OK, readers, pinkies extended. . .
it's time for our annual JOB SEARCH ETIQUETTE ISSUE
in which we explore the courtesies, niceties, and behaviors --
both verbal and nonverbal -- that can give you the edge in the
job market.
Feature Article: Keys to Phone Interview Etiquette
Phone Interview Etiquette Can Propel You to the Next Step in the Hiring Process
"One of the parts of my job that I love the most
is conducting phone interviews with candidates," writes
regular QuintZine contributor Maureen Crawford Hentz.
"This past week I've conducted more than 50 of these
interviews, with other members of the staff team
conducting at least 70 more! Since this experience is so
fresh in my mind, it's a great time to share
phone-interviewing advice.
"Phone interviews are terrifying to some job seekers
and absolutely painless to others," Hentz continues.
"Regardless of your feelings about phone interviews,
you can develop techniques and skills that will maximize
your phone interview's impact on the hiring staff."
Certain rules or protocols should guide a
job-seeker's conduct. Some people call these
rules good manners, but more refer to them as
business etiquette. By adhering to proper
etiquette, a job-seeker can gain a perceptual
edge over other job-seekers that can lead to
a job offer.
How comfortable are you with the etiquette of
job-hunting? Put yourself to the test. Take
our job-hunting etiquette quiz and see how well you do.
CareerJournal.com bills itself as "the Internet's
premier free site for executives." Since content
comes from the powerful editorial resources of
The Wall Street Journal, you know the site is a class act.
Content includes daily updates of critical news,
features and trends that are relevant to those searching
for a new position or striving to improve an existing job.
CareerJournal.com works with top companies of all sizes to
offer employment opportunities to candidates in a
searchable database that's updated twice weekly.
Positions featured include senior and general management,
sales, marketing, finance, technology and a range of
related fields.
Job hunters can also research publicly traded companies
that post their jobs on CareerJournal.com with one-click
access to WSJ.com's Briefing Books.
CareerJournal.com's Main Page highlights the day's top
stories and Find A Job and JobAlert features. By using
the navigational table of contents down the left-hand
side of the screen, visitors can link to an extensive
collection of high-quality editorial content, databases,
and other services.
If you're interested, for example, in more information
on this QuintZine's theme of job-search etiquette,
you can do a search of CareerJournal.com's articles
and turn up quite a few results.
Jobs
for People who Care
-- a new job site where job-seekers seeking employment in the caring community -- healthcare, education, charities, government and other caring positions --
can post your resume, search for jobs by category, and network with other job seekers. From Charity Careers.com. Free to job-seekers.
Maine Careers in MaineToday.com -- where job-seekers looking for
employment in Maine can complete a career profile that then matches you (anonymously) to jobs from employers who need
your skills, search or browse the help wanted classifieds, or browse the employer profiles and review their
current job openings. Also includes some career resources. Free to job-seekers.
PaintSquare's
Career Center -- qualified job-seekers in the protective and marine coatings market can post your resume,
search the jobs database, use the employment resources, and apply for jobs online. Employers range from coating
companies and equipment suppliers to consultants and contractors. Free to job-seekers.
SchmoozeMonger.com
-- a great networking spot that refers to itself as "The Networking Uberportal." Find various philosophies and
strategies for networking, a fun online game focused on networking issues ("Who Wants to be a Schmoozing
Zillionaire"), a networking learning center, the Schmoozeletter (e-zine), and much more. Free to job-seekers.
Find even more career and job site additions to Quintessential Careers by visiting our
Latest
Additions section.
Dianne writes: "I'm really enjoying reading your
articles. The quizzes and test are fun. I love your
Web site, it so informational. Can you direct me to
the section on:
Job Interviews on the phone
Questions I should ask the interviewer
I have a phone interview coming up."
Penni writes: "I was just wondering about career opportunities
in podiatry. It would seem like a good field to go into
considering the aging population. However, when I go to
a health professionals recruitment site on the Internet
to see what opportunities are available, they always say
that there are no opportunities found or no matches found.
Why would a career in such demand not have any jobs available
for recent grads. Do you understand this?"
Laura writes: "I've been on two interviews and both,
I think, went
rather well. The first interview lasted
two hours, and I talked to three different managers.
A second interview I had lasted about an hour, and I also
talked to three different people. At each interview I was
told I had 'the experience' to do the job, had good answers
to their questions, and one manager said that he sees no trouble
in me getting the job. And of course they said they would call
me back. Should I really read into anything the comments from
the employer -- and why am I not hired? What am I doing wrong?"
Tabatha writes: "I am 13 and looking for a summer job. I live
in DeLand, Florida, and I am good with children. I am responsible
and honest, I can do just about anything that older teens do.
I was wondering if you can find a job in DeLand for me."
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Yet another victim of the decline of the dot-coms may be
casual attire in the workplace, Business Week reported recently.
After dot-coms inspired casual dress all over the business world,
some companies are now rethinking their dress codes and
reverting to more professional attire. One survey also showed
that 34 percent of executives felt that casual dressers were
starting to go too far and that "business casual" had devolved
into "weekend casual." The casual attire backlash is yet another
reason to call a company before an interview to make sure your
interview attire will be in step with the employer's standards.
And remember that it's always better to err on the side of
conservatism.
When you interview, let your appearance tell a story, says
Diana LeGere, of Executive Final Copy. "How many times do you
judge a book by its cover or, sadly, a person by his or her clothes? 'Fake
it till you make it' goes a long way. Independent researchers have
concluded that appearance has a profound impact on how others will
relate to you. If you don't believe it, take two trips, wearing
different outfits, shop in a fine department store, and take notes.
On one day wear a suit, and on the other day wear casual jeans and a
sloppy coat. See what I mean? Intelligence, success and income
levels are just a few of the characteristics assumed by appearance.
Some interviewers, in fact, will reject solely based on appearance.
Once that happens, your credentials and employment history
are irrelevant. The first 90 seconds are crucial!"
This Q Tip courtesy of Diana C. LeGere president of
Executive Final Copy and
employment coordinator for Greenbacks Bringing Hope
Foundation in Salt Lake City, UT.
HR.com's David Creelman recently compiled some
helpful observations from HR managers on how they read
resumes. While HR people may look at
resumes slightly differently from the way hiring
managers do, the insight in Creelman's
compilation is valuable for job-seekers.
Here, we paraphrase Creelman's article in a way that
sheds light for job-hunters:
Be sure your resume indicates a clear career progression.
Even if you use a functional resume format that de-emphasizes dates,
you can include a bare-bones work history that shows how your
career has progressed.
Include keywords that relate to the specific job you're applying for.
Generally speaking, unless you're in a very creative field, stay
away from brightly colored resume papers and highly unusual presentations.
The HR person can more easily glean key information if your resume
is in a more conventional format.
An HR manager who hires for entry-level office services
and all levels of administrative assistants notes that
key areas for employer scrutiny are years of experience in a
related field and software or equipment proficiencies.
An HR manager who receives 50-150 e-mailed resumes daily
is annoyed by the scattershot approach of jobseekers who answer
ads for jobs they're not remotely qualified for. Don't irritate
employers by sending out your resume willy-nilly hoping
the blanket coverage will result in interviews.
Instead, target carefully, and apply only for
jobs for which you're truly qualified and interested in.
Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities.
Employers know the responsibilities of the jobs they hire for;
they want to know what you've done above and beyond those
duties.
Tailor your resume, and especially your cover letter,
to the specific job you're applying for. Tell how you
qualify for THAT job. Some HR people who claim they
don't even read cover letters list this lack of
specificity as the reason they ignore the letters.
Says Karen Geney of Hemophilia of Georgia: "I'm looking
for someone who took the time to read our ad and to tailor a
letter to our requirements."
Creelman concludes that "We [recruiters] all seem to face the
same problem of overload. We need to get relevant information
quickly. Job candidates do themselves a favor by tailoring
the resume and cover letter and making sure the key points
are easy to see."
Calling All Career Counselors!
Would you like to make a credited
contribution to our special Aug. 13 Back to Campus
issue of QuintZine, featuring articles and sidebars
on the value and importance of college career services
offices? Deadline: Aug. 1. Write us for details at
kathy@quintcareers.com.
QuintZine: Topics in Upcoming Issues
WATCH FOR feature articles on these topics in upcoming
issues of QuintZine:
* Case-based interviews
* Guide to the company visit
* Researching your next job
* Letters of recommendation and references
* Career Portfolios
* How to handle a request for a salary history
* How to land an internship
* How to get a promotion
* Should you get an MBA?
* Leverage your accomplishments
* Older workers and age discrimination
* The value of a college education
* Networking timetable for college students
* The vital role of the college career services office
* Using key marketing tools to positions yourself in the job market
* Quintessential Career Profiles of YOU, our readers
* Q&As with well-known career experts
* Book reviews
. . . and much, much more!
Quintessential Careers now offers writing services
for those who have been asked to give a speech and
need assistance in researching and writing their
remarks.
RESUMES * JOB SEARCH CORRESPONDENCE FROM TRUSTED EXPERTS * COVER LETTERS
We create resumes,
cover letters, curriculum vitae, thank-you and
follow-up letters, and list-formatted documents,
such as salary histories and reference lists.
We also can provide critiques and makeovers of
your resume or cover letter. Credit cards accepted.
