Four ways to follow-up after an application

Four ways to follow-up after an application by Michael Cheary ‘You can reach them by railway’…OK, so that’s not strictly true. However, although not all the words to Oleta Adams’* 1990 hit are applicable when it comes to following up after an application, the sentiment certainly rings true.And with 82% of recruiters indicating that it reflects well on a candidate when they get back in touch, one thing is clear: it doesn’t matter how you follow-up, just follow-up if you can (hint: you definitely can).Here are four ways to get in touch after your application:1. Via emailThe number one preferred choice of communication for recruiters comes in the form of email.In fact, the majority of hiring managers we asked indicated in a recent survey that this is the best way for candidates to follow up after an application.Put a few short sentences together thanking them for their time in reading your application, and ask directly if there are any questions they have regarding your CV or credentials for the job.Although n ot all recruiters will get back to you, sending a follow-up email demonstrates your enthusiasm and desire for the position, and could just be the difference between you and a candidate with similar credentials.Just make sure to send it from a professional-sounding address. A message from loverboy_69@emailaddress.com with the subject line ‘call me back’, is unlikely to be well-received.Job search: Dos and donts  Interview thank you email template  2. Via phoneAh, the direct approach.While it may initially seem intrusive to phone an employer for feedback, in certain industries it can be an excellent way to demonstrate your initiative.For sales or PR positions, for example, hiring managers often welcome phone calls from candidates because it shows you have no fear when it comes to calling clients.It can be as easy as asking whether they’ve received your application, and enquiring as to when they’re looking to make their decision. If you’ve been unsuccessful, ask for feedback and thank them for their time.And if they haven’t made their decision yet? You’ve just ensured that your CV is instantly more memorable.Why havent they called? The importance of asking for feedback  3. Via social networksIf you have the name of the recruiter, or you’ve spoken with them directly, it’s perfectly acceptable to consider adding them to your social networks.Not only is it an excellent way to keep in touch, it’s also the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate the size of your network and your position within the industry.If you have a number of sector-specific contacts within easy access, you might start to see recruiters being more receptive when it comes to your CV.Just be careful when choosing your method of communication. Adding them on LinkedIn is fine. Following them on Instagram may not be…Social media: How to make your profiles recruiter-safeFive ways social media is costing you the job4. Via letterIt may seem old-fashioned, but putting a personal t ouch on your application is a great way to demonstrate your dedication.All you need are a few (possibly hand-written) short lines to reiterate why you’re the right person for the role, and a polite thank you for their kind consideration. It’s as simple as that.If you work in a creative discipline, you could also use this opportunity to show off your skills. Sketches, samples or even sending a slick-looking business card across could all be cute ways to show you really care about your career.Final thoughtsOK, so now you’ve decided on the how, it’s time to take care of the when.In fact, getting the timing right can be just as important as the method you choose to take. If a number of people are applying for the same role, for example, the hiring manager undoubtedly deserves a couple of weeks to adequately analyse all of the applicants.However, if you’re hammering the phones after not hearing back for just a few days, you can rightly expect them to be perturbed. Patience, rat her than persistence, will often win the race.Finally, not hearing back after an application can be tough-to-take, and is undoubtedly one of the most frustrating parts of the jobseeking process. However, taking the time out to contact a recruiter directly could be a complete game-changer, and one which you should always consider.So don’t wait for them to get in touch. After all, what do you have to lose?What to do after a job interview  Six reasons you didnt get the job*Originally by Brenda Russell. Obviously.  The most frustrating thing about looking for a job  Lets face it, not hearing back from recruiters definitely ranks as one of the most annoying parts of jobseeking.We spoke to a group of university students to find out what else frustrates them about looking for a job Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmess age hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Cover Letters CVs

Law School Resume Template - How to Write Your Own Law School Curriculum Vitae

Law School Resume Template - How to Write Your Own Law School Curriculum VitaeLaw school resumes should be much more than just a list of names. This is simply a waste of your time and everyone else's as well. You want to come off as a professional and should possess the ability to present yourself in the best light possible.You will find many different templates for a law school resume on the internet. Some are actually very helpful, while others are not. In this article, we will discuss the importance of a law school resume template. We will also give you a couple tips on how to write your own law school resume.The most important piece of a law school curriculum vitae is your objective. You must set out what it is that you hope to accomplish with this particular career. Do you hope to make some great money? Learn how to write a law school resume and find a law school resume template that you can use to create your own.When creating your law school curriculum vitae, you will want to make sure that you outline all of your desired and already accomplished objectives. This will allow for your resume to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Law schools are very particular about their admissions requirements and so are very meticulous about checking the curriculum vitae of every applicant. They are really looking for someone who is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in their field. This will help your resume stand out.There are many different things that you should include in your law school curriculum vitae. For example, you will want to list all of your degree courses that you have attended so far. You will also want to list your law school major, your undergraduate major and your undergraduate coursework. By listing these things down, you will get a better idea of what you are trying to accomplish in this particular job search. When creating your law school curriculum vitae, you should include an objective statement at the end. This should be short and simpl e but very powerful. Explain what it is that you hope to accomplish by choosing a particular law school. You can tell this in a couple of ways. You can either talk about the area of the law you are applying for or you can express a strong preference for a specific topic.Another important part of your law school curriculum vitae is the cover page. You will want to include information that is very relevant to your field. The purpose of a law school resume template is to help you highlight what you can offer law schools.The law school curriculum vitae will be one of the most influential pieces of your application packet. Make sure that you use a template that gives you as much room as possible. If you don't include enough information, you may end up missing out on getting interviews that could lead to you securing a coveted spot in the class of 2020.

Dilbert Interview Preparation or Good Luck

Dilbert Interview Preparation or Good Luck Bad Preparation or Bad Luck Every Friday, we try and bring the funny side of careers. A light-hearted approach to jobs, interviews, etc. Todays comic strip is from my favourite engineer and counsellor Dilbert. The strip is a hilarious to the end, but it has a subtle message in there if you look carefully PREPARATION is key. Yes, doing background research on a company is important. For more information on doing a background research to achieve a good result in interview or graduate application, see my post Doing Background Research for graduate applications and graduate jobs. This week we have had two new bloggers contributing to Career Geek Blog and have started discussion around some new issues. Emily Hankinson writes about Virtual Internships a love story, where she asks if it is a way forward and brings on experience from someone who has done one such internship. Erica Roberts contributed a very good article with some strong questions whether Universities should inform about job opportunities at start of uni. Will Graduates Work For Nothing? She recognises the importance of internships and is doing one now, what do you think of the points shes raised in her article. Subscribe to Career Geeks Bi-monthly Newsletter  to stay up-to-date with careers information and tips tricks. (Image Credit: Scott Adams, Dilbert) 9

Job Hunters Think Youre Not in Sales Think Again! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Job Hunters Think You’re Not in ‘Sales’ Think Again! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Editor’s Note: This blog is a modified excerpt from professional “headhunter” and bestselling job-hunting book author Skip Freeman’s next book in the “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets series of job-hunting books, CAREER STALLED? How to Get Your Career Back in High Gear and Land the Job You Deserve-Your Dream Job. Publication is scheduled for early 2013. ________________________________________________________ Once I decide to present a candidate to one of my client companies to fill one of their open positions, I stress to the candidate that, from that point forward, he or she should consider himself/herself in the sales business. As you can perhaps imagine, I quite often get some stammering and stuttering from candidates, who usually say something like this: “No, Skip, I am a chemist (or whatever). I don’t know anything about sales!” My usual response? “Au contraire. You’re definitely in the sales business, whether you know it or not, or whether you like it or not. And you definitely need to start thinkingâ€"and actingâ€"like a salesperson from this moment on!” If you are currently in a new job search, or expect to be sometime in the near future, in order to be successful in landing your new job, you have to adopt this same type of thinking, this same attitude. Here is how I strongly advise you to approach each and every career opportunity you pursue during a new job search: Understand that you have a “product” to sell in the “marketplace” known as the job market, and that product is YOU! Initially, at least, it is uncomfortable for most people to think of themselves as, well, a “product,” and that’s completely understandable, of course. But the fact of the matter is, whenever you enter the job market as a candidate, that is precisely how you must view yourself, as a product being offered for sale at a given “asking” price (salary). (You can bet your life that this is the way your potential “customers,” i.e., hiring managers and the companies they represent, will initially view you!) Plus, you, like all “products,” also have certain real and perceived product characteristics, e.g., your education, experience, skill sets, career achievements and accomplishments, etc., a.k.a. your “professional brand,” that you will be (or better be) “showcasing” during your entire new job search. In other words, the product you are offering for sale consists of all of the factors that go into making up the professional YOU! You also have a “sales brochure” for the “product” you’re selling, and it’s normally referred to as your résumé. If you want to ensure that the product that is YOU stands out from the competition, i.e., other job seekers vying for the same position(s) as you, you will therefore want to make sure that you have a high-quality “sales brochure.” To put this issue in perspective, imagine that you’re shopping for a “high-ticket” item, such as an expensive vehicle (which would actually amount to the equivalent of an average annual salary in today’s job market!). When you ask the salesperson for a sales brochure, she hands you one that is visually unappealing, totally disorganized and includes the following “sell” copy: Our vehicle features: Four wheels Four doors A steering wheel Can take you from “point A” to “point B” Absurd? Of course it is! But it is also analogous to the approach many job seekers take in their “sales brochures,” i.e., their résumés! In every sense of the term, most come across to hiring managers (and corporate recruiters and “headhunters”) as nothing more than “me too” candidates and are immediately eliminated from considerationâ€"just as you wouldn’t even consider buying an expensive vehicle from our fictitious dealership.           Like every other “salesperson”â€"or at least every other successful salespersonâ€"  you must be prepared to engage in many “sales calls” (prospecting activities) before actually making a “sale” (getting a job offer). Salespeople would be elated if all they had to do was to make one or two sales calls and “close” the deal and make the sale. But that certainly isn’t how it works at all. They have to continually prospect (and network) among potential customers, utilizing a variety of media and approaches: the telephone, email, direct mail and, of course, in person, in order to “stay in the game” and ultimately make a sale. Just coincidentally, as a job hunter, you have to be prepared to do these same things, and effectively use these same media and approaches, if you want to stay in the game end up “making the sale,” i.e., getting a job offer. There are few “shortcuts” in the sales business. This is equally true when it comes to landing a new job in today’s extremely challenging job marketâ€"don’t expect to find many “shortcuts” there, either. Remember: Selling is NOT “telling,” it’s asking! When is the last time you bought anything from a salesperson who insisted on overwhelming you with his or her “sales pitch,” never giving you a chance to ask probing questions about the product or service being considered? (If you’re like most people, your answer quite likely is NEVER!) The salesperson who does not, or will not, take the time to learn and understand what the “customer’s” needs and desires are before trying to make the sale is rarely among the top salespeople! As a job hunter, you also need to learn what the “customer,” the hiring manager, really wants and needs in a position he or she is trying to fill before going into your “sales pitch”! How do you accomplish that? By doing research before making initial contact, and then by asking necessary clarifying questions about the position once you actually make contact with the hiring manager, either on the telephone or in person. Successful salespeople know, instinctively, that most customers will tell them (the salesperson) how they (the customer) can be “sold.” All the salesperson has to do before making his or her “sales pitch,” then, is simply  listen to what the customer is telling him or her. Actually quite simple, huh? Also very good, sound advice for job hunters trying to learn the best way to sell the value of their own candidacy to hiring managers! Learning and then effectively applying tried-and-true sales techniques to the job hunt is NOT rocket science! When you think about it, it really is nothing more than common sense, and the payoff can be tremendous! Why? Because most of your ‘competitors,” others job hunters going after the same career opportunities as you, will not even attempt to learn, let alone adopt and then effectively employ these techniques during their job search. As a matter of fact, most won’t even think about it! Author: Skip Freeman  is the author of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever!  and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of  The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and RD professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.

Craigslist Resume Writing: How to Make Your Job Search Experience Easier

Craigslist Resume Writing: How to Make Your Job Search Experience EasierFor a new job seeker, writing a Craigslist resume is the next best thing to sending one in. It's important to remember that you can always contact your local Craigslist office with any questions you have before sending in your application. A Craigslist resume should be something professional looking.The first step in crafting a killer Craigslist resumes is to list all of your career goals. This will provide a structured place for your career profile and can assist the job search. Some people write their career goals in the body of the application, while others include it in the cover letter or introduction section. The ideal way to write your career goals is to list them in your introduction section or in the body of your resume.Your resume should also include your greatest achievements. These should be for job seekers to use as a reference as they research you. If you've had any recent or upcoming job openings, give these out as well. You should also make sure to list your skills you can offer and your abilities if you are applying for a position that requires you to do some extra work.Craigslist resume writing usually refers to what type of position you're seeking. Whether you're seeking a job at McDonalds or a position with GE, your Craigslist resume will be different than someone who is seeking a job in a construction company. Start by listing the type of position you are seeking and then go on to detail the qualifications and skills needed to fill that particular job.After you've listed your qualifications, now is the time to describe how you will reach your target audience. This is very important. Many Craigslist applications ask you to provide your contact information and allow you to simply click a button and send them an email. This method can be very impersonal and doesn't show as much care to your success as a professional looking Craigslist resume.Create a blog or write a newsle tter in addition to a newsletter, you already have. Include your contact information in your signature line. You can still leave an email address, but many Craigslist applicants do not provide a phone number and the email might have a spam filter on it.Another thing you can do with Craigslist resume writing is to use classified ads. Create a classified ad that includes the keywords that are relevant to your work. You can get some free classified ads online for this information.Once you've done all of this and are confident you've created a professional looking Craigslist resume, you can submit it to the Craigslist workforce division. This is the place where all of your applications will be placed. Make sure to fill out each section fully so that your information will not be lost in the shuffle of the thousands of other submissions.

7 Career Experts Share Their 2019 Baby Boomer Predictions - Career Pivot

7 Career Experts Share Their 2019 Baby Boomer Predictions - Career Pivot 2019 Baby Boomer Career Predictions It is January of 2019 and it is time to look to some experts for their predictions and prognostications for the coming year. You can look back at the predictions and prognostications by many of the same experts last year in the post10 Career Experts Share Their 2018 Baby Boomer Predictions. How did we do? Let’s get started. 7 Expert Predictions for 2018 The year when the discussion about experienced workers shifts toward recognizing their value … Chris Farrell, Author ofUnretirement: How Baby Boomers are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community, and the Good Life Twitter:@cfarrellecon My assumption is that the economy won’t sink into recession in 2019 and that the partial government shutdown will end. Those two assumptions are key because I expect 2019 to be the year when the discussion about experienced workers shifts toward recognizing their value. The last couple of years companies and nonprofits have talked about the value of older workers. But with the tight labor market and the need for qualified workers, management will act more deliberately to keep or hire experience. Employers are increasingly becoming more open to the idea of hiring older applicants … Richard Eisenberg,PBS Next Avenue Twitter:@richeis315 Employers are increasingly becoming more open to the idea of hiring older applicants due to the tight job market. Don’t assume you can’t get the job because you are over 50+. Apply strategically, look for insiders you know at the employer to put in a good word and advise you on applying wisely, provide a smartly-done resume and cover letter, research the employer and make your best case. Privacy will become self-harming … Neil Patrick,Neil Patrick Associates Twitter:@NewCareerGuru Privacy will become self-harming. In 2018, US and EU investigations in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal forced Mark Zuckerberg to face up to Facebook’s disregard for data privacy. This episode highlighted the yawning gap which has developed between global data companies and the regulatory forces which should, but don’t keep pace and control them. Artificial intelligence is the next phase of this technological revolution. It will use our data to decide who is eligible for jobs and who isn’t. If you choose to have little or none of your professional life online, you will become essentially invisible to the algorithms which will decide whether you are ‘deserving’ of employment. The hard truth is none of us can choose privacy anymore if we wish to remain employable in the digital age. Since it’s been projected, professionals will need to be consultants after 2020 … Mark Anthony Dyson,The Voice of Job Seekers LinkedIn:Mark Anthony Dyson Since it’s been projected professionals will need to be consultants after 2020, older workers should find successina niche market. These professionals must market, do PR, and network deeply diligently. The more niche where there’s less competition, the more opportunities will have your name on it. While more employers are beginning to recognize the value of older workers … John Tarnoff,Reinvention Group LLC and author ofBoomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50? LinkedIn:John Tarnoff While more employers are beginning to recognize the value of older workers, that realization will be overshadowed by an enduring bias that characterizes older workers’ skills as less relevant to solve today’s problems. Don’t just stay current, stay ahead of the game. Anticipate what you’ll need to learn, and be prepared to demonstrate how your updated skills, plus your experience wisdom, can make a difference today and in the future. In a time of labor shortages, older workers are more attractive to employers … Phyllis Mufson,Catalyst for Personal Professional Growth LinkedIn:Phyllis Mufson In a time of labor shortages, older workers are more attractive to employers, but will this situation continue? A pair of demographic shifts says yes. Millions of baby boomers will be reaching retirement age in the years ahead. At the same time, the birth rate has hit a thirty-year low meaning fewer workers will be available to replace them as they retire. This is great news for boomers who want to continue their careers past retirement age and also retirees who decide to rejoin the workforce in more flexible or limited jobs after a year or two. Their depth of experience will be at a premium. My Prediction We are reaching a crucial time in our country and our economy … Marc Miller, Career Pivot LinkedIn:Marc Miller We are reaching a crucial time in our country and our economy. We have a booming economy where not everyone has participated in the growth and prosperity. That growth will slow in 2019 and therefore, some of will have some hard choices to make if we want to continue to thrive. Baby boomers will have to get strategic in how they develop their skills and market themselves in order to stay relevant. So what do you think? Write a comment below with your Baby Boomer predictions for 2019. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

The Interview A Well Rehearsed Performance or Hacked Improv

The Interview A Well Rehearsed Performance or Hacked Improv 4 Ways To Prepare For Your Upcoming Job Interview This months question explores: What should job seekers do now to prepare for interviews? Each month I am honored to collaborate with a community of resume writers and career coaches called  the Career Collective, this post is one of many  responses to ideas and concrete steps to secure  your future in a changed  economy.  I encourage you to visit other members responses, linked at the end of m post. 4 Ways To Prepare For Your Upcoming Job Interview 1. Practice Your Answers Out Loud As crazy as this may sound, it is really important to practice your  interview answers out loud. You may have spent hours rehearsing the answers in your head but when  you go to open your mouth, seldom does the answer come out like what you were practicing. Whether it is in front of the mirror, on video, or over the phone with your cousin Isabelle in Massachusetts,  just do it. An actor in one of my interviewing classes told  us about the 3 steps  actors use to rehearse lines: Memorize Internalize Personalize You dont want to sound robotic, you want your answers to sound  fresh.   Thats one of the keys. I also have heard people tell me that they dont need to memorize  their answer, that they are better winging it.   As you can imagine, they  are not as good as they think. Each time you practice out loud you will feel more confident about your  answer.   It becomes crisper.   Most importantly it becomes more concise. 2. Do Your Research Before the Interview Develop accomplishment  stories that will specifically relate to the job and company you will be  interviewing for.   Know these stories and know why they are important to  the interviewer. Research the company and person you will be interviewing for.   It  will give you a level of comfort entering into the conversation.   Search for their name and company within Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. 3. Prepare Questions You Will Ask During the Interview In addition to company and job specific questions, prepare open-ended,  non-leading questions. What are the most significant  factors affecting your business today? What is the greatest demand for your  services or product? How do you differ from your competition? Describe  your star employee.   What are the qualities of people who  perform best in this? If this company was known for 3 things as a workplace, what do you  think those 3 would be? What trends do you see in the future  that will affect your organization and industry? By asking these open-ended questions, you allow the interviewer to speak about the issues  that are most important to them- right now.   Listen carefully to which  path they chose to take as they answer.   You may think you know the  answers, but the interviewer might have a different logic. Dont save all your questions for the end.   The interview should be a  dialog with your interviewer.   The flow should go something like this: They ask you a question. You provide an answer and ask them a  question. They ask another question. However, if the  interviewer is inexperienced this can be quite challenging.   They may do  all the talking.   Listen dutifully.   Be careful not to threaten their egos by interrupting. 4. One Last Suggestion Develop a new mantra, perhaps thinking differently will allow you to  approach this event totally differently.   Instead of thinking I want  this job, I need this job- change your programming to DO I WANT THIS  JOB?       Sit Down and Panic. The Interview is Yours @GayleHoward Avoid These Reference Mistakes @DawnBugni Unspoken Secrets of Job Interviewing Prep: How YourNonverbal Presentation and Behaviors Impact the Impression You Make @KatCareerGal Prep for Interviews Now: Snuff out the Elephant in the Room Later! @chandlee What Should Job Seekers Do Now to Prepare for an Interview @erinkennedycprw Take a Ride in the Elevator Before You Interview @barbarasafani Tell Me About Yourself (Oh, Yikes!), @KCCareerCoach The job interview as a shared narrative @WalterAkana Prepare your references for job search success @Keppie_Careers No Pain No Gain In Job Search and Interview Prep @ValueIntoWords Job searching? Take a cue from the Boy Scouts @LaurieBerenson Preparing for Career Success Starts with Interviewing the Employers @JobHuntOrg

Tough (Question) Tuesday What are you going to do for yourself today - When I Grow Up

Tough (Question) Tuesday What are you going to do for yourself today - When I Grow Up #313 at Things We Forget OK, I admit it: I ditched my Me Time this weekend. There was just no time for Me to be found in my Sunday, heavy with a hangover Things To Do. And while I know those 90 minutes would have been much-needed, I chucked them away. Even Luke said to me, Its your Me Time now (I put it on my calendar, so it pops up on our computer a few minutes beforehand) I responded, I know. Its just not going to happen. So today, on a random Tuesday, for no special occasion, Im going to give myself that Me Time. Not that 90 minutes that would be too tough, too easy to let go but something, whatever I can do. Ill share what itll be in the comments hope that you answer my tough question there, too: What are you going to do for yourself today?