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Hints For Job
Seekers
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
that looking for work can be a lot of work, especially if you haven’t
been in the job market for a while, or if you are changing careers. If
you need help putting together a résumé, aren’t sure how to answer
some questions on a job application, or are scared to death at the
prospect of a job interview, you’ve come to the right place. Here are
some hints to make the job search less frightening and more productive.
Do Some Research!
Find out what the employer does – this lets you ask intelligent
questions during an interview, and lets the employer know you are really
interested in a job. It can also help you decide if you really want to
apply for the job. Friends who work there can be a good source of
information, along with the local chamber of commerce, Iowa Workforce
Development, and the local newspaper or library. If the employer or
company has a Web site, that's also an excellent place to find out a lot
of good information about what they do. You can always call the company
to ask if they have a Web site, check local community web sites for
possible links or use one of the many search engines.
Here are some things you should ask about:
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What type of work is performed?
What types of jobs are available? There is no point applying for a
job as an underwater welder at a plant where they make filing
cabinets.
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If they produce something, what
is it?
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How long have they been in
business? A new business offers opportunities to get in on the
ground floor, while an established business can indicate stability
and longevity.
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How many people work there?
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What are the work hours? If
you don’t want to work nights and weekends, you probably
shouldn’t apply for a job at a shopping mall.
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What is the normal starting pay?
It’s amazing how many people tell us they got a new job, but
don’t have a clue how much they are going to be paid or if they
will get any benefits.
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How do they train new employees?
Is it on-the-job, with a mentor, or would you have to go to formal
classroom training. This can show the employer you want to work, and
that you want to do the job properly.
Fill In The
Blanks!
Employers tell us that a lot of job applications are incomplete, messy
and downright hard to read. You don’t want that first impression to be
the wrong one, so take a minute to review these suggestions:
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Be neat. Print – most
people’s printing is clearer than their handwriting. Don’t spill
coffee on the application form, or let it get anywhere near the kids
or the dog. Don’t fold, tear or smudge it. A two-pocket folder
only costs 10 cents, and makes it easy to carry your applications
and résumés around without ruining them. Don’t make lots of
erasures or cross-outs. Use a black pen – no pink or green ink
with sparkles!
-
Follow instructions. This can
show the employer you will follow instructions on the job. If you
put your first name first, but it was supposed to be last, you will
either have a messy application, or you’ll have to ask for another
one. (Hint: If you can take the application home with you, make a
copy to practice on.)
-
Tell the truth! They may verify
your information. Lying on an application can be grounds for
dismissal if they discover you really don’t have 10 years of
experience driving a forklift.
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Fill in all the blanks. If a
question doesn’t apply to you, draw a neat line in the space, or
write “NA” for “not applicable.”
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It is acceptable to answer a
question “Will explain in interview."
-
Reread it. Make sure you have
answered all the questions, and that your answers are positive.
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What job do you want? If the
question is “Position Desired?”, say something. Employers are
not guidance counselors in the business of helping you decide what
you want to be when you grow up. If you don’t say, you could be
put where the employer needs someone, and that could be a job
you’d hate. If you don’t want to clean the kill floor at the
packinghouse, don’t say “anything you’ve got.” Don’t waste
the employer’s time. Do some research and find out what jobs they
have you’d accept.
-
Salary Desired? If you have done
your homework, you’ll have a good idea of what to put down. It is
acceptable to say “negotiable,” or “the normal starting pay
for this position.” Don’t price yourself out of the market, or
sell yourself short.
-
Date Available? Be honest. Can
you really start today? If you want to give your current employer
two weeks notice, say so. That shows the prospective employer you
would give them the same courtesy if hired.
-
References? If the employer wants
references, you must list some. Think of people with good
credentials who would say positive things about you, and remember to
get their permission first! And just because an employer doesn’t
ask, don’t assume they won’t do some type of reference check!
Why Did You
Leave?
There is usually a section on job applications for prior work history.
If you’ve had several jobs, you obviously left one or it left you. The
prospective employer will want to know what happened. Be positive, and
avoid negative responses such as:
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Fired. Can imply you did
something wrong. A better answer is “Let Go,” “Released,” or
“Down-sized.” Was your job eliminated through reorganization or
budget cuts? If yes, say so.
-
Quit. Sounds like you can’t
follow through. Why not say “resigned,” or “left for better
opportunities.”
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Problems with the supervisor. So
who still has a job? The supervisor. This makes you sound like a
troublemaker, and the new employer doesn’t need that. If you were
let go, say so, and add “will explain in interview.” At the
interview, be positive and don’t bad-mouth your old supervisor.
-
Personality conflict. Implies you
are hard to get along with.
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Personal. Too vague, and suggests
you still have issues that would interfere with your ability to
work. Say “will explain in interview.”
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Low Pay. Suggests
dissatisfaction, and that you’d leave again for the same reason.
Say “left to look for a better opportunity/more challenging
position/more responsibility.” It’s often perplexing when people
tell us they left because they weren’t getting enough money or
hours, but how many do they have when they quit for those reasons
without another job lined up? None, right? If the company was sold,
or there was a change in management, say so. New owners/managers
often clean house, and it doesn’t necessarily imply any fault or
blame on your part.
A Lasting
First Impression
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so don’t
blow it by showing up at the employer’s business in dirty clothes,
bare feet and bright green hair. You might be there just to pick up an
application, but that first impression may prevent you from getting an
interview.
Ask yourself these questions:
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Are my clothes clean and neat?
Are they appropriate to the job? Do they fit, or are they too
revealing? When applying for a job, wear the type of clothes you
would wear on the job. This is where your research pays off.
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Are my shoes clean? Don’t leave
a lasting reminder of your visit on the employer’s carpeting.
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Do I need a haircut?
-
Men – are you clean shaven, or
is your beard or moustache trimmed?
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Women – is your makeup neatly
applied?
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Are your teeth clean and your
breath fresh? A beer with lunch can be a red flag at your afternoon
interview, and, if the employer doesn’t allow smoking at the
facility, don’t have a cigarette and then claim you don’t smoke.
The
Interview
Employers can learn a lot about you at a job interview, and not just
from your answers to their questions. Remember, your first goal is to
not get eliminated from consideration. Here’s what we mean:
-
Be on time. That shows an
employer you will also be on time for work if hired. If you are
going to be unavoidably late, call the employer to let them know and
possibly reschedule if necessary.
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Maintain good eye contact.
Practice on yourself in the bathroom mirror.
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Speak well (or at least not
negatively) of previous employers or coworkers.
-
Go alone. You wouldn’t take
your children or other family members to work with you.
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Learn about the job by asking
specific questions. Show you are interested!
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Don’t discuss family problems,
or provide too much information about non-essential issues.
-
Send a “thank you” letter to
the employer after the interview. You’d be surprised how many
people skip this important step. This is just a short note thanking
the employer for taking the time to talk to you, and reinforcing
your desire to work there.
Job interviews can be frightening,
especially if you’re not sure how to answer a specific question. Think
before you open your mouth, and review these suggestions for possible
responses to common questions:
-
Why do you want to work here? A
good answer: “I feel I can put my skills to good use here.” Be
complimentary. If you’ve heard great things from a friend who
works there, say so. Don’t say you don’t know.
-
Tell me about yourself. List your
skills, abilities and personal attributes. You can combine work and
personal information. Outline your strong points and
accomplishments. Sum up your answer and stop talking! If you are new
to the job market, stress your educational and personal achievements
over your work history.
-
What did you enjoy the most about
your last job? Clever answers often fall flat. If the work was
stimulating, say so. If you really liked your co-workers, say so. A
safe answer: “I can’t think of anything I didn’t enjoy.” Be
careful using that if it’s not true!
-
If they ask what you liked the
most, be prepared to say what you disliked the most. Maybe your
answer should be “when the job ended,” or “getting laid
off.”
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What do you want to be doing in
five years? Show interest in moving up. Show you would like to take
on increased responsibility or learn new things. Saying “I want
your job” is dangerous! Employers can be amused, annoyed at your
arrogance – it took them 20 years to get where they are – or see
you as a threat.
-
How do you deal with stress or
pressure? If you work well under pressure, say so. If you had
deadlines or a quota, say you always met those if that’s the case.
Or try this if you have kids: “I have a high tolerance for stress.
I’m a single parent of teenagers.”
Strengths
and Weaknesses
These questions go hand in hand. If you can honestly say you
are punctual, reliable and a good worker, say so. If you state a
weakness, tell how you are trying to overcome it. Try the “yes, but”
technique to turn a negative into a positive. “Yes, it’s true I
don’t have a lot of experience, but I am eager to learn and can start
right away.”
-
If you have a gap in your work
history – either because of unemployment, illness, family issues,
etc., the employer will probably ask you why you weren’t working.
Be honest, and tell them “If I didn’t want to work, I wouldn’t
have applied for this job.
-
What other companies are you
interviewing with? Your response should be: “I’d like to keep my
interviews with specific companies private, just as I’m sure
you’d want me to keep our conversation confidential.”
-
Why should I hire you? Don’t
put down the other applicants. Simply say you don’t know the other
applicants, but you do know that you are able to do this and that
(list your strengths and abilities again).
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What do you expect for a starting
wage? It’s perfectly OK to answer this question with a question:
“What is the normal starting wage for this position?” Don’t
tell the employer what you need to live on.
-
Be prepared to ask the employer
questions as well. Be positive, and avoid asking questions that give
the negative impression that you are only interested in what the
employer can do for you.
Sometimes your questions will get
answered during the interview, but here are some suggestions. Bring
these questions along to the job interview:
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What would my job duties be?
-
How would I be trained?
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How would my progress be rated?
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Are promotions possible?
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Who would I be reporting to?
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Why is this job open?
-
May I have a tour of the work
area?
It’s usually best to save the
“what’s in it for me” questions until the end of the interview. If
the employer hasn’t volunteered this information, ask them about the
rate of pay, fringe benefits, and any probationary period.
Follow-up Calls
After the interview is over, and you’ve sent a thank-you note
expressing your appreciation for consideration, wait a couple of days
and make a follow-up call to see if the employer has made a decision. If
you got the job – congratulations! You’ll probably find out when
you’ll start, etc. If you didn’t get the job, don’t be afraid to
ask why not in a non-threatening manner. If the manager hasn’t made a
decision yet, find out if there is anything else you can do, but don’t
be pushy and don’t beg.
Résumés
The rules for résumé preparation come and go, and today’s résumés
are often skill-based, meaning they focus on what you can do, and not
where you did it. This is the format requested by many major employers.
In the past résumés also included information on your age, your
marital status, your height and weight, and where you went to church.
All of that is highly discouraged since it can inadvertently give the
prospective employer information that could be used to discriminate
against you.
Today’s résumés may also have to be electronically scannable. An
electronically scannable résumé is specifically designed to be entered
into a computerized database using an optical scanner. The scanner
“reads” the résumé and stores it in text form, as a computer file.
Visually appealing résumés usually don’t convert well to a scannable
format. The ideal scannable résumé is clean and clear, with no
graphics, bold face type, italics, or bullets, and is unfolded with no
staples.
Contact your local Iowa Workforce Development office for copies of
materials on how to construct a résumé, or come in and use one of our
resource centers. We have computers, easy to use résumé-building
software, and free paper, as well as information on Web sites that list
job openings, career exploration tools, and employer data.
Other Resources
More information is available at your local Iowa Workforce Development
office. Call or stop by for some one-on-one help with your questions, or
ask for copies of helpful publications that we have available to the
public.
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