Job Search QA #2 Cover Letters, Changing Careers, Being Underqualified and More

Job Search QA #2 Cover Letters, Changing Careers, Being Underqualified and More 3 This roundup of reader questions and answers touches on finding greentech jobs, using cover letters, being underqualified, changing careers and applying to multiple openings at the same organization. Reminder I've tried to keep the questions and answers as close as possible to the actual conversation but in some cases I've changed things to protect the reader's identity or I've given a longer answer than what was possible at the time due to the fact that Twitter where many of these questions are coming from only allows 140 characters per message. Greentech jobs: where? Any advice for sustainable (wind/solar, etc) job searching? Find out which greentech and/or cleantech companies just got funding by searching on press releases and the blogs of industry venture capitalists. There's a good chance the newly-funded companies will be hiring soon. Don't just use Google in this case, try Twitter Search as well. Cover letters still needed? Are cover letters still relevant when sending a resume over e-mail? If I write a cover letter in the body of the e-mail, does anyone read it or do they just open the attached resume file? Should the cover letter be part of the Word document as well? The goal of a cover letter is to get the recipient to open your resume. Considering the number of resumes that recruiters receive, the vast majority will not open the resume automatically just because you're sending it to them. So yes, use the email itself to write a short, direct cover letter message that will make the recipient quickly open the attached resume. Here are some more cover letter writing tips. Underqualified? Maybe not as much as you thought I'm trying to only send resumes to jobs I'm really qualified for but it seems like employers are only seeking super-qualified people who have complete mastery and expertise in everything. What am I supposed to do? Except where space is limited, a job listing is an employer wish list. In a tough market where people are being laid off every day, employers feel they can get more for less and they can but only by asking for it. Keep applying if you have most of the qualifications they're asking for and feel that you can still impress them. Here's the success story of a job seeker who found a job even though he didn't have all the job listing's requirements. Changing careers in the same industry In trying to find a job after relocating to a new country, how easy is it to move to a related career within the same industry (hi-tech)? The best way to switch to an adjacent position is in the framework of an existing job. One example is a technical writer who showed that their skills would work well in product development, went ahead and proved it, and then transitioned into a full product development role. This can work because everything happens internally at the same company that knows and has confidence in the career-switching employee. As a gradual move sideways in the company's structure, there will likely be the option of staying in the initial role if experiments in the new role don't work out. Unfortunately the above scenario doesn't lend itself to relocation. It's very hard to get a job in a role for which you have no experience or training, in a country or culture where you have no experience or training. Instead, if you're planning an international move (like making aliya), try first for a job based on your experience and proven expertise. If the opportunity comes up, aim for a company where you will later have the option to slide into a related career. Responding to multiple openings at the same organization After my job interview and testing a few weeks ago, I received notice that my candidacy is moving forward but that there are still other candidates in the loop and a final answer will only arrive in a few more weeks at the earliest. In the meantime, I've found another appealing job opening at the same company. I'd like to apply for this second position as well, but how? I'm sure the same HR person is going to be seeing the CVs, so clearly she knows I am in the running for the first job since she set up the testing. I'm concerned that they will let the person I interviewed with know that I'm applying for the job, which could be good or bad, because it could push her to advocate for me, or could backfire and make her think that I have other options so that she wouldn't advocate for me. What should I do? Of course apply for the second job. If you think the same HR person is going to see the arrival of your 2nd CV in a negative light, there are 2 options: Call her first and explain that you're still interested in the first position as well but of course she understands that you need to prepare for all eventualities. Find a reason to call her about the first position, and use it as a chance to mention the second position so you can gauge whether or not you should go for it. The HR person is supposed to be trying to fill both positions with the best candidates. It's tempting to think that if they thought you were qualified for the 2nd position, they would have contacted you directly for it since they already have your CV and have interviewed you. Unfortunately, reality just isn't like that and there are so many possible reasons that you won't receive such a call, so it's best not to worry and just make your move. Have a job search question? Ask me all your job search questions via the JobMob contact form, Twitter, the JobMob LinkedIn Group, via comments on the JobMob Facebook page or comments here on JobMob.

Defining Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Defining Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Before you can create your personal brand, you have to know what your personal brand is. This post will help you to define your own personal brand through taking a look at your unique personal brand attributes. Once you have your personal brand attributes you can begin sharing your personal brand with the world. Simply put in a word Simply put, a personal brand attribute is a word that describes a characteristic or quality that you possess. It can also be defined as how others would describe you if they could only chose a few different words. Lets take a look at my personal brand attributes so you can get an idea of how this works. A few months ago I won an award at work for my performance on the award were five words that best described the winner of the award. When I won the award I thought to myself, these words are my professional personal brand attributes and exactly how I want to be perceived in the workplace. Here they are: Work Ethic: I have a very strong work ethic and believe in making sacrifices that others wont. Accountability: Im believe in my work and others can rely on me to get the job done. Professionalism: I put forth a professional demeanor in my actions and words. Intelligence: I take the time to learn the trends affecting my industry and how my company fits in. Im knowledgeable. Confidence: I put forth a quietly confident attitude that rubs off on others and instills credibility. I would also add these: Light-hearted: I try to not take myself to seriously, I like to laugh and enjoy life. Motivating: I like to help others and myself reach peak performance I like passing on what Ive learned to others. These seven words describe my personal brand very well and they are the characteristics I promote on a consistent basis through my personal brand. Even more important, these attributes are how others describe and view myself. What you represent and want to represent Through this exercise you will gain a real understanding of what you represent or want to represent to the world. Many people put off doing this exercise because they realize there is a disconnect between how others view them and the way they want to be viewed do not let this stop you. Each small step in the right direction is better than no action at all make sure you discover your personal brand attributes so you can share them with the world! What are your personal brand attributes? Please list them in the comments below so we can all get an idea of the different personal brand attributes out there! Enjoy the weekend! Author: Chad Levitt is the author of the New Sales Economy blog, which focuses on how Sales 2.0 Social Media can help you connect, create more opportunities and increase your business. Chad is also the featured Sales 2.0 blogger at SalesGravy.com, the number one web portal for sales pros, the professional athletes of the business world. Make sure to connect with him on Twitter @chadalevitt. Defining Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Defining Your Brand Defining your brand is critically important to your personal and business success. Beginning years ago with The Brand Called You by Tom Peters, the importance of defining and building your personal brand has been growing and is hitting a tremendous stride in 2009. Peters pioneered the idea that your brand is not the company you work for but rather who YOU are in that company. These days, superior skills, great resources, and inside knowledge are merely prerequisites if we even hope to compete in todays global marketplace. Rising above, standing out, and hitting your target has become more difficult than ever. It is very crowded out there and its said people receive literally thousands of branding messages every day from news media, movies, online, print, billboards, radio, TV, etc. Our personal brand the words and phrases we want others to think of when they think of us is all thats left to differentiate us from the rest of the pack. Add to that the fact that people are now changing jobs and careers so often, and your personal brand has become more important than ever. You first define and then communicate your brand with a clear strategy. For many, navigating that invisible line between clear and effective communication of your brand and offensive self-promotion is tricky. It’s important to be authentic and speak to your accomplishments. However, you will wear out your welcome if you try too hard, sell too much, speak too fast. On Broadway, it’s called flop sweat. You’re not sweating because of the bright, hot klieg lights. You’re sweating because you’re losing the audience â€" you know it, and they know it. Develop a Compelling Brand Message On the other hand, people will pay close attention to a strong and compelling message. They’ll lean in to something that resonates with them. Since its the first of the year, take time to review your brand message: Conduct a personal brand audit to determine your how your values and vision might have changed over the past year. Define who you are by writing a list of words that describe who you are and what you do. Review your online presence to ensure youre maximizing the new tools available. When was the last time you Googled your name? At the beginning of this year I wrote down the following words to describe what Ive been doing for the past few years: I consult, teach, write, and speak. Whats changed in 2009 is my messaging strategy. My personal brand audit turned up an opportunity to ramp up my online presence significantly via social media tools. Social media is an outstanding communication channel and network builder for personal branding. My focus on my Twitter presence alone has already brought new clients and opportunities this year a clear indication that the strategy is working. Make sure 2009 is your year! Define your brand. Decide on a compelling message and audit your online visibility to make sure youre maximizing social media tools and tactics. Update your Linked In profile and get on Twitter, if youre not already there. Explore blogging, podcasting, Facebook and more to learn how you can expand your visibility online. Be authentic and consistent. Make sure 2009 is your year! Suggested Reading: Tom Peters What Your Personal Brand is NOT Author: Beverly Macy is Managing Partner at YM Partners LLC in Beverly Hills. She also teaches a social media class at UCLA and is organizer of the Gravity Summit event at UCLA February 25, 2009.

5 Reasons why you should update your Workplace this Spring

5 Reasons why you should update your Workplace this Spring The season of spring always brings its fair share of cleaning with it, and even though it might be annoying and time consuming, it will undoubtedly have its benefits. This applies not only to your home, but also to your workplace. Spring is the perfect time to update this space, whether it be your office, your cubicle or even just your desk at home. If you’re after new office furniture, suppliers can assist with any needs you might have. Still unconvinced? Here are five reasons why you should reconsider! Productivity The first step to updating any area is to clear all of the clutter that is even remotely near your workspace. Getting rid of all the unnecessary things you have on your desk will mean that you won’t be wasting time trying to find particular pieces of paper or types of stationery, and you will be able to focus on getting the job done. You can also go a step further and organise everything as well, and this will make your work life so much easier. Motivation By bringing a splash of colour into your work area, you can increase both your motivation levels and those of your staff by a substantial amount. This is extremely easy to do â€" you can start off by adding a couple of colourful chairs or hanging up some decorations. You can even get the employees involved by asking them for suggestions, or encouraging them to bring in trinkets and ornaments of their own for their desks. Hygiene Pesky germs can stay and linger long after your cold has disappeared, so cleaning thoroughly is extremely important. The hot spots for these types of germs are on telephones, keyboards, door handles and communal equipment like printers or faxing machines. Spring also ushers in the advent of hay fever for some unfortunate people, so it may be a great time to ditch any dust that has accumulated over time. These actions will hopefully make the workplace a healthier, more hygienic place to be. Update and Replace Equipment Some of your equipment may have started to fall apart through the year, and spring is the perfect time to get it fixed or to buy new equipment. You might end up replacing equipment that you didn’t know needed replacing! Spring is also a great time to see if you need to update anything in the office, so you can go out and buy new equipment and furnishings or decorations at the same time! Fresh Start Spring is always the best season to get a fresh start if you feel like you need one. Revamp your workplace or your work area, get inspired and get productive! A fresh start and a new outlook can help you not only at work, but also at home. Are you planning to update your workplace this spring? Why or why not? What kind of ideas do you have in mind? Have you done this sort of thing before, and how did it turn out for you? Leave your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below.

What Are the Global Recruitment Trends in 2015

What Are the Global Recruitment Trends in 2015 Recruitment is an ever evolving industry, especially with the growth of technology and social media. The way that candidates are sourced, jobs are advertised and businesses develop their employer brands are all things that have been adapting over the years. Whereas job boards are still going strong, like in previous years; social media is on the rise and is now central to recruitment processes all over the world. So what has 2015 had in store for recruitment so far and what are the trends that are going to continue for the rest of the year? This infographic by Lucas Blake gives us a summary of some of the global recruiting trends of 2015. What are the key recruitment trends of 2015? Social media has made it possible to access candidates with more ease than ever before and vice versa. Targeting the right candidates is now quicker and simpler, thanks to the introduction of digital marketing tools. More and more job seekers are searching for an applying for jobs via mobile devices. Competition and compensation are the biggest challenges that employers are facing. 56% of talent acquisition leaders say that employer brand is one of the top priorities for their organisation. What are the top sources for seeking talent? Job boards and company career sites are the best sources for seeking a high number of candidates, with social media coming in last. For quality candidates, job boards are also the best place to look, followed by social media. How are things looking for employer branding? 75% of talent acquisition leaders say that talent brand impacts their ability to hire. The top reasons for investing in employer branding is to increase brand awareness and to increase belief in the impact of the employer brand. What does the future hold for recruitment? Global recruiting leaders believe that social and professional networks are going to be essential in the future of recruitment; in addition to investing more in employer branding and sourcing passive candidates. In the next 5-10 years recruitment is expected to become more like marketing and there will be improved candidate and job matching. RELATED:  The Most Attractive Global Employers of 2015 Image Credit: Shutterstock

How to Dress Professionally for Every Interview CareerMetis.com

How to Dress Professionally for Every Interview There are always plenty of things to dobefore your interview, including updating your resume and researching the company, so choosing your outfit may not be your first priority.But making a good first impression with a polished, professional outfit can be really important, especially when you’re competing against many other qualified candidates for the job.evalYour interview outfit can communicate that you’re professional, organized, and a good fit for the company, so you want to make sure you get it right.To help you stand out in a good way and exude professionalism and class, we’ve put together this guide on how to dress for every interview.Read more for help with figuring out what to wear and what to avoid if you want to look your best.Try to Dress for the Company’s CultureevalOne of the ways that interviewers may decide if you’ll fit in at the company is by looking at your outfit.If you’re in a full suit while everyone else is in jeans, your interviewers may think tha t you don’t fully understand and mesh with the company’s culture. To show that you’re right for the job, you should research the company’s dress code and try to match it.There are a few different ways to figure out what other people at the company wear: you might look at pictureson the company’s website and social media pages.If you have a friend at the company, you can ask them for advice. You can even call and ask the person at the front desk what the suggested dress code is for interviews.evalMost companies will fall into one of two categories â€" business professional or business casual. In a business professional environment, you should probably wear a suit For example, you can choose a tie in a solid color like navy or one with a classic pattern like paisley or stripes. You should also wear a pressed long-sleeve dress shirt that fits you well and dark socks. Polished dress shoes, a leather belt, and a professional briefcase can also help round out the look.Women shou ld choose either a pant suitor skirt suit with a conservative blouse, camisole, or dress shirt. If you’re wearing a skirt, pantyhose are always a good idea. For shoes, you should wear closed-toe flats or heels in a neutral color like black, gray, or tan.If you opt for heels, make sure that the heel is three inches or less â€" excessively high heels are difficult to walk around in and might make a bad impression. Finally, you can bring a sleek leather briefcase or neutral bag with you to complete your outfit.Business Casual AttireMany businesses in industries like sales and marketing allow their employees to wear business casual attire. A lot of people aren’t sure what business casual really means, so this can be a hard dress code to nail. A good way to think of it is that you’re dressing down a business outfit, not dressing up a casual one.For example, a good business casual outfit for men is a sport coat, a pair of dressy slacks, loafers, a leather belt, and a patterned dress shirt. If the office is on the casual side, you can go without a jacket or even throw a knit sweater over your button down instead.Women can wear a nice blouse or sweater with a skirt or dress pants to a business casual interview. For an extra professional look, throw a blazer over top of your blouse. You can also wear a dress if that’s what you’re most comfortable inâ€" just make sure it’s not too short. For shoes, you can wear heels, oxfords, or flats. You can also add some accessories to your outfit like subtle jewelry or a scarf to make it more stylish.Attire for Informal InterviewsCasual dress codes are becoming more and more common, especially in the tech industry. But even if you’re interviewing at an office where everyone wears jeans and sneakers, you should still dress professionally.Try to dress one step up from the typical employee. For men, that might mean dark wash jeans and a button down or khakis and a polo shirt. Women can wear a casual dress or dark wash je ans and a nice blouse.Even if everyone is wearing them, you should definitely skip the sneakers for your interview. Men can opt for a nice pair of boat shoes or loafers, while women can choose a comfortable pair of flats or oxfords instead.Attire for Interviews in Creative Industries evalevalFor most interview situations, bright colors and patterns aren’t recommended. But in a creative industry like graphic design, media, or fashion, wearing an outfit with a bright pop of color is actually a great way to stand out.You should dress in a professional business casual outfit with one or two colorful items of clothing or interesting accessories to show off your personal style.Women might opt for a bright blue blazer, a chunky necklace, or a pair of statement pumps to jazz up a basic interview outfit. Men might wear a patterned shirt or blazer in an unexpected color like light blue or dark green.The sky’s the limit when it comes to creative styling ideasthat will make your interview o utfit fashionable and memorable, but the trick is to pick and choose for a look that’s tasteful and stylish rather than wild.How to Dress for Success at Any InterviewNo matter what the company’s culture is like, there are a few general rules you should always follow when dressing for an interview. Your clothes should be pressed and in good condition, and your hair should be clean and properly styled.evalPaying attention to these details will show that you’re professional, take pride in your appearance, and care about the potential job opportunity in front of you.a) Launder and Press Your Clothes Clothes that are wrinkled or stained make a pretty terrible first impression, so launder and iron your clothes before the big day. You should also try to eat your breakfast before you put on your clothes so you don’t accidentally stain them.b) Check the Condition of Your ClothingNobody wants to reach into their closet on the day of their interview and realize their favorite sweater h as a hole in it! A wardrobe malfunction like that can cause unnecessary stress (especially if you’re already not feeling well that day) and throw you off your game.To prevent that from happening, check your clothes and shoes for holes and defects several days before your interview. Inspecting your outfit ahead of time will give you a chance to repair or replace any items that aren’t in good condition so you look your absolute best.c) Make Sure Everything FitsAfter you make sure your clothing is in good condition, you should try it on to see if it still fits. Clothes that are too big, too long, or too tight can look unprofessional, so replace or tailor any items that don’t suit your proportions.Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether or not your clothing is flattering, but you can always ask for a second opinion from a trusted friend or family member.d) Apply Minimal Makeup Women who wear makeup should be careful not to overdo it. Dark, heavy eyeliner and bright lipstick are t oo distracting for an interview. Try to keep your makeup minimal and soft.Apply a light layer of foundation and powder, a thin coat of mascara, and a subtle nude or light pink lipstick. If you wear eyeliner, don’t use a heavy hand, and stick to lighter shades of eyeshadow.e) Style Your Hair and Groom Your BeardA big part of looking professional is having neatly styled hair. Make sure your locks are clean and, if needed, style them with smoothing gel to keep them from looking frizzy. If you have long hair, you might consider putting it into a ponytail or bun so it stays out of your face during the interview.If you have a beard, it should look tidy and trimmed. However you choose to maintain your beard, it is a good idea to groom and styleit so it doesn’t look unkempt.f) Wear Appropriate Accessories Flashy accessories like diamond-studded watches and long gold chains usually aren’t appropriate for an interview. Men should make sure that their watches are subtle. One with a simpl e brown or black leather band and a small face is a great choice.Women should wear studs rather than long hoop earrings and keep other accessories like necklaces and bracelets simple and unobtrusive. You don’t want to wear lots of jangly bracelets and annoy your interviewer!g) Skip Heavy Fragrances Your first instinct may be to reach for perfume or cologne before your interview to make sure you smell fresh and clean. But you never know if your interviewer has asthma or allergies that make them sensitive to strong scents, so it’s best to skip the cologne.If you’re worried about staying fresh on a hot day, bring some baby wipes and a small stick of deodorant with you just in case.Things You Should Never Wear to an InterviewAlthough people in certain industries like graphic design have more leeway with their interview attire, there are still things you should never wear in an office environment. Flip flops and revealing outfits top the list. Read on to find out all of the things you should avoid if you want to look professional.i) Flip Flops and Other Casual FootwearFlip flops are great for the beach, but they’re not appropriate for the office. The same goes for UGG boots, running shoes, and other ultra casual footwear. Even if you’re going for a casual informational interview, you shouldn’t show up in these kinds of shoes. It gives off the impression that you’re not taking the job opportunity seriously.There are other shoe options that are just as comfortable but look a lot more professional. When thinking about what to wear to an informal interview, women should stick with leather flats or oxfords, while men should wear a nice pair of boat shoes or loafers.ii) Revealing OutfitsBoth women and men should keep themselves relatively covered up during a job interview. Men shouldn’t undo more than one button on their dress shirt or button down â€" showing off an undershirt or chest hair can be distracting. Women should make sure that their skirts or d resses aren’t too short and their tops aren’t too revealing.Dressing modestly is an important part of looking professional, so if you’re not sure if an item of clothing is appropriate, don’t wear it.iii) Ripped or Distressed Jeans Dark wash or black jeans are fine for casual interviews, but ripped and distressed pairs can come across as grungy. You want to look polished and professional, so stick to jeans and trousers that aren’t faded and don’t have any holes in them.iv) Visible Undergarments A few days before your interview, you should put on your outfit and move around in it to confirm that none of your undergarments show.If you’re wearing low rise pants or a skirt, make sure your underwear isn’t visible when you bend over or sit. Women should also check to make sure their clothing hides their bra straps, and men should make sure their undershirt isn’t visible.v) Workout Clothes Workout clothes have become a standard everyday outfit for many people, but they’r e still not appropriate for the office. Unless the work involves fitness instruction or personal training, employees don’t walk around in yoga pants, basketball shorts, and other types of workout gear even in the most casual workplaces, so leave them in your gym bag.vi) Excessive Piercings and Tattoos The rules about piercings and tattoos are relaxing, especially in creative industries. But if you have a whole sleeve of tattoos or several different facial piercings, it’s probably a good idea to cover up tattoos or remove piercings that might be considered distracting until you’re more familiar with the company culture. You don’t want your appearance to distract your interviewer or cause you to miss out on a good job opportunity.In conclusion, your wardrobe choices alone won’t land you the job, but they will help you make a great first impression and set you up for success.Your appearance is a reflection of your attitude, so wearing a polished outfit will help you demonstra te that you’re professional and the right fit for the company.It will also keep your interviewer from getting distracted by your outfit and allow them to focus on your skills and experience, not your appearance.What do you usually wear to job interviews? Share your style tips with us in the comments section below!

Is It Time to Throw In the Towel - Kathy Caprino

Is It Time to Throw In the Towel Welcome to Episode #4 of my weekly video blog Work You Love! Today, Im addressing an important small business question from Randy: I used to work for someone else and I didnt like it at all.   I launched a graphic design business a year ago, and while I love the work, Im just not making a go of it.   I cant seem to get enough clients, or the ones I do get dont seem willing to pay me what the work is worth.   Should I keep going at this, or let it go?   How do you know when its time to throw in the towel? Heres my take on that: I hope this video post helps you assess if walking away is the right move, and decide what you really want to create, achieve and focus on in the next chapter. And todays top message: If youre thinking of throwing in the towel, its possible this is not the right fit for you.   Are you willing to do everything it takes? Thank you for watching Work You Love, and wishing you many happy breakthroughs! (If you have a burning career question youd like me to answer, SUBMIT IT HERE! Ill do my best to address it in some form in the weeks to come.)

Editing Resume Writing With These Tools

Editing Resume Writing With These ToolsEditing resume writing can be tricky. You might have to do it by hand or with the help of a software program. This way, you can make sure that you're making edits that are going to benefit you in your job search. If you try to edit resume writing manually, it will take more time, but you can still get it done.When you go through resume writing, be sure to ask yourself if there are some basic mistakes that you can see that may not be very obvious at first glance. Keep in mind that you can easily find a mistake if you look for it.You'll want to edit your resume by eliminating all the information that isn't related to the job that you are applying for. Try to avoid using a certain line that isn't relevant to the job you are applying for. Instead, cut those lines out, so that your resume can be improved.When editing resume writing, make sure that you don't forget any of the things that you may have put in the right place. Look for grammar errors, sp elling mistakes, typos, and other small details that can make a big difference in your ability to get hired. A well written resume is a lot more attractive than a poorly written one.You can edit your resume by first looking at the resume template that you've created. Use the resume editor that you get along with the template, to ensure that you have everything included. For example, if you're trying to determine what to put in the 'Education' section, you may want to use an editor that has a category for your career choice. If you didn't include anything about your career choices in the template, you may want to look for one that does.If you want to learn how to edit resume writing yourself, you can use these editing tools, as well. They allow you to look for errors, while you work on your resume. These programs are also great when you have a large number of resumes that need to be edited.Editing resume writing can be done easily when you have the right tools. You can even do it fro m the comfort of your own home, without spending too much money. You can easily download the software that you need, or check out other free software programs, online. There are hundreds of them to choose from, and they each offer different functions.Resume writing is essential for a job seeker. You want to be able to apply for jobs, and get the best results possible. You can do this by editing your resume, so that it can be optimized for a higher chance of getting you the job you want.