How To Vet Employers and Why You Should

How To Vet Employers and Why You Should 53 Choose the right jobs for a long and prosperous career. This is a guest post by Rita Ashley. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. The Wall Street Journal reports, “40% of all executives leave their jobs within 18 months.”And every one who does potentially causes serious long-term career damage. Employers believe people who stay in jobs 4+ years are better than those who move around. The first thing anyone who views a resume checks for is the pattern of longevity. You can offer all sorts of reasons for leaving but the fact is, any candidate with a sturdy work history aces those without. Example:eval Of 5 career coaching clients, 2 had less than 3 years in 4 recent jobs, 2 had a pattern staying 6+ and one had 11 years with the same company. 11 years = Job opportunities came to him which were all significantly more senior than current roles. He went from GM to CEO in a 3-month process. He had 6 CEO options from which to choose.eval 6-year pattern = Hiring authorities and investors tapped them for similar roles to the current role with greater responsibilities and or more $$. Any would be significant career moves. Less than 2 years in more than 2 recent jobs = No one reached out and their job search was long and difficult. Only second tier companies were interested and compensation was not as high as in the other 2 scenarios. There are no reasons or circumstances that employers accept when faced with a choice between short- and long-tenured candidates. Preserving your resume is critical to your career success and financial gains. Thus, you must avoid taking the wrong job. Problem: Employers are very good at telling an potential executive what they want to hear. The Board is in on the game and because they pride themselves with hiring the best, tend not to feel one pang of conscience. How do you know your prospective employer is the right employer for you? When you interview, everyone is in “sales” mode to keep you interested in working for the company. Even if they tell you about challenges, they don’t tell you the real downsides to working there and every company has downsides. They distract you with manageable issues and encourage you to focus on solutions which are easily achieved. Don't be fooled. Why is finding out the dirt so important? Your career/resume is sacred. Employers want to know you have lived through the results of your decisions and have built collaborative relationships. Most people change jobs for reasons other than money. Which means vetting your prospective employer is vastly more important than negotiating every last dime.It's not how much money you make, it's about how successful you can be in that job. Solution: To get past the sales pitch and learn what the company is really like, talk to the techies. Once you are in serious consideration for an opportunity, ask to talk to the QA manager and both the Sales Support and Customer Services Managers. Want to dive deep? Talk to the customers, former customers and people who have left the company. Then talk to the sales person whose numbers are in the middle of the pack. Don't let them force the high roller on you. Ask about the challenges, the competition, resources and anything else related to making or preventing the sale. Other thoughts- Take a look at glassdoor.com and other sites where employees comment on their employer confidentially. Don’t use them as the ‘be all to end all', only as an alert and guide for questions. To test the sites, see what people say about your current or most recent employers and do a reality check. Use LinkedIn to find former employees. Invite them to chat with you confidentially. Use the search engines to find blogs that comment on that company. Check Digg, Gist and other news aggregators to discover who the executives really are and what is top of mind for them. Find out what others say about the management and Board. Are the investors well thought of? Will second or mezzanine financing be easy to get because of good press? What is their financial run-way? A company with only 9 months spendable may be a short term employer.One former client was told he was the right person for the job and the Board and ‘Cs' were unanimous. Checking online revealed the company was in serious financial trouble and they needed my client's reputation and connections to gather new investors. Imagine his response had he taken the job and not known this. Get a bead on their financial health from sites like Yahoo! Finance orHoovers. For public companies, read their 10K and financial rags. Observe employee morale. Do folks walk around and chat; are they smiling? Is the rest room clean? What does the lunch room look like? Are employees encouraged to engage with places to congregate? Are there office recognition traditions? What is the turn-over like, especially the sales force? Since every company has a downside, keep a pros and cons list to provide balance in your decision. Consult your Go/No-go list to make sure none of the concerns rule this employer out of consideration. It's not about winning by getting the job, it's about winning the right job under the right circumstances. About the Author Rita Ashley is a career development professional who comes to coaching by way of stints as a Silicon Valley executive and a decades- long career as an executive recruiter in Seattle. Ashley guides executives in their quest for new jobs, promotions and leadership skills. She is the author of Job Search Debugged andNetworking Debugged which provide field-tested advice for job search. In the last 3 years, 98% of her clients achieved their goals in less than six months. Rita’s website is www.jobsearch4execs.com and you can follow her on Twitter at @JobSearch4execs. This article is part of the 4th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest, which was made possible thanks in large part to our Gold Sponsor, Jason Alba of JibberJobber. If you want Rita Ashley to win, share this article with your friends.

The alternative to ass kissing. Career Coach JobJenny

The alternative to ass kissing. Career Coach JobJenny We've all seen this person in action in the workplace.The loyal puppy dog. The co-worker who hops around at the heels of the influencers, panting, pacing and slobbering all over himself in an effort to get noticed. Get attention. Get somewhere.It is incredibly annoying, especially for all who are wise enough to see precisely what that little puppy dog is up to.Getting ahead is absolutely a lofty goal.Ass kissing? Is a lazy method that doesn't work all that well, and makes you look somewhat pathetic.A better formula for getting ahead in your career:Be genuine.Be smart.Be helpful.Look for ways to solve problems.Raise your hand.Ask good questions.Take time to build a professional network.Keep that network fresh at all times.Never talk smack about anyone, even the slobberers.Stop trying to ride coattails.Stop being so damned scared all of the time.Know that you're worth whatever you're pursuing.Learn from the mistakes.Modify strategies when you need to.Keep going.

7 Breakfast Ideas to Fuel Your Morning

7 Breakfast Ideas to Fuel Your Morning We all know how hard it can be to get up in the morning, particularly if you’ve got a tricky day in the office ahead of you, or if you’ve had a late night the day before. Making sure that you eat a good breakfast (after all, it is the most important meal of the day!) will set you up for the trials and tribulations of the day ahead, and ensure you’re not flagging by 11am. So ditch the copious quantities of coffee and inject some creativity into your breakfast concoctions. Here are seven ideas to give you some inspiration and get your creative juices flowing: Porridge With Extras Forever a staple on food recommendations, porridge is a fantastic way to get you out of bed and fuel your day ahead. Oats are a source of soluble fibre, which means that they release their energy slowly throughout the day, whilst also being kind to your tummy and easier to digest than regular sources of fibre. If you’ve a sweet tooth you could allow yourself an odd dollop of maple syrup or Nutella with your porridge as a special treat, but try to stick to healthy additions to your oaty breakfast. Eggs and Avocado If you’ve embarked upon the vegetarian path in life, there is no more luxurious breakfast than eggs and avocado. Whether you poach, fry, scramble or boil them, eggs are always great, and protein at the start of your day will get you up and raring to go. Combine this with the healthy fats and energy in avocados (they are not just a trend, they are delicious and here to stay), and you have all the health kicks you could want to begin your day Eggs and Smoked Salmon If your diet extends into fish and meat, you have a wider pool of options to pair your eggs with. A yummy piece (or whole packet) of smoked salmon is sure to hit the spot, with the saltiness of the fish complementing the eggs. You’ll also be getting a great dose of those all important Omega three fatty acids. You’ll also be getting a great dose of those all important Omega three fatty acids. Overnight Oats So whilst porridge is one thing, overnight oats are a delicacy which deserves their own reputation. Overnight oats are only now becoming a more popular, widely recognised breakfast treat, and are a much quicker option than their hot counterpart because you can do all the prep in advance. Just pop some oats in a jar or bowl, add a milk of your choice and you’re all set! Seeds, nuts, berries and jam make brilliant additions, and protein powder can add an extra kick to your breakfast. Sausage Sandwich on Wholegrain Bread If you’re looking for a tasty, satisfying breakfast to fill you up, a good old sausage sandwich will never let you down. Choose grainy brown bread to combine sources of fibre and carbohydrate with the protein from the meat. Add in some tomatoes (or Add in some tomatoes (or sun-dried tomatoes if you’re feeling indulgent!) for extra flavour and a dose of vitamin C. Fruity Smoothie Whilst these have suddenly sprung up all over the internet and may seem like a 5-minute fad, if you can get the breakfast smoothie right, do, because it’s here to stay. Opt for a mixture of ingredients, as just using buckets of fruit will amp up your sugar intake. Add oats to your blender for sustenance, try throwing some leaves in here and there, and steer clear of sugary flavoured syrups. Protein powders can be a great way of boosting your daily protein intake with only a small amount of effort, as can egg whites. Green Tea Whilst you may feel that coffee completes you, and you just can’t roll out of bed without a flat white enticing you, try a couple of weeks where you ease off the caffeine. Green tea is a brilliant, energising alternative which will quickly fill the gap that coffee left. If you just can’t quite manage to eat anything of a morning, at least make sure you have a healthy, tasty drink to sip on! Alexandra Jane writes graduate careers advice for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency specialising in matching career starters with graduate jobs. For everything from marketing internships to graduate jobs Manchester, click here.

How Authenticity Eases the Job Interview Process

How Authenticity Eases the Job Interview Process The term authenticity surely carries different weight to different people.In my world, however, it is quite simple. The representation of yourself on paper is an exact clone of who you represent in reality.Of course, like layers of an onion, we all have multiple layers representing our personalities that can be peeled back.But at the end of the day, it matters that you are true and honest.Here’s How This Applies to InterviewingLet’s start at the very beginning of building your resume.When you start to compile documents and completed timelines, it is important to recall them accurately.You want to recall them truthfully for your own well-being.It helps ease the tension when you subject your information to the recruiter.You are confident each sales number and a year-end figure is precise.Don’t End up at the Bottom of the Resume PileOne of the top reasons a resume will hit the bottom of the pile is lack of authenticity and correctness.Often candidates get so consumed by the proces s, they feel it will be “no big deal” to exaggerate a detail on the resume here and there.I beg you, please make no mistake, it is a big deal. It will haunt you.It’s Okay to Create a Brag BookTime to put together your documents, accomplishments, and awards!This piece is going to be the black and white evidence supporting the claims made on your resume and cover letter.Each candidates’ brag book varies, especially from industry to industry.Often, they will contain accolades, celebratory emails from a superior, business plans, sales rankings, or even examples of the work created leading to a positive result.To dive a bit deeper, inaccuracy amongst sales numbers is the most common mistake noted by recruiters.I will continue to preach until I am blue in the face. Emit only the most truthful material you possess.This is a rule of thumb in career development and life: Keep the details clean.Here’s How This Affect Job Interview NervesClose your eyes for thirty seconds and think a bout the pre-interview nerves the majority of us feel. We are all human and about to enter an uncomfortable situation.The question is, “How do I walk into that room as confident, and flawlessly as possible?”The answer brings us right back to authenticity.All the integrity you spilled into your documents will now shine through verbally across the table.Each question thrown at you comes with much more ease as you are recalling from a pure fact, rather than any doctored information to make you look better on paper.You are at your best. You know it.If you’re able to conquer this one measurable chunk of the hiring process, that is fire.

Some Advice About Medical Resume Writing

Some Advice About Medical Resume WritingThe medical resume is the only one that makes a professional statement in your resume. It is the tool to make you stand out from the rest of the applicants and make them feel that they need to talk about you.Your medical resume should be prepared well so that you can impress the hiring manager. Medical resume writing is something very easy to understand but hard to do well. Thus, it should be done well.Before submitting the medical resume, you must have a general idea about the exact function of the position. The job description is the primary component for the resume. You must have an idea about the area you are applying for.It is a good idea to consider the company before submitting the medical resume. Usually, if the company has been in existence for a long time, you can feel assured that the work that you will do would be compatible with the requirements of the job. You can submit the resume without any hesitation. However, it is very impor tant to know what your employer expects from you.Include some excellent details about yourself. You must have a professional profile about yourself. Remember that, all medical positions are not created equal. You must include details about yourself that is attractive and relevant to the work.The medical resume must be able to stand out among other candidates. In order to make a difference in the overall impression that you give the employer, you must include various details that is not available in the other applicants.All of the details about you must be able to tell what you can bring to the job. With the help of your medical resume, you can get noticed for your expertise. It is very important to make sure that your resume is different from other applicants because there are manydoctors in the industry. The more comprehensive your resume is, the better it will be for you.There are plenty of jobs in the industry and you must be aware of the latest trends and skills that are essenti al for the position you are applying for. This is the reason why you need to have a well-presented medical resume in order to stand out from the crowd.

Make Normal The New Normal

Make Normal The New Normal Reading about Gabby Douglas’ gold medal performance in the UT San Diego paper, I was struck by the Olympic team coach’s comment that she was originally seen as a “good average gymnast” and not an obvious pick for being the gold medalist. And that what they didn’t know was how well she would “handle nerves” and perform under the highest pressure.   It was here that she surprised and inspired. So much of what it takes at the top levels is mental and in this department, we can take a page from the approach adopted by the US Women’s Gymnastic team:   “Normal”.   This was the mantra that I watched them say to each other and to themselves to keep the situation within human bounds.   Just do what you normally do â€" what you have done a thousand times in practice and elsewhere.   Topped off by telling each other, “you can do it!” Normal seems to have worked well.   I wonder what the US men’s team, which did not fulfill their potential, had as their watchword?   It seemed that they put so much pressure on themselves that they could not get in their zone and do what they were capable of doing in each routine. In business as well as sports, we each have the ability to perform at our best when it counts.   After putting in the effort, training and practice, it is all about mastering the mental game if we are to shine at key moments.   Of bypassing what Tim Gallwey (in The Inner Game of Tennis) terms our judgmental, conscious “Self 1” mind and allowing our natural abilities “Self 2” mind do what it does best. Whether in the big meetings or key competitions, trust your self and make it normal.   Photo credit: © Gregory Bull/Associated Press

[Interview] Senior Military Leaders Entering the Job Force - CareerEnlightenment.com

What I would tell someone re-entering the job hunt is this: accept that you will need to look for your next job in a totally new way. This new way will be uncomfortable at first. But soon, as you begin to use and understand social media, you will see that your networking skills, organization skills and ability to perform well under fire will help you separate yourself from the competition.VSB: Many military members have come to recognize the importance of being on LinkedIn. What is the best way to make use of that resource beyond simply opening an account and posting a resume?Waldman:  Well, first off, you should never just copy and paste your resume into your LinkedIn profile. People read resumes very differently than they read online profiles. Also, with a profile, your audience will also include search engines. And search engines need to be fed nouns, not just fancy power verbs. Yes, there needs to be consistency between your resume and profile, but they are NOT the same thing. Yo ur profile will need keywords and can be shorter in the descriptions.Ok, now that I’ve got that said, beyond just having a 100% complete profile, there are some new features that you should take advantage of. As military leaders, having one organization (USO) in your profile for years and years could get boring without a lot of room to really demonstrate all of the amazing things you’ve been able to do. Thankfully, LinkedIn has introduced a new Projects area, a Skills area, Publications and Certifications, including clearances. With these profile enhancements you can really start to demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the role. Civilians also going for that same job will not be able to fill those sections out the same way you will.My final thought on this is that success with LinkedIn is not just about having a pretty profile. It’s all about networking, expanding your network in the areas that you want to develop, into the companies you want to work. Begin with a c ompany search and identify ten companies in your area. Then simply inMail or connect with employees of that company who might provide you with good intel.VSB: Do you see any down-sides to using social media as a job resource? What are the risks that can be avoided?Waldman:  The biggest risk is not having a consistent personal brand. Hiring managers and recruiters will look for inconsistencies about you. If they find something that just doesn’t feel right, they may pass you over. Many people simply jump online and start filling out profiles without a plan of attack first. Your personal brand is a plan of attack. Make decisions about how you will position yourself, talk about yourself, display yourself before you do anything. Failing to do this could meet a much longer job search. There are plenty of personal branding books available to help you in this process.VSB: You have provided some very helpful pointers in your book “Job Searching With Social Media for Dummies;” what are the top 2-3 messages you want people to remember from your publication?Waldman:First, you absolutely must get good at using social media. It is the number  one skill for winning both the job search as well as in your career. There are enough statistics to show that most companies rely on social, and some rely on social almost exclusively.Second, before jumping into the pool, dip your toes. Figure out your personal positioning. Who are you? What motivates you?   What problems do you solve at your target companies? Answering these questions first will make your use of social media more effective.Finally, don’t be afraid to be bold. Companies are looking for employees who know how to be flexible and navigate change. Just by embracing social media, you demonstrate that you are agile and open to change. Then, when you use social media boldly and with integrity, you really stand out. You’re not just easier to find, you become the obvious next choice for any job you want.