The MicroTrain Blog

Hump Day Hunting Help: May 4, 2011

by Kassandra McGhee on May 4th, 2011

Tip of the Week: Networking Done Right

Ok you’ve heard it before—networking is key to an effective job search.  And by now, many of you have tapped into the job market via networking events and by using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Ning, and the list goes on.

But, how effective is your networking?  And are you successfully using social networking tools? Yes, there are always things to consider beyond simply talking with others and being on these sites. It’s about maintaining an active, professional image (both on and off line) and being found by the right people.  Networking including social networking can be crucial to your job search and here are a few tips on how it’s done right.

 

 

Master Your Next Interview

by Kassandra McGhee on May 2nd, 2011

Mastering an interview can be easy, if you know how to do it.  Yes, interviews can be tricky but they are like exams—the better you prepare, the better the final outcome.  And it’s all about proper REST: Research, Evaluate, Study, Test.

 

Research

An interview is a two-way conversation and your resume has given the employer insight into who you are.  So, make sure you are able to make an impression by demonstrating what you know about them. Beyond the job description, find information about the company, their products, competitors, growth projections, etc.  This will enhance the conversation and your questions for the interviewer.


Evaluate

Know what value you can bring to the employer and the job position.  Determine what experience, skills, etc. help you fit into the position specifically and the company overall.  Be able to thoroughly tell the employer why you are the ideal candidate, how you can solve specific problems and why you would like to work for their company.

 

Study

Review the information you’ve obtained regarding the company, your qualifications for the job and answers to common interview questions.  Practice your answers out loud, in a mirror and with family members or friends.  This will allow you to hear and see what the interviewer will experience and fine tune any problem areas.

 

Test

You’ve done the hard work behind the scenes, now it’s time to lock in the sale. You have the skills the employer is looking for and the interview is your time to shine, close the deal and get that job!  Be prepared to sell them on why you are right person!

 

Get prepared for your next interview by getting your proper REST: Research, Evaluate, Study, Test. 

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A Cisco Success Story

I attended a resume writing seminar & conducted mock phone interviews with a Microtrain career counselor. These two activities gave me a leg up on distinguishing myself from all the other people looking for work. Since the career counselor's at Microtrain had a track record of getting people hired, their insight and positive past experiences helped me tremendously in getting hired with a Cisco Voice Systems Integrator in the Chicago area. I was hired as a Cisco Voice Tech Engineer with a starting salary of $65,000 / year with a Cisco voice systems reseller located in the Chicagoland area. Microtrain was very instramental in making this a reality. From expediting my WIA grant, to providing excellent hands-on training from knowledgable instructors I was able to achieve becoming certified with my CCNP. Microtrain's career services was the final catalyst in connecting me with this company by communicating with them on my behalf and with me in setting up the interview. One week later and I was hired. No joke. Thanks Microtrain!

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My Career Services Manager was very friendly and helpful and had excellent follow-up. She seemed to really care how things were going and kept me moving in the right direction. The resources available in job search were great and the visibility that there were jobs out there looking for my skillset was promising. Additionally, the training, as well as having an updated resume stating the Microtrain course work I had taken made me feel more confident and marketable as I looked for employment. It showed that I was dedicated and took project management and process management seriously.

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