ARTS301

Workshop Employer Engagement9th / 16th August 2013

…Don't you know, it's not easyWhen you gotta walk upon that line

That's why - You needThat's why - This is what you needI'll give you what you need

EMAIL ETIQUETTE Appling for a job

Email Communication

• Keep your emails short and to the point.

• Use short sentences.• Make sure your

grammar is correct.• Spelling must be

perfect.• Use the key words in the

ad.

Basic Rules

• Make sure your opening line is intriguing (because that is what they will see if they have Outlook Preview switched on)

• Make sure your Subject line sums up the content in your email

• Make sure that both your first and last name will be seen in the “from” line

• Include a link to your LinkedIn profile

In General

• If someone introduces you, make sure you cc them when your start the correspondence

• Be formal and respectful• Keep your emails

concise• Don’t mark your email

“high importance” or “low importance”

• If you are asked a question(s), be careful to read it carefully, and then respond directly to all question. If you don’t know the answer, acknowledge that in your response.

• If you are responding to an ad, carefully study the copy in the ad before responding. Note the key words. Use those words in your response.

• Ideally, incorporate key words relating to a job into your resume to customize it to the position

Questions

Don’t Abbreviate

• Don’t use abbreviations.

• Don’t use acronyms• Try to avoid jargon

peculiar to a specific job

• Don’t use all capital letters, or all lower case. Write in lucid sentences.

Respond Fast

• Don’t wait 24 or 48 hours to respond to a business email. Do it now.

• Don’t use emoticons or smiley faces.

• Proof read your emails before you hit “send”.

Cover Letters/Emails

• Draft your cover email in Word and the copy check it yourself.• Then get someone else to proof read it.• Make sure that it says what you want it to. • Remember that your key proposition is what you can add to their

business, not what they can do for you.

DO THE RESEARCHApplying for a job

Know About The Company

• Read their web site

• Know who owns the company

• Read any news stories about them

Know About The People

• Know who the executives are• Search for them on LinkedIn• Read their profiles

Know The Customers

YOUR RESUMECommunicating your UVP

Don’t Put Data In The Header

• Don’t use the header for your name and address.

• Don’t use tables. Keep formatting technique simple.

• Automated readers will discard that info and it will be lost.

Spelling And Punctuation

• Spelling, punctuation and grammatical mistakes tell employers that you don't pay attention to details.

• Simply running a spell checker over your resume isn't enough. You could end up with a sentence like this: "Please find the attached resume that highlights all my kills.”

No Photos In Your CV

• Unless it's specifically requested, leave out photos.

• Race, ethnicity, and age should not be taken into account and including a photo can make that harder for someone reviewing your application.

No Patterns Or Background Colour

• Submitting a resume on coloured paper is often a red flag to employers not to hire you.

• Coloured paper can make it difficult to read the text and is simply irritating. Stick with white.

Keep It Simple

• Throwing in too much information will confuse and irritate your reader.

• Not tailoring your resume to fit the position you're applying for tells the employer you're lazy and it makes it harder for them to figure out where to place you.

References

• "References available upon request" won't cut it..

• Of course you have references!

Descriptive Words

• Using buzzwords like results-oriented, team player and motivated could kill your chances.

• Steer clear of adjectives like innovative, motivated and dynamic. They have lost their impact. Focus on quantifying the contributions you have made instead.

Public Not Personal

• Hobbies that are not reflective of an “achievement oriented” person may make you appear “different” rather than well-rounded.

• Charities you support or membership in a professional association are better

• Paragraphs with long sentences are a pain to read.

• Maximum of 3 to 4 bullets per job that you have done.

Layout And Design

Play It Safe

• Using an unprofessional email address is unhelpful.

• Humorous email addresses might be fine for personal correspondence, but not when applying for a job.

Contact Info

• Don’t forget your contact information.

• Include phone number and current address.

Triple Check The Copy

• Nothing sends a resume to the shredder faster than addressing it to the wrong company.

• Make sure you address your CV to the right company.

Accomplishments Not Responsibilities

• Mistaking responsibilities for accomplishments will greatly reduce the impact of your resume.

• If you want attention, explain how you brought value to the company you worked for - not that you did your job.

If You Apply But Don’t Hear Back

• Don’t take it personally! • They are not being rude…• This is not a failure on your part. • It is just that they are too busy and perhaps

you just aren’t important enough.

REASONS YOU DON’T HEAR BACKAfter you apply

#1 You aren’t qualified.

• If a job description specifies 3-5 years of experience and you’re a recent graduate with one internship, you probably won’t get a call.

• To avoid disappointment – don’t apply for jobs where you aren’t qualified.

• Paradoxically, bob descriptions are written with the optimum person in mind with a view to getting people who aspire to do the job.

#2 You Haven’t Keyword-optimized Your Resume Or Application.

• Job descriptions are ‘salted’ with keywords specific to a set of skills the company seeks.

• A close read of the job description is a necessity, and then keyword-optimizing your CV and your cover email.

• If the job description lists words in a certain order, use the same order in your resume. (Do the research!)

#3 Your Resume Isn’t Formatted Properly.

• Distinctive formatting will set your resume apart, but if its too different automated programs won’t be able to interpret.

• Be consistent in formatting – use separate lines for former employer, job title, and years worked.

#4 Your Resume Is Substantially Different From Your Online Profile.

• It‘s important to make sure your LinkedIn profile matches what’s on your CV.

• Jobs worked, employers, years on the job and other details must be congruent.

• Always tell the truth.• LinkedIn will help your keyword optimization

#5 You Weren’t Fast Enough To Apply

• Looking for a job is a job. • Do your research – look for companies you want to

work for, where you feel that you will fit with the culture.

• Getting your application and CV in early really matters.

• Don’t be afraid to call after a few days to make sure that they received your CV and your cover email.

• Check whether the job listing has changed. Companies sometimes change a job description after initial posting

AUTOMATION IN HRComputer tools work for them as well as for you.

Automation

SOME THINGS NOT TO DOGoing to an interview

Don’t Arrive Too Early

• 5 minutes early is more than enough.• That doesn't mean you should be late,

however.

Don’t Bring A Takeaway Drink

• Don't bring a cup of takeaway coffee to the interview.

Don’t Fidget

• Don't touch your face or twirl your hair during the interview.

Don’t Wait

• Don’t wait more than 24 hours after the interview to write a ‘thank you’ note.

• Be short and sweet, but specific.

Don’t Say You Don’t Have Time…

• If you are asked to take a test after the meeting, take it.

• No matter what else you have to do, if you say no or prevaricate, you will have lost the job.

Don’t Talk About Family

• Don't talk about how successful your brother, mother, father is.

• Its not relevant to the here and now of you and the job in question.

Grooming

• Don't arrive with wet hair. • Don’t arrive in an unironed shirt. • Don’t arrive without a printed copy of your CV

and a portfolio of any relevant work that will show what you are capable of

• Don’t have bad breath

Don’t Be Lost

• Don’t say "I still haven’t figured out what I want to do yet.”

• You may not have figured out what you want to do, but if you want the job, then this is exactly what you want to do at this precise moment in time.

Don’t Flatter

• Don't tell the person who is interviewing you how great their company is.

• How could you know until you have worked there?

Don’t Be Obvious

• When you are asked what websites and publications you read, don’t say the obvious.

• Be creative. • Think out of the box.

Don’t Ask The Hours

• It makes it sound like you'll be clocking in and out.

• There's a better way of putting it: "What's a typical day like at this company?”

Don’t Criticize

• Don’t criticize the other candidates• Don’t be negative about past employers

Don’t Miss The Target

• If you’re interviewing for an job at a newspaper, don’t talk about your lifelong goal to be a dress designer or a sportsman.

• Don’t talk about how traditional media is dying…

Don’t Go Without Doing Research

• Spend time looking around the company website. • Interviewers will ask you what your impressions

are of the company and will expect you to have some knowledge.

Don’t Say You Have No Questions

• You have to at least ask ONE question, and it should be reasonably specific

• It should be about the business, and not about the social activities of the employees…

• And don’t ask personal questions of the interviewer…

• And don’t ask about career advancement within the company. That is a given…

AT THE INTERVIEWGoing to the interview

Eye Contact• How do you get the balance

between looking shifty and looking like you’re about to challenge your interviewer to a duel?

• “If you have an interview with somebody for 40 minutes, and you leave and don’t know what colour their eyes are, you haven’t maintained good eye contact. You want to really look at them and connect, but you’re also going to look away some of the time.”

Eye Rolling

• Eye contact can be good or bad, depending on how long you maintain it, but rolling your eyes is never a good idea.

• Sometimes people roll their eyes when they disagree with someone or when they think the other person has said something stupid. Become cognizant of what you’re doing so that you don’t offend your interviewer.

Posture

• During an interview, sit up straight.

• By doing this, you show that you’re interested in the conversation you’re having with your prospective employer.

Handshake

• Your handshake can either leave an employer with a good or bad impression of you, depending on how you do it. “You don’t want to break bones, but a firm shake conveys a more positive attitude than a limp wrist,”

Tapping

• You may not do it on purpose, but if you’re tapping your fingers or toes during your interview, a potential employer may get the impression that you’re agitated or that you have something better to do.

Your Voice

• The way you say things will tell a potential employer a lot about you.

• If the tone or pitch of your voice is flat, your interviewer will believe that you’re not really interested in the job – no matter what words you use to convey otherwise.

• Also, using words such as “like,” “um” and “ah” – will tell an interviewer that you’re not confident or did not adequately prepare for the interview.

Becoming Self Aware

• Videotape yourself. • If you videotape

yourself during a mock job interview, it will become clear to you what nonverbal ticks that you have.

Peer Review

• Work with a friend. • By having mock interviews with a friend, you

will have feedback from someone you trust who can tell you what kind of impression that you’re giving off – and what nonverbal cues may turn a hiring manager off.

Get Feedback

• Call the one that got away. • Call people you interviewed with even when

you didn’t land the job. That person will have insight into your performance and by making calls of this kind you will conquer all fears .

• Remember its not personal. Its just business.