Michelle A. Riklan
Certified Resume Writer, Career Coach, LinkedIn Profile Writer, Trainer, Facilitator, Author, Columnist, Speaker
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Career Newsletter
Volume III, Issue 9                                                          September 2014
Riklan Resources, LLC
(800) 540-3609
 
A leading resume and career services company assisting clients in the 
New Jersey/New York metropolitan area and globally
 
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Welcome to September's career newsletter! 


 
Are you Prepared for the Fall Job Hiring Rush?

 

The lax summer season, when vacations are rampant and most companies take a breather from expansion, makes way for Fall, considered the busiest season for hiring.

 

While there's no definite rule signaling September as the hiring season, it definitely seems like the busiest season for many industries.

 

If you're aspiring to switch careers, move to a bigger company or if you're just starting out, it's important you're ready for the huge hurdle ahead. You're not the only one looking for a new job so the competition will be fierce, but at least tons of opportunities are waiting.

 

That said, my goal is to help you take advantage of this season, so here are two tips to make the most out this month.

 

Embrace the 20/20/60 Job Hunting Plan

 

Job hunting will definitely take a lot of time away from your current responsibilities. Between preparing your requirements, writing your resume, hitting up contacts, applying, and interviewing, you can bet that this hunt will consume anywhere from 8 to 20 hours per week.

 

While that may seem excessive, 20 hours might not even be enough to compete against the jobless people putting in 100% of their time into this hunt.

 

To stay ahead of the curve, spend 60% of your allotted time in job applications, 20% increasing your networking and the last 20% researching your target companies, or finding an 'in' who can make a recommendation for you.

 

Weave the Fairy Tale They're Looking For

 

Anyone can read a list. You can line up all your achievements and capabilities on paper, but what really convinces a hiring manager is your creativity in using said list. Let's be honest, listening to a hardship-to-happily-ever-after story is more interesting than enduring a monologue of a person's skills and accomplishments.

 

Good politicians are elected into office because of their excellent speech and storytelling skills, so are job applicants. Weave a fanciful tale of you handling a difficult problem, while 'saving' your team using your mighty skills and heroic perseverance.

 

Dress the Part

 

What you wear largely dictates how people will see and treat you. So dressing well is important even if you're applying for an internship or entry level job. Lose the denim jacket and trade it for a respectable coat and tie combo. Ditch the short skirt and opt for a formal-yet-fashionable dress instead. You're going in for an interview, not a runway show!

 

No matter who you ask, and where you look, you'll find that the busiest season for job hiring runs from January to September.

 

The first falling leaf is like a wave of a flag to start a race. In this case, it's a race to your dream job.

 

Kind regards,   

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Our list is growing! If you would like to advertise in future issues, please send an e-mail to robin@riklanresources.com.

 

 

Do You Make These Mistakes During the Phone Interview?

by Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC, CJSS

 

 

It's International Update Your Resume Month! Have you updated your resume yet?

 

Or maybe you've already received a favorable response after updating it? Perhaps you have an upcoming phone interview?

 

Hooray! Good for you. But don't let your guard down just yet.

 

The phone interview seems innocuous enough, but many applicants don't realize its importance. Whether it lasts 10 or 30 minutes, that conversation can make or break your chances of getting hired. If you're unlucky enough to annoy the interviewer, it could be over in seconds.

 

Unfortunately, because most phone interviews are short, not to mention it's only done once per applicant, there's very little time to recover from a poor response. So it's best to prepare in advance.

 

Knowing what can go wrong can help you prevent it from happening in the first place.

 

Costly Mistakes to Avoid During Phone Interviews

 

Forgetting to Talk like a Normal Person

 

It's normal to get nervous during a phone interview, but that doesn't mean the interviewer won't hold that against you. Stammering, using word fillers and talking too fast or too slow makes a bad impression, so try to talk naturally. Don't get too informal with the interviewer though. Just pace yourself and remember to explain things clearly.

 

Taking it slow allows you to collect your thoughts and say the right things, and it improves your pronunciation, making you easier to understand.

 

Know When to Stop and When You're Missing the Point

 

Many applicants ramble aimlessly, forgetting the whole point of the question they were asked. Phone interviews often take 30 minutes at most, so if you've been talking non-stop for five minutes - and yet haven't made your point - then it's time to step back and remember the question being asked. 

 

Understandably, situational questions will take longer to answer. For such situations, it's best to have a prepared answer - or a structure for that answer at least. You can prepare a cheat sheet, if you like. After all, it's a phone interview. Nobody said you can't use one.

 

Failing to Ask Questions

 

Asking questions signals your interest in the position. It also shows that you're inquisitive and have initiative. Ask questions about the next steps of the hiring process, and get a better sense of the job description. Better yet, ask about career advancements to signal your eagerness to learn and grow with the company. By learning more about the company and what they are looking for, you can steer the conversation in your favor by using their points to solidify why you are the perfect choice.

 

It is "We" not "I"

 

When applying for a company, expect that you will be a "part" of that company. It's never a good idea to portray yourself as someone who thinks he can be the savior of the company.

Sure, it's important to talk of yourself and your achievements. But don't portray yourself as a lone operator. More and more companies are looking for applicants based on 'cultural fit', so even if you're quite accomplished, there's a huge chance they can find someone just as accomplished as you - but is a better fit for the team.

 

No one expects to hire an island so don't sell yourself as one.

 

Remember, a phone interview, although a mere preliminary process, is an important part of the job application.  

 

In all cases, the success of the phone interview lies on the preparations you make beforehand. I suggest you prepare a list of talking points and practice in front of a mirror before you step up to the plate and take a swing.

 

 

Perk Up: Look for a Job With Great Benefits

By Paige Calahan, Content Advocate, Social Monsters

You've paid your dues slaving away in entry-level jobs. Now that you finally have some serious work experience under your belt, it's time to leverage that into a career with a salary and, ideally, some impressive perks. With more and more employers adjusting their company policies to accommodate a healthier work-life balance, employee benefits are growing well beyond paid time off and health insurance. Here are some perks to watch for on your job hunt:

 

Free Stuff

 

Who can say no to cool swag? From free gadgets like phablets or laptops to tickets to sporting events and concerts, many companies have gotten creative with how they incentivize employees. Sales executives at vibrant, young companies such as Yelp are often motivated with monthly sales contests while others offer monthly giveaways. Depending on if the company sells products or services, you also can count on getting those for free or at a steep discount. For instance, Lululemon offers employees 70 percent off product purchases and Microsoft offers employees software discounts.

 

These type of perks are major morale boosters for employees. They motivate them to work hard, compete and feel excited and appreciated. For employers, freebies rarely cost much (if anything) and can be used as a write-off.

 

Employee Fitness

 

As healthcare costs continue to rise, employers have begun taking more proactive measures to keep employees healthy by offering fitness related perks. Gym membership subsidies are not uncommon at many competitive companies including food manufacturers H.J. Heinz Co. and Del Monte. Tech giants Microsoft, Facebook and Google take this perk to the next level by offering complimentary on-site fitness facilities. Likewise, Intel offers employees a Health for Life program, which includes a comprehensive health assessment, personalized fitness plan and health resources to help reach fitness goals.

 

Fitness-focused benefits can help prevent you from gaining the "Freshman 15" at your new job. It also allows you to work with a group of like-minded individuals to help you stay on track to reach your health goals. Furthermore, this is beneficial to the employer because healthy employees cost less to insure and are less likely to call in sick.

 

Family Friendliness

 

Planning on starting a family in the next few years? There are a variety of family-related perks to be on the lookout for in your job search that can make the transition into the new role of mom or dad a little easier. Facebook offers employees "baby cash," a $4,000 bonus for new parents, in addition to four months of paid maternity leave or reimbursement of adoption fees. Retailer Patagonia offers onsite subsidized childcare to employees at their corporate headquarters in Ventura, California. Many other companies like Costco offer dependent care plans that let you pay for childcare with pre-tax dollars, which can save you as much as $2,000 over the course of a year, according to their benefits website.

 

By offering new parents these benefits, companies receive loyal, dedicated employees who feel valued in this time of transition. New parents who have family-focused perks are likely to be less stressed and have an easier transition back into their work role after the baby has arrived.

 

Everything Else

 

Yes, there are a few tech giants like Google, Facebook and Apple that offer nearly every cool perk imaginable. With juice bars, free gourmet meals prepared onsite by chefs, spas, laundry service and free rides to work on luxurious shuttles, these companies offer employees practically anything you can dream up. If you can score a job at one of these Holy Grail companies, you'll probably find yourself (happily) spending more than 40 hours a week at work.

 

 

Suggested Reading: Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to do Before You Join the Real World
By Lindsey Pollak

Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World
by Lindsey Pollak

Paperback ~ Release Date: 2007-04-10
List Price: $13.95
Our Price: $6.99





About the Author

Lindsey Pollak is recognized internationally as one of the leading experts on the Millennial Generation.

 

She is the author of Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting From College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World. She serves as an official Ambassador for LinkedIn, Spokesperson for The Hartford's "My 

Tomorrow" Millennial campaign and Chair of Cosmopolitan magazine's Millennial Advisory Board.

 

Her consulting and speaking clients have included Barclays, Citi, GE, Ralph Lauren, Verizon, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, MIT and over 150 other organizations.

Lindsey's advice and opinions have appeared in such media outlets as The Today Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR.

 

 

________________________________________________

If you have a favorite career book to suggest or an article that you'd like to submit for our upcoming issues, please send your information to newsletter@riklanresources.com.

 

 

In the News

This Skill is Often Overlooked - And It Can Make or Break Your Career



September is International Update Your Resume Month - Get your complimentary resume consultation ASAP. The month is almost over!

Thisupdate resume month September marks the 14th Annual International Update Your Resume Month created by Career Directors International (CDI). To celebrate it, I will be giving away 15-minute resume consultations and a copy of my e-book, "How to Create a Resume that Lands on Top of the Pile" this month.


 

I'd like to encourage all working professionals to take a moment - even just 30 minutes - to update your resume. After listing all your new skills and accomplishments, go to RiklanResources.com to schedule your complimentary 15-minute resume consultation. You can also get your free e-book by visiting the website's product page. Just choose the right book and enter the coupon code: ResumeMonth.

During this month, career coaches, resume writers and other members of the CDI will go all out to encourage everyone they know to update their resume. So if any of you were reminded to update your resume this year or the past few years, now you know why.

If you were able to take advantage of an unexpected job opportunity because you updated your resume before you even needed it, then the folks at CDI have done their job well. International Update Your Resume Month is all about awareness and taking control of your career, after all.

Why September of All Months?

September is the perfect month to prepare for a new chapter in your career. As kids enter a new school year to advance their learning, adults should do the same for their career.

 
Take stock of new skills and professional achievements you've had since the year started. Doing this prepares you for what lies ahead - be it new opportunities, a change in career path or a layoff.

September is also a month of job fairs. In addition, many companies continue regular operations and hiring in September, when their HR and decision makers are back from their summer getaway. Great companies are looking for new recruits, are you and your resume ready to meet them?

Employers can sniff out a poorly written resume instantly. Employment jobs, overlapping dates, poor job descriptions, all of this can land you in the reject pile instantly.

Unfortunately, most job seekers avoid updating their resume until they actually need it. You won't be able to remember all the new training, projects and achievements you've had when you're under pressure.

 
A job-winning resume takes time to create, all CDI members know this. That's why they named September as International Update Your Resume Month - to remind us all that it's easier and more effective to update our resume regularly, instead of cramming at the last minute.
 


 

In This Issue
Are You Prepared for the Fall Job Hiring Rush?
Do You Make These Mistakes During the Phone Interview?
Perk Up: Look for a Job with Great Benefits
Getting from College to Career
In the News
September is International Update Your Resume Month
Quick Links


In the Media

Before you put together your resume, it's important to have a clear understanding of your goals and target positions. Gaining clarity is valuable so you can market yourself appropriately.

http://www.talentzoo.com/digital-pivot/blog_news.php?articleID=8177


Inspirational Thought

"Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, Certainly, I can! Then get busy and find out how to do it.
"
-- Theodore Roosevelt
2013 2nd Place Award 
Best New Grad Resume
2013 Tori Award

2011 2nd Place Award 
Best Creative Resume

2010 3rd Place Award 
Best Creative Resume




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