Love the company you work for!

Of the four seasons, spring just happens to be my favorite. I love the coolness in the air, the flowers blooming, and all of the newest additions at the local zoo’s (baby gorillas, anyone?)  Since spring puts me in such a great mood, I decided to focus on how much I LOVE my job! We recently returned from our National Leadership Conference that was held in Washington D.C. This is a great opportunity for our company to remind everyone how much passion and excitement you can have while at work.

 

Loyalty- Does your company offer your loyalty? Do you feel that you are secure in your position and have a future with them? Also in return, are you loyal back? Think to yourself, do I share my story with strangers? Am I proud of where I work?

 

Open- There should always be open lines of communication in the work place. Hopefully there is a co-worker, manager, or leader that you can communicate with.

 

Values- Every company has values and a vision. Are the company ethics and vision the same as yours? As an employee, you should share the same values and truly believe in the company.

 

Engaged- Are you engaged in your job?  Are you excited to go in to work every day? Hopefully you work for a company that is engaging and challenges you on a daily basis.

 

These are just a few things that I was reminded of this past week! So try and remind yourself, does your job make you feel happy and in love?

Share what you love with erica.siri@mattressfirm.com 

In the wise words of Ricky Bobby, “I’m not sure what to do with my hands…”

 

 

Have you ever finished an interview and felt like you just left an awkward first date? When the questions primarily revolve around your job skills and work history, it can be hard to show your true personality. When interviewing for a job, it can be pretty basic—recruiters and interviewers want to hire people who not only will be a good fit for the job, but also people whom they like!  Working in a little extra personality to your interview can take you far and maybe earn you the right to a second date!

 

 

Here are three ways to add your personality to your interview:

 

Enthusiasm can take you far:  It is easier to coast a car down a hill than to push it uphill.  The same goes for coasting through conversation!  Start with your best smile (this even works for phone interviews!) and a confident tone.  Enthusiasm and positive energy is contagious so by engaging your interviewer with a friendly tone, your interviewer will likely mirror your level of enthusiasm.  Starting conversation on a high note will set you up for an easier ride through the conversation.

 

 

But don’t be fake:  Keep in mind that your interviewer is a real person, so sincerity goes a long way.  Go into the interview with your goal being to understand them rather than expecting them to understand you.  This small change in mindset increases your level of curiosity, showing your interviewer that you genuinely care.

 

Good ol’ Southern hospitality goes a long way:  Show your personality by sending thank you note or email.  Don’t simply thank the interviewer for his or her time, but mention specific parts of the conversation that you enjoyed.  This will show your interviewer that you were highly engaged during the interview!

http://www.careerealism.com/rapport-ace-interview/

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/establish-rapport-interview-22215.html

 You can check out Trevor's virtual smile by emailing trevor.friel@mattressfirm.com

 

Funny Resume Blunders

www.glasbergen.com

Every morning I open my yahoo homepage before checking my email. Normally, I check out the typical celebrity gossip to keep up with my sister and mother in their E! news review conversations. But today, I came across this website-Jobmob.com (http://jobmob.co.il/blog/funniest-resume-mistakes/#sthash.jQNGGA9R.dpuf). After a good fifteen minutes of laughter, I decided to share the laughter with you. Hopefully, not only does this put a smile on your face, but helps you realize the importance of spell check when filling out applications and drafting your resume.

 

Yes, these are based on true stories. Enjoy J
 

·         Candidate including a letter from his mother as a letter of recommendation. (Impressive)

·         Candidate explained a gap in employment by saying it was because he was getting over the death of his cat for three months. (Just enough time to receive unemployment)

·         Candidate explained an arrest by stating, “We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig.” (Good, glad it wasn’t big)

·         “Consistently tanked as top sales producer for new accounts.” (Should have ranked this achievement low enough to not include it on the resume)

·         “Seeking a party-time position with potential for advancement.” (Only part-time does this person actually party)

·         Job Duties: “Answer phones, file papers, respond to customer e-mails, take odors.” (Maybe they sold scentsy?)

·         Objective: “So one of the main things for me is, as the movie ‘Jerry McGuire’ puts it, ‘Show me the money!’” (Love me some Cuba Gooding Jr.)

·         Work experience: “Responsibilities included checking customers out.” (Sometimes you just can’t help but look)

·         Background: “28 dog years of experience in sales (four human).” (Must be an expert)

·         Application: How large was the department you worked in with your last company? “A: 3 stories.” (Did you take the stairs or climb the ladder?)

·         Experience: “My father is a computer programmer, so I have 15 years of computer experience.” (You are who you know)

·         Resume: “I have a lifetime’s worth of technical expertise (I wasn’t born – my mother simply chose ‘eject child’ from the special menu.” (Unique)

·         Qualifications: “I have guts, drive, ambition and heart, which is probably more than a lot of the drones that you have working for you.” (Skill set: psychic- able to read people without meeting them)

·         “Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.” (If only there were more people like you)

 

ashley.gonzales@mattressfirm.com

The One

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, as a recruiter, I would love to share some Interview Honey Do’s to help make sure you are “The One” for the position the company is trying to fill.

 

 

1)      Do: Research on the Company and the Position: One thing that really works my nerves is when a candidate has no clue about the company or the position that they are interviewing for. Do yourself a favor and research the company this will help you be more successful in your interview. Research things like the company’s history, the requirements of the job, their mission statement or core values, and maybe even visit one of their locations (if applicable). Having a good understanding of the position you are interviewing for will give you a leg up on your competition.

 

 

2)      Do: Arrive on Time for the Interview and Dress for Success: There should be no excuse for being late to an interview, unless something disastrous really does happen. Arriving 15 minutes before the interview is scheduled is a good rule of thumb. If something does happen and you will be late, make sure to call the point of contact or interviewer to let them know. Also, make sure to dress the part “Dress for the job you want not for the job you have”.  Make sure to ask the point of contact what the dress is for the interview and do research on what may fit the organization.  Your clothing should fit nicely, should be clean and pressed, keep jewelry and makeup to a minimum and make sure you brush your teeth before the interview (nobody likes stinky breath). These are ways to help you make a good first impression on your future employer.

 

 

3)      Do: Watch your body language – Be aware of the message your body language could be sending to the employer. Positive forms of body language are smiling, making eye contact, sitting up straight, and actively listening. Body language to avoid can be slouching, yawning, looking off in the distance, or playing with your pen, these are signs that you are no longer interested or are not paying attention. Positive body language, in a natural style, can help the employer see that you are driven and eager to earn the position.

 

 

4)      Do: Speak to what you have done not what you will do – Employers want to hear what you have already done that would help you in this role. For example: instead of just saying “I am really good at sales” tell them what you have done say “Last year I was able to gain 20 new accounts for my company resulting in $XXX amount of new business and I was able to maintain these accounts by.” This will show that you are able to speak to your accomplishments and shows that you can make an impact in the new role.  

 

 

5)      Do: Have questions to ask at the end of the interview – if you have no questions this can show that you have not done enough research on the organization. Even if you know every single thing about the company you still need to come up with some questions. This will show you are really interested in the position.  An example of some good questions can be; asking about the interviewer’s story or experience with the company, why they have stayed with the organization so long, or even why did they choose this company.

 

 

6)      Do: Go for the close - Ask what the next steps in the process will be and the timeline that they will be getting back to you.

7)      Do: Thank the interviewer – you can do this in person, by email, or even a personal thank you card. This leaves a lasting impression on the employer and can help them remember you.

Best of luck to you in your interview process! I hope these tips help you become “The One” on your next interview! Happy Hunting!

http://www.quintcareers.com/job_interview_tips.html

 

angela.hubbard@matressfirm.com

 

Happy Holidays from your Heroes of Hiring

1.bp.blogspot.com
 



Lost in Translation

careercompetencies.org

As a recruiter there is one thing that always gets under my skin, when applicants down play their past skills! I realize that you may have left your last job because you didn't like the ethics, or the pay, or the movie Horrible Bosses hit a little too close to home. I get it. But that doesn't mean that your last job was a total loss to your development! I think that all too often people get caught up in the search for a new job that they overlook the research that goes into being successful in THAT job that they are applying for! 

 

 

When you get that call from that company that you applied to last week trying to set up an interview, take a minute to do just two simple things to put you in the right place to win.

Research them MORE: I know you did your research but do MORE! Your research topic has changed. You have shifted from Is this right for me? to How can I stand out? Look for things that match your skills, making you a unique candidate. What do you do well? What can you do that no one else can?

 

 

Think outside the BOX: You are a unique person with a skill set that no one has! Analyze every position you have held, match it with their skills and highlight that in the interview. Think outside the box. Altering the lens at which you see your past job is paramount to thinking critically about switch careers.

There wasn't a class you have taken, a club you joined or task you have completed that you haven't learned something from and made you who you are today! For that interview make sure your skills aren’t lost in translation.

 

 

matthew.haneman@mattressfirm.com

 

Your Turn to Interview



clker.com

If you think interviewing for a job is a one way street, think again! This is a common misperception when in reality; you should ask follow up questions. Asking questions not only shows a higher level of interest, it also allows you to decide if the company fits your needs. When asking questions, the type of question is really important. Be sure to ask thoughtful, good questions. The biggest turn off for a recruiter is having no questions or only asking about compensation.  Need some help?  Check out a few suggested questions below by Monster Staff Writer, Thad Peterson:

1.       Can you tell me about the culture here?

·         Company culture can be a bit difficult to get a handle on until you walk through the door and experience it yourself. The interview is a great time to ask questions that reveal the company’s personality.

2.       Would you mind telling me about how your career got to this point?

·         This question is good on two levels: It gives you a chance to learn a bit about potential coworkers or potential bosses, and it's also a nice ego rub for the interviewer. “People love to talk about themselves, so if you can get the interviewer talking about himself, you're one step up,” explains Cooke.

3.       Can you tell me about your management style?

·         If you're interviewing with the person who may be your boss, it's important to understand how he'll manage you and the people around you.

The interviewer's answer to this question should reveal a few things. It will give you a sense of some of the challenges you'll face if you end up joining the team, as well as tell you how your potential coworkers handle sticky questions. It may also provide some insight about how forthright they are.

4.       What’s your biggest source of job satisfaction?

·         This question can help you understand both what makes your potential workmates tick and what they think the company's strengths are.

 

No matter how much research you do on a company, few can give you greater insight into the company than the recruiter.  So, don’t forget to interview the interviewer!

 

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/interview-questions/your-turn-to-ask-questions/article.aspx

 trevor.friel@mattressfirm.com