Imagine you are a recruiter or hiring manager at a job fair. An attendee (that is, a job seeker) walks up to you and says:

“So, what have you got for me?”

Yikes!

Remember our posts on developing and practicing your elevator pitch? Well, if the reason you’re at the job fair is to be considered for a job (which is a reasonable assumption), then you need to get to work on a concise, 30-second summary of who you are and what you can do for a company!

What’s so wrong about the ‘What have you got for me’ approach–on so many levels–is that it only says you are looking for work and will take any job at any company. While that may be the case, you can’t let that be known, and it certainly doesn’t give a potential employer any reason to give you a second look. Ever.

In fact, the ONLY thing the recruiter may remember about you was your question, not your skills, knowledge, or passion for a particular line of work. They will remember you as the Desperate-Job-Seeker-Who-Will-Take-Anything — not a highly-skilled candidate who will quickly contribute to a company’s bottom line.

When you attend job fairs (or any event where decision makers are in attendance), keep in mind that you literally have only a few of seconds to make a good FIRST impression with your introduction. Once you begin to speak, you will instantly be judged by how well you communicate. Are you well-spoken, verbally nimble, and confident with a firm handshake, or the opposite: unsure, stuttering, ill-prepared?

So your assignment for today is to practice how to introduce yourself. Think about what you want to tell an employer about what you can do for them and how you will add value to the organization.

If you’re thinking ‘What organization? What are you talking about?”, this means you missed Step 1:

Find out what companies will be at the job fair, target the ones you would like to work for, and develop an understanding of what that company is all about. What does the company do? What are the divisions in the company? What products or services do they offer? Once you know this, THEN you can develop an effective 30-second introduction that relates to each company you will visit at the job fair. You’ll then be able to discuss a certain opening on their website in direct relation to your skills and ability to contribute.

Example:

“Good morning, Mary! [note: check the name tag — don’t call everyone Mary )

I’ve been a sales and marketing writer for 10 years with a strong emphasis on widget technology. I noticed on your website that you have an opening for a sales and marketing writer in your Widget Business Unit. I’ve been developing B2B materials for widgets for the past three years with XYZ Company and would love to explore your opportunity. Do you have a few minutes to discuss it?”

See how that works? In those few seconds, you can give a recruiter or hiring manager just about all the information needed to strongly consider you for an opening!

Consider what you can do for a company that would bring value. Write it down, recite it aloud, and get it down to 30-seconds or less. Then, practice while looking in the mirror. What are your facial expressions? Are you looking into your eyes (think: eye contact) and speaking with a smile?

Preparing an effective elevator pitch BEFORE you go to a job fair will help you create an excellent first impression, one that tells a potential employer that you have done your research about a company, what your qualifications are, and what you can do for them.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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The culinary field offers a wide array of positions for aspiring and experienced chefs. While a quality education in a culinary institute can substitute for some levels of experience, generally beginning chefs work their way up through the ranks, gaining knowledge, confidence, and experience along the way. Fine dining venues may assign different titles or responsibilities to their chefs, but generally, the career path follows a clearly delineated hierarchy.

Commis Chef

Most chefs begin their careers as a humble apprentice, or commis chef, assisting the line cooks and chefs de partie by peeling vegetables, practicing knife skills, and learning the skills needed to succeed in the culinary world. This entry-level position offers a chance to experience the fast-paced restaurant business firsthand. Many well-known and respected chefs began their careers as lowly commis chefs.

Chef de Partie

The majority of chef jobs are found in this level of employment. Also referred to as station cooks or line cooks, chefs de partie are divided into a number of categories depending on their particular specialty. Not all restaurants staff each of these positions; often two or more jobs are incorporated into one individual’s responsibilities. The elements of a full brigade in the kitchen are:

• Tournant, or Swing Chef: Fills in as needed at any vacant station within the kitchen; this position requires a great deal of knowledge and flexibility.
• Boucher, or Butcher: These invaluable chefs prepare meat for cooking, butchering, breading, and handling all aspects of meat and poultry preparation.
• Garde Manger, or Pantry Chef: Cold items such as salads, chilled appetizers, and cold cuts are the responsibility of these chefs.
• Entremetier, or Vegetable Chef: Versatility is the key for these chefs, as they handle hot appetizers, vegetables, pastas, and side dishes to make the meal complete.
• Patissier, or Pastry Chef: Pastries, desserts, and breads are the responsibility of the pastry chef; this position is usually only available in larger restaurants and hotels.
• Potager, or Soup Chef: As the name suggests, the potager is responsible for all soups leaving the kitchen, hot or cold.
• Friturier, or Fry Chef: One of the most common positions throughout the restaurant industry, the friturier handles the frying of foods in the kitchen.
• Grillardin, or Grill Chef: The name is self-explanatory; the grill cook is responsible for grilling vegetables and meats for the meal.
• Rotisseur, or Roast Chef: These chefs roast and braise meats and create their accompanying sauces.
• Poissonier, or Fish Chef: Fish and seafood fall under the purview of these chefs, who handle the process completely from butchering to the finished dish.
• Saucier, or Saute Chef: These chefs are responsible for all sauteed dishes and their sauces; sauciers are considered the elite of the chefs de partie, and are accorded the highest respect among line chefs.

Sous Chef

By demonstrating competence and culinary skill as a chef de partie, a chef can achieve the status of sous chef, the second-in-command in the kitchen. The sous chef oversees the daily running of the kitchen, combining the skills of a manager, a teacher, and a quality control technician. Sous chefs are usually responsible for ordering the stock for the restaurant and ensuring that all foods are of the highest quality.

Head Chef

The pinnacle of any chef’s career is achieving the rank of head chef in a prestigious restaurant. The head chef assumes complete control and responsibility for the food produced in his or her kitchen, and designs the menu and the recipes used by the chefs de partie. This position is usually the culmination of years of experience and hard work, and offers rewards commensurate with the high level of responsibility.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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Recently there has been a dramatic surge in the number of people requesting Federal Resume Writing and KSA document preparation. My own personal theory is that given the current state of the economy people are seeking a more stable form of employment and one that pretty much ensures no layoffs. In addition to bailout money going to increased employment it makes sense there is a sudden demand for federal government employment.

I have assembled a list of things you should know before beginning your journey into the land of Federal Government employment.

The resume and application are worlds different than civilian resumes and applications. In fact they are the EXACT OPPOSITE of what a regular resume would look like.
In a Federal Resume you can use I statements. In fact you are supposed to. Everything in a Federal resume should be first person. Everything in a corporate world resume should not be in first person, that would get your resume thrown in the trash can.

Federal resumes are SIGNIFICANTLY longer then their counterpart. A professional or Executive resume would be about two pages long. A federal resume can be up to 8 or 10 pages long.

Federal resumes MUST BE and I repeat this MUST BE addressed to a specific position. It has to include the position number, level, and tons of your personal information like social security number, etc. A professional resume would never include this information but should always be focused on a specific position.

Federal resumes should have a KSA document attached that outlines your experience in relation to the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities the application is asking you to explain. This document can be one page long or several pages. It depends how many KSA’s are required for that position.

If you create a Federal Resume and KSA document for a specific position it could quite possibly be up to 12 pages or more. I’m sure you can see a huge difference when a Professional resume should only be 2 pages max. The point is not that one is better than the other it is to help you see that they are very different and as a result you should not expect to use your regular resume to pass for your Federal one.

There are professionals out there that can help you navigate the waters of Federal resumes and applications. They are experts because they write them every day for countless clients. As a result, they know exactly what it needs to look like, what it needs to include, and how to best address those KSA’s. To increase your chances of success consider using a Federal Resume Writer or Professional Resume Writing Service that also creates Federal Resumes.

Jessica Holbrook is a former Executive Hiring Manager for Fortune 500 companies and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates powerful, customized, and targeted resumes that are guaranteed to get her clients interviews. For a free resume analysis visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or for a free phone consultation call 1.877.875.7706.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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• Positioning is important: When you decide to start a restaurant, you need to decide on a locality that is conducive to attracting customers, both regular and new ones who generate continuous revenue. You also need to position it according to the clientele that you expect to attract, regarding price and the kind of food you expect to serve.

• Cleanliness is next to godliness: No one wants to eat food that is contaminated, so if your cleanliness policies are not very high on your priority list, you can close shop and pull down your shutters for good. Ensure that the highest standards of cleanliness are followed so that your customers are provided with a hygienic dining experience.

• Keeping up with trends is important: You may have traditional roots that go back many years; but if you do not keep up with the times and changing tastes, you’re going to be left behind. You may pride yourself on your authenticity, but because recent health trends dictate that people change the way they eat, you must bring in new policies that include healthy changes to the way you prepare and serve food.

• Loyal customers must be valued: There are some customers who are regular and who are loyal to you, no matter how often you shift base or change staff. Value them more than new customers who may be richer and more influential, because they are the foundation that holds your restaurant together.

• Trying to please everyone is a recipe for disaster: When you try to satisfy different tastes and cater to the needs of a wide variety of customers, you are headed on the road to disaster. You’re only going to try to please everyone and end up not pleasing anyone in the process.

This guest article was written by Kat Sanders, who regularly writes on the topic of ekg tech . Kat welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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Recruiters again, haven’t we run out yet? Not by a long shot. By my count, I’ve identified over 300 recruiters and I’m sure there are more that I’ve not yet found. Not that I’m suggesting you should contact 300 recruiters, just the ones that will help you find your job. As with most things in life, timing is everything, and it sometimes comes down to being with the right recruiter at the right time. Not an easy task, but you can narrow the odds by focusing on those recruiters who specialize in the jobs you want (and can do).

• The Maxwell Group – This search firm specializes in finance, accounting, banking and capital markets (with the exception of Accounting, tough industries these days). Their site is fairly simple, with company overview and links on the left hand side of the page for Candidate Information, Current Positions and “Contacting Us”. The Candidate Information link provides an overview of the process and a link to register. From the Current Positions Page, you can select from three categories (Finance/Accounting, Operations and Capital Markets). Clicking on any of these lists the current positions, along with salary and location. Click on Detail to see more about the position(s). The Contact Us link provides information (name, address, telephone and email) for contacting this search firm.
• Nosal Partners – Nosal is an executive search firm that specializes in a number of positions. Their main site has tabs at the top for a number of topics regarding the firm. The Resource Center (left center) has links for Current Assignments, Register your credentials and a link to a number of resources. The About Us tab lists the recruiters, click on any one for a full bio along with contact information.
• Trandon Associates Inc. – Trandon specializes in Accounting/Finance, Banking/Brokerage, Healthcare and Support Services. Additionally, the have a consulting division that does both temporary placement as well as temp-to-perm. Their main page has three links – About Us, Career Opportunities and Contact Us. The Career Opportunities link leads to a page with links to their open and advertised positions. Click on Contact Us for their address, telephone number and email address.
• Slayton Search Partners – Slayton is an executive search firm with four locations in the US. Their site has a number of tabs at the top for Candidates, Contact, About and more. The Candidates link leads to a page where you can email your resume or login/register for their resume upload process.
• Egon Zehnder International – Egon Zehnder is an international firm that specializes in a number of fields and provides a few services in addition to recruiting (consulting and advising). From their main page, click the link for Executive Search. This page provides an overview, as well as a number of resources. Click on Your Career, followed by your country to link to a page where you can enter your information. You can also click on the map, select your region/office and get direct contact information.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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As with most things in life, job search is a “two way street”. The concept of networking lives by this and Executive Recruiters and Headhunters do as well. This works in different ways. In some cases, the recruiter may be looking for a candidate with credentials that are different than yours (and you may know someone) or you know the recruiter because you used them to hire people in your last role. Whatever the case, leverage recruiters the same way you would leverage your friends and business acquaintances to enhance your job search.

• A Team Recruiting – This firm specializes in recruiting for Accounting and Finance professionals in the New York Metro area and other major US Metro markets. They do the full range from Temporary, Temp to Hire, Part Time, Full Time, etc. They list 4 job categories from which you can click (CFO, Controller, Bookkeeper and Accounting Clerk). Clicking on these brings up a forms page where you can fill in your personal details, register and upload a resume.
• A-List Associates – Their tag line is “Your #1 Source for Top Executive Assistants and Administrative Support”. There are tabs at the top for “About Us”, “Services”, “Positions” and more. Click on Positions to link to the Open Positions page. You can see the job description, salary, location and can apply directly for the job. You can also click on “Contact Us” where you can submit your resume through their web form, call them, fax your resume or send via Snail Mail.
• Anson McCade – Anson McCade is an IT and Finance recruitment firm, based in London, UK. Their main site has information on the firm, Interviews tips, Resources and Contacts (all on the left hand side of the screen). Candidate information is on the right hand side and includes All vacancies, vacancies by functiona and a search all function. There were 269 job opportunities when I checked the site. You can register your resume or contact them directly via email or telephone.
• Horton International – This firm is a global executive search firm with several offices in the North East US as well as offices in Asia Pacific and Europe. Their main page has tabs at the top for their international non-US offices, Submit your resume, FAQs and Contact information. You can contact them via email or phone and also have the ability to submit your resume using their online web form. I did not see a link for current job opportunities.
• Jay Gaines & Company – This firm has a broad range of functional areas it covers: General management, Information technology, Finance Capital markets, Risk, Investment management, Operations and more. Click on select past engagements to see the types of positions covered by this firm. Click Contact Us to forward your resume via email or call.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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So exactly how does Fortune determine the Best Companies list? They conducted a survey with over 81,000 employees from 353 companies. To learn more, click “How we pick the 100 Best”. What is even more interesting about the list is the highest pay. Bingham McCutchen takes the prize with an average annual pay of $256,000 (yes, this is an average!).

• Ernst & Young – The accounting, audit and advisory services Firm is ranked 51 this year (up from 57). E&Y has over 130,000 employees globally with 24,000 in the US. They hired 119 people last year. Their main career page gives an overview of the company followed by a drop-down box so that you can select you location. Clicking on the US, the domestic link lists all of the awards they’ve received as an employer very impressive) and then has a section for students or experience hires. To the right of the page there is a link for job search. Using their experienced hire generic search returned 411 job opportunities in the US.
• Stew Leonard’s – Ranked 53 (we skipped 52 as the company was previously covered), this company owns supermarkets. 2,200 employees and 24 hires last year, their main career page is very interesting. It almost looks like a family web page with pictures of employees across different events. Listed on the left-hand side of the page is information on the company (with various categories), a Current Openings link as well as a Apply Now link. Current Openings (well you can figure this out) is of course current openings. The Apply Now page allows you to register so that they have your information should a job opening that matches your experience become available.
• Erickson Retirement Communities – Ranked 54 this year (way up from 93), Erickson has over 10,000 employees and hired 971 people last year. Their main careers page has tabs to the left for Search Jobs, Benefits, Events and more. In the center of the page they have six categories to select from for a targeted search. You can also click on “See Our Full List of Positions Available” to cut to the chase. Clicking on this (without criteria) returned the maximum which is 100 jobs. Not sure how many more exist beyond that, but you can find out by conducting a more targeted search.
• Salesforce.com – Ranked 55, this company is the 2nd fastest growing tech company. With almost 3,000 employees, they hired 381 people last year. The main careers page has a lot of good information on the company. They have a dedicated link for University recruiting and they show some of the open positions on this page as well as links to specific functional areas. Click on “Careers current openings” on the right hand side of the page to see job opportunities. There is not an actual count of open positions on their site, but a quick guess (looking at the open positions) there must be close to 100 opportunities.
• Big pay: Annual pay – So which of these companies (on the Best Companies list) are the highest paying? Check out the link. Fortune has sorted the list from highest paying to lowest in this group along with the position that demands (or gets for the lowest) that salary. The lowest paid job on the list is Service Manager at $44k per year to the highest (Associate) at $256k.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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From Forrest Gump’s Guide to Becoming a Gazillionaire, on OnMoneyMaking.com:

Who taught Elvis how to dance, received the Congressional Medal of Honor, got Nixon impeached, became the world ping-pong champion, built a national shrimping empire, and fathered Haley Joel Osment?

One man: Forrest Gump.

If I could choose one mentor in business, or in life in general, it would be Gump. I don’t care that he’s not real. The wisdom that he conveys is real, and I think we could all learn something from it.

This advice is so great, I’m going to tweak it for you so you can use it for medical sales (and still make a little money):

“And cause I was a gazillionaire, and I liked doin’ it so much, I cut that grass for free.”

If you’re in sales, you better like people and love sales. If you’re in medical sales, you better love the science and technology of it, too, so that keeping up with trends and development in the industry is a pleasure, not a chore. Be in the kind of medical sales that really interests you-there’s a lot to choose from: medical device sales, laboratory sales, pharmaceutical sales, hospital equipment sales, imaging sales, pathology sales, cellular or molecular products sales, surgical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, or biotechnology sales. (Find out about how to get into medical sales.) If you love it, you’ll be good at it, and if you’re good at it, the money will come.

“I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.”

E.Q. is just as important as I.Q. Successful salespeople know that sales are a lot about building relationships-it’s not just about the product. Customers know if you’re really in it to help them, or to help you.

“Stupid is as stupid does.”

Make good decisions. All the time. Don’t get caught not being where you said you’d be (sometimes they’re tracking you), keep your commitments, follow through, and make your company look good.

“When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go… you know… I went.”

Take care of yourself. Keeping yourself in good physical condition by getting enough exercise, eating right, getting enough rest, and taking mental breaks from the job once in a while will keep you at the top of your game.

“Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.”

Find a mentor. Read books on sales. Read medical sales blogs. Come to the medical sales recruiter for custom consulting to help you be the best sales rep you can be and have the best job you can have.

“I gotta save Bubba!”

Loyalty matters.

“Jenny taught me how to climb. And I taught her how to dangle.”

If you had a mentor (or even if you didn’t), be one. Be a team player. Always be networking. You never know where your next lead is coming from, or whether you might need a job sometime in the future. Someone who has been willing to help others will almost always get that generosity rewarded in some way down the road.

“My Momma always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.”

Don’t dwell on a sale that didn’t close, or a job that went bad. Learn what you can from it, and move on.

“I’m sorry I had to fight in the middle of your Black Panther party.”

Learning the art of apologizing will serve you well. Using it even when you don’t think you’re wrong will (sometimes) serve you better.

“Now you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I can run like the wind blows.”

If you’re in sales, you better know how to brag. About your products when you’re selling, and about yourself when you’re job searching. One great tip is to keep a brag book. What do you keep in it? Letters from happy customers, “good job” letters from sales managers, sales and revenue numbers, data on improvements you’ve made, training you’ve completed, awards and accomplishments. Learning how to use it in interviews will give you an edge.

“My Momma always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’ ”

On medical sales: No kid ever said, “I want to grow up to be a medical supply sales rep!” Still, there’s satisfying reward, financially and otherwise, in educating customers and delivering a product that will benefit people. There’s a lot of ways to combine the loves of people, business and science in healthcare sales.

On job searching: Don’t be afraid to move on (and up) if you get the opportunity, and don’t be afraid to go after what you want. Be open-minded about relocating, because it could be the step that leads to really great things. One tool that can help you move up or get the job is the 30/60/90 day sales plan template

“That’s all I have to say about that.”

Just as important as knowing when to talk, and when to push for the close, is knowing when to shut up and wait.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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We’ve received many emails from readers asking for advice on their resumes. While we are always happy to offer an objective view of a resume (e.g., wording, formatting, etc.), it is not enough if you are scratching your head trying to figure out why your job search isn’t working.

This article is one of five that will outline for you the steps to take to re-charge your job search and identify what has been holding you back from getting the job you want.

Step 1 – Self-Assessment (Know Thyself!)

By now, everyone has heard or received advice on how to conduct the perfect job search. Our readers here know that the jobs they’re looking for are not on CareerBuilder, Monster, or other job boards. Rather, the jobs they seek are hidden from public view and require a well-planned strategy to ferret them out. The strategy comprises five critical elements:

SELF-ASSESSMENT: Identify who you are—know and understand the unique strengths and knowledge you will bring to an employer.

RESUME ASSESSMENT: What does your resume say about YOU? Your skills, knowledge, and competencies? Is a chronological resume that simply lists the positions you’ve held? If your resume only cites what you’ve done, versus what you know and love, it’s time for a re-write!

JOB SEARCH ASSESSMENT: If you’ve been relying solely on job boards for your search, an overhaul of your search strategy is definitely in order.

RESEARCH: Identify the employers that need your expertise. Learn how to discover employers that look for the attributes you will uncover about yourself.

NETWORKING: Identify the people that might help you explore employment opportunities in your target companies. Using the many social networking outlets, such as LinkedIn or Facebook, as well as harnessing the power of a good Google search string, will help you find the people behind the opportunities.

Essentially, your action plan will follow this path: ASSESSMENT >> RESEARCH >> CONTACTS

1. SELF-ASSESSMENT

This is a crucial step that will help you determine the type of job or career you should be seeking. Most job seekers start out by assuming they will look for jobs in the same field or industry in which they’ve been working. While this assumption may have worked in the past, today’s job market requires out-of-the-box thinking and a process by which you can expand your job search outside of your typical comfort zone.

The Self-Assessment is a process by which you create an inventory of your personal and professional characteristics that can be transferred to multiple job types and industries. A prospective employer will expect you to apply what you know to help them solve a problem, which is why they’re looking to hire someone! In order for an interviewer to understand what you bring to the table, you need to be able to convey WHAT you know and HOW you will apply it on the job.

The items below came from The National School Boards Association website. While geared to educators, this list is an excellent compilation of self-assessment question that anyone can use.

Copy the following questions into a spreadsheet or other document. Title the first column ‘Questions.’ Add a second column called ‘Examples.’

Attributes

Do I view problems as opportunities?
Am I a priority setter?
Am I customer-focused?
Am I courageous?
Am I a critical and creative thinker?
What is my tolerance for ambiguity?
Am I positive attitude towards change?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these, provide an example of how you display these attributes.

Skills

Do I debate, clarify, and enunciate my values and beliefs?
Can I fuel, inspire, and guard the shared vision?
Can I communicate the strategic plan at all levels?
Do I ask the big picture questions and “what if”?
Can I support the staff through a change process?
Do I encourage dreaming and thinking the unthinkable?
Can I align the budget, planning, and policies with the company’s goals and vision?
Do I engage in goal setting?
Can I develop and implement action plans?
Do I transfer the strategic planning process to planning?

Not all of these may apply to you, but for the ones that do: How will you convey these skills on your resume–and to an interviewer?

Jobhunt.org also has some questions for you to think about:

In your past roles, what have you enjoyed the most?
Which skills gave you the most satisfaction?
Which skills did you like the least?
Which activities, when you do them, stress you out or depress you?
Do you prefer to use a few skill areas and be a specialist in one career option?
Do you like to use a broad variety of skills and be more of a generalist?

Once you’ve answered these questions (by providing examples), the next step will be to assess your resume in relation to what you’ve learned about yourself. Does your resume convey the attributes, skills, and knowledge that you’ve identified through the Self-Assessment process?

We would love to hear from you about how you may have changed your resume after completing this process!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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No matter where you are in your career, from entry-level to the top rung of the ladder, one skill that is absolutely necessary to catapult you from one level to the next throughout your professional life is the ability to interview well. What exactly is the purpose of an interview? What are the goals of both parties involved in the interview, and how does this tie in to receiving a job offer? What is the best way to prepare for an interview, to avoid being nervous, anxious, and blowing the entire appointment?

According to a general dictionary, an interview is defined as a formal meeting, especially one arranged for the assessment of the qualifications of an applicant. Seems simple enough, right? As a job seeker, it’s necessary to change the way that you view an interview. Let’s take our thinking from a passive appointment in which an employer gets to know a prospective employee, to a dynamic process in which a prospective employee has the opportunity to sell his or her skills. You see, many applicants have the misunderstanding that they will participate in an interview, for the purpose of determining whether or not they want to work for an employer, at the wages and salary the said employer is willing to pay. Think about this for just a second. Many applicants walk in to an interview with limited information about the company they have applied to, and believe the answer as to whether or not they work for this company comes down to the money.

In today’s competitive job market, it’s necessary that every applicant realize there are plenty of applicants for most jobs. Unemployment is at an all time high. When you get that call to interview with a company, it’s not time to asses and be assessed – it’s time for you to audition for the role of your life!

The goals for the hiring manager during your interview is to get to know you, uncover any hidden information not provided on your resume or application, and determine whether or not this person is a good fit for the position. As the applicant for the job, your goals should always be as follows:

* to display a professional and personable attitude
* to openly discuss and show the hiring manager how your past experience can connect to their current needs
* to ask thoughtful questions of the interviewer that provide additional information about the position, and the type of individual that will best perform the position

Obviously, the hiring manager performing the interview hopes to fill this job with the “right candidate.” Conversely, the applicant’s goal should be provide such a stellar performance, the employer will have no doubt their company cannot continue to operate without you as a part of their team.

The best way to prepare for an interview is with the help of your career agent or the recruiter who is representing you. In the event you pursuing your search alone, here are some helpful tips to ensure you are ready for the big interview:

1. Do a thorough research of the company’s website.
2. View all news articles and press releases for the company for the last year.
3. Find out the name of the person you will be interviewing with, and search for information about them on LinkedIn, Google, MySpace, Facebook, or any other social networking websites.
4. Contact the company’s human resources department, and request a detailed job description be emailed or faxed to you.
5. Go through the job description, line to line, and write down all of the skills and experience you have that relate directly the position. Be prepared to discuss each of these with the interviewer.
6. Write down a minimum of five good questions you wish to ask the interviewer during the appointment. Make sure your questions are not answered by the company website, and further show your interest in the position on a long-term basis.
7. Make sure you have directions to your interview, and allow yourself plenty of time to arrive early.
8. Dress for success – it’s always better to be ultra-professional than to be under-dressed for the meeting.
9. Bring three clean copies of your resume to the interview, with cover letter and references.
10. Write a thoughtful thank you letter to each person you spoke with during the interview, and email them as soon as you return to your home or office.

When you attempt to handle a job search on your own, it can be a cumbersome and time consuming process, that results in fewer interviews and employment offers than expected. Oftentimes, the decision to work through a career agent or professional recruiter can be the difference between obtaining your target position and remaining in your current situation. Changing your perspective on how to interview, and the goals of each party involved in the activity can ultimately provide you with the success in obtaining your next career move, with proven results.

Christina Archer is the Director of Recruiting with AgentHR, in the Columbus, Ohio office. Christina specializes in the contract, temp to hire, and direct hire of healthcare professionals at hospitals and healthcare facilities across the United States. Christina is the group manager of “The R.N. Network” on LinkedIn, and offers job seekers unique tools, articles, and resources on her blog. (I-Careersearch.com) Whether you are a hiring manager looking for a long-term recruiting strategy that will save you time and money, or a job candidate who is looking for the professional representation necessary to remain competitive in today’s employment market, visit Christina’s website for more information, at http://www.agenthr.com/carcher

AgentHR is the nation’s premiere Recruiting Agency, and the leader in Human Capital solutions. Regardless of your hiring needs, our team will tackle your most challenging requirements head on. We have specialists in almost every field, and are interested in creating a long-term successful partnership that includes competitive fees, strong guarantees, and an unparallelled commitment to quality customer service.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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