HOW TO TURN DOWN A JOB OFFER?

It is completely normal to apply for more than one job at a time when you are hunting for a job and it is perfectly fine to get more than one interview call. You go to all the interviews and give your best, but have you ever thought what would you reply to a recruiter when you get more than one acceptance letter unless you are planning to do more than one job at a time.

At a later point after your acceptance, when you reflect on the job you may find various discrepancies like far location, the job being too easy or difficult, bad reviews about the company, or a better opportunity from a good company. Whatever the reason may be, you should decline the job offer in a professional way. So here are a few tips on how to turn down a job offer.

REVISE YOUR DECISION

Think about the consequences of your decision. You can simply tell them the truth and turn down the offer. But don’t expect the offer to be available if you change your mind once again. There is a great possibility that they have already filled up that position with the next best candidate. Once you turn down the offer, it is really very difficult for that company to trust your dedication. They may think that you will leave the company as soon as you find a better option. There is a very low chance that the company you turned down will accept you when all your options vaporize.

The ethical thing to do when you get an acceptance letter is to embrace it and go to the job. But, you can’t go by the hit and trial method with your career and so it is perfectly fine to turn down an offer. But you shouldn’t really inculcate the habit of accepting the job and then turning it down. Inform the employer about your decision as soon as possible.

ACT SWIFTLY

Timing is crucial when turning down a job offer. The other important things to consider are what is your reason and how you are going to pitch it. If you are sure about your decision, let the employer know the same at the earliest. They will appreciate if you tell them your decision in a jiffy. If you keep the employer waiting, it will ultimately damage your reputation in the eyes of the employer.

WHAT WILL YOU SAY?

This is perhaps the most important part. Give them a valid reason for not accepting the offer. The reason should sound polite, concise and diplomatic at the same time. Don’t forget to thank the employer for taking out time to interview you and select you for the position. You may need to contact the same recruiter in the future so don’t burn bridges with your words.

For example, you shouldn’t say some like – “I have received a better opportunity from a better company”, instead, you should say –“thank you for your time and considering me for the role. I have decided to turn down your offer as I have received a better opportunity that fulfills my goals.”

Turning down a job offer is an awkward. Add filters to your job search to avoid such situations.

HOW TO ASK FOR A RAISE

There is hardly anyone who doesn’t want a raise in their salary. How to really approach your boss to either get promoted or to get a raise.

1. BE SUBTLE IN YOUR TONE: The first tip is to be subtle in your tone. Rather than asking for it in a direct and straightforward manner, it is important for you to ask for more work. This shows your dedication towards your company and of course your dedication to attain goals and objectives for your company. All of this should be done with a lot of humility and politeness in your tone. You can't just directly go and say – I need a raise or promotion. That is not polite. Rather than doing so, you need to be extremely polite and subtle in your tone and ask for more responsibilities.
2. TALK ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS: What you shouldn’t do is go out there and start screaming about the work that you have done for the company. That is certainly not the right approach. Instead, talk about your achievements, how well you have managed your job profile or job post. Make sure you talk about your contributions towards achieving the goals and objectives of the company. When you do so in a very professional manner, the boss will consider what you are asking. Go ahead and talk your contributions and achievements.
3. NEVER EVER DISS YOUR CO-WORKERS: This is extremely unprofessional. It is important to always talk as a team player. If you end up badmouthing about your co-workers, that will reflect your personality in a negative way and that is exactly what you should not do in front of your boss. It will not create a great impression about you and will definitely not give you any raise or promotion even if you deserve it. Make sure that you always portray yourself as a great team player. A team player is of utmost importance to the company and your boss would never want to lose a team player.
4. DON’T CRIB IN FRONT OF YOUR BOSS: People keep complaining about their jobs. You may also feel like saying – I work harder than my co-workers, I definitely deserve a raise. That is just complaining and comparing yourself with the co-workers. Which is exactly what you shouldn’t do in front of your boss. This kind of behaviour is unprofessional and the boss will surely not appreciate such behaviour. Just show your achievements and that is enough to get you a good raise or even promotion.

Following these steps will help you get a raise. However, it is very rare that the boss reacts to your request on the spot. So, you should leave the room by saying – “When I expect to hear from you?” the tone here should be polite.

Preparing such a conversation is the key. Improvisation is never a good idea that too in front of the boss and that too when you are going in to ask for a raise.

What Not To Wear While Going To Interview

As it is always said that first impression is the last impression, what to wear while going for an interview is considered to be of great importance. It sure lingers for a prolonged period of time. Especially, if your first impression plays an essential part in deciding important aspects of your life; such as an interview. What you say and how your body language communicates during an interview is as imperative as dressing up aptly. Being properly dressed up and carrying it off effortlessly reflects your confidence like nothing else. In order to stand out, you better want to leave an everlasting impression on the person next to you. Here, we’ve laid out some rookie mistakes that you should definitely avoid to ace your interview. Let’s get started.

1. DON’T OPT FOR A DENIM JEANS

For starters, here’s an easy one. Never opt for denim jeans for lowers. It’s needless to say that you should always be on the safe side by choosing the better alternative such as a neat and formal pair of pants. Wearing denims or shorts gives off very casual vibes and you should look like you are there to be taken seriously. That’s exactly what formal wears do.

2. AVOID UNNECESSARY ACCESSORIES

Keep your look as effortless and as classy as possible. Accessories can make or break your look. Keeping the accessories to the minimal is the key to own that fab yet elegant look. Don’t overdo it. A nice pair of watch and a small statement earrings or hoops can up your style game instantly.

3. SNEAKERS OR CASUAL SHOES

As we mentioned above, anything in casual wear will get in the way of your interviewer taking you seriously. As you enter the room, they take a quick look from your head to toes and your footwear play just as vital a role as your entire outfit. Shop wisely. If you are carrying off an overall formal look, a pair of sneakers or casual shoes will just kill the look. You might want to consider going for formal footwear.

4. EXTREMELY BODY-HUGGING CLOTHES

One should always dress as per his/her body type and the occasion, fore mostly. If you are going for a peppy event, you can definitely doll up and can experiment with your look in any way. The same can’t be done for an interview. Pants, shirts, skirts that are too tight and distressed should be stayed away from for the same. Doing so will sure draw the interviewer’s attention and we’re sure you don’t want that. It is advisable to wear comfortable and a little loose piece of clothing for an interview.

5. CLOTHES THAT ARE QUITE REVEALING

Sheer clothes, shirts with a low-cut or the ones that are too short should be avoided. Make sure that it doesn’t show off too much of your skin. Avoid wearing any undergarments that show outside of your dress. Fix your undergarments such as bra straps, briefs, boxers, etc. before you start getting dressed. It will hardly take any extra time or effort of yours. A little smartness & attention to details and you are good to go. All the best!

Tips and Tricks for Proofreading Resume

The resume of an applicant is the first thing that the interviewers see and therefore, it builds the applicant’s very first impression on the interviewer. Therefore there are many guidelines that are provided to the aspiring applicants to build the perfect resume. However, even if you have created your resume with the utmost care, there are many things that slip our mind which need to be checked at least once before finalizing your resume. Therefore it is very essential to proofread your resume before you upload or send it for a job.

The process of reading and reviewing a piece of writing so as to correct the errors in it is called proofreading. Proofreading helps in finding the grammatical as well as spelling errors that are present in your resume. It can also help you find out the inconsistencies and inaccuracies of the information provided in it. There are many strategies, which can be used for effectively proofreading your resumes. Following are a few tips and tricks for proofreading resumes, which can benefit you a lot.

1. Read Every Line- We tend to skip many parts of our resume because we assume that they are correct and have not errors in them. However, our negligence can prove to be very hard on us if there is any mistake in those parts. These mistakes can be as huge as grammatical mistakes or they can be as trivial as spelling mistake. For e.g., writing ‘Their’instead of ‘There’ or vice versa.

2. Check Through Online Software- There are many online programs, which are specially made to detect grammar and spelling mistakes in a write-up. Popular software's like Grammarly are widely used for this purpose. Just run the spelling check on your resume once, to be sure that there are no spelling or grammatical mistakes in it.

3. Read it Aloud- Sometimes, what is written in paper makes absolute sense, however, when it is read aloud, it sounds awkward and incorrect. Therefore, it is necessary to read aloud whatever is written so that you can understand the parts of the resume, which needs changes so as to sound correct grammatically.

4. Let Someone Else Have a Look- It is always advised to get the help of another person while proofreading. This is because we know what is being said through what we have written ourselves. However, a fresh point of view can help you see through the mistakes and inconsistencies that prevail in the document very easily. That is why you should always ask another person to red your resume for you.

5. Double Check- After making corrections and changes, there are chances that the editing process has caused other errors to arise. Therefore, it is always better to check twice before finalizing the resume. Check the language, grammar, punctuation, spellings, etc. But also check the validity and accuracy of the information that you have written in your resume.

Proofreading can help you create a resume, which is professional and informative with impressive language. Which in turn could help make a good first impression on the interviewer for the job that you have applied for.

3 KEY POINTS TO COMMUNICATE YOUR SKILLS EFFICIENTLY

The only viable way to speak your mind and thoughts out is to communicate. It is pointless to stress how essential communication is in order to effectively let someone know what you want and what you are made of. If you have a lifetime, you can take your time and make your way through it. But what if you have only a short span of time to do so? Then you’d try your best to let it all out in an efficient and meaningful manner. The same happens in an interview. You only have a limited amount of time and you have to make each and every second of it count. One needs to prepare themselves well before appearing for an interview. Letting someone know about your capabilities, skills and experience in a few minutes is really a challenge. Worry not, we’ve got you covered. We’ll help you communicate your skills in an effective way so as to ensure your success. Let’s begin.

1. BE CLEAR

The foremost step is to be able to communicate clearly. Most of the times, we know exactly what we should say but we can’t really get it out properly or we mess it up a bit. Fumbling in front of your interviewer doesn’t exactly say that you are confident in yourself. Whether it is a job interview, a presentation or preparing a resume- just be your genuine, honest self and you are good to go. Along with that, wearing a positive and convincing smile goes a long way. The competition is heating up with each passing day and in order for you to land the position that you want and truly deserve; you must really stand out the rest. Communication is, in fact, the key to that treasure.

2. DON’T UNDERSELL/OVERSELL YOURSELF

It doesn’t just restrict to an interview. Never underestimate your capabilities and skill set. You might not know that yet. If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect the interviewers to do the same? You need to believe in yourself that you are better than everyone out there. Same goes with overselling. Don’t exaggerate your skills and never brag about something that isn’t even real. Don’t overdo it, but don’t undermine it, either. The interview’s have had years of experience, so don’t try to fool them because they take a good look and scan the person present in front of them.

3. ADAPT ACCORDINGLY

This is very vital to realize that what exactly the job description is about. There are chiefly two kinds of job-related skills you might want to mention on your resume: soft skills and hard skills. Hard skills are acquired by technical practice, training, etc., whereas, soft skills include maintaining a positive attitude to achieve your goals. It entirely depends upon your position which skills you need for that particular job description. Don’t forget to mention any experience you’ve had in the past that might strengthen your candidature.

How to Write a Cover Letter?

Writing a good cover letter is a crucial step in the job search process yet many people don’t write one or put in the time to write an effective one. So how to write a perfect cover letter is a question asked every so often. An effective cover letter gives you a greater chance of landing an interview.

Job seekers everywhere keep making mistakes regarding cover letters that ultimately prevent them from getting interviews. There’s a good chance you are also making the same mistake. Here are five tips you should follow to make your cover letter correct and all the more pleasing:

1. FIND OUT THE NAME OF THE HIRING MANAGER: Generally, you should write the name of the person in charge at the department you are applying to. If you don’t know the name of the person in charge of the department or the hiring manager, then you should contact the company to find out the name of the hiring manager. Writing the name of manager will leave an impression on them that you have put in some effort to write the letter. Also, it gives a personal touch to the letter.

2. COVER LETTER IS DIFFERENT FROM A RESUME: People tend to write the same thing in their cover letter as they have written in their resume. Actually, a cover letter is where you describe and highlight your unique characteristics and your reason for applying in the field.

3. KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE: A cover letter should not be comprehensive. It should be short, simple, and most importantly dynamic. This basically means that you should cover every point in just about a page or half a page. Try to avoid all the blabbering and jump straight to the point.

4. USE KEYWORDS TAKEN FROM THE JOB DESCRIPTION: Use words from the job description to write your cover letter. This enhances the quality of your cover letter and differentiates it from those of your competitors. Hiring managers use software to find out keywords. If your cover letter doesn’t have any keywords, then your chances of landing an interview are pretty low. Go back to the job description to pick up keywords for the cover letter.

5. DIFFERENT COMPANY, DIFFERENT COVER LETTER: Companies already know what they want in their recruits. Your job here is to identify what the company values the most and try to align your values and beliefs in line with those of the company’s.

The truth of the matter is that hiring is a tedious task and hiring managers are tired of seeing the same old resumes and cover letters. Your primary goal should be to make the cover letter stand out from those of your competitors. Following the above mentioned steps will give you an edge over your counterparts. A good cover letter has the potential of landing you a job without an interview. So, put some effort into your cover letter and write a fantastic one.

TOP 5 TIPS TO WRITE A PERFECT JOB APPLICATION LETTER

You should put just as much energy and focus into your job application letter as you do for your CV. Even if they don’t read the job application letter initially, but when it comes further down to selecting the best candidate among say, 5 candidates, they absolutely go to the job application letter and use that to help make their decision. Here are some tips you can follow to make your cover letter count:

1. Make it personal: Don’t send a job application letter that says – dear sir, dear madam, to who it may concern, dear hiring manager. You need to find out the person’s name. Use Google or LinkedIn or something to find the name of the hiring manager.
2. Tell them why you picked them: Firstly tell them what job you are applying for because lots of companies would be recruiting for more than one vacancy and secondly, tell them why you pick them. This doesn’t mean that you start talking about how fabulous they are. This means that you should make that person feel like they are the only person you want to work for. Basically, make them feel special and you can do that by giving them a real reason. You will find a real reason on their website, their news and about us pages.
3. Tell them why they should pick you: When you have told them the reason behind you picking them, now you should tell them why they should pick you and this part is really very important. For this, you need to go to the job description and align your values, beliefs, and goals with that of the company for which you are applying. Tell them how you will add value to their business and give examples. Examples act as proof that you have done that thing before and you have the capability to do that again.
4. Show passion: At this stage, you need to show them how much you want to work with them. Here you can play with words, for example, instead of writing I would like the opportunity to work for you, write I would love the opportunity to work for you. However, you should write a language that you feel really comfortable with.
5. Show kindness: “I know recruiting is a quite stressful activity and I really hope it’s going as well as you had hoped.” Words like these make the recruiters think that you are an empathetic person. Lines like these tell the recruitersmore about the candidates’ character. Recruiters often look for people who they perceive to be joyful, considerate and empathetic.

Follow these 5 steps, make them know how much you want it and make them feel special. Bonus tip; don’t send an attachment, instead write everything in the body of the e-mail.