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5 Rules To Follow Before Sending A Resume

We’ve all had to look for a job before and sent resume after resume and read ad after ad, but how do you get to the interview stage for that valuable face time when you can really turn on the charm and make your sales pitch?

This job market is tough and every job listing gets hoardes of resumes, a lot of which won’t be considered because they don’t meet the minimum job requirements.

So I have a few rules to share with you that will get you much closer to that face time reality, if you follow them.

Rule #1 – Be real, if you don’t meet the minimum job requirements, don’t hit send.

Rule #5 – Read your resume or have a friend read it and ask yourself, would I hire me?

The employer has all the power, they can be picky and they will be if they’re smart – listen, they want a quality employee.

If that job title is one that you want, read the ad and the minimum requirements, if you don’t meet them, DO NOT ANSWER THE AD.

Don’t waste your time, you’re better than that, throw out the maybe and realize that you won’t get a call, send your resume only to people who will consider you because you are qualified.

If you don’t answer all the questions, you will likely be disqualified just for that. For instance, if references and salary requirements are requested, give them. You risk not being considered otherwise. Seems unfair I know, but if you can’t follow directions when you want the job, how are you going to perform if you get it?

Your cover letter is your first opportunity to sell yourself and your abilities. Are you going to sell yourself short? Send a sentence asking to meet? Get real, tell the employer what you can do for them, be a salesperson and sell the product, you.

When answering the ad, don’t have the attitude that they’d be oh so lucky to have you, if you have a chip on your shoulder, this is not the time to let that show. Be very careful and read, then reread it to be sure you can’t do anything but be proud of it and you sound like you’re puckering up. This IS your livelihood we’re talking about right?

Finally, proofread and spellcheck everything, you’ll look lazy if you don’t. If you follow these rules, I know you’ll find more success in your job search and just might get an interview quicker.

Tags: 5 rules, interview, job, job tips, need a job, resume, rules, search

How to Keep Your Job Past the Probation Period

So the job search is over, YAY! Now you have a new job to go to…this is always a strange time, unless of course you do it frequently.

At this point you should have knowledge of several things for your first day, including a contact persons’ name and number, you should know what the dress code is, and also your job title and duties. By this time, if you’re going to be on a probationary period with this employer, you’ll know it.

This means that the job isn’t “yours” yet. You have the time period they gave you (typically 30 – 90 days) to prove you should be hired beyond the probationary period. A lot of companies are opting to do this now because sometimes you just can’t find out everything in an interview. Legally.

You know what I mean; tardiness problems, bad hygiene, bad attitude, improper dress, chronic illness, laziness….family drama that spills into the workplace…it’s a long list that gets longer everyday because of those sorry people who don’t take their jobs seriously enough to actually earn the money they make.

They give good employees like you and me a bad name. To be perfectly blunt, this is why personality tests and credit checks are becoming commonplace in the interview process. Bad habits and choices spread across your life, they don’t just affect your home life.

Anyways, when you go to work somewhere new, it’s difficult to feel confident because you don’t know anyone. Just smile at people as you walk by, that gesture alone can do wonders for other people’s impression as you’re shown around your new workplace.

As long as you’re going to be surrounded by other people working for someone else, you need to be an adult and make the best of it, learn what you can, take opportunities that are available and grow. Corporate America has things to offer, you just have to recognize it. All employers have something to offer beyond just a paycheck, even if all it might be is a lesson learned.

Part of the first day on a new job is the fear of not being liked or making a bad impression. So don’t be the jackass that comes in and starts badmouthing everyone and everything you don’t like. If you’re a pessimist, don’t make it public, if you’re judgmental, don’t tell everyone, these are all things you should keep to yourself and only share with those already familiar with you.

Smile early and smile often, make sure it’s brushed and sincere, but use it as a tool and don’t be greedy with it, a smile will light up your face and draw people to you. Seriously.

Additionally, don’t ask one person every question you have. If you don’t know where the bathroom is yet, use that as an excuse to introduce yourself to a coworker, “Hi, I’m _____. I’m new here and haven’t been pointed to the bathroom yet, do you mind showing me to the ladies room?” When it’s lunchtime ask someone where a good restaurant is, or to show you to the building’s cafe, this will break the ice and possibly lead to a nice lunch with someone else..or a nice lunch people watching.

Say thank you and please, and be agreeable. This trial period isn’t just with your boss, the people around you have a little bit to do with how your co-existence will be, so don’t forget that nobody likes a jerk. And for crying out loud, don’t try to be someone’s best friend!

It’s another day, another dollar – another window of opportunity is open for you now. See it for what it is, a new, fresh day with opportunity in your path. Who wouldn’t want to be you?

Tags: adult, attitude, boss, friend, friends, habit, interview, job, lunch, money, news, paychecks, periods, thankful, want

Good Luck in 3’s?

My grandmother has always said luck comes in threes, whether it be bad or good luck, it comes in threes. There are few instances in life that I can think of that have happened in this sequence of threes, but I know it has happened because I’ve had these thoughts before, how crazy it is that my grandmother is so prophetic.

Of course she is, she’s a grandma! LOL Anyways, yesterday I got a bit of financial security for the next month so thankfully our situation is not as dire as it was say, this time yesterday. The wave of relief that washed over me was palpable once I had that security in my hands.

Then I went to tour the local Lady of America in Bedford. I figured I had the time and of course the interest so I went to check it out. I’d like to go sign up once I get a job.

Yesterday evening, once the hubby was home we were all hanging out in the living room and my phone rang, five minutes later I had an interview scheduled for this afternoon in Downtown Dallas (I kinda miss working down there). Excited doesn’t even encompass my feelings after that.

Then I noticed my phone ringing again but didn’t get to it in time and I didn’t recognize the number so I waited a few minutes to see if they left a voicemail. No dice. I called the number back and it was a company I’d sent my resume to earlier in the day, we spoke for about ten minutes and the scheduled an interview for this morning.

So what do you think, is my Grandma right? Have you ever heard that luck comes in threes?

Tags: dallas, grandmother, hubby, interview, job