INSIGHTs & INTUITION

What advice would you give to online applicants to make sure their job applications get read?

n Note the skills listed in the job description, and highlight those same skills in your resume. Write a unique cover letter that explains why you’re a great fit for the position.

n Craft for skimming! Make sure your most relevant bullets are first, and ensure your formatting is logical and easy to read.

n Discuss your key accomplishments for each position rather than just day-to-day tasks. Quantify results as much as you can.

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES ARVIG PERHAM, MINN.

Keep it short and impactful! Use key words that match the job listing. Many employers use systems that sift applications and resumes based on key words. If yours doesn’t have enough of them, it may never be seen by the human eye.

Bullet point strengths and experience; list up to seven strengths and 15 main types of experience using action verbs. List all work history with company, dates of employment, and title.

Tailor your resume to the opening. It’s OK to expand on your relevant experience while leaving out irrelevant experience. Make it easy to recognize within 3 minutes that you are qualified!

n Use your network! Know someone at the company? Let them know you’re applying, and ask them to refer you. This gets your resume in front of a recruiter again.

When I review resumes, I look for keywords or phrases that key me into the candidate’s experience. For example, if I were looking for a Project Manager position, I might look for things such as “KPIs” (key performance indicators), “budgeting” and “stakeholder review.” n Check your spam and junk mail, and make sure you received an automated response from the application process – meaning the system did receive your application. n Wait 2 to 3 days, and then call HR about your application. These days, very few people actually call and follow up on their application. n Many companies have an online assessment process. When a candidate fills out the assessment, it tells the company that the candidate is serious about the opening. Even though hiring competition is fierce, we still rely on our established processes to choose the best candidates. Only 17 percent of our applications make it to the interview process. n Read the job posting thoroughly. Are you truly qualified for the position? If you are, use the same terminology in your application that was used in the posting. This will make it easy for the person reviewing your information to see that you’re qualified. n Quantify your success. For example, instead of saying, “Top salesperson for three years running,” say, “Grew territory by 25 percent for three consecutive years, leading to top salesperson award all three years.” n Finally, read ALL the instructions and follow them carefully. You don’t want to be knocked out of consideration for an incomplete application.

I also look at previous experience and the success the candidate had at previous employers, meeting goals and improving the process counts, as these show how the candidate can drive change and help the company succeed.

My advice for online applicants to make sure their application gets read would be to pay attention to every detail. Addressing your cover letter to the right company, writing on your resume the correct position that you are applying for, and proofreading before submitting are all important.

In addition, don’t forget to include everything that is being asked of you.

Per Capita Personal Income

Source: Bureau of Economic Graph Source: MinneapolisFed.org

Grand Forks: 2.6% Percent Change from Previous Year 20% 10% Q4-2012 Q2-2013 Q42013 Q2-2014 Q4-2014 Q2-2015 Q4-2015 Q2-2016 Q4-2016 Q2-2017 Q4-2017 via Haver Analytics Updated April 20, 2018 Bismarck: 2.3% Rapid City: 3.0%

0% -10%

Analysis via Haver Analytics Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Real GDP

February Fargo: 2.1% Sioux Falls: 2.4% Lincoln: 2.6%

Minnesota Montana North Dakota South Dakota Wisconsin United States Percent Change from Previous Year 20% 10% Q4-2012 Q2-2013 Q4-2013 Q2-2014 Q4-2014 Q2-2015 Q4-2015 Q2-2016 Q4-2016 Q2-2017 Q4-2017

Minneapolis/ St. Paul: 2.3% Rochester: 2.1% Cedar Rapids: 2.4% Omaha: 2.8% Des Moines: 2.1%

2016 Public School Spending Per Student By State

0% -10%

STATE TOTAL/PUPIL SPENDING RANK STATE TOTAL/PUPIL SPENDING RANK New York $22,3661 United States $11,762 AVG. Dist. of Columbia $19,1592 South Dakota$9,176 41 Connecticut $18,9583 Mississippi $8,702 47 New Jersey$18,4024 Oklahoma $8,097 48 Vermont$17,873 5 Arizona $7,613 49 North Dakota $13,373 16 Idaho $7,157 50 Minnesota $12,382 18 Utah $6,95351 United States $11,762 AVG.

Population trends In Minnesota,North Dakota, & South Dakota

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Fred.StLouisFed.org

Resident Population in South Dakota Resident Population in Minnesota Resident Population in North Dakota

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

6,000 Thousands of Persons

1,000

Minnesota Montana North Dakota South Dakota Wisconsin United States 1920194019601980 0 2000

This graph from FRED, the economic data arm of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, tracks the populations of the three states in Prairie Business’ circulation area – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota – from 1900 to the present. The shaded areas on the graph indicate U.S. recessions.

October 5th is

October 5th is

October 5th is

General Steel & Supply Company is the manufacturing division of Fisher Industries. We have been designing and fabricating high-quality aggregate processing equipment in southwest North Dakota for over 50 years. Our equipment pieces are being used by numerous companies all over the world.

General Steel & Supply Company is the manufacturing division of Fisher Industries. We have been designing and fabricating high-quality aggregate processing equipment in southwest North Dakota for over 50 years. Our equipment pieces are being used by numerous companies all over the world.

We strongly believe in inspiring the next generation of manufacturers, which we do by providing hands-on tours of our shops to area students, donating materials to local welding programs, and sponsoring manufacturing day events. Learn more about us at www.fisherind.com.

We strongly believe in inspiring the next generation of manufacturers, which we do by providing hands-on tours of our shops to area students, donating materials to local welding programs, and sponsoring manufacturing day events. Learn more about us at www.fisherind.com.

We strongly believe in inspiring the next generation of manufacturers, which we do by providing hands-on tours of our shops to area students, donating materials to local welding programs, and sponsoring manufacturing day events. Learn more about us at www.fisherind.com.

General Steel & Supply Company is the manufacturing division of Industries. We ing and fabricating high-quality aggregate processing equipment in southwest North Dakota for over 50 years. equipment pieces are by numerous companies all over the world. in inspiring of manufacturers, which we do by providing hands-on tours of our shops to area students, donating materials and sponsoring manufacturing events. Learn more about us at www.fisherind.com.

$77k+

$77k+

Manufacturing Supports more than U.S. Jobs! $18.5 Million $1.00 spent in manufacturing creates $1.40 for the U.S. economy

$1.00 = $1.40

$1.00 = $1.40 Annual average salary of $77k+

Manufacturing Supports more than U.S. Jobs! $18.5 Million $1.00 spent in manufacturing creates $1.40 for the U.S. economy

$1.00 = $1.40

$1.00 = $1.40

Annual average salary of manufacturing workers in the U.S. (800) 932-8740 | www.fisherind.com | 3020 Energy Drive - Dickinson, ND 58601

Manufacturing Supports more than U.S. Jobs! $18.5 Million $1.00 spent in manufacturing creates $1.40 for the U.S. economy

Annual average salary of manufacturing workers in the U.S. (800) 932-8740 | www.fisherind.com | 3020 Energy Drive - Dickinson, ND 58601

5th Supports than U.S. Jobs! $18.5 Million $1.00 spent in manufacturing creates $1.40 U.S. (800) 932-8740 | www.fisherind.com | 3020 Energy Drive - Dickinson, ND 58601