3 Tricks of the Trade for a Successful Job Interview

3 Tricks of the Trade for a Successful Job Interview Here are three pieces of advice for your job interview: put your best foot forward, make a good first impression, look your interviewer in the eye. Pretty standard fare, you might be thinking. Youve heard these tips numerous times. But have you considered what they mean and how important they really are? If not, here are some reasons to do so for each one. 1. Put Your Best Foot Forward The wording here is a bit odd. It implies that we have three or more feet. It would make more sense and be grammatically correct to say: Put your better foot forward. But knowing what it means is what really matters: To start on a journey or task with purpose and gusto. In other words walk into your interview with a determined step, a smile on your face, a friendly handshake, and expectancy in your mind and heart. Be your best self and trust that your authenticity will compel the interviewer to take a good look at YOU, in person and on paper. 2. Make a Good First Impression It has been said again and again that the first impression is the last impression. How can that be true? People judge one another by what they see and hear first. It stays with them, regardless of what happens next. So its worth your time to express your true self rather than to try to impress with affectation and showmanship. Hiring managers are looking for authentic individuals who are honest, open-faced, quick to smile and shake hands firmly, ask intelligent questions, and speak openly about their qualifications for the job in question. Be positive and optimistic. Show your appreciation for the opportunity, get to the point of how you can benefit the company with your skill set, and avoid throwing verbal stones at previous employers or co-workers. 3. Look Your Interviewer in the Eye Youve probably heard the saying, The eyes are the windows to the soul. And you know its true when you encounter other people. Our eyes sometimes say more than our words. So when youre in an interview, look the hiring manager in the eye. Listen and focus on what he or she is saying. And when its your turn to respond, hold your gaze and avoid distracting gestures such as playing with coins in your pocket or flicking your fingernails. One way to lose points fast is to look over the interviewers shoulder or glance around the room or stare at the floor when you and he or she are engaged in conversation. Conclusion The next time youre preparing for a job interview, review these three not-so-secret secrets, put them into practice, and the wait for those seven magic words, we’d like to offer you the job”. Related: The Psychology of Job Interviews: How To Prepare Mentally. Image: Shutterstock

Visual Resumes Help or Hype

Visual Resumes Help or Hype In the competition to win job interviews, some savvy job seekers are turning to visual resumes: infographic resumes, presumes, social resumes and more. Will it help or hurt their chances? The answer is: it depends. Content is king: The content within your visual resume, should you choose to use one, must address the needs and wants of the employer period. It doesnt matter how slick or creative your visual resume is! What does matter is that the reader can easily find what they are looking for and that your content is relevant to the job and company! When you create your visual resume, be sure to keep the following in mind: Content: Customize your content based on the skills and expertise required by the employer. This information is acquired through the job posting and conversations with company insiders. Visuals: Use visuals on purpose, a fancy chart or graph that doesnt mean anything is a waste of time. Personality: Insert your personal flare you have already chosen to step out on a limb with a different tool. Dont overlook the opportunity to knock it out of the park by letting your personality shine. Think about color, outside interests or even appropriate personal quirks, like being a caffeine junkie). Target the right audience: Infographic resumes are not ATS-friendly, so dont even try to submit it through an applicant tracking system. Instead, use it to catch the attention of a company insider. When you reach out to a contact inside the company, introduce your document as a quick visual overview of what youve done. By the way, there is data that suggests visual images are processed  60,000 times faster than text. Avoid sending it to Human Resources or Recruiters. These folks typically  review hundreds of resumes a day and expect to see a traditional text resume. Sending them anything other than a traditional text resume is not in your best interest. Supplying a visual resume to a networking contact is another opportunity to pique the interest of the non-traditional resume reviewer. Imagine the conversation that could emerge when you show your visual resume? Visual resumes tend to be more successful when applying for creative, less traditional roles, such as marketing. You will also see visual resumes used by graphic artists and designers. Almost any company that values or expects creativity, ingenuity or out-of-the box ideas would appreciate the visual interpretation of your story. Share it: It isnt enough to create one of these you need to share it too! Some suggestions include: LinkedIn: Adding it to your LinkedIn profile as embedded media in your summary or experience sections. Status Update: Updating your status on social networks using a link to your visual resume. E-mail Signature: Including a link to it in your email signature and text resume. Pinterest: Pinning it to your Pinterest board highlighting your work and career. Visual.ly: Adding it Visual.ly, a platform designed for sharing infographics and visual content. Infographics are hot: In the marketing industry, infographics are hot! In case you hadnt realized,  job seeking is marketing and many of the same principles and trends apply!  HubSpot  provided these interesting statistics: 65% of the world’s population are visual marketers. Google Trends shows Infographics grown over 800% in the past 2 years. Using infographics increased traffic 12% more (on average). Why not take a look at the Undercover Recruiter Infographics section? Design skills not required: If you are interested in creating visual resumes, such as infographic resumes, presumes, or social resumes, there are numerous options and new tools appear regularly. If you arent a graphic designer and dont have access design software, never fear. The free tools listed below are simple to use and, in most cases, all you need to do is link your social media profile (usually LinkedIn) and voila, a visual is produced! Some require you upload a bio and photo, but that is about as difficult as it gets: About.me:  How to Use  about.me  as Your Online CV Career Cloud’s Social Resume Flavors.me:  How to Jazz Up Your Personal Brand Kinzaa Prezi Presume:  How To Design an Alternative CV on Prezi Re.vu Visual.ly:  How to Inject Creativity into Your Personal Brand Vizify.com Have you had success using your visual resume? Wed love to hear about it. Better yet, wed love to see it!

Stand Out on Social Media - Visual Marketing Strategies - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Stand Out on Social Media - Visual Marketing Strategies - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career How your personal brand’s image is seen by others is important to your growth and sales. A mix of appealing images and video will not only increase engagement in your social media marketing, but will also establish credibility as your community shares your content. The need for a brand to present unique and valuable visual images is important in today’s mobile-driven world. What works best are eye-catching components such as video, infographics, and images which project your message, and tell a story. How to Boost Your Visual Marketing Strategy Your brand’s audience is looking for images that speak to their emotions, needs, and desires, which ultimately attract more leads who can be converted into sales. There are several types of visual content methods that can help you stand out: A clear identity People want to know right away what your brand is all about, and how you can help them. With clear messages tailored to your target market you won’t leave them guessing or moving on to the competition. Original, fresh content can go a long way in encouraging comments and shares or retweets on social media. Short video messages Lately video has become the main source of activity online, and brands who can provide a quick demonstration, tips, or an interesting story are getting the most reactions. Posting on a regular basis to social networks like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook will bring more interest and visibility. Share your community’s content A popular trend that has emerged puts customers in the image sharing control room as they are able to submit their photos to brands featuring their favorite products, food, feedback, and more. This is a fun way to engage your community and showcase what your company has to offer with trusted feedback from actual buyers. Cross promote and schedule posts and tweets Take full advantage of the platforms your audience is engaging on the most. This could include Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest, Instagram, ect. Share your images in a way that matches each network, and schedule content ahead of time with the use of software like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, ect. A picture or video can go a long way in conveying your brand’s message. It’s important to be consistent as well as allowing room for having fun with what you are creating as your audience will pick up on this as well. Don’t be afraid in using a bit of humor in some of your images or video, and remember to create something unique and not from stock images.

Principal Cover Letter Sample - Algrim.co

Principal Cover Letter Sample - Algrim.co Principal Cover Letter Template Download our cover letter template in Word format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Related Hiring Resources 15+ Best Principal Interview Questions Answers Assistant Principal Cover Letter Sample Principal Job Description

6 Jobs in 2018 That Didnt Exist 10 Years Ago - CareerMetis.com

6 Jobs in 2018 That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comThe world around us is continually evolving and growing, and that means many new opportunities are opening up. Be it from the advancement of modern technology or just fresh, innovative services that lead to new career and job fields, as well.Believe it or not, there are quite a few jobs or careers that exist today, in 2018, that weren’t around just five years ago. Here are six of the most promising ones.1. iOS and Android DeveloperevalWhile mobile development and platforms have been around for a long time â€" iOS and Android took off in 2008 â€" their potential has reached an unprecedented level over the past few years. Not to mention, mobile development was more of a general focus as opposed to specialization. Programming and software development comes in many forms, and some of those opportunities are recent â€" iOS and Android being two of them.evaliOS development has seen a growth rate of 142 percent over the past five years, while Android development has seen a 199 percent growth rate.It is entirely possible to undergo training, education programs and even enter the workforce specializing in â€" you guessed it â€" one of these mobile platforms. For those already in software development, it’s not unheard of for professionals to switch gears and become iOS or Android app developers.Android requires knowledge of Java or Kotlin, the two official languages of the platform. iOS needs Objective-C or C. Alternatively; you can specialize in Swift, which is Apple’s official language for all macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS platforms.2. Social Media MarketerGone are the days where you need to hire a bonafide marketing expert to control and manage your social media accounts. You still can if that’s what you prefer, however, many new opportunities have developed as these channels matured.Social media interns, community influencers, and even low-level marketers are finding regular work, and it often benefits both parties in a relationship â€" the employees and the business. Businesses can take advantage of talented, up-and-coming social marketers while keeping their budgets manageable. These interns or fresh hires gain the necessary experience and fieldwork they need to advance their careers.It’s still a great idea to hire a skilled professional to handle your accounts, but the point is the talent pool is growing. This is something that was nearly unheard of just five years ago, as many were merely getting over the idea of hiring managers for social at all. Today, it’s grown to a point where brands and companies are willing to take risks and engage outside the usual circles.This may be slightly unrelated, but it’s worth noting that several other internet-based fields have arisen alongside social media management. The connected, always-on nature of the internet has helped to produce many fresh opportunities. This includes a community or online activity manager, content manager, virtual reality consultant, cloud services specialist and even user experience managers.3. Marijuana Doctor or Dispensary OwnerevalForget five years ago, even just two or three years ago it was almost unheard of to have a real career in the world of marijuana â€" medicinal and recreational â€" but here we are.Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize the substance recreationally in 2012, and now the market is bustling with activity.For recreational purposes, legal states include Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Alaska, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Washington, D.C., has also legalized recreational cannabis.The medicinal-use only states are Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Hawaii, New Jersey and Delaware. A few of the medicinal only states will soon push to recreational use, as well.evalThe point is, society has become more aware and more knowledgeable about marijuana, which has helped to introduce many new opportunities. We now need doctors who can prescribe marijuana and work with patients to use it properly.The market has openings on the service side, which calls for dispensary owners, workers, and even development. The industry also needs people to grow and nurture the plant in varying forms, then turn it into usable medicine.4. Data ScientistComputer science used to be a single career field. That’s no longer the case. It has been divvied up in many ways, namely in online or service-based specialties versus the more conventional ones like a computer or electrical engineering. One of the more promising fields is data science.The processing of information and data has always been a necessity. Naturally, our growing reliance on digital content has excited their role in the modern world.Data scientists are no longer just optional â€" they are necessary, especially for organizations that want to make sense of the f lood of information they now have.This includes data in all forms, from customer experience summaries and marketing statistics to business operation plans and future strategies.A wide variety of systems, devices, and platforms are continually collecting and storing information, which someone must process and translate for it to be of any use.If you want to be technically accurate, 2013 is when the data science industry started kicking off. But over the last few years, it has grown so much that practically every major business is looking to data science experts and data engineers. IBM predicts that the demand for data scientists will grow by 28 percent or more leading into 2020.eval5. Fitness and Health ExpertYou’d think that all the top career opportunities stem from technology, right? Well, people are growing more interested in their health and development, too.evalOver the past few years, fitness and health experts have become incredibly popular and continue to be in high demand .According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fitness trainers and instructor opportunities have seen continued growth rates of 10 percent or more from 2016 and beyond.The beauty of working in health and fitness is that there are so many different opportunities, and you don’t have to specialize in one thing. You could, for instance, choose to be a Zumba class instructor as opposed to a personal trainer. It’s also possible to become a Beachbody coach, working with Beachbody LLC, the company renowned for the P90X fitness series.Dieticians help with eating correctly and fueling the body with healthy foods. Fitness and exercise coaches keep people active, losing weight and improving their metabolism. Media-based coaches produce and engage with audiences via health shows. The list goes on and on.Don’t think you have to be huddled in a cubicle, staring at a monitor all day long. That’s not the only way to make a living! Immense growth in the world of fitness over the past few year s has shown being active is equally important. Which, honestly, we’ve known all along.eval6. UI and UX DesignerGraphics and web designers are definitely in high demand these days. But, there’s another aspect to the field that has become increasingly popular. The emergence of platforms that use touch controls via mobile, voice controls, and intuitive user interfaces, necessitates experienced UI and UX developers.Yes, there’s a visual element to UI design. However, building a pleasant and convenient experience for audiences is also a significant concern. That, in and of itself, calls for developers who can handle both avenues.Designers need to be talented and knowledgeable about software development, and vice versa for software developers. This new specialization is, naturally, called a UI and UX designer.As people grow more reliant on technology, the demand for UI and UX designers also sees immense growth. It’s easy to understand why, too, given all the apps and tools that ar e frustrating, cumbersome and just poorly designed. It highlights the need for an elevated, optimized experience or digital environment with which to interact.What Feeds Your Passion?These are six of the most promising career opportunities you’ll find thriving in today’s landscape. All of which didn’t exist a few years ago. All of them have seen tremendous growth, which also means they’re still budding and coming into their own.Many more opportunities may present themselves, especially if you decide to specialize in one of the fields mentioned above.It’s also important to remember you should pursue the opportunities that best fuel your passions and interests. If one of these opportunities speaks to you, then you should leap!

Are you saying thanks enough in your job search - Hire Imaging

Are you saying “thanks” enough in your job search - Hire Imaging There have been pieces written for years on the value of the thank-you note. It’s not new. Yet, I talk with folks on a daily basis involved in the job search mix. Those who interview candidates. Those who help candidates. Those who are the candidates. It amazes me but it’s true; many of those   people in a job search still do not send thank-you notes. I come from the age where thank-yous were an ingrained etiquette. How can you expect the interviewer to be excited about you if you don’t follow up? More importantly, if you don’t, you miss your chance to throw your name in front again, reiterate something you wanted to say more about and show your excitement. And here’s the deal. I haven’t done an official survey, but I can tell you that in 30 years of working as a career coach, I hear all the time from hiring decision-makers that one of the top reasons people don’t get the job (or even final cut) is because they didn’t appear to be that interested. Can you say disconnect? So, a thank-you note or card is probably one of the most important tools in your kit. They are a must post-interview. But it’s more than that. There are (or should be) a host of players in your job search or career transition. That’s the gist of support teams and networking. Thank-you cards or notes make people feel good. They let people know you appreciate the time and effort they spent helping you. Someone who receives a thank-you is more likely to keep an eye open for you than someone who does not. How? Today’s technology says no excuses. How much time does it take to send a text or email from your smart phone or computer? Do that. I believe you should take it a step further. Thank-yous are more personal than any other job search tool and express your appreciation in informal language. While it is not a great idea to hand write any other job search communications most typically, it is good for thank-yous. I have never once, in all my years as a coach, heard someone complain for having received a hand-written thank-you. There’s a huge impact from writing in a world dominated by bullets, fonts and digital speak. Just one word of caution: write legibly. But it spews thought and time; it’s all good. Who? Quite simply, send thank-you cards to people who help with your job search. Employers you meet or speak with on the phone Contacts who give you company and employer names Friends who let their friends know you are looking for work Organizations who help you in your search Anyone else who helps you with your job search Samples With handwritten notes, it’s going to be short and meaningful. Here’s the gist through a few examples: Dear Mr. Roberts: What a productive lunch we had Wednesday! It certainly has helped in my job search. I contacted three people you referred me to and have meetings with two of them next week. Many thanks for your help! Jane Doe *** Dear Nancy, Thanks for the time you took from a busy life to discuss your company and its current reorganization post acquisition. Your eagerness and enthusiasm tell me Widget Company has engaged and talented people. I will definitely stay in touch! Jane Doe *** Dear Mark: Your suggestion and guidance via the Brass Street Job Club are so appreciated. I feel more confident in my ability to obtain the right fit in my next transition, thanks to your help. I am open to further suggestions and contacts, and of course look forward to staying connected! If I can help you down the line, please holler! Jane Doe *** Dear Jen: I know this may seem silly with us being such long-time BFFs, but I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your helping me find my next job. Friends like you don’t come around often. I treasure you. Jane Doe The Gist Resumes, business cards and thank-yous are some of my favorite tools in the job search. Use them wisely and generously. The thank-you more than anything. There can never be too much thanks. Say it in writing. Say it in person. Theres a great quote (author unknown). Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they dont unravel. Photo: Ben Fredericson

Fatal Foibles That Can Flummox New Freelancers

Fatal Foibles That Can Flummox New Freelancers The younger generation has a much harder time in the present day job market than their parents did, despite (on paper) having some pretty big advantages over them. Today’s twentysomethings tend to be better educated than previous generations and despite the pervasive stereotypes that depict them as slothful, indolent and self obsessed; going into paroxysms unless they have access to their social media feed, they tend to be a hardworking and reliable bunch when given an opportunity to prove themselves. It’s proving themselves, however, that’s the rub for many young graduates entering the workforce. Even graduates who got great grades struggle to find graduate level work and all over the world graduates pour out of higher education institutions and into non-graduate low pay, low skill jobs that waste their talents. Furthermore, many employers expect entry level employees to first put in months at a time as unpaid interns. For those who don’t have the luxury of parental support, this is simply untenable. But the younger generation aren’t just staring down the barrel of a difficult job market; they’re on the cusp of an economic revolution in which the gig economy is changing the way in which we trade goods and services. In the face of an inhospitable job market, yet with living costs proving more and more challenging to even well paid graduates, more and more young people are turning to self employment as a means to earn a crust. Indeed, it’s estimated that around 47% of millennials in the workforce freelance at least in some capacity. And make no mistake, earning a living as a freelancer has some distinct advantages. It’s a way to make a living doing what you love and what you’re good at. It gives you the opportunity to hone your administrative, organizational and entrepreneurial skills as you manage your business and hustle new clients. It provides excellent networking opportunities and allows you to really take your career, your livelihood and your life into your own hand s rather than slaving away in a job for which you’re overqualified and underpaid. But in lieu of a proper retirement plan, sick or holiday pay and any sort of job security, freelancers cannot afford to simply scrape by. They need to ensure that they’re firing on all cylinders and making good money so that they can save responsibly and plan for the future. That means avoiding these working and productivity foibles which could either compromise the quality of your work, limit your income or decimate your work life balance… Going in cold The good news is that there are no shortage of businesses who are desperately in need of the skills and attributes you bring to the table who don’t have the budget to take on new staff and use freelancers to achieve the best of both worlds. The bad news is that it could take some time for you to build up your reputation and establish enough of a clientele to make freelancing sustainable. While many freelancers are always hustling for new clients, it behoves you not to quit your day job (sorry) just yet and to establish yourself as a freelancer in your spare time, scaling up your operation until you’re ready to go full time. Failing to charge what you’re worth It’s possibly the most common foible among nascent freelancers, especially those who have only recently graduated. Their lack of experience gives them a disproportionately low sense of self worth. While experience can certainly sharpen and hone your skills, your talents as they are now are still an eminently marketable commodity. Many new freelancers get a lie of the land on sites like People Per Hour and try to race their competitors to the bottom in the hopes of getting more clients. The trouble with this mentality is that the best clients are motivated by quality rather than price. Moreover, if you start off with lower rates and garner a handful of clients who reward you with more business, you will place a long term cap on your earnings as you’ll be afraid to increase your prices lest you alienate them.. Relying on “handshake agreements” When you’re starting out in the freelance game, it’s all too easy to neglect the legalities that could end up protecting you, your reputation and your budding business. While handshake agreements can and do work in the freelance marketplace, it’s important to protect your interests with contracts, especially for new clients, and send invoices which can be traced and chased. You can use any of these free invoice templates if you don’t want to start from scratch. A paper trail will not only protect you legally from non-payment or disputes, it will make you better at managing the business side of freelancing. Wasting time staring at a blank screen When you’re working for yourself, productivity is everything. Productivity can make the difference between a good month’s pay and a great months’ pay. It can make the difference between landing top tier clients and staying on the breadline. One of the biggest productivity sapping things you can do, however, is waste time staring at a blank screen. Yes, everyone gets creative block. Yes, it can be enormously frustrating. But if you try and fight through it you’ll end up frustrated or produce poor quality work that you throw out as soon as you cast a fresh pair of eyes on it. When your creative mojo abandons you, don’t be afraid to take a break. Get out of your home office, go for a walk, read or do something to relax your mind and recharge your batteries and don’t come back to your computer until you’re raring to go. Trying to race yourself to the finish line AT the same time, an equally counterproductive strategy is to try and race yourself to the finish line day after day. If you have a particularly fecund Monday and get all of your work finished by 2pm yet the following day you call it a night at 6 or 7pm that’s simply the nature of the beast. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to rush to an early finish. The quality of your work will suffer and while you may find yourself making your deadlines, you will return to your computer the next day to find a whole lot of revisions waiting for you. Steer clear of these bad habits, and a long, happy, fulfilling and rewarding career as a freelancer awaits.