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Practical Advice for Job Seekers

Practical Tips for Job Seekers

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Many people are concerned about reentering the workforce, but there is no reason to be nervous when following a few simple and proven methods to make the job-hunting process so much easier. From how to write a great resume to tips on handling the interview, this advice will help reduce the stress of your next job hunt.

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  • Practical Advice

    for Job Seekers

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/job-seekers/

  • Resume Editing and Formatting Tips

    Avoid long, wordy paragraphs. White space is desirable and gives the eye a rest.

    Remove words that dont add value to statement.

    Dont use first-person.

    Use bullets, numbers in numeric form, symbols (i.e. %) to highlight information. Use

    bullets to organize information and show results.

    Try to keep resume to 1-2 pages, but dont cram just to adhere to this guideline.

    Use 10-12 point font for body of resume. Anything under 9pt font is too difficult to read.

    Use a professional email address.

    Use headers, footers and page numbers for a polished, professional look.

    Put contact info in header to save space and allow contact info to carryover to next page.

    Make sure your name pops by using bold and larger font (but not too big!). Address,

    email, and phone can be in a smaller but readable font.

    Dont force your resume into a template. Templates are guides only.

    Remember that excellent grammar is essential:

    o Use past tense and action verbs consistently

    o Avoid passive verbs

    o Use commas consistently when listing items

    o Use ending punctuation consistently, especially with bullets

    o Proof read by reading out loud. Then have a trusted friend or two proof

    again.

    o Use spell check but be aware that it wont catch everything

    Limit number of bullets. Try 3-6, depending on job. Not all jobs need bullets or text.

    Group like items into one bullet. For example: Reconciled cash accounts, performed

    month-end closeouts, and invoiced clients . . .

    Omit unnecessary information:

    o Details for jobs > 15 years old

    o References Available Upon Request

    o Personal information such as interests, hobbies, children

    o Trainings or certifications that lack substance or relevance or are outdated

    o If resume is more than 1 page, make sure the page break is in the right

    place.

    Use a standard font type, and test by viewing on another persons (older) computer.

    Preview your resume online, if possible.

  • Sample Interview Questions

    1. Please walk me through your resume. Highlight your responsibilities, accomplishments, and

    factors driving your job transitions (movement from one job to the next).

    2. What is the ideal job for you iWn terms of work environment, type of work, conditions, etc.?

    3. What are your specific career goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

    4. What do you think it takes to be successful in this career or job? How have you demonstrated

    these skills and characteristics in past jobs? Please provide examples.

    5. What are your greatest strengths? How would you market yourself to me or another prospective

    employer?

    6. What areas do you need to improve and what techniques or tools are you employing to do so?

    7. Which of your past jobs was your favorite and why? What drives you to perform your best?

    8. For what kind of supervisor or manager do you work best? Provide examples.

    9. Give two examples of things you've done in previous jobs that demonstrate your willingness to

    work hard.

    10. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?

    11. What is the most compelling reason we should hire you? What degree of training do you feel

    you will require?

    12. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your personal and

    professional life.

    13. How would you evaluate your ability to (provide examples):

    Work in a team setting

    Lead a team

    Deal with conflict

    Deal with crises or high-pressure situations

    Be resourceful

    Be creativity

    Manage time efficiently

    Make decisions

    Communicate in writing

    Speak, present or communicate verbally

    Solve problems, use good judgment

    14. Please provide an example of when and how you handled the following:

    Played a key role in resolving a crisis or conflict

    Went beyond expectation / demonstrated initiative and willingness to work

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/employers/

  • Handled the toughest challenge you have ever faced

    Used persuasion to convince someone to see things your way

    Thought on your feet in a difficult situation

    Used good judgment and logic in solving a problem

    Worked with a wide variety of people, situations and environments

    Used your written communication skills to make an impact

    Conformed to a policy or decision with which you did not agree.

    Approached an important assignment

    Set and reached an important goal

    Dealt with a difficult boss or colleague or customer

    Had to get help or assistance on a project or assignment

    Worked through a compromise

    15. Tell me what you know about our company. Why did you decide to seek a position in this

    company?

    16. Be prepared to express your desires/conditions for the following:

    Schedule

    Travel

    Start date

    Salary

    Benefits

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/about/

  • How to Respond To Difficult Questions Concerns

    Raised In Interviews

    Gap in Resume

    If you left the workforce to raise children, care for an elderly family member or respond to a health

    issue, be sure to indicate family readiness and commitment or resolution of the eldercare or family

    health issue. Do not apologize for break or provide too many personal details. Acknowledge break

    but quickly move discussion to your skills and accomplishments. Reinforce eagerness to re-enter. In

    some instances, you may want to offer to complete an assignment or small project to prove yourself.

    I took time off to raise my children, but I am now excited to re-enter the workforce and have support

    in place at home to be able to do so smoothly. While at home, I have kept my marketing skills sharp

    by attending classes and keeping up with new trends and technologies, including social media

    platforms, digital marketing campaigns, and Adobe Creative Suite. I volunteer at a local homeless

    shelter, maintaining their website and social meeting as well as serving as editor of their on-line news

    letter. I am confident that I am current on industry trends, and I see this opportunity as a way to put

    my marketing, writing, and creative skills to work in a new setting.

    I took a break to deal with a family health issue, which is now resolved. I cant wait to get back to

    work. The reason why I found this job so appealing is because . . .

    I understand you may have difficulty convincing your colleagues about my candidacy because of my

    career break. I would be willing to take on a small project or assignment to demonstrate that I have

    the analytical skills, proficiency in MS Excel, and attention to detail that this position requires.

    Overqualified for Job

    Address the concern head-on. Shift focus to why you find the job appealing and identify the skills and

    traits you have to be successful and happy in the job.

    I intentionally sought this job out even though I may look overqualified for the position. I love the

    mission of your company, and my strong organizational, administrative, and project coordination skills

    are a good fit for the role as you have described it. Although I managed a large staff and budget in

    my previous job prior to my career break, it was also a high-stress position that required lots of travel

    and long hours. I am not looking for this level of responsibility right now, but I do want to contribute to

    a growing company that could benefit from my jack of all trades skillset.

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/news/

  • Weak Technology Skills

    Embrace and use new technology prior to the interview. When asked about technology, be specific

    about proficiency and give examples. Weave into the conversation stories and comments that reflect

    that you are up to date with technology. If you are a quick learner, say it but also give examples to

    prove it.

    I am proficient with the most recent version of MS Office, including MS Word, Excel and

    PowerPoint. In my previous jobs as a bookkeeper or accountant, I have always had to use MS Excel

    and consider myself an advanced user. I can import and export data; create formulas; link

    spreadsheets; use pivot tables; and create charts and graphs for presentations. I am currently taking

    a refresher course to learn how to use macros, which is considered a very advanced feature of

    Excel. I understand that many small businesses use Quickbooks, so I recently took a class and

    received my certification as a Quickbooks Pro Advisor. After mastering several customized and more

    robust accounting software tools over the years, I found Quickbooks to be very easy to learn and

    cant wait to use it in my next job.

    Lack of Commitment to Company and Job

    Understand that flexibility works both ways. Dont start with your demands but show how you are

    willing to be flexible too.

    I would be thrilled to be a part of your marketing team, and I think my writing, social media, and

    creative skills would be a great fit. I am very eager to work, and I have made arrangements so that I

    can commit to the required 20-25 hours week. I can absolutely be available between 8:30am and

    2:30pm, and I can commit to checking email/voicemail at some point that makes sense after 2:30pm

    so that I am responsive to the team and to client needs. I understand that your annual conference is

    in May, and I do have the flexibility and am willing to work additional hours the week before and

    during the week of the conference.

    Reason for Leaving

    Be honest and forthcoming, but limit the information to what the interviewer needs to know. Make

    every attempt to put the reasons why you want to leave or left a job in the best possible light so that

    the interviewer does not conclude that you job hopped. If you have a history of job hopping, you will

    need to honestly assess the situation and address it.

  • If you are currently working and want to leave your job:

    I am very proud of my many accomplishments as Controller for XYZ Company. In 5 years, I have

    been promoted twice and have taken on increasing responsibility and several new initiatives,

    including successfully leading a time-sensitive conversion of our accounting system to a new, more

    robust software. I am now looking to put my strengths and experiences to work in a new

    setting. Specifically, Id like to work for a mid-sized technology company with revenues in the $50-

    100 million range.

    If your job was eliminated:

    Like other technology companies in the region that are dependent on the federal government, XYZ

    company lost several key contracts during sequestration. This meant the elimination of many

    positions, including mine. I was lucky enough to survive three rounds of layoffs. After each layoff, I

    took on additional responsibilities due to an overall reduction in my department of 60%. I was laid off

    during the last round.

    What is Your Greatest Weakness?

    A common but often less effective response is to state a strength and then explain that it can also

    be a weakness.

    I am a perfectionist and insist that any work product of mine is 100% complete and

    accurate. Sometimes, though, I miss deadlines or spend too much time on a lesser priority task

    because of my perfectionism.

    A better approach is to identify a weakness that hindered job performance and then to explain what

    you did to correct the weakness and what you learned from the experience. You should end by giving

    an example that demonstrates you overcame the weakness and seized the opportunity to

    improve. Note: Interviewers appreciate honesty, a good balance of humility and pride, and a logical

    thought process when taking action.

    In the past I had a history of being a micro-manager. During a review, my boss raised this issue with

    me and stated that it was negatively effecting my relationships with the staff I supervised. I took a

    valuable management training class, met individually with the staff I supervised, and came up with a

    plan to identify key priorities and actions needed as well as corresponding deadlines. We worked

    together to develop these so there was buy-in at all levels. I then left them alone, other than our

  • scheduled check-ins, and made it known that I was available for support if they needed it. Although

    my team completed the work following a different process than I had envisioned, the end product was

    excellent and our working relationship much improved.

    Another option is to identify a weakness that is totally not relevant to the job at hand.

    In my last job as VP at XYX Bank, I was a valued employee who had been with the bank for 17

    years, but I consistently received poor marks during my annual reviews for my selling abilities. I am

    not good at sales, and the bank always wanted me to sell more products. In fact, that is why I am

    transitioning to a pure finance role. This job is appealing to me because I would be working with

    small businesses to support their bookkeeping needs, and this is really my sweet spot that utilizes my

    financial analysis as well as my client service skills.

  • Video and Phone Interview Tips

    Video Interviews

    There are several video conferencing software tools that companies use to conduct video interviews.

    They all work similarly. SKYPE is the most common. It is free to download and use. If you are not

    already a user, get on Skype and use it before your interview.

    Tools: skype.com,www.gotomeeting.com

    Make sure your microphone/webcam on your computer or laptop is working.

    Make sure that your internet connection is strong to avoid freezing of the video screen, dropped

    calls, etc.

    Create a professional skype username. If possible, similar to email.

    Look into the camera on your computer and not at the interviewers face, which causes you to look

    down. It is sometimes helpful to put your laptop on top of a big book like an old dictionary.

    What does your background say about you? Organized? Messy? Distracting?

    Wear solid clothing and avoid busy patterns that may distract. Choose a color that is not too bright

    but that does not blend into the background.

    Good posture is very important! Try not to fidget.

    It is also important to maintain focus and project that you are listening.

    Phone Interviews

    Challenge: because you cant see the interviewer, it is difficult to tell if he/she is engaged in what you

    are saying!

    Always answer the phone professionally. Your voicemail should have a professional message too.

    If the call is unexpected, it is OK to express appreciation for call and politely ask if you can call back.

    Treat phone interviews as you would an in-person interview: dress professionally. This will help you

    avoid coming across as too casual.

    Try standing up. You will be less nervous and will project enthusiasm.

    Only use a cell phone if you are stationary and know reception is good. Old-fashioned phones work

    great!

    Be careful to avoid cutting the person off (3 second rule).

    http://www.skype.com/en/http://www.gotomeeting.com/online/start

  • Tips for Both Phone and Video

    Smile when you speak! You will be amazed at the effect smiling has on your energy level. Your voice

    will change, and you will project yourself more strongly.

    Have a copy of your resume in front of you so you can refer to it.

    Minimize distractions. Pets? Children? Make arrangements so they are not heard or seen. Turn

    off ringers to phone, text, and instant messaging. Close windows in room to avoid outside

    distractions. Close out of windows on computer to also avoid distraction.

  • Strategies for Stay-at-Home Parents

    Reentering the Workforce

    Introduction

    Re-entering the workforce after a stint as a stay-at-home-parent can be a daunting proposition. How

    will you explain and justify to prospective employers the time you took off? How do you shake the

    creeping insecurity you might feel about the adequacy of your skills and experience for the positions

    you want. Are you really ready to enter the workforce, or are you fooling yourself and your family?

    We work with many candidates grappling with these issues. In fact, since we focus almost

    exclusively on recruiting and placing part-time business professionals, well over half of our candidates

    are Stay-at-Home-Parents transitioning back into the workforce after taking time out to care for

    family. We have seen first-hand, many who have made the transition successfully and are now

    enjoying a healthy balance of work and family. We have also witnessed, however, those who have

    awkward forays back into the workforce only to realize they were not ready.

    This article shares the lessons we have learned as well as advice from our candidates for re-entering

    the professional workplace. We hope this article helps you to market yourself in the best possible

    way, ease employer or personal apprehensions about your preparedness to enter the workforce, and

    facilitate a transition that is as smooth as possible and a win-win for both the new employee and

    employer.

    Employer Climate

    Before we begin, let us set the stage for the employer climate into which most of our candidates

    enter. The majority of our clients are small, rapidly growing businesses. They are in desperate need

    of experienced resources to support their business growth, but they have tight budgets and little time

    to train new hires. They need on-demand experts that can hit the ground running. We have found

    this client base to be open to the untapped re-entering parent talent pool, especially for part-time

    arrangements. It is a good value and fit for their business models. However, even this set of clients

    is anxious about hiring former Stay-At-Home-Parents because of long-held stereotypes and

    perceptions. They are worried the candidates will not be as committed that their families versus

    jobs are their top priority. They are worried the candidates will be inflexible and unable to roll with the

    inevitable ups and downs of the workload. They are worried that the candidates skills have gotten

    stale and that they may be out-of-touch with new business norms. Of course these are the same

    anxieties that the candidates have, so the fears feed one another.

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/employers/http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/job-seekers/resources/

  • Handling the GAP

    The gap is the time period during which you left the professional workforce and the time at which

    you are ready to re-enter. This may be one year, ten years, or much longer. You may have worked

    part-time during these years, dabbled in a new interest or occupation, volunteered your heart out,

    immersed yourself in family, or all or none of the above. From our experience, the best way to deal

    with the gap is honestly, but smartly, emphasizing any parts of the gap that are valuable to the

    prospective employer while deemphasizing those that are irrelevant to the employer.

    Resume Strategies for Handling the Gap

    Lets start with how to do this in your resume. As you assemble the parts of your resume, the general

    rule of thumb is to ask yourself, Does this experience, job, training, other endeavor, improve my

    qualifications and readiness for the job I want? If the answer is, yes, highlight it but only relative to

    the importance of your other professional experience. If the answer is, no, downplay or eliminate

    it. Here are some guidelines for how to do this in your resume. Example resumes can be found on

    our job seeker resource page.

    Start with a Profile of Summary of Qualifications

    To help the employers first impression of your resume to be your professional experience and not

    your recent gap, begin your resume with a summary statement highlighting your professional

    identify. This statement should include your primary field, level of experience, critical skills or

    expertise, and if desired, your job search objectives. For example, Registered Engineer with over

    twenty years of experience in management and planning of projects ranging from $200,000 to $13

    million, or, Seasoned results-driven marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in

    corporate, government, and non-profit environments. This section does not need a title. It should be

    centered at the top of your resume just under your name and contact information so that it is the first

    thing the employer reads on your resume. It should be no more than two or three sentences and may

    be followed with a brief bullet listing of your skills.

    If Gap Is Three Years or Less, Ignore It in Experience Section

    We have not found employers to worry too much about a two or three year gap, especially in this

    economy. Unless you have work experience during the gap that is relevant to the position you are

    pursuing, if the gap was less than three years, do not mention it. Just start the Experience section of

    your resume with your last professional job experience.

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/contact-us/

  • Include Paid Jobs in Experience Section

    If you worked a paid job during your gap, include it whether or not it is relevant to the current job or

    field you are pursuing. If it is a job that is relevant to your current field, for example if you did some

    part-time or limited independent consulting work in your field, include it in the Experience section of

    your resume and take the opportunity to highlight some specifics about the clients you worked for and

    projects on which you worked. These types of jobs can raise skepticism in employers who want to

    know, How much did she really work, was the work consistent, and was the responsibility and scope

    of work worthwhile? So make sure you craft these work experiences in a way on your resume that

    highlights specific accomplishments, job titles, and client names so the employer can get a sense of

    the substance of the work you were doing.

    If the paid job, however, was in an area different than your primary professional experience and

    different from the job or field you are pursuing, for example if you were a substitute teacher, real

    estate agent, or part-time business owner during your gap, include it chronologically in

    the Experience section of your resume, but keep the content brief, stating the position, years you held

    that position, and perhaps a brief bullet or two highlighting any significant accomplishments. These

    jobs should never outweigh the content of the jobs you held that are directly relevant to the position or

    field you are pursuing.

    Include Only Relevant, Very Substantive Jobs in Experience Section

    If you held a volunteer position during your gap and it was relevant to the current job or field you are

    pursuing, include it in theExperience section of your resume, but do not make it the focal

    point. Examples of this might be jobs you held for non-profit organizations that utilized your area of

    expertise (e.g., construction project manager, bookkeeper, legal counsel, etc.). Highlight some of the

    specific accomplishments you achieved including any measurable results.

    Put Other Volunteer Work or Pursuits in Volunteer/Community Service Section Toward End of

    Resume

    You most likely held volunteer roles and pursued other unpaid endeavors during your gap that may

    not have been relevant to the current position or field you are pursuing, but kept you busy, engaged

    and productive and made significant contributions to a community or organization. For example you

    may have chaired fundraising committees (a stay-at-home-parent staple), chaired a charity event,

    volunteered for the school library, served on the PTA, etc, etc. Volunteer work may be important to

    an employer as evidence of character traits such as resourcefulness, initiative, creativity, leadership,

    flexibility etc. Include any of these pursuits you feel exemplify your character, but put them in

    summary format near the end of your resume in a Volunteersection.

  • Include Relevant Training in Education Section

    If during your gap you took any courses that are relevant to the field you are pursuing, include them in

    the Education section of your resume.

    What NOT To Include

    Some of the biggest no-noes we have seen were entries in a resume that called attention to the gap

    in a way that tried to justify or embellish it. Whatever you do, do not try to disguise the gap with a

    cutesy name like Domestic Engineer or Head of Household or a bullet list of your domestic

    accomplishments. While this is important to you and your family, it has no relevance to the employer,

    except to distract him or her from getting to the meat of your resume which is your professional

    experience. It may be read instead as a righteous defense of your choice to stay at home which may

    put the employer on the defensive. Instead, if you feel compelled to share with a prospective

    employer the reasons for your gap and re-entry into the workforce, include the explanation in a cover

    letter, but again, try to be brief and focused on how your story is relevant to the job at hand.

    Interview Strategies for Handling the Gap

    Once you are satisfied with how your resume positions your gap, you will need to prepare for how to

    address the gap during an interview. Again, our advice is to be honest and forthcoming, but

    brief. The prospective employer is going to want to understand your motivation for taking time off as

    well as your motivation and commitment to getting back in the workforce. Look for a comfortable

    opportunity to share that with him or her during an interview in an efficient way. Do not get too

    personal or devote too much time to it, but just succinctly explain that you needed to spend more time

    to home due to childrens needs, a spouses travel or schedule, a move, etc. Do not share your

    personal views or opinions on why you think staying home is better for children or how the workplace

    should be more flexible, etc. This is not the right audience for that and it can only distract from the

    subject that is at hand which is your qualifications for the job.

    By all means, do not be apologetic about your gap either. We have had some candidates so grateful

    to be given an opportunity to get back into the workforce at a professional level that they have fallen

    all over themselves thanking the employer for the chance that they are being given. Most

    employers do not view it this way at all and would not have given you an interview if they did not think

    you had something significant to bring to the table. So dont be a charity case. Be proud of what you

    have to offer and show your gratitude to the employer through the value you will bring to their

    organization.

    One final mistake we have seen our candidates make and about which we have received negative

    feedback from our clients, is dwelling too much on personal flexibility needs (hours, vacation time,

  • etc.) early on in an interview. Even if you are applying for a part-time job, start with your credentials

    and ability to fill the position before broaching the schedule question. An employer will be a lot more

    open minded about potential flexibility needs once he or she has determined you are a strong

    candidate than before he or she knows what you have to offer. We have seen entire interviews derail

    before they even start due to a standoff about schedule.

    Conclusion

    Yes, it is true that the time you took off from your professional career track can be an obstacle in

    positioning yourself on a resume or in an interview with a prospective employer. However, if you

    think of the gap from the prospective employers mindset and ask, How does the gap affect my ability

    to do this job? you may be surprised at how you can draw nuggets of the gap to highlight as assets,

    while minimizing other aspects to not distract. Check our website out for some of our favorite

    example resumes of stay-at-home-parents who have effectively dealt with their gap.

    flexprofessionalsllc.com

    http://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/