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As a resource to all current and prospective students, Allied Schools, Inc. has developed this blog to bring relevant information into your lives. Use this blog as your "career guide," turning to Allied Schools Career News for industry updates, career trends, and job search advice. We thank you for visiting!
Career Guidance: Recruiters Get the Job Done
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. We’ve spent countless hours pouring over newspapers or searching Internet job boards in an attempt to find the perfect job. With hundreds of other candidates doing the same thing, it’s hard to make yourself stand out.
Recruiters can help by doing the legwork for you. Basically, they market your skills on your behalf. Their job is to get your résumé and qualifications in front of the right people. Think of recruiters as matchmakers. Their goal is to successfully match your needs with the needs of a company. They do this with no out-of-pocket costs (although some recruiters do charge for their services).
The Benefits of Using a Recruiter
- They know the current marketplace and industry trends.
- They have a large database of contacts.
- They have access to unadvertised positions.
- They provide tips on how to strengthen resumes and improve interviewing skills.
The Process
- Doing your own job search takes a lot of time. Recruiters can make the process easier by:
- Evaluating your experience, qualifications and interests.
- Matching your qualifications with a suitable company.
- Scheduling interviews on your behalf.
- Helping you negotiate a salary and benefits package.
Remember to be up front with recruiters about your expectations for a job. By being honest, they will know your likes and dislikes. They will use your job histories, interview answers and references to make a good match for you. They will be informed to make better choices for your future.
How do you find a recruiter? There are recruiter firms and online networks available to everyone. Simply pick up a phone book or source the Internet to locate the one nearest you.Labels: Career Counseling, Job Interviewing, Job Success
Career Guidance: Seven Steps to Job Search Success
During the course of your job hunt, it's difficult not to get discouraged at some point, especially if you've been searching for longer than a few months. Sending out resumes by the truckload and going on countless interviews without any offers can take its toll. When it seems like nothing is working, here are a few steps you can take to get your stalled job search back on track!
Get Organized - Keep a record of your contacts, the companies you've sent your resume to, and notes from your interviews. Set aside an area at home and designate it as your Job Search Headquarters.
Re-Evaluate Your Resume and Cover Letter - If your resume isn't generating phone calls for interviews, then maybe something's wrong. Get an unbiased opinion. Have someone else check for typos and grammatical errors. Perhaps in your cover letter, you're not selling yourself enough. Take a long, hard look at what you send out to companies. First impressions count!
Find Quality Leads - Part of your frustration may stem from sending out too many resumes! Avoid the urge to send out a hundred "blind" resumes a week addressed to Whom It May Concern. Take the time to research the company - get the name of the hiring decision-maker and find out if there are job opportunities within the company. You'll get better results with 10 solid leads, rather than a hundred random resumes.
Practice Interviewing - Try a mock interview with a friend. Anticipate answering tough questions like the dreaded "Tell me about yourself."
Follow-Up - Always send a thank you note after the interview. If possible, call if you haven't heard from the interviewer. Let them know you're still interested in the position!
Do Something, Anything! - If you're unemployed, try temping or volunteering part-time. You can gain valuable experience working for temp agencies or non-profit organizations. Add it to your resume!
Maintain a Positive Attitude - This is by far the most important step. You've read those articles that tell you to "keep your chin up", but the bottom line is, most interviewers can smell desperation a mile away! If you walk into an interview thinking "they won't hire me", chances are you'll be right.Labels: Career Builder, Job Interviewing, Job Success
Career Guidance:
Like it or not, technology is here to stay. No matter what job you hold, you are guaranteed that technology will be a part of your every day work activities. Making technology your friend is the greatest gift you can give yourself. The right training and comprehensive courses such as Allied's Appraisal Licensing and Home Inspection courses will give you the technical know-how that is needed to succeed in your given career.
In order to advance within your career however, you must be willing to grasp technology and adapt to the industry technology standards. Learn to run the computer or the computer will run you!
Every industry has its standard set of technology products.
From restaurant inventory systems to home inspection simulator systems, every workplace will contain technology tools to help make your job more efficient.
Technology is meant to make your job easier, not harder. When applying for a job it is important to convey a "tech friendly" attitude to your interviewer. Let them know that you are not afraid of change and that you welcome the opportunity to learn new software programs and tools. Oftentimes interviewers will use your willingness to learn new computer programs as a gauge to see how willing you are to learn in general.
When you begin the job hunt be sure to prepare yourself before your first interview or placement test. If you are expected to know a computer program fully upon hiring, go the extra mile to test yourself beforehand. No one wants to voluntarily take a test, but if it means securing a job, it is definitely worth it.
Here's a small example. If you are applying for a job in the administrative assistant field and you are expected to have advanced knowledge of all Microsoft® Office programs, don't enter into your interview unsure of yourself. You never know when your prospective employer will ask you to take a skills test, or ask you detailed questions on how a program works! In order to be prepared, take all of the classes you can ahead of time to perfect your computer skills. Offer up your Microsoft Office® knowledge before your interviewer even asks. Don't be afraid to show what you know, and don't be afraid to admit to yourself if you need practice beforehand.Labels: Career Counseling, Job Interviewing
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