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Want the Job? Do These 4 Things Before Your Interview

June 25, 2016 By jenowenby

What you do before, during, and after the job interview can significantly affect whether you are offered the job. This post is designed to help you maximize your chances of being offered the job you want.

Just like the purpose of the résumé is to get you an interview, the purpose of a job interview is to get you a job offer. The interview helps the decision-maker identify your qualifications for the position, but also assess things like personality, cultural fit, and your ability to do the job.

Before the Interview

First, let’s examine things you can do before the interview to improve your chances of securing a job offer.

Research The Company

Before you apply for a position, you should research the company. Not only will this help you tailor your résumé and cover letter for the job, it will also help you identify the real hiring decision-maker(s) — especially if the job posting directs you to apply to the human resources department.

At a minimum, you should:

Review the company’s website.Pay particular attention to the “About Us” page — and, if it’s a publicly-traded company, look at the information for investors. You’ll find a wealth of information about the company’s people, performance, and plans in the company’s reports.
Google the company.Conduct both a regular Google search as well as a search on Google News (http://news.google.com/). The Google News search will identify any recent news articles featuring the company. You can also set up a Google Alert (http://www.google.com/alerts) for the company so that you will be notified via email when there is something new about the company online.
Assess the company’s social media presence.Check out their Facebook business page, company page on LinkedIn, and/or Twitter account. They may also have a company Google+ page, Instagram account, or Pinterest boards. Take the time to look at what the company posts on its social media accounts. This will help you get an idea of the company culture, and may give you a clue as to how the employees dress, as well as what kind of community involvement the company supports.
Check out the company on Glassdoor.com.On Glassdoor, you’ll be able to get “inside” company information from employees and folks who have interviewed at the company. There is no charge to join the site, but the site uses “crowdsourcing” to collect data, so you will be asked to provide information on previous or current employers to add (anonymously) to the Glassdoor database.

Once you have been contacted for an interview, ask for the name of the person who will be interviewing you (if it’s not the person who contacted you to set up the interview). An easy way to do this is to ask, “Who will be conducting the interview?” You can also ask, “Will anyone else be participating in the interview?”

Make sure you get the correct spelling of the interviewer’s name. Conduct a Google search on this person, and look them up on LinkedIn. If you are going to be interviewed by a committee or group, ask for the names of all participants if possible.This will also give you a list for thank you notes afterwards.
Click here to schedule your free strategy session today!

Underpaid? Get the Salary You Deserve

March 23, 2016 By jenowenby

70% of Americans are unhappy with their job, and more than half are underpaid. Whether we like it or not, money affects every area of our life.

Money is usually the most sensitive issue in the hiring process. Discussing compensation often causes anxiety for both employee and employer.

Money may seem like the biggest factor in accepting a job, but it can often cloud your decision-making process. Don’t accept a job that you’re not enthusiastic about simply because the starting salary is a few thousand dollars higher than what you’re currently making. It’s probably more important to find a job that lets you do something you enjoy. Ask yourself whether the position presents a career path with an upward movement and long-range income potential.

Confidence is important in negotiations. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Negotiate from a position of strength.” Strength comes from confidence. Confidence comes from being prepared (doing your homework), reaching the right decision-maker, having the right timing, and knowing what you want out of the negotiation. One of the best things you can do to boost your confidence is to practice (role play) your salary negotiation with someone. Ideally, practice with someone who has negotiation experience — for example, a friend or neighbor who is in sales, or who is a lawyer.

Even in a “bad” economy, it is worthwhile to negotiate your salary. In fact, in a 2012 survey conducted by Robert Half International, a global staffing firm, more than one-third of executives interviewed said they are more willing to negotiate salary with top candidates than they were a year ago. In a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, four out of five employers (80 percent!) said they are willing to negotiate compensation.

If you’re getting a job offer — and salary discussions usually don’t happen unless you’re a serious candidate — negotiation is an expected part of the process.

What’s the worst that can happen? You may not get all that you’re asking for. You may only get some — but that’s more than you started with. It’s rare (extremely rare!) that a job offer would be rescinded simply because you ask for more money.

Have a positive attitude about salary negotiations. Negotiation is basically a process which could benefit both parties. Understand your needs and those of the company. It is possible to reach a win/win solution. Don’t be aggressive or demanding when negotiating salary or a raise. Keep your tone friendly, civil and respectful.

Negotiating a higher starting offer initially can make a big difference in your pay over the long-term. In addition to getting more cash up front, your annual raises will also be based off a higher starting salary.

To find out more download my free EBook concerning salary negotiation atwww.onbproresume.com!

Everything I need to Know in Life I Learned as a Recruiter

February 25, 2016 By jenowenby

Okay, so the title might be a slight exaggeration, but I learned more as a recruiter concerning life and work than anywhere else. I met amazing people, worked hard, laughed hard, and perceived every person I interviewed as a human being with feelings, skills, and something to share. My job was to match a candidate with a position that was a great fit for them and the company. I was part of win-win situations that changed people’s lives every day.

At the beginning of each day the staff would gather in the conference room, review job openings, recommend people who were rock stars, and give a heads up concerning the ones that weren’t. In case you’re wondering, most recruiters keep a list of strong candidates to call first. So, if you’re thinking interviewing well at a staffing agency isn’t as important as at a direct company, I’m here to tell you, you’re sadly mistaken.

Here are a few amazing and not so amazing things I learned from candidates, companies, and co-workers.

How to get fired:

Hide beer in the back of the toilet and drink while on the job.
Write swear words on packing peanuts and then ship the product to the customer.
Fail a drug test and give the excuse that your roommate stuck cocaine up your nose at a party. Guess what? You need a new roommate, but you still have to pass a drug test to get the job.
Email a co-worker concerning another co-worker calling them obscene names and then accidentally sending it to the person you were talking smack about.

Things that will get you remembered and not necessarily in a good way:

Hearing an applicant play the flute during an interview.
No call / no show for your job and then arrive the next day as though nothing happened.
Go to work 15-20 minutes late every day, allow your co-workers to pick up the slack, and then ask them for a favor.

The truth about teamwork:

Realize a team of strong-minded women can work well together, create a positive atmosphere and celebrate when the plan comes together.
Every person can teach you something of value if you stop and take a moment to listen.
Everyone is a leader in their own way.
A co-worker tripped, and cottage cheese splatted all over the floor. Several of us grabbed spoons, crawled around on our hands and knees in our suits, and scooped the contents into the trash. That’s what teamwork is all about.

Things I don’t recommend doing when dealing with a difficult candidate:

Don’t jam the copy machine while printing documents for an irate candidate that is swearing at you.
Telling an applicant, they aren’t qualified to work with the company due to the attempted murder charge on their background check.

The importance of keeping an open mind:

Keep it simple and reserve your personal opinions for another time – can they or can they not do the job?
Not every culture is the same. Some applicants bring their entire family of 12 to the interview. Take a breath and smile because you might fill additional positions.
Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself. You will be more productive if you take your breaks, step away from your computer and breathe.

If you’re located in the U.S. or Canada, 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 Resumes and LinkedIn Services for additional information and scheduling an appointment.

Gasp! Is That An Objective Statement On Your Resume??

February 14, 2016 By jenowenby

There are two things you should immediately remove from your resume, an objective statement and your street address. Save your street address for the application, not online for the world to see. However, leave your city and zip code since hiring managers search by both of those criteria.

The objective statement is outdated so don’t get caught with it. Instead, learn to write a branding statement. Here are some tips to get you started in the right direction.

To help you create your positioning, I recommend a brainstorming exercise. Make a list of possible attributes, values, and differentiators. Brainstorm first — don’t judge or evaluate.

Then, you get to decide what your personal positioning is. Look through the words and phrases you’ve identified, and see what stands out. You may be many things, but pick one to emphasize. It may help you to ask yourself: If I were creating my ideal career, I would ____________.

If you are still having trouble identifying your positioning, use this idea from Brian Kurth, author of “Test Drive Your Dream Job.” Create a collage of your interests — quotes, photos, words, and inspiration from magazines, newspapers, and materials you find online. You can even create a Pinterest board for this. Then, mine that information to find the “theme” to your personal positioning.

When developing your positioning statement, consider these five areas:

Who is your target employer? (industry, size of company, public/private/non-profit)
What problem or issue are they hiring to solve?
What results can the employer expect by hiring you? In other words, what solution do you provide?
What proof do you have that you can deliver results?
What sets you apart from other candidates? What makes you different or memorable?

Be sure to include:

A target audience — who are the clients or customers you work with?
Your employer/industry — where do you want to work? Who do you want to work for? You can even include your desired employer’s name.
A point of difference — what sets you apart? What is the most compelling reason to choose you as a candidate? (This can be included in the “Achievements/Results” section of the personal positioning statement.)

But don’t try to stuff too much information into the statement. The positioning statement is “overstuffed” if you have more than one conjunction per sentence, or more than two punctuation marks (commas or semicolons).

Also, don’t confuse big words with effective positioning. Choose your words carefully. When possible, incorporate in keywords — nouns or phrases that can be picked up through online searches and are prominently used in applicant tracking systems.

If you’re ready to move forward and make changes in your life contact me today for your free strategy session. Click here to schedule your free strategy session today if you’re located in the U.S. or Canada. If you enjoyed the post, please click the thumbs up icon above and let me know!

Click here to download my free EBook concerning salary negotiation today!

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

Are You An Exceptional Employee? How To Let Hiring Managers Know Without Sounding Egotistical

February 14, 2016 By jenowenby

Recruiters and hiring managers need help knowing what kind of position you’re focused on. It’s harder to find a job when you don’t know what kind of job you want. Conversely, it is easier to find a job if you know what kind of job you want.

There are fewer opportunities for average performers to be found in the hiring process, but there are tremendous opportunities for stars. Positioning helps you identify where you can be a star performer and then make the case (through your work and your career communication documents) to support this claim.

The next step is to align your job search with your positioning. Make sure your résumé and interview preparation supports this and makes your case.

Build Your Personal Position Before You Start Looking for a Job

Many job seekers develop their personal positioning when they are looking for a new job. But personal positioning can help you be more effective — and visible — in your current job.

In your current job, get attention for the work you’re already doing:

Offer to do a presentation showing your (or your group’s) accomplishments for the quarter.
Contact your company’s communications department to see if they are interested in doing an article for the company newsletter on a recent project.
Make sure you are keeping an “Accomplishments Journal” documenting your current career successes.

Develop your own communications plan in your current position. Increase your personal visibility by speaking, writing, and participating in social media. Once you’ve identified your personal positioning, see how you can incorporate it into your everyday work life. This will make you worth more to your current employer (remember, superstars stand out!) and make you more attractive as a job candidate when it is time for you to look for a new position.

Click here to download my free EBook concerning salary negotiation today!

Want the Job? Do These 4 Things Before Your Interview

Underpaid? Get the Salary You Deserve

Everything I need to Know in Life I Learned as a Recruiter

Gasp! Is That An Objective Statement On Your Resume??

Are You An Exceptional Employee? How To Let Hiring Managers Know Without Sounding Egotistical

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