ARG Tips Page

The Allen Resource Group plays a fundamental role in recruitment of engineers and other professionals for industries. Companies contract us to help them staff their critical needs positions with individuals who have the right skill-set and attitude. They count on our expertise to help them find the most qualified candidates.The companies that we represent know, that when we send them a resume, it will be reviewed with the utmost consideration.

We work with the company’s hiring managers in seeking out high caliber, potential candidates that both meet and exceed the expectations of the position. We provide our candidates with a behind-the-scenes perspective on a company as well as insights and trends about specific industries.

We will help set up your initial interview with an employer, prepare you for your interview, and help negotiate salary on your behalf. But you still must work hard in being fully prepared to conduct yourself in a professional manner. In order to help you represent yourself, please review the tips on this page.

The purpose of a résumé is to win an interview. It is your written advertisement to convince an employer that you have what it takes to be successful in the position that is available. Your résumé should stimulate interest in meeting you and learning more about you.

An effective résumé should begin with a professional summary of three to eight sentences. Highlight your strengths, experience and education. This is where you should list your major accomplishments such as improving a product and cutting costs. Don't confuse the professional with the personal. Never include marital status, religious or political affiliation on your résumé.

List your job history in reverse chronological order. If you've got 25 or 30 years of experience, it's not necessary to provide a blow-by-blow account of your employment history. Most employers look for upward movement and increased responsibility. So, outline the early experience and provide greater details on what you've been doing in the last 10 or 15 years. Be sure to include the key words of your field in your work history.

List education in reverse chronological order, degrees or licenses first, followed by certificates and advanced training. Set degrees apart so they are easily seen. Put in boldface whatever will be most impressive.

A good résumé is short, simple and well-written. Keep it to one page if you're just starting out and two or three pages if you have extensive experience.

• Being late is the surest way to flub an interview. It says nothing good about your organizational skills.

• Dress appropriately. It never hurts to be a little overdressed. You want to show the prospective employer that you're serious, professional and ready to work.

• Do your homework. Read as much as you can about the company before the interview. Start with the company's Web site. Basic research will show the interviewers that you're serious about working for the company.

• Employers value expertise, but place a premium on job candidates who are energetic, ambitious, hard-working, respectful, positive, efficient and trustworthy. In short, competence in your field isn't enough to get the job.

• Make eye contact with everyone you meet during the interview. If nothing else, this shows confidence. It also shows that you're interested in what people are saying and therefore the job. Interviewers are sizing you up, and you want to get a feel for the company.

• Keep your responses short and to the point. Don't ramble or blather about irrelevant topics. Don't try take over the interview by talking endlessly and ignoring the interviewer's concerns. Your pitch must be clear: This is what I can do for you.

• Be sure to have several extra copies of your résumé with you, because things routinely get lost in the shuffle and you can't be sure everyone will have a copy. Hand your résumé out as needed to those conducting the interview.

• Rule of thumb: An honest question deserves an honest answer. Don't overstate your educational background or work experience. If there are gaps in your résumé, be prepared to discuss them openly and honestly.

• Never discuss salary. The first person to throw out a number will lose the negotiation. Your recruiter will negotiate on your behalf and since we are paid on a percentage of your salary it is in our best interest to get you the highest possible salary.

It is very important that the day after an interview the candidate write the interviewer a thank you letter expressing appreciation for the interview. The purpose of this letter is to ;

• Show appreciation for the employer's interest in you.

• Reiterate your interest in the position and in the organization.

• Review or remind the employer about your qualifications for the position. If you thought of something you forgot to mention in the interview, mention it in your follow-up / thank-you letter.

• Demonstrate that you have good manners and know to write a thank-you letter.

The following are examples of follow-up letters that can be adapted and sent after any interview.

Interviewer Name

Interviewer Title

Company Name

Dear Mr./Ms. Contact,

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the Software Engineer position at XYZ Company, Inc., with me. After meeting with you and observing the company's operations, I am further convinced that my background and skills coincide well with your needs.

I really appreciate that you took so much time to acquaint me with the company. I am very excited about this position and convinced that I would be able to contribute to your department quickly.

In addition to my qualifications and experience, I will bring excellent work habits and judgment to this position. With the countless demands on your time, I am sure that you require people who can be trusted to carry out their responsibilities with minimal supervision.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding your hiring decision. Again, thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Contact Information

Dear Ms. Smith:

Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you and see your facilities last Wednesday. Both the interview and the tour made for an exciting and complete day.

I was particularly impressed with your warehousing procedures. Mr. Allen was so thorough in explaining your process to me, and I will be corresponding directly with him to express my appreciation.

Again, thank you for your hospitality during my visit and for all your efforts to arrange my visit. Having seen your operation, I am all the more enthused about the career opportunity that Sheldon Computers and Electronics offers. I look forward to your decision.

Sincerely,

This is a general, all-purpose sample letter of resignation that can be used as a guideline for resigning from your job.

Today’s Date

Manager’s Name

Company Name

Company Address

Dear Mr./Ms. Manager:

Please accept this letter as my notice of resignation, effective (date).

This was not an easy decision to make. I am grateful for the rewarding employment I've had with (company name). After much consideration, though, I have accepted a position with another company and my decision is final.

Sincerely,

(Your Signature)

Making a decision to leave an employer is never an easy one. It is an emotional process that involves our natural fear of change. Even making a positive move by accepting a new position, for all the right reasons, can be a little scary. Anxieties about leaving a familiar job may cloud your thought process.

For that reason, it is in your best interest to become educated on the prevalence and impact of counteroffers. And since counteroffers can create confusion and buyer's remorse, it is particularly important to understand what's being cast upon you so you can guide your decision in the right direction. Counteroffers are made by employers in response to an employee's notice or threat of resignation.

Counteroffers are commonly delivered in the form of flattery. For example:

• You can't desert the team and your friends. You will leave us hanging.

• You're too valuable. We need you.

• We were just about to give you a promotion and a raise. It was confidential until now.

• The president/director wants to meet with you before you make a final decision.

Counteroffers can be in the form of compensation:

• A promotion with greater responsibility and money

• Promises or future considerations

• A modified reporting structure

Accepting a counteroffer is considered career suicide for many reasons. Here are a few to consider:

• Statistics show that 75% to 90% of those who accept counter offers quit within six months or are terminated within one year. Counteroffers are usually nothing more than stall devices to give your employer time to replace you or make a transition on their timetable. Once word gets out, the relationship you enjoy with your co-workers will not be the same. You could lose the personal satisfaction of peer-group acceptance. Meantime the example you have set of gaining a counteroffer can not be tolerated for long by management if they are to maintain harmony within the group. There is a high likelihood that your boss will be looking for your replacement immediately and at a cheaper price

• Has the counteroffer really changed anything? The driving force, the main issue that motivated you to look for another job, is still present, regardless of any change in short-term compensation . Company culture, practices and policies seldom change. The circumstances that caused you to consider a career move remain. If more money was the only reason does getting a raise make you more willing to endure the circumstances that prompted you to accept a new position?

• Since your company has salary guidelines, it is probable that your actions merely accelerated your next raise. When promotion time comes around, your employer will remember that your loyalty can be bought and if the economy tanks, chances are very good that you will be at the top of the list for personnel cutbacks.

• If you accepted the new offer and then accept a counter offer you will have burned the bridge with your prospective new employer and tarnished your reputation within your industry. Chances are good that your new employer has already cancelled interviews, open job notices and arranged for training. If your new employer pulled the rug out from under you by rescinding the offer, how would you feel? Don't pull the rug from under them. It's like leaving someone at the alter

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