Bellevue Recruiters, Job Interview Tips

Got a job interview coming up? If so, ask yourself the following: How certain are you that your responses will make the grade? How can you build rapport, speak to your abilities with confidence and leave a favorable impression? How might you best position yourself as a knowledgeable insider — someone who can be counted on to hit the ground running?

In order to present yourself well at a job interview, it goes without saying that you need to prepare in detail. You have to thoroughly research the company, the needs of the hiring manager and the principle goals of the organization. Once you’ve done that, you will want target your responses to the specific skills and attributes they are seeking in a future employee.

But there are some shortcuts. You can count on several basic questions coming up — in one form or another — in almost every job interview. And fumbling your answers to these frequently asked questions can really trip you up. If you don’t take adequate time to prepare and target your responses, you will swiftly be eliminated from the candidate pool.

The following are five basic questions you absolutely need to nail:

1) Tell me about yourself…
Not only does your response to this interview opener form your all-important first impression, it can often set the tone for the follow-up questions your interviewer will pose.

You need to respond with your branding statement consisting of:

  • What you do — the functions you perform, prior position titles and the responsibilities you have held
  • Your experience level and (if helpful) your training and educational degrees
  • Some key skills and accomplishments relating specifically to the position for which you are applying

2) Why do you want to work here?
Make certain to let them know you have researched their company. Begin by saying something like: “I’ve done my homework and I’m particularly impressed with…”

Name several positive aspects about the organization:

  • The latest innovations they are making in the market
  • Ways they outperform the competition
  • Expansion plans
  • Positive press, etc.

3) What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
This is your invitation to sell yourself. You want to highlight how your skills and experience combine to create a direct match with the position requirements. You also want to distinguish yourself from the competition by displaying the added value you will bring to the job and to the company as a whole.

Make certain you are well practiced in your responses to this question. To be a standout candidate, you need to speak to your strengths with confidence.

  • Be prepared to list a minimum of five to 10 skills that relate specifically to the position for which you’re applying
  • Substantiate these targeted skills with of examples of how you have used them to perform your work at its best
  • Note the positive results you’ve achieved for your previous employers — quantifying your accomplishments whenever possible
  • You can use speech softeners as sentence openers if you find them helpful. For example, “I pride myself on…” “I like to think that…” “My supervisor always complimented me on…” “People turn to me for…”

4) Give me a time when you… (the event-specific question)
These types of queries are also known as behavioral-style questions. For greater detail on how to respond most effectively, check out my previous article for Huffington Post, “3 Key Tips to Help You Ace the Behavioral Style Interview.”)

  • Study the job description and pinpoint the specific skills requested in the ad
  • Anticipate questions and prepare targeted examples
  • Create a “cheat sheet” complete with trigger words that will help you remember the examples you want to use

5) Do you have any questions for us?
Yes, you do! It is critical that you come with a list of well thought out questions. Then you can pick and choose the most appropriate as the interview unfolds.

It’s best to start with open-ended questions that will get the hiring manager talking about his/her true needs.

  • What do you see to be the most critical components of the job?
  • What needs to be done immediately?
  • What are some of the long-range goals of the position?
  • How can the new person make your life easier?

Also be certain to ask questions that show you’ve done your homework.

  • I understand your company is expanding into new markets in Asia. How will this affect your department?
  • With the launch of product X, what do you anticipate customer reaction to be?

If you prepare compelling and targeted responses to these five typically asked questions, you can approach the interview from a position of strength. Take pride in the skills and experience you offer a future employer and get yourself psyched to win. With the right attitude, confidence in your abilities and a little luck, you just might find yourself at the top of the candidate list!

Source: Mary Eileen Williams

Resume Tip for Seattle Job Hunters

If you are conducting a job search, ask yourself the following questions: Is your resume providing you with the results you want? Is it a compelling document that highlights your skill sets and accomplishments to your best advantage? Are you distinguishing yourself from the competition by prominently displaying your added value?

Many times, your resume will serve as your all-important first impression. It will form the primary and initial indication of your viability as a candidate. Yet, as any savvy job-seeker knows, the ideal is to be introduced to a potential employer through a networking contact. Then your resume will act chiefly as a substantiating document, showcasing your skills, experience and fit for the position. In either case, however, you need to choose your words carefully. This critical document has to be succinct, compelling and powerful.

Applicant-Tracking Systems
Technology has altered the hiring process significantly, especially when it comes to resumes. Due to the overwhelming volume of responses to posted positions, most mid- to large-sized companies are now using applicant-tracking systems to perform a first-level screening of incoming resumes.

Although the software has been around for a while, many job-seekers are unaware of how it works. This mistake can be costly because applicant-tracking systems process today’s massive numbers of resumes, whittle them down to a manageable size and select only those that are suitable to pass along to reviewers and recruiters. You should, therefore presume that the resume you submit to an online posting will be screened in or out by this software.

Words to Use:

Keywords currently in demand
Study the job postings for your line of work and identify the skills that are currently in the greatest demand. If you have these skills, be certain to cite them liberally throughout your resume. Make sure to also incorporate these keywords in basically the same sequence you find them in the ads. Employers generally list job requirements in order of importance. Therefore, you will want to note your skills accordingly. By doing this, you will be showing employers that you are both highly qualified and possess expertise that is cutting-edge and in demand.

Specifics each employer wants
When submitting your resume in response to a particular position, you will need to further match your skill sets as closely as possible to the posted requirements. Whatever you put on your resume has to be 100 percent truthful; however, it is your decision as to which skills you choose to emphasize. So ignore your creative urges and mimic the words you find in the posting. Remember, your document will likely go through an initial screening by an applicant-tracking system. Software cannot make assumptions — your resume needs to duplicate the advertised skills as closely as possible.

Words that highlight your accomplishments
Every employer is looking for the same thing: a problem-solver who will meet and resolve challenges as they arise. Past performance is considered to be the key indicator of future performance. So emphasize your past accomplishments with words that highlight the positive results you have achieved and remember to quantify your results whenever possible.

Begin your resume statements with words such as: Exceeded, Expanded, Effected, Increased, Decreased, Maximized, Minimized, Doubled, Tripled, Reduced and Saved. Then follow these accomplishment words with percentages or other numerical markers of your success.

Words that show initiative
You also want to underscore how you have used initiative to come up with innovative solutions to problems, handle unforeseen issues that arise and/or motivate difficult team members. Words that describe initiative include: Developed, Drove, Effected, Eliminated, Implemented, Launched, Turned Around, Managed, Produced and Spearheaded.

Words that display your added value
Whenever possible, be sure to demonstrate how your experience and skills give you the edge over the competition. By starting a couple of resume examples with words such as, “unique combination of X and Y” or “winning combination of…” you will make the point that you bring abilities that others do not.

Words to lose:

Vague claims about your strengths
Although personal strengths such as attitude, work ethic and personality will help you land the job in an interview, you do not want to load your resume up with vague terms. Words such as: “contributing team player,” “reliable and responsible” or “motivated self-starter” are, in actuality, claims you are making about yourself. It is far better to show hard skills (the ones that are specific to your line of work), your actions and the results you have achieved. You want your resume to document your demonstrated skills and the valuable accomplishments you have produced.

Greatly reduce or eliminate terms such as: Self-motivated, Responsible, Hard Worker, Team Player, Go-to Person, etc.

Words that represent a job description
Remember that the main goal of your resume is to highlight your achievements so that potential employers are made aware of what you are capable of producing. Although responsibilities are important, do not rely heavily on the previously popular resume terms such as, “responsible for” and “duties included.” These terms represent position descriptions — they do not describe what you actually accomplished.

References available upon request
This phrase is passé, totally unnecessary and a waste of valuable space. Employers assume that you will provide references if requested.

Given your resume’s effect on your chances for success, therefore, review it carefully to ensure that it is a powerful representation of your talents, skills and what you are capable of achieving. Do not forget that this all-important document will often be the first impression a recruiter or hiring manager will have of you. Think of your resume as your sales brochure and turn it into a marketing powerhouse. Load it up with words that describe your strengths and eliminate the ones that serve to diminish your impact. Above all, be very sure that you are presenting yourself as the valuable and accomplished candidate you are. That should make any resume reviewer sit up and take notice!

Source: Mary Eileen Williams

Lynnwood Recruiter Tips

Accept That You Will Never Bore Anyone Into Hiring You

Don’t get me wrong—you absolutely must come across as polished, articulate and professional throughout your job search. However, many people translate this into: Must. Be. Boring.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Realize that few people get hired because they had perfect white space on their cover letters, memorized all of the “correct” interview questions or used incredibly safe, common phraseology (i.e., clichés) throughout their resumes. All of this correctness is going to make you look staged and non-genuine. Instead, give yourself permission to be both polished and endearing. Memorable, likable candidates are almost always the ones who go the distance.

Positioning yourself for that ideal job in Seattle

REMEMBER THAT YOUR RESUME (AND LINKEDIN PROFILE) IS NOT A TATTOO

Yes, your new resume is lovely. Your LinkedIn profile, breathtaking. However, if they don’t position you as a direct match for a particular role that you’re gunning for, don’t be afraid to modify wording, switch around key terms, and swap bullet points in and out. Your resume is not a tattoo, nor is your LinkedIn profile. Treat them as living, breathing documents throughout your job search (and career).

TIP

If you’re a covert job seeker, remember to turn off your activity broadcasts (within privacy and settings) when you make edits to your LinkedIn profile. If your current boss or colleagues are connected to you on LinkedIn, they may get suspicious about all the frequent changes.

Simple LinkedIn Hack for Bellevue Job Seekers

Update Your LinkedIn Status Daily to Stay Top of Mind

This will make sure that you’ll stay on the radar of everyone you know—read: that they’ll remember you when an available opportunity opens up. How to do this without being annoying? Share an article, a quote, or a project you’re working on. Other ways of showing up in the LinkedIn news feed are by getting recommended, by adding a new connection, by joining a group, or by changing your photo.

Use LinkedIn Resume Builder in Seattle

Use LinkedIn Resume Builder to Create an Updated Resume Fast

If you’re like me, your LinkedIn profile is much more up to date than your actual resume. But if you need to update your resume fast for an available opportunity, don’t spend hours on your computer. Instead, export your LinkedIn profile into a classy looking resume using LinkedIn’s Resume Builder.

Tips for excelling in you career in Bellevue

Work hard and be nice to people. It’s a very simple motto we at CPNW try to live by it daily.

There’s never going to be a precisely right moment to speak, share an idea, or take a chance. Just take the moment—don’t let thoughts like “I don’t feel like I’m ready” get in the way. Look to see if you have the main things or the opportunity will pass you by. Don’t let perfect get in the way of really, really good.

Find a way to say yes to things. Say yes to invitations to a new country, say yes to meet new friends, say yes to learn something new. Yes is how you get your first job, and your next job, and your spouse, and even your kids.

No matter what your dream job is, you’ll likely hear “no” many times before you achieve your goals. Just accept that as a fact. But by refusing to accept that “no,” you’ll separate yourself from the pack. Sometimes you just have to outlast the competition—and wear down your boss!

Social Media Tips for Job Hunters in Bellevue

Want to get noticed by recruiters? Build a personal website.

Your LinkedIn summary should be around 3-5 short paragraphs, with a bulleted section in the middle.

LinkedIn’s 120-character headline limit is a prime piece of marketing real estate (marketing for yourself, that is).

Don’t be afraid to ask your LinkedIn recommenders to focus on a certain aspect of your character.

Writing “Following Up from Today’s Event” instead of “Following Up” in a LinkedIn message title may get a response.

Even if you’re not job-hunting, post one article on your LinkedIn feed each week.

Follow company Twitter accounts to get an early heads up on job openings.

Want to stand out to hiring managers? Create a 140-character resume.

Lynnwood Job Tips

Learn how to properly use questions.

You can learn, get answers, give answers, mentor people and develop your reputation just by using questions. Learn to use questions in a non-threatening way and you will open up many doors.

Don’t be better, be different.

You might not have the exact experience listed on the job description, but if you can show how your unique skills would better suit the company, you have a better shot than someone who is a more technical match.

Talk openly about your failures.

People will respect and trust you if they see that you’re taking risks and aren’t ashamed to learn from them.

Excelling in your Career tips for Bellevue Job Seekers

There’s never going to be a precisely right moment to speak, share an idea, or take a chance. Just take the moment—don’t let thoughts like “I don’t feel like I’m ready” get in the way. Look to see if you have the main things or the opportunity will pass you by. Don’t let perfect get in the way of really, really good.