Month: January 2022
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How To Survive A Boring Job
Are you looking forward to work today? If so, congratulations. You really…
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How Long Have You Not Been Employed?
Continue ReadingIf you’re heading into a job interview, it’s a safe bet that the interviewer is going to ask you, “How long have you been unemployed?” or a variation of this question like “How long have you been searching for a job?” Do you know how to answer this job interview question?
Don’t let this question throw you for a loop. During the job interview, the interviewer wants to get to know you. At the same time, they are playing the role of detective to learn more about you, while trying to decide if you’ll be a good fit for their company.
What Are The Toughest Job Interview Questions?
With the classic, “how long have you been unemployed” question, job interviewers are trying to get a better picture of your current situation. For example, if you’re currently employed or recently unemployed, you might be more likely to shop around for a job because you can afford to be picky. On the flip side, if you’ve been out of work for some time there are a few concerns that they’ll want to address, including:
- Are you desperate for a job?
- Are your skills still up-to-date?
- Is there a hidden reason why you are still unemployed?
- Are you searching for the wrong type of job?
Knowing this info, hopefully, you can prepare a response to the “how long have you been unemployed” question. No matter what, always tell the job interviewer the truth. Of course, feel free to spin your answer and focus on the positive. Do your best to alleviate the above concerns and ensure them that you’re a solid job candidate.
When answering, try not to place blame, give them a sob story, or complain about your situation. Ideally, you’ll be able to tell an interviewer about the productive things you’ve been doing while you’ve been out of work. As a result, they’ll be impressed with how you spent your time. Did you spend your time volunteering? Starting a project? Learning new skills? Hopefully, you haven’t just been a couch potato while you’ve been out of work.
Don’t let job interview questions like this stress you out. If you’re making it to the job interview round, you’re doing a lot of things right. You’ve already beat a good chunk of the job search competition and now you just have to prove that you’re the real deal.
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How to Give Your Resume a Boost
Continue ReadingWith so many people out of work, it’s getting harder and harder to even get an interview, let along get a job offer. One of the main problems for young adults is that even though they’re the most educated, hard-working, enthusiastic applicant for a job, their resume isn’t as filled or well-rounded as someone who is older, even if that applicant isn’t as good of a fit for the hiring company. You can write “I’m Awesome!” on your resume with a magic marker, but employers don’t just want claims of awesomeness – they want proof. So how can you boost your resume when you can’t land a job in the first place?
Take some more classes: You don’t have to enter a degree program, but taking some more classes at a local college can help prove that you have the skills to do a job. You can even take classes online or participate in community classes that aren’t associated with a college. Anything you do to raise your skill level and fill out your resume is a plus.
Volunteer: No matter what industry interests you, you can find volunteer work that will look good on your resume. If you’re interested in construction, join Habitat for Humanity. If you want to get into graphic design, offer to do some free website or logo work for a local charity. If you’re interested in politics, find an overseas volunteer position to learn more about international relations. Even though you aren’t getting paid, an employer will still consider volunteer work as valuable work experience.
Give examples: You can say on your resume that you’re a great leader or a trustworthy employee, but specific examples carry more clout. Don’t tell me that you’re a great leader; tell me that you were the president of one of your college clubs or activities. Don’t tell me that you’re a trustworthy employee; tell me that you were in charge of the cash register at the end of the night during your summer job at McDonald’s. Examples can really beef up a resume, while listing your characteristics falls a bit flat.
Really shine with your cover letter: Employers may discount a short resume until they read your cover letter. This is where you can really let your personality shine through. Think of your cover letter as a sales pitch. Be unique and passionate, and talk not just about your resume’s content, but about what you can do for the company if hired. Even if your resume is uninspiring, you can be offered an interview if you have a great cover letter.
