?? These Habits Are Most Likely To Stop You From Being Hired

?? These Habits Are Most Likely To Stop You From Being Hired 82 Make it a habit to avoid these bad job search habits. Photo by Hernan Sanchez I was overconfident on my last job search, back in 2002. Coming off a good job at Amazon.com in Paris and Seattle, I had just moved back to Israel. A big shock was about to arrive for the entire Internet industry, but I didn't know that. On the contrary, I thought my prospects were great, and that companies would be lining up to hire a hotshot web development manager from one of the best known e-commerce companies (even back then, when it was much, much smaller). I could not have been more wrong.eval Oh sure, recruiters were impressed by my profile, but it wasn't a good match for the open jobs they had to offer. E-commerce was just beginning locally, and I wasn't going to get full value for my full skill set. I was going to have to adjust my expectations. Then the dotcom bubble burst and recruiters stopped replying to my email cover letters, in some cases because they themselves had been let go.eval As my job search started to drag on, it was easier to just browse the few new job listings posted on my favorite job sites every morning, and then send out email feelers all afternoon. It was a very efficient way to job search, but also a really ineffective way to job search. It took months for me to break that bad habit of spending most of my job search glued to a computer screen. Sound familiar? I hope not! There are so many other bad habits that you might pick up as a job seeker, making your search longer than necessary and making you your own worst enemy at a time in your life that you typically want to end as soon as possible. For example… James Clear is the author of Atomic Habits: An Easy Proven Way to Build Good Habits Break Bad Ones. On the worst job search habit people ask him about, James told me: A bad habit I often see people fall into is trying to win a job before they build connections. It's usually best to do it the other way around. People want to do favors for others they know, like, and trust. People can sense when a job seeker is using recruiters, mentors, and others as a transactional relationship just to get a job. Develop a genuine interest in the person helping you out and showcase how you can excel in the job once you've built that trust. You'll notice that some bad habits can also lead to others. My bad job search habit of only looking for jobs online also led to having the bad habit James describes. As social media didn't exist in 2002, networking online wasn't nearly as common, and I certainly wasn't doing much of it. That's the first step to breaking these habits: recognizing that you have them. Which bad job search habits are holding you back? Here's a long list you can use to check. James Clear: A bad habit I often see people fall into is trying to win a job before they build connections. It's usually best to do it the other way around.Click To Tweet James Clear's new Atomic Habits: An Easy Proven Way to Build Good Habits Break Bad Ones, was released on October 19th, 2018. Buy Atomic Habits Now Do you prefer audiobooks? Sign up for a free 30-day Audible trial, which also includes coupons for 2 free audiobooks, and use one of the coupons to get the Atomic Habits audiobook as read to you by James Clear himself. Over 25 bad job search habits to break 1. Procrastinating Are you constantly putting off your job search, or even just certain parts of it? Schedule your job search time to create momentum: either begin your job search sessions with the easiest things you need to do, or the things you most want to do first. 2. Getting distracted Schedule your job search time, period, and stick to the schedule… but give yourself breaks, time to exercise, time to learn or improve skills, and reward yourself for little wins such as getting positive responses from recruiters. Sleeping well will also help you stay focused. 3. Being late It's hard to start an interview off on the right foot if you didn't even show up on time. Scheduling your job search daily will also help break this habit, and always call ahead if you may be late. 4. Staying in your comfort zone In my job search story, it was easy to drop down in front of my computer every day. If I had known James's advice about networking and made an effort to go out regularly for it, there's no doubt my job search would have ended much sooner. 5. Getting into a routine On the job, routines are good and help you be more productive as your work towards goals. On the job search, however, routines can be dangerous because of the chance you'll get comfortable going through the same ineffective motions every day, just like I did. Between researching companies to target, tailoring resumes, networking and going to interviews, a good job search will have too much variety for you to get into a routine. Which of these bad job search habits has hurt you most? Being late to job interviews Not preparing for job interviews Not proofreading your resumes Taking job search rejection personally View Results General job search 6. Not having a specific job in mind If you aim for the bull's eye, there's a good chance you'll at least hit the target. Focus your job search by looking for a specific kind of job while taking into account how job titles may differ for the same roles. 7. Applying to as many jobs as possible Be picky when it comes to choosing where to apply. Target fewer companies more heavily as opposed to playing the numbers game. 8. Taking shortcuts Resume distribution services send your resume to a long list of email addresses. This “resume blasting” is nothing more than a kind of spam. It'll raise your hopes when the chances of it helping are minimal. Another kind of shortcut is to rely on placement agencies. I tried this once and it was a waste of time. I thought that those recruiters' interests were the same as mine, since they got paid after I got hired. However, being a good candidate for a client of theirs doesn't guarantee the client company will be a good fit for you. The placement agencies will quickly stop forwarding your resumes if they see you rejecting companies. 9. Targeting recruiters instead of hiring managers What good is convincing a recruiter to get you in the door if the hiring manager won't be interested? 10. Using work or personal email addresses At worst, your personal email address will be something embarrassing and unprofessional. At best, the mix of emails in your inbox will constantly distract you. Your work email address, on the other hand, is problematic on a whole other level, and not just because your employer will discover your job search. It's just easier to use a dedicated job search email address. 11. Not following up Recruiters are busy people, just like you. It's very easy for things to slip through the cracks. 12. Following up too much On the other hand, there's following up and then there's harassment. Follow up once within a few days. Check in again at least a few weeks later if you're still interested in the role. 13. Spending too much effort online or offline A lesson I learned the hard way ?? Resumes and CVs 14. Describing responsibilities rather than achievements What's more impressive: managing company sales, or growing sales by over 50% in a single quarter? The “So What?” resume writing method works best. 15. Using clichés and vague terms Who isn't a “motivated self-starter” and a “team player”? The best resumes are specific and to the point. You don't have the space to waste. 16. Wasting resume space on weak points Everything you put on your resume should have a purpose: either how to contact you, or why the company should want to hire you. Avoid adding any filler. You don't have the space to waste. 17. Not proofreading your resumes Most job seekers proofread their own resumes, if they bother proofreading at all. That's not good enough. 18. Recycling your resume Sending the same resume each time? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Every company is different and so should your communications be with them. Tailor each resume once you've discovered what's most likely to impress them. 19. Rehashing your resume in your cover letters The purpose of a cover letter is to tempt its reader to look at your resume, and a long cover letter is less likely to do that. 20. Using only one job site for all your needs It was bad enough that my 2002 job search had me spending too much time online, it would have been worse if that time had been mostly spent on the same job site, closing myself off from many opportunities listed elsewhere. There so many popular job boards to cross-reference, helpful job search blogs like this one, resume builders and other great online tools for your job search. Job interviews 21. Not preparing for job interviews I get it if you feel that you don't need to practice with sample job interview questions (although you should), but at least do some company research before the interview so you can prepare your own questions to ask. 22. Not being yourself in the interview Some job seekers are so anxious about their interviews that they'll even memorize answers to potential questions, coming off stiff and unnatural, basically putting on an act. And not a very good one. Of course recruiters will see right through this; they go through more interviews than you ever will. Just be yourself. If you prepare for the interviews each time, you'll be fine. 23. Being too informal I've been guilty of this early in my career. Sometimes you can be yourself a bit too much, and you give off the impression that you're not taking the interview or the recruitment process seriously. With the experience of a few interviews under your belt, you'll start to get a better idea of where the “too informal” line is that you shouldn't cross. 24. Talking about yourself too much Unlike what many people think, the point of the job interview isn't to tell interviewers how amazing you are and how lucky they would be to get you. Rather, the point is to convince interviewers how amazing you would be for their company and how you can help them. It's about them, not you. 25. Bad-mouthing Especially after a layoff or what you consider an unjust firing, it's very easy to fall into the trap of bad mouthing former employers in frustration, or perhaps a former colleague while telling a story. Interviewers value critical thinking and the ability to clearly analyze a situation you were part of, but be careful: stick to the facts and keep value judgements and opinions of others out of it. It just leaves a bitter taste. 26. Unleashing nervous energy Drumming your fingers, bouncing a leg, playing with your hair… you need to learn to control it. Easy to say, I know. Nervousness comes from the pressure you're feeling for the interview. The less you have at stake in an interview, the less pressure you'll feel. One way to lower the stakes is by continuing to line up more interviews with other companies in parallel, and not putting all your hopes on the most recent company to invite you to their offices. 27. Taking job search rejection personally Rejection often isn't about you. There are many reasons companies reject you, and many of those reasons are completely out of your control. Rejection is going to happen. Accept it and move on. If you lower the interview stakes as mentioned above, it will bother you less and become easier to take. 28. Always accepting the first offer In over 11 years of blogging about job search, I've never heard anyone say they enjoyed looking for a new job. EVERYONE just wants the search to end asap so they can go back to feeling like a productive member of society, among other things. I get the excitement when you finally get a job offer and are willing to accept it practically sight unseen, because you want it to end. All too often, this just leads you to trading your frustrating job search for a frustrating job. But should you automatically reject the first offer? Maybe. First, learn how to evaluate new job offers. Next â€" and now I'm repeating myself â€" lower the stakes and give yourself more negotiating power by continuing to line up other offers. Best job search habits that will get you hired When it comes to job search habits, it isn't all doom and gloom. There are some terrific, effective, even powerful habits you can adopt that can have a massive, positive impact on your job searches. I reached out to some of the top job search experts for their top recommended job search habits and they responded in a big way: And one more from James Clear, on what he would tell his younger self about job search habits: You are young. Life is long. Your interests will change. There are many things right now that you don't know. As a result of all of these things, you should explore broadly early in your career. Don't limit yourself to one job or one industry. Search widely and experiment with a variety of roles and businesses. Once you have an idea of what is out there, you can narrow your focus to the option you enjoyed the most. Question of the article What's the worst job search habit you've been able to overcome, and how did you do it? Tell us in the comments What others are saying 5 Unhealthy Job Search Habits Keeping You Unemployed Bad habits that can sabotage your job search 15 job searching habits you need to quit if you want success 3 Bad Habits to Avoid During Job Interviews 7 Bad Habits That Might Be Holding Back Your Job Search Efforts Use This Simple Daily Habit to Add More Gratitude to Your Life 5 Habits of Effective Job Seekers

Fun Resume Writing Activities - How to Write a Resume

Fun Resume Writing Activities - How to Write a ResumeWriting a resume is not easy and it takes time, but your resume should be done once the application or hiring has been completed. Some of the resume writing activities that you can do include starting with your personal information as well as some of the information regarding your career goals. If you have already decided what position you want to work in, it would be wise to keep that in mind as well.This is a great way to start the resume by giving important information. It will also give more information about yourself. There are some programs that will help you determine if you want to include a cover letter when you are creating a resume. Many companies will want to see an example of a cover letter that they have used before and this will let them determine if you have the skills required for the job.After you have done your personal information and career goals, you will be ready to go to the next section of your resume, your education. You should include any certificates or degrees that you have received. Also, if you have been in an internship, you will want to be sure to mention this in your resume. The reason for this is that some employers will look for this information in order to see if you are someone they can hire on a regular basis.You will want to add anything that is considered to be professional experience in the list of items that you provide. However, you may want to consider including things like any special training that you have received from other companies or agencies. Another good tip would be to include any internships that you have worked for, if applicable.When it comes to the resume, the last one is the most important part of all the other resume writing activities. Remember, you will be working with these in order to find a job. The reason is because you will need to be sure that youwill be able to stand out in the crowd of applicants who are applying for the same position.You may want to try starting your resume by listing the positions that you would be hiring for, or the company that you would be working for. As you begin to do this, be sure to indicate that you have a professional resume writing service that can help you create a professional resume. It is important that your resume look professional and include the correct information in order to make sure that you get hired for the position.When you have completed all of the activities for your resume, you will want to check it twice in order to make sure that you have included everything that you need to. You will also want to take a moment to review it and make sure that there are no errors or missing information. If there are any questions, don't hesitate to ask the help of the company that you have chosen to do your resume writing for you.Now that you know how to create a resume, don't forget to try some of the other resume writing activities that you can do. Remember, creating a professional re sume should be a time for enjoyment. It should not be used as a chore.

6 Tips to Dramatically Improve your Productivity

6 Tips to Dramatically Improve your Productivity Theres nothing worse than the clock turning 17:00 and realising  your day has been incredibly unproductive. From meetings to the infinite amount of e-mails you were supposed to get through being unproductive can ruin a day at work. This also means that some jobs can turn from simple small tasks into large and undoable projects simple because your productivity has been  all over the place. So what ways can you become more productive? Take a look at the 6 tips below for ways to boost your productivity. 1.  Back to basics: This is for those who are absolutely tech obsessed. Something that I feel wastes large amounts of time, is pointless back-and-forward email conversation. People often forget that they can clear up matters with a simple phone call or actual face-to-face conversation you dont need to rely on long and useless email conversations to sort out things with colleagues or clients. Instead just give them a quick call. 2. Turn off notifications: Its obviously important to check your emails throughout the day but its not productive to be checking them every 10 minutes. Turn off desktop notifications and alerts, as these act as distractions that can chuck productivity out the window. Turn off all unnecessary distractions theyll just bring your productivity down! 3. Lists are useful: To-do lists should be your best friend. If you have a physical list of things you have to do, it makes it clearer what you should be focusing on, whether your to-do list is daily, weekly or monthly (or all of them together!). Having a list to physically tick of tasks makes everything much clearer in your head, meaning youre not constantly thinking about the next thing you have to do or what you have to remember to do tomorrow. 4. Utilise your commute: If you spend a large amount of time travelling to and from work, why not use the time to do something productive? You could do something like reply to a few emails, create your daily to-do lists or reading relevant articles or books that are inline with the industry you work in. 5. Eat lunch: It may seem as though powering through the day without breaks and lunch would mean you do the maximum amount of work you could but this is the opposite of the truth. If you dont stop every so often, youll become tired, bored, and unmotivated. If you take breaks, youll give yourself a mini refresher, an energy  boost for the rest of the day. 6. Get up earlier: This one is all about mind over mattress. Its well known that the most successful people are early risers with most CEOs waking up around 5amand sometimes even earlier! The way your spend your morning can make or break your day so make sure you fill up on a big, healthy breakfast and maybe fit some exercise in it will make a whole lot of difference to your day. Whats your number one tip for motivation? Wed love to know tweet us at @UndercoverRec!

How to Stay Focused at Work

How to Stay Focused at Work Do you sit down at your desk, look out the window and  forget what you were originally doing? If so, then you need help with trying to stay focused when you are at work. When in the office 9-5, it can be difficult to keep your concentration and focus on your tasks. However, everyone at work wants to be able to have a productive day and to be able to motivate themselves and others to be the best they can be. In order to have a successful and fulfilling day at work, you need to make some changes in your daily routine, even if they are only small ones. If this sounds like you and you want to make a change, this  infographic by Anna Vital  at Funders and Founders  will provide some useful tips and changes you can make to improve your focus: Takeaways: Turn off your phone so you do not get distracted. Get a good chair so you are comfortable. Clear your desk so you can see everything clearly. Keep food and your desk, glucose helps your brain focus! Make a list, but make it short so it is easy to follow. Frame a picture of your goal and look at it every morning before work. RELATED: How Much Time Do You Waste at Work?

Writing a Writing Example For Skills Resume

Writing a Writing Example For Skills ResumeWriting a writing example for skills is not a difficult task to do if you are able to write in your head first. It is important to know what a skill is and how it can be used so that you can define it clearly in your skills resume. Skills are all about knowledge and experience.Skills are generally broken down into the following areas: leadership, organization, communication, customer service, communication, innovation, and technology. Therefore, it is very important to focus on these areas when creating a skills resume. These skills can be quite different from each other but when you are looking for the most relevant skills for your job opening you will need to choose the skills that you feel match the qualities that are required for the position.Make sure that the specific skill you choose is one that you can show off to your boss. There are some instances where you may be required to attend training to learn more about a specific skill but the skills are not one that is required by most companies. A writing example for skills is one way to show your employer that you have an interest in this particular skill. It should be something that you can show your boss in order to prove to them that you have the experience necessary to be hired for the position.When creating a skills example for skills you can simply create a small paragraph listing the skills that you have. However, it is important to remember that there are certain skills that are only meant to be listed if they are actually needed by the company. There are many examples of skills on a skill resume but sometimes these skills may only be needed if you are going to be representing the company in an outside capacity.If you were going to be representing a company and you were asked to demonstrate skills outside of your own experience, then you should be listing these skills on the skills example for skills resume. You should also list the skills that the company is looking forin their clients. If they are going to be represented in an outside position then you should list those skills. This will give your employer confidence that you have the ability to help them meet their goals.Remember that skills should not be listed on a resume if they are not relevant. Skills should only be listed if they are a necessity. For example, if you were going to be representing a company and you were sent out to represent a client in an outside position and you were asked to demonstrate these skills, you should not list these skills on the skills example for skills resume. Instead, you should make sure that you are applying the skills that are required by the company and not the skills that will help you help you get the job.For example, if you were showing skills example for skills you would be listing technical skills that will help you with the project. You should also list communication skills. Skills examples for writing can include general writing ski lls or something as specific as how to write a persuasive cover letter. However, the skills should only be listed if they are needed by the company.Skills should be listed if they are relevant to the job you are applying for. If you are in charge of training employees and you are to be representing the company, then you should list these skills. If you are working with a company to represent them, then you should list these skills.

How to Advance Your Career With the 51% Rule

How to Advance Your Career With the 51% Rule When it comes to advancing in your career, who’s responsible for making sure you get what you need? Is it your responsibility or your manager’s? This question, or a version of it, came up during a workshop I led this past week. When I was passed over for promotion I had just told the story of being passed over for a promotion to a bigger role because I was too oblivious to put my hand up and audition for the job. Instead, one of my colleagues got the role. In the end, he turned out to be the wrong person for the role â€" a case of interviewing well but having the wrong disposition for the job â€" and they brought in someone external after six months. In retrospect, I might well have been a better choice, but it was too late to find out. After hearing the story, someone in the audience asked me whether my manager should have taken more responsibility for encouraging and reaching out to me. Wouldn’t that have been what a great leader does? Back in the day, that thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Instead, I put the episode down as one of my failings and felt bad about myself for the rest of the year. I even thought of quitting. But with the benefit of hindsight, I see things differently. It’s not a 50/50 proposition Opportunities to advance are an important part of the retention equation. And retention is in both parties’ interests. This suggests an equal partnership with a 50/50 split of responsibilities between you and your manager. But 50/50 partnerships are inherently tricky because no one is clearly in charge. So, whether it’s in business or personal relationships, things can end badly. In a career context, it’s all too easy for each party to behave as though they’ve got 49.9% of the responsibility. While that rounds up to 50/50, the reality is there’s a gap where things can slip through the proverbial crack. When that happens, the wrong people can end up leaving and everyone loses. The 51% Rule That’s why I believe in the 51% Rule. If both the manager and the team member take on 51% of the responsibility, then a successful outcome is far more likely. That extra 2 percent creates a solid bridge with no crack to slip through. When both parties take ownership for reaching out and engaging, everybody wins. Managers are more likely to retain talent and team members are more likely to feel seen, heard and respected. So what would the 51% Rule look like in action? For you as team member As the team member, taking 51% ownership means several things. First, speaking up and letting your manager know how and what you’re doing. Don’t assume anyone knows your activities and accomplishments. Most people are busy with their own issues. Second, share what your aspirations are. Managers are not mind readers, so make sure to clue them in. Third, ask for the resources or support you need to be successful. You’re expected to produce results for the organization, so make the business case for what you need in order to deliver. And be a little artful in framing the ask in a way that’s easy for people to say “yes” to. Overall, it means being willing to initiate conversations on these crucial points, or at a minimum being prepared to reply to questions from your manager. And remember that managers can get busy and distracted, and many are not yet the best managers they can be. So doing a bit of “managing up” is essential. For you as manager As a manager, the 51% Rule means learning about your people and what makes them tick, and flexing your approach so that you can be effective in bringing out their best. This starts with the recognition that treating everyone the same is not going to create the same outcomes because each person is different. These differences could be due to cultural background, personality or experiences. And while you can get clues from looking at their context, it’s important not to make assumptions. Instead, get to know your team as individual people. Here, it’s essential to have conversations to discover how they’re doing, what they aspire to, what they need to be successful and how you can support them. When you’re having those conversations, listen more than you speak, and make it safe for people to come to you. It’s how you learn the important stuff. Listen more than you speak and make it safe for people to come to you. It’s how you learn the important stuff. If you’re an introvert, frame it in a way that makes it easier to reach out. For example, think of it as being curious about your team members and doing some “research”. Take it one person at a time rather than overload yourself. If you have team members who are introverts, don’t expect them to come to you as others might. Adapt your approach to reach out and engage them. And don’t feed just the ones who shout the loudest. You may be setting yourself up for making the wrong people decisions, and that’s a loss for everyone involved. What will you do? The 51% Rule can save us from negative outcomes as individuals, as managers, and for the organization as a whole. Better yet, it can help bring out the best in each of us as managers and team members. The world needs each of us to be our best and contribute at our highest level, and you can make a difference. So, it’s over to you. What will you do to take 51% ownership of your career, and as a manager for your team? Leave me a comment and let me know.

5 Resources to Finding a Recruiter and Landing a Job - CareerAlley

5 Resources to Finding a Recruiter and Landing a Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. A former coworker called me a few months ago (having tracked me down after 20+ years) and wanted to meet for lunch to catchup. Her career over the last 20 years had started out quite good, but had been on a bit of a plateau for the last 10 years or so. Most recently, she found out that her current job would end in the very near future as she had successfully eliminated her own job (by outsourcing her function not the smartest move). So part of our conversation was what she was doing to find a new job. The answer, amazingly, was NOTHING! How can that possibly be? I asked, you should be spending all of your free time looking for a job. Her view was that she did not think it would take her a long time to find a job, so why should she do any work now? Of course my immediate thought was that she was underestimating the enormity of looking and finding a job. She had, in effect, made a molehill out of a mountain. Todays post is about finding recruiters. Directories of Recruiters Best to start out with the mother of all recruiters list from the Riley Guide. One of the best job search resources on the Internet, the Riley Guide directories of recruiters is like a list of lists. The main page starts off with a bunch of free directories to help you find a recruiter. This is followed by a list of fee-based directories (but first exhaust the free directories). TheRecruiterNetwork This website provides a listing of recruiters and allows posting your profile so that they can find you. The right hand side of the page has a list of featured recruiters. Click on Job Seekers from the top of the page to link to the sign-on page. Create a free profile which will be used as a way for these firms to find you. Use the featured recruiter list to look at individual recruiters. Headhuntersdirectory This site provides an online list of headhunters and recruiters that is free to use. The main page leads with an overview of the site and a regional selection page. Select your region to continue. For the US link, the next page lists all of the states down the left hand side of the page and a graphical map view where you can select your state. Clicking your state leads to a city listing to further refine your search. Clicking on a city leads to a list of recruiters where you can click on their website link to find out more about the firms, how to apply for jobs and additional resources. CareerAlley Recruiters Directory Another directory for you to search (this one is CareerAlleys list). An alphabetical list of recruiters with direct links to their websites. Also take a look at 5 Tips for Working with Recruiters and The Four Legs of Job Search. Findarecruiter The title is self-explanatory and their tag line Find Recruiters Headhunters Executive Search Consultants Employment Agencies Staffing Firms Search Professionals supports the name of the site. The main page has featured recruiters on the left (click on any of these to be taken to their website). The right hand side of the page has a search engine where you enter your criteria to find a recruiting professional. Once the engine returns a list, you can view the available jobs for those recruiters. The left hand side of the page now displays Partner Recruiters (where you can also click to link). Book Corner: [easyazon_link asin=B00IGTKHLE locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]How to Work With Recruiters Effectively: Get Headhunters to Market You[/easyazon_link] We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by