So you’ve just gotten a job offer – Congratulations! But there must be a reason why you’re reading this article. If there are some doubts on your mind and you want to figure out what to do before you possibly accept this job offer, worry not… let’s take a look at all the things you should consider before making a decision on a job offer.

The Written Offer

Do you have the offer in writing? If not, ask for a formal offer in writing. This way you can review the job title, salary, and benefits. If details on the offer look different from what was agreed upon in person or over the phone, do not hesitate to let the employer know and get it fixed.

Salary & Benefits

Perform a salary research using GlassDoor or PayScale to figure out if your salary is competitive. If you feel that you are being under-compensated, remember that the time you receive an offer is the time you have the most leverage in negotiating your offer. They want to hire you, so the ball is in your court to shape the offer in some way.

Benefits are just as important as your paycheck, so consider what benefits you’re being offered and how long it’d take before you will be eligible for these benefits.

Commuting & Environment

Factor in how the commute might be and keep in mind that rush hour traffic can lengthen the time it would take to get to work. Can you see yourself commuting to and from work with that length of commute time?

Furthermore, consider how you’d get along with your supervisor or boss. Did you feel comfortable and compatible? Many times, a supervisor can make or break a work experience, so if you hear stories of a strict management style, consider whether this is something you’d be willing to work with long-term. The people you work with can also determine how happy you are in this position. It might be hard to get a sense of how co-workers are during a short interview, but there are resources out there that exemplify the kind of company culture that exists. Reach out to a current employee via. LinkedIn and ask for their insider viewpoint of the company. Study how long employees stay within that company to figure out turnover rates.

It might also help to read the company’s social media channels, such as Facebook to get a vibe of their company culture.

The Long Run

Think about whether this position will help you advance your professional goals. Will it teach you new skills? Does it strengthen your strongest skills?

Furthermore, investigate the future of the industry and the job outlook. There are resources, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics that give employment projections on fastest growing industries, along with industries that can expect to see decline. Imagine your life in this company and whether you can picture yourself in it.

Make sure you take the time to thoroughly figure out if you want this position. If you’re having doubts, then address all of them before rushing into accepting an offer because of time constraints.

Best of luck in your decision!

Making a career change is a big decision and when you do make that decision, you want to make it at the right time. There are many factors than can go into this decision and although no one can really tell you when that right time is, here are some common signs to help you figure out when to make that change.

1- You feel burnt out or stressed constantly.

Not everyone is lucky enough to do what they absolutely love, but at the same time, you want a career that you can appreciate and one that doesn’t deteriorate your health. If it’s one that’s giving you constant stress and causing you to burn out, you need to ask yourself, how many more years can I tolerate this?

2- The job outlook in your field is worsening.

Your field showed promise when you entered it, but due to changes in the economy and advancements in technology, the growth of different sectors have changed. If your career is in a field that is showing declining growth, this may be a sign for a career change. To find out the growth outlook for your career, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows great statistics.

3- Your skills aren’t being used or developed.

People remain static in their current career because they get comfortable and fear change. However, you need to keep in mind that your skill sets are what help you remain valuable in a job market. If your current skill sets are not being used or developed, your opening yourself to the danger of entering a constantly changing job market and competing with others who’ve spent their time strengthening their current skill sets and fleshing out new ones. If your skills are stagnant, this may be a sign to make a career change.

About StartWire: StartWire is America’s #1 job search organizer here to help job seekers close the resume black hole. Get automatic status updates on your job applications from 8300+ companies and receive powerful job recommendations – all for free.

Interested in exploring a career that’s shown high growth? Explore these three jobs with the largest estimated job growth between 2010 and 2020.

Registered Nurses

What the Job is like: Registered Nurses care for patients and help restore their health through collaboration with physicians and team members. They also offer emotional support to patients and their family members.

Job Growth Potential: High growth for registered nurses is due to technological advancements, which increases our ability to treat more diseases. The aging population will also lead to an increase in demand for nurses.

How to Become One: Obtain a degree from an approved nursing program (bachelor’s, associate’s or diploma). Then become licensed by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). For those with a degree in a non-related field, they can obtain a master’s degree program in nursing to qualify for nursing roles.

Retail Salesperson

What the Job is like: Retail Salespersons work on selling retail merchandise to customers. They help customers locate products they need and explain the type of products they carry, along with answering general questions related to their merchandise. Once merchandise is selected, retail salespersons help carry out financial transactions.

Job Growth Potential: Growth for retail salesperson is attributed to high growth in general merchandise stores, such as warehouse clubs and supercenters, thereby, increasing employment opportunities for retail salespersons. Population growth also increases retail sales.

How to Become One: Most employers prefer a high school diploma or its equivalent. Generally employers look for candidates who exhibit strong customer service skills and salesmanship. On-the-job training is usually given.

Home Health Aides

What the Job is like: Home health aides help those who are physically and cognitively disabled, chronically ill and older adults. They provides services such as bathing and dressing, light house keeping, and planning their medical appointments.

Job Growth Potential: High growth for home health aides is due to the aging baby boom population. Reliance on home health aides will increase as a more affordable alternative to nursing homes. Furthermore, some people prefer being cared for in the familiarity of their homes.

How to Become One: No educational requirements are needed, but most home health aides have a high school diploma. Those working in certified home health agencies require formal training and passing a standardized test.

You’re invited to an interview and the employer asks, “What are some times you are available for an interview?”

While it’s important to pick times that work for you, studies actually show that some times and days work better than others. Read on to figure out good times to schedule your interview.

Mondays and Fridays are generally not ideal days to interview.

People tend to stray from their usual weekday sleep routine during the weekends. We stay up later, sleep in on Sundays, and come Monday, it’s easier to lose track of schedule and push things behind. Work-related situations might also crop up during the weekend, so Mondays can be spent wrapping up weekend crisis’. Typically, Mondays aren’t an ideal day to interview.

Similarly, Fridays can get the same treatment as Monday because people are ready to take a break from the busy work week and unwind during the weekends.

Hunger can affect mood and make afternoon interviews a bad time slot.

Afternoon time slots are susceptible to employers who’ve had a long morning and need a lunch break by 12pm. However, if your interview is scheduled for 12pm, this means that they might spend your interview hungry and distracted.

Hunger affects mood, causing people to feel impatient, irritable and find it harder to focus on work.

Towards the end of the day, employers can get distracted.

Avoiding the last time slot of the day is also a good idea. By then, employers may have had a long day and are ready to call it a day. It’s also easier to be distracted and while they’re interviewing you, they might actually be thinking about what to make for dinner or something going on at home!

Strive for earlier in the day and Tuesday through Thursday.

Studies of our brain show that we have a tendency to remember the first and last things better than those in the middle. What this means for your interviews is, being early can increase your chances of standing out among other interviewees later in the day.

As mentioned above, Mondays and Fridays can lead to backed up schedules. By Tuesday to Thursday, things in the office are more on pace, and become better days to interview.

Keep in mind that although timing is important, ultimately, it’s more important to interview at a time you are most alert and at the top of your game. For example, some people think better at night rather than the early mornings. If this is you, it would make more sense to schedule an interview later in the afternoon.

We hope this helps – Now that you know good time slots to schedule your next interview, brush up on your interviewing skills!

Social Psychologist, Amy Cuddy

This article is for job seekers who fall into this category: I’ve been interviewing, but I’m not getting any offers!

The good news is that you’re halfway there. Your resume and experiences are clearly working to get you interviews. Your only problem is getting over the last hurdle – the interview.

Something in the presentation of your interviewing is throwing off employers and figuring out what that is requires some self-reflection. Here are some common and possible reasons why you aren’t getting that job offer. Ask yourself, do I do these?

1.    Not treating the interview as a 2-way conversation.

Employers want to hire candidates that not only can get the job done, but will be easy to work with day-to-day. The truth is, they also need to be convinced that they could see you in the office every day and like that. The best way to convince your employer of this is through engaging them in a dialogue – Show them that you could get along well with your co-workers.

Don’t think of the interview  as a time for the employer to ask you questions – ones that you need to answer right. Instead, feel free to ask them questions back. Have a natural conversation.

2.    Not being prepared with short stories of your work experience.

Show, don’t tell. That’s what your English teachers probably told you…and there’s truth in it!

If someone says, “It was a long climb” versus “The climb consisted of 2,000 steps and two hours later, we finally made it to the top!” I bet you’re more convinced by the latter.

The same applies in interviews. It’s always better to go prepared with short stories of your work experiences because stories are more engaging and paints a visual picture in the employer’s head. Tip: Don’t ramble and keep these stories short and under 2 minutes.

3.    Not knowing what the company does and why you’re a good fit for the role.

For example: You may be interviewing for a human resources position and know everything about your specific career function and the human resources department, but the company you’re working for is an investment banking firm. Be prepared to answer: “What role does an investment banker in our company provide?”

Make sure you’re versed on the kinds of products the company sells and what the company actually does. Employers want to make sure the candidate understands how their specific job function fits into helping the company’s mission as a whole.

4.    Rambling and being vague, instead of giving direct and concise answers.

A lot of people hate the silence during interviews and will cover it up by rambling. However, it’s usually better to give concise answers and take your time while speaking. It’s okay to say phrases such as: “That’s a great question. Let me think about that.”

It buys you time and signals to the employer that you’re thinking through your answer. It’s almost always better to take your time before delivering a well-thought out answer than trying to appear quick-witted, yet giving a poorly executed answer.

5.    Forgetting about non-verbal body cues.

Many interviewers don’t realize that nonverbal body cues also tell a story of their own and can be a deal breaker during an interview.

Some positive nonverbal body cues include:

• Making eye contact with the interviewer not only when the interviewer is speaking, but when you are speaking
• Smile and look engaged while the interviewer is talking
• Laugh only if the interviewer does so first
• Don’t lean backwards on your chair or you’ll appear too casual
• Don’t interrupt the interviewer mid speech
• Rest your hands on your notepad or lap and don’t wave them too much when you’re talking
• Avoid touching your arm, fidgeting your hands, tapping feet, or drumming your fingers – these give the impression that you’re uncomfortable
• Appearing confident and comfortable

If you want to improve your body language to exude more positivity and confidence, social psychologist Amy Cuddy shares a powerful message on how to improve body language.

Interested in some high paying positions, but don’t have a college degree? Explore these five high paying jobs that don’t have any college degree requirements.

Air Traffic Controllers

Median Salary: 122,530

What the Job is like: Air Traffic Controllers guide planes on the runway to keep them safe distances apart. They coordinate arrival and departure times, instruct pilots when to take off and land, give weather updates to pilots, and monitor airplanes during their flight.

How to Become One: Be 30 or under (if you have no previous experience as an air traffic controller) and a US citizen. Complete an air traffic management degree from a FAA certified school, pass the FAA pre-employment test, and complete a 2 month training course at the FAA Academy.

General and Operations Manager

Median Salary: 95,440

What the Job is like: General and Operations Managers are responsible for managing daily operations, carrying out organizational goals and policies, and performing day to day supervisory duties. Depending on the size of the company and the industry, responsibilities will vary.

How to Become One: Significant experience within the organization can lead to promotion to this position. Strong skills to have for this role include decisiveness and the ability to communicate effectively.

Construction Managers

Median Salary: 82,790

What the Job is like: Construction managers oversee construction projects from their development to completion. They plan the budget for the construction project, handle the legal requirements to ensure building and safety codes are being followed, and manage laborers working on the project.

How to Become One: Demonstrating years of experience in the construction trade can allow you to become a construction manager even if you only hold a high school diploma. Getting a certification can boost those chances. Certification is offered by the Construction Management Association of America (CCM) and the American Institute of Constructors (AC).

Radiation Therapists

Median Salary: 77,560

What the Job is like: Radiation therapists treat patients with cancer or other diseases by giving them radiation treatments. They give x-rays to determine the area requiring treatment, explain treatment plans to patients, and record treatment details.

How to Become One: Some states require a license that can be acquired through an accredited radiation therapy program. Apply for an American Registration of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification if required in your state.

Commercial Pilots

Median Salary: 73,280

What the Job is like: Commercial Pilots fly airplanes or helicopters to transport people and cargo. Some commercial pilots also fly for charter flights, firefighting, or rescue operations.

How to Become One: Take lessons from a flight school or an instructor from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Most companies require at least 2 years of college and candidates who pass psychological and aptitude exams.

Are you feeling negativity in your job search? If your job search is wearing you out, or if you just feel unhappy while job searching, here are reminders to help you find happiness – even in a job search.

Don’t compare yourself to others.

Martha is getting a raise and Michael just got promoted to VP, while you’re unemployed or shuffling papers around a desk.

We all have them – those friends or family members who are incredibly more successful than you, and they pull it all off without seeming to work a sweat. You think to yourself, how? Why can’t I be just as successful?

Let me share something with you – You ARE successful. To someone else, you’re that successful Martha and Michael. I know you don’t believe me right now because it’s not in our nature. We always want more. We want better. We tend to look at successful people in our lives and compare ourselves to them. My advice is: Don’t! There will always be people who are more successful than you and those that are worse off. Recognize that you are in your own unique stage in life, whether you are unemployed and job hunting, or stuck in a job you don’t like.

Don’t procrastinate and make excuses for yourself.

I want to apply to these jobs, but I have to run to the grocery store, pick up the kids, etc. Making excuses is a way to make yourself feel better for not doing something you needed to be doing. Eventually, procrastination leads to more stress because tasks you needed to finish will build up. Do you want results? If so, just START DOING. My trick whenever I start feeling myself procrastinating is to just start the activity. Starting is the hardest part, and once you pass that bridge, you’ll find that the task gets easier.

Don’t skip out on exercise or physical activity.

Your body will thank you not only every day, but 5 years down the line. Make it a habit to exercise for at least 30 minutes, 3 days a week. Exercise helps boost your serotonin levels, making you happier and helps you feel more energetic in tackling those day to day duties.

Do give up your need for control.

One of the biggest factors that affect happiness is the need for control. Since many things in life are out of our control, what does that lead to? Worry. Anxiety. Disappointment.

Let go of the need to grab life in the reins, and instead enjoy it for the ride it is. The spontaneity of life is what keeps it exciting and fresh. You won’t know who your next employer will be today or what your career path looks like 10 years down the line, but that’s okay. Nobody knows.

Do manage your expectations.

Managing your expectations is vital to finding your happiness. Life is unpredictable, so we can’t expect everything to work out the way we want. There will be setbacks, along with eventual achievements. Instead do everything with an open mind and you will find yourself so much happier.

This article is for job seekers who fall into this category: I’ve been applying to jobs, but I’m not getting any interviews!

In some ways, job seekers in the midst of a job search are like athletes preparing for a new season. You start off with a game plan, know that practice makes perfect, and over time, learn ways to improve your job search or season. Just like many things in life, the first attempt at something difficult won’t always be successful. It’s useful to take a few steps back to analyze what’s been working and what can be improved. Therefore, today we’re arming you with ways to step back and take a look at your job search from a new angle. These are reasons that might explain why you aren’t getting interviews:

Spelling or grammatical errors and resume length.

The first thing you should take a look at is your resume. Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? Have a friend proofread your resume because most times, we get so used to the format of our resumes that our eyes easily skip over those errors.

Furthermore, what length is your resume? Is it over a page long and bogged down by fluff words (I get the job done!) or is it too short? Usually a page is a good length and may be lengthened due to your level of experience in the industry and its relevance to the position.

Forgetting the importance of keywords.

Another aspect to take a look at is keywords. Companies filter resumes according to keywords using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and only consider resumes that contain the keywords they’re looking for. How can you figure out what keywords the company is looking for? A good resource is the job description. Look for keywords that appear more than once and place those early on in your resume. A great trick to figuring out good keywords is getting a tag cloud generator to pinpoint the best keywords.

It also helps to include a Professional Summary or Relevant Skills section where these keywords can be introduced. The goal is not to force keywords into your resume, but to use these keywords to strengthen your resume for the ATS and recruiter, while maintaining good readability.

A weak online reputation.

Employers are checking out people on social media and they’ll use what they find to make quick judgments on your candidacy. Run an engine search on your name and see what results come up. Strengthen the privacy settings to your social media accounts, and make sure what you’ve set as private stays private.

Some social media sites have changing privacy settings, and there are tools that exist to make sure your content stays safe. For facebook, secure.me is an application that scans your Facebook profile to monitor posts that affect your security and reputation.

While having social media accounts with risky content can affect your candidacy, the other side to this is… not having one might create the same effect. Some employers like to find the candidate’s LinkedIn profile, as it shows professionalism and matches a face to the name on the resume. It personalizes the hire, which is important to achieve — especially during an online job search inundated by names on resumes. Luckily, creating a linkedin profile and adding a picture (make sure to add a professional one) is easy enough and free to create.

Figuring out what works is a process – and everyone needs to tweak their job search before they find what works. Don’t give up on improving your job search!

Job seekers often ask me, how do you know if the job listing is legitimate? One thing I’d hate for a job seeker to encounter is a fake listing that ends up soliciting hard earned money. This article will show you ways to spot an employment scam.

You might find yourself in one of three scenarios –

1. You’re browsing job listings online and questioning their legitimacy.

2. You’re in contact with an employer, but your exchange feels suspicious.

3. You’ve been hired for a job that you question is real.

Find the category you’re in and read on about how to handle your case.

Is this job a fake listing?

What to beware of when browsing jobs…

• Look for common scam keywords. Scam listings include words such as, no experience necessary, work from home, get rich fast. Some common scam job titles include, envelope stuffing, shipping manager, wire transfer, rebate processor, Sales, Sports Marketing.

• Avoid listings that overuse exclamations and CAPS LOCK.
• Be aware of vague or inconsistent contact information. Some scams use a legitimate company name, but the employer’s email address is from a free email client versus a company email address.

Example of an illegitimate listing:

Sports Marketing Analyst.

Job Requirements: Minimum age 18; phone number; regular bank account (checking/ savings). ***IMMEDIATE HIRE*** We Will Train!
Entry Level – $500 – $1000 Weekly. 5 positions left.
Start your Career in Sports Marketing!!!

Am I in the process of a job scam?

Red flags to look for in the hiring process…

You should not be required to pay to start work. Some common scams include:

• Training. Paying upfront fees before your employment, such as for your training or training materials.
• Paperwork. Paying to process your new hire paperwork.
• Credit Report/Background Check. Paying to get a credit report or background check done, with the prospect of an interview if the reports come out well.
• Purchase a product. Requiring the applicant to purchase the company’s product, with a promise to reimburse at a later time.

Other scams involve the scammer sending you a sum of money and then asking that you send a percent back:

• Send back money. These scans work by sending the job seeker a fake check to cash. They’ll deposit the check and while it’s processing in the bank, the company will say there’s a mistake in the amount they sent and ask to be sent ¾ or more of the amount back. The job seeker believes the money is already in the bank, so they send back the requested amount; in a few days, the fake check will bounce.

Some scams try to obtain your personal information:

• Fill out additional forms. You have not yet received a job offer, but are being asked to fill out an online application with sensitive information, such as bank information.
• Set up Direct Deposit. If you have no been hired, there is no need to set up a direct deposit account. Be suspicious if an “employer” asks you to set up a direct deposit account before an interview.

Is my current job fake?

Signs that you have accepted a fake job…

If you find yourself questioning whether or not your current job is real, consider if it sounds like these common work-at-home job scams. Usually, you’ll never have met the employer and are asked to perform a specific and routine set of duties. Some of these include:

• Reshipping packages that the employer has sent to your house (Usually these are stolen packages, and once you reship them, you can be held liable for the theft).
• Assembly Jobs selling craft kits that you’ve assembled. You’ll be required to spend money on the package to get you started…and never be reimbursed.
• Posting ads and getting paid when others sign-up through your ad.

If you have any suspicions of the job, run an engine search to see if anyone has listed the company as a scam. If nothing shows up, then check with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov

I hope these tips have helped you in achieving a safer job search. If you have any friends or family who are job searching, make sure to share this article and keep them safe!

It’s easy for employers to get distracted this week and month. The country is gearing up to celebrate as July 4 rounds the corner, and as the weather is getting warmer, employers are off to take their summer vacations.

What does this mean for your job search?

If you’ve been in a long job search, I say take a little break on July 4 weekend.

Treat yourself to something nice and get your mind off of the job search. Sometimes it helps to step away from a project, and then come back when your mind is refreshed – This will help you see things in a newer perspective. Just as college students are advised to take a day away from their papers before coming back to proofread, your job search can also benefit from a new pair of eyes.

If you’re committed to working throughout the holidays, I suggest: Apply to the job as soon as you see it.

Once the job is posted, this is a clear sign to you that this employer is active, even when everyone else is on vacation. This can signal a need to fill a position as soon as possible.

Also, since this is the time of year where many people are taking a break, this means that there are less applicants to compete with, and you’re more likely to capture the attention of the recruiter.

If you’re going to any July 4 social gatherings, take this time to network.

The holidays always encourage people to throw parties and social gatherings for their friends. Treat these as a good time to meet new faces, and also as networking opportunities. You might not like to share that you’re unemployed, but you can frame it in a way that shows you are productively spending this time to explore a new opportunity, such as a career change.

Many jobs aren’t posted online, so the best way to hear about some opportunities is through word of mouth. Referrals are also a smart way to get your resume to the top of the pile, as employers are more likely to trust a candidate suggested by a current successful employer.

Regardless of how you approach your job search, make sure to enjoy the fireworks and warm weather!