How to use soft skills in a job interview to land your dream role

How to use soft skills in a job bewerbungsinterview to land your dream roleHow to use soft skills in a job interview to land your dream roleAs important as it is for a candidate to have the required technical skills for a job, companies are increasingly giving more weight to a potential employees soft skills during an interview.Denise Dudley, behavioral psychologist and founder of SkillPath Seminars, mentions that each candidate she interviews is virtually on the same playing field, or she wouldnt have agreed to meet them in the first place.Once I get them in the interview Im going to spend pretty much all my time testing soft skills, Dudley said.Ladders has outlined how to identify, practice and use soft skills during an interview so that you can secure your dream job.What are soft skills?ShutterstockSoft skills are desirable qualities that are often learned through environment rather than official education.Soft skills include communication, leadership ability, critical thinking, c reative thinking, coachability, curiosity, time management and work ethic. Emotional intelligence, which encompasses many soft skills, is an extremely helpful skill for candidates to use during interviews.On the flip side, hard skills are anything from coding to understanding how to work with a content management system. Hard skills are usually what one studies in college, while soft skills have been learned through family and friends. That being said, Dudley stresses that soft skills can indeed be taught and acquired.Wherever anyone is on the continuumwe can work with them, said Dudley, who works with recent graduates to master the use of soft skills during interviews.How will an interviewer test your soft skills?ShutterstockAs soft skills become increasingly more important, hiring managers are asking specific questions in order to target them. Anecdotal interview questions, which are formally called behavioral interview questions, ask candidates to tell a story about a time theyex perienced a certain issue and how they handled it.Pearlie Oni, the senior manager of employee experience at RedPeg, stresses that you should be well organized, listen closely to the questions, and bring any necessary materials.Youre being judged for everything, not just your work product, Oni said.How to communicate your soft skills during an interviewShutterstockThere are two different facets to the art of expressing soft skills during an interview. First, one must express soft skills through their actions and conversation. Rachel Karitis, the director of marketing for TransitScreen, stresses the importance of pausing to think about questions instead of jumping in before you are truly ready. To avoid rambling, take a few seconds to think about the question and prepare your response.The second part has to do with the stories one tells while answering behavioral questions. Providing stories that point to strong soft skills is extremely important to acing the interview.How do you answ er behavioral interview questions?ShutterstockDudley recommends using the STAR method to prepare answers to behavioral questions. The STAR method allows a candidate to tell a story with a solid beginning, middle and end. Using STAR, you can form a coherent story about a time when you were in a situation, were assigned a task, took action to solve a problem, and reached an impressive end result.How do you practice behavioral questions?ShutterstockThe key to rocking an interview is preparation, so mock interviews are great ways to practice answering behavioral questions. The first step is to brainstorm situations in which you used soft skills in a professional setting. Next, use examples of anecdotal questions to think of which situations will be useful to discuss during interviews. Write each situation down using the STAR method.You can tell the kind of people who have actually thought about who they are in the workplace, Karitis said, stressing the importance of thoughtful preparati on.Next, you should actually practice telling these stories to someone. If you dont have a professional to practice with, grab a friend or family member and provide them with a list of behavioral questions to ask you.Heres are some examples of behavioral questions to practice while preparing for an interview,provided by Jen Shirkani, Pearlie Oni, and Rachel KaritisQ Have you ever unintentionally offended or upset somebody? Can you describe the details?Q Can you tell me about the last time you had to act and there was no formal policy or procedure on how to do so?Q Can you tell me about a time that you let someone down? How did you handle it?QWhat was your relationship with the best babo you ever had?QWhats been the toughest criticism you received so far in your career? What did you do with it?Q Can you tell us about a time you took initiative on a project or a task at work?Q How do you approach a task that youve never done before?Oni explains that while preparation is key, its also important that a candidate doesnt sound too rehearsed while answering questions during interviews.Prepare just enough so you dont feel like youre getting put on the spot by every question, Oni said. But dont stress yourself out because nervousness will shine through and it can keep your personality from shining through.Why is it important to use soft skills during an interview?ShutterstockYour resume, which should outline your hard skills, already landed you the interview. In order to land the job, youll have to excel beyond your technical skills.The soft skills are really your own personal marketing device to convince someone that you are the person for the job, Dudley said.Karitis expressed that its much easier to train an employee in a technical skill than in a skill like communication. behauptung days, employers are more likely to choose the candidate that already brings soft skills to the table.How can you continue to use soft skills after an interview?ShutterstockSending a tha nk you email or handwritten thank you note is a common suggestion, but its especially important if a candidate wishes to express their soft skills to an employer. A well-written message to an employer showcases that a candidate has strong communication skills, is thoughtful and is willing to go the extra mile.

Mini Resume Template and Examples

Mini Resume Template and ExamplesMini Resume Template and ExamplesA mini resume contains a brief summary of your career highlights and qualifications. The mini resume highlights your accomplishments rather than presenting a full-length account of your work experience, education, and achievements. When to Use a Mini Resume In most cases, your traditional long-form resume will be appropriate. A mini resume, however, comes in handy at job fairs or networking events when youre meeting with many people and want to leave them with something more than a business card, but less bulky than a full resume. You can use the mini resume when youre networking and want a contact to reisepass on your information to a hiring manager or recruiter. Your goal is to provide the basics a company needs to decide whether it should pursue you as a candidate. Having a mini resume on hand in the format of a business card can be useful since its easy to carry and you can pass it on to potential employers, cl ients, and business contacts you meet unexpectedly. Arranged thoughtfully, the mini resume can impart far more information than your basic business card. Mini Resume Templates Contact Information The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you, or this contact information can be printed on the front of a standard-size business card with your career highlights on the back. (A professional printer may be able to generate a slightly larger card if you have more information than can fit on a standard business card- but remember, your goal is conciseness.) Think about including your LinkedIn address, as well as your basic contact information. This will allow interested employers to access your full resume immediately. First Last NameStreet AddressCity, State ZipPhone (Cell/Home)Email AddressLinkedIn Address Career Highlights A mini resume lists your key achievements and skills.The best way to present your information is in a bulleted li st format. Mini Resume Sample 1 (Text Version) Janet Miller848 Excelsior CircleStanford, MI 09991999-999-9999jmillerabcd.comwww.linkedin.com/in/jmiller123456bCareer CoachCertified Workforce Development Professional with 14 years experience as a Career SpecialistAbility to provide career counseling, coaching, and job seeker servicesExpertise at identifying values, developing possible career paths, and proposing strategies for entering a career ExpandMini Resume Sample 2 (Text Version) John Smith848 Abbott RoadStillfield, CT 08888999-999-9998jsmithabcd.comwww.linkedin.com/in/jsmith345678bComputer ProgrammerFive years experience in successful design, development, and support of live-use applicationsC, Java, C, ASP.NET, SQL, MS Visual Studio, Eclipse, JBoss, TomcatCertifications CCNA, Unicenter Certified Engineer ExpandMini Resume Sample 3 (Text Version) Jill Green763 Oceanview AvenueBellingham, WA 98225999-999-9998jgreenabcd.comwww.linkedin.com/in/jgreen987654bCommunications Specialist Three years experience heightening organizational reach through dynamic print and online initiativesKeen eye and creativity in crafting engaging messages enhanced by clever graphic designAdept in use of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, emailing systems, and HTML Expand More Tips for Your Mini Resume Be Brief. This is your highlight reel, so dont go too long. Around 50 words is probably the best length to aim for. Keep It Simple. Remember to keep the backdrop of your mini resume simple black text on a white or cream background is preferable. Since you want the text itself to pop on the page, avoid distracting colors, logos / initials, fancy fonts, or borders. Choose Readable Fonts. Standard fonts are best Times New Roman, Courier New, or Verdana. And make sure to choose a font size that wont leave readers squinting. You dont want a hiring manager to have to find their reading glasses in order to register that youre a candidate worth interviewing. Be Consistent. End one bullet point with a period? End all them the same way. Make sure that you dont switch tenses or go from full sentences to fragments in similar sections. These minor details can make a big difference. Consistency signals professionalism. A contact might elend know why your mini resume seems off, but theyll register the wrong impression and thats the last thing you need. Proofread, proofread, proofread. How many mistakes could a person make in 50 words? You might be surprised. Before you hand out your mini resume, make sure its perfect. Check the spellings of proper names, especially brand names. Software packages in particular are easy to get wrong, because they frequently include random mid-word capitalizations and other style choices that you might not expect, e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint. Getting these things right will signal to prospective employers that youre someone who cares about the details. Have an eagle-eyed friend take a look, too, before you finalize your mini resume.

How the Best Recruiters Communicate

How the Best Recruiters Communicate How the Best Recruiters Communicate As a recruiter, youre often a candidates first touchpoint with a company. Youre the first opportunity for an employer to make a good impression, yours is the first hand that a potential employee shakes, and youre the first ambassador of an employers brand.Because of all this, your ability to communicate well can be the difference between establishing a new relationship or losing sought-after talent. With that in mind, heres a roundup of tips based on recent research into how the best recruiters communicate.Ditch Phone Calls Start TextingThe most effective recruiters use modern communication methods such as text messaging and social media, and this has a huge effect on their companies bottom lines.At TextUs, we recently did an in-depth study of how staffing firms communicate with candidates to identify how their communication styles relate to their business growth. We polled 45 staffing firms including some of the biggest in the country and compared companies that anticipated fast growth in the coming year (50 percent) to those that anticipated slow growth (5 percent).What we found welches astounding. We expected to find that faster-growth firms communicate differently from slow-growth firms. What we didnt expect was that the impact would be so huge.Heres a review of our findings1. More than75 percent of respondents believe text messaging is an effective form of communication for their company.All firms, on average, had similar perceptions about texting. Whether their companies were growing fast or slow, respondents said that SMS text messaging- improves speed of sales and sales productivity compared to email only- reduces candidate response time- and improves candidates experiences with their brand.But despite these shared perceptions, fast-growth companies use texting much mora often.2. Fast-growth firms communicate through SMS texting and social media. Slow-growth firms use phone and email.The fastest-growing agencies use SMS text nearly three times more than slow-growth ones. They also use social media almost five times more. As for phone and email fast-growth firms use these traditional forms of communication much less than slow-growth firms.3. Fast-growth firms use text messaging in a much more personalized way, and candidates like it a lot better.Fast- and slow-growth firms also use text messaging differently. Slow-growth firms tend to use text as they might use email they blast texts or send mass, impersonal messages.In contrast, fast-growth firms personalize their text messages. They use texts to sell jobs, confirm references, offer shifts and confirm shift changes, send reminders, and converse on other daily matters. As a result, candidates respond more positively to text messages from the fast-growth firms.Be a Social ButterflyIn our study, social media was another key differentiator between fast-growth and slow-growth staffing firms.We arent the only on es to observe this. In a recent Jobvite study of recruiters and hiring managers, 44 percent of respondents said social recruiting increased both the quality and quantity of candidates. Thirty-four percent said it improved the time-to-hire as well.But beware. Not all social media platforms are equal. Top recruiters focus on using each platform for what it does best. In the Jobvite survey, 95 percent of respondents said they use LinkedIn to search for and contact candidates. However, they rely on facebook inc and Twitter to showcase their employer brands.Think Like a MarketerStrong recruiters think like marketers. This approach is effective because candidates judge best-fit by researching a companysemployer brand.CareerBuilder found that 91 percent of candidates say a potential employers brand plays a big part in whether or not they apply to a job. Whats more, 68 percent will accept a lower salary if they have a positive impression of an organizations employer brand. This goes to show that, sometimes, the potential for a good relationship is even more important than the bottom line.Be Quick and ResponsiveAs withany relationship, the connection between recruiter and job seeker requires consistent, reliable communication.Bullhorn recently asked more than1,300 recruiting industry professionals what makes a successful recruiter. The top five traits were all related to communication (in fact, one was communication)PersistenceAbility to listenTenacityAbility to follow-upCommunicationSpeed of follow-up is also crucial 49 percent of companies hire recruiting firms out of the need to fill positions quickly.As a whole, these results show the importance of effective, relationship-focused communication in the recruiter-candidate relationship. Theresultsprovide valuable guidance about which strategies will help you attract todays top talent. So get out there and start communicating like the best of them

How to Get the Most from an Informational Interview

How to Get the Most from an Informational InterviewHow to Get the Most from an Informational Interview10Want to learn more about a specific company, an industry, or a particular type of job? An informational interview can be the answer. By talking with someone with first-hand experience, you can get the inside scoop that may help influence your career decisions.Students choosing a path of study and career changers exploring new possibilities often find them particularly useful, but all types of job seekers and workers can benefit. Securing an informational interview can be challenging, so be sure to make the most of the opportunity when granted one.Here are some suggestions on how to get the most from an information interviewPrepare.Dont waste valuable chat time asking questions easily answered on the Internet. Youre looking for insight, not common knowledge.Do your researchprior on the company website, press, and social media channels to learn the history, the industry, the brand, a nd the competition, then dive deeper to probe during the informational interview, says Tammy Perkins, chief people officer with Fjuri.Read the interviewers LinkedIn profile prior to the meeting for a better understanding of this rolles career trajectory and current role. Also, practice your elevator pitch in order to make a good first impression and convey pertinent information about yourself.Develop questions.While the conversation may take on a life of its own, come in with a list of questions. Creating such a document forces you to contemplate what you really want to find out (and can be a lifesaver if awkward silences arise). It also shows that youre treating the meeting seriously, which people who are providing their precious time appreciate.Possible things to ask includeWhat types of people are successful in this industry (role, company, etc.)?What are the biggest challenges currently facing your company?What do you like most and least about your job?How would you describe you r companys workplace culture?What does a typical day for you look like?How have you seen this field change during your career, and where do you think its headed?Be professional.Dress appropriately for the setting in which the informational interview takes place, which typically translates into business casual or better. Be attentive, and display your best body language and manners. If the interview takes place via phone (and many do), secure a quiet, distraction-free environment. Behavior now can have large implications in the future when attempting to land a job at this company or calling upon this person again.Express gratitude.Finally, set the stage for continued interaction with this person. Whether or not your paths cross again remains to be seen, but smart networkers always keep the door open.Show appreciation, and follow up with a thank you email within 48 hours, Perkins says.In your message, consider summarizing some of the things you learned during the conversation. You als o can talk about action youre taking based on the meeting, such as reading a book the person mentioned or contacting someone they recommended.As time progresses, consider dropping a brief update on your career decisions. People like to know their guidance made an impact. And if you end up looking for a job in that industry or at that individuals company, your past polite, professional interaction paves the way for the person possibly wanting to help out once againKnow someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- youll get a month free service and theyll get 30% off

What Recruiters Think About Your Personal Brand

What Recruiters Think About Your Personal Brand What Recruiters Think About Your Personal Brand According to Jobvites 2015 Recruiter Nation Survey,only four percent of recruiters dont use social media in the recruiting process. Furthermore, the survey found that social media networks are the second most effective source of quality hires for recruiters after referrals.As the survey itself states, social media is a gold mine for recruiters.On the other hand, asurveyconducted by market research firm Cross-Tab on behalf of Microsoft shows that fewer than 15 percent of participants surveyed believe that information found online would have an impact on their getting a job. The survey also found that70 percent of the recruiters interviewed said they have rejected candidates based on information they found online. This apparent gap between job seeker perception and recruiter reality may be harming many candidates chances of success in their job searches.In our digital age, resumes and cove r letters are no longer enough for employers. They expect hiring managers and recruiters to conduct deeper searches on candidates via the netz and they are justified in doing so.If you are looking for your dream job or simply ready totake the next step in your career, you cant ignore your online reputation. Itplays a huge rolein your personal branding, and you need to make sure your digital footprint is the kind that catches recruiters eyes in a positive way.So, what do recruiters think about your personal brand?First Impressions MatterIt is increasingly difficult for job seekers to stand out from the crowd, so you may need to make a more concerted effort.Be sure your personal brand is entirely positive, as it can be very difficult to change first impressions. Start by reviewing the content you have shared on your social media profiles as well as posts that other people have shared with you. If needed, change your privacy settings and take more control over what can be seen by out siders.You may also want to search for your name on Google to see what comes up. If it returns any negative results, youll need to do your best to correct the matter.Taking the initiative to clean up your Web presence will put you one step ahead of recruiters, as they will very likely Google your name.Send a katecheseYou need to be clear about the message you want to send with yourpersonal brand. Do you want to be perceived as someone serious and reliable? Someone creative and fun? Someone extroverted and confident? Then think about how are you going to transmit that messagethrough a color scheme, tone of voice, and visual style. The right combination of all these factors will lead you to the kind ofpersonal brand that will help you land your dream job.Keep It ConsistentOnce you have decided on the main elements of your personal brand, stick to them. Consistency is important. Many candidates mix the personal and professional on their social profiles, resulting in misleading and conf using information. If you want to land a job, make sure you separate your personal information from your professional achievements.Create different social media profiles to share each type of content. Ifyou have a personal website, you may want to restrict its access. When it comes to your professional image, you should make sure you keep it consistent along all online channels.Overall, it is a reality that HR professionals are searching for candidates online. And in some cases, what they find can affect their hiring decisions. If you want to take the next step in your career, you need to be aware of this, as it is your own responsibility to take control of your personal online reputation.Maria Onzain is a digital marketing expert who writes about career, education, ed. tech, and life hacks.

The Upside to Resume High School Students

The Upside to Resume High School Students The Honest to Goodness Truth on Resume High School Students Go through that sample carefully and make certain you write your own resume in a similar way. Especially for a first resume, employing a template is a great idea. You always ought to have three or more references out there. In the event the student doesnt locate a suitable resume template, resume builders are aleidher choice for assisting the user to come up with the resume live. The New Fuss About Resume High School Students You just need to select the opportunity to thoroughly mine your experiences and find out how to present them to the employer. Though you might not have a work history or lengthy collection of impressive degrees, you can surely find something to include. Try to remember that you need to ask someone to serve as a reference before you may list them as one. If youre rolle that has a masters degree, then you wish to examine an illustration of a covering let ter for a professional with degrees. What You Need to Do About Resume High School Students Beginning in the Next Six Minutes Potential employers will probably review the section on education first prior to reading different sections in the student-level resume. The very first section of your resume should consist of information on the way in which the employer can contact you. Your resume will be broken up into sections. Have a look at the following links to get started browsing for exciting job positions in your town. It provides you a possiblity to describe yourself and your goals in your words. You could be concerned that because youve got zero work experience, its not possible to create a 1 page resume. Senior year ought to be fun. If you dont have a lot of work history, or your work history isnt pertinent to the job which you want, this sort of resume might not be most appropriate for you. Using Resume High School Students Padding out your resume will not just be a waste of precious space but it will likewise distract the employer from the excellent components. Saying very good customer service isnt enough. Begin by thinking through what information you wish to include. You may have helped your company gather vital data in your part-time job, while its on the lookout for potential new customers or researching an upcoming article. The Hidden Truth About Resume High School Students Employers will give priority to folks that are fast learners, even if they dont have relevant expertise in the precise position. When writing a resume, especially once you have little to no experience similar to this applicant, its important to get a strong Career Objective. There was a time every time a proper Resume meant a review of the academic achievements. The objective is to show youre an ideal candidate for the position youre applying for. Heres What I Know About Resume High School Students Whether its because of the high amount of caffeine found in coffee or some folks just arent themselves in the early hours, but the job of a Barista can be exceedingly stressful. The success of a coffee shop isnt merely contingent on the grade of the espresso but in addition on the experience. An excellent Barista isnt only a person who knows how to produce decent espresso. The job of a Barista isnt only about brewing espresso to create great coffee. But What About Resume High School Students? A clearly defined resume objective is able to help you convey your abilities and experience that promote your professional objectives. It is going to also get your child contemplating the value of high SAT and ACT scores. Praised and awarded for organizational abilities and capacity to create safe, fun environment for kids. Extensive experience working with youth of a number of ages. The Chronicles of Resume High School Students 453 Shares So you merely graduated high school or college and youre ready to put in the workforce to turn into a p roductive member of society. As a high school student, employers are not going to expect you to develop into an authority in your work in a week. Its expected that students will understand how to use these. There are particular pitfalls you will need to stay away from when writing a high school resume. Writing your initial high school resumecan look like a daunting take. High School Resume templates are a valuable resource for such students. How to compose a resume for the very first time free of work experience resume templates for high school students without a work experience how to compose a high school. Communication is extremely important for businesses because mistakes can be very pricey. You simply require a training program on makeup and after that you can begin trying to find jobs. Resumes may look like facets of the corporate Earth, but theyre increasingly needed for all types of entry level jobs. It is vital to go through company specific Resume. Your odds of getting a job increases if the business sees in you a longer-term potential. Hardworking and resourceful individual trying to work in a student capacity for a marketer with the capacity to persuade and convince people about a certain item, to help the business achieve its target. Youre able to also have the city and state where the business is located in case youd like. Businessmen and business directors Bring evidence of your position in the business and remuneration. Having the capability to communicate in person is crucial, but having the capacity to communicate via technology is an expanding hot commodity in the current workplace. Make an experience category if youve held a conventional job, run a side company, or earned money by offering manual labor for neighbors. For students that are new to the work market, interests and activities are a fantastic means to show employers you have skills they are searching for. You may be a great team player. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Resume High School Students Just make certain to double-check whether adding social media to your particular resume is right for the job Its not harmful to describe all unpaid jobs like they were salaried. A summer job may be a good method to develop valuable work experience while earning more income. You may also leave off any jobs that are entirely unrelated to the job that you desire.

5 Ways to Make Your Personal Brand Work for You, Not Against You

5 Ways to Make Your Personal Brand Work for You, Not Against You Throughout my career, hundreds of resumes have hit my desk with a familiar thud. But without clear branding or a defined skill set, each one is justa jumbled collection of keywords and outdated language. Im looking for candidates who not only have experience but also know how to present themselves professionally, and Im not the only one. As a job seeker, its more important than ever to be intentional about creating your personal brand not only in terms of what you think your brand stands for, but also in terms of how hiring managers and recruiters see it.Developing and presenting your personal brand shows recruiters youre serious about the job. And in a world where 71 percent of workers are currently on the market, youre facing tough competition for the best positions. Personal branding is the key to standing out in the crowd.What Yo ur Brand Says About YouWhether you know it or not, you already have a personal brand.It isnt just a blurb on your resume describing your interests its how you carry yourself, the steps you take in your career, your social media presence, and your online visibility. How you position yourself across all of these areas will either strengthen or weaken your personal brand.In this respect, social media has leveled the playing field for job candidates. Now, you can take control of your brand and establish yourself as an expert in your field through consistent, relevant posts on LinkedIn and Twitter. Then, you can link to your online presence on your resume.Your social media presence will inevitably have an impact on your job search. A survey from ExecuNet revealed that 77 percent of recruiters use search engines to find background data on candidates. Despite this fact, I still see many candidates who simply fail to connect the dots between inappropriate social media posts and their inabil ity to land a job.Take Control of Your Personal BrandIn todays market, the trick to landing your dream job lies in using your personal brand to identify and capitalize on your strengths. Here are some tips to get you started1. Take a Look in the MirrorA critical analysis of what you bring to the table will help you understand where you fit into a particular company. Once you determine what you have to offer, youll be able to present yourself in a way that showcases your strengths.2. Talk to Past EmployersAsk your former bosses and managers what made you stand out on the job. Their feedback will help you get a better grasp on your value, and having external viewpoints to balance out your own opinions will provide a well-rounded picture.3. Take a PersonalityTestThere are many personality tests that can help you define your personal brand. Tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator arent foolproof, but they can point you in the right direction.4. Google YourselfYou need to look at your online presence from an outsiders perspective. Google yourself to see what prospective employers may find, and always post, tweet, and share online content as if the hiring manager of your dream job were scrutinizing it.5. Carefully Craft Your ResumeIf you incorporate a personal statement into your resume, it should be placed front and center in your professional summary section. Then, you should build a strong areas of expertise section to complement your message.As a job seeker, understanding your personal brand is the ultimate aha moment. Once you see how youre projecting yourself, you can make changes to highlight your strengths. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for candidates who have their act together with strategic career documentation and strong personal branding. It means less work for them and more potential for you, which is a win-win for everyone.