Interviewing idiots

Interviewing idiots In case youve never noticed, I rarely interview anyone for this column. Most of my sources are family and unsuspecting friends who complain that I make everyone look bad. But it is not true. It is true that they THINK I make them look bad, but in fact, I could rip them apart in my column, and I do not, in the spirit of being invited back for Thanksgiving and Birthdays. Recently, I have taken up columnist tasks that require me to interview strangers. And, like the courtesy I give to my family, I do not trash the people I interview. But I am at my breaking point. Some people are so incredibly stupid about their career that I actually struggle to make them seem intelligent during the interview. So here are two interviews from smart people who are career idiots. (But first, a caveat: I am making the people anonymous. Many readers generously send stories from the field. And really, I love to hear from readers. I learn a lot. So you should know that if I think youre an idiot and decide to write about it, I will at least disguise your identity.) Career idiot number one: The Apprentice. Not all of them. Just the unlucky one I interviewed. He really did not have a career, which was, undoubtedly, the cause of his ridiculous antics on the TV show that eventually got him fired. But he decided to make a career out of getting fired by becoming a public speaker. Here are things you need to become a public speaker: 1. Something to say. This guy had nothing. Except to tell me that he was available for speaking. 2. You need an ability to answer questions from the press so that your name gets in the paper and people recognize you and hire you as a speaker. He did not answer my questions, which were all softballs. And he even asked to see the notes I was writing so he could edit them. I laughed. The lesson from this career idiot is that if you must be a poser, pose carefully. When you first start being something new, (for him, a public speaker) you need to pretend you are that person so people hire you as that person. But do some research before you start pretending. At least learn the basics of how to conduct yourself, and what people will ask of you. Career idiot number two: The painter whose identity I probably dont even need to hide because you dont know him because hes never sold a painting. He makes a lot of money as VP of Something Big at his tech company and he gave notice six months before his wife quit work to have a baby. He is starting a career as a painter. He has no idea how to get his art to the market, or how many pieces hell have to sell to support his family. But he says he has to be true to himself, and painting is his dream. He says he feels trapped at his current job. This is the picture he paints of trapped: He wanted to move across country, so his large and generous company let him set up remote office in his new home. He hates the long hours of his lucrative job, and his company would let him go part time, but he doesnt ask for that because he doesnt want to like his job. He fears that if he liked his job he wouldnt quit to do his art. Here is the lesson from career idiot number two: Take a big-picture look at what you have. It might be a lot better than you realize. Remember the first time you woke up next to the love of your life, and up close, in the morning, their face looked splotched and scruffy and gross? Well jobs are like people; they never look great up close so you need to pay attention to the big picture. This guys big picture is that he has a great job for supporting his new family and painting on the side, and if hes really an artistic genius then he can make a bundle painting and quit his job. I hate to be a buzz kill here. Im not saying that I dont like dreamers. I do. I like people who reach for careers that are fulfilling but difficult. But just because the odds of success are low doesnt mean you have to make them lower with poor planning.

Tips For Using Resume Writing Services in Utah

Tips For Using Resume Writing Services in UtahResume writing services are a wonderful alternative to filling out an application form, but there are also some things that you can do to make it that much easier. This article will outline some of the important tips that you should be aware of when you are submitting your resume.First of all, it is a good idea to make sure that your resume is actually as polished as you would like it to be. Some people go overboard with the application of the special effects and end up getting something that looks ridiculous, even if they follow the basic rules. While this is often a risk that you have to take, it does not make the rest of your resume look bad.By no means is a great resume going to require a single word added to it. Make sure that you know exactly what you want your resume to say. Do not be tempted to add a small paragraph about why you are qualified for the job, even if you do in fact have strong references to back up your statement.One other tip to keep in mind when creating a basic resume is to keep it as simple as possible. In other words, you do not need to try to be clever. Instead, you just need to provide your personal information in a straightforward manner. If you add some nice style to the document, then you might be able to make it more appealing to a hiring manager, but do not go overboard with your efforts.Even after you have given your information away in a form that is as uncomplicated as possible, there is still the matter of choosing a format for your resume. When looking at resume writing services, make sure that you ask questions such as what kind of resume format they offer. What kind of templates are available? How much money are they charging for their services?After you have settled on the format that you want, then you should look into some of the various online resume services that are available. After all, these are the people who are going to be doing the legwork for you and helping you craft the best possible document that you can possibly create.The next thing that you should consider is the idea of a general resume. These can be applied to a number of different fields, but the most common field that these are used for is the military. You might be surprised at how useful they can be, but it can also be a bit daunting to people who do not know how to apply them correctly.The final consideration that you should think about is the amount of time that you can spend on your resume. This is one of the most important decisions that you are going to make when you are taking the time to create a resume for yourself. If you cannot devote a great deal of time to your resume, then you should probably reconsider the idea of using resume writing services. Instead, you should devote some time to the process and you should be able to come up with a very impressive document in no time at all.

COTJ Reviews YouTern Internship Search Website

COTJ Reviews YouTern Internship Search Website 99 Flares 99 Flares The problem: The major job boards arent helping your internship search at all.  Is the Marketing Internship you saw on that big name job board for real, or is it some dude in his basement just looking for free labor?  What you need is a helpful online community, run by Recruiting and HR industry professionals who KNOW what a good internship looks like.  Whether youre paid, not paid, or being offered college credit for your hard work, your internship experience should be heavily based on mentorship.  Where can you go to find variety, expertise, and a knowledgeable community? The answer: YouTern.com What is YouTern? YouTern is a website that offers internship seekers access to positions available at start-ups and entrepreneurial companies.  Theyve also done a fantastic utilizing social communities like Twitter Facebook, as well as using their own blog to present helpful employment related resources.  What separates YouTern from some other similar websites is that they were founded by experts with over a decade of experience in online recruiting start-ups.  Honestly, I cant stress enough how important it is to have industry professionals running a site like this. YouTerns My Account Section For all intents and purposes, this section is your internship search dashboard.  EVERYTHING youll need to find an internship can be found in the My Account section of YouTern.  What will you find here? My Profile This section is critical.  Youll not only load up basic personal information (Location, contact, etc), but youll also fill out the important detailed information of what kind of internship, if it should be virtual, etc.  Awesome! My Resumes YouTern makes it easy to upload multiple resumes, in case you have different resumes for each field youre interested in. My Intern Alerts Go through this section to select the specific type of internship youre craving.  YouTern will automatically send you alerts when those EXACT positions are available.   Alerts can be sent daily or weekly. My Applications Here is where youll see which positions youve already applied to.  What I want to highlight here is YouTerns helpful tips to internship seekers.  Its a great touch on their site and a very helpful reminder to seekers. Saved Internships Saved Searches I always stress about organization in the job search.  Saving specific internships that interest you will be a huge timesaver.  Youll see what you like about that specific internship and look for it in others.  The Saved Searches option is also a great tool.  Identify a few searches that target your desired results, then you can automatically click those searches to see which new internship positions have sprung up. YouTerns My Account Page YouTerns Blog:  TheSavyIntern As mentioned earlier, YouTern does a great job of establishing a helpful community.  Their blog already has over 150 internship related blog posts.  Here are three recent posts that I love: Twitter Job Search for Not-so-Dummies 10 Most Desired Characteristics of a Small Team Intern What 3 Job Seeker Types Scare Recruiters Away Whats Being Said About YouTern? Other notable mentions for YouTern: Mentioned as a “Hot Start-up” by Sprouter Named a “Top 5 Online Communities for Starting Your Career” by Mashable COTJs Final Words What I love most about YouTern is the variety of internships, the ease of use and functionality of their website, and how almost every page includes helpful tidbits.  YouTern understands what constitutes a solid internship experience, and wont work with companies that will leave you hanging. Set up your FREE profile on YouTern, upload your resumes, and finally begin your internship search!  Simply go to http://www.youtern.com/, and click on Register up top to the right! Want to learn more?  Check out the YouTern FAQ or read their About Us section.

Is your resume holding you back

Is your resume holding you back Searching for a new job can be frustrating, especially when you are sending in your resume but not getting many call backs. Dont fret test yourself! In other words, lets take an empirical approach to finding a solution. Here are four tactics for figuring out if your resume is holding you back: Establish a baseline You may not be very interested in a job that you are well-qualified for but you need to submit your resume to a few of these openings to make sure your resume can pass that level. If you get callbacks then move back to the job postings that you really want and take a look at the next step. If you dont get any call backs then there is a larger issue at hand. It may be time to get a professional review from a friend in the industry, a colleague in your network or a career coach. Beef up your checklist Its time to be very thorough and re-check your resume. Use the list below to make sure there isnt something glaringly wrong with your resume thats causing hiring managers or recruiters to toss it. Do the following: cater the resume to the job description include a custom cover letter change your summary title to match the job title match keywords in the job description to your resume proofread every word and sentence for spelling and grammar use a modern format keep a consistent font type and size insert adequate white space and make it inviting to read Some of those are quick but some arent. At this point, you need to take your time and thoroughly go through each one. The truth is that if you dont spend adequate time on resume fundamentals then you are just wasting your time and good job opportunities! Look at your strategy, not tactics If you arent getting callbacks after submitting your resume and youve checked it thoroughly you may be inclined to think professional resume writing is what you need. Actually, a professional resume writer gives you better writing but not necessarily a better job application strategy. People rarely apply for a job they are fully qualified for so a strategy is required to determine how to approach each job. The list above contains the fundamentals table stakes so an error or omission doesnt hold you back. However, its your strategy that will help your resume stand out and get those callbacks.  Do the following: address the critical parts of the job description tell a compelling story show that you have exceeded the expected results display your x-factor that separates you from others express why you are so interested in the role You may have additional challenges/obstacles that need to be addressed. Remember, its about strategy here and you need to get inside the mind of the recruiter, hiring manager, and anyone else who will be passing judgement on your resume. Your secret weapon = cover letter Your secret weapon (besides networking) is your cover letter. Many job applicants pass on an optional cover letter or re-hash a generic, poorly personalized one. There are many things you can do in a cover letter that you cant in a resume: show your passion explain how the hiring manager should interpret your resume present a unique experience or skill that qualifies you call out the results that most closely relate tell your personal story and how much this job means to you Your cover letter is a requirement, in my eyes, because it is difficult to get a quick overview or your full story from just a resume. Knowing that other applicants arent using a cover letter is another good reason it shows you cared enough! In conclusion, stop wasting your time applying for jobs with a resume that is poorly written or has a poor strategy behind it. Get those things in order and view each job submission as a test to see what resonates in the marketplace. Dont just stick to jobs that you really want either there may not be many good ones that come along so find other ways to test your resume changes.

Cover Letter Tone Formal or Friendly

Cover Letter Tone Formal or Friendly When creating cover letters, a common mistake is to essentially use the same letter every time. Many applicants change nothing more than the name of the company. This is a bad idea and you can be certain that your generic letter is seen as such by those who read it. The other common mistake is in tone. As a general rule, formal is better. But this is not always the case, though it is a safe fall back position. Im going to assume you have done your homework and know enough about the job you are seeking to be specific in your cover letter. If you dont have that information, then get it before you begin writing. You cannot craft a decent cover letter without specifics. The tone of the letter will be dictated on the position you are seeking. The rule is that the more authority the position has then the more formal the cover letter should be and the more specific. You want the letter to be brief but complete. Its important to highlight your skills in relation to the specific job being offered and to explain why you are perfectly suited to the position. Of course you will address the letter to the person doing the interviewing. If you dont know who this is, then just call and ask. Address him or her formally throughout your letter. Never shorten someones name unless given permission to do so. Save the informal and friendly approach for your friends. When writing a cover letter you want to get your point across as briefly as possible while showing respect to the reader. The tone should always err on the side of formality.

Tips on Writing a Resume For a Non-Profit

Tips on Writing a Resume For a Non-ProfitWriting a resume for a non-profit, nonprofit is a very difficult task. Non-profits are faced with a lot of responsibilities in addition to their conventional work activities. Since their main function is to serve the needy, providing job opportunities for the needy is always considered a great idea.When you are looking for a job, it is important that you do not make any mistake on your resume. This is very essential in the application of any professional resume writer because the resume must be perfectly clear and full of information. It would be good if you could go through all the services provided by the recruiter so that you can get a right idea of how he writes resumes. Make sure that you understand how the resume can be compiled according to the requirements of the organization.How can you go about creating your resume? Well, if you are applying for a job as a technical support person for example, then the job is not that important. You can write about your previous work experience and educational background and state the required qualifications. You can create a resume about your own interests and skills if the job does not require a deep analysis of your work. If you are applying for an internship at a non-profit, for example, then you may create a resume about your interest in their activities and if they have any specific requirements.If you are applying for a job that requires extensive skills and experiences then you may mention your experience related to your desired job title. If you are applying for a job which is in an area that you are not familiar with, then you may list the industries that you are familiar with.When you are applying for a job and you are a high school graduate, you may create a resume for a non-profit and include in it the required information. You may not mention the experience and qualifications that you did not get but can mention the education courses that you have passed and the p osition that you wanted. You can mention other skills and abilities if your field of expertise is needed at the company.Skills that are required in non-profit are health care, legal, financial and social services. A resume for a non-profit should provide some information about the community services you have given. Be careful when you add that information. You may choose to include it but make sure that it does not contain private information or disparaging remarks on the non-profit.Remember that when you are looking for a job and you want to include a resume for a non-profit, then you must be certain about the relevance of the job and what you will do at the job. It is vital that you do your homework well before going for a job application.

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on Do You Put References on Resume

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on Do You Put References on Resume The Good, the Bad and Do You Put References on Resume You're also likely to need to understand how to choose and request references. In the event you've resolved to divide references the former way, stay away from empty space. Even if all your references are contented to be on your list, it is an excellent concept to supply a heads-up that someone might be reaching out to ask about you. You want recent references from folks who may not only vouch for your character but the caliber of work you do. Do You Put References on Resume Help! Now that you're schooled on the best way to list reference on a resume, know your resumeand your referencesmay have to be altered slightly as you submit an application for different jobs. Instead, make a distinct reference sheet you are able to bring to your job interview. To start, you don't need to list every job that you've ever had. Also, don't hesitate to l ist non-traditional work like volunteer jobs or freelance work, particularly if you haven't held a normal job in a little while. It is vital to have a whole list of three or more professional references that may be submitted together with your resume, or provided to job interviewers upon request. Infographic resumes are just a supplement. Graphic-based resumes enable you to lay out complex data in a simplistic way. Resume Writing Lab provides the answers just read the next. Job references shouldn't be included on a resume. Typically, you can have a concise. If you are requested to send references, develop an individual document rather than placing them directly on your resume. Offering references without prompting sends a crystal clear message which you're forthcoming with information and don't have anything to hide.