The Job Search Rules

The Job Search Rules

I just have to share this little project with you. I know it does not relate to the Job Search Process, but nonetheless, I think you will find it interesting.

Today is Thursday February 5, 2009 and just 2 weeks ago I embarked on a case study. A study that could and did prove, that you can rank a website or blog very well on Google in a very short time. And do it at zero cost, through Organic Marketing!

I started a blog called Best Affiliate Marketing Tools. This would be the home of my case study and I would document things as I went along. This past Monday I even did a youtube video about the project.

In just two weeks I was able to take the Best Affiliate Marketing Tools blog from nowhere to the # 2 position on page one of Google for that long tail keyword phrase. I was to say the least, completely over the top. You know, people normally pay huge money to achieve a page 1 ranking on Google, and here I was doing it for zero dollars.

For the record, I did have help using Peter Drews Brute Force SEO software. I learned about keyword research, blogging, RSS feeds, article marketing, social bookmarking and pinging. Done properly, these are all the things needed to move up in the Google rankings.

I must admit I am currently looking for someone to mastermind this project with, as once you fully grasp the achievement here, you will see the huge potential getting any site or blog to page 1 on Google. The possibilities are truly limitless.

So again, sorry for getting off topic here but I just felt compelled to share my new success with everyone. For starters, just type in a Google search window, the phrase Best Affiliate Marketing Tools and you will see the blog ranked on page one, in the # 2 position. It still just blows my mind!

The Best Affiliate Marketing Tools - A Case Study With Proof! video on youtube is also here. As always, I look forward to your feedback.

The Job Search Rules

The Job Search Rules

I have covered a great deal of material related to getting hired or promoted on this blog. One thing I feel I must share is an article I wrote for ezinearticles about 16 months ago called Cover Letter - Volunteer Magic.

It talks to the importance of bringing your volunteer work to the forefront in your cover letter and thus your resume. The article has been read almost 2,000 times or about 4 times a day, everyday.

It obviously is resonating with people and when time permits I would encourage you to read it if you haven't already seen it. It would appear to be one of the more important job search rules to keep in mind.

Cover Letter - Volunteer Magic

Job Search Canada | one search. all jobs

Hey guys:

If you haven`t heard of this job search site
you might find it interesting (for Canada).

Job Search Canada | one search. all jobs.

http://www.indeed.ca/

Taking Your Job Skills To The Next Level

Most of my focus has been on helping give you the extra tools to write the best cover letter possible, know what's expected on a resume, and knowing how to best prepare for the job interview.

But I always get emails from people who already have jobs looking to improve their current skills to give them an edge should there be another round of downsizing. And based on the economy of late, I'd say there's a pretty good chance another downsizing period is well underway right now.

So what skills do I need to have to stay marketable?

How about skills like these for starters:

- Increase your reading speed to over 25,000+ words per minute!
- Increase your peripheral vision and awareness
- Dramatically improve your concentration and focus
- Boost your self esteem and self confidence
- Reduce stress and become much more relaxed
- Become much more organized and effective
- Save a ton of time which can give you the freedom do more with your family and friends

I was just doing some research and thought you might like to see what this company has to offer:

THE ZOX TRAINING SYSTEM

Best Always,

Mike Perras, P.Mgr

The Best Interview Question To Prep For

When they ask Do You Have Any Questions:

That question to you is worth as many interviews as any other. They want to see what kind of thinker you are. Are you asking a proactive career oriented question or a self serving one.

Asking a question about the salary, holidays or benefits are all important, but only after you have been offered the job. Best to ask about the companys On Going Traing, or some little nugget you read on their website.

Look like you took the time to research the company interviewing you, it really matters to scoring well in an interview.

Have A Great Weekend!

Mike Perras, P.Mgr

Holistic Recruiting - A New Age For Executives

Gone are the days of simply getting hired because you have the proper job qualifications and experience. The new HR specialist is looking at a holistic recruiting approach.

In simple terms “Emphasizing the importance of the whole person, and the interdependence of its parts”, as defined in the dictionary. Meaning simply, recruiters are looking at the complete you, and not just the standard qualifications and experience you bring to the table.

Through holistic recruiting, the HR specialist now looks at the complete you. And it’s your emotional intelligence that defines the best part of the holistic approach to hiring. Your core values as a person drive your EQ or emotional intelligence. As such, the better you score at the EQ level, the better equipped you are for fast track hiring and thus, promotion. If you already communicate well, and understand all that’s involved in being an active listener, then your EQ is already on solid ground.

Example: In the past, we’ve all seen employees promoted well beyond their capabilities. Yes, they were very good at their job, and as such worthy of being promoted to supervisor level. Their EQ, or emotional intelligence, was never a factor, and thus we have all kinds of great workers promoted into positions they are totally unable to manage. Having the skill to do a certain job does not equate to supervisor material, and there is plenty of proof of that fact. What we are only now learning is that holistic hiring, or career promotion, can best determine whether that hiring or promotion will in fact be successful.

With all the downsizing of late, there has been a huge emphasis on the so called team player. If there was a working team of 12 and now the head count of that team is only 6 and the work load is the same or likely even greater, that team had better really get along and work well together. As importantly, their supervisor better have the proper tools to manage that smaller team or the work never gets done, done badly or worse, the stress of it all just produces a great degree of sick time. Stress has become the leading cause of employee sick time. That stress is much less attributable to the work itself, but more to the personality conflicts and internal political strife that result from bad team management. By it’s very design, the initial holistic recruitment approach would never let that happen.

The holistic approach I have mentioned is very new and very few HR specialists are well versed on the subject. As an executive, you can make a huge difference in your career and to your company, if you fast track a complete understanding of this approach. This understanding works at every level of the company, and the sooner most employees are exposed to it, the sooner stress is removed and more productivity will result.

The Job Interview – Be The Real You!

I’ve probably said this before. Today, HR is no longer looking for anything that resembles a template, either in your cover letter or having template or pat like answers for your interview questions. Today, recruiters are looking for REAL people more than ever. To be REAL the solution is amazingly simple and still difficult. The solution is to be yourself, not what you expect they want to hear, but who the REAL you is. It’ll always come through that you are being sincere, genuine and thus a REAL person. REAL people make mistakes. They laugh and get nervous and say I’m sorry can repeat that question. You are not perfect, stop trying to be.

All that said does not allow you to go in to an interview totally REAL and yet unprepared. You still very much need to rehearse your answers so that you do sound REAL and properly express what you know is already in your head, just not completely comfortable yet, when spoken in sentences, in front of unforgiving strangers. Easy thoughts flow in your head no problem, but when asked to express it, well .. we all tense up and become really bad communicators and yet, in our everyday lives we express ourselves pretty well. In the interview you can do very well also, it just takes practice.

Stop assuming you don’t need to rehearse out loud. I’m also not suggesting some totally concocted answer that isn’t really you at all, but just finding the best words to use when actually saying exactly what you want said. It still needs to be the REAL you behind the words.

I consult people by phone regularly who want to practice their interview skills. Sometimes you only have a 20 minute interview and they may never see you again. Practice what you truly want to say & do it out loud every chance you get, it’s a terrific confidence builder. And just when you find you’ve really nailed a question with a well thought out answer be prepared for them to say “Can you give us an example of that” Be prepared that they could ask for an example after any answer you give.

Just a few more thoughts to consider in your job search success plan. If you haven't yet joined my newsletter, I do hope you will today.

3 Job Interview Questions To Master

Do You Have Any Questions

Usually this question is always reserved for last during an interview, and it’s hardly a fluffy, throw away question. It may just seem like the interview is over and they are asking this question as a courtesy. FORGET ABOUT IT!! This can be the make it or break it interview question.

Your answer here will be the last thing they hear from you. You can so easily make it a memorable moment by having a really good question to ask. No self serving questions please, those are killers and reason enough to dismiss your chances. Asking about on going training’ or ‘if hired, I would be very interested in moving to the next level, can you tell me what certifications I would need’ or ‘can you tell me if there is a company policy in place should there be a Pandemic’ … a thinking person asks these type of questions. That’ll be a great impression to leave them with.

If you do proper research on the company first, you’ll come up with great questions.

What Do You Know About Our Company

This is clearly where they get to see if you’ve done your homework. And again, it can make or break your chances for being hired. Remember you got the interview because you were qualified, so here’s your chance to show up prepared, it’ll be your edge over the other guy, remember he’s qualified too.

This is a hiring process, in essence, a competition, go in proactive .. a passive approach to any interview will backfire. Always be assertive, and never ever be aggressive.

Can You Tell Me About Your Weaknesses

They never actually want to hear about a weakness, they do want to hear how well you express yourself and deal with the question. Your answer always has to end in a solution that can be applied to the job at hand. Here’s a simple and yet great sample I teach all the time. “I used to actually have a problem saying no to people, these days with my time management and setting priorities skill set, I no longer have that problem as my To Do List manages me first, and saying no, is now a non issue”

You can see clearly how a real problem got turned around and how you in fact let them know about other skills you already have.

The answers to these questions are not hard, just need prep and solid rehearsing out loud. Out loud because otherwise how will you know how smooth and convincing you are? That in itself will give you that extra confidence you need.

Make notes, practice out loud, more research, ask questions … it all works!! And as always, this is Job Search Made Easy

To Your Job Search Success

I will be sharing things about the Job Search Made Easy process here on this blog and also through my private newsletter, which I highly recommend you join immediately. As a college teacher today, I do in fact teach Job Search to Paramedics, PSW's, Business Students and I also consult privately. In addition, I also teach advanced interviewing skills.

One thing I know for sure, in 2007, the job search process has changed a great deal. There are very specific things you need to know about three critical areas .. Your Cover Letter, Your Resume and Your Interviewing Skills. Forget what you think you know, just keep an open mind to the way things are processed by Human Resources in 2007. This information applies to everyone, whether you are 23 or 63 years old.

Again, I would strongly encourage anyone who wants to stay current on the Job Search Process to join my newsletter (top right of this page). For example, I will share the 85% RULE .. it's a must know to speed up the job search process.