RK Wealth Management



Job Hunting Tips

NAVIGATE THE JOB HUNT WITH THESE TIPS FOR RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, INTERVIEWING AND NETWORKING.[pic]

Women today are supposed to have all of the same opportunities as men, so do women still need job-hunting advice tailored to them? Yes and no. While it’s true that women are able to land jobs in traditionally male-dominated roles, the field is still uneven in many industries. It’s illegal to discriminate against women during the hiring process, but that doesn’t mean hiring managers won’t sometimes have subconscious biases toward women. Aside from the still-intact glass ceiling, women are also more likely to return to work after a long absence—on average, women spend 27 years in the workforce, while men spend almost 40 years. These unique concerns can make the job market seem even more intimidating to many women. However, if you know the tricks of the job-hunting trade, you can find the confidence it takes to land your dream job.

Networking

Few words in the English language strike as much fear in most people’s hearts as “networking”—“job interview” may be another, but we’ll get to that later. Networking is paramount in your job-hunting strategy because many job openings are not even publicly advertised. Those jobs that are posted are usually flooded with applicants. If you can get your application tagged as a referral, your chances of landing an interview increase.

Networking is unnatural to many women who have been socialized not to toot their own horn or ask for favors. However, women also tend to be more skilled at communication and building relationships when compared with men. Not all women are better than all men at communication, of course, but the ability to form relationships can be helpful in building a professional network.

Tips for networking:

• Reach out to your alumni network and see if they have a LinkedIn group.

• If you’ve been out of work for a while, check in with former co-workers, both managers and those who worked below you—they might be the ones in the position to hire you today.

• Let others introduce you in social situations so they can brag on your behalf.

• Develop an elevator pitch that succinctly states your skills and career goals so you’ll be ready on the fly.

If the idea of networking still bothers you, just think of it as socializing in a professional manner. You don’t have to attend a networking event armed with business cards to build a network. Instead, try to project a positive, professional demeanor, make sure your friends and acquaintances know you’re looking for a job and welcome any opportunity to meet friends of friends. You never know where your next job lead will come from.

Finding Jobs to Apply for

Before you get into the nitty-gritty of updating your resume and drafting a cover letter, you need to find out what jobs are available. In addition to networking and the usual job search websites, try these ideas:

• Check nearby universities’ career centers for a list of local businesses that have hired graduates.

• Look for upcoming or recent job fairs held in your city. Even if you’re not able to attend, there should be a list of companies who attended. Use this list to do some research of your own.

• Look at job openings at all of the companies in your area—almost all companies need workers in accounting, human resources, marketing, IT, etc.

• Subscribe to updates from your favorite job search websites so you won’t have to actively search for new listings every day.

Cover Letters

Recruiters and hiring managers have a tough job: finding the best applicants to fill each position in their company. While hiring managers want to do the best they can at finding quality applicants, they don’t often have the time to search through your resume and piece together information that proves your eligibility. It’s your job to make the hiring manager see that you are qualified for the position. You can do this with a well-written cover letter.

Your cover letter is a way to explain your accomplishments and skills in plain English, highlighting what you want hiring managers to see in your resume and explaining what you didn’t include. For example, if you took time off to raise your children, you can explain this in the cover letter—and if you do so, mention any volunteer work or freelance projects you completed in the interim. Busy hiring managers may not have time to read to the end, especially if it’s long, so put important information near the top and begin with an intriguing opening.

Resumes

Similarly, many hiring managers will only skim your resume for a few seconds before deciding whether or not to bring you in for an interview. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend more than a few seconds creating it. Use these tips for building a resume from scratch:

• Find free resume templates online to make your resume look professional and easy to read.

• If you were gone from the workplace for a long time, you may want to consider a skills-based resume rather than a chronological one. List interim volunteer work, etc., and include your responsibilities and accomplishments in business terms.

• Unless you have a long career behind you, a one- or two-page resume should be enough. To keep it short, only include relevant work experience.

• Objective statements have fallen out of favor recently. Nix the objective to free up extra space and avoid looking like you’re behind the times.

Job Interviews

If “job interview” fills you with more dread than “networking,” just keep in mind that your interviewer is not your adversary; hiring managers go into each interview hoping to find someone to fill an empty role, so they want you to succeed as much as you do. And don’t think of the interviewer as wielding all of the power either—you need to make sure the company is a good fit for you, just as he or she needs to make sure you’re a good fit for the company. You can reframe the interview as merely a conversation between two professionals.

The most important thing you can do before a job interview is prepare: prepare questions to ask the interviewer, prepare answers to common interview questions and research the company, the interviewer and the role you’re applying for thoroughly. Here are some common interview questions to prepare for:

• Tell me about yourself. Avoid talking about your personal life and instead use this as an opportunity to give an overview of your professional history and goals.

• Why did you leave your last job? Don’t say anything negative about your current or former employer. Instead, prepare an answer that focuses on the aspects of the prospective company and job that appeal to you.

• Tell me about a time when… Spend time before the interview brainstorming stories from your professional history that demonstrate your skills, problem-solving ability, etc.

• What is your greatest weakness? Avoid spinning a weakness into an asset, such as “I work too hard.” Also avoid listing any weakness that disparages your skills. Instead, think of something you’ve been working to improve. Focus on the improvements you’ve already made and what you plan to do to improve even more.

• Where do you see yourself in five years? The interviewer is looking to see if you have career goals and how the job you’re interviewing for fits.

At the end of the interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. One of the worst things you can say is, “I don’t know.” Asking your own questions shows that you’re genuinely interested in the job and that you’ve done your research. Ask about the company culture, how your success will be measured, what the ideal candidate is like and anything else you’re curious about. This is not the time, however, to talk about salary and benefits.

Armed with a strategic job-hunting plan, anyone can handle the job market confidently. By focusing on your strengths and finding jobs that you can thrive in rather than worrying about your age, absence from the workplace or gender, you can seek out employment opportunities that are truly the best matches for you. Your job of finding the right job openings is just as important as a hiring manager’s job of finding qualified applicants.

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Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through registered representatives and investment advisor representatives of Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC), a registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor. AIC is not affiliated with RK Wealth Management, LLC or Midwest Financial Solutions, LLC. Additional products and services may be available through Eric Raasch and Chris Kramer, RK Wealth Management, LLC or Midwest Financial Solutions, LLC that are not offered through AIC. Representatives of AIC do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding your situation.

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If the idea of networking still bothers you, just think of it as socializing in a professional manner.

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Job Hunting Tips

for women

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for women

This article was written by Advicent Solutions, an entity unrelated to RK Wealth Management, LLC. The information contained in this article is not intended to be tax, investment, or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any tax penalties. RK Wealth Management, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. You are encouraged to consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific tax issues.

© 2013 Advicent Solutions. All rights reserved.

Chris Kramer & Eric Raasch CLU, ChFC

RK Wealth Management, LLC

(515) 348-6019



1200 Valley West Drive, Suite 403

West Des Moines, IA 50266

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