The difference between finding a job and finding the best job for you often takes a well-defined strategy. Identifying how your personal ambitions, goals, and needs align with a particular job opportunity is no easy task. But outlining these factors is essential when searching for a job that’s the right fit for you. Below, you’ll find the most up-to-date information on Indeed’s features and guidance on how to find a job you’ll love.

How to find a job that’s right for you
Here are some tips to help you identify if a job is a good fit for you:

Decide what you want in a job
At the start of your job search, spend some time reflecting on what has prompted you to look. Are you interested in doing the same job for a different employer? Do you want to change career paths? Are you entering the job market for the first time? Are you returning from an employment gap?
Each of these circumstances presents a different way of narrowing in on the jobs you want.

Research job titles and descriptions
There are several resources on Indeed to help you explore your career options. You can review different job titles to get a better understanding of what a certain role entails and what skills may be required. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also provides up-to-date information on a comprehensive set of occupations.

Review salary trends
Salary trends is an Indeed tool that lets you see the trends in compensation for specific jobs in different locations. Enter a job title and you’ll see the salary range in various cities and with different employers.

Identify your must-haves
Another method of finding the jobs that are right for you is to identify your non-negotiables and areas where you may be more flexible. Each individual will have their own distinct list, but here are some examples that you might consider:

Examples of non-negotiable factors:
The industry or discipline you want to work in
A wage or salary you can’t go below
Benefits such as health insurance or paid time off
Location and commute time

Examples of negotiable factors:
Job title (associate, specialist, or another designation)
Added benefits, such as the ability to work from home
Working at a small business versus a large company
Amount of travel
Deciding which factors are must-haves and which are negotiable will help you move forward with confidence.

Experiment with different job searches
The best way to get a feel for the jobs that are available to you is to try out different search terms. As you search, you’ll get better at recognizing the jobs that feel right and those that don’t.
If you’re not sure where to begin, it’s a good practice to start with broad search terms and steadily narrow it down.

For example:
You begin a search with “Customer support” in Austin, Texas.

The result: There appear to be thousands of job posts
Next, search for “Customer support specialist” in Austin, Texas.

The result: Total job posts are in the hundreds
In the search results, certain titles may jump out at you. You can now conduct new searches for each of these. If you really like the results you’re getting with a particular search, you can set up a job alert. You’ll receive new matching jobs in your email on a daily or weekly basis, depending on your preference. You can create multiple job alerts and pause or delete them at any time.

Use advanced search tools to get specific
The next step is narrowing down the job search posts by using advanced search tools. Some of Indeed’s tools that you can use are:

Filters
Filters can narrow down the number of job postings by salary, company, location, posting date and more. With this advanced job search option, you can potentially turn a results page with thousands of jobs into a few dozen.
If you’re using Indeed on your phone, you’ll see the filter button on your search results page, just to the right of the search bar. On a desktop, these filters are on the left side of the page.

Apply with your Indeed Resume
Keep an eye out for jobs that have the “Apply with your Indeed Resume” option. These are job posts that enable you to upload your Indeed resume and submit your application in just a few clicks, giving you back valuable time in your job search.

Company reviews
Where you’ll work is just as important as the job you’ll do. Use Indeed’s Company reviews to see reviews from current and former employees, getting a real sense of what it’s like to work at different companies.

Determine if you meet the requirements
When you find a job posting that you think is a great fit for you, be sure to read the entire job description and follow directions.

Watch for notifications from employers
You’re putting in the effort to submit carefully prepared job applications—you certainly don’t want to miss any updates from employers when they respond. Be sure to regularly check your email inbox and your Indeed inbox to see if employers have contacted you. You’ll also want to check your email spam folders in case messages have landed there.

The post How To Find the Best Jobs for You appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

In today’s job technology-driven world where initial interviews are conducted via computer and smartphone, a Webcam is a vital tool and your techniques can spell the difference between getting or not getting a second/in-person interview. This recent CNet article hits the spot!

We’re all on more web conferences and video meetings via Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, and WebEx lately, so you may as well make a professional impression and get your point across memorably. Here are the six easiest ways to look (and sound) sharp when you meet online.

1. Eye-level
The camera in your laptop lid, phone or tablet is perfectly placed — to look up your nose. Put something under your laptop or find a way to set your phone or tablet so the camera is at the same height as your eyes. That’s how humans are meant to look at each other. You don’t need a fancy aluminum laptop stand or phone mount: A stack of books or coffee mug on a shelf will often do.

2. Eye line
Once you have your camera at the right height, don’t forget to look at it. The natural temptation is to just look at your screen, below the camera, where the other participants are. But that gives you an odd, distracted look that subtly tells the other party something interests you more than them. Of course, you’ll look away to consult what’s on your screen, but try to maintain regular eye contact with the camera, especially when you’re talking.

3. Sound good
There’s an old maxim in the audiovisual business that good sound makes the video look better. Don’t rely on the crummy internal mic in your device — it can’t help but pick up the entire room or car around you and mix it with a big dose of garbling echo. At the very least, use earbuds that have a microphone in the cable or advanced wireless earbuds with multiple noise-canceling microphones. An inexpensive but effective choice is a single earcup wired headset with a boom mic. You always admired Madonna, here’s your chance to wear her gear. The goal is to transmit your voice with a closeness and warmth that commands attention on the other end.

4. Monitor light
The light bathing your face from a device screen is usually a shade of blue that makes you look like a cadaver or zombie. One way to combat it is to find the display controls that set it to a warmer shade or “color temperature.” Phones often call this “blue light filter” or “night mode.” Screen light will always mix with ambient room light, so try different display settings as you look at yourself in a test web conference. And ample light in a room is a good thing for many reasons.

5. Avoiding silhouettes
If you sit with your back to a bright white wall or uncovered windows, your webcam will try to balance out that bright background with your face — and your face will usually lose, ending up in silhouette. Cameras have gotten better at avoiding this, but the best way to keep yourself out of the shadows is to put a light behind your device, shining on your face. You can get dedicated LED video lights for this, or just play around with a desk lamp.

6. Background check
What’s behind you when you’re on camera can range from distracting to embarrassing to revealing. None of those are good. Don’t put unknowing co-workers in the shot, show whiteboards or monitors with sensitive information, or aim your camera where a naked family member might be traipsing to the shower. You’ll also want to try and maintain some distance between you and the background, for a pleasant sense of depth.

Some webcam applications such as XSplit VCam and Microsoft Teams let you blur out your background using image and edge detection. In web conference platforms like Zoom, you also have the option of using a green screen behind yourself to insert a photo as a virtual backdrop, not unlike they do for many TV newscasts, though with less convincing results than you see on TV. Before delving into these options, just try to have something pleasant but innocuous behind you in real life.

Bonus points
Done all the above and want to go the extra mile? Try these tips.

Use a dedicated camera. The camera in your device is probably pretty good these days, but dedicated webcams often have a better ability to adjust the shot and exposure. For the ultimate image, use a prosumer camcorder as a webcam by connecting it to your computer via an HDMI-to-USB adapter.

• Wardrobe. Try not to wear a white or black top, as those are hard for any camera to adjust to while keeping your face properly exposed. Avoid stark stripes or checked patterns, as they can show up as moire, or “sizzle,” that distracts.
• Jangling jewelry is really annoying, including when it bangs on the tabletop.
• Glasses often reflect the lighting we set up in the previous steps. If you have the choice of wearing glasses or not, don’t.
• Mute. Know where this button is on the conferencing application and use it whenever you won’t be talking for a while. That will keep out room noise, road noise, and what you just called your roommate.

The post Ultimate webcam tips: How to look and sound great online appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

With the rise of online learning, there’s no shortage of classes you can take that offer you a certification in a particular trade, skill or software program. But outside of positions that require certifications — pilots, emergency medical technicians and insurance agents, for example — do any of these make a real difference in a job application? We reached out to recruiters and HR professionals to get the answer.

The consensus: Certifications certainly can make a difference, but not all certifications are created equal. Below are some of the ones that recruiters say actually move the needle in their decision to hire a candidate — if one of them is relevant to your field, consider looking into it!

Role-Specific Certifications

1. Human Resources Certifications (PHR, SPHR, SHRM)

While not a requirement, many recruiters agree that job seekers in the HR field can benefit greatly from professional certifications.

“If I’m hunting for an HR professional, I’ll want to be sure they have certification from SHRM,” says Laura Handrick, Senior Workplace and Careers Analyst at Fit Small Business.

“I am going to be more interested in seeing certifications (or formal degrees) related directly to their career progression (e.g., PHR, SPHR for Human Resources),” adds Dawn D. Boyer, CEO of D. Boyer Consulting.

2. Project Management Certifications (PMP)

“Anyone can claim to have the leadership and organizational skills of a Project Manager, but a certification in this field really adds value to a candidate’s resume,” says Ashley Riedesel, Technical Recruiter at OakTree Staffing & Training.

“Employers love to see this since employees with the PMP certification tend to have a more sophisticated approach to taking projects from inception through to completion across different methodologies,” adds Bryant Vargas, Director of Recruiting, Information Technology at Atlas Search.

Bonus: While this certification is especially helpful for those in the Project Management field, the knowledge you gain can also be broadly applied to other fields at the manager and leadership level.

3. Sales Certifications (Challenger Sales, Spin Selling, Sandler Training)

“Selling skills are often gained from experience, but candidates can stand out by including formal training or certification from a well-known sales philosophy on their resumes. A few examples: MEDDIC, Challenger Sales, Spin Selling, Sandler Training, etc.,” says Jordan Wan, Founder & CEO of CloserIQ. “This shows the candidate has the discipline to back up their raw skills with learnings from sales experts to improve their selling ability.”

4. Help Desk/Desktop Analyst Certifications (A+, Network+)

A caveat here: recruiters say these certifications aren’t quite as impressive for more senior roles, but if you’re in an entry-level position, they can help your resume stand out.

“An A+ cert looks great for a lower-level position like help desk or desktop. It’s a really good starting point and will definitely help you find your footing in the IT industry,” says Chase Wagner, Technical Recruiter at OakTree Staffing & Training.

Recruiters may also like to see Network+ certifications, says Senior Technical Recruiter Kamron Cox, also of OakTree Staffing & Training. “These are easier to get but do look good for those types of roles,” Cox shares.

5. Network Certifications (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE)

If you want to be a network engineer or admin, Cisco offers a variety of certifications that can boost your application.

“A good network engineer/admin typically would have a CCNA or CCNP, and for the heavy hitters, you’re looking at different levels within CCIE,” Cox says.

The CCIE in particular “is a series of the highest level of Cisco Certifications offered for Network Infrastructure Leaders who design, build and implement enterprise networking systems,” Vargas says. “Candidates must first pass a written exam and then pass a hands-on lab exam. When employers see that you’ve dedicated yourself to passing the written and lab portion of their CCIE it shows not only subject matter expertise, but also dedication and perseverance.”

Software Certifications

1. Salesforce

From sales to marketing to customer service and more, many departments in a corporate setting rely on customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and Salesforce is one of the most popular choices.

“It’s like the Google of CRM systems… most everyone uses [it],” says Wes Lieser, Executive Recruiter & Practice Director of Demand Generation & Marketing Technology at Versique. “If someone is Salesforce.com certified, then I know they’re going to be well-versed in analytics.”

2. Hubspot’s Inbound Certification

Hubspot is primarily a tool for marketers, but it encompasses many different functions within that field — odds are, if you have a role within marketing, a Hubspot Inbound Certification can only help.

“There are only a select few certifications that actually move the needle forward when assessing a candidate… The first is Hubspot’s Inbound Certification,” says Keith Johnstone, Marketing Manager at Peak Sales Recruiting. “It provides a framework and methodology for basic inbound marketing strategies and tactics like SEO, blogging, email marketing and social media.”

3. Google Certifications (Publisher,  Analytics, AdWords, etc.)

Google has a tremendous range of products and services, and almost as many certifications. Whether you’re in digital marketing, data science or software engineering, there’s likely a Google certification that you can benefit from.

“We look for candidates that have the Google Publisher University certificates. There is one for each of Google’s flagship supply-side products: DoubleClick Ad Exchange and DoubleClick for Publishers,” says Kean Graham, CEO of MonetizeMore. “It’s rare to see candidates that have these certificates but when we do see them, we snap them up. We have found these candidates tend to be at a consistently higher level than the others.”

Johnstone looks for candidates with Google Analytics certifications under their belts. “These courses allow students to learn everything about Google Analytics from how to analyze reports, set up goals, campaign tracking to data collection, processing and configuration and more complex analysis and marketing tools,” he says.

Rachel Lehn, Manager of Business Operations at Perfect Search Media, says her company “[looks] for current certifications in Google AdWords… As an agency, almost all of our employees have those certifications,” she shares. “If a candidate has current certifications, we know that they have at least a basic understanding of Google AdWords and Google Analytics, which are core platforms for our service offerings of paid search advertising and search engine optimization.”

The post 8 Certifications That Actually Impress Recruiters appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

No, no, no — yes! You’ve scanned through what feels like millions of job posts and have finally found one that’s worthy of further investigation.

But the frustration ensues as you begin reading.

From qualifications to company descriptions, it becomes overwhelming. So, you exit the window and miss out on what could’ve been the perfect opportunity.

While job descriptions can be tough to decipher, there are ways to answer your own questions and ease the decision on whether or not to apply.

Here’s how to get the answers you need:

1. Can I grow at this company?

Looking closely at the job you’re applying to is obviously important, but so is knowing where you can go from there. In fact, 82 percent of candidates feel seeing the team structure and where the job fits into the organization is important, according to a recent report of 4,505 job seekers.

Knowing where the positions fits within the organization will help you decide if there’s room to grow. If room for growth isn’t explained in the job description, using the job title is the best place to start. Go to the company website and look for the “About Us” page to see where your job title fits into the hierarchy.

Sometimes the best place to find information about a company’s opportunities is from current and former employees. Glassdoor has options for job seekers to not only find jobs, but see comments, reviews, and salaries.

2. Does this fulfill my passions?

Finding a job you’re passionate about is an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up. While half of the previously mentioned CareerBuilder survey respondents are wondering, “Are they looking for someone like me?” you should be asking, “Am I looking for someone like them?”

Go directly to the position’s main duties and line them up with the company’s mission statement. Are you able to see how the everyday tasks lineup with the overall progress of the company and customers?

It isn’t just your position that affects your passion for a career—it’s the company as a whole. Look to the website for the organization’s values and compare them to the impact you hope to have on customers—or even the world.

3. Is the salary worth my career move?

Asking yourself this question can be tricky because sometimes a career move is worth a drop in pay. Before applying, decide what amount you’re willing to sacrifice for a career you’re happier with—or what amount will encourage you to leave your current position.

When a listed salary doesn’t quite fit your needs or career goals, don’t rule the position out just yet. Many companies are willing to negotiate on salary if they feel you’re the perfect candidate for the job.

However, if a salary isn’t listed, Glassdoor offers ways to see what others in similar positions are making.

4. Do my skills fulfill the requirements?

Understanding what skills a company is willing, or not willing, to negotiate on is difficult. It’s important to never look at a job description in basic black and white—be creative.

Listing the number of years of experience a qualified candidate needs is a great example of where companies might have wiggle room. Think beyond typical work experience and consider volunteer opportunities, education, or even skills you acquired from previous positions.

Certain areas of knowledge are set in stone, but there are some skills you may be able to work around. For example, if you’re applying to a sales position, but have no sales experience—it’s time to move on. However, lacking certain software or computer skills could be overlooked if you’re a quick learner.

When considering skills and requirements, it’s important to be honest with yourself and the company. Overselling your skills or ability to learn new things quickly could set you up for a stressful start — or worse, failure.

5. Will I fit into the company culture?

Companies are putting more focus on employer branding, so many are openly sharing values, beliefs, and benefits within job descriptions. A job post that explains what a potential candidate might love about the company points to an employee-centric environment and deserves a closer look.  

Make a list of what you’re looking for in an employer. For example, flexibility options, location, company size, a fun office culture, or even a transparent leadership system. Once you have your list, compare it to the job description. Checking off most of your needs might mean you’ll fit right in with this company and its employees.

Networking is a great way to get into the heart of a company. Connect with current employees through social media to get a feel for a company’s passions and perks. You’ll find some employees are posting fun co-worker activities, while others have pictures of their favorite pet sitting next to them in their home office.

The post Tricky, Tricky: How to Read Between the Lines of A Job Description appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

{This article originally appeared on The Muse.}

If you’ve just secured your first job out of college and you’re feeling a little anxious, you aren’t alone. In fact, the feeling isn’t much different than the “first day of school jitters.”
But some of that same back-to-school advice still has value for recent grads. Whether you’re going off to a new job in the big city or a small town), here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re planning for that first day of work:

1. Go to Bed Early
   Spend the night before your new job getting ready. Lay out your clothes, pack your bag, get a good night’s rest—and resist that urge to celebrate your new job with friends and cocktails on the night before. Show up to work alert, energized, and ready to make a great first impression.

2. Arrive to Work on Time
   Sometime before that first day, do a trial run of the morning traffic flow to iron out any congestion hiccups. Map out your commute and take into consideration any subways transfers or possible traffic issues. Arrive calm, cool, collected, and confident—not running five minutes late, frazzled, and already stressed out.

3. Dress Appropriately for the Job
   The first day of work isn’t the time to ask about the corporate dress policy—keep it conservative until you’ve had a chance to look around. Common sense says too tight, too short, or too low is a definite don’t.

4. Have a Lunch Plan and Keep a Nutritious Snack in Your Purse
   Keep something quick and easy to eat on hand in case of emergency. A bag of nuts, dried fruit, or a granola bar will keep indefinitely in a desk drawer or your purse. One exec I know was so excited on her first day of work that she forgot to eat lunch entirely. She began feeling faint and jittery by mid-afternoon, and it was so bad she had to go home. Don’t let that be you.

5. Avoid Tuna Fish
   Lunch at your desk may be tempting, but keep your lunch choice odor free. It’s best to get out of the office, or at least eat in the company break room to give yourself a change of scenery—and a chance to meet some of your new colleagues.

6. Make Friends With Your Colleagues
   Don’t wait for your new peers to walk up to you first (although it would be good manners for them to do so). Show your confidence by extending your hand for a shake and introduce yourself using both your first and last name. Using only your first name makes you appear juvenile or of lesser authority.

7. Don’t Jack Your Desk Up With Tchotchkes
   Keep your blow-up palm tree at home. The photo of you and your partner making out on the beach? That also stays on your bedroom shelf. Keep your décor classy, and don’t overdo it on Day one.

8. Play Nice With Others
   A colleague may try to lure you into their camp with “helpful” warnings about co-workers or unpopular company policies. Don’t be swayed by someone with an axe to grind. Office gossip is everywhere, but make a point to be like Switzerland and stay neutral.

9. Don’t Open the “Ex” File
   Whatever you feel about your previous job or boss, you’re making a fresh start—so leave your past employment woes at the door. And remember to keep an open mind. The way you did something at your last job may not be how they do things here, so tread lightly at first and learn all that you can before jumping in with suggestions on how things should be executed differently.

10. Keep Your Game Face On
    The first day can overwhelming. Or maybe you’ll be so excited about your first “real” job that you’ll have to fight the urge to do back flips down the hall. Either way, stay cool. Exude warmth, approachability, and enthusiasm for your job, but remember you’re a professional now—maintain your dignity and focus.

The first day can set the tone for your new work experience. You don’t need to be anxious about it and you don’t need to know everything when you walk in the door—but take the time to prepare in advance, do your research, arrive early, ask questions, smile, and enjoy the first day of your corporate life.
Congratulations on your new job!

The post 10 Ways to Avoid the First Day Jitters appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Dear Career Coach,

Can you still negotiate compensation when the job posting explicitly lists a salary? If so, what’s the best way to approach this?

Signed,
Nervous Negotiator

Dear Nervous Negotiator,

Negotiations are often nerve-racking for candidates because they don’t want to ask for too much and have an employer withdraw an offer.

But I want to give you reassurance that as much as you fear losing out on an opportunity, companies also fear losing great talent (like you!) by coming in below expectations. That’s why companies and candidates often have an open discussion to meet somewhere in the middle.

With that said, what can you do if the job description clearly states a salary—yet you want more? Are you still even entitled to that attempt to find some middle ground?

If you’re applying to the public sector (government jobs), the pre-determined salary range is usually close to the final offer. However, if you receive an offer, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a number that falls within the range displayed. As with any negotiation, focus on objective facts of why you believe you’re worth more (for example, the job description asks for two years of experience and you have four).

If you’re applying to the private sector (non-government jobs), I would absolutely recommend negotiating despite what was displayed on the job posting. Most companies work with a compensation benchmark system and have a low, mid, and high end of a salary range. Typically, the salary advertised is the median compensation, so it never hurts to ask for more—especially if market research data shows that your title, skills, and experience are worth a higher salary in your geographical market.

Again, you will want to remain objective in your approach: What specifically about your background adds value to the company and justifies why are you worth more? You should use measurable and tangible facts instead of subjective, loose opinions.

It might also help to know that employers expect employees to negotiate. Employers typically don’t withdraw offers because a candidate starts that conversation. However, they do withdraw offers based on how a candidate asks.

If you demonstrate that you’re polite, professional, and perceptive, an employer’s often eager to consider your requests. It’s the requests that come off as aggressive, demanding, and non-compromising that breaks the deal.

That’s why it’s never a bad idea to practice several times before the real conversation to make sure you know exactly what you want to say. You can even run through it with a friend to confirm that you’re coming off the way you intended.

Finally, if the company says they have given you the best offer, remember there are a lot of other benefits and perks you can negotiate aside from your salary.

For example:

• Sign-on bonus
• More vacation days
• Telecommute perks
• Tuition reimbursement or ongoing education and training allowance
• Timing of next raise
• Stock options
• Competitive commission structure (if in a sales-related role)
• Relocation bonus (if applicable)

Negotiating might always make you a little nervous (that’s normal!). But, in the end, remember this: You won’t get what you don’t ask for.

–>

The post Ask a Credible Career Coach: Can I Negotiate When the Job Description Lists a Salary? appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Companies aren’t created equal, nor are their interview processes. But for job seekers interviewing at a startup, the differences are great compared to doing the dance with an established company.

“At a startup, we look for hackers,” says Greg Skloot, co-founder and CEO of startup Attend.com, the event planning software maker. “We want to see people that can get a lot done quickly, and with very few resources. A startup might not care as much about formalities like GPA, attire, etc. Startups champion the underdog.”

Whether you are a senior executive or someone fresh out of college, nailing an interview with a startup company is going to take work on your part. After all, these companies are looking for people who are nimble and aren’t afraid to wear multiple hats. Most importantly, they are looking for people who are passionate not only about what they do but what the company does, all of which can be hard to convey. It also means you have to be able to thrive in an environment where the rules are being made on the fly.

“Job seekers should honestly expect a little bit of chaos, less structure, and lots of enthusiasm for the enterprise, because you have to keep in mind that something new is being formed,” says Nell Merlino, chief executive of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence. “One of the biggest differences between interviewing at a startup is that at an established company, you will be expected to try to fit into the pre-established culture of the company, whereas in a startup, you will be a part of creating the culture.”

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of a startup, follow these three tips to ace the interview process and get hired.

1. Do your homework.

Preparation is key for all interviews, but with a startup you’ve got to prove you know a lot about the company, its mission and the industry they are playing in. But it’s not enough to know the company makes x,y, or z; you also want to be able to bring something to the table, even during the interview. That’s is why Matt Trotter, a director at Silicon Valley Bank, which works with a lot of startups, says job seekers should choose a startup that they are passionate about instead of just applying to any startup. If you take the latter approach, your passion won’t come through because it isn’t real. “You want to come in with an idea of the general space, what the company does and ideas on how to improve what they currently have,” says Trotter.

2. Be prepared to think on your feet.

Startups are exactly that, companies at the early stages of development, which means they want to hire people that can think on their feet. Skloot says interviewees have to be prepared to handle direct and bold questions. “Why are you here? How specifically will you help push our company forward? How will you add value from day one? Why are you better than everyone else that wants to join the team?” are some of the questions likely to be thrown your way, says Skloot. “Getting a job at top startup is competitive — we really respect recent grads that understand that and demonstrate extra effort to stand out.”

3. Refrain from asking about salary, benefits and bonuses.

Unlike an established company where there are processes in place at a startup, there will be very little hand holding. You’ll be responsible for making your name and helping the company grow. One of the easiest ways to convey that is to refrain from asking what the company can do for you during the interview. Leave questions of salary, benefits, vacation time and other perks for a later conversation. “Startups are looking for someone who can take some direction, but you will have to figure many things out on your own, so looking for hand-holding during the interview will not go well,” says Merlino. “The best thing you can do during the interview is express your genuine enthusiasm for working at that startup, and emphasize how you will help them grow.”

The post How to Ace a Startup Interview appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Early on in my senior year of college, I took a look around me. 90% of the smart, talented people I knew were clamoring for consulting jobs. Being a consultant meant advising the nation’s top companies on business strategy and receiving a generous salary, a bonus, and a future filled with glamorous cocktail parties and networking events.

I, being an English major, had never given much thought to consulting, but I figured, “If everyone wants this job, it has to be great, right?” The fact that I had never independently been interested in business was unimportant. I became filled with a frantic desire to land one of those coveted, prestigious jobs.

So I suited up and practiced case interviews until I was doing them in my sleep. Every other sentence I uttered was about profit margins or “benchmarking.” The process wasn’t easy; I recall bursting into tears during a mock interview when they asked me, “Why is a manhole cover round?” and I drew a blank.

During my real interviews, I was often asked why I wanted to work in consulting. I didn’t want to say, “Because everyone else wants to and I don’t have a better idea,” so I would talk about taking ownership, interacting with people, developing a skill set, and other things I knew I was supposed to say. I never actually reflected on whether the choice was really right for me.

After several painful interviews, I landed myself the prestigious consulting job everyone wanted. It turns out that I should have thought harder about what I wanted to do with my career, and a little less about competing with other people.

From my first day, I knew it was going to be a struggle to conform. Our corporate headquarters were located somewhere in the nameless strip mall that is Northern Virginia, amidst hundreds of rectangular office buildings sprouted up like concrete Legos. I once even got off the bus at the wrong building, because everything looked exactly the same.

The Orwellian terror that seized me didn’t stop there. As a consultant, I often felt like I was wearing a bright red suit and everyone else was wearing dark blue. I could never quite get comfortable with the all the acronyms, my title as “functional analyst for work order 13”, the endless documenting of processes. For a free-wheeling English major like myself, this was painful. I learned a lot, but it grew continually harder for me to feel happy or productive because every day I struggled to hide what I didn’t want to admit to myself: I hated my job.

The day that I wound up writing a document about documenting a document, I knew it was time to jump ship. It had taken me two years, but I finally came to terms with the fact that not everyone is cut out for the business beat. I walked into my boss’ office and gave her my two weeks notice, and took a job as a magazine intern.

My parents and friends thought I was crazy, going from a stable job with benefits, a high salary, and lots of prestige to making $8 an hour as an intern. But you know what? I didn’t regret it for a moment. For the first time since college, I woke up every day without a pit of dread in my stomach. I was engaged in my work and excited about contributing to the team. I had to scrape together bus fare to get to work every day and change my diet to Easy-Mac and Spaghetti-Os — but it was worth it.

Growing up, I believed I would have a job that I was dedicated to and that I loved. Maybe a lawyer, a firefighter, perhaps a florist or a ballerina or a Congresswoman. I fought hard for that dream when the future was comfortably far away. But as the time got closer, it was easy to forsake those hopes as juvenile and get on board with the pragmatists of the world. Leaving consulting, I found the courage to reclaim my dream and stop compromising. Now, even if I fail, at least I know the only “process” I’ve followed is my own.

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Finding your first full-time job is a heck of a lot of work — after all of the research you do, applications you fill out, and interviews you prep for, it can be tempting to rush through an acceptance once you’ve been offered a position. But signing the dotted line on an offer letter without hesitation is a decision that can haunt you for years down the road. Not only do you miss out on a lower base pay now — subsequent pay raises are often based on a percentage of your annual salary, so the cash you’re missing out on only compounds. Similarly, settling on a lower initial salary might discourage you from asking for more later down the road or at your next position.

So even (and perhaps especially) if you’re fresh out of college, you should put the work in now to ensure that you earn what you deserve. Not sure where to start? Josh Doody, author of  Fearless Salary Negotiation, shared some of his top tips for new grads — read on below if you want to see your savings grow as fast as your career.

1. Know Your Worth

You can’t score a great first salary if you don’t even know what a great first salary would be — so before you even come to the negotiation table, it’s critical to do your research. Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth™ personal salary estimator offers a free, customized estimate of what you should be making based on your job title, location, years of experience and other factors that you can use as a baseline. Once you have your estimate, compare it to the salaries listed on the company’s Glassdoor profile and the salary included in the job description, if applicable. Concrete data like this is often better than simply approaching your friends to see what kind of offers they’re getting, as “it might be a little too intimate to ask acquaintances about their job offers,” Doody points out. In addition, you may be drawing an apples-to-oranges comparison if your friends aren’t in the same line of work, company, or geographic location as you.

Once you’ve done your research, Doody recommends using the information gathered to set a minimum acceptable salary — the lowest salary that you’re willing to take. This “helps you evaluate the quality of each job offer you receive” and lets you know which offers to walk away from, Doody says.

2. Don’t Throw Out the First Number

Once you’re actually sitting down to talk turkey with your potential employer, “the first step to setting yourself up for salary success is to allow the company to be the first to state salary numbers. Even if you’re directly asked for current or expected salary, you should politely decline even if it’s your first job,” Doody says. Why exactly is this so critical? “They’re essentially asking you to take a guess as to what they plan to pay for the position… [and] guessing wrong will cost you money.” Even if you have a good idea of what a certain company will pay based on their Glassdoor salary information, it never hurts to see if they’d be willing to pay even more.

“You also want to defer the salary conversation as long as possible because the longer you can defer that discussion, the more time you have to impress them in your interviews and convince them that you should be paid at the higher end of the range they have budgeted for the role,” Doody adds.

If a recruiter or company directly asks you what your current or expected salary is, Doody suggests replying with: “I don’t have a specific number in mind. I prefer to focus on the value that I can add to your company, and I look forward to hearing what you think is an appropriate salary for this position.” If they continue to push, you can research advanced answers to the current and expected salary questions.

3. Keep Total Compensation in Mind

Your annual base pay is the key factor in your overall compensation, but you shouldn’t ignore things like the number of paid vacation days, signing bonuses, relocation stipends, performance bonuses, and equity — all of which are commonly negotiable, Doody says.

“My rule of thumb is to prioritize the factors that matter the most to you, then work down the top two or three of those factors during your negotiation. If the company says ‘Yes’ to your last ask, then your negotiation is complete. Otherwise, you can move to the next item on your list by saying something like: ‘I appreciate you working with me, and I understand that you can’t come all the way up to the salary I requested. Can we settle on the salary you just suggested plus an extra week of paid vacation time?’” Doody suggests.

You can also use “a salary negotiation script… to plan for your own negotiation using this method,” Doody adds. “It helps to literally write down your preferences and plan your negotiation ahead of time so you don’t make silly mistakes in the heat of the negotiation.”

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Push Back

If the number that your potential employer suggests is below your expectations, you absolutely do not need to settle for it. While new grads, in particular, are often afraid that asking for more could cause their offer to be rescinded if a company can’t match it, there is little merit to this fear. “Most offers have a buffer built into them just in case you do negotiate. But even if they’ve made their absolute best and final offer, they’re extremely unlikely [to] retract a job offer just because you negotiate, even if this is your first job,” Doody says.

“Why? Because it’s expensive for a company to get to the point where they make you an offer. They’ve usually spent quite a bit of money to employ the recruiter you’re working with, pay the wages of the folks who spent time interviewing you, pay for a plane ticket plus room and board if they brought you on-site for an interview, and lots of other costs associated with the hiring process. Hiring people is expensive, and once they’ve made an offer, their investment is so substantial that they’re not inclined to just throw all that money away because you counter offered,” Doody shares.

You may worry that, as a new grad with limited professional experience, you don’t have the leverage to negotiate, but “the primary reason to negotiate has nothing to do with leverage or experience,” Doody says.

“The primary reason to negotiate is… there might be room to negotiate! It’s that simple. Maybe the company will say, ‘That was our best offer. Take it or leave it.’ But maybe they’ll say, ‘Ok, how about another $3,000 a year?’ So why not give it a shot!”

The post 4 Ways To Score A Great Salary At Your First Job appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Dear Fran,

I’m about three months into my first professional job in the “real world.” Coming straight from grad school (which I embarked upon immediately after my undergrad), I can’t help but feel incredibly stifled and disappointed by what it’s like to sit in one office all week and do the same tasks month after month.

This isn’t my dream job (I plan on going back for my PhD in a few years), and I’m grateful to be employed at all right now, but how can I overcome this general sense of boredom and feelings of detachment from the world of the working?

Yours,
Disillusioned 9-to-5er

Dear Disillusioned:

Even though I don’t have a magical solution for you, I’m glad to receive this letter because I think your situation is a common dilemma. In fact, one reason I personally decided to go back to grad school and study psychology after working 9-to-5 in a business office was that I found the work less than stimulating and realized my interests and talents lay elsewhere.

Since then, I changed careers again to become a writer. And then, after writing exclusively for years, with some success, I started to find the profession lonely and (to some degree) oppressive, so I went back to school yet again and now I’m back in an office. It’s not 9-to-5 and it is doing something I’m actually interested in, but it has its downsides, too.

My point is that life — including your career path — is a journey.

One consideration for you: Since this is your first 9-to-5 job, is it possible that you have encountered such boredom because this is an entry-level position? Although it may not be thrilling or challenging work, most of us have had to pay our dues at the bottom of the totem pole in order to gain experience and move up later.

However, your description of your current job, doing the same tasks month after month, does sound tedious. Given that, I’d start thinking outside of the box. Study the overall business with an open mind, learn how your department fits into the greater whole, and try to come up with a new or innovative way of looking at it or doing things. Communicate your ideas to your boss, and be upfront about the fact that you want a new learning opportunity. Be sure to make it clear — calmly, enthusiastically, without complaining — that you’d like to take on a larger project rather than more of the smaller tasks.

Also remember that a job, even a great job or a fantastic career, doesn’t give your life meaning, at least not by itself. Life is about what you learn, who you are or can become, who you love and are loved by. Presumably, if your job is easy or boring, you have energy for other pursuits, right? Why not use this extra time to focus on other areas of your life? Become a more interesting person, and you’ll be more interested in everything life offers, even that which is not inherently interesting.

Here are a few ideas to think about, some of which can be done during your lunch or break time to help you through the day:

• Develop an art, a new skill, a great hobby. Learn how to salsa dance, study Buddhism, learn new computer skills, take up chess, make sculptures,write Haiku. Leave your comfort zone.
• Explore different ideas and opinions. Study a new subject.
• Read poetry. Read novels. Read anything. Join a book group. Take a literature class.
• Network both in your current business and in any other business in which you might be interested.
• Grow your friendships, old and new.
• Take up an exciting sport like skiing or tennis. Climb a mountain. Go scuba diving.
• Become more compassionate for others. Get behind a cause and volunteer. (This can also make for great networking!)

Now that I’ve given you my pep talk on making meaning out of where you are, I have to tell you that another part of me wants you to embrace your disillusionment, at least temporarily. Use it to become more clear about where you’re going and, with careful planning and thought, start down that path sooner rather than later.

You say you’re happy to have a job — and I hear you — but are you sure there’s not something better out there for you right now? Work on your resume and send it out to a few places. Or set up some informational interviews with people who are established to ask for guidance and find out more about their industry or business. This could present yet another great networking opportunity and, who knows, you may end up with a mentor out of the deal.

If you plan to get your doctorate in a different field than the one you’re currently in, try to take (or even audit) a preliminary course in that subject. Having a class or two under your belt couldn’t hurt when you apply. On the other hand, if you plan to get your PhD in the field you’re currently in, start brainstorming now so that when you get to the top, you’ll find a way to make your job less repetitive for those who’ll be where you are right now.

Good luck and get going!

The post Help! I’m Stuck At A Job I Hate. appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.