20 Jul 10 Seize the Opportunity and the Job: The Interview

So, you’ve submitted a killer Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents. You’re ahead of the pack and have just received a call for an interview. What do you do next?

The interview is the most stressful and important part of job hunting. This is where the employers make a decision based on his or her impression of whether to hire you for their job. You will want to do your best in this part because here lays the culmination of all your job hunting efforts. Flub it here and all your efforts from application to examinations will go down the drain.

1. Make a Great Impression
Always dress in your best attire for the interview. Your attire should be appropriate.  No matter what the company may require for their employees, the first impression for applicants should be conservative business attire.

2. Do a Little Research
One of the best ways to make a good impression on your interviewer is to do a little research on the company you are applying for. This will equip you with material to answer many of the questions the interviewer will ask. One of the main points of the questions you will be asked is how your skills can benefit the company. If you know a thing or two about the company, you will find it a lot easier to answer this question. Plus, dropping a few meaty tidbits about how much you know about the company will go a long way in impressing the interviewer.

3. Watch Your Body Language
Many of the interviewers are well versed in body language, and you will find that, throughout the interview, they will be looking for hints about your personality from the way you act, talk, and move. It would be abnormal to assume a different set of body language during the interview. What you should do is to take note of your body language so that at least it communicates openness and honesty.

Avoid telling lies or embellishing your answers. Experienced interviewers will notice this in an instant. Always keep your palms open and avoid crossing your legs or your arms together. Do not be afraid to make eye contact while speaking; just make sure that you do not come across as intimidating.

4. Confidence
Walk in with a purpose. Answer with a purpose. Try not to be too self-conscious. Make sure you are confident in what you say. If you hit a snag and find yourself in a compromising situation, make sure you handle the situation confidently – even when saying that you do not know an answer to a question.
Confidence reflects competence. Employers always look for competent people to fill their ranks.

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22 Jul 09 The Lost Art Of Resume Thank You Letters

Writing resume thank you letters is becoming more of a necessity in today’s ever competitive world. These days, you need to find a way to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. It can be difficult to do so for a very sought after job. One way to give youself an edge is to simply do the courteous and thoughtful act of mailing a thank you letter after your resume has been looked or even received. Employers want people who are not afraid to take risks and go the extra mile. Sure, sending a resume thank you letter could be a complete waste of time, effort and energy. Then again it could be that one small thing that sets you apart from the other candidates that could be just as qualified, if not more than you.

Resume thank you letters were almost a lost tradition from the days of yester year when courtesy and kindness were a norm. It wasn’t until the hustle and bustle of modern life made everyone so busy and turned everyone into a number that resume thank you letters became popular again. Now, out of necessity, demonstrating that you have additional skills or thought processes has brought the resume thank you letter back and into the forefront for those that like to stay on top.

Writing resume thank you letters are important to both you and your prospective employer. Even as busy as you are, writing the resume thank you letter is the thing you really want to do. In a perfect world where everyone had all the time they needed to get everything done they wanted, sending a resume thank you letter would be one thing everyone would do. Employers notice these small things and appreciate the time and thought that goes into writing a resume thank you letter. Send yours today!

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