Job Tip #14 | Ask Intelligent Questions

Do you ask intelligent questions during your job search interviews?

People determine your intelligence by the questions you ask, not by the answers you give during job interviews.

Try this:

• Make a list of 7 intelligent questions to ask during your job interviews.
• Find a way to ask these questions during the interview.
• Make sure your timing is right for each question.

Now, try this:

• Ask questions that show your desire to be successful in this company, in this position.
• Ask questions that clue you in to what you must do to succeed.
• Ask questions that give you an idea of what to expect, but more importantly,
• Ask questions that show you understand the hiring managers’ expectations of you.
• Ask value questions. In other words, ask questions that show hiring managers how you will bring value to the company – how you will increase revenues and/or save the company money and/or time.

Although these tactics can be used during your job search, also try using them on the job. You’ll learn a lot and you’ll differentiate yourself from other job seekers and colleagues (competitors).

What do you think. Add your thoughts below.

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Marvin Wilson is a freelance resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com. He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson and  you should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #13 | Create A 140 Character Resume

Since less is sometimes more, some employers may opt to have you tweet in 140 characters or less your experience and/or reason why they should hire you.

For example, they may ask you to answer this question in 140 characters or less.

“Tell me about yourself.”

Fact is. Most people can’t answer this question in 500 characters words or less.

So today I encourage you to learn how to answer this question in 140 characters or less. In fact, as a great way to differentiate yourself from other job seekers, I would encourage you to learn to answer any job search or interview question in 140 characters or less.

Here’s why.

Check out this recent job posting from Craigslist.com. It’s no longer available but here it is in its original form:

Twitter genius (Greenwich Village)

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Date: 2009-12-23, 10:18PM EST
Reply to: job-28xpu-1523261367@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

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Killer, well-funded start-up e-commerce company, filled w/ a lot of young people and seasoned pros seeks an expert in social media marketing.

I need someone who tweets in their sleep and updates their fb status before calling their mom on Mother’s Day.

I don’t care if you’re just out of college or have 10 years experience as long as you know social media marketing backwards and forwards.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS JOB, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW EXACTLY. NO DEVIATIONS:

(i) Email me two tweets. The first should be about your experience. The second should by why you’re perfect for this job. If you exceed twitter’s allotted character count, you’re done.

(ii) Email me your Twitter name in link form (e.g. http://www.twitter.com/YOURNAME) r>
(iii) Tell me how many followers you have and how many people you follow.

(iv) Tell me who’s the best person you follow and why (in tweet form).

(v) Tell me what’s the best way to get more followers (in tweet form).

(vi) Specific salary requirement.

IF YOU DO NOT SEND ALL OF THE ABOVE, EXACTLY AS I LAID IT OUT, I WILL NOT CONSIDER THE APPLICATION.

No consulting firms, please. Thanks

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Now I ask you. If you had to follow these instructions for this job, could you do it within these parameters without being eliminated?

Give it a try. Create your 140 character resume at twtjobs.com.

And please leave a comment and your twtjobs.com link to your 140 character resume below.

Source: AnswerGuy.com

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Marvin Wilson is a freelance resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com. He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #12 | Use Common Courtesy: Say Thank You and Please

Quite often I get requests from people asking me to review their resume, LinkedIn profile, visit and read their blog, etc. While I can sometimes be quite busy, I don’t mind. It’s cool seeing what other people are doing in their career. And it’s cool helping people succeed.

The funny thing is though.

Most people rarely thank me!

Now I don’t need a Thank You from anyone. Nor do I expect one. I won’t hold it against anyone who doesn’t thank me.

But I can tell you this much.

Like me, most people won’t hold it against you if you don’t thank them. But they DO remember those who DO thank them. Because saying thanks is so very easy to do. It only takes a few minutes to do so. Sometimes mere seconds.

And more importantly, it’s just plain common courtesy.

If someone decides to help you with your job search or career, say “Thank you!” in some way. It could be something as simple as sending a short email, making a quick phone call, or mailing a post card.

And remember, since most people don’t expect you to thank them, you’ll stand out as someone who is grateful.

People like helping people who are appreciative.

And who should you thank?

Every- and anyone who helps you along in your career or job search: from family members, friends, your staff, superiors and colleagues, online and offline connections, gatekeepers, to the onsite maintenance technician who gave you directions to the location for your job interview.

In other words, everyone.

Oh. And one more thing. Don’t forget to say, “Please.”

Thank you for reading my blog.

And please leave a comment below.

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Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com. He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #11 | Focus On Small Opportunities to…

• Find small ways to differentiate yourself from your colleagues (or competitors).
• Create results and successes for yourself, your manager, your department, and your company.
• Improve what you can easily improve.
• Be the first to volunteer for those not so glamorous projects.
• Help your manager stand out or be successful.
• Network face to face – from top to bottom and from side to side.
• Recognize and promote other people successes and accomplishments as well as your own.
• Show you care – you really care!
• Learn and develop new job skills and build on existing talents.
• Take (calculated) risks.

What do you say? Please share your thoughts in the comments …

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Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com. He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #10 | Have a Written Resume Before Contacting Hiring Managers

Frequently I get calls from job seekers inquiring about getting their resume written. Part of my needs assessment (or information gathering) process is asking how soon they need their resume. The answer is almost always the same. I need it within the next day or two. Or I need it as soon as possible.  My next question is, “Why the rush?”

They almost always give the same answer as other job seekers, “I promised the manager I would get it to him today or tomorrow,” or something along those lines.

Are you kidding me?

I think to myself, “You don’t have anything to present to the hiring manager, yet you’re actively performing your job search AND you promised him your resume by the end of the day or tomorrow?”

Now I do understand sometimes these conversations come up between two people who are simply having a conversation. But to be an active job seeker and calling managers to request interviews without a complete and well-written resume is one sure way to show managers you don’t’ care about their time or yours. And that’s not good!

So, it’s a good idea to have your resume finished and ready before contacting hiring managers or inquiring about a job.

That way, if the hiring manager is interested and asks you to send your resume immediately, you can. Right now!

In addition, your conversation will still be fresh on her mind and she doesn’t have to remember what was said and to whom.

More importantly, this also shows you are:

• prepared and focused
• fast and Reliable
• results driven
• professional

So there you have it. Make every effort to have your resume completed prior to contacting employers and hiring managers.  You’ll enjoy a more stress-free job search.

What do you say? Please share your thoughts in the comments …

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Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com. He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #9 | Make a Great First Impression the Second Time

You’ve sent your resume and the accompanying cover letter and you’ve no doubt made a remarkable first impression. Now you think, “It’s a matter of time before someone contacts me about a job interview.”

Oftentimes you’ll be excited about any expectation of getting a return call from an employer.

Stop! Hold up! Wait a minute!

Don’t be in too much of a hurry to answer the phone or shoot off an email just yet.

Why? Because,

• You may come across as being overly anxious or needy.
• You may appear to be unprepared and unfocused.
• You may want to consider what action steps you’ll take next.
• You may be at work and run the risk of being overheard.
• You may want to be in the driver seat during your job search.

So, never answer the phone or reply to an email if you are not ready to talk to or communicate with an employer.

Preparation is key.

The time must be right for both you and the employer. This is so important. If you are not prepared, then you may come across as someone who is not smart, intelligent, or capable of performing on the job.

It’s better to talk to an employer when you have planned and prepared your presentation. This way you’ll appear as being prepared and your conversation will reflect it.

In addition, the employer may see you as the intelligent person you are and as the perfect fit for the job and company.

What do you say? Please share your thoughts in the comments …

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Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com. He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #8 | Focus: Ask Yourself This Question “What’s the One Thing…?”

Not all actions bring about the same results.

Some actions may negatively influence your career and life while other actions may positively influence them. In this article I encourage you to determine what positive action you can take today to move you one step closer to career and personal success.

So as you move forward in 2010 and beyond ask yourself this question at the beginning of each day:

What’s the ONE thing I can do TODAY that will move me closer to accomplishing my career goals?

This question is really important for a number of reasons.

• It gets the “wheels” turning in your head for positive actions you can take today, right now.
• It weeds out the unimportant junk that only creates busyness (or noise) instead of creating value for your employer or creating portable equity for your personal brand.
• It helps build tenacity or becomes a tool for removing barriers that hinder success.
• It keeps you focused on the big picture.

Once you have decided on what the one thing is, you can then take action.

Your goals could be anything ranging from learning a new job skill to starting your own business.

And your actions could be anything as simple as making a to-do list to making that much needed phone call to a new contact.

Again, it’s important to first determine what that one thing is and then take action. The snowballing effect of doing the one thing daily builds momentum and moves you closer to your goals.  Thus, your success is inevitable.

And think about this.

There are 365 days in a year, correct? So, if you ask yourself this question every day of the year and act on it, you would have taken at least 365 steps toward achieving your goals.

That’s 365 steps to move you closer toward career, financial, and personal success. Awesome!

What do you say? Please share your thoughts in the comments …

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Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com.  He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #7 | Refocus

Happy New Year everyone!!!

It’s a new day, a new year, and a new decade. Great opportunity to refocus.

Job Tip #6 | How to Grow as a Leader.

What Do You Do to Grow as a Leader?
(Not necessary in this order)

1.  You ask questions
2.  You listen
3.  You engage
4.  You provide feedback
5.  You take action
6.  You show recognition
7.  You empathize
8.  You contribute
9.  You encourage
10. You empower

What are your thoughts?

Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com.  He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™

Job Tip #5 | Top Seven Reasons Why Your Resume is Invisible and You Don’t Get the Job Your Really Want.

Submitting an invisible resume to employers could be detrimental to your career.

But that begs the question; if your resume is invisible, how would a hiring manage know the resume was there in the first place?  Because when he initially scans your resume he doesn’t see anything that attracts him to it or to the person it represents – which is YOU!

So it’s important that your resume is the most visible resume in a stack with other job seekers’ resumes.

For many people, resume writing is a difficult chore. It’s detailed work and highly time consuming. However, it continues to be one of the most important documents you should have for your job search. Therefore, it should be a first-rate resume.

So here you are.

The top seven reasons why your resume is invisible:

1. Poorly written content – your resume content is NOT clear, concise, descriptive, sound, and hard hitting.
2. You aren’t professional – your resume was written by amateurs or someone who does not have the know-how of a writer and the communications skills of a sales and marketing professional.
3. It lacks marketability – your resume is not marketable, or more importantly, your resume is not remarkable.  (Remember, if you are not remarkable, you’re invisible.)
4. It’s Unfocused – your resume is NOT focused and tailored to the industry, career, or position you seek.
5. It’s even less focused – more importantly, your resume is NOT focused and tailored to the hiring manager – the person who has the authority to say “yes” to hiring you.
6. No added value – your resume doesn’t add value to the probable employer and/or hiring manager’s department.
7. Not results driven – your resume focuses too much on your skills, experiences, and talents, and not enough on your accomplishments.

There you have it. If you want to write a resume that employers and hiring managers ignore then follow the examples above and you mission will be accomplished.  If not, then do the opposite.

Marvin Wilson is a professional resume writer and job search coach for CareerSyntax.com.  He is dedicated to helping job seekers & employers connect. You can follow him at http://twitter.com/MarvinWilson. You should Become a Fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoachM™