A Great Thank You Note Idea

At the conclusion of a Job Seekers Networking Group, an individual shared a great thank you note strategy that I thought I would pass on to you.

On her most recent interview, she made sure she had thank you notes available in her car. After the interview, she double checked with the receptionist to make sure she had the correct spelling of the names of the people who interviewed her. Then, she returned to her car, wrote the thank you notes, and brought them back to the receptionist, asking her to distribute them to the individuals who interviewed her.

She received an "Oh, wow!" from the receptionist.

I thought this was a great approach to take -- one that will set her apart from other candidates!

Five Important Things to Remember When Emailing Your Resume

Wait! Before you click "send," remember these important email tips when applying for a position:

1. Double-check the name/company on your cover letter. Several months ago one of my clients shared with me that for each position she applied, she tailored her cover letter (like most of us do). Unfortunately, after clicking "send," she realized she forgot to change the company name and address on the cover letter. (And the company name on the cover letter was one of their competitors!)

2. Next ... when composing your email, the FIRST thing you should do is ATTACH your documents. How many times have your received (or sent) an email that didn't have the attachments? Don't let that happen when you're emailing your resume!

3. Be sure to use a salutation and closing. You don't want your email to be informal; you want to portray a professional image. Start with "Dear Hiring Manager" (if you don't know the name of the person) and after a brief message, close with "Sincerely" or some other formal closing.

4. Use a signature line that contains your contact information. Include your name, email, phone. Be sure your email sounds professional (for example, johndoe@email.com).

5. Finally, add a postscript with a link to your LinkedIn profile: For example, P.S. Please visit my LinkedIn profile for a quick glimpse of my experience and to view my recommendations. I once read that postscripts almost always get read, so this is a great strategy which will hopefully entice the reader to "click" and view your background immediately.

Three Reasons Why You Should Not Put Your Job Search on Hold During the Holidays

During the holiday season, many people decide to put their job search on hold because they believe many companies do not hire during this time of the year; however, here are three reasons why you should continue your job search:

1. Despite the false assumption, many companies do hire during the holidays. As I write this blog on December 5th, there are numerous job postings on job boards, company websites, and through social media postings (LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook).

2. Because many people put their job search on hold, this means less competition for you!

3. Finally, take advantage of holiday events and use these opportunities to network and build new connections. You never know ... maybe that one new connection will provide you with a lead that will result in a new job!

How important is it to ask questions during the interview?

Think back to your last interview. If you're like most people, when you were preparing for the interview, you probably focused on what questions may be asked and how you would answer them; however, you probably didn't think much about what questions to ask the interviewer.

So how important is it to ask questions? According to an informal poll I conducted on LinkedIn, it is important to many decision makers. In fact, when I asked hiring and HR managers to list one of their biggest interview pet peeves, "Not asking any questions" was the second most frequently mentioned pet peeve.

When I conduct interview coaching sessions, I always tell the client, "You're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you." You want to make sure that the job is a good fit; otherwise, you'll be unhappy and looking for a job again rather quickly. So as you prepare for your interview, here are some questions you may want to consider asking:

"How many employees have held this position in the past five years?"
Frequent turnover may be a red flag about the position or the management style.

"What strengths did the previous employee possess that you would like to see continued?"
Sometimes, previous employees have set the bar high, so this way you will know what is expected of you.

"What is one thing you know now, that you wish you would have known when you started?"
Two of my clients stated that when they asked this question, the interviewer responded, "Good question."

"What do you like most about working for this company?"
It's nice to ask a question that will generate a positive response!

"Which of my skills do you feel would benefit your organization most?"
This question lets the interviewer summarize what he/she has heard and allows you another opportunity to sell yourself on any points missed.

Happy interviewing!

Do Your Research Before Changing Careers

Changing careers is not uncommon, and throughout the years I have worked with many clients who were embarking on a new career. If you've been thinking about changing careers and have pinpointed a new career path, it's important to consider the following before making the change:

Do you really know what the job entails?

1. Do you know the salary range for this occupation?
2. Do you know the employment projections for this occupation?
3. Have you looked at a job description for this occupation?

If the salary and employment projections meet your needs, take a look at the job description and make two lists:

1. What skills and experiences do you already have? Focus on "transferable" skills. For example, supervising, managing projects, working with a certain computer program, etc.

2. What skills are you lacking? Would additional training, education, or a certification benefit you?

Consider setting up a meeting with someone you know who's in your desired occupation?

1. Discuss with the person your experiences as well as what skills you're lacking. Ask for his/her honest opinion on your skills (does the person recommend additional training, a certification, etc.).

During the meeting, ask additional questions to make sure this career will be a good fit:

1. "What do you like most about you job? Least?"

2. "What do you know now, that you wish you would have known when you entered the field?"

3. "What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career change and looking at this occupation?"

Note: Follow up with a thank you!

Before taking the plunge, do your research. You don't want to enter a new career path, only to find it's not a good fit.

Emailing a Resume

Question: When I respond to a job posting that says I should email my resume and cover letter, what should I write in the body of the email? I don't want to repeat what I've written in my cover letter.

Answer: That is correct, you don't want to repeat what you've written in your cover letter. It's important to be brief. Here's an example:

Dear Hiring Manager:

Attached please find my resume, cover letter, and references in response to your opening for a Sales Executive. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

janedoe@email.com

555-555-5555

P.S. Please visit my LinkedIn profile for a quick glimpse of my accomplishments and to view my recommendations: www.linkedin.com/in/janedoe

Take Charge of Your Career

In this precarious job market, it's important to take steps to keep your skills current. If you're currently employed and your company does not offer any type of training, then it's up to you take charge of your professional development and your future.

Take a look around you. What types of skills could benefit you? Maybe you're looking for a promotion or maybe you have your eye on a position with another company. What types of skills, training, or education are needed for your desired position?

It's important to always look for ways to increase your skills set and enhance your qualifications. It will benefit your company and your future!