Professional Affirmations

When should you use a letter of recommendation? Should job seekers even use them at all? The answer is… Yes! Use them!

The power of a written or typed personal recommendation from a previous supervisor, boss or professor is a strong tool in the interviewing process. Letters of recommendation say that a professional in your past thought highly enough of you to take the time out of their schedule to write some meaningful words, recommending you for your new position. The entire interview process is basically a chance to try and get to know you in a few short sittings. Unfortunately, your honest personality, work ethic and your overall reputation do not always come off the way you would want it to during those interviews, so why not have your colleagues put in a good word for you? After all, the hard work and dedication put into your path that led you to this point should be recognized and spoken of by others who you previously worked with. On a side note, using letters of recommendation is another resource for the employer to use during the hiring decision, which may give you that extra leg up on the competition!

ashley.gonzales@mattressfirm.com

Social Media – Is it hurting your job search?



http://www.forbes.com/



Social media seems to be the cure all remedy these days. Searching for your soul mate – use social media. Looking to strike it big with that new hit song you just recorded – use social media. Trying to get cast in that new hit reality show – use social media. Looking to obtain a new career opportunity – you guessed it… social media.

So is social media all it’s cracked up to be?

In many cases it can be an extremely useful tool but when it comes to job searches you may not want to rely so heavily on it. There is something powerful about a face to face interaction that can never be achieved through social media. The chance to look someone in the eye and shake their hand often creates a lasting impression and a stronger bond than an informal introduction through, say, LinkedIn.

With the vastness of the Internet and increasing popularity in social media I sometimes ponder the long term affects that technology will have on communication and ultimately human behavior. We see it every day, the young couple out on a nice dinner date that are both glued to their cell phones. The girl at Starbucks that is without fail always there, laptop glowing in her face and you wonder - does she live here? But before I get too high on my soap box let me clarify my point.

I’m not proposing that you boycott the internet or cancel all of your social media accounts by any means. I’m simply reminding you not to forget about the power that face to face interactions can have. If you find yourself in a rut in your job search, I would recommend to turn off that computer and get out of the house. Network the old fashion way by meeting up with friends or colleagues where you can make real human connections. At the end of the day, the world is still full of people who make decisions… not computers.

bryce.beaulieu@mattressfirm.com

How To End Your Interview On A High Note

How you end your interview is just as important as how you’ve answered the questions throughout the interview. It is important to leave the interviewer with the best impression of yourself that you can possibly provide. It is a huge relief to have answered that final question, but don’t bolt out of the room just yet! Below you will find some tips on what you need to do to make a lasting impression.

Have questions for the interviewer ready.
Remember that an interview is an opportunity for both parties to get to know each other. Questions provide the interviewer with insight that you are genuinely interested in the position and the company. Ideally you want to have 3 to 4 questions to ask the interviewer. Some topics that you can ask about are the company’s five year plan, industry growth and career path opportunities.

Ask when you can expect to hear back from them.

If it gets to be the end of the interview and you are unsure on when you will hear back from your prospective employer, it is perfectly okay to ask. This will prevent any unnecessary panic while you wait to hear back.

Ask for contact information.

Follow up is key! In order to ensure that you can reach the people that interviewed you, ask for their business cards or simply write it down in the event that they did not bring any.

Be Excited!

The best impression that you can leave when ending an interview is simply to smile, have a firm handshake and let your prospective employer know that you are excited about this opportunity. If you can transfer your enthusiasm then you can rest assured that you’ve left them with a lasting impression.

Happy Interviewing!

Can I get your contact information? edith.botello@mattressfirm.com


http://www.clipartof.com/



90 Day Guarantee (Or your money back!)

http://www.1sticondesign.com/

90 days seems to be a popular amount of time to accomplish just about anything. Turn on the TV and you’ll see countless ads that boast claims such as “Lose Weight Fast in 90 days” or “Learn to speak Spanish in just 90 Days” or the ever popular “Grow Hair Fast in 90 Days” (or your money back)!

As a job seeker, have you thought about what you can bring in your first 90 days at a new job? If you haven’t, you should. And you should think about it prior to even interviewing with a company. While employers will want to know about your past experiences, they will also want to know what your plan will be if you are selected for their position. Knowing your plan will not only demonstrate your ability to jump right in and take on a new role, but will also demonstrate that you have put thought into the role and how you will be successful.

Not sure what you should do in your first 90 days in a new role? There are many resources you can find online that will help you identify and outline your plan in your first 90 days. Here are a few to check out:

http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/06/leadership-pink-careers-cx_ag_0906ninetydays.html

http://www.black-collegian.com/career/navigating-grad05.shtml

http://www.linkedin.com/answers/career-education/mentoring/CAR_MEN/301707-7422601

http://www.michaeldwatkins.com/book-90days.php

While it may be tempting to commit to a big ole’ plan during your interview, know that the potential employer isn’t looking for your answer in how to solve world-peace in your first 90 days (unless you are applying to the World Peace Organization, then disregard and make sure you have your world-peace-solving plan ready). As many of the resources above will tell you, you want to make sure your plan is realistic, non-offensive (remember that you don’t know nor should you pretend to know what their problems are and what you need to “fix”), and specific enough to demonstrate your understanding of the role. If you can incorporate some company or industry facts into your plan (i.e. research before the interview!), even better. Knowing your 90-day plan will get you that much closer to landing your dream job and starting off on the right foot.

So… Know your 90 day plan. Get the job. Execute the plan. (and hope they don’t ask for their money back).

You can work on your 90 day plan with abby.ludens@mattressfirm.com

Multiple Job Offers? No Problem!

If you find yourself in the position of having multiple job offers, congratulations! For many people multiple job offers is great news, especially in a recovering economy. However, for others that do not handle their job offers in a considerate way towards their prospective employers, things can get a little messy. Make sure that you don’t burn any bridges and keep relationships with employers healthy and ethical to ensure a successful job and career.

Below you will find some tips on how to manage multiple job offers:

Ask for extensions if you need them: If you’re a great candidate it is no surprise to employers that you should have multiple offers. Make sure that you tell the employer, who you’ve asked an extension from, how much time you will need. Positions need to be filled as soon as possible so give them an actual date on when you will get back to them. Therefore, you should already know when you should be hearing back from the employer whose offer you are waiting on. This information is vital!

It’s perfectly acceptable to reach out to employers you haven’t heard from: At the end of every interview you should know when to expect to hear back from a prospective employer (either they told you or you asked them during the interview). If you have not heard from them, call them the following day and ask for feedback and the decision they made. Clarity plays a big part in handling multiple job offers.

Weigh your options: If you have the time, review all of your offers. Even if you know there is a certain job that you would prefer, you do not have to accept on the spot. Ask yourself questions that you value in a career. For example: “Where can I advance the most within five years?” “What company will take the time to train me?” “What job would I love going to work to every morning?” If you know what you want in your next career, handling multiple job offers will be a breeze.

Happy job searching!

You can reach out directly to Edith at edith.botello@mattressfirm.com.
 

How to be S.U.C.C.E.S.S.ful at a career fair

S- Study the companies that will be attending. Find out what type of positions they have available and what they are looking for. Then ask yourself, “Is this what I am looking for?” If the answer is yes, make sure you visit them at their booth!

U – Uncover what the company representative likes about the organization. This will help you discover why you would like to work there.

C- Carry a simple portfolio with plenty of resumes to hand out. There may be a company not listed in the directory that you would like to meet with and they will not be able to contact you if they do not know how to reach you.

C – Confidence … be confident Maintain eye contact when you are speaking with a representative, have a strong hand shake, good body language – don’t slouch and look closed off and most importantly SMILE 

E – Exhibit professionalism! Make sure you take a shower, brush your teeth, comb your hair and wear your best suit! First impressions are everything at a career fair.

S- Study your story. Have your 1 minute story of yourself rehearsed so you can relay what you have been doing and you can impact their company. Practice in front of a mirror several times and make sure you are confident when speaking.

S – Send a thank you email within 24 hours. Get the recruiters information from the companies that you feel would be a great fit for you and send them a thank you email. This is going to set you apart from your competition and will help them remember who you are.

Share your S.U.C.C.E.S.S with brandee.baker@mattressfim.com.

Addressing Your Potential New Address

It’s time to make that move to a different city. You begin to apply to all positions that are hiring. Let’s face it; you need a job as soon as you get there. Relocating can be a frustrating process, and many are baffled on how to prepare for the job search. Below is a list of steps you should take to land the job before you get there:

1) Start your research. Begin researching the companies in your city of choice. Contact the Chamber of Commerce to get a list of companies. Go to the library or visit company’s Facebook pages.

2) Personalize your cover letter. Address the fact that you are relocating.

3) Put your new address on your resume (if you have that information.) If you have a friend or family member with whom you plan to stay when you first arrive, use their address. This could take away any concerns employers may have about your relocation. (i.e. paying for your relocation or wait time for you to move to your new city.)

4) Get a Linked IN account. You can join groups in your area, and plan to attend networking events in the area. Target your companies of interest and network with employers.

5) Plan to make visits to the area. Sometimes you have to be there physically. Employers want to know when you’re available to interview face to face. So, consider your travel expenses.

6) Consider looking for a temp agency in the meantime. It’s understandable that you may have limited funds or need to move fast; this process could take awhile.

7) Remember that there is a job out there for you. So stay positive and don’t let your frustration show. Employers love a new hire with a great attitude Good Luck!

You can connect with Daja at daja.pope@mattressfirm.com