How To Tactfully Decline A Job Offer

At some point in time everyone will have to turn down a job offer.  It may not be often that you need to turn a job down.  Still, you should know how to go about doing it.  Although there could be many reasons why you need to decline the offer, the point is how you decline the offer.  You should decline with graciousness and kindness.  After all there is no need to burn bridges that you may later need to cross.

Once you have decided that you need to turn down a job it should be done quickly.  Make the phone call to the hiring manager or whomever you interviewed with and tell them that after carefully considering the offer that you feel that the job was not a good fit for you at that time.  Although you may be tempted to say that the pay was too low or you did not care for the management, it is best to keep it tactful.  You should then follow up with a letter stating that you appreciate the offer.  State again that the job was not a good fit for you at that time.  When writing the letter be sure to include in the first line or so the job that you applied for and the description so that they will know to which job you actually applied for.

However convenient that email may be, do not send a refusal through email.  It is best if you are calm and collected.  Try not to sound guilty when you refuse the job.  Hiring personnel would have no problems telling you if you were not a good fit, give them the same courtesy.  No matter how much you may want to tell a hiring manager about the job you have accepted, do not.  And if you feel pressed into telling him, keep reiterating that the job was not a good fit.  It is best to keep in clean.

Making a Good First Impression

They say that the key to a good interview, or any kind of first social encounter, is to make a good first impression. However, you’d be surprised how many people throw good information out the window and bungle job interviews because of it.

If you methodize the first impression too much, it will be clear that you’re over-thinking and over-analyzing the encounter. You’ll appear too self-conscious. The main thing to know, when considering the following points, is to be relaxed. Don’t worry if you’re doing or not doing it right. If you relax, everything will come naturally to you and the job will be yours. Be sure to also bring copies of your resume and business cards, if you have those.

Once you’ve relaxed, you have to do a bit of prep work for the interview. Firstly, and importantly, you have to dress well. People see you before they hear you. The way you present yourself on the outside says something to others about what’s going on inside.

Secondly, do research. If you’re like most people applying for jobs, you’ve applied to dozens, hoping to get a call back from one or two. It can be easy to forget where you’ve applied. If you get an appointment, research the organization. At the interview, share your knowledge and supporting opinion about the company’s legacy, services and history. This communicates intelligence and passion.

Thirdly, make eye contact. We all know this, but a lot of people don’t actually do it. Eye contact falls squarely into the category of ‘body language,’ and if your body language doesn’t correspond to your spoken language, it will make your presentation incongruent. Be confident inside and outside. Your interviewer will see this, and it will bode well.

Again, the most important thing is to learn to be relaxed. Don’t tell yourself to be relaxed – just be relaxed. Get adequate sleep, take some deep breaths, and know that you’ll do just fine.

Why Send A Thank You Letter After A Job Interview

After an interview you want to send a thank you note.  You are basically giving a final good impression.  It is a way of forming a good relationship with a business that you may need to deal with in the future.  Your thank you note should be brief and should no way be an inquiry letter.  It should express your gratitude for the company’s time.  And in a few brief sentences intimate your wish to work for the company.  If there were others who were involved in your interview express thanks to those as well.

If you plan to decline the job after the interview, you could use the thank you note as a way of saying thanks but no thanks.  This is a way to formally withdraw your application for employment.  This avoids any harsh feelings that may come from not accepting the job.  You will want to express your thanks and a few brief sentences about withdrawing your application.  You do not have to list your reasons why you have chosen not to accept the job.  If you choose to give a reason, be vague and give a general reason.  You may one day need to apply to this company again if the job market is unstable.  Just be sure that even a brief meeting ends positive.

Sending a thank you note a few days after your interview is proper etiquette though very few people send thank you notes to interviewers.  A note of thanks is almost always appreciated.  It may help distinguish between you and other applicants.  You make a final good impression and the interviewer will remember that thank you note.  If it happens to come down to choosing two qualified applicants, the difference could be the one who sent a thank you note and one who did not.

Sell Yourself During Your Interview

People who can sell things are generally naturals at it, but there are some who cannot sell anything.  In order to get a job now days, you need to be able to sell one thing and sell it convincingly, and that is yourself.  An interview pools talented people to apply for a job.  With so much talent it is imperative that you stand above the masses.   It may come down to more than who is the most qualified for the job.  You need to make yourself unique and be able to show this in a short period of time and that is during the interview.

You may want to brag about your accomplishments and what skills you have learned over the years.  That may not be the wisest course of action.  Sure you want to show what skills you have and your many accomplishments, but given in a boasting manner may put your interviewer off.  You want to be confident when listing your skills and achievements, never boastful.  Now is not the time for shyness or meekness.  Remember, you are selling yourself to this company and you need to be assertive to do this.

You need to show that your skills can be applied to this job.  Frequently make a comparison to the job description and your skills and how it would benefit the company.  Maintain eye contact throughout the interview.  This shows that you are interested and engaged in the interview.  Show up to your interview on time.  Everyone likes promptness in an employee.  Be prepared for you interview questions.  So many people fumble during an interview because they become flustered by a question.  Knowing what the job description is before going to the interview can help when showing your skills to your advantage.  You want your interviewer to know what your skills and experience are as well as your attitude are like.  Above all else be composed and confident during your interview.

What Not To Wear For A Job Interview

Unfortunately many judgments are made on first impressions.  This doubly applies when going for a job interview.  Your image is the first thing that is noticed before you ever speak a word.  Knowing this, also know you should dress professionally when going to an interview.  While it is important to maintain comfort, you should also maintain a professional presence.  Many people have a social image that they prefer to keep separate from their professional image.  However, there are some who will dress the same no matter where they are going.  For this reason, let’s look at what you should keep in your closet when you go to a job interview.

Flip flops and sneakers should not be part of your attire.  Although comfortable, it does not exude professionalism.  Keeping with the comfort theme, shorts jeans, and sweatpants are also off the list.  Skirts and blouses that are too revealing may get you a date on Friday night is probably not going to get you a job on Monday morning.  While low rise pants are the trend right now, underwear above your pants are not likely to be trendy in the interview room. It does not matter if they are thongs or boxers.

A much better investment would be a classic interview suit or skirt in a black, blue, or grey color.  Dress conservatively and neatly.  This means that any tattoos should be covered and any visible piercings be taken out before leaving for your interview.  An unpleasant smell can be a put off to an interviewer and could potentially hurt your chances of getting a job.  Even cologne or perfume that you think smells great could be damaging to your interview.  What smells good to you may not smell good to another person.  Less is better; maybe consider leaving it off for that day.

Five Tips for Employment Security

If you’ve finally achieve the job of your dreams, or at least one that you enjoy, keeping that jobs is likely of utmost importance. With a little effort, you can keep that job and make yourself a valuable asset to the company.
What follows are five tips that will help your employment security.
1. Keep a neat and well groomed appearance – Nothing is worse than the employee that doesn’t dress appropriately or keep themselves appropriate for work. If the job calls for casual attire, throw a shirt and tie into the mix or a nice skirt. Your appearance while not crucial every day is certainly something management notices.
2. Do more than is expected – If you do your job, no one notices. If you do more than you’re asked to do, after time management is going to notice. A good work history equates to faster promotions and ultimately employment security.
3. Interact with your immediate supervisors – Saying good morning and good night can go a long way towards creating a positive working relationship with your supervisors.
4. Show up to work on time – Nothing will inhibit your employment opportunities more than showing up to work late. If you’re a drinker, stop drinking during the week. Drinking tends to lead to a less productive work atmosphere and usually brings other problems to the workplace. Never drink at your work site.
5. Be accountable for your mistakes – Mistakes happen it’s part of the human experience. If you make a mistake talk to your supervisor immediately. Hiding your mistake can compound the problem and ultimately cause stress for your immediate supervisors.
If you have finally found a job that means something to you, taking a few small daily steps will help ensure long-term security at said position. Most people have no trouble with the above-mentioned tips, but for those that do, following these quick and easy steps can go a long way.

Jersey City Apartments Place You Near Jobs

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Image by Katchooo via Flickr

When you’re looking for work, it’s important for you to have a residence. Employers don’t want to hire a homeless person. They want to hire an individual who can get the job done. Having a place to live shows your employers they can trust you with their money and their business. While you need a residence, this doesn’t mean you have to go out and get the largest place you can find. Even a small residence like Jersey City apartments can be good enough to land your dream job.

If you’ve been searching for work for a while, you may need to consider moving to another area. Different parts of the U.S. have better economies than other areas. For example, there are more jobs in Texas and the cost of living is less than you’ll find in California. Making a move to an area where you can find work may be the best thing for you and your family. If you do decide to move, an apartment can be a good solution to help you get settled into the area. You’ll have a roof over your head and maybe even luxury items like hardwood floors, granite countertops, and vaulted ceilings. You can burn off your stress by taking advantage of onsite fitness centers, pools, or hot tubs.

It’s also easier to get into an apartment than it is to rent or buy a home if you don’t have a job yet. If you have the money to pay several months’ rent, you can find an apartment complex willing to work with you. After you get established in your career, you can decide whether you want to stay in your apartment or look for a home. You may find you work in a different area of the city, and it may be worth the investment to move to a single-family home rather than commute.

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