Category: Blog

That important interview ended. You sweated your way through it. You can go home, kick off your fancy shoes, and relax.

But not for long, because there are some actions you can take to gain additional mileage from any interview, even after it’s over.

The first and best thing to do is to say say thanks. Yep, write that thank you note.

A note should go to each person with whom you interviewed, whether the interview was conducted in person or online as a phone interview or Google hangout.

Don’t waste time getting these things mailed. Proof it carefully and send it out snail mail or email.Read more

About 10 seconds. That’s how much time a typical hiring manager will spend on one resume if he has a stack of them to study. You want yours to end up in the very small pile of ones that deserve another look.

The words you choose will make the difference. Use the same words everyone else uses and you’ll be just another applicant. Words like “responsible,” “effective,” “creative,” and “strategic” topped the list of overused words according to a study LinkedIn conducted of online resumes and profiles. An overused word loses its meaning, and you lose points by using any of them.

Jargon, buzzwords, and vague language have the same effect on a reader – they just don’t convey how special you are.

Instead, when I craft a resume, I like to replace the meaningless words and phrases with specific examples. If you tell me you are an “expert” I will ask for examples where you have demonstrated your expertise. If you tell me you have great “organizing skills,” I will probe you to describe a project that proves it.  Are you “driven?” Or “analytical?” Or “innovative?” Let’s gather evidence for your resume!

I tell my clients that if they need help coming up with examples that document their skills, talents and experience, to complete sentences that begin like these:

• I solved…
• I improved…
• I oversaw…
• I adapted…
• I planned…
• I led…
• I trained…
• I directed…
• I strengthened…
• I initiated…

I like to insert descriptive, active words when I rebuild a resume or cover letter. To describe yourself in a cover letter as someone who is “strong,” doesn’t mean you will impress the employer. Substituting more specific or imaginative words like “robust” or “vigorous” will earn your cover letter more credibility.

These kinds of substitutions are illustrated in a new infographic created by Grammarly.com, an online grammar checking service. Grammarly researched 500 active job postings from 100 of the most profitable U.S. companies and learned what words work best for job seekers.

Did you know, for example, that companies prefer the term “job” over “work?”  “To work” indicates you are not as serious about your career.  Fascinating stuff!

Let me build a better resume for you. Trust me, I know all the right words.

Here’s a musical reminder of the importance of grammar.

Photo: tlnt.com

Although many job seekers don’t realize it, enthusiasm is one trait that hiring managers look for in an applicant. And the best part is that you can easily demonstrate this trait with a simple gesture – writing the post-interview thank you letter.

Showing some enthusiasm — for the position, for the company, for the industry, for the projects you discussed during an interview — makes your interview score goes up.

This little letter packs plenty of potential. It does all these things —

• Gives you a chance to express your gratitude to the interviewer for considering you as a hire
• Shows you understand common business etiquette
• Reminds the interviewer of your interest and qualifications
• Offers you the chance to correct any interview mistakes you feel you made
• Lets you gracefully add anything you think was omitted during your discussions
• Helps set you apart from the other applicants
• Displays your writing and communication skills
• Keeps your foot in the door if you don’t qualify for this particular position with the company

Should I use Snail Mail or eMail?

Although email has taken over business communications, there’s still a place for a good old fashioned, handwritten thank you note.

Your other options are a hard copy typed, or the ubiquitous email. You can base your decision on the nature of the company and your interview, and the time factor.

The written thank you note is appropriate if you don’t have much to say, when your handwriting is very good, and when you can send it the same day or early the next day.

Email is appropriate when emailing has been your usual means of contact with the interviewer. Or, your interviewer may have expressed a preference for email. Or you know that the person is traveling and will not have easy access to snail mail.

Email is also acceptable for most jobs in the tech industry, and in less formal companies. If emailing, you can use something like, “Great to meet you today” or “Thanks for meeting with me yesterday.” Send your email from a professional email address, not your work email address and not cutiepie38@hotmail.com.

What Makes a Memorable Letter?

Whichever format you decide to use, there are qualities that can’t be ignored

Perfection. Make sure there are no typos, grammatical errors, or name misspellings. Write your first draft on the computer so you can spell-check it.

Personal touch. It should never resemble a generic letter. The content should be specific enough that it’s obvious you took the time to write it directly for that particular interviewer. Ideally, you’ll reference something new that you learned during your meeting.

Immediacy. You should never have to write, “I’m sorry it’s taken this long for me to get back to you.” That’s just insulting, and it makes you look like you don’t give importance to the job and don’t manage your time well. Just be quick about this task!

Brevity. The best post-interview thank you notes are brief and to the point. Limit yourself to two or three short paragraphs.

What Do I Write?

To start, address the person by name. Write Ms. or Mr. instead of first names. If the interviewer suggested you to use a first name during your meeting, then it’s okay to do the same in the letter.

Thank her or him for the time and attention given you. It’s a good idea to mention the position you are applying for. Use “you” more than “I.” For example, write “Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today to discuss your opening for a sales consultant,” rather than “I want to thank you for interviewing me for …”

If you are sending multiple letters to different people, which you’ll need to do if you met with more than one person or were interviewed by a panel, make each letter unique. If possible, mention a particular point that would resonate with each individual.

Next, mention one point from the interview that casts you in a favorable light, or that you are especially interested in. Show your enthusiasm.

If necessary, now is your chance to slip in a do-over. If you think you fumbled an interview question, you might write, “I wanted to clarify my position on marketing your products to Afghanastan.” Don’t take an apologetic tone, but be specific. “I would be happy to forward you a copy of the media plan I used to increase sales in Belgium.”

Finally, confirm what the next step is. “I look forward to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision,” lets them know the ball’s in their court and clarifies that you understand your role is to wait. Another possibility is something like, “I’ll call you at the end of next week, as you suggested.”

If you need some nitty-gritty basics on how to write a thank you note Wikihow has some helpful pointers.

Every step of the interview process is an opportunity to make an impression. You’ll need to put forth your best efforts from beginning to end if you want to stand out from the other candidates. The post-interview thank you letter is one easy effort to make.

Remember that I send a free copy of my Résumé to Payday ebook to each of my résumé clients. Is it time for your résumé to get a makeover?

After I revamped Gretchen’s resume she interviewed with a software company and things went well. She received a job offer but just as she was about to respond, a company she had talked to three weeks earlier called to hire her.

Is this a good problem to have? Yes and no.  

Gretchen liked both companies. She did what many of us do when forced to make a rational decision. She made a list of the pros and cons of each job.

I particularly liked her list of categories for rating each company. With her analytical mind, she gave a rating of one to five for each of these questions.

 

• How the benefits worked for her
• What the salary was and how it was paid
• Whether the job provided balance between work and the rest of her daily life
• How the company culture looked
• What the company’s reputation was
• Whether the commute was practical
• What the possibilities were for telecommuting
• Whether the specific job was challenging and interesting
• Who her boss and co-workers would be
• How stable and secure the job / the company / the department / the industry was 
• Whether the job fit into her long-term career plans

In the end, Gretchen went with the first company to offer her a job. They scored higher mostly because she liked the people there and telecommuting was more common within her department. 

Between a Rock and a Job

A more likely scenario, however, is that you will receive one job offer before the other. So what do you do if the job offer you get isn’t from the company you prefer?

Another client, Timothy, had this kind of dilemma.

He interviewed with two companies. The first offered him a job, but it was company number two where he really wanted to work. He wondered if he should turn down the offer, tread water, negotiate the terms, get more information, or what?    

Just like Gretchen, Timothy had questions to ask both himself and the companies where he interviewed.

In this position, you need to find out when the preferred company will be making a decision. If you want to stall the first company, you have to ascertain if you can do that without looking peculiar or just plain fussy. A two- or three-day period is maximum for accepting or declining an offer.

One way to stall the process is to request the offer in writing. This tactic is believable if the details of the offer include numerous specifics about benefits, pay scale, relocation, job description, and company policy. It makes sense that someone would want to review it “before accepting,” especially if that someone has a family.

The other way to stall is to negotiate. It’s a common practice, and the company has already told you they want you, so be bold.      

Or you can frankly explain your predicament to HR in the second company, that you have been offered another position, but that theirs was the job you really wanted. Taking this approach might get you some of the answers you need to make a decision. 

Juggling two companies can be tricky. If you put off one company too long, or don’t act interested enough, or appear too demanding, you risk losing that offer.

In some cases, you may be better off taking the job with whoever steps up to the plate first. That’s the ethical and simple approach. That’s what Timothy did. Last I heard, he’s happy with his new position.

When You Have Multiple Job Offers

Jeremy emailed me to say he was starting his new job the following day, but in two weeks, I heard from him again, telling me that his first choice company came through with a better offer. Oh, oh. Awkward.

When your new employer has invested time and money in the hiring process, and has put resources towards training you and getting you up to speed with the company, you can’t take lightly the decision to leave.

Career mapping 101: never burn bridges.

Jeremy knew he had to make a quick decision. In the end, he knew he’d be better off in a position he really loved.  He told me he talked to his new supervisor in private, explaining that he was surprised to be offered what he felt was his dream job, an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up. 

If this happens to you, offer your resignation to your new supervisor in person. Don’t put it in an email or text message. Be gracious. Thank him or her for this opportunity. Praise the company and the position. Do whatever you can to minimize damage to your reputation and the people responsible for hiring you. Offer your two weeks’ notice, just as you would if you were a long-time employee.

Realize, however, that in the future you’re probably not going to be able to work for that company. You do run the risk of weakening your credibility by making this switch, especially in a tight industry or small town. 

Letting your new boss know right away also holds true if you have accepted the job at company A, but haven’t yet reported to your first day of work. If you are going to revoke an accepted offer of employment, let the company know as soon as possible. Don’t just fail to show up for your first day of work. While the company may be disappointed with your decision, the sooner you let them know you’re taking another job, the better.

When Your Present Company Counter-Offers

I’ve seen a few people apply for jobs while still employed, get hired, and then receive a counter-offer from their present employer. Sometimes a boss who doesn’t want to lose an employee will offer a promotion, a raise, or some other enticement to stay.   

Statistics say that 85% of people who accept a counter offer to remain at their jobs will not be working at that same company in six months.

Once an employer knows you’re less than happy with your position, he’s not as happy with you. Understandable! You may be asked to stay on so you can train a replacement, or to finish some incomplete projects. But once that work is finished, you shouldn’t be surprised if you are squeezed out of major projects because you’re seen as disloyal or a flight risk.

From a personal perspective, there was obviously a reason why you were looking for a new job, and a higher salary isn’t usually the only reason. Even if your current employer matches the salary offered by the other company, the counter-offer won’t address other reasons why you were considering a change.

Preemptive Problem Solving

Of course, the best way to handle this problem is to never let it happen. Knowing exactly what kind of position you want can go a long way towards preventing the problem. Before you begin a serious job search, examine your priorities so that you aren’t applying for jobs you really don’t love.   

Being caught in what sounds like an enviable predicament calls for diplomacy and quick thinking. In my talks as a job-search speaker, I always encourage people to follow their instincts and determine what they are comfortable with – taking a risk by juggling offers, or accepting the first suitor who comes along.  A lot will depend on how long you’re able to wait for the perfect job, and what the job climate is like in your market. 

I hope these tips will guide you if you’re caught in the middle of multiple job offers.

Photos: Handbag.com, Wikimedia, aylesburywax.

 

 

 

Andy had recently lost his job as market research manager, and I was writing a resume for him. One day he told me, “I know that when one door closes, another door opens, but it’s the hallway between them that’s hell!”

That made me smile. And I’m not the only one who’s smiling.  Andy’s getting interviews and it looks like he can choose between two plum jobs soon! Getting fired isn’t something most of us want to happen. But layoffs, downsizing, and restructuring are still common these days.

What you do as soon as you get that pink slip, however, can make the difference in the length of time you’re unemployed, and how you fare financially. Whether you knew termination was near, or it came as a surprise, the more information you have now that it’s a done deal, the better. 

Ask These Questions

What benefits am I entitled to? You may get accrued vacation, overtime, and sick pay. Ask about these, including amounts and how they will be paid out.

Can I resign instead? You may be able to choose between being fired and resigning. If you are fired, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation, benefits, and a severance package. If you resign you can avoid the stigma of getting fired on your record. Of course, you will need to disclose that you were fired if you are asked that specific question on a job application. If you resign, you can answer “no.” Consider the pros and cons if you have the choice.

Do I qualify for any severance package or outplacement assistance? Now is the time to negotiate, but don’t be pressured to sign anything if you’re not ready. Some employers won’t release your final paycheck until you sign a release, but that doesn’t mean you need to sign anything right away.

How will reference checks be handled? It’s good to know what prospective employers will hear when they contact your former employer. Will your supervisor provide you with a letter of recommendation? Can he or she take calls for reference checks, or are those handled through the HR department? What information will be released to the prospective employer? Some companies will verify only the dates of employment, job title, and final salary, and  not answer questions related to why you are no longer working for the company. It’s good to know the policy.

What about my health insurance coverage? If the company has more than 20 employees, your employer is required by law to offer health insurance coverage through COBRA to terminated employees for up to 18 months. If you have a health condition, you may want to opt for COBRA coverage initially and then cancel it once you have new insurance.

What happens to my 401(k)? If you are enrolled in profit sharing you may be eligible for a lump sum when you leave the company. Retirement plan distributions have very specific requirements, so I suggest you consult a financial advisor on this one.

When and how do I receive my final check? Find out whether you need to sign paperwork before the check is released.

Begin the Job Hunt Now

My advice to Andy and and others who find themselves fired, is to get back on the horse, pronto. The longer you are unemployed, the harder it is to find a new job. Some jobseekers feel they need a little break before starting the job search, but taking a vacation is the last thing you should be doing now.

Besides the questions you’ll be asking your former employer, this is an ideal time to ask yourself some questions. What are the real reasons I lost my job? (If you suspect illegal discrimination played a role, consult a lawyer.) Did I like this job? This type of company? These responsibilities? Is it time for a career switch? If so, what kind of job would I prefer? Without a job to go to every day, your days may seem endless.

It can be tempting to jump into projects that you’ve put off because you’ve been so busy with work. Don’t. Instead, concentrate with keeping up with friends and people in your network. It will help you feel connected and social, plus you never know when one of them can alert you to a job opening.

Establish daily routines so you’ll stay healthy and organized. This is the time to double check your social media like your Facebook wall to make sure it is employer-friendly. Consider your email address and your voice mail message. They need to be professional enough to communicate with new employment prospects, not something goofy.

You’ll also want to update your LinkedIn profile and resume. That’s where I can help! Helping me gather the information for your resume can provide a boost to your self-esteem. And that’s especially helpful if you are mourning the loss of your old job. Some of the usual comments I get when people see their newly crafted resumes are, “I look good!” or “ Gee, I’ve accomplished a lot!” Recently fired? Then, let’s get started,  and make that hallway between doors a short one.   Photos: ilgiornale, Guardian

I talk to people all the time who have been fired. Sometimes they see it coming, and sometimes it’s a surprise.

Kaitlyn worked as a research lab technician. She told me, “I noticed I was being left out of key decisions and meetings.” She suspected that a change was coming.

But for another client, Carlos, an events coordinator, the pink slip came as a shock. He told me, “I didn’t even realize the company was in trouble and getting ready to downsize.”

Because it’s always easier to find a job when you have a job, having your resume up-to-date is just plain smart. Even if your present position isn’t in jeopardy, you never know when opportunity—a better job—will come looking for you.

Here are some signals that your job security may not be all that secure:

Your company is bought or merged into another company and there is a lot of duplication in job titles or functions within both companies. Usually, the acquiring company’s employees will be the ones to stay.

Your company loses a major client or your industry as a whole faces a crisis. Most people are aware of this kind of shift, either from being high in the chain of command, or via the company grapevine.

There are rumors of layoffs. There is often a grain of truth to these tales because layoffs don’t happen overnight. Planning and forethought goes into this kind of company decision.

You’re having a clash of personalities or differing of opinion with your boss. People like to work alongside those with whom they are simpatico. Your boss may even have someone in mind for your job and is therefore not motivated to work out your differences.

You get a new boss. Someone new to the role may want to hire colleagues from his or her previous company, or if promoted from within, to promote co-workers.

Some of your workload had been shifted to other employees. Sometimes tasks are contracted out to self-employed workers or companies. Sometimes a job is just eliminated or reduced to temporary or part time.

If you think the handwriting is on the wall that you may lose your job, here are some good things to do now.

Get Active on LinkedIn

Create or update your LinkedIn profile, but be careful about doing too much at once while you’re still employed. It looks suspicious if you go from a new profile to having 200 new connections in a week. Don’t draw attention to yourself by populating your profile overnight.

And be mindful of your LinkedIn privacy settings. Change the setting for notifications so that your network doesn’t get notices when you update information on your profile.

It might be the best time to have your LinkedIn profile overhauled. This important social media site is not about just filling in the blanks. It’s about putting yourself out there in a more complete fashion than you can on a resume or with Facebook or Twitter.

LinkedIn is always adding features that make it easier for people—-both future employers and networking connections—-to find you. Are you taking full advantage of all LinkedIn offers?

Watch Your Social Media Behavior

Lock down your privacy settings on your all your social media accounts, especially Facebook.

Be careful with your Facebook posts and photos, your tweets and shares on Twitter, and what you write on any blog or forum where you contribute. Even letters to the editor stay online for years and are easily searchable using your name.

Google your name and see what comes up. If anything questionable comes up or if you could be confused with someone else who has a similar name, do what you can to remove negative information and confusion.

Whatever you do, don’t post anything nasty or controversial online about your current job. Even with your privacy settings at the maximum, anyone who is friends with you can take a screenshot of your post and share it with others. You don’t want to give someone a reason to fire you, or not hire you.

Collect Your Stuff

Start depersonalizing your office or workspace. Take home what belongs to you gradually, so that it’s not apparent that you are removing things. Stripping all personality from your space will attract attention, so take baby steps in the guise of getting neater and more organized.

You’ll also want to collect whatever you require for building a better resume—-the information you’ll need while you still have access to company records. Examples would be the dates and names of trainings, copies of performance evaluations, sales records, letters or emails of praise or accreditation, and company publications where you, your team, or your work has been mentioned.

Educate Yourself

Check out your company’s employee handbook and/or your employment agreement to learn what’s owed to you.

Find out what the company policy is on benefits that you’ve accrued but not used. Are you entitled to cash out unused vacation time, or does the company have a use-it-or-lose-it policy?

Also review the section that outlines what exactly constitutes “termination.”

Tighten Your Belt

If you lose your job, no matter what personal, industry, or government safety nets you have available, money could become a problem.

Are there expenses you can temporarily reduce, such as subscriptions, memberships, small luxuries or indulgences, or any extra features or benefits you don’t often use?

Now is the time to start stockpiling an emergency fund for your living expenses, especially if you are living paycheck to paycheck.

Don’t wait until you actually lose your job to assess your financial situation and build a financial buffer.

Update Your Resume

Having a current resume gives you peace of mind, like having an insurance policy or money in the bank. Although I promise my resume and LinkedIn clients quick turnaround, I need to collect the data from you. Do you have up-to-date data?

Getting a jumpstart on a finished resume could be especially important if there was mass layoff or downsizing in your company or industry. It could give you that important edge, a two- or three-week head start on your colleagues who haven’t kept marketing documents up to date.

You might also consider starting to put out feelers for that next job. There are plenty of advantages to this approach. Consider it window shopping, testing the waters, or doing practice runs. You’ll learn about what to expect in the way of availability and salary should the news come that you’ve been fired—whether you’ve suspected it or it’s a surprise.

Phone photo: Slate