How to Dress for Your Job Interview

How to Dress for Your Job Interview Knowing what to wear for  a job interview is half the battle of the interview itself. The old adage could never be so true, You never get a second chance to make a first impression. When youre going to  a job interview, your appearance is extremely important. Whether or not you look professional or sloppy could play a huge role in whether  your interview feels that you are suitable for the job. Check out the company culture: When first deciding what to wear for  a job interview, you should first take into consideration the culture of the company you are interviewing with, and dress accordingly. Are you interviewing with a company where the employees wear suits everyday or do they wear t-shirts and jeans? A suit is not always the best choice for  a job interview. If you show up wearing a suit and tie and all the employees are wearing shorts and flip-flops, you will look out of place, feel uncomfortable and may give off the wrong energy. The same is true of the opposite. If you show up wearing shorts and flip-flops to a company that wears professional attire, it could give the impression that you are not a good fit for the company. The industry you are interviewing for should also be taken into consideration, as the dress code for an accounting firm  is likely to be different to that of a construction company, for example. Match the interviewer: If you want to get the job, your choice of what to wear for a job interview should match or be slightly dressier than the dresscode  of the company. For example, if the normal work attire of the company is business casual, its ok to wear a suit to impress. If the normal work attire is casual, its ok to wear a business casual outfit to impress as well. After you decide whether a professional, business casual, or casual outfit is  most appropriate for your interview, here are some guidelines you may want to follow  when deciding what to wear for your  job interview. The key is to wear clothing that you feel comfortable and look great in, while at the same time matching the corresponding dress code of the company. That way youll give off great energy and let your true personality shine through. Present yourself neatly: Make sure your clothes are clean and neatly ironed. Nothing gives away the lack of attention to detail more than wrinkled or dirty clothing. Select  clothing that fits properly, as ill-fitting clothing can appear scruffy  and you wearing clothes that fit will help you to feel comfortable and relax in your interview. Good grooming and hygiene is essential, so make sure you have clean hair, fingernails, fresh breath, deodorant, etc. Hair should be styled in a neat but manageable style, as the last thing you want to be doing during the interview is stressing about your fancy new up-do coming unpinned, however I recommend you keep it pulled back from your face.  Men, if you have facial hair, be sure to give it a trim/comb through ahead of the interview, so that you look as neat and tidy as possible. Perfume and aftershave should be used sparingly, so that it is not overpowering and the same goes for makeup, that should  be kept  subtle.  Dont wear flashy  jewellery, as  it may become distracting and youll want the interviewer to pay attention to you, not your bling. Avoid loud prints: Its good to show a bit of personality in your outfit choice, however it is best to stick to block colours, rather than loud, busy prints.  Dont be afraid of going for a slightly brighter shade, as it can help you to stand out and appear more confident.  Try to find a balance between smart and stylish. Novelty ties and socks are best avoided. Yes, the interviewer will notice! Accessorise smartly: You can inject a bit of personality into your outfit with the accessories that you select, so if youd rather play it safe with your outfit choice, why no pair it with a nice bag or pair of shoes? Accessories should be kept smart, so if you are taking a bag with you, a smart satchel, briefcase or handbag would be the better option over a backpack. Shoes should be clean and newish looking.  Keep heels at a sensible height.

Tips For Resume Writing Job Descriptions

Tips For Resume Writing Job DescriptionsIt is very important to remember the tips for resume writing job descriptions, especially when it comes to highlighting and working within your expertise. Most of the times the hiring manager might not necessarily want someone with a broad range of qualifications but rather someone who can fill the needs and demands of the specific job. This means that they want to hire people with a strong understanding of the role in question.When you are writing job descriptions, you should be looking at the skills that are necessary for the job and what the job requires from its candidates. You should look at skills that would apply to many employees within the company. You should also highlight your own skills. Of course it will be important to have experience in those areas but most companies would want someone who can deliver the job.The great thing about resumes is that you can highlight and elaborate on your skills without mentioning them right away. Y ou can start with some skills and offer examples and describe them in detail. You can highlight these areas of your skills and try to explain why you are qualified to do the job in question.Tips for resume writing job descriptions include giving the reader an idea of what they will find when they are looking at the job description. You should begin by explaining what your job is going to entail in a short summary. In this section you should give your interviewer the basics about what the job entails, including the responsibilities of the position and how the employer will benefit from your service.Another tip for resume writing job descriptions is to outline exactly what you expect to accomplish with the job. When you are looking at the job description, you should be able to see exactly what you are expected to do for the employer. You should outline the tasks and responsibilities that you will be performing and also what the outcomes of your work will be.Tips for resume writing job descriptions are also designed to offer the interviewer some sort of assurance that you are someone who can perform the job as outlined. You should not make any claims or promises when writing the job description, but instead to outline exactly what you will be offering and why the employer should choose you for the job. This may include giving them an overview of how much experience you have, how long you have been employed in the industry and even what types of companies you have worked with.Finally, you should outline what you expect to gain from writing the job descriptions. If you do not include this, you will lose some potential employers because they will assume that you are not qualified for the job in question. This can be an advantage when you are looking for a job as it can help you gain some familiarity with the company and your skills, but also open the door for more information about how they will benefit from hiring you.There are several tips for resume writing job d escriptions and I cannot list them all here. This is just a small example of what you can do in order to get your resume written in the best possible way. Keep these tips in mind and you will be well on your way to your next job interview.

5 Practical Tips for Protecting your Skin from the Sun

5 Practical Tips for Protecting your Skin from the Sun Few experiences are better than a day out in the sun. Whether it’s on the beach, a park or on a sports field, the sun’s rays help our bodies produce some much needed Vitamin D.    Unfortunately, you can have too much of a good thing. Too much time exposed to sun rays may lead to sunburn, premature aging, skin damage, and skin cancer. Knowing how to protect your skin against the sun could help you avoid some difficult consequences while still being able to bask in the warmth of sun rays. Here are five practical tips for protecting your skin from the sun. Wear a wide-brimmed hat  The importance of wearing a hat cannot be overstated. According to Dr. Darrell Rigel, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University, every inch of the brim of your hat lowers your skin cancer risk by 10%. Hats are perhaps the simplest ways to protect your face and neck against the sun. Find yourself a wide-brimmed hat to maximize your protection and be sure to take it with you, whether you’re heading to the beach or out into the garden. But bear in mind that hats won’t protect your entire body from harmful sun rays you’ll still need to apply sunscreen. Use an SPF foundation  Applying sunscreen daily may seem like a laborious additional task when getting ready in the morning. In truth, it is more necessary than ever, especially with the current condition of the ozone layer. However, if time in the morning is not on your side, there are some moisturizers and foundations that contain SPF and can double as sunscreen for your face. By using these products, you can incorporate sun protection into your morning routine. We often only think of sunscreen in the summer months, but the winter sun can also cause skin damage. Using an SPF foundation daily will ensure that you are protected against the sun all year long. Wear darker clothes  Wearing long sleeve shirts and pants will help to block out sun rays, but realistically, when the temperature soars, you’ll probably be wearing shorter and skimpier items. No matter the weather, the color of your clothes also has an influence on the amount of UV rays hitting your skin. Lighter colored clothes will have less UV protection than darker colored clothes. The material of the clothes will also be a factor in their protection against the sun. The thicker the material, the better. So the next time you head out for a day in the sun, try to wear darker colored clothes to give your skin more protection against the sun. Be aware of reflective surfaces  Although we usually only think about skin damage when we’re faced with a warm sunny day outside, the truth is that snow and water can provide just as much of a threat. Sun rays reflect easily off these surfaces. As a case-in-point, Piz Buin sunscreen was created after founder Franz Greiter suffered a sunburn climbing Mount Piz Buin, rather than a day out on the beach. You may also think that you’re under no risk when you’re swimming. Skin damage from sun rays is not limited to the times that you are dry and lying on the beach. You can be wet and be getting sunburnt at the same time. Being aware of reflective surfaces will remind you to apply sunscreen on more than just sunny days. This will help you avoid long term skin damage. Reapply every two hours  To give your skin the best chance against the sun, you should apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you expose yourself to sun rays outside. That in itself is a start, but not the end. No sunscreen is fully waterproof or sweatproof. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours to keep your skin properly protected if you are spending the day outside. This repetition can become habitual and your skin will thank you in your old age. The damage to your skin is not always immediately visible sometimes the effects are only noticeable years later. Applying sunscreen should be as important as brushing your teeth. It should be a daily routine and a risk that you are informed about and act on. Once you protect yourself, you can enjoy those sunny summer days, or hikes up Mount Piz Buin with the knowledge that your skin is protected against damage and the risk of cancer.

Are Skills and Experience More Valuable Than a Degree

Are Skills and Experience More Valuable Than a Degree Today, employers are looking for a variety of talents, skills and personality traits in future candidates. This means that people who havent attended university, have just as much of a chance of getting employed due to the potential skills and experience that they have gained in the time that others have spent studying for a degree. So, what is more valued a degree or experience and skill? Are both equally  desirable or does one stand out more than the other? This infographic by Knod gives some more insight into the benefits and disadvantages of both perspectives: Graduates: 1,800 hours spent in college classes for a bachelors degree. New graduates face intense competition and take longer to secure a job. 8.5% unemployment rate of bachelor degree students. 16.8% of graduates are underemployed. Unemployment and underemployment rates have doubled since 2007! Only 42% of graduates will find a job in less than 6 months. Lack of skills: 75% of employers think schools do not prepare students for the global economy. 8 out of 10 adults say skills and knowledge are important to hiring managers. More than 80% of employers want candidates to have work experience. Skills and experience: Experience heavy candidates are more favoured. 66% of employees are hired on experience over academics. Important attributes: Internships, experience during college, college major and volunteer experience. Skills are necessary: Communication. Critical thinking. Problem solving. Social skills. Read more here, do you have enough skills and experience? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Write Your Resume With Dorothea Resume Writing

Write Your Resume With Dorothea Resume WritingDorothea Resume Writing is one of the key elements to building a successful career. While your qualifications are valuable, the most important thing you can provide for a potential employer is your resume.There are many people looking for employment that aren't submitting their resumes and this is why it is important to remember to use every advantage possible to get your resume noticed. It doesn't matter if you are a recent college graduate or you have been employed for a while. Everyone needs a resume and having the right resume is crucial to success.In this article I want to talk about how to write a resume that showcases your talents and your skills in a professional manner and provides all the information required by the hiring manager. Having your resume writing professionally will show them exactly what you can do for them and how much they can expect from you. You don't want to be a go to person and fill a job position with you re sume and then have no communication at all with the employer or the position. You need to write a resume that stands out from the rest and shows them you are the best candidate for the job.The best way to do this is to create a short but professional resume that covers all of the job openings that are available and provide them with the exact information that is needed. When doing this, you will need to decide exactly what information is necessary and what information is simply information to them. This information will include your education, your professional experiences, your job history, your salary and any special skills that you may have.If you don't have a college degree but you have some kind of experience, you can always talk about that experience and discuss how you learned about the job opening. Also you can list the jobs that you held in your previous career field. If you have special skills that you can help the hiring manager to develop the company could also want to f ind out what these special skills are and include that information on your resume.A great example of what to include on your resume is where to place your resume on the first page and a professional method of placing your resume is to write it in the same format as the headings of the page. Then the resume should include a summary that is written above the paragraph heading. After that you can list your education, your work experience, your job history and your salary. Finally you can list any special skills you have that are unique to the position you are applying for.Remember that when you are writing your resume you want to leave room for corrections and other things such as adding a cover letter to the resume and making sure that your resume appears to be professionally done. One of the worst things that you can do is take any shortcuts to make the resume look professional. You want to make sure that the person reviewing your resume knows that your resume is written with profess ionalism and isn't written in a sloppy manner that will hurt your chances of getting the job.Resume writing is essential for everyone in any job situation and there is no reason that you shouldn't be preparing a resume for your current job. With the information and resources provided here you can learn how to write a resume that will stand out from the rest.

Writing a Resume For Executive Position

Writing a Resume For Executive PositionWriting a resume for an executive position is the first step in the hiring process. This is also the time when you need to present yourself in the best possible way, so it is important that you highlight your skills and qualifications. You should be sure to check what is on your resume against what you know about the organization. You should make your employer aware of all your abilities and achievements.The resume you create will most likely become the main basis of your application. If you get it right, the opportunity to present yourself in the best possible way is yours. It is imperative that you not only know how to write a resume, but what makes a good one. There are several components to writing a good resume. You need to understand them and apply them to make the best possible resume.A resume must contain the right type of information. You will have to start with your job experience. You will have to enumerate your work experience from t he most important to the least. For the summary of the work, you will be required to provide a list of the dates and details regarding the work you did. You will have to include any work-related education that is also mentioned in the organization's requirements. Always write down the employment history of the person whose resume you are going to send out.Your resume should also contain the information about the applicant's age. It is advisable to provide information that is as accurate as possible. It is not advisable to provide data that is based on self-provided information. For example, a person who was employed at an organization for ten years should include the employer, the year of hire, and whether or not they were paid an annual bonus or had their health insurance benefits renewed.You will also need to include the position that you are applying for. Do not leave this part out, especially if the position is a senior position. If the position is a junior position, you will ne ed to list the level of experience that you had in that position. Do not forget to list your skills and qualifications that will make you attractive to the organization.You will have to take note of all jobs you held in your job history. The best ones to include are the ones that you held directly related to the position that you are applying for. This will give you a good idea of the type of work that you can handle and also the responsibilities that you will have. It will also help you come up with a written resume that will give your potential employer a good idea of the person they are hiring.Once you have listed the job and organization, the next thing you need to do is to put a lot of effort into making yourself look appealing to the organization. There are many ways you can do this. One of the best ways is to create a resume with the skills and qualifications that are important to the organization. Other ways include using jargon that they consider easy to understand. Be sure to check with your recruiter if there are any different terminology that they should use and see if it will make you stand out.Creating a resume for an executive position is not hard. You just need to be prepared to put in a lot of effort and research. Make sure you get a copy of the organizational requirements and work experience that you are going to be listing on your resume. By doing so, you will have a much better chance of landing the position that you want.

Achieving Success with the Right Mindset (and some time away)

Achieving Success with the Right Mindset (and some time away) Every February I work remotely from a warmer location; not just to get out of the cold northeast but also to get some perspective.This past week was the first of four that Im happily spending in Florida. The idea occurred to me a few years back when reading agreat book on how to de-clutter. The author spent half of every year in Bali, Indonesia. Im paraphrasing but she said, Im not rich. I just found a way to make happen whats most important to me. It changed my mindset. I immediately began soul searching to get clearer about what I wanted and realized it was the freedom to work from anywhere. It was a key component on mylist of ideal career elements, which I incorporated into my research and job search. It wasnt long before career coaching presented itself as not only a virtual career but also one well suited to my natural talents and interests. That was over 8 years ago and now Im convinced that if I had not changed my mindset, I would not be where I am today in sunny Florida doin g work I love. Apparently I am not the only one who has realized this importance of mindset. Recently one of the many resourceful people in my network sent me to a great blog written by Fortune Editor-at-Large Patricia Sellers. Her recent post, Distract yourself: the key to big wins? notes how the careers of Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters have all benefitted from a grounded mindset (found by spending time away from the grind.) I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.I also hope you get clarity on what you want and most importantly that you get it. Whether its a sunset in the Florida Keys or a championship win, you too deserve the career and life of your dreams!For more relentless enthusiasm (as a colleague recently called me on Twitter, you can follow me there at MaggieMistal), check out my Media page for free articles and videos on how to Soul Search, Research and Job Search into your ideal career. Tune intomy radio showFridays at 4pm ET/1pm PT as I profile o thers who are also following their dreams. Isnt it time you joined us?(Photo courtesy of my iPhone.)

Is social networking important for job seekers Jobvites survey says yes -

Is social networking important for job seekers Jobvites survey says yes - Its important for job seekers to understand how job search including how employers source and hire candidates has changed and continues to change. Jobvites Social Recruiting Survey for 2012 polled more than 1,000 human resources and recruitment professionals and asked about their intentions regarding social recruiting activities. This is the fifth year of the survey, which illustrates trends and offers insights about hiring. What can we learn from the survey? Social recruiting has become an essential HR practice, with 92% of U.S. companies using social networks and media to find talent in 2012, up from 78% five years ago. LinkedIn continues to be a dominant recruiting network, used by 93% of respondents (compared to 87% in 2011 and 78% in 2010). 89% of respondents have hired from LinkedIn. Facebook and Twitter have seen major adoption growth in the past year. 2/3 of companies now recruit through Facebook. Facebook saw the biggest gain in usage, jumping 11 points from last year to 66% in 2012. Of those surveyed, 25% have hired through Facebook. More than half (54%) use Twitter to find new talent; 15% have hired through Twitter. Employers are checking your social profiles Jobvite also found that employers scrutinize social media activity, noting more than half of respondents (hiring side) would have a negative reaction to seeing a spelling or grammar mistake in a social profile. Yes, employers are checking your online profiles (almost 75% check profiles, 48% always check, even if the candidate does not provide links. What do they think? Jobvite says, they like professional organizations but frown on drinking and bad grammar. What do employers want to see (or not see)? These are some of the results the survey uncovered: 80% of respondents reacted positively to seeing memberships to professional organizations, while 2/3 like to see volunteering or donating to a nonprofit. Content that recruiters especially frown on includes references to using illegal drugs (78% negative) and posts of a sexual nature (67% negative). Profanity in posts and tweets garnered a 61% negative reaction, and almost half (47%) reacted negatively to posts about alcohol consumption. Worse than drinking, grammar or spelling mistakes on social profiles saw a 54% negative reaction. However, recruiters and hiring managers tend to be neutral in their reactions to political opinions (62% neutral) and religious posts (53% neutral). Social Recruiting Adoption Reaches All-Time High Jobvite notes, Social recruiting has moved from a trend to a necessity, with 92% of employers using or planning to use social recruiting in 2012. No longer exclusive to LinkedIn, all social networks are now fair recruiting game. Interestingly, the survey notes, 71% of HR and recruiting professionals consider themselves moderate to exceptional social recruiters. No surprise that employers like social recruiting because they see results. The survey data show: More than 7 of 10 employers have successfully hired a candidate through social media (73%). This is up from 63% in 2011 and 58% in 2010. Since implementing social recruiting, almost half (49%) received more candidates to choose from. More than 4 out of 10 (43%) say the quality of applicants has improved. 1/3 of respondents see more employee referrals, which tend to lead to the most valuable hires. 20% reported it takes less time to hire when using social recruiting. Referrals, which have always been an important part of job search, continue to be key to social recruitings success. “The rise in social recruiting has allowed both candidates and employers an easier way to find the best match,” said Dan Finnigan, president and CEO of Jobvite. “We continue to see social recruiting gain popularity because it is more efficient than the days of sifting through a haystack of resumes. It also increases quality referral hires, which our own data on Jobvite proves are hired faster and last longer.” The survey shows: Referrals are the highest-rated sources of new hires, and it’s far easier for employees to share jobs through social networks. Industry data shows people have an average of 150 social network contacts, so a company of 100 could have a social recruiting reach of 15,000 direct contacts, and 2.25 million second-degree connections. The Jobvite survey notes that roughly 2/3 (65%) of companies seek to increase employee participation in recruiting by offering referral bonuses; more than 1/3 offer rewards of more than $1,000. Compare these results to the past five years of Jobvite Social Recruiting Surveys 2012: http://recruiting.jobvite.com/resources/social-recruiting-survey.php 2011: http://recruiting.jobvite.com/resources/social-recruiting-survey.php 2010: http://recruiting.jobvite.com/news/press-releases/pr/jobvite-social-recruiting-survey-2010.php 2009: http://recruiting.jobvite.com/news/press-releases/pr/jobvite-2009-social-recruitment-survey.php 2008: http://recruiting.jobvite.com/news/press-releases/pr/social-recruitment-survey-release.php About Jobvite Jobvite is the leading recruiting platform for the social web. Todays fastest-growing companies use applicant tracking,  recruiter CRM  and  social recruiting  software solutions from Jobvite to target the right talent and build the best teams. Jobvite is a complete, modular Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform which can optimize the speed, cost-effectiveness and ease of recruiting for any company. For more information, visit  www.jobvite.com.  Image courtesy of Jobvite.