C James Writing

Recommendation Letter

2012-03-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

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Question to C James Writing: I am looking for another job. Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

Cynthia with C James Writing: I'm not sure if you want your manager to know that you're job-hunting, but if you don't really care, ask him/her for a letter of recommendation. If you don't want your manager to know, you can get a letter of recommendation from a previous manager or supervisor. To get things moving quicker, you can write the letter of recommendation (or hire someone like myself). Once the letter is written, then you ask the previous manager or supervisor to sign it.

If you have a job-related question, email info@cjameswriting.com. Remember to "Like" C James Writing on Facebook and win an opportunity for a FREE resume and cover letter. Value up to $199.00 If you are the winner, I will allow you to transfer your prize to someone else. Contest begins March 2 and ends midnight (EST) on March 31, 2012.

30-Second Resume Check-Up For Teachers

2011-10-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

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Thirty-seconds or less is the average time a recruiter or a hiring manager spends in reviewing your resume. Thirty seconds seem like an hour when you have hundreds of resumes to review. On the other hand, if you are a teacher, an hour seems like thirty seconds when you have scores of test papers to grade by the next morning.

Unlike most check-ups, my 30-second resume check-up questions for teachers will not be painful, but it will be enlightening. Let’s get started:

1)Does your resume include your latest certification or major project?
2)Does your resume stand out by including that recent “praise” comment from a parent, colleague or supervisor?
3)Can a hiring manager clearly identify your areas of expertise or knowledge by the keywords used on your resume?
4) Does your resume focus on your accomplishments and not on your job description?
5) Is there any past accomplishment/job that is no longer relevant to your current position or your career goals on your resume?

If you answered yes to any of the questions, it doesn’t mean that your resume has failed the test. It does mean that you, I or another professional resume writer needs to update your resume. With the ever-growing changing in the teaching profession, it is important to keep an updated resume to remain competitive in the job market. Visit me at www.cjameswriting.com

What to take to your interview?

2011-05-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Dan Eliott ,one of our blog readers, provided these 3 important interview tips:

1-Always carry a copy of your resume with you when you go for the interview.

The interviewer may refer to something on your resume and in case you do not remember what you wrote, you can always use this copy as a reference.

2-Always have a copy of the application which you had filled out so that you can use that also as a reference.

3-Do your homework on the company before you go for the interview. Find out as much as possible about the company. You can visit their website, talk to their current as well as former employees. Read anything that you can find about the company.

I appreciate the tips from Dan. Have you been on an interview recently? What will you do differently on your next interview or were you pleased with how well you the interview went?

Recent College Graduates Want Job Search Success? Avoid these!

2011-04-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

There is not an upcoming college graduate who hasn’t had some anxiety about his/her professional future. The graduates wonder whether they will get a job within the next 3 months. They wonder whether they will like the job. They wonder whether they will be able to pay back their student loans.

Combine all of this with the stress that takes place in the body when there is a major life event, such as college graduation, it’s a wonder that any graduate survives the last few days of college with his/her sanity in tact.

As a job/interview coach with C James Writing and former corporate recruiter, I suggest avoiding these three things if you want to stay positive in your job search:

1-Job Reports

Whether it is on Twitter, Facebook or on your grandma’s television, the message begins “The report is (fill in the blank with your favorite adjective) news for those looking for jobs.” Like the weather in my beloved state of South Carolina, these reports can change in a minute. Don’t allow your job-seeking stride to be broken by what the reports say.

2-Message Board/Forums

Job message board and forums are presented as a place to provide support or enact with your peers. Too often, they are nothing but venting boards. I know it can be frustrating after you’ve gone on countless interviews and you still don’t have a job offer. You want to vent. Fine, take a minute to vent.

After you’ve vented, you need to contact a good interview coach such as myself to help you with your interviewing skills. The problem is obviously NOT your resume. Your resume is doing what it is supposed to do: getting you in the door for an interview.

3-Prolong negative job conversations

All new graduates run into unwanted advice about everything from what they should have majored in as an undergraduate to where they should have gone to college.

Recent college graduates will run into people who applaud them for graduating from college to people who tell them outright that their college degree means nothing in today’s job market.

Unfortunately, there are many people, including “the experts”, who thrive on delivering negative information. The key is not in what others say but in how you (the recent college graduate) react and believe the message they are saying. Like a soldier who puts on his/her physical attire for combat you must put on your mental gear when you begin your job search to protect negativity from penetrating your spirits.

Interviewing Tips: Look, Dress and Speak the Part

2011-03-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

While God looks at the heart, people judge by appearance. Your clothes and your overall grooming will play a major role in the interviewer's consideration of you for the job. This does not mean that you have to wear the most expensive outfit, just dress appropriately compatible with others in your profession.

The way you dress for the interview depends upon the position you are seeking. If you are seeking a position as a construction worker, do not wear a suit. Likewise, if you are seeking a position as an office manager, don't dress like a construction worker.

A general rule of thumb is to avoid wearing any clothing that is too short, too tight or too revealing. Don't wear any outfit that your boyfriend or husband told you makes you look "sexy." In the business world, many companies fear applicants who dress "sexy" will create disruptions or even worst will land them in legal trouble due to sexual harassment suits.

Men, like women, must be careful of clothing worn. What may look fashionable to your buddies, girlfriend or wife may look foolish or unprofessional to the interviewer.

It is important that women and men exercise good basic grooming habits. Avoid wearing strong fragrances. Hair and nail should be neat. Remember the same basic grooming tips you were taught as a child still applies.

Keep thinking positive on the job hunt and if you need individual interview coaching, visit www.cjameswriting.com

Job Seeker: Remember What Your Mama Taught You

2011-03-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

This job tip is one that your mama, grandparent or teacher taught you when you were “knee-high to a grasshopper.” This job tip is as relevant and as overlooked today as it was years ago when I presented it to my readers and workshop participants.

What is the tip? The tip is to say “thank you” when someone gives you something you want or does something for you. This job tip sets you apart from the other job-seeking competitors.

As a corporate recruiter, there were countless applicants who called me almost daily to express their interest in a specific job. Others sent letters outlining their qualifications and requesting interviews.

Once the qualified applicants received an interview, I did not hear from many of the enthusiastic applicants again. The ones who followed up their interview with thank-you calls, cards, or letters stood out from crowd.

Unfortunately, this is still the case on today. Employers receive triple as many letters requesting interviews as they receive thank-you letters, cards or calls. They take notice of applicants who send them.

Your card, call or letter will be especially helpful to you if the employer is trying to decide between you and another candidate. Your card shows that you appreciated the interviewer’s time. And who doesn’t like to hear the words “thank you”?

Before you write a thank you letter, card or email, obtain the spelling of the interviewer’s name, regardless of how the simple the name may seem. There are names that may be spelled differently. For example, John Smith could also be spelled John Smyth.

If you are interviewed by more than one person, send a separate correspondence to each person. You may want to include a sentence or two about what each person told you about the job that you found appealing.

If you are interviewed by a panel or group, address the letter of thanks to the person responsible for setting up the committee interview.

Even before you leave the interview, remember to say the words mama taught you, “thank you.”
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Over 30 with an outdated resume? Time for a grown-up resume

2010-12-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

I don’t think there is a person alive who doesn’t look back at one or more event in high school or college with fond memories. Maybe, you won homecoming queen or lettered in football during high school. In college, you won president of your class or club. Your high school and college accomplishments are impressive and worth remembering. Therefore, you’re listed them on your resume. Wrong move. It’s time to “clean house” or update your resume, especially if you are a working professional over 30.

You may sincerely believe that specific college accomplishments played a major role in contributing to the professional you are today. If you strongly feel this way, then I would encourage you to mention the specific accomplishments during the interview and their relevancy to your current profession. However, leave it off the resume.

If you are over 30 and your last noteworthy accomplishment on your resume was in high school or college, a potential employer will view this as lack of motivation or initiative on your part. You are stuck and still reminiscing about your glory days. No one wants an employee whose best days are behind him or her. Employers want someone who can bring something to the table and who can continue contributing. Look at your resume from a potential employer’s viewpoint. Is it still relevant that you took a course on computer terminology fifteen years ago? More than likely you have played a recent role, regardless of how small, on one of your company’s projects. Listing collecting toys last Christmas for a local children’s charity is much better than listing how you collected money to save the polar bears when you were in college.

Also, look at your references. I advise my resume clients not to send references unless requested. If your references are requested, check your references before you sending to a potential employer. Is it time to update the email, telephone numbers or addresses of your references? How about deleting contacts you haven’t spoken with in a while? Unless you still keep in contact with your favorite professor or teacher, don’t list him/her as a reference. Because teachers and professors interact with hundreds of students, it is easy for them to forget names or faces that they haven’t interacted with in couple of years.

Remember being little and wanting to go to “real” school and then wanting to go to middle school and wanting more than anything to be in high school? When you finished college and got your first job, you knew you were an “adult.” You could hang with the grown folks! At each stage, there were things you had to let go to get to the next improved stage. Take your resume to the stage to reflect where you are professionally. Get a grown-up resume!

Interview Preparation: A Corporate Recruiter's View

2010-12-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

I've looked at your resume and hundreds of others for this position.

Most of the candidates who submitted their resumes weren't qualified or as we say in the world of recruiting "not a good fit."

I like the way your resume and cover letter are written. Your years of experience and education are well presented. Either you are a good resume writer or you chose a good writer. I am selecting you and a few others to screen for a telephone interview.

The hiring manager is calling or coming down to my office on a daily basis to see if I have found any candidates that meet the vacant job criteria. The hiring manager seems to think that this job is the only one I have to fill in the whole company!

I call you to conduct a brief pre-screening interview. You did okay. I didn't expect you to do well. After all, you weren't prepared for my call.

You come in for the scheduled interview with me. You're a little nervous.

You see me and wonder why you were nervous. I have one of the nicest smiles you've seen on a recruiter in a long time and my professional demeanor is non-threatening and even friendly.

I begin the interview. You answer the questions. I make you feel so relaxed that you almost feel like you're talking to someone you've known a long time.

After a few more questions, I end the interview.

I shake your hand while saying, "I have a few more candidates to interview before deciding who comes back for the second interviews with the hiring manager. I've enjoyed meeting you. Thanks for coming in. You will be hearing from us."

You tell those close to you how feel good about this interview. One week later, you get a rejection letter from me on behalf of the company.

You feel awful. You thought you aced the interview. What happened?

The possibilities are endless on what could have happened in this scenario to prevent you from getting the job. However, as a former Corporate Recruiter who gets frequent calls to perform contract recruiting for major companies and owner of an interview preparation service, I can share with you two of the most common mistakes experienced and new job seekers make.
The first is they let their guard down by talking to the interviewer like a friend or buddy. While most recruiters are friendly and personable and would really like for you to be a fit for the job because they have several others to fill, they are not your friend.

Your friend may find it humorous that you cite examples why you considered your boss a pain in the rear end. Even if your recruiter laughs at your comments about your boss during the interview, such open display of negativism may rule you out as a contender for a prospective job.

The second common mistake is lack of real interview preparation. You may have prepared yourself by knowing about the job description or the products and services of a company but how do you come across when you state these facts. Do you sound as if you are reciting memorized facts?

Good interviewing skills can be achieved with practice and patience. Consider not only investing in a good resume writer but investing in the services of a good interview preparation coach or specialist as well. It’s worth the time and can mean the difference between whether a recruiter grants you a second interview or a polite rejection. And above all else, stay positive in the job hunt!