Be prepared: The Boy Scouts use this for a reason.
First Impression: Have you ever heard of a second impression?
Grooming/Dress: Wear your best suit, a fresh haircut, manicure and limited scents (i.e. perfume, cologne)
Handshake: Practice it!
Follow-up: Do not leave your interview without gathering the business card or contact information for each person you met
Notes: Always, always, always take notes
Review your resume for last minute spelling errors, additional information specific to your interview, and the correct contact information.

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Format is completely up to you. Be sure your contact information is clear, large font and includes alternate phone numbers and email addresses. Content is the hardest part of writing a resume. Do you capture your daily responsibilities or the job description you were given in your last review? Should you include management tasks, even if they are less than 25% of your daily work? Can you have multiple resumes? The answer is YES.

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Are they important? It depends on your goal. It is important to know how to write an effective cover letter. The intent of a cover letter is to provide a clear and concise summary of your experience, skills, and value to a company. The letter should include the following:

• Address the letter properly. Watch your titles, names, etc.
• Proofread the document for grammatical errors, spelling errors and content flow.
• Gather facts about the position for which you are applying and learn about the company as this is useful to integrate into your cover letter.
• Don’t make the mistake of telling them you are perfect for the job, in their eyes you may not be, however, you may be for another role they have available.
• Tell them why you are interested in their company and the posted position.
• Highlight your experience, skills, strengths and achievements that relate specifically to the position.
• Be sure to say thank you!

Often times a cover letter is your first impression and the first chance to “get your foot in the door”. Make the best of this opportunity!

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The fashion rags will make you crazy with advice on what to wear? When to wear it? Who will find it acceptable and who will think you're dressed too casual?

So throw them all away and follow some very simple advice:

• Think conservatively: dark colors (blues, blacks, grays).
• No crazy ties with flashing Santa Clauses or blouses with printing.
• Polish your shoes, handbags and portfolios the night before.
• Limited jewelry – 1 to 2 rings per hand, 1 to 2 bracelets, 1 necklace and a watch.
• It is acceptable for women to wear a pants suit and men to wear colored shirts.

Keep in mind that you are not dressing to go to work you are dressing to make an impression, one that could last a very long time!

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We are asked this question every day and there is never a simple answer. When deciding how to present your preferred compensation it is best to understand a few important factors:

• What are the ranges for the position currently?
• Do they offer additional compensation? i.e. bonuses, training/educational reimbursement, transportation allowances, commissions, completion bonuses
• What do you bring to the table in addition to your qualifications and background? i.e. client relationships, training certifications, organizational memberships, training/development skills
• Personal motivation. Why are you considering a job/career change? If compensation is your only motivator then there may be other solutions to change your current role.
• How well have you presented your background/qualifications?

After you have answered the above questions and talked it over with your spouse and/or friends you are ready to entertain new roles! We look forward to the opportunity to work with you!

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We know you have heard it before that it is a “candidate market”, but what does that really mean? Simplistically speaking: there are more jobs than candidates to fill those roles available.

What does it mean for you, the potential candidate? It means candidates have a choice and should take advantage of it. Many of us in Houston remember the IT crash, it was a horrible time for IT professionals but it taught many of us how to “interview smart” and keep all of our options open. It is very important to understand that candidates are interviewing potential employers as much as potential employers are interviewing candidates. It does not mean candidates can look forward to 40% compensation hikes or ridiculous “perk” offers. It also does not mean that employers will look the other way when they see several job changes over a 5 year time period. Again, interview smart!

A client market means that there are more candidates than potential job openings.

We expect the candidate market conditions to continue for the next 5 years in Accounting, Engineering, Healthcare and IT.

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With a resounding YES we can support our opinion that these conditions can and will continue. Several industries are experiencing a remarkable demand trend. In healthcare the technology is changing to accommodate new diagnostic machines developed to respond to a global aging trend throughout Europe and North America. Healthcare is currently supporting a demand for paperless medicine. The ability to transmit medical information and perform operations worldwide without being in the operating room has allowed doctors to answer questions outside of their expertise for their patients. Within the Engineering field they are seeing the results of lackluster enrollment in the last15 years within engineering schools. The demand is still high: roads are still being built, cities are consistently improving their infrastructure and our global society continues to push the boundaries of space. The Information Technology field is running to keep up with the changing demands of a global economic market. If the gadgets we use today seem advanced, you should see what they have in development for tomorrow!

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Economic analysts forecast that the U.S. working-age population will experience 1% growth through 2010 and then indicate a slow to 0.3% from 2010-2020. The demand for U.S. workers will continue to grow but the supply of skilled/educated workers will decrease. The world economy is projected to be two-thirds bigger by 2020. The U.S. will continue to outpace major developed economies with a growth of 3% per year and will continue to share 20% of the world GDP. The U.S. is also expected to continue control of 1/3 of the consumer market.

U.S. industries will continue to grow significantly due to technological advancements and demand for services. Industries projected for the highest growth rate through 2020 are: IT, Biotechnology, Professional Services, Business Services, Education, Healthcare and energy. The demand for customization of products and services will continue to increase rapidly. The pattern of economic growth will continue to increase the demand for talented employees.

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Presentations are often a one shot opportunity for you to sell your product, service and yourself! How do you take advantage of this opportunity? Prepare, prepare, prepare! When conducting a presentation the most important value you will bring to your audience is your preparation. Have you studied their company? Do you know what they need? Why, when and how do they need it? What is the reason they need it? What solution do they feel will provide value to them? Who are the key decision makers? Who is your competition? These are just a few questions that must be answered before you can successfully conduct a presentation. Everyone presents differently, some more effective than others, but the most successful presenters are not the ones who actually conduct the best presentation but the ones who have prepared.

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Your resignation letter should contain three components:

• The effective date of your resignation.
• An explanation for your resignation.
• A brief mention of the positive aspects of working for your current employer.

One of the most important things to remember when creating your letter is that it may be kept on file for future reference. For example, it may be used when future employers request references, or in evaluating past performance if you re-apply for a job with a previous employer in a different position. Therefore, regardless of your reasons for resignation, NEVER make negative statements about your company, coworkers, supervisors, bosses, owners, or policies within this letter. This letter needs to remain professional and, if not positive, at least polite. It should act as bridge builder, not a bridge burner.

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With the completion of courses, many graduates will soon be considering their future employment prospects. With limited “real world” experience, it will be crucial to parallel your academic experiences to the requirements of the position. A few keys to consider:  

Education: Your education is going to be the most recent achievement that is relevant to your career goal, but how can you distinguish yourself from other graduates?

Work Experience: projects or work experience/internships required as a part of your diploma/degree, which can provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate hands-on experience within your chosen field.

Memberships & Associations: Relevant Professional association memberships to demonstrate your commitment to the industry.

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Training and development should be more than just bullet points on your resume. If you want to experience changes in your career path, you will need to create that change first by initiating new learning and new ideas. You can take advantage of training programs offered by your company. Enrolling and participating in these classes will give you the opportunity to get to know experts from within the organization who have influence. It will show your commitment to continued learning, growth and providing value to your company.

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Networking is a way to uncover the "hidden job market". Networking is developing personal and professional relationships with people that can be leveraged to provide support, information and opportunities.

Suggestions in networking:

• The most important part of networking is developing NEW relationships!
• Networking is about finding things you have in common with another person, personally or professionally.
• Remember that people like to talk about themselves. An easy way to strike up a conversation is to ask people what they do in their organization or where they are from. How long they have been doing it? How did they move up in their organization? What college did they attend?
• Be a good listener! Based on the person’s responses to your questions, find something you have in common. Share some things about yourself.
• Be prepared to discuss current events in the industry or job market of your interest.

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