You may have come across the term ‘elevator pitch’ recently during your job search. Basically, this term refers to the brief sixty-second speech that people use to describe the product or service they offer to others. And while this speech may not be part of your regular discourse, it must be delivered in a very concise and compelling way, and have the necessary attracting points that will entice the interests of employers around you.
For all job seekers, it is important to learn how to create a compelling elevator speech. In order to do so, you must be familiar with the idea of professional branding and the concept of enhancing your brand to promote yourself as well as your career. More often than not, personal branding through a properly drafted elevator speech will allow you to create a good image for yourself which you can use for a successful job search. This will allow you to differentiate yourself from other applicants who may be vying for the same position. [click to continue…]
There are many possible situations that can make writing a cover letter more difficult. These situations can include lay-offs, demotions, long-term unemployment, and medical leave. Although these may seem to be potential red flags, a cover letter is deemed the perfect place to address these issues; however, you must remember one thing: keep the explanation brief and the tone of the letter upbeat and positive. After all, this is your marketing tool. This article will help you learn how to effectively overcome some of these obstacles in your cover letter.
In explaining your previous layoff: briefly explain the layoff and then try to show your excitement and enthusiasm about the opportunity to work immediately for the position available.
If you faced long-term unemployment: try to briefly state the position and responsibilities allocated to you in your previous employment. Do not lay emphasis on your duration of unemployment but instead focus on the new skills attained during your hiatus. Remember, you are trying to focus on the positive aspects in your career. [click to continue…]
Did you know that you can actually use Twitter as an effective tool for finding jobs and other employment opportunities? There several methods you can use to make this social media platform a convenient way of finding employment opportunities and when you know what to share on Twitter, you may be surprised at the rewards you can get in terms of career growth and employment opportunities. Here’s how you can make Twitter an online tool for finding possible employment.
• The first thing you need to do is maximize your profile. You can create an online resume either in Visual CV or LinkedIn and then use the site field on your Twitter profile to link your employment history from LinkedIn or Visual CV to your Twitter account.
• If you are planning to use your Twitter account solely for the purpose of job searching, make sure that you are using a professional name. You can use your first initial and integrate it with your surname but don’t use account names like “SexyMitch” or “FootballFan181”. Names like these won’t get you anywhere.
• Make it a point to follow companies you want to work for. This will allow you to learn more about the company, business matters related to that particular company plus you can also use it as a platform to let them know of your interest in working with them. [click to continue…]
Returning to work after a long medical leave is among the most difficult and often complicated transitions in the life of an employee. But in order to overcome all the obstacles it may present along the way, you need to create an efficient plan that will help you move your career forward and avoid being stagnated after a lengthy medical leave. Experts believe that by creating an advanced and more comprehensive plan before returning to work, you will be able to better focus on the things that can help you to adjust to your workplace and, thereby, have a better shot for career advancement.
Before you begin your medical leave, you need to discuss it with your superior so both parties can define clear expectations. Because of the Family and Medical Act, there is an allowance that is often referred to as ‘intermittent leave’ which is designed to help employees on medical or family leave have an easy and flexible way of returning to the workforce. But you also have to expect that you will face challenges once you return, such as needing to brush up on your skills or adapt to a new system that has been developed during the months you’ve been away on medical leave. [click to continue…]
The current job market is becoming so competitive that a job search is not just about applying for a job and sitting back with the hopes of being called for an interview. Individuals need to market themselves to employers as they try to beat out others for the positions they desire. The following strategies will help you acquire a job despite the competition.
1. One must be able to put together a good resume and cover letter. In your resume you should include your accomplishments and skills. A good resume should speak volumes about you and above all give the hiring manager a glimpse of why he or she should hire you over the rest.
2. You should assess yourself before you apply for a particular position. Take a pen and a paper and write down what you believe are your skills, experiences and major accomplishments. Consider what you enjoy doing or think you are good at. Do not compromise by applying for a job that you would easily get bored with or find yourself quitting after sometime when you realize that it is not fulfilling. [click to continue…]
In order to effectively optimize and enhance the visibility of your social media profiles, you need to have a good foundation of relevant keywords. This is a good way to increase your internet presence and at the same time allow you to manage your social media profiles in a more efficient manner.
You can start by setting up your profile with a keyword rich bio. You can use the terms commonly used by people when looking for a job or employment opportunities so you can have a better chance of being found online.
The most commonly used social media platform for job seekers is LinkedIn because it is more professional and business-like as compared to other popular social media websites like Facebook or Twitter. But what are the important keywords you can use in your profile to make it more searchable in this particular social media website? [click to continue…]
