Speak With Your References Before Beginning A Job Search
by: Scott Brown
History has taught us that people are as changeable as the wind. I am sure that we have all had an experience where a friend or acquaintance said one thing and then changed it to something else a day later. This is human nature and nobody can control the changes except the person making the change.
With that being said, let?s consider your job references. When you decide to look for a new job, it?s a good idea to touch base with your references.
Stage your tasks
Looking for a new job and verifying that your references are still on your side can be a staged process. You can begin your job search and post your resume before contacting your references but don?t wait too long.
Step One ? get noticed
A good first step in your job search is to get your resume posted on all the job sites.? Generating leads is an important part of the process, regardless on how you choose to do it.
Stage two ? email
Once you have posted your resume and sent it to as many recruiters as possible, send a friendly email to all of your references letting them know that you are searching for a job. In the email ask them to verify their contact info and current place of employment.
It is a good idea to attach a copy of your resume to allow your references to remember where you worked together and what your job responsibilities were. Most managers deal with lots of employees and prior employees and they may not remember exactly what you did.
Most, if not all of your references will respond quickly. If you do not receive a prompt response, then you must assume they either did not get your message, they chose not to respond or they might be out of town. No matter what the reason, now is the time to call them.
Stage two ? call
When you call, make sure to listen to the undertone of your conversation. You can verify the contact info and find out what they are doing now but it is imperative that you listen to what they are saying behind their words. If you get the feeling that this person really does not want to be a reference, consider putting them on a separate list of secondary references.
Most references will do their best to give you an excellent reference but sometimes outside factors may be influencing their attitude and you do not want your reference?s attitude to cost you a second interview or cost you a job.
Stage three ? decide
When you talk to your reference, if they sound distant and unconcerned, they may not be the best person to use. If they are openly hostile, definitely do not use them. Life and people change on a daily basis and you never know when someone may change the way they feel about you.
The main goal when applying for a new job is to put yourself in the best light possible in the eyes of the employer. Everyone has a little tarnish and picking good references allows you to try and put some polish on it. All in all, the entire job hunting process is time-consuming and sometimes a real pain. Be proactive and eliminate any potential pitfalls by speaking with your references up front and deciding if you want to keep them as a reference.
About The Author
Scott Brown is the author of the Job Search Handbook (www.JobSearchHandbook.com).
|
17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview
17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview
by: Laura Adams
Several Days - One Week Before the Interview
1. Spend some time to research the organization and the position at hand.
To find company-specific information, visit your local library, run a search on the internet, or talk to current or former employees about their experiences and impressions of the company.
Study up on the company's products and services, industry, target market, annual sales, geographic location(s), structure, history, officers, and any other key information.
Are there any new trends in the industry?
2. Identify the organization?s major competitors and do some basic research on how they differ (either positively or negatively) from the company at which you are interviewing.
3. Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the organization?s needs.
Practice answering...
Sample resume > 17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview
Basic SEO Article - Focusing on Quick Optimization Techniques For The Newbie
Basic SEO Article - Focusing on Quick Optimization Techniques For The Newbie
by: Brad Callen
Basic On-Page SEO
On-page optimization is often ignored by the top sites on Google - after all, who cares about a few percentage points when you can literally buy your way to the top of the search engine result pages (SERPs) with a bucket-load of inbound links?
Today I?ll discuss a bit about why, contrary to common practice, why on-page SEO is so important and then tell you how you can quickly optimize your web pages even if you have very little time!
On-Page SEO - The Benefits
A lot of webmasters (including some self-proclaimed SEO experts) claim that on-page optimization is obsolete - that the only thing that matters is off-page optimization (i.e. link building).
So is that true?
Actually, like most SEO hype, there?s some truth involved. Inbound links have become the overwhelming determining factor in a website?s...
Basic SEO Article - Focusing on Quick Optimization Techniques For The Newbie
Sample resume > Basic SEO Article - Focusing on Quick Optimization Techniques For The Newbie
Sending Samples With Your Press Release-- Should You Or Shouldn't You? Here's A Guide?
Sending Samples With Your Press Release-- Should You Or Shouldn't You? Here's A Guide?
by: Dianne Beiermann
When you begin to send out your press releases, you will start to get calls and emails from the editors requesting samples of your product. What do you do? Well that all depends. Below are some tricks and tips for gauging when you should or shouldn't send samples.
When you should send samples with your press release:
1) When the item is very low cost: If the press release you're sending is about a product that is under $10.00, you may want to consider sending a sample of the product to the editors. Since the item is low cost, it makes sense to send a sample. Sending a sample can help improve your chances for getting some free publicity for your company.
2) When it is a major publication: Another good time to consider sending a product sample is when you're dealing with a major publication. If the publication has a wide distribution...
Sending Samples With Your Press Release-- Should You Or Shouldn't You? Here's A Guide?
Sample resume > Sending Samples With Your Press Release-- Should You Or Shouldn't You? Here's A Guide?
Who Says Affiliates Can't Use Joint Ventures To Make Money?
Who Says Affiliates Can't Use Joint Ventures To Make Money?
by: Anik Singal
This is a technique I teach almost every day. Yet almost no affiliate marketers are currently using it!
The trick is so interesting that you?ll learn how to actually make money off of your competitors.
Here's how it works:
Step One: Create an "Upsell."
An Upsell is simply a more expensive product or service that you offer to your current customers. One of the best Upsells is a service that simplifies a complex process. Examples would be installing and running software, providing tutorials or providing consultation.
Here's an example: Let's say you've got a niche web site on resume writing. You promote a resume writing Ebook or audio tape program. Your commission on each sale is $20, and you've already sold 35 copies, so you've earned $700.
But even if someone buys a resume writing book, they won't necessarily get around to actually WRITING...
Who Says Affiliates Can't Use Joint Ventures To Make Money?
Sample resume > Who Says Affiliates Can't Use Joint Ventures To Make Money?
Resume Writing FAQs: When Should I Send Resume Follow Up Letters?
Resume Writing FAQs: When Should I Send Resume Follow Up Letters?
by: Jennifer Anthony, Resume Expert
I?m often asked how long you should wait before following up on a resume submitted in response to a telecommuting position. You want them to know you are interested, but there is a fine line between pestering the hiring manager and showing your enthusiasm. Here are some tips to guide you.
A week is a reasonable time to wait for a reply from the hiring manager. Hiring managers will receive, on average, around 300 resumes in response to a position after just 12 hours of posting it online! Give it a week to calm down and then send your follow up e-mail (because e-mails are less intrusive phone calls).
Make sure to hit the following key points in your letter:
1. Ask if the position has been filled.
2. Reiterate your interest in the position.
3. Express your continued interest in working for their company (in case the position...
Resume Writing FAQs: When Should I Send Resume Follow Up Letters?
Sample resume > Resume Writing FAQs: When Should I Send Resume Follow Up Letters?