9 Insider Secrets to Getting Hired |
9 Insider Secrets to Getting Hired
By Liz Wolgemuth Nov. 16, 2009
http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/9-insider-secrets-to-getting-hired/
1. Fine-tune your cover letter.
Employers have to shuffle through stacks of résumés, and they want candidates who know their specific needs. You should fine-tune your résumé and cover letter. "Spend two hours going through the company's website, executive LinkedIn profiles, blogs, and industry articles—before you even touch your résumé or cover letter," says G. L. Hoffman, chairman of Jobdig and blogger at What Would Dad Say.
2. Watch your body language at a job interview.
If you lack self-awareness and social skills, it shows. Even in the critical small talk before the interview, make eye contact, smile when appropriate, and look alert, says Karen Burns, author of the Amazing Adventures of Working Girl. "Most of all, don't jiggle your knee, kick the desk, twirl your hair, check your cellphone, play with your pen, stare off into space, or bite your nails," she says.
3. Fill in a big resume blank spot with volunteer work.
Many Americans will have gaping recessionary holes in their résumés through no fault of their own—they wanted work but just couldn't find it. One solution: volunteering part time. "Volunteering tells potential employers that you are an energetic, compassionate person who—even when faced with problems of your own—found the wherewithal to help others," says Burns, who blogs at Karen Burns, Working Girl.
4. Don't be careless—watch the small stuff.
You forgot to fix the date on your résumé. You whiffed on the hiring manager's name when you showed up for the interview. The small stuff is not always a deal-breaker in real life, but it often is in a job search, says Alison Green, a hiring manager for a Washington-area nonprofit. "When you're on a job search, a small blunder can take on far greater importance than it would in most contexts," Green says.
5. Your resume must answer this question.
Green, who blogs at Ask a Manager, spends a lot of time looking through résumés, and most of their previous work experience "read[s] like a series of job descriptions." But that's not the information hiring managers need to make their decisions. Good résumés answer the question: "What did you accomplish in this job that someone else wouldn't have?" Green says.
6. Make sure you match the job description.
Many applicants' résumés are totally unmatched to the position advertised. "If you don't have an accurate understanding of what the job is all about, your opinion of how well-matched you are will be based on an erroneous foundation," Green says.
7. Put your interviewer at ease.
"A great many interviewers hate interviewing," says Michael Wade, a management consultant and blogger at Execupundit. "They know they're not good at it, and they are dealing with strangers and asking questions to fill a job with which they are unfamiliar." A job seeker can gain an edge by staying friendly, listening carefully, and stressing that he or she gets along with colleagues, Wade says.
8. Plan before you pursue.
A recent study found that developing a plan at the start of your job search can significantly impact the number of job offers you'll receive. Curt Rosengren, a career coach and blogger at The M.A.P. Maker, recommends setting "process goals" to stay on track toward career goals. "Process goals are . . . 'roll up your sleeves and make it happen' objectives," Rosengren says. "Maybe you set a goal of making 10 phone calls a day."
9. Take the less-desirable job.
Many job seekers are trying to break into a new industry. That's a tough goal anytime—and especially tough in a recession. Human resources expert Suzanne Lucas (and blogger at Evil HR Lady) suggests job seekers look for the job that no one else wants. "If a position is hard to fill, they may be willing to hire you if you are willing to learn how to do the work, rather than requiring you to already be an expert," Lucas says.
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