10 interviewing tips that lead to high job offers

• 2-minute read •
The best interviewees use these mental tips to garner job offers.

Go into every interview with the end-goal of receiving a job offer. Make it your decision as to whether you want to work for the company rather than letting the company determine whether you are a fit.

While interviewing is not always easy, there are certain tricks which can be implemented to increase one’s odds of getting the offer and making the hiring manager confident that you are the right applicant. Here are 10 ways to do so:

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10 jobs that pay you to be on social media all day

• 2-minute read •
Imagine a world where you don’t have to cover your screen when your boss walks by so she doesn’t see you checking Facebook for the millionth time. Or a work environment where it’s considered mandatory to be glued to your phone, snapping away and scrolling through Instagram with a vengeance.

Well, this world exists, and you could be part of it, getting paid to help companies successfully market their products and services on social media.

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster found 10 social media jobs in the digital marketing space where you’d spend at least part of your 9-to-5 scrolling, liking and sharing with the world.

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Ten Zombie Phrases That Will Kill Your Resume

• 2-minute read •
We are realizing slowly that when you try to hire great people through mechanical means by searching their resumes for keywords, you don't get the results you want.

You have to hire people through human means, by engaging with them as people rather than as bundles of skills and professional credentials. Everybody has a story. We all resonate better with certain people and cultures than with others.

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5 Things That Are Doing More Damage To Your Job Application Than You Realize

• 2-minute read •
When you’re searching for a job, it’s easy to spot a good position and just go through the motions of submitting a resume and cover letter without even thinking. But when it comes to making yourself stand out among all the qualified candidates, being on auto-pilot only hurts you. After all, just one little blunder can turn a recruiter off.

To avoid that from happening, we’ve identified five pretty common—but surprisingly harmful—pieces of information that most of us are guilty of including in our job applications. Next time, leave them off—and focus on the information that’ll really make you shine.

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10 jobs that pay you to be on social media all day

• 2-minute read •
Imagine a world where you don’t have to cover your screen when your boss walks by so she doesn’t see you checking Facebook for the millionth time. Or a work environment where it’s considered mandatory to be glued to your phone, snapping away and scrolling through Instagram with a vengeance.

Well, this world exists, and you could be part of it, getting paid to help companies successfully market their products and services on social media.

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Resumes That Work

If you are looking for a job, writing a resume is one of the first steps you need to take. The goal of a resume is to get you in the door with prospective employers. And, you have about 30 seconds to grab the reader's attention. Here are some tricks of the trade for writing a winning resume.

1. Include an objective statement at the top of your resume, which states your employment goal, types of organizations you have experience working for, and lists several strengths. For example: Results-oriented sales executive with 15 years experience in the oil and chemical industry. Strengths include managing amidst economic uncertainty, building diverse teams, and increasing profitability.

2. Tell not only what you did but how well. For example: Created a new sales program, which resulted in a 25% in sales annually for 3 consecutive years.

3. Use action verbs like analyzed, created, developed, initiated, led, or researched. Imagine someone reading your resume quickly and think about the impression the words you choose will have on him or her.

4. You can add information about your education, accomplishments, special knowledge, or honors at the beginning or end of the resume. If it is recent or impressive, place it at the beginning; otherwise, it goes at the end of the resume.

5. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address so that an employer can get in touch with you easily.

6. Put your name and page number on each page (in case pages get misplaced or out of order). Try to limit your resume to no more than two pages.

7. Make sure your resume is spell checked and that there are no grammatical errors.

8. Do not include a photograph or personal information.

9. Be honest about dates of employment and job titles.

10. Get feedback from several sources about how attractive and easy to read your resume is.

8 Tips For Acing That Interview

1. Research, research, and research some more about the company you are applying for (via Internet, newspapers, trade publications, newsletters, and of course, your library's reference desk). The more you know about what they do, how they operate, the better. Use this knowledge in your interview. When there is a lull in the conversation, you can say something like this: "So, I have heard that the company is expanding its production line to include xyz gadget. When are you starting the production of these?"

2. Dress comfortably and conservatively. Men: wear a dark gray or blue suit with an ironed white shirt, conservative tie, dark socks and shoes. If the job you are applying for doesn't require a suit, wear dark, solid color pants or slacks with a sport shirt in a solid color or with subtle stripes. Don't wear jeans or athletic shoes. Women: no flashy jewelry or heavy makeup. Wear a medium to dark color suit, or a dress with a jacket, or a jacket and skirt together. Choose a light colored blouse -- preferably white or ivory.

Both men and women: Make sure that your overall appearance is professional and as perfect as possible.

3. Treat everyone you come in contact with at the company as if they have the authority to hire you (in fact, they might have, you never know.) It isn't rare for the hiring authority to ask the receptionist/secretary after the interview has been concluded how friendly the potential employee was while waiting for the interview.

4. Make and maintain good eye contact.

5. If you are nervous, feel free to say so. Say something like: "I find myself very nervous because I'm very interested in your organization." Acknowledging your nervousness and anxiety often reduces it and interviewers are usually very understanding. (Remember, it has been known that people hire people who they feel comfortable with. So, make yourself as comfortable as possible!)

6. Ask questions, don't just sit there waiting to be interrogated. You have just as much right to find out everything about the company as they have finding out about you. Sample questions:

"In your opinion, what are the most relevant abilities for this job?" "Would you describe the long-term goals of the company?" "Is there anything from my previous experiences that you would like me to elaborate on?"

7. Make sure you indicate that you want the job! One of the top 10 reasons why a person doesn't get hired is the lack of enthusiasm and interest in both the company and the particular position.

8. Make sure that you have several copies of your résumé with you in case the interviewer asks for it and in case a panel of people will interview you. Also, have your four to five professional references listed on a separate sheet of paper (same quality paper as résumé). When the interviewer asks about your references, voila, you will have them right there to present to him/her. (Having your references ready and with you for the interview shows a degree of preparedness & professionalism.)

9. Follow up the interview -- IMMEDIATELY -- with a thank-you letter. About 95% of job candidates ignore this essential step. If you want to stand out from your competition and leave a final, positive impression with the person who interviewed you, you need to send a thank-you letter. Use quality stationery whether you handwrite it or type it. Include these elements:

• Appreciation of the interviewing person's time
• The understanding of duties in your job; highlight ways your qualifications match them
• Mention that you are highly motivated and eager to succeed
• Also mention that you hope you are being considered for the job, because you are very interested in it
• Say that you look forward to talking to him/her in the near future.

Good luck to you! Go and get them!
Be confident in your abilities!