Job Hunting

How Those With Autism Can Strengthen Their Odds in Applying for Jobs

August 14, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Diagnoses of autism have become more prevalent over the last several years, as has the awareness of the condition. There are many adults on the autism spectrum who are more than capable of holding down jobs and participating in business activities, but many still have problems with the application process. Below are four of the ways that adults with autism can strengthen their chances when it comes to applying for a job.

Work Within Areas of Strength

The next logical step to take is to look at those areas that speak to an individual’s areas of strengths. If you have issues with significant social interactions, for example, it might make sense to look for positions that require less team-based work. If certain physical stimuli are an issue, on the other hand, you may want to seek out fields that don’t tend to regularly feature those problems. Finding a workplace that allows you to embrace your strengths is always a good idea, and it’s usually the best way to put your own unique skills to their best use. In the following video, we can see that some companies are actually looking for people with the special skills Autistic people have. The problem, of course, is the interview. But now companies are finding alternative ways to screen autistic candidates.

The Interview

The best solution would be to [Read more…] about How Those With Autism Can Strengthen Their Odds in Applying for Jobs

4 Tips for Job Searching with Little Work Experience

July 23, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Much like the Hunger Games, corporate America is a dog-eat-dog world. so you must prove your merit in order to get ahead. Without a lot of job experience, demonstrating your value to a company can prove difficult. If you’re new to the world of business, here are some tips on how to get started.

Network, Network, Network

Whether you’re pursuing a lifeguard job for summer break, a warehouse job once out of high school, or your first job out of college, networking is the backbone of good business. According to Payscale.com between 70 and 85 percent of all jobs are found through networking.

Not only does networking help cultivate social skills, but it helps you get your foot in the proverbial door as well. Search online for events happening in your area. You’re bound to meet an assortment of like-minded individuals who match your enthusiasm. After all, it’s not what you know but rather who you know that’ll take you far in business.

Being Unemployed Is Tough… Doing These 8 Things Can Make Your Life Better

July 18, 2019 by Tim McMahon

We hear all the time how good unemployment rates are looking. As of right now, they’re hovering around record lows of just 3.7%. What you don’t hear much about are the people that comprise that 3.7%.

That percentage represents millions of Americans that want to be working right now but can’t find a job that they feel suits their unique talents and sensibilities. If you’re one of the people that are in the midst of searching for a good gig, we want you to know that you shouldn’t treat being unemployed like it’s a permanent problem.

There are a number of things that you can do right now to make the most out of your situation. Here are 8 of the top things that we recommend.

1. Stay on a Schedule

Being unemployed shouldn’t be an excuse for you to stay awake until 3 am and stay sleep until 3 pm. Not only does that schedule make it so you’re not able to fully maximize your time but it also will be hard to transition out of when you do get a job again.

Do everything in your power to manage your schedule the same way that you would if you were working a full-time job. Get up at a reasonable hour, be productive during the day and go to sleep before midnight.

2. Engage With Temp Agencies

If being unemployed is causing you financial stress and you need to earn cash ASAP, head over to a temp agency. Temp agencies are groups that have connections with a variety of companies. When the companies that they work with need jobs filled for limited periods of time, temp agencies send people to fill the need.

That person that gets sent in could be you. Many temp jobs pay rather well. Furthermore, temp jobs have been known to serve as excellent gateways into full-time employment. [Read more…] about Being Unemployed Is Tough… Doing These 8 Things Can Make Your Life Better

5 Best Resume Software Programs to Create the Perfect Resume

July 1, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Looking for a new job? Let’s say you’ve researched the companies and now you know exactly where to send your resume. The best resume software can customize your resume to help you finally land that position.

Job markets today are competitive and hiring managers may eliminate the generic resumes from the pile. So you can’t afford to miss out on opportunities because of a poor resume. Here are five best resume software programs you should consider before applying for your next job.

1. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark allows you to create a single-page interactive resume for free! You can choose from over a dozen prebuilt themes to control the style of your page. You can then add text, photos, videos, and links through its easy interface. You can upload an existing resume and use Adobe’s interactive features to spice up your resume.

Surprisingly, there aren’t any templates included in the software for you to choose from. However, there are free resume templates from Adobe Spark that you can download to get you started! [Read more…] about 5 Best Resume Software Programs to Create the Perfect Resume

How to Get a Good Job Fast When Unemployed

June 18, 2019 by Guest Contributor

With unemployment at the lowest level since 1969 it should be easier to find a job than at any point in recent history. But if you have little business experience, are fresh out of college or have poor interviewing skills you might still be having difficulty finding a job.

Unemployment can be a difficult period in any life. Not having a job can lead to all sorts of financial concerns. It can make you feel like you don’t have a sense of purpose in your day-to-day life, too. If you’re unemployed and wish to change that rapidly, then you can try these things out right away.

Attend Job Fairs

Going to career fairs can be helpful to people who are interested in rapid employment. If you attend these events, you get the rare opportunity to meet employers face-to-face. This is your chance to shine. You can hand our your resume, talk about your educational background, and even discuss your strong suits and career aspirations.

Tell People You Know that You Need a Job

Don’t keep your employment status a mystery. Secrecy won’t help your cause in any way. If you’re keen on getting a job quickly, you should make sure everyone you encounter knows that you’re looking around. Tell your neighbor who works at a marketing agency that you need a position. Tell the postman that you’re trying to find a new job as well. You never know what people may be able to do to help you out. A friend may tell you about paid truck driver training opportunities that you might want to look into further. Or you might hear that Mike Rowe testified before congress about the lack of workers available for blue collar jobs.

“Right now, American manufacturing is struggling to fill 200,000 vacant positions. There are 450,000 openings in trades, transportation and utilities. The skills gap is real, and it’s getting wider. In Alabama, a third of all skilled tradesmen are over 55. They’re retiring fast, and no one is there to replace them. Alabama’s not alone.”

Rather than paying for college you can get paid to train as an electrician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians earn an average of $55,190 but many earn much more.

Job Hunting Anxiety? 4 Tips for Nailing Your Next Interview

April 1, 2019 by Tim McMahon

A job interview is one of the most stressful experiences that you can have, especially if you’re not fully prepared for it. If you want a better chance of nailing your next interview and landing a decent job, consider these four tips.

Research Your Potential Employer

Whether you’ve been interviewing with staffing services, a part-time job or you’re a candidate for your dream job, you will want to research every potential employer who calls you for an interview. It shows that you have an interest in their company, and that you have an attention for detail that will prove to be beneficial for any employer.

Come up with Good Selling Points

The whole point of a job interview is to see if you’re a good fit for the job in question, so you have to sell yourself. Before you go in for your interview, come up with three or four selling points for yourself. These should be reasons why this particular company should want to hire you. What those points are will be determined by what the company really wants in an employee, so decide which of your strengths will be most beneficial for an employer and highlight those during your interview. [Read more…] about Job Hunting Anxiety? 4 Tips for Nailing Your Next Interview

Putting Your Best Foot Forward: How to Make Sure You’re a Good Candidate for Hire

March 26, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Applying for a new job can quickly become stressful and overwhelming when you are unsure of how to go about the process to increase your chances of receiving an additional interview request. When you want to put your best foot forward, there are a few tips and tricks to implement into the process of preparing for an upcoming job interview and filling out available applications.

Tweak Your Resume for Each Individual Position You Are Interested In

Submitting the same resume for each job you are interested in is not advisable, especially if each individual position requires different skills and talents. Always update your resume for each new application you intend to submit to increase your chances of getting noticed and receiving a follow-up email or phone call. Consider the skills, talents, and responsibilities of each position you are interested in to make the appropriate tweaks and changes to your resume prior to submitting your application.

The most important part of your resume is the initial profile that is at the top since it is the first thing a potential employer sees. It should be brief with only about 3 bullet points. The first bullet point should highlight your experience.

So if you are a CPA it might look something like this: [Read more…] about Putting Your Best Foot Forward: How to Make Sure You’re a Good Candidate for Hire

Eat Your Way Into the Job: 5 Dining Tips for a Lunch Interview

January 9, 2019 by Guest Contributor

A lunch interview might be a bit out of the ordinary for you, but it’s the way many employers are choosing to conduct job interviews. If you have been invited to a lunch interview, you might have some concerns about how to present yourself. Some of these tips may sound exactly like what your mother told you growing up, But these are also great dining tips for a lunch interview.

Order an Appropriate Dish

You want to be mindful of what you order. If you order something that is too messy, such as a sloppy joe at a sandwich shop, spaghetti at Olive Garden, or ribs at a barbeque restaurant, you might end up with sauce on your shirt or worse in your lap. Also, should the interviewer be buying, you don’t want to order anything that’s too expensive, like a steak. A good strategy is to ask what the interviewer plans to get, and then make sure you order a dish of comparable value. And don’t order a humongous portion so you come across as greedy or gluttonous. Eat a light meal so you don’t feel weighted down or bloated. Remember this is an interview first and a meal second.

Use Your Napkin and Utensils Correctly

Doing things like putting your napkin in your lap and using forks, knives, and spoons when appropriate might be common sense. However, [Read more…] about Eat Your Way Into the Job: 5 Dining Tips for a Lunch Interview

Getting Your Dream Job: Nailing the Interview

November 17, 2018 by Tim McMahon

Acing your interview can help you land the job of your dreams. If you’re scheduled for an interview, you’ll want to make all the necessary preparations and gain the knowledge that will increase your chances of getting hired. These tips can help you nail your interview and secure your dream job.

Do Your Homework

In addition to knowing everything that’s involved in the position for which you’re applying, learning some other important details can help you establish a better rapport with the interviewer. You’ll likely impress the hiring manager if you know about the company’s history and vision. You can also talk about certain improvements the company has made that you’re aware of and how these improvements have helped with customer approval ratings. These speaking points let your potential employer know that you really are interested in joining the team.

Building Rapport with the Interviewer

Tony Robbins says “Rapport is that spark that happens between people” unfortunately most people have difficulty developing rapport with anyone who is different than themselves. The key to success is to be able to develop rapport with other people. Rapport is created by a feeling of “commonality” i.e. having something in common. And interestingly according to Robbins “Style is more important than substance initially” so in those first few seconds of an interview you need to really work on commonality in your actions. You can have lots of substance and no style and no one will ever get to “see your stuff” because you haven’t developed that rapport. Watch this video to see how to build rapport.

Stay Calm

Job interviews can be stressful situations, but it’s important to try to remain calm while being questioned. Doing some practice interviews beforehand with friends, family or mentors can help you prepare yourself for the big day. It might even be a good idea to do some yoga or meditation the day of your interview to put your body and mind into a more relaxed and focused state. The Balance Careers also notes the importance of body language and how you should sit with your back straight and your arms uncrossed to avoid looking nervous, defensive or disengaged during the interview itself.

Believe in Yourself

Nerves and a little anxiety about the interview is common and natural. Your interviewers have your future in their hands. One decision can mean a new start and many opportunities or disappointment and maybe even some discouragement when looking to the future. However, there are little things you can do to boost your confidence and lessen your nervousness. Shortly before your meeting, find a quiet corner and hold a power pose for a few minutes. Standing in a confident way can help you feel the confidence of the pose and believe in yourself a little more.

According to Dr. Cuddy in the video above two of the best predictors of success in an interview are genuine enthusiasm and lack of awkwardness.

Be Yourself

If you pretend to be someone you’re not during your interview or misrepresent yourself on your resume, the hiring manager may detect your insincerity and be less inclined to offer you the job. Obviously, you’ll want to remain professional, but you shouldn’t be afraid to show some of the best sides of your personality to make a great impression. Sharing some personal stories that relate to the job can definitely work to your advantage.

It’s also important to be honest throughout your interview and on your resume, especially when it comes to your work experience and certifications. Unlike Frank Abignale, Jr. who was portrayed in the movie “Catch Me If You Can” it is much more difficult to pretend to be a Doctor (or other Medical Professional) today. Many industries have access to nationwide databases, like medproid.com for the medical industry, to double check your qualifications. For example, if you apply for a job at a hospital as a nurse and lie about your certification and licensing, the hospital can access a real time HCP license validation service and discover that you’re not who you say you are. In this case, you won’t be given the job and may even face consequences because of it. 10 People Who Pretended To Be Doctors

The job interview is your gateway to the career of your dreams, so you’ll want to do everything possible to achieve success. By doing well on your interview, you’ll likely find yourself starting your first day of work in no time.

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How to Impress Your Interviewer After the Interview

October 23, 2018 by Guest Contributor

The labor market has always been a competition. Employers strive to hire the best candidates for every position because 70% of the efficiency of a business depends on the quality of the employees. Here are some tricks that can help you to present the best impression to a potential employer and land the perfect job.

Choose the Right Career

There is no “right” age for starting a career. The perfect career requires not only education but also the right mindset, which, unfortunately, doesn’t come along with the diploma. When people come to an interview with only the salary in mind, there is a good chance that they won’t be the best employee. So companies have an incentive to not only search for competence but also for a good fit in the company culture.

Even if the first interview was successful, be prepared, because many positions require a second interview with your future direct manager. Some positions, especially creative ones, involve performing a test task. Some companies, especially large ones, watch the bidder literally from the moment you enter the door until the moment you leave. Secretaries can be asked to give their opinion of you while you waited.

The three major phases of a job application are:

Pre-Interview-
What you do to get to the interview
The Interview-
The actual interview itself what you say and do face-to-face
Post Interview-
What you do after the interview to help them remember your favorably.

How to Impress Your Interviewer After the Interview

“The Last Shall Be First” –

If at all possible try to [Read more…] about How to Impress Your Interviewer After the Interview