What You've Always Wanted to Know About Job Seeking But Were Afraid to Ask The Internet

By: Neoli Lancel Marcos

So you've got a fairly decent PC, you've got pretty fast Internet connection, you've got a smashing résumé, and on top of that, you've got patient fingers and wrists. All checked. So why don't you have a job yet?

Probably because you haven't been looking in the right directions. Yes, the Internet may be all-powerful and all-granting, and there is certainly at least one perfect job waiting for you in it somewhere. But part of the equation in getting a job requires you to know how to wield that power of the Internet effectively.

Resume and Go!

Start with your résumé. A carefully prepared résumé communicates a good deal about you to your prospective employer. And besides, in this age of spell check feature in word programs, it is downright unforgivable for a résumé to have even just one misspelling or typographical error.

Along with this is your cover letter, which lets the company know specifically your intentions. Get the name of the person who does the hiring in the company and be sure to address the letter to him or her—a sure-fire way for that letter to get read and not just deleted as junk mail.

Now, you can start uploading your résumé and cover letter to various job search websites. Don't just stop at general job sites; expand your search in industry-specific or geographic-specific websites so that you know you're zeroing in your search more effectively.

Ideally, you should submit more than one version of your résumé, instead of a generic one, to highlight your skills depending on particular demands of different companies. Some job search websites such as Oz Free Online Job Search (http://jobs.ozfreeonline.com) even allow users to create their resumes online based on a template, a feature which employers appreciate as this lets them view the applicants' credentials at a glance.

Posting your résumé on job websites isn’t only time-saving, it also ensures you maximum visibility to employers on a much broader range. Simply put, you let them find you.

Of course, this doesn't mean you can relax now. Follow up your application from time to time, and also hunt for classified ads in newspapers the old-fashioned way. Learn a new skill or computer software. Be a busy bum for the meanwhile. Persistence pays.

The Other Half of Cyberspace

Knowing where to strategically post your resume is just half of the battle though.

Your résumé is your virtual presence which anyone can look up in the Internet. But, let's admit: it’s a rather stagnant kind of presence.

For this, it would be good if you try maintaining a blog where you can write journal entries, random thoughts, more carefully studied essays, or just about anything insightful, entertaining, and worthwhile. You don't have to be a novelist to keep a good blog; write what you feel like writing; and write to express not impress. Consider your blog a sort of subtle promotional of yourself. Meet friends and broaden your network, and let prospective employers see your good side.

Also create a web-based portfolio. If you’re a writer, photographer, or visual artist, then all the more reason for you to then compile your previous works. Constantly update your masterpieces in the portfolio. Employers will be more receptive if they see that their applicant is active and prolific and really does something, instead of just some piece of static résumé set floating in cyberspace.

So insist your presence on the Internet the right way. Before long, you're on your way to becoming the busy professional!

Top 10 Job Interview Questions with Tips on How to Answer

By: Mary Joi Hernaez

1. Can you tell me something about yourself?
2. What are your strengths?
3. What are you weaknesses?
4. How do you handle stress/ pressure?
5. What do you know about our company?
6. Why do you want to work in our company?
7. Why do you want to leave your current job?
8. What can you contribute to our company?
9. Why should the company hire you?
10. Where do you see yourself five or ten years from now?

Every question has its own purpose. The interviewer cannot just ask you about anything and everything. Every question asked is used to differentiate your skills, and personality from other candidates. There is actually no correct answer to any interview questions. It just depends on how you answer them. Companies have their own standing with regards to the answers you have given them. They want to determine if you can offer something to their goals.

1. Can you tell me something about yourself?

This is the probably the most terrifying interview questions of all time and the most difficult to answer as well. As an applicant for a certain job, you’d be wondering what the employer wants to know. What’s the point of asking this kind of question? I suggest that you should relax and think of this situation as a great opportunity to impress your employer. Well, the technique here is you should answer them with something that supports your career goals. Avoid telling those things about your name, your birth date, where you live, hobbies and other extra curricular activities. It would be better if you tell them something relevant about your qualifications and employment history.

2. What are your strengths?

Be sure that you tackle those points that would help you do the job you’re applying for. Tell something about your technical skills and your qualifications and be sure to support them with specific examples.

3. What are your weaknesses?

With regards to your weaknesses, you should answer them with things that you are improving upon and make sure that it is work related. Do not just tell your weak points; you should back up your statement with things that you are doing to improve your weak points.

4. How do you handle stress/pressure?

Some companies have a type of interviews where in a group of interviewers ask you a set of questions. Some interviewers purposely stir up emotional responses by asking questions in a challenging manner. Their purpose is to find out how you handle the stress.

If you were asked about this question, just relax and keep your self calm because they are already observing you. Just describe how you handle pressure by being honest and direct, but avoid being anxious.

5. What do you know about our company?

Before you can answer this question, you must have a research about the company you are applying to. Knowing their mission and vision can help you make the interview more interactive. It would be better if you tell them that you want to know more about the company. This shows that you are interested to the company and you really wanted to be part of the team.

6. Why do you want to work in our company?

If you were asked about this question, the first thing that would come into your mind would be “Because you have a job opening”. Well, those are clear answers but it won’t give you additional points on your interview. Those kinds of answers might sound sarcastic and may possibly annoy the interviewer.

The point of asking this question is to determine whether you have an idea about where you want to work or you’re just applying to any company that has a job opening.

Having a brief research on a company before your interview can help you to stand out as a competent applicant. It would be helpful if you can think of some reasons about what you can contribute to the company.

7. Why do you want to leave your current job?

Not all interviewee can deliver a straight forward answer to this question. Of course you have your own reasons why you want to leave your current job. You should be careful in answering this question. By all means you should keep your answers in a positive manner. As much as possible, do not give them a hint on how much you hate your current officemate or your boss. At this point, the interviewer is testing your attitude. The firm wants to hire someone who has the potential to become part of their team and not a negative one who can pull them down.

8. What can you contribute to our company?

Tell them your qualities that are related to the position you are applying for. Give them some ways in which you can help the company grow and be productive by sharing your thoughts and ideas. Show them your dedication and your willingness to be a part of the company.

9. Why should the company hire you?

Basically, this question is about selling yourself. Just like the first question, telling something about your self. Develop a sales statement and be more detailed as much as you can. Tell them something about what makes you unique and what you can contribute to the company. Think of your qualities you have to offer that match on what the employer is looking for.

10. Where do you see yourself five or ten years from now?

In answering this question, you should focus on your career-advancement goals that are related with the job you are applying for.

Interview questions are very tricky and you should be more careful in answering them. Your future career relies on how you deliver your answers. Respond appropriately, just relax and be yourself.