Ask the Employment Specialist: Body Language in the Job Interview

Dear Joanna,

In my efforts to prepare for an upcoming interview as a Marketing Specialist at a Fortune 500 advertising firm, I met with an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto. She gave me feedback that was painful to hear, saying that my body language gave the impression that I was not interested in the position. She said I slouched in my chair, kept fidgeting with my pen and did not smile. I was shocked to hear this feedback.

I thought my countless strengths, in-depth experience and expertise would qualify me for the interview, especially if I was able to answer the questions in a professional and clear manner. Please let me know what you think about body language in an interview.

Signed, Bad Body Language (BBL)
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Dear BBL

Did you know that 87% of messages pertaining to feelings and attitudes is in the words that are spoken,  38% of messages pertaining to feelings and attitudes is paralinguistic (the way that the words are said), and 55% of messages pertaining to feelings and attitudes is in facial expression. Did you know that communication is 7% verbal and 93% non-verbal?

According to Amy Levin-Epstein, in her CBS MoneyWatch article, Job interview posture: Body language power tips, how you present yourself in an interview (how you sit, stand, walk, dress) is as important as what you say, if not more. She quotes Amanda Haddaway, Director of HR for Folcomer Equipment Corporation: “There’s an old adage that communication is 7% verbal and 93% non-verbal. If you’re not projecting confidence and competence through your body language, the interviewer may not feel that you’re the right fit for the position”.

Creating a positive impression on an interview goes beyond what you say: it’s how you say it. Based on research, Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s Communications Model offers tips as to how to create a positive impression, including:

• always smiling when greeting the other person
• using the interviewer’s name
• shaking each person’s hand
• speaking with confidence and enthusiasm in your voice

Your gestures and how you sit at the table can demonstrate confidence; the hiring person will mostly evaluate your performance on this critical non-verbal communication, rather than only on your qualifications. In the end, it’s about building relationships. The interviewer will ask himself/herself – do I want to work with this person or do I want this person on my team?

Amy Levin-Epstein, in her article Job interview posture: Body language power tips, interviews Lisa Panarello, founder of Careers Advance and a finalist in the Toastmasters 2010 World Championship of Public Speaking, and provides these fantastic tips to make sure your body language is at its best on the interview day and that you make a great impression:

1.     Sit and stand up straight and avoid fidgeting. Slumping and fidgeting tells the interviewer that you don’t care about the interview and the  job. To demonstrate professional behaviour, keep your back straight and lean in slightly when spoken to, to demonstrate interest in the speaker.

2.     Practice and prepare. I am impressed that you are practising with your employment counsellor. Take the feedback seriously; your counsellor is correct to tell you the truth, because there is a big difference between how we feel we’re presenting ourselves and reality. Remember that JVS also offers Mock Interviews, where we use a camera to film your performance, so you can judge it for yourself.

3.     Dress appropriately. Make sure you look neat and professional, including making sure you have proper footwear and fitting outfits so it’s easy for you to walk with the interviewer. Stay away from too much jewellery and don’t wear any perfume or aftershave lotion. Many offices have scent-free policies, which you don’t want to contravene.

4.     Show some emotion. Try to remember to smile throughout your conversation; stress can cause you to frown, so be aware of your facial expression. Also, try to maintain eye contact (without staring) with the interviewer. If you are in front of a panel, try to have eye contact with each individual as best as possible. Tell stories as if you are reliving them –that will help the interviewer relive it with you.

5.     Walk with the interviewer. Follow the interviewer to or from the room, and make sure to keep their pace. Don’t fall back behind them or go ahead — but always make sure you leave enough room when walking (you don’t want to be stepping on their heels or tripping them up).

6.     Stand strong. If you find yourself standing for long periods of time, whether it’s presenting during a group interview or introducing yourself to potential co-workers at their desks, keep your footing stable. The best strategy is to be sure to stand on two flat feet. “Do not lean on one hip (too casual) or rock back and forth (this shows nervousness and will be distracting). Also, keep your legs and feet in line with your waist — too close together and you will teeter, too far apart and you will naturally want to cross your arms for balance, and you’ll look overconfident or closed off.”, suggests Panerello.

I would recommend practising again with the counsellor, friends and family to get their feedback. If you follow these tips, I have full confidence that you will do well in the interview and hopefully be closer to the job offer.

Joanna

To submit your questions for this column IN CONFIDENCE, please email dearjoanna@jvstoronto.org.

3 Steps for Making (and KEEPING) Job Search Resolutions

For many job searchers, new year celebrations are a bittersweet reminder that, despite all their hopes and efforts, they have not yet achieved their employment goal. So, other than trying to ignore that nagging feeling that you could have done better and resolving to do better, what could you do to make sure that 2013 is the year in which you find that next great job?

All of us who is make resolutions for the new year remember the unused gym memberships and unfulfilled promises of last years’ resolutions. We all know that the likelihood of a resolution turning into meaningful change is low. But there is hope: research has shown that while most people do not keep their promises, those who are successful tend to be those who are more realistic, ready to change and prepared with detailed plans and identified strategies to support their plan.

Bottom line: old habits are hard to break, and if you really want to change, you have to plan for action and act as if you mean it. I surveyed my employment colleagues at JVS for tips and here are some of their suggestions for such a realistic plan:

1. Structure your job search like a job

• Plan your job search day: chose a start and end time for your job search activities, set up a job search space at home (or even better, use a resource centre/library), and allow yourself some “down time” for lunch/weekends and evenings. Some clients report using an online tool such as Jibber Jobber helps them stay better organised.
• Create an email address that is only for job search purposes (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail), to avoid the distractions of replying to personal messages while job searching, as well as reduce the risk of losing important emails among all your personal messages.
• Use a day timer/calendar (paper OR electronic; Google and others offer excellent online calendar systems which can be synced with a smartphone).
• Plan ahead: write in all appointments, job search and personal in your calendar, and plan blocks of time dedicated to job search.

2. Get professional support to re-evaluate your choices and job search approach

Are you sure you are doing the best possible job search? Are you applying for the jobs for which you are best qualified?

Research has shown that most most people overestimate their own competence; sometimes you think that you are better at your job or your job search than you really are. You might find that working with an employment professional, who can offer you objective feedback about your skills, as well as job search methods, can make a huge difference to your success.

• Consider rewriting your resume, developing a new cover letter format and re-thinking your interview answers. Create a check-list of items to remember to take to an interview, including items as simple (but important) as your glasses!
• Are you the best possible candidate for the jobs for which you are applying? Perhaps you need to consider whether you need to rethink your career choices. A JVS colleague expressed this well: think SKILLS, not job titles. If you don’t have the best skills possible, consider the possibility of retraining or upgrading your skills

3. Network, network, network!

• Make an effort to go out and meet people, even just socially. You never know who knows something that may be of help.
• Check out local volunteering opportunities, advertised online (e.g. Volunteer Toronto), a local community service or hospital, where you can meet people and expand your network.
• Complete your LinkedIn profile and most importantly, make sure to build relationships with people you meet and not just collect lists of useless connections on LinkedIn. 

Bottom line: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry). If you want your new year wishes to come true, it’s time to make a plan and put it into action!

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Best wishes for the new year to all our readers. Please keep reading and sharing.  If there is anything you would like to read about, please write and propose topics. We would love to hear from you!

Ask the Employment Specialist: Answering Difficult Interview Questions –Salary Expectations

Dear Joanna,

I blew it big time. I was at an interview yesterday for an administrative assistant position with a law firm. The human resources manager asked me what my salary expectations were for this exciting full-time position. Needless to say, the amount was not communicated in the job posting much to my sorrow. I responded by asking a question: “What are you willing to pay me?”. That was it. The interview was over, and so was my candidacy. I felt trapped and I felt tricked.

Please could you give me some advice as to how to respond effectively and appropriately to this difficult question.

Signed: Tricked and Trapped (TAT)

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Dear TAT,

This is definitely a tricky question to answer. It’s almost as if you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. If you give a salary which is too high, you may ruin your chances to be considered; if you give a number which is too low, the hiring manager may think you aren’t qualified. Don’t feel so badly. According to Cynthia Shapiro in What Does Somebody Have to Do to Get a Job Around Here?: 44 Insider Secrets That Will Get You Hired (2008),  “gone are the days of the straightforward interview designed to allow you talk about your  skills and qualifications” (p. 74). Today’s interview, she continues, is designed to help the recruiter find out if you can do the job, as well as what kind of person you are and if you have potential to cause the company any problems. Asking a candidate to state their salary expectations is a question which definitely falls under this category.

There are two suggested ways to respond to this question at the interview. The first one is to change the priorities by stating “My priority is to find a growing, successful company where I can make a contribution to and continue to learn and grow and practice my profession. I want to be compensated, but is not the most important thing for me. I am flexible”.

The other (and arguably, better) strategy is to do your research on the internet on current salaries and be prepared to respond with a reasonable range, such as: “I have done my research and I understand that this position as an administrative assistant would pay between $30,000 – $40,000″. The JVS Toronto Employment Counsellors who wrote our Interview Workshop manual recommend that if you wish to show your eagerness for the position, you may add, “But I’m flexible.” Some suggested websites are Payscale, Salary.com and Monster Salary Centre. LinkedIn can also be another source for compensation information. Be careful with the data, because it is not always accurate. Salaries vary in terms of location, time and job, and the ranges are wide. Another suggestion is to locate an employee in the firm and ask about salary range (people won’t want to disclose their salary, but most are willing to share a range).

Last but not least, Employment Counsellor and the editor of this blog, Karin Lewis, has some advice for responding to the salary expectations in the cover letter. “I think job searchers should not specify their expectations in the cover letter because they don’t know enough about the job and what it entails. It means limiting their ability to negotiate in the interview. I suggest clients write: Regarding salary expectations, I am flexible and open to discussing specifics at the Interview“, or  – probably better — propose a wide salary range and express openness to be flexible.”

TAT, I am sure you will get another interview as it seems like your resume is working and you will have plenty of opportunities to prepare an answer to the salary question which the hiring person will want to hear.

Finally, remember not to mention money or salary expectations in the interview unless you are asked by the interviewer!  (It is acceptable, however, to ask about when salary will be discussed, but make sure to keep that question to the end of the interviewing process).

Signed,
Joanna

Corresponding with employers — Part 1: writing cover letters that get noticed

If first impressions are as important as psychologists tell us, then cover letters might be described as one of the most important aspects of the entire job search process. The moment a potential employer reads the letter that accompanies your resume is the first time a they encounter you and your first opportunity you have to make a positive impression. It has been said that half of employers will not read your resume, unless it is accompanied by a cover letter and even more will reject it, based on the quality of the letter.

For a moment, put yourself in the employer’s shoes. After posting a job which they are anxious to fill quickly and easily, employers often tell me that — despite the overwhelming amount of cover letters and resumes they may receive – they struggle to identify suitable candidates. Employers read through letter after letter, hoping to be struck by candidates who are able to present themselves as suitably well qualified, likeable and competent enough to be invited for an interview.

It seems to me that, for many job seekers, cover letters are often the weakest aspect of their job search efforts, often neglected until  the last moment before sending in a job application. If written at all, they are often generic, awkwardly worded and not very substantial, leaving the reader with a sense that not much effort was put into preparing them.

To determine what should go into an effective letter, it is useful to think about its definition and purpose. A cover letter can be described as a one page letter that accompanies a resume, introduces the candidate and motivates the employer to read the resume and consider the candidate for a position. A cover letter should clarify the link between the employer’s needs (which is often described as “qualifications” on the posting) and you (as listed in the “profile” or “summary” in your resume).

Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to market yourself to the employer by:

• indicating that you read the job posting and understand the expectations of the employer
• showing your interest and enthusiasm
• introducing your resume and identifying the specific aspects of the resume that are most relevant to the job
• showing off your excellent writing skills, both in terms of grammar and spelling
• indicating to the employer that you can and will follow instructions, by applying exactly the way the employer requested in the job ad/posting

Cover letters should accompany almost any resume, whether it is in response to a posting, is solicited (i.e. the employer asked you to send them a resume), or even unsolicited (i.e. you are sending the resume to employers, in case they are hiring). Check your resume against this checklist of “do’s” and “don’ts”:

1. Don’ t use a generic cover letter; instead, write a unique and personalised letter for each employer
2. Match the letter to your resume, in terms of the font and “letterhead” (i.e. the format you use for your name and address)
3. Don’t forget to mention the specific job title as identified in the job posting, including any reference numbers provided by the employer
4. Mention where you found the job posting
5. Describe yourself to the employer in terms of the specific qualifications described in the posting; don’t assume that the employer will read your resume unless they find what they need in the cover letter
6. Try to find a balance between being too friendly and too formal; show the level of enthusiasm that is suitable to the type of position to which you are applying
7. Keep the letter short, simple and easy to read
8. Check your spelling and grammar very carefully, every time you send a cover letter
9. Don’t depend on Spell-Check — it will only pick up some errors, not all (it will miss a mistake if it is a real word, like using “form” instead of “from”)
10. Follow the instructions in the posting, making sure to submit it in time and to the specific person outlined in the advertisement

For samples of cover letters, check out some of my favourite websites such as Workbloom, Monster.ca and About.com — Job Searching.

As the expression goes, you only get one opportunity to make a good first impression. It is well worth investing time and efforts to write a high quality letter which conveys your enthusiasm and show the employer the exact reasons to consider your unique candidacy for the position. Capturing the interest of the employer can be a deal breaker; if your cover letter does not impress, likelihood is that the employer will not turn to your resume or call you for an interview, whereas a well worded and thoughtful letter can go a long way to meeting the next person who may hire you for that position you are working so hard to find.

Making Facebook work for job search

When I train job searchers to use social media to find work, my focus is usually on LinkedIn, which is the most obvious tool for this purpose. I have also described how Twitter can be an excellent tool for job search, if used properly.

Facebook, however, is a more complicated tool for job search, because it crosses over the boundaries between the personal and professional.  Despite this (or maybe because of it), Facebook has become a popular recruiting tool, with more than half of employers reported using it to gather more information about candidates.

Employer Recruiting plans, 2011

Given the fact that almost half of all Canadians are active Facebook users, and that employers might either deliberately seek out candidates on Facebook (as indicated on the graph from Jobvite.com), or maybe simply come across them as they browse the results of an online search, it is important that job seekers give some thought to what their Facebook profile says about them.

The question for you, as a job searcher who uses social media, is how to go about setting up a profile on Facebook, which would support (or at least not interfere with) your job search.

You could choose any of these options, each with its own pros and cons:

Option #1: Make your Facebook profile private, including limiting who sees your timeline, photos, profile info, “likes” and friends. Reppler, a site that helps users monitor their own social media use, recommends a number of steps for Facebook users to protect their professional image, including narrowing who can see the profile and previous posts to “friends” only.

• Pros of total privacy: no concerns about what employers may think or see on your profile.
• Cons: With changing Facebook privacy settings and the fact that you cannot control your friend’s privacy settings, you can never always be sure that you are totally private.  Also, employers who will check your profile won’t have a chance to be impressed by you in a positive way.

Option #2: Create an open and public professional Facebook presence. This means carefully controlling ALL aspects of your profile, including choice of friends, activities, and “likes”, to maximize how you are seen by employers. 

• Pros of total openness: you will be able to be consistently controlled and will impress employers with your professionalism. 
• Cons: you will have to keep a very close and strict control over who are your friends and how they behave, which will make the Facebook a lot less relaxed and enjoyable.

Option #3: A mixed approach, allowing some select information to be public, with posts that are deliberately chosen to portray yourself in specific ways. On a regular basis, you will carefully share a post which you would like employers to find. Such posts may be related to your field of work, or might simply reflect on you in such a way that impresses employers positively.

A recent article in LA Times suggested that employers could effectively use Facebook to assess candidates for certain characteristics, called “The Big 5 Aspects of Personality”. These include: Extroversion, Agreeableness, Conscienceness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience.

Facebookers could use their profiles to reveal the best of these five aspects:

• Extroversion, which is defined as a “pronounced engagement with the external world“, is valued by employers because it implies high levels of enthusiasm and sociability. Of course, not all jobs require employees to be highly extroverted, though all would value some level of outgoingness, because it means that candidates would be easy to get along with. On Facebook, extrovert behaviour on Facebook could include having a large number of engaged friends, and actively interacting with them in a warm and outgoing way.
• Agreeableness refers to “cooperation and social harmony“, which is the person’s ability to get along with others. Agreeableness is HIGHLY valued by employers. On Facebook, Agreeableness can be seen when you are helpful, perhaps offering advice and showing appreciation for others. It can also include showing concern for others. Agreeableness is even more obvious by what it isn’t: NOT expressing negativity, or complaining nor swearing.
• Conscienceness has to do with impulse control — that is, how much care you take in what you say to whom; being cautious and thoughtful. It is likely that most employers place a high value on this in most fields. On Facebook, you can show Conscienceness in the nature of the posts you share, choosing clever and thought-provoking posts, participating intelligently in conversations, as well as not getting caught up in arguments.
• Neuroticism refers to the levels of anxiety, depression and anger expressed by a person. Obviously, these are characteristics that employers would rather not deal with. Employers want to know that potential hires have moods and behaviours which will not impact on their social relationships, decision-making or ability to cope with the pressures of the job.  On Facebook, you can show your low levels of Neuroticism by how you interact with your friends, as well as the topics of your posts, sticking to positive and enthusiastic topics and language.
• Openness to Experience refers to people who are open-minded, flexible and creative. Not all employers will value this equally (for example, those in the arts require such a mind-set, whereas more traditional fields such as banking may need it less, or even prefer a more conservative type of personality), though all employers prefer employees who are adaptable to change and are able to solve problems. On Facebook, this can be shown through the content of your posts, your comments and your interests, focusing on topics which are appropropriately creative and open.

•  Pros of a mixed approach: you will be able to express yourself on Facebook and enjoy interacting with friends, as well as benefit from exposure to employers that may impress them enough to improve your chances to get a job. 
• Cons: you will have to be very careful about the settings that you chose for each post and make sure to carefully check how the profile is seen to others (tip: on Facebook Timeline there is a “view as..” option on the top left corner, which will allow you to see your Timeline as non friends would).

To sum up, with the increased odds that potential employers may be checking out your Facebook page, it is worth carefully thinking through how you are going to use this social media tool.  If done with care, Facebook can become a very important tool in your job search kit, giving employers more opportunities to be impressed by your personality, beyond that which they may learn on Twitter, LinkedIn, and — even more so — your resume.

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Job Search

It’s that time of year again where people make resolutions that they intend to adhere to for the rest of the year. “Lose weight, exercise, be a better person, take up a hobby or reconnect with family/friends” are a few of the more common ones.

Why not take this re-focus opportunity and make some resolutions towards your job search? There are always ways to fine tune your search, even if you don’t think it’s broke (you wouldn’t be reading these blogs if things were peachy and the job opportunities were pouring in – would you?).

Here are a couple of ways to get back on track and start 2012 on a solid footing.

1) Review your resume - If you have been sending out your resume to anything that remotely resembled what you are looking for, but didn’t receive any calls, it’s time for a resume revamp. Firstly, your resume should be an ever-changing document, as one size does not fit all ESPECIALLY when you are applying for different jobs. The resume you used to apply at Burger King should not be the same one you send for the IT help desk position.

It is more efficient if you focus your job search within one field. You can use the same resume as a template, but even then, you MUST  fine tune it to match the job you are applying for. Show the employer where your skills and experience match what they are looking for. If you are applying in different sectors for different roles then you should have a separate resume for each sector or role. Don’t cut corners here, as the easiest way to get your resume into the circular “G” file is to send it for a job that it doesn’t match.

2) Review your interview skills - If you seem to be able to get interviews but always come second, there is something turning off the employers from what they see on paper (your resume) to when the meet you and speak with you in person. A good remedy for this is to take advantage of Interview Workshops offered by many of the community organizations like JVS. They can help you identify potential areas of concern like body language, tone of voice, quality of answers and follow-up. Most of these services are free so why not see if these programs can make you an employer’s first choice? Also, check out our past blogs on this topic, and rethink how and what you say in interviews.

3) Training for new skills –  This is probably the toughest area to decide on what to do. Most people are limited by financial resources, time constraints, family obligations and so on. If you are eligible for training through a government assistance program (provincial, federal, Student Scholarships and even municipal) then that will ease some of the burden, but not everyone is eligible for the specific skills training they need.

Here’s how I look at this situation. The only person that will decide of the training you take is valuable, necessary or makes a difference is the EMPLOYER. The opinions of a salesperson at a private college, a job developer like myself, a friend, or even your parents do not matter. The employer is the one who is going to hire you and they will be the ones to decide if your new skills are what they are looking for.

Points to remember:

• Not all training is created equal. Taking a program through a Community College will have more of an impact than cheaping out and taking the same program off a matchbook from Chris’s Private College, Tattoo Parlour and Burger Emporium. Visit at least 3 people in the field or role you want to be in and ask what education or skills are needed, where they got their education and what institutions they recognize as legitimate. Don’t waste your time, money and energy on training that won’t get you ahead and is not recognized in the real world.
• Take training that will add to your skills and not start you from scratch. With the Second Careers program, many people took advantage of the funding to get trained in a different career. I have heard of successes and challenges from different people who enrolled in the program. If I was to enroll in such a program I would look for skills that would enhance what I already had. Why start totally from scratch as that would make me “new” to the industry?

Here’s an example of what a successful client of mine did –  he had 10 years experience as a Tool & Die Operator. His company went bankrupt and he was out of work. After trying to find a job for several months he decided to apply for Second Careers. The training he applied for was Industrial Design. Coupling that with his experience as a Tool & Die Operator made him a much stronger candidate then he was before the training. He did get a job with his new skills.

My point is to be applying for jobs from a position of strength. Why get into a totally different field only to be at the bottom of the ladder again? Enhance the great skills you do have with the proper training (with input from the employers) and you will become a stronger candidate. Starting off at the bottom of the food chain again means less money too.

• Keep in mind that employers do offer professional development/tuition assistance programs to their employees. Let’s say you have identified the company that you want to work at but the job you want needs further training. Being unemployed,you don’t have money or the ability to take time off for school – bills have to be paid. Why not apply for a job you are suitable for and then take the training through the company – on their dime?? Many companies have tuition assistance programs that are fairly generous for their staff. They are interested in growing talent from within so these programs are a great way to get your training and to get paid at the same time.

4) Increase your Social Media presence – Utilize LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and so on to gather information, connect with employers and get the inside scoop on potential job opportunities. The availability of information, ease of connecting with people is staggering. Just remember to mind your manners. Being unprofessional online can harm your reputation very quickly. People don’t owe you anything and if they choose not to respond then move on. You will meet some fantastic people out there that are willing to give advice, lend a hand or even just listen. Sometimes that is all you need to get you over the hurdle that is in front of you.

So, for 2012, I challenge you to do the following:

• Invite one person a day from the field you are looking to work in, to connect on LinkedIn.
• Join one new LinkedIn Group a week, and PARTICIPATE. Start a discussion so they can see you.
• Pass on a job opportunity that you have seen to someone in your network.
• Be open, to try different tactics and new approaches to your job search.

Best of luck in 2012,

Chris

HOW TO: Impress employers online

In my work with job searchers, I am often surprised to find that many have not considered the possibility that it is very likely that employers will search for them on Google.  Many job seekers admit to have never Googled themselves, to find out what they look like, and seem almost offended by the notion that employers might be seeking information about candidates beyond that which has been supplied in resumes and references.

In our daily lives, when faced with a decision about a new product/service, most of us turn to Google or other search engines to gain information. We are curious to see how it is portrayed and what others might say about it; we don’t necessarily trust the advertising and want to make an independent and informed decision about what is best for us.

Job searchers are encouraged to look up employers before applying for a job or attending an interview. A search on Google can produce interesting information about a company – perhaps a newspaper report about problems with the company, or, on the positive side – inclusion in a “best employers” list. If the company cannot be found online, or if their website looks weak, job searchers might conclude that the company is outdated, out of touch with customers, or struggling financially.

It would be reasonable, then, to assume that employers would do the same. In a survey of employers, Reppler, a social media monitoring service, found that more than 90% of employers turn to the Internet to find more information about candidates, at all stages of the hiring process, and that their decisions are significantly influenced by what they find online, good and bad.

© David Castillo Dominici | Dreamstime.com

Do you know what employers might find, when they search for you online? Google yourself, and look through the results carefully – check through the images, websites, blogs that appear, and identify which of these scenarios best describes what you find:

a.  You are not easy to find. There are some images and links of people who share your name, and not all are respectable, and it is hard to tell whether the person who is found is actually you.

b.  You are nowhere to be found. At most, there’s a Facebook page which is completely private, but otherwise, you seem invisible online.

c.  You ARE easy to find, but it doesn’t look so good.  There are uncomplimentary or even embarrassing photos, Facebook/YouTube/blog comments, tweets, mentions, karaoke videos or mentions in less than professional contexts.

d. It is easy to find you, and you look impressive. Your LinkedIn profile appears at the top of the search, as well as your membership in a professional association, there’s possibly a video of you participating in an athletic event, an image of you in a graduating class photo from 5 years ago, or a mention of you in a fundraising event.

If you found a, b or c, your challenge is to work on carefully crafting your own online image, through thoughtful and informed use the many free social media tools available on the Internet. In previous blog posts, we have outlined how LinkedIn and Twitter may be used to create a professional image, which will convey the best and most suitable message for employers to find. Even Facebook, which has developed a reputation as a job killer, can be used as a very effective self marketing tool, if the content and privacy settings are carefully controlled.

When using social media, remember that employers might be unforgiving. Be careful about what you say and do online; keep in mind that potential employers will judge your:

• language (swearing, being negative or mean, bullying)
• spelling and grammar
• photos, including the profile image
• friends and associations
• activities (too much drinking or partying?)

Most effectively, make sure that you have something positive and impressive to show to those who are searching for you online. If you are not working right now, engage in activities which you can show off, such as volunteering, taking a course and hobbies, such as athletics or the creative arts. Don’t be shy to share your achievements, past and present — seek out recommendations on LinkedIn from those who can speak well about you and your work. Use social media to share interesting thoughts, ideas and insights, and link up with friends and organisations that reflect well on you and your professional interests.

Bottom line:

1. Search for yourself online regularly and become familiar with what employers might find.
2. Influence what people will find online about you, through careful use of social media.
3. Watch your language and behaviour online, as well as that of people with whom you are associated.
4. Involve yourself in positive activities, and make sure to share them online.

With so much of the discussion online focusing on the drawbacks and risks of social media, it isn’t surprising that you may be nervous to get online. The fact is, though, that with the risks, there are also some exciting opportunities for job seekers to create and project a positive online image, which could go a long way to persuade potential employers that you might just be that perfect next employee which they seek.

Job Searching During the Holidays – Should I Stay or Should I Go?

This indecision’s bugging me
If you don’t want me, set me free
~The Clash

The malls and stores have been decorated for over a month now, and you know the words to all of the new Christmas songs, since you have heard them a million times. You are waiting for a reply from a previous interview and wondering if it is time to shut down your job search, as nobody hires during the holidays.

You are partly right.

As referenced in my previous article, Tips for finding Seasonal Work – there are employment opportunities leading up to Christmas. But what about the month of December? Is it worth the effort to keep plugging away at finding a job?

While it is true that most employers will slow down or freeze hiring during December, there are still fantastic opportunities to network and put yourself in a more strategic position for the New Year. Think of it as an early New Year’s resolution.

During this time of year people are wrapping up things for year-end. Their focus is not completely on work, but on the holidays, friends and family. Moods are more positive and people are more receptive to chatting about what the next year may bring. Use this opportunity to connect with your targeted employers to gather information about the company, upcoming job opportunities and their hiring process.

Having this information before jobs are posted in the New Year gives you an edge over the rest of the job seekers. You will know what jobs are coming up, when they are accepting applications, the hiring process and who is doing the hiring. If you are lucky and resourceful, you may even have secured someone on the inside who can pass your resume on for you.

It’s also a good time to follow-up on previous interviews where a decision has not been made. Most companies will want hiring wrapped up before the end of the year so they can complete any paperwork, finish budgets and project future headcount. People have a little more time to chat and may be more open to longer discussions on the decision and potential upcoming opportunities. Don’t go into the New Year thinking “what if” and “I wonder if they will call” – find out now. You can then start with a clean slate in 2012.

To be prepared for the potential opportunity of marketing yourself to employers, try this exercise:  in seven words or less – describe what you do or what you can offer an employer. Think of this as your sales pitch, calling card or your brand. It’s a way to become more memorable. What I currently use for employers is “Helping employers land their next great employee”.  I couple that with a profile picture on LinkedIn of me holding a large fish (yes it’s real and I did catch it! released it too).

You can choose to stop your job search over the holidays or keep plugging away to secure your next job.  I’m not suggesting that you continue at 100%. Everyone needs some time off to relax, regroup and recharge. Just don’t completely stop, as you would be missing out on some great opportunities.

The benefits of job searching in December include:

• employers have more time to talk about current or upcoming hiring opportunities
• there is less competition, as some job seekers have given up their search until the New Year
• some companies could be hiring to use up $$ left in the budget
• the down time can be used to research employers and lay the groundwork for networking (using LinkedIn), as well as review your resume and adjust it, if you haven’t been getting interviews
• companies have a skeleton staff on over the holidays, so the odds of making a connection are higher
• besides, what else are you going to do??

So, use this time of year to your advantage. Don’t give up; keep plugging away. After all, this is your job search and you will get out of it what you put into it. Good luck in 2012. Don’t stop “taking care of business”.

And I’ll be…

Taking care of business every day
Taking care of business every way
I’ve been taking care of business, it’s all mine
Taking care of business and working overtime
Work out
~(Bachman-Turner Overdrive)

Basic etiquette rules for the world of work

In a previous post, Janelle Watkins wrote about the importance of not burning bridges in job search or work, because, as she said — “You never know when you’ll come across these people again and you never know who they may speak to about your behaviour within your chosen field“. Working in social media, this point struck home for me; the Internet has made job searchers, more than ever, visible to potential employers. Job seekers do not seem to be aware of how exposed they truly are to the curious eyes of potential employers, who — fairly or not — use this information in their decision making process.

Everyone who uses social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs) has come across comments in an online public conversations which make them cringe — comments which are personal, inappropriate, mean spirited, rude or even abusive, written often on an impulse. These comments are public and could be easily found by anyone searching for a candidate online. Similarly, emails and text messages are sent, which could also be kept and forwarded. In addition, we know that when evaluating candidates for hire or promotion, employers may casually ask around, to assess the reputation of the applicant and their activities. 

It seems to me that much of this comes down to basic behaviour etiquette; the kind that teachers put up in their kindergarten classrooms, which, it seems to me — we tend to forget as we get older.  A quick online search for rules of behaviour lead me to these “Big Six Recess Rules”, on a school website:

Recess rules -- Marquez Charter Elementary School

Though they may seem childish, these rules are relevant to the way we, as adults in the world of work, are expected to conduct ourselves (and which many of us seem to forget):

1. “Show respect…” – Everyone, including the receptionist, the person who answers the phone, a colleague, teacher or client, might have an impact on how a person may be judged when decisions about jobs are made. Many job seekers have lost opportunities when their disrespectful attitude was pointed out to a potential employer. It’s important to remember that employers regard behaviours such lateness, disorganization, a lack of preparedness, a refusal to follow instructions (such as when employers say “no calls please” on a job post) as disrespectful and will take that into consideration when making a decision.
2. “Use words that compliment, help and support…” – In this age of digital media, words are key. They are the evidence and record against which job seekers are evaluated — including the words job seekers deliberately choose to market themselves (on resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, etc), as well as those written in casual conversation on social media. A quick search on Google will reveal both.  Keep in mind that just as much as negative words can be held against you, positive words can be an advantage. If an employer comes across you on social media and finds you to be intelligent, generous and positive, that may be a deciding factor too.
3. “Settle differences peacefully” – Employers often want to know about a candidate’s ability to handle conflict and deal with criticism.  Again — this can be demonstrated in how you handle yourself in social media.  It can also be addressed in an interview with examples from your work history where you accepted feedback, handled a difficult colleague or dealt with an angry customer.  
4. “Take care…” – The way in which a candidate maintains their workspace, the neatness of a job application, attention to detail and physical appearance all give employers a clue about a job seeker’s commitment to taking care in their work.  This too, is key for employers and can be demonstrated through how you manage your online and workplace behaviours.
5. “Always be where you are supposed to be” — Obviously, cultivating a reputation for unfailingly and punctually attending work, job interviews, classes and other commitments is important.  This could also refer to appropriate use of social media — employers will expect to “find” you, as a job seeker, in certain places online, notably LinkedIn, and if you are to be found elsewhere (Twitter, Facebook, etc), it’s important that you present yourself well there, too.
6. “Always try to perform better than you did yesterday” — This is my favourite of all the rules, because it highlights the difference between mediocrity and excellence. Demonstrate your high standards by ensuring you have things such as error-free resumes, are fully prepared at interviews, present strong references and LinkedIn recommendations, can show a commitment to life long learning and the are able to confidently identify your genuine weaknesses and strengths in an interview. 

The basic ideals listed in the rules of the playground are the same values employers expect to see demonstrated when they make hiring decisions.  Modern technology, through social media and the Internet, has given people unprecedented access to information about each-other. The challenge to all of us, whether we are  job seekers, freelancers, contract workers, employers or business owners, is to maintain a reputation for respect, sociability, fairness, consideration, attentiveness and excellence, both online and in real life.

~ Have you Googled yourself lately?  Check out your online image — does it represent you well? Comment here or on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear what you discover!

Resume writing for the new economy

Writing a resume is one of the first tasks facing job searchers, as they set out to seek new employment. The challenge is to prepare a concise and clear document that represents your work history and skills in the best, most interesting way possible. 

As an Employment Counsellor, my experience has been that while most job searchers already have a resume, it most often requires some serious work to update it and represent the job searcher as current in the new economy. So, how do you prepare a well written resume that fits in with the ever-changing expectations of employers?

Here are some places to start:

While it is a good start to begin by unearthing your old resume and adding information about your most recent position, this is clearly not sufficient. Keep in mind that the quick pace of change in the job market has affected employers’ expectations of you – both in terms of your skills (i.e. the content of your resume), as well as the way your write it (i.e. style and layout).

Once you have added information about your most recent employment, it is worth seeking out advice for updating the appearance and style of the resume. There are many credible “how-to” sources to guide the resume writer. I recommend starting out by finding suitable job postings on job boards such as Monster.ca, to help you identify the relevant key words and descriptions of job functions, which you can integrate into your resume. They also offer a comprehensive Career Advice section, which offers excellent tips and suggestions.  Other excellent online sources are About.com’s Resume Tips, as well as Susan Ireland’s Resume Site. You will find good samples of resumes online, as well; I often refer clients to WorkBloom, who provide a good range of different types of resumes to inspire the resume writer to use new formats and wording.

Keep in mind that not all advice fits all resumes. For example, resumes should be styled to reflect the varying characters of different employment sectors. To illustrate that point, the financial sector (banking) is more conservative and requires traditional resumes, whereas marketing, especially social media, can be quite creative and may include a range of media such as Videos, Infographics or other alternative digital resume formats. 

Once you have gathered information and have begun tackling the process of rewriting the resume, it is worth seeking independent personalized feedback from those who you might regard as “in the know” – this might include Employment Counsellors or Workforce Specialists in local publicly funded services such as JVS Toronto.

Ultimately though, the best sources of feedback on your resume will always be people who hire into the fields which you are targeting. Make sure to ask as many as possible to ensure that you get a broad picture, and target people in large companies who see many resumes.  Eventually, you will reach a point in the writing process, where you have a “good enough” resume with which to start the process, keeping in mind that it will be adapted for EVERY job.

A good resume will be useful when you job search and network, and it will also be an excellent tool for setting up a detailed LinkedIn profile to initiate the online networking process. Taken further, there are even more ways of using your resume as a tool to increase your online presence, such as Visual CV.

There are some additional tips to keep in mind when writing a resume in this economy, with the increased use of email and online technologies:

• When chosing a font, keep in mind that resumes are primarily read on computer screens, so it’s useful to pick a font that is simple, clean and which allows for more information to be fit into a page and yet still be readable. I personally prefer Calibri, Tahoma or Verdana , but simple Arial is also good.

• Avoid using tables, as their outline shows on the computer screen, and try to eliminate underlining, which looks on the computer screen as if it is a link

• Keywords are very important. Remember that employers often use online screening tools, which search a resume for certain words, so make sure to use a range of keywords which may be sought after

• Assuming that employers will be checking up on the information you provide, using online tools such as Google and LinkedIn, make sure that your company names are valid and exactly spelled, and that the data on the resume is consistent with other sources such as LinkedIn

• Since resumes are on a screen, you are able to add live links to LinkedIn, as well as your blog/website, if relevant. This may be an excellent to encourage the employer to read more about you and for you to showcase information beyond the simple resume

Overall, while the process of writing a resume can be very stressful and demanding, it can also be an excellent way to re-evaluate your skills and learn about the changes in the job market.  Be prepared to take on the challenge fully, and make the best of what you can learn. It is well worth investing some time and energy (though not necessarily money) to make this a worthwhile learning experience that will enhance the chances of you finding the work you want more effectively.