Just a girl from Detroit Job Ready

There is a difference between a reference and a verification of employment (VOE). By law, VOE checks can only ask about a time frame when working at a company and eligible for rehire. When you give a professional or personal reference, this is someone you list and give potential employers the OK to call. It's good to get permission or let your references know you used them as a reference.   1.    VOE is usually done for pre-employment, during background checks, to verify if you worked at your previous jobs or current during the time frame you stated. An article by Equifax states it this way.  verification of Employment (VOE) - In pre-hire situations, this helps to confirm the employment history you provided on a resumé or job application. In lending situations - like when you’re applying to lease an apartment or buy a house - this can help provide a clearer picture of your financial stability and ability to pay because the lender can verify that you have a job. A...

Should you always use a cover letter when applying to jobs?  I will leave that for your discretion. Personally, I don't include a cover letter each time I have applied for jobs. However, I will provide you with 4 reasons of when to include your cover letter. First, let’s start with the basics.  What is a cover letter? A cover letter is an introduction or proposal to your resume. The goal is to get the reader to look at your resume. A professional cover letter can contain,  2-3 short paragraphs with some of your key strengths and skills. Example, introduce yourself and tell how you learned about the position in first paragraph; Next, mention key aspects of your experience and strengths and last mention how you believe you are a good match and refer the reader to your resume.   Cover letters are meant to be tailored to  each  job you apply to.  When should I include a cover letter? Required . If the position y...

Whether you are preparing for an interview, presenting your portfolio or explaining intricate details about your business....learn how to communicate to market yourself verbally as well. One thing recruiters/managers despise is a candidate who can't communicate what they do or have done. Business to business as well.  An elevator speech is a concise, well-practiced, and careful description of yourself, your profession, your business, or your product. It should be easy to convey in a short amount of time as it takes to ride an elevator just a few floors. 😉 This will help with that infamous question,"Tell me about yourself." during a job interview  Also, can inadvertently be used to tell about your business or brand.  Write it out and say it out loud to a friend or family member to get their feedback. Practice. Your elevator speech should be about 30 seconds minimum to about 1 minute max. Here are a few ways to help you prepare your elevator pitch: ...

    I believe it is important to research and study the career field you are in or aspiring to be in. This will help you learn a ton and grow with knowledge. This can help you learn industry language/jargon and keep up to date with "what's happening" or evolving. You will be able to get a feel for what technology is being used, what company is on the rise or fall, what experience is needed to be well-equipped, etc.     After all, research before getting into a career can help you make a life decision on where you want to be. It also saves you from wasting time in the wrong job for years. I do advise researching different industries, especially for high school students and undecided college students. For those who have degrees, you can find a mentor within a company that will help guide you along the way. For anyone, please take advantage of networking. I have mentioned this before in job-searching previous blogs. Social media has some positives, such as keeping us ...

The picture is a representation of the interview process. This one includes testing. Each company you apply to will have a basic process similar to this one. How you process through it will be the key. Don't do the same things and expect different results, something similar my Dad always says. Here are a few reasons you may not get past the first part of the interview screening process and how to change to put you in a better position. Poor grooming attire. First impression factor. Please dress business or business casual. Only field that I know that does not have to dress this way for interviews is the Medical field. But still, if they did not inform you to dress in scrubs, white coats, or specific attire, please plan to dress business or business casual.  The inability to explain your experience and how you are qualified. Relax. Practice telling a friend what your previous or current work entails. Explain how certain situations where you took the lead and fixed a p...

I have a friend that I used to work with that says, "Stay ready so that you don't have to get ready". She is always prepared and very knowledgeable. Trust me she stays ready. You have to put in the work, so be job-ready! Part 3: Be prepared/Follow up A recruiter’s pet peeve is a prospective candidate who looks good on paper but cannot convey their job experiences and skills well or at all. Here is what you can do to be job-ready. Be prepared before and during a phone interview, video interview, and or in-person interview. Be yourself,  be comfortable. Think positive, and smile when you are talking. For every job for the past 10 years keep a list of the job duties you did. What did you do? What tools, programs, equipment, type of machines you used, etc. Explain your typical day. Make sure your skills match what you are applying for. If you are trying to change careers let me help you change your resume so your skills can stand out.  Practice your elevator speech...