Job Search Etiquette

Even in 2008, good manners are still important to most job recruiters. A recent study showed that 67% of them said receiving a hand-written thank you note from a job candidate showed a sign of professionalism. It’s good to know that such a small gesture can make a lasting impression. That kind of information can be very useful in a tight job market, when hundreds of candidates can sometimes apply for one or two positions. If you’re in the job market right now, every little advantage could make a difference.

The hard and fast rules of business etiquette are a little more relaxed than they used to be. Some of the old standards are no longer appropriate and others have never gone out of style. It can be difficult to know exactly what is and isn’t acceptable, so a few little reminders may help you create your own edge during your next job search.

1. Hand-written thank you notes are always appropriate and welcome after an interview. They are also equally appropriate after a telephone interview or an extended conversation. They needn’t be more than a few lines to thank someone for their time and consideration.

2. High quality stationery is a good investment for job hunters. You may want to avoid the pre-printed notes with colorful characters or quirky quotes and choose something simple and understated. If in doubt, plain white or a solid pastel is always safe.

3. Promptness is appreciated. Don’t wait longer than 24-48 hours to drop it in the mail.

4. A thank you note is in order, even if you decide you wouldn’t accept the position if it was offered to you. There are many reasons to cite, but some of the most frequent are that other positions become available, the person you interviewed with may be a future networking opportunity for you, and you may later decide you want the position after all.

5. With all the contributions of modern technology, an email thank you is never appropriate. As tempting as it is to take advantage of its convenience, resist the urge and send the hand-written note.

It’s understandable to be unsure of all the rules of job search etiquette, especially if you’re new in the career market. If that’s the case, spend a little time researching the do’s and don’ts at the library or a bookstore. The time spent could be a wise career investment.

The Four Certifications for Human Resources Professionals

Working in the human resources field can cover wide range of career interests. It’s one of those professions that is always evolving as it responds to changes in the labor market, new legislation and court rulings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects overall employment in HR to continue to grow at a faster than average rate through the year 2016. That’s great news for professionals planning a long-term career in the industry.

Whether your plans include serving as an HR generalist or focusing on one of the dozens of specializations, the question of certification will eventually arise. While there are many pros and cons to consider when it comes to making the decision, most insiders agree on its numerous benefits.

The HR Certification Institute, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), offers four certifications for HR professionals. Candidates for the exams must meet two prerequisites:

1. A minimum of two years of professional HR experience

2. Provide evidence that at least 51% of your daily activities are performed within the HR function at the exempt (professional) level as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act

According to the Institute, each of the four certification exams focus on different skill sets and realms of knowledge:

PHR - Professional in Human Resources - requires expertise in the technical and operational aspects of human resources practices, including U.S. laws and regulations.

SPHR - Senior Professional in Human Resources - requires expertise in strategic planning and the policy-making aspects of domestic HR management.

GPHR - Global Professional in Human Resources – requires the necessary expertise to perform the HR function in the global marketplace.

PHR-CA and SPHR-CA - PHR with state certification in California and SPHR with state certification in California

The Institute and SHRM offer more information, skills assessments, costs, and scheduling information to help you determine which certification may be right for you and your career plan.

How to Communicate Your Talent with Confidence

Most of us were taught early on that it isn’t polite to brag. Boasting about our accomplishments and possessions is usually considered obnoxious behavior in nearly every society. People tend to avoid those types that regularly update you on their new car or latest luxury cruise. It doesn’t come across as sharing information or family news. What it does do is scream insecurity - loudly. There is, however, one exception.

When it comes to the current career marketplace, things are getting fierce. Almost everyone is feeling the pinch of the economic downturn while watching businesses shut down or downsize. Many jobs are being outsourced or eliminated altogether. So what does that mean to you? It means that if you’re not doing everything you can to secure your position, you could be one of the casualties in the next round of layoffs.

Think of putting the spotlight on yourself as a necessary way of surviving and thriving in today’s job market. If no one knows who you are, what you do, or how much you contribute, you may want to do more to increase your visibility. Coming in early and staying late is an admirable habit. But it’s useless if the only ones who see you putting in the extra time is the office cleaning crew.

There are ways to make your talents known and toot your own horn - without sounding like the guy everyone wants to avoid. That would be counterproductive in your mission to promote your career in the right way.

When speaking about yourself, your skills and your accomplishments don’t mince words. Make direct eye contact and focus on the quality of the achievement. It won’t sound boastful if you can communicate the information with pride and point to its benefits for the company. Your name will automatically become associated with that skill, product or service.

Another way to achieve recognition without words is to let the evidence do the talking for you. Rather than telling everyone you won a national design contest, place the certificate or plaque in a prominent place in your office, where everyone can see it. Sometimes showing is better than telling.

If you are called upon to speak about yourself, stick with the facts. Pointing out an increase in sales totals or the actual number of new accounts opened comes across much better than simply saying that you’re number one. Although saying you’re the best at what you do isn’t inappropriate, it’s always wise to pair the statement with factual information.

Nothing speaks louder than a job well done. Make sure to get the message out in every way possible – in front of decision makers and on the manager’s desk. Find out if the company newsletter will accept bits of interesting news from your department. Write your own press release and have it distributed by the local news services, then send the clip with a brief note to a few select executives. Offer to write an article for a trade journal or magazine. Be sure to have it ready to pull out when an annual reviews roll around or new positions are posted.

One important thing to note is that it’s not bragging if you have what it takes. Remember, it’s not what you say, as much as it is how you say it. And the times we’re living in call for a little shameless self-promotion.

Cold Calling Tips for the Job Hunter

Everyone I know hates cold calling except a few industrious sales people who love the adventure of it and have no fear of the unknown. This small handful of people I know say they don’t understand what the big deal is. Why is everyone so reluctant to do something they find so easy?

It’s not easy for the rest of us for many reasons. In addition to fearing the unknown, there’s also the fear of rejection. Even if we could overcome these fears, how do you do it without sounding like a desperate telemarketer? Cold calling for most of us is anything but an adventure. But what if you are looking for a job and found out it’s one of the most effective ways to get in the door? Would you reconsider learning a few cold-calling techniques?

Here’s a 101 guide with advice from a group of cold calling pros:

1. Know what you’re going to say before you make the call. Some people work better with a script, others are confident in their freestyle speech. Whichever works best for you, have a plan ready. What could feel worse than reaching your target and then finding yourself at a loss for words?

2. If you do reach a decision maker, don’t overstay your welcome. Be prepared to make your key points and ask for an interview in a 5-7 minute conversation. Rambling on for twenty minutes may make you memorable, but not in a good way.

3. Don’t take rejection personally. It takes a lot of optimism to cold call and to expect good results. Knowing you won’t always get what you’re after is part of the plan. Remind yourself that not every rejection is about your talent as an individual.

4. “It’s a numbers game.” Every successful cold caller I know makes this one point repeatedly. Not only do they not take rejection personally, but also they view it as being one step closer to the person with the answer they want to hear.

5. Speak with enthusiasm. That doesn’t mean talking in an unnatural, affected tone but in a relaxed, upbeat professional voice. Otherwise, a defeatist attitude can clearly be detected on the other end. An old trick used by telephone workers is to put a small mirror in front of them before they dial because psychologists found a smile can be “heard” over the phone.

6. Follow up. Your next call will be more than welcome when you follow through with a few small acts of courtesy. Prompt thank you notes with a brief message help create a positive image of you. Include a word or two about offering to share information in the future if you can ever be of help. It will help you build a network with contacts that may need to call on you one day. And it always feels a lot better knowing you’ll be in a position to reciprocate the favor.

What is the KSA? Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

If you’re not already familiar with the KSA, and want a job with the federal government, you should be. This sole component of the application process helps evaluate candidates for nearly every government position.

Submitted as an attachment or a separate document to the federal job application, the KSA is a list of the specific sets of knowledge, skills and abilities a federal agency is seeking in a job candidate. “How far a candidate gets in the application process is likely to be determined by the ability to convincingly address the agency's requested KSA’s,” writes Kathy Troutman. She should know. Ms. Troutman is considered the expert in every nuance of the federal employment process, including the art of the KSA presentation.

After reviewing an applicant’s KSA, the candidate is rated and ranked based on his or her qualifications. The subsequent score can be the deciding factor in whether an applicant reaches the next phase by being referred to the hiring manager or recommended for an interview. That’s why it’s so important to get it right – it carries that much weight.

Don’t panic if you’re new to exploring a career with the federal government and have never seen one. Taken directly from the government’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s human resources staff, these 11 tips should help you develop an attention-grabbing KSA:

1. Read the vacancy announcement carefully
2. Gather the information needed to begin writing
3. Be specific
4. Be precise
5. Get to the point
6. Do not ramble
7. Use lots of examples
8. State specifically what you have done
9. Do not use acronyms
10. Present yourself in “clear and plain” language
11. Do not borrow language from the position description

There’s a lot more information available to help guide you in writing a winning KSA, including Ms. Troutman’s website at http://www.resume-place.com/, or the official government website at www.usa.gov/infocenter. In addition, many resume writers specialize in KSA writing, while others offer it as their only service.

Landing a federal job isn’t always easy. However, with persistence, determination and a polished KSA, you can be successful.

Should I Hire a Resume Writer?


It’s a question resume writers hear all the time. Their first response is somewhere along the lines of, “Well, if you have to ask, then you may want to at least explore the option.” The truth is that there’s a lot of gray area between doing it yourself and hiring a pro, so it’s a very valid question.

“I usually take the time to consult with a potential client,” says a friend of mine in the business, “A 20-minute conversation can tell me whether a person really needs my services or not.” Sometimes it’s only a matter of answering a question. Small things - like deciding what information to include - and where to draw the line, can be a tough call. “Too much information can cause as much harm as providing too little.”

The career consulting pros say it really doesn’t matter if the resume is for a first job or an executive level position – the need to present yourself in the best possible light is the core function of any resume. Some job hunters are more than competent to do the writing themselves. Others fall into a group where they’re simply not sure of themselves. If that’s the case, it might be a good idea to ask a few colleagues or mentor to look it over and give you an honest assessment. If you’re still in doubt, it’s time to take it to the next step and consider a professional.

Another friend in the resume writing business says he always suggests leaving it to the pros under certain circumstances. And what are those? One of those times, for instance, is when a job hunter has all the credentials needed to succeed in his or her given field but just doesn’t know how to communicate it.

He says he also sees resumes filled with grammar and punctuation errors that he knows won’t make it to a decision-maker’s desk. Changing careers, or transitioning into a completely new line of work, may require some resume writing expertise, too. Then there’s the client who doesn’t have the time to dedicate to the task – to produce the one document that needs to be perfect.

Good resume writing is an art that demands meticulous attention to detail and should be a part of a solid career plan. When you think about a resume as a piece of paper that can affect your livelihood with such great impact, the decision to bring in a pro is worth some careful thought.

Social Networking Sites as a Job Search Tool

As a career advisor, it’s important to stay on top of the latest developments available to job hunters. Learning the fundamentals of good networking has always been important and should be a part of any effective job search. In the current job and career market, the internet offers yet another tool to make the search more productive.

Social networking websites were originally created to bring people together through the internet. The idea was to connect people that would otherwise be very unlikely to meet for the purpose of sharing a common interest. They generally operate on a membership platform with an open or closed invitation policy.

While some of the most popular websites are still solely dedicated to socializing, others have widened their audience to include special interests and causes. Some perceptive marketing groups began to view them as an underground way to spread the word about products or services of interest to members.

It wasn’t long before businesses got in on the act and launched networking sites of their own. It was a natural transition into the job and career market. From the user end, it’s a chance to highlight talents or skills with the hope than a potential employer would view their customized page content. That turned out to be a really good idea. Soon the connections were as much about finding a job as it was about finding a date or an old classmate for many people.

Now, there are many sites geared to business networking only. Others are being used for a lot more than socializing. Travel, hobby and genealogy searches are popular, too. Just a few of most recognized names are Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Ryze, Friendster and Classmates.com.

Of course, the usual internet rules apply about discretion and confidentiality issues, so be selective in where and what you post. Otherwise, be a creative job hunter and look at it as another way to put you name out in front. And in a smart job search, that’s where it needs to be!

Job Market 2008: Now and Then

The job market is always in a state of change, but not many compare to the one we are experiencing right now in 2008.

As little as twenty years ago, all you needed was a good trade, vocational training or a college degree and you knew you could find work with a decent company. Resume writing and the job application process were relatively simple task to accomplish. The economy had its ups and downs, but it was nothing like the full-fledged downturn or recession of today. The statistics reveal corporate layoffs, mergers and bankruptcies are happening in record numbers.

All that bad news can be depressing for job seekers in 2008. But we’re a resilient bunch and always manage to change with the times. There’s an interesting article called Dealing with a Layoff in an Economic Downturn that offers some helpful ideas about being career proactive in the current economy.

There is also a list of 2008 “must know” tips that can help make navigating the current job market easier. A little research can be helpful too, if any of the ideas seem foreign. Whether you’ve been out of the market for a while or in search of that first job, these are some of those things you must know:

Technology is king. It rules every aspect of almost every industry.

Social networking isn’t just for socializing; employers have started to rely on it for filling positions and smart job seekers are using it to expand their contact base and to stay connected.

Personal branding is an effective tool job seekers use to make their skills stand out and stay competitive.

Basic computer skills are mandatory, not optional.

Electronic resume distribution services are now as important as snail mail.

Internet job and career websites are quickly replacing traditional printed classified advertisements.

Understanding those six concepts alone will help bring you into the 2008 job market. Learning how to implement them and make them work for you will increase your chances of getting and staying employed.