Archive for April, 2012

How to make room for supporting skills on your resume

Friday, April 27th, 2012

If you wish for your resume to be pulled from the database and examined with somber concentration, its widespread information that it needs to center on the skills you carry to a solitary target post. However, employers still want to know about your supporting skills.

Now, at the same time as “supporting skills” are good to have, your resume must nonetheless…

1. Your data should be dense with relevant material. The data included in your CV should be focusing on the “must have” skills of the job to get your resume ranked high enough in database searches.

2. Screening resumes is a tedious task that no one enjoys. So most HR Departments screen resumes for key content. In addition keeping the format of the resume very clean and neat is an added bonus.

3. It works finest when it is paying attention on the skills and capabilities mentioned in the Job Posting. Supporting skills information can be added into your resume, without taking up too much room, by using a Core Competencies section.

4. Adding a Core/Professional Competencies section to resume helps you convey a concise analysis of all the critical and supporting skills you bring to the job; it’s professional and a real attention grabber for a recruiter.

5. When you furthermore replicate those critical-to-the-job keywords in the context of the jobs in which they were used, it multiplies the occurrence of keywords likely to be used by recruiters in the database searches and will dramatically improve your resume’s ranking.

Poor Communication Skills Hurt Students in Recruiting Process

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

According to a fresh study the number one cause hiring managers send away candidates is: poor communication skills.

It would be sensible to grind up presentation skills if you hope to land that dream job. A fresh study by ‘The Society of Human Resource Management’ has established recruiters are not delighted with applicants with bad vocabulary and an incoherent manner of expressing themselves. Applicants would even fare better if they showed up late to the interview. So how do you make yourself a great speaker in the minds of your listener? Preparation!

Here are 15 factors you should focus on when preparing. Preparation is not only getting your resume and certificates in a file. No, there is more! There are other factors you should consider when preparing:

  1. Prepare for tough questions before the interview.
  2. Use specific, 60-second answers.
  3. Check out the company’s website.
  4. Speak to people who work there.
  5. Make sure you know who you are going to meet with.
  6. Don’t only focus on information.
  7. Think about how you are presenting.
  8. Body language says a lot about your level of interest in the conversation.
  9. Pay attention to eye contact, voice inflection and posture.
  10. And try not to tap your pencil on the desk or check your watch.
  11. Avoid misunderstanding by using examples.
  12. Use examples of what you have done in other job settings.
  13. Explain how you cut costs or improved productivity.
  14. Dress for the occasion.
  15. Make sure your clothes are ironed, your hair is brushed and your tie is straight.

Attitudes that can lead to job search failure

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Whether you are successful in your job search depends a great deal on your attitude. A carefree attitude where you no longer care enough to put effort into your applications or a pessimistic attitude where you think no one is ever going to hire you – are fastest ways of failing in your job search. On the other hand an optimistic approach can go a long way in helping you.

  1. One of the biggest reasons of job search failure is a negative approach. Saying ‘I can’t do this’ not only kills your motivation but it also does not let you give your hundred percent to the search.
  2. Feeling sorry for yourself is another thing which can carry you downward. No one wants to hear your apologies and sorries but they do want to know what you can do for them and what your potential is.
  3. Desperation is the key to only wastage of time. A successful job search depends on the quality of your applications and not the quantity. There is no point in sending an application at every open position. You have to be focused and specific and not waste energy in sending useless applications.
  4. Lack of confidence can hurt you badly. Hiring managers can detect easily if the person in front of them can hold their own or not. Your confidence can be detected by the way you smile and in your body language. A confidant you will give positive vibes to the interviewer. Lack of confidence in yourself can make the managers think you are not good enough.
  5. Thinking that a job is going to fall in your lap or somebody is going to hand it to you in a platter is a sure way of job search failure.

Your attitude indicates your mindset, and values and possible behavior in the workplace.

What are soft skills and how to improve them for successful professional life

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

The soft skills we gain help us boost our professional lives. Soft skills crucial for career success mostly include: the communication skills, presentation skills, personal grooming, physical appearance (dressing sense and presentability), Flexibility, Courtesy and Honesty with work and organization, Cooperation, Adaptability, Writing skills, Positive work ethics etc.

The importance of Soft skills is mostly undervalued. We have institutions where we are taught rigorous programs on Environment, Engineering, Medicine, and Finance etc. But unfortunately we have no institute   where we can go and develop our personal skills. We only acquire these skills by our life experiences and it turns out to be a continuous learning process.

We can improve our soft skills by various means like:

1)      Trust your abilities, try to talk to the people around you and share your thoughts and ideas with them so that they can understand you

2)      Learn to be cooperative and open with your fellow beings.

3)      Always respect your fellows and think positive about them. In return you will gain respect and regards

4)      Manage to tackle adverse situations calmly and peacefully and learn to make quick witty decisions

5)      Improve your vocabulary and writing abilities.

6)      Foster an honest and relaxed work environment

7)      Practice the etiquette of business in the way you look physically, speak in group of people  and behave with the fellows

Soft skills are about how you present yourself to others and these skills always equip you to excel you in your personal and professional life.   Recognize the importance of soft skills within your organization, not only learn them yourself but also encourage their improvement within your organization

Five attitudes that lead to success in job

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

A positive attitude can help you a great deal in achieving you goal.

1. The “I can-do it” attitude is one of the biggest reasons of attaining success anywhere. The best way to impress your potential employer is to plan ahead, think carefully about all of the things going on in his or her work life, causing stress and anxiety. You should talk about how you are valuable to that job and will make things easier and better for the manager. You have to convince him that you are are there to lighten his load.

2. You have to show the manager that you do not need to be spoon fed. You know what you are doing and can do them on your own without being told too many times.

3. The best way to succeed in any field is by being a team player and by getting along with everyone. People who are lone wolves find success evading them. It pays to be able to work collectively in a group.

4. Perseverance pays off. If you are determined and persistent to get the job done then success can’t be far behind.

5. It is very important to be aware of the politics going on in the office and to navigate effectively.

The process of job search has its ups and downs and comes with its own moments of excitement with defeated and beaten down at times. It is extremely important for job searchers to keep their morale up while seeking jobs and their positivity unaffected. The hiring managers want somebody who is positive and upbeat and is ready to take on the responsibility with confidence and ease and with no excess baggage of any negative attitude.

Do not overlook small stuff in Job search

Friday, April 20th, 2012

Paying attention to the small stuff can make the difference between having a job and still looking for one. Apparently little things can make a big impression on employers.

Here are seven steps which should not be overlooked:

1. Sticking to facts:  People, usually, avoid putting straight out lies in their resume but some do not hesitate to add a little cushioning. These tiny truths when discovered during background checks can make the employer question your integrity.

2. Avoiding ambiguity: When writing your work history and expertise there should be no ambiguity or fuzzy phrases. You should clearly state your experience and be specific.

3. Keeping it real: You should not sound, like an overly rehearsed robot, at the interview. Employers want to know the real you not rehearsed clichéd answers.

4. Go with the flow: you should follow the interviewers lead, and take your conversational cues from him. Some managers like to have an informal talk while others are more formal.

5. Express with more than just words. It’s not only what you articulate in an interview but also how you say it. You should be brimming with confidence and positivity. Your voice should be projected, eye contact maintained and your pasture should be good. Nervously tapping your foot, rocking in your seat, slouching, talking too fast and checking your watch can signal discomfort and/or disinterest.

6. Name names. If taken on a tour of the office by the manager and introduces you around, greet each individual with zest and interest and call the person by his name.

7. Put pen to paper. Good manners are still considered important. Sending a thank you note to the interviewer will express your appreciation and reassert your interest in the job.

Soft Skills needed at Workplace

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Soft skills complement technical skills which are the occupational requirement of any job. Soft skills play an important role in professional success by helping one to excel in the workplace.

Some of the important soft skills required to make your mark in the professional field are:

Professionalism

Try to be professional in everything you do. Do not panic when the things are tough. Rather show your abilities to cope with hardships.

Your looks matter a lot. Proper dressing is important even in casual working hours.

Positive Attitude

The more positive (optimistic) you are towards your colleagues; the better your professional relationships will be. As nobody would like to spend his time with a  difficult and non cooperative fellow.

Work Motivation

Every individual has different motivations for work. Some work for money, others for their love to work or their personal fulfillment. If no motivation is there in an employee, then ultimately the quality of his work will deteriorate.

Writing Ability

A good writing ability is a valuable quality of any candidate. Its not necessary that a person is extraordinary good in writing but at least he should have skills to express his ideas and thoughts to other people in written symbols.

Willingness to learn

Always be ready to learn new things. This would broaden your thoughts and would help you discover new horizons.

Time Management

A person skilled in time management stands to learn more from daily work than the other person who is not. A strong time management skill can lead to great rewards like high productivity, less stress to meet work challenges and deadlines, enough relaxation hours and a quicker evaluation of your work and abilities.

Look at each day as a new opportunity to explore yourself, learn something new and ultimately improve yourself.