Archive for the ‘The Job Sleuth’ Category

When many of us think of credit history, credit scores, or credit ratings, financial loans are often the first things that come to mind. While financial lenders are known for their regular use of credit checks, did you know that employers are also starting to perform credit checks on their new hires?  They are and if you are looking for a career change, this may have a negative impact on your ability to obtain the job of your dreams.

When it comes to employment and credit checks, you are either concerned or not concerned at all.  If you have a poor credit score, you may be unsure as to whether or not you should even apply for certain jobs. In the past, many financial institutions and insurance companies required credit checks, but now more and more employers are starting to do the same.  In fact, if you are looking to work in a fast food restaurant or even as a stocker at one of your local supermarkets, there is a good chance that you may still have a credit check performed on you.

If you are interested in avoiding all jobs that check your credit, you will want to keep a close eye on all of the applications that you fill out.  Many employers will outline their hiring practices, such as whether or not credit checks are performed, on their job applications.  If you are not filling out an application, but rather sending in a resume, you may be able to find what you are looking for one the company’s website, should they have one.  If you are still coming up empty handed, you should be informed of all credit checks before they are performed.

Although your first impulse, as mentioned above, many be to avoid applying for jobs where your credit will be checked, you may want to rethink your decision to do so.  What you need to remember is that more and more employers are starting to check the credit history of all new hires.  By avoiding these types of companies, you may seriously hinder your ability to get a new job.  Instead, there are a few steps that you may want to take and these steps are outlined below for your convenience.

If you are currently employed and just looking for a career change, you may want to consider holding off on that career change. Until you are able to repair your credit, even just a little bit, you may want to refrain from apply for new jobs, especially those that will check your credit. What many individuals do not know is that if you pay off only a couple of your debts, your credit rating will improve. When looking for new employees to hire, employers are realistic. They know that they will rarely be able to find employees with perfect credit scores.  That is why any improvements that you can make, no matter how large or small, should help you.

Although controversial, there are many who state that you should openly discuss your credit history with potential employers, especially if they ask you about your credit or ask you to okay a check on your credit history. If your debt is due to an unexpected emergency, like a medical emergency, you may want to state so. As previously mentioned, most employers are realistic; they know that not everyone is perfect. Of course, you will want to take every step to improve your credit, but having a good, verifiable excuse may help your case.  If you have a poor credit rating, you really don’t have that much to do lose, do you?

The above mentioned points are all points that you will want to take into consideration, when encountering a company who wants to check your credit.

Are you interested in changing careers or changing jobs?  If you are, have you started your job search?  Even if you have started your job search, but you are currently coming up empty handed, you are urged to take a close look at your resume.  Speaking of resumes, are you even using one?

When it comes to finding a new job or changing careers, it is important that you have a resume.  Unfortunately, many job seekers mistakenly believe that job interviews are the most important component of finding a new job. While this can be true in many cases, it is important to remember that a quality resume is what enables you to get a job interview in the first place.  That is why it is important that you not only submit a job application, but that you also attach a resume as well.

As important as resumes are, there are still many job seekers who do not submit them.  One of the many reasons for this is because resumes, especially ones that are considered “perfect,” can occasionally be difficult to write.  If you are unsure as to how you can go about writing a professional resume, namely one that will land you multiple job interviews, you will want to continue reading on.  Just a few of your many options are outlined below.

If you are interested in developing your own resume, but you are unsure as to how you should proceed, you may want to turn to the internet. Online, you can find a number of websites that are commonly referred to as career websites. These types of websites often have information, including tips, on creating a professional resume.  It should also be possible for you to find free resume templates online. These free resume templates can be used as guides for you, when looking to create a “perfect,” resume.

In keeping with finding free resume templates, did you know that many computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works, have free resume templates available with them?  If you are using these two programs or other similar ones, you will want to examine your program’s templates.  What is nice about using your computer’s template programs is that you often have a number of different options.  It is not uncommon for you to find ten or more free resume templates, that come in a number of different styles, already installed in your computer.

As outlined above, you have a number of different options if you are looking to create a professional looking resume on your own. As nice as making your own resume is, as it is free to do so, you may not have the needed time or you may be unimpressed with your own resume.  If that is the case, you may want to consider seeking professional assistance. One of the best ways to do this is by using the internet to your advantage, namely a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you may want to search with phrases such as “resume writer,” or “professional resume writer.”  Although you will have to pay to use the services of a professional resume writer, you and your prospective employers will likely be satisfied with the end result, which should be a great resume!
As outlined above, you have a number of different options when looking to have a professional resume to submit to all prospective employers.  No matter which option you choose, you should find that having a resume, let alone a professional one, should increase your chances of finding a new job.

Are you currently on a search to find a new job?  If you are, you may be preparing yourself for upcoming job interviews.  Although a good percentage of your time should be focused on mastering the interviews at hand, you may also want to examine your actions and what they should be after an interview has ended.

As previously stated, it is advised that you spend a good percentage of your time focusing on mastering the interviews which you should have scheduled soon. These preparation tips may include familiarizing yourself with common interview questions, creating a list of questions that you should ask interviewers, as well as choosing a professional outfit for you to wear. As soon as you have each of these preparation steps out of the way, you may want to take the time to focus on after the interview.

After the interview?  If you are wondering what you should after a job interview, you are definitely not alone.  Unfortunately, this is where many job seekers make mistakes, possibly costly mistakes.  Many believe that as soon as they finish up a job interview, the rest is in the hands of the management staff. While this can ring true in many cases, did you know that there are still steps that you can take to improve your chances of getting the job, even after the interview has ended?

One of the many steps that you can take, after your job interview has ended, is by going out of your way to thank the interviewer.  In most cases, you will find that this person would be your supervisor if you were to get the position.  Be sure to thank them for the job interview opportunity. Also, if you had a scheduling conflict or were late to your job interview, be sure to thank the interviewer for being patient and accommodating to you. This may improve your chances in more ways than you could have ever imagined, especially if you were late. Be sure to shake hands.  Many view this as the “official,” closing of a job interview.

When you leave the interview room, there is a good chance that you would have to walk through the rest of the establishment. Whether you have to walk fifty feet or five hundred feet, there is a good chance that you will come into contact with other individuals, namely other employees.  Be sure to acknowledge them with a quick hello as you pass.  This is particularly important if a company supervisor is escorting you from the building or at least watching you leave. Acknowledging other coworkers shows that you are able to go out of your way to get along with them. This is a good sign that you may be a great team player.

Once you return home, you will want to prepare a thank you letter to mail out to the interviewer. There are many individuals who have pre made thank you letters.  In fact, some will even mail out their thank you notes on their way home from the interview. While it is possible to do so, you may want to add a personal note to your thank you letter.  This will help to prove it wasn’t a necessarily a preplanned gesture. With that in mind, the sooner that you can mail out your thank you note, the better shape you will likely be in. You will want to try and have your thank you note reach its recipient before an official decision has been made on who gets the job.

As outlined above, there are a number of different ways that you can go about landing your dream job even after the job interview has concluded.  What is nice is that these steps are relatively easy to implement.  In fact, you rarely have to take any special action.  These steps may not always lead you to be hired for the job, but there is no harm in taking a chance.