Early in my job search I had a very strange experience. It was sort of an interview ..... No, well to be honest, I would not call it an interview because I never really got any solid information about the company or the advertised position. As a matter of fact, when I asked a couple of questions about the job, the interviewer authoritatively responded, "I ask the questions." At that moment, there was no doubt, I was in the wrong place.
Yes, we have all heard that in order to make a favorable impression during an interview we should research a company beforehand. However, there is another reason to research a company, which is rarely discussed. Research can help job hunters decide if a company or job is a good fit for them. A bit of research can be helpful in preventing a job seeker from wasting time, gas and money on dead end interviews.
Do not get so excited about landing an interview until you neglect to do your best to check-out the company. This is especially true when it comes to lesser known companies advertising on job boards. Below are a few steps that I should have followed had I known at the time that unusual job opportunities come in many forms and not just the email variety.
1. Look at the company's website -- If there is no website or if the website is under construction, incomplete and/or filled with typos and dead links this may be a bad sign. If the company's name is vague or very similar to another company's name making it difficult to locate the correct website then call the company and ask for their URL.
2. If there is a website check it for information on the company's officers and staff as well as a list of current and past customers or clients. Make sure that you are not thrown-off by a list of industries. Check the site for the company's physical address and a phone number. If the company has offices across the county check the address in your area and make sure that it is the same address and phone number that you were given. Search the site for testimonials, news releases, and a history of the company.
3. Look for the company and members of the staff on LinkedIn, FaceBook and Twitter most companies are on at least one or more of these social networking sites. If the company has a paid LinkedIn account and you can't see the information ask one of your contacts with a paid account to look up the company for you.
4. You may also want to run the company's name through the rip-off report at http://www.ripoffreport.com/ I cannot guarantee that The Rip-off Report has posts on every rip-off out there but it is a pretty decent place to start. Another place to check is The Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org/online/.
There are also a few things that you might want to pay attention to once you arrive for your interview.
5. When you arrive at the location, check for the company's name in places where a company's name can usually be found such as in the building directory, the front door, a sign or lettering in the lobby of their offices. This is especially true when it comes to a marketing firm. It is rare to find a marketing company that fails to market themselves and their brand.
6. Notice the furnishings are there folding chairs, does the furniture look mix-matched with old pieces mixed with new pieces and expensive items mixed with cheaper ones? Do the walls look as if they could use a coat of paint? Notice if there are several offices but only a few appear to be occupied.
6. When you enter the office look around and note if there are already a three, four or more other applicants either filling out applications or waiting to be interviewed. Also this may seem strange, but note if there is a radio playing loud music nearby.
You will be more likely to find a job that's right for you if you do your research and pay attention to the details.
For more information, check-out this forum titled, This Job is a Scam The posts are dated, but the information may be relevant to your job search.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
WATCH YOUR BLOG
Blogging can be a good way to gain an employer's attention by displaying your knowledge and skills, while demonstrating your social networking expertise. However, you should be careful regarding the image that you project.
Employers want to believe that their employees respect themselves as well as others. Another thing that really interests employers is how you handle interpersonal relationships. So don't refer to or respond to friends or foes using profane language. Just try to steer clear of the "F" bomb and the word that rhymes with witch. Under no circumstances, discuss your drunken escapades. Even if you have a job this may cost you a promotion or worse.
If you have a problem with a company, try not reveal the company's name. A prospective employer will feel that if they hire you and things don't workout you will become a one person public relations nightmare.
Show that you try to obey rules, are honest and responsible. Don't tell stories about how you argued with police officers or ran traffic lights. Don't boast about how a store clerk gave you too much change and you kept it without disclosing the error.
If you just can't help it and you just must let off some steam make your blog private. However, remember even this is not 100 percent safe or foolproof. It only takes one person from your inner circle to copy, paste and email one of your verbal gems or indiscretions to one of their friends and a rant can end-up off in cyberspace for anyone to see for years to come.
Employers want to believe that their employees respect themselves as well as others. Another thing that really interests employers is how you handle interpersonal relationships. So don't refer to or respond to friends or foes using profane language. Just try to steer clear of the "F" bomb and the word that rhymes with witch. Under no circumstances, discuss your drunken escapades. Even if you have a job this may cost you a promotion or worse.
If you have a problem with a company, try not reveal the company's name. A prospective employer will feel that if they hire you and things don't workout you will become a one person public relations nightmare.
Show that you try to obey rules, are honest and responsible. Don't tell stories about how you argued with police officers or ran traffic lights. Don't boast about how a store clerk gave you too much change and you kept it without disclosing the error.
If you just can't help it and you just must let off some steam make your blog private. However, remember even this is not 100 percent safe or foolproof. It only takes one person from your inner circle to copy, paste and email one of your verbal gems or indiscretions to one of their friends and a rant can end-up off in cyberspace for anyone to see for years to come.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
YOUR JOB SEARCH AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
People are putting a lot of things on the back burner until the economy turns around. A good number of people are finding ways to make do with what they have instead of getting something new. Fewer people are eating out and more people are shopping with coupons. However, there is one area where people should not skimp during these difficult economic times and that is in their relationships.
Who is not trying to save a few bucks these days? It’s a good thing to do but it does not mean people should skimp on their relationships with family and friends. After all one day this economic situation will pass, but for some the question is will friends and family be with me on the other side of this recession.
In these days of networking and connecting online, many relationships are suffering during this economic decline. Friends are dumping friends, relatives are becoming more distant and many couples are finding communications are strained. In many households there may be at least one person who has experienced a salary cut or job loss. And as high unemployment numbers persist many people are finding themselves moving from the category of unfortunate victim of the economy to person to be avoided.
While most people want to be supportive the strain may be showing in some relationships. For many who are still working hearing about job loss from a friend or family member can stir uncomfortable feelings. These include feelings of pity, uncertainty, fear and sometimes feelings of guilt for being relieved that the recession has not financially affected them. To avoid these feelings some people opt to distance themselves from their less fortunate friends and family members. Many couples have separated from or contemplated tossing their unemployed mate out of the life raft.
Losing a job or experiencing a significant pay-cut can be a very painful way to find out who is with you for the long-haul and who are your “fair” weather friends. It can reveal where blood is thinner than water and demonstrate where that spouse or family member with the bossy take charge attitude seems to come-up short in the area of empathy.
No matter which side of the coin you’re on if you are a person who values your relationships there are a few things that you can do to maintain your relationships. For individuals suffering financial loss it may mean holding back some information from friends who are not in a situation where they can offer any form of assistance or offer suggestions. Face the fact, some people are not good listeners or problem solvers. So do not discuss what is going on at the job or during your job search with them.
If you need to vent save that for friends and family members who are willing to listen and able to offer support and encouragement. If you’re on the other side of the coin with a friend or family member who is experiencing difficulties and you value the relationship the best thing that you can do is to learn to listen. The worse thing that you can do is make yourself scarce. Believe me they will notice that you're missing.
As for a spouse remember why you fell in love in the first place. If your spouse is telling you that they are looking for work, trust that they are doing everything possible to find a job. If you have some suggestions make sure that they sound like suggestions and not accusations. Be willing to try to understand the situation and make sure your responses and suggestions don’t sound judgmental.
Even when things are going well financially, most couples don’t agree on everything. However, when there is a disagreement and a spouse is unemployed, don’t remind the person of how long they have been out-of-work. They already know how long its been. Also, try not to be too hard on them about not doing housework during the day. It may appear that there is enough time in the day for them to search for work and do chores, but the truth is it takes a full day to search for work. If they are taking time from the search in order to cook, clean, run errors and pick-up kids there is a good chance that the search will last longer.
When a spouse wants to change jobs but can’t due to the economy and they start to vent about work conditions or salary cuts, try to be supportive. Remember, these days it’s best to discuss these matters at home than to vent with co-workers. It is also healthy for them to vent every now-and-then to relieve stress and to have their feelings validated by another person.
If you are the person experiencing employment issues, remember that unless your spouse has been unemployed during this particular recession they have no idea of what your days are like. Talk with them about your efforts to find a job, but do not expect complete understanding. This is the first time in history that the country is going through a major economic recession and the Internet is the primary tool for conducting a job search. Only those who are currently conducting a job search or those who have successfully completed a search within the past year will understand how you spend your days.
So when speaking with your spouse, friends, or other family members about your job search skip the small details and focus on measurable results such as inquiries from companies, interviews, networking opportunities, meetings with employment agencies, and applications completed. These are things that anyone who has ever looked for work can wrap their arms around and understand.
Times of economic uncertainty are trying, but by being sensitive to others no matter their circumstances and by managing your relationships you should be able to make it through this period with your family and friendships intact.
Who is not trying to save a few bucks these days? It’s a good thing to do but it does not mean people should skimp on their relationships with family and friends. After all one day this economic situation will pass, but for some the question is will friends and family be with me on the other side of this recession.
In these days of networking and connecting online, many relationships are suffering during this economic decline. Friends are dumping friends, relatives are becoming more distant and many couples are finding communications are strained. In many households there may be at least one person who has experienced a salary cut or job loss. And as high unemployment numbers persist many people are finding themselves moving from the category of unfortunate victim of the economy to person to be avoided.
While most people want to be supportive the strain may be showing in some relationships. For many who are still working hearing about job loss from a friend or family member can stir uncomfortable feelings. These include feelings of pity, uncertainty, fear and sometimes feelings of guilt for being relieved that the recession has not financially affected them. To avoid these feelings some people opt to distance themselves from their less fortunate friends and family members. Many couples have separated from or contemplated tossing their unemployed mate out of the life raft.
Losing a job or experiencing a significant pay-cut can be a very painful way to find out who is with you for the long-haul and who are your “fair” weather friends. It can reveal where blood is thinner than water and demonstrate where that spouse or family member with the bossy take charge attitude seems to come-up short in the area of empathy.
No matter which side of the coin you’re on if you are a person who values your relationships there are a few things that you can do to maintain your relationships. For individuals suffering financial loss it may mean holding back some information from friends who are not in a situation where they can offer any form of assistance or offer suggestions. Face the fact, some people are not good listeners or problem solvers. So do not discuss what is going on at the job or during your job search with them.
If you need to vent save that for friends and family members who are willing to listen and able to offer support and encouragement. If you’re on the other side of the coin with a friend or family member who is experiencing difficulties and you value the relationship the best thing that you can do is to learn to listen. The worse thing that you can do is make yourself scarce. Believe me they will notice that you're missing.
As for a spouse remember why you fell in love in the first place. If your spouse is telling you that they are looking for work, trust that they are doing everything possible to find a job. If you have some suggestions make sure that they sound like suggestions and not accusations. Be willing to try to understand the situation and make sure your responses and suggestions don’t sound judgmental.
Even when things are going well financially, most couples don’t agree on everything. However, when there is a disagreement and a spouse is unemployed, don’t remind the person of how long they have been out-of-work. They already know how long its been. Also, try not to be too hard on them about not doing housework during the day. It may appear that there is enough time in the day for them to search for work and do chores, but the truth is it takes a full day to search for work. If they are taking time from the search in order to cook, clean, run errors and pick-up kids there is a good chance that the search will last longer.
When a spouse wants to change jobs but can’t due to the economy and they start to vent about work conditions or salary cuts, try to be supportive. Remember, these days it’s best to discuss these matters at home than to vent with co-workers. It is also healthy for them to vent every now-and-then to relieve stress and to have their feelings validated by another person.
If you are the person experiencing employment issues, remember that unless your spouse has been unemployed during this particular recession they have no idea of what your days are like. Talk with them about your efforts to find a job, but do not expect complete understanding. This is the first time in history that the country is going through a major economic recession and the Internet is the primary tool for conducting a job search. Only those who are currently conducting a job search or those who have successfully completed a search within the past year will understand how you spend your days.
So when speaking with your spouse, friends, or other family members about your job search skip the small details and focus on measurable results such as inquiries from companies, interviews, networking opportunities, meetings with employment agencies, and applications completed. These are things that anyone who has ever looked for work can wrap their arms around and understand.
Times of economic uncertainty are trying, but by being sensitive to others no matter their circumstances and by managing your relationships you should be able to make it through this period with your family and friendships intact.
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