tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28452074881917439762024-03-13T16:52:16.963-07:00Five Steps To Your Next JobNarinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-43249118930674318912017-04-18T12:11:00.001-07:002017-04-18T12:11:32.621-07:00HOW TO TARGET EMPLOYERS FOR JOB SEARCH<br />
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">Targeting companies of special interest to you is the most effective strategy for job search. This is particularly true when you are looking for a senior level position. This strategy begins with research into your target industry, and leads to the identification of employers that interest you based on size, growth potential, location and other factors important to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">You will need to regularly update your target list based on research and your contacts with these companies. This process will also yield information about the names and titles of persons you need to approach in each company. You can develop a list of companies for targeting your job search by going to the online directories or the business directories available in public libraries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">Once you have a list of potential employers, you can research them by going to the employer websites, reading company annual reports, and searching for profiles of employers such as those available at </span><a href="http://www.corporateinformation.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">www.corporateinformation.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"> and </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">www.forbes.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">. Some of the online business directories also include links to company websites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">Another element in this research is to go to a search engine such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">www.google.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"> and find additional information about the company’s products, customers, and senior officers, which will enable you to network your way into those companies, or make direct contact with hiring managers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">Also, you may want to research your target companies on </span><a href="http://www.glassdoor.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">www.glassdoor.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">. This website collects company reviews and salary information from employees of large companies and displays that information anonymously. It also posts employee reviews of the management and culture of the companies they worked for. This can give you an inside look at how a company operates, how it treats employees, and how it approaches compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">Targeting companies is the best job search strategy, but it requires a clear understanding of your own skills and interests, and the ability to conduct research of possible employers. It requires deciding what kind of companies to research, what to look for, and how to prioritize the companies you have picked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">When you have researched your target companies, you will know their operations, and the type of opportunities available with them that match your skills and experiences. You should send a personalized letter to the hiring manager at each company explaining how your background and experiences match the company’s requirements, and attach a copy of your resume. You should state in your letter when you will call the hiring manager to set up an appointment for interview. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">In addition to approaching target companies by mail, you could call the hiring manager on the phone, and try to get an appointment for a face-to-face interview. Remember to prepare a written outline of what you are going to say before you make that phone call. You should be able to set up some job interviews using this approach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">While large companies remain excellent places to work, many small to medium size companies are offering wonderful career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">Small companies give you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. You can have broader responsibility and more impact on the company’s operation in a short time. When preparing a list of your target companies, do not limit yourself to just large corporations. There is often big opportunity in small companies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"> Narinder Mehta (@NarinderM) was President of an executive search firm for ten years. He is the author of three books. His recent book <i>Ace Your Job Search in 5 Steps: Powerful Techniques for Building a Successful Career</i> reveals a step-by-step pathway for finding a dream job. Connect on LinkedIn: </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/NarinderMehta"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">www.linkedin.com/in/NarinderMehta</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';">.</span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-70472608269812291742016-07-21T07:05:00.001-07:002016-07-21T07:05:41.107-07:00HOW TO NEGOTIATE WHEN YOU GET A JOB OFFER<div align="right" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
feels wonderful to get a job offer. This is what you were striving for when you
started your job search.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But do not rush
to say “yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">When you
receive a job offer, the roles are suddenly reversed. Now you have become the
buyer. The employer is now trying to sell you on the career opportunity,
salary, and benefits. They definitely want you, and in most cases, would like
you to join as soon as possible. You have to decide whether you want them, and
if so, what changes are needed in the job offer before you make a commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Is
this the right job?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Here are some
questions you should try to answer to determine if this is the right job.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Are
you sure this job is a good match with your skills?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Will
this job put you on the career path you want?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do
you feel you will have a good working relationship with your boss?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">What
is this company’s reputation in the industry?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do
you have a clear understanding of the job description?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Are
you convinced that you will succeed in this job?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">How
does your family feel about this job?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Will
you enjoy working with the people you met during the interview process?</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">When you
receive a job offer, you have to make a decision that will have a long-range
impact on your career path. Fortunately, most companies give you a few days to
make your decision. You have probably determined, before a job offer is
presented to you, that the company is a good place to work and you are
satisfied with the position and advancement opportunities. If you have any concerns
about the company or the position, this is the time to take another look at
what you may be getting into. No amount of salary or benefits will make up for
a bad career choice. Assuming you are satisfied with the company and the
position, take a close look at the financial aspects.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Job offers are subject to
negotiation. You can negotiate the job responsibilities, base salary, bonuses,
relocation package, benefits, stock compensation, severance terms and anything
else included in the job offer. This is an opportunity for you to define what
you want and what you can get, and then negotiate an employment package
acceptable to you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Timing is a critical factor in
negotiating. The ideal time to negotiate is when you have received a verbal
offer from the employer, or through an executive search firm. Prepare a logical
explanation for every change you want to request. Remember, negotiating is a
two-way process, where both you and the employer try to reach an agreement that
will be beneficial to both sides.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Preparation is the key to good
negotiations<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">You have to research, consider
alternatives, plan and effectively communicate with the employer. You have to
know how far you can go, and when to pull back. When the job being offered to
you is hard to fill, the employer will be more accommodating. If other
candidates are available to fill the position, the employer may be less
inclined to negotiate the terms of the job offer. Smaller companies are more
willing to negotiate as compared to larger organizations with standard policies
and procedures.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">There is a big difference in
salaries for the same jobs in different parts of the country. You should look
up cost of living data when researching salaries. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Here are some websites for your
research.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.jobstar.org/"><span class="Hyperlink3"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;">www.jobstar.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This is a
wonderful resource for help on salary information. It helps you connect to over
300 free online salary surveys. The surveys come from several kinds of sources
including: General periodicals; local newspapers; Trade and professional
journals; Trade and professional associations; and Recruiters or employment
agencies. This website also offers helpful links to other websites for advice
on salary negotiation strategies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.salary.com/"><span class="Hyperlink3"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;">www.salary.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This is a
leading provider of on-demand human resources software to help businesses and
individuals manage pay and performance, and achieve greater results in the
workplace. The website includes quick links to compensation-related
information: Salary Wizard; Benefits Calculator; Executive Pay Wizard; Cost of
Living Calculator; Premium Salary Report; Salary Wizard Canada; Performance
Self-Test; and Salary Negotiation Advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.glassdoor.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">www.glassdoor.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This site can
be a valuable resource for determining whether you want to accept a position
and how to negotiate the job offer. This is a leading site where current
employees and former employees can anonymously review companies and their
management and leave salary information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/"><span class="Hyperlink3"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;">www.salaryexpert.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This website
was launched in 2000 to provide reports on salaries and cost of living. Tools
available on this website help people make informed decisions when planning
careers and searching for jobs. Following career tools are available: Search
Jobs by Salary; Cost of Living Calculator; Education Planning Center; Job
Search; Career Salary Potential Report; and Student Cost of Living Report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.payscale.com/"><span class="Hyperlink3"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;">www.payscale.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This site is a
market leader in global online compensation data. It has one of the largest
databases of online employee salary data in the world. This website offers
salary reports based on your job title, location, education, skills and
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco"><span class="Hyperlink3"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;">www.bls.gov/oco</span></span></a><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The
Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is
revised every two years. It is a nationally recognized source of career
information for hundreds of different types of jobs. For specific occupations,
it tells you: the training and education needed; earnings; expected job
prospects; what workers do on the job; and working conditions. In addition, it
gives you job search tips, and links to job market in each state. Occupational
Outlook Handbook is available online, and you can use the Search box to find
out about a specific occupation or topic. Also you can go to the A-Z Index for
a listing of all occupations in alphabetical order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">JOB
OFFER GUIDELINES</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The following guidelines should
help you in job offer negotiations.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do not immediately accept what you are
offered:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Always ask for
some time to consider an offer. Most employers are willing to give you up a few
days to consider and respond to a job offer. It is a mistake to jump at an
offer, and accept it right away. Talk to your family members and some
professionals to determine whether it is a fair offer before you accept it.
Accepting something less than what you are worth will not only give you less
income now, but also set you back in terms of future income as raises are a
percentage of what you are earning. Be wary of companies that won’t give you at
least a couple of days to make a decision.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do not reject the offer quickly:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Some candidates make the mistake of
rejecting an offer too quickly because the salary offered is below their
expectations. Always look at the total package rather than just the salary
component. Some companies offer larger bonuses, stock options, and benefits.
You may still find that the total package does not meet your expectations, but
do take the time to review it carefully and see if you can negotiate some
aspects of it to make it acceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do not tell the employer what you will
accept:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> It is a mistake
for a candidate to bring up the subject of salary during job interviews. You
should leave it to the employer to initiate this discussion. Employers may ask
for your salary history, and you should give accurate information. They may
also ask for your salary expectation, and you should give that in a broad range
pointing out that it would depend upon the total package such as bonus and
benefits.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do not tell the employer what you need
for living expenses:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
You will get what you are worth in the eyes of the employer, and nothing more.
You have to focus on the value you bring to the employer. Never tell an
employer the amount of money you need for living expenses. That has no
relevance to the employer.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Know your market value:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Many candidates start thinking about
their market value only after getting a job offer. You should do that before
you interview for jobs. There are many resources available on the Internet such
as </span><a href="http://www.salary.com/"><span class="Link">www.salary.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and </span><a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/"><span class="Link">www.salaryexpert.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">. Also, you should talk to some
professionals in the employment industry. They can usually tell the salary
range you can expect based on your education and experience level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Focus on one or two changes in the
offer:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> While employers
may be willing to make one or two changes in the offer, most of them will not
negotiate the entire package. You should focus on one or two elements that are
most critical to you. If the salary is too low, ask for a change. If the
employer will not change the salary, try to get more in terms of bonus, stock
options or benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Never burn your bridges behind you:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Negotiating a job offer is the
beginning of the working relationship with an employer, and it is essential to
conduct the negotiation in a professional and respectful manner even if you and
the employer do not see eye to eye. If you decide to decline an offer, do so in
a professional way so that there may be a future opportunity for you to connect
with this employer.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Always get the job offer in writing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Any good employer would be willing to
state the offer in writing. If an employer is not willing to do so, re-consider
whether you want to work at that company. Whatever special arrangements you are
able to negotiate should be documented in writing. If you are able to get a
special bonus arrangement, additional vacation time, earlier salary review, get
it all in writing. It is possible that the person who negotiated special
arrangements with you could move on to another assignment. You want to make
sure that you are able to get whatever was agreed. Sometimes you may just have
to spell out the special arrangements in a letter to the hiring manager, get
the manager to acknowledge it and put it in your personnel file.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Evaluate the benefits package:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Employers offer a wide variety of
benefits to attract and retain employees. You should consider the benefits
package before accepting or declining a job offer. The benefits offered by
employers may include medical insurance, dental insurance, eye care insurance,
life insurance, accidental death insurance, disability insurance, business
travel insurance, group legal plans, vacation, holidays, sick/personal days,
retirement plans, profit sharing, stock options, tuition reimbursement,
membership in health clubs, on-site child care facilities, parking
reimbursement, transportation to and from work, company car, and mobile phone.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Understand the entire offer:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Make sure you understand all aspects of
the job offer, including salary, bonus, stock option plan, non-competition
agreement, performance review plan, paid time off policy, and benefits package.
If you don’t understand any aspect of the job offer, don’t hesitate to ask the
employer. Your first day on the job is not the time to find out about your
compensation package and the company policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Review all employment documents:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Ask for copies of all documents you
will be required to sign upon accepting the position. This will often include
an employment letter, a non-disclosure agreement, and may include a non-compete
agreement. Review these documents carefully and seek the assistance of an
attorney if there are terms of employment you do not understand. These
agreements will not only govern during your employment, but may define certain
obligations for a period of time after you terminate employment.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Money is not the most important
thing in a new job. The financial package should be reviewed in terms of other
considerations such as job responsibilities and growth opportunities.</span><span style="font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-bidi-font-family: CenturyGothic; mso-fareast-font-family: CenturyGothic;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="380">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="border: none; font-family: CenturyGothic; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:-1.4pt;
margin-top:0;width:139.95pt;height:3in;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;
mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;
mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/Narinder/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title=""/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Narinder
Mehta (@Narinderm) was President of an executive search firm for ten years. He
is the author of three books on job search and career development. His recent
book <i>Ace Your Job Search in Five Steps</i>
(June 2016) reveals a step-by-step pathway for finding a dream job. He welcomes
all requests to connect on LinkedIn: </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/NarinderMehta"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">www.linkedin.com/in/NarinderMehta</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-83237928173914719862016-03-05T14:29:00.000-08:002016-03-05T14:29:50.669-08:00HOW TO TARGET COMPANIES FOR JOB SEARCH<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8331852725696520981" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Targeting companies of special interest to you is the most effective strategy for job search. This is particularly true when you are looking for a senior level position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This strategy begins with research into your target industry, and leads to the identification of companies that interest you based on size, growth potential, location and other factors important to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You will need to regularly update your target list based on research and your contacts with these companies. This process will also yield information about the names and titles of persons you need to approach in each company. You can find the list of companies by going to the yellow pages of the local phone directories, business directories available in public libraries, as well as online directories. Once you have a list of potential employers, you can research them by going to the employer websites, reading employer’s annual reports, and searching for outside profiles of employers such as those available at </span><a href="http://www.hoovers.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.hoovers.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">. Some of the online business directories also include links to company websites. Another element in this research is to go to a search engine such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.google.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> and find additional information about the company’s products, customers, and senior officers, which will enable you to network your way into those companies, or make direct contact with hiring managers. This approach requires a clear understanding of your skills and interests, and the ability to conduct extensive research of possible employers. It requires deciding what kind of companies to research, what to look for, and how to prioritize the companies you have picked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you have researched your target companies, you will know their operations, and the type of opportunities available with them that match your skills and experiences. You should send a personalized letter to the hiring manager at each company explaining how your background and experiences match the company’s requirements, and attach a copy of your resume. You should state in your letter when you will call the hiring manager to set up an appointment for interview. In addition to approaching target companies by mail, you could call the hiring manager on the phone, briefly describe your qualifications and job interest, and try to get an appointment for a face-to-face interview. Remember to prepare a written outline of what you are going to say before you make that phone call. You should be able to set up some job interviews using this approach. Another possible approach is to go to the employer location, and try to meet with the hiring manager without an appointment. If you are not able to see the hiring manager, try to get a date and time when you could come back for an interview. If you are told there are no job openings, express your interest in future vacancies, and still try to get an interview. A personal visit to the job location can help you to establish contacts. Also, this is an opportunity to pick up some literature about the employer that could help you when you come back for an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While large companies remain excellent places to work, many small to medium size companies are offering wonderful career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Small companies give you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. You can have broader responsibility and more impact on the company’s operation in a short time. When preparing a list of your target companies, do not limit yourself to just large corporations. There is often big opportunity in small companies. If you are planning to target small companies, you can often find opportunities by contacting venture capital firms, private equity firms, small business services, and corporate attorneys who maintain a roster of small to medium sized clients. By going to people who work closely with smaller companies, you can often get a warm introduction into several companies at once. Many firms that work with small and medium businesses are happy to make introductions to senior management at their client companies because it demonstrates additional value that they provide to the small and medium business owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
<div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1">
<span class="post-author vcard" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em;">Posted by <span class="fn" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="g-profile" data-gapiattached="true" data-gapiscan="true" data-onload="true" href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312" rel="author" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" title="author profile"><span itemprop="name">Narinder Mehta</span> </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 1em;">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://fivestepstoyournextjob.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-target-companies-for-job-search.html" rel="bookmark" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: none;" title="2014-07-02T11:51:00-07:00">11:51 AM</abbr></a> </span><span class="reaction-buttons" style="margin-right: 1em;"></span><span class="post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"><a class="comment-link" href="http://fivestepstoyournextjob.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-target-companies-for-job-search.html#comment-form" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">No comments: </a></span><span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"></span><span class="post-icons" style="margin-right: 1em;"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-512383969" style="display: inline;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2845207488191743976&postID=8331852725696520981&from=pencil" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none !important;" title="Edit Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="18" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em !important; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" width="18" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-54865894515875685772016-01-25T13:56:00.000-08:002016-01-25T13:56:16.449-08:00COVER LETTER TIPS<div class="main-outer" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="fauxborder-left main-fauxborder-left" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; position: relative;">
<div class="region-inner main-inner" style="margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 30px 0px; position: relative; width: auto;">
<div class="columns fauxcolumns" style="padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 260px; position: relative; zoom: 1;">
<div class="columns-inner" style="min-height: 0px;">
<div class="column-center-outer" style="float: left; position: relative; width: 580px;">
<div class="column-center-inner" style="padding: 0px 15px;">
<div class="main section" id="main" name="Main" style="margin: 0px 15px;">
<div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1" style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="blog-posts hfeed">
<div class="date-outer">
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-795309756063054380" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cover letter is an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other candidates. You can do so by highlighting how your skills and experiences will benefit the employer. A good cover letter will persuade the employer to call you for an interview. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here are some tips for preparing your cover letters.</span></div>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Address the letter to a person:</b> Your letter will be far more effective if it is addressed by name to the person doing the hiring. You should devote the needed time and effort to find out the name and title of the hiring manager or the recruiting manager. If this information is not included in the job posting, you can often find it on the Internet or by calling the company’s main office. Once you have this information, you should use a formal salutation such as Dr., Mr., or Ms. to address your cover letter. You should not begin a cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam, or address it To Whom It May Concern. The use of generic salutations in cover letters shows lack of real interest in the opportunity.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Mention prior contact:</b> When you are following up on a phone conversation or a prior meeting, always mention that at the beginning of your cover letter to remind the reader. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Never use a form letter:</b> Recruiters can quickly tell the difference between a form letter and the one designed specifically to meet the requirements of a job opening. Resumes attached to form letters are often ignored by recruiters. When you are really interested in the job opening, take the time to prepare a cover letter that highlights your skills and experiences as they are related to the job requirements. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Keep it short:</b> A cover letter should not be more than one page. It should be organized in just a few paragraphs to highlight your suitability for the job opening. Do not repeat what is already stated in the resume. A cover letter is intended to spark the reader’s interest to read your resume and should offer something more than what is contained in the resume. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Research the company: </b>The quality of your cover letter will depend on how much you know about the company. You should visit the company’s website and review trade publications to find out about the company’s mission, values, history, current customers and operating results. This information will also help you when you interview with the company. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Explain how you meet the job requirements:</b> You need to highlight your understanding of the job requirements and how your skills and experiences match those requirements. You should include examples of your accomplishments in similar roles in prior positions. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>State the next step:</b> Remember to state what you plan to do as a follow up to sending the cover letter and resume. If it is your intention to call the employer in a week to request an interview, you should state that in the letter. And, make it a point to put that on your calendar and then do it.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Letter should appear professional:</b> The letter should include your name and contact information as well as the name, title, company name and full address of the hiring manager. The letter should appear attractive, and make sure there are no typographical or grammatical errors. You should use a spell checker. In addition, proof-read several times and have someone else proof-read it for you. This is your first impression to the hiring company, and you certainly want to make it a good impression. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The quality of the cover letter often determines whether or not it opens the door for an interview. You need to devote as much attention to preparing the cover letters as you do to preparing your resume. A cover letter is what the recruiter will see even before glancing at your resume. It is the first impression of a candidate to a prospective employer. If this impression is not favorable, the resume is likely to be discarded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each position for which you are applying. It is a mistake to design a form letter and include it with your resume each time you send it. A well prepared cover letter will generally pave the way for an interview.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Effective cover letters communicate the reasons for your interest in a position, and highlight your skills and experiences which fit the job requirements.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Each cover letter must be tailor-made for each position in which you are interested. You should carefully review the position requirements stated in the job posting. You should write down your relevant qualifications next to each requirement. Your cover letter is essentially a summary of how your skills and experiences fit the job requirements. If you possess the needed qualifications, and you are able to communicate that in your cover letter, it is probable that you will be called for an interview. </span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
<div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<footer style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></footer>Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-85768721802688877912015-12-13T09:15:00.000-08:002015-12-13T09:15:12.259-08:00HOW TO CONTACT HEADHUNTERS<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2583403517580156647" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8859839731463071109" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Executive recruiters or headhunters as they are more commonly known, work from outside the hiring company to attract management talent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Headhunters advertise jobs, interview candidates, and present suitable candidates for final decision to be made by the employer. They have access to senior management jobs around the world. They often determine which candidates are to be introduced to client organizations. The employers hire search firms to find special talent which is in short supply. Executive recruiters look for candidates who are currently employed, have a good growth record, and are making good compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Headhunters</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> can be very helpful to you at some time in your career. It is wise to cultivate relationships with some of them in your field. When you meet a search firm’s criteria, you get immediate attention. On the other hand, remember that search firms work for employers and get paid by them. When you do not get a response from a search firm, it means that you do not meet their criteria for positions they are trying to fill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There are two types of executive search firms – retained search firms and contingency search firms. Retained search firms generally have an exclusive assignment to fill a specific position, and they get their fee even if they are not able to fill the position. Contingency search firms are paid a fee only when they fill a position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The starting point for your approach to executive search firms is to realize that they are not under any obligation to talk to you. Their fees and expenses are paid by hiring companies, and their primary obligation is to the employers. However, they need suitable candidates to meet their obligation to client organizations. A recruiter from a search firm would be interested in talking to you only when you are a good match for a current search assignment, a possible match for a future assignment, or when you are referred by a good source known to the search firm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The search firms receive hundreds of resumes for each job posting. They go through a quick screening to find possible candidates. As a recruiter, I was able to find only one or two candidates for phone interviews, out of every 100 resumes I received. The other applicants did not fit my area of recruiting specialization, lacked the required qualifications, or just did not generate any interest for further investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Whenever sending your resume to a search firm, remember to include a cover note pointing out how you fit the job requirements for an advertised position or the search firm’s area of specialization.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you are contacted by an executive search firm, you should expect to answer questions about your background, experience, and current compensation. The recruiter is trying to determine whether to consider you for referral to the client organization. Any attempt to withhold information or provide a vague answer is likely to disqualify you from further consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When the headhunter thinks you are a possible match with the job requirements, you will probably have a phone interview to be followed by face-to-face interviews. And if the recruiter decides to refer you to the hiring company, you will be invited for interviews with the employer. Since the executive search firms are paid by hiring companies, they always try to satisfy the employer’s interest. The employers have to pay substantial search fees for recruiting candidates through executive search firms, and therefore, they use this resource mostly for senior management positions or those positions that are hard to fill. Reliance upon executive search firms is more useful for candidates for senior level positions and less effective for junior level jobs.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-89412336030959258442015-10-14T14:13:00.002-07:002015-10-14T14:13:44.827-07:00USE YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK FOR JOB SEARCH<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5196595469665755466" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3250825993378228128" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Social media can be an invaluable asset in all steps of the job search process including networking, finding prospective employers, creating a strong resume, preparing for interviews, and cultivating strong references.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Social media can be your most valuable resource for networking.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">In years passed, the only way to meet and make an impression on new people was through face-to-face forums such as networking receptions and conferences. Today, with the help of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites, it is possible to establish personal and professional relationships without ever meeting face-to-face. As a first step, consider starting a blog or a micro-blog. A well regarded and informative blog can be your most valuable networking asset. It is an ideal demonstration of your knowledge of a particular subject and your ability to communicate in writing, and it will be a catalyst to help you start conversations with your peers and leaders in your industry. A good blog has a purpose; so do not create a blog that is an unstructured journal of your thoughts. Instead, pick a topic for your blog that you are knowledgeable about and that others will find valuable. In order for your blog to be useful and gain popularity, you should plan to post at least once a week. If you do not have the time to make that much of a commitment to your blog, consider creating a micro-blog on a site like Twitter. As with a long-format blog, your Twitter or micro-blog account should have a primary purpose that is valuable to your peers and leaders in your industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your online network to find prospective employers.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There is an adage that the best jobs are taken before most people even know about them. This is because people turn to their personal network first when trying to fill a key job, and they feel much more confident hiring someone they know or someone that comes recommended from a trusted source. Start your job search by reaching out to your friends on Facebook and connections on LinkedIn. These resources will help you find positions that may not be listed yet or that are being recruited for using a closed process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Your online presence is a critical component of your resume.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> Just as you must research companies online before submitting your application, hiring managers will often research a candidate online before extending an invitation for job interview. As a result, your online presence is a critical aspect of your candidacy and you must manage it with the same attention as your resume. Any information available online can and often will be used by recruiters in evaluating candidates. As part of the process of creating your resume, you should create a profile on LinkedIn that describes your experience accurately, effectively, and in sufficient detail. If you have a website or a blog, make sure your biographical information is up to date. If appropriate you may want to dedicate part of your site to your job search by including an online version of your resume or a portfolio of past projects and accomplishments. Be aware that employers may use any aspect of your online presence to evaluate your candidacy. Make sure that all aspects of your website and social networking profiles portray you in the best light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your social network to prepare for interviews.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Before interviewing at a company, look on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to see if you know anyone that currently or previously worked at the company. You should consider reaching out to direct connections, and also to friends of friends. Most people are willing to discuss their experiences provided that you are respectful of their time and do not pry into subjects that may be governed by confidentiality. Before each of these conversations, prepare a short list of questions to make sure that you can get maximum benefit from the opportunity. In some cases, making a good impression on a current employee can have a positive impact on your candidacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use LinkedIn to cultivate your references.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">LinkedIn has an invaluable feature that allows people to post recommendations for you to your LinkedIn profile. Prospective employers may use these recommendations to gain insights into what your peers think of you and how they describe your positive traits. While these recommendations will not take the place of personal references, they do provide an important source of information for hiring managers. LinkedIn recommendations can be a great way for you to start the process of cultivating a strong set of references.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-81843843555924020892015-08-26T14:12:00.000-07:002015-08-26T14:12:20.577-07:00HOW TO NEGOTIATE A JOB OFFER<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1123025552009791575" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It feels wonderful to get a job offer. This is what you were striving for when you started your job search. But do not rush to say “yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you receive a job offer, the roles are suddenly reversed. Now you have become the buyer. The employer is now trying to sell you on the career opportunity, salary, and benefits. They definitely want you, and in most cases, would like you to join as soon as possible. You have to decide whether you want them, and if so, what changes are needed in the job offer before you make a </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">commitment. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have probably determined, before a job offer is presented to you, that the company is a good place to work and you are satisfied with the position and advancement opportunities. If you have any concerns about the company or the position, this is the time to take another look at what you may be getting into. No amount of salary or benefits will make up for a bad career choice. Assuming you are satisfied with the company and the position, take a close look at the financial aspects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Job offers are subject to negotiation.</span></i><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You can negotiate the job responsibilities, base salary, bonuses, relocation package, benefits, stock compensation, severance terms and anything else included in the job offer. This is an opportunity for you to define what you want and what you can get, and then negotiate an employment package acceptable to you. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Timing is a critical factor in negotiating. The ideal time to negotiate is when you have received a verbal offer from the employer, or through an executive search firm. Prepare a logical explanation for every change you want to request. Remember, negotiating is a two-way process, where both you and the employer try to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both sides. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Preparation is the key to good negotiations.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have to research, consider alternatives, plan and effectively communicate with the employer. You have to know how far you can go, and when to pull back. When the job being offered to you is hard to fill, the employer will be more accommodating. If other candidates are available to fill the position, the employer may be less inclined to negotiate the terms of the job offer. Smaller companies are more willing to negotiate as compared to larger organizations with standard policies and procedures.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There is a big difference in salaries for the same jobs in different parts of the country. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You should look up cost of living data when researching salaries. Here are some websites for your research.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.jobstar.org/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jobstar.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a wonderful resource for help on salary information. It helps you connect to over 300 free online salary surveys. The surveys come from several kinds of sources including: General periodicals; local newspapers; Trade and professional journals; Trade and professional associations; and Recruiters or employment agencies. This website also offers helpful links to advice on salary negotiation strategies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salary.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salary.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a leading provider of on-demand human resources software to help businesses and individuals manage pay and performance, and achieve greater results in the workplace. The website includes quick links to compensation-related information: Salary Wizard; Benefits Calculator; Executive Pay Wizard; Cost of Living Calculator; Premium Salary Report; Salary Wizard Canada; Performance Self-Test; and Salary Negotiation Advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salaryexpert.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This website was launched in 2000 to provide reporting on salaries and cost of living. Tools available on this website help people make informed decisions when planning careers and searching for jobs. Following career tools are available: Search Jobs by Salary; Cost of Living Calculator; Education Planning Center; Job Search; Career Salary Potential Report; and Student Cost of Living Report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.payscale.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.payscale.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Payscale is a market leader in global online compensation data. It has one of the largest databases of online employee salary data in the world. This website offers salary reports based on your job title, location, education, skills and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bls.gov/oco</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is revised every two years. It is a nationally recognized source of career information for hundreds of different types of jobs. For specific occupations, it tells you: the training and education needed; earnings; expected job prospects; what workers do on the job; and working conditions. In addition, it gives you job search tips, and links to job market in each state. Occupational Outlook Handbook is available online, and you can use the Search box to find out about a specific occupation or topic. Also you can go to the A-Z Index for a listing of all occupations in alphabetical order.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-22432347629733059992015-07-04T12:58:00.002-07:002015-07-04T12:58:45.734-07:00TARGETING COMPANIES FOR JOB SEARCH<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Targeting companies of special interest to you is the most effective strategy for job search. This is particularly true when you are looking for a senior level position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This strategy begins with research into your target industry, and leads to the identification of companies that interest you based on size, growth potential, location and other factors important to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You will need to regularly update your target list based on research and your contacts with these companies. This process will also yield information about the names and titles of persons you need to approach in each company. You can find the list of companies by going to the yellow pages of the local phone directories, business directories available in public libraries, as well as online directories. Once you have a list of potential employers, you can research them by going to the employer websites, reading employer’s annual reports, and searching for outside profiles of employers such as those available at </span><a href="http://www.hoovers.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.hoovers.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">. Some of the online business directories also include links to company websites. Another element in this research is to go to a search engine such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.google.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> and find additional information about the company’s products, customers, and senior officers, which will enable you to network your way into those companies, or make direct contact with hiring managers. This approach requires a clear understanding of your skills and interests, and the ability to conduct extensive research of possible employers. It requires deciding what kind of companies to research, what to look for, and how to prioritize the companies you have picked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you have researched your target companies, you will know their operations, and the type of opportunities available with them that match your skills and experiences. You should send a personalized letter to the hiring manager at each company explaining how your background and experiences match the company’s requirements, and attach a copy of your resume. You should state in your letter when you will call the hiring manager to set up an appointment for interview. In addition to approaching target companies by mail, you could call the hiring manager on the phone, briefly describe your qualifications and job interest, and try to get an appointment for a face-to-face interview. Remember to prepare a written outline of what you are going to say before you make that phone call. You should be able to set up some job interviews using this approach. Another possible approach is to go to the employer location, and try to meet with the hiring manager without an appointment. If you are not able to see the hiring manager, try to get a date and time when you could come back for an interview. If you are told there are no job openings, express your interest in future vacancies, and still try to get an interview. A personal visit to the job location can help you to establish contacts. Also, this is an opportunity to pick up some literature about the employer that could help you when you come back for an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While large companies remain excellent places to work, many small to medium size companies are offering wonderful career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Small companies give you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. You can have broader responsibility and more impact on the company’s operation in a short time. When preparing a list of your target companies, do not limit yourself to just large corporations. There is often big opportunity in small companies. If you are planning to target small companies, you can often find opportunities by contacting venture capital firms, private equity firms, small business services, and corporate attorneys who maintain a roster of small to medium sized clients. By going to people who work closely with smaller companies, you can often get a warm introduction into several companies at once. Many firms that work with small and medium businesses are happy to make introductions to senior management at their client companies because it demonstrates additional value that they provide to the small and medium business owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-7953097560630543802015-06-08T14:05:00.000-07:002015-06-08T14:05:50.327-07:00COVER LETTER TIPS<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cover letter is an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other candidates. You can do so by highlighting how your skills and experiences will benefit the employer. A good cover letter will persuade the employer to call you for an interview. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Cover Letter Tips</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here are some tips for preparing your cover letters.</span></div>
<ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Address the letter to a person:</b> Your letter will be far more effective if it is addressed by name to the person doing the hiring. You should devote the needed time and effort to find out the name and title of the hiring manager or the recruiting manager. If this information is not included in the job posting, you can often find it on the Internet or by calling the company’s main office. Once you have this information, you should use a formal salutation such as Dr., Mr., or Ms. to address your cover letter. You should not begin a cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam, or address it To Whom It May Concern. The use of generic salutations in cover letters shows lack of real interest in the opportunity.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Mention prior contact:</b> When you are following up on a phone conversation or a prior meeting, always mention that at the beginning of your cover letter to remind the reader. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Never use a form letter:</b> Recruiters can quickly tell the difference between a form letter and the one designed specifically to meet the requirements of a job opening. Resumes attached to form letters are often ignored by recruiters. When you are really interested in the job opening, take the time to prepare a cover letter that highlights your skills and experiences as they are related to the job requirements. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Keep it short:</b> A cover letter should not be more than one page. It should be organized in just a few paragraphs to highlight your suitability for the job opening. Do not repeat what is already stated in the resume. A cover letter is intended to spark the reader’s interest to read your resume and should offer something more than what is contained in the resume. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Research the company: </b>The quality of your cover letter will depend on how much you know about the company. You should visit the company’s website and review trade publications to find out about the company’s mission, values, history, current customers and operating results. This information will also help you when you interview with the company. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Explain how you meet the job requirements:</b> You need to highlight your understanding of the job requirements and how your skills and experiences match those requirements. You should include examples of your accomplishments in similar roles in prior positions. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>State the next step:</b> Remember to state what you plan to do as a follow up to sending the cover letter and resume. If it is your intention to call the employer in a week to request an interview, you should state that in the letter. And, make it a point to put that on your calendar and then do it.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Letter should appear professional:</b> The letter should include your name and contact information as well as the name, title, company name and full address of the hiring manager. The letter should appear attractive, and make sure there are no typographical or grammatical errors. You should use a spell checker. In addition, proof-read several times and have someone else proof-read it for you. This is your first impression to the hiring company, and you certainly want to make it a good impression. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The quality of the cover letter often determines whether or not it opens the door for an interview. You need to devote as much attention to preparing the cover letters as you do to preparing your resume. A cover letter is what the recruiter will see even before glancing at your resume. It is the first impression of a candidate to a prospective employer. If this impression is not favorable, the resume is likely to be discarded.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each position for which you are applying. It is a mistake to design a form letter and include it with your resume each time you send it. A well prepared cover letter will generally pave the way for an interview.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Avoid the following mistakes in putting together cover letters.</span></div>
<ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Salary:</b> You should never mention salary or expected title in your cover letters unless you are communicating with an executive search firm or have been asked to do so in the job description or by a representative of the company. Those are matters that will definitely come up for discussion when the employer has decided to make you an offer. Any mention of compensation issues by the candidate prior to that is untimely. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Typographical errors:</b> One typographical error is all it takes to turn off a recruiter. In addition to using the spell check program on your computer, you should have some friends and family members proof read your cover letter. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Effective cover letters communicate the reasons for your interest in a position, and highlight your skills and experiences which fit the job requirements.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Each cover letter must be tailor-made for each position in which you are interested. You should carefully review the position requirements stated in the job posting. You should write down your relevant qualifications next to each requirement. Your cover letter is essentially a summary of how your skills and experiences fit the job requirements. If you possess the needed qualifications, and you are able to communicate that in your cover letter, it is probable that you will be called for an interview. </span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-66969680064518094202015-04-30T09:42:00.000-07:002015-04-30T09:42:14.270-07:00HOW TO NEGOTIATE A JOB OFFER<br /><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1123025552009791575" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It feels wonderful to get a job offer. This is what you were striving for when you started your job search. But do not rush to say “yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you receive a job offer, the roles are suddenly reversed. Now you have become the buyer. The employer is now trying to sell you on the career opportunity, salary, and benefits. They definitely want you, and in most cases, would like you to join as soon as possible. You have to decide whether you want them, and if so, what changes are needed in the job offer before you make a </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">commitment. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have probably determined, before a job offer is presented to you, that the company is a good place to work and you are satisfied with the position and advancement opportunities. If you have any concerns about the company or the position, this is the time to take another look at what you may be getting into. No amount of salary or benefits will make up for a bad career choice. Assuming you are satisfied with the company and the position, take a close look at the financial aspects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Job offers are subject to negotiation.</span></i><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You can negotiate the job responsibilities, base salary, bonuses, relocation package, benefits, stock compensation, severance terms and anything else included in the job offer. This is an opportunity for you to define what you want and what you can get, and then negotiate an employment package acceptable to you. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Timing is a critical factor in negotiating. The ideal time to negotiate is when you have received a verbal offer from the employer, or through an executive search firm. Prepare a logical explanation for every change you want to request. Remember, negotiating is a two-way process, where both you and the employer try to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both sides. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Preparation is the key to good negotiations.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have to research, consider alternatives, plan and effectively communicate with the employer. You have to know how far you can go, and when to pull back. When the job being offered to you is hard to fill, the employer will be more accommodating. If other candidates are available to fill the position, the employer may be less inclined to negotiate the terms of the job offer. Smaller companies are more willing to negotiate as compared to larger organizations with standard policies and procedures.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There is a big difference in salaries for the same jobs in different parts of the country. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You should look up cost of living data when researching salaries. Here are some websites for your research.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.jobstar.org/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jobstar.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a wonderful resource for help on salary information. It helps you connect to over 300 free online salary surveys. The surveys come from several kinds of sources including: General periodicals; local newspapers; Trade and professional journals; Trade and professional associations; and Recruiters or employment agencies. This website also offers helpful links to advice on salary negotiation strategies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salary.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salary.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a leading provider of on-demand human resources software to help businesses and individuals manage pay and performance, and achieve greater results in the workplace. The website includes quick links to compensation-related information: Salary Wizard; Benefits Calculator; Executive Pay Wizard; Cost of Living Calculator; Premium Salary Report; Salary Wizard Canada; Performance Self-Test; and Salary Negotiation Advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salaryexpert.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This website was launched in 2000 to provide reporting on salaries and cost of living. Tools available on this website help people make informed decisions when planning careers and searching for jobs. Following career tools are available: Search Jobs by Salary; Cost of Living Calculator; Education Planning Center; Job Search; Career Salary Potential Report; and Student Cost of Living Report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.payscale.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.payscale.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Payscale is a market leader in global online compensation data. It has one of the largest databases of online employee salary data in the world. This website offers salary reports based on your job title, location, education, skills and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bls.gov/oco</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is revised every two years. It is a nationally recognized source of career information for hundreds of different types of jobs. For specific occupations, it tells you: the training and education needed; earnings; expected job prospects; what workers do on the job; and working conditions. In addition, it gives you job search tips, and links to job market in each state. Occupational Outlook Handbook is available online, and you can use the Search box to find out about a specific occupation or topic. Also you can go to the A-Z Index for a listing of all occupations in alphabetical order.</span></div>
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-86469565701053345632015-03-30T13:04:00.000-07:002015-03-30T13:04:17.395-07:00HOW TO TARGET COMPANIES FOR JOB SEARCH<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Targeting companies of special interest to you is the most effective strategy for job search. This is particularly true when you are looking for a senior level position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This strategy begins with research into your target industry, and leads to the identification of companies that interest you based on size, growth potential, location and other factors important to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You will need to regularly update your target list based on research and your contacts with these companies. This process will also yield information about the names and titles of persons you need to approach in each company. You can find the list of companies by going to the yellow pages of the local phone directories, business directories available in public libraries, as well as online directories. Once you have a list of potential employers, you can research them by going to the employer websites, reading employer’s annual reports, and searching for outside profiles of employers such as those available at </span><a href="http://www.hoovers.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.hoovers.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">. Some of the online business directories also include links to company websites. Another element in this research is to go to a search engine such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.google.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> and find additional information about the company’s products, customers, and senior officers, which will enable you to network your way into those companies, or make direct contact with hiring managers. This approach requires a clear understanding of your skills and interests, and the ability to conduct extensive research of possible employers. It requires deciding what kind of companies to research, what to look for, and how to prioritize the companies you have picked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you have researched your target companies, you will know their operations, and the type of opportunities available with them that match your skills and experiences. You should send a personalized letter to the hiring manager at each company explaining how your background and experiences match the company’s requirements, and attach a copy of your resume. You should state in your letter when you will call the hiring manager to set up an appointment for interview. In addition to approaching target companies by mail, you could call the hiring manager on the phone, briefly describe your qualifications and job interest, and try to get an appointment for a face-to-face interview. Remember to prepare a written outline of what you are going to say before you make that phone call. You should be able to set up some job interviews using this approach. Another possible approach is to go to the employer location, and try to meet with the hiring manager without an appointment. If you are not able to see the hiring manager, try to get a date and time when you could come back for an interview. If you are told there are no job openings, express your interest in future vacancies, and still try to get an interview. A personal visit to the job location can help you to establish contacts. Also, this is an opportunity to pick up some literature about the employer that could help you when you come back for an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While large companies remain excellent places to work, many small to medium size companies are offering wonderful career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Small companies give you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. You can have broader responsibility and more impact on the company’s operation in a short time. When preparing a list of your target companies, do not limit yourself to just large corporations. There is often big opportunity in small companies. If you are planning to target small companies, you can often find opportunities by contacting venture capital firms, private equity firms, small business services, and corporate attorneys who maintain a roster of small to medium sized clients. By going to people who work closely with smaller companies, you can often get a warm introduction into several companies at once. Many firms that work with small and medium businesses are happy to make introductions to senior management at their client companies because it demonstrates additional value that they provide to the small and medium business owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-54022053296547751442015-01-28T11:11:00.000-08:002015-01-28T11:11:09.004-08:00HOW TO NEGOTIATE A JOB OFFER<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-9044996672344277040" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It feels wonderful to get a job offer. This is what you were striving for when you started your job search. But do not rush to say “yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you receive a job offer, the roles are suddenly reversed. Now you have become the buyer. The employer is now trying to sell you on the career opportunity, salary, and benefits. They definitely want you, and in most cases, would like you to join as soon as possible. You have to decide whether you want them, and if so, what changes are needed in the job offer before you make a </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">commitment. </span></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have probably determined, before a job offer is presented to you, that the company is a good place to work and you are satisfied with the position and advancement opportunities. If you have any concerns about the company or the position, this is the time to take another look at what you may be getting into. No amount of salary or benefits will make up for a bad career choice. Assuming you are satisfied with the company and the position, take a close look at the financial aspects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Job offers are subject to negotiation.</span></i><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You can negotiate the job responsibilities, base salary, bonuses, relocation package, benefits, stock compensation, severance terms and anything else included in the job offer. This is an opportunity for you to define what you want and what you can get, and then negotiate an employment package acceptable to you. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Timing is a critical factor in negotiating. The ideal time to negotiate is when you have received a verbal offer from the employer, or through an executive search firm. Prepare a logical explanation for every change you want to request. Remember, negotiating is a two-way process, where both you and the employer try to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both sides. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Preparation is the key to good negotiations.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have to research, consider alternatives, plan and effectively communicate with the employer. You have to know how far you can go, and when to pull back. When the job being offered to you is hard to fill, the employer will be more accommodating. If other candidates are available to fill the position, the employer may be less inclined to negotiate the terms of the job offer. Smaller companies are more willing to negotiate as compared to larger organizations with standard policies and procedures.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There is a big difference in salaries for the same jobs in different parts of the country. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You should look up cost of living data when researching salaries. Here are some websites for your research.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.jobstar.org/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jobstar.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a wonderful resource for help on salary information. It helps you connect to over 300 free online salary surveys. The surveys come from several kinds of sources including: General periodicals; local newspapers; Trade and professional journals; Trade and professional associations; and Recruiters or employment agencies. This website also offers helpful links to advice on salary negotiation strategies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salary.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salary.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a leading provider of on-demand human resources software to help businesses and individuals manage pay and performance, and achieve greater results in the workplace. The website includes quick links to compensation-related information: Salary Wizard; Benefits Calculator; Executive Pay Wizard; Cost of Living Calculator; Premium Salary Report; Salary Wizard Canada; Performance Self-Test; and Salary Negotiation Advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salaryexpert.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This website was launched in 2000 to provide reporting on salaries and cost of living. Tools available on this website help people make informed decisions when planning careers and searching for jobs. Following career tools are available: Search Jobs by Salary; Cost of Living Calculator; Education Planning Center; Job Search; Career Salary Potential Report; and Student Cost of Living Report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.payscale.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.payscale.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Payscale is a market leader in global online compensation data. It has one of the largest databases of online employee salary data in the world. This website offers salary reports based on your job title, location, education, skills and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bls.gov/oco</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is revised every two years. It is a nationally recognized source of career information for hundreds of different types of jobs. For specific occupations, it tells you: the training and education needed; earnings; expected job prospects; what workers do on the job; and working conditions. In addition, it gives you job search tips, and links to job market in each state. Occupational Outlook Handbook is available online, and you can use the Search box to find out about a specific occupation or topic. Also you can go to the A-Z Index for a listing of all occupations in alphabetical order.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-25834035175801566472014-12-11T15:41:00.000-08:002014-12-11T15:41:02.329-08:00HOW TO CONTACT HEADHUNTERS<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8859839731463071109" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Executive recruiters or headhunters as they are more commonly known, work from outside the hiring company to attract management talent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Headhunters advertise jobs, interview candidates, and present suitable candidates for final decision to be made by the employer. They have access to senior management jobs around the world. They often determine which candidates are to be introduced to client organizations. The employers hire search firms to find special talent which is in short supply. Executive recruiters look for candidates who are currently employed, have a good growth record, and are making good compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Headhunters</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> can be very helpful to you at some time in your career. It is wise to cultivate relationships with some of them in your field. When you meet a search firm’s criteria, you get immediate attention. On the other hand, remember that search firms work for employers and get paid by them. When you do not get a response from a search firm, it means that you do not meet their criteria for positions they are trying to fill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There are two types of executive search firms – retained search firms and contingency search firms. Retained search firms generally have an exclusive assignment to fill a specific position, and they get their fee even if they are not able to fill the position. Contingency search firms are paid a fee only when they fill a position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The starting point for your approach to executive search firms is to realize that they are not under any obligation to talk to you. Their fees and expenses are paid by hiring companies, and their primary obligation is to the employers. However, they need suitable candidates to meet their obligation to client organizations. A recruiter from a search firm would be interested in talking to you only when you are a good match for a current search assignment, a possible match for a future assignment, or when you are referred by a good source known to the search firm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The search firms receive hundreds of resumes for each job posting. They go through a quick screening to find possible candidates. As a recruiter, I was able to find only one or two candidates for phone interviews, out of every 100 resumes I received. The other applicants did not fit my area of recruiting specialization, lacked the required qualifications, or just did not generate any interest for further investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Whenever sending your resume to a search firm, remember to include a cover note pointing out how you fit the job requirements for an advertised position or the search firm’s area of specialization.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you are contacted by an executive search firm, you should expect to answer questions about your background, experience, and current compensation. The recruiter is trying to determine whether to consider you for referral to the client organization. Any attempt to withhold information or provide a vague answer is likely to disqualify you from further consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When the headhunter thinks you are a possible match with the job requirements, you will probably have a phone interview to be followed by face-to-face interviews. And if the recruiter decides to refer you to the hiring company, you will be invited for interviews with the employer. Since the executive search firms are paid by hiring companies, they always try to satisfy the employer’s interest. The employers have to pay substantial search fees for recruiting candidates through executive search firms, and therefore, they use this resource mostly for senior management positions or those positions that are hard to fill. Reliance upon executive search firms is more useful for candidates for senior level positions and less effective for junior level jobs.</span></div>
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-5437254455483749372014-11-14T14:50:00.000-08:002014-11-14T14:50:13.577-08:00COVER LETTERS THAT RESULT IN JOB INTERVIEWS<br /><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2486051892125285671" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You must review the job requirements before preparing a cover letter. Job requirements are usually included in job postings and newspaper ads. You should read this information a couple of times to be sure that your skills and qualifications match what the job requires. It is a good sign when you find that your qualifications match most of the requirements. This means, you are a strong candidate for the position. Next, you should underline the primary responsibilities indicated in the job posting, and write down the strongest qualifications you possess to match what the job requires. This is what you want to highlight in your cover letter. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A cover letter should fit in one page with ample margins. It should contain three to four paragraphs. You should begin with a strong statement describing how you heard about the job opening and the reasons for your interest. This is also the place to explain any prior contacts with the company, such as a phone conversation, or if the candidate is being referred by someone known to the employer. The cover letter should explain what you know about the position and the company, and how your skills and experiences match what the employer needs. You should not say how the job will benefit you. Instead, the emphasis should always be on how you will benefit the company.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A cover letter should include the date, the recipient’s name, title, company name and address and a personalized salutation. The body of the letter should include a statement indicating your interest in the position (including any identifier mentioned in the job posting) and where you saw the posting. If you are sending your letter and resume as a follow-up on a phone conversation or as a referral from someone known to the employer, you should state that in the first paragraph. The second paragraph should describe how your qualifications match the job requirements. A possible approach is to create two columns in your letter, one column to highlight the job requirements and a second column next to it to show how you fit those requirements. Here you should make a reference to your resume for additional information. You can end the letter by thanking the reader, and indicating the next step. You can say that you look forward to hearing from the employer, and be sure to include your phone number and e-mail address where you can be reached. As an alternative, you can mention your intent to follow-up with a phone call. This is a good way to show your enthusiasm and strong interest, and often gives you the opportunity to learn more about the position and the company when you make the follow-up call. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cover letter is an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other candidates. You can do so by highlighting how your skills and experiences will benefit the employer. A good cover letter will persuade the employer to call you for an interview. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Cover Letter Tips</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here are some tips for preparing your cover letters.</span></div>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Address the letter to a person:</b> Your letter will be far more effective if it is addressed by name to the person doing the hiring. You should devote the needed time and effort to find out the name and title of the hiring manager or the recruiting manager. If this information is not included in the job posting, you can often find it on the Internet or by calling the company’s main office. Once you have this information, you should use a formal salutation such as Dr., Mr., or Ms. to address your cover letter. You should not begin a cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam, or address it To Whom It May Concern. The use of generic salutations in cover letters shows lack of real interest in the opportunity.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Mention prior contact:</b> When you are following up on a phone conversation or a prior meeting, always mention that at the beginning of your cover letter to remind the reader. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Never use a form letter:</b> Recruiters can quickly tell the difference between a form letter and the one designed specifically to meet the requirements of a job opening. Resumes attached to form letters are often ignored by recruiters. When you are really interested in the job opening, take the time to prepare a cover letter that highlights your skills and experiences as they are related to the job requirements. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Keep it short:</b> A cover letter should not be more than one page. It should be organized in just a few paragraphs to highlight your suitability for the job opening. Do not repeat what is already stated in the resume. A cover letter is intended to spark the reader’s interest to read your resume and should offer something more than what is contained in the resume. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Research the company: </b>The quality of your cover letter will depend on how much you know about the company. You should visit the company’s website and review trade publications to find out about the company’s mission, values, history, current customers and operating results. This information will also help you when you interview with the company. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Explain how you meet the job requirements:</b> You need to highlight your understanding of the job requirements and how your skills and experiences match those requirements. You should include examples of your accomplishments in similar roles in prior positions. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>State the next step:</b> Remember to state what you plan to do as a follow up to sending the cover letter and resume. If it is your intention to call the employer in a week to request an interview, you should state that in the letter. And, make it a point to put that on your calendar and then do it.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Letter should appear professional:</b> The letter should include your name and contact information as well as the name, title, company name and full address of the hiring manager. The letter should appear attractive, and make sure there are no typographical or grammatical errors. You should use a spell checker. In addition, proof-read several times and have someone else proof-read it for you. This is your first impression to the hiring company, and you certainly want to make it a good impression. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The quality of the cover letter often determines whether or not it opens the door for an interview. You need to devote as much attention to preparing the cover letters as you do to preparing your resume. A cover letter is what the recruiter will see even before glancing at your resume. It is the first impression of a candidate to a prospective employer. If this impression is not favorable, the resume is likely to be discarded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each position for which you are applying. It is a mistake to design a form letter and include it with your resume each time you send it. A well prepared cover letter will generally pave the way for an interview.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Avoid the following mistakes in putting together cover letters.</span></div>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Salary:</b> You should never mention salary or expected title in your cover letters unless you are communicating with an executive search firm or have been asked to do so in the job description or by a representative of the company. Those are matters that will definitely come up for discussion when the employer has decided to make you an offer. Any mention of compensation issues by the candidate prior to that is untimely. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Typographical errors:</b> One typographical error is all it takes to turn off a recruiter. In addition to using the spell check program on your computer, you should have some friends and family members proof read your cover letter. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Effective cover letters communicate the reasons for your interest in a position, and highlight your skills and experiences which fit the job requirements.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Each cover letter must be tailor-made for each position in which you are interested. You should carefully review the position requirements stated in the job posting. You should write down your relevant qualifications next to each requirement. Your cover letter is essentially a summary of how your skills and experiences fit the job requirements. If you possess the needed qualifications, and you are able to communicate that in your cover letter, it is probable that you will be called for an interview. </span></div>
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-51965954696657554662014-10-23T11:37:00.000-07:002014-10-23T11:37:01.367-07:00JOB SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3250825993378228128" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Social media can be an invaluable asset in all steps of the job search process including networking, finding prospective employers, creating a strong resume, preparing for interviews, and cultivating strong references.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Social media can be your most valuable resource for networking.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">In years passed, the only way to meet and make an impression on new people was through face-to-face forums such as networking receptions and conferences. Today, with the help of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites, it is possible to establish personal and professional relationships without ever meeting face-to-face. As a first step, consider starting a blog or a micro-blog. A well regarded and informative blog can be your most valuable networking asset. It is an ideal demonstration of your knowledge of a particular subject and your ability to communicate in writing, and it will be a catalyst to help you start conversations with your peers and leaders in your industry. A good blog has a purpose; so do not create a blog that is an unstructured journal of your thoughts. Instead, pick a topic for your blog that you are knowledgeable about and that others will find valuable. In order for your blog to be useful and gain popularity, you should plan to post at least once a week. If you do not have the time to make that much of a commitment to your blog, consider creating a micro-blog on a site like Twitter. As with a long-format blog, your Twitter or micro-blog account should have a primary purpose that is valuable to your peers and leaders in your industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your online network to find prospective employers.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There is an adage that the best jobs are taken before most people even know about them. This is because people turn to their personal network first when trying to fill a key job, and they feel much more confident hiring someone they know or someone that comes recommended from a trusted source. Start your job search by reaching out to your friends on Facebook and connections on LinkedIn. These resources will help you find positions that may not be listed yet or that are being recruited for using a closed process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Your online presence is a critical component of your resume.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> Just as you must research companies online before submitting your application, hiring managers will often research a candidate online before extending an invitation for job interview. As a result, your online presence is a critical aspect of your candidacy and you must manage it with the same attention as your resume. Any information available online can and often will be used by recruiters in evaluating candidates. As part of the process of creating your resume, you should create a profile on LinkedIn that describes your experience accurately, effectively, and in sufficient detail. If you have a website or a blog, make sure your biographical information is up to date. If appropriate you may want to dedicate part of your site to your job search by including an online version of your resume or a portfolio of past projects and accomplishments. Be aware that employers may use any aspect of your online presence to evaluate your candidacy. Make sure that all aspects of your website and social networking profiles portray you in the best light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your social network to prepare for interviews.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Before interviewing at a company, look on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to see if you know anyone that currently or previously worked at the company. You should consider reaching out to direct connections, and also to friends of friends. Most people are willing to discuss their experiences provided that you are respectful of their time and do not pry into subjects that may be governed by confidentiality. Before each of these conversations, prepare a short list of questions to make sure that you can get maximum benefit from the opportunity. In some cases, making a good impression on a current employee can have a positive impact on your candidacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use LinkedIn to cultivate your references.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">LinkedIn has an invaluable feature that allows people to post recommendations for you to your LinkedIn profile. Prospective employers may use these recommendations to gain insights into what your peers think of you and how they describe your positive traits. While these recommendations will not take the place of personal references, they do provide an important source of information for hiring managers. LinkedIn recommendations can be a great way for you to start the process of cultivating a strong set of references.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-11230255520097915752014-09-17T07:16:00.000-07:002014-09-17T07:16:49.010-07:00HOW TO NEGOTIATE A JOB OFFER<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It feels wonderful to get a job offer. This is what you were striving for when you started your job search. But do not rush to say “yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you receive a job offer, the roles are suddenly reversed. Now you have become the buyer. The employer is now trying to sell you on the career opportunity, salary, and benefits. They definitely want you, and in most cases, would like you to join as soon as possible. You have to decide whether you want them, and if so, what changes are needed in the job offer before you make a </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">commitment. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have probably determined, before a job offer is presented to you, that the company is a good place to work and you are satisfied with the position and advancement opportunities. If you have any concerns about the company or the position, this is the time to take another look at what you may be getting into. No amount of salary or benefits will make up for a bad career choice. Assuming you are satisfied with the company and the position, take a close look at the financial aspects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Job offers are subject to negotiation.</span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You can negotiate the job responsibilities, base salary, bonuses, relocation package, benefits, stock compensation, severance terms and anything else included in the job offer. This is an opportunity for you to define what you want and what you can get, and then negotiate an employment package acceptable to you. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Timing is a critical factor in negotiating. The ideal time to negotiate is when you have received a verbal offer from the employer, or through an executive search firm. Prepare a logical explanation for every change you want to request. Remember, negotiating is a two-way process, where both you and the employer try to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both sides. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Preparation is the key to good negotiations.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You have to research, consider alternatives, plan and effectively communicate with the employer. You have to know how far you can go, and when to pull back. When the job being offered to you is hard to fill, the employer will be more accommodating. If other candidates are available to fill the position, the employer may be less inclined to negotiate the terms of the job offer. Smaller companies are more willing to negotiate as compared to larger organizations with standard policies and procedures.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There is a big difference in salaries for the same jobs in different parts of the country. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You should look up cost of living data when researching salaries. Here are some websites for your research.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.jobstar.org/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jobstar.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a wonderful resource for help on salary information. It helps you connect to over 300 free online salary surveys. The surveys come from several kinds of sources including: General periodicals; local newspapers; Trade and professional journals; Trade and professional associations; and Recruiters or employment agencies. This website also offers helpful links to advice on salary negotiation strategies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salary.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salary.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a leading provider of on-demand human resources software to help businesses and individuals manage pay and performance, and achieve greater results in the workplace. The website includes quick links to compensation-related information: Salary Wizard; Benefits Calculator; Executive Pay Wizard; Cost of Living Calculator; Premium Salary Report; Salary Wizard Canada; Performance Self-Test; and Salary Negotiation Advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salaryexpert.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This website was launched in 2000 to provide reporting on salaries and cost of living. Tools available on this website help people make informed decisions when planning careers and searching for jobs. Following career tools are available: Search Jobs by Salary; Cost of Living Calculator; Education Planning Center; Job Search; Career Salary Potential Report; and Student Cost of Living Report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.payscale.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.payscale.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Payscale is a market leader in global online compensation data. It has one of the largest databases of online employee salary data in the world. This website offers salary reports based on your job title, location, education, skills and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bls.gov/oco</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is revised every two years. It is a nationally recognized source of career information for hundreds of different types of jobs. For specific occupations, it tells you: the training and education needed; earnings; expected job prospects; what workers do on the job; and working conditions. In addition, it gives you job search tips, and links to job market in each state. Occupational Outlook Handbook is available online, and you can use the Search box to find out about a specific occupation or topic. Also you can go to the A-Z Index for a listing of all occupations in alphabetical order.</span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-43315458176060809192014-08-06T13:21:00.000-07:002014-08-06T13:21:07.699-07:00HOW TO HANDLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6975820427700291561" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Following is a list of questions often asked during job interviews.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></i><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Tell me about yourself.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> You should limit your answer to two minutes. In addition to providing factual information, emphasize the work experience you enjoyed the most and the positive results you accomplished. Point out to your strengths and good work habits. This question is a test of your ability to select the relevant portions of your background, and present that information clearly in a short time.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">What are your major strengths?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <u>Suggestion:</u> This is an opportunity for you to focus on your personal traits such as integrity, punctuality, persistence, enthusiasm, hard work, and the ability to get along with others. You should highlight two to three traits and describe how those traits helped you to do a superior job in your previous positions.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">What is your major weakness?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> You need to give an honest answer, and at the same time, make a positive presentation. When you mention a weakness, also point out some positive aspects associated with it. You may also want to refer to your self-improvement programs such as training courses.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Why are you interested in this position?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> Describe how your skills, experiences and background match the job requirements.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Why do you want to leave your present job?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> Say positive things about your company and your boss (whenever that is true). Emphasize how the position for which you are interviewing, offers a better opportunity to use your skills and experiences.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Why should we hire you?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <u>Suggestion:</u> This question is uppermost in the interviewer’s mind whether it is asked directly like this, or in another way. The right way to answer this question is to point out the benefits that will result to the employer by hiring you. You should offer some proof by relating how you helped your previous employers make more money by increasing sales and revenue or by reducing costs or solving problems.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">What are your salary requirements?</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> The best way to answer this question is to say that you are very interested in the position, and the salary would be negotiable. You should not name a number for the desired salary at this early stage. However, if pressed for this information, give a broad, but feasible range that can help the company determine if you fit within the salary guidelines for the company. When the salary question is asked by a recruiter from an executive search firm, you should clearly state your requirements. The recruiter needs to know if your salary requirements match the client guidelines, and whether you should be referred to the hiring company.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">How does your experience relate to this job?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <u>Suggestion:</u> This is a direct question, and an opportunity to emphasize how your experience fits the job requirements. You should pick each of the major job requirements and describe how your experience would enable you to do an excellent job.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Here is a great question some interviewers use to judge the quality of the candidate they are facing. They ask “Tell me how you spent your day yesterday”. If you have a disciplined and well organized daily routine, you will probably talk about reading the newspaper and trade magazines, checking the available positions of interest online and in print media, adding names and phones to your contact list, researching the companies you have targeted for job search, preparing follow-up letters and thank you notes, making follow-up phone calls, and doing your favorite exercise routine to keep your body in shape. On the other hand, persons who are not focused and organized will probably show their true character. This is a good way for employers to rule out unsuitable candidates.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><div>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">
<div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1">
<br /></div>
</div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-83318527256965209812014-07-02T11:51:00.000-07:002014-07-02T11:51:58.165-07:00HOW TO TARGET COMPANIES FOR JOB SEARCH<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Targeting companies of special interest to you is the most effective strategy for job search. This is particularly true when you are looking for a senior level position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This strategy begins with research into your target industry, and leads to the identification of companies that interest you based on size, growth potential, location and other factors important to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You will need to regularly update your target list based on research and your contacts with these companies. This process will also yield information about the names and titles of persons you need to approach in each company. You can find the list of companies by going to the yellow pages of the local phone directories, business directories available in public libraries, as well as online directories. Once you have a list of potential employers, you can research them by going to the employer websites, reading employer’s annual reports, and searching for outside profiles of employers such as those available at </span><a href="http://www.hoovers.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.hoovers.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">. Some of the online business directories also include links to company websites. Another element in this research is to go to a search engine such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.google.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> and find additional information about the company’s products, customers, and senior officers, which will enable you to network your way into those companies, or make direct contact with hiring managers. This approach requires a clear understanding of your skills and interests, and the ability to conduct extensive research of possible employers. It requires deciding what kind of companies to research, what to look for, and how to prioritize the companies you have picked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you have researched your target companies, you will know their operations, and the type of opportunities available with them that match your skills and experiences. You should send a personalized letter to the hiring manager at each company explaining how your background and experiences match the company’s requirements, and attach a copy of your resume. You should state in your letter when you will call the hiring manager to set up an appointment for interview. In addition to approaching target companies by mail, you could call the hiring manager on the phone, briefly describe your qualifications and job interest, and try to get an appointment for a face-to-face interview. Remember to prepare a written outline of what you are going to say before you make that phone call. You should be able to set up some job interviews using this approach. Another possible approach is to go to the employer location, and try to meet with the hiring manager without an appointment. If you are not able to see the hiring manager, try to get a date and time when you could come back for an interview. If you are told there are no job openings, express your interest in future vacancies, and still try to get an interview. A personal visit to the job location can help you to establish contacts. Also, this is an opportunity to pick up some literature about the employer that could help you when you come back for an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While large companies remain excellent places to work, many small to medium size companies are offering wonderful career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Small companies give you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. You can have broader responsibility and more impact on the company’s operation in a short time. When preparing a list of your target companies, do not limit yourself to just large corporations. There is often big opportunity in small companies. If you are planning to target small companies, you can often find opportunities by contacting venture capital firms, private equity firms, small business services, and corporate attorneys who maintain a roster of small to medium sized clients. By going to people who work closely with smaller companies, you can often get a warm introduction into several companies at once. Many firms that work with small and medium businesses are happy to make introductions to senior management at their client companies because it demonstrates additional value that they provide to the small and medium business owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-32508259933782281282014-06-05T12:58:00.000-07:002014-06-05T12:58:36.906-07:00HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR JOB SEARCH<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Social media can be an invaluable asset in all steps of the job search process including networking, finding prospective employers, creating a strong resume, preparing for interviews, and cultivating strong references.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Social media can be your most valuable resource for networking.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">In years passed, the only way to meet and make an impression on new people was through face-to-face forums such as networking receptions and conferences. Today, with the help of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites, it is possible to establish personal and professional relationships without ever meeting face-to-face. As a first step, consider starting a blog or a micro-blog. A well regarded and informative blog can be your most valuable networking asset. It is an ideal demonstration of your knowledge of a particular subject and your ability to communicate in writing, and it will be a catalyst to help you start conversations with your peers and leaders in your industry. A good blog has a purpose; so do not create a blog that is an unstructured journal of your thoughts. Instead, pick a topic for your blog that you are knowledgeable about and that others will find valuable. In order for your blog to be useful and gain popularity, you should plan to post at least once a week. If you do not have the time to make that much of a commitment to your blog, consider creating a micro-blog on a site like Twitter. As with a long-format blog, your Twitter or micro-blog account should have a primary purpose that is valuable to your peers and leaders in your industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your online network to find prospective employers.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There is an adage that the best jobs are taken before most people even know about them. This is because people turn to their personal network first when trying to fill a key job, and they feel much more confident hiring someone they know or someone that comes recommended from a trusted source. Start your job search by reaching out to your friends on Facebook and connections on LinkedIn. These resources will help you find positions that may not be listed yet or that are being recruited for using a closed process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Your online presence is a critical component of your resume.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> Just as you must research companies online before submitting your application, hiring managers will often research a candidate online before extending an invitation for job interview. As a result, your online presence is a critical aspect of your candidacy and you must manage it with the same attention as your resume. Any information available online can and often will be used by recruiters in evaluating candidates. As part of the process of creating your resume, you should create a profile on LinkedIn that describes your experience accurately, effectively, and in sufficient detail. If you have a website or a blog, make sure your biographical information is up to date. If appropriate you may want to dedicate part of your site to your job search by including an online version of your resume or a portfolio of past projects and accomplishments. Be aware that employers may use any aspect of your online presence to evaluate your candidacy. Make sure that all aspects of your website and social networking profiles portray you in the best light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your social network to prepare for interviews.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Before interviewing at a company, look on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to see if you know anyone that currently or previously worked at the company. You should consider reaching out to direct connections, and also to friends of friends. Most people are willing to discuss their experiences provided that you are respectful of their time and do not pry into subjects that may be governed by confidentiality. Before each of these conversations, prepare a short list of questions to make sure that you can get maximum benefit from the opportunity. In some cases, making a good impression on a current employee can have a positive impact on your candidacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use LinkedIn to cultivate your references.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">LinkedIn has an invaluable feature that allows people to post recommendations for you to your LinkedIn profile. Prospective employers may use these recommendations to gain insights into what your peers think of you and how they describe your positive traits. While these recommendations will not take the place of personal references, they do provide an important source of information for hiring managers. LinkedIn recommendations can be a great way for you to start the process of cultivating a strong set of references.</span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-90449966723442770402014-04-26T09:49:00.000-07:002014-04-26T09:49:10.759-07:00HOW TO NEGOTIATE A JOB OFFER<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It feels wonderful to get a job offer. This is what you were striving for when you started your job search. But do not rush to say “yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">When you receive a job offer, the roles are suddenly reversed. Now you have become the buyer. The employer is now trying to sell you on the career opportunity, salary, and benefits. They definitely want you, and in most cases, would like you to join as soon as possible. You have to decide whether you want them, and if so, what changes are needed in the job offer before you make a </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Century Gothic, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">commitment. </span></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You have probably determined, before a job offer is presented to you, that the company is a good place to work and you are satisfied with the position and advancement opportunities. If you have any concerns about the company or the position, this is the time to take another look at what you may be getting into. No amount of salary or benefits will make up for a bad career choice. Assuming you are satisfied with the company and the position, take a close look at the financial aspects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Job offers are subject to negotiation.</span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You can negotiate the job responsibilities, base salary, bonuses, relocation package, benefits, stock compensation, severance terms and anything else included in the job offer. This is an opportunity for you to define what you want and what you can get, and then negotiate an employment package acceptable to you. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Timing is a critical factor in negotiating. The ideal time to negotiate is when you have received a verbal offer from the employer, or through an executive search firm. Prepare a logical explanation for every change you want to request. Remember, negotiating is a two-way process, where both you and the employer try to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both sides. <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Preparation is the key to good negotiations.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You have to research, consider alternatives, plan and effectively communicate with the employer. You have to know how far you can go, and when to pull back. When the job being offered to you is hard to fill, the employer will be more accommodating. If other candidates are available to fill the position, the employer may be less inclined to negotiate the terms of the job offer. Smaller companies are more willing to negotiate as compared to larger organizations with standard policies and procedures.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There is a big difference in salaries for the same jobs in different parts of the country. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You should look up cost of living data when researching salaries. Here are some websites for your research.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.jobstar.org/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jobstar.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a wonderful resource for help on salary information. It helps you connect to over 300 free online salary surveys. The surveys come from several kinds of sources including: General periodicals; local newspapers; Trade and professional journals; Trade and professional associations; and Recruiters or employment agencies. This website also offers helpful links to advice on salary negotiation strategies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salary.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salary.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a leading provider of on-demand human resources software to help businesses and individuals manage pay and performance, and achieve greater results in the workplace. The website includes quick links to compensation-related information: Salary Wizard; Benefits Calculator; Executive Pay Wizard; Cost of Living Calculator; Premium Salary Report; Salary Wizard Canada; Performance Self-Test; and Salary Negotiation Advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.salaryexpert.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.salaryexpert.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This website was launched in 2000 to provide reporting on salaries and cost of living. Tools available on this website help people make informed decisions when planning careers and searching for jobs. Following career tools are available: Search Jobs by Salary; Cost of Living Calculator; Education Planning Center; Job Search; Career Salary Potential Report; and Student Cost of Living Report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.payscale.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.payscale.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Payscale is a market leader in global online compensation data. It has one of the largest databases of online employee salary data in the world. This website offers salary reports based on your job title, location, education, skills and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bls.gov/oco</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is revised every two years. It is a nationally recognized source of career information for hundreds of different types of jobs. For specific occupations, it tells you: the training and education needed; earnings; expected job prospects; what workers do on the job; and working conditions. In addition, it gives you job search tips, and links to job market in each state. Occupational Outlook Handbook is available online, and you can use the Search box to find out about a specific occupation or topic. Also you can go to the A-Z Index for a listing of all occupations in alphabetical order.</span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-4951261877800659022014-04-07T07:19:00.000-07:002014-04-07T07:19:38.978-07:00HOW TO DEFINE THE JOB YOU WANT<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This is a statement of the kind of job you want based on a clear understanding of your skills and interests. It tells your prospective employers what you are looking for. You may define it by picking a job title such as “Sales Representative” or by selecting a range of job titles such as “Marketing Management”. This would help you in putting together your resume and cover letters. By focusing on jobs that match your skills and interests, you improve the chances of finding a suitable position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">In addition, you need to develop the key message you are going to convey to prospective employers and to those in your network. This message describes how you are a good candidate for the position you are pursuing. You will put your key message in your resume and repeat it again and again in job interviews. That means going beyond determining a job title or cluster of jobs that will suit you. You have to prepare a key statement that describes you to prospective employers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Prepare yourself to answer the question that often comes up in job interviews: “Why should we hire you?” This question is a test of your ability to select the relevant portions of your background to show how you meet the job requirements, and present that information clearly in a two-minute presentation. You should write such a statement, practice how you will deliver it in a job interview, and review it carefully to use in your resume.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">To prepare your key message, you need to go to your list of accomplishments and skills and then describe your strengths to do the job you want. You need to focus on your desired job when preparing your key message. It should provide evidence that you can effectively handle the job you want to do. You should state your skills, personal qualities, experience and accomplishments that support the cluster of jobs that you are seeking. Your key message will guide your communications including resume preparation, conversations with contacts in your network, and job interviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Preparing a list of your skills and linking your skills with stories of accomplishments is a good way to begin to develop your key message. As you proceed with your job search and share your key message in your conversations and written communications, you will certainly find ways to refine your message and present stories of your accomplishments. Keep your target audience uppermost in your mind when you prepare and revise your key message. Discuss your key message with some friends, and particularly with two to three professionals in your field, who can give you an objective assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px;">Most people underestimate their value. They do not realize the skills and experience they bring to the table.</span>Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-88598397314630711092014-03-20T08:50:00.000-07:002014-03-20T08:50:38.607-07:00HEADHUNTERS CAN HELP YOU<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Executive recruiters or headhunters as they are more commonly known, work from outside the hiring company to attract management talent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Headhunters advertise jobs, interview candidates, and present suitable candidates for final decision to be made by the employer. They have access to senior management jobs around the world. They often determine which candidates are to be introduced to client organizations. The employers hire search firms to find special talent which is in short supply. Executive recruiters look for candidates who are currently employed, have a good growth record, and are making good compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Headhunters</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> can be very helpful to you at some time in your career. It is wise to cultivate relationships with some of them in your field. When you meet a search firm’s criteria, you get immediate attention. On the other hand, remember that search firms work for employers and get paid by them. When you do not get a response from a search firm, it means that you do not meet their criteria for positions they are trying to fill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There are two types of executive search firms – retained search firms and contingency search firms. Retained search firms generally have an exclusive assignment to fill a specific position, and they get their fee even if they are not able to fill the position. Contingency search firms are paid a fee only when they fill a position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The starting point for your approach to executive search firms is to realize that they are not under any obligation to talk to you. Their fees and expenses are paid by hiring companies, and their primary obligation is to the employers. However, they need suitable candidates to meet their obligation to client organizations. A recruiter from a search firm would be interested in talking to you only when you are a good match for a current search assignment, a possible match for a future assignment, or when you are referred by a good source known to the search firm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">The search firms receive hundreds of resumes for each job posting. They go through a quick screening to find possible candidates. As a recruiter, I was able to find only one or two candidates for phone interviews, out of every 100 resumes I received. The other applicants did not fit my area of recruiting specialization, lacked the required qualifications, or just did not generate any interest for further investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Whenever sending your resume to a search firm, remember to include a cover note pointing out how you fit the job requirements for an advertised position or the search firm’s area of specialization.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you are contacted by an executive search firm, you should expect to answer questions about your background, experience, and current compensation. The recruiter is trying to determine whether to consider you for referral to the client organization. Any attempt to withhold information or provide a vague answer is likely to disqualify you from further consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When the headhunter thinks you are a possible match with the job requirements, you will probably have a phone interview to be followed by face-to-face interviews. And if the recruiter decides to refer you to the hiring company, you will be invited for interviews with the employer. Since the executive search firms are paid by hiring companies, they always try to satisfy the employer’s interest. The employers have to pay substantial search fees for recruiting candidates through executive search firms, and therefore, they use this resource mostly for senior management positions or those positions that are hard to fill. Reliance upon executive search firms is more useful for candidates for senior level positions and less effective for junior level jobs. </span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-69758204277002915612014-01-28T08:35:00.000-08:002014-01-28T08:35:00.157-08:00HOW TO HANDLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS<i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Following is a list of questions often asked during job interviews.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></i><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Tell me about yourself.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> You should limit your answer to two minutes. In addition to providing factual information, emphasize the work experience you enjoyed the most and the positive results you accomplished. Point out to your strengths and good work habits. This question is a test of your ability to select the relevant portions of your background, and present that information clearly in a short time.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">What are your major strengths?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <u>Suggestion:</u> This is an opportunity for you to focus on your personal traits such as integrity, punctuality, persistence, enthusiasm, hard work, and the ability to get along with others. You should highlight two to three traits and describe how those traits helped you to do a superior job in your previous positions.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">What is your major weakness?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> You need to give an honest answer, and at the same time, make a positive presentation. When you mention a weakness, also point out some positive aspects associated with it. You may also want to refer to your self-improvement programs such as training courses.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Why are you interested in this position?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> Describe how your skills, experiences and background match the job requirements.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Why do you want to leave your present job?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> Say positive things about your company and your boss (whenever that is true). Emphasize how the position for which you are interviewing, offers a better opportunity to use your skills and experiences.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Why should we hire you?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <u>Suggestion:</u> This question is uppermost in the interviewer’s mind whether it is asked directly like this, or in another way. The right way to answer this question is to point out the benefits that will result to the employer by hiring you. You should offer some proof by relating how you helped your previous employers make more money by increasing sales and revenue or by reducing costs or solving problems.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">What are your salary requirements?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <i><u>Suggestion:</u> The best way to answer this question is to say that you are very interested in the position, and the salary would be negotiable. You should not name a number for the desired salary at this early stage. However, if pressed for this information, give a broad, but feasible range that can help the company determine if you fit within the salary guidelines for the company. When the salary question is asked by a recruiter from an executive search firm, you should clearly state your requirements. The recruiter needs to know if your salary requirements match the client guidelines, and whether you should be referred to the hiring company.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">How does your experience relate to this job?</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> <u>Suggestion:</u> This is a direct question, and an opportunity to emphasize how your experience fits the job requirements. You should pick each of the major job requirements and describe how your experience would enable you to do an excellent job.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Here is a great question some interviewers use to judge the quality of the candidate they are facing. They ask “Tell me how you spent your day yesterday”. If you have a disciplined and well organized daily routine, you will probably talk about reading the newspaper and trade magazines, checking the available positions of interest online and in print media, adding names and phones to your contact list, researching the companies you have targeted for job search, preparing follow-up letters and thank you notes, making follow-up phone calls, and doing your favorite exercise routine to keep your body in shape. On the other hand, persons who are not focused and organized will probably show their true character. This is a good way for employers to rule out unsuitable candidates.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-19791078640145192292013-12-09T11:35:00.002-08:002013-12-09T11:35:36.469-08:00USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR JOB SEARCH<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Social media is a new class of Internet sites, services, and applications that facilitate conversations between their users. The most popular and famous social network is Facebook, but there are hundreds of other social media websites that attract users based on their social affinity. Social media has transformed many ways that people interact including one of the most important interactions – connecting employers with current and potential employees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Using Social Media in Your Job Search<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Social media can be an invaluable asset in all steps of the job search process including networking, finding prospective employers, creating a strong resume, preparing for interviews, and cultivating strong references.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Social media can be your most valuable resource for networking.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">In years passed, the only way to meet and make an impression on new people was through face-to-face forums such as networking receptions and conferences. Today, with the help of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites, it is possible to establish personal and professional relationships without ever meeting face-to-face. As a first step, consider starting a blog or a micro-blog. A well regarded and informative blog can be your most valuable networking asset. It is an ideal demonstration of your knowledge of a particular subject and your ability to communicate in writing, and it will be a catalyst to help you start conversations with your peers and leaders in your industry. A good blog has a purpose; so do not create a blog that is an unstructured journal of your thoughts. Instead, pick a topic for your blog that you are knowledgeable about and that others will find valuable. In order for your blog to be useful and gain popularity, you should plan to post at least once a week. If you do not have the time to make that much of a commitment to your blog, consider creating a micro-blog on a site like Twitter. As with a long-format blog, your Twitter or micro-blog account should have a primary purpose that is valuable to your peers and leaders in your industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your online network to find prospective employers.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">There is an adage that the best jobs are taken before most people even know about them. This is because people turn to their personal network first when trying to fill a key job, and they feel much more confident hiring someone they know or someone that comes recommended from a trusted source. Start your job search by reaching out to your friends on Facebook and connections on LinkedIn. These resources will help you find positions that may not be listed yet or that are being recruited for using a closed process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Your online presence is a critical component of your resume.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> Just as you must research companies online before submitting your application, hiring managers will often research a candidate online before extending an invitation for job interview. As a result, your online presence is a critical aspect of your candidacy and you must manage it with the same attention as your resume. Any information available online can and often will be used by recruiters in evaluating candidates. As part of the process of creating your resume, you should create a profile on LinkedIn that describes your experience accurately, effectively, and in sufficient detail. If you have a website or a blog, make sure your biographical information is up to date. If appropriate you may want to dedicate part of your site to your job search by including an online version of your resume or a portfolio of past projects and accomplishments. Be aware that employers may use any aspect of your online presence to evaluate your candidacy. Make sure that all aspects of your website and social networking profiles portray you in the best light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use your social network to prepare for interviews.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Before interviewing at a company, look on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to see if you know anyone that currently or previously worked at the company. You should consider reaching out to direct connections, and also to friends of friends. Most people are willing to discuss their experiences provided that you are respectful of their time and do not pry into subjects that may be governed by confidentiality. Before each of these conversations, prepare a short list of questions to make sure that you can get maximum benefit from the opportunity. In some cases, making a good impression on a current employee can have a positive impact on your candidacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Use LinkedIn to cultivate your references.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">LinkedIn has an invaluable feature that allows people to post recommendations for you to your LinkedIn profile. Prospective employers may use these recommendations to gain insights into what your peers think of you and how they describe your positive traits. While these recommendations will not take the place of personal references, they do provide an important source of information for hiring managers. LinkedIn recommendations can be a great way for you to start the process of cultivating a strong set of references.</span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845207488191743976.post-59314386435436594272013-11-29T07:05:00.000-08:002013-11-29T07:05:44.635-08:00HOW TO TARGET COMPANIES FOR JOB SEARCH<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Targeting companies of special interest to you is the most effective strategy for job search. This is particularly true when you are looking for a senior level position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">This strategy begins with research into your target industry, and leads to the identification of companies that interest you based on size, growth potential, location and other factors important to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">You will need to regularly update your target list based on research and your contacts with these companies. This process will also yield information about the names and titles of persons you need to approach in each company. You can find the list of companies by going to the yellow pages of the local phone directories, business directories available in public libraries, as well as online directories. Once you have a list of potential employers, you can research them by going to the employer websites, reading employer’s annual reports, and searching for outside profiles of employers such as those available at </span><a href="http://www.hoovers.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.hoovers.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">. Some of the online business directories also include links to company websites. Another element in this research is to go to a search engine such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">www.google.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> and find additional information about the company’s products, customers, and senior officers, which will enable you to network your way into those companies, or make direct contact with hiring managers. This approach requires a clear understanding of your skills and interests, and the ability to conduct extensive research of possible employers. It requires deciding what kind of companies to research, what to look for, and how to prioritize the companies you have picked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">When you have researched your target companies, you will know their operations, and the type of opportunities available with them that match your skills and experiences. You should send a personalized letter to the hiring manager at each company explaining how your background and experiences match the company’s requirements, and attach a copy of your resume. You should state in your letter when you will call the hiring manager to set up an appointment for interview. In addition to approaching target companies by mail, you could call the hiring manager on the phone, briefly describe your qualifications and job interest, and try to get an appointment for a face-to-face interview. Remember to prepare a written outline of what you are going to say before you make that phone call. You should be able to set up some job interviews using this approach. Another possible approach is to go to the employer location, and try to meet with the hiring manager without an appointment. If you are not able to see the hiring manager, try to get a date and time when you could come back for an interview. If you are told there are no job openings, express your interest in future vacancies, and still try to get an interview. A personal visit to the job location can help you to establish contacts. Also, this is an opportunity to pick up some literature about the employer that could help you when you come back for an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">While large companies remain excellent places to work, many small to medium size companies are offering wonderful career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Small companies give you the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond. You can have broader responsibility and more impact on the company’s operation in a short time. When preparing a list of your target companies, do not limit yourself to just large corporations. There is often big opportunity in small companies. If you are planning to target small companies, you can often find opportunities by contacting venture capital firms, private equity firms, small business services, and corporate attorneys who maintain a roster of small to medium sized clients. By going to people who work closely with smaller companies, you can often get a warm introduction into several companies at once. Many firms that work with small and medium businesses are happy to make introductions to senior management at their client companies because it demonstrates additional value that they provide to the small and medium business owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Targeting companies of special interest is the most effective job search method. But it does not always lead to a successful job search for all candidates who rely upon it exclusively. You must plan to use three to four different job search methods for successful completion of your job search.</span></div>
Narinder Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218567928513333312noreply@blogger.com0