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    Secrets of A Successful Job SearchA P r a c t i c a l G u i d e

    P r e p a r e d b y t h e S u c c e s s H a w k . c o m Te a m

    C o p y r i g h t 2 0 0 9 C a r e e r M a n a g e m e n t , L L C . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d .

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    Contents

    Interviews ............................................................................30

    Types of Interviews .......................................................... 31

    Preparing for Interviews .................................................. 31

    Interview Questions to Anticipate ................................... 33

    At the Interview ................................................................35

    Questions for You to Ask ..................................................35

    Ending the Interview .........................................................36

    Preparing for an Informational Interview......................37

    Follow Up ..........................................................................38

    Using the Internet in Your Job Search ............................38

    Information Resources ......................................................38

    Online Job Listings .......................................................38

    Company Websites .......................................................38

    Insider Information ........................................................38

    The Blogosphere ...........................................................39

    Create an Online Presence ...............................................39

    LinkedIn .........................................................................39

    Plaxo ..............................................................................40

    Join the Blogosphere ....................................................40

    Twitter ...........................................................................40

    A Cautious Note on Using the Internetin Your Job Search ............................................................40

    Attending Career Fairs .......................................................40

    Preparing for a Career Fair ................................................40

    Plan the Day ......................................................................41

    At the Fair .........................................................................41

    After the fair .....................................................................42

    Reigniting a Stalled Job Search:

    10 Ways to Get Back on Track ..........................................42

    Evaluating a Job Offer ........................................................44

    Contents

    Introduction ............................................................................6

    Starting Your Job Search ....................................................3

    About SuccessHawk ...........................................................4

    The SuccessHawk Job Search Roadmap ........................6

    Get Organized ........................................................................6

    Set up a Dedicated Office ...................................................6

    Review Your Finances .........................................................7

    File for Unemployment ........................................................7

    Update Your Business Associates ......................................8

    Define Your Value for Employers ........................................9

    A New Career Direction ......................................................9

    Set Goals ..............................................................................10

    Why You Need to Set Goals .............................................10

    Setting Effective Goals .....................................................11

    Write Your Goals Down ....................................................11

    Create Resumes and Letters ...............................................11

    Your Resume .....................................................................11

    Write Your Own Resume or Hire a Professional ..............12

    Resume Structure .............................................................13

    Accomplishments-Based Resumes...................................13

    Examples of Accomplishments .........................................14

    Writing Accomplishments Statements .............................15

    One-Page Resume or Two-Page Resume? ........................16

    Tailoring Your Resume to the Job Opportunity .................16

    Video Resumes .................................................................16

    Preparing a Resume for Scanning ....................................17

    How to Network Professionally .......................................20

    Why is Networking Important? .........................................20

    10 Steps to Networking Your Way a Great Job ...............21

    A Final Note on Networking .............................................30

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    Contents Introduction

    Most people spend a third or more of their time at their job, so you owe it to yourself to land a job that is per-

    sonally and financially rewarding.

    Identifying and finding the right job is up to you. Landing it requires hard work, time, and perseverance. You

    can, of course, write a resume, answer want ads, send out hundreds, even thousands, of resumes, or post your

    resume on the Internet and wait for hiring managers to find you. This may work but the chances of finding a job

    in this manner are extremely slim.

    To greatly improve your chances, you need to take control of the job-hunting process. You need to conduct a

    strategic and proactive search to land the job that you want. This guide will help you put together just such a

    search by building and working with your own professional network. In todays job search market, landing a

    great job is as much about whom you know as what you know.

    Note that you cannot just start networking. Before you begin the actual process of networking you must prepareyourself for that first networking call. To do that, you need to:

    Dene the type of work you want

    Be ready to communicate who you are and the value you bring a potential employer

    Organize your job search

    Prepare for interviews by knowing what to say and what to ask

    This guide provides you with a wide variety of ideas and suggestions to effectively do this, including:

    Tips to build a resume that stands out from others Organizing your contacts

    Scheduling your time to meet job search goals

    Preparing for interviews

    Starting Your Job Search

    Before you begin your job search, you need to answer these questions:

    1. Whats more important: where I live or what I want to do?

    2. What do I want to do: stay in the same career or try something new?

    3. Am I preparing resumes tailored to specific opportunities of interest?

    4. Should I write my own resume or hire a professional?

    5. Am I organized and ready to network?

    6. Do I need help getting ready for interviews?

    Answering these questions will help you determine the best jobs for you and how to conduct your search to get

    one. SuccessHawk can help you answer these questions.

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    Contents About SuccessHawk

    SuccessHawk is a suite of Web productivity tools that help you organize and manage your job search using the

    power of networking to increase your chances of landing the job you want. SuccessHawk offers an inexpensive,

    quick and organized approach to planning and managing your job search. Everything you need to nd a job is

    included in this site. To access SuccessHawk, go to: http://www.successhawk.com

    Basic Membership features free resources, including SimplyHired the biggest and smartest job search engine

    on the web that searches thousands of job sites and companies so you dont have to. Plus information on how to:

    Research occupations and industries

    Write a resume

    Prepare for interviews

    Search for a job by networking

    http://www.successhawk.com/http://www.successhawk.com/
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    ContentsSubscribing to the SuccessHawk Premium Membership provides you with the benefits of the Basic Membership

    and the essential tools you need to organize your job search and move it forward. These tools include:

    Contact Managerenables you to organize all of

    your professional networking contact information

    in one place. Easily downloads your contacts from

    Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Plaxo, and most

    other personal information managers.

    Each entry in your Contacts Manager includes

    suggestions on what to say and what to ask as you

    move your job search forward.

    Schedulerhelps you keep track of your job search

    action plans. It works behind the scenes driving

    a weekly to do list based on your input. You can

    download your to do list to Outlook and your PDA.

    Resume Creator. Do you need to write a resume?

    Use Resume Creator to build one that suits your

    needs.

    Personal Statement Builder. Do you need to

    improve how you market yourself? Use the Per-

    sonal Statement Builder to create your 30 second

    elevator pitch describing who you are and what

    you offer an employer. You will use your 30 second

    elevator pitch when talking to networking contacts

    and potential employers and in responding to Tell

    me about yourself.

    Perfect Interview.Overcome interview anxiety

    with Perfect Interview, the interactive online interview practice program that puts you at the interviewto practice your interview skills. (Additional charges apply for this service.)

    Self-Directed Search.Considering a career change? Take a personal assessment with the worlds

    most widely used career assessment to measure your interests and skills, and learn which occupations

    may be right for you. (Additional charges apply for this service.)

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    Contents The SuccessHawk Job Search RoadmapMaintaining focus during your job search is essential. To help you maintain your focus, SuccessHawk created

    the SuccessHawk Roadmap, a straightforward easy to use approach that you can use to keep your job search

    organized and on track.

    SuccessHawk.com provides a complete set of digital tools and resources to support your efforts along the way.

    SuccessHawk.com is not about reading. We dont just tell you how to conduct a job search; rather, we provide

    you with the tools you need to take action in organizing and moving your job search forward to its successful

    conclusion: a new job or career.

    Get Organized

    The best way to approach a job search is to treat the job search process as a job. Whether you have been laidoff, outsourced, RIFd, or looking for your first job after graduation, your job today is getting a job. To start that

    new job, you need to attend to certain operational issues so that you dont have to worry about them later.

    Set up a Dedicated Office

    1. Organize an ofce space at home you can go to each day to conduct your job search. Your home ofce

    doesnt need to be large. A simple well lit space big enough for a comfortable chair, your computer, a writing

    surface, a telephone, your office supplies, and a spot where you can file materials that you want to keep will

    be fine. However, it does need to be a dedicated space. Your kitchen table is not this space.

    2. Purchase supplies that you will need during your job search. We recommend:

    200 sheets of bright white paper with quality envelopes

    A supply of rst-class stamps

    Extra toner or ink cartridges for your printer

    Pens, paper clips, and other basic desk supplies

    Two notebooks or notepads one for phone messages, one for general notes

    250 copies of a basic business card for networking purposes

    Interview

    Learn how to

    prepare for

    Interviews

    Follow up

    Evaluate job

    offers

    Network

    Build and work

    a personal

    business

    network to

    access the

    hidden job

    market

    CreateResumesand Letters

    Prepare apersonalstatement

    Write yourresume andcover letter

    Contactreferences

    Set Goals

    Get focused:

    set goals and

    milestones.

    Know whatyou Want

    Learn aboutjobs industriescompanies

    that interestyou

    Dont know?Complete apersonal self-

    assessment

    GetOrganized

    Set up a work

    space

    Review your

    finances

    Review your

    insurance

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    Contents Review Your Finances

    Without question, one of the most difficult aspects of losing your job is the financial uncertainty that suddenly

    clouds your life. While you cant change the fact that your income has stopped, you can minimize the impact of

    the loss by making a conscious decision to actively manage your new economic reality. To do this, you need to:

    Determine available cash flow and assets

    You cant begin to plan for the future until you understand your current finances. Add up your cash on

    hand, unemployment benefits, severance payments, and identify assets you are willing to liquidate.

    Cut expenses

    Sit down and determine where you can trim or eliminate spending. Include your spouse or partner if

    applicable. Look for opportunities to negotiate new payment terms with creditors. If feasible, implement

    your cost-cutting in stages to avoid the sense that you are punishing yourself or your family members

    for your job loss.

    Review your insurance

    Dont leave yourself open to a catastrophic loss due to insufficient health, life, or property insurance.

    Shop around for cost-effective insurance solutions that will help protect you against major losses.

    Tip:Check out TheCanned.comfor more information.

    Explore options for short-term work

    If cash flow is an issue, you or your spouse may want to find temporary, part-time, or consulting work.

    Freelance work is a good way to enhance your resume and lessen your anxiety during this transition. If

    you are considering a new career, short-term work can also be a way of getting started in a new field.

    Tip:Be aware that payment of your unemployment benefits is impacted by any earned income.

    Create a new budget

    Construct a revised spending/income plan and share it with all family members. Use this plan to deter-

    mine how quickly youll need to start earning income again.

    File for Unemployment

    If you lose your job, you may be eligible to collect temporary financial assistance, called unemployment com-

    pensation, from your state unemployment services agency.

    Check to see if you are eligible for unemployment benefits as soon as possible. It can take two to three weeks

    before you receive your first unemployment check, so file for benefits within the first week of losing your job.

    http://www.thecanned.com/http://www.thecanned.com/
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    ContentsTo begin the application process, go to the unemployment services website for your state. You can learn the

    requirements for receiving unemployment compensation, the procedures you must follow to determine your eli-

    gibility, and what you are required to do in order to maintain your eligibility.To find the site for your state, go to

    www.unemployment-resources.org/states. While you are checking on your states unemployment benefits,

    find out what other benefits your state may offer. Many states offer job search assistance and some even offer

    training to equip you with new skills you may need to compete in todays job market.

    Update Your Business Associates

    One of the problems associated with losing your job is that you can quickly lose touch with business associates

    who normally reach you through your work e-mail address and phone number(s). These contacts can be very

    valuable during your job search. Send a brief e-mail to your former colleagues and business associates with

    your new e-mail address and telephone number. At a later date, follow up with an new resume and a note to

    maintain contact.

    Define Your Value for Employers

    Hiring managers trying to fill open positions want someone who will do the job effectively and fit well into the

    organization. You need to be ready to communicate effectively and persuasively to a hiring manager that you

    are the best candidate to fill that opening.

    Before you start your job search, review your most recent job and any jobs you have had over the last 10 to 15

    years, describing:

    What your functions were in these positions

    The skills and tools that you used

    Your most important accomplishments

    This review will help identify your strongest assets and clarify your personal objectives so you can more clearly

    define your job search goals. The more you know about what you do well, the more powerfully you can commu-

    nicate to a hiring manager why you are the candidate who should be hired.

    Write down the answers to the following questions in your notebook. The information you record will not only

    help you gain insight into yourself and the job you want, but also help you prepare your resume, answer ques-

    tions in interviews, frame questions you want to ask in interviews, and even evaluate job offers.

    What companies have I worked for during my career?

    Tip:List all of the companies you worked for, even those no longer in business.

    What jobs have I done for those companies?

    Tip:Be sure to list not only your job titles but also your responsibilities.

    http://www.unemployment-resources.org/stateshttp://www.unemployment-resources.org/states
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    Contents What skill sets did I bring to or develop in those jobs?

    Tip:If you dont know, try using the US Government O*NET Database that contains detailed information

    about most occupations. Go to: http://online.onetcenter.org/, and look under Find Occupations and type in

    your job title.

    What were my accomplishments in each of those jobs?

    Tip: What did you achieve that made you stand out from your peers? What did you do or share in doing that re-

    ceived positive feedback, commendations, letters of merit or other related awards? Review old performance reviews

    for this information. (See the Resume sectionon how to write accomplishment statements.)

    What did I like and dislike about each of those jobs?

    Tip:Thinking through your response to this question will help you identify specific work environments, and respon-

    sibilities you want to pursue going forward. Do you want a job that is similar to your last one?

    Do I need to change my job focus?

    Tip: If you work in an industry that is suffering from a downturn in the economy, consider broadening your job

    search to other industries. Explore alternatives by reading industry journals, setting up news alerts, and conducting

    informational interviews with industry insiders.

    Tip: Keep current! The more you know about the job, the industry, and the organization you want to work for, the

    stronger the impression you will make on interviewers. To keep current with your industry, read national and local

    newspapers, industry magazines, and press releases on the Web site of companies that are of interest to you.

    A New Career DirectionYou may conclude after answering these questions that you want to change careers. A layoff provides an

    opportunity to assess your career history and redirect your career goals in moving towards a new career.

    If you dont know where to start consider taking the Self-Directed Search (SDS) Form R: Internet Version

    (SDS R) available through SuccessHawk.com. SDS is one of the most widely used career assessments in the

    world. It assesses your skills and interests to help you identify occupations that you may find satisfying.

    After taking the SDS, you can link to O*NET, the government database of occupational information at

    http://online.onetcenter.org.The O*NET database will help you learn about the tasks each occupation

    involves, the skills and education they require, and the salary information and data on current demand for work-

    ers in those areas.

    http://online.onetcenter.org/http://online.onetcenter.org/
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    Contents Set Goals

    Knowing where you want to go is the first step in getting there.

    Your job search goal is the end state that you hope to accomplish in your search. Setting goals for your job

    search gives you the focus necessary to guide job search activities to achieve your objective: getting a new job.

    Why You Need to Set Goals

    Goals help focus your attention on the objectives characteristics you want to achieve, the most important ac-

    tions you need to take, and the time you need to allocate to land the job you want. A set of clear goals enables

    you to better manage your activities and gives you an advantage when speaking with potential employers.

    By setting and measuring your progress toward reaching your goals, you will be able to see what you have

    accomplished and any additional steps you need to take to achieve your objective. In doing so, you are puttingyourself in charge of the process.

    Setting Effective Goals

    Effective job search goals share common they are specific, they are challenging but realistic, and they are time

    sensitive. For example:

    Noneffective goal:

    I am looking for a job in marketing.

    Effective goal:

    By November 1, I want a job as a market research analyst in the consumer electronics industry with an annual

    salary in the high five figures.

    Be realistic about the jobs for which you are qualified and when you are likely to be hired.

    Write Your Goals Down

    Write down the answers to the following questions

    What kind of work do I want? What is the job I am seeking?

    Where do I want to work? Am I willing to relocate?

    When do I want to start my new job?

    What is the minimum salary that I want to earn?

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    ContentsYou can use the SuccessHawk.com Goal Setting tool to create your goals

    Create Resumes and LettersBefore you begin building your professional network and making contact with colleagues in it, spend time

    preparing the following communication documents you will need:

    A resume, the single most important document you will use in your job search.

    A personal statement or 30-second elevator pitch, the brief statement about who you are and what

    you have to offer an employer.

    Cover letters which must accompany any resumes you send out.

    Your Resume

    An outstanding resume is the most important document you need for your job search. Your resume provides the

    first and often only opportunity to impress prospective employers. Your resume wont get you a job, but it is the

    primary source of information a prospective employer has about you. An outstanding resume can persuade the

    hiring manager or recruiter to call you in for an interview.

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    ContentsHiring managers often receive hundreds of resumes for a single position. Your resume needs to be the one that

    goes to the top of the stack. A mediocre resume is the fastest way to be dropped from contention for a position.

    Spelling errors, formatting problems, lack of focus, and lack of accomplishments decrease your chances of be-

    ing competitive. To compete, your resume must make a powerful statement about you and be impeccable.

    Tip: The ideal resume is succinct, defines your strengths, and uses correct grammar and spelling.

    Tip: Note the key terms that are used in the job description as a guide to language to use in your resume.

    Write Your Own Resume or Hire a Professional

    Crafting a first-rate resume takes skill. You may want to consider outsourcing this task to a professional resume

    writer. A professionally written resume can be expensive (ranging in price from a few hundred dollars for a

    junior-level person to over a thousand dollars for an executive-level package), but you may find that the time

    and effort required to prepare your own makes hiring a professional a worthwhile investment that can directly

    impact your ability to find a better job in a shorter period of time.

    If you decide to write your own resume, SuccessHawk.com offers as part of its Premium Membership the Re-

    sume Creator, an easy-to-use tool that helps you write accomplishments-based resumes.

    Tips:Polish, polish, polish! Great resumes are a combination of a business document, marketing piece, and personal

    preference. Review and discuss your resume with people you respect. Ask them what stands out, what puts them to sleep,

    what turns them off, and whether anything is missing. Conflicting opinions are to be expected so dont get stuck on them;

    the final decision is yours.

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    Contents Resume Structure

    The most widely used resume style is the chronological resume which organizes your work experience by date

    from your most recent job to your earliest.

    Most chronological resumes are organized as follows:

    In the header of the document, your name and contact information.

    Objective:the job for which you are applying.

    Qualifications:a personal statement that describes your job related personal qualities such as team

    player, strong communication skills, leadership ability, analytical, or problem solver.

    Experience:Organized from your most recent job and to your earliest. For each company include the

    company location, the dates of your employment, your job title with a brief statement of your responsi-

    bility and a bulleted list summarizing three or four major accomplishments.

    Education: Your highest educational level.

    Relevant certications, honors, awards

    Accomplishments-Based Resumes

    Resumes that highlight your accomplishments stand out by letting the hiring manager see immediately that you

    are well qualified to do the job.

    Before drafting an accomplishment based resume, review each of your previous jobs, what you did in each one,

    and what you accomplished. An accomplishment has three parts:

    1. The problem that you helped solve

    2. The actions you took to address the problem

    3. The outcome

    Build a list of as many of your accomplishments as you can. This will help you if you decide to tailor your re-

    sume to a particular job that interests you. Identifying and writing out your accomplishments also helps you see

    what an outstanding performer you are!

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    Contents Examples of Accomplishments

    If you are uncertain about your accomplishments, the following list will help you think about your own work

    experience and accomplishments in each of the positions you have held.

    Financial savings or gain:

    Did you save your organization money or time while working on a project?

    How much and how did you do that?

    How much have you generated in sales? How does that compare to your co-workers?

    Have you worked on a program that improved results by a certain percentage?

    Did you complete a higher percentage of your assigned tasks or work more productively

    than your peers?

    Did prots, revenues, or sales increase because of your efforts? If so, by how much?

    Did you save time with a process you created, automated, or redesigned?

    Points of difference:

    Was there something exceptional about your work or your teams work?

    Did you work on a breakthrough product or project?

    What accomplishment are you the most proud of at each job?

    How do you hope they will remember you?

    Did you break a record, set a new standard, or outperform a prior year or another organization?

    What did you do that was different from others who held the same position?

    Were you assigned a special project?

    Did you work on events? How did they turn out? Did they come in under budget?

    Did you do something beyond the normal scope of your responsibility?

    Was your location or department better or different from a similar location or department

    elsewhere in the company?

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    ContentsWriting Accomplishment Statements

    For each accomplishment, you have a story about a problem you solved that you can tell during an interview. An

    accomplishment statement is structured to highlight the action you took and the outcome of that action.

    The following examples describe how to structure accomplishment statements:

    Managed newly created southeastern sales territory, doubling annual revenues in rst full year to $8

    million.

    Organized and led a cross-functional team to reduce new product production cycle schedule, shaving

    ve months from release of annual product line and generating unplanned $3 million in rst year of

    operation.

    Managed planning and integration of new MIS system, reducing annual expenses by $5 million.

    Tip:If possible, be sure to quantify. Numbers are important in resumes. Be sure to include $s and %s that sup-

    port what you include in your resume. In writing accomplishment statements, use active verbs such as planned,

    managed, and organized. A brief list of action verbs can be found below.

    Action Verbs for Resumes and Accomplishment StatementsA brief list of action verbs is found below:

    Administered

    Analyzed

    Appraised

    Audited

    Balanced

    Budgeted

    Communicated

    Compiled

    Completed

    Conceived

    ConductedConsulted

    Coordinated

    Created

    Critiqued

    Decreased

    Demonstrated

    Designed

    Maintained

    Motivated

    Negotiated

    Organized

    Planned

    Presented

    Prioritized

    Produced

    Promoted

    Recommended

    ReducedRepresented

    Researched

    Scheduled

    Structured

    Supervised

    Trained

    Updated

    Developed

    Directed

    Documented

    Edited

    Eliminated

    Enhanced

    Established

    Evaluated

    Expedited

    Facilitated

    FinancedGenerated

    Implemented

    Improved

    Initiated

    Introduced

    Led

    Managed

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    Contents One-Page Resume or Two-Page Resume?

    Many job search professionals recommend a one-page resume but you may find that you need two pages if you

    have extensive work experience. Avoid a 1 page resume; it can look awkward. If your resume is 1 page in

    length, add more white space (for example, adding blank lines between sections). Conversely, you can shorten

    a resume by condensing information or decreasing white space so it fits on one page.

    Tip:Use a readable font! You have approximately 30 seconds to make an impact on the person

    reading your resume, and nothing turns off a reader faster than a resume that is difficult to read.

    Times New Roman font should be no smaller than 11 point, and Arial no smaller than 10. Try to keep

    margins at one inch all the way around. Print your resume on a high-grade white or off-white paper.

    Tailoring Your Resume to the Job Opportunity

    One size does not t all when it comes to resumes. Tailoring your resume to specic job requirements sets you

    apart from other job seekers relying on a single resume. A powerful resume clearly shows the recruiter and hir-

    ing manager that you can successfully take on the job they are seeking to fill.

    Tip:Be honest. Be sure you can support every point you make on your resume during an interview.

    When preparing your resume for a specific job, review on the requirements described in the job posting or

    job description carefully to learn what the employer is looking for, what skills are required, and what the job

    involves. Review your accomplishments and only include in your resume those accomplishments indicating that

    you can take on the job on day one. Note the key terms that are used as a clue to language you can use in your

    resume.

    Video Resumes

    Video resumes are gaining popularity in some sectors. Though they can set you apart from other job seekers

    and may help you land an interview, dont expect a video resume to replace the traditional resume. Not all

    employers want to see a video resume because of their concern that video resumes may raise discrimination

    issues. Be sure to ask if a video resume will be accepted before you send it.

    If you decide to prepare a video resume, consider the following tips:

    Do not simply read your written resume. Focus on what you can do for the organization and how your experiences will help you

    accomplish that.

    Hiring managers will take notice of you if you come across as articulate, positive,

    energetic, and smart.

    Look professional. Your grooming and attire should match what you would wear to an

    in-person interview.

    Smile! Look into the camera. Speak to the audience directly.

    Be concise. A video resume should be no more than three minutes long

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    Contents Preparing a Resume for Scanning

    Many employers are now asking job seekers to submit their resume using the companys online tool for easy

    scanning. Preparing a resume for online submission requires a few additional steps. The following steps are an

    what you need to do:

    1. Open your resume in your word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.

    2. Click Save As from the File menu and name your resume something like VictorSmith-

    MktgCoord-txt. Click save as type and choose plain text. Close the document.

    3. Now open the plain text version of your resume in WordPad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac OS X)

    and see how it looks. You will probably need to reorganize your name and address and place

    every item on its own line.

    Tip: What you see on-screen in WordPad or TextEdit may not look the same in hardcopy so print it out

    to check line breaks and make necessary corrections.

    4. Avoid bold and italic text, rules, and symbols such as bullets. If everything looks correct, save

    your text resume again, and youre ready to go.

    Tip: Give your resume a unique name. When emailing your resume, label it clearly. Dont label your

    resume file, resume, or my resume. Include your name, the abbreviated job title, and the name of

    the company in the file name. For example, if Victor Smith applies for a Marketing Project Manager job

    at XYZ Company, his resume file name might be VictorSmith-MktgPM-XYZ.doc.

    Always Follow Up

    A final word on resumes: Always make a follow up contact with people to whom you have sent your resume to

    ensure that the hiring manager received the document, to restate your interest in the position, and to ask about

    next steps.

    Your Personal Statement

    The personal statement, also known as your elevator pitch, is a brief description of yourself, what you offer a

    potential employer, and your job search goal that can be delivered in 30 seconds.

    During your job search, you will use your personal statement repeatedly for networking, socializing, and

    responding to that perennial job interview icebreaker, So, tell me about yourself.

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    ContentsDeveloping a powerful pitch takes practice. Write it out, rehearse it, and then try it out on your friends and

    support team. Ask for suggestions on ways to improve it. Remember, the key to an effective pitch is to make it

    crisp, succinct, and pertinent, providing enough information to give the listener a good sense of your experience

    and objectives in a quick sound bite.

    To begin creating your personal statement, write down brief responses to the following:

    Your name

    Your professional background

    Your most recent job responsibility

    What did you like most about that job?

    What are your three greatest strengths?

    What job are you seeking?

    TheFIRSTdraft of your personal statement might look like the following:

    My Name is Jane Smith. My professional background is educational software sales. Most recently, I

    managed a sales territory for XYZ Corporation, consistently exceded my annual sales goals and was

    named sales rep of the year last year. I liked working in the education market and the independence

    the Company gave me to manage my territory. Im good at thinking on my feet and organizing my

    efforts and Im tenacious. Im currently looking for a position with a software company like yours in

    either education or enterprise sales.

    Once you have drafted your personal statement, polish the language and practice it until you can say it in a

    conversational, unscripted way.

    A Personal Statement Builder is included in your SuccessHawk Premium Membership.

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    Contents Cover Letters

    Always send a personalized cover letter with your resume. A cover letter is your opportunity to emphasize how

    your knowledge, skills, or experiences make you the ideal candidate. No matter how good your resume is, the

    employer may never take the time to read it unless it is introduced by a persuasive cover letter.If you are email-

    ing the resume, your cover letter becomes the body of the email message.

    A cover letter is a brief, three- or four-paragraph letter that states:

    Why you are writing

    Why you are best qualied for the position

    How you plan to follow up

    A cover letter, just like a resume, must be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Because it is a brief note, it

    is important to convey your message using powerful and succinct language that captures the readers atten-

    tion and makes him or her want to read your resume. The cover letter also provides you with an opportunity to

    personalize your resume to the employers needs without having to rewrite it. You can highlight or add relevant

    information in a cover letter that might not be obvious in your resume.

    Thank-You Notes

    Whether you have just concluded an informational interview or a job interview, you must send a personalized

    thank-you note immediately afterward. Though a personalized handwritten note is preferred, emailed notes are

    acceptable to more companies today. Use your own judgment. If the employer set up the interview via email, an

    emailed note is probably just fine. Always send a thank-you note within 24 hours of your interview.

    During an interview, do your best to obtain business cards from each interviewer. When this is not possible, ask

    for the spelling of each interviewers name and be sure to get each ones job title. If you are planning to email

    the thank-you note, notice the email account naming convention used at the company.

    Tip: Be concise. Focus on what you can offer the employer. Great with people? Remind the employer!

    Love numbers? Let the employer know.

    References

    Before you begin to interview for a new job, line up people who are willing to provide positive personal refer-

    ences to potential employers. Choose your references carefully and be sure to ask them if they will speak on

    your behalf before you include them.

    Start by making a list of all of your prospective references. Try to choose people who have worked with you in

    a business setting. If needed, you can also include personal references from people you have worked with in a

    volunteer capacity. Recent graduates with limited experience can include professors, advisors or other aca-

    demic references who can speak on your behalf.

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    ContentsWhen you ask your references for permission to use them, verify you have their current, correct contact infor-

    mation. Be sure to alert and update your references before they are called by potential employers.

    Always thank your references and offer to return the favor in the future.

    How to Network Professionally

    Professional networking is the process of identifying, building, and maintaining relationships with people will-

    ing to help you during your career. This section describes10 simple steps you can take to build, develop, and

    successfully interact with your professional network.

    Networking means taking a proactive and organized approach to your job search based on referrals and leads

    you get from people you know. You already have the makings of a professional network with your family mem-

    bers, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, alumni from your alma mater, fellow association members, members

    of online communities, or people with whom you share a similar background, interests, or education.

    When working with a professional network, remember that networking is a two-way process. One part involves

    asking for favors; the other part involves giving back to those who are helping you. Both are equally important.

    Professional networking only works when it is mutually beneficial to both parties. Always think about what

    you can do to help others at the same time you ask their help with your career. The help can be as simple as a

    thank you or you might provide information or recommendations that help the other person with their own

    career.

    Why is Networking Important?

    Job search experts agree that business networking is the most effective method of finding and landing a great

    job. Networking helps you access the hidden job market. Experts estimate that as many as 80% of jobs are

    never advertised to the public but are found through leads and referrals from personal connections. Why is this

    the case? Most peopleeven hiring managersare more comfortable working with someone who is referred

    by a trusted source.

    Effective networking brings you to the attention of hiring managers directly and puts you way ahead of other

    potential candidates who might also want that job. The more people you connect with, the greater the chances

    of hearing about opportunities. Besides helping you find a great job now, a good business network gener-

    ates connections that will benefit you for the rest of your career. Sooner or later, almost every person who is

    employed will change jobs or careers. The changes can be voluntary or involuntary, planned, or sudden and

    unplanned. Regardless of the circumstances, networking and staying connected will help you.

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    ContentsIn a tight job market, when competition for jobs is intense and hundreds of resumes are submitted for most

    openly advertised jobs, having a plan, keeping organized and connecting with as many people who can help you

    as possible is essential. As business guru Mark McCormack says, All things being equal, people will do busi-

    ness with a friend. All things being unequal, people will still do business with a friend.

    Remember: Successful professional networking requires planning, focus, a structured process to manage your

    efforts, polite persistence and a lot of follow-up.

    10 Steps to Networking Your Way a Great Job

    1. Identify the job you want and your job search goals

    Before you make your first networking contact, you need to know what job you are seek-

    ing. See the previous sections on Define Your Value for Employers and Set Goals for more

    information.

    If you are thinking about changing careers, you may want to complete a self assessment to

    learn more about your interests, skills and jobs you are likely to find satisfying. There are

    many assessments available to you. SuccessHawk.com members can access the online ver-

    sion of the worlds most widely used assessment, the Self-Directed Search (SDS).

    2. Create a personal statement

    A personal statement, also known as a 30-second elevator pitch, summarizes your strongest

    attributes, your achievements and ways you can benefit a potential employer. It sets thecontext for all conversations you have about your job search. It is brief and to the point. A

    well-crafted personal statement helps you respond easily and quickly when someone says,

    Tell me about yourself.

    You will find suggestions for creating a personal statement on page 18. SuccessHawk

    Premium Members can use the Personal Statement Builder to create a working draft of a

    personal statement.

    3. Determine who you know and who can help you Specifically, who do you know that can help you find a job doing what you want to do? Who

    are the people that have an interest in seeing you succeed? Who are the people that can

    help you launch, advance, or restart your career?

    Creating a list of these people is the starting point in building your professional network. Be

    sure to include in your professional network anyone and everyone who can help you.

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    Contents Almost everyone currently has an existing network but may not be aware of it. Here are

    some ideas for identifying people who can help you and expanding your network.

    Family members

    Friends

    Neighbors

    Friends of your family and families of your friends

    Former colleagues, coworkers and employers

    Connections on LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and other social networking sites

    Fellow alumni are usually predisposed to help other alumni

    Members of your professional associations, clubs, teams, and religious organization

    Job search support organizations

    Networking events and career fair contacts

    Industry trade showsmeet fellow attendees and inuential speakers before and after

    sessions, and meet exhibitors during sessions when most attendees are in sessions

    When you start networking it is important to start with people you know. It is easier to

    talk with friends and family when you begin the process. With them, you can practice and

    perfect your networking skills without anxiety.

    Even when contacting friends, you need to prepare before you start. Be clear about what

    you want and what you have to offer so they can understand specifically how to help you.

    4. Create a record of your contacts

    Keeping track of your contacts and their contact information, notes on your interactions with

    them and when you plan to contact them again is complicated.

    You can maintain your contact information in a notebook, populate a spreadsheet, or create

    your own method to track your information.

    SuccessHawk Premium Members can use SuccessHawks Contact Manager and Scheduler.

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    Contents With SuccessHawk.com you can automatically import contacts from Outlook, Gmail,

    LinkedIn and other commonly used personal information managers, you can store

    background information on your contacts, get help in knowing what to say and ask your

    contacts, and schedule follow-up actions that you can download into Outlook, iCal, and

    other calendar applications, as well as your PDA.

    Whatever you choose to do, keep a record. Trying to keep all this information in your head is

    very difficult and may cause you to lose valuable contact data.

    5. Start connecting

    Now its time to start reaching out

    to people in your network to aid you

    in your job search. Though your first

    networking emails or calls can be

    awkward, keep in mind that they will

    be easier as you make more of them.Thats why it is best to ease into net-

    working by starting with calls to family

    and friends.

    During these initial calls you are

    reaching out to learn all you can about

    potential employment possibilities and

    letting people know that you are avail-

    able.

    For your first calls, you may find it help-

    ful to write and practice a brief script

    on what to say after you say hello. Use

    your personal statement to introduce

    yourself and what you can offer a

    potential employer.

    If you are a SuccessHawk Premium

    Member, SuccessHawk will help you

    with this. The SuccessHawk.com

    networking system provides icebreak-

    ers and questions to get you started.

    As you progress through your job

    search with a contact, you will find

    these suggestions adjust to offer new

    suggestions that reflect changes in your

    relationships with your contacts.

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    ContentsInterviews

    Planning your networking email and telephone calls is essential. Answer the following

    questions for yourself before contacting anyone:

    How are you going to introduce yourself?

    Why are you making contact?

    What is your strategy for creating interest in you?

    What benets do you bring?

    What are your common interests or afliations with this person?

    If the person agrees to help you, what specic questions will you ask?

    Practice your personal statement over and over until you can introduce yourself in a

    conversational way.

    Make appointments for either an in-person meeting or a telephone interview with your

    contact so that you can ask questions, listen, and learn. Networking via email will not work

    effectively.

    At this stage, make it very clear that you are you are not asking your contact for a job; rather,

    you are looking for information about what might be available and where you need to focus

    your attention. Be sure you tell the contact what you want to take away from the call. Finally,

    ask how you, in turn, can help them. Every time you connect with someone you should be

    listening for ways you can help them. Giving back is the grease that makes networking

    work and the reason to reconnect.

    Keep in mind that your contacts are busy with their own work; be respectful of that and ask

    for only 20 minutes of their time. Hint: once they begin talking, they will likely give you a lot

    more than that!

    If someone wont talk with you, doesnt have time, or takes too long to respond, move on.

    Dont waste your time or theirs. More people will help than not. Focus on finding people

    willing to help.

    At first, networking interviews can be difficult. Nevertheless, they do work. Set a personal

    goal to make five or six calls or send five or six emails each day. Your persistence will pay off

    as your network expands. If five or six calls or emails feel like too many at the outset, start

    with two or three and build from there.

    If you initiate contact with a referral by email, make sure your subject line is informative and

    compelling. For example, Brian Jones suggested I contact you, or Fellow Maryland Terp

    interested in your company.

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    Contents Be sure to send a personalized thank you note within 24 hours of nishing an informational

    interview. It is fine to send the thank you by email but a handwritten note may help you stand

    out. Be sure to get their address when you talk to them.

    Tip: Networking is not just about you.

    When you talk with your contacts, learn about them, their family, their interests, their job, and

    their career. Make notes. When you reconnect to thank them and follow-up, be sure to mention

    something about what you learned and also give them something helpful. This could be new industry

    information, an interesting article, a book youve read, or a connection with another person you think

    they should meet.

    Informational Interviews

    If you are just starting your job search, planning to change careers, or re-entering the job

    market, your first interviews are likely to be informational interviews intended to help you

    gather information and make decisions about what direction to pursue, not to ask for a job.

    Informational interviews will help you build confidence in describing who you are and what

    you have to offer. Most important, they are a primary source of referrals to build and expand

    your professional network and lead quickly and efficiently to real job opportunities.

    As with any interview, do your homework beforehand so you can speak about your contacts

    organization and industry knowledgeably. The more you know upfront, the more meaningful

    the conversation will be and the stronger the impression you will make. To learn more about

    the organization, visit the website, search for articles written about it, read professional

    journals related to the organizations business, and attend trade shows where they exhibit

    products. Remember, too, to check out competing organizations not only as a source of

    information to discuss but also for potential employment.

    During an informational interview:

    Listen closely to the answers to your questions and jot down extensive notes.

    Always ask for two or three referrals to other contacts, a few details about the referrals

    to help you personalize your call when you reach out to those people, and permission to

    mention that your current contact referred you to them.

    If your contact mentions an available job opportunity that sounds interesting jump at the

    opportunity to learn more!

    As you become more skilled in networking conversations, you will find that your interview

    objectives evolve from strictly gathering information to discussing specific job opportunities in

    organizations that interest you. Opportunities will emerge as you work through your contacts

    and make new connections.

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    ContentsIf you are a SuccessHawk Premium Member, SuccessHawk will ask you to note opportunities

    in every interview. If you respond positively, the contacts color-coding will change to alert

    you that they represent actual opportunities worth pursuing. Job opportunity interviews are

    discussed in Step 7.

    6. Follow Up

    Following up is an essential ingredient of successful networking. After a networking conver-

    sation, you will have to make specic follow-up actions. At a minimum, write a personalized

    thank you note or email.

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    ContentsOther follow-up actions will depend on what you discussed or promised during the

    informational interview. After each networking conversation or informational interview, be

    sure to follow through on commitments you made during the interview. Did you agree to:

    Provide more information?

    Send a resume?

    Contact someone else?

    Get back in touch with the contact?

    Take a particular action, such as signing up for a class or joining a professional association

    the person recommended?

    Why is follow-up so important? Most people youve asked to help you have busy lives with

    their own agendas, schedules, and priorities. Besides being a matter of courtesy, following up

    diligently puts you back on that persons to-do list. For example:

    Effective follow-up can be a simple reminder, such as: We talked last week. Im just

    checking to see whether you can send me the information about Mr. X or Ms. Y whom you

    recommended I contact.

    Or:

    You mentioned in our conversation that XYZ Corporation might have a job

    where Id be a good fit. I am checking back with you to be sure you received the resume I sent

    and to learn more about the opportunity. Ive been researching the company online and have a

    few questions.

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    ContentsAbove all, dont be discouraged if people dont get back to you immediately or at all. Remem-

    ber, everyone is busy. Some will forgeteven your friends. Dont assume a lack of immediate

    means is a sign they dont care or wont help in the future when they have more time.

    Promising leads often disappear. Thats okay. Other people may provide a wealth of helpful

    information, recommendations, leads and referrals. The good thing about networking is that

    most people do want to help. A gentle reminder about the help that was offered may be all

    takes to get the responses you wanted.

    A job search can stall. If this happens, try circling back and reconnecting with contacts who

    might not have been able to help you earlier. Often when you reach out a second time with

    something new to say you wil be able to grab their attention.

    7. Prioritize and target potential job opportunities

    During your first round of initial conversations and informational interviews, you are likely

    to uncover a number of job opportunities. If so, focus your attention on the ones that sound

    promising and appealing so you can prioritize effective follow-up calls or emails that may

    eventually lead to job interviews.

    If you learn of a job opening during an informational interview that interests you, shift the

    interview from gathering information to addressing the specific opportunity. Learn as much as

    you can about the job and explain briefly how your background, skills, interests, and knowl-

    edge make you suitable for it. Ask for a job descriptionit will help you understand what the

    job entails so that you better prepare yourself for further interviews.

    If your contact suggests that you need to speak with someone else, make sure to request the

    name and contact information of that person and ask your contact to recommend you directly

    to that person. Then add this new contact to your network as an Opportunity and follow up to

    request an interview.

    When you identify a job opportunity, continue conducting informational interviews but put job

    opportunities at the top of your priority list.

    Follow up regularly. Be politely persistent. When you follow up with a contact regarding a job

    opportunity, be enthusiastic about the position and explain what particularly interests you

    about the job and offer specic ideas for ways you can benet the organization.

    Tip:When you follow up, send your contact new information about yourself, additional information

    about something you discussed or news about a common interest. For example, mention or send a

    recent news article, book, or video on a topic of shared interest.

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    Contents8. Ace your interviews

    Learning about an actual job opportunity is the payoff of effective interviewing. When you

    learn of a potential job opening, act promptly to contact the referral or the potential employer.

    Every contact you have with potential employers puts you closer to landing the position you

    want. If the contact you made during an interview will personally refer you (through an email

    or phone call) to a hiring manager, that referral alone will help you access the hiring manager.

    Tip: There are times when a face-to-face meeting with a potential employer can uncover jobs that

    are not yet posted. Be alert for this. Often, after an employer meets a highly skilled candidate and

    evaluates his or her abilities and potential value to the company, a way is found to hire that person.

    Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

    The importance of being well prepared for a job interview cannot be overstated. Review the

    SuccessHawk Interviewing section to help you anticipate common questions asked by inter-

    viewersand some uncommon questions.

    Review the job description. This will help you understand what the job entails and the most

    important requirements that the employer is looking for in a candidate. It will enable you

    to think about your own experience, knowledge and skills that you want to highlight during

    the interview. You may decide to rework parts of your resume to further accentuate those

    characteristics.

    Find out whether individuals or a team of people will interview you at the same time.

    Redouble your efforts to learn as much as you can about the company and how the job or

    the department can contribute to the companys success. Review what you learned about

    the organization, their competition, and their business environment. Are there news articles

    or press releases about recent developments that might positively or negatively affect their

    willingness to hire?

    Tip: Interviews are less about you and more about what you can do for the employer. Be specific.

    What strengths will you bring to the company? When they hire you, what can you contribute and

    how will they benefit?

    Whatever you do, stay positive! Be enthusiastic!

    If you want more help with interviewing, consider purchasing Perfect Interview, a dynamic

    interviewing practice application available to all SuccessHawk Members that lets you

    sharpen your interviewing skills online.

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    Contents9. Close the deal!

    Receiving a job offer feels absolutely fantastic. Let the hiring manager know how excited you

    feel and how confident you are that he or she has made an excellent decision.

    However, even if youre sure you want the job, ask the manager for 24 hours to consider the

    offer. Factors to weigh include: is the salary what you are looking for, what are the benefits,

    how do you feel about the organizational culture, and did you like the people you met.

    SuccessHawk Premium Members can access Job Offer Evaluation, which gives you a number

    of important elements to consider in a job offer that you should feel comfortable with.

    10. Thank everyone who helped you

    When you do accept a job offer, be sure to let everyone who helped you along the way know.

    Say thank you to everyone who helped you get this far. Everyone in your professional network

    will enjoy feeling that they contributed to your success.

    A Final Note on Networking

    Always remember that networking doesnt end when you land your job. Networking is an ongoing, career-long

    activity. Update your SuccessHawk Workspace periodically with new information about yourself (for example,

    new skills, job search success, new relevant experiences, something youve recently read or seen that may

    interest other people.) Your networking contacts have an interest in you.

    Above all, remember that networking must be mutually beneficial: Be willing to help other people as they have

    helped you.

    Interviews

    For many people, interviewing is the most difficult part of the job search. We cant make interviewing easy, but

    you can reduce the anxiety of interviewing if you have an understanding of what to expect.

    If you need further help, all SuccessHawk Members can access Perfect Interview, a dynamic interactive learn-

    ing tool, to practice your interviewing skills in lifelike simulations of real interviews. (Additional charges apply)

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    ContentsEmployers conduct interviews to help them decide if you are qualified to do the job, and to determine whether

    you will t in the organization. Interviews also give you an opportunity to learn more about the company and if

    it is a fit for you, too.

    Types of Interviews

    During your job search you will likely encounter one or more of the following types of interviews.

    Screening Interviews

    Screening interviews are generally conducted by a representative of the companys human resources

    department or a recruiter. These interviews are used to determine whether you are qualified or overqualified to

    do the job. These initial interviews may be conducted on the telephone.

    One-on-One Interviews

    In a one-on-one interview, the interviewer will ask you a set of questions to learn if you have the knowledge

    and skills necessary to handle the job for which you have applied. Hiring managers conducting one-on-one

    interviews also want to get a sense of what you would be like to work with and how you would fit in the

    organization.

    Behavioral Interviews

    In behavioral interviews, the interviewer is trying to learn how you behaved in past situations as a predictor

    of how you are likely to behave in the future. Expect to be asked questions similar in style to: Tell me about a

    time when or Give me an example of

    Panel InterviewsPanel interviews are interviews with a panel of two or more people asking you questions.

    Informational Interviews

    This is an interview that you requested to learn about a particular job, company, or industry and how best to

    present yourself to potential hiring managers. An informational interview also gives you an opportunity to cre-

    ate a positive impression. Be sure to get referrals, leads, and recommendations for other networking contacts.

    Preparing for Interviews

    Presenting yourself well for an interview requires preparation and thinking through what you want to say during

    the interview. Being well prepared will help you stand out from other candidates. Consider these points when

    preparing for an interview:

    Learn as much as you can about the organization.

    In almost every interview situation, youll be asked, What can you do for this company?

    Practice your answer. Research press releases, The Wall Street Journal, annual reports, blogs,

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    Contentswebsites, the news, and so on to learn about the organization. Know the companys philoso-

    phy, goals, plans, new products, target customers, new executives, and major competitors.

    Use your network.

    Do you know anyone who works or has worked for this company or organization? Call or have

    lunch with them before your interview. Your competition likely wont have done their home-

    work as well as you have. Your prospective employer will notice.

    Review the job description.

    Be prepared to explain how your background qualifies you for the job. Did you find the job

    posting online? Save a copy and bring it with you to the interview. Some companies take

    weeks to start calling people in for interviews, and by then the job description may have been

    pulled from wherever you saw it.

    Dress to impress.

    Research indicates that many job applicants have unsuccessful interviews because they

    didnt dress professionally. A jacket, dress slacks, dress shirt, and a tie are fine for men. Suits,

    blouses, skirts, or slacks are fine for women. The rule of thumb is to dress one notch above

    that groups normal attire. If in doubt, a suit is never inappropriate for men or women. Remem-

    ber, youre going to a job interview, not a casual event.

    Review your resume.

    Think of examples that describe or illustrate your accomplishments.

    Be prepared for the interview:

    Conrm the date and time of the interview.

    Make sure you know how to get to the interview and how long it takes to get there.

    Conrm the spelling of the rst and last name of all interviewers.

    Arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your interview. You may be asked to complete an

    application when you arrive.

    Bring three copies of your resume.

    If you have them, bring letters of recommendation, professional certicates, and

    references in a portfolio binder.

    For design, art-related, or writing positions, bring 510 examples of your best work in a portfolio.

    If employers spend all their time looking through your portfolio, they wont have as much time to

    connect with you. Student projects and personal work are fine; just make sure that the content is

    suitable for the employers customers. Email a link to your online portfolio in advance.

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    ContentsTips:

    Turn off your cell phone before you enter the building.

    When answering questions, keep your answers focused on your skills and knowledge.

    Make eye contact but dont stare.

    Be succinct and direct, dont ramble.

    Be truthful. Be sure to write a thank you note afterwards.

    Interview Questions to Anticipate

    In addition to specific questions about the information included in your resume, you can expect to be asked a

    wide range of questions for which there is no right or wrong answer. The interviewer is trying to get a sense of

    who you are and how you will t into the organization.

    The following questions are frequently asked of candidates. Youll find them easier to answer during an inter-

    view if you think beforehand about how you would answer them and jot down your answers.

    Tell me about yourself.

    Remember that 30 second elevator speech you worked on? Heres where to use it.

    What can you offer us? Why should we hire you?

    Make a list of your qualifications for the job. Include years of experience, education, special

    training, technical skills, inside knowledge of a product or market, and so on. Are you a cus-tomer of this product or service? List your transferable skills like communication, leadership,

    organization, attention to detail, and work ethic.

    Review the list objectively. Which items are most valuable to the employer? Use this informa-

    tion to write a brief sales pitch that describes your qualifications for the job. Structure the

    information in a logical fashion and then practice saying it aloud until you are confident in

    your delivery.

    What are your strengths? Think about your noteworthy achievements or experiences (for example, a paper, report, proj-

    ect, research study, or special project). What did you do to accomplish them?

    Think about performance reviews. Did you ever win an award or receive positive feedback

    from a happy customer? What were the reasons for the positive attention? Provide context

    and scope when answering this question. By elaborating on your strengths, its easier for the

    employer to see where you shine.

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    Contents What are your weaknesses?

    Remember that employers are human and would appreciate a little honesty. Its okay to

    acknowledge your weaknesses and explain steps youve taken to address them. Its also fair

    to point out how youve turned a genuine weakness into a strength but avoid clichd non-

    weaknesses like Im too organized.

    Where do you see yourself in three to ve years from now?

    Think about your personal goals and answer as genuinely as possible. This is a good opportunity

    to ask the interviewer about the opportunities available to a person who succeeds in this job.

    What attracted you to our organization?

    Draw from your research and personal knowledge of the company to answer this question.

    Keep in mind that this interview is about what you can do for them. Answering that youre

    attracted to the free snacks in the break room wont score any points.

    Tell me about a time you were under pressure to meet a deadline and what you did.

    When did you feel pressure at your last job because something was due? Describe the prob-

    lem, the actions you took, and the outcome. Choose examples in which you received positive

    feedback.

    What will former employer(s) say about you?

    Be honest. Think about the positive things they will say about you.

    What salary are you expecting? This is a landmine question, and one youll almost certainly face. A general rule for salary is:

    He or she who says the first number loses. Typically, a company has budgeted a certain salary

    range for a position and will do their best to stay within it. Ask what that salary range is and

    where the interviewer sees you fitting into that range.

    To prepare, you owe it to yourself to find out what the salary range is for a comparable

    position in the geographical region. You can learn this through your network or check out a

    website like Salary.com.

    Trick questions

    These happen to the best of interviewees. The only wrong answer to an impossible question

    is I dont know.

    Hiring managers are looking for employees who think through tough challenges. They want

    to know if you keep your cool under pressure, if you can think on your feet, whether you BS or

    maintain your credibility, and how you respond to the unfamiliar. So show them: think aloud.

    http://www.salary.com/http://www.salary.com/
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    Contents Talk about what you know about the problem; work out the process in front of them. You are

    being judged not only on your ability to solve problems, but also on your intelligence and

    potential. There is no potential in I dont know.

    When faced with this type of question, it is fine to ask questions of the interviewer. If you are

    truly stumped, make a note of the question and follow up with an emailed solution the next

    day. Interviewers are always impressed by candidates who not only care about learning and

    developing, but also follow through.

    At the Interview

    Youre there; its time for the interview! Greet the receptionist warmly and remember his or her name. As a

    well-respected member of the team, receptionists have quite a bit of pull when it comes to hiring. If candidates

    are rude, or odd, theyll notice and probably remark upon it to a member of the hiring team.

    While waiting for your interviewer, observe the office. Is it clean and comfortable? Do the people walking by

    smile at you? Are they engaged in conversation with each other? Do they seem to enjoy working there? Do you

    overhear them talking to or about customers? Is there a respectful, energetic tone to their conversations? This

    is great information to consider when you are considering a job offer.

    When your interviewer comes to meet you, look him or her in the eye, give a firm handshake, remember the

    interviewers name, and smile! Thank the receptionist (if practicable) as you leave the lobby. Do your best to get

    each interviewers card.

    Questions for You to Ask

    Keep in mind that interviews are not only the interviewers way of getting to know you; they are your

    opportunity to evaluate the company and the people with whom you might work. You are likely to be asked,

    Do you have any questions? The answer is always YES!

    Heres another instance where your research comes in handy. For example, I know from my research that

    ABC Company is planning to expand into the international market. How might that affect the departments

    activities?

    If you are replacing an existing employee, you might consider asking what your predecessors biggest

    challenges were.

    You can also ask about opportunities for advancement, availability of corporate training programs, plans for

    expansion, and so on.

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    ContentsAsk questions that matter to you. You need to make sure that the position is a good fit for you. In a big

    company, different departments have different cultures. Find out about the particular department in which you

    would be working.

    Is teamwork important to you? Try, Would you tell me about the last big project that the team worked on

    together?

    If you are interviewing in the persons office, notice the environment. See a picture of something you can relate

    to like golfers, sailboats, or sunny beaches? Make a mild comment about it and observe their response. Does

    their reaction look positive? If so, start a brief conversation about your mutual interest in the subject matter.

    The more you learn about the interviewers personal interests the better your interview is going!

    Other possible interview questions to ask include:

    What problem is this job going to solve?

    What steps need to be taken by the new hire to tackle that problem?

    What was your rst job with this company?

    What do you like most about working here?

    What are you looking for in the ideal candidate for this position?

    How will you know that the person you select was the right choice?

    What tools are available to achieve those goals?

    How will the work that is done contribute to the companys prots?

    (How will it lower costs or increase revenues?)

    Tips: Be passionate! Show enthusiasm for the position, the industry, and the company. Love filing,

    coding, marketing, or interacting with customers? Talk about it! Dont apply for positions you dont care

    about. Throughout the interview, find connections between your personal interests, your love for the

    industry, and the opportunity at hand.

    Note:Do not ask about the benefits program in your first interview! If someone from Human Resourc-

    es meets with you and explains the benefits then it is okay to ask the HR person questions about them

    but you should not bring up the subject.

    Ending the Interview

    Be as cordial and energetic on the way out as on the way in. If you are interested in the position, tell the

    interviewers! Express your enthusiasm. Not so thrilled? Dont let on. You may change your mind, or the

    opportunity might change, or who knows what might happen.

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    ContentsSay thank you! Say good-bye to anyone else you met. Remembering their names helps score points.

    Follow up with a thank-you note to each interviewer, mailed or e-mailed that afternoon or the next day. Many

    positive traits are attributed to candidates who send thank-you notes; they are thought to be polite, positive,

    attentive to detail, and great to work with.

    Preparing for an Informational Interview

    If you are a career changer or a recent college graduate looking for a first job, you will find that most people you

    ask for an informational interview will be very responsive to your request for help. Its human nature; people

    like to talk about themselves and what they do.

    Informational interviews are not job interviews. Make it clear that you are not asking your contact for a job.

    You are there to gain a deeper understanding of the company and its industry, enhance your awareness of

    the companys culture, and network with professionals in a relatively low-stress setting. Equally important,

    informational interviews are opportunities to get leads for positions in other divisions or companies that may

    have job openings and career potential.

    Goals for an Informational Interview

    Your primary goals for an informational interview are:

    To let the person know that you are learning about a career that is of interest to you To leave a positive impression

    To gather useful information about the company and, more broadly, the eld

    To gather at least two new contacts to add to your network

    Questions to Get You Started

    How did you get into this eld?

    What do you like about working in this eld?

    What is a typical day like for you? What sets your company apart from competing companies?

    How would you describe the career paths?

    What advice would you offer for someone wanting to get into this eld?

    What do hiring managers look for at this company?

    Whom would you recommend that I contact to learn about another persons experience?

    May I say that you recommended I call? Or would you be able to contact that person and

    suggest that he or she speaks to me?

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    Contents Tips:

    Be respectful of the persons time and stay within your allocated time guidelines.

    Do not ask for a job, or be too aggressive in your questioning/approach.

    Active listening is essential during an interview. If something isnt clear, dont hesitate

    to ask for a clarification. Hiring managers like people who get their facts straight!

    Take a notebook to record notes and recommendations for other people to contact.You can also include questions to ask during the interview.

    Follow Up

    After an interview, follow up promptly with any further information you have been asked to submit such as

    references, recommendations, portfolios, or transcripts.

    Write a thank-you note within 24 hours of each interview.

    Using the Internet in Your Job Search

    The Internet provides an astounding wealth of information that can be extremely useful in your job search. Here

    are a few tips on using the Internet to help you.

    Information Resources

    Online Job Listings

    There are hundreds of sites posting job openings, including: Monster, CareerBuilder, Dice, Indeed.com, andCraigs List, or you can use SuccessHawks job postings powered by Simply Hired. SuccessHawk job postings

    are aggregated from all of the well-known job sites so you dont need to move from one site to another.

    Company Websites

    Want to learn more about a company that interests you? Visit the companys website and spend some time

    browsing its pages. Get to know as much as you can about their product or services. Be sure to read the press

    section to learn about recent noteworthy announcements. Dont forget to check out the companys jobs or

    careers pages to see what positions the company is seeking to fill. You might also do an internet search on the

    company name to see if there is any late breaking news that you should be aware of before you go in for aninterview.

    Insider Information

    Want to get the inside scoop on companies that interest you? Check outwww.vault.comor

    www.glassdoor.comfor company reviews and information on salaries, interviewing, and other

    related information.

    http://www.vault.com/http://www.glassdoor.com/http://www.glassdoor.com/http://www.vault.com/
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    ContentsWant to learn about people who are going to interview you? Look them up on LinkedIn or other networking

    sites. You can also check out companies on these sites, too.

    The Blogosphere

    There are dozens of job search blogs where you can pick interesting tips about managing your job search.

    Blogs come and go and many are not kept up to date.

    Blogs are often specialized. For example, if you are just graduating from college, check out

    www.lindseypollak.comfor great tips on making the transition from college to career. You can also visit

    www.careermanagementalliance.com/blogwhere career counselors share their ideas on a wide

    range of job search topics. For a comprehensive listing of blogs in the job search/career field, check out

    www.blogcatalog.com.

    Create an Online PresenceTodays hiring managers are relying more on the Internet to check out the credentials of potential candidates.

    The first thing to do is find out what a hiring manager may learn about you. Do an Internet search on yourself

    and see what comes up. You may find out that you need to do some work to clean up your image or to create

    one. You want to present a positive image so you may want to revise any sites, blogs, forums, or other sites

    that you appear on.

    Be sure to clean up your image on Facebook and MySpace. What seemed hip in college or spring break could

    turn off a hiring manager. Do the same with your voice mail message and your email address.

    You can build your own personal branding by planning how you present yourself to the world via your online

    presence. Keep your messaging consistent from one site to another. If you have set up a presence on multiple

    sites, be sure to link all your sites.

    LinkedIn

    If you already have a profile on LinkedIn or other professional networking sites, be sure to keep it current. If you

    havent posted a profile on this popular site or others, put one up. You never know who might find you here. Be

    sure to ask your colleagues and, in particular, your former managers if they would post a recommendation for

    you. Recruiters do look at LinkedIn profiles for information about you. If you do post your profile on LinkedIn and

    decide you want to do the same on Plaxo or Monster, be sure that t