Informational Interviewing

Informational Interviewing Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Zky6Iq4uSoRj3CY1F-8oMw',sig:'9cZpWpBFpBL3eAXmlPXc6SG2c-pwM6nA2m0XuPsPdDI=',w:'509px',h:'339px',items:'936160742',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); One of the best ways to prepare for career transition is the informational interview.   As the name implies, this interview differs from the traditional interview in its intent; not to obtain employment, but to obtain information.   Informational interviews can help you expand your professional network, learn more about your chosen field, and build your confidence for future job interviews. Effective informational interviewing starts with a specific job target in mind.   Once you’ve done your research and know something about your goal and the industry, you can start to seek out professionals that will be willing to meet with you.   You can choose to meet with people doing the job or the hiring managers.   You may benefit by speaking with both.   From the professional in the field, you’ll get perspective on what the job involves on a daily basis, trends in the industry, and how the job matches up with your interests and abilities.   From the hiring manager, you’ll learn what companies look for in candidates, how they evaluate skills and education, and what a typical career path might look like. There are many resources that will help you connect with professionals to interview.   If you’re a recent graduate, you can ask professors or your campus placement office for names in the industry you’re pursuing.   Professional association meetings are great places to meet people in the field.   You can also read the business news for names of people who have recently been promoted or hired. When you call to ask for a meeting, your conversation or message should be concise and well-organized. “My name is Ann Smith, and I’m a recent graduate of (my college)SchoolofBusinesswith a Marketing degree.   I’m interested in pursuing a career as an Account Executive in an advertising firm, and I was hoping you could spare about 20 minutes or so to speak with me about the field. I believe your insight can help me understand more about the job requirements and help me prepare to pursue openings later.”  Be ready to reassure your contact that you are aware that there may be no current openings.   Most professionals are familiar with the concept of the informational interview; they just want to know up front that you’re not expecting more than information. In the informational interview, you’ll be asking the questions.   Prepare 5 â€" 10 questions about the industry and the job, and bring along something to take notes. Some questions you might want to include: On a typical day in this position, what do you do? What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job? How did you get your job? What do you think of the experience Ive had so far in terms of entering this field? What special advice would you give a person entering this field? As for the meeting itself, follow all the rules of a conventional interview.   Be on time, dress professionally, and be very mindful of the time limit you set.   Stick to your productive 20 minutes, and leave promptly.   Bring along a couple of copies of your resume, in case your contact is willing to review it for you and make suggestions for improvement. Be sure to follow up with a thank you note after the meeting. After a few meetings with professional contacts, you’ll be much more prepared for job interviews that come along.  It’s a great opportunity to practice your interviewing in a lower stress situation.   Sometimes, the informational interviews actually lead to jobs later on.   One marketing professional told me that she was so impressed with a recent graduate who’d asked for an informational interview that she kept her resume on file.   When her department had an opening a few months later, she called her in and interviewed her for the position â€" and made her an offer shortly after.   The job opening never hit the street, and the recent graduate may never have had a chance at it without the contact she’d established.   If you’re in transition in your career, put this powerful networking tool to work for you soon.

What is a Purchasing Agent Resume?

What is a Purchasing Agent Resume?One of the most important elements of creating a resume is the inclusion of the correct spelling and grammar, as well as an accurate listing of accomplishments and qualifications. Yet, for some people, this may be something that is difficult to accomplish, especially when the work experience is required to provide a thorough resume. This is where the use of a purchase purchasing agent resume comes into play.A purchasing agent resume offers several benefits to those who need one, including a variety of styles and formats, all of which provide an individual with an opportunity to construct a perfect document that can then be read by the hiring manager. Additionally, the number of references that are listed as well as the format of these references is going to be an essential factor in creating the perfect resume. These will usually list the individual's best contact and two sources that they have worked with in the past. While these may seem insignific ant, it is very important to note that the references should not be false, nor should they be from someone who has a financial relationship with the person applying for the position.The inclusion of employment dates, positions held, and other information is also going to play a large role in a purchase purchasing agent resume. While these may seem like simple facts that should be included in any resume, the inclusion of these dates can really be very beneficial. Employer and employee records can often be a great way to go when the references are in chronological order or include some sort of a location reference.A purchasing agent resume is going to offer individuals the chance to get a lot of information that they can use to craft a cover letter, which is a necessity for individuals who are looking to start out at the office manager level. In this way, the job seeker can use the sales resume to quickly obtain a cover letter and begin the process of getting the employer to meet with them. Often, the cover letter will also provide some information about why the person wants the position, what their real focus is, and how they would better serve the organization in the capacity that theyare seeking.In many cases, it is actually easier to use a purchasing agent resume to craft a cover letter for a position than it is to take the time to craft a resume for that same position. In order to gain the most benefit from a resume, it is important to first choose the resume format that best fits your career. It is also important to determine which skills are needed and look for areas that can be easily adapted.Once the purchase purchasing agent resume is developed, the cover letter will follow suit. This can be done in a variety of ways. Many individuals may want to take advantage of the assistance that they have at their job by simply taking the time to write a compelling cover letter and then sending this as a professional courtesy to the hiring manager. Since the agent resume is still a great tool, this approach is going to make it even easier to make a great impression on the hiring manager.In some cases, it may be necessary to take some time to re-write the cover letter and rewrite it from scratch. However, there are people who will provide a resume builder, which will allow them to create a resume using only their computer, which will require very little effort on the part of the individual. This is going to be an excellent option for those who may be in a bind and need a short term project for which they do not want to hire an outside resume writer.Ultimately, the purchasing agent resume is going to be a huge help to those looking to enter the field. The fact that it can be used to craft a strong cover letter, as well as several other documents such as business cards and resumes, means that it is a must-have for anyone who is looking to find work in this field. Those who are able to take advantage of this resume will have the best chance of b eing able to find employment.

15% Off ALL Job Seeker Services Until 2012

15% Off ALL Job Seeker Services Until 2012 12 Flares 12 Flares Hey guys, just wanted to pop in real quick to let you know of a special sale on my Job Seeker Services.  From now until the moment the year changes to 2012, Im offering 15% off on all of my career coaching services. All you need to do is look up top and find Get A Job Now!   Check out some of the services I offer, and if youre feeling like you need a boost in your job search, then lets work together and get you ready for 2012! ** When ready to make your order, visit the Contact Page and inform me of the service(s) youre interested in and that you saw the 15% off blog post. Heres a recent success story and testimonial from a recent Corn on the Job Customer! Hi, Rich! I just wanted to send you a note of thanks for your help.  You went out of your way to accommodate my needs (using e-mail rather than a phone conversation), which was very helpful, but more impressively, within two e-mails you were able to pinpoint so many things about my personality and how that would fit in to a career.  You suggested working in a non-profit organization which had NEVER crossed my mind, but it is EXACTLY what I want to do!  People who have known me for years didnt even suggest that! And thanks to your guidance, I already have a job starting out as a volunteer with a rescue organization, and theyve agreed to create a formal intern program just so I can learn about every aspect of the shelter! If it werent for your support and expertise, I probably would have ended up in another dead end retail job instead of a career that I am passionate about. I cant thank you enough for your support, understanding, and professional advice! -Darcy

10 Basic Office Supplies Every Successful Business Owner Needs

10 Basic Office Supplies Every Successful Business Owner Needs If you want to run a successful business, youre going to need the tools to get the job done. Here we go over 10 basic office supplies you cant do without! Have you finally decided to leave your dead-end job and start your own business? Congratulations! Starting a new business is an exciting and stressful time in every business owners life. There are over 28 million small businesses in the United States. Each one may have started with just an idea and the hard work of a handful of people, but thats not all they started with. They also started with an office full of the appropriate basic office supplies. Making sure your office is properly equipped is a major key to your success. On top of that, itll save you a ton of unnecessary stress. Not sure what basic office supplies youll need? Read on to find out! 1. Computer This is an obvious first component of a well-equipped office. When selecting your electronic equipment, there are a few factors you should consider. First, how many computers do you need? This is based on the number of staff youll have and/or the different parts of your business that need a separate computer. Once you have that in mind, set a budget. From there, look for computers that fit the demands of your business. For example, you want a desktop for the office, but you travel a lot, so you need a laptop when youre on the go. Calculate both of these needs into your computer budget. 2. Monitors Monitors are not a surprising item to add to your office unless youre planning on purchasing a laptop. Consider this, though, youll no doubt be spending a significant amount of time on your laptop. Unless youre propping up the laptop and setting up a separate keyboard, its simply not ergonomically correct for you to hunch over a laptop all day. Monitors can be connected to your desktop, or laptop, and help you work pain-free. You can also add multiple monitors if you need to toggle multiple things on the screen. 3. Backup Hard Drive If youve ever had your computer crash, then you know backing up your data on a backup hard drive is incredibly important. There are two main types of backup hard drives you can purchase: a physical hard drive or a cloud-based backup. The perk of a cloud-based backup is that theres no hardware that could fail. The perk of a physical hard drive is that your information feels more secure. Both work very well in terms of protecting your data. You work hard to make your business a success, dont lose that hard work due to technology failure. 4. Printer You never know you need a printer until suddenly you have to print something! Printers have come a long way from the dot matrix days. If youre looking for quick and reliable, opt for a laser jet. Thankfully, advances in technology have brought down the price of laser printers significantly. 5. Copier and Scanner Copiers and scanners are both critical pieces of office equipment. Whether its copying receipts for your taxes or scanning documents your customers have sent in, its never a mistake to equip your office with a high-quality copier and scanner. Thankfully, they often come as a single unit, saving you money and space! 6. Shredder Shredders are incredibly important in an office setting, especially if youre dealing with sensitive data. If youre handing paper records of peoples credit card numbers, social security numbers, or private information, then you need to make sure you have a way to securely dispose of it to prevent any future liability. Shredders also work to protect you. Small businesses frequently receive offers for loans or credit cards. Throwing those offers out without properly destroying them leaves your business vulnerable to fraud. 7. File Cabinet Ah, the old file cabinet. Theres no way around it, if you want to keep your files neat and organized, you have to have a file cabinet. It doubles as a way to securely store your physical files if you purchase one with a lock. 8. Desk Supplies Ever need a pen and suddenly realize you have no idea where one is? This may seem obvious, but many people overlook it. Make sure your new office space has everything youll need in terms of basic desk supplies. This includes things like pens, pencils, erasers, extra lead, rulers, tape, staplers, highlighters, permanent markers, and refills for when you run out! 9. Stationary and Mailing Supplies Most communication these days is done electronically, whether through email or by telephone. Regardless, there will always be times when you need to send something out via mail, and you want to be prepared for those times. Be sure to purchase stamps Forever stamps, if possible so you dont have to worry about changes in postage rates. If you think youll be doing a lot of mailers, it may be worthwhile to invest in a postage machine. Lastly, take some time to consider your stationary. If you can swing letterhead paper and envelopes, now would be a good time to stock up. If youre not ready to commit to a logo or letterhead, try a personalized rubber stamp! Check out Creative Rubber Stamps to learn more about your rubber stamp options. 10. Telephone(s) Last, but certainly not least, you need to make sure that your office has a telephone, or more than one if you have multiple people working in your office. Your cell phone works great when youre starting out, but eventually, your business will get busier and youll want to separate your work calls from your personal calls. Beyond that, you want to be able to take a break when you leave work. The best solution is to purchase a land line for your office. If youre not feeling that, then get a dedicated cell phone line, but remember to turn it off every once in a while. Youll quickly learn that a balance between work and personal life is extremely important! Ready to Buy Your Basic Office Supplies Now? An office equipped with the right basic office supplies sets your business up for success and saves you the trouble of having to scramble for them at the last minute. Now youll have time to focus on more important things like business strategies, marketing, and maximizing your staff. Loved this advice? Check out the rest of our blog for more super helpful business tips!

Oh No! Not Another Interruption! - Hallie Crawford

Oh No! Not Another Interruption! Tired of constant interruptions at work? There are ways to manage them while still being a team player! Thank you Terry, one of our certified career coaches, for this blog post with career advice about how to handle them. How can you possibly get any work done with coworkers constantly interrupting you throughout the day? Need some tactful suggestions for how to handle “visitors?” Here they are: Put papers, books, or other objects in the chairs by your desk so visitors can’t sit in them. When visitors walk in, stand up and remain standing. After youve finished your discussion, walk to the entrance to your cubicle or office, summarize your conversation, thank the visitor for the discussion, break eye contact, and return to your desk. If a visitor stays too long say, “I apologize for interrupting you, but I have another issue to complete. Can we continue our conversation another time?” Position a clock so you can glance at it frequently while you are the one talking. When you don’t want to be interrupted at all, put a note outside of your door or cubicle asking visitors not to disturb you or not to disturb you until after a designated time. Arrange specific appointment times with coworkers with whom you have business to discuss. Close or partially close your door. When you need information, visit others so you can leave when your business is complete. When someone asks if youve “Got a minute,” reply: “No, but I could talk to you at 4:00.” “I have just a couple of minutes. If you need longer, I can’t talk right now.” Feel uncomfortable about implementing these suggestions? Then ask yourself, would you rather implement methods of dealing with interruptions or continue to work overtime? The choice is yours. and Terry Wynne , Ed.S., LPC, BCC Career Coaches P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check out our  Free Newsletter  to help you along your career journey today!

Tips On How To Create Your Own Resume Cover Page

Tips On How To Create Your Own Resume Cover PageResume Cover Page.examples is often recommended by an employer for the purpose of having a simple, easy to look at and more importantly easy to read resume. It is now imperative to keep in mind that you must be precise and aim for the main points so as to avoid mistakes and instead have a professional resume that speaks well about you.A lot of people are not sure about the quality of a resume, so they often forget to include a cover page.examples that is acceptable in their situation. Apart from these, there are other materials that you need to use when producing a resume cover page.examples. Here are a few of them:There are also a number of cover page.examples that you can use that is online. They do not have any disadvantages, and they are easy to use. However, it will cost a little bit of money but most of them are free. You can also use the office paper in order to draw the actual shape of your resume cover page.examples.To conclude , the main point of this article is to inform you about the most popular resume cover page.examples and to encourage you to create your own one. If you are looking for your first resume, then I am sure that you will find it hard to select the best one. If this is the case, then you should consider all of the aforementioned tips.Once you have determined the topic of your resume, you will want to put some more information into a concise and specific title. For example, in my case, I had to come up with a title that would make it seem as if I was extremely busy and interesting. This is the main reason why I put as much details as possible.To conclude, these are some tips on how to choose the best resume cover page.examples. Just remember that it must be well designed, interesting and descriptive. While it does not always guarantee success, these are just tips that will help you create the best resume cover page.examples.These are just a few ways to create a great resume cover page.exam ples. Please remember that no matter what you decide to do, do not forget to create your own, and if you need a professional one, I am sure that you can find them easily online.

Kids, Work and Secretary Resume Examples

Kids, Work and Secretary Resume Examples The Secretary Resume Examples Game To find out more on what it requires to be an Office Secretary, take a look at our complete Office Secretary Job Description. To learn more on what it requires to be a Company Secretary, take a look at our complete Company Secretary Job Description. The Legal Secretary ought to be able to use word processing computer software. He is expected to work independently in the absence of specific instructions. Nobody will employ a legal assistant free of experience. You can also incorporate skills that aren't specified in the legal assistant job description but are necessary to do duties better. Learn ways to receive a new job or enhance the one that you have. Be aware that if you create a secretary resume, you must have an emphasis on your communication abilities. When sending the corporate secretary resume you should deal with the most suitable individual in control of the selection. Since it's a for mal type of correspondence, it must be brief and precise. Which usually means you've got to understand how to generate the very best letter you can send to the organization and provide great first impression about yourself. A 2 weeks' notice letter is basically the specific same point to have a resignation letter. Top Secretary Resume Examples Choices In order to receive noticed by a business or employer, you want the perfect secretary resume. From the area of business, law, medicine, administration, and a lot more, a secretary is recommended. You must know the way to make the finest corporate secretary resume you could send to the organization and provide good first impact about your self, understand it here. For instance, the next secretary resume is fantastic for.