The Best 8 Tips For Getting a Job When You Have Been Unemployed for a Long Time. Part 2

Getting back on the job market after having been unemployed for a long time can be tough. Here are some tips to help.

When you have been unemployed for a long period of time, trying to find a new job can feel a lot like clawing your way out of a hole. The longer you are out of work, the bigger the hole seems. Climbing out takes strength, determination, a whole lot of help from friends and some hard work. Here are some things that can help you get a leg up on the climb. Last time we covered tips 1-4, and here are tips 5-8:

• Find a your passion, start a project – Even if you haven't had luck finding a full time job, think about what your passions are, and get involved volunteering. There are many places that could really use help, and volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, get back into the swing of working and will give you an amazing opportunity to meet new people and build your network. Also, when you interview for the job you really want, it is better to have something to point to when you are talking about what you did while you were unemployed. Employers want to see that you are still working, even if it isn't paid work.
  
  
• Hone your interview skills – Now that the job market is starting to look up, it is even more important to practice for your interview. When you have been out of work for a long time and are feeling discouraged, it is hard to show up to an interview and “wow” them. Sharpen your skills and practice your interview skills.
  
  
• Sell yourself and your skills – When you get a chance to interview with a potential employer, use your unemployment period to your advantage and sell yourself as someone who will work hard to prove themselves. Use your desire to never be unemployed again to fuel your determination and enthusiasm.
  
  
• Work hard on acting positive – Even if it is hard, get rid of any bitterness. Trust me, I know how hard it is when you have bills piling up and kids to feed. The desperation of not knowing what is going to go wrong next can be hard to set aside. But the truth is, the bitterness and stress will make you less attractive to a new employer. Even if you have to act hopeful and happy, when you aren't feeling it, it will start to become second nature. Having a positive attitude is one of the things that makes you successful in all parts of life, even finding a job.

Getting back into the work force after a long being unemployed is a challenge, but not impossible. As the job market continues to improve, it is essential that you work on being ready for the next big opportunity to knock on your door.

What do you think is important when you are trying to get back into the work force? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia area job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

5 Questions You Should Know the Answers To

Before you next job interview, make sure that you are prepared for anything that might come up. The interview process is becoming more competitive than ever, and you can no longer trust that showing up and doing your best is going to be enough. With so many people having been out of work for extended periods of time, you can be sure that no matter where you interview, there is going to be someone else who is just as skilled and experienced as you are. How you present yourself at an interview is going to be, for many employers, the make or break factor.

So, before you arrive at your next interview, here are 5 questions that you should already know the answers to:

1. Tell me about yourself – The interviewer isn't going to want to hear about where you went to elementary school, the ages of your children or you favorite color. They want to find out who you are as a person and as an employee. You should have a pre-planned answer to this question that includes the highlights of your education, your previous work experience and any interesting hobbies or interests.
   
   
2. Why should we hire you? – This question is, in my opinion, on of the hardest. As people, we are always encouraged not to brag and to be modest. Although you don't want to brag, this is also not the time to be humble. Tell the interviewer why you are the best candidate for the job. When faced with this question, stay calm and let them know what skills and talents you bring to the table and how you think they would benefit the company.
   
   
3. Where do you want to be in five years? – The right answer to this question is never “doing your job”. When an employer ask you this question, they are trying to determine if you are planning to use this job as a stepping stone in your career or if you are planning to stay employed with the company for a longer period of time.
   
   
4. Tell me a problem in your life and how you managed to solve it– The employer is looking to find out what sort of person you are. Before you go to the interview, you should think about specific instances in your life when you have been forced to be resourceful and creatively problem solve.
   
   
5. How do you deal with work related stress – An interviewer is trying to determine if you are someone who is likely to give up and walk out if you get frustrated during training, or if you are someone who can work through the difficulties of learning a new job. Tell them how you handle stress, even if you think it sounds silly. Spending time with friends on the weekends, working out at the gym or just letting it go and focusing on work are all good answers here.

Being prepared for an interview ahead of time in one of those things that I just can't stress enough. If you plan ahead, you won't find yourself staring across the desk at the interviewer (as I have before) and completely drawing a blank. If you worried that nerves will get the better of you, feel free to write down the key points of your answer on a notepad to bring with you.

What other questions do you think are important to employers? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Job Interviews When You Are On the Autism Spectrum

Having a disability can make finding a job more difficult, and it is even truer when your disability isn't readily apparent. For those that have been diagnosed with Asperger's, a condition that is on the Autism Spectrum, interviews can be especially tricky. When someone is dealing with Asperger's, they often have difficulty making eye contact, interpreting facial expressions and other non-verbal communication, turn taking in conversation, interpreting implied meanings and other social impairments. The struggle is that people with Asperger's are often extremely bright, creative and have a special knack for thinking outside the box. However, the poor social skills coupled with the tendency to not deal well with anxiety can often sabotage the job search and interview. There are some tips that can help you have a successful interview.

• Apply only for jobs that you think you will be successful at- For most people with Asperger's, sales, retail and other jobs where social skills are crucial might not be the best choices. Try to focus on jobs that are in your career path but that don't require a great deal of interaction. Graphic Design and Computer Programming are both fields where your skills would be a benefit.

• Take a deep breath- Dealing with the anxiety is tough, and the fear of becoming over anxious can make it even worse. So, slow down, take a deep breath, relax. The worst thing that can happen is that they won't hire you.

• Be prepared with your resume- Make sure that you resume is up to date. Bring a copy with you to the interview, even if you already sent a copy. A good tip is to put you printed copy in a portfolio folder so that you can be sure that it doesn't get lost or messed up in transit.

• Smile at your interviewer and shake their hand (if they offer it first)- Interviewers like the handshake and want to feel that you are pleasant and eager for the job. Don't feel that you need to chat much at this point, but be sure to answer any question asked during the greeting.

• Make eye contact- This can often be the hardest part. If eye contact is something that is hard for you to do automatically, try looking at the interviewer's forehead or their mouth. Most of the time, a neurotypical person can't tell the difference.

• Keep your answers short and to the point- It is a good idea to practice answers for some of the most common interview questions. By writing out your answers and practicing them with a friend, it will be easier to recall what you wanted to say even when you are nervous and feel like you are “on the spot.” Keep your answers short to avoid talking too much or straying off topic.

• Sell your skills- People with Asperger's are some of the most creative abstract thinkers on the planet, so use this to your advantage. If you are worried that you won't get hired because of your social skills, try putting together a portfolio of some of your best work. Even if the interviewer is iffy about you based on the interview, they will still hire you if they are impressed with your work.

• Think about starting your own business- Many entrepreneurs are on the Autism Spectrum and internet companies also have the benefit of using email and messaging services to communicate with clients, which tends to level the field as far as social interaction issues go.

Many people who are on the Autism Spectrum, feel like they have a personality that employers don't like and they feel like trying to behave like a neurotypical person during the interview is the same as trying to not be themselves, so even if they get the job, as soon as they let their real self shine through, they will lose the job. And this may be true, in certain cases, but there are many jobs that don't require working as a team or being in a position of leadership. There are work from home jobs, internet based offices and other jobs that are actively searching for people who don't mind being left alone to work, who are smart and pay attention to details obsessively. So try not to get discouraged, assess your skill set and think outside of the box to figure out the best interview strategy for you.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

There is doubt about the value of having and maintaining a strong and current LinkedIn profile and network. Finding ways to increase your network and cultivate great business contacts is one of the best ways to make yourself attractive to recruiters. Recruiters used LinkedIn aggressively, in fact, a recent Jobvite 2010 social media report, found that LinkedIn is one of the most popular social media sites for recruiters with 75% of respondents saying that they use LinkedIn regularly to look for new talent.

In an earlier post here on PhillyJobs, I talked a bit about using LinkedIn groups to find your next position. But once you have your profile set up, there are ways to make sure that you are using it to your best advantage and ways to maximize your presence on the network.

Here are some tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile.

• Make your profile as important as your resume- Don't think of your Linkedin profile as an informal resume, but rather be sure to keep it current and updated whenever you update your resume. Be sure to use action verbs and keywords as well. By keeping it current and using keywords you will be more accessible to recruiters that are searching profiles to find matching candidates.

• Getting Recommendations and References- One of the key things you can do to make your profile more appealing to a recruiter is to have great recommendations and references. You want to have both character references and professional references. Make sure that you have several of each, but don't overdo it. Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations from people that you have worked with in the past and past professors etc.. Remember to thank them for the reference and offer to reciprocate if you think it would be useful to them.

• Make connections- Don't be afraid to ask people for a connection and don't refuse a connection unless you have good reason. Sometimes it helps to look at a friend's connections and find people on their lists that may be good contacts for you. Never underestimate the power of “a friend of a friend”.

• Use you LinkedIn account for research- Before your next interview, take the time to look up the company or the hiring manager that you have an appointment with on LinkedIn. Read over their profile and get a feel for who they are and what they are looking for. It can set you apart from other candidates if you are able to come to the interview armed with information about the company, the position and/or the interviewer. This isn't invading their space, because you can be sure that the interviewer will have looked over your profile before the interview as well.

Think about LinkedIn networking the same way as you would think about your personal network. Many of us have found jobs when we were just starting out by someone's mom knowing someone that knew someone that was hiring. This is exactly the same thing. Putting yourself out there can be difficult, but the rewards are worth it. By optimizing your LinkedIn profile it raises the odds of finding a new job that fits your skills and talents. And isn't that what we are all looking for?

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.

10 Questions to Ask at Your Next Interview

During an interview, I always have focused on trying to best answer the questions that the interviewer has for me without visibly sweating, stammering or otherwise making a fool of myself, but I had not given much thought to what questions I ought to be asking. There is always that part in the interview when the hiring manager asks me if I have any questions about the position or the job descriptions, and I ask one or two basic questions and say something like, “No, I think you have already touched on the ones I had, thank you.” It's a cop-out, I know, but sitting in that chair focusing on trying my best to get the job, I forget that I want to be sure that the job I get is going to be the right job for me. I don't want to be miserable in a job that is ill-suited to my abilities and end up looking for another job in a very short time.

It is easy to see that in this difficult job market, every minute of an interview is crucial and you can't afford to miss an opportunity to set yourself apart. Employers are looking for candidates that are poised, motivated and able to think on their feet, so stumbling through this last part can ruin your chances to get hired, and also prevent you from finding out if the job is going to be a good fit for you. When we are unemployed or desperate for a career change, it is all to easy to try hard to get hired that we don't care about the details of the job. So, along with practicing your answers to the frequently asked interview questions, make a note of the questions to ask your interviewer.

1. Why is this position open?

2. Can you describe a typical week in this position?

3. How would you describe the company's management style?

4. How would you describe the culture here?

5. How is success in this position measured?

6. What are the biggest challenges someone in this position might face?

7. What does the company do to motivate and challenge its employees?

8. What do you think are the main responsibilities someone in this position would have?

9. Is there anything in my resume and job experience that concerns you or makes you question my fit for this position?

10. When do you expect to make a final decision?

These types of questions help you to impress upon the interviewer that you are serious about the job opening and are putting in the time to find a position that offers you the right fit. By asking questions, not only can you get the information, but you have a chance to restate (briefly) your qualifications and show your interviewer that you are not desperate and are determined to find a career not just another job. You want to show them that you are the right choice for the position and that they are the right choice for you.

By: Melissa Kennedy

Melissa Kennedy is a freelance writer, volunteer, parent and jobseeker

Top 5 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions

Preparing for an interview can be especially nerve-wracking, I always wonder what they are going to ask me and dread the moment when they ask if there are any questions I have. The best way to prepare for just this senario is to practice, practice and practice. If you can prepare your answers to the most common questions that interviewers ask, you can write down your answers and role play them with a friend or even just in the mirror. Being prepared can help keep you from those interview jitters.

I found a list of frequent interview questions from Forbes magazine, circa 1983. Surprisingly, not much has changed since then, and I still think that it is one of the best lists ever. Here are the top 5 questions and how best to answer them.

1. Tell me about yourself.

This is the best time for you to to review your career goals and experience. Be careful here, because you don't want to take up too much time. This is just a warm up question, so be brief. Cover the early years, education and job experience.

2. What do you know about our organization?

While researching the job opening, you should know something about the company and be able to talk about something that is relevant to the company and the service or products it supplies. When in doubt, Google is your friend.
You should keep your answers positive, and while not overwhelming the interviewer, let the know that you have done your research. If you are in a bind and blank out during this, you can always say that you have researched many companies in the course of your job search and you need to do more research on this one.


3. Why should we hire you?

This is the question that strikes fear into most of our hearts. It can be hard to promote yourself this way, but you should be able to give a one minute or so recap of what makes you perfect for this position. Rather than saying “you should hire me because...”, try starting with something different. For example, you can say “I would be be a perfect fit for your company and this position because...”.

4. Why do you want to work for us?

This is the question where you can show off your research skills. At this point, you should be able to talk about what the company needs and what skills and talents you have that can benefit the company and help you grow. This is a question you can almost be certain will be asked, and you need to have a good answer to it. If you don't have an answer for it, you shouldn't be interviewing for the position. You don't want to end up with a job that you don't like or want.


Avoid saying things like “Because I like working with people.” or “Because I enjoy accounting.”. Those things should be a given. Don't try to come up with an answer on the fly, because interviewers are pretty good at spotting a liar, and you don't want to give the interviewer the impression that you really don't want to work for them.


5. What are your long-range goals?
When you are asked this, make sure that you have something better than “my goal is to get this job.” You want to talk about your long term plans and how this job relates to it. This question can be a little sticky if you are interviewing for a job that you aren't planning to stay at, but perhaps it is a good question for you to ask yourself before you apply for a position. If a job isn't a step toward meeting your personal goals, then your may not want to apply for it.

In this difficult job market, it becomes even more important to give yourself every advantage at your interview. Take the time to prepare your answers to these questions, making sure that you cover all the main points you want to be sure to get across, take a deep breath and don't panic!


By: Melissa Kennedy

Melissa Kennedy is a freelance writer, volunteer, parent and jobseeker

The Laid-Off Life: Job Interview with the Vampire

”I had a job interview at an insurance company once and the lady said, ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ and I said, ‘Celebrating the fifth anniversary of you asking me this question’.” – Mitch Hedberg

I totally, utterly, and completely bombed a job interview once. I talked too much; I know this because the interviewer told me so. He said I didn’t have the direct experience they were looking for. My sense of humor was so far removed from his, it could have been in a different room. He even asked me what kind of music I liked. When answering the generic and usually-safe “anything but country”, he scowled and informed me that was his favorite. He told me the next time I get an interview (never a good sign) to stop answering questions I wasn’t asked. And then he joked that I was clearly wearing the only jacket-and-tie I owned.

At the end of the interview I thanked the gentleman, shook his hand (which I’m sure I did wrong too), and left knowing I didn’t get the job.

Only I did.

I’m as shocked as you.

On this particular occasion, I must have had fortuitous angels on my side because to my surprise and delight, the next week I was sitting at my new desk filling out I-9’s and W-4’s. So how did I get the job? I have to assume that despite all obstacles, the quality of my work, my references, my résumé, my samples, my fit for the position, or any combination of these, earned me the position. Maybe I reminded him of himself at my age. Or maybe he just had a feeling. Gut can be so underrated.

Interviewing isn’t easy. It’s a test of many, many abilities, some of which you will have talent in, some of which you will not. Quick thinking, conversation skills, memory recall, situational adaptation, cliché avoidance, bargaining and negotiation, composure under pressure, job knowledge, preparation, and possibly AP physics. And getting someone to like you. That may even come with your first impression. There’s always a chance that thirty seconds after you walk in the room, your interviewer may have already made up his or her mind. For better or worse, there’s a whole lot of luck involved too.

So what is the moral to my story? Never underestimate the power of the interview. On a good day, you’ll read through a 100 job postings. Of those 100 postings, maybe you’ll apply to one job. Out of 100 jobs you apply to, maybe you’ll get one interview request. And of 100 interviews, maybe you get one job offer. That’s probably an exaggeration, but the at the core is the truth: jobs are hard to get (unless you’re in one of those magic fields like health care or computer programming or non-incumbent Congressional candidate).

But once someone likes you or your résumé enough to ask you in to be interviewed, to take a chunk out of their day and speak with you, you’re halfway home. I could get in to all those interview preparation tips about researching the company, making eye contact, and practicing your answers to those ‘What’s your biggest weakness’ and ‘If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?’ type of questions. But there are better people to guide you there. Congratulations, the door is opened for you, now go and nail it. Or something like that. And if a circumstance arises where you are offered an interview for a job you aren’t interested in: go. Go anyway. Trust me, you could use the practice.

When you’re fortunate enough to get an interview, prepare. Study. Attack it like the SAT’s. Dress nice (and appropriate). Get there early. Smile and be considerate to everyone you meet. Shake hands firmly, and answer questions tactfully and honestly. Know what you’re going to say. Make yourself invaluable. Be warm, be open, be approachable. And for God sakes, be yourself. After that, things are out of your hands. You could give a killer interview and never even be considered for the job. You could bomb, and score the job anyway. But never, ever put yourself in a position where you wind up telling yourself afterward that you could have prepared better, studied harder, that you were to blame for a bad interview because you didn’t do your best.

In the end, no matter how much you prepare, no matter how excellent your answers are, no matter how nice you are to the receptionist, it comes down to someone’s gut. That’s why interviews are face-to-face, one person judging another. For any position, there could be a dozen or a hundred of other interviewees with your precise qualifications and experience. You stand out by your interviewer telling themselves, ‘This is the right person for this position’. You’re the one that they can work around every day. You’re the one that meshes with the company’s philosophy. You’re the one that they feel can get the job done.

Because, in the end, isn’t that life in a microcosm? Prepare as best you can to walk out the door and face the world, adjust to challenges as they come at you, and do the best you can. And sometimes, on those worst of days, when you feel you’ve tried your best but failed nonetheless, someone will point at you and say ‘That’s my guy’.

Even if he doesn’t like country music.


Michael Hochman
LaidOffLife@yahoo.com ◙ Laid-Off Life on Twitter ◙ Laid-Off Life on Facebook

Michael is a Copywriter, Creative Marketer, and Broadcasting Professional still in search of full-time employment after 11 months of full-time job hunting, thanks to an “involuntary career sabbatical”. A Philly native and Syracuse graduate, Michael will gladly accept any job offer you may have for him. Any. Really. Please give me a job??

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"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar." - Drew Carey