The Day of the Job Interview

There is no doubt that the job market is very tight. When you get asked to interview, here are some things NOT TO DO. Many people make these common mistakes, and don't realize how bad of an impression this sets on the hiring manager. Don't do these simple things, and you could have multiple offers from hiring managers!

1. Don’t Be Late To the Interview
If you are early you are on time. If you are on time, you are late. If you are late, you are fired.
There really is no good excuse for being late to an interview. The hiring managers hear the same excuses all the time. If you have to, leave an hour early, and sit in your car for an hour and answer e-mails or phone calls. Also, never make the mistake of scheduling your interview where you will have just enough time between meetings or events to get there and get back to your current job.

2. Don’t Show Up Unprepared
Walking into a company and knowing nothing about the company looks very bad. The hiring manager will be able to tell if you have no idea about the position you are interviewing for. You should at least know what the company does. Take a few minutes to Google the company and read their about us and mission statement.

3. Don’t Ask About Salary, Benefits, Perks
When you have an offer, you should ask about these things. Make sure you have all the details nailed down before you sign on the dotted line, but never ask about these things on the first interview.

4. Don’t Focus On Future Roles Instead Of The Job At Hand
Although it would not hurt to show interest in future positions, do not come into the job with the attitude that this job is just a job that will help you increase your dollars somewhere else in the near future.

5. Don’t Turn The Weakness Question Into A Positive
When interviewers ask you about a weakness and you say you work too hard or you are too much of a perfectionist, chances are they are more apt to roll their eyes than be blown away. Instead, be honest and come up with a weakness that can be improved on and won’t ruin your chances of getting a job.
For instance, if you are interviewing for a project management position, it wouldn’t be wise to say you have poor organizational skills, but it’s ok to say you want to learn more shortcuts in Excel. Basically, take something you are not great at, and show how you are getting better, or how you plan to get better at this weakness.

6. Don’t Lie
Believe it or not, hiring managers call your references. Do not tell them you have skills from a job that you simply did not acquire. Be honest, because this will only help you in the long run.

7. Don’t Ask If There’s Any Reason You Shouldn’t Be Hired
Never give an employer a reason to think badly of you more than they already may have after the interview. Leave a good last impression. If you get a call saying you were denied the job, then ask why, simply for the reason that you want to improve in the future.

Some material from- http://www.businessinsider.com/7-things-you-should-never-do-on-an-interview-2012-4

New Facebook Job Search Applications

Here at Worlco, we are always looking for the next breakthrough in job advertising and job search. Everyone knows there are an abundance of Facebook applications, but here are a few that may be worth mentioning:

Branch Out: Much like LinkedIn, Branch Out allows you to create a personal profile with your job experience and professional skills. Branch Out is free, and also allows you to search for jobs. From a professional perspective, the major benefit of Branch out is that you can perform job searches as a candidate or add your resume to a pool of resumes that will then generate jobs recommended for you based on your work experience. Although Branch Out is fairly new, it does seem that many employers have posted jobs on the site. That's good news for the candidate, because reputable employers are at least trying this application out!

Work For Us: Work For Us is a page that companies can use to advertise the positions they have open on Facebook. The company can download the application and post as many jobs as they want. The jobs will show up in one of the tabs, usually the last tab, for the company. Currently, companies can try Work For Us for 30 days free! Worlco is currently undergoing the free trial. Work For Us currently has over 7,000 users.

These two new job search opportunities could be the next big hit in job searching! If you are interested in advancing your career in anyway, it may be worth checking them out.

Worlco is looking into these new job search opportunities. Check out our jobs posted on our Facebook page by visiting www.facebook.com/worlcocomputerresources, and who knows, if you join Branched Out, you might just see Worlco's jobs posted in the information technology section sooner rather than later!

Working with Recruiters

We stumbled upon this great article about the benefits of working with a recruiter. The article honestly could not say it any better. The benefits of working with someone at Worlco to better advance your career are endless. The article is posted below, and worth the read, especially if you refuse to work with recruiters or do not know a lot about what recruiters really do!

Working with recruiters is the next best thing to working with hiring managers. Recruitment professionals know their clients and they pride themselves on knowing their candidates in the hopes of making the right connections. In order to make this happen there are a few things you need to know:

TELL THEM EVERYTHING:

When building a relationship with a recruiter, this is no time to be shy. Recruiters need to know everything there is to know about you and what you are looking for in your career, i.e. salary, perks, specific employers, etc. Building an effective relationship with a professional recruiter starts with trust and honesty, so be forthcoming with your requests.

FIND OUT EVERYTHING:

Relationships are a two way street. When working with a professional recruiter you need to know as much about them as it relates to their capabilities and ability to help you secure employment. Always complete a thorough background check on the recruiter and/or the company. Review all the social networking sites where the recruiter does business and if they do not recruit via these new mediums, be aware; it might mean that they are not keeping up with workforce trends and new recruiting practices.

COMMUNICATE OFTEN:

Unfortunately securing a recruitment professional does not mean you will secure employment immediately. There can be a lot of waiting involved. Sitting still and waiting for the phone to ring is not an option for you. You are part of the communication equation and you must take an active role in all aspects of your career.

Approach your job hunt like you already have a job. If you see something online, hear about it on a website, see it on the news – contact your recruitment professional and collaborate with them on a game plan. Good recruiters are savvy and well connected, like real estate agents. They tend to know where all the hot properties are. However, they cannot be everywhere, so the more hands they can have working in your favor the better.

BE REALISTIC:

Understand that you are not the recruiters’ only client. Schedule standing meetings no matter how short; just get them on the calendar. Recruiters understand your urgency however they have other clients asking for the same things. Work with your recruitment professional to set realistic goals that are effective and actionable.

So, now that you know what you need to about working with a recruiter, send your resume over at www.Worlco.com!

Is Java Still Better than C#?

At Worlco, we only deal with candidates in the information technology area. Many times, candidates want to work with the best software and technology. There is no doubt times have changed, in many aspects. Years ago, Java was considered the best program to work with. Years later, opinions have changed. There is no doubt that Java is still used widely, but many agree that C# is now a major competitor in the market. Recently, I posted in a LinkedIn group called .Net People and asked them if Java is still greater than C#. 

I also posted this outdated article from 2002, that claims that C# would never catch up to Java: http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=208676677&gid=40717&type=member&item=101412876&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.cnet.com%2F2008-1082-817522.html&urlhash=FbIe&trk=group_most_popular-0-b-shrttl

 As .Net People, some were slightly insulted, but others took a more analytical approach. Here are some of the comments the people posted in the discussion:

-I don't think it is a better language by any means - what can be done in Java can be done in C# - but some people will pick their favorite and lambast the other. The popularity of open source will keep people flocking to Java as will the platform independence. 

-For me, the lack of a standard Java 'framework' is the biggest drawback. For many programming areas you have two or more competing libraries offered by different groups that perform similar tasks. Each library has its pros and cons (and bugs) and different developers have preferences and expertise in different libraries. This leads to a lot of time analyzing the suitability of a library for a project, which is not time well spent. At least with .Net/C# you have a more focused framework. 

-If you look through the statistics, you'll find out Java is still being before C#, but analysts predict future C#'s leading due to its simplicity of organization in comparison with Java 

-I think write off .NET at your peril - with WinRT and Metro Microsoft are putting themselves well back in the game at the platform level with a modern foundation to fuel their post-pc adventures.
C# front and centre but with HTML5 etc also first class citizens. Cannot see one platform dominating beyond niches such as iPAd in the consumer tablet space etc...  

As you can see, I think it is safe to say that C# is now a major competitor after years have gone by. Who knows what the future of the Information Technology industry will bring. 

Resume: What to do, what not to do

At Worlco, we are in the staffing business. As you can imagine, that means we deal with resumes daily. We have seen great resumes and bad resumes. We have seen resumes that need no modification and resumes where we just have to start all over. Here is a guide of what to do, and what not to do.

By: Patrick Tiedeken

www.Worlco.com

Not to do: DO NOT have any grammar mistakes. Employers will laugh. Even if you are creating your resume the night before an interview (we all have done it) wake someone up, and have them check over for mistakes. Spelling, grammar and punctuation; it all really does matter.

Not to do: DO NOT include terms that will put employers to sleep.

Here are some specific terms that kill resumes. If you have them on yours, go to Microsoft Word now, and get rid of them!

Results-oriented professional

Cross-functional teams

More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience

Superior (or excellent) communication skills

Strong work ethic

Met or exceeded expectations

Proven track record of success

Works well with all levels of staff

Team player

Bottom-line orientation

To do: DO give your resume a personal voice. This actually sounds a lot better than "goal oriented marketer."

"I'm a Marketing Researcher who's driven by curiosity about why people buy what they do. At XYZ Industries, I used consumer surveys and online-forum analysis to uncover the reasons why consumers chose our competitors over us; our sales grew twenty percent over the next six months as a result.

Not to do: DO NOT "Bedazzle" your resume. It will not make you stand out. It will make you look unprofessional. Leave the gold sequins at home. Leave your picture off. The fanciest thing your resume should have is a line below your contact information and some Italic print. Anything else will make the employer say "is this person serious?"

To do: DO ADD a skill summary. If you have many relevant skills, throw right on the top of your resume in list form. If the employer is looking for someone who has skills "working with C# development for 2-3 years" and you have those skills, your resume should reflect that. Therefore, the first thing at the top of your skill summary should say "Working with C# development for 3 years." Show the employer that you have the skills desired for the job, then charm them with your great personality.

To do: Feel free to Google "how to make a resume." But wait, I already did it for you. It's free and easy. Just follow these guides: http://internships.about.com/od/resumetipssamples/ht/ResumeTips.htm

IPhone 5 Discusssions

At Worlco, we understand that having the word computer in our title provides us with the obligation to keep up on the latest technology. The people we place are always interested in the best phones, computer and technology. The IPhone 5 is always a hot topic, so we figured we would throw out some ideas about what will hopefully be the greatest phone ever.

By: Patrick Tiedeken

First of all, here is a website that ALWAYS has great content on the latest rumors for the IPhone 5 and alone, can keep you up on all Apple news that everyone is so interested in.
http://venturebeat.com/tag/iphone-5/

Next, two words: Holographic keyboard. Yes that is right. The other day, I saw a video on Youtube that shows the IPhone 5 having a holographic keyboard. That means that you could put your phone down on a table and have a larger touch keyboard appear on your table that you could use! Who knows if this is true, but if it is, it would be pretty awesome, and probably just another really cool, fairly useless feature Apple would provide. Come on, we all can agree that Siri is AMAZING, but who really uses it a lot?

So, we all know how expensive Apple's accessories are. A charger for a MacBook Pro goes for about $80. Well, there are talks of the IPhone 5 needing a whole new round of accessories. The most talked about would be a new "micro dock connector." I don't know how much that would cost, but it sounds fancy.

Last, there are finally talks of addressing the battery life of the phone. Recently, Android rolled out a phone that is supposed to last ALL DAY. Imagine that! A smart phone that will last all day! I am an IPhone 4 user, and I am on my phone all day, and it does not last that long. I always end up charging my phone midday. If Apple can make a IPhone that will last all day, that would be a huge plus.

For Apple's sake, I hope the IPhone 5 is a success. They have to pay their new CEO $189,000 per hour somehow...

Ten Interview Questions that will Trick YOU

 Hiring managers are like the rest of us: they find ways to save time. These are some interview questions that are designed to trick you to get the answer the hiring manager wants right away. At Worlco, we are trained to prepare you to beat these questions to get the job you want! Worlco staff believe interview preparation is key, and we work hard to make sure you will feel comfortable to answer every question the hiring manager throws at you.



No. 1: Why have you been out of work so long, and how many others were laid off?
This question may also be followed by the more direct, "Why were you laid off?" Kennedy says it is an attempt to figure out if there's something wrong with you that your former company or that other potential employers have already discovered. The interviewer may be trying to determine if themes of recession and budget cuts were used to dump second-string employees, including you. Rather than answering the question directly and chancing an emotional response or misinterpretation, Kennedy advises punting. Respond: "I don't know the reason. I was an excellent employee who gave more than a day's work for a day's pay."

No. 2: If employed, how do you manage time for interviews?
"The real question is whether you are lying to and short-changing your current employer while looking for other work," says Kennedy. The interviewer may wonder: If you're cheating on your current boss, why wouldn't you later cheat on me? She suggests placing the emphasis on why you're interested in this position by saying you're taking personal time and that you only interview for positions that are a terrific match. If further interviews are suggested, Kennedy advises mentioning that the search is confidential and asking to schedule follow-ups outside of normal working hours.

No. 3: How did you prepare for this interview?
The intention of this question is to decipher how much you really care about the job or if you're simply going through the motions or winging it. Kennedy says the best way to answer is by saying, "I very much want this job, and of course researched it starting with the company website." Beyond explaining how you've done your homework, show it. Reveal your knowledge of the industry, company or department by asking informed questions and commenting on recent developments.

No. 4: Do you know anyone who works for us?
This one really is a tricky question, says Kennedy, because most interviewees expect that knowing someone on the inside is always a good thing. "Nothing beats having a friend deliver your resume to a hiring manager, but that transaction presumes the friend is well thought of in the company," she says. Because the interviewer will likely associate the friend's characteristics and reputation with your merits, she recommends only mentioning someone by name if you're certain of their positive standing in the organization.

No. 5: Where would you really like to work?
"The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren't applying to every job opening in sight," says Kennedy. She advises never mentioning another company by name or another job title because you want to highlight all the reasons you're perfect for this job and that you'll give it all of your attention if achieved. A good response would be: "This is where I want to work, and this job is what I want to do."
[Also see: In-Demand Careers Through 2018]

No. 6: What bugs you about coworkers or bosses?
Don't fall into this trap. Kennedy says you always want to present yourself as optimistic and action-oriented, and hiring managers may use this question to tease out whether you'll have trouble working with others or could drag down workplace morale and productivity. "Develop a poor memory for past irritations," she advises. Reflect for a few seconds, and then say you can't recall anything in particular. Go on to compliment former bosses for being knowledgeable and fair and commend past coworkers for their ability and attitude. It will reveal your positive outlook and self-control and how you'll handle the social dynamics in this position.

No. 7: Can you describe how you solved a work or school problem?
Kennedy says that, really, no one should be too taken aback by this, as it's one of the most basic interview questions and should always be anticipated. However, all too often interviewees either can't come up with something on the spot or miss the opportunity to highlight their best skills and attributes. Kennedy says what the interviewer really wants is insight into how your mind works. Have an answer ready, like how you solved time management issues in order to take on a special assignment or complicated project, that showcases an achievement.

No. 8: Can you describe a work or school instance in which you messed up?
This one is a minefield. "One question within the question is whether you learn from your mistakes or keep repeating the same errors," says Kennedy. Similarly, the interviewer may be trying to glean whether you're too self-important or not self-aware enough to take responsibility for your failings. Perhaps even more problematic, if you answer this question by providing a list of all your negative traits or major misdeeds, then you're practically spelling out your insecurities and guaranteeing you won't get the job. So you don't want to skirt the question or make yourself look bad. "Briefly mention a single small, well-intentioned goof and follow up with an important lesson learned from the experience," she advises.

No. 9: How does this position compare with others you're applying for?
"The intent is to gather intel on the competitive job market or get a handle on what it will take to bring you on board," says Kennedy. There are two directions to take: Coy or calculated. "You can choose a generic strategy and say you don't interview and tell, and respect the privacy of any organization where you interview," she notes. Or you could try to make yourself appear in demand by confirming you've received another competitive offer, which may up the bidding for your services. Always bring the focus back to this position, by asking: "Have I found my destination here?"

No. 10: If you won the lottery, would you still work?
Admittedly, this one's a little silly. Even so, it's another opportunity to underscore your motivation and work ethic. Kennedy advises acknowledging that you'd be thrilled to win the lottery but would still look for meaningful work because meeting challenges and achieving make you happy. And say it with a straight face.
If at any point in an interview you're uncertain or caught off guard, don't panic, Kennedy warns. Deflect a question by saying you'd like to mull it over and come back to it, or by being honest that you don't know the answer and, as a careful worker, would prefer not to guess. "If you've otherwise done a good job of answering questions and confidently explained why you're a great match for the position," she says, "the interviewer probably won't consider your lack of specifics on a single topic to be a deal breaker."
by Jenna Goudreau