What the heck is a ‘behavioral interview’? It’s an interview that asks candidates to use their experience as a way to illustrate they have a particular skill. Examples include: - Tell me about a time when… ? - Please give me an example of… ? - Tell me a story about how you… ?

These questions are typically followed by lots of other questions that will dive into the specifics of the example you’ve given. Examples: ‘What was your role? What did the manager do? What was your response? How were things resolved?’ This is your TIME TO SHINE! (Warning: DON’T make up examples! I have had candidates do this & it’s obvious & will immediately sink your interview. )

How do you PREPARE for this kind of question? - Give some thought to your own experience. - Come up with at least 4 or 5 stories you think demonstrate traits you want to communicate to the interviewer. Finish this sentence: “I am.. (trait, like ‘trustworthy’ or ‘responsible’) because…” Now do it for 4 or 5 different traits. - Carefully review the job description. Any skills, requirements, or qualifications can be turned into a behavioral interview question. If the job description says, “Must provide excellent customer experience,” you may be asked, “Tell me about a time when you turned an angry customer around…” or “Please give me an example of when you went above & beyond to help a customer.” Think of at least one story for EACH item listed in the job description. - PRACTICE ALOUD. I can’t stress this enough. Repeating answers in your head versus saying things aloud is totally different. Grab a friend, family member, or tape yourself on a smartphone (if possible). PRACTICE!!

I have a list of behavioral interview questions I’m happy to share, just reach out to me & I’ll send them through Jobcase in-mail. I’ll also post them to the Community over the next week (or so).

Happy hunting!! Marijoy #interview #tips #recruitersadvice

Other than having a well-done resume, I think the initial phone screen interview can be the most important part of your job search. This is where you make or break your interview journey. If you take the right steps of being prepared, excited and polite your chances of being invited in for next steps goes up big time!

Here are a few tips...Does anyone have anything else they would add?

1. Be in a quiet place (Inside, no kids/pets, etc.)
   

   2. Try to use a landline if possible
      

      3. No food, gum or drinks
         

         4. Answer the phone politely…”Good morning, this is (your name)”
            

            5. Be prepared to talk about yourself and answer questions about your work history
               

               6. Have questions ready to ask them if they give you the time for it
                  

                  7. Make sure you know who you are speaking with and have done research on the role and the company
                     

Let’s face it.. No one likes writing their resume, NO ONE. And sometimes we fall into the habit of putting together a resume in a hurry, and not stopping to take the time to check details like spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. And while you may think that your extensive and impressive work experience is enough to outweigh these types of things, unfortunately it’s not. Your resume is the first representation of yourself that a potential employer sees, this is the first impression you’re making and you want to be sure to stand out from the rest of the resumes on the employer’s desk. Taking the extra minute or two needed to hit the “spell check” button and make the appropriate corrections could make a difference on whether your resume is pulled out of the pile. But by not taking the time to format properly, align fonts, or double check that tenses are written correctly could also land your resume into the “not interested” pile. And please resist the urge to have different colors in your resume. You may think that it would be more visually appealing but, as a recruiter, I find it to be very distracting resulting in it being less likely to be given the same amount of reading time. And just think, if you do it right the first time how much easier it will be going forward when all you’ll have to do is update it with your most recent experience? Make sure you still are paying attention to formatting when making additions. You always want to make sure that it’s cohesive and reads easily. So where do you start? Me personally, I always try to start by making a list (I’m big on “to-do” lists and checklists) of what highlights I am presenting, and what I’m trying to accomplish in writing my resume before sending to an employer. Here’s a start.. Objective (you ideally want this to be tailored towards the type of role you’re applying for) Relevant work experience/timelines Education & coursework Awards or honors Volunteering Features/Skills Benefits Accomplishments Formatting (bullets vs. paragraphs) Given that I’m a recruiter, I am frequently asked to review resumes of friends, family etc. and I agree to do it as long as they’re ok with me making changes or being honest. So lastly, send your resume to someone whose opinion you value and trust (I suggest a former manager, teacher, recruiter, family member or friend) and ask them for honest opinion. But you have to be open to hearing what they’re recommending and not take offense, they’re just trying to help.

Now, get out there and teach our resume the new trick of being a dynamite, standout resume! Here are a few resources for you: https://www.myperfectresume.com/ https://www.resume-now.com/ https://resumegenius.com/ https://www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/Resumes/ResumeGuide/WritingYourResume/writing-your-resume.aspx https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-write-a-resume-2063336 https://uptowork.com/blog/how-to-make-a-resume https://www.livecareer.com/how-to-write-a-resume https://www.pomona.edu/administration/career-development/how-to/write-a-resume

#recruitersadvice #resume #resumewriting #Jobcase #standout

Active job seekers know that ‘networking’ is the key to being in the right place at the right time, but often feel hesitant taking an active role in making it happen. Rather than being embarrassed or apologetic, just politely explain WHY you would like the introduction, and ask in a straightforward way. And you’ll make it much easier on the referrer ~ and MUCH more likely to happen ~ if you can give them some material to work with.

If they’ve offered to help, then DO YOUR RESEARCH and select the person you’d like an introduction to. (The referrer is doing you a favor, so you need to do the legwork.) Your note can say, “Thanks for offering to connect me with (Name). I thought it might help you if I wrote up some talking points about my background (or ‘what I’ve been doing recently’).”

• Provide detail about your background and why you think you’d be a good fit for the company. 
  

  • Be brief and to-the-point. 
    

    • Include your own contact info (name & email) so the person you’re trying to reach will be familiar with your name. 
      

      • And don’t forget to include an explanation of how you know the referrer (write it out for them, as they might forget to include it in their note to their contact).
        

If you’re asking someone you know out of the blue, you can say, “I’m interested in (Company) and I notice you worked there a few years ago. I’d love to connect with (Name) to learn more about the industry and have an informational conversation. Would you mind introducing me?” Don’t worry – it’s not rude to ask! - Follow the steps above.

•  Afterward, remember to send a note to your referrer thanking them.
  

So… the next time you hear “I’m happy to help,” from a colleague, friend, or former employer, help yourself by writing your OWN introduction.

These tips have worked for me… what have YOU used that’s worked for YOU?

Thanks, Jobcasers! Marijoy #recruitersadvice #networking

So the company likes your resume and wants to schedule an interview…what next?

It doesn’t matter if it’s a phone screen or an in-person interview. You need to give the company contact all of your availability and make sure you are super responsive. Don’t allow yourself to lose a job opportunity because you aren’t being flexible with interview times or if you take too long responding and they go with someone else. Remember that there are a lot of people looking for new opportunities and they may be interviewing 10+ different candidates for a role. If you show fast response time and excitement for the role, it can go a long way!

Wanted to share an article that boils down interviews to the 3 most important questions for employers & candidates. The answers to these questions will determine if you're the right 'fit' for each other. Employers 1.) Can you do the job? (Do your technical, leadership and/or interpersonal skills match?) 2.) Will you love the job? (Is this more than a paycheck for you?) 3.) Can we tolerate working with you? (Do you fit our culture? Even the ‘best’ candidate can be a culture mis-match, so this is important!)

Candidates 1.) Will you allow me to do my job? (Trust in letting someone do their job once hired) 2.) Will you love that I love doing my job? (Respect that there is more to a job than a paycheck) 3.) Can I tolerate working with you? (Corporate culture affects both parties)

Follow this link to see each of these questions elaborated on by leaders in their respective industry. Click Here

Enjoy! Marijoy

“But how do I get my FIRST job?!?” is a question I hear all the time (& it’s a good one!). Here’s some help: - First, remember that EVERYONE has been in the same position that you’re in right now. - Second, embrace the skills you DO have – being helpful, flexible, and motivated to succeed go a long way. Remember, if you’re applying to entry-level jobs, the interviewers probably aren’t looking for tons of specific skills. They want someone who is responsible, motivated & willing to learn. - Do enough research on the company/role you’ve targeted so that you can come up with specific past experiences that relate to the job you want. If you can explain the connection to your parents, you can explain it to an employer! (make sure to practice saying it out loud - to parents or friends) - If possible, start by volunteering. You’ll gain valuable experience, build your network of contacts and potentially get your foot in the door. - Be realistic. Make sure you carefully consider the roles you’re applying to and stick to positions you can prove you’re qualified for (not just ones where you say “Yeah, I could do that.”).
- Lastly, be tenacious. It’s tough to find a job, so get ready for the long haul. Every day, do something that will move your job search along and remember to put yourself in the shoes of the employer. What should make the employer be excited about you? The answer to that should come through loud & clear in all of your conversations, cover letters, applications, etc.

Stick to it & you’ll find something to get you started.
Good luck!! We’re pulling for you!!! #tips #interview

If you have the ability to apply for a job in-person at the physical store, DRESS WELL! Even if you are applying via a kiosk or computer screen you never know who you may meet. It’s always possible that you meet the Hiring Manager or future coworkers. If you are dressed well and look presentable, that can go a very long way when they are making a decision on which person they are hiring. This doesn’t mean you need to wear a business suit but if you can arrive in “business casual” then make sure you do.

Jobcasers, I heard the Urban League Job Fair was awesome! I can’t wait to hear what interviews & offers come from the day. Reminder: Take all of those business cards/contact information & sit down right now to write your TY notes. (Do it now before you forget details about the company/representatives.) TY notes don’t need to be long – a quick paragraph thanking the person for their time, mention something you remember discussing, express your interest in the company/position, and give them your contact information (again). Good luck!

It’s very important to set expectations very early in the interview process. When talking to the Recruiter or your company contact, you should be asking what their hiring timeline looks like and if they have a sense of when they’d like someone to start. If you are looking to start a position right away and they aren’t going to be hiring for a few weeks or months, make sure to keep your options open. This will help give them a sense of what your timeline looks like as well. If you have several final round interviews, they may move quickly to get you through the process if they think you’re an All-star candidate.