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April 24th, 2008
The answers you put down for Current Salary and Desired Salary have more impact on your eventual offer, than anything you say during your interview. The current salary can be verified so you don’t want to misrepresent the amount. You should not include bonuses, incentives and other perks unless they are guaranteed. List your base salary and put plus signs next to the amount. When you are asked what the plus sign mean, you explain those represent your bonuses, incentives, perks, etc.
When an application form asks you to list your desired salary, you should put “open” “negotiable” “depends on entire package” or any answer other than a specific dollar amount. If you list a salary that is too high, you have eliminated yourself from contention before you even know if your interested or if their benfits more than make up for a lower salary. If you list an amount too low, you will leave money on the table.
With over thirty years of experience as a recruiter, I can tell you we NEVER know what a job will actually pay. It depends on how well “you interview!” If we sent someone who aces the interview and our client feels there is no learning curve, dollars go up. If the interview went “okay” and the client identifies red flags or a learning curve, dollars go down. That is why it is so critically important that your desired salary is vague until after the initial interviewing process.
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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April 18th, 2008
Hiring authorities are positively impacted when a job seeker has taken the time to “learn” about their company. One of the most effective ways to sound like an insider is to speak with individuals (friends and family members) who may have worked for their company. These individuals can describe the company culture, selling points of the company, and provide inside information to help you sound informed.
When you tell a company you have “targeted them” as someone you want to work for, you have a competitive edge. You then follow this statement up with “why” you have targeted their company. This is where the inside information you have obtained is invaluable!
If you don’t know anyone who has worked at a company you have targeted, do your research on the Internet and read what “others” have written about the company. You can also utilize social networks like linkedin to find employees from these companies. If you do your research and obtain inside information, you will be more prepared and you will receive a higher salary offer when you “ace” your interview!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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March 27th, 2008
Most job seekers know to dress appropriately for an interview. When you’re not sure of proper interview attire, visit the employer a few days prior to your interview, and dress better than the employees you observe. It’s better to error on the side of appropriate attire.
What most job seekers don’t realize is your first impression not only involves your appearance, dress, grooming and personal hygiene when you show up for your interview…..it starts with your first contact with the company. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. If you were asked to fill out an application form (either hard copy or on line) did you fill it out thoroughly?
2. Did you check your application form for spelling, grammar or punctuation errors?
3. If you sent a resume, was the resume targeted at this specific opportunity or company?
4. Did you proofread your resume to make sure there were no errors?
5. Does your resume include accomplishments vs. just being a “job description”
6. If you included a cover letter, was it customized?
7. If you had a conversation with a receptionist or HR Assistant, were you polite and did you thank them for their help?
8. When you arrive at the interview, did you treat everyone you met with respect?
You would be amazed how many times a hiring authority will ask their receptionist or HR Assistant how they were treated.
Never underestimate the impact these areas can have on your ability to land your DREAM JOB!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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March 12th, 2008
Most resumes are basically a job description with your name of the top! Job descriptions are NOT “tickets to interviews!” It’s important for you to bullet point your accomplishments for each of the jobs you have held. Write a three to five line job description and then list your accomplishments. List what you did and how it had a positive impact on your employer. If you have ever saved your company time or money, those are the accomplishments you should list first!
When you list your accomplishments on a resume - it does become a TICKET TO THE INTERVIEW!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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February 27th, 2008
One of the greatest challenges for any job seeker is to have their calls returned. Just think for a moment of the endless messages you have left without any response. I’d like to share a voice mail with you that I GUARANTEE will get you “call backs!”
“Hello, my name is __________ my telephone number is ___________. Someone has suggested we talk. When you call me back please tell whoever answers my phone to interupt me no matter what I’m doing, I don’t want to miss your call. Again my name is _______________ and my telephone number is ____________. I greatly look forward to our conversation. Thanks!
This messages makes the person feel IMPORTANT because they can interupt you no matter what you are doing. It doesn’t matter if you leave a work, home or cell phone. This gives the impression that you are leaving a work number. Make sure the message on your voice mail is very professional. If you are not currently employed, you can not have children answering your phone. It could prevent you from getting a second call from a prospective employer. Trust me on this - this voice mail works!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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February 9th, 2008
Do you spend your week-ends answering classified ads and sending your resume to job postings on the various Job Boards?
It’s a proven fact that companies are bombarded for the first five days after they place an ad with hundreds of resumes from prospective candidates.
WAIT SIX DAYS
If you want your resume to “stand out” …wait six days and then email and snail mail your resume. Make sure you mail it to a specific individuals. If you don’t have a name, CALL the company and obtain one. Hand write the envelope and put PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL on the lower left hand corner so no one else will open the envelope! Secretaries will NOT open an envelope marked Personal and Confidential!
This is a technique that has been utilized by professional recruiters for YEARS! When your resume arrives a week later, hiring authorities usually
still have a stack in front of them - so your resume stands out! I guarantee if you WAIT and send your resume both by email and regular mail, you will book more interviews!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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January 24th, 2008
When you are not working, your full time job is your job search! You need to send out a MINIMUM of 10 resumes every single day. One week after you send out your resume, you need to call the person who received your resume.
It is important to identify the person in each company who would be your “BOSS” and send your resume directly to that person. Often resumes sent to the Human Resource Department get lost in the shuffle, because they receive so many resumes.
You can not depend on “others” to find a job for you. It is YOUR responsibility to be extremely pro-active in your job search. The more effort you put forth each day, the better chance you have at finding your next job!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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January 14th, 2008
Most job seekers don’t conduct a powerful job search because they fear “rejection.” Rejection is part of a job search. You MUST get rejected a number of times, in order to finally find the person who will say YES. A job search is a SALES process. You are selling yourself, which can be the hardest process for most people. You need to figure out what exact talents you have to offer a prospective employer and include those in your cover letter and resume.
When hiring authorities “reject” your call or resume, they are not rejecting you personally. They don’t even know you! It just so happens that they don’t have an opportunity that matches your skill set. Sales is a numbers profession and a job search is Sales! If you don’t send out your resume and make calls you have NO chance of success. If you do send them out you have a 50/50 chance of someone saying YES.
You WANT to get rejected so you learn from the experience and are that much closer to a job offer!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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December 28th, 2007
When someone gives you an objection, it is a buying sign or a request for information. Most job seekers are NOT experienced in sales. Finding a new opportunity is a “sales process.” You are selling yourself and you will receive objections. You have two choices, hang up and call someone else, or overcome the objections and stand a chance of booking an interview for yourself.
It’s important to know there are for categories of objections:
1. Price (Salary is too high)
2. Postponement (Send me your resume, call me later)
3. Personal (There is not a personality match)
4. Service (You don’t have experience and skills we need, you don’t come out of our industry)
Write down the objections you receive with possible responses to overcome them. The better you get at overcoming objections,
the more job interviews and job offers you will receive!
Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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November 10th, 2007
On of the greatest tools in job search is a simple Three Ring Binder. You should have dividers that read:
1. Resumes Sent
2. Ad
3. Cover Letters
4. Targets
5. Interview Notes
6. Follow-Ups
7. Letters from Prospects
8. Emails
It is impossible to remember everything you say, do, mail or email. This three ring binder will help organize all your paperwork and will help you not let important details slips through the cracks!
Happy Job Searching…..Barb Bruno, CPC, CTS
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