Check out this post at CollegeRecruiter.com that lists the companies that undergraduates would love to work for. Are any of your favorites on the list?
Archive for July, 2007
College Graduate Salaries on the Rise
Salaries for recent college grads continue to rise according to a recent survey by NACE. Starting salaries for financial, technology, and engineering positions range from the high 40s to close to $60K. Entry level salaries in government and the social sciences are on the rise as well, ranging from the low to mid 30s.
What Does Your Outgoing Phone Message Say About You?
You’ve got an amazing resume. Your interview strategy is top-notch. But what happens when a recruiter or hiring manager calls you and gets your voicemail? Do you have an outgoing message like “Yo, dog, leave a message” or a “cute” message featuring your two-year old? If someone is answering the phone for you in your absence, do they have a strong command of the English language and are they capable of taking a detailed phone message? Paying attention to these details is just as important as making sure your resume has no typos or your interview suit is pressed. Audit your voicemail and phone procedures today to make sure you get that interview tomorrow!
Always Send a Thank You Letter After a Job Interview
Thank you letters are more than just a simply courtesy. They help remind the interviewer of your unique capabilities and value add and they allow you to reconnect with the hiring manager and deepen the relationship. If you interview with several people at one company, send each person a thank you letter and be sure to write something different in each one. You will quickly lose credibility with a hiring manager if you send the same letter to multiple recipients. A strong thank you letter can help you get to the next level in the interview process. so make sure to extend your appreciation to everyone you interview with.
Why Resume Templates Stink
Here at Cheap and Quick Resume we see a lot of resume templates. Using a template is the fastest way NOT to get your resume noticed. Here are a few reasons why we hate templates.
- Too Generic. Thousands of job seekers use templates to create resumes every day. That means that your resume looks like everyone else’s. Ho hum!
- Difficult to Read. Many templates format the candidate’s contact information using a font under 10 points. Unless you expect a hiring manager to whip out a magnifying glass to figure out how to contact you, don’t use a template.
- Too Much Wasted Space. We usually see templates that place category headings on the left and information on the candidate on the right. If you have more than a few things to say, it’s going to be challenging to fit all the information in that tiny area. Every spot on the resume is like valuable real estate. Use the space wisely!
- Irrelevant Information. Often templates have a section for “Hobbies” The information most candidates include in this section is irrelevant at best and in the worst case scenarios innappropriate or just plain wierd. Don’t leave the reader thinking “Did I really need to know that this candidate reads tarot cards and belly dances?” Stick with relevant information that rounds out your candidacy, such as your affiliation with a professional or volunteer organization.
