CareerTracker.us - Career Opportunities In Your Area

The 10 questions you're most likely to be asked in a job interview

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What interests you about this opening? (Or why do you want to work for us?)
3. What do you know about our company so far?
4. Why did you leave your last job? (Or why are you thinking about leaving your current job?)
5. Tell me about your experience at ___. (Fill in past job.)
6. What experience do you have doing ____? (Fill in each of the major responsibilities of the job.)
7. Tell me about your strengths.
8. Tell me about a time when... (Fill in with situations relevant to the position. For instance: Tell me about when you had to take initiative ... you had to deal with a difficult customer ... you had to respond to a crisis ... you had to give difficult feedback to an employee ... You get the idea.)
9. What salary range are you looking for?
10. What questions do you have for me?

Still have more time to practice? Bonus points if you practice answers to these additional five questions:
1. What's most important to you in a new position?
2. How does this position fit in with the career path you envision for yourself?
3. What has been your biggest professional achievement?
4. If I spoke with your previous boss, what in which areas would he or she say you need improvement?
5. What are the first five things you would do if you got this position?

Top Job Interview Tips

Practice Practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of actual examples you can use to describe your skills. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote your candidacy. Also have a list of your own questions to ask the employer ready.
Research Prepare a response so you are ready for the question What do you know about this company?Know the interviewer's name and use it during the job interview. If you're not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.
Get Ready Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with copies of yourresume. Include a pen and paper for note taking.
Be On Time Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the interview location ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there.
Stay Calm During the job interview try to relax and stay as calm possible. Take a moment to regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question before you answer and pay attention - you will be embarrassed if you forget the question!
Show What You Know Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. When discussing your career accomplishments match them to what the company is looking for. Here's how to make a match between your expertise and the company's requirements.
Follow Up Always follow-up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. If you interview with multiple people send each one a personal thank you note. Send your thank you note (email is fine) within 24 hours of your interview.

Top 10 Resume Writing Tips

1. Choose a basic font When writing a resume it's important to use a basic font that is easy to read, both for hiring managers and for applicant management systems.
2. Include all your contact information It's important to include all your contact information on your resume so employers can easily get in touch with you. Include your full name, street address, city, state, and zip, home phone number, cell phone number, and email address.
3. Include resume keywords Your resume should include the same keywords that appear in job descriptions. That way, you will increase your chances of your resume matching available positions - and of you being selected for an interview.
4. Choose the right resume format There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances, choose achronological, a functional, combination, or a targeted resume. Take the time to customize your resume - it's well worth the effort.
5. Prioritize your resume content It's important to prioritize the content of your resume so that your most important and relevant experience is listed first, with key accomplishments listed at the top of each position.
6. Write a custom resume It definitely takes more time to write a custom resume, but, it's worth the effort, especially when applying for jobs that are a perfect match for your qualifications and experience.
7. Tailor your resume objective If you include an objective on your resume, it's important to tailor your resume objective to match the job you are applying for. The more specific you are, the better chance you have of being considered for the job you are interested in.
8. Tweak for Technology In this competitive job-seeking environment, job seekers need to make sure that their resume stands out from the pack, is selected by talent management systems, and shows, in a professional, no-nonsense way, that the applicant has taken the time and interest to pursue a specific job opening.
9. Use a resume template Use a resume template as a starting point for creating your own resume. Add your information to the resume template, then tweak and edit it to personalize your resume, so it highlights your skills and abilities.
10. Email your resume When you're sending an email resume, it's important to follow the employer's instructions on how to submit your cover letter and resume. The employer may want your resume attached to the email message and sent in specific format, typically as a Word dcocument or a PDF.

What questions do employers want to hear in an interview?
The right questions to ask

1. I've been told that I work very well as a team member. What are some of the ways your company encourages teamwork?
2. We all know how important job satisfaction is to everyone. I want to be happy in any role. Is the company committed to promotion from within, whenever possible?
3. I love your published mission and values. How are these reflected in day-to-day life at the company? Can you share some examples with me?
4. If your son, daughter or a friend was looking for a job, would you recommend working for this company? Why?
5. What do you think distinguishes this company from its competitors, both from a public and employee perspective?
6. How often do you speak with your C-level officers? When you do, what do they normally ask you? Do they ask for your opinion?
7. How does the company demonstrate a sense of pride in its employees? Can you help me understand what it looks for in return?
8. Are there paid, ongoing learning opportunities offered at my level of job responsibility? What obligations do I have if I elect to take advantage of them?
9. What does the company expect in the way of personal and professional growth for a person hired into this position?
10. Does the company value a difference in work and personal time, or does it blur the responsibilities between the two?
*Think about your goals first*
Don't feel obligated to walk into the interview with a set number of questions, but these give you an idea of the right questions to ask. Also think of the questions in terms of your career and personal goals. If you're moving into a role with more responsibility, how will that affect what questions you ask? If you're starting a family soon, what do you want to know about the company's commitment to work/life balance?
Thoughtful planning and preparation for an interview will not only help you feel more confident but will also leave a great impression on the person interviewing you.

Resume Tips: 5 Ways To Stand Out On Paper

1. Use buzzwords When recruiters browse through resumes, they're looking for keywords that match the job description. Including base keywords will get their attention, but you can take it a step further. Check out the company.s website and look for any company goals that fit your experience, then include those keywords on your resume as well.
2. Add quirky accomplishments My friend is a pastry chef. Her professional accomplishments are similar to everyone else's in her line of work. She went to cooking school, did an internship at a nice restaurant, and worked her way up. Her resume looks a lot like any pastry chef's resume with one surprising difference. Under personal accomplishments she wrote, "Won the 2007 St. Bernard Parish Pie Eating Contest." It isn't something you'd expect. She's been asked about the contest on several interviews, which is the perfect time to tell the recruiter that she also baked all of the pies for the contest. Injecting some personality into your resume can help you stand out from the crowd, but anything you list should in some way relate to the job you want. Like my friend's pie eating trophy, it is the perfect segue to talk about her original pie recipes.
3. Turn your resume into an infographic Your resume doesn't have to be a one-page chronological list of achievements. Just ask college journalist Chris Spurlock. Last year he turned his resume into an infographic. Not long after, Spurlock's resume went viral and was cross-posted on blogs and Twitter. By the next day, J School Buzz, an independent blog about the Missouri School of Journalism, said Spurlock's portfolio website had had more than 8,000 visitors. He had the right idea. If you're in a creative field like marketing, journalism, or web design, making your resume look different from the standard one-page chronological list will make it stand out from others and show off your talents.
4. Include unusual odd jobs from your past I once had a recruiter tell me not to include any position on my job history that didn't fit with my career path. Since I had only had one journalism job before I heard that nugget of wisdom, my resume was pretty short. When I finally did land an interview, the hiring manager asked why I hadn't worked anywhere before turning 22. I felt pretty silly explaining that I had worked full-time since high school, but just didn't include any of that on my resume. That recruiter gave me bad advice. A solid work history proves you're a hard worker, even if you've worked some positions that aren't in line with your career. And if you've had an unusual job, your resume might stand out and impress someone. For example, my friend used to babysit our mayor's kids before he was elected. Now she works in advertising, but that job is still listed on her resume. Not only does it show that she has the patience, work ethic, and stamina to deal with kids, but it is a sneaky way of telling advertising firms that she knows the mayor. And in her line of work, having connections can help get you hired.
5. Make a video resume Shooting an introductory video of yourself may seem a little cheesy, but it worked for sales manager Stan Paprzycki. He shot a video of himself, posted it on YouTube, and then sent the link to potential employers. He told CBS News that the result was "almost 100 percent" positive feedback. Better yet, his video resume got him a job. A video resume is better suited for jobs that thrive on personality, like sales and marketing. If you're in a similar field, submitting a video resume has two benefits. One, it isn't something everyone will do, so you'll stand out. Two, a video is a better way to show off your personality and let a potential employer get to know you. To make your own, use your home office (or a room made to look like a home office) as your set, dress in business professional attire, and spend a few minutes talking about your work history, education, and personal skills on camera. Then just upload the file to a video sharing service like YouTube. You can submit the link alone or along with your physical resume.

Four Interview Killers

1. Don't forget your people skills No matter how well you've prepared, you might find that nerves get the best of you in the heat of the moment. You wouldn't be the first person to stick your foot in your mouth, judging by the examples above. To guard against saying or doing something you might regret, conduct a practice interview with a friend or family member well ahead of the big event. The "interviewer" can alert you to instances when you seem more nervous than usual or become flustered. The practice will also help you feel more at ease during the real interview.
2. Don't focus on your needs over the employer's It goes without saying that the interview is a prime opportunity for you to learn more details about the position. But use common sense when digging for additional information. on't ask for the nitty-gritty about future compensation, benefits and perks until the hiring manager has expressed serious interest in offering you the position. Jumping the gun will make it seem like you don't care about the job itself or making a meaningful contribution to the potential employer. However, it is appropriate to ask about the position itself, even during the early rounds of interviewing. For example, you might inquire about the person who last held the role or about the types of professional development opportunities the company makes available to employees.
3. Don't dress down No matter how casual a potential employer's work environment seems, dress to impress. That means wearing a suit or other similar professional attire. It's highly unlikely a hiring manager will knock points off if you show up to the interview slightly overdressed. However, coming in casual attire may give the impression that you're not serious about the position or cause the interviewer to question your professionalism. This is one of those small details that can speak volumes, so don't take any chances.
4. Don't be dishonest If you've been on the job hunt for a while, it can be tempting to stretch the truth during the interview in order to make yourself seem more qualified. After all, what's one little white lie? But keep in mind most employers conduct reference or background checks prior to extending an employment offer. And in the age of Google and social media, it's easier than ever to uncover false information. If that happens, you can be guaranteed you won't be offered the position, and your professional reputation can suffer irreparable harm. Even if your lie isn't uncovered right away, you could be setting yourself up for failure. If you exaggerate your skills or experience, you may not be able to successfully complete the position's duties once hired. It's best to give the hiring manager an accurate depiction of your abilities so both you and the employer can be confident the job is right for you. The bottom line: It's never OK to lie during the interview, no matter how small the fib might seem. Always stick to the facts and build a case for the position you seek based solely on your actual skills and experience.

Top 10 Cities to Find a Job
10 cities where job finders might find the best luck.

1. Hartford, Connecticut United Technologies, an aerospace and technology corporation headquartered in Hartford, is one of the city's top employers
2. New York The city that is home to Wall Street also employs 312,000 in the finance and insurance industry. And 247,000 workers in the food and accommodations industry serve the city's estimated nearly 50 million annual tourists.
3. Milwaukee Healthcare is the top industry in Wisconsin's largest city.
4. Baltimore Health and education dominate the employment landscape in Maryland's largest city.
5. Austin, Texas Supplies many Tech jobs, as well as Healthcare and educational institutions.
6. St Paul, Minnesota Over 28,000 people--13 percent of the labor force--work in the government sector in this state capital, and around 11 percent are in the healthcare industry. Twelve percent of the city's employees are employed in manufacturing.
7. Oklahoma City Government--be it federal, state, or local--is far and away the largest jobs provider in Oklahoma City.
8. Boston But like many cities, healthcare and education are major job sources, with tens of thousands employed by hospitals and higher education institutions located around the metro area.
9. Salt Lake City, Utah Healthcare provider Intermountain Health Care is the largest private employer in this city of over 180,000, with more than 26,000 full-time employees. But the public sector also employs a significant number of area workers, with major employers including the University of Utah, the state of Utah, and Salt Lake City International Airport.
10. Washington D.C. With well over 200,000 employees in the D.C. metro area, the federal government is the largest employer in the nation.s capital. But a diverse plethora of other job opportunities abound in the city's many nonprofit organizations, government contractors, consulting firms, think tanks, and educational institutions.