31
Mar

The Elevator Speech Marketing Tool

guest-blogging-1When you’re on the search for a new job, it’s important to pull out all the stops. The competition for jobs is fierce; in order to stand out amongst the crowd you have to market yourself in the best way possible. For some of us, that doesn’t come as easily as others but creating an “Elevator Speech” concisely stating who you are and your most valuable assets can get you on the right track.

For those of you who haven’t heard of an Elevator Speech, it’s a speech designed to sell an organization or individual’s brand to someone in the amount of time it takes to ride in an elevator with a stranger from the top of the building to the bottom floor. It should be engaging, persuasive and brief so that you could theoretically tell it to anyone you meet for career networking, job fairs, during job interviews if asked to talk about yourself, or in everyday situations where you might meet someone and describe what you do in your professional life.

An Elevator Speech should be:

Brief: This is something short and to the point that you can easily remember. The short version need only be 15 to 30 seconds but you can also create a longer, more in-depth version between 1-2 minutes long.

Persuasive and enthusiastic: If you’re not excited about your “product”, which in this case is yourself, then why should anyone else be? Present yourself confidently and build up the accomplishments you’ve made.

Include:

Your name:

Your recent position or career field:

State your current position or professional title so people can understand what line of work you’re in. If you’re a student or recent grad it’s okay to use that as your position.

A few of your top skills and recent accomplishments:

This is where you really sell yourself. What makes you unique? What makes you an invaluable asset to any company or organization? Talk about what you see as your key skills in the workplace and some successful accomplishments you’ve achieved. You could include a promotion, recognition you received, a new program you implemented, sales goals you reached, and so on. It’s important to be honest about your accomplishments but don’t downplay your work either. Activities we take for granted in a job can usually be seen as valuable experience and achievements.

What you’re looking for:

If you are in the market for a new job or career change, think about how to mention what field or job positions you’re looking for and how you are hoping to apply your previous experiences and skills (your transferable skills) in a new job or industry.

Create a sample Elevator Speech and test it out on friends and family to get some feedback. Make sure your speech really is a self-promotion and convinces individuals and employers of your invaluable competences.

© RedStarResume Publicationshttp://www.bestresponseresume.com

Amanda Ryan is a Program Development Associate & Senior Resume Writer at RedStarResume. Amanda is a highly skilled resume writing expert and career expert who also specialises in creating, writing and developing career content, working alongside student and graduate job seekers and developing career content for newsletters, partners and career websites.

Need the help of a professional resume writing service? Contact the team at RedStarResume!

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04
Mar

Find A Job In Australia

Are you currently seeking a job in Australia?

Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and boasts a fantastic Skilled Migration Program:

Are you a highly skilled migrant or an international student looking to find employment opportunities in Australia? Or perhaps you’re an Australian job seeker trying to find a new job?

No matter who you are, if you require a job in Australia this EBook is for you!

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 The Ultimate Australian Job Search Handbook will give you all the tips that you require to find job success in Australia.

Every job market from around the world is unique, and the Australian job market is no different. In order to find a job in Australia you need to properly prepare yourself for the entire job process. This includes preparing an “Aussie” resume (that targets Australian hiring managers and recruitment agents), establishing your job searching strategies and acing the job interview. This EBook will also help you with every stage of the job interview process including preparing for common interview questions, how to answer those tough interview questions, preparing for phone interviews and even how to dress on the day of your big interview in order to create that first impression.

The purchase of the EBook is your first step to finding your dream job in Australia.

 What you will find in this EBook:

Australian Resume Writing

The Australian Job Market

Job Search Tactics

Preparing To Find a Job In Australia

Types of Interview Questions

Job Interviewing Tips & Secrets

How To Answer Tough Job Interview Questions

Networking

Creating A LinkedIn Profile

Australian Recruitment Agents

14
Feb

Landing a High-Paying Job in Tough Times

lens20530696_1359353361-As the Australian job market is softening, finding a well paid job is becoming a more challenging task than before. National Australia Bank’s quarterly business survey, released in February 2013, shows a clear majority of firms cut their payrolls in the December 2012 quarter and intend cutting further in the March 2013 quarter. Landing high-paying jobs in the current business environment requires not only education and talent, but also a lot of work invested by job seekers. Here are four solid tips to help you land a well paid job.

Keep a close eye on company websites

Go direct. A comprehensive research of sources-of-hire from SilkRoad concluded in 2012 that company career sites were the number one online recruitment source for interviews and hires in the US. This research results showed that the number of interviews and hires from job applications made on employer websites exceeded any other online source – including individual Job Boards and vertical job search sites. In Australia, Snipey lists more than 20,000 jobs directly from employer websites – many are not advertised on commercial Job Boards, which charge advertising fees. Applying for direct jobs can save your potential employer significant recruitment costs and may put you in a better position to negotiate an increased salary package.

Develop your soft skills

Great managers usually have outstanding soft skills. So get used to the idea that achieving a well paid leadership position requires more than just being technically good at your job. Soft skills revolve around personal relationships, character, and attitude. If you are finding that some of these soft skills do not come naturally to you, you must learn how to improve them so they’ll become a natural reflex for you in dealing with people every day. Some of the basics are: make eye contact, monitor your body language, practice speaking and develop your writing skills. Remember that soft skills are something you’ll need to cultivate on an on-going basis if you want to land a high-paying job.

Keep your technical skills updated

Knowledge professions (e.g. IT, Engineering, Marketing and Finance) require you to keep learning. Professional development is a key whether you are employed or not. If you are employed try to expand your skill set through new and diversified assignments. Look for new opportunities within your organisation that will leverage and expand your skill set. Try to seek broad tasks of increased responsibilities to establish a more diversified professional experience. Whether you are employed or not aim to participate in courses that enhance or update your professional development, especially in the case of IT jobs , Accounting jobs and Marketing jobs , which often require frequent update in knowledge base.

Be a strategic networker

Well-paid jobs are often filled through personal networking, sometimes before there is an official opening for a job. Being an effective networker often involves being influential, relevant, honest, consistent and thankful. There are important avenues to demonstrate your expertise and establish yourself as a leader in your industry. For example, you can volunteer for industry trade associations, speak at conferences and publish a blog to establish your leadership position. Try to go for specific networking groups – online and offline – and remember to be patient. Being a ‘job hopper’ may be regarded as a red flag for some employers and recruiters.

By Chris Jones, Snipey Job Search

09
Jan

Job Searching Tips For Soon To Be College Graduates

first_impressionsHave a Job Searching Game Plan:

The job searching process takes time—months in fact, so if you decide this is the route you want to take after college, it’s important to get a head start senior year if you want to have a job lined up after graduation. If you’re not sure exactly which job types you’re looking for, make some time early during the year to figure it out. Schedule an appointment with a career advisor to hone in on your career interests, schedule a meeting with a professor to discuss career paths or set up some informational interviews with professionals in your field to learn about different job titles and careers in the industry. Make a timeline for your senior year as you prepare to enter the workforce. Set deadlines for yourself for when you’ll meet with a career advisor or professor to discuss job titles, practice interviewing techniques, create a professional resume, cover letter and LinkedIn Profile, attend job fairs coming to campus, contact recruitment agents and begin searching for open positions.

Make Decisions:

If you’ve decided (or you’re still considering) entering the job market upon graduation, you have several things to consider. Think about where you want to live and work upon graduation—are you only looking in one city or are you willing to relocate if you find a job elsewhere? What industries are you trying to get into and which entry level job positions will you seek? What types of companies are you targeting? Make decisions that will focus your job search and keep you on track, but stay open to new opportunities if they come up.

Last-Minute Boosters:

If you realize your resume is looking empty or you haven’t yet partaken in an internship or part-time job, now’s the time to do it. Senior year isn’t too late to step into a leadership role in an extra-curricular group you’ve been part of or to find an internship during the school year or part-time job. It’s important to have some experience when applying for jobs.

Networking:

Don’t wait until after graduation to start networking. Senior year you should start talking to family and friends about your intentions post-graduation and the career path you’d like to pursue. Let them know what kinds of positions you’ll be looking for so they can keep an eye out for you if anything turns up or refer you to anyone they know in the business. Most people are happy to help new graduates and provide advice so don’t be afraid to ask.

If you stay on track and start your job search early on, you’ll be on your way to starting a new job upon graduation!

© RedStarResume Publicationshttp://www.bestresponseresume.com

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Professional Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile From RedStarResume:

Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

Find A Recruiter: Speak to the experts at RedStarResume and find out how we can put you in touch with a specialist Recruitment Agent

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14
Nov

Tips On Selecting The Best Job Recruitment Agent

Every job market is unique and in order to gain the most out of your job search, working alongside a specialised recruiter can be your ticket to success. Just as you may use a mechanic to help you with your car or a plumber to help stop your leaking tap, an expert recruiter can help you find a new job that matches your requirements. Best of all, it’s completely free for you to use. Even if they find you a job, you will never have to pay a cent. The employer fits this bill.

In order to find the best recruiters, the first thing you need to do is spend some time researching recruiters in your industry. For example, if you are a senior accountant, you need to align yourself with accounting recruiters who specialise in senior management accounting positions. There is no point in wasting time speaking to accounting recruiters who only specialise in graduate recruitment. To further maximise your research, do some investigating into the recruiter company’s clients. Many times, recruiters will work with the same set of clients. If you wish to work for a large multinational company, you will need to find recruiters who have these contacts. A small boutique recruitment firm is more likely to work with smaller clients as they don’t have the size to be able to recruit for larger organisations.

How can I begin to find a job recruiter who can help me?

Creating a LinkedIn profile and networking would be my number one piece of advice to job seekers. Once you have a professional LinkedIn profile that highlights your experience, achievements, skills and expertise, you can begin to network and research recruiters in your field. Typically, most recruitment firms are listed on LinkedIn and you can search within their company profiles to find individual recruiters.

How do I know if a certain recruitment agent is right for me?

Building up trust and rapport with your recruiter is vital to finding success. Many people send their resume blindly to a recruitment company and wonder why no one calls them back. In order to have the recruiter searching for jobs on your behalf (remember recruiters don’t get paid until they place you) they need to know that you’re serious about the job search. Go and meet your recruiter face to face. Be upfront with your recruiter and tell them the types of roles you require and the companies you wish to work for. If you can provide a recruiter with all the information that they require they will be able to work as best as they can on your behalf.

Final thought:

Finding the right recruiter can certainly help you in your job search. Having someone with inside knowledge will increase your odds of finding a new job. However, just because you have a recruiter working on your behalf don’t think that you can just sit back and relax. Finding the right recruiter is only one aspect of job seeking. In the competitive job environment, you need to be constantly networking to ensure that you are ready when the opportunity presents itself.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Professional Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile From RedStarResume:

Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

Find A Recruiter: Speak to the experts at RedStarResume and find out how we can put you in touch with a specialist Recruitment Agent

20
Aug

Applying For Jobs But No One Calls Me Back

Do you currently find yourself in a position of applying for multiple jobs every single day yet never seem to get a call back or interview request? Why does this happen? If you have the right skills and experience surely you should have hiring managers calling you to arrange an interview?

Unfortunately job seeking is not as simple as just applying for jobs and waiting for the phone to ring. Demand for new jobs is more competitive than ever and with more and more people applying for jobs via online websites it is now much easier to send off your resume in a much shorter time period. I recently worked with a job seeker who had been laid off after 10 years of loyal service with the same company. This person told me that she was applying for up to 20 jobs a day. When I asked her if there were 20 new jobs being advertised every day that suited her skills she said she didn’t care. “The more jobs I apply for the greater my chance of getting an interview.”

In my experience, if you are applying for jobs and never hearing back it is typically down to two main factors. Reason number one, is your resume is not good enough to attract the hiring manager and therefore your resume is most probably being deleted before the reader even has a chance to recognise the skills that you can bring to the role. The second reason you may be getting overlooked is simply that you are not qualified, skilled or experienced enough for the types of roles you are applying for.

Your resume is just not good enough: 

Before you apply for another job take a long hard look at your resume. If you were the hiring manager would you hire yourself based on your resume? Your resume is your marketing document and as such needs to be written to highlight your value added skills that you can bring to your next job. If you are applying for a management position you need to emphasise your management experience. Don’t assume that the hiring manager will know this information unless you provide evidence. For example, rather than just stating “5 years of management experience” which does not tell the reader much information apart from the obvious, you need to include further explanation to highlight this experience “5 years of management experience leading expert teams, capable of analysing all areas of operations and implementing dynamic improvements, cost savings and overall growth and profit” – From a hiring managers perspective it is obvious which statement stands out.

Are you qualified for the job you are applying for?

Although you may think you could perform a certain job and maybe if given the chance you would prove to be the perfect person, unfortunately if the employer needs certain requirements they then expect that those applying for the role have these requirements.  If the job requires an accountant with minimum 2 years of experience with specific skills in auditing, it is not reasonable to think that they will hire a graduate accountant with less than 1 year of work experience. My advice is don’t waste your own time by applying for roles where you don’t meet certain expected requirements.

Final thought:

If you are not receiving interview requests and feel that you are being ignored every time you apply for a job, you’re not alone. Job seeking is a tough business, but in order to give yourself the greatest opportunity of finding success you need to ensure that your resume is written, structured and presented correctly. Every time you apply for a new job you may need to adjust or tweak your resume. Remember that the best resumes are those that are achievement based and written to target that specific job you are applying towards.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Professional Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile From RedStarResume:

Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

Did you know: The RedStarResume resume layout and design presentation has been highly praised by recruiters, hiring managers and career experts from across globe!

06
Aug

Making the Transition From College Graduate To Job Seeker

There is a certain amount of relief when a student finally graduates from college; the years of hard work through all levels of school have finally paid off and they now stand, degree in hand, with their future laid out before them. That relief tends to be short lived when the reality strikes home that student loans now have to be paid and it’s time to get a real job! Trying to land that first big job is always a daunting task, but perhaps even more so, at the moment given the tight job market. Companies are now offering fewer graduate positions and with literally hundreds of candidates applying for the same role, the interview process is even more important. With that in mind, here are some tips that can help you when making the transition from school to work.

Research and Prepare:

If you have graduated from college with great grades, then that means that you have spent a great deal of time studying, which is a trait that you should carry over to your interview process. Take time to do homework on the company you are interviewing with and find a way to naturally weave that knowledge into your answers. Your pre-planning shouldn’t only be limited to the actual interview, but also how to get there. Showing up late will put an immediate strike against your name and potentially eliminate you from the interview process. Plan the route you need to take to get to the location and don’t be shy in giving yourself an extra 10 minutes to get there.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Job Interviewing can be a daunting experience which is why it’s a good idea to do a few mock interviews before the big day arrives. You can ask a friend or family member to conduct the “interview”, but make sure that it is someone who is subjective and who isn’t afraid to tell you that your answers were not that strong. A great tip is to write down 10 examples of achievements or skills that you would like to portray to the interviewer and integrating these examples into your answers. The worst mistake is going to the interview without preparation and stuttering your way through the interview.

Creating a Professional Image:

Most people are aware that they have to dress the part when going for an interview, but that extends beyond the clothing. Make sure that your hair is neat and tidy, and that you are well groomed; having a hairstyle that looks like you just stepped out of bed will quickly negate the fantastic suit you are wearing. As a recent graduate, portraying a professional image is vital to your success. Remember that a hiring manager will make an immediate impression about you the second you walk in the door. A positive first impression is vital to your success.

Being prepared, arriving on time, and looking the part is only a small part of the process. You have a limited amount of time to impress the interviewer, so use that to sell yourself as best as you can, without coming across as arrogant or pushy. Confidence is as important as your education, and it may just end up being the deciding factor between you and another candidate.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

RedStarResume are the Resume Writing Experts. Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Professional Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile From RedStarResume

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12
Jun

How to find an Australian Recruiter

Are you currently seeking a new job but don’t know where to start? A good idea is to prepare a list of Australian recruiters who specialise in your area of expertise and begin to develop relationships with individual recruiters. A common mistake job seekers make is signing up to every agency in town and expecting to sit back and wait for the interviews to start rolling in. Unfortunately, this is not how things work. Before you waste the recruiter’s time, (and more importantly your time), spend a few hours researching the recruitment company and what they can do for you. If your objective is to secure a new job in a large firm there is no point in meeting with recruiters who can only work with smaller boutique companies. Alternatively if you wish to work at a smaller company you need to focus your search on a finding an Australian recruiter who can help you in this area.

Can An Australian Recruiter really help me find a job in the Australian job market?

The simple answer is yes! Australian recruiters have an in depth knowledge of the Australian job market and often have key contacts within organisations. What’s more, they also have knowledge of current market salary expectations and often intimate knowledge of what certain employers are looking for in the “ideal” candidate. However, don’t forget that a recruitment agent relies upon placing candidates in jobs to receive their commission. There can often be a conflict between what is best for the job seeker and what is best for the recruiter.

Develop a relationship with your recruiters:

As per any relationship, building a close connection is a two way process. If you think that sending your resume to a recruiter is enough to get you noticed you are wrong. Recruiters can receive hundreds of resumes on a daily basis. In most cases recruiters have many different jobs on the go at one time and don’t have time to read through every resume with a fine-tooth comb. Although you may be a fantastic job candidate with experience, skills and qualifications it means nothing if the right person is not reading your resume.

A professional candidate needs a professional resume:

Reports indicate that a recruiter will spend less than 30 seconds first reading through your resume. With this very limited amount of time you need to ensure that your professional resume is error free, modern, formatted correctly and most importantly highlights your skills and achievements. First impressions are key to job seeking and the first impression a recruiter will make about a job candidate is through their resume.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

Stand Out From The Crowd With A Brand New Resume From RedStarResume:

Specializing In Over 35 Industries! – Turn your resume into an achievement based marketing documents in just 48-72 hours

What you get with RedStarResume:

Strategically written resume and/or cover letter designed to target hiring managers and recruiters.

Keyword Rich Resume – Strategic selection of Keywords and phrases designed to highlight your resume and make you stand out over your competition.

Targeted keywords based on your selected industry

Maximise impact with improved wording, presentation and design

Correct formatting and layout to ensure your resume is readable by computer software.

24/7 access to your own personal writer.

Did you know?

The RedStarResume resume layout and design presentation has been highly praised by recruiters, hiring managers and career experts from across the world!

The journey to finding your dream job starts with a brand new resume

31
May

Tips on how to get back into the Job Market

Have you been out of work for an extended period of time? Perhaps you have been on maternity leave and now ready to jump back into the job force. Maybe you took a “time out” to travel and explore different parts of the world. Whatever the reason, it is never too late to get back into the job market successfully, and we have a few suggestions for helping you to do so.

Research your options:

One of the first things you might consider doing is actually thinking about what it is you want to do. Do you have a specific field or industry in mind? Do you know what relevant qualifications/skills are required for that position? What have you done in your past that is relevant to that position? These are all good things to think about, and will help you with our next step.

Re-write your resume:

If you’ve been out of the workforce for an extended period of time, chances are that your resume is probably a bit out of date and needs to be more relevant to the present. Now that you have a good idea of what you want to do, you can now re-write your resume so it is more targeted toward that industry. Research the skills that are in demand for that industry, and make sure your resume includes these (if they are relevant to your experience). Think of the transferrable skills that you may have learned in your previous positions and incorporate these into your resume as well.

You might also want to think about addressing your employment gap somewhere in your resume. A good tip is to write a “qualifications profile” at the very start of their resume, where you can summarize and promote your experience and qualifications.

Learn new skills:

It is never too late to learn something new that might assist you in a job position, so you might want to consider taking some classes that are relevant to the industry you’re looking to get into. Look into some relevant certificate programs or brush up your skills in customer service or sales (industry dependant, of course). If you don’t have time, there are always online courses available that you can take at your own pace.

Apply!

You will never know unless you try! After you’ve considered the above steps, start applying for jobs and see what happens… you never know. If you find that you aren’t finding success, you can at least get a better idea into what hiring managers are looking for specifically, and you can work toward meeting those qualifications.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

RedStarResume is the number one source for expert Resume Writing and Cover Letter Services

During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs.

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