written by Yuan-Wei Tan
A common career-related question that can potentially create a lot of anxiety, the question of how much compensation is provided by a possible job is one that is bound to come up eventually.
According to Jacquelyn Smith at Business Insider, the hiring manager will typically ask what you currently make and sometimes follow up by asking, "And how much would you like to make in your next job?" or "How much do you think you're worth?". These questions are tricky because you don't want to scare the hiring manager off by throwing out a number they can't afford to give you and you don't want to leave money on the table by choosing an amount that's lower than they would've offered you.
Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," weighed in on how to respond to this question."When hiring managers ask, 'What are you comfortable earning?' this is the time to shoot for the upper end of your range, and to have your well-prepared pitch ready," she suggests.
Here are Lynn's tips on handling this tricky question:
Offer a range, not a specific number. This gives you wiggle room and allows you to reach for the highest number, she says. "You can always drop down from there, as in any negotiation. Also, know your threshold in advance: What is the lowest salary you'll accept?".
Share your research. If you're uncomfortable saying, "I think I'm worth X," refer to your research. This allows you to speak in more objective terms: "My research has shown that this kind of position with my experience is in the range of X." "Remain poised and factual," Taylor suggests.
Be honest. Make sure you don't embellish on your current pay in order to boost your future one. It's a small world, and the truth may be revealed later.
Think in terms of overall compensation. Before you get into specifics, know the entire compensation picture. They may ask you about "salary," but are there bonuses, 401Ks, stock options, educational reimbursements, vacation time, travel allowances, excellent medical coverage, or use of a company car to consider? Find out before you blurt out a number.
Be reasonable. Don't make an unreasonable salary request. "If you shoot for the moon, be prepared to explain why," says Taylor. "For instance, if you say, 'I'm now earning $100,000 and I want to be in the $150,000 range,' you'll likely raise eyebrows. But if you quickly back up an aggressive request with understandable circumstances that have kept your salary below market level, you'll get better support," she explains. Examples include: a difficult economic environment, downsizing, hiring or salary freezes, cutbacks, or the fact that you receive other forms of compensation and perks.
Don't cave too early. Never throw out a number and then immediately say, "Well, maybe I'm not worth that much," just because the hiring manager looks surprised. If you've done your research and feel confident in your request, stick with it as long as you can. You may need to come down in negotiations later — but let that process happen more organically.
Say you're willing to negotiate. If you realize that you're out of the employer's ballpark, or feel you're getting limited feedback, you can always say, "I should also mention that I'm flexible when it comes to salary for a great opportunity. Do you also have some flexibility in the compensation for the position?"
Think ahead. Remember that part of your negotiation can be a salary review in three or six months, says Taylor. " If you get this in writing and exceed expectations, you may well be at your target salary by year-end."
Pay attention. "Like many aspects of job interviewing, you'll exponentially increase your chances of success through active listening, watching for nuances and gauging your responses accordingly," she says. Let the hiring manager be your guide.
If you really don't know or don't care, evade the question. Normally this would be terrible job interview advice. But, if you really don't know or don't care about salary — or you're too uncomfortable answering the question — try something like: "Salary is not my primary criteria. I really place a lot of importance on seeking a challenging, supportive environment where I can make a significant contribution and grow."
Don't settle. Just remember: You get one shot at the salary offer process, so don't settle for something you're really not comfortable with. If you know you're worth more, and not so certain you'd reach your goal salary anytime soon, this might not be the company for you.
Showing posts with label Yuan-Wei Tan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yuan-Wei Tan. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Writing Multiple Resumes
written by Yuan-Wei Tan
One piece of advice that job applicants often hear is to tailor individual resumes for different jobs. Utilizing this method allows an applicant to ensure that the correct skills are being highlighted to satisfy the requirements of a job description. However, this method tends to become impractical as the applicant ends up with a large stockpile of resumes from all the different job applications.
According to Marcelle Yeager, President of Career Valet; "This could very well mean you have a stockpile in the double digits, if not hundreds. And you might feel that for this amount of effort, you’ve had little success."
Here are Marcelle's tips to better handle multiple resumes:
1. Create a master résumé.
Technology does have its faults, as do humans. It’s essential to look over the résumé with a fine-toothed comb, and best to do this with a hard copy. Make any changes necessary, and then repeat the edit process after taking a break for an hour or, if you have the time, a day. Try not to edit if you are exhausted after a long day at work.
To summarize, the most important resume is the master resume as every other resume will just be a modified version of it. Thus, it is important to get both the master resume done right and to make sure the correct phrasing is used when tailoring it for different applications. Marcelle states; "In truth you need only one résumé – the master version – and the others that stem from that are variations. Once you get the hang of dissecting a job description and identifying keywords, it will be much easier to create new versions when applying to jobs."
Read the rest of Marcelle's article at U.S News & World Report.
One piece of advice that job applicants often hear is to tailor individual resumes for different jobs. Utilizing this method allows an applicant to ensure that the correct skills are being highlighted to satisfy the requirements of a job description. However, this method tends to become impractical as the applicant ends up with a large stockpile of resumes from all the different job applications.
According to Marcelle Yeager, President of Career Valet; "This could very well mean you have a stockpile in the double digits, if not hundreds. And you might feel that for this amount of effort, you’ve had little success."
Here are Marcelle's tips to better handle multiple resumes:
1. Create a master résumé.
This is a staple for all job seekers, no matter what stage they’re at in their careers. You need one solid version with everything from your background that could reasonably be used in a résumé. Think of it as your cheat sheet for all future résumés, and continue to add to it whenever you achieve something new.
Record all jobs and internships, education, professional training, licenses, certificates, awards,volunteer work, professional affiliations, languages, publications and technical knowledge. Put as many details as you can in this version, from dates to locations to duties. Go beyond just your job or internship tasks, and include the impact of your work, whether it’s quantitative or qualitative.
2. Clean it up.
Record all jobs and internships, education, professional training, licenses, certificates, awards,volunteer work, professional affiliations, languages, publications and technical knowledge. Put as many details as you can in this version, from dates to locations to duties. Go beyond just your job or internship tasks, and include the impact of your work, whether it’s quantitative or qualitative.
2. Clean it up.
The master résumé is not a dumping ground for every piece of job-related history. In order to save yourself headaches later when it comes to application time, clean it up now, and keep it that way as you add to it in the future.
Do your best to edit the résumé, from cleaning up the formatting to fixing grammatical or other types of errors. Also be sure you’re using consistent constructions, like starting every bullet with an active verb.
Once you’ve done all this, share it with two people you trust, and ask them to review and edit. Incorporate their edits, and review a hard copy of the résumé. (It’s hard to catch spacing errors and other formatting issues on the computer screen.)
Once you’re satisfied that it’s as good as can be, you can create a new version to use for a job application. How do you go about that? Read on.
3. Dissect the job description.
Do your best to edit the résumé, from cleaning up the formatting to fixing grammatical or other types of errors. Also be sure you’re using consistent constructions, like starting every bullet with an active verb.
Once you’ve done all this, share it with two people you trust, and ask them to review and edit. Incorporate their edits, and review a hard copy of the résumé. (It’s hard to catch spacing errors and other formatting issues on the computer screen.)
Once you’re satisfied that it’s as good as can be, you can create a new version to use for a job application. How do you go about that? Read on.
3. Dissect the job description.
So you come across a job posting, and you’re ready to apply. First, read the description closely. Highlight the required and preferred qualifications. Ask yourself whether you are a good match. If you meet the majority of required qualifications, it’s likely worth your while to apply.
Read through the rest of the posting again. Look at what the job responsibilities entail, and highlight the main skills or experience listed there.
4. “Save as” and delete.
Read through the rest of the posting again. Look at what the job responsibilities entail, and highlight the main skills or experience listed there.
4. “Save as” and delete.
Once you feel you’re qualified for this job and have a good grasp of what the employer is looking for, it’s time to look at your master résumé and “save as” a new version. Keep only duties and accomplishments relevant to the job posting. If you’ve held jobs in a similar type of company or industry, don’t delete those.
You also need to make sure you hold on to information that employers look for and expect to see, such as education, awards and any unique technical knowledge.
5. Adding the infamous keywords.
You also need to make sure you hold on to information that employers look for and expect to see, such as education, awards and any unique technical knowledge.
5. Adding the infamous keywords.
“Keyword” now has a bad connotation in the job-searching world, but it’s not as terrible as it seems.
Take a look again at the portions of the job description that you highlighted. Where you see a match with your experience, check the wording of the posting against what’s in your master résumé. Do you use the same terms or synonyms? If you don’t have the same words or phrases, make some replacements.
Where people get caught is sprinkling around words from job descriptions randomly with no purpose. Do it in a meaningful way, and you won’t only get through an applicant automatic tracking system, but also past the deciphering eyes of a human reader.
6. Review, and then review again.
Take a look again at the portions of the job description that you highlighted. Where you see a match with your experience, check the wording of the posting against what’s in your master résumé. Do you use the same terms or synonyms? If you don’t have the same words or phrases, make some replacements.
Where people get caught is sprinkling around words from job descriptions randomly with no purpose. Do it in a meaningful way, and you won’t only get through an applicant automatic tracking system, but also past the deciphering eyes of a human reader.
6. Review, and then review again.
Like you did above when you created your master résumé, it’s critical to review your work. You cannot assume that since you deleted information from your solid master copy, everything went smoothly.
Technology does have its faults, as do humans. It’s essential to look over the résumé with a fine-toothed comb, and best to do this with a hard copy. Make any changes necessary, and then repeat the edit process after taking a break for an hour or, if you have the time, a day. Try not to edit if you are exhausted after a long day at work.
Read the rest of Marcelle's article at U.S News & World Report.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
The "Airport" Test
written by Yuan-Wei Tan
The Airport Test is an evaluation method used by hiring managers when critiquing potential hires. When an interview is concluded, the manager will ask herself if, knowing what she has just learned from the interview, the interviewee is the kind of person that she would want to be stuck at an airport with for an extended period of time.
According to Meredith Pepin, a Career Development Specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the test is an alternative to typical behavioral questions that allows the hiring manager to evaluate an interviewee's "soft skills" and personality type to determine a good fit with the company's corporate culture.
"In fact, most employers actually want to gain a better understanding of who you are outside of these cookie-cutter answers," says Pepin who adds that a good fit and ability to get along with other employees is crucial when the nature of the job revolves around working long hours together.
Here are Meredith's tips to pass this test:
That said, you can absolutely flunk the airport test by being boring or inappropriate. So, it’s crucial to be prepared to answer things like, “What do you do for fun outside of work?" or “Do you have personal interests or passions?" in addition to the more relevant questions.
As you would review and prepare examples of work experiences for an interview, take stock of what you do in your free time. Do you play intramural sports? Volunteer? Read? What would you feel comfortable sharing, and what might be things you want to keep personal? For instance, if you spend part of your weekend supporting a political campaign and are unsure if your personal view will spark debate, it may be best to avoid that topic. On the other hand, if you’re are an avid bird watcher and just spent a week in the Amazon, that might be a good source of conversation with just about anyone in the room, regardless of whether they share that interest.
Here’s a personal example: An interview question I received once was, “What was the last book you read for pleasure?” Unknown to my interviewer, this was unfortunate timing (and, er, phrasing). The last book my book club had selected was Fifty Shades of Grey. Certainly not the type of response I wanted to stand as witness to my outside-of-the-workplace character review. Instead, I responded with my second most recent read, which was much more polished, professional, and interesting. (For the record, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.)
Keep this in mind: Although you should always be authentic in an interview, there is some room to filter your answers and remain selectively professional. Choose those answers that represent the best of you in the interview.
Don’t Forget to Network
Finally, remember that the airport test goes beyond your future manager. Often, companies include an outing or group meeting as part of the interview, ranging from a team breakfast to a casual event at the bar. This is basically a chance for everyone else to get to know you and see how you’d fit in on the team, but it’s also a great way to make a good impression outside of the suit.
So, make sure that you're not just trying to impress the other employees, but that you’re engaging with them. Get to know them, and ask questions about what they love about the company. See what you have in common, and share what makes you interesting both inside and outside of the workplace. (Also, remember that your actions and conversations will still carry weight in the deciding factor of who gets hired—and people will definitely take note if you’re having one too many Chardonnays at the open bar.) But letting your guard down a bit and really talking to people? You never know—it just may set you apart from other candidates.
Read the rest of Meredith's article at The Muse.
The Airport Test is an evaluation method used by hiring managers when critiquing potential hires. When an interview is concluded, the manager will ask herself if, knowing what she has just learned from the interview, the interviewee is the kind of person that she would want to be stuck at an airport with for an extended period of time.
According to Meredith Pepin, a Career Development Specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the test is an alternative to typical behavioral questions that allows the hiring manager to evaluate an interviewee's "soft skills" and personality type to determine a good fit with the company's corporate culture.
"In fact, most employers actually want to gain a better understanding of who you are outside of these cookie-cutter answers," says Pepin who adds that a good fit and ability to get along with other employees is crucial when the nature of the job revolves around working long hours together.
Here are Meredith's tips to pass this test:
Don’t Skip the Small Talk
I’ve found myself having conversations ranging from hobbies to the latest Netflix series with my future supervisor (and her supervisor) during an interview. Very rarely during the luncheon was the conversation pointed toward the office or the position for which I was interviewing, and it was intentional.
What did they want to know? I later asked my supervisor just that. Through these added conversations, she wanted to see if I would connect with the team. Was I interesting? Personable? Could she see herself grabbing a cup of joe with me on the way into work? At meetings, would I embarrass her in front of a client, or would I serve as a friendly, likeable representation of the company?
Whether it’s over a meal or interspersed in a regular interview, you may be surprised to hear a question or two that has zero relevance to the necessary credentials for the position. (What does your interest in fly-fishing have to do with your ability to manage a million dollar marketing campaign? Um, nothing.)
But remember, your interviewers might feel they can get a better glimpse of your character and personality through some of these questions as opposed to the standard ones. So, don’t skip the small talk or necessarily try to move as quickly as possible back to the job at hand. A more casual conversation is a chance to get to know the person beyond practiced answers.
What did they want to know? I later asked my supervisor just that. Through these added conversations, she wanted to see if I would connect with the team. Was I interesting? Personable? Could she see herself grabbing a cup of joe with me on the way into work? At meetings, would I embarrass her in front of a client, or would I serve as a friendly, likeable representation of the company?
Whether it’s over a meal or interspersed in a regular interview, you may be surprised to hear a question or two that has zero relevance to the necessary credentials for the position. (What does your interest in fly-fishing have to do with your ability to manage a million dollar marketing campaign? Um, nothing.)
But remember, your interviewers might feel they can get a better glimpse of your character and personality through some of these questions as opposed to the standard ones. So, don’t skip the small talk or necessarily try to move as quickly as possible back to the job at hand. A more casual conversation is a chance to get to know the person beyond practiced answers.
But Keep it Professional
That said, you can absolutely flunk the airport test by being boring or inappropriate. So, it’s crucial to be prepared to answer things like, “What do you do for fun outside of work?" or “Do you have personal interests or passions?" in addition to the more relevant questions.
As you would review and prepare examples of work experiences for an interview, take stock of what you do in your free time. Do you play intramural sports? Volunteer? Read? What would you feel comfortable sharing, and what might be things you want to keep personal? For instance, if you spend part of your weekend supporting a political campaign and are unsure if your personal view will spark debate, it may be best to avoid that topic. On the other hand, if you’re are an avid bird watcher and just spent a week in the Amazon, that might be a good source of conversation with just about anyone in the room, regardless of whether they share that interest.
Here’s a personal example: An interview question I received once was, “What was the last book you read for pleasure?” Unknown to my interviewer, this was unfortunate timing (and, er, phrasing). The last book my book club had selected was Fifty Shades of Grey. Certainly not the type of response I wanted to stand as witness to my outside-of-the-workplace character review. Instead, I responded with my second most recent read, which was much more polished, professional, and interesting. (For the record, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.)
Keep this in mind: Although you should always be authentic in an interview, there is some room to filter your answers and remain selectively professional. Choose those answers that represent the best of you in the interview.
Don’t Forget to Network
So, make sure that you're not just trying to impress the other employees, but that you’re engaging with them. Get to know them, and ask questions about what they love about the company. See what you have in common, and share what makes you interesting both inside and outside of the workplace. (Also, remember that your actions and conversations will still carry weight in the deciding factor of who gets hired—and people will definitely take note if you’re having one too many Chardonnays at the open bar.) But letting your guard down a bit and really talking to people? You never know—it just may set you apart from other candidates.
Read the rest of Meredith's article at The Muse.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Lessons From The Great Recession
written by Yuan-Wei Tan
After a period of stagnation following the Great Recession of 2008, the U.S. job market appears to be recovering as the number of new jobs created continues to rise and the unemployment rate falls.
Hannah Morgan at U.S News & World Reports writes that now is a good time for those seeking new employment and recommends that new job seekers brush up on skills and learn some insight from job seekers who fought the battle during the Great Recession.
Here are Hannah's six lessons job seekers can learn from the Great Recession:
1. Job stability is dead. Long live career stability. The rug may be pulled out from under you, but if you have cutting-edge skills, a strong network and a resilient outlook, you’ll have career stability. You’ll have more than a dozen different jobs during your career, so learn how to stay up to date, keep your head out of the sand and embrace change.
2. Defend against looking like damaged goods. Get help with your job search sooner rather than later. As crazy as it seems anyone would think this, given the number of people who become unemployed due to no fault of their own, there is still a stigma associated with being unemployed.
Even if you are employed and looking, you should know that job searching has become more competitive, and you want to make sure you are using up-to-date and effective job search tactics – not the ones you used years ago. The faster you can successfully land interviews, the better.
3. Self promotion is an ugly necessity. You don’t like bragging – few people do. But the art and science of promoting yourself determines your success in landing a new job.
There is more competition today, and it's up to you to convince the employer you are the most desirable candidate. This doesn’t end once you land the job, either. Managers are always being asked to do more with less, and you don’t want to end up without a job just because you didn’t feel like you should have to share your accomplishments. A good manager should know, right? But the facts are the facts, and when tough decisions need to be made, good managers only know what they’ve been told.
4. Keep your ears, eyes and mind open. You never know where your next opportunity will come from or what it will be. In fact, your next job may not look or sound like a match initially.
Learn about every opportunity you’re presented with or stumble across. Read between the lines of the job posting, if there is one. Research the company, leadership and employees, and learn all about the customers, products and services.
It sounds like a lot to do, but you never know what you’ll learn. Organizations have varying job titles, structures and cultures. It is difficult to know if you’ll be a fit unless you do the research.
5. Stay positive and motivated. This mantra is easy to say and difficult to do. Staying motivated is one of the most common issues for job seekers. The job search process comes with rejection, or worse, indifference. When conducted in isolation, it can be extremely lonely, especially for those used to working on a team.
It is your attitude that will ultimately convince your future manager to hire you. Build a support system, and stay positive.
6. Don’t get weeded out. Get referred in. Applying to jobs through job boards is so alluring. You simply send your résumé electronically, and you’re hired, right? Wrong. Applications flood the company’s system, and recruiters quickly sift through the keyword selected candidates. Your odds of being chosen for a pre-screening phone conversation are slim.
Instead of posting and praying, turn to a friend. Ask someone inside the company to refer you, and see how your application rises to the top of the “must-call” pile.
Read the rest of Hannah Morgan's article here.
After a period of stagnation following the Great Recession of 2008, the U.S. job market appears to be recovering as the number of new jobs created continues to rise and the unemployment rate falls.
Hannah Morgan at U.S News & World Reports writes that now is a good time for those seeking new employment and recommends that new job seekers brush up on skills and learn some insight from job seekers who fought the battle during the Great Recession.
Here are Hannah's six lessons job seekers can learn from the Great Recession:
1. Job stability is dead. Long live career stability. The rug may be pulled out from under you, but if you have cutting-edge skills, a strong network and a resilient outlook, you’ll have career stability. You’ll have more than a dozen different jobs during your career, so learn how to stay up to date, keep your head out of the sand and embrace change.
2. Defend against looking like damaged goods. Get help with your job search sooner rather than later. As crazy as it seems anyone would think this, given the number of people who become unemployed due to no fault of their own, there is still a stigma associated with being unemployed.
Even if you are employed and looking, you should know that job searching has become more competitive, and you want to make sure you are using up-to-date and effective job search tactics – not the ones you used years ago. The faster you can successfully land interviews, the better.
3. Self promotion is an ugly necessity. You don’t like bragging – few people do. But the art and science of promoting yourself determines your success in landing a new job.
There is more competition today, and it's up to you to convince the employer you are the most desirable candidate. This doesn’t end once you land the job, either. Managers are always being asked to do more with less, and you don’t want to end up without a job just because you didn’t feel like you should have to share your accomplishments. A good manager should know, right? But the facts are the facts, and when tough decisions need to be made, good managers only know what they’ve been told.
4. Keep your ears, eyes and mind open. You never know where your next opportunity will come from or what it will be. In fact, your next job may not look or sound like a match initially.
Learn about every opportunity you’re presented with or stumble across. Read between the lines of the job posting, if there is one. Research the company, leadership and employees, and learn all about the customers, products and services.
It sounds like a lot to do, but you never know what you’ll learn. Organizations have varying job titles, structures and cultures. It is difficult to know if you’ll be a fit unless you do the research.
5. Stay positive and motivated. This mantra is easy to say and difficult to do. Staying motivated is one of the most common issues for job seekers. The job search process comes with rejection, or worse, indifference. When conducted in isolation, it can be extremely lonely, especially for those used to working on a team.
It is your attitude that will ultimately convince your future manager to hire you. Build a support system, and stay positive.
6. Don’t get weeded out. Get referred in. Applying to jobs through job boards is so alluring. You simply send your résumé electronically, and you’re hired, right? Wrong. Applications flood the company’s system, and recruiters quickly sift through the keyword selected candidates. Your odds of being chosen for a pre-screening phone conversation are slim.
Instead of posting and praying, turn to a friend. Ask someone inside the company to refer you, and see how your application rises to the top of the “must-call” pile.
Read the rest of Hannah Morgan's article here.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Facebook Recruiter Shares What She Looks For In Job Candidates
written by Yuan-Wei Tan
The name Facebook is instantly recognizable these days and as it turns out, competition for jobs at the ever-expanding company is fierce. Everyday, the best and brightest compete for roles at Facebook that typically pay upward of $100 000 a year.
Business Insider's Jacquelyn Smith spoke to Ciara Brocklebank, a technical recruiter at Facebook in New York, to find out why the company is such a coveted place to work.
"There are so many things that make Facebook a great company to work for, but the two that stand out for me are the people and our mission," Brocklebank says. "We work with the best and brightest in their given field who are excited to make the world more open and connected. A lot of the people I work with have become my closest friends, and what could be more fun than working on something really challenging with your friends?"
Gaining a position at Facebook is a difficult process. "We are always looking for the best talent that supports our environment of focusing on impact," Brocklebank says. "We have a challenging evaluation process where we expect strong technical knowledge and a thirst to make an impact on the world." Working at Facebook will see employees face the most difficult technical challenges maintaining a social-network with over a billion users.
Brocklebank highlights two areas in which applicants can stand-out; the resume and the interview. Applicants with resumes that stand-out tend to grab recruiters' attention with evidence of "a solid academic background, relevant work experience, interesting side projects, and contributions to open-source projects." Excelling during the interview-process will require applicants to be able to answer a rigorous series of questioning. "For an engineering role, for example, you will be asked to solve coding problems, behavioral questions, and design and architecture questions to ascertain your depth of knowledge in each area," she says. "We ask comprehensive questions to get an overall sense of a candidate's breadth of skills, knowledge, and potential."
The name Facebook is instantly recognizable these days and as it turns out, competition for jobs at the ever-expanding company is fierce. Everyday, the best and brightest compete for roles at Facebook that typically pay upward of $100 000 a year.
Business Insider's Jacquelyn Smith spoke to Ciara Brocklebank, a technical recruiter at Facebook in New York, to find out why the company is such a coveted place to work.
"There are so many things that make Facebook a great company to work for, but the two that stand out for me are the people and our mission," Brocklebank says. "We work with the best and brightest in their given field who are excited to make the world more open and connected. A lot of the people I work with have become my closest friends, and what could be more fun than working on something really challenging with your friends?"
Gaining a position at Facebook is a difficult process. "We are always looking for the best talent that supports our environment of focusing on impact," Brocklebank says. "We have a challenging evaluation process where we expect strong technical knowledge and a thirst to make an impact on the world." Working at Facebook will see employees face the most difficult technical challenges maintaining a social-network with over a billion users.
Brocklebank highlights two areas in which applicants can stand-out; the resume and the interview. Applicants with resumes that stand-out tend to grab recruiters' attention with evidence of "a solid academic background, relevant work experience, interesting side projects, and contributions to open-source projects." Excelling during the interview-process will require applicants to be able to answer a rigorous series of questioning. "For an engineering role, for example, you will be asked to solve coding problems, behavioral questions, and design and architecture questions to ascertain your depth of knowledge in each area," she says. "We ask comprehensive questions to get an overall sense of a candidate's breadth of skills, knowledge, and potential."
She also recommends that you attend one of Facebook's Crush Your Coding Interview sessions, which the company offers engineering candidates to help them prepare for their technical interviews. These sessions offer tips and tricks as well as mock interviews. Job seekers can also ask questions at the end.
"Generally, I would say what makes someone stand out to us is demonstrating what they are passionate about — talking about what they have been excited to work on in the past or what they would be excited to work on at Facebook is always really interesting to hear, as people have ideas that we may not have thought of yet," Brocklebank says.
Read the rest of Jacquelyn's interview at : http://www.businessinsider.com/what-facebook-looks-for-in-job-candidates-2015-1
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
The Most Important Parts of Your Resume.
written by Yuan-Wei Tan
According to a study released by online job-matching service The Ladders, recruiters spend about six seconds scanning through each resume they receive. This same study also states that recruiters will spend those six seconds focusing on these parts:
As Amanda Augustine, career expert at The Ladders, explains: "If you have a common name, consider including your middle initial on your résumé and online professional profiles to differentiate yourself from the competition." If you would prefer a nickname, you could mention that as well. (Example: Katherine (Kat) Watson or Kat Watson).
In addition to that, be careful about the email address you share in your contact details. Keep it professional. Coolguy76@, sweetsmile21@ could be good personal email IDs, but on the résumé, they just appear amateurish.
It is also possible that your title in your current or previous organizations is not recognized in the industry. So although you could be "Chief Evangelist of Code" in your organization, the more appropriate but less flamboyant "Software Developer" may be the title to put on your résumé.
Do not use your photo on the résumé, unless you are applying for a position that requires one — model, actor, etc. According to Careerbuilder, "If they (employers) have a picture of you and choose not to hire you, it's possible that you could come back with a discrimination lawsuit. In most cases, they'll throw your résumé away without looking at it, to avoid the issue altogether."
Unless you are a fresh graduate or have relatively few years of experience, place your education details after your experience. You don't have to list the years you went to school either — unless you've just graduated, in which case it can help explain the lack of experience. Jenny Foss at The Muse advises that you should exclude your GPA (if it is less than 3.5 or if you graduated more than three years ago). Instead she says, showcase on your honors at your university.
Read the full article for more tips here.
According to a study released by online job-matching service The Ladders, recruiters spend about six seconds scanning through each resume they receive. This same study also states that recruiters will spend those six seconds focusing on these parts:
- Your name.
- Current (or most recent) position and company.
- Start and end dates.
- Previous position and company.
- Start and end dates at that position.
- Education.
As Amanda Augustine, career expert at The Ladders, explains: "If you have a common name, consider including your middle initial on your résumé and online professional profiles to differentiate yourself from the competition." If you would prefer a nickname, you could mention that as well. (Example: Katherine (Kat) Watson or Kat Watson).
In addition to that, be careful about the email address you share in your contact details. Keep it professional. Coolguy76@, sweetsmile21@ could be good personal email IDs, but on the résumé, they just appear amateurish.
It is also possible that your title in your current or previous organizations is not recognized in the industry. So although you could be "Chief Evangelist of Code" in your organization, the more appropriate but less flamboyant "Software Developer" may be the title to put on your résumé.
Do not use your photo on the résumé, unless you are applying for a position that requires one — model, actor, etc. According to Careerbuilder, "If they (employers) have a picture of you and choose not to hire you, it's possible that you could come back with a discrimination lawsuit. In most cases, they'll throw your résumé away without looking at it, to avoid the issue altogether."
Unless you are a fresh graduate or have relatively few years of experience, place your education details after your experience. You don't have to list the years you went to school either — unless you've just graduated, in which case it can help explain the lack of experience. Jenny Foss at The Muse advises that you should exclude your GPA (if it is less than 3.5 or if you graduated more than three years ago). Instead she says, showcase on your honors at your university.
Read the full article for more tips here.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Behaviors That Ruin Your Career
written by Yuan-Wei Tan
How you behave at work is just as important as how well qualified or talented you are. Often times when we're engaged in our day-to-day activities, it's easy to slip into bad habits that can negatively impact both your career and general social-life. I personally have been guilty of behaving self-important or not being a problem-solver and it is a constant challenge of discipline to ensure these bad-habits don't emerge and make life difficult for my colleagues.
Recognizing these habits is the first step in improving the way you behave around people. According to Jack Welch, Executive Chairman of the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University; "Careers rarely follow a smooth, linear trajectory. If you’re experiencing a stalled or faltering career — and most of us do at some point or another — take a good look in the mirror."
These are the ten "career-killing pitfalls" that Welch identifies as "the difference between an upward ride and a downward spiral at work":
These are but a few examples of bad-habits that we may be exhibiting without realizing it. Recognizing the problem means that you'll be more self-conscious of these habits in the future.
For more of Welch's tips go to his LinkedIn.
How you behave at work is just as important as how well qualified or talented you are. Often times when we're engaged in our day-to-day activities, it's easy to slip into bad habits that can negatively impact both your career and general social-life. I personally have been guilty of behaving self-important or not being a problem-solver and it is a constant challenge of discipline to ensure these bad-habits don't emerge and make life difficult for my colleagues.
Recognizing these habits is the first step in improving the way you behave around people. According to Jack Welch, Executive Chairman of the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University; "Careers rarely follow a smooth, linear trajectory. If you’re experiencing a stalled or faltering career — and most of us do at some point or another — take a good look in the mirror."
These are the ten "career-killing pitfalls" that Welch identifies as "the difference between an upward ride and a downward spiral at work":
- Misfiring on performance or values — Overcommitting and under-delivering.
- Resistance to change — Failing to embrace new ideas.
- Being a Problem Identifier vs a Problem Solver.
- Winning over your boss but not your business peer group.
- Always worrying about your next career move versus focusing on the present.
- Running for office – it’s totally transparent to everyone but you!
- Self-importance — exhibiting a humorless, rigid attitude.
- Lacking the courage and conviction to push back on the system.
- Forgetting to develop your own succession plan for when you get promoted.
- Complacency — you’ve stopped growing.
These are but a few examples of bad-habits that we may be exhibiting without realizing it. Recognizing the problem means that you'll be more self-conscious of these habits in the future.
For more of Welch's tips go to his LinkedIn.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Preparing For A Job Interview
by Yuan-Wei Tan
If you're nervous before a job interview there are two things you must remember. First of all, you're not the first person in the world to feel this and absolutely no amount of preparation will quell the suspense, anticipation and downright stressfulness of preparing for a job interview. Second and lastly, there are ways to channel that energy into actually preparing for the interview.
Here are some tips:
1). Use the job description to anticipate questions.
Read the job description carefully and turn the requirements into questions. Look at each qualification and duty of the job and turn it into a question. Ask yourself those questions and practice until you come up with good answers. If you have a past-experience with a similar situation, share it in a relevant story.
2). Research the company you're applying for.
Just reading the website is not enough if you want to stand out and learn about the organization. Here are a few places to gather great information:
This is a technique recommended by The Guardian to answer "Tell me about a time when.." type questions. STAR stands for:
• Situation – set the context for your story.
• Task – what was required of you.
• Activity – what you actually did.
• Result – how well the situation played out. For example,
There are a few things to note with this response: it's important to speak in specific rather than general terms and quantify your success. From a listener's perspective, this makes the story more interesting and they are more able to gauge your success. Secondly, as there are likely to be many questions and interviewers have short attention spans, it's important to keep your answers concise: convey the maximum achievement in the minimum time. Finally, it's important to finish on a positive note so the overall impression is strong.
If you're nervous before a job interview there are two things you must remember. First of all, you're not the first person in the world to feel this and absolutely no amount of preparation will quell the suspense, anticipation and downright stressfulness of preparing for a job interview. Second and lastly, there are ways to channel that energy into actually preparing for the interview.
Here are some tips:
1). Use the job description to anticipate questions.
Read the job description carefully and turn the requirements into questions. Look at each qualification and duty of the job and turn it into a question. Ask yourself those questions and practice until you come up with good answers. If you have a past-experience with a similar situation, share it in a relevant story.
2). Research the company you're applying for.
Just reading the website is not enough if you want to stand out and learn about the organization. Here are a few places to gather great information:
- Go to Guidestar.org to view the 990 tax return and see what they spend their money on (and the salaries of top staff).
- Go to Glassdoor.com to read organization reviews (and, often, sample interview questions they are asking other candidates).
- Check Lexis-Nexis (go to your local library to get free access if possible) to read news articles about the company. Or try Google News. Be sure you know the name and bio of the executive director. Look at their competition and trends/news in the field as a whole.
This is a technique recommended by The Guardian to answer "Tell me about a time when.." type questions. STAR stands for:
• Situation – set the context for your story.
• Task – what was required of you.
• Activity – what you actually did.
• Result – how well the situation played out. For example,
There are a few things to note with this response: it's important to speak in specific rather than general terms and quantify your success. From a listener's perspective, this makes the story more interesting and they are more able to gauge your success. Secondly, as there are likely to be many questions and interviewers have short attention spans, it's important to keep your answers concise: convey the maximum achievement in the minimum time. Finally, it's important to finish on a positive note so the overall impression is strong.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Computer Graphics Design and The Workplace Part 3: Life As A Designer
by Yuan-Wei Tan
In my last two posts, I talked about the benefits bestowed by learning basic computer-graphics design and explored some of the free resources available for beginners interested in picking up this skill.
Today, I'll be talking with two computer-graphics design undergraduates from Purdue, Danny Chesla and Erik Kupsis, to gain a bit of insight into the mindset of a computer-graphics designer and to see if they have any advice to share.
Why do you feel computer-graphics design is important?
Danny: Graphic Design is important because it sells/promotes the product/event or whatever you are making it for. Graphic Design is what gets the initial interest for the customer.
Erik: It's important because it breaks monotony, it's what makes 1 poster promoting the same thing better than the other.
What are the usual tasks handled by a computer-graphics designer in an office?
Danny: The graphic designer is normally responsible for logo or poster designs for a product. They create the logo and put together the visual aspects needed for a advertising campaign.
Erik: Usual tasks = pleasing the client with whatever they're asking. One day it's a 100th birthday banner for their grandpa and family to take photos around and remember that day. Another day you're promoting dill pickles. There's nothing really that usual I guess.
What is a good way for a beginner to start learning computer-graphics design?
Danny: There are many different tutorials available for people who are new to graphic design. Youtube/other online tutorials are very helpful in getting started. Once you have learned the basics there are also books made by Adobe to help go more in depth.
Erik: Good way for a beginner to start is just be passionate about it. Whatever you 'need' to do will fall into place.
Thus, we can conclude that learning basic computer-graphics design is an easy and cheap yet highly effective way to differentiate yourself from other employees and to serve a role that is very useful in a typical office-environment. The ability to take on extra design tasks is certain to get you noticed by your employer and will also make a good addition to the "knowledge, skills and abilities" (KSAs) section of your resume when it comes time to impress the human-resources department of a potential new job.
In my last two posts, I talked about the benefits bestowed by learning basic computer-graphics design and explored some of the free resources available for beginners interested in picking up this skill.
Today, I'll be talking with two computer-graphics design undergraduates from Purdue, Danny Chesla and Erik Kupsis, to gain a bit of insight into the mindset of a computer-graphics designer and to see if they have any advice to share.
Why do you feel computer-graphics design is important?
Danny: Graphic Design is important because it sells/promotes the product/event or whatever you are making it for. Graphic Design is what gets the initial interest for the customer.
Erik: It's important because it breaks monotony, it's what makes 1 poster promoting the same thing better than the other.
What are the usual tasks handled by a computer-graphics designer in an office?
Danny: The graphic designer is normally responsible for logo or poster designs for a product. They create the logo and put together the visual aspects needed for a advertising campaign.
Erik: Usual tasks = pleasing the client with whatever they're asking. One day it's a 100th birthday banner for their grandpa and family to take photos around and remember that day. Another day you're promoting dill pickles. There's nothing really that usual I guess.
What is a good way for a beginner to start learning computer-graphics design?
Danny: There are many different tutorials available for people who are new to graphic design. Youtube/other online tutorials are very helpful in getting started. Once you have learned the basics there are also books made by Adobe to help go more in depth.
Erik: Good way for a beginner to start is just be passionate about it. Whatever you 'need' to do will fall into place.
Thus, we can conclude that learning basic computer-graphics design is an easy and cheap yet highly effective way to differentiate yourself from other employees and to serve a role that is very useful in a typical office-environment. The ability to take on extra design tasks is certain to get you noticed by your employer and will also make a good addition to the "knowledge, skills and abilities" (KSAs) section of your resume when it comes time to impress the human-resources department of a potential new job.
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