a resume and done everything right during an
interview,
there is still one important thing to do (no one said this was going
to be easy). You
need to write a Thank You Letter.
Sending a Thank You Letter is an important step in the process.
It shows that you
understand and practice good business etiquette. The letter
gives you a chance to
reinforce some of the positive things you said in the interview.
You can also add
anything that you forget to mention in the interview. Keep it
brief!
Here are some things to consider when putting your Thank you
letter
together:
Thank the employer for his or her time during the interview; this is,
after all, a
thank
you letter.
Mention some of the things you learned during the interview,
specifically those
things you feel you are qualified to do. For example, 'I was
especially excited to
learn that you are looking for someone with ProE design experience. As
you may
recall my mentioning, I have over five years of experience designing
components
in
3D.' Invite the employer to contact you for more information if
necessary.
Mention that you are looking forward to the employer's positive decision.
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