Simply Hired Blog

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The White House put out a Presidential Proclamation naming October National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and this year also marks 20th anniversary of the passing of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), the civil rights act that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The federal government hopes to improve employment opportunities for disabled Americans by becoming a model for the recruitment and hiring of disabled citizens and implementing programs for retaining these workers.

According to the most recent BLS employment numbers, there are currently more than 26 million disabled people in America. Of the almost 5.7 million disabled workers that are a part of the workforce, about 4.8 million are actually employed, for an unemployment rate of 14.8 percent—five points higher than the national average.

As equality is a fundamental right in this nation, people with disabilities are entitled to work. Are you a disabled worker having a difficult time in your job search? What are the biggest issues you have run into? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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Simply Hired Names Dr. Neil Hunt to Board of Directors

Today, Simply Hired is excited to announce the addition of Netflix Chief Product Officer Dr. Neil Hunt to the company’s Board of Directors. An officer with Netflix since 1999, Dr. Hunt is responsible for the leading online movie subscription service’s award-winning user interface and acclaimed personalization technology.  

Prior to joining Netflix, Dr. Hunt led product development and engineering teams at Rational Software and Pure Atria. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Durham and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Aberdeen.

The entire Simply Hired team and its current Board of Directors are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hunt! For more information and to see a full list of Simply Hired Board members, read the press release.

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Don't Let a Bad Attitude Ruin Your Job Search

While a prolonged job search can be frustrating, sharing negative feelings with a recruiter or hiring manager about the search process or your previous employer can cost you the job. In fact, having a great attitude and enthusiasm are qualities that employers look for in the people they hire. People want to work with others who are positive and passionate about their work, and who outwardly show it.

Here’s how to display a positive attitude to employers:

Show enthusiasm for the job to which you’re applying. Research the company before the interview, and come prepared with questions about the company, team and position. Tell your interviewer how your specific combination of experience and education makes you the perfect person for that particular job, and adds value to the organization.

Look and act confident during an interview. When meeting your interviewer, greet them with a strong, firm handshake. Keep engaged and confident during the interview by smiling, making eye contact with the interviewer, and maintaining good posture.

Don’t take it personally if you don’t get the job. It is not an attack on your skills or personality; rather, there may be a number of reasons outside of your control for why you were not hired. For example, they may have found someone within the company who could take on the role, decided to focus on building up other areas of the company first, or found someone who was a better fit for the position.

Although a prolonged job search can be discouraging, it is important to stay positive. Companies like to hire passionate, confident people, so show your great attitude to potential employers for your best chances of being hired.

How do you stay positive during your search? Share below in the comments!

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How to Answer the "What's Your Biggest Weakness" Question

We recently received a request from a job seeker asking how to answer the question, "What is your biggest weakness".

You will probably find career advice telling you to name something that is a positive dressed up as a negative, such as "I'm a perfectionist," or "I work too hard." However, answers like these are often "the fastest way to exasperate" interviewers, according to a US News article called 5 Pieces of Bad Career Advice. Answering this way shows a lack of self-awareness and an indication that you are unable to assess yourself well enough to communicate your weak points.

Interviewers want to know your weaknesses to gauge whether you will thrive or struggle in the role for which they're hiring. They don't want to hire someone who will have to be dismissed later if they aren't suited well for the position.

Be truthful and straightforward when you answer the question, and don’t say you don’t have any weaknesses (everyone has them). At the same time, don’t admit a weakness that you're not sure how to improve, rather, tell the interviewer a weakness but explain how you are working to overcome it.

Examples:

• "I have a hard time with time management and understand that this is an important skill to master, so I have started to prioritize my projects and create daily and weekly schedules for myself that I can stick to."

• "I feel uncomfortable speaking in front of groups which I know is a valuable skill to have, so in order to be more confident speaking publicly I have been taking public speaking courses and have joined the Toastmasters to help me get over my fears."

Remember to be honest. The interview is a two-way discovery process, and attempting to tell someone what you think they want to hear might lose you and the interviewer the opportunity to determine whether or not there is an authentic fit for the role. Boldly be yourself, especially if you have concerns that your "weakness" might get amplified or agitated by the environment rather than nurtured and developed. 

Disagree? Or perhaps you have successfully used a different approach? Do you have requests for other interview questions you would like us to investigate? Comment below!

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Tips for a Successful Career Change

With about 14.8 million people out of work, according to the latest government numbers, many people are looking for jobs that they wouldn’t consider doing pre-recession. Some are considering part-time jobs rather than full-time work, others are relocating to get a job, and others are making career changes. In fact, according to a recent SimplyHired.com poll, 64% of job seekers would consider a new career—because 36% are unable to find a job in their current career and 28% are unhappy with their current career.

To make the transition as smooth as possible, here are some tips for a successful career change:

Do your research – Before you attempt to apply for jobs in a new career, find out as much as you can about that industry, such as recent news, leading companies and innovations. In addition, find out what degrees, certificates, credentials, or other education and experience are required for that field. After you’re fully informed about the career, determine if it is something you are really interested in and passionate about.

Build up your relevant experience – If you don’t meet all of the requirements, look into classes at your local college or online, take on a part-time job in that field or find a related internship or volunteer opportunity. Keep in mind that the level of your previous position and pay is not necessarily transferable from one career to the next. Beginning a new career usually requires starting over in an entry-level job.

Revise your resume – After you have the basic qualifications for your new career, look at your own work history to find additional transferable skills and experience. Then, revise your resume to include your new qualifications and the related experience under the listed positions you previously held.

Network – Join an industry organization to meet people in the field you want to get into. Here you can connect with individuals that can become mentors as you break into the field. They may be able to introduce you to people that can propel your new career forward.

Have you recently changed careers, or are looking to do so? If so, what were (or what would be) your reasons for doing so? Do you have additional tips for job seekers trying to change careers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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