Professional Outlook, Inc. Recruiting Specialists

Interviews make many people nervous. You have just a few seconds to make that all important first impression. This has a tendency to make our palms sweat, to make us giggle or act nervous. This is typical and most hiring managers understand a little bit of nervous behavior especially in an economic climate where applicants know there are probably many people vying for the same job. This article from our candidate library lists things that can help you be better prepared for your interview and hopefully help calm some of those pre-interview jitters. (more…)

Welcome to Part 2 of our article on the Nine Important Things to do Before an Interview, where we discuss dress, ettiquette, and 10 important points to remember. (more…)

Working with Professional Outlook will help you get the edge when you’re selected for an interview. Learn how to obtain an offer or be forwarded to the next step in the interview process. Talk to one of our knowledgeable recruiting specialists once you’ve been shortlisted for an interview about the following: (more…)

Hiring authorities are positively impacted when a job seeker has taken the time to learn about their company.  One of the most effective ways to sound like an insider is to discuss the corporate culture of the prospective company with your recruiter before the interview.  Your recruiter can share selling points and provide inside information to help you sound informed.

When you tell a company you have “targeted them” as someone you want to work for, you have a competitive edge.  You then follow this statement up with WHY you have targeted their company.  This is where the inside information you have obtained plus additional research is invaluable.

To complement the information you receive from your recruiter, you can also cull information through a esearch on the Internet and read what others have written about the company.  You can also utilize social networks like LinkedIn to find employees from these companies.  If you do your research and obtain inside information, you will be more prepared and you will receive a higher salary offer when you ace your interview!

Access & Attention

It’s widely estimated that 80% of jobs are not are not advertised via traditional channels, and as such they represent what recruiters refer to as the “hidden job market.”  As recruiters, we have long-standing relationships with clientele who count on us to produce a shortlist of qualified candidates that “fit” their corporate culture. That gives you the equivalent of a referral or networked advantage for a position. And it could very well be a position that you’d never have heard about without us. (more…)

More than 75% of college students may be using Facebook in a way that will damage their opportunities for a job after they graduate. A research study conducted by Dr. Larry Chiagouris, Professor of Marketing at Pace University examined college students’ use of Facebook. Several examples of unprofessional postings were reported by students compiling a sample of 100 colleges and universities in the United States. Researchers noted that male students are more likely to post a “Facebook Faux Pas” than female students.

The researchers examined the primary photos students use as their identity, a sample of other photos in their album, status updates, organizations they belong to, and events they are encouraging others to attend. The findings revealed that 76% of students had something an employer might find offensive. The research revealed several features of Facebook were found to display information — text or photos — that if not carefully thought through, could convey an image or character traits that most employers do not want in a prospective employee. (more…)

Think for a moment about great athletes.  They certainly did not master their sport quickly or easily.  It takes years of dedication and practice in order for them to reach perfection.  Fortunately, it’s much easier to practice for an interview.

Role playing is a very effective process to enhance your ability to interview.  You can role play with family members, friends or anyone who is willing to role play with you.  It’s better if you do NOT provide them with a list of questions.  You must be able to answer any and all questions during the interview process.

When you have finished interviewing, have them rate you on the following areas on a scale from 1 – 10, 10 being the highest.

It is important to know objections are buying signs, a request for more information.  There are four kinds of objections:

1. Personal (your personality, attitude)
2. Postponement (delay tactic)
3. Price (salary/benefit issues)
4. Service (your skills/experience)

If you know what kind of objection you are given, you can easily overcome the objection.  If you’ve received objections that you have not been able to overcome in the past, write down what type of objection you received. (more…)

Resumes are read or even scanned quickly.  The primary goal of the reader is to eliminate as many as possible to arrive at a few candidates to be considered for an interview.  It is now possible for employers to have their computers scan a resume for key words.  If those words are not located on the resume, they don’t even get touched by a human.  Technology is great, but it does have pitfalls.

The following are some of the main reasons why a resume is screened out of the process. (more…)

Your main focus as a job seeker is to schedule interviews. If you want to land more interviews, it’s important that you differentiate yourself from other job seekers.

The following are THREE critical steps to help you differentiate yourself from your competition:

Step One: CUSTOMIZE

This applies to both your resume as well as job applications either online or printed copy. It is important that your resume and the answers you provide on their application form highlight your experience and skills to match their job requirements. (more…)