by Ronnie Ann ~ January 18th, 2010 ·
One of the most frustrating things you’ll come up against in the whole enigmatic job interview process is sometimes the person conducting your very first interview – or in a larger company maybe even your first two interviews – does not know all that much (if anything) about what it takes to do the actual job you’re applying for.
That’s right…in order to get to the later rounds that count and can maybe change your whole life, you need to make it through the initial defense set up to weed out the least likely candidates. But…and this is a big but…early round interviewers are all-too-often only somewhat familiar with the job requirements and may not be experts in the field you’re interviewing for – even if you are.
So who are these early round interviewers? [Read more →]
Tags:
by Ronnie Ann ~ January 11th, 2010 ·
Yes…I know the recession isn’t over. I know times are really tough. I know some of you have applied to countless jobs and received few or no responses. And I know many of you think it’s just the bad economy – and maybe a plethora of stupid short-sighted employers – keeping you from that great new job. Well…for a good number of job seekers those answers may indeed be right.
But are other reasons causing your job hunting problems? [Read more →]
Tags:
by Ronnie Ann ~ January 10th, 2010 ·
Update: Voting is closed now. Thank you for all your help!!
I just submitted Work Coach Cafe to the U. S. Department of Labor’s Tools for America’s Job Seekers Challenge. Basically it’s a database that will list sites from all over the United States to help people with their job search.
I know the Cafe isn’t exactly a standard tool, but I think (hope) it provides a special place for folks feeling frustrated by – and at times lost within – a maze of job search obstacles and advice.
If you’d like to help me get listed…please click below. They make it fairly easy to sign in by offering several services you are probably already part of. (If not you can register with minimal info.) You might have to search for Work Coach Cafe again after signing in (search bar at top of the page to the left) and then just click on the Recommend Tool and add your vote! Please check to see if vote registered. I’m hearing that sometimes it takes a couple of attempts. Sorry about that!
Thank you!!
~ Ronnie Ann
Again…voting is closed. Thanks to everyone who helped!
Tags: DOL Challenge·job search tools
by Ronnie Ann ~ January 4th, 2010 ·
I am writing this while still a bit ticked off, so please bear with me. I know there are many great resume writers out there – some of them I know personally. But I just heard something a few days ago that left me steaming.
Someone I met – let’s call him Bob – showed me a resume prepared by a $2000 resume service that promised all kinds of things – including a unique knowledge of the job search market and computerized algorithms that help mine for data in ways that make sure your resume gets maximal keyword action. Blah blah blah. (And I have no doubt it does at least some of that.)
So what’s the real problem with Bob’s resume? [Read more →]
Tags: professional resume writers·resume writer·resume writers·resume writing services
by Ronnie Ann ~ December 28th, 2009 ·
Arguably, the absolute power of a thank you note to actually win you the job is limited. Still – whether you got nervous in your job interview or not – sending a thank you letter after the initial interview or even later on in the hiring process is quite simply a smart thing to do. But the question of mentioning nervousness in that note is another thing…
Whether you get those jittery interview nerves or stay calm and cool as a cucumber, here are basic tips on post-interview thank you notes: you want them to be short and sweet – a nice reminder of who you are and how well you would fit in with the rest of the company. And if you do have something extremely relevant to add that will reinforce your value (a new degree, an award you just received, or a congratulations on something good that just happened to the company), by all means include that too.
But it’s best NOT to introduce anything new (like being nervous in your job interview) that might undo all the hard work you put into that interview. No pleasant meandering chit-chat. No long interesting story about something that just happened to you – unless it’s absolutely positively relevant to the company’s needs.
As for the interview nerves question…it’s worth thinking about. Bringing up the subject of getting nervous – or mentioning interview nervousness in any way – in your after interview thank you note could at least conceivably affect their hiring decision – depending on how it’s handled.
Could a post-interview thank you letter hurt my chances?
[Read more →]
Tags: interview nerves·thank you letter·thank you note
by Ronnie Ann ~ December 21st, 2009 ·
From what you tell me, some of you spend a lot of time working on your resumes. Others (sorry to say) not so much. And then there are those of you who prefer to simply pay a professional to create the perfect resume “hire me” card. All in the hope of getting yourself to that often elusive job interview.
But wait! There’s something clouding the job search picture. What is that? More precisely…who is that?
Be very afraid. Mwahahahahaha! It’s the dreaded resume screener.
OK. Don’t be too afraid. 
I’ll talk you through it best I can. Let’s start by taking you behind the secret curtain to help you understand a bit more about those mysterious interview / hiring process steps…
So just who are these resume screeners? [Read more →]
Tags:
by Ronnie Ann ~ December 16th, 2009 ·
I recently got a great e-mail from a bright, talented, well-qualified job seeker who shared some of his oh-so-honest thoughts and feelings based on four long months of looking for a job. And let me tell you…he’s NOT a happy camper. He’s had it beyond up-to-here with employers, interviewers and the entire hiring / job interview process!
He feels frustrated, angry and fed up with the way he sees job candidates – including himself – being treated during the hiring process by employers or employer representatives. And I know he’s not the only one out there feeling this anger!
Why are job seekers so angry at interviewers & interviews? [Read more →]
Tags:
by Ronnie Ann ~ December 14th, 2009 ·
I recently got a great comment on my post: Where Do You See Yourself Five Years from Now? Lori wrote to tell us her answer to that very common and oh so annoying interview question. Actually, she told us how she used to answer the in five years (or five years in the future) question and how she just answered it in a new way that got raves!
How Lori used to answer that common job interview question: [Read more →]
Tags:
by Ronnie Ann ~ December 7th, 2009 ·
Hi! I need your help.
As a resource for readers who would like to hire a resume writer and/or coach, I’m compiling a list of resume and coaching resources for Work Coach Cafe. I’d especially like recommendations from folks who’ve had good success with these services. But I also welcome self-nominations.
As part of this blog’s career and job search services resource center (to be built), I’ll be listing resources along with some key identifying information, and soliciting feedback as well as new recommendations on an ongoing basis. This way, when I get requests for help, I can at least offer readers some good options to choose from – ideally by region and service type. [Read more →]
Tags:
by Ronnie Ann ~ December 2nd, 2009 ·
I’ve been taking some career coaching classes lately. (Fear not. I promise not to jeopardize my non-expert status too much.) Anyway…while we were talking about resumes, one of the people in my class asked “Do resumes really matter? It’s all in the cover letter.”
After I got up off the floor and brushed myself off…oh the horror…I tried to explain why cover letters, while indeed a powerful job search tool, can’t be expected to bear so much of the burden.
Why a resume still matters even with a GREAT cover letter
[Read more →]
Tags:
