first impression

Reinvent Your Online Identity

By leidson on Monday, May 12, 2014

Whether you’re looking for a job and want to expand your network or just wanting to freshen up your social media presence, it’s important to frequently revamp your online identity. A revamp doesn’t mean you have to overhaul your social media presence, but it’s a good way to put your best foot forward. Here are some ways you can get started on revamping your online identity today.

First Impression

Some people say first impressions last a lifetime. If that’s the case, your profile needs to be the best representation of yourself it can possibly be. Do you have pictures or posts that aren’t great representations of you? Do yourself a favor and delete things off your page that could potentially hinder or cause a hiring manager to change their mind about you. Also, be mindful that if you’ve applied for jobs, hiring managers are probably already checking out your online identity.

A new survey by CareerBuilder, nearly two in five companies use social networking sites to research job candidates and according to Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, “Employers are using all the tools available to them to assure they make the correct hiring decision,” and that includes social media.

Stay Active

Do you actively search for job opportunities through social media networks? If not, becoming active through social media groups is a great way to start. You can learn about companies and gain knowledge of different industries just by being part of a group on LinkedIn. You never know if a LinkedIn connection you made through a group can be helpful in getting a job in the future. A recent Jobvite survey shows that more people get hired from online referrals and company career pages than from job boards. So it’s important to stay active online, never stop networking, and keep everything professional.

Keep it Current

Is the information on your profile accurate and up-to-date? Sometimes we get busy and forget to update our information – especially after a move or change in job. Be sure to take a good look at your social media profiles and make sure all your information is current. Not only does your information need to be consistently updated, but it’s also important to keep an up-to-date profile picture.

It’s never too late to reinvent your online identity. You can start today by using these quick tips we’ve shared. Have you recently updated your social media profiles and got a job as a result? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Advancement Career Options Job Interviews New Job Tips The Daily Grind The Job Search Uncategorized

Best Colors to Wear for an Interview

By leidson on Monday, January 27, 2014

When it comes to dressing for an interview, conservative is always the best way to go. With today’s ever-changing trends, it’s important to wear proper attire and appropriate colors to allow your interviewer to see you in a good light. Making a positive first impression is vital to getting the job you’ve been waiting for, so keep your attire simple.

What do the colors you wear say about you? Harris Interactive, one of the world’s leading market research firms, recently performed a national study with 2,099 hiring managers and human resource professionals from various industries and company sizes. These professionals were asked to advise job seekers on the best colors to wear to an interview and here are their recommendations provide valuable insight for job seekers.

Dress for Interview Success
Responses show the most recommended colors to wear to an interview are black or blue because these colors show leadership and professionalism. You don’t have to stick to a plain color of blouse and it’s okay to wear small prints, but keep in mind you don’t want the interviewer to be distracted by your wardrobe.

What Not to Wear
Bright orange topped the charts for being the worst color to wear to an interview, because it is the color that is mostly associated with unprofessionalism.

On the other hand, gray portrays a logical and analytical attitude. White shows organization, brown shows dependability, red shows power, and green, yellow, and purple show a creative side.

CareerBuilder offers these tips on dressing for success when preparing your interview wardrobe:

Don’t ever go to an interview too casual, be sure to dress for the environment, and always look polished. Before your interview, do your research on businesses that are interviewing you so you’ll know what their environments are like. For instance, you wouldn’t want to wear shorts and flip flops to a strictly professional business and you wouldn’t want to interview in slacks and a dress coat at a business that is laid back and less professional or you may not come across as the right fit for the job.

Have you been job searching and recently been asked to come in for an interview? Keep these interview wardrobe tips in mind as you’re preparing for your next job interview.

For more advice on interview wardrobes check out these blogs:

Men’s Work Attire That Never Goes Out of Style
Women’s Work Attire That Never Goes Out of Style
Dress For Success: What to Wear for an Interview
Putting Together a Work Wardrobe

At Work Cube Life My Entry-Level Life New Job Tips The Daily Grind Work/Life Balance

The What-Not-to-Dos of Job Interviewing

By Miranda Wilson on Tuesday, May 4, 2010

So, let’s say that you’ve created your résumé and reference list, you’ve been networking, and you’ve finally landed a job interview. Congrats to you! Now, it’s time for you to meet with a potential employer and tell them why you’re amazing and why they should hire you.

Making a good first impression is important – you never get a second chance at it. A first impression is made within a matter of seconds, so a potential employer will begin making assumptions about job candidates from the moment they step foot in the door.

Because of that, you need to be sending the right message at all times. To help you make the most of your interview, keep in mind this list of what NOT to do during an interview.

Don’t arrive late. The employer is taking time out of his day to sit down and meet with you. It’s vital that you honor that time – it’s a sign of respect. An employer doesn’t want to hear that you got stuck in traffic or that you couldn’t find your favorite dress shoes. If he sets a time for you to be there, make sure you’re there. It’s a good idea to arrive about 15 minutes early.

Don’t dress to un-impress. You might live in jeans every day of your life, but don’t wear them to a job interview. Put some thought into your wardrobe and dress to impress your interviewer. Showing up to an interview looking like you just rolled out of bed will probably not score you any bonus points.

Don’t talk on your phone. When you get to the lobby of the employer’s office, turn off your phone. This way it won’t accidentally ring during your interview, and you won’t feel compelled to constantly check it to see if you’ve missed any calls. And even though you might have some time to spare while waiting to meet with the employer, it’s not a good idea to call your best friend and discuss your plans for the evening. You are being evaluated from the moment you arrive.

Don’t chew gum. Your goal during an interview is to come across as polished and professional. Spit your gum out before you get to the interview site.

Don’t appear bored. During an interview, a potential employer wants to know your thoughts and wants to find out what you know. Don’t just answer with “yes” or “no” responses. Elaborate on your answers, and demonstrate that you’re interested and knowledgeable about the company and its industry.

Don’t get too comfortable. The interviewer’s office is not your house, so don’t act like it. Don’t slouch in your chair or kick your feet up. These actions give the impression that you’re disrespectful or that you already think you’ve got the job. Instead, sit up straight on the edge of your chair and be interested in the conversation.

Don’t talk negatively about the past. An employer doesn’t want to hear why you didn’t get along with an intern supervisor or hear you disrespect anyone you’ve worked with. Talking negatively about others will quickly lower your credibility and likeability.

Don’t provide TMI. Too much information about yourself is a no-no. For example, it’s OK to share basic info about yourself in how you respond to questions, but don’t go into drastic detail revealing everything about your personal life. Also, don’t talk about your financial situation, what health problems you have, or other sensitive topics. Be friendly and conversational, but don’t go overboard with the info.

Don’t lie. An employer can easily find out if you’re lying during an interview by checking your references. If you’re asked if you know how to do a certain task and you don’t, tell the truth. It’s better to be honest about your skills, because you don’t want to promise you can do something and then not be able to deliver if you’re hired.

Don’t have an all-about-me attitude. Yes, an interview is focused on you and what skills you can bring to their company, but an employer also likes to know why you’re interested in his business. Tell the interviewer some interesting facts you know about the company. Ask questions about how the job you’re interviewing for brings value to their business. Coming to the interview prepared shows you’re interested in the job and have done your homework to prepare for the interview.

With your résumé in hand, a list of references, a smile, and these tips, you’re ready for your next interview. Keep these tips in mind, because knowing what not to do will allow you to stay focused on making a great first impression.

Want to read about some more interview do’s and don’ts?
4 Job Interview Musts
3 Tips for Interviewing with a Staffing Company
Responding to the Top 7 Interview Questions
Standing Out in the Interview: What Your Hobbies Could Say About You

Also, check out this Careerbuilder Article for some funny examples of interviews gone wrong.

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