How To Make Yourself More Marketable on Job Interviews

 

HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF MORE MARKETABLE

In the business world, particularly in sales and marketing, many studies that have been performed on what makes certain products go viral and become more appealing to a broad market range.  Similarly, when you are preparing for a job interview, you are selling yourself to a particular corporation.  In today’s job market, it is increasingly beneficial to make yourself more marketable in order to stand out in a sea of future employees.

BE INFORMED.  People like when they feel special and ahead of the game.  Begin your job interview by being extremely informed about that company and, if possible, your interviewer.   This will create mutual interpersonal respect, which in turn results in a lasting impression.

BE CONSISTENT. Redundancy is extremely influential.  Try to reinforce yourself to the company without being too forceful.  This can be done by a follow-up e-mail the day after your interview, and a follow-up phone call a week after your interview.  By following-up with the firm, you show that you are consistent and caring, which will reflect in your work ethic as well.

BE COMPASSIONATE.  When something impacts a person emotionally, her or she is more likely to remember it.  When interviewing, although you may have rehearsed sample questions, it is important to make an emotional connection with the person who is interviewing you.  This can be done, for example, by telling stories that make your interviewee laugh.

BE VISABLE.  Visibility is another important part of marketing yourself as a future worker.  It is important to stand out not only emotionally, but physically.  You can do this by wearing an intriguing color, or emphasizing a unique aspect of your appearance.  Anything too distracting, however, should be avoided.  Use good judgment when improving your visibility.

BE USEFUL.  Reflect upon the skills you possess.  How are they useful to the firm you are interviewing with?  Further, how are they useful to society in general?  Place an emphasis on your skills, particularly the ones that your employer will appreciate.  For example, if you are digitally literate, this can be an extremely useful skill since technology is constantly changing.

TELL A STORY.  Know yourself, and know your story prior to the job interview.  If you were to write an autobiography, what would be the most important chapters?  The better understanding you have of your own personal history and how it has formulated the person you are today, the more likely you will be able to create a lasting impression upon your interviewer.

Silicon Alley Jobs

With the information age and the boom of new technologies, a breeding ground for new age digital thinkers has evolved in New York City. Silicon Alley is the nickname given to the concentrated area in Manhattan where internet and digital media companies are rapidly growing. Cleverly named after Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area of California where creative thinkers converge, this East Coast version of digital entrepreneurship has a lot to offer to recent college graduates entering the workforce.

Why Silicon Alley?
Statistically, Silicon Alley is on the rise in multiple sectors. According to the Center for an Urban Future, technology jobs have experienced a growth rate of 28.7% – a spike from 41,000 to over 52,000 – over the past five years. Not only are digital careers on the rise, but there is ample investment capital in Silicon Alley. Although the motherland in California remains in the lead, NYC Silicon Alley is experiencing promising growth figures from investors in terms of both dollars and deals. From 2010 to 2011, [64.3 percent in terms of dollars and 10.2 percent in terms of deals, while investment in California is only rising 24.4 percent in terms of dollars and 5.0 percent in terms of deals]
As Silicon Alley continues to grow and attract investors and workers alike, it is obvious that New York City is the perfect location for the nation’s new technological capital. The city itself is more reputable across the globe than San Francisco, and the surrounding landscape of profitable networks and industries is ideal for the thousands of digital start-up companies that are sprouting in the area. Not to mention, NYC has been the nation’s financial capital for past two centuries.

Finding Silicon Alley Jobs
According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary of a Silicon Alley employee is $78,000. This figure is 17% higher than the average salary for all other job postings across the nation.
Not only are Silicon Alley jobs profitable, but there are plenty of job opportunities in the area, especially for forward-thinkers and digital literate workers. The technological business is an ideal place for college graduates to search for a job, because the millennial generation has been indulged in the digital world since early childhood.
You do not have to be an entrepreneur with an amazing new digital application idea to find Silicon Alley Jobs. In fact, there are ample job opportunities in Silicon Alley for a wide range of workers. These include information technology jobs, start-up company jobs, internet jobs, computer jobs, and mobile advertising jobs. Programmers, designers, and marketers are only some of the many professions that Silicon Alley has to offer. So what are you waiting for? Join the technological revolution in the tech capital of the East Coast, and take your ideas and talents to Silicon Alley. Visit Infinity Consulting Solutions to start your search today.

How Important Is Your Work Environment?

HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT?

When searching for a job, you may find yourself most concerned about what salary you will be collecting if you are hired.  Although a high salary is certainly an asset to any career and may attract you at first, the work environment that you attend to every day is just as important, if not more.  A positive, collaborative, creative work environment is what retains employees in the long run, and motivates them to work harder.

So, what exactly are the telltale signs of a positive, collaborative, creative work environment?  You might want to look into these signs, and perhaps even ask your interviewer questions about the work environment in order to rest-assured that you will be excited to contribute to this company when you wake up in the morning.

COMMUNICATION

Whether you are applying for anything from an auditing job to a sales job, good communication within the workplace is essential for fostering a positive work environment.  Chances are, if employees communicate well with each other, and managers communicate well with employees, the workplace will be more productive.  A work environment with good communication is one where everybody knows each others’ names, employees from all tiers are approachable and friendly, and there is a welcoming familiarity and openness that allows interpersonal relationships beyond the realm of the business’s mission.

 

TEAM SPIRIT

Team spirit is the core of a collaborative, positive work environment.  Team spirit builds off of strong interpersonal communication, and strengthens the business because everyone works towards a common goal and feels a strong sense of belonging.  A workplace with team spirit provides rewards and recognition to deserving employees.  Group collaboration is common not only in the lunchroom, but at meetings and discussions as well.  A work environment that welcomes creative, diverse opinions and persons fosters growth, and, in turn, makes the workplace a fun place to be.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The physical environment of a workplace greatly affects the positivity within the firm.  Great energy can be created by an, attractive, comfortable physical environment.  This energy ultimately enhances productivity and success.  Windows allow natural sunlight and Vitamin D into an office, which are essential to contributing to a good mood.  Similarly, windows allow an employee to look out and envision a new idea, which enhances creativity in the office.  A clean work environment without much clutter allows employees to focus on their goals.  Lastly, an open work environment that is not closed off by cubicles fosters group communication and helps build relationships between employees.

As you can see, interpersonal communication, team spirit, and the physical environment of a workplace are all connected to each other.  If you can find a job that has all three of these factors, then you will make new friends, find happiness, and allow the best version of yourself to shine and contribute to an already successful firm.

Klout Score

We all live in the Digital Age.  An age of omnipotent information.  An age of “likes,” “shares,” “favorites,” and “re-tweets.”  Today, is uncommon to come across a person or business that does NOT have a presence on social media. Through the internet, WiFi, Smartphones, and social networks, the world has become incredibly connected.  Because of social media, we now influence each other like never before.

This new and growing form of digital communication has become so important that the standard of influence can now be measured using web-based analytical tools.  Klout, a start-up company based out of San Francisco, began in 2008 and since then has become a standard tool for measuring how strong a person or business influences others in the digital world.

Klout’s general mission is “to empower every person by unlocking their influence.”  To do this, the web developers have created algorithms to calculate and rank how influential an individual is on social media.  This algorithm combines a person’s influence through major social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.  Once influence is measured, the individual is ranked on a score of 1 through 100.  The higher the Klout Score, the better.

So, just how important is your Klout Score when it comes to interviewing for that digital marketing or social media job you desire? Can a high Klout Score really help your career?

The answer is yes.  Klout Scores have become so prevalent in the marketing industry that it is not uncommon to be asked for your Klout Score on a job interview.  As the digital world continues to grow, a strong social media presence and a wide standard of influence is becoming more and more important – especially in the realm of marketing.  In this day and age, social media skills are essential to succeeding in your career.  Employers are looking for applicants with strong social skills not only in person, but on the internet as well.  In fact, some marketing companies will not accept job applicants with a Klout Score of below 50.

In the social media world, a high Klout Score is extremely beneficial to job applicants.  If you have a high Klout Score, it will definitely be to your advantage to mention it as an asset in an interview.  It would also be beneficial to include your high Klout Score on your resume.

If you do not have a high Klout Score yet, make it your goal to raise your score and become more influential on the web before you apply for a marketing job.  Become more active on Facebook and Twitter.  Follow and ‘like’ important accounts in the industry that you strive to work in.  Re-tweet and tweet at persons with similar interests.  Engage in digital interaction with close friends and acquaintances.  Don’t be afraid to let your individuality shine in the social media world.

In the long run, as long as the information you share with the digital world is effective, credible, and eloquent, having a high Klout Score and a strong internet personality will be nothing but beneficial in interviews and, ultimately, your marketing or communications career.

When you’re going in for an interview, you’ve probably got some preconceived notions about how the interview will go. Unfortunately, your perspective may be skewed by some of the most popular myths about interviewing that still persist today. Here are the top 10 interview myths about interviewing that people still believe, even though they shouldn’t. Debunk these before your interview in order to make the best impression possible.

Myth 1: Your resume is what will get you most of the way to landing a job.

Reality: Your resume simply opens the door. The way you answer interview questions, connect with potential colleagues, present yourself and follow up after the interview all have much more bearing on whether you might get the job or not.

Myth 2: The interviewer is prepared for your interview, and knows what he’s doing.

Reality: Unfortunately, you can be sure that you have prepared for this interview much more than your interviewer has. The person interviewing you is likely going to rely much more on first impressions and your bearing, and won’t pay deep attention to answers you’ve carefully crafted. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare — just don’t be surprised if the interviewer doesn’t have your resume handy.

Myth 3: There are right answers to the questions you’re asked.

Reality: Interviewers ask questions to find out how you think and work, not to quiz you. Instead, they’re interested in how you approach problems, how you interact with others and whether you can tell an informative story about your career briefly.

Myth 4: The person who is most qualified will get the job.

Reality: This is one of the biggest myths out there. There are many reasons why the most qualified person doesn’t get the job: he doesn’t fit with company culture, his salary expectations are out of line, he simply isn’t what the company is looking for. Don’t worry if you’re going up against someone who is more qualified than you — look for ways to show that you work well with others and are interested in training.

Myth 5: There’s no way to really prepare for an interview; just wing it and you’ll be fine.

Reality: This myth gets exposed pretty easily. It’s painfully obvious when someone hasn’t prepared for an interview — she is dressed incorrectly, doesn’t ask questions, seems surprised when asked about her resume, and so on. Before your job interview, talk to your recruiter about what you need to know about the company and find out specifics about the culture.

Myth 6: Ask about the salary early on so you can see if the interview is worth it.

Reality: It’s true, you may be wasting your time in an interview because the company can’t possibly match your salary expectations. However, there is no reason at all to ask about salary at the beginning of the interview — and many job consultants recommend not talking about it all during the first interview. If you fear that that the salary may be too low for you, concentrate on knocking your interview out of the park — once they see what a valuable employee you could be, you might change some minds about the salary budget.

Myth 7: Leave your questions to the end.

Reality: There’s always a spot at the end of the interview for you to ask questions, and no one wants to be caught tongue-tied at this point. But it makes a good impression if you are able to ask questions during the interview, and makes the interview feel more like a conversation between peers. You can save a question for the end if you want, but definitely ask questions as they come up during the interview.

Myth 8: Give the interviewer as much information as you can.

Reality: As much as the interviewer wants to hear about what a strong worker you are, she is also looking for reasons to eliminate you from the pool. She is looking for red flags in your answers while you are talking, so answer the question quickly, without over explaining your answer.

Myth 9: List your strengths whenever you can.

Reality: By all means, talk about what you do well. But talk about them carefully! Instead of listing your strengths, list what you’ve done with them. Give specific examples about how you use your abilities to make things happen. Interviewers are interested in what you can do — not how you can describe yourself.

Myth 10: Thank-you notes are old-fashioned.

Reality: It’s never a bad idea to follow up with the person you interviewed with and thank them for their time. It’s also a good time to add information about your background, or extend an answer to a question that might have caught you off guard the first time around. Knowing how to manage these interview myths will make you a better job candidate.

Talk to a recruiter at Infinity Consulting Solutions if you have any questions on how to debunk any job interview myths you might come across.

INFINITY CONSULTING SOLUTIONS
MAKES INAVERO’S 2013 BEST OF STAFFING™ CLIENT LIST

4^th CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Winning service quality scores quadruple industry average

indicating widening gap between industry leaders and laggards

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 8^TH, 2013 – Infinity Consulting Solutions headquartered in NYC with regional offices in Chicago and Minneapolis announced today it has been named to Inavero’s 2013 Best of Staffing™ Client list of award winners for the 4^th year in a row.  Presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, the fourth annual Best of Staffing list provides the only statistically valid, objective, service quality benchmarks in the industry and reveals which staffing agencies are delivering exceptional service to their clients. This year’s list highlights a growing divide among the industry’s leaders and laggards, and identifies Infinity Consulting Solutions as one of the best staffing agencies for companies to call when they are looking to hire temporary or permanent employees.

Less than one percent of all staffing agencies in North America receive the Best of Staffing award for service excellence. Utilizing the Net Promoter® methodology, the 2013 Best of Staffing Client winners achieved satisfaction scores quadruple the industry average. This stark contrast in scores is a clear indication that the firms who have earned their way onto the 2013 Best of Staffing list truly stand out for their service quality. Infinity Consulting Solutions received satisfaction ratings of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 76.7 percent of their clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 39 percent.

“We are excited to be recognized as part of this elite group of staffing providers. More importantly I applaud our recruitment and service organizations efforts that have helped elevate ICS to achieve this special recognition. Being among the Best of the Best of Staffing award winners with a Net Promoter Score of 76.7% is a wonderful achievement. My sincere appreciation goes out to our clients who have been gracious to respond and help ICS achieve this coveted award. Less than 1% of staffing firms in the US and Canada have been named to the Best of Staffing List for Client Satisfaction” ICS’s President, Doug Klares said. “We are proud and honored to be recognized for our efforts in this way.”

“Few things are more important to companies than the employees you hire,” said Inavero Founder and CEO, Eric Gregg.  “The same holds true for candidates on their quest for employment.  Staffing agencies have proven to successfully connect companies with permanent and temporary employees.  Since the end of the recession, the staffing and recruiting industry has created more jobs than any other single industry in the country**, yet so many companies and job candidates don’t take advantage of this expertise and resource. Our hope is that both companies and talent use the Best of Staffing lists as a benchmark to help select a staffing agency that can either secure the talent or employment opportunity they need.”

®Net Promoter, NPS, and Net Promoter Score are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, and Fred Reichheld. Net Promoter Score is calculated by taking the percentage of respondents who, on a scale of 0 to 10, rate their likelihood to recommend the staffing agency with a score of 9 or 10 (promoters) and subtracting the percentage who rate the staffing agency a 6 or lower (detractors).

**Bureau of Labor Statistics

About Infinity Consulting Solutions

ICS is the optimal recruitment solution for your business. We believe a high touch partnership with our clients is the key to delivering the perfect candidate in the shortest time possible. Clearly understanding the cultural DNA of our clients work environment is paramount to our success. ICS’ personalized approach is the reason why our clients enjoy low turnover and one of the highest employee retention rates in the industry.

About Inavero
Inavero administers more staffing agency client and talent satisfaction surveys than any other firm in the world.  Inavero’s team reports on satisfaction surveys from more than 500,000 staffing agency clients and talent each year and the company serves as the American Staffing Association’s exclusive research partner.

Inavero’s Best of Staffing™ is the nation’s only award that recognizes staffing agencies that receive remarkable reviews from their clients and the people they help find jobs (employed talent).  The Best of Staffing winner lists are a central place that businesses and talent go to find the best staffing agencies to call when they are in need.

Contact
Elisa Emeritz, Communications Director

Phone: (212) 593-9797

Fax: (347) 292-6809

elisae@infinity-cs.com

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