Employment Guide 2017

A Publication of and

JUNEAU EMPLOYMENT GUIDE 2017

2017 Employment GUIDE

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How to ace job interviews when switching careers

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illions of people change careers every year.

Whereas professionals may have once worked for the same company for the majority, if not the entirety, of their careers, nowadays it’s not uncommon for men and women to change jobs several times before reaching retirement.

Changing jobs and changing careers are not necessarily the same thing. Professionals mulling a career change will have to consider a host of factors that men and women looking to change jobs may never have to contemplate. Such factors may include returning to school and lifestyle changes designed to make living on less income more feasible.

Professionals changing careers may also need to develop a strategy for handling job interviews. When changing jobs as opposed to careers, professionals can draw attention to their résumés, essentially letting their experience speak for itself.

But while experience is often a feather in a job candidate’s cap, professionals changing careers may need to focus more on their futures than their pasts when interviewing for a new career. · Draw attention to those skills that will apply to your new career. All of your experience and skills likely won’t transfer to your new career, but that does not mean you’re going in with an empty briefcase. Make a list of your most transferable skills, and develop an interview strategy that highlights those skills and explains how they can be applied in both the near future and over the course of your new career. · Use your contacts to your advantage. Even if much of your experience won’t transfer to your new career, your professional network might still be valuable to a prospective employer. The longer you have been working the larger your professional network likely is, so highlight those contacts in your interview and illustrate

how you can put them to good use should you be hired. · Showcase how you have adapted in the past. Much of the business world moves at a breakneck pace. That pace has become even faster thanks to advancements in technology that routinely affect how businesses operate. Even if you have never before changed careers, that does not mean you have not adapted to change. Make a list of the changes your employers have instituted throughout your career, highlighting how you adapted to those changes and benefitted from them in their aftermath. · Remain positive throughout the interview. Even if you are changing careers because you’re unhappy and/or unfulfilled in your present line of work, avoid badmouthing that industry and your past employers. Doing so will only reflect negatively on you and raise a red flag with prospective employers. Instead, explain your reasons for pursuing a new career path in terms that excite potential employers about your candidate.

The decision to change careers can induce both excitement and anxiety. Maintaining a positive attitude and employing various strategies when interviewing with prospective employers can help make the transition to a new career go smoothly.

Mt. Roberts Tramway

Now Hiring!

Seeking motivated and reliable candidates for seasonal positions: Tram Operations Electrical Technician, Tram Supervisor, Tram Operator, Tram Attendant Food and Beverage Line Cook, Prep Cook, Dishwasher, Wait Staff, Bartender, Barista Building Maintenance Building Maintenance Tech, Janitor Supervisor, Janitor Retail Retail Supervisor, Specialty Associate, Sales Associate Guest Services Guest Services, Supervisor/Cultural Guardian, Lead Host, Host If you are a friendly, dedicated individual with great customer service skills looking for competitive pay and a fun work environment please apply on-line at www.goldbelt.com. Open until filled, EEO

Wings Airways

Company Profile: Wings Airways is an employee owned company operating floatplane tours from the downtown waterfront throughout the summer months. We host guests from around the world on Juneau Icefield glacier tours and tours to the Taku Glacier Lodge. Our goal is to work hard as a team, and have a great time doing so. Based in the heart of downtown, showing visitors the best in Alaskan beauty, coolest floatplanes in the business, competitive pay, industry tour benefits, visits to the famous Taku Glacier Lodge and doing it all alongside a wonderful team. We love what we do and so would you!

Contact Information: Visit us online: www.WingsAirways.com, Instagram @TakuLodge, Facebook @WingsAirways Email: info@wingsairways.com Call: 907-586-6275 Dates of Employment: We operate May though September. Summer seasonal positions available.

Positions Available: Contact us to learn more about the following job openings.

• Customer Service Staff – working inside our downtown office.

• Dock Representatives – meeting, greeting and gathering guests at cruise ships.

• Drivers – 14 passenger airport van. Does not require CLD. • Airplane Ramp Crew- maneuvering aircraft around docks, communicating with Dispatch staff and Pilots. Must be strong, focused and eager to work outside.

Qualifications: Must be 16 or older (23 years old to drive). We are happy to train anyone for any of our positions but you must come eager to learn, love Juneau, excited about customer service and have excellent people skills.

2017 Employment GUIDE

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Simplify your transition to a new career T

5 things to leave off your resume 1 Objective statement: Objective statements, which usually start with, “I’m looking for a job that...” have long been considered passé. Employers aren’t reviewing your resume to find out what you want in a job; they want the resume to tell them why they should want you. If you’re going to include a statement at the top, make it a personal summary that acts as a condensed version of your elevator pitch. It should touch on your top skills and any major achievements worth highlighting.

2 References available upon request: Including a list of references or the statement, “References available upon request,” isn’t necessary, because it’s expected that you have references, should an employer request them.

Instead of taking up space, create a separate document that lists your references and their contact info, and have it ready to email or hand out.

3 Outdated or irrelevant information: Resumes are about quality, not quan-

tity. Hiring managers don’t have time to read through pages of positions held, dating back to when you were a dog sitter in high school. Consider removing any experience that is more than a decade old, especially if it’s not applicable to the position. Focus on experience and education that show you’re relevant and up to date on skills and technology.

4 Personal attributes: Unless you’re applying for a modeling job, leave your picture off. Most employers shouldn’t — and legally can’t — care about your appearance; they just want to know why you’d be good for the job. The same goes for listing personal attributes.

5 False claims: Inaccuracies or overembellished education or experience have no place on a resume. Besides running the risk of getting caught, why would you want a job if you’re not adequately prepared for it? If you don’t know what you’re doing, the jig will be up quickly.

oday’s professionals change careers and jobs much more frequently than those of past generations. While a person may have once thought themselves lucky just to have a job and hold on to it as long as they could, workers today tend to be more fickle and jump around until they find the perfect career fit.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics says it is difficult to determine just how often a person changes a career, noting the difficulty with regard to defining the parameters of what constitutes a career change. However, one study by the NLS that looked at young baby boomers found the average number of jobs held by people ages 18 to 46 was 11.3. Other studies examining American and British employment patterns discovered Americans tend to move around more, having 10.5 jobs in a lifetime compared to Brits’ 6.9 jobs.

Although the job search was once considered a one-time event, today looking for a job is a larger part of career development. Staying on top of the job market and finding niches that offer the best opportunities for success is key. Transitioning from one job to another is more commonplace and these tips can make the move easier and more successful.

Have a valid reason to change careers. Boredom alone should not be the driving force behind a career change. If advancement opportunities seem nonexistent or if the job you’re in simply isn’t in tune with your interests, you may have a good

reason to switch careers.

Be willing to learn a new skill. You may need to learn new skills to pursue a new career. If that’s the case, you may want to enroll in a continuing education course prior to jobhunting. Even if a job doesn’t work out on the first attempt, new skills always look good on a résumé.

Be a courteous networker. Send handwritten notes to any and all people who helped you find new job opportunities. This reaffirms your relationship and you never know when you might need a reference or support in the future.

Educate yourself on office politics. It’s helpful to know a company’s rules in advance. This may be as simple as learning the dress code for employees and any other rules and regulations of the office. Do employees dine out for lunch, or do they eat primarily at their desks? What is the tendency for coworkers to mingle outside of the office? Learning these policies or habits may help you find a company that’s the best fit for you.

Go with the flow. You may have your own ideas on how to improve performance, but assimilate into the routine first before you start becoming more vocal. There is plenty of time to lend your advice and show the team how they can grow.

Bring a treat for your new coworkers. Offer the first olive branch by bringing in a snack the office can enjoy or offer to take a few coworkers out for coffee. This can break the ice and facilitate new office friendships.

Take a lot of notes. A lot of new

information will come at you in your first weeks on the job. There will be procedures and technological details. Jot down notes along the way, and do not be afraid to ask questions for further clarification.

Get cozy with the IT team. Many IT teams are increasingly becoming the backbone of many companies, ensuring everyone is online and working at peak potential. Get to know the IT department so you will not feel sheepish about turning to them when your computer freezes or your files vanish.

It can take several weeks for new employees to successfully transition to a new career. But there are several strategies men and women can employ to make that transition go as smoothly as possible.

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careeradvice

Send what they want

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hen applying for a job, some companies will only accept PDFs for letters and resumes. Others want Word documents. Some prefer that you copy everything into the body of the email because they’re afraid of viruses in attachments. If you send your documents in the wrong format, chances are the hiring manager will delete your application instead of spending the time to email you and ask you to follow instructions. And please, make sure you attach what you say you’re attaching. Nothing says sloppy like forgetting the attachments. Hint: Look at the job description and instructions one last time before you hit send. Ensure you’ve included all requested information, that your documents are in the requested format, and that your subject line clearly states why you’re writing to the hiring manager.

Save the search for home

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ooking for a new job? Don’t do it on company time.

Not only might someone get wind of your search (and feed that information into the gossip mill), but taking time away from your current employer to look for a new one is just plain rude.

Follow the directions

Be overly humble

ou could be eliminated at the preliminary screening phase simply by not following formatting requirements or signing an online application if it requires a signature. Re-read your application for spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes. Reading it out loud is also helpful, as the ear can often make the best editor. And substitute your resume for the requested job application form. Yes, applications can be time-consuming and tedious to fill out. That’s because they generally ask for information not found on resumes — detailed information specific to the position and company you’re applying to.

o you reflexively deflect compliments at work? If so, it’s time to change your automatic reaction. Modesty is an admirable trait, but if you’re constantly underselling yourself, your boss and co-workers may start to believe you. What to do: Accept compliments graciously. If a colleague played an integral role in the project you’re being commended for, acknowledge that, but don’t refuse the praise.

If you don’t know what to say, use words like, “Thanks. It was a challenge, but renewing the client was worth it. Chris also played a huge role.” Make sure your employer knows that your priority is to help the company meet goals and to succeed.

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2017 Employment GUIDE

NAVIGATE THE JOURNEY FROM APPLYING TO GETTING HIRED

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ere are two late-stage jobsearch situations that you may encounter and advice on how to handle them: Q: The hiring manager told me the job was mine and that a formal offer was forthcoming. That was two weeks ago, and I’ve heard nothing.

What’s my next step?

A: The delay could be due to any number of reasons: The boss is on a business trip, an internal candidate expressed late interest, a hiring freeze was instituted or the company is rethinking the position.

Instead of continuing to wait, wonder and worry, contact the hiring manager for a status update. Politely reaffirm your desire to get started as soon as possible. (It’s also a subtle way to let the employer know you’re not going to wait around forever.)

Most companies will stay in touch when there’s a holdup in their hiring process. If you get the runaround or receive no response to your inquiry,

consider that a red flag. If you’ve stopped looking for a job, resume your search.

Q: I thought the reference check process was a mere formality. Much to my surprise, I received a message from the hiring manager saying she wants to ask me some follow-up questions because one of my references gave me a less-than-glowing review. I’m worried the job is now in jeopardy. How should I handle this?

A: You gain nothing from being defensive or disparaging the reference. After all, you provided the person’s name. While you might express some surprise, you don’t want to get mired in a “he said, she said” debate.

The good news is the hiring manager is giving you an opportunity to alleviate concerns. Calmly correct any misinformation and offer assurances that you have the necessary skills and traits to succeed in the role. Counter the negative comments with positive anecdotes.

NorthStar Trekking is looking for summer employees for our 2017 season! We have the following positions available; ground crew, van drivers, dispatch/reception, dock representatives, and glacier guides. NorthStar is a small company and every employee is an important member of the team, each position requires strong customer service skills and desire to work with others to create a great experience for our guests. Starting wages vary based on experience, and minimum age is 18. If you’d like more information on opportunities to work in a fun, fastpaced adventurous environment please visit our website www. northstartrekking.com, to download the application or give us a call at 907-790-4530.

2017 Employment GUIDE

Just how important are references on your resume?

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f you were to do a search for one of the most commonly used phrases on today’s resumes, you’d probably begin and end with “References available upon request.”

“It’s on all of them,” says Ryan Blender, a recent Ohio State University graduate who is looking for a job in marketing. “I see it on every resume example or template, but I’m not sure it should be there if you’re not including the actual references.”

While Blender says he thinks the phrase is unnecessary, he can see why people — himself included — include it on their resume. “It gives that person some credibility, even if there are no names,” he says. “It’s daring the recruiter to check on you. It says, ‘I have people who can back me up.’”

Patricia Lenkov, executive director of Agility Executive Search in New York, says the sentiment is nice, but actual references and the alltoo-common “upon request” phrase aren’t needed. “Recruiters know you have them. We will ask for them at the appropriate stage in the interview process. No need to waste precious space on a resume with this,” says Lenkov.

No surprises Although references are a principal component of the hiring process, Lauren Badonski, direct hire manager with Addison Group in Chicago, says the resume isn’t the right place to include references, unless they’ve been requested by the hiring manager.

Including them can result in some unexpected phone calls to members of your network. “If you’re on the job hunt, there’s a strong likelihood that your resume is on job boards or talent sites for hiring managers to access — with or without your knowledge,” she says. “Removing references from your resume prevents headhunters from reaching out to your professional references without your ability to notify them in advance.”

Both Badonski and Anisha Vinjamuri, CEO of InnovationsIQ in Seattle, say an “upon request” statement on a resume is acceptable, especially since applicants can use it to their advantage. “It would be a fantastic opener for future conversations during the interview,” says Vinjamuri.

Vickie Cox-Lanyon, director of career services at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., agrees that references can take up prime space on your resume. She offers an alternative strategy if references are requested in the application. “Create a separate page with your name and contact info at the top

followed by a list of three or four people you have asked to speak on your behalf. Include each reference’s name, title, employer, phone and email,” she says. “You also may say how you know the person if it is not obvious.”

Bad information One reason to avoid listing references on your resume is that you run the risk of the contact information or the references themselves becoming outdated, according to Dana Sokoll, vice president of the Midwest region for Chicago-based GradStaff, a staffing firm that specializes in entry level jobs. “Your resume may sit in an applicant tracking system for a lengthy period of time,” Sokoll says. “It’s better to wait and provide an updated reference list when requested. It’s less awkward explaining to your future employer why that person is no longer your reference.”

Jeanine Kern, a recruitment partner at Decision Toolbox in Irvine, Calif., says that as a recruiter, she likes seeing references on resumes, but not for the reasons one might expect. “References can be viewed as potential candidates,” Kern says. “What if I research your reference list and find one of your references is more qualified than you for the position for which you applied? It’s already a competitive job market — don’t provide your own competition.”

Kern also says it’s also possible for phone numbers and emails to mistakenly auto-populate into the jobseeker’s contact information area. “You might not get the call or email requesting an interview — your reference will — and think it’s a wrong number and dismiss it without putting two and two together,” she says. “I’ve seen more than one instance where the name of a reference auto-populated into the name field in an applicant tracking system, meaning you won’t likely ever be found again.”

Of course, not all references are viewed as a golden ticket to a new job. References are very subjective,” says Stephanie Kinkaid, assistant director of the Wackerle Career and Leadership Center at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill. “What candidate will list names of references who will not speak glowingly about the job seeker’s traits? Most employers realize that references are not always credible or helpful.”

— Marco Buscaglia, Tribune Content Agency

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Put AlaskaJobs.Net and Juneau Classifieds to work for you today.

Call 907-523-2229 or email classified@juneauempire.com.

What to do withJUNEAU yourEMPIRE firstEDITOR Juneau, Alaska paycheck

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Do you have the background, the experience, the vision and the passion o celebrate or notfunctions to to lead the newsroom and editorial of Alaska’s capital-city youngdynamic editor to lead, newspaper? celebrate.

What we seekFor is anmany experienced, mentor and motivate talented and energetic workers,ourthe first instinct is toteam of professionals, while continuing build on the Empire’s spend that to first paycheck on a history gift toof journalistic success and innovation. yourself, maybe a night out with your

to celebrate.

“I located in an isolated but Thefriends Empire is–asomething 5,000-circulation daily (Sun-Fri) think community it’s fine toof celebrate andnestled treat in the heart of the Tongass close-knit 33,000 people National Forest,with a temperate rainforest and the largest in North America. yourself your first paycheck, at says David T. Waring, editor This is the top editor position in our newsroom and is responsible for fitsmallbusiness.com.

“My best tipandfor overseeing daily operations of the newsroom website, setting editorial new a steady policy andworkers developingexperiencing the strategic direction and voice for all editorial content in print that is end, thetoright candidate will also be income forand theonline. firstTotime not tasked with growing overall too audience by way of traditional and nonincrease their our lifestyle quickly. traditional of delivering information to our audiences (including Once aavenues new and more expensive interactive, video, online, social media and more). for you it Thelifestyle editor is abecomes key memberthe of norm the executive management team and will be very difficult to goheads backwards workwill closely with other department in developing strategies that achieve our ever sharedneed journalistic andmany business goals. This position is also if you to. Too people responsible for developing budgets and don’t consider thisfinancial and basically livemanaging expenses.

A bachelor’s degree in journalism or appropriate discipline is preferred, but paycheck to paycheck.” those with appropriate on-the-job experience are also encouraged to apply.

Living beyond Our ideal candidate shouldyour have means a strong isnews background, experience in managing newstoteam or teamstrouble. (reporters, editors, photographers, a quick away financial freelancers, a respect the standards “Whenetc.), I was in myfor20’s I was and values of a traditional newsroom, and a true appreciation and appetite for planning and presenting making 6 figures andmultiple spending pretty news and information across platforms. much every penny of it on a fancy apartment, wardrobe Waring JOB DUTIESetc,” & RESPONSIBILITIES: adds. Understanding the valueofof • Planning, development and execution the news, sports, opinion, features, photography and graphic of each day’s print and online editions. money and how tocontent properly manage • Participating the development the company’s strategic and annual it becomeinvital skills onceofyou start budget plans. earning a steady paycheck.

• Representing the newspaper professionally in the community.

• Evaluating job performance of newsroom staff.

Plan of action. advice for first • Staying abreast of trends“My and developments in the newspaper and online industries. paychecks is similar to my advice • Serving as a member of the Empire’sbonuses, editorial board, which includes for windfalls (inheritances, editorial writing. etc.),” says Horrell, • Performing otherKate tasks/duties as finance may be assigned by the publisher. coach and blogger at KateHorrell.

com. “Have a plan ABOUT that acknowledges JUNEAU thatisitconsidered is special, by including small photographers and Juneau paradise by hunters,afishermen, those who lovefor a wide range ofand year-round outdoor activities. Our community amount a splurge, then do alsosensible boasts a vibrant andthe cultural is home to the University of thingsarts with rest,scene, including Alaska Southeast, and plays hosts to 1 million cruise ship tourists Maya portion for savings, retirement, and September. With all of that, the quality of life and living here can be a reward untodebt itself.re-payment (if you have debt).”

Long-term savings.

If there’s one ABOUT MORRIS Thepiece JuneauofEmpire is part the Morris Communications Company family of advice thatofyoung workers are newspapers.

Juneau Empire offers benefits probablyThesick of hearing, it’sato start package that includes paid vacation, health insurance and a 401(k) program. Morris Communications is saving their money early. an equal opportunity employer.

All new hires must successfully complete a “Oneprior of the things thatLearn behavioral drug screen to employment. more about our company at http:// morris.com and about at http://juneauempire.com. economists haveuslearned over the years creates is how the very first paycheck TO APPLY an anchor for how people will spend Email a cover resume, clips and/or links to a digital and saveletter, for the rest references, of their lives,” portfolio to Publisher Rustan Burton at rustan.burton@juneauempire.com. says Diane Garnick, CEO of Clear Write “Editor” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. Finalists will be Alternatives.

“The very first paycheck contacted for a phone interview. is the best time to begin saving for retirement. Putting 10 percent of that first paycheck into a retirement savings

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2017 Employment GUIDE

7 essential questions

to ask in an interview A

t the end of an interview, you have the opportunity to pose your carefully prepared questions to the hiring manager. Since you’re under enough pressure already, here’s a ready made list of essential questions to ask in an interview:

1. Why is this position vacant?

It’s important to understand not only why the job is open but for how long it’s been vacant. The majority of vacancies are the result of an internal promotion or the departure of the previous post holder and are normally filled within a reasonable timeframe. If the job’s been open for several months, you need to know why. Did a previous candidate turn it down? If so, you need to know why before you leap into a potential lion’s den. Are the expectations of the job unrealistic? Is the compensation inadequate? If the job is a newly created one, you have an ideal opportunity to blaze your own trail.

2. What have your most successful candidates brought to the company?

Another way of phrasing this is to ask about the characteristics of the company’s top talent. This question is a statement of intent about your determination to join the company’s elite performers. You may wish to emphasize your skills and achievementsrelevant to the role prior to posing this question. The answer will also give you an indication of company culture and help you to decide whether or not this job is the one for you.

3. What does success look like in the first 90 days?

Ambitious candidates are eager to hit the ground running, and this question puts you among that group. Again it will reveal the type of company you may be joining. If expectations for the first 90 days are unrealistic, what will the role look like after six months?

4. What challenges will the candidate face in the first 90 days?

Potential challenges may prevent you from achieving your agreed objectives in the first few months, so you need to be aware of them. Again, this question indicates your determination to succeed. It also gives the hiring manager the chance to come clean about the potential for internal conflict (and provides further insight into company culture).

5. What challenges is the company currently facing?

Is the company making money? Has it had major layoffs in the past five years?

How does it respond to a constantly evolving economic climate? How does it adapt to technological change? All of these issues are important to you as a potential new employee. If you were released from a recent job due to downsizing, you need to be confident that any company you move to is financially secure.

6. How do you retain top talent?

Successful companies implement career development programs for their employees with a clearly defined career path. This question reminds the hiring manager you are serious both in your application and your long-term commitment — but that commitment needs to go both ways.

7. Why do you work for this company?

A hesitant or vague response should raise a red flag. You need to be confident that the company you are moving to rewards its staff and provides the opportunity for you to achieve your long-term goals.

— Michael Kingston, for CareerBuilder. Kingston is a top industry hiring manager and author of the best-selling guide, “Pass The Job Interview.”

The right way to update a résumé Put AlaskaJobs.Net and Juneau Classifieds to work for you today.

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heCall job 907-523-2229 market can be or competitive, as new graduates email flood the field each and every year. But graduation classified@juneauempire.com.

season is not the only time of year when the competition to find work gets heated.

The start of the new year tends to be one of the busiest times of year for new hires. According to the employment resource Simply Hired, the first Monday after New Year’s Day tends to be the busiest day for job search activity. Companies are returning to full production after the holidays, and as a result there is a flurry of new activity. you’recan new to the the last quarter of the year This means hether applicants use to prepare for jobofsearches world conferencethey callswill or institute once the calendar turns. just need a quick refresher jobsome seekers may benefit on,Many here are tips to ensure you from revamping their résumés beginning project abefore professional image:their search. It’s not uncommon for recruiters to receive thousands of résumés for eachWhat’s job opening they post, and the sheer volume of in a name: One of the applicants can make it difficult for job seekers to get their most common mistakes people make résumés seen. In such instances, job seekers must take on conference calls is neglecting to steps to tip the odds in their favor. By following these introduce themselves. guidelines, job seekersOnce mayyou’re have on a better chance of getthe call, let the others know!

In ting their résumés into the rightorder hands. for· Put any meeting to be effective, it’sModern standards may a professional purpose. important everyone to have“objective” an idea is old fashioned. suggest thatforlisting a career of what each are. In many However, it is other’s helpfulroles to customize your résumé so that it thistoward falls tothe theposition call’s leader. iscases, geared for which you are applying.

“The objective conferencemay call reflect leader is theyou are a strong candiA career how date each specific job you apply for. Use some specifics onefor who initiates a conference call and that tie into to the particular job or company and you may is responsible for introducing all those catch hiring manager’s who the are participating,” says attention Jacquelinein the process. · Embrace keywords. employers now use apWhitmore, founder of The Many Protocol plication tracking software to sift School of Palm Beach. “The leader through the scores of résumés that the are conversation, submitted for should direct stayeach on opening they post.

Keywords make it easy for employers task, pay attention to time, and delegate to sort through thousands of résumés. The right keywords will flag your any follow-up action items.” résumé and increase your “relevancy score” in the main HR/recruiting software programs available. Adapt your Mute: to put your résumé forForgetting each application you submit. Use some of the microphone on mute is the “accidental words listed in the initial job posting and description. conference calls.job WorstInreply-all” addition,oflook at similar postings and incorporate case keywords scenario – you sayinsomething some listed those ads so that you have all the embarrassing bases covered.or offensive for all to hear.

Best-case scenario · Trim the fat.

Less is– you oftenannoy more regarding résumés.

List of the pertinent information, yourallcolleagues and possibly derail the then go over the résumé again and again and cut out any irrelevant inforconversation. mation remove clutter.

Only include information that is “Noto one wants to hear you coughing, relevant your career goals. typing clearingto your throat, drinking, Highlight you or·tapping yourwhat pen on thehave desk,”done. Rather than listing every job responsibility and position in chronological says business consultant Walter G. order, use a résumé to everyone highlightelse specific career accomMeyer.

“Not everything plishments.

This is a time to be your biggest fan and tell says requires you to react. Unless you the world all of the great things you have accomplished. are asked for input, even a ‘yes’ or Remember to include evidence to back up the claims. ‘uh-huh’ istotoo much survey on a conference According a 2015

by CareerBuilder, employers call, especially if there are a lot links of to a candidate’s portsay that résumés that include people on it.”or blog garner more attention than résumés folio, website without such links. being in the same Rather than using ·Multitasking: Put your ownNot voice in the résumé. room as the peopleon you’re standard verbiage yourmeeting résumé, personalize what you withto makes especially easy towant get to hire a human, not want say. itHiring managers a distracted. machine. In When about fact, speaking of employees whoyourself, be sure to use strong words that define have ataction least one conference call your skills even further.

HR professionals cite terms like “managed,” “achieved” a week, only 29 percent said they and “improved” as examples positive, assertive words. typically give conference callsof their Updating a résumé with the complete, undivided attention, while goal of standing out among crowded pool applicants half ofarespondents said of they give 75 is a great way for job seekers to land a new job. percent of their attention, and 1 in 5 (21

Call etiquette – the art of civilized conferencing

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percent) give half or less.

Most common: Checked/answered

2017 Employment GUIDE

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Extended break from the workforce can be an obstacle to a new job … don’t let it be

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lexander Braun says he frequently took offense when people ask him to explain the six-month gap in his resume. “I took the time off because I was home with my wife after she had our twin daughters seven weeks early,” he says. “My wife had complications during her pregnancy and our girls needed extra care so I immediately took family leave from work. During the third week, the company actually shut down and I was out of a job.”

Braun, who worked in accounting for a metal plate company near Toledo, Ohio, says the money he and his wife were saving for a downpayment on a house immediately became money to live off of while she and the babies recovered.

“I did some odd jobs at the time to make a few extra dollars but I spent most of my time at home watching the girls,” he says.

When Braun begin looking for a full-time job later that year, he says recruiters often questioned the sixmonth gap on his resume. After explaining the situation, Braun says most interviewers would nod, shuffle some papers and quickly end the interview. “I can’t blame them for having some concerns about whether or not I would be taking more time off in the future to care for my daughters but really, that was none of their business and certainly had nothing to do with whether or not I could do the job,” he says.

‘Unsaid bias’

Richard O’Malley, a Pittsburghbased career adviser, says Braun’s situation isn’t that unique, even when the gap isn’t related to a health issue. “The resume gap has become a self-fulfilling prophecy in the minds of some recruiters,” he says. “They look at a six-month break or longer and they automatically think that the person isn’t hirable.”

Chicago resident Erin Black says she had a tough time explaining the 14-month void on her resume — she stopped working to take care of her ailing mother and then attempted to write a book about grief — so she decided to minimize dates on her resume, a strategy that O’Malley says makes sense for some. “You’re likely to face an unsaid bias if you have a huge break from working,

so not including dates is certainly one strategy,” he says. “But most job openings also require online applications, so you won’t be able to cover your job history without stretching the truth, which I highly discourage since everything you write is going to be checked out. It’s a better decision to explain your situation now than later.”

Black, 47, says she told interviewers about her time off from work when asked, but she says it rarely came up. “Most people just smiled and then never called me in for a second interview,” Black says. “One woman I interviewed with started talking about her own mother’s death and we both ended up crying.”

And? “I didn’t get that job either,” she says.

Time well spent

Patrick Mason, a 36-year-old sales rep from Macon, Ga., says he was out of work for 17 months. “And out of work, for real,” he says. “No excuses.

I had just been through a divorce and was living at back at home. My mom loved having someone around to talk to during the day and I loved sleeping and watching TV, so I wasn’t in a real rush to get back to work.”

As his unemployment tenure grew, Mason says he started to worry about explaining what he did during the months he wasn’t working, so he began taking classes and seminars at local schools, stores and community centers. “I took a seminar on Photoshop, a class on brewing beer, a class on chess — whatever looked interesting to me,” he says.

When it came time to address the gap, Mason was honest, and his interviewers “ate it up,” he says.

“Let’s just say I had a lot of stories from those classes,” he says. “At first, I tried to tell little lessons I’d learned, like how to work together to fix a car but I realized no one cared about that. They just liked the fact that I took about 50 workshops in less than a year. And the guy who liked it the most is the guy who hired me on the spot.”

Mason is living in Atlanta now, selling HR software. “I love my job,” he says. “And I only have it because I had a 17-month ditch in my resume.

I guess it’s how you fill up that ditch that counts.”

— Marco Buscaglia, Tribune Content Agency

When confronted with questions about an employment lapse, be honest. Tell them how the time away benefitted your skills set.

They asked you back … and more signs interview went well You landed an interview, dressed to impress and had great conversation, and you think you might actually have a shot at getting a job offer.

But is there any way to actually know if the interview was in your favor?

Many times, job seekers are so focused on what they did wrong in an interview that they don’t think about the many things they did right. While no signs are 100 percent foolproof, there are definitely some indicators that you have won over your interviewer. Here are seven signs that indicate you rocked your interview: 1. Round two. The easiest way to gauge short-term success is if the interviewer asks you to return for another round of interviews. If he weren’t interested, he would be evasive about whether you could expect to hear back from someone. “The hiring manager does not want to waste any more time interviewing you if you are not a fit,” says Justin Honaman, marketing and human resources professional. “Invitation to the next round is a win!”

2. References please. Why would you be asked for references unless someone cared to learn more about you? “A firm will not spend the time to do background checks and talk with references if you are out of the candidate pool,” Honaman says.

“Provide specific, knowledgeable

references and bring those to the interview.”

3. Meet the team. It’s a good sign when the hiring manager chooses to introduce you to the team on the spot, or mentions that there are some people she would like you to meet. If she wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t take the time in making acquaintances.

“Leaders are protective of their team and will not risk introducing a candidate if they are not a potential fit to join the organization,” Honaman says. The hiring manager may request feedback from the team on their first impressions of you, so be nice to anyone you meet.

4. What are the transition steps?

When a company is interested in you, you’ll be asked things like the amount of time needed for a transition or what noncompete agreements might be in place, Honaman says. “If the hiring manager is interested in moving forward with an offer, they will typically ask what steps need to be taken for your departure from your current organization so that you can assume the new role,” he says.

5. Dollars and sense. Depending on what stage of the interview process you’re in, it could be a good thing if you’re asked about salary expectations. It demonstrates that the company might be willing to invest

in you. Honaman suggests answering this question with caution: “You can have the absolute best interview ever and be dead in the water if you answer this question incorrectly,” he says. “The question comes in two forms: ‘What are your salary expectations?’ or ‘What is your current compensation?’ Arrive at any interview with current compensation details written down for your own reference -- if asked -- and have an idea of how you will answer this question.”

6. HR smiles. The human resources representative or recruiter is generally a good indication of how things went in the interview process.

Take note of his comments after the interview; he is your No. 1 contact during the process and is often a guide to the projected outcome, Honaman says.

7. Your turn. When the interviewer spends a lot of time answering your questions, it’s a signal that he wants to sell you on the business, the team and position rather than you continuing to pursue the role, Honaman says. “In most interviews, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions as standard procedure, but spend less time with questions and answers if the interview has not gone well in their mind.”