Job Tips - Topic: Job Search 101

Other than the warm feeling of charity, volunteering can yield many benefits that can give you a leg up when trying to land your next job.  According to a LinkedIn survey, one in five hiring managers said they have hired someone because of their charitable work.  Volunteer opportunities can open doors to new connections and skills while also giving you a fresh perspective.  Below are some of the benefits of volunteer work for your job search. Expand Your Network One of the benefits of volunteering is the chance to make friends and grow your personal and professional networks.  Whether you’re walking dogs at an animal shelter or ladling servings at a soup kitchen, you’ll work closely with a brand new group of like-minded people.  These...

In this article we are going to explain how to network and gain valuable references as you move throughout your career. Let’s face it, networking events that turn into friendly chatter over drinks are a little over-rated for the average job-seeker looking to connect with others in their community.  Networking events have gotten a bad rap in the past for not really turning into anything.  Add in the fact that you may think by showing up at one of these events that someone is going to offer you your dream job the moment they meet you – and we have already set ourselves up for an under-whelming experience. Not to fear, networking events don’t have to be a bummer and can be quite fun if you find the right ones for you and find the people you...

Filling out online job applications can be a long process and seem never-ending when you are going through your job search.  If you need some online apply tips, we’re here to help. Each application may ask similar questions, yet it is important to tailor your answers to the job you are applying for. Remember these online apply tips to make your online job application process go as smoothly as possible. 1. Get your Resume and Cover Letter ready Yes, first thing is first.  Your resume and cover letter need to be in tip-top shape if you are going through a job search.  Put yourself in a hiring manager’s shoes – would you want to hire someone who slopped together a resume or cover letter?  Probably not.  First impressions do matter, even if...

Hiring Screens.  Those annoying but all too necessary steps that a human resources department has to go through to make sure they are putting quality candidates in front of their hiring managers for face to face interviews.  In this post, we want to give you some strategies for making it through the phone screen process and on to the next step.  But first, if you are thinking about even getting yourself to a phone screening, make sure to check our entire job search 101 series which starts with resume building blocks. What is a Phone Screening? To get past a phone screening, we suppose you better have a good understanding of exactly what it is.  A phone screening, by definition, is a type of job interview, usually conducted at the...

When you are heading into an interview, it’s a good practice to have a list so you know what to ask an employer.  This shows interest in the company, and if you have done your homework, you can relate the questions to the business you are interviewing for. Assuming you have made it through the phone interview process, in general during an interview, the employer will provide questions to which you will answer.  At the end of the interview is when you will have a chance to ask the employer your questions. Great questions to ask an employer during an interview: Q: What is the typical career path of someone who takes this job within your organization? This is a good question because it shows that your interest in staying with a company...

This post is the first in our 2020 Job Search 101 series, focused on crafting a resume in 2020. Specifically, we’ll focus on something more like a template that you are going to use in many ways. Let’s get started on making a resume that helps you tell your story, while keeping things brief and snack-able. Beyond Resume Paper Gone are the days where you would (gasp) mail a printed resume to an employer…or are they? My guess is that in Eastern Iowa if you mailed a resume to an employer, you’d certainly stand out, but you’d have to be pretty careful in how you positioned yourself, so you don’t come across as old fashioned and invite unconscious bias. Besides, you’re probably going to have to apply online for that job anyway – either in the...