Frederick County Workforce Services Website

Question:

Should I accept an offer on the spot if I am given the opportunity?

Answer:

You always want to take some time to think about an offer before you sign on the dotted line. You might be very excited about working for the company, and maybe it’s been a while since you have been working, but I would suggest not accepting the offer on the spot. The reason why?  You need time to look at the specifics of the job, you need time to look at all the benefits and evaluate the offer accordingly. Once the offer is made you should receive an official offer letter in the mail or via email. Take a few days to evaluate the package, as it’s not always about the salary alone. Take a look at the comprehensive benefits package. For example, does the company offer a signing bonus, medical/dental benefits, relocation allowance, 401(K), personal days and more? An offer should always be in writing, this way you have a few days to look at the offer and get back to the employer.

Question:

I was a top candidate but did not get the offer. Is there anything you would advise me to do now besides saying thank you for the opportunity?

Answer:

Yes, there are a couple of things you can do.

Number one is something you can consider every time you have an interview and are not chosen for a second interview or given an offer. Ask for feedback, or a critiquing, on your interview performance, and what you need to become a future candidate for employment.  Some employers will not be willing to take the time, or are not skillful at giving direct feedback, so be prepared to not get any useful information. But from those employers who will answer honestly, these first-hand opinions can be very constructive.

Secondly, you can call the company back in about a month or so. After reminding the person you interviewed with of your name and the date and position you interviewed for, ask them how their decision is working out.  If they have chosen the wrong person, or the person has moved on, the employer could be very happy to hear from you.  They may have been thinking of ending the hire during the probation period, and could be relieved to know that you are still in the market.  Your interest could mean that the company won’t have to recruit again, and you may be called in for another interview and given the offer at this point.

Question:

Is there any way to know in advance what type of questions I might be asked in a job interview?

Answer:

Usually taking a look at the company job description will tell you exactly what type of questions you might be asked on the interview. For example, if the job description says something like “We are looking for someone to market our programs”, you are probably guaranteed to get a question on what have you marketed in the past and will be asked to give examples. The company might want to know when you did marketing, what you learned from your experience and what suggestions you would have for improvement.  When you look at the job description, think of a few examples for each trait the company lists for their ideal candidate. You might not have every trait in your past/current work experience but if you get selected for an interview, the company has identified you as being a potential match for their needs. Take a good look at what is expected in the position, and be prepared to address each and every trait listed. Good luck!!!

Question:

I am a “non-traditional” job seeker who is trying to balance work and the responsibility of caring for my elderly parents.  I simply can’t work Monday through Friday from 9 to 5!  Is there any hope for my job search?

Answer:

Yes! Family-Friendly Employers do exist and luckily are growing in popularity.  Businesses realize that happy, healthy employees with a proper work/life balance contribute more for the company’s bottom line. 

Frederick County Workforce Services and Frederick County Office of Economic Development, in conjunction with our partnering agencies, recognizes and awards businesses in the Frederick area that offer their employees the flexibility and benefits necessary to properly balance work and life outside of work. 

These businesses offer a variety of benefits.  For example:
· Flex-time and Telecommuting options
· Pre-tax spending accounts for child or elderly care
· Paid Volunteer Day Off 
· Education benefits
· Parking reimbursement
· 401K program
· Short and long term disability
· Lactating rooms for new mothers
· Time daily for reflection and spiritual growth
· Work weeks ending at 3 PM on Fridays
· Donation to a non-profit when an employee volunteers 50 hours 
· Matching Gifts Program
· Pro-rated benefits for Part-time employees
· Volunteer incentive program
· Survivor case management and floral tributes
· Counseling services
· Self-enrichment training luncheons for employees
· A Summers Off Program that allows associates to take the summers off to be with their family, to travel, etc
· Bring Your Child to Work day
· Annual Scholarship Program for associate’s children who are in college
· Flu shots to all associates and their families, on site, at a reduced cost
· Annual Family Fun Day at the National Zoo

When performing your job search, be sure to do your homework.  Research companies by perusing their website or calling the company directly with some general questions. 

When you receive a job offer, consider negotiating your benefits.  If one benefit in particular would serve you more than another, ask if you have the option to “mix and match.”  The worst they could say is “no.”

A list of the 2008 Top 10 Family Friendly Business Award winners can be found at http://www.discoverfrederickmd.com/news/news/newsitem.cfm?item=1372 .  And, a list of the previous years award winners can be found at http://www.discoverfrederickmd.com/news/news/newsitem.cfm?item=1357

As with all job search practices there are few absolutes. However, a good job search technique is to use a cover letter!

According to the Professional Association of Résumé Writers, the benefits for using a cover letter are:

* It introduces the résumé, tells a prospective employer what position you are applying for, and provides them with proof of what you can do for them.
* The objective of submitting a resume and cover letter is to receive an interview
 because your information inspires the employer to want to meet with you.
* They are unique and professional in format. This unique document should provide the employer insights that you have researched the company. 
* Cover letters should be designed to spotlight your most relevant qualifications and achievements for the position.
* They provide the employer with information on why you want to work for that company.
* Cover Letters that are error free and in a familiar business format show the potential employer your writing ability.

Some other tips for cover letters are:
* It is smart to carry design themes from résumé into the cover letter and vice-versa.
* Cover letters are not essays and should be one page in length in a readable typeface, which closely or exactly matches the marketing résumé.

Chances are a well written résumé and cover letter will land you a interview. Happy job hunting.

Question:  People keep asking me what I want to do for my next job. I don’t know what I want to do, and I don’t have time to figure it out. I need a job yesterday! It doesn’t matter what job; I need money to pay my bills. What do I do now?

Answer: When folks visiting Frederick County Workforce Services at the Business and Employment Center tell me this, I have a stock response: “McDonald’s is hiring.”

Usually the person says, “Oh, no, I don’t want to work at McDonald’s!”

So maybe it does matter where you work. Maybe you don’t know exactly what you want, but you do know some things you don’t want. (If not, McDonald’s is hiring.)

Now there’s nothing wrong with working at McDonald’s. It’s good, honest work, and many great careers begin there. McDonald’s has taught thousands of young workers the value of hard work, punctuality and many other skills that all employers appreciate. The point is that it’s important to take some time and think about what the right job is for you.

Maybe you have to take a job today to keep a roof over your head, food on the table and the lights on. If that’s the case, grab the highest paying job that’s available to you immediately (see other editions of “Ask the Career Coach” and all the Frederick County Workforce Services seminars and materials for tips on how to do that.) But don’t stop there.

While you’re looking for that temporary job, and even after you find it, I recommend some soul searching. Think about what you’d really like to do, even if it doesn’t pay as well as what you’re doing for an interim job.

There are various ways to do this. A fairly comprehensive way is to take the vocational testing available for free through Frederick County Workforce Services. “Career Exploration Assessment” is held almost every week; it’s paper-and-pencil testing that helps you uncover your interests, values and aptitudes (what you’re hard-wired to do well.) Sign up for it at the Resource Desk in the lab. “Myers-Briggs Type Indicator” happens once a month; you’ll need to sign up, and there is a charge for it that can be waived if it’s a financial hardship. The MBTI measures your personality in four dimensions, and tells you how you are similar to and different from those with other personality types. There are also many tests online.

The really quick way to do this is to answer this question: “If you could do anything at all for a job, what would it be?” What just popped in your mind? There may be your answer.

What if that answer was something you don’t really know how to do? We may be able to help with that too. Frederick County Workforce Services can connect you with a Career Specialist to explore the possibilities. If you are a Frederick County resident, or laid off from a Frederick County business, you may even be eligible to have FCWS pay for training for that new career.

In any case, don’t give up without a fight for what you’d really like to do. Life is too short to spend most of it in a job you hate. It may be more feasible to get that perfect job than it appears right now.

If you don’t ask the question, well …. McDonald’s is hiring.

Question:  I am finding an increasing number of small and medium size businesses conducting background checks as a condition of employment.  I find this largely intrusive, especially the credit checks! What gives?

Answer:  Yes, background checks may feel intrusive.  Even the most honest, upstanding person might feel slightly paranoid – which is a natural response - even when there’s nothing to hide.  But, let’s consider the possible reasons behind the investigative process.
Background checks cost very little time and money on an employer’s part upfront.  But, a lawsuit, down the road, due to a careless hire, could be far more costly!

Consider the nature of the position for which you are applying.  Will you be driving a company vehicle, operating heavy machinery or handling money for your new employer?   If so, then let’s take it to the next level.

Employers pay hefty insurance premiums throughout the year to cover you in the event of a car accident in that company vehicle, an accidental injury from operating that heavy machinery or accidentally loosing the nightly deposit?  Yes, accidents happen! That’s what insurance is for.  But, let’s take it another step.

A law suit resulting from one of those accidents is far more costly when hindsight reveals that the accident involved an applicant with a poor driving record, drug abuse, or history of writing bad checks. 

So, the next time you are required to submit to a background check, remember that even though it feels like an invasion, it is most likely just a preventative measure to protect against a costly accident (or even a crime).  Businesses take precautions such as background investigations so that they can offer their employees a drug-free workplace, an end to workplace violence and even, a heftier paycheck once those insurance premiums come down! 

Still, if you are completely convinced that a background investigation is just too invasive, then consider your options. Nick Corcodilos from Ask the Headhunter, suggests that you could try the following:

1. Respectfully request the reasoning for, let’s say: a credit check, especially if you won’t be handling sensitive or financial information. 
2. You may also respectfully request a written statement from the company stating that if your credit or personal information is compromised, the company agrees to accept full responsibility and remedy the damages. 

Of course, either of these options may forfeit your job offer, so be willing to go out on a limb!

Question: 

Can employers check my credit when I apply for a job?  Companies have offered a position to me only to rescind the offer a few days later. 

Answer:

Employers can request to run your credit report when you apply for a job but only with your consent. If an employer requests to run your credit report, and you feel that there might be negative financial information on your report, it’s best to explain your situation to the potential employer. Sometimes if there is a reason, such as a divorce, loss of job, an illness or other life situations, employers will be more understanding of a less than perfect report. I would suggest contacting the three major credit-reporting agencies, TransUnion @1-800-888-4213; Experian @1-888-397-3742 and Expedia @1-800-685-111 to obtain your yearly free credit report. Check the report and dispute any discrepancies in writing, you will receive a response from the credit reporting agency within 30-60 days. If you feel that your credit has been a barrier to receiving a job offer, please talk to us about the Federal Bonding Program.  This program is designed to assist individuals who have less than perfect credit in obtaining employment. 

Question: You all have a wonderful service in Frederick. I recently relocated to Washington State with my husband who is in the military. How can I find a great service like yours out here? Also, do you know if there are services for military spouses here as there are in Frederick?

Answer: I am glad to hear that you have such high regard for our center. There are a number of websites that will provide you with the locations of offices that can assist you.

Centers such as ours are located throughout the country but the services in each center differ. Each local center determines the services offered and who can avail themselves of those services. Go to www.servicelocator.org and put in your zip code and it will direct you to a listing and website link for a One Stop Center like Frederick’s Business and Employment Center .

I also spoke to our Veterans Employment Representative and she recommended going to the following site: www.military.com . She said she often uses this site to assist veterans and their spouses.

In addition, you can go to your local base’s ACS office (Army Community Service Center) and utilize their resources. These are typically free and specialized for military personnel and their families.

Good luck in all your endeavors. Thank you for you and your spouse’s service. It is greatly appreciated.

Question:

I was fired from my last job. How do I answer the question on applications “Reason for leaving”?

Answer: 

First and foremost, I would recommend being honest, and your choice of words is an important part of being truthful. If you choose not to say “Fired” or “Terminated”, you can put “Would prefer to discuss”. However, this answer can also appear to be a red flag to an employer who might think you left due to some unpleasant situation, like sexual harassment or being a whistle blower. And, though it is not fair or right, human nature causes some employers to see those conditions as being your fault, and not your previous employers.

At About.com, I found the following answer by Alison Doyle, who is a job search expert with many years of experience in human resources, career development, and job searching, with a focus on online job searching and job search technology. She has covered job searching for About.com since 1998.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/salary/a/fired.htm