Friday, November 29, 2019

Best Questions to Ask During an Inteview

Best Questions to Ask During an InteviewBest Questions to Ask During an InteviewOne of the most important questions asked at almost every job interview is, Do you have any questions for me?. You should always have questions prepared for when that subject comes up. Its notlage just about asking questions you have to ask the right questions. If you dont, it can seem like you are either unprepared or uninterested.You and the lokalittThese questions show the interviewer that you are prepared to aim for success if you are chosen for the role. It also gives you the opportunity to learn some things about the position that werent listed in the job description. Learning more about the position will give you an idea of what your daily routine will be like at the company. You will also get a better idea of the specific expectations and skills needed for the role. This will help you to decide whether you will be a good fit for the position.What are the expectations for the first week/month/year in this role?What is the typical career path for someone in this position?How do I compare to other candidates you have interviewed?Can you offer more information on the day to day responsibilities in this role?The interviewerAsking about the interviewer is an excellent way to build rapport. The person interviewing you may soon be a coworker or even your new boss. It helps to give you an inside look at the type of people you will be working with. This gives the interviewer a mglichkeit to talk a little bit about themselves. It will help you get an idea of what they are looking for. Asking about the interviewer will leave an impression on them when they go back through their list of applicants later.What is your favorite part about working for this company?What are some of the challenges/accomplishments that you have faced during your time here?How long have you been with the company?What made you decide to work for this company?The companyYou are working for a company, not just your boss. Asking questions about the company shows the interviewer that you are interested in the business and not just the job. It will give you an idea of where the company is headed down the road, the work culture and whether you can see a future for yourself at the company. Making sure you are a good fit for the organization and not just the job plays a significant part in your success down the road. If you dont like the companys culture or values, odds are you wont be a good fit.Can you tell me a little bit about the work culture at this company?What are the most significant challenges/opportunities the company is facing right now?What perks/benefits are offered by the company?Where do you see the company in 5 years?Whats next?These questions show that you are confident enough to bring up any weaknesses you may have openly. They allow you the chance to understand and address any concerns the interviewer may have about your performance or qualifications. They also show you are conf ident and prepared to proceed through the interview process.Do you have any additional questions for me?What are the next steps in the interview process?Do you have any concerns about my background or qualifications?When is the anticipated start date for this position?Most likely you will not ask all these questions during your interview. You should prepare at least two relevant questions to ask at every interview. Be careful not to ask questions that have already been answered or were openly available in the job description. Asking questions increases your chance of getting hired. It shows the interviewer that you came prepared and have a genuine interest in the role and the company.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Tips and Advice for Getting a Union Job

Tips and Advice for Getting a Union JobTips and Advice for Getting a Union JobAre you interested in working at a job where youll belong to a labor union? Unions are found in every industry, and manyunion jobs pay well. They strive to ensure higher wages, shorter work weeks, and safer work environments for their members. Joining a union gives members good wages and benefits, as well as some protection against arbitrary firing, so union positions are attractive to many workers. Benefits of Union Jobs Union workers in jobs comparable to those of non-union employees typically have better wages. For instance, according to the United StatesBureau of Labor Statistics(BLS), the zentralwert weekly income of a non-union worker was $860 in 2018 as compared to $1,051 for a union worker. Non-union workers earned only about 82% of the wages garnered by union employees. Thus, union workers earned an average of about $10,000 in increased wages over the course of a year, due to belonging to a uni on. In addition to coverage by a collective bargaining agreement, this earnings difference was influenced by other factorstoo. Greater distributions of union members than nonunion employees exist in some higher-paying areas within occupational, industry, age, firm size, and geographic region categories. For example, the overall average of workers represented by unions was 10.7%, but in protective services and education, the rate of union membership was 33.9% and 33.8%, respectively.Men, who traditionally receive higher compensation in this country, were mora likely to be members of unions (11.1% for men versus 9.9% for women). Union employees also have access to better benefits. In 2018, 94% ofunion workers had access to medical and retirement benefits, while only 66% of non-union employees had medical benefits.Medical debtis the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States, so healthcare benefits are a huge asset to employees. Non-union workers are usuallyat-will employees, meaning they can be fired for virtually any reason at all, as long as it is not based ondiscriminationregarding gender, race, or religion. If an employer decides they do not like your hair length or if you come in five minutes late, they have every right to fire you immediately. Union employees, however, have greater job security. To fire you, there must be alegitimate cause. There has to be evidence of actual misconduct or poor performance, and there is typically a process that takes place, including arbitration with union leaders. Union members also have strength in numbers. If conditionsare getting dangerous or hours are too long, they can work together to lobby company leadership without fear of retaliation. Common Occupations and Industries for Union Workers According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupations with the highest concentration of union workers include Protective service occupations 33.9%Education and library occupations 33.8%Construction and extraction occupations 17.1%Installation maintenance and repair occupations 15.1%Transportation occupations 14.5%Community and social service occupations 13.8%Production occupations 11.9%Healthcare practitioners 11.4% The industries with the largest number of union workers include the federal, state, and local government sectors, utilities, transportation, telecommunications, construction, educational services, motion pictures and sound recording, and manufacturing. There aremany different types of jobs available within each industry. Tips for Finding a Union Job Union jobs can be more difficult to find than other forms of work. When the economy worsens, more people seek union work for greater protection, particularly when layoffs become more common.Union workers have higher wages and more powerto influence company leadership than non-union workerstypicallydo. Because of unterstellung factors, competition to enter the unions can be stiff, so you often need to spend a good deal of time net working with union members to get hired. Apply Directly to Companies Affiliated with UnionsOne of the easiest ways to get a union job is to look for major employers and companies that work with unions already. You will typically find that information right on the company website or by inquiring with neighbors, family friends, members of your church group, and other contacts. Use Union-Specific Job BanksThere are also union-specific job banks. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a national trade union center and the largest federation of unions in the United States, posts union listings by industry on itswebsite. Visit the websites of otherunionsto find job postings or inquire about opportunities through union officials.Unionjobs.comis an excellent source for union jobs, including positions working directly with the administration of unions. Check Job BoardsMany union employers willpost job listings on other major job search sites, suc h as CareerBuilder, Indeed, or Monster. You can also attend labor council meetings in your county to meet union leaders and find out which companies are hiring. Research Apprenticeship ProgramsApprenticeship programsare common within skilled trades labor union occupations like plumbing, construction, carpentry, electrical, and pipe fitting, and are an excellent way to acquire training and gain access to union jobs.Search for apprenticeships in your state by using keywordssuchas, apprenticeships Illinois or apprenticeships New York. Contactunionsin your field and geographic area of interest and inquire about apprenticeship programs. TheUnited States Department of Laboroffers information about apprenticeship programs for union and non-union workers through its website. Get Some ExperienceIt will be easier to gain access to an apprenticeship or union job if you have some experience in your target field.Consider working as a laborer or assistant for a local non-union trade worker in con struction, plumbing or another area of interest to gain exposure, build some skills, and prove that you have a genuine interest in the field. Attending atrade school programis another way to get the basics youll need to get hired. How to Join a Union If youre employed by a company that is affiliated with a union, ask the human resources department at your employer or the national office of the union for the contact information for a local union representative. Research the dues and benefits for joining the union. Secure and complete the paperwork (or online documents) for joining the union and having your dues deducted from your paycheck. In construction and other trades where you might work for a union contractor, independently, or on a project basis, identify the local chapter of the union for your field.Meet with a representative to learn about dues and how the union will connect you to projects.Ask to speak with other local members if you have questions or doubts. You may ne ed to apply to be eligible to join the union. The union representative will explain the process to you. If youre accepted, complete the required membership documents, and youll be allset.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How LinkedIn Resume Builder Can Ruin Your Job Search

How LinkedIn Resume Builder Can Ruin Your Job Search How LinkedIn Resume Builder Can Ruin Your Job Search Im a big fan of LinkedIn and encourage all my clients to use it actively. Im even writing a guide on how to make the most of it as a job search tool. But not everything LinkedIn does is a good idea and the Resume Builder tool is a perfect example of this. It sounds great in theory create a LinkedIn profile and then transform it into a resume at the click of a button with no extra work. Who wouldnt want that? Heres the problem There are two things wrong with the idea1) Almost everybody has an ineffective LinkedIn profile to start with. If you translate that badly written, half-completed, impersonal and boring profile into a resume, guess what kind of resume you have.2) If your LinkedIn profile is written the way it should be, it wont translate into a good resume because the rules for LinkedIn are different from the rules for resumes. There are resume conventions that recruiters a nd hiring managers expect you to follow. For example, never using the word I and omitting a and the for clarity. They also expect (and need) your resume to show a story of career progression and accomplishment and to illustrate it with action-oriented bullet points describing your achievement. The language is expected to be professional and crisp if you sound too chatty, people will not think he seems like a nice guy they will think he seems like someone who doesnt know how to write a resume. Web Versus Print But LinkedIn is different because its a website and web communication needs to be fundamentally different from print communication. It needs to be more informal, more conversational and more concise. This is why so many geschftlicher umgang websites fail by the way. They make the mistake of speaking on the web exactly the way they speak in print. Its boring enough to read a corporate mission statement in a brochure, but post it online and you have a guaranteed cure for insomn ia When I write a LinkedIn profile for my clients, I dont write it in the third person. I use the word I liberally. My tone is conversational, and I include personal details and even humor when appropriate. My descriptions of each position are far more concise than on a resume (because people dont like to read long blocks of text on the web) and the profile headline is different from the resume headline. Why? Because the context is different. No Shortcuts If a business decided to create a website and then copy that website exactly to create a print advertisement, Id say they were nuts. Even if the website was excellent. The same is true of LinkedIns resume builder. I know were all in a hurry. I know we want quick and easy solutions. But the truth is that looking for a job is hard work and if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Bottom line, every font of communication is different and everyone needs to be tailored correctly for the medium and the audience. Theres no s hort cut to get around that fact.