20 Ways to Turn Off an Interviewer

20 Ways to Turn Off an Interviewer The interview is like a first-date. You are  checking out the company and the people you meet with and they are evaluating you. You are both looking for some sign that this may lead to another  date, or even a long-term relationship. During an interview, a similar evaluation is occurring. Are you doing things to turn off the interviewer? Appearance: You have between six and 30 seconds to make a first impression, depending on which study you choose to go by. Your physical appearance is all youve got so dont dismiss the importance of the details. Below are some of the most popular reasons candidates have been eliminated: Lack of professional appearance or inappropriate attire. Poor eye contact, poor handshake or unfriendly body language. Poor hygiene, bad breath, gum chewing, smoking and strong perfume. If you are unsure what to wear or how professional is defined by the company you are interviewing with, go ahead and ask the person arranging the interview what the dress code is for the interview. Ability: Obviously, you need to have the skills to perform the job. If a company is going to invest in you, even if it means they have to train you to get up to speed, they want to see that you can handle the job. Soft skills are equally as important as technical abilities, so you should be aware of your communication and interpersonal skills and if needed, work on improving them, especially when you are in situations that make you nervous or stressed.    The interviewer may use these factors to eliminate you: Evidence of weak teamwork skills. Inability to communicate qualifications clearly. Evasive or vague responses to specific questions. Distracted, not listening or not paying attention. Extreme nervousness and/or shyness. Attitude: Your attitude is under a microscope too. Even before you arrive at the interview, the company can and probably is, assessing your behavior. Here are the top turn-offs based on what you do and say: Arrogant, “know-it-all” attitude. Tardiness or not showing up for interview on-time. Personality problems or irrational behavior. Overly aggressive or manipulative behavior. Unrealistic goals, career and job expectations. Lack of energy, enthusiasm, and direction. Remember, this is a first date. You want to put your best foot forward and be on your best behavior! Amicable: Will you fit in with the team and will the  hiring manager be able to manage you? In short, are you likable? Always watch what you say and even if goaded, never indulge in trash-talking anyone. The interview may feel relaxed, but never let your guard down. Recruiters wouldnt say the  following  were deal-breakers if they hadnt heard these topics brought up during interviews: Racist, prejudiced and sexist remarks. Negative comments about supervisors and coworkers. There are two sides to every story and you should know: the interviewer is likely going to take the other side. Amateur: Employers want to hire someone who is professional and knows how to conduct themselves in the workplace. They also want someone who is interested in the position. You can demonstrate both  by preparing for the interview like you would prepare for a major project. Sometimes you can tell the other person just doesnt want to be there. It isnt one thing but a series of behaviors and answers that lead you to the conclusion that they just arent that in-to you. These are clues that you may not be ready for the job: Shallow and inappropriate questions. Lack of knowledge about the company. Early discussion or questions about salary/benefits. Didn’t show interest in the job. The next time you have an interview scheduled remember: you only have one chance to make a great first impression. Make sure you learn the rules and etiquette of interviewing, conduct research on the company, the job and the people you will be meeting and be ready with some sharp questions.

West Virginia Resume Writers

West Virginia Resume WritersWest Virginia job seekers should not let resume writing take a backseat to other concerns. You should make sure that your resume is perfect to stand out from the crowd, and recruiters will appreciate it if you do. It is vital to have a unique resume that goes above and beyond the standard.You should prepare a resume that is outstanding for the state you are applying for. A great resume can only be as good as the resume writer that is performing the job.There are many different companies that offer resume services. Before heading out to hire a writer, you should check out some of the top companies for resume writing. There are many other benefits for hiring the top companies, but here are the top three:In addition to giving you more options, West Virginia resumes writers are the best for your specific needs. They can write resumes for all different types of employers. They understand that one size does not fit all and can handle any job description.As you b egin to search for a quality resume writer, you will find a variety of companies that provide the best, most thorough job writing services. Once you find a company, they will meet with you in person to write a custom resume for you. This is beneficial because it will give you the best experience possible and will give you confidence that you are being treated fairly.While there are a variety of companies that provide resume writers, there are just as many quality resume writers. You will want to choose a resume writer who has experience and dedication to writing a resume for an employer. You should also want to choose a resume writer who has the abilities to write to a resume and keep it organized.Oneof the best things you can do to prepare for a resume is to read it several times until you can be comfortable with it. You can purchase a resume writing guide at the bookstore to help you learn how to write a resume effectively. Using a resume writing guide is helpful for many reasons, including being able to follow a step by step process that will help you create a cohesive resume.A quality resume writer is the key to your success in landing a job with a company. Your resume is the first thing recruiters see when you ask for an interview, so you need to ensure that it is professional and impressive.

How To Stand Out and Land the Interview

How To Stand Out and Land the Interview The following is a guest post by  Daif Said.  His bio follows. According to Forbes, when you apply to a job opening you are competing against 117 other people on average.  Think about that for a second. You are just one person in a sea of people vying for the employer’s attention. Many of those candidates are also well rounded and are doing all the right things to prepare for the job. With so many applicants for each job opening, companies are now using software to eliminate candidates that do not have the right words on their resume. You might be eliminated before any human even looks at your resume. So how do you survive all that and be one of the select few to land the interview? In this case, being different requires a little creativity and a bit of effort. Sizing Up the Competition In landing an interview, just as in business, it’s important to understand what the competition is up to. The goal is to understand what they are doing so you can do something different to stand out. Let’s use an example to illustrate the situation. You’ve found an internship position for the summer that you’re interested in. It’s with an exciting company that is revolutionizing an industry. The job is challenging but would help you hone many important career skills, not to mention look great on a resume. You know you are qualified for the internship and you apply online. Now lets look across to the competition. What do you think others college students are doing to land that interview? Here’s what almost every applicant is doing: they found the job listing, quickly updated their resume, applied to the job, and then went on to apply to a bunch of other jobs just like it. Now they wait and hope for a call back. What you quickly realize from this made up scenario is that they’ve basically done the same thing you did: found the internship, applied online, and are now just patiently waiting. Its no wonder all the applicants look similar to the employer. The most important thing though is that the competition has made it easier for you to stand out. The Window When the competition all lines up to enter through the door, the fastest way to get in is through the window. That means approaching the situations a bit differently. While you have to apply online anyway, that’s only the beginning. You need to find creative ways to help the employer put a face to the name on your resume. Find another way in The world is very connected which means there is likely a way for you to get in touch with the people at the company. You might know a friend that has had an internship there, a family member who knows someone there, or a professor that has contacts at the company. They can all help you get in front of the right person who in turn would be able to help you stand out from the crowd. Friendly Recommendation Many schools work directly with local companies to place talent. With that in mind, you likely have classmates that might have an internship there. If you know them on a personal level and they can attest to your work, why not ask for a recommendation? Companies always ask their employees for help them find the right person because they trust the recommendations of their own people. This can easily help you land an interview, bypassing everyone who simply applied online. Searching LinkedIn and Saying Hello One of the best ways you can start your search is simply going on LinkedIn and searching for the company. If you’ve done a good job of building your LinkedIn profile , then you will likely have someone who is a first, second, or third connection that has links to the company. If you are connected to someone who works at the company, you might be able to find out the name of the hiring manager. Meet the Hiring Manager While it might seem difficult, there are ways you can get in front of the hiring manager before any interviews are held. Lauren, our former intern, landed a lunch with our team when a friend of her sister’s, a colleague of ours, introduced us to her. Our colleague raved about her and told us how she thinks Lauren would be a good fit. By reaching out to her sister who in turn reached out to our colleague, Lauren helped her chances of landing an interview and eventually got the job. She got creative, differentiated herself from the many others who applied and it all paid off. Stand out from the crowd! It’s a competitive job market and you need to be prepared to stand out from the crowd. Be unique in your approach. About Daif Said Daif is the author of Come Out Swinging. In it, he outlines the steps he took to land a great job out of college. And to continue to quickly move up the ranks. By 24, he already had a six figure salary. After helping others land great internships, jobs, and big pay increases, he realized that others just didn’t have the guidance to help prepare them for the job market that he did. This book is his way of giving back. Image credits. Main.   Window.

The Graduate Market in 2014 University of Manchester Careers Blog

The Graduate Market in 2014 University of Manchester Careers Blog Last Monday High Fliers published their annual report on graduate employment ‘The Graduate Market in 2014’. It revealed that graduate recruitment at Britain’s top employers (Those listed in the Times Top 100 Directory) is set to rise in 2014 to the highest level since 2007. This means that there will be more opportunities for university leavers than at any time since the start of the recession. It’s quite a long report so I thought I’d give you a breakdown of some of the key findings. Employers surveyed are increasing the graduate vacancies by an average of 8.7% compared with the number of graduates they hired in 2013. The biggest growth in graduate vacancies is set to be in the public sector, accounting professional services firms, city investment banks and engineering industrial companies. Together these industries intend to recruit almost 1,200 additional graduates in 2014. The largest individual recruiters will be Teach First (1,550 vacancies) PwC (1,200 vacancies) and Deloitte (1,000 vacancies) 87 % of those surveyed plan to make vacancies available in London but the North West follows closely behind with 56% of employers planning to make opportunities available in the region. The University of Manchester is one of the most targeted by recruiters taking part in the survey. So if you’re a recent graduate remember that you can use Careerslink to connect with employers or by attending any of our recruitment fairs. The report also highlights that recruiters will be offering a record number of paid work experience places (11,819) for university students and recent graduates. Some of these vacancies may be advertised on Careerslink. These figures are obviously positive news for recent graduates but……….. Over half of the recruiters surveyed warned that if graduates had no previous work experience they were likely to be unsuccessful during the selection process. Although the number of graduate vacancies is set to increase recruiters confirmed that 37% of this year’s entry-level positions will be filled by graduates who have already worked for the organisation. So far in this recruitment cycle employers surveyed have already received 9% more graduate job applications than at the same stage in 2012-13. With this number of applications being received it is vital that you applications stand out and are really tailored to that organisation. Remember recent graduates can still get advice on the Applications Advice session why not book an appointment before sending off an application? All Graduate graduate schemes

Some Of The People In Your Masters Program

Some Of The People In Your Masters Program Last year, I wrote an article, Somebody That I Used To Know: 4 Types of People of People You Went To College With. I believe it’s self-explanatory. Currently, I’m in my second quarter of grad school, getting a Master’s, which makes me practically an expert on whos who in the program. I  didnt  want to include all grad students because PhD students would have to be included which can be a whole different set of people. But Master’s students are my bread and butter so if you’re thinking of getting into a Master’s program, I want to introduce you to some of your future fellow classmates: Natalie Natalie has a full-time job in her field of study. She works 70 hours a week and spends half the time in class checking her email on her iPhone AND her Blackberry. Of course she never gets caught as she still participates in the class discussions fully and does all her papers two weeks in advance. In her spare time, she runs marathons and owns a side non-profit that provides water for an entire village in Haiti. Suffice to say, everyone hates Natalie but  almost  everyone secretly wants to be her. Colin Colin is a hipster. He’s not quite sure why he’s in grad school and you’re not quite sure either. He hates all the articles and academia as a whole, and whether he’s sober in class is a complete mystery. But you’re grateful he’s in your class because no matter how unprepared you are for class, Colin gets on the professors nerves which means that you will always look better than he does. Nick The only person who irritates the professor more than Colin is Nick. Nick is “that” grad student â€" the one whose hand shoots up every 7 minutes to opine about the material or not about the material; it doesnt really matter. It  wouldnt  be so bad if Nick actually sounded like he was smart or if he made any sense at all. Every time he opens his mouth, the other classmates roll their eyes or sigh but there’s nothing you or the professor can do. Nick talks and you’ll learn to ignore him or make fun of everything he says with the person sitting next to you. Margaret Margaret, pronounced with a French accent, is a future academic and she reminds you of that in every class. The annoying thing is that she actually is intelligent so you listen to her and so does the professor. She’s privileged enough to have a job for fun which she’s going to quit when she’s the graduate assistant in the next school year. When she  isnt  quoting the recommended texts verbatim, she’s utilizing examples from her independent research in Morocco, Zimbabwe, and Panama, which of course she undertook while on family vacations as an undergrad. But you stomach Margaret because she’s always up for a drink after class and usually she’s buying. Phillip Phillip is soft-spoken and everyone likes him because he’s paying his way through grad school and working two jobs. He’s also really smart and not condescending at all but sometimes you wonder what the hell he just said. Seriously, who uses the word “hackneyed” in conversation even at this level? He’s the main reason why your vocabulary has improved in grad school. Phillip is no fun though, and your offer to buy him a drink is always met with one response, “I have to get up at 4 in the morning.” Paula Paula is the middle-aged lady in the room meaning she’s as old as your professor so naturally she commands your respect. Her real world experience and examples are useful and she’s a lovely person to talk to. But she also  over-shares and by that I mean she tells the entire class about how her bladder troubles are going, on a regular basis. You close your eyes and wish the ground would swallow you every single time. Caitlin Caitlin’s in the class but you’re mostly unaware because she never talks. Ever. Still want to do a Masters program? Would you be any of these classmates? If you’re in a grad program, can you identify with any of these? (If you know me well enough by now, do you think I identify with any of them? I won’t be offended!) I’m sure I’ll have a few more classmates for you as I go through my program!

Millennials Here are 8 Skills that can Help Advancement CareerMetis.com

Millennials Here are 8 Skills that can Help Advancement Work culture has changed substantially in the last few decades, and workers are starting to feel disillusioned with their 9-5 jobs.Today’s millennials simply aren’t satisfied with their work and are feeling more disengaged than ever. Not only are their wages giving them less financial stability than their parents and grandparents, but they’re also feeling stuck and burned out in their careers while navigating uncertain times.evalA Deloitte studyreveals that 43% of Millennials planning to leave their jobs are dissatisfied with their pay and financial incentives, while 35% don’t see opportunities for advancement and 28% don’t feel that they have the opportunity to learn and develop in their current position.Fortunately, working Millennials have options. By “upskilling” and focusing on learning today’s most in-demand skills,Millennials can develop a satisfying career, working at organizations they can feel good about. So what should you learn if you want to pivot in your career and actually look forward to work? Here are 8 skills to consider.1) STEAMevalWhile STEM Fortunately, there are lots of online learning options that young professionals can use to learn skills in programming and web development. Web development continues to be massively in demand, and it’s a skill that is useful in almost any organization.3) MarketingOne of the most creative and important skills in today’s world, marketing shifts from year to year and from decade to decade. Many of today’s marketing professionals have been in the business for years, but don’t let that discourage you.A large number of them have trouble marketing to up-and-coming generations and haven’t update their skills in a while. By learning how to market to today’s consumersand being prepared to stay up to date with marketing trends, you can gain a competitive edge.4) Mobile DevelopmentAs every Millennial knows, mobile devices are the future of tech. Today, it makes sense to focus on mobile de velopmentas desktops fall out of favor and more young people worldwide use their phones and tablets for most functions.evalIf you want to gain in-demand skills, few are better than learning how to create apps and develop for mobile devices from tablets to smart watches.eval5) Machine LearningTech is moving quickly and harnessing the power of AI and machine learning is quickly becoming the focus of many large companies. Starting to gain machine learning skills now can help you future-proof your career and give you a competitive edge.For example, Udemy’s Machine Learning courseswould be great for individuals that may soon be working with AI Assistants.6) NetworkingAlthough every organization uses networks, it can be challenging for employers to find people who understand them and are able to work with them effectively. It’s a rare and valuable skill in our interconnected world to manage large networks, and Millennials can gain an edge by learning to harness these complex and essen tial systems.Networks are crucial to the day-to-day operations of an organization. If you want to set yourself up for a career that will only become more important as time goes on, learning about networking is a great choice.7) Social MediaWhether you love it or you hate it, social media plays a big role in today’s business world.As a Millennial, you have the advantageof being exposed to these platforms from a fairly young age. Leverage that knowledge and upskill by learning the ins and outs of social media for business. While it’s quite a bit different from managing personal accounts, many Millennials pick up this skill quickly and manage to generate some good results for their organizations.If you can help a company master their social media presence, those skills could present new opportunities or even launch a whole new career for you. Many social media managers work on a freelance basis, owning their own businesses and working with several clients at a time.8) UX DesignUX I n today’s ultra-competitive business environment, companies can’t afford to disappoint their customers.Learning to design for human users is key, even as more of our systems cater to tech solutions. Creativity is still a uniquely human skill and Millennials can help future-proof their careers by learning creative skills that can’t be automated.Which Skills to Choose? Take a Step BackNow that you know what the most in-demand skills are for Millennials trying to get ahead, which should you work on first? Obviously, a lot of it depends on what you want to accomplish in your career. But if the answer isn’t clear, don’t panicâ€"it’s perfectly normal.If all the options available for upskilling seem overwhelming, then you might want to consider taking a step back before you jump right in. Burnout is real, especially among the Millennial generation, and it’s important to realize that you don’t have to decide which direction you want to take right away. Sometimes, a little di stance can be helpful.For some Millennials, it can be very hard to take a break and focus on self-care and reflection. Work addiction is a real problem in American culture, and many Millennials feel obligated to focus all their time and energy on their careers. In fact, according to a 60 Minutes interview, 70% of workers in the younger generationscheck their work email outside of work hour. This blurring between our personal and professional lives is taking its toll, leading to stress and burnout.evalMany Millennials are still early in their careers, and they have some time to step back and evaluate. If you’re feeling stuck in your career, then you obviously don’t want to wait too long to make a change but you also don’t have to start this very minute. Take a walk, meditate, take some time to think about your long-term career goals. Then decide which skills to focus on.Launch a Successful FutureIf you’re dissatisfied with your career, then it’s time to take the first step toward a job you love. Remember that progress will take some time and determination. You can’t expect to become an expert in machine learning tomorrow, after all. But if you take small steps toward your goal of a better career, you’ll be able to make big changes over time.Don’t settle for a boring, stagnant career.Consider your goals and think about which of these 8 in-demand skills might be the most helpful to learn. With so much information available at your fingertips, you never have to feel stuck again or sacrifice a successful future!

9 Tips To Negotiate A Job Offer Like A Pro

9 Tips To Negotiate A Job Offer Like A Pro If you dont ask for what you want, the answer will always be no! This is especially true when it comes to salary negotiations. However, you can also negotiate other elements of a job offer.  If you are uncomfortable with the idea of negotiating a job offer, follow these 9 tips and build your confidence. Research Salary Ranges (And More) First things first. You should have already conducted company research before you walked in the door for your first interview. How To Research Company Culture Technically, you should have researched salaries before you applied for the job to ensure your range was appropriate. As you may have noticed, most job postings will not include salary information. In order to get an idea of what the job is worth and what other people in similar roles make, do your due diligence. This means using multiple sources. Use salary calculators. But dont stop there. Talk to recruiters in your field and geography. Network with people who are in your line of work to understand what the going rate is. Use as many of these options as possible to develop a realistic expectation for your desired salary range. Remember, your value in the marketplace is based on how much the employer is willing to pay, the value of your skills and what your previous employer paid you. When To Negotiate Job Offer You technically cant negotiate a job offer until you have one. Avoid getting into a detailed salary discussion or attempting to negotiate any condition until you have a job offer. For example, expressing your desire to work from home during the interview could sour the deal. Wait to talk about this until you have an offer and always be sure to learn what the companys policies/perceptions are for conditions you are interested in. And dont try and negotiate on the spot. When presented with the job offer, ask how long you have to consider the offer and schedule a time to provide your answer. Remember, accepting a job is a major decision and you shouldnt feel pressured to accept an offer. Negotiate With Enthusiasm If an employer doesnt think you want the job, it could hurt your chances of negotiating, or worse, could lead to the offer being taken off the table. Tell the employer you are interested in the job and why. And be sure to smile. Negotiate With the Right Person The person who extends the offer may not be the person with the power or authority to negotiate. Every company has a different set of procedures. It is important that you know who has final budget approval for the job. Ask. While human resources may be the ones who extend the offer, they may not have the ability to negotiate. Use Company Research and Inside Information During the interview and through networking conversations with company insiders, you may uncover valuable information. Perhaps you learn that the company has negotiated vacation time for certain employees or allows some of the team to work from home once a week. Your chances of getting what you want are better if there is already a precedent in the company or department. Use the information you uncover to your advantage. What Can You Negotiate? There are many elements to a job offer. Here are some things you may want to consider: Job title Start date Vacation/paid time off (PTO) Flextime/job hours Remote or virtual work Signing bonus or other bonuses Health insurance and other benefits Level of responsibility Faster review and increase in salary based on performance Relocation expenses Professional association dues, subscriptions Laptop, mobile phone, home office technology Auto (car lease, mileage) Training/certification reimbursement Severance provisions Negotiating checklist 2019  Download this list now! For more help, read  Dont Overlook Negotiating Your Offer. Negotiate  Salary First Its important to prioritize what you want to negotiate- and dont be greedy. The general rule of thumb is to negotiate salary first and if you secure your desired salary, be willing to compromise on other items you want to negotiate. Conversely, if you cant negotiate the salary you had hoped for, push on and negotiate other things. You may consider negotiating for a performance review sooner (with the option of a pay increase if meeting/exceeding expectations), or maybe vacation or PTO is important. Remember, if the employer won the salary negotiations, you need a win something important to you! Convey  Confidence Your body language, tone of voice and the words you choose to use should convey you believe you are worth what you are asking for. Keep in mind, the company has invested significant time and manpower interviewing you. They dont want to start over. Always Get  Your Job Offer In Writing Once you have reached a final agreement on the terms of the offer, be sure you ask for it in writing. You will want this before you begin your first day of work. Managers can change and policies can shift. You want to protect yourself in case anything changes. This post originally appeared on US News World Report

3 Questions To Ask At Your Job Interview

3 Questions To Ask At Your Job Interview There comes a point in good interviews where the job applicant is asked, do you have any questions for me? This is a tipping point that can go in your favor if you show that you have researched the company and care about the job itself more than the paycheck or benefits. It doesnt have to be scary, deer-in-the-headlight feeling, though. Here are three questions you can ask that will make you feel more confident during the QA part of the interview: Ask a question that shows you know their mission statement.  The companys mission statement has usually been the result of a lot of research and debate. If they care about community service, for example, ask how they invest in the local community and are expected of volunteers. If they care about the environment, ask how they go about reducing their carbon footprint or the recycling program. Ask a question that shows you care about results.  What goals do you have for this job? What are the benchmarks and deadlines? What qualities would you say are important to filling this position successfully? The answers you get should be on your list of make-sure-to-do-it once you are hired, because you know that is what will be considered in your job performance review. Ask a question that shows you want to understand their company culture.  Does the company observe holidays with special traditions? Are there regular contests, like decorating competitions between departments? Does this company have any fun quirks that make it unique in workplaces? Every business will have its own culture and traditions, and its a good idea to find out if youll fit in, if possible. It also can be a good conversation item that puts you in a favorable light. Interview questions  are really important, and its a good idea to be prepared for all the possibilities that you could encounter during your job search. Both asking and answering questions is the bulk of what happens in a job interview. If you feel unprepared for what that will entail, consider one of our coaching services for individual help with interview skills. That job is worth it!