Why Am I Not Getting Interviews?

You could be the most qualified candidate in the world, but if your resume does not effectively market your qualifications, achievements, and abilities you will not get an interview and never get the job.

We have written extensively on networking to obtain information on unpublished jobs and to get your credentials in front of the right people (more on networking). It is equally as important to have a quality resume that will have hiring managers asking you for interviews.

Your resume is your first impression, and as they say, first impressions are everything. Many people do not truly understand the power of a quality resume. Many people have simply taken a general template from one of the 1000's of online sites that offer them, stuck their information in it, and then emailed it to general mailboxes posted alongside a job opening.

This will not work, or will take so long to work a person would probably give up before it does. In today's economy there has been a huge influx of applications to every job posting. Hiring managers and recruiters can only view a certain number of resumes and if yours is not one of them because it does not catch their attention you will not get an interview. To get your credentials in front of hiring managers you have to network (more on networking), but after you have connected with them you need a perfectly formatted resume.

It is imperative to be able to send a resume that reflects a professionals talents, abilities, and accomplishments as effectively as possible to provide every chance of acquiring an offer for employment. The job market is so tight that the last thing a person wants is to not obtain employment because they did not effectively communicate the aforementioned qualities.

For this reason it is imperative your resume be in the top 5% to 10% of marketability, structure, and form. The problem is that there are few people who are expert resume writers and it is not very palatable to be spending money to get a job. There are, however, many free and low cost services that will provide assistance in improving your resume.

Remember, to give yourself the best chance possible of acquiring an employment offer, you have got to first get yourself noticed by the right person and show them you are right for the job.

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Interview Nerves

The feeling of being nervous is something that happens to all of us, and during an interview, it’s no different…sweaty palms, butterflies and a dry mouth are all part of the ‘interview experience’.

There is no magic cure to interview nervousness, however, follow these simple tips below to make the experience that little bit easier.

Prepare! Going to an interview fully equipped is one of the best ways to prevent feeling nervous. Practise answering some common interview questions and prepare some questions to ask about the company / position you’re applying for. Swat up on the company’s background to prevent any potential embarrassments.

Plan your journey well in advance! Once you’ve been given your interview date, plan how you’re going to get there. If needed, make use of online services, such as streetmap – especially if you’re not familiar with the area. Without planning, you could find you’ll end up getting to the interview late, and this will just add to your feeling of nervousness.

Deep breaths! If you’re panicking, the likelihood is that you’ll be short breathed. Before going into the interview, take some deep breaths. When in the interview, talk slowly and clearly.

Drop your shoulders! When talking, try to drop your shoulders as this will help increase the feeling of being relaxed, and if your body feels relaxed, so should you.

Remember, nerves aren’t necessarily a bad thing and adrenaline is often a good thing, as it will help keep you on your toes.

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Tips To Handle Employment Gaps

Being unemployed is a difficult and stressful situation. To make matters even worse, the fact that you may not currently have a job can prevent you from finding a job. It is unfair, but true. Having gaps in your employment history are often an immediate turn off for recruiters and interviewers; however, with a little bit of creativity, you can make those gaps disappear.

This month's newsletter explains the 4 steps to handling gaps in your employment history. Don't let being out of work keep you out of work.

These following four methods will be covered:

1. Find Real Gaps
2. Fill In Gaps
3. Dodge Resume Gaps
4. Mention Major Gaps


4 TIPS TO HANDLE EMPLOYMENT GAPS!
1) FIND REAL GAPS
The first mistake many people make is to assume the worst when it comes to being out of work. Not having a job does not mean you have an employment gap. There are many legitimate reasons for not working. These reasons can be addressed directly without any worry.

The most common explanations of unemployment that should NOT be considered employment gaps are:

• •   Attending school
• •   Having/taking care of children
• •   Personal health problems
• •   Serious Illness in the Family
• •   Being between jobs for a short period of time (less than 6 months)

2) FILL IN GAPS
If your bout with unemployment does not fall into one of the categories listed above, you most likely have an official gap in your employment history. Even at this point, you do not necessarily have to let a potential employer know about this gap.

By keeping busy while you are between jobs, you can turn a would-be gap into a learning experience. Consider using the following tactics to fill those gaps:

• •   Take a class related to your profession. Being in school accounts for your time off, and
      employers like to see people bettering themselves through education.
• •   Look for freelance or consulting projects. These jobs are not permanent, but they do
      ensure that you keep up-to-date with your skills. You can put this type
      of work on your resume as if it were any other kind of job.
• •   Volunteer for an organization. Getting paid would be ideal, but future employers are
      concerned with your work experience. To a recruiter, a volunteering
      position can be just as good as a paying job.
• •   Read trade journals. Though this method may not be something you put on your
      resume, it will help you stay current with the industry. Conveying the
      newest information possible in an interview shows that you have not lost your
      knowledge of the business.

3) DODGE RESUME GAPS
Not everyone will be able to find a creative way to fill the gaps in their employment history. If you find yourself in this situation, it is no longer an issue of proving your time was occupied. Instead, you should focus on the fact that you are still skilled and qualified.

However, most resumes focus on time by addressing experiences chronologically. Consider using the following suggestions to draw attention away from your time between jobs:

• •   Don't distinguish between paid and unpaid work on your resume. This way you can
      have a seemingly continuous string of jobs, even if you volunteered for
      the sake avoiding an employment gap.
• •   Use only years (not months) when listing work dates on your resume. This can
      discretely cover several months of unemployment.
• •   Summarize what you did while you did not have a job. It may seem awkward to put this
      kind of information directly on your resume, but it is more important to
      let recruiters know you used your time wisely.
• •   Use a functional resume. Unlike the traditional chronological resume, a functional
      resume puts less emphasis on the timing of work experiences.
      Instead, a functional resume emphasizes skills, which employers care more about.

4) MENTION MAJOR GAPS
The last important step in handling employment gaps is deciding when to discuss them. Unless you can completely hide the gap, a recruiter will eventually spot it. If you are prepared to address the issue, you can avoid a potential disaster.

There are basically 2 schools of thought on this issue: address an employment gap in your cover letter or address it in the interview. Neither approach is wrong; neither approach is right. It is a matter of personal taste. Just consider these points before deciding, which approach you use:

• •   In a cover letter, make your explanation very brief. A one or two-sentence long
      explanation is enough. Details are not important.
• •   If a gap occurred a long time ago, don't bother mentioning it in a cover letter. Employers
      are concerned with your recent work, not something that happened 10 years ago.
• •   In an interview, still keep your explanation brief. The only reason to go into deeper detail
      is if you gained valuable experiences during your employment gap.
• •   No matter what, END ON A POSITIVE NOTE. Whether you address the gap in a cover
      letter or an interview, state that you are ready and excited to get back to work.

CONCLUSION
Hopefully, these steps will give you ideas on how to handle your own employment gaps. It's a difficult task to do, but it is also one of the most valuable. Having employment gaps shouldn't keep you from finding a job, but only you can stop the cycle from repeating itself.

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Preparing The ‘Perfect’ Application Form

A job application may look like an innocent bit of paper, but don’t be fooled! It can be a ticket to a promising career…or food for an employer’s waste bin. Much depends on your attitude and creativity in filling out the perfect job application.

How creative can you be with names, dates, and addresses? Much of the information seems set in stone. But there are plenty of areas where you can slant the odds to your favour. The trick is to interpret, brainstorm, and customise. Show why you are a match for the job.

Before we get to the creative part, let’s look at the black and white. There may be fewer of these parts than you think. Of course, you must write your name, address, and phone numbers correctly. Be absolutely neat and clear. Give all requested information and leave no blanks. When finished, you will proofread the whole form to be sure it is neat and errorless. After all, you wouldn’t want to be eliminated for something silly–and make no mistake, employers are all too ready to weed you out just to reduce the pile of papers!

Now, for the creativity. You must show that you are eminently qualified for the job, and to do this, you must customise your answers to any question that allows it. Make sure you understand what is being asked. Just think about the employer’s real reason for wanting the information. Don’t get carried away with data that is strictly red tape (e.g., for purposes of identification, etc.). The areas in which you have the most creative freedom are open-ended requests, such as “Describe any skills that apply to the position” or “Summarise any related experience.” On these, you can really capitalise on your strengths. Some areas are partially open-ended. For instance, you may be required to fill out an education chart, including schools, courses, and dates, as well as a similar chart for previous jobs. Don’t think exclusively about formal degree programs here. Have you ever taken a workshop or class associated with a college or other school? If it was relevant to the job, there is no reason you shouldn’t list it. The job experience chart gives even more opportunity for customising. Think of the jobs that used skills most closely related to those required for this job. List those first unless the application specifically requests chronological order. Alternatively, list the most important jobs in order and add a note directing the reader to summary of in-between jobs. (Make sure it is neat and clear!) For both these and more open-ended questions that allow communication of your skills and experience, follow the steps below.

To Customise your Job Application
Though you should always be honest on forms as well as in interviews, there are ways to enhance your attractiveness to a prospective employer. In fact, often you will give a much truer and multi-dimensional picture of yourself by following these customisation steps. The problem is that we are so familiar with ourselves, we tend to downplay our skills and experiences! Attempt to see yourself from another perspective, in terms related to the requirements of this job.

1) Learn all you can about the job tasks. Read the job description and/or advertisement. Look up the company website if they have one. This can give you additional insight as to job expectations—ones that might not be explicit in the ad. If you need more information, don’t be afraid to call the company. Just be friendly and polite, and have clear questions when you call.

2) List all the necessary skills for this job. Include everything you have learned about it. Put requirements in order of importance.

3) Brainstorm: Get a big piece of paper. Using the list of skills, think of all the talents and abilities you have that match. Don’t censor yourself! Write everything you’ve done that uses that skill or related skill. Think of all jobs, paid or volunteer, and even personal activities that use these skills. If teaching is a preferred experience, think of times you have instructed someone, on any level. Granted, just showing your nephew how to tie his shoes probably won’t impress; for now, write it anyway—it may jog other memories.

4) Organise: Now group the skills and experiences to see what best applies to the job as a related skill. For example, if you have been an informational speaker in any formal or semi-formal situation, especially multiple times, this can apply as teaching experience. Let’s say you gave regular reports to your gardening group and showed members how to pot plants.

5) Write: Word your description in a way that highlights the important job skill. If the job requires experience teaching, mention that you have presented informational workshops and given hands-on instruction. If there is room, include evidence of favourable results or positive feedback. At first, write it out without worrying about length and grammar. When you have all the important information, cut it down to a clear and concise summary of your strengths in that area. Do this for each skill.

After completing these steps, try adding the information to a disposable copy of the application form. Make sure what you write in each section is proportional to the amount of space you have and is a directly relevant to the given question. If possible, forget it for a day. When you read it again, you should be in a better position to judge it impartially. Pretend you are the employer under the gun to find the best applicant for the job. Are there errors? Where could you improve it? Think about the kinds of questions it will raise for the employer. (You will need to anticipate these and be prepared with an answer, when you interview, that puts you ahead of the crowd.)

Proofread your application and write or, better, type the final information in the appropriate areas. Give it a final once-over and you are almost ready to fire it off to the appropriate person. If you are mailing it or e-mailing it, write a cordial letter introducing yourself and stating briefly what job you are applying for and, why you want it, and why you are qualified. Even if you must deliver it in person, it never hurts to write a cordial note of introduction. Make sure you have the right address, and spell the recipient’s name correctly!

When you have double checked both the application and the letter, send them off or deliver them in person. Now you will need to start preparing for the interview, which will surely follow the employer’s receipt of your perfect application!

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What to Do When You Lose Your Job

Regardless of who you are or what kind of work you do, losing your job is an incredible blow. The effects can be catastrophic, not only financially but also emotionally. When something so difficult and often unexpected takes place, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do. Here are some tips on what to do when you lose to job – both to keep your spirits up and to get back to work.

* Look for jobs: This is, of course, the most obvious thing you need to do when you lose your job. Your job search will probably occupy at least a few hours a day, and depending on the job you are looking for this can mean working on your CV and cover letter, or it can mean filling out applications. It can mean searching for jobs online at sites, looking in local classified ads, or driving around looking for “Help Wanted” signs.

* Network: “Network” is just fancy way to say meet people. Regardless of the type of job you are looking for, the more people you get to know, the more likely you are to meet someone who knows about a job opportunity that may be right for you. For you, networking may mean going to business conferences, making new contacts on social networking sites, or just attending social functions such as parties or church gatherings.

* Pick up new skills: The types of skills that will improve your chances of getting a job will vary depending on what kind of work you’re looking for. Maybe you could work on your typing skills or learn to use a new computer program such as Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks. Public libraries and community colleges often offer free or low cost classes in computer skills, and libraries usually have books detailing how to use different computer programs. Working on your Spanish or another language could also help you land your next job, especially if you are looking for a job in customer service or human resources. Consider using online tutorials or books and educational DVDs from your local library or bookstore to improve.
* Keep a regular schedule: If you got up at 6:30 every morning when you were working, keep getting up at 6:30. It may be hard to get out of bed when you have nowhere to go, but you’ll be more likely to be productive if you maintain your normal sleep patterns and schedule. After all, looking for a job is your new job, even if your new office is your kitchen table.
* Get out of the house: Let’s face it – losing your job can be terrifying, stressful, and depressing. Sitting around the house all day, even if you are searching for jobs while you do it, is bound to add to your feelings of anxiety and depression. Make sure you get out of the house for a while every day, even if it’s just to head down to the local Starbucks or library to cruise the net for jobs.
* Keep moving: Arguably the best natural way to improve your mood and keep your spirits high is to exercise. Whether it means going down to the gym, doing a workout video, or just taking your dog on a long walk, make sure to get some exercise everyday to boost your energy and keep you feeling good during your job search.

Feeling discouraged is natural for anyone who has lost a job; the important thing is to not let depression get in your way and keep you finding a new job. With these tips, along with patience, perseverance, and support from those you love, you are bound to get through this.

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Top Ten Mistakes When Writing a Cover Letter

When unemployment is high, competition for the few positions available gets fierce. This means your application has to be perfect to give you a chance at an interview. Any mistakes on your cover letter or application letter you send with your CV could cost you the job. Here are ten of the most common errors to avoid.

Spelling and Grammatical Errors
This is the biggest mistake anyone can make with a job application cover letter. Proofread your letter and ask a friend to do so as well. Take care over the letter.

A simple spelling mistake effectively says to the prospective employer, “I do not care about what I do, and I will be this sloppy or careless in work I will do for you too.” You certainly would not consider employing anyone who said this in an interview, so why should a prospective employer bother to interview you, if you cannot bother to double check what you wrote in your cover letter.

Starting Every Sentence with an “I”
While you want to market your skills and abilities to the prospective employer, starting every single sentence with “I can do…”, “I have done…” etc, is tedious to read and is not effective. You need to add interest to the letter by writing in a way that avoids repetition, and starting every sentence or paragraph the same way.

Try other sentence beginnings, such as, “In my role as xxx, I achieved …” or “My experience in xxx is extensive, or “With 20 years experience in xxx, I will provide your company with …”, or “This role is similar to my position at xxx.”

As well as not starting every sentence with “I” or the same style of beginning, avoid the use of “I” too many times in the letter.

Creative Desktop Publishing
This is a business letter, not a brochure. Avoid using desktop publishing programs such as Microsoft Publisher and adding clip art, effects, or fancy fonts. Choose an accepted generic font like Arial, Times New Roman, or Verdana. Keep sub-headings to a minimum and use a simple bold to accentuate the sub-headings, rather than italics or any other fancy font. The font size should be a visible 12 point.

Making the Letter Too Short
A cover letter is supposed to be a vehicle to explain to prospective employers why you should be employed and how you meet the selection criteria for the position. Simply stating, “Please find my attached CV in application for the position of Managing Director,” will not win you an interview for the job. Make sure you address the selection criteria mentioned in the job advertisement or position description. A cover letter should be one to two pages at the most, properly formatted. Writing concisely is good, but ensure you include enough detail to market yourself to a prospective employer.

The 500 Word Paragraph
Break up your paragraphs. A cover letter should not be one lengthy paragraph with a salutation at the top and a signature at the bottom. Try to address one or two selection criteria that go together in each paragraph. Each sentence should have between eight to 15 words, and each paragraph should contain two to three sentences.

Talking Nonsense or in Strange Language
No-one actually says, “Please find enclosed herewith my CV.” Although the job application is a formal document, use every day language. “My CV is attached for your information,” is fine.

Another common error is trying too hard to sound impressive, and ending up not making sense at all. Re-read your sentences and ensure you have not said something strange, or a sentence that cannot be understood by a normal business person. One teacher wrote the following in a real cover letter, “I am a conduit for mainstream educational formal connections and I work to build an individual’s creative forms.” Huh? Write in every day language to make your letter clear.

Making the Reader Squint
You know that a cover letter should never be more than two pages long, but you have so much to say that you reduce the font down to such a small size to make your letter fit. Instead of reducing the font, write your letter using concise language and use fewer words. A good cover letter should have a wide margin of two or three centimetres on both sides, and will use 12 point size font.

Using Handwriting
The only place handwriting should appear on the cover letter is your signature. Handwriting a cover letter shows a lack of interest in the position, especially in a technological era where computers are easily accessible. Borrow a computer if you have to but always type or word process your cover letter. It looks more professional. One of the worse mistakes people make is handwriting a couple of sentences on a post it note and sticking it on the resume as if it was a cover letter. Write a proper letter or don’t bother applying for the job.

Not Including All Required Details
Often job applicants forget to include all contact details on the cover letter, or assume that the resume will have these details. However, it is possible for prospective employers to separate cover letters from resumes. Therefore, you need to make sure all the details are included in the cover letter.

Cover letters should start with your contact details including your name, a full address (not a post office box as this makes it look as if you are a transient), email contact and telephone contact numbers. This should appear on the top right hand side of the page. Below this, with a line space in between, the receiver’s contact details including name, position, company name and address should appear on the left hand side of the page.

Leave a space line after the address and then insert the date, spelling out the month in full. Leave another space line before the salutation. You should include the details of the position you are applying for, in case the company is currently recruiting for several jobs. Include a handwritten signature at the bottom of the cover letter.

Justifying Right and Bad Formatting
Justifying text right means that big gaps appear in the cover letter and this makes the letter harder to read. Keep a professional appearance to the cover letter with plenty of ‘white space’. Every paragraph should be separated by a line of white space, as this makes the letter easier to read. You do not want a prospective employer deciding not to interview you, simply because your letter was too hard to read due to bad formatting. Make sure the letter looks professional.

Avoiding these ten common mistakes will help you to write a better cover letter. Proofread and double check what you are sending, before you sign the bottom of the page. Your cover letter is an important facet of the job application process and you need to spend some time and care on writing the cover letter properly.

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5 Tips To Rescue a Sinking Interview

by Nathan Newberger

You're 10 minutes late, you spilled coffee on your shirt, and your ice breaking joke only created an awkward silence. You say to yourself, "I am doomed," and give up before the interview has even started. Confidence, charm, and honesty can still salvage this train- wreck of an interview. Instead of getting beaten by bad luck, take a deep breath, relax, and smile.
This month's newsletter addresses 5 methods for turning an interview around. So don't panic, there is still hope.

These following topics will be covered:
1. Be Upfront
2. Ask Questions
3. Get Feedback
4. Try Flattery
5. Move On


5 TIPS TO RESCUE A SINKING INTERVIEW! 

1. BE UPFRONT
The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is a list of excuses he has heard a thousand times before. Trying to cover your tracks like this is just a waste of breath and could potentially insult your interviewer's intelligence.

Take a different approach. Replace a list of excuses with the following sequence of events.

• •   Identify the Problem First - tell the interviewer about the mistake before he can address
      it.
• •   Admit fault - apologize for the problem and recognize your shortcomings as the cause.
• •   Explain Typical Behavior - let the interview know that mistakes, like being late, are freak
      occurrences and that you normally don't make them.

2. ASK QUESTIONS
Occasionally, you may start to feel uncomfortable during an interview. If you do not manage to regain composure, the interview will only go downhill. Taking focus away from you buys time. Sometimes turning the tables can also turn the interview around.

Asking questions will force the interviewer to talk and possibly mention characteristics he is looking for. In keeping questions as a back up plan, be sure to:

• •   Prepare - come up with some questions ahead of time and make sure they are
      appropriate to the particular company and position.
• •   Pay Attention - don't just ask a question and then zone out as you regroup. The
      interviewer could be giving you valuable information or ask you a question in response.

3. GET FEEDBACK
One easy way to lose your cool is to get halfway through answering a question only to discover that the interviewer is bored beyond belief. There is no need to be scared…yet. This is another place where questions can help.

Instead of using questions to get comfortable, use questions to get information. Your response may not be answering the right question, the question may have been unclear, or you may be spouting an incoherent nonsense. If you are caught in this situation:

• •   Stop - Do not be afraid to break mid-answer to ask a clarification question.
• •   Be Direct - if clarification does not put you at ease, ask the interviewer if he has any
      concerns about you as a candidate for the position.

4. TRY FLATTERY
A good mood is contagious. If you can get the interviewer into a happier state of mind, you may manage to give the mood of the entire interview a boost. Plus, nobody minds the occasional compliment. Whether it's a nice word about the company, the office, or the culture, a compliment can go a long way in a rough interview.

Choosing which compliments to pay, however, is not a simple task. Take to heart these suggestions before you start dropping kind words:

• •   Show Preparation - consider paying a compliment that shows you have done research
      on the company, such as commenting on a shift in strategy or other recent
      business decision.
• •   Be sincere - a compliment has the ability to make you appear to be an upbeat person;
      do not let a poor attitude offset that.
• •   Don't Push It - compliments should not be too numerous, too personal, or too
      emphatic; eventually an interviewer will see through your ploy.

5. MOVE ON
Sometimes you can be fully qualified, answer every question perfectly, and make all the right decisions, but still get a cold shoulder from an interviewer. At these times, you have to remember: it's not your fault.

No matter how confident and qualified you are, you are not in complete control of the interview. You have bad days from time to time. Interviewers can have bad days too, and that can affect your interview. It's not fair, but it's the truth. An interview could be going badly due to no fault of your own.

This is when your best bet is to just keep trying and move on. Maintain your composure and continue with the interview as if nothing is wrong. You may be able to pull the interviewer out of his rut; at the very least, you will still appear confident and professional. That never hurts. 

 

CONCLUSION
You win some and you lose some, not every interview will be flawless. Learning to stop an interview from being a disaster can put you far ahead of the competition. So the next time you are in an interview, remember: if it feels like things can't get any worse, it means things can get better.
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