When looking for a job we generally hear the same tips from everyone: "Keep your resume to one page" or "Don't apply if the opening isn't relevant to your experience". In the end though, many of these tiny tidbits of advice can boil down to missing great hiring opportunities.
So what works? Here are a few of the many rumors you have heard about job searching - and reasons why they CAN work in your favor.
1. Applying to companies that aren't hiring is a waste of time
NOT true! It's estimated that people who contacted companies in search of job opportunities had a 30% increase in the likelihood of finding a job when compared to candidates who posted their resume on the Internet and waited for companies to approach them. This success rate can be attributed to the fact one set of candidates was more active in searching than the other. Taking the time to approach a company you ideally want to work for not only shows initiative, but also passion for your field of work. If you are also looking to make a career change, this may be the best move for you.
2. Keep your resume to one page
If your experience exceeds more than one page, it's in your best interest to keep your resume over one page. After editing and simplifying your resume down to its bare essentials, having your resume exceed one page is great asset. It shold satfisfy you to know that your career experience now exceeds one page of descriptions. However, remember to leave out non-essential information at the same time - the last thing you want to do is have a three-page resume with one page of information clutter.
3. Don't send a resume with non-traditional formatting
Human Resources sees a lot of resumes with similar formatting. In some industries where certification and technical skills are important (like the biotechnology industry) resume formatting is not as important as it is in some fields like marketing. There are tasteful ways of formatting your resume to stand out from the others. Methods such as using boxing or layouts that appeal to the hiring director's eye can help you differentiate yourself. When using this tactic, keep in mind that although resume formatting is important, resume content is paramount. So spend a few extra hours on your resume to make sure it is perfected.
4. Never say anything negative about a previous job
The most important thing to remember when going into an interview is to be honest. Interviewers are people too and can tell when you are blatantly trying mask your feelings about a topic or situation. If your reasons for leaving a previous job are perfectly valid you can phrase your reasons for leaving in a balanced way.
For example, you could say: "I got along well with my boss, but there were some personal issues that he took to work everyday, making it difficult for our team and myself to work with him. That's why I want to work with a boss that is professional and trustworthy."
This way you are honestly (and tactfully) stating your experience at your past job. Being honest will allow you to stand out from other individuals.
5. Informational Interviews are a waste of time.
Depending on your experience and the position you are aiming for, informational interviews can help you network and eventually find your ideal job. Those who are looking for entry-level positions should be more inclined to find informational interviews with companies they aim to work for. Especially in a economy with fewer job openings, going into an interview even if it is just informational is better than not doing anything at all. If you don't get a callback from your ideal company, keeping in touch with them for feedback can possibly help guide you towards an opportunity at an affliate or within the same company.
In all, it's not necessarily best to follow popular advice - think carefully about how you'd like to find your job and what it takes to get there. In many cases, the way to success is the road less travelled - think outside the box!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Investing in Your Career
Whether you are looking for a job or want to gain an advantage in your field, building up your skills set as a employee will only work to your benefit. Half of the ways to build up skill sets are through edducation while the other half are through networking. In all,its really up to you to identify what you need to improve your skills in the industry you work in. For those in the pharmaceutical and medical device fields a Balck Belt in Six Sigma may be fitting for your industry. If your biotech company conducts business in China, it may be useful to take a few Chinese classes. In total, it's about the needs of your industry and what you feel will benefit your future career. Here are six options you should consider:
1. Get a certification: In fields such as Human Resources, project management, and the technical field, certifications make all the difference.
2. Go back to school and get an additional degree: If you are unemplored and have put off getting that MBA, master's degree or even PH.D - now is the time is go back to school and get it. Your earning power can significantly increase by 10% or more depending on what type of degree you get.
3. Learn a language: Learning a language will help increase your communication skills as well as make you more versatile and valuable to your employer. In border cities such as San Diego, Spanish is often key to getting a job in many businesses. A new trend in biotech companies has been outsourcing laboratory work to China. Knowing languages can only work to your benefit - and there are ways to even get certified in a language to show your employer that you posess the skill set.
University extension courses are a great source for language courses for people in the San Diego area. Referencing UCSD's extension course website may give you a headstart:
http://extension.ucsd.edu/programs/index.cfm?vAction=certDetail&vCertificateID=78&vStudyAreaID=11
One of the best ways to prove you are certified in Chinese is taking the official Chinese certification test, which is officialized by the Chinese government:
http://www.hsk.org.cn/english/Default.aspx
4. Branding yourself online: Own your own domain and name - create a webpage to showcase your work. Update your profiles on facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites. Its more common these days to have an "online presence". It's even a must for more current, younger companies.
5. Ask someone to be your coach or mentor: Whether or not it's a friend in your industry or a paid career coach, it's important that you have people around to help you make critical career decisions. Having someone else around to help asess your career goals will not only give you some perspective, but also when hitting a rough patch in your career your mentor can help you get back on your feet.
6. Join a professional association in your field: This is a good way to meet more people in your field outside of your company. Networking with people in the same field outside of your company may come in handy in case you are laid off. Not only that, but many of these organizations can help you with professional development. Especially in the biotech, pharm, and medical device in industry, keeping up to date is important to your career.
Professional Societies for the Biotech Industry (listed by state): http://www.netsci.org/Resources/Web/society_biotech.html
Global Listing of Medical Device Associations: http://www.emergogroup.com/links/medical-device-associations
Global Listing of Pharm Associations: http://www.pharmcast.com/WebLinks/Association_WL091799.htm#usa
In all, these six tips are only the first step to building up your skills set for a better career. The best way to differentiate yourself from your co-workers is to be creative and stand out from the crowd.
1. Get a certification: In fields such as Human Resources, project management, and the technical field, certifications make all the difference.
2. Go back to school and get an additional degree: If you are unemplored and have put off getting that MBA, master's degree or even PH.D - now is the time is go back to school and get it. Your earning power can significantly increase by 10% or more depending on what type of degree you get.
3. Learn a language: Learning a language will help increase your communication skills as well as make you more versatile and valuable to your employer. In border cities such as San Diego, Spanish is often key to getting a job in many businesses. A new trend in biotech companies has been outsourcing laboratory work to China. Knowing languages can only work to your benefit - and there are ways to even get certified in a language to show your employer that you posess the skill set.
University extension courses are a great source for language courses for people in the San Diego area. Referencing UCSD's extension course website may give you a headstart:
http://extension.ucsd.edu/programs/index.cfm?vAction=certDetail&vCertificateID=78&vStudyAreaID=11
One of the best ways to prove you are certified in Chinese is taking the official Chinese certification test, which is officialized by the Chinese government:
http://www.hsk.org.cn/english/Default.aspx
4. Branding yourself online: Own your own domain and name - create a webpage to showcase your work. Update your profiles on facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites. Its more common these days to have an "online presence". It's even a must for more current, younger companies.
5. Ask someone to be your coach or mentor: Whether or not it's a friend in your industry or a paid career coach, it's important that you have people around to help you make critical career decisions. Having someone else around to help asess your career goals will not only give you some perspective, but also when hitting a rough patch in your career your mentor can help you get back on your feet.
6. Join a professional association in your field: This is a good way to meet more people in your field outside of your company. Networking with people in the same field outside of your company may come in handy in case you are laid off. Not only that, but many of these organizations can help you with professional development. Especially in the biotech, pharm, and medical device in industry, keeping up to date is important to your career.
Professional Societies for the Biotech Industry (listed by state): http://www.netsci.org/Resources/Web/society_biotech.html
Global Listing of Medical Device Associations: http://www.emergogroup.com/links/medical-device-associations
Global Listing of Pharm Associations: http://www.pharmcast.com/WebLinks/Association_WL091799.htm#usa
In all, these six tips are only the first step to building up your skills set for a better career. The best way to differentiate yourself from your co-workers is to be creative and stand out from the crowd.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Working With Executive Recruiters, 5 Reasons it’s a Smart Move
Staffing companies are available for almost any type of position and in any location; they are constantly bringing the right person to the right kind of company. Whether you want a part-time, permanent, or contract position, here are five great reasons why you should use a staffing company:
1. Many companies never advertise their open positions, recruiters have the inside scoop on these jobs.
2. Recruiters have experience in specific job markets and are able to narrow the focus of your search for you, saving you time and effort.
3. Recruiters can find you part-time or contract work if that is what you need.
4. Many staffing companies offer free training, especially for those temporary employees who want a permanent job.
5. Opportunities are endless; you can work in different industries with different types of people and can select the assignments that you want to take.
1. Many companies never advertise their open positions, recruiters have the inside scoop on these jobs.
2. Recruiters have experience in specific job markets and are able to narrow the focus of your search for you, saving you time and effort.
3. Recruiters can find you part-time or contract work if that is what you need.
4. Many staffing companies offer free training, especially for those temporary employees who want a permanent job.
5. Opportunities are endless; you can work in different industries with different types of people and can select the assignments that you want to take.
The Resume: Blunders and Winning Tips
When it comes to writing your resume, what works and what doesn't work? It's hard to get an idea of what the ideal "winning resume" is out there - after all, what works for one person does not necessarily work for everyone. There is not an easy way of mass-mailing your resume out to every company you'd like to work for either - it definately takes more than one afternoon to really score a winning resume. So what consitutes a "winner" and a "loser" in the resume world?
"The Resume Loser"
1. Not Proofread
Amazingly enough, many people do not proofread their resume before sending it out. After constantly updating and sending out the same document, most people feel that their resume must be pretty flawless. Minor mistakes such as the usage of commas or periods may seem minimal to the sender, but to HR readers, these mistakes are pretty noticiable. So before you send that resume out, take another look. Here are some common grammatical errors to look for:
Periods = either use periods at the end of every sentence/description or don't use them. An idea of this should be to keep everything consistent in the resume.
Overdoing the bolding, italics, and underlining = Many people are at fault for this. Since you are writing so much, how are you going to make keywords and actions stand out? That's how many people make the error of bolding or underlining every other word. The truth is, it's good to sometimes bold or underline thing you want to highlight, but it makes reading the resume very confusing for Human Resources.
Spelling = Spellcheck or have someone proofread for you. If English is not your first language, it's very important that you have someone proofread your resume.
2. Using an objective rather than a career summary
A summary is different than a objective because it highlights your skills and past roles. In this tough job market, a career summary makes it easier for Human Resources to asses your qualifications and whether or not to continue reading your resume. This part of your resume is probably the hardest to write - it has to summarize your strengths and experience in just a few sentences. Remember to make it short yet impressionable.
3. Lying
As states, don't lie. Don't be stupid. You may think you are fooling people but when your resume is being read by Human Resources personnel that have seen thousands of reumes, lying on your resume is very very apparent. Resume details are routinely checked during the final interview process. It all comes out in the end.
4. Mass-mailing your resume to everyone
It's hard to apply for jobs when you are either currently still working, or unemployed and busy with the family at home. However, its important to customize your resume to every employer. If you want to stand out among the masses, then put in the time to show the company that you are a right fit for their work enviornment.
"The Resume Winner"
1. Remember the "Three-C's" : Clean, Coordinated, Clear-Cut
By keeping it clean, we mean avoiding scattered, hard-to read writing on your resume. Also, it's best to create a layout that is easy on the eye. Being coordinated, we mean being consistent with grammar, layout, and themes of the resume. If you are just arbitarily typing descriptions into your resume, it's not only displeasing to the eye but also makes the reader want to give up on reading the resume. Being clear-cut about your experience is very important to the reader. The Human Resources reader wants to quantify and assess the skills that you have. So use numbers! If you have certifications, use certifications and acronyms (remember to list the full description with the acronyms). In our industries, we see phrases such as "Six Sigma Certified" or "Injection molding" and value those skills. If you want a reference for what skills the company wants, look at the job description.
2. Action Words
Using actions verbs will help your resume stand out. Don't be passive - action verbs such as "managed" help your image as a leader and contributer to a team stand out much more than passive words like "did". Keep your verbs simple as well, using complex words will only work to confuse and puzzle the reader instead of demonstrating your superb vocabulary skills.
3.How you will contribute to the company
After all, thats what the resume is about. What are you going to do for the company you are applying to? Putting your ability to contribute into the cover letter as well as the skills and descriptions you have in your resume only makes your resume more of a "winner".
4. BE PROACTIVE. Follow up.
If you want the job, show the company extactly how much you want it but following up with them. Try to get in contact directly with the manager of the department you are applying for. Sending in the resume accounts for only 25% of the effort needed to secure your future job. Talking to people in the department not only gives you a better idea of how much you want to work with the company, but also a feel of how you would fit into the company's work culture.
Keep in mind these factors when writing a resume. The most important thing of all is to not only get your resume perfected and sent out to the companies you want to work for, but to also follow up on your resume and network to make sure that the your interest is known.
Let us know how you are doing on your job search! If you have any industry comments or questions, feel free to post on our commments section of this blog.
"The Resume Loser"
1. Not Proofread
Amazingly enough, many people do not proofread their resume before sending it out. After constantly updating and sending out the same document, most people feel that their resume must be pretty flawless. Minor mistakes such as the usage of commas or periods may seem minimal to the sender, but to HR readers, these mistakes are pretty noticiable. So before you send that resume out, take another look. Here are some common grammatical errors to look for:
Periods = either use periods at the end of every sentence/description or don't use them. An idea of this should be to keep everything consistent in the resume.
Overdoing the bolding, italics, and underlining = Many people are at fault for this. Since you are writing so much, how are you going to make keywords and actions stand out? That's how many people make the error of bolding or underlining every other word. The truth is, it's good to sometimes bold or underline thing you want to highlight, but it makes reading the resume very confusing for Human Resources.
Spelling = Spellcheck or have someone proofread for you. If English is not your first language, it's very important that you have someone proofread your resume.
2. Using an objective rather than a career summary
A summary is different than a objective because it highlights your skills and past roles. In this tough job market, a career summary makes it easier for Human Resources to asses your qualifications and whether or not to continue reading your resume. This part of your resume is probably the hardest to write - it has to summarize your strengths and experience in just a few sentences. Remember to make it short yet impressionable.
3. Lying
As states, don't lie. Don't be stupid. You may think you are fooling people but when your resume is being read by Human Resources personnel that have seen thousands of reumes, lying on your resume is very very apparent. Resume details are routinely checked during the final interview process. It all comes out in the end.
4. Mass-mailing your resume to everyone
It's hard to apply for jobs when you are either currently still working, or unemployed and busy with the family at home. However, its important to customize your resume to every employer. If you want to stand out among the masses, then put in the time to show the company that you are a right fit for their work enviornment.
"The Resume Winner"
1. Remember the "Three-C's" : Clean, Coordinated, Clear-Cut
By keeping it clean, we mean avoiding scattered, hard-to read writing on your resume. Also, it's best to create a layout that is easy on the eye. Being coordinated, we mean being consistent with grammar, layout, and themes of the resume. If you are just arbitarily typing descriptions into your resume, it's not only displeasing to the eye but also makes the reader want to give up on reading the resume. Being clear-cut about your experience is very important to the reader. The Human Resources reader wants to quantify and assess the skills that you have. So use numbers! If you have certifications, use certifications and acronyms (remember to list the full description with the acronyms). In our industries, we see phrases such as "Six Sigma Certified" or "Injection molding" and value those skills. If you want a reference for what skills the company wants, look at the job description.
2. Action Words
Using actions verbs will help your resume stand out. Don't be passive - action verbs such as "managed" help your image as a leader and contributer to a team stand out much more than passive words like "did". Keep your verbs simple as well, using complex words will only work to confuse and puzzle the reader instead of demonstrating your superb vocabulary skills.
3.How you will contribute to the company
After all, thats what the resume is about. What are you going to do for the company you are applying to? Putting your ability to contribute into the cover letter as well as the skills and descriptions you have in your resume only makes your resume more of a "winner".
4. BE PROACTIVE. Follow up.
If you want the job, show the company extactly how much you want it but following up with them. Try to get in contact directly with the manager of the department you are applying for. Sending in the resume accounts for only 25% of the effort needed to secure your future job. Talking to people in the department not only gives you a better idea of how much you want to work with the company, but also a feel of how you would fit into the company's work culture.
Keep in mind these factors when writing a resume. The most important thing of all is to not only get your resume perfected and sent out to the companies you want to work for, but to also follow up on your resume and network to make sure that the your interest is known.
Let us know how you are doing on your job search! If you have any industry comments or questions, feel free to post on our commments section of this blog.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Fired? Our Guide to getting back on your feet!
It's no new news that the state of our economy is at its lowest. Layoffs are at an all-time high those of us with job security are now at risk of unemployment. When finding yourself suddenly without a job, we believe the only way to go is up. Here are some tips to start being proactive as well as making the best of all the aid you can get.
#1 Take a break.
It's OK to take a vacation. In fact, taking a break will ensure that you have the time to self-reflect on your career. Getting yourself out of that work atmosphere can alleviate the stress and panic that comes with getting layed-off. You don't have to break your wallet to take a vacation, many travel packages are now discounted a record-low prices due to the economy. Furthermore, when returning home, you'll be invigorated and 100% ready to find a new job. In the end, the payoffs are well worth it.
#2 Your New Job: Looking for a job!
We know that sleeping in is tempting when you don't have that 9-5 schedule everyday. You CAN sleep in, but remember: Looking for a job should be treated as a full-time job. So maybe sleep in for an extra hour or two, but keep the same schedule everyday. Waking up at the same time and getting dressed even if you are going to stay in the house and be on Careerbuilder all day keeps you in a professional mindset. And with a professional mindset, the faster you will find a job.
#3 File for Unemployment.
It's easy. You are already on your computer so open that extra webpage and file for unemployment. Payments are porportional to how much you made at your old job up to the state limit. You can expect to recieve $293 per week up to 46 weeks, and in some states with high employment rates, up to 59 weeks. Even if you have recieved severance, you can still be eligible. So get on the web and apply!
#4 Fill in that extra time!
Look for freelance or consulting work. The whole idea here is to not let yourself get into a rut. Keep yourself busy with activities that will work to improve your resume. Plus you may also be able to find opportunities through the extra freelance or consulting work that you do. Take classes at your local university extension to build up marketable skills. Adult schools and extension classes are great ways to learn skills that you never got around to picking up while employed.
#5 It's the little things that make a difference
Little things like carrying copies of your resume whever you go or making your own personal business cards to hand out when networking, can really make a difference when looking for your job. These details amount to one thing: Be prepared at anytime to network and find a job. Whether its handing your resume to an old friend at the gym, or running into a someone in your industry at the grocery store, its all about reaching out to people in your target industry. Remember, you miss 100%of the chances you do not take, so don't hesitate to be prepared!
In all, unemployment shouldn't get you down. Take this time as an opportunity to advertise your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. Have you always wanted to learn Java, but didn't have the time to learn? Now is the time to do it! Think of it as also having time to catch up with old co-workers and friends. Not only are you getting back in touch with people, but it will help you network as well. Taking that vacation or roadtrip you have always wanted will also give you time to reflect on you career and life. What better time is there to pause and re-evaluate everything?
Tell us how you are doing with your job search! We are here to help and answer any questions. Be proactive!
#1 Take a break.
It's OK to take a vacation. In fact, taking a break will ensure that you have the time to self-reflect on your career. Getting yourself out of that work atmosphere can alleviate the stress and panic that comes with getting layed-off. You don't have to break your wallet to take a vacation, many travel packages are now discounted a record-low prices due to the economy. Furthermore, when returning home, you'll be invigorated and 100% ready to find a new job. In the end, the payoffs are well worth it.
#2 Your New Job: Looking for a job!
We know that sleeping in is tempting when you don't have that 9-5 schedule everyday. You CAN sleep in, but remember: Looking for a job should be treated as a full-time job. So maybe sleep in for an extra hour or two, but keep the same schedule everyday. Waking up at the same time and getting dressed even if you are going to stay in the house and be on Careerbuilder all day keeps you in a professional mindset. And with a professional mindset, the faster you will find a job.
#3 File for Unemployment.
It's easy. You are already on your computer so open that extra webpage and file for unemployment. Payments are porportional to how much you made at your old job up to the state limit. You can expect to recieve $293 per week up to 46 weeks, and in some states with high employment rates, up to 59 weeks. Even if you have recieved severance, you can still be eligible. So get on the web and apply!
#4 Fill in that extra time!
Look for freelance or consulting work. The whole idea here is to not let yourself get into a rut. Keep yourself busy with activities that will work to improve your resume. Plus you may also be able to find opportunities through the extra freelance or consulting work that you do. Take classes at your local university extension to build up marketable skills. Adult schools and extension classes are great ways to learn skills that you never got around to picking up while employed.
#5 It's the little things that make a difference
Little things like carrying copies of your resume whever you go or making your own personal business cards to hand out when networking, can really make a difference when looking for your job. These details amount to one thing: Be prepared at anytime to network and find a job. Whether its handing your resume to an old friend at the gym, or running into a someone in your industry at the grocery store, its all about reaching out to people in your target industry. Remember, you miss 100%of the chances you do not take, so don't hesitate to be prepared!
In all, unemployment shouldn't get you down. Take this time as an opportunity to advertise your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. Have you always wanted to learn Java, but didn't have the time to learn? Now is the time to do it! Think of it as also having time to catch up with old co-workers and friends. Not only are you getting back in touch with people, but it will help you network as well. Taking that vacation or roadtrip you have always wanted will also give you time to reflect on you career and life. What better time is there to pause and re-evaluate everything?
Tell us how you are doing with your job search! We are here to help and answer any questions. Be proactive!
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