Five hiring managers are seated around a desk, sifting through a stack of more than a hundred resumes for two open positions. This is the first round, so unfortunately, almost every resume ends up drifting into a pile bound for the trash bin.

Every once in a while, one of the screeners will say “Hey, listen to this one,” and share a clunky sentence or humorous resume misstep with the others, who will laugh at the poor applicant’s expense. The mood in the room is lighthearted but also urgent, since the position needs to be filled by the end of the month.

Then one of the screeners holds up the resume in her hands. “Wow,” she says. “Just wow.” The others listen as she reads a few lines aloud and then passes the resume around.  Within a few minutes, the other managers have all had a chance to glance over it, and without another word, it’s placed carefully to the side. “Well, that’s it,” says the hiring manager. “I think one of our positions has just been filled.”

They still have one more position to staff and a stack of fifty more resumes to review. Yours is somewhere in the stack. Will it get the same response?

How to Be the Candidate Employers Love

If you want to be the candidate at the center of unanimous, enthusiastic agreement, make sure your resume contains these key elements.

1. Include a summary, not an objective.

Objectives are out. Instead, head the resume with a very short paragraph summarizing the rest of the content, in other words, summarizing you. Condense your unique self and everything you have to offer into three compelling, readable sentences.

2. Give a real sense of what you’ve done.

Be honest. Be clear. And for pity’s sake, drop the buzzwords. After each job title you’ve held, write a short description of what you actually did. Then insert a few bullet points listing your key accomplishments. Try to attach a number to each accomplishment, as in “reduced customer complaints by 40%”.  But let your history speak for itself. Too much spin suggests you have something to overinflate or hide.

3. Emphasize the story.

Everyone in the resume stack has something to offer, everyone has a degree (if a degree requirement was specified in the job posting), and everyone has basic familiarity with the field. They all know how to show up on time. They all know how to meet deadlines. And they’re all “leaders” and “team players”. But you have something they don’t have. Find it, and make sure it’s woven throughout the resume like a theme.

4. Don’t be careless.

Of course your resume should be typo-free. But this is only because typos suggest a larger underlying problem– that of a candidate who goes through the motions, feels entitled to a job, and doesn’t expect to be scrutinized or held to a higher standard. Typos say: “I can’t be bothered to take this seriously,” which is a death knell for a resume. Make sure your resume is not only typo-free, but comes across as a thoughtful and meticulous work of art.

The staffing experts at Merritt are pros when it comes to drafting and editing resumes. We know exactly what employers are looking for, and we can help you polish your resume to an irresistible shine. Contact us today and get the job search guidance you need.

Years ago, the word “internship” suggested something innocent and positive. Internships, paid or unpaid, were mutual agreements that benefited both the interns and their employers. In many cases, the internship process represented a kind of right-of-passage for students who were confined by seasonal academic schedules but still wanted to dip their toes in the real working world before being tossed into the deep end after graduation.

Career counselors and parents supported the idea, and many unpaid internships were considered prestigious even if they came with high demands and didn’t pay a dime. Those were the old days.

In today’s recession-weary and somewhat more sophisticated world, the idea of a big bank or corporation “hiring” an eager, obedient young worker in exchange for nothing but the promise of prestige seems dysfunctional at best, and at worst, exploitative or even illegal. There’s nothing wrong with approaching an unpaid internship for a wealthy company with a degree of suspicion. If a company can afford to pay you but refuses to do so, they don’t deserve your time.

But what about a company that genuinely can’t afford to pay you? When it comes to accepting a summer internship, can a company’s business model and financial circumstances make a difference?

Should You Pursue a Summer Internship?

Yes, they can. Feel free to pursue an unpaid internship with a company if you support its larger mission, and it would have to divert funds away from that mission in order to compensate you. If you’re looking to build your event-planning experience, volunteering to organize fund drives and spaghetti dinners for the Red Cross can get you the experience you need without wasting your time, compromising your principles, or allowing yourself to be exploited. 

If you’re into flowers and horticulture, go ahead and spend the summer working for free in your neighbor’s florist shop. If you’re considering a medical profession but would like to spend some time in a hospital environment before you decide, volunteer at a local clinic. When you come away from experiences like these, you’ll have a better understanding of the realities of your chosen career. And your hard work will have benefited an organization that genuinely needs your help and/or stands for something you believe in. Prestige or no prestige, an internship like this is worthwhile.

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and have decided you’re willing to accept the alternate version—an unpaid summer with a brokerage, law firm, publishing house, or corporation—try to maintain control over your hours and days. Know exactly what you’d like to learn from the experience, and if you aren’t being exposed to your area of interest, be firm and walk away. Don’t be pushed into a corner organizing file drawers in the basement when you’d rather spend the day in the marketing department.

And if your goal is to impress future employers, remember: A summer spent immersed in a field you love, in firm control of your own destiny, suggests enterprise and selflessness. A summer spent in a miserable or demeaning position with an employer who refused to pay you suggests something else. Hiring managers can tell the difference.

For more guidance with the job search process, finding a quality internship, or keeping your career on track, contact the staffing pros at Merritt and arrange a consultation.

Your interview preparation process may be intense and thoough, but no matter how confident you may feel before your interview, one unexpected or off-putting gesture from an interviewer might cause you to stumble and lose focus for a moment. So with that in mind, we’ve assembled a list of common approaches and personality traits that often show up among hiring managers and sometimes throw candidates for a loop. Be ready for each of these types of interviewers, and know what to do when you see them coming.

1. Types of Interviewers: The Friendly Interviewer

The friendly interviewer greets you with a warm handshake, makes you feel welcome and respected, and is perfectly comfortable with off-topic chit chat. Around people like this, we tend to open up and set aside our inhibitions. This is great, since honesty and openness contribute to a meaningful interview on both sides of the table. But just remember: your levels of disclosure are not equal. And though this interviewer is happy to draw you out, he’s not here to be your friend. He’s here to serve the company. So relax, but not too much. Enjoy your conversation, but continue to think carefully before you speak.

2. Types of Interviewers: The Stickler

The stickler is less likely to wander off-topic, and an interview with her may seem more like an oral exam. She conducts interviews by-the-book, in exact accordance with protocol. When you encounter the stickler, don’t qualify your answers too much, don’t get too chummy, and don’t become flustered if she drives the conversation forward in a robotic way. She has a task to do and she’s just trying to do it correctly. Help her by answering her questions as clearly, directly, and completely as you can.

3. Types of Interviewers: The Specific Searcher

The specific searcher gives the impression that she’s looking for something, and it’s not something she’s likely to state upfront. There’s not much you can do about this one. She may be looking for a clone of the person who held the position before you, or she may be scanning your answers for keywords and red flags. Just relax and be honest. If you’re a leader, don’t pretend to be a follower because you sense that’s what she wants. By the same token, don’t pretend to be competitive if you’re a team player, and don’t sell yourself as the unstructured type if you thrive in a structured, organized workplace. Just be yourself. Trying to second guess her intentions will only cause confusion for both of you.

4. Types of Interviewers: The Questionable Future Employer (aka the Jerk)

Does your interview feel like an interrogation? Does the interviewer try to fluster, anger, or intimidate you? Does he accuse you of misstating your credentials, or ask you to list and describe your weaknesses? Does he ask silly, demeaning questions designed to test your “sense of humor”? If your conversation seems to be following this pattern, something’s wrong. Feel free to stay for the duration of the interview if you like, but re-examine your interest in the position. Is this really a person you’d like to work with every day? Remember, an interview is a two sided interaction. Follow your instincts, and don’t commit to a job that doesn’t feel right.

For more help with interview preparation and the job search process in general, reach out to the staffing experts at Merritt.

You can’t carry your computer around with you all day, but your job search can and should involve resources you can access from anywhere. And for almost every imaginable aspect of your job search process, there’s an app. Some of these apps are vital research tools, and some just make the search process more convenient. Some are free, and others can cost 10 dollars or more to download. While you’re looking for work, it may be a good idea to focus on apps that are free, like the ones discussed here.

As you consider adding each of these apps to your job search tool box, try to stay focused on your long term goals and don’t get distracted. Your mobile apps should be supporting your search process, not getting in your way or taking up valuable time that you’d otherwise be spending in face-to-face meetings with your contacts. With that in mind, consider downloading free resources like these:

Mobile versions of job boards and networking sites

Monster.com, Careerbuilder, Indeed.com, and several other popular, widely-used job boards are now offering mobile versions of their job search tools for job seekers on the go. LinkedIn and Facebook are also available anywhere; keep them with you throughout the day if your job hunt relies on your social network. Just download them to your iPhone or Android phone for free. 

Twitter and social media dashboards

Twitter can also be easily downloaded to your mobile device, and so can Tweetdeck and Hootsuite, which can help you monitor multiple social media feeds at the same time.

Apps that can help you manage contacts and arrange in-person meetings

Lunchmeet, which is free for the iPhone, can help you arrange meetings with potential employers or helpful contacts while on the go. Simply enter your current location and tell the app who you’re planning to meet (a friend? A former boss? A colleague or classmate?) The app will scan the area and help you find a suitable dining venue. If you’d like to go out for lunch but haven’t made specific plans with anyone, the app can connect you to other job seekers in the immediate area who might want to meet up, exchange contact information and compare notes. You can access the Lunchmeet tool through your LinkedIn account.

Some apps like the Blackberry Card Reader (which is not free at $9.99) can scan the business cards that you collect at lunches and networking events and then transfer that information to your contacts list.

Apps for document management

Job seekers often need to access important documents, spreadsheets and Word files while they’re out and about. Try Documents to Go, a free Android app that can help you store your vital job search materials in the cloud and access them from the anywhere. With this app in place, your resume, biographical info, spreadsheets and presentation materials are always just a click away.

For more information about mobile apps and other helpful job search tools, contact Merritt and make an appointment with one of our staffing experts.

We all want to do our jobs well. That’s a given. Every morning when we wake up, a set of tasks lies before us that we need to tackle and complete successfully before we head back to bed. The time, attention, care and expertise that we put into each of these tasks will keep our lives in order and help us stay employed (in jobs we hopefully enjoy).

But what if there’s more out there than just this? What if we put a little extra effort into getting our name in lights, so to speak, and raking in a whole new set of opportunities for money, praise, and advancement? What could go wrong? What could go right? Maybe it’s time to find out. 

Personal and Professional Marketing: Elevate Your Strategy

People live in the real world, but they also spend an increasing amount of their time online. To market yourself properly, you’ll need to shine in both elements. Consider your online persona. Do you Google yourself on a regular basis? If not, it’s time to start. Control your digital personality, and if you don’t have one, get one. Blogs and websites are inexpensive to build and easy to maintain. Once you have both, make sure your social media profiles are active and contain links to back to your site, your blog, and any other existing forms of positive press about you.

Make sure that as you toil away at your daily tasks, your marketing campaigns are out there working for you and helping you shine. Your social media profiles, search engine results and real-world buzz should stay both positive and active. People should always know where to find you. And when they come looking, make sure you’re there to welcome them, answer their questions, and respond to their messages. Return phone calls. Even when it doesn’t seem to matter. And keep your public face public; that means welcoming, warm, accessible, competent and cheerful. All the time.

Keep Your Head Up and Go Where the Jobs Are

Opportunity doesn’t just come to those who work hard. In fact, she often skips right past the hardest workers whose shoulders are hunched over their desks. Hard work is an indispensable part of any long term plan, for sure, but while we’re throwing ourselves into absorbing tasks day after day, it’s a good idea to stay awake and tuned into the larger world. Sometimes when opportunity knocks, it does so very quietly.

While you’re staying tuned in, try to stand where lightning is most likely to strike. If you want an opportunity badly, surround yourself with people who can help you. Spend time with them. Position yourself, literally, in rooms where the odds are in your favor.

Details Matter (Especially When it Comes to Words)

Try not to be photographed holding an alcoholic beverage. Smile genuinely. Look for the good in people: doing so will enlarge your eyes and soften the lines in your face. Stand up straight. Under-promise so you can over-deliver. And most important, don’t just say things. Your mouth is your full time PR representative, and when she speaks, people listen. Don’t ramble, make idle remarks, give insincere compliments, or expect your comments to be ignored. Images have meaning and power, and words have even more; If you respect the things you say (and write), other people will too.

Reach out to the employment experts at Merritt for more guidance with the self-marketing process and tips on how to build your personal brand.

When we head out the door on the way to a job interview, most of us know that we’re about to step into a stressful situation. We’re ready to control the things we can and let go of the things we can’t. We’re wearing strong deodorant, we have plenty of copies of our resume in hand, our timepieces are accurate, and the gas tanks of our cars are full.

But unfortunately, even the best preparation can’t protect some candidates from silly, preventable, interview-killing mistakes. Don’t become one of these candidates. If you’ve landed a promising job interview, congratulations! Now just avoid these simple blunders that often take place before applicants have a chance to close the deal.

Brain-Mouth Disengagement

A well-qualified, promising applicant can tank his chances entirely with one witless remark during an interview. If you tend to blurt things out when you get nervous, recognize this tendency and plan ahead. Try this tip: Pause for two full seconds (two Mississippis) before responding to any question, even a pleasant inquiry about the weather or your drive to the venue. A two second pause is short enough not to seem odd to your interviewer, but it’s long enough for you to take a full breath and assemble your thoughts before your mouth opens.

Dishonesty

While you’re pausing and counting out two full seconds, make sure that what you’re about to say is honest. Positive spin is one thing, but exaggeration and outright lies are another. If you’re asked about your experience, feel free to focus on accomplishments that are relevant to the position, even if you have to pick and choose among the things you’ve done. But don’t stretch the truth.

This also applies to anything you commit to writing in the form of an application or resume. It should go without saying, but never claim schools, degrees, positions or affiliations that aren’t real. And never “adjust” your dates of previous employment. These are easy lies for your employer to uncover, and the resulting humiliation isn’t worth the risk.

Underestimating the Value of Appearances

If you aren’t sure what to wear, opt for a simple grey suit in an updated style. Suits with either pants or skirts are almost always appropriate, no matter the position. If the workplace and venue are more relaxed, feel free to wear a simple, conservative shirt and tie with pressed trousers, or a neat blouse and skirt ensemble. In any case, err on the side of formality. And check carefully for loose threads and tiny stains before you leave the house. Neatness and attention to detail will show respect for both your interviewer and yourself.

Emphasizing Your Own Needs

Try not to focus on your own needs until you have an offer in hand. It’s true that an interview is a two- way street, and you’ll need to evaluate your potential employer just as she evaluates you. But don’t quiz her about salary, bonuses, parking, or perks until later. For now, make sure you emphasize all the contributions you’re ready to make to the business, rather than the benefits you intend to take away.

Contact the team at Merritt for specific questions about interview protocol and help with the job search process.

Once I sat in a quiet subway car with two friends, both orthopedic surgeons, who had just come away from a strange case, a patient who had sustained several fractures after falling from a five story building. My friends didn’t share the patient’s name of course, so I felt free to eavesdrop, and this conversation taught me more about the realities of surgery than all the hospital themed TV shows I had ever watched. I wondered if my job would ever sound that interesting to anyone.

Would anybody ever invite me to speak on Career Day after overhearing my conversations with my colleagues?  I raised the subject at my office, and everyone chimed in with a list of workplaces they’ve always wanted to spy on. Here are some of the most intriguing jobs we came up with:

Astronaut

What do conversations sound like on an international space station? After a long day, do astronauts talk about TV shows and sporting events while they float in zero gravity eating rehydrated ice cream? And during the busiest moments of the nine to five grind (what do those hours look like in space?) what kind of collegial chatter goes on up there?

Movie Director

If you’re a movie director, today you may need to blow up a building, and tomorrow you’ll need to bring a tyrannosaurus to life, pamper an unhappy star, or create the most subtle and complex feelings in your audience using a magical combination of lighting, acting cues, and effects. Movie directors talk shop just like the rest of us, but what does it sound like when they do? We would love to find out.

Bartender or Hairstylist

Bartenders and hairstylists have access to the most privileged information you’ll find anywhere. Some of us share tidbits with these two that we wouldn’t even discuss with a therapist or spouse. We’d like to drop in on that gossip and glean some insights into the complexities of human nature.

CIA Operative

Is the life of a CIA agent anything like it is in the movies? Anything at all? If we can’t eavesdrop on their conversations, how will we ever know if all those action sequences and high stakes capers are realistic?

Your Job

What about your job? What goes on in behind-the-scenes conversations between you and your colleagues? Here at Merritt, we love everything about the world of work. We love thinking about work, talking about jobs, studying employment statistics, and finding out what people do all day.  And we want to hear from you. Leave a comment below. And if you could use some employment-related advice, contact our office and find out how we can make your work life more fulfilling, fascinating and productive.

From the job seeker’s point of view, a job search can often seem like a one-way process. After all, if you’re the one applying for a position, then you’re the one under scrutiny. And you’re the one hoping to meet the expectations of hiring managers who may or may not like what they see when they look over your background.

But it’s in your best interest to keep the process moving in two directions. After all, you’ll be dedicating your skills, time, talent and resources to this organization. And beyond a paycheck, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting something back. How does the company measure up to YOUR expectations? On what criteria should you base your decision? And if it’s better to pass on an offer, how can you tell? Here are a few things to look for as you compare your options.

Like-Minded Coworkers and Mentor Access

How will you get along with the people who work here? Are you a match? It may not be easy to tell based on a single interview, but do your best to make an educated guess. If you’re a working parent and a team player, stop and think before you commit to a company full of hyper-competitive single people who stay at work till midnight, and vice versa.

The availability of mentors may also influence your decision. Great mentors can help you make connections and support your professional growth, but not all companies provide or encourage this model. 

Security

Where is this company headed three, five and ten years into the future? Is this a promising start-up or an established multi-national corporation? The answer may affect your sense of long term job security. If layoff rumors are likely to sweep through this place every few months, will you be able to adapt?

Room for Growth

If you enter this firm at a certain level, when will you be able to climb to the next rung of the ladder? Find out what your advancement options are and whether or not the company will support your progress. If there’s only one position above you and that person isn’t leaving any time soon, you’ll need to factor that into your long term plans.

A Comfortable Work Environment

Does this company share your values and your general approach to life? Will you be respected here, and will you respect your employers and the enterprise in general? Think carefully. Your quality of life depends on more than just a paycheck. There are few situations more rewarding than a job you love, surrounded by coworkers you respect, regardless of how much money you’re making. It’s the days, hours and minutes you spend here that will determine your future happiness or misery. So be honest with yourself. Feel free to turn the tables, ask questions, and put the employer under the microscope before you sign on. For additional advice and guidance with the job search process, talk to the experts at Merritt Staffing today.

Companies often use a familiar shorthand to describe the experience required for a specific position. Sometimes these requirements are clear, for example: “2 to 5 years of agency experience a plus”. But often the terms of a posting are far more vague.  What does “entry-level” really mean? And can an entry level job at one company equate to an executive-level job at another? Most important, which of these jobs are for you?

Experience Requirements: Know When to Pounce and When to Move On

Experience-specific language is unregulated, so companies are legally free to name positions and express position requirements as they choose. But if you know how to interpret these terms, you’ll have a better understanding of which jobs to apply for and which ones to let go. Keep the following considerations in mind.

Entry Level

Entry level jobs usually don’t involve managing others, but they still tend to go to candidates who have at least a little bit of exposure to the field and a minimum level of education. Bear in mind that a mid-level or management position for a small company may equate to an entry level job at a larger firm.

Mid-Level or Mid-Career

Mid-level or mid-career positions can suggest almost anything. So if you feel like you know what you’re doing and have a portfolio or references that can help you make your case, don’t skip an opportunity to apply for a mid-level job that appeals to you. It’s at this ambiguous stage that many workers make the transition from managing only themselves to managing others. If you’ve never had a single direct report, you may still be considered mid-level by some hiring managers. And if you’ve led an entire office or run a small company, some employers may still consider you a mid-career candidate, depending on your age and the challenges you’ve faced.

Executive or Executive-Management

“Executive level” almost always suggests at least a few years of management experience. Before applying for an executive management job, be sure you know you how to speak the language of your industry fluently. Assemble a list of serious accomplishments that you can use to showcase your ability to lead others, handle substantial budgets, and make high stakes decisions.

Choosing Which Jobs to Pursue

Applying for a job outside of your standard experience bracket is completely acceptable. There’s no legal or social rule that forbids this. If you’ve only had a year in the field but feel ready to take on a higher level position, feel free to reach out. But remember: Hiring managers can only glean so much about your experience from a resume and interview. If you voluntarily take on more than you can handle, or accept a position that may under-challenge and bore you, you’ll have to navigate the consequences on your own. Think ahead, and be realistic about your skills, ambitions, and limitations. For more help with the job search process, contact Merritt and talk to an expert today.

If most of us had to choose between a face-to-face interview and a phone screening, we’d probably consider the in-person interview a little more nerve-wracking. After all, real world interviews involve countless tiny details that can easily escape our control, from a loose thread on our hem to the beads of visible sweat we’d do anything to send into a parallel dimension. Phone conversations, by comparison, edit out every part of our persona that can’t be expressed through the voice. But does this actually make things easier? Or does it simply mean that all of our qualifications, our years of experience, our warmth, our manners, and our confidence all have to be conveyed somehow through a set of tiny speakers?

Yes and yes. Phone interviews are easier. But candidates still need to take the phone call seriously and get around, rather than hide behind, its limitations. Here’s how.

First, prepare. Expect the same tough questions you’d hear in a face-to-face interview. You probably won’t hear these questions, since most phone interviews are simple, general screenings designed to weed out obviously inappropriate candidates. But just in case, be ready. Know how to talk about your background, discuss your future goals, and address your potential weaknesses with confidence and grace. And feel free to write things down. The phone makes it easier for you to take notes and refer to them gracefully.

Second, remember that facial expressions won’t play a role. So your voice will need to tell the interviewer that you’re listening and engaged. Don’t sit down during the call. Stand up, and try not to pace. Smile as you greet the interviewer. A smile can be felt over the phone.

Finally, don’t be afraid of conversational pauses. Your listener can’t see your face, but you can’t see hers either, and this may exaggerate pauses and make them feel longer and more awkward than they actually are. Don’t be rattled. Take a breath and wait for a full second before you answer a question, just as you would in person. Your interviewer is in no hurry, and she’s interested in what you have to say.

For both phone and in-person interviews, try not to fidget, and as always, think before you speak. For additional interview tips and guidance with your job search, contact Merritt and talk to our employment experts.