Q TIPS:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Job-hunting tips from the June 18, 2001 issue of QuintZine.
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."
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.
