Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview for Flexible Jobs

Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview for Flexible JobsQuestions to Ask in an Informational Interview for Flexible Jobs10Sometimes- when job interviews are few and far between- you can hone your interviewing skills while scoping out near-term or future possibilities by using informational interviewing. Informational interviewing is the art of asking knowledgeable professionals about whats going on in their businesses or industries so you can get the intelligence you need to focus your job hunting strategy. Read on to learn about informational interviewing and the questions to ask in an informational interview for flexible jobs.Informational interviews generally occur in face-to-face meetings, but you can arrange them to take place over the phone or through email. Regardless of the type of exchange, there are two cardinal rulesKeep your interviews short.Eliminate any semblance of a hidden agenda that youre looking to your subject for a job.You need to respect your subjects ti me and never leave your subject feeling used.Informational Interview Subjects Are EverywhereThe first question you might ask is, Who shall I interview? Almost any professional working in the field youre interested is fair game. The more tuned in your subject is to whats going on in his or her field, the more valuable will be the insights and intelligence you can gather from your interview.You can find likely subjects by looking for contacts on the websites of professional organizations, trolling for names of prominent professionals mentioned in the business section of your local newspaper, or gleaning names found in newsletters articles from professional organizations. LinkedIn is also a great source of networking contacts for informational interviews.You can also ask your colleagues for recommendations of a good person to talk to. Attending a professional meeting is a great way to put yourself in the orbit of whos who in your field of interest. After the meeting or during the socia l period, introduce yourself to people around you and let them know you want to arrange informational meetings.All you have to say is that youd like to learn more about this or that profession, business, or industry. By the end of the meeting, youll find yourself inundated with plenty of suggestions and possible referrals for people to talk to.Key Questions to Ask in an Informational InterviewBefore forging ahead with your interviews, plan what you want to ask. Your overall interest might be to learn about what skills are required for a particular flexible job or where opportunities are likely to break in your industry. It probably wont do you any good to talk to the CEO of a software start-up about what skills are required for web information development jobs when her expertise is in marketing and database structures. So tailor your questions to each subject individually.Here is a range of typical questions to ask in an informational interview for flexible jobsHow do you use ______ ____ interns/analysts/engineers/architects/etc. Fill in the blank for the type of position/job youd like to learn more about.? Do you use remote workers or flexible schedule employees, and under what circumstances?What is the role of these types of people from Question 1 in businesses/organizations like yours? How do your remote teams work together?What kinds of skills or backgrounds do your________ fill in the blank from Question 1 professionals have? What traits do you look for when you hire them? What skills do flexible workers need to have?Who are the key players in this business? What associations or organizations might be good for me to get involved with?What kinds of work are these other companies doing? What are the trends in this industry such as technology being used, whether flexible work is being offered and how, directions for the profession- such as certification requirements, initiatives or practices companies/organizations are starting?Can you recommend anyone else I should talk to? Would it be appropriate to let them know you referred me to them?Our thanks to Tom White and Maureen Mackey, the authors of this post, which originally appeared in their Independent Beacon newsletter. This husband and wife team live in Portland, Oregon, and manage a communications consulting business called the Green Galaxy Group.Stay tuned for Part II of this series, the Dos and Donts of Informational Interviewing for Flexible Jobs. Readers, have you ever been on an informational interview? What do you recommend for questions to ask in an informational interview for flexible jobs?

What recruiters look for in a resume at a first glance

What recruiters look for in a resume at a first glanceWhat recruiters look for in a resume at a first glanceMilen Ivanov is an entrepreneur recruiting entrepreneurs. He is the founding director of Horizons Recruitments, one of the biggest recruitment companies in Bulgaria. Milen is also the managing partner in CEO Search, a head-hunting company that recruits C-level executives. Having been involved in recruitment and headhunting since 2003, Milen has authored numerous articles, papers, and books on how to search your dream job and be proactive, how to brand and present yourself and how to work with recruiters.What are the key questions you want to be addressed in a resume?The way I use resumes is to screen quickly if a candidate has the keywords that I am looking for. For me the key questions are associated with experience, most importantly the last two jobs a candidate had. What I would like to binnenbinnensee differently are some numbers, associated with candidates achievements. It s nice to say that you participated in a number of projects, but you need to address some metrics, such as how many people were involved, what the volume of the activity was, what budgets you managed. The more specific you are, the better it is.I want to learn about the interfaces you have engaged with, I want to get a clear picture of what the candidates role was in a company.The education, I think, matters less the more you advance in your career. You need other side activities, which show your interests, passions, enthusiasm personal projects, awards, sports activities.What do you look for in a resume at a first glance?Relevance. If I am looking for a digital marketer, I would like to see the keywords that the employer would be interested in. The candidate should have been in the right positions in the right companies before. I also want to see a good design and an excellent structure of the resume.What would you like to see more of in resumes?I get bored a lot when I look at re sumes. They all look pretty much the same. From my point of view, most resumes dont reflect the personality of a person at all. I want to see more resumes that look nice and are very well-thought-of, very well-built, representing the true colors of the person behind the piece of paper. If a designer is applying for a job, or a financial expert, I want to see a different type of resumes for both.Further, if the candidate has taken any personality tests, I want to see those on a resume, so that I can get a better perception of the person. I am not talking about a made-up, pseudo-science test, but about some of the recognized personality tests (e.g. Gallup Strengths Test). I would encourage candidates to incorporate such results in their resumes.Another thing that I dont see are the achievements. Skills are usually present in resumes, but the achievements tend to be missing. I want to see tangible results that have come out of a persons work. If you are young, you may think that you ha ve nothing tangible to write about. But if you are creative and think deeply, you can include little things, such as finishing projects on time. These are important and make a good impression.I also want to read about what the benefit to your employer would be from hiring you. This can be said directly and it would put a candidate ahead of competitors, who dont make a similar mention. If you can think of a direct and specific benefit of you being hired, its always a good idea to include it in your resume.What do you wish people stopped doing on their resumes?Stop using cliches and generic words that mean nothing. I see these in most resumes.In the end of the day, why do you need the resume? To choose someone from the crowd. If you write what everybody else is writing, whats the point? Try to be more specific and avoid common cliches, such as I am an open and outgoing person. What does that even mean?Try to customize your resume towards the employers specific needs. Dont mass mail, d ont mass apply, this never works. If you dont know what you are looking for, how are you going to land a job you like? Its much better to apply to a few positions.I strongly believe in customizing resumes. This doesnt mean you have to lie on your resume. It means you have to focus on a certain set of facts important to the industry and employers.Nowadays, people talk a lot about the resume dying. Do you think thats true?Resumes are definitely being disrupted. They are beginning to incorporate more elements videos, test results, etc. In the next ten to fifteen years, we will be seeing a lot of resume usage in the recruitment process. They are definitely not dying.

Why Looking for a Job and Exercise Go Together

Why Looking for a Job and Exercise Go TogetherWhy Looking for a Job and Exercise Go Together Its good for many reasons, and if youre unemployed and looking for a job, you may also have a little extra time on your hands. So if you dont already exercise regularly, here are a few reasons it will benefit you AND make you mora appealing as a potential employeeExercise can perk up your mood,even when youre feeling really down.Exercise will increase your energy level and help you power through a boring job search.Its also good to stimulate your immune system and make sure you stay healthy for job interviews.A bonus is that you improve your memory and mental clarity, which shows through to employers when youre talking with them.Even if youre worried about finding a job, exercise will help you sleep better.And of course, exercise will keep you physically fitHere are some inexpensive exercise options12 Frugal Exercise IdeasThe more positive, energetic, healthy, alert, and well-rested that you feel- all the better for your job searchFor more tips on looking for a job and exercise, check out how exercise can energize your job search.

Verdon makes for great TV but shows downsides of collaboration

Verdon makes for great TV but shows downsides of collaborationFosse/Verdon makes for great TV but shows downsides of collaborationThough all anyone can talk about is the final season of Game of Thrones, there is aleidher show that has captivated my heart and DVR, but this one has just a bit more jazz hands.The show is Fosse/Verdon, which stars Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams, and it is about the super successful though very dramatic (both onstage and off) relationship of iconic choreographer Bob Fosse and showstopping dancer Gwen Verdon.Though like many FX series it comes with plenty of fun musical numbers, what the show really highlights, unlike in previous depictions of Fosses career, is the pivotal role Verdon played in making his many theatrical and cinematic masterpieces.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreVerdon was a huge Broadway star, arguably one of the best dancers T he Great White Way had ever and will ever have seen. And though she had already won a Tony (her first of four) and had, in true Broadway theater legend history, been demanded by an audience to come back out on stage (in a towel no less, as she was in the middle of her quick change) after a show-stopping number in Can-Can Fosse somehow became the household name while Verdon really never did. Well, at least not in every house.Whatever Lola wants but didnt get credit forBecause what Verdon did not get credit for, until FX and a producing team that includes Lin Manuel-Miranda came along, was that she was a very big part of the Fosse machine that earned him Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and established him as one of the fruchtwein important figures in not only choreography but American musical theater.After all, there are not many other choreographers that are forever, intrinsically-linked with one simple hand gesture (jazz hands) and a dramatic shoulder hunch except for maybe Twyla Tharpe.Wh en they got together on the first production of Damn Yankees (him, the somewhat under doggish choreographer her, the fresh Tony-winning darling of Broadway) she was the bigger star and, as the series shows, he had something more to prove.But the problem was, as with many a creative genius, Bob Fosse had a short fuse and couldnt always get his vision past his frustrations. But Verdon could (and she was a genius too in her own right). As she says in episode one of the series to an anxious producer on the platzdeckchen of the then-troubled Cabaret film set (it would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture) I just know how to speak Bob. Its my native tongue.She could translate what he wanted and help him execute it. It was she that provided dancers with a backstory and therefore the motivation behind his, at the time, unconventional choreography. As we see in the first scene in the series when they meet, he had those steps (for the famed Whatever Lola Wants number from Damn Yankees) bu t she made them better and damn she made them look good.Verdon played pivotal, but uncredited roles, with the film versions ofSweet Charity and Cabaret. She did everything from choreography to film editing to providing costumes. And she managed to do all of this even as their marriage was falling apart due to Fosses widely known discretions and drug and alcohol addictions (though they actually never divorced just remained estranged but working together often for 30-something years).Writer Steven Levenson (Dear Evan Hansen) told The AtlanticAt that point, we were still very much thinking we were making a show calledFosse, and we left that meeting certain that the only way to tell this story was to make it a two-hander, because Bobs story is incomplete without Gwen.Theres something about his relationship with Gwen, and that love story - however strange and twisted it was - that really fills out the picture of who he was. It felt that at every point in Bobs career if you widen the an gle just a bit, you find that shes there - and that felt really important.The man in frontNow, it was a different time. One in which a philandering womanizer but brilliant director and choreographer was still helmed as successful even though his sexual harassment of the chorus line dancers in his productions was well known and simply accepted (which we get a closer glimpse of in episode four).That wouldnt fly today. However, a partnership, even with two named powerful people, where one gets more of the fame and glory could still happen. And because this was not the year 2019 (their partnership spans the 1950s through his death in 1987) it was going to be the man who got to be the face of it.Though Verdon, at least during the first half of her career, got to be the bigger stage star, she too felt constantly drawn to Fosse and their partnership. In the third episode, when she is frustrated by a nit-picky director for a play she did called Children Children (which would go on to be a disastrous failure), she goes back to work with Fosse on helping him edit Cabaret after refusing to the week before because he wasnt being a devoted father.We do see some troubling behavior with the women in the show, said Levenson, but the women arent able to voice the kind of things that women today, thankfully, are able to voice. If they had voiced them, nobody would have listened. Bob did overpower people with his will and personality, and one of the struggles is how does Gwen get out of that orbit, or can she?It takes two to tangoBut really, what Fosse/Verdon beautifully articulates is the complexities of collaboration between two talented people.They both craved (and thrived) when they were serving an audience and that was what drove them as individuals and together. They both had traumatic childhoods and early adulthoods and that business that we call show was their escape and savior out of mediocre lives. And, perhaps, it was that passion and workmanship, above all, includin g being parents to their daughter Nicole (who serves as a producer on the series) that kept drawing them back together despite a failed romance.The collaboration may have had some missteps but Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosses work never did.Fosse/Verdonairs on Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Notes on Resume Designs in Step by Step Order

Notes on Resume Designs in Step by Step Order New Ideas Into Resume Designs Never Before Revealed Just because you would like a minimalistic and simple resume doesnt indicate that it needs to be devoid of color and creativity. Enormous number of design style will make sure you will locate a resume template that fits with your taste. As you could have noticed, design is only one of several elements in your resume that may capture attention. Although personalized, a very good graphic design resume ought to be professional enough to convince recruiters your style matches their brand. You are able to edit the entire design including icons and other shapes on the webpage. The whole assortment of resume templates is composed of an assortment of creative resume designs. The template utilizes an intriguing layout with a lot of fun fonts. Exactly like the Envato Elements library, there are many templates to select from that it can help to have a variety of the best choices. Fonts h ave an amazing influence on the mood of your resume. Resumes might be daunting part of paper to design. The creative Resume Templates are extremely valuable to produce your online CV and Resume. The Battle Over Resume Designs and How to Win It If youre searching for inspiration, take a look at some of TopResumes best sample resumes. So take care of the remainder of the paper in a similar fashion and you will certainly find more attention. Try out two or three different resume designs to see which receives the very best response. If you believe an on the internet or video resume can help you stick out from the competition, go for itjust make certain that you have a paper version handy. Beautiful graphics are used here in order to get upon the data in a pleasant way when showing off the authors skills. The graphic design resumes display both the talents and the essence of the author, helping to construct a brand even if working independently. I especially enjoy the clients li st with logos fixed within a yellow box in the middle. You are able to edit the color in addition to the content with no trouble. New Step by Step Roadmap for Resume Designs Recruiters are interested in being in a position to evaluate your abilities quickly, therefore a great resume design is crucial to getting noticed. The recruiter needs to be in a position to skim through your resume and understand what your candidacy is all about. The Hidden Truth About Resume Designs You might be interested in the following related articles also. Click the next link for more info on why an uncomplicated resume design is the most successful. Make sure that your contact information is clear, prominent, and simple to read. So, make sure to thoroughly choose which information ought to be emphasized. Creative Resume Content Whichever creative resume design you pick, the content has to be no problem to find and logically organized. Several sites exist specifically to aid you make an attracti ve visual resume. An academic resume, though, can go on as long as it has to go to to incorporate all the publications. 1 day, you chance to find the call about your fantasy job. The perfect way to impress a recruiter is by making it simple for them to identify your qualifications and understand your career story in a brief period of time. The times you ought to use a creative resume are fewer than when you ought to use a formal resume. Personalizing your resume is among the best things that you could do in order to raise your odds of getting an interview. You may have a look at a number of his work here. Possessing a strong resume doesnt necessarily indicate you will land the job, but it is an excellent means to be sure you receive the interview. Assuming you have the skills theyre searching for, a striking and visually appealing resume will go a ways at getting you the creative job which you would like. Everyone has a particular expertise and therefore dont be scared to sol icit the aid of a specialist. What Resume Designs Is - and What it Is Not If youre a work seeker, applying for a job can be a difficult procedure. The absolute most important element of your job application is your resume. When looking for employment, its important to develop into attentive to the title of the particular person or individuals who might examine your own application. Your resume should make it simple for the hiring manager to rapidly realize that you are on top of the applicant pool. As a lot of pain as it is, recruiters and hiring managers wish to realize that youve taken the opportunity to concentrate on their resume. You may submit an application for jobs which are more creative or some that arent. Managers want to employ individuals that will satisfy the work description, continue to address problems independently, and excel no matter the pressure, all while making the direct manager seem good, naturally. In the end, the hiring manager is going to want to measure your successes.

What Needs to be Done About Fonts for Resume Before You Miss Your Chance

What Needs to be Done About Fonts for Resume Before You Miss Your Chance On the 1 hand, it is a fresh and plucky step that could present your creative and outstanding mind. Okay, you can quit staring at your screen. Dont make the error of shrinking down the resume font size so that you can squeeze because many words in as possible. The absolute fruchtwein important consideration to keep in mind that your resume is a fast snapshot of your professional self and an expected employer may be more influenced by font selection and resume font size than you may think. You may still choose a font which you feel is representative of your personality, since there are a lot of excellent options in word processors today. With so many choices readily available, determining the ideal font for a resume can at times be a tricky decision. Consider condensing the range of words you have used to permit you to create your resume more readable. You would like your words and message to be noticed , not your font choice. The info above applies primarily to instances where youre sending a conventional cover letter by snail mail or whenever youre sending an official cover letter for a Word or PDF attachment to an email message. Make certain that the layout of your CV is clear, in addition to to see that the information included is well-presented. Be aya to produce your font large enough so the reader doesnt need to squint to read your letter, but not so large your letter doesnt fit well on the webpage. You always ought to select the best font for your CV, it ought to be well structured as it gives an overview of your abilities, skills, and accomplishments. The Death of Fonts for Resume Using resume templates have become the most time-effective means of making sure that your resume iseasy-on-the eye. Provided that you elect for a font thats easily and correctly displayed on a broad array of different operating systems, your electronic resume copy is certain to be looked at properly. When youre using Microsoft Word, here is the way to pick a template for your letter and the way to pick the font style and font size. Your resume should resemble an expert document, not merely a bit of paper which has been stuffed with as much content as humanly possible. Fonts for Resume Options In terms of point size, several studies are conducted to discover the ideal size for legibility and readability. The chronological format is the most popular by jobseekers. Your resume ought to have a consistent font size throughout the webpage. In addition, its important to understand what type of format your resume is anticipated to be delivered in. What to Do About Fonts for Resume Naturally there are considerations of quality and readabilitythats a givenbut which typeface is the most acceptable for your resume is dependent on the quantity of text which you have, your layout, what you wish to convey and what industry you would like to work in. Theres no need to u se various styles in a cover letter. Contrary to what you may have heard, the font should not play an important function in the overall resume style. Furthermore, it was inspired by Scotch Roman designs of the 19th century, so should you need to be noticed, you may want to go with something different. For that reason, it is sometimes an excellent pick for technical industries and technology-focused resumes, generally. Machine-readable resumes ought to be even more bare-bone. Remember what kinds of jobs youre applying for and attempt to locate visual examples of strong, easy to read resumes in that area. There is a plethora of advice out there for all sorts of job seekers. Things You Wont Like About Fonts for Resume and Things You Will The majority of the respectable experts claimed that there isnt any superior font for the resume than Helvetica. If you are searching for an old-style font, you should think about using Garamond for your resume. The other old school font is much like the typewriter. Alternately, deciding on a sans serif font like Arial could be more appropriate if you must appear contemporary and not as cluttered. When it has to do with sizes, the ideal font to use on resume 2018 varies in line with the typeface. Choosing your perfect resume font is dependent on specific facets. Your selection of fonts to be employed on your resume is important. Formatting your resume can be quite tough. The ideal font pairs agree with one another. Though there are fancy and creative styles are interesting, its still advised to use timeless and conventional fonts. Find Fonts That Work on All kinds of Computers There are a few cool fonts out there which you might be tempted to use since they look both professional and appealing. As you can pair fonts of exactly the same type a serif with a different serif or two sans serifs you may also pair fonts of two styles. Possessing a great resume format is vital to organizing your info in a sense whi ch will help you become noticed. If your document isnt readable, it isnt going to stand an opportunity to get in the managers desk for evaluation. Employing the right font increases your odds of being selected for an interview. Besides finding the right resume template to represent yourself, pick the best font for your resume and cover letter is among the most important tasks that necessitates attention. Garamond is popular for its feeling of elegance, as well as its readability. Fonts have specific characteristics that can determine and affect the point of view of the reader. Resume fonts are a means to stand out. Sans-serif fonts dont have the lines at the conclusion of each stroke.

Crucial Recruiting Strategies for Attracting Passive Candidates - Spark Hire

Crucial Recruiting Strategies for Attracting Passive Candidates - Spark HirePassive candidates are a unique breed. Theyre not banging down your door looking for a job, but when approached correctly, they can contribute to your workplace in a productive and vibrant way. However, for employers who are used to being approached by candidates who are hungry for a job, the notion of a passive candidate is a confusing one. If youre looking to become more effective at recruiting ansicht types of individuals, heres what you need to knowYou can use your applicant tracking system to find themIf the individual has applied to a job in the past, theyre in your system and you know that theyre interested in working for you. When a job opens up, sort through these applications and see who might not have been an appropriate fit in the past, but may work perfectly for your current opening. Then make contact with these people and schedule a time for a conversation. Dont just expect them to see the openi ng and apply on their own.Make sure your presence goes wideYou want everyone in your industry to know about your business. Boosting your social media presence is a good way to do this. Get involved on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also start blogging as a way to help develop your brands voice. When candidates are able to read posts that come from your CEO or other managers within your organization, they get a better sense of what separates you from your competitors. This helps to make your company more appealing.Dont be too proud to go after candidatesSome companies feel that by going after candidates they find desirable, they appear desperate. In reality, if you see someone who you truly feel is talented, you need to recruit them eagerly. Dont sit back and hope that they see how wonderful your company is and submit their application. Make an effort to reach out to this individual and let them know how and why joining your gruppe could be mutually beneficial.Go in softlyI f you try to recruit passive candidates with a heavy hand, dont be surprised when you end up overwhelming them as you cause the relationship to crumble. When youre working with a passive candidate, its crucial that you go in with a soft touch. Build the relationship slowly. Dont immediately dive into a conversation about why they should want to work for you and what youre willing to pay them.Passive candidates can be a valuable resource when youre looking to fill an open position within your company. Put pride aside and recruit these candidates willingly and youll find that you fill the available spot with someone who adds a positive new dynamic to your team.Image Jakub Jirsak/BigStock.com

What Not to Do When Youre Applying for Jobs

What Not to Do When Youre Applying for JobsWhat Not to Do When Youre Applying for JobsThere are many things you should do when youapply for a job, but theres an equally long lists of donts. Thats because some actions and behaviors can really hinder your job hunt and are best avoided. From oversharing the details of your job search to making a typo in a cover letter, heres what not to do when you apply for a job. Submit a Job Application, Resume or Cover Letter with TyposCheck your resume, cover letter, and every single email you send for grammar and spelling - even if its just a quick email, LinkedIn message, or Facebook message to a networking contact. If you submit a job application with a typo, it can knock you out of contention for a job. This means writing in full sentences, andchecking spelling and grammar. Always, always triple-check the spelling of company and contacts names, too - those mistakes are particularly eye-catching. Dont Know Your Employment HistoryWhen you appl y for jobs, whether its zugreifbar or in-person, employers expect you to know your employment history, including dates of employment, job titles, and company information for each job youve held. What can you do when you dont remember your exact dates of employment? Heres how you can compile yourpersonal employment historywhen youre missing all the details. Tell Everyone Youre Job SearchingIt can be a good idea to tell everyone you know youre job searching - if youre unemployed. If you have a job and you want to keep it, be very careful who you tell that youre job searching. Also, make sure that youre using tools tokeep your job search confidential. You dont want your boss to hear youre looking and possible jeopardize the job you currently hold. Take Advantage of Your ConnectionsIts appropriate touse your connectionsto help you get a job. However, its not appropriate to try to bypass thehiring processin order to try to get hired. Use your connections carefully and make sure they are advocating for your candidacy in a professional manner. Dress InappropriatelyDont wear jeans or shorts, tank tops, crop tops or anything too low cut (cleavage is not a good thing when youre job searching) or too short. Make sure youre not showing too much skin i.e. your belly should not be showing. Dont wear spike heels, platforms, flip flops, or your favorite pair of old ratty sneakers. It is always important to be neat, tidy, and well-groomed and to present a positive image to the employer. Heres what youshould be wearingto apply for a job. Forget Your ResumeWhen applying for jobs in-person and when einstellungsgesprching, bringing extra copies of your resume is a good idea. Also, consider bringing your transcript as well if youre bewerberinterviewing for an academic-related position. Keep Your Phone OnFilling out a job application or an interview isnt a place to sneak in a few texts. If your phone is constantly beeping or ringing, it creates a very distracting environment and re flects poorly on you. So, make it a priority to turn your phone on silent and stow it away in your bag or pocket. Walk in with Headphones OnAlthough you might be dying to catch the end of your favorite song, take your headphones out and turn off your music-playing device. Stash both in your purse or briefcase before you walk in to apply for a job or go on a job interview. Bring Food or DrinkPlan ahead and grab a coffee or other beverage or a snack either before or after your interview, because it isnt professional to eat or drink during your interview. Finish (or throw out) your coffee or food before your interview. Also, while you want to have fresh breath during the interview, make sure to spit out your gum or finish your mint before you enter the building. Bring Your Parents or FriendsApplying for jobs or going to a job interview are solo activities. Leave your parents, friends, or significant others at home. If youre applying for a retail job and youre with friends have them wai t outside the store or elsewhere. The only time this would not apply is if you and your friends were applying at a company that was hiring for several positions. Act UnprofessionallyNo matter how difficult your job search is, make an effort to greet your interviewer kindly, and be active and engaged during theinterview process. Be outgoing and positive, even if you dont feel that way. Dont Be Upfront About When Youre AvailableBe honest with your prospective employer about when its feasible to work. If you cant work evening shifts, for example, dont hedge during the interview. You dont want to end up taking on more hours than you can handle or commit to a schedule that wont work out, inconveniencing both yourself and your employer. Ask for MoneyI cringe when someone tells me theyve asked for a certain salary when they havent even been interviewed yet. Avoid mentioning compensation until you have a job offer or, at least, until the employer brings it up. Even then, be careful as to ho w younegotiate salary. Top Job Search MistakesWhat are the worst job search mistakes you can make? Some are major mistakes that can halt your job search before it even gets going. Others are small ones that, given a competitive job market, can be enough to knock you out of contention for a job. Be sure to avoid the top job search mistakes, so youre in the best position to effectively job search.

5 Reasons to Have a Professional Facebook Profile

5 Reasons to Have a Professional facebook inc Profile5 Reasons to Have a Professional Facebook Profile2After LinkedIn, Facebook is another avenue hiring managers use to do some research on you before an interview. Thats why its a smart idea for everyone to have two Facebook profiles. You can still keep your old personal profile with all your friends and family vacation photos. But your business profile, on the other hand, should be just that, strictly business.Here are five reasons why everyone should have a professional Facebook profile.1. It increases your online presence. With over 1 billion users currently on Facebook, thats a lot of potential eyeballs who can view your previous work experience and skill set. Creating a professional profile allows you to increase the odds of someone- like a hiring manager- landseeing your profile and reaching out for a preliminary interview.2. It separates the professional from the private. The biggest reason to have a second profile is, of cours e, the privacy issue. Lets say you were doing the Harlem Shake at your nieces wedding- and a snap-happy uncle tagged you in the photos on Facebook. You dont want potential employers to spot the photos. Having another profile allows you to be tagged in fun family photos without worrying that they might be seen- and misinterpreted.3. You can speak your mind. You have strong opinions and you like to voice them with like-minded friends on Facebook. And you occasionally post fun, silly images as well on your profile. But would you state unterstellung opinions or show these funny photos during an interview with a potential boss? Probably not. This way, you can keep speaking your mind- in the safety of your own circle.4. Your info is for a targeted audience. Lets say youve won several awards for your work in your industry. Or you want to let people know about a great new software program that can help workers in your area of expertise. Sharing that knowledge might be a waste among your cur rent FB friends, but announcing it on a professional profile makes more sense. It can also show those in your industry that your knowledge is current and that youre in the know.5. It allows you to network.On your professional Facebook profile, you can announce that youre looking for work. Or you can reach out to people across your field to establish connections. They will be more apt to add you as a friend if they see that youre posting solid information and have a friends list that boasts fellow colleagues as well as industry insiders. Thats why your second FB profile will enable you to network more efficiently and professionally.Its easy to create another Facebook profile that will help you promote your knowledge and skills while you search for a job. A second profile can definitely help you in your job search.Readers, do you have two Facebook profilesone professional and the other personal?

How CPAs Can Move to Management Positions

How CPAs Can Move to Management PositionsHow CPAs Can Move to Management PositionsFinance professionals rarely stay in one job for life. As CPAs get experience under their belts - in corporate accounting, public accounting or financial services - many naturally want to take on more responsibilities and move up to management orts.But promotions to management seldom drop in your lap. You have to gain experience, prepare and work hard for them. Whatever your ort, you can take the career path now toward a job in management with these eight steps1. Aim for a target in managementDo you dream of becoming an accounting manager? How about a job as a supervisor in payroll, budget analysis or tax services? Maybe you have your eye set on a CFO career path. The first step in pursuing a position in management is to determine exactly what role you want to strive for. Then you can take actions and gain the experience that will get you closer to your goal.2. Get some management educationYears of re levant experience are a prerequisite for a management job, but many upper-level roles give preference to candidates with graduate degrees, such as an MBA or Master of Accounting. A law degree is a great resource, especially for tax management or corporate compliance. A business systems manager could benefit from a degree in an IT field.In addition to your CPA license, consider working toward aleidher accounting and financial certification. Almost every industry specialty has its own preferred credentials. For example, the American Bankers Association administers the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), an important certification for a position in anti-money laundering enforcement, risk management and, of course, regulatory compliance.3. Lay the groundwork for managementAccording to a Robert Half survey, 85 percent of CFOs polled have faith in millennial workers abilities to climb the corporate ladder. With that said, entry-level and mid-career CPAs still need to convince their bosses they have what it takes to excel in a management job without the years of experience.You can take this important step by first planting the seed that youre interested in such a position. Meet with your manager to discuss your future within the company. Share your career goals and explain how you plan to achieve them. Then ask to be considered for smaller supervisory roles, such as spearheading a project or leading a team. When its time for your performance review, be sure your manager is aware of your achievements, and reiterate your desire to move to management.4. Build the technical experience of a managerAs you prepare for a future position in management, make sure you know the ins and outs of commonly used software. For starters, you need proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel. SharePoint is useful for those who oversee complex projects and have a job in business intelligence. Another resource is MS Project. The higher you go as a manager, the more knowl edge youll need in ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems and other financial software, which save time and minimize mistakes when closing the books and creating year-end reports.If you work with someone on your team whos a whiz at big data analysis, count your lucky stars. Figuratively sit at their feet and get all the insight you can from them. Take online tutorials or in-person seminars to boost your software proficiency. Many employers are happy to help their staff gain technical skills, so ask your boss if the company would reimburse you for the cost of courses.5. Dont forget interpersonal skillsIt takes more than IT savvy to land a management job. You also need soft skills training so you can advance your career with diplomacy and the ability to communicate well, both with your team and beyond. Finance professionals who go far within a company also possess a strong work ethic, astute judgment and top problem-solving abilities.According to the Robert Half survey, 60 percent of the executives polled said their firms offer onsite training to enhance their millennial workers leadership skills, and 42 percent use online courses. So take advantage of all the professional development opportunities available for your position.6. Act like a managerYou know the common advice Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. A corollary to that axiom is to behave in such a way that demonstrates you have management potential.Take a look at how youve built your leadership skills, which manifests itself through your speech, attitude, appearance and body language. When you walk into a room, what do others see? If that mental image doesnt align with the position you want to project, then make some changes. You might want to upgrade your wardrobe, improve your posture and seek out public speaking opportunities to build your confidence.7. Learn from a mentor who is a managerOnce youve identified your ideal position as a manager, its a good idea to pick the brain of so meone who already fills the role. If your workplace doesnt have a formal program, then take the initiative to find a mentor who is also a manager.To do that, first get your career goals in order. Then choose as a resource someone who works in your area of interest and whose personality fits your own. Theres no need to limit your options to your firm also consider a manager in another organization. And when you interact with potential mentors, always be respectful and professional, even if they decline the offer.8. Play the management gameTo land a management position, you may need to get involved in office politics - the right way. Another Robert Half survey of U.S. office workers found 76 percent of respondents believe playing office politics is necessary to get ahead at work. If you must get involved, though, you want to be seen as the diplomat, not the mudslinger.Take note of whos who at your firm. What do they know that you dont? How did they land their position? Who do they kn ow? You may need to get some professional networking tips, especially if schmoozing doesnt come naturally.If youre just a few years into your accounting and finance career, youre not quite ready for the corner office and the title of manager. But that doesnt mean you can just bide your time and wait for upward mobility to come your way. Right now is when you should be preparing for a move to management - so when the opportunity arises, youll be more than ready.Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build a successful career in accounting and finance - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW Steve Saah Steve Saah is the executive director for Robe rt Half Finance Accounting, the worlds first and largest specialized financial recruitment service. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide. He is responsible for leading worldwide operations and is based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.