By JoAnne Williams J Williams Staffing

New-home salespeople seeking to get back in the market should start preparing their job search because private sector employment is beginning to show signs of improvement.

But don’t take my word for it. Anyone looking for a sign or indicator of job growth should examine the recent trend in overtime statistics. Overtime has been on the rise.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, factory workers put in 4.2 hours of overtime on average in February, the highest level since July 2007. February also marked the fifth straight month the number of people working part-time declined.

This is good news for the unemployed and underemployed because it means that major corporations, rather than continue to pay their current workforce more overtime for their growing workload, will begin to add jobs instead.

So, as new jobs slowly are being created, are you fully prepared? Do you have everything you need to present yourself in a professional manner for the job you want?

Being prepared means taking a fresh look at the three fundamental tools of your job hunt — your resume, interview preparation and interview skills.

Investing the time to develop a resume that properly represents you and to prepare for job interviews is critical. There are volumes of material on resume writing and interviewing tips. There also are several excellent online resources that can assist you.

Resume Writing Tips

Following are several tips — and new thoughts — on writing resumes that might surprise you. Do your own research and invest the time prior to responding to an interview appointment.

• Create a professional, balanced and well-organized format.
  Use spell check and choose one easy-to-read font. Decide if your background is best displayed in a chronological format or a functional format.
  
  
• Never, ever lie — you will be exposed if you do.
  Some candidates tend to stretch the truth regarding their experience and abilities, but these holes will be quickly exposed when a hiring manager asks the right questions. Do not exaggerate job skills, credentials, your GPA, past salary, job performance and job responsibilities.
  
  
• Replace your objective with a value proposition.
  What do you bring to the table? What do you have to offer specific to this job/company/growth?
  
  Consider the following example: “The core competencies I bring to this position include strong networking, speaking and training skills, which can help position your company with a competitive advantage and assist you in maximizing revenue and achieving aggressive goals in the coming year.”
  
  
• Do not just list tasks following your prior employer information.
  Write about your achievements versus your tasks. If some past job responsibilities are outdated in today’s market, omit them.
  
  
• If you have managed staff or a project with a budget, note how many staff and what size budget.
  
  
• List your outstanding performance against corporate goals.
  
  
• Do not include hobbies or interests.
  
  
• Don’t be shy about awards and recognition.
  
  
• Include “References Available Upon Request.”
  The hiring manager will assume you have references and ask for them. Have a copy of this information with you.

Interview Preparation

Being well prepared and confident will definitely set you apart. People sense waffling. They also respond positively to confidence. The biggest mistake job seekers make is failing to prepare for their interview. They simply show up and hope they’ll be liked.

• Make a plan
  • Learn about the company and position.
  • Check out the website.
  • Check pronunciation and spelling of the interviewer’s name.
  • Select conservative attire.
  • Map your route and allow for traffic.
  • Have a file ready with clean copies of your resume (bring three), your references, any letters of recommendation, a note pad for taking notes and any web page print-outs regarding the company.
    
    
• Prepare concise answers to at least a few key questions:
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Discuss why you find the position/company attractive.
  • Discuss why you are uniquely qualified and should be hired.
  • Use the PAR approach — Problem/Approach/Resolution — when discussing previous work experience. For example: “In my previous position, we were challenged to quantify the effectiveness of our sales calls. I developed a spreadsheet that prioritized the calls and included a follow-up tracking plan that we used to measure the final results of our efforts as a team but also illustrated the length of the typical sales process so projections became more accurate.”
  • Discuss what you learned from your last position or company, and why you left.

Interview Tips to Make a Great First Impression

A well-cited study by the University of California at Los Angeles revealed that body language accounted for 55% of an individual’s likability. This was supported by an article on Forbes.com, which indicated that body language comprises as much as 70% to 90% of human communication.

With that in mind, don’t overlook its importance, especially during the first few seconds or minutes that you are being evaluated.

• Arrive 10 minutes early and be friendly to everyone.
  
  
• Turn off the cellphone or leave it in the car.
  
  
• Watch your non-verbal communication.
  • Shake hands firmly.
  • Don’t fidget or slouch.
  • Make good eye contact.
  • Talk with your hands (if that’s natural for you), but not to the point of distraction.
  • Smile warmly and often.
    
    
• Keep in mind what the employer is looking for rather than what you want in a job.
  Ask clarifying questions about the basics and expectations of the job. For example, ask, “How would you describe a super star in your organization?” Then listen and learn what the organization needs and believes is most important.
  
  
• Be aware of the hiring manager’s communication style. Focus on the needs of the people within the organization when formulating your interview answers.

Video Job Interviews

Video job interviews are becoming more commonplace as corporations cut costs and trim travel budgets.

Video interviews are also used as a pre-screening tool for higher level positions, with the tapes being distributed for wider evaluation. After that, the top executive candidates will be selected and invited for a personal interview.

To prepare for video interviews:

• Email or mail all pertinent materials that you wish the interviewer to see well before the interview. Ask them how they would prefer to receive it.
  
  
• Connect and run a technical test to the website — if you experience difficulties, you will have time to ask questions prior to the video interview date and time.
  
  
• Prepare for the interview much the same as a face-to-face interview, including dressing the part. And don’t forget to wear shoes.
  
  
• Clear your surroundings of all extraneous noise and distractions and make sure no other family members are present during the interview. A hiring manager will not appreciate barking dogs or screaming children disrupting the interview.

Yes, the job market is tight and the competition is tough. But being prepared will give you confidence and help you relax, at least a little, when you interview for a job.

Above all, be yourself during the interview. Don’t be nervous, cocky or subdued. Instead, be confident and prepared — with a well-written resume and positive energy.

JoAnne Williams, CCRM, MCSP, is the founder, president and CEO of J Williams Staffing, a multi-award winning staffing, recruitment and placement firm servicing the new-home and residential leasing industries. Her company provides services in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas, with offices opening soon in Colorado. Williams and her executive staff frequently counsel sales managers on staffing plan options and alternative compensation programs, and during the most recent housing downturn, they were frequent speakers at various local association offices. For more information, email Williams, or call 949250-1923.

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