Tips for Applicants
Just because you’ll make a great employee for your next company doesn’t mean you are great at seeking out and landing new opportunities. Below you will find some general information to assist you in your job search.
Your Resume
Your resume is a vital marketing tool for your job search. PROTECT IT! Always be cognizant of where you send your resume and where someone else may be sending it for you. If you are posting your resume online, leave your personal information off of it. Or, perhaps you can use an alias on your posted resume. This way, if you get a call for “Anita Jobbs,” you will know immediately what the person on the other end is calling about, and you can act accordingly.
Here at Bluespeed, we READ resumes. We don’t write them. However, here are a few links that can help you to construct a resume that will get you interviewed:
http://www.damngood.com/jobseekers/tips.html
http://www.jobseekersadvice.com/cv_advice/articles/recruiter_cv_peeves.htm
Interviewing
The interview is the time for you to tell the story behind the accomplishments on your resume. One thing to keep in mind: if a particular story takes more than 90 seconds to tell, it is TOO long. Be concise with your answers and ask, “Would you like me to elaborate on that?” if necessary. Equally important, bring some questions of your own to the interview. We have found that, as much as anything else, candidates get hired based on the questions that they ASK, as well as the answers that they GIVE.
Here are a few articles we recommend you peruse as you engage in the interview process:
Ten Common Interviewing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 
Handling Multiple Interviewers
The following site is a great reference for all types of interviews:
Networking
Networking can be a great way to land that next ideal role, but do be cautious. Do not allow friends or industry colleagues to forward your resume anywhere except their current place of employment. As mentioned above, you need to be fully aware of who sees your resume. Friends with the very best of intentions can jeopardize your chances of getting the right job by putting your resume in the wrong hands.
A great networking site:
Resigning
Resigning from your current place of employment can be difficult. Then again, it may be a jubilant experience. Either way, resigning must be done properly. No matter how badly you may want to jump on to your desk singing an old David Allen Coe tune, “Take This Job and Shove It“, it is best to leave with dignity and with all bridges unscorched. Bill Radin offers up some great advice in his column, “The Proper Way to Resign.” Here is the link:
http://www.radinassociates.com/resignation-proper.htm
Counter Offers
They may stroke your ego, but history has shown that accepting counteroffers can be detrimental to your career. Plain and simple, a well-managed company does not make counteroffers. If your current company had really valued you in the first place, they would have let you know before you gave notice. Some more comments on counteroffers can be found here:
