Monthly Archives: June 2011

How to Land a that Dream Graduate Job: Preparing for an Online Recruitment Test

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As a recent graduate you will have a lot on your plate when it comes to job-hunting. This guest article from The Test Factory who create unique online assessments, including those used in the recruitment process, looks at how you should prepare for online recruitment tests.

Despite the fact you won’t be offered a job based solely on these tests, their importance should not be under-estimated because if you perform badly, you won’t be getting that interview. So here is what you should expect from the test and how to prepare.

What to expect?
There are a number of different types of test an employer might ask you to take, but there are some common themes. For example, there will be a time limit and the test is likely to be multiple choice. Many of these tests will give a statement and ask you to rank how strongly you agree or disagree with these statements. Some of these statements might appear to be completely unrelated to the job you’re applying for. But with these it’s important to answer honestly and not just what you think the employee wants to hear. Some of these tests will ask you questions to test the same characteristics in various ways, and whilst they are not designed to catch out, recruiters will certainly notice any discrepancies in your answers.

How to Prepare?
The key to preparing for online assessments is to find out what sort of test you are taking, and then practice as much as you can. There are plenty of free websites where you can practice timed tests. Not only will these get you used to the types of questions asked and areas you might want to brush up on. After lots of practice you should now be used to answering questions to a time-limit. Just like your university exams the introduction to the test will tell you how many questions you have and how long you have, use this information to work out how long you should spend answering each
question.

Try not to get bogged down with one question, if you are struggling leave it and come back to the question if you have time. If you find yourself running low on time, and you really don’t know the answer, by all means have an educated guess. If you are facing a multiple choice test, you might be able to quickly rule out obviously wrong answers and concentrate on those that are left. Similarly in numeracy based test, you may be able to estimate the answer rather than working it out precisely particularly if you are running low on time.

Branding Basics for Twitter

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Your Twitter account is probably more important to your job search than you could ever imagine.  Recruiters and employers are continually perusing Tweets from job seekers in hopes of finding their next great candidate.

If you have a Twitter account or are looking to obtain one, you are doing yourself a disservice by not taking advantage of the opportunities it can bring to you as a job seeker.  To make the most of your profile, take a look at some strategies for branding your Twitter profile that could complement your job search.

Grab a Prime Twitter Handle

When you acquired your Twitter account, you may have not been thinking that you would eventually need to brand yourself as a professional through the profile and therefore may not have placed a professional spin on your account handle.  If this is the case, now’s the time to go out and grab a Twitter handle that complements your job search.

For instance, if your name is Jane Jackerman, you’re a CPA and your name is not already taken as a handle, grab @JaneJackerman, @JaneLJackerman, or even @JaneJackermanCPA in a hurry to start building your brand.  As employers begin conducting online searches on you, they will be able to easily find your Twitter account and see that you are busy tweeting about topics in your field.

Get Your Profile in Order

After you’ve snagged the perfect professional handle, you want to brand yourself further by filling out your profile.  This means listing a link to your LinkedIn page or professional blog as your Web site, writing a personal branding statement in the bio section, and listing the name on your resume as your name.

As for photos, you don’t have to have one up of yourself since your appearance cannot be used as an employment decision maker; however, it’s a good idea to add a professional photo anyway.  If you are dead set against this idea, consider an image that represents your brand (e.g., logo, photo of a pen and paper if you’re writer, etc.), then create a background design that is simple and professional.

Start Tweeting about Your Field

There’s no easier way to show you have knowledge of your field than to tweet about it.  If you have a passion for what you do, and you follow the events of your industry, and you attempt to make contributions, it’s best to share this information with your peers by tweeting.

Just don’t forget to build a following.  Recruit your friends and family.  Garner support from your other social networking profiles.  If you have a blog, send them to your Twitter account and ask them to follow you.  If a hiring manager sees that people respect your opinion enough to follow you, he or she might want bring you into the company’s fold.

A brand is built by defining who you are in relation to your field.  Your Twitter account can undoubtedly help you strengthen your brand while giving your job search an amazing boost.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Yet Another Reason To Maintain A Stellar LinkedIn Profile

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So the big news this week is that LinkedIn is in the process of launching a job application service that employers can build into their websites. This would allow them to accept LinkedIn profiles in lieu of resumes.

Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea. I’ve always found that using the old “legacy” web application products to be difficult and cumbersome. If done right, it will be a great step forward.

As read in GigaOm:

“Apply With LinkedIn” is being touted by the company as a way to remove friction from the job application process by enabling people to use their LinkedIn profiles as resumes. The plug-in also bundles applicants’ data to simplify the sorting process on the employer side.

The way of the future? Maybe. But either way, it’s a great idea now.