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How to Organize Your Job Search

How do you organize your job search information and tracking? If you’re in the midst of a job search, you know how hard it can be to keep track of all your applications. Which company did you send a resume to? Who was your contact? Did you respond to a job board posting, see the job on the company website, or blindly send a resume?

And you need to keep track of your interviews. Did you interview with them already? Are you waiting for a second interview? Who did you meet with? Did you send a thank you note?

A thorough job search involves a lot of details and organization in order to be productive and professional. These are some easy ways to organize your job search so you can keep track of all the details.

Easy Ways to Organize Your Job Search

Create a Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet is one of the easiest ways to keep track of your application status without being overwhelmed with paper. One simple document on your computer keeps all the details in order.

Create columns for each detail you need to keep track of. For instance:

Company name
Contact name and email or phone
Date you sent your resume, cover letter, and any additional information
Date you received a call back
A brief job description
Date you interviewed and notes of that interview
Date you followed up and the kind of follow up you sent . . . thank you note in the mail or email
Current status of your application process

If you’re not comfortable with Excel, you can also create a table in a Word document that contains the same information.

Use a Google Account

You can use Google calendar to set important appointments like interviews as well as reminders like sending thank you notes. You can sync this calendar with your phone or tablet through your Google account so it’s readily available.

Google Docs and Google Drive is also a great place to store a copy of your resume and cover letter for easy sharing or sending.

Create Job Alerts

Many job boards have alerts that let you know when a new job is posted. You can create alerts through these sites specific to the type of job you’re looking for. When a job is posted that fits your specifications, you’ll receive an email so that you can be one of the first applicants.

Use an App

There are job search management apps available for both iOS and Android that can help you keep track of important details on the go. Simply download the app and enter the pertinent information.

Organize on Job Search Sites

Job search sites like LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, and Monster offer built-in tools to help you keep track of the jobs you’ve applied for. You only need to set up an account and login each time you start a job search. Unfortunate, there is one downfall. They only keep track of the jobs you apply for on their sites, not the jobs you apply for elsewhere.

Keeping track of all the details involved in your job search can seem like a huge task, but if you use one of these methods to organize your job search, you’ll easily be able to keep track of all the information you need.

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

If you need help updating your resume, practicing for an interview, or organizing your job search information during these hard times, consider reaching out to Rachel Schneider at Career Find to assist you.

By Robin|2020-08-03T21:38:32-05:00August 10th, 2020|Job Search|Comments Off

Social Media CheckUp

Do you need a social media checkup? In today’s professional world, it should be assumed that a company will check a candidate’s social media presence when they are looking for employment with that company. It is important to find out how your potential candidate presents themselves to the world and what they choose to share on social media.

Why Should I be Concerned?

According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process. They look for information supporting the candidate’s qualifications as well as the negative stuff.

One job hunter named Sarah was in her third and final round of interviews at a company. Unfortunately, she forgot to clean up her Facebook page prior to beginning her job hunt. She was not extended an offer because of the passionate and derogatory views that she expressed about a previous employer. Another candidate, Matthew, did not remove images that he posted on Instagram of drinking and partying with his friends on a weekly basis. The company decided that they didn’t want to deal with a party animal showing up late to work. They never extended an offer to him.

Sam posted a lot of discriminatory comments on his page with hateful remarks about people of a different race and sex. When the employer saw how negative and polarizing his posts were, they chose not to offer a second interview. Another job hunter bragged on social media about skipping work and going to the lake for the day. Although he had been the top candidate, he was not offered the job.

Clean Up Your Accounts

As far as employers are concerned, in today’s world, everything you choose to put on social media is a direct reflection of who you are. So you might want to consider a social media checkup.

I always advise my clients to clean up their social media accounts prior to starting their job search. On Facebook, it’s not just the images that you post and the information that you put out there, it is also what you have been tagged in. It is wise to look at all of your posts, as well as anything you have been tagged in. Untag, hide, or delete items prior to beginning your job search.

Lastly, there is always the option to suspend your account temporarily while you are on the job market. But be aware that employers expect you to have social media of some sort and if everything is deleted, it could be a red flag.

In this day and age, you must be exceptionally vigilant about what you share on social media and what the content says about you.

Stand Out From the Crowd

When you are looking for your next opportunity, it is extremely important to be at your professional best and to differentiate yourself from other job seekers. Take the time to complete a social media checkup and make sure you are putting your best foot forward. If you need help, we can get you on the right track to get the job you want. Contact Rachel Schneider to schedule an appointment.

By Rachel Schneider|2020-07-30T23:53:29-05:00July 30th, 2020|Career Success, Job Search|Comments Off

How to Set Boundaries When Working Remotely

Many people recently ventured into the unknown world of working remotely, and for most of those
people, the change came quickly and without much notice. If you found yourself unprepared to work
remotely and haven’t been able to get into a routine and be productive, I’m here to help.

When working in an office, you have the comradery of coworkers all working toward the same goal. In some cases, you may have an office where you can close the door when you need quiet time. The commute to and from the office allows you to set your mind for work or to unwind from work before you go home. All of these things allow you to focus on the job you need to do.

But when you work remotely, these things change. You no longer have coworkers popping in and out of your office sharing ideas, in many cases you don’t have an office where you can close the door, and you lose your commute time that signals your brain when it’s time to work and when work is done. Working remotely requires you to set a few boundaries, both for others and for yourself, in order to be productive and successful.

Set Boundaries When Working Remotely

Create a “Work Only” Space

This can be a spare bedroom, a corner of your basement, the garage, or any other area where you can set up a dedicated workspace. Having this space will help signal your brain that it’s time to work when you enter it, and time to quit when you leave. It will also help your family to know when it’s work time and to leave you alone.

Maintain a Schedule

If you normally work 9-5 in your office, maintain those same work hours at home. The more you can maintain a regular schedule, the easier it will be for you to be productive during that time. Hold back the temptation to check email at 7 am just because you can or to pop back in your office for a few minutes after dinner. An unstructured schedule will make it harder to be productive.

Fill Your Commute Time with Something Else

If you normally left for work at 8 for a 1-hour commute, don’t start using that time for work. Maintain your regular working hours and fill your commute time with something else. Have breakfast with your family, go for a walk, read a good book, listen to a podcast. Use this time to prepare your brain for the day ahead.

Take Breaks

Just as you would take a coffee break or lunch break in the office, do the same at home. It’s important to move around, stretch your legs, and walk away from your computer for a few minutes. If you’re used to taking a coffee break with a coworker, schedule a break by phone with them.

Working remotely certainly has its benefits, but if you’re unable to set boundaries, your day will be completely off track and you won’t be able to be productive. According to Inhersight.com, you might even need to find someone to check in with to hold you accountable to your boundaries. Boundaries are necessary to help you stay focused and be successful when working remotely.

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

If you need help updating your resume or practicing for an interview during these hard times, consider reaching out to me, Rachel Schneider at Career Find to assist you.

By Rachel Schneider|2020-07-08T22:04:25-05:00July 8th, 2020|Remote Work|Comments Off

Think Twice Before You Put Content Online

When you put content online it can live forever. When you are looking for a job, hoping to survive a merger or yearning for a promotion at work, are you extra careful with what you put online? What about the items that have been there for a while? Do you review your profile and timeline and remove things that could hurt your chances of getting the job?

Put content online

What Did You Put Online?

You may think you post appropriate content on professional sites or social networks related to work, like LinkedIn. But be aware that your entire online presence is open to being considered by potential employers, new management, or anyone looking to promote an employee. A Google or Bing search can uncover a great deal of your online activity.

Think about the last time your favorite sports team lost the big game, or the referees made you mad. Did you comment on that anywhere online?

What about COVID-19 and wearing masks? How about the stay-at-home orders? Did you comment or rant about something related?

Were you mad about the latest racial controversy and indulged in some negative comments on Twitter?

Did you post about the celebration with bottles of alcohol in your hands when the stay at home order lifted?

Were there layoffs in your company or unfair treatment of individual employees you complained about? Or maybe you were an essential worker and complained.

What You Put Online Is Visible To Employers

I’m not saying you shouldn’t have an opinion, just that whatever you are posting is visible to those checking out your profile and could make a difference in how they think of you.

Anything inappropriate you write or post online can come back to haunt you professionally. Your reputation can be built up or squashed by the way you engage online. According to Caroline Vandergriff in the post, Beware on Social Media: Old posts may come back to haunt you, “Big errors can cost you. Old posts could come back to haunt you when it comes time to apply for college or look for a new job.”

Put Content Online A 2018 Career Builder survey found that 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process, and at least 43 percent use it to check on current employees. They reported that the top behaviors that create a bad impression were:

Provocative or inappropriate photos
Posts about drinking or using drugs
Discriminatory comments about race, gender or religion

So think twice before you hit enter. Comments with profanity, mean posts about other people, complaints about work, and comments about partying are just a few of the things posted on social media that can come back to hurt you in the future.

What You Put Online Can Show Your Expertise

Social networks and blogs are a great way to show your expertise, knowledge, and ability to communicate well with others. If you do it right, you can easily enhance your credibility.

Be conscientious of how you present yourself to others online and always ask yourself, is this something I would want a potential employer to see? If it isn’t, then maybe you shouldn’t be posting it.

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

If you need help updating your resume or practicing for an interview during these hard times, consider reaching out to me, Rachel Schneider, at Career Find to assist you.

Tips For Working From Home With Kids Around

Are you working from home with kids around? Working from home is a dream for many parents, but the reality can be much different, especially when it is thrust upon you with little notice. Working from home with kids around requires a little planning, patience, and flexibility. Your schedule may change at a moment’s notice and there will be days when you can’t be as productive as you’d like.

Working From Home With Kids

To set yourself up for success, there are a few things you can do to ensure a productive work environment.

Be Willing to be Flexible

You may not be able to work a standard 9-5 schedule if you’re at home with kids around. Be flexible and adjust your schedule (If your job permits this). Get up earlier and work a few hours in the morning, then put in a few more hours between lunch and dinner, and work an extra hour or two in the evening. Being flexible allows you to spend time with your kids throughout the day as well as work.

Communicate Your Needs

If your spouse is also at home, communicate what you need from each other as far as quiet time and distractions. Figure out how you can work together to give you the quality quiet time you need. Then discuss this with your kids so they know the rules about when it’s okay to interrupt and when it’s not. Even small children can learn to be respectful of work time.

Hire Help

If your spouse isn’t home to help care for your kids, hire help when it is possible. Bringing someone in, even for just a few hours a day, to keep your kids distracted and cared for while you work can help you increase your productivity.

Have a Dedicated Space

With a dedicated home office where you can close the door, you can help your kids set boundaries. They’ll know that when mommy or daddy is in the office with the door closed, it’s work time and they shouldn’t disturb you. It can also help to signal them to keep the noise level down. If you have a make-shift office, find something visual that will signal to your children that you should not be disturbed. It can be a certain piece of clothing or jacket you put on, certain music you play or a stuffed animal you sit in the chair beside you. Whatever you decide as a signal can work.

According to MoneyChat, “Having a dedicated workspace can also help reduce distractions, like social media.” The more focused you are the more work you will accomplish.

Create a Boredom Box

Put together a box with craft supplies, books, parent-approved movies, and toys that they can use on their own if they’re bored. You can also create a list of parent-approved activities to hang on the fridge and include things they can do on their own if they’re bored. Making sure your kids have plenty to keep them busy will allow you to be less distracted. You can also include age-appropriate chores or homework. When you work, they do their work.

Create a Healthy Snack Box

As parents, we’ve all heard the cries of “I’m hungry! There’s nothing to eat!” To your kids, this is an emergency worth interrupting you for. Steer clear of this distraction by creating snack stations in the pantry and fridge with plenty of things they can eat on their own. Crackers, pretzels, yogurt, fruit, cheese, juice boxes, and other healthy snacks will give your kids more independence while giving you peace and quiet.

Practice

Practice with your kids before you start working from home or when you set up new rules to help them learn and understand when it’s okay to interrupt you and when it’s not. Give them a signal that tells them to stop or be quiet if they’re interrupting at a bad time. For instance, putting your hand up to tell them to stop or your finger over your lips to tell them to be quiet.

Working from home with kids around can create a lot of challenges to your productivity, but if you work with your kids and you’re willing to be flexible, you should be able to be successful. Who knows, you may decide you enjoy working from home and opt to make it a permanent work environment.

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

If you need help updating your resume or practicing for an interview during these hard times, consider reaching out to me, Rachel at Career Find to assist you.

By Robin|2020-06-10T22:00:39-05:00June 10th, 2020|Remote Work, Work/Life Balance|Comments Off

How to Master a Phone Interview in 5 Easy Steps

With the state of the world, a phone interview is more common than ever. With hundreds of candidates applying for a single job, it might sound and seem intimidating when you think of making a great impression with a phone interview. How in the world will you do that?

Don’t panic, We’ve got your back!

5 Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview

According to a post on Zety.com, “On average, each corporate job offer attracts 250 resumes. Of those candidates, 4 to 6 will get called for an interview, and only one will get the job.” These 5 tips will help you master your phone interview and stand out from the crowd.

1. Prepare

Prepare the same way you would for an in-person interview. It’s crucial to spend just as much time prepping for your phone interview as you would an in-person interview.

Come up with a list of your strengths, the skills you bring to the table, and why you are interested in that specific job.

2. Set A Time

If the call comes out of the blue, without warning, ask to set a time to talk. Let them know you’re thrilled to talk but ask to speak later and suggest a time.

Even if it is just for later that day, you need time to gather your thoughts, take a deep breath and find a quiet place to talk with a good connection where you won’t be interrupted.

3. Smile and Make Eye Contact

Try standing and smiling while talking. Standing boosts your energy level and smiling while looking at yourself in the mirror, affects your tone of voice and will make a more favorable impression.

4. Don’t Over-talk

Don’t over-talk and listen closely. A phone call makes it difficult to read nonverbal cues that indicate the interviewer is about to speak.

Talk slowly, pause, and ask if more detail would be useful.

Take notes on what the interviewer is asking. This will help you write a personalized thank you letter, which you MUST do post-interview.

5. Ask About the Next Step

Ask about the next step in the hiring process and then follow up. Before you hang up the phone, tell the interviewer how excited and appreciative you are for this opportunity and ask what the next step in the process will be.

Use the notes you took during the interview to incorporate specific details in your thank you note. It is also important to include specific ways you would contribute to the company.

Mastering a phone interview can seem overwhelming, but by following these 5 simple steps, you can make the impression you want and help you land that important job.

Do You Need Help?

If you would like to practice or hone your phone interviewing skills, contact Career Coach Rachel Schneider for an appointment.

By Rachel Schneider|2020-05-28T12:00:56-05:00May 28th, 2020|Job Interview, Job Search, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Load More Posts

How to Organize Your Job Search

Easy Ways to Organize Your Job Search

Create a Spreadsheet

Use a Google Account

Create Job Alerts

Use an App

Organize on Job Search Sites

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

How to Set Boundaries When Working Remotely

Set Boundaries When Working Remotely

Create a “Work Only” Space

Maintain a Schedule

Fill Your Commute Time with Something Else

Take Breaks

Other Posts You May Find Helpful

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

Tips For Working From Home With Kids Around

Working From Home With Kids

Be Willing to be Flexible

Communicate Your Needs

Hire Help

Have a Dedicated Space

Create a Boredom Box

Create a Healthy Snack Box

Practice

Other Posts You May Find Helpful

Do You Need Help With Your Job Search?

How to Master a Phone Interview in 5 Easy Steps

5 Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview

1. Prepare

2. Set A Time

3. Smile and Make Eye Contact

4. Don’t Over-talk

5. Ask About the Next Step

Do You Need Help?

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