You're Hired

JOB LISTINGS INSIDE Construction Manufacturing 23-32

HIRED!

YOU’RE

Labor

Finance 10-12

Ag Food Production 20-22

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TIPS FOR NAILING YOUR INTERVIEW

Questions

TO ASK Hospitality | 14

Community Growth | 16-19 Health Care | 34-40 Education | 2, 5-9

Energy Engineering 16

Tailor your

Resume

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Tailor Your

Resume

There it is! The perfect job opening.

To make sure your resume helps launch you into the interview and eventually the hiring phase, you must first tailor it to evoke the same type of enthusiasm from the hiring manager.

This requires a combination of common sense and strategic action.

Do Your Research When hiring managers read your resume, they want to feel your enthusiasm for their job opportunity.

One way you can stand out is by making it apparent that you researched the opening and the company’s background.

Research the company’s mission statement and key projects they have completed. Align this information with your own experiences and passions to convey why you are the perfect fit for the job.

Customizing Your Content

Resume

To make sure your resume makes it through the selection process, it’s important to use the right keywords.

You should always include an “Areas of Expertise” section. ” This is where you can load up your resume with 10 to 15 targeted keywords.

Don’t forget about your professional experience. It’s important to hit on some of these same keywords when detailing your career background.

Why is this so vital? Because once a hiring manager gets her hands on your resume, you want your experience section to back up your claims of expertise.

Continued on page 6

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Education

Education

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Outdated Sections The Objective Resumes used to start with objective statements.

And they all read something like this: “To secure a position that will further my professional opportunities.” That doesn’t cut it anymore. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for something — anything — that conveys why you are the perfect person for the job.

The References Another statement that does nothing more than take up valuable resume real estate: “References available upon request.” Recruiters and hiring managers assume that you’ll be able to produce three to five people who can validate your experience and key skills. That step generally happens after the employer has had a chance to bring you in for an interview.

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Education

Education

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Returning to school

Education

Going back to school can be an exciting time, but one that also comes with a bit of trepidation. Many things have changed with regard to academia in recent years, and extra time and help may be needed to make the transition back to student go smoothly.

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Schedule a campus visit Schedule a campus visit. Choosing a school is an important decision, and even though you might not be spending much time on campus, don't overlook the importance of a campus visit.

Figuring out layout of the campus, amenities and resources, will help alleviate a fish-out-of-water feeling the first day of class.

Secure financial aid Keep in mind that scholarships and other forms of financial aid are not exclusive to new students.

The number of undergrads continues to grow.

Brush up on school skills Start reading more to refresh your vocabulary and other language skills.

College involves critical thinking and reasoning, so explore free online courses or games that cover critical thinking skills. Refresh your memory on basic writing rules if essays and reports will be part of your curriculum. Honing your academic skills in advance of returning to school can help you start off on the right foot.

Education

Education

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The next step after graduation

Employment Graduation is an exciting time in the lives of students. After years in the classroom preparing for life after school, graduation marks a time when students are finally ready to enter the "real world" and land their first professional job.

Finance

As the economy continues to improve, job prospects follow suit. According to a job outlook from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers had plans to hire 8.3 percent more new college graduates in 2015 than in 2014. The growth of businesses and the rising rate of retiring Baby Boomers has spurred employment prospects.

Landing a job post-graduation requires diligence on the part of new grads, and the following are a handful of ways to make those pursuits more successful.

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Finance Hit the ground running.

It's tempting for recent grads to take the summer off and have a lax approach to job hunting after all of the hard work they put into their education. But recent grads can get a head start on their competition by beginning their searches immediately after earning their degrees.

Create a list of a few target companies you have your eye on, and then tap into your network to find a contact at each company and reach out to that contact directly.

Focus on a career path.

Prospective employers prefer that applicants have some certainty regarding the types of jobs they are looking for.

Take a career assessment test or work with a career counselor to narrow down the fields and positions that speak to you.

Don't rely entirely on the Internet.

Oftentimes, landing a good job requires reaching out to people in person. Standing out from the crowd may involve physically standing out. Attend conferences or speeches from people who work at the companies you're investigating. Don't be afraid to shake some hands and introduce yourself to others.

Finance

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Do your homework before an interview opportunity.

Always be prepared before an interview or when meeting with someone you are soliciting for job help. Research the company and know its background so you have an idea of how the company runs. Keep a list of questions at the ready.

A knowledge of the company can help you stand out from other applicants.

Think about what you can offer to prospective employers.

Finance

Narrow down your specific skills and customize your résumés or cover letters to the specific talents you can offer each potential employer. Use examples that illustrate these skills from past school courses, volunteerism or part-time jobs. Your "quirks," like being the most punctual person in your group of friends, may turn out to be the skill an employer admires the most. Consider developing a career portfolio that highlights your past achievements.

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Finance

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Hospitality 14

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Energy | Engineering | Community Growth

For information about advertising in You’re Hired!, call today!

605.692.6271 • 800.568.5032

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Community Growth

Community Growth

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Hired

You’re

Ag | Food Production

Ag | Food Production

Ag | Food Production

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Tell a

Story

The cover letter is not just a formality of the job search.

Ag | Food Production

It is your chance to make a strong first impression and inject a little personality into your career documents.

Hiring managers still read cover letters as a way of differentiating between candidates with similar work histories.

It’s up to you to make sure your cover letter content is more powerful that the ordinary, boilerplate material that so many candidates are presenting to hiring managers today, and it all starts with a story.

Telling your professional and personal story in a concise way can be a challenge. If you can pull it off, you’re guaranteed to catch the attention of your potential new management team in no time.

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Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

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Show Some Personality Your Story

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

“I am writing to apply for the open sales position.” Boring.

That’s a general lead-in on a large number of cover letters currently circulating throughout the job market.

If you’re looking to have a puncher’s chance against your competition, your cover letter content must tell your story in an engaging, memorable way. You want hiring managers to put down your letter thinking: “Great introduction. I’m definitely setting up an interview.”

Start your cover letter with a snappy introduction. For example, “My name is Kate, and I’m looking for a change.” Then proceed to explain why your skill set, current career focus and the company’s job announcement are in alignment. Relate your story to what the company is looking for, both in terms of professional skills and personality.

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Hiring managers are looking for some spunk and spark from their candidates, especially if they are sifting through hundreds of cover letters for one opening. The way you can make yourself stand out is by finding the balance between personal and professional.

Give insights into what drives you to do the work you do. What drew you to the open position?

How does your story overlap with what the company is trying to achieve in the community?

Hiring managers want to know what kind of personality they are getting when they hire you. Research the company’s core corporate values and tie them together with your own.

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

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Your Personal

Brand

Marketing yourself in today’s competitive job market requires more than a polished resume and fancy outfit. It takes the ability to represent yourself as a must-have commodity and true difference-maker.

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

How can you achieve this goal?

It’s all about your personal brand. Everyone has one, but it takes some people longer than others to realize what truly comprises their signature skill set, achievements and potential. Let’s take a look at the key components of a strong personal brand.

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Labor | Construction | Manufacturing Social Media Presence Yes, social media is for fun. That doesn’t mean it is off limits to hiring managers and recruiters.

Many in the hiring field will check a candidate’s social media profiles before calling them in for an interview.

That’s why it’s paramount to your career success to keep a clean image on all social media platforms. This includes Facebook and Twitter, even though they are less professional-focused than LinkedIn. Refrain from posting photos that put you in a compromising light. Remember, the future of your career might depend on it.

Headshot Speaking of social media, you have mere seconds to make a solid first impression with your profile photos. While most career-driven people understand the importance of business professional attire in-person, far too many fail to exude that same professionalism online. Instead of uploading a photo of you in a wedding dress or at a concert, opt for more professional options.

If you want to be treated like a professional, you must look like a professional Invest in a headshot that presents you as serious about your career.

Coordinate with a local photographer for his services and ask him to optimize the size of the photo for social media.

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

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Stay Focused

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

The more specifically you define who you are and what you do, the better chance you'll have of selling yourself. It's counter-intuitive because so many people think that if they define themselves broadly, they'll have more options. In fact, the opposite occurs. If you come across as a Jack or Jill of All Trades, you will confuse people.

People will wonder how good you are at any one thing if you say you are good at so many.

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Cohesive Documentation You want your “packaging” to be cohesive and consistent. This includes your resume, cover letter and additional documents.

Your documentation should carry consistent formatting and appearance. Doing so helps hiring managers easily organize and read through your application materials. It also shows them you understand the importance professional brand.

Take Charge Your personal brand needs periodic upkeep.

What worked for your positioning last year may not work this year. The world is dynamic, and you want to stay abreast of new opportunities. If your capabilities or accomplishments seem out of step with the current marketplace and with your competitors, it may be time to revisit, reinvent or update your brand.

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

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Job

Etiquette Well-mannered job-seekers gain the edge in job-hunting because proper job-hunting etiquette wins the hearts and minds of hiring managers.

Punctual

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

One of the biggest etiquette mistakes a job-seeker can make is arriving late.

• Always know the route you’re going to take • Build in extra time for getting lost, street closures, and accidents.

• When the interviews are done, say your thank-yous and leave

Polite Showcase your inner strengths by • Patiently waiting your turn to speak • Shake hands • Address the each person by his or her title (Dr., Ms., Mr.) and last name • Turn off your phone

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Upbeat A positive attitude — can go a long way to making a lasting and positive impression.

• Enthusiasm • Good posture • Strong eye contact

Appreciation The simple act of writing a short thank-you note can literally be the deciding factor in receiving the job offer.

• Draft a brief, half-page thank you document that mentions specific interaction with your interviewers.

• Copy, paste and send your “thank you note” in the body of an email to your main contact.

• Avoid any further follow-up, as you don’t want to be considered an inconvenience.

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

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Ask Questions One of the best ways to make a memorable impression on your potential employers is by flipping the script and asking a few questions yourself. Doing so shows that you researched the company, have a genuine interest in its mission.

Questions to Ask & When

Labor | Construction | Manufacturing

The timing of your questions can be just as important as what you ask. Try to let the hiring managers control the flow of the first third of the interview.

Once a tone is set for the interview, feel free to throw in a few questions of your own. If there is a natural transition into a question you would like to ask, jump in. This is a great way of turning the traditional, stale interview into a more collaborative process.

How to Frame Your Questions

Start your questions with these statements: • In researching a few articles on your company ...

• Your website has details on (insert project X) ...

• One particular part of your job description really caught my attention ...

Kicking off your questions with these types of introductory statements shows hiring managers that you took the time to look into the company and its key initiatives.

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Interview Skills

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Health Care 34

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Health Care

Health Care

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Health Care 36

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Health Care

Health Care

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Health Care 38

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Health Care 40

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