Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Job Search

Hunting for a job can be a full-time job itself. And it might feel like you’re working overtime if you are making any of the following four common mistakes, all of which can land your application in the “thanks, but no thanks” pile. If you are a current job seeker, you can plan ahead to make sure you get the call back by avoiding these common mistakes:

1. Using the same resume for every job you apply for. You can start with a template resume, but then you should customize it based on the job description and hiring requirements of every single job you apply for. Recruiters can quickly determine if you have the key skills needed for the job, and customizing your resume based on the position will show that you are serious about the job hunt and qualified for the job at hand.

2. Applying for every single job out there. It can be tempting to zip your resume off to every open position you are vaguely qualified for, but it’s actually a waste of your time and the company’s time. Make sure you review the qualifications for each position during your job search to ensure that you have at least three-quarters of what they are looking for. Then, you can target your resume and cover letter to show why you are such a great match.

3. Being vague, rather than specific. It is important to show your impact and specify your accomplishments throughout the job hunt – this goes for resumes and interviews. Rather than saying, “I helped my sales team grow,” try “Thanks to the new initiatives I implemented, our sales grew by 40 percent in the first two years.” The more specific, the better.

4. Failing to ask questions. In an interview situation, you are obviously going to be asked a lot of questions. You might not know that the interviewer expects you to ask a lot of questions in return. Be prepared – do your research on the company and come with a list of questions that show your interest and preparation. Make sure you stay engaged throughout the interview to show your overall fit for the job.

Ho, Ho, Ho: Hiring for the Holidays Sets in for the Season

Even though several major retailers – including Target and Walmart – are planning to close on Thanksgiving this year, these same businesses are starting to hire in earnest for the holiday season. Last year, Americans spent a whopping $730.2 billion on holiday purchases, according to the National Retail Federation, and retailers are planning to spread sales and deals out across several months to account for the need to social distance.

Likewise, online shopping is expected to be hotter than ever as more shoppers appreciate the convenience and safety of selecting holiday gifts for their favorite people from the comfort of home. Businesses with a focus on e-commerce may fare especially well this year.

Presently, many larger retailers are in the process of hiring seasonal workers to cover areas such as distribution (mailing, delivery and customer pick-up), gift assembly/wrapping, customer service, fulfillment, operations, retail and the general need for additional support over the holidays. Among others, FedEx intends to hire 70,000 seasonal workers – up more than 25 percent from just one year ago – and 1-800-Flowers.com has shared its plans to hire 10,000 holiday associates as it continues to enjoy record growth this year.

Just as many businesses offered pandemic-related bonuses for front-line workers, competitive wages and holiday bonuses are being promoted for holiday work. Employee discounts and referral bonuses also abound – with some companies providing further employee benefits.

Those interested in seasonal work can look for both in-person hiring events as well as online job fairs for the holidays. In some cases, the initial seasonal work may lead to long-term positions for those who are interested in permanent work. Typically, both full- and part-time options are available over the holidays and, in some cases, employees may be able to work from home.

Finally, companies across the country are implementing expanded safety protocols, from PPE to distanced work stations as well as sick leave. All seasonal workers should expect to feel safe in whatever role they take on – and will likely be asked to wear a mask while working.

While the 2020 holiday seasons will be a little different, many retailers are still going strong when it comes to their seasonal hires.

How to Get Your Resume Past the Robots

Job hunting is an art. Resumes, cover letters, interviews, follow-ups…the process sometimes involves as much finesse as it does skill. Even after you’ve written a killer resume, getting past “resume robots” can be incredibly difficult – fortunately, it is far from impossible.

These resume robots, or automated resume review software, can scan and reject applications in seconds and are a favorite of larger companies that receive a lot of job applications for each posting. An applicant tracking system can help organizations review, organize and respond to your resume and application, and they are growing in popularity. Almost all Fortune 500 companies now employ such a system.

If you are getting too many “thank you for applying for our position, but…” notices for jobs that you know you are qualified for, the following tips can help get your resume past the robots to the qualified humans who can take a closer look:

1. Key in on your keywords. Every applicant tracking system is trained to scan for certain keywords or details to help it quickly weed out unqualified applicants. That’s why the right keywords can make all the difference in your job search. After the HR team determines the key qualifications it is seeking, recruiters can program software to search for them. These keywords can involve certain qualifications, college majors, types of experience, licensing or soft skills. Review the job description and then ensure you have ample keywords to match and that they are easy to find and identify. Even better, offer examples of those key skills in action to provide greater context for recruiters.

2. Don’t apply for jobs that you are not qualified for. While it might seem like a good idea to reach for the stars, if you continue to apply for jobs that you are under- or overqualified for, you will be wasting everyone’s time. Likewise, be wary of applying for too many positions at a single company as software can track that as well. Granted, if there are two positions at the same company that are similar and that you are a good candidate for – go for it. But don’t apply for an entry-level customer service position and a team lead at the same company, which can show lack of focus or self-awareness.

3. Make your resume easy to read and easy to scan. Whether a machine or human is reviewing your resume, it should be easy to follow and comprehend. Whether you use a chronological (scanners are reported to prefer this option) or functional resume, include the most recent information first and use bullets for easier reading and scanning. Ask someone who doesn’t know you well to review your resume and ensure it is well-organized.

4. Don’t get too fancy. First of all, don’t try to cheat the system by looking up ways to fool automatic scanning software; if you are overstuffing keywords in your resume and cover letter, for example, this will quickly be flagged. Then, don’t overdesign your resume – this can make it harder to review, no matter who is taking a look. Many scanning systems convert resumes to text-only files, so you will lose formatting; in addition, tables, images and text boxes can get messy pretty quickly. Stick with common fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman or Cambria. Bolding, italicizing and underlining are all ok.

Finally, stick with a .doc format for the easiest scanning experience and make sure you spellcheck everything before you send out your resume.

Once you take the time to appropriately update your resume to get past the robots, you will likely receive more “thank you for applying and we would like to talk with you further” responses to your job applications.

Put Your Best Face Forward: How to Excel in a Video Interview

More companies are turning to online platforms such as Zoom and Google Hangouts for job interviews, which means applicants need to really focus on putting their best face forward to score an offer. While many of the secrets to success in video interviews are the same as for an in-person interview, there are a few key differences.

Beyond the obvious – practice ahead of time and wear pants – here are 10 top tips for succeeding in your next video job interview:

1.      Be confident. You might feel more nervous than you would for an in-person interview – where you can get a better feel for the person or team interviewing you – or even a phone interview – where you can make funny faces and easily refer to your notes – but you need to let your confidence and personality show. Practice with a friend or family member ahead of time so you are comfortable with the technology, the company interviewing you and your potential answers.

2.      Testing, 1, 2, 3. Beyond knowing how to mute and unmute your microphone, you should be very familiar with the technology you’re using for the interview – and have a back-up device ready, if needed. Chat with a friend or family member ahead of time to make sure you look and sound good and that there is no distracting background noise or clutter. Make sure you are the right distance from your laptop or phone – you don’t want to appear giant or miniscule in the interview. A neutral background is best.

3.      Dress for success. Even if you’re sitting in your living room, you should look just as nice – and formal – as if you were going to an impressive office for the interview. Focus on your outfit from head to toe, which includes shoes, even if you don’t normally wear them inside. Make sure the clothes you select all look good on camera and that your outfit isn’t too busy. Finally, make sure you’re not wearing anything that creates distracting glare or reflections, such as a watch or glasses.

4.      It’s all about the body language. Good eye contact is critical to garnering good reviews and developing rapport in any kind of job interview. Look closely at the interviewer’s face, nod your head and smile, trying to appear as natural as possible, even from a distance. Maintain good posture throughout the interview, rather than wiggling or slouching. Nonverbal communication says a lot.

5.      Let the other person finish speaking before you start. If you jump in too early, it is particularly awkward on video calls, where you can actually mute someone’s mic as you take over the conversation. Make sure the interviewer has finished the question or comment before you begin to respond.

6.      Slow down. If you tend to talk fast or ramble, this can make it hard to hear your answers during a video interview. Practice pauses within your answers ahead of time, and make sure you speak with the right volume – not too loud, not too soft.

7.      Arrive early. When everyone is working from home, it’s easy to slide into a meeting with 10 seconds to spare. However, if you were interviewing in an office, you would show up at least five to 10 minutes early and you should do that here as well to show you are ready and that you are prompt.

8.      Keep notes to a minimum. It can be helpful to have your resume, a few key bullets and responses nearby if you need them for reference, but this should be more of a free-flowing conversation, so do your best to avoid shuffling papers or looking down at notes. Again, the more you practice ahead of time, the less you will need to rely on notes.

9.      Handle disruptions like a pro. If disruptions – your cat, the interviewer’s laptop – happen, don’t fret. While it is important to minimize them, when possible, by silencing your phone and closing the windows, just have a sense of humor and maintain your professionalism if something does arise.

10.  Focus on your opening and closing comments. It’s nice to make a little small talk, which often happens naturally at the beginning and ending of an in-person interview, to show your interest and your personality. Make sure you have some questions ready for the interviewer as well. Do your best to be yourself and to show your best self off.

Video interviews offer a chance for people in different locations or time zones to connect and get to know more about each other, a particular company/position and a candidate’s fit for a given job. Next time you have a video job interview lined up, prepare, prepare, prepare ahead of time and then let yourself shine.

Hunting for a Job During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Whether you are a college senior, have recently been laid off or are looking for a change in a career, you might be wondering how to search for a job during a pandemic or if you should even bother looking at all right now. While the job search experience will definitely look and feel a little different than it would have a few months ago, a smart approach to it all can help you stay ahead of the pack.

Even if many companies aren’t hiring right now, they will eventually be looking to build their workforce and the right combination of networking and skill-building can help you stand out. Current job openings may be put on hold or removed, but it is important to keep your eye on the prize and to continue to prepare.

The following tips will help you chart a course to your next job:

·         Ask yourself, “what’s next?” Since you likely have more time for a job search than you might otherwise, you have the chance to dig deep and ask: What do I really want to do? What do I excel at? What role, industry and schedule would I really love? This will help you identify your targets and determine what positions to apply for when opportunities come up.

·         Network, network, network – shifting your focus online. This is actually a good time for reaching out, since many professionals have more time than usual. Seek out professionals in your job or industry of choice and, respecting their schedules, request a phone or video chat. Make sure you are prepared with a list of questions and mind their time limits. Ask for their advice on finding a job in that area right now and into the future. You can also turn to professional associations via LinkedIn, which will offer resources, job postings and more networking opportunities. Stay in touch with companies and individuals you have previously contacted or interviewed with, letting them know of your continued interest.

·         Follow and follow up. If you are interested in particular companies and industries, make sure you are following them online and in the world. How are they handling this period of pandemic? What initiatives have they rolled out recently? Do they have investor calls that you can listen to? You can comment on posts, take notice of their media coverage and stay up-to-date on their latest projects. When the time comes for a resume or interview, you can demonstrate your interest and knowledge, citing real-world examples, helping you stand out from other applicants.

·         Build your skills. If you need an extra skill or credential, now is the time! Fortunately, there are more free online courses that can help you enhance your skills or develop new ones right now. Whether it’s social media, coding or transcription, you can find a class to make you and your skills more competitive.

·         Determine if and when the time is right. If you do not need to be searching for a job right now, you might consider waiting until the economy begins to bounce back. However, if you cannot wait any longer or have been laid off and need income for day-to-day expenses, you can research job categories that are in demand right now: Healthcare, online communications, shipping and delivery, online learning and childcare, and regular work-from-home options.

Even during challenging times, there are job openings and there is always the chance to boost your skills and hone your interest as you prepare for your next position.