Job Search Tip of the Week #18 (2019)
Caressa Moy | April 29, 2019 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
How to Ace the Case Interview
If you’re a technology pro (and especially one in a consulting capacity), potential employers want to know more than the simple fact that you can solve their problems. They want to know how you’ll do it. Your attitude, style, problem-solving capabilities, and approach are all deciding factors in how well you’ll fit into a particular position and organization. To find this out, employers often conduct interviews that ask you to solve a business case question or problem.
Solve the case
In a traditional interview, candidates spend the majority of their time answering questions about their education and work experience. In a behavioral interview, employers try to get an idea of how applicants’ personalities and experiences will affect their approach in a particular position. But in a case interview, time is spent talking about a specific sample scenario. The candidate is expected to offer detailed responses that reveal how he or she would deal with the hypothetical situation. These responses help interviewers determine the applicant’s creativity, attitude, and ability.
No right answers
There are no “right answers” in a case interview. Rather, the goal for you as an applicant is to give potential employers a clear idea of how you think and work.
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #7 (2019)
Caressa Moy | February 11, 2019 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Are You Choosing the Right References?
Q. What do I need to know about choosing professional references?
A. It’s not an uncommon situation: Your skills, work experience, and personality seem to be a perfect fit for a prospective employer. The only thing standing between you and your ideal job are your professional references. Whom do you ask to put in a good word for you — and can you be sure that what your reference says will help and not hinder your employment prospects?
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #3 (2019)
Caressa Moy | January 14, 2019 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Let’s Talk Money: Part II
Go in for a Performance Review, Come Out with More Money in Your Proverbial Pocket
Which is more daunting: negotiating a higher starting salary at a new job, or approaching your current employer about a pay raise?
If you think the latter, you’re not alone. Results from the Salary.com survey we referenced last week indicate people fear the pink slip more than a rescinded employment offer. A staggering 44% of people never ask for a raise during their performance review, as compared to 12% who always bring it up.
One of the main reasons why people hesitate to ask for a pay bump from their current employer is because they believe that they lack the skills to negotiate properly and effectively. So without further ado, if you’re looking to stay at your present place of employment but with more money in your proverbial pocket:
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #2 (2019)
Caressa Moy | January 7, 2019 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Let’s Talk Money: Part I
Negotiate a Salary That Works for You
According to data from professional networking site LinkedIn, January is the best month to get a promotion or a raise (unsurprising, considering it’s also the best time to job hunt), followed closely by June and July.
Alarmingly however, the majority of workers leave money on the table. Of the 2,000 respondents to a survey conducted by salary research site Salary.com, 18% reported that they never negotiate their first salaries and 44% only occasionally so due to fearing repercussions or lacking the necessary negotiation skills. Failing to negotiate is costly; studies have shown that those who fail to negotiate at least a $5,000 increase in their first salary lose out on approximately $600,000+ over the course of a 40-year career.
So whether you’re looking to discuss your compensation package with a prospective employer or your current one, follow the following negotiation tips to start – and conquer – the salary conversation!
Q. How can I overcome my hesitation about negotiating my desired salary with a prospective employer?
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #50 (2018)
Caressa Moy | December 10, 2018 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Try Before You Buy: The Scoop on Temp-to-Perm Jobs
Looking for work? Temp work is a great place to find a long-lasting position. Forbes points to survey data confirming that 58% of employers plan to bring on part-time, temp, or contract workers within the next five years. Nearly three-quarters of those jobs are likely to become full-time, permanent positions.
Of course, temp work doesn’t always translate into long-term placement. The best way to find these opportunities is to work with a talented recruiter who can match you with the right company from the start.
Chase Technology Consultants (CTC) knows the value of temp-to-perm placements for both employers and job seekers. A temp position allows candidates to get their foot in the door and is an opportunity to prove that they would make excellent employees. It also gives companies a chance to see potential employees in action and make sure that they are a good fit for the company culture. This type of “trial period” can give employers a bit more time to consider or compare promising candidates.
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #49 (2018)
Caressa Moy | December 3, 2018 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Use a Multiple-Job History to Your Advantage
…and Leave Your Job-Hopping History in the Past
Q. I’ve held three full-time positions in the last three years. How can I explain this experience on my résumé without coming across as a job-hopper?
A. Job-hopping — holding a succession of jobs in a relatively short time frame — isn’t that unusual, given the employment challenges brought on by the Great Recession. And the practice is becoming the norm in the tech industry, where software professionals often change jobs every two to three years. Still, a history of job changes can cause a potential employer to question your loyalty and staying power.
To avoid being perceived as a job-hopper, you need to present your job history in a new way. Your initial step, according to various career experts, is to craft your résumé to direct attention to your career story rather than your job history.
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #45 (2018)
Caressa Moy | November 5, 2018 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Why You Never Want to Skip the Thank-You Note
It’s one of the great last impressions you can make!
Congratulations! After:
- Properly formatting your résumé using this free IT résumé template and how-to,
- Showing hiring managers what they want to see on your résumé,
- Preparing yourself for these 3 digital recruitment trends that are changing the candidate selection and evaluation process,
- Cutting through the noise on social media, and
- Networking and collaborating online with hiring companies and other IT and technology professionals
…you got the interview and rocked it. Now, how do you make yourself memorable and continue to differentiate yourself from other candidates? Send a thank-you note.
A couple short sentences sent within the first 24 hours of your interview can really tip the hiring scales in your favor (or not). Keep reading below to learn more, then download these TEN thank-you note templates which you can customize to suit your needs. (Pro Tip: A good IT recruiter like Chase Technology Consultants can help you write and proofread thank-you notes. Just ask!)
Now get on with making that great last impression.
You’ve found the perfect company. You’ve aced the interview. Now all you can do is wait, right?
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #38 (2018)
Caressa Moy | September 17, 2018 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
What Keeps Millennials From Job-Hopping?
Last week’s Job Search Tip of the Week (“How to Make it as a Millennial”) consisted of tips for Millennials on how to overcome the three most common negative Gen Y and Gen Z stereotypes to be more appealing to hiring managers.
However, employers mustn’t forget that the hiring process is a two-way street, especially considering nearly half of the U.S. labor force is expected to be comprised of Millennials by 2020. In order to maintain their competitive edge, employers must adapt themselves for this imminent technological and cultural change to the workforce. So whether you’re a hiring manager or a job seeker, read on to learn more how to find the employee/company you’ll want to stick with.
Millennials: They’re young, tech-savvy, highly educated, and eager to try out their skills in the corporate world. But most are also lacking real-world experience — something some employers are afraid to offer thanks to this generation’s reputation for job-hopping. How can employers attract and keep these valuable workers? What are Millennials looking for in potential employers?
Not-so-risky business
Millennials are often thought of as high “flight risks.” According to a recent study by the US Labor Department, the average 25-year old has already worked 6.3 jobs. Figures like this one can scare off employers who worry about investing resources to hire and train candidates, only to watch them walk out the door.
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #34 (2018)
Caressa Moy | August 20, 2018 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Climb Out of Your Career Rut
Q. Help! I’ve worked in the same field for years and am stuck in an unchallenging position. How can I move out of this career rut into a more fulfilling job?
A. You’re not alone. Many workers today feel stuck in their careers. In a recent survey by Rasmussen College, only one third of 2,000 respondents reported being “happy in their job.”
Read More »
Job Search Tip of the Week #27 (2018)
Caressa Moy | July 2, 2018 | 9:00 am
0 Comments
Get Smart about Career Networking
4 Strategies for Your (July 4th) Job Search Networking
Whatever you’re up to this Independence Day weekend with your family and friends (not to mention complete strangers), it’s a great time to leverage the power of face-to-face interaction and network your way into a job.
Referrals are the leading source of external hires, reports CareerXroads, an online peer-to-peer community of talent acquisition professionals. Yet, not maintaining and growing your network is one of the 15 most common IT job search mistakes, according to CIO.com managing editor and writer Rich Hein. Most people avoid networking because they don’t know to effectively do so. (Or, they claim to be terrible with names. If you’re one of those, check out these mnemonic devices you can use to change that!)
Read on below to learn about the four strategies you need to get your (Fourth of July) job search networking off with a bang!
Read More »