3 Things You Need to Know About The Company Before Interviewing

3 Things You Need to Know About The Company Before Interviewing Going for an interview is exciting but at the same time, it is nerve racking to say the least. You want the job but you have to get through the interview first. Experts will advise on what to wear and what to do but passing the interview begins way before you step in to face the panel of interviewers. It is important to enter the interview room armed with information that will help you pass the interview. The hard part is not when you have to talk about your skills and education. This is information you already have and it is easy to relay it. The hard part comes when you have to answer questions relating to the prospective employer as well as how they will apply to the overall interview. You can get the information from the company website as well as from other sources such as newspaper articles. The information will help you find ready answers to interview questions. You will be able to portray more confidence as you will feel less nervous. Being inadequately prepared adds to the anxiety and this eats away at the confidence that you will show. Here are just a few pointers on what you need to know before you attend the interview. Company’s products or services This information is important as it shows that you have a deeper interest in the company beyond just getting a job. Get as much as you can on the company’s operations, as this will help you understand how the company works. You can use this information to answer interview questions in context of the company. The information is also useful as you can find material to ask questions on at the end of the session. Policies and other information relevant to your area of expertise Find out more on the policies and procedures the company has in place especially those relating to your niche of expertise. This will help you to answer questions especially those tricky scenario ones. You can apply the procedures and policies that the company already uses to answer questions that require a more technical response. For example, if you are a human resource expert, you can answer more accurately when you receive a query on what to do when dealing with a complicated employee case. Any issues or challenges the company is facing and how your expertise can help address them Try to find out if the company is facing any specific challenges or issues. You can then be in a position to answer questions in this context which might win you points. This is especially when you require matching your expertise with the needs that the company has. Most employers are looking to match employees with the existing work environment and knowing how to apply your skills in the interview is a very big plus. If you cannot directly find out the problems that the company is facing, find out challenges companies in this industry face and work them into your answers. Bio Alex Truman is aware that most people fail interviews because they lacked relevant information. He has many other useful tips that you can use as well as more information on national debt relief.

A Career Change from Account Manager to Organizing Entrepreneur. With Kay McManus. [Podcast] - Career Pivot

A Career Change from Account Manager to Organizing Entrepreneur. With Kay McManus. [Podcast] - Career Pivot Episode 32 â€" Kay McManus talks about the steps she took to get to create her successful and rewarding company. Description: Marc first gives statistics about the Repurpose Your Career Podcast so far. The show is in the top half on LibSyn, after seven months of availability. Marc thanks you, his listeners for your support. Kay McManus is the Founder of K-Kan, Inc., a firm that provides, office, home, and record organization, as well as administrative, accounting, and business development services. Kay leads with integrity. She and her staff are detail-oriented, personable, supportive, and effective, whether organizing physical or electronic items, designing efficient storage systems, orchestrating a move, assisting with downsizing efforts, or serving as a company’s marketing rep. In addition to being an active member in the business-related and networking groups, Kay is involved with fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society, other charitable organizations, and working on the family ranch. Marc says, “Let me confirm that Kay can.” Kay discusses her beginnings, the various skills she developed along the way, and the happy accident of a layoff that got her started in her own business helping people organize files, accounts, homes, storage, and processes, in what turns out to be her dream career. Listen in for an inspiring journey to a career with purpose. Key Takeaways: [3:36] Kay has learned to be adaptable, to roll with the flow, and to distinguish a position or a job that will be truly valued, from someone that may just not be prepared to be organized at the present time. Kay has had to walk through a few fires to get to this point. It has been a journey she did not anticipate, but which has truly been a blessing. [4:29] Marc attests that Kay is organized. He tells of a client he sent to Kay for help organizing her taxes and her house, who says it was the best money she ever spent. [4:57] After college, Kay worked in business development marketing in tech, moved into sales, and then account management, where she did a bit of everything. The last employer, Spansion, came to an economic crunch, and laid off a lot of people, including Kay. The layoff propelled her to the idea of starting her own company. Download Link |iTunes|Stitcher Radio|Google Podcast|Podbean|TuneIn|Overcast [7:32] The remaining staff at Spansion became very overloaded, and managers who didn’t know how to do the jobs their people had done, started calling her for advice. She helped one, and got a referral to help others, as a freelancer. She saw how many skills she had, and came up with the name K-Kan, Inc. to signify her many abilities. [8:31] Kay envisioned two parts to her business: the first part would be hands-on, and the second would be virtual, with assistants that would help in various areas. The challenge is always scheduling. Kay describes the kinds of organizing and design jobs she takes. [9:28] 80% of the work is personal, and 20% B2B. In the office, Kay will manage email and marketing or follow-up calls for clients, and enter it into the CRM. For accounting, she will work with QuickBooks, Excel, Quicken, or Mint, and works with CPAs. Kay has been doing Marc’s books for over four years, about two hours each month. [12:44] The mix of business client tasks is 60% virtual, marketing, or staffing a trade show, and 40% physical tasks on site. From helping organize and move offices, she gets referrals for organizing garages and storage units with remodeling and design. [13:41] For design jobs Kay calls on two contractors to do the carpentry and finish work. She has three virtual assistants to do phone calls and other tasks. Working on contract rather than by employment allows them to choose their work hours, and frees Kay from constant payroll. Marc also has a contractor crew, including Kay, to help his ventures. [15:13] Coming out of the corporate world, working with contractors was a change from having a staff. She started with one part-time staffer, but the need was not constant, and they decided an on-call situation would work better for both of them. Kay soon found others who were happy with an on-call agreement. [16:14] Marc is getting ready to launch a Career Pivot online community. For many people, flexibility is more important than the money or what the job is. People just want to work when they want, and with people they enjoy. [17:29] Kay expected to stay in the sales and management world forever. Instead, she had to take a hard look at her skills and talents, and truly what made her happy, and how she could be of service to people. She knows she is making a difference to others. [18:19] Kay started K-Kan with the thought of its being a one-man-band. When she needed help, she learned to let go, and start working with other individuals. Now she not only works to support herself, but has the opportunity to give other people income. [19:05] Kay wishes she had known better how to judge character, and be more forceful about managing individuals, to have the difficult conversations in a nice way, to be more effective as a manager and as a communicator. [19:54] Marc cites Sherry Lowry, who coached Marc to identify the clients he wanted to work with, and the clients he wanted to repel. Kay also met with Sherry, who helped her understand it was OK to fire a client that wasn’t a good fit. [20:35] Marc has only fired one client so far, but he identifies people as they come to him, if they will be a good fit, or not. Kay has a routine where she will do a complimentary interview, and at the end of the interview, she will either accept them, or refer them to someone else. [22:20] Marc met Kay at Metropolitan Breakfast Club, where he also met others who have been on the show, all with a common theme of going on an entrepreneurial path, but not always for an obvious reason. Vicki McCullough, like Kay, was laid off, and, like Kay, is happier for it. [23:02] Kay has really appreciated the challenges, and the opportunities to work with other people, and help them out, and she is grateful for the ‘kick in the butt’ that she needed to get out of a situation that wasn’t the best fit for her personality. [25:01] Marc’s points: Kay listened to people when they said, Kay can, and she made that her brand. She evolved the business, and has surrounded herself with great support people who are not employees. Kay has multiple types of clients, so there is variety. Kay has figured out it is important to work for clients who value her service. Mentioned in This Episode: Careerpivot.com Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life, by Marc Miller and Susan Lahey Marc is taking on new clients. Contact Marc, and ask questions at: Careerpivot.com/contact-me or call at 512-693-9132, and leave a message with your email address. Marc will respond with a link to his calendar, to find a time to talk. Show Notes at Careerpivot.com/repurpose-career-podcast Jennifer on LinkedIn: Jennifer H. Winter Kay-Kan.com (512) 431-8069 to reach Kay by phone Future Electronics AMD Spansion Sherry Lowry Metropolitan Breakfast Club Vicki McCollough, Episode 011 CareerPivot.com/episode-32 Take a moment â€" go to iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play. Give this podcast a review and subscribe! If you’re not sure how to leave a review, please go to CareerPivot.com/review, and read the detailed instructions there. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Landing Your Dream Job How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage - Sterling Career Concepts

Landing Your Dream Job How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage Landing Your Dream Job: How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage Guest post by Jackie Edwards Photo by Nik MacMillan on Unsplash There are currently over 133 million US LinkedIn users with access to around 3 million active job listings on the site. There’s clearly plenty of supply and demand in the online work space but how do you make your profile stand out on such a crowded platform? You are probably aware of how to  employer-proof your social media accounts  but getting your LinkedIn profile just right requires some careful and strategic planning. However, if you get your page set up correctly then you may even find that the perfect employer comes straight to you. How to Build an Effective Profile Be very careful with the language you use on your LinkedIn page. Making your page too generic will just blend it into the background. The word ‘motivated’ is one of the most overused words on the site so make sure you are clever with the vocabulary that you use to sell yourself and show off how unique you are. You can  make your LinkedIn profile powerful  by grabbing attention with a creative headline and an effective summary but you need to  ensure that your page is searchable.  Think about what words you would search for if you were looking for an employee for the type of roles you are attracted to. Employers are Constantly Searching for New Talent A  LinkedIn report published in November 2017  showed that hiring rates are 24.1%  higher than this time last year. As soon as your resume lands in a potential employers inbox, you can be sure that the first thing they will do is check you LinkedIn profile. The unique selling point of the social media platform is its connections, and they really do work both ways. Your new employer can see if you have any mutual connections who can vouch for your skills, while you are able to  virtually network your way to an interview  with just the right person. Job Searching Doesn’t Have to be so Hard LinkedIn is the essential tool for job seekers in today’s working world. It’s not enough to simply have a profile on the site, you need to know enough to be able to ensure you are  using LinkedIn to its full potential. LinkedIn is like a Google for employers and they are always searching for new hires online as it allows them to vet potential candidates quickly and all in one convenient location. Employers are Busy People Getting your page found is only half the battle and in order for employers to stay on your page long enough to see that you are the employee for them, you  need to have the right skills and attributes displayed on your page in an easy to digest way. Recruiters don’t have time to sift through lengthy pieces of text so being concise is really key here. First impressions have never mattered so much and once your new employer has found you, you definitely want them to like what they see.

How and When to Follow Up After Your Executive Job Application

How and When to Follow Up After Your Executive Job Application It’s human nature to want to receive a response very shortly after sending in your executive resume for a job application. However, the reality is an HR manager likely has to filter through hundreds of resumes on top of their other job duties, so a quick response rarely happens. That doesn’t mean you should never follow up though. Your executive resume writing service will tell you there’s a right time to follow up, as well as a right way to go about it. Here are some tips to consider once you’ve sent in your resume. Wait At Least One Week to Follow Up The HR manager or recruiter likely won’t be contacting anyone for at least one week, so give them time to sort through the stack of resumes. Another tip to consider is sending in your follow up in the middle of the week, since Monday’s are generally the busiest days and Friday’s are more relaxed. Choose Email Over Other Communication Methods When writing an effective resume, you likely sent your job application for consideration via email. But even if you didn’t, your follow up should still be sent over email rather than a phone call or an in-person visit. Those two methods demonstrate aggressiveness and could be perceived as pushy. Email shows you’re interested in knowing the status of your application, but will give the recipient time to respond at their leisure. Consider LinkedIn For A Follow Up An HR manager’s email inbox may have been flooded with new applications, including yours, so sending a message through LinkedIn could be a welcoming change for them. Just be sure you’ve focused on your LinkedIn profile development prior to reaching out, since your profile will likely be looked at closely. A LinkedIn message could prompt the HR manager to dig through their stack of resumes to find yours, since matching a name with a face is ideal in most situations. Show Interest Without Being Desperate Desperation doesn’t look good on anyone. Instead of simply asking what the status of your application is, send in a letter of recommendation along with why you’re interested in working for their company. The key to an effective follow up is giving them something to remember you by. Professional Resume Services is here to help you with anything related to your executive job search. Whether you need some assistance with your LinkedIn profile development, writing an effective resume or knowing what to include in your follow up email, we are here when you need us. Feel free to contact us at any time to learn more about our services.

Where to Post Resume - The Best Place to Post Resume For a Job

Where to Post Resume - The Best Place to Post Resume For a JobThe best place to post resume is on some web sites. But what about the job seeker that can't find the right job and he/she is stuck in the job search for so long?If you have been applying in the job market and every single day you are receiving the same resume after resume, it is time for you to become proactive and think about a new job. But what kind of job can you get from your current job and where can you get the job?In this scenario you may not be aware of the best place to post resume. In fact, most job seekers do not know where to post resume in order to get the best job that will help them get more perks. So they just go through the same resume that says the same stuff in every other section, but they still don't feel confident enough to apply for a job.It can be stressful and frustrating as you spend a lot of time in a job searching, while you can actually get a new career, the best place to post resume is on the internet. As we all know that internet is the biggest market in the world and has thousands of companies that are in need of talent, then you must definitely apply for the jobs that are advertised on the internet. You may also find some web sites where you can post your resume and other information related to the company.You will realize that you will no longer have to keep the old resume and put all the information and necessary information on it, as it will all be written on the internet and accessible by everyone. In this way, you can post your resume and other information online and have it out there. So this is how to find the best place to post resume and move ahead with your career.You may also include the area of your interest in your resume and let the employer know about it so that he/she will be able to match your qualifications with the specific field that you belong to. Once you find a job and you feel that the company will pay you, then your job will move on faster.Jo b hunting can be a little bit exhausting and it can be very frustrating at times when you do not find any job and you are stuck in the job search. But now you have the opportunity to find the best place to post resume and get your dream job. Make use of the internet and you will definitely find a job.

Why You Should Use James Comeys Note-Taking Habit at Work

Why You Should Use James Comey's Note-Taking Habit at Work Throughout his tenure in the federal government, former FBI Director James Comey was widely recognized as an experienced prosecutor and man of the law. He was also known as a prolific note-taker. That’s perhaps because he had to be. In his dealings with presidential administrations (and particularly with President Donald Trump), Comey’s note-taking of key events and interactions proved to be vital for his role. Indeed, his careful documentation of his meetings and interactions with Trump led to the explosive news back in May 2017 that Trump had asked Comey, who was still the FBI Director, to close the investigation into his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. His notes and memos, however, have received scrutiny from the president. Trump has called Comey a “leaker” for sharing his memos with a friend who gave them to the media, and recently claimed they were “self serving and FAKE”. In the months since his dismissal from the FBI, Comey used these memos and notes to write A Higher Loyalty, a book that explores his years in government and, most intriguingly, details his experience with Trump. The book was so popular ahead of its release Tuesday that Comey’s publishing company prepared 850,000 copies â€" and it shot up to one of the top spots on Amazon’s bestseller list for all of 2018. In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that aired Sunday night, Comey said he had to “remember exactly what was said” in his conversations with Trump. “It could be evidence of a crime,” he added. “It was really important that it be well documented.” While not all workplace interactions match the level importance as those between Comey and Trump, employees can learn a thing or two from Comey’s note-taking habits. Jotting down minutes during an important meeting, writing a detailed account of an interaction Comey-style or keeping a detailed file of your achievements (or failures) could benefit you in the workplace, career coaches and experts told MONEY. Here’s their advice. With a fresh memory, take notes after or during a meeting or interaction To ensure the notes are accurate, it’s best to take them in real-time or immediately after an encounter, experts said. Our memories tend to embellish interactions or key moments, so creating a record is most accurate when the memory is still fresh, said Alexandra Levit, a careers consultant. “By writing it down, you have a concrete record of what was said,” Levit said. “It also gives more credibility when going to HR or going to someone about the meeting.” You should jot down an accurate portrayl of what happened in a meeting between you and your boss or you and another colleague to avoid a “he-said, she-said” scenario, Levit added. Of course, taking the notes during the meeting or as an interaction is happening could make them more accurate. If you’re someone who often takes notes, experts said it wouldn’t be unusual for you to whip out a notepad during a meeting. And in the current #MeToo era, having notes from the event could be helpful, said Mikaela Kiner, a career coach and founder and CEO of uniquelyHR, a team of HR experts. “A lot of people wait to share those concerns. It’s human nature to wait. It’s normal because there’s a lot of risk,” Kiner said. “Having real-time data of what you experienced can be extremely helpful.” Prepare to be questioned If you’re taking meticulous notes in an attempt to go to Human Resources for an issue or log instances of disruptive behavior, prepare to be questioned. That’s why accuracy is so essential in these cases, experts said. One way to ensure accuracy is to send back minutes or impressions from a recent meeting to those involved, said Phyllis Mufson, a Florida-based career coach. “Then it becomes more if you get a response from them,” Mufson said. “It’s more than a he-said, she-said or he-said, he-said.” Always carry a notebook “I would never go to any meeting or any event without something to write on,” said Jill Santopierto Panall, a chief consultant at 21Oak HR Consulting. Always carrying a notebook could help in Comey-esque situations â€" or when inspiration strikes for a new project or goal. That being said, experts advised against using a phone to jot down notes in professional situations. “People don’t know what you’re using your phone for,” Levit said. “And it makes you look worse,” she added. Laptops are fine depending on the workplace environment, experts said, but writing in a notepad instead could still be less distracting. But be cautious about recording Have an audio recording of a conversation can certainly help prevent any kind of he-said, she-said pushback â€" but asking to tape a conversation in an everyday reaction is certainly not commonplace and generally frowned upon, experts said. “That’s going to make you look really weird and really suspicious,” Levit said. “In theory it’s a really good idea,” Levit added, “but I think the cons of that outweigh the pros.” In fact, attempting to record something without notifying all parties involved could get you into some legal trouble. Eleven states, including California, Florida and Connecticut, require each person participating in the conversation to consent to a recording. Notes can help you identify what you need to focus on â€" or what you missed In terms of your own career advancement, keeping careful notes in meetings or at the end of the day can help you identify priorities â€" or anything you missed. Panall said she typically takes detailed notes and later returns to them to star any important points to have “effective follow-ups with people.” These notes can also keep track of what topics you missed in a discussion or need clarification on, Mufson said. A recent client of hers referred to her notes for a project she was working on with a partner, and found there were several areas they hadn’t clarified. “Writing helped them be thorough in their discussion and feel really grounded,” Mufson said. These priorities and necessary clarifications can help you compile a to-do list for the next day, Levit said. “You’ll know immediately where you left off,” she added. Use notes to track your own progress to help advance your career Keeping meticulous notes on your own accomplishments â€" or failures â€" can be vital for your career developments as well, experts said. Tracking your wins can help when it comes to asking for a raise or a promotion, since you can cite specific dates and projects that you are proud of with ease. That’s particularly important when performance reviews only come once a year, Kiner said. Those notes can “make the review process much easier,” she said. On the flip side, managers should take meticulous notes on their employee’s performances and should keep track of any negative work. “It’s helpful to have that record of how they’ve done, and when they got feedback or any support that you offered,” Kiner said.

How To Set Up An Informational Interview And Expand Your Network - Work It Daily

How To Set Up An Informational Interview And Expand Your Network - Work It Daily An informational interview is a great way to learn more about a job or career path you're interested in. It's also a great way to connect with someone who is already doing that job. However, if you've never set one up before, you could be confused about how to do it properly. Your strategy for setting up an informational interview doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, you should keep it simple and clear so that your intentions for the interview are clear. Here are three simple steps you can take to set up that informational interview. Identify Strategic People To Interview Make a list of all of the career paths that interest you. If there are a lot on your list, narrow it down to the top two or three that really get you excited. Then, identify people in your area or on LinkedIn who work in your selected fields. Send A Personalized Invitation To Connect On LinkedIn Once you've made your list of people to reach out to, invite each one to connect on LinkedIn using a personalized note. If you send these people a generic invitation, they'll think you sent an invitation to LOTS of other people. That can make your invitation look like spam.Also, if you don't add a personalized note to your invitation, you risk these people ignoring you. Think about it -- if they don't know who you are, or why you want to connect, they're more likely to brush you aside. In your note, explain that you've never met, but that you saw that they worked in your target industry and wanted to reach out to learn more about what they do. Then, ask them if they'd be willing to connect. Go In For The Ask If someone accepts your invitation, send a follow-up message thanking them for connecting, and tell them you're curious about their industry. Once you've exchanged a few messages, ask if they are willing to chat more about their work. They won't always say yes, but it's always worth asking! People generally want to help you out, but people are also busy. It's important to be understanding and respectful of their time. So, give your contact some options and find out the most convenient time for them. Throw out a few different dates and times. Offer to buy them a cup of coffee, or see if you can set up a quick 15 minute phone call. There are plenty of ways to connect with people to have informational interviews. Figure out what works best for your contact. Networking plays such a critical role when it comes to landing a job, especially if you're trying to learn more about a career path or company. In order to be successful, though, you need to be very intentional with your efforts and respectful of a connection's time. This is a good, simple strategy you can use to ask for informational interviews.Looking for more help growing your network? Then check out Work It Daily's subscriptions. There are courses you can take that can make you a pro at networking on LinkedIn. All it takes is one great connection to change the course of your career! From Your Site Articles 7 Tips For Successful Virtual Informational Interviews - Work It Daily ... 3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview ... How To Conduct An Effective Informational Interview - Work It Daily ... Related Articles Around the Web Networking: How to Make Contact and Informational Interviews ... How To Land And Ace An Informational Interview Set Up Informational Interviews | CAREERwise Education Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!