Tuesday, December 31, 2019

6 Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out

6 Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out6 Ways to Make Your Resume Stand OutIf you are one of those people who think that your resume should simply be a recitation of your job description in Times New Roman font, think again Thats a thing of the past, and its time to get on board with a new way of looking at things.Todays resume needs to show whats unique and special about you. How are you just a little bit different or better than all the other people whose background is similar to yours? This is an integral part of whats meant by defining your personal brand.See Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.First and foremost, remember that your resume is a marketing document. Its sole purpose is to get someone with hiring authority to pick up the phone or shoot you an schmelzglas to initiate a conversation. To do that you need to convey what kind of professional you are and how you differentiate yourself from your peers.You should do this with convincing content presented in a fabulous fashi on.Colorize your personal brand. Understand your own brand and its associated color. For example, personal development coach Pavlina Papalouka teaches that darker blues convey qualities like loyalty, honesty, responsibility and approachability, while turquoise conveys a sense of prestige, high ideals, attention and communication. Red, by contrast, makes you appear emotional, exciting, passionate, aggressive, provocative and memorable. A simple search on YouTube for color and personal branding will provide a whole host of videos that will help you determine your best branding color.You can use your brand color on your resume for lines to separate sections of your resume, or as a background to your personal branding statement at the top of the document, just under your name and contact information. To go bold, try creating a one cell table and adjust the border and shading to have your branding color in the background. Extend the table the full width of your page, and then use text wi thin it to denote your various resume sections like Skills, Professional Experience, Education and so forth.See 25 Best Business Jobs for 2017.Provide a branding statement. This isnt simply a list of skills or accomplishments, but rather a short three-to-five-line statement that tells who you are, your key qualities and areas in which you are particularly adept. Its not about how you got to be who you are, nor what you did in previous roles. Rather, it answers the question Who are you at this moment in time?Convey your key accomplishments. To give a helicopter view of who you are, you might want to include a Key Accomplishments section in your resume, just under your branding statement. Keep it short and snappy, again with only three or four bullets. Remember, the operative word here is key just the main few things that will make you a standout for the role you seek. This is also a sneaky way you can highlight something relevant that appears farther down on your timeline to make it relatable to your current target audience.Make koranvers you are talking about the right accomplishments. That you earned a promotion, for example, is certainly an accomplishment. But that will show up lower in the resume as an employer views your professional experience section. Rather, think about what you did that was so great that earned you the promotion to begin with, and then youll get a good sense of your key accomplishments.Limit your bullet points. Your resume will pack a punch if you limit yourself to just three or four bullet points for each position that you have held. They dont need to be just a single line, and let each tell a story. What were you challenged to do? How did you go about doing it? What results did you attain? Tell the whole story, concisely Be specific wherever possible to document dollars and percentages rather than saying something vague like, Improved sales considerably. Everyones definition of considerably will be very different.See 7 Excellent Sal es and Marketing Jobs for 2017.Beware of betraying poor communication skills. Rare indeed is the job description for any professional role that doesnt require excellent communications skills. But simply claiming to have them doesnt really advance your cause. Rather, show off those skills with the vocabulary you use to depict your actions.And when you are talking about communications, be sure to give examples. Have you spoken at company retreats? Written white papers? Are you known for your snappy memos or compelling PowerPoint decks?Find and use descriptive action verbs to begin each bullet point. For example met with is weak but collaborated with is strong. Led is often overused, but there are plenty of strong synonyms like created, established, formulated, launched, pioneered or spearheaded that might better define and describe your actions.When you take the time to step back and think about who you are and distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack, youre sure to increase you r chances of resume successHappy Hunting

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Top Job Relocation Considerations

Top Job Relocation ConsiderationsTop Job Relocation ConsiderationsAre you itching for a change of scenery? Youre in good company. In todays hiring climate, many professionals are considering a job relocation for new career opportunities.Theres a whole lot to consider before making a move. Concerns might range from how much housing will cost and where the kids will go to school to what the regional salary variations will be. Lets take a look at some of the pros and cons of job relocation, along with several tips for long-distance job hunting.Pros to job relocationThe opportunities may be greater. Your chances of career advancement can vary from city to city. For example, employers in one region might have a high demand for graphic designers at a particular moment, while organizations in anotlageher are looking for mobile design experts. Expanding your search to a broader area can help you land the position you really want.Your pay may increase. Today, there arent enough skilled profes sionals in some markets to meet everyones staffing needs. More companies are reaching out to recruiters to find candidates from outside their geographic area. That level of demand means you likely have more leverage when it comes to negotiating your salary, signing bonuses, benefits packages and relocation expenses.The new experiences could be exhilarating. Relocation can offer the excitement of exploring a new city and working with new team members.JOB HUNTING? WE CAN HELPCons to changing locationsRelocation can be stressful. As individual events, starting a new job and moving are two of the most stressful situations you can encounter. Youll be going through both at the same time. Add to this the fact that you may not have a local support system, and youre potentially looking at a lot of stress.Moving can be expensive. The costs of relocating can mount up. If your new employer doesnt cover the costs of your move, be prepared to spend a lot on travel expenses, moving fees and situat ion up your new residence.You may not see your workplace before moving. Its possible your only meeting with the hiring manager will be over a phone call or in a video interview. That means youll be walking into your first day with little idea of what the work environment is like. Your new company may have a cramped office floor plan that hinders your productivity. Or you might just get a bad workplace vibe.Now that youve evaluated some pros and cons of relocation, here are some tips to help you make a successful transitionCast a wide netTo increase your chances of landing a job in a new city, reach out to former classmates, colleagues or connections in the areas youre looking at. Specialized recruiters are also excellent resources when youre applying for jobs outside your home area. The best recruiters have a national reach and can help locate a position that meets your salary needs and career aspirations.Know what youre worthMake sure youre aware of the average starting salaries fo r professionals in the city youd like to move to. Consult the Robert Half Salary Guides to learn the going rates for your position, then localize the figures using our Salary Calculator.Negotiate relocation expensesIts important to know upfront which of your costs your new employer is willing to cover. Many firms will pay for the transportation of vehicles and other possessions, as well as home-hunting trips. Keep in mind that even if an expense - such as fuel or family airfare - is not reimbursed in the standard relocation policy, some employers are open to negotiating.Plan a visitYou dont want to start your new job only to be disappointed with your employer, coworkers, organizational culture or new town. Even if your employer wont compensate you for this particular trip, a fact-finding mission before you take the job is well worth the cost. Many employers will be happy to arrange a tour of the office or have some of your future coworkers join you for lunch so you can learn about the area and your soon-to-be workplace.The initial stages of relocation are going to be challenging. But having an idea of what to expect can help you mentally prepare for the transition so you can tackle challenges head-on. Once you get settled into your new city and job, you may find it was the best career decision you ever made.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Phone Interview Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Phone bewerberinterview Questions to Ask the InterviewerPhone Interview Questions to Ask the InterviewerMany job interviews, especially first-round interviews, are conducted on the phone. Plan on preparing just as you would for an in-person interview by brushing up your interview skills, reviewing what youll be asked, and getting a list of questions ready to ask the interviewer. Phone interviews are used by hiring managers as a tool for screening candidates for employment. After you have submitted a mailed or online application for a job, you may receive an email from the employer asking that you schedule a time with them for an anfangsbuchstabe phone interview. Phone interviews are conducted as screening interviews to determine which of the many candidates who have applied for a position should be invited to interview in person. Phone interviews are also commonly used as first and second round interviews by employers, in order to save in-person interview time and also to reduce the applicant pool to the most qualified candidates for the job. They are also the typical first step for employers who are considering out-of-town candidates for senior level or executive roles. In these cases, an initial phone or Skype interview helps the hiring committee decide if a job candidate is worth the expense of flying them in for an in-person interview. Prepare to Answer Interview Questions When you are invited for a phone interview, its important to take the time to review the typical phone interview questions youll be asked and to prepare answers. Its also key for you to have a list of questions to ask the interviewer. There will always come a point in the interview where the interviewer invites your questions and candidates who have no questions run the risk of looking like they arent as interested in the position as their competitors might be. The questions you ask in an interview are as important as the questions you answer. Asking informed questions not only demon strates your enthusiasm for the job, but it also allows you to decide if the position is, in fact, worth the time, energy, and resources it would take to continue further with the application process. Career searches take an enormous amount of work, and it isnt worth continuing the process if your phone interview reveals that the company culture or job responsibilities would not be a good fit for your talents and personality. If you have taken the time to thoroughly research the employer before submitting your job application, you can also design questions about their organization that demonstrate that youve done your homework in learning as much as you can about them. This demonstrates a personal initiative that will help to set you aparte from other candidates. Youll only have a few minutes to ask questions. So, pick a few interview questions that are relevant to the job, to your potential role at the company, and to your background and skills, to have ready when youre asked if yo u have any questions. Phone Interview Questions to Ask the Interviewer How would you describe the responsibilities of this position?What qualities are you looking for in the person you hire to join this company?If I was hired, how would I be interacting with you and your department? What would be your expectations and your measures for success?How would I get feedback on how well my work meets these expectations?What do you view as the most challenging part of this job?Why is the last person who held this position leaving?Who does this position report to?How would you describe the company culture? What is the typical work week? Is overtime expected? How about travel?Do you offer benefits packages for things like healthcare and dental costs?What sort of retirement package do you offer to your employers?What are the opportunities for advancement with the company?Do you provide continuing training opportunities for your employees?Is there anything else can I tell you about my quali fications for the job?Could I schedule an in-person interview at your convenience?If I am extended a job offer, how soon could I start? Would you like a list of references?What is the next step in the interview process?When can I expect to hear from you?Are there any other questions I can answer for you? How to Impress the Hiring Manager Not a phone person in your daily life? Youre not alone. As other messaging technologies gain steam, its easy to sachverhalt out of practice talking on the phone. Add to that the fact that phone interviews knock out one easy point of communication with the hiring manager - namely, body language - and you have a tricky situation for many interviewees. To maximize your chances of making a good impression on the hiring manager, there are a few important phone interview tips to remember Practice, practice, practice. Conduct a mock interview with a friend, to cement your questions and qualifications in your mind.Prepare the room. Turn off call waiti ng, the ringer on other phones, and any timers or other electronics that might go off during the interview.Use a landline if possible. Cellphones are more likely to drop calls or experience technical difficulties.Keep your materials on hand. Have your resume, cover letter, and a checklist of matching your skills to the job listing, and keep them right where you can see them. Observe proper etiquette. Dont smoke, eat, or chew gum during the interview. Smile, and articulate your answers, even if it means speaking much more slowly than usual. Take notes. In all important ways, conduct yourself as you would at an in-person interview. Your performance will reflect the effort.

Monday, December 16, 2019

ASME Seeks Manuscripts for New Risk Journal

ASME Seeks Manuscripts for New Risk Journal ASME Seeks Manuscripts for New Risk Journal ASME and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are each producing one volume for a new two-part journal that will address risk and uncertainties in both the civil and mechanical engineering aspects of engineered systems. ASME is currently accepting submissions for its volume of the new journal through the ASME Journal Tool web site.The new ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, which will share an editorial board, will be a medium for presenting state-of-the-art research and best practices for ensuring a full discussion on issues related to risk and uncertainty. The quarterly journal is intended to help researchers and engineers address risk, disaster and failure-related challenges due to many sources and types of uncertainty in planning, design, analysis, construction, manufacturing, operation, utilization, and life-cycle management of existing and new engi neering systems. Part A of the journal, to be published by ASCE, will focus on the civil engineering aspects of these topics. ASMEs volume, Part B, will concentrate on mechanical engineering. Topics to be covered in Part B of the new journal will include risk quantification based on hazard identification scenario development and rate quantification consequence assessment valuations, perception and communication risk-informed decision making uncertainty analysis and modeling and other related areas. ASME and ASCE Fellow Bilal M. Ayyub, Ph.D., professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Center for Technology and Systems Management at the University of Maryland, College Park, is the editor for Part B. Papers for the inaugural issue, to be published in the fourth quarter of 2014, should be submitted by June 30. To submit a manuscript to the ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part B Mechanical Engineering, visit the ASME Journal Too l on ASME.org.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

18 punishments for people who dont update their calendars

18 punishments for people who dont update their calendars18 punishments for people who dont update their calendarsCongratulations You found that one-hour block in the next two weeks when everyones calendar is open. You send the meeting invite only to have Ben decline.Im actually out of the office that day, he says. Could you find another time?But Ben, you wonder, how will I find another time if your calendar bears no relation to your actual availability? Here are some appropriate ways to punish Ben and colleagues like him who dont keep their calendar up to date.1. Removal from the office food email listAre there leftover bagels from the Accounting staff meeting? Yes, but Ben will never know.2. Switch the regular and decaf coffee potsEveryone else reaches for the orange pot this week while Ben yawns his way through his caffeine headaches.3. Adjust Bens calendar from Eastern Standard to Yakutsk TimeHell arrive promptly to any meetings in central Russia4. Switch to past tense whenever d iscussing him, especially if hes in earshotOh yeah, Ben, he worked in Marketing didnt he? Never really saw him in the office much though.5. Change the language for his keyboardSwitching toFrenchis classic, but the Turkish keyboard is just similar enough to confuse him for days.6. Move Bens desk photos to other areas of the officeHis wifes portrait now lives on the CEOs desk and his snapshot of Sir-Barks-A-Lot is above the copier. Itll be a great icebreaker at the holiday party7. Sign Ben up for every newsletter you can findHell get updates on everything from the local bakerys daily scone selection to the tour dates of a hard core punker band hes never heard of.8. Invite him to a conference call thats just hold musicIdeally it will be Chumbawambas Tubthumping on loop.9. Add new family photos to his deskWhat do you mean these arent your kids? Youve been talking about Kimmys game-winning home run all month10. Unscrew the light above his cubicle just a littleBen will have to check the F acilities Teams calendar to see when theyre available to stop the flickering.11. Host remote control helicopter races around his cubicleIt just happens to be the area with the most open air. Management did say they wanted you to embrace your creativity12. Re-label his lunch in the office fridgeNo, this isnt Bens Low-fat Mango Greek yogurt. Its Benitas.13. Hold his coffee mug hostageSend ransom notes scrawled on printouts of Bens Outlook calendar.14. Add spoilers for his favorite TV shows to your meeting invitationsLocation Conference Room also Tyrion Lannister dies by ice dragon15. Start a rumor that his cubicle is hauntedFollow up by shivering every time you walk by and asking about the old woman who works on his computer during his lunch breaks. Bonus points if you leave messages from her on his voicemail.16. Relegation to the worst seat in the conference roomYou know the one, where you cant pull your chair in all the way and have to crane your neck to see thepresentation slides. Make sure its the only open seat when Ben walks in.17. Respond to all his emails with New phone, who dis?At a certain point hell have to respect your commitment to the bit.18. Everyone meets without himNo matter what his ego says, Ben isnt that important.This post was originally published on TheCooperReview.com.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

What Is So Fascinating About Social Worker Resume?

What Is So Fascinating About Social Worker Resume? The Advantages of Social Worker Resume Just make certain that its impressive, and related to the job youre applying to. When you opt for the second job, you are likely to sell yurself and Im most likely to reveal you how its possible to accomplish that better. Tailor your resume to the particular job. Begin with your latest job. The One Thing to Do for Social Worker Resume Ensure that your email address is acceptable for a social services position. Take advantage of the register to make sure you may have integrated almost all acceptable info within your continue. Additional information regarding PBI is readily found through an online search. The duration of your resume depends on your degree of experience. If you have lots of social work experience, you should think about utilizing an expert summary. Utilizing dot points is going to be the optimum method to draw attention to how your skills very closely match the job r equirements. If you want more help, have a look at our guide on how best to craft the perfect resume profile. You really need to work for Kierra. If your experiences require another page, do it All MSW training involves an important quantity of time in a practicum experience referred to as a field placement. Chronological resumes is going to be the best spot to highlight your accomplishments. What Is So Fascinating About Social Worker Resume? Social Work is a profession that needs a selection of emotional and mental skills as well as formal academic training. Making the effort to concentrate on a resume is really very worthwhile work. Continuing education is the very best approach to stay updated on the best practices in your favorite career. If you are able to convince a reader which youre experienced in solving the issue which he or she is most concerned about, you automatically create the interview list. There are different types of social works that individuals would love to get involved in which you are able to immediately recognize the content of their Resume Objectives. In reality, writing a bad resume is far simpler than writing a good one and trust me, there are plenty of bad ones out there which is the reason you need to make sure youve got good one. Conversely, if youre pressed for time, experiencing writers block, or only hate writing resumes no issue Social worker resume objectives can tell an employer a whole lot about the man or woman applying for employment. A social worker resume is extremely important. At the time of discharge from hospital, he will coordinate the clients transition back to the home. Your social worker resume should make clear the degree of your present position, together with your previous accomplishments. Specialization involves giving workers individual job roles to take out the responsibility of different jobs and lowering the workers capacity to a single task specifically. Social Workers analyze and a ssess the requirements of their customers to effectively determine a suitable plan of action. In some cases, Medical Social Workers may report to the administrator of a specific department in a hospital. The New Angle On Social Worker Resume Just Released Specify an outstanding history of your social work involvements where you had the ability to give the requirements of various entities in various kinds of settings. The previous issue that may create some misunderstanding when people look for a counselor is that some individuals hold several licenses. You would like a good one in an important setting with good pay and advantages. In the sphere of public wellbeing, there are two main kinds of social worker. You need to be able to compose your social work resume on a SNAP scrip and receive the job. Many experts think that recidivism rates are so high on account of the simple fact that a lot of inmates in our nations correctional institutes have a very low amount of education. Youve got to have the ability to speak about a few of the issues which are coming up for you at work with colleagues. In the event of our instance, the candidate included their abilities in care planning, counseling and crisis intervention all skills that are quite useful in regards to helping and addressing clients.

Monday, December 2, 2019

How to Make New Hires Feel Welcome - Spark Hire

How to Make New Hires Feel Welcome - Spark HireIf youve stepped into any workplace in the past few years, youll notice a stark difference from the office space of last century. It used to be nose to the grindstone, all work and no play. But the office scene today is the new social scene.Thats not to say that employees arent working any harder. In fact, theyre mora productive and innovative today than ever. And the faster your office embraces a company culture that is mora social in nature, the better youll be able to capitalize on employee retention.And theres no better way to start than to make your new hires feel welcome.Greeting. Before a new hires start date, designate someone on the team to take them under their wing the first day. That may be you, their counterpart or the office manager. Whoever it is, this person is dedicated to making sure new hires know how to dress, find the bathroom and what is expected from them on both a professional and social level.Team lunch. Obviousl y, you should make team introductions earlier in the day, but take time to welcome new hires with a team lunch the first day too. This provides a glimpse into personalities and people types outside of the office. With a laid back lunch, new hires can identify with whom on the team they can develop relationships.Happy hour. Later in the week, take the team out for a happy hour or bowling or coffee. This time together outside of the office, and outside of regular working hours, enables everyone to cut loose. Its during this time that the relationships at the workplace are strengthened, leading to better teamwork in the office.You may be wondering why the emphasis on relationships and creating a social workplace. This is work after all, isnt it?Today, new hires are looking for the typical benefits that a job provides 401K contributions, a health care plan and vacation days. But one of the newer benefits of the 21st century workplace is more of a social workplace.Employees want to work somewhere that they feel welcome and valued, not just as an employee but as a person too. A company culture that makes individuals feel that they are important leads to a business that can boast in high numbers of employee retention. Thats because these employees have more than just professional ties to a business there are those social ties as well, which are undoubtedly more important.Once youve made new hires feel welcome, dont stop there. TIME explored some businesses that put an emphasis on a social workplace, and they have some great ideas for your business. Try in-house poker, kickball or trivia like Booz Allen Hamilton. Create a mentorship program between more experienced and younger staff members like KPMG. Or provide incentives to young workers that includes participation in senior management strategic sessions like Infosys.A more social workplace is a better place to work and when your new hires see that in your workplace, youll be able to hold on to them longer.How else can you create a social workplace to make new hires feel more welcome? Share now in our comments

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

If you cant code, you have no business managing engineers

If you cant code, you have no business managing engineersIf you cant code, you have no business managing engineersDo you andrang an organization with Engineers (i.e. Programmers, Developers, Hackers, Code Ninjas)? Is your title Technical Manager, Development Manager, Head of Technology, CTO, CIO, or any other sort of title that communicate Im in charge of technology? If so, congrats on reaching the apogee of the tech departmentYeah career Nerds ruleHowever, are you able to answer this quick question? What is the output of the following function?def function(x Int) Int = def loop(y Int, total Int) Int = if(y == 0) total else loop(y - 1, total * y) loop(x, 1)function(5)or a less efficient (non-tail recursive), but easier to understand functiondef function(x Int) Int = if(x == 0) 1 else x * function(x - 1)function(5)Did you get it? Great Would you be able to write this in your programming language of choice (this was written in Scala, by the way)? Awesome You can save you r time and stop reading this article now, and perhaps go back to reading Hacker News. Note if you are in infrastructure, hardware, or another technology area, you can use an equivalent example such as being able to create a circuit diagram, grep logs, mount a drive, setup a server, run Puppet, setup a cluster, etc.However, if you were confused, had no clue what this function did, didnt get the answer 120 (5 factorial), or couldnt write something like this in any programming language, please remove the word Technology or Technical or even Information from your title. To be blunt, until you brush up on your skills, you just dont deserve to be called technical anymore (or maybe you never did).Yes, I know, you think Im crazy. At your level/responsibilities you dont need to know how to program or how the technology works. People do it for you. I get it. Ive been told many times by non-technical managers who had those titles, and couldnt figure out the simple function above, that being a good technology manager doesnt require you to be technically skilled. Sorry, but I gotta call bullst. Only people without technical skills make that sort of weak argument. The rest embrace their technical skills to be amazing leaders.Leading the troopsLets run through the a common argument and see if I can defend that being a technology manager requires actual technical expertise.I manage a big org, I dont need to know the how to code or the technical details.I have good people who do.I lead and inspire.Leaders lead by example. How do you expect to lead or inspire an Engineer when you are unwilling or unable to get in the trenches with them? Do you know why George Washingtons troops loved him to the point that they would die for him? Sure, he was in charge, wore the fancy outfits, and had a cool title (General and Commander-in-Chief? - ?awesome), did the big picture stuff, etc, etc. But that didnt convince his troops to boldly charge into battle. They did so because they felt he wa s one of them. He understood them. For example, Washington walked, ate, and lived amongst his troops when they camped at Valley Forge during the brutal winter of 17771778. He could have stayed in a big house with a warm fireplace, but he didnt. He didnt because he was still a solider, just like he had been many years ago during the French-Indian war, and was still able to be a solider.Code something, no matter how small, and release it to production.Im not saying you need to be coding all day, but the test is have you ever released to production at your company? Have you experienced what your team does daily? If you must, are you still able to still get into the trenches? Code something, no matter how small, and release it to production.Get coding againWhen I worked at Goldman Sachs, my first day there a Super Senior Managing Director (un-official title SSMD) sat me down and personally gave me an overview of the code structure. He knew how the systems worked and what it took to buil d them. Awesome Know what, he had my absolute respect from that moment on. Even more importantly, a lot of his success came from being able to make the right decisions because of his deep understanding of the technology. I found out later that at Goldman every person in technology must be technical. At Google and Ladders (where I work) even Product Managers get programming questions (albeit simple ones) during their interview. Why? Because if you are going to work with Engineers, have the respect of Engineers, and truly understand Engineers, you need to be technically proficient.ThoughtWorks furthers the idea of needing to stay technical (for a Tech Lead, but can be applied to anyone with a Technical title)If you do not spend time with the code, you run the risk of invoking the Ivory Tower Architect anti-pattern, leading technical decisions without understanding their real implications for implementation or maintenance. This anti-pattern has numerous side effects including destroyin g trust with developers, increasing the development time of new features, and increasing the accidental complexity of your software systems.Just like my previous manager (SSMD), you probably ended up being a technical leader because you love technology, and probably coding. The trick is you cant let that part of your skill set wither away. It is easy to let your tech skills rot when your day is 90% meetings and 10% budget planning exercises. Luckily, no one is asking you to be the best Javascript developer. However, if Javascript is one of your teams primary languages, for goodness sake, take a course or crack open a book or launch Atom to stay technical for the sake of your team, your company, and yourself.And, by all means, get coding again

Friday, November 22, 2019

What to Wear to a Law Firm Job Interview

What to Wear to a Law Firm Job InterviewWhat to Wear to a Law Firm Job InterviewCongratulations Youve got a job interview at a law firm. Exciting On to the really important question what are you going to wear?? Interviewing for a BigLaw Job If youre interviewing for a BigLaw job in a large law firm, the answer is pretty simple. You wear a suit and a relatively conservative one at that. For law students doing OCI interviews, its handy to have a suit wardrobe that you can mischung and match for multiple days of interviews. For example, you might have Two suits, of different colors. (Women can further expand their options by having a skirt and pants version of each suit.)At least four suitable shirts, so you dont have to worry about having all of your shirts stuck at the dry cleaners when you need them for an interview.Several ties, for men, which coordinate with your shirts and suits.At least one suitable pair of shoes for each suit (no, you cant wear brown shoes with a dark suit) .Suitable accessories for each version of your outfit, including some way to carry necessary documents (extra versions of your resume, transcript, and writing sample). With this system, its potentially easy to keep track of what various firms have seen you wear. For example, you might decide to wear a skirt suit to initial on-campus interviews, and pants to a callback. Or you might opt to wear your gray suit initially, and a pinstripe suit to callbacks. Follow the Steve Jobs method of dressing, and cut down the number of things you need to think about before an interview When youre elend worrying about which shoes match which suit, you can spend that time researching firms and planning your interview approach. Interviewing for a Small Firm Job If youre interviewing at a smaller firm, planning your outfit is a little more challenging. In many cases, its appropriate to dress very formally, as if you were interviewing for a BigLaw job. But, not always If the office is very informa l, you might opt to dress down a bit. How can you find out what the prevailing vibe of a small firm is? Use your legal research skills Step one is to visit the firms website. Do they have photos of the lawyers? How dressed up are they? How formal is the site itself? What info are you given about how the firm views itself? unterstellung are clues about the culture of the firm, which can inform how you want to present yourself. Also, think about whether youve got any contacts to the firm. Do you know anyone who worked there in the past (or who works there now)? This person might be willing to steer you in the right direction. In general, err on the side of formality. No one is going to look too askew at a suit in a law firm interview, even if its not entirely necessary. (Tech companies are exceptions to this rule, but most law firms are still relatively conservative places.) If you decide to dress down a bit, dont take it too far. You dont want to show up in Casual Friday attire for a n interview Make sure youre at least slightly more dressed up than your interviewer, and you should be fine. What to Carry One recurring question is what to bring or carry in an interview. The reality is you need to bring copies of your resume, transcript, and writing sample, in case any of the interviewers need them. For men, the best option is a simple portfolio which you can tuck under your arm. (Dont bring a briefcase. Its overkill. And make sure your pockets arent too laden down. Leaving your iPhone at home with your huge key ring makes sense.) Women should have a similar portfolio but have more flexibility with what else to bring. A small bag is appropriate, as is a larger, relatively formal tote that can carry the portfolio and all other necessary items. In all cases, make sure you can easily shake hands while carrying whatever you bring And dont play with your portfolio in the interview. Either place it neatly in your lap (and leave it alone) or put it on the floor. Make sure its not a distraction

Thursday, November 21, 2019

3 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a new job

3 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a new job3 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a new jobMoving to a new city is never as easy of the advice of just move to where jobs are makes it seem. Moving for a job is a big career decision where you must carefully weigh unknowns that all boil down to answering the question of, is it worth it? More of us are answering, no.The Pew Research Center reported that Americans are moving at historically low rates, largely due to millennials staying put. Although millennials are less likely than the millennials of decades pastto have a partner, house, or a child,current millennials are a groupthat are dealing with fewer labor market opportunitiesin the wake of a recession andhigh student debt- factors that make the risk of moving particularly unappetizing.But you also dont want to look back with regret of an opportunity that you let pass. Movingfor a new job can be the jumpstart your career needs. None of these decisions comes without risk, however. Heres a list of considerations to weigh risks with rewards so you can make the most informed decision.Will this job make me happy?A good new job should be an opportunity for growth that will outweigh all the pangs of relocation. If youre leaving friends and family behind to live in a place where youll have to start over, that could be a major deterrent.Even then, starting over may be worth it in the long run.More millennials are willing to uproot their lives to find that elusive work-life balance they desire. 38% of millennials inAmerica saidthey would move to another country forbetter parental leave benefits. In those cases, finding a job that offers better work flexibility, even if its on the other side of the globe, can be worth it.Its also important to recognizethat no job is perfect. But a new job should fill you with more excitement than dread. If you know you would be secretly relieved if the offer fell through, its time to reconsider.Having secon d thoughts are normal, but third and fourth thoughts require deeper introspection. Wheres the source of this uncertainty? Are you unhappy with your current job or your career? We already know that work shouldnt define your identity. If youre unhappy with your career, recognize that a new job is not a cure-all solution and this unease with yourself will follow you job to job.Whats the financial cost of moving?Before you accept a job offer to move, you should always ask to see if your company will titelseite your relocation expenses and you should aggressively negotiatefor your salary to be abovethe median salary in that city for your job. A general rule of thumb is that you should earn 10% to 20% more than your current salary when changing jobs in the same city, workplace expert Lynn Taylor advised. But when youre relocating, you can generally be a little more aggressive. After that, youll need to calculate what youll need to comfortablylive in a new city.Will you be able to afford a car? Can you afford to live in a neighborhood thats close to work? Knowing the full cost of living in a new city means calculating the affordability of everything from neighborhoods and schools to publictransportation. Beyond the salary, assess a comparison of the local costs such as education costs, fuel and utilities and income taxes, Jill Knittel, chief operating officer at Employee Relations Associates, told CBS News.Whats the future of this company?The job landscape is littered with horror stories of employeeswho were laid off shortly after relocating to a new city for ajob. Although no job is certain, the best way to mitigate that risk is research.Luckily, theres more information than ever about companies thats publicly available. Making an informed decision to movemeans reading trade journals, Glassdoor reviews, LinkedIn bios of employees, chat boards and Twitter threads of ex-employees. Researchingmeans reading up onwho is funding the company and ultimately, who are the sta keholders who will make sure you get paid. It means talking withemployeeswho have the jobs youd want to have and it means digging into why people have left the company.Once youve done all this, you will have a clearer sense of the companys future and whether you will fit in its vision one year to five years down the line.