Are you worried about receiving the next pink slip that your job has been handing out lately? Whenever your boss calls you to his/her office, do you get butterflies? Check out this link on how to make yourself indispensable: http://tinyurl.com/dg8y4w.
I can not emphasize the importance of tips #2 & 3. Always seek to gain new knowledge...learn other people's jobs. The "that's not in my job description" spiel will ensure that you are on the chopping block first.
Tip #3 will typically make anyone indispensable whether in a recession or not. What are your thoughts? Have you put any of these tips into practice? Did it work for you, or did it backfire?
Let me know your thoughts.
Tammy L. Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
www.kapstonejobs.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Interviewing Mistakes to Avoid
I found a great list that you may enjoy "25 Interviewing Mistakes to Avoid." Check it out at: http://tinyurl.com/ddhy3f
As a recruiter having been in the industry well over 10 years on the corporate and staffing side, I have seen MANY of these mistakes time and time again. My philosophy is: people will repeat the same mistakes over and over again unless someone tells them that they are doing something wrong. Some recruiters think that these mistakes should be avoided just using "common sense," but what I've come to realize is that common sense isn't the same to everyone. We all need some coaching.
The Mistakes that I've seen most often are:
2. Arriving Early - Yes, I said "arriving early." It's okay to be 10 to 15 minutes early for an interview, in fact I recommend it. However, when you arrive 30-40 minutes early, you put pressure on the interviewer and throw off their schedule.
3. Dressing Wrong - Some of the things that I have seen as people arrive for an interview would shock and amaze you! Please sign-up for my Business Etiquette training if you have any doubts about what to wear or what NOT to wear.
8. Bringing a Friend - DON'T DO IT! Leave them in the car.
9. Not doing your Homework - I can tell immediately if you are unprepared and you have sealed your fate.
14. Not Asking Any Questions - A HUGE mistake. It lends to "lack of preparation."
18. Bad Mouthing Your Boss - You've just excluded yourself from further consideration. Interview over!
Are you guilty of any of these violations? I'd love to hear from you. What are your favorites and why?
Business Etiquette seminar coming up in May, 2009. More details to follow soon.
Tammy L. Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
http://www.kapstonejobs.com/
As a recruiter having been in the industry well over 10 years on the corporate and staffing side, I have seen MANY of these mistakes time and time again. My philosophy is: people will repeat the same mistakes over and over again unless someone tells them that they are doing something wrong. Some recruiters think that these mistakes should be avoided just using "common sense," but what I've come to realize is that common sense isn't the same to everyone. We all need some coaching.
The Mistakes that I've seen most often are:
2. Arriving Early - Yes, I said "arriving early." It's okay to be 10 to 15 minutes early for an interview, in fact I recommend it. However, when you arrive 30-40 minutes early, you put pressure on the interviewer and throw off their schedule.
3. Dressing Wrong - Some of the things that I have seen as people arrive for an interview would shock and amaze you! Please sign-up for my Business Etiquette training if you have any doubts about what to wear or what NOT to wear.
8. Bringing a Friend - DON'T DO IT! Leave them in the car.
9. Not doing your Homework - I can tell immediately if you are unprepared and you have sealed your fate.
14. Not Asking Any Questions - A HUGE mistake. It lends to "lack of preparation."
18. Bad Mouthing Your Boss - You've just excluded yourself from further consideration. Interview over!
Are you guilty of any of these violations? I'd love to hear from you. What are your favorites and why?
Business Etiquette seminar coming up in May, 2009. More details to follow soon.
Tammy L. Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
http://www.kapstonejobs.com/
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tips on How To Stand Out In This Job Market
Do you want to make yourself stand out in today's job market? Are you looking to narrow or annihilate the competition? Check out this video from the Wall Street Journal: http://tinyurl.com/ctz8ov
One of the key components discussed in this video is NETWORKING. Yes folks...you've heard it before. You've got to sharpen your networking skills. It is critical to your career development. You have an opportunity to learn from the networking guru on:
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Northwest Activity Center
18100 Meyers (at Curtis)
Detroit, MI
4 - 6p
Admission - $10
For those individuals that would like to participate via the web, please email me at tturner@kapstonejobs.com and I will send you an invitation and a link to pay on-line.
If you are ready to jump start your career, I can show you how!
Tammy Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
http://www.kapstonejobs.com/
One of the key components discussed in this video is NETWORKING. Yes folks...you've heard it before. You've got to sharpen your networking skills. It is critical to your career development. You have an opportunity to learn from the networking guru on:
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Northwest Activity Center
18100 Meyers (at Curtis)
Detroit, MI
4 - 6p
Admission - $10
For those individuals that would like to participate via the web, please email me at tturner@kapstonejobs.com and I will send you an invitation and a link to pay on-line.
If you are ready to jump start your career, I can show you how!
Tammy Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
http://www.kapstonejobs.com/
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Importance of Image
First impressions are lasting ones! At least that's what my mom always told me. I also heard this quite a bit during my first two years of college. But what does that really mean to a business professional? If I were to walk into a boardroom with top company executives to present them with a proposal to invest in my recruiting business and I was wearing a really nice blazer, a pair of jeans and some really nice Kenneth Cole flats...what message would I convey to the executives that are present? Does my appearance exude confidence and credibility? I would have to say no.
What is their first impression of me? In this example what my appearance indicts is that I am 1)Unaware of my audience, 2)I am taking a casual approach to my business, 3)I am unprepared, 4)I am not ready to be a key player in the game, 5)People in the room will definitely remember "what I was wearing" not "what I had to say/sell."
Image is crucial to self-branding. When people meet me or talk about me to other professionals, they won't necessarily remember what I was wearing, but they will ALWAYS remember that I exude professionalism and confidence by my appearance alone. This doesn't mean that I'm wearing a $2,000 suit but it does mean that I am polished and professional looking. My image says I take care of business.
Equally as important as your visual appearance is your verbal and non-verbal communication. For example, if you see me at a networking function and I am off in a corner by myself with my arms folded looking uninterested and irritated, would you be inspired to approach me and begin dialogue? More than likely you would not. The image that I am projecting is that I am standoffish, I am bored, leave me alone and do not approach me. However, if you see me mixing and mingling with various people, wearing a smile and exuding confidence it would have the opposite effect. You would be thinking "who is that?" she seems important, she seems friendly, I wonder what she does. In essence you are motivated to come and introduce yourself to me.
For the past 10 years I have conducted workshops on Business Etiquette to college students across the United States. I cover the do's and don'ts of professional attire in Corporate America. Having lived abroad for 3 years, I conducted a similar workshop in Asia (specific to etiquette in that region). This is always a eye-opener for students making the transition from college to the professional world. Your visual image and your body language (non-verbal communication) are an indication of how you would represent the company for which you are applying. If you are over-the-top flashy with excessive jewelry and expensive alligator shoes, what image is that projecting? For women, if your make-up is excessive and your blouse is low-cut, what image are you projecting?
Let's take it one step further, from a recruiter's perspective, if I receive a resume with an email address that is hotmama16@hotmail.com, what image does that project? If I call you to schedule an interview after reviewing your resume and your voicemail comes on and the ringback tone is the latest Kanye West song, full of profanity, what image does that project? Let's go even further, as an employer I look you up on Facebook or MySpace by your email address (that is on your resume), and I see images on your page that show you in a bar or showing cleavage or your status update has profanity in it, what image does that project?
Again, your personal image is critical to your personal brand (read "The Brand YU Life" by Hajj E. Flemings). If you have had any of these violations in the past it's not too late to change your personal image. What is the message that you want to convey to others when they meet you for the first time? Once you're able to answer that question, contact me and let's discuss how I can help you enhance your professional presence.
Tammy L. Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
tturner@kapstonejobs.com
What is their first impression of me? In this example what my appearance indicts is that I am 1)Unaware of my audience, 2)I am taking a casual approach to my business, 3)I am unprepared, 4)I am not ready to be a key player in the game, 5)People in the room will definitely remember "what I was wearing" not "what I had to say/sell."
Image is crucial to self-branding. When people meet me or talk about me to other professionals, they won't necessarily remember what I was wearing, but they will ALWAYS remember that I exude professionalism and confidence by my appearance alone. This doesn't mean that I'm wearing a $2,000 suit but it does mean that I am polished and professional looking. My image says I take care of business.
Equally as important as your visual appearance is your verbal and non-verbal communication. For example, if you see me at a networking function and I am off in a corner by myself with my arms folded looking uninterested and irritated, would you be inspired to approach me and begin dialogue? More than likely you would not. The image that I am projecting is that I am standoffish, I am bored, leave me alone and do not approach me. However, if you see me mixing and mingling with various people, wearing a smile and exuding confidence it would have the opposite effect. You would be thinking "who is that?" she seems important, she seems friendly, I wonder what she does. In essence you are motivated to come and introduce yourself to me.
For the past 10 years I have conducted workshops on Business Etiquette to college students across the United States. I cover the do's and don'ts of professional attire in Corporate America. Having lived abroad for 3 years, I conducted a similar workshop in Asia (specific to etiquette in that region). This is always a eye-opener for students making the transition from college to the professional world. Your visual image and your body language (non-verbal communication) are an indication of how you would represent the company for which you are applying. If you are over-the-top flashy with excessive jewelry and expensive alligator shoes, what image is that projecting? For women, if your make-up is excessive and your blouse is low-cut, what image are you projecting?
Let's take it one step further, from a recruiter's perspective, if I receive a resume with an email address that is hotmama16@hotmail.com, what image does that project? If I call you to schedule an interview after reviewing your resume and your voicemail comes on and the ringback tone is the latest Kanye West song, full of profanity, what image does that project? Let's go even further, as an employer I look you up on Facebook or MySpace by your email address (that is on your resume), and I see images on your page that show you in a bar or showing cleavage or your status update has profanity in it, what image does that project?
Again, your personal image is critical to your personal brand (read "The Brand YU Life" by Hajj E. Flemings). If you have had any of these violations in the past it's not too late to change your personal image. What is the message that you want to convey to others when they meet you for the first time? Once you're able to answer that question, contact me and let's discuss how I can help you enhance your professional presence.
Tammy L. Turner
President/CEO
Kapstone Recruiting & Training Services
tturner@kapstonejobs.com
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sample Behavioral Interview Questions
Decision Making and Problem Solving
Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did not have enough information.
Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision.
Leadership
What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from?
Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?
Motivation
Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the action of others.
Communication
Tell me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was important to you.
Have you ever had to "sell" an idea to your co-workers or group? How did you do it? Did they "buy" it?
Interpersonal Skills
What have you done in the past to contribute toward a teamwork environment?
Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and what the result was.
Planning and Organization
How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
What do you do when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? Give an example.
Other Behavioral Questions
Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree.
Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.
Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
*For additional helpful interview tips, go to http://www.kapstonejobs.com/
Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did not have enough information.
Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision.
Leadership
What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from?
Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?
Motivation
Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the action of others.
Communication
Tell me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was important to you.
Have you ever had to "sell" an idea to your co-workers or group? How did you do it? Did they "buy" it?
Interpersonal Skills
What have you done in the past to contribute toward a teamwork environment?
Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and what the result was.
Planning and Organization
How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
What do you do when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? Give an example.
Other Behavioral Questions
Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree.
Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.
Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
*For additional helpful interview tips, go to http://www.kapstonejobs.com/
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