A Thank You Note that Made Our Day!!!

We just received a very SWEET Thank You Note that Made Our Day from one of our applicants!!!

"LADIES, thanks for being there for me during my nightmare. I was extremely depressed during this time but I knew that the ladies were there for me. Every time I came into the office I got the biggest welcome and smile for the receptionist desk and boy did I need that. Then, Les was there to help me with my Power Point. And the time my car wouldn't start in the parking lot, Pam came to the rescue and at that time, I was super low, but Pam was there. Bonny, thank you for your positive attitude and encouraging words. They really kept me focused. I really appreciate the LOVE shown to me. YOU are the BEST......... THANK YOU!

~Anonymous"

...But we know who it was. Thank you so much for your kind words and we were glad to be there when you needed us most! Best of luck to you in your new job- you are going to do GREAT!

50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes

You may have heard the horror stories than happen during an interview. Examples include candidates answering cell phones or texting during an interview, falling asleep, and more!

Here are 50 (yes, 50!) of the worst and most common job interview mistakes from an article by Karen Burns. Read through them to be sure you are not commiting one of these faux pas that can derail your chances of landing a job!

See the full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/50-Worst-of-the-Worst-and-usnews-3658564314.html?x=0

1. Arriving late.
2. Arriving too early.
3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.
4. Bad-mouthing your last boss.
5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.
6. Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes.
7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with.
8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.
9. Wearing sunglasses.
10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.
11. Failing to research the employer in advance.
12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.
13. Inquiring about benefits too soon.
14. Talking about salary requirements too soon.
15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.
16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.
17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio.
18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume.
19. Asking too many questions.
20. Asking no questions at all.
21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.
22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
23. Talking more than half the time.
24. Interrupting your interviewer.
25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.
26. Yawning.
27. Slouching.
28. Bringing along a friend, or your mother.
29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.
30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.
31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um."
32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.
33. Asking to use the bathroom.
34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.
35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.
36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).
37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does.
38. Becoming angry or defensive.
39. Complaining that you were kept waiting.
40. Complaining about anything!
41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist.
42. Letting your nervousness show.
43. Overexplaining why you lost your last job.
44. Being too familiar and jokey.
45. Sounding desperate.
46. Checking the time.
47. Oversharing.
48. Sounding rehearsed.
49. Leaving your cell phone on.
50. Failing to ask for the job.

A nice thank you.....

A thank you we received from an applicant....

"Thanks to the whole office! Lisa, Pam, Les, Bonny- Thanks so much for taking the time to meet with me. You made me feel so comfortable and more hopeful in my job search! I'm sure I will be in soon to work on my resume and take advantage of the Career Cafe- great resouce! ....... Thanks again!
-Kelly G."


Thanks for the sweet note Kelly!!

Resume Objective Statements

First of all, what is included in your resume is dependent on your personal needs and what information you want to convey. It is highly unlikely that a recruiter or hiring manager will pass over a resume if you haven’t included an objective statement, but keep in mind that objective statements make it easier for a potential employer to understand what you are trying to convey in your resume.

Susan Ireland, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Resume, says, “A resume without an objective statement effectively says, ‘This is what I’ve done. Could you figure out what I should do next?’ A job objective gives your resume focus and strength, and makes a powerful first move toward the title and salary negotiations.”

If you’re going to have a job objective on your resume, take time to make it a good one!

Here are some tips:

1. Don't make your objective about what you want. Adopt the following mindset: “How can I help you, Mr./Ms. Employer?”

2. Tailor your objective to EACH position you apply for! This will help HR determine what exactly you are looking for. SSInc has seen job seekers apply for a receptionist position, but their objective states that they are seeking a project manager position. This will make a recruiter or hiring manager think twice about calling that person. Again, make sure to customize EACH job objective to fit the job you are applying for.

3. Resist adding "fluff." Refrain from using phrases such as “opportunity to grow” or “room for advancement.” These phrases are not only a given but by using them you’re essentially burying your real objective in extra "fluff."

Remember: It is very important to include an objective statement when you are targeting a particular job, so that it can relate your skills and experience directly to that employer's needs.


Refer to: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=1786