accelerate your career
the ultimate handbook for
mid-career job seekers.

content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

foreword.
It’s a dynamic time in the world of work, and as a professional who hasmade your way through many of the changes, you’ve achieved quite
a bit in the 5 to 10 years since graduating. Now is a critical point inyour career as you move into the next stage in your work life, which
requires clarity of goal and an honest assessment of your skills andaccomplishments. From this, you will be able to find and land the ideal
jobs that will keep you on track in the years ahead.
Why is this an important time in your career? Now that you’veestablished a clear career track — having chosen a field to specialize in,pursuing new skills to further your competencies and setting your sights
on what to achieve next — you will need to be more deliberate in theway you seek out and take on career opportunities. At this point in yourcareer, further establishing your professional brand is critical for later on
as you seek to move into management and executive positions. Over the
next few years, you will build on your brand and accumulate valuable
experience on your resume.
This handbook can serve as an important resource to help you better
find career opportunities that fit your goals and needs. To do this, we’ve
asked some of our leading employment experts around the world tooffer their thoughts and advice on refining your search, connecting with
employers and landing that ideal job on the next rung of your climb to
the top. In this handbook, you’ll find practical tips in your search.
As one of the world’s largest HR companies, Randstad has helped
professionals like you around the world for more than 50 years. We’ve
witnessed a lot of changes during that time and have worked withcandidates to adapt and thrive with the changes. As you make your way
on your professional journey, we’re here to help you every step of theway with advice, resources and, of course, jobs to fulfill your goals. We
wish you good luck in the road ahead.

2

content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

refining yourprofessional goals.

As a professional who has been in the job market for a few years, you face a
few critical questions at this point in your career. “Do I continue down the same
path, working in my present field and the same type of roles or do I want tobranch out or change my trajectory?”
This question often arises because since having graduated 5 to 10 years earlier,
you’ve had the opportunity to go out into the world and start building yourexperience and skill sets. In the beginning, it was all about getting familiarizedwith working in an organization, learning how to collaborate with colleagues,
picking up many new skills and generally soaking up as much knowledge as
possible to get started in your work life.
Since then, you’ve become more confident and assured of what you arecapable of and what you still need to learn. Along the way, you’ve experienced
challenges and achieved milestones you are proud to add to your C.V., but
you’ve also had some setbacks that serve as important learning lessons. Whilethey may not have seemed educational at the time, each of these failures hashelped you to grow both personally and professionally. More importantly, yourstumbles and your achievements help you better understand what you hope toaccomplish as a professional.

Cameron Brett, the Managing Director of Randstad Professionals in Japan, points outthat mid-career job seekers typically are transitioning from an exploratory part of theirprofessional journey to one in which they start to specialize in their skills. As such they needto adopt a longer view of their career goals and their skill-building objectives. By having anhonest view of these important considerations, they can hone in on the kind of roles theyshould seek next.
“Something I recommend for everyone is to do a skills assessment — where they are today,
where they need to be in five years. Take a look at what skills do they currently have what
are they lacking,” he says, pointing out that it’s more important than ever for candidates tounderstand their abilities and their needs in order to set realistic and achievable goals. “I
think retraining and constant education is becoming more and more important as part ofthat consideration.”
Beyond conducting a skills assessment, you should also consider seeking out a mentor tohelp you define your goals. Why is this important? Part of the process for determining goals
comes from our desire to fulfill our ambition as a professional, to proudly demonstrate ourabilities, experiences and accomplishment. Brett says mentors can often help by sharing
their own journey and efforts, providing a clear path forward to their disciples.
They set clear examples that you can aspire to and follow. In his own career development,
Brett said he has reached out on LinkedIn to professionals he admires and asked for theirpractical advice, even those not in his network. This can provide truly useful insights into
your career goals and how to get there.
Another consideration for setting your goals? Honestly assessing how you can adapt tochange. For instance, if you are an engineer aspiring to be a chef, knowing whether you
can learn to cook may not be the biggest obstacle (cooking, after all, is the hobby of many).
Instead, whether you can adapt to a career of working evenings may be a bigger hurdle.
While this is a glaring example, there are many instances where your adaptability will help
you determine your career path and, as a result, your choice in job searches.

3content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

Finally, perhaps one of the most important factors insetting your professional goals are your personal goals.
These may determine your career track because they
may be prioritized over work objectives. For instance,
do you have a desire to be located in a specificgeographic location? Do you plan on an evenly split
work-life balance? Are you seeking to retire early,
which means seeking positions with accommodatingcompensation? All of these questions should guide
your professional decision-making because if yourpersonal and professional goals don’t align, you will
ultimate be unhappy with one part of your life.

three tips to help you
refine career goals.
undertake a self-assessment
Having worked for some years, you should stop andassess your strengths and weaknesses to help refine yourgoals. If you are lacking certain skills to advance to theroles you hope to secure, either acquire those skills or
shift your expectations. You can only do this with knowing
yourself.
seek inspiration and guidance
Even if you don’t formally participate in a mentorshipprogram, seek out leaders who you aspire to be andlearn how they achieved their goals. These can beacquaintances, managers or just complete strangers. The
key is to learn from their triumphs and failures.
know your AQ
You’ve heard IQ and EQ, but are you adept in your AQ(adaptability quotient)? The more flexible and adaptable
you are, the more options are available in defining yourgoals. Being able to grow within the dynamic times means
you have different ways to reaching those pursuits.

4content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

polishingyour credentials.
When it comes to a successful job search, nothing is more important
than your resume. What’s on it captures the essence of you as a working
professional, including your education and training, work experienceand personality and ambitions. Unfortunately, it’s also a document where
jobseekers most often make mistakes. They can stuff it with too much
irrelevant information or fail to disclose the qualifications that recruiters andprospective employer want to know about. So when it comes to building
your credentials, consider the following best practices to stand out.
If you’ve been in the workforce for a decade or so, your credentials needto reflect the relevant skills you’ve accumulated early on in your career aswell as those you will need to move into the next stage in your professional
journey. What employers need to see in your resume and online C.V. is acontinuous move forward, an ability to embrace not only an increasinglevel of professional responsibilities but also a willingness and capacity
for acquiring new skills and problem-solving milestones. Additionally,
successfully working in a team environment is nearly required for every role,so highlight your contribution as part of a cohesive group.

These are overarching principles to follow when considering building your credentials,
but when it comes to creating an impactful resume, some critical practices should be
kept in mind, according to Dirk la Baume, a branch manager with Randstad Germany.
Job applicants often fail to adhere to some simple guidelines and other nuanced rules
when presenting themselves. That can make the difference between being selected for aninterview to receiving a rejection letter.
create separate C.V.s
A common mistake applicants make is not creating separate resumes for different job
roles, says la Baume. While there is no need for a separate one for each job opening, ajobseeker should at least have separate ones that emphasize different competencies
befitting different roles. For instance, a project manager supporting sales and marketingshould have one that touts negotiating and contracting skills and another focused on
customer engagement and outreach.
“You really should carefully consider what skills are being asked for in any job posting andalign that to your own credentials. Sometimes these are hard skills and other times they
may be soft, but the point is the resume you submit should specifically address in very
concrete terms the competencies asked for,” he says.

5content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

Some best practices include avoid generalizing your skills. For
instance, specify what tools or technologies you currently andpreviously used in your jobs. Are you a Salesforce expert? Specify
how you have in-depth knowledge on using this popular customer
relationship management platform to enhance engagement andincrease sales. There are many additional examples of how toprovide details on your knowledge and skill set that will catch theeye of recruiters. In this article, Monster explains why failing toprovide specifics on a resume can doom your job search.

At the same time, make sure not to narrow your skills too muchon LinkedIn. Because you don’t have the opportunity to create
different profiles, you should broadly emphasize the skills andcontributions you have made to employers. Include important
keywords that apply to the family of roles you desire. Also
highlight soft skills that may be important to employers.
Ensuring your credentials are updated and relevant is a criticalstep in finding your ideal job. Adhering to best practices will help
shorten the time to find that ideal role and help keep you on theradar of prospective employers for years to come.

three tips to help you enhance your credentials.
be contextual
Avoid generic resumes and cover letter when applying to jobs. First, employers want to see
you have made an effort to ensure your qualifications align with their position so they will wantspecific examples. Highlight examples of how solving problems in a previous role will help you
in a new role with the prospective employer.
be personal (with reason)
Your credentials should also demonstrate your personal goals and ambitions. Demonstrate
how your personal beliefs or lifestyle aligns with what the employer is looking for (if you want a
job with a sports equipment company, specify that you regularly participate in some of these
activities). Avoid sharing too much details about your personal life.
be a thought leaderYour credentials should also include recommendations and published and shared articles that
demonstrate your engagement with your field and colleagues. Hiring managers want to attract
the best in the field, and recognition by colleagues and industry organizations affirm yourthought leadership in the field.

6content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

strengthening
your online personality.

As part of the post-digital generation, your online personality is an essential part of your professional brand. To the world, it
defines who you are, the experience you have accumulated, the caliber of colleagues and friends you associate with and theknowledge you have shared publicly. Prospective employers can tell a lot about you through your online personality so it’sabsolutely critical you take care to build and strengthen this aspect of your career.
Because you have worked in the field for some years, employers expect your online personality to reflect a level of growthcommensurate to your experience. What you’ve achieved so far in your career, your participation in professional societies andcommunities and other online mentions can either be an asset or a hindrance in your search for the perfect job. That’s why you
should take the time to assess your online personality (yes, everyone has one) and take steps to strengthen what it says about you
as a professional.
Where do you start? The challenging aspect of managing your online personality is that the digital world is constantly changing.
That means information about you can be found across a growing base of channels, making control of it more unwieldy anddifficult. At the same time, finding that information may become more onerous for employers because there is an ever-expanding
universe of content to sift through. As a result, you must both promote your online brand and manage access to it at the sametime. Controlling all of the online information about you is nearly impossible, but there are some measures you can take to put
yourself in the best light.

7

content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

be authentic
According to Inge Dubois, Innovation Lead & Manager of Customized
Solutions for Randstad Belgium, jobseekers can’t hide who they are anymore
because the Internet has brought unprecedented transparency into everyorganization and the people who work for them. As a result, jobseekers should
strive to build an authentic online personality rather than pass themselves off
as someone they are not.
“Make sure your public profiles reflect who you really are and not who you
want to be in the future. You can make clear your aspirations, but don’t present
an inaccurate picture of who you are today. Don’t be someone you are notbecause it can have a very negative impact on our credibility.” Dubois urges.
To do this, be accurate when describing your professional achievements
and contributions to past employers. Remember, your information is widely
searchable and may be viewed by prospective employers, past employers
and those in your professional network. If your profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook
and other social media don’t align and isn’t an accurate portrayal of yourprofessional life, you will be quickly found out.
On the other hand, these social channels can be a powerful resource toamplify your personality, to interact with professionals you aspire to be and toseek feedback and affirmation from colleagues and acquaintances. Too often
jobseekers overlook aspects of their online personality when they should betending to it.

three tips for strengthening
your online personality.
be consistent and authentic
When building your online brand, focus on the subject matter that you are an
expert in. Avoid sharing or commenting on topics that are not your area ofexpertise because that will only make you appear inauthentic and detract fromyour strengths.
embrace video
The future of online content is in video so become comfortable with creating
content that leverages this media. Not only will prospective employers get toknow you through the small screen, it will also prepare you for the anticipatedexplosion of video interviewing in the future.
be judicious with your posts
Sharing great content and ideas online will help elevate your professional
brand, but always think twice about what you are sharing before you press thatpublish button. Is it appropriate for your intended audience, and is there a riskof offending them unnecessarily? Remember, online thoughts are indelible sothey will live on forever.

Want to be recognized as a thought leader in your line of work? Consider
publishing regular posts on LinkedIn. You may also want to build a following
on Twitter and Facebook to reach a broader audience. Aside from creating
your own content, remember to share that of colleagues and others in yournetwork. Sharing is an effective way to burnish your personality as a deliberate
and engaged professionals.
As digitalization continues to evolve, be mindful that you should takeadvantage of all opportunities to leverage your brand. For instance, as video
becomes more important in professional settings, you may want to create
content on YouTube or Vimeo to attract a following. Most importantly, leverage
the experience and knowledge you have gained so far in your career.
8content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

fire upyour search.
Finding your perfect job at this point in your career can be challenging. You
want one that will help you maintain a healthy trajectory as you advancetoward your professional goals. Because you are now focused on honing
specific skills and becoming more specialized in your field, you need to findgood matches that benefit both you and prospective employers. Fortunately,
today’s search technologies are continuously improving and can help you
effectively and efficiently find the roles right for you.
More importantly, employers are using better technologies to ensure you
are the right fit for them as well. That means it’s more important than everfor you to promote the experience and skills they are looking for because
recruiters are becoming more exacting in their selection also. Empowered withsophisticated tools that quickly screen out those who don’t fit hiring managers’
specification, recruiters will not even look at your resume if it’s passed over by
the technology. So how can you ensure your search is a fruitful one?

According to Monster, employers posting openings look for candidates with specificexperience and skills based on a set of key terms that may include not only skillspecific ones but also location, industry, alternative job titles and abbreviations. For
instance, you might be a certified project management professional, but companies
may look for the term PMO (project management office). As you consider what toinclude in your profile, make sure you include all relevant terms that will help you befound. The same applies when searching on job boards and corporate career site, as
Fast Company explains.

In the future, recruitment marketing
technology will help job seekers andemployers find each other moreeasily through automation, buttoday you will still need to expend
some energy to find the roles you
hope to land.

According to Jennifer Seith, Senior Vice President of Recruiting Strategy &Innovation with Randstad U.S., understanding how employers search for you
will help you to be found more easily. At the same time, you’ll have valuable
insights into what kinds of information you should include on your resume, thekeywords that will help you get found and the skills and experience that mattermost to companies.
“To get great results, you should get educated about the technology behindsearch, understand the search terms used by an employer you would like towork for and build your profile and resume around this information,” Seith says.
“The trick is to ensure that your skills match up as well as that you are neither
over- or under-qualified for the position you desire.”9content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

networking still key
Although we tend to seek out opportunities through online job first, the majority ofhires are still made through networking. That’s why your search for the ideal position
should also include a good bit of legwork and in-person meetings. Whether you do
so at industry events, connect with acquaintances at alumni gatherings or just attend
local job fairs, nurturing relationships with humans may yield better results for you.
Seith recommends that you start your search by leveraging your network.
Narrow your search to the kinds of companies you would like to join, and checkyour contacts to see if any of them are employed there and can help make anintroduction. If not, visit the career portals of these companies and search for
openings that are a good fit with your skills and experience.
“Applying for a job online is not going to get you noticed by the employer. However,
if you have access to an inside advocate, even if they are a remote acquaintance,
you have a much better chance of landing the job you want with that employer,” sheadds.
So as you look to intensify your search for the right career opportunities, rememberthat you need a comprehensive strategy focused on being found, finding andnetworking. Only by undertaking such an exhaustive approach will you be able tofind the best job for you.

three tips for finding the right jobs.
know the market
What are the skills you possess that employers want? Knowing what’s indemand will help you narrow your search by focusing on the roles most in
demand. Not only will you have a better chance at securing that job but you’ll
likely also be better rewarded. Here’s a list of this year’s most in-demand skills
compiled by LinkedIn.
learn to network
Networking can be difficult, but when you get the hang of it, your efforts
will pay off. Look for opportunities where you can get to know others in yourorganization, in the industry and even in competing companies. Because
networking is still the most effective way to land a job, you never know who
you are talking to, they might be your next manager or advocate. Inc magazine
provides these 7 tips for good networking practices.
aspire to join the right company
Searching for jobs that you are qualified for may bring a lot of leads, so you
may want to narrow your efforts to organizations you admire and want to workfor. By establishing a relationship with recruiters and hiring managers before
you start to look for a job, opportunities may periodically arise and come yourway through these relationships.

10content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

vetting
potential employers.
Since graduating from school and over several years,
you’ve had the opportunity to work for one or more
employers and formed a clearer picture of the careerahead of you. Defining what you want to achieve
professionally is only part of the work you need toundertake to land the ideal job; finding an employer
whose mission and culture are a good fit for you isequally important. Without it, your dream job can turninto a nightmare.
With demand for workers rising, it seems employers
are sweetening their offers all the time. Companies
are providing concierge services, unlimited paid
time off, on-site gyms and other extravagant perks
to attract the best talent in the marketplace. As ajobseeker, there may be no better time to look for that
perfect role along with a bundle of benefits.
It may be a worker’s market, but that doesn’t mean
you should take the first attractive offer that comes
your way. At this point in your career, there are somebenefits that are more important to you professionallyand personally than others. Also, depending on you
career goals, you should carefully weigh the value
proposition a prospective employer may dangle infront of you because it can have a long-term impact.

Vetting prospective employers is a critical task you
should prioritize. The decision to join a company caneither accelerate your career or sideline it for years
to come. Finding a good fit will result in support andgrowth while a poor fit could result in a damaged
professional brand and certainly wasted time. Also,
joining an ideal organization could provide a fast track
to executive positions, fulfilling your goal more quickly
should you wish to pursue a management-directed path.
So what are the factors you should keep in mind whenassessing the fit of an employer? Start by defining
your most important goals and then determine how
a particular organization can help you fulfill them. For
instance, workers 10 years into their career may beconsidering starting a family, which requires a healthy
work-life balance and a family-friendly culture. Ask if theprospective employer offers family leave time, financial
support for childcare, flexible hours and other perks that
accommodate parents’ demanding schedules.
Similarly, if you desire to work abroad, find out if an
employer has a strong ex-patriate practice and if
your role could be relocated. Along with that, look for
management and executive training programs that canhelp accelerate you to move into those positions. A
supportive organization will also offer a robust learningand development platform to help its workers at alllevels to continuously upskill and remain current to thelatest market trends.
11content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

Of course financial reward is always top of mind when considering any new
position, but look beyond the compensation package. If the company is public, canemployees participate in stock purchasing plans? Additionally, has its stock pricegrown during the recent economic expansion or is it flat or even depressed? This
may indicate the financial health of a company, which impact its viability and ability
to reward employees.
There are many considerations when determining whether an employer is right foryou. Most importantly, do your homework on review sites such as Kununu and otherprofessional networking channels. Through these sources, you’ll learn more about
the employer from its current and former workers. And if you have contacts within
the organization, ask for an honest assessment of their employer. Even if you don’t
have access, ask the company if you can interview some of their workers about
their experience. Open and transparent organizations should accommodate theserequests.
Remember, today’s market favors the jobseekers so take your time to research
the companies you are interested in. Ask questions and look for referrals who
can provide an insider view. Most importantly, make your selection based on thecompany’s ability to help you reach your professional goals.

three tips for assessing
prospective employers.
do your homework
Never before have companies been so transparent. Thanks to review sites, social channels
and other online resources, outsiders have complete visibility into the inner workingsof just about every employer. Take advantage of this richness of information to help
determine whether a company is right for you.
alignment of corporate value to yours
Make sure any employer you want to join espouses the same values you support. Whether
it’s around workforce diversity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility or some othercause, you want to ensure you can proudly claim to be part of an organization you believein.
read the annual report
Want to really know the health and business of an employer? If it’s a public company,
review its annual report and associated filings. These contain highly detailed information
about business, any outstanding legal and regulatory issues and other important insights.

12content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

perfecting the artof the interview.
By this point in your career, you’ve probably
undergone a number of interviews to getto where you are. It’s good practice forlater on in your career because as you
advance into more significant roles, thequestions will become more challenging
and the interviewers will thoroughly test
your knowledge and expertise in your field.
To ensure you make the right impression,
adhere to some important rules to guide
you through a successful session.
Even though you may feel comfortablewith the process, make a serious effort toprepare for each one. Whether it’s an inperson intake or a session over video, yourperformance will largely determine whether
you move to the next phase in the selection
process. But your success at the interview
will also be determined by the homework
you perform ahead of time. Anticipating
the questions and preparing the answers
in advance will make your performance
exponentially better and give you agreater chance to get hired. LinkedIn has
developed a list of commonly asked soft
skills questions you might want to review aspart of your preparation.

13

content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

Because you are an experienced worker in the field,
recruiters and hiring managers expect you to answer theirquestions with very specific knowledge and insights so be
prepared to discuss your technical and teamwork skills in
detail. You should remember key milestones (here are 25) inyou career and dates because the interviewer will surely ask
about these accomplishments. Provide specific examples
of how your contribution to past and present employers led
to a positive business impact. Make sure to always link yourwork to an outcome related to the firm’s business.
Having accumulated years of experience in the field, you
may be asked about your leadership and teamwork skills,
both of which will become increasingly important as you
advance in your career. Make sure to give concrete examples
of how you’ve collaborated with colleagues to solve difficult
challenges and advanced the team’s mission. Be specificabout the achievements, such as a 20% gain in customer
retention, a reduction in days in delivery of products andservices or cutting costs in your department by 10%. Hiring
managers need to be assured that your accomplishments
led to a real impact.
This will likely lead to questions about how you would put
your skills and experience to work for the prospective
employer. Again, doing your homework will prepare you
for this line of questioning. You should know the businessand its markets well beforehand and envision how you canhelp make gains. Also conduct research on its competitorsand offer up insights that demonstrate you understand thechallenges facing the business.
At the interview, be sure to carefully listen to questions incontext. For some jobseekers, the process can be nerveracking so there is a natural tendency to quickly address ahiring manager’s question. This may result in an incomplete
or wrong answer. It is better to form a well-considered reply
than to offer a half-baked one so take the time to reflect andthen provide an opinion. If an interview really rattles you,the Wall Street Journal advises being mentally preparedin advance by practicing breathing and focusing on being
calm.

Also be prepared with your own list of questions that are
specific to your career goals. Does the company offer
formalized training and development to advance youragenda? What are the hiring manager’s expectations? Are
there growth opportunities within the organization in thenear future? Remember, the session is as much a chancefor you to learn about the employer as it is for them to learn
about you.
Finally, be gracious in concluding the interview by offering
more time and thanking the interviewer. Make sure to discuss
next steps so you know what to expect in the employer’s
selection process. You should be provided a timeframe for adetermination on your application. Because it’s a jobseeker’s
market, companies are likely to act more urgently so expect
a more expedited process.
Sitting for an interview can be an anxiety-producing event,
but with a little homework in advance and some practices,
you’ll be able to ace these in no time.

three tips for elevating yourinterview performance.
be personable
Let your personality shine through in these sessions. By relating to the interviewer, you will gain theirtrust and put both of you at ease. Don’t underestimate the importance of small talk, which can relateback to your competencies as a professional in the field.
practice good nonverbal communication
According to Monster, body gesture, making eye contact, speaking with a confident voice, a firm
handshake and other nonverbal cues are important so make sure to practice beforehand with afriend of family member. These demonstrate a level of self-confidence employers look for.
be judicious in sharing information
Oversharing is a common problem in interviews. When asked a question, speak directly to it anddon’t go off on tangents that may confuse the interviewer. If there is additional information related tothe question, make this brief and to the point.

14

content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

determining
the right offer.
Nothing feels better than to get an offer for the job you want. Of course the natural reaction is to accept it
quickly, but if you are patient, do your homework and are willing to do a little negotiating, you may turn anoffer into one you can’t resist.
Because it’s a jobseeker’s market, now more than ever you should take time to evaluate whether an offer isright for you. Because you have considerable industry experience, any offer that comes your way should
be competitive in the marketplace and meet your requirements. To see whether it is competitive, you cancheck resources such as the Randstad U.S. salary guide, which provides benchmarks on salaries for anumber of roles.
You also need to make sure the offer contains all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Are salaries and benefits clearly stated? Will the company pay for relocation expenses if required? Are
bonuses guaranteed? Are there additional requirements that must be met to trigger payment of bonuses?
Being detail-oriented now means you avoid conflicts later on when you have joined the company. Listed
here are all the perks want to consider.
Remember, unless this is a lateral move or one that relocates you to a lower-cost region, any offer should
advance your salary history upward, that is unless other components of the overall compensation
package make up for the difference, such as a higher level of commission for sales professionals, forexample.
If you aren’t satisfied with the offer, get ready to negotiate. For some job seekers, this can also be an
uncomfortable process, but most companies are likely to work with you to reach a mutually beneficial
agreement. If not, that may be an indication that the employer isn’t right for you and is unwilling tomeet your professional needs. Joining such an organization may lead to your dissatisfaction later and an
abbreviated employment.
15

content.
foreword.

2

refining your professional goals.

3

polishing your credentials.

5

strengthening your online personality.

7

fire up your search.

9vetting potential employers.

11

perfecting the art of the interview.

13

determining the right offer.

15

beyond monetary terms
There are times when an offer is valuable to you beyond monetary terms. Thiscan be in the form of other company perks such as free or subsidized childcare
on-site, exceptional healthcare policies, tuition reimbursement, opportunities
to provide volunteer services, housing stipends and other perks that add value.
You should assess the total value to you in terms of fulfilling your personal andprofessional goals.
And then there are the intangibles such as whether the reputation of one
employer exceeds that of another. This can have a long-term impact on yourcareer as joining a strong brand can lead to better opportunities later on inyour professional journey. Listing premium employer brands on your resume
at this point in your career may be the equivalent of receiving thousands ofdollars more due to its impact on your future earning impact. Make sure toinclude this consideration as you weigh any offers that come your way.
Additional factors that may sway your decision include work-life balance,
flexibility of schedules, proximity of the office to your home, telecommuting
options and long-term growth potential with the employer. Even though
turnover is rising in most organizations due to competition for talent, knowingthat you will join an employer that can offer the possibility for growth andadvancement has tremendous value.

three tips for assessing job offers.
consider all factors
Know if an offer is financially competitive. If so, narrow your decision based on
factors other than monetary, such as work-life balance, employee reviews andemployer brand strength. You can assign a value to each of these and use it tocreate a total value index to compare similar offers.
is this the job for you?
Do the work and responsibilities described to you by the hiring manager seem
like a good fit for your skills and career goals? You want to choose an offer thatwill both challenge and advance your career. Otherwise, you may stagnate in
the role and delay your professional progress.
the people factor
Having interacted with a few individuals at a prospective employer, are you
comfortable with working beside them day in and day out? You want to ensurethat you’ll feel welcomed and be an integral part of the team from day one.
Otherwise, you’ll likely be unengaged and less productive.

Finally, after having experienced the company firsthand, from interactingwith recruiters to interviewing with hiring managers, you should ask yourself
whether it’s the type of organization you want to work for. Has your candidate
experience been positive and encouraging or does it show a lack of respect for
the worker? If a company fails to impress during the pre-hire stage, how likely
is it to provide a better experience later on. Look for the important qualities
that matter most.
You should weight all of these factors when determining whether a job offer
is right for you. Remember that you have options in these talent-scarce times
so resist the urge to quickly accept the first offer that comes your way. By
being diligent and reflective on your needs and goals, you can clearly decide
whether an offer fulfills those needs.
16Need more career advice? Check out our career hub:www.randstad.com/workforce-insights/workforce360/
Looking for job opportunities?
Go to www.randstad.com/find-a-job/