Career Tips

Career Tip #19: Many potential job offers are lost at the very end, during the background check and drug testing phase, if unsavory items are discovered. If you are working with a recruiter, immediately disclose to them any negative items that might be revealed such as bad credit, bankruptcies, DUI’s, felonies, etc. so that an appropriate strategy for dealing with these can be discussed. Voluntarily disclosing these items to the potential employer prior to the background check will often be the wiser choice and possibly keep you from being eliminated from consideration.

Career Tip #20: Most top performers keep their ears to the ground for opportunities that will help them advance their careers. They may not be “actively looking” for another job but they always keep their fingers on the pulse of the market and never close their minds to hearing about openings coming up in reputable organizations. This way, when the perfect opportunity opens up, one that is clearly superior to their current position, they can choose to act on it and make a strategic career move.

Career Tip #21: There are benefits and drawbacks from working for both small and large organizations. A larger company generally is able to offer better benefits and options for growth, however the individual often becomes a cog in the machine, rarely directly seeing the impact of their contribution to the organization. Smaller companies require a person to carry a bigger load of responsibility but the recognition is typically greater and more personal as well. Choose the type of organization that best suits your needs and personality style.

Also – DO NOT apply to positions you are obviously not qualified for. It wastes time – both yours and the company’s.

Career Tip #22: One of the biggest pet peeves of job seekers is receiving no final word after an interview, positive or negative. Here is what you can do: 1. Did you get the business card of the interviewer? The evening after the interview, send a personal email thanking the interviewer for their time and reiterating a few key points of why you are perfect for the job and restating your interest in it. 2. Follow up by phone 2-3 days after the interview to see if a decision has been made, leaving a voicemail if necessary, again reaffirming your interest in the position. 3. Continue following up every week alternating between phone and email until they tell you a decision has been made.

Do not shy away from follow up! Show you want the job.

Career Tip #23: Sending out an unsolicited resume rarely achieves good results nor does responding blindly to every job posting on the internet. Most resumes end up in the “Internet black hole” and never receive a response.

Instead, leverage your resources. Do you have someone in your network who can get you a personal introduction to upper management in the company? Can a recruiter get you directly in front of the hiring authority making the decisions?

Career Tip #24: Spelling counts! Nothing will drop you from consideration for a position faster than misspelled words on your resume, cover letter or other correspondence. It’s a well known fact that it is difficult to proofread your own writing because your mind reads what it expects to see instead of what is actually written. Therefore, it is always best to use spell check features and have someone else proofread what you have written as a backup.