Soft Skills for the Go-Getter

Talk big in your résumé, because what it says may get you into your favored company. But it’s the little things you do that help employers determine whether or not they should keep you there. On paper, it’s all about making a big, positive first impression. Everyday life however, demands for subtler, seemingly unimportant habits and gestures – those that tell people about who you are, more than about what you do. Here are a few skills that you might want to consider taking up:

The art of small talk
If you’ve ever been at a lunch meeting with a major client – all of whom you are with know each other very well, then you know what it’s like to feel out of place. As a professional, however, it’s your job to always make that you are never so. Small talk will easily get you out of that quiet corner and into the center of talk, but it is not always so simple.

Steer clear of obvious attempts like talking about the weather. Start with a compliment to get your subject interested – but make sure you’re sincere! You can also talk about industry events that you might both have attended, or asking about his or her work. Of course, you already know that religion, politics, and internal gossip, are topics that should be avoided.

Feel free to stay out of personal conversations, those that involve private jokes, or those that do not involve your self. But since it is after all a business meeting, you have every right to interject, in a polite manner, questions that relate to the nature of your meeting in order to keep your contemporaries from digressing further.

Take charge of the conversation and make sure that after every, introduction or meeting, you have accomplished your objective.

Appreciation for the Internet
It is no longer acceptable to know nothing about the Internet – especially for a professional. Even if accessing the Web doesn’t interest you in the least bit, consider it a necessary partner towards an easier life. Not only does the Net, through email, instant messaging, and other connectivity tools like Skype, allow you to multitask and touch base with your contacts without ever leaving your cushy office chair; the Net is also a big help for those who are looking to expand their network of clients, suppliers, resources, etc.

There are individuals, though, who still prefer to go by the old-fashioned way of doing things – faxing, doing daily rounds, sending packages via mail. If you are one of them, try studying the ins and outs of the World Wide Web first, for fun, out of curiosity, or even just for the heck of it. Then, see where your newfound knowledge will take you.

The tactful-aggressive
While being able to assert yourself – that is, express your opinions, whether enthusiasm or objection, is a powerful weapon, knowing how to wield it with finesse can be even more compelling. It’s not always easy to hold back your emotions or keep your voice down when you’re getting excited over something, but it’s worth a try. If you have been tasked to tell a team member that his or her suggestions are no good, try suggesting that he come up with “more ideas to choose from” instead. The truth hurts enough as it is – a little sugar may help make harsh realities a lot easier to swallow.

Primping on-the-go
Go-getters are always running around, meeting people, prospects and deadlines. Primping while running up a flight of stairs, in between meetings, or while stuck in traffic is a valuable skill that one can only master in time, and with a lot of practice. Do not be afraid to check your appearance on reflective surfaces on occasion – everybody does it. Learn the art of applying makeup in moving vehicles. (Tip: Use products that are meant for “smudging” like soufflé foundations, lipgloss, and fat eye crayons. Avoid using products that say “loose” or “liquid” on the label, lest you want any stains on your suit.)

Know your place
Never overestimate or worse, underestimate yourself or your abilities. It’s like dressing up – over time, you get the hang of striking a balance between being overdressed and underdressed by observing your peers. Look at your contemporaries. Examine their skills and what they bring to the table, and take it from there. If caught in a potentially awkward situation, go stag – sit by yourself or mingle with people you are comfortable with until you are invited to approach the top dogs. Keep a low profile, but at the same time remember to make your accomplishments known.

(This article by Chonx Tibajia first appeared in The Philippine STAR's CAREER GUIDE, a weekly jobs section powered by JobStreet.com)

24 Hours to the Perfect Interview

One’s disposition and wellbeing is reflected during conversation as much as intellect and upbringing. During one of the seminars conducted by the American English Skills Development Center at the Career Guide Job Fair 2008, the art of interview was discussed. Jobseekers were taught proper enunciation, response and body language. No amount of practice, however, can hide stress, lack of sleep, and anxiety, which is why it’s important to invest in a period of quiet before any important activity – and what could be more important than an interview that could change your life?

PREPARING THE BODY
You want to be a breath of fresh air when you walk into the office or interview room. Keep in mind that the company wants someone new, someone who can bring something original and creative to the table – that’s why they’re hiring instead of just promoting someone from inside. The best way to present your self in the most refreshing and engaging way possible is to make it seem like it’s coming from within. Here’s what you can do to achieve physical wellbeing 24 hours before your interview:

Eat fiber-enriched foods. As a precautionary measure, steer clear of dishes that may interfere with digestion or make you feel bloated, like too much meat. Refrain from trying food that you’re not used to eating – now is not the time to experiment. Instead, snack on fiber-enriched foods that you know suit you. Try an orange, which doesn’t only aid in digestion but also invigorates the senses.

Get moving. Exercise, but do so just enough to wake your body up and get your energy level going. Stick to your usual routine and avoid overexertion. Exercising improves blood circulation, carrying uplifting oxygen throughout your system. This will give you a healthy glow.

Get a facial. It doesn’t matter if you avail of the basic cleansing facial or a soothing aromatherapy treatment. This will relax your face, clear pores and give you an extra shot of confidence. Avoid invasive treatments, too vigorous scrubbing, or extraction, as these leave the skin red and tender for at least a couple of days.

Groom, groom, groom. Parts that will need extra grooming are the eyebrows, lips, hands and fingernails. Pluck stray brows, but if you’ve never plucked or had them groomed before, a simple swipe of clear mascara should keep your natural brows in place. Chapped lips could distract the interviewer, as would overly plump and glossy ones. Hydrate your lips overnight with a medicated lip balm or simple petroleum jelly. Finally get a professional manicure for clean, professional-looking nails. Go for muted pinks, beiges or plain gloss.

PREPARING THE MIND
Do the 3pm stretch – at 3pm and right before your leave home for the interview. The 3PM stretch is yoga-inspired pose that well help carry oxygen to the brain, invigorate the senses, and make you more alert and receptive to information. Stand with your back flat against the wall. Stretch your arms above your head. Bend down slowly to reach your toes. Hold for 10 deep breaths. Slowly return to upright position. Repeat three times.

Review your notes. Nothing makes us feel more relaxed than knowing that we’ve got it all covered and under control. For the interview, prepare by thinking of answers ahead of time to FAQs, such as tell me about yourself, or what is your weakness? Think and review with bullet points so you don’t sound rehearsed during the interview itself. Research about the company and the position you’re applying for. List some thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer.

Do something fun and productive. The afternoon before the interview, do something fun and familiar to calm your nerves, but make sure it’s productive as well to keep you within the creative frame of mind. Read a lighthearted novel, make a scrapbook, or update your blog. Be inspired and relish the results.

Sleep early. You’re excited and anxious at the same time, but don’t let this get in the way of a good night’s rest. Begin a calming ritual at 8pm. Sip on some chamomile tea or warm milk. Slather on a soothing lotion. Dim the lights and turn off your cell phone and TV.

ON THE BIG DAY
Get up early. Don’t let yourself hit the snooze button or you’ll be rushing through your routine. Have a heavy breakfast and don’t over think it – the interviewer is only human and perhaps just as concerned about asking the saying and doing the right things as you are. The important thing is to be yourself and connect with your interviewer as yourself.

(This article by Chonx Tibajia first appeared in The Philippine STAR's CAREER GUIDE, a weekly jobs section powered by JobStreet.com)

Be Work Ready While You Study

It’s a almost an unwritten rule that when you’re in college, you’re supposed to have the best time of your life – this is when you do things you can’t while you were still in high school, and this is your last chance to goof around before taking on real responsibilities. Although this period is definitely a rite of passage for most young adults, students must keep in mind that fun always has its limits – or else you’ll end up with no direction and no opportunities. So while expanding your social circle, gimmik on weekends, and whatever stuff that college people do these days, here are a few reminders in the midst of all the madness during college life.

Paying attention can have its rewards – This is one of the most useful, albeit overrated advice parents and teachers give to students. But still, imagine meeting someone in your office who remembers how to apply the basics of algebra, rules of tenses, and the who’s and when’s of western civilization. Surely, your boss would be more impressed with that person not just for his memory but for listening and using the things he learned from school and giving the impression that he’s well educated.
Gaining independence – It’s natural for students to divide in clicks during the first two years of college and stay with that group until they graduate. If you are in a group, don’t ignore the fact that one day, you have to let your barkada go and search for opportunities on your own. One major example is your projects and thesis. Do not insist on working on a project with your best friends and treat it as an opportunity to have a sleepover. In the real world, you’ll most likely end up working with someone you barely know or even someone difficult. You need to learn how to deal with people while it’s still early so adjustment during the first few months of your job isn’t as stressful.

Internship of your choice – Just because your friends decide to have their internship program together at a radio station that doesn’t mean that you have to join them – especially when you have a different place in mind. Don’t ever think that you would feel left out if you choose your own path because it’s better to learn things from your company of choice than learn stuff that you won’t be able to use after you graduate. Sure you may be alone and forced to make friends in a strange new office but you’ll surely find yourself in the process – and that is rewarding enough.

Organization is key – Working with organization is always a must. Knowing where to start and what to do next is crucial in the real world. Most successful men and women in different industries tend to be obsessive-compulsive and most of all, hardworking. So while it’s still early, develop the habit of keeping things in order, organizing your schedule, analyzing your work load.

Be professional – Factors like time, self-presentation, ethics, and manners are very important when trying to be professional. Always be on time (even earlier) when you arrive for appointments even if it’s just a get together with your friends. If you develop your punctuality, you’ll most likely bring that habit to your career. Also, make sure that you always look presentable when you meet with people because this creates a lasting impression. Last but not the least, don’t forget your manners when dealing with people.

Strive for perfection – The “bahala na” attitude is something that most students should drop before moving on to real life. In order to stand out in a company, you must always make sure that your projects, presentations, reports, etc. are impressive. In any industry being the best you can be always counts. Even if you’re still in school, always give your 100 percent in assignments, tests, projects, and activities.

(This article by Karen Choa Sy first appeared in The Philippine STAR's CAREER GUIDE, a weekly jobs section powered by JobStreet.com)

JobStreet.com Powers SM CHOICE

JobStreet.com powers SM CHOICE (Challenging Opportunities in an Industry Committed to Excellence), SM Department Store's annual search for top level management to help the retail giant boost its roster of company leaders. The first of three such upscale events scheduled for the year will be held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex on March 14-15, 2008.

Senior managers with three to five years of extensive experience in management, marketing, retail merchandising, finance or information technology were pre-selected from JobStreet.com's database of over 1.5 million registered jobseekers. These candidates were then invited to apply online through the event’s microsite, accessible at www.jobstreet.com. In the site, applicants are asked to answer a short questionnaire which will facilitate the assessment of their qualifications for the position they are applying for.

Using JobStreet.com's SiVA online resume management facility to automatically sort, screen and rank the online applications, SM's Recruitment Department will contact the top-ranked candidates to attend the event proper for a series of interviews to further assess the applicants' suitability for the positions.

"With this partnership, JobStreet.com and SM CHOICE are innovating on how leadership recruitment is done," says Ritchie Ramos, JobStreet.com's marketing manager. "Employers now have the option to stage upscale hiring activities for prime positions while pinpointing the right people to invite."

How Should I Dress for an Interview?

Jeannie Ng remembers the day well. It was a few years ago and as a newbie applicant fresh out of college, she was making her way to various job interviews dressed in black pants and a black blazer, sweating under the sun and wondering if there was a more comfortable way to go about job hunting.

She wasn't alone. Fresh graduates, used to the college dress code of jeans and T-shirts, get apprehensive taking on a more corporate look.

"I went to an interview dressed in cargo jeans and a shirt,” Jeannie, a marketing graduate from a Malaysian university, revealed. "The company is in media and I thought that they had a relaxed dress code. The hiring manager took one look at me and I could tell she was annoyed. The interview didn’t even last 15 minutes and, needless to say, I didn’t get a call for another interview.”

Should Jeannie have come in corporate attire? And would she appear overdressed? Not so. According to hiring managers, one should dress appropriately when they attend interviews. It would just be like selling yourself to employers. Generally, one’s attire would reveal some of his character traits such as neatness, being organized, etc.

"I usually expect my interviewees to come in corporate attire, even though our office is in a residential community,” shares Melle Roxas-Pitalgo of iDnet Consulting, Inc. “In selling yourself and your expertise, what you wear – how you present yourself – is part of the package.”

Dressing in corporate attire communicates to the interviewer that you are serious about the job. It will be to your benefit to do some research first. Some companies adopt a more casual dress code but applicants can’t always be sure if the companies they are applying to subscribe to that dress code.

The rule of thumb is to dress one or two levels higher than the job are applying for. Remember, it’s not so much that you’re trying to get hired because of what you wear, but it’s more a matter of not getting yourself eliminated from consideration because of how you present yourself.

Posted by blogadmin on Friday, 07 March 2008 at http://blog.jobstreet.com/

Social Networking Sites: Boon and Bane of Job Seekers

Are you a member of any social networking website like Facebook or Friendster? We have seen them undergo unprecedented growth in recent years as they provide web users with an avenue for self-expression and social interaction.

Social networking websites work by asking you to create a profile by filling in basic information (gender, location, etc.) and personality indicators (favorite movies, favorite books, interests, etc.) and adding people you know to your “Friends" list. These profiles are generally quite open and it's possible for anyone to view your profile and that of the people in your extended network.

However, as with other public spaces on the Internet, there is no way to guarantee that the persons viewing your profile are the persons you want to see it.

Job seeker Marie shares her experience: “I was looking forward to working with this company. I reached the second interview – the one with the hiring manager – and everything seemed fine. Then, I didn't receive any call to come back for the final interview. My friend in the company said it might be because the hiring manager saw some stuff on my online profile and it turned her off. Should companies spy on future employees on social networking sites? Isn't that supposed to be just for social networking and not to be mixed with our professional lives?”

Apparently, not so. According to HR managers, you should think seriously about what you have in your social networking account.

Bong Austero of PNB says: “You have to remove the stuff that you don't want your parents to see or those that imply you consider work as evil. It's not called "spying" because they are public spaces. Anyone can have access to them and use the data for their own purposes. There is no such thing as separation between personal and professional anymore.”

“It is still the prerogative of the hiring manager to conduct reference and background checks on the applicant in whatever means or ways that is available and accessible,” adds Beth Miranda of Sandstone Technology. “Browsing through a job applicant's online profile is okay as long as it matches the preliminary attitudinal evaluation on the applicant’s character because I think anyone reading those profiles should not automatically believe what he or she was reading unless he or she has personally met the person."

So job seekers should always remember that the impression your social networking profile generates depends on the context of the viewer’s relationship with you. A picture of you looking intoxicated in a party may seem cool to a friend but irresponsible to a potential employer. Minimize the chances of that happening by removing content which you would not want any potential employer from accessing.

Posted by blogadmin on Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at http://blog.jobstreet.com/

Power-up Your Resume with JobStreet Select

Many of you will soon graduate or perhaps some are contemplating to shift careers. You might be asking: How do I get the job I want? This is the question asked by fresh graduates and career shifters.

Hiring Officers are usually busy people. Hence, a powerful resume is one that provides both an overview of qualifications and the corresponding details to support it. Your resume is a tool to advertise yourself and be noticed from the rest of the qualified applicants. Remember, your resume is your ticket to get you a job interview--which would hopefully lead to a job offer.

The leading recruitment partner of JobStreet.com – JobStreet Select – shares some tips to construct a professional and impressive resume that will help you land the job you want.

• Prepare a job objective. State briefly the kind of job you seek so that the employer will know if you are a match. Be specific and direct to the point. Never write obscure statements.
• Include the years of work experience. This gives a hint on your level of expertise (finance, sales and marketing etc.) and proficiency (supervisory, managerial) in terms of business operations and people management if there's any.
• Type of industries or organizations joined (eg. MNC/Local, manufacturing, semicon, IT or school organizations etc.). This gives the would-be employer a hint if you can easily adapt to their business.
• Areas of competency. Hiring is about finding the right match between the person's competency qualifications and the company's needs. Providing a short list of your competencies will lighten the Hiring Officer's job in finding the 'right match' for you.

Please take note that an overview should take only one half to a page at the most. Most employers usually browse resumes for 30 seconds only, so be direct to the point.

Supporting details provide substantial data about the individual's career history, educational and training background and achievements. If possible, keep it only up to three or four pages. It should include the following:

• Work Experience – job title, company name and duration of employment. If there is more than one job assumed in the same company, summarize the duration and job title. Include only important job functions. Too many details are boring. Cite important achievements.
• Education - start from the most recent degree obtained, school, duration, achievements, significant activities.
• Relevant Trainings and Seminars attended.
• Personal Details - address, marital status, no. of children, age, gender and contact details. If physical attributes are necessary to the position being applied for, include weight and height.

Under the Philippine recruitment practices, it is better to include details such as age, gender and address. Inclusion of those details shortens screening time. Not to include them may give the impression that the individual is not keen on details. On the other hand, you may exclude these factors when applying to foreign companies that exercise equal employment opportunity.

It is suggested that a photo be excluded when submitting your resume except if required by the hiring company. If you decide to include a copy of your photo, make sure that you look professional in it.

Different companies would have different competency requirements. It is best to customize the highlights of your resume in accordance to their needs and what you can offer best.

Be brief, concise and proofread your work. Check out for typos and grammatical boo-boos. Double-check dates and facts. Ensure punctuation marks are correct and in their proper places.

Be inviting. Your resume must look attractive to be read. Use conservative fonts like Times New Roman or Arial, at least 10 in size. Include ample white space. Organize items under section headings to give the eyes a break. Print on crisp, white paper. A crowded, cluttered, error-laden resume is a big turnoff.

JobStreet Select is the leading recruitment partner of JobStreet.com. It provides premium Executive Search and Staffing Services. It combines speed and efficiency of online recruitment, with the expertise of our highly qualified recruitment consultants. JobStreet Select accepts walk-in applicants for staffing positions for major BPO companies from Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. So, whether you are starting to build a career or looking into making a shift – JobStreet SELECT will be more than happy to be your Preferred Career Partner! For more information, please call 6891109 and 8138797 or email melai@jobstreet.com and earl@jobstreet.com

Pancakes, anyone, for supper?

Here's a contribution to BlogStreet by Paul Vincent of the BPO Forum:

Waking up to the smell of pancakes for breakfast is truly one of the better things one gets to enjoy in life. Luckily, for those of us who work in a call center, those of us who don't get to wake up for breakfast, there's lunch, dinner and all sorts of edible stuff you can get from the friendly convenience store around the block.

The call center industry has indeed - for lack of a more unique term - boomed to exponential proportions with all those foreign multinational corporations setting up their sites here and there. It had opened up a lot of opportunities for people to explore their potential and become a contributor to society without having to be confined to the limitations of one's educational attainment.

So how does a typical Juan dela Cruz (he has since changed his name to John once he got signed by one of the top call centers in the Philippines) spend his day? He wakes up at around 7pm (he hit the sack at around 11am earlier), eats a hasty meal and prepares to go to work. By 7:30pm he's saying goodbye to his wife and kid; then he's off to work. He gets to the office at around 8:40pm and has just enough time to enjoy a stick of cigarette before logging in. He enters the office at 9:01pm and is late by one minute.

He gets his first call as soon as he logs in to the phones. Its a sup call. The customer is so irate about the product or service that he purchased, so naturally John tries to calm the customer down while holding back his own unrelenting fury. He checks the time and he can't believe its just 11pm. To him it felt like he'd been wearing that headset for days. The hours dragged on.

Finally his day mercifully ends. He logs out of the phone as soon as his last irate customer hung up at around 6:45am. He goes down the elevator and walks amongst executives and businessmen, except that he goes the other way. Their day's just beginning. For John, he's glad to be going home. He gets home at around 8:30am. His wife makes breakfast (pancakes), and his two-year old son wants to play. He spends almost the entire morning with his family and finally gets to sleep at around 11:15am while trying to block out all the noise outside. The following week his shift schedule was changed and he barely had time to see his family awake before going to work.

Now I know this does not typically apply to everyone. Some don't get to do the things John did in the previous example. If anything, working in a call center has made me realize the value of things that I normally took for granted - sleeping, eating right, and spending time with the family. Pancakes anyone?