Kardell Ambrose - Recruiter

07/17/2022

Applying for a job is an important step in the hiring process. Your application shows your interest in the job and informs the employer of your relevant skills and experience. Knowing how to complete a job application well can have a significant impact on your chances of receiving an invitation to interview. In this article, we explore some steps and suggestions for how to successfully complete and submit a job application.

How to apply for a job successfully. Follow these job application tips to help increase your chances of getting the job interview you want.

02/14/2022

Find your next job: https://www.indeed.com

Indeed is here to help all job seekers, no matter their background or experience. People who are just starting out on the job search, and people who are looking for a new start. People who know exactly what they're looking for, and people who could use some support and inspiration. We help people like you get jobs

https://youtu.be/pZodu9AgwZE

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01/12/2022

In a competitive job market, many candidates who share similar qualifications are vying for the same opportunity. But you can gain an edge by doing something to distinguish yourself from other applicants and make a positive impression during a job interview, whether it’s in person or online.

Below are some tips from executives and entrepreneurs about creative approaches to interviewing that make candidates stand out in a good way.

Learn more about how to stand out in an interview with specific methods to do so, including giving samples of future projects and giving a 30-60-90 plan.

09/16/2021

For prospective employees, trying to make a pitch via video conferencing software, such as Teams, Zoom, or Google Hangouts, can feel a bit daunting. Here are nine virtual interview tips to reduce the stress and help you get the job.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A VIRTUAL INTERVIEW
1. Test Your Technology

The minute you agree to a virtual interview, test your technology to ensure you’re set up for success. Check your internet connectivity, and confirm your camera and microphone are working. If the picture is grainy or you’re experiencing an echo, you might need to buy a mini we**am with a built-in microphone which is hard to do five minutes before the interview, so don’t procrastinate.

On the day of, test your equipment and internet connection again. Technical savvy is one of the top 10 traits employers are looking for, and by fumbling around with your audio or lighting during the call, you give the hiring manager a reason to question whether you’re the right candidate for the job.

2. Set the Scene and Minimize Distractions

While testing your technology, determine where to take the interview. Find a room with optimal lighting, preferably near a window, or a blank wall to guarantee you’re the focal point of the conversation. Whether you sit on your living room couch or in your home office, tidy up your surroundings. It’s hard to convince employers you’re detail-oriented and organized when there’s laundry visibly piling up in the corner.

Once settled, eliminate all distractions. Turn off the TV, silence your cell phone, and close any nearby windows to muffle neighborhood traffic.

3. Sit Down Prepared

Just because you’re on a computer doesn’t mean you can search the web for answers mid-interview, so avoid clicking around. You want to appear focused and ready to answer any questions without the help of the internet. Research the company ahead of time and jot down notes for easy reference. Also print out a copy of your resume, so that you don’t forget key talking points.

You should also be prepared to answer, “Do you have any questions for me?” Interview questions you might ask an employer include:

What does a typical day in the life of this role look like?
What are the company’s goals this quarter?
How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?
Where does this role sit in the organization, and what other groups will I be working with?
Can you walk me through the next steps of the hiring process?

4. Practice, Don’t Memorize

You don’t want to sound robotic throughout your interview whether answering or asking questions, or giving your elevator pitch. It’s easy to tell if you aren’t being genuine, so it's a good idea to run through a few practice rounds with a friend or family member. This will give you a chance to rehearse with different personalities and answer a variety of different questions. While it may be awkward, you’ll have a safe atmosphere to make mistakes and learn from them, so you’re better prepared for the real thing.

It’s important to keep things simple. Don’t feel like you have to give a long-winded answer if the question doesn’t warrant it. Being clear and concise is one of the most important things in a job interview.

5. Monitor Your Body Language

You can’t firmly shake a hiring manager’s hand or as easily exude enthusiasm via video. But what you can do is monitor your body language.

The main way to communicate confidence is to sit up straight, smile, and keep the camera at eye level. Research shows that employers are more likely to remember what you said if you maintain eye contact, so keep your focus on the camera when talking, not on the image of the hiring manager.

6. Dress the Part

You might be sitting near your bed, but you shouldn’t look like you just rolled out of it. Dress as you would for an in-person interview. For men, that might mean a button-up shirt, blazer, and chinos, while women should consider a dress or skirt and blouse.

Professional clothing will show you’re serious about the position, but there are personal benefits, as well: Studies show that people feel “most authoritative, trustworthy, and competent when wearing formal business attire.”

7. Make a Connection

You never know how many interviews a company may conduct for a position. You might be at the end of a long list of people the hiring manager spoke to that day. This is why it's important to make a connection. Don’t be afraid to have a short aside about a common interest. The recruiter might enjoy the break from the routine questions they have to get through.

It’s not easy to connect with everyone, but it’s a crucial part of a virtual interview. You want the interviewer to be able to remember a personal story you told or a common interest you share. This is the best way to prevent yourself from blending in with the other applicants.

8. Be Yourself

A key task for a recruiter is determining whether you would be a good fit for the company’s culture. This can be challenging during a virtual interview because there is a physical disconnect. It’s more difficult for the interviewer to understand your enthusiasm through the screen, so make sure you’re expressive when answering questions.

Some people will be able to tell if you’re “vibe” fits their company right off the bat. Give them a reason to push you through to the second round of interviews by shining a light on how you can help the organization.

9. Immediately Follow Up

Within 24 hours of the interview, send an individual thank you email to everyone you met. Not only will it show you value their time, but it provides you the opportunity to resell yourself and express the unique strengths you bring to the role, or share any talking points you forgot to address.

If there was something specific you bonded over, mention that in the email so you stay top of mind. Or if an interviewer brought up a particular business challenge, use the follow-up as a way to propose potential solutions. Just keep the email concise; you want your note to leave a lasting impression, not immediately end up in the trash.

PREPARATION IS KEY
Ultimately, the key to acing a virtual interview is proper preparation. From ensuring your technology is working to conducting research before the meeting, sitting down at your computer poised and ready for any and all questions will help set you apart from other applicants.

-Lauren Landry :associate director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online

08/13/2021

5 Steps To Finding The Right Career For You

Do you ever stop to question whether or not you’re on the right career path?
If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or confused, don’t worry. Here are five steps you can take toward discovering the career that will truly satisfy you.

1. Take career assessments.

Remember in high school, being given career personality tests that would tell you what you should be when you grow up? They may have seemed silly, but the right career assessment can actually be an incredibly useful tool in discovering your path.

2. Make a list of your options.

Overwhelmed by the need to make a decision? Whether you know exactly what you want to do or not, knowing how to get there is tricky. In order to find your dream career, you need to carefully sort through your options in order to find the best route.

Make a list of all your options, whether those are tangible job opportunities, education, or career paths. Once you have everything written down, you can parse out what isn’t exactly right, and narrow your goals. Try to create as many options for yourself, so you have plenty to choose from. You can also rank your options from best to worst, and even combine some that may be similar.

3. Look for overlap.

What you’re good at, what companies need, and what you like to do might all be different, but it’s important to try to find the overlap between the three. That’s how you find your optimal career path. Rather than looking at job titles, consider your interests, hobbies, and skills, and then work out how those translate.

While you’re at it, look back at your previous experiences to inform your future. What did you enjoy doing in previous jobs? What did you dislike? Knowing your values, passions, and skills will help you understand what kind of career you should pursue. And being alert of these factors means you can actively seek out careers that require your specific talents.

4. Network.

Whether you’re actively searching for a new career, or just trying to get a sense of what path you should be on, networking is a great way to dip your feet in the waters. The more people you meet, the more insight you can get into what the work environment is like, what the people are like, and how they enjoy the work. And if you are looking for that next job, networking is crucial. Surveys show about 85% of jobs are filled through networking!

5. Ask a mentor.

Never underestimate the value and power of a good mentor! When I made my career shift, I knew I couldn’t go at it alone. I decided I wanted to learn from the best — so I started working with mentors.

There are many different types of mentors, from the kind you pay to the kind that has been there, done that, to the kind that can advocate for you at work. The right mentor, no matter what type, will give you guidance and help boost your career. And the studies back it up — about 80% of CEOs attribute their success to having worked with mentors.

Trust me — I know finding your dream career isn’t easy, and the path can be scary. I remember it well. But just because it’s daunting doesn’t mean it’s not worth it! Think about how much time you’ll spend at work in your lifetime — 90,000 hours for the average person. You want to make sure you’re using your time to your advantage, by pursuing a career that makes you happy, aligns with your values, utilizes your talents, and more. You have the power to get there, and now you have the tools to get started. Are you ready?

-Ashley Stahl; Forbes

Take our short quiz to learn which is the right career for you.

06/17/2021

By now, you’re probably familiar with the basics of setting up for a video interview: Find a quiet, clean place to have it, make sure your mic is turned on, and—seriously—put on some pants. But with more and more employers using Google Hangout, Zoom, or Skype interviews—and more and more job seekers knowing the basics—it’s a good idea to take your digital interviewing skills to the next level.

As with in-person interviews, the key to video interviews is to “be confident and show them your true self,” says says Muse career coach Adrean Turner, who hosts the career podcast Coach Adrean’s FIT Tips and has coached hundreds of job seekers through video interviews. But while your goals are the same as in a traditional interview, there are a few differences in how you achieve them, and you want to make sure that your interviewer can focus on your best qualities and not whether they can hear you.

These tips will help you overcome the unique challenges inherent in video interviews so you can put your best foot forward

Based on an analysis of more than 500 video recordings.

05/25/2021

6 Good Reasons to (Always!) Keep Your Resume Updated

Hint: In case a promotion comes up at work.

05/18/2021

When you’re looking for a new job, it pays to concentrate on what you can control. You can’t make the perfect opportunity appear, or influence the hiring manager’s mood when he’s reviewing resumes, or alter company policy to ensure that you receive a call back in a timely fashion.

Here’s what you can control:

Use these tips when job hunting to give yourself the best shot at finding the work you want.

03/23/2021

https://www.wglt.org/post/second-wave-covid-grads-see-better-job-outlook /0

A year after the start of the pandemic, a second class of "COVID graduates" is hitting the job market—and they're on better footing than last year's

10/20/2020

What Does the Coronavirus Pandemic Mean for Your Job Search?

How to look for a new job during a pandemic and economic slowdown.