MatchBridge » Tips

Job Tip: Make a Professional Email

aconnolly — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:28:30 +0000

Create and keep a professional e-mail and use this e-mail on your resume and when applying to a job. This will let an employer know that you are a serious applicant. You can keep your more creative email address for contact with your friends and family, but you don’t want to be overlooked just because you have a fun email address!

Examples:
E-mail for Jane Doe
Janedoe@email.com
Jane_doe@email.com
Doejane@email.com

Volunteer

aconnolly — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:13:00 +0000

Sometimes you may not have the experience to land the job that you want. One good way to develop skills, while additionally giving back to your community is to volunteer.

No matter what your task may be, volunteering will give you the chance to develop leadership, organizational and communication skills that you can use in any job.

The holidays are a great time to find volunteer opportunities. Contact your local soup kitchen or food pantry to see how you can help!

Articulate your strengths

aconnolly — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:25:08 +0000

Even if you are applying for your very first job, you may have more to bring to the table than you think! Take some time to brainstorm things that you are good at, or how you are unique. Do you speak a second language perhaps? In school, are you really great at staying organized and completing tasks? Have you shown leadership skills while playing on a sports team? Qualities like these are important to mention to an employer, especially when you do not have previous work-experience.

MatchBridge Tip: Do your research

aconnolly — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:02:43 +0000

When applying for a job it is very important to do you research beforehand. Ask yourself why you are applying to a particular job opportunity and how it fits in to your overall career path. Find out more about the organization by visiting their website or, better yet, their actual store location. Employers like to see that you you have a genuine interest in their organization, and you are not just randomly applying.

Eye Contact

aconnolly — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:43:47 +0000

During an interview always try your best to maintain eye contact! During MatchBridge’s mock-interview event, almost all of the mock-interviewers told us that many of the youth they interviewed could maintain better eye contact. Eye contact is important because it shows employers that you are paying attention and you are engaged in the conversation. Not maintaining eye contact can be seen as a sign of disrespect or lack of interest, and you do not want the employer to think that you are not interested in the job!

April: Tip of the Month

eoh — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:00:38 +0000

Tip of the month: Customer service is a crucial element to a successful business. When applying for customer service-related jobs, show your ability to be warm and engaging. Always remember to smile, give firm handshakes, and to greet employers in a friendly manner. This will communicate that you have the skills necessary to provide quality customer service and will ensure to your employer that you are prepared for the job you are applying for.

Making the Call | The Importance of Phone Skills

eoh — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:25:35 +0000

Understanding telephone etiquette is one of the more underestimated professional skills. Despite the growing popularity of electronic communications, one should never disregard the importance of a solid phone call. MatchBridge recommends remembering the three C’s.

Be clear. Why you are calling? Are you setting up an appointment? Checking up on the status of your application? Rescheduling due to an unforeseen circumstance? Think of why you are calling and be prepared to get this message across. Rehearse ahead of time so that you don’t forget anything and that you can communicate clearly when you need to.

Be confident. Studies show that 87% of the listener’s first impression will be based on your tone alone. This is yet another reason to rehearse ahead of time. If you have the content of your call ready beforehand, you will sound more confident when you deliver your message. You will know why you are calling and what you require. Preparation is the keystone to expressing confidence.

Be concise. Get your message out in as few words as possible. Remember the four W’s: who, what, when, and where. This is especially important if you are leaving a message. For example, if you are leaving a message to check on the status of your application with an employer remember to state who you are, ask what the status of your application is, let them know when you submitted your application, and where they can call to get a hold of you.

Lastly, if you are looking for a job, remember to make sure your voice mail greeting message is professional and brief. Answer unknown numbers politely and only when you are available to talk, just in case it is an employer. Otherwise, allow the call to go to voice mail and call back during regular business hours.
Keep these tips in mind and always practice your calls before you make them. Adequate preparation is frequently the key to success and first impressions go a long way whether they are in-person or over the phone.

December Tip of the Month

eoh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:30:36 +0000

According to John Robertson of EzineArticles.com, “…within 60 seconds people will make assumptions about your education, background, ability and personality based on your voice alone.” Remember to be clear, confident, and concise whether you are talking to a person or leaving a message. Always rehearse what you are going to say ahead of time so that your call can go smoothly.