Job Search Tips

Are you looking for work, preparing for graduation and getting excited about putting together your cover letter and resume? In the current economy, one thing is for sure, you are NOT alone. Here are some tips that may help you prepare which will increase your confidence. Best of luck in your search - whoever hires you will be glad they did, because YOU are amazing. My dream for you is that your future is as bright as you are.
~Crystal

Finding the RIGHT job is key!

·        If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction.

·        County and State jobs are coveted – know where to find them!

·        Set yourself apart – use the internet differently than the competition.

·        Ask Questions.

·        Do your home work.

If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction. 

o   “________, I’ve heard good things about your company and you seem to like it, right? Who would I talk to about floating my resume?”

o   “________, I haven’t seen anything that Company XYZ is hiring, but do you happen to know anyone in HR you could put me in touch with?”

County and State jobs are coveted – know where to find them!

o   http://agency.governmentjobs.com/manitowoc/default.cfm

o   http://wisc.jobs/public/index.asp

§  Set up your profile and find out what’s out there that may be a dream come true for you!

Set yourself apart – use the internet differently than the competition.

o   Use the Job Center website (http://www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/) have your resume and cover letter ready to go.

o   Have Job Center jobs matched to you and emailed directly to your inbox.

o   If you have a social networking profile, tidy it up a bit…foul language and drinking pics should be taken down – you don’t want to send the wrong message.

o   If you have your resume on multiple sites, make sure it’s the same or similar on each. If you update one, update all of them.

Ask Questions.

? (Before, During, or After the interview it’s important to ask questions. If you aren’t sure what to ask – here are some examples:)
How would you describe the company culture/work environment?

What type of employees tend to excel at this company?

What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?

Can you tell me more about the interview process?

What is your turn over rate for the type of position I am interested in?

What type of training do you offer?

How often do you provide reviews and feedback?

What are the most important skills for the job?

How would you describe your ideal candidate?

What are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?

Do your home work.

o   Most companies have a website with important information about the company and if you’re lucky – information for job seekers.

The Shiny Sparkly Resume!

If a car on a car lot doesn’t look shiny and impressive, you’ll likely drive by without checking the sticker. Your resume works the same way – if your resume doesn’t catch the employers attention you will not get the phone call or the interview much less the job.

Make sure your resume is shiny and sparkling!

Choose Resume Words Carefully / Surpassed vs. Completed

o   Anyone can complete a task – surpassing expectations shows that you went above and beyond. Catch the readers attention and capture interest by using strong words to describe your accomplishments:

Sample Headlines

o   Dedicated ______ professional with ___ years of experience in _______

o   An accomplished _____ professional with proven entrepreneurial success and expertise in ___________

o   Talented _____ professional with over ___ years of experience providing outstanding support to ____________

Sample Qualifications

o   Extensive hands on experience in ______

o   Diverse _ skills with exceptional __ background in _________

o   Fluent understanding and extensive experience managing _____

o   Thrive in deadline-oriented, fast paced situations

Focus on…

o   How you saved the company time or money

o   How you problem solve

o   How you use your creativity

o   How you initiate change and develop others

o   How you use your skills

o   How you work successfully with a team

Submit Your Resume/Application

o   Always read the fine print and submit your resume/application just ask the employer specifies (ie: if they tell you to fax…don’t email – if they request a resume and cover letter, don’t forget the cover letter, etc…)

o   Make sure your resume is short and sweet, to the point, and impressive!

Follow Up

o   Follow up with a phone call or a card (yes, the kind you mail…set yourself apart)

§  The follow up should be short and sweet – if you send a card, it could say: Thank you for considering me for the _____ position with company XYZ; I am looking forward to meeting with you. Please call me at ____ and we can schedule a phone interview or face to face meeting.

Prepare for the Interview

·        Make your list of traits, skills, and abilities

·        Story Format

o   Stories Should…

§  Describe a challenging situation

§  Describe a difficult decision

§  Describe your strengths

§  Describe your successes

§  Describe your weaknesses

§  Describe a time when the result was not what you planned for

Don’t Forget to Ask Questions?

·        When the potential new employer asks: “Do you have any questions?” your answer should always be a quick “yes” – and go back to those questions you had ready during the job search:

THANK YOU!

o   The potential new employer will thank you – but be sure to thank them for their time too. Then…follow up with a thank you card (yes the kind you mail – it will set you apart from other applicants)

Increase Your Career Confidence

An article was published on July 4, 2011 by Ray Williams in Wired for Success titled: "Is Loyalty Dead?" summarizing that employer and employee loyalty was a thing of the past. This is a growing trend and a concern. It's more important than ever to increase your own personal career confidence so the loyalty scare doesn't keep you up at night.


In the world of marketing, loyalty is everything and satisfaction is meaningless. In the world of employee and employer relations, loyalty is becoming a thing of the past. Key players in organizations are leaving, or the organization is leaving them (the dreaded F word - fired). In truth, if you are looking for someone to make a mistake, they will. Whether the employer or the employee is the cause, the relationship is broken and both parties are left to pick up the pieces.

The employer will find someone to fill the position, the employee will find another job, and the cycle continues. The emotional void is hardest til fill. The employer has others to worry about, the employees co-workers are likely left wondering what went wrong, or they are concerned that they may be next or that they should also start looking. They may also question the solvency of the organization. For the employee, the relationship with the next employer is automatically strained because of the baggage brought to the table. These statements are both true, regardless of who made the decision to break the relationship.

A business relationship is similar in many ways to a dating relationship. There may be comments about the ex, concerns about future compatibility, and the urge to compare the new to the old and the old to the new. The key to overcoming these obstacles is confidence. Confidence is defined as the state of feeling certain about the truth of something. The confidence factor is important for all parties (previous employer, previous employee, current employer, current employee).

The previous employer needs to feel certain that they made the right decision for the right reasons. They cannot go back and change what happened, so second guessing themselves is a waste of time and energy. Similarly, the previous employee needs to feel certain that the decision was made with the best intention of the organization and they need to feel certain their skills and abilities will land them in a better position. The current employer needs to feel certain that their new employee is a good fit for their organization and they have to recognize that no two businesses are the same. They cannot blame the new employee for things that went wrong with their previous post. If they have any doubts, they should be left behind once the hiring decision has been made. There is the current employee who also needs to be confident. They cannot feel that they are a replacement for the previous person. They are not a stand in or a second runner up. They are simply, the best person for the position - no holes barred. The current employee needs to feel certain that they have the right skills and abilities to achieve the organizations expectations. They cannot question the decisions that were made in the past.

Some synonyms for confident are: brave, bold, sure, trusting, fearless, and positive. These are qualities that are sought after in today's job market. An job seeker is looking for a positive and trusting work environment. Employers are looking to hire brave and fearless leaders. All things equal, regardless of employer or employee loyalty, confidence will win out in the end. Increasing your career confidence will get you through the tough spots that are bound to arise in your career. Stop worrying about loyalty and concentrate on something you can control - your confidence!