5 Ways to Increase Your Chances of getting Hired Building Your Future Now

5 Ways to Increase Your Chances of getting Hired Building Your Future Now Every job seeker wants to find an edge when it comes to landing a job. Even if the job market is good, its still sometimes a struggle to get a job. So, how are you doing in your job search? If you arent having success try these 5 ways to increase your chances of getting hired: 1.Following-up Have you tried following up with companies that you have applied to? If not, try calling or emailing a hiring manager. Be polite and focus on the following-up part rather than if you got the job! You never knowit can be a simple thank-you as a follow-up call or email that can land you the jobit shows you are proactive and also you become instantly top-of-mind when you reach out. 2.Meeting employeers directly If the job posting says you are not allowed to call etc then be respectful and dont do it. If it says nothing about visiting the employer then try it! Go by when its a little less busy and connect with a hiring manager. Chat with them if you can and ask questions about company and various roles. Questions are always good! Drop off your resume if possible and remember to follow up. 3.Acquiring more experience One of the biggest barriers to getting a good job is the experience factor. Employers will tell you that they may be looking for a more experienced candidate. However, this is your chance to ask them: what kind of experience are they looking for? This can help you greatly when you apply for the next job. 4.Referrals Friends. Co-workers. And family. Are all people that can help you find you a job through referral. This can land you a job in no time, but be weary: you have to work harder and more efficient then you ever did before because of being referred! You definitely dont want to look bad for the person who referred you. 5.Internships This isnt really a quick way to get a job but it will increase your chances of showcasing your talent and skills in a work environment! Internships range in complexity and length so be sure you know what you are committing to! Also, sometimes internships are harder to get then a job simply because of the nature of an industry or job role. Image: Free Photos

Resume Companies That Can Help You With Your Resume

Resume Companies That Can Help You With Your ResumeThere are a lot of resume companies out there that offer different and sometimes conflicting advice on how to make a great resume. While these companies want you to hire them, it is very hard to know which ones are reputable. You want to find a company that can guide you through the writing process and help you create a great resume that will land you interviews and job offers. Here are some tips on how to choose a legitimate resume company.The first thing you should do is look online for samples of the resumes they are currently doing. By using the free online resume templates you can see the quality of their work before you pay anything. It will also give you an idea on what they charge per job. Look at as many as you can in order to be sure you find the best fit for your job search.Your resume should be very easy to read and easy to understand. One way to accomplish this is to use bullet points and highlight any sections that are in order or tell a story. It is also helpful to include statistics and key facts if possible.Many people who need a job to try to hide their skill sets because they are afraid they won't get a call back. If your resume looks like a disorganized mess you are going to have a harder time convincing a company that you are qualified. Use bullet points and format your resume correctly so that it looks professional.The next section you should look at is the summary paragraph. This section can either be very long or short depending on the type of position you are applying for. By including a summary of your experience you will give a potential employer a clear idea of what kind of person you are.It is important to know the difference between a resume cover letter and resume. A cover letter is a one page letter that goes along with your resume and tells the hiring manager about you and your qualifications. The resume is an entirely different document that is used to present your skills and a bilities to the hiring manager.Finally, make sure that you follow the instructions included in the resume that you are filling out. You will be charged for the services provided by a resume company, but not if you follow the instructions correctly. Always look over your resume to make sure that it is very accurate and clearly outlines the skills you have for the job.If you follow these tips you should be able to find a company that will help you with your resume writing. While it is important to do your research and find a reputable company, it is equally important to hire a company that knows what they are doing. Don't settle for just anyone, keep your eyes open for resume companies that offer free sample resumes that can guide you through the process of creating a great resume.

First, be honest about what you want

First, be honest about what you want Someone once asked me to think of a moment in my childhood that was really nice. I thought of one. Wait. You think of one, now. Quick. Just any one So I thought of a time: it was in my grandparents huge yard with fruit trees and flower gardens and grass for running. And it was so peaceful. What you remember as really nice tells you something about where you belong. Whatever you thought of, learn something from that. Where I belong is in nature. And in quiet. When I lived in New York City, I spent most of my time in Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Most people who live in New York City say they spend a lot of time in Central Park. I almost lived there. I thought I would die if I didnt go there each day. (Wait. Heres a test to see if you belong in New York City. I definitely dont.) When I drove up to the farm, the first time, I knew I belonged there. I think I fell in love with the farmer that second. And I saw my whole life as the process of coming to grips with the fact that I am not as fast and cool and cutting edge as I wish I were. I do not belong in a city. So youd think, now that Im marrying the farmer, Id finally get my farm. But I dont. Farm land is not like any other possession in the world. Laws of marriage and property and value do not apply. We went to a lawyer to get a prenuptial agreement, and it turns out that its not marital property. Instead, its everyones security, and everyones life long dream, and everyones connection to the earth. So maybe I will not get to live on this farm. Its ironic, because when the farmer first started seeing me, he wouldnt really do it unless I agreed that I could come live on the farm. And I said yes, I could, way before I really thought I could, because I wanted to be with him so badly. Now I love the farm. But maybe, the farmer will have to buy different land. Its not clear. Surely, I will love whatever land we live on, because it will always be a farm. But I really love this farm. Its where I fell in love with the farmer, and the country, and where my kids looked happier than they have been in years. Ive never posted a photo of the farm because I am scared to want it. Im scared to want to live there because I cant really control if I live there. Its between the farmer and his parents. But today, Im posting a picture. Because part of coping with adult life is allowing yourself to want something even if you are not sure youll get it. So many of the questions I get from people are questions they answer themselves, in the very email where they ask the question. They ask if its okay to want what they want because theyre so scared to want it: A book, a blog, a job change, lots of money, less money. Its scary to want things in life. But if you dont know what you want, you cant even know which way to move. The trick is to admit what we want, even if we are scared we wont get it. We can only be who we are. And if we are disappointed, later on, well. I guess thats just part of being a grown up and knowing what we want. So. This is what I want. To live here, on this farm.

A little less conversation, a little more action

A little less conversation, a little more action We spend more time choosing an outfit/booking a holiday/planning our weekend than we do thinking about a career. Heard this before? Well, it certainly holds true for some people, but there are plenty more who dwell on the planning stage to such a degree that they fail to actually do anything.  At some point, you have to stop thinking and start acting. Easier said that done, right? After all, we careers folk are quite keen to spread the gospel of research. Youll hear it, read it, see it everywhere you look. Research the sector, company, role, people, press releases.  And its good advice you cant make a decision without information. But the point comes when youve spent so many hours pouring over careers information (there is a LOT of it),  going to events, scanning job portals and just, well, researching that you wind up even more confused and indecisive. Before you know it inertia has set in. Stop thinking there is the perfect job This is what I call the soul mate  illusion.  We create this idea of perfection in one part of our life and think we can apply it to all. The right job/boy/girl/house/car. In reality, there are likely to be  many suitable partners, just as there are jobs. Dont restrict your horizons unnecessarily by assuming theres only one.If you find yourself looking at each job spec thinking, well I quite like it but it doesnt tick this box, or I love the sound of this job, but I dont want to work in x sector  or more typically, this is perfect, but Im not working for less  than. then youre in danger of pricing yourself out of the job market. No-one is suggesting you should just take anything that comes its good to have standards and a sense of your own worth, but theres a fine line between selective and downright picky.  Newsflash: there are aspects of every job that youll find less appealing. Unless youre extremely lucky, or easily pleased. If you think you can start your career in a job t hat ticks every box, then your job search may be doomed to fail. Decide where to draw the line We all have negotiable and non-negotiables, and inevitably this means making compromises. This is an essential part of your career planning and something you should try to grapple with early on. And more importantly, doing this will put you in the driving seat as only YOU can know or decide what matters most. Is it location? Is it money? Are you looking for structured career progression?  Are you looking for a challenge or an easy life? Its much easier to move from the deliberation to the action stage if  you establish some parameters. Start by making a list of things that you cant or wont consider, and this will help narrow down your options into a more manageable list. Once youve eliminated the negatives you can give full attention to the must-haves . Much as a job or person spec will include a list of essentials and desirables, its wise  to apply these filters to your own job search. You dont need to follow your passion Follow your dreams. Do something you love. Find your passion. This advice has almost become legion and in some circles seems to border on the evangelical.  But this assumes you have a passion to follow. What if you dont have a burning desire, or a creative itch, or a vocational calling?  Some of us dont and never will. Maybe we discover it later on or maybe it finds us? Like it did a certain CEO of Apple Do like Steve Jobs did: Dont follow your passion. If your job search is stalling because you havent yet found something that really sparks your enthusiasm, you may need to take a more pragmatic approach.  Why not focus on one or two areas that youd be happy to work in and then go for it.  Skills and experience are never wasted. Dont squander valuable time pondering all the options in the hope your dream job will materialise. In todays fluid and global job market you can move between roles with relative ease ( law to medicine might be a stretch but you get the point). This step is merely the beginning.  And dont obsess about what person X or person Y is doing; just because they are following their passion  doesnt mean theyre more fulfilled,  successful or happy. Listen to your voice, not everyone elses You may actually have a pretty good idea about what you want and how to get it, but are falling at the final hurdle applying. Whats stopping you? Everybody else, thats who. Were all vulnerable to persuasion and the tyranny of should. I should pursue this career because my parents want/expect it, I should do a postgrad degree because my tutor says soshould, should, should.  Youre in job search stasis because you know what you want, but it conflicts with the desires and expectations of people around you.  Whether its parental influence or peer pressure, the influence of those around us can be a pretty powerful and sometimes negative force. Start listening to your inner voice and seek out like minds  who will encourage and support your aspirations. Remember what I said earlier in the post about drawing the line? Nows the time to start. It doesnt really matter what you want, as long as youre doing it for the right reasons. The ones that suit you. As I started with a cliché, so Ill finish with one: a career is a marathon, not  a sprint.but you do need to get your running shoes on and at least start the race.

Computer Science Resume - How to Prepare and What to Write About

Computer Science Resume - How to Prepare and What to Write AboutA computer science resume is generally very different from other computer resumes because it isn't made to impress anyone in the company, nor are you trying to show them you're an ace. This is because the company that you are applying for doesn't need to know how well you can solve their problems so they will not see that you have a computer science degree on your resume.A computer science resume is probably the best way to sell yourself to a company that hires computer professionals. It doesn't matter if you've never worked with computers before; just as long as you understand the computer technology, you will be accepted. This can be a big difference between an employee and a candidate that the company wants to hire.When you're preparing an entry level computer science resume you need to be careful about what you write and what you don't. Your resume needs to sound professional and you don't want to sound cheesy or to sound like a sales person. You will also want to make sure that your resume is presented as a technical document so that they can read it easily. Of course it will be formatted in some way so you can lay out all of the technical terms that are required in your document.When you are preparing an entry level computer science resume you will also want to look at some of the companies that you are interested in. Try to find one that is well known in the industry. Another thing you can do is to look online and see which companies are looking for programmers or computer professionals. You may even find that many of the companies that you can apply to are recruiting employees rather than hiring.When you are creating your computer science resume you should also use keywords to ensure that the companies that you apply to see are targeting people who can use a computer. This will help to get them to read your resume more and possibly to contact you. This means that you should make sure that y our keywords are geared towards specific words such as programmer, software engineer, or computer programmer. By looking for those specific words you can help the company to read your resume more and help them send you the right job interview.You should also avoid using acronyms or abbreviations in your technical documents. This will allow the company to quickly see that you are new to the industry and they might not even be aware that you might have other skills that can help the company better understand what they need.In conclusion, you should always remember that if you go into an interview prepared with a computer science resume it can help you get hired. If you don't have a computer science degree you might want to look into getting one before you apply because a computer science resume will get you a much better response from an interview.If you find that you have all of the technical skills and experience that you need then you should be able to turn your entry-level compute r science resume into a full-fledged engineering or computer science degree. Just be sure that when you create your resume, that you follow all of the tips mentioned above and be sure to use the proper keywords.

The Importance of Cultural Intelligence as a Job Candidate - CareerMetis.com

The Importance of Cultural Intelligence as a Job Candidate Source: Unsplash.comImagine being the camera that is filming the opening scene of a blockbuster movie. You pan across a room where two characters are sitting. The director instructs the camera person to make sure that you do not show the faces of the characters until a few minutes into the scene.Instead, you focus on the items in the room, the furniture and the overall décor of the room. The director’s goal is to present the characters through the overall ambiance of the place, as created by the items, furniture, and décor.Off the screen, we do the same when we walk into a room, although a movie usually prolongs this process of scanning and interpreting the room. Take, for example, the experience of walking into a job interview.evalOur natural tendency is to scan the space to get a sense of the kind of person we are meeting and, perhaps, even the type of company or office that we hope to join if given the job.We Are Eternally ScanningevalIn our daily lives, we are perpetually stu dying our environment to make meaning.Our interpretation of the environment stems from this habit.In a sense, we operate as amateur semioticians reading signs around us to better understand the world in which we live.A car could be a sign. A shopping bag could be a sign. Even an umbrella could be a sign.As trained semioticians will tell you, moreover, our interpretation of signs is influenced by our existing knowledge about the domain that the thing belongs.So, if I know a lot about cars, then I will look at a car and make meaning differently than someone who does not know much about cars.How Scanning Can Help or Hurt YouevalHow well we scan has an impact on how it impacts our life. An ineffective interpretation of our surroundings can lead to a poor decision or lousy choice that changes our life the wrong way. While walking into a job interview, we might notice a tattoo on our interviewer’s arm.Unaware of the meaning of the tattoo, we might make a hasty judgment that it represent s the interviewer’s support for a liberal lifestyle.However, it might be a tattoo with religious connotations, and the interviewer could be someone with conservative beliefs.Our misinterpretation could lead us to exaggerate our liberal mindset during the interview, and the result is predictable. Seeing a mismatch in our viewpoints, the interviewer will probably not hire us. This is due to a lack of fit with the company culture.evalIn contrast, scanning can help us when we pick up a warning or recognize an opportunity quickly.During an interview, we might correctly identify a ring on the interviewer’s hand as something they won at a college football tournament.This might make us comment on our sporting experience or refer to sports-related examples during the interview.Consequently, the interviewer will perhaps readily recognize our competitive attitude and hire us.The Job InterviewThe job interview can is divisible into the specific and general. Cultural intelligence can be usef ul in both realms. The two examples above are very concrete. The following discussion will elaborate on this distinction further.Specifics of the InterviewThe interview process usually involves a detailed conversation between the interviewer and us, unless it is a short screening interview. We are expected to present details about ourselves to make the case that we are indeed the ideal candidate for the job.As anyone who has been in an interview will probably agree, these details are most presentable in the form of stories that make us appear exciting and throw light on our overall persona.Cultural intelligence helps to create appropriate stories. A story is relevant to the interviewer when it fits in with their cultural fabric.An interviewer based in Singapore, for example, may not be able to relate to an interviewee’s story about an American hiking trip.evalApart from the content of the story, factors like overallstory tone and type of humor should accommodate the cultural fabri c of the company.A funny story about drinking with friends in a bar can be useful in cultures where drinking alcohol is prevalent, but it shouldn’t be thrown around in more formal cultural settings.Especially if the hiring company is known to be conservative. Or if the position is in a country where drinking is inadmissible for religious restrictions.evalGeneral InterviewApart from the specifics of the conversation during the interview, cultural intelligence is vital in the context of an interview. Within formal cultures, it is crucial to maintain a slightly submissive body language that demonstrates respect.A gentle handshake with a lowered or downward tilt is a standard greeting in such a culture. While confidence is important, an overtly independent and self-promoting style is not always appropriate.evalIn a liberal, self-driven culture, however, a dramatic show of respect could come across as unproductive. They may be interpreted as lacking character, confidence, or the abilit y to work independently.The interview attire, similarly, should have an overall appearance that matches the hiring culture.At a traditional financial institution, for example, we should always attempt to project an old school look. Exemplified by a well-kept hair, no facial hair, or a formal suit. Equally useful is an elegant folder or carry on bag to bring extra copies of a résumé.At a new age design firm, the same attire might be less appreciated. One that is trendier or avant-garde would be more appropriate. In certain organizations, it might also help to demonstrate non-conformist characteristics like stylish, long hair or a body piercing.Ultimately, cultural intelligence makes us sharper job candidates whether we are interviewing within or outside our own culture. This applies even when in an interview with someone from our community.We are more likely to offer impressive answers to interview questions if we are culturally intelligent. This is because such intelligence improv es our ability to scan and interpret the world around us. It shows our capacity to relate to people and establish our presence in a milieu that is possibly akin to the culture in which we grew up.

Interview Tip Know Your Mistakes! - Hire Imaging

Interview Tip Know Your Mistakes! - Hire Imaging Much of job-search communications involve articulating vocally and in writing what makes you great â€" bragging rights. It’s equally important to reflect on your not-so-great moments â€" those where you would have liked a do-over. We all make mistakes, but for many folks, these mistakes are tough to talk about. Practice, because during the interview process, you will likely be asked to talk about an oops or mistake you’ve made at work. There are two reasons to go through the process of knowing and articulating your mistakes: Sometime during the hiring process, you likely will be asked, “Tell me about your least proud career moment,” or “Tell me about the biggest mistake you have made in your career.”It will serve you well to have internalized some specific examples, as it can be hard to come up with a failure when you are in the middle of a job interview. This type of brainstorming will likely point to tasks you do not want to be doing. Often, your biggest career bloopers involved activities you do not like, and therefore, aren’t as good at. This is important. Don’t be afraid of this question. It’s an opportunity for you to solidify what you do not want  in your next job. When people ask this question, they want to know that you’re aware of your mistakes and that you learned from them! They want to know specifics, so don’t talk in general terms. Leo’s mistake story: In his third round of interviews with one employer, Leo was asked, “Tell me about your biggest career mistake.” The mistake: “I was at XYZ Company as a Business Analyst. I was given a project by a SVP of another division. This SVP was known as a difficult, demanding guy, and I said, “yes” immediately. But I knew I should have first okayed it with my direct manager. And when my boss found out, he was quite angry with me. ‘Why are you working with him without consulting with me,’ and ‘Do you know you just messed up another system by doing this?’ were questions he threw my way. He added that my current project with him was more high profile than the one I’d accepted with the SVP. Both my boss and I were made to look bad.” What he did to fix it: “I apologized profusely, promised my boss I would not do that again, and asked what I could do to fix it. He told me to take the new release out of operation immediately. I did that, and then I walked into the office of the SVP and told him what had happened. I took accountability, told him that I should have stopped and asked the right questions. I told him I would work with the Senior Architect to create a solution. Then I went to the Senior Architect to beg forgiveness and asked for help. I asked him for ideas on how we could give the SVP what he wanted without jeopardizing the other systems. Once we worked out a plan, and couple of options, I called a meeting with the SVP, my boss, and the Senior Architect to walk through the new options.” What Leo learned from this experience: “I learned to trust my gut. Follow procedure and etiquette. If something does not feel right, I need to stop and start asking questions, no matter how the person making the request reacts. It’s much easier to handle confrontation when problems are small. It was much harder to sit down with that SVP afterwards and tell him that I was taking his project off the table.” I reiterate that it is OKAY to have made a big mistake. It can show the interviewer that you are insightful and are interested in learning and preventing bloopers in the future. It shows that you are someone who will stand up and be accountable, and work collaboratively to fix things. Your career history is not benefitted by burying mistakes. Here are questions to help you prepare for the “mistake” questions! YOUR LEAST PROUD CAREER MEMORIES What are those times in your career you wish you could do over again? Mistake #1 (write down as many as you can think of, answering the same questions) What was your job or role? What was the mistake? Did you “own” it at the time, or try to hide it? Did you try to fix it, and did you succeed? What did you learn from it, and what would you do differently next time? I always love to hear from you! Please comment below.

Is it important to have privacy on LinkedIn -

Is it important to have privacy on LinkedIn - Privacy. Clearly, its fleeting in our tell all, share everything on social media society. As the fine line between the personal and the professional (is there even a line at all?) becomes less and less significant, its even more important to be vigilant so you know what you are sharing, with whom and potential consequences. Make no  mistake  about it: its up to you to manage your online identify and privacy. One of the main benefits of using social media is it allows you to be found. In fact, its a main tenet of social media; your goal online should be to be discovered, and to magnetically attract people you want to hire you for jobs or consulting opportunities. Traditional media outlets would have you believe the worst thing you can do for your career is post information on social media. They feature big mistakes people make online leading to loss of income and jobs as representative reasons to stay offline. However, for job seekers and  business owners, its dangerous to don the online equivalent of  Harry Potters  invisibility cloak. Professional goals are difficult to accomplish if privacy settings are locked down to the point they effectively render the profiles useless. However, reducing privacy puts the onus on the user to understand ramifications of not sharing information they make private. LinkedIn  is clearly a key player in your professional online identity. Your goal on LinkedIn is to connect and engage with people; its expected that you will have a  LinkedIn profile. Generally speaking, the best advice is to peruse privacy settings and choose the most open (least private) choice. Doing so positions you to be found more easily, and potentially to be invited to apply for opportunities. However, each individual user will have specific goals and reasons to share or want to hide certain information online.  Overly tight privacy settings on LinkedIn can lead you to miss opportunities. These tips will help.  (Tweet this thought.) Review and scrutinize your choices on these settings in particular: Turn on/off your activity broadcasts. If youre running an illicit job search, and planning to conduct a major overhaul of your LinkedIn profile, turn this off before making changes if you are worried it will alert your current boss. Consider turning it back on after your profile overhaul is complete. Because LinkedIn will send out a message announcing that you have a new job if you update your job titles or add a project to your experience section, others who sometimes get dinged by this setting are people who own businesses and decide to change their official titles or people in jobs who update their job titles to be more descriptive or interesting. The last thing this group wants is for people to think theyve taken new positions. Communications. Be alert and aware of how LinkedIn works by keeping an eye on messages you receive from the network. Check the Communications tab under settings to ensure you do receive the type of messages that will help you decide what you want to share with others. Select what others see when youve viewed their profile. If youre doing some undercover research on colleagues or competitors, feel free to set this to anonymous. However, leaving the setting locked down prevents you from seeing who is viewing your profile, and that represents lost opportunities. In general, it can be a good idea to let people know youve viewed their profile, especially before an interview. It makes you appear to be thorough and diligent about your research. Select who can see your connections. Some people worry theyll compromise their privacy by allowing people to know who is connected to them. If you are in such a cut-throat field that your livelihood is in jeopardy if your connections are revealed, by all means, make this private. However, keep in mind, if everyone locked down this setting, networking on LinkedIn would be severely thwarted. Change your photo profile and visibility. This is a non-negotiable: your photo should be viewable for everyone. Otherwise, people who may want to learn more about you may be discouraged from reaching out because they see the default shadow face LinkedIn inserts in lieu of a picture. Dont forget to keep an eye on privacy settings; dont set them and forget them. Be vigilant and make sure your settings match your goals, and youll be more likely to win new opportunities. Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.