Preparing for a Job Fair - How to

Preparing for a Job Fair - How to  It is that part of the season when job and careers fairs are kicking in. This  post was prompted because, as part of the  Student Communication Team Marketing Report that I submitted in  December 2010 on the Leicestershire Student and Graduate Fair, one of the conclusions was  that students need more information on what to expect and what sort of conversations they  are expected to have with an employer at a fair.  What Happens at a Graduate Careers Fair? Before I go into the preparation and type of questions and conversations that I have with  employers, let me introduce to you the mechanism of a fair. Careers fairs give you the opportunity to meet employers face-to-face and get a more in-depth knowledge about their recruitment procedures and the organisation in general. Why do they do that? I have found a couple of reasons:  firstly, their visual presence shows what kind of work culture they have; secondly, I don’t think they are there to promote their business, but give you good information, so when you apply for a job you have a higher success rate for getting through to the next stage. Finally, it is an excellent opportunity to network with top organisations and follow-up later in job applications. This is why I attend job fairs, to network. Statistics behind Job Fairs According to one Harvard Business Review, 80% of people today find their job through networking. A quick search on trend spotting tools shows there is an increase in searches for job fairs  rather than jobs, which means more people want to attend a fair than randomly search for a job. So by attending a fair, you are concentrating your efforts on an organisation that you have first hand knowledge about, which would improve your success rate. Finding a Graduate Job Deadlines for UKs Top 100 Graduate Schemes So, How to Prepare for Job or Graduate Fairs? I’ve attended job fairs in Leicester, London and Birmingham. I always dress smartly when attending a fair. Whenever possible, I first start a job application and then attend the fair, not necessarily wanting to complete the job application, but it gives me some tips as to what questions I should ask the employer and develop a good conversation. Remember, they are not necessarily there to take CVs or give you an interview date. They are there to have a conversation with you, so you have to speak and ask questions for them to respond and give you some useful information. I always begin with a firm hand shake and Good morning. But it is up to you how you approach people, you need to be comfortable with it. The point is to come across as committed and sociable (key skill!). The conversation is an important process, as you get an insight into the job or organisation and you might figure out if it is really something you want to do. So, what conversation to have? There is no right or best conversation. But there is a definite difference between a good and bad conversation. A good conversation is where you ask the right questions, listen to the employers and smile! A bad conversation is where you don’t do any of these. Asking questions and extracting the best information is very important. I have listed some questions I go with usually How many applicants do you employ on a particular scheme? Does this job involve moving to different offices whilst on a graduate scheme? If yes, how does rotation work? Do you support graduates working towards their Chartered status in respective fields? How long (tentatively) does your graduate recruitment last from the application to interviews? Would you be involved in any of the later stages of recruitment and which business personnel are involved in later recruitment stages? (key question for me, as I get some background on interviewers!) These are some of the questions that I rely on, along with other general questions. If you have some other good ones, please do leave a comment as it helps all us students. For a comprehensive list of where and when fairs are held, this Prospects page is a good start. Although, a lot of universities host local careers fairs, please see your Careers Service for more information on your local fairs. Image Credit: Newcastle Careers International Student Blog (The following post was written by the author when he was contracted for writing for the  University of Leicester Careers Service Blog) Related articles

How To Write An MBA Resume That Will Leave a Great First Impression CareerMetis.com

How To Write An MBA Resume That Will Leave a Great First Impressionâ€" CareerMetis.com Business school applicants often make a single mistake â€" they don’t take their resume seriously. They only pay superficial attention to them, ending up with a mediocre result that doesn’t do anything.Even though admission officers pay only a few seconds of attention to each resume, this doesn’t mean that you can do a poor job â€" based on this single document you’ll either get an interview or not.evalThe reason it takes them only a few seconds is that they know what they want and if they don’t find it, your resume will get thrown out.However, if you manage to stand out from hundreds of similar resumes, they will be impressed.You need to provide them with a quick snapshot of your career, achievements, and skills that will show why you are the best candidate.Here is how to achieve that.1. Write About Your ResultsevalThere are many misconceptions about writing a resume. However, one of the most damaging mistakes is that you have to list the responsibilities on your previous jobs.This may sound like the right thing to do â€" after all, it flawlessly highlights what you did. But it’s not.Chances are, the admissions officer already knows what you did â€" each position comes with a specific set of duties, and they are all familiar in the business world.evalSo, rather than listing what they already know and boring them with that, include some genuinely meaty information like your achievements and results.2. Focus On DetailsWhen describing your experience, it’s best to write about your results and achievements â€" as we already mentioned. However, just listing them isn’t the point.Using details like numbers and percentages to show your impact on an organization is pivotal if you want to impress your admission officers truly.For instance, state by what percentage you reduced expenses, how many people were on the team you lead, primarily if it was international.evalUsing these specific numbers and possibly even names to demonstrate how good you are at wh at you do tells them a lot more than just stating ‘team player’ or ‘leader.’3. Use a Reverse Chronological FormatHow you position various sections of your resume may seem like a less urgent matter, but it’s crucial to how they perceive you.As mentioned, admissions officers give you a few seconds of their attention at best, and they shouldn’t have to work too hard to find what they need. You are not telling them a fairy tale, so you don’t need exposition.The reverse chronological order allows you to place your most recent achievements and experience first. That way, when the admissions officer looks at your resume, the first thing they’ll see is what’s most impressive. Your first jobs were probably less exciting and your education â€" while still important â€" isn’t as relevant as your experience. So you need to highlight the positions you held previously, name the job, company and the period of work.4. Add an ‘Extras’ SectionEver since childhood, we were alwa ys told not to brag. However, your resume is the one place you really should make sure they notice you.Including information on awards you received, volunteering assignments you had, your published articles or anything similar is going to help you stand out.If you have a patent or a hobby, but you don’t know where to place it, adding this section is an excellent way to do it.Just make sure that everything you mentioned is relevant and not completely random and unrelated to what you are applying.eval5. Mind the DesignThe design is another element of your resume which seems less important, but it isn’t. Humans respond incredibly well to visual cues.evalIf your resume seems like it time traveled from the eighties, they will hardly glance over it. However, if you employ modern design techniques and make it work for you instead of against you, this will be another vital factor. Check online resume templates to choose the ones you like and build your resume around it.It also shows how good you are at eliminating unnecessary detail and leaving only what’s essential.Imagine it as an elevator pitch â€" you need to present yourself in a quick and compelling way6. Be HonestAnother common error is trying to tell a few white lies on your resume to seem more appealing. However, this never works as you think it would.People often stretch their employment dates to hide the fact that they had a bit of a gap in their work career, for instance, or include skills they don’t have. Some even overstate what their levels of responsibility were in previous employment.evalBut the truth always comes out. There is usually an extensive background check where they’ll uncover any lies you made and the fact that you don’t possess specific skills will be evident once you start working â€" which is even worse.7. Avoid Buzzwords People nowadays often use the same words in their resumes, making it hard for one candidate to stand out. These are known as buzzwords â€" words that seem p owerful and appealing but show and do nothing.For example ‘goal-oriented,’ ‘team player,’ ‘self-starter,’ ‘dynamic’ and so on. Rather than just using these words because you saw them somewhere, take the opportunity to show exactly how you embody those words. Did you achieve many goals? Did you lead a vast, multinational team with success? How exactly are you a dynamic person? Show the statistics, data, and numbers.8. Always Proofread and EditFinally â€" and this is something you should never skip â€" proofread and edit relentlessly until you are confident that no spelling or grammar mistakes remain.Those ruin your chances, look it up on career blogs where they have seen plenty of those cases.Impress Them With a Winning ResumeUse the opportunity you have to spark their interest. Don’t beat around the bush or stall too much. Be direct, confident and show them everything you’ve got. Hopefully, these tips will make that more comfortable for you.

7

Ask Dana How to get your boss to understand youre not available 24/7 How to get your boss to understand youre not available 24/7 Question Dana, Im done! I need to change my work habits and retrain my co-workers to understand Im not available around the clock. How do I prepare my boss and co-workers to respect my after-work availability? Answer from Executive Job Coach Dana Manciagli 1. Prepare a document for your manager that outlines the problem and your proposed solutions List all of your day-to-day duties and show how you will redistribute your workload. Either you will delegate to people working for you or ask peers or virtual team members to take on special assignments. Some options may be to discontinue certain tasks or, for example, change weekly reports to monthly reports. 2. Prepare the rationale for your change in working hours You have many reasons to select from: your health, the message that long hours sends to your team (e.g. your example may be having a negative impact on morale), you need more family time, or you believe that you will be more effective when you are not burned out. 3. Now, schedule a meeting with your manager Clearly communicate your passion for what you do, your commitment to the company, etc., AND (not a but!) you want to place boundaries on your work time and non-work time. AND that you want to help those you work with have a better work/life balance too. 4. With your managers agreement and support, you can communicate your boundaries with your team Meet with your team to share your plan and answer questions. Then, craft a short e-mail to share more broadly. Keep the discussions simple, straightforward, and professional.

Shipping And Receiving Resume Tips

Shipping And Receiving Resume TipsIf you are having trouble assembling your shipping and receiving resume, then this article will help you. Here is a few easy tips that will make your shipping and receiving resume a breeze to write.You can use an outline or guide for the tasks that you have done in the past. This is a great way to get a handle on your personal history and you will get a better idea of what each of the types of jobs that you could consider for future employment would look like. Remember, this is a first impression, not a complete list.Start with tasks that have been done, but not all of them. Start off by listing the major projects. List the first and last dates when they were completed. Some of these tasks could include taking pictures of a photo album, mailing out a catalog, mending something in a garage, etc. Make sure to include when you started doing each of these projects and how long it took.Now do some research. Take a look at the company you are interviewing with and how you would find out about new employment. What kind of time commitment is involved, what are the workloads, and how do you know if they are a good fit for you?It's time to fill in your resume. Now you are going to want to think about what you already know about this job and ask yourself a few questions. Is this a position that you can take on? What is the work environment like? Have you ever worked with the person before?Just because you are looking for a job search doesn't mean that you need to leave out all of the hard work. If you had to start over you would probably come up with a different set of skills than you have now. Look for job searches that are specific to your area or industry. Searching for positions outside of your area may yield results.What do you do if you need to get your shipping and receiving resume organized? Organize it before you send it to the candidate. This will make it easier to glance through when you meet the person.Do not procrastinate whe n you are compiling your ship and receiving resume. It is important to be prepared for the interviews so you do not miss out on a good position.

Writing a Successful Resume and Landing a Job With a Questionnaire

Writing a Successful Resume and Landing a Job With a QuestionnaireWhen it comes to creating a professional resume and landing a job, having an experienced resume writing questionnaire sample can prove to be very beneficial. In this article I will outline some of the most common questions you can expect to receive during a job interview, and give some suggestions on how to make them easier to answer.Before starting, you should create a list of all the critical questions that will be asked by potential employers. It is important to have all the details on these fields covered, such as your career objectives, salary range, degree program and more. Also, make sure that you include any job experience and skills that may be required.Next, you will want to research the specific field of work you wish to pursue. Find out what industries are in high demand, and which ones are less popular. This will help you decide whether you want to enter a specific industry or you want to enter a more casu al occupation. To do this, research 'industry groups' on the internet, or visit a career center to get in touch with a local job agency.The next step is to prepare a list of all the contact information for the job seeker. You should also know how to write an effective cover letter, so that it makes the employer take notice.Lastly, write the cover letter that includes all of the information that you think the future employer will want to know. It is also a good idea to make sure that you use the same format when writing the resume. Of course, in this case you do not want to copy what is already on the other document, but rather include your own unique twist on it.All of this will become a lot easier if you use a good resume writing questionnaire sample. There are many available online, so it is important to pick one that will fit your needs. As mentioned earlier, many companies will hire a group of recruiters who have training in using this tool.For those of you who are struggling wi th job search, the ability to work with a questionnaire can really help you finish on time and in a timely manner. It can take a lot of time and effort to research job opportunities, and you don't want to miss out on the best ones.

Life After Writing an Effective Media Resume Idalis Media

Life After Writing an Effective Media Resume Idalis Media Writing an Effective Media Resume Idalis Media Options Media Shower's application procedure is simple. Unless you wish to examine a particular sort of media like radio, TV, film or Internet, include examples from several different kinds. Generally, Media Shower holds a good reputation. Few writers can produce material that cannot be improved or does not have to be altered for style or content reasons. Analyzing the tendencies and trends to estimate the functioning of your content strategy should become your habit. Writing for the media can be tough, particularly for beginners. When it's too long, you put yourself at chance of boring your audience. Among the responsibilities is transcription. If you submit an application for an SMM position, you've got to create a separate social networking skills section and otherwise, they may be included in the general skills list. If you are looking for work in SMM industry, yo u've got to incorporate some of the most crucial social networking skills together with the other classic skill collection. Based on the precise job for which you're applying, you may choose to submit different materials alongside your resume. If you want to look for a leadership role in a corporation, you will want to concentrate on how your understanding of digital media has driven sales or profit success for past employers. Logistics Management reaches a substantial number of logistics professionals in the business. You'll also have to understand how to make and adhere to a communications strategy and make certain others do, too. When it regards correspondence that'll be seen by the general public at large, you want to think about any policies your employer may have, if you're an employee. Life After Writing an Effective Media Resume Idalis Media Over the last ten years, social networking managers are enrolled in thousands of businesses and organizations. Maybe you're t argeting companies in a specific industry. Understanding the way the media reflects your goods or customers can help you improve your advertising and public relations. Besides your resume, you need to have a portfolio that highlights your very best outcomes. What About Writing an Effective Media Resume Idalis Media? It is a fact that a writer's biases can get apparent in her or his writing. Becoming a better copywriter starts with the most suitable strategy. The same thing happens in the event you shout in writing. Complex sentence structures and jargon that you may see in traditional academic writing aren't ideal for diverse populations. The one difference is the way how they ought to be included in your document. Accordingly, if you're likely to put in the effort to compose an excellent message, you may as well devote the price of a stamp and send a paper letter. Try to remember, you wish to create a document which is both engaging and concise.

Zebit Challenge Day 1 My Financial Stress Reality Check - Work It Daily

Zebit Challenge Day 1 My Financial Stress Reality Check - Work It Daily When Zebit asked me to take part in a 7-day budgeting challenge as part of March’s Financial Stress Awareness Month, I was intrigued, and a little hesitant. The idea of having only $7/day to spend is definitely sobering. I’m sure as you are reading this, your brain immediately went to thoughts of things you’d have to give up. So did mine.No more decaf lattes. For example, I recently gave up caffeine and I miss it. So much so, that I like to treat myself to a decaf latte on a pretty regular basis. Those little indulgences go right out the window when you have only seven bucks to spend. Just the thought of saying “no” to myself sends a little wave of negativity (a/k/a stress) through my body. But, that’s the point! Denying yourself because you can’t afford something is stressful. So, imagine what happens when you get those unexpected curve ball expenses? The stress level really climbs, doesn’t it? Zebit refers to those as “gotcha moments.” Studies show it’s these moments that push our financial stress levels through the roof. For example, 49% of working Americans today say they wouldn’t be able to pay for an unexpected expense of $400 or more. Plus, financial stress can hurt your career. Stress like this affects our physical and mental well being - and that can hurt our careers. An estimated $300B dollars is lost in business each year due to worker stress. As a career coach, I can tell you people often lose their jobs due to poor performance from stress. That’s why it’s so important we all try to get the help we need to reduce our stress so we can find the financial freedom we want and deserve. It starts with education. The road to financial health and wellness starts with education. The more informed you are, the better financial decisions you can make. That’s what Zebit does: provides a free financial wellness benefit to companies and their employees. Over the next seven days, I’ll be sharing with you my thoughts and feelings around financial stress and how to overcome it. I will also be challenging you to learn with me as you go. What do you say…are you with me? Let’s kick financial stress to the curb together! Follow me throughout this week-long Zebit challenge and participate in the simple challenges I give you. We’ll work as a team to improve our awareness around financial stress so we can manage it better. Related Posts 5 Tips To Uncover Company Culture 3 Sneaky Ways To Research A Company Company Culture Is Important To Hiring Managers 18+ years of experience in the development of professional HR tools and resources. Has delivered 200+ presentations to more than 10,000 professionals on a wide variety of career topics. Managed teams of 50+ with budgets of $35M+. Launched www.CAREEREALISM.com, which is now a top 3 career blog with 2,300,000+ monthly pageviews, 1,000,000+ visitors/month, 1,500,000+ social media followers, and 100,000+ daily email subscribers. Founded the first Career Improvement Platform, www.CareerHMO.com, an online resource that helps users solve their career problems faster and better than they could on their own. Currently has 5,000+ active members..   Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!