Qualities Employers Want

When you are looking for employment, keep in mind that these qualities and skills are sought after by employers.

• Integrity,
• Strong work ethic
• Showing up on time
• Cooperation
• Dedication
• Reliability
• Being conscientious
• Productive in every task
• Working extra hours at times
• Willingness to work hard, most employers will gladly train you if you are willing to learn
• Writing skills
• Communication skills
• Technical knowledge
• Time management.
• Multi-tasking, an individual who can juggle several projects and tasks will be very valuable
• Ability to work under pressure, to handle all that gets thrown at you
• Problem solving skills. You must be able to solve conflicts and offer solutions for problems that might arise on a day-to-day basis. Businesses compete for clients, so you should be able to help solve a customer’s problem properly in the quickest possible time.

Searching for Jobs

• Finding a job may take a long time.  Prepare to search long before you actually need to be employed.
• You might need to send a lot of applications. You’ll apply for many positions before you get interviews and offers. Many job hunters would consider you lucky if you get a job after 20 applications.
• Employers often don’t respond to candidates after they’ve been rejected. This means you should look rigorously for other jobs while waiting for a call back.
• You’ll apply online, mostly. Many companies use electronic applications and require you to enter information from your résumé into their systems. This can be tedious, but giving complete and accurate information is key.
• Employee networks on LinkedIn can help employers find candidates more quickly.
• Search sites like Monster.com.
• If you personally know someone at a company, it could help you. Connections really do make a difference. An employee referral puts an applicant in the “express lane.” Who in your network could take your resume to their company’s hiring authority? List as many people as you can think of and the name of the company where they work.
• Identify companies in your career area. Look on each company’s website for job openings.
• Don’t dismiss temporary employment agencies. Temp jobs are great for gaining experience and getting your foot in the door with a company.
• Any volunteer experience can serve as a source of networking contacts. Ideally, volunteer in an organization related to your career choice.
• Stay connected. Your friends with a job may be able to help you secure one, too. Many companies offer incentives to employees who refer applicants.
• Make a list of your dream employers. If there are places that you love to shop and companies that you really admire, pay attention to whether those places have jobs available. Check to see if they’re hiring right now. Just put down all those dream employers, or even dream individuals, that you’d love to work for on a piece of paper.
• Make a list of 50 people who you could call about your job search. These aren’t your best friends, but these are people who you know in your community. They are people from church, your friends, your family, the parents of your kids’ friends. Think broadly. Maybe you haven’t talked to them in a while, but you certainly shouldn’t be shy about reconnecting.
• Connect with a career center or job board. But don’t spend all of your time on big job. The majority of job seekers spend the bulk of their job search time scouring the big job boards, applying to anything and everything that seems appealing. You can do some of that, but it should account for the least amount of your time. Shift the majority of your time to build your personal brand online by engaging in online social networks. Use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Comment on influential blogs in your industry or create a digital resume. Talk to other people instead of simply applying for advertised openings.
• Talk to people who are now doing something that’s different from their previous career. Also spend time with people who do what you’d like to do. Ask how they got into this line of work. Encourage them to candidly share the challenges as well as the triumphs. By using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you can reach anyone these days for advice and inspiration.
• No matter what the skills, if you need to jump into a new field, there are many affordable options available. Self-paced courses are available for free online or classroom instruction is highly affordable. Check with your public library, mayor’s office, community college, non-profits and Career One-Stop to find out about training programs that may relate to your interests.
• If you met someone at a party and they asked what you do, could you answer in one clear, concise sentence? Many job seekers have huge difficulty with this because they’re unsure of their identity now that their paycheck is gone. “Well, I don’t really do anything now — I’m out of work.” Wrong answer. Instead, offer a focused response: “I specialize in marketing for small businesses.” “I’m a Special Ed teacher.” Or “I work in retail sales.” Being out of work now is not part of your opening line. Your response is focused on what you do — and then from there, as you engage in chit chat, you’ll make it known that you’re looking for your next opportunity.

Internships (for all ages)

In a competitive job market, you need every edge when applying for jobs, and nothing trumps actual experience. One way to get it is through interning, even as an adult. When giving your time and talent for free, you want to make sure you’re getting something in return. That means interning only in a capacity that’s directly related to your desired paid position. It’s what differentiates this from volunteering and doing good for your heart. As an adult intern, you’re working with an eye on the prize: a paid job. The biggest hurdle: most employers will demand that interns receive college credit in lieu of salary or pay. To get around that, make your case to small and medium sized businesses, professional associations, and even non-profits. Your pitch must be personal: “I’m out of work and I’m convinced that if I had this specific experience, I’d be able to get hired. So allow me to give you my time and talent in exchange for gaining this particular skill to put on my resume.” If it’s clear that you’re benefitting more than the employer and that they’re helping you by allowing you to intern compensation is no longer an issue. There are three main reasons for a jobseeker to pursue an internship:

1. Test drive a job before committing time and money to formal education or training. Margie Lyons, 56, is a mom of three grown daughters who has always worked in the insurance industry, which has served her very well. But with the kids out of the house, she’s considering adding an act two to her plate, ideally tied to her passion. Since she’s always been interested in the culinary arts, Lyons researched the French Culinary Institute but recognized it was a substantial commitment of time and money for a potential career path she wasn’t sold on.
2. Before diving in to formal training and education, she wanted to “test drive” the profession. She approached the owner of Plates, a restaurant in New York, to ask if she could intern in the kitchen one night a week. She’s getting very hands-on experience from preparing dessert for a party of 50 to learning how to tie sausages. Lyons says the owner understood immediately that you can’t get hired without experience, but you can’t get that experience unless someone hires you, so he’s happy to give her that shot. In the end, she gets more out of it than the restaurant does because the hands-on exposure is invaluable before deciding to enroll in school. Before you think about enrolling and making that commitment of time and money, test drive your desired field by approaching a business for an internship.
3. Fill a gap on a resume and keep busy while job searching. In New Hampshire, Jessica Hayes, 36, has been a stay at home mom with three kids and without a paycheck for seven years. Prior to starting a family, she worked in client services for a high tech company. Now she’s looking to build on that experience, but she has to freshen up her skills, especially those in social media. She applied for an internship at an employment consulting company where she is able to work on social media outreach. When she left the workforce, nobody was talking about blogging, Facebook and Twitter, but today without that experience, she isn’t being considered for new jobs. It’s also a plus when networking and interviewing to point to what she’s doing right now so she doesn’t have the burden of explaining that as a mom she’s an expert in conflict resolution and management household finances, which are important, but not as impressive as on the job experience in her desired field. Hayes says her current internship is received better by prospective employers than her volunteer PTA work because it’s directly related to her career goal.
4. Gain a specific new skill that’s needed to land a targeted job: Joseph Connolly, 34, worked in information technology and was downsized in June 2009 when the company sold his division. He went to a job search seminar hosted by a technical staffing firm that had just started an intern co-op to help people just like him. Connolly wanted to get into project management because he thought it would make him more desirable to employers, but that’s not where his prior experience was. So he secured an internship as a project manager with a non-profit. Now he’s very optimistic because he sees a slow rise in hiring and he has something more than just IT experience to offer. He has the one-two punch of IT and project management experience, which he says employers are finding much more appealing. Most empowering to him, he says, is the reaction he gets from hiring managers when he answers the question, “What have you been doing since you lost your job?” He says there’s a “visible positive reaction” — one that most jobseekers unfortunately don’t get — because he actually has something valuable to share about what he’s doing right now.

Applying for a Job – Important Tips

• Set a deadline to submit applications (i.e. two weeks); set goals for the number of applications to submit a day and the number of follow-up phone calls. 
• You might join a job club and be accountable to people with whom you meet once a week to be able to exchange leads and talk about strategies. There has to be some kind of accountability on a daily and weekly basis, like creating a job journal, in which every day you write down all of the places you applied to so you can follow up. In this journal, you can track all of the people that you talked to, what they said, and when you need to follow up.
• Finding a job is your full-time job right now! You can’t have a lag time of someone asking for your resume yesterday and getting it today. It’s got to be instant.
• No employer wants someone who’ll do absolutely anything. Focus on what you’re best qualified to do — and target all of your efforts around that. Instead of asking, “Hey, do you know anyone who’s hiring?” frame your inquiries around your unique skills, experience, education and interests. If you ask, “Do you know anyone who’s hiring in retail sales?” it’s much easier to receive a meaningful response than if you ask, “Do you know anyone who’s hiring?” Help people to help you by being clear about what you do and what you seek.
• Don’t sit around and wait for someone to contact you. This is the “spray and pray” method. You apply to 100 jobs and then you pray the phone will ring. It won’t. You must follow up with a call to make sure someone knows you exist. Don’t call to ask, “Did you get my resume?” Instead, you can say you know there’s an opening, you’re sure they’re flooded with applicants, but you know you’re an ideal match, so you want to make sure to get in front of the right people.
• Bring a brilliant business idea to a manger or business owner, and you’ll get an interview.   I’ve hired many people when I didn’t have a formal opening because they brought me an idea I couldn’t refuse. Small businesses are ripe for this, as are large corporations or nonprofits. The key is having a great idea that you’re uniquely qualified to plan and execute. Explain what you know about the organization and why this is the right time and the right idea. Plus, it’s easier now to land a part-time or freelance opportunity than a full-time staff position, so you’re leveraging this growing trend.
• Your greatest competition is for positions that are advertised and yet, that’s where job seekers spend the bulk of their effort applying for jobs. In addition to applying for relevant openings, you should also think about creating opportunities. Come up with 20 companies that you’d love to work for and create a specific pitch about what you could do for them, even on a contract or freelance basis.
• You might not get your dream job.  You don’t have the luxury of waiting for or pursuing that dream position. You’re going to have to be flexible and willing to acknowledge that your dream job might not happen. It doesn’t mean giving up on it, it means making it Plan B. Plan A is to get you a job and get you generating some income.

When submitting an application online:

• Check and double check for spelling mistakes and poor grammar, then check again.
• Be sure you complete all sections of the application.
• If possible, make a copy of the application before you press send.
• Read carefully the process for “the next steps”. Will they call you? Are you to call them? When should you expect to hear?
• Write down the contact information so you can follow-up by phone a few days after you submitted the application. Then don’t forget to make the call.
• If you have to attach a resume be sure it is saved as either a Word document (.doc) or PDF file (,pdf) so it can be easily opened. PDF is best if you can as you won’t risk losing formatting.

When submitting an application in person:

• Dress professionally. If you are also having an interview, wear a suit or nice dress if possible (and appropriate); if you are just handing in an application, wear business casual, never go in jeans.
• Obtain the name of the store manager or supervisor so you can follow-up with a note and/or a phone call. Get the name in writing so you are sure to spell it correctly; ask for a business card if possible, then you will have the address too.
• Follow-up your application with a phone call to express your interest in the position, ask for an interview with the supervisor or hiring manager and ask about the next steps in the hiring process.

Appearance, Manners & Professionalism

The interviewer’s first impression will be formed in the first couple minutes. No matter what people say, appearance, manners and professionalism matter.  Consider these tips:

Appearance

• Pressed clothes and clean shoes, nothing too tight or too baggy
• No big or flamboyant jewelry
• No tattoos or body piercings showing
• No heavy cologne or perfume, limited makeup for women.
• Well-groomed hair, no radical style or cuts
• Shower/bathe and use deodorant
• Brushed teeth, fresh breath, stay away from onions and garlic the night before. Bad breath is repulsive
• Clean and trim your fingernails and scrub your hands the night before

Manners & Professionalism

• Obtain driving directions. If possible, travel to the location before the interview day to make sure you know how to get there.
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Clear your calendar so you don’t rush
• Be patient if you have to wait
• Take the interviewer’s hint to leave when an interview is finished
• Shake hands (firm handshake!) with the interviewer when you arrive and leave
• Present yourself as a mature, responsible candidate for employment
• Wait to sit until the interviewer offers you a seat
• Use good posture, no slumping
• Speak clearly in a pleasant voice
• Make eye contact
• Be friendly but not overly casual.  This is a business meeting
• Don’t look at your watch during the interview
• Don’t use your phone while you are waiting or anytime during the interview unless you are asked to
• Don’t cross your arms as this looks defensive or closed off
• Don’t roll your eyes. Every word coming out of your mouth will seem insincere if you roll your eyes
• Send a thank you note, either by email or paper to each person you interviewed with. A handwritten note is the best kind of thank you note.  PROOFREAD for spelling, grammar and clarity!
• Follow-up with a phone call to the hiring manager and emphasize that you would love the job and ask for the job. Remind them why you are the best person for the job.
• Within the first couple minutes of an interview, your self-confidence, or lack thereof, is visible. “Fake it till you make it” is a good guideline for showing self-confidence. Just make sure you don’t come across as arrogant. Being nervous during a job interview is normal, but it’s best if the interviewer doesn’t realize just how nervous you are. You can cover up your nervousness by taking a few simple steps:
  • Wet your handkerchief or a paper towel with the coldest water possible from a drinking fountain or the restroom and rub it between your sweaty palms. Tuck it away before greeting the interviewer.
  • Even better, fold the handkerchief or paper towel lengthwise several times and discreetly hide it against your neck behind the collar of your shirt or jacket. This will help you lower your body temperature and help with your anxiety.
  • Deliberately slow your speaking speed. Press a fingernail into your palm to remind yourself to slow down.
  • Be aware of your hand gestures and do your best to clasp your hands in your lap. You don’t want your hands to flap around.
  • Keep your head still most of the time. While nodding in agreement can be valuable, too much head shaking is distracting to the interviewer.

Reference Questions

Most future employers will ask for references.  Be sure you always ask folks if they can be your reference before turning in their names.  Be aware that these are common questions your references will be asked.  Be sure your relationship with your reference is one that can handle these questions:

1. Would you consider xxxx to be an average or standout employee?
2. What do you believe are xxx’s strengths as an employee?
3. From 1-10, how would you rate xxx on his ability to accept constructive criticism?
4. From 1-10, how would you rate xxx on his ability to listen carefully before talking?
5. From 1-10, how would you rate xxx on his ability to communicate so he is understood?
6. From 1-10, how would you rate xxx on holding himself accountable for his mistakes?
7. Regarding possible weaknesses, are there specific things I should know?
8. Would you hire XXX again if a position were available that fits his skills?

The mission of T&E Care is to maintain a network of people providing short-term financial and other material assistance to persons in need who live in and around the Tredyffrin and Easttown township areas.