Looking For A Job? What We Can Do For You!

Finding a job can be stressful; there are lengthy applications, intimidating interviews, and the anxiety that accompanies every stage of the job finding process. Before even applying for a job, it’s important to have a strong resume, impressive interview skills, and a clear idea of which career field you best fit in. Luckily enough, we offer training and aid services to help you with these often difficult facets of your job search!

 

Resume Aid – Because your resume is often the first impression an employer has of you, a clean and well organized resume is pertinent to your job search. We can help you update, organized, and format your resume during a resume refresher session, taking an already existing resume and make it the best it can be!

 

Online Application Training – Online applications can often be confusing. We can train you how to organize and create a strong online application, which is the first step in landing an interview.

 

Interview Coaching – It is normal to be nervous before and during interviews. However, solid preparation and coaching for the interview can help to reduce nerves and perfect your interview skills. We offer one hour training sessions in which you will be asked a myriad of questions that often arise in interviews. We will also cover job-winning answers and answers to avoid giving during interviews.

 

Find Your Career Path – Before switching careers or choosing a new one, we can help assess your skills and past employment, as well as your job preferences, to help guide you to a new career.

 

We want to find you the perfect employment match! For more information on the services we provide, please visit our website or call us at (361) 833-3535.

Interview Follow Ups

Walking out of an interview can be a great feeling. You’ve gotten yourself in the door, made connections, made a great impression and now it’s just a waiting game to see if you are the chosen applicant for the job, right? Wrong! This is a common misconception many people have after interviewing for a job. After an interview it is crucial to follow up with the company to express your gratitude and reiterate your interest in the position. Oddly enough, this could be the most important step in the interview process. There are several ways to go about this and you must be sure not to cross the line of staying in touch and nagging your contacts. Here are some tips on the appropriate ways to follow up and complete the final phase of your interview.

1. Take a business card. Be sure to get a business card from each person that interviews you. If they do not offer one, do not be afraid to ask. Getting this will show them you’re interested in keeping in contact and provide you with all the needed information to reach out to them in the future.

2. Get a time frame. Ask for the hiring deadline so that you know when it is appropriate to reach out to them regarding their final decision if you have not yet heard from them. This serves as a quick reminder letting them see your interest and is a way for you to find out if the hiring process has been extended.

3. The first 24 hours are key. Email is today’s primary and fastest form of communication, so use it! Send a follow up email to thank your interviewer for his or her time, briefly highlight again why you believe you are a strong candidate and include anything important you may have forgotten to say in the actual interview. While 24 hours after the interview is appropriate, the sooner the better, so send the email within the first few hours following in order to show you are efficient and motivated.

4. Snail mail is still alive! Sending a hand-written thank you note in addition to an email will stress your interest and add a personal touch. Keep a set of stationary and stamps at your desk so you are able to write the letter and put it in the mail immediately following your interview. This does not have to be a novel, but rather a simple, sincere and to the point note expressing your appreciation.

5. Feel free to check in. If the interview process drags over a long period of time, send a quick email to keep your line of communication open every so often. Emailing the company once a week would be overkill, but if you interview in the fall and a position will not open till the spring, sending a brief email once a month is acceptable. Doing this will keep your name current and at the top of their list so when an opportunity arises you’re sure to come to mind.

Forgetting to follow up after an interview is a mistake that no interviewee has room to make and can make or break a career opportunity. Employers take time out of their schedule to interview you and it is necessary they know you are respectful of their time and consideration. Following up is easy and requires minimal time, so be sure to actively do so to protect your professional reputation and keep you in the running for your dream job!

New Year Resolutions

The new year is the perfect time to reevaluate your job search to see what is working and what you could improve on. The holidays also give you some time to prepare and get organized. Look at some of these resolutions and see what you can do to improve your job search and ring in the new year with a new job!

1. Your Resume. Make sure your resume is ready for the new year. Make sure the information is up to date. The resume should be clear and concise, one-page and spell checked. Make sure that the font is clean and looks professional.

2. Interviews. Make sure you are prepared for all of your interviews this New Year. Practice a 30 second pitch about yourself. Prepare your interview outfit look at our previous blog to see some ideas. Take some time to look up information about the companies you will be interviewing with and think of some questions you would like the interviewer to answer during the interview.

3. Your Skills. Do you need to brush up on your professional skills? This may include finishing a degree or taking a few technical courses to prepare for the workforce. Look into some job descriptions that you are interested in and see what skills you might need.

4. Networking. Look into some local networking events. Use google or your local newspaper to find networking event opportunities and try to go to at least one each week. Make sure you practice starting up a conversation before you go.

5. Get Organized. Clean up your desktop . Bookmark your favorite job sites (such as The Wilson Group [LINK]). Get some professional job searching business cards that you can leave at networking events or with potential employers.

6. Volunteer More. Not only will it look great on your resume but it will also grow your network. Volunteering can also help you hone your skills and gain new ones. So make good use of your time without a job and do something that will impact others’ lives as well.

7. Your Attitude. Do everything you can to maintain a positive attitude. These are trying times but keeping a great attitude is half the battle!

We hope these resolutions will help with your job search in the New Year. For more tips and job opportunities check out our website.

Jobs in South Texas: Are You Asking The Right Questions?

Texas now accounts for 48 percent of U.S. oil and gas rigs and nearly a quarter of the world’s rigs with 848 open working rigs in the state. With the job boom from the oil and gas industry, many jobs are opening up. We have found that about 1,500 jobs were added from June to July in the Corpus Christi area, alone. This increase dropped the unemployment rate to 6.3 percent. This is much lower than the national unemployment rate of 7.4 percent. Last year the unemployment rate was 7.0 percent for the Corpus Christi area July 2012.

With all of these new jobs opening up in the South Texas area, being informed in your job search is more important than ever. Since so many jobs are becoming available in the area, you will need to be vigilant in finding a career that will fit your skills and ambitions. You should come to your interview armed with the right questions to ask your potential employer.

What do you expect me to accomplish in the first 2 or 3 months I work here?
This question shows the employer you are ready to work and gives you a good look at what the employer will expect from you. It is important to know what skills you will be expected to have when you first start your job to see if that position is best suited for your level of experience.

What are some key traits you expect someone in this position to have?
This question will tell your employer that you are in this job long-term; that you hope to be a good employee and make this position the best that it can be. The answer the employer gives will tell you more about the job. If the employer says you will need to be “creative” or “independent” you will probably be on your own. If they say you need to be “patient” or a “leader” it could mean the opposite.

Do you like working here? What made you choose to work here?
The answers or lack of an answer to these questions will tell you quite a bit about the company. Though you might love the company as an outsider, the interviewer can give you an insiders perspective. The interviewer will also like to reflect on their own opinions to answer this question. If they like their job, this should be easy.

What improvements or changes would you like a new person to bring into this position?
This question can fill the potential employer with optimism. It will help them to think about how this position can help their company to grow. The answers will tell you how the employer wants the business to grow and how you will be utilized.

How do you plan to deal with…?
There will always be challenges in any field. This challenge may have to do with new technology or shifting economic trends. If this is a job created in the South Texas boom, you may want to ask what will happen when the boom ends and how your employer will deal with that challenge. This will show your employer that you care about the company for the long run. The answers will tell you how the employer deals with change, how stable your job is in the future, and what the employer’s long term plans are for the company.

We hope this advice helps you with your job search. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter  for more tips and information!

How To Differentiate Yourself In Your Job Search

In the next five years, there will be an expected 65,000 jobs with high demand in healthcare, construction, welding and engineering. The job boom is going to build the South Texas economy, give jobs to many locals, and also potentially bring many people to the Corpus Christi area for job opportunities. That being said, how will you differentiate yourself from other applicants to get the job you want? Here are some tips that can help set you apart.

Be yourself. Make sure that you are honest about everything in your resume and never lie about your skills or experience during an interview.

Have a skill. Be an expert at something in your field. Make sure you are at the cutting edge of this niche and research this particular skill as often as you can. Your expertise will be an excellent way to set yourself apart from other applicants in the job market.

Be well-rounded. Outside of having a skill, you should be knowledgeable on a number of topics in your field. This will help your job flexibility. You will be able to fit into a number of job openings and even if you miss out on a particular job, the company may be more likely to hire you for a future position.

Be creative. Depending on the job you want, you should try something that helps you stick out. Bring up a unique experience about an internship you had during your interview to describe one of your skills. You can even try presenting your resume in a fun way that will ensure the company remembers your name.

Brighten the room. Try to look happy during your time at the company. Dress appropriately for the interview and then let your experience and creativity shine. Self-confidence can be your best friend in getting a job. An employer is much more likely to hire someone that can bring that spark of excitement to the organization!

We hope this advice helps you with your job search. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips and information!

 

Are You Sabotaging Your Job Search?

Not getting any job offers? Frustrated with how long your job search is taking? Ask yourself the following questions to be sure your are not sabotaging your job search.

1. Do you only look when you’re desperate?
Never stop networking, even when you’re at your dream job. You never know what might happen, and if you have an updated LinkedIn page and you’ve kept up with your connections, a recruiter may be contacting you before you’re even looking for a job.

2. Are you bringing up money too soon?
Don’t let hiring managers think that you’re more interested in how much the job pays. Money is a delicate subject and don’t ask too soon, or you may turn off your hiring manager.

3. Have you talked bad about your last company?
Always be professional. That means no bashing your last company, no matter what your feelings are. Don’t let hiring managers think that you might do the same after you leave their company as well.

4. Is your resume the length of a Tolstoy novel?
Short, sweet, and to the point. Only include what’s relevant. You need your resume to be attention-grabbing. Not dread-causing.

5. Have you forgotten your manners?
Always write a thank-you note after an interview. E-mail AND handwritten. This is your chance to say anything you didn’t say during your interview.

6. Have you harrassed your hiring manager for answers?
No one enjoys the child on the road trip constantly asking “Are we there yet?” So don’t be that person to hiring managers. If you got the job, they will contact you.

7. What comes up when you Google yourself?
Always double-check what comes up when you Google yourself. If your social media pages/websites are anything but professional, that will definitely hurt your chances of getting the job.

8. Are you too picky?
Are you only applying to jobs with a certain job title at a certain company? Expand your job search and your options. Don’t limit yourself based on salary. Yes, you should know what salary range you’d want, but also keep in mind things that help if salary isn’t quite ideal: benefits, hours, vacation, etc.

9. Are you unwilling to take chances on contract/temporary work?
This could really help you get to networking within a company. Many companies will hire people who have worked temporarily for them after seeing the difference they make in the company. It is always a good thing to do to get your foot in the door.

10. Are you too self-obsessed?
If you walk into an interview embittered by application rejections and a lack of job offers, you’re most likely thinking “what’s in this for me?” Well, don’t. Companies are trying to find the best fit for the position, and you need to prove that to them.

So have you been doing these things? If so, then it is OK. Now you know what to do to make sure that you’re job-searching properly.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more updates!

How to Answer the Dreaded Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”

Any person interviewing for a job will tell you that the first question is usually the hardest:

“Tell me about yourself.”

Now, before you panic and spout off information about your love for snow skiing or old movies, make sure you are prepared so you can definitely wow your potential employer.

For our first tip, keep it professional. The person interviewing you is trying to get a broad overview of who you are, professionally speaking. Feel free to give an overview of your professional background, or any information that you consider relevant to the job. Typically avoid mentioning your spouse, children, family or hometown, unless relevant. For example, if the job involves relocation to an area where you previously resided, then it is perfectly acceptable to mention that you had lived in that area before. Including that information shows that you would not be fickle in regard to relocation.

Secondly, be sure to practice your answer out loud and repeat it frequently to make sure you know it well and you will be prepared for your interview. Start with a strong, simple statement related to the job and then follow up with a description of your work history that shows how perfect you are for that job opening!

Don’t stress about the job interview. Make sure you are prepared, and you’ll be feeling confident and ready! Want more help preparing for your interview?  We have coaches that can provide you with the help you need to feel comfortable and confident in your interviews. Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and read more blog posts for great job tips and suggestions.

The Skype Interview: How to Prepare and Succeed

Interviews can be nerve-wracking enough when you have to interview over the phone or in person, but what do you do when you have to interview over Skype? First, take a deep breath. Second, check out these tips on how to have a successful interview over video chat:

1. Get to know Skype.
Make sure you are familiar with Skype and how it works. Practice with a friend who has Skype to make sure you have a strong internet connection and your audio is clear and you are easily understood.

2. Dress like you would for an in-person interview.
Even though you don’t have to walk into an office, definitely dress professionally for a Skype interview. This will show your potential employer that you can present yourself in a professional manner. And please wear something appropriate from top to bottom because you may think that you can just look professional up top, but say your computer falls and you have to pick it up, you don’t want them to see your pajama pants or cut-off shorts.

3. Analyze your setting.
Make sure the lighting is good and that there is nothing in the background that could reflect poorly on you. Also be sure to pick a quiet environment. You don’t want to have to repeat yourself multiple times if you’re at a busy Starbucks or at home with kids running around. You want to be focused and relaxed so find an environment that allows you to be that way.

4. Keep eye contact.
You definitely don’t want to seem distracted in the interview and one way to look focused and stay focused is to make eye contact. The only way to keep eye contact on Skype is by looking directly into the camera. If you find the tiny video box that shows yourself distracting, cover it with a post-it note.

5. Plan for technological difficulties.
Have your computer plugged in the whole time and have your phone handy in case the internet becomes unreliable. Take a lesson from the boy scouts and always be prepared!

For more tips on job searching, resumes and interviews, “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

 

Follow-Up or Be Forgotten

Following up on an interview can be tricky business. You want to ensure you stand out among the other applicants, but not for the wrong reasons. Here are three ways to follow-up after an interview that won’t get you on the block list.

1. Send a thank-you note. – This should be done no matter what. Whether it is a handwritten note sent the next day or an email immediately following the interview, a thank-you note goes a long way. It shows you are interested and thankful for their time. Keep it brief and sincere.

2. Share a relevant industry article. – In order to keep up the engagement and help the recruiter remember you, try sending him or her a relevant article. Make sure the article is from a credible source, is current, and pertains to something discussed during the interview. This keeps the lines of communication open and shows you have industry knowledge.

3. Ask to connect on LinkedIn. – You’re looking to be part of this organization. Connecting on LinkedIn shows you are ready to take the next step. When you send the request, be sure to write a customized note so they know who you are and what your purpose is. If you can, provide an incentive for them as well by offering to connect them with a relevant industry contact of yours. It’s all about who you know.

While doing these follow-ups doesn’t guarantee a job, they can help set you apart from the rest. Showing you are eager to be part of their team as well as knowledgeable about their industry is imperative in the job-hunting process. If you need help with finding the right career match for you, visit our website and set up an appointment. We can help you every step of the way!

Online Interview Tips for Success

Successful Interviewing online is a snap!

Online Job Interview Preparation Tips
Excerpt from the “experts” in interviewing: www.everydayinterviewtips.com

As the internet plays such a critical role in our lives, it also comes into play for our job hunt. Not just for researching target companies or recruiting for open positions, more hiring is done via virtual interviewing than ever before. It saves on travel time and money and it produces accurate results. So, what should you know about online interviewing to be successful? We went to the source, Everyday Interview Tips, to get the scoop. Here is your success plan for interviewing online:

•Prepare Your Workplace
Most likely you are going to be sitting in your home while you are being interviewed. It is very important to prepare the surrounding area where the interview will take place. Remove any posters, artwork or clutter that may reflect poorly on you. Get a paper and pencil ready so that employers do not have to watch you leave your screen at any time. Also make sure that any pets or people you live with are out of sight, and that noise is kept to a minimum.

•Make Sure Your Webcam is Hooked Up Properly
Fumbling with your camera makes you seem unprepared. It is a good idea to practice web chatting with a friend or family member to make sure your webcam is working properly.

•Dress for the Interview
Even though the interview is taking place in your home, it is still a good idea to dress for the interview as though you were coming in to the office. Employers are going to be judging how you are dressed (even if they do not realize it), and you want to make sure you leave the best impression. You should be completely dressed up – including nice pants and shoes – because you never know when the camera may fall or you need to stand up. Plus, you don’t want to be distracted with thoughts that you are actually half dressed.

Online Interview Tips

•Speak Clearly
Webcams do not have the greatest sound systems. Make sure you speak loudly and clearly without any mumbling. Mumbling will not be picked up by the webcam and the employer is going to miss many of the important things you will say.

•Keep All Other Programs Turned Off
The last thing you want is for someone to send you an instant message during your interview. Just as you wouldn’t want your cell phone to ring, you don’t want chat services interrupting your meeting, or other software programs causing your computer to slow down, freeze or crash.

•Facial Expressions and Appearance
Without the interviewer in the room, you might forget that you are being watched, and your facial expressions play a role in your interview success. Make sure you smile and sit up straight just as though you were interviewing in person.

•Feel Free and Ask for Clarification
Your interviewer is going to be in a busy office, and there may be times that you cannot make out what they are saying. Don’t try to answer a question you could not hear or could not understand. Ask for clarification. The interviewer recognizes that webcams can be hard to hear, and it is better for you to admit that you could not hear their question than to answer a question incorrectly.

Success in an Online Interview

Basic interview tips still apply to online interviews. Make sure you research the company, provide positive answers, etc. Online interviews also require some extra preparation with the setting and the equipment. Make sure that you are well prepared for you online interview and you will perform as well as an in-person interview.

Read more: http://www.everydayinterviewtips.com/interview-tips/skills/online#ixzz1km1zic3n

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