Monthly Archives: January 2018

The New Year Is Here. How To Practice Effective Goal Setting For 2015

At the start of a new calendar year, many of us begin to think about our long-term career goals. As with most New Year’s resolutions and goals, however, many of us also forget about those goals before the Spring thaw sets in. The reason why so many of us fail to reach our goals is that we don’t know how to set them effectively. How do you ensure that your goals will remain attainable in 2015? You’ve got to start thinking SMART.

SMART goals are Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. Using the SMART approach to goal setting gives you a roadmap, guiding you through the steps you need to take in order to achieve your career goals. Here is how you can set effective goals this year:

“S” is For Specific

Many people set goals that look something like this, “I want to get a new job.” While that may be true, it’s not very specific. You have to know what you want to achieve if you ever hope to achieve it. A more specific goal would be, “Before the close of this calendar year, I will be interviewing with companies for a new position as a (your ideal job title).”

Notice that the specific goal is to be interviewing with companies, not to have landed the job. You can’t control the time frame in which you land your ideal position, but you can control the timeline by which you are submitting resumes and getting interviewed. Try to keep as many variables out of the equation as possible.

“M” is for Measurable

Goals should be measurable so that they can be tracked over time. They give you a specific end point, so that you know when you’ve reached your goal. If we use the original goal, the measurement might be deadlines for updating your resume, revamping your LinkedIn profile, and partnering with a recruiter.

“A” is for Achievable

Goals must be achievable. A goal that is beyond your reach will only lead to discouragement and disappointment. In order to determine whether or not your goal is achievable, ask yourself the following questions:

What skills or resources do I need in order to reach this goal?
Do I have enough time to reach this goal?
How much effort is required to reach this goal?

“R” is for Relevant

Relevant goals matter to your career and have an impact on the work you do. Chasing after an irrelevant goal will be a waste of time. If, for example, you’ve set a goal to get a new certification, make sure to do your research and choose a certification that is in demand in your field.

“T” is for Timely

Without a deadline, goals can and do fall by the wayside. Giving yourself a specific timeline will help keep you on track. For extra focus, add intermediate timelines to ensure you’re taking the necessary steps to get you towards your ultimate achievement.

The professional recruiters at The Prevalent Group can help you set and achieve SMART career goals this year. We work with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the country, and together we can help you take the next step in your career.

Following Up With a Thank You Email After An Interview

If you leave an interview knowing in your heart that you want the job, and that you’re the right person for that job, your very next step must be to sit down and craft a thank you letter. When your future is on the line, you want to make sure you take every chance you can to make a positive impression on the hiring team. Once the field has been narrowed to the final few candidates, the team will look closely at the way each candidate performed throughout each step of the process. You won’t want to be the only person on the short list who didn’t send a thank you letter.

Thank You Letter Basics

Some career gurus will tell you to write a handwritten note, but there is nothing wrong with sending an email. Cards and letters can make an impression, but timing is also important when it comes to thanking your interviewers for meeting with you. When it comes to a thank you letter, the message is far more important than the medium.

Use your thank you letter as a way to reinforce the fact that your skills and experience are a great match for the position. You can also use your thank you letter to include something you may have forgotten to mention in the interview.

Send the letter as soon as possible, and try not to let more than 24 hours pass after the interview. Some candidates keep thank you notes in the car, and write them as soon as they leave the interview, while others make it a point to sit down and craft an email as soon as they get home. Whatever you do, remember that time is of the essence. If you wait too long, it shows a lack of interest in the position, and your letter will seem like an afterthought.

Sample Thank You Letter

Every thank you letter you send should be original, but if you’re looking for a starting point, here is a guide to get you started:

Your Name

Your Address

Your City, State, Zip Code

Your Phone Number

Your Email

Date

Interviewer’s Full Name

Title

Organization

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Use the first paragraph to sincerely thank the interviewer for his or her time. Reinforce your interest in the job and express your enthusiasm for the position and the organization.

The second paragraph should remind the interviewer of the unique qualifications that make you an ideal candidate. Be sure to list specific skills that are relevant to the position.

The third paragraph can be a good place to mention anything you may have forgotten to say in the interview. Keep it brief, however.

In your closing, thank the interviewer once again for their consideration and let them know you are looking forward to hearing from him or her.

Sincerely,

Your Name

If you a job seeker looking to take the next step in your career, the recruiting team at The Prevalent Group would love to talk to you. We are always seeking relationships with experienced professionals who have the skills and the ability to deliver results for our diverse group of client companies. As a nationally recognized management and executive placement recruitment company, we place executives in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. If you are looking for new opportunities in these fields, visit our job board to scan our current openings, and then contact us to learn more. We look forward to connecting you with your next job.

How To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Most professionals know that a LinkedIn profile is an absolute necessity. If you’re new to the job market, or you’re just starting to think about looking for new opportunities, it’s probably time to login and take some steps to improve your profile so that it’s searchable for hiring managers and paints a clear picture of your skills and qualifications. If you are looking to improve your LinkedIn profile this year, follow these steps:

One: Update Your Photo

If you don’t have a photo on your profile, if your current photo is outdated, or if it is not a professional headshot, it’s time to make a change. According to LinkedIn’s own data, profiles that include a professional photo get 14 times more views than those without a photo. Getting a professional headshot taken is relatively inexpensive, and the cost of a professional photo can pay for itself tenfold if it helps you land the job of your dreams.

Two: Complete Your Summary

Many people on LinkedIn skip over the summary section, or they fill it out with just one or two sentences. It will be important to take some time and write out a complete summary that paints a picture of who you are as a professional, and the benefits you bring to employers. Your summary is your first introduction to hiring managers and recruiters, and you want them to read it and say, “I want to learn more about this person.”

Three: Craft a Strategic, Searchable Headline

When you’re working on your LinkedIn profile, remember that hiring managers and recruiters will find you through LinkedIn’s search function. If you don’t include keywords in your headline, summary, and profile, you won’t show up in search results. LinkedIn will pre-fill your headline for you if you choose, but it is much more effective to write your own. Include your name, your current job title, any known variations of that job title, and the industry in which you work. For example, data scientists should also include analytics keywords, and business intelligence keywords, since they are all related.

Participate in Groups

LinkedIn Groups are an excellent way to make new connections, expand your network, and establish yourself as an expert in your field. Join relevant industry groups and participate in discussions whenever possible. Always make sure your answers are well thought out and relevant. Groups are not the place to ask about open job positions. Keep your conversations on topic, make valuable and insightful contributions, and always be respectful of the other me members of the group. Hiring managers and recruiters join these groups to monitor discussions and identify talent, so always present yourself professionally.

Work With a Professional Recruiter

Crafting an effective LinkedIn profile is an art form, and it can be extremely useful to get some outside help. Professional recruiters know the value of a strong online presence, and they can help you craft a profile that will make you more attractive to potential employers.

If you are a professional in sales, marketing, engineering, IT or operations looking for new opportunities, contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of executive recruiters can help match you with a position that aligns with your long-term career goals, and we can work with you to help perfect your LinkedIn profile to help you make a strong first impression on hiring managers.

4 Soft Skills to Remember in An Interview

During the course of a job interview, you’re probably focused on demonstrating your skills and experience. However, your skills and experience alone will not land you the job. Cultural fit is more important than ever before, as employers are starting to understand that they can retain candidates longer if their work style and personalities are a strong fit. While each company culture is unique, there are some universal soft skills that most every employer looks for throughout the hiring process. Therefore, it will be important to remember these soft skills in your next interview:

A Strong Work Ethic

As you answer questions, be sure to include examples of ways in which you go the extra mile to reach your goals and help your team succeed. Many hiring managers look at past performance as an indicator of future results. Be specific. Have stories on hand that showcase the ways you consistently go above and beyond, and be sure to explain your motivations for doing so.

A Positive Attitude

Showcase examples of times that you helped to boost team morale. Was a project in danger of coming in late or over budget? Was your team faced with a string of 12 hour days, extreme pressure, and poor results? What did you do to keep everyone on task and focused on improving the end result? It is also important to demonstrate a positive attitude at all times, even under pressure. Be aware that if you are naturally laid-back, it might come across as disinterest in an interview. Try to be upbeat to show the hiring manager that even under pressure, you keep your spirits high.

Time Management

Ever since The Great Recession, employees have been asked to do more with less. There seems to always be too much to do, and not enough time to get it done. Be ready so show examples of the ways in which you prioritize tasks, delegate to others, and make sure that your most important projects are always completed on time.

Confidence and Self-Assuredness

Nowhere is confidence more important than an interview. If you can walk into a room of strangers and sell yourself without appearing nervous or stressed out, it shows that you handle yourself well under pressure. Be sure that your confidence doesn’t come off as arrogance, however. You show confidence in the way you dress, your eye contact, what you do with your hands, how succinctly you answer questions, and whether or not you appear prepared for the interview. At the close of the interview, be sure to express your continued interest in the position, and ask the interviewer when you can expect to hear back from them.

If you are a professional in sales, marketing, engineering, IT or operations looking for new career opportunities, contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of executive recruiters can help match you with a position that aligns with your long-term career goals, and we can work with you to help perfect your interviewing skills to ensure that you are putting your best foot forward at all times.