Refer.io Blog

Here’s something you definitely already know: to expand your network, you have to get out and talk to people. But how exactly do you go about that, especially if you are an introvert? It’s already stressful to step out of your comfort zone and make new friends, but it can be even more frightening when you are trying to connect with the CEO of a company you want to work at. Here are a few tips you can use to help you prepare for the big conversations, or connect with people you already know on a more meaningful level. Make the first move This is the scariest part. The approach into the conversation will take guts, but it is up to you to make the first move. The person you want to speak with cannot read your mind. They won’t know you want to speak with them unless you say so. If you spend too much time doubting yourself or weighing the pros and cons of your approach, the opportunity will be missed. Once you see an opportunity, jump on it within 5 seconds, you will thank me later. ...

The only way to get a job is to apply for it. When you find a job that looks promising, you send in your resume and apply for the position. A few hours, days, even weeks go by and you haven’t heard anything. There are a number of reasons why an employer may not respond to you personally after submitting your application. What it comes down to is the more time that passes between your application and not hearing back from the employer, it often means the employer is no longer considering you for the position. If you haven’t heard back from an employer, here are 4 essential things you must do in order to get the closure you need. 1. Contact the employer in a respectful manner Employers are not required by law to respond to applicants. Of course, it would be nice of them to respond, even to just let you know you aren’t being considered for the job so you can settle nerves at the very least. If a week has passed since you applied for the position, it never hurts to reac...

Congrats on the interview! First of all, pat yourself on the back for making it this far. Your resume and application have already made it through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), the hands of several HR members, a phone interview, and now to the hands of your future employer. This final step in the hiring process can make or break your chance of securing the position, so here are a few ways you can make sure it ends in your favor.    Follow Instructions Carefully read and re-read the instructions the hiring manager gives you for your interview. If it is up to you, schedule the interview on a day when you know will be able to attend. Do your best to clear your schedule the hours before and after the interview, you don’t want to be in a time crunch either way. Be sure you have the correct address, and maybe even practice the route and parking options near the interview location. Bring any materials they ask for, including several extra copies of your resume. First im...

In a recent post on Tumblr, user queendread was sick of sifting through resumes and cover letters. They quickly came up with a list of 10 things you should and shouldn’t do on your resume and cover letter and posted it to Tumblr. The list is extremely valuable for job seekers like you because it comes directly from the people you’re trying to convince to hire you! Chances are if you’re doing any of the things on this list, you may be getting passed up by employers. To see the full post, click here . For the sake of this article, we’ll focus on three key points this employer made that are super important when it comes to resumes and cover letters. 1. It’s the technical stuff that employers can see With most people applying for jobs online, be it through email or an applicant tracking system (ATS), most job seekers are building their resume/CV/cover letter on their computer. They can be created in multiple word processors and most importantly, each one has a file name. Sometimes ...

We need to remove the negative stigma that surrounds temporary and contract-only positions. These positions are very resourceful to you especially when searching for a new job. It’s a smart way to test out jobs before committing to them long-term, and can be a great way to make quick cash if you are in a pinch. But if you are like most and are looking for a job you can settle into, here are some tips you can follow to keep that temp job for good. Bond with the other employees As soon as you can, begin reaching out to and creating friendships with the employees you click with. Don’t force yourself to be in every conversation that ever happens, but you can begin to establish your place in the work environment. When you are invited to lunch with the company, do your best to be there. If there is a game or an ongoing joke the employees have, find it and play along. This is a great way to make connections not only for this position, but for ones you will have in the future. Make a p...

What you include on your resume is vital to get noticed on a job application. It’s the number one way for employers to gauge whether or not you would be a good fit for the company based on your skills, experience, and education history. Sometimes, it could be the reason why you don’t get considered for a job. Since so much depends on your resume, here are three easy fixes you can make so it will stand out from all of the others. 1. Cater your resume to the job you’re applying for If you have some skills and experience listed on your resume that have little to do with the position you’re applying for, that will only make it easier for employers to throw it out. Before you apply for the job, make sure you read through the entire job description and get a feel for what the company is looking for in a new hire. Then, do a little research on the company themselves. What industry are they in? What kind of people already work there? What skills and qualifications do they have? ...