job search Archives - The Career Success Doctor

Job Seekers Need To Stop These 5 Job Search Tactics

Written by Natalia

Happy May Day everyone! Spring has officially sprung and today‘s date has a double meaning in the Nothern hemisphere: spring festival and International Workers’ Day.

If spring‘s message for a new beginning this year means a new job to you, keep reading because this article will help you a lot in your job hunting. Are you sabotaging yourself by using the ‘wrong‘ job search tactics?

Whether you are looking for a career change, a different working environment, or you‘re currently unemployed and looking for a new job, chances are that as a job seeker you do have a strategy in place. From how to write a winning CV and prepare for interviews, to how to promote yourself and include the hidden job market in your search.

We‘ve shared a lot of tips for finding a new job and we‘ve covered a lot of job searching tactics in different phases of the process in our articles so far. However, the article I want to share with you today by Heather R. Huhman, published on Doostang, discusses all the things that you shouldn’t do. A beautiful wrap-up of the job search tactics that won’t get you the desired result.

Among the things discussed in this article are the importance of doing your research before applying for a job, the negative impact of proceeding your job search based on fear ending up with a job offer you don’t like and outdated cover letters.

” Ever had a really great interview or found a job posting that seemed like an absolute perfect match? Then, after landing the interview, you may figured you were a shoe-in for the position. So you sat back and waited for the offer letter to come through.

But nothing ever came.

There are currently 6.7 million job seekers in the U.S. and, although job prospects are getting better, the reality remains that there are still a number of qualified candidates looking for jobs in a limited job market. The position you were perfect for likely had at least 20 other perfect candidates apply for the job as well. The bottom line? In order to be successful in your job search, you just can’t afford any slip-ups.

So, if you want to land your next job, stop taking part in these job search tactics immediately: ….. ”

Read the whole article here: “5 Job Search Tactics You Need To Stop Now”

Are You An Active Job Seeker? The Hidden Job Market

Written by Natalia

If you are currently an active job seeker, you certainly need to take the hidden job market into consideration for maximum results in your job search.

It is said that way more than half of the job vacancies are never advertised. Which means that if your job search relies only on job boards you are missing out -big time!

No matter which part of the planet you live in, these hidden job markets exist all over the world, although the way they work might have some cultural differences.

Understanding The Hidden Job Market

So, why does the hidden job market exist to begin with? There are many reasons: lack of time, lack of money, and a huge waiting list of candidates from previous interviews are some of them.

According to a recent Jobvite study, 64% of recruiters rate referrals as the highest-quality source of hires. On the other hand, 40% of job seekers have found their “favourite or best” job through personal connections.

The key here to include these hidden markets in your job search is, first of all, doing your research about the companies you want to work for and contact them directly (doing your homework is always the most important step, just as in the “open market”), and -of course- networking. The more people know you’re searching for a new job, the more chances you have to learn about a job vacancy through ‘word of mouth’.

For further reading on the hidden job market and how to find these hidden job vacancies, I have two articles that I’m sure you’ll find helpful.

The first one is by Chris Manley, from The Careers Blog of The University of Warwick:

70% of all vacancies are never advertised, or so the story goes. This figure has been quoted for as long as I’ve worked in careers and I’m not sure anyone knows exactly where it comes from. In many ways it doesn’t really matter whether it’s 7% or 70% as long as you factor this ‘hidden’ side of the job market into your job search strategy. If you’re spending all your time on job portals (good as they are) you’re potentially missing out. By dedicating a small fraction of your time to unearthing unadvertised vacancies you may well find a wider range of opportunities than advertised vacancies alone.

The second one is from Career Advice Online:

Up to 80% of jobs don’t get advertised

Finding hidden job vacancies is all about being proactive

Digging out unadvertised vacancies shows potential employers your commitment towards and enthusiasm about a particular job or company

Networking is crucial

The speculative approach can produce good results if used well.

It may come as a surprise to many job seekers to learn that up to 80% of jobs don’t get advertised. These ‘invisible’ vacancies are referred to as the ‘hidden’ job market.

What are your thoughts about this?
Are you going to include the hidden job market in your job search?

How To Answer Salary Questions In A Job Interview

Written by Natalia

Many job seekers feel uncomfortable when asked salary questions in a job interview. I had a phone call today from a friend who is currently searching for a new job, and he told me he landed two interviews last week. That’s excellent news! And then the question arose: “The recruiter asked me about my salary expectations. What’s the proper answer to this question?”

It is a fact that interview questions like “what are your salary expectations?” are considered to be among the difficult ones. You really have to be careful because your answer could either lead you to miss a good opportunity if the wage you propose is too low, or even miss the job if it’s too high. Other trick questions like this could be “what was your last salary?”, or “would you be willing to take a lower pay than what you were getting in your previous job?”.
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So, how should you answer salary interview questions?

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Research

First of all, it is vital to do your research before the interview. This means that you have to learn as much as you can about the company including its compensation policies. A web search will help you with this if you do not know any of the employees in person. In addition, Ellen Gordon Reeves, the author of ‘Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?’ proposes to go straight to the source: “You can call the HR department of a company and simply say, ‘I saw a job advertised at your company and I’m wondering what the entry-level salary is for this department.’”

Of course, I am assuming here that you have already done your homework, and you know what salary to expect for this position according to the industry, your location, skills and experience.

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Diplomacy

Unless you are a psychic, you can’t possibly know the exact figure the recruiter has in mind. That’s why it is a good idea to give a diplomatic answer ‘throwing the ball back’ to the interviewer. Don’t be too open though (like “I’m willing to take whatever you give”), as you don’t want to sound weak.

A good example could be saying that you need more information about the job responsibilities before discussing salary. You could also ask the interviewer back what the company typically offers to someone with your qualifications, or what is budgeted for this position.

Always remember that what we say is not the only important thing. How we say it is quite significant as well. Your body language, your voice, your pauses and the way you talk are crucial to communicate your message. You don’t want to sound aggressive, right?

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Set a range

If they insist on a figure from you, it is best if you reply with a range. This will give you room for negotiation in case what you have in mind does not agree with what the company is offering. This is where all the research you have done becomes handy.

You could say something like “Based on the industry rates, my skill-set and previous experience, my requirements are in the $55.000 – $60.000 range, depending on the scope of work. Is that the range you had in mind?”

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Room for negotiation

Supposing you did your homework, the range you proposed was an acceptable one. Nevertheless, you will probably be offered a salary closer to the low end of your range. That is why it is wise to structure your proposal in a way that there is room for a counter-offer, in case you are not happy with the compensation the recruiter suggests. Lisa Gates in her article on The Daily Muse explains perfectly how to wiggle.

Negotiation conversations are made up of anchors (putting a number on the table), counteroffers, and concessions. Simplifying wildly, you need to know two things—your target (what you really want) and your reservation point (your walkaway or resentment number).

Remember to never try to negotiate anything until there really is an offer on the table.

Also, don’t forget that salary is not the only aspect of a job offer. Bonuses, employee benefits, or even share percentages are also parts of the package. If the benefits are more than you had expected, maybe a slightly lower salary isn’t so bad. On the other hand, if they are less you could use that as a justification for a higher salary.

For further reading on how to answer salary questions in a job interview, I have two more articles for you:
– The first one is by Aimee Bateman on Undercover Recruiter
– The second one, on BioSpace, by Carole Martin, provides some really good examples of Q&A’s

A Job Offer You Don’t Like? 5 Things To Consider Before Accepting

Written by Natalia

When you’re searching for a new job, chances are that you won’t like every job offer you get. Maybe the salary is lower than your standards, the required working hours don’t leave you any time for your family, or the company culture doesn’t suit you.

It is completely normal not to like each and every job offer you have. We all have our preferences.

However, there are times that people choose to accept a job offer they don’t really like. Sometimes it is due to financial reasons, especially if they are searching for a job for a long time and their savings account is getting lower. Another reason would be that their job hunt has lasted more than a couple of months and they have lost their self-confidence. In difficult times it’s easy to lose hope and feel desperate.

Nevertheless, whatever the reasons are that drive us to accept a less-than-ideal job offer, we should never forget the power of negotiation. You’ll never know what you could have accomplished if you don’t at least try!

Of course, there’s also the option to turn it down. Sometimes, a greater opportunity could be just around the corner. If you can afford to wait for it and chase it, it might be the best move.

If you are in a situation like this, trying to decide what to do, Heather Huhman, in her article in Glassdoor, suggests 5 things to consider before accepting a job offer you don’t like.

“Imagine you’ve just finished interviewing with several employers. Out of all of the interviews, you received one job offer. It wasn’t exactly what you wanted. Do you accept it?

If you’ve experienced a long-term job search, you’re probably feeling like you should take what you can get. But when you encounter offers you don’t completely love, you must ask yourself if you will accept the job offer, attempt to negotiate, or wait for a better opportunity to come along.”

Read the whole article here: “5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting a Job Offer You Don’t Love”

The Right Time To Find A New Job

Written by Natalia

Before starting your research to find a new job, you have to be sure that this is the best time to do so. We already know that January is one of the months when job seekers are the most active. If you are planning to leave your employer and find a new job, it’s worth first considering whether you are actually ready for this step.

Whether you are thinking of a career change, or just another job in your current career path, this article in Careerealism, by Alexia Vernon, will help you determine if now is the right time for you to move forward.

As she says, ‘I firmly believe, whatever reasons for leaving a job you have, the way you walk away from your company is the way you will show up to a new one – especially if it’s your own, brand-spankin’ new business.’

She goes on to suggest two top points where you should focus on and the questions you should ask yourself.

Read the whole article here: ” Knowing When It’s Time To Find A New Job “