As a job seeker it sometimes seems as if an opportunity will never come your way. This desperation can sometimes lead one to take advantage of any job opportunity, even when the offer is not the right one to take.

In the article “7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting A Job Offer” Glassdoor’s Emily Moore helps the reader to decide if a job is the right situation for one’s self by asking 7 questions which help to gage whether a job opportunity is right for them.

This week we will analyze Moore’s first three questions. Firstly, Moore asks the question that a job seeker would probably be most interested in.

Are you being offered fair compensation?

Sometimes we so badly want an opportunity that we may settle for less than we deserve. Moore wants the reader to ask themselves if they are being compensated fairly for what is expected from them as a worker. Also if you are over qualified for a position, and still are being offered less than market value this is also a problem.

Moore’s second and third questions are ones that some employees seldom seriously think about prior to taking a position.

Do employees generally stick around for a while?

If one is thinking about accepting a position with a company with high turnover then one should proceed with an air of skepticism. What could cause high turnover? Is it discontent, or do employees use this opportunity as a stepping ladder to another company? These are questions that one must consider prior to acceptance.

Do you like your potential manager?

In most cases a manager can become a deciding factor in how one views their job. A good manager could help boost job production, and create a positive atmosphere in the workplace. Conversely, a boss who is not well liked can create a negative environment, decrease worker efficiency, and entice one to search for other opportunities.

Good luck in your search, and let us know how it goes!

Read the Article Share Your Best Advice

In our last article, we dove into part 2 of our analysis of J. Maureen Henderson’s Forbes.com article “Bad Career Advice Is Everywhere — Here’s How To Avoid It.”

Today’s article, we take on her final question.

How invested is the person offering advice?

Henderson asks whether the advice you’re receiving is personalized. She notes that the more invested a source is in a your success, the less likely are to give you generic or selfish advice.

Henderson’s question reminds us that this is America and everyone has an agenda. One may give you advice that helps “their own ego, their wallet, their reputation.” It is up to the seeker to search through this bad advice to find useful help.

So, as you solicit and review the advice and feedback for your job search, be mindful of who you ask and whether their motivation is for your success (and not theirs).

Good luck in your search, and let us know how it goes!

Read the Article Share Your Best Advice

Last time we started our review of analyzing J. Maureen Henderson’s Forbes.com article “Bad Career Advice Is Everywhere — Here’s How To Avoid It,” starting with “Does this advice reflect my own priorities?” This time we will look over Henderson’s second question.

Is this a trusted, qualified source?

Within this idea Henderson challenges her audience to examine the credentials of your source. Within the “post factual” era of information it is important to ask one’s self if the information one reads is actually useful, up to date, and correct.

Henderson tries to explain this to the reader by using an entertainment parallel. Would we treat an individual’s Amazon review of a book with the same respect as we would with LA Review of Books, most likely we would not.

Henderson also uses a common family situation to explain how quickly information can become outdated. It is not uncommon for parents to push their children into certain fields. The legal field is not only seen as a field of prestige but one in which an individual can reap huge financial rewards. But after the 2007 recession it has become an oversaturated field with few opportunities for even the most qualified individuals.

So, if one advises you to go into a field and cites guaranteed financial gain you can probably assume that (unless they are an job analyzer) their information is outdated.

Next time we will wrap up our dissection of Henderson’s article by analyzing her final question topic:

How invested is the person offering advice?

Read the Article Share Your Best Advice

In this era of Internet accessibility it is easy for anyone to have a voice. Current events have shown that manipulated information can have an effect on national events, therefore it is no surprise that bias or non factual articles could affect one’s job search.

Within the article “Bad Career Advice Is Everywhere — Here’s How To Avoid It,” J. Maureen Henderson attempts to help job seekers surf through the waste to find relevant job seeking advice.

Within the next few articles, we will delve into the three questions Henderson uses to check the validity of an article, in order to see if the sources we use can be reliable.

Firstly, Henderson asks:

Does this advice reflect my own priorities?

Henderson points out that while a company may be lowly rated in one aspect a seeker should not rule them out if that aspect doesn’t apply to their possible career path. Henderson explains this by saying to the reader that a company who has bad reviews by those who work at home shouldn’t deter one who likes working in an office from applying because those factors do not apply to them. Those who do not thrive in homework will not be affected by the company’s limitations therefore this information is irrelevant.

In short, one shouldn’t let just any bad information be a reflection of the whole.

Next time we will analyze Henderson’s second question:

Is this a trusted, qualified source?

Read the Article Share Your Best Advice

As job seekers we tend to seek the advice of successful individuals in order to determine where we can improve.

Susannah Snider’s article “10 Experts Share the Best Career Advice They Ever Received” helps job seekers find advice from a who’s who list of successful individuals within various professions.

Though some of the advice pertains to what one must do after they obtain the job four of Snider’s interviewees give relevant seekers advice.

Treat everyone as a potential employer.

Debra Lybyer, director of career and advising services, Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho tells us to treat everyone as a potential employer. Do not close any doors for we do not know where a chance meeting or relationship can lead to.

Research the position and company.

Rob VanDorin, associate director of career services and employer relations, Central Michigan University implores the job seeker to do research about the company and position that you want to fill. This lets the potential employer know how serious you are about the job.

Don’t limit your search.

Bob LaBombard, CEO of GradStaff explains that one should not be limited by the field of one’s college degree. Individuals should actively seek jobs that excite them, or jobs they have skills to succeed in.

Never give up!

And finally, Jude Miller Burke, author of “The Millionaire Mystique: How Working Women Become Wealthy – And How You Can, Too!” has possibly the simplest advice, although at times it can be the most difficult to do, never give up! Burke explains that many have failed on the road to success however your drive will push you in the long run.

The full article is worth a read, a few times over. Good luck in your search, and let us know if you’ve received other tips worth sharing with our SkillSmart community!

Read the Article Share Your Tips

While getting your foot in the door for an interview is exciting and gratifying it is usually only the first step to success. The time following the interview is usually filled tension and intrigue while you wait to find out if you were hired.

Thanks to Forbes distinguished writer Liz Ryan we know what you can do to calm your nerves and increase your chances of acquiring the job at the same time.

Ryan suggests writing a thank you letter to the interviewer. Contrary to popular belief a handwritten thank you note is still useful in our technological age. Simply thanking one for the interview can help the employer see how serious you are about getting the job.

Just make sure you remember the name and correct spelling of the interviewer’s name. Here are some other helpful tips provided by Ryan.

What if you only had a phone screen? Yes, you still want to send a message. Even a short note, via email, will help the after-interview process move along. Take a look at the example text she provides. View >>

Here are the steps Ryan provides for after the in-person interview.

1. The minute you get home, write down your notes and questions about the interview before you have a chance to forget them.

Who were the interviewers? Write down each person’s name or as much of their name as you can remember. You’re going to use those person-specific details in your personalized thank-you notes.

2. Write down your own observations and questions.

Recap the interview with a friend or mentor you trust. Make sure you jot down anything you want to cover with your friend who can help you stay grounded.

3. Get some blank notecards and write a handwritten note to each person you met on the interview.

If you think a handwritten note is too formal for today’s job search world, think again! Hiring managers report that a well-written and thoughtful thank-you note was the deciding factor between two capable candidates.

View the full suggestions – and bonus sample text from Ryan. Good luck in your search, and let us know how you do!

Read the Article

Looking for a job can be one of the most tenuous processes of adulthood. Especially over the last few years as the job seeking process has dramatically shifted.

Society has promoted a somewhat unfair importance of a college degree. Those of us who graduated college feel like we should be guaranteed a job. Those of us who did not attend college can feel like there are seldom opportunities for us.

While at one time we were confined to the listings in our local newspapers, today’s technologies open new opportunities both near and far. Although I haven’t found a full-time job yet, I have discovered several useful steps that could help everyone in your job search.

First, do something. Anything.

Your potential employer won’t be impressed to see a huge gap between your jobs. So, volunteer, intern or find anything to add experience to your resume. Doing so will show that your time without a “formal job” was time still well spent gaining skills that may be useful to a new employer.

Second, use your connections.

We’ve all heard the saying “it’s not what you know but who you know.” It’s true. Many employers admit that they are more likely to give someone a job interview if they are familiar with their reference. It’s important for you to actively seek out and establish relationships. You never know who could introduce you to your next job. So start increasing your network and promoting your skills.

Third, know your position.

When you land an interview for a position, you have to know the basics of the position before you walk into the interview. You have to show you care about your potential position, so even if you haven’t worked in the field before, get familiar with the tasks expected of you. For example, if you have an opportunity to become a barista you should at least know that you will be required to mix coffee, interact with people and stand for long hours. Knowing the basics and having a positive attitude will give you a leg up on the competition.

I plan on employing these tactics as I continue my search and I hope you do, too. Good luck!