No Second Chance to Make a First Impression
You’ve no doubt heard the expression that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. One of the most important areas that this phrase holds true is your search for employment. Making that first impression is crucial and it comes not only in the form of personal contact, but also your resume, your email address, and the outgoing message on your voice mail. It’s a lot to worry about, but taking steps at the beginning of your job search can reap benefits down the road.
Current technology allows you to apply for jobs without actually having any personal interaction in the beginning of the process. While this may be convenient for the employer, it can in turn, be a hindrance for the job seeker. This means that your first impression is going to be your resume. A survey done by CareerBuilder states that thirty eight percent of HR managers spend one to two minutes reviewing a resume. That’s a maximum of 120 seconds to make an impression and to show that you’re a candidate the employer should interview.
Tailoring your resume for the specific positions you apply for can help. Do not, under any circumstance include false information however. If a position’s primary duties and functions resemble something you may only have limited experience in, be sure to highlight what experience you do have. Sometimes it can make all the difference.
It’s becoming common practice for companies to accept resumes online and use an automated resume sorting program. These programs scan your resume and look for certain keywords that have been programmed in and correspond with that particular job posting. This is another convenience for the employer but can hurt the job seeker. If a job description matches your skills, be sure that your resume contains the right keywords. It’s difficult to know which keywords will be effective since all programs differ, but normally the employers job description wording can be a good indicator.
Another aspect that isn’t given much thought in first impressions is your email address. If an employer has two candidates they are choosing from, your email address could play a part in getting an interview or not. For example, an employer need to email a potential candidate. One candidate’s email address is kegstandchamp@fakedomain.com and the other candidates email address is John.Doe@fakedomain.com. If they are looking for someone who gives off a professional vibe, chances are they will go with the latter.
This doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your favorite fun email address. Save that for personal contacts. When it comes to your job search however, it may be best to set up a straight forward email address through Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo.
Out going voice mail messages may also leave an impression. Having a message that was recorded during a party may not leave the best impression to the prospective employer who is calling it. The voice mail that corresponds to the phone number on your resume should be clear, concise and include your full name.
In the last few years social networking sites have taken the world by storm. Posting pictures from family outings and vacations, up to the minute updates on your status and voicing opinions has never been easier and all are now part of our normal daily routine. As with everything, social networking sites also have their downside. More and more employers are searching the profiles of potential candidates to find out what shows up online. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and LinkedIn have all become one more consideration in the resume sorting and hiring process. If you don’t want the world to see it, keep your profiles set to private.
Finding employment in today’s economical climate is stressful enough. The added pressure of making sure your bases are covered can be pretty overwhelming. It’s always a good idea to create and use a checklist before starting your job search. Setting yourself up for success in the beginning will make things easier and will help you make that positive first impression.
There are endless resources online that will help guide you to writing an effective resume, answering those dreaded interview questions and how to go about finding a job. We will highlight certain articles here.
As the economy has worsened and millions of job seekers are chasing after fewer and fewer jobs, what you put on your resume has become more important than ever. Before you send your resume anywhere, run it through this quick five-point checklist to determine if it needs a tune-up or a complete overhaul.
There are over 14 million people out of work with unemployment is at it’s highest in 34 years. Competition for jobs in this recession has never been more fierce.
There isn’t any room for guesswork in applying for jobs online. It’s really simple. Follow the instructions in the job posting. Companies think less (or will ignore) applicants who don’t follow the instructions. If the listing says send a cover letter, write one. If the listing says apply online at JobDig, do so. When the help wanted ad says send a PDF, don’t send a Word document.
Job seekers are bombarded with daily advice from well meaning friends, relatives, and professionals covering every topic from résumés and cover letters, to online networking, job boards, and visual CVs. As a professional résumé writer and job search coach, even I get overwhelmed – feeling like I am running as fast as I can to keep up with the latest and greatest tools and techniques, and then discovering the next week that I may have been chasing the wrong bus!
So, you’ve answered all the interviewer’s gut wrenching questions, and now s/he says, “Do you have any questions for me?” Uh-Oh! Now what do you do? Do you just squirm around and say, “Oh nothing.” Or do you make something up on the spot?
A savvy job seeker knows careful preparation is the key to a successful interview. To become the number one candidate, you must:
Your resume is critical to your job search success. It must be a highly effective resumé to capture the employer’s attention in today’s market. Here’s what employers recommend, based on a national survey conducted with 600 Hiring Managers.