Job Search & Covid-19

 There has never been a bigger challenge for the job seeker since the Great Depression but there are still jobs out there.  You just have to find that little something extra that puts YOU in front of the crowd.  Here's a few tips to make your resume/interview rock their world. 

Aside from skills needed to do the job, those listed in that long ad from the company, recruiters also look for other things. 

• Appearance. No one wants to sit next to a slob so put some effort into your interview look. Wear your best and most conservative outfit. (Yes, I used the word conservative! Yikes!) This is important even for the jobs where you won't be required to dress in suits and ties. Putting effort into your clothing shows the company you respect them, that you're seriously trying to put your best forward. 
• Cleanliness. Shower, brush your hair & teeth. Yes, you'd be surprised what walks through the door. Back to; No one wants to sit next to a slob, especially a smelly one. 
• Clean up your resume. If there's a gap don't be afraid to step up and say why. Were you home raising kids? Going to school? Note; Whatever you say don't say you were in jail. That's probably a deal breaker.  See tips for resumes here
• Research that company. In an interview one of the top questions is, What do you know of our company? This is a test. Are you here because you know and like what we do or are you just hitting all the companies hoping someone hires you. They want you to appreciate what they do. They want to hire someone who will care about the job. Your research shows them you took the time to find out who they really are under the name.
• Don't be afraid to tell them your skills. What are you good at? Computer work? What programs can you ace? Or customer service skills? Go prepared with a short story on how you helped someone. Think about these things before going into your interview so you don't freeze up because you're nervous. 
• Be polite and watch your language. Don't answer a question with "yeah." The word is "yes." Say thank you no matter how the interview went. Tell them you appreciate them taking the time to see you. 
• Bring questions. They want someone interested in the job so don't be afraid to ask things like; What would a normal work day look like? What's the biggest challenge for this job? These give you openings to say things like, "Good, I like to keep busy." Or "This sounds really interesting, I love a job that challenges me." 

Hang in there. 

There are jobs out there and you will find one. Just don't give up. Don't be afraid to take a job just beneath your skill level that has room for growth. Get the job and then impress them with your knowledge and skills. 

Resume Killers

What stops the Recruiter from reading your resume? Here's the top reasons they toss you in the "No Thank You" pile. 

Not Capitalizing Your Name
     I've seen this too many times. Name in all lower case, first name capitalized and last name lower case. I really need people who can at least write their name correctly. This shows lack of basic skill or just a total disregard for the job. If you really wanted it, you'd actually read what you wrote before sending it to me.

Grammar or Spelling Mistakes
     Come on! We all have spell check today. There's no reason for this except that you threw something together quickly and didn't care. I need people who won't embarrass us in front of our customers. I want people who know the little things count.

No Company Name
    You say you were an administrative assistant from January 2015 to July 2017 but don't give a name of the company where you worked. So, I'm thinking either you didn't really have a job, or there's a reason you don't want me to know where you worked.

Job Hopping
     If you were only at each job two months at a time a red flag goes up. Why were you moving around so much? Were you fired or do you repeatedly quit? Either way I'm done.  If you were working for a temp agency, put that down. Let me know the reason you had to move so often. If the reason is good, I'll understand.

Keep these things in mind and go update that resume. The jobs are out there. Your resume is the first thing companies see so make it a good one. Sell your skills and experience.
Good luck in that job search!