Job Seekers

Are You Facing an Internal Job Interview?

Raza Rauf on April 27, 2015

Interviewing for a job can be very stressful. Combine that with the fact that you might already know the interviewer, and the stress level can be extreme. An internal job interview with someone you have worked alongside – or for – over the past handful of years can be daunting. The interviewer already knows your work ethic, your experience and how you fit into the company’s culture. These items can either work for or against you. Below, we will provide you with the tips on how to handle an internal job interview.

Never Take the Interview Too Casually

An important piece of advice for those taking part in an internal interview is that it should never be taken lightly. Just because you know the interviewer, or have worked alongside them in your position, it does not mean you should joke around or be unprofessional. If the interviewer seems relaxed, you can relax too, but only to a point.

Do not slouch in the chair, fail to shave that morning or come unprepared to discuss the job. Make sure you perform your research into the job, have a copy of your resume, and come prepared to provide examples of success from your career with the company.

Avoid Negatives and Complaining

It is an important tip to avoid complaining during a job interview, but this is especially important when interviewing for an internal position with your current employer. Even though you might be interviewed by a co-worker or a supervisor from another department, you should never complain about the company, your current supervisor or any co-workers. This will only come back to bite you, and could lead to you not being promoted. If you feel the need to complain, spin it into a positive by making sure you name something you and your co-workers could do better in order to be more productive while on the job.

Prepare for Difficult Questions

As with any job interview, there will be difficult questions. But, some of the most difficult questions can be asked during an internal job interview. When you first interviewed to work at the company, your resume and career goals were much different. Make sure you update your resume and be able to explain what your career goals are now. Prepare to answer questions about shifting job responsibilities and objectives, especially if they will be a major change from what you are doing right now.

Check Your Skills

Prior to the internal job interview, make sure you check your skills. Perform a skills retrospective to determine which skills you already have and which ones you will need for the new job, if hired. Try to acquire some of those new skills prior to the interview, or even during the hiring process, to show the company how dedicated you are. Back up your claims with actual projects you’ve worked on, certifications you’ve earned, and a good word from your current supervisor.

When you follow the above tips, you will be able to confidently handle the internal interview and land a new career to climb the corporate ladder.

5 Tips for Successfully Re-Entering the Workforce

Raza Rauf on April 20, 2015

Beginning a job hunt after a long period of time can be intimidating and full of trepidation for anyone, particularly if you were unemployed during this gap. Gaps in employment can occur because of company layoffs, returning to school, raising a family, extended illness, or simply wanting to take time off from work. No matter the reason for the gap, you need to be ready to re-enter in order to be successful in any new career. Read this post to find five tips to make your re-entry into the working world successful.

Assess Yourself Prior to a Job SearchThe first tip to successfully re-entering the workforce is to assess yourself – before you ever begin your job search. Figure out how big the gap in your employment is on your resume, and be prepared to explain that gap to interviewers. Also, take a look at the skills you have related to your profession and figure out if any of them need to be refreshed or if you need to add any new ones before you begin looking for a new job. Learn new skills by taking temp assignments in your area of expertise.

Learn the Industry AgainThe second tip for successfully re-entering the workforce after a gap in employment is to learn the industry again. Even though you might have known some of the major players in the industry when working, it is likely that many of those players are no longer around. They could have retired, relocated or left the industry for another profession. You should take the time to learn who the players are within the industry by browsing around LinkedIn and joining groups associated with your industry.

Familiarize Yourself with Job RequirementsFamiliarize yourself with the specific job requirements of any company you apply to. If you have been out of the workforce for a prolonged period, you might not know what companies are looking for these days. The only way you can find out prior to applying for jobs is by reading as many job listings as possible, and taking note of the requirements of those jobs. Ask your temporary staffing representative to fill you in about any special requirements or skills needed for an upcoming assignment.

Accept Feedback and Use ItOnce you begin the job search, following a prolonged absence from the workforce, make sure you accept any and all feedback provided – and use it to your advantage. If you are not selected for a job, ask the interviewer what items from your job history or experience caused you to miss this opportunity. If the interviewer gives you a candid answer, be sure to take what they say and use it to better yourself.

Consider a Need for ChangeThe fifth and final tip for successfully re-entering the workforce is to consider change. If you are hitting a brick wall or find yourself at a dead-end, consider making a change in your career. Whether you need to go back to school to do so, or take a couple of training classes, a change is likely to help you get back to work much quicker than if you toil around unsuccessfully in your former industry. You may also want to take on some temporary work in order to get your feet wet in a career.

Re-entering the workforce does not come easy for everyone, which is why you need to have a plan in place to make sure it is as successful as possible. If you follow the five tips outlined above, your foray back into the workforce should be a seamless one.

Gap in Your Resume? How to Make it No Big Deal!

Raza Rauf on April 3, 2015

Trying to find a new job can be difficult, but it can be even more stressful if you have a glaring gap in employment appearing on your resume. This gap could have occurred due to a period of unemployment, the choice of returning to school, taking time off to raise a family, dealing with an illness, or any number of other reasons.

In the recruitment world, a large gap on a resume is defined as anything that is six months to one year or longer. So, how do you turn the gap in your resume into a nonissue? Read this post to find out what to do about it.

Explain the Gap Briefly

Instead of putting a sentence or two at the top or bottom of your resume, put them right where the gap actually occurs. This will ensure that the employer sees it. You do not have to go into too much detail, but make sure you tell the employer the reason why there is a gap.

Utilize a Powerful Cover Letter

Avoid going into too much detail, but make sure there is some sort of understandable explanation provided for why you have the gap in employment. Then, if the employer calls you to schedule an interview, or ask questions, you can tell them more if it warrants.

Edit the Dates on Your Resume

You can edit all of the dates of employment on your resume so that they do not show the months employed, only the years. For example, change all of your jobs listed so they look like the following:

Customer Service Attendant: 2010-2012
Sales Rep: 2012-2015

There might have been a large gap of unemployment between the two jobs, but potential employers won’t notice it because everything flows. When being interviewed, you can explain that there was a tiny gap and then give the reason for it.

Include Temporary Employment

Even if you work in communications, but have to work in retail to pay the bills between career jobs, make sure you put temporary employment on your resume. It shows the employer that you worked hard to make ends meet while searching for a new job within your field of expertise.

Gaps in a resume do not have to hinder your job search. Use one or more of the tips outlined above and you can downplay those gaps easily.

Using a Career Mentor to Get Ahead at Work

Raza Rauf on March 27, 2015

An excellent way to get ahead at work is by identifying a career mentor early on in your career development. A career mentor is someone who works in the same or similar profession as you and who has years of experience in the industry. This person either works at your company or within your industry. They can be a co-worker, a former supervisor, a former professor, a hired career coach, or even a family friend who works the same type of career as you. In this week’s focus, we will discuss how to effectively use a career mentor to get ahead at work.

Create Your Definition of Success

One of the first steps in using a career mentor to get ahead at work is to create your definition of success. You will only succeed at work when you have your own definition of success and do not follow someone else’s definition. Your definition will include ideas about money, work-life balance, company culture, recognition for work performed and control over your creative juices. You need to decide which of these areas are most important to you because not everyone will succeed in all of them.

Identify the Mentor’s Problems

The second step after choosing a mentor and creating a definition of success is to identify the mentor’s problems. No one is perfect and this goes for your mentor too. You need to figure out what your mentor’s shortfalls are by befriending their critics. When you befriend their critics, you will be able to learn what it is they need to work on in order to be more successful in their careers. If you can learn their shortfalls early in your career, you can do your best to avoid them at all costs.

Strive to Be as Good as Your Mentor

Another important tip to using a career mentor to get ahead at work is to strive to be as good as they are, but not identical to them. Do not try to become this person in all aspects of life. Only work your hardest to be as good as the mentor while on the job. This will help you perform well and impress your employer so your career can catapult to a new level.

Switch Activities You and Your Mentor Perform

Make sure the activities you and your mentor take part in vary as much as possible. You do not want to get into a set routine with a mentor because this will not benefit your career at all. Consider having discussions with your mentor about past experiences, issues at work, how to impress clients and much more. You can also review resumes, cover letters and articles written about the job.

Do your best to find a mentor who is truly dedicated to helping you succeed in your career. When you do so, be sure to express your gratitude towards them and never take advantage of their time.

Your Total Resume Overhaul Made Simple!

Raza Rauf on February 24, 2015

It is a good idea to perform a total resume overhaul every couple of years whether or not you are looking for a new job. The reason for overhauling your resume is to improve it and make it more attractive to potential employers. Another reason is the fact that the items that should be included on a resume can change quite often. Here’s how to give your resume a do-over without being too complicated.

Examine Resume Above the Fold

Even though most job applications are completed online, you should still perform the resume fold test. Print out a copy of your resume, fold it in half and then examine the resume prior to the fold. The area above the fold, or the top third of the resume, will be what the employer sees first when opening the document you send them digitally. You need to make sure that this portion of the resume sells you as an employee.

Submit Resume to an Unknown

An excellent way to perform a total overhaul is to give your resume to a qualified career coach or a career counselor at your university. This means that they do not know your personal work history or anything else about your life. Have them look at the resume for only 30 seconds. Once the 30 seconds are up, ask the person three things they remember from the resume and what type of story it tells readers. Take their feedback and use it to update the document.

Edit the Header Section

The header of your resume can make the document stand out from the rest of the pack when put in front of employers. If you are not a design expert, you can still make this happen. Simply change the font, size and color of the print of your name at the top. If you do this on your resume, make sure you match it on your cover letter in an effort to have your personal brand match.

Add All Types of Experience

If you feel your resume is lacking in substance, there is nothing wrong with adding all types of experience to it. This includes any part-time work, volunteer work, or even blogging you have done on the side. Any experience is an important one, so make sure you include it if your resume is lacking in substance.

Quantify Your Accomplishments

Make it a point to quantify as many of your accomplishments as possible when overhauling your resume. You need to tell employers how many people were impacted by your success or by how much of a percentage you exceeded your sales goals last quarter.

The next time you sit down to overhaul your resume, follow the tips outlined in this post to help make the process as simple as possible.

How to Address Resume Gaps in an Interview

Raza Rauf on February 20, 2015

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for candidates to walk in for an interview presenting several resume gaps in their employment history. The recession took a toll on many good people, who lost their jobs and then spent months or even years trying to find gainful employment. Some headed back to college and lived at home with parents or other family members while trying to get back on their feet. It’s also possible that candidate resume gaps come from brief periods of being stay-at-home parents or when caring for family members.

Whatever the case may be, if you are a candidate facing an interview and need to explain resume gaps, this article will guide you in this process.

Focus on a Functional Resume Format

Instead of creating a resume that shows the chronological order of all your jobs by month and date (calls out your resume gaps more), try a functional resume format that highlights your skills and talents instead. Use your resume to develop a smart-looking career history that’s focused on career achievements and how you’ve used your amazing array of skills, education, and knowledge to progress. If the resume gap is brought up in the interview by the interviewer, you can talk about it then.

Be Honest and Upfront About Resume Gaps

Believe it or not, human resource and recruitment professionals are people too. They appreciate honesty from candidates. Don’t try to cover up lags between jobs, fake employment dates or lie about resume gaps. They will be discovered sooner or later. Instead, just simply include a reason for these gaps on your resume and on applications. If you were laid off or if a company closed down, let the recruiter know.

Indicate What You Were Doing During Resume Gaps

Make sure you provide some indication of what career efforts you were engaged in during resume gaps. For example, if you were attending classes through your local workforce development office, state this so that the recruiter knows you were actively working towards employment. Talk about any volunteer, educational, and other worthy pursuits you were participating in during these gaps in employment.

Get Your Reference Letters in Order

While you are preparing for your interview, be sure to reach out to all your previous employers and get those reference letters written up. Even if you have to write them yourself, take them there, and get a former supervisor or colleague to sign them. This will help you to demonstrate your value to the interviewer and remove the emphasis off your resume gaps.

Once you have done these things, you should be more confident about sitting in front of a potential employer. Work with a staffing agency to find ways to work on temporary assignments while you are looking for a long-term career. Who knows? You may even land a great job sooner than you can imagine and not have to talk a lot about resume gaps in the future if you go this route.

Want to Be Successful in Your Career? Here’s How!

Raza Rauf on February 13, 2015

It’s a given; everyone wants to find their way to success in a career. Yet, the pathways to success often takes its own twists and turns along the way. It seems that some people get luckier in their careers than others. Some just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Some work harder to achieve success, while others seem to have it handed to them.

The truth is that anyone can achieve a successful career if they are smart, hard working, and strategic. Here, you will find sound advice on how to experience career success of your own.

#1 – Understand your true talents as soon as possible.

Take the time to get to know your unique talents and gifts early in life. To do this, take advantage of personality and career assessments, often offered by staffing agencies, college career advisors, and career coaches. You can also take one for free online at Career Test. Uncover what strengths and weaknesses you have, then design a career around these factors so you will achieve more success in any job you take on.

#2 – Grow a strong professional network around you.

As the old saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know that matters.” Get busy and start developing a foundation for career success by connecting with the right people in your field of interest. Join professional industry groups and attend local chapter meetings. Get online and participate in social networking and online industry forums to find mentors in your industry.

#3 – Register with a solid staffing agency now.

As soon as possible, head to the best staffing agency in your area and get registered as a candidate. You will give yourself two distinct advantages. First, you will eligible for assignments that frequently come only through staffing agencies. Second, you will be able to take advantage of all the benefits of working with the capable recruiters at the staffing agency, such as interview prep and resume reviews.

#4 – Be a lifelong learner.

The most successful people in the world never stop learning. From job skills to education and industry certifications, make sure you always keep learning something new that you can put to use in your career. Employers often support this effort, so be sure to ask about educational assistance.

#5 – Stay healthy in your lifestyle.

The quickest way to burn out in a career is to endure ongoing stress and have not outlet, which can cause health issues that can prevent you from achieving success. Instead, find ways to reduce stress and stay healthy. Make clean eating and exercise a part of your daily life at work and at home.

By following the above tips, you can be successful in your career, and your life in general. Focus on the things that matter the most, and leverage your skills and knowledge to land a rewarding career.

Can LinkedIn Recommendations Help You Land a Job?

Raza Rauf on February 6, 2015

Millions of people are on LinkedIn these days in an effort to improve their reach within their industry and to find a new job in Sylvania OH. The best way to do this is by having a complete profile, which means that it must include recommendations from previous employers, co-workers, mentors or college professors. Recommendations from those who know you best will help you land a job.

Find out how to leverage LinkedIn to land a job sooner, with these tips below:

Identify Your People Who are the Best Fit to Recommend You

The first step in landing a job via a LinkedIn recommendation is by identifying the people within your network who are best fit to recommend you. Instead of sending out a mass email to the hundreds of people in your network, identify who knows you best from college, a previous job or a current job. Send out five recommendation requests per week until you receive a set number of recommendations you think is best for your profile.

Recommend First, Then Ask

Instead of directly asking a connection to recommend you, consider recommending them first. They will either reciprocate without having to be asked or will kindly write you a recommendation after you nudge them just a little bit. It is never a good idea to ask for a recommendation without offering something in return first.

Create a List of Accomplishments

Make sure your LinkedIn profile features the best accomplishments from your entire career. When you put all of this on one list you will make it easier for those recommending you to write their letter. It will not be generic or boring. Instead, it will be specific to your career and the accomplishments achieved with those who recommended you. Use the space near the top part of your profile page to include your best features and accomplishments.

Request Recommendations Early

It is a good idea to request the recommendation while still employed with a company that also employs your endorser or to do so not long after you have left that company. This will ensure that the endorser does not forget who you are or what it is you did for the company while employed. If the endorser does not respond right away, do not worry as everyone is busy. Wait a week or so and ask again, but this time send a personal email request or make a quick phone call.

Tell Endorsers What to Write

Many times, a connection wants to recommend someone on LinkedIn, but does not know how to ask or what to write. This is not a problem. Ask that person for the recommendation and then tell them what it is they should say. Many endorsers will ask what to say, whether it is the generic “He performed well,” or will ask if they should be very specific with the letter.

The bottom line here is that LinkedIn recommendations can go a long way towards helping you land a job in Sylvania OH or a new client. It is best to have at least one per client or employer that is featured on your profile.

How to Create a Cover Letter – Free Template

Raza Rauf on January 27, 2015

Many people dread writing a cover letter when they begin a job search. What makes them stress even more is the fact that different cover letters should be written for every single job applied for, no matter the similarities between them. With 2015 in full swing, it is time to revamp the cover letter sent to prospective employers. Here, we will discuss the best ways to create a cover letter and provide you with a free cover letter template for reference.

Use the Opening to Your Advantage

The opening of your cover letter is the most important part because hiring managers typically have time to scan for roughly 20 seconds due to their busy schedules. You need to make as much of an impression as possible right off the bat. If you know a little bit about writing for the web, use that knowledge when writing your cover letter. You need to make an impression within the first 20 seconds worth of content.

Follow All Instructions!

As you read a job application, make sure you follow all of the instructions to the letter. If the employer directs you to write something specific in your email subject line or in the body of your cover letter, be sure you do it, or you will not receive a return call or email. Hiring managers do this as a simple test to see if applicants can follow easy instructions. If they cannot, then what is the use in scheduling them for an interview?

Always Provide Contact Info

No matter how many different cover letters you write, all of them must include your contact information. Your cover letter might be the best one a company has read in a long time, but if you do not give them all of your contact info, they will not be able to schedule an interview. Tell them exactly how to contact you in the cover letter. Whether this is via phone or email and the time of day that is best to reach you.

Proofread the Cover Letter

It is very important to proofread your cover letter prior to hitting send on an email or online application. Hiring managers do not want to have to figure out what it is you are trying to say in your cover letter because of too many typos or grammar mistakes. Your enthusiasm for the job must also shine through in your cover letter so the hiring manager knows how interested you are in the job.

Avoid Desperation

Do your best to avoid coming across as desperate in your cover letter. Even if you have been searching for a job for months on end, desperation should never show in your words. This will scare the employer as they wonder why you have had so much difficulty finding a job.

The cover letter is just as, if not more important, than your resume and portfolio. This is the first line of attack when trying to land a new job. So, be sure it sparkles as much as possible.

Download a FREE COVER LETTER TEMPLATE here (Microsoft Office).

3 Job Search Tips Manufacturing Candidates Need to Know

Raza Rauf on January 20, 2015

Searching for a job has always been difficult, but with social media, networking and references, finding that perfect job gets a little bit easier. Working in the manufacturing field is a calling for most employees, so when it comes time to find a new job within the industry, you need to know the best ways to go about the search.

Here, we will discuss the top three job search tips manufacturing candidates need to know to be successful.

List Target Companies

One of the first things you must do in order to be successful is create a list of target companies in the areas you live. When you take time out of your day to research some of the best companies in the manufacturing industry, you will be able to pick which ones you like the most and which ones you should not waste your time with when sending in applications.

Your list needs to be based on where it is geographically you would like to work, at what level within the company and what type of culture you would like to be a part of if hired. You can build this list based on information found on the company websites, by talking to people who work at those companies and by asking for an informational interview.

Talk to Those Who Have Been There

The second job tip for those searching for a job in manufacturing is to speak with people who have worked in the position in the past. These people will be able to tell you everything they liked and disliked about both the job and the company.

This type of research is invaluable because you will be able to find out what a typical day would be like on the job, what type of tasks would need to be completed and how management handles itself when it comes to dealing with subordinates.

Learn the Company

The third tip on our list is to learn the company. There are multiple ways to make this happen, including scheduling an informational interview, browsing their corporate website, talking to former employees, following the company on multiple social networks and attend any career events the company hosts.

The more you learn about the company, the easier it will be to decide if you want to submit an application with them or not. It will also make it easier if you receive multiple job offers from different companies to make a decision.

Finding the right job in the manufacturing industry does not have to be difficult. You can make it as easy as possible by implementing all three of the tips outlined in this post. One final tip: never ask for a job when on an informational interview with a company.

Advance Staffing Solutions has a wide range of temp to hire, part time and fill time jobs with manufacturing companies hiring in Monroe MI, Southgate MI, and Sylvania OH. We encourage you to check out our recently added jobs and submit your qualifications for consideration.

How “Thank You” Notes Could Hinder Your Interview Process

Raza Rauf on January 13, 2015

We have all heard the saying, “It can’t hurt,” when it comes to applying for a job. There is no harm in submitting a cover letter with a resume, connecting with the interviewer on LinkedIn or even sending a “thank you” letter. But, before you make a mistake, you need to know that sending a thank you letter can actually harm your chances at receiving an offer of employment.

But, you’ll want to pay attention because in today’s post, we will discuss how a thank you note can actually hurt your job search.

Sending it Too Late

There is nothing worse than sending a thank you note to the interviewer well after the interview actually took place. Waiting until a week later to send the note shows the interviewer that it was an after-thought and that you are not interested in the position. It is best to send the note the same day of the interview or no later than 48 hours afterwards.

Full of Typos

If your thank you note is littered with typos or poor grammar, then you will have no shot at receiving an offer of employment. You might still get a second interview, especially if it was scheduled prior to the note arriving, but you probably will not make it further than round two. Since you likely had someone proofread your resume and cover letter, it is a good idea to do the same with the thank you letter. It will take two minutes and can save you from embarrassment.

Generic Messages

If you are going to send a thank you note, make sure it is not a generic one. This will hurt your chances of finding a job. You must personalize every single thank you note you write following a job interview, no matter how many people you met during the process. Scribbling five generic notes shows that you did not take the time to write these notes. Instead, personalize each note using something you learned from each person when you interviewed.

Inappropriate Content

It is never a good idea to include any type of inappropriate content in the thank you note, no matter how confident you are that you nailed the interview. Do not get chummy with the reader of the note or use first names. Also avoid any use of foul language. This really should not be an issue, but it still needs to be said.

Too Much Information

When a job candidate uses the thank you note to brag about him or herself even more, it can hurt their chances at securing the job. Never use the thank you note to conduct a second interview. The note should be short, sweet and to the point. Do not ramble on and take up the entire page. Do not even consider mentioning something you forgot to discuss in the interview when writing the thank you note. Stay away from it at all costs.

Take these items into consideration the next time you sit down to write a thank you note following a job interview and you should be able to secure an offer of employment.

Kick 2015 Off Right — With 6 Job Hunting Tips

Raza Rauf on January 6, 2015

A New Year might mean a new job for some folks who are looking for upward mobility. Whether you are preparing to enter the workforce after winter graduation, looking to switch careers or trying to find employment after a long layoff; you will want to have a strong job search in place. In today’s post, we will discuss six important job hunting tips for those who want to kick 2015 off right.

#1 Expand Your Network

One of the most important things you can do in 2015 when looking for a job is to expand your network. A professional network is one of the best ways to find a new job, or a lead, which is why you need to expand it as much as possible. Connect with more people on LinkedIn, attend career fairs and attend conferences within your industry to meet new people.

#2 Have a Plan in Place

Another tip for searching for a new job in 2015 is to have a plan in place. You should never search for a job without a goal or a plan. Set aside time each day to send out resumes and have a weekly quota for how many you want to submit to potential employers. Edit your cover letter for each job so that it is addressed to the hiring manager for that job.

#3 Learn New Skills

It might be a good idea to learn a new skill or two in 2015 if you want to find a new job. Adding to your current pool of skills will only improve your chances of landing a job. The more skills you have, the more appealing you will be to employers. Whether you enroll in courses at a college campus or take an online training program, consider adding a new skill to your repertoire to improve your job search.

#4 Keep LinkedIn Profile Current

Even if you are unemployed, you need to keep your LinkedIn profile current. Post relevant content to your LinkedIn profile that asserts your knowledge within your industry. The content should be articles and videos and they need to include pertinent information. You should also use keywords within your LinkedIn profile that can get it noticed by potential employers.

#5 Work Temp Jobs

Another important job hunting tip for 2015 is to work temporary jobs while in-between full-time jobs. Temporary jobs are a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and expand your network. Temporary jobs could also turn into full-time work with the same company. You might also meet someone who might hire you at their new place of employment down the road.

#6 Make Applications Personal

When you are applying for a job, make sure it is personal. Find out the name of the hiring manager or department head and address the message to that person. Write the message as if you are speaking to them on the phone, not like you are form-filling hundreds of resumes for the sake of doing so.

To be successful in your job hunt in 2015, it will take a lot of work. Make sure you follow the tips outlined in this post so you are offered employment. And if you need more help in your hunt for a new job this year, contact Advance Staffing Solutions today!