YOUR JOB SEARCH SURVIVAL GUIDEA go-to guide for every step of the way, from resume writing to securing an offer and beyond!

A guide for job seekers by The Execu|Search Group

“BY FAILING TO PREPARE, YOU ARE PREPARING TO FAIL”

- Benjamin FranklinRESUME REHAB

INTERVIEW INTERVENTION

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

THE END GAME

NETWORKING LIKE A PRO

Throughout your career, it’s important to occasionally take stock of your

progress and ask yourself if you’re on a track that helps you accomplish

your overall goals. If not, it might be time to find a new job that better

suits your interests, or even make a significant career change.

Before tackling such a major undertaking, it’s important to go over all

the steps in the process – something that is especially true given how

vital it is to stand out amongst your competition. It’s been estimated

that, on average, 118 people apply for any given job, and of those

applicants, only 23% move onto the interview process.1 That’s a lot of

competition! From perfecting your resume to proper interview follow-

up, there are quite a few things to review in order to ensure you receive

an offer you would be happy to accept.

We pride ourselves on the relationships we’ve built with hiring decision

makers, and after placing over 60,000 professionals in new jobs over

the last 30 years, we’ve learned A LOT about what employers are

looking for. We’ve got your entire job search covered – making this

your quick, go-to guide for resume writing, interviewing, finding the

right fit, securing the offer, and networking!

RESUME REHAB

No job search can begin without a solid resume. Not only is it a list of your work experience and

technical skills, it acts as a condensed representation of who you are as a professional. In a matter

of seconds, it can convey so much more to a hiring manager than most people realize.

Elements like formatting, spelling and grammar, and organization can all make the difference

between being called for an interview and being passed up. On one hand, something as simple as

a misspelled word may lead an employer to believe that you’re careless or lack attention to detail,

while on the other, failing to include the right keywords in your resume may prevent you from

showing up in relevant candidate searches. We’re here to help, so the following articles are some

of our best tips to help you ensure you submit the perfect resume.

did you KNOW

Most employers only spend an average of viewing your resume, so make it count!6 SECONDS

RESUME REHAB

“RESUME STRATEGIESTHAT WILL HELP YOU

STAND OUT”

FOR FURTHER READING:

6 Characteristics of an Attention-Grabbing Resume

Make Sure You Ask These 4 Questions About Your Resume

6 Ways to Bulk Up Your Resume

Is Your Resume Mobile-Friendly?

5 Steps to Reducing Resume Clutter

(The following is an excerpt from “Resume Strategies That Will Help You Stand Out”)

The journey towards landing your next job begins with a resume

that will get you noticed enough to make it past the initial screening

process. There are certain resume tactics you can utilize to highlight

the professional image you want to convey to prospective employers,

thus increasing your chances of getting a call for an interview.

Four strategies to consider:

1 Include a summary section that gives a brief overview of your career

2 Use keywords to ensure your resume shows up in relevant searches

3 Decide between chronological and functional resume formats

4 Share professional social media profiles and websites

For more information on each of these strategies and how to approach

them, read our full article here.

INTERVIEW INTERVENTION

Congrats! After all of the hard work you put into perfecting your resume, writing cover letters, and

submitting job applications, you land an interview. Now that you’ve gotten your resume noticed,

it’s time for you to prove to them why you are the best candidate for both the job and the team you

could be joining.

Standard interview practices have changed a lot over the years. In fact, there may no longer be

such a thing as “standard” practices. Advances in technology, along with an increased emphasis

on a candidate’s personality and soft skills, have pushed employers to become more creative with

how they approach the interviewing process. Whether you get asked to do a spur of the moment

video interview or find yourself having to answer seemingly bizarre questions, it’s important to be

prepared for a wide array of interview scenarios that may come your way!

did you KNOW

the % of respondents in a recent survey of over 2,000 MANAGERS who claimed to know whether or not to hire someone within the first 90 SECONDS of an interview333%:

INTERVIEW INTERVENTION

“WRAP UP EVERYINTERVIEW WITH

THESE 5 QUESTIONS”

FOR FURTHER READING:

Picture Perfect Video Interview Tips

The Importance of a Post-Interview Thank You Note

7 Steps to Saving Your Interview From a Nosedive

5 Steps to Securing Great References

How to Ace The Post-Interview Process

(The following is an excerpt from “Wrap Up Every Interview With These 5 Questions”)

“Do you have any questions for me?” We all get asked this at some point,

if not in every interview. When a hiring manager asks this question, it’s

your chance to shine and take control of the flow of conversation. Use

it to your advantage by asking the following questions:

1 How would you describe the company’s culture?

2 What’s the most important skill or characteristic the ideal person

in this role would possess?

3 How do you measure and evaluate success here?

4 What do you like most about working for this company?

5 How will my work impact the company as a whole?

Read on for more info on asking these questions and what you should

look for in the interviewer’s response.

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

We always tell job seekers that it’s imperative to research a company prior to an interview, but

it’s important to remember that an interview is two-sided. While the interviewer needs to ask you

questions to determine whether or not you’re a good fit for the role, it’s just as important for you to

determine if the role and the company are the right fit for YOU. Do you believe in the values of the

company? Will there be opportunities for growth and development? Does the company emphasize

teamwork or favor individual achievement?

All of these things can tell you a lot about a company’s culture, which factors heavily into employee

happiness. Employees leave and join companies for a variety of reasons, but whether or not they

feel they fit with the company’s culture is a huge component. Read on for some helpful articles

with tips for finding a company that truly fits you.

did you KNOW

the % of respondents to our survey of hiring decision makers who claimed that personality fit was “CRITICAL” or “VERY IMPORTANT” in their hiring decisions480%:

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

“COMPANY CULTURE:WHAT IS IT AND HOWDOES IT AFFECT YOU?”

FOR FURTHER READING:

4 Ways to Find the Company That’s the Right Fit For You

Considering a Job Offer? 5 Ways to Gauge the Work Environment

A Guide to Thoroughly Researching a Company

(The following is an excerpt from “Company Culture: What is it and How Does it Affect You?”)

There’s a lot of talk about company culture as of late, but it seems to

be one of those terms often used and less often understood. What is

it? And how does it affect you as a job seeker and an employee?

Company culture, at its simplest, is a set of elements that make up the

company’s “way of life.” This encompasses:

• A company’s mission and values

• How professional or casual the work environment is

• What level of work-life balance is provided

• The level of teamwork or autonomy among coworkers

• Much more

Check out our full article to learn more about why company culture

should play a critical role in your job search.

THE END GAME: NEGOTIATIONS, OFFERS, AND REJECTIONS

You’ve perfected your resume, targeted a company with great corporate culture, and aced the

interview — congratulations! Now you’re at the part of your job search every job seeker looks

forward to: receiving an offer.

Don’t get too comfortable, though. Your work isn’t over yet — this stage of your search is just

as crucial as any other, if not more so. Do you know how much your skills are worth? Are you

prepared to negotiate salary or choose between multiple offers? What if you’re ultimately rejected

for a position you thought you landed?

There are a number of variables to consider at this stage of the process, and the only way to ensure

you handle them like a pro is to prepare for both the expected and the unexpected.

did you KNOW

the % of professionals that say they REGRET NOT ASKING FOR MORE MONEY during the interview process576%:

THE END GAME

“NAVIGATING THECOMPLICATED WORLDOF COUNTER OFFERS”

FOR FURTHER READING:

How to Negotiate a Job Offer Like a Pro

The 5 Laws of Successful Salary Negotiations

How to Juggle Multiple Job Offers

Should You Really Accept That Job Offer?

4 Do’s and Don’ts for Handing a Job Rejection

(The following is an excerpt from “Navigating the Complicated World of Counter Offers”)

In today’s ever-evolving job market, counter offers are making a swift

return. They were nearly unheard of just a few short years ago when

the job market was quite different, but that’s no longer the case. As

a result, many job seekers are caught off guard when they receive a

counter offer from their current employer in an attempt to keep them

as an employee. But should you take that counter offer? Maybe not. If

you’re thinking about it, consider these stats from our survey of 400+

working professionals:

• 70% of employees who leave their company are seeking better

growth opportunities that their current company hasn’t provided.

• 28% of those who accepted counter offers ended up leaving within 1 year.

• 64% of those who left within 1 year felt that accepting the counter

offer affected their work relationships.

For more stats on counter offers, as well as advice on how to navigate

them, check out our infographic!

NETWORKING LIKE A PRO

While many professionals know the important role that networking plays in their job search

and career as a whole, they sometimes make the mistake of letting their connections fall to the

wayside once they land a new position. Of course, one of the biggest faux pas of networking is

only reaching out when you want something.

With this in mind, it’s important to make a consistent effort to build and maintain your professional

network at all times! Regardless of whether or not you are an active job seeker, the following articles

will help you learn how to identify prospective connections as well as how you can strengthen and

maintain these relationships over time.

did you KNOW

the % of job seekers that have found their “favorite” or “best” job through personal connections7

LinkedIn users with complete profiles are

40 TIMES MORE LIKELY to receive job opportunities from employers6

+ 40%:

NETWORKING LIKE A PRO

“HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF EVERY

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY”

FOR FURTHER READING:

5 People to Add to Your Network ASAP

6 Steps to Staying in Touch with Your Network

How to Get Better at In-Person Networking

3 Networking Tips to Further Your Career

How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile More Marketable

(The following is an excerpt from “How to Make the Most Out of Every Networking Opportunity”)

Networking opportunities come in all forms, from a planned

informational interview or career fair to an impromptu introduction at a

social gathering. Since it’s impossible to predict when and where you’ll

bump into someone you’d like to connect with, here’s how to ensure

you are ready to expand your network at all times:

1 Being prepared with three key tools: a couple of conversation

starters, an elevator pitch, and a small stack of business cards.

2 Assessing the type of opportunity: the networking tactics you utilize

will differ depending on whether you are trying to make new connections,

explore potential opportunities, or pursue something more tangible.

3 Following up: it’s the best way to ensure a successful, long-term

relationship!

Of course, it’s important to always network tactfully, so be sure to review

the full article to ensure you can truly make the most of every opportunity.

For more resources and career inspiration,

visit:

our resources page atexecu-search.com/resources

for helpful whitepapers and infographics

OR

our blog atblog.execu-search.com,

which is chock full of tips and tricks for all steps of your

career!

SOURCES:

ABOUT THE EXECU|SEARCH GROUP:

The Execu|Search Group blog

1. Forbes

2. ABC News

3. The Undercover Recruiter

The Execu|Search Group was founded in 1985 as a recruitment firm focused on serving

accounting firms, boutique hedge funds, and private equity funds. Over time, our firm

has evolved into a full-service firm integrating a broad range of industries. We’re proud

to say that we’ve helped over 26,000 companies find talent and have connected over

60,000 people with new jobs.

Headquartered in New York City with 9 additional offices in New York, New Jersey,

Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Florida, we’ve become one of the largest privately-

owned recruitment, temporary staffing, and workforce solutions firms. We specialize in

the placement of professionals in the following roles:

ACCOUNTING/FINANCE | CREATIVE & DIGITAL | ENGINEERING

FINANCIAL SERVICES | HEALTH SERVICES | HUMAN RESOURCES

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | LEGAL SERVICES | LIFE SCIENCES

NONPROFIT | OFFICE SUPPORT

www.execu-search.com

4. The Execu|Search Group 2015 Hiring Outlook

5. Salary.com

6. LinkedIn

7. Jobvite