THE BASICS - CareerBuilder

We know it’s
tough for job
seekers out there
Venturing out into today’s job market,
where there are fewer jobs and more
competition, you want to make sure
the odds are in your favor.
This job search guide was made
just for today’s job seeker, to help
you through every step of the jobsearch process.
Oftentimes the job doesn’t
necessarily go to the perfect
candidate, but to the person who
knows how to get hired.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section I: START WITH THE BASICS03
Résumés That Work04
Choosing the Right Words and Avoiding the Wrong Ones
05
Different Types of Résumés 06
Do You Need a Cover Letter or Not?
07
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Cover Letter
07
SECTION II: THE SEARCH & APPLY PROCESS
08
Searching on CareerBuilder.com09
Cool Tools for Job Searching
10
Waiting to Hear Back11
Hiring Manager Pet Peeves
12
SECTION III: NETWORKING ONLINE — AND OFF 12
Networking Do’s and Don’ts
13
SECTION IV: THE INTERVIEW AND BEYOND
14
Interview Basics 15
Following Up16
Section V: The Job Offer 17
Salary18
Benefits and Perks18
Company Culture18
SECTION VI: Additional Resources 19
So let’s get started...
SECTION I
START WITH
THE BASICS
Your résumé and cover letter are your first chance to
make a positive and lasting impression on an employer;
therefore, they need to be done right. Here’s how to write
résumés and cover letters that get read — and get results.
DID YOU KNOW?
Hiring managers spend approximately one minute scanning your résumé. In that
time, you want to impress an employer enough to bring you in for an interview.
Make sure to include these key elements in your résumé:
03
Résumés That Work
CONTACT INFORMATION
Include your name (if your formal name is
Abigail but you go by Abby, use Abby), address,
phone number, e-mail address and website.
Make sure to use a professional e-mail address
for your job applications. Employers aren’t likely
to call HotPants1234@hotmail.com.
CAREER OBJECTIVE
VS. CAREER SUMMARY
Career summaries or objectives immediately
give the hiring manager an idea of who you are
— before spending the 60 seconds skimming
your résumé and deciding whether to bring you
in for an interview. Many job seekers equate a
summary with an objective. While both are two
to three sentences appearing at the top of your
résumé, in reality, they are very different.
An objective states a job seeker’s desired job
description and is often ideal for people who are
just starting out in the work force or changing
industries. Some words of warning: it could
pigeonhole you and limit how employers see you.
For example:
“Recent college graduate with a bachelor’s
degree in finance and honors distinction seeks
entry-level position in the accounting industry.”
If you are looking to take the next step in
your chosen field, consider writing a career
summary instead.
04
A career summary gives an overview of your
work experience and relevant education. Try:
“Marketing professional with more than
10 years experience in online, interactive
marketing and advertising in a B2B capacity.”
Specific Results
vs. Vague Phrases
Applicants often don’t know the difference
between quantifying results and just stating
a job responsibility. A job responsibility is
something that you do on a daily basis and a
quantified achievement is the result of that
responsibility.
You need to show specific, quantifiable results
(preferably tied to the employer’s bottom line).
Show how you saved your previous employer
money, made money for the business, grew the
business, cut costs, improved productivity or
added clients.
Instead of:
“Effectively managed accounts payable team.”
Try this:
“Managed team of 15 accounts payable
specialists and improved productivity by
15 percent with smaller lag time between
invoicing and payment.”
Unless absolutely
necessary, avoid using
these nice-sounding
words in
your résumé:
aggressive
ambitious
competent
creative
detail-oriented
determined
efficient
experienced
flexible
goal-oriented
hard-working
independent
innovative
knowledgeable
logical
motivated
meticulous
people person
professional
reliable
resourceful
self-motivated
successful
team player
well-organized
Choosing the
Right Words
& Avoiding the
Wrong Ones
Unfortunately, résumés aren’t one size fits all. For each
job you apply for, you should submit a résumé that is
tailored to that position by including keywords from the job
description and your requirements. Most companies use
applicant tracking software that scans your application
materials for keywords related to skills, training, degrees,
job titles and experience.
Fill your résumé accordingly with such words (as they
pertain to your experience), but remember that using
the same word five times won’t increase your chances
of getting called in for an interview. Try to use nouns
rather than action verbs. For example, “communications
specialist” or “computer proficiency” is better than
“managed” or “developed.”
05
Different Types of Résumés
While your contact information, objective and summary of qualifications will appear on any résumé, the information that follows
depends on the type of résumé you create. Here are three types of résumés to choose from and when you should use each.
Chronological
Functional
Combination
The most common form of résumé, a
chronological format lists each job you’ve
had in reverse sequential order, starting
with your most recent job. This format
emphasizes skills rather than years of
experience and therefore might not work
for all job seekers. For example, if you’ve
done a lot of job hopping in recent years
or if you haven’t had a job in a long time, a
functional résumé is a better option.
A functional résumé focuses on your skills
versus years of experience. For this, you
would list a pertinent skill for the job to
which you’re applying, followed by a list
of accomplishments that demonstrate
that talent. If you don’t have relevant
experience or a strong work history, you
could use a combination résumé, which
combines elements of both a functional
and a chronological format.
For a combination résumé, you should
list your applicable skills and the
accomplishments that demonstrate
each one. Below that, outline your work
history, starting with your most current
job and working backward, but you
won’t list your job description. Doing
this allows you the chance to play up
your skills while proving your solid
work history.
Cool Tools
for Résumés
Sometimes we could all use a little
extra help. If you’d like help with your
résumé, check out these tools available
on CareerBuilder.com:
06
Distribute your résumé and
get more interviews with
Does your résumé need to
be improved? Find out at
Let employers find
you first using
Résumé Direct
cbRésuméReview
Résumé Upgrade
http://cb.com/ResumeDirect
http://cb.com/cbResumeReview
http://cb.com/ResumeUpgrade
Do You
Need a
Cover
Letter
or Not?
The jury is out. For every one
hiring manager who will throw
your résumé in the trash if it’s not
accompanied by a cover letter,
there are four who will not. If
you do send a cover letter, don’t
regurgitate your résumé; it’s the
opportunity for you to go into
more detail about what employers
see on a sheet of paper. Your
goal is to set yourself apart from
the competition as quickly as
possible and not to give the hiring
manager any reason to dismiss
you from consideration; a cover
letter can help you achieve that
goal. Think of the cover letter
as a way to persuade the hiring
manager to consider you for
the job. Or, if fear is a better
motivator, think about the lack
of a cover letter, or one written
poorly, as a strike against you.
Do’s and Don’ts for
Your Cover Letter
Your cover letter doesn’t have to be long—two to three short paragraphs will suffice.
Think of this as the way to make that personal connection between you and the job.
be direct. If you can, find out the name of
the human resources contact or recruiter
by logging on to the company’s website, or
calling the main phone number and asking
a receptionist for the name and title of its
corporate recruiter.
be detailed. In the first paragraph, include
the title of the position you are interested in and
then move on to your specific qualifications
immediately. Show the hiring manager that you
paid attention. If a company advertises that it is
looking for statistical analysis experience, make
sure you address your experience in that area in
the cover letter. This will also show that you have
tailored your cover letter and that you aren’t just
blasting a generic cover letter to everyone.
be worthy. Remember, it’s not what the
company can do for you; it’s what you can
do for the company. Don’t make the reader
work too hard to see that you are right for the
position. When writing your letter, keep the
requirements of the job in mind and address
them specifically.
be generic. Hiring managers can spot a
mass mailing a mile away. A good cover
letter should make a personal connection
with the reader. Do some legwork—
research the company’s history and
recent accomplishments; address the
company’s strengths and its needs. Doing
so will demonstrate to employers that you
are informed, motivated and willing to go
the extra mile.
be careless. Don’t forget to proofread
your letter with great care. Nothing says
“I don’t want this job” like an application
with typos, incorrect information or
spelling errors.
be cocky. Don’t mistake selling yourself
with bragging. Putting “I would be an asset
to your company” in your cover letter
catches the eye; writing “You would be
crazy not to hire me” turns the stomach.
07
SECTION II
Searching for a job online can be overwhelming at times. There are
millions of jobs floating around in cyberspace, waiting for you to find
them. It’s important to know how to search effectively and
apply for jobs that are truly a fit for you.
08
Searching on
CareerBuilder.com
When you go to CareerBuilder.com, you’ll have instant access to tens of thousands of
employers and listings, all of which you can apply to in real time. Here are some effective
ways to narrow down your search and get results that are the most relevant to you:
1. Target your search
2. Use keywords correctly
If you’re open to working anywhere, try searching for the type
of work you’re interested in and see what cities come up in your
results. For instance, if you search for “nursing,” and Phoenix,
Dallas and Houston are listed as the cities with the most job
postings, you’ll have a starting point.
Keywords can be your best friend or your worst enemy when
searching online for a job, so it’s important to know how to use
them effectively. The more keywords you use, the more closely
the job will match your expertise.
Or, if you know what city you’d like to work in, but are open
to any line of work, search for jobs by location. If you know
you want to move to Indianapolis, for example, use that as the
starting point for your search. Your results will show you the
industries with the most job postings, which you can narrow
down yourself.
CareerBuilder.com uses advanced matching and
recommendation technology to provide you with the most
accurate opportunities possible. The more you apply for jobs,
the better our technology can understand which positions suit
you. Once you’ve signed up with CareerBuilder.com, you will
receive Job Alerts and Recommendations, delivered straight to
your e-mail inbox:
Job Alerts are notifications of job postings based on criteria
you designate as important to your job search. You can choose to
have alerts sent to you based on keywords and location.
Job Recommendations suggest jobs that suit your skills and
experience as well as to which job postings you view and apply.
Start by searching for jobs that you think would be a good
match for you. Then study the language of those job postings
and incorporate those words into your search. If you find a
listing for a project coordinator position that looks interesting,
pull out key phrases to search other jobs. For example, if the
posting mentions “method calibrations,” plug that into the
search field to see what other positions come up. Employers
often use different job titles for jobs that perform the same
duties and use the same skills.
Don’t get fixated on having a certain job title. One employer’s
vice president is another’s senior associate. Search for the job
title you want, but remember to dig deeper for other title ideas.
If, for example, you want a retail manager position, you should
search for related terms, such as “supervisor” or “customer
relations.” Filter through the results to find good matches. You
might find that you’re a perfect fit for a “team leader” position
that you wouldn’t have otherwise found.
(continued on page 10)
09
searching on careerbuilder.com (Continued)
Similarly, use keywords that match your expertise. If you type
the word “retail” into the search box, you’ll get thousands of job
descriptions. If you type“merchandising manager,” your results
will be more focused.
Try using quotation marks to find job postings with an exact
phrase (e.g., “B2B writing”). Use NOT to exclude words or
phrases (e.g., B2B writing NOT technical). Also, try using AND
and OR to connect terms (e.g., B2B writing AND magazines).
3. Cracking the job listing code
Here are some common job listing terms and what they really
mean for job candidates:
“Entry level” and “Experienced”
If a job is listed as “entry level,” employers are typically
looking for someone who has been out of school for up to two
years. “Experienced” candidates usually have been working
for three or more years in the industry.
4. Protect yourself
Like most things in life, if it seems too good to be true, it
usually is—and that includes job descriptions. Scammers like
to entice job seekers with phrases like “Make $4,000 week
working from home!” or “No experience necessary!” Here are
few red flags you should look for in a job posting:
• A request for bank account numbers.
“Preferred skills” vs. “Required skills”
When a job description lists a skill as “required,” it means that
is of the utmost importance to the employer and you won’t
be considered without it. A skill that’s “preferred” means it’s
not absolutely essential; just an added bonus if you happen to
possess said skill.
• A request a for Social Security number.
“Command of” and “Working knowledge of”
If you have “working knowledge of” a certain program, you
know the basics of how to operate that program. If you have
“command of” a program, you have experience with it and can
explain how it works and can use it for more complex projects.
• A lack of interest in meeting the employee.
• A request to “scan the ID” of a job seeker, like a
driver’s license. Scammers will say they need to “verify
identity”—this isn’t a legitimate request.
• A contact e-mail address that is not a primary domain.
• Misspellings and grammatical mistakes in the job ad.
• If you have questions about the legitimacy of a job
listing, contact the Better Business Bureau, your
state or local consumer agency, or the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC).
If you feel you have been a victim, file a complaint by calling the FTC complaint line
at (866) 438-1485. If you ever receive a suspicious request that mentions CareerBuilder.com,
please do not respond and immediately contact CareerBuilder.com customer service at
(866) 438-1485 or report the suspected fraud via e-mail (TSST@careerbuilder.com).
10
WAITING TO
HEAR BACK
Once you’ve applied for a job, you might get frustrated because
you’re left waiting while employers do the rest of the work. You
have no idea if your résumé was read or just went into a pile of
applications (also known as the “résumé black hole”), if you’re on a
shortlist to be interviewed or if you’ve been excluded as a candidate.
Some employers will keep you in the loop, but others will never
contact you, and then you spend weeks or months wondering why
you haven’t been called. You don’t have to just sit by the phone.
Check in – Look at the job posting and see if they provided any
contact information for applicants. If it lists a phone number or
e-mail address for questions, respectfully inquire about the status of
your application once an ample amount of time has passed. If the
company specifically instructs you not to call or
e-mail, understand that they might not be
willing to answer your questions.
hireINSIDER – One of the great frustrations
of job searching is not knowing who your
competition is. With hireINSIDER, you can
find out different characteristics (such as
years of experience, education level,
current salary) of others who applied to
the same job posting.
(http://cb.com/HireInsider)
Cool Tools
for Job
Searching
Sometimes we could all use a little extra
help. If you’d like to jump-start your job
search, check out these tools available on
CareerBuilder.com.
Free Salary Calculator
At CBSalary.com, you have access to salary rates for
thousands of jobs across the country. You can search
for the average salary of a specific job or view a list
of careers within a given salary range in your city.
www.cbsalary.com
Career Advice
If you want to read even more advice and find
answers to questions your job search or workplace
issues, head over to our Career Advice page
(http://cb.com/cbAdvice) and to The Work Buzz blog
(http://www.theworkbuzz.com).
SureCheck
Use SureCheck to see what online information
employers will find out about you when they run an
online background search for you.
http://cb.com/SureCheck
11
SECTION III
Hiring Manager
Pet Peeves
Hiring managers have to sit through many interviews in
order to find the right candidate. They get tired of seeing
candidate after candidate make mistakes.
They also have no shortage of qualified applicants to
choose from, so don’t give them any reason to hire
someone else. Avoid these annoying actions in the
interview process:
Arriving too early You should know better than
to be late, but being too early can hurt you, too. Hiring
managers have busy schedules and set your interview
for a specific time for a reason. Don’t show up 30 minutes
early and expect to be accommodated.
Acting desperate Job hunts are stressful, but don’t
let your bitterness or frustration show. Employers
will remember your desperation, not your skills or
qualifications. An interview is not a place to vent about
your unemployment situation.
Following up aggressively E-mailing or calling the
interviewer to see if a decision has been made after
some time has passed is acceptable. Sending multiple
messages, calling on a daily basis or showing up at the
site is overkill and will turn off the employer.
Badmouthing anyone Don’t insult or criticize your
former boss, past colleagues or the competition.
Although you’re trying to impress the interviewer, he or
she will silently think, “If you’re talking about them that
way, what are you going to say about me?”
Lacking direction Don’t send a résumé that suggests
you take any job that comes your way and have no
career direction. Implying you have no professional goals
in the interview also frustrates the hiring manager. Who
wants to hire a flighty worker?
12
NETWORKING
ONLINE - And OFF
Networking is all the rage, whether you’re doing
it socially, professionally or both. But it’s not as
easy as looking someone up on LinkedIn and
asking to connect with them. Like any relationship,
networking takes time and dedication.
Networking
Do’s and Don’ts
There are a few do’s and don’ts for your social
networking profile and connecting to others:
Do get rid of digital dirt
If you want to use your networking profile
as a tool, review the pictures you’ve
uploaded, the personal information you’ve
disclosed and any personal blogs or sites
you’ve linked to. Don’t wait until you’re
interviewing to go back and clean up
your profile; the hiring manager probably
already had a look.
Do join groupS... selectively
One of the fun elements of networking
sites is that you can connect with other
people who share your same interests
and have your quirky sense of humor. Thus
you end up with virtual groups like “I Drink
More Beer Than Water.” The silly group
might seem harmless enough to you, but
for a hiring manager trying to find a mature
candidate for an open position, it doesn’t
leave a great impression. To mix things
up a bit, try joining company fan pages or
industry groups.
Do update your profile regularly
Keep your profile updated, even if you aren’t
looking for work. Many recruiters like to
approach “passive” job candidates (those
who aren’t actively looking) and if your
profile is up to date, it can help you land
your dream job when you least expect it.
Don’t announce interviews,
raises or new jobs
If you’re unemployed, writing “Interview
today—wish me luck!” is OK, or if you
get a job, something along the lines of
“So excited about my new job!” is totally
acceptable. If you’re currently employed,
however, your boss won’t be happy to see
something like, “Trying to con my boss into
giving me a $5K raise. SUCKA!”
Don’t mention your job search
if you’re still employed
If your boss knows you’re on the lookout for
a new job, feel free to advertise it in your
status. If you’re keeping your search below
the radar, however, don’t publish anything,
anywhere. Even if you aren’t connected to
your boss online, somebody can get the
information back to him or her. Also, don’t
forget any confidentiality and conduct
agreements you’ve signed. You don’t want
to violate your contract and end up jobless
while you hunt for a new position.
Don’t badmouth your current or
previous employer
Just like in an interview, keep your rants
about your boss or company to yourself.
When hiring managers see that you’re
willing to trash a colleague online, they
assume you’ll do it to them, too. Plus, there’s
always the possibility of getting fired if
someone sees your negative comments.
Your Online
Profile: Make It
Work For You
If you’re using your social networking
profile in your job hunt, you can do more
than just post “I’m looking for a job” as
your status. Cleaning the digital dirt from
your profile and joining professional groups
are good moves, but they’re not the only
ways to make your profile work for you.
• Include a link to your professional
profile on your résumé. (Make sure
your address is professional and
simple.)
• On sites such as LinkedIn,
ask colleagues to give you
recommendations.
• If your friends have a connection to
someone at the company you want to
work for, ask them if they would be
comfortable serving as a reference.
• Keep your profile updated so that
your information is current.
• Log in and check your profile
frequently. You want to know if
someone contacts you via a private
message and you want to make sure
your information is accurate.
“I’m looking
for a job”
13
SECTION IV
The interview and Beyond
You rocked your résumé, finessed your cover letter, got the call and have landed an
interview! Now all you’ve got to do is convince the employer that you’re the best
candidate for the job by dressing appropriately, using the correct body language,
answering questions flawlessly, and asking the right questions of your own.
No pressure.
14
Interview Basics
The clothes
Maybe you shouldn’t judge a book by its
cover, but hiring managers are judging
you by your attire. If you walk into an
interview wearing your wrinkled gym
clothes, you’ve already lost the job.
Dress like a professional and show the
employer that you care. Although each
company culture is different, here are
some rules of thumb:
• No running shoes or flip-flops.
• No T-shirts or shirts with graphics,
ironic phrases or offensive
language.
• Unless told otherwise, assume
jeans are not acceptable. If you
can wear jeans, make sure they
don’t have rips in the knees.
Preparation
The best way to impress the interviewer
is to do your homework. Preparation
shows that you’re taking this job
seriously and you have the dedication
to do a good job.
Know the company’s history, the
leaders, its competition and any related
news items.
Be ready for the questions that
might come your way. Looking surprised
and saying, “Uhm, I don’t know,” makes
you appear unprepared.
Bring extra copies of your résumé
and any other materials that the
employer requested or that you need,
such as a list of references.
Don’t lie. If you have a controversial
or unpleasant fact that you can’t avoid
discussing, address it directly. Better to be
honest now than get caught in a lie later.
What they’ll ask
Answer the questions with
confidence. Sometimes the answer
is less important than your ability to
maintain composure and think clearly.
You know they’re going to ask you
questions, but what will they ask you?
• Expect the classics: Tell me about
yourself. Why do you want to
work here? What’s your biggest
weakness? Where do you see
yourself in five years?
• If you have any gaps in your work
history, expect a question or two
about them.
• Employers are going to look for
connections between your work
history and the position for which
they’re hiring. Expect even more
questions if you’re switching
industries.
• Don’t be surprised if you get a
brainteaser. You might not know
how many milk jugs it would take to
empty the Atlantic Ocean, but you
might get asked that anyway.
What you should say
You know what they’ll ask, but what
should you say in response?
What should you ask them?
• Ask any burning questions you
have about the company culture,
the position and the managing
style. These issues affect you every
day if you get an offer.
• Don’t ask about salary. Let the
hiring manager bring it up first.
• Ask the interviewer why he or
she works at the company and
what they like or dislike about the
company or the job. Prove that
you’re looking for a job where you’ll
be happy and stay awhile.
• Don’t leave the interview wishing
you had asked what you were
thinking. As long as the question
isn’t offensive, get it out of the way.
You don’t want to get an offer and
still have unanswered questions.
Focus on the interviewer, not on
yourself. Use your responses to show
what you’re bringing to the company.
15
Following Up
The interview is over and you can
breathe more easily, but don’t relax just
yet. Your work isn’t done until you send
a thank-you note to the interviewer.
Depending on the situation, 21 percent
of surveyed employers would consider
dismissing a candidate who didn’t send
a thank you note after the interview. But
even then, your job search isn’t over.
Send a note
Saying “thank you” isn’t only polite,
it’s necessary in business. All it takes
are a few short sentences: Express
your gratitude for the interviewer’s
time and mention how much you look
forward to hearing from him or her in the
future. If you interviewed with several
people, send each one a note. If you
don’t have the contact information for
each one–though you should ask for it
during the interview–then express your
appreciation for their time in the letter
that you do send to the interviewer.
So, how should you do it?
E-mail In today’s digital world,
an e-mailed thank you is perfectly
acceptable. An e-mail is quick and
efficient, so you can send it a few hours
after the interview and the interviewer
receives it immediately. Now, when
making the final decision, the hiring
manager knows you have manners.
16
Snail mail Some candidates prefer to
send an e-mail followed by a traditional
letter, which is appropriate in most cases
because you show that you’re polite
and thorough. Only sending a traditional
letter is risky because the process could
take days and the decision could be
made before your letter arrives. Only rely
on a physical letter as your sole form of
thanks if you have no e-mail address for
the hiring manager.
Phone call In most circumstances,
a phone call isn’t the best avenue for
gratitude because hiring managers are
busy and don’t have time to take a call
from every applicant.
Checking in
Waiting to hear from employers can
be frustrating; you don’t know what’s
going on and you’re at the mercy of
their schedules. During the interview
process, if you weren’t told what the
time table for a hiring decision is, feel
free to ask. That way you can assess
the situation as time passes. Once the
time is right to check in, you can send
an e-mail or make a call to the hiring
manager. You can politely mention that
you haven’t heard anything and want
to see if a decision has been made.
Remain on your best behavior because
you could still be in the running and a
misstep could cost you the offer.
Respect the timeline If the hiring
manager said a decision would be made
in one week, don’t call tomorrow. Give
him or her at least the full week to make
a decision. Wait an extra day or two if
possible just to give them some leeway—
they’re trying to get other work done, too.
Be reasonable If you don’t know what
the employer’s timeline is for making a
decision, use your best judgment. You’re
probably one of several candidates to
interview, so assume that it will take a
week or more to get through everyone.
When you know enough time has passed,
feel free to reach out to the hiring manager.
Control yourself Once you’ve
reached out, don’t do it again. Unless
the hiring manager told you to check
back, assume that you’ll hear from him
or her. Checking in once is thorough;
twice is nagging; three times or more
can be a complete turn off.
Don’t stop looking
You might really, really, really want
this job, but don’t stop looking at other
opportunities. Unfortunately, you might
not get an offer for this position. The
company might be taking too long to get
back to you and you need a job before
then. Or, better yet, you could find the job
of your dreams somewhere else. Until
you’ve accepted an offer, keep searching.
SECTION 5
The job offer
They like you! THEY REALLY LIKE YOU! But consider
a few things before you say accept the offer just yet.
17
The Job Offer
Salary
Benefits and perks
As excited as you are to receive an offer, don’t let
happiness cloud your judgment when salary talks
begin. You need to be comfortable with your pay.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
• Can I survive on this salary?
• Is the pay commensurate to the job duties?
• Is this salary appropriate for my
experience and education?
• Am I pleased with this figure or will I feel
undervalued after short period of time?
Salary isn’t the only way to measure your
compensation. Factor in your benefits and perks
to see if your overall compensation package
complements your income requirements.
• Do you receive health benefits (medical,
dental, vision or disability) and what is your
financial obligation for each of them?
• Do you receive other benefits or
reimbursements for wellness,
transportation or volunteering?
• Do you have a flexible work schedule?
• Can you work from home?
• Do you wear a uniform, casual wear or
business attire? (Replacing your wardrobe
and dry cleaning add up.)
• What is the salary structure at this
company? Can I renegotiate my pay after
a trial period?
• Cost of gas, child care, meals – is it worth it?
• How long is your commute? How much
vacation and PTO time do you get? How
does your schedule affect your work/life
balance?
Company culture
What kind of place will you be working
in and does it suit you?
• Is the boss a micromanager?
• Is hierarchy a big part of the culture?
• Is the company involved in the
community (via donations or volunteering
opportunities)?
• Are you more comfortable in a casual or
a formal environment? (Think about the
dress code, cubicles versus offices, use of
first names or last names.)
18
SECTION 6
additional resources
Learn more about college degrees and certifications.
www.degreedriven.com
Focuses on new graduates entering the work
force who are learning the ropes of the business
world and looking for entry-level jobs.
www.careerrookie.com
For talented retail workers searching for
new opportunities.
www.workinretail.com
Get trained for any job with the right preparation
from CBInstitute.
www.careerbuilderinstitute.com
A job-search and workplace advice resource for
African American job seekers and employees.
www.blackcareers.com
For experienced IT and engineering
professionals looking for the right job.
www.sologig.com
Get a free career assessment and find out what
career is right for you.
www.careerpath.com
Provides advice in both English and Spanish for
bilingual and Spanish-speaking job seekers.
www.empleoscb.com
Find your next career in the restaurant
and food service industry.
www.jobsonthemenu.com
®
For baby boomers looking for job advice and
open positions for experienced workers.
www.primecb.com
Find one of the many rising jobs in
health care.
www.miracleworkers.com
19
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