How long should I make my resume and/or cover letter?
Your cover letter should be no more than one page. We recommend highlighting how you specifically meet 3-4 of the relevant job requirements. Be sure an end with a time for you to follow up, and then follow up.
Your resume can be 1-3 pages long depending on how many years of experience you have. General rule of thumb is 1 page for every 5 years up to 3 pages.
Technology sees your resume first, so make sure that yours is easy to read. Remember, the goal of the resume is to get the interview.
Should I apply for the job even if I don’t have all the experience?
Research shows that men feel confident applying for a job if they meet 60% of the requirements, women wait until they meet 100%. While you should not apply for jobs you have zero chance of getting, if you meet 60%, you should apply.
For more tips on increasing your job search: Turning Career Potential Into Career Accomplishment.
Should I negotiate my salary when I get an offer?
It is expected that you will negotiate. It is important to have determined what you want regarding salary and benefits. When you receive an offer, ask for time to think about it and then prepare your counter-offer.
Negotiation is something many people are uncomfortable doing. Practice before you have to do it on your job search. This article will give you some tips on negotiation (but you can find many more in our blog section): Negotiating Tips.
How do I answer the question “How much are you looking for?”
Remember, it is illegal in some states to ask about your current salary, check and make sure you know the laws in your state.
Recruiters ask this question because they want to make sure that there is a fit on salary. The recruiter knows what the client is willing to pay and they are interested in getting you the best offer. It is best to have some idea of what you are looking for so you can answer the question.
If you are speaking directly with a company, you respond to this question with a question – “What is the budget for this position?” For more on this, read: Being Comfortable in the Uncomfortable is a Key to Successful Salary Negotiation.
How do you answer “Tell me about yourself?”
While this question seems mild, it can land even the best interviewers in the no pile. We recommend that you find out what information the interviewer is looking for by asking for clarification. Then tell a story that shows what you have done and how you can help the company.
Need help figuring out how to do this, read: Use the SNAP Method to Respond to the #1 Asked Interview Question.
I am overwhelmed by my job search, where do I start?
Start by figuring out what you want. What type of position are you looking for? Then figure out a plan to get there. Need help? Check out our Take Charge program, where we provide you with all the tools you need for a successful job search.