Simply Hired Blog

Small Talk Topics To Avoid

This post is the follow up to The Art of American Small Talk.

In my previous post I discussed how important it is to build your small talk skills thereby enabling you to quickly build personal connections with others. However, it is important that you realize how easily one can destroy these new relationships.

Every country has different faux pas topics that you need to avoid. 

 

Any of these topics are inappropriate small talk topics to discuss with Americans:

• Money
• Sex
• Politics
• Religion
• Family Problems (i.e. divorce)
• Death
• Economic Problems
• Terrorism & War

For example, in India it is common to ask “How’s the health of your family?” This question would not be well-received in the States, as that kind of “intimate” question would be deemed inappropriate.

Money is a touchy topic and you need to treat it delicately. In some countries it is very common to ask, “How much do you make?” However, if you ask an American that question it is considered rude and offensive. Like family matters, we tend to keep things closer to the vest.

Sex is another topic highlights the American feeling on impropriety.  What may be easily, casually discussed in a European country, for example, would cause an Americana to blush. You might be noticing the general theme of the American idea of “personal” information.  We tend not to share this information in a first meeting, so topics like sex, family problems, divorce and death are not mentioned. It may be confusing to see “politics” on the list as well, because you likely hear people talking about politics quite often.

However, I exclude it from the list of small talk topics because it can very easily lead to an argument. Discussion of economic matters and opinions could lead to a similar outcome. Imagine, for example, that you happen to love the President and his policies, and the person you are talking to cannot stand him. Sparks will fly. The same applies to religion: with such a variety and intensity of opinions regarding religion, it is best to just leave the subject along in an initial small talk session.

If someone else brings up one of these topics, then it is your job to steer the conversation in another direction. The last thing you want is a feeling of negativity, and it is better to make the conversation slightly awkward for a moment than to fall into a tense discussion of an uncomfortable topic.  Remember, the goal of your conversation is to build that connection where eventually can lead to a job, not a shouting match.

I believe that the hardest part of a conversation is having the courage to start it. It is intimidating to have to open with an engaging, interesting topic. Of course, that’s usually the first thing that people forget when they are nervous. So if you tend to have trouble doing that, I’d suggest trying each of these conversation openers:

• “Hi, I’m new to (city name) and am looking for amazing new experience this weekend. Do you have any suggestions?” (works even if you have lived there for 10 years)
• “Did you do/like/dislike the reading we had to do?” (for students)
• “Did you hear about…?” (refer to a recent event most will have knowledge about)
• “Do you know____________?” (make a connection with a mutual acquaintance)
• “Do you always get the same drink?” (coffee shop introduction)         
• “I like your shirt/hat/sweater/shoes, etc.  Where did you get them?” (everyone loves compliments)

Find out which works best for you and reuse it. I strongly believe in Pareto’s principle and know that 20% of the things I say to start a conversation will lead to 80% of my success. So today I want you to try out as many of these as you can and figure out which works best for you. Set a personal goal to talk to 20 people.

Then I want to hear how your tests go! Leave a comment below with your favorite opening line!

Michael Miller is the author of 4 Weeks To Your American Dream Job and the founder of Culture Adapt, a career education and consulting firm focused on international business people who are eager to work in the USA.

Resume Mistakes that will Destroy your Job Application

I know exactly what you are thinking. “Destroy” is a very strong word to use when talking about something like resume mistakes. Well, you are right. But that doesn’t make it any less accurate. In today’s job market, making just one error on your resume could very easily ruin your chances at a job that you may actually be a great candidate for.

With the amount of time you could spend looking for the right jobs to apply for, avoiding the following common mistakes is vital.

1. A Confusing or Ugly Format.

So you’re thinking to yourself, “It’s not the presentation that matters. It’s the content, right?” While the logical answer to that questions might be “yes,” the real world answer is “no.” It may strike you as strange, but a visually appealing resume format can often be the thing that gets your resume read in the first place. Think about it like this: if you had a huge stack of resumes on your desk, would you be more likely to pick up the easy-to-read, well-formatted one, or the confusing one? Exactly! A good rule to work by is to create your resume in sections, keeping the information clean and organized. No confusing formats, no fancy borders, no fonts below 10 point. Just keep it simple! 

2. Grammatical Errors and Typos. 

Nothing will destroy your chances at an interview faster than a typo or grammatical error on your resume or cover letter. Most hiring managers will stop reading as soon as they reach one of these ugly little mistakes. Not only does it show your lack of written communication skills, it also tells them that you don’t really care about the job. So before sending in that job application, make sure to have a couple people proofread your resume for mistakes.

 3. An Unprofessional Email Address.

Paintballer23@gmail.com. HottieAnne143@aol.com. HeatFan3@yahoo.com. These may be fine when you’re shooting emails back and forth with friends and family, but using them as your contact information on a resume is an easily avoidable mistake that many people make when applying for a job. Email addresses like these will make you look immature, which is the last thing you want to be associated with when you are applying for a job. So before sending out your resume, create a new, professional looking email address that contains just your first and last name.

4. Too Many Duties. Not Enough Accomplishments.

Don’t fall into the common resume trap of spending too much space listing job duties and not enough space describing accomplishments. Of course it’s nice to tell possible employers that you can manage the office. But it’s even better to show them how your office management skills led to increased departmental efficiency that saved the company money. Or maybe you’re a salesman with experience managing territories. Great! But if you can show statistics that prove how much you increased revenue in your territory since taking it over, that might just blow a hiring manager away.

5. Droning On and On.

There are many different opinions when it comes to resume length. Some say it should never be longer than a single page. Some say more pages are fine, as long as they are necessary to accurately show all of your skills. From my experience, resumes should be one clean page. The major exception to this rule is if you are an extremely experienced applicant applying for an executive job. But don’t worry. In almost all circumstances, you can get all of your necessary information across in one page. Just remember, your resume exists to get you interviews, not tell your whole life story.

Ian Matthew is a professional resume writer at Money Resumes, a cutting-edge resume writing service that specializes in creating custom documents that lead to more job interviews for their clients. Their affordable services include: resumes, cover letters, thank you letters, LinkedIn profiles, resume distribution, and more.

Top Recruiter Tips on Using Social Media in the Job Search

Simply Hired recently caught up with some top recruiters to discuss using social media during the job search process.

Check out this video for advice on how to set yourself apart from competition with social media and what to be sure to a avoid.   

How to Get Found by Recruiters on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for a job, and you are reasonably smart, there are recruiters out there who would benefit from talking to you. The problem is, they simply can’t find you. Or if they do find you, something about your LinkedIn profile turns them away. In either case, you have more control over this situation than you think. Getting found by recruiters doesn’t have to be a passive strategy.

Here is a two part active strategy for getting found.

First, Get on Search Results

The first step to getting found by recruiters is to simply show up. Like me, recruiters are using keywords to search LinkedIn profiles. Results will show up based on degree of separation and presence of the search term. 

Tip 1: become 1st degree connected to as many recruiters as possible. They are the ones making the most searches. Having recruiters in your network increases your chances of popping up based on your degree of separation.

Tip 2: describe yourself as specifically and as accurately as possible. The well known social media strategist Christopher Penn uses his own profile as a great example of this: 

My job is simple: get qualified leads in the door using Inbound Marketing methods such as social media, search, and email. 

Not terrible, but it doesn’t show results. Here’s an improved version:

My job is simple: get qualified leads in the door using Inbound Marketing methods such as social media, search, and email. In the first 8 months, I’ve helped to create a 10x increase in the number of inbound leads through organic SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and other marketing methods. 

Tip 3: Adjust your profile for an upward trend in search appearances. Most LinkedIn users have access to a graph called “Appearances in Search.” You can find it by going to your Home page and clicking on “Who’s Viewed Your Profile.” This is an area on the right side of that page.

On this page you’ll find the “Trends” box with a graph in it. Click on “Appearances in Search.” By filling out your profile with specific and accurate information about yourself, you should start to see an upward trend in this graph. The better you write about yourself, the more this graph will grow. If you're struggling with writing about yourself, there are plenty of LinkedIn profile writing services.  

Make Them Click

Think of your profile not as an advertisement rather than an online resume. Once you start to show up on search results pages for recruiters, your next job is to get them to click on your profile.

Just like with other paid ads online, just showing up on the page isn’t enough. The ad headline and description text needs to compel you to click.

On LinkedIn your photo, headline and recommendations have the greatest impact on click rates (from my own experience). 

By making small changes to these three elements, you will begin to see increases in the number of times your profile was actually viewed. This is the graph called “Views” from the page we just visited.

If you're not seeing an upward trend, the fix your photo, headline or try to get more recommendations.

Be an Internet Marketer

Simply by shifting your perception of LinkedIn from an online resume to an online advertising platform, you can approach your career opportunities from a quantifiable perspective. First you have to show up on search results for the right people, then you have to compel them to click. Using LinkedIn’s two graphs, “Appearances in Search” and “Views” allows you to make measurable improvements and increase your chances of getting recruited to that dream position.

 Joshua Waldman, author of Job Searching with Social Media For Dummies, is recognized as one of the nation’s top authorities in Social Media Job Search Advice. To learn Joshua’s secret strategies for shortening the job search and getting the right job right away, watch his exclusive video training: Using Social Media to Find a Job.

Using Social Media to Perform Company Research

Using social media today is not only ideal for connecting with peers, family and friends, it’s another way of gaining a competitive edge when applying for a position that may be in high demand. If you prepare ahead of time by getting actively involved with social media before your next job interview, you’ll have a better chance of receiving the job offer you desire.

Your Social Media Presence

The advantage of social media is that it allows you to create and develop your own professional image and brand online. Creating a LinkedIn profile, a Twitter account and even a Facebook account for your professional image is a way for you to stay relevant, especially if you plan to work in a position that is technology- or Internet-related. A professional online presence can make you a more appealing candidate for any position that you apply for.

A LinkedIn account is highly recommended regardless of the industry you want to work in or the position you are trying to obtain. A LinkedIn account allows you to showcase your portfolio, work experience and even endorsements from professionals you have worked with in the past.

A Twitter account allows you to communicate with the companies you are interested in by "re-tweeting" links and information and by conducting homework on open positions.

Company Research With Social Media

Read and review company websites and blogs to gain insight into the business. lt can help you understand the products and types of services offered by the companies you want to work for and will help you demonstrate your knowledge and expertise to interviewers. 

Follow companies’ Twitter and Facebook accounts to keep up with the latest news, product releases and company updates. This is especially important for positions that require experience working with social media--it’s important to appear informed on the latest trends in the industry. 

Check employee blogs before you apply for a position to gain more insight about the company’s workplace and the work that will be required. Employee blogs can help you get a better idea of the work environment and the type of people that work there.

Research individuals who work for the companies you are applying for, including those with whom you have scheduled interviews. This research can be done through web searches and social networking websites like LinkedIn. Knowing as much as possible about the people you will be working with will help you feel more confident and comfortable when interacting with them, and give you an even better chance of getting the job.

Jose Sanchez has been a Resume Writer and Career Advisor since 1999. He writes and shares content related to Resume Writing, Job Interview Questions and Cover Letters.