Blog – Page 6

If This Is Vital To Your Job Search Why Haven’t You Done It?

August 6, 2015 By jenowenby

I’ve discussed the importance of a strong LinkedIn profile in several articles lately. Even though I’ve written resumes and recruited for several years, I’m still stunned by the amount of companies that hire from LinkedIn. It’s 97%! 97%!

With that information let me ask you, are you saying no to your dream job because you don’t have a strong profile? Companies will pass you over as a candidate no matter how solid you are if you aren’t presenting yourself correctly.

Why Get LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is the top social networking website for job seekers. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, explains it, “Post a full profile and get connected to people you trust. Because if you’re connected to those people and you posted a profile, then when other people are searching for people, they might find you.”

LinkedIn has more than 332 million registered users as of January 2015. The site adds two new members every second, and 187 million people visit the site each month. With so many members, the rate at which your network expands on LinkedIn can be truly amazing. A hundred strategic contacts could mean access to millions of people in a short amount of time. You’d have to attend dozens — or hundreds — of in-person networking events to equal the reach you can get on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn allows you to leverage the power of your network — the people you know, and the people those people know — to help you connect to the person (or people) who are in a position to offer you a job.

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, put it this way: LinkedIn is about “connecting talent with opportunity on a massive scale.”

Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn. Recruiters from every discipline and industry are on LinkedIn. More than four million companies have profile pages on LinkedIn.

But author Guy Kawasaki puts it best: “I could make the case that Facebook is for show, and LinkedIn is for dough.”

Why LinkedIn Is Important In Your Job Search

Once upon a time, attending networking mixers, industry events, and Chamber of Commerce meetings were the best way to make new connections and build business relationships. Now, these activities have moved online within the LinkedIn community. Much like networking in person, professionals interact on LinkedIn with the explicit intention of making business connections.

With LinkedIn, you get all the benefits of networking in person, with less of the hassle. Instead of going from business lunch to business lunch hoping to meet people, LinkedIn provides a platform for you to specifically search and research individuals who you know will directly add value to your job search.

Employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to locate both active job seekers and those who aren’t necessarily looking (passive candidates). They also use LinkedIn to vet job candidates before making an interview invitation or extending a job offer. LinkedIn also allows candidates to create an online portfolio of their accomplishments — the latest update to LinkedIn’s profile format (rolled out in June 2014), has a strong visual emphasis, facilitating embedded video, links to content posted elsewhere on the Internet, and the ability to create highly shareable, long-form content in the form of LinkedIn’s “Publishing” feature.

LinkedIn allows you to identify, research, contact, follow-up, engage, and maintain your contacts in one place. Its ability to facilitate business networking is unmatched by any other social network. Essentially, your LinkedIn profile is a résumé, business card, and elevator speech all rolled up into one.

However, your LinkedIn profile is not your résumé. LinkedIn is a personal branding page. You need both a résumé and a LinkedIn profile, and they should be in sync with one another, but not be exact copies. The information on your résumé should match your profile (in terms of positions you’ve held, your educational credentials, etc.), but the content you include on your LinkedIn profile will be different than what is included on your résumé.

Jennifer Owenby offers her combined expertise as a recruiter along with training as a professional resume writer. Please visit ONB Professional Resume and LinkedIn Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment.

Are YOU One of the 70%?

July 7, 2015 By jenowenby

Would it surprise you to find that a staggering 70% of Americans hate their job? When we are unhappy with our job, everything in our life suffers including physical and mental health, finances, stress levels, and family just to name a few. So what do you do? We spend more time at our workplace than home. If you’re miserable, take a step back and gain some clarity.

It’s In the Attitude

First, stay positive. Our attitudes affect everything we touch, and others easily detect a negative attitude. Whenever the negative thoughts threaten to take over, take a moment to recognize everything you are grateful for. This simple mental exercise, done three to four times a day, can be an inner game changer.

Don’t Stay in a Place of Desperation

Second, realize that although you’re not happy with your job that you aren’t desperate either. You have the luxury of being able to choose and not take just anything that will pay the bills. Instead, you can accept a better position that offers growth opportunities and a salary increase.

Hire a Professional

Third, get the guidance that you need to succeed. It’s not just about putting any ol’ resume online anymore. To be successful and place yourself in a better position, you need a strategy and a resume that stands out from the rest of the crowd.

Understand Your Value

Fourth, understand your uniqueness. If you aren’t clear about it, employers won’t be either. If you don’t capitalize on your value, then companies will move on leaving you with a missed opportunity. If you aren’t sure what your value is then take a few minutes and write down what comes easily to you. Most often we don’t identify our value because it flows so easily into everything we do. For example, are you a great communicator? Can you deliver complex information in easy to understand instructions? Make a list and capitalize on what you discover.

Rest &Relaxation

When people are dealing with a large amount of stress it’s easy to stay focused on the problem. However, if you take a few minutes to refresh, and recharge you can shift your frustrations into a better mood. What works for you? Music? Reading? Disconnecting and watching a good movie? Hiking? Swimming? Allow yourself some time to recharge.

Just a note for everyone – It’s been a hot summer, and I wanted to offer a sizzlin’ hot deal. Now through July 14th you can receive $100 off any mid-level professional resume or higher (A minimum purchase is required). This also includes an additional discount on packages as well! I rarely run specials, so take advantage of this great deal. Hop over to www.onbproresume.com to schedule your appointment today.

5 Crucial Action Steps You Need To Land Your Dream Job

June 23, 2015 By jenowenby

It’s estimated that 90 percent of our daily lives are spent doing routine tasks. But a habit can be a bad thing, because “if you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’re going to keep on getting what you’ve always got.”

One of the most important things you can do is to take the time to plan your career roadmap. Whether you want to change jobs — or careers —or simply get more out of your current job, a career plan is essential to helping you reach your goals.

This exercise may take you 20 minutes, or you might devote a few hours to planning where you want to go. If you want your life to be different in the next 12 months, especially your career, take the time to work on your career roadmap.

Action Step One: Take Stock

The first step is to assess where you are. To figure out where you’re going, you must first look at where you’ve been.

Here are some questions to help you assess where you are:

What are you most proud of this past year — personally, and professionally?
What went right this year?
Did you receive any awards or recognition this year?
Did you take on any additional responsibility this year? If so, what?
How did you take the initiative in your job this year?
Have you learned any new skills?
Did you earn any certifications or licenses?

Record this information in a success journal. A Microsoft Word file on your computer, Evernote, a series of emails you send to yourself or even a physical notebook will work. And in the coming year, take the time to record your accomplishments as you go through the year instead of waiting until the end of the year.

Next, look for opportunities for improvement in your career. How does your salary stack up against your peers? Is your current position in alignment with your priorities and your core values? Where is the change needed?

Action Step 2: Articulate Your Goal

Decide what you want and visualize it. Get specific: What does it look like; what does it feel like? You have to really want it to invest the time and energy to follow your dream. Describe your ideal job:

What is your ideal employer? (size, industry, culture, location, structure)

How much would your dream job pay? (Realistically)

What are the most important benefits — other than salary — that would prompt you to go to work for a new company?

Describe your ideal job — the position you would most like to have. What is the job title, responsibilities, who you would report to, who would report to you? Would it involve travel? Do you want to work independently, as part of a team or both? Do you like short-term projects or long-term projects?

What do you want your next job to do for you that your last job didn’t do? In other words, what will be different about your next job? Is there anything that you do in your current job that you don’t want to do in your next job?

Think about the person that you want to be, and imagine the possibilities. Then, identify 2-3 goals you want to tackle. Use the S.M.A.R.T. goal system to articulate your goals — goals should be “Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Oriented.”

For example, let’s imagine you have worked as an accountant for the past three years, but you really want to work in marketing. Your goal might be: “By Jan. 1, 2016, I will be working as a Marketing Assistant in a Fortune 1000 company.”

You should also write down why you are interested in making the change. In other words, what is your motivation for taking this path? Another good question to ask is, “How will I know when I’ve achieved my goal(s)?”

Action Step 3: Make a Plan

Part three of Building Your Career Roadmap. Take the time to prepare a game plan for how you will reach your goal. But don’t use planning as an excuse to procrastinate. You want to get to Step Four as quickly as possible because actions create momentum.

Take each of your goals and write down the list of steps under each of them that you will need to take to make the goal happen. The more individual steps you can map out, the easier it will be for you to reach your goals. The steps should be practical tasks that will lead you to achieve the goal.

For example, with our goal of making a career change from accounting to marketing, here are some sample steps:

Research job postings for entry-level marketing jobs. What are the skills, education, and experience required?
Join the American Marketing Association and attend one virtual event or in-person boot camp in the next 90-120 days.
Enroll in semester-long online marketing course focusing on marketing principles.
Identify a volunteer opportunity to put marketing skills into practice — either in current job or with a community organization.
Assess transferable skills from accounting that would be useful in a marketing role (project management, analysis, financial management, client relations).
Work with a professional résumé writer to create a targeted marketing résumé.
Join three marketing-related groups on LinkedIn, and follow 5-6 Fortune 1000companies in the area that have company profiles on LinkedIn.
Assemble people in a network to act as references for marketing interview.
Connect with 2-3 contacts at Fortune 1000 companies in the area.
Identify possible employers and submit résumés.

Give yourself milestones so that you can measure your progress. How will you know when you’re on the right track? Include specific dates and numbers in your milestones.

Action Step 4: Building A Career Road Map

With the tasks you’ve outlined in Step Three, this gives you a checklist of items to use to take action. If you are working through the steps and discover you need to add additional items, update your task list. You may also discover additional projects that need to be completed to make the next step — and the overall goal — easier to accomplish. You may also find that you need to make adjustments to your timeline.

For example, if you discover that a six-month program to learn about social media would help you land your new marketing job, adjust your goal deadline. This would give you time to put some of the new skills into practice before you put them on your résumé.

As you work your way through your task list, focus on the actions you are taking, realizing that if you are taking the right actions, these should eventually lead to the results you seek. If you’re not getting the results you want, change the plan, not the goal. Re-examine your tasks and see if there is something you are missing.

It can also be helpful to get outside feedback. Enlisting the help of an accountability partner — a friend, family member, coach, résumé writer, or therapist — can provide valuable perspective on your progress. This individual can also keep you on track, making sure you are working through your task list. And if there are specific areas where you need help to cross the task off your list, make sure you ask for assistance.

For example, writing a résumé to support a career change can be difficult. Enlisting the help of a professional résumé writer can help you cross that task off your list.

Action Step 5: Building Your Career Road Map

When you’re on a journey, it can help to periodically assess where you are to make sure you’re on the right road. If you miss a step along the way or take a “wrong turn” — you can find yourself a long way from your intended destination. So plan periodic assessments of your progress along the way. This can be a monthly “check-up” where you review your plan and make any necessary changes, or a quarterly review.

Taking the time to think through and plan out your career roadmap is an important step in helping you create the career you want for yourself. If you don’t, you may find your career stuck or stalled. Or you may wake up five years from now and wonder, “How did I get here?” If you want to achieve more in your professional life, invest the time and effort in completing the Career Roadmap Worksheet.

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Author Lewis Carroll

STEP ONE: TAKE STOCK

Current Job Title:
Start Date of Current Job (month/year):
Current Salary:
What I Like Most About My Current Job:
What I Would Want to Change About My Current Job:

STEP TWO: ARTICULATE YOUR GOAL

What Is Your Goal?

STEP THREE: MAKE A PLAN

What Are the Specific Steps (Tasks) You Need to Take To Achieve?
Your Goal?

STEP FOUR: TAKE ACTION

What Help (Outside Assistance) Do You Need to Reach Your Goal?
Who Is Your Accountability Partner?

STEP FIVE: MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS

How Close — or How Far Away — Are You To Reaching Your Goal At This Moment?
Do You Need to Make Any Adjustments in the Goal, Tasks, or Deadline?

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Did Your Career Choice or Lack of One Take You Down the Wrong Path?

June 15, 2015 By jenowenby

I’ve read some fantastic articles concerning what we would tell our younger self and possibly do differently in life. After taking some time to reflect I identified my frustration during those years and my career path, but it was more than that. I realized that I had lost my goals completely.

I was a single mother of two for almost ten years, and it was the hardest job I ever had. I was consumed with day-to-day living, food on the table, and shoes for the kids; I lost my way concerning a career path. I worked two jobs, and there just wasn’t enough time and energy left for what I wanted. Even if I had figured it out, I needed guidance. I needed someone to believe in me and give me a boost in the right direction.

I realize many of us choose a career due to an experience or experiences in our lives. It took additional time for me to find my career path, but when I did, I could see where my passion for helping others stemmed from. My passion is to help others land a great job, advance their careers, earn more money, and be happy. I struggled with all of those things and needed someone during those years in my life to give me hope and stable direction.

I needed to see myself in a different light, be presented as a capable and intelligent person who could do an excellent job. Eventually, I did land the right job that led me to my own business. I now have the ability and training to help people where I struggled. We all realize that if you are not happy with your job it affects every aspect of your life including finances, health, and relationships.

In a nutshell, I would have told my younger self these things:

Your work experience is just as important as your education.
It is okay to focus on a career even while you have a family.
You can research a career, but it is when you are getting your feet wet that you gain valuable understanding and your passion lines up.
Reach out for guidance and help from a professional. This will help you streamline the process, gain clarity, increase your income, and reduce your job search time drastically, allowing you to reach your goals sooner.

Writing accomplishment based resumes is not just about words on a page, it is about bringing an individual to life on paper. This moves beyond listing job duties. This is about connecting people with the right job and right company. It is about boosting someone above the competition and preparing them for an interview through the process. A good resume is about bringing someone’s best self up front and center stage and finally being recognized for their talents and abilities. The right resume can change your life.

If you are in the same position, I was years ago, and you are ready to make a change schedule your free strategy session with me today and let’s make a difference together.

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Are You Doing This One Thing That Can Stop You From Getting Hired?

June 4, 2015 By jenowenby

Nine out of ten hiring managers are looking at your social media profiles before making a hiring decision, according to Jobvite’s annual Social Recruiting Survey (2014). More than half of those surveyed said they’ve reconsidered hiring a candidate based on what they found online!

As a job seeker, it’s important to consider what a prospective employer will learn about you online. Social media profiles aren’t just used to “rule out” candidates — your online presence can also improve your chances of getting the job, by providing examples of your work ethic, spotlighting mutual connections, and identifying cultural fit.

What a company finds about you online should reassure them about your qualifications and suitability as a prospective employee … not raise red flags. But it’s the negative information that can hurt your chances of getting the job. Things like posts or photos about illegal drugs, sexual activity, guns, or alcohol can hurt your chances of being considered. But even things like poor spelling/grammar or profanity on your social media posts — or sharing information about your political affiliation — can impact your chances of being hired.

There are dozens of examples of candidates who have been dropped from consideration because they complained about their job on their social media accounts, or made fun of their boss or team online, or posted while they were supposed to be working, or revealed company secrets.

What is online about you is more important than ever, and this guide will help you manage your online presence as it relates to your job search.

Assess Your Presence
The first step is to see what’s out there already. Monitoring your online presence is easy if you know which tools to use. Many of these are free.

Start by Googling yourself. On the Google homepage (http://www.google.com), type in your name.
If you have a common name, you will want to see what information is broadly available through a simple name search, but then also narrow it by your profession or geographic location. (For example: “Jane Jobseeker Public Relations” or “Jane Jobseeker Omaha.”)
You will want to note how many search results are returned — but you will primarily be looking at the first 2-3 pages of search results.

Note: If you have a Google account (i.e., Gmail or YouTube), you will find you get different results if you are logged into your Google account when you conduct your search. Log out of Google before conducting your search so you can see a better representation of what others see when they Google your name.

Google Alerts
You should also set up Google Alerts for your name, so that you can be alerted when new information is posted online about you.

Go to: http://www.google.com/alerts
Put your name in the search box. Then, click the “Show options” link.

Note: You can create multiple alerts with variations of your name — but also your location and industry as well — i.e., “Jane Jobseeker Public Relations” — like when you Googled yourself.

Then, determine how often you want the query to run.

You can also determine what sources you want searched. The default is “Automatic,” but you can also limit the search to the following: News, Blogs, Web, Video, Books, Discussion, and/or Finance. You can also specify what language you want results for, if you want to limit your search by region, how many search results you want returned, and which email address to deliver your results to.

Then click the “Create Alert” button.

You can also use quotation marks to make your search more specific. Removing the quote marks makes it more likely that you will receive results that are irrelevant.

You can modify these alerts at any time, so start with broad results and you can refine them over time.

Using Google Tools to Manage Your Online Presence
Google provides some tools to help you manage your online presence. You can also use Google+ to create a profile to put your best foot forward.

Access your Google+ profile here: https://plus.google.com

You will need to sign into your Google account — or create one — to manage your information, including your bio, contact details, and other information. You can also link to other sites about you – or created by you. For example, you can link to your blog, online photos in Picasa, and other profiles, such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

Google recommends keeping your profile updated so people who are searching for you will be able to find precisely the information you want them to find.

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

7 Keys to Help You Stay Sane During Your Job Search

May 21, 2015 By jenowenby

I was just speaking to a client the other day, and she mentioned how difficult and stressful her job search was. She was working 10-12 hours a day which left her tired and frustrated, and she didn’t have the time she needed to get her desired results.

So, what do you do? How do you manage the daunting task and overwhelm of building a resume, organizing your job search, working, and not losing your sanity?

Stay Organized

It is a proven fact that people who stay organized reduce stress. Any job search, whether you are choosing to make the change or forced to change, is difficult. Start an Excel spreadsheet and list the jobs applied for, company name, date, brief description, and copy and paste the full ad into a word document. If you only save the link, when the ad is removed, you can no longer access the information online.

When you keep track through excel and word, you can easily review the job description before the interview. You can also search the company on Google for additional preparation.

Don’t be afraid to get professional help

Hiring someone to write a professional document and breathe life into your resume, LinkedIn summary, and cover letter is an excellent investment in your career. I find the majority of people struggle with writing their resume and need a professional to bring a fresh insight into their career and experience. The expression “too close to the forest to see the trees” is often correct. Examine the areas where you need the most help. Does your resume truly bring to light your accomplishments? Is it focused? Do you struggle with interviews? Is there a gap or two in your employment and you’re not sure how to handle it in your resume or interview?

Results of working with a professional

The majority of my clients are landing jobs in 4-8 weeks, and an average of $10,000 annual pay increase. This cuts through time, lost wages, dealing with unemployment that barely covers the bills, stress on your health, and relationships.

Career counseling

I’ve met some wonderful people, and before working together concerning their resume they needed some clarity regarding the direction of their career. I recently partnered with a fantastic career counselor and coach, for those located in the Portland metro region in Oregon, Andrea King with Careerful Counseling Services. Andrea can assist with a new career path, identify and remove barriers, and help make changes. Visit her at www.careerful.com for additional information. She provides the coaching, and I write the resumes. I highly recommend her.

Stress Reduction Techniques

Breathe and stay calm. It might sound stupid, but when you are stressed you take shallow breaths. Deep breathing releases not only toxins in your body, but releases tension as well. When the negativity is taking over your thoughts, stop for 68 seconds and think positive thoughts. This helps shift from stress and into a positive mindset. Do it as often as you find yourself anxious, mad, sad or frustrated. If you think a negative thought during those 68 seconds, start over. After doing this several times a day for a few weeks, you will automatically begin seeing things in a more positive light, including your job search.

Get focused

Schedule dedicated time each day to connect with people who can further your job search. Post your resume on indeed and other websites, update your LinkedIn profile showing you are available for opportunities, and apply for jobs. A job search is a job in itself so dedicate a few hours each day sending out your resume and connecting with others. Basically, lather, rinse repeat.

Make time for some fun

Most people are on a budget, especially if they are not working so find something fun and relaxing that has nothing to do with a job or lack of. It is a proven fact when someone takes a break, does something relaxing and even mundane the subconscious assists with problem-solving. Take a walk outside and soak up some sun. 15 minutes of sunshine is a good dose of Vitamin D that assists in mood elevation, and it is summer time so get some exercise. The doctors are saying sitting is the new smoking”. In other words, sitting all day is just as detrimental to your health. To be prepared and move into your new career and job, be ready and take care of yourself.

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Jennifer Owenby offers her combined expertise as a recruiter along with training as a professional resume writer. Please visit ONB Professional Resume Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment. Also visit here for LinkedIn Profile Services.

Do You Regret Your Career Choice?

May 13, 2015 By jenowenby

I’ve read some fantastic articles concerning what we would tell our younger self, what we would do differently in life; take risks, or head down a different path.

I was a single mother of two for almost ten years, and it was the hardest job I ever had. I lost my way concerning a career path. There wasn’t enough time and energy left for what I wanted and needed. Even if I had figured my career path out, I needed guidance. I needed someone to believe in me and give me a boost in the right direction.

I am aware many of us choose a career due to experiences in our life. It took additional time for me to find my path, but when did, I understood where my passion for helping others stemmed from. My passion is to help others land a good job, advance their careers, earn more money, and be happy. I struggled with all of those things and needed someone during those years in my life to give me direction.

Writing accomplishment based resumes is not just about words on a page, it is about bringing an individual to life on paper. This moves beyond listing job duties. It is about connecting people with the right job and right company. It is about boosting someone above the competition and preparing them for an interview through the process. A good resume is about bringing someone’s best self out and finally being recognized for their talents and abilities. The right resume can change your life.

During those years, I needed to view myself in a different light, be presented as a capable and intelligent person who did an excellent job. Eventually, I did land the right job that led me to my own business, but it took years. I now have the ability and training to help people where I struggled. We all realize that if you are not happy with your job every aspect of your life is affected including finances, health, and relationships.

Are in the same position as I was years ago? Are you ready to make a change, land interviews fast, and fast-track a new career? If so, schedule your free strategy session with me today. Let’s make a difference together.

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Jennifer Owenby offers her combined expertise as a recruiter along with training as a professional resume writer that gets you fast results. Jennifer is also a LinkedIn profile writer. Located in Portland, Oregon, Jennifer services clients around the country and offers expertise in management, executive, technical, sales, supply chain and logistics resumes.

Is Your Resume Boring and Putting Recruiters to Sleep?

May 9, 2015 By jenowenby

While working as a recruiter I reviewed resumes in the afternoon, and I hate to admit it, but I would get terribly sleepy staring at boring documents.

This is how it went: open email, view resume in 6 seconds, delete, open email, view resume in 6 seconds, delete, open email, review resume, move it into “call” folder, open email, view resume, delete, open…

You get the idea. 85% of resumes did NOT show they were qualified for the position applied for! An enormous number were overlooked. Here’s the sad part. I bet a lot of the applicants were good candidates but had a bad resume. A bad resume can end your career before it gets started.

Here are a few things to consider that will give you the advantage you need:

Understand that your resume is a marketing snapshot or better yet, a movie trailer. Think about the last time you watched a fantastic movie trailer on TV. What happened? You were so intrigued by the quick snippets of information you were itching to see more. That is exactly what your resume is supposed to do.

With the competition a one size fits all resume does not work. Look at your job posting and identify what problem(s) the company needs to be solved, what experience are they looking for? Do you have those qualifications? If you do, then they need to be presented loud and clear on your resume. Don’t make a company search for the information located on page two. If it is not shown quickly, the recruiter will move on.

Drop the objective and write a one or two line pitch about who you are. Do you streamline processes that boost the bottom line? Have you increased company profit? Decreased costs? Are you a leader? Organizer? Who are you? This is not the easiest thing to wrap up into a few strong sentences, so think about the job posting and what the company needs. If you fit the description, let them know.

As a professional resume writer, I see a large amount of resumes with only job duties listed. I ask people how long they have been searching for work, and the majority of the time they have applied for multiple opportunities with no response. I explain I do not write a resume just listing their job responsibilities. It is highly ineffective. I dig deeper with my clients and then write a focused and accomplishment-based resume. What are the results you ask? My clients are reporting back being called for interviews in as little as 48 hours and beginning a new job in 4-6 weeks. No more unemployment checks, no more fear they cannot pay the mortgage, no more self-loathing, but a new beginning and hope.

Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

If You Really Want the Job…

May 4, 2015 By jenowenby

A man ponders a question – wondering What Should I Do with words in a thought cloud

I can’t tell you how many thousands of people I interviewed while working as a recruiter. I met some great candidates, and even though we had a system to track them, they would get lost in the shuffle. However, there was one thing that really set someone apart.

What is the one thing to do if you really want the job you ask? Handwrite a short thank you note and mail it to the person who interviewed you.

When you are one of many candidates being considered, what you do after the interview can set you apart significantly and increase your chances of being offered the job.

The first — and most important — thing to do is to send a follow-up note. The etiquette for thank you letters after the interview has changed as email takes a larger role in communication during the hiring process. Surveys reveal a wide disparity of preferences among hiring managers about whether a handwritten or emailed note is best. However, what hasn’t changed is the need to send a thank you note. It’s a must.

If you have decent penmanship and access to pre-printed thank you cards (no flowers or animals, please!), and can hand write a note immediately after the interview, go for it. Just make sure you mail it right away so that it arrives the next day, or within 2-3 days of the interview. Make sure you address the card correctly so that it will be received directly by the interviewer. Be sure to spell the interviewer’s name correctly! And double-check the card to ensure you didn’t spell anything wrong.

If your handwriting could use some help, or you wouldn’t be able to mail a card promptly, email is also acceptable for sending a thank you message. Just make sure you address the email to the right person. For a subject line, you can use something like, “Great to Meet You Today” or “Thanks for Meeting with Me Yesterday.” (And again, spelling counts here too!). Do not send the thank you email from your work email address. But do send it from a professional email address. Not cutiepie38@hotmail.com.

What should you write in the thank you note? The best post-interview thank you notes are brief and to the point.

Cover these four points:

Address the person by name. (Ms. Jones or Mr. Smith, not “Bob” or “Nancy,” unless the interviewer directed you to use his or her first name.)
Thank them for their time and the opportunity to interview for the (name of position).
Mention one thing from the interview that especially resonated with you, or mention an issue (or answer a question) that you felt you didn’t address properly in the interview. But don’t take an apologetic tone. Instead, say something like, “I wanted to clarify what we talked about with curriculum development. I should have emphasized that I do have experience in lesson planning and creating course outlines, having prepared a comprehensive course syllabus as part of my graduate class on Classroom Management. I would be happy to forward you a copy of these materials for your review, if you’d like.”
Confirm the “next step” from the interview, including what action you will take — or what you’re expecting from the interviewer.

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Jennifer Owenby offers her combined expertise as a recruiter along with training as professional resume writer. Please visit ONB Professional Resume Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment. Also visit here for LinkedIn Profile Services.

What Pumping Gas and Your Job Search Have in Common

March 21, 2015 By jenowenby

When I first moved to Oregon, I was almost fined $500 for pumping my own gas. An irate gas attendant came out of the building and yelled at me to put the pump down. Startled, I did as he said. I got back in the car while my friend asked what the problem was. The attendant informed us that in the state of Oregon, it is illegal to pump your gas. I thought that was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard. Until, I found out the reason behind it. Oregon uses this everyday task to create paid jobs. Yes, our gas is more expensive, but those extra few dollars are helping someone pay their rent and feed their family.

After living in Oregon for seventeen years, I’m not sure if I remember how to pump gas. The pumps have changed, and you can now slide your debit card in the machine, and no longer have to pay inside the store. I am guessing the pump systems have evolved not only in the last seventeen years, but even in the last few! I don’t think anyone will disagree that technology is changing from day to day.

Now, what in the world does pumping or not pumping gas have anything to do with a resume or a job interview? Everything, if you don’t understand what and how to do it. You might not have a mad gas attendant yelling at you, but you won’t get positive results either. And, although I think it’s an excellent idea to create jobs at gas stations, if you’re reading this, you don’t want to have to apply at one.

Gas pumps aren’t the only things that have changed. The job market has scattered quicker than pollen this time of year. I’ve heard of layoffs from IBM, Microsoft and NBTY just to name few. With the job market over saturated are you prepared to navigate a new position with your resume? Do you understand the changes, not only in the market but, the hiring process too? Do you know what a recruiter is looking for or even how to make sure your resume reaches a HUMAN? You read that correctly; you can apply online, think you apply successfully and never realize the system has kicked you out. Why? It could be due to a number of factors including not having appropriate keywords. What’s worse? You won’t ever know the difference.

What is a frustrated job seeker to do? Stay calm and do your research.

1. What kind of format is the company calling for? If you are applying online, then you will need to make sure you have an ATS format as well as use the appropriate keywords in order to bypass the system and reach a human.
2. If the job qualifications require a degree and you don’t have one, don’t apply. When you check the answer “no” on the application, the system will eliminate your information without as much as a thank you. Unfortunately, you just wasted your time.
3. Follow companies on LinkedIn. Find out what they do, what problems they need to solve, and what role can you fill for them. The more you understand the value you bring to a company, not only have you aligned yourself to solve their problems, but you are more prepared than 90% of applicants.
4. If you are trying to figure out which direction you should go then check out http://www.onetonline.org/. This is an amazing tool that can help you simplify your job search.
5. Not every person is the right fit for every position. Have a bit of fun, learn more about yourself, and take the free personality test at http://www.truity.com/.
6. And, most importantly, as Dori said in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming.”

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What Pumping Gas and Your Job Search Have in Common

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