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Career Guide

How To Ask Questions in an Interview

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questionsininterview

Imagine you’ve just applied for a new job. You’ve sent in your resume and gotten the call about going in for an interview. After preparing for all the questions they could ask you, picking out a professional outfit to wow them and doing your research on the company, you feel ready. But one thing you may have forgotten to consider is thinking of some good questions YOU should ask your interviewer.

Typically, a good interviewer will ask you at the end of the interview if you have any questions about the job. This can be a key part of the interviewing process that is often overlooked. To stand out from other candidates, it is important to have a few thoughtful questions ready. This shows that you really care about the job and have thought critically about the position prior to the interview.

Don’t ask yes or no questions.

You want to create dialogue with the interviewer and establish a conversation. The more thought-provoking your questions are, the better the answers you will receive and the more intriguing you will look to the interviewer. Don’t ask questions just to ask something. If you get to the end of the interview and genuinely can’t think of anything worthy to ask, don’t blunder around with pointless questions. If you get tripped up and ask a silly question by mistake, take a second to recover and then continue with your prepared questions.

Force your interviewer to think.

If you planned a question to ask but it was already answered for you, skip it unless you need more clarification. Specify this by saying “I know you already talked about this, but could you explain a little more about ______?” That way your interviewer knows you were paying attention. You should have already done some research about the job, so if you ask a question you would have known the answer to by looking at the website, you will seem like you didn’t care about the position. A better idea is to ask the interviewer questions such as what they think are some of the keys to being successful in the position, or where they see the company going in the future.

Use this time to your advantage!

Not only will asking questions help you stand out to potential employers, it is a genuine way to get to know the job better and figure out if it is a good fit for you. You’re interviewing them too, and it is important to clear up any questions you may have about the work you will be doing. Sometimes you will learn that a job you wanted isn’t actually be a good fit for you, and it’s better to come to this conclusion sooner rather than later.

Remember, the hard part is over. You’ve already answered all their questions; this is your chance to put your interviewer in the hot seat and get some answers you need. Interviewing is a two-way street, and you want to do your part to make the process as successful as possible.

Preparing for an interview? Make sure to check out our post “How To: Dress for Interview Success” to look your best!

Click here to visit our IT and business job board.

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

Career Guide

How To Craft Your Elevator Pitch

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Elevator Pitch

Looking for a way to sell yourself and your career experiences? An elevator pitch is the perfect way to showcase your talents to a potential employer. Your pitch isn’t limited to an elevator though; you never know where you may meet a future boss or coworker, even in the most casual of settings. That could be at a conference, on vacation, or in a coffee shop.

When someone asks you what you do, simply answering the question with “I’m a Salesforce Developer” likely won’t lead the conversation anywhere. You should instead use your elevator pitch to guide the conversation, quite possibly leading to new career opportunity.

The elevator pitch consists of three parts:

  1. The Benefit. What’s the reason someone should buy what you’re selling?
  2. The Differentiator. What makes YOU special from everyone else?
  3. The Ask. Is there an opportunity to learn more about this person or this company?

1. The Benefit

This includes the impact of what your product (yourself) can have on this person’s business.

  • “I was able to decrease inventory error at our company by 40 percent through a new initiative.”
  • “Through improvements to our information management system, I was able to increase efficiency and cut costs of $1.4 million.”

2. The Differentiator

This is what makes you different from everyone else. If there’s no differentiator, you’re selling anyone who has your position, not yourself.  There’s no particular reason to invest in YOU.

  • “I have over 15 years of expertise in this field.”
  • “I’m constantly looking for new certifications and courses that will help me perform my job better.”

3. The Ask

Elevator pitches are short, so this isn’t meant to be an interview. Next steps would be setting up a meeting to find out more about this person or the company they work for. Again, this usually happens in a more casual setting as a social conversation, so don’t feel like you need to go for a hard sell strategy.

  • “I’d love to learn more about what you do. What’s your availability next week?”
  • “I really appreciate the conversation we’ve had. What’s the best way to get on your calendar?”

With practice, your elevator pitch can take you great places. Remember, keep it straightforward and simple. There’s no need to over-complicate the situation. Use this as a way to network with like-minded professionals and potential employers if you’re looking for growth in your career.

Once you’re ready to explore new career opportunities, check out our blog post “5 Tips for Beginning Your Job Search” to learn how to get started.

 

Click here to view our IT and business job board.

 

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

Career Guide

5 Tips for Beginning Your Job Search

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Beginning Job Search

Looking to make a career move? Maybe it’s been a while since you last searched for a job, or you’re looking for a new way to tackle the search for your next opportunity. We believe in equipping you with the best tools to make you successful. In this post, we’ll outline our suggestions and tips for your job search. It’s important to equip yourself with the best knowledge in order to ensure a successful search.

Set goals.

Rather than jumping in and looking for any and every position available in your desired field, you should set specific goals for what jobs you’re looking for. Do you want to take a step up from your current position or look for the same position at a different company? Is there a certain geographic location you’re looking in? By narrowing your search with important details, you’ll make it easier to find a position that’s a perfect fit for you. Setting goals will slim down your search and make good use of your time.

Update your resume.

Before submitting your resume to a potential employer, make sure your resume is up-to-date with your most recent and relevant skills and experience. Upload your most current resume to career sites like Monster, CareerBuilder and Dice so recruiters and companies can find you based on the most accurate information. For more information about perfecting your resume, view our blog post “6 Things You Shouldn’t Put on Your Resume.”

Tune up your LinkedIn.

At the same time you update your resume, you should also check your LinkedIn to make sure you have all of your skills and jobs listed. Much of the job search has gone social, so recruiters and hiring managers are also looking for top talent on LinkedIn. Much like search engine optimization (SEO) for websites, having the right keywords on your profile will ensure that your profile comes up when decision-makers are searching on LinkedIn. We’ve got more tips for your LinkedIn profile here.

Conduct a self-assessment.

Required skills for a job may have changed since you last applied. Especially in an age of ever-changing technology, needs are always changing. Is there any additional training you’ll need for the job you desire?

Another thing that falls under self-assessment is your energy and passion for what you do. You’re likely to get asked during an interview who you are and what you’re about. They may also be wondering why you’re choosing to make a move to their company. Be ready to answer these questions so potential employers can learn more about why you’re a good fit for their company.

Brush up on your interview skills.

It’s not enough to just look great on paper. You may do a great job of selling yourself on your resume or LinkedIn profile, but in order to land the job, you’ve got to nail it in the interview. Example interview questions can be found online from credible sources. You can even find top questions related to your position or industry. Still not comfortable? Find a friend to ask you questions to make sure you’re prepared with the best possible answers.

The Bottom Line

Don’t waste your time by being unprepared. Treat your job search almost as if it were like another job itself. By getting yourself organized and setting proper goals, you’ll be ready to tackle your search effectively.

Once you’re ready for your first face-to-face interview, check out our post “How To: Dress for Interview Success” to learn how to put your best foot forward.

 

Click here to view our IT and business job board.

 

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

Career Guide

Navigating Your First Week on the Job

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First Week

Starting a new job is exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming to try and adapt to a new environment. Especially if you’re coming from a company that you’ve been at for a while, it can be difficult to get used to a new work environment with a different culture and team. With a ton of information coming at you from every direction, it’s important to know how to process it correctly. In this post, we’ll share with you our best advice for surviving your first week at your new workplace.

Be a sponge.

Your first week, you’re going to hear and receive a lot of new information about your new company and position. You’ll learn about company culture, preferred work and communication styles, new systems, top projects and customers, office politics, and company and department-specific goals. We could go on and on, but you get the point — information overload.

One of the best things you can do is absorb everything you can. Make sure to attend new hire orientation, team and office meetings, any other things that you think may pertain to your job. By sitting in on these meetings, you’ll start to understand what’s important to the organization and the part you play in the organization’s success.

If you get invited to happy hour, lunch or coffee with your fellow coworkers, don’t be afraid to say yes. Even if it pushes you outside of your comfort zone, you’ll start to make friends that you can count on at work. Being a part of a team requires everyone to participate, so saying yes will show your excitement and enthusiasm to be part of this new group.

Ask questions.

If you’re unsure of a project or process, it’s better to ask questions than to stay silent. As you receive new information, taking detailed notes will help you remember what you’ve learned and will give you something to review in the future. Writing something down will also ensure you don’t ask the same question twice.

Offer help.

The first few days of your job, you may have a lot of down time while you’re trying to adjust to your new role and environment. Your boss may also still be getting together your tasks and responsibilities. Instead of just sitting there with nothing to do, show initiative. Volunteer to help a coworker on a project. Even if someone doesn’t have something for you to do, offering help will show that you’re willing to put in effort to better the team.

Find a mentor.

When you’re the newest employee in the office, it can be difficult to start making connections and understanding how everything works. Find someone who has been at the company for a while and has good understanding of what’s going on. By having someone to talk to with more experience and knowledge of the company, you’ll make an easier transition. This can be a team leader or manager that others look up to as well. He or she will be able to help you make more connections within the company and give you advice to get started in your new role.

Good luck!

Even though these are tips for your first week, you should carry on these habits through your first month, year and beyond of your job. By being an engaged employee, you’ll showcase your dedication and commitment to excellence. Better work habits lead to better performance, so take the steps today to make yourself a valuable hire for your organization.

Want to join the Twitter world as a professional? Check out our blog post, Should I Be Tweeting Professionally? to learn more about using this social media platform in your job search and networking.

 

Click here to view our IT and business job board.

 

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

Career Guide

Should I Be Tweeting Professionally?

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Screen Shot 2015-07-14 at 12.25.36 PM

If you’re looking to gain a competitive edge in your job search and want to stay up-to-date with industry trends, the answer is yes. With 302 million monthly active users and 500 million tweets sent daily, Twitter is one of the strongest and well-known social media platforms out there.

You’ve probably noticed your favorite celebrities and brands are on Twitter posting engaging and entertaining content, because it’s a place to showcase things you’re passionate about. It’s also a great way to showcase knowledge. By creating a professional Twitter account, you can read and post about industry news, trends, and developments.

Interested in learning how to grow your professional network with Twitter? Read more below.

It’s important to identify yourself appropriately.

When choosing what you want your profile to look like, think of it as a resume. What do you want people to know right off the bat? Choose a Twitter handle that will make it easy to search and recognize who you are. That can be your name or the title of your blog if you have one. Include a professional photo, a link to your website, and a short description of who you are and your experience/interests.

Professional Twitter Example

Here’s a great example of what your Twitter profile should look like.

Tweet about professional topics and interests.

Now that you’ve created your Twitter profile, you can start posting updates. You can create original content or share/retweet from other sources, but make sure to keep it professional, engaging, and entertaining. It’s ok to have a personal twist — it shows that there’s an actual person behind your tweets. Just make sure you only post professional content.

Follow relevant users.

You’ve created a Twitter and posted content, but now it’s time to build your network and find accounts that interest you. Depending on your goal, that can be colleagues, industry leaders, your favorite brands, or companies you would be interested in working for. Using the search feature at the top of the page, it’s easy to find an account you love. If the person or brand you follow likes your content, they might even follow you back.

New Tweet

You can also tweet at the account with a simple greeting to introduce yourself.

Keep up with trending topics and #hashtags.

A hashtag is the # symbol followed by a word or two that relate to a topic or event. Formerly known as the pound sign, hashtags allow Twitter users to search for specific content. You can search #socialmedia, #Twitter and #jobs, and you can find tweets that relate to these topics. If you’re at a networking or professional event, they’ll often have hashtags relating to the event. You can live-tweet the event using the hashtag; you may get retweeted by the organizer of the event, leading to more retweets and new followers.

Stay organized.

It’s important to tweet consistently, but not constantly. You don’t want to tweet 25 times a day, but enough to show that you are staying up-to-date and generating thoughtful content. Applications like TweetDeck and Hootsuite help you schedule content in advance and create feeds that allow you to see and respond to tweets in a user-friendly way. Because 80% of Twitter users are active on mobile devices, it’s easy to keep track of all your information on-the-go.

You’re ready to tweet.

This will give you some guidance to get started, but don’t forget a few simple rules. Give your content some personality. Post things that are interesting, but don’t be afraid to add a personal spin. Also, make sure to NEVER post anything you wouldn’t want your managers or coworkers to see. You may think you can delete something once you’ve posted it, but it’s actually out there forever. Now, get ready. Get set. Tweet.

Want to learn more about using social media professionally? View our blog post, How To: Use Social Media In Your Job Search to understand how you can use other social media platforms to get a step ahead.

 

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

 

Career Guide

How To: Dress For Interview Success

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How To Dress for Interview Success

You’ve landed an interview and now you’re struggling to decide what to wear. The old saying is true — perception is reality. Your first impression to a recruiter or employer can occur the moment you walk in the room. What you’re wearing can tell a lot about who you are, so it’s important to dress your best and present yourself appropriately.

Tips to dress your best

  • It’s always best to be overdressed than too casual. A well-fitting business suit is your safest and best bet.
  • Make sure you have your clothes cleaned and pressed.
  • Prepare your outfit the night before so you don’t waste valuable time the day of. Don’t be late!
  • Wear makeup and jewelry that are appropriate.
  • Avoid wearing strong perfume or cologne.
  • Make sure any facial hair is well-groomed — get a haircut if you need one.

Men’s Interview Attire 

  • Suit (solid color – navy or dark grey)
  • Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
  • Belt (that matches your shoe color)
  • Tie
  • Dark socks, conservative leather shoes

Interviewing Dos and Don'ts - Males

Women’s Interview Attire

  • Suit (solid color – navy or dark grey)
  • The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably.
  • Coordinated blouse
  • Conservative shoes

Interviewing Attire Dos and Don'ts - Females

Dress smart, get hired

A sharp suit alone isn’t going to get you the job, but your chances of getting a job are higher if you dress to impress. Having a well-prepared interview outfit shows that you care about yourself and can even reflect your job performance.

Paying attention to the little details can not only reflect your personality in your outfit, but can also transfer to how you handle tasks at work. You want the recruiter or hiring manager to take you seriously, so take the steps to take yourself seriously. Best of luck in your next interview! Have confidence, dress sharp, and adequately prepare yourself in order to get you to the next round.

 

Looking at connecting with recruiters or employers on LinkedIn? View our blog post, How To: Create the Most Effective LinkedIn Profile to revamp your profile before you connect.

 

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

Career Guide

5 Tips for Your Next Phone Interview

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TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT (2)

You’ve successfully made it through the resume submission, and now the company is interested in taking the next step by setting up a phone interview with you. A lot of people think that an interview over the phone is easier than face-to-face, but it’s important to take this step seriously in order to make it to the next round of the interview process. Below, we’ll outline 5 tips to help you be successful during your phone interview from start to finish.

1. Research the company and the interviewer

By looking at the company’s website and checking out your interviewer’s LinkedIn profile, you can be knowledgeable about recent happenings, latest awards, the company’s culture, and more. If you have a better understanding of how the company operates and performs, you’ll be able to better connect during your interview and show that you’re interested in joining their team. Spend an hour or so before your interview to familiarize yourself. Since it’s a phone interview, you can keep your laptop open in front of you to reference the company website or an interesting article.

2. Be ready to take the call

Plan to be ready for the call at least 5 minutes before the scheduled time in case the interviewer calls early. You don’t want to be caught off guard if you’re not in a private area. To make sure you have optimum reception, you may even consider taking the call from a landline instead of your cell phone.

3. Have the proper materials

Make sure to have a copy of your resume in front of you, as well as the job description and any notes and questions you have about the position. Your interviewer will have your resume and may ask you to walk them through your prior experience. By having your resume on hand, you’ll be able to answer questions with specific experiences that relate to the job you’re interviewing for.

4. Sell yourself in the best light

The last thing an employer wants to do is hire someone with a negative attitude. It’s important to avoid negative comments about a former job or an employer. The past is the past, so it’s important not to dwell in a bad experience or job.

Also, be sure to not exaggerate any of your technical experience. It’s important to be open and honest about your abilities or lack thereof. You could say, “I know what that is and know what it does, but I don’t have work experience with it. I would love the opportunity to learn it and have the ability to pick up new skills quickly.”

5. Ask the important questions

Allow the interviewer to run the interview and save your questions for the end. Don’t ask anything that you already know — salary, location, etc. Make sure you have a list of thoughtful questions about the position or the company. By asking questions that make your interviewer think, you show that you’re serious about your job search and finding a position that’s the best fit for you.

You’re ready!

Now that you have a few tips for your interview, you’ll be able to make a positive impression and move on to the next step of the interview process. Next steps typically include a face-to-face interview, technical aptitude screening, or even an offer if they think you’re the right fit for the job. Be prepared, keep a positive attitude, and answer every question to the best of your ability, and you could be on your way to a new position!

 

 

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.