Email While Job Searching

 

Email can be friend or foe when you are job searching.  Make sure that the email account you are using for job search is professional. Cute nicknames are best reserved for emailing friends instead of your potential boss.  Using your first and last name to create an email address is your safest bet.

Some common email providers used in Saskatchewan are:

• Sasktel
• Hotmail
• Yahoo
• Google
• Shaw.

Be vigilant about checking your spam or junk folders. You never know when a message from an employer could accidently find its way into the wrong folder.  It is best to check your spam folder every few days because some email accounts are setup to automatically delete messaged in these folders after five days. If you find a worthwhile message in the wrong folder than move it into your inbox for safe keeping.  Good luck with your job search.

Job Interviews Time Factor

I often coach and recommend resources to people to build confidence and knowledge around job interviews.  People often forget the time factor.  A job interview team generally allow 20 minutes to conduct an actual interview.  If they ask 15 questions that allows you just over one minute to answer each question.  Don’t forget the introductions, job details and asking the interview questions takes time too.  I encourage people to practise answers to typically asked questions before job interviews and when I assist through a 1-1 mock interview, I consistently track the time to ensure the necessary conciseness.  Editing your answers in advance, starting and stopping your answers with clarity, using your smile, breathing, and asking for interviewer for clarification will ensure your success.   If you are conscious of time in a job interview, employers may recognize you will use time wisely in your job or work day as well.   

Negotiating Salary

Often when I coach people around job interviews they are uncertain how to answer the salary question.  There are some considerations. 
1)      If you are asked the question what are your salary expectations:  I often suggest saying the job is of interest to me and then ask, “Based on my experience and education where do you see me fitting in your pay scale?”
2)      If you need the job you may want to accept a position that pays less for the short term; you can always continue to apply for job opportunities.
3)      Sometimes we over focus on the pay scale. 

·         Some jobs offer work life balance, gym memberships, cheaper or free parking
·         If a job is close to home you can save money on travel and  transportation costs
·         Some jobs have very good health and benefits packages
·         If the company has a low staff turnover try and find out why; as there is usually a reason people stay
·         If the company has a high staff turnover try and find out why; as there is usually a reason people leave

When I counsel job seekers I am continually amazed how loyal and honest employees want to be to a potential employer.  If an employer ensures competitive or even higher salaries and benefits they could increase retention.   Remember interviewing and hiring is time consuming and costly for everyone involved.

Rule of Three

The Rule of Three is a very general rule for writing, speaking and music that suggests that ideas presented in threes are inherently more interesting, enjoyable and memorable.

Employers are busy people, who may be ploughing through a pile of 50 (or more) resumes for every job.  On the first run through the pile they may only give each resume a very brief review.  Employers will only look at the first 100 - 150 words (i.e. 10-20 seconds), so it is imperative that you get your most important information to them and quickly.    You have to decide what you are selling:

1.      Your character,

2.      What you know how to do and

3.      Your education/training.

Job seekers need to prioritize what they include in their resume, so use a layout which allows you to:

1.      Tell them the most important things first,

2.      Highlights the most important information and

3.      Does not mention the least important information.

Future of the Office Cubicle

We keep hearing the future of work is changing – we will be doing things differently.  Ten years ago there was no Facebook, people could find work without a resume and a job search tool was the newspaper’s want ads.  Offices had walls.  Fast forward to today where resumes are a job search requirement and the internet is an important job search tool.  Social media sites like Facebook have changed the way people find jobs.  A growing number of employers are seeing Facebook as a tool to recruit new employees.  In some cases, employers are using  Facebook as a tool to not screen out potential employees because the employer “googled” the potential employee and saw unfavourable pictures or foul mouthed posts on Facebook that didn’t leave the employer with a good impression.  Facebook is influencing the job search.  But can Facebook influence what kind of office my son will work in 5, 10 years from now?  Maybe.  Facebook’s headquarters in California is a described as eco-friendly, office and cubicle free.  Check out pictures of “life inside their new headquarters” at: http://techland.time.com/2012/02/02/photos-inside-facebook-headquarters/#end

Is this the office building of the future?  Who knows. 

Volunteer

Looking For work…try volunteering.

Volunteering in your community will increase the chances of finding a job.  Make sure your resume reflects the skills you use while volunteering;

The following are some of the benefits you receive from volunteering:

·        Resume development
·        Networking
·        References
·        Experience
·        Confidence
·        Skill acquisition
·        Feeling good
·        Being a part of something
·        Meeting new people.

 And remember many organizations hire their own volunteers.

To volunteer in Saskatoon, you may wish to contact Volunteer Saskatoon by telephone (306) 975-3477, e-mail volunteersaskatoon@unitedway.ca or visit their website at www.volunteersaskatoon.com

International Names

Pronounceable Names

A recent article in the career section of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix made mention of a study regarding new Canadian job seekers.  The study looked at language, spelling and pronunciation of names.  The study had individuals apply for jobs two ways, the first using their full name which was often hard to spell and difficult to pronounce.  The second application these same individuals shortened their name and used a more easily pronounceable name.  The findings clearly indicated employers called more of the applicants with the shorter more pronounceable name.  Perhaps employers are afraid to pronounce names incorrectly and therefore do not call individuals with longer and more challenging names.  Remember when you are making job applications to check with a friend or family regarding your name, to ensure you make it easy for an employer to call you without hesitating about how to pronounce your name.