Beyond Folders : job search, communication, interviews

"Why Didn't I Think of That?" Tips for Job-Hunters

Community Manager — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:28:00 GMT

Job hunting is increasingly a complicated endeavor. Tired of hearing "don't call us, we'll call you?" We've rounded up some creative job hunting tips to get you from prospective candidate to paid employee.

The Best Job Hunting Advice You'll Ever Receive:
This Huffington Post piece can be summed up in a nutshell: work harder than anybody else. Well-worth a read, the article encourages job hunters to forget about redoubling efforts to find a job but instead triple that effort. Bottom line: those that try hardest get ahead.

Seven Radical Steps for Career Changers:
This Fast Company article says to forget the conventional wisdom that job hunters should build a personal brand and work their network to find a job. Instead, the author advocates identifying the 5-6 companies where an applicant wishes to work and persuading those companies that you offer them value. Bottom line: It's about them, not you.

20 Mind Blowing Creative Resumes:
Looking for a resume to set you apart from the pack? The wildly creative resumes in this article are attention getting to say the least. While out-of-the-box resumes are probably best used by applicants in the graphic design or creative fields, any job hunter can benefit from the examples of creative ways to package oneself. Bottom line: You need to stand apart from the pack.

10 Out Of the Box Job Hunting Tips:
Business Week has a list of useful tips, although they aren't as unconventional as the headline suggests. The best tip in our book? Check out Craigslist for job listing from small business and start-ups. Bottom line: Don't leave any stone unturned.

Finally, we leave you with a fun article for any job hunter who has ever worried they'll be sidelined with an unexpected interview question: Offbeat Interview Questions Asked to Make You Think. Bottom line: There is no right answer, just opportunities to demonstrate you are undaunted by challenges.

Do you have creative tips for job hunting? Share your out-of-the-box advice here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

From Dorm Room to Desk: What I Wish I Knew When I Started My First Job

Community Manager — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:40:00 GMT

Smart grads know hindsight is 20-20, so shorten the learning curve in your first job with been-there, done-that insight from experts further along the career path. Our round-up of advice offers both big picture wisdom and concrete, in-the-weeds details that will have you hitting the ground running.

Details, Details

You know the old aphorism about first impressions: make a good one. Be punctual, be polite and put in full days right off the bat. Other tips for impressing include learning co-workers' names and avoiding office gossip. For more ideas, read Your First Days Working at a New Job: 20 Tips to Help You Make a Great Impression.

The Big Picture (Can Take a While to Come into Focus)

Author, speaker and career coach Curt Rosengren encourages young professionals not to obsess about making the "right" choice when selecting a job or career. In The Most Important Piece of Career Advice for New Grads, Rosengren advocates viewing the first few years of work as "R & D" for a career arc. The odds of clocking 50-years at one job and retiring with a gold pocket watch are slim to none, so rather than obsessing about making the quote, unquote right choice, new hires should commit to continually making choices.

Rosengren urges novice employees to find a path that seems appealing and then to continually ask, "Is this work something I am passionate about?" and "What don't I like about this work?" Using the first few years as "research and development" for a career trajectory can allow a person to continually reset: exposure to different jobs and roles will provide a deeper understanding of what energizes and inspires you and betters the odds of achieving meaningful work.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started work? What piece of advice would you give your young self at that first real job? Share your thoughts here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

When It’s Time to Move Jobs

Community Manager — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:33:00 GMT

Gone are the days when employees spent their entire work life at one job, retiring with a gold pocket watch. In today's work world, it's not uncommon to change jobs, or even careers, repeatedly.

People move jobs for all types of reasons: money, desire for new challenges, boredom, and bad bosses. Knowing when it's time for a change is tricky. In today's uncertain economy, a job in hand is not to be taken lightly. So how do you know when it's time to go?

We've assembled some resources that can help determine if it's time to pound the pavement, resume in hand. Take these Q & A's and see if you're ready to move on:

Time to Change Jobs...or Careers?

Q&A: Is it Time for a Job Change?

Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job

Before You Go

Once a move is in the works, set yourself up for a seamless transition by following the advice in these resources:

Finally, take pains to leave your current job on a good note. We like the advice in USA Today's How to Leave a Job Properly.

How do you know when it's time to switch jobs? Do you have any tips or strategies for leaving on a good note? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

by Candie Harris

Nail that Interview

Community Manager — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:22:00 GMT

Acing a job interview is a matter of style meeting substance: sound smart, look polished and you'll enjoy better odds of landing the position. Even if a job hunt isn't currently on your to-do list, you never know when opportunity will come knocking so read on for tips for conducting winning interviews.

Style Matters

First impressions are the only impressions that matter on a job interview. Rare is the candidate who gets a second chance to correct a bad impression. With that in mind, here are a few style pointers:

Be on time
Turn off your cell phone
Dress for success in a professional outfit and have pristine grooming
Body language talks. Be sure to exude confidence and poise.
Make eye-contact and demonstrate good listening skills by leaning in and nodding affirmatively

Substance Seals the Deal

Employers want to make good hires: convey the impression that you are trustworthy and have something to contribute to the company bottom-line and you will be that much closer to joining the team.

Look for opportunities to create affinity with your interviewer. Mirror their body language and try to build common ground in conversation.
Commonality should be more than "we-like-the-same-sports-team" chit chat. Look for similarities in work styles: are you leaders, list makers, consensus builders, detail oriented or big picture visionaries?
Come equipped with ideas of how you can move the company forward, not merely with descriptions of what you've done at your old job. Paint a picture as to why you can be relevant on their team.
Be prepared with a story about a failure or challenge you've overcome. These are typical interview questions and you want to be prepared, just be sure to make the lesson you learned the star of the story.

Finally, recognize that acing the first interview means you'll be facing a second or possibly third round of interviews. Don't make the mistake of phoning it in, prepare for each subsequent interview diligently. The more interview rounds, the greater the odds of a job offer, so carefully prepare, giving each interview your full energy and attention. The useful What to Expect on Second and Third Interview offers additional insight.

How do you prepare for an interview? Share your thoughts here by leaving us a comment!

by Candie Harris