8 Steps to Acing Your Phone Interview

Tricky interview questions to prepare for

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Most first job interviews are via telephone. A hiring manager sees your resume, thinks you may be a good fit, and calls you. It is very important to be ready for that first call because it is your one chance to move forward in the hiring process. Flub it and you won’t get a second opportunity. Make the sales presentation of your experience count.

Control Contact

Do not list every possible telephone number at which you can be reached. A home number and cell number are typically all an employer needs. If your cell is a company phone, list only your home number or obtain a personal cell phone. A company phone should not be used for job search. Do you spend a great deal of time during the day in situations where it would be difficult to talk spontaneously to a prospective employer such as meetings or in a shared office? Make sure you have a very professional voice mail message and check your messages regularly. Return all calls as soon as possible and if you end up in a “phone tag” situation, be persistent and proactive.

Focus

If you receive that first call while driving or any time you cannot devote 100% of your attention to the conversation, ask the caller if you can return the call. Distracted conversations make for poor interviews. When an employer or recruiter calls, they understand the time might not be good and are generally open to scheduling a call for a later time. Try to schedule the conversation as soon as possible and don’t forget to get a name and number for a contact.

Practice Tough Answers

Many people have some sort of obstacle in their current career search or a past problem that may come up in an interview. Be especially prepared to discuss such issues, not because they are more important but because they cause the most anxiety. Knowing what you are going to say to tough questions makes them much less scary.

Google Yourself

Be aware of information about you in the public realm. Make sure you conduct an Internet search on yourself. Employers will be doing this so you need to be on the same page. Be aware that your social media activities will also be reviewed by many employers or recruiters. If you have a Facebook page or Twitter account, it might be examined by employers. Be careful what you put there and don’t be surprised if a related question arises in the interview.

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Ten Mistakes that Can Sabotage Your Job Search

How to be more efficient in your job search

By Jay Edward Miller of alabamajobwatch.com

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Your resume is the number one most power job search tool in your arsenal. It has the power to make you successful beyond your wildest dreams. But if you screw it up, it also has the power to stop you dead in your tracks.

1) Overuse of "blasting" to distribute your resume. Mailing or emailing hundreds or even thousands of resumes to employers and recruiters can be counter-productive. For one thing, you are limited to a weakened, general, all-purpose version of your resume. Your cover letter if you have one, addressed to "Whom It May Concern" will be meaningless. Your submission will be lumped with the spam and junk email. You will have no opportunity to move the process forward by following up with a meaningful phone call, letter, or email.

And if that isn't bad enough, if a recruiter or employer reads your resume, they are smart enough to know that everyone else has a copy of it. If you are a recruiter and you know a thousand other recruiters have the same resume, you would know the tough time you would have earning a commission on the placement. Plus, you might figure that all the local employers have the resume and could cut you out of the loop. If employers know that all the other employers have your resume they may not be interested in competing with them.

Indiscriminate blasting reduces your market value. Don't expect quality interviews; expect interviews for hard-to-fill or high-turnover positions. Some commission hungry agents will be forgiving and may take a chance on you, higher class agents and employers will not.

2) Applying for jobs you are not qualified for. What is the harm? The job looks interesting, the "apply" link is right there, what is the worse that could happen? All they can do is say, "no".

If you are unqualified and waste a recruiter's or employer's time, they will ignore you in the future. And when their time is wasted, they suddenly have a memory like an elephant. That is not the way you want to be remembered in a job search. Plus, how smart does it make you look?

3) Not customizing your resume and cover letter for each employer. The Internet makes it so much easier to investigate companies. Corporate websites will tell you exactly what they are looking for in employees. Leverage these resources. The resume and cover letter are the most powerful marketing tools in your arsenal. And with today's technology, sending a generic resume and cover letter is inexcusable.

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6 Reasons Your Resume Got No Response

Job seekers - are companies just not into you?

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs

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In the best of times responding to a job listing can feel like sending your resume out to sea in a bottle. But at least you received a call or an email acknowledgement. Now, with the volume of applicants higher than ever, you're more likely to hear nothing.

If there is a resounding silence from your queries, keep looking and networking. But you can also do some sleuthing to give you a better chance of standing out next time. Recruiters and career experts agree that, if you didn't get an interview or phone call -- or even a thank-you email -- it may be due to at least one of six reasons.

1. They're just not that into you.

You're good, but someone else more closely met the qualifications. In a tight job market employers can usually get exactly the type of candidate they want. A polite "thanks, but no thanks" letter or email would be nice. But don't expect it these days.

2. They may be into you, as soon as they get to you.

Companies receive so many submissions these days that they don't even have time to send out letters or confirmation emails. "I know a major software company that's taking more than three weeks just to send out acknowledgement notes, and some companies are spending months sifting through resumes for just one opening," workplace etiquette expert Sue Fox tells Yahoo! Hot Jobs.

3. They would have been into you if you had followed directions.

"Many job listings use the word 'must,' not 'it would be nice to,'" according to Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet. "If it says you must have experience in X, then tailor your resume to show that," Opton says.

If you're answering a job listing, be sure you respond in exactly the way the company wants. And be aware that if you're not applying for a specific job but rather sending out dozens or hundreds of form letters, your resume is likely to end up in companies' spam folders.

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The Big Job Search Lies

Four myths that won’t land you the job

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You’ve been lied to, bamboozled, misled and fooled by the people you are closest to. Your well-meaning parents, friends, and even your spouses have led you down the path to perpetual unemployment.

Everyone, right or wrong, wants to give you their opinion of the best way to land a job. These are some you should ignore:

1. Keep applying


For different jobs, yes. For the same job, no. Appyling over and over may have actually been a good idea at some point, before electronic applications became widely used. Paper applications are easily misplaced, or lost in a big stack, but that’s not the case anymore.

Over time, the paper application has been phased out and replaced by electronic applications. Sometimes these are emailed directly to hiring managers. Sometimes they’re sorted and stored by sophisticated software called an Applicant Tracking System. This system allow employers to keep applications on file, where they can be easily retrieved and reviewed. There’s no need to apply more than once every 90 days or so, and in many cases you won’t be able to. It is more likely to annoy a hiring manager than show persistence.

2. Employers never check your history


This just flat out isn’t true. Employers are willing to spend the big bucks on hiring the right people, and they do. Background checking is a nearly $1 billion dollar per year industry, and that doesn’t include drug, credit and reference checks.

If the prospect of a background check concerns you, the best thing you can do for yourself is be honest. 80 percent of employers will check your background in some way, so lying will only get you caught during the interview process, or fired if you somehow make it through.

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Top 5 Unique Job Interview Strategies

Interesting Pointers For Your Next Job Interview

This article was reprinted with permission from http://www.careerealism.com

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It can be overwhelming to think about how much work it actually entails to find a job in today’s web 2.0 world. If you are very serious about it, you have likely educated yourself in all the various facets of a job search and become well-equipped to go out and tackle the task. But, so have many others. Once a company narrows down the candidate pool to a group of people they want to meet, and you are one of them, it’s time to start thinking about your next steps. Only one person can be chosen in the end. When all things are equal, what makes you stand out?

Finding strategic and creative ways to land job interviews is half the battle. Once you are chosen for an interview, it’s not always going to be enough to arrive early, smile at the right times, answer the questions properly, ask the right questions, and then conduct all the proper follow-up tasks. Chances are you are going up against other candidates who will also be doing those same things. Now is the time to go that extra mile.

The best proactive strategies are somewhat subtle in nature and just flow with the rest of the process. The following are the top five strategies 80% of candidates do not utilize:

1. Confirm your interview.

If you have at least a few days between when you set up your interview and when it actually takes place, use the extra time to your advantage. Call or e-mail to confirm the interview, and let them know you are really looking forward to it. Not very many candidates do this, yet it’s these little acts of professionalism that matter.

2. Develop a rapport with the people who interview you.

Typically interviews (including phone interviews), start out with some small talk. Don’t just answer questions asked of you, ask them questions too and get a lighthearted conversation going! Ask them how they are doing and maybe share a lighthearted story. Try to help take the rigid formality of a job interview down a notch so that the conversation can flow easier. If any of the interviewers share something of some level of significance, be creative and use that information in further communications. Your thank you letter to that person could briefly mention something that had come up. For example, if an interviewer mentioned that his or her child was sick, why not briefly mention in your thank you letter that you hope his or her child is feeling better? Who wouldn’t appreciate that?

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Weekly Poll: Are resume objectives necessary?

There's a lot of common advice out there about resumes but one topic we often get different opinions on is the resume objective.

So what's your perspective on this? Do resume objectives help show you are a focused job seeker or are they a waste of space? Vote below and don't forget to comment!

6 Job Networking Tips for New Grads

How job seekers can start networking for their careers

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Job networking events are often intimidating for college students and graduates. These events are often places where they feel out of place - but that shouldn’t be the case. Networking events are places were job hunters can make contact with prospective employers and show them just how strong they are as job candidates.

More often than not, the issue with networking for a college grad is not about whether or not they know how to tie a Windsor knot or how to pick out the right business card, but what to say to company representatives and how to say it. Below are 6 tips we hope will help recent grads out with networking.

1. Show passion for the industry and company

New grads normally do not have much relevant work experience, but can impress potential employers with passion about the company and the industry. The following are crucial pieces of information college grads should research to impress employers.

a) The top 3 competitors in this industry
b) The company’s strengths/weaknesses
c) The company’s vision and values
d) Industry trends (social, economic, etc.)

2. Show interest in the person you are talking to

Company representatives respect sincerity and will open up as job seekers ask questions. Most people are happy to talk about themselves (what they do for a living, how they got involved with the company, etc.) so college grads should show some genuine interest in the person they are speaking with.

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Job Hunting With Social Media 101

Job hunter's guide to using social media effectively

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Whether you’ve been laid off, fired or you’re looking to upgrade your current job, social media networks and tools make it a whole lot easier to get a job online. Not only do you have the potential for using your own network to find something, you can use your extended network to help in your search and use social media tools to find the right places to look. Now instead of mailing out resumes blindly you can take a pro-active approach. Use attraction based marketing by building a personal brand on-line that pulls the jobs to you.

Your Social Media Presence

Social media also makes it a whole lot easier for HR to research who you are and get a little background. Maybe more than professional background, so it’s very important that you get out there and see what your social media profiles and presence looks like through a recruiters eyes. As a job seeker this is definitely key! Do some searches on yourself. Try Google first because it’s the most common. Dig more than a few pages down and see what comes up. Then give Yahoo and MSN a try too. You very well may find different information.

Make a list of the positive and negative references out there that impact you as a job applicant and make a plan to deal with them. Ask your college room-mate to take down the picture of you dancing on the bar in a toga with a beer bong. Some things may not be correctable. Have your explanation ready so you’re not caught off-guard. Odds are you won’t need it but be prepared.

Balance out negative things said about you on sites like MySpace and FaceBook by asking your friends to post referrals or positive comments. “Just checked out Anna’s portfolio and she positively ROCKS!!!” can’t hurt you, especially if it’s true. If you have enough positive comments and information about you, the one bad reference will dissapear under the avalanche of positive information.

Check your credit score and clean up those records too. It’s quite common for an employer to run a credit score.

Your profiles

If you’re new to social media this is a good time to get involved as an online job seeker. There are a host of options out there to help you put your best foot forward and land a job. Creating Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin profiles allows you to reach a variety of people. Create the profiles carefully and choose the people you connect to with an eye for professionalism. I can’t get into friending strategy here, but remember you want to focus on quality not quantity and make sure to build your relationships so people are in a position to recommend you for a job.

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Seven Strategies That'll Make Your Resume Stand Out Online

Write a resume that sticks out

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Sourcing is a term used for recruiters to find and uncover candidates and recruiters are getting more and more creative with their sourcing techniques. One creative sourcing technique being used today is going to Google or other search engines and putting in search strings filled with keywords and terms to generate resumes from all over the internet.

Since recruiters are getting creative with their sourcing techniques, job seekers should start getting creative with online exposure techniques.

1. Create a career blog

Start a blog that focuses on your career industry and include tips, articles, news, and industry related topics. You don’t have to be a writer to create a blog. You can link to other articles and news about that industry topic and add comments showing your industry knowledge. Also, set up a page on the blog for your resume, where you are highlighting your industry knowledge, experience, and expertise. You can easily set up a blog for free using programs such as blogger.com or wordpress.com

2. Use free document sharing websites

There are a number of free file sharing websites that can help you gain more resume exposure online. Save your document in different forms such as DOC and PDF so your resume shows up under those search terms. Yes, recruiters will search for resumes using words such as pdf, rtf, doc, and cv. You can even save your resume as a powerpoint presentation! Here are few free sites to check out: keepandshare.com, slideshare.net, Google docs

3. Set up a resume web page

A one page website for your resume is great exposure and a great way to link others to your resume. You can add your website url to your resume, to other online profiles, and at the end of your signature in emails and posts. You can find free resume website builders such as: Emurse.com and VisualCV.com.

4. Social and professional networking websites

It’s no secret that social and professional networking websites are becoming hubs for job seekers and recruiters. I use LinkedIn all the time when I’m recruiting and I’m searching keywords to pull up profiles of potential candidates. If you aren’t on these networking websites, you are missing out on a ton of exposure. You can utilize these websites by putting in your professional profile or resume and links to your resume websites or blog posts. There are so many of these sites out there, but the majority of recruiters utilize LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace.

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4 Tips To Answering The Toughest Job Interview Questions

Tricks To Ace Your Job Interview In No Time

This article was reprinted with permission from http://www.careerealism.com

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From blatant job interview questions like, “What’s your greatest weakness, weakest attribute, or most significant failure.” To soft, “What might your previous employer say?” Even softer, “You certainly seem to have a lot of strengths, but we understand no one is perfect.” The question will come one way or another, everyone knows it, yet still befuddled by it.

There have been many Rules of Thumb (R.O.T.) developed over the years, from making light of the question with an answer like “Pizza!” to true confessions, putting a cloud over everyone, to developing a response that actually demonstrates a strength, “I tend to be a workaholic,” or “perfectionist.” (Yuk!)

In principle, Rules of Thumb are meant to have very broad application such as, “when in doubt, get out.” Great advice if you are in the middle of an intersection and the light changes. Would it apply in the final seconds of a game, you’re down 3 points and have the ball? What, you’re going to walk off the floor? I don’t think so. I find many R.O.T. (pun intended) to be off the mark and misleading. What may be good for one may not be for another. That is not to say there are no rules that can be applied; there are. Just choose your medicine carefully.

When answering interview questions, here’s the first rule…

RULE #1 – Stay positive…ALWAYS!

The “what’s your greatest weakness” question is your opportunity to shine. One way is to demonstrate you are a positive person by nature. Everyone likes a person with a positive nature, right? Remember you are in the interview to make yourself desirable for hiring, so you might say, “I rarely sit there and think of myself in those terms, nevertheless, I do want to respond to your question,” or something on those lines. Notice by the way I did not say, “I rarely sit there and think of my weaknesses.” Here’s a rule of thumb that always applies: Do not use or repeat negative terms, even if the interviewer throws it out there.

Here are three other rules I suggest you follow:

RULE #2 – No superlatives!

Keep it singular. Superlatives such as “weakest” or “worst” or “biggest” indicate the greatest degree of whatever is it describing. “Worst weakness” is the weakness of the highest degree implying there are other weaknesses of varying degrees but weaknesses nonetheless. That begs the question, “What are some others?” Likewise, “need most to improve” implies there are others areas for improvement. In any case, try this as an alternative, “If I had to come up with one…” (No negatives; no multiples).

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The Art of Networking for College Grads

How to really network for a job

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Start out with a Positive Attitude - Walk through the door with confidence, having decided in advance that you will meet three new contacts and reconnect with established clients rather than spending most of the time talking with those you already know or just left at the office a few hours prior.

Snack before you arrive – The primary goal of any networking event is to make contacts and build relationships. While you certainly may partake from the buffet table, it is not your main focus. A networking event poses a valuable opportunity when searching for job leads.

Nametags Are Useful - Typically, the nametag is worn on the right side, below the shoulder. However, some companies prefer the nametag be worn on the left side if the company logo is embroidered on the right. At a networking event where you are not an “employee”, place your nametag on your right to follow the other person’s line of sight when shaking hands.

Stand-Up - Rising to greet someone shows respect for the person whom you are meeting or greeting. Both women and men must stand for a corporate introduction.

Introduce Yourself - Clearly state your first and last name as you extend your hand for a handshake. If you would prefer a shortened version of your name such as “Bob” or “Jim”, let the other person know by saying “Hello, my name is Robert Jones but I go by Bob”. Be cautious not to use a nickname that might appear juvenile such as “Skippy” or “LaLa”. Instead, choose “Melissa” over “Missy” and “John” over “Johnny” at a networking event.

Don’t Assume You May Give Another Person a Nickname - Some use this technique to appear cordial or familiar, but it is a dangerous assumption. Err on the side of caution and use an honorific until you are asked to do otherwise.

Introducing Another Person - A client takes precedence over a member of your own company, including the CEO. When making an introduction, always mention the client’s name first.

Forgetting Names - It is not uncommon to forget a person’s name, especially someone you have recently met. If you forget a person’s name, do not hesitate to be honest and say, “I’m sorry, I have just gone blank. Would you please remind me of your name?”

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10 Uncommon Job Hunt Tactics that Work

Getting a job through unconventional means

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Before you can get a job, you need to know which job search strategies work and which do not. Take a look at these tips to find out how to make your job hunt more effective.

1. Hire a cold caller.

Cold calling to get a job really works–if you're good at it. Your ability to sell yourself on the phone shows exceptional sales skills, self-confidence, drive, and commitment. But most cold calls are executed poorly for the job hunt.

Debra Feldman is a professional cold caller at Job Whiz; you hire her to get you a job, and she can do it. By cold calling CEOs. What's the catch? She costs thousands of dollars. So consider teaching yourself the skill well enough to talk your way into a job where you can afford Feldman. You can definitely learn how to get a job from this as confidence on the phone will often help you with your career development.

2. Use proactive recommendations.

Instead of waiting for a hiring manager to ask for job references, have your job reference call immediately. This works well if you have a heavy-weight reference, like a well-known CEO or someone who knows the hiring manager. But it also works well if you have little career experience. In fact, if you are just starting out with your job search it's a great tool.

"The good employers have relationships with professors and they forward students who seem exceptional," says Joel Spolsky, chief executive of Fog Creek Software and author of the blog Joel on Software.

Also tap your job coaches. They tend to know students well after meeting daily for practice over the course of a few years. "A coach has extended knowledge of the students' personalities," says Tom Carmean, head lacrosse coach at Amherst University, who has given many references to employers. To start your job hunt off on a good start, this is one tip to consider for sure.

3. Stay organized with job hunt software.

How many times have you put the wrong name on a cover letter? Forgotten where you applied? Forgotten what the job was? You need to be organized right off the bat – maintain an Excel spreadsheet with all your contacts. This essential for the job hunt.

For a serious job hunter who recognizes that a hunt never ends, you could try JibberJobber, which not only helps you organize your information, but can bug you about the things you should be doing but might not be, such as following-up with a phone call. So to be successful in your job search, consider this technique.

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Debunking Job Networking Myths for College Grads

Common misconceptions about job networking

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Myth #1: Networking is simply getting a job because you know someone.

The following is not a likely scenario:

You: I know Darren – he’s a big shot at Accenture. He said you’d give me a job.

Recruiting Director: Of course, I will. You’re hired. We’ll see you on Monday morning at 9:00. I’m assuming $200,000 will work for you as your new IT Specialist salary.

Sadly, that’s not what networking is all about.

Networking is about tapping into connections you have to help you gain the opportunity to get a job. When they say that 66% of people get jobs through networking, it doesn’t mean that 2/3 of people were handed their job because they happened to know someone. It means someone helped them get the interview or helped them get their resume noticed by HR.

When it’s time to hire a candidate, recruiting directors are looking for some help. This is because the recruiting department is flooded with resumes. As a result, there’s no way to interview all the qualified applicants. There might be sixty or seventy people in the pile of 500 resumes who could do the job, but it’s tough to know who the best ones are.

If you are recommended by someone in the company, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a job – or even an interview. However, the fact that you come “prescreened” by someone at the organization dramatically enhances your chance of getting that interview.

At smaller organizations, the situation can be similar. Without a dedicated recruiting department, usually someone at the company says, “Hey, we need a new receptionist. Does anyone know someone?”

In either scenario, having a connection is your key to landing a job.

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6 Tips to Shorten a Job Search

Is you job search efficient?

By Megan Marie Sullivan

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The economic outlook has been looking very grim, and can be disheartening to those of us who are trying to enter the job force for the first time. However, a savvy seeker can get into the game quickly if he or she keeps a few simple rules and tips in mind:

1. Your full-time job is to find a full-time job:

Every workplace has its standards, and so should your job search. In a competitive market, a job seeker should apply for 10-15 positions a day, and plan to follow-up with a phone call after a week. Keep an organized list of companies, positions, and contact names, as well as a calendar of appointments and interviews. Remember that time is still money (now it’s just money you are not making) so use it wisely.

2. Friends and family want to help

Often this is the key source of job leads. Human resource personnel often look for potential job candidates through their current employees, as it saves them the time of scouting and money incurred in posting job ads. One important thing to remember, however, is that they do not always do a perfect job. Sometimes family members will recommend you for a position without a clear understanding of your skills, or friends will ask you to contact a company that you do not think is a good fit. It is important to consider all leads that arrive through your primary resources, as they might stop being your job advocate if you turn down what they think is a good offer!

3. Use the Internet wisely

Specifically, take your search beyond Craigslist.org! Indeed.com and linkedin.com are great sources for job leads. Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com now allow you to create profiles so that you can apply without re-uploading your resume. Npo.net and idealist.org feature non-for-profit postings. For highly-focused searches, do a search on Google Maps for the type of company you want to work for within your desired geographic zone. From here you can find a list of websites for companies that you want to work for, and can check their career pages for job openings, or send your resume for consideration.

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10 Signs Your Resume Needs Updating

A resume tune-up

Reprinted with permission from http://theundercoverrecruiter.com

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The dynamic job market of today keeps changing and what was required on a resume a few years ago could be the show stopper today. To roll with the punches the clever job seeker has to be flexible and prepared to adapt, this goes especially for your resume. Resumes are living documents and will change over time, just like you should. The devil is most often in the detail and are you confident that your resume will do you justice?

Signs that tell you it’s time for a little resume makeover:


1. The title is... Resume

Even if you use the fancy spelling and call it résumé, it's not going to do you any favors as recruiters and HR people look at 100s of resumes per day and yours won't stand out. In fact, in can be rather annoying for them as they have to change the titles themselves sometimes. Make the title your name and make sure the file name is your name as well.

2. It's one page only

Not sure who came up with this recommendation in the first place, I have friends who had a one page document for years. Your resume should obviously be concise and to the point but one page does make it look like there is a page missing and probably left in the printer. The rule of thumb is, the longer the career, the longer the resume so go ahead and fill out what you have done and if it lands at 2 full pages that is fine (as long as it’s relevant information).

3. You have included age, height, weight, and marital status

These personal details have no place in your resume, if it’s on your profile you might be accused of ageism and other unpleasant things. Make sure to remove.

4. You have a photo

A photo on a resume is a bit weird somehow, it comes across as the person is using their looks to secure a job. And most often the photo will not be great and therefore do more harm than good to an applicant. There are of course exceptions to this rule, in case you are in TV, modeling, entertainment etc you can get away with it. You will be told when a photo is required on a resume and by default it is not.

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20 Common LinkedIn Mistakes Online Job Seekers Make

Online job hunting made simple

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You probably know by now that LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool for personal branding and job search. In fact for job seekers it's one of the best online tools to land a job right now.

In case you don’t know about LinkedIn, get busy immediately building your branded profile, connecting with people, expressing your executive brand, and leveraging LinkedIn to full advantage.

But don’t make these 20 mistakes:

BUILDING YOUR PROFILE

1. Not personalizing your LinkedIn public profile URL.

Many people leave the default mess of letters and numbers at the end of the URL. Change that to “yourname” or as close to it as you can come, as I did with mine – http://www.linkedin.com/in/megguiseppi

2. Not including a photo.

Branding and career marketing are about creating emotional connections. People believe content more when it’s accompanied by the author’s photo. An online profile with no photo is a missed opportunity to reinforce your brand and engage people.

Click here to read the article "Personal Branding for College Graduates"

3. Not adding links to websites or web pages.

Include links to your website, blog, VisualCV, Twitter or other online profiles, so people can get more on-brand information about you and see what else you’re up to.

4. Not having a searchable professional headline that brands your unique promise of value and resonates with your target audience.

Make sure your relevant key word phrases show up in your headline so that recruiters and hiring decision makers sourcing top candidates by searching LinkedIn will find you.

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Don't Graduate Without Good Credit

Credit building tips for new grads

This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, where you can find the original source article "For Recent Grads, Good Credit is Gold" by Lisa Thompson, Licensed Investment Consultant.

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Graduating from college is a huge moment in a young adult's life. It often represents that final leap from semi-independence to being a real-life grown up. That said, the responsibilities associated with adulthood are probably furthest from most new or soon-to-be graduates' minds.

It may not be the most exhilarating topic, but your post-graduation finances need to be addressed sooner rather than later. Most importantly, you need to start building credit if you have none or improve upon what you already have. Don't expect to move in to your dream apartment or get a credit card of your own without a high score.

Since most new grads are unfamiliar with building credit, here are a few tips to help you:

• Build a budget. Begin by recording all expenses for a couple of months so you have an accurate idea of your spending habits. Budget for all of your monthly expenses, including rent, student loans etc. along with an estimate of variable expenses such as food and entertainment. Stick to your plan to avoid over-spending and incurring debt.

• Get one credit card. You may be tempted to send out applications for plastic left and right, but this can get you into trouble fast. Show creditors you are responsible by picking just one low-interest credit card and making small purchases with it. Always pay off the monthly balance in full to avoid paying interest. If you must carry a balance, however, try to keep less than 30 percent of your limit.

• Say no to retailers. It's tempting to save that extra 10 percent at the register by applying for the store's credit card. Don't! Most retailer cards come with high interest rates and annual fees.

• Pay bills on time. This may seem obvious, but late payments can have a serious detriment to your credit. This is one of the easiest ways to maintain good credit.

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Top 10 Hardest Interview Questions

Tricky interview questions to prepare for

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A job interview is no easy task. In fact many job seekers have trouble with the same set of questions. To ease the process of interviewing, we've listed the Top 10 Hardest Job Interview Questions. Focus on these job interview questions, study them, learn them, research them, and ace your next job interview!

1. Why did you get fired/ terminated? - This question is tricky yet needs to be answered with full honesty. The interviewer would want to hear your honesty and your side of the story. Support your answer with a very good explanation. In case you get fired due to legal issues, explain that you were currently working on it and that it does not have anything to do with your performance. Your explanation in your answer is very important; it should be direct and should not contain intersections.

2. Tell me about problems you encountered with Supervisors- Another tricky question that will test how you worked with your superiors. I suggest not to be too honest in answering this question. For example, common observations such as being bossy, opinionated, authoritarian, or being a keen observer are the common traits of a Supervisor that are incorrectly used. Instead, cite a personal experience that you had encounter with a supervisor so that the interviewer would understand why it became your problem.

3. What Qualities do you look for in a boss? - Do not answer with the most common traits that a boss should possess like "being nice to employees" or a good leader. You should relate your answer with your work. For example “My ideal boss is someone who can make time to hear employees' opinions or ideas, and a boss who cares to listen and give fair his/her opinion with my work.”

4. As a professional, do you have any disappointments? - Cite the experience that really disappoints you, as you relay the story behind it make sure that you state something that you have learned after.

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5 Reasons Employers Are Reluctant to Hire You

Was it my resume? Maybe the interview?

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Job search can be frustrating, no doubt about that. Often times we hear job seekers talking how they never hear back from the employer after a job interview. We agree that employers should contact each job applicant even if they are not hired, but when you have thousands of job applicants for two openings, it might be a little too hard for the company too.

There are many reasons why an employer may reject a job candidate. We explore five reasons below which shows why the employers aren’t too keen on hiring you.

1. Your Resume Sucks

Online job search is highly effective and using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. can help you land a job. However, a resume will always be required. Online resume or offline, without a resume that can highlight your experience and one that is effective, landing a job is next to impossible. Having a resume alone isn’t enough. It needs to be effective. Too often we see people using their LinkedIn profile as an online resume but everything on it seems unprofessional. If your profile image on LinkedIn shows you holding a beer can, good luck getting prospective employers interested in you. The first and foremost thing that you need to make sure is the fact that your resume doesn’t suck.

We’ve covered resume tips in the past. Below are some links that will help you guide in the right path when it comes to making sure your resume doesn’t suck :

1. If you are looking for jobs in a industry that demands you be creative, these creative resumes might be something you could draw inspiration from.
2. Writing an effective resume requires use of effective words. Take a look at these words that will help make your resume stand out.


3. If your resume looks like the resume of the future that we created a while back, it’s obvious you won’t get called for a job interview.
4. Ever think of lying in your resume? If you have, these are the resume lies employers usually don’t catch on to.
5. Before you throw away the junk mails, make sure you learn how to create outstanding resume using tactics used in junk mails.
6. And finally, here are a few tips on how you can write a killer resume by making the best out of your biggest screwups.

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7 Resume Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Resume blunders that cost job seekers dearly

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Most people view resumes as a necessary evil and I can completely understand why. A good resume takes thought, some creativity, an ability to “sell yourself” and some basic marketing principles. Yet, the resume is so vitally important. As I have said before, the resume must evoke an emotion in the eyes of the reader and compel them to pick up the phone an give you a call. Your resume really is a marketing piece at a very basic level.

I want to share with you what I believe are the top 7 resume blunders. Trust me, I have seen them all over the last eight years as an Executive Recruiter. In fact, I have a “running” Word document that I add to on a weekly basis anytime I come across a funny, unusual, or bizarre item on a resume. One day I will share it with the world and you will not believe what I have seen on resumes.

Anyways, back to the purpose of the blog post. If I were to take all of the blunders I have seen I could place them into 7 basic categories. I would encourage you to take time to measure your resume up against these blunders and be sure that these are not true about your resume.

TOP 7 RESUME BLUNDERS

1. Lack of Focus – If anything bugs me more it is seeing a resume that has no focus. I have seen great candidates with bad resumes and a lack of focus on their resume is what is keeping them from getting in the door for an interview.

SOLUTION: Have a solid summary statement at the beginning of the resume. Personally, I am not a big fan of “Objective Statements.” I just don’t think they are very useful. However, a nice summary statement or qualifications summary at the beginning can work well. The idea is to have a paragraph at the beginning of the resume that “sells you” into the position.

Now, you may need to tailor this to specific positions before you submit it but the idea is to have compelling statements that are clear as to what you are trying to accomplish and what you are all about.

2. Too Wordy – There are some people who want to put “everything” on their resume. Their philosophy is that if it isn’t on the resume then they will think I don’t have the experience. The problem is that your “presentation” on a resume is just as important. The reader is judging your overall presentation based on how the resume looks and if you are able to say things concisely.

SOLUTION: If you are under 5 years of experience try to stick with a one page resume. If you are a 5-15 year person then you have earned a two-page resume. If you have more than 15 years of experience then you can go to a three-page resume. However, I would normally recommend that you stay to two pages if at all possible.

Another tip that is becoming common practice is to list at the bottom of the resume “Additional Professional Experience Available Upon Request.” This can help those who have a 20+ year career and are struggling with keeping their resume short. It can also help you if you feel like your age is becoming a factor in your job search (although, it is not supossed to!).

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Job Interview Preparation 101 for College Graduates

How to prepare for and ace a job interview

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Not everyone can answer job interview questions on the spot, most of us must practice these interview questions time and time again to get them right. But how do you go about preparing for a job interview - especially if it's one of your first ones ever? College graduates who want to find jobs need to nail the interview first, so watch this video to find out how!



How to prepare for a job interview

How to prepare for a job interview

Are you reading this from our daily Newsletter? Then click here to watch the video!

http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6659390.html

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt After Graduation

Advice from a fellow college graduate

This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, bringing you informative personal finance content and helpful tools, as well as the best interest rates on financial services nationwide. Follow them on Twitter at @GoBankingRates and on Facebook at /GoBRates

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Did you know that the average college graduate is about $20,000 in debt at graduation while the average salary for a new grad is only $30,000? Unless you plan to somehow live off of ten grand for a year, you're going to need a solid debt-repayment plan.

It's not just the student loans that rack up debt either. According to StateUniversity.com, college students spend $11 billion a year on snacks and beverages, $474 million on music sales, $658 million on theater tickets, $341 million on games and $50 per month on beer every year. If you can relate, you are likely graduating with substantial credit card debt in addition to bills that are specifically school-related.

Which Debts to Pay First

After graduation, you are in a very fortunate financial situation compared with the older population. First, you may have bills to pay, but they certainly aren't going toward a mortgage or braces for your kids. Your life comes with few strings attached, which gives you the opportunity to pay off your debts fairly quickly and start the next phase of your life with a clean slate.

That said, there is a right way and a wrong way to pay off post-college debt. Most importantly, DO NOT pay only the minimum required on your credit card.

Here's why: Your total debt probably includes student loans, which usually have the lowest interest rates. They also tend to allow you a grace period after graduation during which you don't have to start making payments yet. Plus, student loan interest can be written off for up to $2,500 per year.

Other debts, like car payments, financed furniture, etc. will be more expensive when you carry a balance or miss payments, and credit card interest rates are the highest of all (U.S. average of 16.85% APR). If you make minimum payments on your credit card(s) while trying to tackle several other debts at once, you will end up paying thousands more in interest payments.

So what's the right way? It's best if you can tackle those expensive credit card bills first and get them out of the way. Then, move on to smaller amounts you owe.

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