Has LinkedIn Finally Replaced Recruitment Companies

Has LinkedIn Finally Replaced Recruitment Companies We all know how difficult it is to find a job right now, and with UK unemployment still over 2 million it doesn’t seem like it’s getting any easier. But have you considered that you’re looking in the wrong places? Sure recruitment companies can help you out depending on your career choice. But times are changing. We use social media every day. Whether it is to keep in touch with old friends or far away relatives, stalk our favourite celebrities, or just share our thoughts; Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest have become an integral part of our day to day life. So why aren’t you using it in your quest for employment? LinkedIn is a hugely popular social media site, with over 150 million users and counting. But it’s always been more than just a social networking site. LinkedIn is a great way to connect with professionals in your industry, share your experiences, and network with ‘figureheads’. But it’s now possible to take your job search online, and search for employment via LinkedIn. The New ‘Job Centre’? In July 2011, LinkedIn announced the launch of its latest plug in â€" the ‘Apply with LinkedIn’ button. Revolutionising both the way people use the website, as well as the way we search for jobs, the button means jobseekers can submit their profile for job opportunities. So instead of writing a covering letter, struggling to master your resume, and finding the right contact, professionals can quickly and easily apply for their dream job. With no need to scour the Internet for job vacancies, this seemingly makes the whole recruitment process cleaner and more concise. The ease of the app means that at the click of a button, prospective employers can see your CV. Furthermore, the very nature of LinkedIn means that companies can get a much more in depth look at your career history, ready-made testimonials, and even see some of your tweets. Employee/Employer Relationships What’s more, you may have already built up a rapport with the company in question. You may have been following them on Twitter, reading their blog, and networking with them, before applying. Surely this can’t hurt your chances when applying? The very nature of social media is just that; and direct contact between you and prospective employers can make all the difference in today’s fast paced world. Candidates are sure to benefit from a much more concise recruitment process. The power of LinkedIn during a job search doesn’t have to just be confided to use of the app either. Speaking from firsthand experience, I myself managed to secure an internship via the networking site during my final weeks at university. Just by sending a private message to a small, local firm, I managed to gain a whole host of skills that undoubtedly helped during my job search. Are Recruitment Companies Still Needed? So, with the likes of the LinkedIn Job search, online jobs boards, and trade publications, is the humble recruitment company dead? True, social media can be extremely helpful when applying for certain careers, but for many it isn’t enough. Large employers or those looking to fill senior level vacancies will still rely on the services of specialist recruitment companies to help them find the ideal candidate. All that’s changed is the way recruiters source these candidates. They too may use social media pages like LinkedIn to find suitable positions, but for them it is more than what is on the CV. Recruitment companies look into a candidate’s skill set, speak to them on the employers’ behalf, and carry out background checks to make sure they are perfect for the job. This is something that LinkedIn can’t do, and is an added expense for companies using social media. The jobs market is ever changing. The way employers advertise jobs, and the skills they are looking for have changed. But then again so has the way we look for jobs. LinkedIn has certainly transformed the ways in which we network with employers, and may become even more important in the future. This guest post was provided by freelance journalist Clare Brady on behalf of Outcomes UK, a specialist recruitment company for the social work sector. To find out more about their services, visit Outcomes UK.

Resume Writing For Early 20s No College Degree

Resume Writing For Early 20's No College DegreeIf you are looking to write a resume for early 20's, you can do so in a manner that will not create problems for the employer. A written resume, although it may seem like the best way to get an interview, is really not the best method for hiring an employee.The main reason you will want to write a resume for an employee in this age group is because there is not enough time to get a college degree. This makes the job board to be filled with resumes for these individuals as well as the employer is in need of assistance.There are many resumes that will help a person to go to college and complete their education at the same time. These resumes are simple, clean, and easy to understand.Many people see the value of applying for more than one resume. This allows them to apply for more jobs at the same time because they have been turned down by the first one.If a person is applying for multiple resumes, the resume must be unique. You do not want to write a resume that has been done before because you may not be taken seriously or your chances for the position may be reduced.Your resume must have a job requirement attached to it. If the employer has a need for you, you will be provided with a resume that has a priority for you and not someone who just want the job.The resume must also clearly state what educational requirements the resume requires. This includes the courses the resume requires, the grades you have earned, and the hours you have worked in school.No matter how good a writer you may be, you should write a resume for someone who is in their late twenties or early thirties. Many times, a young person can only take advantage of it if the employer knows that the person is in a position to earn more money.

How to Outsmart Your Interviewer with Body Language

How to Outsmart Your Interviewer with Body Language Before I understood these body language tricks, waiting for a job interview wasn’t exactly relaxing. I felt butterflies in my stomach, checked my watch every few minutes and reviewed answers to potential interview questions in my mind until I was invited into the room.   In short, I was grossly anxious, feeling like Shy Ronnie: Then I discovered, through first-hand experience, that your mind doesn’t just control your body; it’s reciprocal your body can control your mind.   You can actually trick your mind to project confidence, calmness and happiness through the actions of your body, even if you feel like throwing up inside. Regardless your subject of work, ranging from marketing to engineering, the stress from important interviews can be overwhelming. Imagine this scenario   By: Cary Edmondson You’ve just been offered an interview with your dream company. This isn’t just some random joe-schmo business you found on Craiglist, but the one you’ve pored everything you have into getting this interview. Countless hours of researching exactly what to ask, what to say and how to get an interview. Now the time has come and you’re interview is tomorrow. For the duration of a 1-hour interview, you have one chance to make it or break it with them. There is a lot riding on this. Needless to say, you’re a little nervous.   The good news?   You can use body language tactics to project calmness and confidence internally and externally. These tactics, taken directly from from a Harvard social psychologist and FBI agent with 25 years experience, make you feel more confident on the inside, which in turn radiate outward to your interviewer. In other words, your body can trick your mind. Before the Interview Let’s say your interview is at 2pm and you show up 10 minutes early. When you arrive ask the secretary if she can show you where the restroom is located. Take 3 minutes in the restroom, ideally in a private stall, while she notifies the hiring manager youve arrived. Set the timer on your phone and implement this 3 minute confidence booster: Smile for 30 seconds Do the superwoman for 2.5 minutes 1. Smile Dale Carnegie, notorious communication expert, once talked about the power of smiling, either forced or genuine, in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People:   You dont feel like smiling? Then what? Two things. First, force yourself to smile. If you are alone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy. Here is the way the psychologist and philosopher William James put it: Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not. So if you’re feeling nervous and cant genuinely smile, force it. It will still work. Hold your teeth together and pull your cheeks back into a forced smile for 30 seconds. It was proven in the Journal of Psychological Science that even the most forced of smiles can genuinely decrease your stress and make you happier. 2. Do the superwoman Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy ran a study, which turned into one of the most-watched TED talks ever, showing how power posing can significantly boost your confidence and decrease stress. Power posing raises testosterone levels (i.e. increases confidence) and lowers cortisol levels (i.e. reduces stress), allowing you feel more powerful, even if you really dont feel powerful inside initially.   Its scientifically proven your body can control your mind. She defines this power-pose as the superwoman pose, but also includes samples of a female political leader and, of course, Beyonce: Simply spread your legs shoulder width apart, place your hands on your hips, keep your chin up and look straight ahead. Do this for 2.5 minutes and youll feel (oddly) much more powerful. Its odd that this actually works, as Ive tried it, so feel free to stand up and give it a test run. This position is proven to lower your cortisol and increase your testosterone, making you feel more confident and calm. During the Interview Now that you’re happy, calm and confident on the inside, youll want to project that confidence on the outside. Here are a few neat tricks to not only display confidence to your interviewer, but allow you to feel more confident inside, just like the previous exercise.   The body can control the mind. 1. Steeple your hands Hand steepling, when you spread your fingertips, pressing them together in a prayer-like gesture, is a very high-confidence display of the hands. It signifies youre confident in your thoughts and dedicated to your point of view. Individuals in high-authority positions, including Donald Trump, use hand steepling to show dominance. 2. Keep your thumbs up Thumbs up or down is another gesture indicative of high confidence versus low confidence. So should you give an awkward thumbs up after you tell a positive story from your previous job? Or scream, ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?! with thumbs up after answering an interview question? Not exactly. To project confidence and calm, keep your thumbs up, with fingers interlaced. This is a body language sign, frequented by authoritative people such as Vladimir Putin, that you are confident in your thoughts. Best used while illustrating a point in a story. 3. Feet pointed toward interviewer The feet, believe it or not, are the most honest part of your body. Not your eyes, not your mouth, not your hands your feet. Why? Because theyre the most reactive to your limbic brain. Your brain is separated into three parts: Reptilian (or stem) controls basic intuition like eating, drinking fluids, reproduction, peeing, sleep, etc Mammalian (or limbic) reacts to subconscious thoughts and emotions; the honest part of your brain Neocortex (or human) critical thought, allows us to develop software, fly to the moon and cook a gourmet meal Its critical to understand your brain controls all behaviors; whether going to the bathroom (reptilian), covering your ears when you hear a loud noise (mammalian), or hacking your Linkedin profile to get more endorsements (neocortex).   Critical thought separates the mammalian brain from the neocortex. For example, a suicide bomber may sweat profusely while being interrogated by a customs officer, because of the Mammalian brain, yet the neocortex allows him to lie with a straight face. Your limbic brain controls physiological functions, such as sweating or heavy breathing when scared, while your neocortex controls the ability to deceive and lie, pretending youre not afraid or nervous.   Similarly, when people are introduced, their feet naturally dont face each other. One foot usually faces the person, while the other points in another direction. Or if theyre very uncomfortable, both feet are facing away from the person, while their torso and eyes face toward the person. Try observing this when you see people meet for the first time. More than likely, their feet wont be facing each other. Thus, when you face someone completely, both feet pointed toward them, it projects confidence and openness. 4. Sit up straight, shoulders back, lean in When you sit up straight and open up your chest, thus pulling your shoulders back, its scientifically proven to raise your confidence, proven by a study conducted by Amy Cuddy at Harvard. They separated people into two groups those sitting in a dominant positions (i.e. sitting up straight) against those sitting with poor posture (i.e. slouching), then let them gamble. People placed in a dominant position were 45% more likely to make a riskier bet. By sitting up straight, youll naturally be more likely to take risks, due to your increased testosterone and confidence. Similarly, when asked a question, lean in toward your interviewer. This shows youre listening closely to the question, are comfortable with the interviewer and conveys engagement. The process of leaning in is a subset of ventral fronting, where your torso faces the direction you favor. This is the opposite of ventral denial, where you turn away from something you dont like. This is why we slightly turn to the side when someone approaches us at a party we dont like and lean in toward those were interested in. Thus, show your interviewer you are comfortable with them by sitting up straight, keeping your shoulders back and leaning in. Body language to avoid Now that weve covered body language tricks to convey during the interview, these are 5 critical body language tips you should avoid. 1. Neck or face touching Neck or face touching is the adult equivalent of toddlers sucking their thumb. When wanting to feel comfortable, adults assume pacifying behaviors such as neck or face touching. Pacifying behaviors are the limbic brains response when we experience something unpleasant. They all accomplish the same thing the brain requires the body to stimulate nerve endings, releasing calming endorphins in the brain, so that the brain can be soothed. These stroking behaviors when asked a difficult interview question dont help us solve problems, rather, they help us remain calm while we do. Men touch their faces. Women touch their necks, clothing, jewelry, arms and hair. Neck touching is arguably the most powerful and universal pacifying behavior. This demonstrates insecurity and limited confidence. Here are some examples: In other words, keep your hands off your face and neck! 2. Leg cleansing Leg cleansing is another pacifying behavior, where you rub down from upper quad to knees, with knees and feet close together. This gesture accomplishes two things at once it dries sweaty palms and pacifies through tactile rubbing. Similar to touching your face, rubbing your hands down your legs is a pacifying behavior that displays anxiety. Dont do it. 3. Interlocking your ankles Locking your feet suddenly after being asked a tough question may suggest discomfort or insecurity. Interlocking the ankles is the limbic brains response to the freeze, fight or flight intuition to threats. When your uncomfortable with a question or situation, you naturally lock your ankles together in a freeze position. Again, the feet are the most honest part of the body, so when people are comfortable, they tend to unlock their ankles. 4. Crossing your arms When its socially unacceptable to lean away or distance ourselves from something we dislike, we subconsciously cross our arms. Its the limbic brains response to blocking individuals away from you. Unfortunately, it also shows insecurity and anxiousness to your interviewer when asked a tough question. Think of when youre in public. You often cross your arms while in line somewhere or waiting at a crosswalk. However, youll rarely sit this way while waiting around the house or watching TV. Why? Because youre never uncomfortable merely sitting around your house. 5. Pressing lips together When we press our lips together, to the point they almost seem to disappear, the limbic brain is telling you to not let anything inside your body, because youre so consumed with a stressful situation. Pressing your lips together, also known as lip compression, is a very clear sign someone is troubled or something is wrong. Such as congressman Anthony Weiner caught doing something he shouldnt have: Tricks? Or internal belief? Although these body language tactics can influence your interviewer, they should truly be used to influence only one person you. Implementing these tactics will allow you to not only portray confidence on the outside, but feel more confident on the inside. Control your body, control your mind. Because internal confidence is what separates a good interview, from a great one. Author: Scott Tousley writes for Portfolium, the startup pissed off about unemployed college graduates and increasing student debt, so they created an online portfolio platform that helps college students land their dream job with prestigious companies.

10 Best Resume Writing Services in Vancouver, BC

10 Best Resume Writing Services in Vancouver, BC Vancouver is a vibrant place to workâ€"so much so that Vancouver frequently features in the top five on worldwide 'Best Cities to Live In' lists. The kicker? Everyone wants to work here. So how can you stay competitive in the job market?Start by hiring a great Vancouver resume writer.Job searching isn’t like it was ten years ago, or even five. Your resume has six seconds to impress a potential employer.But with a great resume writer at your back? Prepare to make a blockbuster impression.We have sorted through hundreds of reviews and other criteria to make you a list of the best resume writing services in the Vancouver area. Use it to give yourself peace of mind as you take the next step in your career.Best Resume Services in VancouverIf you are in a hurry and don't want to read our detailed reviews below, here is a list of the Best Resume Writers in Vancouver:Find My Profession (that's us!) Vancouver Resume Writing and Interview Coaching FutureWorks SkyHigh Resumes Channel Resume C areer Story Careers by Design Flourish Career Consulting Vancouver Resume Services Fast Focused Resume ServiceAnd now for the detailed reviews...1. Find My ProfessionFind My Profession is not just a top-notch resume service available in Vancouver. We are a global company headquartered in the US on a mission to master effective, ATS compatible resumes that convert into offers.A major perk of Find My Profession is that we are not a one-person shop.Collectively, our team of elite resume writers has experience in 85+ unique industries/professions. This allows us to assign you a professional writer (in the United States) based on your unique background and experience.We are also not a resume factory. We will never use “ghostwriters”. You will have your resume writer’s name, email, and phone number for direct communication.With 100+ 5-star reviews and a 60-day interview guarantee thatspeaks for itself, you can sleep easy knowing that your satisfaction is our #1 priority.Pros:Find M y Profession commits to working with each client until they are completely satisfied. Don’t worry about having a limited number of edits, or a set amount of time with your writer.Cons:Find My Profession is a virtual/online company. While we provide services in your city, we don’t have a physical office.Also, with a focus on more senior positions, our entry-level resume service may be a bit pricey for recent graduates.Turnaround: 3-5 business days. Can expedite to 2 business days.Cost: $395-$895 USDPhone: (831) 888-0967Don't take our word for it, check out some of our 5-star reviews.Trustpilot2. Vancouver Resume Writing and Interview CoachingVancouver Resume Writing and Interview Coaching’s Ken Docherty has written award-winning resumes and was the first resume writer in Canada to be asked to join the Forbes Coaches’ Council. Many of his resume packages include LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching as well. The samples on his website will impress you instantly for their vi sual appeal. They would definitely stand out in a stack.Pros: Ken Docherty’s top resume packages include something unique: a ‘Think Ahead’ resume update in one year’s time. What a great idea.Cons: The prices are on the high end if you are just starting out. That said, you would likely get an excellent return on investment from this service even when using one of the packages at the lower end of the price spectrum.Turnaround: 5 business days.Cost: $395â€"1400.Phone: Contact through the website.3. FutureWorksFutureWorks is owned by experienced resume writer Dorothy Keenan. In addition to a full range of resume services, all of which include three one-hour consultations, FutureWorks offers career guidance and outplacement services. All FutureWorks resumes come with a no-nonsense satisfaction guarantee.Pros: The sheer quality of the samples on the website will give you peace of mind that your money would be wisely invested here. Also, the one-on-one time that is being offered is generous.Cons: FutureWorks sometimes has a waitlist. Which is telling, right? You can decide whether you are in a rush or have a little more wiggle room.Turnaround: 10â€"15 days for a first draft.Cost: $695-1495.Phone: (604) 618-31124. SkyHigh ResumesSkyHigh Resumes on West Broadway is a boutique Canadian resume writing service with more than 10 years under its belt. They can bundle LinkedIn to your package and get you thinking about what you want your personal brand to be. SkyHigh offers rush services so if you need them to act quickly, they will come to your rescue.Pros: SkyHigh’s samples are visually attractive and will give potential employers a good snapshot of you. They offer unlimited revisions of your resume, which was a pleasant surprise. Clearly, they will value your investment as much as you do.Cons: There really were few drawbacks to spot. They don’t offer interview coaching as some other services do, but if pitching yourself in just the right way on paper and/or Li nkedIn is all you need, SkyHigh could be a great option for you.Turnaround: 5â€"7 business days. Check website for possible wait times.Cost: $179â€"699.Phone: (604) 330-29925. Channel ResumeChannel Resume is an executive resume writing service only, so if you are looking for a writer who focuses solely on job seekers at that level, you are in luck. Former executive recruiter Milton Kiang promises resumes that are sure to help propel you to the top.Pros: Milton Kiang’s resume writing process includes meeting with you in person so if you are looking for a truly personalized service, you are sure to get it here. Some of us just work more effectively that way.Cons: Milton’s resume writing fees are reasonable, but keep in mind that they don’t include cover letters or LinkedIn like some other high-end packages do. Everything is separate, and a cover letter will cost $350-395 to add. Decide what you need and do the math to see if this would be a good fit for you.Turnaround: Not state d.Cost: $450-550.Phone: (604) 838-12226. Career StoryCareer Story writer and coach Kristin Vandegriend’s mission is for you to find clarity and purpose in your career. If you are looking for a holistic approach, Kristin’s may be the resume writing service for you. In addition to resumes, she offers career guidance, interview coaching, events, and workshops.Pros: All resume services include tailored cover letters.Cons: She is located in Burnaby, but if you like to work virtually, this shouldn’t be a problem for you.Turnaround: 5â€"7 business days.Cost: $350â€"1025.Phone: (604) 614-31557. Careers by DesignCareers by Design is a successful career coaching business with a dedicated resume writer, Tammy Banfield, on the team. Reviewers say that Tammy works patiently with them to draw out exactly what their most marketable talents are. Careers by Design has three package levels called “starting out” “experienced professionals” and “leaders”, which lends a helpful simplic ity to the task of choosing a package.Pros: Careers by Design offers a monthly installment plan to spread out the full cost of your resume package. You won’t see that very often in the resume writing industry.Cons: Because this business is primarily a coaching service, there is just one dedicated resume writer. That said, no reviews mentioned a lack of availability.Turnaround: 3 days.Cost: $288â€"988.Phone: (778) 819-84928. Flourish Career ConsultingFlourish Career Consulting is led by Vida Thompson, who has a decade of experience in HR and recruiting. Reviewers adore her resumes and her hands-on approach to guiding her clients’ careers. When you have your resume done, you can tack on LinkedIn profile and career coaching for a bulk rate. She serves a variety of industries, including IT, health care, engineering, marketing, HR, and law. If you are interested in learning more about career development, check out one of her Vancouver-area career kick-starter workshops.Pros: If you a re undecided, test the waters with Vida’s free resume review.Cons: Some resume samples on the website would have been helpful.Turnaround: 5 business days with rush service available.Cost: $350â€"495.Phone: (604) 689-40709. Vancouver Resume ServicesVancouver Resume Services is a rare resume writing service that specializes in immigration services in connection with employment and integration. If you are coming to Vancouver from abroad, they could have valuable advice for you. They also do entry-level, mid-level, and executive resumes for all kinds of existing Canucks.Pros: You can upload your resume to their website for a free review.Cons: There are typos and some confusing information on their website. Hopefully, those kinds of errors would not appear on your resume, where there is no margin for error.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $199â€"799.Phone: (604) 229-244910. Fast Focused Resume ServiceFast Focused Resume Service writer Tim Cunningham promises that his magic resume format will help you get more interviews and make you a stronger candidate for the job you want. The initial consultation is free and he is crystal clear about his process.Pros: Tim will offer two review sessions of your resume rather than one, and will provide ongoing support to ensure you are happy.Cons: The website has a page that leads one to expect a cost disclosure, but it is actually a lengthy explanation of why it is worth paying more for your resume. (We agree that it is worth investing in a good resume, but after all that, a full disclosure would have been nice.) You will have to call or email for a cost.Turnaround: First draft in 36 hours.Cost: Not stated.Phone: (604) 418-7094This List Serves The Following Areas Near Vancouver, British Columbia:Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Nanaimo, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Kelowna, PentictonBest Executive Resume ServiceNot worried about finding a local company? Want to work w ith the best of the best? Check out the Best Executive Resume Services.

Software Engineer Resume Template - How to Find One

Software Engineer Resume Template - How to Find OneA good software engineer resume template is necessary for every engineer looking to secure a job at a particular company. In this field, a good resume must not only have your work experience but also be written in such a way that it looks appealing to the employer. Thus, you need to make sure that you will create a professional and unique resume.A resume template is available online and can help you a lot in creating a perfect resume. There are several types of templates available online, but most of them are not very creative. It may seem that it is easy to find one, but then they all look exactly alike. Such a situation would certainly hinder you from getting an interview.So, how do you go about finding a good resume template? You need to know how much experience and expertise you have in the subject you want to write a resume about. If you have experience in this industry, then you can easily find a good software engineer resume t emplate to help you with it. For instance, if you have a lot of experience in writing a technical report or an application, then you can go for such a template. Make sure that the template will look impressive enough to make the employer look more favorably upon you.Some of the best software engineer resume templates are Adobe Systems Incorporated and Microsoft Corp. One can also go for Microsoft Project or Adobe Photoshop. In this way, it would be easier for you to find a template that best suits your needs.Generally, one of the best places to look for engineering resume templates would be on the Internet. There are many sites that offer free samples of templates, so that you can check it out before you get a copy. Some sites even offer professional templates that would help you create your own resume.Before you actually settle for any resume template, make sure that you know what kind of resume you want to create. Are you after a resume that makes the employer look at you as an ex pert, or would you prefer to look down upon your employer because of the fact that you have written a resume? It would be advisable for you to first see which kind of resume you would want to write.One of the things that you need to remember while searching for a software engineer resume template is that you should choose one that will help you come up with a good resume. For example, if you want to look down upon your employer, then you can try to make use of a template that looks like a report written by a common employee. This would really put you in a bad light. If you really want to look down upon your employer, then make sure that you choose a template that resembles a technical report from a previous year.So, when looking for a software engineer resume template, make sure that you will focus on finding one that is specific to your personality and skillset. The key is to first try to get an idea of what kind of resume you want to create and then find a template that will fit y our requirements. If you are still not sure, then you can always try to learn everything about the software engineer resume template before settling for one.

5 Simple Tips that Will Help You Ace that Job Interview - CareerAlley

5 Simple Tips that Will Help You Ace that Job Interview - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. So youve sifted through job sites for months, applied for what feels like hundreds of jobs and after numerous rejections, have started the whole process all over again. However, when you finally get the result youve been hoping for, theres nothing more exciting than knowing youre a step closer to your dream job. But theres still one more hurdle to overcome the dreaded interview. The interview stage of any job application is the one most of us dread. To come face to face with your potential employers, to be scrutinized and questioned, all coupled with the desire to present yourself well and come across as the right candidate for the job its completely overwhelming! However, there are ways you can prepare for the dreaded interview and make the right impression. Read on for 5 simple tips that will help you ace that interview. Remember if youre looking to land your dream job or maybe youre looking for the right candidate for your vacancy, this professional recruiting company can help you find the job or candidate youve been looking for. There are ways you can prepare for the dreaded interview and make the right impression. Many articles on acing your interview will tell you to research the company, but youll help your case even more by researching your interviewers as well. Tweet This Revisit your CV and memorize it Youve been invited to an interview, so that means your prospective employer has liked the look of your CV and wants to know more. So, with this in mind, its crucial for you to go over your CV and study it. Memorize the duties and aspects of your previous role so you can easily go into more detail if you are quizzed further. When you speak with clarity about the content of your CV, youll look professional and your claims and statements will only be supported by your confidence. If you think you may struggle to remember the details, dont be afraid to bring in your own copy in a smart folder for reference. Be prepared Pens, a notebook, a copy of your CV, a bottle of water and a copy of the correspondence inviting you to your interview should all be brought along with you to your interview. Research is key You need to know the companys ethos, who their biggest competitors are, what kind of customers they have and what the core of their business is before you step into the interview room. Conducting your own research shows you can use your own initiative and that youre serious about working for the company and you really want the job! This genuine interest in their company will certainly tick all the right boxes. There are tons of different ways to give a good interview, and many have been discussed at length. Whether youre doing your research on the company to practicing for interview questions ahead of time, all types of preparation are important. However, there are some methods of preparation that are equally important but not as well known. Ways to Stand Out in Your Interview Have plenty of examples ready If your CV or cover letter states that you have excellent customer service skills, or that youre good in a crisis, then you need to have some examples ready in order to support your claims. Be prepared to tell a story, give details and impress your interviewer with your statements and your ability to communicate. Make eye contact Making eye contact is a powerful communication tool that you can use to your advantage. You want to demonstrate your confidence, show respect and show that youre listening and engaged with what the interviewer is saying and keeping eye contact throughout the interview will illustrate this perfectly. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to nail the interview and get hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

How To Turn a Layoff into a Promotion (True story!)

How To Turn a Layoff into a Promotion (True story!) Laid-off?  Afraid you wont be able to land another job? Feel your best bet is to take whatever you can find? Think your ideal job is a pipe dream in this economy?  Think again.  Im excited to share Troy Benavidezs story with you.  He went from being laid-off to landing not only his dream job but also getting a promotion.    I asked Troy to share his tips on what made his transition so seamless and successful.  Youll be surprised at how simple yet important steps like Soul Search and Research are in informing your next Job Search. Read on for practical, strategic advice from TroyTurning a Layoff Into a PromotionQ: What would you say were the crucial steps to your amazing transition?  A: For me the most crucial steps were to remain focused, patient and methodical in my approach to my job search.  It is very easy to let your emotions get the best of you and become distracted from what you are trying to accomplish.  I wanted my unemployment to turn into real opportunity, but that required diligence, and there were many days when searching for the right opportunity I got distracted by the pressures to just find a job, any job.  Having a plan I could focus on and routine work to do was a good distraction from the emotional rollercoaster.  It is only natural to fear the uncertainty so my advice is to make sure you focus on those things that are in your control.Q: You Soul searched and Researched before you Job searched.  Did it make a difference in the quality of the new job youve found? in other ways?A: Most definitely.  Had I not soul searched or researched I would have been lost when I needed to be the most focused and strategic.  Without the confidence in knowing myself and my goals I could have easily entered into another role that was very similar to the one I had previously.  It was difficult to think broadly and rely on what I had soul searched. Friends, family colleagues, all wanted to help me get back into the same role I had.  They all knew m e in one particular way and I’m sure they thought they were most helpful if they helped me do what I had been doing.  I needed to rely on my internal understanding of my soul search and remain focused on my research.  It helped me sort through the well-intentioned offers and the myriad of online postings and recruiters who needed to fill particular roles.  My soul search and research served as my north star to keep me focused and ultimately the job I landed would have not have been on my radar if I had gone the traditional job search route.  There is a lot of information online and you need tools like soul search to sift thru otherwise you can be pulled in a million different directions and not be very productive.  So yes it helped land a better job that was more in line with the qualities that make me happy at work.Q: What role did networking (online off) play in you being sought after for your new job?  Were some online sites/tools more helpful than others?A: Networking i s critical.  But I had to learn to do it.  I had a lot of preconceived notions of what it meant to network and I was wrong on all of them.  It is not about calling someone or talking to someone at a cocktail reception and asking for a job.  It’s about sharing with everyone you know where you are in your career and where you want to go. There is nothing to be afraid of when you are talking about yourself and knowing who you are, instead it becomes a fruitful discussion about you your skills, capabilities and interests and not and awkward conversation about asking for a job.  Once people I knew understood what I wanted and what I was interested in doing the suggestions and offers to help were more meaningful.  Gone was the obligatory “let me know how I can help” and instead there were real offers to connect me with people who could help me reach my goals for a new career.  By networking I was able to talk to more people who were in positions to hire.I found LinkedIn to be amazing! It became an obsession.  Instead of playing “words with friends” I played on LinkedIn. I challenged myself to find the connections in certain companies and found innovative ways to start conversations with individuals whom I did not have a connection with.  I used the linking tool to get a conversation started.  It also broke down the traditional barriers to networking.  Everyone on the site was willing to make a connection or discuss what they knew about a company, job or industry.I made a promise to myself to keep networking, even with a new job, and that is twofold.  First, it took a lot of effort and people were gracious enough to help the least I can do is keep them informed and second I want to make sure and be available to help the next person going through this process.Q: Given your recent experience, what helpful tips or advice would you give to others whove been laid off?A: Don’t be afraid to talk to everyone about who you are and what you are trying t o do, whether it is a new role in a new industry, starting your own business or getting a similar job in another company.  There is NO shame in being laid off, it is not your fault the company reorganized, or had to close down or sent jobs overseas.   I was initially afraid of how I would tell people that I was unemployed and I was surprised how it was not held against me.  People are getting laid off in every industry and you should not be ashamed about it.  Instead tell everyone about the skills and capabilities you have and how you are using this as an opportunity to find that job that is fulfilling to you and how you will make a meaningful contribution in your next role.Finally I would say don’t forget to keep in touch with everyone who is helping you along the way.  You want to make sure you don’t just contact them when you need something.  Your network includes trusted friends and advisors and should be treated as such.  They will continue to be invaluable.Taking ti me to manage your career leads to better opportunities.  As you can tell from Troys advice and experience, getting on the path to your ideal career starts with your own Soul Search and getting clear on what youd love to do, the skills you want to utilize, and your work preferences.  I hope his experience inspires you to be optimistic about your next opportunity even if your last job ended in a layoff.  KNOW there is something better out there for you just as there was for Troy you just need to Soul Search and Research BEFORE your Job Search to find it.  If youve been laid-off or dream of a better career, share your vision below.  Lets help each other do work we love!(Photo courtesy of Flickr user O5com.)