Purejobs Blog - talk about Job Search, Interview, Resume, CV, Employers, Recruiters, Training, Careers and more

43 Things Your Future Boss Wants You to Know

Like death, work comes for us all. If you plan to go into business for yourself after getting your college degree, we applaud your pioneering spirit. For the rest of you, somewhere out there is a boss with your name on their payroll. Each one of these bosses will have his own particular things he asks of you that you’ll have to learn after you land the job. But there are also quite a few general skills, bits of knowledge, and etiquette rules that you should know before going to work anywhere. To smooth out the learning curve for you, we’ve laid out 43 of those below.

How-tos

How to send an email:
Screaming at people with all caps, using any color text other than black, and copying people who don’t need to be copied are a few of the email pointers you’ll need to know.
How to work with older coworkers:
Right now, all your “coworkers” are people in your classes who are your age. Do you have not only the ability to work with older employees, but the humility to learn what they have to teach?
How to be presentable at work:
Shave. Cover tattoos. Dress modestly. Easy on the cologne/perfume. Don’t try to walk the minimum line for acceptability. People shouldn’t be able to tell by your clothes that you are fresh out of college.
How to speak on the phone:
When you answer, you say, “Good afternoon, John speaking,” not “What up, this John.” Also, your stupid gimmicky voicemail message? Yeah, that needs to go, too.
How to interpret boss-speak:
A request to do something “if it’s not too much trouble” means “I want you to do this assignment, and by the way, it will probably be a pain.”
How to work as part of a group:
Your boss will expect you to be able to gel with a team. You’ll need to know how to work cooperatively, share credit, delegate, and make yourself heard.
How to treat company property:
Like the corporate card, your desk, computer equipment, chair, and anything else that belongs to your employer should be handled with care.
How to use a corporate card:
That corporate credit card is not like the one your dad gave you to buy books with that you instead use for alcohol. If you receive a corporate card in your new job, know to use it responsibly and sparingly.
How to conduct yourself in meetings:
Your future boss is calling to you from six weeks into your new job: “You’re talking too much in meetings. Listen more and think before you speak.”
How to listen:
Simple as it sounds, active listening is a skill many do not have but all bosses look for. It takes concentration, full attention, and note-taking to really listen well.
How to keep emotions in check:
Showing a certain amount of emotion does not hurt the chances of career advancement. However, keeping a firm rein on anger and frustration and knowing how much is too much is necessary.
How to use social media:
As the newest and probably youngest hire, your boss likely assumes you are familiar with Facebook and Twitter and can use your knowledge to promote the company if asked.
How to read your boss’ body language:
If you walk into your boss’ office and he doesn’t look up, he’s busy; come back later. If he’s walking briskly in the direction of the bathroom, don’t head him off to bend his ear for five minutes.
How to lead:
When the time comes for you to head up a team project, knowing how to manage people effectively and fairly will be an invaluable skill.
How to learn quickly:
Your boss doesn’t want to spend the rest of her career training you. The skill of picking things up quickly can be honed, and you should hone it.
How to manage your time:
Your boss can’t oversee everything you do. It’s up to you to know how to budget your time and when to say no, if necessary, to some requests so that you can meet your primary responsibilities.
How to make a simple spreadsheet:
Having at least a working knowledge of Excel is important to most bosses in white-collar workplaces. If you didn’t learn it in college, find some free help online.
How to show respect to superiors:
Especially away from the office, your boss will want you to be respectful and maybe even throw in a “yes sir” or “yes ma’am” sometimes. No matter how chummy you get, never belittle them in public, even in jest.
How to resolve conflict:
Hopefully you won’t be having frequent run-ins with coworkers. But if you do get in a tussle, your boss will want you to know how to handle it like an adult without him or her having to get involved.
How to exit gracefully:
If it doesn’t work out, your boss would still appreciate you saying goodbye and thanking him or her for the opportunity. They’ll also be much more inclined to consider hiring you back should the need arise.

What Not To Do

Be late:
It’s simple enough: respect the job, the boss, and your coworkers by showing up on time. Being at your desk just a few minutes early has a huge payoff in boss brownie points for a small amount of effort.
Make excuses:
Get the work done, when it’s supposed to be done. If you plan for potential problems, you won’t have a need for excuses anyway.
Friend him/her on Facebook:
If your boss is like 62% of American bosses, he/she does not want to be your friend on Facebook. Speaking of Facebook, most bosses prefer you not check it at work.
Be a perfectionist:
Bosses want you to do the best you can with the time you have. They will appreciate the attempt to make everything perfect, but if this means you fall behind or burn out, it’s a problem.
Head over to The Best Colleges to read the rest

4 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Changing Careers

This is a list og common mistakes young professionals make when switching careers – and some advice to avoid them yourself:

1. Money chasing

Yes I agree, money’s an important factor in a jobs, but it’s not the only factor in you need to focus on.

A friend of mine in Portland, OR, a marketing manager, jumped at a new job opportunity a few years ago because it gave him more than a 50 percent raise.

“The money was great – while it lasted,” he said. But a year and a half later, the company he moved to was acquired and he found himself out of a job. “In retrospect, I should have seen it coming,” he said. “They were setting themselves up to be acquired. But I was blinded by the dollar signs.”

If he had it to do over again, he would have spent more time asking questions about the company’s plans for future growth and where they were headed.

2. Jumping in too quickly into a company brand

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to work for a big brand name. Just make sure you do your homework and move for the right reasons.

Some people seek out work with well-known brands because they think it will look great on their resumes. But once they start working there, they sometimes discover the public image of the company doesn’t translate into a quality employee experience.

It’s a good practice to talk with people who work at any company you’re thinking about going to work for – even if it’s a big name. You need to think about whether the company culture is a good fit for you, not just whether you’d like to have a big brand name on your resume.

3. Moving up the career ladder just to move up for the sake of it

Twice in my career, I’ve made the mistake of going after a promotion just because it was a step up. I didn’t really think through how these moves fit with my career goals, and in both cases I was miserable in the role.

What those experiences taught me is that without having a clear vision for your life and career, you won’t have much to guide you in those decisions.

Get clear on what you want your life and work to look like first. Then start looking for the next thing in your career. And have the strength to pass on anything that doesn’t fit your vision.

4. Burning bridges

If you’ve toiled away through the recession at a job you don’t like, it might be tempting to quit in dramatic fashion. Tell off your domineering boss. Let all the people you didn’t get along with know what you really think of them.

Despite what movies and TV might have led you to believe, this will not make you seem heroic to your (now former) colleagues. In most cases, it will just make everyone feel awkward – including you.

Early in my career I watched as one co-worker who had just been hired by a competitor told off our boss and then stormed out of the office. About a year later, he changed jobs again. This time, he was working for a supplier who wanted our business. He had to tell his new boss about what had happened and ask to be taken off the account team.

Needless to say, that revelation didn’t score him any points with his new employer. You never know who you’ll have to work with down the line, which is why you never want to burn any bridges.

The key to all of these tips is being strategic. Before you hop to a new job, get clear on what you want in your life and your career. Then, if you pursue an opportunity that looks like a fit, do your homework on the company to make sure it’s headed in the right direction and the culture is a good fit for you. And if you do end up taking a new job, please, for everyone’s sake, give your two weeks notice and leave in good standing.

50 KILLER QUESTIONS FOR JOB SEEKERS TO ASK ON INTE

Many of my career coaching clients have recently been asking for advice on this subject. To make it easier on them, you, and myself, here are 50 Killer Questions for YOU to ask on interviews:

Questions About The Company

1. Is the company financially stable?

2. On average, how many new employees does the company hire each year?

3. Can you tell me about the turnover rate at the company?

4. Has the company received any major awards or recognition recently?

5. What needs to happen for the company to be successful?

6. What are the current and long-term goals for the company?

7. Can you name some of the competing companies?

8. Can you talk about the current morale at the company? Why is it good/bad?

9. What do you think is the future of the industry?

10. How many people are currently employed by the company?

11. Are any positions or functions at this company outsourced?

12. Can you explain a typical successful employee at this company?

Questions About The Position

13. How would you describe the responsibilities of this specific position?

14. Are there any job tasks for this position that aren’t on the job description?

15. What would be expected of me in the first 90 days?

16. What would be expected of me in my first year?

17. Would I be working with a specific or multiple product(s) that the company produces?

18. How does this specific position fit into the company’s current and long-term plans?

19. Who are the major internal and external customers that I would interact with?

20. How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?

21. Can you break down the job tasks in percentage of time spent?

22. How much travel is expected for this position?

23. How can I be successful in this role?

24. What is the most important responsibility for this position?

25. How many hours should I expect to work? Is overtime expected?

Questions About The Manager

26. Who would be my manager?

27. Was my manager promoted from within the company or was he/she an external hire?

28. Can you tell me about my supervisor’s management style?

29. How long has the manager been in his/her current role?

30. How many years of experience do they have in management?

31. What are some characteristics of people that perform well under this manager?

32. Would my manager work in the same location as I do?

Questions About The Department

33. What are some of the other position titles in the department?

34. What are some of the current goals for the department?

35. Where does the department need to improve?

36. What are some recent successes for the department?

37. What is the departments morale like?

38. How is communication between this department and others?

Questions About Who You’re Replacing

39. Is this a new position? If not, where did the previous employee in this role go?

40. When people decide to leave this company or position on their own, what is the most reoccurring reason for their departure?

Questions About Career Path and Advancing

41. Have any of the executives at the company worked their way up into their current role from entry level or mid-career positions?

42. Can you tell me about potential career paths that are available to a successful employee in this role?

43. What process is used and how often does the company measure performance?

44. When would the company like the successful candidate to be promoted from this position?

Questions About Next Steps

45. If I’m extended a job offer, when would the company like me to start?

46. What are the next steps from here?

47. When can I expect to hear back about the position?

48. How would you like me to follow up if I don’t hear from you?

49. Are there any other questions that I can answer for you?

50. If you find that I’m not a fit for this role, are there other positions here that I may be better suited for?

Tips for Job-Seeking College Students on Social Me

You’ve worked hard to position yourself for a great position with the company of your dreams. You’ve gotten good grades, you have great internship experience and you’ve demonstrated great leadership on campus. All this can be undone in a few keystrokes if you’re not careful.

45% of companies always search social network profiles of candidates.

89% of companies will recruit in social networks this year.

This is a snapshot of why it is important to manage your online presence. In an effort to help steer you in the right direction, here are 7 Tips of Social Media Etiquette:

1. Status Updates: Posting content that relates to your area of study can position you as a candidate that stays current in his/her area of expertise. Including links to content solidifies that you’re actively identifying valuable content to share with your community.

2. Checking-In: Location-based check-ins such as Foursquare or Facebook Places can be a great way to connect with people in the real world. Your check-ins communicates a lot about you as a person, your lifestyle, the places you frequent and the time you visit those locations. Make sure what you’re sharing reflects what you want to communicate to the outside world.

3. Profanity on Facebook Wall: A recent study by Reppler, which studied 30K Facebook users, identified that 47% of Facebook walls contain profanity. Be sure to monitor and manage your Facebook wall because what’s there communicates a lot about your personal brand to potential employers—even if it’s your friends who are posting the profanity on your wall.

4. Angry Posts: Your social networks are not the place to have meaningless arguments or to create angry posts where you go back and forth discussing non-value added content. Take these discussions offline and save yourself the embarrassment of coming off angry or hateful.

5. Spamming on Your Wall: If people are tagging you on photos and put posts on your wall that are not related to you that’s spam. You can adjust your settings and restrict permission by blocking people from leaving comments on your wall. You want to look like someone that’s ready to work not just another billboard.

6. Embarrassing Photos: This is one of the most important tips and can never be over emphasized. It’s essential to remove or untag yourself from embarrassing photos that don’t represent you in a positive light. What was funny to you and your friends may be a big red flag for potential employers. Private moments should remain that way.

7. Engage Your Community: When posting content remember to engage your community versus focusing on content about you. You never know who is listening to your online conversations and you don’t want to come off as being self-centered or arrogant.

I'm not getting an interview ?

Your resume rocks, portfolio is golden and that first phone interview with the HR rep goes great. Now it’s time for the phone interview with the big boss. You think you rocked it but you never get that IN PERSON interview. What’s the problem here?

Some simple tips that may help you get over this hump. In the new world of multiple rounds of interviews for one job, many of those being on the phone, how do you get that golden “in person” interview? What you are saying may not be what they are hearing. They sometimes trick you by asking for some things in their job description in the very words they don’t want to hear.

My management style is very easy going.
WHAT YOU MEAN: I don’t scream and throw tantrums. I don’t make knee jerk reactions or have artists in tears after giving direction. I don’t rule with an iron fist but rather help my team grow and develop. We’re a team.
WHAT THEY HEAR: I like to sit with my feet up on my desk, playing Angry Birds on my phone and not keep my team accountable for anything. I might be stoned.
I have a good sense of humor and use it in my management.
WHAT YOU MEAN: I find light-hearted corrections result in my staff keeping their dignity and being able to grow and improve along their career paths. I’m enjoyable to work with and have a positive customer-relations history.
WHAT THEY HEAR: I am Michael Scott from The Office and I like to put whoopee cushions on my colleagues’ chairs.
They may even mention a sense of humor is important to the job, that doesn’t mean it’s important in the interview.
You have had your own business in the past.
WHAT YOU MEAN: I have experience knowing how important customer relations are and the value of a long-standing quality reputation.
WHAT THEY HEAR: I’m not used to having a boss so don’t even THINK you can tell me what to do.
You are experienced, seasoned, or have been doing this for a long time.
WHAT YOU MEAN: I am a professional. I have polished skills in several mediums or facets of my business.
WHAT THEY HEAR: You are old.
They ask for 10+ years experience but they don’t want to think of you as over 30. At least not at first. Kill the “back in the day” type terminology. They think all young guys are Mark Zuckerberg.
You are a woman.
WHAT YOU MEAN: I’m a woman
WHAT THEY HEAR: You are not a man.
Not much you can do about this one.
You may be talking a little fast.
WHAT YOU MEAN: I’m passionate about this opportunity and have a lot to bring to the table.
WHAT THEY HEAR: This person is crazy and clearly out of shape.

I'm sure everyone reading this can add more to the list. So please do! Let's help each other figure out some of these terminology traps.

What is a Resume?

Resume

As per dictionary resume is defined as “A brief account of one’s professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application.”

Sample Resumes

On this website you can find sample resumes for different types of jobs. All resume samples are categorised so that you can easily find the best sample resume for yourself. Please use use the navigational menu on the left side to browse all resume examples and select the right one for you.

What is a Resume or CV ?

In today’s competitive world every one aspires to hold a better position in life and just after having finished the conventional education and attaining the professional degree or a certificate the exploration for the job begins. Before stepping into any organization the candidate furnishes an informative-document regarding his entity before the organization for that job which he/she finds himself/herself competent for.

Or in other words a vivid picture of the candidate’s entire entity revealing his/her general education and professional training received, place he/she belongs to and the period of practical experience gained in the respective field, which he/she desires to be placed in, actually can be termed as a resume or CV(curriculum vitae).

Resume carries with it the detailed data of all sorts of specialties possessed, rewards or awards achieved and the contributions made by the applicant. And only furnishing the complete self details may not be the sole and solid criteria of 100% placement in the organization, as during the short listing of all the resumes by the same organization ,chances are often on the card that, despite furnishing the maximum favorable informations about the self entity, resume is thrown into the dustbin. Generally the resume of a any candidate is taken as lightly as of any layperson unless it has the vindicative ingredients of the informations about the candidate. So the main objective therein ought to be mentioned predominantly.

Depending upon the needs to be accomplished in the corporate sectors the resumes are categorized into different categories like Managerial Resume, Engineering Resumes, Accounting Resumes, Marketing Resumes, Retail and Wholesale Resumes, IT Networking Resumes, Customer Service Resumes and Education Resumes.
You can find all such types of example resumes on our website and all sample resumes are 100% free to use. So act now, check free sample resume and create the best resume for yourself !!

Free Resume Samples

Now lets check some free resume samples on this website like accounting resume , bank teller resume, customer service resume, architect resume , administration resume and more.
Do let us know if you feel that there any errors in our sample resumes website. Your suggestions can make this resume examples website better and a great educational and career resource for eveyone.

Desperation in your job search

Have you ever seen a Movie called Broadcast News? Well Albert Brooks mutters the words "Wouldn't this be a great world if insecurity and desperation made us more attractive?" He's talking about romance & relationships, but (as in so many other ways) there's a direct parallel to job searching.

A cruel irony is: as someone searching for a job, you need to be on top of your job search at all times, radiating confidence and remaining cool in interviews. But as a job seeker, you may well be struggling with fear, depression and desperation (especially if you not currently working).

Well There's no easy way out or solution here. Basically you need to figure out what you have to do to get back on track and back on the job search. Or at least be able to appear that way in interviews. It sucks, but it's the nature of the game and life always goes on. Go Great it and stay positive and motivated. Never Give Up!!

And always..Good Luck!!!!!

Some 50 steps to finding a new career

Make the first move

1. Identify a new direction. "Create a list of career options you think you'd really enjoy, not just the ones you think you can do," says Catherine Roan, managing director of career change consultants careershifters.org. "Don't limit your thinking at this stage. If you really want to be a polar explorer, or start your own jewellery business, put them on the list. Then research how others changed into these careers."

2. Think about things you're good at. "Jobseekers who ask, 'What can I do with my degree/experience?' have it backwards," says Tanya de Grunwald, founder of GraduateFog.co.uk. "A good job search should start with you, not your CV. Are you an ideas person? Do you have the gift of the gab? Are you good at explaining things to others? Most of us don't think of ourselves as 'talented' – but look closer and you'll find something to guide you towards the sort of jobs you'll most enjoy."

3. then think about the skills you have picked up. Is there crossover between the two? If so, use these lists to help identify the types of jobs and industries you are most suited to. "Get to know yourself and focus on your strengths," says Roan. "What makes you come alive? Ask yourself what really motivates you? Understand your unique skills, abilities and interests."

4. Do your homework. "Many careers can sound exciting when you only know a little about them," says Dr Rob Yeung, executive coach at consultancy Talentspace. "Make sure you know what's boring and awful about a job, as well as what's great – only then can you decide if it's the right choice for you."

5. Dip your toe in before taking the plunge. "Research what it entails, what training you may need and talk to people doing that job," suggests Roan. "If it's possible, try it out part-time, or shadow someone in the role."

Tidy up your CV/Resume

6. Look around for inspiration. Talk to recruiters in your sector to establish what they consider to be an above-average CV. If you can afford it, consider asking a CV-writing agency to help you, "but only one that comes recommended by someone in your network," suggests Rowan Manahan, author of Ultimate CV: Trade Secrets from a Recruitment Insider. "As always, there's a bell curve of skill and you can spend a lot of money to very little effect if you hire the wrong wordsmith."

7. Create your own marketing pack. Spending a little extra on good quality materials can really make your application stand out. "Choose a high quality paper with matching envelopes," says James Innes, author of The CV Book, The Interview Book and Brilliant Cover Letters. "A co-ordinated image can really impress; it's a small investment which could pay dividends."

8. but don't go over the top. Applying too much bling, such as bright colours or whizzy picture effects, will just make employers fall over, as opposed to falling over themselves to hire you. "Glitz and razzamatazz won't help you be taken seriously," advises Rebecca Corfield, author of Knockout Job Presentations. "Be unforgettable for the right reasons. Impact comes from strong words, having a clear and logical layout, and detail about what makes you special."

9. Have some trusted friends give you feedback. "When you've been tinkering with your CV for hours it's easy to miss glaring typos, so make sure someone else has seen it," says de Grunwald. "The best people to canvass are those already working in your chosen industry. Ask, 'If you were me, what would you change?' Be prepared for a variety of responses. It's a myth that there's a perfect CV – it's surprisingly subjective."

10. Include a cover letter. "According to a recent survey, cover letters are seen by almost 50% of recruiters as being equally as important as the CV itself," says Innes. "Many people lose out not because of their CV but because of their cover letter – or lack of one."

Create a template cover letter and modify it to suit your needs. Including one allows a little more of your personality to shine through, and an extra platform on which to sell your skills.

11. Consider a video CV if you are in a technical field, but be careful – it's easy to do this very badly. Manahan recommends putting one online, using professional makeup and lighting. "Produce a 30-second, a 90-second and a five-minute piece for your channel," he says. "Make sure that channel – on YouTube or Vimeo – reflects the professional image you are seeking to cast and track viewing stats very closely to assess if your approach is working."

12. Customise your CV. "Put yourself in the shoes of each recruiter and make sure you've emphasised the bits they'll be most interested in," says de Grunwald. "Don't use jargon they won't understand and if your former employers aren't well-known, explain briefly the nature of each, before detailing what you did there."

Where and how to look

13. Go online. Search by both area and job title, and repeat your search every day. "The methods that pay most dividend are Google Alerts for the wider market and manually tracking specific companies you'd like to work for," says Manahan. "Register judiciously with reputable job sites [see step 19]."

14. Target organisations you'd like to work for. Visit their websites and look for employment information – you may find jobs that don't appear elsewhere online. "Demonstrating that you have a genuine interest and real enthusiasm for an organisation can make you really stand out," says Yeung.

15. Look under your nose. While many large firms use the internet to find employees, most small businesses do not. A local paper can still be a useful place to find jobs in your town.

16. but also cast the net wide. If you currently work five minutes from home, try widening your search. "Difficult times require more creative solutions and you will find more options by casting your net more widely," says Corfield. "Don't be put off by commuting. It can provide time for reading, learning or just thinking."

17. Aim high and low. Apply for jobs above and below the level you are currently (or were formerly) working at. It's hard to generalise, but particularly if switching career, you need to be realistic about the level of opportunity that may be open to you.

18. Apply to unconventional places. You may assume your local hospital, for example, doesn't have any jobs you'd be suited to if you aren't a healthcare worker – but you might be wrong. "Most large organisations have admin, IT and HR staff," says Corfield. "Scan job vacancies widely and use your contacts when job-hunting wherever they work."

19. Look out for scams. There's no shortage of unscrupulous people out there waiting to take advantage of the unwary. Scams can encompass everything from "work at home" to "pay for a list of available jobs".

"Also, some agencies trawl for good CVs, then approach companies with the claim that they have the cream of the market," says Manahan. "Employers hate being approached this way, so make sure that the ad you're responding to is a real job.

"Get some real detail on the position; if you have any doubt as to its veracity, then don't apply."

Build an online profile

20. Put your CV online. It creates a strong impression if your résumé is available to employers to download. Try it once yourself to see how it looks, and make sure it prints out the way you expect it to.

21. Use a universally accepted document format. "PDF or Word-compatible are the best," suggests Innes. "If your CV is in a different format, you're immediately reducing the chances of someone being able to access it – and thereby your chances of getting a job."

22. Use the right keywords. If you post your CV online, make sure that high up (and in the filename) it contains lots of keywords that are relevant to your ideal job. The goal is to have your CV pop up at the top of the list when a potential employer searches for those keywords. "Gather as many job description and person specification documents as possible as you proceed with your search," says Manahan. "Then start to seed your CV with the right language – and keep it honest [see step 40]."

23. Become an expert in your field. The more people who know you and your work, the more chances you have to make a new contact when you are seeking a job. "Think about articles you could write for trade journals, talks you could give, blogs and other opportunities to build credibility in your field," says Yeung.

It's hard to beat a good profile on LinkedIn

24. Build online profiles. "For findability, it's hard to beat a good profile on LinkedIn," advises Manahan. Start it privately, hone it and then go public to a wider audience."

25. Keep your profiles accurate and up to date. "It's vital that the details posted in your online profiles match the details contained within your CV and cover letters," says Innes. "Employers frequently use the internet as a quick and easy means of checking up on applicants. Don't get caught out."

26. Behave yourself online. If you use a more general social networking site, such as Facebook or MySpace, be careful to present yourself in the best light possible and make sure privacy settings prevent casual viewers from seeing your full profile.

"Would you mind if your boss, or the members of your next interview panel, read what you were saying online?" Corfield points out. "Save the risque jokes for when you are actually with your friends."

27. Be old-fashioned. Many employers are geared up to receive applications online, but sometimes simply submitting your application and following up by phone is the best approach, particularly when applying speculatively. "Different methods work for different industries – so be scientific," suggests de Grunwald. "Try everything and see what response you get. If something works, do more of it. If something doesn't, stop doing it."

Marshal your resources

28. Put your friends and family to work. "In a healthy market, 55% of jobs beyond graduate/entry-level positions, will be filled through some level of personal contact and in an unhealthy market the figure is even higher," points out Manahan. "Let people know what you are looking for. This approach regularly pops up leads you might not have otherwise found."

29. Ask for a referral. If you know someone who is leaving a job you like the look of, and it feels appropriate, ask them to put in a good word on your behalf. You may be able to apply for the position before the company readvertises the opening.

30. Make use of any resources your former employer offers. If you have been laid off, consider accepting any assistance offered by your employer with CV help, retraining or career counselling. "It could really help you get started on the next phase of your career," suggests Corfield. "It can't hurt and could help kick-start your next career phase."

31. Apply for benefits. If you are eligible, apply for unemployment benefits right away, even if you think you will land a new job. Jobcentre Plus offers free training and advice to jobseekers as well as monetary benefits.

Be professional

32. Treat your job search like a job in itself. It may sound cliched but if you're unemployed, sustaining momentum is important. Spend time perfecting your CV, finding new places to submit applications and researching potential employers.

"Do something every day," suggests Roan. "Finding a new job, especially if you are changing career is not easy, it can seem an overwhelming task at times. Keep busy, and step by step you'll get there."

33. Get a sensible email address. "Lovemachine69@emailaddress.net might have been hilarious when you were at college, but unless you are going for a job in the adult film industry, it's unlikely to do you any favours now," says Manahan. "Set up a separate address for career management and point all your social networks to that address. Set up a professional signature on your email account that shows your address, phone and key online sites (blog, linkedIn, etc) on every sent email."

34. Be easily contactable. The phone number you put on your CV should be one you can either answer immediately, or one that has voicemail. A smartphone, such as a BlackBerry or iPhone, makes it easy for you to pick up email on the go.

At the interview

35. Be prepared for common questions. Interviewers often ask the same sort of questions, like "Where do you see yourself in five years?" or "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" Have the answers to queries like these up your sleeve.

36. Rehearse to a live audience. "Writing down what you want to get across in an interview is only part of the challenge," Yeung says. "Make sure you can express yourself in an articulate fashion by asking a friend to throw likely questions at you."

37. Create an "elevator speech" about yourself. In American parlance, this is a quick one- or two-sentence spiel about who you are and what you do. "Get ready to talk about your skills and experience," says Corfield. "How does your personality fit? What is your vision for the job? Why are you the best person to do it?"

38. Turn the tables on your interviewer. Prior to an interview, you should assume a potential employer will have searched for you online – so why not do the same to them? "Try to find out as much as you can about your interviewer," says Innes. "You will have a head start on other candidates – and you haven't even got anywhere near the interview room."

39. Free the skeletons in your closet. Be prepared to address the six-month gap in your employment history, or the reason why you suddenly had to leave your last position.

40. Be honest. Don't claim to have degrees or experience you don't. "Remember that many organisations check references," Yeung warns. "Any inconsistencies could lead to an employer rescinding a job offer."

A class apart

41. Look the business. Dress appropriately for the job you want. Presentation can make the difference in whether or not you are hired or even the salary you are offered. "Dress at least as well as you would when actually turning up to do the job – preferably better," advises Innes. "If you feel you look good, you will come across as confident and relaxed."

42. Be nice to everyone you talk to, especially when you aren't 100% certain who they are. "I once assumed the girl who greeted me and asked if I wanted a coffee was a secretary – but when she sat down and started the interview I realised she was the boss," says de Grunwald.

Graduate no experiences, job matching?

Do you think you have a better understanding of yourself? What sort of things are you good at and where can you improve? We all have areas where we can improve. Ask yourself do you have a clear idea of this which will in also give you more confidence match in an employers requirement with your own skills set. What we are trying to do is attempt to creating a match. Identifying what's good about you and tailoring these attributes to what the market wants. Use you best skill set and talk in more detail about how it can benefit the job your applying you can do this on your cv/resume or explain in a cover letter, remember highlighting this is very important for someone that doesn’t have experiences in a particular sector.

What is your experiences in apply for jobs you don’t have experiences in?

5 good Steps to Working with Recruitment agencies:

5 good Steps to Working with Recruitment agencies:

Senior recruiters are always prepared, are you prepared for a call from an recruiter who has identified you as a potential candidate for a job role? Okay keep reading on for advice on how to ensure you don’t get caught off guard or screened out of a new job opening and you must avoid all or will destroy your chances to prove yourself.

1) Make yourself available – a number of recruiters were surveyed and the report came back as one of their biggest frustrations is with executives not returning calls, or with "tenacious gatekeepers" who refuse to put the call through. Tell the right people that you do accept calls from executive search consultants.

2) Find out who’s calling – check the status and reputation of the search firm. Are they retained and a member of their industry association? Who have their previous clients been? You should feel comfortable about getting involved with their search assignment.

3) Make the most of the opportunity – understand if you are a ‘source’ (someone who can suggest suitable candidates or give industry insight) or a ‘prospect’ (someone who has been identified as a potential candidate). Use the opportunity to build a relationship with the executive recruiter.

4) Inquire about the position – if you are a prospect, the recruiter should usually give you the name of the company, position, reporting relationships and scope of the open executive position, but do note that some assignments are treated as completely confidential.

5) Make final exchanges - exchange contact information and ask if you can send a copy of your resume/CV to the recruiter. Let him or her know how to get in touch with you so you remain on the recruiter's radar screen.

New claims suggests 'are racial bias'

A new report which was taken this week suggests that recruitment agencies view race as a major factor in the recruiting process, whether unconsciously or otherwise it is a factor on the selection process. However, some recruiters have questioned the research methodology of the controversial report, and are simply warning job seekers to not jump to conclusions.

What is you views on this?

“No No's” in your Job Search

Career Advice: “No No's” in your Job Search

Why job seekers are disqualified in the job search and what NOT to do:

1. Bad grammar in cover letters & cv or resumes

2. Questionable or offensive auto-replies, bad nicknames, bad emails address, Facebook accounts & telephone messages

3. Factual discrepancies between your resume and cover letter

4. Not strategically relating applicant’s background to the job – not understanding the job

5. Dressing inappropriately

6. Interrupting during an interviewer

7. Not reading the job description and understand clearly

8. Turning up late for and interview or telephone interview

9. Not including a cover letter

10.Not preparing for your job search

Be sure to avoid the above.

Watch out for Job Scams

If you’re looking for a job, you may see ads for companies that promise results. Many of these companies may be legitimate and helpful, but others may misrepresent their services, promote out-dated or fictitious job offers, or charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job. This is a scam never give out your credit card details, do more research and look in to the companies web site, telephone number and more see tips below.

Before you spend money responding to placement firms or completing placement contracts:

1. Reject any company that promises to get you a job.

2. Be skeptical of any employment-service firm that charges first, even if it guarantees refunds.

3. Get a copy of the company contract and read it carefully before you pay any money. Understand the terms and conditions of the firm’s refund policy. Make sure you understand what services the firm will provide and what you’ll be responsible for doing. If oral promises are made, but don’t appear in the contract, think twice about doing business with the firm. Look for direct company email addresses

4. Take your time reading the contract. Don’t be caught up in a rush to pay for services. Stay away from high-pressure sales pitches that require you to pay now or risk losing out on an opportunity.

5. Be cautious about purchasing services or products from a firm that’s reluctant to answer your questions.

6. Be aware that some listing services and “consultants” write their ads to sound like they are jobs when they’re selling general information about getting a job.

7. Follow up with the offices of any company or organization mentioned in an ad or an interview by an employment service to find out if the company is really hiring.

8. Be wary of firms promoting “previously undisclosed” federal government jobs. All federal positions are announced to the public on www.usajobs.gov.

9. Check with your local consumer protection agency, stateAttorney General’s Office, and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed about a company with which you intend to do business. You also may contact these organizations if you have a problem with an employment-service firm.

Helpful Websites:

Privacy Rights: www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs25a-JobSeekerPriv2.htm
Virtual Assistants: www.virtualassistants.com/scams.html
Identity Theft Center: www.idtheftcenter.org
The Better Business Bureau: www.bbbonline.com
FTC: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/jobs-hunting-scams.shtml

Reporting Job Scams:

To report a job scam, please contact us and provide the link to the job page in question.

Cover Letters vs. Experiences

A detailed employment history belongs in your cv/resume, not the cover letter. Nonetheless, you’ll need to include some reference to it, as such a history pertains to your experience and background.

How to handle employment issues in a cover letter

If You’re Currently Employed

Obviously, if you are currently working for Company A and are applying for a position at Company B, the folks at the latter will be interested in knowing why. Of course, there’s plenty of reasons for doing so – higher pay, better benefits, new horizons, a planned move, a better working environment. Sometimes, the reasons can be a bit awkward to explain in a cover letter – for example, your current employer is a complete and total jerk.

There are ways of dealing with this in the course of an interview – but the good news is, you don’t need to go into it in a cover letter. Cover letters should always stick to facts about your experience and accomplishments. Your reasons for leaving, or wanting to leave, a job should never be included in the letter.

The Dreaded “Gaposis”

It seems unreasonable that employers should obsess over “gaps” in employment – particularly in light of economic policies and conditions over the past few years. Nonetheless, there is a perverse streak in American culture in which it is presumed that someone who experienced a period of unemployment is probably lazy, unproductive, or has some character defect. As unfair and inaccurate as this seems, it’s an unfortunate fact.

Again, the good news is that you don’t have to draw undue attention to this in a cover letter. In fact, unless it’s a large gap, such as for a person who had an illness or took time off to start a family, there is no reason to explain it at all. That is information better left for the interview, rather than the resume or cover letter.

If You’re Unemployed

Again, there is a perversity in American culture as well as those of other industrial countries such as the UK, Germany and Japan in which it is assumed that someone who is unemployed is somehow “defective,” whereas someone who is gainfully employed is “valuable.” It’s usually inaccurate and unfair, but unfortunately true. Once again, there is no need to elaborate on this or draw attention to the fact in the cover letter, and it’s better not to do so. The same obvious desperation that is a “turn-off” in singles’ bars is applicable to the labor market as well. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, use your cover letter and resume to show why you are the best candidate for the position you are seeking.

So, as you can see, cover letters are useful tools for explaining possible issues in your employment history. Just remember when to provide an explanation, and when not to.

www.CoverLetterCentral.com for sample cover letters.

50 Killer Questions For Job Seekers To Ask On Inte

From what I’ve seen in my experience, job seekers that ask thought provoking questions raise their chance of making it to the next step of the interview process. Trust me… it’s science.

It makes sense though, doesn’t it? When job seekers push the recruiter/interviewer to think hard and respond with a thoughtful answer, respect is the result.

Many of my career coaching clients have recently been asking for advice on this subject. To make it easier on them, you, and myself, here are 50 Killer Questions for YOU to ask on interviews:

Questions about the Company

1. Is the company financially stable?

2. On average, how many new employees does the company hire each year?

3. Can you tell me about the turnover rate at the company?

4. Has the company received any major awards or recognition recently?

5. What needs to happen for the company to be successful?

6. What are the current and long-term goals for the company?

7. Can you name some of the competing companies?

8. Can you talk about the current morale at the company? Why is it good/bad?

9. What do you think is the future of the industry?

10. How many people are currently employed by the company?

11. Are any positions or functions at this company outsourced?

12. Can you explain a typical successful employee at this company?

Questions about the Position

13. How would you describe the responsibilities of this specific position?

14. Are there any job tasks for this position that aren’t on the job description?

15. What would be expected of me in the first 90 days?

16. What would be expected of me in my first year?

17. Would I be working with a specific or multiple product(s) that the company produces?

18. How does this specific position fit into the company’s current and long-term plans?

19. Who are the major internal and external customers that I would interact with?

20. How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?

21. Can you break down the job tasks in percentage of time spent?

22. How much travel is expected for this position?

23. How can I be successful in this role?

24. What is the most important responsibility for this position?

25. How many hours should I expect to work? Is overtime expected?

Questions about the Manager

26. Who would be my manager?

27. Was my manager promoted from within the company or was he/she an external hire?

28. Can you tell me about my supervisor’s management style?

29. How long has the manager been in his/her current role?

30. How many years of experience do they have in management?

31. What are some characteristics of people that perform well under this manager?

32. Would my manager work in the same location as I do?

Questions about the Department

33. What are some of the other position titles in the department?

34. What are some of the current goals for the department?

35. Where does the department need to improve?

36. What are some recent successes for the department?

37. What is the departments morale like?

38. How is communication between this department and others?

Questions about Who You’re Replacing

39. Is this a new position? If not, where did the previous employee in this role go?

40. When people decide to leave this company or position on their own, what is the most reoccurring reason for their departure?

Questions about Career Path and Advancing

41. Have any of the executives at the company worked their way up into their current role from entry level or mid-career positions?

42. Can you tell me about potential career paths that are available to a successful employee in this role?

43. What process is used and how often does the company measure performance?

44. When would the company like the successful candidate to be promoted from this position?

Questions about Next Steps

45. If I’m extended a job offer, when would the company like me to start?

46. What are the next steps from here?

47. When can I expect to hear back about the position?

48. How would you like me to follow up if I don’t hear from you?

49. Are there any other questions that I can answer for you?

50. If you find that I’m not a fit for this role, are there other positions here that I may be better suited for?

5 Reasons Your Cover Letter is not getting read.

Address the contact by name

One of the most common mistakes while adding a cover letter is that candidates do not address the recruiter or employer by name. They start the letter by writing “Dear Sir/madam” which seems like it just a generic letter. A candidate should try to find out the name of the contact that is going to receive the CV/resume and will be responsible making the recruiting discussions. Candidate can do this by contacting the company and ask them the name of the recruiting or hiring manager.

Don’t add humour to the letter

Most of the candidates try to show that they are over smart by showing wittiness in cover letter. Trying to be a little humorous as they think that the recruiter manager or employer will like it, this is not the case. This act is discouraged by the recruiter and they think the candidate may not take the job seriously. A your cover letter should be motivational and should be a serious one like a business letter. So stick to the point and highlight the skills and what you can bring to the company.

Do not rephrasing, stick to the point.

Most of the people have a misconception about the cover letters, they write the same details which they have already mentioned in the CV/resume. This gives a feeling that they have rephrased the cv/resume again and the recruiter consider it a foolish. A cover letter should elaborate on your cv/resume while explaining the skill set you’ll be brining to the company. The recruiter can already see most all the details on you cover letter, the point is to get the recruiter to read you cv/resume.

Making it too short or too long

If you make a cover letter too short or too long this could go against you. Too short cover letters are considered to be just fulfilling the formality whereas the cover letters which are too long give an impression as if they are a preface of a novel, recruiter managers do not even read it properly. The length and the content of the cover letter both should be appropriate. Try and keep it to between half a page and a page, this is just enough for the recruiter to scan through.

Using the same cover letter of all jobs

The job seekers who apply for a lot of jobs daily attach the same cover letter. Most of the generic cover letters do not speak about the job and they do not touch the corners of the company. That gives the hiring authority an impression that you are not interested in this job and that is only a generic cover letter. Tailor the cover letter to the job you are applying for this will show you have a keen interest in the job and the company. If you can speak about the company you’re applying for, and the industry this will catch the recruiter’s attention and will most probably get you cv/resume read. Good Luck with you Job Search its not easy.

10 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Job Search, read on

Job Search...hmmm can suck if you constrain yourself to the typical tools such as online jobs boards, trade publications, CraigsList, and networking with only your close friends. In these kinds of times, you need to use all the weapons that you can, and one that many people don’t—or at least don’t use to the fullest extent, is LinkedIn.

LinkedIn has over thirty-five million members in over 140 industries. Most of them are adults, employed, and not looking to post something on your Wall or date you. Executives from all the Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn. Most have disclosed what they do, where they work now, and where they’ve worked in the past. Talk about a target-rich environment, and the service is free.

Here are ten tips to help use LinkedIn to find a job. If you know someone who’s looking for a job, forward them these tips along with an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Before trying these tips, make sure you’ve filled out your profile and added at least twenty connections

Get the word out. Tell your network that you’re looking for a new position because a job search these days requires the “law of big numbers” There is no stigma that you’re looking right now, so the more people who know you’re looking, the more likely you’ll find a job. Recently, LinkedIn added “status updates” which you can use to let your network know about your newly emancipated status.
Get LinkedIn recommendations from your colleagues. A strong recommendation from your manager highlights your strengths and shows that you were a valued employee. This is especially helpful if you were recently laid off, and there is no better time to ask for this than when your manager is feeling bad because she laid you off. If you were a manager yourself, recommendations from your employees can also highlight leadership qualities.
Find out where people with your backgrounds are working. Find companies that employ people like you by doing an advanced search for people in your area who have your skills. For example, if you’re a web developer in Seattle, search profiles in your zip code using keywords with your skills (for example, JavaScript, XHTML, Ruby on Rails) to see which companies employ people like you.
Find out where people at a company came from. LinkedIn “Company Profiles” show the career path of people before they began work there. This is very useful data to figure out what a company is looking for in new hires. For example, Microsoft employees worked at Hewlett-Packard and Oracle.
Find out where people from a company go next. LinkedIn’s “Company Profiles” also tell you where people go after leaving the company. You can use this to track where people go after leaving your company as well as employees of other companies in your sector. (You could make the case that this feature also enables to figure out which companies to avoid, but I digress.)
Check if a company is still hiring. Company pages on LinkedIn include a section called “New Hires” that lists people who have recently joined the company. If you have real chutzpah, you can ask these new hires how they got their new job. At the very least you can examine their backgrounds to surmise what made them attractive to the new employer.
Get to the hiring manager. LinkedIn’s job search engine allows you to search for any kind of job you want. However, when you view the results, pay close attention to the ones that you’re no more than two degrees away from. This means that you know someone who knows the person that posted the job—it can’t get much better than that. (Power tip: two degrees is about the limit for getting to hiring managers. I never help friends of friends of friends.) Another way to find companies that you have ties to is by looking at the “Companies in Your Network” section on LinkedIn’s Job Search page.
Get to the right HR person. The best case is getting to the hiring manager via someone who knows him, but if that isn’t possible you can still use LinkedIn to find someone inside the company to walk your resume to the hiring manager or HR department. When someone receives a resume from a coworker even if she doesn’t know the coworker, she almost always pays attention to it.
Find out the secret job requirements. Job listings rarely spell out entirely or exactly what a hiring manager is seeking. Find a connection at the company who can get the inside scoop on what really matters for the job. You can do this by searching for the company name; the results will show you who in your network connects you to the company. If you don’t have an inside connection, look at profiles of the people who work at the company to get an idea of their backgrounds and important skills.
Find startups to join. Maybe this recession is God telling you it’s time to try a startup. But great startups are hard to find. Play around with LinkedIn’s advanced search engine using “startup” or “stealth” in the keyword or company field. You can also narrow by industry (for example, startups in the Web 2.0, wireless, or biotech sectors). If large companies can’t offer “job security,” open up your search to include startups.
Build your network before you need it. As a last tip, no matter how the economy or your career is doing, having a strong network is a good form of job security. Don’t wait until times are tough to nurture your network. The key to networking (or “schmozing”), however, is filled with counter-intuitiveness. First, it’s not who you know—it’s who knows of you. Second, Great schmoozers are not thinking “What can this person do for me?” To the contrary, they are thinking, “What can I do for this person?” For more on schmoozing, read “The Art of Schmoozing.”

Here are two more ways I can help you in your job search. First, for an aggregation of hundreds of newly posted jobs, check out Jobs.alltop. Second, to really stay on top of what’s the latest news about LinkedIn, go to Linkedin.alltop; this will turn you in a true LinkedIn power user. Just remember me when you’re rich and famous!

Upload you cv or resume and let employers find you.

Tweeting Can Aide Your Job Search

Social media continues to have great importance in everyday living. It is used as a means of communication for families, friends, and peers. Colleges and Businesses recognize this, which is why they are starting to seek out individuals whom can excel in social media.

University of Iowa has gotten wide praise for removing its requirement for students to submit a second essay. Instead, they want the prospective students to submit a Tweet explaining why they want to go to college. Tweeting is baked into our everyday lives, and the better we are at it the more successful we can be. Remember, Tweeting well requires a lot of creativity and smarts as there are only 140 characters to work with. So by reviewing Tweets from applicants, colleges can learn a lot about the individual.

One of the problems with today’s world is that there is too many distractions. Smartphones, Ipads, 24 hour news all can make it difficult for us to spend the time we need to on other important things. That is why it is important that we learn how to better get to the point. 20 years ago, we may have had 5 minutes to tell a story, today we may only have 20 seconds. This is where Tweeting comes into play – because it teaches us to get to the point. And in today’s business world, getting to the point is crucial, so those can demonstrate a good ability to Tweet could attract interest from companies and colleges alike.

Of course experience on Facebook and Twitter are important as well – as it demonstrates an interest and expertise in social media. So when setting up an interview, if you can not only show your social media interest but demonstrate the success you have had with it – you are going to give yourself a leg up on the competition. It is important that you take pride in your Twitter and Facebook posts as these very well could be read by future employers.

Lastly, one little talked about advantage of social networking is that it fosters creativity. In the past so much of what we learned was in textbooks and everyone know the right and wrong answer. Social media is not like that – as there is no right answer or pre-determined way to Tweet or Post updates to Facebook. It is about creativity as you have to come up with the right thing to say within the character constraints offered to you. Social Media not only fosters creativity but it rewards those who excel at it.

In closing, for all of those who said social networking was a waste of time – we beg to differ. Colleges and Companies want students with an interest in where technology and the web is headed, and social media is clearly at the forefront of the future. So, the next time you hop on Twitter to send out a 140 character message, realize that composing Tweets is actually a pretty important part of your day.

Using Social media for job search.

Launch of the Purejobs Blog

Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Purejobs Blog. We’ll be using our blog as a vehicle to interact with our Job Seekers and Employers as well as the larger community of career professionals.

On the Purejobs Blog, you will be able to read about our latest research and insights, you will hear our opinions on the market, and you’ll be able to voice your opinions back.

You will have the opportunity to engage with our Admin team and learn about the ways we are innovating in the recruitment area.

We’re excited about what lies ahead and welcome you along for the journey. Please feel free to read our post and provide your views.

Job Search

Purejobs Admin Team.