3 Mantras to Stay Calm During a Job Search - Denise Spacinsky

3 Mantras to Stay Calm During a Job Search
Denise Spacinsky
Career Coach & Advisor for Localization Industry


This is a stressful we all need to accept it, however the below believe and hardwork will get you a job irrespective of what ever the market job conditions.  Our voices shake and the stress energy reverberates off us. I have been in that situation and not sure what to do, where to go, what to expect – so many unknowns make for a nervous temperament.

Adding to the fire there are some news journalist out there keeps writing that the job market is terrible, there are billions of unemployed people and everyone is living under a bridge. I wish they’d stop that. 

Mantra 1 : I will get a job.

You will find a job. Lots of companies are hiring and lots are looking for someone exactly like you. I promise. And you only need one job after all so the odds are in your favor. I just did a quick LinkedIn job search and there are 196,141 jobs posted there today. And that’s just LinkedIn.

Mantra 2: I will get the right job.

A common fear is that when someone makes a decision to choose a job, that they may make a bad one and will end up trapped and miserable for the next 10 years. It’s like getting married (and some of us have admittedly made wrong choices in that area) so the panic of potentially choosing badly can flare up pretty powerfully.

Just let that one go. You will make the right decision. Trust yourself. Trust your ability to know what job and company are right for you. Trust that you will find the right home for yourself. Your new employer will welcome you with open arms and you will be wildly successful. Don’t let any irrational fears to the contrary get the better of you.

Mantra 3: I will get the right job at the right time.

This mantra is designed to quell the anxiety related to timing of getting a new job quickly. This job search stuff seems to take for-ev-er.

First you have to job hunt on job boards and company career sites. And network to find good leads for you. Then you prep your resume (use Resume Blaster Service) and send in an application. Then wait. Then you get a call scheduled. Then wait. Then you see if they want to keep meeting with you again and again and again. And this can go on for weeks, sometimes months. Sorry for that. It’s a hassle. We can’t really rush things when a lot of people are involved so the only way to get through it is to be positive. Know that when the right job comes together, the timing will be perfect. Just as it should be.

So next time you are feeling nervous or fearful in your job search just take a deep breath and repeat after me...

Inspried and Extracted from https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140707203124-66216-3-mantras-to-stay-calm-during-a-job-search

Cover Letter - A Secret Weapon In Your Job Search

Cover Letter - A Secret Weapon In Your Job Search

Cover Letter Format

A well crafted cover letter is proof positive that you can organize your thoughts, respond thoughtfully and appropriately to a posting, and communicate well in written form. But like the five paragraph essay, it takes practice and most people don't write cover letters at all, and if they do, they are usually very generic and borderline boring in nature. Write a good cover letter and you set yourself in a category apart from the average job seeker.

A suggested and proven format:

Date

Job Seeker Name
Job Seeker Address


Their name (find out who you are directing the letter to, if at all possible.)
Business name
Address
City, State, Pin

Dear (their name),

State your reason:

Why are your writing? A cover letter doesn't always have to accompany a resume. If it doesn't, it can be called a letter of intent. Make sure you are clear about your intent, but be conversational. Break the ice with a reference to a mutual friend, how you heard about the posting, a mutual association, or perhaps a comment on their company's mission statement. Do your homework, and think about what will resonate and cause them to continue reading.

State your case:

If you were a lawyer, arguing for your reasons for winning the case, ie. the job, how would you present your arguments?

You can format the second section in one of three ways.

Paragraph style - continue your letter in a narrative format, stating what experience and qualifications you have that meet their stated requirements.

Table Style - In a tabled format (two wide - with gridlines hidden), state their requirement, and then in the field immediately to the right explain or list how you meet that requirement.

Combination Style - This is a combination of both styles. You might find that your paragraph allows you to deliver your story better, while supporting or adding to elements in the table format.

Be compelling. Be relevant. This is your chance to separate yourself from the herd. Think about what they want to hear. Again, do your homework.

State your intention:

This is where you let them know that you are interested in the next step in the process. An interview is usually the obvious choice, although asking for a "conversation" might be more appropriate if you are pursuing a job in the underground and a job posting is not published. Asking for an interview if they are not actively hiring could be counterproductive, whereas a conversation would be less assuming, but still move you forward.

If you have a way to contact them, state that if you don't hear from them in an allotted amount of time, that you will contact them at a certain time. Then calendar it and do it!

Close it with

Sincerely,

Your name

The more you practice, the better you become.


Inspired and extracted from, https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140626160937-17442977-how-a-cover-letter-can-be-the-secret-weapon-in-your-job-search

No Job Offer? Ask yourself these questions - Andy Ditlevson

No Job Offer? Ask yourself these questions! 
Andy Ditlevson - Career Services Professional

Ever gotten turned down for a job and wanted to ask the interviewer "WHY?" I think we've all been in this situation -- the problem is that most employers will be very hesitant to tell you why they rejected you as a candidate. The good news is, if you can be honest with yourself, you can probably figure out why you didn't get a job offer by asking yourself these questions:

1) Did I thoroughly research the employer so I could provide very specific reasons why I am interested in working for their particular organization? (Your answers should make it obvious to the employer that you really did your homework. If you give basically the same answer to more than one employer - you're probably in trouble).

2) Did I read through the job description carefully so I knew exactly what the job duties were? (CLUE -- if after you answered the "Why are you interested in this job" question, the recruiter reminded you of the job duties, you probably just lost the job offer).

3) Did I cite specific detailed examples to prove I met their requirements? (For example, if you're asked to talk about your communication skills, say something like: "I think my communication skills are one of my strengths. Let me give you an example --last week, I was (cite specific situation) and so I (cite specific action you took), which resulted in (describe positive outcome of your action).

4) Did I dress appropriately for the interview? (If the interviewer was dressed more formally than you, the offer may have flown out the window before you even sat down).

5) Did I demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for the job and employer? (If you're not sure you want the job -- there's a good chance the employer walked away from the interview wondering the same thing -- if so "bye-bye" job offer).

6) Did I follow up with a thank you note? (This is one more way to show the employer that you really want the job -- no letter = little effort = no offer).

7) Did I badmouth anyone in the interview? (Any negative comment about a former job, employer or colleague will lead the employer to think that you'll likely do the same thing at their organization if they hire you).

8) Was I late? Did I have gum in my mouth? Did my cell phone go off? Did I sit up straight and make good eye contact?

9) Did I go into the interviewing thinking "I'm not sure I really want this job"? (Candidates sometimes do this to minimize the blow of being turned down but having this mindset often leads to rejection. Even if you are not sure you want the job -- go into the interview thinking "I want to get this job offer" -- that way you get to decide).

If you said "Yes" to any of these questions -- you should have a good idea why you didn't get the job offer. If you could say "No" to all of them, it is possible that someone else was more qualified than you for each of the jobs -- but if multiple job interviews result in no offers, it may be you were "out interviewed" rather than out qualified. In that event, please consider doing some practice interviews through your career center and/or with someone who has experience interviewing candidates.

Inspired and extracted from https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140626164940-25240107-no-job-offer-ask-yourself-these-questions

4 things in your resume for getting noticed and respond

4 things in your resume for getting noticed and respond

1. You addressed the requirements of the job which is posted.

This is so basic. Even if you don't tick all the boxes, at least acknowledge them! While you might not have PHP as a card in your development deck, perhaps you have HTML, Javascript and Objective-C. Explain in your cover letter why having those skills should fill the post with confidence that you can fill out the rest of their requirements over time.

2. Tell who you are, not just what you do.

While this might sound like namby-pamby new-age rot, think about how you would forge a new relationship in a social setting. You may start with what you do for a job, but what really makes you connect with someone is sharing something of yourself. Not just what you studied, but how you enjoyed the experience and how studying opened new ideas to you that you never thought you would consider. People are not looking for your life story - but if they want to work with you, they want to know that we're going to get on well.

3. Examples of your work.

Whether included as a portfolio or as a link to a site or blog you are working on, if they can see what you've done, it will speak volumes more than a 15-page list of all your programming languages, university awards and extra-curricular pursuits. Show people what you can do in the real world and they might just find an excuse to get you in to meet their boss.

4. Be professional in your cover letter, but also be yourself.

There is no bigger shock after reading a professionally-crafted cover letter and resume to find that the person you are interviewing is a Goth with multiple facial piercings and a neck tattoo. Whilst none of those things would ever stop people from hiring the right person, not showing some kind of personality in your cover letter to indicate that you are a little left-of-centre and then finding that you look like the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails in person isn't doing you any favours. While you might want to hide yourself for fear that you'll be rejected, sooner or later, they are going to see what you're like - so better that you're up-front about it now than shock us with it later.

Objective Can Kill A Resume - Greg Lachs

Objectives in Resume

Most of the objectives we write in the resume and vague, and virtually meaningless. None of them are helpful.

Below are some sample objective

“To grow and be happy.”
“To have an exciting opportunity with XYZ Industries, or any other great job at another company.”
“To obtain a challenging position that utilizes my strengths and skills and offers potential.”
“To pursue employment with a reputable company that will enable me to learn skills in the workplace.”

In a resume, employers look for what you offer – not what you want. An objective is an “I want” statement that doesn’t help.

A recruiter has up to 15 seconds to look through your resume, sometimes half that much time.  The first “real” writing they see is an objective. 

That objective is about what you want, not the employer. Strike One. Usually very vaguely written. Strike Two. Finally, it is the first real impression your resume has made – and it’s not a good one. Strike Three. First impressions can only be made once. Not a great start, is it?

However, you can fix this with a very simple alternative. Take sentence or two and let them know what you specifically have to offer them:

Effective Objectives:

“10 year IT Systems Administrator with Management Experience and Budgeting. Cut Technical Purchase budget by 25% and increased productivity.”

“Sales Professional who has met or exceeded quota over the last five years and has $750,000 in Office Supply Sales in the last 2 years.”

“Administrative Recruiter with 5 years of experience placing talent in Fortune 500 companies.”

The formula:

Your Title/Profession + experience + accomplishment

New to the field? Substitute your education or training for experience. For an accomplishment, that can be from a previous job in another field – or through your volunteer work. Something that anyone might appreciate.

“Business Analyst with MBA and 5 years Volunteer Experience with 211.”

“Technical Support Professional with A+ Certification and Customer Service Experience.”

“Accountant with BA in Business Management and Quickbooks Experience.”

“Electrical Engineer with BSEE and Winner of Sr. Technical Project Award from Syracuse University.”

The short “Summary” you have provided is much more likely to get positive attention at the first glance. The recruiter is likely to read it a bit more carefully; you’ve given her a good reason to.

Just put “Summary” where “Objective” would have been and then use the formula.

Bring your resume “back to life” so you can showcase the talent, experience and education you offer in a way that gets the interest you deserve.

Inspired and extracted from https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140627175348-19974532-how-an-objective-can-kill-a-resume

The Scientific Version of your resume getting a interview - Laura Hoff

The Scientific Version of your resume getting a interview - Laura Hoff, Scientific Recruiter at VERUM Staffing

Order of your Resume:

The order in which you lay out your resume can also affect your chances. In our prior resume articles we went over the basic parts of the resume, but we will give a basic “order of go” here. The order you should place your resume in is as follows: Heading/Contact Info, Objective (if you choose to include it), Education, Relevant Skills/Coursework, Employment/Research/Other Employment, and “Filler” (fillers include professional memberships/certifications, awards, and relevant presentations/publications, patents). Keeping your resume in this order gives the company or recruiter the best chance to find the important information quickly and easily. If you have held a position in industry, your experience may be included before the skills section. For a recent college graduate, the skills section should generally come first, unless you have held a full or part time relevant job or internship while attending school.

No of Pages in a Resume:

A standard rule for resume length is as follows: for 1-3 years of experience use one page, for 3-5 years use two pages, and for 5+ years it’s ok to use three pages. As we stated in our previous article, if you have information you feel is critical for the company to know…include it. But be sure that the information is relevant and highlights only the major skills or duties of that position.

Spelling and Grammar:

Another very common reason resumes may get thrown out is if they contain too many grammar or spelling errors. There are few things more damaging than mentioning that you “have strong attention to detail,” only to have multiple errors in your resume. Most scientific positions will involve state or federal regulations that must be followed to a T. If you can’t or won’t double check your own work in your resume, it doesn’t leave the employer with a great impression of how well you would pay attention to small details on the job!

Dates of Employment:

The final piece of the puzzle we’ll discuss in this article are the dates of employment on your resume. Dates that are missing, unclear, or out of date entirely will look at best like messy work on your part, and at worst like you are trying to hide something. Your dates of employment should be clear (month and year), and any large gaps between employment should be addressed (ie. If you were not working for a few months in order to travel, or tend to a family emergency, a short sentence on your resume can explain this). 

Updated Resume:

Remember to keep your resume updated not only on your computer, but any job boards you may have your resume on as well. For example, if you have your resume on a job board, but do not update it in a year, it sends a few messages to recruiters or companies looking at your resume. First, you may have missed some new role or job you have recently assumed, so they have no idea if you are still at the company listed as your most recent employer. And second, if you are not updating on a regular basis you may look like an uninterested job seeker who can’t be bothered too much with the search.

The most important piece of advice to take away from this article, is that your resume is a reflection of you as a candidate. Whether your resume if professional, up-to-date, and relevant leaves a recruiter or company with a much more positive view of you as a candidate. A resume that is colorful, outdated, and generic won’t leave nearly such a good impression. Remember that as a job seeker, your primary job is getting the job! Let recruiters and companies see you as a quality candidate by putting effort and polish into your resume. Good luck!

Inspired and extracted from https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140703153747-164720631-why-your-resume-could-be-keeping-you-from-getting-an-interview-the-scientific-version?trk=tod-home-art-list-small_3

Mistakes people tend to make while going for an interview - Tom Bryan

Mistakes people tend to make while going for an interview - Tom Bryan, Managing Partner at ISGF, LLC

1. Don’t try to change the tone of the interview. If the interviewer is all business or very direct, respond in the same manner. Never try to lead the conversation in a different or more casual direction.

2. Saying too much – or too little. No hiring manager wants to sit and try to conduct an interview with a jabber jaws, but you do need to speak when it is appropriate. Don’t try to take control of the conversation, but DO ask enough questions to demonstrate your interest in the company and its values.

3. Wearing street clothes to an interview. Never wear ragged jeans, flip flops or other casual wear to an interview. Dress conservatively, and don’t over-do it with the jewelry, make up and perfume or cologne. You want to look professional and neat – not like you just came straight from the tattoo parlor or beach.

4. Arrive late. Nothing says “I’m really not interested in this job” more than arriving late for the interview. Be on time to make a good impression.

5. Weak handshake. When shaking hands with the interviewer, do it firmly, but not too vigorously. You want to show that you are confident, so avoid a limp or weak handshake as well.

6. “Umm”, “you know” – Ever heard someone who cannot talk without putting these kinds of words in every few seconds? This is a BIG turn-off for employers. Take a few seconds before you respond to questions and keep these verbal ticks in the back of your mind so that you will avoid using them. Practice before the interview, either in front of a mirror or with a friend.

7. Inquiring about vacation time, benefits or pay. It’s really not appropriate to ask these types of questions on a first interview. Wait until a time that you feel certain you are a top candidate for the position before getting down to the nuts and bolts.

8. Not being thorough in your answers regarding skills and qualifications. When job candidates are asked about experiences and skills, they often give answers that are vague. Give clear examples of your experiences and skills in a way that directly relates to the job you are hoping to land.

9. Not being prepared ahead of time. Any potential employer is impressed when you ask a few questions about the company that show you’ve done your research. By letting the interviewer know you have done a little research through intelligent questions, he/she will get the message that you are genuinely interested and serious about the job.

10. Not being clear that you want the job. An interview is partially for your benefit, allowing you to learn more about the company, the position and the details so that you have a clear picture of what you may be looking toward. When the interview has concluded, be sure to let the interviewer know that you are enthusiastic and interested in the job.

Article derived from, https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140606171100-4301732-interview-blunders-are-you-making-these-mistakes

How to approach a Job Interviews? - Michael Bete

How to approach a Job Interviews?

As per Michael Betel, Marketing and Sales Director Specializing in Business Development and Customer Centric Care.

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare: It's so important to demonstrate to the interviewers that you care enough to do your homework. You should;

- know your CV and how the work you've done can be applied to this new role
- know the company, its values, its mission, its history, its products, its people, its culture
- know the industry, its trends, its challenges, its future opportunities
- learn about the interviewers and the company's leaders and who they are, and what they've accomplished
- practice sharing relevant experiences you have had, good ones and challenging ones. What did you learn from both? This is the time to remember the STAR model (Situation, Tactic, Action, Results), which really does help improve the quality and details of the examples you give.

2. Research, research, research: Use multiple resources. 

- speak with contacts you know. LinkedIn could help hook you up with people who know the industry and the organization
- use LinkedIn to learn about the role (others may be in a similar role)
- Google is fantastic at opening up a world of information, including user reviews, blogs, and comments that will help put the puzzle together for you. 

3. Breathe, breathe, breathe: 

Relax and be yourself. If you pretend to be someone you're not, you're not being authentic and inevitably, you won't be happy there, even if you do get the job.

It's a very competitive market now, but if you take this very seriously and do the preparatory work, you will succeed!

"Chance favors the prepared mind." (Louis Pasteur). The more you prepare, the luckier you become.

Article dervied from, https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140606200909-2644677-interviews-are-serious-business-are-you-ready

Sample script for "Tell Me About Yourself"

Sample script for "Tell Me About Yourself"

the question itself is so vague. When someone says "Tell me about yourself," aren't you dying to come back with "What exactly do you want to know?"

All Business

"Well, I'm a Software Engineer who's been doing mostly chip design and who's specialized in wireless device manufacturing for the past eight years."

Life Story

"I was born in Maine, but my parents moved to Philadelphia when I was six, so I grew up there. I went to college in Maryland, studying finance, then I took a job with Accenture in Chicago after graduation..."

Best Foot Forward

"I'm a hard-working, experienced Marketing person who got the top ratings from my division VP for the last three years in a row!"

Assertive

"I'm your next Sales Administrator, and my name is Angie Smith!"

Advice:  The best answer for this question would be hear it as "Story of your Career" and answer the question by taking through your progress you made in your career and its is more specific and thus more manageable.

Derived from https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140601050937-52594-how-to-answer-the-question-tell-me-about-yourself?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

Job Seekers 3 Common Issues

Job Seekers 3 Common Issues

Get noticed yourself 

The first part of getting noticed is by building your brand to become renowned in your chosen line of work. Word of mouth is a powerful tool in any industry and you want to be known as someone who is talented and hard working.It is all about being confident without being too pushy. If you are good at what you do, have the right profile and are not afraid to get your name out into the market place then you will stand a better chance of landing that all-important job when it does come along.

Make sure you are the best at what you do and show your dedication. Be a brand ambassador yourself and you have to get out there and let it be known that you are in the market and available for the right opening or opportunity. No matter what level you are at, networking is one of the best ways to enhance your career prospects.

Searching the right role

You need to ask yourself exactly what you are looking for and the type of work you want to be involved in. After you have been through that process take a look at your qualifications and skills and see if the two correspond with one another.

If you really want to land that perfect job or dream role then you have to understand exactly what it is you are looking for in the first place. There is no point in taking the scatter-gun approach and applying for every job that happens to come your way. It is far better to have a more considered and thought out strategy.

Being ahead in the competition

You should be truly ambitious and look for steady progression in your career. You should be moving up every 2-3 years, either in the form of a promotion or a change of company. If you have been in the same job for more than three years then you need to ask yourself why you have been standing still.

Sharpen your skills, You  need to ensure you are updating your skills, experience and qualifications. We are operating in an increasingly competitive and fast-moving world and you need to make sure that you are not falling behind the competition.

Key Components of a Standard profile for Job seekers

Key Components of a Standard profile for Job seekers

Identification

You need to be reached by the employer.  Identification section should include your name, address (city and state is sufficient), one phone number, and one e-mail address. 

Profile Focal Point:

Every profile needs a focal point  a device (or set of devices) that instantly tells a hiring decision-maker what job or type of job the candidate seeks and what his or her top selling points are.

Key Accomplishments

This is an executive summary of your resume; identify key accomplishments that will grab the attention of an employer. This section should summarize (using nouns as keywords and descriptors) your major accomplishments and qualifications

This section can also be labeled "Professional Profile," "Summary of Accomplishments," "Key Skills," "Summary of Qualifications," "Qualifications Summary," or "Qualifications." Consider using our Resume Professional Profile/Qualifications Summary Worksheet.

Education

Fresher this entry should be your next. For others with full-time work experience, this section should follow your experience section.

This section should include school(s) attended (including years of attendance), majors/minors, degrees, and honors and awards received.

For Freshers only: If you decide to list your GPA, make sure to use the GPA that puts you in the best light -- either overall GPA, school or college GPA, or major GPA. 

Professional Experience

This section can also be labeled "Experience, "Work History," or "Employment." We like using experience -- especially for freshers, because experience is broader than work history, allowing you to include major projects that showcase your skills and abilities.

This section should include company name, your job title, dates of employment, and major accomplishments. List experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most current experience.

List your accomplishments in bullet format (rather than paragraph format). Avoid discussing job duties or responsibilities. .

If you don't have a lot of career-related job experience, consider using transferable skills to better highlight your work experience. Finally, make sure to make use of action verbs when describing your accomplishments.

Affiliations/Interests

This is an  optional section. Items from this section are often used as an ice-breaker by interviewers looking to start an interview on an informal basis. This section should only include professional memberships and non-controversial activities/interests.

References

Many experts say this section is passe, but if you have space, include it. If nothing else, this section signals the end of your resume. This section should only include a statement saying references are available upon request.

Tips for Instantly Improving your job search

Tips for Instantly Improving your job search

Profile Are Not Read On Paper Anymore

Most organizations are not receiving paper resumes and when they get them via email or their application system, they don’t print them. So, expect your profile to be read on a computer screen. This means you have to format your documents in a way that makes screen-scanning easy.  By using Resume Blaster you will have a standard format which is uniform and a readable format.

Web & Social Networking Has Replaced the Resume

Recruiters are now using web and networking sites to searches to find talent, instead of paying for a talent databases like they used to do. In fact, many companies wants new application go through a Google screening process. That means the first page of your Google results matter much more than they ever did before during a job search and by using Resume Blaster and RBID Link you will be the first one in the results.

Summary Is Enough

Profile is used mostly in the screening process while actual decisions are made after interviews. There are so many candidates competing for each job, HR people or hiring managers often scan resumes very briefly. Researchers say that the average time on a resume is 30 seconds.

Social Profile Is a Must

Social profile, testimonials, or recommendations seriously reduce the perceived risk of you as a candidate.

Relationships First, Profile Second

Profiles are not used as introductory documents much these days. In fact, “Send me your profile” is often an afterthought after an introduction is made. And if an introduction is made online, then your online profile offers much more information than a resume.

What They Want

In years past, a profile or job application was focused on what the job seeker wanted. This is not true anymore. Now an application, profile or cover letter must speak to what value the seeker can bring to the organization. How can you bring value to the company and how soon can the company realize that value.

Interview - frame the conversation around these three areas

frame the conversation around these three areas

When you are interviewing for a job, you will come across as much more grounded and confident (but not arrogant) if you can frame the conversation around these three areas (read below) 

Describe your work history through this lens and when you are asked about what you are looking for in a job share your goals for gaining purpose at work.

Research has identified that you get purpose at work from three things:

DOING SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES:

We gain purpose by doing something that feels important. When do you feel at work like you are doing something greater than yourself? What do you need in a job to make this happen daily?

RELATIONSHIPS:

We get purpose from working with people and serving them. What have been the most purpose rich relationships in your career and why? What environment do you need to build those kinds of relationships?

PERSONAL GROWTH: 

Finally, we get purpose from stretching and growing. When have you felt the most stretched? In what ways do you want to grow in the next year or two? How can you help other people grow?

"statements" which should be avoided in a interview

"statements" which should be avoided in a interview

“Me, me, me.” If your entire thought process during your interview is in regard to yourself, it’s going to come through in how you answer questions. The company wants to know what you're going to bring to the position. Don't ask if you can work from home or what the compensation package looks like unless they bring it up.

“I think...” This statement only shows self-doubt -- something you can’t risk in an interview. Drop this phrase and replace it with something more confident like “In my experience..”

“To be honest...” Stating this before you answer a question may lead the interviewer to believe you weren't being honest during the rest of your interview. Avoid this phrase altogether and never lie during an interview.

“My previous employer was awful...” Badmouthing is never a good idea -- it shows you're untrustworthy or disloyal. If you don't have something nice to say about your current or previous employer, then it’s best not to say it at all. Any kind of negativity toward a company or manager might label you as a bad hire.

"words" which should not be in your profile

"words" which should not be in your profile

“Team player.” How were you a team player? Avoid lip service and share concrete experiences and accomplishments you achieved through teamwork instead.

“Highly qualified.” Show, don’t tell. Simply writing this, rather than listing the experiences that make you highly qualified, may peg you as lazy or dishonest.

“Problem solver.” Break down your resume to represent your abilities as a problem solver. For instance, share a problem-solving achievement that benefited your previous employer or client.

“Familiar with...” Once again, it’s essential to show an employer exactly how you’ve used technical programs or specific skills. Simply listing your familiarity isn’t going to do you any favors.

How do Satya Nadella, Chief of Microsoft hire?

How do Satya Nadella, Chief of Microsoft hire? 
What questions CEO ask?


A. I do a kind of 360 review. I will ask the individual to tell me what their manager would say about them, what their peers would say about them, what their direct reports would say about them, and in some cases what their customers or partners may say about them. That particular line of questioning leads into fantastic threads, and I’ve found that to be a great one for understanding their self-awareness.

I also ask: What are you most proud of? Tell me where you feel you’ve set some standard, and you look back on it and say, “Wow, I really did that.” And then, what’s the thing that you regret the most, where you felt like you didn’t do your best work? How do you reflect on it?

Those two lines of questioning help me a lot in terms of being able to figure people out. I fundamentally believe that if you are not self-aware, you’re not learning. And if you’re not learning, you’re not going to do useful things in the future.

the above extract from the interview conducted by The new york times, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/business/satya-nadella-chief-of-microsoft-on-his-new-role.html?_r=0

action words in your profile

Action words 

These action words are your profiles power words that put that highlight into your CV, and can make it stand out from the crowd.

It is important that you show yourself as being determined and in control by using these action words in your wordings and phrases. They work well when you describe what you have achieved in your Career

Accomplished Achieved Acquired Addressed Administered Advised Analysed Approved Arbitrated Arranged Assembled Assessed Assisted Attained Audited Bought Budgeted Built Calculated Captured Centralised Changed Checked Collected Combined Completed Composed Conceived Conducted Consolidated Consulted Contacted Contracted Controlled Converted Coordinated Corrected Corresponded Counselled Created Cut Decreased

Defined Delivered Demonstrated Designed Detected Determined Developed Devised Diagnosed Directed Discovered Distributed Documented Doubled Drafted Edited Eliminated Employed Encouraged Engineered Ensured Established Estimated Evaluated Examined Expanded Exposed Extracted Facilitated Forecasted Formulated Founded Generated Guided Handled Identified Implemented Improved Improvised Increased Informed Initiated

Initiated Inspected Inspired Installed Instigated Instituted Instructed Interpreted Interviewed Introduced Investigated Judged Launched Lead Lectured Led Liaised Located Machined Maintained Managed Marketed Modernized Monitored Motivated Negotiated Observed Obtained Operated Organised Performed Planned Prepared Presented Processed Produced Programmed Promoted Provided Published Purchased Recommended

Recorded Recruited Redesigned Reduced Reorganised Replaced Represented Researched Resolved Restored Reviewed Revised Scheduled Selected Served Sold Solved Specified Standardised Started Stimulated Strengthened Structured Studied Supervised Supplied Supported Surveyed Tested Trained Translated Uncovered Upgraded Used Utilised Verified Widened Won Wrote