Job Search… The Salary question

AUTHOR: David M. Young

 

What salary are you seeking?  What was your salary at your last employer?    Or if worded how it can sometimes feel “Tell me your deepest and darkest secret.”   No, that is not what is being asked, but people are so private with their income and salary, it can feel like a deep dark secret being shared.

 

So why share your salary…or really when is the right time to provide this for a future employer.

 

First off, never be the one who brings up salary.  This also goes for benefits, vacation, time off, bonus, work hours, or overtime.  If you are in an interview and it is not brought up, then don’t bring it up.  This is something that will come up prior to an offer, our possibly during an offer discussion.  At large companies, the interviewer may not be able to discuss it and woudl refer you to Human Resources.  Discussing time off, work hours, overtime, or vacation can also be perceived as someone who is not a hard worker.  Yes, these are critical details that would help you decide if you want to work at that company, but you want them to want you to work there before you are giving them reasons to think you are more concerned about your time away from the office.

 

But, when it comes up, be intentional in HOW you answer the question.  I encourage people to not just give a specific number.  What salary are you seeking?  Answer with a range, with the higher number first.  For example…if mowing yards (a good generic example) and someone asked what do you charge for my yard.  I would answer (for purpose of this example…in real life I’d probably just give a specific number) “My fee ranges from $35 down to $20 for each time it is mowed depending on the size of your yard and any extras you would like included such as edging and bagging.”   Now in real life you may not answer a mowing question like that, but it gives you perspective on the salary question.  You might answer “$100,000 down to $85,000 depending on the other benefits and career opportunity.”  If you say “$85,000 up to $100,000”…most likely the other person only heard or will remember the $85,000.  You very likely might get an offer right at the lower number.  Instead, you want the other person to know you have some flexibility, but that is based on the total compensation which can include bonus, benefits, or other non base pay items. Additionally, companies will often have a target range.  If you give your dream number, you may price yourself out of the job.

 

On job applications, they will ask for salary at a previous employer as well as sometimes ask for desired salary.  Be honest, but again, it is not inappropriate to provide a base number plus a total take home that could include your annual or Christmas bonus.  If you have been making $50,000, but believe the market is paying $70,000, don’t just ask for $70,000.  Be transparent with the future employer that you have been at $50,000 but that is why you are looking for a new opportunity and you believe the market is paying $X up to $X.  You could also answer with a range and comment “depending on benefits and bonus”.

Before you make a hiring decision, you will want to know benefits, bonus, leave, vacation, etc….When asked for salary, just give your number as discussed above.  Once given, you can ask for benefit details and if an offer is made, that will assist you in understanding the total opportunity.
If handled poorly, the salary question can be tricky.  But if handled correctly, it will assist the future employer in understanding your desire and make sure you are rewarded financially accordingly.

The interview is over, you are interested….what next?

AUTHOR: David M. Young

The interview wraps up.  What next?

At the end of the interview, one of your final questions is to ask for next steps.

If a phone interview:

• Send your contact an immediate thank you via email, let them know you are interested, and look forward to hearing from them for next steps.
• Pull out paper and write down questions you have that were not asked, write down concerns, write down notes from what you learned in the discussion. (These will be building blocks for your preparation and discussion in the face to face interview, or in the next phone interview)
• Wait…:-)

If a face to face interview:

• Leave the location of the interview and find a place where you stop for a few minutes to write down the following… (if on company property, wait until you are off site)
  • Write down questions you have that were not discussed
  • write down any immediate concerns
  • write down positives of the position
  • summarize what you learned (responsibilities, supervisor and organizational structure, expectations)
  • Determine if offered, what would keep you from accepting the position and write this down.  This will be a key area for you to explore further before accepting an offer.
  • If working with a recruiter, call them.  If they know your thoughts before they talk with the company, it will expedite the process.  You may be able to ask them questions you have and they may know the answer.  If not, and if your questions are around benefits or other details that the human resource contact can answer, you will be in process of getting those answered before you have to ask the company.  bottom line, the recruiter is on your team and you want your team in synchronization with your thoughts on the position you just interviewed for.
• When you get home, write a thank you note to each person you spoke with.  If you have emails, it is acceptable to write this electronically.  If you do not have emails, call the primary point of contact and ask for their email.  If you do not have emails, send a handwritten note to the people you spoke with at the company’s address.  If you spoke with the CEO or senior executive, err on the side of formality and always make this a handwritten note you send via snail mail.  This will ensure they are the one who sees it and not their assistant.
• Now wait.

Wait? that is the worst part!  But yes, even though you are ready to move forward, you never know what else is on the interviewers “to do” list.  You don’t want to be over zealous.  You want to have a balance of the company wanting you combined with you wanting the company.  As a general rule, write your thank  you notes and then give them 5 days.  If at the end of 1 week from the interview and you have not heard from them, it is appropriate to touch base and ask for any updates or feedback.  “The wait” will be discussed in more detail, but be ready for the process to take some time.  That is why it is of benefit to document your thoughts immediately so that when they do call a week or two weeks later, you will still have fresh thoughts in front of you.
When they call, you will learn the next steps, or you may learn that an offer is coming.  Be ready, and you will be rewarded.

The interview…a journey, not a formal meeting

AUTHOR: David M. Young

The true definition of the word interview is: a formal meeting in which one or more persons question, consult, or evaluate another person.

But as a job seeker, you have to have the mindset that an interview is the journey and process you will go through in order to obtain the career position you are seeking. In this sense, the journey (a.k.a. interview) begins when you first discover a potential job opening that you find interesting. The interview is not the meeting. The interview is the effort you make to: prepare, present your experience, gather information on the company, planning for the actual meeting itself, how you follow up, how you treat everyone you make contact with, and how you interact in every communication you make.

A company makes a decision of hire based on the interview. But this decision is not just based on skill fit. It is based on cultural fit, as well as belief in you being able to not just “do the job” but to excel in the position as the best candidate.

As a job seeker, the interview assessment is made based on your skills and ability as determined in the interview meeting, but also how you interact with the front desk receptionist, how you communicate in your email or respond on your application, as well as your inflection and tone on a phone call.

The candidate who will get the job offer is always going to be the candidate that does more than just shows up and talks about themselves. It will go to the candidate who has prepared themselves through company research, anticipating questions and how to best answer them, as well as the candidate who shows the most desire to “get the job”. The job will be given to the candidate who is not rude to the front desk receptionist. It goes to the candidate who does not ask questions that are already answered on the website or in the posted job description. It goes to the candidate who is truthful about their background and about what they know and don’t know. The job goes to the candidate who has prepared thoughtful and detailed questions.

Don’t be the candidate who thinks they can talk their way through an interview. And don’t be the candidate who is afraid they won’t get the job so they don’t ask questions.

The interview is more than a formal meeting. The interview is the process that one goes through when seeking a specific position, and that process begins with learning about the position all the way through the company hiring someone.

We will discuss so much more around the interview, but your mindset is one of a journey, you will not get the job offer if you think it is limited to a single meeting.

Resume is written, what comes next in the “recruiting process”?

AUTHOR: David M. Young
Over the last several weeks, we have discussed networking, email, and have touched on many facets of preparing your resume. So what comes next in the job search?
At this point, you should be actively engaged in building your network as well as learning and exploring the job market and potential job opportunities. Over the next several weeks we will continue to expand out on the job search process. Let me encourage you to do a little research and begin to mentally prepare yourself for what comes next. As you do this, focus around the following components of the search as these are the items that I will dive deeper with you on as you step through this journey (could be short, could be long, but regardless…be prepared).
These next steps include:
– Interviewing
– Follow up
– The rejection
– The offer
– The counter offer
– Acceptance
– Resigning
– Starting the new position
– It’s not over…what next
Stay Tuned!!!!!

Should there be a difference between my LinkedIn profile and my “Hard Copy” resume

AUTHOR: David M. Young

Should there be a difference between your LinkedIn profile and your resume? I get this question from candidates on a regular basis. More commonly this is asked by more experienced candidates who have not grown up professionally in the digital/social media age, but rather social media is catching up to them.

To determine this, you need to decide what the purpose of LinkedIn is for you and your career? For many it is a necessary evil in today’s day and age. If this is you, you must change your mentality. For others, LinkedIn is an online page that they feel is their electronic resume. But for others, it is a professional networking and social media forum.

So yes, I believe there should be a difference between your profile and your resume.

On LinkedIn, at a minimum, you should post a summary of your professional background in the “Experience” section. You can post as little as the company, dates of employment and title. If you choose to post more, be careful. I’ll explain shortly. When you are in the job search, you want your LinkedIn profile to gain exposure to others who might be searching for someone like you. If that is the case, you should also write a short and precise summary. In the summary, you want to include power words to increase the chance of your profile matching what someone is searching for based on the simple word match. To make LinkedIn “like” you (or to rank you higher), you should also include a professional picture, education, and professional organizations. Google LinkedIn tips and tricks for more details on how to raise your “value” on LinkedIn.  For this discussion, and for the job search, this could be where you stop.

BE CAREFUL: why be careful on what you put in your LinkedIn profile.   I have seen people develop their LinkedIn Profile on the fly. When they do this, they may leave out employers, possibly “guess” at dates of employment, or even “Elevate”, “Sterilize” or just plain ole LIE on titles. I have also seen people put more details on their LinkedIn profile than they do on their resume. DON’T do any of these things. Make sure your dates match up. Make sure the titles match up.

If your LinkedIn profile is longer than your hard copy resume, an employer may wonder why you are “hiding” some details from the formal resume. If what you do have in both the resume and LinkedIn do not match up, you might be eliminated from a job selection process because they perceive you are not being truthful in one place or the other. My guidance is to make LinkedIn your billboard that is shorter and more precise than your resume. On your resume, include the detailed job responsibilities and your organizational impact, but don’t do this in LinkedIn. On your resume, you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile so you can expand your network through the connections.  If you read back through the resume tips, you will find that often times you might include job specifics that are appropriate on a resume, but not as appropriate on a social media sit.

Once you have made sure all things line up between your profile and your resume, then you can ensure you are not creating questions for an employer but rather answering their questions. LinkedIn is a professional social media site. If worked appropriately, you will be able to follow discussion groups, professional contacts, as well as search for open positions. If you present yourself clearly and concisely, you will increase the possibility a recruiter or company may see you and reach out to you for their job search. If this occurs, then you can feel confident you are setup on LinkedIn appropriately. If this happens, they will ask for your resume, and you want to be able to provide something that gives them further details beyond what they see on LinkedIn.

My encouragement to you…spend time on your LinkedIn profile, but be intentional. Don’t just throw it out there for the world to see.

So should there be a difference between your LinkedIn profile and your resume…..ABSOLUTELY.

Should I apply online? Or … Should I submit my resume online?

AUTHOR: David M. Young

Last week I received a phone call from a fairly high level Information Technology executive. This individuals division was cut from his past employers company during a round of layoffs, resulting in him being unemployed for the first time in decades and active in the job market. He was frustrated because he had applied to several positions that he felt were strong matches for his background and he had yet to get anyone to respond.

His questions included why would they post a job on their website and not respond, is the job really open, who is really looking at online submittals, and if the companies are not responding to online job applicants, is it a sign that there are bigger issues within that company. While these specific thoughts have merit, there are numerous assumptions being made to get to the point of questioning the company based on an online submittal.

As a candidate, put yourself in the company’s shoes. They most likely are receiving resumes from good, bad, strange, and overqualified candidates. Without knowing who is receiving your online application, how do you know what they are looking for, or if it is even being read? What is their process?

So should you apply online? Applying online is one of those things where you have no other audience immediately providing feedback or giving you any negative information on yourself. As a result, to many it makes them feel as if they are accomplishing something in the job search, when in actuality, there is no way to know. Is there a time to apply online? YES. But not as the first interaction with the company. If you see a job position at a company online, take a step back and formulate a plan of action. You will always be best served if you have an ally inside the companies walls. If not inside the companies walls, then find an ally who is knowledgeable about the company, and can assist in getting your name and information directly into the right hands so that you can verbally introduce yourself and have the company ask you to send your resume, or possibly apply online. This begins by determining who you know at the company. If you know someone, reach out to them via phone or email. Let them know you saw an open position and wanted to see if they could provide further insight on that role, or point you to a person who might be able to assist. If you don’t know someone at the company, check with friends, your LinkedIn contacts, or professional recruiters to see if they have any relationships with individuals at the targeted organization.

Once you have a contact inside the company’s walls, pick up the phone and call them. A hiring manager will be much more impressed by a candidate who is solving such a small problem as this knowing that they would be a person who is results oriented in the actual role. I had a candidate who was scheduled for a phone interview. The hiring manager could not connect with the candidate. After the designated call time had passed, the candidate found the person on LinkedIn and directly contacted them. As a result, the hiring manager spoke with the person after deciding not to move forward since they could not contact the candidate. In this case, a “wrong number” almost sabotaged the candidate, but instead, the candidate impressed through a simple effort of LinkedIn email, and was able to move forward. So remember, PICK UP THE PHONE.

You may not have a contact, if not, call into the company and ask to speak to the manager of the group, the name listed on the posting, or the person who handles the hiring decisions. Let the person know you saw a role on line and wanted to follow up on it. If you get brushed off, you will know quickly not to waste your time.   But you will be surprised, 9 times out of 10, someone will speak with you. And a majority of those times, you will find out where to send your information so that you do not fall into the online Black Hole. You now have a contact and can call to follow up appropriately (don’t wear them out…they are looking at numerous resumes and candidates.)

If all else fails, yes, apply online, but do not expect anything to happen. If there is no one on the other end, then no one will know to respond.

 

 

EMail – The components of an email during the Job Search

Author: David M. Young

Email Alias (Address)

• Your email address should contain your name, and when possible be your full name “JohnDoe@gmail.com”.   “Bigeater@gmail.com, or “Scoutmaster@hotmail.com” are not appropriate. This is an excellent way to not be viewed as professional or to raise questions about your focus.
• It is fine and encouraged to create an email address that may only be used for the job search. You can create an email that may begin with the year and your name i.e. 2009DavidYoung@ or something like this. Regardless, when the employer is searching for your email in their email file…a clear alias/address will assist them and make it easier for them.

 

CC (Carbon Copy use)

• Don’t use CC to copy your message to everyone possible. In the employment search, if you are sending an email to more than one specific person, you lose any personal touch and could appear lazy. Group thank-you emails must not be used. Likewise, questions for multiple people should be handled directly.
• Unnecessary messages are annoying. If you are sending an email and you CC someone, ask yourself is you should be addressing them in the email. If not, then ask if you should be copying them.
• When responding to an email, do not automatically respond to all recipients. Assume your email could be forwarded to anyone. Hitting “reply all” could unintentionally send your email to more than your intended audience.

 

BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) –

• Use BCC when addressing a message that will go to a large group of people who do not necessarily know each other. You may be sending an email to your network where there is already a personal relationship.
• Be careful on sending to a large group…your email could be treated as spam.
• Do not broadcast someone’s email without their permission. Just as it is not polite to give out someone’s phone number without their knowledge, protect their email. If ever sending a message to multiple people, use your address in the TO field and then put each person’s email in the BCC field. That way, each recipient will only see your email address.

 

Subject Line

• Make your Subject line clear, concise, and meaningful to the recipient.
• Good subject lines will include the position and your name. I.e. “David Young – Resume and application for Project Manager Position T11-09” or “Follow-up to meeting at Tallowood on July 16”.
• Do not leave the subject line blank. You have enabled the receiver to ignore or delete your email.
• Subject lines with “Urgent”, “Read This”, ”For your consideration”, and “Information” are meaningless.

 

Salutation

• Dear ???? If you do not know who will be reading the email that you are asked to send, then use “Dear Sir or Madam”. Don’t use Dear Sir or Dear Madam only as it suggests bias on your part. 9 times out of 10, if you don’t know who you are sending an email to, you should not be sending an email. Do research to find out who gets the email, call them, and personalize your email. Be careful if you decide to use “Dear Hiring Manager”. It is strongly discouraged. This appears as a form letter. How do you feel when you get form letters?
• Do not misspell a persons name….EVER. You know the impression it makes if you get something and your name is misspelled. If you are not sure, then do your research and do not send until you know how to spell their name. You may have to call the company and ask the individual answering the phone.
• For job search emails, use formal names as you would in a formal letter. Dear Mr. Young is acceptable. Never assume a women’s marital status, instead send it to “Ms.”   In business communication do not use Miss or Mrs.
• Uncertain about gender, then do your research. You can call the organization and state “I’m writing a letter to Chris Johnson. I apologize, but I have not met Chris Johnson in person and I want to properly address Chris as Ms. or Mr. Can you advise me?

 

Content

• Run Spell check and pay attention to grammar (Standard business letter writing grammar rules should be followed ).
• Do not have a one sided conversation. Respect their time and be clear. Catching up on the family or weather can be done in person or is done in personal letters. This should not be done in business email.
• Use standard rules that are used for cover letters.
• Always use business writing style and follow standard business writing rules and etiquette.
• State why you are writing…”I’m applying for the project manager role in your engineering department.”
• Provide brief information about yourself and your related experience.
• Identify the requested action as a result of your email.
• Do not write as if you are on the phone…”Hi, I am John Doe. I hope you are having a great day?”
• Stay away from idioms. Use concise language and avoid run on sentences. If you have a run on, chances are your point is being lost.

 

Font and upper/lower case use

• Avoid dark backgrounds with light lettering. Your colors on your pc may not be consistent with what is displayed to the receiver. Stick with black font on white background.
• Do not use all capitals. It is the electronic equivalent of shouting and is not received well
• Very large fonts can appear as shouting.
• Do not use all lower case letters.
• Avoid Fonts that are highly customized and may be hard to read.
• For job searches, do not use colored letters, bolding, and italics. You can do this in your resume, but not in the email.

Signature line/signature block

• At a minimum, Include your name and telephone number at the bottom of the email. Preferably, include your mailing address as well on job search emails.
• Include your email as well. If someone forwards your email, the email address may not show up on the forwarded email. You want to make sure anyone who wants to email you has the information to do so.
• Avoid sayings, questions, and spiritual statements on any job search email you send.
• Avoid graphics in your signature and the email itself. Graphics can clog up email and make it slow to open your email. Better safe than sorry.

 

Attachments

• Minimize the number of attachments on your emails. The less clicks the better. If you have a cover letter and a resume, the employer may only open one document. If so, make it your resume and make the email your cover letter.   (Unless the employer has instructed you to send multiple documents.)
• Do not name your resume file “resume.doc” or anything else generic. It should include your name and the contents of the document. i.e. “John Doe Resume”. Employers receive numerous resumes and you want them to be able to find yours.
• Do not send a virus infected resume. If you do not have current and updated anti-virus software, send your resume to an online email account (hotmail, gmail, and others will automatically scan attachments when you down load them) before sending to the prospective employer.
• Send in MS Word or in RTF format. MS Works or older versions may not be readable by a prospective employer. PDF Files are readable by most recipients, but numerous companies do not have PDF software and will not permit their employees to download free readers.
• Do not send a content empty email that forces the user to open the attachment. Include a brief summary in your email telling why you are writing and what the attachments are.

 

EMail – Email Pointers and the Job Search

Author: David M. Young

Email is an important part of the job search. In many instances, it has replaced the “hand written” note. It should never completely replace a personal note. But, as mentioned in a previous blog, you get an A for a thank you note, and you get an A+ when it is hand written. In the event that you need to email a thank you note, or you are engaged with an organization via email, the following list is a “quick hit” list of pointers every job searcher should follow.

 

1. CHECK YOUR SPELLING
2. If you need an immediate response, do not send as “URGENT”, rather pick up the phone and call. (It may be faster and easier for the person to retrieve a voice message, especially when off site.)
3. Keep messages short and focused
4. Check your email daily and respond promptly to messages. If an immediate response is requested, use the phone and then follow up with email on the results of your response (“I left a voice message”, “as we discussed when we spoke today”, etc…)
5. Do not write anything you would not say in public
6. Angry email should be avoided
7. As a courtesy to your recipient, include your name, email, and telephone number at the bottom of your email
8. Avoid sending to large numbers of people unless you have a serious reason to do so
9. Do not overuse Reply to All
10. Be clear and concise
11. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions while maintaining brevity, but don’t anticipate questions…you want to speak with someone verbally in the job search…More on this in a later blog post…
12. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation
13. Make it personal
14. Use templates for frequently used responses
15. Answer swiftly (within 24 – 48 hours if not much sooner)
16. Do not attach unnecessary files
17. Use proper structure & layout
18. Do not use backgrounds
19. Do not use irregular font (Receiver may not have fonts that are not standard/default fonts)
20. Avoid motivational/spiritual sayings in your signature
21. No tweeter links (reference to your tweeter address)
22. Avoid graphics in your signature (buttons linking to your linked-in profile, buttons to your facebook profile, etc) unless your audience is technically proficient
23. Do not overuse the high priority option
24. Do not write in all capital letters
25. Avoid “texting” language, abbreviations, and emoticons (i.e. J)
26. Do not leave out the message chain/thread
27. Read the email before your send it
28. Ask someone else to read the email to make sure it makes sense
29. Use cc: field sparingly
30. Mass mailings > use the bcc: field
31. Did I say to check your spelling?
32. Be careful formatting –   It is always good to send it to yourself first to make sure that it is formatted correctly
33. Avoid rich text and HTML messages (if you are not sure what this is…you are fine)
34. Do not forward chain letters
35. Do not request delivery and read receipts
36. Do not ask to recall a message (Once sent, it is gone. Your recipient will see botht he email and the recall)
37. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission
38. Do not use email to discuss confidential information… use the phone
39. Use a meaningful and specific subject line
40. Use active instead of passive
41. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT
42. Avoid long sentences
43. Do not send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks
44. Keep you language gender neutral
45. Do not reply to spam

 

 

 

Email – When should you send an email to a prospective employer?

Author: David M. Young

Email has become a common form of communication in today’s society.   During the job search, if employed correctly, it can be a key tool in the job seekers arsenal. Used incorrectly, it can be a land mine that prevents you from “getting the job”.   The following discussion contains various suggestions based on what we see in the job search combined with information that is readily available to an individual through various online resources. Share this with others. It is not copyrighted and if it appears similar to other information or documentation from other sources, that is merely coincidental and can be based on the information being attributable to common understanding.

 

So, when should you utilize email in your job search?

 

• Based on employer’s instructions – Do not send email as your initial contact, unless the employer instructs you to do so via instructions on their website, a job ad, a verbal conversation, or other reliable advice. Remember that email is impersonal. Where possible, call and if necessary, leave a voice message. Voice mail is more personal than email.
• Responding back to an employer – If you receive an initial contact email from an employer, you can most likely respond back to them via email. BUT, read the email sent by the employer and determine if they are merely providing instruction or if they are guiding you to respond via email. Their email may ask you to follow up online or contact someone else. Do not clutter up their email. It becomes easier for them to mark you address as spam if you “over” email.
• Send requested info based on the entire email chain – Read the entire chain to determine who and what you should be emailing. Emails that are forwarded to you may have instructions or details you should follow. It is too easy to reply to a response to someone who just happened to forward the email but is not the correct contact person.
• Stay on point– Stick to the subject when replying to an email. Keep your email consistent with the subject line of the email chain and do not remove the chain’s details. (Unless there is something inappropriate for the receiver to see). If you delete the chain, the receiver will have to dig up old emails to see what you are responding to…do not waste their time.
• Value email as a written record – Consider when you need a written record…If anything important occurs verbally (i.e. schedule an interview, accept an offer, are declined for a position) you should follow up in writing and email can serve that purpose. Usually an employer will follow up a verbal offer of employment with a written offer, but if they do not, you should create a written record to ensure full understanding. EXAMPLE: “Thank you for scheduling our interview at your downtown Houston office. I look forward to meeting with you on Wednesday, July 18^th at 9:30 A.M.”
• Be intelligent – Do not send an email without doing research. If you ask a question that is easily answered online, you give the impression you are lazy and unintelligent.
• Don’t send random email – Do not send an email randomly…”I’m not sure if you are the correct person but please….” Do not expect someone else to forward your email.

General thoughts on email as it relates to the job search

• Email is a form of written communication and creates a written record
• Retain copies of all emails you send and receive in the job search
• Do not let the speed and ease of sending an email blind you to the fact that you will be judged on what you say and how you say it.
• Choose your words carefully. Tone does not come across in email.
• Have someone else review all emails you send in the job search.
• A well written email can quickly impress an employer. Likewise, a poorly written email can quickly eliminate your prospects of employment. Always remember that you are being judged at every point in the job search.
• When people respond to you and provide information, respond with your thanks. People want to know that their response was read.
• Search the internet on email etiquette and you will find a wealth of information on effective emailing.
• Send an email as if it will be posted on the company bulleting board for all to see. You do not know who your initial reader can and will forward your written email to within the organization.
• Emails are read from Blackberry’s and I-phones. The longer the email, the more likely you are to lose your audience. Just like resume scans, you have 5-10 seconds to capture your audience via email.

 

Email as it relates to thank you notes

• Email thank you notes are not forbidden, just highly discouraged. Employers will appreciate that you did send a note of thanks. Timeliness should be a factor. If a hiring decision is being made before regular mail would arrive, you should send an electronic email as well as a formal signed handwritten note.
• It is always best to type or handwrite a thank-you note after you interview.
  • Exceptions:
    • If a second interview will happen before regular mail would be delivered.
    • The interviewer is traveling and would not get your mailed thank-you for quite some time.
    • If the interviewer is the “extremely electronically inclined” type who will pay more attention to email. You should send a regular mail note as well.
  • The handwritten thank you note should remain consistent with your electronic presentation of your cover letter and resume. It should be brief while highlighting why you are a fit for the role and looking forward to engaging further.

Email as it relates to offer negotiations

• Offer negotiations should be conducted verbally rather than in writing. If you have questions on an offer, call the employer and let them know of possible times to speak via phone.   Confidential information should not be in email. Your employer may send it to you, but be careful on how you respond. Do you want the I.T. guy seeing your offer?
• If speed of response is important, and you are only reaching voice mail, alert the employer via email that you have questions and suggest times to speak.
• Once negotiations are complete, ask the employer to provide written (or email) confirmation of the details. Respond with your formal acceptance and confirm start date and any pre-hire requirements that you will fulfill.

 

I’m looking for a job….WHAT NEXT?

Author:  David M. Young

You have decided to look for your next position. It may be you are being forced to look due to layoff, termination, company shutting down/bankruptcy, or life has brought so much change that you need a career change as well. Or, you may be perfectly fine in your current role, but you have decided it is time to see what else is “out there”.  So what do you do next?

I firmly believe if you are really going to be effective as you explore for your next position, you must be intentional, process minded, and diligent. If you just wait for the position to come to you, you may or may not ever find that great role you are seeking.

So, let’s explore the basics of the job search process. In the coming months, this blog will expand on these individual components of the job search in much greater detail. Let’s first layout the “roadmap” that you need to follow at a summary level and then we can expand as we move forward:

Email – Yes, email is a standard, common, and easy to use form of communication in the job search. But all too often, it is not used correctly, over or underused, or confused for actual job search efforts. Email makes you feel like to talked with someone, but you never know what happens on the other end or the impression made with your email. So what are good email tips? Should you use email? Come back and we will explore this in more detail.

Networking – Whether in the job search or not, the most effective individuals in the professional world have some sort of network. It may be as simple as a technical expert who is recognized online in various forums as the answer guy. Or you may have a handful of past and present associates that you keep in touch with. Many folks go to work and go home. We will dive in more detail on making sure that your professional reach is much greater than just those you see regularly. The most effective people in their job search have at least 10 people that are not only aware they are open to another opportunity, but invariably, these people in your network are where you will find your next position.

Resume – In today’s day and time, you must have a resume. It may be as simple as a linked-in profile, or as standard as a hard copy resume. But regardless, your resume should not just be a history of where you have worked. A well written and targeted resume makes the difference between you and the next person. Check back in the coming weeks as we discuss resumes, tips and tricks, as well as provide some sample suggestions on how to have a power resume.

Actively and Passively searching – More to come on this, some say they are not really looking, but open to new opportunities, others are in an all intensive search. Regardless, we’ll give some insight on how to pursue the market regardless of where you are in the job search.

Applying/submitting – Should you submit your resume blindly on line? Should you trust your friend who “knows” someone? Good questions and there are definitely some keys to making sure your resume is seen by the decision makers.

Interviewing – It is both an art and a science. Some are not versed on either, while others feel that once they are in front of the hiring manager, they will get the job. Well, in today’s economy, we are seeing that this is no longer holding true. How can you make sure you get a job offer when you walk out of the interview? Future blogging Insight will give you the keys to getting that offer.

Offer Negotiation – You have the offer, but the job search is not over. How to negotiate, and make it a win/win for all involved. Too many times you try to negotiate and it only ends up as a lose / lose.

Acceptance and Pre-start – You’ve accepted the job, w is the time you impress and differentiate yourself to your new boss.

Resigning your old position – Are you ready for a counter offer? Are you ready to be escorted out? Are you ready to give two weeks but be asked to stay on to complete the project? Don’t burn bridges and be ready to resign professionally.

Starting – The job search process is not over. You have a start date, but the shining stars continue to want the job even after they have it. We will blog with some further thoughts on how to be the best employee the organization has. Become irreplaceable so that you will always be paid well, happy with your responsibilities, and never need to look for a job again.

After the start, what next? – is the job search over? We’ll address this,

The above parts of the job search process will be surgically explored. Come back to https://davidyoungdy.wordpress.com and we will provide more insight for you in the job search.