Getting Hired
Five
Things New Grads Should Know About Job Hunting
The class of 2006 is looking at a bright future with promising job prospects
and salary increases. Seventy
percent of hiring managers say they plan to recruit recent college graduates
this year, up from 62 percent in 2005, according to CareerBuilder.com’s
"College Hiring 2006" survey. Plus, nearly one-in-five hiring
managers expect to hire more recent college graduates in 2006 compared
to last year and one-in-four plan to increase starting salaries.
Come
to the Fair -- Prepared!
Job fairs are a great way to shop for new job opportunities, network
and make personal contacts with recruiters at various organizations.
Here are some techniques recommended by experts to ensure that your
performance at the fair doesn't turn into a circus:
The
Secret to a Perfect Handshake
Science backs up what the etiquette books have been saying all along:
A firm handshake helps make a good first impression for both males and
females. A University of Alabama study found that consistent with the
etiquette and business literature, there is a substantial relationship
between the features that characterize a firm handshake (strength, vigor,
duration, eye contact and completeness of grip) and a favorable first
impression.
Does
Your GPA Really Matter?
Studies have shown college graduates earn up to 75 percent more than
people with just a high school diploma. So students earn good grades,
study for the SATs and rack up an impressive list of extracurriculars
in their quest for that oh-so-important acceptance letter.
What
Not to Wear to an Interview
What is the worst outfit ever worn to a job interview? For a career
services director at the University of Chicago, it was the applicant
who sported a Madras tie as a belt and a patterned cotton hat. Other
contenders, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of hiring managers,
include candidates with dirty fingernails, micro-miniskirts, t-shirts
with offensive slogans and even bare feet!
Making
Your First Impression Count
Imagine yourself as the guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey show counseling
families you never met before in front of millions of viewers. There
is only one take and the next 60 minutes could change the course of
your life. That's exactly what I experienced in 1991 during the release
of my first book.
Eight
Tricky Interview Questions
Does the thought of going on a job interview cause your palms to sweat
and your body to break out in hives? Stop itching; you're not alone.
How
to Conquer the First Impression
When you walk into an interview, remember this: It only takes 30 seconds
to make a lasting impression.
What
Can I Do With a Liberal Arts Degree?
Perhaps the most persistent -- and often most annoying -- question college
students hear throughout their years (second only to "What's your
major?") is "So what are you going to do with your major?"
Top
Mistakes Candidates Make
Not feeling so great about your last interview? Take heart. Chances
are the interviewer has seen worse. A recent CareerBuilder study surveyed
hiring managers to identify the most common mistakes candidates make.
Here are the top five categories - along with some real-life examples:
Hiring
Manager Secrets: The 5 Smartest Interview Moves
Ever wonder why you don't get called back after that first interview?
What's holding you back from that great job while others are getting
hired after shorter job searches?
Beware
of Hidden Interview Pitfalls
All the expert interview advice and all the practice in the world still
might not prepare you for hidden traps that can trip you up and foil
your job interview.
How
to Overcome Eight Interview Stumbling Blocks
Does the thought of going on a job interview cause your palms to sweat
and your body to break out in hives? Stop itching; you're not alone.
The vast majority of job seekers admit to emotions ranging from mild
uneasiness to downright panic leading up to their interviews. The good
news is there have been no reported cases of job seekers who died of
nervousness during a job interview. So relax and follow these simple
tips for keeping your anxiety at bay before and during your interview.
No
Phone Calls Please! And Other Rules You Should Break
Job seekers constantly second guess themselves about what to do at each
step of the process. My clients often bemoan, 'If only I could talk
to a live person, I could just tell them how great I am!' And, why shouldn?t
they? This article debunks some of the most infamous job seeking myths.
Dressing
for the Job Interview
Well, your resume worked and now you have an appointment for the all
important job interview. You have done your homework. You are confident
that you can answer anything the interviewer throws at you. Finally
the big day arrives and the final important choice must be made. What
should you wear?
Dos
and Don'ts of Handling Interview Silence
You?re at a meeting or job interview. You've just answered a difficult
question or made an important point and are met with an unmovable silence.
You wait, growing a bit uneasy, but the room remains deafeningly still.
Handling
Illegal Interview Questions
There are several questions that employers may not legally ask applicants.
Federal law attempts to ensure that candidates are hired on job qualifications
and not by prejudicial criteria. Questions structured to obtain information
on race, gender, religion, marital status, age, physical and/or mental
status, ethnic background, country of origin, sexual preference, or
any other discriminatory factor are generally illegal as grounds for
making employment decisions. With few exceptions, these factors contribute
nothing to your ability to perform a job, and an employer must substantiate
those cases where a direct relationship is thought to exist. Anything
that is not a bona fide occupational qualification may not be covered
directly, although the interviewer may seek the information indirectly.
Peak
Performers: In Search of the Best
Uncommon leaders! Super salespersons! Innovative engineers! Extraordinary
negotiators! Marketing geniuses! Awesome administrators! How do we find
these peak performers -- the best of the best? What sets them apart
from others?
Best
Impression: Interview to Get the Job
Some things may have changed about job hunting, but how you present
yourself in an interview is not one of them. Despite the rosy employment
picture, you are probably not going to be hired until a company has
a conversation with you and decides you're the best person for the job.
This is especially critical when you are up against someone with similar
credentials and background, or when the qualifications for the job have
more to do with interpersonal and communication skills than with technical
qualifications. Here are some strategies to help you do the best job
of selling yourself when meeting with a prospective employer.
Interviewing
to Take Home the Gold
Interviewing is like being selected to compete in the Olympics: you
have outperformed hundreds or thousands of competitors and are down
to the final round. You are now competing with the best of the best.
How can you leave with the gold? Here are keys to making your interview
a day for the champion.
No
Thank You Could Mean No Job
It's one of the simplest things you can do. Your mother mother told
you to always say it. By expressing it -- or not -- you can change a
person's mood and perception of you in an instant. Who knew two words
could be so powerful?
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