How to Look for a New Job When You’re Already Employed

 Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

It’s time. You've weighed the pros and cons. You can check “yes” to all the items on those “should you leave your job” surveys, and you know you’re ready. Time to move on to bigger and better things.

The only problem is, you've still gotta bring in a paycheck until you can find that bigger and better thing. And job searching while still employed can be tricky business.

Here are some must-dos and don’ts to make sure you keep that paycheck while exploring other options:

 

Don’t job search on company time.

The easiest way to get yourself sacked is to give your employer reason to believe you’re looking for something else when you should be doing what you’re paid to do. If you really need to communicate with a hiring manager during normal working hours (such as to do a phone interview), set it up for your lunch break, and take the call on your cell phone out in your car.

The same goes for interviewing. Whenever possible, see if an interviewer is willing to meet you early in the morning, on your lunch break or after work hours. Many will understand that you’re employed and will work to accommodate you if they’re really interested.

And if you absolutely need to claim a couple of faux “doctor’s appointments” to make an interview - keep them at a bare, bare minimum to avoid raising suspicions.

Also watch out for “My, you’re dressed up today!” remarks if your normal work attire isn't quite as fancy as your interview outfits. Be armed to meet such remarks with comments like “Oh, I just got some new work clothes and thought I’d start rotating them into my wardrobe. Do you like them?”

 

Be honest with potential employers—but not too honest.

You will inevitably be asked why you want to leave the company you’re currently working for. This is where many people get into trouble.

You don’t want to say things like, “They’re overloading me with projects,” because that makes hiring managers wonder if maybe you’re just not cut out to handle stressful periods. You also don’t want to complain about a bad boss or coworker issues, because that just makes you look like someone who has trouble getting along with others. You don’t want to imply anything that will make a prospective employer think you might eventually start looking for a new job on their time.

The best way to frame your response to this question (even if you are overloaded and you do hate your boss) is to say something like, “I don’t feel my abilities are being used well” or “I’d like a position that challenges me more”—something that demonstrates you’re a good worker who has simply outgrown your current position.

 

Keep it professional at the current job.

You may have already checked out mentally and emotionally, but don’t let it show in your performance. Remember that this job will become a potential resume reference, and you don’t want to burn any bridges by letting your results slide right before you quit. (You also want to avoid being fired before you quit.)

 

Tie up loose ends.

If you have unused paid vacation time, try to use it if you can do so without letting the cat out of the bag. In other words, don’t schedule all your remaining days in a row if you have an offer on the table, because chances are a) someone will wonder why you’re not saving a few days for later in the year, and b) your boss will probably not approve your being out of the office for two-thirds of the month.

Also don’t take two weeks in a row, then come in the following Monday to give your notice. That’s just inconsiderate, and you may need this employer as a reference down the line. (See above note on not burning bridges.)

If you work in a position that doesn’t have a specific handbook-designated job description (like in a small office where everyone does their own thing as needed), start making short memos detailing your job duties and any pertinent information your successor will need to know. This will make it easier to train them if your replacement is found before your two weeks are up—and if they’re not, it makes it easier for your employer to fill a new person in after you’re gone. Which, again, earns you some much-needed “you’ve quit, but we still like you” brownie points.

Searching for a new job while still employed can be tricky, but it is doable. Just make sure you’re careful and considerate, and you can find yourself a better position while still leaving your current job on good terms.

What other tips do you have for looking for a job when you’re already working?

7 Things to Remove From Your Resume ASAP

Article Originally Featured on The Muse.com

Photo of keyboard courtesy of Shutterstock.

We all talk a fair game about what needs to be on your resume, but there’s also plenty of stuff that should be removed. The fluff. The blabber. The full-on oddities. And even some of the details you think are important.

Here’s the thing: If you want a shot at grabbing your target audience and showing them what you’re made of, every section of your resume needs to be thoughtfully constructed, and every word carefully placed.

So, let’s all get out our big red markers. We’re going to start marking that baby up. Here are seven things that you absolutely must drop-kick from your resume.

1. An Objective

The vast majority of objectives say nothing. Oh, so you’re seeking a challenging position with a growing corporation that will allow you to make a positive contribution, are you? How groundbreaking.

 

Instead

Craft an executive summary or “Who I Am” section that showcases your overarching value proposition (or, as I call it, your “So what?”) and speaks directly to the stuff you know the target audience is going to care the most about. This is your chance to make it clear you’re a strong fit.

2. Weird or Potentially Polarizing Interests

Do you practice witchcraft, preside over your local gun club, or spend endless hours practicing your extraordinary mime routine? Terrific. But unless you are applying for jobs that will specifically value these interests (or they’re flat-out amazing conversation starters), leave them off. Decision makers will judge the heck out of you if they spot hobbies that fly in the face of their own personal beliefs or seem odd.

 

Instead

Include interests only if you feel they support your overall professional message and brand. If you’re a dietician who maintains a recipe blog for fun, yes. If you’re an accountant who enjoys photographing people’s feet, absolutely not.

3. Third-Person Voice

The fastest way to sound like a pompous goof is to construct your resume in the third person—à la “John raised more than $70,000 for the organization.” Every single time I read a resume in which the author does this, all I can think of is someone sitting around in a smoking jacket, with a pipe, pontificating on and on about himself. Don’t do it.

 

Instead

When you write a resume, your name and contact information are at the top of the page. For this reason alone, the receiver will most assuredly deduce that the document he or she is receiving was, indeed, from you. So write the resume in the first person, minus the pronouns (e.g., “Raised more than $70,000”).

4. An Email Address From Your Current Employer

Nothing says, “I job search on company time” quite like using your current work email address on a resume. Unless you own the company, it’s poor form to run your job search through your company’s email system.

 

Instead

Easy–use your personal email for all job search business. And, ideally, your own time.

5. Unnecessarily Big Words

Why “utilize” when you can “use?” Why “append” when you can “add?” It’s not “analogous;” it’s really just “similar.” Using non-conversational words doesn’t make you look smart; it makes you look like someone who spends too much time in a thesaurus.

 

Instead

Run the “would I ever say this in real life?” test on every phrase and sentence in your resume. If you find words or statements that don’t read like something you’d say? Change ’em up.

6. Tiny, Unimportant Jobs From 15+ Years Ago

Your resume is not an autobiography of every job you’ve held since you graduated; it’s a marketing document. So, unless something you did more than 12-15 years ago is vital for your target audience to know about, you don’t need to list the entry-level job or internship you held in 1994. It’s totally OK to leave some of the life history off.

 

Instead

For each former job, think about what you did or achieved that will be required (or will hold significant value) in your next role. Showcase only that stuff. If your first job out of college does nothing to support this overall message? It’s probably not needed.

7. Lies

If you’d like me to, I’ll launch into the story about the field engineer I worked with who was this close to landing a great job—until the employer conducted a degree verification and discovered that, while he’d taken courses at that university, he didn’t graduate. The kicker? He didn’t even need a degree to qualify for that job. But because he got caught in a lie, he didn’t get it.

 

Instead

Strategize. (In this case, I would have suggested that this engineer load his education section with professional development courses and certifications, which would have made an equally great impact.) Whatever you do, do not lie.


Editing a resume can be tough. People tend to be quite attached to the things they’ve done or accomplished professionally, and passionate about their outside interests. But the bottom line is this: You need to have everything working for you on your resume. Be brutally objective, cut the fat, and for goodness’ sake, leave off all details of your vast collection of clown figures.

 

Article Originally Featured on The Muse.com

Do you have any additional suggestions of things to remove from your resume?

4 Tactical Tips for Your First Days at a New Job

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Starting a new job should mean new adventures, new possibilities, and new outfits. However, the reality is usually far less glamorous. During my time at LivingSocial, I’ve trained hundreds of new hires, and I watched as some instantly demonstrated their capability, while others tripped over their shoelaces (figuratively speaking). Even experienced managers sometimes fall victim to amateur mistakes, so here’s a list of four tips to help guide you in your first 30 days on the job.

1. Build Relationships

Being the new person in the room, you may be waiting for a colleague or manager to introduce you to everyone else. However, they may not remember to do it. That doesn't mean you get a free pass. You should never miss an opportunity to introduce yourself. On the crooked path of networking, you never know who’s going to recommend you for your next plum project or future position.

My insider tip is to not just meet everyone in every room, keep notes on who was there. When you go back to your desk, send each of them a personalized email saying that you enjoyed meeting them and you hope your paths cross again. I like to use a uniform subject line for these notes (ex. “Lovely to meet you!”) so when I search my inbox, I have a listing of everyone I met and the date I met them.

2. Show excitement for your role

The most painful new hire interaction I ever witnessed was when someone in his first day on the job openly asked about applying for a new position within the company. Though it may be tempting to put yourself forward as a candidate, most companies expect you to be in your position for three to six months before they’ll even consider you for an internal transfer. Also, asking about other opportunities may cause people to question your loyalty and enthusiasm.
If you do hear about openings in a department that really excites you, see if you can get to know people who work there. When you casually ask them about their projects over coffee, it seems as if you’re demonstrating an interest in both them and the company, not like you’re sniffing out your next move.

3. Know when to ask questions and when to go it alone

As a new hire, there are a lot of things you won’t know. This ranges from not understanding how to use the phone system (a sometimes embarrassing reality) to being unsure of the organization’s strategic priorities. You want to make sure you’re asking the right questions, or else you may seem like the office mosquito.

Keep a notepad by your desk and write down your questions. You’ll be shocked by how many you cross off on your own. After you have four to five questions collected, you’ll be prepared to approach your manager with an organized list. As he or she answers your questions, make sure to take careful notes and listen for how they found the answer. That way, you won’t have to ask them for help next time.

4. Learn how to be a casual professional

Some office environments are extremely buttoned up, while others are far more relaxed. I’ve worked in both, and what I’ve seen is that one type of person always prevails—the casual professional.

A casual professional never compromises on the fundamentals of professionalism: being on time to everything, accountable for her work, and extremely respectful of her colleagues. However, she also understands how to authentically represent who she is as a person. Successful professionals often end up working long hours, and it’s neither fun nor realistic to only talk about work. You should selectively let your colleagues know a bit more about you – it’ll humanize you and make you more fun to be around.

Please be warned that it can be difficult to strike a good balance, so to make sure you’re on the right side of casual, watch the behavior of people who are admired at all levels of the organization. If you think they’d do it, go for it. This may mean telling your co-workers about a non work-related interest (food, sports, and the arts are usually safe), or buying beer for your colleagues at the end of a particularly rough (or awesome!) week.

Whether you’re starting today or in two years, please know we’re wishing you the best of luck in your new role.

Have you recently started a new job? What do you wish you had done differently during your first month?

How to Ace Your Next Phone Interview

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

 

As a stellar would-be employee, you want to sail through the interview process. But before you think that all you need is a knockout résumé and a killer outfit, think again. Nowadays, there’s a step before the in-person interview: the phone interview.


“The global economy means more and more cross-border hiring, where an initial phone interview becomes even more important,” says Sanjeev Agrawal, founder of Collegefeed, a career marketplace for college students.


Employers are increasingly opting for phone interviews to screen potential new hires. By doing so, companies can sort through candidates without committing to the expense and time required for on-site meet-ups.

A survey conducted by OfficeTeam, a staffing agency based in Menlo Park, Calif., polled 515 human resources managers, the majority (57%) of whom reported that phone interviews happen “very often.”


Furthermore, Paul Bailo, author of “The Essential Phone Interview Handbook,” says, “All jobs start with a phone call.” Meaning: Even if you aren’t scheduled for a formal phone interview, any conversation with a potential employer, however brief it might be, makes an impression.

Not being face-to-face with someone doesn’t mean that you don’t still need to bring your A-game. You might have the best intentions, but what you say and how you say it (tone, pace, inflection, etc.) can easily be misinterpreted. Here is some step-by-step advice to help you give good voice.


Step 1: Prepare, prepare, prepare

Step 2: Take care of the basics

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

Step 3: Put on your game face

Step 4: Take advantage of the invisibility factor

Step 5: Remember the 3 C’s–concision, concentration and courtesy

Step 6: Follow up

“It takes days to get ready for a phone interview,” explains Bailo. On day one, he advises, do all your research. Take to Google to find out everything you need to know—and more—about the company. Then, on day two, write out a list of questions, like, “What specific qualities and skills are you looking for in a job candidate?” or “I read that the company ____ (insert recent company success here). How do you see this position contributing to the continued success of the organization?” This will demonstrate your interest in the company, and the job, and show that you’re a highly qualified applicant. Agrawal points out, “Phone interviews are a great opportunity to find out more details about the job, the company, the work environment and the team, as job descriptions are notoriously vague.”

Another tip: Find an online photograph of the person who is interviewing you. Search on LinkedIn or on the company’s website. It’s much easier to talk with someone when you know what he/she looks like.

Nix any noisy interruptions such as barking dogs, crying children or blaring car horns. Get everyone out of the house, or make sure to have an isolated room where you can lock the door.
If possible, use a landline—a cell phone connection is less reliable, and the call could always get dropped. No landline? Then make sure that your cell phone is fully charged and that you take the call in a place where your reception is at its best. And remember to get the interviewer’s phone number in case you get disconnected

Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview; you’re more likely to feel and sound professional if you look the part.

Remember to smile: You can’t sound bored or uninterested if you have a smile on your face. Put a mirror on your desk to see your facial expressions when you talk. You have no body language with which to reinforce your personality; it’s all about the voice. To keep yours sounding tip-top, swallow a teaspoon of honey or suck on a lozenge one hour before the phone interview to reduce dry throat, and have a glass of water nearby during the actual interview.

Phone interviews are a lot like open-book tests: You can have all the information you need to know (about the company and the person conducting the interview right in front of you). Also, to cut down on the papers-rustling-in-background noise, tape a copy of your résumé and job description to the wall, at eye level, for easy reference.


Concision: Phone interviews are shorter than in-person interviews, which means you have less time to make a good impression. So avoid long-winded answers that could make you lose your audience. Keep your responses to no more than three sentences. The day before the interview, practice asking your questions aloud and, while you’re at it, rehearse your answers to some potential questions that the interviewer might ask you. (Think old standbys like, “What are your strengths?” and even the open-ended “Tell me about yourself….”)

Concentration: Stay focused and take notes during the call. It’s not the time to organize your mail or reply to emails. “If you feel you are easily distracted and drawn to multitasking, remove or turn off anything you might be tempted to use,” says Bailo. “You must listen carefully so that your responses are on point.”

Courtesy: Be professional and be polite. “At the end of the call, ask, ‘Do my qualifications meet the company’s needs?’ Then ask when you can meet with them in person,” suggests Bailo. And, Agrawal adds, “however the interview goes, end with ‘thank you.’ The last few words of a conversation are often the most remembered.”


Twenty-four to 48 hours after the interview ends, send an email thanking the interviewer for the opportunity and summarizing what you spoke about during the phone interview. The subject line should be: “Your name and the position you applied for.”

If you want this job, now is the time to restate your interest. And, if you really want to appear smarter than most, include a link to an interesting news article about the company that you already found during your preparation research.

Article Originally Posted on Levo League

How To Make Your Business Card A Keeper

Article Originally Featured on Levo League

Photo Courtesy of Levo League

Business cards are one of the most affordable ways to get your information into a prospects hands. The problem is that most business cards end up lost in a pile on a desk, tossed in a junk drawer or worse, thrown away. Business cards only work if your prospect keeps it so he can call you when needed. Here are some tips to making your business card a resource people hold on to.

Multipurpose it: Authors do this by giving away bookmarks with their book’s information. Turning your business card into something people can use, such as a bookmark, ticket, mileage tracker or score keeper, increases the odds they’ll hold on to it.

Make it helpful: Realtors and mortgage often include a chart on their cards that allows people to determine mortgage costs at different interest rates. Giving helpful information related to your business on your card increases the chances they’ll be filed instead of lost. 

For example, a cooking store can add measurement conversions or an editor can offer corrections for most common writing errors. I have a list of common work-at-home scams to avoid on one of mine. Other options include a calendar and important local numbers.
Give it value: People like a good deal. Turn your business card into a coupon or rewards card for a discount or free offer. Take it step further and give away several cards at a time letting your prospects and clients give them away for easy referrals.

Add a QR code: While there is debate about the value of a QR code, for people who live mostly in a digital world, the chances of them holding on to a business card decreases with each new technological advance. Make it easy for them to hold on to your information by allowing them access your business online with a simple scan of the card. If you don’t want a QR code, consider an SMS code, in which card holders can text the code to receive information about your business via text.

Once you have a card people will want to keep, give them away. Too many business owners are stingy with their business cards. But they are designed to be shared, so use them when you meet people for business or pleasure, as note paper when you give someone information or directions, and leave them in public places such as on bulletin boards.

Article Originally Featured on Levo League

How to Use Your Social Media Skills to Land a Dream Job

The millennial generation is more technology savvy than any generation in history. They tweet, blog, and Instagram every moment of their lives. When looking for a job, this digital footprint can make or break your search for the dream job. 

 Click here to learn how to use social media to land your dream

Photo Courtney of Levo League