Archive for January, 2012

5 Questions to Ask on Your Next Interview



By LUKE RONEY

When it comes to job interview prep, much emphasis is put on having the right answers. But while you’re struggling to come up with responses to queries on your biggest weakness and why you should be hired, don’t forget to craft some smart questions, too.

You will be judged, after all, by what you ask (or fail to ask).

“Candidates should always have questions prepared to ask during the interview,” says Tom Gimbel of the Chicago-based staffing firm The LaSalle Network. “A lack of questions demonstrates a disinterest in the position and lack of preparation for the interview.”

The questions you ask during an interview should give you a deeper understanding of the company and the job—and that information can help you better sell yourself as the right person for the position. Smart questions also show a prospective employer that you care about where you work, that you have some knowledge about the company, and that you understand the industry overall.

“Ask a few relevant questions that demonstrate you’ve done your research and that you’re enthusiastic, and that will help you to make an informed decision as to whether or not this is the right opportunity for you,” says Melanie Benwell of the Toronto-based recruiting firm PathWorks.

For your next interview, consider adding the following questions to your repertoire:

1. What happened to the last guy? “Candidates should always ask what happened to the previous person who had the job,” says etiquette expert Jodi R. R. Smith. “You are trying to tell if the job holder is promoted up into the company or if the company uses the person, burns them out and then they leave.”

2. What do you like about working here? “This question will give you further insight into the company’s corporate culture and will give the interviewer a chance to talk about themselves for a change—and who doesn’t like to talk about themselves?” Benwell says.

3. How do people typically work together here? “Even if the pay and job content sound good, it’s important to understand the environment that you would be going into,” says career coach Dorothy Tannahill-Moran. “Job seekers too often forget that this process is as much about them picking you and it is you picking them. You want to ensure the highest potential for success and eventually growth.”

4. How can someone succeed at this job? “This tells you exactly what they’re looking for in a candidate and allows you to reiterate your relevant strengths,” Benwell says.

5. What’s next in the hiring process? “Too many interviewees forget this easy question and are left wondering when to follow up later on,” says Anthony Morrison of the career networking site Cachinko.

Not all questions, however, are good. Avoid the following:

1. What do you do? “That general question makes me cringe every time I hear it asked. How can the person prove they are right for job if they don’t even know what they would be doing?” says Ryan Mack, a partner at the career website TruYuu.

2. How much is the pay? “Don’t ask about money too early in the interview process,” says career coach Roy Cohen. “It’s a distraction and will draw attention to you as a dollar amount before they may be ready to evaluate your potential to add real and meaningful value.”

Likewise, don’t ask about vacation days and paid holidays—wait for a job offer before you tackle compensation and benefits. This is a time to show what you can offer the prospective employer.

3. What are the hours? “This question makes candidates look more like clock-watchers on the first interview rather than serious professionals,” says Rod Hughes of Oxford Communications.

4. Do you have other open positions? “This offers the perception that the job you are interviewing for is of little or no interest to you,” Hughes says.

5. Will there be a drug test? If you have to ask, it means you’re concerned about your ability to pass.

How to Ace the Panel Interview



By Laura Smith-Proulx

Had a call for a panel or group interview recently? While you might be thrilled to make it to this stage of the hiring process, the mere thought of fielding not one, but a whole team of interviewers can be enough to put your stomach in knots.

However, the reason most employers conduct panel interviews isn’t to intimidate you; rather, it’s a time-saving way to meet with people that will likely interact with you in the new job, and gather their impressions all at once.

So, when you stride into that group interview, remember that the team is there to learn about you and your value-add, NOT to interrogate you or make you uncomfortable.

These five tips can help you feel more in control of the process while facing a group of interviewers—with a professional, enthusiastic demeanor that helps win the job:

1. Direct your attention to each person on the panel.

Upon starting the interview, get each person’s name (and ask for their business card or jot down the name), and then look at each person as you introduce yourself. This will help to break the ice and establish a connection to all of your interviewers.

While fielding questions, avoid staring at a single person (nothing makes you look more “frozen” than doing this!). Instead, make it a point to relax, smile, and open your gaze to the others in the room.

Even if a single member of the group asks you a particular question, look around at the others while you answer it. Doing so will help you project a confident image and build rapport with the entire panel.

2. Expect to repeat yourself.

While one of your interviewers might take your answer the first time, you can almost expect someone else to either ask for clarification—or ask it again, later in the interview.

Why? Because, just like our verbal abilities, many of us have different listening styles. What is clear to one panel participant may need further explanation for another person.

In addition, each panelist comes to a group interview with a different agenda. You can expect a prospective peer to be interested in your technical or analytical skills, for example, while the boss might be more curious about why your last job was so short in length.

You may also find yourself repeating information from earlier interviews. This is perfectly normal in the context of a multi-interview hiring process, so avoid coming across as impatient or noting that you’ve answered this query before.

3. Find out who you’ll need to impress the most.

Within most panel interviews, it becomes obvious very quickly who’s on “your side,” and who still hasn’t made up her or her mind.

While it may be comforting to direct your answers and gaze toward the interviewer who seems more open to your responses, you’re better off tackling the naysayer first.

Why? Because winning over the person most likely to reject you shows you have the ability to read the audience, as well as problem-solve on your feet.

Most employers are looking for leaders that will challenge issues head-on, ask numerous questions, and hone in on the thorniest problems first. If you respond well to someone that throws challenges your way, you’ll come across as an unflappable professional ready to take on the demands of the job.

In addition, most panel interviewers convene after a group interview to discuss the candidate and their impressions. If you’ve won over the toughest member of the group, the others may likely throw their support behind him or her.

4. Be prepared for at least one zinger question.

Interviewers, like anyone else, tend to feel more comfortable (and perhaps bold) in a group. Therefore, you can almost count on being asked a question that might not be posed to you in a one-on-one situation.

Of course, you’ll want to prepare for your interview by pulling out 3-5 “power stories” that demonstrate your abilities to perform the job. Arming yourself with these anecdotes will give you the ability to answer numerous behavioral-style questions common to both single- and multi-interviewer situations.

But if there’s any question or situation you would feel awkward explaining, prepare and practice a set of answers to it prior to your panel interview!

This way, you won’t feel a sense of dread when the question finally comes up, and you’ll be better able to handle any curveballs thrown your way.

5. Thank all participants promptly.

At the conclusion of your group interview, thank everyone personally, and gather business cards if you didn’t already do so.

Then, as you’re sitting in your car post-interview, write thank-you notes immediately and bring them back in for drop-off to the receptionist.

You’ll gain the advantage of having the interview fresh in your mind, and will score points for your promptness and attention to professional courtesy.

In summary, a panel interview is nothing to dread, especially since it offers an opportunity to establish rapport with your potential new co-workers and bosses. Arm yourself with a stack of success stories, answers to tough questions, thank you notes, and a smile, and you’ll be on your way to a faster job offer.


Nonprofit Career Conference




SAVE THE DATE!
June 28, 2012 - Thursday
Cal State East Bay’s
Oakland Center
1000 Broadway – Suite 109
Oakland CA 94607
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM


Join us for an enriching day of workshops and consultations designed to help you be successful…

Opportunity Knocks in partnership with the YNPNsfba (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network – San Francisco Bay Area chapter) are proud to present a day of workshops and consultative sessions to help you improve your job and nonprofit career development strategies and job-seeking skills.

Led by experienced and qualified career consultants, nonprofit leaders and subject matter experts you will learn how to become more competitive in the nonprofit job marketplace.

You get a full day of training and consultations that will provide you with the skills needed to:
  • Analyze your resume and job search strategies
  • Assess your employability skills
  • Understand the current landscape of the nonprofit sector
  • Determine a nonprofit career path
  • Transition from the for profit to nonprofit sector


Format of the Conference
This full day will consist of 4 Workshops plus all-day Consulting Stations to give participants individual sessions with career consultants, nonprofit educators and subject matter experts in the Bay Area community.

Bring your Resume! Receive guidance, advice and recommendations at our all day Consulting Stations.

Meet with Career Counselors and Nonprofit Subject Matter Experts throughout the day during 12 minute individual consulting briefs including Resume Guidance and Nonprofit Career Paths and Volunteering.

Who Should Attend?
Nonprofit professionals of all ages who seek to advance their career and for-profit/corporate professionals looking to switch careers to the nonprofit sector.

Cost to attend Career Conference
$99 - Includes the following:
  • 4 Workshops
  • Unlimited visits to the consulting stations
  • Snacks provided throughout the day
  • Raffle entry for free prizes
  • Admission to the post-conference networking event; beverages and light fare will be provided.

    YNPNsfba paid member discount available click here.


    Click here to read and view pictures about last year’s Nonprofit Career Conference at Cal State.

    Group Discounts available for four or more attendees.
    Contact sales@opportunityknocks.org for more information.


    Gold Sponsors


    Click here for directions to Oakland Center

    CANCELLATIONS, NO SHOWS, AND TRANSFERS
    Workshop Cancellation Policy: Any registrant choosing to cancel a Career Conference registration will receive a refund minus a $25.00 handling charge. Notice of cancellation must be received by Opportunity Knocks at least five business days prior to the workshop. No refunds can be made after that date under any circumstances.

    • OK Online Training - Excelling at Behavioral Interviews




    (you must login to your employer account to purchase)


    Title: Excelling at Behavioral Interviews
    Presenters: Kimberly A. Benjamin, PHR
    Date: Thursday, March 15, 2012
    Time: 2:00 p.m. EST/ 11:00 a.m. PST
    Duration: 1 hr. 30 min
    This program has been approved for 1.5 (General) recertification credit hours* (see below)





    Summary: Job interviews can be nerve-racking for both the interviewer and the interviewee. You have one opportunity to select a potential employee that you should hire over other qualified candidates. In this tough job market, you must be on top of your game during interviews if you want to choose the best candidate.

    On this Webinar you will learn . .
  • What behavioral style interviewing is and is not!
  • Behavior Style Interviewing Myths
  • How to prepare for behavior style interviews
  • Behavioral interview questions examples
  • How to conduct behavior style interviews with candidates

    Who should attend: CEOs, HR Managers, Program Managers, First-Time Managers, Executive Directors, CEO’s

    Course Level: Beginner/Intermediate. This course is developed to help support newer managers and those with limited experience with behavioral interviews


    Cost: $99

    (you must login to your account to purchase)


    Faculty bio: Kimberly A. Benjamin,PHR started Be Blessed Career Consulting Inc. and HR Strategies Plus LLC to be a resource to people who need assistance in career planning, goal setting and new business development. Kimberly is also the Executive Director of A Purposed Transition, a non-profit organization designed to assist people in discovering their purpose through career and entrepreneurship exploration.

    Kimberly’s has over 20 years of human resource experience working for Fortune 500 Companies such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, ITT Industries, Wal-mart, Toys-R-Us, Michigan Primary Care Association, Cornerstone Schools and the Michigan Primary Care Association. She teaches human resource management and entrepreneurship classes at University of Michigan College of Business, Wayne County Community College, Concordia University, and the Kingdom Business Institute. Ms. Kimberly Benjamin is also the Author of How to Be Highly Favored and Empowered to Prosper in Your Job Search Book and Workbook and Producer of Has God Given You a Business Idea Workshop 50-Part CD, DVD andMP3 Series and Pursuing Your Business Idea Television Show™.

    Kimberly received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Management and Marketing from Eastern Michigan University in 1992 and her Masters of Arts Degree in Labor Relations and Human Resource Management from Wayne State University in 1997. Kim is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through The Human Resource Certification Institute, Personnel Agent through the State of Michigan, a member of The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and The Human Resource Association of Greater Detroit (HRAGD) organizations. Kimberly is also a Word of Faith International Christian Center Ministerial Association Member, 2003 Kingdom Business Association (KBA) Graduate, and a 2006 Layperson’s III Graduate. Kimberly was also honored as Who’s Who of Black Detroit two years in a row.


    *This program,Excelling at Behavioral Interviews, has been approved for 1.5 (General ) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute. Please be sure to note the program ID number on your recertification application form. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.



    The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met the HR Certification Institute’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit



    • Top 10 Resume Tips



    (CAREEREALISM) How many times have you picked up a magazine while waiting for an appointment and flipped through the hundreds of pages of articles? How long did it take you to decide whether or not to turn the page? Studies show that most people make this decision in less than five seconds.

    This is the exact same scenario with your resume—it can be discarded within a matter of seconds. Your resume is a marketing document, a convincing reason to want to meet with you for an interview. Without an appealing and marketable resume that contains information employers require, you will not get the job you want. Of course, never forget the complementary role a cover letter plays. A cover letter goes hand in hand with the resume. A good resume but a bad cover letter will ultimately end up in the same place—the trash bin.

    Remember, your resume is the greatest asset you have—don’t forget this!

    Top 10 resume tips:

    Professional

    Keep it professional. Your resume is a business document, so it must be professional. Your resume is no place for gimmicks, pictures, or funny e-mail addresses. Although you may think you look great in your picture or your e-mail address is funny, this is not required on your resume. You may think it looks great, but your employer may disagree. Stick to the facts and keep it professional!

    Targeted

    The more targeted your resume is, the better you have at landing an interview. Employers want to know exactly what you can do for their company. It is important you tailor each resume to each job (it will only take a few sentences to do this). Get rid of any information that is not required for a particular job. This will alleviate the tendency to overcrowd your resume with too much irrelevant information.

    Well-written

    A well-written, concise resume will make a greater impression with your employer than a long winded “padded” resume. Use positive action words such as: enhanced, influenced, restructured, and attained. This will add that extra boost to your resume. On the same hand, avoid everyday buzz words. Remember, your resume needs to focus on your key skills and achievements. Words such as “hard worker,” “reliable” and “ambitious” can have a more detrimental effect on your resume as these words are seen as adding no value to resume.

    Self-promoting

    Your resume is a marketing document. Promote and sell yourself! Do not be scared to sell your skills, accomplishments, and abilities. If you don’t tell the employer, no one else will. Focus on what you can offer the business rather than what the business can offer you. Emphasise your skills, especially the ones the job is asking for. An employer wants to know you have the relevant skills for that particular job. If a coffee shop is hiring a barista, and you’ve already worked as one, make your skills stand out and take centre stage. Just like with the example of skimming over the magazines, you need your employer to take one glance at your resume and want to read on.

    Tailor your resume

    Very important – one size fits all approach does not work here. Every job is different, and depending on what the job is, you need to make sure you tweak your resume (and cover letter) for that particular job. Ask yourself, “What job am I going for, and does my resume have the skills and strengths required to present to my future employer?” Tailoring your resume to the specific job you’re going for will show the hiring manager you are serious about working for their organization.

    Quality, not quantity

    Quality not quantity! Your resume is not a life story. Stick to the facts— using irrelevant data, waffling, and padding your resume are detrimental. Let your skills and experience do the talking for you.

    Simplify

    Forget about fancy fonts or clever uses of italics. Keep it simple. Your resume is not meant to be a work of art to be displayed on the wall. Not only can it be hard to read, but there are multiple scanning software programs that might be unable to read it, meaning it will end up being deleted before even being opened.

    Spelling / Grammar / Punctuation

    Every word program these days has spell check—USE IT! Poor spelling and grammar will immediately land your resume in the “deleted items” box. It is a hard enough to get an interview—do not let yourself down with basic spelling mistakes. Re-read every word yourself, and get someone else to read it as well.

    Consistent

    Be sure your resume is written in a commonsense way—in order, logical, and easy to read. Be consistent throughout your resume with your margins, fonts, and line spacing. Don’t be scared to accentuate your skills or achievements with a different style of font or by using a bold font (but remember keep it simple. There is a fine line of going overboard when using different font styles). Consistency shows professionalism.

    Do not mention money

    Unless you are directly asked about money, do not mention it. Keep your cards close to your chest. Do not rule yourself out before you even begin because of money.

    Be on time, every time: 6 simple tricks



    By Amy Levin-Epstein

    (CBS MoneyWatch) Nobody likes to be late. It’s stressful and can trash your rep as a responsible, competent leader or employee. But for some of us, tardiness is a tough habit to break. I spoke to Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management from the Inside Out about how to make being prompt your new way of life. Figure out which of these 6 tips works for you — and you may never be late again.

    Know why the clock is your enemy

    If you can figure out why you’re always late, you can actively work to fix the problem. “When someone is always late by the exact same amount of time, like five minutes, that actually is an indication that this is a psychological [barrier]. But if you’re late by different amounts of time, you have a technical problem — for instance, you’re bad at estimating how long things take,” Morgenstern says.

    Say no to last-minute requests

    Your daughter asks you to quiz her on homework three minutes before you need to leave for the office. Or your boss asks you to prepare one last document that will take an hour to finish, 20 minutes before you need to leave for dinner. “Not having the skills to say no to other people can make you late by different amounts of time,” says Morgenstern. You can also preemptively strike down these people who throw you off your schedule. “For instance, if someone at work always asks you do to something at 5, go to them at 3 and say, ‘I have an appointment at 5. Is there anything you’ll need?’” Morgenstern suggests.

    Bring a book for the wait

    Do you fall into the “always 10 minutes late” camp? You could fear downtime, Morgenstern says: “You’re not trying to be rude, but sitting and waiting makes you anxious.” So fill that blank slot with something you really want or need to do — reading a book, calling a friend or returning emails. If you’re not dreading staring at the clock, you just might beat it.

    Write down your routine tasks in real time

    If you’re always late by different amounts of time, you could just be terrible at ball-parking the time it takes to do things. Always late in the morning? For three days, time yourself and note how long it really takes to get out the door. “You’ll have a better sense of how long things take and you can start to logically compress that time. For instance, you might change your hairstyle or start prepping your breakfast the night before,” says Morgenstern.

    Stop doing “just one more thing”

    You’re ready to leave, and then you spy one last little task. Morgenstern calls it “just one more thing syndrome,” and it as offshoot of the fear of being early with nothing to do (see “Bring a book for the wait”). Resist the urge to squeeze things in right before you leave. “You may also be able to do something en route [on your smartphone]. Get yourself out the door, and then do whatever you were doing while you’re on the way,” Morgenstern suggests. You’ll want to use discretion — replying to emails might be appropriate if you’re jumping into a cab but not if you’re hopping into your car and onto a freeway full of traffic.

    Set an alarm reminder

    This is super simple but might do the trick for you. “Set an alarm 30 minutes before you know you have to leave for an appointment. It will break your concentration and give you enough time to wrap up what you’re doing,” says Morgenstern. Just as long as you don’t get sucked into “just one more thing,” you’ll be golden. Or at least not late.

    How to Stay Focused at Work



    by Yun Siang Long

    How do your colleagues stay focused at work? Seems like they can get a lot more done in a day than you can. Why, you wonder?

    Sometimes, without you noticing, you have a lot of time-wasting habits that takes your focus off work. You may unknowingly tend to stray and end up doing less. So, how do you keep your focus at work?

    1. Time Management at Work

    How is your time management at work? I do not mean only the to-do list and actions steps. Those are must haves. You can have them and yet still not stay focused at work. One of the main reasons is because you get distracted by your personal things. By this, I mean personal e-mails, facebooking, twittering and web surfing. To make it worse are temptations of web links sent by friends which are not related to work. What about short messages (SMS), instant messaging and personal calls? How do you expect to stay focused when there are so many distractions?

    Shut these down and see how your focus immediately gets better. If you need to, allocate a time of the day to indulge in these.

    2. Get the Small Tasks Out of the Way

    Small little tasks you think you can put off and come back to later? Time has an uncanny way of catching up. There will always be fire to put out. Big or small, these will steal time away from you being able to complete the small tasks. For example, if someone pops in an e-mail to ask for an answer which you have immediately, just reply it and get it out of the way.

    3. Take Short Breaks

    Before you jump in and say, “OK I will start sitting and focus on my work in some militaristic discipline way,” bear in mind – we need breaks. So take short breaks, not long breaks. I personally like a 10 minutes break for every 50 minutes that I work. The breaks allows you to stretch a little and refresh your mind hence allowing you to stay focused better.

    4. Start Early

    A lot of people swear by this and I am beginning to hone my skills or rather habit on this too. I recommend this, when you start your day early you get to clear out a lot of things before everyone starts to come in and disturbances starts. It’s a good time to clear e-mails, make coffee and read the online newspaper. So find a better time to do these things. Things I know you find hard to give up. That will help you stay focused at work.

    5. Prevent Procrastination: Do it Now

    Tough and cliché. But works tremendously. Don’t wait and don’t give yourself any excuses. You can get very good with excuses after a while and things gets pushed and pushed. How can you stay focused when there are always things that will bug you? Try this – start on some things you have been giving yourself an excuse on. As you clear out the junk in your mind, you get better focus at work.

    6. Stop the Pantry Chats and Cigarette Break Banter

    Be very careful if you are a manager reading this and want to implement this to increase productivity. Handle this situation with care. I have received a lot of criticism for this before. Unless you are ready, and know how – do it very carefully.

    But if you are reading this as an employee and sincerely want improvement. Spy on yourself. How much time do you take for your breaks? How long do you linger in the pantry? Or your cigarette breaks? Cut them short and see how you can stay focused. How can you expect to be focused at work when you take these long breaks? Your mind is somewhere else and takes time to get back to work mode.

    7. Improve Your Productivity: Attack the Hate to Do List

    Things you don’t like to do? Start attacking it. Again, this is one of those things that bugs you, holds you back without you even realizing it. Call that tough client. Start on that long proposal. Once you start, you will immediately feel relieved and you can stay focused better.

    Peep at yourself doing these small daily activities that muddle your focus at work. It is not that you cannot stay focused at work, it is because you have too many activities you create noise for yourself, and you don’t even realize it.

    5 Key Steps to a Cover Letter That Opens Doors



    By Laura Smith-Proulx

    (CAREERALISM) So… you’ve created a knockout resume, and you’re ready to wow employers by sending it directly to them. Don’t forget to send it under cover—a powerful cover letter, that is.

    While a great resume can open doors, a compelling cover letter can be an equal (if not MORE) important part of your pitch for employment.

    In fact, some surveys of HR professionals and recruiters have suggested the cover letter—instead of the resume—is what really gets read!
    That’s right! The interviewing decision may actually rest on how well-written and concise your letter appears… and the irony is you may never find out whether it was the resume OR the cover letter that swayed an employer.

    Even if cover letter writing isn’t your style, don’t panic! Read on for five strategies that can help even a novice letter writer create a memorable introduction to capture an employer’s attention:

    1. Ensure your letter matches your resume in presentation and style.

    Start by copying the name and address header information from your resume to a blank document. Next, check the margins on each document to ensure they match.

    Be sure to use the same font as your resume, in order to give your application a professional “package” look. In addition, don’t suddenly switch fonts or font sizes in the midst of the letter itself.

    With this type of presentation, hiring authorities can match your resume to the letter-plus, doing so helps to put your best professional foot forward.

    2. Make every attempt to find out the name of the hiring manager before sending your application.

    Skip, “Dear Sir” by finding out exactly who is behind the open position. This is where your Internet research skills will come in very handy.

    Sites such as LinkedIn or Zoominfo.com are great resources for job hunters who want to find company insiders.

    In addition, you might be able to call the company and ask who the hiring manager is for the open position, or use your network to learn the names of managers at the company.

    If you can’t find out the name, “Dear Hiring Manager” is most appropriate. Skip, “To Whom it May Concern”—or it won’t concern anyone!

    3. Keep in mind the purpose of the letter is to gain attention.

    Your first paragraph should therefore skip mundane details and get right to the point. Aim for an opening sentence that states your main qualifications, plus your objective, all in one shot.

    For example, a cover letter for a Sales Manager might begin with:

    With a strong background closing contracts in excess of $1 million at Fortune 500 corporations, I am confident that I can exceed your expectations in the role of Sales Executive.

    Conversely, an Operations Director might use the following:

    As an operational executive focused on delivering the highest levels of quality, I have helped global organizations achieve their profit goals by leading large teams to achieve infrastructure improvement and maintain cost control. These qualifications have prompted my application to your company for the position of Operations Director.

    4. Summarize what you can do for the company without a total reiteration of the resume.

    Even though you’ve put a lot of effort into your resume, it’s still best to resist the temptation to repeat all that great information.

    You’ll capture more interest by restating your main points, allowing the reader to see how you will succeed in the new job.

    I recommend adding a bullet-point list of your relevant qualities and achievements, keeping it to a maximum of 5 critical points. Preface it with “Representative skills that make my background ideal for this position include…” to give the employer a quick snapshot of your fitness for the job.

    Still stumped for ideas? Try to answer the classic “Why should we hire you?” question, and you’ll be able to state your case much more succinctly.

    5. Limit the number of sentences beginning with “I” as much as possible.

    Focusing on the job and the employer’s requirements are key strategies for a great introduction. One of the best ways to do this is to refrain from using first person references at the beginning of your sentences.

    Why is this so important? Employers are hiring a solution to their business problems when they bring you on board, and this means focusing on their requirements is a key step.

    Think about it this way: when you create a verbal picture of what you can achieve, it rarely starts with “I”—and structuring your thoughts this way can help reinforce your emphasis on the company’s needs.

    The following example illustrate this point:

    Given your needs for a proven sales performer open to new challenges in the medical device industry, we should talk further about my record of success in territory expansion.

    In summary, don’t forget to create a strong cover letter as part of your job hunting strategy. You’ll find that a personal, yet powerful, introduction to your skills might be all you need to access more interviews.

    4 Tips for Connecting With a New Boss



    By Dawn Rasmussen

    (CAREEREALISM) Undoubtedly, most of us have gone through some kind of transition with our supervisors. Perhaps the person was recruited away to another company or maybe there was a merger and they got reassigned to another department.

    Whatever the reason, something important has been lost. When your boss leaves, they take with them that person’s knowledge of your contributions, skills, knowledge, and expertise.

    And a new boss means a completely blank slate.

    Your new job is to get to know them, ASAP. If you don’t take the time to build rapport, it could have deadly consequences to your career.

    The reason?

    If they don’t know your value, they could make decisions that don’t factor you in as a valuable asset.

    Try using these four tips to build a connection with a new boss:

    1. Speak up in meetings. If you are always in the background, now is the time to jump in. If you aren’t seen as an active participant on the team, this could be a red flag to a boss who might be surveying the landscape for potential house cleaning later. Be a positive contributor.

    2. Set up a one-on-one meeting. If the boss has not done so already, set up a time to meet with them to provide an overview of your work and to allow them to get to know you better. Building connections will also help you both assess your working styles to figure out how you will be able to communicate best. This can lay the ground work for a great collaborative work relationship.

    3. Provide regular updates. You don’t need to be a classic ‘brown-noser’ but proactively providing updates on project status or other work you are conducting is one less question or request that the boss has to make. If you reliably turn in work or reports on-time and in an organized fashion, you’ll be perceived as professional and as the department standard.

    4. Empower, Educate, and Engage. New bosses don’t necessarily want to admit that they are behind the learning curve in getting acclimated to a new company or division. They are struggling to get caught up with priorities, challenges, and opportunities, while trying to get to know the team that will take them there. Be willing to share in a helpful way to give the new boss the knowledge and tools to get them up to speed as soon as possible. You could gain a very powerful career advocate as a result.

    If you build a reputation as a helpful, friendly resource who is competent in your work and an engaged member of the team, your new boss will see you as an important asset and include you in key projects and potential promotions.

    Elevator pitch: 8 ways to take yours to a higher level



    By Amy Levin-Epstein

    (CBS Money Watch) Whether you’re at a networking event, job interview or even in the grocery store, having a solid elevator pitch at the ready can mean the difference between an opportunity snagged or squandered. “A well-crafted elevator pitch will give you the best possible shot of giving a good first impression. If you look at the things at the top of most employers’ lists of the characteristics of a good employee — organized, self-starter, good communication skills, etc. — you can see that an effective elevator pitch will help establish that you are someone who is all of those things,” says Chris O’Leary, author of Elevator Pitch Essentials. Here’s how to take yours up a notch:

    Do a thorough self-review

    An elevator pitch is a form of marketing, and you need to know the product — you — well. “If you haven’t taken the time and effort to truly understand your strengths and what differentiates you from others, your personal brand won’t be as easy to communicate and won’t stand out to others in your networking,” says branding expert Chris Perry, MBA, founder of Career Rocketeer.

    Hone it into 3 parts
    Editing your story into three parts can simplify a complicated pitch. Consultant Bill Faust outlines these in his book, Pitch Yourself. First, there is the set up. “Create buy-in with something of interest about you that reflects their needs,” says Faust. Second, show the evidence from your experience that you can meet their needs. And third, give them confirmation of your ability to meet those demands, with hard facts to prove it.

    Avoid cheese
    Elevator pitches should be engaging, but they shouldn’t be a gimmick — remember, this is more of a conversation starter than a used car sales pitch. “The ones that in my mind do not work are when people stand up and say ‘I’m Jonathan Smith and I help people reach their dreams,’” says Paula Asinof, author of BE SHARP: “Tell Me About Yourself” in Great Introductions and Professional Bios. Be engaging, and let your message stand for itself.

    Memorize and customize it
    Once you have your basic pitch, you want to memorize it in order to be able to customize it on the fly, depending on who you’re talking to and what the goal of the conversation might be. “You want to memorize your elevator pitch so you look organized, but also so that you can watch the listener and pick up any clues about how your elevator pitch is going over,” says O’Leary. That way, if you’re losing your audience you can take a different approach, or cut it short and bring the focus back to them.

    Ask yourself “so what?”
    “Ask yourself that question at least three times during your elevator pitch. That question will help you to focus on making your solution meaningful to the listener,” says Chris Westfall, author of the e-book Five Great New Elevator Pitches.

    Keep it tight
    Leave your audience wanting more. “That doesn’t mean it’s always short, because in truth it depends. Instead, a great elevator pitch is like an accordion; it can be lengthened or shortened to fit in a time window of between 15 seconds and 2 minutes,” says O’Leary. But you can only do that if you know your basic pitch inside and out, and can customize it without breaking the conversation.

    Don’t be afraid to brag
    Listen up, ladies: “One common problem that women have is that they think that talking about results is bragging, and they have been taught that bragging is bad. As a result, their elevator pitches aren’t as compelling as they could be. That fact is that it’s not bragging if it’s true and if it’s relevant to the job you are trying to do,” says O’Leary.

    Stop talking
    Once you have made your point, shut your mouth and open your ears. “While it can be challenging to do, your silence will prompt the other person to respond and/or ask deeper questions. This will spark conversation that may lead to a stronger relationship and/or even a new business or career opportunity,” says Perry. In other words, let your efforts do their intended work.



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