Job Seekers – Page 2 – ZippyApp Blog

Knock Em’ Dead: Pre-Interview Etiquette

Posted on June 23, 2015June 29, 2015 by zippyapp

The job interview: You hope to get one, but you dread going to one. There probably isn’t a more uneasier situation than walking into a room full of strangers and keeping your composure while you’re every move and word gets scrutinized!

Before you head out the door to your next interview, remember the most powerful skill in business: Etiquette. Manners and respect are the foundation of good relationships, and good relationships translate to business success. Your etiquette is a reflection of your personal brand and reputation, and possessing proper etiquette can make all the difference in nailing the interview and getting the job or going back to the ZippyApp Job Board. Master the pre-interview with these etiquette tips.

If you decide the job isn’t for you or you have taken a position elsewhere, be sure let your interviewer know as soon as possible that you will not be attending the interview. Email is good, but a phone call is better. It may seem like common sense to do, but you’d be surprised to find out the number of people who forgo this vital step. Not doing this can tarnish your reputation and burn a bridge before you even got the chance to build one. Keep in mind in any industry you get into, people know people — and they talk. You don’t want to be known in the industry as someone who is unprofessional, irresponsible, and unreliable.

Your punctuality says a lot about you as a person, and even more as an employee. Punctuality demonstrates that you are professional, dependable, and respectful of other people’s time. It gives the interviewer a sense of your time keeping skills, which is a further indication of your organization skills and your ability to meet deadlines. It can also tell them whether or not you are more likely to show up for work on time. A good rule of thumb is to arrive five to 10 minutes before your interview, but never before 10 minutes (remember to be respectful). Give yourself plenty of time to travel, with extra time for unforeseeable circumstances. If you do end up running behind, call right away and explain the situation with the new time you will arrive.

Your interview begins as soon as you walk into the building, even if the hiring manager is not your first point of contact. Before going in, be sure to turn your cellphone off (keeping it on vibrate can still be distracting if it goes off) and leave any unnecessary belongings behind. Smile and greet the first person you see with a strong handshake, stating your name and who you are there to interview with. An example greeting to practice: “Hi, my name is Bruce Bowers. Nice to meet you! I’m here to speak with Kamyar Faron about your open Host position.” If the person who escorts you to your interview is different than the first person you spoke with, stand up, shake hands, and introduce yourself in the same manner before they escort you into your interview.

The way you dress is a factor in how people perceive you, and can be a deciding factor in whether or not you land the job. In fact, 65% of hiring managers say they will select the candidate who dressed appropriately for the interview over someone who did not if all other factors were the same. So what is appropriate dress attire? It can really depend on the company and the position you are applying to. Your interviewer is going to look at you and assess whether or not you would be a good fit, so you will need to make sure you look like a good fit. An easy way to do this is to check out the companies social media profiles to see how their employees dress — Facebook and Instagram are great channels to do this. If all else fails, dress up and conservatively to give a positive impression.

* ZippyApp Tip: You can get a leg up in this area if you upload a photo or video to your ZippyApp application, since the hiring manager(s) will already have a good perception of you in their minds.

In our next Blog we will discuss the questions most likely to be asked in your interview, and impressive ways to answer them. Stay tuned!

* Statistics taken from collegeatlas.org

Make Your Application Stand out from the Crowd with ZippyApp’s Unique Video Tool

Posted on June 16, 2015August 14, 2015 by zippyapp

Personal videos offer a great way to display your personality and allow potential employers to see the person behind the application. Although videos are not likely to take the place of applications and resumes, they could be the cherry-on-top to a good application. ZippyApp’s unique video tool allows you to upload and post your personal video with your work application, offering an even richer applicant profile. Stand out from the crowd with these video-building tips!

Tell your story: Your video should tell your story — employers want to get to know you. Your story is your brand, and getting others to understand your brand helps them identify with your story.
Relate your previous experience: The information in your video should be relevant to the type of jobs you are applying to, but there is no need to do a separate video for each job. Discuss your previous positions and the skills you took away from each. You can say things like “I greeted and seated 75 customers in one hour in my previous Host position. It was a fast-paced and challenging experience.”
Sell yourself: Video is a great way to display your personality. Try not to repeat what is written on your application – instead showcase your talent and skills in ways you can’t on paper. Can you juggle? Sing? Adding these in to your video are great ways to set yourself apart from other applicants.
Keep it short and sweet: You don’t want the viewer, your potential employer, to get bored and switch it off. A good time frame is between 1-2 minutes. Before beginning, write down what you want to discuss in bullet point format, which can help you communicate efficiently and to the point.
Delivery: Your personal video is not that much different than an in-person interview, so be sure to talk clearly and address the camera (the interviewer) directly. Make sure to record your video in an area where there isn’t any background noise or distracting sounds.
Dress to impress: Present yourself in a way prospective employers might envision you in their workplace. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and style.
Tools: Nowadays you don’t have to have a camera, microphone, and expensive video equipment to create your video – you can simply use your smartphone. Some video apps we like are Mobli and video editor Magisto.

Have any personal video tips to share? We would love to hear from you!

Job Seeking Has Gone High Tech with ZippyApp

Posted on February 11, 2015May 21, 2015 by zippyapp

When I was in college, I quickly learned my social habits were burning a hole in my knock-off designer wallet. To finance them, I needed a job. Preferably a serving gig since this type of job was going to give me a flexible schedule (not to mention tips!)

I went on foot to local restaurants by the University to see which ones were hiring. By the end of the day, my feet were sore and I had a stack of applications to take home. By the time I finished all of them, on top of juggling a full-time student schedule, it has been a week! I ended up landing a job at a family friend’s restaurant, which was pretty fortunate since I hardly got any call-backs from the applications I dropped off — and when I did receive the call-backs, I was already employed!

But a lot has changed since I was in college, and now job seeking has gone high tech with ZippyApp! Even though some organizations now allow you to upload your resume online, you still have to take the time to fill in the same information over and over. Oftentimes, you don’t receive a reply because these types of applications go to headquarters and not the local place. Rather than having to hike it on foot restaurant to restaurant, or filling in the same information application after application, I can now upload ONE application online and apply to hundreds of jobs in just a few clicks.

So how does this work?

Zippy Tip: Your email is an important part of your profile. This is what potential employers will use to contact you. Don’t use an unprofessional email address! Instead, create a free using Gmail or Yahoo. It only takes a minute!

Continue building your unique work profile by editing your Application, Resume, and Cover Letter. Keep in mind that the more information you include, the more likely you are to get call-backs!

Zippy Tip: We will tell you what percent of your profile is complete. Use this to help guide you in knowing if you should include more information.

Navigate to the Jobs section of our website to see the latest job opportunities in your area.

Zippy Tip: Use the Search tool on the left-hand side of the screen to narrow your inquiry down by location and/ or keywords such as the position title or business name.

Once you have found a good match (or two or three — you can apply to as many as you’d like!), click the Apply button.

Zippy Tip: You can choose to submit your current application as it is (this is your Master Application), or tailor it to the specific job.

Check your inbox for email confirmations of your submissions. You may have to check your Spam or Junk inboxes if you did not receive.

Zippy Tip: Use the Submissions section of your profile to remember where you have applied, and keep tabs on which jobs you need to follow up with.